The Sickly Youngest Member of the Villainous Family

“Evan Taylors has arrived and been shown to his room. As you instructed, he has been assigned to the middle room in the western tower.”

Rowen reported to Recardo, who had returned from his hunt.

There was a vivid streak of blood on Recardo’s cheek, and the soldiers behind him were dragging a large bear as big as a house.

It was not a particularly surprising sight, so Rowen remained calm.

“Now that the guest has arrived…”

Recardo pursed his lips.

In his intense green eyes, there was a gathering vitality that had not yet dissipated.

“……I suppose we’ll have to serve him hospitably.”

“I’ll be sure to inform the young master to do the same.”

Recardo looked at the snowy mountains he had just left.

Winter in Winchester was harsh.

In that place where only strong beasts could survive, he had hunted down the king of the mountains in a single stroke.

It was not a difficult task, even without the black flame.

“…….”

And suddenly, he felt a faint gaze on him.

The owner of this gaze, like that of a helpless forest beast, was a child about his waist height.

The child with silver hair tied into two braids seemed to have grown a little since he last saw her.

Her eyes were unusually clear and innocent as she trod the soil of Winchester.

“Hel… Hello.”

His eyebrows twitched at the sound of Sasha’s voice, and he wiped the blood from his cheek with a frown.

The knights all had the same gaze fixed on the young daughter of the duke.

‘How could she be so absurdly cute!’

It was awkward to call her the daughter of the Duke of Winchester, who could single-handedly slay bears that were more akin to monsters than animals. It was especially contrasting, considering that she was so pure she was almost radiating a bright light out from her body.

Sasha approached Recardo, her cheeks slightly reddened by the cold wind. Then, she cutely greeted him while holding her dress in a cute curtsy.

Her small voice asked, “Have you returned safely?”

It felt like the cold wind turned into a warm breeze only around Sasha.

“What brings you here?” Recardo replied flatly.

The phrase ‘in this weather’ was likely omitted.

Unlike Jin and Othello, Sasha had a tendency to catch a cold several times a year.

Sasha waved her hands quickly in the air as Recardo turned his icy gaze to Maya.

“I was the one who requested we go out. Maya didn’t do anything wrong.”

“…….”

“I have a favor to ask…….”

Sasha hesitated a moment, then turned to Recardo.

Recardo had no idea.

How much internal struggle Sasha had to go through before approaching him.

When Recardo furrowed his eyebrows, Rowen took the nearby knights with him.

A cold breeze whipped through the air, between Recardo and Sasha. After a moment, when Sasha opened her mouth, and Recardo’s eyebrows twitched again.

Sasha’s pupils, looking at him, were quite desperate.

* * *

“The west tower is not a suitable place for Evan to stay.”

As I protested about Evan’s living quarters, Recardo looked at me with a cold gaze.

I know. I’m interfering beyond my place.

But I had to speak up on this one.

“It’s so close to the northern base; he’ll definitely notice.”

To the adults, I might just seem like a little kid blabbering about anything.

After all, despite being recognized as a prodigy within the mansion and having a lot of knowledge, most of my days were spent cooped up in the library.

I grew up avoiding Recardo’s attention unless it was absolutely necessary.

When he raised an eyebrow and remained silent, I spoke up, begging to be understood.

“I’m speaking for the sake of the family name.”

The words made his eyebrows twitch. He looked at my eyes for a while.

And then he spoke.

“Did the former head tell you about the northern base?”

The northern base was one of the secret defense lines of Winchester Mansion.

Only the immediate family and high-ranking staff knew about it, and I only learned about it recently through my grandfather, Hector.

It housed thousands of bombs and connected to an escape route. There was also a massive laboratory for creating highly lethal weapons.

“…….Yes.”

“There’s nothing good about it to tell a little child.”

Recardo frowned and muttered to himself.

Then he looked at me.

“Evan probably doesn’t know.”

Having read the original, I knew Evan didn’t know about the northern base.

“It doesn’t even exist in documents, so Taylors’ spies couldn’t have found out until now. But if Evan were to discover it and report to the Taylors, the situation could become more difficult in the future.”

In the original novel, if Evan had known about that base, it would have made taking over Winchester a little easier.

And even if Othello hadn’t fallen for the traitorous Permetis, Jin or Recardo could have traveled to the North Base and saved their futures.

That’s what I thought when I heard about the northern base.

After a moment, Recardo spoke up.

“…So, it’s your judgment that it’s not suitable as a residence.”

His gaze was directed at me, and I nodded my head. I wondered if he would actually accept my opinion, my heart racing.

“…….”

For a while, his gaze at me was quite serious, as if filled with subtle interest.

After a moment of silence, he continued.

“It’s a useful opinion.”

It was an affirmative answer.

“But.”

Then Recardo leaned in slightly to meet my gaze.

“Even if you have something urgent to say, it’s not appropriate for the young lady to rush out in this weather.”

When our eyes met, I instinctively felt intimidated.

“Cough.”

He might have wiped it off, but there were still traces of blood on his cheek.

The emotions in his green eyes seemed quite serious, and it was difficult to distinguish whether it was curiosity or murderous intent.

“…..Next time, restrain yourself.”

A stern voice drifted into my ears.

Is he… saying this out of concern for me? I couldn’t tell.

In any case, what is certain is that my opinion has been heard by Recardo.

“Yes, Father…….”

After a moment, Recardo straightened his posture and called for Rowan.

“We will reassign Evan Taylor’s room.”

“As you command.”

Rowan complied with Recardo’s orders.

The gaze of Evan, who had been watching me from beyond the window, still lingered in my mind.

Recardo’s low voice flowed into my ears.

“And as for you.”

* * *

‘We have dinner together once a week.’

This is a common rule among the Four Families.

‘Why…… why me?’

Whether you’re an adult or a child, being invited to a dinner with the family head is a sign of recognition and a very proud occasion.

‘I wanted to see what you have learned. You’ve grown up a lot now.’

And I received that damn honor at the age of only seven.

“…….”

Of course, I could have refused.

I would have even refused if Recardo hadn’t been wearing such a long sword. And if he hadn’t had red blood on his face and looked so terrifying…….

‘I should have written him an anonymous letter instead of telling him in person.’

I wanted to slap myself in the face. I was so stupid to tell him in person.

“I messed up…”

I flopped onto the bed.

“Whoa…….”

Recardo’s low voice echoed in my ear.

You’re supposed to be eating with Jin! You evil dad!

I murmured weakly in a feeble voice.

“Even Othello is going…… I also……will be going…..”

I was about to close my eyes when something flashed before my eyes for the first time in a long time.