Hello everyone, sorry I'm late. Writing this chapter took a little more time than planned because of some stuff I had on the side.
Thanks again to Killthestory and Otey for their help here.
I hope you enjoy your read.
A gentle humming in the air, the silver-haired half-elf was seated in her room, positioned in front of her mirror as she brushed delicately her silver hair.
That hair her Subaru loved so much. That hair he would always compliment and say how much he found them beautiful. How much Emilia herself, was his beautiful bride…
"Hm hm…I have to be the mooooost beautiful for his return. I can't be sloppy for Subaru. We will have a looooong talk, after all, I need to be ready for when he'll say that he loves me. It would be super bad if I'm not good enough when we kiss…" She wondered with a smile.
As she was speaking to herself, a sound was heard by her door. The distinct "knock" of someone trying to enter her room.
"Enter." She delicately exclaimed, allowing her visitor to step in.
"Emilia-sama…" A blue-haired maid spoke, her voice shaken and her face showing nothing but pain and despair.
"Ah! Rem-san! What's the matter? You don't look so good! I told you to rest after what happened!" Emilia told her, standing up to meet her.
"Rem…Couldn't really rest, Emilia-sama…I couldn't help having nightmares no matter what…" Rem told her mistress, still smiling.
"Mh? Nightmares of what?"
"Of…S-Subaru-kun…Leaving me…" Rem started to whimper, holding her dress tightly.
"Ooooh…I see. Well, you shouldn't worry too much…As long as we speak to him, I'm sure everything will be okay. It's Subaru after all…He will definitely forgive me. And if he does, I don't see why he wouldn't forgive you too." Emilia tried to reassure her.
"Emilia-sama…Do you realize the sheer gravity of what we have done…?" Rem asked her, confused as to how Subaru could forgive something like this so easily.
"Mh?"
"We broke our loyalty to our husband!" Rem exclaimed to her. "There is no greatest sin for a woman than what we have done…!"
"And, it was an accident. If anything, there is but one culprit to all of th-"
Before she could finish her sentence, Emilia's eyes went off to the door in front of her, where she saw the Margrave of the mansion pass, eyeing at her…As he dodged an ice pick sent directly to him, breaking down the wall on his back.
"Oh?" Roswaal hummed, as he dodged yet again another shot from inside of the room.
"Die."
"It's your fault.
"Don't get closer to me."
"You don't have a right to touch my body"
Emilia walked into the hallway, freezing everything on her path as she prepared yet other shots of ice in her hands, glaring at Roswaal with a dead stare as cold as her ice…A stare so deadly, he felt like he could nearly feel fear from it.
Clearly, the silver-haired princess was not happy to see him. And it was not wise by any means to try and push the situation more than this.
"Veeeery well, I see this will be problematic," Roswaal answered with a bow, as he turned back and walked away.
Under the threatening wrath of the witch of frost.
Having assisted to the entire situation, Rem quickly grabbed a hold of herself as she directed towards the door, behind Emilia still staring to the clown, and going into the opposite direction.
Far away from here.
Far away from him.
Far away from her.
Her priority as of now was to find a way for Subaru…To at least, look at her once again.
For her to just have the possibility, the chance, the blessing, the honor…
To look at him again without facing his disgust.
"What do we do now…?" Garfiel asked, still seated in the room alongside Otto and the others.
"We wait for Barusu's return. And we hear his decision." Ram announced to everyone, her face expressionless.
"You seem…Incredibly calm, Ram-san…" Otto asked her.
"Do you wish for me to be angry and turn my wrath against you, perhaps? Is it because you took a liking to the treatment you received from everyone in this mansion?" Ram asked the merchant.
"I didn't! I don't get why it is even mentioned to begin with!" Otto yelled in outrage, making several people in the room chuckle.
Garfiel went ahead to tap his friend's back, silently praising Ram for making the mood more comfortable in her own way. Surely, she was a wonderful woman.
However, there was someone who didn't laugh at all. Actually, someone who didn't do anything but stare at the window showing the road ahead the mansion.
"Beatrice-sama." Ram called from her seat." Barusu will come back eventually. Waiting for him here won't bring him back faster, quite the opposite actually."
"You don't need to tell me that, in fact." Beatrice answered without turning around.
"…Beatrice-sama…" Otto said worriedly. "What…What do you think Natsuki-san will do…?"
