The Radiant Young Lady of the Dark Family - Chapter 28
Tar was delighted as if she had succeeded in revenge, saying she knew this would happen. In contrast, Hartbisa remained calm. Of course. Her revenge wouldn’t be complete until she drove Helena out penniless.
Moreover, given Helena’s personality, she wouldn’t easily give up on Wolfgang, so she would definitely try to marry Hartbisa off to the kingdom.
While Hartbisa was briefly contemplating her next move, Tar, who was beautifully braiding her hair, asked secretively with curiosity.
“But Miss, are you really going to marry young master Lamberth?”
“Me?”
“That’s what you said in front of Madam…”
“Ah, that was just talk. It’s only receiving flower bouquets, how could that mean marriage?”
She meant to brush it off casually, but Tar narrowed her eyes and asked.
“Then does that mean you’d consider marriage if he properly proposed?”
“……”
Marriage with Wolfgang. It would be a lie to say she hadn’t thought about it.
In her previous life, after marrying the Count and discovering his true nature, she had regretted it countless times. If she had married Wolfgang instead, perhaps she wouldn’t have been abused by her husband, treated like a ghost by the family, and above all, the Cellie family wouldn’t have been destroyed.
She had spent many tear-soaked nights regretting her careless choice of partner, and that’s why it had hurt so much when she heard he had held a grand wedding with Julie. But those were truly old emotions.
Just as back then she had believed marrying the Count was the best option since he was her only choice, it would be no different with Wolfgang. Thinking he would be the best choice now would be repeating past mistakes.
Hartbisa answered coldly with a fresh smile like summer fruit, as if the answer was already decided.
“No, I wouldn’t take him even if offered.”
To this, Tar’s face turned red as she begged and pleaded, saying Miss showed new charms every time she saw her, and to please take her along no matter who she married.
***
At dinner, Vanwilhelm had returned from his business trip much earlier than last time.
He wanted to have dinner with Hartbisa even before resting from his fatigue, and Hartbisa gladly joined him.
Before his trip, there had been a small friction with his daughter, and he couldn’t help but be pleased with her acceptance as he had been worried their newly close relationship might grow distant.
Hiding such feelings, he watched Hartbisa still heartily eating her meal and asked.
“Hasa, I heard you went to Dayan’s presentation.”
To this, Hartbisa answered with a bright smile.
“Yes, he kept begging to show me.”
Begging? Vanwilhelm knew Dayan hadn’t done that, but he let out a small laugh, understanding how his son appeared in Hartbisa’s eyes through her words.
“Haha, so in your eyes, Dayan appears like other children his age.”
“Of course, to me, he’s just my adorable little brother.”
“I’m so fortunate that Dayan has you.”
After briefly contemplating Vanwilhelm’s affectionate words, Hartbisa smiled.
“Of course, and both Dayan and I are fortunate to have Father.”
There would be no more arguments like last time.
Hartbisa had learned that just as she had choices about her past years and lived regretting wrong choices, Father too must have his own intentions.
And Vanwilhelm nodded as if understanding Hartbisa’s meaning.
“Yes. I’ll keep that in mind.”
Hartbisa, feeling pleased, continued.
“How was your business trip this time? Please tell me about it.”
As she naturally led the conversation, the dining room door opened and a long shadow fell across the room. The woman entering in a reddish dress was none other than Helena.
“When I heard the Duke had returned from his trip, how could I just stay still?”
She approached Vanwilhelm with a face concerned about her brother’s business trip and greeted him. Vanwilhelm looked at her with a frosty expression completely different from how he looked at Hartbisa.
“What brings you here?”
Though Helena seemed momentarily flustered by the colder-than-expected greeting, she ignored it and sat opposite to Hartbisa.
“Since my brother was so busy he rejected my visit to the drawing room…”
“As you can see.”
It meant that dining with his daughter was several times more important than listening to his sister’s pointless words. Though she understood his meaning, she pretended not to and got to the point.
