The Radiant Young Lady of the Dark Family - Chapter 45
Dayan bowed at the waist in greeting.
“I apologize for what happened last time.”
His stiff greeting resembled Vanwilhelm’s. When Hasa glanced at Berl, he was smiling with his eyes.
“It’s fine. Just knowing that Dayan was concerned about me feels like enough of an apology.”
Though it was a gentle greeting typical of him, Dayan looked uncomfortable as if he’d heard something he shouldn’t have.
It seemed like another quarrel might break out when they’d only just reconciled. Hasa quickly spoke up as if to mediate.
“Dayan, where are you headed? Class?”
Dayan withdrew his fierce gaze from Berl and answered.
“Club activities.”
“Come to think of it, you did club activities during the break too.”
Hasa became very curious about the club Dayan had joined voluntarily.
“Now that I’m enrolled, will you show me?”
“Right now?”
“Yes.”
Dayan scratched his nape awkwardly before answering.
“Fine, follow me.”
But Berl, who had been quietly listening, suddenly spoke up.
“If it’s Dayan’s club, isn’t it the Fencing Club?”
Dayan raised one eyebrow and answered.
“That’s right.”
At that, Berl’s brows furrowed slightly, and he continued while looking at Hasa.
“It’s dangerous. Not only are there many dangerous weapons in the training grounds, but the fencing club members aren’t particularly mannerly towards ladies, so for Hasa to go…”
Hasa shook her head and cut off his words.
“It’s fine, despite how I look, I’ve been familiar with training grounds and sparring areas since I was young.”
As Hasa was about to follow Dayan while naturally adding thanks for his concern, Berl walked alongside her.
“Then I’ll go too.”
“Don’t you need to see the professor?”
“Come to think of it, it wasn’t an appointment I absolutely had to keep today.”
Though his tone was somehow more stubborn than usual, there was no way to refuse, so Hasa turned to Dayan as if deferring the answer. Dayan ruffled the back of his hair with a face that suggested he’d gotten caught up in something troublesome, then took the lead.
“Fine, whatever. Let’s all go together.”
***
To reach the training grounds, they had to walk for a while along the path on the side of the central tower. They barely encountered anyone along the way.
According to Dayan, the training grounds used by the Swordsmanship Department students were behind the central tower, so most people used that one, while this was the second training ground, and due to its distance, only clubs used it.
When she heard this, she had imagined outdated equipment and buildings. However, the place they arrived at was a well-maintained sparring ground. It was a peaceful place surrounded by forest, with birdsong filling the air.
As Hasa was looking around with an interested expression, perhaps sensing their presence, a man walked out from the tent.
“Dayan?”
Hasa’s eyes widened as soon as she saw him. The man, who had apparently been training until just now, was shirtless and sweating. When he saw Hasa, he was even more surprised than her and let out a yelp.
Just as the man was frantically trying to cover himself with his arms, a broad back blocked Hasa’s view.
“As I understand it, removing one’s top is only permitted during unavoidable training situations. During breaks, please follow the rules whether there are observers or not. This is an academy, after all.”
Berl spoke quietly toward the other person. The man seemed to recognize Berl only then, and while sending a reproachful glance at Dayan, he answered.
“Yes, yes. Understood.”
With that response, he ducked back into the tent. Only then did Berl turn around to face Hasa who stood behind him.
“You seemed startled, are you alright? Hasa.”
“Yes…”
Berl gazed down at Hasa’s face, which had turned red with embarrassment, and spoke.
“You said you were familiar with training grounds and sparring areas. But it seems you’re not used to seeing shirtless men.”
“What?”
When she looked up, her eyes met Berl’s. Though he wasn’t frowning or being stern, just the absence of his smile created a feeling of pressure.
Hasa turned her head away awkwardly.
“Yes, well, since I was a noble lady, everyone was somewhat tense when I visited training grounds.”
“Is that so?”
Berl’s smile turned faint, seeming to deflate at Hasa’s candid response.
“Still, try not to blush so much.”
