Chapter 138
“Because they’re the kind of people who’d try to kill your mother.”
At my words, Grandpa Aaron slowly stroked his beard.
“You mean the one you caught back then, right?”
“Ah, yes.”
He knew about that too.
Then, naturally, he’d at least have some information about the so-called Guardians of the World!
“I don’t know.”
Don’t know… huh?
“Y-you don’t know?”
Really? Seriously?
Completely unexpected, I stared at him with my mouth wide open.
That sounds like a lie.
Why would someone who knows everything else not know just this?
“Even if you look at it that way, my answer would be the same.”
Grandpa Aaron said, softening his eyebrows as if apologizing.
“We, too, don’t know exactly where they are or what they’re aiming for with their actions.”
“……”
“One thing that’s certain is that, at least, they don’t have a base here in the Imperial Zone. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have escaped our notice.”
“If they’re outside the Imperial Zone, you don’t know either?”
“That’s unavoidable. This empire is just too vast. Even the Emperor’s power doesn’t fully reach beyond the central area.”
That may be true…
“Hng.”
Even so, I thought someone like him would definitely know.
I couldn’t hide my disappointment and pouted my lips.
‘Did I expect too much?’
Since my dads had searched so hard for him, I believed he’d know at least some information.
That’s why I had come so recklessly.
‘If I can’t get an answer here, then… what should I do next?’
Even now, the Guardians of the World might be plotting some way to kill Mom.
“C’mon.”
While slumping my shoulders, Perr placed his hand over mine and spoke.
“Don’t be too discouraged. There are still plenty of ways left.”
“Mm…”
But seeing Perr try to comfort me made me think even more…
The fact that he has to comfort me means there really is no answer, huh…
“Anyway, in a situation this tangled, they won’t be able to act recklessly either.”
While I sank deeper into gloom, Perr continued.
“Since it’s come to this, there’s a way I can investigate on my own too.”
“Since it’s come to this?”
I lifted my head sharply at his words.
Perr shrugged briefly.
“Since we’ve come to a place like this to avoid your parents’ eyes, my dismissal is basically inevitable—”
“Don’t say that!”
At the same time, I grabbed his hand and shouted.
“This is really dangerous! And who knows how long it’ll take!”
No matter how skilled he is, he’s still just a child like me.
“Phew.”
“And what would I do without you!”
“Whoa.”
“There’s no one else who understands me like you!”
“Yikes.”
“Hey, Grandpa, keep it down!”
I glared at Grandpa Aaron, who couldn’t resist making odd interjections, while Perr spoke with genuine emotion.
Grandpa Aaron just shrugged innocently.
Whether he paid attention or not, Perr shifted like Aaron, caught somewhere between trying to laugh and struggling.
It was a complete mess.
“I’m really serious here…”
Finally, I bit my lip and released my frustration.
I finally met a friend who would play with me without worrying about my dads.
Though Perr’s manners were pretty lacking… still.
“You’re a friend I could never make again…”
“Wow… no, sorry.”
Grandpa Aaron instinctively exclaimed again, then hurriedly apologized after catching my glare.
“Ahem.”
After a brief moment, Grandpa Aaron cleared his throat a few times as if trying to calm the situation.
“You two are unusually close. Kids these days are surprisingly mature.”
“Hmph.”
The friendship of gentlemen knows no age!
“Anyway, seeing how determined you are, this must really be important to you.”
He quickly nodded while keeping his eyes slightly triangular.
“I have to protect Mom.”
If we don’t do something about those people, we’ll live a life full of anxiety forever.
“Why are you stepping up instead of your fathers?”
Grandpa Aaron asked again, clearly not understanding my answer.
“That’s…”
I was about to answer reflexively, but then calmly took a breath.
“I think you already know that, Grandpa.”
Even if he claimed to have no information on the so-called Guardians of the World, there was no way he didn’t know this.
“……Hmm.”
After a brief silence, Grandpa Aaron smiled.
“Even though I couldn’t give you the information you wanted, you still overestimate my abilities.”
“Of course.”
Well…
“The Imperial Palace is in the center of the Imperial Zone.”
I said it earlier.
If they weren’t outside the Imperial Zone, they wouldn’t have escaped his notice.
Someone who knows everything I’ve done wouldn’t not know what I’m saying.
“You are pretty smart, I see.”
“……”
“That’s why you could sneak out like this, huh.”
Grandpa Aaron smiled contentedly and sipped his tea.
“Well, anyway.”
After a brief silence…
“If you want, we could try to get some information about them.”
I immediately brightened and jumped to my feet.
“Really?”
Why didn’t you just say that from the start! I was worried for nothing!
“However…”
Grandpa Aaron continued, raising his eyebrows as if teasing me.
“If something comes, shouldn’t something go in return?”
“……”
“What can you do for me?”
“Do… for you?”
His words were completely unexpected again, leaving me dumbfounded.
‘Well, that’s fair.’
Nothing in this world comes for free.
But after receiving only help without cost until now… I was a bit surprised.
Anyway.
“W-what do you want?”
I don’t even know what I can give, so maybe he should tell me first?
I sat back politely, opening my eyes wide.
Grandpa Aaron studied me for a moment, then slowly spoke.
“Well, for example—”
For example…
“Information that could bring down this cursed royal family might suffice.”
Information to destroy the royal family.
“That’s not going to happen.”
The moment I understood, I answered firmly.
Almost without thinking, yet without regret.
Even if I had thought it over carefully, my answer wouldn’t change.
“To me, both the Emperor and Empress are important. My mom likes the Empress very much too.”
Even Dad Harzen… maybe he’s forgiven them a lot by now.
“If you ever try to harm my family, I won’t accept your help.”
“But it’s vital information. You said you want to protect your mother.”
“Even so, it’s the same.”
With such information, our family would never be happy.
‘At this point, I don’t think there’s anything more to discuss with this person.’
Even if he’s Kyle’s father’s father, some things just aren’t acceptable.
“Let’s go, Perr. Goodbye, Grandpa.”
Better to return to the palace quickly than waste time here.
I stood up, holding Perr’s hand.
“……Haha, hahaha!”
