—This is a bad joke... Damn old geezers!

—Felt-sama, please, mind your language...

Felt massaged her forehead in exasperation, her teeth grinding in fury. That night, her hatred toward the nobles had reached a critical point, and every word that left her mouth reflected her growing frustration.

—This is absurd! Who the hell gave them the right to make those decisions?!

—They acted according to their personal judgment, Felt-sama —Reinhard responded, trying to maintain his composure, though his voice carried a hint of discomfort.

—Oh, don't justify them! —Felt snapped, her glare piercing— They clearly just wanted to spite Big Sister!

Reinhard couldn't deny Felt's statement. Not even he, the Sword Saint, could cover up actions that posed such a threat to the Kingdom. It was evident that they would have to resume discussions and reach a solution that satisfied both sides. Otherwise, the consequences could be disastrous.

—Tch, forget it. There's a far more important matter to deal with than those stupid, greedy bastards.

—The Witch's remains... —Reinhard murmured, recalling the meeting they had earlier. The news had caught them off guard. For a long time, they had believed that the greatest threat to the world had ceased to exist. Or at least, that's what they had thought.

Years ago, they had managed to eradicate one of the most fearsome organizations to ever exist: the Witch Cult. It was a difficult battle, even with the presence of the Sword Saint, whose power was overwhelming. However, not even his strength was enough to prevent the high cost that war had exacted.

Many fell, others lost everything, and very few were able to recover what had been taken from them.

In the words of the Sword Saint himself, that had been a hell of unimaginable proportions. Despair and the feeling of defeat had overwhelmed them more than once. There were moments when they believed all was lost, that there was no hope of victory.

But amidst the dark future that awaited them, Natsuki Subaru never lost his spirit or determination. He firmly believed that defeat was not an option. No matter how many times the world struck him down, Subaru always got back up, even from the worst situations imaginable. It was thanks to his tenacity and unbreakable will that they managed to face the "hell" that everyone thought was insurmountable.

A true hero, isn't that right, Subaru? That's what you've always been... even if you don't acknowledge it now.

Even with his overwhelming strength, Reinhard van Astrea considered Subaru the strongest man to ever exist, even greater than himself. As the Sword Saint and a close friend of Subaru, Reinhard had chosen to serve with loyalty and dedication to the new royal family.

However, not everything had been perfect for them. No matter how praised or noble a person was, there would always be those who resisted change, who clung to old grudges or radical ideologies. That was a reality that even the victory over the Witch Cult could not change.

A thought that caused concern among those close to the royal family.

—The Witch of Envy wasn't completely eradicated... This has to be a nightmare —Felt said, letting out a sigh laden with frustration. She was sick of dealing with fanatics related to the Witch Cult, even if they were just remnants. The news she had just received was, without a doubt, the worst in years.

—Several reports have indicated the appearance of miasma accumulations near some villages —Reinhard said, looking at Felt seriously—. The affected people have shown signs of madness, uncontrolled emotions, and constant pain.

—Those symptoms... They remind me of that lunatic, the Archbishop of Wrath. Didn't she have a similar effect?

—Is Felt-sama suggesting this is an attempt to revive the Witch Cult?

—Who else but those lunatics could be responsible for this? If we assume the Witch's remains are the cause...

Reinhard had his doubts. How was it possible that after almost ten years, the Witch's remains were causing havoc? Was there a trigger? The presence of miasma in places where it shouldn't be had raised alarms for both Felt and Reinhard. This had to be taken as a high-priority matter and reported to the Council of Sages.

Meanwhile, Felt pondered the strange movements of the noble families. For fifteen years, she had lived on the streets, where she had learned many harsh lessons, including the art of deception. She knew that it wasn't difficult to hide true intentions behind a mask of courtesy. She had learned in the slums that even those who seemed loyal could betray you when you least expected it. That distrust, though bitter, had kept her alive.

—Three days...

In three days, she would see Subaru and Emilia again after so long. Her responsibilities had not been easy to bear; she had attended more diplomatic meetings than she could remember. However, all that effort had been worth it. She was closer than ever to fulfilling her dream, alongside the current Queen of Lugunica.

She closed her eyes, completely exhausted. Tomorrow would be just as complicated.

- - - - - -

—Uh! —A whimper escaped her lips as her delicate feet collided with the hard ground.

Her eyes snapped open so intensely that they seemed to threaten to pop out of their sockets. Her entire body burned as if she were being consumed by flames. The pain was so real that she could almost feel the fire licking her skin.

