No mustache at all!

After hearing everything, Sauvel looked genuinely worried.

"Uncle Sauvel... you poor thing."

I slumped down, and Papa gently patted my head.

He looked miserable too. Even though we’d finally made it back home, the situation with my siblings was a full-blown disaster.

He didn’t seem to want it either—just a quiet sigh escaped him.

"Papa, if Aunt Ariya isn’t around, can I go visit Grandma?"

"Aunt Ariya not around?"

"Well, if we don’t do something, Uncle Sauvel and I will keep arguing, won’t we? And we’ve got business to handle—this could really mess things up."

"Hmm..."

"If Aunt Ariya catches us, we’ll just teleport away and hide, that’s all!"

"Ha ha…"

With a light, playful tone, like we’re playing tag, Papa chuckled.

"Yeah, that’d be going backward if we tangled up the whole family. I did warn Sauvel, after all."

"...Papa, you knew about this?"

"Always was a topic of conversation, back in the day..."

Back then, Agiel was the one who handled everything. Hearing that, I suddenly felt the sheer force of Agiel’s determination all over again.

"Ah well... I did declare I wasn’t going back, so I kinda can’t now..."

"I’ll come with you!!"

I raised my hand with a cheerful snap, and both Dad and Mom blinked in surprise.

"I want to see Grandma and Grandpa and Uncle Sauvel! Oh, and Uncle Albert too!"

"Kukuku... heh heh..."

I pressed my advantage, catching Dad’s stifled chuckle—just like I knew he would.

"Papa, Papa! I wanna see Grandma!!"

I poked Dad’s belly with two fingers, and he finally gave in with a wry smile.

"Seriously... how sharp you are."

Heh heh heh. She’s just like you.

My father, noticing I’d volunteered myself for the broth, gave a faintly sorrowful look. Mother, on the other hand, gazed at me with warm, loving eyes.

Papa, let’s go right away tomorrow, let’s do it, let’s do it!

"Wait, this is sudden... Papa just said he couldn’t easily go back, and now he’s being tested on his resolve by his daughter...?"

I told him, deadpan, as my father chuckled.

"Probably, if we leave things as they are, Aunt Aria will be erased by the royal family."

My words made father and mother gasp, eyes wide.

That scheming little snake isn’t going to forgive the one who caused Papa not to return to the human world, not a chance.

Yes, I declared it.

＊＊＊

Standing at the gate of my family home, carried by my father, the gardener noticed and hurried off to fetch Lauren.

Without so much as a glance back, Father strides straight toward the manor.

"Lord Lovell!! Elen-sama!!"

"Grandpa! Grandpa!!"

Struggling in my father's arms, he chuckled and set me down. The moment I was free, I shrieked "I missed you!" and launched myself into Grandpa's arms.

Grandpa hugged me tight—his scent was elegant, warm, unmistakably him.

"Long time no see, Elen-sama."

"I missed you so much, Grandpa!"

Smiling brightly, I watched Lauren's face melt into a soft, dazed expression.

"You said Papa wouldn't come back home, so I got angry!"

She said it like she was furious—but honestly, kids' anger is about as threatening as a kitten batting at a dandelion.

Puffing her cheeks, she tried to look stern. But it wasn't just Lauren—every maid, gardener, and even my father himself turned into mushy-eyed fools.

I glared sideways at my father, muttering *Hey, pull it together, let's not embarrass ourselves*—but he just beamed, lost in parental adoration. *Oh no, we’re doomed.*

"I want to see Grandma!"

Repeating "I want to see her, I want to see her," I was met with, "We’ll take you to her room, then," Lauren replied.

"Lauren-sama, what about her?"

"Since she’s currently hosting guests, tell her not to leave her room."

"Understood."

I panicked as Lauren issued the order to the maid.

"Grandpa, grandpa! I really want to see Aunt Aria!"

Hearing my words, the maids gasped. Then, Lauren said, "I’ll inform her," and nodded in acceptance.

"Lauren, what’s going on?" I asked Father. But he hadn’t been listening—he was already souring at my daughter’s outburst. *Is it really that bad to want to see her?* I thought, surprised.

"Call Sauvel too. This involves the royal family."

Father scowled. Lauren, sensing something, didn’t press further—just turned and went to fetch Isabella.

