As I left the arena, I could suddenly feel the tugging at my sleeve increase. Looking at the cause it was none other than Christine whose hand has started to shake uncontrollably, anyone seeing this could see that she was scared.
She is unable to control her emotions which only gets worse seeing the clear case of anxiety that she exhibits.
' Those idiots what spy, she is barely able to keep herself together '
Continuing on my way I finally reached the classroom where I had Christine sit down. However, as I was reaching for my water bottle in the desk Christine suddenly fell down clutching her hair.
" Hey, are you ok!!? " I said rushing towards her
Reaching out for her, the first thing I saw was her face as white as a sheet and her whole-body trembling.
" That was the wrong answer.... Father sent you to test me again.... I'm sorry... I'm sorry...please don't hit me...I didn't realize it was a test... I'm sorry ... I'll be good.. ok so please...please don't tell him "
Seeing her beg me while holding back her tears it finally hit me; the reason she was afraid was me, the fact that I suddenly appeared and helped her must have felt suspicious especially with how little we know of each other.
" Ok... Ok... I.. I won't cry... look I am smiling so I could stay pretty " She said forcing a smile on her face
' I messed up, I should have taken it more slowly '
" Christine, Christine, I want you to take a deep breath " I said trying to reassure her
" No... No.... I am sorry please "
" This isn't a test I have no relation to your father "
" You are LYING...LYING"
'Damn it she isn't listening
She is in a state of panic; I need to have her snap out of it'
Thankfully an idea came rather quickly, quickly moving my mana it was an act I have become rather used to over the past three months.
" I Nicholos Arcane hereby swear to Christine Vorago on my mana, that I have not and do not intend to work together with the current head of house Vorago "
Following that a light shone in between the both of us showing that the mana oath has been put in place and with its disappearance came the frozen figure of Christine who stared at me in a daze.
Looking down at her I opened my mouth
" I am sorry, it must have been terrifying for you "
Hearing my words Christine looked at me again before forcing that same painful smile on her face.
" Ah, I made a mistake... I have always been too overdramatic...father said so ..... I'm sorry you had to deal with someone like me...I "
" You don't have to apologize "
" No this is all my fault... If I was more mature then... "
" You aren't at fault; the reason you ended this way was because I scared you, wasn't it? " I said firmly before softening my tone " So don't try to force yourself to smile so much, a child should be able to cry when they need to "
Listening to my words, small tears started falling from the corner of Christine's eyes who immediately started wiping them away
"ah... I don't...I don't know why this is happening... I'm sorry I "
Seeing her about to start giving excuses again I simply knelt on my knee before embracing her gently making her freeze, for a while no sign of movement came from Christine, that was until something wet started falling on my shoulder.
" I'm sorry...I'm sorry ...I'm sorry "
To her endless apologies all I could do was continue hugging her till she finally calmed down.
.......
A quarter of an hour passed by before Christine finally managed to regain her bearing, luckily no janitorial staff came by during that time.
' She seems to be in a better state now '
Staring at the sitting Christine whose eyes have become swollen from crying, I couldn't help but feel relieved seeing her no longer in state of panic, she even started talking to me though only when she feels like it.
" Um...Sir Nicholos... about what happened "
" Don't worry I won't go around talking that would cause trouble for you after all "
" Yes... thank you "
and just as that the silence returned until Christine feels like breaking it again
" Sir Nicholos? " Christine began again
" Yes Christine " and I of course replied
" Why did you help me...No what I mean... I am thankful... But your reputation... "
' Right, she must be wondering about that '
" Ah well it is just that when I saw you, I guess my parental instincts kicked in I guess "
" Parental Instincts??? " Christine repeated face filled with confusion
" Well yeah, seeing how young you are I guess I thought of you as a daughter "
" Sir Nicholos you are 19 years old right? "
"Yes, I am why do you ask? "
My nonchalant reply to her question seemed to only make the confusion on Christines face only grow stronger.
' Well, it is not like I can tell her that I am mentally 32 years old '
My musing though was cut short by the small giggle that came from my right. Turning my head I found Christine with a small smile on her lips.
" You are a rather silly person Sir Nicholos " she said
" To tell you the truth I was afraid you would say something like that you were in love with me "
Christine who usually stutters actually said an entire sentence without any restraint, of course I ended up jinxing seeing how she returned back to her usual self almost immediately
" I'm sorry... That was very disrespectful..."
" It is actually I who has to apologize to you because I already have someone I am in love with and am waiting for the reply "
That seemed to calm her again as her head whipped towards me her eyes filled fascination
' Well girls her age tends to find such topics interesting '
" Is that so...I wonder who " Christine said perhaps believing she wasn't being obvious
Seeing how much she seemed to want to know I couldn't bring myself to not tell her
" You actually know her, after all it is none other than Isabella Whiteheart who I confessed my love to yesterday "
The second she heard what I said Christine immediately jumped out of her chair in shock before a sudden moment of realization dawned upon her
" Is that why she was not looking in our direction this morning!!?? "
" Well, who knows I still haven't gotten my reply yet " I replied acting as if I didn't know
Avoiding Christine's eyes, I looked at the time
" The class should be close to finishing, that means they will be coming here soon "
" Ah, I see "
Watching her downcast look, a thought popped into my mind and immediately remembering Christines favourite animal I opened my mouth
" Hey Christine, do you want to go horseback riding? " Hearing my words Christine perked up before drooping down again
" But ... there is no horse ranch in the academy "
' Christines favourite animal is the horse which is why she had already seen if any ranches existed on the academy but well, I wasn't thinking of staying here either '
" Is that so well that's a pity I guess we will have to leave then "
"We.... will leave? "
' I will probably get in so much trouble with merlin but let us leave it to future me '
" Yeah, I have got a bunch of stuff to do back at the estate
so how about it, do you want to go to the arcane territory with me? "