Five days ago, everything changed.
The maid hadn't thought much of it at first. Just another cleaning routine, another tedious afternoon spent dusting relics that no one had touched in years. The Dragon Tablet was old, silent, a relic of Lugnica's past.
A faint glow.
Then, a pulse—soft at first, like the distant chime of a bell. Then stronger. Brighter.
The maid froze, breath catching in her throat. Then, without thinking, she turned and ran.
Miklotov McMahon arrived first, his robes billowing as he strode into the chamber. His eyes, sharp with age and wisdom, locked onto the glowing tablet, and for the first time in decades, his hands trembled.
The maid was shaking.
McMahon could see it in her hands, how they clutched at the hem of her uniform. Her eyes were wide, fixed on the Dragon Tablet, its ancient stone pulsing with golden light.
McMahon understood her fear.
The tablet had been silent for quite some time. A relic of the past, one more than a symbol of tradition but a guide for the kingdom.
And now, without warning, it was glowing.
A message from the Dragon.
He took a slow breath and stepped forward. His old bones ached, but he ignored them. This was more important. He had served the council for decades, but nothing in all his years had prepared him for this.
The heavy doors creaked open, and the sound of armored boots filled the chamber.
Bordeaux Zellgef entered first, his steel-plated hands clenched at his sides. His sharp eyes moved from McMahon to the tablet, his usual scowl deepening.
Behind him, Rouge strolled in at a leisurely pace, as if he were simply attending another dull court meeting. His dark robes swept against the polished floor, and he adjusted his monocle as he studied the glowing inscriptions.
More council members followed, some whispering among themselves, others standing in stunned silence. But none spoke. Not yet.
Bordeaux broke the silence first.
"...Why now? ," he muttered, stepping closer to the tablet. "What is it this time!?."
McMahon nodded. "The Dragon speaks again."
Bordeaux scoffed. "And here I thought we were done with miracles."
Rouge chuckled, folding his arms. "What a delightful turn of events. The kingdom's greatest relic suddenly awakens again. How poetic."
McMahon ignored him and focused on the tablet. The golden light flared once more, the runes shifting, twisting, before settling into words long forgotten.
A deep, ancient voice echoed through the chamber.
"The time of discord neareth its end. The cycle of strife and ruin must needs be undone. Verily, shall the throne be won neither by blade nor by cunning, but by harmony and love."
The air grew thick. Heavy.
"He who hath felled the twin great beasts, he who hath cast down the Archbishop of Sloth—lo, he is chosen. The Emissary of Balance, the key to unity. The Dragon hath spoken his name, and his fate is sealed."
The words burned themselves into the stone.
One name.
Natsuki Subaru.
The room fell into silence.
Then—
"You've got to be joking," Bordeaux growled.
Rouge let out a low whistle. "Oh, this just keeps getting better."
McMahon closed his eyes, exhaling slowly. "The Dragon has made its will known."
Bordeaux's gauntlet slammed against the table. "This is madness!" His voice echoed through the hall. "Subaru Natsuki is no noble. No royal. Knight of the silver haired half elf witch! " He gestured sharply at the tablet. "How can this be?!"
Rouge smirked, tilting his head. "Well, he did slay two great beasts. And an Archbishop."
"That doesn't make him a king!" Bordeaux snapped.
McMahon rubbed his temple. "Enough." His voice was calm, but firm. "The prophecy is clear."
Bordeaux let out a slow, frustrated breath. "Then what now?" He crossed his arms, his jaw clenched. "Are we supposed to gather the candidates and tell them that the man ,the knight of another candidate ,a silver hair half elf at that! Whom they were competing against is now their husband?"
McMahon hesitated. "We will inform them in due time."
Rouge chuckled, shaking his head. "Oh, I do look forward to that conversation."
Bordeaux shot him a glare. "This isn't funny."
"On the contrary," Rouge mused, "this might be the most interesting thing to happen in Lugnica since the royal family died."
McMahon ignored them both and looked back at the tablet.
The glow was fading, the ancient stone settling once more into stillness. The message had been delivered. The choice had been made.
"The kingdom must unite," he murmured. "That is the Dragon's will."
Bordeaux sighed, his shoulders heavy. "Then I suppose we have no choice."
Rouge's smirk widened. "Oh, but we do have a choice. We just don't like any of the options."
McMahon straightened, looking at both of them.
"Summon the knights," he said, his voice firm. "The candidates must be gathered."
The council chamber was filled with an uneasy silence.
McMahon sat at the head of the table, the other council members seated around him. The Dragon Tablet loomed behind them, its golden glow dimming after delivering its prophecy. The air was heavy with anticipation.
One by one, the candidates arrived, unaware of what awaited them.
Crusch & Ferris
The doors opened with a creak.
Crusch Karsten entered first, her posture straight, her expression calm. Ferris followed close behind, his cat-like ears twitching as he scanned the tense faces of the council members.
McMahon watched as Crusch stopped a few steps from the table, her sharp green eyes narrowing slightly. "You called us with urgency. What is the matter?"
