The statement was like a bomb dropped into a tense hall.
Everyone was holding their breath as the words were like playing with fire in a powder keg. It no longer mattered who had spoken the words. What mattered was what kind of situation it would cause.
Everyone held their breath, and all eyes turned more and more to Priscilla in the center. Bathed in their fearful gazes, Priscilla glanced in the direction of the voice,
"It's a pointless and boring insult with no real effect. I'm so used to hearing vulgar envy towards me that it doesn't even serve as a lullaby."
Without hesitation, Priscilla broke the stagnation that had taken hold in the hall with a voice that sounded genuinely bored.
There was not even the slightest hint of consideration for the anxiety of those around her in her voice. Everyone could tell that she was truly pure at heart, and that her arrogant words just now expressed everything she was thinking.
Her refreshingly arrogant and haughty demeanor made Subaru realize that she too, like Crusch, stood on a different level from ordinary people.
Judging from the reactions of those around him, that earlier word was probably treated as something close to an insult or disparagement.
"Bloody Bride" was an unpleasant nickname, but it was never denied. Before I could ask what it meant,
"So, may I ask again, your names, including those of your attendants?"
His ability to get to the point before things get tense shows his experience, as does his ability to show respect for people much younger than him without any pretense.
Despite sitting at the top of the country, he seems to be the type who is more considerate of those around him than the type who takes the lead, and tends to think in an excessive direction. It seems like a somewhat pitiful position, though.
It's not that she doesn't understand the meaning of Mycroft's gentle behavior. Priscilla also nodded obediently, as if forgetting the rude remark from earlier.
"Very well. It would be cruel to cut short the little time that remains of such an old man. Be grateful for my generosity."
Adding that unnecessary remark, she puffed out her ample chest even more arrogantly,
"From now on, I will introduce myself, my name must be engraved in your mind until the end of your life. My name is Priscilla――Priscilla. Ah, Priscilla…Hmm, what was it just now?"
Just when you thought he was going to take off running with vigor, he got stuck like a senile old man.
Subaru instinctively wanted to jump in and interject, but he managed to hold himself back, respecting the serious atmosphere around him. Nevertheless, there was no doubt that Priscilla's words had made the atmosphere slightly warmer.
She twisted her head a few times, then looked up at Al standing next to her and poked him in the side,
"Hey, Al. I'm in trouble, hurry up and help me."
"Well, I never thought you'd trip right at the starting line, so I was surprised too. What are you going to do about my excitement as I waited anxiously for my introduction?"
"I don't know what's making your heart pound. Please put my wishes first, now."
"How egocentric! Putting that aside, you're not saying that the family name Barielle won't come up, are you?"
"--Oh, then."
When he timidly extended his hand, it was firmly grasped and Al looked up to the sky in dismay at his master's poor head, and placed his palm on his forehead. Ignoring the attendant, who made no attempt to hide his grief, Priscilla turned to face the front once more, and smiled fearlessly at the council of wise men on the stage,
"I am Priscilla Barielle. I am the next king, so respect me."
Subaru felt that it was a concise and ideal way to promote himself.
At the very least, it is not the sort of speech one would expect from someone who seriously wants to become king.
Moreover, unlike Crusch, she didn't seem to have anything to say after that, and seemed satisfied as if she had said everything in that one line.
Subaru was feeling anxious for a different reason than before, thinking that this really couldn't be the end of the story. Then,
"Bariel... you mean Lord Leip Bariel?"
It was Mycroft who interjected a question. The old man played with his white beard with his fingers and narrowed his eyes as if searching for a memory.
"Hmm. Now that I think about it, I can't see Lord Leip anywhere. Is he...?"
"That lecherous old man was seriously injured in a freak accident six months ago, never regained consciousness, and just the other day he suddenly passed away."
"My God, it's Lord Leip. Hmm. In that case, what is the relationship between Lord Leip and Lady Priscilla...?"
Mycroft looked pained to hear that the person he mentioned was deceased. Priscilla snorted at the old man's question.
"To me, he is my late husband. Since we have never even touched each other's fingers, in the truest sense, our relationship is in name only."
Silence fell upon the hall once again. As he heard a distant, high-pitched ringing, Subaru pondered on Priscilla's words.
Which meant that she'd just spit on the death of her spouse in a bored manner.
"Princess, no matter how you put it, doesn't that sound a bit too pitiful?"
