The Sickly Youngest Member of the Villainous Family

Recardo left Sasha’s room as she slept. On his way out, Maya bowed deeply.

 

“Shall we return to the meeting, my lord?”

 

At Rowen’s words, Recardo answered.

 

“Do I look impatient?”

 

“Huh…..?”

 

Ricardo shifted his gaze to Rowen. Rowen stood there stiffly, mouth slightly ajar.

 

“Oh, a little…… yes. Yes. Rather than being impatient, it seems more like you’re worried. It’s only natural. The young Lady Sasha is in such pain…”

 

It might not be obvious to a Winchester, but it was obvious to most people.

 

Recardo furrowed his eyebrows, touching his temple. And soon, a chilling voice echoed.

 

“I might need to restrain myself.”

 

“Pardon?”

 

“It’s still pretty difficult.”

 

Sasha had a personality not much different from Trisha Quellen.

 

Even though it was her home, she acted as if she was not at home, and she stayed far away as if she was only a permanent guest.

 

Yet, from time to time, she intervened and did quite interesting things.

 

Recardo’s lips twitched for a moment as the solemn face of Othello, who seemed to have never matured, came to mind.

 

“I suppose the reason it’s awkward for me to deliberately hide my worry is because I’ve never been this worried about someone before.”

 

That precariousness, that unwillingness to let go, changes things quite a bit.

 

“Yes, Winchester’s aren’t cute.”

 

Jin’s open collection of his cute little sister is part of it.

 

Maybe.

 

“…….”

 

Recardo looked at his reflection in the dark window.

 

The silver hair resembled moonlight, and the deep green eyes were akin to a black lake.

 

Although everyone praised it, it was an appearance that didn’t quite appeal to him.

 

– The child of Mechius will be born, receiving the Winchester’s power, in a lovely form. The Winchester’s sunlight, moonlight, and wind… a brilliant black flame.

 

Recardo took another step forward. A shadow quietly followed behind him.

***

 

“Ugh, I feel dizzy. Cough.”

 

“I told you not to push yourself like that.”

 

Maya glared at me as she put my book away.

 

I regretted listening to her.

 

I’m definitely less energetic than I was before I got sick. My numerical health is still there, but I’m afraid it’s slipping away.

 

“I’ve brought you a healing stone.”

 

The doctor, who had briefly left the room, returned with a dazzling yellow stone.

 

“A healing stone?”

 

“Yes. It was given to me by House Taylors. It’s an heirloom with abbreviated ancient technology, and they asked me to use it and return it to them later.”

 

The doctor placed one of my hands on the magic stone.

 

“I know that His Grace Taylor is not favorably disposed towards you, so this is a surprise.”

 

Although I doubted whether its appearance would differ significantly from a germanium bracelet, I unexpectedly felt something being absorbed into my hand as I touched it.

 

“It should help with your health.”

 

It was a strange sensation. The sun must have risen in the west for the ever-hostile family head Chenoa to offer such help.

 

“Akada has also sent some herbs.”

 

I heard Maya’s voice.

 

Since the incident with Vanessa, the attention of the four major families has been focused on me.

 

It seemed like they considered me to have some special power.

 

While it’s true that my ability is extraordinary, even I don’t fully understand what “Key of Mechius” exactly means.

 

“Everyone is worried about you. The family head even increased the budget for your diet…”

 

And suddenly, the door swung open without a knock. There was only one person who would barge in without any manners.

 

“……The journey was tough.”

 

Othello threw a basket at the doctor.

 

Receiving it, the doctor opened his eyes wide and spoke.

 

“No… Did you really come back after just three days?”

 

As far as I know, it takes more than a day to reach the Ice Valley of Halo.

 

And the Marhard Cave is also known to be very treacherous…

 

The doctor seemed genuinely surprised that Othello had returned in just three days.

 

“He rode without sleep.”

 

After Othello entered, Jin answered the doctor’s question. He looked extremely exhausted.

 

“I didn’t take any breaks either.”

 

My eyes widened in surprise.

 

In my tiny body, they look like adults, but Jin and Othello are still growing boys.

 

How is it possible that they haven’t slept or rested for three days?

 

Still in disbelief, I stared at the doctor who, with a surprised expression as if he couldn’t believe it either, took out mushrooms from the basket.

 

The transparent, lamp-shaded mushrooms resembled jewelry.

 

Even as I looked at it, I realized that it was incredibly expensive and valuable.

 

“Cough.”

 

“Have you encountered a Bahimos?”

