The decorations of this mansion were as flamboyant as its owner.
Golden candelabras, gem-encrusted paintings, and carpets embroidered with intricate patterns filled every inch of space, flaunting wealth and power in a way that was uncomfortably dazzling to the eye.
Subaru's steps were unsteady as she walked across the overly soft carpet.
Behind her, Carlisle maintained a subtle distance, neither too close nor letting her out of his sight. She could not shake him off.
She had intended to slip away quietly, but Carlisle was frighteningly perceptive.
Ever since her breakdown in the market, he had followed her every step, as if afraid she would disappear at any moment.
He should not have come...
Carlisle gazed at the swaying figure ahead, his brows tightly furrowed.
What was wrong with Subaru?
Why had she come to Priscilla's mansion?
He had tried to approach her earlier, but Subaru's shoulders immediately tensed, and her fingers unconsciously clutched the hem of her clothes. She was trembling. He could not push her any further.
Finally, they stopped before a large, gilded, intricately carved door.
Subaru took a deep breath and finally spoke.
"…Carlisle, I'm going in. Just wait outside…"
Her voice was extremely soft.
"And… don't come in."
Before he could respond, the door had already closed.
Carlisle's hand hovered in midair, then slowly lowered.
What… had happened?
"Oh? Isn't this the one who caused a commotion in the Royal Capital with her Knight?"
Priscilla leaned lazily against her hand, her fingernails tapping rhythmically against the gilded armrest.
Sunlight filtered through the glass, casting dappled shadows across her figure, making her opulent gown appear even more dazzling.
"The notice said someone from Emilia's faction wished to see me, so I thought that half-elf had come to bow her head in person. What do you want from me?"
Her deliberately drawn-out final syllable coiled like a venomous snake.
Calm… I must stay calm…
"I'm here to ask for help." Subaru forced herself to meet those crimson eyes directly. "The White Whale has appeared… the Witch Cult is about to attack Roswaal's domain…"
"Oh my~"
Priscilla suddenly covered her lips with her fan.
"Isn't this interesting? But why should I help a rival's territory?"
Subaru's stomach tightened.
She should have expected this.
"This is not a one-sided request!" Her voice rose unconsciously. "The glory of subjugating the White Whale and the Archbishop of Sin will certainly benefit your Royal Selection! And…"
Her rapid breathing made her throat ache, but she forced herself to continue.
"After everything is resolved, Lord Roswaal will definitely provide a substantial reward. Gold coins, magic ore, even trade privileges in Roswaal's borderlands."
The room suddenly fell into a suffocating silence.
Priscilla's fan paused midair, her scarlet pupils examining Subaru.
Subaru could hear her own violent heartbeat.
Then
"Pfft… Hahahaha!"
A sharp, piercing laugh erupted.
Priscilla bent over slightly as she laughed, her jeweled earrings trembling in the sunlight.
"What a splendid performance~" she said, wiping away tears of laughter.
She stood and walked forward. The tip of her fan suddenly lifted Subaru's chin, a playful glint flashing in her red eyes.
"Your ideas are far too naive."
"…What?"
Subaru's throat tightened.
Priscilla returned to her seat leisurely, her fingers lightly tapping the armrest.
"Do you think I care about the conditions you proposed?"
Her voice carried clear condescension.
"The honor of subjugating the Witch Cult and the White Whale? If I desire such things, the world itself will offer them to me."
"As for Roswaal's reward? Gold coins? Trade privileges?"
She gave a soft, elegant laugh as she unfolded her fan.
"How laughable.
The wealth I possess is enough to purchase ten border count domains."
Subaru's fingers began to tremble.
"What is even more laughable is this."
Priscilla's red eyes narrowed slightly.
"You, a mere subordinate, dare to act as an envoy and negotiate? Fabricating authority to save others, even promising benefits you have no power to grant to an enemy…"
Her voice turned cold.
"And that half-elf, as a Royal Selection candidate, cannot even protect her own territory and must rely on others to save her?"
"Truly… utterly unsightly."
Subaru's breathing quickened, her voice trembling under suppressed emotion.
"Then… what… what would it take for you to send troops?"
Her fingernails dug deeply into her palms.
"If they are not stopped… many people… will die…"
Priscilla watched her in silence. After a moment, she suddenly smiled.
"However~"
Her tone softened ever so slightly.
"Although your ideas are laughably naive, this desire to save others is worth acknowledging."
A faint glimmer of hope appeared in Subaru's eyes.
"So, I can grant you a chance."
"A chance…?"
"It is simple."
Priscilla lightly covered her mouth with her fan, a cruel amusement flickering in her red eyes.
"Kneel."
"Discard your dignity.
Discard your pride.
Discard your foolish persistence."
"Then…"
"Crawl on the ground and beg like a stray dog."
"Perhaps… I may take pity and grant you a little assistance."
