A warning of condemnation.

I guess my guard dropped all at once, and facing the Emperor at the very end really did me in—my exhaustion had reached its peak.

Whether I’d return to the Spirit World or just collapse from fever, Father had been by my side day and night, never leaving me alone, worried sick.

I’d pushed myself too hard from the start—there was nothing I could do about that.

"Are you feeling any better, Elen?"

I greeted my father, who came to check on me every hour, half in a meditative haze from sheer fatigue, when I caught a shadow peeking over his shoulder.

Arc and Van were sneaking a look, quietly watching me. Their faces were full of concern.

Noticing them, I waved my hand and said I was fine. Van’s face lit up instantly, like a flower blooming. Arc just smiled warmly.

But in the next instant, Papa noticed me and slammed the door shut with a bang.

"Seriously. No room for error."

Ever since Arc’s bombshell comment, Papa had been keeping a close eye on Arc.

Arc, now healed and full of energy, was anything but the quiet personality Mother had described.

Apparently, it was his first taste of freedom in ages—jumping around like a kid on a sugar rush.

He must’ve thought that if he followed Van, who was supposed to be my guard, he’d get to see me.

Arc kept trying every trick in the book to catch my eye.

Now, poor Van—right on the spot, getting shut out—made me worry he’d be drooping like a sad dog, ears and tail both dragging.

"Father… you’re going too far."

"Oh, come on. Isn’t it only natural to get rid of a pest trying to steal my Elen?"

Papa smiled cheerfully while saying something utterly terrifying. I sighed. Again.

Papa doesn’t spare anyone who raises a hand against Mama or me.

Albert, who tried to hand me over to the royal family.

Gadiel, who pined after Papa and tried to steal him from us with his own stupid excuses.

And even Aria, who gave just a hint of that same madness.

If we tried to take Papa away from them, we’d get a proper comeuppance. But watching Papa in action? It was always so utterly thorough. I kept being shocked.

“Elen doesn’t have to be a bride. In fact… I’d be happy to have you as my daughter-in-law?”

“…………huh?”

I tilted my head, confused by Papa’s words.

Looking at Papa’s face, I saw his eyes lit up with expectation. He was grinning, practically bouncing with excitement.

…Wait. Is this—

“I could be… Papa’s daughter-in-law…?”

Just saying that, Papa’s eyes sparkled with glee, waiting for me to continue. His shoulders twitched, restless with anticipation.

“No way.”

I said it flatly, and Father slumped his shoulders with a dull thud.

Of course. That classic line from the “Top Ten Things a Little Girl Could Say to Her Dad” list—“I’m going to be your daughter-in-law.”

I gave him a dry look, already bracing for another one of his romantic fantasies, when Father sighed dramatically.

“Unbelievable… my daughter’s dreams crushing my dreams as a father…”

“Maybe you should face reality.”

“No way.”

He rejected it instantly, pulling me into a tight hug and rubbing his face against mine, murmuring “no way, no way” over and over.

I narrowed my eyes, making no effort to hide my annoyance, and let him do as he pleased.

Then, suddenly, Mother appeared in the room—and both my father and I froze, utterly stunned.

“Elen dear. How’s your fever now?”

Mother gently pressed her hand to my forehead, and I felt the warmth of her skin.

“Seems you’re fine now.”

Mother smiles warmly. I leap off the bed, convinced I’m pardoned, but Father grabs me tight.

"Not yet!"

"Yay, no more lying down! I’m so bored!"

Pouting, I argue that I only want to fetch a book—Father just laughs and says he’ll bring it.

"You know, I’ll handle that. You go on ahead to Sauvel."

My father and I stare, stunned by Mother’s words. But Father immediately frowns, asking seriously, “What happened?”

"More like I woke him up," she says. "That silly girl’s been sneaking around behind his back, and this time, it was her. So Sauvel finally snapped."

Father and I gape at each other, utterly shocked by the idea that Sauvel—Sauvel himself—had snapped.

＊＊＊

Sauvel sat with his head in his hands, staring at the letter that had arrived from the academy.

The letter detailed Raffilia’s ongoing behavioral issues with meticulous care.

Not only the problems she’d caused within the academy, but also reports of her using their family name to look down on others and push them out.

Sauvel let out a deep, weary sigh, and Lauren quietly offered him a cup of tea.

But Sauvel didn’t even touch it—just kept sighing, over and over.

Next to the letter listing Raffilia’s misdeeds, a mountain of documents sat piled high.

