Chapter 107 - x

"Wha—?"

The song was beginning as Subaru almost commented aloud on her selection.

The broadcast carried the beautiful melody throughout the entire city, seemingly straight to their hearts. Engulfed by the music and the singing voice, Subaru only had ears for the "Love Song of the Sword Devil."

Liliana really was a star-crossed songstress—but for all her character flaws, she had a truly magnificent singing voice.

4

A conflicted atmosphere coursed through the reception hall as the reverberations of the "Love Song of the Sword Devil" lingered within the city.

The word incredible was nowhere near sufficient to describe Liliana's song. As a matter of fact, had there been no other issues, Subaru would surely have gone straight to showering Liliana's song in praise and immediately diving into conversation about it.

There was only one issue—she had selected the "Love Song of the Sword

Devil."

It was the tale of the Sword Devil, a man enamored with the sword and the one who pursued the Sword Saint. This was nothing short of the heroic tale of Wilhelm in his youth, the tale of how he and his deeply beloved wife came to meet.

In other words, thinking back to Subaru's conversation with Wilhelm the night before, this song could not have had worse timing…at least for Wilhelm, who continued to harbor feelings for his wife that had not diminished even one iota.

Of course, there were none in the hall unfamiliar with Wilhelm's relationship to the "Love Song of the Sword Devil." Even Emilia's cheeks hardened; even Felt's face was grave.

Accordingly, Subaru turned a gaze of concern toward Wilhelm, who was surely feeling considerable heartache—

" "

The forthright look that had returned to his blue eyes, like a lake without a single ripple disturbing its surface, made Subaru unconsciously draw in his breath.

For a single instant, Wilhelm nodded toward Subaru's black eyes. Then he slowly turned to his left, where his young red-haired grandson was seated.

"—Reinhard."

As if to slice the concerns as well as Subaru and the others around them away, Wilhelm carefully spoke that name aloud.

Reinhard opened his eyes wide as he looked at Wilhelm. In turn, Wilhelm received Reinhard's gaze head-on.

A silence fell between the pair— No, it enveloped the entirety of the reception hall.

Expressions of urgency came over everyone as they sensed that a fateful conversation between grandfather and grandson was imminent. Within the room, the only sound was that of the daisukiyaki already frying atop the hot iron plates.

And while it was still unclear whether the silence had lasted for an instant or the span of several breaths—

"You see…"

"Yes, what is it?"

"…I am not frying this very well. If there is a knack to this, could you teach it to me?"

That was what Wilhelm said with curt, halting words.

Just how much courage did Wilhelm summon to spit those words out? Subaru had some idea. Apparently, Crusch and Ferris recognized this as well, being as wide-eyed as he.

From the side, Subaru watched complex emotions ripple across Reinhard's face as he listened to his haggard grandfather's words.

Reinhard closed his eyes in sorrow, or perhaps some undefinable emotion, then swept it away with a deep breath. From there, he slowly relaxed and said—

"—Yes. I understand, Grandfather."

As the tension palpably drained from his eyes and mouth, there was no longer any doubt that he was smiling.

This was not the hero's smile that Reinhard used to set people at ease on a daily basis. This was an expression that only belonged to the young man named Reinhard, not the Sword Saint.

Wilhelm was taken aback. Then he slowly lowered his head.

He couldn't immediately accept it. However, even if it didn't seem real at first, a connection had surely been made.

The long, deep chasm that had opened up between the pair, between grandfather and grandson, might still require as much time to fill as it had taken to dig it. But now that they had bridged that gap once, all there was to do now was fill it with acceptance.

Tracing that future in his mind, Subaru, feeling a flood of emotions, tightly clenched a fist.

After all—

"—Oh, no you don't, Father. Isn't it too convenient to pull that after all this time?"

Suddenly, a red-haired man opened the screen door and peered into the hall.

The sheer malice in his words stunned Subaru, who forgot the very passage of time in his shock.

5

The greatest of moments had been ruined in the vilest way possible.

The red-haired man's action could be considered a type of evil—no, it was cruelty.

A faint whiff of alcohol wafted from this flushed man as he stroked the stubble on his cheek. A repulsive smile came over him. His age seemed to be around forty, give or take.

The reason these little gestures and askew grooming instilled even greater disgust than necessary was because his outward appearance was fundamentally handsome. It was a striking rejection and sullying of beauty.

The deep-rooted sense of malice from the tall man's appearance was making Subaru sick.

"…Who the heck are you?"

"Aaahhh?"

As all the others in the hall held their tongues, Subaru was the first among them to raise his voice. He moved a hand behind his hip, grasping hold of something as he made a threatening sound, blood rising to his head in indignation.

That moment, everyone should have been wishing for reconciliation between the awkward pair. Subaru felt nothing but anger for the man who'd interfered.

His friend and the man he admired were making progress on repairing their relationship, until—

"Answer me. Who the hell are you?"

"…Those're some nasty eyes ya got there, brat. You got any idea who you're picking a fight with, huh, greenhorn knight?"

"Don't make me laugh. You're the one picking a fight. I'm just taking you up on the offer."

Subaru stood up then and there, finally approaching his limit.

Beside him, Beatrice quietly sat, putting her hand within easy reach of Subaru. His reliable partner approved of the flames of anger welling up in Subaru's heart.

Looking down at Subaru, the man had an annoyed look on his face as he raggedly scratched his head.

"What a noisy brat. Hey, Sword Saint, Julius, or hell, even Argyle—cut this rude brat down."

Pointing at Subaru with his scratching hand, the man ordered Reinhard and the others in a casual voice. Subaru could only interpret his arrogant statement as contempt for all three.

This time, Subaru seriously made ready to swing his arm and smack the man across the face— "I must object."

—but just before he could act, Julius held Subaru's shoulder in check, forcing him to stop.

Julius, who had risen at some point, stood directly to Subaru's right while grasping his shoulder. Turning to glance at Subaru, he set his jaw firmly.

Then he glared at the red-haired intruder.

"Currently, I, Ferris, and Reinhard are on special duty and relieved from

our normal responsibilities. Accordingly, even the vice captain does not possess command authority over us at the moment."

"Right, right. Ferri is Lady Crusch's servant both in name and fact right meow. So I cannot obey your command."

Seizing the opportunity provided by Julius's assertion, Ferris hugged Crusch's arm as he gave his irreverent reply. Crusch was momentarily surprised to find her knight wrapped around her, but she immediately looked at the man with a sober expression.

When Subaru looked around, the other people in the room had similar expressions as they drew close, making no attempt to hide their hostility toward the interloper.

Of course not. This was the man who had wrecked the reconciliation between grandfather and grandchild that everyone had been watching with bated breath.

"Hey, hey. What a scary lot. Obviously, that was a joke, so don't get all worked up over nothing. Even if I am a vice captain in name only, I'll uphold the rules of the knighthood at least."

"In name only…?"

Subaru knit his brows at the word choice of the drunkard with a thin smile on his lips. Hearing Subaru's murmur, the man shot him another gaze of ridicule.

"That's right, in name only. I am none other than Heinkel the Idle, the despised, ornamental vice captain of the royal guard of the Kingdom of

Lugunica."

"Don't get passive-aggressive with that idle and despised stuff."

"Gah-ha-ha! It hurts my ears to hear that. It hurts, it hurts, it hurts so much, I can't stand it…so shut your mouth, damn brat."

"—!"

The gloom and darkness brimming in those eyes sent a chill running down Subaru's spine.

This wasn't the same fear he felt when confronting a powerful being, such as the White Whale or a Witch. No, this was a separate, more personal feeling of revulsion.

"Calm down, Subaru. You mustn't get caught up in the vice captain's rhythm."

As Subaru drew in his breath, Julius addressed him. The words made the man—Heinkel—shoot Julius a somber smile.

"Ha! That's the Finest of Knights for you. Such refined conduct and careful choice of words. If those actually amounted to real power among

knights, you'd have a proper following of your own."

"I am honored that you would praise me so, Vice Captain Heinkel… Incidentally, what business brings you here on this occasion? According to memory, the vice captain should have been assigned the duty of garrisoning the Royal Palace in the capital."

"Such graceful sarcasm. The castle's security won't be affected due to my absence, especially with the great Captain Marcus taking care of it…and it ain't like there's a royal family to protect now, is there?"

"Heinkel!"

It was Wilhelm who rose and shouted in anger at Heinkel's statement, which, considering the place, was insolent to the extreme. The Sword Devil had an incredible look on his face as his lips openly trembled. "Heinkel…"

"I heard you the first time. I'm not old enough to be hard of hearing yet.

Well, just let that slide as the ramblings of a drunk. More importantly…"

When Wilhelm raised his voice, Heinkel shrugged with an innocent look on his face. Then he surveyed the interior of the room with eyes just as blue as Wilhelm's.

"Not inviting me to the celebration for the hunt of the White Whale… What's the big idea? How cold and callous can you be? It's a big job that took over ten years to complete. I had just as much right as anybody to join the celebration and share in the happiness. Ain't that right, Father of mine?"

"Heinkel, I…"

"Reinhard! You feel the same way, don't ya?"

" "

Adopting a face oozing with malice, Heinkel dug right into Wilhelm's heart.

The old man's expression registered pain as if he was being sliced with a blade, but Heinkel cared not. His voice interrupted Wilhelm's protest, directing his malice toward its next destination: Reinhard.

Those words made Reinhard, who had maintained his silence to that point, finally meet Heinkel's gaze.