＊＊＊

Instead of being led to the guest room, I was ushered into the sitting room and told to wait. Then, without warning, the door burst open with a loud, dramatic bang.

I jumped at the noise, startled, and there she was—Isabella, striding in with a flourish.

“Elen-chan!! I’ve missed you so much!!”

“Grandmother!!”

We clung to each other tightly, and Father just shook his head, smiling faintly.

“Your mother was summoned by your father. She’ll be here shortly.”

He spoke as Lauren hurried off to prepare tea.

Still locked in my grandmother’s tight embrace, I was lowered onto the sofa, still clinging to her.

“Mmmph!”

“Ah, ah, Elen-chan, I was so lonely without you…”

She pressed her face into mine, rubbing her cheek against mine like a cat. It was suffocating.

“Mother, Elen is struggling.”

“Oh! My apologies, Elen-chan. I was just so happy to see you…”

Isabella’s arms loosened, and I finally managed to breathe.

I thought, this family really is something. I couldn’t help but stare into the distance, wondering if I’d ever get crushed by their affection.

“I wish I could’ve met Grandma too!”

She smiled brightly—then, eyes glistening, she said, “Elen-chan…”

“Huh!? Grandma!??”

I blinked, stunned, and she pulled out a handkerchief, wiping her own tears with a pained expression.

“Ah… I’d just started to feel hopeful, you know? With Lovell finally home, the house felt brighter again… and then, well… Grandma… she just… slipped away, somehow.”

I couldn’t help it—I hugged Isabella tightly, seeing her sorrow.

Just when she’d finally thought her eldest son was back… and then learning he’d married. She’d taken it in stride, even welcomed it. Then, the younger son’s remarriage too.

Just when I thought happiness had finally arrived in perfect rhythm, the verdict on Sauvel’s wife was revealed.

Father flew into a rage over it and declared he wouldn’t return home.

Isabella’s heart ached at the sudden collapse of that happiness.

“It’s okay, Grandma! I’m on your side!! Papa said he wasn’t coming back home after yesterday, so I got mad! I really did!”

She puffed up again, then burst into full-blown tears.

“Don’t cry, Grandma…”

“Sorry… no, it’s not that. I’m happy… I don’t know why, but if Elen were here, this would feel like nothing at all…”

“Grandma…”

Her words made my chest tighten.

Then it hit me—I had to step in.

“…Mother, Elen’s getting too full of herself. Handle her, please.”

"Wait, Lovell! You think you can steal Elen from me? Not a chance!!"

I gasped again, crushed in another suffocating hug.

"Kyuu..."

"Mother! Mother!! You're choking me!!"

"Kyaaah, Elen-chan!!"

After being pulled free by my father, I finally managed to breathe—my heart was still thumping, convinced I’d just been strangled to death.

Then Sauvel showed up.

"Sauvel-ojisan!!"

I shrieked, clinging to him—no mustache!—and he laughed, catching me with a warm, relieved grip.

"Long time no see, Elen."

"Yes, congratulations on your marriage. I’m sorry I couldn’t make it to the ceremony."

"No, thank you. Just your thoughtfulness means everything. The royal family came, too."

"Yes! And, um… without the mustache, ojisan looks even more handsome!"

"Ah, s-so do you think...?"

I giggled at Sauvel, flustered as he held me, and then I heard a sharp intake of breath behind me. I turned my head—

There she was. Aunt Aria.

I scanned the area again, but Raffilia the child seemed to be nowhere in sight.

I asked to be put down, and Sauvel slowly set me on the ground.

I turned to Aria, gave a proper lady’s curtsy, and introduced myself.

“Nice to meet you, Aunt Aria. I’m Elen, daughter of Lovell.”

Aria stared, wide-eyed, frozen in place. Sauvel snapped at her, “Return the greeting,” coldly.

She flinched, then hesitantly, awkwardly, managed a reply.

She looked at my face—must’ve reminded her of my mother. Her expression went pale.

I turned away, as if I had no more interest, and walked back to Isabella.

Sauvel and Aria settled onto the sofa across from the one where Father, me, and Isabella were sitting.

Father doesn’t even bother to greet Aria. I sigh inwardly—this one’s a full-blown disaster.

Then I glance at Aria across the way. Her eyes keep darting toward Father. Red around the edges. So, no guilt at all. Instantly clear.

