This day.
Golden sunlight dappled upon the magnificent Karsten Ducal Mansion in the Royal Capital's noble district.
Tall Corinthian marble columns supported a wide portico, their exquisite reliefs shimmering in the sunlight. In the courtyard, geometrically trimmed bushes surrounded a central fountain, its splashing water refracting a seven-colored light.
"Truly befitting a top-tier noble of the Royal Capital..." Natsuki Subaru tilted his head up, an involuntary sigh of admiration escaping him.
The scale and grandeur of the mansion before him were far beyond what Roswaal's remote border estate could compare to. Just the knight statues flanking the main gate were taller than an ordinary person's house. This level of luxury could probably only be matched by Sword Saint Reinhard's family estate.
"It certainly is magnificent," Emilia said softly, standing beside Natsuki Subaru. Her silver hair glowed with a soft halo, and a hint of worry flashed in her purple eyes. "But, Subaru, is it not too presumptuous of us to visit Miss Crusch so suddenly?"
"Don't worry, Emilia-tan." Natsuki Subaru turned to Emilia with a reassuring smile. "Miss Crusch isn't the type to get hung up on formalities. Besides... this meeting is quite necessary for our upcoming plans."
"I'm just worried about causing her trouble," Emilia nodded gently. "As a popular candidate for the Royal Selection, Miss Crusch's schedule must be very full..."
"No problem!" Natsuki Subaru patted his chest confidently. "I had Rem help deliver a formal visit request in advance. And, with our current fame, she should be looking forward to this meeting too."
"Subaru always has a way with things." Emilia was coaxed into a slight, beautiful smile by Natsuki Subaru, her tension seeming to ease a little.
Just then, an elderly butler in a smart uniform bowed respectfully. "Welcome to the Karsten Ducal Mansion. Lady Emilia, Lord Natsuki Subaru, the Duchess is awaiting you both in the reception room."
"Thank you for your trouble," Emilia replied elegantly.
"Mm... thank you." Natsuki Subaru also nodded slightly in acknowledgment, but his gaze unconsciously drifted past the butler's shoulder to the fully armed warriors in the courtyard.
They were clad in uniform dark green battle attire, with standard-issue longswords at their waists, currently engaged in formation drills in the courtyard.
"These elite warriors... they must be members preparing for the White Whale subjugation team, right?" Natsuki Subaru thought to himself, looking at the cold glint of the weapons at the warriors' waists.
Then, following the butler's lead, he walked side-by-side with Emilia through a luxurious long corridor adorned with valuable oil paintings and exquisite sculptures.
On both sides of the walls, portraits of past Karsten Dukes gazed solemnly at the visitors. Each picture frame was plated with pure gold, shimmering in the sunlight. The figures in the paintings, whether standing with sword in hand or seated in a study, all proclaimed the glory and responsibility this family had borne for hundreds of years.
"Crusch Karsten..." Natsuki Subaru silently repeated the name, his thoughts drifting far away.
As the current head of the Karsten Ducal House, this seventeen-year-old girl held a pivotal position in the kingdom. She was born with a captivating leadership charisma and was publicly acknowledged as a once-in-a-generation talent. Her greatest political ambition was to sever the four-hundred-year-old covenant between the Kingdom of Lugnica and the Divine Dragon, to establish a truly independent new kingdom.
"And for this grand goal, and also to fulfill her promise to Wilhelm..." Natsuki Subaru's thoughts couldn't help but drift to the White Whale subjugation battle in the original work. For Crusch, a seventeen-year-old girl, to personally lead the expedition to subjugate one of the Three Great Mabeasts, the White Whale—such courage and responsibility are truly admirable.
"What are you looking at, Subaru?" Emilia's gentle voice suddenly sounded by his ear, pulling him back to reality.
"Ah, nothing." Natsuki Subaru retracted his gaze.
Turning the last corner, the spacious and elegant reception room finally came into view.
Crusch Karsten was gracefully leaning back in the carved armchair of the main seat, her long, deep green hair cascading over her shoulders. Seeing Natsuki Subaru and Emilia enter, she rose composedly, every gesture exuding noble grace.
"Please be seated, Knight Natsuki Subaru." Crusch made an inviting gesture, her amber eyes narrowing slightly, appraising the visitors with a scrutinizing gaze. "Miss Emilia, it has been a while."
"Thank you for your hospitality, Miss Crusch." Emilia elegantly performed a standard noble's curtsy, her silver hair swaying gently with the movement, before seating herself with dignity.
"Thanks." Natsuki Subaru responded briefly, his gaze involuntarily drawn to the handsome woman in men's attire before him.
Crusch Karsten—this young woman with long, deep green hair and sharp amber eyes had inherited the illustrious Karsten Ducal House at the mere age of seventeen.
As the foremost of the five great noble families supporting the Lugnican royalty, the Karsten family, with the royal bloodline now severed, was arguably the closest to the throne. And this young Duchess before him was renowned as the most formidable candidate in the Royal Selection.
