The room was quiet again.
Elowen lay on her bed, staring up at the ceiling, her legs kicking lightly in the air.
"…I'm bored…"
No answer.
She turned her head.
"…Pippin?"
[Yes, Host.]
She rolled onto her side, hugging her pillow.
"…Tell me about my father."
There was a small pause.
Then
[The Duke of Evercrest is one of the most powerful nobles in the empire.]
Elowen blinked.
"…That sounds boring…"
[…He is a master swordsman.]
[He possesses high-level fire magic.]
[He is known for his cold and strict demeanor.]
Elowen puffed her cheeks.
"…Yeah… that sounds like him…"
She picked at the edge of her blanket.
"…He didn't even look at me…"
Her voice grew smaller.
"…Not even once…"
Silence filled the room for a moment.
Then
"…In the story…" she said softly, "…did he ever… like me?"
A pause.
A longer one.
[Minimal interaction recorded.]
Elowen's fingers stilled.
"…Oh…"
She looked down at the bed.
"…So… he didn't really… be my dad…?"
[…Correct.]
Her chest felt tight.
"…Then why…" she whispered, her voice wobbling, "…why did I die…?"
She hugged the pillow tighter.
"…If no one liked me… if no one stayed with me…"
Her eyes watered slightly.
"…What did I even do wrong…?"
[…You were isolated.]
[Misunderstood.]
[Unprotected.]
Elowen sniffed.
"…That's not fair…"
Her voice cracked a little.
"…I didn't even get a chance…"
She buried her face into the pillow.
"…I don't want that…"
Her small body trembled slightly.
"…I don't want to be alone…"
After a while, she slowly lifted her head.
Her eyes were a little red.
"…Pippin…"
[Yes, Host.]
"…Can I ask something else…?"
[You may.]
She hugged the pillow again, quieter now.
"…My other dad…"
A small pause.
"…The one from the village…"
Her voice softened.
"…Was he in the story…?"
[No.]
Elowen blinked.
"…Not at all…?"
[No records.]
She went still.
"…But he's real…" she said quietly. "…He took care of me…"
Her fingers tightened.
"…He made me food… and fixed the roof when it broke… and…"
Her voice shook.
"…and he always smiled at me…"
Tears gathered again.
"…He called me his little girl…"
Silence.
Elowen wiped her eyes with her sleeve.
"…I miss him…"
Her voice was small.
"…I miss the cottage…"
She closed her eyes, remembering.
"…The garden too…"
Her lips trembled slightly.
"…And the flowers…"
"…And the village…"
Her fingers curled into the blanket.
"…Everyone there was nice…"
"…They smiled at me…"
"…They talked to me…"
Her voice dropped into a whisper.
"…They didn't look at me like I'm weird…"
A tear slipped down her cheek.
"…But here…"
She looked toward the door.
"…Everyone looks at me like I don't belong…"
Her chest tightened.
"…Like I'm… wrong…"
She slowly pulled the blanket up, curling into it.
"…Pippin…"
[Yes, Host.]
"…Do you think…"
She hesitated.
"…I can have both…?"
A pause.
"…This family…"
"…and the one I had before…?"
The room stayed quiet.
Then—
[…Uncertain.]
Elowen nodded slightly.
"…Okay…"
She didn't cry this time.
But she hugged the pillow tighter.
"…I still want to try…"
Her voice was soft.
But a little stronger than before.
"…I don't want to lose this one too…"
A faint glow flickered beside her.
[Then you must survive.]
Elowen closed her eyes.
"…I will…"
She whispered it like a promise.
Not loud.
Not brave.
But real.
And for a small girl in a big, cold house that was enough.