The Radiant Young Lady of the Dark Family - Chapter 42
“Since Miss Cellie has responded so graciously, I’ll take it that my feelings have been well conveyed.”
“Thank you.”
Hasa secretly exhaled, finally feeling relieved that the uncomfortable situation of receiving an apology from the Grand Duchess was over. Brizsua took another sip of tea and asked with a smile.
“By the way, I heard that Lady Cellie has a special relationship with Berl. Is that true?”
Hasa, who had been drinking tea following the Grand Duchess’s lead, almost spat it out. She covered her mouth and waved her hands frantically.
“Sp-special relationship? It’s just…!”
“That you’re each other’s teachers.”
“Ah, yes. That’s right. Haha.”
Like mother, like son. They really knew how to keep someone on their toes.
Hasa showed an awkward smile out of embarrassment. To this, Brizsua responded with a pleasant smile. Her attitude suggested she found each of Hasa’s reactions adorable.
“Berl, that child is quite reserved. Wasn’t it awkward?”
“Reserved?”
The Berl that Hasa remembered was far from being reserved. If anything, he was kind enough to cause misunderstandings.
After that, the Grand Duchess asked various simple questions. Whether she was originally good at ancient languages, or what she wanted to do after entering the academy. They were personal questions, but not uncomfortable to answer.
She occasionally thought that if her mother were alive, she might have shown this kind of interest in her academy admission news.
Thanks to this, the answers came naturally. As they talked until the teapot was empty, the Grand Duchess’s aide approached and carefully spoke up.
“We need to leave now to avoid being late.”
Only then did the Grand Duchess check her pocket watch and open her eyes wide in surprise.
“Time has already gone this far.”
Seeing her gaze momentarily turn toward the window outside, Hasa responded.
“Chelsea’s sky is dark regardless of morning or afternoon, so sometimes time feels like it passes quickly.”
To this, Brizsua smiled.
“That makes it good for focusing only on the person in front of you. Though perhaps time felt faster because conversing with Lady Cellie was so enjoyable.”
At her words, Hasa’s face reddened slightly. Really, both mother and son had a way of making people flustered.
Hasa saw the Grand Duchess off until the end. Before getting into the carriage, Brizsua turned to her as if remembering something she had forgotten and asked.
“Ah, by the way, has Berl ever missed an appointment without notice?”
Hasa immediately thought of the period a week before the exam, but finding it difficult to directly say so, she showed an ambiguous expression. The Grand Duchess immediately recognized Hasa’s discomfort and said.
“That week, Berl wasn’t feeling well. He probably couldn’t contact you separately because of a fever. I meant to tell you this today, but almost forgot.”
A fever? Hasa’s eyes widened in surprise.
“Was the Young Duke very ill?”
To this, the Grand Duchess showed a mischievous smile after a moment of silence, as if finding it difficult to explain precisely.
“Hmm, rather than me explaining it here, let’s give Berl a chance to explain himself later. We’ll let him receive his punishment for making a lady wait after that.”
“Punishment? How could I…”
The Grand Duchess shrugged and got into the carriage.
“Then, I hope countless opportunities follow Hartbisa’s academy life. Congratulations on your admission.”
“Thank you.”
With those final words, the carriage curtain was drawn, and soon the carriage left the mansion. Thanks to the time spent with the Grand Duchess, Hasa’s expectations for academy life grew.
Perhaps it was because of the pleasant anticipation that she might meet people other than her father and brother who would see and acknowledge her as Hartbisa.
‘To think Berl was sick.’
Hasa thought she should look for him once she got to the academy.
***
Preju Academy provided dormitories for its students. The dormitories were strictly two-person rooms, and except for those with weak health conditions, everyone was randomly assigned regardless of status.
Dayan also only returned to the mansion during vacations and spent most of his time in the dormitory.
Hasa followed behind the dormitory supervisor. Carrying a large trunk bag that Tar had packed full, she walked with slow steps while listening to her explanation.
“There are four floors in total, with the dining hall on the bottom floor, and only the dining hall is co-ed. You understand what I’m saying, right?”
Because the supervisor suddenly stopped walking, Hasa also came to a halt, and the supervisor pushed up her glasses and said in a stern tone.
