Chapter V:
Ouch, My Ear!
Felt yawned as a ray of sunshine streaked across her face. She felt more relaxed than she ever had in her life. Whatever this feeling was, it was strange. The smoothness of the sheets, the softness of the mattress—it was all so foreign that for a moment she thought she must have been dreaming.
Nothing can be THIS comfortable, right? she thought groggily.
Then it hit her—the events that had unfolded before she passed out. Fighting the Bowel Hunter, Elsa. Rom and Subaru half-dead. Her eyes snapped open as panic surged through her, and she bolted upright in bed.
Looking around, she realized immediately that she was not in the slums. The room was ornate, with polished furniture, heavy velvet curtains, and a grand chandelier hanging from the ceiling. It was as far from her dingy shack as anything could possibly be. The large four-post bed she found herself in was covered in silk sheets and plush pillows—nothing like the scratchy straw bed Subaru had cobbled together for her.
Then the next realization hit her. She was naked under the silk sheets.
Blushing furiously, she yanked the covers tightly around her body, her mind racing. Who undressed me?!
She sniffed her skin, noting with both shock and confusion that she smelled… clean. Cleaner than she had ever felt in her life. Almost unnaturally so. A delicate floral scent clung to her skin. Was I bathed too? Why do I smell like flowers?!
Her fists clenched the sheets tighter as her face burned with embarrassment. This place, the pampering—it all felt wrong, out of place for someone like her. "Where the hell am I?" she muttered to herself, her voice shaky.
Reinhard. The realization hit her like a slap to the face. The last thing she remembered was him grabbing her arm, and then… nothing. This had to be his doing.
"I swear, I'm going to kick his ass!" she growled, clutching the silk sheet tighter around herself.
Pulling the luxurious fabric around her like a makeshift toga, Felt slung herself out of the bed and stumbled to the window. Looking out, she saw that she was on the third floor of an elegant manor. Beyond the small garden below, she recognized the telltale signs of the Royal District in the capital. Felt had seen the area plenty of times before but had always avoided it. It was the most heavily patrolled part of the city, and for someone like her, the risks far outweighed any potential rewards from pilfering its rich residents.
Cracking the window open, she eyed the drop to the garden below. If she timed it right, she might be able to leap down without hurting herself too badly. The sheet would offer some modesty until she could find Rom or Subaru—or better yet, both.
Her plans were cut short by a hard knock on the door that made her jump. Wheeling around, she barely had time to react before the door swung open. Two identical girls with pink hair stepped into the room. They were shorter than Felt by a head, and while their hair was nearly identical, one leaned more peach-toned. Their synchronized movements and the calm but unnerving expressions on their faces made Felt's unease grow.
"Good morning," they said in unison, bowing slightly.
"Uh… good morning?" Felt replied hesitantly, pulling the sheet tighter around her.
"We came to wake you," said the one with brighter pink hair.
"But you appear to be awake already," finished the peachy-haired twin.
Felt blinked at them. "Well… umm… do you know where my clothes are?"
"They have been seen to," Peach said.
"We have come to get you dressed and ready for the day," Pink finished.
"Thanks, but I can dress myself," Felt scoffed, her voice sharp with irritation.
"I doubt that," Pink said bluntly, her tone unwavering.
"We have had your dress prepared," Peach added with a hint of finality.
"D-dress?!" Felt stammered, her cheeks heating with anger. "No, no, no! I am not putting on a dress! Just give me my own clothes!"
"Your previous garments were deemed… unfit," Pink replied curtly.
Felt was fuming. She had been kidnapped by Reinhard, stripped naked, bathed, and was now being told to wear a dress. Every part of her screamed in protest. "You had no right! That scarf was a gift from Subaru!" she snapped, her voice shaking with anger.
"If it is so important," Peach began calmly.
"We will ensure it is cleaned and stored carefully," Pink finished her tone just as measured.
Felt glared at the two of them, her fists tightening around the sheet. She wanted to shove past them, run out of the room, and never look back. But the thought of escaping to find her family stopped her. If wearing a fancy dress could help her blend in or gain access to places she couldn't otherwise, maybe it wasn't the worst thing. She didn't want to lose the scarf, but there was no telling where it was now.
"Fine, I'll wear your stupid dress, but I don't like it!" she snapped, crossing her arms in defeat.
