Alexandra stared at me helplessly as she mouthed sorry, then with a polite nod towards the dean master, she turned around and said, "I'll be waiting outside."
I'm not sure if she said that to me or to the dean master, since I could only see her back walking away, and it seems the red haired woman no longer intended to say anything more; Alexandra closed the wooden door, leaving me alone in the room with the dean master.
Words can't even describe what I'm feeling right now. Here I thought I finally found someone who I could trust; just to leave me alone to fend for myself. What happened to our agreement that I simply need to nod?
A vexing sigh escaped my soul as I bit my lower lip, staring at the wooden door. 'Complaining wouldn't solve the matter at hand,' I thought to myself as I tried to calm the nerving tidal waves in my chest.
Wait, maybe I'm just being too judgemental? Maybe the dean master only has a hard and cold exterior?
Like those kinds of characters, what was it called again? I think tsundere was how otakus describe this kind of personality. Hard on the outside but soft on the inside. Perhaps the dean master was a tsundere?
Thinking this way, I became a little optimistic again as I casted a curious glance at the dean master, who was squinting her eyes at me.
'Nope, let's put this curiosity away,' I said to myself as I averted my gaze and stared around the room instead.
"Find anything interesting?" Said dean master suddenly.
I turned to look again at the dean master, and I gulped as I found that she still had her eyes narrowed at me. Her head was slightly tilted to the side like she was trying to figure me out.
I stretched my lips into an awkward smile, feeling uncomfortable in my heart. "Everything is just…" I trailed as I stared around the room.
The dean master's office doesn't look that different from an ordinary office room. There was a wooden desk on the side. Sofa for the guest. There's also a small bookshelf. Maybe to relieve boredom.
All in all, it doesn't look that different. Except, my normal standard looked more modern than this ancient looking furniture. Not a brick wall room, nor a wooden door, or a chandelier at the ceiling. Even though it should be normal in this world; for me, as a modern woman, I still can't help but feel strange.
Especially knowing that this is a setting on a book I've read before my unfortunate transmigration; in my original world, that is.
"Well? Just…what?" The dean master inquired.
With a quiet sigh, I grabbed the back of my neck and awkwardly said, "Just a little more cosy…"
"I guess?" I finished sounding unsure. After all, I don't know how to describe it in any other way, but saying that this room was cosy was definitely a lie.
In my peripheral vision, I saw the dean master nodded her head as she replied, "cosy, huh. Well, that's a first."
"Most people who come here only complain how uncomfortable this room makes them feel," the dean master added as she walked to the single couch.
The dean master sat on it with her legs crossed, displaying a bit of her pale skin and bare legs from the split on the side of her fitted red dress.
'It's not the room, it's you,' I said in my thoughts, but I chose not to comment instead. I remain silent thinking of myself as a rock, and rocks don't talk.
"Since you say it's cosy, why don't you have a seat, so we could go down to business," the dean said, still with narrowed eyes.
I held my breath feeling a sudden invincible pressure, but I still tried to remain calm on the surface. Yet, my knees failed me as I felt them timidly walking on the sofa.
Slowly, I made my way on the much larger sofa and sat on the edge, so I could have a certain distance from the dean master. I just couldn't bear to be too close to the dean master.
"Before we begin, let me ask you a question first," the dean master started, and I nodded attentively, so she continued and said, "are you Duke Lukas daughter?"
"Uhm, yeah…?" I replied, grabbing the back of my neck.
"Yeah?" The dean master repeated; a bit confused.
"I mean, yes," I said hurriedly.
"Hmm, alright. Well for my next question…"
'There's still more?!'
"Do you remember me?" The dean master inquired.
Eh? Remember? Did the original Nasrin meet her before I transmigrated in this body?
I knitted my brows and said, "I don't seem to remember…"
The dean master didn't respond as she stared at me with suspicious eyes. After a while, her red bloody lips opened as she calmly replied, "well, you were only 5 when you first met me so that's to be expected, but seeing you tall and grown up to a fine young lady is making me feel old and a little nostalgic."
"Oh," I said, not knowing how to respond since I don't know anything about her. Not to mention that the dean master didn't play any role in the book.
"Well, let me introduce myself again, my name is Penelope Kingsley, the dean master of the mystic academy," the dean master said.
Penelope Kingsley?
Badump. My heart jumps and my eyes widen as I realise who the dean master is.
In the novel, the dean master of the mystic academy never appeared in the book, so I thought it would be fine to help Alexandra with this problem.
