"I hope you act differently this time..."

Natsuki Subaru was in a difficult and desperate situation. Difficult because he would have to get something from someone complicated to deal with. And desperate because he would have to do it by any means necessary.

Facing the majestic mansion, he watched with a determined gaze, his hand clenched into a fist, even before the mansion gate.

"Don't worry, Subaru-kun. Rem is sure that you will be able to do this."

Subaru looked at the maid standing next to him. She as always offered words of support to him. And he was grateful for that. "Thank you, Rem. Without you I don't know how I could do this."

"Rem will always be here to help Subaru-kun."

Then with a nod of his head, he went straight ahead, through the open gate, with her along to the garden. There, a man was waiting for them, wearing a metal helmet in place of his head.

"So you guys really came..."

"Al."

"What's up, bro. Did you come to talk to the princess?" Al asked as he approached.

"How did you know that?" Subaru showed surprise as he quickly moved his arms in strange positions.

"... Actually, now that I think about it, you looked like you were waiting for us."

"The princess told me to welcome you. She knew of your arrival in advance, so here I am. It's... it's complicated. Anyway, follow me, will you?" He gestured to call them, indicating the big door.

Subaru and Rem exchanged glances, and then shrugged.

The inside of the mansion was as majestic as the outside. The hallways, carpeted with crimson and gold. The walls and the ceiling. Subaru thought that someone might think that such a place would be too extravagant, with so much yellow and red. But it wasn't, it seemed to have the perfect amount of it, the furniture, the moldings and all the furnishings complemented the beauty inside.

"Why does the pal, need to talk to the princess anyway?"

Subaru, who had Rem walking beside him, looked at the back of Al who was leading the way.

"... Something important. I need her help, that's why."

"I am sure she would be able to help you with whatever it is, but will you be able to convince her?"

Subaru frowned, thoughtfully.

"Rem thinks that Subaru-kun is able to convince Priscilla-sama to help Emilia-sama. Rem believes in Subaru-kun." She held his hand, as she had been doing for some time. Which he accepted without reluctance, as it calmed him down in these situations.

"Yes, thank you Rem. I can do that..."

Al glared at them through the slit in his helmet. The knight merely turned his face forward and murmured in agreement. "Hm..."

A large, well-ornamented room was where Al showed a specific door. "Please maid, I feel that princess does not wish to see you. You must stay here and wait."

Subaru looked at Rem, and she nodded with a graceful bow. "Rem understands."

He, then, looked back at Al, indicating to take him to Priscilla Barielle.

"Ho~" The princess looked at him, sitting on the throne with a book in her lap, while lazily fiddling with her hair.

Al was no longer in sight. It was just him and Priscilla alone in this large, well-ornamented room. Priscilla Barielle stood before him, inspecting him with an appraising expression.

And Subaru with a nervous expression as he watched, in the center of the room, the proud princess.

She closed the book, setting it aside. "So, commoner, what brings you here before my greatness?" She asked, resting her chin on a slender, delicate hand.

Subaru closed his eyes briefly, took a breath, and opened them with determination, "I came to you for help. And I think you are able to help me with that. My, my master; she's in some trouble, and so are the people in her territory. There will be an attack, and everyone will be murdered by the Witch Cult. Alone I can do nothing, but I know that with your help it will be another story. She is gentle and very kind, she doesn't expect the worst from others. And she unfortunately doesn't know about the attack. It will be a tragedy, innocent people will die, lose their lives. I have to save them, I have to help them. I must eliminate every single murderer who is targeting the lives of these good people; every single one, until there are no more of these damned people left alive." Subaru clenched his fist hard, gritting his teeth, his eyes sharp as he imagined himself - himself - killing every monster that dared to destroy that wonderful place.

The place he had learned to call home.

"... And that's all?"

"What?" he stopped, loosening his grip.

"Don't 'what' me... Mineself is asking you if that is all your problem involves."

"... Yes. That's it, they are witch cultists. And they are not easy enemies to deal with, it is necessary to carry out a surprise attack." He clenched both fists this time, side by side of his body, "We need to kill them, before they have a chance to kill those innocent people. … I need to kill them first and foremost."

"Hmph. You are more fascinated with satiating your revenge than truly saving these said people."

Subaru stopped, looking at her, and wanting to deny, "I-I don't–"

"And if your master really was competent, she should handle this on her own. If she can't even do that, what's the point of her still being around?"

He glared hatefully at her, "Emilia doesn't know! If she knew, I'm sure she could do something about it, that's why I'm asking for help."

The princess rose from the golden throne, she said, "Well then..."

Priscilla walked toward him, with slow steps. He watched her with anticipation, noting how her curves moved with such grace as to rival even Emilia. He leaned back a little when she came too close.

With a fan in hand, which she took from where it was between her breasts. She suddenly opened it, placing it to cover part of her face. She looked at him intensely while doing this, which frankly startled him.