Nodding, the twins moved with mechanical precision. From the wardrobe, they retrieved a frilly blue dress adorned with white and black accents. Felt's stomach churned at the sight of it. She would have preferred running through the city naked over being squeezed into something so absurdly extravagant. Still, the twins were relentless, guiding her into the outfit and adjusting every detail. Felt squirmed at the unfamiliar fabric, wincing at every tug and adjustment, and earning more than a few scolding remarks from the twins.
The moment I get the chance, I'm ripping this damn thing off! Felt thought, biting her tongue to keep from lashing out further. She could practically hear Subaru's laughter in her head if he ever saw her in something like this. It was a sight she would make sure he never got to witness.
"Are we done now?" she asked irritably once the twins finally stepped away.
"Here," Pink said in unison with Peach as they placed a pair of yellow high heels on the floor in front of her.
"Heels?" Felt balked, staring at the shoes like they were poisonous. "Oh, I do not do heels."
The twins didn't respond, their blank expressions making it clear her objections were irrelevant. She could feel her temper rising again, but there was no point in fighting them. She bent down to grab the shoes, muttering under her breath, "I swear, when this is all sorted out, I'm going to kick that bastard Reinhard in the balls!"
Felt stumbled awkwardly as she put on the heels, grinding her teeth in frustration. How that insane Bowel Hunter could fight in something this ridiculous was beyond her. "I hate this," she muttered under her breath, wobbling as she tried to walk in them.
"Does the lady require anything else?" Pink asked, her tone devoid of emotion.
"No," Felt said sharply. "I want to be left alone… I need to figure out these damn things!"
The twins bowed in unison and left the room without another word. Felt waited a moment, ensuring they were gone, before stumbling over to the window and throwing it open. The cool breeze hit her face as she glanced down. The drop was nothing—she'd jumped from buildings twice as high before. Smirking, she climbed onto the windowsill and leapt out.
She hit the ground with a satisfying thud, or at least it would have been satisfying if the heel of one of her shoes hadn't snapped. Eyes wide, she cursed as she tumbled forward, landing face-first in the dirt. Groaning, Felt sat up and rubbed her stinging cheek, now dirt-covered and aching.
"Dumb shoes!" she growled, ripping them off and tossing them aside. Barefoot was better—screw the heels!
Dusting herself off, she looked toward the wall that separated the manor grounds from the street. Once she was over it, she could easily navigate her way back to Subaru and Rom.
"Easy, I'll be—ouch, ouch, ouch!" Felt yelped as a sharp pain shot through her ear.
"Now, young lady, it's not very polite to go jumping out of windows and getting a brand-new dress covered in mess," came a firm, no-nonsense voice.
Felt turned her head—or as much as she could with her ear being tugged—and saw an older woman in a maid's outfit. Her stern gaze bore down on Felt, her fingers gripping Felt's ear like iron.
"Let go of me! Ow, ow!" Felt cried, trying to pull away, but the old woman's grip was unrelenting.
"I think not," the maid replied coolly. "You're coming with me, young lady. Now stop fussing, and I might let go of your ear before the week is out."
Despite Felt's protests and struggles, the maid marched forward, dragging her along by the ear. Every step Felt took was accompanied by a wince and muttered curses as she was hauled back toward the manor.
The old maid dragged Felt into an ornate sitting room where Reinhard sat, sipping tea. He looked up, momentarily puzzled as he watched Felt being marched in by her ear, her disheveled appearance a stark contrast to the elegance of the room.
"Carol, did you go to collect Felt instead of the girls?" Reinhard asked, raising an eyebrow.
"No, this little scamp jumped out of the window, landed face-first, and made a mess of herself," Carol replied matter-of-factly, her grip on Felt's ear unwavering.
"Oh… well, I guess I should have gone to wake her myself in that case," Reinhard chuckled, though his expression carried a mix of amusement and guilt.
"As if! I was naked! Ouch, let go already!" Felt snapped, writhing as Carol's iron grip refused to relent.
"Miss Carol, if you could," Reinhard said gently, gesturing toward Felt. With a huff, the old maid finally released her.
"No more jumping out of windows," Carol scolded, her voice sharp. Then, without missing a beat, she bellowed, "Flam! Grassis!"
