Chapter 33
“Did I… buy a bit too much? Haha.”
Lumina laughed awkwardly.
She glanced at Endymion’s expression. It looked the same as always.
He didn’t seem particularly happy.
It suddenly felt like she had been the only one excited, so she carefully spoke.
“…Should I return them while I still can?”
“No. That would be troublesome. There’s no need.”
“But they’re gifts for you. If you feel they’re useless, then they’ll just become baggage. Or trash.”
“When did I say they were useless?”
With his short legs, Endymion stepped firmly in front of the pile of presents.
He picked up one beautifully wrapped box, placed it in front of himself, and sat down on the floor to unwrap it.
“You’re not planning to open them all one by one, are you? It would be faster to have a servant do it.”
“No. You gave them to me, Sister. I’ll open them myself.”
For once, Endymion spoke stubbornly.
“Is it okay if I help?”
He nodded.
Lumina sat beside him.
The two of them busily moved their small hands, diligently opening the gift boxes.
There were so many that they continued unwrapping them late into the night.
“I love you!”
“…What is this?”
Among the gifts was a teddy bear that shouted “I love you!”
“You’re supposed to hug it when you sleep! You might not feel lonely during the day, but at night you could. When that happens, you just—”
“I love you!”
“—press its chest.”
“Ah… I see. Understood.”
Who did she think he was?
With a faintly reproachful look, Endymion alternated his gaze between the teddy bear and Lumina.
Still, he was indeed a child—his cheeks pale and soft, as if they still carried the scent of milk.
Two Days Later – Morning
After washing up and changing as usual, Lumina went downstairs to the dining room and called to the maid waiting nearby.
“Lisa. Bring me today’s newspaper.”
“Yes, of course.”
Warm, delicious-smelling dishes were placed one by one in front of Lumina.
Lisa swiftly and quietly delivered the morning paper.
“Thank you.”
The paper, which only two days ago had been filled with stories about Lumina, was now packed with new headlines.
Flip—
She turned the pages absentmindedly, expression neutral, until her hand stopped.
The article she had been waiting for was there.
“Oh dear. How unfortunate.”
Her tone carried not a shred of sincerity as her lips curved upward.
“Sister. What has put you in such high spirits?”
“Ah, Endymion.”
Right on cue, Endymion entered for breakfast and sat across from her.
“Look at this.”
She handed him the paper.
“This is…”
After scanning the article quickly, Endymion looked at her in disbelief.
“The people in these photographs… surely they’re—”
“Yes. Familiar faces, aren’t they?”
It was a group of collateral relatives who had once lingered at the Ranchus estate.
[Nobles’ Secret Hobby? Shocking! Black Magic Research Group Arrested!]
The collateral members of the Ranchus family had been implicated and arrested for researching black magic.
“It seems our relatives were deeply involved in this incident. How tragic.”
They had been obsessed with launching new business ventures and had been caught attempting to use black magic for that purpose.
‘I wasn’t particularly interested, but since black magic is illegal, word spread quickly. I heard about it at the gambling house.’
Her uncle by marriage, Joseph, had also gleefully repeated the news beside her several times.
‘He was so delighted that day. He talked about it nonstop—I thought my ears would grow calluses.’
As Lumina remembered, it had been Teresa of the Valles family—her aunt—who led the Ranchus relatives into taking interest in the scheme.
This incident would deal Teresa a severe blow.
Rather than pestering the Ranchus siblings again, she would be busy cleaning up her own mess.
“Did you perhaps intervene, Sister?” Endymion asked.
“Me? What are you talking about? Of course not.”
Lumina widened her eyes innocently.
“What could I possibly know? It’s not like I have connections with a newspaper.”
Half true, half false.
She knew much because she had returned to the past—but she had no connections at the newspaper.
‘Instead, I used Jack, who sells photographs to them.’
[Exclusive! Top Opera Singer Camella—Secret Affair with a Married Noble?]
That was the front-page headline.
Lumina recalled her whispered conversation with Jack.
“Uncle, you know Camella, right?”
“You don’t mean the opera singer Camella?”
“That’s right. Did you know she’s seeing someone privately?”
“No way.”
At first, Jack hadn’t believed her.
