Flashback starts
2 years ago
Tears welled up in Emilia's eyes as she sat at her desk, reviewing the reports and letters that lay before her. Grief strangled her voice as she muttered,
"No, this can't be." The weight of sorrow settled heavily upon her, casting a dark shadow over her once-vibrant room in the Miload Mansion.
In the aftermath of the Pleiades Tower expedition, a month had passed. Emilia's once-pristine silver hair now hung tangled and disheveled, mirroring the turmoil in her heart. Dark circles marred the area beneath her amethyst eyes, a testament to the sleepless nights filled with worry and anxiety.
Her room, once warm and bustling with the presence of her beloved knight, now felt cold and empty. Emilia's delicate features were etched with concern and anxiety, the uncertainty of Subaru's whereabouts gnawing at her heart.
For a month, she had awaited Subaru's return, desperate for even the slightest trace of him. But there was no sign. The mansion, once a place of order, had descended into chaos after Subaru's sudden disappearance. Tension crackled in the air, and Emilia could sense the growing desperation among her cohorts.
Beatrice, Subaru's contracted spirit, shared in the tension and restlessness, her mood sour and irritable. Emilia understood; Beatrice must have been yearning for her missing contractor.
Ram, too, was not her usual composed self. Despite her efforts to hide her worries, Emilia knew Ram was as concerned as the rest of them. Frederica and Petra attempted to lift spirits, but their success was limited.
Even Garfiel, the typically lively demihuman tiger, had moments of desperation regarding his missing captain.
The only one holding the camp together was Subaru's merchant friend and the camp's internal relations head, Otto Suwen.
In an attempt to cope with her sadness and worry, Emilia clutched the small, intricate pendant Subaru had given her. Her fingers trembled as she traced its contours. It symbolized his love and promises, but now, it felt fragile, threatened by the uncertainty of his fate.
"Subaru... where are you?" Emilia whispered, her voice quivering with longing and fear. She had replayed every moment of his departure in her mind, searching for clues or signs, but found nothing.
A soft knock on the door interrupted her thoughts. Petra, the young orange-haired maid, entered the room cautiously, bearing a tray with a steaming cup of herbal tea.
"Emilia-sama, I've brought you some tea," Petra said softly, sympathy in her eyes as she placed the tray beside Emilia.
"Thank you, Petra," Emilia replied, her voice weary but appreciative, taking a sip of the tea, finding temporary solace in its warmth.
"Emilia-sama," Petra began hesitantly, "I know it's been difficult, but we're all here for you. We'll find Subaru-sama, I promise."
Emilia managed a faint smile that quickly faded, replaced by somber concern. "But what if... he's hurt? Hungry and alone? Or..." Her voice trailed off, trembling with worry. "My knight... alone and scared."
"You worry too much, Emilia-sama!" Petra replied with a warm smile, her voice reassuring. "I know Subaru-sama. He's smart and resourceful. Wherever he is, he'll not only survive but thrive." She placed a comforting hand on Emilia's shoulder.
"I know, Petra, but still... what if Subaru needs us?" Emilia's fearful eyes met Petra's gaze. "I miss him, Petra, so much."
"I understand, Emilia-sama, but st—"
"EMILIA-SAMA! EMILIA-SAMA!" a loud voice erupted in the hallway, followed by frantic knocks on the door.
Emilia's heart raced. "Otto? Come in, What's wrong?" she responded, her voice tinged with worry.
The door burst open, and Otto Suwen, Subaru's merchant friend and the camp's internal relations head, rushed in, his eyes wide with urgency.
"Emilia-sama, we've received reports!" Otto exclaimed, panting heavily. In his hands, he held out a letter, its wax seal bearing a familiar insignia. "Reports of Natsuki-san's whereabouts!"
"REAAAALLY? IS MY SUBARU SAFE?! WHERE IS HE?!" Emilia jumped from her chair and rushed to Otto, her voice filled with shock and excitement.
"Ow ow! Relax, Emilia-sama," Otto complained.
"Oh, sorry," Emilia replied with a hint of embarrassment, her face still showing shock and excitement.
"It's okay, Emilia-sama. Anyways, according to reports from my merchant network, Subaru is okay and alive. at least that's what they're reporting." Otto paused, catching his breath. "Currently, he is in Vollachia, helping the recently deposed emperor regain his throne and leading counter-revolutionary activities, which I think is—"
"WHAT?! but that's dangerous!" Emilia interrupted, her voice more worried and annoyed at the same time, making the grey-haired merchant twitch. "Subaaaaaru! That dunderhead is endangering himself again!"