Beatrice kept her gaze through the window, breathing deeply as she closed her eyes to remember her contractor. To remember his pain and his suffering when all of this started. To remember her hate towards that half-witch and that clown.
Yes, she remembered it all.
"Betty doesn't know what Subaru think or might do, I suppose." She said, a neutral tone in her voice.
"However, I know what Betty will allow and forbid as of now." She continued turning around the people in this room.
"Roswaal." She said with a bitter tone. "He is the instigator of this whole situation. Betty does not know how he did and why, but he found a way to bed the half-elf and the maid, all of that in an attempt to break Betty's Subaru once again, as he tried by the past." She announced to them.
"WHAT?!" Otto and Garfiel exclaimed in furry.
"You mean that Roswaal tried to…" Otto stopped in his tracks, remembering the events of the sanctuary and Roswaal's schemes to make Subaru his puppet.
His eyes glowed in anger once more.
The same would go pretty well for Garfiel, gritting his teeth with such strength he might as well break his own jaw, his body about to change in a more bestial form with the built anger he had towards the clown in question.
"How…" Frederica asked, a hand on her heart regarding the shock of this revelation.
Ram kept silent.
"This is nothing but another disgusting plot contrived by this fool. He is an absolute, disgusting imbecile. Blinded by his goals, ideals. His impossible dreams as old as this new world… He tried to build yet his so desired future and for that, he needed someone that could break the chains of fate itself…" Beatrice mused, turning towards the road once again.
"However with the seal placed on him, there is close to nothing he could have ever done. He is powerless, weak when it comes to facing Betty's contractor." She explained, reminding everyone of the seal placed on his torso.
"But these naive girls would fall for any trap laid by him. In a way or another, they managed to get fooled by someone as disgusting as him. All for his twisted goal of relieving affection from Betty's mother, who will never return." She sighed in annoyance." It's been 400 years, and he doesn't learn? Mother is gone, but as foolish he is…Roswaal won't accept it."
Everyone in the room felt their anger build itself in their minds again. Shaking, trembling. For one who couldn't hold his oath and did nothing but burns everything in his path for the sake of a lost goal. Truly…Roswaal didn't deserve any kind of respect.
This was something Otto and Garfiel already knew.
This was something Frederica just learned.
This was something Ram will have to learn.
"Subaru taught me the definition of insanity as if he lived it himself. With pain in his eyes, he told me…That it was, trying, again and again, the same thing, expecting a different result." She exclaimed to all, turning around to see them.
"This clown is insane, in fact. And I will not stand here and watch my contractor become prey of his insanity. Subaru saved Betty from her horrible fate. He saved Betty from insanity, from death…From herself. He stood before and told me to choose him with his hand raised towards me, as I was ready to leave this world forever. Betty's Subaru gave her hope and the will to live…And I, should stand there, watch this wonderful man being tainted by such ungrateful "wives"?" She growled in anger.
"He is too kind, he tries so hard, and this is his repayment? I cannot accept this." She announced to al.
"This camp can burn, as long as Subaru is by Betty's side, I suppose."
Everyone in the room threw a glance to each other upon hearing this much. Otto to Garfiel, to Frederica, to Ram…As they all thought the same.
"Yes," Otto answered to her, a determined look on his face. "I can see you had the same plan as us, Beatrice-sama."
"…"
"If Capn' leaves, I'm out."
"I will be by Natsuki-san's side. No matter what."
"I shall follow him as well. It is only natural."
Beatrice found crossed her arms as she gave a careful look to everyone standing in front of her, nodding to each of their statements in pride and faint fondness…Until reaching the pink-haired Oni who stayed silent all this time.
Everyone knew about her and the feelings she had towards the lord after all.
"Ram…" Garfiel called her.
Until suddenly, the door of the room opened. A blue-haired maid entering once again.
"I am sorry…" She weakly spoke." Can I…Can I have a word…With you all?"
"Damn…I never came back here for a while, didn't I?" Subaru mused as he looked all around him, admiring the capital once again.
"You didn't come here for a long time…" Reinhard said with a nostalgic feeling. "I'm glad you decided to visit today…"
Subaru's ear picked up the change in the tone of the sword saint.
"Reinhard?" He asked, notifying this one to say whatever he wanted to say.
"Well…I was wondering, did you plan on…Contacting me?" Reinhard asked, a faint slight of hope barely perceivable in his voice.