Perhaps feeling guilty, or perhaps trying to make up for the negative reactions from those around him, Al whispered something to Priscilla. However, she simply ignored Al's consideration,
"Why should we embellish the facts when we're telling them as facts? That old man took a mistress, indulged in undeserved ambition, got caught up in an unrelated accident in an unrelated place, and burned out before it could ignite a big fire. What if that's not a laughing matter? Well, considering he risked his life for it, it's no laughing matter, and he was truly a worthless old man."
Cutting him down with one blow would have been better, but Priscilla cuts the deceased many times over, already cut with the blade of her words. I even feel sympathy for the person whose face I don't even know, and Mycroft, who seems to know him, has a sorrowful expression on his face.
Whether she noticed the change in Mycroft's expression or not, Priscilla continued her unchanged attitude and pushed her orange hair back,
"If there was any meaning to those old bones, it was that they transferred everything they had accumulated to me. Since I and the old man were married, there was no heir... What, that's right, the Barielle family belongs to me."
Having drawn this rash conclusion, Priscilla looked around, wondering if anyone was complaining.
Hearing that gaze, he felt his dissatisfaction grow, but nothing concrete showed it. One would have hoped for something from Rickert, who had argued so much with Crusch, but even he kept his mouth shut, despite a dissatisfied look on his face.
Whether there is some reason for this, or she knows from the start that she won't be taken seriously, it looks like her arrogance will be allowed to continue.
and,
"Hmm, I understand what you're saying. As a long-time acquaintance, I was a little surprised to hear the news of Lord Leip's death... but what Priscilla-sama said makes sense. It is true that you are the head of the Barielle family."
"Of course."
"I would like to hear more details. What about your knight?"
Priscilla nodded calmly, and Mycroft turned to the attendant standing next to her. Al, who had suddenly been handed the center of attention,
"Ah... Ah, me?"
He replied in a voice that was clearly an attempt to stifle a yawn, proving to both his master and himself that he was the epitome of going at his own pace.
The two of them, competing as master and servant, made the room feel lukewarm. Compared to the other candidates, he only knew a little about her, so in a way this development was worse for Subaru than the people involved.
"Yes, it's you. Your outfit is strange, but I've never seen one like it among the Royal Guard... it's a helmet."
"Oh, you know what I mean? This helmet is made in the southern Vollachia Empire, and it's hard to carry around. It's sturdy and long-lasting, and it looks cool, so I use it a lot."
"The Vollachia Empire... then you are not a member of the Royal Guard."
"It's a bit awkward to be called a knight, it's fancy, actually. You see, I'm that kind of guy. I'm more like a wandering mercenary, a vagabond."
Al revealed himself with one arm and in a muffled voice boldly revealed his identity. His helmet made a clanging metallic noise as he laughed, which in turn provoked those around him. In fact, his behavior caused a vein to swell in excitement as the Royal Knights raised their voices,
"What rude behavior! Don't you know where you are?"
"It is cruel to expect a vulgar barbarian to behave like a knight, and I cannot condone his current behavior."
"First of all, why are you hiding your face in front of the members of the Council of Sages? And especially with an Imperial helmet… how disrespectful!"
"Hey hey, don't get so angry. My sensitive heart will get torn to shreds under the pressure."
Despite the angry voices of the knights, Al maintained a cool demeanor.
However, as he traced the surface of the helmet with his finger,
"Well, I don't think your opinion is off the mark. Certainly, hiding your face in front of a senior official would make you look suspicious."
"If you hadn't acted so suspiciously, you wouldn't have caught my eye, Al."
"That is not a frightening story. Nevertheless, I hope you will forgive me the rudeness of hiding my face. Anyway."
Looking up at the Council of Sages, Al put his fingers into the gaps in the helmet and lifted it just a little, revealing part of his hidden face.
His neck was lifted, exposing his chin to the air below his nose――
"cormorant----"
I could hear someone groan softly, seeing the painful scars on their face.
Al then spun around like a model, showing the same state to the whole hall. Naturally, the knights' enthusiasm died down.
That's only natural.
After all, even just the visible parts of Al's face were marked with burns, lacerations, and various other scars, all of which were the result of years of battle. Subaru also bore noticeable scars on his skin, but these were without exaggeration ten times worse.
Perhaps the reaction from those around him was as he had expected, as Al removed his fingers and put his helmet back on, laughing.
