TLed by NolepGuy
Chapter 172
Histania Hanna hated Father.
Great wealth and honor.
The title of Count.
Even though he was a man nicknamed ‘Sword of the Empire,’ to Hanna, Father was the most detestable and nightmarish existence.
Others envied her for having a capable Father, but Hanna hated hearing that. Because he was the one who was cold to his child and drove her to the brink of death for lacking talent.
There was a time when she was proud of Father’s existence.
A time when she set her life’s goal on Father and ran toward it.
She was proud of Father’s sword, and the history of the household was her pride.
Founding Contributor.
A swordsman who fought to the end in the war.
A household that produced the Strongest Swordsman.
The mere mention of these symbols, which made her heart race, gave Hanna strength. Even when she held the sword engraved with The Insignia Representing Histania, Hanna was proud of Father and loved this household.
Even with Father’s Neglect.
Even when she endured Scorn and Contempt.
Even when she didn’t hear a “Happy Birthday” on her birthday, she believed that one day, light would shine upon her and kept running forward.
Of course, those expectations crumbled.
Sitting curled up on the Dormitory Bed, Hanna reminisced about old memories after a long time.
Though calling them “old memories” might be a stretch since it had only been about a year, to Hanna, it was a period of upheaval and a memory where she could finally unleash long-suppressed emotions, so it felt like “long ago.”
She remembered it rained.
On her worst birthday a year ago.
When the Downpour poured as if the sky had been pierced, Hanna had made a difficult request to Father.
-Father… It’s my birthday today.
It was the day she asked for swordsmanship lessons from Father, who always only cared for Older Brother, and Father coldly ignored her.
-Aren’t you tired of doing this over and over again?
Father, who told her to give up the sword.
The difficult words of asking for a duel.
Father, who had no idea how much she had agonized before those words came out of her mouth, told her that day, as he always did, to give up the sword.
That Guy’s sword.
Sword…
Sword…
Hearing she had no talent.
The expression of Father, who acted as if he knew everything, and his arrogant tone shattered the wall of expectations she had built up over the years.
Though it was something she heard often, perhaps because it was her birthday, it hurt even more.
She had anticipated it would be like that, but perhaps because she had just heard from Villainess’s Butler that she had talent, Father’s cold reply hurt her even more.
So that day, she ran away.
It was the first time in her life she tried running away, feeling so desperate. Unlike a brief outing, she left the household, feeling the grim reality of “There is no place for me in this household,” and wandered the streets like a lost Young Child.
If someone hadn’t stopped her then, she might have walked straight into the tragedy shown by the Blue Window.
Surely.
That day, Hanna went to Villainess’s House, clutching at straws.
Because she missed the flattery of The Man who only spoke sweet words. Even though she knew the words “You have talent,” and his confident lies were all false, Hanna went to his house.
-Oh…? Please come in for now.
The scent of the bitter tea leaves from the worst tea she had ever tasted made Hanna cry.
-No, does it even make sense for a person called Father to act like that?
She lamented her woes to someone she had just met.
-What did I do wrong…?
She received comfort from someone she had just met.
At that time, she didn’t know. That The Man’s lies were the truth.
She simply thought he comforted her out of greed for money, that he was playing along with petty lies. Honestly, the idea that she could beat Mikhail was absurd.
Even so, The Man called out to her as she was leaving.
-It’s raining heavily outside. You have nowhere to stay, do you?
-No. At home….
-Lies.
He worked to make the lies come true.
-For a while, you’ll stay at our estate.
-It’s my estate!
-Hmm… You’ll stay at the Young Lady’s Estate.
Seeing The Man foolishly doing his Best Effort, I gradually got drawn in. Enchanted by his warmth and kind lies, I began to believe in his lies.
And on the day those emotions peaked.
-Didn’t I say you had talent?
-…Sniff.
-Don’t cry. Happy belated birthday.
For the first time, Hanna felt the emotion of liking someone.
The feelings she had for Mikhail were admiration, not affection, and her pounding heart thudded like a person frozen by a Photograph, unmoving but beating.
Hanna couldn’t forget the warmth she felt that day. It still felt like the warmth of someone cautiously embracing her lingered.
What Hanna cherished the most.
Not Father’s surprised expression.
Not even the Aura manifestation she had longed for.
It was the warm embrace of someone who believed in her.
That was the most precious light in Hanna’s life.
And.
-Father!
In the reality where the Nightmare replayed, the faint respect she had left for Father crumbled.
-Please save me.
It became the certainty of why she had no choice but to hate Father, and the reason why she couldn’t help but care for him more.
The Cold Breeze blew outside the window.
As the Spring Breeze of the night softly brushed her hair, Hanna tucked it behind her ear.
What to do now.
What she should do.
Though nothing was clearly decided, there was something she wanted to do.
“I want to see him.”
She wanted to see him.
The Man with Red Hair.
She wanted to whine under the touch of his hand that always gently smiled and stroked her hair. Because that moment gave her peace and melted away the worries in her heart.
For that, she would have to try harder.