"I know, Emilia-sama," Otto began but was cut off once more.
"We must arrange an expedition at once! We have to save my Subaru!" Emilia's face hardened with resolve, her voice firm.
"But, Emilia-sama! That's dangerous. Vollachia is known to be a very chaotic and dangero—"
"I DON'T CARE!" Emilia snapped, her voice tinged with fury. "My Subaru has always had our back, and with him in jeopardy, we must show him the same support! As a royal candidate, I won't stay put while my knight is in a hostile foreign land, alone and danger!" Emilia's voice carried finality.
Otto looked at the half-elf and reluctantly accepted her determination. Arguing with her wouldn't work.
"Very well, Emilia-sama," Otto closed his eyes in resignation. "I will gather the rest of the camp in the living room so we can arrange logistics and prepare."
1 month after
"Give it up, missy! You stand no chance! We promise to be gentle with you!" taunted a bald man with a scarred face, menacingly licking his knife. He was surrounded by a dozen henchmen armed with spears and daggers, encircling the silver-haired half-elf.
"I'm sorry, but that can't happen," Emilia replied, her voice resolute despite the dire situation. "My Knight needs me, and I can't fail him. I have to reach him."
"Heh, have it your way then you Half-Devil! Boys, seize her!" declared the leader of the bandits as they closed in, their cruel grins displaying a twisted sense of confidence.
Stuck in the desolated city of Garkla, Emilia found herself surrounded and separated from her camp after a brutal ambush by ruthless bandits. These marauders roamed the countryside without fear, exploiting the weakened government caused by the civil war. Chaos reigned, and the city's once bustling streets now lay in ruins.
As the first three bandits lunged at her, she gracefully evaded their grasps and simultaneously unleashed three ice arrows toward her assailants.
Her aim was true, dispatching the three attackers immediately.
The battle intensified as the remaining bandits charged, hoping to overwhelm her. Spears and swords swung at her, but with swift, nimble movements, Emilia dodged their attacks.
Stepping back to maintain distance, she once more unleashed a volley of ice arrows, taking down three more charging bandits.
Another bandit attempted to sneak up on her, but before he could get close, he saw ice forming. Emilia swiftly released an ice spear that struck the bandit in the chest, causing blood to spatter as his body crumpled. Seven down, six to go.
The bald bandit leader lunged forward, and Emilia once more leaped backward to create distance. In this situation, she knew her best chance was to eliminate the remaining bandits through ranged ice brand arts.
As Emilia prepared to unleash her magical attack, the bandit leader made a sudden move. With surprising accuracy, he hurled his spear toward her. It struck Emilia in the abdomen before she could react, eliciting a cry of pain as she stumbled backward, clutching the wound.
Despite the excruciating pain, Emilia summoned her resolve. She disregarded the blood flowing from her abdomen and unleashed a relentless barrage of ice spears and arrows. Her magical assault struck down the bandit leader and most of his comrades. Twelve down, only one remained.
Seeing most of his comrades lying lifeless, the lone surviving bandit turned and fled, dropping his weapon in his haste to escape the overwhelming onslaught.
Emilia didn't bother to stop the lone bandit from fleeing. Her strength rapidly waning, she staggered, clutching her wounded abdomen, her vision blurring at the edges. The world around her spun, and she felt herself losing consciousness.
Emilia slowly opened her eyes, finding herself lying on her bed in the Miload Mansion. The familiar surroundings offered her some comfort, but as she attempted to sit up, a wave of excruciating pain washed over her.
Groaning, she was forced to remain lying down, her body too weak to obey her commands.
Her memory was foggy; all she could recall was fighting in Garkla, being struck by a spear in her stomach, and then darkness. It took a couple of minutes for the confusion to dissipate, and then it hit her.
"Noo!" she exclaimed as she realized what had happened. The ambush! Their expedition had failed before it even started! Was the rest of the camp even all right?
"Emilia-sama!" she heard a voice as her door burst open. A tall blonde maid, her face filled with worry, rushed in. "Emilia-sama, you're finally awake! How are you feeling, Emilia-sama?" asked Frederica as she sat beside Emilia's bed, checking the well-being of the royal candidate.
"Huh?" Emilia tilted her head, confusion etched on her face. "What do you mean, finally awake? And is everybody okay?" The half-elf shuddered, terrified at the thought that some of her camp members might have been hurt because of her incompetence.
"Don't worry, Emilia-sama. Everyone is fine, except for a few bruises and cuts. The only one heavily injured is you," Frederica reassured her as she checked the half-elf's vitals.
