--The great hall that Subaru had surely stepped into once before had transformed into something completely different from how he remembered it.
A red carpet was laid out and numerous candlesticks were lined up in rows. The flickering red flames added to the solemn atmosphere of the room, causing everyone present to naturally straighten their backs.
Lined up neatly along the wall were most of the people connected to the mansion. It seemed that the only people there were just making up the numbers, including the important people involved and even the chamberlains of the Milord family.
However, if only people related to Subaru were to gather, it would be unavoidable that it would be an extremely intimate gathering. Subaru also understood that such an event needed to be exposed to many people.
However, was it really okay to have so many copies of Ryuzu?
Ryuzu, who was with me, pulled her chin in as if to tell me not to worry about it, but it was still a concern. Even though I knew they wouldn't do anything without specific instructions, I couldn't help but worry that these little girls, who are practically children, might get up to something.
I think the people around him probably feel the same anxiety towards Subaru.
If you look at the attendees one by one, there are many things to point out.
It was particularly interesting to see that all the people involved were neatly dressed in formal attire.
Leaving aside the familiarity of Roswaal and Annerose, Otto and Garfiel look inferior to Subaru in their lack of style. Apart from Garfiel's sour expression due to the tightness around his neck, Otto's comical lack of style, as if he doesn't even notice that he's not wearing it properly, is pretty bad. Are they trying to make us laugh?
The servants, including Frederica and Clind, usually dressed formally. It seemed odd that Ram was standing there in a maid's uniform as if it were the most natural thing in the world, but Subaru held his breath as he saw Ram standing right next to him.
There, sitting in a chair, was a blue-haired girl.
Of course, she wasn't awake. She was still asleep. Still, he had brought her out to this place and had Ram attend as her escort, which he found annoying. Who had come up with the idea? He found it annoying to see Ram looking at him with a smug look on her face.
If you look further, you will see Petra, proud of her new outfit.
Although Petra is still a young girl, the girl who looks even more gorgeous in her dress shines just as brightly as Beatrice or Annerose. She's just a village girl, but what kind of courage does she have on stage?
Beatrice, standing next to him, was also dressed as usual, but as she looked at Subaru her expression seemed somewhat softer. Her cheeks were slightly flushed, and Subaru felt a little embarrassed as he remembered the incident in the waiting room.
And in front of himーー,
"――――"
The silver-haired girl was looking in his direction, waiting for Subaru.
Emilia, now dressed in formal attire, captivates Subaru with a completely different glow than usual.
Silver hair that sparkled like moonlight, amethyst eyes set with jewels, her lips tightly pressed together and her trembling facial expression made it clear she was nervous about the important ceremony ahead.
The outfit intensified the purity that Subaru normally felt towards Emilia, and the sacredness of the decoration, which resembled a shrine maiden's outfit, and the nobility of the gold trim burned the nobility and solemnity of this ceremony into the consciousness of the beholder.
The moment he saw her, the somewhat frivolous feeling he had been feeling up until then instantly subsided.
The emotion that had been bubbling up deep in his heart disappeared, and all existence other than Emilia vanished from his consciousness.
This is in no way intended to belittle the attendees watching the ceremony.
But what exactly do I need to do in this ritual setting, who should I be looking at, and where should my heart be?
Even if it wasn't put into words, I clearly understood it in my heart.
"――――"
Without having been instructed by anyone, Subaru took a step forward as if guided by someone.
He walked silently across the shag carpet, forgetting even the weight of the knight's sword hanging from his waist, and with a feverish concentration, yet with a mind as calm as a calm sea, he made his way to Emilia.
The barrage of stares he was receiving didn't faze him at all now.
The only thing that stirred Subaru's heart right now was Emilia's every move.
He walks up to Emilia, close enough to reach out and touch her.
Emilia stood on a slightly elevated platform, her beautiful cheeks stiff with trembling excitement.
He gets down on one knee and bows his head.
The ritual etiquette that Garfiel had explained to me verbally had made my body move with frightening ease. With my eyes closed, I could feel the heat of the gaze pouring down on me from above.
Subaru almost forgot to breathe, a pleasant tension bouncing off his skin as he raised his head and removed the knight sword that was hanging from his waist.
He reverently lifted the heavy object and pulled it out to the side in front of his chest.
