Lucien's eyes gleamed with triumph.
Looking at Emilia, whose face shone with joy, Lucien smiled, gently cupped her cheeks with both hands, and kissed her deeply.
Behind them, Subaru Natsuki felt his entire world grow cold.
In that instant, the last spark of hope in his eyes dimmed and faded.
He understood this place no longer held a place for him.
With hollow eyes, Subaru wandered away without even realizing how he left. He locked himself in his room for an entire day, lost and unresponsive to anything around him.
The next morning he packed his belongings and chose to leave.
It was almost laughable that only Lucien saw him off. Emilia and the twins, Ram and Rem, were too absorbed in their own duties to notice. Puck and Beatrice were secluded in the Forbidden Library and had no idea what had happened. Even if they did, they would hardly comment.
At the mansion's grand entrance Lucien leaned casually against the marble wall, watching Subaru's blank expression.
"Go then," Lucien said in a calm voice, his tone almost clinical yet not unkind, "Leave this kingdom and truly see the world."
Using the Law Governing Speech, Lucien's command resonated with subtle authority.
Subaru ignored him. His expression remained distant and numb as he trudged down the path, an empty shell of a man indifferent to everything.
Once Subaru left the estate and entered the road beyond the village, two figures quietly followed at a distance. Elsa and Meli, dispatched by Lucien, had strict orders to protect Subaru for one month, even if he had chosen to leave.
Lucien watched them disappear from view, then turned and looked at the mansion that loomed like a castle.
He stretched slowly and smiled contentedly. Acting had been exhausting. He had almost lost himself in the role he had been playing.
Subaru's departure caused no ripple among the others. Only Puck asked at dinner where Subaru had gone. Everyone else carried on with their routines, unconcerned by his absence.
Subaru truly was pitiable, having fallen so deeply into despair.
Roswaal was due to return tomorrow.
Outside, the moon hung bright and still, stars sparse as a gentle breeze rustled through the curtains.
Emilia had just begun preparing for bed when there was a soft knock on her door.
"Who is it?"
"It's me, Liya," Lucien said calmly.
Emilia paused, tightening her clothing before opening the door. When she saw Lucien, her face flushed with nervous anticipation. "Is something wrong?"
Lucien did not answer. He stepped inside, closed the door gently behind him, and reached for Emilia. His embrace was firm, his lips seeking hers with unmistakable intent. His hands trailed with desire, bold and urgent.
"Uranus… wait… stop," Emilia murmured, voice trembling. Her legs instinctively drew together as his touch grew more intimate.
"I know Puck is with Beatrice, so no one will interrupt us tonight," Lucien said softly.
"Uranus… I'm not ready," Emilia whispered, cheeks warming. Her heart raced beneath his gaze.
"But I am," he replied honestly, his voice low and tired. "These past days have been a strain. I no longer need to pretend anything. You should know, I have always cared for you deeply."
Under Emilia's bewildered gaze, Lucien leaned closer, his lips near her neck. He brushed her skin with a gentle bite.
Emilia moaned in a soft, conflicted sound as her silver-white hair shimmered under the moonlight.
"Uranus…"
Her eyes widened in surprise. Before she could fully react, Lucien released her.
Silence followed for a moment.
Then Emilia's body crumbled into dust, her clothes falling to the floor untouched, the space where she had stood now empty.
Lucien exhaled, a faint trace of blood at the corner of his mouth. His expression was calm, "What a waste, I should have had my fun with her before killing her."
A soft glow materialized in front of him; a translucent screen showing new data.
Objective Complete
Emilia, a major supporting character from the Re:Zero — Starting Life in Another World world has been hunted. Reward Dice uses calculated based on current status. Congratulations, you have gained three chances and Luck increased by 1.
Countdown Initiated
72:00:00
Lucien rubbed his chin thoughtfully. If nothing went wrong in 72 hours, and Subaru did not use Return by Death, then Emilia was truly gone.
His efforts had not been in vain. If Subaru's love for Emilia had been shattered completely, the trajectory of events might finally change.
As long as Subaru survived three days without dying, even if he attempted to use Return by Death to save Emilia and the others, it would be too late.
Another knock came at the door.
"Who is it?"
Ram stood outside, face cool as ever.
"It's me. I have something important to discuss with you."
Before Ram could speak, black hardened thorns erupted and bound her, lifting her into the air and carrying her toward Lucien.
Ram's eyes widened in startled confusion.
Lucien remained silent as he approached her and pressed a decisive kiss to her neck.
When he stepped back, only her clothing lay on the floor.
Moving without hesitation, Lucien found Rem's door and repeated the same swift, silent method.
To his surprise Rem held greater significance than Ram, while Ram had only been a minor supporting presence.
Each time the countdown reset, the deadline remained three days.
Once the twins were done, Lucien walked toward the Forbidden Library.
Puck and Beatrice were together as expected.
Lucien knocked sharply.
Beatrice opened the door with her usual disdain, mistaking him for a nuisance.
Before she could react, hardened black thorns wrapped around her slender body, ending in sharp points that pierced her as life ebbed away.
Beatrice had no time to react.
"Beatrice…"
Puck's eyes flared with shock as magical energy surged, chilling the entire mansion to a freezing stillness.
Ice cones shot toward Lucien, but he countered with subtle force, slicing the air as if invisible projectiles shattered the incoming ice.
"What are you doing!" Puck cried, rage twisting his voice.
"Brother…"
As Beatrice's final cry faded, her form dissipated into ash, her elegant dress left behind in the cold halls.
Puck's body began to change, wind and frost swirling as he transformed into a raging beast.
Lucien raised his hand and unleashed a colossal dragon of radiant energy that tore through the wall and extended into the courtyard, shining fiercely in the moonlight.
Great Might Heavenly Dragon
The roar was deafening. The mansion was illuminated until the fractured remains were all that stood. Puck lay battered in the rubble, bloodied and broken.
"Why!" Puck managed to utter, barely rising to his knees as blood trickled from his mouth.
Lucien watched with neutral expression, forming a sphere of blue light in his palms. It shot forward like a falling star, engulfing Puck in blinding radiance.
Puck howled, overwhelmed, the explosion of force creating a towering wave that obliterated everything in its path.
Lucien remained unmoved, lighting a cigar as the winds and waters crashed around him. His hair and clothes fluttered, but he did not step back.
A plume of smoke curled from his lips as he gazed up at the sky, exhaustion finally weighing on him.
Performing this role had truly been draining.
____
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