Chapter 1 – Part 2

Viscount Brennan spoke playfully.

“But even my clever granddaughter sometimes makes mistakes.”

“What?”

“You picked the wrong apple. This one has bruises, and this one is a little too soft,” the viscount said, examining the apples with a critical eye. There were a few that were reddish and tempting, but their skins were too mushy.

“I’m sorry. I guess I didn’t check them properly,” Liese replied nonchalantly, not wanting to reveal that she had stumbled and spilled the basket in the crowded square.

“We’ll just cut off the bruised parts and make some jam. It’ll be fine,” said the viscount. “Besides, jam always tastes good.”

The viscount chuckled as he found some coarse rye bread in the basket. Even though he was now living in a small and cramped space, unlike his old mansion, he remained cheerful. Liese responded with a warm smile, but then her eyes drifted back out the window.

It was a sunny day, a little warmer than usual. The light breeze and the flowers in bloom scattered spring energy everywhere. It was the perfect weather for a leisurely stroll.

“Let’s go for a walk, Grandfather.”

“You mean now?”

“Yes. I found a pretty lake in the woods behind the house the other day. I think it’s connected to the Mellir River, which runs through the Bachmann, and there’s no stunted grass nearby, so it’s a nice place to walk.”

“I’m fine. I need to read the paper while I polish my shoes and eat some apples.”

The viscount quickly declined the offer, reaching for the newspaper again.

“But if you stay indoors all day…”

“Forget that ‘staying indoors is bad for your health’ nonsense. You’ve dragged me out for walks on the weekends, and we’ve enjoyed the spring breeze every weekend. We did it last weekend and the one before that. Are you going to walk every day with this old man?”

Without any chance of persuasion, the voice continued.

“You are going alone today. You should know how to enjoy your time in peace.”

At a loss for words, Liese blinked. The reprimanding tone was tinged with a grandfatherly concern for his granddaughter. She held up her hands and smiled.

“I’ll be right back, then.”

“You can take your time, but make sure you get back before sundown.”

“Okay, Grandfather.”

Liese picked up the straw hat she’d taken off. Her light brown hair, braided into a single braid, swayed with the motion. Her delicate hand touched the handle as she turned to leave.

“…Oh! Liese, honey.”

Brennan’s urgent voice stopped Liese as if something had occurred to him.

“I almost forgot. Wait, I have something for you.”

He held out a hand and rolled his wheelchair towards the bedroom. The sound of someone rummaging for something echoed as he opened a drawer.

The viscount returned to the kitchen with a tattered cloth bag in his lap.

“Take this.”

“What is this?”

Liese tilted her head as she took the rough bag.

It was cold and heavy beyond the fibers. She fiddled with the object in the rag as if it were unfamiliar, but before she could pull it out, she realized what it was.

“No way…”

“Why don’t you take it out and see?”

“It’s a pistol.”

It was a silver pistol made of dark-coloured wood. The scratches and rust marks showed its age.

“A treasure from my youth. When my long gun broke down on the battlefield in a hail of bullets, this little guy protected me.”

Liese knew the story of Brennan’s wartime experiences from decades ago. Her grandfather had a habit of telling these stories endlessly when he had been drinking.

A friend of his, who had sold the orchard and house for less than market value, owed him his life on the battlefield.

“It may not look great, but it works well. Just be careful when you carry it.”

“You worry too much, Grandfather.”

“Perhaps I’m worrying too much. Even though we’ve settled on a quiet hill, this is still Bachmann. It’s nothing like where we used to live.”

Brennan’s eyes clouded as he looked at the empty air beyond the window.

“The worst crime that could happen in the countryside was stealing chickens or ducks, at most. How many more heinous crimes could happen in an area the size of the capital? I don’t even want to think about it.”

Liese was taken aback by the unexpected gift and involuntarily nodded her head.

It’s that same fear that keeps her from wandering the streets late at night. There’s always danger lurking behind the glitz and glamor.

“Please understand the worried heart of a grandfather who is concerned about his granddaughter, who goes out frequently. Knowing that you have a weapon in your hand will make me feel much more at ease.”

Liese easily understood her grandfather’s meaning and nodded her chin.

“I doubt I’ll ever have to use it, but don’t worry. I promise I’ll always be careful.”

“Well, I’ll be grateful if you do.”

Liese looked down at the old gun that had been kept for many years and carefully put it in her pocket.