Face Full of Worry

The office was painted grey, and it had only one floor-to-ceiling window, which faced the main road. On the grey desk sat a desktop computer, a notebook lying open, and a stack of papers sitting under a turtle-shaped paperweight.

In a corner, the air conditioner was blasting at medium, and there was a swivel chair in the middle of the office. A bookshelf, bursting with books was in a corner, with yet another stack of papers under a paperweight that was shaped to look like a tuft of grass.

A few pens were lying on the papers, but some had fallen onto the top of the bookshelf.

Gladios and Martha were fixing up files and records of the mansion. Through the years, Devin's wealth had been accumulating up since he had been living in the human world for more than a hundred of years.

Since then, Martha had been managing everything until Gladios came. Ivar was the one who represented Devin since he can show himself to the humans if need be. Through the years since they came in the human world, they had been involving themselves in investments to keep their wealth.

Because of these investments, Devin had accumulated wealth and Ivar was representing him when it came to business. In order for them to keep their wealth without being suspicious, every after 30-40 years, they fake deaths and fake names of relatives to make inheritance possible.

Since they have lived in the human world for more than a hundred of years, they are well familiar with legalities and paperwork since they have also been doing it for years.

To inherit, there must be proof of lineage so what these immortals did was fake it. The legalities of inheritance calls for a court proceeding to execute a will. The parties claiming to be the heirs must appear before the court and show documents and recognized proof of identity.

It is not possible to inherit without a real person appearing to claim as recognized heirs so what Ivar and Martha did was hire people to stand as heirs for the procedure protected by a non disclosure agreement.

As Gladios was browsing these papers all throughout the years, his eyes widened in amusement. He realized that staying in the human world for too long through the years—really made them learn more about the world!

"You are well knowledgeable about our world! You've been doing this for... years!"

Amusement and awe was evident in the old man's voice. Martha giggled when she heard the old man's remark then put down some more documents for them to read.

"Well, yes. It was very difficult at first. I recall Ivar being so angry when we were scammed before until we both were up on our toes," she narrated then they started comparing documents for them to read.

They were beginning to sort the documents when suddenly, Gwen appeared right in front of their eyes, surprising them.

"Oh, goodness gracious!"

The papers Gladios were holding suddenly flew everywhere, making Martha look and giggle at him. The old man was seen clutching his chest, suppressing his surprise. He inhaled and exhaled as Gwen smiled at him apologetically, then looked at her mom to talk to her.

"Mom, I need to talk to you," Gwen requested, looking at her as if dying to pass on a secret message to her. She even ignored surprised Gladios for a second! Lucky for her, Martha knew her well so she nodded, then looked at the old man beside him.

"I'll be talking to Gwen for a while. Please pick up and sort the papers in the meantime," she said teasingly as she giggled then she stood up to talk to Gwen at the side, slightly farther from Gladios who was now picking up the papers on the floor.

'I have lived with them for so many years... yet I still find myself being surprised!'

"What's wrong," Martha asked and Gwen glanced at the old man before returning her gaze to her mother.

The moment Martha saw her daughter's face turn serious, she kept quiet, waiting for her child to speak.

"It's happening again."

The moment Gwen said this, the usual calm aura that Martha has turned into panic. One of her hands were already holding the frills of her apron tight as she clenched her teeth.

"What triggered this," she mumbled to herself as she recalled and made sure that they had given him a soul to eat today.

Gwen's eyes looked worried as she stared at her mother. "It happened when he talked to Angeal," she answered in all honesty and Martha's eyes turned serious.

"I think there is something with Angeal that is making our master behave this way," Martha commented and Gwen sighed.

"I know... we..." She stole another glance at Gladios who was now sorting the documents again on the table. "We have to keep this a secret from him or else... it might worry him about Angeal!"

Martha's eyes widened when she heard her daughter's suggestion.

"Are you suggesting we keep him here, when his granddaughter might be in trouble," she whispered, a slight aggression present in her voice. Gwen heaved another sigh, obviously not knowing what to do.

"Well, what should we do? This would make the old man worry! What if something happens to him? He is already, you know..."

Gwen didn't know how to continue but Martha knew what she meant. They are slightly worried about the old man now and the possibility of him having health complications if he worries too much about something... especially if it involved his beloved granddaughter!

"Okay, fine... I understand," Martha said as she sighed then she returned her gaze on the old man. "Gladios, Gwen is here to help us with the sorting of documents. We will be here for a little more—"

BANG!

The three of them went quiet when they heard a loud crash from downstairs. Slightly alarmed, the old man stood up and started walking towards the door.

"What is happening downstairs," he asked but when he was about to approach the door, Gwen extended both of her arms to hold the old man, keeping him in place.

"You can't go down, please!"

The old man furrowed his brows as he looked at Martha's daughter incredulously.

"And why not?"

"Because—"

"Son, just run away with Angeal!"

When the three of them heard loud and clear Edwin's voice that interrupted Gwen's statement, the look on old man Gladios' face changed to a face full of worry.