Chapter 380: Chapter 380

Lowell, holding Rodelin’s hand, stepped into the dining hall and bowed her head.

A woman greeted them with a bright smile.

“You’re here? I’m glad you both aren’t late.”

The eldest daughter of the family, and the one who, at just seventeen, had already been given the title of “Hero,” rewriting every record across the continent in real time.

The eldest son of the family, a prodigy whose insight surpassed his years, standing out in economics, management, administration, military, and politics.

These two were the very people who gave rise to the saying: “Even if Duke Luke suddenly disappeared, the Lucid family would stand strong.”

They were sitting right in front of Lowell.

“Sorry. I got carried away playing with Delin. We ended up going too far.”

“Being late for something like that… Are you out of your mind? If you’d been just a bit later, you would have…”

“Lucas, that’s enough. She made it on time. And she had a good reason.”

“A good reason? How is playing around a reason?”

“They’re still kids. Let them play a little.”

“…It’s because you keep treating them like kids that she’s still .”

“Alright, then. I’ll treat you like a kid too. Our adorable Lucas, want a candy from your pretty big sister?”

Lucas sharply turned his head away. Lucia hovered around him, teasing as usual.

Meanwhile, Lowell quietly found her seat.

The two in front of her were undeniably family by blood. But Lowell always thought—

Lucia, of course. But Lucas was no ordinary person either.

—Maximum firepower with minimum resources. ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴀɴᴛ ᴛᴏ ʀᴇᴀᴅ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs, ᴘʟᴇᴀsᴇ ᴠɪsɪᴛ novel⁂fire.net

A famous quote that made his name known across the continent.

He applied it not only to battle, but also to administrative work, maximizing efficiency.

He cut out old officials who were just occupying space and gave authority and decision-making power to middle management.

It was said that work efficiency had increased by 30% compared to before.

Recently, he had devised a strategy to eliminate a Grade 3 archdemon that had troubled the Empire for half a year.

He was awarded an 8th-class honor by the Emperor himself and was rising rapidly in recognition.

And he was still only twenty years old, with a bright future ahead.

There was only one issue.

‘That someone like Lucia exists in this world.’

A war hero, youngest knight ever, youngest hero, number one in sparring win rate, “bed queen” (?), even ranked number one in a mystery men’s magazine called “Big Women.”

Each step she took was becoming a record and a legend.

What was most shocking—

‘She’s still only twenty-five. And this isn’t even her prime.’

A genius among geniuses.

A monster among monsters.

Having someone like that above him, Lucas must constantly think, “Why did the heavens create Lucia before me!”

‘I do feel kind of bad for him.’

Lowell thought, watching Lucas desperately fend off Lucia’s kiss.

‘Well, I’m not much better off.’

She’d always had some idea, but it became painfully clear after entering Annwood Academy.

That she was just average.

—From the Lucid family… There goes the top seat.

—Well, it’s fine. Given the circumstances, the runner-up will be treated like the real top anyway.

—Better be friendly with her?

—Should I ask her to teach me swordsmanship?

Everyone approached her calling her a “monster.”

But that label disappeared in less than a month.

She showed no standout talent in academics, sparring, or actual combat.

The turning point was when a kid said, “She’s a monster, so even if I throw it where she can’t see, she’ll catch it!”—and threw a fork.

It stuck in the back of Lowell’s head during a meal, and she was rushed straight to the infirmary.

Only then was she finally freed from the “monster” label.

‘When I was at the Academy, I thought I’d be happy just to get away from it… But now that I’m back, this place is just as suffocating.’

The dining hall where Lowell now sat—

A special space where only members of the Lucid family could sit.

Lowell hated it. More precisely, she hated the stiff discipline and order that filled the place.

Meticulously arranged furniture, lion banners hung at set intervals, portraits of past heads of the family.

But what Lowell hated the most was—

‘Doesn’t this thing ever rot?’

The absurdly long table that made the wide space feel cramped.

So long it made you question whether it was even meant for communal dining.

She’d heard it had been passed down since the founding of the Lucid family.

At a glance, it had to be several hundred years old.

Whenever she saw that long table, Lowell would always think—

A stale object symbolizing the family’s authority.

The space made her shoulders sag with frustration.

But unlike the Academy, this place had a small window of relief.

‘Why is our Delin so cute?’

Rodelin sat beside her with a stern expression.

She even had her arms crossed, looking every bit the part of a noble.

The problem was, she was doing it while sitting on a booster cushion.

In the end, Lowell picked up Rodelin and sat her on her lap.

“Delin, sit here. I’ll feed you.”

“I can eat by myself.”

Rodelin pouted as she grumbled.

Had she gotten used to eating alone while Lowell was away?

But no one was better at coaxing Rodelin than Lowell.

“Really? Our Delin’s all grown up. You’re a big girl now!”

Rodelin even raised her nose proudly.

She seemed to have completely forgotten their earlier argument about eating alone.

