Chapter 29
“Lumina! What is the meaning of this!”
“Yes. Suddenly calling me out and trying to kick me out—how absurd!”
Joseph shouted, and Teresa immediately followed, scolding Lumina.
It might have been the first time the two of them agreed on something.
“I mean exactly what I said. Pack your things and leave this house immediately.”
Even in front of two adults far bigger than herself, Lumina stood her ground confidently.
Ha.
Teresa let out a hollow laugh, as if she couldn’t believe it. The atmosphere froze instantly.
“I always thought you inherited your mother’s stupidity, but I never imagined it was this bad.”
“……”
“You’re still a minor. The age when you need guardians most. And yet you’re telling us to leave? Are you sane?”
Teresa had never thought highly of Lumina.
Now, with the young girl returned, she issued an eviction as if shooing someone away, clearly abandoning her pretense of being the “kind aunt.”
“You’ve gotten arrogant because the Duke of Hart made you his ward. But in the end, you’re just a ward.”
“……”
“You have no abilities, yet somehow you’ve secured that position. I think it’s sheer luck.”
Teresa’s sneer carried a sharp lesson—Lumina needed to understand her place.
“You might appear special to the Duke for now. But how long will a powerless girl like you be able to rely on the Hart Duke’s influence?”
The only redeeming quality of this incompetent girl, as far as Teresa knew, was her cute face.
“His Grace is ruthless. If he deems you unnecessary, you’ll be discarded without mercy. And if you fall into misfortune, Endymion will also suffer. Just because you’re slightly older doesn’t mean you can do as you please—wake up.”
Her warning was clear: behave, or you’ll end up like chewed-up, discarded gum.
Even as Teresa openly criticized Lumina, Joseph could only flounder helplessly beside her. He didn’t try to stop her.
Perhaps never before had the two of them worked together so perfectly.
Lumina, listening quietly, finally spoke.
“So, Aunt, you’re actually worried about me?”
She smiled innocently, clearly unfazed.
Really a fool, wasn’t she? Being told to know her place and yet smiling?
Teresa was taken aback.
“Y-yes! Now that you understand, don’t ever say things like ‘go out’ again.”
“But Aunt, worrying is fine, but usually, help that the person doesn’t want isn’t advice—it’s meddling.”
“……What?”
“As people get older, they tend to become bossy. You’re at that age, so you should be careful.”
“…….”
“Oh, I mean worry. Genuine worry.”
“Lumina, you…!”
Teresa’s face turned bright red, her voice rising, while Lumina waved her hand playfully, smiling innocently.
She had only repeated Teresa’s words back at her, yet it was infuriating.
“I fully understand your concern, Aunt. But you don’t need to meddle. The Duke won’t kick me out.”
“Hmph. I don’t know what gives you the confidence to say that. Foolish children always think courage alone is enough.”
“Oh my, Aunt. Haven’t you heard? News travels slowly, doesn’t it?”
Lumina widened her eyes and lightly covered her slightly parted lips with her palm.
Teresa and Joseph, who hadn’t received any news, looked at her as if asking what she meant.
“Endymion will be going to the academy.”
“……Why?”
The academy wasn’t a place where one could simply complete courses in a year or two.
While Endymion was away, Lumina would naturally manage the household affairs.
‘Could it be she’s already conspiring with Count Melkan?’
Teresa shot a sharp glance at Joseph.
But Joseph was just as surprised to hear this for the first time.
He had accidentally benefited, so he tried to force a smile and hide it.
“I’ve never heard of such a thing.”
“Oh my. I’ve already sorted this out with him. Seems Endymion is just shy around you, Aunt.”
Lumina was clearly teasing.
Teresa’s blood pressure rose in real time.
“Then, Lumina. You’ll be alone in the mansion? A child left here alone? Do you think that’s reasonable?”
Blood pressure aside, an argument needed to be made.
Determined to knock some sense into Lumina, Teresa shouted as fiercely as she could.
“Ah, about that.”
But Lumina’s response was calm.
“I’m getting married.”
“Married?”
“Yes! To the Duke of Hart!”
When? Where? How?
Before they could bombard her with questions, Lumina spoke quickly.
“I want to learn how to manage the family under His Grace. Usually, these things are discussed with adults, right?”
“But the Duke is from a different house. You can’t entrust the family affairs to an outsider.”
