What I should be thinking about.

Duran’s ears doubted what Elen had said.

Elen was a spirit who ruled the day. They said she guarded the statues of the Dual Goddesses in the Goddess Church.

Duran suddenly remembered how, during the recent condemnation, Elen had shouted, “Those bastards!”

“…Could it be that Elen-sama has made a pact with the Church?”

‘Many have wished to make a pact with me, but I’ve made no pact with anyone.’

“…………”

Duran felt a sudden wave of dizziness. He rubbed his temple with his right hand, where a sharp throb pulsed.

‘…Is it no good?’

Seeing Elen lower her ears slightly, Duran felt something indescribable inside.

The more he’d admired Lore, the harder it was to let his guard down around Elen.

Helgner, who worshipped the spirits of night rather than the Dual Goddesses, and the Church were at odds.

If Lore hadn’t said Elen was her sister, Helgner would’ve gone to war with the Church.

Up until now, Helgner had been sidestepping things with careful avoidance—but Elen’s sudden arrival could easily spiral into a situation where Helgner would be accused of kidnapping her.

“…You want me to fight the Church?”

‘N-no! I’d never—! I’d never wish for that!’

‘…’

‘Am I… really causing this much trouble…?’

Watching Elen shrink into herself, sobbing in pieces, Duran furrowed his brow, deep in thought.

If it became known he’d made a pact with someone unlike Lore, the people would surely cry traitor.

He knew that well—after all, he’d been the one shouting it the loudest before.

And yes, if Elen were in the country, Lore might very well return.

But then again, facing off against a church connected to every nation, Duran couldn’t help but feel outmatched.

‘Why not just say I won’t fight?’

‘…………’

‘Should I tell the people I’m Lore’s representative?’

‘…………’

‘I’ll convince Lore myself!’

Elen was practically selling herself hard.

Why go to such lengths? Duran couldn’t fathom it. He had no idea what Elen stood to gain by wanting to make a contract with him.

‘Why are you so desperate to make a contract with me? There are surely others who’d want to bind themselves to you.’

‘…………’

Elen’s silence cracked, and she began to speak, head down.

‘It’s… I’ve been worried about Lore… and… I’ve been jealous too…’

‘Jealous…?’

‘The Church sees me as nothing more than a servant of the Master. I’m respected, yes—but they don’t treat me as a person…’

‘…………’

‘I hated the Church, the ones who persecuted Lore. I shouted I’d leave if they so much as touched my sister. But the Church is also where the Dual Goddesses’ words are passed on. The Master is, in a way, the Goddesses’ nephew… and I’m His proxy, His stand-in, since He dislikes dealing with humans.’

‘You couldn’t leave, even if you wanted to?’

‘I think I should’ve… But I was afraid the Master would see me as useless. So I barely spoke to the Church’s people—just enough to survive…’

Elen might’ve been lonelier than Lore ever was.

‘I was shocked when I heard a human had made a pact with Lore. …Back then, Lore looked so happy… I was glad for her.’

Elen watched as Raffilia finally met her fated one, and all she could do was rejoice at her sister’s happiness.

“Since the day she passed… Lore often wept, thinking of Raffilia. I’ve watched her cry for centuries… I’ve seen it all…”

One day, Elen overheard a rumor—that the Queen was searching for a soul to birth the next goddess.

If she asked the goddess, perhaps she could find Raffilia’s soul.

Maybe, just maybe, she could bring Raffilia back to Lore’s side in a new life.

“I meant to act out of love for Lore… but all I did was steal her from Duran…”

Durand listened in silence, as Elen wept, her voice thick with regret.

“I… I’m jealous. I’m so jealous of Lore… of being loved so deeply…”

“Then why me?”

I get that Elen’s jealous of Lore. But why the hell am I the one she’s jealous of? That part just doesn’t add up.

Durran asked such questions, but inside, a tangle of complicated feelings swirled.

Not chosen by Lore, yet chosen by a close spirit being.

That sense of superiority was sweet, yes—but knowing full well how many problems it carried, and how steep the price, made it impossible to move forward without hesitation.

...Can't be done, huh?

Not exactly answering the question, is it?

I thought Duran was the one for me.

«………………»

Is that not a good enough reason?

Elen’s heart was wobbling quite a bit.

But it was also true that Lore’s shadow flickered in my mind, holding me back.

Ere jumped onto Duran’s lap, as if just snapping out of thought.

I’d never seen a spirit this close before.

Duran let out a low groan, gritting his teeth. Elen tilted her head up at him, eyes half-lidded.

‘Can’t do it…?’

‘…………’

‘Maybe it’s the lack of… feeling? I thought someone who cared enough for Lore to endure this much… would be worthy of trust.’

After hearing that from a spirit—how many people could still refuse the contract?

‘…Can you really… make a contract with me? My branded mark of judgment… it’s meant to reject Lore, isn’t it?’

Elen or Lore. Only one.

If they were truly connected, the mark might just reach Elen too.

‘Only Lore.’

‘…Why…?’

Duran started to say it, but Elen cut him off.

‘The Lady is very kind. She left room for mercy. She knew… you loved Lore.’

Even if she’d strayed off the path, Elen had still tried to save Amiel—corrupted as he was by curse.

Recalling that, Duran blinked, just slightly.

“You’re not blaming the spirits… or the princess… just because you’ve been condemned. You’re not even scolding me, the one who caused all this. And you’re not telling Lore to come back… are you?”

“…………”

Duran could barely hide his unease at Elen’s words.

How much does she really see?

Is it because she’s a spirit—can she read minds?

The Dual Goddesses’ Vour sees everything. Wasn’t that what the figure in the woods said to Elen?

“Spirits know. They don’t want to go where they’re disliked.”

“……That’s…”

Duran had hated Lore deep down, even as he secretly longed for her return.

And that feeling—maybe Lore had sensed it all along.

Elen rested her head against Duran’s right arm, propped on the armrest.

Duran almost instinctively reached to stroke her.

He’d wanted to spend time like this with Lore.

Even though the fur was different, he couldn’t help but squint in quiet delight at its softness.

Scratching from head to back, a rumbling purr vibrated under his fingers.

He was startled to realize he no longer wanted to let go.

“…No matter what I say now, it might be too late.”

‘…What are you talking about?’

“I tried to take your master’s sister. The church might start a war over it.”

‘S-Stop it! I’ll handle it myself!’

“They’ll go to war if they think you’ve taken me.”

‘Ugh… those bastards…!’

Elen could almost see the churchfolk shouting in fury.

"Having grown tired of teasing the Tembals, perhaps it's time we gave the church a bit of attention too."

'……!'

Elen’s ears shot straight up.

Durand, seeing Erel’s cheerful expression, didn’t notice the shadow of Lore had vanished from his head.