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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 63
Chapter Title: Unveiled Suspicions
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“You mentioned the princess invited me because of you, but I don't believe you have anything to apologize for, Your Highness.”
“…”
“Advice is just that—advice. I'm sure the princess gave it plenty of thought before making her decision, so it isn't your fault.”
Eliot smiled at Lumina's words, so clever for her age.
“It seems I've been treating Bell like a child without realizing it. This was a short but enlightening conversation. I hope we'll have the chance to speak longer next time.”
“Yes. It was an honor to meet the star of the Empire.”
After a graceful bow, Lumina left the garden with a sullen Karayan.
Then, she suddenly recalled the handkerchief that had fluttered in on the breeze.
The handkerchief was embroidered with a less-than-perfect design.
It was better than Lumina’s own drawings, but for someone as haughty as Arabelle, the skill level was unimaginable.
*He clearly cherished it, yet it was worn from use, as if by the passage of time. That must mean he received it as a gift a long while ago.*
If Arabelle had given it to Eliot when she was a child, the quality of the embroidery would make sense.
*Still, it’s surprising.*
Given Arabelle's personality, one would expect her to be ruthless even with her own family, yet they seemed to be quite a close pair of siblings.
Yet, there was something about Eliot that bothered her.
*He used such a precious handkerchief as bait to summon me.*
While Lumina was lost in thought, Karayan was lecturing Ash.
“What were you doing? Why didn't you stop him?”
“…He's the prince.”
Even the easygoing Ash knew not to be rash with a prince.
“Still, you should have stopped him from doing anything untoward. That's why you went with her.”
A dejected Ash and a displeased Karayan continued to bicker.
Then, Karayan suddenly spoke to Lumina, who wore an expression so serious it would put a pint-sized detective to shame.
“Is he your type?”
“What do you mean?”
“The second prince's face.”
The reason he specifically asked about the second prince's "face," and not the prince himself, was because of something Lumina had said in the past.
Lumina had once claimed the only reason she liked Karayan was his face.
The second prince claimed he'd approached Lumina in the hopes that she would befriend Arabelle, but Karayan didn't buy it.
That was just a pretext. It was obvious he was interested in Lumina.
Otherwise, a man of his station wouldn't have so readily taken another's hand.
*Yes,* he thought. *If she shines so brightly in my eyes, she must in others' as well.*
He had a grasp on Eliot's intentions; the problem now was Lumina's.
While Eliot had the air of a man who would softly recite poetry and write literature, Karayan looked like he would tear the books apart.
They were handsome men of entirely different stripes, with personalities to match.
He was worried Lumina might be drawn to the second prince's different charms and be swayed.
For Lumina, the question was both sudden and absurd.
*Does he think I'm obsessed with looks?*
…On second thought, she could see why he might.
Unable to deny that she had acted like a hopeless romantic obsessed with appearances, Lumina didn't hesitate to give the only correct answer she knew.
“I prefer black hair to silver!”
Lumina was a pragmatist at heart.
She lived by the motto that it didn't matter if a cat was black or white, as long as it caught mice.
But in front of Karayan, she had to play the part of a romantic.
“…I do have black hair.”
Hearing Lumina's unhesitating reply, Karayan seemed to grow shy, his gaze shifting away.
“By the way, Karayan, why are you here?”
Karayan was a free spirit, not one to be tied down even by the duke.
There was no reason for him to be at the imperial palace.
As she watched him with a questioning gaze, Karayan hesitated for a moment before replying.
“Because starting today, I am Karayan von Heart.”
Wasn't the man before her already Karayan von Heart? Her confusion remained.
Karayan elaborated.
“It means I'm not leaving, even after your scar is gone.”
Karayan had promised to stay at the duchy until Lumina's wound healed.
But now, regardless of her wound, he intended to remain at the estate as the Young Duke of Heart and as her husband.
*Why?*
Why would he choose to stay when he despised the Duke of Heart?
“Seeing a gnat buzzing around you, I'd say I made the right decision.”
He said, a cool smile spreading across his face.
She hadn't realized it since he rarely smiled, but his broad grin revealed the faint glint of a sharp canine.
It made him look just like an incorrigible troublemaker.
But considering his last comment, that description wasn't far off the mark.
Calling the second prince a gnat.
Fearing there might be listening ears, Lumina quickly scanned their surroundings.
Her eyes met Ash's.
