Papa, you should reflect on this.
Albert, summoned by Lovell, stood with a solemn expression, waiting for Lovell’s words.
"Do you know why you’ve been called here?"
"...Yes."
"I heard you acted out of concern for this family. But do you have anything to say about using my daughter as trade bait?"
"...I'm so sorry!!!"
Albert bowed deeply, earnestly apologizing.
He probably never imagined that something he thought was for the best would turn out to be such a nuisance from the people involved.
Elen’s analogy about the Vanklyft Family and Agiel’s relationship was easy to understand.
Which is exactly why Albert grasped the reasoning behind it so quickly.
"Did you really cut ties with the Prince?"
"There’s no mistake. When I delivered the young lady’s reply, I told the Prince it was final."
Albert’s words, spoken straight and unflinching, were true.
Lovell was looking at Albert through his wife’s water mirror.
“…………”
Lovell had been glaring at Albert the whole time.
Just for a moment, Albert had seen Lovell’s family behind him—and now, finally, he understood. He’d touched the nerve he shouldn’t have.
Only a few days ago, the Vanklyft Family had been on the brink of ruin because of Agiel.
Knowing the noble house would be destroyed if nothing changed, Albert had pleaded desperately before the royal family, laying bare Agiel’s crimes. It was Prince Ravisel who had pulled them out of the mud.
“You don’t know the feud between the royal family and the spirits. I get that you didn’t even realize you were causing trouble. But Elen—she’s been marked by the royal family because of you.”
“…………”
Lovell’s words pierce my chest. I could end up like Agiel… if I’m not careful.
The room was wrapped in silence. Neither spoke. After a while, Lovell opened their mouth.
"...Elen says you should talk to her."
Lovell sighed and continued.
"You won't get Elen to talk unless you actually talk to her properly."
For a moment, Albert didn’t understand what had been said.
Sauvel muttered, glaring at Albert, who had widened his eyes.
"Why did Elen burn the letter from Prince without reading it... do you even understand that?"
Lovell’s words pierced her one after another. Elen was a girl of eight, just like Agiel’s daughter.
Despite her appearance, Elen instantly assessed the situation and made her decision. Her stance was exactly what one might imagine when recalling the old Lovell.
"Miss, you... saved me."
The prince’s letter was already useless—just like a used handkerchief.
If I handed it to Elen, the Vanklyft Family would disown me.
If I didn’t, the prince himself would’ve ordered my punishment.
And it was Elen who pulled me out of that mess.
"…Do you even realize you’ve saved me—not just your father, but my own daughter, too?"
"…Of course, Your Highness."
The thing I thought was for the best turned out to be the opposite—now the Vanklyft Family was suffering because of me.
What am I even doing? Albert was drowning in self-loathing.
"…I can’t trust you anymore."
Albert froze at Lovell’s words.
He knew it was his own doing. The thought of being cast out by the Vanklyft Family made his stomach twist.
"You’ll be under watch for a while."
"Yes."
Naturally. Albert bowed deeply.
"I'm reinstating you as Sauvel's attendant."
"...Huh?"
"Didn't hear me?"
"N-no! I mean—yes!"
"Thank Elen."
With that, Lovell left the room.
Left alone, Albert stood stunned.
He’d braced himself for execution when called by Lovell—his mind hadn’t processed the twist.
"...Me..."
Albert’s words echoed in the empty room.
Saved by his lord’s father, on the brink of execution—now saved by Lovell’s daughter.
Albert closed his eyes, pressed his right hand to his chest, and bent at the waist in the silent room.
"Next time... even if I lose my life..."
For a long while, Albert remained utterly still, still bowing, still silent.
＊＊＊
Elen was being entertained by Lauren and Isabella. From the garden, Elen’s cheerful laughter drifted through the air. From a distance, Lovell glanced over and turned away.
Even though he was clearly visible, Elen only glanced at him once—then said nothing at all.
She spun around and hid behind Isabella.
