Regret.

Isabella and Lauren nearly jumped out of their skins at the sudden appearance of my father and me.

"Ugh! Don't scare me like that!!"

"O-oh, welcome back, Lovell... sir...?"

Isabella and Lauren seemed to notice me sniffling into my father’s arms, their eyes widening in concern.

"What on earth is wrong with Elen?! Did something happen to Raffilia?!?"

"Raffilia’s fine. Elen did well."

"...Then why is Elen crying?"

"Raffilia made her cry."

"W-what?!"

As my father headed toward the bedroom, he gave Lauren instructions.

"From now on, Sauvel and Raffilia will be returning with us. The princes will be coming too, so make sure the rooms are ready."

"Y-yes, sir!"

Lauren and the servants scramble at my father’s words. Still, he keeps glancing over at me, worried—like he can’t quite ignore that I’m crying.

I don’t care. Dad just strides off, brisk and purposeful, toward the bedroom.

Inside, he tells Lauren to keep everyone out, then plops down on the edge of the bed, still holding me in his arms.

And then he hugs me—tight, like he’s trying to keep me from slipping away.

“Hey, Elen…”

He whispers into my ear, still holding me close.

“Why’re you so eager to grow up all of a sudden…? Papa’s lonely, you know.”

“…Papa?”

“Even spirits can’t stop growing. You’ll become an adult, no matter what. Why can’t you just stay like this…? Why not now…?”

“…”

“Once you’re grown, you’ll leave me behind…? That’s… that’s not… not fair…”

“…Papa?”

When I slowly lifted my face from my father’s chest, I noticed something was off with him. There he was—shaking uncontrollably, trembling like a leaf.

“No… noooo!!!”

Still clutching me, Father rolled around on the bed, and I ended up rolling with him, trapped in his arms.

“Eek! Aaah!”

“Elen~! I won’t let you go to some bride’s house, okay?! I swear on my soul!”

Trying to stop his wild antics, I patted his cheeks frantically—*snap snap*—like I was trying to wake a sleeping dog.

He finally stopped, groaning, “Ow… that hurt…”

“Papa! What on earth is wrong with you?!”

“…Hehe. Crybaby, did your tears stop?”

I stared up at him, stunned, and he was just chuckling quietly to himself.

He gently stroked my head, a soft smile playing on his lips.

I had, after all, wanted to overcome my old insecurities.

I’d suddenly been struck by it, tears spilling out before I could stop—though now, I could look back with a bit of distance and think, *Really, that was so unbecoming of an adult.*

“…It’s stopped.”

“Oh? Now you’re the grumpy one, huh?”

“It’s Papa’s fault, isn’t it?!”

Puffing out my cheeks, I poked at my father’s chest, and he chuckled, clearly tickled.

“Elen’s usually so responsible—rarely cries. A crybaby was cute, sure… but a grumpy one? Even cuter.”

He beamed, full-on parent-foolishness on display.

I rolled my eyes at him, but still, I paused to look inward and reflect.

Back then, when I was alive, I *knew*—I’d had that feeling, that sense of being alive. I knew, deep down, that childhood only lasts once.

I’d always wanted to grow up. Even after becoming an adult, my body hadn’t changed much. I’d always been fascinated by the idea of being *grown-up*.

Now, after being reborn… I thought, *This time, I’ll finally be a real adult.*

But this body wasn’t showing any signs of growing up, and somewhere deep inside, I’d started to panic.

If I died, my family would vanish in an instant.

I’d already lived through the whole thing—growing up, leaving home, all of it—but now, obsessed with becoming an adult, I’d been treating my parents like they were nothing.

"...Sorry. I’m just happy being your daughter, Papa, Mother..."

I mumbled it again, tears welling up, clinging to my father once more. He sucked in a breath and held me back, fiercely.

＊＊＊

For a while, I stayed limp in my father’s arms, resting my head on his shoulder, drifting in and out.

Then—spirit presence. I snapped awake.

"Princess—!"

Van appeared in a flash, panicked.

"That little brat!! How dare she make the Princess cry—!!"

Van’s eyes narrowed to slits, teeth bared. I just stared, wide-eyed.

"Your Highness! Your Highness!! Are you alright!?"

She kept staring at me with worry, fidgeting and circling around me in a tight little loop.

"Your Highness! Please!! Press it as much as you like!!"

Van leapt back onto the bed as a tiger and lay down, offering himself, belly up. "Please," he said, stretching out.

Her tail thumped rhythmically against the sheets, urging, "Come on, come on."

Van’s thoughtfulness made me so happy I couldn’t help grinning.

"Van-kun!"