As expected, Isabella and Lauren start giving off that tense, prickly energy.

“Ah, Brother… did you want to talk to Aria about something…?”

“No. It’s Elen.”

“Huh?”

“Yes. It’s me who has something to say to Aunt Aria.”

Smiling sweetly, Aria swallows hard, offering me a tiny, forced smile like she’d give a child.

(Oh, she’s definitely sizing me up!)

No one would believe this little kid in front of me is about to shove me headfirst into the Valley of Dread.

(But that’s exactly what’s happening.)

I stare straight back at Aria, jaw set.

"Aria, auntie. I know the reason you’ve condemned me. That’s exactly why I’m here—straight to your face. This isn’t a conversation. It’s a warning."

"Eh…?"

Confused by my words, Aria’s eyes darted around, then landed on Sauvel, pleading for support. Everyone else stayed silent. Only Sauvel spoke.

"Elen’s sharp. Same age as Raffilia, yet already helping her brother run the Vanklyft Family’s affairs. Take her words seriously."

"W-what…?"

"That condemnation? Mother put a hidden spell on Sauvel, meant to keep it from others. But you ignored the warning—broke the promise. Normally, that would’ve lifted the spell, but now that outsiders know, it’s only gotten worse. The spell stays. This is a message from Ka-sama."

"S-so I didn’t mean to…"

“You think just explaining the situation will earn you forgiveness from Uncle Sauvel? That people will feel sorry for you? Who’s going to forgive you for having your head full of another man during your own wedding? That’s an insult to the Vanklyft Family.”

Isabella nodded, dry as a cracked riverbed. “You’re right. Exactly.”

“You’re acting just like Agiel, even though you’ve heard about Agiel’s fate.”

Aria turned ashen. Agiel’s downfall was the talk of the entire country.

“I—I didn’t mean to!! I’m starting a new family, aren’t I!? Isn’t it natural to want to win over my new brother-in-law?!”

“You admit your feelings are impure. That’s why Lady Vaal sentenced you.”

I said it, and Aria made a sharp, choked sound in her throat.

Sauvel, grimacing, still held his silence—listening.

"Th-that can't be right!! How could a child possibly understand something like that!? My feelings… only I can know them!!"

"I understand."

"Wh-what…?"

"Voor-sama is the goddess who sees all. Vaar-sama is the goddess of judgment. You two are one. Hence, the Dual Goddesses. That’s why your heart… is nothing to me."

"W-what…?"

"Your proof of judgment isn’t visible to the royal family. But at that moment, the Emperor saw through it."

"...I gave him the opening to see. I’m sorry…"

Sauvel bowed his head to me. Aria’s eyes snapped wide open—she couldn’t believe it.

"Sauvel-sama isn’t to blame. The royal family’s interference was inevitable. It was only a matter of when, not if. Please don’t worry about it."

I smiled faintly. Sauvel winced, pressing his hands to his head in embarrassment.

"Aunt Aria. The Vanklyft Family is indispensable to the Royal House. They’re relentless in their attempts to make contact—always looking for an opening."

"I... I know, right? After all, Uncle Van is a hero."

"No."

Aria flinched, her mouth twitching in surprise at the flat denial.

"It’s because of Papa’s power that the Royal House is so fixated on this family."

"...Uncle Van’s power?"

"Yes. Papa’s strength effortlessly overshadows the entire scene. And you—you’re trying to erase that presence with your selfish actions. That’s exactly where we are now."

"……!!"

Father seemed to realize it too. Sauvel and the others finally grasped the gravity of it, their faces turning pale.

"Because of you, Father declared he wouldn’t return to the family home—afraid of worsening things with Uncle Sauvel."

"S-such a thing... but how does that even relate to the Royal House...?"

"What do you think the Royal House would do if they found out? The fighting force they want here can’t be secured because of you. Right now, the smoldering fires across neighboring countries—flickered out the moment word of Papa’s return spread. Even just his name carries that kind of power."

"Eh… s-something like… war…?"

"Eliminate the inconvenient one, and the hero might return. That’s probably what the Royal House thinks. To avoid war. One sacrifice, and it’s over."

"Inconvenient… one… sacrifice…"

"You. Aunt Aria."

You might be in danger of being targeted by the Royal House.

I warned you.