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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 35
Chapter Title: A New Role
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‘Ash, why are you...? No. I think I overdid it.’
I should have left out the part about dust and bugs.
I was trying so hard to get a less luxurious room that I got too carried away with my acting.
As Lumina fought the urge to slap her own mouth, Lucius spoke in a low voice.
“This is the room you and Karayan will share. With outside eyes on you, you should stay in the same room, shouldn't you?”
Lumina recalled something she had momentarily forgotten.
She and Karayan had married for a purpose, but they were still a married couple, so it was only natural they share a room.
“Karayan is rarely home, so it will effectively be your room alone, but...”
“...”
“Still, when Karayan does return, you two will have to share a room. It would be rude to him if your room were an attic.”
It was one thing if she suffered alone, but to inconvenience Karayan too? In that case, she had no choice.
Lumina was slowly being persuaded.
“Most importantly, if the Duchess of Heart stays in a shabby place like an attic, she will be looked down upon.”
He said imperiously.
“So, use it.”
This wasn't a suggestion; it was a demand.
How could she dare defy an order from the Duke of Heart?
“Yes. I will do as you say, Father.”
Lumina bowed her head politely, like someone forced to their knees by oppressive and overwhelming power.
She didn't have to bow, but she had to now. She couldn't control her expression.
Inwardly, Lumina was offering Lucius her overwhelming gratitude.
Honestly, Lumina was only human; she wanted to stay in a nice room too.
The devil called desire?
Just as she had managed to wear the dress Lucius had gifted her, she figured she could compromise with her own heart and it would be fine.
And even if it wasn't, there was nothing she could do about it.
Lumina had no choice in the matter.
‘My spacious, luxurious, and comfortable room. It's the best!’
***
Saying she must be tired from the journey, Lucius left and told her to rest.
Ash also moved to wait outside, but one person remained.
“Olivia?”
Only Olivia was left.
No longer in a maid's uniform but a neat and tidy uniform, she was clearly no ordinary person.
She even had her hair tied back in a neat ponytail and was wearing glasses.
A passing glance would never bring ‘Olivia the maid’ to mind.
“I have something to tell you.”
Olivia revealed her identity with the resolute air of someone confessing to high treason.
“The truth is, I am not an ordinary maid. I am the Duke's aide, Olivia Munez. My lady—no, Young Madame, I apologize for deceiving you and approaching you under false pretenses.”
“...”
“I know you must feel betrayed. You must be disappointed that I did not reveal my true identity from the start.”
Lumina looked at Olivia with a wistful gaze.
Then she shook her head.
“No. Even if you're the Duke's aide and not a maid, you're still Olivia.”
“But...”
“You weren't pretending to like me when you actually hated me, were you?”
“No, of course not!”
“Then that's all that matters.”
Lumina gently took Olivia's hand.
“I just like you for who you are, Olivia.”
Sorry, Olivia.
I already knew you weren't an ordinary maid.
And I also know that you're going to betray the Duke soon.
‘According to my memory, it won't be long... But how meticulously did Olivia plan her betrayal? It seems the Duke hasn't noticed anything yet, right?’
She had tried pestering Ash about it, but he acted like a man with only three possible answers, so she'd gotten nowhere.
Should she try to coax it out of Olivia herself?
As she was thinking this, Olivia spoke as if she'd just remembered something.
“Oh. I have something for you, Young Madame.”
“Hm? What is it?”
Olivia took something out from her clothes.
Lumina's eyes glittered when she saw what it was.
This is...?
***
Late at night, in the Duke of Heart's office.
A man and a woman ran to each other like lovers reunited after half a lifetime apart.
“Darling!”
“Honey!”
It was Olivia and Brandon.
They embraced, acting as if they were about to shed tears of joy.
“Darling, you look worn out since I last saw you.”
“How can I look worn out when I can change my face at will?”
As Olivia gazed at Brandon's face with affectionate concern, Lucius chided them, not bothering to hide his irritation.
But they ignored him, creating a rosy atmosphere as if they couldn't hear his voice.
“It's all because I haven't seen you for a while.”
*Tsk.*
He couldn't just bury them in the ground.
If he had his way, he would have thrown them out the window right then and there.
But he only clicked his tongue because they had always been a deeply affectionate couple.