Her hands trembled as she gently caressed her leg, as if she needed to make sure it still existed. The real pain had long since faded, but her body still vividly remembered the agonizing minutes she had lived through just moments ago.

It was simply terrifying. The sensation of being trapped between pain and reality left her paralyzed, unable to distinguish what was real and what was not.

Why is it daytime? What am I doing in the street?

Her head spun as she tried to understand the confusing situation before her. Her mind and body seemed to be at odds, as if each were following a different rhythm.

With no idea where to go, the girl turned her gaze to her side.

—Chocorina? —The voice she had heard before "fainting" echoed again— You fell down, I suppose.

Beatrice's eyes showed regret for her behavior toward Celia. The spirit girl had been deliberately avoiding Chocorina out of fear of hearing hurtful words from her—something she never wished to hear.

—Chocorina, I want to apologize to y— —Beatrice began, but her words were suddenly cut short.

Beatrice's expression changed instantly when a familiar scent reached her senses. Her mouth trembled, and her face filled with a mix of disturbance and shock.

A soft yet unmistakable scent emanated from the princess, who remained kneeling on the ground.

It wasn't as intense as the one that had once emanated from her father, but it was unmistakable to those who could perceive miasma.

—No! No! No! Tell Betty it's not true! Chocorina!

The silver-haired princess was shaken violently, her shoulders gripped by Beatrice's trembling hands. The spirit girl couldn't accept what was happening.

Tears welled up in her eyes as she shook Chocorina, hoping for some kind of response—but unfortunately, it never came.

Again and again.

The desperate screams reached the princess's ears, but her body did not respond to the desperate pleas.

What? Beako, why are you crying?

She had to do something to calm her down. She couldn't bear to see her cry. She didn't want anyone in her family to suffer like this.

But before that...

She would have to regain control of her body.

- - - - - -

—It tastes really good... —Chocorina murmured, taking another bite of the strange cookie she held in her hands. It seemed to be a new type of food being developed under her father's supervision.

He had always been an ingenious and creative person, but now Chocorina understood the real reason behind it.

I've never tasted this cookie before...

Beside her, Beatrice remained silent, struggling to find the right words to start a conversation with her contractor. The tension between them was palpable, even from a distance.

—Beako... Why are you so upset?

—Ah... Chocorina... Betty wants to know if... —Beatrice started, but suddenly stopped— No, forget it, I suppose.

She clenched her teeth in frustration. She clearly remembered the punishment that befell those who mentioned "Return by Death" directly. If she wanted answers, she would have to be extremely cautious with her questions. She couldn't risk causing harm to Chocorina or herself.

Her eyes scanned the street, searching for possible threats or any reason why her contractor might have died. Or had her death happened further ahead? Worry and fear grew rapidly in her heart.

The mere thought of seeing Chocorina's lifeless body sent shivers down her spine and filled her with absolute terror.

—Beako? —Chocorina asked when she felt her wrist being firmly grasped by Beatrice. The spirit girl was guiding her, forcing her to keep moving forward.

—It's time to go, Chocorina—she declared firmly, keeping her eyes on the road ahead. They had to reach the royal palace as soon as possible. No matter what happened, it was the safest place for now.

Beatrice would immediately inform Subaru and the guards while ensuring she stayed by Chocorina's side at all times—even in the bathroom if necessary.

—Go? But it's still... —Chocorina began to say, but her voice trailed off when her gaze fell upon a food stall. Her eyes widened as she recognized the silhouette of the girl standing there.

Beatrice followed her line of sight and then whispered,

—That girl again, I suppose... —she muttered, giving it little importance, before turning back to the princess— Chocorina?!

Somehow, Chocorina had freed herself from her grip. Beatrice's eyes darted around until she found her—standing right in front of Celia, who still looked deeply unsettled.

—Celia...

—...

The cold atmosphere was depressing for both of them. Chocorina tried to start a conversation with the person she had seen break down just moments ago.

She was still very confused about everything that was happening. Was it just a dream? The reality she knew began to distort the more she asked herself these questions.

Before she had fainted, she had never run into Celia on her way home—not even once. Had her sudden pain caused this?

—Let's be friends! —Even if the world she had seen was nothing more than a bad dream, this time, she would take advantage of the opportunity life had given her.

—...