“Male entry into the female dormitory is very strictly prohibited.”
“Ah, yes!”
“Breaking this rule results in a deduction of 20 points, and exceeding minus 22 points means you must pack your bags.”
Hasa quickly nodded her head. The supervisor, while explaining the dormitory rules, went on about the numerous male students who had met terrible ends after entering the female dormitory.
Though it seemed like she was trying to intimidate, Hasa thought these stories were meaningless to her. She didn’t think she’d ever have occasion to invite anyone, let alone male classmates.
Just then, her eyes met with two female students walking down the opposite corridor. The two looked at Hasa and whispered quietly.
Whether the incident from the entrance exam had become rumored, whispers had been following her painfully since the entrance ceremony. One more rumor added to the already overflowing amount wouldn’t make any difference.
Hasa followed behind the supervisor, appearing unconcerned.
The room the supervisor led her to was at the end of the fourth-floor corridor and particularly quiet. She was told there would be a roommate already living the academy life.
Who could it be? As she felt a bit nervous, the supervisor knocked on the door, and there was a commotion inside before the door opened.
A woman with curly brown hair tied in a ponytail poked her head out.
“Miss Montfort. I’m sure I told you beforehand that your roommate would arrive today.”
The supervisor clicked her tongue softly at the messy entrance. To this, the woman called Montfort explained with a flustered face.
She stumbled through her explanation about how she had found a diary she thought she had lost when she woke up to clean the room this morning, and lost track of time reading it. As Hasa stared blankly at her stammering, their eyes met.
Montfort’s face turned bright red, and she apologetically responded, almost crawling.
With that response, the supervisor finished reciting the dormitory rules and left.
Hasa put down her heavy luggage. The room was not as small as she expected, with a desk, bookshelf, and bed for each person arranged facing each other.
She had worried about being uncomfortable in a dormitory with a roommate since she was used to having her own room. But with posters everywhere, the cozy smell, white silk curtains, and the beautiful view of the academy visible through the window…
As her gaze lingered on the scenery so different from Chelsea, she felt movement beside her. When she turned her head, Montfort was fidgeting with her fingers, waiting for Hasa.
Hasa, realizing they hadn’t properly greeted each other yet, placed her hand on her chest and introduced herself.
“Pleased to meet you, I’m Hartbisa Cellie.”
Seemingly surprised that Hasa would greet her first, her eyes grew round like a rabbit’s and she hurriedly bowed.
“Pl-pleased to meet you. I’m Heize Montfort, eldest daughter of the Montfort family who runs the Montpol Trading Company.”
Her formal social greeting somehow seemed very tense. As Hasa wondered if it was because of the rumors, Heize spoke up.
“Um, Lady Cellie…”
“This is the academy and we’re meeting as fellow students, surely you’re not planning to address me that way? Please call me Hasa comfortably. And speak casually too.”
Hasa stated firmly. They might have to share the room for quite a while, and she didn’t want an uncomfortable relationship.
Hasa was a bit tense, worried that Heize might find her words burdensome, but Heize’s eyes sparkled.
“Hasa…”
After murmuring the name with seeming emotion, she clasped her hands together and said.
“M-me too, please call me Heize.”
At her semi-formal speech, Hasa smiled and nodded.
“Alright, Heize. Looking forward to being roommates.”
She immediately looked moved even by such simple words.
“Sorry, am I trembling too much like an idiot? I’m usually not this bad. I’ve been nervous ever since I heard from the supervisor that Hasa would be my roommate. When would I ever meet a great noble like a Cellie?”
Normally, mentioning one’s family would have seemed like an obvious attempt at networking and made her uncomfortable. But seeing Heize’s overwhelmed face, it didn’t feel that way.
Moreover, while the Montforts were viscounts, they ran a large trading company in the capital. Hasa pointed this out.
“Doesn’t the Montpol Trading Company manage goods sent not only to noble mansions but also to the imperial palace?”
“Yes, thanks to that I’ve shown my face at various social parties too, but I’ve never seen a beauty like Hasa before.”
“….”
“I was really surprised. When you came through the door, it was like the dreary dormitory instantly transformed into the palace rose garden. I was so moved, Hasa.”
“St-stop it.”
