Chapter 28
Olivia, who had been wearing a maid’s uniform to deceive Lumina, changed back into her original uniform and neatly tied her red hair into a single ponytail.
Finally, when she put on her glasses, she had completely returned to being Olivia Munez—the very symbol of a capable adjutant.
Click, click.
Her heels echoed as she stopped in front of the Duke of Hart’s office.
Knock, knock.
“Your Grace. It’s Olivia.”
Permission to enter came from inside. Olivia turned the doorknob.
Perhaps because it had recently been replaced, the door opened lightly without a sound.
“Yes, Olivia. You must have watched the child by her side all day. What did you think?”
Lucius went straight to the point. He must have been wanting to ask that question all along.
“Shall I answer honestly?”
“Yes.”
A cold and barren atmosphere settled over the room.
With an expressionless face and a businesslike tone, Olivia began—
“She’s so, so, so adorable!”
—only to suddenly flip 180 degrees and burst into exclamation.
“She chatters nonstop. Watching her made me think maybe I should’ve had a daughter instead of a son!”
“……”
“Of course, it’s not that I’m dissatisfied with Ash. Ash is more than adorable enough. But whoever he takes after, he barely talks, so that’s a bit of a shame.”
For such a “cute son,” Ash was much larger than other boys his age, and his strength was extraordinary.
In many ways, he was the complete opposite of Lumina—yet Olivia naturally placed them on the same level.
“Olivia.”
“You saw it earlier, didn’t you? The way she hugged me tightly and told me not to forget her. She was like fluffy cotton candy.”
“……”
“When I hugged her back, she felt so light compared to Ash. She really is cotton candy! And cotton candy melts the moment you put it in your mouth.”
“Olivia!”
Bang!
Unable to endure any longer, Lucius slammed his desk. The mahogany surface looked as if it might crack.
Not wanting to lose a perfectly good desk, Olivia quickly snapped back to her senses.
“Yes, yes, Your Grace.”
“She knew the alias Calvados. Yet you found nothing suspicious? You spoke with her. Surely you noticed something different from the reports we gathered.”
“Hmm… She was lovely.”
“Olivia.”
At this rate, perhaps her title of “capable adjutant” should be revoked.
But Olivia shook her head.
“That’s not it. She’s clearly a child who grew up neglected by her parents—yet she’s excessively lovely.”
As if she knew nothing of darkness.
“It almost feels like she’s trying not to show any pain. When her leg hurt, she pretended it didn’t, remember?”
“Olivia. That’s unusually sentimental of you.”
“Unlike the inhuman duke, I am human.”
Olivia shrugged.
Then, as if a switch had been flipped, she continued excitedly.
“No, but listen. A child who always says she’s fine and tries to stand on her own suddenly shows a vulnerable side only when it’s time to part. Of course that makes your heart ache!”
If they hadn’t known her past, they might have simply thought she was more lonely than she looked.
But they knew her biological mother hadn’t liked her much, and that she had been neglected for years by her father and stepmother.
She had never received proper care, yet she showed no signs of bitterness. It was impossible to dislike her.
“But she only hugged you.”
“Yes, she did. Isn’t that admirable?”
While Olivia was excited, Lucius fell into deep thought with a serious expression.
“Why was I excluded?”
Are you jealous?
The one who had warned against being sentimental was being even worse.
“In any case, I found nothing suspicious. She wasn’t secretly contacting anyone behind our backs. If anything, she’s too adorable—that’s the problem.”
“She’s not a Legion, yet her effect is similar to Brandon’s.”
Lucius had thought Olivia, being an ordinary human and not a Legion, might react differently.
Yet she seemed even more deeply smitten than Brandon.
Legions could not help it because of their abilities—but Olivia? He couldn’t understand how she had fallen under Lumina’s charm.
“Speaking of which, Your Grace, you’re cherishing the iris that the young lady of Rangshus gave you.”
“Watch your words.”
Had he finally exploded?
His voice was so cold that even Olivia flinched.
“She’s no longer of Rangshus.”
“…Was that the problem?”
She had completely missed the point.
“Yes, yes. I’ll call her Young Madam from now on.”
The marriage documents had been submitted. From today onward, Lumina was legally a member of House Hart.