The sudden declaration from the silver-haired girl left Celia stunned for a few seconds. What the hell was wrong with this princess? She had no idea how to react to her request.

Without either of them knowing, they had created a breaking point in the history of their world. Chocorina had begun walking down a different path from her previous life.

This time, things would not be the same...

- - - - - -

His fingers ran through the fine strands of her silver hair, gently tracing its contours with tenderness and love. The delicacy of his touch made the silver-haired girl fall completely into Morpheus' embrace. She was so comfortable right now...

His brown eyes closed as the last drop of resistance in his tense body faded away.

—Beako... Don't tell Emilia about this.

His barely audible voice was completely authoritative. The tone he used made it clear that he would not accept no for an answer, and Beatrice understood that immediately.

—Why?

She did not refuse his request, but at the very least, she wanted to know the reason for hiding such a concerning matter. Subaru had already outgrown the immature phase where he kept everything to himself. He had learned to trust others and not bear everything alone. However, right now, he was doing the exact opposite.

—I have no idea how she would react. Damn it, I barely managed to stop myself from screaming... Even now, I want to.

His voice sounded hollow. At this moment, he wanted nothing more than to punch something and shatter it into a thousand pieces. But he couldn't allow himself to do such a thing with his daughter and wife at home.

—Even though Emilia knows that it's no longer necessary to use that power, she still worries excessively about me... A piece of news like this would make her head explode...

—...

—Beako, please...

—Subaru... That is not a valid reason, you know that, right? I suppose.

—I know... I know very well.

He was just buying some time before Emilia found out on her own. His wife could be naïve at times, but she was by no means foolish. If she noticed the drastic change in Subaru's or Beatrice's behavior, she would immediately realize that something was wrong and wouldn't stop until she found out.

—She will be mad at you, in fact. She might even come to hate you... Doesn't that worry you?

Even Beatrice herself didn't believe her own words, but she wanted to see how far Subaru would go.

—...

—Subaru?

—I will... I will put my daughter first. Even if Emilia hates me... I will do what I think is best for Chocorina.

Lies...

Beatrice thought as she looked at Subaru. She knew the truth: Subaru could never choose one over the other. Both his wife and daughter were his reason for existing... He would never allow himself to lose either of them.

Beatrice's conclusion was... Fear.

Subaru was afraid... His words and actions were driven by absolute fear. A fear that had a name: "Return by Death."

—I've already ordered Garfiel to patrol the area. The royal guard is ready in case anything happens... Beako, I need you to monitor mana signals.

—Subaru...

—If someone or something attacked Chocorina tonight, I...

His hands tightened slightly around the small body of the girl resting in his lap. He wouldn't let go of her all night, and he would wrap her in his arms, protecting her at all costs. No matter what happened, he would not move from her side.

—Betty is sorry to ask, but... Are you going to the Council of Wise Men meeting?

—That is another concern as well.

He clicked his tongue and furrowed his brow. Initially, he had planned to attend as usual, but now that Chocorina had seemingly awakened Return by Death, he couldn't think clearly.

—They've elevated the priority of the meeting.

—Elevated the priority?

—I have no idea, but we were asked to arrive as soon as possible. Apparently, something very bad is happening.

Reinhard and Felt, who had been sent by Subaru and Emilia, had also been notified and would be present in a few days.

—Emilia-tan is very determined to go, and I also have a duty to go with her. However, if I refuse now, she will start suspecting that I'm hiding something.

At the end of the day, Emilia was his wife and the mother of his child. She knew Subaru and Chocorina perfectly well, like a book she had read a thousand times.

Beatrice simply shook her head. All of this left a bad taste in her mouth, along with a growing fear. But one thing was certain—she wouldn't be able to sleep peacefully for the next few days.

After a few minutes, Beatrice left the room, leaving Subaru and Chocorina alone. The spirit had accepted Subaru's requests and went out to patrol the enormous castle they lived in.

The dark-haired man placed one of his hands on his daughter's shoulder. He still remembered how she trembled when she tried to close her eyes, as if she were terrified of sleeping. They had to use some Yin magic to calm her and help her rest.

Subaru couldn't believe anything that was happening—he refused to believe it. How could his worst nightmare come true in such a way? If only he could absorb that disgusting authority that resided in his daughter's body, he would do so gladly.

To begin with, I don't even know if I still have it... Can there be two users of Return by Death?

There was only one way to find out...

