LUW 53

Chapter 53

The street vendor glanced at Cecilia and handed the bracelet, packed in a paper box, to Valdir.

In the meantime, Cecilia calmed her surprised heart and slowly stood up.

“…It’s been a while, Lord Valdir.”

When Cecilia politely bowed her head and greeted him, Valdir’s eyes widened in surprise. Then, after freezing for a moment, he suddenly threw his head back and burst into loud laughter.

“Wahaha! Aren’t you the little girl who climbed a tree to get a dalae fruit and fell flat on her face?!”

Cecilia’s face turned bright red. Shame surged over her at the mention of a childhood memory she had forgotten.

“That was ages ago.”

“Haha, sorry, sorry. It’s just that I’m surprised to see the little girl grown into a fine lady. You’ve really grown up, huh?”

With traces of laughter still on his face, Valdir reached out his hand to her.

He meant to simply pat her head, but Cecilia avoided his hand.

His hand, now without a destination, hovered awkwardly in the air.

“If you have nothing more to say, I’ll be going.”

There was nothing good to come from getting involved with Valdir right now.

Just as she coldly turned to leave, Valdir flashed a grin.

“Why so cold? Aren’t you happy to see your uncle after so long?”

“I don’t think we’re on such friendly terms anymore.”

Shortly after her grandfather’s passing, Valdir had left the family.

She had been young then and hadn’t yet recovered her memories from her past life, but she distinctly remembered things hadn’t ended well between her father and Valdir.

And now, she knew that their falling-out had been over differences in opinion about the family’s weapon business.

“It’s been a while. Don’t you even have time for a cup of tea?”

“No. I’m busy.”

“You looked like you were just strolling around, though.”

Cecilia frowned slightly.

Just how much had he been watching her?

Could it really be coincidence that they ran into each other in such a vast capital city?

As her mind swirled with chaotic thoughts, Valdir chuckled lightly.

“I won’t take up much of your time. How about a quick cup with your uncle? Oh, I’m not saying it’ll be on the house.”

He held up the paper box with the silver bracelet inside, as if to entice her.

Cecilia stared at the box silently, then narrowed her eyes.

“Alright.”

“Great! Then let me take you to a secret spot only your uncle knows.”

With that, Valdir led Cecilia to a small tavern tucked into a corner of the capital.

Though it was a tavern, the place also doubled as a café during the day. It was a shabby, rundown little shop with a few stools at the bar and three round tables.

Valdir entered the shop, greeted the man who appeared to be the owner with a smooth familiarity, and sat down like he belonged there.

“I’ll have a cold ale. And for the young lady… I wonder if she drinks? Do you drink?”

“I’ll have a glass of water.”

“One apple juice, please. And don’t water it down.”

Before long, the shop owner brought out their drinks.

Valdir, apparently quite thirsty, chugged his ale and slammed the mug down with a satisfied “Khh!”

“So, have you been doing well?”

Cecilia rested her chin on her hand and quietly observed Valdir, who smiled cheerfully.

Valdir, unlike Pierre, was hard to read for a different reason.

His charming personality and smooth words easily lured people in, and before they knew it, they were already in the palm of his hand.

Cecilia didn’t believe for a second that his appearance here was a coincidence.

‘There’s only one reason he’d seek me out.’

Information on the monstrous weapon. Or perhaps something about Pierre.

Of course, she had no intention of giving up any information.

Maintaining her guard, Cecilia calmly opened her mouth.

“Just getting by.”

“Oh, don’t be so stiff. You used to be so cute, always calling me ‘Uncle, Uncle.’”

“It’s been over ten years. Naturally, people change. I hardly even remember those days.”

Valdir’s eyes glimmered with amusement at her response.

He exaggeratedly tilted his head and stroked his chin as if pondering something.

“Hmmm… then I suppose you don’t remember this either? You know, the bed-wetting incident.”

Cecilia’s eyes widened. Her face flushed pink, even her neck turning red.

“Why would you bring that up?!”

“Oh, so you do remember? You were such a clever little thing—dumped water on the bed to hide it and insisted, ‘I spilled water while trying to get a drink in my sleep.’ You were so shameless for a kid, it still cracks me up.”

Valdir burst into hearty laughter. Cecilia, exasperated, let out a dry chuckle. She lifted her glass to her lips in frustration, only to realize it wasn’t water but apple juice—her face flushed again.

“Stop it. It’s not funny.”

“No? I find it hilarious. These days, I can’t remember what I had for dinner yesterday, but memories from back then are crystal clear. I must be getting old.”

Cecilia squinted and set her glass down. Valdir took another sip of ale and naturally continued.

“Oh, right. Didn’t you used to sneak into old man Niberius’s workshop?”

He lowered his voice like he was sharing a secret.

“I caught you more than once, but pretended not to notice. You were so adorable back then.”

Of course, she remembered. As a child, her grandfather had forbidden anyone from entering his workshop. That included even his best disciple, Valdir, and even his own son, Kargo.

The only one he allowed inside, even if he pretended not to see, was Cecilia.

Feigning ignorance, she played along coolly.

“Did I? I don’t recall.”

“Sure you do. You and the old man even made secret codes together. I asked you to share them with your uncle, but you said it was a secret. You don’t know how hurt I was. After all the snacks I gave you.”

His eyes glimmered greedily beneath the slits of his smile.

She remembered that too. Her grandfather had been a mad scientist and an eccentric, but he was infinitely soft with his granddaughter.

Though not often, he’d pretend not to notice when she entered the workshop and even played with her, creating secret codes they used in letters.

‘So that’s what this is about.’

Cecilia let out a quiet, audible laugh.

At that low sound, Valdir’s laughter finally stopped.

“Uncle Valdir, this isn’t really what you came to talk about, is it?”

Though his lips were still smiling, his eyes were no longer laughing.

“The rumors about the monstrous weapon—it’s your doing, isn’t it?”

“……”

“There was a notebook in Grandfather’s workshop. One day, it was gone. You took it, didn’t you?”

Valdir raised his chin and looked down at Cecilia.

She sat with her hands clasped neatly on the table. No longer the naïve, spirited child he remembered.

Her composed tone and calm gaze—he wondered where she learned such poise.

He smiled naturally.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’ve already been suspected because of that, and it hasn’t been easy for me either. We’re both in the same boat. You’ll hurt your uncle’s feelings talking like this.”

“There’s no need to feel hurt. Whatever you’re after, I have no intention of telling you anything.”

Cecilia ended her sentence coolly and rose from her seat.

“I’ll be leaving now. Thanks for the juice.”

Scrape. Her chair slid back as she turned without hesitation. As she walked away, Valdir called out with a sharp smile.

“Cecilia. I heard things didn’t work out with the Archduke?”

Cecilia stopped in her tracks.

“You probably don’t have anywhere to lean on now. If things get tough, come find your uncle. For old times’ sake, I’ll help you out.”

Cecilia didn’t respond.

She swallowed her boiling anger and clenched her fists tightly.

“That won’t happen.”

She spat out the words like venom and opened the tavern door.

As she stepped out, a man in a black robe brushed past her.

The moment their shoulders touched, Cecilia felt an odd sense of discomfort.

“…?”

That was strange.

Strangely, the man didn’t smell human.

No breathing, no footsteps. It felt like a lifeless object—devoid of energy—had passed her by.

She turned to look back but couldn’t bring herself to do it.

Suppressing her unease, Cecilia continued walking forward.