Arthas April 15, 2024 No comments
Don't forget to rate and review the novel on Novelupdates
Luna Winfred was a child born amidst the high expectations of many.
Her parents, like many other nobles, had entered into a political marriage solely to strengthen the ties between their families, and there was little room for genuine affection and mutual respect to bloom in such a hollow union.
While everyone in the mansion celebrated Luna's birth, her parents exchanged curses behind her back. It was a conflict sparked solely by the fact that she was a daughter, not a son.
Luna grew up under the care of the servants for a considerable period of time.
The occasional glances from her parents were half-dead, regarding her not as their child but as a flawed product.
Then, one day, a second blessing arrived at the mansion.
The destined leader to guide all, the hero who would save the empire from evil, the brightest northern sun to ever shine.
With words that were close to a blessing from the Grand Priest, a new life was born.
"It's undoubtedly a son! Congratulations on the birth of the heir!"
"Haha, it seems that infinite prosperity is finally coming to the Winfred family."
"If it had been another daughter like Lady Luna... the mere thought is horrifying."
"Shh! Heaven forbid the young lady hears you. Lower your voice."
The reactions were entirely different from the ones that greeted her birth.
The half-dead eyes of her parents now sparkled with excitement and anticipation, and the guests who had been offering formal congratulations seemed to be genuinely celebrating the family's prosperity this time.
That night, Luna lay awake, for as a young girl barely able to form words, she was bitterly frustrated by the fact that no one expected anything from her.
She changed.
She hid herself behind a dazzling smile and a mask, and she whipped herself forward with relentless harshness. She gave her heart to no one, and she studied tirelessly, not even taking a day off.
It was a time of excruciating hardship.
Every moment, despair threatened to consume her sanity, but she didn't care.
It wasn't just Luna who changed.
The way her parents looked at her changed, and the impact of her words on the mansion changed.
Over time, she grew to the point where she could proudly put her name on the list of candidates for the next head of the family.
If you work hard, you will be recognized.
She fueled her life with burning ambition and recognition.
Then one day, it happened.
A commoner woman came to the Duke's mansion with a child bearing the Winfred blood.
"Hello, my name is Kyle."
The untainted, transparent smile, and the blue eyes that couldn't seem to look away from her — it was a stimulus that was too fresh for Luna, who had lived her whole life with endurance.
Kyle had effortlessly unlocked the firmly closed gates of her heart.
Was it because Luna was still young? Or was it because Kyle was somehow special?
The affectionate gaze in his eyes, the innocent smile that bloomed on his face with every word she spoke — all of it was startlingly unfamiliar to Luna.
She avoided Kyle from that day on.
She distanced herself with excuses, and she consistently ignored Kyle's inquiries about her well-being.
She didn't lash out at Kyle with bitter words. Deep down, she wasn't entirely displeased with Kyle's attention towards her.
— Wait, do you really memorize all of this every day?
— Impressive, I still can't even read the letters properly.
— The heir? Of course you can do it! You've worked harder than anyone else in this mansion.
No matter how much she pushed him away, Kyle clung to her like a magnet.
From that point on, her days, once as blank as a canvas, gradually became tainted by Kyle.
— It's not a gift, silly. Don't you remember? Today is your birthday.
— It's the chef's special sandwich that you like. You haven't eaten anything yet, right?
— If you become the head of the Winfred family, that would be wonderful.
The warm words, brimming with care and devoid of any condescension, melted her frozen heart.
In front of Kyle, she would unwittingly display her childish whims, like a typical noble maiden.
Kyle was a bastard child. He was an unwelcome guest whom no one in the mansion welcomed.
Yet, she knew that being seen associating with Kyle would give those who disliked her a reason to attack.
— I wish we could continue to be like this forever.
She had to admit that in this mansion, Kyle was the only one she could truly call family.
A single tear fell silently.
Ah, she had been so lonely.
That's why her emotions were in such turmoil.
She no longer avoided him. She no longer kept her distance and treated him normally, without exaggeration.