Bathed in the light of the blade, lit brilliantly by the red of the candlestick flame, Subaru and Emilia's eyes, which were different colors, lit up with the same color light.
"――――"
As the beauty of the sword was burned into his mind as it was released from its sheath, Subaru gently presented it to Emilia.
Seeing the knight's sword being raised, Emilia's lips trembled with some emotion.
However, Emilia used her self-control to stop the words that threatened to spill out, and stopped herself from being swept away by the waves of emotion.
Then, white fingertips reached out and touched the knight's sword, and as he lifted it, which was heavier than he had expected, the tip slowly pointed towards the ceiling.
The beauty of Emilia as she readied her sword - Subaru suppressed his desire to gaze upon it, bowed his head again and closed his eyes.
Presented before Emilia was his sword, the pride of a knight, and his body and head, representing what a knight really is.
"――――"
A knight's life is dedicated to his lord.
Seeing Subaru's expression, Emilia's lips and eyes waver again. However, this time the hesitation is fleeting. There is no hesitation in her tight lips or in her eyes staring straight ahead.
The tip of the sword descends and touches Subaru's left shoulder.
The flat of the sword rested on his shoulder, and Subaru nearly groaned at the weight. The pressure bearing down on him was not physical, but mental.
And yet the feeling that came over Subaru may well have been the pride that any knight should bear.
Now, at this very moment, Natsuki Subaru also understood this for the first time.
The tip of the sword that touched the left shoulder now moves to the right shoulder.
It felt just as heavy, but this time the coldness of the sword, felt through his formal attire, did not go away.
Of course. The most important moment of the ceremony would only take place in this way.
"――――"
"――――"
Silence fell over the great hall.
No, the great hall had been filled with silence even before then. However, the silence up until then had been one that contained a faint excitement, a silence that was almost loud and passionate.
However, the silence of this moment was different in intensity from the silence that had come before.
It's a moment of true silence, leaving all excitement and enthusiasm behind.
A silence descended equally upon the hearts of Emilia, Subaru, and all those in attendance watching.
The right to break it was given to only one person here.
"--To the sun that looks down on this dazzling world. To the stars that watch over the sleeping world. To the spirits that fill the wind, water, earth, and light."
The silence is broken.
Emilia's lips sang a ceremonial prayer.
"--To the great world that accepts you, nurtures you, and sends you forth."
I'm trembling. My heart is trembling.
What is it in Subaru's heart that makes his teeth start to no longer fit together so unbearably?
It's frustrating even to try to keep track of my own confused mind.
Right now, I just want to be lost in the sound of her bell-like voice.
"--To the pride that supported you, created you, and built you."
I can feel the heat of his gaze growing stronger as it is directed directly at me.
A passion that feels like it's burning you up from the inside out.
With his heart racing with a frenzy that made him want to scream, Subaru simply waited for the time to ask.
"--To all that watches over you, to the world that raises you, and to the pride that supports you, may you find an existence that you are not ashamed of. May you be unafraid, unwavering, and unwavering, and follow your heart."
The blessing ends.
The question comes.
The ritual ends here. There is a final question that not even Subaru knows the answer to.
However,
"---Will you swear that, according to your will, you will protect me from this moment on, just as you do everything around you?"
--My heart already knew how to answer Emilia's question.
"To the sun, to the stars, to the world, to our pride -- and"
Let us express our determination and gratitude for being here now, to all that the prayer has announced.
And before he spoke his vow, Subaru pictured in his mind the person to whom he had to express his sincere gratitude.
So naturally, the words came out of my lips.
"--I swear on my father, on my mother, on both of you."
"――――"
"I will protect you. I will grant your wish. ――My name is Natsuki Subaru."
He looked up.
The sword is still beside his right cheek, but he doesn't even notice its shine.
Now all I can see is the purple glow as we gaze at each other.
"Emilia. --I am your very own knight."
"--Yeah"
An answer that corresponds to the words spoken.
Emilia's eyes begin to water with waves of unbearable emotion.
However, Emilia managed to hold back the words that threatened to overflow at any moment, and removed the tip of the sword from Subaru's shoulder.
The sword was then turned around and Emilia presented her knight sword to Subaru.
He raised both hands and respectfully accepted it, then put the knight's sword back into its sheath.
Returning his knight sword to his waist, Subaru kneels and looks up at Emilia.
