The Sickly Youngest Member of the Villainous Family

As Recardo stepped out of Sasha’s room, he noticed Hector and came to a halt.

As he entered Sasha’s room, the servants, who had finally started relaxing at Recardo’s exit, became more tense at Hector’s appearance.

“How is Sasha doing?” Hector asked.

“It seems she will need a few days to recover,” Recardo replied.

“A few days. We were supposed to talk about the heirloom, but it seems it will take longer.”

A voice filled with regret could be heard.

“My lord,” Recardo spoke quickly, his eyes cold. “…..It would be best for you to return to your residence.”

At Recardo’s words, all the servants held their breath with their heads down.

It was a suggestion, but the tone was close to an order.

If Hector were to get angry here, not only the servants but also the door to Sasha’s room would fly out several meters beyond the mansion.

“Huh. Are you trying to chase me away?”

Naturally, Hector’s weary eyebrows furrowed fiercely.

Just as the rough black flames were about to rise from his body, he heard Recardo’s voice.

“Teaching a weak child like her for eight hours every day is excessive treatment.”

“Excessive treatment, you say? Is that directed at a child who has read all seven volumes of the continental history written by Metheus?”

Recardo’s eyebrows twitched at those words.

The continental history was a book that even Jin did not touch until he was ten years old.

‘No wonder he’s been here for years,’ Recardo thought, feeling a throbbing pain in his head.

“What Sasha needs is rest.”

“What did you say?”

“To hide the family’s weaknesses from enemies, Sasha ran outside in harsh weather.”

Hector’s expression finally showed a reaction to Recardo’s words.

“And it eventually led to this state.”

Hector’s gaze slowly shifted towards Evan’s room.

He had heard about what had happened to Sasha.

The sudden change of Evan’s room. Of course, Hector had quite an impressive view of Sasha. To have already voiced her opinion and helped the family.

He hadn’t expected that the events during that process would be the cause of her current abysmal condition.

“……I see.”

Hector’s sigh-like voice murmured softly.

Though his granddaughter possessed many talents, she needed to be careful because of her weak body.

“It’s only natural that a child with a weak body would become even weaker if all she does is studying.”

This was a natural concern.

Hector’s gaze turned towards Recardo Winchester.

Recardo, with his stern and cold gaze, stood in front of Sasha’s room, staring at Hector.

‘You’ve really become a father.’

“If she has already finished Continental History, as the former head says, she is already three years ahead of everyone else, so I think she deserves a break.”

For some reason, Hector, with a slightly worried heart, cleared his throat and spoke.

“With a strong body comes a strong mind, so it is necessary to take a rest to maintain the body. However…”

The words exchanged between the two Winchesters made Rowen regretful inside.

The uncertain situation in the territory had stabilized greatly during Hector’s stay at the mansion.

~ Translations by Lurelia | Editing by Valpal | Read only at moonlightnovels.com ~

On the other hand, Taylor’s influence had declined, and the status of the two families had reversed.

Hector continued his words.

“A peaceful mind leads to a comfortable body. Even if you take medicine, if your mind is not at ease, the progress of healing the illness will be less effective.”

Recardo’s eyebrows twitched at Hector’s words.

Hector, who realized that his words hit the mark, twisted his lips and continued.

“She has been considering taking a digestive aid once a week in the evenings. How harsh must you have been. Tsk.”

Hector turned around and started walking.

“I will give Sasha a break. In return, make sure to establish a comfortable relationship during that time. Like a father and a daughter.”

‘I hope you can keep it a secret from Father about what I’m learning.’

In truth, what Sasha was learning was not merely continental history, but advanced knowledge that could only be taught in the towers of Akada.

Hector couldn’t help but feel amazed by those achievements.

‘Establishing a close relationship and gaining a genius’s heart is also the role of the head of the family,’ Hector thought to himself. ‘That kid, Sasha, will bring a new wind to the family in the future.’

A little while later, when Hector disappeared from sight, Recardo, with his eyebrows furrowed, said to Rowen.

“Let’s go.”

Rowen, who had been waiting with a bewildered expression, followed behind Recardo.

A shiver had run down his spine when the mood turned sour earlier.

It was time to get back to work, after all, with a father and grandfather having a war of nerves in front of a sick girl’s room.

“Rowen.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

“I wonder if…… I have a frightening presence.”

“…….”

Rowen barely managed to swallow the words, “You just realized that now?”

* * *

I regained my senses exactly three days after falling ill.

“Everyone’s worries must have reached the Black Dragon, I’m glad you’re feeling better,” Maya babbled as she neatly placed a slice of Chai Berry Pie on my plate. “After the former head of the family left, the master also left, and even Master Jin… All three of them must be busy, but they showed genuine concern for you, Miss.”

Honestly, I don’t remember anything.

Perhaps due to the fever, I couldn’t even recall who came and went from my room.

However, Maya’s mention of their “genuine concern” couldn’t be dismissed as an exaggeration.

It was true that the Winchester men were not particularly caring when it came to someone’s suffering.

But when it came to my own illness, they made an exception. They showed a level of concern that was almost burdensome.