"Oh no, don't worry…" He answered, making the sword saint internally disappointed. "It's just that…Some stuff came up and I needed to clear my mind a bit, I guess…"
If he was slightly saddened by the thought of his friend not thinking about him when coming in here, this thought vanished away instantly as the sword saint noticed the grim and grieving feeling coming off of his friend. He knew something was wrong.
"But…" Subaru continued as he scratched the back of his head, earning the redhead's attention.
"Well, I'm glad you're here with me…Hey, you sure you don't hear my cries for help?" He laughed off, nudging the saint's arm.
Hearing this much, Reinhard suddenly stopped in his tracks, eyes widened in surprise to hear his friend say something like this. Of course, he was used to Subaru's friendship…But the rarity of hearing such words coming out of someone else's mouth, towards him, still was something he was not used to.
"Reinhard?" Subaru called, expressing his worry towards the knight who seemed frozen.
"Ah…Sorry, I just…" Reinhard stuttered, gaining his composure back and smiling instinctively to his friend. "I'm glad to be here with you as well."
Subaru smiled back to him, as he understood the embarrassment the sword had to feel right now to the sudden compliment received. He knew Reinhard wasn't used to them. He knew of his difficult situation.
But he truly believed that Reinhard needed to understand how valued he was sometimes.
"Eh, are you trying to say that you missed me or something, dear sword saint?" He laughed back, as both continued to walk up the streets.
"Well, of course I did. If anything, I would love to be able to see you more often." Reinhard admitted, scratching the back of his head.
Subaru snorted as he felt embarrassed as well. Those kinds of moments were heartwarming…But he never knew how to properly answer to it.
"You're this close to make me blush, really."
Reinhard only scoffed playfully at his remark, along with Patrasche bumping into the sword saint in jealousy, as the three of them continued to walk up the districts.
"Where are we going by the way?" Subaru finally asked him, wondering where they were headed to.
"Ah, since you said you wanted to clear your mind a bit…I thought of a place I know well in the capital. I go there sometimes myself." Reinhard answered him with a smile, pointing towards the direction of the royal castle.
"…"
Ultimately, both of them reached a grand plaza up in the noble district, Subaru didn't look much like he belonged here, his clothes being something quite unusual for anyone here to see.
A lot of people were eyeing him, looking at him, and gossiping as they saw him around. Of course, Subaru immediately picked up on this and thought about it being because he didn't seem noble at all.
"Eh…Is it really alright for me to be here Reinhard?" Subaru thought, speaking in a low voice to avoid anyone from hearing him.
"Why wouldn't it be?" Reinhard asked, his voice showing the clear confusion he had about Subaru questioning his legitimacy to stand here.
"Well…I mean, look at me and then look at you!" Subaru playfully tried to argue. "There's no way we are on the same league!"
"I really don't see what you're trying to prove…"
Seeing the ignorance of the redhead, Subaru just waved it off. Trying to stop his gentle laugh to his friend's humility.
"I guess you couldn't see it." Subaru softly whispered, closing his eyes.
"I apologize…"
"What? No!" Subaru shot back instantly. "I was saying that in a good way! You can't see it because…Well, you're you, Reinhard."
"I am me…? I'm sorr-"
"Oh come on!" Subaru cut him playfully.
"Man, you're really something." He laughed as tapped his shoulder. "You should realize by now we're friends, right? I would always be glad to pass time with you."
Hearing this much made Reinhard freeze once again, however…
The more he heard Subaru speak, the more he heard the genuine fondness in his voice, the more he felt he had to act more genuine too.
Reinhard didn't want to be indecisive.
He didn't want to step aside.
He didn't want to just stand there and offer his help.
He wanted to help.
He wanted to show Subaru that his friendship was genuine. That he wanted Subaru to rely on him, to talk to him.
That he would let him repay all of the good things he did for the sword saint.
As they kept walking towards the royal castle, the redhead knight slowly raised his head, with no smile apparent.
For one of the rarest times in his life, no smile would hide the true intent of the sword saint, filled with determination.
"Beatrice-sama…What are you doing?!"
"What needs to be done, I suppose."
Frederica watched with critical eyes, her breathing hitching, as the little spirit had her hand extended before her, an amethyst color emanating of it, while a blue-haired maid kneeled before her.
"Beatrice-sama!" Ram yelled, shielding her sister with her body. "I beg of you, there is no need to go to such lengths!"
