Cunning vs. Little Girl

I decided to charge forward immediately, leading Sauvel by the hand.

"Grandma!!"

When I returned with Sauvel, holding hands, to Isabella, the two of us were met with startled faces as Isabella, buried under an even larger pile of fabric, and the merchant looked up.

"Wh-what… oh my goodness!! Is that Sauvel!?"

"Ah… um… Mother…?"

"What’s this? You’ve become so handsome, really!!"

"Isn’t that right? Sauvel-sama looks completely different now, doesn’t he!"

I waved our joined hands wildly, as if to say *you’re not getting away*.

As we swung our hands together, Isabella smiled warmly, saying, "Oh my, look at you two getting along so well!"

"I won’t accept it! Holding hands with Elen like that… damn it, I’m jealous…!!"

I caught a fleeting glimpse of my father gritting his teeth from behind cover, but I ignored him.

Sauvel seemed unsure how to handle me, but he smiled wryly and played along anyway.

"Grandma, now that we're at it—how about Sauvel-san's clothes too?"

"Oh! That's right!!"

Behind Isabella, who cheerfully called out, "Sauvel, come this way!" I could’ve sworn I saw a black aura flicker. Sauvel, noticing it, flinched sharply.

Same as me earlier. I quietly smirked, pleased with how everything was unfolding exactly as planned.

***

A while has passed since then. Sauvel still hasn’t escaped Isabella’s clutches.

While sipping tea Lauren brought, my father and I lounged around, relaxed as ever.

"Elan, you should be holding Papa's hand, don't you think?!"

Oops. Withdraw that. Right now, I’m the one being held captive by my sulking father. Extremely annoying.

"I always hold Papa's hand, don’t I?"

"No way! That’s not enough!!"

I just stare, dumbfounded, as my father squeezes me tight.

"Jealous of Sauvel, are we? Should I give it a try too, Papa?"

"…No, no, I'm fine."

The makeup attendant, who’d been lurking in the corner, suddenly sparkled with excitement, already reaching for her tools. Dad must’ve noticed.

But right away, she was called away by Isabella and left the room. Now it’s just me and Dad.

"But why Sauvel?"

"Looked so handsome, didn’t you think you’d panic?"

"…Huh?"

"Aria Auntie. I figured if you were distracted by her, you wouldn’t have time to look elsewhere."

"...You really thought that far ahead, just to get Sauvel?"

"Hmm. To be honest, I was thinking—maybe it’s time for you to look at someone new."

"...Wait, what?"

"Let’s keep this between us, but divine judgment isn’t something taken lightly... I think Aria Auntie might’ve had feelings for you... probably."

"Whatever anyone says, it's just Orie and Elen for me. That's not changing. I'm not going to see Aria ever again. Honestly, I don't even want to. Even if she begged me, I'd say no. Absolutely not."

"I understand."

Papa had been burying Aria under Agiel, of all things. The way he wrinkled his nose in disgust made me snicker. His words had felt pure—just warmth and love, and I'd been happy.

I relax into his tight hug.

Leaning into his neck like a child, I rest my head on him, and he gently strokes my hair, smiling.

"Um... Papa... are you mad?"

"What? What's wrong?"

"...I prayed for Sauvel-sama to find happiness."

"Yeah."

"...Then I heard a voice say, 'Leave it to me!'"

"...Huh?"

Unable to bear his steady stare, I turn my face away with a huff.

"Ah, Elen-san. Whose voice was that...?"

"………………Probably Lady Vorl……"

Mother and daughter fall into silence.

"Elen, your heart is..."

"…………Sauvel-sama’s likely to be smitten with a woman."

Ah, Father groans, staring up at the ceiling.

Then came the chaos.

When Sauvel showed up at the knights' barracks, every single subordinate dropped their sword in shock, faces frozen in disbelief.

Even though knights are trained never to part with their blades under any circumstances, the sheer impact of seeing Sauvel—well, it was too much.

Word spread from the knight corps, through the territory, and then into noble circles. It didn’t take long.

A few days later, Sauvel was clutching his head, overwhelmed by the ever-growing pile of party invitations.

***

Several days later, the day finally came—Sauvel was to arrive at the castle.

"Ah…… no, no, no……"

"Papa, crying won’t fix anything. Let’s go settle this properly!"

"Elen, why are you so eager to fight...?"

"To be honest, I just wanted to have a proper talk with that scheming little snake—once, at least."

"This trembling… I don’t like this at all. I can’t shake the feeling something terrible’s about to happen…"

Still, Father lifted me up and carried me into the castle.

As we passed through the gate, guarded by soldiers, the crowd stared—mouths agape, eyes wide.

It wasn’t just the sight of my father, the hero. It was the sight of him walking through the courtyard with a tiny child cradled in his arms.

The Vanklyft Family had been avoiding contact with the royal court ever since Agiel.

The castle was buzzing with rumors about what had happened.

Led by a guard, we were escorted to the guest chamber—where Lavissel was already waiting.

"Ah, there you are, Lovell. And my little princess too."

Elen, set down from Lavissel’s arms, curtsied with a bright smile.

“Good day, Your Majesty. I am Elen, daughter of Lovell.”

“Ah, yes—I’ve heard of you, Albert’s girl. But this is quite something!”

Lavissel beamed at me, clearly delighted. I nearly scowled—forced myself not to show it. What kind of nonsense was that, judging someone by their face? Was it important I looked like my father?

“Sorry to call you so suddenly, Elen. I just… wanted to see you.”

“Is that so?”

My face stayed smiling, but the words held no joy at all. Lavissel’s grin widened further, like a cat who’d found a particularly satisfying mouse.