Seeing Emilia slightly tilt her chin in, Subaru stood up.
and,
"I know it's a little late to say this, but Emilia-tan, that outfit is super sexy and cute."
"fool"
--The solemn atmosphere of the ceremony was shattered, and Emilia's face turned red and she stuck out her tongue.
※※ ※※ ※※ ※※ ※※ ※※ ※※ ※
A colorful array of dishes was now lined up on the table that had been brought into the great hall.
The buffet-style dinner was attended by everyone who had attended the knighting ceremony earlier, regardless of status or position, and it had the feel of a small social gathering.
"You're all in a good position, considering I've just been through the most stressful time of my life."
Subaru went out to the terrace and enjoyed the night breeze, watching the dinner party from a distance.
The plates of food and drinks that they had taken from the table were placed on a nearby rack, but the amount of food on them hadn't changed since earlier.
I can hardly get food or drink down my throat.
The hot feeling from my neck up still hasn't gone away.
Even though my stomach was constantly telling me that I was hungry, for some reason my chest was so full I couldn't get any more food down.
"――――"
At the edge of his vision, Petra came to the front of the hall and performed a little dance in her dress. It was the kind of dance that is usually performed at festivals in Arlam Village, but perhaps Petra had added some arrangements to it, and with her own confident attitude, it would not look out of place in a noble's mansion.
Leading her hand, Beatrice was being led clumsily by her, her face red with emotion. She was desperately trying to remain emotionless and emotionless, but Subaru didn't miss the fact that her ears and nose were trembling uncontrollably.
As usual, Beatrice, who is unable to be assertive with Petra, will likely get dragged into the situation.
Relaxing his cheeks in curiosity, Subaru picked up the glass beside him. He barely had enough room in his mind to moisten his tongue. Though he still couldn't reach for the meat pie that Garfiel and Frederica had made together.
"--Subaru, you were in a place like this."
Subaru was leaning his weight against the banister and gazing up at the sky when he heard a voice calling out to him. When he lowered his gaze, standing before him was a moon fairy, her beauty enhanced by the moonlight.
"No, it's Emilia-tan. I thought you were an angel."
"You're saying weird things again. Are you drunk?"
"I don't drink because I'm underage. If I'm drunk, it's because of the atmosphere and myself."
"See, you're drunk after all."
Emilia laughed loudly, and Subaru frowned, noticing her unusual behavior.
And when he saw the pale skin peeking out from under her neat dress - her nape and cheeks slightly flushed red - Emilia's attitude made sense.
"What is it, Emilia-tan? Before we even get into the matter of whether I'm drunk or not, it seems like you're the one who's been drinking."
"I didn't drink. They were handing out sweet fruit drinks. I don't get any weird sensations from drinking alcohol."
"Monte, how cute."
Emilia, with her lip pursed, has completely lost sight of the solemnity of the ceremony.
In other words, what we see here is a girl who is simply and wholeheartedly cute.
"Hey, Subaru. Why are you alone in a place like this?"
"Hmm, it's like I said before. I was intoxicated by the atmosphere and by myself."
It was a witty answer, but it wasn't completely off the mark.
In fact, I couldn't let out the feelings that were welling up in my chest, and I was alone, feeling the night breeze. What else can I say but that I was immersed in it?
Of course, I can't openly confide such feelings to just anyone.
"Maybe you regret it...?"
"That's absolutely not the case. I'll be angry, Emilia."
"Yeah, that was my fault. I'm sorry. But I'm happy."
With her cheeks red from being tipsy, Emilia took a step towards Subaru, closing the distance between them.
Subaru was leaning his weight against the railing, and Emilia was standing next to him. Their shoulders were almost touching, and even through his clothes, Subaru's body got extremely hot.
"Subaru, I'm sorry for suddenly bringing up the matter of the knighting ceremony. I've been preparing for this for a long time, so I assumed that you knew about it too."
"Well, maybe I was stupid for not noticing. Thinking about it now, Emilia-tan would periodically ask me, 'Subaru, are you practicing properly?' and I'd just make up something appropriate in the moment."
Emilia assumed that Subaru knew, and made sure to check on his progress.
Subaru was the only one who didn't notice this, simply getting through each situation as it came, not really understanding what Emilia had said, and working hard on something else.
As for the content of the ceremony,
"That bastard Roswaal is to blame. I mean, he's been to blame for pretty much everything that's happened recently. He's been getting a bit too cocky lately, maybe because he's trying to embarrass me."