It was on a day when lightning split the clouds…
— Kyle Winfred.
— It's probably time to take care of that child.
As she walked down the dark corridor, a voice came through the crack of an open door. It was a familiar voice—her mother, the Duchess, and Ian Winfred.
— You mean to kill him?
— Yes, that would be the cleanest solution, don't you think?
— Have you spoken to Father about this?
— There's no need to ask him. He couldn't care less about a bastard like that. He probably doesn’t even know his name yet.
— I shall do as you wish, Mother.
— Haha, well, I've already made preparations a long time ago. Just wait until tomorrow.
Luna's eyes widened in horrified realization; the words about killing Kyle sent her mind into a frenzy.
Their plan to kill him was not a mere jest. As a bastard, his death would not concern anyone in the mansion.
Kyle would die.
And there was nothing she could do to stop it. In this mansion, the Duchess's word was absolute.
She was consumed with despair; her breath grew shallow, and her limbs trembled uncontrollably.
She wanted to run away from this place right now. But if she did, Kyle would surely die.
Kyle’s voice echoed in her mind, flashing white like lightning. His addictive voice, saying that he wanted to be with her forever, rang in her brain.
Luna's deliberation did not take long.
— You seem to be telling an interesting story.
When Luna opened the door and entered, the Duchess's eyes narrowed.
— I have a better idea.
She did not back down. She hid behind a smiling facade and closed her eyes as she smiled.
— Would you like to hear it?
She had to save Kyle. This single-minded determination was the only thing that burned away her reason.
* * * * *
From that day on, Luna began to torment Kyle.
— Sister? Why suddenly...
— Shut up!
Luna shouted, and the fear seeped into Kyle's gaze towards her.
It was agonizing.
— From now on, reduce Kyle's meals to two servings per day.
— What? Two servings?
— Yes, the same as the servants' meals.
Following the Duchess's suggestion, the meal restrictions were implemented. From that day, Kyle's words became drastically limited.
— Send a letter to Lady Chloe.
— ...Exactly as written?
— Yes, not a single word missing.
Based on what the Duchess relayed, Luna maliciously tarnished Kyle's reputation. The name Kyle Winfred soon became a byword for a scoundrel across the empire.
No one in the manor could be trusted, as they were all the Duchess's pawns.
At least this was better than him dying in vain.
It was an unavoidable choice to save him.
She went through countless self-justifications as she struggled day by day. However, all that returned to her was nothing but a mire-like despair.
— Ian will begin his training to succeed as the head of the family.
— Luna Winfred, you are excluded from the candidate list.
Luna was officially removed from the list of successors. The elders of the family had begun to doubt her qualifications, and the prevailing opinion was to exclude her.
Their reasons were twofold — the inherent flaw of being a woman, and the inhumane actions she had frequently taken against Kyle.
And that was when Luna suddenly realized.
Ah, it was all the Duchess's machination.
A trick that one could see through with a little thought, and she had been temporarily blinded.
But even if she had known her scheme in advance, what would have changed? After all, her choice to save Kyle would not have been any different.
Luna bowed her head in laughter, and then suddenly screamed. The actions she took to save Kyle turned back on her as poison.
The lifelong goal she had aspired to had shattered in an instant.
Faced with the cruel reality before her, Luna began to descend into madness.
— ...Are you okay?
Upon hearing the news, Kyle looked at her with sympathy. The clump of emotions that had built up in her heart unwittingly directed itself towards Kyle.
If only you had not approached me that day we first met.
If only you had not captivated me with your warm words.
If only you were not a bastard child.
Or better yet, if you had never stepped foot in this mansion.
Luna unleashed a torrent of profanity, and Kyle's blue eyes were tinged with deep disappointment.
I saved you.
I saved you, yet suffered such dreadful humiliation just to keep you alive.
Surely, this bit of venting is warranted.
If you have any conscience, you shouldn't look at me that way.
Luna unleashed her lost fury.
Inside her, Kyle Winfred shattered into pieces.
Out of anguish, and out of hatred.
