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{3rd Pov}
Subaru took a deep breath, trying to calm the storm of emotions inside him, and turned his gaze toward Priscilla.
She glanced at him briefly, a faint, knowing smile curving her lips.
The moment their eyes met, Subaru's face drained of all color.
There was no mistaking the expression she wore—it was one of pure amusement, the kind of smug satisfaction only Priscilla could display so effortlessly.
Priscilla herself was lost in thought, her crimson eyes narrowing ever so slightly as she regarded him.
What on earth had her future self possibly seen in this pebble of a man that she would go so far as to bear him a child?
He wasn't even part of her camp, nor did he stand beneath the radiance of her glorious rule or bask in her unmatched splendor.
The very idea seemed absurd.
And yet, it had apparently happened.
So what in the world had her future self found so remarkable about him?
What could have driven her, a proud and exalted woman, to such an intimate decision?
The question lingered in her mind like an itch she could not scratch, both infuriating and strangely fascinating.
Meanwhile, the revelation sent shockwaves through everyone else present.
The reactions were far from pleasant, but none were as severe as Emilia's.
She felt a painful, tightening ache in her chest, a feeling she couldn't easily suppress no matter how hard she tried.
The image forming in her mind was unbearable.
She understood now—perhaps too well—what it meant to bring a child into the world, what kind of intimate act Subaru and Priscilla must have shared for Gloria to exist.
The thought alone made her heart tremble, and the pain she felt in that moment was deeper than anything words could describe.
Her Subaru chose someone else?
Why?
How could that even happen?
Didn't he say he loved her?
Didn't he confess those exact words to her with such sincerity that it made her heart stop at the time?
It wasn't that long ago that he had stood before her, his voice trembling yet determined, declaring his feelings without hesitation.
And yes, maybe it was true that she hadn't been able to respond properly.
Maybe it was true that she told him to wait, that she needed time to understand her own emotions and come to terms with them.
But even then, in her heart, Emilia believed that she would one day give Subaru an answer—an honest and genuine reply that would make things clear between them.
So why?
Why did things turn out like this?
Why did Subaru, the same Subaru who once said she was the one he loved, become involved with another woman?
And not just any woman, but one of the other Royal Candidates—Priscilla, of all people.
The idea alone was enough to make Emilia's stomach twist.
Why did he do something so intimate, something that only lovers should share, with her?
She couldn't make sense of it.
None of it made any sense at all.
Her mind was a blur of disbelief and confusion, and her heart felt unbearably heavy, as if someone had placed a weight upon her chest that she couldn't lift no matter how hard she tried.
The ache only grew worse the more she thought about it.
Why did it hurt so much?
Why was it so painful to imagine another woman bearing Subaru's child—his and Priscilla's child—and realizing what that meant?
What they must have done together to bring that child into existence?
Her breath hitched as she felt her eyes begin to sting, moisture gathering until it blurred her vision.
She could feel tears threatening to spill over at any second, threatening to burst forth like a fountain she could no longer hold back.
She clenched her fists, trying to keep her emotions in check, but her voice trembled when she finally spoke.
She turned her gaze toward Zero—Subaru from the future—and with a mixture of confusion, sorrow, and desperation in her tone, she asked, "Subaru… why? Why did you have a child with Priscilla?"
She didn't even realize it herself—the sharp edge in her voice, the bitterness that slipped through between her words.
The jealousy that burned quietly beneath her gentle tone went unnoticed by her, but everyone else in the plaza could sense it clearly.
The tension that followed her question was heavy, almost suffocating, as every pair of eyes turned toward Zero—the Subaru from the future—waiting for his response.
However, what came out of his mouth was nothing like what anyone had expected.
His reply was like a sudden slap across the face, brutal and cold.
"Shut up, you stupid half-elf! Who are you to question my choice?!"
The words echoed through the room like thunder.
For a few seconds, nobody could even breathe.
The insult, the anger, and the sheer venom behind his tone froze everyone in place.
Even the Subaru from the present—the younger version of himself—stared wide-eyed at his future self, utterly stunned.
He couldn't believe that the man standing before him, the one who spoke with such hostility, was actually him.
Emilia stood frozen, her body trembling slightly as if struck by invisible lightning.
