"I am not angry that you are a commoner. What I cannot forgive is that this commoner has intentionally come before me to speak of such foolishness." With a sharp snap, Priscilla closed her fan and turned the spearhead of her contempt toward Natsuki Subaru, a dangerous curve on her red lips. "Even if you are a popular figure in the kingdom, to dare to offer me your opinion, you must be one who does not value his life."
Natsuki Subaru sighed helplessly. He knew Priscilla's personality all too well. This woman, arrogant to the extreme, firmly believed that the entire world revolved around her. After all, Priscilla possessed the Divine Protection of the Sun, an ability that granted her various power-ups during the day, making her nearly invincible in battle. This had also made her personality even more disdainful of others.
Seriously, in the end, she's just a spoiled princess... Natsuki Subaru grumbled silently in his heart.
Just then, Rem, who had been standing by his side, suddenly took a step forward, positioning herself in front of Natsuki Subaru, and spoke to Priscilla.
Natsuki Subaru looked at the blue-haired girl shielding him, a warm current washing over his heart. This feeling of being protected... it was both blissful and deeply moving.
"A mere maid dares to stand before me..." Priscilla's wine-red eyes narrowed slightly, a dangerous glint swirling within them. "It seems you do not value your life."
"Rem does not value her own life so highly," Rem said, looking at Priscilla calmly, her voice soft.
"It seems you have some resolve," Priscilla said, studying Rem with interest, tapping her chin with her fan. "Those are some fine eyes. They hold a faint, dangerous brilliance~" She glanced at Natsuki Subaru. "Is it for that commoner over there?"
"Hmph..." Rem scoffed lightly, her blue hair swaying as she lifted her chin slightly. "Subaru-kun is Rem's most important person."
"Just now, you misunderstood that I was protecting a commoner, did you not?" Priscilla suddenly showed a playful smile. "Is that why you are standing before me?"
"Subaru-kun will be protected by Rem. No matter who the opponent is, Rem will not back down," Rem answered without the slightest hesitation, the determination in her watery-blue eyes shining brightly, making no effort to hide her feelings for Natsuki Subaru.
"Heh heh... interesting..." Priscilla half-hid her delicate face with her fan, a playful light dancing in her wine-red eyes. "For the sake of a mere commoner, such a fire can ignite in your eyes. However, to wager your life over such a misunderstanding is far too foolish~"
This woman's words are as unpleasant as ever, Natsuki Subaru grumbled internally.
"Maid~" Priscilla tilted her head slightly and continued, "In consideration of your foolish courage, I shall make an exception today and forgive this rudeness. You should be grateful for my mercy..."
"Rem will accept that as a compliment," Rem said with neither servility nor arrogance, her blue hair swaying gently with the movement.
"Heh heh, it seems today's banquet is far more exciting than I had imagined."
"Whoa! A miracle, brother!" Al walked over to Natsuki Subaru. "Man, oh man, that was a close one."
"Shouldn't that have been your job?" Natsuki Subaru looked at the unreliable knight with a dark expression. "You're her knight, aren't you?"
"Don't have such high expectations for an old geezer who's past his prime and on the decline," Al said with a shrug, his tone suddenly becoming world-weary. "After all, keeping your distance from trouble is the key to a more relaxed life~"
"I have no interest in hearing the life secrets of a good-for-nothing old man!" Natsuki Subaru couldn't help but retort.
Speaking of which, this guy Al had been transported to this other world 18 years before him. According to the information he knew, Al had been transported to the Vollachian Empire, lost his left arm as a gladiator slave, and received the terrible scars on his face, which was why he wore that helmet all day.
Although they were both from another world, Natsuki Subaru remained vigilant towards Al. In the original story's plot, this guy had launched a dishonorable sneak attack on him after Priscilla's death, sealing both him and Beatrice. Even though the current worldline had changed significantly due to his arrival, he still had to be careful not to repeat the same mistakes.
Natsuki Subaru stared at Al before him, lost in his own thoughts.
"Brother, why are you staring at me like that?" Al asked, puzzled.
"Just admiring your handsome face," Natsuki Subaru replied half-jokingly, his gaze never leaving Al's helmet.
"Hah?" Al subconsciously touched his helmet, his metal fingers making a crisp tapping sound on the surface. "Brother, you've got a unique sense of beauty. You can see handsome even through a layer of iron?"
"It's called seeing the essence through the phenomenon," Natsuki Subaru shrugged, then continued, "Seriously, Al, don't you feel stuffy wearing that thing all day? How about you take it off and let me see your real face?"
If the speculations from the original story are true, this guy might look exactly like me.
"No can do~ Underneath this is a terrible scar that can't be shown to people~"
"Rejected just like that, huh..." Natsuki Subaru shrugged, an expression of helplessness on his face, but his eyes grew sharper. Al's reaction was, if anything, even more suspicious.
"Hey, hey, what's with that look, brother?" Al tilted his helmet, studying Subaru. "You're not imagining something weird, are you?"
"Cut it out!" Natsuki Subaru rolled his eyes. "I just think, you're hiding your face under a helmet all day, could it be... you're hiding a face that everyone recognizes?"
The air suddenly froze. Al's movement paused, almost imperceptibly. Though it was only for a split second, Natsuki Subaru keenly caught this opening.
"Hahaha! How could that be?" Al suddenly burst out laughing, the metal helmet making his laughter sound particularly distorted. "Brother, you've been reading too many detective novels, haven't you? Where did you even hear a rumor like that? Is it from this world...?"
Yeah, right, a detective novel, Subaru grumbled internally, but his face remained nonchalant. "Just kidding."
Regardless of whether this guy was truly as he suspected—an alternate worldline version of himself, or some kind of copy, since the original story never gave a clear answer—he absolutely could not let his guard down.
