The Sickly Youngest Member of the Villainous Family

“Three spoons of Kamiparadon and two spoons of Belesios. Nothing left out.”

 

The subordinate in the black robes was making excuses in front of Chenoa, looking bewildered.

 

“But how is he so well?”

 

“He’s just pretending to be fine. He’s probably rotting away inside.”

 

Chenoa, who was sitting with his legs crossed on a magnificent chair resembling a throne, asked in a chilling voice.

 

“Didn’t you say that Belesios blocks the source of power?”

 

“It…… does.”

 

Both of these substances were poisonous herbs from the wilds of the Kale Mountains.

 

Kamiparadon dulls the mind and gradually weakens the body, while Belesios stops the flow of power that circulates through the body.

 

While they were milder than some plants that killed people immediately upon ingestion, there was no better herb for gradually weakening someone.

 

Once absorbed into the body, the poison couldn’t be detected, which meant there would be no trace.

 

“It… it seems to take time. But if we wait…”

 

The man in the robe couldn’t continue his sentence.

 

The clear energy released from Chenoa’s hand pierced his chest.

 

“Keugh…….”

 

Chenoa looked at the man with a nonchalant expression and spoke.

 

“I’ve been waiting for six months.”

 

“Ke…… keugh…….”

 

“In just six months, Othello Winchester reached the beginning of becoming a Sword Auror.”

 

Sword Aurors who came from one of the great four families were very rare.

 

It was an inborn ability. This ability alone was so powerful that there was no need for any weapon; most swordsmen, except for rare cases like Recardo, did not deeply pursue the sword.

 

However, when someone with such an ability trained in swordsmanship, the story changed.

 

While most blades would crumble under the weight of their powers, a Sword Auror can embody the essence of their powers in their sword.

 

It is a powerful state where oneself, the sword, and one’s abilities are completely unified.

 

Furthermore, Sword Aurors had a tremendous advantage in close combat. Despite Chenoa’s formidable clarity, if he were to face Recardo one-on-one, he would likely be at a disadvantage.

 

Although Othello Winchester was not the successor, if he became a Sword Auror user, he could pose a significant threat to the Taylors.

 

Considering that Evan Taylor had not even manifested his ability yet, this threat was even greater.

 

“We have to deal with Othello, even if it means starting a war.”

 

As soon as Chenoa finished speaking, aide Luke appeared from the shadows.

 

He looked at the corpse of a man in robes and spoke.

 

“The young master will be in danger.”

 

“I have a substitute.”

 

“The Second master…….”

 

The aide trailed off, a heavy look on his face.

 

Harrison Taylors, Chenoa Taylors’ stepbrother, had been born with his right hand missing at just two years old.

 

He was unsuitable as a successor.

 

“Even if we lose Evan, we can’t hand over power that exceeds his to the enemy.”

 

“Your Grace, with uncertain information and reports that arrived just yesterday…”

 

They had sent spies to the Winchester mansion dozens of times, but they had heard nothing about what was happening there. Therefore, the aide couldn’t be sure if the information he received was accurate.

 

It was quite unnatural that someone who had been dormant until now had awakened, but it was better than the Taylors’ survival being threatened by the family head’s hasty decision.

 

“It appears that young master has awakened his ability.”

 

At the aide’s words, Chenoa’s eyebrows stiffened.

 

* * *

 

Though it seemed slow, time passed.

 

“Are you doing well, Othello?”

 

Ahem, I cleared my throat and spoke to the brown teddy bear.

 

The teddy bear just lay in front of me with a blank face.

 

I hadn’t spoken to the teddy bear since I realized that this one was actually “Rune”.

 

It was a bit rude of Othello to send it to me without telling me.

 

“I’m just getting by.”

 

But on days like today, I couldn’t help but think of Othello a bit.

 

“Now that Grandpa Hector is gone, and Brother Jin has left on a mission, the mansion feels empty.”

