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Chapter 59
The moment our eyes met, I snapped fully awake.
Come to think of it, I had heard Grandpa’s name once before.
‘The name on the contract!’
I had signed a contract with him — one where he promised to protect me.
And the name written there was—
“Grandpa.”
“……Yes.”
“What… what is your full name, exactly?”
Grandpa looked a little flustered as his lips trembled.
“It… it’s W-Westenze.”
Westenze.
And the name he used on the contract was “Wiz.”
So it was just a shortened version…
I let out a small sigh.
Not only had I been scammed by a real estate agent, but I’d also made a contract with the head of the underworld…
This is bad…
What should I do now?
I bossed Grandpa around like crazy…
Sure, he never snapped at me or called me a rude brat or anything…
But still! I basically used the leader of the criminal underworld as a handyman! Even if he volunteered on the grounds that he couldn’t stand how messy a student’s home was, still—!
How much money do I have saved again?
I heard once that you can withdraw cash from any bank nationwide.
But if I run, that’s a breach of contract.
The only reason I could’ve become rich overnight was because of that contract. If I ran without fulfilling my obligations, they’d hunt me down as a con artist who stole their money.
“Um, A-Amelia.”
While I was pressing my temples and trying to calm my chaotic thoughts, Westenze — who had been fidgeting anxiously — spoke up carefully.
“I never intended to deceive you. I truly, honestly meant to tell you first… but then all of this happened—”
He rushed through his excuses, then let out a heavy sigh. Perhaps even he realized it was too late for excuses now.
His shoulders drooped.
“I’m sorry. I should have told you much earlier.”
“……”
“I never meant to mislead you. That much, I can swear on my life. I will do everything I can to make sure this incident doesn’t cause you any trouble. On the honor, dignity, pride, self-respect, and life of this Kazliden—”
W-woah.
That’s… that’s way too much to stake on this.
But maybe my silence made him think I was angry. Grandpa did not stop.
“No, no. No matter how you look at it, this is my fault. I should have told you beforehand. I disturbed your peace without giving you any warning. This is on me.”
“G-Grandpa?”
“I’m truly sorry, Amelia. And because of those fools, your ceiling is ruined… I’ll rebuild your entire house for you. No—how about I just give you half the capital? This place is too dangerous anyway, I was planning to move you—”
“W–wait!”
His voice kept escalating, so I hurried to stop him.
This wasn’t going to work otherwise.
This won’t do.
I glanced sideways at the men sitting beside him.
Felix, Gilbert, even the men prostrated on the floor all looked equally stunned. Understandable — the head of the underworld was bowing his head to a little kid.
“Little Duke.”
“Why.”
Felix spoke quietly, his gaze unusually lowered.
“Could you step outside for a moment? The others too.”
“Me too?”
Gilbert pointed to himself, confused. I nodded firmly.
Felix also looked like he didn’t understand why he had to leave, but he stood without complaint.
He glanced down at me and muttered seriously,
“Don’t kill the old man.”
“W–why would I?!”
Why would I kill Grandpa!
I glared at him, and Felix snorted with laughter.
The men who’d been lying face-down stood up gingerly. Under Westenze’s sharp glare, they quietly went outside.
Felix and Gilbert also crossed the threshold a moment later.
“Phew.”
Finally alone with Grandpa, I let out a long breath.
Grandpa, still anxiously watching me, opened his mouth.
“Are you very angry with me?”
“Hmm… Not angry. More like… extremely surprised and embarrassed…?”
If I were angry, I would’ve confronted him about why he lied. But to be fair, I was the one who insisted we not pry into each other’s private lives.
I hid the fact that I can make potions too.
If we’re counting who lied more, I’m definitely in no position to scold him.
“I-I’m sorry.”
His face had gone pale as he apologized quickly. I also waved my hands fast.
“No, I’m really fine. Actually… I also have something I’ve been hiding…”
“Hiding?”
“Yes. You’ll probably find out soon, but still…”
I clenched my pajamas tightly, then confessed everything I had been hiding.
At this point, keeping secrets felt pointless.
And then—
“You—you can—!”
Just as expected.
Grandpa nearly fainted when he learned I could whip up potions in an instant.
“I-I’m sorry. I don’t have an older brother. My family’s just… fallen apart… And I slipped away during that and tried to live independently, but ended up getting scammed by a real estate agent. I’m Amelia Fran.”
“Fran… as in the merchant house?”
It seemed our house really was famous once, because Grandpa looked shocked.
“But not anymore. We went completely bankrupt.”
“So that’s why you came all the way here.”
I nodded carefully.
It really had been a dramatic journey.
“Now it makes sense.”
“Sorry? What does?”
“No, it’s nothing.”
Grandpa shook his head with a complicated expression. I pursed my dry lips and glanced at him nervously.
He looked like he was thinking far more than just being surprised.
For a moment, I grew anxious — wondering if Grandpa felt betrayed by me this time.
But after a pause, he spoke suddenly.
“Thank you for being honest. And… once again, I’m truly sorry.”
“N-no, it’s fine. I also didn’t explain things properly, and I know it must have been hard for you to tell me.”
A normal noble might have been able to speak freely, but he was a Kazliden.
He couldn’t reveal his identity carelessly. And since there were people after him, he might’ve thought revealing himself to me would put me in danger too.
Besides—
He treated me so well all this time.
If he’d meant to deceive me, that would be one thing. But from the first day we met up until now, Grandpa had taken such careful care of me.
If it weren’t for him, I might have literally starved to death… or ended up living like some broken shell of a person.
