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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 33
Chapter Title: Loose Ends
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“Did I buy a little too much? Haha.”
Lumina laughed awkwardly.
She glanced at Endymion's expression; it was the same as always.
He didn't look particularly pleased.
Feeling like she had gotten excited all by herself, Lumina spoke cautiously.
“...Should I return them?”
“No. That would be a hassle. There's no need.”
“But they're gifts for you. If you feel they're useless, they'll just be a burden, trash.”
“When did I ever say they were useless?”
Endymion stood before the pile of gifts on his short legs.
He then pulled out a beautifully wrapped box, placed it in front of him, and sat down on the floor to unwrap it.
“Don't tell me you're going to unwrap them one by one. It'd be faster to have the servants do it.”
“No. You gave them to me, so I'll do it myself.”
For once, Endymion spoke stubbornly.
“It's okay if I help, right?”
A nod.
Lumina sat down next to Endymion.
The two of them busily moved their small hands, opening the gift boxes.
There were so many that they continued opening boxes 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 tight when you sleep! You might be fine during the day, but you could get lonely at night. When that happens, you just...”
[I love you!]
“...press its chest.”
“Ah... Yes. I understand.”
*Does she think I'm a child?*
Endymion glanced back and forth between the teddy bear and Lumina with a reproachful look.
But Endymion was, in fact, a child. With soft, pale cheeks that looked like they would smell of milk.
***
Two days later, in the morning.
After washing her face and changing her clothes as usual, Lumina went down to the dining hall and called for a maid waiting nearby.
“Lisa. Bring me today's newspaper.”
“Yes, right away.”
Warm dishes, smelling delicious, were placed one by one in front of Lumina.
Then, Lisa quickly and quietly brought the morning paper.
“Thank you.”
The newspaper, which just a couple of days ago had been filled with stories about Lumina, was now packed with new headlines.
*Flip, flip—.*
Lumina's hand stopped as she was flipping through the paper with an indifferent expression.
There it was—the article she had been waiting for.
“Oh dear, how unfortunate.”
Expressing a completely insincere sentiment of pity, Lumina raised the corners of her mouth.
“Sister. What are you so pleased about?”
“Ah, Endymion.”
Just then, Endymion came down for his meal and sat across from Lumina.
“Look at this.”
Lumina pushed the newspaper she was reading toward Endymion.
“This is...”
After quickly scanning the article, Endymion looked at Lumina in disbelief.
“The people in this picture... surely not...”
“Yes. They're all familiar faces, aren't they?”
The collateral relatives who had once clung to the Lanshuss estate now adorned a section of the newspaper.
[A Secret Hobby of the Nobility? Shocking! Members of a Black Magic Research Group, All Arrested!]
The collateral relatives of the Lanshuss family were implicated one after another for the crime of studying black magic and had to undergo investigation.
“It seems our relatives were heavily involved in this incident. Such a shame.”
Afflicted with an obsession for business, they were caught trying to launch a new venture using black magic.
*I wasn't particularly interested, but since black magic is illegal, the story spread like wildfire, and I even heard about it at the gambling den.*
Plus, my maternal uncle, Joseph, had chattered on about it several times, his tone dripping with schadenfreude.
*He was so delighted that day that he talked about nothing else for a while. I thought my ears were going to fall off.*
In Lumina's memory, the Lanshuss relatives had become interested in this venture under the leadership of the Valles family, to which her aunt, Teresa, belonged.
So, this incident must have dealt a huge blow to Teresa.
From now on, she'll be too busy cleaning up the mess to even think about pestering the Lanshuss siblings.
“Did you perhaps have a hand in this, Sister?”
“Hm? Me? What are you talking about? Of course not.”
Lumina's eyes widened innocently.
“What would I know to be able to do something like that? It's not like I have connections at a newspaper company.”
That was half true, half false.
Thanks to returning to the past, she knew a lot, but she didn't have any connections at a newspaper.
*Instead, I used Jack, who sells photos to the papers.*
[Exclusive! Top Opera Singer, Carmela. In a Secret Tryst with a Married Noble?]
This was the article that graced the front page.
Lumina recalled her whispered conversation with Jack.
“Mister, you know Carmela, right?”
“You don't mean Carmela, the opera singer, do you?”
“That's her. Did you know she's secretly seeing someone?”
“No way. That can't be.”
At first, Jack didn't believe Lumina.
However, the lover Lumina mentioned was no ordinary person, so he couldn't help but be intrigued.
A story no one knew!
Moreover, a famous commoner having an affair with a noble!
It was the kind of material that gossip columns always welcomed with open arms.
*That's why he couldn't ignore it, even if it sounded like a lie.*
Just as Lumina had predicted, Jack must have tailed the opera singer and discovered that her lover was involved in black magic.