A moment later, the twin maids from earlier entered the room, their synchronized movements giving them an eerie air. "Yes, Grandmother?" they said in unison.
Grandmother? Felt thought, rubbing her sore ear. That explains a lot.
"You two should do a better job ensuring our young lady minds herself. From now on, assume she will do something reckless. Understood?" Carol commanded, her tone leaving no room for argument.
"Yes, Grandmother," the twins replied in unison, their monotone words accompanied by lazy, almost bored glares in Felt's direction.
"Good." Carol folded her arms, clearly satisfied.
Felt briefly considered making another break for it, but with Reinhard and now three watchful servants, she knew her chances were slim. She'd barely made it out of her room, and now she was being corralled like livestock.
"Why the hell am I here, Reinhard?! Spill it already!" Felt demanded, crossing her arms as she glared at the knight.
"Well, I wanted to confirm something," Reinhard said, retrieving the insignia Felt had stolen from Emilia. He held it up, the faint red gemstone at its center catching the light.
"What? My punishment for stealing that thing is being forced to wear dresses and play princess? Please, lock me up in the dungeon. I'd rather be there than stuck in this nightmare!" Felt crossed her arms, glaring daggers at him.
"You're not being punished," Reinhard replied calmly, ignoring her sarcasm. "At least not in my opinion. See how dark this gem is?" He pointed to the insignia's dull red glow. "Catch."
Reinhard tossed it to her without warning. Instinctively, Felt snatched it out of the air. She frowned, noticing that the gem was now glowing brightly.
"It's lighting up, so what?" she asked, unimpressed.
"There are only five people in the whole of Lugunica for whom that insignia will react like this," Reinhard explained. "As a citizen of Lugunica, it is your responsibility to appear before the Council of Wisemen in just under two months. You've been the subject of a mission I was assigned—to find the fifth person worthy of this insignia."
"Insignia? Wisemen? No thank you," Felt scoffed, placing her hands on her hips.
"You don't have a choice," Reinhard said evenly, sipping his tea. "Fate brought me to you, and fate has plans for you, Lady Felt."
"Fate? Listen, I don't give a shi—ouch, ouch, ouch!" Felt cried out as Carol pinched her ear again.
"Language, young lady," the maid scolded, her tone sharp.
"Carol, might you be a little gentler with her?" Reinhard asked, though his voice lacked urgency.
"No," Carol said flatly. "You tasked me with making her a young lady, and I can already tell this one will need a firm hand if we're to make any progress before the selection." With that, she finally let go of Felt's ear.
Bitch. Felt thought bitterly but held her tongue for fear of further punishment.
"As I was saying," Reinhard continued as though nothing had happened, "the insignia lighting up at your touch indicates that you meet the qualifications laid out by the Dragon. You are required, as a citizen of this kingdom, to appear before the Council."
"Duty to the kingdom?" Felt scoffed, barely holding back a bitter laugh. "This fuc—" she stopped herself, glancing nervously at Carol, "f-functionless kingdom hasn't done a damn thing for people like me! Why should I care what happens here?! I don't want to be involved."
"You don't have a choice in the matter," Reinhard said, his calm demeanor unshaken by her outburst. "Once you stand before the Council, you'll have the opportunity to decide your path. Until then, it's my duty to ensure you get there safely."
"I don't have a choice in the matter?!" Felt snapped, her voice sharp with anger. "I have to play pretend, and act like a 'lady' for two months? Screw that! You can't just kidnap someone and force them to do as you like! Even if you are the Sword Saint, ya know!"
"In this case, I am tasked with ensuring that the fifth candidate is found, prepared, and present at the castle at the appointed time," Reinhard replied evenly. "To that end, I will do everything within my power to see that you're not only there but ready for the responsibility."
"Candidate for what, though?" Felt demanded, throwing her arms in the air.
"If I explained everything now, I fear you might make up your mind prematurely," Reinhard sighed. "Just know this: I swear on my honor that, should you decide to walk away on that day, I will respect your choice, and you will be free to live your life as you please. However, I believe fate has plans for you that you cannot yet see."
Felt bit her lip, trying to rein in her frustration. Two months with these people? Playing along felt unbearable, but she resolved that the first opportunity she got to slip away unnoticed, she'd take it without hesitation.
"Where's the Old Man and Big Bro?" Felt asked at last, her tone softening slightly.
