Persuading the spirits.

When Elen returned to the castle, she happened to run into Lovell just as he’d finished his persuasion.

“Father.”

“Ah, my dear little princess.”

Elen squirmed slightly as Lovell kissed the top of her head, and he asked, “Was the explanation to Oriel done?”

“Yes. Did you finish, Father?”

“Of course. Everyone was cooperative.”

“…Huh?”

Elen tilted her head. Even though she and Lovell were spirits, they’d both known that among their kin, many humans from the past had held harsh opinions toward their family.

That’s why she couldn’t believe everyone was so cooperative. She’d expected some friction—she’d left it all to Lovell, after all.

She’d figured it’d be a few days of bickering at least. Judging by the look on her face, Lovell must’ve seen her doubt, because he just laughed and explained how it had gone down.

"There's that thing Elen was growing on the estate, right? Thanks to that."

Elen blinked. Then, she seemed to understand immediately.

"Father... you're not serious...?"

"Nah, I never thought they'd take such a liking to it."

Lovell himself seemed just as surprised by how effective it had turned out.

Which meant, for the foreseeable future, the whole manor would be swimming in sweet scent.

"...And that smell fills the whole house, not to mention the neighbors start showing up too..."

"Hmm. Problematic, huh!"

People drawn in by the scent would inevitably get curious—and that could spiral into chaos before anyone could stop it.

Lovell seemed resigned to that fate already, and didn’t appear to have any particular plan.

I was trying to figure out what to do when Elen suddenly snapped her fingers.

"Shall we just make it a festival, then, as part of the harvest celebration?"

"...Harvest... festival?"

"It's a festival to celebrate a bountiful harvest. We offer food and drink made from the year's abundant crops to the spirits, give thanks, and then eat and celebrate ourselves. If we all prepare it together, won’t that cause chaos?"

"Oh, that’s actually a great idea!"

Lovell beams at Sauvel, as if proposing it.

"Anyway, Father..."

"Hmm? What is it?"

"Please don’t lure the spirits with sweets again—this time, that’s it."

"Aha ha ha!"

Lovell bursts into laughter, but Elen lets out a long, weary sigh.

Truth is, sweets are a favorite of the spirits—Origin included—and they go into a frenzy at the mere thought of them.

It's like they’re contagious. Even the unborn might be affected—those usual outbursts of chaos become harder to control.

The other spirits around us won’t get a moment’s peace, that’s for sure.

I once had a pudding made by the mansion’s cook. Origin, watching it through the water mirror, suddenly said she wanted to eat it.

Van and Kai were eating too, so I listened to their reactions—naturally, that made me even more curious.

And the one moment I’ll never forget? When I saw Mother’s expression change after taking just one bite.

To keep track of how much confectionery the cooperating spirits were contributing, Elen asked her father what had really happened.

***

When the great spirits gathered in the large hall, Lovell explained the situation and asked for their help.

But the long-standing grudge between humans and spirits ran deep. Only a few offered their cooperation.

With so much ground to cover, having just a few helpers was hardly reassuring.

"Frankly, why do we have to skulk around like this, dealing with mere humans? If you're going to lay a hand on the princess, just wipe out those fools in one go, wouldn’t that be easier?"

"Exactly. What a roundabout way of doing things."

"Isn’t it really because the princess keeps meddling with humans? If she stayed out of the human world, they wouldn’t even be able to reach out, would they?"

Lovell nodded, conceding the point.

But then he grew serious, voice tight. "If humans from our territory get dragged into war… some things could vanish. Completely."

"Vanish…? What do you mean?"

The Great Spirits tilted their heads, exchanging puzzled glances. No one had an answer.

"Elen asked me to help Fran and Openst grow certain crops on the estate. There are others too—Niesel and Reagen, Borden, and Rihit are involved as well."

"...So what's the problem with that?"

"What do you think is being made with those? Occasionally, Elen hands them out to everyone. Yes, sweets."

The treat Elen had vaguely taught the household staff how to make. Through the cooks' trial and error, it had evolved—no longer just pudding, but also galettes, pies, cookies, and more, distributed far and wide.

Growing the crop that provided sugar on the estate, and pouring effort into wheat too. With the harvests booming, the sweets became easier to store, and so more and more were made.

Elen was giving them as offerings to the spirits.

The spirits, utterly obsessed with the sweet treats, even started pestering Elen for them now and then.

"W-what…!?"

"If this keeps going, my people’ll be sent straight to the front lines—no time to grow crops. And naturally, the ones making these sweets, too. If that happens, for a while… no, actually, if the cooks die in the war, we might never make them again…"

Lovell lets out a heavy, helpless sigh.

If he can’t borrow spirit power, there’s nothing to be done—Lovell starts to leave the room.

"Wait—please, Lord Lovell!!"

Hidden from the frantic spirits, Lovell smirks.

"Are you saying we really won’t be able to make sweets anymore!?"

"Good heavens… I thought they’d at least be able to appreciate humanity…"

"Who even knows how to make them, though? It’s not like anyone else can bring the tea Elen-sama brings, or those cookies—those ‘kukkies’—that are the real highlight…"

The great spirits erupt into murmurs, and Lovell leans in even further, pressing his advantage.

"I'm thinking of offering a gift basket of sweets—those 'kukkies'—to anyone who helps out."

"What?!"

"A, a gift basket...!? So that means I can get a whole bunch of different kinds of sweets at once!?"

Lovell smiled smugly at the eager spirits.

"Ah, tell Elen."

"Ah, wonderful!!"

"I'd also like some tea, please!!"

Elen, now practically worshipped for her treats, was more popular than ever.

Spirits hardly ever ate, so they’d forgotten what it meant to enjoy food.

The fact that Elen brought sweets—just a little taste—had been revolutionary for the Spirit World.

***

Elen pinched her father’s cheeks, twisting them sharply.

"Yeeeah, yeeeah, yeeeah!! Hah-hah-hah!!"

"Ugh! Father, how dare you make promises without asking me!"

"Hey, hey!"

"...So, how many people are actually going to help, then?"

Lovell stood there, cheeks flushed, eyes wide, sweat beading on his forehead as he stared at the girl standing defiantly with her arms crossed.

"Uh... a lot?"

"What?"

"Like fifty... no, a hundred?"

"WHAT?!?!"

Rumors were flying—spirits calling spirits, and anyone who helped would get sweets in return.

"...Could it be... everyone?"

"Probably?"

Elen gave her father a quick kick in the shin, just to make her point.

He winced, clearly not expecting it, and dropped to his knees, clutching his leg and trembling slightly.

"Ugh... calling on strength... must be Raffilia’s influence..."

"What are you even saying?! Mother’s still in her safe period, you idiot!!"

"Oh, right... that's true..."

He went pale. Apparently, he’d really forgotten. And now he looked like he might faint.

If it’s already the talk of the spirits, it’s probably already a full-blown scandal.

Origin probably wants a box of sweets too. But she can’t go to the human world while pregnant, so helping out? Impossible.

Mother and daughter turned pale at the thought of her throwing a tantrum over sweets and going full wild.

They steeled themselves. Back to the throne room they went, to explain the situation to Origin once more.