Black magic was also a topic that could be sold to the papers for a high price.
By taking pictures related to the incident and selling them, Jack became the fish that swallowed the bait Lumina had cast.
*Originally, a reporter with a strong sense of justice investigated the incident and published the story.*
But the outcome wasn't good.
He ended up getting countersued and drowning in debt.
But in this life, the one who would be sued and have to pay a huge sum in damages would be Jack.
This was how to take care of someone you dislike all at once.
Lumina folded the newspaper and began to eat cheerfully. Just then, the butler approached.
“Harold, what is it?”
“Someone from the academy just arrived.”
Endymion pretended not to be interested and continued eating.
But she could see his ears were subtly perked up.
Finding the sight quite adorable, Lumina swallowed a laugh and gestured for the butler to continue.
“They said the young master passed the exam. In fact, he answered every question correctly except for one. They are urging him to enroll soon, so I came to deliver the news.”
“Wow, Endymion, did you hear that? You only missed one!”
“...I could have gotten them all right.”
Endymion muttered dejectedly, like a child complaining about his food.
“What's important isn't that you missed one, but that you got all the others right. You did extremely well.”
The academy was rumored to have a difficult entrance exam. The transfer exam would be even more so.
*If he hadn't hit his head that day, he would've gotten a perfect score.*
“If it hadn't been for the marriage announcement, I wouldn't have missed it.”
“Hm?”
Lumina, who had been lost in other thoughts, thought she heard something strange and asked again.
“What did you just say?”
“It was nothing.”
Endymion hurriedly shook his head.
The test results were already out.
Whether his condition was bad that day, he was distracted, or a natural disaster occurred, it didn't matter—he was the one who had taken the test.
And yet, he'd so naturally blamed someone else.
Shocked at himself for having said it out loud, Endymion pressed his lips together.
Of course, it was still a shock that his sister had gotten married without any prior notice.
But if she was happy, how could he, who was only her half-brother, stand in her way?
Endymion recalled the times Lumina chattered on and on about Karayan.
*She looked happy.*
Her eyes were filled with love.
And she had made a string of outrageous statements that no one in their right mind could utter.
It would have been impossible if she weren't truly in love.
*Still, if Sister ever gets hurt...*
He would step in himself.
The boy was still young and had no real power.
So he would strive to become a great adult, strong enough to confront a ducal house to protect his sister.
Endymion didn't wish for a good sister for himself.
He owed her a debt, so he hoped to be a helpful brother, at least until that debt was repaid.
***
A few days later, Lumina saw Endymion off as he left for the academy.
“Endymion. You don't have to kill yourself over your studies. You're smart enough as it is, so try to make lots of friends you get along with.”
“...”
“Take this opportunity to broaden your world.”
“Sister, you seem nervous.”
“Is it that obvious?”
“So you are nervous.”
*Hey, he was just guessing!*
Having fallen for it completely, Lumina pouted. Seeing her expression, Endymion smiled.
“Sister.”
Then, as if he wanted to say something, Endymion hesitated for a long moment.
As she waited patiently, the boy finally managed to speak.
“Have you ever been to the scene of the accident?”
“The accident?”
“The carriage accident.”
The carriage accident where their father and stepmother died, and Endymion injured his leg.
She was a little taken aback, as he had never mentioned it before.
“No, not at all.”
“...Then that's fine.”
“Did something happen there?”
“No. It just came to mind, so I asked. Please don't worry about it.”
It was human nature to worry more when told not to.
Lumina stared intently at Endymion.
But Endymion naturally avoided her heavy gaze.
*Well, there's no need to keep digging up bad memories.*
Lightly giving up on questioning him, Lumina said her final goodbyes.
“I'll write. You be sure to send a letter if anything happens.”
“Thank you for your concern. I apologize that I can offer no promises, only the uncertain pledge that I will strive to achieve an even more perfect result than my transfer exam score.”
“Endymion.”
Watching the politely bowing Endymion, Lumina swallowed the words she wanted to say.
*At times like this, just act like a kid...*
And with that, Endymion left for the academy.
Tucked in the boy's arms was the lovely teddy bear that knew how to cry, “I love you!”
***
After seeing Endymion off, Lumina headed straight for the Duke's residence.
*Hop.*
Lumina hopped down from the carriage and looked around.
“Where is the Duke?”
“He is in his office. Shall I guide you?”
“Yes!”
Following the guide with Ash, the doors to the recently furnished office opened.
She could see Lucius through the crack in the door. He must have sensed her presence, but he paid her no mind.
The moment she saw Lucius, Lumina...
“Father!”
...called out cheerfully and ran toward him.
