TRIBULATIONS

11.

The silence was overbearing. The Man scribbled something on paper as Arthur fiddled with his long shirt.

He wasn't sure how long he'd sat there, waiting for the Man to say something. But as soon as he planned to open his mouth and question the man, he would shoot him a terrifying glare, and Arthur would close his mouth. He felt the way the Man set the pen down, and Arthur's eyes instantly lifted themselves to look at the man properly.

The Man removed his glasses, and set them down. He blinked several times and finally paid attention to Arthur. "Name." He questioned instantly.

"Arthur Bloomlock-"

"Age." The Man pressed forward.

Arthur was speechless, why did it feel like the man was angry with me? Or maybe he had a long day, Arthur wondered. He wasn't used to this attitude from anyone. Everyone was so.. Enthusiastic and positive.. Almost fake. Here, Arthur started to think that they were all transparent.

"Age." The Man said but slightly louder, enough to catch Arthur's attention.

Arthur blinked. "..Ah.. Twenty-seven."

The man's brown eyes lingered on him for a moment, and Arthur felt watched. He shifted around, trying to seem as if he wasn't noticing the attention the man was giving him. The Man sighed, "Your friend told me everything, but I would like to hear from you."

Arthur's heart stopped. He knew they wouldn't believe him. He could feel his throat tightening as he stared at the man, what would he say? Arthur took a few deep breaths, but that did nothing in hopes of calming himself down.

He decided to tell the Man the same thing he told Bennett, surely it would help him. "..We didn't know. We blindly funded the Government's plan. But trust me—"

"I can't trust you." The Man harshly cut Arthur off.

"..I know but—"

The Man slammed his hand on the table, and the vase rolled over and smashed. Arthur flinched, and the man seethed with anger. "No, you don't."

Arthur stayed silent, he gulped awkwardly. He understood where the man came from, and how stupid he was to pray that he would be understood. "..My family wouldn't have wanted this—"

"And yet it happened."

"..We didn't mean for those people to die, I didn't. I couldn't have let my mother's death be for nothing.. When she died protecting me, I needed to do something—"

"Do what? Venture through the dark and dangerous alleyways of Mispair? The place you've been looking down on?" The Man angrily retorted.

Arthur felt tears brim in his eyes, no, not here and not now, he forced himself to push his feelings away. Fuck, he missed his mother. "..I'm sorry. Please, let me stay, I'll do something.. I'll.. Uh.. I will work—"

"You'll work?" The Man laughed. "You people have never done anything by yourselves, and you're expecting me to believe that you'll work?"

Arthur furiously wiped the tear that almost ran down his face, he cleared his throat and averted his eyes elsewhere as the Man caught him doing so.

The Man scoffed. "You can't even handle the truth."

Arthur bit his lower lip, his eyeballs felt hot with tears. "..It's like you said. I can't look down on Mispair, then come here, and do nothing. That's why I want to work, please."

He sniffled when he felt something run down his nose. The Man thoughtfully stayed silent, observing Arthur's state. It was a tricky decision, letting them stay here would mean protecting them and making sure the Government never finds them.

He knew that he would agree to let him stay. Not because he favored him particularly or anything like that, but because he liked getting on the Government's nerves.

He stood up, his chair screeched slightly from the sudden force causing Arthur to frown. The Man approached him, Arthur felt his dangerous figure looming over him, and he instantly made himself smaller, looking down at the floor. This wasn't like him, but he didn't have any choice.

This was the Head Ruler, if he saw fit to it, then he would banish Arthur from Mispair.

Arthur's ears tickled when the man's low raspy voice spoke up near his ear. He instantly lifted his shoulders, tensing up. Arthur's breathing became erratic. "..Tell me why I should let you stay here, mh? How are you going to fix this, huh?"

Arthur froze. "..I.. I.."

He exhaled very loudly. "...If I can't stay.. Then please.. Let Bennett stay, he has been through a lot, at least I would fix one thing; his safety could be guaranteed here."

Arthur was tired, hungry, filthy, and he hadn't had time to mourn for his dead family members. He had nothing that he could keep in order to remember his parents.. His aunt..

The Man's eyes glued themselves on Arthur's exhausted state. Oh, he was going to make him work. The Man walked back to his desk, only to sit on the comfortable huge chair.

He intertwined his fingers together, propped them under his chin, and squinted his eyes at Arthur, analyzing the situation. He had a reason to make Arthur work, and he would let him know about it.

"Alright."

Arthur blinked his thoughts away and doubtfully looked at the Man, perking up hopefully. "..Really?"

"I'll change my mind."

Arthur cleared his throat. "..Sorry. Thank you, I owe you—"

The Man scowled at him. "Be quiet."

Arthur shut his lips, the man seemed like he was contemplating a lot of his things. His shoulders were visibly tensed up, his eyes blinking very slowly as Arthur could hear his leg continuously bouncing on the floor.

Eventually, the Man cracked his knuckles and let out a deep groan. "..Fine. You will assist me for about two weeks after two days, my assistant, Edena Ruthless,"

Ruthless? Arthur visibly cringed but averted his stare when the man shot him with a dangerous glare. Strange last name, he fought a chuckle.

The Man continued. "A white-haired lady; She will tell you everything you need to know, until then, I expect you to do well, and during your assisting as well."

He sighed tiredly. "You're free to go, a room has been assigned to you. And for the record,"

He opened his eyes which were briefly shut, and intensively stared at Arthur with his dark brown eyes,

"I'm Pierre Marchetti."