"I think Roswaal has always been like that… but it certainly seems like he's been bothering Subaru more than before. Maybe he wants Subaru to pay him attention."
"That's a horrible idea, Emilia-tan."
Of course, that would be something that I want to avoid, as it would make the man called Roswaal even more helpless.
As expected, the answer was no joke, and Subaru frowned. Emilia laughed, waving her hand and saying in a carefree tone, "I was just kidding."
"I'm sure Roswaal hasn't known how to behave since his evil scheme was exposed. I'm sure after a while he'll settle down to the way he was before."
"I don't think it's right to settle down the same way as before because it seems like there's no reflection on that… but well, I guess it's better than having a drastic change and not knowing how to interact with her."
Better than best. It may seem like a passive option, but I'll accept it for now.
And so, as the conversation came to a close, Emilia tilted her glass beside Subaru. It was the one she had in her hand from the start, and if Subaru's prediction was correct, it was fruit wine.
It felt as though Emilia was getting more and more tipsy, and I was overcome with a strange feeling that was both frightening and wanting to see more.
"Right, Subaru."
"Eh, what is it? You're getting hot from all the alcohol. Do you want to take your clothes off? It's not good here. Ok, let's go somewhere else. Let's do that."
"Sorry. I don't know what you're talking about. It's not that."
Emilia gave Subaru a slightly stern look as he let his imagination get the better of him. He cowered at her gaze and lowered his head, then she jerked her chin in the direction of the great hall that could be seen from the terrace,
"Everyone looks like they're having fun."
"Umm, that's true. For a noble's mansion, it's a reception with even the servants in attendance, so it feels very homey. For a commoner like me, it's a pretty ideal sight."
"Yeah, I think so too. Wow, I think this is a really nice view."
Glancing sideways, Subaru noticed that her amethyst eyes were tinged with affection and envy.
What Emilia sees through her eyes and what Subaru sees may be slightly different. Surely, Emilia sees this scene as a peaceful time without distinction of status or race.
This is a completely different perspective from Subaru's, which only looks at the surface.
Even though we see the same thing, we think differently.
Subaru doesn't think that the fact that things have turned out differently is a bad thing.
"What's wrong, Subaru? You look really kind."
Subaru: "I wonder. Maybe it's just that I'm happy to see the same things as Emilia-tan and think they're nice."
"Really? Yes, I'd be happy if Subaru felt the same way."
"I don't know. Maybe that's different. But I think it's okay to be different."
Emilia glanced towards Subaru, and despite feeling her gaze, Subaru simply stared straight ahead, slightly loosening his lips.
Seeing that smile, Emilia nodded in understanding.
It was a moment when I felt something that was difficult to put into words was conveyed and I was convinced that it was okay.
"Ah, that bastard Otto. He's getting way too carried away. He's not particularly tolerant of alcohol."
In the middle of the great hall, provoked by Garfiel, Otto pours himself a glass full of expensive looking liquor and gulps it down in one gulp. The glass is slammed down on the table, and everyone around applauds Otto for his masterful chugging.
However, in the next moment, Otto's body from the neck up was dyed bright red, and at the same speed, his body from the neck up turned completely blue. The color changed like a traffic light, and immediately afterwards Garfiel picked up Otto and hurriedly ran out of the great hall.
"I guess he's heading to the bathroom."
"Otto-kun, I wonder if you're okay. Just now, you were reacting like a stray dog that had eaten a poisonous mushroom in the forest…"
"Once you've exhausted yourself to the point of exhaustion, you realize you've become an adult, Emilia-tan."
"Really?"
"No, I don't know either."
I'm a minor.
Besides, just how high-quality alcohol was the one Otto had drank and then thrown up? It was hard to imagine that cheap, mass-produced alcohol was being served at this party.
Subaru shot him a quick glance, and Roswaal, quick to notice, raised his glass. The Margrave, wearing clown makeup once again, effortlessly downed the same drink that had made Otto dizzy. Perhaps it was a matter of dignity, or perhaps it was just a matter of getting used to it.
"…Hey, Subaru. There's something I want you to hear."
"What a coincidence. I also have something I'd like to ask you, Emilia-tan."
Emilia whispered so that only Subaru could hear, breaking the silence that had suddenly fallen upon him. Subaru tilted his chin in and, leaning his weight against the banister, turned half his body over.