Even as I’m blissfully buried in the fluff of Bofuri and Van’s fur, I suddenly notice a dark aura seeping from behind me—my father.

Stealing my Elen...

Van flinched and turned pale at the sight of his father, furious at Elen for once being unusually clingy.

Let’s enjoy this together, Papa!

When I smiled and gently urged him to cuddle together, Father blinked and his eyes widened in surprise.

In an instant, he smiled back, saying, “Just like Elen and me,” and the two of them settled with Van’s stomach as a pillow.

＊＊＊

Before I knew it, Elen had fallen asleep right there.

Lovell slowly pulled away from Van, who then looked up with a questioning glance.

(Shh….)

I placed a finger to my lips and silently asked Van to let Elen stay asleep like this.

Van nodded, gently wrapping his arms around her like a protective blanket.

From the corner of my eye, I watched Lovell vanish from the room and reappear right in front of the door. There, servants and maids had gathered, quietly peeking through the crack of the door at what was going on inside.

“…What are you doing?”

“…We’re terribly sorry.”

Lauren cleared her throat, and instantly, the servants and maids scattered in a hurry.

Elen seemed utterly unable to stop fretting over the fact that she’d been crying.

“Are you feeling better now, Lady Elen?”

“Ah, yes, I’m fine now.”

“Very well. By the way, His Lordship and the guest are waiting for Lord Lovell in the guest chamber.”

“Ah, I’m going now.”

Prompted by Lauren, Lovell hurried toward the guest room.

＊＊＊

When Lovell entered the room with Lauren, there stood Sauvel and Gadiel, their guards, and also Albert and Kai, waiting.

“Sorry I kept you waiting.”

“Brother… Elen’s….”

“Ah, she just cried herself to sleep. Prince, I hate to ask, but could we postpone the business talk until tomorrow?”

“Ah, yes. That’s fine.”

“We’ve prepared a room for you. Please, make yourselves comfortable.”

Gadiel nodded in reply to Lauren’s bow, clearly accepting the hospitality.

“…Brother, I’m sorry about Raffilia.”

"Really. You ought to try being nicer to your family."

"...I don’t even know what to say."

"Good opportunity. Take your time. Talk it out."

"Yes."

"By the way, did you happen to see the letter from Prince Lovell that Raffilia received?"

Lovell settled into the sofa, as if getting down to business, and spoke directly to Gadiel, who visibly paled.

"Thought so. She’s just like that."

Lovell chuckled, as if confirming his own suspicions. His eyes were icy, and Gadiel—and his guards—felt a chill crawl down their spines.

"Those men who took Raffilia? Was that the King’s doing too?"

"No! They had nothing to do with the royal family!!"

The guard Rabe insisted desperately, but Lovell dismissed him with a cold wave of the hand.

"How exactly are you going to prove you’re not connected? If you’ve already proven the letter came from the royal family, isn’t it obvious someone was pulling strings?"

"…………"

Gadiel turned pale. They’d been exposed—Laffilia’s kidnapping had been tied directly to the royal family.

Gadiel hadn’t sent the letter to Laffilia. But the letter she’d held? It was real.

The Vanklyft household servants and maids were skilled in combat—because the family had a secret role as the royal family’s hidden arm. Their expertise wasn’t limited to martial arts.

A maid who couldn’t spot a forged letter bearing the royal crest wouldn’t last a day here.

The letter had been handed to Laffilia precisely because it was authentic.

"Ah, the king’s probably grinning from ear to ear right now, waiting for us with proof that you men aren’t involved…"

Gadiel looked at Lovell, puzzled. “What on earth are you talking about?”

“Prince, this is how His Majesty operates. That’s why I hate him. He sees even his own children as mere pawns.”

Gadiel realized, hearing Lovell’s blunt truth, just where he stood.

“This… is also a test for you, isn’t it? His Majesty truly does plan ahead.”

Lovell flicked the letter resting on the table with a sharp snap of his finger, sending it fluttering toward Gadiel.

The paper danced in the air, and Gadiel bit down hard on his lip.

“Well then, Prince. When you negotiate with Elen, she must’ve told you—should the royal family be involved in this kidnapping, you’d better be ready for the consequences.”

Right. Elen had already foreseen this.

Only now, finally, did Gadiel grasp it. He let out a quiet groan.

A girl four years younger than me, reading the cunning king’s intentions with ease. Elen’s skill struck him—how could he not compare himself to her?

"Prince, be careful. My daughter holds her own against the king."

Lovell crossed his legs and leaned back, all relaxed, all confidence.

Thinking of tomorrow’s negotiations, Gadiel and his guards turned pale, then were gently ushered away by Lauren.