Initially I wasn't supposed to post this chapter now. But eeeeh, screw it.
Hope you enjoy your read. (Thanks Twisted for his editing talents.)
Soon after the rumble which shook the walls of the Miload mansion itself began, a great spirit and a blue-haired maid finally managed to break open the frozen door, dashing into the main hall.
"What is happening, I suppose?!" The little spirit shouted, not yet noticing the guests of the other royal factions standing in front of the silver-haired candidate.
"Beatrice-sama? Rem?" Ram widened her eyes at the two's arrival.
As Beatrice and Rem entered the hall they both scanned the room, surprise stretching across their faces the moment they saw the Duchess of the Karsten house facing the half-elf with a sword at her hand.
"Crusch-sama?!" Rem couldn't help but voice her concern, utterly baffled at the current situation. "W-what are you doing?"
"Great, now the second bitch's here too." Felt spat out, "Don't you feel like there's too much happening all of a sudden?"
The blond's statement was met with agreements across the room. As if the situation couldn't get any more chaotic, the second 'traitor' had made her appearance.
"I agree," Crusch responded while keeping the half-elf in her sights, "and what we heard just earlier does not reassure me one bit…"
"If you ask me, Subaru-kyun is definitely involved in this nya…" Felix shook his head, knowing that he was most likely correct. "I just hope he is alright…"
"Rein was certainly with him! So he's just fine, I'm sure of it!" Felt retorted, not liking how the presence of her knight was so easily disregarded.
If anything, she knew she could rely on her knight and his extreme strength for situations like this. Hell would freeze over before Reinhard let anything happen to Subaru, that Felt was sure of.
"Rem! W-we must go now! Subaru…Subaru was at the sanctuary!" right when she saw her partner, Emilia called her out with a frail voice, contrasting her frightening appearance from minutes earlier, "A-and the explosion…"
"What…? Subaru was involved with that noise…?!" Beatrice uttered, fear clouding her mind as she already assumed the worst.
"What happened?!" Rem screamed, turning her head to every person in the room. She was desperate for any information regarding Subaru.
Her expression could easily express how worried she was, something that didn't fit right with the other members of the room. They couldn't help but see this as abnormal, something akin to hypocrisy.
To them, neither Emilia or Rem had the right to worry for Subaru anymore.
"You ain't going nowhere."
Both Emilia and Rem turned their heads towards Felt. The blond stood with an aura of supreme confidence as she addressed the two.
"We're going to see what happened," she explained, her voice unusually stern, "you will just stay here."
"Felt-chan…" Emilia looked down on her, her face growing dark, "So…You're getting in my wa-"
"Whatever you fucking say," Felt interrupted, not caring for any kind of threats Emilia would try to use, "if it's for big bro's sake, then yeah, I'll do it."
Which was the truth, Felt was here firstly to help the man that had saved her. She would do whatever it took, even if it meant going against her former big sis.
"Are you…All here for Subaru…?"
Eyes turned to the oni, numerous pairs locking with her wide open ones.
"We are," Crusch replied, "as soon as we learned about this situation."
"...C-Crusch-sama…I-"
"I do not wish to hear your excuses now, Rem, we have more issues to deal with now."
At that cold reply Rem gave up, lowering her head in shame. While she knew and accepted this treatment of her, a part of her slowly began to cry for mercy.
She had enough. It was painful enough for her to see the pain she inflicted on her beloved, but for everyone, she knew to turn their backs on her, from those she believed to be close friends like the Duchess to her own sister.
The sheer suffering threatened to break her wholly and completely.
But it was okay.
It was alright.
This was her punishment, after all, this was the consequences she had to live with after betraying the only one she ever loved. Deep down she knew…that if she ever wanted salvation, it would have to be him granting it to her.
The only way to end this pain was Subaru. The only one she had to apologize to, explain herself to, beg for anything from…was Subaru.
So Rem stayed silent…while praying for him to come back.
But Emilia…Emilia didn't see things her way one bit. It was the complete opposite of the oni.
To Emilia, things were already solved. No matter how people would treat her, no matter how many would insult her, none of that mattered. All she needed was Subaru.
The world could be against her, she was fine with itt. People could spit in her direction and curse her behind her back if they felt like it, as long as she could be with Subaru…she didn't care at all.
But…for those that would try to get in her way…between her and her happiness…for them she would show no mercy.
"HEY!" A voice rang out from the door. All eyes turned as a man sprinted in, a little maid following behind him.
"What was that noise?! What happened heeer-ssshiiiiit…" he widened his eyes as he saw the number of important people standing in the room, all in front of the silver-haired candidate.
"Otto-kun…?" Emilia called, tilting her head a bit, "Oh…and Petra…"
"W-what happened here…?! Frederica nee-sama, Emilia-sama…" Otto couldn't stop himself from gawking at the situation. From the appearance of Crusch and Felt, to the ice and destruction scattered across the room, and the strange behavior of Emilia, everything seemed so out of wack.
"...Did Natsuki-san call all of you?" Otto venturing, his mind working overtime to make sense of the situation. Petra could only look up to him, still confused by what was happening.
"Yes, Subaru-kyun told us to help him move away nya!"
"No?! He told me to come and help him move away! You guys just hopped in!" Felt deadpanned, attempting to clear up the catboy's convenient explanation.
"Yes, as you said, he asked us to come help him!" Felix responded, winking at her, "We're a team, aren't we Felt-chan?"
"What the fu-"
"What do you mean…?"
If Petra thought that Emilia was scary at first sight, it was nothing compared to this. Indeed, upon hearing that Subaru was the one who brought these people here with the intention to leave…something snapped in the candidate.
At the half elf's words, everyone put themselves in position, either to fight or to buy time for everyone to leave this place.
As much as they were ready to fight, they also knew that Emilia was no mere foe. They were no oblivious to her strength, having witnessed her fight in Priestella and more recently how she effortlessly fought off Garfiel.
But even then…to Crusch at least, retreat was simply not an option. If she had to perish in this fight, then so be it. She had resolved herself to handle this situation, and she would do anything in her power to resolve it.
Of course her followers echoed her mindset. If this is a fight she would step into, they would gladly join her.
When it comes to the Emilia-camp itself, Beatrice, Ram, Frederica and Garfiel were all ready to take action as well, all for the sake of Subaru.
"Subaru…wants to leave?" She murmured in a voice lacking any emotion. The room bearing the brunt of Emilia's glaciation.
"It's wrong…right? You're lying, right?" She muttered, denying the reality of the situation," you're messing around…right?"
To the broken candidate, Subaru leaving her was impossible. He was her everything. If he left then…
"She is boutta' go nuts!" Garfiel yelled, recognizing the eyes he had to face before getting beaten the down, "Sis…!"
"Emilia-sama…!" Rem called from the side, "Please calm down! I'm sure there's an explanation for this!"
Slowly, Emilia turned towards the maid. If she knew that this entire room was against her right now, her mind convinced her that Rem, at least, would be by her side.
Because Rem…Rem was just like her.
"You're right…" Emilia uttered, as she slowly began to smile, "He certainly wanted…to take us away! Yes, I'm sure that was it! Subaru surely wanted to get away from this place because it reminded him of something that no one wants to remember!"
Happy with her deduction, something she believed to be true with all her heart, she clapped her hands in satisfaction. The bright smile on her face contracting the mood of the room she was in.
"How thoughtful my husband is! I will be sure to reward him extra for this!" She nodded her head, too caught up in her delusions to accept anything else.
"God damn it…" Felt cursed under her breath, looking at how dire the situation was…and at how little she could do.
She knew very well that she was no fighter. Most of what she could do would be to make use of her speed, and she hated that.
Not because it would mean that she would have to rely on someone else to survive if push came to shove, but rather of how…useless she was here.
"Don't worry, you get used to it," putting a hand on her shoulder, Felix shook his head as he whispered to her, "there's still plenty we can do if it's not fighting, though."
