-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 65
Chapter Title: A Visit to Father-in-law
-----------------------------------------------------------------
“Once you're an adult and strong enough to defeat me, you can do as you please. Whether you kill me or destroy this family.”
Karayan scoffed in disbelief.
“It seems this bloodline is cursed to repeat its own ominous history. I was hoping for the same ending you gave your own father, anyway.”
Lucius’s expression didn’t so much as twitch at Karayan’s brazen declaration of patricide as he spoke.
“Anything else?”
“I'm going to the Imperial Palace.”
“I'll have a carriage prepared.”
“It would be faster if I just ran.”
“Change your clothes while the carriage is being prepared. Lumina seemed to like neat formal wear.”
“...”
“And there's no need to go around boasting that you're a Legion.”
It was a chillingly brutal conversation between father and son.
Karayan turned to leave the office.
Then, he noticed the iris in his hand and stopped.
Approaching Lucius, Karayan placed the iris on the mahogany desk.
“If you ever loved Mother, even for a single moment.”
“...”
“You'd do well not to keep this, even if it came from her. It’s nothing but a sickening display.”
With that, Karayan turned coldly and strode swiftly out of the office.
He brushed past Olivia, who was standing outside the door.
Olivia only entered after Karayan had completely disappeared down the hall.
In that short time, the room had been utterly devastated.
Considering Lucius was a Legion, the office furniture had been specially ordered for its sturdiness.
The scene was such a mess that she found herself treading carefully, her eyes scanning the surroundings with a slightly weary look.
Then, when her gaze finally settled on Lucius, she was surprised.
Amidst this chaos, Lucius was pleased.
It wasn't as if he was beaming or jumping for joy—hardly fitting for his build and face—but having served him for so long, she could tell.
Olivia, being a rather ordinary person compared to her humanity-lacking superior, couldn't find anything in the father-son conversation to be happy about.
The fact that Karayan was staying home, perhaps?
‘He really does love his son. It’s just that his way of showing it is completely warped.’
Shaking her head inwardly, Olivia spoke.
“It's because of the Young Madame that the Young Master made a decision he normally wouldn't.”
Lucius and Karayan.
Had it been just the two of them, this would have never happened.
“Since the Young Madame's arrival, even this place, which seemed like it would never change, has slowly begun to transform.”
“That is quite fascinating.”
Lucius tapped on the desk—the only piece of furniture in the room that was still intact—with a thoughtful expression.
“In my entire life, the only blessings I received for a reason were Iris and Karayan. And even then, I lost one and was on the verge of losing the other.”
Beyond that, unearned luck did not exist in Lucius's life.
But Lumina.
That child appeared before him one day, suddenly and without warning. It was as if she had kicked down the door and stormed in.
“It’s almost like a devil's arrangement, isn't it?”
“Life can't always be consistent. This kind of serendipity is what gives life its driving force, so please don't be so suspicious.”
“My driving force is already sufficient.”
Lucius retorted, his gaze fixed on the preserved iris.
To meet his wife again.
That single goal, which everyone dismissed as impossible, was likely the primary reason he continued to live.
Reading the hidden meaning, Olivia deliberately changed the subject.
“By the way, Your Grace, aren't you worried that the Young Madame went to see the Princess?”
“I'm keeping a close watch to ensure her life isn't endangered and her identity isn't revealed, so there shouldn't be any problems.”
Seeing this side of him, it was clear he was a Legion whose humanity had dried up.
“I gave her the authority to do as she pleases, so I'm simply letting her use it. I can take responsibility for the consequences.”
But seeing this side of him, he was also a dependable father-in-law.
***
Quite some time had passed since Arabelle’s tea party.
In that time, Lumina’s daily life hadn't changed much.
The only notable differences were that she spent more time with Karayan and wrote letters to Endymion whenever she thought of him.
Her wounds gradually healed, and one day she looked to find they had disappeared completely.
In addition, the doctors were still being called quacks by Karayan.
This was because they hadn’t been able to identify the flower Lumina had coughed up.
Since then, she hadn't coughed up any more flowers, stems, or even leaves, so Lumina let the matter go.
Of course, she was also more composed because she had Erica to rely on.
Amidst these peaceful, almost boring days, the sound of footsteps broke the silence.
Pat, pat.
Was it because of her short stature?
With a gait that felt somewhat trivial, Lumina strode majestically across the hall.
The place the young girl arrived at was...
“Father!”
Lucius’s office.
Having acquired top-secret information that he would be in his office at this hour, Lumina opened the door and went inside.
The source of this information was, of course, Brandon.
Perhaps because she had already visited several times, Lucius wasn't fazed by Lumina’s sudden appearance.
That didn't mean he welcomed her with open arms, however.