He lowered his gaze to his daughter, who was peacefully sleeping on his chest. What if he wasn't able to return? Would he die permanently while holding his daughter? Subaru couldn't be that selfish with Chocorina or Emilia.

He curled up closer to her. Though he had told Emilia the excuse of extra paperwork, he wondered if he had really fooled her or if she had simply let him go, assuming he had something important to do.

He regretted a little that Emilia had to sleep alone in their grand bedroom, but right now, his daughter was his top priority.

He sighed as he gently stroked his adorable daughter's hair. Tomorrow, he would have to find a way to distract her, to make her forget such a traumatic experience.

And he knew exactly how to do it.

- - - - - -

—Uhm! Try some, Mom!— The smiling girl held out one of her sweets to her mother, who curiously eyed the candy in her daughter's hand. She might have been a responsible adult, but that didn't stop her from being curious about certain things.

She delicately took the soft candy and placed it in her mouth. She didn't know how to describe the uniquely flavored treat, but she liked it—and apparently, Beatrice did too.

—Ugh, if I keep eating more sweets, I'll explode…— He clutched his stomach, closing his eyes in pain. This was definitely not his best idea.

Mother and daughter ignored the man's pained comment and continued savoring the strange sweets they had bought. Both of them had a metabolism much faster than that of an average human, so eating these candies wasn't an issue for their bodies at all.

—Subaru, you should drink some water, I suppose— the spirit suggested while watching him writhe.

—Look, Dad! A juice stand!

Subaru just smiled. Seeing Chocorina's expressions about her "day off," he knew immediately that it had all been worth it. He'd have to find some way to make it up to Otto for leaving him in charge of all the paperwork for both Emilia and himself.

Sorry, Otto, but you'll have to sacrifice yourself for Chocorina's happiness.

Chocorina grabbed Emilia's hand and led her through the vast street filled with market stalls. The silver-haired, lilac-eyed woman smiled as she let herself be pulled along by her daughter. She found it adorable how easily Chocorina enjoyed her surroundings.

Because of her responsibilities as Queen, she couldn't spend as much time with her daughter as she would like. Subaru had suggested she take a day off from her duties. At first, she refused. However, after multiple insistences, Emilia finally agreed to go out as a family.

—Subaru? Are you feeling okay?— Emilia asked as she glanced back at her husband. He seemed somewhat distant.

—Huh? Yeah, I feel perfect!— He closed his eyes, showing a reassuring smile. He didn't want to raise any suspicion, much less worry her.

His eyes opened when he felt something touch his cheek. It was his wife's hand, which was now quite close to him.

—You don't have a fever— she murmured while moving her hand around his face, searching for any signs of illness.

—I'm fine! Seriously!— Subaru wasn't sure how to take Emilia's actions. Wasn't she someone who worried too much? He remembered that she was the same way with Chocorina, but back then, he assumed it was just her maternal instincts kicking in.

Emilia's hand left his face and moved down to intertwine with his. The warmth of their hands gently merged as they looked into each other's eyes.

—You know... this reminds me of my first day in the capital. When we found that lost girl— he said, glancing at his daughter, who was spinning around excitedly. He recalled the brief incident with Kadomon's daughter and how he had jokingly said they looked like a couple.

Now, that little comment of Subaru's had become reality.

—...

—Emilia?

Her grip on his hand tightened unnaturally. Emilia's eyes narrowed, her expression turning pale as she recalled something. Subaru's mention of his arrival in the capital had affected her in some way.

—I'm so sorry...— Her voice dropped to a whisper.

—You know you don't have to apologize, Emilia-tan. I'm here, okay? Right now, it's just you, me, and our two adorable daughters.

—Beatrice would be really mad if she heard you.

Subaru placed his hand on his wife's head. He had to pull her out of that depressive state somehow. He had to make her smile—just like he had promised on their wedding day.

—Hey, did you know that Chocorina apparently made a friend?— Subaru changed the subject. —Yesterday, she was talking about her. Apparently, the girl's name is Celia.

—Celia?— Emilia began to recall something. —I feel like I've heard that name before...

—As always, E.M.T. is absolutely amazing— he joked with a sigh. —She's the daughter of one of the most skilled healers we have.

—Oh... now I remember. We discussed something about a "pill" to treat various diseases.

Her husband's unusual inventions usually ended up benefiting many people. She knew very well that her beloved came from beyond the waterfall—a place she had never imagined was possible to visit.

—He agreed to help us with its creation and production. But before that, he has to take care of some routine matters.