Felt eyed the healer warily, caught off guard at how he seemingly read her mind. After a moment she sighed, resolving to agree with him, and find ways to help however she could.
"Well!" Emilia opened her eyes as she motioned to everyone in front of her, "Will you now please step out of my way? I reaaaaaally need to meet Subaru!"
"No," Crusch replied, answering for everyone around her, "unfortunately, this I cannot do."
"Is that so…" Emilia said, an aura of bloodlust surrounding her. With a snap of her fingers stepped forth, crafting a sword with her ice brand arts, "Then…shall I force you to move?"
Narrowing her eyes as a smile slowly formed on her lips, Crusch unbuttoned her coat before throwing it on the side, putting herself in a sword-fighting stance.
"Crusch-sama…!" Felix yelled in worry, knowing that the dragon blood was still on her skin.
"Crusch-sama, I beg you!" Wilhelm called from behind her, "Let me take your place. There is no shame in refusing a fight if you're not in a fair position…"
"Curse or not, this fight is mine." Refusing to step back, Crusch announced her will with a firm stance, pointing at the half-elf with her sword.
"She's cool…" Garfiel stared at the Valkyrie with stars in his eyes.
"Crusch-sama, you do not have to fight alone…" Frederica tried to intervene.
"She's right! Why do you absolutely want to do that yourself?! Let us help!" Felt tried in vain to sway Cruch, not liking where this was going.
However, within this room there was one person who understood what the Duchess was doing the moment she stepped to face this witch on her own.
"…The same disease, I suppose," Beatrice whispered as she saw the will in the Duchess' eyes, reminding her of someone she knew way too well, "however, this never ages well. By protecting them from harm you not only sacrifice yourself, but fuel their desire to assist you."
Sensing that Crusch would not back down, Beatrice prepared herself for any emergency. She refused to lose another to the same disastrous mindset her contractor had once fell to.
Before things would start, Emilia decided to take her precautions, using her magic to create a giant, thick wall of ice with a gesture of her hand, separating Crusch from her camp, and the people that were willing to take her side.
"What the…!" Felix gasped as touched the freezing wall.
"She's preventing us from intervening…" Ram narrowed her eyes, "it looks like she is serious about dueling the Duchess."
"Emilia-sama…!" Rem called from behind.
"I'm doing what I have to do for our sake, Rem…" Without turning around, the half-elf replied to her, "you understand that, don't you?"
While it's true that she didn't like where this was going, Rem couldn't find the strength to go against her only ally.
Crusch looked unimpressed at the display. In truth she actually prefered this in order to have a proper duel.
Raising her sword, she nodded her head.
"Let us dance, Emilia-sama."
"Mh…If the worst happen…you all better remember that I gave several chances." The half-elf voiced out loud for everyone to hear, before leaping forward.
Soon after the first clash of iron and ice echoed in the room, amethyst and amber stared at each other, before giving place to a concerto of blade strikes.
"I can barely follow…" Felt whispered, trying to focus to see the movements of the swords.
"Mh…It seems that Crusch-sama is holding up better than I thought…" Wilhelm thought to himself, "perhaps it is the feeling of being relieved from her burden…?"
"Subaru took way more than last time, I was surprised he could still stand up…" Felix admitted, as his heart beat in both fear and excitement, rooting for his lady to win, "It seems like it was enough for Crusch-sama to fight this efficiently…"
"…Go! Go tomboy-noble! Kick her ass!" Felt shouted from behind, surprising most of the people in the room.
However, they soon began show their support as well, seeing that the Duchess was holding strong.
While the fight carried on, Emilia noticed the Duchess' grin on her face, which somehow irked her enough to fight harder.
Suddenly, both swords stuck against one another, making a stand off of strength between Crusch and Emilia.
"Why are you smiling like that…" Emilia narrowed her eyes, "Does it amuse you this much to get between me and my happiness? To separate me from the only thing I ever want?"
"Apologies, I am just lost in the moment of finally being able to fight with a sword at hand," Crusch admitted, "I believe I will throw this bed out when I will go home."
"This is what nearly a year bedridden does to a person, I guess?" Emilia tilted her head, "If you wish to come back home though, I can still spare you, you know? You just have to step out of my way, Crusch."
To this, Crusch simply answered by breaking the stand-off, and started her own offensive.
While Emilia was certainly more powerful than Crusch when it came to fighting, her skills with a sword were certainly a lot poorer than an average knight, something that was most apparent when it came to facing the Duchess. A person who trained regularly with the sword-demon himself.
Emilia found herself to be under the pressure of a constant rain of steel strikes, sometimes forcing her to parry at the last minute. The half-elf was unable to land a decisive blow under the experience strikes of her opponent.
"She is…winning?" Frederica uttered in disbelief.
"If the battle was otherwise, perhaps it would be alright to doubt, but when it comes to a sword you better not underestimate my lady nya!" Felix protested from the side, outraged by so much shock from his lady winning this sword-battle.
"I mean…she was still bedridden yesterday, right? You can't blame us for being surprised…" Otto scratched his chin with his finger, still in disbelief, "how the hell…"
"Big bro met her and took more of her curse," With her eyes still focused on the fight, Felt answered to the merchant who wondered what kind of divine boost was bestowed upon the Duchess, "this is why she's able to fight…but she's still cursed."
"Her moves are getting slower…!" Garfiel pointed out, gnashing his teeth in anger. "Damn it! This is unfair!"
Felt's and Garfiel's statement reflected the grim reality of the situation.
Indeed, while it was true that Crusch retrieved more of her movements thanks to the boy's previous act of kindness, it was also true that the remains of her curse didn't allow her to show such a display of willpower for long…and she knew it.
This is why she decided that if there was a chance for a victory, it lied before she would collapse by the pain…which meant that she had to give everything she had.
"I have no right…" She grunted to herself as she struck the half-elf more and more, shatters of ice falling down as her sword began to break through the ice-made blade of her enemy, "I have no right to lose…!"
'Not now' she thought. For who she was fighting for, and why. For all those that stood behind and beside her, and in the name of justice itself.
Crusch Karesten knew that losing this fight was not an option.
Emilia knew very well that she was at disadvantage, she couldn't counter-attack and her weapon was beginning to fall apart. All she had to do was to cover it of ice once more, but right now, a single moment of inattention would be the only thing the Duchess would need to cause her demise.
Every time she tried to take the upper hand once more, Crusch would strike again, forcing her to stay on the defense.
The pain within Crusch's leg began to grow, forcing her to give more and more…She kept thinking that she couldn't fail, she kept trying to overcome it.
But alas…
"Ghk…!" the duchess stopped in her tracks, holding her paralyzed leg.
"Crusch-sama!"
"No!"
"Fuckin' hell!"
Crusch fell on her knees, dropping her sword on the side as the pain of her curse began to reach an unbearable amount.
"Well…it was a good fight, Crusch," Emilia sighed in relief as she looked at her own ice sword shattering in her hands, "but in the end, it looks like fate is on my side."
Gritting her teeth in pain, Crusch raised her eyes full of wrath to the half-elf. Her opponent smiling at her with a triumphant grin.
"This is the power of love, Crusch. You can't get between me and my husband, because this is something even the world will not allow."
"…"
"Now, now…You know, there was a time when I considered you a veeeeery good friend of mine, so I will give you one last chance and let it all go, alright?" Emilia scooted her face down with an innocent smile, "Just stop hindering me. Stop getting in my way, live your life and let me live mine, I promise this is aaaaaall I ask."
"Crusch-sama!" Felix yelled at the top of his lungs, knowing that the life of his lady was holding on a short string.
"This ain't worth it, just stand down! Rein will be coming soon!" Felt yelled as well, trying to convince the Duchess to surrender for now.
"…" Wilhem however, knew that asking his lady to give up her pride was not a task any living being could ever achieve.
