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chapter 39
If Velia truly was Zher’s niece, then the staff member who had interrogated her was as good as dead.
The staff member, however, spoke as if that were impossible.
“Ha… but the pharmacist in the lab didn’t even have experience as an assistant pharmacist…”
“You’ve kept her inside all this time because she’s precious, that’s true. But I’ve been teaching her the work of a pharmacist personally all this time. Isn’t that more reliable than learning from any professor?”
“Ah…”
Zher’s words made sense.
Zher not only had a pharmacist license but was also considered one of the geniuses of the Valcanus Empire. If he taught her, even someone like Velia with no prior experience could be trusted.
Moreover, her unclear identity had made her suspicious, but now, being a member of the Fredov family gave her the most solid proof of identity.
The interrogating staff member quickly bowed to Velia with a gloomy expression.
“I apologize. I did not recognize Lady Fredov and was rude. If I had been informed beforehand, this would not have happened… I’m deeply sorry.”
Seeing the employee fumbling as if ready to drop to their knees, Zher realized that the situation had completely reversed from a moment ago.
He gave a secretive, satisfied smile inwardly.
“I can’t just let this go willingly.”
Velia was currently accused as the culprit. Even if it weren’t Zher but Teansis defending her, no one could touch her.
The outcome was obvious: she simply would not be able to work as an assistant pharmacist at Kamar Academy again.
What would happen if Velia were expelled from Kamar Academy?
Zher had been providing her with a job and accommodation, and the initial contract, where Velia would help with experiments in return, could become void.
Zher had no intention of letting her go easily, but if she lost her job, she might follow Teansis north.
After all, Velia had a crush on Teansis from the start, so considering the circumstances, it was entirely possible.
But he would never let that happen.
“Now that I’ve given her the Fredov name, she won’t be able to go anywhere.”
There was no fence stronger than family. Once Velia became part of the Fredov family, she couldn’t move freely without his permission.
It was a carefully considered decision Zher had made in a short amount of time.
Teansis frowned, looking skeptical.
“Lady, you say she’s Fredov?”
Others might have accepted it, but Teansis didn’t believe it at all, probably because he had seen Velia up close before.
Watching Teansis’ confused violet eyes, Zher felt a strange pleasure.
“Why? Don’t you believe it?”
“Of course not. It doesn’t make sense for Lady Fredov to have been working as an assistant pharmacist in the lab.”
“Your niece wanted it that way. She wanted to conceal her identity and gain social experience.”
Zher’s explanation was reasonable, but Teansis still didn’t seem convinced. So Zher smiled slightly more mischievously and continued.
“If you really don’t believe me, ask your niece directly.”
At that, all eyes turned to Velia. Her face was pale from the interrogation, but she seemed to be thinking about how to handle the situation.
Zher needed to firmly seal the matter here. There was no escape route. Her weakness was in his hands.
Velia hesitated for a moment before cautiously speaking.
“What the professor said… is correct.”
Teansis’ eyes widened in surprise as he looked at Velia. He knew it wasn’t true, so he couldn’t understand why she would lie.
“Lady.”
At Teansis’ soft call, Velia grasped his collar with her uninjured hand.
“Duke. Please believe me now.”
Teansis gazed at her clear eyes for a moment before nodding.
Soon, his large hand gently brushed her sweat-dampened hair aside.
“I believe you. Anytime.”
It was a brief statement, but full of meaning.
Zher frowned as he watched the two together. For some reason, he didn’t like seeing them so close.
He spoke softly to Nick beside him.
“Take your niece. We’ll go to the Fredov residence.”
Nick approached Velia immediately. As she seemed to be in Teansis’ embrace, he addressed her politely.
“I’ll accompany you, Miss.”
Velia hesitated slightly but then nodded. As she held Nick’s hand to stand, Teansis’ grip on her tightened, as if he didn’t want to let go.
Velia looked at him and gave a faint smile, one that oddly warmed anyone who saw it.
“I’ll get my injuries treated and visit you again soon.”
Teansis’ gaze fell on her right hand, still bleeding from the wounds.
At some point, his arm relaxed.
With Nick’s support, Velia bid farewell to Teansis.
“Until we meet again, take care of your meals.”
Teansis didn’t move until Velia left the interrogation room. He kept his eyes fixed on her every movement.
When Zher followed her out, he heard Teansis mutter softly.
“…That felt like a goodbye we might not have for a long time.”
Zher couldn’t help but laugh loudly as he stepped outside.
“Hahaha.”
Seeing Teansis, always so proud, act so regretful was satisfying.
Zher didn’t know why he felt so gleeful, but he was delighted that he, and no one else, had Velia.
Following Zher, Velia arrived at the Fredov residence, which was magnificent and grand, larger than any mansion she had ever seen.
Guided by maids, she entered a lavish room.
Soon, a doctor introduced himself as the Fredov family physician and began treating her injured hand.
“Ah… ow.”
Disinfecting the torture wounds caused her to cry out unconsciously. She had been enduring the pain, but it still hurt.
She had been holding back for fear that Teansis would worry if she showed pain.
