Family, all black!

I watched the whole thing unfold from beyond the water mirror.

…………

It was the first time I’d ever seen my father so shaken.

He loves my mother, and me, with every fiber of his soul. Anyone who dares interfere? They won’t get away with it.

Same goes for Mother and me. Anyone trying to take Father from us? We’d never let that happen.

Of all the times, it had to be during the moment of judgment—caught in the very act of suspicion—by Her Majesty herself. Treating it like a bargaining chip, grinning like it’s some kind of game… honestly, Her Majesty really is a snake.

This time, my aunt Aria—of all people—made a false vow during her wedding ceremony and was condemned by the goddess Vaal.

No, not really “condemned.” More like what Mother called it—“a warning.”

The marriage contract includes a clause: “to support one’s spouse.” Honestly, it’s almost identical to Earth’s weddings. And then came the warning. Which means…

Is Aria Auntie really not planning to support Sauvel Uncle alongside him…?

Was I thinking that during the wedding ceremony—was it just a passing thought, or was it something I truly meant?

A frown gathers between my father’s brows, as if I’d been scheming something improper.

Maybe it was because I’d been shaken by meeting Mother right before the ceremony—but if I’d just been starstruck by Father like some common fan, I wouldn’t have been condemned at all.

If I truly felt nothing for Sauvel, I’d have been judged without question. But since it only ended with a warning… that means I do care for Sauvel, yet I’d been thinking of another man the entire time the ceremony was happening.

Knowing someone at a family wedding is thinking such things—no matter what their intentions were—would make anyone uneasy.

Possibly just like Agiel, who only thinks of himself. Sorry, but I’ve made up my mind—I’m going to investigate Aria Auntie’s circle thoroughly.

"But before that, I managed to do something else..."

Father and mother still haven't escaped the ceremony.

They’re probably talking quietly in a separate room, trying to calm down.

I stopped staring at the water mirror. Too much would be rude.

"Shall we do some enemy reconnaissance?"

A declaration of war, huh, you sly one. Fine by me.

I smiled sweetly.

＊＊＊

I’d pulled old records from the castle’s library, digging into the history of the curse placed on the royal family.

I leafed through books in silence, spreading them out on the desk like I couldn’t get enough.

The pile of books was so high it looked like it might avalanche at any moment, and the wind spirit lurking behind me was nervously glancing over.

"Miss... if you scatter things too much, Mother and Father will surely scold you."

"It’s fine, Vint. This is enemy reconnaissance. They can’t get mad. No, I won’t let them."

Vint, the wind spirit, sighs with that calm, unbothered air of his.

He looks like a man in his late twenties—handsome, intellectual type, green hair long enough to brush his shoulders, wearing those thin, nerdy glasses. He’s a high-ranking noble in the castle.

Why he’s loitering behind me? Well, whenever I lock myself away in the castle’s library, some old research instinct kicks in—no meals, no breaks, just digging through scrolls until I collapse.

I know it’s a habit. I can’t seem to break it, though. Now that both Father and Mother are gone, Vint’s the only one I can actually get to listen to me.

“Need to know something? Ask us. We might get you answers faster than you’d find them yourself.”

“…………”

The idea of just asking someone else to do the work? That’s practically sacrilege in a researcher’s mind. So that option was never even on the table.

But now I recall—there’s logic to that. Like police questioning, you know? Right. That’s the thing. That’s actually a thing.

I looked up sharply and asked straight out.

“Do you know the legend about the spirit curse laid upon the Tembar royal family?”

“…Why would my lady know such a thing?”

“I heard it from Father. I saw the black mist coming from the royal family. Father said that was a spirit’s curse.”

“Impossible… You can actually see it now!?”

Vinth gasped in shock when he realized I could see it.

“But… my lady, it’s still too early for you…”

“That’s no longer an option. Didn’t I say it? Reconnaissance of the enemy.”

“…What do you mean?”

Vinth instantly tried to piece together the situation—something had clicked.

But the moment I explained, he changed completely.

“Those bastards…! Still going about carefree, after all this time!?”

His fangs were bared, his face twisted into something utterly unrecognizable—like a wrathful demon—his claws sharp, swirling winds howling around him. Books flew wildly through the air. I was certain. Vinth knows.

“Vinth.”

“...Huh!? My lady, I’m so sorry—”

The moment Vinth looked at me, his demonic visage snapped back to normal, and he paled.

“You know, don’t you?”

I pressed in with a smile, and Vinth trembled, his face turning ashen.

***

Papa and Mama returned from the ceremony. They looked utterly drained.

I hadn’t peered into the water mirror since then—but something had clearly happened after.

“...Welcome back…”

“Welcome home, Papa, Mama. You must be exhausted.”

He knew I’d been watching through the water mirror. Papa lowered his voice, murmuring, “I’m sorry…”

“Elen-chan, you were watching, weren’t you?”

“Yes. A declaration of war from the scheming one, I’d say.”

I smiled sweetly, and Father’s eyes widened in shock when he saw it.

But Mother burst out laughing.

“Of course! Just like Lovell’s kid—identical!”

“Papa, that’s hurtful.”

“Really?!”

Father looked genuinely crestfallen. “Maybe she’s going through her rebellious phase…” he mumbled, muttering to himself.

“Papa, I heard it from Vint.”

“Oh? What about?”

“The royal curse.”

“…………”

Mother gave a wry smile. “I knew it.”

Father looked up, stunned. His face was pale.

“Elen-chan’s kind-hearted, so I worried she’d try to break the curse. But the spirits won’t forgive. Not after that massacre—the screams of our kin, the hatred echoing through time.”