She chose to fight for a reason and for someone. If surrendering meant giving up on that person…
"Then…earing your ever so convincing argument…I am happy to say that I will decline once more," the Duchess replied as she panted painfully, managing to hold a smile nevertheless.
"…Is that so," Losing all cheer she had, Emilia sighed as she stood up once more," you are really a lost cause then."
But before Emilia could deliver her last strike, as everyone behind the ice wall were yelling to try and stop this, the doors of the mansion opened once more making all eyes turn towards it in shock, relief…and hope.
"What the hell is happening here..?" Subaru shouted, seeing all these people regrouped behind a wall, where he quickly noticed Emilia, Crusch, and Rem in the background.
"Big bro! Rein!" Felt exclaimed in relief, dashing towards them as she pointed out the half-elf and the Duchess fighting.
"Crusch-san…?" the black-haired knight widened his eyes.
"Su…Subaru…?" Emilia's focus completely switched from the Duchess to the black-haired young man who just entered the mansion, "Y-you're here! You're back!"
Immediately, she made this ice wall vanish, so she could immediately come to him, ready to jump in his arms…
Until a raised hand made her stop.
Subaru's eyes held a plethora of mixed emotions as he gazed upon Emilia, his outstretched hand stopping her advance as he took in the situation at hand.
Emilia stopped in her tracks, looking at him with trembling eyes.
No one in the room had the strength to speak…which was strange on its own. Many of them wished to see Subaru back, they all awaited his return but, none really thought about what to say either.
Tell him they support him? Tell him that they understand his pain? None of this would work anyways, it would be hollow in comparison to what he had been through. Thus, they all decided to stay silent and witness the reunion.
With both Emilia and Subaru facing each other at this instant, something was surely about to happen.
"...Ram." Turning his eyes towards her, Subaru took a deep breath.
"Yes?" She replied.
"He is dead."
Everyone widened their eyes, as they immediately understood who Subaru was talking about.
"...I see." Ram closed her eyes, and nodded her head.
There was nothing else for her to say. Roswaal had chosen his path, and faced the consequences. She had already abandoned any feelings for him. But with news of his death, she finally put him behind her, once and for all.
Now that this was taken care of…
"Subaru…?" Emilia called out again, holding both hands to her heart as she saw her husband turning towards her, "I-I think we should talk…"
The fact that no smile could be seen on his face worried the half-elf greatly. Usually, when he would see her, Subaru's first reaction would be to smile, or to take her in his arms, anything to keep her close.
Here, there was nothing of the sort.
Before answering anything, Subaru took a good look around him, seeing both members of the Crusch camp and Emilia's, alongside Felt and Reinhard.
With the help of Felix, Crusch was able to stand on her feet again, looking at the young knight with alarm clear in her eyes.
When he was done inspecting his surroundings, Subaru nodded his head once and walked forward to the half-elf.
"Everybody but Rem and Emilia, please wait outside." In the same emotionless voice Emilia had earlier, Subaru made this solemn demand to the outrage of his friends.
"Capn', why?" Garfiel was the first to voice his refusal, leaving his friend with that crazy woman being the last thing he could possibly tolerate.
"Subaru…" Reinhard followed soon after, wanting to voice his refusal as well, but Subaru was quick to shake his head.
"I thank you all for everything. It means a lot to me…but this is something that I need to sort out myself, so please."
The tone of his voice was clear enough for all to understand his resolve, and with hearts filled with worry, they all began to leave the hall.
The last people to cross the door being the pink-haired maid, the Duchess, her knight, and the blonde candidate, all of them glancing back at the three people that were about to seal their future.
Before exiting, Crusch made one last glance to him, which he answered himself with a confident smile and a nod.
After a few moments…they were finally left alone.
Both Rem and Emilia didn't avert their gaze from their husband during this entire time, by hope or fear, neither knew. All that was certain, is how they were unable to look elsewhere, unable to move.
They were paralyzed, perhaps by the thoughts of their very life hanging on the thin line that Subaru carried.
A few seconds passed, and soon an entire minute flew away, of pure silence. A minute that easily felt like an eternity for both women, holding their breaths to whatever was about to come.
Emilia didn't really know why she was feeling this way. To her, Subaru expressing his love towards her and walking forward to their future was inevitable. She simply couldn't think of any other future. Yet…she still felt uneasy, scared.
But rather than trying to understand, she ignored it all.
Rem was the strict opposite. While the half-elf ignored it all, the maid could only think about it. She was scared because there was a future where Subaru didn't forgive her.
A future in which he left her. A future in which she lost everything she ever cared for in her life, a future that would be worse than death.
Everything rested on his shoulders now…
"Rem, Emilia."
They immediately flinched when hearing their names, now fully directing their attention towards him.
"Subaru…why are you speaking in such a stern voice?" Emilia questioned, walking closer to him, "why aren't you smiling…? Come on, you are scaring me…"
When she raised her hand to reach his cheek, Subaru moved his head to the side, evading her touch, which only managed to hurt the lady's heart more than he thought.
"...Subaru…"
"No," Subaru cut her off, glaring at her, "I am not in a mood for any of your sweet talk now."
"It wasn't my fault!" Emilia abruptly yelled, her fists shaking, "It was Roswaal! It was him! He is solely responsible for this!"
Hearing this much, Subaru turned towards Rem who remained silent until now.
"Is it true, Rem? Was it all because of Roswaal?"
"..."
"Tell him, Rem! Tell him it was his fault!" Emilia begged, her despair and anger reflected in her harsh voice. "Tell him it's all because of that disgusting man!"
"I…" Rem stuttered, trying to restrain herself from crying over the pressure.
"Rem!"
"Alright, let's cut to the chase then," while he disliked to admit it, the sight of Rem's tears managed to still hurt Subaru's heart, but he couldn't let his feelings impact his decision. "Did you two willingly bed another man?"
Rem widened her eyes in shock to the question, while Emilia turned towards him with fear clear in her eyes.
That much was enough for Subaru to know the answer.
"N-No, Subaru, wait!" yelling in fear, the half-elf tried to grab his attention, "It's not like that!"
"Then how is it?" albeit his calm voice, the wrath in Subaru could clearly be perceived by both of them, "You're going to tell me that you were there by accident?"
"He did something to me!" she tried to argue.
"Did you take the decision to fuck him?" In a lifeless voice, Subaru decided to cut the chase. He was tired of it all, tired of circling around the problem. Thus he decided to ask the question held in his heart for so long.
"Subaru-kun…" Rem teared up, her composure lasting but a second more before she collapsed into a fit of tears. She was in a state where she desperately searched for words to justify herself, but yet couldn't find any.
"Answer the damn question." Subaru didn't falter, "Did you take the decision to fuck another man, yes or not?"
"..."
"..."
"Where you conscious of what you were doing?!" he began to elevate his voice, letting the anger speak for himself, "Did you know whatever the fuck you were going on about with him?!"
Once more, they were paralyzed. None of them could answer this question.
Because they knew what the answer was.
And exactly what would happen when they said it.
But unfortunately for Rem and Emilia, silence was also an answer.
"...Yeah, of course you did."
"Subaru-kun!"
While Emilia was unable to speak no more, Rem was the one who finally mustered enough strength to speak.
"Rem…is sorry, Subaru-kun," clenching her dress, her eyes quickly went at her feet as found herself unable to look at him in the eyes, "I-I know what I did…and I know I hurt you, and also that I sincerely regret it with all of my heart."
Subaru winced as she continued speaking, while Emilia slowly turned her eyes towards her.
"The mere thought of being a source of pain for you makes me want to end everything here, right now…because…because I love you…!" Her tears continued to fall as she struggled to keep her voice stable., "I truly do! I know I do because…even now with the mere thoughts of what happened in my mind, I can't help but be disgusted! With that, and with myself for even allowing it to happen!"
At the end of Rem's speech, the half elf at her side spoke up again. Desperate to find someway to reach the heart of her husband.
