Chapter 6
Tap.
Selina leaned against the door, dazed.
“Baon… smiled? At a person? At me?”
At first, it had been so sudden she was stunned, but thinking back now, the change in him was almost frightening.
Baon was one of Fryman’s most loyal subordinates. That meant Selina had naturally encountered him often since childhood.
Even though she had known him for a long time, they were still distant. The reason was simple: Baon didn’t like Stella.
Why he didn’t like Stella, Selina didn’t know. But he disliked her, and naturally, that extended to her daughter—Selina herself.
Still, he was a professional. He never revealed his true feelings. It was just that his eyes were so perceptive that they reflected everything inside him.
Over time, they had grown somewhat accustomed to each other, but it wasn’t enough to call them close.
“Meow~ Looks like that kid used some effort, huh?”
Lost in thought, Selina snapped back to reality and looked at Luna, who had jumped up onto the dining table.
Only then did she realize the sheer number of gifts she had received from Fryman. Selina began opening them one by one.
Nyaaang!
As she unwrapped the presents, it became clear that these were high-end branded items.
Two school uniforms, a bag for academy use, three pairs of comfortable shoes for any occasion, and a robe to wear over the uniform—the gifts were abundant.
“Hurry up and try them on, meow!”
Luna, excited, flicked her tail against the uniform. Selina carefully picked up the uniform and headed behind a partition.
The feel of the fabric in her hands was already extraordinary. Even someone like her, who wasn’t particularly interested in clothing, could tell it was expensive.
“…That’s a lot from him.”
With a bitter smile, Selina changed into the uniform.
The deep navy skirt was accented with red tartan, and the silk blouse above it fell neatly. The blazer fit comfortably, with gold embroidery adding a subtle flourish.
Even the Perion Academy emblem was embroidered on it, leaving no doubt she was a student.
Wearing the uniform made her feel as though she had really enrolled. Selina fiddled with her clothes nervously as she stepped out from behind the partition.
Nyaaang!
Luna, waiting on the table, let out a loud meow and jumped down.
Spinning around Selina with wide eyes, he made her chuckle.
“You okay?”
“Really suits you, meow! Looks like it was always yours!”
“Really?”
Blushing at the compliment, she scratched her cheek and looked into the full-length mirror. Not bad, she thought.
Her long, curly red hair fell past her chest, her violet eyes deeper than any embroidery, and her pale, untanned skin—having stayed indoors daily—looked flawless.
Objectively, her appearance was above average.
“Try this too, meow!”
Luna tapped at the robe meant to go over the uniform. Following his cue, she draped the calf-length robe over herself.
Whoosh!
The moment she wrapped the robe around her, a warm sensation spread throughout her body. Just by wearing it, all chill was blocked.
“Magic…”
“Fryman really knows his stuff, meow!”
“This is crazy! Just a single robe has magic! How expensive must it be…!”
The robe’s enchantment automatically regulates body temperature according to the environment.
With it, she could survive comfortably even in a snowy mountain or the heart of a desert.
Because it was such a complex magic, even nobles would tremble handling one, making it extremely costly.
“Normally, he wouldn’t waste a single coin.”
“Because it’s for you, meow.”
Selina pressed her lips together. He had treated her like a father would a daughter in the absence of her own father.
Choking back the emotions swelling inside her, she lifted her head. Luna pretended not to notice.
Tap-tap-tap.
“Selina! Selina! I have good news!”
Breaking the awkward silence, someone knocked at the door with a familiar voice.
Selina wiped her slightly teary eyes and headed to the entrance.
At the door stood a cute girl with curly light-brown hair and green eyes.
It was Mie, Selina’s childhood friend, living just upstairs.
Mie twirled around, showing off her identical school uniform.
“Selina! Look! My uniform arrived—what?!”
Mie’s proud expression vanished as she saw Selina wearing the exact same uniform.
“What? What? What?! The same as mine… no! It’s Perion’s uniform!”
“Ah…”
Opening the door naturally had been a mistake—she hadn’t expected to learn of Selina’s admission so quickly.
“How are you wearing this? And… from Gold Ribbon Tailoring! How… what’s going on?!”
“Wait, I’ll explain, calm down.”
“Calm down? Do I look calm? You little—!”
The high-pitched voice made Selina frown. She quickly clamped her hand over Mie’s mouth as she dashed to stop her from yelling further.
“Ugh! Stop!”
“Quiet, the building will collapse, you know.”
