Never Mind the Heir, I’ll Focus on Healing

Sylvia had come to visit the head of the family not long ago.

“…….”

Patrick silently gazed at Sylvia standing before him.

“You look much better, sister.”

“…….”

Indeed, Sylvia’s expression was far more vivid than when they had last met.

Confusion, surprise, joy.

Various emotions flickered across her face.

“What kind of trick did you use…?”

“Trick?”

“I knew that child was running around tirelessly. But even so, creating a potion that works for me in such a short time is impossible….”

“Sister.”

Patrick firmly put down his pen, cutting off Sylvia’s slightly agitated voice.

“I didn’t use any trick. You know that, don’t you?”

“……Yes. That must be true.”

Sylvia knew it too. Patrick had been busy with other matters while Leon had been roaming around.

It was because of Leon’s delayed coming-of-age ceremony.

‘He collapsed just before the ceremony, so everything was canceled.’

Now that he was regaining his health, it was only right to prepare the ceremony again.

“If that child truly made a potion of this caliber, isn’t that a problem in a different sense?”

“…….”

Silence fell upon them simultaneously.

Another problem.

The potion Leon had made was not an ordinary one.

A hero.

A chaotic era’s savior, appearing when the world is tainted by evil, and the only one capable of breaking Sylvia’s contract.

‘But in the end….’

A hero who could save the world, but whose personal life was never happy.

Endless battles, blood, death, loss.

The emptiness and despair that followed.

Patrick took another look at the faintly colored potion bottle with a sip remaining.

‘Why would such a recipe have appeared?’

The hero always said they were fine, but could their heart truly be at ease?

They had to judge good and evil, wield their sword in line with their convictions, and cut down their enemies to protect what they believed in.

To guard the bright world, they themselves became stained with darkness.

And one day, when peace was restored to the world—

The hero vanished.

No one knew whether they had died or were living somewhere.

The world had regained peace, but Patrick’s comrade had disappeared without a trace.

The hero’s companions and their descendants had been searching for his trail, but…

‘They haven’t even found a single trace.’

And now, his grandson might have to go through the same thing.

Patrick’s expression darkened slightly.

Reading that expression, Sylvia let out a small sigh and carefully spoke.

“Lord of the house, how about this?”

Sylvia, maintaining as much composure as possible, placed the empty potion bottle on Patrick’s desk.

Fifty years ago.

Sylvia did not know exactly what had happened between Patrick and the hero, but she could tell he had similar concerns now.

He was worried about his frail grandson getting hurt.

It was obvious.

Patrick pretended otherwise, but his affection for his family was immense.

‘Then… should I give him a gift?’

After all, she had just received one herself.

Thanks to it, the emotions and mind that had been clouded and withering for decades had become clear again.

For a witch who lived a thousand years, it had been an exceptional elixir.

Our little pup probably had no idea.

Looking at Patrick, Sylvia slightly lifted the hem of her refined skirt and bowed politely.

“This old woman, Sylvia, is retiring.”

“Sister, you mean—”

“Patrick, we must hide our little pup well. I will stay close to protect him… as per the contract.”

The contract Sylvia had signed stated:

She would live as a human and protect the Asteria family in times of emergency.

Since Leon had allowed her to live more like a human, Witch Sylvia intended to honor the contract and protect the weakest member of the Asteria family—Leon Asteria.

In other words, Sylvia was possibly giving up her only chance at freedom.

“……I am sorry. If I could, I would have found the contract and freed you.”

“Didn’t I tell you a few days ago? The most useless worry in the world is worrying about a witch.”

Perhaps, from now on, forever, she would remain bound to the Asteria family.

Even after Patrick and Leon had passed away, Sylvia would still remain.

And yet, she said she was fine with it.

“It just means I liked our little pup’s gift that much. So make sure to shower him with praise.”

“……I shall. So, what will you do now?”

“For now, the old Sylvia will retire, and the young Elvia will join the household. As our little young master’s personal maid.”

“The grandchildren will feel the emptiness.”

“Learning the sorrow of parting is one of life’s lessons.”

Sylvia said nonchalantly.

“Then I’ll arrange it as such. But please, say your goodbyes to the grandchildren yourself. They were truly attached to you, like their own grandmother.”

“Do not worry.”

The head maid—Grandmother Sylvia—would retire with a lighter heart than anyone else.

And the children.

Leon.

And his younger brother, Richel Asteria, would surely understand her feelings.

And then…

‘I just had a good idea.’

Sylvia smirked mischievously.

It wouldn’t be a bad opportunity to mend the relationship between the two brothers.

* * *

Richel Asteria

Unlike Leon, Richel Asteria bore a striking resemblance to Patrick, with a uniquely cool and composed demeanor.

Of course, he had many other titles as well.