"Have you heard what she said, I suppose?!" Beatrice yelled back, her eyes reflecting her wrath.
"I did!" She replied, hugging Rem who seemed unable to react, her eyes closed like she accepted her fate. "But do you really think this much is necessary?! Do you think Barusu would approve of your actions?!"
"-Ghk…" Beatrice cursed under her breath, her glare still directed towards the maid. "He wouldn't, I suppose. This is why Betty will carry this burden."
Rem hung her head even lower upon hearing the spirit's words.
'A burden'
Yes. A burden.
This was a good synonym to represent who Rem was at the moment. A useless, pathetic being, that was nothing but a burden.
For the man, she loved and betrayed.
For her sister she loved.
For everyone else in this mansion, some she could call friends at a time.
Nothing but a burden.
"I am terribly sorry…" She cried, holding her head down. "I am sorry, for what I did! I'm sorry f-for betraying all of you! But please!"
Everyone turned their eyes to her, even Otto and Garfiel that had been looking elsewhere to avoid suddenly having any compassion towards the maid.
"I…I can't stand it! I need to see him!" She yelled, tears flooding the ground. "I can't live with that on my conscience! I…I need to apologize! I need to see Subar-"
"DON'T YOU DARE SPEAK THE NAME OF BETTY'S CONTRACTOR!" Beatrice shouted, piercing the ground in front of the maid with her crystal magic.
"Beatrice-sama!" Ram shouted, trailing back with her sister, still shocked, in her arms.
Otto, Garfiel, and Frederica also jumped in front of the spirit, shielding the oni sisters with alarmed expressions, as the spirit clearly lost her composure.
"Beatrice-sama! T-this is not what Natsuki-san would have done! You can't do that!" Otto shouted first.
"He's right! Capn' wouldn't forgive ya!"
Beatrice kept her cold gaze towards the group of people standing before her, slightly biting her lip in anger as she felt the urge to end this disgusting maid's existence for her sin.
Maybe…Maybe Subaru would be sad. But it would only be for the better. With her gone, he could truly move on.
This was what she wished in the bottom of her heart. For Subaru to stop suffering and find happiness, away from the people who would wrong him.
"…"
Rem on the other side, felt a tug in her heart as these people stood in front of her, for her sake. For a brief moment, she felt as she wasn't alone. But…
"Don't get any ideas, Rem." Her sister whispered to her. "You haven't been forgiven yet."
"S-sister…" She cried. "I…I'm sorry! I don't have enough w-words to express how sorry I am…I really loved Subaru! I really loved my husband! I don't know why I just…"
"Rem." Ram cut her with a threatening tone. "What you say right now doesn't matter. You cannot change the past. And your words don't have any impact on me, or anyone here."
Ram lowered her gaze to meet the wet, teary eyes of her sisters, feeling more and more weak and broken.
"Because you didn't hurt any of us here, but someone we all hold dear. You hurt Barusu. As such, the only way we have to forgive you…Is for Barusu to forgive you first and foremost." Ram said, trying to fight her own instincts to cuddle her sister.
Rem needed to know her mistake.
"I…" Rem tried to muster the strength to speak. But after the words of her sister…
The only thing she could remember was Subaru.
His eyes, despising her.
His words, berating her.
How she hurt him and betrayed him. How she made him suffer.
"But how could he ever forgive me…After what I have done…?" She cried silently.
"Mh..Is that..?" Subaru said with narrowed eyes, looking in front of him to see a green-haired woman standing inside of a garden with a catboy by her side.
"Crusch-san? Felix?" Subaru called, earning their attention.
"Ah? Subaru-sama, Reinhard-sama?"
"Nya?! What are you two doing here?!"
Crusch went forward and tried to walk, only to painfully grunt as she couldn't make another step.
"Crusch-sama!" Felix exclaimed, supporting her immediately, as Subaru and Reinhard rushed to her side.
"Ugh…What a disgrace," Crusch grunted as she had to lean on them to stand properly.
"Please do not say that Crusch-sama…" Reinhard winced. "You aren't responsible by any means…"
"Crusch-sama! How many times do I have to tell you to not blame yourself…" Felix nearly cried.
After the events of Vollachia and the death of the last Gluttony, memories have been returned to Rem, but the same thing occurred for everyone that had been stolen of their name and past by the sin archbishops, Crusch Karsten included. She remembered everything now. Who she was and what she fought for. Maybe, the reason why she was standing in the royal garden as of now.
