In the capital, crowds gathered around news criers, murmuring with astonishment as the details were shared.
"All five of them? Married to one man? That's unheard of!" exclaimed a merchant, rubbing his head as if trying to wrap his mind around the idea.
"But it's the Dragon Tablet, right? If it's the will of the Dragon, it must be for the kingdom's good," said another, a farmer wiping his brow. "Besides, isn't that boy the one who helped defeat the White Whale and the Great Rabbit?"
A young squire interjected, his eyes wide with admiration. "He's not just anyone! Subaru Natsuki is a hero. He helped in the killing of the Archbishop of Sloth too, didn't he? If anyone deserves this honor, it's him."
In taverns, stories of Subaru's heroics spread like wildfire, becoming more exaggerated with each retelling.
Not everyone was so easily convinced. In the quieter corners of Lugnica, skeptics debated the unusual nature of the arrangement.
"Five wives? That's ridiculous," grumbled an elderly scholar in a dusty library. "Even if the Dragon decrees it, what kind of stability does that bring? Imagine the infighting!"
A seamstress nodded in agreement. "And what about those women? Each of them has their own ambitions, their own goals. They'll never share power peacefully."
Despite the initial shock and skepticism, the people of Lugnica gradually began to accept the arrangement. The Dragon Tablet's authority was absolute, and Subaru's deeds spoke louder than any doubts.
A blacksmith in a remote town hammered at his forge, his voice steady as he spoke to his apprentice. "The boy's a hero. He stood against monsters and madmen for us. If the Dragon says this is what needs to be done, I'll trust it."
A group of children played in the streets, pretending to be Subaru and his companions. One child, holding a stick like a sword, shouted, "I'm Subaru, and I'm saving the kingdom!"
Conversations also revolved around the candidates themselves.
"Lady Crusch would make the best ruler," said a soldier. "She's strong and disciplined, and with Subaru by her side, the kingdom would thrive."
"Nonsense," countered a merchant. "Lady Anastasia's business acumen is exactly what Lugnica needs. Subaru's a practical man; he'll listen to her."
"Bah, you're all blind," an older man scoffed. "It's Lady Priscilla you should fear. That woman gets what she wants, and if she wants the kingdom, she'll take it."
"And what about Lady Felt?" asked a street performer. "She's the wild card. Subaru's always had a soft spot for the underdog. She might surprise us all."
A group of knights sat around a table in the capital's training grounds, polishing their armor and grumbling.
"I spend my life protecting this kingdom, risking my neck every day," muttered one, running a cloth over his sword. "And this Subaru guy gets five wives handed to him on a silver platter? Five!"
"Not just any wives," added another, shaking his head. "Lady Crusch, Lady Emilia, Lady Anastasia, Lady Felt, and Lady Priscilla... They're the kind of women stories are written about. And he gets all of them? Where's the fairness in that?"
A third knight chuckled, though it was tinged with bitterness. "You're just jealous, aren't you? But admit it—if you were him, you wouldn't be complaining."
The first knight sighed dramatically. "Jealous? Of course, I'm jealous! He's living the kind of dream most of us wouldn't dare to imagine."
In a smoky tavern, a group of merchants discussed the announcement over mugs of ale.
"Five wives? That's absurd," said one, slamming his drink on the table. "How's he even going to handle that? I can barely keep up with one!"
Another merchant leaned back in his chair, grinning. "Handle it? He doesn't need to handle anything. He's hit the jackpot, that's what! Five women, each more beautiful and powerful than the last. He'll be the most envied man in Lugnica!"
A younger merchant scoffed. "And you think they'll all just fall over themselves to make him happy? Those are strong, ambitious women. They'll probably run circles around him."
"Even so," the older merchant sighed, staring wistfully into his drink, "just imagine being in his shoes for one day..."
In a small village, a group of young men gathered around a fire, laughing and joking.
"Five wives? That's got to be exhausting," said one, though his grin betrayed his envy.
"Exhausting? Try unbelievable," said another. "The guy's got the luck of the Dragon. Imagine waking up every day surrounded by the likes of Lady Priscilla or Lady Crusch. I wouldn't know whether to faint or cry from happiness."
A third young man shook his head, trying to appear above it all. "You're all fools. This isn't about love or happiness. It's politics, plain and simple. He's just a pawn for the kingdom."
"Pawn or not," the first said with a smirk, "if being a pawn means marrying five beautiful women, sign me up."
Even in noble circles, the jealousy was palpable, though it was cloaked in layers of decorum. At a gathering in the capital, a minor lord whispered to his companion, glancing around to ensure no one overheard.
"This Subaru Natsuki... What's his secret? How does a commoner rise so high so quickly?"
