<b>Chapter </b><b>131 </b>
“I’m not that desperate… am I?”
“Yes<b>!</b>”
Xander hadn’t even finished his sentence before Six jumped at the offer <b>without </b>
hesitation.
He wasn’t stupid, nor did he feel the least bit humiliated. For a ten–year–old like <b>him</b><b>, </b>having a roof over his head and food on the table was already a stroke of luck–what more could he really expect? Wandering the streets like a stray dog, getting into fights just to protect some so–called pride–what was the point?
Alessia seemed satisfied with his quick understanding. If he’d insisted on leaving, she wouldn’t have stopped him. The opportunity was there, just once–it was up to him to take it, and there was never any point in trying to force someone to stay.
“Do you have any paperwork? Like a birth certificate or ID?”
Six looked puzzled. “What’s that?”
Alessia frowned. Xander motioned for her toe over, then whispered a few words in her ear. Six watched them, suddenly feeling uneasy.
He hated seeing that look–pity, sympathy–he’d seen it all before. People always assumed he was miserable, projecting their own emotions onto him, when in reality, he was getting along just fine. He didn’t need anyone to feel sorry for him.
But Alessia never once gave him that look. Her voice stayed calm and businesslike, never pushy–if anything, it put him at ease.
“In a few days, I’ll take you to get registered, and we’ll sort out your enrollment at school. If you’re behind in any sses, I’ll have someone tutor you.”
“Go to… school?”
“Any problem with that? If you want help, at the very least you need to be able to read. Don’t worry, any investment I make in you now will just mean you help out here a little longer.”
“Wicked woman.” Six muttered, but he couldn’t hide the excitement in his eye Staying to help out longer just meant he’d have a ce to live, something to eat, and most importantly… he’d get to go to school.
“My name is Alessia, not ‘wicked woman.”
<b>Chapter </b>131
<b>Alessia </b><b>actually </b>tried <b>to </b>joke, <b>but </b><b>it </b>only <b>made </b><b>things </b><b>awkward</b><b>. </b><b>Six </b><b>shot </b>her a look of mild annoyance, while she just scratched her nose <b>and </b><b>nced </b><b>toward </b><b>the </b><b>door </b>Xander watched the two kids and chuckled softly, then turned <b>back to </b><b>sorting </b>his
medicine.
“Do you want to change your name?” Alessia asked, just as they were <b>about </b><b>to </b>leave.
“I don’t care.”
<b>“</b>If you don’t have any ideas, would you like to take myst name?” Xander smiled warmly, looking every bit the kindly old man. “Though honestly, I think ‘Six‘ <b>is </b><b>a </b>pretty good name. It’s lucky–smooth sailing, everything works out, nothing but good fortune. Not bad, right?”
“Six…”
“I never had a wife, so I don’t have any children. If I did, my grandson would
my name?” probably be about your age. If you don’t mind, why not take
Six picked at his fingernails, head down, suddenly shy. He sniffed and blinked hard, determined not to let his nose sting turn into tears.
“I don’t mind… Thank you.”
Alessia worked fast. Within a week, all the paperwork was sorted, and Six was officially enrolled at the local school.
A few dayster, Alessia stepped into the clinic and found Xander by the door, umbre in hand, about to leave.
“Where are you off to, Master?”
“Ah, Lessie! It’s about to rain, and Six rushed out for school this morning without his umbre. I’m just going to bring it to him.”
“You’re not as young as you used to be–what if you slip and fall? Let me go instead.”
“Not as young–nonsense! I’m fit as a fiddle.” Xander brandished the umbre at her, giving her a gentle tap for emphasis. Alessia stood her ground, not bothering to dodge.
“Of course, you’re practically leaping about like a twenty–year–old.”
Xanderughed and grumbled, but handed her the umbre all the same.