The contradictory emotions that clung haphazardly bore their bitter fruit.
On a day when the entire world seemed blanketed in white, Kyle began battling a severe bout of the flu, his condition critical because Luna, angered by his backtalk, had confiscated all the bedding and sleepwear from his room.
That's when Luna realized.
That something had gone dreadfully wrong.
The fact that she had nearly killed Kyle with her own hands tore through her sanity.
— Call the physician immediately!
Her heart was pounding as if it would burst through her ribs; every breath she took was agonizing, as if her lungs were pierced.
— The symptoms are not looking good.
— What has his usual diet been like?
— He is in a severe state of malnutrition. Self-recovery will be difficult in this condition.
Luna stared at the physician with unfocused eyes and soon, the physician's tightly sealed lips parted.
— We need a special tonic.
— Not just any tonic, but a specially consecrated one from the divine.
However, Luna did not hesitate.
She poured out her savings to procure the tonic after a long search.
Carefully, she entered Kyle's room.
Kyle's flushed face was gasping for breath.
— So, I just have to give him this tonic, right?"
— Yes, if you don't mind, I can-"
— No, it's fine. Just step out for a moment."
Alone in the room, she gently brushed Kyle's bangs aside — the sleeping Kyle was beautiful; the image of him, who had once expressed the desire to be with her, flashed through her mind.
I'm sorry.
I wasn't in my right mind.
A whirlwind swept through a corner of her heart.
She carefully parted his lips and placed the tonic inside; after ensuring the tonic had passed down his esophagus, she quietly left the room.
The next day, a servant reported that Kyle had risen from his sickbed.
From then on, she gradually reduced her torment of Kyle.
Simultaneously, she pondered.
What method could safely remove Kyle from this mansion?
The answer was closer than she thought.
— Who is this woman?
— Isabel Yustia. She is the noble daughter of the Count Yustia family.
— Hmm, the conditions seem quite favorable.
A political marriage.
Marriage was the only possible escape route to remove Kyle from this mansion.
Arthas April 15, 2024 No comments
Don't forget to rate and review the novel on Novelupdates
Luna Winfred was a child born amidst the high expectations of many.
Her parents, like many other nobles, had entered into a political marriage solely to strengthen the ties between their families, and there was little room for genuine affection and mutual respect to bloom in such a hollow union.
While everyone in the mansion celebrated Luna's birth, her parents exchanged curses behind her back. It was a conflict sparked solely by the fact that she was a daughter, not a son.
Luna grew up under the care of the servants for a considerable period of time.
The occasional glances from her parents were half-dead, regarding her not as their child but as a flawed product.
Then, one day, a second blessing arrived at the mansion.
The destined leader to guide all, the hero who would save the empire from evil, the brightest northern sun to ever shine.
With words that were close to a blessing from the Grand Priest, a new life was born.
"It's undoubtedly a son! Congratulations on the birth of the heir!"
"Haha, it seems that infinite prosperity is finally coming to the Winfred family."
"If it had been another daughter like Lady Luna... the mere thought is horrifying."
"Shh! Heaven forbid the young lady hears you. Lower your voice."
The reactions were entirely different from the ones that greeted her birth.
The half-dead eyes of her parents now sparkled with excitement and anticipation, and the guests who had been offering formal congratulations seemed to be genuinely celebrating the family's prosperity this time.
That night, Luna lay awake, for as a young girl barely able to form words, she was bitterly frustrated by the fact that no one expected anything from her.
She changed.
She hid herself behind a dazzling smile and a mask, and she whipped herself forward with relentless harshness. She gave her heart to no one, and she studied tirelessly, not even taking a day off.
It was a time of excruciating hardship.
Every moment, despair threatened to consume her sanity, but she didn't care.
It wasn't just Luna who changed.
The way her parents looked at her changed, and the impact of her words on the mansion changed.
Over time, she grew to the point where she could proudly put her name on the list of candidates for the next head of the family.
If you work hard, you will be recognized.
She fueled her life with burning ambition and recognition.
