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“Money Envelope, I’ll Receive It Once”Chapter : 06
I thought that with the letter of introduction I received from the Duke, my grandmother’s illness could now be completely cured.
But there was one unexpected obstacle.
“I’m not going.”
Even though she was lying in bed with no strength to even get up, Grandma’s voice was extremely firm. Completely stubborn, as if she didn’t care about anyone’s feelings.
“Didn’t I tell you? The hospital fee is free, you just have to go! You can stay in a hospital room comfortably until you recover completely!”
“Then tell me—who exactly is this kind sponsor who got you that letter of introduction from the Duke?”
“Uh….”
The Duke himself.
…Of course I couldn’t say that, so I hesitated. In that moment, Grandma without hesitation tore the letter of introduction into pieces.
“G-Grandma!”
“I’d rather die than accept this suspicious money.”
“But—!”
“Do you think magical treatment costs just a couple coins? Who knows what they’ll demand in return for paying that much money!”
“No, really, it’s fine!”
“I don’t want to hear it!”
For the first time since falling ill, Grandma raised her voice at me.
“If you ever bring something like this again, I’ll crawl into my coffin myself.”
“Why would you say something like that… Grandma!”
Perhaps from the strain of shouting, Grandma coughed violently and spat out dark blood.
“Cough, hack… my words… remember… ngh.”
“Okay, I understand. So please don’t talk anymore. I’ll get you some water…”
I quickly wiped her mouth and hands with a wet cloth and grabbed the water jug, but her thin, lifeless hand like a dried tree grabbed my wrist weakly.
“Child… don’t you understand… I care about you as much as you care about me.”
“How could I not…”
I couldn’t say “not understand.”
Before I could even say it, Grandma continued speaking while coughing.
“My last wish is to close my eyes peacefully beside you. So don’t argue.”
Having said that firmly, she told me to leave so she could rest.
I couldn’t say anything else and left the room holding the blood-stained cloth and torn paper scraps.
“Unni, are you okay?”
Maybe she heard Grandma yelling. Daisy, who had been standing blankly by the door, took the bloodied cloth from my hand and asked carefully.
I sniffled and shook my head.
“Not okay at all.”
Honestly, I had considered it too.
Pretending to be the Duke’s fake lover to receive money and get kicked out on purpose.
In fact, I might even get beaten up before I ever received the money envelope.
I had signed the contract prepared for even that possibility. Because I wasn’t ready to lose Grandma yet.
If there was absolutely no other way, fine—but if I could endure a little hardship to save her…
‘And I’m supposed to just stand by and watch Grandma die?’
Absolutely not.
If that’s how it is, I’ll force it through.
I clenched both fists tightly.
* * *
Sunday. In front of the fifth-floor fountain in Fountain Square.
As I sat alone on a bench, the Duke appeared in front of me—today without his hood, revealing his striking face.
“You came early. Did you wait long?”
“No, I just got here. But Duke, I have something important to tell you.”
“Hm. Don’t tell me you’re backing out of the contract already.”
“It’s somewhat similar. There’s been a problem with our agreement.”
At my words, the Duke smiled slightly. It was a somewhat cold smile.
“The ink on the contract isn’t even dry yet.”
“It’s not that my feelings changed. Just listen.”
I honestly told him that Grandma was suspicious about the origin of the letter of introduction.
“She thinks I might be being sold off in exchange for it. Medical treatment is expensive after all.”
“You could just say you’re helping me with something.”
“Then she’ll keep asking what kind of work I’m doing, and I couldn’t think of a good excuse.”
I couldn’t reveal that I was pretending to be his fake lover.
Grandma hated romantic stories involving nobles so much she would practically shudder.
‘She used to say it was dangerous for naïve kids to read such stories and dream of romance with nobles.’
That’s why she even hated Rose Without Frost.
No matter how many times she threw the book away, I kept picking it up and secretly reading it.
