A week had passed since the picnic, and time seemed to have resumed its usual frenetic pace. Yuji was finishing a quick conversation with some villagers near the entrance to Arlam village, while Emilia waited a little ways away, keeping her face carefully hidden under the shadows of her unusual cloak.
Yuji bid farewell to the villagers with a wave and walked over to her. Throughout their time there, he had noticed that she hadn't tried to interact with anyone, maintaining a safe and silent distance that seemed almost rehearsed. He chose not to ask certain things; he had learned it was better to find out on his own or wait for her to decide to share.
"Shall we go?" he asked, beginning the walk back towards the mansion.
Emilia nodded, the fabric of her cloak swaying gently as they walked. Yuji couldn't help but glance curiously at the garment.
"Hey, Emilia…" he began, gesturing towards her head. "Why this cloak? These points… they look like rabbit ears, don't they?"
She gave a low chuckle, touching the points of the hood.
"Roswaal made it for me," she explained, her voice muffled by the fabric. "It's so I'm not easily recognized when I'm outside the mansion. It's useful, even if the design is a little… eccentric."
Yuji observed her profile, the shadows obscuring her delicate features. He connected the dots in his mind with the little he'd heard about the politics of that world.
"Of course," he thought. "It's because of the Royal Selection."
The idea that she needed to hide just to walk in a nearby village made him feel a pang of unease. He looked at the horizon, the path to the mansion stretching ahead, feeling that the more he learned about the responsibilities weighing on Emilia's shoulders, the less the world seemed like the peaceful and simple place he had tried to protect.
As they walked, the conversation flowed naturally, and Yuji, without thinking much before speaking, let slip a sincere compliment:
"You know, Emilia… you're really beautiful. You wouldn't need to hide your face all the time behind that cloak."
The words hung in the air for a second before he realized what he had said. Emilia paused for a moment, her face flushing intensely under the shadow of the hood, and she looked away, visibly embarrassed.
Upon reaching the entrance of the mansion, the atmosphere changed. An imposing and strange dragon carriage blocked the path. A middle-aged gentleman, with a dignified posture and a gaze full of experience, descended from the vehicle and, upon seeing them, bowed respectfully, apologizing for stopping in front of Miss Emilia's residence. He introduced himself as Wilhelm. "Excuse my intrusion."
__
Inside the mansion, the atmosphere was tense. Ram waited at the entrance and, without ceremony, informed them that the matter was urgent: the Emissary from the Capital had arrived to discuss the details of the Royal Selection. Emilia was immediately summoned for the official conversation, and Yuji was sidelined, as if his presence there were unnecessary, or worse, as if he were a stranger to that political sphere.
Feeling out of place, Yuji moved away from the meeting room and looked out the window. He saw Wilhelm working calmly, cleaning his carriage with an almost ritualistic dedication. Moved by an impulse of kindness, Yuji took a tray with a tea set and went out to offer it to the gentleman.
"You seem tired from the journey," said Yuji, extending the tray.
Wilhelm stopped working, looked at Yuji attentively and, with a slight smile of gratitude, accepted the gesture.
"Thank you for your kindness, young man," said the veteran, his voice carrying the weight of many years of battle.
#01
While Wilhelm drank his tea, Yuji stood there for a moment, observing the man and wondering what exactly the arrival of that emissary would mean for Emilia's fate and, consequently, for his own role in that world he was still trying to protect.
Yuji observed the old swordsman's bearing as he drank his tea; despite his white hair and the marks of time, there was a discipline in his movements that revealed a warrior in top form.
"You're in great shape for someone your age," Yuji commented, admiring the man's firm posture.
Wilhelm gave a restrained smile, his gray eyes focused on the horizon.
"Discipline is what keeps old steel sharp, young man. But let's not talk about me." He looked away, fixing his gaze on the cuts on Yuji's face. "What intrigues me is how someone so young carries such deep battle scars on a face that should only know peace."
Yuji felt a tightness in his chest, memories of the slaughter game and the battles against the curses flashing before his eyes. He didn't want to expose that past; not there, not now.
"Let's just say that where I came from didn't give me many choices..." Yuji replied, changing the subject with a forced smile. "But, speaking of Emilia... she's putting in a lot of effort in this Selection. I'm happy to see how dedicated she is."
Wilhelm sighed, a deep sound that seemed to echo centuries of history.
"The path she chose is not only arduous, it's a thorny trail that demands a sacrifice few can bear. Willpower is commendable, but courage without the necessary experience can become too heavy a burden."
Before Yuji could respond, a slightly feminine and melodious voice interrupted the exchange.
"Wilhelm, I apologize for the delay, I made you wait too long, didn't I?"
Yuji turned and saw an elegant figure approaching. The being possessed cat ears that swayed slightly with each step, and a dazzling dress that seemed to emit its own glow. She exuded an aura of authority and sweetness at the same time.
Wilhelm stood promptly, bowing to the newly arrived figure.
