No mustaches, please.

After that, it passed in a flash. After forgiving my father, we ran wild with the entire household staff.

When I said it was time to return to the Spirit World at dusk, the entire Vanklyft Family and all the servants came to see me off. Isabella and Lauren even cried.

"Grandma! Can I come play again sometime?"

"Of course you can~ Elen-chan~!"

I’m squeezed in a tight hug. I giggle, tickled, and plant a little kiss on Isabella’s cheek. Then on Lauren’s too.

Sauvel gently strokes my head. I catch Albert’s eye, standing beside him.

"...Miss."

"Uncle, I’m glad. Whenever you do anything, always talk it over with Sauvel Uncle, okay?"

I smile, and Albert’s face crumples, on the verge of tears.

"Thank you so much. I’ll never forget this kindness."

"It's not like we're parting after years apart or anything..."

I'll be joining my father in the Vanklyft Family's affairs for the foreseeable future.

There'll be plenty of chances to meet—inspecting mines, and all that.

"No, just knowing you're thinking of me is enough..."

"Understood. Uncle Albert."

With that, I plant a kiss on Albert's cheek. His face turns red, somehow.

Then, Sauvel—unlike the others—mumbles, "...Me too?"

"Please, absolutely don't move."

"Huh? Why the suspicious look...?"

"Elen hates beards, you know."

"Wha—?"

I go in for a quick peck right as Sauvel's attention shifts to my father.

...Damn, he's got a thick one. Ouch. It prickled.

I think my face must’ve shown it, because Sauvel looks stunned, and my father bursts into laughter.

Smiling and waving goodbye to everyone, Father and I vanished back to the Spirit World.

Isabella visibly wilted after Lovell and Elen left.

"Will you come visit again tomorrow? I’ll miss you so much…"

"Isabella-sama, that might be a bit premature."

Even Lauren looked just as downcast.

"Hey, Sauvel…"

"Yes? What is it?"

"When are you bringing that street kid around?"

Isabella switched her target to Sauvel, who responded with a wry smile.

After seeing his brother off, Sauvel returned to the study with Lauren, still smiling faintly.

"Lauren… about that mine, you know…"

"Yes. The mountain’s been off-limits to people lately. But it hasn’t been officially sealed. If we’re going to close it, we’ll need to investigate it again first."

"Ah, so we're using that, huh?"

I'll have Lovell and Elen join us under the guise of an investigation, timing it just right.

If we can pull resources from it, that alone would be a solid venture.

"Truly relieved... I didn’t end up destroying this household in my time..."

Sauvel chuckles weakly, sinking into the study chair, genuinely relieved.

Just the thought of Agiel being gone already left me drained—though we’ve barely even started.

"Since my brother came back, it feels like luck’s been stacking up."

"More like the past was the odd one out."

Lauren says with a smile. Somehow, she’d already set out tea on the desk beside her, as if she’d been expecting this.

"We should be wary of the royal family... Brother put a stop to things, so we’re probably safe for now..."

"Master Sauvel, there’s something I’d like to discuss with you about that..."

"Hm?"

"Please, as soon as possible, bring your companion to this house."

“What are you suddenly talking about?”

“For the sake of throwing the royal family into chaos, and for the sake of this house. I believe we need someone else in place.”

“…You want me to use my daughter as bait for Elen’s chaos?”

“No. It’s about the heir.”

“Ah… that’s right…”

“If Princess Lavisel ascends the throne, the royal decree will be arranged so that Elen’s attention is drawn to the confirmation of the heir’s existence. Until then, the Vanklyft Family must make it known that they have a proper child. There’s even a chance Sauvel might be asked to apologize and attend a meeting of engagement.”

“Ah, I see… that’s what you mean…”

Now that Agiel is gone, the world likely already believes the Vanklyft Family has no heir.

Truth be told, if word got out that there was a child in the streets, it’d be a scandal—but given Agiel’s behavior, people might actually feel sorry for him.

But before anyone else can interfere, Lauren is saying, this time, I must be with the one I love.

“But the board said I can’t remarry for another three months!”

“No, no, that’s perfectly fine. We’ll need time to prepare the dress, so if possible, as soon as tomorrow…”

“H-hey, wait a second! You’re rushing too fast!”

“What are you talking about? Are you planning to keep the lady waiting any longer?”

Sauvel thought he saw something black out of the corner of his eye, behind Lauren.

True, up until now, with Agiel still at home, he’d been too afraid of danger to even approach.

But now, finally, he could welcome it with open arms. Realizing that, Sauvel felt a strange, uncomfortable shyness creeping over him.

Isabella and Lauren were in perfect sync when it came to Elen.

Isabella had just realized it herself—what she’d said earlier was a signal welcoming a common wife and her children.

But first, there was still so much to do. There was the aftermath of what Agiel had caused.

The paperwork acknowledging Agiel’s extravagance had been submitted to the royal family. The return of personal belongings was complete. Even the decorative items from Agiel’s room were being disposed of.

He didn’t want a single thing Agiel had used left behind, not even a single trinket, when welcoming his new wife and child.