Al's helmet suddenly tilted slightly, and a sharp glint seemed to flash from the visor's slit. "Hey, hey, brother, you're not on guard against me, are you?"
"Of course not," Natsuki Subaru said with a laugh. "We're blood brothers from different mothers who met across worldlines!"
Blood brothers my ass! In the original story, you were the bastard who sealed me in that damn black sphere. You're a real piece of work.
Al suddenly fell silent. After a moment, he let out a meaningful sigh. "Sometimes... knowing too much isn't always a good thing, brother..."
That sentence made Natsuki Subaru's brow furrow. What does he mean by that... Could it be...
Before Subaru could figure it out, Al had returned to his usual carefree demeanor. "Alright, alright, stop obsessing over my looks. In any case, I'm definitely not as handsome as you, brother~"
"You finally said something truthful. I am indeed very handsome," Natsuki Subaru nodded with a straight face.
"Um..." the rescued noble youth interjected timidly. "Th-Thank you for saving me..."
"That's right, I'm Natsuki Subaru," Subaru waved his hand casually, a playful smile on his lips. "If you're going to spread rumors, at least spread some nice ones, like about how handsome and charming I am."
"My-My apologies... Sir Natsuki Subaru," the noble youth stammered, hastily giving a 180-degree bow, his forehead nearly touching his knees. "Please forgive my rudeness."
"Forget it." After all, there were people who gossiped behind others' backs everywhere. It wasn't worth taking to heart.
Watching the noble youth quickly depart, Al whistled from the side. "Tsk, tsk, brother, you've got quite the presence now."
"None of your business, old man," Subaru shot Al a glare, then turned to look at Rem, who had been standing quietly behind him the whole time. "Seriously... by the way, Rem?"
"Yes, Rem is here." Rem immediately took a half-step forward, her blue eyes shining with concern. "What is it, Subaru-kun? Did that person just now say something to upset you? Does Rem need to go..."
"Stop, stop, stop! What do you mean 'what is it'?" Natsuki Subaru quickly waved his hands, deliberately putting on a stern face. "You were too reckless just now! Rushing up like that without a second thought. What if that arrogant woman had actually attacked?"
"But..." Rem lowered her head and said, "Rem could never bear to hear someone speak of Subaru-kun like that..."
"You dummy..." Subaru's tone softened, and he reached out to gently ruffle Rem's hair. "Your safety is more important than my reputation."
"But to Rem, Subaru-kun is the most important..." Rem looked up.
"Honestly... it's a good thing nothing happened this time." Natsuki Subaru scratched his cheek, showing a bashful smile. "And also..."
"Also?" Rem tilted her head.
"Thank you, Rem," Natsuki Subaru said, giving her a thumbs-up. "The way you stood up to the domineering Priscilla without backing down an inch was super cool! No, I mean, it was cute!"
"Subaru-kun..." Rem's face instantly turned red, and she brought her hands to her cheeks. "Because I'm Subaru-kun's Rem! So Rem will always protect Subaru-kun!"
"My, my, are you two confessing to each other...?" Al, who had been forced to witness this public display of affection, interjected from the side.
Natsuki Subaru shooed him away with an annoyed wave.
"Tch, fine, I'm leaving..." Al shrugged, but before he left, he didn't forget to wink at Rem. "See you later, little lady."
There's just something about the way Al acts and talks... it's just like me in the original story. Could it really be...? Natsuki Subaru thought to himself, watching Al's departing back.
"Subaru?" Emilia's voice, as clear and pleasant as a winter wind chime, came from behind, breaking Subaru's train of thought.
Subaru turned to look at Emilia, now dressed in her formal gown. She stood there gracefully in a silver-white dress. The bodice was made of exquisite silk embroidery, dotted with ice-crystal-like diamonds. The cinched waist outlined her elegant curves, and the layered tulle skirt flowed down like cascading moonlight, shimmering with a pearlescent luster under the lights. Her long silver hair was gently pinned up with a sapphire hairpiece, revealing her fair nape. She looked exactly like an ice princess who had stepped out of a fairy tale.
Wow... just, wow, Subaru thought to himself.
"Lady Emilia," Rem said, giving a respectful curtsy.
"That dress suits you so perfectly!" Subaru said, looking at Emilia. "As expected of Emilia-tan, you're so beautiful it's hard to look away."
"Hehe, thank you for the compliment, Subaru." Emilia covered her mouth and giggled lightly, the hem of her dress rippling with her movement. She then tilted her head and studied him. "But... Subaru is dressed the same as usual."
"It's because I forgot that I was supposed to wear formal clothes to a victory banquet."
Emilia took a step forward, her slender fingers gently brushing Subaru's collar. "But... this Subaru is also very nice."
"Speaking of which..." Emilia withdrew her hand, her bell-like voice continuing, "The people who just passed by were all talking about you, Subaru. They said you killed the White Whale and defeated the Witch Cult's Sin Archbishop of Greed. Everyone is calling you a great hero."
"That kind of talk makes me feel like some big celebrity." Natsuki Subaru scratched his cheek in embarrassment.
"A big celebrity?" Emilia tilted her head, her amethyst eyes full of curiosity.
"It just means... a very famous person," Natsuki Subaru explained.
"Emilia-tan, is there something else you wanted to say?" Subaru asked curiously.
"Speaking of which, I'm very worried about you, Subaru. From the first time we met until now... please, cherish yourself more, Subaru." As she spoke, concern flowed from Emilia's amethyst eyes.
"Thank you for caring so much about me, Emilia," Natsuki Subaru said, his playful expression gone, looking at her seriously. "But if it's to fight for you, I'm willing to do anything, no matter how dangerous. And I'll definitely overcome any and all difficulties."
"That's... a very Subaru-like answer."
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