Chapter 56
In the afternoon, while reading documents in his office, Riccardo’s eyebrows twitched at the sound of movement outside.
A moment later, the door opened, and Rowen entered with a slightly flustered expression.
“Your Grace, Baron Bashiron is outside…”
With an annoyed expression, Riccardo gave his order.
“Let him in.”
Soon after, Rowen left, and a man and a young girl entered.
Riccardo’s uncle, Baron Bashiron, was still walking with a crutch.
And beside him, Fermetis, wearing a violet dress, lifted her skirt slightly and greeted cutely.
“What is it?”
Riccardo slowly sat in the seat of honor on the reception sofa and asked.
The unwelcome atmosphere made Bashiron frown in discomfort.
“The decorations in your office are all glittering. Some of us are struggling to pay debts because all our slaves ran away, while others sit in luxury. The world is unfair.”
“I’d prefer if you got to the point.”
At Riccardo’s words, Bashiron coughed with a ‘hmph.’
“Such a way of speaking…”
Although his rank and title were lower, he was still Riccardo’s uncle.
And though their family motto was survival of the fittest, Riccardo didn’t treat Bashiron carelessly—so long as he didn’t cross the line like the last time, when he practically kidnapped Sasha.
“I want to lessen the mouths I have to feed. With Zestia dead, it’s difficult to take on more.”
Riccardo’s eyebrow twitched.
“…”
“I’d like to entrust Fermetis here for a while.”
It wasn’t unusual for branch family children to be sent to the main house for education, or for those without a place to be taken in by the main house.
It cultivated pride and loyalty as Winchesters, and those who grew up that way became good supporters of the successor.
In Riccardo’s generation, with more branch families rebelling against the head, many had stopped sending their children—but still…
“I leave her in your care, Lord Patriarch.”
Entrusting Fermetis’s education was nothing unusual.
And Baron Bashiron handing her over would influence other branches too, expanding Riccardo’s authority—a good thing.
Especially now, when Fermetis was often mentioned as a candidate for the next heir’s bride.
Riccardo silently studied Fermetis.
She smiled at him with her red eyes.
“When I become the mistress of this house, I will surely repay yesterday’s humiliation, Sasha Winchester.”
The rage still made her tremble, but she steadied herself and endured.
Riccardo had publicly said he had no plans to marry off his sons yet, but through this entrusted education, steps could be taken gradually.
“It’s a shame, but the Great Patriarch has already left.”
Bashiron frowned and replied.
“I know. That was truly disappointing.”
Hector had been quite pleased while teaching Sasha.
Bashiron tried to soothe Fermetis.
“Had he known you were coming, he might have stayed longer, but oh well.”
Though everyone knew Hector had stayed for years instead of months because of Sasha, Bashiron made no mention of her.
Comparison of skills would do Fermetis no good.
“Still, the main house has excellent teachers. With discipline, you’ll learn a great deal.”
After some hesitation, Fermetis nodded.
“Yes. Feri will do her best… and also…”
She looked at Riccardo.
“I want to teach Sasha the things I know. To comfort her lonely heart now that Brother Othello has left.”
Bashiron chuckled faintly and said to Riccardo:
“Fermetis and Sasha—both will eventually serve as supports to the heir.”
“…”
“Though their ultimate positions will differ somewhat, I don’t think it’s bad for them to grow close.”
By “ultimate position,” he clearly meant Fermetis as Jin’s future wife.
If Jin became heir, his half-sister Sasha would be beneath Fermetis.
“…How laughable.”
Hearing this, Riccardo’s lips curled into a cold smile.
Bashiron felt a chill down his spine.
“You, who once tried to use the Shadow of the Abyss against that child…”
Fermetis’s smiling face began to stiffen.
“…now dare to entrust your daughter to my house.”
“It’s all in the past, isn’t it? We now understand Sasha Winchester is a child who must not be harmed. They say Evan Taylors and Lisonia are involved with her.”
Bashiron tried to smooth the threatening air.
“We may have been wary of you, but we don’t wish for war with the Taylors.”
Fermetis glanced nervously at Riccardo.
Damn Sasha. That wretched Sasha.
That frail girl—daughter of a woman who wasn’t even a proper wife—how could she be treated as so important by Riccardo, Jin, and Othello?
In Winchester history, even direct-line bastards who were weakly born were always weeded out.
If I can’t grow closer to the main line… perhaps I can win favor with Evan of House Taylors instead?
“Rowen.”
Riccardo called toward the door.
“Yes, Your Grace.”
“Are there any spare rooms in the mansion?”
At this, Bashiron raised his brows.
To ask whether the Winchester mansion had free rooms was nothing but mockery.
“The 2nd and 3rd floors are under renovation, so they’re unavailable. But the east annex still has several rooms left.”
At that, Bashiron glared fiercely at Rowen.
The east annex was used as lodging for maids and servants.
“You—!”
“I hear you got quite close to the maids last night. That shouldn’t be a problem, then.”
Riccardo’s icy gaze fell on Fermetis.
She flinched.
“So close you made quite a disgrace of yourself, I hear.”
Fermetis felt as if her chest had been pierced.
Does he know about yesterday?!
And the memory she wanted to forget resurfaced.
“What do you mean, Feri?”
At Bashiron’s question, Fermetis couldn’t answer.
Her heart felt like it would burst.
All this humiliation from the Patriarch, just because she’d wanted to “discipline” a few maids quietly?
“There will be familiar faces, so you won’t be lonely. But if you don’t like it, you can refuse.”
Of course, she had no way to object.
“Feri, I asked you what this means.”
“…”
Looking into Riccardo’s cold eyes, Fermetis thought—
That was the look of an absolute refusal.
“Will you stay in the annex?”
The monster that lived in those deep green eyes seemed like it might tear her apart any second.
In the end, she yielded, shrinking back.
Bashiron stood up, unable to bear it any longer.
Black flames of fury rippled, but Riccardo’s face remained calm.
“It seems the child has changed her mind.”
“You will regret this.”
With anger, Bashiron opened the office door and stormed out.
Fermetis, pale as a sheet, followed behind.
But soon they both halted.
Just a few meters ahead of the office, Sasha Winchester stood frozen, clutching a pile of documents as tall as herself, staring at them.
The anger Fermetis had been suppressing welled up violently once again.
