Chapter 96

Chapter 96

Translator: Yonnee



Back then, he thought that maybe she was still unaware of her own situation and was still asking for her family’s affections—and this would be the worst.

It’s the same as trying to help one’s own parents even after they abused you.

If Yves would ever see this happen, he wasn’t confident about being able to open her eyes to the truth.

On the other hand, if she was like Yves, then there was a possibility that she might be delaying things while trying to look for a chance to escape. If that’s the case, then it would be so much easier compared to the former.

However, all his predictions were wrong.

Radis was just Radis.

Radis was just herself, even after her hair was cut so short, even while she was wearing her younger brother’s old clothes, or even when she was locked in that small, closet-like room.

Regardless of what she wore, regardless of where she was and regardless of what she did—Radis was just Radis.

‘Radis, how did you do that?’

As he turned the corner of the hallway, like an answer, Radis appeared in front of him.

She was sitting by the bay window that was in front of his room, dressed in a black wool cloak.

When she saw him appear, as lithe as a bird, she jumped from her seat and marched towards him.

She hesitated for a moment, but she soon opened her lips to speak.

“About what I said earlier, I’m sorry. It’s just, I said that out of anger. Please don’t take it to heart. I shouldn’t have said it in the first place. Especially for someone who works so hard and until this late…”

Without saying anything back, Yves raised one hand and held her cheek.

Feeling that her cheek was cold, he realized that she must have been waiting here for quite a long time.

“Did you wait here just to say that?”

Radis chuckled awkwardly.

“Yes, but I also wanted to give you a gift. It’s something that I hope could cheer you up, and I’m hoping it can express my gratitude and apology, too.”

Radis reached into a pocket and pulled something out.

However, when she gave it to him, she made him close his hand over it to prevent him from seeing what it was.

“I made this… It’s nothing much, but just think of it as a commemorative gift.”

Radis looked up at him with a complicated smile.

“You’re having a difficult time these days, right? Please cheer up. I’ve lived my life, too, so I know. While you’re enduring alone to get through all the hardships that come your way, it seems like there’s no end to it—but there is, really. It’ll end someday. Of course, the next thing you’ll need to face will come at you right away, but that’s just how life is. Um, well. Yeah.”

If it was a normal circumstance, he would have retorted with, ‘Lived your life? What life? You’re just sixteen years old though?’ And he would have flicked her forehead as well.

But somehow, he couldn’t find it in him to do that right now.

It was because of the black cloak on Radis’ shoulders.

Radis would often use the clothes that Yves had grown out of—clothes that he wore as a child—and perhaps it’s because she was more comfortable in men’s clothes. So, she was wearing his cloak here, too.

Seeing her in his clothes wasn’t the problem here.

It’s just that. She was wearing all black.

The sight of Radis in that black cloak… reminded him of his ‘dark angel’.

‘No!’

Trembling, Yves closed his eyes tightly.

‘How could you think of her while looking at Radis? Are all people who wear black automatically the angel? Get a grip, Yves Russell!”

Seeing Yves shut his eyes tightly while shivering, Radis thought that it was because he was very exhausted. So, she said her goodbyes with a pitying tone.

“Marquis, you’re tired, right? Please rest well!”

Running like a deer down the dark hallway, Radis waved and disappeared.

And as Yves was left alone, he opened his hand.

What’s in his hand was a black corsage.

Perhaps she held it tightly before, but her warmth remained, still.

“What the…?”

Yves looked out of the window suspiciously.

“What time is it? Why is the bell ringing?”

.

.

.

With two days left before New Year’s Day, Radis and Yves went to Dvirath through the gate.

They were heading there to attend the New Year’s banquet in the capital.

Dvirath’s gate was crowded with passengers and the attendants that were with them.

It was so packed that it’s impossible to take a step anywhere.

“It’s a good thing I wore pants, right?”

Radis said this with a broad smile.

What she was wearing right now were Yves’ childhood clothes, though they’d been tailored to fit her already.

“Sure, of course.”

Seeing her in his old clothes, Yves had half given up by now.

Actually, he wanted to stop her from wearing that, and even stop her from bringing a lunchbox with her, too.

But when Radis was so comfortable right now and was in such a good mood, what could he do?

And, after she donned those well-fitted shirt and pants, and even a black cloak on top of it—if he were to be completely honest with himself—she was really, truly a sight for sore eyes.

Should he just go ahead and say that she looked like his angel?

‘No, no, no, no, nooooooo….!’

He inwardly shouted the word ‘no’ to himself about a hundred times, but Radis tugged on his sleeve and pulled him back to his senses.

“Marquis, look at that!”

Radis pointed towards the small mountain of magic stones over that way.

On top of a high altar in front of them, mage scholars were tirelessly calculating the number of magic stones needed to activate the runes, and the gate foremen used small golden spades to scoop up the magic stones to weigh them on special scales.

Behind them was a large safe that seemed to contain an endless amount of magic stones.

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