"Don't apologize, Felix. I was just enjoying a very pleasant conversation with this young man," he replied, indicating Yuji with a respectful gesture.
The young woman with cat ears turned her curious eyes to Yuji, observing him with a mixture of seriousness and sympathy.
#02
"A young man?" she asked, her voice sounding like music. "I don't recall ever seeing anyone with that aura in the mansion before. Tell me, what is your name, and what winds brought you to this place so far from the conflicts of the capital?"
Yuji felt the weight of her attention and, for the first time, realized that this chance encounter with the emissary would be much more than just a brief conversation on the veranda.
Yuji scratched the back of his neck, slightly disconcerted by the visitor's magnetic aura.
"I am merely Yuji Itadori, a butler in the service of the house." He introduced himself, maintaining a respectful but direct tone. "I'm nobody important, just someone who does what needs to be done."
The girl with the cat ears let out a graceful giggle, revealing a mischievous glint in her eye.
"A butler, is that you? You have a different bearing for someone who only serves tea, Yuji Itadori," she replied, before introducing herself. "Just call me Felix. It was a pleasure, but I fear our business here is only the beginning."
With the conversation over, Wilhelm and Felix said their goodbyes and left. Yuji wasted no time; he entered the mansion and found Emilia, who was already preparing for the inevitable departure to the Capital. Without hesitation, he expressed his desire to accompany her.
"Emilia, I want to go with you to the Capital."
Emilia hesitated, clearly uncomfortable involving Yuji in such a dangerous environment.
"Yuji, I don't want you to put yourself at risk because of me… this is a very serious political matter!" she explained, worried.
That's when Rem stepped forward, with a serene smile.
"Emilia-sama, Yuji-kun has been fundamental. In fact, he has helped many people in the capital and surrounding areas; it would be a perfect opportunity for those people to thank him for what he has done."
Yuji felt immense relief and, in a spontaneous and affectionate gesture, stroked Rem's hair as if she were a puppy, grateful for her support.
"Thank you, Rem, you're amazing!" he said, beaming.
Remi, who was watching the scene closely, puffed out her cheeks, indignant.
"Hey! That's not fair at all! I want some affection like that too, Yuji!" she complained, eliciting laughter from some who were watching the scene.
Roswaal, who had been observing everything with his usual enigmatic smile, interrupted Emilia's hesitation.
"Young Yuji is right, Emilia-sama. Protection is never too much, and he will serve perfectly as your bodyguard during this journey. So be it, then~"
Even with Emilia's initial reluctance, the decision was made.
...
The journey to the Capital unfolded with a silent tension that Yuji could barely explain. As soon as they disembarked, Emilia took Yuji's hand, but the gesture didn't seem romantic or casual; she led him with an almost possessive firmness, as if he were a pet dog being kept under control by an invisible leash. Yuji felt his face burn with shame and discomfort, but, remembering how his impulsive actions had already caused the mansion too many headaches, he decided to keep quiet and just go with the flow.
They soon found themselves in front of the most well-known fruit stand in the region. The Appas vendor barely noticed them approaching before his smile widened from ear to ear, genuine and warm.
"Well, if it isn't the two of them again!" the man exclaimed, already starting to prepare the fruit.
Yuji felt his heart warm instantly. Remembering when he and Emilia had been there before, during a much more chaotic and dangerous time, and seeing that gentleman and his daughter now, in complete peace, made it all worthwhile.
"It's so good to see you both," Yuji said, his tone betraying his genuine happiness. "I'm relieved you're both alright now."
He looked at the vendor's daughter, who seemed perfectly healthy and smiling, far from the dangers that once haunted that street. For a brief moment, the strangeness of being "led" by Emilia's hand lost its importance; seeing that, in the midst of that cruel world, he could still guarantee the safety of ordinary people was the fuel he needed to continue being the "knight" everyone expected him to be.
Yuji, still holding Emilia's hand as they walked through the busy streets, felt a pang of curiosity about the people who had marked his beginnings in that world.
"Emilia, speaking of which… do you know how Felt and Rom are doing?" he asked, looking around as if he expected to find them on any corner.
Emilia sighed, her expression becoming a little more serious.
"The knight, Reinhard, took Felt right after everything that happened," she explained. "If you're so keen to speak with him, I imagine you'll easily find him at the Guard Station, right in the center of the noble district."
Yuji nodded, but his focus quickly shifted to the matter that had been troubling him since they left the mansion.
"I see… I was thinking about the Royal Selection that starts tomorrow. I wanted to know if you're prepared, if there's anything I can do, any plan or…"
He was cut off abruptly. Yuji's grip on the hand tightened, and Emilia's posture instantly changed. She stopped walking and stared at him, her eyes now emanating an authority he rarely saw.
"Let's not talk about that now, Yuji," she said, her tone short and definitive, almost cold. "There's a time and a place for everything, and this is definitely not the subject I want to discuss while we're walking through the capital."
