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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 29
Chapter Title: An Unexpected Announcement
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“Lumina! What are you talking about!”
“That’s right. Calling us here just to kick us out! How absurd.”
Joseph shouted, and Teresa immediately followed, confronting Lumina.
It might have been the first time they’d ever agreed on anything.
“It’s exactly as I said. Pack your bags and go home. Right now.”
Despite facing two adults who were much larger than her, Lumina stood her ground, responding with confidence.
Ha.
Teresa let out a scoff of disbelief. The atmosphere instantly turned icy.
“I always thought you were foolish, just like your mother, but I never imagined it was to this extent.”
“...”
“You’re a minor. You’re at an age where you need a guardian, yet you’re telling us—the ones who are supposed to look after you—to leave. Are you out of your mind?”
Teresa had never been fond of Lumina to begin with.
Being told to leave by the young girl the moment she returned had thoroughly soured her mood, and she decided to drop her half-hearted act of being a kind aunt.
“It seems being made the Duke’s ward has made you arrogant. But you’re still just a ward, nothing more.”
“...”
“I don’t know what kind of sweet-talking you did to land that position, you with not a single talent to your name, but I’m sure it was just a fluke.”
Teresa offered a cold sneer.
It was a jeer meant to remind Lumina of her place.
“For now, it might seem like he holds you in high regard. But how long do you think someone as incompetent as you can ride on the Duke of Heart’s coattails?”
An incompetent girl whose only redeeming quality was her cute face.
That was the niece Teresa knew as Lumina.
“He is a ruthless man who will cast aside anyone he deems useless without a second thought. If you end up abandoned, what will happen to Endymion? You seem to think you can do as you please just because you’re a little older, but you need to wake up.”
It was a warning to watch her step, lest she end up like a piece of chewed-up gum, spat out and forgotten.
Despite her blatant insults, Joseph only pretended to be flustered and did nothing to stop Teresa.
The two of them had likely never been so in sync.
Lumina, who had been listening quietly to Teresa, finally spoke.
“So, what you’re saying, Aunt, is that you’re worried about me?”
Lumina said brightly, a cheerful smile on her face.
*Is she really a fool? Why is she smiling after being told to know her place?*
Teresa was taken aback.
“Th-that’s right! If you understand, then don’t you ever mention leaving or anything of the sort again.”
“But, Aunt. It’s nice of you to worry, but they say that unwanted help isn’t advice—it’s meddling.”
“...What?”
“You know how they say it’s easy to become a nag as you get older. You’re at that age now, so you should probably be careful.”
“...”
“Oh, and this is just me worrying. Just a concern.”
“Lumina, you...!”
Teresa’s face flushed crimson as she raised her voice. The sight of Lumina waving a dismissive hand with a gentle smile was infuriating.
And yet, Lumina was only throwing Teresa’s own words right back at her.
“I completely understand your concern, Aunt. But there’s no need to meddle. The Duke will never cast me aside.”
“Hmph. I don’t know where you get such confidence. Fools are often filled with nothing but courage, blindly insisting everything will be fine.”
“Oh, my. Aunt. Haven’t you heard? You’re a bit behind on the news.”
Lumina’s eyes widened, and she covered her slightly parted lips with her palm.
Having heard nothing, Teresa and Joseph urged Lumina on with their eyes, demanding to know what was going on.
“First of all, Endymion will be going to the academy.”
“...Why?”
The academy wasn’t a place where one could complete the curriculum in just a year or two.
With Endymion away, Lumina would naturally take over managing the family’s affairs.
*‘Don’t tell me she’s already colluded with Count Melkan?’*
Teresa shot a sharp glare at Joseph.
But this was the first Joseph was hearing of it as well.
Having unexpectedly benefited from this, he had to force down the corners of his rising lips.
“I’ve never heard of such a thing.”
“Oh, my. He and I have already discussed it all. I suppose Endymion is just shy around you, Aunt.”
She was clearly taunting her.
Teresa’s blood pressure was rising in real time.
“Then, Lumina. Won’t you be left alone in this mansion! A child staying here all by herself. Do you think that’s even remotely possible?”
Blood pressure was one thing. A rebuttal was another.
Determined to put Lumina in her place, Teresa shouted through gritted teeth.
“Oh, that.”
But the response she received was nonchalant.
“You see, I’m getting married.”
“Married?”
“Yes! To the Young Duke of Heart!”
When? Where? How?
Countless questions filled their minds.
Before they could unleash a barrage of questions, Lumina spoke quickly.
“From now on, I plan to learn how to lead the family under the Duke’s tutelage. These kinds of things are normally discussed with adults, after all.”
“Isn’t the Duke from another family? We can’t entrust this family’s affairs to him.”
“By that logic, Aunt and Uncle, you’re from other families too.”
Lumina asked, her eyes wide. “Aren’t you?”
“This case and that case are different!”