"This presence is truly different. As expected of a prime candidate for the Royal Selection..." Natsuki Subaru marveled inwardly, simultaneously noticing Wilhelm, standing behind Crusch, scrutinizing him with a sharp gaze.
What surprised him even more was that the usually lively Ferris was uncharacteristically hiding behind Wilhelm, his cat ears twitching uneasily. Strange, what's wrong with Ferris?
"Knight Natsuki Subaru, I watched the entirety of your duel defeating The Finest Knight." Crusch suddenly spoke, a hint of admiration in her amber eyes. "Your strength was indeed impressive, especially your timing on the final blow—it was perfect."
"After all, Julius's swordsmanship is among the best in the kingdom. To defeat him head-on is sufficient proof of your strength."
"Miss Crusch, you flatter me," Natsuki Subaru replied modestly. "I was merely lucky."
"Luck?" Crusch chuckled lightly, a sharp glint in her amber eyes. "To see through a Spirit Knight's opening at a critical moment—that cannot be explained by luck. I am very curious, how did you achieve it?"
"Observation and intuition, I suppose." Facing Crusch's question, Natsuki Subaru answered calmly. "Although Julius is strong, he is not invincible."
"Mm, a very insightful answer." Crusch leaned back in her chair and nodded, then looked towards Wilhelm. "Wilhelm, what are your thoughts?"
Wilhelm, who had been silent all along, looked at Natsuki Subaru with sharp eyes and slowly spoke, "Lord Subaru, to see through The Finest Knight's opening in actual combat, such keen eyesight is indeed extraordinary."
"However, I am more concerned about your fighting style, which emphasizes a perfect fusion of speed and power. Your techniques seem to incorporate the essence of various schools; this is by no means a skill that can be honed overnight."
As expected of the Sword Demon, his insight is too sharp. He figured out my fighting characteristics in an instant. Natsuki Subaru grumbled inwardly but wore a humble smile. "Mister Wilhelm overpraises me. I have indeed borrowed some different techniques."
"The entire Royal Capital is now abuzz with the tale of Knight Natsuki Subaru defeating the kingdom's finest knight. This fervor has even overshadowed us Royal Candidates," Crusch paused, then added, "This, however, is a good thing for Miss Emilia."
"Oh, is that so..." Natsuki Subaru said. He had only intended to spar with Julius but unexpectedly became famous after one battle. This accidental victory had indeed brought many benefits to Emilia's faction.
Since defeating Julius, the attitude of the upper nobility towards Emilia had noticeably improved. The news that Knight Natsuki Subaru, from Royal Candidate Emilia's camp, had defeated the kingdom's finest knight, Julius, spread like wildfire through every corner of the Royal Capital. It seemed that no matter where, gossip was always the topic that attracted the most attention.
"Subaru-kyun..." Ferris suddenly peeked out from behind Wilhelm, blushing, and said to Natsuki Subaru, "Are you here to honor our bet?"
"Bet? What bet...?" Hearing this, Natsuki Subaru was slightly taken aback, then remembered the bet he had made with Ferris. If he could defeat Julius, he could play with Ferris's ears for a whole day as much as he wanted.
"Err... about that..." Natsuki Subaru scratched his head awkwardly. To be honest, if Ferris hadn't brought it up, he would have completely forgotten about it.
Looking at Ferris's flushed cheeks and twitching cat ears, Natsuki Subaru retorted wildly in his mind: What are you blushing for! And a male cat-boy... rubbing his ears, it just feels a bit off.
Thinking this, Natsuki Subaru quickly waved his hands. "Um, I was just saying that casually."
"No way, meow~" Ferris suddenly jumped up excitedly, his cat ears standing straight. "As a knight, you must keep your word! Come on, touch them!" Saying this, Ferris brought his head closer.
Everyone present was stunned. Emilia's eyes widened in surprise, Crusch raised an eyebrow, and even the usually serious Wilhelm showed a subtle expression.
"Hey, hey, what on earth is Ferris doing? If I do this in such a situation, I'll definitely be seen as a pervert..." Thinking this, Natsuki Subaru felt his face about to burn. He took a small step back and almost shouted, "Really, it's fine! Let's just pretend that bet never happened!"
"Subaru-kyun, so cunning, meow~ You won the bet but still want to go back on your word..." Ferris tilted his head in confusion, but then, as if an idea struck him, he winked slyly. "Then how about I let Subaru-kyun touch Ferris's ears privately another day..."
"Seriously..." Natsuki Subaru was speechless, rolling his eyes inwardly. Honestly, who would want to touch the ears of this male cat!
"Ferris." Crusch opportunely warned Ferris, then pulled the conversation back on track. "Speaking of which, I hear Miss Emilia has been staying in the Royal Capital recently?"
"Yes." Emilia nodded slightly, her silver hair swaying gently with the movement. "I wish to understand the situation in the Royal Capital better and interact more with the various candidates."
"I see." A hint of admiration flashed in Crusch's amber eyes. "A wise decision."
