Our respective positions.

Facing Gadiel, who remained silent and pale, I turned back to the Hume healer and continued speaking.

“Hume-san. Could you please ask the household healer about handling the medicine? If you mishandle it, the medicine becomes poison—please be careful.”

“Y-yes… of course…”

The Hume stammered out a reply, flustered.

“Grandfather, please guide him.”

“Understood. Hume-sama, please come this way.”

With the matter of medicine handling settled, I turned again toward Gadiel. Our eyes met. He looked… almost frightened. But I tightened my resolve. Not now. Not here. Not with that kind of weakness.

“Prince. I did promise to give you the first medicine. But for the next one… I’ll require payment.”

“What…?”

"The funds needed to produce the medicine. If we're making it, manpower will be required. Naturally."

I emphasized that it was a transaction.

Maybe they'd misjudged me from my appearance, but I needed to stress that neither Father nor Sauvel was interfering—because it wasn't necessary.

"...I'm sorry, Your Majesty, I'd like to consult you on this matter."

"Very well. Please convey to His Majesty that we expect a deal we can accept."

"...I'll convey it."

With that, the matter of the medicine was settled—for now. But the real issue remained.

"Then, let's return to the beginning of our discussion."

"What...?"

"The ones who rescued Raffilia—we'll handle them here."

"Wait! That's impossible!!"

One of the guards shouted, voice cracking. They couldn't possibly let go of people who might prove useful in proving their connection to the royal family.

But I smiled sweetly—exactly as expected.

"Oh, didn't you just say yourselves that these people have no connection to the royal family?"

"……!!!"

"Then there's no problem, is there?"

"Wha—"

The guards were blinking in stunned silence. Gadiel, too, seemed to realize he was cornered—his expression frozen, utterly at a loss for words.

He finally understood I’d already anticipated every possible reply.

"I already told you, didn’t I? Be prepared for the consequences."

Gadiel and his men swallowed hard.

"Prince, tell the King—regret what you’ve done to my family."

"Ah…?"

"That’s all. I’ll bring the medicine shortly, so please wait right here."

"Wai—wait!"

Gadiel desperately tried to speak.

I tilted my head, feigning innocence. "Hmm? What is it?"

Gadiel was sweating, but clearly trying hard to think of something. When I pressed her again, she suddenly blurted out, “You promised you’d talk to me, didn’t you?”

"...here, is it?"

If I can’t do it here… I don’t think I’ll be able to talk to you ever again…

Gadiel’s hunch had been right.

I understood what Gadiel was trying to say. That was exactly why I asked Father and the others to leave.

"Planning to talk alone? Why can't we do it here?"

My father’s face was an open book of dissatisfaction. He wrinkled his brow, clearly annoyed that we couldn’t be alone.

And I chuckle, pleading, "Papa, please..."

Watching my father’s reluctant back retreating, the guards one by one followed suit and filed out.

The door slammed shut, and I stood face to face with Gadiel, locking eyes.

"...Elen, we... the royal family... spirits..."

"Prince, you are of royal blood."

I cut him off mid-sentence. Gadiel’s eyes widened, startled.

“You ancestors did something unforgivable. But as a member of the royal family, you should understand the intentions behind it.”

“…Yes. But we did something unforgivable!!”

“If you truly understand, then you shouldn’t be apologizing at all.”

“…Why? Why say something like that?!”

“Your ancestors didn’t regret it.”

I stared straight into Gadiel’s eyes and declared it. He inhaled sharply.

“Regretting isn’t the point. What they did was necessary—because they had to save lives, as the royal family was meant to.”

I grimaced. I understood, all too painfully, why the royal family had done what they did. And as a spirit living in the present, I couldn’t even begin to elevate that grief into something higher.

"From your royal family's perspective, it's ancient history... but for us spirits who live forever, it's the same as yesterday."

I thrust that at Gadiel, even though forgiveness was impossible, even if he apologized.

"……b-but I…!!"

Having been told that a royal family member shouldn't apologize, Gadiel had his choice of apology completely erased.

I feel like crying, trying to hold back what Gadiel desperately wants to say.

I’ve been listening to Gadiel and Raffilia’s words all along—on the other side of that stone monument.

But as a spirit, I have to talk to Gadiel.

"…Prince, I warned you. Be prepared."

"…Yeah."

"From now on, the capital will be thrown into chaos."

"!?"

Gadiel’s eyes flew open at my words.

You must’ve heard that curse’s voice too, Your Majesty. And yet… you still reached out to my family.

“……”

“This is the final warning. Please tell His Majesty—no more contact with us than absolutely necessary.”

“That’s… I mean, I… I didn’t—”

Gadiel clenched his fists.

I ignored it. Pretended I didn’t see. Turned my back and walked away without another word.

“Elen!!!”

I didn’t look back. Ignored Gadiel’s desperate call as I stepped out of the room.

After I left, Gadiel was alone in the room, biting his lip.

Caught between his duty as a royal, the whispering curse of the spirits—still, he couldn’t help it.

“I just… wanted to talk to you…”

I just want to see you smile. I want you to laugh at me. I want to share stupid jokes and laugh together. That’s all… that’s all I ever wanted…

…Even that can’t be forgiven, huh?

Caught between ancestral sin, his royal station, and his own feelings, Gadiel clawed at his chest.

＊＊＊

Gadiel hurried back to the castle and reported to the king.

Lavissel smiled, clearly pleased with Gadiel’s expression.

“Oh? Looks even better than I expected.”

Lavissel chuckled, eyeing Gadiel’s face.

Fighting down irritation, Gadiel relayed the events.