But the identity of the rumored lover wasn’t ordinary.
A secret no one knew.
A famous commoner having an affair with a noble.
Perfect gossip material.
‘Even if it sounded like a lie, he couldn’t ignore it.’
As Lumina expected, Jack followed the singer and discovered that her lover was connected to black magic.
Black magic was also something newspapers would pay well for.
By photographing the incident and selling it, Jack swallowed Lumina’s bait like a greedy fish.
‘Originally, a righteous journalist had investigated this case.’
But the outcome had been terrible.
He had been countersued and buried in debt.
This time, however, Jack would be the one sued and forced to pay massive compensation.
That was how you eliminated someone you disliked in a single move.
Lumina folded the paper and enjoyed her meal.
Then the butler approached.
“Harold, what is it?”
“A representative from the academy has just arrived.”
Endymion pretended not to care and continued eating.
But his subtly perked ears gave him away.
Suppressing a smile at how cute he looked, Lumina gestured for Harold to continue.
“They informed us that the young master has passed the exam. All answers were correct except one. They are urging that he complete enrollment promptly.”
“Wow, Endymion! Did you hear that? You only missed one!”
“I… could have answered them all correctly.”
He muttered gloomily, like a child complaining about side dishes.
“What matters isn’t that you missed one. It’s that you got all the others right. That’s incredible.”
The academy’s entrance exam was famously difficult—how much harder must the transfer exam have been?
‘If he hadn’t hit his head that day, he probably would have gotten a perfect score.’
“If there hadn’t been the sudden marriage announcement, I wouldn’t have missed it.”
“Hm?”
Lumina, who had been distracted, blinked.
“What did you just say?”
“Nothing.”
Endymion quickly shook his head.
No matter his condition that day, the one who answered the questions had been himself.
Yet he had instinctively blamed someone else—and even said it aloud.
Shocked at himself, he pressed his lips shut.
He was still shaken that his sister had married without warning.
But if she was happy, what right did he—merely her younger brother—have to stop her?
He remembered how she had chattered about Karayan.
‘She looked happy.’
Her eyes had sparkled with love.
She had said things no one in their right mind could utter.
That was impossible without genuine feelings.
‘Still… if Sister ever gets hurt.’
He would step in.
He was still young and powerless.
So he would grow stronger—strong enough to stand against a ducal house if necessary.
He didn’t want a “good” sister.
He only wished to be a brother who could repay the debt he owed her.
A Few Days Later
Lumina saw Endymion off as he departed for the academy.
“Endymion, you don’t have to obsess over your studies. You’re already smart enough. Try to make many friends who suit you.”
“….”
“Expand your world this time.”
“Sister, you seem nervous.”
“Is it that obvious?”
“So you are nervous.”
What—he was just guessing!
Lumina pouted, and Endymion smiled faintly.
“Sister.”
He hesitated for a long time before speaking.
“Have you ever visited the accident site?”
“The accident?”
“The carriage accident.”
The one where their biological father and stepmother died—and Endymion injured his leg.
She had never mentioned it before, so the question startled her.
“No. Not at all.”
“…Then that’s fine.”
“What happened there?”
“Nothing. It just came to mind. Please don’t worry.”
Being told not to worry only made her more curious.
But Endymion naturally avoided her probing gaze.
‘No need to dig up bad memories.’
Lumina gave up lightly.
“I’ll write to you. You must write back if anything happens.”
“Thank you for your concern. I’m sorry that the only promise I can make is the uncertain one that I will strive for results even more perfect than my transfer exam.”
“Endymion.”
She swallowed the words she wanted to say.
‘At times like this, act your age….’
And so Endymion left for the academy.
In his arms was the lovely teddy bear that shouted, “I love you!”
After Seeing Him Off
After sending Endymion away, Lumina headed straight to the ducal estate.
Hop.
She stepped down from the carriage and looked around.
“Where is the Duke?”
“He is in his study. Shall I guide you?”
“Yes!”
Following the attendant with Ash, the newly renovated study doors opened.
Through the gap, Lucius could be seen inside. He must have sensed their presence, yet he paid Lumina no attention.
The moment she saw him—
“Father!”
Lumina ran toward him cheerfully.