“…………”

Yes. It all began about two hundred years ago.

It was the Monster Tempest in the Tembar Kingdom that started it all.

The royal family had their reasons for demanding the Spirit King’s presence.

The kingdom had been thrown into crisis by the Monster Tempest.

But spirits don’t just hand over a king on a whim. So the royal family reached for the forbidden.

In the royal family’s forest, there was a gate connecting the Spirit World and the human realm.

They tried to force their way through it—by force.

—By sacrificing countless spirits.

That curse on the royal family? It’s born from the resentment of the spirits sacrificed.

“No, I’m not kind at all.”

I said with a smile.

“In fact, I think it’s *they* who’re brazen—living on, clueless about why the curse exists.”

Mother’s smile twitched.

She must’ve noticed Vint, pale and trembling behind me, because she sighed.

"Turned out in an unexpected direction...?"

But someone was actually pleased by those words.

"Damn right my daughter!!"

I scowled at Papa’s exclamation.

"Papa, that’s a bit much."

"Why?!?"

Screaming about how Elen’s rebellious phase was still too early, Papa lifted me up and squeezed me tight—like a stuffed doll in a vice grip.

"Gyuum!"

I patted his head gently, trying to breathe, when I noticed he’d gone quiet.

"...Papa?"

"Sorry, Elen... I’ve ended up caught between humans and spirits."

I patted his back softly, gently, like a mother soothing a child.

"Papa, I do have human blood. I love Grandma and Grandpa, Uncle Sauvel, and—oh, Uncle Albert too."

Papa let out a quiet chuckle at the mention of Albert.

"I’m Papa’s child. And Mama’s child too. That’s something I’m proud of. It’s ridiculous, really—Papa worrying himself sick over it."

"……Yeah."

"But I can’t stand the idea of the royal family just lounging around, freely using spirit power like it’s nothing."

"Uh?"

"Isn’t that because they don’t even understand how heavy that sin truly is? That’s why they’re allowed to run wild like this, don’t you think?"

"Uh…?"

"Hmph, hmph."

The spirits around me flinch at my black smile, trembling like leaves in a storm.

Mother, seeing that, just shrugs. "Well, of course she’s Lovell’s daughter."

"By the way, you look exhausted. Did something happen after that? I saw you talking to Aunt Aria, but—"

"Ah…?"

A memory hits him—Papa clutches his head.

"That idiot, she just… confessed her sins to Sauvel herself."

"Wha…?"

I blink, startled.

＊＊＊

Afterward, Sauvel wondered what on earth had happened to Aria, who’d collapsed in tears.

The wedding party grew anxious—why hadn’t the bride returned in her new dress? They mumbled excuses about her unwell state, and the ceremony carried on without incident. But Aria, in a moment of weakness, confessed to Sauvel, who’d been staying by her side out of concern, that she’d been condemned by the goddess… because she’d harbored feelings for Lovell.

“Not true!! I just… I couldn’t believe someone so wonderful would become my brother-in-law, and I was so happy… and that’s why I—!!”

“……”

“I never thought it’d go this far. I tried so hard, hoping we could get along… but you’re so cold, so distant… I kept wondering if you hated me… and I couldn’t stop thinking about it… just that…”

“…Just that?” Sauvel frowned, his voice quiet, almost too soft to hear. “So you were condemned… for merely thinking like that?”

He didn’t sound surprised anymore. He’d already realized—this wasn’t just about that.

"Aria……"

"No! I love Sauvel!!"

Sauvel wavered at Aria’s desperate clinging. But then came the next words—and Sauvel erupted in fury.

"The king’s family found out, so my older brother glares at me because I want to meet his child... It’s cruel! I didn’t mean to! Why’s it wrong for the royal family and the child to meet? It’s a wonderful thing! Why do I have to be hated so much by my older brother!?"

"Aria... what are you saying...!!"

Aria froze, mouth agape, her tears forgotten in the face of Sauvel’s sudden rage.

"Aria... I’ve told you before—countless times. I said I loved you, yet I couldn’t bring you home. You know why, don’t you?"

"Eh... yes..."

"I thought you understood how much the Vanklyft Family has been manipulated by the Royal Family!!"

"Ah..."

Something in Sauvel's words must have triggered a memory.

The Vanklyft Family had always avoided contact with the Royal Family.

And yet, here he was, blaming his older brother—someone else entirely—for the vulnerability. Then there was the Goddess’s condemnation. And now, he’d betrayed their secret vow to hide his brother’s daughter from the Royal Family’s eyes. And still, he insists he’s not at fault.

"...I don’t want to see your face for a while."

He spat it out, then turned and walked back to his room.

"Aria! Wait! You—!!"

Before she could reach him, the door slammed shut in front of her, cutting her off.

＊＊＊

"After that, Mother-in-law got the full story from Sauvel—household storm of fury. Then Lauren’s killing intent... it was palpable."

I should’ve known it was a bad idea to declare I wasn’t going home—Mother and Lauren were dying to see Elen…

I was speechless when I heard it.

Aria-obasan... no, just auntie.

Aria’s aunt had confessed she often worried about her father, and I thought about that.

"...you didn't actually think you'd get away with confessing, did you?"

And yet, despite all those warnings from both father and mother, I had absolutely no guilt over my affection for father.

I should’ve remembered the feud with the royal family right away, thinking only of Sauvel uncle…

"Wow, what a bloody mess."

The smile on Mother’s face—it looked so dark to me.

But the spirits around her were thinking.

All of these family members, black as they are...