The one who appeared was the spirit of light from the church’s teachings.
No, she was not a spirit or a transcendental existence like that. However, even a high ranked priestess would not be able to emulate her appearance. But even after knowing that, it was hard to not believe that she was not someone whose existence was higher than humans. Such was the ethereal beauty that the girl possessed.
Pa.s.sing through the door, her small feet which was covered with l.u.s.trous shoes advanced inside the academy for the first time. She was walking serenely in a graceful manner that could be found in any high ranked young lady of a kingdom.
Her slender body was wrapped up from the top to the bottom with a simple ink-colored dress that emphasized her gorgeous figure. Her white skin could only be seen at the tip of her shoulders, but even that was shrouded by her bewitching black hair which overflowed from her veil, swaying lightly each time she took a step.
And above all, her white, small face which was enveloped by the black veil would capture anyone who see it and would not let go.
Appropriate for her age of twelve, her tender cheeks still had a trace of innocence on it. Her tiny lips was slightly red, and her eyelashes almost seemed to produce a sound if she wink. While her violet pupils which were exclusive to the Halkenberg lineage were tinged with a cloudy radiance.
Those pupils which were hiding a sadness somewhere deep in it appeared to be gazing at something far, far away. And that gaze of hers was looking straight ahead, causing this childlike girl to give an impression of a dignified lady.
“Well…..”
Someone inadvertently muttered. Such was the perfection of her beauty.
Leonora Von Halkenberg.
She was supposed to be the girl who, because of her difficult circ.u.mstances, grew up in the slum. However, currently that fact was instantly lost from the minds of all the n.o.bles present.
Forgetting to conceal her mouth with the her folding fan, Bianca was deeply entranced by the girl. It was only after the girl pa.s.sed through right in front of her that she narrowly came to her senses.
“Well, well…..!”
Promptly after uttering that, Bianca thought of what she was going to say next. This was an extremely unusual occurence for her who always think before she speak.
I have to say something. To turn this girl around, something.
She faced the girl, and impatiently said,
“Well, you only have one retainer? The person attending Young Marchioness Halkenberg sure is prepared to be lonely!”
Immediately after hastily stating that, Bianca regretted right away. This can only be taken as sarcasm, isn’t it?
Needless to say, her followers who concluded that ‘Princess Bianca deems this girl as an adversary’ unanimously bombarded her with spiteful words.
“Well, look at that simple dress! No matter how much she aims to be modest, for a lady, minding your personal appearance in this academy is simply common sense. I wonder whether she understands that or not?”
“Considering how she was brought up, it cannot be helped. Clearly, she had put great effort in her own way.”
“Indeed. Surely, that rat-like fas.h.i.+on is popular in the slum.”
Hearing their cruel remarks time and time again, the lone boy who accompanied the girl – looking closely, he was in fact quite handsome as well – clenched his fist tightly. His white face flushed red as he glared at them. However, those young ladies took his act as an offense, causing the tone of their slanders becoming harsher and harsher instead.
This is bad.
At this point, Bianca who didn’t actually want to corner the girl hurriedly tried to hold her followers in check.
It was then.
The girl, who was until now stay composed without any change in expression, suddenly halted.
Subsequently, she turned towards Bianca and her followers, and gave a gentle smile.
Albeit from the same gender, that lovely smile took Bianca and her followers’ breath away, making them at a loss of words.
The girl darted a glance at the imperial princess who was in a daze, before returning her gaze and started to walk once again as if nothing happened. Bianca and her followers sent off that retreating figure as if their souls finally coming back.
“…..What a beautiful girl.”
Margrette, who had completely forgotten her spiteful words earlier, murmured a single sentence. But she suddenly realized,
“No, she still reek of the slum somewhere on her after all. Like her dress for example!”
In a panic, she tried to make excuse for Bianca. However, Bianca shook her head calmly.
“No.”
She motionlessly stared at the pair who already moved past the hallway and were walking on the pa.s.sage connecting to the dormitory.
“That dress is indeed has a simple design, but both its fabric quality as well as its tailoring were first cla.s.s – a Savarin’s product for sure.”
“Oh, my…..!”
Savarin was a land situated at the extreme north of the Weiz Empire, and was famous for its textile. Naturally, it was the purveyor of clothing for the imperial family. And for a product to bear the brand of Savarin, it had to be completely crafted by hand as its dignity was the one hanging in the balance. Consequently, its supply were extremely scarce.
“Speaking of Savarin, because of its adhering texture, handling the hem clinging to the legs is supposedly a difficult matter. Yet, she just walked leisurely like it was nothing…..”
As someone who had wore Savarin’s products before and thus understood its difficulties, Bianca narrowed her eyes.
Her gait was tranquil like a swan cutting through the water. Moreover, her control over her hem was exquisite, allowing her to turn around easily in a gentle manner.
“A mere girl who grew up in the slum couldn’t possibly grasp that kind of etiquette in a brief amount of time.”
Did she get tempered over and over again somewhere? Or maybe it was her innate disposition, endowed by her bloodline?
Leonora Von Halkenberg.
A girl who is unfazed by attention, or so Bianca thought.