"It's not just his deeds," the other lord replied, his tone sour. "He's a hero, yes, but there are plenty of capable men in this kingdom. Yet he gets the Dragon's favor, the throne, and five wives? It's almost too much to believe."
A lady nearby leaned in, her fan fluttering. "Perhaps it's the Dragon's favor but not his charm. Have you seen him? He's not attractive, and he has a way with words and his scary eyes"
"Charm or not," the first lord muttered, "if I had a chance like that, I'd gladly trade places with him. Five wives... It's every man's dream."
In the training grounds, a group of knights leaned on their swords, taking a break between drills.
"Five wives," one muttered, wiping sweat from his brow. "Subaru's either the luckiest man alive or the unluckiest. What do you think?"
Another knight shook his head, laughing. "Luckiest, obviously. Did you see the lineup? Lady Crusch, Lady Anastasia, Lady Priscilla, Lady Emilia, and Lady Felt. That's like marrying the stars themselves!"
"You're forgetting something," a grizzled veteran chimed in, adjusting his armor. "Those aren't just stars. They're leaders, warriors, and politicians. Marrying one is hard enough, but five? The poor lad's going to be dragged in five different directions."
The youngest knight in the group looked confused. "Why'd he even agree to it, then? Couldn't he have said no?"
The veteran snorted. "You don't say no to the Dragon's will, kid. Besides, the man's a hero. He defeated the White Whale,Great Rabbit and the Archbishop of Sloth. If anyone can handle this madness, it's him."
"Still," another knight muttered, "imagine the arguments at home. Five women with strong personalities and their own ambitions. I wouldn't survive a week."
"You wouldn't survive the first day," the veteran teased, prompting laughter.-
"Here's the real question," one knight said, leaning forward conspiratorially. "Who's going to have the most influence on him? Lady Crusch? She's the most experienced."
"Nah," said another, shaking his head. "It's gotta be Lady Emilia. Everyone knows Subaru's got a soft spot for her. He'll listen to her more than anyone else."
"Don't count out Lady Anastasia," another knight countered. "She's sharp, always thinking three steps ahead. She'll find a way to sway him, mark my words."
The youngest knight in the group chimed in, his face red from drink. "You're all wrong! It'll be Lady Priscilla. She always gets what she wants, and she won't take no for an answer."
The veteran knight laughed, slamming his mug on the table. "You're all forgetting Lady Felt. She's fiery, rebellious, and she's got the slums backing her. If anyone's going to shake things up, it's her."
They all fell silent for a moment before bursting into laughter. "Who are we kidding?" one said. "It doesn't matter who has the most influence. Poor Subaru's going to be running in circles no matter what."
The veteran raised his eyebrows. "Subaru Natsuki—the bravest fool in all of Lugnica. May the Dragon watch over him... because he's going to need it."
The rest of the knights joined in the laughter echoing through the grounds as they contemplated the strange, unprecedented situation unfolding in their kingdom.
In the bustling marketplace of the capital, shopkeepers exchanged gossip while setting up their stalls.
"So, this Subaru fella," began a fruit vendor, tossing an appa into the air, "he's marrying all five of the candidates, huh? Talk about biting off more than you can chew."
The baker laughed, kneading dough as he spoke. "I'd say he's the one being chewed on! Imagine having to keep five powerful women happy. One wrong move, and poof—off with his head!"
A jeweler chimed in, polishing a ring. "Forget that! Think of the business this brings. Five marriages mean five big orders for dresses, jewelry, gifts... We're about to make a fortune!"
The fruit vendor grinned. "You think they'll buy from commoners like us? They'll go straight to the big shops uptown. Still, it's good for the kingdom's morale, I suppose."
"Morale?" scoffed the baker. "Or envy? Half the men here are grumbling about how unfair it is. Five wives—beautiful, strong, influential. It's the kind of thing you only hear in stories."
The jeweler chuckled, setting the ring down. "Stories, indeed. But this one's real. And if I were in his shoes, I'd need a whole treasury just to keep up with their tastes."
In the Villages
Far from the bustling capital, in a small village surrounded by rolling hills, the townsfolk gathered around a crackling bonfire. Children played nearby, while the adults exchanged gossip and news brought by traveling merchants.
"Five wives for one man?" an older farmer said, shaking his head as he sipped from a wooden mug. "Is this some royal tradition we've never heard of before?"
A younger man chuckled. "Not a tradition, just the Dragon's will. That Subaru fellow is no ordinary man, though. I heard he's the one who killed the White Whale and the Great Rabbit!"
"And the Archbishop of Sloth," added a woman as she patched a fishing net. "The hero of the kingdom. If anyone deserves such a strange blessing, it's him."
An old woman sitting on a rocking chair grumbled. "Blessing? Sounds more like a curse to me. Five wives with powerful ambitions? He'll be pulled apart like a chicken at a feast."
