Chapter 149
“Selina, have you been well all this time?”
“Uh—ah, y-yes! No—no, how did you come to be here?”
Selina, who had been stammering as if something had broken inside her, suddenly broke into a wide smile and trotted over to Freiman. Seeing how much more warmly she welcomed him than he had expected, Freiman’s smile deepened.
“How did I get here? Didn’t you send me an invitation? When my one and only daughter invites me to come, of course I have to. Don’t you think?”
“I heard you were always so busy, so I thought you wouldn’t be able to make it. Still, I hoped I could at least see you at the closing ceremony…”
Overcome with emotion, Selina looked up at him with sparkling eyes. Finding her adorable, Freiman patted her head.
“I’m glad you welcomed me. But…”
Freiman’s dark brown eyes sank for a moment. Then he slowly turned his gaze from Selina to Theodore—more precisely, to Theodore’s right hand, which had been holding Selina’s hand just ten seconds earlier.
“Sir! I never thought you’d come today!”
Freiman was about to say something, but at Mie’s cheerful greeting he closed his mouth and put on his usual gentle smile.
“I heard an explanation from Baon on the way here. I hear you submitted a piece to this exhibition.”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“That’s impressive. From what I know, only a very small number of people are allowed to participate in the exhibition.”
Mie blushed shyly. No matter how many people praised her, she was still weak to compliments.
“Well then, let’s take a look at the painting…”
When Freiman finally examined Mie’s artwork, he found himself unable to continue speaking. Like everyone else, he stared at it as if spellbound.
“…It’s Selina, isn’t it.”
“Huh? How did you know?”
“How could I not? One look is enough to tell it’s Selina.”
“But no one else realized until we said it.”
As Mie and Selina spoke in disbelief, Freiman burst out laughing.
“Even if I’m not your biological father, I believe I raised you just as much as Stella did. There’s no way I wouldn’t recognize my daughter’s face.”
“Hm, somehow I’m starting to miss Lady Stella.”
Baon, who had been standing beside Freiman as if present yet not, spoke up.
Stella. Hearing her name, Selina finally understood the source of the faint sense of familiarity she had been feeling.
‘She really does look more like Mom than me.’
The same feeling she’d had when she saw Stella lost in thought sometimes—she felt it again in this piece.
“It’s an excellent work. If you were willing to sell it, I’d like to buy it myself.”
“Oh? For you to say that, it really must be outstanding. Baon has a very sharp eye for art, you know.”
“Collecting art is my hobby.”
At Freiman’s words, Baon shrugged slightly. Pride was evident in his tone.
“By any chance, are you planning to sell this piece?”
Mie answered Baon’s question.
“Every year, the works displayed at the exhibition are put up for auction on the last day of the academic festival. If you’d like to buy my piece, you’d have to bid at tomorrow’s auction.”
“I see. I suppose I’ll have to aim for it.”
“Baon, how about yielding this one to me?”
Baon, who had been imagining adding Mie’s work to his collection, looked at Freiman.
“Y-Your Excellency?”
“Yes. I can’t hand my daughter’s painting over to just anyone. So this time, let me have it.”
“If… if that is what you say, then I will comply.”
“Haha, thank you. Please make sure it’s won in my name tomorrow.”
The auction hadn’t even begun, yet a buyer had already appeared for Mie’s painting.
Theodore, who had secretly been aiming for this piece as well, flinched. Still, he couldn’t refuse the wishes of his girlfriend’s father. He decided to be satisfied with the piece he had purchased from Mie last time.
“I’ll make sure to pay a very good price. Of course, I expect there will be a lot of competition, so the final bid may get quite high.”
At Freiman’s words, Mie swallowed hard. She was already excited to see how much her first officially sold piece would be valued at.
“Haha, but…”
Freiman turned his gaze back toward Theodore.
“I could have sworn you were holding hands with Theodore earlier…”
Selina and Theodore both flinched.
