CH 29

His brows were furrowed, his forehead shadowed. His silver hair seemed to sway, even though there was no wind blowing.

Maybe it’s my vision that’s shaking because I’m…… trembling…….

‘I’m afraid of being alone with him…….’

Is….. he going to scold me? Or even worse…….

I was gazing up at him with wary eyes when he spoke again.

“Well done.”

I stared at him, stunned by the unexpectedness of his words.

Was he referring to the incident with Permetis? 

But he was talking to his lieutenants, so he wouldn’t know.

I blinked innocently, and his expression hardened again. 

As I stood nervously, unsure of his intentions, he continued, “But you need to be careful with situations like yesterday.”

If it was yesterday…….

“……You should take a look for yourself.”

He held his hand out in front of him. The transparent space in front of him suddenly began to shimmer.

A black energy crept through it, and it began to bubble, like boiling water.

I twisted my shaking body 90 degrees, and I could see inside, almost like a door opening.

When I saw what was inside, I immediately stepped back.

Through the shimmering window opened up by Recardo’s powers, I saw a black dog with three heads.

The dog, with black fur like a Doberman, looked very ferocious, growling and baring his fangs.

As it barked at me like it was going to eat me, I backed away and almost fell. I looked up to see Recardo, who had a nonchalant face.

‘He’s not going to feed me to that dog because I cried yesterday, is he?’

My mind went completely blank at the thought.

“There are guards around the Winchester manor.”

Recardo’s deep voice drifted into my ear.

“They like human flesh and blood. It is said that the younger the trespassers are, the more voraciously they will devour them.”

I clasped my trembling hands together tightly and stared at the dog. It looked as if it would lunge at me at any moment if I looked away.

“The manor’s employees don’t go near the guards, but strays often become food.”

His words made me feel like I’d been doused in cold water.

So, this mansion, which looks like a medieval European castle, has “guards” like that?

~ Translations by Lurelia | Editing by Valpal | Read only at moonlightnovels.com ~

In the original, just as the Winchesters planted spies to watch the Taylors, the Taylors planted spies to monitor the Winchesters.

Some were sent to assassinate them. So, those ‘guards’ are a security device.

They’re there to bite the throats of enemies from the outside who don’t know their way around…….

The three-headed Doberman continued to growl for a long time, and when Recardo turned his hand again, the dog disappeared like a door slamming shut.

I think I understood the warning he was trying to give me. You can’t guarantee survival if you’re freely wandering around.

I remained frozen for a long time after the dog disappeared, and then I heard his voice again.

“If you have understood, you can go.”

I tried to walk away, but my steps didn’t move at the sound of his voice. It wasn’t until Maya opened the door a few moments after hearing Recardo’s voice and ran to me.

“…….”

Maya patted me on the shoulder and bowed her head deeply in respect to Recardo.

Even that time seemed long to me.

The sight of the hungry dog earlier had been traumatic.

* * *

“You said that the young lady is intelligent and can already understand most of what you say…… But I fear that she might be too surprised, considering how vulnerable she is.”

At Rowen’s words, Recardo twisted the corner of his lips. The moonlight was streaming in through the window.

“Hearing it a hundred times is not as good as seeing it once.”

“Well…… that is true. But that statement about how the younger they are, the more voraciously they devour……is not really true.”

Rowen smiled awkwardly as Recardo furrowed his eyebrows.

Early education in Winchester is rigorous.

Both Jin and even Othello sat at desks from the age of five, so Sasha Winchester would be no exception.

Some scenes that would be quite brutal for a child might be helpful for Winchester.

And like that threat, no, the words of the lord that were clearly threats… … It might be necessary for the safety of the lady.

He’d already reported to Recardo that two of the maids had been sent to the workhouse for failing to take proper care of the young lady.

“She needs to be careful. With her intelligence, it’s easy for her to run into danger.”

“……Yes, huh?” Rowen paused.

Rowen, who had been listening, looked puzzled. Did the young lady do something dangerous?