"Thanks to Father, the burden on your shoulders got lighter, didn't it? This

is your magnificent grandfather, the man who avenged his wife, my mother, and your grandmother. You didn't even say one word about him doing a good job, did you? After all…"

Breaking off his speech, Heinkel smeared a healthy dose of poison onto his blade of words. Then he spoke again.

"…he's the one who avenged the predecessor you let die, isn't that right?"

—This man's face, more than any other Subaru had ever seen, deserved to be called…repulsive.

Heinkel's words, his face, his demeanor, his voice, his gaze—every single thing emanating from his entire existence was drenched with nothing but malice.

This was a man of pure contempt, a man whose repulsiveness was his reason for being.

"Stop this, Heinkel! You… Even for you, this is…!"

"Stop trying to pretty it up after all this time, Father. You don't have any right to criticize me. After all, the first one to scold Reinhard for killing his predecessor…was none other than you."

"—!"

Heinkel's words were like a curse craftily brewed by distilling all the hatred in the world. And the content of those words was a denunciation Subaru could not bear to hear.

The guy was spouting nothing but lies. It was wrong. It was false. It was obviously made-up.

It simply couldn't be. And yet, neither Reinhard nor Wilhelm…

" "

Neither of them opened their mouths to deny it.

Why? All they had to say was one word: no. If they swept it all away as made-up garbage, Subaru would believe them without any doubt whatsoever.

His friend in arms and his respected mentor versus a drunken excuse of a man—there was no need to anguish over whom to believe.

That was why Subaru desperately wanted the two to speak the one word that would make this all go away.

"Gone quiet 'cause the truth's inconvenient for ya? That's how it's been for fifteen years. Father hasn't changed one bit, either. If he hasn't changed, no way we're patching things up. You think Theresia van Astrea would allow something as simpleminded as that?"

Silence descended upon the hall as Heinkel's curse persisted.

The name he invoked was that of Wilhelm's wife and Reinhard's grandmother—

"—My dead mother has cursed us, all three generations of Astreas. We're not allowed forgiveness."

The man called the prior Sword Saint, Theresia…his mother.

That made him Reinhard's father and Wilhelm's son.

"Heinkel van Astrea…"

Saying the name aloud, Subaru could feel its weight.

He'd grasped who Heinkel really was. There was no mistake; the man before him carried the name of the Astrea family line—even though his character was nothing like the Astreas whom Subaru knew.

"Don't add van to it, brat. I never got the sword name. It's Heinkel

Astrea."

Overhearing Subaru's troubled murmur, Heinkel clicked his tongue.

In an instant, pain appeared on Heinkel's face. Perhaps this was simply the first time he had allowed it to be seen since he'd arrived. Now pain ran through his eyes, which had held nothing but dark delight when he disparaged his family earlier.

Thinking that this did not amount to consolation of any kind, Subaru instantly cut it aside, but— "So what is it you came for?"

"Emilia?"

Everyone in the hall who had witnessed Heinkel's various words and actions received a jolt.

The first among them to come forward and pose that question was none other than Emilia.

The girl stood in front of Subaru, her silver hair billowing down her back as she voiced a soft-spoken anger. Subaru could keenly feel on his skin that her ire was genuine.

She always became upset when others were hurt for no good reason.

When she watched Reinhard and Wilhelm get hurt, it had roused her anger.

"…Well, well, so this is Lady Emilia. I've heard the rumors. You're apparently some kind of poor little half-demon princess burdened with a battle she can't possibly win."

"I'd like to discuss with you what you think of me at a later point, but I am not speaking of it now. I have only one question. Why have you come here?"

His provocative statement was meant to ridicule Emilia, but Heinkel looked taken aback when his effort backfired.

Subaru understood why the other camps within the room were shocked by Emilia's bold demeanor. Considering how Emilia had acted the previous day up to this morning, of course they were surprised by the dramatic change.

This was why she pretended to be scatterbrained to conceal her true nature…is what some might believe, but that would be a lie. This was simply the kind of person she was.

"Everyone is gathered here because they were invited by Anastasia. But for everyone to be here at once is already coincidence, and I do not think you would simply happen to plan a visit at a time like this. That's doubly true for someone who's a high-ranking member of the Knights of the Royal Guard.

What is the meaning of this? Tell me."

"Tch, she ain't like the rumors at all…"

"Answer properly."

Heinkel clicked his tongue and furiously scratched his head—clear signs that Emilia was overwhelming him.

Emilia was angry, but in no way did she resort to a show of force. Her formidable presence was thanks to the indomitable spirit she possessed, not the overwhelming store of magical energy she was emanating.

"Wow, you stormed in all full of yourself only to get shut up by one chick glaring at ya, huh? Hey, Pops, that's really uncool of you."

"You have a point. If he wanted to entertain himself with amusing conversation, he should have gone to watch the Songstress. The stories there would have been much funnier and more bizarre."

"My, is that so? Then this uncouth individual should leave and by all means spend some time together with the oft-rumored Songstress."

"—!"

Backing Emilia up, Felt, Anastasia, and Crusch all chimed in.

Just as Emilia had done, the three other royal-selection candidates lashed at the boorish interloper with the sheer intensity of their commanding presence. Feeling the pressure coming from all four, Heinkel's cheek twitched.

It was almost as if…he was unworthy of standing on this stage. Compared with the people who had earned their right to be there, the gap between him and them was yawning indeed.

"Are you satisfied, vice captain? If you have no other business, I believe it would be mutually beneficial for you to depart from this place as soon as possible."

Julius made that suggestion as he beheld the contrast between the color of Heinkel's face and the rising temperature from the women.

In one sense, he was offering Heinkel a lifeboat. The thought crossed Subaru's mind that if possible, Heinkel's spirit should be broken then and there, but he wanted to avoid dragging out this conversation.

He didn't want to have Heinkel in the same room as Reinhard and Wilhelm any longer.

"Ughhh…"

"Vice captain, your decision. If possible, it would be best for all sides to refrain from speaking of this any fur…"

"—That will not be necessary, commoner."

The voice that called out was uncommonly charming, filled with the arrogance of one who looked down upon all others as a matter of fact.

The stunning voice compelled the hearts of anyone within earshot to submit and imposed the speaker's absolute sense of superiority on them, completely overwriting their perceptions of worth and value.

Everyone in the hall shifted their eyes toward the closed screen door behind Heinkel.

Already, not a single person paid Heinkel any more attention. Perhaps that was because their attention was gathered solely upon the sunlike heat approaching from beyond the threshold. And then—

"It would seem that the riffraff have been assembled. Marvelous. You have prepared a place suitable for my personal attendance. For this, and this alone, I commend you."

Her cleavage was provocatively exposed. She was clad in a dress as red as blood. Her arms were wrapped around her chest, propping up her substantial breasts and freely baring her lustrous skin while she flashed a sultry smile.

Her crimson eyes seemed to set all aflame. Her gaze seemed to make sport of everything. Her enchanting charisma was bewitchment made manifest, ready to enthrall every male in the world and make them her slaves.

Beyond a certain point, beauty could become violence. Her very existence was the embodiment of those words.

And her name was Priscilla Bariel.

With this, the fifth and final candidate for the royal selection had arrived, apparently uninvited, to the feast.

6

"I must say, however, you certainly are holding this event in a remote place. It was highly inconvenient locating suitable transport to cover such a distance. Well, the sights of the city and the odd structure of this inn do suit my tastes."

Concealing her lips behind a crimson fan, Priscilla snickered as she surveyed the hall.

The people shocked by her sudden appearance could not muster a response to her statement. Seeing this, Priscilla knit her shapely brows in displeasure.

"What is with this poor reaction, when I have bothered to walk here with my own two legs? Is it not proper custom to touch your heads to the floor and greet my arrival with deeply moved tears?"

"…Where do you get off acting like a big-shot princess? A scene like that would only happen in a dictatorship."

"Mmm?"

Subaru had unwittingly interrupted Priscilla's self-centered dictum. Overhearing his murmur, Priscilla inclined her head and gazed squarely at Subaru with her red eyes.

"…Who might you be? This is a room for fools ignorant of their station attempting to compete with me for the throne. Why is a vulgar peasant such as you mixed in among them?"

"Is she serious?"

Subaru dejectedly slumped at the genuine, threatening disdain trained toward him.

She gave no sign that this was a joke, nor any hint of sarcasm or ridicule.

In other words, it was just what it seemed. Priscilla was completely unaware of Subaru's very existence.

The way they had met ought to have left something of an impression, but she'd already forgotten him entirely.

"Hey, Princess. Even for you, isn't that horrible? Maybe he doesn't stand out to a princess like you, but to me, this bro of mine is plenty interesting, okay?"

Then as if to split asunder the terrible, stagnant pall hanging over the hall, a voice casually called out to Priscilla.

The voice was fairly muffled and was accompanied by a faint metallic clinking. A lumbering noise came in from the corridor as a one-armed man appeared to stand at Priscilla's side.

The man's head was covered in a pitch-black steel helm, with the rest of him clad in crude clothing that had a rustic, bandit chic to it. This was Al, both Priscilla's retainer and a man in the same position as Subaru—he had also been summoned from another world.

Al, who was naturally traveling with his liege, wearily shrugged in Priscilla's direction.

"Come on, you remember, right? This is the guy who seriously shamed himself in front of a massive crowd when Princess and the others declared their beliefs back at the castle. That's this bro right here. You grabbed your belly and laughed a ton, didn't you?"

"I have no memory of such a thing. In the first place, would I ever do something as tactless as grasp my belly and laugh? Do not confuse nobility such as mine with that of these country bumpkins. Next time, I shall remove your head from your shoulders, Al."

"Well, there you have it, Bro. Sorry, I just can't cut it. You're gonna have to work hard and raise your affinity points up from scratch again."

