[AFYC] Chapter 39

She cautiously lifted her gaze and saw the man reclining slightly, sipping his drink. When he finally tilted his head forward, Seo Ah took a deep breath and spoke carefully.

“May I ask your name?” 

Her tentative question was met with an easy response. 

“Oscar.” 

“…” 

“Oscar von Reinhardt.” 

It was a name that sounded both distinguished and fitting for the man before her. But it wasn’t the first name that captivated her attention—it was the surname that followed. 

Reinhardt. 

The name, smooth yet powerful, resonated deep within her. It sent a shiver down her spine, like the first sip of a long-awaited drink that warms your insides. Relief washed over her. 

Her master had been right: the wolf had come for her. She hadn’t expected it to happen so quickly, but here he was. 

Meanwhile, Oscar continued to observe the woman who called herself Seo Ah. She came from a small, obscure country called Dankook, a place he had never heard of. Her clothes were outdated, and she appeared visibly nervous, but there was a certain dignity in how she held herself. The straightness of her back and the neatness of her hands were exactly what his mother had always emphasised. Despite her frail-looking body, which seemed like it might break with a harsh touch, she carried herself with a surprising steadiness—so much so that Oscar almost wanted to show her to his mother. 

Her skin was delicate as if it would bruise at the slightest pressure. Even her small hands appeared untouched by labour, further emphasising her frailty. She was a bundle of contradictions. 

Oscar leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, and caught her gaze just before she could look away again. Before she could retreat, he spoke, almost like a sneak attack. 

“You thanked me for saving you, didn’t you?” 

“Yes.” 

“Well, I’d like to ask for something in return.” 

“…” 

Her pale face grew even whiter if that was possible. Seeing her reaction, Oscar softened his tone. 

“It’s nothing major. I just want to ask you a few questions, and I hope you’ll answer honestly.” 

She bit her trembling lip and nodded. 

“You’ve come from a faraway place called Dankook, carrying the key to a Felphe Bank vault.” 

“…” 

A silence filled with unspoken intentions hung between them. Oscar, like a wolf patiently stalking its prey, waited for the right moment before he asked the question that mattered to both of them. 

“How did you come to possess it, and how did you get here?” 

This was a critical question, especially for Seo Ah. 

She had followed her master’s instructions to the letter:

1. Go straight to the Royal Felphe Bank.

2. Obtain the keyholder’s verification certificate.

3. Confirm that the person who finds you is from the Reinhardt family. 

If you’ve made it this far, this question is bound to come next. 

She couldn’t tell him the truth—that she was using herself as bait to find the father she had never known, nor could she say that she had come seeking revenge with his help and to retrieve her grandfather’s remains. 

So, what could she say to make him take her in completely? What could she say to convince him she was worth using, someone who could be discarded without consequence? 

“Money...” 

“Money?” Oscar asked, amused. She nodded. 

“I needed a lot of money.” 

For now, she needed to appear as simple as possible, not someone to be suspicious of. 

“Ah, you needed money?” 

He asked again, his tone still gentle. Seo Ah clasped her hands tightly on her lap and answered. 

“Yes.” 

She glimpsed his striking blue eyes, curved slightly in amusement. 

Having been involved in business from a young age, Oscar had developed the habit of scrutinising the people he dealt with. His observations encompassed everything: their voice, eye movements, hand gestures, posture, and even how they entered a room. 

He now sat opposite Seo Ah, sipping his second drink. In contrast, she had barely touched hers, likely too uncomfortable under his scrutiny to drink much. 

But Oscar continued to watch her, finding entertainment in how she carried herself.