The Sickly Youngest Member of the Villainous Family

“Ha. I should have seen through that woman’s nasty ideas the moment she mentioned Lysonia.”

 

The drawing room of the Winchester mansion.

 

Sitting on a sofa, Chenoa’s eyebrows were raised.

 

Beside him stood Evan, dressed in full uniform. He brushed off his damp sleeve as if it were dirty.

 

“By the way, why didn’t you report the manifestation of your power?”

 

Evan stood there without answering. Lost in some deep thoughts.

 

“The men who infiltrated Winchester all came back with broken legs, and you never contacted me, so I figured there was no point in sending them.”

 

Chenoa said, placing one leg on the other thigh.

 

“At least you got something done.”

 

It was natural that Evan remained unnoticed.

 

Sasha Winchester, a seven-year-old kid, manifested powers, while Evan was twelve.

 

“In any case, I’m going to put an end to this exchange arrangement. Now that you’ve awakened your powers, it’s to our loss to keep the second Winchester.”

 

Chenoa’s eyes gleamed sharply.

 

“It might be different if it’s the exceptional first one.”

 

Jin Winchester certainly bears a striking resemblance to Recardo.

 

The second, already a Sword Auror at such a young age, was a force to be reckoned with, but he was not as formidable as Jin.

 

“Luckily Elysion Akada is available, so we can get rid of that pesky Lysonia.”

 

“……don’t want to.”

 

Evan’s voice cut in mid-sentence, and Chenoa’s eyebrows twitched.

 

Chenoa’s eyes shot to Evan’s.

 

“…….”

 

Evan’s deep blue eyes gathered like a mass of clarity, still seemed immersed in heavy thoughts.

 

“What did you just say?”

 

The tips of Chenoa’s eyebrows rose sharply again.

 

“…….”

 

Evan didn’t even meet Chenoa’s eyes.

 

Chenoa’s face contorted at the sight. He felt like Evan was ignoring him.

 

“Are you audaciously begging for mercy just because you’ve awakened Clear Sight?”

 

A blue aura began to gather in Chenoa’s hands. The picture frames in the room rattled with the surge of energy.

 

“Even if you try, your power is still a far cry from mine…….”

 

But Evan merely shifted his gaze to Chenoa with a nonchalant expression.

 

“The first time I used it on my father was probably in the ninth round.”

 

“What are you talking about?”

 

“Consumed by jealousy, you tried to kill me.”

 

Chenoa stood up with eyes filled with anger.

 

“You’ve gone through a rampage, so you must have lost your mind.”

 

“But I didn’t want to kill my father.”

 

Evan whispered in a low voice.

 

“…But I also don’t want my father to hold me back.”

 

At that moment, Chenoa’s world turned black.

 

“Now… I’ll move on my own.”

 

Chenoa was surprised and tried to use Clear Light, but nothing came out of his hand.

 

Chenoa looked around. There was nothing but blackness and his own body, unable to use his powers.

 

“What have you done! Evan, what did you do!”

 

Evan’s unseen voice came through.

 

“Father can no longer go against me anymore.”

 

An eerie chill ran down his spine.

 

Chenoa felt transparent shackles and handcuffs wrap around his wrists and ankles.

 

He wanted to protest, but his mouth wouldn’t open.

 

A moment later, he was back in the room, facing Evan.

 

Evan was silent, staring down at the clear blue of his hands.

 

‘Blue Obedience.’ It was a technique he gained the ability to use with the reappearance of Clear Sight.

 

The stronger the power of the ability, the more ways it could be used.

 

The more experience he gained, the easier it was to do difficult things.

 

“…….”

 

Evan looked at Chenoa.

 

Chenoa stood there with a numb expression as if a nail was driven into his foot.

 

“Have a seat.”

 

As Evan muttered, Chenoa soon sat down.

 

The sound of chains clinking reached Chenoa’s ears, but it was only an internal struggle.

 

Evan, who had passed behind Chenoa, spoke in a low voice like a whisper.

 

“I have no intention of leaving this place for a while. So, please cooperate.”

 

Passing by Chenoa, Evan stood in front of the door to the reception room.

 

Soon the door opened, revealing Elysion.

 

“Oh, Evan, it’s been a while.”

 

Evan gave Elysion a slight bow.

 

“How’s life in Winchester….”

 

“I’m going now, you can talk.”

 

Elysion chuckled at the casualness in Evan’s voice.

 

“Okay. I see you’re not going to give me the time of day, so I’ll see you soon.”

 

As Evan left, Elysion sat down on the empty couch in the reception room and turned to Chenoa.

 

“The next generation of heirs are quite uptight as always, aren’t they?”

 

“…….”