"It is the same for me…Subaru, y-you know…" with a broken voice, Emilia tried to explain herself, "I love you…right? These words that you once told me, and what you feel for me…I feel it for you too! You're the only one for me! I still…don't know why I let that happen but…you have to believe me, as your wife, that you are the only one in my heart…!"
After both spoke their hearts out, another moment of silence took place, where everyone were just lost in their thoughts.
"...Alright." Subaru took a deep breath, looking at the both of them as he nodded to himself, showing that he took his decision.
"I forgive you."
It took a moment for both girls to properly process what they just heard, only a few seconds.
But then…they glanced at each other, and realized that they heard it right.
"...Really?" hands on her heart, Rem asked with eyes full of hope.
"Mhmh…I told you," the half-elf sighed in relief, shaking her head, "Subaru loves us…It was impossible for this to go otherwise…"
"Emilia…Don't get the wrong idea."
…
"I forgive you…but, I think…" Subaru sighed in frustration, averting his gaze from her "it's over."
Slowly…Emilia raised her lifeless eyes towards him, as if her soul was leaving her at the words she just heard.
"What…" Rem uttered with eyes widened in shock,"S-Subaru-kun…"
It was as if the world had finally abandoned her for good.
"I…!" Subaru shook his head with a grimace, "I…need to think about all of this…but for now, I still owe you the truth…"
"And the truth is, that I don't feel anything…" As if freed from a burden he had carried for so long, Subaru opened his eyes in some sort of a new found determination about his future. "I'm truly sorry if this is not what you wished but, I will not force myself to be what I cannot."
What they heard was unreal. It didn't make any sense, it broke all laws of logic!
Emilia slightly began to shake her head, a broken smile on her face as she waited for Subaru to stop joking, while Rem felt like her heart was about to stop.
But Subaru was clear in his words, mind and soul.
"I don't love you," he told them, "not anymore."
Subaru? Not loving Emilia?
Not loving Rem?
Seeing their hurt expressions bothered him, but not because he was feeling remorse of hurting them, rather because he didn't like to cause someone such sadness. Or was it what he wished to believe?
His mind was pushing him to pursue this path, but his heart cried otherwise. Screaming in distress to end the sudden pain rising in his chest…So he raised his left hand, looking at his finger, the one harboring a silver ring.
His breathing growing faster along with his beating heart, he brought his fingers to the said ring, slowly pulling it off.
At the same time he could feel the pression growing. The weight nearly crushing his body in great strength as if to prevent him from tearing apart his proof of oath.
But no matter the struggle, the black-haired young-man was resolved to do what was right. Not for Emilia, not for Rem, not for anyone…But for himself. While mustering his strength, he gave one last push, one last effort, and pulled the silver ring off his finger before the eyes of those he once called his wives.
Just at the same time…All of his pain left him. As if the ring was nothing but a seal preventing him from reaching his peace, the weight and the pressure he felt over his shoulder was lifted…Finally allowing him to breathe.
It was at this very moment, albeit the devastated looks of the half-elf and Oni, that Natsuki Subaru understood where lied the key for his suffering to end.
"No…" Emilia began to laugh, "it's wrong…"
Subaru didn't say anything, only averted his gaze from her.
"This is wrong!" She yelled in a broken voice.
"Emilia…"
"You're lying…!" She held a hand to her forehead, "this is wrong!"
"..."
Seeing the state of denial that the silver-haired half-elf was deteriorating into, Subaru ignored her and focused on the blue-haired Oni, who started to cry once more as she realized the future she dreaded the most was happening.
But there was nothing more for Subaru to do. His decision was taken.
"...I wish you two the best," he concluded, dropping the ring at their feet and turning around to the door, "really. I hope you'll be able to find someone else..."
But just as he was able to reach the handle…
"You…want to leave me?"
"I don't like this."
Now waiting outside of the mansion with the others, Felt showed her frustration by tapping the ground with her foot, "Big bro's in danger alone with that freak."
"There's nothing much we can do," hearing his mistress complaints, Reinhard put his hand on her shoulder in an effort to calm her, "Subaru insisted that he had to do this by himself, Felt-sama. We must respect his decision."
"I get it…but I still don't like this." She jerked her shoulder away before turning towards the Duchess,who sat down next to her knight as he did everything he could to heal her.
Without thinking too much, Felt walked towards her in a fast-paced manner to check on her and also voice her thoughts.
"You doing alright?" She demanded with a meek voice, trying to show her admiration without seeming disrespectful to the Duchess, "This was one hell of a fight you just did…"
"Mh, is that so?" Crusch replied while doing her best to fight through the pain and smile at the little girl. "It was also enjoyable for me to finally be able to move my legs and spar for a bit."
"I could see that you were having fun there, yeah" Felt chuckled in understanding.
To someone like Felt, unable to live without a certain sense of freedom, the idea of being bedridden and not able to do anything else but spend the days doing nothing was perhaps a fate worse than death. At the very least, she knew she couldn't take it, and she was not wrong to believe that any other human would also struggle to accept it.
This was why, she always held some form of respect towards the matriarch of the Karsten household. For her determination and strength, to survive such a fate.
"Though, I still think what you attempted was a bit dangerous." Still with a smile, Felt began to shake her head, "Don't you think big bro's good deed would have been in vain if you ever perished during that fight?"
Crusch kept gazing at the worried little girl with a neutral face, while Felix only nodded his head to her comments, reassured that someone else would hold the same thoughts as him when it came to his lady's actions.
"Perhaps…but can you really blame me? I ultimately felt like I had to step in, that I could not take any more of this woman's nonsense." Even though she was in a weak state, Crusch managed to show her strength through her voice, "=Are you going to tell me that you were about to stay still waiting for her to unleash harm upon Natsuki Subaru once more?"
Felt raised her head a bit, meeting the honey-colored eyes of the Duchess with her own, eyes through which held a proof of the will behind her words.
"Nah," she smiled once more, "I would've probably rushed in as well."
"Of course you would," Crusch breathed out, laughing alongside the blonde candidate, "you are no different from him, after all."
"What irony coming from you, I suppose." A childish voice came from the side, as she walked forward the candidates and the catboy who remained silent until now, "Do you really believe that the true purpose of your actions earlier were not seen?"
"You are…Subaru-dono's great spirit?" Crusch recalled, a bit surprised to see her interacting with them, her memories portraying a rather reserved attitude from Beatrice.
"Hmpf! Bold of you to remember Betty only by her contractor! But for just this time, I shall allow it," with a brief pout on her face, Beatrice quickly began to nod her head, "I cannot blame you for putting Betty's amazing contractor first, after all."
Both Felt and Crusch quickly exchanged a glance of uncertainty, not really knowing how to react at this, "I see, I thank you then…Beatrice-sama."
"But hey, about what you meant just now…" Felt asked again.
"Crusch-sama is just too stubborn nya…" Felix sighed out loud, "while I admire your bravery, do you not think this was a bit too much? Please think about Ferris a bit…"
"...I am sorry, Felix." She whispered, taking her knight's hand in hers to show her sincerity.
"Do you see now, in fact?" Beatrice told the little blonde, "Ironic, is it not?"
"You're right…" Felt smiled at the sight of the Duchess.
"So, can I have a summary or what?!" Otto pleaded to Garfiel and Frederica, looking alarmed and desperate, "Why is Reinhard-sama here?! What was that explosion?! Why was Emilia just about to murder another candidate?!"
And before Frederica could give an answer, she was taken aback by the sight of the sword saint dashing in front of her.
The way they were situated in front of the entrance had it so that Otto, Frederica, Petra and Garfiel where the closest to the door, and by extentsion the first potential victims of the storm that broke through the inside of the manor, thankfully prevented by Reinhard's speed as he swiftly pushed them all away from it.
"What is that?!" Petra cried out loud, while Frederica caught her in her arms.
