I, the Villainous Prince, Buy the Ruined Villainess with Money - Chapter 59: Meeting Grandfather

Chapter 59: Meeting Grandfather

… I wanted to enjoy it a little longer.

Watching my favorite person having fun was pure bliss.

But I didn’t want to get in the way, so since I’d been noticed, it was time to leave.

Not forcing my own feelings on them was also part of being a proper fan.

“Still… I can’t believe I got spotted.”

“Hoho, as expected of the daughter of the Minister of Military Affairs. Even though young master Alvis’s concealment technique is still immature, an ordinary person shouldn’t have noticed… Yet she sensed my presence too, even if she couldn’t pinpoint exactly where I was.”

“What, she noticed even Sebas’s concealment…? Just to confirm—you’re not going to turn against us, right?”

“Yes. That family has never joined the Crown Prince faction. At the same time, they don’t belong to young master Alvis’s side either—they have always remained neutral.”

No matter how you looked at it, siding with his older brother, the Crown Prince, would bring far more benefits.

After all, Alvis’s reputation was terrible, and that choice would make things much easier politically.

It must be possible only because of the position of Minister of Military Affairs combined with the personal strength of someone who bows to no one else.

“Hm. So you’re staying loyal to Grandfather out of obligation?”

“That is part of it, yes. In any case, we will not cause harm to Miss Yulia.”

“Understood. Then I’ll just keep watching. Either way, I already told Yorba to stay by Yulia’s side.”

“Hoho, how overprotective… Is this love, perhaps?”

“N-no! It’s not love! (This is just fan activity!)”

Yes—seeing two girls getting along so well was a wonderful sight.

Just watching that filled my heart… Any gentleman would understand.

As I started heading back to the mansion, a carriage blocked the way.

There were very few people who could act so boldly toward Alvis.

I checked the crest on the carriage and immediately understood… The hawk emblem belonged to the Hawk Eye family—Grandfather’s house.

“Your Highness Alvis, please forgive our rudeness.”

“Hmph. So you’re Grandfather’s messenger.”

“Yes. The master is waiting for you at the residence.”

“Fine. Lead the way.”

“Then I shall accompany you as well.”

Together with Sebas, I got into the carriage, and we left the center of the royal capital.

This area used to be a thriving noble district in the past, but now only old, traditional families still lived here. It had become a quiet residential neighborhood.

Among them stood one particularly impressive large building—Grandfather’s mansion.

We stepped down from the carriage, followed the coachman’s guidance into the house, climbed the stairs, and entered Grandfather’s private chamber.

“You’ve come…”

“Grandfather, it’s been a long time.”

“Indeed. Several months, I suppose. Sebas, you’ve done well.”

… Was the person in front of me really Grandfather?

In Alvis’s memories, he had always pictured him as a frail, bedridden old man.

Yet the white-haired grandfather standing here now overflowed with vitality.

His frame had filled out, and he sat straight-backed in the chair with perfect posture.

“Master, it has been since the other day. As promised, I have brought the young master.”

“Yes. Alvis, I heard from Sebas. It seems you’ve taken in the young lady of the Forseti family.”

“Yes. It was because of my brother’s mess. After investigating, we found she bore no fault.”

“If Sebas investigated it, then there is no mistake… Your judgment has sharpened.”

“Really? I don’t feel like I’ve changed at all.”

He had regained memories from his previous life, but the core of who he was remained Alvis.

His tongue was still sharp, his attitude arrogant and stubborn, never straightforward.

The only real difference showed up when Yulia was involved.

“You won’t speak your true feelings… Or perhaps my eyes have grown dim with age. Alvis, I’m sorry.”

“—!? Wh-what are you doing?!”

Even the emperor himself had never bowed his head to anyone.

Yet now that very man was bowing to Alvis.

It was an impossible scene—as if the heavens and earth had turned upside down.

“Because I neglected the family, my daughter ended up doing such things and caused my wife so much hardship. In the end, she clung desperately to you, the only one left alive, and kept pushing you to become emperor…”

“… I don’t hold any grudge. You were the one who taught me how a member of the royal family should behave, Grandfather.”

“Is that so… And now the time has come to use that lesson.”

“What do you mean?”

Something felt intensely out of place.

He just couldn’t figure out what it was.

“If you have no intention of answering, that’s fine. As I wrote in the letter—live however you wish.”

“That was my plan from the start. (I’m going to keep doing my fan activities.)”

“Kukuku… To think you could even hide it from me… Use whatever remains of my authority as you like. I will also leave Sebas and Yorba in your service—no, I will have them serve you.”

“… Is that really okay?”

“Yes. Both of them said the same thing. Now then… come show your face once in a while. Next time, bring this Yulia with you.”

“Understood. Until then, please stay alive.”

“Kukuku, I still have no intention of dying yet.”

The way he smiled as he said that was arrogant—and looked remarkably similar to Alvis’s own reflection in the mirror.

Perhaps this man, too, was simply someone who wasn’t very honest.