“……Ignoring me!? Ignoring me!?!”
Lovell looked utterly pathetic, stunned.
“Oh? Lovell. Need something?”
“Ah… no, I mean, with Elen…”
Her little face turned sharply away, her brows knitting into a perfect frown.
Isabella stared at Lovell’s expression, exasperated.
“Did you talk to Albert properly?”
“Ah, yeah… I’ve been properly pardoned. So, Elen, please look this way. Papa’s already spoken with Albert. So… can’t you forgive him?”
When Lovell said that, Elen, who had been clutching Isabella’s skirt tightly, poked her face out just a little.
"...Papa..."
"**Elen!!**"
Lovell’s face split open in an instant at the sound of her voice.
"You should properly speak with those around you. People and spirits see things differently. You should’ve explained clearly beforehand what would be troubling to others."
The words stabbed right into her chest. True enough. Lovell and Elen were both human and spirit, after all.
A spirit’s boundaries weren’t something you could just assume others knew. He should’ve explained them clearly, in advance.
"To blame Albert uncle for thinking about the family, when you yourself neglected that responsibility—now that’s the real mistake."
"...Yes."
Seeing her father’s quiet, withdrawn posture, Elen finally stepped fully out from behind Isabella.
Lovell sat hunched over, arms wrapped around her knees, utterly defeated. Her daughter was the one actually seeing what was going on, making sense of things—something she, the parent, should’ve done.
Elen patted Lovell’s head, murmuring, “There, there,” as if soothing a child who’d just drawn a crooked zigzag.
Isabella let out a soft, “Ah, ah,” her voice edged with disbelief. Hard to tell who was the parent here.
But Lovell, forgiven by Elen, clung tightly, pressing her face into Elen’s shoulder.
The sight of her burying her face in Elen’s neck, rubbing it like a spoiled kitten, left everyone around utterly dumbfounded.
Elen, being held like that, gave her a flat, cool look—like, *this one’s trouble*—but Lovell, bless her, had no idea.
I know Papa’s been thinking about me. But if you’re going to use me as bait, at least tell me properly. I couldn’t help but snap back at you, could I? And you’ll help me figure out how to handle the schemer too, right?
That was quite the反击… Lovell stared off into the distance, dazed.
Never thought I’d end up half-dead from being ignored by my own daughter.
“Sure I’d say ‘of course’—but who’s this ‘schemer’ you’re talking about? Oh, I get you mean the Prince, but what does that even mean?”
“It means someone whose insides are pitch-black, plotting evil tricks—basically, a sneaky, spiteful person.”
Lauren, Isabella, and Lovell all burst out laughing at Elen’s explanation.
“Whoa—perfect word choice!!”
Elen kept going, unfazed by Lovell’s booming laughter.
“By the way, Papa’s a schemer too.”
“Why?!?”
Isabella and Lauren burst out laughing at the exchange.
＊＊＊
Lovell, overcome by Elen’s withdrawal symptoms, held onto her for a while without letting go.
“Papa, you’re annoying.”
Only after that sharp remark did he finally release his daughter—and immediately sank into gloom.
“Ah, it’s quite entertaining seeing Lovell-sama’s unexpected side, isn’t it?”
“Indeed. I never thought our son would make such a face.”
Isabella’s tea time. Lauren stood behind her, waiting.
Both of them remembered Elen’s earlier words.
“Papa should really talk properly with the people around him. We’re different from spirits—our values don’t line up.”
Elen’s words hinted at what was to come.
Lovell, half-spirit now, had worried—maybe he’d start distancing himself from them, the humans he’d once known.
Elen knew it perfectly well.
And she’d just taught them how to talk things through, to keep their relationship going.
“Miss Elen is truly wonderful.”
“Absolutely.”
Even though they were different kinds of beings, bound together as family.
Would Elen even understand just how much that meant?
Elen wasn’t just reviving the Vanklyft Family—she was saving the servants, healing the family ties too.