‘Praise really is the best way to handle a kid.’

Just as Lowell was reeling Rodelin in with near-cheating levels of praise—

“The Duke and Duchess are entering.”

Said a servant standing by the hallway entrance.

Everyone rose from their seats and showed proper etiquette.

But no one sat down until Duke Luke took the head seat. Only then did everyone lower themselves into their chairs.

Lowell once again placed Rodelin on her lap.

Then, she suddenly felt a certain gaze.

When she looked around, she found its source. Ariane, with a gentle smile, was looking at her.

A smile so beautiful it felt like the world was blooming in flowers.

But Lowell understood. The true meaning hidden behind that smile.

‘What do you think you’re doing? Put her down this instant!’

It seemed that the leniency ended here.

“It’s better if you sit separately. Our Delin is a grown-up, after all.”

Lowell lifted Rodelin and moved her back to her original seat.

Because she knew very well how scary their mother could be when she was angry.

“Here is the appetizer.”

The servants began bringing out the food one by one.

A family meal held once a week.

Since Lowell had enrolled in Annwood Academy this year, this was her first time attending in nearly four months.

‘But nothing’s changed.’

At the head sat Duke Luke.

To his diagonal sides were Ariane and Lucia.

Next to them was Lucas.

And as for her and Rodelin? Both were seated at the far end of the table.

That’s right. Even after nearly four months, nothing had changed.

The table so long she could barely see their faces, the seating arrangement, and the way she was treated.

Not a single thing had changed.

But Lowell began eating without complaint. She was no longer at the age to be hurt by things .

While they ate, Duke Luke finally spoke.

‘Did he just call me? Not Lucia or Lucas?’

Ariane rolled her eyes slightly, signaling that he meant her.

It was a rare occasion for Duke Luke to speak to her directly—maybe once or twice a year.

She was surprised on the inside, but calmly continued chewing, set down her fork, and responded.

“It’s been a while. I heard you enrolled in Annwood Academy. So, what rank did you place?”

Ariane’s face stiffened. The same happened to Lucia and Lucas.

43rd out of about 300 students. Objectively, it wasn’t a bad rank.

But the problem was that Lowell was a member of the Lucid family.

A noble house among noble houses. A gathering of monsters.

By that standard, it was a disaster.

She wasn’t even in the Advanced Class, so her actual rank was likely well over 100.

‘It can’t be helped. I’m just an ordinary person.’

If effort won’t change anything, then there’s no reason to keep trying.

Getting a decent job, working moderately, living off the family’s wealth, and dying peacefully.

That was Lowell’s dream and goal.

Besides, Lowell had always been a girly girl by nature.

She hated fighting, and she hated even more the training required to fight well.

“N-next time, I’ll do better. It was just my first time, that’s all.”

“I see. I’ll look forward to it.”

That was the end of their conversation. Duke Luke shifted the topic—to one that only Lucia and Lucas could engage in.

Lowell had hoped to talk more with her father since it had been a while, but it was impossible.

‘Because I don’t even have the right to ask questions.’

There was a unique tradition within the Lucid family.

‘The Cloak Ceremony.’

A ceremony where the head of the family personally bestows a cloak bearing the lion insignia to their children.

From that day forward, those who receive it are officially recognized as members of the Lucid family and are permitted to engrave the lion mark on their belongings.

‘Usually by age ten. Twelve at the latest.’

Lowell clenched her fist tightly.

That’s right. Lowell had still not received the cloak. Despite being fifteen years old.

To inherit the blood of the lion and still lack talent was a serious issue.

On top of that, her frail constitution meant she developed more slowly than her peers. If the family hadn’t fed her expensive elixirs, she would’ve been even smaller now.

‘Still… they could’ve at least given me the cloak.’

Not receiving the cloak was akin to saying she wasn’t recognized as family.

Lowell trembled, her clenched fists shaking.

She turned her head at the sound of someone vigorously chewing meat.

It was Rodelin. Maybe because cutting it was too hard, she was gnawing on a steak the size of her face, skewered on a fork.

“…How very grown-up of you.”

Lowell chuckled softly and cut her own steak, offering it to Rodelin.

The steak marked with Rodelin’s bite marks naturally became Lowell’s.

‘It’s okay if I’m not recognized. As long as you are, Delin.’

Unlike her, Rodelin might have talent. No—she definitely had incredible talent.

‘I can feel it in my gut.’

If Rodelin showed promise in any area, Lowell would help nurture it.

She would support her dreams.

Help her bloom her talent, receive the lion cloak, and be recognized as a member of the family.

‘I’ll do everything I can for her.’

She was even saving up pocket money for Rodelin.

A piggy bank so stuffed it held more gold coins than silver.

Lowell’s second most precious treasure.

And the first? That was obvious.

At that lonely and overlooked corner of the dining hall, Lowell smiled brightly.

Imagining Rodelin one day wearing the lion cloak.

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