Muffin!

The Vanklyft Family held regular internal meetings at set intervals.

Lauren, the family steward, was the one compiling information from other guilds.

Inside the room, my father, myself, Sauvel, Lauren, and Isabella were waiting.

"Apparently, the number of visitors staying for healing purposes has increased by about thirty percent since last month. Rumors about Lady Elen's medicine are spreading."

"Thirty percent is quite a lot..."

Sauvel frowned at Lauren's report.

It wasn't a bad thing that more people were coming for treatment, but it was a headache having dangerous illnesses brought into the territory.

"Consequently, our supply of medicine isn't keeping up. There are even disputes cropping up over Elen-sama's medicine."

A real headache. I *could* produce my medicine in large quantities, but my father and the others have stopped me—saying it'd only spread the rumors even further.

"Ah, well, up until now we've been handing out medicine in order of examination, but it seems the ones causing trouble are usually the ones in most urgent need..."

Sauvel is the commander of the kingdom's knight corps.

From there, soldiers are dispatched as guards to each territory.

He's often called upon to mediate disputes or deal with troublemakers, which is how reports kept reaching him.

Hearing this, I furrow my brow and go, "Hmm..."

"Should we implement a triage system?"

My father and the others tilted their heads.

"Triage?"

"It's about prioritizing treatment based on how severe a patient's condition is. But the key thing is making sure everyone else understands it too."

It's what we'd call triage back on Earth.

"Children without immunity to illness, pregnant women, people who’ve lost consciousness—those are the ones we prioritize. Even with injuries, those in the worst pain? They’re the ones who need pain relief, right?"

"Hmm. Makes sense..."

Sauvel grunted at my words. The decision should ultimately be left to the healers, but I’d argued it was worth giving them a heads-up ahead of time—less pointless arguing later, I figured.

"Such a quick mind. Truly, Lady Elen, you’re remarkably knowledgeable. Grandfather’s truly moved."

Lauren smiled warmly, and I felt my cheeks warm in embarrassment.

But at the same time, guilt gnawed at me. My knowledge wasn’t mine—it came from memories of Earth, from lives lived long ago.

It felt like I was stealing from the wisdom of those who’d come before. And that thought hit me hard, like a cold draft down the spine.

"Hey, Elen. What’s wrong?"

My father noticed my slump in an instant, leaning in to look me in the face.

My thoughts had completely scattered—I snapped back to myself with a jolt.

“Ah, no, sorry. I was just… lost in thought.”

“…Elen. We’ve been saved countless times by you. I’m sorry—I keep relying on you like this.”

I blinked, startled, as Sauvel gently ruffled my hair while apologizing.

I shook my head, quickly denying it.

“My knowledge… it’s not mine. It’s just what the ancestors left behind. I didn’t come up with it. So when people thank me like this… it feels weird. Like I’m stealing credit.”

I said that, and my father just laughed.

“Elen, tactics and tech—those are built on the knowledge of those who came before. Learning it, using it when it matters—that’s how the past lives on. Better than blindly repeating mistakes, isn’t it?”

“…So it’s because I remembered what they knew?”

“Exactly. People who can actually *use* what they’ve learned in the right moment? They’re rare. Elen—you should be proud.”

I blinked a few times at my father’s words, but something about it just… clicked.

It felt like remembering that having memories from a past life must mean something important in this world.

“…Hehe.”

I couldn’t help but blush, genuinely happy from being praised, and everyone watching me just smiled like I’d done something adorable.

“Ah—! Of course my daughter’s the best!!”

“Gyuumuuu!”

I was suddenly crushed in my father’s arms, my head shoved into his chest like a pillow. I was squirming, barely breathing, when Sauvel finally stepped in and gently pulled him back.

“Papa, you’re being annoying.”

“Why?!?”

I grabbed Sauvel’s coat hem tightly, relieved, and shot a glare at my father, who instantly deflated like a popped balloon.

“Brother, you’re smothering Elen.”

“Huh?!? I can’t believe you’re saying that to me! You barely pay attention to your own daughter!!”

“Ugh.”

I froze, stunned by my father’s words. Sauvel, who was so gentle, couldn’t possibly be ignoring Raffilia—my mind refused to accept it.

“…She’s going through her rebellious phase.”

“So you’re saying she’s just sulking because you’re not paying attention?”

“Like you’d understand, brother.”

A full-blown sibling squabble erupted. Flustered, I looked back and forth between the two, when suddenly they both snapped their heads toward me—then spoke in perfect unison, seeking my approval.

“Elen, you agree, right!?”

Their synchronized tone calmed me down instead. Oh, they’re both just as bad.

“Grandpa~”

I dashed over to Lauren, who let out a delighted laugh and scooped me up.

“Miss Elen seems to prefer me, hm?”

Lauren grinned, and I couldn’t help but think how adorable he was.

Then, from behind, my fathers chimed in again, in perfect sync: “Why!?”

"Anyway, the truth is, the territory’s been a bit unstable lately. Too many people are struggling with illness and can’t afford to be distracted."

"Ah… I guess that’s what it is."

My fathers seemed genuinely troubled by the issue arising from that. I was pondering what it could be when I suddenly realized everyone was staring at me. My heart jumped.

"Wh-what is it…?"

"Elen’s sharp, but when it comes to herself, she’s completely clueless…"

"Can’t be helped. Honestly, it’s rare for someone her age to be so considerate of others."

"True enough."

My father and Sauvel both looked satisfied. I tilted my head, wondering what they were so pleased about, when Sauvel suddenly barked at Lauren: "Call him."

Lauren bowed and left, her back straight and precise. Watching her go, my father’s expression turned even more serious.

"...You really are going to call him, aren’t you?"

"We’ve already talked it over. Still don’t trust him?"