“Ah, truly Lovell’s daughter. So alike… it’s uncanny.”

“I must protest—this is quite unexpected.”

“Elen!?”

I’d never seen Papa embrace me like this—tight, squishing me with that “ugh, this is terrible!” look on his face—so Raffilia stood there, frozen, eyes wide.

“Gyuum—”

“Elen, what’s with you lately!? Are you going through a rebellious phase or something!?”

“Papa, you’re being so unguarded.”

“Huh!?”

Papa shot Raffilia a glare like he’d just caught her red-handed. Wait, glaring? That’s… not okay, right? But then he seemed to give up, settling me onto his lap with a thud as he plopped down onto the sofa.

“So, uh… anything important, Your Majesty? We’d really like to head back soon.”

“You’re not usually this cheerful… I mean, this open.”

Papa snapped back at Raffilia, who looked genuinely startled.

“Had to keep my cool all the time, since I was little.”

“…Agiel?”

Raffilia let out a quiet, wry smile at Papa’s jab. “He’s gone,” she said softly.

“Gone?”

"Taken to the border estate with Papa. Surrounded by mountains. Won't be coming here again, ever."

I chuckled quietly, listening to Raffilia speak about her father and sister. Yep. Definitely a schemer.

"Still, Sauvel’s in a pickle. His new wife’s got the same kind of crush on Agiel."

That’s when my father and I fell silent. Just like that.

"Excuse me, but what do you mean by 'equal to Agiel'?"

"You can’t be serious. You’re not *that* oblivious, are you? Everyone in the nobility’s already talking. Rumor has it his new wife’s head over heels for the hero who’s now her stepbrother."

Father made a sharp clicking sound with his tongue. Same as agreeing, Dad… really.

"Papa…"

I gave him a look, and he finally blinked, realizing what he’d just done. Sorry, he squeezed me tight.

"What kind of gossip are you talking about, exactly?"

"Not something for a little princess to hear, dear."

“That’s a lie, isn’t it? You only spoke to me after you were certain I’d understand.”

“……”

Lavisel’s eyes widened slightly, then—before I could even blink—her face lit up with a grin that looked dangerously pleased.

“Ah, so you convinced Albert. That’s impressive.”

“I thought Your Majesty was a bit of a scoundrel. Albert-ji-sama was pleading desperately about the Vanklyft Family’s plight. But if you’re in the way, he’d cut ties without hesitation.”

I smiled sweetly, and she replied with a casual shrug, as if it were nothing at all.

“No, not really. Honestly, I could’ve had double espionage going, but I stopped it. Not worth it.”

“Huh… so Albert doesn’t have any value?”

“You’re misunderstanding what kind of value I mean. But at least it’s clear Albert-ji-sama isn’t suited for espionage. That’s all.”

Lavissel bursts into laughter the moment I smile, unable to contain herself.

"Unexpected! Lovell, you're incredible—producing a child like this!"

After a good laugh, Lavissel grins at me.

"So you get it now? The reason behind Sauvel’s rumors?"

"...You’re checking answers?"

"Exactly. Go on."

"His Majesty used the rumors as part of Papa’s negotiations. But if the rumors got out, Papa would’ve flown into a rage—thinking His Majesty slipped up. Nothing to gain from that. So the source must be someone else entirely… eliminating all other options, it’s the Queen Mother."

"Brilliant."

Yeah. That’s the thing about being a woman—some things you just *feel*.

Aria’s gaze was so blatantly obvious it made a third party want to turn away. Probably why she saw it.

The royal family had already left the scene, but rumors quickly reached our ears—afterward, the bride had collapsed in tears and never showed up for the ceremony.

Spreading rumors about the duke’s household was risky. Who knew what’d come of it? That meant a noble of equal or higher status than the duke.

And from that, the answer surged up through the gossip like a fever dream, tinged with doubt.

"Ah… amazing…"

"Your Majesty…"

Father glared at Lavisel.

"What’s there to be angry about? I never said I’d been condemned."

"Condemned? What are you talking about?"

I replied with a straight face, and Lavisel confidently declared it was the goddess Val’s condemnation.

"Does being condemned do something, then?"

"What are you saying? No man will come near you, obviously."

"……"

I looked up at my father, confused. What was he talking about?

"Beats me."

Father played dumb. And Lavisel just laughed, saying there was no need to hide it.

"Your wrist bears thorn marks, don't they? Hiding it'll only cause trouble later."

"Nothing's troubling me at all. Just the other day, Aunt Aria took over a servant's duties and cooked instead. Rolled up her dress sleeve, she did."

"...What?"

"I've never seen thorn marks. You should ask our servants. They'll all say the same—don't know what you're talking about."

Lavisel kept her expression unchanged, but her mouth stayed shut, caught in indecision.

Too busy thinking to speak, probably.

"Papa, we're really disliked by the royal family, aren't we? I never thought we'd be targeted by rumors with no basis at all."

"True enough, Elen. This is unpleasant. Let's go home."

"Yes, Papa."

Father lifted me off his lap and stood from the sofa, and Lavisel seemed slightly flustered by it.

"Wait, just a moment. I’ll apologize about that. I’ll make sure my wife hears about it."

"But it’s already spread, isn’t it? What’s the point now?"

"That can’t be right. My wife moves in high society—she’ll be able to correct the rumor."

"Can you really do that?"

"Why not?"

Lavisel looked utterly baffled by my words.

"Didn’t we just confirm that? The rumor started with Her Majesty, didn’t it? What happens if you take it back now…?"

I smiled sweetly, and this time, Lavisel finally dropped the forced grin.