The Radiant Young Lady of the Dark Family - Chapter 44

Hasa thought Berl’s suggestion to meet often was just a polite gesture. But truly, she kept running into him everywhere.

“Hasa!”

“Berl?”

Whether walking through campus, attending classes, or even at the student dining hall, she encountered Berl far more frequently than expected.

If she were to be honest, she had initially entertained somewhat calculating thoughts. The idea of becoming close to Berl and having him as an ally seemed like it could smooth out both the original story’s events and her academy life.

In that sense, the current situation was quite unexpected. Contrary to her expectations, the more time she spent with Berl, the more she noticed other students finding it difficult to approach her.

It seemed that Bael’s hurried departure last time wasn’t a coincidence. When she was alone, at least one or two people would pretend to approach her, but when she was with Berl, not even a shadow would cross their path.

It was strange beyond strange.

***

“What do I think of the Grand Duke’s son?”

Hasa was taken aback by Heize’s startled response to her question.

“Is it that surprising of a question?”

Hasa had returned to the dormitory and asked Heize what she thought about Bertolph.

She had observed how people around them treated Berl these past few days. When she saw them tiptoeing around him, she wondered if they disliked or feared him. But then when Berl would initiate conversation, they would try their best to respond, making their attitude hard to understand.

So she asked Heize, who had been at the academy longer than her, but Heize’s face turned deeply contemplative as if faced with an enormous challenge.

Sitting across from her, Hasa waited patiently for the response, and after much consideration, Heize narrowed her eyes and answered.

“Well, he’s an excellent person.”

“But?”

“Hm?”

“It seems like there’s more to say.”

Heize muttered, ‘You’re quite perceptive.’ Then, with an embarrassed smile, she continued.

“The Grand Duke’s son is not only beautiful but kind to everyone. He’s always at the forefront of good deeds, and literally seems like someone without any flaws.”

Sensing that Heize had more to say but was hesitating, Hasa spoke up.

“I asked you this question because, whether it’s just my imagination or not, when I’m with the Grand Duke’s son, it seems other people find it even harder to approach me.”

“You have occasions to be with the Grand Duke’s son?”

“It just happened somehow.”

When Hasa shrugged sheepishly, Heize’s expression became even more worried than before, and she even started fidgeting her legs slightly.

Then, pushing back her disheveled brown hair, she continued with what sounded like a deep sigh.

“There’s something my father often said since I was young. Sometimes what we believe to be true turns out to be false, and what appears false can be true. So live as if you don’t know even when you do. I usually don’t talk about this, but…”

Heize looked at Hasa’s light pink cheeks and confessed.

“There’s a famous saying at the academy. If you show ill will toward the Grand Duke’s son, divine punishment will follow. That kind of saying.”

“Divine punishment?”

Hasa couldn’t believe her ears at these unexpected words. Heize hurriedly continued, seemingly embarrassed.

“It’s just a rumor. Just as there are many who admire the Grand Duke’s son, there must be those who envy and are jealous of him. They say that long ago, some people who planned to mess with him all lost one arm during sword training.”

“What? How did that happen?”

“They say it was an accident. While practicing swordplay among themselves.”

Heize swallowed hard and continued in a whisper.

“Some say it was done by the Grand Duke’s son’s fans, but whatever the case, similar things happened to others who tried to mess with him afterward.”

“….”

“Anyway, that’s how he became like a sacred figure. Someone both admired and feared.”

Someone both admired and feared.

As she pondered these strange words, Heize added reassuringly.

“If people avoided you when you were with him, that’s probably why. Don’t think too much of it. What I told you is all ancient history, and now it’s more that people find him too impressive to approach. Actually, some students even created a fan club for the Grand Duke’s son. For the record, I have absolutely no interest in such things.”

As if worried about misunderstanding about her relationship with Berl, Heize declared her innocence at the end. Hasa thanked her for sharing and concluded the conversation.

While changing clothes, she tried to organize her thoughts, but the more she thought about it, the more complicated it became.

In short, Heize’s words meant that the more she associated with Berl, the more noticeable she would become to others. While having Berl as an ally might be reassuring, being isolated and conspicuous beside him would be the worst possible outcome.

In a way, he might be the biggest obstacle to her plan of quietly gathering information and moving in the shadows. Hasa let out a deep sigh, her face showing how much of a headache this had become.

***

The next day, as if by appointment, she ran into Berl again.

“Hasa!”

To Hasa, Berl looked like a large dog running towards her with its tail wagging. That’s how enthusiastically he greeted her.

Hasa met him with a slightly stiff expression. Berl stood beside her and matched her pace.

“Are you going to Ancient Language Interpretation class?”

“No, I’m on my way back from class. Berl…”

“I don’t have class. Today I have some business with Professor Zhao.”

She was about to continue naturally at the mention of the familiar name when she noticed students passing by. The way they didn’t even glance their way made her feel they were conscious of Berl, not her.

Hasa touched her forehead as if dealing with a headache when Berl asked worriedly.

“Are you feeling unwell?”

He reached out toward Hasa’s forehead. When his large hand suddenly covered her forehead, Hasa froze in surprise. His warm body temperature was distinctly felt through their touching skin. Hasa looked at him with a rigid body.

To be honest, Berl bothered her. Although she had been married in her previous life, it was a loveless marriage, and Wolfgang had only confessed his feelings one-sidedly.

So Hasa had a weakness when it came to the opposite s*x. Moreover, she had recently realized this was especially true with such handsome men.

What woman wouldn’t feel a flutter when such a perfectly handsome man acted and spoke in ways that could be misunderstood? So Hasa thought her feelings were quite honest.

But that was it. She hadn’t come back to fall in love. Being tied to one person was enough in her previous life.

Hasa wanted him to remain just a friend and ally. In that sense, she needed to control her feelings.

Hasa stepped back. Berl followed her with an intense gaze as if asking if there was a problem. To that, Hasa spoke firmly.

“Berl, I just remembered I left something at the dormitory. I’ll go ahead.”

“Should I go with you?”

“It’s fine. It’s just up ahead, no need to go that far. And you don’t need to pay so much attention to me. People might misunderstand.”

Hasa said it like a joke. She thought she needed to push him away until an appropriate distance was established. As she nodded to herself, thinking this was quite a good method, and turned to leave, Berl called out to her.

“Hasa.”

Though he had called her name many times before, this was a voice she had never heard. At his low and quiet voice, Hasa’s shoulders flinched. Though he hadn’t even grabbed her wrist, she turned around as if enchanted.

“….”

But there stood Berl with an expression opposite to his voice. Berl was looking at Hasa with a dejected face, like a puppy caught in the rain.

“Hasa, did I do something wrong?”

“…Of course not.”

“That’s a relief, but it feels like you’re trying to distance yourself from me.”

“….”

“I pay attention to you purely because I want to. Because I like it. But if it makes you uncomfortable, I’ll be more careful not to show it.”

Berl took another step closer as he drew out his words.

“So, please don’t hate me.”

Unable to properly meet Berl’s eyes and unsure where to look, Hasa replied.

“…Please don’t say things that could be misunderstood.”

What should she do about this man? Her head was starting to ache when she noticed Berl’s intense gaze suddenly shift behind her.