Chapter 05
Endymion, wearing a complicated expression after hearing Lumina’s honest answer, remained silent for a long while before carefully asking,
“Do you not wish to inherit Father’s will, Sister?”
“Not really. I’m not interested in that.”
Even if the drugs had dulled her mind back then, she had still lived her life being thoroughly manipulated by Joseph.
A head of the house in name only.
For Lumina, those were the worst memories.
There was no way she could readily say she wanted to become the family head.
“I’ve decided that from now on, I’m going to be someone who knows restraint and integrity.”
A short laugh was heard.
It came from Endymion.
Though he quickly composed his expression, Lumina had clearly heard him laugh and felt her pride sting.
Did he think she was joking?
But she was serious.
She had ruined herself through extravagance before. She had no desire for any more of it.
However, from ten-year-old Endymion’s perspective, Lumina had never once indulged in luxury.
So hearing her suddenly preach restraint was absurd enough to draw an involuntary chuckle.
Feeling awkward, Lumina nibbled on a cookie she didn’t even like and stared out the window.
‘Endymion’s room is decorated with the very best, even down to the smallest detail. But the view outside the window isn’t great.’
Objectively speaking, it wasn’t bad enough to deserve such a harsh evaluation.
But her eyes had grown overly refined from past extravagance, and it simply didn’t satisfy her.
“Listening to you, it sounds as if the outcome is already decided no matter how I act. Is there some method you have in mind?”
Lumina heard Endymion’s question clearly.
Yet she continued to stare outside and replied with something entirely unrelated.
“If things go well, maybe I’ll redo the garden first. Now that I look at it, it seems terribly outdated.”
“……”
“I won’t be able to go far while focusing on treatment for a while, right? If at least the garden is bright and lively, it’ll lift the mood.”
“Didn’t you just say you would become someone who knows restraint? Renovating the garden will cost an enormous amount.”
“I said I’d be restrained with money spent on myself. I won’t spare expenses for my people.”
“……Am I one of your people?”
“Of course. We’re family.”
Lumina turned her head and met Endymion’s eyes with a bright smile.
Unfortunately, ten-year-old Endymion didn’t seem particularly inclined to honor familial bonds with her.
His face still showed no trace of trust.
‘When you saved me, I probably wore that same expression.’
So that made them even.
The funeral had been held, and things had settled somewhat, yet the relatives did not leave the estate.
They made excuses about staying a few more days to mourn the deceased.
But no one naïve enough believed them.
Nothing had been decided yet regarding Lumina and Endymion.
With the sudden deaths of the count and countess and no will left behind, only greedy relatives remained.
As the two children with direct inheritance rights hesitated, the relatives fought quietly beneath the surface every day.
‘Endymion must be exhausted dealing with adults while he’s ill… but he’s holding up better than expected.’
Compared to Endymion, Lumina was relatively at peace.
After witnessing her slap their aunt, the paternal relatives were reluctant even to step on her shadow.
But there are persistent people everywhere.
“Lumina, may this uncle have a word—”
“Lumi—!”
“Lu—!”
It was her maternal uncle, Joseph.
“I really hate this!”
His obsession was on the level of a stalker.
He relentlessly followed her around just to exchange a few words.
She had reached the point of feeling nauseous at the mere sight of someone with hair the same color as his.
“At this rate, he’ll insist on coming along even when I go out.”
And her premonition was entirely correct.
“Lumina, where are you rushing off to?”
Just facing Joseph as he crept toward her made goosebumps rise all over her body.
She felt an overwhelming urge to slap both his cheeks, punch him in the solar plexus, and kick him away.
‘If I do that, instead of trying to win me over like he is now, he might resort to force.’
Now that he was obsessing over her again, she could clearly sense Joseph’s ambition to swallow the Ranchus family by any means necessary.
“Ah, Uncle. Well…”
“My goodness. What are you wearing? It looks like you borrowed clothes from some beggar on the street!”
As Lumina trailed off, Joseph quickly exclaimed, afraid she might run away again.
He wasn’t entirely wrong. Living in the attic meant her clothes were shabby.
“I’m sorry. These are the only clothes I have. Are they that bad?”
“I expected as much after your mother passed, but it seems the count and countess truly paid you no attention.”
With teary eyes, Joseph suddenly grabbed Lumina’s hand.
Instantly, a wave of physiological disgust rose within her.
‘I almost accidentally slapped both his cheeks, punched his stomach, and kicked his shin. Good job holding back, me.’
Even if the past had been undone, the memories were still vivid.
A few punches wouldn’t settle her grudge.
‘You used me to your heart’s content. So I’ll suck you dry and throw you away.’
Unaware of her thoughts, Joseph continued,
“I have a daughter about your age, so I understand girls’ tastes quite well.”
“……”
“I have something to discuss with you as well. Let’s go out together—just the two of us. Don’t tell the others.”
“Would that… really be all right?”
Her cautious question, combined with her soft, gentle appearance, made her seem all the more pitiful.
‘So the vicious look I saw at the funeral was just my imagination.’
