Subaru subconsciously glanced at Crusch's full chest, feeling his heart pound in his chest. It was as if two people were arguing fiercely in
Subaru subconsciously glanced at Crusch's full chest, feeling his heart pound in his chest. It was as if two people were arguing fiercely in his mind: one urged him to enjoy this rare and beautiful sight, while the other warned him to look away respectfully.
"What is wrong? Is this attire also not to your liking?" Crusch took a step forward, the faint scent of roses on her person drifting over with the night wind, making Subaru's breath catch in his throat.
"No, no, no! It's great! It's super great!" Natsuki Subaru quickly threw his hands up in a placating gesture, his voice unintentionally rising an octave. He then realized his lack of composure and quickly lowered it. "It's just... it's... it's too perfect, to the point that it feels a little... unreal. Because I've never seen you in a dress before, Miss Crusch."
This level of perfection... it's exactly like being on a date with a lover! And on such a romantic moonlit night, with a candlelight dinner, no less. It feels... this atmosphere is just too intimate.
"I see. This is the latest silk fabric gown from the Anastasia Company. I hear it is quite popular among the noble ladies of the capital," Crusch said thoughtfully, stroking the hem of her dress. She then looked up at Natsuki Subaru and asked, "Do you find it... strange?"
"Not strange at all!" Natsuki Subaru let out a soft breath, trying his best to make his voice sound normal. "I just didn't expect that you would... ah, not for me, but that you would go to the trouble of changing clothes for such a small matter."
"You are my most important guest," Crusch said seriously, then elegantly took her seat across the table. "Since you felt uncomfortable, it is only natural that I make an adjustment. This is the most basic form of hospitality."
Speaking of which, Crusch's dead-serious attitude is somehow making my heart race even faster, you know.
Natsuki Subaru secretly glanced at Crusch's full chest and delicate collarbones, then quickly looked down, poking at the food on his plate. "Th-That is, Miss Crusch, you also look very cool... in your military uniform."
"Oh?" A playful glint appeared in Crusch's amber eyes, the candlelight dancing in their bright, clear depths. "So, you prefer the sight of me in my military uniform?"
"They're both great! Really, they're both great!" Natsuki Subaru's cheeks grew slightly warm. He shifted his gaze away, looking down at the steak on the table. "Ah! Speaking of which, this steak is cooked to perfection..."
"Your reactions are truly amusing." Watching Subaru's slightly flustered state, Crusch elegantly swirled her wine glass, the red liquid creating a graceful arc. "In the House of Karsten, changing one's attire according to the occasion is a very common courtesy. You need not mind it."
"R-Right, so that's how it is. But where I'm from, changing into a dress for this kind of occasion..." Subaru's gaze drifted to the flickering candlelight as he chatted with Crusch. "...often carries a special meaning."
"A special meaning? What do you mean by that?" Hearing this, Crusch leaned forward slightly, a strand of her green hair falling onto the tablecloth.
"Well... about that..." Looking at the youthful and beautiful Crusch before him, Subaru's Adam's apple bobbed. He then explained, "It's something like... wanting to leave a good impression on the other person."
"I see." Crusch nodded thoughtfully, her emerald hair glowing softly in the moonlight. "It seems I should learn more about the customs of your homeland." She suddenly leaned forward, the silver tableware reflecting the elegant line of her collarbones. "Could you please look me in the eyes when you speak?"
"I-I am looking at you..." Natsuki Subaru's gaze flickered about before finally, reluctantly, meeting Crusch's.
The night wind carried the faint, elegant fragrance from her hair, and Subaru felt his heart skip a beat. This is bad, the atmosphere just got even more intimate.
"Judging by your expression, you seem to have something to say?" Crusch noticed Subaru's hesitant look.
"Ahem, it's nothing special..." Subaru cleared his throat, trying to make his voice sound normal. "It's just that, seeing Miss Crusch in a dress like this for the first time... you're even more... beautiful than I imagined."
