Afterward, I received a message from my Aunt. She wouldn't be coming back for a while and apologized, asking me to head back first.
The reason, I suspected, was that young girl who had shown up at the house.
A child with obsidian-black hair and blue eyes that reminded one of the boundless sky.
I didn't know why she was living with my Aunt, but given Theresa's benevolent nature, it was likely she was looking after the girl as a favor to someone.
Well, if she's someone I'll be seeing often, my Aunt will introduce her eventually.
For now, I have to take care of my own affairs.
While I still need to hear from Rita about what's going on, the immediate priority is facing my parents.
"So, the day has finally come."
Before I could even finish organizing my thoughts, the day of the confrontation arrived.
Originally, the plan was just to take Seele with me to greet them, but Bianca mentioned she would join us later.
"It's been so long since I've seen Mother!"
"Hmm, will these gifts be enough?"
Watching Kiana as she finished loading the car and Senior Mei as she carefully checked the gifts, I found myself speechless.
I mean, it's not like I could stop them. Even if I forcibly removed their luggage or told them they couldn't come, these two would find a way to show up regardless.
At this point, it was better to keep them within my line of sight.
That way, I could at least monitor what kind of strange things they were packing.
"This has turned into quite the migration," my wife remarked.
"Tell me about it. Are you okay, honey?"
"Yes, I'm fine. If anything, are you alright, Captain?"
I offered a smile to my wife as she placed a hand on my cheek, her eyes filled with concern.
The warmth from her palm and the affection behind her touch wrapped around my jagged nerves.
Finding a bit of composure thanks to her, I placed my hand over hers.
"I'm fine. As long as you're by my side, I can handle anything."
"...Still, please don't overexert yourself."
"I know."
Sensing the sincerity in my voice, my wife looked somewhat relieved. She then turned toward Bronie, who was currently changing clothes with Seele's help.
Yes, I won't overdo it.
But I won't show weakness either.
It's not just a matter of pride.
I am the head of this household.
I am a husband.
I am a father.
...Actually, if I think about it, I'm no longer just one person's husband or the father of just one child.
The sudden weight of reality hit me with a wave of existential dread—until...
"Mama, how do I look?"
Seele must have helped her dress. My daughter appeared with a bright smile, wearing a blue pleated dress that looked lovely yet comfortable enough for moving around, paired with a summer cardigan. On her head was a beret that matched the color of her dress.
The moment I saw her, my mind cleared instantly.
It was as if a powerful sedative had been injected into my weary spirit.
So this is the 'Bronie Therapy' that succeeded the 'Bronya Therapy.'
"You look adorable, Bronie."
"Yes, you're the cutest ever!"
Click! Snap-snap-snap!
My wife smiled and nodded, her hands clasped together in front of her chest in delight.
Seele, meanwhile, was frantically covering her nose and mouth with one hand, but she couldn't stop the stream of blood as she used the other to take a rapid-fire sequence of photos on her smartphone. I could only watch with a look of sheer bewilderment.
I mean... are you really okay losing that much blood?
It seemed Seele was perpetually under some sort of 'comedic armor' when it came to my wife and daughter; she could bleed out like a fountain and remain perfectly fine. It was a sight I still struggled to get used to.
"Papa."
"Hmm?"
If not for the small tug on my trousers, I wouldn't have noticed her approaching.
I knelt down to match my daughter's height, meeting her gaze with a smile.
"What is it, sweetheart?"
"How do I look?"
She did a gentle pirouette, completely unconcerned by the fluttering of her skirt, then clasped her hands behind her back and tilted her head slightly. Inwardly, I clutched my heart.
My daughter is so cute it's actually a problem!
But showing that outwardly would be a bit much, so I maintained my composure. I gently lifted the beret from her head and stroked her hair with care.
"Hehe~"
Her face flushed with joy at my reaction. I replaced the beret on her head and then scooped her up into my arms.
Though she gripped my shirt in surprise for a second, she quickly settled into my embrace and began waving at my wife.
My wife's eyes widened for a moment before she smiled and waved back. Beside her, Seele was... dead.
...Wait, what?
"Auntie Seele has passed on!"
My dear daughter, where on earth did you learn that kind of joke?
And more importantly, is Seele actually okay?
My wife also noticed Seele's condition and quickly leaned down to check on her.
After a quick assessment, Bronya tilted her head in confusion, then followed a certain trail with her eyes. Suddenly, her eyes widened, and she let out a sigh of relief.
...Excuse me, dear?
The situation looks a bit too dire for a sigh of relief, don't you think?
"Ah."
She must have noticed my concerned look.
My wife looked at me with a wry smile and pointed toward the ground.
I followed her finger and saw that Seele had written something on the floor using her own blood as ink.
The moment I read it, I couldn't help but join my wife in that bitter smile.
'Died from Cuteness Overload.'
That was what it said.
Come to think of it, the reason my daughter was so calm while cracking that joke was probably because this happened more often than I realized.
I'm not sure how to handle this from an educational standpoint.
It'll be a disaster if she sees someone bleeding in the future and doesn't realize they're actually in danger.
...Then again, knowing her, she'd probably worry about anyone else who was hurt. This 'invincibility' likely only applied to Seele.
"Papa, put me down."
"Alright."
My daughter spoke with a tone that suggested she had no other choice. Once I set her down, she dashed over to Seele.
She let out a soft sigh, closed her eyes, and then spoke with a strangely melodramatic flair.
"Awaken, O Hero!"
"Gah?! Seele is back...?!"
Watching Seele bolt upright as if she had never been 'dead,' I approached my daughter, staring at the scene with an indescribable expression.
"Bronie, who taught you that?"
"The Olenyeva sisters told me! They said if Auntie Seele ever collapses, this is the resurrection spell that's guaranteed to bring her back."
"...I see."
As she spoke, an image flashed through my mind: Rozaliya and Liliya standing behind my daughter like menacing Stands, giving a thumbs-up.
Well, even though she'd sighed earlier, Bronie seemed to be enjoying herself, so it was hard to scold her. But I learned one thing for sure.
Unless it is absolutely a last resort, I should avoid sending my daughter to stay with her 'aunts' for a while.