Her lips parted, but no words came out.
Fear and disbelief flooded her heart.
Did Subaru—her Subaru—just yell at her?
Did he truly raise his voice, with such hatred, toward her of all people?
It didn't seem real.
It couldn't be real.
The others were equally shocked, left speechless by what they had just witnessed.
Every single person present knew at least one thing about Subaru, something that had never been questioned before: that he was completely, almost obsessively, in love with Emilia.
Everything he had done since the day they met—every reckless risk, every painful choice, every act of bravery or foolishness—had all been driven by his feelings for her.
His love was the foundation of his every action, the reason he had pushed himself beyond his limits time and time again, despite being powerless and fragile compared to those around him.
And yet, the man standing before them now—the Subaru from the future—was a stranger.
There was no trace of affection or tenderness in his expression when he looked at Emilia.
His eyes were cold, distant, and full of resentment.
The warmth that once defined him was gone, completely replaced by something hard and unrecognizable.
It was as if the Subaru they knew had been erased, leaving behind someone who no longer cared about the woman he once claimed to love more than anything in the world.
The Subaru of the present—without question the number one Emilia simp in existence—couldn't stand to see her in pain.
The sight of Emilia's shocked and trembling form filled him with anger so fierce it burned in his chest.
Without even thinking, he stepped forward, glaring daggers at his future self.
His voice rose in furious outrage, filled with emotion.
"Bastard! How can you talk to Emilia like that? Apologize to her right now!"
His shout echoed through the plaza, his fists clenched and his entire body shaking.
He didn't care who his opponent was—even if it was his own future self—there was no excuse for anyone, not even him, to speak that way to Emilia.
Zero, the Subaru from forty years in the future, turned his head toward his younger self and simply smiled.
It wasn't a kind smile.
It was the kind of grin that carried mockery, amusement, and something darker hidden underneath.
He chuckled softly, as if the words he had just heard were the funniest thing in the world.
"Ah, yes. Indeed, it was my mistake," he said suddenly, his tone shifting as he placed a hand over his chest with a guilty expression.
"I shouldn't have shouted at her like that. It was wrong of me."
The change in his demeanor caught everyone off guard.
Emilia's eyes widened slightly, the smallest spark of hope flickering to life within them.
Maybe he wasn't as cruel as he seemed.
Maybe somewhere inside, her Subaru was still there—the kind and gentle boy who always protected her, who always smiled for her sake.
That had to be the truth.
Yes… that had to be it.
Her Subaru wasn't someone who would ever hurt her.
He was a good boy, someone who would never let anyone—least of all himself—make her cry.
And what this good forty-year-old body did next was indeed praiseworthy.
Next moment fragile hope shattered in an instant.
The expression of guilt on the older Subaru's face slowly twisted, contorting into something far more sinister.
His lips curved into a malicious grin, and his eyes glinted with a cruel light that made everyone around him instinctively step back.
His next words sliced through the air like a blade.
"I shouldn't have shouted at her," he said mockingly, his grin widening. "I should slap this bitch instead."
Before anyone could react, a writhing shadow burst forth from Zero's body—emerging from his gut like a living nightmare.
The dark appendage, silent and swift, surged toward Emilia before the younger Subaru or anyone else could move.
A sharp, sickening smack echoed across the plaza.
The invisible hand struck Emilia hard across the face, the force of it sending her stumbling backward.
Her cry was swallowed by the horrified silence that followed.
She collapsed to the ground, her silver hair falling over her shoulder as she clutched her cheek, where a red mark—shaped unmistakably like a handprint—was already forming.
Everyone stood frozen, staring in disbelief at the scene before them.
No one spoke.
No one even breathed.
The sound of that slap still rang in their ears, echoing like a cruel reminder of just how far Subaru—that Subaru—had fallen.
"Emilia!" Subaru shouted, his voice filled with shock and fury.
The very instant he saw her being slapped, a violent surge of rage exploded inside him.
Without hesitation, he unleashed his Invisible Providence, and from deep within his gut, an unseen shadowy hand burst forth, striking toward Zero with murderous intent.
At the same time, another invisible hand shot out from Zero's body, meeting Subaru's attack midway through the air.
