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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 13
Chapter Title: House Cleaning
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Joseph and Teresa tore into each other, seemingly ready to go on forever unless someone intervened.
With their jobs on the line, the butler and head maid watched Madame Valles with fervent, supportive gazes.
The maids were no different.
They watched with hopeful eyes, as if waiting for some crumbs to fall their way.
“These people have dedicated more than a decade to the Lanshuss estate. It's true they made a mistake, but how can you just cut off their livelihood so suddenly?”
Backed by everyone's expectations, Teresa spoke.
Her argument was consistent: an appeal to compassion.
But for the heartless Joseph, it wasn't enough to make him even raise an eyebrow.
“I consider this an unforgivable mistake. It is the negligence and arrogance of the lower staff. Why should their paltry livelihoods be a concern?”
As their disagreement showed no signs of closing, Teresa suddenly proposed a solution.
“Is Endymion not also a master of this house? In that case, let’s ask for his opinion as well.”
Teresa firmly believed Endymion was on her side.
After all, hadn't she told the parentless child to rely on her and even offered to let him act as the head of the house?
Perhaps because it was right after his major accident, he had been evasive with his answer, but the outcome seemed obvious.
*He would never refuse my offer. He may pretend otherwise, but by now, he must think of me as family.*
Joseph also knew that Teresa was trying to win Endymion over.
That was why he tried to stop her.
But the maids, who had been watching for an opening, seized the opportunity and quickly ran to call for Endymion.
“Let’s decide by majority vote.”
“Madame, that majority vote will, of course, exclude the opinions of the staff.”
*Growl—.*
The cold war between Joseph and Teresa continued until Endymion arrived.
What signaled its end was the voice of a maid from beyond the door.
“I have brought the Young Master Endymion.”
*Creek—.*
The door opened, and in walked Endymion, looking slightly bewildered, as if he hadn't been informed of the situation at all.
“Endymion! Come in, quickly!”
Teresa greeted Endymion triumphantly.
But Endymion’s gaze was fixed not on his affectionate aunt, but on Lumina, who was sitting quietly.
“...What is all this?”
“Well, you see.”
Teresa stepped forward to explain.
But Endymion moved his injured leg and approached Lumina.
He ignored Teresa’s voice as if he hadn’t heard it.
“Sister. What happened?”
“I was just being clumsy.”
*Heh heh.*
Lumina deliberately put on a foolish smile. Her expression showed no sense of crisis whatsoever.
Seeing this, Endymion, far from being relieved, seemed to grow angry instead.
It was understandable, seeing her smiling with a flawless white cheek covered in scratches.
“How clumsy do you have to be to get your face in this state?”
“The garden scenery was so pretty that I was hanging on the railing to get a better look, and I just fell.”
“And she was left in that state for over three hours.”
Joseph interjected, adding the last part to emphasize the gravity of the situation.
For a moment, Endymion’s mouth hardened into a thin, straight line.
“This happened in your room, so there must have been maids nearby. What were they doing?”
“Exactly! That’s what I’ve been saying!”
Joseph eagerly chimed in as soon as he heard Endymion’s question.
Of course, he too was ignored by Endymion.
“They said they were busy. I’m sure they all had their reasons.”
“Sister.”
Hearing Lumina’s naively kind answer, Endymion furrowed his brow slightly.
Lumina’s condition was, quite literally, a mess. And she was accepting the excuse that they were busy?
“...In any case, that’s why Count Melkan is proposing we dismiss all the servants, including the butler and head maid. The man has no heart. How could he even think of such a thing?”
As the mood in the room turned against her, Teresa hastily tried to control the situation.
“Endymion, what do you think? These are people who have watched over you ever since you came to this house. If you think dismissing them is too harsh a punishment, please speak honestly.”
Teresa subtly pushed her own opinion on him. But Endymion was not one to fall for such a shallow trick.
“What are your thoughts, Sister?”
“Hm? Me?”
“You’re the one who was harmed, are you not? Therefore, your opinion should be the top priority.”
“...”
“Besides, since our parents, who would normally make the decision, have passed away, I believe it is right, in principle, to follow the word of the eldest daughter.”
It was a response befitting a die-hard purist.
With so many people present, he was the first to ask for her opinion, and Lumina was inwardly surprised.
*I was planning to read the room and jump in at the right moment.*
Thanks to Endymion, there was no need.
Feeling inexplicably pleased that Endymion had worried about her well-being first, Lumina looked straight at Teresa and spoke.
“I think what you’re saying makes sense, Aunt.”
“I-It does, right?”
Teresa stammered for a moment, not expecting Lumina to side with her.
“So let’s not take this to trial.”
“...A trial?”
