No peeking.
When Elen regained consciousness, Cleiren was at her bedside, leaning over her face. "How are you feeling?" she asked.
"Um... me..."
She couldn’t remember why she was lying here.
She tried to ask, but her throat was dry and stuck, and she coughed instead.
Cleiren hurriedly rubbed Elen’s back, and Elen could tell she was sending a mental message somewhere.
"I’ve just informed the Queen that the princess has woken up."
"Yes... um, was I asleep?"
"You collapsed from fever."
"Wha—?"
It had been about two days since she’d made her pact with Gadiel.
Apparently, the stress and exhaustion had finally caught up with her.
(That’s right… Mother had a fever too….)
It seemed she’d collapsed right after that.
(Not again… when it matters most…)
Can't help but feel useless, collapsing like this right in front of everyone.
Even though I panicked, I really messed up with Gadiel.
I want to apologize right away, but I have no idea what kind of face to make.
(Reply...?... )
The moment I thought it, I felt a sudden wave of heat surge through me—like I’d just been set on fire.
Cleiren noticed Elen’s face turn bright red and panicked instantly.
Cleiren tried to cool her down, pressing her hands gently but firmly against Elen’s forehead. Her hands were icy—so refreshing.
The wave of energy felt amazing. I was about to drift off into sleep right there.
“Elen’s awake!? Is that really true!?”
A loud voice snapped me back.
Lovell had been about to charge in tears, but the other Great Spirits had already pinned him down.
“Eeeleeeen!!”
“Lovell-sama! Please, calm down!”
“H-ha, na, sē～～!”
Elen watched from the bed as that scene unfolded.
Still feverish, Elen frowned faintly at Lovell’s scream, her mind drifting despite her dazed state.
“Father… please, be quiet…”
Muttering softly, Elen still felt sluggish. Lovell froze instantly, his struggle halting mid-motion.
“…E-leen…”
Lovell whispered, voice barely audible, like a breath caught in a thread. Elen couldn’t help but laugh.
“Gosh, Father… really…”
As Elen pushed herself up, Cleiren and the others rushed to slide cushions behind her back.
Cleiren, ever precise, turned to Lovell and said, “The princess still has a slight fever—she really needs to rest.”
“Why are you telling me that?”
“Because you’re the one who pushes her the hardest.”
“Guh!”
Elen winced, even though she knew the warning was meant for Lovell. Still, it stung.
We were getting scolded by Reuben like we’d done something wrong, when Reuben brought us lemonade.
“Your Highness, please.”
“Give it here—I’ll do it.”
“Oh, Lord Lovell…!”
Lovell snatched the lemonade and grinned at Elen.
She rolled her eyes at his smug face, then thanked Reuben.
“Sorry about that, Reuben. Thank you.”
“Oh, nonsense. I’m glad you’re cooling down a bit.”
“Come on, Elen. Lemonade, here it comes~!”
Lovell sat on the edge of the bed, one hand wrapping around Elen’s back to hold the glass steady.
The sweet lemonade tasted amazing. After finishing, she exhaled. “Want a refill?” Lovell asked.
“I’m fine.”
“Hmm. Still flushed, though.”
Lovell’s hand brushed across Elen’s forehead.
She couldn’t tell for sure even when she touched her own cheek, but her body felt warm and heavy—definitely feverish.
“Last time, Your Highness’s magical balance was disrupted, affecting your health. But this time… you’re just utterly drained, both mind and body. Please, rest now.”
“Yes….”
Leven, who governed life, seemed to understand exactly what was happening inside Elen.
The one who breathed a sigh of relief the most at Leven’s words was Lovell.
The gaze of the Great Spirits watching over Elen was incredibly gentle.
This time, the Great Spirits had even joined in helping. They knew Elen had pushed herself too hard to save Lovell, so they were fussing over her like devoted caretakers.
“…You’re awake. Thank goodness.”
At Lovell’s quiet whisper, Elen leaned against her, murmuring, “I’m sorry to worry you.”
Lovell ran a hand through Elen’s hair and pressed a kiss to the back of her head.
“You saved me, Elen. Thank you.”
It was oddly ticklish to hear Lovell thanking her.
I blushed without meaning to—and then Lovell hugged me tight.
