Chapter 152
Selina spent a day no different from yesterday.
She took turns with Asta following the schedule to read fortunes, and during breaks, she wandered around the academic festival with Theodore or other friends.
The current time was around 7:30 p.m.
It had been about an hour since she’d eaten an early dinner and switched shifts with Asta. In another thirty minutes, the fortune-telling booth would close.
As Selina mentally counted the remaining time, her eyes suddenly widened as she looked at the person in front of her.
It was Devotio, a regular customer of Secret Moonlight. It seemed he had heard something from his son, Berce.
Perhaps trying to confirm whether Selina was truly the Madam, he threw various questions at her, testing her fortune-telling skills.
Even if she might fail to meet his expectations, Selina’s pride would not allow that.
In the end, when she delivered a fortune as cleanly and precisely as the Madam herself, Devotio was left speechless.
“I hope my answers were to your liking.”
Devotio snapped back to his senses. Through the veil, Selina could see his eyes trembling.
“…Student. By any chance, do you know Secret Moonlight?”
“Of course. Isn’t it a famous fortune-telling shop on Therion Street?”
“I’m a regular there. Your skill doesn’t fall short compared to the Madam’s.”
“Oh my, is that so? You flatter me.”
A faint smile lifted her lips beneath the veil. Devotio smacked his lips.
Whenever Berce insisted that Selina was the Madam, Devotio hadn’t easily believed it.
But now, it seemed his son had been right.
Devotio pulled out his wallet and placed ten gold coins on the table.
“Didn’t you already pay outside?”
“I did. Think of this as a tip. Your fortune-telling will be a great help to me.”
Devotio stood up and left the booth. Just before exiting, he whispered softly with a knowing look.
“Let’s meet again sometime.”
The man who had spoken casually the whole time ended with polite speech.
He must have been convinced that Selina was the Madam.
“…What am I supposed to do with this?”
Whether Devotio believed she was the Madam or not, the real problem was the fortune now sitting in front of her.
“Who in the world tips ten gold coins?”
As Selina stared in disbelief, Luna appeared in front of her.
“That guy’s generosity keeps growing, nya.”
“That aside, what should I do with this? Ten gold is about half of what we earned yesterday.”
“He said it was a tip, nya. Just count it as sales.”
“But still…”
“Or since it’s your tip, you could quietly pocket—!”
Before Luna could finish, Selina flicked him on the forehead.
“Why’d you hit me, nya?!”
“You deserved it.”
“Hitting a god, of all things!”
Ignoring Luna’s grumbling, Selina glanced outside between the tents.
Normally customers never stopped coming, but after Devotio left, no one entered.
“Are there no more customers?”
“I saw people heading elsewhere to watch the fireworks, nya. It’s quiet around here now.”
“Really? Didn’t they say the fireworks start at 8:30?”
It was already past 7:40. There was still time, but people had to move early to get good spots.
“Silvia said she’d come, but she never showed up.”
“Maybe she forgot, nya?”
“Could be. Still, there’s a bit of time before closing. Let’s wait.”
Selina finally leaned back in her chair and relaxed.
She’d been tense all day trying to look composed, and now her shoulders and waist ached.
Luna, who had been watching her, suddenly stiffened his expression and approached carefully.
“Why?”
“…Are you satisfied with this life?”
“What’s with the sudden question?”
Selina chuckled at Luna’s serious tone, but sensing his sincerity, she straightened her posture and thought carefully.
“Of course I am. I’ve made lots of friends, I’m becoming Dad’s adopted daughter, and I even have a wonderful boyfriend.”
She smiled mischievously.
“Wouldn’t it be strange if I wasn’t satisfied?”
“Then… even if you could live a different life, you wouldn’t change?”
“A different life?”
“Yes. Honestly, your life hasn’t been smooth. People pointed fingers, called you a witch, envied you. When you were young, things were tight—you even went hungry a few times.”
“Watch what you say.”
Selina cut him off sharply, glaring with a dangerous light in her eyes.
“My mother did her best to raise me. Yes, we were poor at times, but she built everything so I could live on my own now. Do you think it’s easy to raise a child you picked up like your own? Don’t you dare judge my mother’s efforts.”
“…That’s not what I meant.”
“Then what are you trying to say?”
“That’s…”
Luna hesitated, then suddenly lifted his head and looked toward the entrance.
“…Someone’s coming.”
“Who’s coming—?”
“Selina, I’m not too late, right?”
Silvia’s cheerful voice rang out from outside. Selina glanced at Luna, but he had already slipped away from the desk.
“…No, you’re not late. Come in.”
“Thank goodness! I wanted to come sooner, but the timing didn’t work out. Sorry!”
“It’s fine, nothing to apologize for.”
Selina pulled her veil back over her face and greeted Silvia, but Silvia didn’t enter.
