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Chapter 20
A Well-Raised Brat?! (1)
A child left alone in a large room was sobbing quietly. It was a pitiful sight, yet no one was there to comfort him.
Then, the door opened, and a silver-haired man entered.
‘Aster.’
‘Sniffle. …F-Father?’
“Oh dear, were you crying again?”
Aster flinched and wiped his tears, looking up at the man. The man, wearing a compassionate expression, walked over to the child.
“I have good news, Aster. Would you like to hear it?”
“Good news…! No way! I-Is it… Can I meet Mother?!”
The child’s eyes widened, and before he realized it, he grabbed the man’s arm and shook it eagerly.
“She’s all better now? She’s not sick anymore? So I can finally see her? Right? I can see Mother—!”
“Aster.”
“Hic. Yes, Father.”
The man with bluish silver hair hesitated for a moment before letting out a low sigh.
“There’s something I need to ask you to do.”
“A favor…?”
The child’s bright red eyes wavered with confusion.
“No need to be so nervous, Aster. It’s a very small thing. All you have to do is sit still.”
“Just… sit still? If I do that, I’ll get to see Mother? She’s really all better? She’s not in pain anymore? Right?”
“Yes, that’s right, Aster. If you help me just a little, you’ll be able to see her very soon. Marianne will recover too.”
“I’ll do it! I’ll do anything! So please, please let me see Mother, Father. Please!”
“Yes, let’s do that.”
The silver-haired man, smiling kindly, stroked Aster’s head as if he were proud.
He tightly held the child’s hand and led him down to the mansion’s basement.
Into a pitch-black tunnel, like the throat of a beast.
Flicker. Flicker.
Astein rubbed his dry eyes and opened them.
What he saw first was a wide, almost empty space, a frayed-edged dining table, and worn-out chairs.
“…Was that a dream?”
It was something that had happened so long ago, and yet it felt vivid, as if it were just yesterday. Astein let out a bitter smile as he checked his intact arms and legs.
The place he had willingly walked into was the hidden magic lab of the Duchy of Sestain.
And for seven years, he had lived as an experimental subject.
“That was ages ago. Why is it still haunting me?”
His lips twisted oddly as he habitually gripped the Lysianthus pendant in his pocket.
Just then—
“Ast!”
Luciana came out from the kitchen with her hands planted on her hips and shouted.
She looked very different from ten years ago when life was wealthy—now neatly wearing a faded, worn apron.
She stomped over to Astein and narrowed her eyes threateningly.
“You… what’s gotten into you lately? You can’t even hear people talking? Huh?”
Astein simply stared at her instead of answering. Just seeing her calmed the boiling anger within him.
‘My Luciana.’
Judging by her flushed face, she was truly mad.
Did she even know how her gently drooping eyes didn’t match her angry expression at all?
How he felt watching those small lips pout slightly…
Astein’s twisted lips curved into a smooth smile.
“Did I do that?”
“Did I do that? Ha!”
Luciana snorted and glared at him, making her bright brown hair—so much like her own—sway as she moved.
But what could he do? He couldn’t help but laugh.
Astein averted his gaze slightly. If he laughed right now, she’d really blow up.
“Do you need anything else? If you do, tell me, Lucy. I’ll help with anything.”
At Astein’s gentle tone, Luciana’s brow twitched.
There was no way she didn’t catch the implication behind that smiling voice.
‘He’s teasing me. Ugh, that sly guy. He wasn’t like this before. When did he get so shameless?’
Though polite and faultless in words, Luciana found his refined mouth utterly annoying.
Taking a deep breath as if to calm her irritation, Luciana spoke primly.
“Father will be here soon. Just go out and meet him.”
7 PM.
It was almost time for Simon to return.
Luciana turned away as she tightened her loose blue apron. Then, from behind her, came a questioning voice.
“Lucy, what about you? Aren’t you coming with me?”
He asked because they always went to greet him together, but her reply was sharp. She turned her head quickly and shot him a fierce glare as if to say, “Did you really just ask me that?”
“Whose fault do you think it is I don’t have time to cook?”
“Wait… don’t tell me that ‘someone’ is me?”