“…I’ll grant you the return of the medicine. But you do realize it was Elen’s mercy, right?”

“Yes.”

“Without Lovell and the others present, they probably saw through it… such a shame.”

“Father!!”

The irritation burst out loud. The queen, watching from nearby, flinched at the outburst.

“Elen sent a message for you.”

Gadiel delivered Elen’s message word for word. The king’s expression shifted instantly.

“……So that’s it. I’ve touched Elen’s nerve…”

Lavissel’s mutter was brief.

“Guard! Tell the gatekeepers to restrict entry into the capital immediately!!”

The sudden change in Lavissel’s demeanor left both the queen and Gadiel wide-eyed.

“Gather all the healers!! Now!!”

The sudden tension overwhelmed most of those nearby.

“Send the queen and her sons to the frontier. They must not stay in the capital.”

“W-what? You?! What’s going on?!”

Lavissel smiled at the queen’s confusion.

“Turned the Vanklyft Family into enemies. They’ll be seeking revenge now.”

“W-what do you mean?!”

“I misread Elen. Thought she was a sweet girl—this is the price I pay.”

Lavissel gave a wry smile. The others around her were baffled.

“How much medicine did Gadiel receive from Elen?”

“…Two bottles. It looked like a decent amount, though…”

But Hume immediately contradicted him.

“M-my apologies! There’s something I must say about that medicine!”

Hume declared that the instructions had been to take it three times a day, for at least three days.

Lavissel’s eyes widened.

“…That’s barely enough…”

She clutched her head. The onlookers, seeing her like this for the first time, could only stare, utterly confused. What was going on? What would happen next? The thought sent a chill down their spines.

"The capital will soon be overrun by those afflicted with illness, plunging into chaos. We’ll have to restrict entry—but that’ll only stir up resentment. If we’re not careful, riots could break out..."

The murmured words of Lavisel made the people around him blink in disbelief.

Gadiel remembered Elen’s words: "The capital will be swallowed by chaos soon."

"...It’s my fault. I’ve been outmaneuvered..."

Lavisel let out a dry chuckle, and the others could say nothing.

Only Gadiel remembered what Lovell had said: "This may also be a trial for the Prince."

"Your Highness."

Lavisel looked up at Gadiel’s voice.

"I will accompany you."

Yes. This was the trial imposed upon the royal family. Gadiel stared straight ahead, resolute.

"...Ah, you really do have a good look about you now."

As a father. As king. Gadiel burned that smile into his mind.

＊＊＊

I’ve freed the ones who abducted Raffilia. But on one condition.

Sauvel of course protested. But something in my stance seemed to unnerve him—his voice gradually weakened.

"If you wish to stay in this country, I can’t guarantee your lives. The royal family’s already targeting you. And I doubt my uncle would spare you."

My words left the five perpetrators pale as ghosts.

"But if you carry out what I’m about to say... you’ll only be exiled. Nothing more."

Seeing me smile sweetly, the men turned white and started trembling.

Once freed, they scattered like frightened mice, screaming.

Stunned into silence, Sauvel just stood there. I asked him what came next.

"Uncle, this country’s about to be thrown into chaos."

"...What on earth are you talking about?"

"I ordered those kidnappers to spread rumors as they fled abroad—rumors about the medicine."

That the royal family had seized the last remaining supply of medicine prescribed in the Vanclift territory.

"The royal family needs to regret ever laying a hand on anyone from this house."

Sauvel finally understood my words, his face turning ashen, forgetting entirely about the kidnappers just moments ago.

"If the king’s not up to snuff, the royal family’s done for. Though I suppose that scheming little viper’ll probably pull through."

"Elen..."

"Uncle, you don’t forgive something like that once it’s happened. You just make them pay for it."

"But... that...?"

I gave a dry laugh at Sauvel’s hesitant stammer.

"Uncle, please restrict entry to the territory. Tell anyone new who comes that the medicine has already been taken by the royal family."

"……"

"I know people will start talking about me bringing the medicine, but please spread the word that I went out with my father to gather ingredients. We’ll be returning to the Spirit World for a while. I’ll ask Father to bring medicine occasionally—please don’t worry."

"Elen… I’m sorry…"

Sauvel bowed his head, overwhelmed by how much he’d left entirely to her.

"This… in a way, it’s tied to my nature as a spirit and the rift with the royal family. Don’t worry about it."

"I’m sorry… I’m sorry…"

He pulled me into a tight embrace. I clung to his back, silently apologizing—there was simply no other way.

＊＊＊

Back in the Spirit World, I watched the capital’s state through a water mirror.

I watched Gadiel tossed about by the capital’s tense, fragile air—just like that.

“…Elen-chan.”

I thought I heard Mother’s voice behind me—then felt her arms wrap around me from behind.

“…It was hard, wasn’t it? But Elen-chan, you didn’t make a mistake. It’s that scheming, backstabbing bastard who went too far. You did nothing wrong…”

As she gently stroked my head, I couldn’t hold back the sob that burst from my mouth.

“Ugh… uuuugh…”

Tears spilled, uncontrollable, like water from a cracked jug.

I did what I had to. For clarity. For the future. That’s all I could do.

But why… why does my chest hurt so much?

“Your mother and Lovell’s daughter… she’s such a kind child. But also so sharp. I’m so proud of her.”

Her gentle voice made me believe—yes, I was right. And yet… sadness still crashes over me, like a wave I can’t stop.

"Kaa-sama...?"

"Caught between human and spirit, I’m sorry… but sometimes, being cruel is actually what’s best for you…"

I know. I should’ve known.

But the tears just wouldn’t stop.