Chapter 40
“The Grand Duke has given the key to Sasha Winchester.”
At Bashron’s words, Fermetis’s face hardened.
“Don’t tell me that key is… the Black Tower key?”
“That’s right.”
“That’s impossible!”
Fermetis’s expression completely twisted as she shouted.
The Black Tower was an immense magical space that had preserved the family’s accumulated ancient knowledge, techniques, and various artifacts since the family’s founding.
The Black Tower key could freely open not only the Black Tower itself, but also other storage spaces imbued with the power of black flame.
The family head entrusted the Black Tower key only to the most trusted person—usually the wife of the family head.
After his wife died, Ricardo had given the masterless key to Hector.
It was well known that Hector was looking for someone to inherit the Black Tower key, and everyone assumed he would choose a new keeper after Jin’s marriage.
And now, that tiny little Sasha Winchester?
—I don’t like you either!
Recalling the brat who had looked at her with open hostility, Fermetis felt her stomach churn.
“If even the Grand Duke follows Ricardo’s will…”
Cold fury flickered in Bashron’s eyes.
“…then we’ll be no different from a tiger with its fangs pulled.”
Fermetis clenched her fists at Bashron’s words.
The one who had treated Bashron had killed Jestia and fled when the plan failed.
He called himself a “prophet.”
“Grandfather, I…”
Grinding her teeth, Fermetis thought of that cheeky child.
“I can’t lose to her.”
Among the Winchester direct line, marriages with relatives more distant than eight degrees of kinship were encouraged.
It preserved the pure blood of the black flame while avoiding hereditary diseases from close inbreeding.
Jin and Othello’s birth mother was also a tenth-degree distant relative of Ricardo.
And Fermetis’s mother, Jestia, was the granddaughter of Hector Winchester’s elder brother, Metches.
Though she grew up as Bashron’s foster daughter under his patronage, by the family tree, Fermetis was an eighth-degree relative to Jin and Othello.
“That key is mine—not hers.”
For that reason, there was something Bashron had told Fermetis since she was young:
—You will become the mistress of the Winchester household one day.
It wasn’t just Bashron who thought so.
The family head, Hector Winchester, had also observed Fermetis’s abilities.
In Fermetis’s view, among all the Winchester girls of her generation, none compared to her.
And yet that thorn in her side, that little girl, had been given the key?
Fermetis could not accept it.
“Fermetis.”
Bashron’s lips moved in a warning.
“Do not act rashly and ruin things. Wait.”
I turned over the pendant in my hand, shaped like a shield with two swords crossed over it, examining it intently.
They said this pendant was actually a finely crafted key.
Maybe… maybe even information close to the Elixir could be accessed with it.
But the problem was… I couldn’t use it.
I tried inserting the pendant into a strangely shaped slot, but it wouldn’t turn.
While I was struggling at the Black Tower’s entrance, Othello, passing by, had said:
—At your current level, you can’t get in.
—Huh?
—The Black Tower only lets in those it deems worthy.
Then why give me a key I can’t even use? Is this a test of a test of a test of a test?
While I puffed up my cheeks in frustration, Othello took the key from my hand, inserted it into the keyhole, and turned it. A metallic clack rang out.
The door opened, revealing a pitch-black interior.
I eagerly tried to step inside… only to slam into an invisible barrier.
I landed on my butt, and Othello smirked.
—I’m the one the Black Tower invited. Why would you be allowed in?
That jerk—he knew all along!
—Go in and bring something out! Anything!
—You don’t even know you can’t take Black Tower items outside? You’re even dumber than I thought.
Then Othello smugly shut the door and returned the key to me.
His eyes plainly said, You’ve got a long way to go.
Tears prickled in my eyes as I glared at him. Leaning down so his face was close to mine, Othello murmured:
—If you hate it, then grow up fast, kid.
That faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips was infuriating.
—Don’t lose the key.
He was obviously teasing me. Anyway, he turned and left.
And now, here I was, lying in bed, staring at a key I couldn’t use.
Othello was undeniably strong.