At this point, Natsuki Subaru interjected at the right moment, "Speaking of interaction, I hear Miss Crusch has the renowned title of 'Valkyrie of Karsten.' You must be quite accomplished in swordsmanship?"
It was worth noting that Crusch's sword skills were considered top-tier in the kingdom. Not only did she possess keen sword flashes and refined sword aura, but she also uniquely created the "Hundred-Man One-Sword Strike," which perfectly combined wind magic with swordsmanship.
With this ultimate technique, even without a sword, Crusch could imbue wind into her sword aura to cut down enemies barehanded, thus earning her the name "Valkyrie of the Karsten Duchy." In short, Crusch's strength was no less than Julius's.
"Women are not suited to wield swords. Are you also trying to persuade me with such talk?" Crusch looked at Natsuki Subaru, suddenly raising an eyebrow.
"Err..." Natsuki Subaru was momentarily at a loss for words; that wasn't his intention at all.
"Just kidding." Crusch chuckled, her long deep green hair swaying slightly with her movement. "I've been told that since I was young; I'm tired of hearing it. The young lady of the Karsten house, clearly a delicate woman yet obsessed with swordsmanship, prefers breaking arms to admiring flowers..."
"That's quite different from the rumors I've heard." Natsuki Subaru looked at Crusch sincerely. "The talk in the streets and alleys all praise Miss Crusch as a hero who will be remembered in history."
This was indeed Natsuki Subaru's honest opinion. This genius girl, who inherited the ducal house at only seventeen, was already a well-known figure in the Royal Capital.
Especially in her first campaign leading troops to suppress a Mabeast uprising, she resolved a crisis that had even injured her father with swift and decisive action, not only consolidating her position as head of the house but also shaking the entire Royal Capital.
Crusch, upon hearing this, narrowed her amber eyes slightly. "Oh? And what do the streets say about me?"
"They say you are a once-in-a-century military talent," Natsuki Subaru looked directly into Crusch's eyes, repeating what he had heard. "Especially regarding your achievements in pacifying the Mabeast uprising in your domain."
"That was merely doing what I could," Crusch said, waving her hand modestly.
"Lady Crusch indeed performed outstandingly back then," Wilhelm, at her side, spoke up, a rare note of approval in his voice. "To be able to command calmly at the age of fifteen is truly remarkable."
"I have also always admired Miss Crusch's deeds," Emilia also praised sincerely.
"Those nobles who changed their assessment only did so after witnessing my achievements firsthand. Although such an attitude, changing views so drastically due to results, is indeed somewhat selfish, fundamentally, my previous failure to show sufficient results was due to my own negligence." Crusch continued with a composed expression, "I do not intend to blame those feudal lords who changed their views. As for the praise from the common people of the city..."
Speaking up to this point, a rare hint of embarrassment appeared on Crusch's face. "I have to say, some of the evaluations truly make me feel awkward."
"Crusch is truly an amazing young woman," Natsuki Subaru couldn't help but sigh internally. To be able to view others' evaluations so objectively and rationally, not becoming arrogant due to praise nor angered by disparagement—such magnanimity is truly admirable.
Moreover, this young woman named Crusch before me never cares for those stale prejudices about how a woman should be. She proves herself with strength, wins respect with action. This courage and confidence are perhaps her most dazzling charms as a leader.
In terms of talent, leadership, and combat ability, among these candidates, Crusch is a very suitable choice for king.
"Lady Crusch, you are truly too modest, meow~" Felix, following behind Crusch, his cat ears twitching slightly, spoke up. "Those words of praise are all well-deserved for you!"
"Ferris..." Crusch shook her head helplessly.
"Miss Crusch's broad-mindedness is truly admirable." Emilia placed her hands together on her lap, admiration shining in her purple eyes. "Um..."
"You overpraise me, Miss Emilia. It seems you have something more to say?" Crusch keenly sensed Emilia's hesitation, her amber eyes looking directly at her.
"Actually, our visit this time is indeed to discuss an important matter with you." Saying this, Emilia turned her gaze to Natsuki Subaru beside her.
"Oh?" Crusch tilted her head slightly towards Natsuki Subaru, her long deep green hair cascading over her shoulder with the movement. "What do you wish to say?"
Under the gazes of Crusch, Wilhelm, and Ferris, Natsuki Subaru straightened his back and said gravely, enunciating each word, "We have come this time to discuss—the matter of the White Whale subjugation!"
_
Greetings! ✨ Walnut here!
🔥 AN INCREDIBLE OFFER IS ON THE TABLE! 🔥
We're only 17 members away from our 65-member goal! 🎯
The second we hit it, 10 BONUS CHAPTERS for ALL STORIES will be released to everyone. No exceptions!
🪦 Your membership is the key. Let's make it happen!
100 powerstones = +1 Bonus Chapter for everyone! 5 reviews = +1 Bonus Chapter for everyone!
Secure your early access before it's too late!
👻 patreon.com/Walnutchan