The atmosphere at Roswaal's mansion was heavy with tension as Subaru and the half-elf, who now identified herself as Satella. The grandeur of the mansion that had initially left Subaru in awe was now overshadowed by the palpable air of hostility emanating from the three figures who earlier greeted them or maybe he's just imagining it.
Roswaal's usual jovial expression was replaced by a piercing calculating gaze that seemed to bore into Subaru's very soul. Rem stood like vigilant sentinel, her eyes narrowed with suspicion.
Satella maintained her composure, though she couldn't help but feel a pang of unease. This was supposed to be a moment of introduction, a safe return home after the recent events, but instead, it felt like walking into a den of predators. Not that they can harm her anyways. She'll make sure to protect her beloved.
"Lord Roswaal, they bear the witch's miasma," Rem repeated her voice cut through the heavy silence, her tone cold and accusing.
Roswaal's lips curled into a thin smile, his eyes fixed on Subaru. "Ah, the witch's miasma," he echoed, his voice dripping with a mixture of intrigue and suspicion. "How curious it is to have it wafting through my mansion."
Subaru shifted uncomfortably under Roswaal's scrutiny, feeling as if every thought in his mind was being dissected and examined. He exchanged a quick glance at the half-elf, her expression revealing nothing but a steely determination to protect him. He should be the one protecting. Subaru could only clinch his fist in frustration at the thought.
"Indeed," Roswaal continued, his smile widening. "We rarely encounter individuals touched by the Witch of Envy's presence. And now, she graces my doorstep along with her companion."
Satella's eyes flashed with a mixture of irritation and defiance. She understood that her association with the witch's miasma was a cause for suspicion, but the weight of that suspicion was suffocating.
"Although aren't you being rude to our dear guest, Rem? That isn't the way to show our hospitality, isn't that right, Lady Satella?"
Could they not see the danger that is in front of them!? Rem gripped her weapon.
Roswaal's words were laced with a saccharine sweetness that did little to ease the tension.
The half-elf could practically feel Rem's gaze boring into her, a potent mix of accusation and anger.
With a strained smile, Satella nodded. "Yes, you're right. Please forgive my abruptness."
The group entered the mansion, the atmosphere no less strained indoors. Rem's eyes followed their every move, her body tense and ready to react at a moment's notice. Ram, on the other hand, remained silent, her arms crossed and her lips pressed into a thin line.
As they walked through the corridors, Roswaal continued to observe them, his every step deliberate and calculated. "Laady Satella, I must admit, your sudden appearance with our guest has raised questions in which I hope answers you possess."
Satella met Roswaal's gaze head-on. "I understand the concerns, but I assure you, there's more to this situation than meets the eye."
"Is that so?" Roswaal's smile remained, but it was as if he was challenging her to prove her words.
Rem's eyes flashed with skepticism, her voice dripping with disdain. "And you expect us to believe that? That name is enough proof let alone complete stranger with ties to the witch's miasma suddenly appears, and you think we'll just accept your words WITCH OF ENVY!?"
Satella placed a hand on Subaru's arm, her gaze never leaving Rem's. "I understand your suspicion, Rem. But I vouch for Subaru. He's not what you think."
"Vouch for him?" Rem's laughter was sharp and bitter. "Forgive me,witch, but your words aren't enough to erase our doubts simply even mentioning that name is a sin in itself.
Rem's hand never strayed far from her morningstar, her fingers brushing against the weapon's handle as if seeking reassurance. Her loyalty to her sister and her duty to protect the mansion were unwavering, and she would not hesitate to act if she sensed any threat.
Ram finally spoke up, her voice icy and cutting. "Indeed. The Witch of Envy's presence is not to be taken lightly. It brings only despair and destruction."
The witch's miasma, thick and oppressive, seemed to wrap around the half-elf and the boy like a sinister cloak. Rem's fingers tightened on her weapon's handle, a mix of anger and fear coursing through her veins. She was prepared to defend her sister and the mansion at all costs.
Subaru watched the tense exchange between Satella, Roswaal, and the Oni siblings, feeling like he was caught in a whirlwind of suspicion and tension. He couldn't deny that the situation looks far from ideal.
They mentioned that they are covered in some kind of miasma. Subaru isn't aware of it but that doesn't answer why these people would be suspicious of Tela-tan. He truly mlight be clueless.