"You had a whole year, so you could've raised your speech ability a little bit more, damn it!"

Al apologized to Subaru as he swiftly gave up on trying to remind his liege of their first meeting. The frivolous way he went "sowwy, sowwy" felt like he hadn't changed one bit in the last year, leaving Subaru with little to do but sigh at the steadfast master and servant.

"Being able to change like you is the privilege of the young, Bro. An old guy like me can't do that, no, sir."

"Man, I was just about to revise the rankings on my do not turn into adults like these list—though some exceptions apply."

In contrast to Al's flippant tongue, Subaru ended his reply by glancing Heinkel's way. The man, completely abandoned as everyone's attention went elsewhere, shot Priscilla a servile smile.

"You're late, Lady Priscilla. My liver was freezing, wondering if you'd ever show up…"

"Do not chirp at me, commoner. If I command you to dance, it is your duty as a commoner to dance until I command you to cease or until your demise. Should you misunderstand this and seek to 'correct' me, your death for your conceit shall be neither brief nor painless."

"Ghhh…"

Heinkel's face had momentarily brightened at the prospect of turning things around, but Priscilla's sharp tongue-lashing shut him up. But Subaru raised his eyebrows as the pair's conversation made him harbor suspicions.

"Priscilla, is he with you?"

"…Who granted you permission to address me without title, vulgar peasant? Even though I am as generous as a compassionate mother, it is quite limited in regards to such behavior coming from anyone but a child."

"Princess."

Al called out to Priscilla as she shot a cruel look toward Subaru. The whiff of supplication contained in his voice caused Priscilla to close one eye and let out a sigh.

"I know not why, but my servant has taken a rather odd liking to you. I will refrain from removing even a single layer of skin off your head, so you should thank Al— No, you should revere me. I shall overlook your impertinence this once."

"…I'm grateful for your enormous generosity. Now answer my question."

"Whether this commoner is with me or not, was it? In that case, you assume correctly. It is precisely that. I summoned him and dispatched him to this place."

"—!! What for?!"

"If I must name a reason, then it is because I thought it would be amusing."

Subaru was aghast. Bringing an uninvited guest who proceeded to ruin a grandfather's opportunity to reconcile with his grandson—Priscilla had created this situation for a terrifyingly cruel reason.

As Subaru gazed at Priscilla in dazed silence, she explained further.

"Yes. Such awkward and pitiful attempts to smooth over warped family bonds… There is no way I could calmly allow such an unsightly performance to continue. Accordingly, I have altered the script more to my liking. Quite a spectacle, was it not?"

"Priscillaaa!"

Her actions had been beyond vicious, and the way she casually talked about it sent Subaru flying into a rage.

Spectacle. That was what this woman had called it. Inflicting deep wounds upon the hearts of Reinhard and Wilhelm, a few short steps away from going back to being family… She'd called that a spectacle.

"Quit it, Bro. There's nothing gained from us going toe to toe here. Princess's personality being twisted isn't new. Just think of it as bad luck… the stars being out of alignment."

"If you get that, rein her in, damn it. Stars, my ass. You've gotta be kidding me."

As Subaru's blood ran hot, Al halted him with a push of his right hand. Having only one arm, he couldn't draw his sword like that—he was making it clear that he had no intention of fighting.

Subaru clenched his teeth tight. He realized he was the only one in the room who'd forgotten himself in a fit of anger. Obviously, this went for the royal candidates, but there was no sign of Julius or Ferris being agitated by events, either.

Of course not. This was a graceful assembly of the rising stars aiming to be the next generation to carry the burden of the throne—not a single person among them wanted allies who might give in to their emotions and hurt others in a fit of rage.

"But isn't that saying you can hurt people emotionally all you want and it's okay…?!"

"Subaru…"

When Subaru put his nigh-unendurable anger into words, Emilia called out to him with shaking, forlorn eyes. When he noticed the sensation of his sleeve being pulled, Beatrice was there, too, holding Subaru's hand.

Accepting the pair's sympathy, Subaru sighed deeply with a bitter face.

"It would seem that the mongrel has ceased its baying. Today, I have come merely to make an appearance. Now that I have seen your tearful faces, I do not have any particular reason to remain."

"Well, isn't that fine and dandy…? You're the only one I didn't tell about what I was doing here. Where did you hear of it?"

Anastasia cut into Priscilla's crowing over having raised such a great ruckus. Wariness resided in Anastasia's pale blue-green eyes as a wry smile spread across her lips.

"And here I was sure that I hadn't slipped up and told any child with loose lips…"

"Drop the pretenses, you sly fox. When something enters the ears of men, it is inevitable that it shall trickle forth like drops of tears. As the numbers increase, so do the openings. You are not the only one who keeps a close eye on the movements of others."

"Heh, now that surprises me. I didn't expect that out of Priscilla of all people."

The sarcasm mixed with admiration made Priscilla spread out her fan as she broke into derisive laughter.

"Were I a fool who sees only what is on the surface, I would be no different from you commoners. As people competing with me for succession rights, surely you are not attempting to disappoint me with a poor performance, yes?"

"…You truly are a hard one to put a finger on."

Exasperation was apparent in Anastasia's voice as she sighed at Priscilla's remark.

Subaru completely agreed with Anastasia on that point. He'd misjudged Priscilla as someone who didn't see the other candidates as actual rivals and assumed she strictly followed her own path.

But judging from her actions on this day, Priscilla had acquired accurate intelligence, prepared countermeasures, and set her plan in motion without any disdain for detail—and so she had brought this most horrible of developments about.

"This old man, he's Reinhard's dad, right?"

Then after having ignored the course of the conversation to that point, one voice wedged itself in with complete disregard for the current situation.

It was Felt who had raised her voice while stabbing a fork into the daisukiyaki on her plate. While she merrily stuffed her cheeks, her mouth was marred with sauce as she glared at Priscilla.

"You were acting all chummy back at the castle before, so between that and the talk just now, I get it. It's not like I know all about this guy's family situation…but the old man's relationship with you, now that's different."

"…Oh? And what opinion would a mere girl from the slums deign to hold about me?"

"Ain't like this has nothin' to do with me. The Astrea family is Reinhard's to inherit, right? That's my so-called lifeline, and this old man has it in the palm of his hand."

As Felt elaborated, Reinhard stiffened his cheeks as he sat beside her. One glance at his reaction was enough to convey to Subaru and the others the enormity of this matter.

Felt was an orphan with no other backing. She had no other substantial support save that of Reinhard's family. Over the last year, her activities had been centered upon the Astrea domain, allowing her to raise her name as a royal candidate bit by bit. But what would happen if that sure footing collapsed?

What if the control of the Astrea family and the real clout within it was actually held by Heinkel?

"Heh, so your puny head finally caught up? That's slow even for you bunch of half-wits."

Heinkel sneered as Felt finally grasped what he was thinking.

"That's just how it is. The Astrea family inheritance is in my care. I don't have any intention of handing it to Reinhard, and I never did! Not to Mr. High-and-Mighty Sword Saint who's oh so busy for the nation! I wouldn't dream of entrusting it to someone with such a troublesome and annoying job!"

"Big talk for a lord in name only. You bastard, do you even know what kind of state you left your lands in? You and the folks around you were all doing whatever you damn well pleased."

When Felt growled as low as she could, Heinkel mocked her, saying, "Ooh, scary." His provocative words and gestures only added to the disgust and disdain already suffusing the room.

Having endured far too many malignant slights, Reinhard finally lifted up his head. He was still striving to maintain a neutral expression as he looked not at his father but toward Felt. "Lady Felt, I…"

"Reinhard."

Reinhard was about to say something, but then he stopped. The cause was Felt thrusting her fork toward the tip of his nose. Reinhard's eyes wavered as his liege's action sealed his lips. Then without even a glance Reinhard's way, Felt—

"—Shut up and put on your war face."

Reinhard opened his eyes wide as Felt casually issued a command. But it was the change in him immediately after that shocked everyone else.

"—Yes."

Reinhard nodded solemnly as light returned to his blue eyes. Though his own father had derided him and wrecked his moment of reconciliation with his grandfather, the pain that had clung to him was gone, at least for that single brief moment.

"…If it's not one thing, it's another. Stop messin' around."

Heinkel clicked his tongue as things once again started going awry. However, after shaking his head, a wicked smile immediately returned to his face.

"Say what you want; your sense of danger is spot-on, oh great master of

Reinhard. The Astrea family is mine. And I don't support you."

To ensnare others and hurt them with cruel speech—with no objectives save these, Heinkel swung his words like a blade.

"No one needs me to spell out just who I support, I'm sure. You've worked so hard over the last year. The results are marvelous. And now I'm going to take everything you've built up and hand it to Lady Priscilla as a present…"

"Commoner."

"Aah? Yes, Lady Priscilla? I'm in the middle of an important conversation here."

"Silence."

The tyrannical act that immediately followed made everyone gasp.

With no more warning than that one word, Priscilla flashed her fan out toward the wide-eyed Heinkel's skull. The folded fan sliced through the air, inverting his body with incredible force and slamming him onto the floor. The impact made Heinkel's eyes roll, rendering him unconscious in a single blow.

But Priscilla's chastisement did not end there. She kicked up the fallen Heinkel with the tip of her shoe, then drew back her hand while he was airborne. And then she began to swing—

"Princess, your tantrum's gone far enough. He'll die."

Priscilla glared at Al with her red eyes as he grasped her wrist and called for her to stop. But Al's action was the right one. Heinkel would have died if he hadn't stepped in.