Princess Arabel would surely cause a commotion, but she alone could not stop this marriage.
“If she is hiding something from us, then she’s remarkable. There wasn’t even the slightest hint.”
Lucius nodded.
“Our Ash might need to become a bit more fox-like and cunning. But he only knows how to eat and swing a sword.”
Whichever parent he resembled, Ash was terrible at lying or acting.
That was why Olivia had deliberately avoided going near Ash while disguised as a maid.
She feared even the smallest slip might expose her to Lumina.
If Lucius had ever heard the question, “Who does Ash take after?” he would probably answer: Olivia—who was secretly a bit careless.
After all, Olivia’s husband was a master of disguise.
“There’s been no word from Brandon. Has he contacted you separately?”
“No.”
Lucius had two adjutants he trusted.
One was Olivia. The other was Brandon.
While Olivia operated openly for the ducal house, Brandon moved in the shadows.
Thus, no one knew of Brandon’s existence or abilities.
“He’ll likely return casually in a few days. If he finds nothing again, then Young Madam truly came to you on her own.”
Lucius’s gaze fixed on the iris resting on one corner of his desk.
It was still fresh, carefully maintained just as when he first received it.
“I miss you, my dear.”
That wasn’t Lucius speaking.
As Lucius stared at the flower for a long time, Olivia, lost in her own thoughts, had muttered it.
She looked down at the wedding ring on her left hand.
Snapping back to attention, Lucius said coldly,
“Olivia. Next agenda.”
“Yes, sir.”
Olivia and Brandon.
They were a deeply devoted couple.
“My lady. You have returned.”
As soon as Lumina stepped down from the carriage, she was greeted by the neatly lined-up servants.
“My apologies for the late introduction. I am Harold, the butler who will be managing the Rangshus estate from now on.”
The butler, with streaks of gray in his white hair, introduced himself.
His demeanor was clean and precise.
“It may be impertinent to mention, but we heard that before our arrival, you suffered an accident and fell from a railing.”
Walking beside Harold, Lumina nodded.
“It was quite a shocking incident, so we have taken measures to ensure nothing similar happens again.”
“……”
“While you were away, we renovated the entire estate. Please inspect it at your convenience.”
Pass.
He was respectful to Lumina despite her young age. As expected of someone assigned by Lucius.
And—
He truly left not a single one behind.
Not a speck of dust could be found in the estate. It had been clean before, but now it practically shone.
Lumina received a report from Harold about what had happened during her absence while touring the estate.
As she walked and expressed satisfaction, a voice called out from afar.
“Lumina—!”
It was Joseph.
He ran toward her.
“You’ve finally come back! I thought my neck would stretch from waiting since you wouldn’t return. And listen—suddenly servants claiming to act under Duke Hart’s orders barged in!”
Joseph grabbed Lumina and began complaining, seemingly not noticing Harold beside her.
“Even if he’s your guardian, isn’t this excessive interference? Do you think this makes sense?”
“I asked him to.”
Lumina cut him off sharply.
“I’m very grateful he agreed to help. The estate is clean. I like it.”
“But—”
“Gasp. Surely you don’t distrust His Grace?”
Oh my, oh my.
Lumina widened her eyes and looked at Joseph as if he were a traitor.
“That’s not what I meant—”
“Then there’s no issue. If there’s nothing else, let’s talk later. I’m busy right now.”
Cutting Joseph off mid-sentence, Lumina turned her head toward Harold.
“So, Harold. What were you saying earlier?”
“Ah, yes, my lady.”
Lumina walked past Joseph without another glance.
Being openly ignored by a child seemed to wound his pride. Joseph trembled in humiliation.
Glancing at him briefly, Lumina continued her conversation with Harold and returned to her room.
“Where is Endymion?”
“He is in his room. He seemed hesitant to come out, worried you might be tired.”
As expected of a mature child.
“Hmm. My uncle and aunt are still staying at the estate, correct?”
“Yes.”
“Call them both first.”
Not long after, Teresa and Joseph entered together.
They were still in a cold war during Lumina’s absence. The moment they saw each other, they shot glares.
“I asked you here because I have something to say.”
Lumina’s usual bright smile faded.
She looked at them straight in the eyes and said:
“Leave this house.”
“……”
“Immediately.”