Yuji was disconcerted, mentally taking a step back. Her change in attitude was like a bucket of cold water; the gentle and reluctant Emilia of before seemed to have been replaced by someone who wore the weight of the crown even before earning it. He swallowed hard, feeling that the "butler" was losing his place to the "bodyguard," and that the distance between them, both emotional and political, was becoming much more real than he had imagined.
Upon arriving at the imposing Guard Station, the movement of guards and noble citizens was suddenly interrupted by a presence that seemed to exude elegance. A man with purple hair, impeccably dressed and with a posture that overflowed with refinement, approached the pair with a courteous smile.
"It's a true pleasure to see you again, Emilia-sama," he said, in a velvety and polite voice.
#03
Emilia, who moments before had maintained a rigid and authoritarian posture, seemed to relax slightly upon recognizing him.
"Julius! It's good to see you too," she replied, maintaining proper etiquette.
Yuji observed the scene, remaining alert as a bodyguard should. However, what followed left him slightly disconcerted. Julius, with the naturalness of someone who masters court customs, approached Emilia's hand and kissed it with exaggerated delicacy, maintaining eye contact for a second longer than necessary.
Yuji didn't feel jealous; he wasn't sure if he had that right or if that was the correct dynamic between them, but it seemed, at the very least, "a bit too much" for a knight. He had always seen knights as protectors focused on duty and honor, but the air of closeness and the way Julius invaded the personal space of the royal candidate seemed to exceed the limits of expected formality. Yuji adjusted his posture, clenching his fists slightly out of pure instinct, sensing that the Capital's politics had rules of etiquette that he was definitely not used to following.
Julius maintained his impeccable smile, completely ignoring Yuji's presence for a moment. "It's an honor to know that I still occupy a space in your memories, Emilia-sama," he said, his tone bordering on flattery, before adding with a slight nod: "And I must say that, with each encounter, your beauty seems to blossom even more."
Emilia, maintaining the serious posture she had adopted since the beginning of the day, did not let herself be carried away by the compliments. "Thank you, Julius, but I came to discuss important matters," she replied, brushing aside the flattery. "I would like to formally state that I wish you to act as my agent within the castle."
The knight narrowed his eyes, finally glancing sideways at Yuji, who seemed to be there only to fill the space. "I understand. And do these 'important matters' happen to involve this young man?" Julius asked, his tone laden with barely disguised disdain.
Yuji, feeling obliged to intervene, extended his hand with an awkward and somewhat informal smile. "Hey, I'm Yuji Itadori, butler and bodyguard. Nice to meet you."
Julius stepped back a millimeter, looking at Yuji's outstretched hand as if it were something dirty. "A butler? That attitude of yours certainly doesn't do justice to the attire you wear. Elegance is a basic requirement for those who walk alongside nobility."
A pang of anger rose up Yuji's neck. He didn't care about the title of butler, but seeing Julius there, all puffed up, trying to project a superiority that sounded false and arrogant, made Yuji's blood boil. The contrast between Julius's false politeness and the harsh reality Yuji knew—the curses, the struggles for survival—created a chasm between them that Yuji had no desire to cross.
Julius, with a fluid movement bordering on arrogance, gestured in the right direction. "Follow me, Emilia-sama. The Conference Mirrors await your arrival."
Yuji blinked, confused. "Conference Mirrors? What's that?" Emilia, without missing a beat, explained with a coldness that still sounded strange to him: "They are magical artifacts that allow long-distance communication between the candidates and the council members. It's where the most sensitive political decisions are made safely."
"So it's like Discord?" Yuji asked as if Emilia knew what he was talking about.
"I don't know what that is, but..." Upon reaching the entrance to the main chamber, she turned to Yuji, her eyes meeting his, but without the same sparkle as before. "Please, Yuji-kun, wait out here."
Again, the commanding tone, the dry order that seemed to dictate his place. Yuji felt a tightness in his chest, but nodded silently, retreating into the corridor. She entered without looking back, leaving him there alone.
...
The boy sighed, trying to relieve the tension by opening the bag of Appas that the village merchant, the man he had saved and insisted on giving him as a farewell gift. He began walking through the noble district, biting into one of the fruits, when a sharp sound of protest and the dragging of boots against the stones of the nearby alley caught his attention.
"Let me go, you filthy vermin! You have no idea of the magnitude of the mistake you are making by touching the body of this noblewoman!"
Yuji stopped chewing. The voice was arrogant, shrill, and laden with a haughtiness that seemed to defy logic. He approached the entrance of the alley and saw a familiar scene: a red-haired woman, in a luxurious red and black dress, being pulled by the arms by three hooded figures.
His eyes narrowed. They were the same three thugs—the same ones he, Yuji Itadori, had sent straight to the hospital in the first week he was transported to Lugnica.
"You guys never learn, do you?" Yuji's voice echoed through the narrow alley, calm and laden with a contained energy that made the three stop immediately.
