Chapter 469 - Four Hundred And Sixty-Nine: The Deal (1/2)
The third point of view:
Niklaus was surprised when his daughter Isabella walked into his room. When the knock on his door came earlier, he had expected it to be one of his servants - she was the least on his mind. Not that Isabella doesn't come into his bedroom or something, but this was the first time she knocked ”politely”.
”Father,” She called him and that made Niklaus' eyebrow raise. The Isabella he knew doesn't show sudden fondness for him unless she needed something from him.
”What is it, Isabella?” He asked, closing the window on his screen that contained an article that was titled, 'How To Tame Your Stubborn Wife'. He put the laptop aside on the stool beside the couch he was sitting on.
Reina had gone out with Emily to discuss the details of their moving to Lincolnshire. Since both of them - Niklaus and Reina - would be active in the wedding preparation and coronation, the couples would have to travel over there.
Although he had contemplated leaving the kids behind because of their trouble-making, Reina kicked against the idea. The last time he left them, Miguel attacked. She would not leave her kids behind. Thus, it was settled. So in one word, the whole family would be traveling to Lincolnshire before the wedding.
”Dad,” Isabella cooed, going to sit beside her father on the couch, ”You must feel so tired from all the stress from work...” She rolled up the sleeves of her long sleeve polo, ”Here let me help massage you,”
A smirk formed on Niklaus' face but he didn't show it, instead complied with her request - who in their right mind turns down a free massage? He turned around, showing off his broad shoulders so she could rub.
Isabella wished she could bang her head against the wall, she hadn't meant to offer him a massage. But then, she was as nervous as shit that she blurted the first thing that came to mind. Normally, she was proud to say whatever she wanted to, but Isabella knew her father would never agree to this one.
”Yes, right there, that feels good,” Niklaus shamelessly enjoyed his daughter's therapy while keeping his senses alert for any of her petite tricks. He trusted Isabella, but not when she was being this skeptical. If he could remember clearly, she had been quite mischievous when young. Truthfully, he just started trusting her a bit recently.
”Father,” Isabella began, biting on her lips nervously, ”About Miguel's men....”
”What about them?” Niklaus asked nonchalantly.
”Did you kill all of them off?”
Niklaus's countenance changed at that question. He turned to ask her, ”Why do you ask?”
”I'm just curious,”
”Sakuzi has them and no, he hasn't killed them off because he's found some of them useful. And again, why do you ask?” Niklaus pinned her with his probing gaze.
”Fine,” Isabella sighed, giving up on her massage act. Her father was smart and must have sensed something was wrong, she might as well come clean with him.
”You do know Jean, right?”
”Good question. Who is Jean?” he inquired.
”One of the mercenaries Miguel hired. He was the one who turned on Miguel in the end and fought for us,”
”So?” It wasn't hard for Niklaus to remember that one since he heard of what he did.
”I want him as my shadow guard,” Isabella finally dropped the bombshell.
”You got to be fucking kidding me,” Niklaus cursed, a trace of fury crossing his features.
Isabella gulped, this was it.
”What did you just say?”