Chapter 31
From the moment Lumina stepped out into the bustling streets, someone’s gaze followed her, snapping pictures diligently.
The reason was simple.
It made money.
Click-
“A girl who suddenly became a duchess overnight and turned her life around. A story newspapers go crazy for.”
Even now, look.
Everyone was reading the papers with intrigued eyes.
For several days, the public’s interest in Lumina wouldn’t fade. That alone made the value of these photos skyrocket.
“I can sell these photos for a high price again.”
If the public’s interest in Lumina waned, all that needed to be done was to stir it up again.
For example, claiming she went on a cozy date with another man right after the marriage.
Even at a young age, marriage was marriage—it was enough to spark gossip.
The accomplice could be her bodyguard.
It didn’t matter if it wasn’t true.
As long as the gossip-hungry public was made anxious.
“Perfect. I’m a genius.”
Jack became intoxicated with his own brilliance.
Already feeling like he was sitting on a pile of money, he continued snapping pictures of Lumina.
“Hmm. Her face isn’t very visible.”
Ever since she had put on a bonnet, he hadn’t been able to get a proper shot of her face.
Angles were everything in photography. Every picture he took fell short of satisfaction.
Jack tried to get closer to Lumina to capture her face as clearly as possible.
“Hmm? Where’s she going?”
Lumina turned a corner with her guard.
Jack, following behind, was puzzled.
As far as he knew, this path led to a secluded street with fewer passersby.
Perhaps she felt uncomfortable being recognized even with a hat on.
Jack hesitated slightly before following her into the alley.
“Let’s see… where did she go?”
He brought the camera to his face and zoomed in, carefully scanning the surroundings for even the smallest trace.
Then it happened.
A pair of ash-colored eyes filled his frame.
“Gah!”
Startled, Jack dropped his camera and stumbled backward, simultaneously restrained as his arms were pinned.
In front of him stood a man with the face of someone between a boy and a young adult, and a bulky build.
“Ke-Kelton?!”
Kelton. It had once referred to a hybrid born between a stallion and a mare.
But in modern times, its meaning had twisted.
It was now a derogatory term for a child born between a citizen of the empire and a wandering minority—a word no one should ever say to someone’s face.
“What? Kelton?”
Lumina suddenly appeared behind Ash, who had restrained Jack.
“Not only do you take people’s pictures without permission, but you also use such a low-class word? You’re trash.”
The soft-faced Lumina crossed her arms, her expression full of anger.
“Sir Ash, the camera.”
Lumina held out her hand, and Ash deftly removed the camera from Jack’s neck and handed it to her.
Their coordination was seamless.
“My camera…!”
Jack worried that the young girl might break his camera.
“Do you know how much this costs?! Handle it more carefully!”
“Sir Ash, it seems too noisy.”
Lumina said this casually, still keeping her gaze on the camera.
Ash understood exactly what she wanted and carried out her command.
Jack screamed like a dying man.
But Lumina, still inspecting the camera, said:
“You took it, right?”
“It’s my camera!”
“No, I mean the photo on today’s newspaper front page.”
Jack’s mouth shut immediately.
He instinctively knew if he admitted it, he’d face severe consequences.
Lumina smiled mischievously at him, pretending to drop the camera.
“Eek!”
Jack nearly fainted.
Then Lumina lifted the camera, and he let out a relieved sigh.
For a moment.
“Eek!”
The camera wobbled, dangling, making his heart race.
After several near-death experiences with the camera, Jack finally protested, exhausted.
“Are you messing with me?!”
“Yes!”
A lively reply came immediately.
“So did you take the picture or not? If you lie, I’ll really drop it this time.”
“I-I took it! I took it!”
Threatened with his life-like camera, he confessed immediately. If a real knife were at his throat, he wouldn’t have lasted longer.
‘I knew it.’
From the moment she had checked the newspaper, Lumina had suspected someone was following her.
She hadn’t expected the man to become an infamous paparazzo in the future.
‘Ah, I can tell from his face.’
It was easy to catch him now because he had little experience, and this kind of intimidation seemed effective. In five years, he would be far more vicious.
‘He took a photo and sold it with a completely fabricated story. Some even died because of it. It caused a huge stir.’
Lumina recognized the face from her previous life.
She faced Jack and said:
“You took pictures without permission and sold them like a parasite.”
“…”
“A miserable life.”
“…”
“A leech living off others’ lives.”
“S-Stop it!”
