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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 40
Chapter Title: A Surprise Gift
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***
“So, all you have to do now is spend the money you’ve worked so hard to save and wait for good news, right?”
“If that kid doesn't deliver, it'll all be for nothing.”
The sun was already beginning to set, painting the evening sky.
Considering she had slipped out of the mansion so early, a great deal of time had passed.
On their way back to the main street.
Bathed in the vermilion sunset, Lumina looked up at Brandon, who had taken the form of a rather burly man.
“Mister! Why are you so negative? Weren't you the one who said just yesterday that you'd rather die than snitch?”
“It's because you keep filling my head with these ideas, getting my hopes up.”
“Get your hopes up all you want.”
Lumina's pink eyes reflected the sunset, shimmering with a myriad of colors.
Her gaze was incredibly resolute, belying her young age.
“Because compared to the anticipation you'll feel watching me from now on, today will seem trivial.”
Brandon stared at Lumina, who made such a bold statement with her innocent, cherubic face, and let out a hollow laugh.
Today, he realized it with certainty.
Lumina had no powerful backer.
No one, unless they were a madman, would approach a poorly educated child from the slums with such conviction.
Yet, he couldn't dismiss it as mere delusion, not after she had so brazenly approached Lucius.
*She must have come to him with the same conviction she has now.*
Lumina Lanshuss.
No, this little lady who should now be called Lumina von Heart was truly strange.
Whether she knew what was on his mind or not, something seemed to occur to Lumina, and she bowed politely.
“Thank you for giving me the money so readily. It was certainly easier to part with since it wasn't mine.”
“I had a feeling when you asked, but you never intended to just take a few coins, did you?”
“It's all part of the investment. An investment that will completely change your life. You should consider it a bargain.”
“But you practically mugged me for my coin purse.”
*Gasp.*
Hearing his words, Lumina gasped dramatically.
“What? What is it?”
Brandon jumped, startled by her reaction.
Looking at him, Lumina covered her wide-open mouth with her hand.
“A man in your position should be well-paid. Don't tell me Father isn't paying you properly?”
“...”
Realizing Lumina was just feigning shock, Brandon looked utterly dumbfounded.
“Just as your relatives said, you're not as sweet as you look.”
At his words, Lumina lowered her hand and gave him a sweet smile.
“How could I be *just* cute at my age? I'm admirable, too.”
His astonishment doubled.
*Heh, heh.*
An empty laugh escaped Brandon's lips.
He'd met all sorts of people in his time, but never anyone like this.
“The wealthy daughter of Count Lanshuss, bleeding a commoner dry. Good grief. How is a simple man like me supposed to survive?”
“You're married into the Munez family, so strictly speaking, you're not a commoner. You're a nobleman, too.”
“Right, right. A commoner by birth, but a nobleman now, just as you say.”
Lumina didn't back down an inch. In the end, Brandon threw in the towel.
“You can say that, but honestly, you're probably wondering where to pick out a good burial plot, aren't you?”
Her words hit the nail right on the head.
In Brandon's eyes, what Lumina was doing seemed no different from picking a random person off the streets of the slums and throwing money away.
“Have you ever gambled?”
“Gambled? I have.”
For a child who likely didn't know the first thing about gambling to ask such a question.
Brandon eyed her with suspicion.
“It's the same with gambling, isn't it? You don't know what cards the other players are holding. Instead, you read each other and try to guess the outcome.”
As far as Brandon knew, Lumina had lived a life completely removed from such things.
Yet she spoke as if she were an expert.
“And when everyone thinks it's a losing hand, the higher you bet, the bigger the payout when you win. It's the same principle.”
“...”
“But since you have nothing to lose, you might as well raise the stakes. People like that are the most fearsome, and now you're one of them.”
“Am I really talking to a twelve-year-old right now? Does the Lanshuss family only produce old souls?”
“My sister is even more of an adult than I am.”
To Brandon, they both seemed the same.
He gave her a look of disbelief.
Lumina realized that by now, Brandon probably saw her as some kind of philanthropist.
But Lumina didn't help people just because they were pitiful.
Not Brandon, not Erica.
She hadn't stepped in simply because she knew their circumstances.
“And you're right about the reason.”
“What?”
“The money. The Duke can easily trace any funds under the Lanshuss name.”
If Lucius found out about Brandon's condition, his life would be in danger.