The two shadowy forces collided violently, generating a faint but sharp shockwave that rippled through the surroundings.
Subaru gritted his teeth in agony as he felt a stabbing pain twist through his abdomen, the backlash of his own ability hitting him hard.
Zero, on the other hand, stood completely unfazed, as if nothing had happened.
His calm and indifferent demeanor only fueled Subaru's rage further.
Subaru's eyes turned bloodshot, his expression twisting with a mixture of anger, pain, and desperation.
"No one hurts my Emilia! Not even me!" he roared, his voice hoarse but burning with conviction.
In a single motion, he grabbed his whip and lashed it forward with all his strength.
The air cracked as the whip shot out, slicing toward Zero with deadly precision.
But Zero was ready—he reached behind his back and drew his own whip, intercepting Subaru's strike midair.
The sound of leather clashing echoed sharply, and sparks of tension filled the space between them.
At that moment, it felt as though the fragile balance between the two factions was on the brink of collapse.
The atmosphere grew heavy, and everyone watching could sense that a full-scale battle could erupt at any second.
Zero took a deliberate step forward, his gaze fixed coldly on Subaru.
"Don't intervene," Zero commanded in a low, firm voice. "I'll beat some sense into my younger self."
His words made Betty, Reina, and Gloria—who had already prepared to attack and reduce Subaru to ashes without hesitation—pause in their tracks.
Their magic and weapons, ready to be unleashed, were lowered as they exchanged uncertain glances.
The tension, however, did not fade; it only shifted, focusing entirely on the two men standing face-to-face.
Subaru, still breathing heavily, his chest rising and falling with fury, glared back at Zero.
His anger had not subsided in the slightest.
His face was contorted, veins bulging on his temples, and his voice came out rough and trembling with emotion.
"No one will intervene," Subaru growled through clenched teeth. "I'll make him pay for what he did to Emilia. I'll make him regret ever laying a hand on her!"
Emilia, still stunned from the slap, stared at Subaru.
The shock in her eyes slowly faded when she saw the resolve carved into his face, and she shook herself free of the daze.
Biting her lip, she refused anyone's help and pushed herself to her feet, determined to stand on her own.
"Subaru, have you lost your mind?" Beako blurted, glaring at her contractor.
"Even without counting the way his ability can kill someone in an instant, he can teleport and manipulate objects with some unknown power—he's dangerous, don't be reckless!" Her voice quivered with equal parts fear and anger as she tried to reach reason into the moment.
Others echoed her concern.
"Captain — I'll follow you!" someone else shouted, stepping forward with clenched fists.
"I'll beat that bastard to dust with you!" They were ready to join the fray, adrenaline and loyalty pushing them onward.
"Noooo!" Subaru howled, the sound ripping through the tense air and making everyone flinch.
His shout carried a raw, painful insistence that cut through the group's rising momentum.
"This is between us," Zero said coolly, finishing the thought with a note of cold finality.
"Do not intervene. I won't stoop so low as to use underhanded tricks against my younger self. I'll fight him on equal terms—unlike you gutter rats."
His insult was deliberate, meant to provoke and isolate Subaru even further.
At that insult, the others ground their teeth. Reinhardt's hands clenched into tight fists as he glanced toward Reina.
She watched the scene without flinching, her expression flat and unreadable—but her eyes were hard, filled with a clear, unspoken threat that said, plainly: one more sneak attack and I will obliterate every last one of you.
Reinhardt knew better than to underestimate her.
She had already utterly destroyed him once—defeated him with what amounted to a single stick in her hand—and now she held Reid at her side.
There was no contest between them anymore.
She could unleash Reid completely if she chose, and the thought made Reinhardt abandon any hope of matching her in a straight confrontation.
So he fell into the only role left to him: guardian.
He would stay on his feet, alert and ready, positioned to protect his lady and to react instantly to any surprise attack from the other side.
At the very least, he would make sure he could retreat with Felt if things went south.
Protecting her—keeping her safe—was his job, and he would not risk jeopardizing that by seeking to fight a battle he could not win.
He had already let go of any hope of contending with Reina directly.
To even attempt that he would have to unleash Reid completely too—and if both sides let loose their full strength and their attacks collided, there would be no Felt left for him to shield.
The entire city of Priestella could be caught in the crossfire.