Everyone stood up on alert, eyes wide in horror towards the violent, freezing snow which hailed from the heart of the manor where they stood just a moment ago.
Before the powerful maelstrom that tore apart everything in its way, turning the soil to ice and freezing the air before their very eyes, only one thought occupied their mind.
Ignoring the growing pain of the cold eating away their skin, or the powerful wind pushing them away.
All of that didn't matter.
As Subaru was still inside.
If such power could be feltl while being so distant from the silver-haired half-elf…
"No…!" Getting herself back together as the mere thought pushed her forward, Beatrice began summon her own magic to fight her way through.
Their contract was still intact, it was not too late.
Perhaps he was at the very source, the eye of the storm…but aside from Emilia there was someone else with him right there, someone who didn't hesitate to shield the one she loved.
"Rem…!" The initial shock made him close his eyes, but as he opened them, he was met with the back of the blue-haired Oni, who herself summoned an ice shield from her magic.
Emilia was strong, and the tempest she manifested from her raging emotions was undoubtedly a terrifying force never seen before. Despite this, with her horn out, the oni stood strong, determined to protect the one she cared about, even if he had rejected her.
"Ghk…" the more she stood, the stronger was the magic she tried to counter, "Subaru-kun…"
Feeling the air growing colder around him, until it reached the back of his throat, Subaru stared at the woman protecting him with all of her might.
"I…love you…"
It's as if she was certain to be the last time she would look at him, but Subaru was having none of it.
He would not allow him or Rem to die here.
"You…will not…leave me…"
As he got up, Subaru's gaze turned towards the silver-haired half-elf, whose eyes were obscured by her silver hair. Somehow, in this entire mess only her voice was audible, and it was a strange mix of happiness and sadness.
"We…will stay together…always…"
It felt like she was about to cry, yet she was smiling. For she found the resolve to do what would give her the joy she yearned for.
"Subaru!" A voice called him, and looking back Subaru saw the brilliant figure of the sword saint approach him.
"Reinhard-sama! Please take Subaru-kun out of here!" Rem begged him, feeling that her arms were about to give up under so much pression.
For Reinhard, there was but two solutions at hand. Either listen to the maid and bring everyone away from here…or cut down Emilia.
But here was where his heart was left conflicted. Harming Emilia, who was still a candidate, could lead to repercussion, for him and his lady, but also…no matter what he felt about her for hurting his friend, he never wished to end her life.
Yet Reinhard couldn't see any other option as of now. She clearly had lost her mind.
"Reinhard-dono…!" Crusch yelled from behind, "Subaru-dono! Get him out of here!"
"Crusch-sama! Don't!" Before she could go any further, Felix pulled his lady back towards him, knowing how dangerous it was for her to go any further.
While she was partially cured from her dark blood, Crusch remained weakened and tired. Which is why even someone like Felix didn't have this much difficulty restraining her.
Crusch could only watch the chaos unfold with horror and worry.
"We need a plan, damn it!" Otto yelled in distress, as he was covered by Garfiel's bestial form along with Frederica and Petra.
"We have to step back!" Wilhelm yelled loud enough for everyone to hear. The sword-demon approached his lady and Felix, assisting the two in their efforts to escape the ice storm.
"But Subaru! Subaru is still inside!" Hearing the old man, Petra immediately voiced her fear of leaving the one she loved behind.
"We ain't going nowhere without him, but we need a plan!" Felt retorted, wandering her eyes to see something that could help…until she saw the little spirit struggling to reach the doors.
When he heard the name of Subaru, Reinhard simply brushed off any lingering hesitation and went forward. If he didn't know how to deal with Emilia, he at least knew he had to get Subaru to safety.
Without much difficulty, the sword saint went through the raging storm and reached the freezing boy, with whom he exchanged a look of relief to see him still alive. Taking a good hold of him, Reinhard pulled him behind his back in an attempt to shield him with his body.
"Subaru…"
Hearing his name being called, Subaru turned his eyes around one last time to see the woman who called out to him. While the entire room was now filled with white snow, for a reason he couldn't explain he could see her perfectly. Her body, her face, her expression…everything was clear.
Thus, Subaru saw the silver-haired half-elf he once loved opening her arms towards him, smiling and crying, with hollow eyes staring through his soul…
"Come to me…Let's be together…My Subaru…My love…"
It was as if the world began to slow down in front of his eyes, when Subaru saw her and compared it to a sight so alike what he was witnessing. When he took a good look at her, the black-haired boy gritted his teeth, hardening his resolve in the decision he had. He mustered the strength he still had in his body to push Reinhard on the side…
And grab the back of the blue-haired Oni to him.
"Reinhard!" In the same motion as he brought Rem to his embrace, he shouted to the sword saint "Get us the hell out of here!"
In an instant, Reinhard grabbed both of them and propulsed himself out of the freezing storm.
"Do it now!" Felt yelled at the top of her lungs, as Beatrice raised her hand towards the doors of the manor.
"Minya!"
Using her crystal magic, Beatrice sealed the path which Reinhard went out from, along with every windows or passage through which the freezing magic could come out from, containing the blizzard inside of the Miload mansion which soon turned in front of everyone to see, into pure ice.
It was pointless to try and flee now, most of them knew it. As the atmosphere began to calm down, it was obvious that it was all because the magic was dying out as well.
Crusch looked up at the manor. It was now completely frozen, almost akin to a sculpture rather than a mansion. Such was the power of the half-elf.
To her side layed everyone else, stressed and exhausted. Needless to say, all of them were still in shock after living through such fearsome events.
She began to process her thoughts, figuring out it was finally over, but soon enough she remembered why she was here.
Her breathing hitched and she began to search everywhere around her frantically. Her mind ignoring the pain as she stood up, and saw him.
Layed down with a part of his body seemingly frozen, as the blue-haired Oni he just saved cried over him, shaking him and screaming his name, while applying as much water magic she could.
Crusch stood paralyzed, looking at him with wide eyes. But soon the cries around her registered in her mind, and she could feel her heart behind to break.
"No…"
Crusch began to hurry, followed by her knight who knew he had to intervene.
"No…No!" She uttered, coming closer and seeing Subaru's inert body.
Without wasting a second Felix began to apply his own water magic.
For a few moments Felix tensed his whole body. His mind wholly concentrated on using his healing to save the life of Subaru, pending to a string.
"He can't die!" Felt yelled hysterically, looking at him with critical eyes, crying, " Do something!"
"I'm doing as best as I can…!" Felix shot back, looking at the unconscious boy's frozen arm, "That's not good…"
"CAPN'…!" Garfiel roared, stopped by Frederica to go further forward, "SIS! LEMME GO! I CAN HELP…I-I c-can…"
"Subaru-dono…" The old man winced in pain, slowly shaking his head, "You cannot give up now…At the door of your peace…!"
Breathing heavily, Crusch's gaze turned to the blue-haired maid also pouring her water magic into the boy, trying to not choke on her own tears at the sight of her beloved who might have just died for her sake…
It didn't matter if none would forgive her for this. She wouldn't either.
Petra was crying onto Frederica's dress. Eyes focused on Subaru's body. She just rush at his side, but she knew it would only hinder the healers…So she kept venting her heart out, hoping he would hear her and come back.
When Garfiel fell on his knees, staring to his captain, Otto leaned down to take him into his arms, trying to bring the young tiger warrior some comfort alongside himself, as his lips kept trembling at the thought of losing Subaru.
"Why…W-Why isn't it working, I suppose?!" Beatrice yelled, her eyes filled with tears, "Why is the contract link still fading…! You are blue, you are the best, in fact!"
"I DON'T KNOW!" Felix yelled back, unable to keep his own tears as he witnessed his own inability to save someone dear to his lady once more, "Why…? Why isn't it…"
But then, the healer's eyes wandered once more on the boy's crystal frozen arm…And realized what is was all about.
Raising his eyes towards the crown staring at him, he slowly turned towards Reinhard, who somehow understood right away what he had to do.