After all, at some point, a beautiful crimson sword had found its way into Priscilla's hand.

The gleaming blade featured an undulating pattern to it. One could tell from a single glance that it was no normal weapon. It had appeared in Priscilla's hand in the blink of an eye and vanished just as quickly.

Seeing this, Al slowly released Priscilla's hand.

"Sheesh, gimme a break here. You even drew the Sun Blade. It's bad for my heart… Bnnnfh!!"

"You are most rude, Al. Whose permission did you obtain to touch my jewellike flesh? It is your business how you deal with your dearth of womanly attention and seething desire, but do not even dream of sullying me in the process."

Slamming her freed hand into Al's gut, Priscilla made her retainer groan in anguish. She let out a snort, gazing down upon Heinkel with cold eyes as he lay there pathetically on the floor.

The uncaring cruelty in those crimson eyes was frightening indeed.

"Though it is not my wont to grant mercy to those committing gross acts of impropriety…Al's words do have some merit."

"If you think that, I'd kinda prefer if you treated me a little more gently."

"Do not say that. I am not a demon. Later, I shall grant you the reward of being permitted to lick my foot."

"Can you stop talking like that'd actually make me happy?! You'll cause all kinds of misunderstandings!"

Priscilla paid no attention to Al as he pleaded on bended knee. Instead, she clapped her hands together.

"Schult, carry that commoner out of here. It would be a waste to discard him just yet. Attend to his wounds."

"Right away, Lady Priscilla!"

Appearing the moment she issued the summons was a pink-haired boy who'd apparently been waiting in the corridor. Subaru had seen this person at Priscilla's mansion once previously; he was a boy with adorably curly, fluffy-looking hair.

The young, still growing butler raced over to Heinkel with tiny steps.

"Pardon my rudeness, Lord Heinkel."

With those polite words, he grabbed hold of both of Heinkel's legs and dragged him into the corridor. The method of transportation caused Heinkel some bumps here and there, but Schult faithfully performed his job without a single word of complaint.

Seeing the youth's professionalism on display, Al prodded the eye slits of his helm as he made a passing comment.

"Our lovely boy Schult is always so lively, isn't he? You really need to praise him more, Princess."

"It is only natural that I should be served with all of one's spirit. That is what I love about Schult. I shall properly reward him. Schult, too, shall be allowed to lick my foot."

"That image is waaaay too indecent. Give him a different reward, I'm begging you."

"Hmm. Then the honor of sleeping while snuggled up and embracing me, perhaps?"

"…Well, that much is fine, I suppose. I almost wanna trade places with him now."

At the conclusion of that carefree exchange between master and servant, Priscilla returned her gaze to the hall once more. Among the people in the room, she turned her eyes toward Felt and the grave face she wore.

Come to think of it, those two had glared at each other like this back at the castle, too. Perhaps their compatibility was horrible by nature.

"So was the old man serious just now? He's gonna drive me out and take back his place as lord?"

"If it was so, what would you do about it? Cry into your pillow and politely back down?"

"Ha! Don't make me laugh. No matter what anyone says, that's the last thing anyone'll catch me doing. If there's no inheritance and I get driven out of the Astrea domain, it makes things reaaal simple, doesn't it?"

As she spoke, Felt's face contorted into a ferocious smile as she gestured at Reinhard.

"He'll just make that old fart hand over the inheritance. He's pretty laidback, but he's a hell of a lot more reliable than that jerk. That bastard'll be retiring in no time."

" "

Regardless of whether it was realistic or not, it was a remarkably satisfying declaration.

Felt's proclamation made Priscilla narrow her eyes. Then Priscilla covered her lips with her fan once more.

"There is no need to take that commoner's words at face value. Even if rights to the domain were changed on paper, the trust of the populace would remain yours. The masses may be made up of ignorant fools, but their very foolishness means they are slow to forget a grudge. As the only value of the talentless rabble is to callously employ them as pawns, this renders them unusable."

"…Then why'd you bring that old man with you?"

"I have already told you. I brought him for nothing more than my own amusement. In that sense, he has already proved his worth."

With absolute faith in her own standards, Priscilla spoke without hesitation as she surveyed the room.

She was set in her ways. Surrender and serve or confront her with an iron will; there were no other options.

" "

And the four candidates who stood in opposition to her did not hesitate to assert their own will.

Receiving their gazes, Priscilla nodded with profound satisfaction.

"Very good. My victory is inevitable. Therefore, I desire that the path be as turbulent and entertaining as possible. Fan my flames, you who oppose me —those are the supporting roles you are all meant to play."

That was Priscilla's bold pronouncement to her four rivals one year after the royal selection had begun.

This was her judgment of the changes that had taken place over that year. This was the conclusion drawn by the crimson eyes of Priscilla Bariel, who had unshakable faith in the belief that the entire world moved for her own convenience.

"I'll make you regret that pride."

Felt's abrupt declaration of war reflected the views of everyone present.

7

—Even when things settled down, it was impossible to restore the hall's atmosphere to what it had been before.

After Felt addressed her, Priscilla exited the reception hall with Al in tow and a satisfied look on her face. Coming from Priscilla, that amounted to delight at having achieved her goal.

Considering the damage she had inflicted upon Subaru and the others, her actions were selfish to the extreme.

In the end, the respective camps that had gathered for a meal rose up, dispersing without a single attempt to resume their pleasant chat—and without Reinhard and Wilhelm reaching a peaceful reconciliation.

"We are truly fortunate that Garfiel was not there."

Those were Otto's parting words as he left for the Muse Company on his own.

He certainly had a point. If Garfiel and other hotheads had been present, carnage might well have been unavoidable. Thanks to that, Heinkel had escaped with his life.

Of course, had he lost his life in the ensuing clash, the reputation of his killer and their master would have fallen to the level of dirt.

"Don't tell me she made a mess of the place aiming for that… I'm overthinking this, right?"

The frightening mental image of Priscilla's blazing eyes seeing through every possibility arose in his mind. He felt that if he denied it, passing everything off as nothing but coincidence, it was tantamount to accepting that her success was thanks to her good fortune.

"Cool it, you clown… In the end, I'm the only one who blew his lid."

Looking back at the events that had unfolded in the hall, Subaru truly thought his lack of self-control was pathetic.

Even Felt had acted in a logical manner; Subaru had been the most emotional person in the room. He must have been a source of great anxiety for Emilia and Beatrice, too.

In an attempt to dispel his agitation, Subaru was walking around the inn, striving for mental calm before going on the scheduled stroll with Emilia and company.

The creaks of the wooden floor seemed to reflect the creaks he felt in his own heart. Finding them exceptionally irritating, Subaru marched with heavy steps as if it would help him understand.

"Do not take your frustrations out on the floor. It will cause problems for the inn workers."

Subaru had been staring intently at the floor when a voice called out to him. Looking around, he spotted Julius watching him from the garden. Subaru had arrived at the edge of the garden at some point without even realizing it.

The man looked oddly picturesque as he touched a hand to his slightly unruly purple hair, which was being caressed by a refreshing breeze.

"You are not together with Lady Emilia and Lady Beatrice?"

"Well, you can see that. Neither of them is a child, and they're both at an age where they want some private time. Even I have enough delicacy to

respect that. Besides, we're going on a date later."

"There are several terms I have not heard before, but I believe I understand. It would seem even you can learn how to be considerate."

"Ghhh, why you…!"

Though Subaru had been quick to pick a fight, it was Julius who had landed the first substantial blow, causing Subaru to lose his cool. But his irritation instantly dissipated when he saw Julius's expression.

Julius's eyelashes were quivering, somehow seeming like he was biting back remorse.

"I am sorry. If you really did lack empathy and thoughtfulness, you wouldn't have been so distressed talking to the vice captain earlier—if anything, I should be thanking you."

"All I did was lose my temper like an idiot while everyone else thought things through and kept their cool."

"That is not so. It was only because of your display of anger that those around you were able to maintain their calm, nothing more. I am no

exception. Your rashness served a valuable purpose." "You're not really trying to praise me, though, are you?" Subaru grimaced at the words lavished upon him.

"I get it. I need to be calmer and remember to keep my cool. That's how a knight should act, isn't it? I'm aware that I don't think far ahead enough. After all, I had it marked on every report card I got in elementary school."

"…Certainly, if it is chivalrous conduct one seeks, your actions cannot be praised. However."

Julius abruptly broke off his words. When Subaru realized what he was doing, his eyes shot open in surprise.

"Uh, what are you doing?"

"Precisely what it looks like."

"Well, from my end, it looks like you're bowing to me."

Julius had gone down on one knee, solemnly lowering his head.

This was not a knightly salute, nor a custom among nobles. He was simply acting as an individual person.

"You have my gratitude. I wanted to thank you for your righteous indignation in that setting."

"…I don't know what you mean."

"If one is devoted to chivalry, one must strive to behave in a knightly fashion regardless of the circumstance… One can never act out of emotion, even if his friend is being disparaged or humiliated. But you were not bound by such things."

His head still bowed, Julius added more words of thanks for Subaru's recklessness.

The unexpected response made Subaru blink several times over.

However, finally—

"So you're basically thanking me for getting angry in your place—man, are you stupid or what?"

When the still-irritated Subaru vented, his words caused Julius to lift his head. Receiving the brunt of Subaru's anger, he let his lips curl into a selfdeprecating smile.

"Stupid, you say."

"Stupid and a bad joke. Why do I have to be angry instead of you? I'm pissed at myself for the fact that I got angry. It's not like I tried to smack that bearded face for anyone else but myself."

Subaru was genuinely exasperated with Julius, thinking he had gotten it all wrong.