This wasn't the first or second time, after all.
Besides, Brandon's absence this time had been long and without word.
Given his abilities, Brandon often took on dangerous missions, which was a constant source of worry for Olivia.
Although she pretended otherwise, Lucius had long known her true feelings, so he folded his arms and waited with considerable patience.
For exactly ten seconds.
“Brandon.”
“Honey, kiss it and make it better. *Hoo, hoo*.”
“Brandon!”
“Yes, sir!”
Lucius, who had been counting internally, called Brandon's name the very second he reached '10'.
“What took you so long?”
“Ah.”
Coming to his senses, Brandon wore a troubled expression for a moment before speaking.
“Sorry, Chief. No matter how much I investigated, nothing came up, so it took longer than I thought.”
“I knew the Young Madame was innocent!”
“Olivia. You be quiet for a moment.”
Lucius completely revoked the speaking privileges of Olivia, who had lost all objectivity in the last few days.
“There was nothing related to the Doctor. No suspicious backers, either. She really came to you on her own, Chief.”
*Tap, tap.*
Lucius tapped his fingers on the desk.
Olivia and Ash had also returned with nothing.
If anything, they had given positive assessments.
‘As for Ash...’
“You were with her for a while. What was your conclusion?”
“She was fine.”
“Ash. Are you only giving me the answers I've designated? You don't have to.”
“I am not.”
“I told you, you don't have to. In your eyes, what kind of person is Lumina Lanshuss?”
“Ordinary.”
“No, I told you to speak freely.”
Ash felt wronged.
He was stating things as they were, but he kept being misunderstood.
Since it was Lucius, he couldn't protest and chose his words again.
Innocent, round eyes. A small frame that looked like it could fit in a pocket.
The violence of kicking an opponent's weak spot without hesitation, her long, wheat-colored hair flying.
And above all, what was seared into his mind were her pink eyes, which had never once held a trace of disgust when they looked at him.
More violent and fickle than she looked, with peculiar tastes...
“...To be precise, I think she is strange.”
Ash had replied with a blunt expression.
Lucius, who had watched Ash for a long time, could easily tell that he didn't mean it in a negative way.
“Chief. We've exhausted every possible method. We won't find out anything more unless we torture it out of her.”
“Darling! How can you say something so vile and merciless!”
“No, that's not what I meant...”
Brandon looked troubled as Olivia confronted him, looking as if she were about to grab him by the collar.
Watching the couple, whose loving relationship had shattered in an instant, Lucius tossed out a single comment.
“If you want to investigate my daughter-in-law further, you can become her personal servant and watch her yourself.”
My daughter-in-law.
The intimate title rolled off Lucius's tongue so naturally.
“But she's young. Wouldn't she be more comfortable being attended by someone of the same sex?”
“Then get a job as a maid.”
It was a careless reply.
He wasn't even looking at Olivia and Brandon.
“Should I? Just a moment. Which face would be best?”
But Brandon took it seriously.
He suddenly turned around and began changing his face.
Brandon's face, which had been quite handsome, changed from moment to moment.
Olivia, who had glanced at him, stepped in front of Lucius.
“Your Grace. I believe we need to adjust your schedule.”
“Why is that?”
Olivia took ‘it’ out from her clothes. Lucius's lips tightened into a thin line.
“It's about time we made our move.”
Olivia whispered secretively.
“We need to move with the Young Madame, so I delivered it to her first.”
“Her reaction?”
“She readily agreed. In fact, she seemed to be looking forward to it...”
“Let's go.”
The moment he heard that Lumina had agreed, Lucius nodded without further question.
It was an unhesitating affirmation.
***
Late evening, as the sun was setting.
A massive carriage emblazoned with the crest of the House of Heart came to a stop.
It had such an imposing presence that even passersby stopped to watch.
*Thud—.*
The carriage door opened.
A tall, dark, and somber man stepped out.
It was Lucius.
“That's the Duke of Heart.”
“What's he doing all the way out here?”
The people whispered.
They watched him with questioning eyes as he stood still before the carriage door.
That was the posture of someone escorting a companion.
Was there anyone he would escort?
The question was soon answered.
Because a lovely girl in an adorable, pastel pink dress popped out.
