IVFV 11

Chapter 11

“Lumina, I had no idea how you’ve been living all this time. How hard it must have been for you in this cramped attic. You don’t have to worry anymore.”

The scoundrel who would one day sell his own niece said that.

As if he didn’t know. Just a few days ago he was chasing me around like a madman. He must have left me alone on purpose, waiting until I weakened enough to trust him completely once he stepped in to ‘help.’

Lumina, who could see straight through Joseph’s thoughts, smiled sweetly.

“I never thought it was hard. To me, it was only natural. Maybe that’s why…”

The corners of her lips, which had been lifted high, slowly fell.

“I still can’t believe this room is mine. It feels like I stole someone else’s room. It makes me uncomfortable.”

After the Duke of Hart’s visit, Lumina had been hurriedly moved to another room.

The largest and finest room in the mansion, aside from the count and countess’s bedroom.

It was the room she would have gained if she had taken Joseph’s hand.

It had never truly been hers—yet it felt more like her own room than any place else.

Even though she knew the layout well enough to walk through it with her eyes closed, Lumina acted without the slightest hesitation.

“Lumina! Don’t think that way. These were always things you should have enjoyed!”

“Thank you for saying that, Uncle.”

Though she had successfully won over the Duke of Hart, she still needed to appear like an innocent twelve-year-old in front of Joseph.

A few dresses thrown into the trash aren’t enough to erase all that resentment.

The other relatives, including Joseph, patted her shoulders as if comforting her.

“Forget the past. Think of today as a new beginning.”

Yes, yes.

Sympathetic gazes poured in from all directions.

These were the same people who had called her cold-hearted at the funeral.

Their sudden change of attitude was all because of the Duke of Hart.

They’re just hoping to get a taste of tiramisu powder. They keep fishing to find out how I met His Grace.

Their intentions were transparent, but Lumina had no intention of being taken in.

“I must have gotten too excited. Seeing Uncle’s face made me relax… Yawn.”

She let out a small yawn.

“Oh my. I’m sorry.”

It was an extremely deliberate yawn, but her acting—pretending to be embarrassed—was impeccable.

The surrounding relatives were completely fooled.

Please leave.

Unaware of the hidden meaning, they misunderstood.

“There’s nothing to apologize for. If you’re sleepy, it’s only natural.”

“That’s right. Children should go to bed early. What time is it now?”

As someone spoke, all eyes turned to the nearby clock.

“It’s…”

They checked the clock on the wall—and fell silent.

“It’s eight in the evening.”

Only Lumina answered, her voice slightly drowsy. For the adults, it was still early.

Of course, it was for Lumina as well—but she feigned innocence.

“I must be very tired today. I don’t usually sleep this early…”

She blushed faintly, as if embarrassed.

Joseph, who had been momentarily flustered by the unexpectedly early hour, quickly regained his composure and resumed his sycophantic demeanor.

“Yes, yes. Eight o’clock is the perfect time to sleep. Go ahead and rest. We’ll turn off the lights and leave.”

It would have been simpler if they had just left—but Joseph lingered, as if he wanted to confirm she was asleep.

At last, Lumina lay down and pretended to sleep.

That was when—

“The pillow! What is this state? It should be stuffed with goose feathers and soft enough for a proper rest!”

Before her head could even touch the pillow, Joseph made a fuss.

“There must be a goose-feather pillow somewhere. My sister wouldn’t rest her head on anything less than luxury. Surely there’s one for our dear niece.”

“….”

“Why are you just standing there? Bring the pillow at once!”

The atmosphere became chaotic in an instant. Any trace of sleep vanished.

Is he doing this on purpose to annoy me? Because I made him throw away those expensive dresses?

Suppressing her irritation, Lumina observed Joseph closely.

He wasn’t venting personal resentment in some twisted way.

He was simply playing the role of a loyal lackey to perfection.

Lumina was ruthless—but Joseph was no less so.

As expected of a villain who spent years plotting to sell his own niece.

If she wanted to deal with such a man, she would have to be even more cunning.

At present, too many people were lingering in the Langschus estate under the pretense of mourning.

It was time to clean things up, so Lumina began applying pressure once she gained the chance to speak.

