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Chapter 76
“By the way…”
We were walking side by side along the corridor.
A cold wind blew past us, but it wasn’t yet cold enough for winter coats.
“Didn’t you say you weren’t interested in Kasilion?”
I asked Evan suspiciously. Over the past week, I had seen Kasilion three times with him.
“…”
Evan made no response, wearing an expression of discomfort.
What was slightly different from the original story and The Secret of the Blue Hawk was that Kasilion was now watching Evan with a cautious gaze. Rumor had it that Evan had threatened Kasilion somehow.
Well, I supposed Evan would eventually give in anyway.
“You…”
Evan’s lips moved. When I turned my head slightly, I saw him staring at me with a very serious expression, almost like one would look at a child left alone by the water.
After a moment, he looked straight ahead again and spoke.
“I really don’t know how you’ll turn out. So fearless.”
I wasn’t sure what he was displeased about, but it sounded similar to the “what will you become when you grow up” tone.
“Are you joking?”
“…”
“After seeing it so many times.”
I tossed the words lightly at Evan. His eyebrows twitched in response.
“…You.”
He opened his mouth with a complicated expression, as if pricked by something, but I quickened my steps and walked ahead of him.
“My lady, you look just like a doll.”
“A doll? What kind of doll could ever be this beautiful?”
“This is a secret, but I once saw a doll in the northern building that looked exactly like you.”
Maya gestured to the noisy maids to quiet down.
I was wearing a newly tailored jade-colored chemise dress this time, and even looking in the mirror, I did look somewhat doll-like.
I wasn’t particularly fond of getting new dresses.
I grew differently every day, so measurements always needed to be retaken, and half a day often slipped away without notice.
Sometimes, I postponed using the excuse of not feeling well, but there were times I had no choice but to yield.
“My lady, dinner is ready.”
With a knock on the door came the servant’s voice.
It was time to dine with Recardo.
Previously, I had delayed tailoring my dress so much that I ended up dining in a dress with short sleeves, causing a symbolic uproar in the mansion.
The head maid had to explain how the budget for me was being used, and Maya was severely scolded.
So even if it was slightly uncomfortable, I couldn’t neglect getting my dress made.
I wore my first completed dress and headed to dinner with Recardo.
When I opened the door, Recardo was already there.
“Sorry for being late.”
Though it was thirty minutes before the scheduled time, I had kept him waiting, so I had to apologize first.
“Sit.”
Jin wasn’t present today.
We didn’t always dine together, but I asked anyway.
“Brother Jin seems busy.”
“He has a mission and won’t return for three days.”
Now in adolescence, Jin was carrying out his duties as the heir and a respectable member of the Winchester family.
Would I one day perform duties like Jin?
“Then he will be able to attend the day of remembrance in three days.”
Time passed quickly, and the day the bloodline gathered would arrive again.
“He will perform the head of the family’s role in my place.”
I widened my eyes.
“Brother Jin?”
“Yes. I have unavoidable matters in Paramea, so I must be absent.”
Most of the people in the Winchester territories lived in the southern region, closer to here. The north, Paramea, was known to be rugged…
“Please be careful. Dress warmly so you don’t catch a cold.”
I said this with concern.
Recardo looked at me for a moment, then moved his lips.
“It’s not bad to hear such words.”
No one like Jin or anyone else would ever worry about Recardo catching a cold.
Recardo sipped the wine in his glass. I had orange juice in front of me.
The food gradually began to dwindle.
“You too.”
I looked at Recardo as I was eating.
“Take care of your health.”
His gaze was serious.
I nodded.
“Yes, I’m managing well.”
Perhaps because my vitality was naturally low, even a simple cold could keep me bedridden for several days.
But with items like dried dragon scales raising my absolute vitality, perhaps someday I’d have a healthy body like ordinary people.
And completing quests might earn me more useful items.
A hopeful thought, at least.
“Thank you for worrying about me.”
Recardo stared at me for a while. Then, after a moment, he moved his lips.
“It’s not something to be thankful for when a father worries about his daughter.”
I flinched at his words.
Father, daughter, family. While I was technically in that relationship with Recardo, our relationship still wasn’t entirely comfortable.
It was natural to be nervous and eat only half as much when dining with him.
Not because Recardo was a duke of a notorious villainous family. My own father in my previous life had died when I was young, so I had no memories or experience dining alone like this.
“…Yes.”
I replied a little dazed, and Recardo’s lips twitched slightly.
After a moment, he looked at me.
“That dress… I don’t think I’ve seen it before.”
After dinner, I didn’t return to my room immediately.
Recardo had suggested a walk.
It wasn’t good to sleep immediately after a meal, so it was a healthy suggestion.
“Physical strength is important, but…”
I walked nervously beside Recardo.
From the cool darkness, his voice came.
“Strength of the mind is fundamental.”
I had heard this from Grandfather Hector many times.
“Yes, I know, Father.”
Both physical and mental strength were needed to become a true master of black flame.
“Sasha, you are strong mentally. But strength of mind and weakness of heart can coexist.”
His words were correct, but I wondered why he was saying this to me.
“Yes…”
I could only remain silent and listen.
“If a foolish person tries to speak to you or draws attention, refuse. The same goes for those unworthy.”
“Yes… yes?”
“Make refusal a habit. When the heart weakens, even a strong mind wavers.”
I said nothing, just walked beside him. You need context to answer properly.
After a moment, he continued.
“Like Evan Tailors, for instance.”
I flinched. His gaze in the darkness was piercing.
“I said I would teach you manners, but it’s frustrating how often he dares to glance at you.”
It seemed my frequent conversations with Evan bothered him. But since our families were in a hostile relationship, it was inevitable.
“…I’ll keep that in mind.”
I answered lightly, smiling.
Why did he have to make simple advice so tense?
After a short walk around the garden, we returned to the mansion’s entrance.
Rowen, who hadn’t been visible, was waiting.
Behind him were many of the mansion’s guards.
Rowen bowed politely at me.
“Good evening, my lady.”
“Yes, Sir Rowen. Good evening.”
It was time to part from Recardo.
“There are rumors of suspicious people near the eastern barn, so I was training the guards.”
“Increase security and report immediately if anyone is caught.”
“Understood.”
Listening to the conversation between Recardo and Rowen made me uneasy.
The barn… could it be because of what I did to Barmont and Neville?
‘I feel a little guilty.’
“Father, I will take my leave then…”
Since he was going to the northern territory in three days, we might not dine together next week.
“Sasha…”
As I tried to greet Recardo, he moved his lips.
“I heard you got a new dress today.”
I froze a little in surprise. Why was he suddenly bringing this up? Perhaps the wine we drank today was stronger than usual.
Rowen, who had been staring at me blankly, finally realized and spoke.
“My lady, you look beautiful. That jade-colored dress makes you seem like a fairy.”
Then Rowen glanced sharply at the soldiers behind him.
“Beautiful.”
“I thought a fairy had descended.”
“Duke, with such a beautiful lady by your side, you need not even eat to feel fulfilled.”
The last guard seemed quite articulate.
Recardo silently listened to their compliments, then spoke to me.
“Go on inside now.”
A faint sense of pride lingered in his cool eyes.
A moment later, I bowed to Recardo with a slightly bewildered expression.
Could it be that he led the conversation just to hear my praise?
