It's been a few weeks since the royal selection ended and Emilia was declared the new queen. Things were supposed to go smoothly, Our wedding was held at the royal castle just a week after her coronation and it was a beautiful honeymoon. It was ruined when I returned to the mathers estate to pick up some leftover belongings I forgot when we all moved to the castle. We defeated the witch cult a year ago.
So why are all the archbishops here in the mansion!?
"Your face is full of shock and bewilderment at your current situation but we have yet to be served a beverage or be granted a meal. Do you have no empathy for your guest? Are you even human? This blatant disregard for my well being would be considered a violation of my rights to live. We should be —"
"Screw that! What are you all doing here?!" The raven haired boy yelled pointing a finger at the group. The archbishop of greed took great offence over being interrupted and was going to let it be known until a short girl beside him spoke up.
"We are here to be reintroduced into society as helpful individuals. We are not here to cause problems." The archbishop of vanity spoke with clear conviction.
"Huh?!" Subaru gasped as this information passed through one ear and out the other. This couldn't be real. I saw them die. I still have their authority so how are they standing in front of me?
"OH, it is so sad that we have nowhere to go and none who could understand our pain. Our death was swift but we were given a chance to repent and move towards a better tomorrow so how can we not be happy that there is a benevolent god looking out for us!" Wrath had clasped one hand against another and tilted her head against it, imitating a crying maiden.
Subaru had his hand against his head processing his current situation. "You're here to repent? REPENT! AFTER EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE!" He slammed his fist against the door frame as he spat with venom towards the archbishops.
"Subaru-kun. We are only here to repay love with love as it is what diligent apostles such as myself will do. We will work without rest and hope to be repaid for our diligence with love!" Beetleguese had made himself known with a gluttony accompanying him on each side.
The boy hardened his glare at the three, A murderous glint with untold suffering hidden behind his iris as he thought about what kind of excruciating pain he would lay upon these villains.
Beetleguese had taken notice of this stare, cracked his neck in response and held his fist in front of his chest, closing his eyes. He almost seemed like he was in prayer. " We shall see our patience rewarded in unconditional love but should our love be turned to hate!" He began unclenching his fist slowly towards the boy as Subaru began to seemingly float off the ground grasping at his neck.
"Authority of sloth. UNSEEN HANDS."
How could he have that when I still have invisible province? I didn't kill the witch of envy and still have return by death. I'll tell Reinhard before I leave the castle and have him destroy these cultists for good. I'm running out of air. I thought I was done dying.
Before he could suffocate, the unseen hand had let go, sending the boy crashing towards the ground grabbing his neck as he coughed and gasped for air.
"The authorities have been granted to us and we are all as powerful as we once were. If we were to attack the capital then we would lose. The country is no longer divided into 5 separate factions and with the sword demon, margrave and sword saint under one banner. We would lose but we will be sure to take those you care about with us." Pandora spoke with an underlying tone meant to convey understanding and logic.
"This is our proposition."
—-- 1 week later —--
"This whole Idea is crazy, I suppose."
"I know Beako but we cant have them attack the capital and no one knows they are here other than me, you, and Roswell."
Subaru and Beatrice were walking towards the sounds of destruction just over the hill when they spotted Regulus throwing rocks towards the side of a mountain.
"Yo! Regulus!"
"Huh!?" Regulus turned to see who was interrupting his perfect work ethic when he met the eyes of the raven haired boy.
"It seems you have come to bask in my efforts as no one in the history of this world could make mines as fast as me. It is a shame that there is only one of me but the fate of this world would surely be binding if not for the fact that there is indeed only one of me. So praise me for the work I've done and be on your way as you will no doubt cause constant interruptions with your ooh and awws. " Regulus turned towards the mountain and picked up a rock. Throwing it clean through the mountain.
A few days ago every archbishop was assigned a job and Regulus got demolition . He would help make roadways through mountains, mine shafts, and destroy buildings in the capital that needed destroying. Of course for those jobs, he would have Lust alter his appearance to not attract suspicion.
