Episode 006
I thought that with the letter of recommendation from the Duke, Grandma’s illness could now be completely cured.
But there was an unexpected obstacle.
“I’m not going.”
Even though she was lying in bed without the strength to get up, Grandma’s voice was firm and resolute. As if she didn’t care how I felt.
“It’s free of charge, you just have to go! You can stay comfortably in the hospital room until you’re fully healed!”
“So who exactly is this kind sponsor who gave you this letter of recommendation from the Duke?”
“Well…”
It was the Duke himself.
…but I couldn’t say that, and while I hesitated, Grandma didn’t hesitate for a second before tearing the letter of recommendation into pieces.
“G-Grandma!”
“I’d rather die than take money from some shady source.”
“But…!”
“You think magic treatment is cheap? Who knows what kind of strings are attached for someone to offer that much money!”
“I swear, there’s nothing shady about it!”
“I don’t want to hear it!”
For the first time since she became bedridden, Grandma shouted at me.
“If you bring something like this back again, I swear I’ll walk into my coffin with my own two feet.”
“How can you say something like that… Grandma!”
Maybe shouting took a toll on her body, because she started coughing up black blood.
“Cough, cough… Remember what I said, cough.”
“Okay, okay. Please stop talking. Let me get you some water…”
I hurriedly wiped her mouth and hands with a wet towel and reached for the kettle, when her frail, lifeless hand weakly grabbed my wrist.
“You fool… Just like you care for me, I care for you too. Don’t you know that?”
“Of course I do…”
How could I not?
Even before I could get that word out, as I sniffled, Grandma kept talking despite her coughs.
“My final wish is to close my eyes peacefully by your side. So don’t argue with me.”
With that firm declaration, she told me she wanted to rest and basically kicked me out of the room.
I couldn’t say anything more. I just gathered the bloodstained towel and the torn pieces of paper and left Grandma’s room.
“Unnie, are you okay?”
Had she heard Grandma shouting? Daisy was standing quietly by the door and gently took the towel from my hand as she asked.
I sniffled and shook my head.
“Not okay at all.”
Honestly, it wasn’t like I hadn’t considered this.
Pretending to be the Duke’s fake lover just to get some money?
There was a risk I could be beaten up before I even saw the envelope.
But I accepted all of that when I signed the contract. Because I’m not ready to let Grandma go yet.
If there were absolutely no options, that’d be one thing—but if I could save her by just going through a bit of trouble?
‘Just stand by and watch while Grandma dies?’
No way.
Now that it’s come to this, I’ll send her off by force if I have to.
I clenched both fists tightly.
* * *
Sunday. In front of the fifth-level fountain in Fountain Plaza.
As I sat quietly on the bench, the Duke appeared before me, today without a hood, his handsome face in full view.
“You’re early. Have you been waiting long?”
“No, I just got here. But, Duke, there’s something important I need to tell you.”
“Hmm. You’re not trying to back out of the contract now, are you?”
“It’s kind of similar. There’s a problem with the contract.”
At my words, the Duke gave a slight smile—a somewhat chilly one.
“The ink on the contract hasn’t even dried yet, and already?”
“It’s not that I changed my mind. Please hear me out.”
I honestly told the Duke that Grandma was suspicious of where the letter of recommendation came from.
“I think she’s worried that I’m being sold off somewhere in exchange for that letter. I mean, magic treatment does cost quite a bit.”
“Can’t you just say you’re helping me with my work?”
“If I do, she’ll start interrogating me on what kind of work it is—and I couldn’t come up with anything convincing.”
I couldn’t exactly say I agreed to pretend to be his fake lover.
Grandma despised noble romance stories, even as just fictional tales.
‘She always used to scold me, asking what would happen if naive girls read such stories and started dreaming of romance with nobles.’
She really hated me reading Rose Does Not Wither in Frost.
Even when she threw the book away multiple times, I would just pick it back up and read it secretly.
“So what you’re saying is… your grandmother is refusing treatment.”
“Yes. So I was wondering… could you please try convincing her yourself? I think she’d be reassured if it came from you directly.”
Most people would find this request bothersome, but the Duke nodded without hesitation.
“Sure. Let’s go right now.”
“Really? You’ll really talk to Grandma yourself?”
“If it helps the contract proceed smoothly, I can handle this much.”
“Thank you so much!”
As I thought the other day, the Duke is really, really kind.
Grandma will surely realize she can trust him after talking to him in person.
* * *
“The Duke himself… wrote this letter of recommendation?”
But contrary to my hopeful expectation, the atmosphere turned tense.
However, as if he didn’t notice Grandma’s hardened face, the Duke simply smiled.
“Yes. I wrote it. For our dear Airy.”
His voice, as always, was gentle and soft.
…or at least that’s what I thought, but Grandma, after a moment of deep thought, suddenly reached out and pulled a veil over her face.
It happened before I could stop her.
“H-How did His Grace come to know Airy…?”
Her voice trembled terribly.
I was just about to hold Grandma’s hand when the Duke opened his mouth.
“There’s no need to be so formal. Just treat me like your granddaughter’s boyfriend.”
“…W-What did you just say?”
“Her boyfriend. That’s me. Airy’s.”
Grandma whipped her head toward me so fast her veil fluttered.
It felt like our eyes met through the veil, and I quickly shut my mouth.
‘B-Boyfriend? Duke!’
But the Duke continued calmly, ignoring both Grandma’s shock and my panic.
“I’m head over heels for your granddaughter. I’d give her my liver and gallbladder if she asked. So don’t worry—I won’t sell her off. I’ll treat her like royalty by my side.”
He gently reached out, grasped my shoulder, and pulled me closer.
I was flustered, but under Grandma’s gaze, I quickly leaned my head on his shoulder.
‘Is… is this the right move?’
Honestly, I wasn’t sure.
Trying to act shy, I lifted my hand to cover my face, but I think that only made it more awkward for Grandma.
“…N-No. No, this can’t be. Not my Airy.”
“Hmm?”
Eventually, Grandma even bowed down from her bed in a desperate plea.
“Grandma! What are you doing!”
I ran to help her up, but she didn’t budge. Still holding onto my arm, she desperately pleaded with the Duke.
“Please… please leave our girl alone. She’s… far too unworthy for someone as noble as you…”
“Oh dear, that’s such a hurtful thing to say. Your granddaughter will be sad to hear that.”
The Duke gently lifted Grandma’s stiffened body and laid her back on the bed, covering her with a blanket.
Then he looked at me and said:
“Airy, could you step outside for a moment?”
“Huh? …Why?”
“I’d like to have a deep conversation with your grandmother. But that won’t happen with you here.”
“Do you have to…? I can stay quiet.”
“Don’t worry. I won’t say anything bad about you.”
He pushed me gently out the door before I could say anything more.
“Wait…!”
The door shut in front of me and locked. I jiggled the handle in vain, then let out a sigh.
‘What just happened?’
Grandma’s reaction to the Duke wasn’t just fear of his noble status.
It was more like… guilt. Like she was facing someone she had wronged.
‘The Duke… he seemed to understand why Grandma reacted that way…’
After a moment of thought, I came to one conclusion.
‘Do they… know each other?’
If that’s true, then… no way…
Could the noble who scarred Grandma’s face be connected to House Rudian?
* * *
After sending Airy outside and locking the door, Elkius pulled a magic device from his pocket and activated it.
“There. Now she won’t hear our conversation.”
He lightly kicked the side of a round chair with his toe and moved it next to the bed, then sat down.
“Now, shall we have that deep conversation?”
“……”
“Why so quiet, Berga? Or should I say—Margaret.”
