The Sickly Youngest Member of the Villainous Family

On that day four years ago, Anne, the cleaning maid, was in a good mood.

 

Although strict orders came from above to dispose of those things properly.

 

“Why throw away something so expensive?”

 

She carefully wrapped her skirts around the golden dragon with the red ruby and the miniature wooden sword with a tiara on it.

 

Just selling these items could allow her to leave the Winchester mansion and buy a house in the capital of Rosento.

 

“I’m sure the young master would want us to throw it away so he can make a fresh start, so I’ll put it to good use in his honor.”

 

One side of Jin’s room was entirely a display case.

 

Jin, with his obsessive collecting tendencies, used to collect items that he found valuable.

 

Most of them were toys his late mother had given him during his childhood.

 

There were also beautiful dolls and jewels.

 

And he even ordered custom-made dolls that resembled his younger brother, Othello, and displayed them.

 

One night, nine-year-old Jin ordered them to clear it all out.

 

He told them to empty out everything, both things he inherited from his mother and those he had collected as valuables.

 

The servants were cautious about Jin’s intentions, but it was considered good news for Anna.

 

How could she ever get her hands on these valuable items by herself?

 

Creak—

 

While she was checking the items she had stolen in the attic, she heard the sound of a door opening downstairs.

 

“Surely not, right?”

 

Anne was afraid that someone would search the attic, so she quickly hid them under the width of her skirt and came down.

 

“…….”

 

She couldn’t help but be nervous.

 

The child who had opened the door downstairs was only about a chest high, but Anne felt a chilling dread.

 

“You-… Young Master, what brings you here?”

 

Jin Winchester, the heir to the Winchester family, was only nine years old this year.

 

But how could you call this an ordinary child with such power?

 

“…..You didn’t listen.”

 

Jin Winchester’s voice was heard.

 

A child…… could hardly be called a child with this energy.

 

How could you call it a child when it had such power that it could tear her apart with a wave of his hand?

 

“Why did you steal from me?”

 

Anne instinctively understood that Jin was interrogating her.

 

“Young master…….”

 

She tried to hide her face, but it wouldn’t work.

 

Her grip loosened, and the treasures in her skirts spilled out.

 

Jin looked at those items with eyes that saw no value in them.

 

Anne immediately fell to her knees.

 

“I was wrong. I thought they were worthless, so I tried to get my hands…..”

 

“I never thought they were worthless.”

 

Jin interrupted her.

 

He paused, and his immense shadow loomed over Anne.

 

“I simply pushed them aside for something more interesting.”

 

More interesting?

 

Jin’s possessions were practically priceless, on par with actual treasures, even among Elle Toy Shop’s merchandise finest goods.

 

There are no more valuable toys in the empire, so why…….

 

“……I’ve committed a grave offense, young master.”

 

Anne said without further thought, bowing her head and begging earnestly.

 

There was no other way to survive here except to rely on the small master’s mercy.

 

Perhaps her fervent plea reached him, as Jin opened his mouth slightly, almost leaning in.

 

“I will spare you.”

 

“Ah… thank you.”

 

“But you must play with me.”

 

Anne’s eyes trembled.

 

The cruel boy licked his lips.

 

“Hide and seek.”

 

Anne’s face filled with fear.

 

A while later, from the attic, came the sound of a growling dog and screams.

 

* * *

 

After sending Sasha away, Jin entered his room with a tired look on his face.

 

It was a room identical in structure to Othello’s, with a closed door and a wall adorned with a display case.

 

In this display case, which was about as wide as an adult man’s shoulders, lay several toys retrieved from Anne four years ago, neatly arranged from top to bottom.

 

Jin approached it, his lips curling.

 

“Indeed, it’s too empty.”

 

Then, he reached out and grabbed the ring on the display case before slowly pulling it.

 

“I need to fill it up more.”

 

Clunk – as soon as the sound was heard, the wall with the display case began to move.

 

The wall turned half a circle and started moving inward, revealing a much larger space.

 

And there, Jin’s real display case emerged.

 

Not only the original wall but also the revealed space was turned into display cases.

 

Inside, there were hundreds of dolls that looked the same.

 

No, they weren’t exactly the same; there were subtle differences.

 

Dolls with sparse hair like a baby’s, slightly larger dolls with pacifiers in their mouths…..dolls that could walk, and dolls holding milk bottles.

 

Some are wearing scarves, some are looking scared, and some are smiling.

 

What they all have in common is that they were all exquisitely crafted to resemble a real person and had silver hair and green eyes.

 

There was even a doll holding a patched-up ball that seemed to have been glued back together.

