The President's Hidden Legacy

(23) A Fractured Trust

Four years had passed since Lumi first arrived in the Capitol, and in that time, she had blossomed into a stunning young woman.

Her eyes, once filled with innocence, now sparkled with a depth of understanding beyond her years.

Her fashion sense had evolved, trading rustic simplicity for sophisticated elegance. Yet, beneath her refined exterior, traces of her spirited nature still lingered, reminding all who knew her of the spirited girl from the woods.

Lumi found solace in the growing size of her family, no longer one of four, but now a family of five, soon to be even larger with the arrival of twins. Lucy Gray's pregnancy brought a sense of anticipation and excitement to their home.

Her mother talked about how much she loved having a big family, saying it reminded her of her time with the Covey, who would visit them occasionally.

Lumi's little sister, Clementine Rose, was already four years old, her platinum blonde hair shimmered in the sunlight.

Seeing her sister's hair sometimes brought a pang of sadness to Lumi. She couldn't help but reminisce about her mother's words, describing her own hair as "as bright as snow."

What a joke.

Her hair was light, though not extremely so. It was closer in color to her father's hair when he was younger.

Her sister's hair resembled their grandfather's, someone their father greatly admired.

But she couldn't shake the feeling that she only served as a reminder of the version of himself he desperately wanted to leave behind. All she seemed to do was bring back memories of his past.

Meanwhile, her two-year-old sister, Ophelia Jade, had inherited her mother's brown locks.

Despite their differing ages, Lumi couldn't help but feel a twinge of jealousy towards her sisters, a sentiment she kept buried deep within her.

Her sisters grew up with their father, while Lumi only met him when she was 13. They experienced a life of luxury, whereas she spent her formative years in the woods. While her sisters retained a mix of their parents' accent, Lumi was forced to leave hers behind.

Despite these differences, Lumi cherished her sisters and valued the unique bond they shared. Yet, there were moments when she couldn't help but feel a twinge of envy for the life they had led.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

Lumi couldn't shake the feeling of detachment from the festivities around her. Today marked a significant occasion for the Capitol, yet for her, it was just another day to put on a facade and pretend to share in the excitement.

Today, she was tasked with her final assignment: mentoring one of the tributes in the 28th Hunger Games.

As she prepared for the day, she instructed her stylist to choose something simple nothing too "capitol". Despite being regarded as somewhat of a fashion icon, she felt it would be inappropriate to dress up too much on such a somber occasion.

Today was not a day for extravagant displays.

Her stylist chose a dress Lumi had been eagerly anticipating—an ensemble inspired by her mother. The top was adorned with intricately embroidered birds, complemented by delicate flower straps. Below, a flowing white skirt with a subtle pattern completed the ensemble.

With this she could honor her district side.

Her hair cascaded down, pinned in place with delicate flower clips.