The Radiant Young Lady of the Dark Family - Chapter 13
The Hartbisa Cellie he knew was timid, spineless, and even foolish.
But even so, that wasn’t a major issue. Because she wouldn’t inherit the Cellie family.
That’s why he pushed such facts to the back of his mind. At least until confirming whether her words about Dux Mountain being affected by the blessing were true.
On the day they even discovered artifacts under the ground, Orsay said to his master.
“Could something have ‘happened’ to the young lady?”
That was the most diplomatic way he could put it. However, what ‘happened’ meant was clear.
In the monotheistic Tastian Empire, those who sold their souls and contracted with wicked demons were called ‘heretics,’ and the Cellie family’s long-standing business was eliminating such individuals.
However, being from the Cellie family didn’t make one safe from demonic whispers, and Orsay had pointed this out as soon as he saw the young lady who had changed like a different person.
Though his master had dismissed it without much thought, it seemed seeing it directly had made him worried.
To his master’s question, Orsay answered without inflection.
“While I don’t sense any magical energy, it certainly seems to be the young lady herself…”
“No, not that.”
“Pardon? Then…”
Vanwilhelm finally looked at Orsay and said.
“She definitely called me ‘Dad.’ Not ‘Father.'”
Though his expression was blank, he clearly seemed unusually excited.
“Ah, yes… it seems so.”
Though Orsay responded lifelessly in confusion, the Duke continued without minding.
“I think it’s the first time since Anelia left. She used to call me that often in the past.”
He recalled his daughter with her bright red eyes deep in thought and realized the nature of the familiar feeling he’d had.
It wasn’t just that she had changed.
Rather, it was the opposite. Perhaps she was returning to who she once was. Like spring sunshine breaking through what he had thought was an eternal darkness, warming everything in its path.
Thinking this way, incredibly, something festering in a corner of his heart seemed to melt away.
As he smiled without realizing it, he suddenly remembered Grand Duke Radant’s letter of recommendation suggesting Dux Mountain at the same peculiar timing as Hasa.
It seemed strange, as if he knew their circumstances well, but Dayan was attending their foundation’s academy.
He decided to consider it just goodwill. Even if there were other schemes, that wasn’t important right now.
The Duke called Orsay and firmly instructed.
“Orsay, tell the capital’s jewelers to send accessories that young ladies Hasa’s age would like.”
***
“It won’t budge no matter what I try.”
Hartbisa muttered this while looking at the black jewel of the artifact, which was rusty and had lost all its luster.
Artifacts’ activation conditions vary widely.
This one was a gift Wolfgang gave to the female protagonist, which later saved her life when she was infected with poison during the final battle against demons near the end of the novel.
She had chosen it thinking it would be useful to her, who had no abilities despite being from a successor family, but nothing happened no matter what she tried after receiving it.
‘Does the ability only manifest when attacked?’
There didn’t seem to be any answer no matter how much she pondered.
Hartbisa gave up and put on the necklace. It was short, making the jewel ornament fall below her collarbone.
Hartbisa roughly hid it under her clothes and rubbed her stomach. She was hungry.
Since Tar had taken full charge, she handled everything, so there was no need to face the mansion’s maids.
But a few days ago, she gave Tar a short vacation to visit her hometown. She wanted to thank her mother Azure as well before their future together.
Hartbisa considered calling another maid briefly before getting up. It was common knowledge throughout the mansion that her relationship with the Duke had greatly improved.
Above all, Salam’s gaze had become particularly sharp after she’d let her aunt slap her last time.
“Well, it should be fine now.”
As Hartbisa walked lightly toward the kitchen, several servants were gathered in front of the cloth-partitioned doorway.
They seemed to be arguing over a meal tray. Wondering if they were playing tricks with her food again, she approached quietly.
“It’s already been three days, what could he be doing in that room to skip meals?”
“If he skips today too, we’ll be completely finished by Salam. You go try again.”
“Are you crazy? If I knock again, he looked like he’d crush my wrist right then! You know that thug’s personality.”
“That thug must be Dayan.”
“Of course, it’s… eek, Young Lady!”
The servants’ faces turned white when they saw Hartbisa standing just one step behind them, listening to their conversation with a bright smile.
“H-how did you…”
“Why? Should I have stayed cooped up in my room?”
“No, that’s not it, if you had called, I would have…”
“To bring me moldy bread?”
Hartbisa responded calmly to the servant’s words with an expressionless face. Unlike her who didn’t even blink, the servant’s legs trembled as if about to fall prostrate.
Hartbisa shrugged at the sight.
‘It was a joke.’
It wasn’t like it had never happened before, yet things changed this much just from her change in attitude.
Hartbisa decided to stop the teasing there. Instead, she shifted her gaze to the meal still on the tray.
Skipping meals for three days, they said.
Dayan Cellie. Her young brother, who was five years younger than her.
Unlike Hartbisa, he was the primary heir who would inherit the Cellie family’s abilities, so her aunt didn’t interfere with him at all
But harassment wasn’t the only form of abuse. Neglecting a young child is also abuse.
In her previous life, shocked by her mother’s death, she couldn’t even take care of herself, let alone pay attention to her brother.
She thought he would be fine on his own since he was called a genius. Even though he was just a child.
‘Come to think of it, I heard he returned from the academy a few days ago.’
Hartbisa recalled her brother’s face from when she last saw him in her previous life. It was definitely the night before she left for the kingdom.
“…You all are quite bold.”
When Hartbisa finally spoke after a while, the servants’ faces looked ready to beg on hands and feet.
Though they spoke ill of him calling him a thug, actually calling him a thug was being kind.
Like how being a thug requires ability, and you get ostracized without ability like me when causing trouble, Dayan was more like, well, someone who ostracized the world itself.
But unable to say that, Hartbisa crossed her arms and said solemnly.
“How incredibly rude to speak where many ears can hear. I will decide the punishment for this myself.”
“…We will accept whatever punishment you give.”
“Good, go to Salam now and ask for more physical work.”
“What?”
“You’re having idle thoughts because your bodies aren’t tired enough.”
“But then, the young master’s meal…”
She had reconciled with her father, and now she wanted to see her dear brother’s face after so long.
Hartbisa continued at the end.
“I’ll take the meal, so run along now.”
Hartbisa pulled the trolley as she made her way to Dayan’s room. He had locked himself away and wasn’t even eating properly.
She imagined Dayan intensely focused on something in his room. Being not close with her brother, she couldn’t quite picture what he might be absorbed in.
Instead, he overlapped with the image of her younger brother from modern times. She had a younger brother with an age gap then too, who would lock himself in his room whenever possible and immerse himself in computer games. She couldn’t understand then how he would skip meals obsessing over raising his rank. Hartbisa smiled slightly.
Despite being called a genius, Dayan was still just her little brother. This thought made her steps toward his room feel more purposeful.
Reaching the deepest part of the corridor, it was quiet without any sign of life. In the somewhat lonely silence, Dayan’s door was firmly shut. Hartbisa set the trolley aside and knocked on the door.
Knock knock.
There was no answer to the knock. Wondering if Dayan had left in the meantime, Hartbisa put her ear close to the door and sensed movement inside. She knocked on the door again, a little harder this time.
Knock knock knock.
“……”
When there was still no response, she kept knocking until footsteps approached, unable to ignore it anymore. Hartbisa stepped slightly back from the door, and right on cue, the door flew open.
“I told you I wouldn’t let it slide if you came again.”
Along with the thoroughly angered voice, a boy about a span shorter than her appeared before her eyes. Her well-featured brother Dayan, with black hair like their father and already distinct features.