“Aren't you going to ask why I came to see you, Father?”
After a quick glance around and seeing no signs of anyone stopping her, Lumina promptly sat on the sofa across from Lucius.
All the while, Lucius merely watched her, not asking the usual question of 'Why are you here?'
“I didn't ask because it doesn't matter if you come without a reason. Do you want me to ask now?”
“Yes!”
“What is it, Lumina?”
Lumina noticed he was in a very good mood.
In fact, Lucius’s mood had been on an upward trajectory ever since Karayan declared he would no longer run away.
Compared to his disposition on that rainy day, he was so bright it was as if flower petals were fluttering around him.
Although others might not agree with that assessment.
His features were so harsh that he had the disadvantage of always looking like he was in low spirits, whether he was in a good mood or bad.
The sunglasses hiding his eyes played a large part in that.
It was a change that only Lucius’s close aides, like Olivia or Brandon, could perceive.
And now, that included Lumina.
‘The physical distance between them is the same as when Karayan said he would stay temporarily, so not much has changed there. Still, he must be overjoyed that his son said he wouldn't run away anymore.’
Having accurately guessed Lucius’s state of mind, Lumina said cheerfully.
“Well, you see, Karayan went to the training grounds for swordsmanship practice. I was left all alone and got bored, so I came to see you!”
“At your age, it would be more boring to be here. You'd be better off going to the training grounds to watch the practice. Or playing with dolls.”
Lumina quickly shook her head.
“But I want to be here! Just being with you is fun for me! So you don't have to worry.”
Without warning, Lucius rose from his seat and stood before Lumina.
He was a tall man, around 190 centimeters, so when she looked up, she could see his firmly set mouth and strong jaw.
He extended a clenched fist toward Lumina with a rather menacing air.
A moment later, his fist opened...
Candies poured into a large box in front of Lumina.
“I forgot to fill it. Eat as many as you like whenever you come.”
Only then did Lumina notice the box on the table.
The ornate, gold-plated box, studded with jewels, didn't match the heavy, antique atmosphere of the office.
It looked like it should be filled with gold and treasures, but the fact that it was brimming with only candy created a stark sense of dissonance.
This was only natural, as it was a candy box Lucius had specially prepared just for Lumina.
“Isn't this your share, Father? You're giving me too much.”
“I have plenty. Come to think of it, you've been here for a while, yet no one has brought dessert.”
Lumina had only just arrived, but it seemed Lucius's perception of time flowed differently.
If a maid hadn't arrived just then with a trolley of tea and refreshments, Lucius himself might have gone to the kitchen.
While the refreshments were being set up, Lucius naturally sat down in the seat across from Lumina.
And he studied Lumina's face.
‘Wasn't he in the middle of work?’
Seeing that Olivia, standing behind him, didn't look troubled, it seemed that slacking off for a bit wouldn't cause any major problems.
“I heard you had scars, but you look fine.”
“Yes! The doctors are so skilled that I healed right away!”
It was a statement that would have made the doctors lift Lumina up and toss her in the air in celebration, had they heard it.
“Karayan keeps saying how incompetent they are. As long as you're satisfied, that's all that matters.”
If the doctors had heard, they would still be tossing Lumina in the air, but they would also be shedding tears.
“By the way, the furniture has changed.”
“We tend to change it with the seasons.”
Lucius said, feigning innocence.
Lumina noticed that for furniture that was supposedly changed every season, the design concept—aside from the candy box—was remarkably consistent.
‘He got rid of the flower I gave him, too. Well, it would have wilted by now anyway. I wish he’d gotten rid of the picture I drew instead of the flower...’
With a conflicted heart, Lumina crunched on a cookie.
Her feelings were complicated, but she couldn't ignore an adult's gesture of goodwill.
And then she got to the main point.
“By the way, have you been eating properly lately? You've become half your size since I last saw you.”
Listening quietly, Olivia suppressed a laugh.
Lumina was probably the only person who could say such a thing to Lucius, who showed no external change whatsoever.
“I've been eating well lately, too. I'm twice the size I was when I first met you, Father!”
There was no exaggeration quite like it.
For a child whose soft cheeks would barely stretch even if pulled with all one's might, where did she get off boasting about her size?
However, Lumina looked so adorable, patting her flat stomach as she exclaimed, that Olivia played along.
“Young Madame, His Grace is an extremely busy man, so there are many days when he cannot go down to the dining hall and skips meals. They say that as a Legion, he doesn't even feel hunger.”
“How can that be?!”
Exaggerating her shock, Lumina covered her mouth with her fern-like hands.
“Father, if you keep this up, the day might come when I'm bigger than you!”
Lucius thought.
If this child grew bigger than him, she would just be twice as adorable.
