Chapter 34
Cough!
At the sound of Lumina calling out “Father,” everyone nearby coughed nervously, as if something had gotten stuck in their throats.
“Father, have you been well all this time? Nothing unusual happened, right?”
Cough, cough!
Startled by her repeated “Father,” they all kept coughing quietly, one after another.
Whether Lumina noticed or not, she trotted lightly toward Lucius.
The small, pale Lumina smiled brightly as she approached the tall, dark Lucius.
Her figure reminded everyone of an innocent little rabbit unknowingly approaching a wild beast.
“What if it gets eaten?”
Everyone watched anxiously, unable to move.
Just as Lumina was about to embrace Lucius, she suddenly stopped, leaving just one step between them.
She remembered the last time she had impulsively hugged him, only to be met with a cold reaction.
Even now, the office atmosphere felt so dry it could make the skin crack.
Worried that initiating contact might worsen the mood, Lumina fiddled with her fingers and muttered to herself.
“Did I overstep my bounds? I should have called you Duke, but I said Father instead… If that offended you…”
“No.”
Lucius interrupted her mid-sentence, answering bluntly.
“Since you are legally married to Karayan, it is correct for you to call me Father.”
His hands propped up his chin, hiding any expression.
With sunglasses concealing his eyes, only his low, cold voice could be heard—a tone that could be mistaken for anger by anyone sensitive.
But the girl’s cheerful voice continued.
“Really?”
“…….”
“Really, really, really okay?”
Her eyes sparkled as she stared at him insistently.
“Yes. Now, continue what you were doing earlier.”
“Huh?”
Lumina tilted her head.
“You stopped halfway just now.”
There was only one thing she had tried and left unfinished—attempting to hug him closely.
Lucius, aware of this, couldn’t say it outright and instead hinted at it subtly.
“You didn’t like being hugged by the Duke.”
Still, now that he had noticed what she intended, he couldn’t just pretend it hadn’t happened.
Lumina paused briefly, thinking over her choice.
Then…
Thunk.
She rested her head against Lucius’s arm.
“This is what I wanted to do!”
Lucius turned his head and saw her small, pale head.
They only touched lightly.
Even with her coat on, he could barely feel the contact—but just the slight touch made his heart flutter.
At the same time, the corners of his mouth twitched.
Although he hadn’t realized it himself, he had been slightly upset.
That was why he hadn’t welcomed her return openly and had acted as if he didn’t notice.
The reason for his previous upset was simple—Lumina had hugged only Olivia when she left. It was an emotional reason, uncharacteristic for the Regiment.
But that feeling melted the moment Lumina touched him.
“The Duke looks pleased, doesn’t he?”
“Even to your eyes?”
The servants, who had been silently observing their interaction, shifted their gaze toward Olivia, seeking her approval.
But Olivia was lost in thought.
“So envious…”
Her expression plainly conveyed it.
At first, everyone thought the little rabbit had foolishly stuck its head into the beast’s mouth.
But now, the rabbit was inside, happily clacking castanets and playing the recorder, treating it like home.
“You must be tired from the trip. Go rest in your room.”
“Yes!”
Without hesitation, Lumina turned her back.
Lucius, momentarily surprised, spoke.
“It might be hard to find your way. I’ll take you there.”
“I know where it is!”
“Not that one. Since you’re no longer a ward, your new room has been redecorated.”
“But weren’t you busy, Father? You were just reviewing documents a moment ago.”
“Just for decoration.”
Huh? If it’s just for decoration, shouldn’t it matter?
But Lucius had already made up his mind.
Reluctantly, Lumina followed him. Ash and Olivia quietly trailed behind.
As they walked down the spacious corridor, Lumina chatted nonstop.
Lucius replied lightly, then suddenly slipped his hand under her arms and lifted her effortlessly.
“……?”
Everything flowed naturally, like water.
“You seem a little lighter again.”
After being briefly lifted, Lumina refuted.
“I’ve been eating a lot at home! I probably even gained weight.”
She puffed her cheeks and lightly tapped her slender stomach.
Lucius found the claim ridiculous.
When she had collapsed before, she had been diagnosed with near-malnutrition.
It was hard to believe she had gained weight in just a few days.
“Seems like the food at home suited you better than here.”
He thought about kidnapping the Ranchus estate chef to ensure she could eat her favorite dishes and gain weight properly.
But Lumina shook her head immediately.
“No, that’s not true. The best meal in my life was when I ate it with Father!”
The chef kidnapping plan was canceled.
Instead, Lucius’s lips curved upward again, twitching uncontrollably.
Watching this, Olivia clicked her tongue internally.
If anyone else had seen that smile, they would have stepped back in fear—it was a dangerous grin.
“This is it.”
Lumina finally entered her newly assigned room.
It was bigger and more luxurious than the room she had originally stayed in.
Even compared to the Ranchus estate, it was incomparable.
“This is the reception room. Over there is the bedroom. The bedroom has a large balcony, so you can enjoy tea time while overlooking the garden without stepping outside.”
“…….”
“And over here is the dress room…”
This wasn’t just a ‘room’; it was closer to a full-fledged residence.
Even a villa would be believable.
Listening to Olivia’s explanation, Lumina hesitated before finally speaking.
“I want to stay somewhere else.”
Ha. Such ambition.
Her sense of restraint shed a single tear, protesting against staying in this room.
“Hmm, is it too small?”
“Yes, yes?”
But Lucius, unaware of her concern, thought in an entirely different direction.
“Olivia, call a contractor. It might be fine to tear down the walls and make an entire floor into rooms today.”
“This floor contains the previous Duke Hart’s treasured art collection, but still…”
It seemed that certain rooms must never be destroyed.
Lumina silently supported Olivia’s attempt to oppose it.
“It’s okay, right?”
Please stop her!
Her support turned out to be useless.
“Good. Let’s start immediately.”
“Wait a moment!”
“Hmm? If you don’t like the room, we can redo everything, so speak freely.”
“No, no! It’s not that. It’s just that this place is too much for someone like me.”
“Someone like you?”
…Someone barely containing their desires?
But she couldn’t say it openly.
“The temporary room I stayed in was also too much for me. It was a guest room, so I accepted it. But this is supposed to be my permanent room.”
Lumina feared becoming too comfortable in such luxury.
She felt that greed might take over and repeat her previous life instantly.
“The attic I stayed in before was just right. A little better than that would be perfect.”
“Be specific.”
Lucius gestured, seemingly irritated.
“Smaller than this room, less sunlight, no obviously expensive furniture. Dusty floors or bugs would be even better.”
“…….”
“I spent half my life in such places. If I suddenly live in luxury, it’ll feel like wearing the wrong clothes.”
Honestly, she could have adapted comfortably, as if wearing clothes she had grown up in.
Yet Lumina remained vigilant.
“So please, Father. I beg you to reconsider.”
As she poured out her plea, she felt the atmosphere shift.
‘Huh?’
Looking quickly at Lucius and Olivia, Lumina realized everyone was gazing at her with pity.
Even Ash, standing like a shadow behind them, sent her a sympathetic glance.