“How are they different? Now that I’m married, you can no longer call the Ducal House of Heart an ‘other’ family.”
Lumina pulled the bell cord before Teresa and Joseph could argue any further.
“You called.”
“My aunt and uncle are leaving now. Please see them out.”
“Yes, my lady.”
“No, no. Wait...”
Teresa tried to resist.
“This way, Madame.”
But the servants began to forcefully lead Teresa away.
The other relatives who might have supported her had already left. And all the servants were on Lumina’s side.
It was pointless to resist any longer.
“What are you doing? Get going.”
“Do you really think you can get away with this and live well?”
Teresa glared venomously at Lumina, but it had no effect on her whatsoever.
“Yes, yes. Please watch me live better than anyone else until the very end!”
Frowning as if she’d been greatly insulted, Teresa spun around.
Joseph, who had been cautiously observing the exchange, approached Lumina and took her hand.
“Lumina. About that. When are you going to introduce me to the Duke?”
Trying to secure his own interests even in a situation like this was just so typical of Joseph.
“Uncle.”
Lumina shook off Joseph’s hand.
“I’m busy. Please leave quickly.”
Several menacing-looking servants stood behind Joseph.
What happened next was obvious.
*Clatter, clatter—.*
Teresa and Joseph were hastily thrown out, unable to even pack their belongings properly.
In an instant, all their scheming had come to naught.
***
“Endymion!”
In a garden bathed in warm sunlight, where colorful flowers bloomed in profusion.
There stood Endymion.
With a bright smile, Lumina ran toward the boy.
“Have you been well?”
She had arranged to meet with Endymion right after kicking out Teresa and Joseph.
She had asked him to come out for a walk in the garden, and it seemed he had come early. He was already waiting for her.
“I received the notice about the exam.”
Getting straight to the point without so much as a greeting.
He was so detached.
*‘Maybe he’s the one who’s on his second life?’*
But she couldn’t be sure, as her conversations with Endymion were always like this.
Awkward because they weren’t close yet, prioritizing practical matters over personal feelings.
“You have to leave tomorrow, right?”
“Yes. The schedule is tight.”
“I made it tight so the relatives wouldn’t have a chance to complain. And just in case you were wondering, I’m not trying to kick you out or anything, so don’t worry!”
Endymion was scheduled to take a transfer exam and enroll in the academy.
*‘The Duke pulled a few strings to schedule the exam.’*
The results would be out immediately after the exam, and he would head straight to the academy.
Even if Endymion’s score was far from sufficient, they would use underhanded means to ensure he passed, but Lumina believed that wouldn’t be necessary.
After all, her stepmother’s boasting about Endymion wasn’t just because she doted on her child; it had some basis in fact.
“Your leg is fine.”
“Yep. I can even run.”
It was an injury that would have taken a normal person at least a month of rest to heal.
But after just a few days, Lumina was already walking around perfectly fine.
“That’s a relief.”
Endymion said bluntly, his face still baby-soft and smooth.
But contrary to his tone, a faint smile graced the boy’s lips for a moment.
Though Lumina, busy looking around the garden, didn’t see it.
“The garden is much brighter than before now that the gardener has changed, isn’t it? I think it looks much neater, which I like. What do you think?”
“Yes.”
Endymion’s gaze was fixed on Lumina.
“I like it.”
the boy replied without so much as a blink.
Then, he noticed someone following Lumina at a distance and spoke up.
“But who is that?”
“He’s my guard, assigned by the Duke. Sir Ash. Since we’re on the topic, you two should say hello. This is my younger brother, Endymion.”
Endymion and Ash exchanged an awkward greeting. Lumina, watching them from between, spoke.
“I’d like to go with you to the academy for your exam tomorrow. Would that be all right?”
“Yes. That’s fine.”
“It’ll be our first time going out together.”
I’m looking forward to it.
Muttering this, Lumina beamed a smile as radiant as the brilliant sunshine.
***
The academy was located in the heart of the capital.
The three of them—Lumina, Endymion, and Lumina’s guard, Ash—were to go together.
Inside the carriage heading to the academy.
Lumina sat facing Endymion and said,
“Don’t be nervous! If you come across a question you don’t know, just skip it for a moment and come back to it later.”
“...”
“Your brain might not work as well if your blood sugar drops, so take this candy. And...”
“I think you’re more nervous than I am, sister.”
“O-oh? Am I?”
Since Lumina didn’t know much about the academy either, she found herself rambling.
*I should calm down.*
Even as she thought this, Lumina continued to chatter just a little, a tiny bit more, before looking out the window.
Before long, the academy building came into view.
“Ah. Right.”
Just before they reached their destination, Lumina belatedly remembered something important she hadn’t told Endymion and opened her mouth.
“I got married.”
*Thud.*
*Clatter...*
The candy that Lumina had forced into Endymion’s hand fell limply to the floor.