McMahon hesitated for only a moment before speaking. "The Dragon Tablet has spoken."
Crusch's eyes widened slightly. Even Ferris straightened.
"That's impossible," Ferris muttered. "It did just a while ago and now again?."
"It has now," McMahon said. "And it has delivered a decree that will change the fate of this kingdom."
Before Crusch could ask more, the doors opened again.
Anastasia & Julius
Anastasia Hoshin entered with a measured step, her fox fur scarf draped over her shoulder. Behind her, Julius walked with his usual composed grace, though his violet eyes flicked between the gathered council members, sensing the tension.
"My, my," Anastasia mused. "It's rare to see you lot looking this serious. Must be something big."
McMahon simply nodded.
"We'll explain once the others arrive."
Anastasia tilted her head but said nothing more. Instead, she moved to stand beside Crusch, exchanging a brief glance with her. Julius stood a step behind her, his expression unreadable.
Felt & Reinhard
The next arrival was much louder.
"Oi, what's the big idea callin' me here without warning?"
Felt stomped in, arms crossed, her golden eyes filled with suspicion. Reinhard followed behind her, calm as ever, but there was a faint crease in his brow.
"Forgive Lady Felt bluntness," Reinhard said. "But we would like an explanation as well."
"You'll have it soon," McMahon assured.
Felt scoffed. "Tch. Better be good."
Priscilla & Al
The moment Priscilla entered, she looked unimpressed.
"Hmph. I trust this is worth my time." She glanced around the room, her crimson eyes gleaming with amusement. "Or shall I be disappointed?"
Al followed behind her, his helmeted head tilting. "Yo, this ain't gonna be another boring noble meeting, is it?"
"No," McMahon said. "Far from it."
Subaru, Emilia & Beatrice
The last to enter was Subaru, walking in beside Emilia and Beatrice.
"So," Subaru said, rubbing his neck. "I get the feeling this isn't just a casual get-together."
Emilia nodded, glancing at the others. "It feels… important."
Beatrice pouted. "This better not be another foolish human problem, I suppose."
McMahon exhaled. "Now that you are all here, we will begin."
McMahon stood, his hands resting on the table. He looked at each of them, their eyes filled with expectation—and in a few moments, confusion and shock.
"The Dragon Tablet has spoken," he announced. "Once again after it guided us about the Royal Candidates, it has delivered a prophecy that will determine the future of Lugnica."
A hush fell over the room.
Then, the golden runes on the tablet glowed once more, and an ancient voice filled the chamber.
"The time of discord neareth its end. The cycle of strife and ruin must needs be undone. Verily, shall the throne be won neither by blade nor by cunning, but by harmony and love."
Everyone froze.
"He who hath felled the twin great beasts, he who hath cast down the Archbishop of Sloth—lo, he is chosen. The Emissary of Balance, the key to unity. The Dragon hath spoken his name, and his fate is sealed."
The glow faded, leaving behind one name burned into the stone.
Natsuki Subaru.
Silence.
Then—
"…Hah?" Subaru blinked. "I think I misheard ?I misheard it cause I absolutely refuse to believe what I actually heard is anyway near true"
McMahon's expression remained firm. "You did not."
Felt slammed her hands on the table. "WHAT THE HELL?!"
Anastasia's eyes narrowed, calculating. "Well, now. That's… interesting."
Crusch remained still, though her hands clenched at her sides.
Priscilla smirked. "Oh, what a twist."
Emilia, however—
She was silent. Her eyes locked onto the glowing name.
McMahon continued, his voice steady despite the storm brewing in the room.
"To ensure the kingdom's unity, the Dragon has decreed that the throne shall not be won through war or competition." He paused. "Instead, all candidates shall wed the chosen Emissary—Natsuki Subaru."
Another beat of silence.
Then, chaos.
Felt shot up. "HELL NO! You think I'm just gonna marry BigBro because some rock says so?! He is like a brother to me!"
Reinhardt was silent looking down at the floor
Ferris crossed his arms, glaring. "Yeah, what she said! You can't be serious! Lady Crusch will never marry that guy!"
Crusch took a slow breath. "I understand that this is the Dragon's will… but this is not a comfortable decision but if it means prosperity of the kingdom then..."
Anastasia tapped her chin. "Well, this just became a whole new game"
Anastasia has already started her calculations.
Julius looked troubled. "Lady Anastasia…"
She shrugged. "It's a deal, like any other. If this is the price for the throne, then so be it."
Priscilla simply laughed. "Fate truly adores me. Very well. Let this be amusing."
Subaru, meanwhile, was still processing. "Wait, wait, wait—marry? As in, all of you?"
Beatrice sighed. "This is your problem now, I suppose."
Emilia, who had been quiet all this time, finally spoke.
"…We all have to marry Subaru?"
Her voice was soft, but there was something beneath it.
Something that made Subaru's heart skip a beat.
She wasn't outright rejecting it.
But she wasn't accepting it either.
McMahon folded his hands. "This is the Dragon's will."
And no one could defy it.