CH 37

“The testimonies state that it’s difficult for Akada to intervene due to the worsening public opinion about Kaisa…”

At the adjutant’s words, Chenoa threw his silver goblet. The cup struck the adjutant’s shoulder and clattered to the floor with a loud clatter.

The red wine within splattered like blood.

“Kaisa! Kaisa! Damn Kaisa! If it weren’t for that damn hunting competition!”

Chenoa’s blue eyes burned with rage.

It was only after the hunting tournament that the two families that had been supportive of the Taylors had become wary.

Word of the resurrection of Kaisa’s Curse had spread across the empire, and all arrows were pointed at the Taylor family, not the damned Winchesters.

They even publicly denounced the spies they had sent, but the other families did nothing to help.

They were completely marginalized.

It would probably take a considerable amount of time for other families to withdraw their suspicions.

“To resume our business and political activities as before, it seems there’s no choice but to accept Winchester’s conditions.”

The Winchesters had the audacity to demand a hostage in exchange for a peace deal.

The other families argued that this was unreasonable, but considering the resurrection of Kaisa’s Curse, it was necessary to consider the consequences.

They wanted to keep the Taylors in check by using the Winchesters.

“……damn it.”

Chenoa Taylors had only two children.

Evan Taylors, his intended heir. And a newborn baby boy from his concubine.

It was clear that Evan Taylors lacked any significant abilities, judging by his failure to manifest Clearlight yet.

“Young Master is clever. Perhaps he can discover Winchester’s weaknesses while he’s a hostage.”

At the adjutant’s words, Chenoa raised an eyebrow.

He had no qualms about sending the weakling on his way, but this was a matter of pride. Nothing like this had ever happened in the history of Taylors.

“That would be if I could trust Evan.”

“…… Certainly, the young master is a man of few words, and he doesn’t wear his heart on his sleeve.”

When Evan looked at him, Chenoa sometimes felt a chill.

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

Yes, he knew that Evan, born as the heir to the Taylors, would not be able to control his own fate, but it was a strangely ominous feeling.

So, he wasn’t entirely convinced that sending him as a hostage would fulfill his role.

“I will focus on his education considering the concerns of the duke. We’ll also buy some time.”

Chenoa spoke with an unsatisfied expression, “Well, time. I suppose we need time for preparations. And…,” Chenoa paused. “Thoroughly investigate the third child of the Duke of Winchester.”

Chenoa recalled the video he had seen at the hunting competition’s ball.

“If it’s the third, Sasha Winchester…… that little girl?”

“That’s no ordinary little girl.”

A mere baby, about three years old, fending off a man under the Kaisa’s Curse.

It was impossible, no matter how he thought about it.

* * *

“You’re not going to read the letter?”

On their way back from the training grounds, Othello responded stubbornly to Jin’s question.

“I told you to throw it away,” he grumbled.

The ‘it’ in question was a letter from Permetis, which a servant had just handed to Jin.

Written in a child’s handwriting, it was addressed to “Brother Othello”.

But Othello’s expression was filled with annoyance.

“We have to learn how to maintain undesirable relationships, Othello.”

Jin’s words were correct.

“You may not like it, but she is alive.”

It was the same reason that the hostile Bashirons hadn’t been completely exterminated.

“They might be worth using someday. We need a steady stream of information about Bashiron.”

Ignoring Jin’s words, Othello turned his head and coldly replied to the last remark.

“Only if he doesn’t pose a threat.”

“Does Permetis pose a threat to you?” Jin asked back, his tone indicating that this was not meant to be a joke.

The difference in ability between Jin and Othello was insignificant compared to the tenfold difference between Othello and Permetis.

To Recardo, it was the same way that Bashiron was an annoyance, but not a threat.

“You’re the one who can strangle her with your Black Flame, are you not?”

As soon as Jin finished speaking, the Black Flame surged and flowed out from behind Othello. He turned to Jin with a glare. 

“I didn’t say she was a threat to me.”

Jin’s eyebrows twitched at the words, and his closed lips parted slightly.

A moment later, Othello added in a low voice, “Yeah, I regret not killing her back then. It would have been better.”

“Othello.”

“So, burn that letter. Just thinking about that day makes my blood boil.”