Seeing her childhood friend return to her usual self, Selina helped her sit and brought out a teacup.
Mie, staring intently at Selina’s back, then glanced at Luna on the table, her eyes crossing slightly.
“Luna… what happened to your master? She’s not supposed to go to the academy!”
Nyaaang?
Luna mimicked a beast, as if saying he didn’t know, and enjoyed being petted by Mie.
Selina glared at her friend’s accusatory tone for a moment but then returned to preparing tea and snacks.
“Eek! All of this… everything’s luxury goods?”
Mie examined each item scattered on the table.
“Wait… all of these items are….”
Recognizing some of the designs, Mie fell silent.
“You’re really going to the academy?”
“Somehow, yes.”
Seeing Selina calm despite a sigh, Mie stomped her foot, frustrated.
“Why didn’t you tell me? I’m your only friend!”
Whine-whine-whine.
Mie clung to Selina’s clothing, upset that such important news was kept from her.
Selina sighed deeply at her friend’s usual behavior.
“Ha! You deceived me? How long were you planning to hide it?”
“Hidden? It’s not like that.”
“Then what is it?”
“I only found out yesterday that I’m entering the academy too.”
“What?”
Mie froze, hiding her fake tears.
“So… you only found out you’re enrolling yesterday?”
“Yes. Last night, he told me I had to go.”
“Huh…”
“I was shocked too… I couldn’t just refuse since the tuition was already paid.”
“Right… no wonder. A homebody like you wouldn’t normally go to an academy.”
Not wrong, but it annoyed her slightly, so Selina glared at her.
“So all of this was prepared by the Cardinal too?”
“Yes. Baon came earlier and delivered everything. What a man… if I’d refused, all of this would have had to be returned.”
“Wow… the Cardinal is bold, isn’t he?”
“Well… it’s done now. And hiding it? I was going to tell you today anyway.”
“…Liar.”
Mie gave Selina a suspicious stare.
“He was probably trying to tell you as late as possible.”
“No. I really intended to tell you today.”
“You weren’t asking for my help to prepare the things, were you?”
Caught off guard, Selina avoided Mie’s eyes.
“I’ve seen you enough to know you wouldn’t know where to get these things on your own. If it weren’t for the supplies, I might’ve told you later anyway.”
Selina drank her tea quietly, not meeting Mie’s eyes. Mie crossed her arms.
“See? I knew it.”
“…I still planned to tell you eventually.”
“Hmph! Fine! Now, you owe me a bow, you know?”
Mie pouted and bit into the biscuits Selina offered.
“But there must be more supplies needed, right?”
“Yes. He only bought the essentials, so we’ll have to shop for the rest.”
“Hmm… then let’s go together. I have shopping to do anyway. My patron told me to buy whatever I need!”
Mie’s patron, who ensured she could enter the academy despite being a commoner, had offered full support, impressed by her drawing talent.
Selina chuckled at her friend’s excited chatter about her patron.
“Oh! Then what about your store once you enter the academy?”
Mie was one of the few who knew Selina ran a shop.
“It’ll be temporarily closed, of course. No choice.”
“Right… everyone has to stay in the dorms.”
“But maybe once a month I could open for business.”
“Really? How?”
“I got in through a special admission. Maybe my uncle influenced it. If I tell the academy my situation, I might make it work.”
“Hmm… could work.”
“But until summer break, I’ll consider it closed.”
“Entering the academy isn’t all that great then…”
“My case is unusual. Let’s focus on shopping first. Today!”
“What about your store? …Ah, today’s a holiday?”
“Yes. Normally, I’d sleep until noon, but I’m already awake. Besides, there are a few extra items to buy, so let’s shop while we can.”
“Got it! Let’s meet in front of the building in 30 minutes!”
Mie dashed off to change her uniform. Hearing her footsteps upstairs, Selina began her own preparations for the long-awaited outing.
“When you come back, bring jerky, meow.”
“You sound like ‘bring me Melona’.”
“Melona? Is that tasty, meow?”
“It’s really cold, sweet, and tastes like melon.”
“W-what’s that, meow? I want some too!”
“It doesn’t exist here, so forget it.”
Teasing her, Luna stomped his paw in exaggerated annoyance.
“Nothing’s missing, right?”
After organizing and packing, Selina noticed it was nearly time for their appointment.
To avoid being late, she returned, grabbed her hat from the hanger, tied up her hair, hid her red hair under the hat, pulled it low enough to cover her face, and rushed outside.
“I’m off!”
“Have fun, meow.”
