Struggling as a Villain

Chapter 17: Chapter 16- Pain

There were two things, Richard discerned in the brief ten-minute rest he was able to obtain once Albert left off to somewhere.

First, he wasn't able to fool the people around him. Although he did his best to act like Richard he failed miserably. In the case of Albert, Richard guessed that he must have sensed the changes in him based on the irregularities he was showing on his magical side. For a magician, controlling Ether is like breathing...and Richard failed to keep it consistent.

The second thing was Albert's motive for this abduction. Richard had felt it before as well but now he was one hundred per cent sure.

Albert likes the Duchess.

He was alright with the fact that Bellarine was fawning over her son until now, however after Albert discerned that there was someone else inside that body and he was taking advantage of the Duchess, the butler lost his cool.

'But still...taking such a bold decision to kidnap me...' Richard couldn't help but give some points of courage to Albert who dared take this step which surely would lead him to his death.

But the problem at hand was how he should escape this place.

His head was only able to rotate but everything down his neck was blocked completely. How much he tried to move his hand or even fingers a little to create an opening, but nothing worked. Even the chair was bound to something heavy that prohibited Richard from bouncing up to break free.

'Think Richard think....' He was contemplating his chance of escape when suddenly the butler returned.

*Click* *clack*

Richard carefully listened to his step and noted how much he walked to reach him.

'Three steps from the right before taking a pause and turn...seven steps and now-'

"How are you doing my fake young master?" The son of a pig stood before him while holding a lantern that showed his gleaming eyes from behind his glasses.

Richard remained silent but the sneer on his face signified his current mood.

The butler suddenly lowered his left side and something interacted with the ground making a low thud.

Faintly Richard saw a toolbox being rested there and the things inside it was surely not friendly.

Albert grinned before asking him, "Scared?"

Richard remained silent much to Butler's disappointment as he scoffed and tied Richard's long hair strand with the lantern handle.

Richard tried to move but it resulted in nothing against his fast movements.

'Ugh...fuck...' The lantern was making his scalp stretch since it weighed more than two kilograms. He gritted his teeth and endured the pain however because the source of heat was so close to his face, it became quite uncomfortable.

"It's just the beginning, my dear Richie~"

"Don't call me that, you asshole. Just finish up with your paedophilia fantasies and let me go!" He shouted with enough force to make Albert displeased.

He swiftly took out a sock which he previously dipped in sewer water and stuffed it inside Richard's mouth.

The reason why she was still so much motivated to live and become stronger since she knows that one day she would reunite with her brother.

However, for some reason, she just felt that connection has weakened. It was a very dreadful feeling...like her brother was in pain and calling out for her.

Her heart trembled in anxiety as she touched the artificial flower bracelet on her wrist and muttered under her breath,

"Please be safe, brother."

**********

"Hnnnnghhhhhhh!!!!" With his eyes parted wide and veins popping on his neck, a muffled cry left his throat.

The place where his fingers should be, now only his bones remained. The butler clipped the scissor to his flesh and pulled his skin and muscles with precision—leaving utter pain behind.

His hands burned with agony and body shook under the overwhelming pain he was experiencing for the first time. He has broken his fingers and even a hand before but this sensation was different. The tool was different....this was not just torture. Albert was slowly killing him!

"Kuku~I like that expression young master." The sinister laugh echoed through the dimly lit room, a chilling prelude to the brutality that followed. Albert's grip tightened around Richard's uninjured hand, his eyes glinting with malevolent delight. With a sudden, vicious twist, Albert wrenched Richard's wrist backward.

The sickening sound of bones snapping reverberate in the air, a grotesque symphony of pain. Richard's scream tore through the silence, his face contorted in agony as his wrist shattered under the relentless force, leaving a twisted, mangled mess of flesh and bone.

"Unghhhh!!" Richard did his best to move away or utilize his Ether to burn the creepy bastard to death but it was making his wounds hurt even more! The pain in his eyes was visible because of the lamp that was still hanging by his hair and even burned his chin and nose.

The relentless assault came to a stop as Albert suddenly felt a buzz in his jacket pocket. He took an orb out and narrowed his gaze before immediately getting up.

"Wait here for me, young master...I will be back in a moment." Without wasting another moment, Albert got up and ran away.

*Tut* *Tut*

The hurried steps of the butler resonated across the hall as Richard's head hung low.

Once Albert's steps were no longer heard, suddenly Richard lifted his head and looked in front with a bone chilling gaze. Although he was still experiencing the pain, he was not letting go of this opportunity.

He took a long breath before spitting out the sock on his lap.

Next, he began to swing his head back and forth, dangling the lantern until it didn't touch his face and retreated to a decent length.

Gritting his teeth, he summed up all his strength and when the lantern swung away from his face, he pulled his face back with all his might—resulting in his hair strand to snap and the lantern to fall on his lap—burning the sock and his pants swiftly.

Although his legs burned, Richard showed no sign of panic or pain. Rather, a furious smirk danced on his lips as he muttered under his breath,

"I am so gonna enjoy his screams..."

*********

A/N:- I didn't put tag of blood and torture. It didn't bother you right? If it did, comment so I could put tags from the next time.