He was staring blankly, as if already accustomed to Karayan's unfiltered remarks.
*...As expected of the House of Heart.*
Lumina, who had lived her life as an ordinary noble, felt a brief sense of futility in the face of the duchy's reputation.
She fidgeted like a squirrel that had lost its acorn, before all the energy seemed to drain out of her.
Karayan watched her the entire time.
He'd thought she would have ended up as a bite-sized snack for Arabelle.
Fortunately, that didn't seem to be the case.
Was it good luck, or was she just that clever?
For Karayan, who didn't know what had passed between Lumina and Arabelle, it was simply astonishing.
Lumina was probably the only person who could face Arabelle twice and come out looking so unscathed.
And yet, he was worried.
And he couldn't stop thinking about her.
He wanted to know more about this small girl.
For the sake of one feeling he couldn't bring himself to cast aside, Karayan had overcome his hatred.
That was all there was to it.
“By the way, Karayan… you have a new cut.”
Lumina said, having spotted a scratch on Karayan's finger, which should have been pristine after his recent use of his ability.
*Whoosh—*
Karayan hid his hand.
“It's nothing. Don't use your ability.”
She hadn't even been thinking of using her ability.
She was just curious how he'd gotten hurt.
As Lumina looked at Karayan with this thought in mind, he seemed to have misunderstood her completely.
“…This is enough.”
Karayan suddenly took Lumina's hand.
He fumbled at first, as if hesitant to even touch her, but then he boldly intertwined their fingers.
A simple touch wouldn't heal his wound.
Karayan knew this, yet he didn't let go.
***
Left alone, Eliot didn't take his eyes off them until they had completely vanished from sight.
Even from behind, they looked like a young couple overflowing with affection.
And those golden eyes that had glared at him so sharply—they were utterly savage.
The raw killing intent had been enough to make his fingertips tingle.
Only the sound of grass blades dancing in the wind lingered in his ears.
Once certain he was alone, he opened his mouth.
“Legions…”
His sweet voice spilled out like a sigh.
“Are so fascinating, so lovely.”
As if there were no greater joy, Eliot beamed and tapped the ground with his cane.
In response, Eliot's shadow writhed.
“If she were to spend time with Arabelle, there would be more friction, which would have made it easier to determine her true nature. She's a clever child, more so than I expected.”
“…”
“No, had the Young Duke of Heart not arrived, I might have been able to press her. It's a shame such an opportunity won't arise again.”
Eliot opened and closed the hand that had held Lumina's.
For the Duke of Heart himself to have arranged her marriage to his son, Lumina surely had a secret she was hiding from the world.
Eliot didn't know what that secret was, but if it was related to the Legion, he believed it would be well worth having her in the palm of his hand.
“Could Lumina Lanshuss be a Legion?”
At Eliot's question, his shadow writhed more violently, forming the shape of a human face.
The face of a wrinkled old man.
“…Certain.”
All Legions were registered with the imperial family, so there shouldn't be any he was unaware of.
With a few exceptions.
“She could be an incompetent Legion.”
“…”
“Or perhaps she has a unique constitution, like Brandon.”
As he mentioned a unique constitution, a strange light flickered in his violet eyes.
“If she does have one, what sort of ability would it be? Should I kidnap her? No, I will. Then I can find out right away.”
The old man in the shadow mouthed his words.
“Duke… hate.”
“…You're right. He's just looking for an excuse to wring my neck. I can't make a rash move.”
“…”
“And yet, the circumstances aren't right to use black magic on Lumina Lanshuss directly. The price is too steep.”
Eliot muttered in a dejected tone, nodding his head.
He seemed to have lost his nerve.
“But if Brandon had managed to retrieve the ancient magical texts, my research would have progressed. If only my research materials hadn't been lost because of the Duke of Heart… perhaps by now, I would have…”
The longer he dwelled on it, the more his violet eyes clouded over, his face twisting in a grimace.
“Eliot.”
“Ah.”
Eliot closed his eyes, then opened them. He was once again the frail second prince.
“You're right. There's no need to be hasty. I still have plenty of experiments to conduct.”
“…”
“I've had enough of that disastrous man ruining my research. Once was more than enough.”
Eliot strode forward.
With each step, his slightly stooped back straightened, and his frame seemed to grow larger.
*Thump, thump.*
With steady footsteps and a ramrod-straight back, he vanished into the shadows.