There were still issues with Gadiel’s half-spirit form, but right now, all I could feel was relief that Lovell was safe… and that Gadiel was still alive.
I’d been wound so tight for so long, maybe that’s why I’d gotten feverish.
Or maybe it was just a fever of the mind.
(What a mess we’ve been through…)
The purification as a goddess, the soul selection, Gadiel’s half-spirit state, the contract.
My body had always been told it couldn’t take this.
I’d just lived through it all at once. So maybe it was inevitable.
Leaning my forehead against Lovell’s shoulder, I think I’d given myself away—my fever was flaring up again.
"Elen’s burning up!"
"I told you that already!"
Watching Lovell get scolded by Cleiren, Reben quickly ushered Elen back to bed.
"Elen~! Get better soon, okay?"
Watching Lovell get dragged out by the Great Spirits, Elen waved one hand from the edge of the sheets, a little wave goodbye.
＊＊＊
A cool hand settled on Elen’s forehead.
“……?“
“Oh? Did I wake you?”
Origin had come to check on Elen.
“Mother….”
“You still have a fever. Let me cool you down a bit.”
Origin’s forehead bumped gently against Elen’s. The heat seemed to drain away instantly, and Elen exhaled with relief.
“How’s that? I think the tightness in your chest is gone.”
“Thank you….”
“Fatigue’s unavoidable. Just rest now, okay?”
“Um… yeah….”
Elen fidgeted, unsure how to ask what she wanted to know.
(Well, it’s my own fault… but this doesn’t exactly feel like the right moment to bring it up…)
She *was* curious. Especially since she’d collapsed mid-sentence. That made it worse.
“Is it about your little brother?”
“Huh?!”
Origin’s smile made it obvious she’d read Elen’s mind. Heat flooded Elen’s face, and she could *feel* it burning.
“Fufu… Lovell’s not here, so it’s fine.”
“Um… I mean… Father…?”
“Elen, I haven’t told him you made the contract. If I did, he’d go straight to killing your little brother, so you *can’t* say anything, okay?”
“Huh… you’re not serious…?”
“Nope. Lovell’ll do it.”
“Eep… y-yes….”
"Lovell really loves Elen, so he’d probably say he won’t acknowledge anyone he doesn’t personally approve of."
Origin chuckled dryly at Elen, who remained pale.
"Just that part about the half-spirit transformation— I did mention it. I asked Lovell to tell the black-haired one that I won’t be returning to the human realm for a while."
"Ah… s-so that’s how it is…"
"Could he be playing around with her right now?"
"Ah, she was in the middle of it, huh?"
He must’ve acted fast, sending word that Gadiel was still alive— otherwise, he couldn’t have been killed.
Vol said, "It’s fine, it’s fine," but that didn’t erase the unease.
Elen’s probably worried that now that she’s bound to Gadiel, the Kingdom of Tembair might use her.
(He asked me to do it, and I wouldn’t anyway...)
Will I have to deal with Ravisel again?
I started laughing just imagining what he might say.
Ravisel really is a schemer. Lovell’s probably having a tough time right now.
“Ah, what’s wrong?”
“Father, I was just wondering what the schemer’s been saying to you.”
“Hmm… what could he be saying?”
“‘My son’s become a half-spirit?’ ‘That’s quite the delight,’ maybe?”
“Ah… yeah, that sounds just like him. Ugh, so annoying.”
The royal family of Tembair couldn’t connect with spirits.
Knowing they themselves couldn’t, they’d probably be thrilled that their son pulled off something so rare.
“But what now? Won’t it be harder for the schemer to get close to Gadiel?”
“Hmm… I don’t know. Even if he’s half-spirit, Obo-chan’s still more human than Lovell, really. His body’s completely unharmed. Just makes me feel uneasy, though…”
“Why don’t you just ask him yourself?” Elen went stiff, then flushed bright red.
“Ah, Elen-chan. Still conscious, are we?”
“H-Hey, Mother!”
“Mmm… You *do* know you’re acting different around him, don’t you? Unlike with the others.”
“…Another kid?”
“Kai.”
“W-Wait—MOM! MOM! MOM!!”
Elen shrieked, realizing she’d been caught peeking.
“No, no! It’s not like that! Vaul sister!”
“Both of you are *so* dead!!”
The heat rising from Elen’s anger was, needless to say, undeniable.