GROW BIGGER, THAT’S IT!!

I was staring at Gadiel when suddenly my whole view got blocked—pitch black.

"Huh?"

I turned around to see what was behind me, and there was Father, grinning right at me.

"Elen, no good~"

"Huh?"

I tilted my head, confused, and Father said I shouldn’t get close to the Prince—my curse would react.

"Oh... right."

The royal curse reacts to the goddess’s power, reaching out like it’s begging for help.

Four years ago, I touched it—and saw that sad, painful memory.

Would I want to relive that? No way.

I stepped back, quickly hiding behind Father, and Gadiel visibly flinched.

Father grinned, wickedly pleased at the sight.

I was held on Father’s lap, a safe distance from Gadiel, waiting for the spirit’s report.

“Hey, Elen. Why were you staring at the Prince’s face just now?”

“Huh?”

“Come on, didn’t you give the okay earlier? Said it was fine to talk?”

I remembered that moment, and explained why I’d been staring so intently.

“…It’s just… I couldn’t figure out how someone could smile like that just for agreeing to talk.”

“Pffft—!!”

Father suddenly burst out laughing. He tried to hold it in, shoulders shaking.

“…Papa?”

“W-well, I’d forgotten… Oh right, you’re the one who’s slow on the uptake…”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

I puffed out my cheeks at his insult, and he gently poked my cheek.

“Elen, you’re adorable. Just stay like this, okay?”

“Papa, you’re still so annoying.”

“Hey, that’s harsh!!!?”

Gadiel and the others stared, mouths agape, at Papa clutching me tightly, saying how much he loved me.

“Papa… isn’t one-sided love kind of heavy?”

“Where in the world did you even pick up that phrase!?”

Papa and Elen are in love with each other—! The shout echoed through the room when I suddenly felt a spirit’s presence.

“Princess.”

“Hose! How did it go!?”

“As the Princess said, there were five men and one girl in the cabin, so we’ve restrained the adults.”

“Excellent work!!! Papa! Uncle!!”

“Let’s go, Sauvel.”

“Yes!!!”

I sent a message to Van, who was waiting at the manor, then instructed Albert and Kai to prepare the carriage. After that, I asked Van and me to teleport straight to the destination, carriage and all.

Van alone would be risky, but with Hozé along, we should be able to teleport the carriage straight here.

"Wait! Take us too!"

Gadiel leans forward, demanding. But I can’t imagine either my father or me carrying Gadiel through a teleportation.

"Uh… what should we do?"

"Come on, once you’ve gotten this far, you’re bound to be curious, right? Why not? Alright, you two, form a circle and hold hands. Oh—Prince’s sides, your guards, of course."

I’m taken aback by my father’s no-nonsense tone, but we still clasp hands. I’m actually impressed by how warm they feel.

I’m flanked by my father and Sauvel. With just the two of them, this big group teleportation should be fine.

I never thought I’d be holding hands with a bunch of grown adults in a circle like some kind of game.

It was kind of fun. I’m not telling anyone.

＊＊＊

Transferring right in front of the hut, there they were—two grown men sprawled and writhing, vines缠绕 around them like a twisted embrace.

Hovering in midair, Shuto stared down at the men with a look of cold detachment.

“Shuto! You’re a lifesaver!!”

“Oh, Your Highness.”

Shuto descended smoothly toward me. I asked where Vilber was, and he replied, “Inside the hut.”

Upon hearing that, Sauvel shouted, “Raffilia!” and bolted into the hut.

“Raffilia! Raffilia!!!”

Inside the hut, Sauvel found three men moaning on the floor, bound tightly by vines.

Looking toward the back, there she was—Raffilia, still tied to a rope, her face pale.

“Raffilia!!!”

“Nnnngh!!!”

Realizing it was her father, Raffilia’s eyes welled up, and she broke down, sobbing uncontrollably.

“It’s okay now! You’re safe!”

Sauvel hurried to untie his daughter’s gag and restraints. Vilber, watching from the corner of his eye, slipped away quietly.

When Vilber returned to me, waiting outside the hut, I greeted him with a polite, “Thank you.”

“Is Raffilia alright!?!”

“Safe, she is. The girl inside—those bastards had horses ready, so we made it in time.”

I thanked Vilber with a smile, and then felt the familiar, gentle strokes of his hand—first on my head, then on his own, as if passing the gesture back and forth.

Just then, Sauvel emerged from the hut, cradling Raffilia in his arms. Gadiel spotted her immediately and cried out, “Raffilia!”

Raffilia, seeing Gadiel, collapsed into sobs, her voice breaking.

“Gadiel～～!”

“Raffilia… thank the spirits you’re safe…”

Still clinging to Sauvel, Raffilia trembled. Gadiel stepped close, hovering just beside her, silent but present.

I took a distant look, letting out a breath I didn’t know I was holding. Good, they’re safe.

