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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 16
Chapter Title: A Sweet Offering
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While Lumina fidgeted, a servant from the ducal household placed a cup of tea before her.
After setting down some simple refreshments as well, the servant withdrew. Inhaling the sweet fragrance, Lumina spoke.
“Are you very busy?”
“Not particularly.”
“Really? That’s wonderful!”
Lumina exclaimed cheerfully, then shot up from her seat and trotted over to Lucius.
*What on earth is she trying to do?*
Lucius watched Lumina, his suspicion unabated.
Unfazed by the menacing glare from behind the dark sunglasses, Lumina placed a charming little box on the table.
Lucius narrowed his eyes, studying the box intently.
*Did she steal a family heirloom to try and win my favor?*
Or, it could be an explosive. There was always the possibility she had approached him with the intent to take his life.
Quite some time had passed since he had ordered Brandon to investigate Lumina more thoroughly.
*And yet, he found nothing.*
Despite a background check so meticulous it would have uncovered dust, nothing had turned up.
This only made her more suspicious, and Lucius could not let his guard down around the girl.
While even her breathing was being monitored, Lumina opened the box with her tiny, delicate hands.
Instantly, a sweet scent wafted out.
“Then let’s eat together!”
It was, at a glance, a rich and soft chocolate cake.
This was the reason Lumina had stopped the carriage on her way here.
*He probably has all sorts of expensive things, so they wouldn't impress him. I don't have the wealth to buy the kind of luxury goods that would satisfy a duke. But there aren't many people who dislike food, right?*
If he disliked it, contrary to her expectations, she could just bring something else next time.
How could she possibly guess what he liked on their very first meeting? You had to gauge their reactions bit by bit to find out.
Since it was the first day, she had prepared a big, bold dessert to get a feel for his preferences.
And so, a delightful chocolate cake, quite out of place in the stately office, made its appearance.
“I felt it would be rude to arrive empty-handed, so I bought this. It looks delicious, doesn't it?”
Lumina, feigning nonchalance, quickly observed Lucius’s reaction.
The black sunglasses made it difficult to read his expression, so she had to watch him with extra care.
She was in the middle of her surreptitious glances when—
*Thump—.*
Without any warning, Lucius stood up.
It felt as if a massive mountain had suddenly materialized before her, and Lumina flinched instinctively.
*Is he angry because he hates chocolate cake? Should it have been cheesecake? Or maybe he likes cookies.*
Or perhaps he was someone who disliked eating altogether. That was the worst-case scenario, one she didn't even want to imagine.
Lumina craned her neck, trying to see Lucius’s expression.
But there was no need.
He had suddenly swept her up into his arms and, with his long legs, crossed the room in an instant.
“To think you’d walk all the way here with your bad leg. What a foolish thing to do.”
“...?”
When she came to her senses, Lumina was already seated on the sofa—the very spot she had been sitting in just moments before.
Across from her, Lucius settled in, crossing his legs that looked to be about one Lumina long.
The distance between them was much smaller than before, which Lumina took as a positive sign.
That is, until Lucius opened his mouth.
“Bringing your own tea snacks. Did you assume I wouldn't even offer you proper hospitality?”
It was a prickly response.
Lumina hurriedly shook her head.
“No, no. The people in charge of the Duke’s meals would surely make delicious cakes! But this is just something I personally like.”
“...”
“I wanted to share something I like with you, Your Grace! It’s also my way of thanking you for the gifts!”
There was nothing he could say if it was a matter of personal taste.
Hearing Lumina’s bright answer, Lucius seemed a bit abashed.
But that didn’t mean his gaze toward her softened.
No matter how much the girl before him resembled a Pomeranian wagging its tail with sparkling eyes, he could not let his suspicion waver.
There were too many questionable things about her.
“You seem to have a lot of luggage.”
“Ah.”
As if his comment had just reminded her, Lumina placed her bag on her lap.
“Last time, when I asked if I could stay for a few days, you said it was fine, right?”
“I did.”
Fidget, fidget. She rummaged through her bag and pulled something out.
“I brought my pajamas! The ones you gave me as a gift!”
In the girl’s small, white hand was a cute, light pink pajama set.
The subtle color gave it a rather luxurious look.
“I wanted to wear them tonight, so I kept them safely in my closet for days!”
To come so prepared, even bringing pajamas.
Her audacity proved she was a Legion.
Lucius watched Lumina, who was no more than a ball of fluff in his eyes, audaciously showing off the clothes he had gifted her one by one.
*Hehe.*
Whether she knew what was on Lucius’s mind or not.
Lumina was smiling sweetly.
“As you can already see, the dress I’m wearing now is also a gift from you! I was so surprised when I first saw it because I fell in love with it at first sight.”
