After a brief silence, Tyreen chuckled. Its tongue popped out and then retracted, likely a chuckle.

“He wouldn’t recognize me.”

“He wouldn’t?”

“You can only see soul-chain spirits if you’re a similar spirit.”

“…”
“Moreover, he’s lived long enough to be fine. The words he utters indicate he’s waiting for the day Marta takes him away. So, it wouldn’t matter if he died sooner. Foolish guy.”

“He’s a righteous person.”

“If you’re so concerned about that guy, why don’t you give him the shell gem? Do as you wish. The sight of him rolling his feet, claiming he lost the necklace, is amusing.”

Tyreen’s momentum waned, and he secretly laughed.

I continued to observe the grumbling Tyreen with a strange feeling.

‘Spirits seem to like humans.’

Even the great deity, Igraine, is one of the humans Tyreen despises so much.

He says it’s fine to die, but the expression of worry is evident, although he seems unaware of it.

‘He asked to eliminate all humans.’

The affection for the great deity and the hatred for all humans regarding the great deity were contradictory.

‘Tyreen blames humans for their sins, but the kingdom folks might not know what happened in the past. Is it right for them to bear the consequences of the sins committed by their ancestors?’

Images of Jenny, Eden, Kei, and Tsuki flashed through my mind.

Not all humans are bad.

Bang!

“Igraine!”
The echoing voice hurt my ears.

Even with just the crude sound of the opening door, I could tell who it was.

‘Aris.’

My heart chilled.

Not all humans are bad.

But it’s also true that there are humans who are wicked, not like humans.

As expected, Aris was glaring at me with a mess in her eyes. It wasn’t surprising.

Even if she recently lost her mind, she knew that when she regained her senses, she would come looking for me.

I turned my head with a wry smile.

“Oh, miss. What’s the matter?”

Aris snarled at my casual greeting, apparently more irritated.

“Do you not know why I came?”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about. Rather than that, miss, shouldn’t you take better care of yourself? Did the food not suit your taste? I sent it up with special care.”

Aris’s complexion turned pale at my words.

“What did you do to the food?”

I almost burst into laughter.

“What did I do? Aris had a look full of doubt. Ironically.

‘What did I do to you?’

Everything that happened to you is the result of your own actions.

“Your health still doesn’t seem good. Go to your room and rest.”

“I won’t go until you explain what you did.”

“Did I do something to you?”

“Yes! It’s what you did, from me, that…!”

“That what?”

I tilted my head, imitating the words she spat out. Aris, full of suspicion, could only nervously clench her teeth.

Internally, I smiled with a sense of vindication.

‘Of course, she can’t say anything. It must be a secret since her strength disappeared.’

Perhaps she panicked upon realizing her condition when she got up. The power she had possessed since birth had completely disappeared.

Shaking in fear, she probably suspected me and, as soon as suspicion arose, rushed over. Seeing her disheveled appearance, it was easy to imagine the situation in my mind.

Aris shook her head frantically.

“Ever since you became a princess, everything’s been strange. It’s all gone wrong. I shouldn’t be like this when you’re behaving like that.”

“Miss, where does it hurt?”

She glared at me.

“I’m genuinely worried.”

Appearing mentally unstable can be a bit unsettling.

How could someone with such weak mental fortitude even think of overturning the accusation of being a traitor from the empire?

‘Ah, she must have done something like that because she’s weak.’

While looking at her, who stared at me as if she wanted to kill me, I smiled even more deeply.

Now is not the time.

“Do you worry about me?”

“Of course. We are family, miss.”

A foolish miss.

Silently murmuring to myself as I faced her face, which seemed overly naive.

However, such impressions of mine shattered into pieces with Aris’s subsequent words.
“Then return the princess title.”

“…Yes?”