As Rem continued to voice her concerns, Subaru felt the weight of the situation pressing down on him. He had hoped that his introduction and attempts at humor would ease the tension, but it seemed like his efforts were falling flat. The mistrust in the air was palpable, and Subaru could practically taste it.
"I understand your concerns, really, I do," Subaru interjected, his voice a mix of frustration and earnestness. "But I can assure you that I have no connection to any witch's cult or some dark forces. I'm just a guy who literally got pulled into this world out of nowhere. If anything, I'm more clueless than anyone here."
His words hung in the air for a moment, but the tension remained unbroken. Subaru could feel the weight of Rem's gaze on him, her suspicion practically radiating off her. It was clear that his attempts to defend Satella and himself weren't making the impact he had hoped for.
Subaru's eyes shifted towards the half-elf, and he could see the turmoil in her expression. He knew that she was holding back some information, It frustrated him to no end that he couldn't fully grasp the situation or find a way to ease the growing distrust.
"I know this looks bad, and I wish I could offer more to prove our intentions," Subaru continued, desperation creeping into his voice. "But I'm not the enemy here. I've only been in this world for a short time, and all I want is to figure out how to survive and maybe help in any way I can."
His words were met with silence, and Subaru's shoulders slumped in defeat. He had hoped to break through the wall of suspicion, to show that he and Satella were just two individuals caught in circumstances beyond their control. But it seemed that the distrust ran too deep, and his attempts were futile.
Subaru's hope began to waver. He could see that the mistrust and suspicion were only growing, and his attempts at defending Satella were failing. He felt a knot of frustration and helplessness building within him, a realization that no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't change the way they were being perceived.
The half-elf noticing this continued to held his hands trying to comfort him.
"Everything will be alright." She whispered.
Roswaal observed the tense atmosphere within the room, The air was thick with suspicion,
His mind, always sharp and calculating, analyzed every detail, every word exchanged. He had encountered many situations in his long life, but the arrival os such sudden events is not something he was prepared to face considering no such details were written in his gospel.
The half-elf's responses were measured, her demeanor a mix of vulnerability and determination. She seemed aware of the suspicion that surrounded her, yet there was a fire in her eyes that spoke of a deeper resolve. And then there was Subaru, standing by her side.
But there was one thing Roswaal understood well—power. And the Witch of Envy has the power that could reshape the world. He had spent his life seeking the secrets of the world, chasing after the unseen threads of destiny that may lead him back to teacher. And now, with Satella's arrival, those threads were tangling in ways he couldn't predict.
The half-elf's focus on Subaru remained unwavering. Roswaal's curiosity deepened. Was it mere infatuation, or was there something more? He couldn't help but wonder if the Witch of Envy's influence was playing a part in their connection.
….
Their progress of trying to convince doesn't seem to be working as she hoped. Amidst the heated exchange and the mounting tension in the room, a sudden realization struck the half-elf like a bolt of lightning. She could sense the Witch of Envy's influence weaving through her thoughts, urging her to take action.
She has to resist. No matter how much she wants to just wipe th,,,
NO! She musn't she just need to go avoid any casualties and danger if not for her for Subaru.
She needs to get them out of this situation somehow.
"I carry the royal insignia," her voice carrying a touch of authority. "This pendant is a proof of my identity as a candidate for the throne. It's a symbol of the Lugnica royal family, a mark that only the true heir would possess."
She held the pendant up for all to see, the delicate design glinting in the light.
All eyes turned to her, a mixture of surprise and curiosity in their gazes. Satella reached for the stone in her pocket, the insignia that bore the emblem of the royal family. It was a symbol of her lineage, her claim to the throne as a potential ruler of this world.
The room fell into a heavy silence as the significance of her words sunk in. Satella watched as the skepticism in Roswaal's eyes wavered, replaced by a thoughtful consideration.
"Very well," Roswaal declared, his tone carrying a finality that brooked no argument. "Satella and Subaru, you shall proceed to your room. "I will have Rem prepare a room as well for our dear guest."
"Subaru shall be staying with me."
"Very well then." Roswall replied.
"Focus on what truly matters," the witch's voice murmured in her mind. "Your beloved Subaru is all that should concern you."
Subaru and the half-elf made their way in the hallway leading to her room making it clear not to follow them as further talks would be continued in the day after.
Roswaal's gaze remained fixed on the half-elf, his mind working tirelessly to decipher the enigma before him. The Witch of Envy was a force that could not be taken lightly, and he was determined to uncover the truth, no matter the cost.
CHAPTER END