“Did I see that wrong?”
Though he spoke with a bright smile, the pressure bearing down on Theodore was no joke.
“Well, Dad, the thing is—”
“I am officially dating Selina!”
Before Selina could finish explaining, Theodore spoke the truth. Freiman’s smiling face instantly stiffened.
Swallowing nervously, Theodore still stood proudly beside Selina and took her hand.
“We haven’t been dating for very long, but I’ve liked her for a long time. I promise I’ll make Selina happy.”
Theodore bowed so deeply his crown was visible. Selina fidgeted, wondering if this was really necessary just for dating.
Freiman, who had been glaring at Theodore, placed a hand on his shoulder.
“All right, lift your head.”
With unease, Theodore raised his head and saw Freiman smiling. He wondered if his sincerity had gotten through.
“If the two of you like each other and are dating, that’s not something I can interfere with. After all, it’s only ‘dating,’ isn’t it?”
The word he emphasized made Theodore freeze.
“…Dad?”
“Of course. You’re both young and full of energy—people date, and they break up too. I have no intention of opposing your relationship.”
Freiman patted Theodore’s shoulder again, then took Selina with him and headed elsewhere.
As she was led away, Selina looked back. Theodore was still frozen in place.
“…Dad, you’re not angry, are you?”
“Angry? Why would I be angry?”
“But…”
There had definitely been a barb hidden in his words. Selina looked at Baon in confusion, but he merely shook his head in silence.
Once Freiman and Selina disappeared, the remaining youths finally spoke.
“…Wow, that man is terrifying.”
“L-Lord Theodore, are you all right?”
On the surface, Freiman had accepted Theodore, but it was clear he believed Selina and Theodore would eventually break up. No—more than that, it was as if he thought they would definitely break up, so there was no reason for him to concern himself.
“…What a relief.”
Contrary to Mie and Chris’s worries, words of relief escaped Theodore’s mouth.
“A relief? How so?”
“Forgive me, but it seemed His Excellency didn’t welcome you very much…”
“No, this is fine. I was prepared to be told to break up immediately. If anything, I’m relieved he didn’t oppose me as strongly as I’d expected.”
Relief filled Theodore’s eyes.
‘I’ll work hard so that he can acknowledge me.’
He hadn’t expected things to be easy from the start. As long as he could stay by Selina’s side, Theodore resolved to do anything.
Having suddenly been reunited with Freiman and dragged into an unplanned date, Selina was tossed around by him—but still enjoyed herself. Before she knew it, it was almost time to switch shifts with Asta.
“So, you’re doing fortune-telling?”
“Yes. I need to switch with my senior soon, so I should get going. Dad, would you like to come take a look too? It’s decorated just like when you worked in the tent with Mom—it should feel familiar.”
“Stella…”
Seeing the purple tent in the distance, Freiman smiled faintly.
“You’re right. Stella used to tell fortunes in places like that.”
It was a sight that stirred nostalgia. As Selina held onto Freiman’s arm and approached the tent, she noticed it was unusually noisy.
People with pink hair were crowding around the tent.
“It looks like something happened.”
“It does. I’ll go check.”
Selina hurried toward the tent. The others following behind also quickened their pace.
“Did a fight break out?”
“I hope it’s nothing serious.”
When they arrived, they saw three large men with pink hair surrounding Asta. They were so big that Selina briefly wondered if they were bullying her—but looking closer, she saw Zenon pacing around them in a fluster, which was strange. If Asta were in danger, he would have been angry or protecting her.
“Our little sister’s all grown up! Looks like she can leave our arms now!”
“When was Asta ever in your arms?”
“You idiots, could you keep it down? People are staring.”
Hearing the affection dripping from their voices, Selina and the others stopped in their tracks.
“This is so embarrassing! If you’re done getting your fortunes told, hurry up and leave! Selina will be here soon!”
