The Speedrun Manual of Miss Witch - Chapter 266

Night, Roswell family mansion, dining room.

Lights illuminated the magnificent dining room. Servants constantly moved around, placing delicious dishes on the dining table.

At the 20-Su-foot walnut long table, Charles sat at the head, with the fireplace and family portrait behind him. On his right, in the first seat, sat Avena. A red-haired young lady was placed in the second seat on the right, sitting next to Avena.

If this were before, if his daughter had brought back someone like a “boyfriend” or “fiancé,” Charles would have definitely seated him at the South end directly opposite him, to face his scrutiny. But this time, he instead had that red-haired young lady sit in a favored position.

“I heard Avena say you like Pharosian cuisine,”

Perhaps wanting to break the awkward silence, Charles said, “Is this to your liking?”

Ciel looked up at Charles, nodded slightly, and smiled, “Thank you, Your Excellency Duke. The food is very delicious.”

Although Ciel had only just taken a bite of the squab, she still politely praised it.

Charles hesitated, then decided to speak directly: “About what happened previously… I am very sorry. I was in a hurry to take the injured Avena away at that time. By the time I returned, I couldn’t find you anymore…”

“It’s alright,”

Ciel put down her knife and fork again, wiped the corner of her mouth with a napkin, and looked at Charles, “As long as Avena is alright.”

Charles was speechless. The conversation became awkward again.

Sitting here now, Ciel seemed more like the head of the family, while Charles was hesitantly and cautiously probing… He seemed to have no idea what attitude to take towards that red-haired young lady.

Although she had stolen his daughter’s heart, she had also somehow killed the powerful Forte, who seemed invincible…

If it were just an ordinary “son-in-law,” Charles would exert a lot of pressure, taking on the role of a stern patriarch and giving him a stern lecture. But the other party was Ciel, and a beautiful young lady roughly the same age as his daughter. This instead left Charles somewhat flustered.

At this moment, perhaps only Charles, who had witnessed Forte’s death firsthand, understood the value of the name “Ciel.”

Pressure… he didn’t dare.

Talk… he didn’t know what to say.

The atmosphere couldn’t remain so tense. Charles adjusted his demeanor, making his tone less serious. He said, “Miss Ciel, may I ask where you are from?”

“Ansu. Born in Berren City.”

“Oh… Then your family…”

The classic background check session began.

Ciel didn’t hide anything and honestly stated her family situation, including the fact that she had an older sister and that she was an adopted orphan.

Although everything she said was true, Charles didn’t believe it.

After chatting about her family situation for a bit, Charles also knew it was inappropriate to keep pressing… It felt like interrogating a criminal. He hesitated for a moment and asked, “What is your relationship with Avena now…?”

Even now, Charles still held a faint hope, imagining that the “lover” Ciel mentioned might just be some term of endearment between friends.

But his daughter’s words, when she looked at him and said “She is the one my heart desires,” directly shattered Charles’s fantasy.

Charles couldn’t help it. He picked up a napkin and, under the guise of wiping his face, suppressed his emotions.

There were still many believers of the Church of the God of Order within the family. If they knew that Avena had become partners with a young lady, who knows how much criticism Avena would face within the family.

Moreover, Charles himself, deep down, found it difficult to accept.

He had even imagined a noble young man coming to propose, or Avena bringing back someone she cared about. As long as the other party’s temperament was fine and their background was clean, Charles wouldn’t interfere too much. At most, he would feel a little choked up.

But he had never expected that his daughter would indeed bring someone back, and she was a woman, and possibly stronger than himself.

He couldn’t beat her, nor could he talk to her.

Charles continued wiping his face. The warm napkin in his hand was almost cold.

“You… don’t approve?”

Avena’s somewhat disappointed voice came from beside him.

Charles stopped what he was doing and looked at his daughter on his right. He opened his mouth and said, “No, I just…”

He just didn’t know how to accept it.

He didn’t know how to convince himself to accept this, after all, it wasn’t a widely accepted situation in society.

Clack-clack-clack——

Footsteps came from the doorway. William Winston smiled and sat in the second seat on the left. He looked at Charles and said with a smile, “Isn’t it good? It’s like having another daughter.”

“William?”

Charles looked at William, who was unusually nervous, with surprise. His thoughts were a bit muddled earlier. He hadn’t even noticed William coming over.

“I thought Uncle might have a little trouble handling this, so I rushed back after my speech,”

William smiled at Avena and Ciel and said, “The speech went quite well. Most people in the party support my ideas… Long time no see, Avena. Miss, I think I saw you at a banquet before.”

The red hair was very recognizable. William was sure he had seen her, so he smiled at the young lady.

Another daughter…?

Charles rubbed his forehead.

According to William Winston… it didn’t seem so difficult to accept anymore…

Finally, Charles convinced himself. He looked at Avena and Ciel and slowly said, “William is right… It’s no different from having another daughter.”

“If you wish to change your name to Ciel Roswell, I… have no objection.”

Although Charles didn’t say it explicitly, his statement already represented his attitude.

Only married women would change their surname to their husband’s surname. For Charles, this was considered agreeing to the matter.

It was just that the matter of who took whose surname was mistaken, which made Ciel almost unable to help but purse her lips. But thinking that she herself had no surname, she didn’t say anything either.

But Avena quietly glanced at Ciel, her chin almost pointed to the sky.