"W-will you help me? Will you help Emilia?"

"Oh? Mineself offering help to you, and her?" She asked slowly, still watching him.

He made an almost nodding gesture as he said, "Y-yes..."

The tension grew as he waited for her to say yes. With his eyes slightly narrowed, he waited with anticipation for either her mocking cry denying him or the soft reply that yes, she would.

But...

"Wuah-" He feels himself being pushed, to the point where he falls to the ground on his butt. Subaru looked up, noticing how the culprit was her looking at him with an odd little smile.

"Mineself will grant you something rewarding..." She stated simply, causing him to look at her dumbfounded and confused.

"W-what?"

She raised an eyebrow, surprised that he still hadn't understood. "In the language of commoners, I would say that mineself is offering you an opportunity - or - a chance. A chance for you." She said, placing greater emphasis on the word chance than on opportunity.

"...So will you help me?" he asked with hope in his voice.

"Ha. That we will see, it will depend on you."

He swallowed hard at the look she continued to offer him. Then, on the floor and in front of this imposing and relentless presence that was Priscilla Barielle, he resigned himself to listening to her.

Until... "Lick it." The princess ordered with all the authority she could convey in her voice.

He widened his eyes, too surprised by the events. Before him stood the slender, soft, majestic foot. And she looked at him expectantly, hiding even more of her face with her fan when he looked at her.

Subaru turned his gaze to her foot. It was there, waiting for him. The flashy, manicured nails revealed even more of this arrogant princess, which he recognized.

Then, noticing that he looked a little too mortified yet, she began to bring her foot a little closer. He looked at it closer and closer. Subaru thought about the attack that would occur, about the people who would die, about the friends he had made.

And, on Emilia. Her beautiful face, that personality he loved so much about her, remembering how amazing Emilia-tan was. In a fleeting thought, he wondered what her foot would look like, but that was a useless thing to think about.

He needed to save them.

And this arrogant princess dared to show her foot for him to lick, while he was desperate and clearly asking for help.

But he thought that alone he could not save them. This was out of reach, he needed strength, numbers, power. He needed help.

And Priscilla Barielle, despite being an arrogant and idiotic noblewoman; she could still help save Emilia.

Then, with a long, trembling gulp, he gently took her foot. The fingers of his hand rubbed lightly and gently against the smooth, clear skin of her foot. His heart was beating rapidly, and Subaru gritted his teeth in anticipation, trying to hold himself as tight as he could.

He tried to bear it... the anger he felt for the Cult giving way to something else. Subaru also managed to think that right now Rem was waiting for him outside, he wondered what she would think of him now.

She thought he was negotiating some kind of caravan with a candidate for the throne of Lugnica to save Emilia, her sister, and everyone in the Arlam village.

And here he was, kneeling on the ground, holding this arrogant woman's foot and humiliatingly having his lips close to her skin. And, he was getting closer.

He felt the slight contraction of her foot, as if she moved it slightly in a rush of annoyance, unknown to him, from the princess herself. He, at this moment, didn't care. He held it as if it were the thing that would save his world.

He needed to do this. He thought - it was for Emilia.

And... for himself.

Yeah.

Natsuki Subaru rubbed his lips against the smooth, tasty skin of Priscilla Barielle's foot, leaving her completely bewildered.

It was tasty.

He touched his own lips deeper to that skin, feeling a sensation in his chest, satisfaction. He had held on so long, so much longer to avoid this, but he couldn't do it.

Ever since he saw those feet, when she was sitting on the throne, cross-legged, he couldn't stop thinking about how perfect those feet were.

So now that he had his 'chance', he kissed her foot for the first time.

"Y-you–" The foot twitched in his hand, but it was too late. Subaru held it a little tighter, lightly fiddling with the sole of her foot. And... He ran his tongue over the smooth, dry surface, tickling her. Feeling the almost indistinguishable and unrecognizable, but slightly bitter taste.

"Aaahhh, f-filthy commoner! H-How you dare...!" She tried to pull out, she was strong, he would say. But she was too shocked, so she couldn't get enough balance to stand and kick him. Subaru promptly helped knock her to the ground, pulling her foot towards him.

He licked it with fervor, it was his and everyone's salvation after all.

Priscilla's foot...

Licking with fervor, sucking with dedication, running my tongue over every finger with joy. It was good, it was lively, it was exciting; like an addictive drug that he wanted to have, for every morning, inside his mouth, until there was no more tomorrow.

Priscilla squirmed, trying to get her feet out of his grip, "Let go of this- Aanh!"

He brought his foot closer to him, feeling the coolness of the soles against his lips. Leaving nothing out, not even the gaps, the spaces between your toes. Feeling and enjoying even the softness of her manicured, feminine nails.