“I had no idea my parents were so virtuous. It’s reassuring to see so many people mourning their deaths.”

“Indeed—”

“But aren’t you busy?”

“….”

“I was taught that adults have responsibilities. Don’t you have duties to attend to?”

“Haha. At times like this, it’s acceptable to postpone work for a little while.”

“But my parents disliked people who neglected their responsibilities! I’m sure they wouldn’t welcome anyone delaying their duties just to stay and mourn.”

She had spoken carefully—yet her tone carried the innocent boldness of a child.

“Isn’t that right?”

Faced with her pink eyes, innocently asking what seemed obvious, they could only laugh awkwardly.

Those who had stayed under the excuse of honoring the deceased would now be forced to leave in the deceased’s name.

Thus, Lumina gradually drove out the relatives who had settled in like unwelcome guests.

But she couldn’t expel everyone.

Teresa and Joseph remained, stubbornly insisting they would stay to care for the children.

In truth, they represented the collateral branch of the family.

Once news spread that Teresa and Joseph were staying, the others reluctantly departed.

That’s the first round of cleanup. But there’s still a long way to go. Sigh.

There was so much trash to deal with.

If she couldn’t throw it all out at once, she would discard it piece by piece.

Just as she had done when moving from the attic to the larger room.

The relatives had tried to throw away everything from the attic, claiming it was old—but Lumina told them to leave it.

While she remained silent, they bought her new furniture themselves.

Without spending a single coin, she acquired a fully furnished room. No doubt they were wary of the Duke of Hart.

Even the servants who once ignored her now treated her kindly, as a proper young lady of the house.

Where they once treated her like air, they now watched her carefully. Lumina smiled innocently.

“Samantha, was it? Thank you for always helping me.”

“There’s no need for thanks. It’s simply my duty, my lady.”

Samantha’s tasks were simple.

Bring washing water in the morning. Draw the curtains.

Help Lumina choose and wear her outfit for the day—and then she was free.

It wasn’t work worthy of high praise.

Thus, Samantha had recently grown quite satisfied.

Her salary remained the same, yet her workload had halved.

Unlike the former mistress, Lumina made no difficult demands.

As Samantha reminisced about her time under the previous lady, Lumina suddenly asked:

“Are you satisfied with your salary? Shall I speak to the butler for you?”

“My lady? No! I’m perfectly satisfied as I am. Please don’t trouble yourself!”

Flustered, Samantha waved her hands—revealing her true thoughts in her haste.

Lumina’s expression dimmed slightly.

“Ah, perhaps I overstepped. But no one has ever cared for me like this before…”

“….”

“My parents were always kind to me, but as you know, circumstances were difficult.”

“Of course, my lady. I understand your heart completely.”

As Lumina deliberately showed vulnerability, Samantha’s eyes sparkled and she leaned in closer.

In every matter, it was important to choose the right patron.

Samantha decided she needed to hold onto Lumina.

And Lumina did not push her away.

Nor was Samantha the only one.

Any servant who approached her wearing a mask of kindness was welcomed.

But the past was not easily forgotten.

Some servants still found it difficult to approach her—after all, only days ago, she had been treated worse than hired help.

Naturally, factions began to form among them.

And factions bred cracks.

“To be honest, I find this situation ridiculous.”

One maid, dissatisfied with her colleagues who had attached themselves to Lumina and received raises, finally spoke out.

“You bullied the young lady the most! And now, as soon as the master and mistress passed away and the Duke of Hart became her guardian, you immediately changed your attitude. Does that make sense?”

“What’s wrong with that? And bullied her? Choose your words carefully. When did I ever bully her?”

Samantha replied confidently.

The other maid scoffed.

“You released a rat into the attic on purpose! That day, when the young lady sobbed and appealed to the mistress—does anyone here not remember what happened?”

A cold silence fell.

It had been too great a commotion to forget.

The second mistress—her stepmother—insisted that in a mansion she managed perfectly, there could never be rats, and harshly scolded Lumina.

Even as the young girl trembled in fear, tears brimming in her eyes.

It wasn’t something that could be dismissed as a simple prank.

Yet she branded Lumina a liar and raised her hand against her.

That day, Lumina cried until her tears ran dry.

Every servant in the mansion witnessed it.

And they turned away.