 

Chenoa didn’t answer, just lifted his teacup and drank.

 

***

 

I patted the soil in the silver pot where I’d replanted a single Erasinis.

 

Maya, noting the chilly wind, wrapped a blanket around me, and I gazed at the pot for a while.

 

It was the only Erasinis that survived in the desolate flowerbed that day.

 

I wasn’t in the best of moods as I remembered Vanessa’s last moments, but living is about somehow moving forward.

 

“What an extraordinary little one.”

 

I heard a familiar voice from behind.

 

I glanced at Othello with surprise.

 

“May the woman who tried to kill me rest in peace.”

 

He returned after six months in Taylor, injured. I wondered why he had grown so tall. I still felt like a tiny Winchester.

 

“…Disqualified as a Winchester.”

 

Othello whispered to me to me in a grumpy tone.

 

“I don’t particularly pay tribute.”

 

I said, pouting.

 

“So, did you save me by chance?”

 

My reflection was evident in Othello’s deep green eyes.

 

As the moment of crisis flashed back, I avoided his gaze.

 

In the face of Bahimos, who was about to attack me, Othello willingly offered his shoulder.

 

“Othello, you’re the one disqualified. Eliminated!”

 

It was unlike the typical Winchester response.

 

Othello smirked as if finding it amusing.

 

“Is your arm…… okay?”

 

After a while, I looked up at Othello and asked.

 

His injury was severe, to the extent that his clothes were soaked with blood.

 

I hadn’t had time to use potions since we’d been with the doctors since we’d moved into the mansion.

 

Instead of answering, Othello raised his injured arm in the air.

 

It looked like a normal movement. Finally, I felt a sense of relief.

 

I hadn’t properly checked Othello’s condition because he was always in bed to deceive Vanessa’s eyes.

 

“Thank goodness.”

 

Placing my hand over my chest, I exhaled.

 

Othello had been silently observing me for quite some time.

 

Although his expression seemed casual, it also appeared as if he had much to say, with a gaze that hinted at deep contemplation.

 

After a prolonged silence, Othello finally spoke.

 

“I never had such a strong desire to become stronger.”

 

He leaned down a little and passed his hand over my head, gently stroking my hair.

 

“…..Something like a rabbit that keeps pushing me.”

 

I couldn’t understand what Othello was saying.

 

I could only feel the slightly chilling emerald eyes staring at me. Shortly after, Othello straightened up and turned away.

 

As the wind blew, the Erasinis I had planted in my pot swayed.

 

I redirected my attention to the Erasinis. The flower looked unusually pale.

 

***

 

“First we need to know what the Key of Mechius is.”

 

Elysion unfolded the ‘Origin of the Families’ toward Recardo and Chenoa.

 

Through the bracelet Elysion was wearing, the words materialized in the air.

 

“It seems like a waste of time. Is there anyone in the Empire who doesn’t know this book?”

 

Chenoa pursed her lips in displeasure.

 

‘The Origin of Families’ was a book that members of the four major families had encountered multiple times, even if only as a copy.

 

“As far as I know, there was no mention of the Key of Mechius.”

 

Chenoa was right. The word ‘key’ could not be found in the prophecies, which were filled with metaphors and symbols.

 

“I thought the same. If Vanessa hadn’t mentioned the key, we wouldn’t have known.”

 

At Elysion’s words, Chenoa raised an eyebrow.

 

Upon turning a certain device on the bracelet, a line in the shape of a key appeared in the center of the prophecy, which was filled with intricate characters.

 

“These characters are dozens of formulas. Rather than metaphors and symbols, they are codes. When you decipher the formulas meticulously designed with these characters, it points to specific ones, and connecting them creates the shape of a key.”

 

Inside the outline of the key, there were also letters.

 

“I was fascinated. That Quenne, a thousand years ago, could create a puzzle like this, with a formula of letters that even the wizards found difficult to interpret.”

 

“…….”

 

“And what the Book of Prophecy foretold was none other than…….”

 

Recardo’s eyebrows twitched.

 

‘The hours of eternal dawn shall dawn upon the Black Pond.’

 

Elysion turned to Recardo with a sharp gaze.

 

“Perhaps it has something to do with the youngest Lady of Winchester.”

 

Recardo remained silent, staring at it for a long time.

 

No one could tell what thoughts were accumulating in his deep eyes.

 

“I may not know the exact meaning, but for now, it would be wise for everyone to pay attention to the safety of the young lady.”

 

Elysion said.

 

At that moment, there was a heavy knock on the drawing room door.

 

Expecting an answer from Recardo, Elysion raised an eyebrow at the interruption.

 

The door swung open, and a pale-faced Rowen spoke directly to Recardo.

 

“Your Grace, the lady is……!”