Despite the sudden gender reveal confusion of the freshmen representative, the program ended in peace without further disturbances. After the entrance ceremony, the freshmen are given three hours to talk with their family. The academy even let some students to borrow a private room for their conversations.
In one of the private rooms in Julienne Academy, the father-daughter Steinhart is having a serious conversation.
"Raise your head and explain!," Luther act sternly despite having mixed emotions deep inside. He can't be soft just because he is talking to a girl, his only daughter!
There is a very clear reason why Luther, regardless being the father of Ashe, is ignorant to the gender of his child. It's because from the start Ashe planned to keep this a secret from him! She asked the orphanage director to fake her documents and confederate with Rachel which at that time is still a young maid newly designated to serve Ashe as her master.
Ashe slowly raised her head. She courageously stare eye to eye with her father despite the uneasiness and fear she is feeling that reflects in the trembling of her body and reddening of her eyes. " . . . F-father."
For Luther, seeing Ashe with clear emotions in her facial expression is something new. It's because he knows this child is unsociable that she almost never speaks and works harder than anyone in anything she do with uttering a single groan or complain. She had the determination of a real man! "Did you plan to fool me?"
"N-no!" Ashe answered immediately. " . . . I just . . . thought you'll return me back to the foster home i-if I'm n-not a boy."
Of course, she did not pretend as boy just because she thinks it will be fun to fool everyone and it is not also a matter of Ashe desiring for the same sex nor phobia in marriage. She just thought that being a female Luther will never have his ideal child and heir. Ashe thinks thought that being a boy will easily bring glory and pride to Steinhart family if she'll be a boy by being a general or prime minister. She heard from the gossips of the adult that fathers prefer sons so they can be train as the family heir and continue the family line.
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He is quite shock at that reason but thinking on the personality of Ashe is not impossible with her stiff and serious personality there's a high probability of her thoughts swinging in that way. Luther sighed and palmed his face," Did you think I'm that heartless father? Did you not ever feel my care and love for you?" He is honestly hurt that his own daughter did not trust him!
How could not Ashe saw the pain reflecting in the eyes of her father? "I-i's just that I don't want you to be disappointed and marry off . . . because I know you love me," her vision blurred because of the tears flowing from her beautiful eyes. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Please don't hate me . . ."
"Like I'll let those weakling nobles to be your groom. They'll have to defeat me first!" Luther smiled. In the past he always taught that Ashe is mature for age but now he can feel how young and uneasy she is all this time. "I'll forgive because you're cute."
"C-cute?," Ashe stares wide-eyed at the sudden word of her father. "Me?" No one ever correlate that word to her.
"Of course! If I have known that my daughter is this cute I should not have let you enroll on this academy alone," he might have said this in a joking tone but he really feels frustrated by just thinking how many pest will be attracted to his daughter, Luther admits to himself that he's an idiot father but Ashe is really beautiful. "Do you want to transfer to a nearer institution in our land? It will be much easier in protecting you from pests," he is smiling while mumbling this. "But really if you are forcing yourself to attend this academy just because of bringing glory or whatever, you don't have to do that you're already my pride Ashe," Luther gently patted the head of his daughter. He somehow feels sad that Ashe waste most of her childhood in training and studying yet also relief that his anxiety that Ashe will be bully because of those long years of studying and training. Ashe will be plenty safe just by using her brute strength.
"I'm not forcing myself. I want to study in Julienne Academy," she look up to her father. "I want to see the place where you met m-mama," she smiled brightly at remembering her gentle mother and father. They are both gentle parents and always think about her well-being with love. "I-if I'll have an husband, I want someone who'll gently pat my head like this."
Laughing at how adorable his daughter, Luther is really a idiot father by nature. "Good. Then, I'll leave the decision of your own marriage to you in condition that he can defeat me." Of course, he wants Ashe to be happy in life but what if she got tricked by some bad guy? So, that (unlucky) guy had to court the father first before the daughter.
Feeling shy, " . . . I'll be late for homeroom," Ashe quickly walkout of the room. Her face is flustered but she is feeling deep inside due to acceptance and support of her father. Now she knows she's wrong, Luther will always love and care for her whether she's a man or woman.
Back to the private room, Luther is thinking that it will be much nicer if Ashe will call him papa like how Ashe calls her mother 'mama'.