Chapter 25 – Never Marry a Torturer Maid

  Nathan Evenhart:

  Chloe was very nervous, holding the small ball of light and trembling. We were standing in front of a door.

  “What do we do?” I asked her.

  “We’ve been here for about 10 minutes and you’re just staring at this door.”

  She looked at me, then wiped away a few tears.

  “Sorry, it's just that this is the first time I'm leaving this pce… it's a bit special for me.”

  “Alright, but you let go of my hand? You’re squeezing a bit too tight…” I said.

  She g my hand and quickly let go.

  “I'm sorry, Nathan… I didn't mean to,” she said, l her head.

  I sighed.

  “It’s fine, just stop with the sad act. You’re finally leaving this mansion and your rea is to be sad? Let’s celebrate.”

  I knocked on the door.

  “You’re right.”

  How do they know when to open it or not? And the lock is oside? If an intruder gets into the castle or something, they’ll have easy access to this area sihe lock is on that side.

  Then I remembered ellian.

  Maybe they eople to e in here so that thing deal with them…

  Teically, this pce is an area within a massive castle guarded by soldiers and crazy assassins, so having the lo the outside is the least of their worries.

  “Who is it?” asked a voi the other side.

  “Nathan Evenhart and Chloe Evenhart,” I replied.

  “Oh! Pardon!” said the voice from the other side as the dan to open.

  The girl o me took a deep breath.

  “ I hold your hand? I’m nervous…” she said, turning her face away.

  “As long as you don’t crush my fingers…” I said, extending my hand.

  The door opened and two guards were oher side.

  “Sir and ma’am! Sorry for the dey, we’ll take you both to the throne room. The dinner is happening there,” said the soldier, motioning for us to follow.

  We walked down the castle corridor. I had walked here the first time I ehis pce, but I won’t lie; having that sense of freedom again was f. I looked at my prison panion and saw her eyes wide open, looking at everything.

  “I’ve never eveo the throne room; if I have, it was when I was a baby, so I don’t remember,” she said.

  You’re five years old, so to me, you’re still a baby.

  “I only went once, and it was when I arrived.”

  “Really? What’s it like? Is it impressive?” she asked.

  “I found it impressive, but I have to admit I was a bit nervous about other things.”

  “Nervous about what?” she asked.

  “Nervous about meeting the family…” I answered.

  “I was nervous too, but I saw that you guys are nice.”

  I thought you guys were oo.

  We tinued walking.

  "Really? You found that throne impressive? You’ve got to be FUG KIDDING ME, Icarus! Do you remember what my throne room looked like?" Athena said, walking beside me.

  I g the Goddess who was following me.

  She’s just a kid. What do you wao say? That it doesn’t pare to Olympus or your empire? I was genuinely impressed, I was nervous at the time. I suspect I’m influenced by the biology of this body, so it amazed me.

  "That upset me. I created my throh such care and the blood of fallen warriors, and now I’m deeply hurt. Do you remember how it looked? You led the armies that allowed me to build it, making it worthy of a great Empress."

  FUCK YOU, ATHENA!

  I quickly closed my eyes and focused, letting the anger wash away.

  "Now you’re the one squeezing my hand," Chloe said, ughing.

  "Sorry... I got a bit nervous too," I told her.

  I looked around and firmed that the Psychopath Goddess had disappeared.

  I must have done a lot of shit in another life for this to haunt me. Oops! I actually did do a lot of shit in another life... not a funny joke.

  The soldier apanied us to the door and stopped.

  "You may enter," he said, opening it.

  "Thanks for letting me hold your hand..." she whispered in my ear before letting go.

  The door opened and we walked in. The pce was lively, filled with people talking and drinking. The throne room was decorated, and a long table was den with food.

  "Children, finally you’re here!" my mother appeared and pulled us close.

  "Aunt Katie, you’re squeezing me a bit..." my cousin said.

  "I'm just happy this fusion is ing to an end."

  I felt a pat on my shoulder.

  "If it isn’t the stars of the show!" Hugo said. "I want to officially introduce you. This is my wife Martha and my two daughters Natty and Catty."

  What? That bastard married the prettiest maid here! Damn...

  "Pleasure to see you again, young master," Martha greeted me.

  "o meet you," said one of the twins.

  The other just nodded.

  "Five my sister, she doesn’t talk much. She’s getting used to the screams and causing pain," one of them said.

  I noticed both were dressed as maids.

  "It’s okay, I uand."

  I don’t uand shit! These two are really learning the art of torture, and it’s a lot for me to take in.

  The quiet one pulled a knife from her pocket. "I’m learning to pull out nails with my partner here."

  Holy shit… she must be only about nine years old...

  "Catty! I told you not to carry your work tools around!" Natty scolded.

  At least one of them seems more normal.

  "Only the fun ons are allowed," she said, showing a small hatchet.

  OK, I take it back. They’re both strange.

  "Aww! They’re already getting attached to their torture tools, my love," Martha said to Hugo.

  "They grow up so fast," he said, wiping away tears.

  The torturer family walked away, leaving us standing there.

  "I told you they were strange..." Chloe said to me.

  "I'll trust your judgment more..."

  Chloe was called over by some people, and I sat at the table with my mother while we ate.

  As soon as I saw Sifu alone, I rao him.

  “Hello, my student. I see your period of impriso has finally ended.”

  “Hey, Master. I ask you a question?”

  “Of course, if I a, I will.”

  I sighed.

  I o finally ask what had beeing away at me. It erhaps the biggest question of my life, and he had the answer.

  “You always said o fall for a torturer maid. So why did Hugo marry one?”

  Sifu let out a ugh.

  “Because Hugo is an idiot. Who marries a woman trained from childhood i of torture? That guy has a few screws loose.”

  “But didn’t my uncle marry my aunt? Wasn’t she a torturer maid too?”

  “Your uncle was also an idiot. Just don’t tell your aunt I said that. I’m afraid of her…”

  With that, a weight was lifted off my shoulders with this question answered.

  Damn Hugo married the prettiest maid… lucky bastard.