What...?

"Impossible! No way! Absolutely not! Impossible!"

Elen and the others stared, dumbfounded, as Lovell stressed each word with exaggerated emphasis.

"Ugh, it's not like *you're* the one being proposed to, is it?"

Origin sighed, giving Lovell a look, but Lovell only clutched at his chest harder.

"I—don't—want—her! Not if she's family! I just got free, and now you're saying I have to marry Elen? She'll be the worst mother-in-law ever!!"

"Sounds like you'd be the same, though."

Origin’s jab drew murmurs of quiet agreement from everyone nearby.

Apparently, some old trauma had resurfaced.

Lovell really, truly hated Lavisel.

Listening to Lovell’s frantic outburst, Elen finally spoke, shaking her head.

"Why does it always turn into marriage so fast?"

Sure, she’d agreed to date him after he said he liked her.

But Elen, stuck with her pre-reincarnation common sense, couldn’t grasp the immediate link to marriage.

Yet this world was a noble society. And Elen was the daughter of the queen who ruled the Spirit World.

In this world, "dating" without a marriage promise was practically meaningless to nobles, who all had fiancés by default.

Hearing Elen’s words, the people around her were stunned.

"...I thought Elen had accepted it..."

Gadiel looked shocked, and Elen tilted her head with a puzzled, “Huh?”

(…Did I actually promise marriage or something?)

“Elen-chan, Elen-chan, you said yes to Papa’s confession, right?”

Vaull came over to confirm. Elen blushed and nodded.

“Eh!? Y-yes…!”

Seeing Elen’s reaction, Van murmured, “No way…?”

"Elen-chan, Papa's a human noble. Dating—well, marriage—is just expected."

"Eh?!"

"Isn't a noble's pre-marital courtship supposed to be *without* marriage on the table? Especially for women—otherwise it’d be scandalous, wouldn’t it?"

"…………"

Now, at last, Elen finally grasps just how far off her understanding had been.

(Standing beside someone… walking together… *that’s* what it meant—*that*?!)

A human royal family, and Elen—essentially, a spirit noble.

To be together without a marriage promise? That wasn’t even possible.

And Elen had already, herself, told Lovell and the others she was walking with Gadiel.

Which meant—she’d basically announced her engagement to Gadiel.

"Elen! I *told* you I loved you, didn’t I!?"

"I’m… I’m sorry… I didn’t know it was a thing like that…"

"Wha—? But you *did* agree to my feelings, didn’t you!? So I’m saying it again—"

Gadiel quickly realized that spirits and humans might have different standards, and immediately rushed to propose to Elen.

"Wait—wait—wait!!"

Lovell cut him off with a dark chuckle, "Kukuku~," and pointed a finger right at Gadiel.

"My daughter’s not getting married!"

Ignoring Lovell’s finger jabbing him, Gadiel dropped to one knee before Elen. He took her left hand and spoke again, heart pounding.

"Elen… I—"

"Listen to me!! Seriously!! You! You’re the crown prince of Tembar, aren’t you!? You’ve got a fiancée, so stay away from Elen!!"

Elen froze, her body going rigid.

"A… fiancée…? Gadiel… you… you have a fiancée…?"

Zap—sparks erupted around Elen all at once. More than the growing panic of those nearby, what mattered most was Gadiel’s flustered expression.

“I don’t have one! I’ve liked Elen ever since I met her…!”

“Liar! Even I was betrothed to that woman by age ten—no questions asked! There *have* to be others! If they’re picking from a list, there should be five candidates at least!! He’s a prince of a nation, for crying out loud!”

Lovell’s words made perfect sense. Gadiel was already an adult. It would’ve been stranger if he *didn’t* have a fiancée.

“Gadiel… you… you *do* have a fiancée…”

“No! Elen, just listen to me! I’ll let the king confirm it myself! I haven’t sworn it to the goddess!!”

While the three stood frozen, unable to hear a single word, Origin and the others just watched with quiet amusement. “Ah, ah… how interesting,” they murmured.

"Have you forgotten we're even here...?"

"If you had a fiancée, wouldn't I be the one to judge you?"

"Can't hear a thing, huh..."

Lovell and Gadiel screech back and forth, but Elen’s so shocked she can’t even hear Gadiel’s voice. She’s trembling silently, sparks flying from her fingertips.

Origin sighs, but there’s a faint relief in their expression.

"I was worried Elen-chan might just drift along without realizing it—but seeing her this angry at the thought of a woman in Obocchan’s life? That’s something."

Watching her like that, Origin giggles, utterly delighted.

"Her suitor candidates—Lovell’s been wiping them out one by one, hasn’t he? I figured the royal bloodline would be a bit wild, but if he’s purified the soul of his kin, well… I suppose that’s acceptable."

"Since she’s tied to Elen’s power, Obocchan’s power is probably purified too. We’d better make sure he doesn’t go around purifying things on his own."

"Why, still? I thought we were married already—I spread the word!"

"Mother, please refrain from drinking for the foreseeable future."

"No way."

I’d assumed, from Elen’s comment, that everyone around her was already planning to marry.

And then hearing she’d be staying the night? Well, it’s not hard to see how people would interpret that as making it official.

No wonder Lovell looked utterly drained after just one day.

"Then I'll just go ask that someone! You're definitely got ten fiancés lined up behind my back, aren't you!"

"Why are they keep piling up like this!? I already said there’s not a single one! Please, go ask the Emperor yourself!"

Lovell and Gadiel stood frozen in place, glaring at each other, sparks flying.

They’d come back to the Spirit Castle to have a proper talk—so where the hell had they gone? The two Dual Goddesses exchanged a look and shrugged.

"Let’s go see that guy!"

Lovell grabbed Elen and Gadiel by the arms and vanished in a flash.

No time to waste. Clearly, he’s not keen on letting Elen go.

Origin and the others watched the three disappear, utterly bewildered.

"Ah ah…?"

"Lovell’s always so impatient."

Just as they were muttering, Van’s shoulder twitched violently—then he burst out laughing.

"Aw, nooo! What is this—?! Hahahaha!!"

"Oh? What’s the matter?"

"Lovell’s about to do something hilarious! Let’s go see it ourselves!"

With that, she grabbed Van’s hand and teleported straight to Vaul. Apparently, they were headed for Tembar Castle.

Something amusing was clearly about to happen—something that had her laughing uncontrollably.

Origin exchanged glances with Vint and the others.

"Sounds fun. I’m going too."

Van sighed, watching Austor bounce off into the void with glee.

"Mother…?"

"If Austor’s going, then I’m going too, right!?!"

And with that, Vint and the others vanished too.

Left behind, Origin called out a beat late.

"I want to go toooooooo!!"

And so, goddess and great spirits alike stormed into Lavisel at Tembar Castle—just because.