His temper tantrum was nothing as noble as the righteous indignation Julius made it out to be. Subaru knew practically nothing of the issues surrounding the Astrea family. That's why he'd selfishly gotten upset over his own selfish assumptions, nothing more.

"If you didn't like it, you should've gotten angry, too. Because it was just me, he blew me off, but if you had joined in, that dad of Reinhard's would've run with his tail between his legs."

"Figurehead or not, he is the vice captain of the Knights of the Royal Guard. It would be reprehensible to act with such rudeness toward a direct superior."

"You're not directly under him at the moment, and just now, you called him a figurehead, didn't you? How inflexible can you be, man? The whole time you were dedicating yourself to chivalry, were you also putting armor around your heart, too?"

Pressing Julius into silence, Subaru folded his arms and lifted his face toward the heavens with a snort.

It was an infantile argument. Even though he was being thanked, Subaru was lashing out at Julius simply because he didn't care for it.

"Armor over the heart, you say…? Hmph, that remark cuts quite deep."

"For me, it sounds like a pretty cool thing to say, but don't think too hard on it. Just the words of a fool."

"No, I shall take them to heart. It was pleasant to think I had been saved by you, a thought I would never have even imagined a year prior."

"Just so you know, I still have nightmares about that once in a while."

"Hmm… Were it possible, I would like to avoid a situation where we reunite in your dreams on a nightly basis."

"I'd also far prefer to do this and that with Emilia-tan instead! There's no room for you in my dreams!"

With the appreciative atmosphere from before gone, Julius returned to his normal tone of voice as he ran a hand through his hair. Disgusted with himself for being relieved by the change in attitude, Subaru forcibly switched topics.

"About Beard-face back there… Seriously, the vice captain is Reinhard's dad?"

"I suppose it isn't surprising that you would have doubts, but it is true.

That individual is indeed Heinkel Astrea, vice captain of the Knights of the

Royal Guard of Lugunica."

"What's the reason for that? Is human resources blind, or did no one even question whether he'd be a problem?"

"The answers are all in what you overheard. Of course, there is no lack of dissenters who doubt the vice captain's worth, both from the leadership and from within the royal guard itself. As a matter of fact, the position of vice captain was assigned for decorative purposes. Surely, there are none who

have witnessed him actually engaged in his duties."

When Julius shook his head and replied, Subaru conjured the mental image of some high-ranking bureaucrat stepping down to take a cushy job in private industry. That seemed a fitting description for Heinkel's situation—an important, high-paying job that required little actual work.

"Don't tell me he used his influence as the dad of the Sword Saint to land that position?"

"…That is also part of it. But the greatest reason lies not with the vice captain but with Reinhard…or perhaps it is more accurate to say the Astrea family."

"The Astrea family… Does that include Wilhelm too?"

"Well, that man is Master Wilhelm's son and the current head of the Astrea family. He is also Reinhard's own father. What would happen to the kingdom if such an individual rebelled due to discourteous treatment?"

As he rattled off another explanation, Julius strove to keep his replies as emotionless as possible.

Listening to his words, Subaru sank into thought for several seconds. Then he immediately arrived at the answer.

The reason that man, Heinkel Astrea, was treated so favorably by the kingdom was—

"—If Heinkel revolts, that'd mean the family of the Sword Saint becoming an enemy of the kingdom. So he's being treated like a big shot to maintain good relations…? In other words, the kingdom doesn't trust Reinhard, or Wilhelm for that matter?!"

If that was the case, Subaru could only think of such treatment as a grave insult toward Reinhard and Wilhelm both. Considering the pair's personalities, how could anyone think they might betray the kingdom?

"Your anger is justified. However, those in charge of the kingdom must consider all possibilities."

"As if that's even possible!! There's no way something like that could even…!"

"…Master Wilhelm is the former captain of the Knights of the Royal

Guard."

When Julius took a step forward and spoke those words, Subaru's breath caught, his body coming to a halt.

"Fifteen years ago, someone abducted a member of the royal family from the Royal Palace. At the time, Master Wilhelm was in charge of the search for the abducted royal as captain of the Knights of the Royal Guard."

"So? Even I've heard about that kidnapping."

A kidnapped royal—would that mean Felt? That incident was supposedly the whole justification behind her taking part in the royal selection. Why was Julius digging up that surreal story?

"I also know that the abducted kid was never found. But what of it? Does that mean Wilhelm has some sort of grudge against the kingdom because he

had to take responsibility and quit the knighthood?"

"That is not so—however, the 'Grand Expedition,' the effort to bring down the White Whale that included the prior Sword Saint, took place during the time Master Wilhelm was absent from the capital to conduct the search."

The words Julius spoke made Subaru's mind go blank once more. Sliding into that blank space were words he recalled hearing from Wilhelm at some time or other.

Wilhelm had said he had been unable to be with his wife at the time of her death.

"Because of the incident, he couldn't be there when his wife died, so he holds a grudge against the person responsible?"

"I do not know Master Wilhelm's true intentions. However, the facts remain that the search was aborted, the Grand Expedition itself ended in failure, and Master Wilhelm resigned from the Knights of the Royal Guard. The guard surely would not have recovered if it were not for Captain Marcus exhausting every effort to do so."

"Like I care about what happened after! I'm talking about Wilhelm here.

What do you think? Does he still hold a grudge about his wife, and…?" Did Julius suspect that Wilhelm might rebel against the kingdom?

Did he think that this person, Wilhelm van Astrea, was that kind of human being?

How could someone look at him and think that about a man so forthright about his love that he'd offered up everything for it? Couldn't you tell from looking at his eyes, his back?

And why were the people Subaru liked exposed to such undeserved prejudice?

"Why can't everyone understand he's not that kind of person…?"

Demanding to know why in a choked voice, Subaru glared at Julius. Accepting his withering gaze head-on, Julius's eyes somehow seemed envious as he looked back at Subaru.

Subaru knew. He was well aware his anger was misplaced and aimed at the wrong target.

In the end, Julius had just objectively recited the tale. In no way did Julius himself doubt Wilhelm, nor was he one of the people who doubted Wilhelm.

After all, Julius had thanked Wilhelm after the battle with the White Whale one year prior.

He'd praised Wilhelm for pursuing his greatest wish for fourteen long years.

"…Sorry. I'm an idiot."

"No, you are not in the wrong. What you say is correct. It is I who is in the wrong—and so I shall remain, without a chance to rectify my mistake."

Lowering their gazes, both of them closed their eyes as they wrestled with such unbearable thoughts.

The seeds of distrust about Wilhelm's true intentions still remained. They weren't the sort of thing that could be immediately solved with words and actions.

"…Does this go for Reinhard, too?"

"The situation is different in his case—at one time, Reinhard did whatever Master Heinkel told him to. It was not a period that could be

dismissed simply by saying, well, they were father and son."

Averting his gaze from Subaru, Julius seemed regretful as he spoke.

But without touching upon any of the details, Julius took a deep breath and continued his explanation.

"When Reinhard became independent, such behavior came to an end.

However, enough happened that a concern remains within the kingdom. Namely, could such a thing not come to pass once more?"

"…So to make sure Heinkel doesn't give Reinhard insane orders, the kingdom's trying its damnedest to keep Heinkel in a good mood?"

"Perhaps it is something far worse. In the end, this is nothing more than rumor, but I shall convey it to you nonetheless—to you, who expressed

indignation in that situation as Reinhard's friend."

With that worrying preamble, Julius quickly scanned their surroundings.

Having confirmed no one might overhear, he turned back toward Subaru. And then—

"The vice captain is suspected of involvement with the royal-abduction incident fifteen years ago."

"—?!"

"There is no conclusive proof. But the fact remains that I have heard suspicions surrounding a number of circumstances."

"Is that even possible? I mean, for him to be involved in the kidnapping."

"Whether it is true or false matters little. An individual who is suspected of such things could potentially command the kingdom's greatest warrior any way he wishes. This is seen as problematic."

Possessing the title of Sword Saint was a spectacular honor—however, the revelation of this situation made Subaru feel as if it was not so much an honor as a curse.

"I mean, if that's true, then it'd be Heinkel's fault Wilhelm wasn't able to be there when his wife died."

"…That is not the half of it. I have heard that at the time, it was Lord Heinkel who recommended that Lady Theresia, who had already laid down her sword and retired from active duty, participate in the Grand Expedition."

"He threw his own mom onto the front lines against that demon beast?!"

"We have records remaining from that time. The vice captain refused to join the Grand Expedition, nominating Lady Theresia to join the battle in his stead."

As Subaru learned more about this incident, he couldn't help but be stunned.

Heinkel had sent his own mother to take his place on the field of battle. There, his mother had been killed in action. To protect himself against his father, who was unable to be with her upon her death, from wielding his blades in vengeance, Heinkel used his son's talent as a shield, spending his own peaceful days in depraved indolence.

It couldn't be. A human being actually capable of such a thing couldn't really exist.

It wasn't because Subaru wanted to affirm Heinkel's humanity. He couldn't accept the theoretical possibility that a human who was able to live so shamelessly could even exist.

"…I am sorry. I should not have spoken of such things when you were not emotionally prepared for them."

Julius apologized in a morose voice when he noticed how Subaru was shocked and speechless.

Subaru had only been listening, and he could barely control himself. There was no way that Julius could possibly keep his composure when he had to be the one conveying it all. For someone like Julius, who constantly strove to be rational and logical, this behavior was particularly strange.

"…It's not like this is your fault. I'm the one who made you say it."

"It is not an attitude worthy of praise. To look at someone else's family and speak with a mixture of rumor and prejudice is extremely insensitive;

they are actions that a knight should be ashamed of."

