Chapter 545 - Five Hundred And Forty-six : Be My Shadow Guard

The third point of view:

"So what you're trying to say is that you want me to hand over the assassin that almost killed my daughter, Reina, to Isabella, to be her shadow guard? Am I right or did I hear wrongly?" Sakuzi wasn't so sure of what to make of that.

"Yes, you heard right and as demanded by Isabella," Niklaus clarified the misunderstanding. Left for him alone, he wanted nothing to do with that hitman but Isabella was adamant, he wondered what she saw in him.

All three of them were in the living room for this conversation and Niklaus had only come as an escort. Yes, he didn't like the idea but had to follow his daughter to ensure she's on her best behavior.

Sakuzi turned to his step-granddaughter, "I'm sorry but I can't grant you that request,"

"Why?" Isabella wasn't even dejected by his rejection. If anything, she looked confident, as if she was sure of winning this argument.

"People like him are untamed, dangerous, and not worth it. You better let him go," 

"Really?" Isabella was amused by the comment. What was even funny about it?

Sakuzi continued, "I'm only telling this because you're my favorite brat,"

Niklaus scowled at him, when did his good daughter become someone's brat? 

As usual, Sakuzi ignored him, 

"If you can't pick a shadow guard from your father's men, then you can choose from mine, I have the best guard across the nation and I won't charge you a dime. Just take one and leave that man alone. He's trouble?" Valentino was suddenly magnanimous. 

Isabella might not be his biological granddaughter, but the girl's precious to his daughter, Reina - he has no choice but to love anyone Reina loves. 

However, aside from that, Sakuzi liked Isabella, she reminded him a lot about himself when he was younger. He just hopes she doesn't make the same mistake he made. 

"So he's untamed and dangerous so I can't have him?" Isabella repeated his comment. 

"Yes, it's for your safety," 

"Then how are we different from him?" Isabella asked a question that stunned everyone, "This family? This business? Aren't we dangerous to others? Are we even in a position to judge him?" 

Silence descended. Niklaus whistled yet it spoke volumes, subtly hinting to Sakuzi that he had once been there. Why had he given in to her ridiculous request in the first place then? Why would he risk his daughter's life? But then, Isabella was undebatable.

"You're dancing with fire, little brat. There's a reason we catch them young, for the reason of loyalty, " Sakuzi told her.

"You don't always need to instill loyalty, some people earn it," Isabella argued. 

"Well," Niklaus chimed in to end the argument, "On the bright side, he can only be her shadow guard voluntarily. She can't force it on him so this might as well be a failed mission," he pointed out. 

Sakuzi nodded in understanding, "Fine, you can speak to him. I'm not wishing you good luck,"

Isabella cocked a brow at him, "I've always been lucky,"

Sakuzi simply snapped his finger and one of the men standing guard at the entrance came over to him, "Talk her to where the prisoner is," He turned to Isabella, "I'll be awaiting the news,"

"It would be good news," Isabella was confident, following after the prisoner who led her away.

Niklaus followed after her, he would not let that stubborn ass of his daughter walk into danger alone. Gosh, this was infuriating. 

At last, they came to a room where other men stood guards. Their tour guard spoke to the other men stationed there and they immediately slid open the steel door. 

"You can go in," the guard said. 

They walked in. 

The room was spacious yet stank greatly of rotten rodents and poor ventilation. A man sat on the floor with his eyes closed and his hands chained. There were bloodstains all over his tattered shirt and his bloodied face was a mess. It was obvious he was emaciated and had been going through torment. 

"Have you come to finish me off?" Jean asked, without opening his eyes. He seemed tired, bored, as if he wanted all this to end already.

"Just do it quickly. I don't like to keep waiting," He said. 

However, when no answer came - the silence was unlike his torturers. They were always boisterous - Jean immediately sensed a change. The auras were different and someone was pointedly staring at him. 

So he immediately opened his eyes to meet two different pairs of stunning amber eyes. What the fuck. One of them was staring at him with amusement while the other was alert, accessing him. 

"You!" He recognized her. She was that kid.

"You don't look bad, yourself," Isabella chuckled. 

Jean looked down at himself and was stunned. What looked good about his condition? He was bloodied and all.

Jean glanced up at Isabella just as the girl told her father, "Can you give us some privacy?" 

Niklaus growled disapproval. 

Isabella stood her ground unmoved. This was her mission, she was having her way with it. 

Niklaus knew it was a fruitless effort when he saw his daughter had made up her mind. So he said instead, "Be careful," 

"I know," 

"Stay safe," 

"I will," 

Niklaus was about to leave when he turned around, saying, "In case, he tried anything funny, just scream, I'm right outside the door," 

"Alright," 

"Just remember -" 

"Jesus Christ, just go!" Isabella urged him away. 

Like an obedient lamb, Niklaus left. But not without glancing over his shoulder, eight or ten times. 

"What are you doing here? I don't think we're close enough to be called friends?" Jean asked her as soon as the door was closed.

Isabella walked over to him, her smirk growing, "Don't worry, we'd be more than friends soon,"

Jean narrowed her gaze at her, "What do you mean?"

"You have the opportunity to leave this place if you can only agree to be my shadow guard,"

"Shadow guard?"

"It's a Spencer tradition. Every member of the family owns an exclusive guard who will lay down their lives for them in the time of trouble," Isabella concisely summarized to him.

Jean was stunned, "You," He pointed to her, "Want me to be your shadow guard? Like, protect you?"

"Yes, anything about it?" 

"Not interested," Jean turned it down without even batting an eyelid. 

"It's your only free ticket out of here," Isabella tempted him. 

"Do I look like I want to leave here? Just let me die and leave this world quietly," Jean told her, turning his face the other way which was a quick reminder for "Please leave,". He didn't want to see her.