Regrets, yes...

Lauren was slightly surprised by Elen’s sudden visit, but she readily agreed to her request.

Elen, carrying a gift, called out to the Dual Goddesses through telepathy, and immediately transferred to their boundary, summoned forth.

"Elen-chan~"

"Did you make it out alright?"

Voor and Vaar waved their hands in greeting as they met Elen.

...I'm sorry, Father. Thank you for getting Gadiel to safety.

Elen said her thanks, a quiet slump to her shoulders, and Vaul laughed, dry as bone.

Oh, there's no need to worry. Lovell's practically a spirit already. What can you do about it?

"Uh...?"

Elen tilted her head, baffled by the disconnected thread of thought.

What exactly does it mean for Lovell to become a spirit?

"That's right. Lovell's half-spirit, but she's completely devoted to Origin. If you put human and spirit on the scales, she'd choose the spirit without hesitation. If she truly believed someone was a threat—like you, Elen—there'd be no doubt at all."

Van chuckled, as if recalling something from earlier.

"Y-you're joking, right?!"

Elen's face twisted into a grimace. The Dual Goddesses faltered, their usual composure cracking.

"Oh... oh dear... maybe that was a bit too much for Elen-chan..."

"Y-yeah. We're used to Lovell's intensity, you know? But Elen-chan... do you remember what you asked of me, back when we were dealing with Helgner?"

"Remember...?"

Do you remember what I said about Lovell being incapable of avoiding war? That’s why I asked you, Elen-chan, to go to Helgner, right?

“Y-yes…?”

Of course I remembered. And I knew the danger of Lovell being there.

That’s exactly why I went to save Lovell.

“There were two futures waiting there. One where Lovell, furious at the royal family trying to harm you, slaughtered those kids and sparked a war between the two nations. And another where Origin, enraged by Lovell being consumed by the curse, caused humans and spirits to wage war across the entire world.”

“…Huh?”

“Both futures involved Lovell. That’s why I said it was impossible. Only someone like you, Elen-chan, who can’t be weighed on any scale—neither human nor spirit—could possibly avoid war.”

"Lovell had already stopped hesitating to kill humans. She was pushed to hate everything since childhood—so much so that when she vowed to dedicate herself entirely to Origin, the half-spirit she’d been saved by, she meant it. So the royal family of Tembarr? They’re even more unforgivable."

"…………"

"Your family, Obo-chan, has only ever caused trouble for the spirits, hasn’t it? That’s why Lovell was so furious she wanted to kill you on sight, just for even thinking of touching Elen—because she’s trying to protect Elen!"

Elen’s face twisted again, crumpling inwards.

Tears welled up, and the Dual Goddesses panicked even more.

"W-well, I mean, from Lovell’s point of view, it’s not exactly unreasonable...!"

"Yeah, Elen-chan! Don’t cry! It’s because of you that Lovell can even pretend to side with humans a little bit!"

"Even so… even so… it's not right to kill people so easily…"

"That's right! You're absolutely right!"

"That's right! Let's all say it together this time!"

The Dual Goddesses were doing their best to comfort Elen.

She was happy about it—yet also sad.

Now that she thought back, Van had said the same thing when Raffilia was kidnapped.

"I am a spirit. Why should I help a human child?"

Even Gadiel had said it.

"Don't get too full of yourself, humans. You're only alive because of the kindness of the Queen and the Princess."

Elen had only ever looked at things from a human's perspective. Their values were fundamentally different—humans and spirits.

(Still… why did my human father hate and despise humans…?)

It hurt. That was the truth.

＊＊＊

Elen was led to where Gadiel was, and she panicked upon seeing him sprawled limply on the sofa.

“G-Gadiel!”

“I’m fine, Elen-chan. I just… woke up a bit too early, I guess.”

“Y-yeah, my eyes still aren’t used to the world’s colors yet.”

“…The world’s colors?”

“See, the world we see… includes things only spirits can perceive.”

