Chapter 42
Hector said,
“You could say today’s political situation is just a continuation of what happened a hundred years ago.”
The curse of Caissa, who had attacked me, had a massive impact.
Even Akada and Halo, who had once played the role of neutral mediators, had joined our side after that incident.
Meanwhile, the Taylors, left nearly isolated, had no choice but to accept the terms.
They were a war-criminal family from a century ago—there was no avoiding it.
The problem was the condition Ricardo demanded of the Taylors: a hostage exchange.
Of course, the word “hostage” wasn’t used outright. It was described as “mutual exchange for peace between the two families.” But everyone knew what it meant.
For the past five years, Chenoa Taylors had refused under various excuses, but in the end, they had no choice but to give in.
“Your focus is wandering today.”
Hector, who had been telling me ancient history, clicked his tongue.
“Sorry.”
Like the theory that a butterfly’s wings can cause a storm across the world, this was no different.
This wasn’t in the original novel.
Because of Caissa’s curse that targeted me, Evan Taylors was now coming to the villainous Winchester family.
If something like this had happened in the original, readers would’ve protested about it being too frustrating.
“Well, there are days like this. Let’s stop here for today.”
At Hector’s declaration, I closed my book.
“You’re curious about that boy, aren’t you?”
At those words, I flinched.
Hector smirked, the corners of his mouth curling.
“You’ve always had an interest in Evan Taylors.”
I thought I hadn’t shown it, but apparently he had noticed.
It was only natural—no matter how different things were from the original, Evan was still the protagonist.
His fate, his personality, his abilities… I couldn’t help being curious about all of it.
When I stayed silent, Hector added,
“A beautiful flower always comes with thorns or poison. Beyond the light lies a shadow darker than darkness itself. Keep that in mind.”
He seemed wary of my curiosity.
“Yes, Grandfather.”
Hector muttered as if speaking to himself,
“Good thing Othello is leaving before Evan Taylors arrives. If they were both here, things would get noisy.”
His words left me puzzled.
“Othello is going somewhere?”
“The hostage exchange goes both ways. Formally, it’s about raising each other’s sons to maintain goodwill.”
My heart sank.
“An exchange?”
“The son they’ll send us is their heir, Evan Taylors. The one we’re sending is Othello.”
If we had demanded a hostage only from them, Akada and Halo would never have sided with us so easily.
They, too, feared upsetting the balance of power.
By offering “flesh to take the bone,” Ricardo demanded Evan.
Since each side had to give a son, for the Taylors it would be their only heir, Evan. For us, not Jin—the heir—but Othello.
After a moment of thought, I clenched my fists and stood up.
“What’s wrong?”
Hector raised his brows.
“This isn’t right.”
“What?”
“Othello can’t…!”
No matter the political reasoning, people weren’t things to be bought and sold.
I stepped down from my chair and turned back to Hector.
“I’ll ask Father to cancel it. Won’t you help me, Grandfather?”
At my earnest plea, Hector’s eyes flickered, but he soon shook his head.
“Othello volunteered.”
I froze.
Othello… volunteered to go to the Taylors?
He never said a word to me.
Just yesterday, he was teasing me as usual.
“He must have his own reasons.”
“Grandfather… I’ll go see him.”
Hector gave a faint smile and nodded, perhaps finding the little sister’s concern for her brother touching.
I left the library and made my way to Othello’s room.
By now, I knew the mansion’s halls by heart.
“My lady, I understand you’re upset with the young master, but…”
“So you knew too, Maya?”
“My lady…”
Maya trailed after me, trying to dissuade me, but I was determined to confront him.
When I reached his door, I hesitated.
Confront him? But… what exactly would I say?
…
Othello—my half-brother. Once, I had only wanted to avoid him, the villain.
The strength left my clenched fists.
Life here had turned out far better than I’d first feared, but looking toward the future, I still wished to avoid danger.
Would I live as a Winchester? Or not?
I still hadn’t decided. With what right could I…
Creaaak—
The door opened.
Othello stood there in uniform, looking down at me.
The boy had already grown taller than Maya, with striking features.
I saw his brow twitch. Then he reached out, and a cold hand touched my cheek.
“…You…”
His lips moved, and a disapproving voice came out.
“Why are you crying?”
I startled.
Only then, from the feel of his hand, did I realize tears had been falling.
Othello stared into my tear-filled eyes.
I quickly looked away.
“I just… I just cried, that’s all.”
I remembered when Othello had shoved Fermetis away to save me.
And when he had shown anger at the maids on my behalf.
And the words he spoke as he lifted me onto a rock:
—Only I get to bully you, brat.
No matter what his fate or the family’s might be…
You couldn’t deny the bond formed between people.
Especially after clashing with Othello so often.
“Are you sad because I’m going to the Taylors?”
“…”
I didn’t answer.
Even I wasn’t sure if that feeling was sadness.
“…Plenty of people I’ve made cry.”
When I stayed quiet, he twisted his lips into a smile.
“But you’re only the second person to cry for me, brat.”
Today, Othello didn’t seem so spiteful.
If anything, he looked… almost happy.
After a long silence, I spoke.
“…Are you really going?”
“Yeah.”
“It’s dangerous. Can’t you just… not go?”
“I think there’s more to gain there. That black-hearted Evan Taylors will burn himself out trying to find our family’s weaknesses.”
He tilted his head slightly.
“And I’ve got some talent in that area too. Besides… it’s a chance to prove myself to Father.”
“But…”
“Sasha.”
He called my name.
In his eyes, I saw my wavering reflection.
“It won’t take long. Grow up well in the meantime.”
“….”
He touched his temple with a finger.
“I’ll come back to see how much you’ve grown.”
Behind him, the sunset burned red outside the window.
His pink hair looked almost crimson. Even his deep green eyes seemed black and red.
Lowering his hand, he rested it on my head.
“And when we meet again…”
His gaze, looking down at me, seemed unusually lonely.
“If you’re still small, you’ll be in trouble.”
This unfamiliar side of Othello—the not-so-cruel side—felt strange. Almost awkward.
I stared at him in silence for a long while, then nodded.
Meanwhile…
“Did you hear? Since the Taylors’ hostage is coming, the servants and maids might get reassigned too.”
“I got assigned to the second floor of the main building!”
“Me too! Near the young lady’s room!”
The young maids chattered excitedly.
“But we low-ranked ones don’t stand a chance. They say before, everyone wanted postings near the Duke or the young masters… but now the most competitive spot is near the young lady.”
A freckled maid sighed.
“Of course it is. There’s no one like her. Didn’t she even make a duty roster for the captain of the guards?”
“What? What’s that?”
“You know how the captain spends an entire day every month struggling to arrange the hundreds of guards into day and night shifts?”
“Right, it’s a nightmare of a task.”
Once, a guard had fainted after being scheduled for both day and night shifts five days straight.
“Well, the young lady turned it into numbers, so now he can easily arrange it without overlap. It’s on a stone board or something, but apparently it’s all tied to the ‘mathematics’ she’s studying.”
The others gasped in awe.
“My goodness, using such advanced knowledge for the sake of servants like us.”
In the cold, rigid Winchester household, Sasha stood out more with each passing year.
She still only quietly helped servants or shared useful things she learned, but her good deeds had already spread among all the staff.
“…Still talking about that girl, are they.”
Listening to the chatter, Ricardo gazed out the window.
The atmosphere in the mansion had changed—little by little, but undeniably—since before Sasha was born.