That thought tightened his chest and made him set his stance more firmly, resolved to do whatever it took to keep at least one person out of harm's way.
"Captain, get him!" Garfiel was the first to cheer, his voice loud and filled with raw determination.
The words rang out like a battle cry, a spark meant to ignite courage in Subaru.
"Subaru-dono, win it for us," Wilhelm said, his gaze shifting first to Reina and then down to the lifeless body of the Theresia soldier standing before them.
That bastard had stolen two of his most precious things, turning them into enemies against him.
The fury and resentment boiling within Wilhelm were tangible; the future Subaru—this version of him—was someone he could never forgive.
"Betty… believes in her contractor," Beako said quietly, her eyes locked on Subaru.
Even if the person standing before him was Subaru himself, her faith in him did not waver.
She knew her Subaru had a way of defying the impossible, of turning despair into miracles, just as he always had.
Her words carried that unshakable trust, and in that moment, they seemed to reinforce the courage pulsing within him.
"Subaru-kun, win it and show him the willpower of a Lugunican knight," Julius added, his voice firm and commanding.
Each word reinforced the expectation that Subaru could not fail, that his actions could inspire hope even in the face of overwhelming odds.
"Natsuki Subaru, win it for us!" Even Crusch, who had been silent until now, spoke up, her voice carrying weight and authority.
Her encouragement was rare, precise, and meaningful—adding another layer of resolve to Subaru's heart.
Subaru didn't look at any of them directly, though. Instead, his gaze shifted to Emilia, who was holding her cheek tenderly, still recovering from the blow she had received.
She met his eyes, her own filled with quiet reassurance, and whispered, "I know… you will win."
The simple words, combined with the faith reflected in her eyes, gave Subaru the courage he needed.
Seeing Emilia believe in him, he felt a surge of determination strong enough to face his far more powerful future self.
In that moment, fear and doubt were pushed aside; he had a reason to fight, a reason to defy the impossible.
Meanwhile, Zero, ever the provocateur, acted with exaggerated dramatics, mocking the scene unfolding before him.
"So emotional… I'm going to cry!" he announced, his tone dripping with irony.
Then, with a wry smirk and a theatrical pause, he added, "I really should have brought popcorn to watch this special episode of Anime: Re Zero – I Am Starting My Life in Another World from Zero."
His words were ridiculous, yet they served to heighten the tension, turning the moment into a strange blend of absurdity and impending violence.
The others in the group didn't understand the jab, only Subaru and Alderban caught the meaning behind the words, fully aware of the implications that Zero's future self was throwing at them.
"I am going to wipe that smug look right off your face!" Subaru growled, his voice laced with anger and determination as he gripped the hilt of his whip tightly, letting the leather coil in his hand like a living extension of his will.
Even Zero, sensing the seriousness in Subaru's tone, snapped his own whip sharply in response, the sound cutting through the tension-filled air.
He readied himself, prepared to engage his younger self with everything he had, fully committed to the confrontation.
The energy between them crackled with anticipation, as if the air itself was holding its breath, waiting for the collision of two equally determined forces.
Alderban, meanwhile, had not yet recovered from the humiliation of being cuckolded and the sting of betrayal that still gnawed at him.
Shaking off some of the lingering shock, he strode over to Priscilla's side, his movements calm and deliberate, though he was only pretending to maintain composure.
He had to act composed, even if inside he was seething.
"Princess," he asked, his tone carefully measured and deceptively calm, "who do you support?"
His gaze shifted sharply between Zero, who had already humiliated him once by making his Lady impregnated with his child, and Subaru, who will be supposedly doing the same in near future.
Both were potential sources of further embarrassment and defeat, yet both were equally commanding in their presence.
Priscilla's lips curled into a smile, her eyes sparkling with arrogance and a barely concealed sense of superiority.
"Me?" she said, her tone dripping with haughty confidence.
"Naturally, my divine self supports Zero."
The words hit Alderban like a punch to the gut.
His jaw tightened, his pulse racing, disbelief and fury warring within him. Why the hell was she supporting her enemy?
Why would the princess, someone he expected to side with him, choose to endorse the very person who stood against them?
Priscilla's voice softened slightly but retained its imperious tone as she elaborated.
