Kai's confession.

The night before the operation, Elen was told by Lovell to stay away from the Spirit Castle and instead go to Vanclift's manor.

Apparently, Lovell didn’t want Elen to witness the whole thing through the castle’s water mirror.

It was a place of rising tension—the spark that would ignite the war. A slaughterhouse, probably. How could Elen stay calm seeing people die so easily?

Lovell had also told Origin, and ordered Van not to take his eyes off Elen.

Elen understood Lovell’s concern all too well. All she could do was nod.

“What should I do…?”

But swirling in Elen’s mind was what the Dual Goddesses had said about what comes next.

Knowing her father was in danger… she couldn’t just do nothing.

A thick, heavy air hung around Elen—her face twisted in barely suppressed frustration, her body rigid with effort to hold it together. No one could miss that.

But Lovell dragged Elen forcibly toward the Vanklyft Family’s manor, and sternly ordered Isabella and Kai not to take their eyes off her.

Isabella ran a hand through Elen’s hair and pulled her into a tight embrace. The pain of Elen’s silent anguish—her worry for Lovell and the others—was almost unbearable to feel.

“Elen-chan… waiting is hard, isn’t it? But we can’t do anything but wait.”

“Grandma…”

“I’d prepared myself back then during the Monster Tempest, but still… waiting for Balver and Lovell was unbearable. When they finally came back, it was my husband, cold and lifeless. And my son—barely alive, unable to return at all… Even being hailed as a hero didn’t bring me joy. All I wanted was my husband and son back. I just cried and cried… I didn’t want any of that fame.”

Balver was the name of Lovell’s father—the former head of the Vanklyft Family.

Isabella trembled slightly, as if reliving that memory, hugging Elen tightly.

Elen instinctively squeezed Isabella back. Feeling Elen’s warmth, Isabella smiled, genuinely happy.

“Then came the worst part—my husband’s wife, that hateful woman, married into the family. I thought things couldn’t get worse. But then… everything changed. My son came back, bringing his granddaughter with him!”

A little more force creeps into the arms hugging Elen. Isabella’s joy spills over, and Elen feels it tickling her skin.

“Elen-chan, I understand Lovell’s worry. But Lovell, and I too— we’re worried about you. Seeing people fight and die… you can’t stay calm after that. Try to understand Lovell’s feelings.”

“Yes….”

That’s not it, she wanted to say. She wanted to scream that her beloved father was in danger.

But she didn’t know how to get out of this situation. Without the water mirror, there’s no way to see what’s happening over there. If she’s not careful, it’ll already be too late.

Cutting past the kind-hearted Isabella and returning to the castle—Kai and the others would be punished. Lovell’s move, knowing Elen’s weakness inside and out, was painfully precise.

Elen was silent, lost in thought. No one could bear watching her sit there, head down, utterly still. People around her tried offering comfort, but Elen turned them all down.

“Let her be.”

Isabella’s quiet kindness finally let Elen breathe. But the relief didn’t last long—impatience quickly twisted into irritation. Even Kai was surprised by Elen’s mood.

Isabella left the room, searching for something to distract Elen. Now only Elen, Van, and Kai remained.

Kai stuck to Lovell’s orders like glue—no way was he letting his eyes stray from Elen.

No one spoke. Then, suddenly, Van let out a low grunt.

In the quiet room, it was like a shift in the air. Everyone seemed to be waiting for something to break the stillness. In the changed atmosphere, Van furrowed his brow.

It was obvious he was communicating telepathically with someone. Elen tilted her head, wondering what was happening to her.

“Your Highness, I apologize. I must step away for a moment. Kai, stay with the princess.”

“Of course. Wait—what’s going on all of a sudden?”

“I’ve been summoned by Origin. There’s a message. I’ll be back shortly.”

Van vanished after saying that, and Elen watched him go, murmuring, “Mother…?”

Her face darkened. Maybe things were going downhill.

“Elen-sama, Elen-sama…”

Finally noticing Kai’s call, she turned toward him. Kneeling at Elen’s feet on the sofa, Kai gently soothed her pale face.

Even kneeling before the seated Elen, Kai’s height meant their eye level barely changed. With his hand on her head, Elen nearly burst into tears. The moment she felt it, the dam broke—just a single, quiet sob escaped.

“Father… if we don’t… if we don’t do something…”

“Is there something wrong?”

“I have to go. But… what can I do…?”

Elen’s posture made her look like she was chained to the spot.

Kai, who’d been watching her all along, understood instantly. The chains binding her? They were his.

“Elen-sama… you’re worried about me…?”