"Felix…" He breathed out, "Are you sure…?"
"I will seal it right away! Just do it!" He replied immediately, "this is the only way!"
No one managed to understand the solution they wordlessly exchanged, but quickly came to perk up when they saw the sword grabbing the frozen arm, and rising his hand in a cut position just at the intersection of Subaru's shoulder.
"OI SWORD SAINT!" Garfiel tried to intervene.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!" Petra screamed at the top of her lungs.
"Rein…" the sword saint's lady looked at him with wide eyes, "h-hold on…"
"There is no other choice!" Felix shot back before anyone else could interrupt, "Reinhard do it now!"
The tension was rising.
The pressure was unbearable.
The sword saint kept glancing back and forth to Felix and his dying friend.
"No…" the Duchess uttered, choking on her own breath, "W-wait…"
"Reinhard!"
"DON'T! BETTY'S SUBARU WILL-"
"DO IT NOW OR HE WILL DIE HERE!"
"Grandson…!"
"S-Suba…"
The sword saint gritted his teeth, closing his eyes preparing his hand…Fighting his own instinct…
"REINHARD!"
"Felt-sama?" An old feminine voice called from outside the living room, "it seems a guest seeks to meet you."
"What? Who?" The little blonde answered as she left her seat, "I'm not waiting for anyone today auntie."
"Unfortunately, this one is willing to come uninvited…" Carol sighed with a small smile to the little candidate.
"Wha-ah hell nah!" as she understood, Felt went towards the hall while stomping the ground, "Russel!"
"Ah, Felt-sama," the man bowed with a hand on his heart, "what I pleasu-"
"Get the hell out! I'm not in a mood for your shit!" She ordered without a care in the world, pointing towards the door.
"Please Felt-sama. I merely wish to exchange information with you regarding what happened to sir Suba-"
"You have 5 seconds before I vow to destroy everything you ever worked for in this kingdom, shitty hustler." This time, her voice was more fierce and decisive.
It was clear for Russel that he was not welcome, and that Felt was most serious about her previous statement.
"Well, I wish you a good day then." He bowed once more with a smile, walking towards the exit.
Right when he crossed the door of the Astrea mansion, Felt brought a hand to her forehead and sighed in frustration. She was clearly upset about his venue and was in her right to be.
"Rather expeditive, but I happily applaud your commanding attitude, Felt-sama," Carol bowed with a proud smile, "now, shall you go back to your guests? I will prepare some snacks."
"Yeah…" She replied as she went back to the living room, "thanks auntie…"
But as she was going on her way, Felt found herself face to face with a green-haired woman walking towards her with a book in her hands.
"I hope you will not mind, Felt-sama. I allowed myself to borrow something to occupy myself." She told the little blonde.
"Oh…Well yeah, no probs with that, I ain't going to complain anyways," she smiled, scratching the back of her head, "though where are yo-…Oh…"
"I just…"
"It's alright! Noooo probs big sis! I ain't the one who'll stop you here," she said with a sly smile, "do what you gotta do!"
Crusch stopped for a second, taken aback by the sudden way she was called by the blonde candidate. It took a long minute before Felt realized what word she used to call the Duchess.
"W-wait! You got it wrong, I didn't-…! It just-"
"Thank you…" Crusch said in a low voice, smiling warmly at her words, "may I call you Felt-chan, from now on?"
Surprised at first, Felt averted her gaze from the Duchess in an attempt to hide her embarrassment, hiding her face in scarf around her neck.
"…Just Felt is fine…"
Crusch smiled once more, as she went on her way, leaving a pensive Felt behind.
Truth be told, for a while now she noticed something more in the heart of the Duchess than what she was willing to admit, something more than friendship, for the one they both cared about. And Felt thought it was a good thing. Perhaps someone as mighty than Crusch Karsten could help to heal the wounds he would try to hide from the world.
But for an instant…The smile that began to form on the blonde candidate's lips began to fade, thinking about her future from here on out.
"Yeah, I know I'll be even more happy from here on out but…" she closed her eyes, "at what cost?"
"Gn…" he slowly began to open his eyes, his blurry vision becoming clearer. The first thing he noticed, was the carved and noble-looking ceiling above his head.
"Are you feeling alright?" A soft voice called from his side.
Slowly turning around, Subaru saw the green-haired Duchess seated right next to his bed on a chair, a book in her hands. She wasn't wearing her usual military attire, but a night-robe, which hinted to Subaru that he might be in her mansion.
"Crusch-san…?" He grumbled, trying to sit down,"Where are we…?"
Putting the book aside, Crusch smiled at him while leaning forward to help him sit down, "We are in the Astrea mansion, Felt-dono insisted on bringing us all here after the mess at the mansion was over."
"Felt…?" He thought out loud, "Wait, and the others are…?"
"Everyone is alright, even Rem-dono," she sighed, knowing that he would certainly ask this question considering that he saved her, "well, everyone aside from…"
Subaru looked down and nodded his head, understanding what it meant. But then, his eyes came back to the attire the Duchess was wearing.
"You…did you sleep here…?" He asked her.
"...Someone had to look after you," she said, her gaze shifting to the side," I volunteered myself as the others were too exhausted or…well, busy sorting matters out."
"I-I see…" Subaru replied in a low voice, "thank you, Crusch-san…"
For a moment, he wondered why Crusch out of all people decided to stay with him. He had Beatrice as his spirit, and even his close friends from the Emili camp…
But then he remembered Rem and thought that the matters Crusch was talking about might be related to her.
Sighing in frustration, Subaru lifted his blanket to get up from the bed, but struggled to do so as his body still felt the repercussions of his previous actions.
"You shouldn't push yourself too hard. You haven't fully recovered your wounds." She told him with a rather worried voice, trying to push him back to rest.
"My wounds…?" Subaru narrowed his eyes in confusion, quickly inspecting his body to see if he was hurt anywhere.
Crusch brought her hand to hold his, and remained silent. Yet, feeling the warmth of her touch he looked her way, and soon realized that the dragon blood was nowhere to be seen on his body.
"O-Oh…" He suddenly remembered the blurry memory of his arm covered in ice, "So you just…"
"...Initially, Felix thought there was nothing else that could be done, and feared this magic might cause further issues if your arm was left attached." She explained with a saddened voice, these rather violent memories flashing in her mind, "When you arm was cut…the blood began to move towards it, and…"
"It grew back." Subaru finished for her, moving his fingers in slow motion, "Though it's as if nothing had ever happened…"
"I figured you found a way to get rid of the blood you took since the last time you relieved me from this curse." She raised her eyes towards his, clenching his hand a bit more. "So…is this how it went?"
"Mh…after a fight against a demon beast in a pit in Vollachia," he laughed at his own situation back then, "just alongside the emperor himself."
"You seem to be taking the matter of losing an arm so lightly, it is quite morbid," she winced at his attitude, though was still smiling in an attempt to comfort him, "next you are going to say is surely that you are used to it?"
Subaru remained silent, a sad smile stretching across his face at Duchess' words. After a moment his eyes began to look down on the black blood that still covered her leg.
Crusch noticed where his eyes wandered, and while confused at first, she was quick to understand what his goal was.
"You best not even think about it…!" She stated, her voice taking a more sharper, more upset tone as she stepped back from the bed.
"Crusch…"
"I refuse." She shot back.
"I can take it!" He responded, "I can see you're in pain! Come on, be reasonable!"
"How dare you talk about being reasonable when you ask to carry my burden for the third time, Natsuki Subaru?!" She yelled, outraged by the fact that the first thing he wished to do after his awakening was to suffer.
Unforuntantly for her, Subaru refused to back down. He stepped up from his bed, determined to take on the Duchess' burden. He had trouble walking at first, but quickly stabilized himself as he began to step forward.
"I'm not asking anymore, Crusch-san," he shook his head, grabbing her arm before she could step back further, "let me do this!"