Subaru's heart felt as though it had been submerged in ice water.
Kneel… beg…?
If that… could save them…
Had she not already resolved herself?
Even if she had to abandon everything…
"I… understand…"
Her voice was so soft it was almost inaudible.
Her knees slowly bent, and just as she was about to kneel
Bang!
The large door was violently pushed open.
A firm hand steadied her shoulder, gently lifting her body before she could bow.
"Subaru."
A familiar voice spoke beside her ear.
"Come back with me."
Subaru slowly turned her head.
Carlisle stood there, his usually gentle blue eyes now burning with rare, cold anger.
"Carlisle… you heard…"
Subaru forced a faint smile, her fingers lightly touching his chest.
"Didn't you say… you would wait outside?" Her voice was as fragile as a thread about to snap. "Don't worry… it will be over… soon…"
But Carlisle did not move.
His gaze passed over Subaru and fixed directly on the woman seated on the throne.
"Lady Priscilla," he said in a low voice.
"If discarding one's dignity alone could secure your reinforcements, would such a condition truly hold value?"
Priscilla's red eyes narrowed slightly.
"Perhaps. After all, I am in a relatively good mood today."
"No."
Carlisle's voice cut through the air like cold steel.
"You will not send troops."
The atmosphere froze instantly.
"The Royal Selection is not a game, and border conflict is not an act of charity." He stepped forward, completely shielding Subaru behind him. "What you desire has never been a spectacle of kneeling and begging."
Priscilla's fan stopped moving.
"As far as I understand," Carlisle continued, his fingers resting lightly on the hilt of his sword, "what you despise most are those who beg without dignity."
The gilded hall fell into complete silence, broken only by Subaru's uneven breathing.
"Am I… correct?"
The knight's blue eyes glimmered coldly.
Priscilla's fan snapped shut.
"Interesting~" she laughed again, her body trembling slightly, her jeweled earrings flashing brilliantly. "A mere knight dares to presume my preferences?"
But Carlisle noticed her fingers tighten slightly.
It was an instinctive reaction to having her thoughts exposed.
So that was it… she would never send troops simply because of begging… this was nothing more than a cruel amusement…
Subaru's pupils shrank violently as a delayed chill spread through her body.
If she had truly knelt just now…
She would have only become a source of entertainment.
She would not have saved anyone.
Carlisle's hand suddenly covered her trembling fingers.
Carlisle looked directly at Priscilla, his voice steady and resolute.
"Lady Priscilla, you should understand that Subaru stands here to save others.
She is willing to abandon her dignity, not for herself, but for the innocent lives that may be lost."
"Refusing assistance is your right, but if you insist on using this opportunity to humiliate someone acting with good intentions…"
Carlisle stepped forward.
"I will not stand by and remain silent."
His voice was neither submissive nor arrogant, yet it carried undeniable resolve.
"You may reject our request, but please do not trample upon the goodwill of others.
A true ruler should know how to recognize courage worthy of respect."
After speaking, Carlisle did not hesitate. He took Subaru's hand and turned to leave.
The moment the door closed
Snap!
The fan in Priscilla's hand broke under her grip.
Her scarlet pupils contracted slightly, her chest rising and falling as anger surged within her.
A mere knight… daring to speak to me in such a manner…
She took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down, but the fury in her eyes remained.
After a moment, she suddenly looked up.
"Al Debaran!"
As her voice fell, a tall figure appeared at the doorway like a shadow.
"Is there something you require, Princess?"
Al still wore his signature helmet.
Priscilla's fingers curled into a tight fist.
"You. Go and kill that knight from Emilia's faction for me."
Al fell silent for a moment.
"Carlisle Eltheran?" His tone remained respectful, though tinged with helplessness. "Princess, setting aside the matter of strength, such an action… politically, diplomatically, and in terms of knightly conduct, is unacceptable, is it not?"
"This is an order!" Priscilla's anger flared once more.
"Go at once!"
Al sighed softly, like someone soothing a stubborn child.
"Princess, please calm yourself."
"Although that knight offended you, directly assassinating him will only create greater complications."
"Furthermore, he just left your presence. If he were to die immediately, all suspicion would fall upon you.
You are destined to become King. Why trouble yourself over such a minor matter?"
However, Priscilla refused to listen.
"Silence!" She stood abruptly.
"My word is absolute. You need only obey!"
Al fell silent again.
What a troublesome situation…
Still, he maintained a respectful posture and slowly lowered his head.
"…As you command, Princess."
However, there was no killing intent in his voice, only a faint sense of perfunctory compliance.
After speaking, he turned and left. After walking a short distance down the corridor, he suddenly collapsed onto the ground.
"Whoa! Why can't I move?! What kind of magic is this?!"
Lying there, he continued his act while thinking to himself.
Anyway… she will probably forget about this by tomorrow, right?
After all, her anger was always nothing more than a passing whim.
...
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