 

These dolls were the finest masterpieces crafted by the most renowned doll artisan in Rosento, commissioned by Jin.

 

“…….”

 

Jin stood in front of them.

 

He raised his hand and drew a line towards the doll’s cheek in the air.

 

It didn’t emit any visible signs, as he hadn’t used his dark flame, but his gaze was chilling.

 

“You are worth more than anything.”

 

The doll’s empty green eyes stared back at Jin.

 

Even though he knew that dolls lacked a soul, Jin wanted to leave behind something resembling Sasha’s uniqueness.

 

There was a fairly large empty space in the center of the cabinet.

 

It was a space that could be used as a prison to confine a human being.

 

“But this is just a substitute, not the real thing.”

 

Jin couldn’t tolerate anyone touching or stealing his belongings without permission.

 

“It’s no use if the real thing gets damaged.”

 

That’s why Jin had never experienced a situation like this before.

 

“I guess I’ll have to wait and see…”

 

Jin’s eyes clouded for a moment when there was a gentle knock on the door from outside.

 

Jin turned away from the cabinet with his usual cold expression.

 

When Jin walked a few steps, the wall made a half-turn and returned to its original state.

 

After a moment, Jin asked.

 

“Who is it?”

 

“It’s Sasha.”

 

Raising an eyebrow, Jin opened the door.

 

Sasha was holding a small basket.

 

Unlike the doll’s unrealistic eyes, hers sparkled with an inexplicably bright and innocent gleam.

 

With his usual cold demeanor, Jin inquired.

 

“I think the training was sufficient.”

 

“No, it’s not about that…”

 

Sasha extended the basket towards him.

 

Inside the basket were several cookies that emitted a delightful aroma.

 

“I’ve come to apologize.”

 

“Apologize?”

 

Sasha nodded.

 

Then after some hesitation, she continued.

 

“Honestly, when I was very young, there were times when I misunderstood you, brother.”

 

Jin’s eyes flickered lightly.

 

“…….”

 

“I thought of you as a villain. Someone dangerous.”

 

At Sasha’s words, Jin’s hand twitched slightly, then slowly returned to its original position.

 

“So, I was scared. But the more I think about it, brother…”

 

Sasha looked into Jin’s eyes as she spoke.

 

“You’ve never done anything dangerous to me….. In fact, you’ve always helped me. You brought me the Elixir and protected me from danger.”

 

Jin suppressed the urge to argue.

 

“The training, too, might have been a hassle, but it was all to make me stronger…”

 

He wanted to ask if she could still look at him the same way even if she knew what was behind that display case.

 

“……!”

 

Jin’s pupils quivered.

 

Sasha had hugged Jin.

 

“But still, I always do as I please. I’m sorry.”

 

Her tone was childlike, her voice pure and clear.

 

“In the future, I’ll try to understand my brother’s feelings. If there’s something important, I’ll consult with you.”

 

Sasha looked up at Jin.

 

Because she knew what Jin’s weak points were after spending time here, it wasn’t a pure, uncalculated action.

 

But they did contain genuine sincerity.

 

‘Because Jin cares about me.’

 

“Please… don’t hate me. I don’t like it when you treat me so awkwardly!”

 

Sasha understood the reasons behind Jin’s occasional tantrums; it was related to her safety.

 

Even though Jin may appear to others as a dangerous villain, Sasha sees him as a child deep down, someone with a pure heart.

 

At least to some extent.

 

“There’s no way I could hate you.”

 

After staring at her for a while, Jin raised his hand above Sasha’s head.

 

Feeling the reassuring weight of Jin’s hand, Shasha felt a bit relieved.

 

She looked up at him.

 

Her reflection appeared in Jin’s deep green eyes.

 

She couldn’t discern what Jin was thinking or feeling, but could only guess that he had some complex thoughts.

 

“I do value you, in my own way.”

 

It was just a faint hint that he had some complicated thoughts, nothing more.

 

After a moment of silence, Jin muttered to himself as if thinking aloud.

 

“My way of valuing things might be a bit different from others.”

 

“…….”

 

Sasha, who couldn’t understand what he was talking about, simply looked at him.

 

Although Jin was usually expressionless, this time he let out a small sigh and a smile appeared on his lips.

 

“I must admit, I’m quite pleased to hear this from you.”

 

“…….”

 

Sasha blinked.

 

It seemed like Jin had lightened up a bit.

 

The sunset was pouring in brilliantly through the arched window.

 

“Let’s go to the library together tomorrow.”

 

His gentle voice sounded almost dangerously affectionate.