"Even then, I-" Crusch stopped, as she saw Subaru grabbing her arm, gritting his teeth in pain as the blood moved in a quick motion to him.
Reinhard and Felix started to the blood moving from her arm to Subaru's with wide eyes and shocked expressions.
"Subaru-sama!" Crusch exclaimed, feeling far better, as Subaru started to collapse from the pain, his arm becoming black.
Reinhard took a good hold of him before he fell, his eye showing worry to the reckless action he had just witnessed.
"Subaru…"
"I'm fine…I had worse…" He said between heavy breathing.
Crusch looked at him getting back on his feet, complex emotions of anger and worry running in her mind, as her eyes were focused on his darkened arm…A new physic he had to bear once again because of her.
"Why did you do that?!" She exclaimed, clenching her fists so hard, her gloves could nearly be shred by her sheer strength.
"C-Crusch-sama, please! Subaru-kun's good deed helped you nya! We should thank him! He can take it!" Felix tried to argue, relieved that Crusch was released from a part of her burden.
"Because you needed it…" Subaru replied, wiping sweat from his forehead, not noticing the fuming duchess in front of him.
"…Have you lost your mind, Natsuki Subaru?" She said with narrowed eyes, grabbing his arm in an attempt to take back the blood.
Felix immediately yelped in fear for the blood to move again…But felt relieved to see that it stayed on Subaru's arm.
"Yep, that thing is loving me way too much…Sorry to disappoint you miss Karsten…" He laughed softly. "That, at least…"
Hearing this much, Crusch's glare softened a bit. Surely, she was still angry towards the black-haired boy's actions…But his tone of voice and expression struck her immediately, as she felt something was wrong with him.
Looking back and forth between Subaru and Reinhard, she expected that one of them would end up telling her what was going on. Seeing her dragon blood taken so casually wasn't enough to worry her.
Now, her mind was focused on why someone like Natsuki Subaru…
"Don't worry about it." Subaru cut, opening and closing his fist. "As I said, I'm used to it by now…"
Felix nodded his head several times, grateful for Subaru's action and Crusch's safety.
Ultimately, the duchess closed her eyes before bowing before him.
"I thank you then…Natsuki-sama." She spoke with a voice filled with remorse and shame.
Subaru, Reinhard and Felix heard it pretty well…But there was nothing to do. It was Crusch karsten after all.
"What are you doing here if I may ask, Crusch-sama?" Reinhard asked the duchess, earning Subaru's attention as well.
Crusch looked at the both of them, glancing to her knight by her side who let his ears down as he remembered the reason as well.
"We came here…As to honor the memory of his highness." Crusch spoke, looking back to the royal garden.
"It has now been another year…" Felix continued, reminding of his early days with the prince Fourier Lugunica.
Reinhard closed his eyes with solemn respect, staying silent and keeping himself from mentioning the dragon, as he knew about the personal distaste the Duchess held towards Volcanica.
"And, what about you two?" Crusch answered, trying to change to subject in an attempt to conceal her own memories of coming back.
"Reinhard was just showing me around, I didn't come in the capital for a while…" Subaru tried to explain.
"Indeed, I wanted to show Subaru the view at the top of the royal palace." Reinhard smiled at the duchess.
Crusch looked at the both of them with a questioning look in her eyes, gazing carefully towards them and raising her eyes up the tower.
"The view offered by the royal palace is priceless indeed." Crusch concluded. "I hope you both will take the time to appreciate it."
On these last words, Subaru and Reinhard walked away, leaving Crusch and her knight behind…
Her eyes narrowed towards the black-haired boy, as she raised her arm in front of her.
"…This smile…Was fake wasn't it." She whispered to herself.
"What would it take for you to tell me the truth behind it…?"
"Woah! You talk about a view!" Subaru exclaimed, now at the top of Lugunica's castle with Reinhard, towering over the entire capital.
"I am glad you appreciate it." Reinhard replied, happy to see his plan was of use.
"So, you come here often?"
"Sometimes…I just feel like I need to clear my head. Places like these, giving me a pleasant sight, always been a plus." Reinhard explained as he turned towards the city.
Both of them were now leaned against the balcony, a long silence in place, contemplating the view that was offered to them.
"Subaru." Reinhard ended up breaking the silence, keeping his eyes in front of him.
"Yeah?" Subaru answered, doing the same.
