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Chapter 47
As Ricardo stepped out of Sasha’s room, he halted at the sight of Hector.
The servants, who had only just begun to breathe a little easier after Ricardo entered Sasha’s chamber, grew tense all over again at the old man’s arrival.
“How is Sasha?”
At Hector’s question, Ricardo answered flatly.
“They say it will take three or four days for her to recover.”
“Three or four days. Hm. I had planned to speak with her about the heirloom… Seems it will take longer than I thought.”
His voice carried a note of disappointment.
“Lord Patriarch.”
Ricardo’s cold eyes fixed on Hector as he continued.
“…It would be best if you returned to your quarters.”
The servants all bowed their heads at those words, holding their breath.
Though phrased as a suggestion, it was closer to an expulsion order.
If Hector took offense and lashed out here, not only Sasha’s door but everything within several meters—including the servants—would go flying out of the mansion.
“Hah. Are you trying to drive me out?”
As expected, Hector’s aged brows furrowed sharply.
Dark flames began to ripple faintly around his frame, but Ricardo’s voice cut in first.
“Eight hours of lessons every day for such a frail child is excessive.”
“Excessive?” Hector’s eyes narrowed. “Even for a girl who has already mastered all seven volumes of Mechis’ History of the Continent?”
At that, Ricardo’s brows twitched.
The History of the Continent was a series Jin himself had finished when he was only ten.
No wonder the old man has remained here for years.
Suppressing the pounding in his temples, Ricardo said firmly,
“What Sasha needs right now is rest.”
“What was that?”
“To hide the family’s weakness from our enemies, Sasha ran out into the harsh weather. That is why she ended up in this state.”
At last, Hector’s expression shifted.
“And so she collapsed like this.”
His gaze slowly turned toward the direction of Evan’s room.
He had already heard the story—about why Evan’s chamber had suddenly been moved. Hector had actually been rather proud of Sasha. For her to be offering opinions and aiding the family at her age was impressive.
That the illness was a result of those very efforts, however, had not occurred to him.
“…So that was it.”
His voice came out as a low sigh.
She possessed great talent, but her body was far too fragile. Care was necessary.
“A child that frail will only weaken further if she devotes herself solely to study.”
It was an obvious concern.
Hector’s eyes shifted back to Ricardo Winchester.
Ricardo stood rigid before Sasha’s door, his gaze cold and unyielding as he stared down Hector.
He truly has become her father now.
“As the Patriarch says, if she has already finished the History of the Continent, then she’s three years ahead of her peers. That alone makes her well deserving of a year’s reprieve.”
Hector gave a sharp little cough, annoyed at the truth of it.
“A strong body must house a strong mind, yes. So time to restore the body is necessary. But…”
Watching the two Winchesters trade words, Rowen felt a pang of regret.
Ever since Hector had stayed at the mansion, the unstable state of the territory had settled greatly. In contrast, the Taylors had waned, their standing reversed with the Winchesters.
“But the mind must also be at peace for the body to recover. Even with medicine, an unsettled heart slows healing.”
At that, Ricardo’s brows twitched slightly.
Noticing he had struck home, Hector smirked and added,
“She was agonizing over which digestive pill to take once a week. Imagine—what kind of ferocity must she have endured? Tsk.”
Turning away, Hector began walking down the corridor.
“Give Sasha a year’s respite. In the meantime, try becoming truly close. As father and daughter ought to.”
— Please, keep my studies secret from Father.
In truth, what Sasha had mastered went far beyond the History of the Continent—advanced knowledge taught only in the Tower of Arcada.
Her achievements astounded even Hector.
Forging a bond to win the heart of such a genius… that, too, is the duty of a Patriarch.
Hector thought to himself.
That girl Sasha will one day bring a new wind to this family.
Once Hector disappeared from sight, Ricardo spoke curtly to Rowen, his brow still furrowed.
“Let’s go.”
Rowen, who had been waiting in bewilderment, quickly followed behind.
When the atmosphere had turned tense earlier, a chill had run down his spine.
What a strange world—to see father and grandfather squaring off right outside the sick young lady’s chamber.
“Rowen.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
“Tell me… Do I look frightening?”
“……”
Rowen barely swallowed down the words, You only realize that now?
It was on the third day of my illness that my mind finally cleared.
“It must be that everyone’s prayers reached the Black Dragon. I’m so glad to see you recovering.”
Maya smiled as she placed a neat slice of chai-berry pie onto my plate.
“The Patriarch came, the Duke himself came, and even Young Master Jin… All three are so busy, yet they gave you their utmost devotion.”
To be honest, I remembered none of it.
Perhaps because of the fever, I couldn’t recall who had come and gone.