“…………”

She didn’t deny it. Not that she could say anything at all. Just that helpless, strained look on her face—Kai’s chest tightened.

We’re always putting Elen in a bind. Kai understood instantly how to be of use to her.

“Elen-sama, please stop worrying about me. I want to serve you, but I don’t want this kind of attention.”

“Eh… ah…”

“Just tell me what you’d like me to do. My lord is indeed Lovell-sama, but… I want to exist for you.”

“Kai-kun…”

Elen nearly cried at Kai’s offer. But reason kicked in—she couldn’t punish such a kind-hearted Kai. And now, floundering again, unsure what to do, Kai smiled at her.

“Lovell-sama strictly ordered me not to let you out of my sight. So… isn’t the solution just not letting go?”

“Huh? … Ah…”

“Please let me stay by your side whenever you go.”

Elen widened her eyes at Kai’s cheerful grin. She couldn’t help but chuckle—this tactic was so unlike him, it almost felt like he was trying to trip her up.

“Because I’ve been watching you all along. You’re not bad at it, are you?”

“Ugh! Kai, you’re such a tease!”

Kai snickered, and Elen huffed, pouting. The heavy atmosphere from just moments ago vanished in an instant. Realizing she’d been saved by him, she quickly apologized.

But… why does Kai go out of his way to help her like this?

Even if she felt grateful, something about it still didn’t sit right. She found herself asking, before she could stop herself.

“Thank you, Kai. But… why go this far?”

“Eh…?”

Kai looked caught off guard by Elen’s direct question. His face instantly flushed crimson.

Seeing that reaction up close, Elen blinked, stunned.

“Ah… um… I mean…”

“…”

…Was there something weird in the air right now?

Something was off, and Elen reflexively tried to bolt.

"Wait—"

Her wrist was seized by a servant. Startled, she looked up at Kai, who was staring at her with a serious expression.

That face… it could’ve been called determination.

"I like you. I really like you."

"...Huh?"

Elen froze. Her mouth hung open, stunned.

In her head, the missing piece of the puzzle clicked into place with a sharp *clack*—the source of the strange feeling all along.

Kai let out a wry smile at Elen’s expression, which looked less like shock and more like sudden, overwhelming clarity.

"I knew from the start you didn’t see me that way. But I’m not hiding it anymore. If I can be of use to you… that’s all I ever wanted."

Elen’s mind went utterly blank, for the first time ever.

And then, before she could stop herself, she blurted out:

"Kai… you’re always going on about how much you like Raffilia…"

"Wha—!?"

“Ah”

"...What on earth is this?"

Elen paled under Kai’s smirking glare.

There were times when Elen kept thinking Kai liked Raffilia.

"Come on... we're always arguing with Raffilia..."

"Well, that’s true..."

Raffilia’s probably interested in someone else, right? So that’s why she’s doing this… acting like she’s trying to pull Raffilia’s attention…

Kai clutched his head as the voice faded away, dwindling into nothing.

The mock battle over Elen had been spectacularly misunderstood.

"Ah, um..."

Kai cut her off before she could say sorry again, not wanting to hear it.

She knew Elen hadn’t been paying Kai any mind at all, but if she’d misread things this badly, it’d probably take ages before she realized he actually had feelings for her.

Kai thought, I don’t even get a chance to be rejected properly.

“Elen-sama… please, think of me, at least?”

“…………”

“Please…”

Kai was about to continue, begging, when Elen cut him off with a quiet, “I’m sorry,” and a smile.

That smile was sad. Her eyes looked like they might burst into tears at any moment.

“Don’t you already understand, just by looking at me?”

“Elen-sama…”

“The flow of time… it’s different for me. I’m a spirit.”

“S-so… I… I mean…”

“It’s impossible. We can’t be together. I’m a spirit. A goddess. I have to stay in the Spirit World. That place is full of magical essence. Humans can’t live there.”

“……”

“I awakened to my power too early, compared to others. Because of that… I’ve been told I must remain there for a while. So… I’m sorry…”

Elen had been told by the Dual Goddesses she’d have to stay in the Spirit World for a while after this matter was settled—her body still needed time to grow, and her power as a goddess still needed stabilizing.

Kai turned pale, realizing he’d never be with her again, no matter if his wish came true or not.

But he lifted his face right away, and spoke straight to Elen.

"...Please, let me stay by your side until then."

"Elen...?"

"Please."

Elen smiled through tears, watching Kai bow his head.

"Thank you," she said, voice trembling. "I’m the one who should be thanking you."

"Miss Elen..."

Kai stared at her smile, squinting as if it were too bright.