The Radiant Young Lady of the Dark Family - Chapter 46
Hasa furrowed one eyebrow.
“Help me? With what?”
“Aren’t you troubled because of that man? If you’ll allow me, I can make sure no troublesome things happen.”
“……”
It was a strange statement. Though it probably meant he would simply block the man’s advances, somehow it didn’t sound that way.
‘That’s why he became like a sacred being. Someone both admired and feared.’
Perhaps because she had just heard those words. It felt like if she agreed, Wolfgang would disappear forever.
Hasa awkwardly pulled up the corners of her mouth.
“I appreciate the offer, but I can’t keep relying on Berl forever.”
She thought it was a natural rejection. Still, based on what she had seen of him so far, she expected him to either act cute while asking her to trust him just once or ask if his help was burdensome while making puppy eyes at his master. But Berl just made a small “hmm” sound before smiling faintly.
“If that’s how you feel, then there’s nothing to be done. I don’t want Hasa to feel burdened.”
“…Thank you. For understanding.”
Berl responded with a smile that reached his eyes. Soon after, Dayan and Oswald emerged in their training clothes and began their fencing match.
Berl watched intently, not taking his eyes off their swordplay. Hasa, feeling strange, could hardly focus on the match.
***
After the fencing training ended, Hasa left first, saying she had dinner plans with her roommate. Berl considered escorting her to the dormitory, but Hasa replied with visible discomfort that she could manage on her own. So he ultimately let her go.
As he watched her departing figure with an odd expression, Dayan, who had been gulping down water, stood behind Berl.
Berl opened his mouth while intently staring at her now dot-like figure in the distance.
“Do you have something to say to me?”
“……”
“Dayan.”
Berl turned to face Dayan who stood behind him. Dayan, sweaty from the continuous fencing training, spoke bluntly.
“I’m sorry for talking about your family matters in front of my sister last time.”
“Hmm, I’ve already accepted that apology……”
“But you know better than anyone that’s not the only reason I’m wary of you?”
Dayan looked him up and down while closing his water bottle.
The academy’s white uniform made people look neat and proper, but it compromised mobility accordingly.
That’s why Fencing Department students, especially the larger ones, often wore their uniforms sloppily with buttons undone, but in contrast, Berl always stubbornly kept his buttons fastened to the top despite having a well-developed chest and shoulders like a proper fencing student.
He was a man who showed not even a hint of dishevelment. Throughout the training with Oswald, Dayan found Berl sitting in the audience more irritating and concerning than Oswald right in front of him.
Though Oswald was no easy opponent, Dayan’s persistent and cold gaze was truly impossible to let down one’s guard against.
He might act gentle with a relaxed face next to his sister, but Dayan always felt his chilling killing intent.
Dayan clicked his tongue and continued.
“I won’t pretend to know through rumors anymore. But speaking of rumors, that knight-titled guy who acted arrogantly towards you during last year’s match.”
Berl’s expression suggested he didn’t remember such a person. Dayan pressed on undeterred.
“You’re the one who broke his arm, right?”
“Hmm, was there such an incident? Accidents happen all the time during matches.”
Lies. Someone of Berl’s skill breaking someone’s arm by accident during a match? Impossible. Unless it was intentional.
Dayan warned him with eyes full of wariness.
“I don’t know why you’re approaching my sister, but if you get her involved in anything strange, I’ll kill you.”
Though Dayan spoke roughly, his expression was grave as if prepared for Berl’s response. Berl’s clear eyes calmly took in such a Dayan.
Soon his eyes curved like crescents as he smiled.
“I thought you didn’t resemble Hasa at all as her sibling, but now I see the resemblance. Those eyes are full of spirit.”
“What?”
“Hasa would be happy to hear this. Her brother cares for her so much.”
“Don’t take this as a joke…!”
“But Dayan, don’t worry about your sister. She’ll be safe as long as I’m by her side. Just take care of yourself so Hasa doesn’t have to worry. That’s my sincere advice.”
Despite his casual tone, a chilling killing intent seeped through at the end of his voice. Just then, Oswald emerged from the tent. Dayan muttered “What a jerk” under his breath and walked past him.
Berl shrugged with a face full of bright eye-smiles, then turned his head back toward the path Hasa had taken. Even the dot-like figure that had been visible earlier was now gone.
***
Hasa left the classroom with a tired face. Ever since failing the last pop quiz, professors in every class she took had been lining up to test her.
Somehow the rumors had spread – when she answered questions, professors looked disappointed, and when she couldn’t answer, they wore expressions that seemed to say ‘I knew it.’
Because she had set expectations sky-high with her perfect scores, every day felt like a continuous test.
Just now in Imperial History class too, the professor, seemingly viewing her as an arrogant and ill-mannered student, kept posing questions.
After barely managing to answer, she failed to respond to the final question, and the professor’s face said ‘just as I thought.’
“This is the worst.”
As Hasa sighed and walked down the hallway, she heard a voice calling her from the opposite direction.
“Miss Cellie?”
Looking up, she saw Professor Zhao standing there.
“Professor.”
Her eyes widened in surprise at the unexpected encounter. He stroked his chin briefly before asking.
“Um, if you have time, would you like to have some tea in my office? There’s something I’d like to discuss.”
Hasa thought for a moment before nodding.
Professor Zhao’s office wasn’t far. Despite his neat appearance, the interior of his office was messy. Books spread open everywhere and piles of documents. Zhao hurriedly cleared just the table, as if he’d forgotten the state of his room.
“I didn’t expect to meet Miss Cellie so suddenly like this, haha.”
She sat down in the barely cleared space, saying it was fine as he laughed awkwardly. Zhao quickly brewed and brought tea. Silence continued until they had taken a few sips. Zhao cleared his throat softly to clear his voice before speaking.
“I’m sorry again about what happened during the entrance exam.”
“You’ve apologized several times already. It’s fine.”
“I still feel concerned about it.”
After saying that, Zhao got to the main point.
“Though it might sound like an excuse, there’s something related to that day that I think you should know.”
He continued while fiddling with his teacup as if reminiscing about the past.
“Thinking about it now, I believe we were affected by a foul odor. Not just me, but several professors there easily agreed with Jual and were unusually sensitive.”
A foul odor. Indeed, there had been a stench in the room. Even professors she’d never met before looked at her with eyes full of inexplicable hostility.
“I looked into it afterward, and apparently the stench from a body whose soul has been stolen by demons is excellent at inciting people and stirring up emotions of anger.”
Hasa nodded slightly at his words. His explanation was credible. What was puzzling, though, was why she had been fine.
Even with Jual Mandro’s words back then, Hasa hadn’t felt anger boiling up.
As Hasa was lost in thought, Zhao looked at her as if he’d finished what he wanted to say.
“Well, regardless, it was my fault for hastily arranging such a meeting. I thought you should know about this too, so I set up this meeting. Thank you for making time.”
Hasa looked at Zhao before speaking.
“Thank you for your concern. I truly mean it when I say you don’t need to worry about me anymore.”
“Thank you for saying that……”
“However, if you’re still concerned, may I ask just one thing?”