Every archbishop demanded a reward for not doing heinous acts and even helping society. None of them wanted money. Each reward was tailored to each of them.
Regulus payment was weird to say the least. His first wife had actually offered her heart for him in marriage. When Regulus regained his lion's heart, His first thought was to get as many wives as possible; however his wife then dropped a bomb on him.
"Emilia-san has been kind enough to teach me fire magic." The archbishop turned towards his newly wed with a questioning look. Why was this important enough to stop me achieving my goal?
"Unless you court the other girls, I will grab ahold of you and set us aflame into a pillar of fire. As of right now. You are stuck with me!" Regulus couldn't believe his ears as such outward defiance emanated from his wife.
He then grabbed a hold of a bench within the church, crushed it in his hand and sent the thousands of splinters towards his wife. They were all burned to cinders and as the smoke dissipated. Where once stood his wife was nothing taking her place.
Two hands then drooped over his torso from behind as his wife spoke into his ear. " I am not weak. Not anymore." Flames then began to cover her arms as her skin started to burn. " I will reach you before I die and you will die with me." Regulus felt fear as his life was quite literally in someone else's hands. Ironic isn't it.
At the mansion, Regulus demanded one thing. To grow his number of wives but to do that without angering his first, he must learn how to "court" one. So who better than the one who courted many . He couldn't understand how this boy had courted #79, the two maids, and Crush but he could not argue with the results. Everyone around the boy had only positive things to say about him. Although Regulus didn't understand why he only married #79.
At the end of the week the first session began with Subaru and Regulus sitting outside in the gardens around a table.
"So first things first. Women are not property." Subaru flatly stated.
Regulus returned the statement with a dumbfounded look as if what was said was completely alien to him.
"Look, you're not gonna swoon anyone by treating them like garbage. You have to treat them special." The boy reiterated.
"The women I talk to should be glad that a man such as myself took time out of my day to approach them, much less ask them to be my wife. To turn down such an invitation from someone as handsome as myself would be a complete and utter violation of my rights. It should come as no surprise–"
"THERE! Right there. You have to stop expecting every response to be positive." Subaru slammed his palms against the table. "You are not owed anything anyone does not have!" The boy said with convention.
Regulus folded his arms thinking about his statement and over and over again, he could not get what the boy was coming from. Regulus knows he is handsome and charming so why shouldn't he expect a positive response. Every time he tried to view it from the other angle. His point still stood firm.
As The archbishop of Greed fumed in his seat, Subaru had an idea. He then asked one of the other maids. A former wife of Regulus to go along with his plan.
Subaru then told Regulus to stand in the field and say nothing while his former wife approached him. The archbishop expected his former wife to say something to him but it was then that she turned and walked towards Subaru.
" Mister Subaru, I cannot go with the plan as I would rather say kind things to you rather than that piece of trash behind me."
Regulus was angry at such a statement and saw a rock near his foot. He had moved his foot ever so slightly poised to send a rock hurtling through his former wife's chest. until a crackling sound was heard behind him. He had turned to see his wife next to a tree engulfed in flames alluding to the fact that she would cut his new life short had he tried anything.
He then stiffened up and told Subaru that he would think about what he said and walked towards the mansion followed by his wife.
Subaru was at a loss on how to teach Regulus. He hated the guy but if he could teach him how to treat women, maybe it would help him use empathy with others. As the boy went towards the guest room in the mansion ready to turn himself in for the night, he ran across Lust.
"Hello meatbag, That look you're sporting is the epitome of ugliness and that's so hilarious!"
The archbishop of lust laughed as she hid her snicker behind one hand. Subaru then thought about the nature of her authority and concluded it wouldn't hurt to ask for help.
"Capella. I'm running out of ways to get Regulus to view things from a woman's perspective. If you're really the archbishop of Lust, What do you recommend?"
Capella put a finger towards her forehead and leaned forward deep in thought before a grin formed on her lips. She then motioned the boy to lower himself and grant her his ear.
Subaru REALLY hated the Archbishops and could not stand them but in order to make sure everyone else is safe, he would have to deal with them. Although sometimes they operated on the same wavelength as him and this was one of the times. The plan was brilliant.