They would visit my room multiple times, quickly demanding that I get better and even threatening the doctor to do so.

Being sick in the ruthless Winchester household was almost akin to being a disgrace, an unwelcome occurrence.

“Oh and Miss.”

Maya brought the gift box she had left at the door.

Sitting down on the bed, I accepted the blue box and looked up at Maya.

“It’s a package sent by Master Othello.”

Her words made my hand twitch.

Othello… I’ve been wondering how he was doing. In truth, even amidst the pain, thoughts of Othello’s face often crossed my mind.

It seems that the saying “familiarity breeds fondness” is quite fitting. Even a scary guy like Othello can become someone I think of often.

‘He wouldn’t send me anything weird,’ I thought as I unwrapped the package.

“…….”

And then, I reached into the package and pulled out something soft.

“Oh my, how adorable,” Maya beamed. “It looks just like the teddy bear you used to keep on your bed when you were a baby.”

The gift Othello had sent me was none other than a teddy bear.

It was a brown bear, slightly grumpy looking, with a small yellow ribbon attached.

I stared at the teddy bear.

This doesn’t seem like the kind of gift Othello would send …….

“Pfft…….”

I couldn’t help but let out a laugh.

What was he thinking when he sent me a teddy bear as a gift?

While smiling and looking at the teddy bear, I noticed a note inside the package.

I took out the note and read the words written on it.

[If you want something or want to kill someone, tell the bear.]

It was a typical Othello-like note, with his rough handwriting.

‘It doesn’t have a curse function, does it?’

It was a message that sent a chill down my spine.

As I was staring intently at the teddy bear, someone knocked on the door. Maya opened the door, revealing several servants carrying what appeared to be gift boxes.

I looked at them in surprise.

“The duke has sent gifts with a satisfied heart for your recovery.”

“And this is from Master Jin…”

“The head of the family said he will visit next spring and left a gift.”

They began piling the gifts in my room.

“My lady, the maids have prepared these gifts in unison.”

“And this one is from Lord Rowen.”

I looked at the stacks of gifts.

Even when I fell ill with a cold two months ago, I received expensive gifts along with messages wishing for a quick recovery.

Maya smiled and turned to me.

“You have no idea how desolate the mansion was while you were sick.”

It’s not like the mansion is deserted because a kid like me is sick.

“The maids, the servants – they’ve all been waiting for you to get better, and I’m sure the duke and young master have been even more so.”

After leaving the gifts, the servants closed the door and left.  As soon as they were gone, I started unpacking the gifts they had given me one by one.

Ricardo had ordered some toys from Elle’s toy shop, and they were quite cute. I could guess that Rowen would have picked them out. Hector had gifted me several books that were not available in the library, and I found myself intrigued by the one on alchemy.

[I’m afraid I must leave for a while on business, but I’ll see you again in a year, my granddaughter.]

I felt a sense of regret that he had left while I was still sick, but the word “granddaughter” somehow warmed my heart.

I should send a reply to Hector’s residence soon.

I’ll make sure to read the books once I’ve fully recovered.

Jin’s gift was a pretty bundle of ribbons and a round purple ball. The purple ball was transparent like a diamond and sparkled inside.

“Oh my, a moonlight amethyst… He sent such a precious gem!” Maya exclaimed, clearly taken aback.

It seemed that it was indeed quite valuable.

“Wilners Mine produces only one or two of these gems per year. If you make a tiara and necklace with this gem for the debutante ball, no one will be able to take their eyes off you.”

Although I was the one who received the gift, Maya seemed more delighted.

“Ah, when will that day come?”

However, I couldn’t simply enjoy the thought of a distant ball.

~ Translations by Lurelia | Editing by Valpal | Read only at moonlightnovels.com ~

Through “The Secret of the Blue Falcon,” I had seen Phersetos dormant within Jin’s body.

It had brought about the destruction of the world. How could I not be wary after seeing something like that?

The sight of the apocalypse was strange, horrifying, and shocking.

Perhaps the dream I had about the principle of causality… could it be related to Phersetos?

“Maya.”

“Yes, Miss.”

“How is Evan doing?”

Maya’s eyes widened for a moment, as if she thought it was an unexpected question.

“You mean Young Master Evan Taylor? He’s just been staying in his room.”

“For three days?”

“Yes.”

Evan was staying in the same building as me. That meant even if I made contact with Evan Taylor, it wouldn’t seem strange.

There was a lot I needed to find out about him.

Even if I managed to find the elixir and cure my illness, it would all be in vain if the world was destroyed.

“I should meet Evan at least once…..”

As I opened my mouth, thinking that I should make contact with him, Maya suddenly staggered and collapsed.

“Maya!”

I was taken aback and rushed down from the bed to approach Maya.

What’s going on….. ?Did she collapse from not being able to sleep and overexerting herself?

I shook the collapsed Maya and opened my mouth to call for help.

“……!”

Something covered my mouth.

Only then did I realize that someone was behind me.

A solid body pressed against my back.

When I turned my head, fear freezing the blood in my veins, Evan appeared, his deep blue eyes shining upon me.

“……Sasha Winchester.”