The doctor said,
“Fortunately, the wound isn’t deep, but to prevent scarring, you need consistent care.”
“Yes.”
“Myself and the maids will change your bandages regularly, but if the pain worsens or anything unusual occurs, call for us anytime, Miss.”
Though the polite address “Miss” felt awkward, Velia nodded in acknowledgment.
After the treatment, she was alone again.
When she had been dragged to the interrogation room, it had felt like the end. Somehow, she now found herself at the Fredov residence.
Her life was spectacularly different from before.
‘I wonder what Lulu is doing. She’s probably waiting quietly in my room?’
Thankfully, she had plenty of Munoncho, enough to last a few days.
But she couldn’t leave Lulu alone for long. She would need to go soon to take care of her.
‘As for assistant pharmacist work… I guess I can’t do it anymore.’
She had dreamed of studying to become a pharmacist there, but now she might never work at Kamar Academy again.
Petrin’s words haunted her:
─The student who came under the alchemy professor’s recommendation has no skills. That day, they must have mistakenly added Frecklin!
She had not mixed Frecklin by mistake, but she couldn’t deny her lack of skill.
She thought effort would be enough. She thought they would wait until she gained skill through hard work.
But Petrin’s words shattered that hope.
Her being suspected wasn’t just due to unclear identity. Even if she had revealed she was from the Ferrington family, her lack of experience would have made her the first to be doubted.
She had neither skill nor experience.
She had wanted to learn pharmacy work, believing she could learn it, but reality was a huge barrier.
‘I thought it was an opportunity…’
She had believed that looking younger could mean a fresh start, but the world wasn’t so easy.
She pondered what to do next, gently touching the bandaged hand.
Click—
Without a knock, the door opened.
Startled, she saw Zher standing there. He entered with a sheepish smile.
“Ah, I forgot to knock. I’m not used to the habit yet.”
Zher seemed unusually cheerful. She didn’t understand why.
“Professor.”
“We’re not so formal anymore, right? Niece.”
Zher’s playful words reminded her of when he had introduced her as “Velia Hesel Fredov.” She had been so shocked then.
“Why would you say that? Do you know how embarrassed I was?”
“What? It’s obvious. I wanted to make you my niece.”
She hadn’t expected him to be serious. She thought it was just a lie to get out of that situation.
“Are you really making me your niece?”
Zher’s smile deepened as he saw her shocked face.
“Yes. From today, you’re a distant relative of the Fredov family. I’ve told everyone in the mansion that you’re my cherished niece. In short, overnight, you’ve become a precious young lady of the Fredov family.”
It was so surreal that she couldn’t reply.
Zher seemed to expect this and continued,
“You should be happy. Didn’t you say you wanted to become a pharmacist? To take revenge on the others by yourself?”
“…”
“I’ll enroll you in Kamar Academy.”
“…What?”
She thought she misheard, but Zher, smiling in front of her, seemed serious.
“You don’t need to work as an assistant while studying hard anymore. Enroll as a student and study properly. I’ll support you in every way.”
“P-Professor…”
She was dumbfounded.
Everything he proposed was perfect.
No matter how much she struggled alone, the world wasn’t easy. Studying properly at Kamar Academy and improving her abilities would prevent the despair she currently felt.
Working as an assistant while studying in spare time and enrolling as a student were worlds apart.
She looked at Zher with gratitude, and he smiled, sensing her emotion.
“Now, it’s your turn to say thank you?”
Overjoyed, she grabbed Zher’s hands with both of hers.
Tears threatened to spill, her vision blurred.
“Thank you… so much. I’ll work hard to ensure your support isn’t wasted, and I will definitely become a pharmacist.”
Slap!
Zher startled, shaking her hands off roughly.
“What? You scared me!”
Her injured right hand throbbed, but she didn’t mind. Wiping tears with her bandaged hand, she smiled broadly.
She knew how rare the opportunity to study freely was, something she hadn’t had until almost forty.
“Thank you truly.”
She bowed deeply, expressing sincere gratitude.
Once the tears subsided, she could clearly see Zher’s face. For some reason, he looked quite embarrassed.
“…Overreacting just a little, huh.”
Zher quickly turned his ashen eyes away and roughly brushed his hair back, speaking in a low voice.
“A lot is going to change now. The Fredov family has quite a bit of power. And the taste of power… is very sweet. You can’t even imagine.”
She couldn’t predict what would happen next, but simply being able to study freely made her happy.
With determination, she said to Zher,
“I’ll work hard.”
“Good.”
Hearing Zher’s casual response, she suddenly had a thought.
“So if you call me niece, should I call you uncle?”
“Eh?”
Trying to play along, he scowled, clearly disliking the idea.
“Hearing that makes me feel like we’re actually family. It feels off.”
Wasn’t that the point—to make it feel familial?
She looked at him in confusion. He gave her a displeased glare and continued softly,
“Just call me Professor.”
“But…”
“Don’t argue. I’m the only one who’ll call you niece.”
Zher’s whims were extreme, but she didn’t care. She didn’t mind what title she used.
She nodded slightly, signaling her understanding.
