The Radiant Young Lady of the Dark Family - Chapter 23
“Radant?”
“The Radants have long been involved in social service, visiting territories and villages struggling with famine or disasters, distributing food and providing medical support.”
“Wouldn’t their influence grow considerably? Did the imperial palace just allow that?”
“My lady, this is something only the Radants could do. The Grand Duchy obtained autonomy from the Emperor long ago, so they had more freedom. Moreover, since the Grand Duke passed away long ago and now the Grand Duchess and Young Duke are the main participants in these activities, their position has actually become more secure.”
Tar whispered with sparkling eyes that the Young Duke was also very handsome. Then, still wearing an enchanted expression, she continued.
“That’s why the academy is famous for its low tuition fees. They want anyone with the ability to be free to study. So as you said, my lady, there’s no other family in the Empire that better fits this benevolent image.”
“Is that so?”
“Now that I think about it, the pure white academy uniforms really match well with that clean and benevolent image.”
That reminded her of the white uniform carelessly draped over a chair when she visited Dayan’s room. So that was the student uniform. It had stood out because Dayan’s room was filled with dark, gloomy colors.
Hasa turned her gaze toward the window. Not just the interior decorations, but the scenery outside was dark as well. Staring at it intently, she asked.
“I suppose blackness and benevolence don’t go well together?”
“I suppose not?”
“Really?”
Hasa asked this and then smiled faintly as if she’d found the answer.
“I’ve decided on my dress, Tar.”
***
Dayan, wearing a pure white student uniform, stood at the academy entrance with his arms crossed. Anxious, he stood with one leg crossed, fidgeting.
During the time after inviting Hartbisa to the academy and waiting for her reply, Dayan had wondered hundreds of times if he’d made a mistake inviting her. When he received her prompt reply agreeing to visit, he found himself smiling unconsciously, but on the actual day, he had his regrets.
“Haa.”
Just as Dayan let out a small sigh and lifted his downcast gaze, he made direct eye contact with a student in front of him. Carriages couldn’t enter the academy grounds, so they all stopped at the entrance. This created foot traffic, and Dayan usually avoided such places.
Because whenever he appeared, attention focused on him like this. People passing by would glance at Dayan and whisper behind their hands.
Dayan pretended not to notice and turned his gaze to empty space.
This was only the second family visit – while he could endure being treated like a zoo animal himself, he despised the thought of his family receiving the same treatment. He had resolved never to invite anyone again, yet here he was, personally inviting Hartbisa.
After his mother passed away, he voluntarily enrolled in the academy due to his exceptional talent in martial arts. Since then, whenever he went home, Dayan spent time alone.
After their mother’s death, Hartbisa had lost her spark, and Helena, who had somehow settled into their mansion, acted gentle in front of him but manipulated his sister however she pleased behind his back.
Watching that made him feel awful, but Hartbisa seemed to fear him as much as their father. That’s why he couldn’t easily approach her.
‘I came because I was worried. To make sure you eat.’
His sister had been the first to break down the invisible wall and approach him. He wanted to show his sister, who was trying to change first, that there was a wider world outside Helena’s cage.
“That’s why I invited her to come directly, but maybe it was unnecessary meddling.”
Dayan worried whether his fragile sister could handle all the attention. Just then, he saw a carriage approaching in the distance.
He had expected his timid sister would arrive in a small carriage, but from afar, he saw a twin-horse carriage bearing the large twin-headed crest of Cellie. The black four-wheeled carriage and black horses immediately drew attention.
Dayan was surprised that Hartbisa had chosen such an eye-catching carriage but figured she probably couldn’t refuse her father’s or Salam’s suggestion. He cleared his throat and approached the stopped carriage.
As he extended one hand wearing a magic control glove for escort, the door opened and Hartbisa emerged wearing a black dress.
The flowing black dress was overlaid with silk that sparkled like the Milky Way, beautifully glinting with her movements.
It contrasted strikingly with Hartbisa’s pale skin, somehow making her stand out even more. And at the end, Hartbisa smiled beautifully, making the black dress look radiant. With her pink hair swept over one shoulder, Hartbisa took Dayan’s hand and stepped down from the carriage.
“Dayan, did you come to welcome me?”
Dayan’s eyes widened at Hartbisa’s elegant greeting. Hartbisa smiled composedly as if she had anticipated such a reaction.
Just as Tar had said, Preju Academy’s vast grounds were magnificent and beautiful. Throughout the carriage ride along the well-maintained path, she couldn’t take her eyes off the main building visible in the distance. The white structure was truly sacred, and with even the student uniforms being pure white, she immediately understood why it was nicknamed the gods’ paradise.
A woman in a black dress in such a place couldn’t have stood out more.
Normally, she would have worn a white dress just to play the part of being virtuous, but such obvious tactics wouldn’t remove the colored lenses of prejudice. Hartbisa knew this better than anyone. With such people, it was better to be brazenly upfront.
‘I decided to live this life on my terms.’
While Dayan froze in embarrassment at the attention they were drawing, Hartbisa took his hand with the brightest smile, like the most fully bloomed flower in the world.
Dayan walked a step apart from Hartbisa while introducing the buildings. The introductions were very simple, just “this is the Magic Wing,” “This is the research lab,” “This is the dormitory,” and so on. Nevertheless, Hartbisa looked around with great curiosity.
Dayan’s pace was gradually quickening. His sister already stood out with her flowing pink hair and striking face, but wearing the contrasting black dress made her draw attention wherever they walked, for various reasons.
Whether aware of this or not, Hartbisa looked thoroughly excited. Dayan thought his sister, having grown up only within their territory with no outside activities, was incredibly naive. If she got caught up in unnecessary trouble, his fragile sister wouldn’t know what to do and would only look for him.
Having reached that conclusion, his chest swelled with responsibility at the thought that he was the only one his sister could rely on here. Dayan thought they should head straight to the lecture hall where the class would be held rather than wandering around, but lost in thought, his pace quickened, and Hartbisa, following behind, stumbled.
“Ah.”
As Hartbisa tripped on a stone and began to fall forward, Dayan quickly grabbed her wrist. Just as Hartbisa started to smile gratefully, Dayan hastily let go of her hand before she could finish speaking.
Hartbisa stared blankly at Dayan. When he had offered to escort her from the carriage, she had wondered about this unusual gesture, but then noticed he wore the same gloves as their father. She had thought it would be fine with those gloves, but the escort was brief, and now he had pulled away as if something terrible would happen.
Hartbisa stared at her brother blankly and asked.
“Isn’t it fine since you’re wearing gloves?”
Dayan flinched, hiding his hand behind his back as he answered.
“They’re not foolproof.”
Dayan’s expression darkened for a moment. Seeing this, Hartbisa responded in the brightest tone she could manage.
“Really? But I’m so happy that Dayan came to welcome me and is walking around campus with me.”
She meant it sincerely. While both Chelsea and Cellie were precious to Hartbisa, seeing the wide blue sky and lush green leaves definitely felt refreshing.
So she didn’t mind the attention they were drawing. Her time with her brother was important, and as long as they weren’t interfering, she could tolerate being a spectacle.
She wondered if Dayan would offer his hand if she commanded, “Escort me,” but she didn’t want to do it that way. After some consideration, Hartbisa gradually slowed her pace and grumbled softly.
“Oh my, getting all dressed up after so long makes my body feel heavy. If only someone would hold my hand, I’m sure I’d feel much better.”
“….”
“Now who did I come all this way to see? I wonder if a man who treats a lady so poorly can ever become a gentleman.”
As Hartbisa patted her waist while muttering this, Dayan, unable to resist any longer, quietly offered his hand.