Then one day, it happened.
A commoner woman came to the Duke's mansion with a child bearing the Winfred blood.
"Hello, my name is Kyle."
The untainted, transparent smile, and the blue eyes that couldn't seem to look away from her — it was a stimulus that was too fresh for Luna, who had lived her whole life with endurance.
Kyle had effortlessly unlocked the firmly closed gates of her heart.
Was it because Luna was still young? Or was it because Kyle was somehow special?
The affectionate gaze in his eyes, the innocent smile that bloomed on his face with every word she spoke — all of it was startlingly unfamiliar to Luna.
She avoided Kyle from that day on.
She distanced herself with excuses, and she consistently ignored Kyle's inquiries about her well-being.
She didn't lash out at Kyle with bitter words. Deep down, she wasn't entirely displeased with Kyle's attention towards her.
— Wait, do you really memorize all of this every day?
— Impressive, I still can't even read the letters properly.
— The heir? Of course you can do it! You've worked harder than anyone else in this mansion.
No matter how much she pushed him away, Kyle clung to her like a magnet.
From that point on, her days, once as blank as a canvas, gradually became tainted by Kyle.
— It's not a gift, silly. Don't you remember? Today is your birthday.
— It's the chef's special sandwich that you like. You haven't eaten anything yet, right?
— If you become the head of the Winfred family, that would be wonderful.
The warm words, brimming with care and devoid of any condescension, melted her frozen heart.
In front of Kyle, she would unwittingly display her childish whims, like a typical noble maiden.
Kyle was a bastard child. He was an unwelcome guest whom no one in the mansion welcomed.
Yet, she knew that being seen associating with Kyle would give those who disliked her a reason to attack.
— I wish we could continue to be like this forever.
She had to admit that in this mansion, Kyle was the only one she could truly call family.
A single tear fell silently.
Ah, she had been so lonely.
That's why her emotions were in such turmoil.
She no longer avoided him. She no longer kept her distance and treated him normally, without exaggeration.
It was on a day when lightning split the clouds…
— Kyle Winfred.
— It's probably time to take care of that child.
As she walked down the dark corridor, a voice came through the crack of an open door. It was a familiar voice—her mother, the Duchess, and Ian Winfred.
— You mean to kill him?
— Yes, that would be the cleanest solution, don't you think?
— Have you spoken to Father about this?
— There's no need to ask him. He couldn't care less about a bastard like that. He probably doesn’t even know his name yet.
— I shall do as you wish, Mother.
— Haha, well, I've already made preparations a long time ago. Just wait until tomorrow.
Luna's eyes widened in horrified realization; the words about killing Kyle sent her mind into a frenzy.
Their plan to kill him was not a mere jest. As a bastard, his death would not concern anyone in the mansion.
Kyle would die.
And there was nothing she could do to stop it. In this mansion, the Duchess's word was absolute.
She was consumed with despair; her breath grew shallow, and her limbs trembled uncontrollably.
She wanted to run away from this place right now. But if she did, Kyle would surely die.
Kyle’s voice echoed in her mind, flashing white like lightning. His addictive voice, saying that he wanted to be with her forever, rang in her brain.
Luna's deliberation did not take long.
— You seem to be telling an interesting story.
When Luna opened the door and entered, the Duchess's eyes narrowed.
— I have a better idea.
She did not back down. She hid behind a smiling facade and closed her eyes as she smiled.
— Would you like to hear it?
She had to save Kyle. This single-minded determination was the only thing that burned away her reason.
* * * * *
From that day on, Luna began to torment Kyle.
— Sister? Why suddenly...
— Shut up!
Luna shouted, and the fear seeped into Kyle's gaze towards her.
It was agonizing.
— From now on, reduce Kyle's meals to two servings per day.
— What? Two servings?
— Yes, the same as the servants' meals.
Following the Duchess's suggestion, the meal restrictions were implemented. From that day, Kyle's words became drastically limited.
— Send a letter to Lady Chloe.
— ...Exactly as written?