Those were Arias’ reports.

Staring at both stacks of paper, Sauvel muttered under his breath.

“This… is it, then…”

“Master…”

Raffilia has no noble standing. That’s why she won’t abide by the teachings—she never intended to be one in the first place. …We were never meant to be together.

I brought both of them into the household, selfishly. I thought they’d always stay and support me.

But if being noble is what’s driving them mad…

Sauvel could only sigh.

“Sauvel.”

Sauvel startled at the sudden appearance of Lovell, materializing from midair.

“Brother… what brings you here?”

Elen should’ve been feverish and in bed.

Lovell, ever the doting uncle, had declared he wouldn’t come back here until she’d recovered.

“Orion was worried about you.”

“…My sister-in-law?”

“She says don’t carry it all yourself. What happened?”

She’s a goddess. Of course she sees everything.

Sauvel began explaining the situation, first pulling out Raffilia’s letter.

Lovell’s brow furrowed deeper as he stared, finally snapping his gaze up to Sauvel with a question that barely disguised its disbelief.

“Why would your daughter want Kai?”

“…Kai made a pact with a spirit, didn’t he? Seems she’s taken a fancy to him now.”

It all started when Raffilia got into a fight with a knight academy student and was locked in the penitence room.

Coincidentally, that day was the spirit communion day—the one day every academy student went into a frenzy.

So, locked away in her room, Raffilia had no idea what was going on outside.

But when she finally stepped out, she found her household servants shouting about having made a pact with the Great Spirit.

Confused, she went straight to the source—of course, she found Kai surrounded by knight academy students—and then, with a smug grin, she announced it like it was her own victory.

“You’ll follow me, then. I’ll tell Father. I’m the heir to the ducal line, not Elen—shouldn’t that be an honor?”

She said it, smug as ever.

Up until now, Raffilia had clearly disliked the fact that Kai had been with Elen.

The way she treated Kai—like a trinket—had enraged the knight academy students around her.

Lovell and Sauvel just shook their heads, utterly defeated.

“This is hopeless.”

“Yes. We’re arranging his discharge.”

Raffilia was a lady-in-training. After being locked in the reprimand room and immediately starting another fight, home confinement was inevitable.

But home confinement for a lady-in-training was the same as expulsion. Raffilia had been branded a fraud.

“So? What now?”

“…I’m thinking of returning to the common folk, alongside Mother.”

“Mother? Together?”

Sauvel now handed another bundle of papers to Lovell.

It detailed, with meticulous care, everything Aria had done up to now.

Upon reading it, Lovell erupted in fury.

“Brother!! Wait a moment!!”

“He was just like Agiel all along!! Leaving you behind for something like this…!!”

Lovell shouted to have the house thrown out at once, but Lauren and Sauvel hurriedly restrained him.

“I understand!! That’s why I’m divorcing Aria!!”

At Sauvel’s shout, Lovell froze mid-sentence.

“…You’re serious, aren’t you?”

“Yes. I can’t trust Aria anymore. Aria probably wants it too. I intend to speak with Raffilia about it.”

Lovell looked awkward, as if struck by guilt.

“…I was the one who started this, wasn’t I?”

“No. Aria just used her older brother as an excuse for her infidelity. She thought she could just fawn all over him, completely forgetting I was even there.”

“……”

“Aria said back then she was trying to win him over because they’d become family. But she only acted like that in front of her brother. She refused to follow the proper etiquette expected of a noble. Not even when I came back home did she bother to greet me. Now I understand why she didn’t come out to meet me. …That’s just how she was.”

“Sauvel…”

“The goddess must’ve known. Knew her true nature. That’s why she warned me. But she ignored even that warning.”

“……I see.”

“…It’s strange. I loved her so much. I should be heartbroken after being betrayed. But I don’t feel anything at all… not even sadness.”

“Ah… well, you know…”

Lovell scratched his head. Even in this situation, Sauvel seemed utterly unaware of the woman occupying his chest.

Rather, he was looking straight ahead, as if relieved.

"Sad, but I’m hated by my own daughter too. Raffilia will probably follow her mother…."

Sauvel had truly loved his daughter.

Lovell, who could understand that feeling all too well, placed a hand on Sauvel’s shoulder.

Sauvel said they’d settle things the day Raffilia returned.

Lovell offered to stand by him—family by his side, as encouragement.

And Sauvel, with a genuinely happy smile, looked relieved.