As Capella whispered into his ear of her elaborate plan, He had stars in his eyes and mentally kicked himself for not thinking it sooner. When she finished, Capella had a mischievous grin plastered on her face and Subaru returned the gesture with one of his own as they gave each other a thumbs up before they went their separate ways eager for morning.
It was morning and Regulus was preparing for the day when a knock came to his door.
"Regulus, Today we need you and Lust to accompany me and Beako into the capital."
The bishop was confused but accepted nonetheless. Maybe a building needed demolishing and he could use the destruction to decompress that horrible thought the boy implanted into him yesterday.
As Capella worked her magic and changed Regulus into his alter ego "Renaldo", He felt the change coming but something was wrong, a new weight was on his chest and as he looked down, he saw two breasts adorning his torso.
Regulus dashed to the mirror and was met with the visage of a petite girl with long white hair and golden eyes.
"Regulus. Meet Regumin!"
Capella threw both her hands up spreading confetti over Regumin who was not a happy camper and threw back a viscous glare towards Lust.
"This is… This is… a violation of trust. I came to you in an hour of need with the goal of walking amongst the people without causing a panic and this is my reward. I have been wronged and to have my trust thrashed and—-"
Before he could go on his rant, the door to the wardrobe was swung open.
"Miss Capella, have you seen my husband Regu–"
The first wife was met with a naked Regumin and carefree a capella both covered in confetti. She took stock of the situation, deducing the fact that her husband was now a woman and brought one of her hands to her chin.
"Not bad."
The comment was sure to send Regulus into a rampage but oddly enough, he seemed to have pride in his wifes assessment.
"I am both the pinnacle of handsomeness and beauty. Such a revelation was expected from someone like myself."
His wife then asked Cappella if she could accompany them into the capital.
"I don't see a difference, nothing would change from an extra meatsack accompanying us."
After bowing in response, she went to Subaru to inform him of her involvement and was assured that it would hold no problem if she came along.
Subaru then meets with Regumin, Capella and Beatrice at the entrance.
Regumin had a dress in blue with frills around the cuffs and a short white jacket. Her hair was split down the middle with bangs partly covering her eyes with her hair ending in twirls. Regumin was expecting a barrage of insults from the boy but was met with a light tap on the shoulder.
"We are two of a kind aren't we." Subaru said with a single tear leaving his eye.
Beatrice facepalmed while everyone else was confused on what that statement meant.
As they were walking towards the capital, Subaru layed out the plan for Regumin.
"Today we are walking around the Capital with you in tow. We will visit the upper shopping district and the slums. As you are "objectively" attractive, Some guys will try to pick you up. Pay attention to what they say and how it makes you feel."
Regulus registers this and seems to see the upsides of this arrangement. If worst comes to worst, he could hold this experience over his wife's head on how he expects his women to act.
At the shopping district Regumin stands against the wall by an expensive dress store and everyone else was across the street counseling themselves watching.
A man in a royal knights uniform approaches Regumin. Across the street she sees the boy and others frantically swing their arms and form X's. Even Capella had a shocked face and was motioning her to run.
She was confused by this as they shook their heads but their figures were quickly obscured by the man in front of her. The first thing she noticed was a larger sword than normal tied to his waist. She recognized this sword to be owned by one person belonging to the royal knights.
She looked up slowly as she started to piece together.
"Hello Ma'am, You look lost, do you need any assistance or directions?"
The sword saint was in front of her and having fallen to him before, was aghast.
"No sir, I am perfectly fine and I would like to be alone as is my rig… right."
She was sweating and Reinhard picked up on this and stood firm.
"You look exhausted. Do you need a healer? I happen to know a very good one."
"I have no need for your healer. I am simply tired and would like to retire for the night."
She turned to walk but the sword saint began following her. She stopped after a few paces and turned,
"Do you have any business with me? I am minding my own business and am trying to enjoy a stroll on my own. Is that not something I am allowed to have? Is that not a right everyone deserves. Are you violating my right to walk alone!."
"That way of speaking reminds me of someone. Do you happen to know a man called Regulus?"