"Cease the clowning now, you-"

Subaru lifted his head, indignant, squeezing her foot as if it were his property, momentarily de-elevating her, "You're the one who offered me that chance! Are you going to give it up now, Priscilla Barielle?"

She froze, "That's-"

"Cowardice on your part, isn't it?" He asked, holding her foot more firmly, "Or is it laziness?... When you refused to offer help normally to me Priscilla Barielle, and actually offered it in return. In the end, you regretted it, didn't you ?"

"Why you...!" She clenched her teeth in anger, so he licked her fingers making her shiver and moan. "G-Get your filthy tongue out-"

"Is Priscilla Barielle really someone who doesn't keep her word? Someone of weak conviction...?"

"..."

"Yeah, I didn't think so."

She bubbled with anger, staring intensely as the filthy pig went back to work. "That-take this divine chance; it will be the only time you will even be able to come close to this!"

"As you wish, my dear..." He stopped then, and looked at her. "But you will still have to help me, it was a promise from you... And you, you know, promises can't be broken..."

She wanted to complain, to yell at him, and tell him what a pathetic man he was to submit to this. But she understood that she would be doing what he wanted, if he was so pathetic, screaming would be what he would want her to do.

Then she smiled. To his own discomfort, who was looking at her interrogatively and with a little fear in his gaze. "All right, commoner... No, you are less than that, dog. I will satisfy your perverted desires, for I myself will not go back on my own words... In the end, the world will turn in my favor, I will have your head."

She pulled her foot hard from his hands, causing him to look at her indignantly. And before he could say anything, she 'hmphed' and walked to the throne.

He smirked, with insane eyes. Yes... Finally...

"But I will not do that in such a humiliating position. Mineself demands that you drag yourself to me." She had Al, after all; Priscilla Barielle would know how to handle this man who was, impressively, more pathetic than Al, with ease.

"Don't make it sound like that's what you wanted." He retorted, but did as she asked.

"That was always my wish from the beginning." The world was turning in her favor, yes. "You, you pig, just extrapolated and got a little lucky, that's all, nothing more."

"Just like the time I got all those Appas at once in 'Rock, Paper, Scissors', hm?"

She swallowed her own words and fell silent, "..."

"He~" Subaru smiled at that, "I didn't think so..." Then he caught her foot again, also noticing with glee how her eyes were drawn with hatred in his direction.

She sat down on her throne, raising both feet to him. "The other one too. Enjoy it - delight in it - while you can. That will be the last time something like this will even happen again in your life-"

"-You know... Priscilla-sama still owes me for the bet we made on that occasion, which I won. I remember winning something fascinating from you~"

"... What are you really talking about?" She looked away, scratching her rosy cheek.

"Oh, did you really think I would come here and not remember this? No… no, no no…" He shook his head with a smile as he repeated the no's to her.

Subaru turned his head up, noticing how she looked at him with her chin held up, proudly, downward. With a defiant glance, sparks flew between the baroness and the butler.

"... Yes, you owe me that, Priscilla Barielle. You promised… that I could touch your breasts to my heart's content."

She stopped, her mouth hanging open. Cursing her own tongue for continuing to interact with this man who deserved nothing. "... J-Just get it over with, my day is ruined because of you, dog!"

"Mhm, mhm. –But you will still have to help me save Emilia."

"You bastard..."

"Oi...!"

Then he went back to doing what he had to do, tasting her foot, and especially the taste of victory...

This proud princess owed him, after all.

Some time later, in Priscilla Barielle's personal room. Subaru and her were facing each other, a sheet of paper between them.

And…

"Hohohoho, you didn't expect that commoner. I only have one more victory left, and I will beat you!" She fanned herself with pomp, certain that she could get revenge on this disgusting commoner for daring to lick her feet.

"Hm, I still think I can win. I'm a good hash player, you know?"

"Whatever. It's a nine to zero, it's won either way. The world turns in my favor, commoner. Understand that."

Subaru smiled mischievously, "Is that so? How about betting it all at once then, on that last turn?"

"Ha! Have it your way. That time I lost since it wasn't in my best interest to beat you."

He smiled wryly at her. "Very well..."

Fifteen seconds of Hash Game later...

"And... I won!"

"What!? You... That clearly wasn't the rules you stated, and it's utterly nonsensical!"

He glared at her, his tone dripping with presumption, "Naturally, it makes perfect sense, Priscilla-sama! That rule you failed to comprehend is the imposter 'X' rule cleverly disguised as a circle. It's an intricate series of three right here. As expected, I emerge victorious! ... And now that you have suffered defeat, it seems we have a plethora of matters to attend to, don't we~?"

"... This time, I want a different kind of Appa, less sugary, you know?"

"Whyeeeeeeeeee!?"

"I'm coming, Emilia-tan. I will save you..."

This idea was one that I found on Reddit, and decided to write here. Credits, obviously, to whoever suggested it.