Villagers

In the grand hall of the Council of the Great Sage, an aura of solemnity filled the air. Ornate tapestries depicting the history of Lugnica adorned the walls, and a massive chandelier cast a warm, golden light over the room. Seated around a long, polished table were the councilmen, a group of venerable old men whose wisdom and experience were unparalleled in the kingdom. Reinhard van Astrea, the Sword Saint, stood before them, his posture straight and respectful.

Councilman Noa, a man with a long white beard and piercing blue eyes, was the first to speak. "Sir Reinhard, we have summoned you here today to discuss the state of peace and order in the capital. How are things faring under your watch?"

Reinhard inclined his head slightly. "The capital remains secure, Councilman Noa. Crime rates are at an all-time low, and our patrols are diligent. The people can go about their daily lives without fear."

Councilman Garf, a stout man with a serious expression, nodded approvingly. "Your efforts are commendable, Sword Saint. However, there is another matter we must discuss. It has come to our attention that you were seen with the King candidate Emilia, the half-elf, in the slums. Can you explain this?"

Reinhard's expression became more guarded, but he knew he had to answer. "Indeed, I was with Lady Emilia. She had lost her insignia, and we were searching for it."

Councilman Noa leaned forward, his eyes narrowing. "Lost her insignia? In the slums? That seems rather careless for a King candidate. What exactly transpired?"

Reinhard took a deep breath, choosing his words carefully. "Lady Emilia was deeply concerned about the loss of her insignia. It is a vital symbol of her candidacy, as you know. In her desperation, she ventured into the slums, fearing that it had been stolen or misplaced there."

Councilman Garf frowned. "And how did you come to be involved?"

"She requested my assistance," Reinhard replied. "Given the importance of the insignia, I could not refuse."

The councilmen exchanged glances, their expressions unreadable. Councilman Noa spoke again, his tone more probing. "And what about the incident with the old woman? We've heard troubling reports."

Reinhard hesitated, then decided that honesty was the best course. "Lady Emilia believed that a woman in the slums, whom she suspected to be the infamous Elsa the Bowel Hunter in disguise, was a threat. She feared that this woman would harm those around her."

Councilman Garf's eyes widened slightly. "The Bowel Hunter? That is a grave accusation. Was there any truth to her suspicions?"

Reinhard shook his head. "It appears she was mistaken. The woman was not who Lady Emilia thought she was. It seems... she may have been imagining things."

A murmur ran through the council. Councilman Noa stroked his beard thoughtfully. "Imagining things, you say? That is quite concerning."

Reinhard could sense where this was leading. "Lady Emilia was under a great deal of stress. The loss of the insignia, coupled with the pressures of her candidacy, could have led to her misjudgment."

The councilmen conferred in hushed tones for a moment before Councilman Garf spoke again. "If Lady Emilia's mental state is indeed fragile, it raises questions about her suitability for the throne. Should she exhibit further signs of instability, we must consider the ramifications for the kingdom."

Reinhard's heart sank. "Lady Emilia is a kind and capable leader. She has the potential to bring great change to Lugnica. I urge you to consider her merits alongside any concerns."

Councilman Noa nodded slowly. "Your righteousness is noted, Sword Saint. However, we must act in the best interest of the kingdom. We will continue to observe her closely. Should she demonstrate any further signs of mental instability, we will have no choice but to reconsider her candidacy."

Reinhard bowed his head in acknowledgment. "I understand, Councilmen. Thank you for your time and consideration."

As he left the grand hall, Reinhard couldn't shake the feeling of unease that settled in his chest. The fate of the kingdom hung in the balance, and he could only hope that Lady Emilia would find the strength to prove her worthiness beyond any doubt.

o—O—o

Subaru emerged from the bathroom, her skin flushed and dewy from the hot shower. The sensation of the warm water cascading over her new body was still a novelty she relished. She couldn't help but grin, giving her crotch a playful pat, giggling perversely. The whole experience of being in a female body was bizarre yet amusing.

Just then, Ram appeared in the hallway, her expression as stern as ever. "Were you groping your own privates, Emilia-sama?" she asked, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

Subaru blinked, then burst into laughter. "Seriously? That's the first thing you say to me?"