"Don't…please..Suba-"
The door of the room then suddenly opened.
"Subaru? What's happening here?" Otto said as he entered with a plate of food, before seeing his topless friend grabbing the Duchess closer as he reached for her leg.
"..."
"..."
"..."
"Sorry to interrupt…" the gray-haired merchant shut his eyes as he closed the door.
"OTTO!"
"Ooooh so you were trying to take her cursed blood!" Otto exclaimed, reassured that his intial reaction wasn't the correct one. "This isgood, for a second I thought you were about to be charged for assaulting a candidate right after you survived getting killed by another!"
"I got my fair share of candidates, thank you," Subaru sighed as he took a bite of his food, not noticing how Crusch silently winced at his words.
"So…what are we doing now?" Taking a piece of Subaru's food without asking for any permission, Otto then leaned his back on the wall. "We're just…going to work for Felt-sama?"
"I…don't really know what to think about this to be honest. I asked Felt to house us because it seemed like the easier option, but putting my head back into the election…" shaking his head slowly, Subaru voiced his distaste about this entire story.
He was tired, understandably so. After dealing with this whole mess, Subaru had no intention of diving back into selection. Right now, he would rather take some time and rest both physically and mentally.
"I think that's our best bet though. I don't know many places in this country that could accept a band of misfits like us…-"
"Ahem!"
Cut while he tried to voice his thoughts, Otto and Subaru turned towards the Duchess staring at them with an annoyed expression.
"I really am wondering what I am supposed to make out of this, Otto-dono?" Crossing her arms under her chest, Crusch narrowed her eyes.
"Eh? What?"
"...Oh…" Subaru cleared his throat as he realized what she meant.
"The Karsten house would have been more than honored to welcome you. Why didn't you think of us, of me?" With hurt clear in her voice, Crusch turned towards the boy who decided to join the golden-haired candidate rather than her. "I…even asked you to request for my assistance should you need it."
"This is not what you think, Crusch…really it's not that! I just…" Subaru looked down in shame, trying to search for his words, "I didn't want to ask too much of you, especially since…well…after all you did for me-"
Before he could finish, Subaru was interrupted by the Duchess' hand slapping his face, making Otto widen his eyes and drop what he was eating, while Subaru looked at her in confusion.
"Ah, apologies. I couldn't restrain myself." She apolgized in a neutral tone, seemingly uncaring of what she just did.
"You…totally could." Subaru replied, before receiving another slap to his face.
"Ow- What? Why?!"
"As I said, I couldn't restrain myself." The Duchess repeated as she got up and walked towards the door, "The others are waiting for us downstairs. You two should hurry up, there is a lot to talk about."
When the door closed, Subaru and Otto were both left alone, confused and shocked, trying to understand what was the reason for such violence.
"Don't look at me! You're the one who did something to upset her!" Otto waved his hands in front of him.
"What did I do?!"
"I don't know! But you sort this one out yourself!" The merchant scoffed, helping his friend to get up.
Sighing in frustration, Subaru went to pick up his clothes on the side as Otto waited for him near the door, taking a look at himself in the mirror where he noticed the red traces of the Duchess' hand on his cheeks.
"Women…" he grumbled to himself.
A moment later, everyone was reunited in the living room of the Astrea mansion. Ram, Frederica, Garfiel, Petra, Otto, Beatrice, Rem, Felix, Wilhelm, Reinhard, Felt, Crusch and Subaru.
After voicing their relief to Subaru's well-being, everyone decided to sit down and have a talk about what would happen as of now.
"So…how are we going to announce…well, ya know…" Felt scratched the back of her head, akwardly trailing off.
"Are we…sure that she's dead?" Being unconscious for most of the time, Subaru wished to know if nothing else happened after he passed out.
They glanced at each other, and ultimately turned to Reinhard to give the final answer.
"She…turned into a statue of ice, Subaru," The sword saint winced as he spoke these words, "I do not think there is any way to bring her back to life, or not that I know of…"
Perhaps no one in this room felt any genuine feeling of "love" towards Emilia after what she did, but to see her die was certainly not anyone's wish. Therefore, none was willing to disrespect her memory.
"Alright…" Subaru sighed with a nod of his head, "So, you're going to inform the council?"
"The sooner the better…I do not think anyone is going to replace Emilia-s-..Emilia, however." Reinhard cleared his throat, "The election went too far now. It will be between the 4 remaining candidates."
"What 're we gonna tell em?" Garfiel questioned. All eyes then turned towards Subaru.
"...No, we won't." Subaru answered them. "The truth will stay within this mansion."
"There isn't anyway to justify the state of the Miload mansion, I am afraid." Frederica intervened, but Subaru nodded to her statement.
"I know, we'll lie," he announced to everyone, "saying that Roswaal was influenced by the Witch of Greed, that he tried to kill us and Emilia held the fort against him until Reinhard saved us all."
Everyone just stared at Subaru with wide eyes, but for others the reason behind his made up lie was obvious.
"You just don't want people to paint her as witch like, right?" Felt questioned in an innocent tone.
"I don't know if there's any other silver-haired half-elf out here," Subaru leaned back on his chair, "but I surely don't want them to suffer the consequences of two well known ones going mad."
When his intentions were made clear, all decided to respect his choice of narrative, even Reinhard.
"Well, now that that's taken care of…" Felix stretched his arms, "what do we do about her nya?"
He pointed towards Rem, who stayed silent this whole time.
She didn't know why she had been saved, and yet again she owned it to Subaru. In her mind, she didn't deserve it in the slightest.
But if he decided to go all the way to save her…who was she to complain?
Ram looked at her sister with worry. Not because of her, but because of what would be chosen of her fate. Even if she knew that Subaru would never go as far as to do anything cruel, this uneasy feeling remained in her heart.
"We leave her be," Subaru answered the catboy, "I already forgave her, she's free to do what she wants."
Rem only clenched her dress in response, trembling as her tears were coming out of her eyes, both in happiness to be forgiven by Subaru, and sadness for her story with him to be over.
Thankfully, she still had her sister. Who took her in her arms with a reassured touch, smiling in relief for Subaru's decision.
In truth, Ram never wished to have ever abandon her sister. If Subaru was able to forgive Rem for what she did, then Ram will gladly do as well.
"So uh…we're working for lil' blondie now?" Garfiel pointed towards Felt, uncaring of Rem's situation.
"Well…I-"
"Damn right you are!" Felt laughed out loud. "All of you are staying here now!"
"Fel-" Subaru tried to speak, before getting cut by Garfiel again.
"I'm taking the room on the third floor!" He raised his hand immediately.
"What?! I wanted this room!" Otto shot back immediately.
"Well, too slow!"
"Yep, he said it first," Felt nodded her head," can't do nothing here buddy."
"Hold on-" Subaru was cut once more.
"I would like a room for me and my sister if possible, Felt-sama." Ram requested.
"We should have that, no probs!" The blonde candidate gave her a thumb up.
"Then, I would like one near my maid co-workers as well, Felt-sama." Frederica asked, also receiving approval.
Subaru just witnessed them all choosing a room and interacting with Felt in front of him, unable to say a word as if the decision was already made.
They all looked so overjoyed at the circumstances, with Reinhard and Felt both giving beaming smiles at the idea of having new residents.
"Isn't that great, I suppose?" Beatrice smiled as she leaned in her contractor's embrace. "To see everyone lively once more."
"...It is." Subaru replied with a smile of his own, caressing the head of his great-spirit.
"Well, for now it's getting late. We should all sleep and continue on the details tomorrow." Felt announced for all to hear. "You can all take any of the rooms you want, we got plenty anyways! Oh, and you three can stay here for the night, you're all in late night attire anyways."
"Yes, Ferris is too tired to go back now anyways" Felix said with a yawn.
"I believe I already have my own chambers," Wilhelm cleared his throat, "I will gladly stay if it is what my lady wants."