"Until I was certain of your status, I thought it unwise to involve anyone else," Reinhard explained. "Rest assured, Lady Emilia kindly took both of your friends with her to the Manor of Roswaal L. Mathers. They are safe."
"Mathers? You mean that half-elf took my family away?!" Felt's anger reignited, her fists clenching at her sides.
"I've promised to reunite you with them," Reinhard said, his voice steady but firm. "However, it will take some time. Their presence here might be a distraction during your preparation."
"They're not a distraction; they're family!" Felt barked, her voice trembling with emotion.
"A poor choice of words," Reinhard admitted, inclining his head slightly. "What I meant is that your focus will need to be on your education with Carol and Grimm. Having your friends here might divide your attention, and that would hinder your progress. Please understand, Felt, I am only trying to help."
Felt loathed everything about this situation, but she felt cornered. She had no idea where this "Mathers" Manor was—it might not even be in the capital—and she was certain that if she tried to escape, Reinhard would come for her.
"F-fine," she muttered reluctantly, her voice dripping with defiance. "I'll play along with your stupid plan. But you should know, after this meeting or whatever, I'm leaving with Subaru and Rom! I don't want or need any of this nonsense!"
Reinhard smiled, seemingly satisfied despite her resistance. "That is all I ask. I have faith that everything will work out in the end," he said with his usual calm confidence.
"I must be off to the Guard Station now," he added, standing and straightening his coat. "I'm already late as it is. Carol, I'll leave things in your capable hands."
Felt glared after him as he bowed deeply and left the room. The moment the door closed, she turned to find Carol watching her with an unwavering, no-nonsense expression.
"Flam, Grassis," the elder maid called sharply, "take our young lady and clean her up again. She'll need a fresh dress—this one is a disgrace."
"Yes, Grandmother," the twins replied in unison.
Felt glanced down at herself. Sure, the dress had picked up some dust, maybe a grass stain or two from her earlier escapade, but it was far from the disaster Carol was making it out to be. This old hag would probably call a single speck of dust a catastrophe. I can only imagine what she thought of my real clothes…
"I don't need—hey!"
Before Felt could finish her protest, the twins had already seized her hands, dragging her out of the room without so much as a glance back. She stumbled slightly, their grip firm and unyielding, and any fight she might have mustered fizzled under their synchronized determination.
Resigned to her fate, she allowed herself to be led away, though her mind continued to churn with frustration and indignation. These next few months, she realized grimly, were shaping up to be the longest—and most miserable—of her life.
You better be having just as hard of a time, Subaru, she thought bitterly, her teeth gritting against the injustice of it all.
A/N: I can't keep myself from writing this one... I like it a little too much. Hope you enjoyed this chapter, I would like to have a number of chapter that are NOT Subaru POV, though the vast majority will be. Love reading reviews, so keep them coming!
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ErinaKlapphs: Couldn't help but do a double take when I saw the word 'tank' myself. I think it's safe to say that the brits who invented the tank succeeded in their little trick (naming a brand new weapon of war after a liquid container), seeing as people in 2025 are still getting confused.
Those darn tea drinkers have been causing problems for ages! My roommate is British, so I am aloud to say that... I think.
Kilik: Well, the contract that he becomes an obedient puppet is signed. It makes sense to write something else. Subaru will follow the book further, unless the book tells Roswaal to terminate the contract.
Maybe, maybe not. Contracts are odd things.
Ringswing08594: I'm guessing Subarus gonna become strong with magic since his gate has had time to develop
Stronger, yes. However, he's not going to be taking on Roswaal or Reinhard anytime soon (or ever).
SentinalSlice: Really cool. I'm excited to see Subaru learn to use magic properly. I do like how this will backfire on Subaru once Felt's candidacy is revealed, meaning that he cannot support her and will actively have to go against her, since Roswaal will be aiming for Emilia to win. I can't wait for more. But I'm especially excited for the magic parts. I hope we see him create new spells eventually. And I also look forward to seeing him bond with Emilia, I do hope you keep some of his canon personality at this age.
He's still the same guy at the root, but he had a whole different life, so he's going to be different in a lot of ways. He's still Subaru, do don't expect him to change too too much. There will be plenty of drama around the candidacy for sure.
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Thanks for reading! See you next week everyone!