"Do you…See me as a friend?" The sword saint asked, trying to be clear enough.
"I thought it was obvious by now that I do." The black-haired boy chuckled faintly. "Do you see me as a friend, Reinhard?"
"I do…" Reinhard said, his eyes having a fond look in his eyes. "But…Subaru."
The way Reinhard pronounced his name made Subaru drop his smile rather quickly, hit by the rather serious tone it had.
"I want to act as your friend…" He continued, turning to him. "I want to be able to earn that honor you're giving me."
Subaru turned his eyes towards the sword saint.
"Let me help…"
Subaru winced a bit as he turned once again towards the city, trying to keep his tears from flowing out.
"What is going on…? Subaru…Please…" He insisted.
Please.
This last word echoed loudly inside of Subaru's mind. The words of a friend, begging him to let him help. Someone who was offering his support to him.
Of course, coming from someone like Reinhard it shouldn't be something as impressive, to hear him propose his help.
But then again, it wasn't just because he had a duty as a knight. Knighthood has nothing to do with this.
Reinhard wanted to help Subaru because that was what he wished to do. Because that's was he wanted. Not what he had to do. Not something morally right, not something told by any code or anything of the sort that would push the virtuous sword saint to act.
There was no sword saint.
There was Reinhard Van Astrea and Natsuki Subaru.
Subaru found it ironic. He thought again, one last time, about all the people around him. Frederica, Ram, Otto, Garfiel Beatrice, and Patrasche. All those who stayed by his side and swore to help him and only him in this entire situation.
Those who were ready to give him support, those who proved to him that he was still loved and cared for when he was betrayed by those he needed the most.
And now, as he was there trying to show Reinhard that, he was cared for more than he thought…
He started to realize…That he too, was perhaps more loved than he initially thought.
He started to think about everyone else he met. Felt, Rom, Julius, Crusch, Whilelm…The villagers of Irlam…
Would they all be standing by his side as well if they knew?
Was he really the one to blame in all that situation?
"Subaru…" Reinhard said once more, ready to insist even more if it was to obtain answers.
Hearing his name, Subaru closed his eyes one last time. Remembering his wives. Remembering what he lived.
Remembering the deceit…And betrayal.
"Reinhard…" He said softly, making the sword saint widen his eyes and be ready to hear his friend's story.
A barely perceivable smile found its way on his face. A way to hide his pain.
"I'm tired."
Subaru held a hand on his eyes, smiling forcefully to hide his pain. It only made Reinhard more worried.
"You know, today was a wonderful day…I woke up this morning side by side with Emilia and Rem. That was a routine I took after marrying them, you know. Sleeping in the same bed as your loved ones, feeling their warmth every morning and smiling because…Because you think you succeeded. You think you succeeded in life when you have a wife and a hope to have a family…"
Reinhard carefully listened to him, understanding he finally could be of help.
"I stood up and went to Otto and Garfiel, both waiting for me so we could go around the villages around the mansion. Give a hand, buy some supplies…I saw the people smiling, being happy. Children running around peacefully and greeting us….I went through some heavy shit in Vollachia you know, but every time I saw this, I always thought it was worth it. That I did what I had to do to preserve this peace. That I did what a knight should do."
Reinhard winced faintly upon hearing the name of the empire. He always felt guilty for what Subaru lived there…He knew Vollachia very well, after all.
"But then…Then I got a call from Roswaal, sending a flying bird to reach me. Saying I should come back to the mansion immediately for an important reunion. The letter said it was about Emilia and the election, that as a knight I should be there. I didn't hesitate, you know…"
Reinhard kept listening to him…He guessed regarding his friend's tone of voice that the climax was about to come.
"…I never asked for anything in return, Reinhard. I always thought that...As long as Emilia was safe. As long as those I loved were safe…As long as I got to see that happiness and got my share of it, I didn't need anything else." Subaru laughed painfully, tears forming in his eyes.
"But damn, even that was too much to ask!"
Reinhard widened his eyes to his friend's sudden yell.
"I got there. And I found them, moaning around on a bed with Roswaal." He said with a laugh. "My own wives…Those I bled for and suffered for…The two ladies I did everything I could in this world for…Cheated on me. Betrayed me for another man. Under the same roof as me…"
Reinhard's mouth fell as words couldn't come out of his mouth. Eyes wide and hurt, his face showing his clear confusion upon hearing this…
Emilia was a royal candidate and someone he had a loyalty to respect. The same would go for Roswaal as a Margrave of the country.