"Beautiful?" Crusch's amber eyes widened slightly, then a thoughtful expression crossed her face. "This is the first time anyone has used that word to describe me. I usually hear comments like 'gallant' or 'dignified'."
"That's because they've never seen the Miss Crusch who is wearing a long dress right now," Natsuki Subaru blurted out without thinking, then quickly added, "Of course, the Miss Crusch in her military uniform is also very cool!"
The moonlight was like water, casting a soft contour over Crusch's usually heroic and valiant face. Gazing at the duchess who was now exuding feminine charm, Natsuki Subaru felt the temperature of his cheeks steadily rising. A candlelight dinner, a night view, a man and woman alone... no matter how you looked at it, this was the standard setup for a lovers' date.
However, Crusch was clearly oblivious to this intimacy. Her fair fingertips gently traced the rim of her glass, letting the night wind stir her dark green hair. After taking a sip of red wine, she suddenly cast her gaze toward the distant silhouette of the Royal Castle.
"Speaking of which..." Crusch's voice grew somewhat solemn. "What do you think the future of this country will be?"
For a moment, Natsuki Subaru almost couldn't keep up with Crusch's leap in logic.
"As a candidate for the next monarch, I would very much like to hear your views. After all, you are a person who can create miracles." Crusch turned her head, the moonlight plating her profile in a silver glow, her amber eyes shining with a rare seriousness.
"Huh? My views?" Natsuki Subaru was at a loss for words, not expecting the topic to suddenly turn so serious. But on second thought, given Miss Crusch's status, discussing such things was only natural. She was, after all, a person who might one day bear the fate of the entire kingdom.
"Although we belong to different camps," Crusch said, looking at the silent Subaru and assuming he was reluctant to speak, she explained with a frank expression, "please rest assured, I will not use this opportunity to probe for information. I swear on the honor of the House of Karsten that I would not do something so despicable."
"Um, actually, I wasn't thinking along those lines at all, Miss Crusch." Natsuki Subaru scratched his head, forcing a somewhat helpless smile. Miss Crusch really... doesn't beat around the bush at all.
"So long as that is the case," Crusch nodded slightly, the moonlight flowing through her emerald hair. "I wonder if you know why Lugnica is called the Dragon Kingdom?"
"Well..." Natsuki Subaru thought for a moment before speaking. "I heard it's because of the covenant made with the Divine Dragon Volcanica four hundred years ago, and they've been under the dragon's protection ever since?" He recalled learning this bit of kingdom history from Rem and Ram back at Roswaal's mansion. The dragon was not just a symbol of Lugnica; it was the nation's spiritual pillar. From the kingdom's name to the Royal Selection system, the dragon's influence permeated every aspect of its politics and culture.
"You are absolutely correct," Crusch's voice suddenly grew heavy. "It is precisely because of this ancient covenant that we were able to build such a prosperous nation. Be it war, plague, or famine, all crises were averted under the dragon's great protection. In every hardship, the revered Dragon God extended a helping hand..."
Crusch closed her eyes, her long lashes casting faint shadows in the moonlight, her voice laced with an undisguised bitterness. "—But, do you not find it shameful?"
Natsuki Subaru was slightly taken aback. Under the moonlight, the duchess who was normally so heroic and valiant was now revealing such an expression.
"Over-reliance on the covenant with the dragon has made this country fragile and weak. Once war, plague, or famine strikes again, what can we do besides grovel at the dragon's tail and beg? If the kingdom will perish without the dragon's protection, then it would be better for such a kingdom to be destroyed. Don't you agree, Natsuki Subaru?"
Natsuki Subaru was somewhat shocked, his wine glass reflecting his startled face. Although he knew Crusch had made a declaration of independence during the Royal Selection meeting, advocating for a new kingdom that did not rely on the dragon's divine protection, the idea of "destroying" the country was still too extreme. He figured that what Crusch really meant was that she wanted to thoroughly reform the nation, just like a phoenix rising from the ashes, which must first break the old shackles of the kingdom.
