Sauvel-ojisan’s image overhaul.

It wasn’t just Ariah who stood frozen at my words. Sauvel was frozen too.

“We’ve been summoned by the Emperor. The topic will inevitably be about you. If you’re to take the same position as Agiel-sama, the Emperor might smile and say, ‘Let me help somehow?’”

“W-what… ‘help somehow’…?”

“Well? What do you suppose? The quickest way, I’d say, is just vanishing from our sight. If Sauvel-ojisan becomes a widower again, the Emperor can pick a suitable match as his pawn, set up a matchmaker’s seat, and all that….”

“N-no… no no no!!!”

Ariah trembled violently, tears welling up in her eyes from sheer terror.

“Would you really risk those dangers just to harbor impure feelings for Papa? Ah, but before that happens, *we*—your own family—will deal with you.”

Aria was already shaking her head back and forth violently.

"I know you've been supporting Sauvel all this time. Sauvel relied on you too. He was so happy when Agiel vanished—finally, he thought, he could marry you... Lovell's face is enough to make any woman fall head over heels. Maybe it's not so surprising you ended up one of them. But... has your feeling for Sauvel truly vanished?"

Tears welling in Isabella’s sad eyes, Aria screamed, "No! It's not like that!"

"No! It's not like that at all! I never meant to... I was just thrilled to have such a wonderful elder brother-in-law...! I love Sauvel! I truly do!"

There’s a bit of a gap between your argument and what the goddess decided… but first, please stop giving Papa that nasty look. And stop making excuses—apologize to Uncle already.”

“Ah… you… I’m sorry…”

Sauvel let out a heavy sigh, clearly flustered.

“When Agiel was around, you really did support me… If it hadn’t been for you, if Raffilia hadn’t been there… I might not have made it.”

Everyone fell silent, listening.

“I… I want to believe in Aria.”

He whispered it like he was trying to convince himself. Aria felt her heart leap.

“You…!!”

But the others stayed quiet. Once betrayed, that kind of suspicion—once planted—was hard to shake.

“Well, fine then.”

My words instantly drew every eye.

“My words are a warning to Aunt Aria. And the Goddess Val’s condemnation is just a warning, too. Think of your future as being watched by everyone around you.”

I smile warmly, and Aria lets out a breath she’d been holding.

“If you ever betray Sauvel uncle again, be ready for the consequences.”

“Mm-hmm. By then, the proof of condemnation will be clear enough… But I don’t want any more family scandals, so I’ll have to reveal the truth, won’t I?”

Isabella speaks softly, but to Aria—a commoner—that’s the same as declaring war on the Vanklyft Family.

To anyone living on the Vanklyft estate, it’s easy to imagine what happens when the lord turns angry.

It means Aria’s entire family could be punished.

“S-such a thing…?”

"Oh? So it’s your doing, isn’t it? Normally, even now, if Sauvel hadn’t given in, divorce and damages would’ve been called for. Your family couldn’t afford that, though. Oh, and Raffilia’s the heir, so she definitely won’t be paying it back."

Aria finally snapped to reality at Isabella’s words—her face turned deathly pale.

"Aria-obasan…"

When I called out, Aria jolted, snapping her eyes toward me.

"If you’re taking Papa from us, then we won’t hold back. We’ll crush you slowly. You’ve been warned."

I smiled sweetly, and Aria—reaching her limit—collapsed instantly.

＊＊＊

I’m squeezed between my father and Isabella, pressed tight.

Sauvel returned, having carried Aria to the bedroom.

His face looked… oddly clear, as if a weight had been lifted.

"Uncle Sauvel!"

"Ah, Elen... I'm sorry... I shouldn't have made a child your age talk about something like this..."

"No, I couldn't help it. I... I'm sorry I said those things."

I slumped down, clutching my skirt tightly in both hands, and Sauvel chuckled softly, ruffling my hair.

"Elen, thank you. If not for this, the family might've split apart. Me, Aria... even our elder brother..."

I snapped my head up. Sauvel was smiling gently, his eyes warm.

"Maybe it was bound to happen sooner or later. The sooner, the better—gives us time to prepare, to make decisions easier. I'm glad it happened this way. Thank you, Elen. Thank you."