"I've just realized how pathetic it is to watch the father of my future daughter grovel at the feet of a half-elf. I remember how he humiliated himself back in the Capital for the sake of this half-elf, almost to the point of being abandoned. That is an insult to someone whose child I will bear."
Her words were sharp, precise, and laced with judgment.
Every syllable cut into Alderban's pride, driving home the realization that she was not just supporting Zero—she was condemning him.
The combination of her arrogance, clarity, and cold logic left no room for argument.
In that moment, Alderban understood that he was not merely facing a personal defeat; he was witnessing the full extent of Priscilla's loyalty and judgment, and it stung more than any physical blow could.
Alderban's face darkened beneath the shadow of his helmet, his expression hidden but the tension radiating off him palpable.
His voice, when he spoke, was strict and measured, carrying the weight of both authority and suppressed anger.
"Princess," he said firmly, "you should not use words about bearing a child—it is vulgar, Princess."
The reprimand came out as controlled as he could manage, yet there was a sharp edge to it that betrayed the depth of his discomfort.
Priscilla, however, met his words with an almost amused expression.
Her eyes glinted with mischief, and a smile slowly spread across her face.
"Alderban," she said, her tone light but pointed, "are you… jealous, perhaps?"
Her words struck him unexpectedly, freezing him in place.
For a moment, he could not respond; he could not deny the sting of truth in her observation.
He opened his mouth to answer, yet no words came.
Silence enveloped him, heavy and suffocating, as the reality of her mockery pressed down.
"You are a splendid servant, Alderban," Priscilla continued, her smile broadening, radiating an unsettling mixture of admiration and superiority.
But then, in the blink of an eye, her gaze shifted.
Her eyes, once playful, became sharp and dangerous, the sudden intensity cutting into Alderban like a blade.
"However," she added, her voice now commanding and cold, "it is not your right to interfere in my personal matters. You must not forget your position, Alderban. That is something you should always remember."
Alderban remained silent, the weight of her words pressing down on him.
He knew all too well the consequences of challenging her directly.
In the past, any attempt to dispute her decisions had ended with him being humiliated or punished, sometimes severely, resulting in him dying thousands of times.
The memory of those failures, fresh and humiliating, held him in a vice of caution.
"I—I understand, Princess," he said finally, his voice strained and faltering, heavy with reluctant obedience.
He did not raise his fists, did not make any move to resist.
He knew that even the slightest show of defiance might provoke her wrath and bring about his ruin.
Resigned and aware of the peril in challenging her authority, he kept his posture rigid, every fiber of his being tense, silently acknowledging the unassailable nature of Priscilla's command.
Priscilla's attention shifted, landing on the girl she assumed would one day be her daughter—Gloria.
Her eyes traced the small, now-healed hand, recently re-attached and restored by Felix's careful magic.
The wound that had been there only moments ago had vanished, leaving no trace of the injury except the memory of its cause.
The hand had been severed by her own daughter.
'To cut her mother's hand so ruthlessly, without hesitation, all in order to protect her liege and her father…' Priscilla thought, her expression a mixture of awe and cold approval.
'She truly is worthy of being my daughter.'
The level of courage and devotion displayed, even in such a brutal act, impressed her more than she expected.
Then, her gaze shifted to the two Subarus walking steadily toward one another.
There was no mistaking the tension in their movements, the weight of their determination pressing down like a physical force.
If, in the past, Subaru's battles had been fought to save the city of Priestella, to stop mass murderers and dangerous madmen… then this fight was different.
This was intensely personal.
Every step he took radiated fury and resolve.
His heart burned with the single, unyielding goal that had driven him here: he swore, with every fiber of his being, that he would make Zero pay.
Pay for the audacity, the sheer brutality, of raising his hand against Emilia.
Every instinct in Subaru's body, every ounce of his strength, was now focused on making his more powerful future self regret the moment he dared to harm her.
This was no longer a battle for territory, no longer a clash of ideals—it was a confrontation driven purely by personal stakes, by pride, loyalty, and the unbreakable bond he felt for Emilia.
Each of them knew that when their forces collided, there would be no holding back, no restraint, only the raw determination to protect, to punish, and to prove oneself.
To be continued...
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