Having no way to negate his divine protection regarding truths, She had cursed the boy for thinking this was a good idea.
"Yes I do."
The sword saint stood and began thinking about how this woman could know Regulus when it came to him.
"Were you one of his former wives?"
"I was very close to him."
She was very careful to make sure to avoid his divine protection.
"I see, I'm sorry for bothering you today, if you need any help please call my name."
The sword saint took a few steps back and bowed, introducing himself.
"My name is Rienhard van Astrea, the current sword saint."
As he raised his head. The woman was gone and he was left perplexed by her sudden disappearance.
After meeting in an adjacent street. The archbishop of greed let his companions have it.
"How could you not warn me that THE sword saint was approaching. Was it not your obligation to keep me out of danger? Was it not I who went along with this farce to come to an agreement made by both parties. This was nothing but violation of trust and trust is the pillar that we built this arrangement."
"I understand that but how could I have known that Rien was patrolling the upper district today. Let's head to the slums so we can get you home."
"Did you not see me telling you to run because that was hilarious!"
Regumin took notice of Capella laughing and walked while hurling insults her way and how she violated her rights.
The slums were a different story entirely. After a few hours, many men had walked by her only ever exchanging a glance. While night was approaching, the group decided that this plan fell through and walked towards Regumin.
"I guess that's it. We should head home, Regumin."
Regumin was irked that all the men that walked by her were cowards for not approaching a beauty like her.
"You were well dressed, maybe they thought you were a noble and a 'honey trap'."
"Honey Trap?" Regumin did not know this word but if it can explain the oddity that happened today then she was eager to find out.
"It's a term from where I come from. It means using look's or compliments in order to gain information or have them perform a task."
"If that's true then I honey trapped a lot of people." Capella added.
"Please don't say anything that could incriminate you." Subaru pleaded.
"Why would that matter? I'm one of the Archbishops of the witch cult. It can't get any more incriminating than that."
"Yeah but don't say anything that could get me mad." Capella scoffed at this.
On the way home a man stopped them and asked Subaru how he was doing. The man was from Arlam village and began to leave after a short talk until his eyes met Regumin.
"You are the flower basked in light in the depths of my soul. I have been searching for another, no I have been searching for my missing piece. Your very sight had healed my battered soul and gave me a sense of peace I thought I had forgotten."
Regumin could only step back as the men stepped closer as he looked almost starved for a touch of a woman. She looked towards her posse for help getting away from the men only to see Subaru crouched down facing away from him snickering, Capella looking deadpanned but Regumin could swear she saw the corners of her lips twitch and the spirit looking to the side uncaring of the situation.
"If you could return only a monochrome of love that I have for you then I would die a happy man."
The man claimed as he held one of Regumins hands. Before She could respond, She was yanked by her first wife into her chest as she calmly stated.
"I am married to this woman so I am very sorry but I will not leave her."
The man looked stunned but calmly accepted the situation. He stood up and tilted his hat towards the group and excused himself. A few tears dropped as he walked towards the horizon still searching for his missing piece.
Regumin was shocked that her wife came to her rescue. The man's words were kind but she did not care for them as she was a man at heart. She wanted to thank her wife for protecting her rights but looked up to find her saving grace grinning while holding back laughter. The whole situation was ridiculous to her after all.
When a whimper escaped the first wifes mouth, It was the spark that blew the fuse and Subaru and Capella began laughing so hard that they had clung to their stomachs in a desperate attempt to gasp for air.
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA YOU ARE THE FLOWER REGULUS!! HAHAHAHAHA"
"A FLOWER OF GREED IS WHAT WE WILL CALL YOU!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!" Capella couldn't wait until she told her fellow bishops.
A force of destruction like Regulus was compared to a delicate flower. How could they not laugh? Well Regumin couldn't laugh as he thought the whole thing was awful and started to angrily grab whatever rocks were at hand and toss it at her wife.
