Are You Satisfied That I Am Dead? - Chapter 3: Day One (Part two)
Lumina turned ghastly pale at the Head Servant’s words, immediately covering her face with both hands. From the surrounding perspective, she looked like a little sister deeply mourning for the loss of her elder sister. But the truth is, she was trying to hold herself from bursting into a fit of laughter. Her lips were drawn like a crescent moon, but wrapped and tucked into isolation.
(Ah… at last that nuisance of a sister is finally gone! With this, now everything is in my hands!)
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Swallowing the urge to scream, her body shrilled in the process.
“Oh, Lady Lumina… such a sad figure.”
The servants must have thought that Lumina was crying. They wrapped her agitating shoulders with a shawl, helping her to be seated.
“How did my sister die?”
Still covering her face, Lumina decided to ask. The Head Servant was befuddled for a bit before finally regaining the composure to answer it.
“There was an incident with her carriage, milady. She was in such a terrible condition… I mean, Lady Llorona’s…”
“What about it...?”
“Her face… my apologies, I cannot go any further into this…”
“...I see… please leave me alone for a moment…”
In a tiny voice, she urged the servants and they did so quietly afterwards. Lumina, who was left all alone, after making sure that no one is around finally lifted her face.
“Pfft--! Yes! I did it!!”
Lumina lies down against the sofa in a manner so unfitting for a lady, childishly throwing the cushion into the air as she cheered happily. Not even a trace of grief can be seen from that joyful face.
“With this, I will have not only Lord Bellevuet, but the whole family in my hands as well! How splendid!”
An overflowing happiness. With a beaming smile, she lovingly hugged the cushion in her arms.
To Lumina, her two years older half-sister Llorona was nothing more than a thorn by her side.
The respectable Llorona. Always so composed, and perfect in both studies and mannerisms. While it was true that she had a beautiful face, it was just that. Lumina has always hated Llorona who had never raised her voice, nor stomped her feet in anger towards Lumina.
“I’m glad that annoying woman is finally gone.”
Lumina’s mother was undeniably of noble birth until her grandfather’s generation, but she was the daughter of a fallen noble who had sold their nobility for being shackled into debts. Even so, she desperately worked herself despite all of it, and was later invited to be the family’s private tutor.
What’s fortunate was, the count’s legal wife—Llorona’s mother—passed away shortly after that from a horse carriage incident.
Lumina’s mother rose to become the Count’s second wife for her devotion to him, and Lumina was born as a result.
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However, of course, their surroundings looked down on them. Rumor spreads of how they used to be from a fallen family, and yet managed to be in the hands of the Count. Even though her mother was perfectly calm towards it, Lumina couldn’t take it anymore. Certainly, her mother may not be of noble status, but Lumina herself is still a legitimate daughter of the Luce.
But still, she wondered, why does she have to be compared with Llorona?
Because of that, Lumina has struggled so much.
Still, regardless how much she studied to become a child befitting of the Luce name, she could never triumph against Llorona. If anything, Llorona was the one who pointed out her mistakes.
Lumina truly despised everything about the existence known as Llorona.
“Ha, haha… With this, the Luce’s fortune will become mine…”
In this kingdom, there’s an absolute rule that permits the eldest child to become the family heir regardless of their gender. Under normal circumstances, Llorona should have been the one to inherit the position, if it weren’t for her engagement ties with the Crown Prince.
Lumina had thought for sure that she would be the one to inherit it.
For some reason, there is a law that permits the eldest child to maintain their titles upon becoming a part of another family or through marriages. When a person is in possession of such titles, their descendant must either inherit it, or bestow it to their direct descendant by their own free will.
It is a countermeasure against schemes involving the removal of the eldest child for the sake of inheritance.
Llorona had told Lumina that she intended to become the royal consort along with her rights to become the heir, and that she intended for her child to become the next in line for the House of Luce.
“Even though I’m right here!”
Upon remembering it, she angrily beats her cushion. If Llorona’s words were true, then Lumina would inherit only a small amount of the family wealth. There was no way she could accept that. She had tried to talk it through but Llorona’s attitude towards her was so persistently cold.
“How regrettable for you, dear sister. Having you dead truly helps a lot.”
Now that the heir apparent, Llorona, has died, the House of Luce only has one heir; Lumina.
No matter what they will say about it, everything belongs to Lumina..
“I have to greet Lord Bellevuet at once!”
Lumina stood up, voice bouncing in excitement.
Despite the happy passing, she ought to appear mournful. She hummed as she opened her closet, choosing a dress that gives her the impression of being in sorrow.
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