The thugs turned, recognizing the silhouette. Their leader instantly paled, cold sweat dripping down his forehead as he released the redhead's arm.
"Y-you…" the leader stammered, recoiling. "That boy with the Scar…"
"The Street Tiger!…"
"I-it's not possible!"
"No matter where I am, I always get weird nicknames…" Yuji stepped forward, twisting his wrist and snapping his fingers. "Looks like you've been missing a good beating, haven't you? Or maybe your brains got so damaged the last time that you forgot how I hit?"
The redhead, whom Yuji didn't yet know, adjusted her hair with impressive disdain, glaring at the thugs with a look that promised public execution, but seeing the fear in the men's eyes, she remained silent, curious.
"What's wrong?" Yuji teased, taking a step forward. "Are you expecting an invitation? Or do you want me to break another bone or two to refresh your memory?"
The thugs didn't need a second warning. The terror on their faces was palpable; they knew what that "butler" was capable of. With screams of terror, they broke free from the redhead and darted to the other side of the alley, stumbling over their own feet in a desperate escape, leaving only the echo of their hurried steps.
Yuji sighed, putting the Appas back in the bag. He turned to the redhead woman, who watched him with the look of someone assessing the quality of a curious specimen. "Are you alright? They tend to be quite persistent when they find someone they think is an easy target."
Priscilla let out a nasal laugh, a sound that carried all the contempt she seemed to feel for humanity below her aristocratic level. She adjusted her dress, raising her chin with a gravity-defying haughtiness.
"The help of a simple, ugly butler?" she repeated, the words coming out as if leaving a bitter taste on her tongue. "Know, young man, that the world revolves around me, Priscilla Bariele! Fate does not allow someone like me to suffer any harm at the hands of such vulgar people as those. They didn't 'attack' me by luck; they were only interrupted by a miscalculation that you, by pure chance, resolved."
#04
Yuji felt a vein throb in his temple. Her arrogance was almost palpable, an invisible shield that prevented her from recognizing the kindness of others. He felt his patience, which was already not very great with Lugnica's nobility, rapidly evaporate.
"Remember it well, for few have the privilege of pronouncing it before me."
Yuji shook his head, disdainfully dismissing her pose.
"Look, I don't expect a banquet or a medal, but a 'thank you' wouldn't kill anyone, Priscilla Barielle. Gratitude is the least one expects from someone who has just been saved from a bunch of useless people."
Her eyes flashed, but she didn't lower her guard. Pride seemed to be the only thing keeping her standing, and she wasn't willing to give an inch. Before the exchange of barbs could escalate, the alley floor vibrated under heavy, determined footsteps.
A gigantic man emerged from the shadows; it was Rom. The immense size of his body seemed to fill almost all the available space, and the axe strapped to his back was a vivid reminder that he wasn't playing games.
"Yuji?" Rom stopped, his eyes narrowing until he recognized the young man. A wide, rustic smile spread across his face. "By the gods, kid! I'm relieved to see you still have that face of someone who doesn't know when to stop getting into trouble."
"Old Rom!" Yuji stepped forward, a genuine smile lighting up his face for the first time in hours. "You're alright! I was worried about what happened after the commotion downtown."
Rom's expression, however, turned dark and worried. He ignored Priscilla's presence, who seemed too bored to notice the importance of this reunion.
"Forget about me, Itadori. Tell me… have you seen Felt? They said they took her, but nobody can tell me where. I feel like I've been hunting ghosts in the capital ever since she disappeared from my sight."
Yuji felt his stomach clench. He remembered Emilia's explanation earlier.
"Felt… she was taken by Reinhard, Rom. The Knight of the Guard. They said she's in the noble district, at the Guard Station."
Old Rom clenched his fist tightly, the leather of his gloves cracking.
"Astrea…" he snorted, the name coming out like a curse. "It had to be an Astrea to stick his nose where it doesn't belong. Felt isn't a trophy for knights to collect, she's my granddaughter!"
He looked at Yuji, his gaze heavy with worry replacing his previous cheerfulness.
"Listen, kid. This political world is a viper's nest. If you're hanging out with important people, take good care of yourself. Don't be fooled by kindness; it's the first thing to die in these streets."
Without another word, Rom turned on his heels and began to walk away, his heavy steps echoing like thunder on the stones, leaving Yuji standing there, bag of Appas in hand and the growing feeling that his role in this theater was only beginning to get dangerous. Priscilla finally turned around and left in silence, leaving Yuji alone in the alley, surrounded by the oppressive silence of the capital.
The air in the alley changed instantly. Before Yuji could come up with a convincing explanation for the time he'd spent out of Emilia's sight, a familiar, authoritative voice cut through the silence.
"Yuji? I finally found you. What were you doing here, away from our position?" Emilia appeared at the entrance to the alley, her stern gaze softening slightly as she noticed he was only holding a bag of fruit.