"Uncle Sauvel..."

My nose stung. But there was one more thing I had to apologize for.

"I'm sorry... it's not just that."

"...What do you mean?"

"Kaa-sama is a goddess. The Dual Goddesses are goddesses who are like Kaa-sama's elder sister."

I said it, face crumpled, and Sauvel's eyes flew open.

"They watched over the wedding of a family member. And so... they realized Aunt Aria was pining for her sister's husband. That's why the goddesses were furious...!"

In normal circumstances, such longing wouldn't result in condemnation.

Nobles in this world often marry for politics. Even Agiel and Sauvel's relationship was like that.

For this to be such a big deal? That’s not normal at all.

"...The Dual Goddesses?"

"Aunt Aria upset the goddesses. Please don't involve Aunt Aria in the family business. It could very well bring the whole house down."

My chest ached watching Sauvel, Isabella, and Lauren gasp in shock.

"I think the house will be fine as long as I'm here. But Aria-obasan's surroundings are likely to stay turbulent for a while."

Sauvel smiled at me, saying thank you for the warning, his voice soft with quiet gratitude.

Ah, what a good person he is.

It’s unbearable how often someone this kind gets treated unfairly. I secretly made a little prayer to the goddesses.

Please, let happiness find its way to you, Sauvel-jiisan.

Suddenly, I thought I heard a distant voice—“Got it, Elen-chan! Leave it to me!”

(...Huh? Could that be Vaul-nee-san?)

Looks like I was seen through.

* * *

"By the way, Elen-chan. When are you meeting the royal family?"

"Um... six days from now? Was that right, Papa?"

"...Yeah. Ugh, I don’t wanna go... I really don’t wanna go..."

Papa’s voice echoed through the room, drained and defeated.

I gave him a look of mild disbelief—was he really that against going? He noticed my expression and turned to me, sighing.

"Elen doesn’t know, so she can stay calm. That kid’s always quick to twist things around, you know?"

"It’s fine, Papa. If the Emperor loses, it’ll just mean the end of the country."

Father chuckled, shaking his head at my sharp tone.

"...Guess Elen really is like me, huh?"

"Maybe."

"Wait—what?! Elen, say that again!!"

"Being like you? That’s quite a surprise."

"Why—why—why—?!?"

Elen’s just like Papa—of course she is—Father murmured, hugging me tightly like a curse. Honestly, it’s annoying.

"...Six days from now, then."

Our conversation drifted off. Isabella muttered something under her breath.

I tilted my head. What’s wrong?

"Lovell! I’ll be taking care of Elen for a while!!"

Isabella’s words made my father and me echo, "Huh?!" at the same time.

"If they're calling for the royal family, I can't just show up without proper clothes...!! Someone! Anyone!"

Isabella calling for a maid made my father and me blink in shock.

"Come now, let's get the tailor in to take your measurements, Elen-chan."

Isabella smiled sweetly, and I flinched inside.

＊＊＊

By the time the tailor had finished measuring me, I was practically collapsed. The tailor and Isabella were deep in discussion, spreading out bolts of fabric, debating this and that.

I realized I could slip away now—Sauvel, noticing, gave a wry smile and said, "Sorry about that."

"Mother wanted a daughter. That's why she's going all out like this."

"A grandmother?"

I couldn't bring myself to say I disliked it after hearing that.

But I'm not the kind of person who'd let this end with just me.

Smiling at Sauvel, I abruptly changed the subject. "Well then, next up—Uncle Sauvel’s turn!"

"Wha...?"

"Makeup assistant!!! Come on, come on!!!"

"Y-Yes!? I'm here right away!!!"

"Wait, Elen...?"

"Isn't it unfair that I'm the only one getting treated like this? So I think Uncle Sauvel should get the same treatment too."

"Wha...?"

The voice was so low it felt like it had a dotted line drawn through it.

"Papa! If you don’t want to suffer secondhand trauma, restrain Uncle Sauvel!!!"

"Got it, Elen."

Father smiled sweetly and restrained Sauvel.

"A-ah, Brother!? You’re not even trying to save yourself!?...Wait, really?"

"Sorry, Sauvel. I can’t beat my daughter."

I could hear Sauvel’s shriek of despair, delivered with a smile.