—It's a relief to hear that— she said. She couldn't imagine what would happen if he refused outright. They needed all the support possible to improve the kingdom's healthcare system.

Being a ruler had turned out to be much more difficult than she had initially expected. The sheer amount of work and paperwork to sign was simply inhuman, even with some officials assisting her. She had always known that ruling wouldn't be easy, but she had never imagined the magnitude of it would be so overwhelming.

—By the way, Subaru, are you ready to leave?— she asked. After their meeting was abruptly moved up, they had to speed through all their royal duties to make it on time and depart that same night.

—It breaks my heart to leave tonight. I'd rather be cuddling in bed with you.

—Subaru, you pervert— she puffed her cheeks, blushing slightly as she lightly punched his chest. She understood perfectly well what Subaru meant by "cuddle."

—Could you two stop flirting?— Beatrice's irritated voice interrupted their private conversation. They had completely forgotten that they were in the middle of the street, accompanied by two other family members. —You're lucky Chocorina is distracted by those drink stalls.

The couple just laughed at the spirit's sudden remark. Feeling even more ignored, Beatrice simply pouted. Those two were absolute fools—made for each other.

—Chocorina has grown a lot, hasn't she?— Emilia's eyes softened as she watched her daughter's back.

—Umm... I think she's still just as adorable. I mean... maybe she's grown a few centimeters.

—That's not what I meant, Subaru.

—What Emilia means is that Chocorina has become much more expressive and sociable, I suppose— Beatrice clarified. —That girl... she's so reckless... Betty remembers telling Subaru that one wouldn't be enough.

—Huh? Are you getting tired of Chocorina already?— Subaru asked in an exaggeratedly tragic tone. He obviously knew Beatrice didn't mean it that way, but he wanted to tease her a little.

—That's not what I meant, I suppose!— she responded, a bit annoyed. She absolutely hated the idea that anyone would think she had simply grown bored of Chocorina like she was some kind of toy.

Emilia, on the other hand, simply placed a finger on her chin. Having another child with Subaru? It didn't seem like a bad idea, and she was sure Chocorina would love the idea of having a sibling.

—I suppose enough time has passed— Emilia's words surprised Subaru. Was she really agreeing to have more children? He didn't mind the idea either, but it felt unusual for Emilia to suggest such a thing.

However, he quickly remembered how difficult it had been to get Emilia pregnant the first time. How many times had they done it in that short period? He didn't really remember how many times he had been in bed with Emilia until they both passed out from exhaustion.

—To fulfill Beatrice's wish, we'll have to work hard, Subaru!

—The way you talk about this so freely, you have no shame.

—It's way more embarrassing for me, Beako!— Subaru complained while Emilia firmly squeezed his hand. Through the touch, he could clearly feel the message she was sending— they were going to have another child, and they were going to start as soon as possible.

Subaru quickly gave Beatrice a serious look. —Beako, if I don't survive, I want you to take care of Chocorina. I'm counting on you.

—What do you mean by 'not survive,' Dad?— A young voice suddenly joined the conversation.

Her confused and curious face left all three of them frozen.

Apparently, they would have to be more careful with their conversations from now on.

- - - - - -

—I'm so sorry… Forgive Betty— Beatrice whispered those words, unheard by anyone but herself. She tightened her embrace around the small body of the girl beside her.

Chocorina was sleeping next to her, completely exhausted from the family outing that had lasted until nightfall. Beatrice had no doubt that the little elf had felt incredibly happy spending time with them. Seeing her radiant smile almost made her forget the real reason for her torment.

She had failed.

She had failed Subaru, Emilia, and, most of all, Chocorina.

She had been unable to protect the most precious person in the castle—the one who was now her contractor. With sorrow, she lowered her gaze to the small, warm hands of the princess.

Chocorina was trembling…

She trembled unconsciously, trying to forget the pain she had ignored with all her might. The Great Spirit gritted her teeth once more. She would never allow her to be hurt again, even if it cost her own life.

—Nhmmm…

The blonde girl closed her eyes when she heard the child's murmurs.

Together with Subaru, they had decided that after the meeting with the Council of Sages, they would take the necessary precautions and investigate the sudden manifestation of Return by Death in Chocorina.

—I won't let you follow the same path as Betty's Subaru.

Those were her last words before falling completely silent. Even in bed, she remained alert to every movement in the room.

And so, the night in the Lugunica castle passed without incident.

q