However, before the discussion could begin, a heavy, metallic sound of boots against stone interrupted the pair. From the shadows, a burly man emerged, wearing clumsy armor and a helmet that hid half his face. His left arm was missing, ending in a stump wrapped in cloth, and his attire was strange, completely out of step with the aristocratic fashion of the capital.
Yuji narrowed his eyes. The image instantly clicked into his memory: the first week he arrived in the capital, lost and confused, he had been approached by this same type of armor. The man had asked him, at the time, if he had seen a "busty redhead" walking around.
Yuji felt his face heat up to his ears. "The busty redhead… that was Priscilla," Yuji said, almost whispering to himself.
"Well, well, well…" the helmeted man let out a hoarse, amused laugh, stopping a few meters away. "If it isn't the boy I met weeks ago! The kid who gave me the wrong directions in the capital, isn't it? Yuji Itadori, if I remember the name I heard around here correctly."
The man called Aldebaran, though Yuji didn't know his name, took a few steps forward, his helmet rotating slightly as if he were analyzing the boy from head to toe with a hidden smile.
"You must be looking for your busty redhead bust— Master, right?" Yuji joked, trying to deflect the embarrassment he had felt minutes earlier with the encounter with Priscilla herself. "You've been hunting for that redhead for a whole week?" "She must be giving you quite a bit of trouble, young man."
Aldebaran stopped, letting out a genuine laugh that echoed off the stone walls of the alley. He leaned forward, resting his single arm on his hip.
"A week? Boy, you're being too optimistic about my patience! Let's just say my 'Princess' has a natural talent for disappearing when my mood isn't the best. But, geez, you have a sharp wit, I like you, Itadori! If your bodyguard job doesn't work out with the half-elf, you can show up with our entourage." "We need people with courage and, apparently, a terrible sense of direction!"
Emilia, observing the exchange, seemed increasingly impatient with the strange familiarity emanating from Yuji.
"Yuji, we have an appointment," she reminded him, her voice sharp as a whip crack.
Aldebaran raised his sound hand in a gesture of surrender, still laughing.
"I don't want to interrupt the lovebirds or whatever you're doing. I have another 'Princess' to track down before she decides the whole world is too small for her liking. See you around, Itadori." "Try not to get killed before sunset, it would be a waste of potential!"
"See you later, Plebeians..."
With one last sloppy wave, the armored man and the busty redhead turned and walked in the opposite direction, disappearing into the crowd.
Emilia immediately recognized Priscilla as one of the candidates. Even with her hood covering much of her appearance, she approached close enough to stand behind Yuji, almost as a silent way of saying she'd seen enough.
Yuji understood the message instantly.
"Yeah, I guess we're leaving now," he said, scratching the back of his neck and turning to follow Emilia.
But Priscilla looked up at the bag of fruit in his hand and, with a small nod, pointed to the reddest one.
"And that? What's that red fruit?"
Yuji blinked, surprised by the simple question.
"This?" "They're appas."
Priscilla frowned, as if the answer was fundamentally wrong.
"Appas are white."
Yuji immediately understood the reason for the confusion. She probably only knew appas that were already cut, the light, sweet pulp exposed, without the red outer skin. A small detail, but enough to cause that shock of superiority in her.
He sighed, shaking his head with a crooked smile.
"Then try the inside," he said, and tossed one of the fruits in her direction.
Priscilla caught it easily, looking at the fruit as if she were evaluating an exotic experimental object. Yuji pointed with his chin to the pulp.
"If you've only eaten them cut, maybe it's better to see them the right way."
She didn't answer immediately, but she didn't reject it either. She just kept looking, which was almost a miracle.
Yuji then turned to Emilia, ready to leave. She walked beside him silently for a few steps before finally asking:
"Where did you meet that one?" "Girl?"
Her voice wasn't filled with jealousy. It was something more restrained, more careful. Concern, perhaps. As if she were trying to gauge the type of person who had just crossed their path.
Yuji shrugged, trying to sound casual.
"I ended up meeting her by chance."
Emilia nodded slowly, but didn't seem completely satisfied. Still, she didn't insist.
The two continued on, leaving behind the proud redhead with her appa in her hands. Yuji, for a moment, thought about how strange this day had been: first Priscilla, then Aldebaran, now Emilia acting as if she wanted to watch his every move.
And yet, he continued walking beside her, towards the next problem that surely awaited them at the Castle.
At nightfall, the mansion seemed quieter than usual, as if even the corridors were awaiting the departure of the next day. Emilia called Yuji for a chat before night fell completely, and her tone made it clear that this wasn't a... It wasn't a request, but a decision.
"You're not going to the Royal Selection tomorrow," she said firmly, leaving no room for discussion.
Yuji frowned. He understood what was behind the order, but he still didn't like it.
"I wanted to see Reinhard," she replied. "I want to thank him and also find out about Felt. Old Rom must be worried too."
Emilia took a deep breath, as if she already expected the answer. Instead of arguing, she simply nodded.
"Then I'll do it for you."