“…Huh!”
Luciana jumped back in surprise at the sudden warm breath on her neck.
Astein, who had been sitting just a moment ago, was now standing right in front of her, smiling sweetly.
‘T-This psycho!’
He stood two hands taller than her, his beauty practically glowing.
His sleek black hair fell messily in front of her eyes.
Just looking at this man was enough to take one’s breath away. And now he was smiling?
Luciana smacked her hand against Astein’s chest with a flushed face.
“I told you to make some noise before moving! And don’t just pop up in people’s faces like that—!”
“Ah, sorry. My mistake. I’ll just go meet the Viscount now.”
Astein threw her a dazzling smile that could melt glaciers right over her furious nagging, then quickly slipped out of the dining room.
“…Warning, my foot. Ugh!”
Luciana fanned her flushed face. She couldn’t get used to how brazen he’d become lately.
He used to be a little unpredictable at times, but he never crossed the line. He always respected her warnings. But now—
‘Something’s definitely off.’
Like he’d suddenly let go of the reins he used to hold so tightly.
Once Astein’s presence completely faded, Luciana unknowingly frowned.
About a month ago, he started going out at night—something he never did before—and he’d become unusually chatty.
“…And that ridiculous eye-smile too.”
His eyes, curved like a sly fox’s tail, swayed seductively—way too flirtatious for comfort.
“Don’t tell me… he’s seeing someone? Why else would he act like this?”
She shook her head at the thought.
Him? That emotionally stunted guy being in a relationship?
‘Even a passing dog would laugh.’
Astein, who barely bothered with greetings and only spoke kindly to her, couldn’t possibly be romantically involved with anyone.
“Whatever. If it’s something serious, he’ll tell me eventually.”
Despite feeling uneasy, Luciana decided to turn a blind eye for now.
Unaware that this complacency might lead to disaster later on.
Just as the meal was ready, Simon and Astein entered the dining room.
“Father!”
“Oh-ho, my sweet Lucy!”
Simon spread his arms wide with a big smile, and Luciana naturally dove into his embrace.
“Thank you for your hard work again today!”
“It wasn’t hard at all. But how was your work at the flower shop? Not too tiring?”
“Of course not! Pruning and arranging flowers is no big deal. I’m a seasoned expert now, you know.”
Luciana grinned proudly. Inside, she repeated a silent plea.
‘As long as my naïve father doesn’t mess anything up, there’s no problem. So please, please don’t stir up any trouble, Dad.’
Unaware of her worry, Simon’s eyes teared up when he saw the once soft hands of his daughter now worn and rough.
“Your pretty hands… they’ve become so rough.”
“Oh come on. Not again. Sit down before the food gets cold. I’m starving.”
Luciana quickly sat Simon down and took her seat across from Astein, who was already seated—and whom she gave a quick glare.
Hard bread, stew with barely visible chunks, and a few slices of fruit.
They were used to such simple meals, and the three of them quietly began eating.
The flower shop Simon mentioned was Luciana’s workplace. A place called Fragrant Garden, known for its elegant arrangements, with a main store in the capital and branches in the commoner districts.
Of course, the real owner of the shop was Luciana herself.
But like the tragic tale of Hong Gil-dong, who couldn’t call his father “Father,” Luciana too couldn’t claim, “That flower shop is mine,” even though it was.
Ten years.
A short time for some, but long enough to change one’s fate entirely.
The past ten years had been a stormy lesson in the difference between dreams and reality for her.
To put it simply: the Viscount Wires family had completely collapsed.
The once inexhaustible flow of wealth had dried up, and their inflated prestige deflated like a balloon—until now, they barely maintained a name on the noble registry.
Even thinking about their downfall still felt ridiculous.
As cash dried up, their many mines and estates were torn apart. The greedy nobles who rushed in showed no mercy. They were swift and clean, leaving nothing behind.
Everything was gone in the blink of an eye.
‘If only Grandpa the butler hadn’t died in that accident.’
Maybe things would’ve turned out a bit better? No, if only she had realized something was wrong a little sooner—
‘No. No, even then… something was just too strange.’