"Heavily injured?" Emilia asked, still confused.
"Yeah," Frederica replied somberly. "After Garfiel, Ram, Beatrice-sama, and the Garklan militia cleared the city square of bandits, we found you in the eastern district of the city, unconscious and with a spear in your stomach." Sadness crept across Frederica's face as she recounted the events.
"Thankfully, we were able to save you, but... You were unconscious for almost ten days. We even thought you wouldn't wake up."
Emilia took a moment to digest all of that, and a small smile crept onto her face. At least no one else was hurt. Then, as she looked down, she noticed her abdomen was wrapped in bandages.
"The rune spear used on you is cursed, Emilia-sama. That's why it took longer for Beatrice-sama to heal your wounds," Frederica explained, patting the half-elf on the back as she tried her best to comfort her.
Emilia nodded and smiled at the blonde maid, expressing her gratitude. However, her cheerful expression turned to one of sadness as she realized something.
"Subaru... we failed again," she said, tears welling up in her eyes.
Emilia had launched this expedition a month ago, hoping to rescue her knight and reconnect with him. She imagined how much Subaru must have missed her during all this time, just as she missed him dearly. The longing for her one and only knight had grown with each passing day.
"I'm so sooooorry, Subaaaaaru!" she sobbed, tears flowing down her face as she mourned their failed mission.
Flashback Ends
Reminiscing, Emilia sat silently in the dragon carriage, her gaze fixed on the passing scenery beyond the window. The journey toward the capital city was a somber one, with a heavy atmosphere that left everyone in the group devoid of conversation.
The only interruptions were the occasional updates from Otto, who informed them of their estimated time of arrival.
Emilia, usually a source of cheerfulness despite previous hardships, found herself lost in her thoughts, drowning in the depths of despair.
For her, these moments served as a painful opportunity to reflect on the past, to retrace the steps where everything had gone wrong for her and her beloved knight. She would have continued down this melancholic path if not for the abrupt arrival at their destination.
"Emilia-sama!" called out Frederica, breaking the silence. "We've already arrived at our destination. Are you ready to go?"
"Huh? That fast?" Emilia blinked, shaken from her reverie, and then glanced out the window to assess their surroundings. They had indeed reached the capital city, and the inn stood before them, where they would stay for the next couple of days before the royal selection.
"Of course, Emilia-sama," Frederica replied with a sympathetic expression. "You were lost in thought for hours, barely noting our location."
The half-elf's face turned even sadder, her gaze dropping in shame at her perceived incompetence. Fortunately, Frederica picked up on her emotions and decided to intervene before Emilia could spiral further into self-doubt.
"Emilia-sama, it's alright. I understand what you're going through; you don't need to explain," the blonde maid said with a comforting smile, offering solace to the distraught elf.
Emilia managed a weak smile in return, her eyes still reflecting a lingering sadness. She nodded and carefully rose from her seat, cradling her bulging tummy with her hand. Frederica was quick to assist the pregnant royal candidate, gently taking her hand and aiding her as they made their way to the dragon carriage's door.
"Be careful, Emilia-sama," Frederica cautioned as they exited the carriage.
"Owww, my back hurts," the silver-haired half-elf groaned as an ache overwhelmed her back, a result of her growing tummy due to pregnancy.
"Fix your posture, Emilia-sama; we'll apply a cold compress later," Frederica
Emilia simply nodded as she sat alone on a plush, burgundy-colored couch, her delicate fingers absently tracing her growing belly. Her violet eyes, usually filled with determination, were now clouded with worry and stress. Seeking relief, she unconsciously clutched the small silver pendant around her neck, which had become a habit in the past few months, serving as a constant reminder of Subaru, her former knight, and the broken promise they shared.
On the opposite side of the room, a trio of individuals occupied another couch. Garfiel, with his striking gold hair and intense jade eyes, sat with his arms crossed, his burly frame a stark contrast to the plush upholstery beneath him. Otto Suwen, his normally cheerful face now etched with concern, fidgeted nervously with a stack of papers, clearly trying to organize his thoughts. Frederica, the tall, blonde maid, maintained a composed demeanor, her sharp blue eyes watching the interactions around her.
Otto, clearing his throat, leaned forward, his fingers steepled in front of him, and he began to speak in a hushed tone that hung heavy in the air.
"Emilia-sama, as you know, the royal selection is fast approaching—just 15 days away," Otto began, his voice carrying a sense of urgency. "But our situation is nearly untenable. Natsuki-san's actions have put us in a precarious position," he trailed off, searching for the right words. "If my calculations are correct, this should put us out of contention," he added, his voice filled with despair.