Yuji stared at her, surprised.
"You're going to talk to him for me?"
"I will," she replied naturally. "But you won't."
He opened his mouth to protest, but Emilia continued before he could try to turn it into another argument.
"Yuji, I don't want you to exert yourself like you did the two times you saved me." Her voice lost some of its firmness and gained something more serious, more intimate. "I know you do it without thinking. But this time, I want you to promise me you won't go to the capital tomorrow."
Yuji was silent for a few seconds. It was rare to see Emilia so direct, so protective. Even rarer was her asking for a promise instead of ordering.
He looked away for a moment, scratching the back of his neck.
"...Okay. I promise."
Emilia seemed to relax just a little, as if that commitment was enough to sustain what lay ahead.
The next morning, she and Roswaal left by carriage for the capital. Yuji stayed at the mansion on her orders, but that didn't mean he was at ease. On the contrary: he looked out the window with an unease difficult to hide, watching the distance until the vehicle disappeared down the road.
Being a candidate, Emilia was a target. Enemies could come from anywhere, disguised as nobles, assassins, or opportunists waiting for the right moment. And Yuji, even having promised to stay, felt that remaining still was one of the hardest things he had ever done.
Yuji couldn't stay still for long. Emilia's carriage should already be on its way to the capital, but a heavy unease clung to his chest, as if something was about to spiral out of control. The image of the Royal Selection wouldn't leave his head: nobles, guards, candidates, politicians… a perfect setting for someone like Mahito to cause havoc. He didn't know if the damned man would show up, but the mere thought of seeing him amidst so many people was enough to make him act.
He found Rem in the mansion's corridors, probably finishing some kitchen task, her apron still too clean for someone so dedicated. Yuji approached with the most serious expression he could muster.
"Rem-rin… I'm going to the Royal Selection," he said bluntly.
She looked up immediately, and the answer came almost instantly.
"That doesn't sound like a good idea, Yuji-kun."
Yuji scratched the back of his neck, trying to think of how to explain without sounding paranoid.
"I know. I just… don't have a good feeling. What if Mahito shows up in the middle of the ceremony? What if he's waiting for a moment like this to cause trouble? If that happens, Emilia could become an even bigger target than she already is."
Rem remained silent for a few seconds, her gaze softening and hardening at the same time, as if she were struggling between obeying and trusting him.
"Emilia-sama gave clear instructions for you not to go," she said carefully. "And I don't want to disobey her."
Yuji realized he needed to resort to the only truly effective tactic at that moment: his best puppy-dog eyes. He tilted his head, lowered his shoulders slightly, and made that almost childish, pleading expression.
Rem stopped. Her eyes narrowed slightly, not out of irritation, but out of an evident internal struggle not to give in.
"Yuji… don't make that face."
He continued nonetheless, with such a genuinely sad look that it seemed harder to refuse than to obey.
"Please, Rem. If you think I shouldn't go, I accept. But I need to know if I can count on you."
That seemed to break her resistance. Rem sighed, looking away for a moment, as if she were thinking about something more elaborate than it appeared.
"...You know I wouldn't want to contradict Emilia-sama..." she murmured.
Yuji maintained his expression.
Rem closed her eyes for a second, and when she opened them, she already seemed to have made a decision.
"..."
Yuji nodded immediately, grateful for any opening. Rem continued looking at him, still with that air of someone calculating something.
"Wow... I'm quite busy preparing a new recipe right now. If I get distracted by that, I'll spend the whole day taking care of the kitchen. I won't be able to notice anyone's absence today."
Yuji blinked, taking a second to understand what she meant. It sounded almost like a disguised permission, a way of letting him go without directly taking responsibility. He didn't question it.
"Then... thank you," he said, smiling with relief.
The next instant, he was already running through the mansion's corridors and then down the road, accelerating at an absurd speed. He knew that, on foot, it would take hours to reach the capital, but Yuji was far from ordinary. His body moved with the efficiency of someone who had already been through battles worse than any distance. The wind tore around him, the road blurring past, and soon the dragon carriage seemed further and further away.
Even running, he didn't relax. If Mahito was there, he needed to arrive before the chaos began. And even if it wasn't Mahito, the Royal Selection could still become a nest of enemies in seconds. Yuji gritted his teeth and pounded forward, determined not to let the worst happen without him being there.
After running for six hours without stopping, Yuji still seemed to be just warming up. Neither the strong wind of the road nor the absurd effort of maintaining that pace even made him breathless. When he finally spotted the hidden figures of the capital, he slowed down just enough not to draw too much attention, passing through the entrance like a hurried blur among travelers, guards, and carriages.
The problem was simple: he needed to enter Lugnica's main castle, and he had no idea how he would do that without authorization, a uniform, or any kind of noble credentials. It was then that his eyes were drawn to a luxurious red carriage, elegantly pulled and surrounded by a presence that screamed wealth. Yuji offered a hand and waved, more on impulse than strategy.