Gadiel’s guards had gathered the men—both those outside and inside—still restrained, into one group.

Checking their belongings. The ease with which they did it made me think, really, it was a good idea to ask for their help.

Just then, Van and the others arrived, having been transferred along with Albert and his carriage.

I thanked Van and Hōze, then told Van—still standing on the sidelines—to wait a bit longer. He pouted slightly, as expected.

“Van, thank you.”

“Next time, I’m with the princess, got it?!”

Huffing, Van’s nose twitching in irritation. I nodded, “I understand,” and suddenly, his mood lifted. He even started ruffling my hair.

“Master!”

Sauvel answered with a “Here,” as Albert arrived with a blanket, wrapping Raffilia in it.

“Ah, Elen… Brother… really… thank you.”

Sauvel bowed his head to me. I was about to reply, along with Father, that we were all safe and sound, when—

“Wait… you’re Elen!?!”

Raffilia’s sudden outburst made me, and everyone around us—including the adults—gape.

“You’re the one responsible! It’s all because of you that I ended up like this!! That’s cruel!!”

She seemed to realize she’d been mistaken for me and dragged out of the water.

Probably interrogated about the medicine.

“Raffilia!”

Sauvel’s sharp reprimand made her flinch, shoulders jerking.

“You blabbed about your letters to the Prince!? That’s exactly what they targeted! You’ve been warned again and again!! Elen had nothing to do with this!! You were bound to get caught eventually!!”

"Papa’s so cruel...! Why? Why always like this?! Everyone’s always 'Elen, Elen'!! I’m trying too, you know!! I’m your daughter, but no one sees me!!"

Sauvel was taken aback by Raffilia’s words.

"Always like this!! The maids, the servants, everyone in town—everyone’s 'Elen, Elen'!! What’s this 'Vanklyft Family’s princess' nonsense?! They all laugh and say, 'Not her, right?'!"

Wailing through tears, Raffilia insisted.

Sauvel’s eyes widened—he’d never heard her speak like this before.

"Raffilia..."

At my words, Raffilia shot me a sharp glare.

"What’s your grudge against me?!"

"...I don’t hold any grudge. I was just doing my duty as your daughter, helping the Vanklyft Family."

"Helping?! That’s all?!"

"That's right. I'm helping Papa with his business. I suppose people around here misunderstood, thinking I'm a direct descendant since I'm his blood. I'm sorry… "

"...You're the same age as me, and you're already helping Lovell-sama with business?"

Hearing my words, Raffilia froze, her eyes snapping to the figure of my father standing behind me.

"...Helping Lovell-sama?"

"That's right. I'm helping Papa."

Now she was staring at me, utterly stunned. We locked eyes for a moment, then she blinked, swallowing back tears as she slowly looked me up and down.

"Hmm… "

What’s with that look? So loaded. So... challenging.

"Gadiel’s been saying he really wants to meet Elen, but… are you really my age?"

Just like that—like a gust blowing out a candle—the terror and tears from moments ago vanished. Her expression had changed completely.

Raffilia huffed, challenging me with a sharp tone, then straightened up and stood face-to-face with me.

Her height was… well, age-appropriate, actually, maybe even a bit more—around 160 centimeters.

I stared up at her in disbelief. The difference was about thirty centimeters.

Puffing out her chest, Raffilia laughed.

“You’re all kinds of small, aren’t you?!”

All kinds…?

Even I, and the adults around me, tilted our heads in confusion.

But then, with a smug air, Raffilia huffed again and puffed her chest out once more.

I finally got what she meant—and my whole body trembled.

“O-oh…!”

Her chest, though still that of a girl, clearly showed two rising swellings starting to form.

I couldn’t help but glance down at my own.

“O-oh…! It’ll grow too, you know?!”

With teary eyes, clutching her chest, I glared back at her—and the adults around us seemed to understand the implication too.

Some of them looked dumbfounded. Gadiel, Kai, and Hume all turned red and flustered.

Tears spilled out of my eyes, triggered by my own insecurities.

"Phew… it’s gonna get big… it really is…"

Sniffling, I buried my face into my father’s chest.

"Your mama’s huge, so you’re fine. The bigger it gets, the sooner it’ll start drooping—might as well stop worrying about it?"

"Papa…!"

I couldn’t help it—I pressed my face into his chest and cried.

The adults around us were stunned. Raffilia, especially, stood frozen, utterly bewildered by Lovell’s words.

Holding me close, Lovell muttered, “Let’s head back to the manor,” before vanishing in a flash.

As he disappeared, the other spirits followed suit, one by one.

Van was the last to remain. He stared hard at Raffilia and spat out:

"An ordinary human... speaking so boldly to Her Highness. Remember that."

Only Gadiel, his guard, and the Hume realized that Van had incurred the wrath of the great spirit who could take human form.

Sauvel and the others, drained of venom, let out long, weary sighs.