"I missed you a lot, Grandpa." I murmured, giving the old man an unexpected embrace, catching the faint scent of sandalwood clinging to his robes. Maybe it was because I'd already merged fully with Celestine's memories, and no longer felt much of an identity crisis over it. Or maybe it was because he reminded me of the endearing old geezer back when I was still Bai Feng Jiu, the same steady presence, the same quiet way of watching over people who didn't know they needed watching over. Either way, it felt heartwarming, seeing him.
It felt, for a moment, like I was no longer alone. Like there was finally someone who'd shelter me from the cruelty of this mansion.
My senses must have been dulled by the idyllic hush of this world, because my reactions came a beat slower than usual. It took a moment to notice the abnormal stiffness in the old man's frame. His gaze, when I pulled back, burned with something furious beneath the surface.
Right. This man was an expert in soul magic. Why had my dumbass forgotten that? Ugh.
"Err. Pardon me. I got carried away. I know you have questions. Shall we head to my room, so I can give you the full account, Your Grace?"
I stepped back from him, polite, my tone neither servile nor overbearing. As formal as it could get. Almost estranged. To anyone watching, the shift from the informal "Grandfather" to the proper "Your Grace" would have seemed perfectly normal. It was customary in this world to address nobles by their titles, even family, even married couples weren't spared the habit. But it was worth noting that Toni had never once called Count Halcyon anything but Grandfather, whether at home or anywhere else.
I straightened, standing at attention, exactly like the soldier I'd once been. It made the old man's brows crease.
'My bad, alright? Who asked you to look exactly like the old geezer when he gets serious? Even now, you've got that same glowering commander-in-chief mode locked on, out for my blood. Spare your granddaughter's feelings, old man, will you?' I grumbled to myself.
Despite the noise in my head, I led the way to my chambers in silent, measured steps, aware of his boring gaze the entire way, boring straight through the back of my skull like he could read whatever was written there. He was cataloguing every move I made, every disparity between me and the granddaughter he'd raised, filing each one away for later. I didn't care. After all, I was Toni now.
We reached my room, and I gestured for him to sit on the settee while I took my own seat at leisure, doing my best to look far more relaxed than I actually felt. Wilhelm, aware the Count of Liszt was visiting, had already prepared refreshments and served them himself, the porcelain cups clinking softly as he set them down.
Silence settled over the room even after Wilhelm left. Neither of us wanted to speak first.
'Hah. You think I'll go down that easy. Wrong, old man. Dealing with the old geezer gave me plenty of experience in psychological warfare.' I sneered internally, secretly relieved underneath it all. Man, these old men. So difficult to deal with. I wasn't about to act cute for him. No way.
Yes, dear readers, you've guessed correctly. Being raised as one of the guys has rendered me completely incapable of producing aegyo. So don't even think about it. Unless it's a life-or-death situation.
"Who are you?" Old Man Halcyon asked, tone dangerous and low, eyes gleaming with a strange, icy blue light that hadn't been there a moment ago.
He's using soul magic, alright. Should've expected that from a clever old fox like him. Don't get me wrong, that's a compliment. I really needed to get myself together. I was getting rusty. I owed this grandfather a thank-you, for the wake-up call.
"Your granddaughter, of course." I answered, innocent, with the purest, most faultless smile I could manage.
"You are not my granddaughter." He said it with firm conviction. I sighed, almost admiringly.
See? This is what a real blood relative should be like. One glance, one short observation, and he'd already caught the difference between me and that smöl bundle of sunshine. I was starting to think the rest of the family were a bunch of useless farts by comparison.
I laughed, derisive, at the thought, unable to help myself. The old man's brows furrowed further. A soft wind slipped through the open windows, stirring my silky, sakura pink hair into a lovely, lonely silhouette that only someone else's eyes could have appreciated. I didn't notice it myself, too busy sizing up the old man across from me.
I lifted my jeweled peridot eyes to him, playful mirth flashing in them.
"Ah, man. Toni should've warned me about your sharp eyes, Your Grace." I said, an acquiescence to his suspicion, with an easy shrug for good measure. The old man froze at that. His mouth opened, then closed, then opened again, as if wanting to say something and finding nothing to say.
I decided to spare him the misery. It was obvious he'd already imagined the worst, judging by the color drained from his face. Might as well set the record straight. I hadn't done anything to that chibi bishoujo. This man was a genuine Magi. I didn't plan on dying without a complete corpse.
"First of all, Celestine is well and good. I'd even say she's having the time of her life right now."
'Maybe.' I added silently. Honestly, I wasn't entirely sure. But my life in Country Z had to be better than the shitty, cooped-up existence she'd had here. There was a lot more out there to enjoy. Yep. She was probably having a blast with the internet right about now. Ahhh, comparisons really do make one jealous.
"How do you know that? And if that's so, what are you doing here, in her body?" As expected of a man who'd seen much of the world, he only stayed fazed for a short while.
I pouted, thinking it over. Yep. Better to fess up to everything. Lying wouldn't win me his help, not wholeheartedly, anyway. Besides, I liked the old man. I wanted him to like me back, genuinely. I thought it might be a nice thing, having a real grandfather.