But for Emilia to bed another man…For Emilia to betray Subaru after everything she announced towards him…
Reinhard was shocked. He was troubled.
This information was so impossible for him that a part of him would be sure this was nothing but a joke coming from Subaru.
But…As his eyes kept staring at the broken man…
How could this be a lie?
"The only thing I ever asked was for happiness…The only thing I ever asked was a place to belong." Subaru continued, tears running down his eyes. "But I couldn't even get that. Something had to happen. Something had to take it away from me."
"…" Reinhard just kept staring at him with a blank stare, trying to process what he just heard.
"When I caught them in the act…I played it tough. I grabbed my phone and took a picture of them." Subaru continued, taking his flip phone in his hand. "My plan was to blackmail the bastard. I wanted to prepare something to ruin Roswaal's reputation and have my revenge…"
"…"
"But now…Eh, I wonder if that's really worth it. I wonder if…I should really fight back."
Reinhard's facial expression started to harden, seeing his friend hanging his head low.
Ready to give in. Broken. Beaten…
"I'm tired, Reinhard." He concluded, holding his head in his hands.
"I'm just…Damn tired."
"Subaru." Reinhard finally answered. "You said you took a picture of Lord Roswaal, right?"
Not caring anymore, Subaru opened his phone and presented the picture to Reinhard. It wasn't what the sword saint asked for, but Subaru really couldn't care.
"…Very well. Then let's fight back."
Subaru widened his eyes as he turned to his redhead friend, the wind blowing on both of them as the world showed his support to these words.
"What…"
"Engaging in such acts with a royal candidate while this one is engaged in a matrimonial oath, is a crime for the people in high nobility like lord Roswaal," Reinhard announced, his face showing the slight bit of anger he managed to feel at this moment.
"This would destroy Lord Roswaal's reputation. He would lose all of his titles…As for Emilia-sama…" Reinhard took a break before continuing. "Emilia-sama would most certainly lose all of her chances to get the throne after this scandal. However, pardon me, but I do not think she deserves any. Someone who can't show loyalty and faith…Cannot be fitted to rule."
Subaru slowly looked away from him, trying to muster the courage to answer his words. He wanted to take revenge…But in his heart, hurting Emilia wasn't something he wished to do…
"I will give you my support. The house Astrea will be there for you. I will take you in…You, Otto-san, Garfiel-san, and everyone you want me to. You just need to ask! Lady Felt won't be against it, I'm sure…So please, Subaru…"
Reinhard went forward and grabbed his shoulder with one hand, making the black-haired boy turn towards him with a painful expression on his face…Tears and heavy breathing, that did nothing but add to the sword saint's anger.
"…Let's fight, Subaru."
Afterwords.
First, I want to say that I did see Herion's stopping his fiction and the..." ending" of it. Several people came to me seeing that he might have ended his fiction like this because of the pressure the community had on him.
I'm going, to be frank with all of you...I do feel a bit bad for the uproar this entire situation took if it is really the reason he rushed his ending. But, everyone needs to understand that Herion exactly looked for something like that. If he ended everything because of all the pressure, then he had it coming.
He is a troll. He did this fiction in a way to anger the community, sorting chapters with little to nothing in terms of words every day for it to stay on top. He is apparently the one who flooded some fiction's review section with spam and casually insulted some writers.
As I said, he had it coming.
Second, a lot of people came to tell me I should stop this fiction since they felt I just wanted to flex my writing skills, I'm going to be clear on that.
English is my fourth language. I'm literally making my chapters Beta read by an American friend of mine to be sure I'm not writing absolute bullshit. I do feel honored to know that you see me as a good writer, but please, if you do it's mainly because Herion didn't put any effort into his writings, to begin with. I don't even call what he did a fic, it's more of a prompt than anything.
Flexing something that I'm bad at or at least, average, would be extremely unwelcome for me, don't you think?
Thirdly, no, I won't end Karma's revenge here.
I won't be that into it now that my opponent is defeated, but I already made an entire plan and scenario for this story, and I will write it to give it a proper ending.
I thank you all for supporting me and reading this fiction, knowing you were all with me to fight that scum was heartwarming.
I hope you enjoyed this chapter, please do not hesitate to review it, as other people gave me their ideas and worked on it to make it happen.
That being said, I will see you at chaper 5.