The younger man laughed. "Better to be pulled apart by wives than eaten by a beast, I'd say."
The farmer leaned forward, his expression thoughtful. "But think about it. This marriage isn't just about love or some fairy tale. It's politics. Whoever can sway that Subaru will have the power to shape the kingdom's future. Even out here, it'll affect us."
"Aye," agreed the fisherman. "I just hope the kingdom stays stable. If this Subaru can unite these five women, maybe he can unite the whole country too."
The old woman sighed, gazing into the fire. "Let's pray the Dragon knows what it's doing. We've had enough chaos in our lifetimes."
In the dim alleys of the slums, where Felt had once roamed freely before being thrust into the world of royalty, the mood was different. Here, the air buzzed with skepticism and cautious hope.
A group of scrappy men sat around a makeshift table, playing cards under the flickering light of a lantern.
"So, our Felt's getting married to that Subaru guy, huh?" one of them said, throwing a card down. "Never thought I'd see the day."
Another man snorted, leaning back in his chair. "Married? More like sold off. You think she agreed to this willingly? Felt doesn't strike me as the type to bow to anyone, even a Dragon's order."
A younger boy, barely in his teens, piped up from the corner. "But Subaru's a good guy, right? He saved her from that scary lady with the knives. Maybe he'll help us too."
"Good guy or not," muttered an older woman, stirring a pot over a tiny flame, "he's a noble now, whether we like it or not. Nobles don't care about folks like us."
One of the men slammed his hand on the table. "Felt's different! She hasn't forgotten where she came from. She'll look out for us, you'll see."
The older woman sighed. "Maybe. But being part of the royal game changes people. If she's going to fight for us, she'll have to play by their rules. And those rules? They're not made for people like us."
The younger boy looked hopeful. "But if Felt's in power, doesn't that mean we're in power too? Maybe this marriage is our chance."
The man who'd slammed the table nodded firmly. "That's right. If Subaru cares for her, and she cares for us, we've got a shot at a better life. But we've got to be ready to back her up when she needs it."
The group fell silent for a moment, the weight of their words settling over them.
Finally, the older woman spoke, her voice weary but firm. "Let's hope Felt remembers her roots. Because if she doesn't, no one else will."
The others nodded, their thoughts drifting between skepticism and hope as the flickering lantern cast long shadows across the narrow alley.
Among all the talks happening in the kingdom, not all were positive. There was disgust, and skepticism towards the arrangements.
In the shadows, alliances were being formed and betrayed as nobles vied for influence over the future king and his queens. The smear campaigns were about to start; the true battle for power had only just begun. For the nobles, it wasn't about who sat on the throne—it was about who controlled the throne.
Emilia bore the brunt of the smear campaigns. Her half-elf heritage and resemblance to the Witch of Envy were easy targets.
Beneath the thatched roofs of a quiet village, the whispers were anything but quiet. A group of women gathered at a well, their voices low but sharp.
"A half-elf as queen? Have the nobles gone mad?" one woman said, pulling her bucket up with a sharp tug. "She's got the Witch's face. How can they even trust her?"
Another nodded, her hands busy braiding her daughter's hair. "She might look sweet, but that's how they get you. All smiles until they bring ruin. It is said that the air itself turned poisonous."
"I heard she has dark powers," a third woman said, glancing over her shoulder as if someone might overhear. "Strange powers, like the Witch. What if she's just waiting to betray us all?"
A young man passing by stopped, frowning. "You're talking nonsense. She's not the Witch. Subaru trusts her, doesn't he? And he's the hero of the kingdom."
The first woman sneered. "Trusting a boy blinded by love? That's how kingdoms fall, lad. Mark my words—she'll bring us nothing but misfortune."
In the bustling streets of a trade hub, merchants gathered in a corner of the marketplace, their conversations mixing with the clatter of goods being unloaded.
"Business has been good since the kingdom stabilized, but with that half-elf in the picture, who knows what'll happen," a jeweler said, polishing a ring.
A spice merchant raised an eyebrow. "Why does it matter? As long as she doesn't interfere with trade, who cares what she looks like?"
"You're too naive," the jeweler shot back. "Her face reminds people of the Witch. You think they'll flock to the capital knowing she's there? No, they'll stay away, and our profits will suffer."
A third merchant, a portly man with a booming voice, joined in. "What if she starts cursing the land? Crops failing, caravans attacked by beasts—it'll be chaos!"
"You're all cowards," a young trader interjected. "Subaru wouldn't stand by someone dangerous. He's proven himself time and time again. Maybe it's time we let go of old fears."
The jeweler snorted. "Old fears? Those fears are what kept us alive. Mark my words, if she rises to power, we'll all pay the price."
In a fortress training yard, knights sparred while a group of them sat on the sidelines, sharing their thoughts.
