World's Best Protagonist [BL]

Sergio gestured with two fingers. "Come here," he ordered to the maid whose path was blocked by the other guy.

"Don’t," I chimed in.

I was pulled closer by Diego. He gave me a threatening look and choked my neck using his forearm.

"Go on," Sergio insisted.

The maid hesitated, but she obeyed, stepping closer. She couldn’t have been older than her early twenties. Her uniform was pristine, her expression trained into that blank politeness that all servants mastered, but her hands were shaking.

She knew something terrible would happen to her, yet she didn’t stop or try to escape. I opened my mouth to tell her what her fate be, but Diego clamped his hand over my mouth. I didn’t hesitate to bite him, which caused him to yank me sideways like I was just some object.

"Don’t do it!" I shouted at my father.

Sergio turned to me and repeated the same words he said before. "You will change your mind, son."

I felt Diego’s grip tighten on my shoulder, keeping me in place. The pain in my twisted arm was forgotten and dread occupied my mind.

The old man flicked his fingers, and Norman struck.

The first hit sent the maid crashing to the floor, she skidded a few feet closer to me, and her body even bumped on the edge of the center table.

"Ngh..."

A muffled yelp escaped her lips as she scrambled back, but Norman grabbed her by the hair and yanked her up before she could get away.

A cruel smile played on his lips.

Then he began.

The first punch shattered her nose. Blood spurted down her face, staining her white collar.

I winced. My head instinctively averted, but the mad dog grabbed my chin and forced me to look at them again. I bit my lower lip hard. There was no indication that the butler was using an awakened power; therefore, I couldn’t even if I wanted to stop this.

The maid’s screams rang in my ear.

"P—Please...my lord! Spare me! Spare me! Please—!"

It didn’t stop there.

A boot slammed into her ribs, knocking the air out of her lungs. Her body jerked violently with each hit—punches to her stomach, elbows to her spine. The other guy joined in, gripping her fingers and snapping one back at an unnatural angle.

The shriek that tore from her throat was ear-splitting. I flinched. I struggled with Diego’s grasp.

"There’s no need for that, Jade. You only need to say you will cooperate with me. Just say the words and all this will stop."

I need to buy time. I don’t know what it’s for, but I just...

"Why are you going to such lengths if all you want for me is that? You can subdue me like this, why not just force me? Maybe stash me in one of those empty tubes and do what you want."

Yes, Jade. You’re a fool. Why give them ideas?!

Sergio watched me closely, a glint of amusement in his dark, calculating gaze. Damn it, he knew me too well. Fuck!

"Let’s say a ’consent’ from the subject does wonders."

I scoffed. "You expect me to believe that?"

"I’m telling the truth, Jade. I told you I’ve already changed my ways. I’m not doing this illegally. I have proof that these people consented to this."

"Except for the brutal ways you did to get them to agree!"

"Jade, my son, those brutal ways you speak of is something I only planned for you. You’re different. You’re my flesh and blood, so I know how hard and thick your head is. That’s why I need your consent to do this."

He said that while smiling. A smile that was almost fatherly. A sickening feeling swelled in my stomach.

"All you need to do is say the right words—I will cooperate."

I swallowed hard. Looking at him, my heart hardened. I’m never going to give him what he wanted.

Sensing my resolve, the old man signaled again. Norman twisted the maid’s right arm and pulled it backward. I heard the sounds of joints snapping, followed by a deafening, agonizing scream again.

Then, she tried to crawl away using her left hand, nails scraping against the polished wooden floor, dragging her battered body, toward me. However, the other guy grabbed her by the hair again and wretched her upright.

Her bloodied face turned toward me, wide, terrified eyes locking onto mine. "Y...young master...p—please he—lp....me..."

I felt something tighten in my chest.

Jade...I’m alright...do what you think is right...

She never asked me to give what my father wanted. She never demanded I submit. Despite writhing in pain caused by that monster she called her husband. Why? Why, Mom?

I glanced at my father, watching me intently, waiting for my answer patiently.

"Just say the magic words, Jade," he joked smoothly. "And this will stop."

I stood still, my hands clenched into tight fists.

The maid sobbed as they shattered her kneecap with a well-aimed stomp. I couldn’t look away. I just watched, my teeth biting my lower lip it began to bleed. The taste of iron thickened.

The sounds continued. The pleading, the screaming. The gurgling.

Then, came the silence.

I closed my eyes for a moment, as though once I opened them again, she was still there. Her body was a broken mess on the floor, eyes glassy, mouth slightly open as if she had been in the middle of another plea before death finally took her.

Yes. She died.

It wasn’t the first time something like this happened. I stoned my face, showing no more emotions. Just like how I used to be, gazing at the pool of blood and corpse before me with no empathy, no sympathy, no emotion...just nothing.

The room smelled like blood. I stopped struggling, flinching. I just stood there as the play ended, contemplating whether to give my father a round of applause for a gripping, thrilling script he orchestrated or not.

But then he sighed, shaking his head.

"You really are your father’s son."

I said nothing.

Just stared at that corpse on the floor, then at the breaking dawn outside the window.