~Chapter 13~
―So many marriage proposals keep coming in, I don’t understand why neither of you is married yet.
Selen’s mother often complained like this.
Even just at the Great Temple, quite a few priestesses admired her two older brothers.
Yet neither of them had ever entertained a marriage proposal.
Selen had always thought it was because her brothers were foolishly obsessed with bets and duels.
However, one day, after accidentally overhearing a conversation between the two, she finally understood the reason.
―Nico, if I meet this girl or that girl, it could bring shame upon Father or Selen’s honor.
―I know, right? Just handle your own affairs. Don’t be too kind.
―Too kind, you say?
―It’s because you personally reply to every proposal letter that so many keep coming. Everyone wants a letter in your own handwriting.
―What? That’s why?
―Really… whoever becomes the future sister-in-law is already going to have a hard time…
At first, when she heard the indulgent confessions of the nobles, Selen had worried that her brothers’ names might come up.
But now, she no longer felt uneasy.
Because she knew, more than anyone, that her family was living honestly and with integrity, making sure she wouldn’t hear any bad news even by chance.
“Father! I’m hungry!”
“Alright! Let’s go! I’ve reserved the best restaurant in the capital for our daughter.”
Selen walked with her father on one side and her eldest brother on the other.
At that moment, Selen felt like the luckiest person in the world, with the most dependable family.
The restaurant that Count Leclair had reserved was excellent.
The food was delicious, and the interior was beautiful.
But with her beloved family, even cheap street food in the rain would have tasted amazing.
After finishing lunch, they went to a dessert shop recommended by the Count’s aide.
“Father, isn’t it too sweet?”
“No. It’s not sweet at all.”
Count Leclair insisted it wasn’t sweet, but his expression betrayed him.
The siblings couldn’t hold back their laughter as they watched him quickly wash down the rich cream puffs with strong coffee.
“Father, have another one then.”
“Lory, you eat more of it.”
“Father, you said it’s delicious. Don’t you want it?”
“Ugh… alright. I’ll try just one more, since it’s from our daughter.”
Selen and Lory laughed each time their father took a bite of cream puff.
Selen even shed a small tear.
For a moment, she thought about how Kirien might react if she told him this story—but she quickly pushed the thought away.
After lunch, arm-in-arm with her father and eldest brother, they wandered through the shopping district.
Both had decided to buy her gifts.
At one point, Lory pointed to a magic shop.
“Selen, didn’t you say you wanted to see a magic shop before?”
“Our daughter said that?”
“Ah… yes. Magic and divine power are quite different, so I was curious.”
Actually, that was just a setup because of Bluebird’s letter.
They still had some magic powder from the previous purchase, and there was no need to write Bluebird’s letter anymore, so visiting the magic shop wasn’t necessary…
But of course, they wouldn’t know that.
“Really? If our daughter wants to go, we should take her.”
And so Selen was led by the two of them to the magic shop.
Specifically, to “Daniels.”
“Daniel! Guest! Guest!”
The tricolor cat guarding Daniels announced the arrival of a customer.
A tall man with reddish curly hair appeared.
“Ahh, welcome.”
He yawned openly as he greeted them.
Count Leclair carefully observed him and asked cautiously,
“You… by any chance, are you Daniel, the second son of the Cain family?”
Daniel stood with one leg cocked, then quickly straightened.
“That’s right. Count, how have you been?”
Daniel glanced at Selen.
Selen quickly winked twice, sending him an urgent signal.
Daniel blinked once, as if to say he understood.
In fact, Daniel was Selen’s childhood friend.
He was also the mage who had helped her write Bluebird’s letters.
“Do you remember our daughter? You two were quite close when you were little.”
Selen smiled brightly and extended her hand.
“Daniel, it’s been so long. How have you been?”
“Yeah, I’ve been well. And you?”
“I’ve been well too. It’s really good to see you.”
Their conversation felt stiff, like reading from a book.
Fortunately, Count Leclair and Lory didn’t find it strange.
They simply assumed the two were shy from meeting after a long time.
