Elen’s anger.

It all started with how the royal family in Helgner treated those born with golden hair.

In this nation, where spirit worship ran deep, the king was always someone who had made a pact with a spirit. That was the rule.

Since Lyle, every king had had hair that turned the same shade as Lore—repeatedly marrying brunettes and dark-haired people, gradually turning golden hair to black.

Over countless years, people had simply assumed that anyone born under Lore’s protection would have black hair.

But golden-haired children were born, no matter what.

Those without black hair were said to not have Lore’s protection—or to lack the qualification entirely.

"The golden-haired royalty exiled for lacking Lore's protection believed they'd been abandoned by Lore, so they sought out a new spirit. And then, truly, someone with whom they could form a pact appeared."

"Surely... you didn’t use that as a reason to call the Tembarr royal family traitors?"

"Elen-chan, exactly. They screamed that they’d turned their backs on Lore, lured by another spirit. Perfect excuse to cut ties, wouldn’t you say?"

Vol raised her shoulders in a lazy shrug.

Vaal muttered, “Honestly, humans are always so convenient.”

The royal family of Helgner, terrified of losing Lore’s favor after being exiled, reported to Lore: “They’ve become traitors.”

And if Lore had once cherished those who’d left—only to see them abandon her for a new spirit on foreign soil—what else could Lore possibly say?

So that’s how the Helgnar royal family always put themselves on a pedestal, passing down a conveniently rewritten history generation after generation.

But ever since the Monster Tempest two hundred years ago, rumors began spreading that the Temberl royal family could no longer make pacts with spirits.

Some even claimed it was because the Temberl royals had angered the spirits—causing the Tempest in the first place.

And then, just a few years ago, it finally came out: the Temberl royal family had indeed incurred the spirits’ wrath—and been cursed.

Their conveniently rewritten history, neatly confirmed by the neighboring country, had just been exposed.

Yet on the flip side, Helgnar itself had its own scandal eighteen years prior: a royal child born with golden hair.

Both the king and his concubine had black hair. A child with golden hair—impossible, unnatural—was deemed an ill omen.

And then, twelve years ago… the incident finally happened.

The news came that the king and his concubine had died in an accident, along with their child who had golden hair. That was when Lore disappeared.

With hereditary succession, Duran became the young king—but whispers spread like mold, claiming he’d lost the spirits’ favor.

Ever since a child with golden hair—impossible, unnatural—was born, the air in the kingdom of Helgner had felt thick, sour.

And yet, even as Lore vanished, a hero who’d made a pact with the great spirit appeared across the border in Tembar.

They loved spirits so much… so why wasn’t one by their side?

All that simmering public discontent poured straight onto Duran.

Where to aim the anger? Conveniently, the cursed royal family of Tembar was right there, next door.

It must’ve been perfect for Duran—this situation, this scapegoat, this quiet little way to redirect the people’s fury.

"This country’s always been good at shoving inconvenient things onto the neighbor next door."

That’s why Vol’s words carried weight—she saw everything.

She was driving that truth home to Duran.

"…………"

Duran kept his brow furrowed, silent, but finally spoke.

"But Tembar has long imprisoned the Great Spirit, and kept up terrible acts against the spirits. The curse on them? That’s fact."

He must’ve learned about Tembar’s secrets through herbs. Or maybe directly from Amiel.

Elen gave a flat, expressionless "Mm-hm" in reply.

"We’ve lived alongside Lady Lore for ages. To us, who revere the spirits, what’s wrong with seeing Tembar as an enemy for doing such things?"

To Duran’s claim that the spirit’s enemy was ours too, Elen said it plainly.

“Arking’s imprisonment and Tembar’s curse… Honestly, none of this is your concern.”

“W-what…?”

“This is a matter between us spirits and the Tembar royal family. Why are you butting in out of nowhere?”

The Dual Goddesses shrieked in unison, “Kyaaa~!” at Elen’s razor-sharp tone.

“God, that was *so* satisfyingly clear! Just like Origin-chan’s kid!”

“Freaking crisp! Just like Lovell’s daughter!”

Elen didn’t even glance at the Dual Goddesses’ giddy reaction, continuing her calm, detached tone toward Duran.

“You claim to be on our side, but you’re ignoring Lore’s feelings, forcing your own will on her, and threatening someone she cares about. Is that really what ‘side’ means?”

From Lore’s point of view, Duran’s actions could easily be read as biting back.

Lore couldn’t understand why Duran had acted that way. If anything, she felt betrayed—deeply, irrevocably betrayed.

Which was exactly why she’d vanished with Rylee, to protect her.

“Impossible… that kind of thing…”

She’d been so certain she was the one betrayed—she never even considered that she might be the one doing the betraying.

Duran’s voice cracked. He was shaken. Unsteady.

“You talk about the spirits, but all you care about is yourself. You say you’re with the spirits, yet you only think of using them.”

“That’s not true! I’ve always cared for Lore-sama! Why wouldn’t I be the one she chooses!?”

That was the truth. That was what he really felt. That was why Lore and Elen were shielding him.

"Princess, please stop blaming Duran. It was I who twisted him. Punish me instead."

Eire wept, bowing her head to Elen.

Duran was shaken by the sight.

"Why... why is Princess Eire...?"

"Because I believe I stole the chance for Lore’s affection to be directed at you."

"No, no! It was me—I was at fault. I couldn’t bear the nostalgia, I couldn’t look at Duran..."

"…………"

Staring at Lore and Eire, Duran was speechless.

The spirit he’d longed for—now bowing to Elen, begging for forgiveness, just for him.

"So Lore’s feelings being taken away is perfectly justified? That I should sacrifice my father as an offering? That Amiel, who had nothing to do with this, should be driven to such ruin... and that Gadiel’s death was perfectly expected?"

Sparks crackled violently around Elen.

Arc let out a sharp “Ah!” as he saw it.

“Elen… strong.”

Arc frantically tried to adjust the surrounding magical density to stop the sparks, but Elen’s anger was clearly stronger.

The Dual Goddesses, witnessing Elen’s fury, blinked at each other, confused.

They hadn’t expected her to be this furious—how should they respond? They exchanged glances, unsure.

“You just rearrange the value of everything around you however you please, stir up trouble, drag Father and the others into it… and think a simple apology fixes everything?”

For Elen, none of Duran’s past actions or circumstances mattered.

Her family had been dragged in. Others around her had been wronged unfairly.

No matter how many excuses she heard, it wasn’t something she could forgive.

For Elen, there was one thing she simply couldn’t tolerate—hurting her family and those around her.

“E… Elen-chan…?”

Van looked utterly confused.

And rightly so. Elen was smiling, yet her smile carried the chill of frozen stone.

“Know the pain of losing someone precious.”

She said that—and then she acted.