Chapter 129……………………………………………….
I realized it even before Perre stayed still, that someone had approached this close.
“Grandma Margo!”
I jumped up from my seat, my eyes catching her silver hair glinting in the sunlight.
Ouch… getting up like this makes my whole body ache.
“How can you lie down on the dirty ground like this? Your pretty face is covered in dust.”
Grandma Margo spoke kindly as she dusted off my back and hips.
“Also, lying down immediately after intense exercise is not good. You need to loosen your body a bit first.”
“Ugh…”
Turns out, she was kindly whipping me into shape!
I shivered at the sudden wave of betrayal.
“By the way, seeing you lying here like this…”
Grandma Margo looked at Perre and me, her eyes narrowing into a sly smile.
“You must have learned directly from your father. Judging by the energy you have left to greet me, you’ve barely filled half of my training quota.”
“Gasp.”
To deduce all that from just a brief conversation…
Another shiver ran down my spine, and my shoulders shook even harder than before.
Grandma Margo turned her gaze away from me and looked at the spot where Sion’s father had left, muttering to herself.
“You really are a soft one. If it were your own daughter, you’d be running around no matter what.”
I finally realized.
Deciding to learn swordsmanship from Grandma Margo was truly a mistake…
“Little one?”
While shivering from her cruelty, she looked back at me and spoke.
I swallowed hard and shrank in my seat.
“Y-yes?”
“Oh my, you look terribly scared by my words.”
Then she gently patted my head and smiled softly.
“It was just a mother’s lament over her son’s inadequacy. I wasn’t scolding you.”
“Y-yes…”
“Besides, it seems he might actually be better than me in terms of skill.”
Her cold, purple eyes glanced briefly at Perre.
She must be talking about Perre when she says “skill.”
When training with Grandma, Perre had just stood by watching, not moving an inch.
“Wait… she even noticed how Perre performed in this short time?”
Even though Perre looked the same as usual if you didn’t look closely.
Somehow, Grandma Margo feels a little scary…
“So, who do you think would be the best to learn from?”
At that moment, she fixed her gaze on me and asked.
Startled, I stopped my thoughts and blinked.
“Huh?”
“You’ve experienced learning from me, Sion, and that boy, haven’t you?”
But I haven’t even started learning the first thing about swordsmanship yet.
“Of course, my lessons were closer to a physical test than actual teaching. But at least you can compare training methods.”
“Training methods…”
Training methods, huh.
If we only consider physical training…
‘Of course, it’s Dad.’
No question about it! At least Dad can compromise with me.
But saying that openly in front of Grandma… not so easy.
I did say I wanted to learn swordsmanship from her, after all.
Changing my mind suddenly… feels a bit…
“I-I…”
After a brief hesitation, I squeezed my eyes shut and stammered out.
“I want to learn together with my friend…”
Sorry, Grandma.
I know learning requires immense effort, but still!
‘Starting with twenty laps in the training hall is too much.’
That was just the fitness test. Actual training would be even harder.
I feel like my will isn’t strong enough yet to push my body that far…
“Hahaha!”
Grandma Margo laughed heartily at my guilty answer.
“Alright, alright. Learning together with a friend would definitely be more fun.”
“Heh… hehe.”
I thought she would scold me for saying something ridiculous, but…
I managed to give a decent answer without hurting her feelings—
“If I were to teach that child as well, would you follow me?”
Ah, so not really.
“Eh? Huh?”
Startled by the follow-up question, I looked at Grandma Margo.
‘Help me, Perre!’
I rolled my eyes toward Perre.
He shrugged nonchalantly and said bluntly,
“I don’t have to learn it, so I don’t want to go through the trouble.”
“With that attitude, what do you hope to learn? That Sion has spoiled you from the start.”
Grandma clicked her tongue and shook her head.
I secretly hid my hand behind my back and gave Perre a thumbs-up.
Thanks, Perre! You really are my best friend!
“Well, thinking about it, I suppose it can’t be helped. I can’t settle in the palace anyway.”
Meanwhile, Grandma Margo stroked her chin thoughtfully.
It seems she’s completely abandoned the idea of personally teaching me.
‘Eek.’
I feel terribly apologetic, but also oddly relieved.
“Of course, if you follow me to my territory, that could be resolved.”
Hmm, so she hasn’t completely given up.
“That’s not happening!”
I immediately denied her suggestion.
“I’ll always stay by Mom’s side.”
Even if the danger looming over Mom has vanished, I still can’t fully relax.
At least until I defeat those self-proclaimed “guardians of the world” who try to kill her.
‘Oh, that reminds me…’
A thought suddenly struck me.
Thinking of those self-proclaimed guardians reminded me…
‘Grandma Margo might know a little about Kyle’s dad’s father too?’
If I ask about him, she might tell me something.
“Grandma, Grandma.”
As soon as I finished thinking, I grabbed her sleeve and asked.
Sion’s father isn’t here right now, so now’s my chance!
“Do you know who Kyle’s dad’s father is?”
“Hmm?”
Grandma Margo’s eyes widened at my sudden, completely unrelated question.
“Kyle Blake’s father, huh.”
Still, she considered my question seriously.
“I don’t know who his biological father is, but I do know a little about his stepfather.”
“Stepfather?”
“Yes, his new father.”
That’s not exactly what I meant, but…
I nodded quietly.
The one who sent the letter with the handkerchief must be Kyle’s stepfather.
“What kind of person is Kyle’s stepdad?”
I held her sleeve tightly again and asked.
Grandma Margo gently patted my head and replied calmly,
“I can’t tell you about his character or values because I’ve never met him. Even if I were to meet him…”
“Even if you did?”
“He’d end up in the palace’s underground prison before even talking to me.”
“……?”
I blinked, not fully understanding her words at first.
“Huh?”
I tilted my head, still puzzled.
He’d be locked in the underground palace prison…
My other grandfather… a criminal?!