"Excessive blessings breed stagnation, stagnation invites decline, and decline will eventually toll the death knell," Crusch said, standing up, the hem of her dress fluttering in the night wind. "Since the kingdom will perish without the dragon, then let us become the dragon! The fate of the kingdom should not be tied to a Dragon God, but should be shouldered by the king and the subjects together."
Crusch walked to the railing, the night wind lifting her green hair. She looked at Natsuki Subaru with her amber eyes. "Because Lugnica is not the dragon's territory—it is the homeland of us, its people!"
Although it was a cool autumn night, Natsuki Subaru felt his blood boil. The posture of the green-haired woman before him was more upright than any knight, and the determination in her eyes was more dazzling than any king's. This was the spirit of the head of the Karsten house, a courage that would put all men to shame.
She's really incredible.
Thinking of this, Natsuki Subaru couldn't help but say, "As expected of Miss Crusch. That philosophy reminds me of a saying from my homeland."
"In my world, there's a concept called 'rule by the many'," Natsuki Subaru said, setting down his wine glass, his gaze gradually becoming firm. "It means the fate of a country should be in the hands of the people themselves, not dependent on gods or some supreme being."
"That does coincide with my own philosophy of self-governance." Crusch's fingers suddenly paused on her glass, her amber pupils widening slightly.
"Not only that," Natsuki Subaru continued, looking at Crusch, "we also believe that man can conquer destiny. It means that people, by relying on their own wisdom and strength, can overcome any difficulty, such as building waterworks to prevent floods and droughts, developing medicines to treat plagues, and using diplomacy to avoid wars."
"So you are saying, your country has no aid from gods?" Crusch asked curiously.
"That's right!" Natsuki Subaru nodded and continued, "Although we have our own beliefs, people believe more in their own strength. Just as you said, Miss Crusch, rather than praying for the Dragon God's grace, it is better to let everyone awaken the power within their hearts and become their own protectors." After all, in any world, true growth comes from self-reliance. Relying on external forces will never lead to genuine growth.
Crusch suddenly fell silent, the moonlight flowing over her exquisite face, reflecting a complex and changing expression. After a long moment, she let out a deep breath. When she looked up again, it was as if a new fire had been lit in her amber eyes.
"That is truly... a refreshing way of thinking. Your homeland must be a country full of wisdom and courage."
"Well, it's not that perfect, either..." Natsuki Subaru said, scratching his head. "But, at the very least, it proves one thing. People are perfectly capable of creating a better future with their own two hands." He paused, a confident smile spreading across his lips. "A future where everyone can be the master of their own destiny. A future where everyone is a dragon."
Crusch softly murmured this new concept, her eyes gleaming with contemplation.
"Exactly," Natsuki Subaru said, looking at Crusch and speaking eloquently. "When every citizen can awaken their own power and shoulder the responsibility of changing their own destiny, how could such a country not be strong?"
"Your views coincide with my own." A strange light flowed in Crusch's amber eyes under the candlelight, and she suddenly bloomed with a bright smile, like that of a young girl. "To have met you is truly the greatest fortune."
This unexpected smile made Natsuki Subaru's heart skip a beat. The moonlight was like water, quietly flowing over Crusch's delicate face. When she slightly turned her head, her emerald green hair slipped from her shoulder, shimmering like silk in the candlelight.
"A toast to you," Crusch said, elegantly raising her glass.
Natsuki Subaru hurriedly collected his thoughts, raised his own glass, and then took a sip of red wine.
"Did you know, Natsuki Subaru?" Crusch suddenly lowered her voice, her rich tone carrying the fragrance of wine, making it especially alluring in the night.
Natsuki Subaru looked up. He saw Crusch's long index finger slowly tracing the rim of the crystal glass, her amber eyes looking directly at him, her expression so serious it made his heart race.
"I wish to formally invite you... to join my camp and lend me your strength. Even if it were in the capacity of a husband in matters of state, that would not be out of the question."
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