“Though I must admit, her quick judgement was quite enjoyable,” Recardo continued.

“Are you sure you’re talking about the little lady?”

Recardo didn’t look like he was going to answer, but there was a definite note of amusement in his dark green eyes.

After a moment, Rowen changed the subject.

“The young lady seems to like the ball, perhaps even more so because of the fact that it is a gift from Your Grace,” Rowen said, recalling the pink ball Sasha was holding.

“Although it was almost taken away by Lady Permetis…….” The recollection still caused him to frown. “I’m going to send a warning letter to Zestia. I advise her to work on her children’s education next time.”

The look that would appear on Zestia’s face when receiving the warning was obvious.

“Good.” Ricardo curled his lips.

As if he was quite satisfied.

* * *

I shuddered at the memory of Recardo’s chilling gaze.

I was almost ashamed of myself for feeling somewhat positive about Winchester Manor and the Winchesters for a moment.

Even though I knew they were the most villainous family in the world, people without blood or tears and therefore heartless…….

‘Next time I catch his eye, he might just throw me to the dogs.’

I couldn’t believe that I was momentarily relieved that he was showing me favor.

“Miss, are you cold?” Maya asked as she put another layer of duvet over me, a concerned look on her face.

Yes, Maya, I’m getting chills. I can’t wait to grow up and get out of this scary mansion.

I gulped down the warm milk Maya offered me and warmed up.

“Do you want me to read you a story before you go to sleep?”

“No, wan’ sleep.”

“Okay, then I’ll save the storybook for another time.”

Maya smiled warmly as she took the empty milk from me.

Still, I’m glad I have Maya in this dreary, scary mansion.

“By the way, Miss, did you notice that one side of your braids is loose?” Maya, who had left behind the milk bottle, said as she brushed my hair.

I hadn’t realized it because it was still so thin, but one of my braids had come undone.

“You probably dropped your ribbon.”

” I did.”

“Now that all of your relatives are gone, the manor will be quiet after tomorrow.”

“Mmh.”

“The roses in the gardens should be in full bloom, so why don’t we go to the east garden tomorrow?” Maya asked, gently brushing my hair.

No, Maya, I think it’s better if we don’t wander around. Do you know how scared I was of that dog I saw earlier……?

I kept closing my eyes, probably because of the tension from earlier.

“Oh, my, how lovely you are sitting there, Miss. How cute.”

With the sound of Maya’s voice, my consciousness slipped into sleep.

* * *

Jin stood in front of the assembly hall where everyone had gathered.

His black flame was moving the heavy doors even though he hadn’t touched them.

He took a step, then another, into the moonlit void. There was no fear or hesitation in his dark eyes. There was only an icy coldness in them.

In the middle of the room, there was a goblet of darkness that had not been cleaned up yet.

It was the one into which he, his brother, and his father had placed their small items.

The goblet had burned the Winchesters’ things in an instant, proving they were of noble blood.

~ Translations by Lurelia | Editing by Valpal | Read only at moonlightnovels.com ~

“…….”

Staring at the goblet with cold eyes, Jin slowly raised his hand.

In his hand was a grey ribbon. It had once been tied neatly in the hair of a child. 

The grey ribbon swayed in the breeze that blew in from outside, and when he lowered his hand, the end of the grey ribbon touched the dark goblet.

Jin released his grip on the ribbon.

Thud- 

Vivid light of dozens of colors. For a moment, a vision of a dragon flashed through his mind.

The colors didn’t match the black flame at all.

He wondered if such colors even existed in the world.

“…….”

Jin stood still, staring into the goblet for a moment.

It was several minutes before he lowered his hand again.

He took the grey ribbon from the goblet and bent down to smell it.

It did not burn in the slightest.

There was a pleasant glow in his eyes that didn’t quite match the small sigh he gave.

After a moment, he parted his lips.

“Yeah, Winchesters aren’t supposed to be cute.”