As the sun set, Carlisle , along with Subaru and Rem, concluded their long visit. Aside from Felt's camp showing genuine friendship, the attitudes of the other Royal Selection candidates were disappointing.
Although Duchess Crusch and President Anastasia both expressed a willingness for friendship and even alliance, they proposed the same condition.
"As long as Knight Carlisle is willing to join our camp..."
Before the sentence was finished, Rem's eyes instantly turned cold. The hostility surging in her blue pupils made Felix's cat ears twitch alertly. Julius, standing beside Anastasia, silently placed his hand on the hilt of his sword.
"Thank you for the kind offer." Carlisle subtly stepped forward and shielded Rem behind him. "But my sword will only ever be wielded for Emilia sama."
The experience of visiting Priscilla's camp nearly made Subaru explode with anger. Although Carlisle knew he had no personal relationship with Priscilla's knight, Al, the arrogant lady's attitude still exceeded his expectations.
"This one has no interest in the trivial matters of other camps." Priscilla lazily fanned herself with a gilded folding fan while her crimson eyes scanned everyone present. "Emilia actually only sent a knight to see this one?"
Subaru immediately jumped up like a startled cat.
"This is a knight recognized by the kingdom as second only to the Sword Saint!"
"Hmph."
The folding fan snapped shut with a crisp sound as Priscilla looked down at them arrogantly.
"What do outside opinions have to do with this one? Since he did not actively pledge allegiance to this one, that means..." She deliberately drew out the last words. "He is nothing special."
She suddenly pointed the tip of her fan toward Al beside her.
"This one's knight, Al Debaran, will certainly not be inferior to him."
"Ah, me?"
Although Al wore a helmet, everyone could clearly sense his complete reluctance from his suddenly stiff posture and the slight way he leaned backward. Unfortunately, his liege seemed completely unaware of his reaction.
---
Carlisle sighed softly as he walked along the stone path leading back to Roswaal's residence in the Royal Capital. Such a result was entirely within his expectations. Among the five Royal Selection candidates, Emilia's camp indeed possessed extremely formidable strength.
Despite the silver haired half elf's controversial reputation within the kingdom, her camp's lineup was exceptionally powerful.
Emilia herself was an outstanding Spirit User and had formed a contract with the Great Spirit Puck, who controlled fire attribute mana. As her recommender, Roswaal was widely acknowledged as the kingdom's strongest mage.
Moreover, the other Royal Selection candidates were fully aware that deep within the mansion of that frontier count, another Great Spirit resided.
The kingdom's strongest mage and two Great Spirits.
Carlisle looked up at the stars beginning to appear in the sky, a faint bitter smile appearing on his lips.
He had no idea that at this very moment, in the secret intelligence reports of multiple factions, his information had been specifically circled with red ink. What those Royal Selection candidates truly desired was this blue haired knight who was second only to the Sword Saint within the kingdom.
Subaru looked at Carlisle, who was sighing while lowering his head, and could not help tugging on his cloak.
"Alright, stop sighing."
She stood on her tiptoes and poked his furrowed forehead.
"That Roswaal guy is way too reckless, making you, a military officer, do a civil officer's job. What is even worse..." Subaru waved her hands angrily. "He did not even give us a proper bargaining chip. Saying something like 'Your connections with the knights are enough'? What a joke."
Carlisle rubbed his forehead where she had poked him and gave a helpless smile.
"Haha... it seems I will disappoint Emilia sama. However..."
He turned to look at the bustling streets of the Royal Capital.
"Since the time Roswaal sama gave us has not ended yet, let us remain in the Royal Capital for a few more days."
"Hmph."
Subaru placed her hands on her hips, her eyes sparkling brightly.
"So you still remember our promise? Then for the next few days..."
She deliberately stretched out her words.
"You have to properly show me around the Royal Capital, just like you promised. Got it?"
Carlisle looked at Subaru's expectant face and unconsciously relaxed his expression.
"Yes, yes. I guarantee that I will complete the mission."
He performed a knight's bow as his blue hair gently swayed in the evening breeze.
---
Thus, in the faint morning light of the following day, the three of them rode through the misty streets in a ground dragon carriage. The enticing aroma of freshly baked apple pie filled the carriage.
Subaru held a warm paper bag while watching Rem hand a cup of hot tea to Carlisle. The morning sunlight fell perfectly across his blue hair.
As they strolled through the Royal Capital, Subaru once again witnessed Carlisle's popularity among the common people.
Whenever she stopped at a street stall, the vendors who recognized Carlisle would enthusiastically offer their goods for free. However, Carlisle always politely refused and carefully placed the correct coins onto the stall.
At noon they arrived at the plaza with the fountain.
The pigeons around the fountain were indeed as round and plump as Carlisle had described. Rem pulled out breadcrumbs she had prepared earlier, and the laughter of the three of them drifted upward with the flock of pigeons flying into the blue sky.