"Well, I look quite unsightly, so I hope you'll forgive me for having to hide my face like this in front of everyone."
"Thank you very much, my subordinates apologize."
Marcos bowed his head and apologized to Al, who was trying to avoid the issue. Then, he said, Iwao's expression hardened.
"Excuse me again, but you are from the Empire and have that scar... perhaps you have experience as a sword slave."
"Wow, as expected of the Commander of the Knights. You seem to know a lot about the dark side of that secretive empire. You certainly have experience as a sword slave. A veteran with over a dozen years of experience."
A murmur once again spread throughout the hall, and several knights muttered the word 'sword slave' under their breath.
I don't know the word, but judging by the literal meaning, it seems to mean something like "a slave who uses a sword." From that, I can guess that the position they hold is probably,
"Are you in a place where fighting is a spectacle?"
"That's right, brother. Anyway, that's why I want you to be satisfied with my skills and scars. Ah, I haven't told you my name yet."
Subaru muttered, and pointing at him, Al confirmed, then tapped his own helmet with his finger,
"I've severed ties with Vollachia and am now just a wanderer - call me Al. I've been hired by the princess and am currently doing all sorts of things."
Al smiles at Marcos, still acting clueless.
His attitude was similar to that of his master, and he didn't seem to care one bit about the intimidation he received from those around him. On the contrary, the knights who had been denounced him up until a moment ago were now at a loss for words at the terrible scars engraved on his body.
This is probably because it was clear to everyone that the path he had walked had not been smooth, including the fact that he was missing an arm.
"Seriously...?"
It was a fact that also came as quite a shock to Subaru, who had witnessed it as well.
Up until now, Subaru had avoided making any direct comments about Al's appearance. This was partly to avoid the insensitivity of bringing up the topic of amputated limbs to a one-armed person, and also because he was unconsciously rejecting the idea that it was a reality he might have to face someday.
If Al came from the same world as Subaru, then what happened to him was not something that only happened to Subaru.
He had lost an arm, and bore terrible scars on his face that he could not show to others--to Subaru, whose body already bore countless lacerations, he was certainly one possibility for the future.
A bone-chilling sensation ran down Subaru's spine.
Subaru's sentimentality was ignored as the proceedings of the royal selection proceeded.
"Hmm. If you are from the Vollachia Empire, then what is your connection with Priscilla-sama? That country is a kind of other world where not only information but also people and things are not allowed out."
"There are always shortcuts, back roads, and detours everywhere. When the time was right, I managed to escape the Empire. And the reason I'm here with you Princess is..."
"It's nothing. It's the result of my entertainment."
Priscilla had been silent up until then, but then she suddenly spoke up, perhaps because she couldn't stand not having a say. She answered Mycroft's question, fiddling with the colorful jewelry adorning her fingers.
"It is God's will that I become king. In that case, the same goes for any servant. Therefore, I chose my servants as those whom I pleased with. The result is that man."
"I see, that's true. So how do you choose it?"
Accepting her request will help the story move forward, rather than trying to argue against it. Without touching upon Priscilla's arrogant side, Mycroft urges her on, satisfying her ego.
She looked pleased with the idea and blew on her nails.
"Well, that's a given. I gathered those boasting their skills in my territory and had them compete, on the condition that I would add those who caught my eye as my servants. It was quite an enjoyable entertainment."
Responding to Mycroft, Priscilla gave Al a meaningful sidelong glance.
If he believed what she said, then Al had indeed caught her eye. It was becoming increasingly difficult to imagine just how powerful this one-armed man could be.
At Priscilla's answer, Mycroft and the other members of the Council of Sages nodded in agreement.
"In other words, the winner of that tournament was him..."
"Well, I didn't win."
However, an unexpected interruption occurred before I was able to accept that.
Al looked at the surprised faces of the old people, shaking his shoulders with amusement.
"Life isn't so easy that a guy with only one hand can stand out among the people boasting about their skills. Even just being able to make it into the top four in a elimination format was an impressive stroke of luck."
"So, then why did Lady Priscilla make him her servant...?"
"I told you. I chose a partner that pleased me."
Priscilla puffed out her chest in response to the question, and slapped Al's back as he stood next to her with all her might. A dry, popping sound rang out, and as she heard Al scream, "Ahhh!",
"First of all, he was overconfident enough to gather around with the stupid pretense of boasting about his skills, and even though he was looked at strangely, he still didn't hide his strangeness. And above all, there was no one else who had stayed in the Vollachia Empire and had braggadociously said that he was from the other side of the 'Great Falls'."
