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Chapter 45
The sun was just beginning to set. Having finished all my assigned work for the day, I stretched and climbed into the carriage for the ride home.
But even after returning, my thoughts were completely elsewhere.
“The Duke of Kazliden…”
I recalled the duke’s aide I’d met earlier that day.
I guess it makes sense that in a place like this underworld, I’d run into someone from the famous Kazliden family.
Gilbert was also deeply connected with the Duke, but the man I’d just met was said to be one of the duke’s closest aides.
And when Felix—the villain—became the duke, that same aide had remained by his side, continuing to serve him.
That alone said enough about his skill and intelligence. When I met him in person, he’d been as broad-shouldered as Grandpa, which honestly startled me for a second.
“But if I remember correctly…”
I’d heard that his whereabouts had become somewhat mysterious lately.
When I’d had dinner with the two of them at the restaurant a while back, I was sure I’d heard someone mention it.
“Hmmm.”
“What are you thinking about again?”
Grandpa set down a plate with my favorite—Uncle Cream’s cake.
Feeling delighted, I grabbed my fork and stabbed the big strawberry sitting on top, popping it right into my mouth.
“I just… have some things to think about.”
“Like what?”
“Hmm…”
After a moment of hesitation, I swallowed the strawberry and said,
“Kazliden.”
Clatter!
A glass fell to the floor.
“Grandpa?!”
Startled, I looked at him blankly staring into space.
“W-What did you just say?”
“Huh?”
“Just now…”
“Oh, Kazliden?”
His face turned even paler. I could see the color drain completely, and I jumped up in alarm.
“Wh-What’s wrong? Did you hurt yourself somewhere—”
“No, it’s nothing!”
He shook his head hard, his eyes fixed on the broken glass.
“G-Go stand over there. I’ll clean this up.”
“But you might cut your hand—”
“I’ve handled sharper things before! I’ll be fine!”
With a firm tone, he picked up one of the larger shards.
And of course—
“Ugh!”
“Grandpa!”
See? I knew this would happen!
You grabbed it too fast—of course you’d get pricked!
I rushed to his side.
“Are you alright?”
“D-Don’t come closer!”
“You look way more in danger than I do though…!”
Who was he trying to protect right now—the one bleeding or the one unhurt?
I urged Grandpa to move to the living room while I ran to grab the first aid kit from the storage room.
Good thing I bought this beforehand.
I tended to be pretty clumsy, always getting little cuts and scrapes.
And I couldn’t just keep chugging healing potions every time something happened, could I?
Having a first-aid kit is an absolute must when you live alone.
When I returned to the living room, Grandpa was sitting on the sofa, looking unusually anxious.
Oh no… he really was shocked, wasn’t he?
This was the man who wouldn’t even flinch if a bunch of thugs broke in—and now he looked nervous. The sight made my chest ache a little.
I quickly went over, opened the kit, and began treating him.
Luckily, the wound wasn’t deep—just a small cut without much bleeding.
But even as I cleaned and dressed it, Grandpa’s expression remained dark and serious, as if his thoughts were miles away.
“Why is she suddenly thinking about Kazliden?”
Meanwhile, after being treated by Amelia, Winstons sat stiffly on the sofa, still troubled.
He was already in a foul mood after seeing a Kazliden carriage earlier, and now this?
“Don’t tell me my location’s been exposed?”
No, that couldn’t be.
If that had happened, that brat Felix would never have stayed quiet about it. Still, the carriage he’d seen was one of the exclusive ones only the Kazliden family could use.
Only two people had the authority to send that carriage—Felix or the duke himself.
And since it definitely wasn’t him…
“Could Felix have sent it?”
But why would he?
And how on earth did he even know about my little girl?
There was no connection between them whatsoever.
Felix’s social skills were practically nonexistent; everyone in high society knew he never bothered maintaining relationships.
Even when people tried to get close, he’d just ignore them and walk away. That was his nature—my dear grandson.
And now I’m supposed to believe that he and my little girl know each other? If that were true, I’d have heard about it long ago from Maytal or Dion.
“Speaking of which—why the hell is Dion taking so long?!”
Winstons glanced out the window irritably. The night outside was pitch black now that the sun had fully set.
Despite his growing impatience, Dion didn’t appear until almost a week after he’d been sent on his mission.
“!”
After the child had fallen asleep, Winstons, sitting as usual in the living room, felt a faint presence and immediately stood up.
Careful not to wake her, the seasoned underworld boss tiptoed outside.
But the long-awaited friend who finally arrived…
“…You.”
“…”
“You look like you got beaten up.”
Dion looked like he’d been through hell—like someone had dragged him into a dungeon for questioning.
“Why so late?”
“…I had my reasons. Once you hear what happened three days ago, you’ll want to pay me triple.”
“Stop exaggerating.”
“I’m serious this time!”
He nearly raised his voice, then quickly clamped a hand over his mouth.
He glanced up at the darkened second floor and sighed in relief.
“Okay, don’t freak out when you hear this. No shouting, no swearing at me, got it?”
“What are you talking abou—”
“The young lady’s working at Raymond.”
“Son of a—!”
“Hey! Don’t swear at me! If you’re going to curse someone, curse Gilbert for hiring her!”
“My kid—why is she working there?”
Raymond was one of the top organizations in the underworld. Of course it was—look who oversaw it!
But how could she have possibly gotten a job there? Sure, she’d gotten better at using magic, but she was still a beginner.
For Gilbert himself to hire her, she must’ve shown some remarkable skill elsewhere…
“How should I know? What’s worse is that she’s working on the sixth floor. You know what that means, don’t you?”
“…Unbelievable.”
The sixth floor—the one with the guildmaster’s office. Only top-level personnel or special associates could even enter there.
Winstons pressed his temple with a groan.
“If she’s up there…”
Then she’s bound to have run into Felix. Maybe even regularly enough to be on speaking terms by now.
“But Gilbert, that bastard—he won’t tell me what exactly she’s doing there.”