Hanna smiled a Small Smile, gazing at the sword resting against the Desk. It wasn’t the sword Father had gifted her, but the one Ricardo had gifted her. Smiling foolishly, Hanna propped her chin on the Desk and stared.
“I like you. Very much.”
She couldn’t stop smiling.
Like a Fool.
She couldn’t stop laughing, knowing the sword was too extravagant for her to wield and that it was a gift from Ricardo.
Perhaps, it was the most meaningful Gift she had ever received, Hanna thought to herself as she stood up.
‘Let’s go.’
Earning the right to stand by his side and becoming someone worthy of it were things she had to prepare for herself.
Hanna didn’t want to meet Ricardo in her shabby state. She didn’t want to meet him while crying and hoping for a Miracle like a Fool.
Sometimes, she wanted to be his strength and return what she had received. Hanna picked up her sword again today and resolved to head to the Training Grounds during the late hours when no one was around.
She began to run, facing the Cold Breeze.
Smiling a Pleasant Smile.
Hanna ran vigorously to the Training Grounds.
Dreaming of a Bright Future.
“Huff… Huff…”
Not to force herself to practice swordsmanship, but to wield the sword she truly loved, Hanna ran toward the Training Grounds.
She spotted people at the Training Grounds from afar.
There were two of them.
The thought crossed her mind, ‘There shouldn’t be anyone visiting the Training Grounds at this hour, are they Freshmen…?’ but when she saw The Man with shimmering silver hair, Hanna nodded.
“Senior Mikhail.”
Mikhail was swinging his sword again today.
But, who’s that person next to him?
Hanna thought as she looked at The Man whose face was obscured by Darkness.
Broad shoulders.
Judging by the sword at the waist, he seemed like a cadet who came to practice, but his face was hidden in the shadows.
Considering he was exchanging swords with Mikhail, he was undoubtedly an acquaintance of Mikhail’s….
‘What does it matter?’
It’s training. It’d be strange to care who’s there.
Hanna slowly walked toward the Training Grounds, where Mikhail and the unidentified The Man were.
“Hello. You’re here again today….”
Just as she was about to greet Mikhail casually, her body froze as she saw The Man’s face gradually revealed from the Darkness.
“It’s been a while.”
The Man spoke to her in a Gentle Voice. Seeing The Man with a sword at the waist, adorned with the insignia symbolizing the Imperial Family, Hanna clenched her fist and raised her head.
“Daughter.”
She gritted her teeth as she looked at the person she despised the most.
“Father… no, Father.”
*
Another day of drying the Young Lady’s hair.
“Haaa…”
The Young Lady had her mouth open, basking in the Warm Breeze from the Hair Dryer, a Magical Tool.
As I skillfully dried the Young Lady’s hair, I spoke to her, who was smiling pleasantly.
“The breeze is not for eating, Young Lady.”
“I know.”
“If you know, why are you doing it?”
The Young Lady replied with a meaningful expression.
“Because it’s fun.”
“Oh…”
“Ricardo, try it too. It feels nice.”
I raised my Thumb to her suggestion and said,
“As expected, you’re brilliant. I’ll try it later.”
Smiling, I brushed off the moisture from her Hair. The Young Lady is truly entertaining.
‘Whoosh.’ As the Young Lady drank in the breeze from the Hair Dryer, she looked at the bright sun and had a Question Mark on her head.
“Ricardo.”
“Yes.”
“Where are you going today?”
“Didn’t I tell you yesterday?”
The Question Mark on the Young Lady’s head multiplied, and with a meaningful expression that seemed to ask when I had said it, she looked at me. Suppressing laughter, I let out a sigh and spoke.
“I said I’m going to the Capital City.”
“The Capital City?”
“Yes. The Head of the Household said he wants to see you and asked you to come.”
“Father?”
To the Young Lady’s nickname for her wise but negligent Father, I nodded and replied.
“Yes, Darbav-nim said so.”
“Oh… What a hassle.”
The Young Lady, who hates anything bothersome the most, proposed a groundbreaking solution to this problem.
“Tell Father to come here.”
“That’s a good idea, but the Head of the Household is busy.”
“I’m busy too…”
Looking regretfully at the Heap of Side Jobs piled like a mountain on her Desk, the Young Lady spoke. Seeing the works so disastrous they seemed to cost more money than they’d earn, I let out an awkward laugh and said to the Young Lady,
“The Head of the Household said he’d give you an Allowance.”
“An Allowance?”
“Yes.”
“Oh… Does Ricardo get one too?”
“Not me, no.”
“Hmm…”
Smiling lightly at the sulking Young Lady, I added a piece of news.
“Ah, by the way, I’m going to earn some money too.”
“Don’t work. I’ll feed you with my Allowance.”
“Pay me my Unpaid Salary first.”
“Ugh…! But what kind of work are you doing?”
With a sly smile, I said,
“I haven’t received payment for the work I did last time.”
“Ricardo, did you get scammed?”
“Yes.”
Smiling, I thought about the Academy in the Capital City.
“They said it was urgent and left first, but I still haven’t heard back from them.”