The carriage curtain moved.
And, to his surprise, inside was Aldebaran, along with Priscilla.
Yuji blinked a few times, immediately confirming it was them. This was too convenient to be personalized.
"Hey! You again?" he said, approaching. "I didn't know you were also heading to the castle."
Al chuckled softly and tilted his head. "Dude, you always seem to show up at the strangest possible moment. Hop in. If you want to get into the castle, this is a good time."
Priscilla, leaning back with all the arrogance she could muster, watched the scene with that look of someone amused by the world. Still, for some reason, she didn't seem to mind sharing the carriage.
Yuji got in and, only then, look what Al explained so naturally:
"Ms. Priscilla is one of the candidates for the Royal Selection."
Yuji's eyes widened.
"R-Really?" I thought, looking from one to the other. "That explains a lot…"
He then looked at Al and bowed his head in thanks.
"Thanks for letting me in. Really."
Al shrugged.
"Relax."
Priscilla let out a small, satisfied "hm," as if that were a compliment far beyond what she deserved.
"I didn't help by waiting," she said with a thin smile. "I just found the possibility of you staying with me interesting. Chaos is usually more pleasant when it begins with a seemingly useless kindness."
Yuji didn't know if that was a favor or a threat, so he chose not to comment.
The carriage advanced to the hidden parts of the castle. There, before the main entrance, the imposing structure made Yuji feel for the first time that he was truly stepping onto territory that wasn't his. The access door seemed more like a symbol of separation between worlds than a simple physical barrier.
Before they disembarked, Priscilla turned her face to him, observing him from behind the carriage's golden curtain.
"Tell me, boy… are you a descendant of Ryoumen?"
Yuji felt a shiver run down his spine.
The question came dryly, without apparent context, but the way it was asked made the air around him feel colder for a moment.
"R-Ryoumen?" He repeated himself, confused, wondering curiously if she was talking about Ryoumen Sukuna. "Why is that important?"
Priscilla let out an almost cruel smile, one of those that insinuate more than explain.
"Perhaps it's because certain nobles perceive things that commoners like you can't even imagine. And perhaps because your presence is more noticeable than you think."
Yuji frowned, clearly not quite understanding where she was going with this. Still, he didn't want to get into it. There was something in her tone that suggested any answer would only push him into a word game he wasn't willing to play.
"I have no idea what you mean," he replied, shrugging.
Priscilla studied him for another moment, as if she had found something that amused her in a new way, then simply looked away.
"Naturally. You'll see."
Yuji rushed into the castle with the two of them, still with that question echoing in his head. Ryomen. The name had touched something too fundamental for him to ignore, but not enough to understand.
When the gates opened, Yuji finally saw the huge hall where everything would happen. The space was imposing, with tall columns, polished floors, and an atmosphere so heavy that it seemed to swallow any sound louder than a whisper. It was there that the Royal Selection would be decided, and just looking at the center of the room he felt the weight of that moment.
There were Emilia and Roswaal, visible in the distance among so many nobles, knights and servants. Yuji immediately realized that he didn't want to attract attention. Any wrong move and he would end up at the center of some comment, and that was the last thing he wanted at that moment. Then, acting on impulse and stealth, he quickly blended into the group of royal knights lined up to the left of the entrance.
Al, who was already nearby, noticed the movement and approached him without fanfare. He stood by his side among the knights, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
"Relax there, brother." muttered Al, without taking his eyes off the room. "Don't make a fuss. If you want to go unnoticed, the first step is to not look like you're about to run into the center of the room."
Yuji let out a short sigh, embarrassed for being so obvious.
"S-Sorry..." he replied, softly. "I just didn't want her to see me coming in like that."
Al seemed to understand without asking who "her" was.
As Yuji tried to control his breathing, the Councils of Sages began to enter the hall. The movement changed instantly: guards straightened up, knights adjusted their postures and the general hubbub subsided until it became a respectful silence.
Yuji watched the elderly men go to their seats and, frowning, asked Al:
"So they're the ones taking care of the country while the king isn't there?"
Al nodded.
"Yes. In the end, they are the ones who keep the machine running. The king's absence has left a void too big to ignore. Today, this conference will pull a lot of string."
Yuji looked back to the center of the room. There were the four candidates, side by side, each with a completely different presence.
Emilia was there, with her delicate elegance, even from a distance looking a little tense amidst so much attention focused on her. Beside her stood Roswaal, with his theatrical appearance and unsettling smile, as if he had chosen that day to revel in the chaos.
Priscilla was also in the center, radiant in her natural arrogance, clearly comfortable in her own space.
But Yuji soon noticed the other two candidates.
One of them was a woman with green hair, wearing more masculine and firm clothing, with a posture that conveyed immediate authority. Yuji didn't know her, but just by looking at her, he could feel that she was someone used to being listened to. Her way of standing straight, without showing hesitation, contrasted sharply with Emilia's slight tension.
