"Carlisle…"
Although she didn't know why, Natsuki Subaru couldn't help but call out with concern, looking at Carlisle, who was suddenly filled with guilt.
The girl's call jolted Carlisle awake. Just now, the knight, who hadn't wavered in the slightest even after slaying the kingdom's strongest assassin, was now as if bound by some invisible force. He stiffly straightened up, thinking to himself, "The last Royal Selection Candidate has appeared... It won't be a secret for long that this country is holding a Royal Selection."
"Old Man Rom, please stand up," Carlisle's voice was soothing. "I'm not here to arrest Felt. I will explain everything clearly."
Old Man Rom carefully stood up, his eyes full of confusion and unease.
Carlisle looked at Old Man Rom's suddenly reserved demeanor, feeling a bitter taste in his mouth. He took a deep breath, his gaze sweeping over everyone in the room, and said solemnly, "Everyone, please allow me to explain."
He slowly began to explain the situation to everyone: Lugunica was a country without a 'King'. To choose the next King, the Dragon Calendar Stone would lend its power. Only five 'Dragon Priestesses' acknowledged by the Dragon were eligible to possess the emblem with the dragon crest and participate in the Royal Selection.
His gaze fell on Felt, his tone complex: "Just now, the emblem resonated upon contact with Felt. She… is actually the last Royal Selection Candidate."
The atmosphere in the room instantly became solemn, and everyone's eyes focused on Felt. Felt's eyes widened, her face full of disbelief: "Wait! Me? Become King? Has your brain finally broken, you guy? Is that dragon blind or something! I don't want to participate in any Royal Selection!"
The anger and panic in her voice tried to deny this sudden fact. Her eyes were full of resistance.
"I'm sorry…"
"Don't talk to me in that tone!" Felt's voice suddenly rose. "I don't want to be a Royal Selection Candidate! I'm not suited for that kind of thing at all!"
Puck's gaze fell on Felt, feeling a sense of gravity in his heart. "The last Royal Selection Candidate… appeared so dramatically?"
His eyes held complex emotions as he pondered something. Then, his gaze turned to Emilia, thinking with concern, 'Finally… is the Royal Selection about to begin? Lia, my daughter, I don't want you to get involved in such a dangerous matter.'
Emilia seemed to sense Puck's concern, turning her head, her gaze firm: "Puck, I will definitely become King and rescue everyone in the Elior forest."
Puck looked at Emilia's determined expression, sighed softly, his tone filled with helplessness and doting: "I understand…"
"Oh, right, Lia, it's time. I'm going to rest."
Emilia nodded, "Okay, see you tomorrow, Puck."
After bidding farewell to his daughter, Puck's figure gradually dissipated.
Carlisle and Felt were still in a standoff. Felt crossed her arms, her brows tightly furrowed, and she probed with dissatisfaction: "I say, if I insist on not participating in that Royal Selection, what will you do?"
"I will forcefully take you to participate. However, I promise you, I will definitely protect you."
"Like sweeping the streets?"
"Exactly." Carlisle nodded.
"Sounds pretty simple… no way!" Felt's face was full of exasperation. "Don't make being King sound as simple as cleaning! That's the Royal Selection! The Royal Selection!"
Natsuki Subaru stood to the side, looking at Carlisle and Felt; both of them were in a very strange state. They looked at each other, Carlisle with a firm expression, and Felt gritting her teeth, both suppressing their inner emotions.
Just then, Natsuki Subaru suddenly noticed Emilia walking towards the cloth covering Elsa's body. Her eyes held a trace of complex emotion.
"Is something wrong?" Natsuki Subaru couldn't help but ask.
Emilia heard Natsuki Subaru's voice and turned her head. "This person, she's already dead, right? Are we just going to leave her here? Although it sounds a bit strange, I hope we can give her a proper burial later."
Natsuki Subaru was shocked by Emilia's words, her eyes widening slightly, her tone carrying a hint of disbelief: "You… aren't you being a bit too kind? This person was just trying to kill us."
Emilia nodded gently. "Mmm… I know. But, she's already paid the price for her crimes, hasn't she? Just leaving her somewhere to rot is a bit too pitiful. Don't worry, I can do it alone."
"You…"
Natsuki Subaru was about to continue marveling at Emilia's innocence and kindness when she suddenly noticed a strange sound. Her ears twitched slightly, and her gaze turned to the source of the sound—it was the cloth covering Elsa's body.
"Something's wrong!" Natsuki Subaru's heart suddenly tightened, and she instinctively wanted to call out to Carlisle. However, in the very next instant, a sharp scythe suddenly swung out from beneath the cloth, tearing through the fabric. The scythe, carrying a cold killing intent, went straight for Emilia.
"Watch out!"
However, it was already too late. Natsuki Subaru instinctively rushed forward, pushing Emilia aside. Elsa, seeing her final sneak attack thwarted, her face darkened. The attack didn't stop, and the scythe continued to slash towards Natsuki Subaru, who was left in place and had no time to dodge.
Natsuki Subaru looked at the scythe so close to her, and time seemed to stretch infinitely in that moment. All sounds around her became blurred. A series of images flashed through her mind like a revolving lantern.
"Am I going to die…?"
"I just… just arrived in this world…"
Carlisle noticed the commotion and quickly rushed towards them, but everything in front happened in an instant; it was too late!
————————
Just as the scythe was about to strike the girl, the anticipated sound of blade piercing flesh did not occur. Instead, there was a dull "thud."
Natsuki Subaru's body emitted a faint light, and an invisible barrier enveloped her. Elsa's attack was repelled by this force, and the scythe in her hand was deflected.
A voice echoed in the girl's heart… She knew the owner of that voice; it was a voice so gentle it was almost unreal. She had only heard it once, and she could never forget it, he was like a hero, pulling her from the abyss, saving her. He colored her world with dreamlike hues.
She tried to tell herself this was just a fleeting flutter, but the undeniable sweetness and panic in her heart forced her to admit that she loved his voice, his figure, everything about him. She longed to caress him, to depend on him, to stay by his side, she had fallen in love with him.
"May the spirit of magic shelter you."
"Carlisle…" Natsuki Subaru unconsciously murmured, but realized her voice was already choked with tears.
Elsa's face instantly turned ugly. "How is that possible? Defensive magic!"
Her body rapidly retreated, attempting to escape the scene. However, Carlisle had already rushed in front of her.
"Ul Huma!"
As the words fell, powerful ice-attribute magic erupted in his hand. A chilling cold instantly enveloped Elsa; her movements suddenly froze, the look of shock on her face not yet having time to fade, and her entire being turned into an ice sculpture.
"Natsuki Subaru!"
...
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