Lucius had only one child, a son. He had never raised a daughter.
On top of that, children, including his own son, tended to run away the moment they saw him, so he had no idea what kind of clothes children that age liked.
Add the condition of “a girl” into the mix, and the problem plunged deeper into mystery.
So, he had simply ordered his subordinates to send some clothes.
He had only stamped his approval, so he had no idea what specific clothes had been sent as gifts.
It was a task that had been completed with a few words and a snap of his fingers, yet Lumina, chattering away with a proud expression, looked incredibly happy.
Well, even to his eyes, which knew next to nothing about girls’ clothing, her previous outfits had been rather plain. It must have been the same for Lumina.
“Your Grace, aren’t you going to eat?”
Lumina prompted Lucius, who remained still.
“You’re not going to have any? I stood in line to buy this cake because I thought it would be nice to eat it together.”
“...”
“They say food tastes better when you eat it with someone. I even bought a piece for the Young Master, just in case, but I suppose that’s not possible?”
“...Not at the moment, no.”
“Is that so? What a shame. Let’s set the Young Master’s portion aside. It would be a waste to throw it out just because he can’t eat it now.”
“...”
“The line was so long today, you know? It seems the place has gotten really popular.”
Lucius, who had been quietly listening to Lumina’s chatter, called for a servant.
“Prepare dessert plates for the cake and…”
“Two of them!”
“...and change the tea to something that better suits the guest.”
“Don’t forget the Duke’s cup!”
Noticing that Lucius didn’t have a teacup, Lumina added emphatically.
Lucius found himself letting out a small chuckle.
Her boldness was truly that of a Legion.
A moment later, slices of chocolate cake on elegant porcelain plates were placed before Lumina and Lucius.
Since the dessert Lumina had prepared was a sweet cake, it wouldn't pair well with a sweet tea.
Thus, a tea with a slightly bitter aftertaste was prepared.
Lumina cautiously took a sip of the tea, and her eyes sparkled like stars.
*This is delicious.*
It was a perfect match for her palate.
She felt she could drink this tea all day. Lumina’s gaze naturally shifted to her slice of cake.
She seemed to recall enjoying it quite a bit in her past life, but she had eaten it so often that she grew tired of it and stopped seeking it out.
*And my tastes have changed since then.*
But she had already said it was her favorite cake. What if it wasn't as good as she remembered?
Slightly nervous, she picked up her fork. She cut a tiny piece and put it in her mouth.
*Mmm…*
Perhaps because it was a cake she was eating after having starved for so long.
It blended perfectly with the flavor of the tea lingering on her tongue and simply melted in her mouth.
*At this rate, even the picky Duke might have his preferences, but he won't say it's terrible.*
*Glance.*
She looked at Lucius across from her.
*He’s eating at a leisurely pace, probably watching my reaction, but his fork is moving steadily. Good. This is a success.*
Although she couldn’t be certain because of his sunglasses, his initial prickly demeanor seemed to have softened considerably.
Convinced that there was nothing better than food to ease the atmosphere, Lumina slowly moved on to the main topic.
“The cake made by the chef at our mansion is also delicious to me. I thought about bringing that, but I figured he’d be too busy with a recent matter.”
“A matter?”
*You know everything, yet you’re playing dumb.*
It was impossible that Duke Heart, who was likely monitoring every single move at the Lanshuss estate, would not know.
But Lumina played along and answered.
“All the servants were fired for neglecting their duties. So, the mansion is in a bit of an uproar trying to hire new people.”
Now came the main point.
“Ah! Perhaps you could introduce someone to me, Your Grace? If it’s someone you recommend, I’m sure I could trust them with the estate’s affairs! And since they would meet your standards, they would surely be perfect.”
“That is not a difficult request.”
With a bit of flattery mixed in, it seemed as if the corners of Lucius’s mouth lifted slightly.
Now, Joseph wouldn't have to make a fuss about placing his own people in the Lanshuss estate.
Feeling that the cake tasted even more delicious than before, Lumina continued her story cheerfully.
And when the cake had vanished in a flash, she brought up the task she needed to do.
“By the way, is the Young Master at the mansion? I was planning to start his treatment today, but since you said it’s not possible right now, I guess that will be difficult…”
“No, he is in his room. You are in luck.”
*...The Young Duke is simply in his own home, yet he calls it 'lucky'?*
Lumina didn’t know it, but it was extremely rare for Karayan to be sitting still in this mansion.
For a moment, Lucius recalled the image of his son being dragged here, practically under arrest.
“He is not in good shape. Do you still wish to see him?”
“Leave it to me! That’s my specialty!”
Without pausing to consider what exactly “not in good shape” meant, Lumina jumped to a conclusion and declared confidently.