But contrary to the Count’s expectations, Selen and Daniel were silently insulting each other.
Through their eyes alone, their playful criticisms were communicated—only possible between close friends.
Your expression is so weird. Totally awkward.
What are you saying? Your face looks even faker.
Do something with that curly hair of yours.
Ridiculous. Take care of yourself first.
Unaware of the silent bickering, Count Leclair repeatedly patted Daniel on the shoulder.
He seemed genuinely pleased to see how well Daniel had grown.
“Daniel, I heard you entered the Mage Tower. Are you just now coming out?”
“Yes. The tower’s rules are too strict for me… These days, selling magical tools is more profitable.”
“I’ve heard the magical tool business is thriving. Can you show me what you have? I might want to buy something.”
Daniel gave Selen a look for help.
Selen noticed the signal too, but Count Leclair was faster.
Like an inspector, he began asking about the purpose of every item in the shop.
“Daniel, what is this cloak?”
“Ah… this… is a cloak and hat that makes your face hard to recognize…”
“Really? Where would such a thing be used?”
“For shady deals?”
Hearing Daniel’s blunt answer reminded Selen that he had always struggled with writing assignments.
“Describe the greatest achievement of the 14th Emperor.”
“I think all of them were rubbish.”
Daniel was still the same inside: big, imposing, but otherwise unchanged.
“Daniel, what about this dice?”
“Ah… it’s a die that rolls the number you want…”
“Really? And what is it used for?”
“For gambling fraud?”
“I see… This geometric tool looks different. Is it art?”
“Well… I wouldn’t explain it in front of your daughter…”
“No, no! Don’t explain!”
Daniel probably thought it would be better to say, “There are these crimes in the Zodiac, and I make money off them.”
Selen sighed and went to find Lory.
While approaching a feather to play with the cat, she suddenly noticed a glass bottle.
It was exactly like the one Kirien had in his hand when he purified Arpiel and fainted.
“Daniel, what’s this glass bottle?”
Daniel looked at the bottle Selen pointed to and frowned.
“Ah… we no longer sell that.”
“Why not?”
“It’s a memory-erasing potion, but the side effects are too severe.”
For a moment, Kirien came to her mind.
He had escorted Selen to the Great Temple and hadn’t left immediately, lingering near her.
She had been curious about the words he hesitated to say multiple times.
Could it have been about that bottle?
“What are the side effects?”
“It’s impossible to guarantee how much memory will be lost. If lucky, only about half a day. If unlucky, up to an entire year’s memories could be erased…”
“Ugh!”
Selen’s scream cut Daniel off.
“What’s wrong? Why are you reacting like that?”
“Ah, nothing… It just seems too horrifying a side effect.”
After leaving the magic shop, Selen’s mood visibly darkened.
She had to act as if nothing had happened so her family wouldn’t worry.
But this time, she couldn’t control her expression.
Lory noticed Selen’s change first.
While their father greeted an acquaintance, he approached her and asked the reason.
“Selen, what’s wrong? You don’t want to go back to the temple?”
Lory was referring to the past.
When she had just entered the temple, she had always resisted returning on outing days.
She clung to her parents, refused to go, or hid.
But it was always in vain.
The priests forcibly brought her back, and she cried until she could barely breathe.
Realizing she was making Lory worry, Selen pretended to be fine.
“Eh, Lory. I’m not a child anymore. I’m okay.”
“Then why does your face look so sad?”
Looking at Lory’s serious expression, she knew flimsy excuses wouldn’t work.
She couldn’t simply say it was because of a man—he would surely scold her.
“Um… Lory, suppose I had an incurable disease…”
“What? Are you sick?”
Lory was startled, raising his voice, which surprised Selen even more.
“No, I said suppose. I’m just curious what you and Father could do if I had a disease with no cure…”
She watched Lory’s reaction carefully.
She was scared he’d get angry for imagining something unnecessary.
Yet Lory didn’t get angry.
He just looked at her quietly.
Then, suddenly, Lory asked a question.
“And you?”
“Huh?”
“If I were sick, how far would you go for me?”
