Chapter 163

C163: The Lumos Family (3)

“The excitement has gone down.”

Caiden Lumos said so, then turned and walked away.

“Ah, father!”

His son and daughter, Kamal Lumos and Katrina Lumos, rushed after Caiden. Katrina Lumos glared at Rudger and Flora standing behind him with a vicious stare before leaving.

The nobles who followed Lumos also left with Caiden and the atmosphere that had been filled with tension was relieved as many people left.

The spectators dispersed one by one and only Rudger, Flora, and Heibaek remained.

Flora had been unable to make eye contact with Rudger for a while. She had no idea how to deal with Rudger now.

“Are you all right?”

“.......”

Flora could not answer. Originally, it was right to say thank you here. But what was she thankful for? That he protected her from her abusive family or from her father who doesn’t recognize her?

If she said thank you here it was tantamount to admitting that she was treated as an abandoned child in her family.

Flora bit her lip.

‘The teacher knows. There’s no way he doesn’t know how I am.’

She knew that Rudger understood her situation.

‘But I’m.......’

Nevertheless, it is different from saying it out directly with her own mouth because she had nothing left to protect except her pride.

That was the only thing she held was a work made of very small and beautiful glass and she held it in her hand because it was so precious but the glass cracked and cracked at some point. What she had now in her hand could no longer be found in its old form.

It was broken and the glass shards dug into her palm and even wounded her. Nevertheless, she couldn’t let go. She had no choice but to grab stronger so as not to lose what she had.

She hurt herself and made her palms bloody because this is the only ‘real’ thing left to a girl who is not recognized by her family. So Flora couldn’t say thank you or sorry.

All she could do was to desperately put up with the overwhelming sadness. Then Rudger’s soft voice rang in Flora’s ears.

“Go ahead.”

Towards Flora, who raised his head in surprise, Rudger turned his head and stared at one side.

“Your friend is waiting.”

He was considerate of others even in this situation, and treats them as usual.

At the end of that gaze stood Cheryl Wagner, her old childhood friend.

“Flora...”

Cheryl didn’t have her usual bright smile on her face as if she knew it had already happened. She came up to Flora and examined her complexion.

“Flora, are you okay?”

“Yes...”

“......Let’s go back.”

“Yes.”

At Flora’s seemingly powerless voice, Cheryl bit her lip slightly, and bowed her head while glancing at Rudger. It meant thank you for helping her friend Flora.

Soon after, he watched the two people moving away, and Heibaek, who was next to him, lamented as if he was sorry.

“It’s a pity. No matter which family you were born into, that talent would be a blessing but she was born in Lumos who believed in Lumensism and was treated like that.”

“Duke Caiden, contrary to his appearance, must be a very devout believer.”

“He’s so reverent that it’s more like madness. But the better thing for that child is that she wasn’t branded.”

Rudger frowned at the remark and Heibaek nodded as if he understood.

“Lumensism brands an unclean child when he or she is born and the brand that won’t disappear during their lifetime. It’s a barbaric act of doing something terrible to a child.”

“And even justifying it by wrapping it up as God’s will.”

“But that child is not branded. If it was a guy like Caiden, it wouldn’t have been strange to have her branded.”

There was only one reason for that.

“The child’s mother, she desperately protected her.”

“Flora’s mother.......”

“Unfortunately, she left this world.”

After all, Flora Lumos lost her mother early and was not recognized by her father.

‘For that matter, her evaluation within the academy wasn’t that bad.’

Since she was the child of a concubine, it would be no wonder that some noble students would confront Flora but since no one did it meant that her position in the family has not yet been revealed to others.

‘The Lumos family hid it.’

“Yes, that’s it.”

Caiden nodded, trying to grab his son’s shoulder with his hand.

“Our Lumos family has not forgotten our grudges, so we were able to come up to this point. I’m leaving now, but I will never forget this. Do you understand?”

“......Yes.”

“If you know, that’s fine.”

“Father, what about Flora?”

Katrina, who was listening, couldn’t hold back and asked. She was humiliated in front of Flora and it was unbearable for her.

“Leave Flora alone.”

“Why? We should let them know right away that the failure is the daughter of a concubine.......”

“Then won’t her value drop?”

From his words, the two siblings could clearly feel how Caiden viewed Flora. He did not see Flora Lumos as his own flesh and blood, just a good tool to use. That was all.

Flora wouldn’t have even been treated like this if she wasn’t talented in magic. Knowing her father’s personality well, Katrina didn’t argue any more.

“......I see.”

“If you know, that’s fine.”

Caiden said so and took the lead again but Kamal and Katrina looked at their father’s back with respect. Still there was one thing Caiden Lumos didn’t say to his children.

‘The teacher.’

Caiden, who recalled Rudger staring at him, slightly opened his hand. His palms were covered with cold sweat.

‘It’s a dangerous guy.’

The reason Caiden didn’t provoke Rudger was because of his instinctive intuition. The various experiences he had while ascending to the role of family leader and the sensibility and instinctive senses accumulated as a result told him not to fight Rudger so he left. Rudger had a sense of pressure that could only be felt from a king.

‘But Lumos never forgets his grudge.’

A grudge must be repaid. Because it was the history of Lumos and the driving force that brought the family to this point. He, the leader of the family, felt the fact more keenly than anyone else.

* * *

“Really. He almost got into trouble again.”

Elisa shook her head as she watched Caiden Lumos stepping down from afar with an opera glass. However, a smile lingered around her mouth, considering that she actually said so.

“As expected, you’re quick-witted because you’re going.”

Elisa put the opera glasses on the table. Wilford, who was pouring tea next to her, asked.

“Did he?”

“Duke Caiden stepped down after learning that I was watching. He realized at once that it’s not good for him to be emotional.”

“But considering his personality, he won’t forget it easily. I think he’ll keep it in mind for a long time.”

“I suppose so. The Lumos claim to be a noble eagle, but they are narrower than a snake.”

The Lumos family was one of the masters of magic, but it was their poison and obsession that made the name of the Lumos more known. The most representative example was the conflict with the Deville family.

The Deville family was once a vassal of Lumos. However, after some kind of incident, they went under Kadushan.

Lumos was constantly putting pressure on the Deville family to stop using the eagle emblem for 100 years. However, Veronica Deville, the current leader of the Deville family, did not respond.

Veronica, the deputy leader of Cold Steel, used the eagle emblem openly as if she was laughing at Lumos’ demands.

“There is no way that duke Lumos, who is so tough, will give up easily, right?”

“You look quite happy.”

“Of course. I’m confident in Mr. Rudger.”

“Are you sure?”

“I knew for sure when I saw his attitude of standing up to the Duke for his student. I can trust him properly.”

Elisa has suspected Rudger several times before. In fact, it was not only Rudger, but also other people. However, Rudger seemed particularly extraordinary, so she only kept her doubts of him for a short time.

However, considering the various actions Rudger has made so far, he has never been a bad man. Of course, she is still concerned that this was an act in order to gain her trust.

‘No way.’

No one would share a new magic with his students in order to gain her trust. And a person who acts to ingratiate himself is bound to be obvious but Rudger had no explicit appeal to others for his good deeds.

‘Of course, he’s a person who hides a lot of things.’

Wouldn’t that make him more attractive?

Elisha was sure that Rudger will be the center of action against the noble faction in Theon.

“So, please take care of me from now on Mr. Rudger.’

* * *

‘What?’

Rudger suddenly shivered from the chill running down his spine.