Hasa watched Berl as he walked toward Dayan. Her face, flushed from embarrassment, somehow wouldn’t return to normal.
Shortly after, the man emerged from the tent properly dressed in his student uniform. Dayan asked him.
“Where are the others?”
“If you don’t make them, they all skip training. You and I are the only ones who take this nominal club seriously.”
The man said this while brushing back his wet hair. His slightly curly black hair was long enough to cover his nape. His skin had a bronze tone as if deeply tanned by the sun. He had a wolf-like appearance.
As she quietly observed him, their eyes met – his being amber-colored. Hasa’s shoulders tensed slightly in surprise. He flashed a bright smile and asked, placing his hand on his hip.
“So who’s this beauty? It’s surprising enough that you brought someone here, but I had no idea you knew such a fairy-like person.”
He asked in a tone befitting a street ruffian. Dayan sighed with a face that said ‘Here we go again’ and spoke in a low voice.
“Stop being sarcastic. She’s my sister.”
“What?”
At his words, the man froze as if turned to stone. Seeing his reaction, Hasa pushed aside her embarrassment and greeted him first.
“I’m Hartbisa Cellie.”
He ruffled his hair messily while introducing himself.
“Damn. I’m Oswald Feiman.”
Hasa’s eyes widened at his familiar name.
‘Oswald? That Os?’
“Please forget what I just said. I apologize for my rudeness.”
Oswald extended his hand in apology. As a confused Hasa hesitated to take it, Berl, who was standing beside her, grasped his hand instead.
“Nice to meet you, Feiman. I’m Radant.”
“…As if I didn’t know that.”
A strange tension continued between the two men. Blood vessels bulged in their arms as they seemed to grip each other’s hands tightly. Unable to watch any longer, Dayan spoke up.
“Are you being polite because she’s my sister?”
As Berl released his hand, Oswald shook his hand lightly as if it had gone numb and replied.
“Of course not. There’s no reason I can’t meet your sister.”
Berl continued to stare intently at Oswald, apparently displeased with his casual tone, even after letting go of his hand. Oswald, either aware or unaware of that gaze, continued speaking to Dayan.
“However, I don’t go after someone my friend likes. I have a code of honor as a man.”
“Someone your friend likes?”
Dayan’s brow furrowed as if this was news to him, and Oswald shifted his gaze to Hasa. It was then that she finally realized why his appearance seemed familiar.
In her previous life, she had only seen him in newspapers when he was much older, so she hadn’t recognized him, but he was Warrior Oswald Feyman, a supporting male character from the original story who was Wolfgang’s friend and had a one-sided love for the female protagonist, Sabrina.
Hasa swallowed dryly, never having expected to meet him in such a place. Os looked at Hasa with an expression that seemed to say “So this is the type he likes” and said:
“Wolfgang was going on and on about falling for her at first sight.”
Os’s eyes narrowed. A man of strong principles, he tried to stand by his words once spoken.
That’s why in the original story, despite falling for Sabrina around the same time as Wolfgang, he concealed his feelings until his death because his friend had confessed first.
Hasa smiled awkwardly, uncomfortable under his gaze, when Dayan grabbed Os’s collar and dragged him toward the tent.
“Just be my sparring partner. My sister and the Grand Duke’s son are just here to watch, so don’t be a nuisance.”
“Why? I’m tired.”
Finally free from that intense gaze, Hasa let out a small sigh of relief when Berl asked.
“You look exhausted. Are you alright?”
“Ah, yes. I was just a bit taken aback and got tense without realizing it.”
“…By Wolfgang, does he mean from the Lamberth family?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
Her breath caught when she confirmed that the man still hadn’t given up on her.
Now that she had driven out her aunt, she no longer had to marry against her will. But what would that mean for her relationship with Wolfgang? Since Sabrina would have no reason to come to the capital, the male and female leads wouldn’t even have a chance to meet.
Everything was uncertain from now on.
“Haah.”
Hasa unconsciously sighed as the mere thought made her head spin. Then Berl’s lips parted.
“Hasa.”
“Yes?”
“Would you like me to help?”