 

Thanks to that, there was no one looking for me all day, which made it quite relaxing and enjoyable.

 

“How’s life there?”

 

Evan had barely left his room since the incident involving his power outburst.

 

The mansion felt silent all day long.

 

I somewhat missed the days when Othello used to shoot water guns or kick my ball around…

 

“How are the Taylors? Is the food good? And have you grown taller?”

 

After asking a few questions, I sighed deeply.

 

It seemed that talking to a doll alone wasn’t quite right.

 

I gazed up at the ceiling and lay down.

 

For some reason, my head felt a bit dizzy today.

 

That’s when Maya opened the door and said.

 

“Miss, His Grace…….”

 

***

 

As I walked into the office, I saw Recardo.

 

He was working as usual, but he turned his gaze towards me.

 

Then, he raised his sleeve and coughed softly.

 

“……What’s going on?”

 

At that moment I realized that I was a little mistaken.

 

“His Grace is unwell.”

 

Maya’s concerned voice echoed in my ears.

 

The maids came to me and voiced their opinions.

 

“How about taking some sweet desserts to His Grace? It might help comfort him.”

 

“Even though important matters are at hand, it’s good to rest when one is unwell.”

 

“I’ll prepare a dress so cute that just looking at it will relieve his fatigue.”

 

That’s how I found my way to the office with two baskets of desserts in hand to visit a sick Recardo.

 

“……a cold…….”

 

I pressed my lips together in disbelief.

 

How could he possibly be sick?

 

“…..Did you catch one?”

 

Silence fell over the quiet office.

 

I was wearing a pure white dress like an angel from heaven. However, Recardo looked perfectly fine, so much so that my attire seemed inconspicuous.

 

“…….”

 

Recardo, who had been staring at me for a while, pursed his lips.

 

“Sit down.”

 

Ah… what’s this about?

 

I regretted coming to his office as I took a seat at the table.

 

Then, I started to take out the desserts and tea from the baskets while glancing at him.

 

“You probably don’t need these, but…..”

 

I poured myself some sweet honey tea, which I drink every time I have a sore throat.

 

It is a tea containing ginger, but there was originally no culture here of boiling ginger into tea.

 

So, this tea was essentially my own creation in this world.

 

“It’s good to have warm tea when your throat is sore.”

 

As I poured the tea, Recardo silently watched me.

 

“It has a unique aroma.”

 

“It’s ginger. It’s good for relieving cold symptoms.”

 

“Did you learn this from the former Duke?”

 

“No.”

 

I said, shaking my head.

 

“I get sick a lot, so I’m trying to find ways to make it less painful.”

 

At my words, Recardo, who was holding the teacup, paused.

 

After a moment of silence, he opened his mouth.

 

“……I see.”

 

Whenever I fell ill, doctors would rush over, but none of them could determine the cause of my frail constitution.

 

Jin’s elixir kept my condition under control, but it did little more than that.

 

“…….”

 

Recardo, who had finished his honey ginger tea, removed his lips from the cup. He remained silent for a while, then spoke.

 

“I never liked honey, but it seems ginger flavor neutralizes it without being overwhelming.”

 

It seemed to match his taste better than expected.

 

I offered him the dessert I had brought.

 

“I thought you might like it, so I also brought cookies made with lemon and ginger.”

 

His condition seemed overly healthy, but there was no harm in showing goodwill.

 

I knew that Recardo had been sending doctors and occasionally checking on my condition when I fell ill.

 

Rumors had spread to the point where it was said that the best doctors in the Empire had been hired by the Winchesters.

 

So, let’s put in extra effort today.

 

“…….”

 

Crunch. Recardo bit into the cookie.

 

I stared at him, expecting his reaction.

 

“…Actually, I made them myself, thinking of you father.”

 

For some reason, I added unnecessary words.

 

Recardo, who was eating the cookie, paused for a moment and then licked his lips.

 

His face, which was always cold and intimidating, seemed somewhat serene today.

 

“…..Cough.”