— Yes, not a single word missing.
Based on what the Duchess relayed, Luna maliciously tarnished Kyle's reputation. The name Kyle Winfred soon became a byword for a scoundrel across the empire.
No one in the manor could be trusted, as they were all the Duchess's pawns.
At least this was better than him dying in vain.
It was an unavoidable choice to save him.
She went through countless self-justifications as she struggled day by day. However, all that returned to her was nothing but a mire-like despair.
— Ian will begin his training to succeed as the head of the family.
— Luna Winfred, you are excluded from the candidate list.
Luna was officially removed from the list of successors. The elders of the family had begun to doubt her qualifications, and the prevailing opinion was to exclude her.
Their reasons were twofold — the inherent flaw of being a woman, and the inhumane actions she had frequently taken against Kyle.
And that was when Luna suddenly realized.
Ah, it was all the Duchess's machination.
A trick that one could see through with a little thought, and she had been temporarily blinded.
But even if she had known her scheme in advance, what would have changed? After all, her choice to save Kyle would not have been any different.
Luna bowed her head in laughter, and then suddenly screamed. The actions she took to save Kyle turned back on her as poison.
The lifelong goal she had aspired to had shattered in an instant.
Faced with the cruel reality before her, Luna began to descend into madness.
— ...Are you okay?
Upon hearing the news, Kyle looked at her with sympathy. The clump of emotions that had built up in her heart unwittingly directed itself towards Kyle.
If only you had not approached me that day we first met.
If only you had not captivated me with your warm words.
If only you were not a bastard child.
Or better yet, if you had never stepped foot in this mansion.
Luna unleashed a torrent of profanity, and Kyle's blue eyes were tinged with deep disappointment.
I saved you.
I saved you, yet suffered such dreadful humiliation just to keep you alive.
Surely, this bit of venting is warranted.
If you have any conscience, you shouldn't look at me that way.
Luna unleashed her lost fury.
Inside her, Kyle Winfred shattered into pieces.
Out of anguish, and out of hatred.
The contradictory emotions that clung haphazardly bore their bitter fruit.
On a day when the entire world seemed blanketed in white, Kyle began battling a severe bout of the flu, his condition critical because Luna, angered by his backtalk, had confiscated all the bedding and sleepwear from his room.
That's when Luna realized.
That something had gone dreadfully wrong.
The fact that she had nearly killed Kyle with her own hands tore through her sanity.
— Call the physician immediately!
Her heart was pounding as if it would burst through her ribs; every breath she took was agonizing, as if her lungs were pierced.
— The symptoms are not looking good.
— What has his usual diet been like?
— He is in a severe state of malnutrition. Self-recovery will be difficult in this condition.
Luna stared at the physician with unfocused eyes and soon, the physician's tightly sealed lips parted.
— We need a special tonic.
— Not just any tonic, but a specially consecrated one from the divine.
However, Luna did not hesitate.
She poured out her savings to procure the tonic after a long search.
Carefully, she entered Kyle's room.
Kyle's flushed face was gasping for breath.
— So, I just have to give him this tonic, right?"
— Yes, if you don't mind, I can-"
— No, it's fine. Just step out for a moment."
Alone in the room, she gently brushed Kyle's bangs aside — the sleeping Kyle was beautiful; the image of him, who had once expressed the desire to be with her, flashed through her mind.
I'm sorry.
I wasn't in my right mind.
A whirlwind swept through a corner of her heart.
She carefully parted his lips and placed the tonic inside; after ensuring the tonic had passed down his esophagus, she quietly left the room.
The next day, a servant reported that Kyle had risen from his sickbed.
From then on, she gradually reduced her torment of Kyle.
Simultaneously, she pondered.
What method could safely remove Kyle from this mansion?
The answer was closer than she thought.
— Who is this woman?
— Isabel Yustia. She is the noble daughter of the Count Yustia family.
— Hmm, the conditions seem quite favorable.
A political marriage.
Marriage was the only possible escape route to remove Kyle from this mansion.
