The Radiant Young Lady of the Dark Family - Chapter 31
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“If you go inside, there will be books on ability studies and sword theory that you’re lacking in, gathered separately. Start with the beginner’s edition.”
At his tone that suggested he wouldn’t stay any longer, Hasa asked.
“Where are you going?”
“Since I’m not teaching anyway, I thought I’d go train while I’m at school.”
“Train? Aren’t all classes on break?”
“There are no classes, but there are clubs.”
Dayan in a club? That kid who always kept his distance from people?
Such thoughts must have been clearly visible on Hasa’s face, as Dayan scratched the back of his head embarrassedly and answered.
“Pass the test and get in. I’ll introduce you.”
“I will.”
Dayan laughed at Hasa’s solemn response.
“That’s the Cellie way.”
With her brother’s encouragement, Hasa walked straight inside. As she examined the bookshelves, she quickly understood why Dayan had brought her here.
While the books she had skimmed at home were all excellent, many parts were difficult for Hasa to understand. As Dayan suggested, reading the beginner texts helped her grasp the concepts.
Moreover, even though they were beginner texts, there was a wide variety. As Hasa repeatedly brought one or two books to read, before she knew it, the sun was setting outside the floor-to-ceiling window that filled one side of the library.
Hasa hurried to the bookshelf, wanting to check one last book she had spotted earlier.
The book was placed high up, and there was no footstool nearby. In her hurry, Hasa tried to reach it on tiptoe, but it was just barely out of reach. As she strained to stretch higher, suddenly a shadow fell across her back, and someone easily pulled out the book.
When Hasa turned around to see who it was, she saw the features of a man as dazzling as his white school uniform.
Hasa let out a small “Ah” without realizing it, and he smiled as he handed her the book.
“We meet again.”
It was the Grand Duke’s son Radant, a beautiful man with pure silver features. Hasa stood facing him with widened eyes. She was so startled that when she turned quickly, her body tilted to one side. Radant caught her shoulder.
“Aren’t you a bit too nimble since last time?”
At his question tinged with slight amusement, Hasa’s face turned bright red.
“Thank you for last time. Ah, and now too.”
His lips curved upward at her flustered greeting.
She wasn’t usually this clumsy, but somehow her tongue seemed to get tied. But it couldn’t be helped.
Hasa glanced up at the Grand Duke’s son standing before her.
She had seen her fair share of handsome men. Both her father and younger brother were objectively very handsome. But unlike the Cellie family’s handsome men with their somewhat melancholic colors and imposing atmosphere, the Grand Duke’s son was a radiant beauty with silver-thread-like hair and clear eyes that seemed to hold light.
Looking at his face as he curved his lips prettily while gazing at her, she found herself automatically averting her gaze. As Hasa turned her eyes away awkwardly, Radant cleared his throat softly and continued.
“Hmm, if I remember correctly, you said you weren’t a student last time?”
At his question that sounded almost like he was talking to himself, Hasa finally realized that this wasn’t some marriage meeting place and hurriedly answered.
“Ah, I’m planning to try for the autumn entrance exam, but the test questions are harder than I expected. I got in with my brother’s help.”
After saying it, she felt like she had said more than necessary. While Hasa secretly bit her tongue at her uncharacteristic behavior, he didn’t seem to mind.
He responded with a simple “Is that so?” and handed her the book, leaving a brief message of encouragement saying “Good luck” before departing.
Only Hasa was left to watch him pass by like a breeze.
Shortly after, Dayan returned, and they took a carriage to the nearby Radanun Central Town. They were planning to stay at an inn in town for a month while studying for the exam.
Dayan asked Hasa, who seemed somewhat dazed.
“Is the studying manageable?”
“Ah, yes.”
Hasa answered and then, after a moment’s hesitation, asked.
“Hey Dayan, what do you know about Bertolph Radant?”
“Huh?”
Dayan raised an eyebrow, as if he hadn’t expected that name to come from Hasa’s lips.
“Well, he’s famous. Being the empire’s only Grand Duke’s son. Even though he hasn’t inherited the Grand Duke position, he handles the Grand Duke family’s affairs smoothly alongside the Grand Duchess and has led the Radanun territory into a period of prosperity.”
Dayan stuck out his tongue saying it was annoying how he excelled at everything from academics to swordsmanship, counting off on his fingers. In the end, Dayan looked at Hasa with narrowed eyes and asked.
“Why are you curious?”
With doubt in his eyes, Hasa flinched as if struck by something and waved her hands.
“Ah, I just ran into him again today. I was curious who he was.”
“Really now, you must be the only person in the world who doesn’t know who that man is.”
Dayan crossed his legs to one side.
“Anyway, forget about it. Nothing good will come from getting involved with the Grand Duke’s son. Don’t get close to him.”
“Why?”
“Well…!”
Dayan was about to answer right away but seemed to hesitate about something, his lips twitching briefly before he hastily concluded.
“Just know that’s how it is. Even though you deny it, you’re still too soft sometimes.”
Hasa laughed softly, asking what he meant by that.
Through the forest, the distant lights of the village could be seen. They were getting closer to Radanun Central Town. As the lights drew nearer, she was reminded again of that man’s clear eyes.
At first, there was a sense of déjà vu. She thought it might be because their first meeting was so intense, but if she had met such a striking handsome man before, she wouldn’t have forgotten him in either her past life or this one.
Moreover, it was obvious they hadn’t met before, as he hadn’t appeared in the original story. That’s why Hasa was more interested in him.
As Dayan said, he had too impressive credentials for a non-appearing character. Yet he was uniquely not one of Sabrina’s helpers in the original story.
Then, perhaps he could become an ally to herself, someone who was supposed to disappear from the original story.
While Hasa had confirmed that different results could come from diligent effort compared to her past life, she also noticed that major events from the original story would inevitably occur.
If that was the case, there was a limit to changing the original content alone. Whatever Dayan was worried about, in Hasa’s eyes, there couldn’t be a better ally than that man.
‘I should meet him again.’
Hasa thought as she stretched. But first, she decided she needed to focus on studying for the upcoming exam.
And exactly the next day, at the same time, in the same place, she met him earlier than expected.
Momentarily surprised by the unexpectedly early encounter, she spoke lightly and brightly as she did with her father’s and Dayan’s acquaintances.
‘We meet again today, you must study here often.’
‘Yes, good luck with your exam studies today too.’
But each time, the Grand Duke’s son would answer with such brief responses with a smile and go about his business.
Even after trying to make more conversation several times, similar short answers were all she received.
‘Am I being rejected?’
This was the first time her methods hadn’t worked on someone. Hasa let out a deep sigh. The exam studies and the Grand Duke’s son – trying to focus on both at once made it feel like she was failing at both.
Hasa decided to concentrate on the most important thing: studying for the exam.
Three days later, Hasa returned to her seat with an armful of ability theory books. Radant was sitting across from her.
It had been three days already of unintentionally studying face to face with him. Though their conversations weren’t long, they mysteriously kept running into each other.
Hasa tried to focus on her books while ignoring him, though he kept catching her attention.
Unlike ancient languages with their definite answers, most explanations in the ability theory books relied on sensory descriptions. While this might be natural for those skilled in abilities like Dayan or her father, Hasa couldn’t use abilities.
“It’s written as if it’s natural for bruises to appear on the body after using abilities sometimes.”
The chapter on ability side effects was full of unexplained phenomena. As she voiced her thoughts out loud in frustration, a gentle voice came from above her head.
“Abilities travel along the blood vessels in the body, so if you use them incorrectly, bruises appear.”