At the same time, Emilia turned towards him, and they stared at each other so close that they could almost feel each other's breath, and Subaru quickly stepped back. However,
"Don't run away."
As Subaru starts to move away, Emilia stops him.
What should have been a step back was instead a half step, and instead they ended up closing the distance between them. Subaru stumbled forward, and Emilia's forehead hit his chest with the force of her movements.
He hastily tried to pull away, but Emilia grabbed the hem of his dress and wouldn't let him.
"Eh, Emilia-tan? I'm happy with this position, but I'm nervous about talking."
"It's the first time I've ever told someone such an important story, so I'm nervous too. I'm sure we're both nervous."
"I-I think this is my only victory..."
He desperately tries to cover it up with a wry smile, but he can't keep Emilia away, who is looking up at him.
Feeling Emilia's hot body temperature, Subaru tried to at least relieve his own tension, and with awkward movements hid Emilia from the great hall.
If they were lying sideways it would be obvious that they were embracing each other, but if they changed position a little, from the hall it would look like Subaru was resting his hands on the banister, gazing up at the night sky and spinning a poem.
"Now that I have no worries, please tell me anything."
"...Then I have something important to tell you, my knight. Why did I accept Roswaal's invitation to take part in the Royal Selection? That's it."
"――――"
That was something Emilia had never spoken to Subaru about up until now.
And surely, the "trials" at the tomb that she had failed to overcome time and time again - it would also be something that would connect to scenes from her past.
Taking a deep breath, Subaru looked down at Emilia in his chest.
Their gazes collide. Seeing his reflection in Emilia's eyes as she looks up, Subaru prepares himself and pulls his chin back.
"Originally, before the Great Elior Forest froze over, Mother, myself, and other elves lived together."
It is a story told in a simple voice, colored by fond memories and sad emotions.
Although she stumbled here and there, Emilia told Subaru her clumsy tale from the past, telling it to him from the heart.
Emilia doesn't know her parents. Fortuna loves Emilia in place of her parents. The people of the village who warmly welcomed Emilia and her daughter, who had nowhere else to go. And there was a group calling themselves the Witch's Cult and a man named Juice who were secretly helping them.
Even in a restricted world, Emilia lives her days surrounded by kindness and compassion.
All of that was ruined by the incident on the day the Great Elior Forest froze over.
The Witch Cult's violent actions, the appearance of the witch calling herself Pandora and the Archbishop of Sin, the tragedy of Fortuna and Juice with the appearance of the Black Snake Beast, Emilia losing her mother and the forest because she continued to keep her promise, and Puck, who was frozen for a long time and then met him at the moment of awakening.
"Puck said he'd been waiting for me all this time, that he'd been searching for me. Since then, he's stayed by my side, just as he'd promised to protect me. Even now, he's waiting inside this magic stone for the time to be awakened. ...That's all I know."
"You can't exchange words with Puck, can you?"
"He's still asleep. But that's not because Puck is refusing to make a contract with me. I think it's because this magic ore won't function as a container for an awakened Puck. He won't accept anything other than a higher quality, colorless magic ore. If I can find that container, and there's just the right opportunity... I'm sure he'll show his face again."
Around Emilia's neck is a blue magic stone that has been fashioned into a pendant.
It was a part of the giant magic ore that had sealed Lewes Meyer away, but it was insufficient to seal Puck, and so the will of the sleeping spirit was not conveyed to us.
It seemed as if his help in the fight with Garfiel was truly his final meddling.
"I understand about Puck. But what about the royal selection?"
"Puck and I spent all our time in the frozen forest. We would occasionally drop in to the village near the forest, but we weren't really welcomed there."
Just how far apart Emilia means by "not much" is something we can only imagine, and it seems unlikely that Emilia would want to talk about that distance.
"It may not have even been a year since Roswaal arrived. But it was so sudden, it really surprised both Puck and I."
"Well, I think I'd be surprised too if a man wearing that kind of makeup suddenly showed up."
"That's true, but I suddenly found myself in a forest where no one is supposed to be able to enter. When I returned from the village, he greeted me in the square as if it was the most natural thing to do. He said, "Welcome back" in his usual nonchalant tone."
"Well..."
It must have been quite a surprise.
