Recardo, who had coughed lightly, asked me.
“Tell me what you want.”
I stared at Recardo blankly, taken aback by his words.
“I don’t want something. I just brought these things because my father is unwell…”
“…….”
Recardo’s intense gaze was fixed on me.
Was this… an expression of gratitude?
I hesitated before continuing.
“I’m my father’s daughter. I brought these things….. just as a daughter would, hearing that my father is unwell.”
To be precise, I had thought he was seriously ill.
If I had known he was in such good health, I wouldn’t have brought so much.
“That’s what family is for.”
“…….”
At my answer, Recardo stared at me for a long time.
I couldn’t tell what he was thinking, but after a while he spoke up.
“… family…..is.”
At Recardo’s words, I said “ah” and flinched at his hand.
I had grown quite accustomed to the Winchesters and recognized that I would have to live here, but I had never spoken to him so directly about our relationship.
Perhaps the Winchester’s atmosphere suited a lord and his vassal more than that of a father and daughter.
Just like how Jin and Othello seemed to have that kind of atmosphere with Recardo.
“……You think so, too.”
Recardo’s lips twitched.
I didn’t understand the meaning of his words.
Then he lifted his teacup to his lips.
When he put the cup down again, I couldn’t be sure if it was a mistake, but it seemed like Recardo’s mood had improved compared to earlier.
I wonder if the honey-ginger tea is having an effect.
“When I go back, I’ll tell the maids to prepare something less sweet for you.”
Recardo’s tea seemed too sweet now.
“And it’s good to keep your throat warm when you have a cough.”
I added, looking at Recardo.
It wouldn’t hurt to say a few more words while I’m at it.
“…….”
Two buttons on his shirt were undone, revealing a glimpse of his chest.
In my previous life, I would have said he had great looks, but he’s my dad now.
Taking good care is important.
Recardo seemed to have sensed my gaze as he casually buttoned up two buttons on his shirt.
His fingers are long and pretty… I momentarily lost my focus even in that moment. Realizing that Recardo was looking at me, I quickly straightened up.
“But…….”
Slightly flustered, I managed to gather my thoughts and asked what had come to my mind.
I should just ask this and then leave.
“H-How did you catch a… cold?”
He put his cup down and looked out of the window to the side.
The scenery outside the window was wintry, but during the several winters I had experienced, I had never heard of Recardo catching a cold.
“I overexerted myself.”
Recardo said, which surprised me a little.
Recardo enjoyed hunting and often went after the large beasts in the Wilners Mountains.
I wondered if there were still beasts challenging enough to make Recardo overexert himself.
“After a long time of using my strength, I felt drained.”
He continued, still gazing outside.
* * *
That morning, as Evan drew his sword in the training ground, he felt a chilly presence.
He turned around, but all he saw were the cold flakes of snow.
When he turned back, an incredible force struck Evan’s chest with a powerful impact.
“Ugh…!”
Evan was sent flying without any chance to defend himself.
He floated through the air, landing on the ground and sliding several meters before coming to a stop.
Blood trickled from the corner of Evan’s mouth.
He wiped it away with his hand and stared at the man walking towards him in the darkness.
He had never felt such a presence before.
‘Clarity has manifested, but it’s not enough.’
It was proof that his body had not yet returned to its pre-reversion state.
“…….”
Evan glared at the man standing before him.
Braving the cold gusts of wind, it was Recardo Winchester.
He was the Duke of Darkness and the head of the Winchester family.
“There must have been a better way to kill the enemy’s brat…… Tsk.”
A tendril of black flame wrapped around Evan’s throat, lifting him off the ground.
In Recardo’s eyes, there was no hint of mercy for the young boy.
He had been Janut’s greatest villain for twenty-seven cycles, an evil man unstoppable by anyone but Evan Taylors.
Recardo Winchester pursed his lips, his eyes cold and expressionless.
“It doesn’t matter if you’re an enemy or an ally.”
Evan met Recardo’s gaze.
Even after twenty-seven regressions, he still had a cold look that could make one’s bones chill.
“So… What does it matter?”
Evan twisted his lips in defiance, his lips still stained with blood.
“Taylor´s upbringing may be different, but this is how we learn in Winchester.”
When the black flame released its grip on Evan’s throat, he fell to the ground.
“You can´t damage something that belongs to someone stronger than you.”
Soon, Recardo’s foot trampled Evan’s palm.
“Don’t pay any attention.”
It wasn’t a crushing grip, but it was a clear warning from the one who had the upper hand.
“If you don’t do that, you’ll surely die.”
“Ugh…”
It took a while before Recardo lifted his foot from Evan’s palm.
Evan held his hand with the other hand and spoke to Recardo.
“It seems like you… have lost your composure as well.”
Over countless regressions, Evan had come to know that Recardo was not the type to care about his frail youngest daughter.
Sasha Winchester had always been beyond his interest.
“…….”
Recardo looked down at Evan silently.
His cold gaze could easily strangle Evan’s throat.
The heavy aura of the black flame could snatch Evan’s life away in an instant if Recardo allowed it.
With his current abilities, Evan couldn’t dare to challenge Recardo.
“……Ha…….”
Certainly, this time around, things were not as familiar as they had been in the past.
The Winchester villains who once showed no interest in Sasha Winchester were now all threatening him, declaring that touching Sasha would mean death.
Even the King of Shadows, the ruthless head of the Winchester family, Recardo Winchester, did so openly.
Recardo observed Evan with a gaze that was not like looking at a child.
It was the gaze of a trained lion watching a cunning interrogator who was scrutinizing his offspring.
“…….”
Recardo turned around abruptly.
It was a warning that Evan hadn’t heard while he was silently staying in the room.
In the chaos of the training ground, Evan, who had managed to sit up, coughed as blood trickled from his mouth.
The blow to his chest had been hard.
“…….”
He looked at Recardo’s back and spoke up, deciding to take a chance.
In his twenty-eighth regression, he had resolved to do whatever it took, even if it meant joining forces with his former enemies.
“Sasha Winchester.”
As he called that name, Recardo’s steps came to a halt.
“…..Do you want to protect her?”