"But you made sure to see it through, right? Because you're Reinhard's friend."

When Julius berated himself, Subaru shook his head side to side.

"I don't know how long you've been his friend, but I get that you're worried about him. That's why it's natural to be ticked off. I don't think there's one thing strange about that. I don't think it's right to politely back off just 'cause it's another family's private business, either."

For anyone who knew Julius, suspecting him of being an inconsiderate busybody was the height of foolishness.

Subaru Natsuki knew what exactly kind of person Julius Juukulius was. What was there to gain from suspecting friendship?

"I've told you before, right? There's no need to obsess with being a wellmannered knight all the time. Right, maybe you should strip off that armor and try being Juli for a while. Maybe being more flexible like that would help you do a whole bunch of things better."

Juli was the false name Julius had employed when cooperating with hunting down the Witch Cult. Given his position, Julius couldn't be seen joining a band of mercenaries, so he had offered the false name in a desperate attempt to hide his elegance behind his back. In the end, it was a name so useless that even Julius himself forgot to use it, but at the time, Julius had allowed himself to diverge the strict rules of knighthood.

"Juli, you say? That is quite a nostalgic name you have pulled out."

"It's the sort of one-and-done plot twist you forget in an instant. I'm proud of myself just for remembering it."

"…But when you say not to be bound by chivalry, you suggest a very difficult thing. It is not as if you are unaware of what they call me."

"That whole 'finest knight' thing is why you're always so stiff, right? When you get in the bath and take all that armor off, make sure you do some

extra stretching before you put it back on again."

On the spot, Subaru proudly bent his hips and touched his palms to the ground. He meant to show off how limber he had become over the past year.

"If you intended to best me with that little display, I can only sigh at your incredibly lacking powers of observation."

"Whoaaa?!"

After a quick remark, Julius opened his legs wide, one in front and one in back as he assumed an extreme pose in front of the triumphant Subaru. Subaru gaped at how far Julius's long legs could stretch. Without moving anything else, he brought his hips to the ground with ease.

The detestable man easily surpassed Subaru in every possible area.

"W-well, I'm still really good at singing and playing the lyulyre!"

"I truly cannot see the significance of winning such a contest, but I am somewhat familiar with musical performance."

"Gah! There it is! Even I know that when a guy like you acts humble, it means he's super good at it! Ain't no way I'm joining a band with you! You'll steal the vocalist spot from me in no time!"

"—I see."

As Subaru continued airing out his grievances, Julius returned his stretching legs to their proper positions and stood up. When Julius let out a short sigh, Subaru knit his brow; faced with that stare, Julius swept his own hair back, a triumphant smile coming over him as he gazed up at the sky.

"So when Juli looks up at the sky, standing in the bracing wind, this is what it feels like."

"Wha—?"

"Now that I think about it, the sky always looked different back then. I feel like I am only just recalling that."

"I don't get you. You really are one smug bastard."

Intentionally ignoring the atmosphere that had been building, Subaru sat down on the raised floor running along the garden's edge. Only flashing a troubled smile in reply to Subaru's insult, Julius half closed his eyes, seemingly dazzled by the rays of the sun.

A new mood had swept away the dregs of their awkward conversation.

Of course, that didn't wipe away Subaru's memory of what they'd discussed, and the stiffness remaining in his heart would not relent. Even so, he could be cooperative enough to not let it drag them both down.

—If anyone had been watching from a distance, they would have seen nothing but a normal pair of friends. 

CHAPTER 5

THEATRICAL MALICE

1

When Subaru's conversation with Julius, part momentous and part silly, had run its course, Subaru departed from the Water Raiment with Emilia and Beatrice in tow.

"Hey, Subaru. You seemed to be getting along really nicely with Julius in the garden. What did you talk about?"

"I wouldn't say we really got along or anything, but what do you think we talked about?"

"Where to go to play next time or something?"

"What are we, school buddies?!"

Unfortunately, their relationship was not nearly as friendly as Emilia imagined, and even if Subaru and Julius did attend the same school, the natural energies inside a school would keep them from ever being friends.

In one sense, a school was as much an exclusivist, discriminatory society as any system of nobility.

"Thinking of it that way, bridging social classes is a really tough thing to do in either case."

"There's no need to keep it that secret. You can just come out and tell me."

"Hey, we really were just scouting out the enemy a bit. The rest was just some chitchat about the world around us."

"Isn't that something friends do?"

When Emilia curiously tilted her head, Subaru tilted his, too. "Who knows?" he said.

Viewed objectively, it did seem to resemble friendship, but there was no way Subaru and Julius shared that. They were something worse than friends, but Subaru couldn't put his finger on what exactly.

"Well, we're not friends. That much I'm sure of."

"So stubborn…"

"He really is, I suppose."

Emilia looked exasperated while Beatrice simply sighed and agreed with her. For some reason, the two were so in sync that it made Subaru feel like he was being left out somehow.

In any case, setting aside whether he was friends with Julius or not, he had no intention of telling Emilia about the details of what they'd discussed —namely, the problems of the Astrea family. He didn't want to thoughtlessly divulge someone else's private family circumstances, but the biggest reason was the burden that knowing such information would inevitably create.

The deep-rooted problems of the Astrea family were not the sort that outsiders could approach half-heartedly.

Julius had been keenly aware of this when he revealed the details to Subaru alone. Julius had judged him as someone with enough consideration not to burden his own liege with such knowledge.

The fact that Julius had thought that much of him had left a strange feeling in the pit of his stomach, though.

"So, Subaru. I'm happy you invited me on a stroll, but what are you up to?"

Then as Subaru wrestled with an unsettling feeling that he struggled to identify, Emilia smiled and asked him.

For a moment, Subaru raised an eyebrow in surprise, but he immediately shrugged to try and gloss that over.

"Hey, that makes it sound like I'm plotting something. I'm not up to anything. I just wanted to have a lovey-dovey time in this crazy-beautiful city of water."

"Hmm, so that's what you're going with? Subaru, honestly, you're so stubborn and hardheaded. Even I won't fall for your sweet talk in a situation like this."

When Emilia pouted, Subaru put a hand to his forehead with a resigned look on his face. When he glanced at Beatrice for aid, who was in between Subaru and Emilia and holding one hand of each, she pretended not to notice —it seemed she had no intention of taking his side.

Meanwhile, Emilia's gaze was relentless. Subaru promptly crumbled.

"I get it; I'm raising the white flag. I wanted it to be a surprise for you,

Emilia-tan."

"A surprise… You mean, you were planning to startle me with something kooky?"

"No one says kooky anymo… Hey, I'm sorry, sorry!"

When Emilia puffed her cheeks up in anger at Subaru reacting like he always did, this time, he surrendered for good. Afraid of what might follow otherwise, Subaru suppressed his feelings of disappointment and put everything on the table.

"It's really not anything I'd call a scheme, though. Right now, we're heading for a park in the middle of the city, the one where Liliana performed yesterday."

"Wow, really? Then maybe Liliana will sing there today, too?"

"Your eyes are so cute when they sparkle like that. Well, I'm interested in Liliana's songs, too, but I also want to do some scouting and give Otto some fire support."

Subaru had no idea just how much trouble he'd caused for Otto, off on his own for solo negotiations with Kiritaka, who Subaru had angered with his botched plan from the day before.

It was absolutely not that he lacked faith in Otto's negotiating skills.

"Of course, I have just as much faith that he never gets lucky except at the very last moment."

"That does not mean you need to do something as ominous as rely on Liliana again… Well, things with Puckie are riding on this, so I understand why you want to take your chances, I suppose."

Even Beatrice, torn between the previous day's failure and her partiality for Liliana, did not object to something that would ostensibly help Puck. However, that opinion brought a stern look over Emilia's face.

"But it sounds like you're using Liliana, and that's just…"

"I know. I thought Emilia-tan would feel that way, too. I really don't like saying this, but…"

"Yes?"

"I guess I should say it anyway… Emilia, now and in the future during this royal selection, we can't afford to not be calculating or to ignore the pros and cons of choices and people. Of course, I want you to be able to stay true to yourself."

" "

As Emilia worried about various implications, Subaru tried to dispel her concerns.

There was no mistaking that Emilia's honesty, sincerity, and the way she always believed in the good of others were some of her strongest virtues. However, Subaru felt that a virtue founded on ignorance was a weakness all the same.

If that virtue was truly a part of who she was as a person, then eliminating ignorance would pose no danger to her way of being—Subaru wanted Emilia to learn and become stronger without losing sight of herself.

That had been Subaru's wish when he vowed to remain at her side ever after.

"Well, even ignoring all the benefits and stuff, you did make a promise to chat with Liliana. You get along really well with her, Emilia-tan, so it's not like you're doing anything bad."

As Emilia continued to mull over it, Subaru relaxed his tone a little and tried to introduce some levity. Emilia lowered her eyes, which were rimmed with long lashes, and sighed slightly.

"Mm, I understand. I'll try to keep what you said in mind, too. Thank you for always being here, Subaru."

Emilia nodded with an earnest look on her face. "You got it," replied Subaru.

He'd conveyed everything he wanted. The determination he saw in her and her response was enough. At the same time, he felt a small pang of regret over sticking his nose into something that clearly wasn't his business.

"Ahhh, maybe I said something pretty weird. Know what? Let's forget meeting up with Liliana and go on a date instead. I think doing some waterdragon cruising would be pretty romantic."

"I'm not sure what you mean by cruising, but you'll get seasick if you get on a dragon boat, won't you, Subaru? I don't really want to walk around the city carrying you on my back."