Inspecting the mines. Planning future ventures. Discussing tasks he might ask his brother to help with.

And then… the words he still hadn’t sent to the beloved one waiting in the city.

Sauvel sighed, dryly amused, and nodded, already mentally bracing for the coming flurry of work.

His heart, though, felt oddly light.

“…Well, first thing’s first—gotta shave this beard off…”

Lauren nearly burst out laughing at the quiet mutter.

＊＊＊

In Tembarr Castle, Agiel had gone mad.

The girl stayed cooped up in her room, listless. Agiel’s tyranny spread through the castle in an instant.

To think the Vanklyft Family had lived like this all along—surrounding nobles were utterly speechless.

“Can’t you just calm down for once?!”

“Why?! I’m not a princess!! Why won’t anyone listen to me?!”

“You’re just being selfish. You’ve lost all dignity befitting royalty—so shut that hateful mouth of yours!!”

Her father spat at Agiel’s bloated form. Not even a simple choice of dress showed any taste.

When the maids saw the personal belongings sent from the Vanklyft Family, they were stunned into silence by how atrocious the designs were.

Useless trinkets bought to excess. At least one thing was clear—each one was outrageously expensive.

The rumor that she’d drained the family funds suddenly felt terrifyingly real. The sheer amount demanded by the Vanklyft Family had made the King and Prince drop their documents in shock. To top it all off, there was still the unpaid bill hanging over them like a noose.

The castle staff were all clutching their heads, overwhelmed by the reality of Agiel’s actions.

“Agie…”

“Laviss, big brother! Please help me!”

“What are you even saying? We’re the ones cleaning up the mess you made, stuck here with Father, picking up the pieces.”

Lavissel’s words made Agiel flinch.

“What do you mean, ‘mess’!?”

“Still don’t get it…?”

“It’s your money, you know. How on earth did you waste so much on such tasteless junk?”

Father was stunned. Lavisel laughed, but her eyes didn’t move a muscle.

“Just awful, Lavis elder brother!!”

“Awful? I think Agiel’s behavior’s worse. Didn’t you hear? He attacked a maid yesterday.”

Now, only a burly knight stood guard at the door, watching Agiel like a hawk, making sure he didn’t step outside.

The number of complaints from the maids had thrown the whole household into chaos. Agiel was practically under house arrest now.

The daughter, meanwhile, was just withdrawn, kept under watch in another room. But even the maids treated her coldly—after all, she was Agiel’s daughter. And that, apparently, shocked her to the core.

“Agiel. Who’s the father of your daughter, Amiel?”

“What are you talking about? Why would you even suspect me!?”

“You said it yourself, didn’t you? That she’s not Sauvel’s child.”

“Of course not. She’s Lovell-sama’s child, after all.”

"...That's not what I meant. I'm asking whose child Agi's carrying."

"…………"

There, clenched in a jaw that ground like stone, was Agiel.

"Is the father common-born? No, I suppose you wouldn't accept common blood, not with your pride over lineage..."

"Insulting! That's an insult!"

"Why hide it so fiercely? Amiel's birth is already under suspicion."

"Amiel is my daughter! She has royal blood—what's so bad about that?!"

The King and Ravisel exchanged sharp, unpleasant glances.

"...Either someone you're hesitant to name, or someone so distasteful you can't bring yourself to speak their name."

That attitude of Agiel's—couldn't it mean she refuses to admit Amiel's father? Pride, probably. Can't bear to acknowledge someone unworthy.

Ravisel paused, thinking. Then, shifting gears, he offered Agiel a smile—calm, deliberate, and just a little too smooth.

"From now on, you and Amiel will be living in a different place."

"W-what?!"

"You won’t be able to raise Amiel properly where you are. From now on, he’ll be educated here in the castle, alongside my sons."

"...Wait. You said 'apart from me'?"

"That’s right."

"You’re coming with me, you hear?!"

The door burst open with a thunderous crash at his father’s words. A group of female soldiers entered, seizing Agiel by the arm.

"What are you doing, you insolent fools?!"

"Insolence is yours, Agiel. I’ll be the one to straighten out that attitude!"

Agiel’s face twisted in despair as he stared at his father’s sneering expression.

"Why... why is this happening? I just wanted to be with Lovell-sama..."

Ravisel laughed aloud at Agiel’s words.

The sight of the usually composed Prince laughing like that stunned everyone—knights, even the King himself, all frozen in surprise.

"Even if Agiel thinks about Lovell, it’s pointless. Agiel’s hated him so much, you know? Not just Lovell—his whole Vanklyft Family, too."

"Liars!!"

"Not lying at all. Lovell’s already married to someone he loves, and he’s got kids."

Agiel froze, stunned into silence.

"I… I can’t… that’s not possible… no way…"

"Agiel’s the one who made a child with some random guy, isn’t she? So why’s Lovell the only one lying?"

Agiel collapsed completely, dropping to her knees. She muttered to herself, dazed, her voice a hollow whisper—unnervingly eerie.

Lavissel couldn’t hold back her laughter anymore, watching Agiel being led away by the female soldier.