Ready.

A message came through that the Queen had awakened, and Gadiel hurried toward her chamber.

Still heavy in body, the Queen called out to Gadiel, gesturing for him to come beside the bed.

"Your Majesty, how are you feeling?"

"...Are you alright, Gadiel?"

"Yes. I'm fine now."

"Good... I don’t think I’ll be able to get up from here anytime soon..."

She tried to lift her upper body from the bed, fighting against the headache, but a soft moan escaped her lips as the pain overwhelmed her. Seeing the Queen’s pale face, Gadiel gently pushed her back onto the bed. No need to push yourself.

"...Did you hear the report?"

"Yes."

"Can you go?"

"Leave it to me."

"If they know we came straight here, they’ll understand they’ll be executed if they return. Amiel led the enemy here and killed the former King."

"Yes."

"No mercy."

"Yes."

Gadiel nodded straight on. He’d made peace with it long ago.

Amiel teamed up with the enemy and put the people of the Tembar Kingdom in danger. As a member of the royal family, that was something absolutely unforgivable.

From the moment he was born, Gadiel had been educated as royalty. Every tool the king could use—no matter the cost—he’d wielded it without hesitation. All because he bore the weight of the people he had to protect.

Amiel’s betrayal was built on the premise of wiping out the Tembar royal bloodline entirely.

Gadiel understood clearly: showing mercy would only mean he’d die while leaving the people he was supposed to protect behind.

“You’re angry. Amiel handed Lovell and Elen over to King Helgner for negotiations, after all.”

“…Yes.”

“The King said, you’d handed over Elen to save yourselves, and demanded Lovell as payment. Otherwise, Amiel wouldn’t have had any reason to care about King Helgner’s worth at all.”

Gadiel’s anger was palpable. The King chuckled—just slightly. That laugh, so utterly misplaced, struck Gadiel like a hollow blow.

“Lovell came here a moment ago. Said maybe, just maybe, the curse could end with you. And look—didn’t you feel it? The curse’s weight on you… it’s lighter, isn’t it?”

“…Eh…?”

Gadiel’s eyes snapped open. His mind went blank. Lightness surged through him—hope, sharp and sudden. If the curse was ending… that meant he could stay by Elen’s side, right?

“Though… maybe only you.”

“…What do you mean?”

“I can’t say for sure. I’ve decided to treat this curse as a countermeasure against spirit magic. You understood that, didn’t you?”

"Of course."

"No. You must have thought it. You wanted to be by Elen's side."

"!"

"I noticed your feelings. I was the one who thought Elen, kind as she is, wouldn’t be able to ignore a curse like that. …I never expected it to have this effect, though."

Gadiel faltered, thrown off by the king’s quiet chuckle.

"What… what do you mean?"

"I’d like to tell you not to forget the pride of the royal family—but with Elen, do as you please."

"!?"

"Lovell said Elen wouldn’t come with him to meet Amiel, but Elen will go anyway. She loves her family, after all."

"Why would Elen…?"

"Can’t you remember Agye?"

"My aunt? I only know rumors about her."

"Kukkuk, they kept you away from proper education, didn’t they? Just look at her. …It’s infuriating how much she’s changed."

The king, smiling with a touch of nostalgia, gradually let sorrow flicker at the corners of his eyes.

"Me and the former king raised her like that. I knew it was twisted—I found it amusing back then. I thought she’d eventually realize the pride of her bloodline on her own."

The king murmured, as if regretting something.

"Protect Elen. No matter what happens."

"Of course."

"Good. I’m counting on you."

"Yes!"

Gadiel bowed and exited the room.

Watching his retreating back, the king whispered softly:

"Please… come back safe…"

Before he was king, he was still a parent, Ravisel thought.

＊＊＊

A few days later, a unit was assembled to retrieve Amiel, with Gadiel as commander. Sauvel was among them. To assist with the unit’s transfer, Lovell also arrived, bringing a few of the great spirits with him.

After the strategy meeting, Gadiel bowed before Lovell and the great spirits, representing the royal family.

"Great thanks for your invaluable assistance."

"…………"

The great spirits didn’t reply, but they didn’t flee from Gadiel’s side like they used to.

That was all Gadiel needed to be happy.

"Deploy! We’re beginning the operation now!!"

"Yes!!"

Lovell and the great spirits glanced at Gadiel, their minds reeling.

It was now crystal clear—Gadiel’s actions, his very thoughts, were already affecting the curse.

(Lo… Lovell-sama… that one… you must not bring him face to face with the royal family, not now.)

(Indeed… earlier than I thought.)

A mental message reached Lovell from the great spirit, and he let out a wry smile.

Before the transfer, Lovell had cast a protective barrier around Gadiel’s soul.

(But… something about this… feels wrong.)

Lovell tries to think, a nagging sense that something’s been forgotten, but can’t quite grasp what it is, stuck in the back of her mind.

Unaware that the Dual Goddesses are watching, Lovell starts walking with everyone else.