‘What the hell…?’

That was my reaction after seeing the true colors of the Half-Elf known as Lemi.

I had initially thought she would take after her mother—or me—thanks to her genes, but I was so wrong.

Her rotten personality resembled none of us!

To begin with, her warped mindset was very worrying.

When I looked at Aurora for an explanation, she sharply glanced away—most likely in guilt. It was at that point that I realized something.

‘They’ve spoiled this girl too much!’

I wasn’t against being considerate to a child based on the unfortunate incidents surrounding her birth and her identity, but… these people overdid it!

“Emilia and Aurora, just how did you guys raise this girl?”

I wasn’t surprised that Derius and the other Royals went along with the whole thing. After all, if those two decided on something, the rest would have no choice but to obey.

‘Damn, this has gone too far!’ I looked at the Half-Elf throwing the tantrum.

She was nothing like I imagined her to be. Not in the slightest.

‘It’s weird watching someone with Emilia’s face acting like this…’

My wife was someone with an upright and composed demeanor—at least most of the time.

The bratty attitude shown by my daughter just ruined the honored memory I had of Emilia.

But, that was only the beginning.

Even though I had thought she yearned to be closer to the Human side of her origins, it turned out she only saw her distant relatives as nothing more than pets.

That was probably the second most bothersome fact about the Half-Elf called Lemi.

Her attitude was even worse than that of regular Elves.

‘My own daughter…’ I nearly broke down in tears.

Still, the most shocking aspect I found out about the 400-Year-Old lady who still acted like a spoiled child was the despairing state of her capabilities.

In simple terms, Lemi was weak.

She had a Special Grade Mana More, but it was hardly developed.

Her body’s constitution was hardly built as well, and it was clear that she had been pampered all her life.

‘Does she even know how to use Magic?’ I began to grow worried.

Now that I took a good look around me, almost everything she had built was either in an incomplete state, or was terribly inefficient.

They looked like no more than toys with flaws.

‘The **…?’

Just what was this girl doing for 400 Years?

“What are you looking at, jerk?” Lemi, my infuriating daughter shot a glare at me.

The moment I raised my fist slightly, she fled behind Aurora

“Eek!”

Why did I even bother?

I once again stared at the Elf Queen, but she uncomfortably looked away.

‘That’s right! Your conscience should prick you for deceiving me.’

During our emotional conversation back then, I had already gotten my expectations raised, but this was so disappointing.

Sure, Elves didn’t know much about Magic Technology, so they all probably revered Lemi as a genius or something.

But, these were simply toys and scraps, compared to the real stuff.

Well, other than the Automaton that hovered above her, most of the stuff around were in pretty weird shapes and odd conditions.

‘You call this the next Lewis Griffith?’ My heart sank.

As much as I loved seeing the product of my love with Emilia, this child was just too weird.

‘She has so much potential, but…’

“Then, I’ll leave her in your care, Jared.” Aurora gave a strained smile, interrupting my thought.

From her movement, I could tell that she was trying to wiggle her way out of this one. Also, when did she start calling me by just my first name?

“Please, your Majesty…” I gave a broad smile.

As expected of the perceptive Queen, she read my intentions instantly.

“… Stay for a bit, why don’t you? Don’t you want to watch?”

“Watch? You mean… you’re going to do it now?”

“Of course. Might as well get this over with.” I sighed, moving toward the frightened Lemi.

“S-stay away from me, you rogue!”

“Relax, Lemi. He’s here to help you.”

I sighed, not ceasing in my steady approach.

“H-help, what do you mean?”

“He is Jared Leonard… a powerful Magic User from the Eastern Kingdom—and a diplomatic Envoy sent to the Elves. Surely, you’ve been informed of this.”

“A-ah, he’s the one Freya won’t shut up about. So what? It has nothing to do with me, right?”

“He says he can cure you.”

Once Aurora said this, the Half-Elf halted her flippant demeanor and stared at me with surprise.

For the first time since we met, Lemi mirrored Emilia. My hardened heart melted instantly.

“You… you can?”

“Yes. Now, Lemi, I’ll ask you… do you want to be cured or not?”

I was already in front of her, and since the Half-Elf was shorter than me, I looked down on her as she faced up.

Her differently colored eyes looked oddly fitting for her. And, they shone with a form of childish hope.

“I-I do…” Her voice trailed.

All forms of childishness vanished and a darkened expression took over.

“You believe I can do it?”

“I don’t believe you, but Aurora wouldn’t bring this up if she didn’t believe in your capabilities. Freya also ran her mouth about you yesterday, so you must be pretty good.”

‘I guess she isn’t a total idiot, after all.’ I smiled.

“How will you do it?” Her question was direct, and the sincere look on her face was beginning to clear the initial doubts I was having about her.

“It’s not very difficult. Your condition isn’t the first I’ve seen like this.”

“What?” Even Aurora joined in surprise.

They must have thought Lemi’s case was special, and that there was no one alive who could live with Miasma and Mana in their system.

Usually, they would be right.

“Yes. Your case is indeed special. There’s only one other person besides you who has a condition similar to yours.”

Lemi’s eyes widened even more as she stared at me. It wasn’t because she figured out the truth—just simple curiosity.

“Who’s that?”

My grin broadened more, and I began to like the girl more as she asked questions.

‘That’s more like it!’

With that, I released a portion of the energy within me, revealing it to both Aurora and Lemi.

“It’s none other than me.”

Both Elf and Half Elf gasped in shock, completely surprised by the faint glow of Mana and Miasma on my body.

“So you see, Lemi…” I said, drawing closer to the flustered Half-Elf.

“… I’m just like you.”