Ram crossed her arms, raising an eyebrow. "Well, it's not every day we see our lady fondling herself in the hallway."

"Touché," Subaru admitted, smirking. "But you know, these are just too irresistible."

"Nee-sama, nee-sama," Rem appeared beside her sister, eyes wide. "I think Emilia-sama has gone mad."

"Rem, Rem," Ram responded, shaking her head. "Indeed, Emilia-sama has lost it."

"Hey, hey!" Subaru protested, throwing her hands up in mock indignation. "I'm right here! And for the record, I'm not mad. Just... curious."

Ram sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Curious or not, please conduct yourself with more decorum, Emilia-sama. We have a reputation to uphold."

"Yeah, yeah, Miss Prim and Proper," Subaru teased, rolling her eyes. "Let's get some breakfast. I'm starving."

The dining room was filled with the mouth-watering aromas of freshly baked bread and sizzling bacon. The table was laden with an array of dishes: fluffy scrambled eggs, juicy sausages, golden pancakes, and an assortment of fruits. Subaru's stomach growled in anticipation.

Rosewall, with his eccentric attire and ever-present smirk, sat at the head of the table. His mismatched eyes gleamed with amusement as he observed Subaru.

"Good mooorning, Emilia-samaaaa," he greeted, his voice lilting. "I trust you had a pleasant shoooower?"

Subaru gave him a cheeky grin. "The best, thanks. And by the way, you're quite the clown. Entertain us while we eat, will you?"

Rosewall chuckled, shaking his head. "Always the joker, I see. But on a moooore serious note, I have a task for you tooooday."

Subaru raised an eyebrow, her fork halfway to her mouth. "Oh? What's that?"

"I'd like you to visit the village and build a stroooonger relatiooonship with the civiliaaaans," Rosewall said, his tone becoming more serious.

Subaru frowned, clearly reluctant. "Why do I need to do that? Can't we just send Rem or Ram?"

Puck, who was floating lazily by her side, chimed in. "Lia, it's a good idea. You've been cooped up in this mansion for too long. It'll do you good to get some fresh air and meet the people."

'But—"

"Naive Girl," Beatrice interjected. "If you go away, I'll get some time to spend with my best friend!" Puck giggled as she cuddled him.

Subaru sighed, clearly not thrilled with the idea. "Fine, fine. I'll go."

After finishing her breakfast, Subaru prepared to leave for the village, accompanied by Rem. She pulled her pointy-eared hoodie over her head, trying to avoid drawing too much attention.

"Hey, Rem," she said as they neared the village. "I…uh…want to interact with the villagers by myself."

Rem give her a questioning look.

"Basically, I want you to stay away from me so that I…uh…"

"Emilia-sama," Rem said, her voice gentle but firm, "you shouldn't be alone. Let me stay with you."

"I'll be fine, Rem," Subaru insisted, waving her off. "Just do the shopping by yourself. I'll stay out of trouble, I promise."

Reluctantly, Rem nodded and went on her way. Subaru, meanwhile, found a huge Banyan tree and hid behind it, avoiding the prying eyes of the villagers. She felt a pang of discomfort as she watched happy families going about their day.

The village was bustling with activity. It was a picturesque place, with cobblestone streets winding between quaint cottages. Flower boxes adorned windowsills, and the sound of children playing mingled with the chatter of adults. Vendors called out their wares, and the aroma of freshly baked goods filled the air. It was idyllic, the kind of place that felt like it was plucked from a fairy tale.

Subaru felt a pang of envy and sorrow. The sight of a boy playing with lambs, his father and mother tending to the cows nearby, brought a flood of painful memories. Subaru's mind drifted back to her life as Subaru Natsuki. Her parents had died in a car accident, and it was all her fault. She had distracted her father, who was driving, causing the fatal crash. She was so unlucky that she did not die. The guilt had haunted her ever since.

A wave of panic washed over her, making it hard to breathe. Her chest felt heavy—not from her new, ample bosom, but from the crushing weight of her past. The suffocation was unbearable, and her vision blurred as tears welled up in her eyes. "Can't…b-breathe…" She clutched her throat, trying to breathe.

"Hey!" A voice snapped her out of her panic attack. Subaru's eyes widened, startled, and turned to see a little blonde girl with wide, curious eyes. "Are you okay, nee-san?"