“Only spirits… can see it?”

“Humans usually can’t see spirits, right? So, when something we take for granted suddenly becomes visible all at once… well, it’s enough to overwhelm anyone.”

“Ah…”

Like a monochrome world suddenly bursting into color?

As Elen approached the sofa where Gadiel lay, he spoke up.

“…Elen?”

"Gadiel? You noticed?"

Ah, sorry… can’t open my eyes yet… I heard what the goddesses said, though.

Saying that, she rose from the sofa and, feeling her way, sat down on it.

The Dual Goddesses were using their power to set up tables and chairs.

Elen set the gift on the table, telling the Dual Goddesses it was a token of thanks. The Dual Goddesses, noticing the sweets inside, squealed with delight.

"Yay! So yummy!"

I’ll bring the tea!

Watching the Dual Goddesses bustling about with cheerful haste, Elen took her seat beside Gadiel.

Thank you, Elen, for helping me.

No, Father, I’m truly sorry.

I can’t stop crying, remembering Lovell’s killing intent when she tried to actually kill Gadiel.

I must’ve sensed Elen crying—Gadiel cracked open one eye and wiped her tears away.

“Back when Lovell was still around, she once told me straight out I’d be dead if I ever hurt you.”

“Huh?!”

“So I knew it might come to this… but still, no mercy at all? Honestly, it’s almost refreshing.”

“Huh?!”

Elen’s eyes went wide, and Gadiel let out a wry chuckle.

“We royals… really pushed Lovell to the edge, huh? I’m truly sorry.”

“Y-You don’t have to apologize, Gadiel! It’s the King and Agiel who caused this!”

“No, even so. I’m sorry I was the one who started it. I didn’t want to break things between Lovell and you. Once I’m able to open my eyes properly, I’d like to talk to Lovell… face to face.”

“Gadiel…”

"And if I can't see properly, I won't be able to run away. I can't just keep relying on Elen to protect me—what good am I if I can't handle things myself?"

Gadiel chuckled, soft and low.

Elen’s face twisted instantly—her mouth dropped, tears spilling out in a messy, uncontrolled flood.

She hadn’t expected to step on Lovell’s landmine like that. And the fact that she’d never had a real argument with him before made the thought of facing him now absolutely terrifying.

They’d been inseparable—everyone envied them. So when the bond broke, she had no idea how to fix it.

Gadiel noticed her unease. He reached out—not with words, but with a quiet kind of knowing—and handed her a thread to pull at, a way forward.

Touched by his gentleness, Elen’s long-held tears burst free, unstoppable now, like a dam had finally cracked.

Gadiel noticed Elen’s sobbing and pulled her close, gently rubbing her back.

“Uhh… uhh… Papa… I… I messed up… I fought… with… you…”

“…Yeah.”

“Ueee… Papa…”

As he rubbed her back, still shaking with sobs, the returning Dual Goddesses chimed in with a soft, “Ara ara…”

“Looks like Elen-chan hasn’t quite grown up yet.”

“Ah, well. It’s not like we can help it. But really, Elen-chan is just like Lovell.”

The Dual Goddesses giggled, watching Elen and Gadiel with fond amusement.

“Is Elen really like Lord Lovell…?”

They might share the same hair color and style, but Elen’s face and how she responded to things? Not even a little bit.

Gadiel tilted his head, and Vaul chuckled.

“Exactly the same when you’re shocked by a fight and just bawl like a baby.”

“Shouting ‘I’m hated by Origin and Elen!’—doesn’t that sound just like you?”

Gadiel chuckled too, at the Dual Goddesses’ giggling.

“Elen, Lovell’s regretting it too. Let’s go apologize together.”

“……………”

Elen lifted her face after Gadiel’s words, wiping her tears, her expression firm.

“I’ll see Father… but I won’t apologize. I’m still furious about trying to kill Gadiel.”

The Dual Goddesses burst into laughter at that.