“I came here because it’s important. It’s good that Hasa, the person concerned, is here too. As you know, at Hasa’s age, engagement should be natural, and most have their marriage partners decided.”
At the mention of marriage, Vanwilhelm’s expression grew even colder. Despite the ominous air surrounding him, Helena continued with her characteristic shamelessness.
“In place of my busy brother, I found a good match. It’s the House of Count Daimon from the Eastern Continent. As you would know, they have a good reputation among the people of the Kingdom of Yursia.”
Helena could act brazenly while still fearing her brother because she was confident in manipulating Vanwilhelm as she pleased.
Helena knew he was suffering from guilt after losing his wife, and it was too easy for Helena to exploit that aspect.
“Since she’s a child who’s lived with the Cellie scandal, the Count’s family’s favorable atmosphere will probably be a good influence on this child.”
Helena knew Hartbisa wouldn’t act the same way as when they were alone. No matter how much she resisted, Helena’s power was stronger within the Duke’s residence when it came to manipulating Vanwilhelm.
She could barely contain her laughter at the thought of seeing Hartbisa’s expression crumbling in despair.
“The longer marriage is delayed, the more fatal it is for a fragile child-like Hasa. I think it would be better to proceed as quickly as possible. What does my brother think?”
As she finished speaking, she glanced toward Hartbisa across from her, but far from crumbling in despair, Hartbisa was continuing her meal with complete composure.
As if it were someone else’s business that didn’t concern her at all. Confused by this attitude, Helena blinked, and Hartbisa smiled smoothly.
Hartbisa knew Helena well and had anticipated that she wouldn’t give up and would come to use Vanwilhelm. But it would be different from her previous life.
“Well.”
Because Father no longer saw her as a fragile daughter.
“Hasa, what do you think?”
Vanwilhelm turned to Hartbisa with an expression that said her thoughts were what mattered most, and Hartbisa trembled slightly.
Even when she had fled to Wolfgang, it had felt like all her efforts until then had been useless, but that wasn’t true. As much as Hartbisa had changed, her father had changed too.
Meeting her father’s eyes, who showed he would respect only her opinion, Hartbisa answered firmly.
“I have no intention of getting married.”
At Hartbisa’s words, Vanwilhelm nodded as if he had expected this, but Helena, seemingly losing her composure, asked loudly.
“Of course, you’d say that. You’re still a young girl who doesn’t even understand what marriage between families means. There’s no reason to ask Hartbisa…!”
“Whose marriage is it if not Hasa’s? Who else should we ask?”
“Ugh……”
At Vanwilhelm’s cold response, Helena swallowed a sharp sound as if flustered. Helena hid her trembling hands under the table, clenching them into fists, and continued as if trying to soothe Vanwilhelm.
“But we need to think carefully…”
Vanwilhelm gestured with his chin toward Hartbisa. It meant he wasn’t the one who needed convincing.
Helena turned to Hartbisa, swallowing her pride that had hit rock bottom.
“H-Hasa, this isn’t something to decide based on momentary emotions. It’s not like you’re planning to live as an old maid, and these men are only seeking you out now – once you’re a bit older, the situation will change quickly.”
At the mention of ‘these men,’ Vanwilhelm, who was resting his chin on his hand, spoke with displeasure.
“Of all choices, I’m particularly displeased with the kingdom. If it’s the House of Count Daimon, they must be those rigid folks living on that mountaintop.”
“Wouldn’t that level be excellent?”
“It seems the word ‘excellent’ has taken on a different meaning while I wasn’t aware.”
Helena moistened her lips, seemingly surprised to see Vanwilhelm being so talkative for the first time since his wife’s departure when Hartbisa asked.
“Then Father, what kind of person would you prefer?”
It was a reflexive question.
She hadn’t originally intended to ask but suddenly wondered what kind of man her father would have approved her to marry if her mother hadn’t died and she had never met her aunt if she had lived in her ideal family. It was just that kind of curiosity.
However, not knowing such thoughts, when Hartbisa showed interest in men, Vanwilhelm frowned disapprovingly and answered indifferently.