My head was full of question marks—literally, I swear—wondering who on earth they were talking about.

“Nah, the problem’s not that he’s human.”

“What do you mean?”

I’d been totally lost since earlier. I finally blurted out, “Just tell me already!” and Dad sighed.

“Elen, you know there’s been trouble over medicine in the territory, right? And rumors are flying. People say the little princess of the Vanklyft Family can heal with medicine.”

My face went pale. So that meant…

“Once they find you, people’ll swarm you for medicine. Some won’t be so nice. Merchants are already showing up, asking to buy it.”

“Uh… so the person I called earlier…?”

“Your bodyguard,” Dad said.

The moment he said it, the door creaked open—and there stood Lauren, saying, “She’s here.”

I tilted my head, trying to figure out who the boy was as he bowed politely from behind and stepped in. Someone I’d never met before.

“Introduce yourself,” Sauvel prompted the boy.

“Pleased to meet you, Lady Elen. I’m Kai.”

“Pleasure’s mine. I’m Elen.”

I returned his gentleman’s bow with a lady’s grace, and Kai just stared straight at me, unblinking.

I blinked back, slightly thrown. Sauvel let out a dry chuckle.

“Kai’s turning 14 this year. His father’s Albert.”

My eyes widened. I stared hard at Kai.

He didn’t look a bit like Albert. Apparently, he took after his mother—short black hair, sharp eyes.

Fourteen, huh? Still, there was already a solid, dependable air about him. Built sturdy, and taller than most boys his age. Maybe he took after his father in build, after all.

"Miss Elen, I’ve heard the story from Father. Thank you so much for saving him back then."

Kai bowing to me made me flustered—flustered, I tell you!

With all my heart, I shall protect you!!

Kai was tall. Kneeling, he placed his right hand over his chest and declared it.

Even though she was kneeling, her line of sight was almost level with mine.

"Um..."

I looked up at my father, wondering if this was a decision. He sighed.

I’m not exactly unhappy with Kai or anything… but there’s someone out there who won’t let this situation slide…

The people around me tilted their heads, puzzled. Who could it be, they wondered, at my father’s words?

Elen’s a spirit too. Spirits don’t just stay quiet, now do they?

I realized, staring at my father's sighing form, who exactly he meant.

"Oh, wait—could it be…"

"Yeah. That one. Can't leave it alone, can we? Gotta call it over before it starts complaining later. Hey! You listening, huh!?"

My father shouted toward the sky, and a massive white tiger descended from above.

"!?"

Isabella, who had been silently watching, let out a startled cry at the sudden appearance of the beast.

"A—ah, Brother!?!"

"It's fine. Van, introduce yourself."

"I am Van, son of the Great Spirit of Wind."

The crowd stood stunned, awestruck by his commanding presence.

And then—right there—I jumped onto Van's neck.

"Mffuuun!!"

I buried my face in his fluffy fur, rubbing my cheek against it. Everyone except my father stared, utterly dumbfounded.

Van was a tiger cub—three times the size of a white tiger back on Earth. Yeah, a cub. That big. A kid.

The thing that sets Van apart from a regular Earth tiger, I guess, is how his neck fur is longer, like a lion’s.

“Huh-huh, Your Highness, how’s that? Freshly washed!”

“Smells good～!”

Sniffing into Van’s fur, which gave off a faint floral scent, I was just getting into it when Kai snapped back to reality and called out, “Elen-sama!”

“Don’t worry, he’s a good boy, right?”

Van, who’d been watching the whole exchange in the Spirit World, snorted through his nose at Kai.

“Protecting the princess? That’s rich.”

The two of them sparked at each other—Van and Kai—and Father just chuckled.

“Anyway, the spirits themselves are assigning Elen a guardian. Van can control the wind at will. His hearing’s so sharp he can catch whispers carried on the breeze. He’ll be invaluable.”

"No, but Brother… a beast this big’s bound to cause a ruckus in town, isn’t it?"

"What are you talking about? Elen’s my daughter, isn’t she? Say she’s a spirit, and it’s over in one shot."

The father puffed out his chest, but the crowd wasn’t buying it.

"Lord Lovell, no issue at all. I’ve already learned to take human form."

With that, Van instantly shifted into a human shape.

I gaped. There stood a young man—so much like Van’s father, Vinth, you’d think he was a younger brother instead.

He looked about seventeen. Green eyes. Same lustrous white hair as when he was a tiger. Van’s side-swept hair stuck up playfully and was short, but the back of his neck stretched down to his shoulder blades—like a wolf cut, if you’re familiar with that style on Earth.

A tiger with a wolf cut!? I nearly burst out laughing.

"...Doesn't it suit you?"

I laughed, flustered, at Van's dejected expression.

"Looks great!"

The moment I praised him wholeheartedly, Van's face turned crimson.

"Of course it does! I'm handsome, aren't I?!"

Van grinned triumphantly at Kai, as if he’d just won.

The spirits' humanoid forms all shared that same perfectly sculpted face, so Kai could only grumble in reluctant agreement, muttering, "Mmm, mmm, mmm..."

"...Hey, what's going on here?"

"Looks like a contest over who gets to be Elen's guard."

Suddenly, Father narrowed his eyes at Van and Kai and muttered that.

Sauvel calmly replied, but Father suddenly screamed, "No, no, not that! I didn’t mean that!"

"Hey, you two!! Stay away from Elen!!"

I blinked, my expression puzzled. What was he even talking about? He’d been the one to summon Van in the first place, and now he’s yelling about guards?

"Daughter isn't getting married!!"

Saying something utterly incomprehensible, Papa squeezed me tight in his arms.

I stared at him, unimpressed—what the hell is this guy even saying?—and muttered one word.

Papa, you’re annoying.