I won't comment on Roswaal's bad personality at this point, but when I think of the feelings of Emilia and Puck at the time, I can imagine how shocked they were at that moment.
"Puck was so angry... he was fighting with Roswaal almost the entire time from morning until evening. Looking back, I'm glad Roswaal didn't freeze."
"Your smile is cute, but I don't think that's something to laugh about."
"I guess so. So, while Puck and Roswaal were fighting, they communicated their demands to each other, and then they finally came to a discussion..."
"Roswaal invited Emilia-tan on the condition that she melt the ice in the forest..."
Emilia's eyes widened at Subaru, who had anticipated her conclusion.
Subaru chuckled at Emilia's reaction.
"If you've been listening to the flow of the conversation up until now, you'll understand. I had casually heard something along those lines before. But…"
There must be some differences in how Emilia is perceived now compared to back then.
Previously, she had said that the freezing of Elior Forest was beyond Emilia's capabilities, and that even with her cooperation with Puck, she was unable to melt the ice.
but,
"If it was the old Emilia who froze the forest, then surely she can melt the ice with her own hands?"
"...Yeah, I thought about that too. But I don't think it's possible."
"Why?"
"No matter what I do, I can't seem to exert the same power as the me in my memories."
Subaru frowned at Emilia's anxious, yet confident words.
The Emilia in his memories - if it was as he had said, then her power truly overwhelmed human knowledge. Even the witch who called herself Pandora could not find an opening to counterattack before her power.
What does it mean that this power is not present in Emilia when she awakens, when she has regained her memories?
"But you fought the big rabbit without backing down a single step."
"I can certainly use magic now without relying on Puck and the micro-spirit children. But that's all. I can't draw out that power yet."
"――――"
As if lamenting her powerlessness, Emilia clenched her fists and then helplessly shook her head.
Seeing her expression of shame at her lack of ability, Subaru instantly felt ashamed of his own disappointment.
Emilia, none other than her, was regretting her current state. Subaru, knowing this, was thinking of blaming her too, and that could not be allowed.
Besides, Subaru doesn't particularly want Emilia to be strong.
"OK, enough self-blame. Let's get back to the main topic. Let's accept for the moment that Emilia-tan can't melt the ice... then how can Roswaal melt it?"
"..."
"If neither Emilia-tan nor Puck can do it, then to take it to the extreme, even Roswaal shouldn't be able to do it. No matter how great a magician Roswaal is, he's not ten or even twenty times as powerful as Emilia-tan. So, why?"
"It's not like Roswaal himself has the power to melt ice. He just knew that there was a possibility to melt ice... and he told me about it."
"Is it possible to melt the ice?"
The possibility of melting a forest that not even the power of the Great Spirit, the power of the greatest wizard, or the Freezing Witch who had frozen the forest could melt - what on earth could that be?
"Dragon's blood."
"――――"
"The blood of the dragon bestows the blessings of fertility on the earth, healing the land that has been corrupted. I'm sure that this power will be enough to melt the ice in the forest."
"Emilia, but that's…"
Is that what happens when you kill a dragon?
Was he going to offer the dragon, which had always watched over the Kingdom of Lugnica, as a sacrifice in order to save the forest that was his home?
For a moment, the biggest concern crossed Subaru's mind. However,
"No, Subaru. Just a drop of dragon's blood will do. Apparently, when a famine occurred in Lugnica before, the land was revived with dragon's blood. I've looked into the history books, and I know that's true."
"Wh-what... No, seriously, I was a bit worried. If I were to try and kill a dragon..."
Could it be that the "witch" who has been sealed away by the dragon's power will be released?
"――――"
As if his heart was entangled in anxiety, Subaru forgot to breathe.
The witches he met at Echidna's tea party. And the "Witch of Envy" who sent him off at the last moment. Subaru has never forgotten their existence.
It's not like I've forgotten the decision we made at the moment we broke up.
But it is something that should not be set loose.
That being is something that should never have been released into this world.
It is an undeniable fact that our instincts call out to us in this way.
"The royal family of Lugnica have the opportunity to speak with the dragon when they make a pact with it. It seems that several drops of blood bestowed upon them by the Divine Dragon Volcanica at that time are kept in the royal castle. I want to become king and rely on that power."
"So, you're going to participate in the royal selection..."
"...I told you before. I am participating in the Royal Selection for a very selfish reason. That's the selfish reason I just told you."