"I-I'm fine," Subaru stuttered, still trying not to lose her consciousness and to compose herself. "What's your name?"

"I'm Petra!" the girl chirped, smiling brightly.

Subaru did her best to hide her discomfort about the whole panic attack episode. Her breathing had returned to normal, but the residual tightness in her chest lingered. She noticed the children around her were curious, yet nervous about her presence. It wasn't surprising—silver-haired half-elves weren't exactly viewed favourably in Lugnica.

"Is everything okay, Miss?" one of the older boys asked, his wide eyes filled with concern.

Subaru forced a smile. "Yes, I'm fine. Just had a little scare, that's all."

The children exchanged uncertain glances, their curiosity piqued by her unusual appearance. However, despite their initial hesitation, they began to warm up to her. One brave little girl, her hair tied up in pigtails, stepped forward.

"Your hair is so pretty," she said, her voice filled with awe. "Like moonlight!"

Subaru chuckled softly, genuinely touched. "Thank you. What's your name?"

"Clara," the girl replied, smiling shyly.

"Well, Clara, and everyone else," Subaru said, addressing the group, "how about we play a game?"

The children's eyes lit up with excitement. Slowly but surely, Subaru began to feel more at ease. The initial awkwardness faded as they started to play. Laughter echoed around them as they chased each other and played simple games.

"You can call me Lia-nee-chan," Subaru said, her heart warming at the sound of their giggles.

"Lia-nee-chan! Lia-nee-chan!" the children chanted, their voices a joyful chorus.

"Alright, everyone, let's start with some exercises!" Subaru announced, clapping her hands together. "We need to get those muscles moving!"

The children gathered around her, eager to follow her lead. Subaru started with some basic stretches, demonstrating each move with exaggerated gestures to keep the kids entertained.

"Reach for the sky!" she instructed, lifting her arms high above her head. "Now, touch your toes!"

The children giggled as they tried to mimic her movements, some more successfully than others. Subaru couldn't help but laugh along with them, the exercise already helping to lift her spirits.

"Let's do some jumping jacks!" Subaru said, bouncing up and down. "One, two, three, four!"

The kids followed her lead, their laughter echoing through the village square. It was a simple activity, but it brought a sense of normalcy and joy that Subaru desperately needed.

"Now, who here has a special talent?" Subaru asked, looking around at the group. "Anyone want to show off their skills?"

One boy raised his hand shyly. "I can do a handstand."

"That's amazing!" Subaru exclaimed. "Show us!"

The boy grinned and flipped himself upside down, balancing on his hands with surprising ease. The other children clapped and cheered, and Subaru joined in enthusiastically.

"Great job! Anyone else?" she asked.

A little girl stepped forward, holding a piece of string. "I can do a cat's cradle."

Subaru watched as the girl deftly manipulated the string into intricate patterns, her fingers moving with practiced precision. "That's fantastic! You're all so talented."

As they continued to play and show off their skills, Subaru made a point to ask each child about their future goals.

"What do you want to be when you grow up?" she asked a boy who had just shown off his impressive cartwheel.

"I want to be a knight!" he declared, puffing out his chest proudly.

"That's a noble dream," Subaru said, nodding. "Keep working hard and you might just achieve it."

She turned to another girl who was braiding flowers into a crown. "And what about you?"

"I want to be a gardener, like my mama," the girl said with a shy smile.

"That's wonderful," Subaru replied warmly. "Gardens bring so much beauty into the world."

The conversations continued, each child's dream a precious glimpse into their future. Subaru felt a growing sense of connection with these children, their innocence and optimism a balm for her troubled heart.

As the sun dipped lower in the sky, casting a golden hue over the village, Subaru led the children in a final series of fun exercises. They stretched their arms and legs, hopped around, and finally, Subaru had them strike a triumphant pose.

"Victory...!" she shouted, pumping her fist in the air.

"Victory!" the children echoed, mimicking her pose with enthusiastic grins.

Time flew by, and the twilight sky painted the village in hues of orange and pink. The sounds of the villagers winding down their day mixed with the children's laughter. Rem approached, her expression softening as she watched Subaru interact with the kids.

"Emilia-sama," Rem called gently, "it's time for us to return."

