I had just finished hunting down some annoying slavers when he appeared out of nowhere. He projected an air of confidence and he seemed to know exactly what he was doing.

"Lia, I'm getting mixed signals from this man. You shouldn't trust him."

I agreed with Puck. The man who introduced himself as Roswaal was shady. He had a strange sense of fashion as far as I could tell, and had a strange speech pattern.

What was the most peculiar though, was that he was the first person since my awakening who didn't seem phased by my appearance. Most humans cowered in fear, shouting and screaming 'witch' as they ran away.

Despite Pucks warnings, what he was offering me was enticing.

I thrust my boot harder into the defeated slaver's back. His face was shoved into the cold snow beneath him, a slight groan escaped his lips. I revelled in the paltry resistance he offered. It felt wonderful to have full control over somebody like this.

"Sooo~ Emilia, what do you saaay~?"

I was drawn out of my musing by Roswaal's chattering. He paid no attention to the cretin beneath my feet.

"You are offering me a chance to become King of Lugnica because a stone glows when I touch it?"

A thin smile is drawn across his makeup-ridden face.

"Not quite. The Dragon's Prophetic Taaablet~ has chosen you. The insignia is used as a means of verifying your ideeentity~."

I stifled a scoff at such a ridiculous notion.

"And? What do you want from this deal?" I prod.

"Lia!" Puck protested. I held out my hand, silencing him.

"Hoooh~ What makes you think that I'm not doing this out of goodwill? Surely one is free to support anybody of their choosing, am I wrooong~?" Roswaal was beginning to become irritating.

I formed an icicle in my hands and aimed downwards at the slaver. I let it fly towards his head and a satisfying squelch echoed throughout the winter forest. A stream of blood seeped into the powdery snow, dying it red.

"I am not naive enough to believe in goodwill. You have just seen me execute somebody based on nothing but a pure whim. Am I really somebody you'd want to be sat on the throne of a kingdom?"

Roswaal's smile widened.

"I assure you, noooothing~ you do will sway my decision to back you in this royal selection." My eyes narrowed. He had given no hints as to what his own motives were.

I relented. The prospects of an entire country at my beck-and-call were too attractive to turn down. There was hardly any downside for me.

"So, what must I do?"

If it wasn't possible already, Roswaal's smile managed to grow even wider at my words.

Roswaal's mansion was nothing like I had ever seen. Sure, the human settlements that I frequented were novel in their design. Elaborate brick and mortar constructions that kept out the cold. However, this place was larger than it had any right to be.

"Ram, Rem, please treat our new guest with utmoost~ respect. I will be supporting Emilia in the upcoming royal selection."

The apprehensive faces on the maids were wiped off and they both bowed to me in unison.

""It is a pleasure to meet you, Emilia-sama.""

They no doubt harboured some suspicion based on my looks. However, it appeared that they trusted Roswaal's judgement more than their own.

"Ram, lead Emilia to the room you had prepared earlier." The maid nodded.

"Of course, Roswaal-sama. Emilia-sama, please follow me."

The room he had prepared earlier… Had he already anticipated that I'd accept his offer? Whatever. His preparedness serves to only benefit me.

The red-haired maid led me through the foyer and up a set of stairs. We walked down the corridors in relative silence; The soft shuffling of our shoes against the red carpet the only audible sound.

After a few minutes of walking, we came up to an ornate wooden door. Ram steps forward and opens it.

"Emilia-sama, this is the room assigned to you," the red-haired maid spoke, "The desk has study materials to better prepare yourself for the upcoming royal selection. Please make yourself comfortable. I will be back once supper is prepared." I nodded in confirmation.

She bowed before leaving the room, shutting the door quietly behind her.

A sigh escapes my lips as I collapse onto the bed. Puck materialises above me.

"Lia, are you serious about becoming king? You haven't even been to Lugnica before!" Puck's extreme caution was becoming tiresome. I glared at him.

"Puck. Have you forgotten the terms of our contract?" He shrunk away at my words. He seemed hesitant to continue.

"I-If an avenue to power presents itself, I will do everything in my ability to assist you." He mumbled.

"That's right, Puck. And what is a king of a country if not powerful?" A multitude of expressions crosses Puck's face.

"Okay, Lia. If that's what you want to do, I'll support you." I smile at his submission. I look over to the desk and the pile of books atop it.

I have to read all those? Well, a king must be well-versed in political intrigue and history. Knowledge is power, so I might as well get started.

Once I had spent a couple months as a resident at Roswaal's mansion, he decided it was time to formally announce my candidacy for the throne.

That was the reason I found myself in the throne room of the royal castle today.

"Her likeness to the Witch of Envy cannot be dismissed; She's a silver-haired half-elf. Recognising her as a Dragon Maiden would turn Lugnica into a laughingstock! It is an outrage!" A member of the sage council whined.

What an idiot.

Why was he getting so worked up over my appearance? Shouldn't he prioritise worrying about my abilities as a ruler instead?

"Bordeaux Zellgef," I flared my magic, "The Dragon Insignia has chosen me as a candidate for the throne, as described in the Prophetic Tablet. Isn't it too presumptuous for you to decide I am a candidate?"

He shrinks into his seat as I lowered the room below freezing levels.

"C-Court mage, I am questioning your wisdom for sponsoring such a candidate. We will have to discuss this in greater detail. W-Without her presence." The decrepit man pointed at me.

A sigh escapes the jester's mouth.

"Emilia, pleeease~ return to the inn with Ram. I seem to have some convincing to do over heeere~."

I temper my mana and return the room temperature back to normal.

"Hmph. Okay, Roswaal. I'm sure you wouldn't mind if I take the scenic route back?"

"I have no issues with thaaat~," Roswaal replied with a smug face.

I hadn't seen much of the capital yet. All I'd gotten was a brief glimpse from within the dragon carriage as I watched the buildings go by. I was curious as to what it would be like to walk around there. Reading about a place and experiencing it are two different things.

It's only fitting for a future king to tour the streets she'll someday control.

AN: Just to clear up some confusion. The source material is quite vague when referring to Emilia's time frozen in ice. The Wikia mentions that the attack on Elior Forest happened 100 years before Subaru's Arrival, whereas the source material says that Puck had been searching for Emilia for over 300 years, so I didn't know which number to use. 50,000 days is just under 137 years which I think is a ballpark number that's good enough to be the start of canon. This chapter was just a little interlude before Subaru is introduced, explaining why Emilia was in the capital. Thanks for reading. If I made any mistakes, please point them out! Please review!