A new venture.

I told the guard it was a temporary break, then Ravisel and the others sat on the sofa placed in the center of the room.

I instructed the servant to bring Laseer, and told Elen and the others to sit on the sofa across from us.

Van and Kai, both in human form, waited behind the sofa, while Lovell and Elen took their seats.

“So, Elen… what’s this thing, exactly?”

Ravisel leaned forward, eyes wide with curiosity.

I placed the compass I’d just made on the table, right in the middle, and gestured for her to take a look.

Even Gadiel, sitting beside me, tilted his head, puzzled.

“…This is called a compass. You fix one leg as a pivot, and then… like this… spin it around…”

“Ooooh!?!”

When I demonstrated it again, just like before, Gadiel let out a startled gasp.

“A perfect circle… in an instant…?”

"Open both legs of the compass to your desired distance, plant one leg at the spot you want, and spin it around—it’ll draw a perfect circle instantly. That’s why it’s also called a ‘double-leg tool,’ since it looks like two legs."

"Is this from some country?"

"Ah, yes. That’s right."

"Which country is it from?"

"Sorry, I’m not sure exactly… I heard about such handy tools in the human world, so I just tried making one myself."

"Ah… then what’s this? What is this black thing? How does it write?"

Gadiel, intrigued by the graphite tip of the compass, asked. I explained it was similar to charcoal.

"Charcoal? So it’s coal?"

"To be precise, it’s not coal, but it’s made from the same stuff as charcoal. This is a pen made by shaping it and attaching it so it can be rotated and extended as needed."

Taking the pen out of the compass and holding it up, showing how it could be used on its own, the others all blinked in surprise—except Elen.

"A pen? You’re saying charcoal is a pen?"

I gave a wry smile at Gadiel, who looked utterly confused.

I couldn’t quite manage to make a proper pencil, so I’d taken a thicker, sturdier version of graphite core—bigger than a pencil’s, and hardened it with magic—and fitted it into a specialized pen barrel. This is what we call a technical drawing pen.

The graphite core is basically just graphite and clay, like a pencil, but solidified with magic.

"So… if it’s like charcoal, does that mean anything I write with this can be erased with bread?"

"Ah, yes. It can be erased."

Funny thing—erasers originally came from bread.

There are all sorts of theories, but one says that bread used for erasing was called *keshi pan*—"eraser bread"—while the bread you eat was *shokupan*, "eating bread." That’s how "shokupan" got its name.

The king, holding paper brought by the guard, was smiling as if he’d just found something fascinating, scribbling swiftly with a graphite pen.

Beside him, Gadiel watched, itching to try it himself.

“Being able to erase what you’ve written—that’s useful. Saves paper, since you don’t have to soak it in ink.”

“Indeed. If it can be erased, it could serve many purposes. And this compass thing? Could come in handy for military use.”

“Spirit mages would want it too. If you make a large one, you could skip drawing magic circles by hand.”

“With something big, all you’d need is one central pole and some ropes connecting it.”

“Ah! I see!”

Gadiel nodded, impressed by Elen’s words. The king and the others chuckled, delighted by the idea.

The craftsmen probably already have their own name for the compass, but it's only natural the king and prince wouldn't know about the tiny tools the artisans use—so it's all quite the novelty.

The king and the prince were debating back and forth about how to use the compass and the graphite pen.

I'd already explained the principle behind the compass to the king, so it wasn't something we could sell. But Elen suddenly thought—maybe the graphite itself could be sold? If we limited it to just the royal family, and once the pen's design became common enough, we could just supply graphite and be done with it.

"...You really think this could be sold?"

Elen muttered it quietly, and both the king and prince froze. They turned to look at her, then in perfect unison: "You’d actually sell it?"

"Can you really sell this, Elen?"

Lovell’s voice came from the side, worried.

She nodded, once, firmly.

"It's currently sealed with magic, but it can be made by hand too—so I'd love to see it become a venture of Vanclift's."

"What? You're saying this can actually be made?"

"...I can't tell you how, though."

"Guess not. That’s what I figured."

She hadn’t budged on the medicine, so this was expected.