A peerless genius, the next heir, the youngest 4th-circle mage.

By public opinion, he was the most similar to Patrick among the Asteria heirs.

The one who would lead the family after Patrick’s retirement.

His young age wasn’t seen as a weakness but rather a powerful advantage.

Unlike “eccentric Leon,” Richel was showered with praise.

“Haah.”

Yet, an unusually deep sigh escaped his lips.

“You’re really retiring?”

“Yes. I came to say goodbye one last time before I leave.”

“…….”

Richel looked at Sylvia with calm eyes.

She did seem much brighter than before.

Not just her expression—her once-empty gaze now shone with life, without a trace of regret.

But he couldn’t understand it.

And all of this was thanks to his foolish older brother?

Impossible.

‘He’s changed a bit lately, but still….’

Even though Richel was technically younger, to him, Leon felt more like a younger sibling he needed to protect.

Occasionally collapsing due to mana shocks, then waking up and behaving like an oddball.

And now she was saying she could retire peacefully thanks to his potion?

“It doesn’t make sense….”

Just because of a potion?

‘There must be something more she’s not telling me.’

Doubt crept into his mind.

“Second Young Master, everything this old woman says is the truth.”

“I know that Sylvia wouldn’t lie to me. That’s why I won’t try to stop you, but I still don’t understand.”

Even Grandfather—no, the Head—had allowed her to retire, and all because of a potion?

“Heh.”

Sylvia looked at Richel’s expression as if she found it adorable, then casually said,

“You’re speaking this way because you’re curious about how your older brother has changed, aren’t you?”

“…Why would I be curious?”

“My mistake, then. This old woman must have misread things.”

Without refuting Richel’s words, Sylvia simply added a few more sentences.

“But if you do get curious later, I suggest following your brother around sometime.”

“Me? Follow him?”

“Wouldn’t it be fun? And you used to do it all the time when you were younger.”

“…That was when I was a child.”

At some point, he had stopped following Leon around.

He wasn’t sure exactly when it happened, but it had felt natural.

He was almost an adult now; that kind of thing didn’t suit him anymore.

And more importantly…

‘I have to become stronger to protect my brother.’

To Richel, Leon seemed far too fragile.

If he took the head position, Richel was convinced he wouldn’t last even a year before collapsing.

“I see.”

Sylvia let out a small sigh and deliberately pushed herself up with her knees.

“In any case, this old woman will be leaving now. I’ll return to my homeland and enjoy the rest of my days, so don’t worry and take care of yourself.”

After saying her farewells, Sylvia slowly left the room.

Click.

As the door closed, Richel continued to stare at the place where she had been standing.

“…The Head must have already made arrangements.”

Sylvia had been an irreplaceable presence in the Asteria family.

Her retirement was a significant matter, but if Patrick had allowed it, that meant he had made the necessary preparations.

Besides, her expression had been far too content to hold her back.

So Richel chose to accept it.

“…….”

…Although he felt a little sad, he believed it was a feeling he had to suppress as a direct descendant of the Asteria family.

It was a natural sentiment for someone his age, but Richel himself didn’t realize it.

‘Fine. I’ll think about something else instead.’

Pushing aside thoughts of Sylvia’s departure, another question surfaced in his mind.

Leon Asteria.

His older brother.

‘She suggested checking for myself?’

Richel absentmindedly tapped his desk with his fingernail.

Following his brother around now seemed a little embarrassing.

But…

‘Just once should be fine.’

Since he had no pressing matters today, he decided to do it.

After all, a mage’s basic instinct was to satisfy their curiosity.

“They said he’s been in Mimir Forest lately.”

Finding Leon’s location wasn’t difficult.

Thus, Richel Asteria began secretly following his brother.

Rustle.

Mimir Forest, which he hadn’t visited in a long time, was as eerie as ever.

The towering trees and dense leaves blocked out the sun, while the tangled roots and trunks made the path uneven.

‘What does he even like about this place?’

If he needed herbs for alchemy, couldn’t he just ask John to get them?

‘Honestly….’

Just as Richel was grumbling inwardly and walking deeper into the forest—

“…….”

A sweet scent drifted through the air.

It wasn’t exactly dessert, but it smelled good.

Nutty, sweet, and soft…

“…Brother?”

And then he saw it.

Leon had dug up a root vegetable from the ground and was eating it on the spot.

‘W-What an unsanitary sight!’

With his already weak constitution, how could he just eat something without knowing what it was?

Richel immediately raised his staff and knocked the vegetable out of Leon’s hand.

Plop.

“You mustn’t!”

“Noooo!”

Richel and Leon shouted at the same time, locking eyes.

“Richel?”

…Oops.

Richel realized he had just given himself away.

‘Damn it, I was supposed to observe him secretly!’

He had been caught red-handed.