However, it never occured to me that the real dean master of this academy was that person.
Despite the dean master never playing a role in the novel, Penelope Kingsley on the other hand was often mentioned, especially after the villain got killed.
In the novel, the author would only explain the life of the protagonist, Kendra. That's why I don't really have any specific information about how the original Nasrin became acquainted with Penelope, who turns out to be the dean master of the academy.
After all, the author only revealed Penelope's character after the protagonist got engaged to the princess and after the villain got killed. At the final act of the book, it was revealed in the novel that Penelope was the instigator and the mastermind, the root of evil.
Penelope was the one who weaved Nasrin into a villain; the one who also instigated other minor-villain characters into committing a crime.
As for the reason why she did that? It was explained by the author that Penelope was the king's sister, and Penelope had a grudge with the king, so that's why she raised havoc in the kingdom. According to the novel, Penelope used Nasrin because this little villain was so easy to use. Probably because Nasrin was also kind of a psychopath and had an obsession towards the princess, so Nasrin got easily manipulated by Penelope.
Afterwards, the little villain got assassinated by her own maid Lory, and the author finally revealed Penelope Kingsley.
But the author didn't mention that Penelope was the mysterious dean master in the academy. The book only mentioned that Penelope was the king's sister and part of the royal family.
That's why I had no idea that Penelope Kingsley was the dean master. If I hadn't agreed to come here, I would probably still be clueless that I just entered the wolf's den.
"What's the matter? You suddenly became pale," said the dean master; also known as Penelope.
Seeing the enemy was still there watching me, I calmed my horrified heart as I tried to adjust my state of mind. With a neutral face, I turned to look at Penelope and calmly said, "I'm fine, don't worry, anyway, it was nice meeting you, Miss Penelope."
"Just dean master is enough," Penelope corrected.
I nodded with a neutral face. "I understand, dean master," I said.
'Penelope probably doesn't want anyone to find out her real identity,' I thought suspiciously in my heart.
I took a deep, shaky sigh. Here I thought I would be safe here in this academy, but it turns out that I just voluntarily sent myself to hell. Regret slowly started invading my heart.
"Well, let's go down to business," Penelope started, intertwining her fingers together in a clasp, resting her elbows on the armrest of the sofa. Penelope had this aura around her that made her seem like some executive in a rich company.
I cleared my messy thoughts and decided to focus first on the enemy before me. I straightened my back so I wouldn't look weak, and I made sure to maintain a neutral expression. However, no matter how much I tried to look calm on the surface, deep inside me; my heart kept telling me that…
'I'm in deep trouble.'
"So Alex said that she wanted you to become her personal assistant, can you tell me about this?" Penelope inquired.
When Penelope said Alex, she must be referring to Alexandra. Instead of answering, I questioned her back.
"What do you want to know?" I said nonchalantly, but deep inside, my heart is causing storms of trepidation.
Penelope shrugged and said, "anything…" then she smirked as she added, "everything."
At that, Penelope stared at me waiting for me to answer, and I stared back blankly.
I don't know what to tell her. I couldn't possibly just say; that I made a deal with Alexandra to become a guinea pig under the guise of being her personal assistant. Telling this information to the enemy might bring me nothing but trouble.
Who knows what Penelope would do with this piece of information; especially considering how she was described in the book; I can't risk telling Penelope about this.
Not to mention that this academy had a strict rule to treat each student equally. If I told Penelope the truth, then she might use it to blackmail me, and then manipulate me to her benefit. Or worse, expel me from the academy, which will make me meet Lory again in the Urduja's mansion.
To be honest, I would rather stay here in the academy than with Lory. After all, it was Lory who killed Nasrin in the novel. Not to mention that Lory has already displayed signs of doubts with my recent behaviour, which means that Lory is probably aware that this body and the personality of the Nasrin she knew suddenly changed.
So I absolutely won't tell Penelope about the real reason why Alexandra hired me as an assistant. However, seeing how Penelope went to the extent of inviting me here alone; she probably wants something from me. As for what it is, I still have no clue.
I can't think of any right words or what to tell her that would seem believable. There's nothing to tell aside from simply saying that…I became an assistant.
But the reason for that was because Alexandra was interested in my dark attributes. If I told her my ability, Penelope might discover that I'm just a guinea pig, so that also won't do.
As I fell deeper into my thoughts, my temples throb in pain, feeling a sudden headache from all of these ridiculous things.