“Then, Aunt and Uncle, aren’t you from a different house too?”
Lumina widened her eyes and asked, “Isn’t that right?”
“That case and this case are different!”
“How so? Since I’m married, I can no longer call the Duke’s house someone else’s family.”
Lumina cut the conversation short before Teresa and Joseph could argue further.
“You called for them.”
“Yes. Your aunt and uncle will be leaving now. Please take care of them.”
“Yes, my lady.”
“No, wait…”
Teresa tried to resist.
“Madam, this way.”
But the servants, acting with authority, tried to usher Teresa out.
All other relatives who could support her had already left. The servants were on Lumina’s side.
It was impossible for her to hold out any longer.
“What are you waiting for?”
“Do you really think you can live well after this?”
Teresa glared fiercely, but it had no effect on Lumina.
“Fine. Watch how well I live, more than anyone else!”
Feeling utterly humiliated, Teresa spun around in anger.
Joseph, who had been standing awkwardly between them, approached Lumina and held her hand.
“Lumina. So, when will you introduce me to the Duke?”
Even in this situation, Joseph was thinking of his own benefit.
“Uncle.”
Lumina pulled her hand free.
“I’m busy. Please leave quickly.”
The grim-looking servants stood behind Joseph.
What followed was inevitable.
Crash—bang—.
Teresa and Joseph were rushed out, unable to even pack properly.
In an instant, they had become like dogs chasing chickens.
“Endymion!”
The warm sunlight bathed the garden, blooming with colorful flowers.
Endymion was standing there.
Lumina ran toward him with a bright smile.
“Have you been well?”
After sending Teresa and Joseph away, she immediately went to meet Endymion.
He must have come out early for their scheduled stroll. He was already waiting.
“I received notice about the exam.”
As soon as he saw her, he dove straight into business without a greeting.
‘Perhaps this is his second life in real life,’ she thought.
But she wasn’t completely sure. Conversations with Endymion were always like this—formal and distant, prioritizing official matters over personal feelings.
“We’ll need to leave tomorrow, right?”
“Yes. The schedule is tight.”
“I set it tight to prevent relatives from interfering. Don’t worry—they won’t try to kick you out or anything.”
Endymion would take the transfer exam and enter the academy.
‘The Duke likely bent the rules slightly to set the schedule.’
After the exam, he would go straight to the academy.
Even if Endymion’s score was lacking, Lumina trusted that the Duke would ensure his admission.
“Your leg looks fine.”
“Yes. I can even run.”
For an ordinary person, the injury would have required at least a month to heal.
Yet in just a few days, Lumina was already walking normally.
“Good.”
Endymion said in his still-childlike, soft manner, but a faint smile lingered at the corner of his mouth.
Though Lumina was focused on the garden, she didn’t notice.
“Isn’t the garden more vibrant now that we have a new gardener? I think it looks much cleaner. Do you like it?”
“Yes.”
Endymion’s eyes stayed fixed on Lumina.
“I like it.”
He said it without blinking once.
Then, noticing someone following at a distance, he spoke again.
“And who’s this?”
“This is my bodyguard, Sir Ash, appointed by the Duke. Since we’re talking, let me introduce you. This is my brother, Endymion.”
Endymion and Ash greeted each other awkwardly. Lumina watched and spoke up.
“When I go to the academy for the exam tomorrow, I want to come along too. Is that okay?”
“Yes. That’s fine.”
“This is our first outing together.”
Excited, Lumina murmured to herself and wore a radiant, sunshine-like smile.
The academy was located at the heart of the system.
Lumina, Endymion, and her bodyguard Ash set out together.
On the carriage to the academy, sitting across from Endymion, Lumina spoke.
“Don’t be nervous! If there’s a question you don’t know, skip it and come back to it later.”
“……”
“You might get distracted or tired, so I brought some candy. And…”
“I think you’re more nervous than I am, sister.”
“Oh? Really?”
Since Lumina didn’t know the academy well, she babbled more than necessary.
She had to restrain herself.
Still, she looked out the window.
Soon, the academy building appeared.
“Oh, right.”
Just before arriving, Lumina realized she hadn’t told Endymion something important.
“I got married.”
Thud.
Roll—.
The candy Lumina had forcibly put in Endymion’s hand slipped out and fell to the ground.