“So your grandmother is refusing treatment… that’s what this is about?”
“Yes. So… could you please personally convince her? She trusts me more than anything, so it should be fine.”
Even though it could have been bothersome, the Duke nodded easily.
“Alright. Let’s go now.”
“Really? You’ll really convince her yourself?”
“If it’s to proceed with the contract smoothly, this is nothing.”
“Yes, thank you!”
As expected, just like I thought a few days ago, the Duke was truly very kind.
If Grandma talks to him directly, she’ll surely realize he’s a trustworthy person too.
* * *
“You mean… the Duke himself wrote the letter of introduction?”
But contrary to my hopeful expectations, the atmosphere grew serious.
While I was the only one thinking that, the Duke calmly smiled at Grandma’s stiff expression.
“Yes. I wrote it. For our Iri.”
His voice was as gentle and soft as always.
…That’s what I thought—but Grandma suddenly snapped back to her senses, hurriedly reaching for the bedside table and pulling her veil over her head.
It all happened before I could even stop her.
“D-Duke… how exactly did you come to know Iri?”
Her voice trembled weakly.
Just as I panicked and tried to grab Grandma’s hand, the Duke spoke.
“There’s no need to be so formal. Just treat me casually—like your granddaughter’s boyfriend.”
“…W-what did you just say?”
“Boyfriend. I am Iri’s.”
Grandma whipped her head toward me so fast the veil fluttered.
For a moment, I felt like our eyes met through the veil, and I quickly closed my mouth.
‘B-boyfriend?! Duke?!’
But as if ignoring both Grandma’s shock and my confusion, the Duke continued calmly.
“I’m completely smitten with your granddaughter. I’d give her everything I have. So you don’t need to worry she’s being sold off. She’ll be treated very preciously by my side.”
He reached out, gently pulled me closer by the shoulder.
I was a little flustered, but feeling Grandma’s gaze, I quickly rested my head against the Duke’s shoulder as if I were acting naturally.
‘Is… is this right?’
Honestly, I wasn’t sure.
I awkwardly covered my face with my hand, pretending to be embarrassed—but to Grandma, it must have looked even more unnatural.
“…N-no. No, this cannot be. Our Iri cannot.”
“Hm?”
Grandma suddenly prostrated herself on the bed.
“Grandma! What are you doing?!”
I rushed to help her up, but she wouldn’t move. Holding onto my arm, she pleaded toward the Duke.
“Please leave my child alone. She’s… far too unworthy… for someone so noble…”
“My, why would you say something like that? You’ll hurt your granddaughter’s feelings.”
The Duke lifted Grandma’s body with ease and laid her back onto the bed.
Then, as she lay stiff and unable to move, he even covered her with a blanket and spoke to me.
“Iri, could you step outside for a moment?”
“Eh? …Why?”
“I’d like to have a very deep conversation with your grandmother. It’ll be difficult if you’re here.”
“Do I really have to? Can’t I stay?”
“Don’t worry. I won’t speak ill of you.”
Before I could resist, he gently pushed me out of the room.
“W-wait!”
The door closed, and soon I heard the lock click.
I tugged at the handle helplessly and let out a sigh.
‘What just happened?’
Grandma’s reaction wasn’t just fear of a noble of high status.
It was something deeper—like guilt.
‘The Duke also looked like he knew why…’
After a moment of thought, I reached a conclusion.
‘Do they know each other?’
If so, then…
Could it be that the noble connected to Grandma’s burn scar is related to the House of Rudian?
* * *
After sending Iri outside and locking the door so she couldn’t re-enter, Elkius took out a magical device from his pocket and activated it.
“Now then, Iri won’t be able to hear our conversation.”
Elkius tapped the legs of the round chair beside the bed with his foot, dragging it closer, then sat down.
“Shall we finally have a proper conversation?”
“…”
“Why so silent, Berga? Or should I say… Margaret?”
At the sudden revelation of her real name, Margaret trembled violently.