Still, if it could be made by hand, it’d gradually spread throughout the human world, starting from this country.

And it’s not just graphite—clay, flour, eggshells, shells, you could make chalk from those. Or pastels from pigment and gelatin. The possibilities for commerce are endless, Elen thought.

This was all based on memories of making things during elementary school science fairs—so she’d probably end up experimenting with craftsmen again, trial and error.

"Elen… you’re scheming again, aren’t you?"

Lovell’s voice cut in, sharp-eyed, as if reading her thoughts.

"No, nothing at all."

She answered coolly, and Lovell let out a sigh.

Maybe she sensed something was about to start again, dragging the territory along with it.

Just then, a servant brought in Raffilia.

"Your Majesty, you're being called for..."

Elen froze at the sight of Raffilia entering the room and bowing.

Raffilia, now fifteen, looked nothing like the memories she’d carried from the past.

Not quite reaching Gadiel’s height, but still with that gentle face—her gaze, steady and clear, now held the quiet certainty of someone already stepping into adulthood.

In this world, sixteen was the age of adulthood, and she exuded that subtle, almost tangible air of someone just past the threshold.

"Wha—Elen!?"

Raffilia, noticing her, reacted exactly like Gadiel had.

She hurried toward her, and Kai immediately stepped in front of Elen.

"Please. Do not come any closer to Lady Elen."

"Ah…"

Probably forgot all about the curse, given how long it’s been since we last met.

Elen felt a pang of guilt, seeing Raffilia’s face fall so quickly.

But just as fast, Raffilia lifted her head and smiled warmly at Elen.

“Your Majesty… may I greet Lady Elen?”

“Go ahead. Gadiel said you’ve been eager to meet her.”

“Is that so? Brother… thank you.”

“Not at all…”

Ignoring Gadiel’s slightly strained expression, Raffilia turned to her and bowed her head.

“Eh…?”

“That day, years ago. We learned about the old royal family’s dealings with the spirits.”

“…………”

“I spoke with the king and my elder brother. About why we couldn’t form pacts with spirits… Of course, it’s natural. Our ancestors did such things. And yet, we forgot. We forced our connection with you. This incident, too. We’ve always been nothing but a burden to you.”

Rasael’s words, though not direct, carried the weight of a royal apology.

The past sacrifices of ancient spirits. The Vanklyft Family’s involvement. The same pattern—old and new, all trouble.

From her words, one could hear the weight of Amiel’s actions, too.

Rasael’s words had come from Gadiel as well. Elen had listened every year, hidden behind the stone tablet.

“…I’ve been hearing it all along. Your voices. Behind the stone tablet… I’ve been listening this whole time.”

“Eh…?”

“Elen, the back of the stone tablet…?”

"Not on the back of the tablet. Not there at all. Somewhere else—between the Human World and the Spirit World. I’ve been listening this whole time."

Elen spoke honestly now, no longer hiding anything.

"Your feelings… I’ve heard them. But I can’t do anything about it. To the spirits, that sorrow from back then is as sharp as yesterday. I want to free the souls trapped by the spirits—but the queens don’t want that…."

She couldn’t say sorry. Not yet. Her power was still raw, barely awakened. She couldn’t break the royal curse.

And if she acted without consulting the spirits? Well, then the spirits might truly lose their patience. This time, the Tembarl royals might not walk away unscathed.

The spirits still haven’t forgiven the royal family.

"No," she said. "I’m not asking for forgiveness."

Elen let out a dry smile at Lavissel’s words. “Yeah, that’s right,” she said.

The idea of turning even curses into weapons. If spirits can’t be called upon, then use their power to drive them away.

Lavissel’s words here, right now, were just enough to lighten Elen’s mood.

There are things neither of us will give up. We don’t need words—just a glance, and we both know.

The silence settled naturally, wrapping the room like a quiet ending. The queen had seated Rasel, who had been standing. Kai, who’d been watching, stepped back to his original spot behind her.

Rasel noticed something on the table, searching for a way to shift the heavy air.

And Rasel, just like everyone else, was staring intently at the compass and the graphite pen.

Elen watched them all, and couldn’t help but smirk. Same reaction from everyone.