The child must have lashed out impulsively because her anger reached its peak.
She was still young. That could happen.
In Joseph’s eyes, Lumina was a shy and timid child.
Hadn’t she been diligently avoiding him? And knowing nothing of the world, she was already swayed by a few words.
“Of course, it’s perfectly fine.”
Having finally secured an opportunity, Joseph smiled in complete satisfaction.
‘I let her avoid me for a while, and now she’s arranging a private outing herself.’
It had been difficult to leave the estate due to the lingering mourning atmosphere.
Lumina smiled inwardly in triumph.
“I like this dress. And… this one. And that one too!”
Lumina pointed to dress after dress with feigned delicacy.
The boutique staff moved briskly at her gestures.
‘This isn’t extravagance! It’s draining a villain’s vault!’
Squeeze!
Lumina tightly shut her eyes and opened them again.
It hadn’t been long since she declared to Endymion that she would live with restraint and integrity, yet here she was spending money like water.
As a result, the triangular conscience she had firmly believed didn’t exist was now rolling around in her mind.
Soon, it would become round.
“You have quite the eye, little lady.”
A boutique employee complimented her.
Though she seemed to be picking at random, Lumina was selecting only the most expensive dresses.
Regardless of whether they suited her at all.
There were no price tags displayed—naturally not, in a boutique frequented by nobles.
She hadn’t checked prices directly; she had simply developed the ability to sense them after spending extravagantly for so long.
Joseph’s facial muscles, forced into a smile before his twelve-year-old niece, were gradually stiffening.
“Lumina, this is a bit…”
He seemed to be reaching his limit.
Joseph cautiously began.
Even now, he had endured longer than expected out of pride.
But that was his problem. Lumina had no intention of letting him off easily.
“Oh! Are you perhaps overexerting yourself because of me? Being with you makes me feel so comfortable that I must have forgotten myself.”
She lowered her eyes pitifully.
“It feels like what it would have been like if Father were here…”
“……”
“Oh! I’m sorry. Father hasn’t been gone long, and I shouldn’t be saying such things.”
As if scolding her loose tongue, Lumina hurriedly covered her mouth with her palm.
Her wide eyes trembled with distress.
“I understand how you feel. It’s awkward to say this about the deceased, but I suppose you must have had many disappointments with the count.”
Spoke the liar who was devouring his niece’s inheritance.
“We are family, after all. Be at ease with me.”
A satisfied smile spread across Joseph’s lips.
Lumina’s current demeanor was utterly naïve.
If he won her favor, he could swallow the entire family—what were a few dresses in comparison?
“You can even ask me to buy things the way you would have begged your father.”
Oh, I’m sure.
‘Because I look like a golden rope to cling to.’
“Really? I’m so happy! You’re the only one I have, Uncle!”
Ha ha ho ho.
The two smiled at each other, each hiding pitch-black intentions behind their laughter.
‘I’ve thoroughly emptied Uncle’s wallet. Time to get moving.’
Joseph’s complexion was slightly pale, likely from the heavy financial bleeding.
He was putting on airs, but it was obvious he had never spent this much even on his own daughter.
“May I step away for a moment?”
Feigning embarrassment, Lumina spoke.
The perceptive boutique employee immediately understood that she wanted the restroom.
“I’ll show you the way.”
Joseph disliked the idea of Lumina leaving his sight.
But he couldn’t very well follow her into the restroom. Reluctantly, he agreed.
Scamper, scamper.
Lumina followed the employee.
And then she found the perfect excuse to escape.
‘Ah, there it is.’
A decorative vase in the hallway.
As she approached it, Lumina pretended not to notice and knocked it over.
Crash—!
The vase shattered loudly.
“Oh my! Are you all right?”
Lumina looked flustered.
When she tried to touch the glass shards, the employee quickly stopped her.
“You’ll cut your hand! I’ll clean this up, so don’t worry. Please go take care of your business first. The restroom is over there.”
“Y-Yes.”
As soon as the employee hurried away, Lumina pretended to head toward the restroom—then dashed out the back door.
‘I’ve been here a few times before. Of course I know where the back entrance is.’
She easily slipped into the street without her uncle noticing.
Now came the next problem.
‘I need to find Duke Hart. According to rumors, I should be able to meet him somewhere around here.’
But she worried Joseph might realize she had fled and come looking for her.
And that worry soon became reality.
Rough-looking men were glancing around as if searching for someone.
‘Could Uncle have hired them?’
Thinking back, Joseph had been involved in illegal dealings.
Though he had insisted they come alone, he might have stationed men nearby.
She wove through alleys to avoid being noticed.
After walking a while—
Lumina spotted Joseph himself, clearly searching for her.
Gasp.
She sucked in a sharp breath and pressed herself flat against a wall.
Fortunately, he hadn’t noticed her yet.
‘Just a little farther! If this keeps up, I’ll get caught before I even meet the duke!’
She bit her lip hard.
And then—
“Found you.”
Someone pulled her into their arms.