The other was a girl with purple hair, wearing a fluffy white dress, almost too elegant for the tone of the room. Her appearance gave the impression of softness, but there was something in her eyes that suggested she was not someone easy to ignore. Yuji watched her for a moment longer than necessary, trying to figure out what kind of person she was.
"Four candidates…" he muttered to himself. "So that's it. I really ended up in a fantasy world..."
The conference seemed about to begin, and Yuji felt like he was witnessing the beginning of something much bigger than a simple political meeting. It was a stage of dispute, influence and danger, with Emilia right in the middle of it all. And, hidden among the knights, he realized that his presence there could mean more trouble than relief, but it was too late to turn back.
Just as Yuji managed to stay hidden among the knights, a familiar presence reached him before he even realized it.
"Yuji!" Reinhard called, with a genuine smile when he noticed him there.
His expression was clean, warm, almost relieved to see someone he knew in the middle of that heavy room. Yuji raised his hand in an awkward wave, still trying to understand how Reinhard could seem so calm in such a tense place.
"Reinhard. I'm glad I found you." Yuji replied, visibly happy to see him too. "I wanted to thank you for what you did earlier… and ask about Felt too."
Reinhard seemed about to respond, but then his eyes were drawn to another part of the room.
Yuji followed his gaze and, for a moment, was confused.
The figure that was there, among the knights, resembled Felix, the same face, the same light presence, but now he was wearing a male knight's uniform, the same as the others. None of the pretty dress or more delicate appearance that Yuji had seen before. That left his mind stuck for a few seconds.
Reinhard tilted his head slightly.
"Do you know him?" he asked, in a neutral tone.
Yuji blinked, and it was only then that the information sank in.
Him?
Yuji looked again, more attentively, and the shock came like a silent blow. Felix was a man.
"Wait… Felix is a man?" escaped his lips before he could stop himself.
Felix heard the comment and grinned mischievously, clearly enjoying the mess he was making of Yuji's head.
"Ooooh? Looks like you just saw a spirit, huh~?" he teased, crossing his arms casually.
Yuji brought a hand to his face, still trying to process the revelation.
"That explains absolutely nothing and at the same time explains everything…" he murmured, more to himself than to anyone else.
Before he could continue staring at Felix, Yuji took a misstep and bumped into someone else.
"Oops—!"
He turned quickly and came face to face with Julius.
The purple-haired knight simply observed him with that same polite and controlled air, then inclined his head in a refined greeting.
"No problem," said Julius with a polite smile, as if the bump had been insignificant.
But Yuji didn't like his excessive calmness at all. There was something about that perfect posture, that impeccable way of speaking and behaving, that left him with a bitter feeling in his stomach. Julius seemed too elegant to be real, as if he were always playing a role to impress someone.
Yuji looked away for a moment, still somewhat irritated, and realized that the hall was full of people he didn't know—important people, powerful knights, candidates for the crown, and figures who already seemed to have too many stories before even exchanging a word with him.
And, among them all, Julius was clearly someone Yuji hadn't liked at first sight.
A man in armor with green hair entered the hall with firm steps, carrying the authority of someone accustomed to being obeyed without hesitation. Yuji immediately noticed that the atmosphere changed as soon as he appeared; even the knights around him straightened their posture.
"I am Marcos, leader of the Imperial Knights," he announced, his voice strong and clear. "I will conduct today's proceedings."
The entire hall seemed to settle into the new commanding tone. Marcos began by explaining the context, mentioning that a year ago, the king had disappeared, leaving the country in a precarious state of equilibrium, sustained by absence and waiting.
"We all know that a year ago..." Yuji listened silently, trying to absorb the weight of it all, but the explanation barely got going before being cut off.
The girl with purple hair raised her voice, elegant and impatient.
"Let's begin immediately," she said bluntly. "In Kararagi: time is money."
The girl with green hair agreed immediately afterward, more coldly, as if the subject had already been discussed.
"I agree with Lady Anastasia, we already know all the procedures. Let's get straight to the point."
Marcos seemed unfazed. If anything, he simply moved on to the part that truly mattered.
"Very well, Ms. Crusch. So, let's get to the central issue. You have been gathered here because you are candidates for the Dragon Priestess. A new prophecy has been spoken, and among the five capable of becoming the next leader of the nation, one will be chosen."
Yuji frowned.
Five.
He glanced quickly at the center of the hall. There were four visible candidates there: Emilia, Priscilla, the green-haired girl named Crusch, and the purple-haired girl named Anastasia. Four. Only four.
"Then one is missing," he thought.
It was precisely at that moment that Reinhard received a call. Yuji saw him move with immediate attention, as if something important was about to happen. In a few seconds, the truth was announced:
"The fifth and final Dragon Priestess has been found."
The doors opened.
The sound echoed throughout the entire hall, silencing all conversations at once. Yuji turned his face toward the entrance and then saw the figure that appeared there.
It was Felt.
End of Chapter 15.