Chapter 44 - Grandfather's Resolve

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Marceline went to see her grandpa at his office. Kira followed her as she instructed him to stay on guard outside the door, not allowing anyone to enter.

She had to confront her grandfather. In the Zhou Family, the person whom she could only trust was her grandpa. But now, she's afraid that his grandfather was also covering up something, that's why he kept his silence about her parents' death.

Grandpa Roland was sitting on his long couch, having his tea time when Marceline entered his office. 

"Marceline," Grandpa Roland mumbled her name with puzzlement. He could see her grim expression so he was wondering who made her upset today.

"Grandpa, I need to talk to you… alone."

Hearing her granddaughter's request, Grandpa Roland turned to his secretary, signaling him to leave them. The secretary bowed his head and politely greeted Marceline before he came out of the office.

"What do you want to talk about, my dear? Did someone offend you for you to be in a bad mood right now?" Grandpa Roland asked, motioning her to come over and sit beside him.

Marceline traced her steps towards her grandpa, a series of emotions surging up inside her. She didn't know if she could get an answer from him but she was still hopeful.

She slowly sat down, turning to her right side to face her grandfather. Grandpa Roland put down his teacup on the table in front of him before focusing his attention back on Marceline.

"Grandpa… Eighteen years ago, why didn't you believe me when I said I saw giant wolves attacking me? Why didn't you believe me when I said my parents were killed by those ferocious beasts in the forest?" Marceline tried to calm herself but her voice couldn't hide the bitterness she felt deep down her heart.

Grandpa Roland was not able to respond right away. He was caught off guard when Marceline brought up the incident that happened 18 years ago.

His heart constricted inside his chest as he recalled that tragic night. They found Marceline lying on the ground unconscious. She was bleeding as she was wounded in her right shoulder.

Just a few steps from Marceline's spot, her parents were found dead with a hole on their chest. The forest ground was bathing with their blood. Claw marks could be found in different parts of their bodies.

Grandpa Roland would always feel the raging fury stirring his insides whenever he would remember the unsightly and gruesome scene of his son and his daughter-in-law's deaths. They died brutally in the hands of those beasts.

"Grandpa, please answer me!" She was pleading but her voice was stern with a hint of anger.

Marceline's words snapped him back to the present.

"Why are you bringing this up, Marceline?" he asked her, looking away. With his trembling hand, he tried to pick up his teacup. He wanted to act normal but failed.

Marceline clenched her fists while gritting her teeth. She could tell that her grandfather was unwilling to talk about this.

"I know the truth, grandpa! My father is a gatekeeper. There is the so-called Kingdom Phantasia! Werewolves exist! Vampires and Witches! I was not imagining things nor hallucinating. You know this!" Marceline burst out as she could no longer hold her emotions back.

A smashing sound was heard as Grandpa Roland dropped the teacup he was holding on the floor. It broke into pieces.

He was in a state of shock. He couldn't believe that Marceline would find out. How did she know about this? Who told her?

"Why did you do it, grandpa? Who were you protecting? Are you covering up something? Why did you turn a blind eye to my parents' death? Why grandpa? Why?" Marceline bombarded him with so many questions. 

Her stored tears started to fall down her cheeks like raindrops, her eyes filled with sorrow, bitterness, and rage.

After so long, this was the first time Grandpa Rolando saw her like this. All this time, she maintained her strong front, not allowing anyone to see her vulnerable side. The last time he saw her cry in front of him was 18 years ago when she was begging him to believe her.

"Grandpa, I trusted you! Why did you hide this truth from me? You have power and influence, why didn't you do something? Are you afraid of those beasts?!" 

Kira, who was standing outside and listening to them, was now facing the door while holding the doorknob.

His heart clenched upon knowing Marceline was crying right now. He had the urge to enter the room. He wanted to hug her and comfort her. 

He knew how miserable she was right now. She thought she was betrayed by her grandfather. He knew how it felt to be betrayed by someone close to him so he could understand her feelings.

But Kira knew that Marceline wouldn't want him to interrupt her conversation with her grandfather. So he just stood there, releasing the doorknob before he could end up breaking it.

Meanwhile, Grandpa Roland pulled Marceline into a hug, trying to comfort her.

"Marceline, this old man always believed in you and I never doubted your words. I lost my son and my daughter-in-law. I don't want to lose you too. I did it... to protect you..."

"I don't know how you learned these things… but please, my granddaughter, just trust me. This grandpa of yours had never forgotten that incident 18 years ago. Believe it or not, I'm doing my best to seek justice for their deaths."

Marceline didn't know what she should feel. She still couldn't understand or even comprehend her grandfather's motive. There were lots of things he was hiding from her.

'Did the werewolves threaten my grandfather using my life?' Marceline pondered to herself.

"If you already knew, then why… Why did you agree to my Uncle marrying me off to Silvano Clan? I heard that they are a family of werewolves as well." Marceline questioned him.

"How can I trust you, Grandpa, if you are not telling me everything I need to know?" she added, her doubts reflected in her eyes.

Complicated emotions flashed in her grandfather's eyes. He didn't want to involve her in this revenge thing. But when he heard from his second son about the arranged marriage between the Zhou Family and the Silvano Family of Phantasia, he thought it would be a perfect opportunity to avenge his son's death.

The Silvano family was powerful and well-protected by his army so it would be hard to kill any members of that family. But Grandpa Rolando found a chance to use the wedding ceremony to assassinate the Silvano Family.

He already formed an alliance with someone. The Zhou Family remained neutral for so many years. But now, he could no longer do that as the blood of his family had been spilled because of the war between werewolves and vampires.

"You have to trust me, Marceline. I will never put your life in danger. Please just pretend that you don't know about this. It's for your own safety." Grandpa Roland sounded so desperate while begging her.

Marceline met her grandfather's gaze. She could feel that he was sincere. She knew that she could still trust him.. But… she decided to do her own revenge with the help of Kira.

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