"So, the king-to-be is marrying the Witch's double," one knight said, his tone dripping with disdain. "How does that make us look to the world?"
Another knight shrugged, wiping sweat from his brow. "She's not the Witch. Everyone knows that."
"Doesn't matter," the first knight snapped. "Perception is reality. People fear her, and fear breeds rebellion. We'll be the ones cleaning up the mess when it starts."
A senior knight, older and grizzled, leaned on his sword. "Fear's a powerful weapon. Maybe the council thinks it'll keep the other kingdoms in line. But it's a double-edged blade."
A younger knight spoke up hesitantly. "What about Subaru? He trusts her, doesn't he? And he's saved the kingdom more than once."
The senior knight sighed. "Trust only goes so far. Subaru's not invincible, and neither is the kingdom. If the people rise against her, it won't matter how many beasts he's slain."
In the shadows of the slums, the mood was darker. A group of rough-looking men sat around a fire, sharing a bottle of cheap ale.
"A half-elf queen," one of them spat, his voice filled with venom. "Might as well hand the kingdom over to the Witch herself."
Another man laughed bitterly. "And here I thought things were finally looking up. Felt's marrying that hero, and now we get this? It's a curse, I tell you."
"Maybe Subaru sees something we don't," a younger man suggested cautiously.
"Yeah, he sees silver hair and pretty eyes," the first man sneered. "He's blinded by lust, just like every other man."
An older woman, her face lined with hardship, spoke up. "You boys don't understand. People like us don't get a say in these things. But mark my words, if she's crowned, the kingdom will bleed. People won't forget the Witch, and they won't forgive her lookalike."
The nobles supporting other candidates targeted Anastasia's mercantile origins.
"She's a merchant, not a ruler," whispered spies in taverns, passing as travelers. "The moment she's queen, she'll sell the kingdom piece by piece to the highest bidder."
Rumors began to spread about Anastasia's supposed dealings with foreign traders. "Did you know she's already in talks with Kararagi to prioritize them over Lugnica's own merchants? She'll bankrupt us all."
Her resourcefulness was painted as greed. Stories were shared among the common folk, like one about a widow losing her farm to Hoshin Company over a debt. It didn't matter if it was true; it made people uneasy.
Crusch's stoic and noble demeanor became a point of attack.
"She's too rigid, too idealistic," whispered the opposition. "A queen must know how to bend, or she'll break. Crusch will lead us into endless wars with her obsession for honor."
In the slums, spies spread darker rumors. "She sees us commoners as tools for her ambitions. The woman who leads armies will think nothing of sacrificing us for her 'noble cause.' We'll just be pawns in her quest for glory."
The nobles painted her as someone who would prioritize duty over humanity, making her seem unapproachable and cold.
Priscilla's arrogance and self-centered nature were easy targets for her opponents.
"Do you really want someone who believes the world revolves around her to be queen?" said disguised agents in marketplaces, planting doubts.
In rural areas, rumors of her disdain for commoners were amplified. "She thinks you're beneath her, that you're dirt under her feet. Imagine what kind of taxes she'll impose on us for her lavish lifestyle."
Even among the nobles, whispers circulated. "Priscilla is unpredictable, a woman ruled by whims. What happens when her amusements turn destructive?"
Felt's humble origins were weaponized against her.
"A queen from the slums?" nobles scoffed in secret gatherings. "She knows nothing of ruling a kingdom. She'll drag us all into chaos."
Spies whispered in the slums that Felt had abandoned her people. "She's not one of us anymore. Do you think she remembers what it's like to live here? Or do you think she'll just use us as pawns now that she has power?"
Among merchants, stories spread about her fiery temper. "She's reckless, impulsive. A girl playing queen will bring nothing but disaster to Lugnica."
While tearing down the competition, each faction worked just as hard to glorify their chosen candidate:
Anastasia's faction painted her as the only candidate who understood economics, promising prosperity for all. "She's the reason trade flourishes. Imagine how much more she can do as queen."
Crusch's supporters emphasized her honor and military prowess. "Crusch Karsten defeated the White Whale. She's a true hero, someone who'll protect the kingdom at all costs."
Priscilla's faction glorified her as a divine ruler. "The world bends to Priscilla. With her as queen, Lugnica will never falter."
Emilia's supporters leaned heavily on Subaru's heroism. "Subaru Natsuki trusts her completely. And hasn't he proven himself as the savior of the kingdom?"
Felt's faction focused on her roots, portraying her as a symbol of change. "Felt represents the people. She knows what it's like to struggle. She'll bring justice to everyone, not just the nobles."
Behind closed doors and in shadowed alleys, the factions of nobles supporting each candidate worked tirelessly to sway public opinion. It was not a battle fought with swords, but with whispers, rumors, and subtle manipulation, a game of deceit where perception was as powerful as truth.