Caught off guard by the continuous stream of unexpected words, Teresa grew flustered. Lumina, on the other hand, was composed.
“From what I understand, when something like this happens, they’re severely flogged and then their backs are branded with a hot iron. It’s to instill a sense of caution so they don't make the same mistake again.”
*Hic—.*
Someone let out a terrified gasp.
“Poor management. Negligence of duty. The doctor said that since I was left unattended for so long, it qualifies as abandonment. So it’s more than enough to take to trial, isn’t it?”
“That’s right, Sister.”
Teresa had a gut feeling.
Calling Endymion here had not been a good choice at all.
“I want to respect both your opinion, Aunt, and yours, Uncle. So...”
Lumina turned her head and swept her gaze over the servants. They all seemed to anticipate what she would say next.
Some already wore expressions of resignation.
“You’re all dismissed.”
“...”
“Since you’re leaving over an unpleasant incident, you obviously won’t be receiving any severance pay. The same goes for letters of recommendation.”
“My lady!”
“The butler and head maid, in particular, should take responsibility as their representatives, correct? If you think this is unfair, we can all go to court together.”
Going to court would make things much more tedious and complicated.
With clear evidence, it was a fight they were bound to lose. There was also a high chance of unsavory rumors spreading during the proceedings.
The head maid looked at Teresa, as if pleading with her to stop Lumina.
But with the children taking such a firm stance, there was nothing Teresa could do either.
If only Joseph hadn't been there, or if Endymion had taken her side, she might have been able to sway things more to her liking.
Teresa bit her lower lip.
But Lumina wasn't finished.
“And the maids assigned to me should be punished more severely than the others.”
The maids, including Samantha, flinched.
They were all ones who had been particularly vicious in tormenting Lumina. And recently, they had been the recipients of her favor.
“My lady... You relied on me so much. But to cast me out with nothing...”
Samantha said in a trembling voice, her head bowed low.
“To lose everything over a single mistake is too unfair. Please, have mercy.”
Of course, just a moment ago she had been scratching at her fellow maids’ cheeks, but this situation felt too absurd.
True, she had once released a rat in Lumina’s small, dirty attic room. But hadn’t they been getting along well recently, as if that incident had been forgotten?
In the midst of her self-justification, she sensed Lumina approaching with a limping gait.
Standing before Samantha, Lumina spoke.
“I am showing you plenty of mercy.”
“...”
“It’s a real relief, isn't it? I’m not branding your back. Right?”
It was an exceptionally cruel remark for a twelve-year-old child to make.
Realizing that all the kindness Lumina had shown her had been intentional, Samantha lifted her deathly pale face.
And she saw it.
The pink eyes of the young lady who had always been terrified and trembling were now shining with a cold light.
It was a side of her she had never seen before. This was no longer the girl who startled at the sight of a rat.
*I could have quickly forgotten about the petty bullying.*
Lumina thought as she faced Samantha.
*They had no choice but to ignore me, afraid of what my stepmother would think.*
*I would have even listened to such excuses.*
*But I could not tolerate them using me as an outlet for their frustrations with a malice that went beyond that.*
“You should have known when to stop.”
As if she felt no regret at all, Lumina turned her back on Samantha.
***
Late at night.
With all the servants dismissed, the mansion was as quiet as a mouse.
A small figure limped down the hallway, where only darkness remained.
It was Lumina.
Her wheat-colored hair shimmered in the faint moonlight filtering through the window.
Suppressing her presence as much as possible, like an assassin, Lumina stood before someone else’s door.
She carefully pushed the door open and stepped inside. The first thing she heard was the sound of soft, even breathing.
She let out a silent sigh of relief and slowly approached the soundly sleeping person.
In the darkness, Endymion’s face was faintly visible.
Gazing at his face, Lumina couldn’t help but let out a small chuckle.
It felt rather funny, the two siblings injured in a similar place.
“Still, you shouldn’t be in pain.”
*No matter how you feel about me right now, I’ve decided to protect you.*
Lumina placed her hand on Endymion’s leg. A cluster of light gathered, forming the shape of butterflies.
Perhaps because the injury was large, there were enough butterflies to form a swarm.
Facing the intense light, Lumina watched the butterflies beat their wings slowly. They scattered particles of light before vanishing, leaving afterimages in their wake.
*Ugh.*
At the same time, a sharp pain, as if her own leg were being torn off, shot through Lumina. She staggered and hastily swallowed a scream.
Lumina’s leg was also injured, and pain flared up every time she walked.
But when Endymion’s pain was added to her own, it was beyond anything she had imagined.
*I expected this much. Just have to endure it for a little longer.*
Her lips pressed tightly together, Lumina finished the treatment and prepared to return to her room.
It was then.
*Grab—.*
Her wrist was caught.
