Papa’s black history.

The basics of knightly studies are lecture in the morning, training in the afternoon.

They put the training in the afternoon because if you did it in the morning, the classroom would be full of students who’d fall asleep right after lunch. Apparently.

Hearing that from Papa, I nod along. Makes sense.

The lesson started with confirming knightly etiquette, then shifted to combat tactics. How to fight depending on the situation, military formations, the advantages and disadvantages of terrain. Then it drifted into spirits.

That’s when Papa’s eyes narrowed. Probably because, as the spirit he’s bound to is Mother, he was likely just thinking, *Perfect timing.*

The teacher, that dapper gentleman, smirked at Papa.

The whole classroom was watching. If I didn’t deliver, I’d be surrounded by disappointed faces.

I leaned in too, flashing Papa a sparkling look of anticipation.

His face twitched—just slightly—when he caught my gaze.

The classroom, now suddenly his makeshift lecture hall, erupted in cheers.

Clearing his throat with a cough, Papa headed for the podium. I jumped down from his lap and waved, shouting, "Go on, Papa, you’ve got this!" He grinned back, all soft and sweet—like a dorky puppy.

“Ah… I normally wouldn’t do this kind of thing… but, well, whatever. You’re all fourteen now. At fourteen, you’re supposed to begin communicating with spirits here at the academy. Those who manage to bond with a spirit are given two paths. One’s the way I took—becoming a knight who rides alongside their spirit. Or, you could just stay on as a spirit mage.”

The students leaned in, eyes wide, hanging on every word.

Surprisingly, Papa was actually… good at explaining. It was kind of shocking how smoothly this turned into a real lesson.

My father, actually teaching the students with genuine focus, looked sharp—kind of ridiculously handsome.

Glancing sideways, I saw Van nodding in quiet approval.

Wouldn’t it be nice if Dad was always this cool? I couldn’t help but feel a little disappointed.

The class turned out way more popular than expected. After lunch, before I even realized it, we were already out in the courtyard, promised a hands-on drill.

***

After morning classes ended, that dandy teacher—Mr. Lovell—approached us.

“Long time no see. Professor Muskel.”

Father gave a wry smile as he shook hands with the elderly gentleman called Muskel.

“Hearing rumors you’d returned. Glad to see you’re still in one piece.”

Muskel’s expression softened, almost pained.

He was probably thinking of the students from the Monster Tempest era—same age as Father, never came back. His eyes glistened a little.

"I was just lucky. I could’ve easily died back then…"

Hearing my father’s wistful words, I instinctively hugged him tight. He laughed and lifted me up in his arms.

"Because I survived, I’ve come to care for someone so precious. I’m happy."

"Looks like it. Never thought I’d see such a contented face on you."

Watching my father’s serene smile and Muskel’s expression, I found myself oddly happy too.

It warms me—knowing there’s someone in the human world who worries about my father this much.

Since becoming half-spirit, my father’s grown distant from the human world.

That’s why I so desperately wanted to mend things between him and Isabella.

I was human once.

And now, reborn as a spirit, I believe—if there’s still someone in this world I can meet and speak with, I absolutely must.

(No way am I gonna regret it later, after everything’s already gone. So I don’t want that for Papa either…)

I don’t even know for sure why I died. The faces of my parents and siblings, growing hazy with time. Friends. My superiors, my juniors. And the one I liked… all gone.

I smiled warmly and asked Muskel.

“Back then, what was Papa like?”

“Huh? Elen!?!”

I tilted my head at my father’s flustered expression. What’s gotten into him, anyway?

“Hahaha… hehehe… ahahahaha!!”

Suddenly, Muskel burst into laughter, making us both flinch and jerk our shoulders.

“Miss. Let’s save the talk for after we’ve eaten, shall we?”

The dandy gentleman winked at me, and my chest gave a little pang.

Muskel had really matured.

“Apologies for my late greeting. I am Elen, daughter of Papa.”

"Thank you so much, Miss Elen. I am Muskel Baigard, instructor of knightly studies here."

Muskel bowed like a proper knight. I couldn’t do much more than twitch my skirt slightly, since I was still being carried by my father.

"Shall we head to the dining hall?"

"Ah... please, no. I’m begging you."

"Haha! Now that Lovell’s a hero, he won’t be dining in the common hall anymore. How about my private quarters, then?"

He led me to what seemed to be his personal office.

I asked Kai to prepare meals for everyone, but requested just a small portion for myself and my father.

Kai nodded—he knew the situation—and headed off to the kitchen.

Van, being a spirit, somehow managed to eat just as much as a human. No tricks, no magic. Just... normal.

My father says something about the original size of the beast being a factor.

I think I saw on an old TV show once that large animals eat about ten kilograms of meat a day.

If Van’s three times that, then around thirty kilograms a day—yeah, he must eat a lot.

Even if he wasn’t originally built for eating, the fact that his base metabolism’s different might mean even a spirit needs a decent meal.

Plus, Van’s been eyeing human food like it’s a feast—definitely got a bit of a sweet tooth. That probably plays into it too.

Kai’s already sneaking in Van’s portion as his own meal, and judging by the look on his face, he’s definitely not lying when Dad says their bond’s solid.

Come to think of it, Van’s been calling Kai “little monk” instead of “little boy” now.

That shift alone suggests Van’s been quietly promoting Kai in his mind… just a little.

"Then we shall sit and wait, shall we?"

Sitting facing each other on the sofa built into the center of the room, Muskel grinned at me, our eyes meeting.

"About your father, now..."

"No, no, bringing that up isn't necessary..."

"Papa, shut up."

I cut him off sharply, and Muskel chuckled, shoulders shaking at our little scene.

"That Lovell-sama... heh heh heh..."

"Commander Muskel..."

Muskel cleared his throat with a cough, trying to cover his smirk under my father’s glare.

Come to think of it, I’ve seen plenty of people stunned by my father’s behavior since arriving in the human world.

Isabella, Lauren, Sauvel—everyone.

When I asked Muskel what exactly was going on, he smiled faintly, eyes crinkling.

"Back when he was a student at the academy, Lovell-sama was known as the Ice Prince."

"Ice Prince!!"

I shout, startled, and Father clutches his head.

I stare at him, thinking this must be the black history he’s been hiding. For some reason, Father’s cheeks are faintly flushed—probably from embarrassment.

"Ice Prince!!!"

"Hey, Elen!! Don't keep repeating it!!"

"The hero is the Ice Prince!!"

"Stop it!!"

"Miss, that’s not all. There’s also 'Smiling Knight of Death'... and..."

"Please stop!!"

Father’s scream echoes through the room.