The black magic, by its very nature, would activate the moment its target became aware of it.
That was why they had to move stealthily, so Lucius wouldn't notice anything suspicious.
It wasn't just the act of sneaking out that had to be kept secret.
“It'll be dark soon. Let's hurry back.”
Brandon stared blankly for a moment at Lumina walking ahead of him.
She had taken his money the moment she heard his story, which meant she must have had a plan in mind from the very beginning.
He suddenly wondered just how far her plans extended, all concocted in that little head of hers.
“What about the gift?”
“Pardon?”
“You snuck out to buy a gift for the boss, didn't you? I already told Livy, so I'm sure word has gotten back to him by now.”
"Livy" was apparently Olivia's nickname.
*This man doesn't seem to have any intention of hiding things from me, does he?*
Just look at him now.
Isn't this him practically declaring he's a double agent?
Come to think of it, he was subtly—no, blatantly—loose-lipped.
*He said he'd never be a traitor, but maybe he was destined for a short life from running that mouth of his, black magic or not.*
Lumina replied, her suspicion entirely reasonable.
“It's fine. I have a gift in mind that I can get quickly.”
“The boss will like anything you give him, but if you just grab something random, it'll look insincere. You've been out for a long time, too.”
“You don't need to worry. Did you think I wouldn't realize it would take a long time to walk all the way out here?”
Lumina clenched a fist and thumped her chest, as if to say, "Just trust me."
Lucius seemed to be quite fond of desserts.
However, anything delicious enough to suit his palate would surely be sold out by now.
Besides, he already owned every luxury imaginable, so nothing would satisfy him.
Despite the difficult challenge, Lumina remained unconcerned.
***
“How incredibly annoying.”
Having just returned from the Imperial Palace after a summons, Lucius muttered as he looked at the pile of documents stacked before him.
“Still, it's a relief the arrogant princess at least pretends to listen to you, Your Grace.”
“She only pretends to. That's the problem.”
*Tsk.*
Lucius clicked his tongue.
“Who knows what she's plotting behind my back. Keep an eye on her. If she makes any suspicious moves, cut her off before she goes too far.”
“Understood.”
He was in the middle of a discussion with Olivia, catching up on work that had piled up due to the sudden summons.
*Creeeak—*
The heavy door to his office, which had been firmly shut, creaked open slightly.
It was a new door, replaced just recently, so it made almost no sound.
But Lucius, a Legion, keenly sensed the presence and shifted only his eyes toward the door.
“Father.”
*Peek.*
Lumina peeked in, her adorable face appearing first.
Her round eyes scanning the room were unbearably cute.
He'd already received the report that she'd returned late in the evening, though he'd expected her back sooner since she'd gone out to buy him a gift.
Lucius knew the real reason for her outing, but right now, he had to pretend he knew nothing.
“Are you busy?”
“Not at all. I was just relaxing.”
Lumina's eyes widened for a moment before she smiled.
*Father, Olivia is making an 'X' with her arms behind you in protest.*
As Lumina's gaze lingered on Olivia, she quickly turned her head away.
The quick-witted Olivia swiftly lowered her arms, and the moment passed.
“What is it?”
I know nothing.
Nothing at all.
Lucius tried hard to brainwash himself. But he couldn't help but feel self-conscious.
His mouth felt dry, and he suddenly became aware of everything—how to breathe, when to blink.
He even started to worry about how much pressure to apply to the pen in his hand.
Lumina stood carefully before him, her hands clasped behind her back.
“The truth is, I snuck out today without telling you, Father.”
I knew.
He almost said as much.
“It wasn't for any particular reason... I was just so grateful to you for accepting me as your daughter-in-law! I wanted to show you how I felt, but when I thought about it alone in my room, I couldn't come up with a good way.”
“...”
“Then I talked to Hanna, and she suggested giving you a surprise gift. So I went out and just wandered around! But I couldn't find anything that felt just right.”
Lumina chattered on.
“So...”
“So?”
After speaking so smoothly, Lumina suddenly faltered.
It was so unlike her to hesitate that the impatient Lucius couldn't help but ask.
“Did you not buy anything?”
“No! I did get a gift for you. I couldn't come back empty-handed after going to all that trouble.”
*What on earth could it be?*
Suppressing the urge to press her further, Lucius waited patiently.
“It's this.”
As if embarrassed, the still-hesitant Lumina finally revealed what she had been hiding behind her back.
