For what seemed like an eternity, nobody said anything.

I could only gape in disbelief, somebody had just stolen her insignia. Emilia turned her head and stared at the thief speeding away, zigzagging through the crowd. Slowly, she brings her arm up and aims it at the thief.

A lone, chilling word escaped her lips.

"Die."

The icicle was released with a sharp whistle and soared down the street faster than I could perceive. The projectile meets its mark, and the thief tumbles, rolling to a stop.

I look at Emilia to find a face of calm indifference. She turns to Reinhard.

"Knight, it's your job to arrest miscreants, right? I've found one there." She points to the unmoving body.

He makes a difficult expression before reluctantly nodding.

"Of course, Emilia-sama. I will see to it immediately." He makes his way towards the thief as I watch on in silent horror.

I was alone with the half-elf. I try not to make eye contact.

"A-Are they dead?" I sheepishly call out to Reinhard.

"If they die, it's because they're too weak." I hear Emilia beside me. Her words send a wave of discomfort through my body. She speaks so plainly, like describing common sense to a child.

"The weak die. They get trampled on by the strong. They cannot protect anything, be it themselves, or others." She shows a rare look of melancholy as she stares into the distance. Like a mantra, she repeats herself.

The weak die. The strong live.

Were her words directed at me? I shuddered. I had already died too many times for my liking. Did that make me weak? I couldn't help but feel that her words contained a grain of truth.

I watch as Reinhard crouches down beside the thief. It seemed like they were alive, I note, watching as they struggle to their feet. A nasty gash ran the length of her left leg, the icicle lodged through it, stained red by the blood.

I grab my side, remembering my experience with those icicles; It was not a nice feeling.

"Lia, get down!"

I heard an ear-piercing shriek, and something blurs past my vision. I had no time to react and was blown away by whatever that was.

I hit the pavement and I grasp my head in pain.

Shit, shit, shit.

"Ara ara, what do we have here?" A familiar voice, the one I saw fighting in the blizzard. I look up from my spot on the ground to see who'd just made their entrance.

She had long black hair tied into one tail and had purple eyes. She wore a black dress and wielded a black knife in her hand.

I look at Emilia who quietly took a combat stance. I was stunned at a floating cat that simply appeared beside her.

"Who are you? Why did you attack me?" Emilia demands.

"I was just observing… but it seemed the little street rat failed her task. There was a change of plans." She licked her lips. "Now, would you please show me your bowels?"

The mystery woman lunged forward; Her curved knife angled behind her. She swung laterally across, Emilia blocking the strike with an ice shield. They were strong. I would stand no chance against any of them in a fight.

"Puck!"

"You got it!" The cat forms countless shards of ice and hurls it at the woman.

They trade a few more blows before they back off, creating some distance. The wind picks up, and I feel the cold creeping in.

They begin circling each other clockwise, Emilia moving away from me, the knife-wielder edging closer. Realising the predicament I found myself in, I attempt to scamper to safety.

"I have a strict no witnesses policy. You're not getting away from me~" I hear her call out. I look around, trying to find anything to defend myself with. Despair sets in.

I was in the middle of the street with nothing around.

"Reinhard!" I shout. The wind was howling, I didn't know if I could be heard from here.

"Reinha-" A warm feeling settles blooms in my stomach. I gasp for air.

"Ara ara, too late." I hear the woman whisper. "Ah, what a beautiful colour…" Dammit, it seemed I was going to Return by Death again.

Having such a beauty stare over you while admiring your guts was terrifying. What terrified me even more though, was that she was reduced to pieces just moments afterwards. A stream of icicles flew over my head, obliterating her completely.

It was disorienting. One moment she was there, the other she was gone. I painfully turn on my side and watch as Emilia calmly saunters up to me.

Did she use me as a distraction? How cruel. Clutching my torso in pain, I gaze up at her face. I was met with a look of cold contempt. Her lips move. I barely make out the words she speaks under her breath.

Weakling.

Huh. I could only agree.

The world went dark.

I was torn between charging in and tending to the girl. She is a Royal Candidate, after all. I'd never expected we'd find the final Dragon Maiden in a place like this.

I shake my head, now wasn't the time.

A strange figure appeared out of nowhere and attacked Emilia-sama. She must have put up this swirling magic barrier to prevent their escape.

From what I saw of Emilia-sama, she was capable enough of handling herself. This girl here was bleeding out.

I tore a long, thin piece of cloth from my garment and wrap it around her leg. I didn't have any healing magic, so this will have to do until I can find someone who does.

"What are you doing?!" She complains.

"I am tending to your wounds. My name is Reinhard, what's yours?" I distract her while tying the loose ends of the makeshift tourniquet.

"My name is Felt. And what the hell is happening over there?" She points to the raging whirlpool of ice and snow.

I didn't really know how to answer her question, as I didn't really know what was happening in there either.

After a while, the raging winds died down. Like a curtain, the snow settled, revealing what had transpired within.

My heart was moved by the sight I saw.

Staring at the soon-to-be corpse in front of me, I was met with a new problem. If I wished to sell the image of being an upstanding ruler, I couldn't leave him to die.

It would appear outrageous to Reinhard if I emerged without a scratch, whereas the bystander had been killed.

This boy did not deserve my pity.

A weakling like this does not deserve anything from me.

He had accused me of things I had not done and interrupted my outing. The circumstances compel me to do so. I have no choice but to sit down and begin healing him.

I pull him up onto my lap and place my palm over the slash on his stomach. I feel the warmth of my mana make my way down my arm and transfer to him.

How I wished I could have left him for dead… The weak die. The strong live. Wasn't that how the world went?

This boy was not strong. And yet, he survives.

It was unfair.

Unjust. Unequal. Corrupt. Wrong. The world was wrong.

Tears start to run down my face.

Why wasn't Mother Fortuna saved?

She was strong.

Why wasn't Geuse saved?

He was brave.

Why wasn't I saved?

I was weak.

Why wasn't I saved?

I was useless.

Why wasn't I saved?

My magic falters and the snowstorm settles down. I see Reinhard in my blurry vision. The tears continued to fall.

At least, my efforts were not wasted. I got what I wanted out of this. Reinhard had seen me save the boy.

"Emilia-sama!" He jogs up to me, "are you unhurt? Where is the attacker?" I flash a self-deprecating smile.

"I am unhurt. The boy was injured, so I am currently healing him." I wipe the tears from my eyes. "I killed the assassin." He nods at my words.

"I have some business with the young lady over there," he gestures behind him, "I will call over some members of the royal guard to clear this mess up. If Subaru is not in critical condition, I can take him off your hands."

I look down at the boy.

No.

I wouldn't be handing him over. He has a debt to pay. His life; I will not settle for anything less.

He will serve me with his life.

I will not let him escape the consequences of this humiliation.

AN: It seems like Subaru's survived and will stay with Emilia for the time being. What will his reaction be when he wakes up? I hope I gave a little more insight into Emilia's character in this chapter. Has Elsa really been defeated? Thanks for reading. Please review!