Chapter 53
“The wicked Winchester has imprisoned and tortured our heir, Evan Taylor. There’s no longer any reason for Taylor to endure this.”
At the round table where the heads of your family had gathered, Chenoa Taylor was staring at the opposite Riccardo Winchester with sharp eyes.
Vanessa Halo, the head of the Halo family who wields the power of the ‘Water Dragon’, stood firm.
With her deep blue, sharp bobbed hair and sky-blue eyes, she was as tall as the men.
Elision Akada, the head of the Akada family, who uses the power of the ‘Earth Dragon’, was an exceptionally handsome man with sparkling golden long hair and purple eyes. He was also a great magician.
Riccardo answered Chenoa coldly, his eyes chilling.
“Evan Taylor is simply receiving the just punishment for breaking into my daughter’s room and attempting to threaten her.”
“Just punishment? Didn’t you frame him with accusations he didn’t deserve?”
Chenoa’s fierce protest echoed.
Riccardo continued without blinking.
“It was Taylor’s family who started mistreating Othello first.”
“What did you say?”
“All the teachers who had been sent with Othello returned. They were refused entry because they were told outsiders were not allowed.”
“Ha, how many of them do you think were Winchester’s spies to let them in?”
“Then I ask you this,” Riccardo’s words grew colder as the black flame of his presence surged behind him.
“Why should I release Evan Taylor into my mansion, who refuses to speak about his purpose for entering my daughter’s room? Do you really think there’s no plot behind that?”
The clear and intense blue of Chenoa Taylor’s power also rose threateningly behind him.
“Both of you, please calm down.”
Elision Akada, overwhelmed by the strong pressure from both sides, spoke to calm the growing tension.
“Yes. Both of you, these futile debates won’t help solve the problem.”
Vanessa Halo, the eldest among them, sighed as she continued.
“Think about it. We exchanged children for the sake of peace, yet now we are on the verge of war… this is not ideal.”
However, neither Riccardo nor Chenoa blinked.
Vanessa Halo sighed again, realizing how deep the problem between Winchester and Taylor was growing.
“I do think that the Duke of Winchester’s decision to imprison Evan Taylor was excessive, but there is some merit to his opinion. If he really did break into Sasha’s room, at least the reason should be understood.”
“She’s just a child. My son is the heir to the Taylor family.”
Chenoa Taylor, with cold eyes, emphasized the difference in importance between Sasha and Evan.
He had been informed about Sasha Winchester, but he couldn’t find anything special about her, not even her bloodline.
Riccardo Winchester twisted his lips coldly.
“To kill that little girl, the followers of Kaisar attacked the family carriage.”
Riccardo’s words reminded Chenoa of the painful defeat.
The humiliation during the boy’s hunting competition.
What Kaisar, the ancestor of their family, had done a hundred years ago still haunted all the families, and since the day the curse of Kaisar manifested, Taylor’s position had been greatly weakened.
“Why are you linking that event with this one?”
“Taylor’s family was attacked twice. There’s no reason not to connect the dots.”
Chenoa clenched his teeth.
“I’m actually curious about that part too,” Elision Akada, who had been silent for a long time, finally spoke.
He looked at Riccardo with his curious purple eyes.
“I saw the memory from that day through Vanessa, and it was truly astounding. The ability shown by the two-year-old little lady… it was really…”
Elision paused and then continued.
“I felt something special about it. Perhaps that’s why the ones who cast Kaisar’s curse attacked the little lady.”
Chenoa’s eyes twitched.
“….”
“If the Duke of Winchester allows it, we could bring the little lady to Akada and conduct an examination…”
Riccardo firmly responded.
“I won’t allow my daughter to become an experiment for crazy wizards.”
Elision clicked his tongue in disappointment.
The Akada family was known for leading the future of the empire with extraordinary talents, but they were infamous for being eccentric.
Vanessa muttered to herself, “What am I doing with these people here?”
“Anyway, I agree that Sasha Winchester must be protected by Taylor.”
At those words, Chenoa Taylor was furious, as if he couldn’t believe what he was hearing.
“Vanessa! Who is protecting whom?”
“This is not about family matters. This is about that child. The fact that she was attacked by the descendants of Kaisar’s curse cannot be denied.”
Vanessa recalled the image of Sasha, who had been walking unsteadily, and continued.
“You may deny any connection with them, but I cannot be sure that Evan Taylor has no relation to this, as long as the child refuses to speak.”
“This is nonsense!”
“I’ll offer a mediation plan. Let’s try to resolve this in the most peaceful way possible.”
Everyone turned their gaze to Vanessa Halo.
Chenoa Taylor looked displeased with a flushed face, and Riccardo Winchester had a cold expression, as though nothing could break through his ice-like gaze. But when there were conflicts between families, Halo always played the mediator.
They could only hope that the mediation plan Vanessa Halo offered would be plausible.
Later…
“Evan will be released?”
I stared blankly at Riccardo.
Evan’s words about killing me still echoed in my mind.
However, Riccardo simply continued to slice the meat with a cold expression.
“I don’t think this is appropriate.”
During a family dinner, Jin spoke seriously.
“This was decided in Verus.”
“But if Sasha is threatened again…”
“…She will die.”
Riccardo’s voice was dry, but the weight of his words resonated deeply within me.
Die? But…
Riccardo continued.
“Elision Akada provided the right item.”
I had heard of Elision Akada, the head of the Akada family, one of the four great families.
In the original story, they were portrayed as having a very favorable relationship with the Taylor family.
Elision Akada’s nephew, Casillion, was to become the future leader of the Mage Tower and had once been Evan Taylor’s companion.
“Right item…”
And just then, the door opened, and Evan Taylor, shackled, was dragged in by two soldiers.
Despite being a hostage from the enemy family, and having the accusation of attacking me, it was not a pleasant sight.
We sat at the table with a feast before us, while Evan’s appearance was far from fitting for such an occasion.
Of course, Evan’s expression was completely blank.
Now that I knew he was a returnee, his face made more sense.
Following Evan, Lowen came in, holding a ring and placing it on Evan’s finger.
Then, Lowen unlocked the binding seal on Evan’s wrist.
From his fidgeting face, it seemed he didn’t understand the situation.
After a brief moment, Lowen came toward me with another ring.
“…?”
Jin, sensing the danger, released dark black flames, but Riccardo’s soft voice stopped him.
“Stay still.”
Lowen bowed to me and spoke.
“Excuse me, young lady. May I take your hand for a moment?”
I stared at Evan.
I couldn’t understand what was going on, even by looking at his face.
Riccardo continued eating calmly, and I eventually extended my hand to Lowen.
Lowen placed a ring on my finger, similar to the one he had given Evan.
It was a little large, but after a few seconds, it started to emit a faint light.
…
Surprisingly, Evan’s ring began to glow in resonance.
After a while, the ring adjusted to fit my finger.
Looking at Evan’s face, his ring seemed to have resized too.
Lowen finished the process and left without any further explanation.
Now, only Riccardo, Jin, Evan, and the two soldiers holding his arms remained in the room.
Jin stared at Evan with cold eyes.
“Evan Taylor.”
And just then, Riccardo’s voice sounded.
I stiffened and looked at Riccardo.
His deep dark green gaze was fixed on Evan.
…
Evan didn’t open his mouth at Riccardo’s call.
He had a look as if he felt no need to respond.
Riccardo twisted his lips slightly.
“If Sasha dies…”
As soon as Riccardo said my name, I stiffened.
I think Evan’s eyebrows twitched slightly.
Riccardo’s lips moved again.
“…You will die too.”