Othello’s eyes were filled with intense determination.

“How dare anyone lay a hand on my sister.”

A tremendous surge of energy emanated from Jin’s hand as he stared at Othello for a while.

The letter from Permetis that was in Jin’s hand turned into ashes. After seeing Permetis’s letter turning into ashes, Othello started walking again.

Jin, who had been expressionless, stared at his empty hand and pressed his lips together.

“Did your simplicity make you hear it before I did? Sasha’s footsteps…….”

A moment later, as they approached the entrance to the mansion, a familiar voice could be heard.

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

“Ball. Ball time!”

Othello saw Sasha and Maya, who had apparently just come out to play in the garden.

The ball, which had rolled away from Sasha, stopped at Othello’s feet.

Sasha called out to him at once.

“Othello! Ball! Ball!”

“…….”

Jin couldn’t see Othello’s expression, but he could tell from Sasha’s puzzled expression what he was about to do.

Whoosh – and Sasha’s ball was flying off into the distance, curving a perfect arc.

“This…… this……!!!”

Sasha’s eyebrows shot up. She stretched out her second finger and shouted at Othello, “Bad! Stupid! Ugh… Uggh… Bad!”

Sasha was jumping around and cursing at Othello with her eyes. But those were all the negative words she could muster.

“You should quickly go catch the ball,” Othello smirked. “It might be a little difficult with your short legs.”

At his teasing look, Sasha gave him one more fierce glare and then started running in the direction he’d kicked the ball.

Maya smiled awkwardly and bowed to Jin before following Sasha.

Jin looked at Sasha and then shifted her gaze to Othello. The guy who just moments ago radiated a killing intensity was now humming a tune and stepping inside the mansion.

A smile tugged at Jin’s lips.

* * *

“Othello… you… you jerk.”

What’s wrong with picking up the ball nicely?

I huffed and puffed and finally caught the ball.

“Miss? What did you just say?”

“Hmm?”

“Haha, no, I must have misheard you.”

Maya fanned herself, saying she felt hot.

In my arms was a ball that did not weigh much.

A ball made of golden cloth and golden thread was a gift and assignment given to me by Hector Winchester.

Hector Winchester had been staying at the Winchester mansion for the past week, spending time with me and sharing many stories that couldn’t be found in books.

Today, he told me a story about a civil war that happened a hundred years ago.

Why all the houses had fallen to Kaisa, and the vicious and inhuman acts that the Taylor’s were experimenting with at the time.

The content was distressing even for an ignorant child to hear, but in true Winchester fashion, Hector didn’t mind telling me.

A little filtering would be fine, though.

After finishing the story, Hector handed me something he had brought.

‘This is the ball that once belonged to Kaisa Taylor’s daughter, Eshir. She was only twelve years old when she was killed by her own father.’

The book I read, <Taylors Home>was centered on Evan Taylors, centered around Evan Taylor, and Taylor’s lineage was depicted as an absolute noble family.

It briefly mentioned the Kaisa’s Curse, but it was described as a temporary flaw in the history of a noble family.

However, the story I heard from Hector Winchester was so brutal that it reminded me of the racial genocide during the World Wars.

At this point, I began to think that in “Taylor’s Light,” the “Light” should be taken away…

‘Kaisa had five children, but the only one who died was Eshir, and this ball contains the reason why Eshir died. Sasha, maybe you can uncover that secret…….’

I pondered deeply while looking at the ball.

‘Next time, I’ll give you a clue about the thing you were curious about.’

I asked Hector about the elixir, saying it was something I’d been wondering about since I read about it in a book, but he said that we should start step by step, saying, “We’ll have to look into the knowledge in the Black Tower.”

The Black Tower is a legendary place where Winchester’s long-held knowledge is stored, and unlike a library, not just anyone can enter. Perhaps this is a test to see if I’m worthy of being there.

After receiving this ball, I’m even more convinced of that idea.

At any rate, my end goal is the elixir, and a healthy, easy going life, not a sickly one like in the original!

I need to solve the puzzle to find out as much information as possible.

Besides.

[Achievement unlocked: ‘Trust of the Wise Old Scholar’]

[The quest feature has been unlocked.]