I glance at the closed wooden door and suddenly miss the evil face of Alexandra. That red haired woman was much easier to handle than this dean master before me. Didn't Alexandra say that I simply need to nod? Then I'll make her fulfil what she promised.
"I think asking Professor AC will make you more enlightened, shall I call her in?" I said, pointing at the door as I stood up, attempting to escape.
"No," Penelope flatly refused. "Sit down," she commanded in a calm authoritative voice, so I could only obediently sit down again.
With a deep sigh, I stared at Penelope with a helpless smile. "Dean master, I think you should interview my employer instead of me, after all, she was the one who offered this position."
"I see, so Alex was the one who tried to seduce…" Penelope mumbled in a whisper, but I still vaguely heard it.
Seduce, she says? That's not entirely wrong, but that isn't also right either. Well, I was indeed attracted to Alexandra's offer, but the term seduce doesn't sit right with me. It sounded wrong and, well, just wrong.
As my thoughts became awkward, I glanced at Penelope who seemed to be squinting her eyes at me. Although Penelope always has narrowed squinting eyes, yet this time, it kinda seems deadly. There's something about her gaze that looks dangerous.
I cleared my throat and I awkwardly asked, "Dean master, if there's something you want to know, please do tell me."
Just kidding. I won't tell her about my secret. It's just that her gaze was slowly killing me, so I said that to make her talk, and it seemed that Penelope took the bait as she leaned slightly forward.
"Can you tell me what the real score is between you and Alex?" Penelope probed.
Real score?
My brows furrowed in confusion. "Naturally, I'm her personal assistant?" I replied unsurely. "Or soon to be, I guess," I added shortly.
"Just an assistant?" Penelope inquired further, tilting her to the side with peering eyes.
"Otherwise?" I replied, puzzled.
Penelope rested her cheek on her palm as her elbow rested on the armrest, looking at me up and down in a judging eyes.
Feeling both awkward and uncomfortable, I stared at the wooden table. The table suddenly became interesting to look at.
'Does she know that I became a guinea pig?' I asked suspiciously in my heart.
No. Impossible. Penelope shouldn't know about this secret. That deal just happened earlier about two and a half hours ago. No one should know about it except for me and Alexandra. After all, that red haired woman is also worried about the risk of the shady negotiation that we both made.
Additionally, Alexandra has been with me the whole time, so this thing or information that Penelope is searching for shouldn't be about me. So if it's not about me, perhaps this is about Alexandra?
If that is the case then…
Why did Penelope call me here instead of that red haired woman? Or perhaps, is it about her identity as the dean master of this academy?
At that, I took a glance at Penelope, and as usual, her red bloody eyes were scrutinising every inch of me, giving me this dangerous look.
I swallowed, feeling pressured as I averted my eyes.
I don't want to think anymore. This should be a happy day, and yet, here I am with another problem. I never had the chance to relax ever since transmigrating in this world. I'm starting to get really antsy, but it's not like complaining and whining would change my situation either way.
'What does Penelope even want from me?'
I tried to recall any information in the novel that might help me with this situation.
The author said that Penelope had a grudge with the king, and it was the reason why Penelope decided to raise havoc.
My brows creased together. 'What was her grudge with the king again?'
If I recall in the novel, it was mentioned in the book that Penelope had a beta lover that the king didn't approve of. The king instead had assigned an arranged marriage for Penelope. An alpha knight from the Salvador Clan, a clan of knightly alphas.
Which Penelope adamantly rejected, and this earned the wrath of the Salvador Clan.
The Salvador Clan felt embarrassed that they were rejected by an omega. Even if that omega was the king's sister, the Salvador Clan still feels that a mere omega has no right to reject an alpha in marriage.
After all, this world is mostly ruled by alphas, and omegas must be obedient and submissive is how most people think in this world. Which is why the Salvador Clan sent someone from their family to assassinate Penelope, so they could regain back the face they lost from the embarrassment that Penelope made.
And that's where the beta lover comes. Even though the name of the beta lover was not mentioned in the book, the beta lover played a crucial role in the transformation of Penelope.
According to the book, it was said that the beta lover died from protecting Penelope. In return to that, Penelope blackened, seeking revenge on the Salvador Clan. However, at the moment, this event has not happened yet. And I don't know who this mysterious beta lover is.
Let's see, if we connect the dots, then Penelope is probably keeping me here, because she is suspicious that I'm related to the king. After all, I'm a noble, and a noble is under the jurisdiction of the king.
So now, the question is, why am I being kept here?