There was a smile in those words, but it was a smile that seemed to hide anxiety.
In fact, Emilia's eyes, looking up at Subaru from within, were shaking slightly with anxiety.
She looked scared, wondering what Subaru would say and what he would think of Emilia's resolve.
To the extent that she felt uneasy about it, it seemed safe to assume that Subaru had become someone difficult for Emilia to move.
"It's okay, Emilia-tan. I'm not going to be disappointed by something like that."
"...Subaru."
"Even if I say I'm selfish, it's not like I'm thinking about enriching myself or anything like that. I have the means to help the people I want to help, and I'm not going to resort to stealing or other evil deeds, I'm just trying to get a position where I can use it legitimately, so there's no reason to blame me."
He smiles at her reassuringly, but Emilia's expression still doesn't brighten.
Subaru knows too. The words Emilia wants are not the ones she has just heard.
If she were to offer up her true feelings and desire,
Subaru: "Emilia-tan, are you feeling intimidated because you think your reason for being there is inferior to the other candidates?"
"--!"
"That's exactly what they mean when they say the grass is always greener on the other side. Sure, Crusch-san was a noble person and had a noble goal, but just think back to Anastasia-san and Priscilla. In fact, that wasn't the reason they were praised."
Greed and selfishness were the two reasons that led these two candidates to run for king.
Subaru wasn't able to be there, but what noble reasons did Felt give for challenging the Royal Selection?
Emilia's desire to save someone is in no way inferior to these.
"And whatever your feelings were at first, that doesn't mean you still feel that way now, right?"
"...How do you know?"
"You were looking at the great hall with kind eyes just now. I could tell by looking at you."
What was unfolding in the great hall of the Milord household was a scene of humans and demi-humans, nobles, commoners, and servants interacting together without distinction of status or race.
Subaru called it ideal, and Emilia looked at it with admiration.
Subaru had no doubt as to what color flame was burning in Emilia's heart right now.
Subaru: "If your goal is to see that spectacle, then I'll help you. I think it's a great thing. If that's one of the reasons Emilia-tan has to work hard, then I won't let anyone get in your way."
"Really... will you help me?"
Subaru: "What do you think I promised Emilia-tan earlier? You don't have to look so anxious. I want you to rely on me before anyone else. I'll help you with anything I can, and if there's something you don't understand, I'll rack my brains together with you."
"――――"
Emilia gasps, and her eyes flutter more than ever before.
What should I say? My trembling lips cannot clearly put my feelings into words.
"--Yeah"
So Emilia muttered just one word.
And smile.
--That alone was enough, Subaru thought.
"Yes, my doubts have been cleared."
With that statement, Subaru tilted the glass he had been holding on the banister in one go, then grabbed the now-cold meat pie, popped it into his mouth and began to chew.
The flavor doesn't fade even when it cools, and the texture of the pie crumbles easily. Indeed, it is an excellent product, as Garfiel boasts.
"Subaru, if you eat too quickly you'll choke."
Subaru: "If Emilia-tan says 'Aahh' then I'll savor every bite."
"I think I did that for you last time when Subaru was tired..."
Subaru gave a wry smile at Emilia's answer and led her by the hand towards the great hall.
As she was being pulled by the arm, Emilia looked up at the sky once, then followed Subaru's escort and entered the great hall side by side.
The banquet is still in progress as the guest of honour returns, bringing the heat back with him.
Garfiel had returned with a drunk Otto, but as he was about to drink he was attacked from the front and back by Frederica and Ram, causing him to faint in agony.
Petra and Beatrice's mismatched dance also reaches its climax, with Beatrice showing her competitive spirit as Petra sweats from her forehead.
Annerose looked dissatisfied with the fact that Subaru was with Emilia, and Clind poked her puffy cheek with his finger, angering his master.
Lewes and Roswaal stood next to each other, clinking their glasses together and sipping as if rekindling old acquaintances.
"It's a beautiful sight, Emilia-tan."
"Yes. I'm sure this is my ideal scene. I'll never forget it."
As promised, let's make it an unforgettable night.
For now, I'll burst into the two girls dancing in the most conspicuous spot in the great hall.
Even if you don't know the steps or anything, the feeling of joy is sure to be shared.
The knight and the witch - the new master and servant - took random, haphazard steps, filled with confusion and smiles.