Still, Maya’s words weren’t exactly an exaggeration.
The men of Winchester weren’t known for kindness, much less for caring about someone’s suffering.
But when I fell ill, they were the exception. Overbearing in their concern, even—visiting my chamber repeatedly, bullying the doctor to heal me faster, and the like.
Illness was considered shameful in the survival-of-the-fittest Winchester household. And yet…
“Oh, and, my lady.”
Maya picked up a gift box left by the door and brought it over.
Sitting up, I accepted the blue box and looked at her questioningly.
“This was sent by Lord Othello.”
At that, my hand froze.
Othello… Was he doing well?
Even in my fever, his face had often surfaced in my mind.
They say lingering resentment is the hardest to forget—it seemed true.
Surely he hasn’t sent anything strange, I thought as I opened the parcel.
“…”
Inside, I pulled out something soft.
“Oh my, how cute!”
Maya beamed.
“It looks just like the teddy bear you had in your crib as a baby.”
Indeed, Othello’s gift was a brown teddy bear, its slightly scowling face adorned with a tiny yellow ribbon.
I stared at it.
It didn’t seem like the sort of thing Othello would send.
“…Pfft.”
I couldn’t help but laugh.
What had he been thinking, giving me a teddy bear?
As I smiled down at it, I noticed a folded note inside the parcel.
Taking it out, I read the words.
If you want something… or if you want someone dead, tell the bear.
The writing was rough, the tone brutal. Perfectly Othello.
There isn’t actually a curse bound to it, is there?
The message sent an odd chill down my spine.
I was still gazing at the bear when a knock came at the door.
Maya opened it to reveal servants bearing stacks of boxes.
Blinking in surprise, I looked at them.
“His Grace the Duke sends these gifts, delighted by your recovery.”
“These are from Young Master Jin…”
“And the Patriarch left these with word that he will visit again come spring.”
They began piling the presents high in my room.
“My lady, the maids all joined together to prepare this gift.”
“And this one is from Sir Rowen.”
I stared at the mountain of gifts.
Even two months ago, when I had only caught a cold, I’d received expensive presents and notes urging me to get well soon.
Maya whispered with a smile,
“You wouldn’t believe how gloomy the mansion was while you were sick. Everyone was in an uproar.”
Could a single child’s illness really cast gloom over an entire estate?
“The maids, the servants, all were waiting for you to recover. The Duke and Young Master, even more so.”
Once the servants departed, I began opening the gifts one by one.
Ricardo had sent an assortment of toys from Elle’s Toyshop, charming in their detail. I suspected Rowen had chosen them.
Hector’s gifts were several books missing from the library—one on alchemy especially caught my interest.
A matter calls me away for now. Let us meet again in a year, granddaughter.
I felt both regret and warmth at the message. Regret that he had left during my illness, warmth at the word granddaughter.
I would have to send a reply to his residence soon.
When I fully recovered, I would definitely read those books.
Jin’s gift was a bundle of pretty ribbons and a round violet orb.
The orb gleamed like a transparent diamond, shimmering within.
“Heavens, peridot…! That’s an exceedingly rare gem.”
If Maya was that astonished, then it truly was priceless.
“Even in the Wilners Mine, only one or two appear in a year. When you debut at the ball, fashioned into a tiara and necklace, no one will be able to look away from you.”
She seemed more excited about the gifts than I was.
“Haa… Do I really have to wait until then?”
But I couldn’t simply enjoy imagining that far-off ball.
For I had seen, through the Secret of the Blue Hawk, what slept within Jin’s body: Persetos.
The very being that had destroyed the world.
How could I not be wary?
The vision of the end had been grotesque, horrific, and unforgettable.
Perhaps even the dream I once had about causality was somehow tied to Persetos.
“Maya.”
“Yes, my lady?”
“How is Evan doing?”
She blinked at the unexpected question, then answered.
“You mean Lord Evan Taylors? He’s just been staying in his room.”
“For three days straight?”
“Yes.”
Evan was now housed in the same building as I was.
Which meant it wouldn’t seem strange if I were to approach him.
And I had much I needed to learn about him.
What good would curing my illness with an elixir be, if the world was destined to end?
“I should meet with Evan…”
I was just voicing the thought—resolving that I had to risk it, no matter how dangerous—when Maya suddenly swayed and collapsed.
“Maya!”
Startled, I leapt from the bed and rushed to her side.
What…? Had she collapsed from exhaustion, staying awake through my fever?
As I shook her, about to call for help, something covered my mouth.
“…!”
Only then did I realize someone stood behind me.
A solid body pressed against my back.
Frozen, I turned my head—only to meet a pair of chillingly blue eyes.
Evan.
“…Sasha Winchester.”