Crusch nodded her head. "As you said we have already changed our clothes, we will accept your invitation."
"We already have one for us, don't we Beako?" Subaru whispered to the little girl as he got up. "Though you weren't even here when I woke up, I'm super hurt by that."
"Preposterous, I suppose!" Beatrice immediately turned to face Subaru. "This cursed woman insisted to be the one looking after you, saying I had to stay as your representative here, in fact!"
"Eh? Crusch-san?" Subaru widened his eyes in surprise, taking a glance to the lady seated nearby who seemed to have not heard what him and Beatrice just said, "I-I see…my bad. Thanks for taking my place when I wasn't here."
Without further ado, everyone dismissed themselves and went to their rooms to turn in for the night. But even after several hours, Subaru couldn't bring himself to sleep. So he decided to leave his bed, and get some fresh air.
"Well the night-sky is at least beautiful tonight…" He mused out loud, looking at the stary ocean up above, "even the moon…"
He grunted as he thought about his next words.
"The moon is beautiful tonight…Uh."
"Subaru-dono?" a voice rung from behind, which Subaru recognized right away.
"Crusch-san? What are you doing?" He asked with a tinge of surprise, knowing the hour to be quite late.
"Same as you, I suppose?" She chuckled as she joined him, "I have difficulty sleeping, but I am rather used to it at this point."
"Used to it?" He frowned for a moment, before looking at her leg again.
"As I said before, do not think about it," she immediately shot him down, her honey-colored eyes staring at directly at his face, "I will bear with it."
"You're really being stubborn, uh…" Subaru scoffed as his face back to the sky, "well, I can't really blame you on that."
"Mh…" she hummed in approval, staring to the sky alongside him. "It is quite appeasing."
"Only when the sky is this clear." He replied as he lied down on the ground, inviting the Duchess to do the same. "It is quite rare though."
Crusch happily accepted his invitation and joined his side, observing the colorful display that was offered to them.
"Are you troubled, Natsuki Subaru?" she asked, glancing to her side to see his expressionless face continue to gaze at the sky.
"Why do you ask?"
"Because you have a talkative nature," she replied with a scoff, "having you this quiet means that you are bothered."
"...Well…I'm just wondering." He sighed, still gazing to the stars," what am I going to do now?"
Crusch stayed silent, motioning for him to go on as she patiently listened.
"I always thought…that my place was by Emilia's. That everything would be fine as long as I keept her safe beside me, that my path, my fate, was set…" The pain could be felt in his words. Perhaps he had taken his decision about what has to be done, but it still remained a difficult one.
"So…I don't know. I don't know what to think now, I don't know what to do."
Crusch brought her hand to his, grabbing his attention. It was not unwelcome for the young man, even if he remained rather confused about her intentions.
But at this very moment, as the stars and the moon witnessed them…Crusch made a decision.
The decision to help him no matter what.
"Tomorrow, Natsuki Subaru…" she smiled at him, bathed by the moonlight, "you, and everyone you care for…you can finally think about tomorrow."
"...Yeah…" He uttered with a chuckle, holding her hand tighter, "I can do that…"
For an instant, Subaru remained mesmerized by the eyes of the Duchess, and when he realized what he was doing he jolted back in embarrassment, successfully influencing the Duchess as well who looked the other way, knowing full well how red her cheeks would be at the moment.
But Subaru saw it as an opening, and without hesitation he leaned forward, taking the candidate of guard as he placed his hand on her leg and extracted the blood from her in one swift motion.
Crusch immediately breathed out in shock, getting up on one knee as the feelings of pain and relief simultaneously ran through her, similar to a needle pulled out of someone's foot. When the few seconds passed, she stared at Subaru, seeing the black blood all over the boy's arm…while her leg was clean and relieved.
She felt alive again, strong again. It has been but an instant yet compared to the months she was stuck on a bed it was truly as if she was reborn.
At first she didn't know how to react, her mind was quite conflicted. She wished to scold the boy to kingdom come, to curse him, yell at him, perhaps even hit him for what he did and especially when she saw his painful expression after taking over the blood.
But after looking at him…he was smiling. A look of victory stretched across the boy's face, because his victory was not entirely for taking the blood off of her, but also because of how alive she felt, and Subaru could see it.
So Crusch kept her voice in, simply shaking her head as small tears began to form in her eyes, expressing both her rage and her happiness.
"How stubborn can you be…?" She murmured with a smile, wiping her tears away with a finger. "I told you I could…"
"I know what you said, just didn't feel like caring for it," he coughed a bit, the smile still present on his face. "We might be both stubborn, but too bad I'm stronger in that field."
Crusch smiled warmly in response, putting herself down on her knees next to the lied down boy and passing her soft fingers on his arm. She knew now what would happen in order for him to finally get rid of this curse, and even if in the end his wound would be healed, she still didn't like it whatsoever. For an instant, she wished to be able to rip these black veins out of his skin herself…but being unable to do so, she decided to stick with a touch of comfort.
"Natsuki Subaru…" she spoke, her voice barely above a whisper, "would you…consider joining my camp instead of lady Felt?"
When he heard her speak, Subaru turned his head towards her, curious at the question. He understood how Crusch felt hurt due to being left behind when it came to who Subaru thought of first to help him, but up until now he only thought of this as a question of honor and debt for the Karsten matriarch.
But now, the tone which she used to voice her thoughts seemed to be…more than simply obligation.
"I don't really know what to answer, Crusch-san…" He replied, his voice neutral as an attempt to remain composed. "It's not that I would dislike it, in fact I'm really happy that you're even consider to house me and my friends…but, you know things seem to be already set with Felt and I wouldn't want to be as rude t-"
"I know, I understand." Sighing in frustration with a shake of her head, the Duchess raised her eyes to meet the boy's. "I…didn't wish for you to make such a rude decision, no. I suppose I am simply…dishonest with myself."
While Subaru didn't quite understand what she meant, for Crusch it was a realization. Truth is that she didn't plan on saying those words, they came out on their own. As such she, she was finally able to realize her true feelings.
Perhaps the old her of a year ago would've still been clueless about the meaning of such a feeling, perhaps she would have discarded it in an attempt to force herself to focus on her goals like she always did.
But when her name was eaten, when part of her mind was erased, a whole other Crusch Karsten took her place. Then when Subaru Natsuki slayed Gluttony for good, he allowed her to come back to her senses, but rather than casting her replacement away she merged with it, becoming the one she was today.
And this change…made her more aware.
Thus when she looked at Natsuki Subaru, the message couldn't be any clearer. Maybe she felt it before and never thought of it more than that, the fact that never disliked the idea of having him as a fiancee in the past told her as much. Yet, when such a decision could have held political influence, this time there was no such restrictions. In addition, doubt didn't have its place here either.
She couldn't compare it to what she felt for Fourier years ago.
She couldn't compare it to what she felt for Felix.
It was the true, faithful feeling of her a woman, loving Natsuki Subaru, as a man.
Why? She didn't know.
There was plenty of possibly reasons she could user, but the truth would always remain a mystery.
But for her, it didn't matter. The most important thing was that she knew how she felt. How fast her heart beat in his presence, how warm she felt when she looked at him…
In a way, she felt disgusted with herself. For her to feel like this only when he was deemed to be single, right after cutting ties with those he loved enough to vow his life to.
It was as if he was just a prize that she waited to be available to claim, and she hated that.
But who could blame her? Feelings have never been anything one could really control.
"Crusch-san."
She was too busy sorting her mind out to realize that the boy had already stood up, pulling her from her thoughts when he called her name.
"Let's go back inside," he gently told her as he extended his hand to her, "it's getting chilly, and you'll certainly be able to sleep now."
With a frown of distaste to his words, Crusch begrudgingly took his hand and stood up, even though…she was happy.
For a moment, she looked back at the moon shining upon them and as the breeze flew through her hair, she closed her eyes.
"I wonder…what tomorrow will be like?"