The Radiant Young Lady of the Dark Family - Chapter 18
Hasa sprawled out in a corner of the library with her hands and feet outstretched. Only then did Dayan seem to notice her, briefly glancing at his sister before returning his gaze to his book and speaking. “Go rest now.” “No, I’ll read a bit before going back.”
Hasa straightened her back as she replied. She randomly picked up an Empire history book from the shelves and sat across from Dayan. Dayan shrugged and turned his attention back to the materials spread before him.
Dayan focused intently on his book with his dark eyes. His cheeks still showed baby fat, looking plump when he closed his mouth. She couldn’t help but smile, noticing how cute he looked when still.
Hasa suddenly grew curious about what had captured his attention so completely. She discreetly glanced at the book he was studying.
A couple of books lay open. One seemed to be Dayan’s notebook, but what was the other?
The handwriting in cursive looked familiar. It resembled her father’s handwriting from the notes in the book he had given her. Perhaps sensing her gaze, Dayan spoke abruptly. “It’s Father’s personally written succession document.”
“Succession document?”
As she scanned the contents, she saw it contained diary-style entries about the order of succession for the Cellie family’s blessing, its symptoms, and how to contain and manage them within one’s body.
The blessing is inherited by the firstborn, typically through a succession ceremony after they come of age. However, signs of the blessing steadily accumulate in the firstborn’s body even before the ceremony.
“Similar symptoms will likely appear in me too.”
The succession document appeared to be a guide for preparing for these symptoms. In her previous life, she had heard from Wolfgang that these “blessing symptoms” could include nightmares and feelings of being torn apart.
However, Wolfgang had said he overcame these processes through direct guidance from his father. Certainly, hearing and asking questions of one’s predecessor would be more reassuring than just reading records.
After brief consideration, Hasa carefully looked at Dayan and spoke. “Wouldn’t it be better to hear directly from Father? He’s at the mansion these days.”
“I know.”
“….”
“But we’re both busy.”
Seeing Hasa looking at him worriedly, Dayan firmly stated: “This is well organized too. So this is better.”
***
Tar gently brushed Hasa’s freshly washed hair. Though no perfume had been used, brushing Hasa’s hair felt like being in a flower garden, filled with fragrance. While contemplating this sensation and carefully brushing downward, Tar’s gaze caught her serious expression in the mirror.
Concerned about the dark clouds over her usually bright face, Tar carefully asked. “Is something troubling you, Miss?”
Remembering Tar’s previous help, Hasa considered sharing her concerns but hesitated, wondering if it was appropriate to discuss issues involving her father and Dayan.
Tar blinked patiently, waiting for Hasa, who finally opened up slightly after some deliberation. “Well, this isn’t my concern but a friend’s…”
Tar’s eyes widened before her lips curved into a smile as she nodded. “Yes, please continue.”
Hasa turned to look at Tar as she continued. “So my friend says she’s worried because her younger brother and father seem to live with their backs turned to each other.”
“Did they have a fight?”
“No, I don’t think so. Neither of them is the type to show when something’s wrong or voice their concerns. I just wish they could be closer than they are now…”
As she spoke, Hasa wondered if she might be interfering too much in a situation where there wasn’t really a major problem. They had lived well enough this way, and some might consider her meddlesome.
But somehow Hasa felt that to prevent the extinction of the Cellie family, they needed to stand united as a family at the core. Since they had each lived their own separate lives in her previous life, perhaps this time they could lean on each other as family.
Tar pressed her lips together, seemingly surprised. When she had spoken of driving out her aunt, or when she had confidently taken care of the young master’s meals after his long absence, the young lady had always overflowed with confidence, but this time was different.
Seeing her uncertain face, Tar wanted to be helpful and carefully began after considering an appropriate response. “I sometimes fight with my mother too.”
“With Azure?”
“Yes, she’s so strict with me. Actually, this is a secret, but when I was younger, even though she was clearly my mother, I felt hurt because it seemed like she only thought about the madam, young lady, and young master. So I would deliberately disobey her.”
At the end of her words, Tar acted out her past self, pursing her lips and narrowing her eyes grumpily. Hasa couldn’t help but laugh with a deflating sound, and Tar continued with a gentle smile.
“Back then, mother brought lily of the valley flowers, saying we couldn’t tell lies in front of them. At first, I didn’t understand what she meant, but later, during dinner with the lily of the valley in the vase, we ended up only speaking truthfully to each other.”
“Lily of the valley.”
Hasa murmured softly, as if remembering something.
“Like magic, my hurt feelings came out, and when Mother heard them, she said she finally understood my true feelings and paid more attention to me than before.”
“That’s it.”
At Hasa’s words, Tar’s eyes curved as she nodded. “Yes, when I asked where she learned such a rule, she said she learned it from the Duchess.”
Only then did Hasa recall a distant memory. It was a game they often played in the garden before her mother passed away.
It was her mother’s rule that lily of the valley bloomed in the night garden, and during teatime there, no lies could be told.
It was such an old memory that she had completely forgotten it, but Hasa’s face brightened. “Thank you, Tar. I should definitely arrange a teatime for everyone.”
Hasa held Tar’s hands as she spoke, then quickly corrected herself upon seeing Tar’s smile. “I mean, I’ll advise my friend to have a teatime. Haha.”
“I’m glad I could help.”
Tar returned Hasa’s bright smile.
***
Vanwilhelm checked the cute rabbit-decorated letter paper several times. Written in handwriting as lovely as the stationery itself, it read:
[Dad is invited to the Night Garden.
Rule: No lies can be told in the Night Garden.]
The Night Garden. It was a name he hadn’t heard in a long time. It was the name of the only garden in the stark Cellie mansion. Though one might think it was named after the dark Chelsea territory, it was actually named by Anelia for the white lily of the valley flowers that were more beautiful at night.
Vanwilhelm slowly walked toward the garden, holding the letter.
He had wanted to plant pink flowers that matched Anelia’s hair color in the garden. But she had insisted on planting lily of the valley, and when he saw them sparkling in the darkness under the magical stone light, he understood her intention.
Even after their two children were born, they would spend time in the garden with them. Of course, that was only when all four family members were together.
The lily of the valley always reminded him of Anelia. While most traces of her had been erased from the mansion, only the lily of the valley in the garden remained. He had ordered Salam to take good care of them.
But though he had given the order, he had never once come to check.
He entered the garden. As he appeared, lights came on, making the lily of the valley flowers seem to glow. At the end of this beautiful sight, pink hair swayed.
Vanwilhelm’s brow furrowed at the sight of the woman standing with her back to him. “Anelia.”
The beloved name unconsciously escaped his lips as the person turned around. It was his daughter Hartbisa, smiling more brightly than any flower.
“You came.”
Last time, when she left the study completely tense, her face had shown a familiar light of disappointment. Worried that their newly recovered relationship might have grown distant again, Vanwilhelm’s expression unconsciously softened at his daughter’s gentle voice.
As he stepped closer to Hasa, he saw another figure sitting at the prepared tea table behind her. It was Dayan.