The children's faces fell, their disappointment evident. Subaru quickly crouched down to their level, her eyes sparkling with warmth.

"Don't worry," she reassured them. "I'll come back again. We'll have more fun next time, I promise."

The children reluctantly let her go, waving and calling out their goodbyes as Subaru and Rem began to walk back to the mansion.

As Subaru and Rem were making their way back to the mansion, the sounds of hurried footsteps and excited chatter reached their ears. Turning around, Subaru saw the group of children running towards them, their faces lit up with urgency. In their arms, they carried a small, bald puppy. Its fur had been patchy and scruffy, and it looked injured and in pain.

"Lia-nee-chan! Lia-nee-chan!" Clara called out, her eyes wide with worry. "We found this puppy in the woods! It's hurt really bad. Can you help it? We heard you can heal people!"

Subaru's heart went out to the little creature, but she felt a pang of anxiety. Healing magic wasn't her forte. She knelt down to get a closer look at the puppy, whose big, soulful eyes stared up at her, full of pain and confusion.

"Uh, well," Subaru stammered, scratching her head awkwardly. "I'm really sorry, but I can't heal anyone right now because I'm...uh...sick?"

The children looked crestfallen, their hopeful expressions fading. Just then, Rem stepped forward, her gentle demeanor calming the situation.

"I can help the puppy," Rem said softly, kneeling beside Subaru. "I have healing magic."

The children's faces brightened with renewed hope. Rem extended her hands over the puppy, her fingers glowing with a soft, blue light. Subaru watched in awe as Rem's healing magic began to work. The puppy's wounds started to close, its whimpers of pain quieting down.

Subaru, feeling a surge of affection for the little creature, gently petted its head. "There you go, little guy. You're going to be okay."

However, the puppy, still disoriented and scared, suddenly snapped its jaws and bit down on Subaru's arm. She yelped in pain and surprise, quickly pulling her hand back.

"Ouch! Hey, that hurt!" Subaru exclaimed, rubbing her arm.

Rem looked at her with concern. "Let me heal that for you, Emilia-sama."

Subaru nodded, wincing as Rem's magic enveloped her arm, soothing the pain and closing the bite marks. "Thanks, Rem. I guess the little guy was just scared."

The children, relieved to see the puppy getting better, gathered around Subaru and Rem with wide eyes and relieved smiles.

"Thank you, Lia-nee-chan! Thank you, Rem-san!" Clara said, her face beaming with gratitude.

Subaru laughed, though still rubbing her arm where the puppy had bitten her. "No problem, Clara. Just make sure to be gentle with him, okay? He's been through a lot."

One of the older boys, who had been holding the puppy, cradled it carefully. "We'll take good care of him, Lia-nee-chan. We promise."

Rem finished her healing spell and stood up, dusting off her skirt. "He should be fine now, but keep an eye on him and make sure he gets plenty of rest and good food."

Subaru and Rem resumed their walk back to the mansion, but Subaru couldn't help but glance back at the children and the puppy, her heart swelling with a mix of emotions. The village had shown her a sense of community and warmth she hadn't felt in a long time.

The road back was lined with lush green trees, their leaves rustling gently in the evening breeze. The setting sun cast long shadows across the path, creating a picturesque scene that felt almost magical. Birds chirped softly, returning to their nests for the night, and the air was filled with the sweet scent of blooming flowers.

"Rem," Subaru said, breaking the comfortable silence. "Do you think... I mean, am I really making a difference here?"

Rem looked at her with a gentle smile. "You are, Lia-sama. The villagers are starting to see you for who you truly are, beyond the prejudices. And the children adore you."

Subaru smiled, feeling a warmth spread through her chest. "Thank you, Rem. That means a lot."

As they approached the mansion, its grand structure looming ahead, Subaru felt a sense of accomplishment. The day's events had been a small step, but an important one in building relationships with the villagers and proving her worth.

Upon entering the mansion, Subaru felt a renewed sense of purpose. She knew that the road ahead would be challenging, but with the support of her friends and the determination she had found within herself, she felt ready to face whatever came next. She was no longer just Subaru Natsuki, the lost and broken boy from another world. She was Emilia, a candidate for the throne, and she was ready to fight for her future.


TBC