TRST 33

Chapter 33

The moment my grandfather finished speaking, my eyes burned with heat. In an instant, the skin around my eyes turned red, and tears began to well up.

I already knew, deep down. About my grandfather’s condition. When Dr. Watt recently suggested that I visit him, my heart had dropped as if it had skipped a beat.

No way… it can’t be.

Negative thoughts flashed through my mind. Worry for my grandfather made my fingertips go cold.

Yet, at the same time, I felt it was right to have come to see him today.

Enjoying the banquet being held today would be nice, but I knew few people there would greet me warmly. Besides, I wouldn’t have much time left with my grandfather.

If possible, I wanted to spend my time with my grandfather, who had become like family to me.

“Cecile.”

I heard my grandfather call my name. My vision blurred with tears, and I had to blink several times before I could see clearly. The tears that had gathered around my eyes now ran freely down my cheeks.

“Your Grace, here.”

Rachel, seeing my state, handed me a handkerchief. I took it and slowly wiped away my tears.

Only then could I look at my grandfather properly.

“I’m sorry… you must be more upset than I am.”

“No, my dear.”

He looked at me with a mixture of pity and affection and reached out his hand. He gently wrapped his warm hand around mine, which was tightly gripping the handkerchief. I could feel his warmth surrounding me.

I lowered my gaze to look at the hand he was holding, then met his eyes. His wrinkled eyes carried the gentle, loving smile I had always known.

“Thank you. And I’m sorry.”

In his frail voice, there was a deep sense of regret and guilt.

“Cecilia… I think I was far too selfish. Everything I wanted to do for you ended up burdening you too much.”

“No, that’s not true. As I’ve said before, I’ve been able to endure until now because of you. If you hadn’t saved me when I lost my parents, I wouldn’t be here today.”

With each breath, the sadness inside me grew heavier. At times, I wished I could stop breathing just to escape it.

“I’ll stay until dinner today.”

I spoke, wanting to be near him as much as I could.

“You don’t have to, dear. Aren’t you feeling unwell? I’ll manage dinner on my own, so don’t worry about me. What fun is there for you in staying with an old man anyway?”

Remembering the time I had coughed up blood, he spoke cautiously. I shook my head, refusing.

“I wasn’t planning to leave early anyway. Don’t worry.”

“….”

Unable to insist further, he nodded.

“Alright. Then come back when you feel ready. But don’t stay late just because of me.”

“Of course. I am an adult, after all.”

I shrugged, and he let out a hearty laugh.

“Then why not sit down?”

He gestured to a chair, and I gladly sat beside him. Though he said I could leave early, my insistence on staying made him look slightly relieved.

I knew well that although he appeared strong outwardly, he was a tender-hearted man, so I sat beside him quietly, smiling.

My grandfather was a lonely man.

He lost his wife in a difficult childbirth, raised his only son with dedication, then lost his daughter-in-law to illness and his son to a sudden accident.

Ains had blamed my grandfather for Alex’s death and hated him, but he never considered the pain of losing his son.

Even after marrying Ains, I had tried many times to encourage him to reconcile with my grandfather, but Ains never listened. Naturally, since he thought I was on my grandfather’s side.

Now, faced with this situation, I felt resentment toward Ains.

Couldn’t he at least understand my grandfather’s feelings and reconcile?

Did he not even realize what it would feel like for my grandfather to be hated by his only remaining grandchild?

He would regret it someday…

“But does Ains know about your illness?”

While talking, my grandfather suddenly asked.

I paused and looked at him. He added an explanation.

“Last time, you coughed up blood in front of Ains, right? He must have guessed you’re sick, hasn’t he?”

I moved my lips a few times before answering.

“He knows everything.”

“Everything?”

“Yes. After that incident, he came to see me the next day. I had accidentally dropped a bottle of medicine containing a mild relief drug in the dining hall. He came with the bottle to check on my condition. I explained briefly, and after that, it seems he did some research himself.”

“I see…”

My grandfather fell silent for a moment, then spoke with a bitter tone.

“And yet he offers no help… My grandson can be so cold. And she was once his wife too.”

“No!”

I waved my hands quickly, correcting his misunderstanding. Only then did he look at me, eyes wide.

“Actually… he offered to help.”

“…Ains?”

I let out a small laugh at my grandfather’s disbelief.

“Yes. The Duke offered. But… I refused. For now, all that’s left is suppressing the occasional surges of mana inside me. I still have plenty of the relief medicine, and more importantly, I’m learning to control mana from Master Cesare at the Mana Tower. So I judged that I didn’t need the Duke’s help.”

“As I heard before… that fickle Master Cesare, I can’t understand him.”

Sighing, my grandfather spoke, and I had to clarify further.

“Actually, until I got the Tiera flower used for treatment, I kept receiving mana stones from the Mana Tower. Absorbing high-quality mana stones for over six months seems to have piqued Master Cesare’s curiosity. He wanted to see if someone who absorbed mana stones long-term could learn mana faster.”

“Heh… And… are the results showing?”

“Yes. According to Master Cesare, I’ve been able to feel mana in the shortest period possible.”

I smiled at the thought. My grandfather watched me and nodded with a pleased expression.

“That’s good. I feel somewhat relieved now. I thought maybe you’d need Ains’ help, but apparently, it’s not necessary.”

“Yes. I’m doing well on my own, so you don’t need to worry.”

“Of course, Cecilia. I believe you can handle it. But if you ever need my help, don’t hesitate to ask.”

His kind words felt powerful. Just hearing him comfort me made my heavy body feel lighter.

Yet, I couldn’t ignore the weight of his words mentioning the future. I smiled bitterly and nodded toward him.

“Yes… I will.”

As we talked, it soon became lunchtime. I pushed my grandfather’s wheelchair to the dining hall on the same floor.

Unexpectedly, Ains was already there. I thought he was just passing through for work, but that wasn’t the case. He merely glanced at us as we arrived while reading some documents.

“You’re here early, Ains.”

“Yes.”

Despite my grandfather’s friendly tone, Ains only responded briefly.

“Didn’t you say you had work?”

Ains glanced at me when my grandfather asked, then shrugged and handed the documents to Jackson.

“I was preparing work, and it simply became lunchtime. I plan to go straight to the royal palace after eating.”

His tone remained cold and distant. I thought it might be harsh for my grandfather, being his only family, but I knew I had no right to interfere, so I stayed silent.

Once seated, the meal was served.

“Cecilia, eat well.”

My grandfather said this before the meal began. I responded with a grateful smile.

Throughout the meal, Ains remained silent, as if lost in his own world. My grandfather occasionally glanced at him.

I imagined how disappointed my grandfather might feel. Should I try speaking to Ains?

Just as I thought this, my grandfather spoke to me.

“Cecilia… now that you’re divorced and alone, don’t you feel lonely or afraid?”

“Huh?”

Startled by the sudden question, I looked at him. He quickly continued.

“If you’re okay with it, I could introduce someone suitable for you.”