“Why are you just standing there?”
“Oh, I came with my mother. Mom! Over here!”
Silvia called loudly. Since she was greeting a friend’s parent, Selina stood up.
“This place is lovely. This is the astrology club you told me about, right?”
“Yes! That’s right! You said hello to everyone outside, didn’t you?”
“I did. They were all such nice children.”
Silvia’s mother’s voice drew closer.
“Mom, let me introduce you. This is my favorite friend—Selina!”
“Nice to meet you, Selina—”
As Selina approached the entrance to greet her, she couldn’t finish the sentence.
Her mouth and eyes slowly widened.
“So you’re Selina. Nice to meet you. Silvia talks about you all the time.”
From the smiling face of Silvia’s mother, fragmented memories—blurred with time—rose uncontrollably.
Selina froze, failing to take the hand Anais offered. Silvia called out softly.
“…Selina?”
But Selina remained frozen as if nailed in place.
“…Is your friend unwell?”
At Anais’s whisper, Silvia gently pulled Selina aside.
“What’s wrong with you all of a sudden? Are you sick?”
“…Your mother?”
“Huh?”
Silvia blinked, waving her hand in front of Selina’s face. Through the black veil, her violet eyes seemed vividly visible.
“Is she really your mother?”
“If she wasn’t, why would I call her Mom? You’ve been acting strange.”
Silvia laughed lightly. Selina let out a hollow chuckle and turned her head.
Silvia’s mother, Anais, standing in the distance—
‘Mom.’
The biological mother who had abandoned her when she was young.
* * *
“Now then, we will begin the 10th auction.”
While most people went to watch the fireworks, some gathered at the exhibition hall’s auction.
Baon was there as well, both to collect artwork and to carry out Fryman’s orders.
“This piece was painted by a first-year student, Mie. Those familiar with her already know she’s exceptionally talented, even among first-year art students. During summer break, she trained under the renowned painter Lior and participated in the mural work at the Temple of the Sun.”
At the mention of Lior, murmurs spread among those unfamiliar with Mie.
“She may become a master painter in the future. It wouldn’t hurt to start collecting her work now. And so, the 10th piece—Lady of the Veil! We’ll begin at 50 silver!”
Hands shot up immediately. Starting at 50 silver, Lady of the Veil quickly surpassed 10 gold.
And it didn’t stop there.
As the number of bidders thinned, Baon raised his hand.
“Bidder 24, 30 gold!”
It had been 20 gold just moments ago. The sudden jump caused a stir.
While not an enormous sum for nobles or collectors, many fine works were still ahead. Spending too much early was risky.
“Bidder 11, 35 gold!”
Thinking he’d secured it, Baon turned at the announcer’s words.
His eyes met a man holding the 11 placard.
‘…Marquis Hailers?’
The unexpected appearance of such a heavyweight startled Baon—but he couldn’t back down.
“Bidder 24, 50 gold!”
Gasps erupted. Spending 50 gold at an academy auction—especially on a first-year’s work—was highly unusual.
Arnold’s eyebrow twitched.
‘So he wants that painting badly as well.’
But Arnold couldn’t retreat. In that painting, he saw the image of the wife he loved dearly.
“Bidder 11! 60 gold!”
Seeing Arnold’s gesture, the announcer called it out. Baon ground his teeth.
‘Damn it. He’s still following?’
Fryman had told him to win no matter the cost, but this was far beyond expectations.
Baon frowned and raised his hand again.
Their eyes locked. The fierce back-and-forth continued.
The price of Lady of the Veil skyrocketed to the point that even spectators were stunned.
“Bidder 24, 211 gold!”
Sweat beaded on Baon’s face as he barely lifted his trembling hand.
Arnold clicked his tongue sharply—but didn’t raise his hand again.
“Bidder 11, no further bids?”
Instead of answering, Arnold shut his eyes with a grim expression.
“Then we’ll begin the count. Five, four, three, two… one! Congratulations! Lady of the Veil goes to bidder 24!”
Applause echoed through the hall. But Baon felt no joy.
‘I barely shook him off—but the cost is enormous.’
A heavy sigh escaped his lips.
‘What am I supposed to tell His Excellency?’
Spending 211 gold—he had no idea how to explain it.
Arnold narrowed his eyes at Baon.
Judging by his reaction, Baon had been pushed to his limit.
If Arnold had pressed just a little more, Lady of the Veil might have been his.
‘What a pity.’
Arnold smacked his lips and crossed his arms as the auction continued.
He had wanted to gift that painting to Anais, but what was lost was lost.
Instead, he resolved to obtain everything else Anais had shown interest in.
‘If I truly regret it, I can always commission the student personally.’
After all, she was friends with Silvester and Silvia—it would be easy.
Perhaps this was the perfect opportunity to commission a new family portrait.