Emilia's gaze shifted from the pendant to Otto, her expression a mix of sadness and frustration. "I know, Otto. Subaru's decision to join Priscilla... Doomed us."
"Tsk! We gotta find a way to win this selection without Captain!" the demihuman tiger spoke, his voice tinged with anger and frustration. "We can't let his actions ruin our chances."
"That's impossible, Garf!" Frederica chimed in this time. "Subaru-sama is a great hero to the kingdom. Most of our camp's success and clout are tied to him. With him gone, so is our clout and successes," the maid trailed off with a sad voice.
Emilia digested all of that. She knew she had her shortcomings, which were likely why Subaru left her, but she also recognized when the balance of power had shifted. And by the looks of it, they're in a dire situation.
Sighing, Emilia decided to address the camp; however, Otto interrupted.
"Fortunately, the news of Subaru leaving our camp hasn't been announced yet, so technically, we are still the frontrunners... but should that news be broken..." Otto didn't complete his words, leaving the room filled with a heavy silence, a stark reminder of the fragile position they found themselves in.
Emilia absorbed the harsh reality of their situation. Without her knight, she believed that their efforts were futile, rendering all her aspirations meaningless—gone, undone, finished. Ever since Subaru had left them, Emilia had devised a contingency plan, a desperate measure for times like these. She surprised even herself with the idea, as it was something she couldn't have imagined doing in the past. But in her current state of desperation, she felt compelled to explore this last option. However, Emilia reserved this plan for when there truly was no other way out. So, for now, she decided to attempt one last conversation with Subaru, to salvage what remained and mend everything that had unraveled.
"If that's the case..." Emilia stood up, her face etched with distress, her hair disheveled, and her eyes marked by dark circles from countless sleepless nights.
"I'll try to talk to Subaru once more... Maybe, just maybe, he'll come back." Her voice held a hint of optimism, albeit feeble.
"Emilia-sama, with all due respect, isn't that a little too late? Subaru has already abandoned us. There's no point in trying to convince him to change his mind, and the chances of that happening are nearly nonexistent," Otto remarked with a scowl.
"Even if..." the half-elf replied with melancholy in her voice, "it's the only choice we have."
"I see..." Otto trailed off, still not convinced about Emilia talking to Subaru. "But, with all due respect, Emilia-sama, if the fact that you're pregnant with Natsuki-san's child didn't stop him from leaving, then I'm not sure what will," he added.
"Huh?" Emilia replied with a confused face as her expression shifted from determination to sadness while absorbing Otto's words. "Subaru knowing about my... pregnancy?" she trailed off, her gaze dropping to the ground in sadness. "He doesn't... I wasn't able to tell him."
"Huh? You're joking, right?!" Otto's mouth hung open in disbelief. "OW! Easy there, Frederica-san!" he flinched as Frederica bonked him on the head.
"Joking?! Do we look like we're joking here?" Frederica scolded the merchant. "What Emilia-sama said is true. Subaru-sama didn't get the chance to know about Emilia-sama's pregnancy as he left before Emilia-sama had the opportunity to tell him. To be fair, we also found out about it days after Subaru-sama left to be with the Baroness," Frederica explained to the merchant.
"REALLY?! DAMN, THEN THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING!" the gray-haired merchant exclaimed, his expression suddenly becoming euphoric.
"Huh? What do you mean?" Emilia tilted her head, asking.
"Don't you know, Emilia-sama? Natsuki-san LOVES CHILDREN! He would be ecstatic to know he's going to be a dad! This is better than I thought!" Otto replied with excitement in his voice.
"Hey, Al!" Subaru spoke happily as he sat in one of the chairs and tables in the garden of the Barielle estate. Across from him sat Al, the one-armed knight, who had always been a confidant.
"What is it, bro?" Al replied as he sipped a cup of tea.
"Uhhhhh, I think Pris-tan is pregnant..." Subaru trailed off, scratching his face.
"Really, bro? So what's your plan then?" Al replied, putting the cup of tea down and fixing his gaze on the raven-haired boy.
"My plan? Simple, I'm going to marry her before the baby arrives." Subaru lifted his finger, showing a gold wedding ring encrusted with diamonds.
Al smiled at that. "Good choice, brother... you already have a name in mind?" he asked.
"Yep!" Subaru responded with a thumbs up. "If it's a boy, then it's up to Pris to name him... but if it's a girl... Helena, Helena V. Natsuki."