Asta scolded the big men. It was the first time Selina had ever seen her raise her voice at anyone other than Zenon.
“Oh, Selina? You mean the junior you wrote about in your letter?”
“The benefactor’s daughter!”
“If the benefactor’s daughter is coming, shouldn’t we at least greet her?”
“That’s true, but—ah!”
Asta, who had looked displeased, spotted Selina among the men. At her groan, the men turned around.
[She’s Asta’s spitting image, nya.]
‘I know, right.’
Selina silently agreed with Luna. She’d guessed from the friendly air and pink hair, but as expected, they were Asta’s family. Despite their large builds, they all had cute faces like Asta.
“Could this be Selina?”
“W-Well, um…”
Asta, who hadn’t stammered until now, suddenly started doing so. She looked like she might cry, so Selina stepped forward first.
“Nice to meet you. My name is Selina. You’re Senior Asta’s family, correct?”
Surprised that Selina greeted them first, they looked startled. Then a middle-aged man stepped forward and offered his hand.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Arthur Pauline, Asta’s father.”
Arthur Pauline—the head of the Pauline family, the Marquis of Pauline. Facing such an important figure, Selina felt nervous.
“I’ve heard about you from Asta. She said you’re the daughter of the witch Lady Stella.”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“I’m sorry it took this long to meet you. I should have visited sooner.”
Realizing he was lamenting Stella’s death, Selina shook her head.
“No, it’s all right. I’m just glad we could meet like this. My mother would be happy too.”
Arthur, who had looked somber, gave a small chuckle.
“Even before knowing you were the witch’s daughter, I heard a lot about you from Asta. She was so happy to meet a witch so knowledgeable about astrology.”
“F-Father!”
Asta shouted from behind, but Arthur ignored her.
“Thank you for helping our Asta, first her mother and now her daughter. You’re practically a benefactor to our family, so if you ever need anything, tell us. We’ll help as much as we can.”
Starting with Arthur, Asta’s family expressed their gratitude to Selina.
Meeting Asta’s two older brothers and the Marchioness, Selina greeted them with the brightest smile she could manage. She’d wondered where Asta’s small stature came from after seeing her brothers—but seeing the Marchioness, a petite woman much like Asta, she immediately understood.
At that moment, Arthur noticed Freiman approaching behind Selina and widened his eyes.
“Well, isn’t this His Excellency Freiman?”
“It’s been a while, Marquis.”
Seemingly acquainted, Arthur approached Freiman warmly.
“I never imagined we’d meet in a place like this. Have you been well?”
“Very well. It seems you’ve come to see your daughter.”
“Indeed. She’ll be in her third year soon, so next year will likely be my last visit here. But what brings Your Excellency here? From what I know, you don’t often attend events like this.”
“I’m the same as you, Marquis.”
“Pardon?”
“I came to see my daughter.”
At first, Arthur didn’t understand. Then his expression turned to shock.
“M-Married? But I thought Your Excellency wasn’t married—”
“I’ve adopted a child. The adoption process isn’t finished yet, but she’s someone I’ve known for a long time.”
“I see. And who is the child you adopted?”
With a kindly smile, Freiman looked toward Selina, who was surrounded by the Pauline family. Following his gaze, Arthur’s mouth fell open.
“From the looks of it, my daughter and the Marquis’s daughter seem quite close.”
“H-Haha… I never imagined it would turn out like this.”
Arthur let out a hollow laugh and scratched his head.
“Ah, come to think of it, you were the one who introduced me to the witch, weren’t you?”
Only then realizing the crucial connection, Arthur turned back to Freiman. Instead of answering, Freiman slowly blinked.
At last, Arthur roughly pieced together how such a coincidence had occurred.
“When you have time, how about the two of us talk sometime?”
“I’d be glad to. Contact me anytime.”
“Haha, since you’re always so busy, I suppose I’ll have to coordinate the schedule carefully.”