He wasn’t at Jin’s outrageous level, as the almost certain heir, but they said Othello’s black flame was enough to subdue most adult male collateral relatives.
Would I need to be at least that strong to open the door?
Othello, that stingy jerk! Would it kill him to help?
I’d thought having access to the tower’s vast information would be a shortcut… but maybe there was no shortcut.
With a sigh, I lowered my hand holding the key.
I should keep it anyway—maybe it would open sooner than expected.
“Uuugh…”
“Shall I bring you some milk?”
“No, I was just stretching.”
I spoke while stretching both arms toward the ceiling.
I really wished I could grow faster.
“Still… what could the Grand Duke be thinking, giving you that key?”
It was Maya’s voice.
“It must mean he acknowledges you, Miss. But this will draw everyone’s attention to you.”
Thinking back to what happened in Afinizé, I could understand Maya’s unease.
The Black Tower key seemed to be a very symbolic item.
Not just collateral relatives, but even other houses might start paying attention to me.
“They probably all had Young Master Jin in mind.”
“For the key?”
“It’s like a wedding gift for the direct heir’s marriage.”
So it’s like entrusting the family vault to the daughter-in-law.
Since the Black Tower key could also open other spaces imbued with black flame, that meaning might fit.
But as I thought about it, a wave of unease washed over me.
A future-designated heir… and the half-sister who keeps taking what’s his.
I’d already taken Robin.
If Jin thought the key was his—or rather, his future wife’s—and I’d stolen it from him…
No way. If that were the case, he wouldn’t have helped me during the Golden Gong incident. Unless… he just didn’t know I’d take the key back then.
—…Here’s a warning. Trust no one in Winchester.
Jin’s cold voice echoed in my mind.
And just then, footsteps sounded outside the door.
I heard a man speaking with a maid, and the door opened.
Standing before me was Ricardo’s adjutant, Lowen.
I could now use a fork without spilling food.
I could even spoon soup into my mouth by myself.
Though my hands still trembled sometimes—especially in tense meals like this.
“I hear you’ve been given the Black Tower key, Sasha.”
Ricardo spoke in a cold tone, clearly displeased.
That’s right—right now, I was having dinner… with Grand Duke Hector Winchester, Ricardo Winchester, Jin Winchester, and Othello Winchester. Four Winchesters who made me tense just by sitting at the same table.
“Why? Did you have someone else in mind?”
At Hector’s question, Ricardo frowned as if to say of course not.
“Of course not.”
He cut into his rare steak and continued.
“I just think it’s too early, given she’s not yet at the age to defend herself against assassins.”
Now that he mentioned it, it did feel like the security forces had been reinforced lately, aside from Robin.
“You really are overprotective of your daughter.”
…And “old enough to defend herself against assassins” was a chilling phrase. That’s not how normal parents measure maturity.
It was another moment when I was reminded of exactly what kind of family I’d ended up in.
“You didn’t complain yesterday when I took Jin and Othello into the lion’s den.”
The phrase “lion’s den” made me recall what Maya had told me.
In the deepest swamps of the Winchester domain, dangerous monsters lived—powerful killers with mental-type magic that even knights dared not approach.
“That’s different. We can handle ourselves—she’s weak.”
Othello added dryly, and Hector roared with laughter.
“Yes, family should be on the same side. This makes for quite the amusing picture.”
Then he turned to me.
“I look forward to seeing what you’ll do when you can finally use the key.”
I didn’t understand what he meant, but nodded awkwardly.
“Yes, Grandfather.”
A short while later, Jin set down his utensils.
He politely excused himself to Hector and Ricardo.
“Forgive me, but I’ll take my leave first.”
Hector nodded, and Jin left without a word.
Of all the Winchesters, Jin was the one I was most concerned about at this dinner.
If Maya was right, then the key was something I shouldn’t logically have, and if Jin truly resented me for it…
Death flag.
Even if we’d grown closer, a Winchester was still a Winchester.
A moment later, I rose from my seat.
“Grandfather, Father, I’ll be leaving too.”
I saw Ricardo’s eyebrow twitch.
But he nodded slightly, and I left the dining table.