"Besides, the park is already right in front of our noses. Would it not be a waste to turn back now, I wonder?"

Though Subaru was on the verge of giving up, Emilia and Beatrice opted

to stick it out to the end. The public park had indeed come into view; this time, Subaru had fortunately arrived at his destination without getting lost.

Water gushed up from the fountain, turning into a spray of water that glimmered in the sunlight as an ephemeral scene unfolded before them.

This day, a great throng had assembled near that water fountain rather than the commemorative statue.

"Feels like these recitals hold their popularity day after day, but…"

The fervent audience's energy suffused the air in the park, but it was strikingly different compared to what it had felt like the day before. The main cause was probably the hands clapping in time with the music and singing.

"Wow, it looks really lively."

"So it would seem. Unlike yesterday, this all sounds rather rowdy, I suppose."

While Emilia was delighted, Beatrice cocked her head dubiously, sharing some of Subaru's doubts.

Liliana's song choices for her performances often contrasted greatly with how she normally behaved. The metia broadcast from that morning was no exception. With song and sound, she lured the audience into another world, giving a bewitching performance that charmed all five senses.

However, the song they were currently listening to seemed ever so slightly different from usual.

It had the unsettling feeling of some foreign entity adding an impurity to the mix.

" "

As if trying to determine what that dissonant element was, Subaru had unconsciously joined one edge of the audience.

Male or female, young or old, there was a vortex of passion surrounding everyone enchanted by the Songstress's song. Wedging themselves into their ranks, Subaru led Emilia and Beatrice by their hands as he plunged deeper and deeper.

Then the instant he emerged onto the front row, his face contorted amid thunderous applause.

The beautiful timbre of the lyulyre's final twang signaled that the song had reached its end and that it was time to bid the intoxicating music farewell.

Then the Songstress who had just put on a stunning performance turned around to reveal a smiling, satisfied face.

"Such wonderful dancing! Seeing footwork like that almost made my eyeballs fly out!"

"And your performance was quite entertaining. You have done well. It has been some time since a performer of the arts has amused me so."

A woman in red smiled charmingly as she exchanged a firm handshake with Liliana the Songstress.

Watching this unfold, Subaru let out a long breath as one phrase rose in the back of his mind.

—Danger: do not mix.

2

"I was so moved." "What an amazing dance." "I wanna see that again!"

Commenting as if they were being filmed for a TV commercial, the audience members waved to the Songstress-dancer duo and dispersed. They were every bit as touched as the crowd from the day before.

Hearing their praise made Liliana flare her nostrils in a satisfied and very un-Songstress-like manner. Unexpectedly, Priscilla's lips were curled up, showing she was in an exceptionally good mood as she fanned herself beside Liliana.

"And here I was thinking Priscilla wasn't the type to care what others thought…"

"My, oh my, oh my?! Is that Master Subaru and Lady Emilia over there, and Lady Moppet as well?!"

Right as she said her good-byes to the last of the audience, Liliana noticed the remaining three people left in the park and made her pigtails bounce. How she managed that was totally beyond him.

As Liliana raced over, practically flying through the air, her words made Beatrice narrow her brows.

"I believe I heard Lady Moppet. Exactly what might she mean by this, I wonder? Subaru, explain."

"Go ask her; she's the one who said it. Here, have a sugar plum and behave."

"Do you think you can…lick, lick…distract me with this, I wonder? Lick, lick…"

As Beatrice rolled the candy around in her mouth, Subaru left her behind. He turned toward the pigtailed Liliana darting about in front of him and grabbed her hair with both hands. "Gah!" shouted Liliana. But it did stop her from moving.

"Yesterday got all crazy, meaning we couldn't keep our promise, so it's good you were here today, too. Actually, don't tell me… Does Kiritaka show you out the door during work every day?"

"Why would you put it like that?!! It is nothing of the sort. Certainly, Mr. Kiritaka devotes his heart and mind to his job whenever there's work to be done, but he always tells me that he wants me to be happy doing whatever I like outside!!"

"So you do get thrown out a lot."

Kiritaka had his own unique issues, but this was his way of keeping things in order. It made sense—if Liliana was at his workplace, there was no way anyone could hold a proper conversation.

And if she had to spend her day somewhere, then holding recitals was a fine use of her time, but—

"—Since earlier, you have been staring intently at me, have you not? 'Tis most rude."

Liliana puffed out her nonexistent breasts, which was a lot like stroking a nonexistent beard. Beside her, Priscilla crossed her arms to proudly display her ample bosom, snorting toward Subaru with visible scorn.

"Though it is only natural to be enthralled at the sight of my dance, it is unbearable to have such an obscene gaze turned toward me. Even if my charm does make others lose their way, the likes of you are only permitted to appreciate it from a distance."

"Just so you know, I didn't watch you dance, and I don't have any fetishes like that. I prefer pure and lovely girls like Emilia-tan. Girls as over-the-top as you actually make me less excited."

"What a pitiful man to pick that thin half-demon over me. However, I am not so narrow-minded as to disallow bad taste. If you know not what true beauty is, it cannot be forced upon you. But someday, I shall pry open that

narrow-minded world with my own two hands."

Their values clashed, but Priscilla's philosophy robbed Subaru of all willpower to shoot a response back. Priscilla considered it a matter of fact that she was the center of the universe; Subaru's idea of common sense held no meaning whatsoever.

"But that means Priscilla was dancing, right? I really didn't expect that."

"You should curse your fate for allowing you to miss it. I do not dance, save when the mood strikes me. And that is rarely the case. This artist's song was simply that alluring."

"For real? So you're a Liliana fan, too…?"

Subaru acknowledged that Liliana's singing was incredible, but not nearly to the extent that everyone else seemed to. As far as Subaru could tell, every girl who heard Liliana sing became her ally. She had a perfect record.

Honestly, if she could woo even Priscilla, her status was pretty much unassailable.

"But to have Lady Priscilla and Lady Emilia both come here, candidates for the royal selection that's the glimmering issue of the day, Liliana is grateful and even moved to tears!!"

Even with the uneasy atmosphere that came with two rival candidates meeting, Liliana's powerful ability to set her own pace was undaunted.

Of course, even she understood that relations between Emilia and Priscilla were delicate at best. The profound silliness of her statement was no doubt intentional.

"Mwa-ha-ha-ha, so my songs are that incredible? Oh wooow, I'm gonna blush!"

"On second thought, maybe she's just being herself."

Liliana's bashful reaction gave Subaru renewed doubts. He concluded with a shrug that he had simply been overthinking things. After that, Subaru abruptly noticed that Priscilla was alone, lacking even a single escort.

"You're by yourself? Not with Al or the shitty bastard or your cute butler?"

"Schult gets lost whenever he walks out the door. He is earnest and adorable to console, but that is all, really. Having Al at my side means putting up with his annoying little comments, so I left him behind. As for the shitty bastard, I would not know."

"So you also call him that, huh…?"

Subaru was surprised by her unexpectedly blunt replies. He was similarly surprised at just how poorly she treated Heinkel even after taking him as a follower.

Granted, he obviously deserved such treatment, but why bring him into the fold, then?

"No doubt that's also 'cause it amuses you."

"Reasons are such trifling things. To begin with, he came to me with an offer, and I accepted, nothing more. I shall use him for my entertainment while I can, but if he ceases to have value, I shall discard him instantly. That is the extent of how much I care."

"Nah, I wonder about that… If you didn't care about him, you wouldn't have beaten him down like that, would you?"

For that matter, had Al not intervened, she might well have sliced him apart then and there and walked away. Subaru figured Reinhard would've probably intervened and stopped her short of that, though.

"Come to think of it, you've broken my jaw with a kick once before, huh…"

At one point during the loop at the capital a year before, Subaru had once been kicked by Priscilla when he'd procured her ire. His memory of being in a near-death state from a single one of her kicks came flooding back.

Thinking of that, he could accept the overwhelming combat strength she'd displayed back at the hall.

"Isn't it dangerous for you to ditch Al and the rest of your crew like that?"

"And what, pray tell, would suddenly become a threat simply because my three retainers are absent? About the only advantage of their presence is to have eyes to see directly behind me."

"So your dancing with Liliana here was just coincidence?"

Emilia's question made Priscilla fold her arms with an audible snort.

"Unlike the dull streets of the capital, this city's sights are salve for my tedium. I was enjoying the flow of the water when this artist's song reached my ears."

"I mean, wow, yeah, I didn't know what to expect when she suddenly came in and started dancing. Usually, I give people who get too worked up a good smacking with my song, and most of the time, they settle back down right away…!"

"You really don't act like a songstress at all…"

Driving interlopers back with your song was way too rock and roll.

Besides, the only word he had for Priscilla suddenly breaking into dance was shocking. Considering how rapt the audience was, it must have been quite the performance.

"To gather the hearts of so many people and leave me behind is selfcentered to the extreme. However, such is the appeal of your music. How

about it? Would you care to serve as a singing girl at my side?"

"Oh, thank you, thank you so very much!! I am honored and very, very proud that you praise me so! But! But! I must respectfully decline!"

Priscilla's invitation showed she had taken a liking to Liliana's singing even more than Subaru had first assumed. Liliana responded with a smiling face and a refusal with virtually no hesitation.

Instantly, the park was enveloped by an aura that pricked Subaru's skin. His body tensed up on its own.

Liliana had made a frighteningly, spectacularly momentous decision in a flash. She understood nothing about Priscilla's character or the instant and even cruel threat Priscilla could pose. She was totally oblivious.

"Oh, you refuse me? Why do you refuse my invitation?"