 

Maya asked Jin with a worried expression.

 

Instead of answering, Jin glanced at the sheath of Othello’s sword. The hilt of his sword was covered in red blood.

 

“Now that we’ve obtained the mushrooms, take responsibility and heal her. Or else… you know what will happen, right?”

 

“Yes… yes, understood, young Master Othello.”

 

I could only imagine the number of Bahimos that had been slaughtered to get this.

 

“Now, I should prepare to leave. I’ll depart soon.”

 

Othello stated with a determined expression.

 

I momentarily forgot. Today is the day Othello returns to Taylor.

 

“Othello…”

 

I reached out and called him.

 

Othello, with a twitch of his eyebrows, approached me.

 

My forehead still had a fever, and my cheeks were probably quite red.

 

“Maya, that… give it.”

 

As I spoke to Othello, Maya realized and handed him what was prepared in the room.

 

“It’s what the young lady prepared.”

 

What Maya handed over was a potted plant with a single Erasinis flower planted.

 

“…….”

 

Othello, without taking the potted plant, stared at me. It seemed as if he was questioning why I would give this to him.

 

“Rune, it’s planted. Cough.”

 

At my words, Othello’s eyebrows moved significantly.

 

I had placed Lune at the bottom of the soil. The same device that was in the bear Othello had given me.

 

It was quite cumbersome to cover it with soil and patting it down.

 

“I want to hear Othello’s story too.”

 

Talking to the bear doll alone was embarrassing.

 

“…….”

 

Othello, without saying anything, stared at me intently for a while.

 

Then, after a moment, he raised his hand and took the potted plant.

 

His expression was hard to see as he lowered his head.

 

When he lifted his head slightly, Othello’s hand covered my forehead and eyes. His gentle voice flowed in.

 

“… Prepare yourself.”

 

Othello kept his hand on my forehead and eyes for a while before continuing.

 

“I’m going to bother you every day.”

 

After a moment, Othello took the potted plant and left the room.

 

I couldn’t see his face as my eyes, accustomed to the darkness, adjusted to the light.

 

That meant he was going to put it to good use…… right?

 

“You’re nice, Sasha.”

 

I felt regretful that I couldn’t see him off, but there was nothing I could do with this body.

 

Before leaving the room, I heard Jin’s voice.

 

“If he weren’t the one leaving, I might have been jealous.”

 

Jin frowned, twisted his lips, and left the room.

 

Jealousy from Jin Winchester? That doesn’t sound right.

 

“I’ll be right back with your medicine, miss.”

 

The doctor, who had been diligently observing the mushrooms in the corner of the room for a long time, also stood up with a basket.

 

“To see the real thing that I’ve only seen in pictures is truly moving.”

 

Ah, I wonder if I’ll feel better if I eat that.

 

Cough and the coughing returned.

 

***

 

Pot in hand, Othello made his way to the waiting Taylor’s carriage.

 

Inside the carriage sat Chenoa Taylor, and Evan Taylor stood in front of the open door, staring at him.

 

Othello stopped in front of Evan.

 

Evan’s gaze fell on the potted plant that Othello was holding.

 

A single Erasinis and Evan’s lips twisted somewhat coldly at the sight of it.

 

Othello Winchester, and a pale Erasinis.

 

The most mismatched pairing he had ever seen in his twenty-seven regressions.

 

It was obvious who gave him that potted plant.

 

“…….”

 

A heavy silence flowed between them, accompanied by a chilly breeze.

 

After a moment, Othello pursed his lips with a cool gaze.

 

“I don’t know what led you to decide to linger here, but…”

 

His low voice flowed into Evan’s ears.

 

“Remember the warning I gave you before. If you harm my sister, you will die.”

 

With that, Othello took another step forward. The door slammed shut as he entered the carriage.

 

“Yah!”, The coachman cheered and the horses began to gallop.

 

The carriage would be traveling through Rosento to the Taylors’ estate.

 

Evan, who had been staring at the carriage, followed suit.

 

Like puppets hovering in the same place, the people of the world were all moving, each with their own particular trajectory.

 

And then, like the crack of a thin eggshell, the change came. Slowly.

 

Stopping in front of the mansion, Evan looked up at the second floor.

 

The room illuminated by warm lights was bustling with activity.

 

“Miss! It seems to be effective!”

 

Evan glanced behind him.

 

Behind him, a tall shadow loomed. And within that shadow, as always, countless memories of death lurked.

 

Evan turned his head forward in silence. There was light in front of his feet now.