The wife was dodging each and every one but just barely as she was laughing as well. After a while, the laughter died down and at the entrance of the mansion they all went their separate ways. Beatrice and Subaru had to turn in as they had an audience with Emilia in the morning and Capella quickly returned Regumin back into Regulus. When He was alone with his wife, He started to chat with her.
"This is odd. You usually want to go straight to bed."
"That Sword saint treated me like I was weak and helpless. How could one look at me and think that? The men in the slums thought I was some perverted trap and ignored me like the plague. To think of me as anything but honest is a gross simplification based on values unbeknownst to me and it violates my right to be judged based on my actions rather than my looks."
"And the man on the road?" The first wife asked.
"He told me I was precious and had a small idea of my worth. He treated me as I was to be treated, A rare treasure that should be taken and held with the highest of regards. It is only right that my worth should be rewarded with those who treasure me."
"Is that not how all girls wish to be treated?"
"Not all women should be given that right. It should only be those who stand atop of adulterers and whores with virtues of purity and love that should be treated as such. Anyone else with neither the looks nor purity should just give up as they have forfeited the right to be seen as anything but ugly."
"Am I ugly?"
"No you are not ugly but you enrage me when my actions are limited to what you allow lest I be put to the flames. My right to choose my future has been taken."
"You have done the same to all your other wives. Think of that dear husband." The wife then turned over and pulled the covers over her preparing for bed.
Regulus was stumped for the first time. He told his wifes not to smile. To follow orders otherwise their lives are forfeit. Regulus thought back on what the boy told him in the garden and started to understand just a little of what he meant before turning to bed himself.
—--The next morning—--
Beatrice and Subaru were walking through the corridors in the Royal castle heading towards the throne room. They entered the room and bowed to the queen,
"Subaru, You dunderhead. You don't need to bow to me, You're my husband and king of this nation. "
"Sorry it's a force of habit from being your knight after so many years also who says dunderhead anymore."
Emilia smiled as she missed her husband while he had to go deal with some "Business" as he called it. She stood and walked towards Subaru and lifted his chin into a kiss.
"You reeeally need to tell me what this business of yours is. I missed you alot."
Subaru blushed and stood rubbing the back of his head.
"I'm sorry Emilia-tan but it's very personal. I missed you too."
"Are you two done, I suppose. We were summoned were we not." Beako spoke as she was getting tired of their flirting. Waking up so early meant she wanted to get back to bed as soon as possible.
"I summoned you because I missed you. Is that wrong?"
"If it's from you Emilia-tan, I would answer at any time but why so early in the morning?"
"I have some time off until the afternoon so I wanted to spend it with you. I'm sorry if you didn't sleep enough but I want to be a little greedy so I can spend time with you. Even if it's just sleeping together."
Beatrice started rubbing her eyes as they dropped so Subaru started to carry her.
"Ok Emilia-tan, let's head to bed."
Emilia responded with a smile and followed Subaru as he headed to his room. Along the way they ran into a familiar face.
"Queen Emilia. It is nice to see you. You as well Subaru."
"Hello Reinhard, is everything ok?"
"Yes my Queen."
"Hey Rien, how have you been? Anything happen?"
"Nothing of note but I did run into one of Regulus former wives."
Beatrice was instantly awoken from her slumber as she looked towards her contractor with a face radiating silent terror.
"His former wives but all of them are working under me in the castle."
"I found her in the higher end of the shopping district."
"Maybe they were spending their day off there. Do you happen to know who it was?"
"C'mon Emilia-tan It's rude to pry into someone's personal life." Subaru spoke with the hopes of driving the conversation away from Regumin/Regulus.
"I know but maybe he had another wife that I failed to save. What did she look like Rienhard?"
"White hair and golden eyes. A petite figure and she spoke much like Regulus."
"Hmm. If you see her again, make sure she is fine and if she needs employment then bring her here at once." Queen Emilia commanded.
"As you wish. my queen." Rienhard bowed and continued down the corridor leaving the trio to head to the queen's chambers.
Subaru was glad that nothing came of it. He would have to tell Lust to not change Regulus into Regumin at all in the future but for now this bed feels heavenly. Subaru sleepted with the two most important people in his life and fell into a deep sleep.