He seemed unable to withstand such harsh words aimed at himself. He could discuss others lightly, but insults toward him personally were intolerable. How contradictory.
‘Even if I take the camera now, the future won’t change.’
He would buy another camera and repeat the same act.
Yet Lumina didn’t want to let someone who secretly took her photo and insulted Ash go.
After a brief moment of thought, Lumina’s eyes sparkled.
Though just a cute-looking girl.
Jack felt a sudden sense of foreboding.
“Bend over.”
Lumina gestured for him to match her eye level, and Ash skillfully forced Jack to bow as if bending his waist.
“Ugh!” The force was strong enough to make a sound.
Lumina approached Jack and whispered in his ear.
Whisper, whisper…
Listening to her, Jack’s eyes widened, and his voice lowered.
Whisper…
They whispered back and forth a few times, ending the exchange.
“Then say it like this.”
“…?”
“One, people are—”
“People are?”
“Weird? Your voice is too soft.”
“Pe-People are!”
Ash’s grip on Jack’s hands tightened.
Jack hurriedly raised his voice.
“People shouldn’t discriminate based on appearance!”
“People shouldn’t discriminate based on appearance!”
“Good. One.”
“People are!”
“Your voice is too soft. Again, one!”
“People are!!”
“Two!”
“People shouldn’t discriminate based on appearance!!”
Jack shouted at the top of his lungs, red-faced, yet still unsatisfied.
Lumina looked at Ash and said:
“Sir Ash, he’s angry. Let him hit until he’s done, then let go.”
Jack trembled.
Was she really going to let him hit her at that size? He’d probably be sent to the afterlife in one blow.
“It’s fine.”
Ash replied, and Jack breathed a sigh of relief.
But Lumina wasn’t done.
“Fine? He must have been uncomfortable with what he said.”
“No, he wasn’t.”
“But he insulted you!”
“Ordinary.”
Ash repeated the designated phrase.
Indeed, he wasn’t bothered. Words like “hybrid” or “Kelton” were commonplace for him.
“Just because it doesn’t matter to you doesn’t mean I won’t act! Take that!”
Lumina, puffed up like it was her own matter, finally kicked Jack’s torso.
The force was so immense that Jack’s eyes almost rolled back.
“Now let him go.”
Lumina threw the camera straight at his annoying face.
Thud! Jack hurriedly grabbed the camera and stumbled away.
“I didn’t buy a gift for Endymion yet. Let’s pick it up quickly and return.”
Lumina spun around and walked briskly.
Unlike before, she started buying items from each store as if sweeping them off the shelves.
The storm-like energy made Ash, trailing behind her, glance at her with slight apprehension.
“Sir Ash, your hand.”
When the shopping frenzy ended, Lumina requested.
Ash obediently held out his hand.
Plop! Candy and chocolate piled high on his palm.
“Earlier, when you gave candy to Endymion, I noticed your eyes never left the sweets. I figured you must like them.”
He had assumed his role as invisible bodyguard, yet he was astonished to realize she had been observing even this.
“If you weren’t here today, I’d have been in trouble. So I’m giving you some. Don’t you like it?”
“No, thank you.”
Giving someone food meant they were a good person.
That simple logic elevated Lumina, and Ash could only respond politely.
Before he could think further, his mouth moved on its own.
“…I like it.”
“Good! By the way, the Duke carries candy too. Seems your tastes are similar.”
Startled.
Ash suddenly recalled the Duke of Hart. A chill ran down his spine.
He had spoken outside the lines assigned by the Duke! Already, he feared the report would catch up to him…
“Ah, Sir Ash. My mistake. This is mine.”
Lumina took one candy from the many on his palm.
Looking at the wrapper, he noticed it was unusual.
“Don’t worry. I won’t take the others.”
Lumina quickly said, misunderstanding his gaze. She unwrapped the candy, and a cinnamon scent wafted.
Lumina popped the candy into her mouth in one bite, chewing happily.
Ash watched her with a subtle, thoughtful gaze.
Yes. Everyone had different tastes…
He finalized his report on Lumina for the Duke.
Unique tastes. Really unique.
“Endymion!”
It was around the time Endymion would finish his exam. Lumina, waiting in advance, waved energetically.
Step by step, Endymion hurried over and stood in front of Lumina.
He was proportioned well, but still young, with short legs. The way he ran to her in a single bound was adorable.
Though what he suddenly said wasn’t exactly cute.
“What about the marriage talk?”
He wanted to ask if the exam had gone well, or if the questions were difficult.
But she jumped straight to the main topic.