The sign of the restaurant "Oak Barrel and Hearth" glowed warmly in the sunlight. Although the food here could not compare with Rem's cooking, when Subaru bit into the juicy grilled steak, she was suddenly reminded of that afternoon when Carlisle first brought her to this restaurant shortly after she arrived in this other world.
As night fell, a newly opened Kararagi restaurant made Subaru's eyes widen.
"O Okonomiyaki?"
Her trembling chopsticks pointed toward the food on the plate.
"And this... this is sushi, right?"
The familiar flavor bloomed across her tongue, and Subaru remembered Anastasia's distinctive accent.
Could it be that before her, other people from another world had visited this place?
Even though Rem unexpectedly joined them, Subaru still enjoyed herself immensely. Walking side by side with the person she liked through the streets of another world and sharing freshly baked desserts created a simple happiness that warmed her heart.
It was not until the afternoon of the third day that the familiar apple stall appeared again.
Subaru's eyes lit up as she skipped forward.
"Hey Uncle, are your appas sweet?"
The dozing vendor woke with a start and replied instinctively.
"Of course. My appas are the best in the Royal Capital... Wait, it is you again, you poor girl?"
"I already told you that I have a proper job now." Subaru puffed out her cheeks. "And it has been so long since we first met. Why are you still holding a grudge, Uncle?"
The vendor snorted and tapped the stall with a rough finger.
"Who told you to ask whether there were something called cameras in the appas back then? You made me worry for half a day that I had met a lunatic."
"Ah, ah, ah, do not bring that up."
Subaru stomped her feet as her face turned red.
"I had just arrived in the Royal Capital back then."
She suddenly winked mischievously.
"But Uncle, if you act so fierce, you will scare away customers."
"Enough talking."
The vendor turned his face away and casually tossed a bright red apple toward her.
"Buy it or do not."
Subaru caught it smoothly.
"Wow. I did not expect Uncle to play the tsundere role."
"Huh?"
"Nothing." Subaru stretched out the word playfully. "Then please pack me a bag of your sweetest appas."
The vendor muttered "troublesome kid" but still placed the largest apples from the stall into the bag.
Carlisle's attention was drawn to the crowd gathered not far from the apple stall.
He squeezed through the people and saw a large notice board. It contained the official announcement of the Royal Selection's commencement.
The notice clearly stated that the Royal Selection of Lugunica would last for three years, and that one of the five candidates would ultimately become the new king.
At the top were the two most prominent candidates.
Crusch Karsten, the eldest daughter of a ducal house, praised as the War Princess at a young age after repelling demon beasts from her territory in place of her father.
Anastasia Hoshin, president of the world famous Hoshin Trading Company, renowned for her extraordinary business talent.
"A silver haired half elf? Are those people in the palace insane?"
"Allowing a half demon to participate in the Royal Selection is completely absurd."
Harsh whispers drifted into Carlisle kun's ears.
He turned and saw two commoners pointing at the names on the notice board. What troubled him even more was that many of the surrounding people nodded in agreement.
Is it because of the Witch of Envy?
Carlisle sighed inwardly. Although he had lived in this world for nineteen years, he still could not understand the prejudice that had lasted for four hundred years.
Why should that innocent silver haired girl be blamed for what was written in history books?
He knew that arguing would be meaningless. All he could do was assist Emilia as her knight and help her become king.
With that thought in mind, he quietly withdrew from the crowd and returned to the fruit stall.
"Here you go, young lady. Your appas"
The vendor gruffly handed over a large bag that was so full it looked as though the apples might spill out.
"Thanks, Uncle."
Subaru happily accepted the bag, then turned and noticed Carlisle's serious expression.
"What is wrong? Carlisle kun, why do you look so serious?"
"It is nothing." Carlisle forced a smile. "Finished shopping? Then let us go."
He naturally took the bag of apples, and the three of them continued strolling through the Royal Capital.
Two more peaceful days passed like this.
Until the afternoon of the sixth day.
The trio had just returned to the residence. The glow of the setting sun filtered through the curtains and fell across the pages of a book.
Carlisle had just opened a knight novel when an urgent knock suddenly broke the quiet atmosphere of the room.
When he opened the door, Rem was standing there.
"What is wrong, Rem? Did something..."
Before Carlisle could finish speaking, Rem suddenly rushed forward and tightly grabbed his wrist.
The girl's slender fingers were terrifyingly cold, and they trembled slightly.
"Carlisle"
Her voice carried a panic he had never heard before. Her crystal blue eyes shook violently.
"We must return immediately. Right now. At once."
The twilight outside the window suddenly seemed to grow heavy.
Rem's next words made the temperature inside the room drop sharply.
"My sister and the others are in danger."
T/N- It's about time Subaru understands, life is not sunshine and rainbows.
White whale arc begins.
...
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