Like clockwork, the tone of Priscilla's voice dropped an octave as she responded, her crimson eyes running cold.

Even Subaru, who wasn't the target of her ire, felt like a blade had been pressed to his throat.

In that situation, where a single word could cost her life, Liliana stroked her musical instrument with her hand.

"I am Liliana the minstrel. Though I have stopped in this city for a time, I am destined to wander again before long, traveling wherever the wind carries me. It is an occupation and way of life of not being bound to any one land or one person."

"And so you decline my invitation."

"It was the same for my mother, my mother's mother, and their mothers before that. It is our family's way. We leave nothing behind, save for our songs in people's hearts. Just as one cannot fence in the wind, no one can keep us in one place. Your invitation makes me happy, but I must decline.

Even I do not know where my songs shall echo. I leave that up to the wind."

Raising her musical instrument high, Liliana spoke the words proudly, not a single reservation upon her face.

Her usual demeanor—the way she made fun of everything and consistently got on people's nerves—was nowhere to be seen.

There was only the simple pride of the creature known as a minstrel— those who passed down tales through song.

" "

After listening to Liliana's answer, Priscilla kept her arms folded and one eye closed. Then her remaining eye shot straight through Liliana, her gaze redder than an incandescent flame.

When even this failed to make Liliana falter, Priscilla abruptly let out her breath.

"—Very well. Your resolve is commendable. Forgive me; 'tis I who was rude."

"Not at aaaall. I'm really sorry I couldn't accept."

Priscilla's remark made Liliana proudly thrust her chest out as if it was the obvious thing to do.

Subaru could only be amazed. He never thought Priscilla would actually accept someone else defying her will.

"What is it, filthy peasant? What is the reason for this distasteful face you are showing me?"

"Hey, there's nothing on my face except surprise. I was scared because I thought for sure you'd slice Liliana in half for refusing your invitation…"

"A ridiculous concern."

Priscilla spat out her reply with a snort, but was it true?

Until she heard Liliana's reply, Subaru had no doubt whatsoever that Priscilla's bloodlust was balanced on a knife's edge. Wasn't Liliana spared only because it didn't happen to tilt in the wrong direction?

"But I'm a little surprised by Priscilla, too. I thought she was the sort of person who would do anything to get something she wanted."

It was then that Emilia spectacularly stepped upon the land mine Subaru had painstakingly tiptoed around.

Emilia's blunt impression made Priscilla sigh with displeasure.

"Lowly half-demon, would you cease your prattling? Just what do you know about me when you see with such clouded eyes? Rudeness and insult can be forgiven only so much."

"This girl is an expert at being all talk. If she has enough spare time to criticize and lecture others for their outward appearance, would she not be better served spending it reflecting on her own words and deeds, I wonder?"

"Beatrice…"

When Priscilla's merciless words brought a conflicted look over Emilia's face, Beatrice squeezed her hand. When she shot back at Priscilla in Emilia's stead, Priscilla looked like she'd noticed the girl for the first time.

"Such brave words for a little girl. I shall have you know my tolerance is not dependent on age. Do not beguile yourself with the notion that I will turn a blind eye to your rudeness because of your youth."

"Your advice is unnecessary. Do you even realize, I wonder? Little girl,

Betty may be cute, but do not think that is all there is to see." Instantly, sparks of hostility flew between Beatrice and Priscilla.

Both were wearing dresses, but their compatibility couldn't be worse. Of course, Subaru was on Beatrice's side, but just the fact that she was picking a fight with a royal-selection candidate made this problematic.

"Beatrice, it's okay. I'm all right."

"Why try to stop me, I wonder? Surely, we cannot simply let her slights pass in silence."

Fearful of the problem growing larger, Emilia tried to rein in Beatrice, but the spirit refused to budge. After hearing her comment, a realization dawned on Emilia. The same went for Subaru.

Beatrice wasn't angry because Priscilla's attitude or insults had bothered her personally. She was angry because Priscilla had belittled Emilia.

Emilia was deeply moved by this. Of course, Subaru was, too.

"Beatrice, it's fine. I mean it. I'm really grateful, though."

Emilia used the hand Beatrice wasn't holding to stroke her on the head. The action made Beatrice momentarily gaze at Subaru and Emilia alone, a tearful look in her eyes.

But this was for only a single moment. Immediately after, Beatrice glared at Priscilla with renewed heat.

"I will do as Emilia wishes, I suppose. You should be grateful."

"Surely, you speak for yourself. Count your adorable appearance among your blessings."

With ragged breaths, Beatrice got a hold of her temper; Priscilla responded in kind by suppressing her ghastly aura.

Subaru almost felt like the last line was just pure praise for Beatrice's looks. The gist was, You're cute, so I'll let it go this time, which was fine and well with him. Priscilla's thinking remained a mystery.

"You really are a woman I can't understand one bit…"

"But of course. I do as I please more than any other. It is a gross conceit to even attempt to understand me."

"So now it's my fault…? In the first place, this all started because you wanted Liliana for yourself."

In the end, it was unclear just what had made Priscilla allow Liliana to slip from her grasp.

Seemingly gleaning the question from the doubts on Subaru's face, Priscilla hid her own lips behind her fan.

"Everything in this world is mine. Therefore, I need not personally own everything that is beautiful, proud, and valuable in order to appreciate it. It is sometimes best to leave them as they are. That is all."

" "

"If this entire world becomes my garden, where little chirping birds sing matters not. It would not only be crude but quite unpleasant to place every one of them in birdcages to protect them from all outside dangers."

This was the first time Subaru had ever heard Priscilla break her aesthetics down into a digestible form.

The sheer scale of her inaccessible, overwhelmingly aloof rationale left Subaru at a loss for words.

It wasn't that he failed to understand the meaning or the logic. She simply perceived things on a fundamentally different level.

Subaru thought that this difference, or perhaps the very scale of it all, was terrifying. But at the same time, those feelings of terror were accompanied by the awe that came from gazing up at an overpowering being.

He wasn't sure, but maybe that was why Al stood by Priscilla.

"Now, now, now! With everyone having calmed down a notch, how about I present to you a song in honor of our friendship?! But noooo! Not one song, but maybe two or even three!"

With swift pulls of the strings of her lyulyre, Liliana made an abrupt proposal.

"This time, Lady Priscilla should simply enjoy herself without being concerned about dancing!! And, Lady Emilia, it looked like earlier you arrived just as the song was ending!! This time, we shall joyously celebrate our reunion, and you shall see for yourself how Liliana's unique singing voice lets her make off like a bandit in this city!"

"My word."

"Wow, really?"

"The result isn't elegant at all, but you are satisfied with this?"

Setting Liliana's assertion aside, the fact remained that her song was currently the key to a peaceful resolution.

At present, Emilia and Priscilla stood side by side with an odd sense of distance between them as they prepared to listen to Liliana's performance. It was in that situation that Liliana beckoned Subaru over with her hand. Then when Subaru approached, she whispered in a low voice.

"Could it be that Lady Emilia and Lady Priscilla don't get along too well?"

"Are you kidding? It should be kinda obvious based on their positions. Incidentally, there's pretty much no such thing as a person who gets along

well with Priscilla, and she treats Emilia-tan like that."

"My oh my, this is quite a serious matter!!"

Liliana gazed up at the heavens, the tails of her hair furiously bouncing, much like a dog warily wagging its tail. Maybe they were connected to her nerves or something. He had a sudden urge to grab them, pull them, and twirl them all around.

"But, but! Here, I shall do everything in my power to seduce them both with the power of music! Ah, just now, you thought of something dirty because I said seduce, didn't you? You can't do that—it's indeeecent!"

"I'm beat, so could you not make me feel admiration and disdain from the same damn line?"

Even as he sighed, Subaru admired how Liliana could show such consideration amid her fits of madness.

Her goal of sweeping away the bad atmosphere with a song was something he could appreciate. As a matter of fact, it irked him a little that Liliana's voice made such a thing actually possible.

"After the song, we'll have a pleasant chat, so could you prepare some snacks, Master Natsuki? Do you not think that sweets will make everyone happy and bring us all closer together?"

"Not particularly."

"After the song, we'll have a pleasant chat, so could you prepare some snacks, Master Natsuki? Do you not think that sweets will help make

everyone happy and bring us all closer together?"

"What is this? Are you an NPC who just repeats your lines until someone picks yes?"

When Liliana stubbornly asked the exact same question without a single change in tension, tone, or even word choice, Subaru gave in and selected yes. Liliana's face brightened, but surprisingly, her proposal was not a terrible one.

If the atmosphere improved, maybe they could have a proper conversation with Liliana and Priscilla.

"So while Liliana's singing, I'll head off to buy some drinks. Emilia-tan, stay here, behave, and don't get into any fights while I'm gone."

"Well, I don't want to have an argument with Priscilla, either. Don't worry—it'll be fine."

Subaru reminded her to be careful just to be on the safe side, and Emilia responded with a buoyant smile. Of course, even if Emilia wasn't looking for a fight, there was no denying the possibility that Priscilla might offer one regardless.

"Beako, take care of Emilia-tan if anything happens."

"I understand, I suppose. Next time that whelp says something out of line,

I shall reduce her to ash."

"Don't pick a fight with her, either, okay?"

After entrusting Emilia to Beatrice, who was possibly a much greater cause for concern, Subaru got ready to leave the park for the time being. But before he did—

"Priscilla, any foods you can't eat?"

"How unexpected that even an unremarkable man such as you understands how to be considerate. Very well. If you must present me with something, you should prepare something appropriate. Present me something boring, and I shall slice off the hand with which you offered it and place it upon your head."