＊＊＊

I give instructions to the maid.

"Put a wrung-out towel soaked in hot water on Uncle’s eyes."

"Yes!"

"Wait… eyes?"

“Sauvel-ojisan, you haven’t been sleeping, have you? Your dark circles are terrible.”

“Ah… ah…”

He’s probably been lying awake all night, thinking about Aria.

“Warming the area around your eyes helps reduce the shadows. It’s actually kind of nice—just try it, even if you think I’m tricking you!”

Lying down on the bed, I cautiously place the warm towel over my eyes.

After a while, my father, who had been watching, suddenly gasped.

“Eh…? Sauvel sleeping… in front of everyone like this?”

Apparently, Sauvel—the soldier—has a light sleep and wakes up instantly. The maid told me he often gets headaches because he can’t stay asleep for long.

“That’s no good. You’re clearly under too much stress. I need to find something to help you relax!”

A surge of mission-driven urgency takes over. I’m mentally flipping through relaxation techniques when my father, sharp-eyed as always, notices something.

"Elen, are you up to something again...?"

"Papa, how could you think such a thing!?"

Pouting, but I’m determined to focus on Sauvel now.

"Alright, Papa, I’ll deal with you later. Makeup specialist, listen closely—now, follow my instructions."

"Y-yes... of course..."

"...Wait, am I really being scolded by my own daughter?"

I ignore my father’s stunned silence and dive straight into Sauvel’s image overhaul!!

＊＊＊

I was born with a childlike face. I used to go to great lengths to hide it with makeup.

Even with heels, I couldn’t do much about my height—too short to begin with. But I always thought, with makeup, I could change my face however I wanted.

The shape of the eyebrows... The end of the brow line runs straight from the side of the nose to the outer corner of the eye. That’s where the brow ends. The start of the brow is just a little past the inner corner, slightly toward the bridge of the nose. For women, the distance from the inner corner is about half that of men. Oh, the peak of the brow is right above the outer corner—when viewed straight on, make a curve between those two points. Right, right.

Men usually go for straight brows—symbolizing strength—but for Sauvel, we’re going with a corner-and-arch shape. It shows intelligence. Kindness. A touch of softness.

“People think eyebrow work is only for women. But men can shine too, if they shape them right. Just the brows, just the hairstyle—your whole impression can change completely.”

I was explaining this when the other makeup artists and Lauren nodded along, murmuring, “Ah, I see.”

Why’s Grandpa here…? I thought, raising an eyebrow. But I decided not to dwell on it. Probably, if I started questioning it, I’d lose.

Only then did Sauvel finally stir awake.

"……huh? Me…?"

"Seemed like you were worn out, so I took a little nap."

Lauren replied with a calm smile, and Sauvel blinked rapidly, as if he couldn’t quite believe his own eyes.

"Come on! Now that you’re awake, Sauvel ojisan, over here!!"

The barber I’d summoned earlier stepped forward.

"Eh? What??"

Still utterly confused, Sauvel let me guide him into position, while I gave precise instructions to the barber the whole time.

When it was all done, Sauvel stood frozen in front of the full-length mirror, speechless.

"Sauvel ojisan, you look amazing!!"

A proper dandy had been born.

The faint look of exhaustion on his face somehow transformed into something… dangerously charming.

The maids who’d watched the whole thing unfold burst into delighted shrieks and clapped their hands.

The way Sauvel looked now—just a little tidied up—was so completely transformed that everyone around him was utterly stunned.

“Eh? E…?”

I spoke to Sauvel, who seemed flustered by the sudden shift in attention.

“See? It’s definitely Grandma’s blood!”

Yeah, the transformed Sauvel now carried a faint resemblance to his father—just a little. The change was so drastic that even his overall impression had shifted completely from before.

“Uncle Sauvel. You really don’t suit facial hair. Please, no more from now on. I’ll personally instruct the makeup team to enforce that!”

When I declared it, Sauvel snapped back, “Y-yes!!” with surprising vigor.

Now, I can’t wait to see the grand reveal!

But honestly… was it just me, or did Father—who’d been silently watching from the back—mutter under his breath, “Is he just lashing out at a toy?” That one stung a little too much.