Priscilla's smile deepened, and her red eyes began to shine with delight. She sped up her speech, and stomped her foot noisily on the spot to draw attention to herself.
"And so, I have chosen Al to be my attendant. The fact that I chose Al, and that I should walk the path of a king, are both divine wills to make me shine."
Priscilla boldly declared that she was a blessing to the world.
There was not a trace of hesitation or doubt in it, just a terrifying confidence.
Putting aside the outlandishness of his comments, his determination to rise to the top is a charisma that only a superior person who commands others possesses.
However, all of these qualities are meaningless because the actual content is not appealing.
"Hmm, I understand the relationship between the two of you. But, that raises the question, how did you know that Priscilla-sama was the dragon shrine maiden? Unless the knight found out..."
Unlike the others who were speechless at Priscilla's assertion, Mycroft had the capacity to accept it. After he heard what she said, he moved on to his next question - indeed, what the old man had said was certainly worthy of being raised as a question.
Looking at each camp so far, it seems that the candidates are searched for by the Royal Guard Knights, who then wear their insignia and the knight they find serves as the candidate's attendant.
Ferris against Crusch. Reinhard against Felt. And perhaps Anastasia and Julius too.
When that happens, the group that naturally comes to mind is Priscilla's group,
"In Emilia-tan's case..."
I wonder if Roswaal will be the one recommending it.
Roswaal is the one who supports Emilia as her patron. However, Subaru has yet to meet the knight who discovered her. Not only was he not on Roswaal's territory, but he was also not here in the royal capital, so there was probably no such person around.
Even though Emilia was in a situation where she was likely to be isolated from the rest, Subaru felt a certain sense of relief that the knight had not shown up.
Thinking about it, Subaru suddenly realized that he didn't even know the reason why Emilia had ended up taking part in the Royal Selection.
What was Emilia's purpose in coming here? And what led her to aim to become king?
Subaru belatedly realizes that he hadn't even mentioned a part of it.
"Ladies and gentlemen of the Society of Sages, the answer to that question has been confirmed by the Knights."
In response to Mycroft's question, it was Marcos who stepped forward and said, "I'm afraid so." His expression quirked a faint brow, and he said,
"The truth is, when the late Lord Leip and his relatives passed away, he was the first to notice the provisions of the Dragon Stone and quickly sought out candidates. Originally, the management of the Dragon Stone was Lord Leip's responsibility, and there were reports that it took several days for the contents of the provisions to be reported."
Marcos seemed uneasy as he explained the suspicious behavior of the deceased. Mycroft seemed to have a connection with what Marcos was saying, as he touched his long eyebrows, which seemed to be covering his eyes.
"I see, he was an ambitious man. He will put his efforts into finding the Dragon Maiden."
The guardian of the next king - in this case, since Priscilla was his wife, he was probably someone with a strong desire for power in a larger sense.
When you think about it, there were some pretty terrible old men out there.
"However, it is quite ironic that even though we managed to find the shrine maiden, she herself met with misfortune."
"He was an old man whose heart was not stirred by any story. This was the kind of man who had given his all in his final moments. His final moments were truly one that deserved to be laughed at."
Priscilla gives her marks without a smile, branding her late husband's life as a failing grade. Mycroft can only respond with a wry smile to Tomoki receiving such poor marks.
Anyway,
"There is no need to talk about an old man who has already passed away. I can stand on my own. Any other reasons are trivial matters that do not even need to be mentioned. Please feel free to worship me as your king."
With confidence, Priscilla announces the conclusion she has reached many times in such a short time.
While everyone in the hall was speechless at her behavior, only the jet black helmet standing next to her was staring at her.
"Princess, what will you get in return for doing that? What will you get?"
"It's a simple matter. ーーIf it comes to me, then I will have the right to be the winner."
Laughing, Priscilla took a breath.
"Since the royal selection is a contest, the ultimate goal is to win. Therefore, choosing me is the answer. Therefore, following me is the right path for you all."
"Heaven has chosen me..."
"Of course. After all, in this world, only things that are convenient for me happen."
Therefore,
"I am the one worthy to be king. No, no one else can serve as king. There is nothing more to say. All you need to do is glitter your eyes at the majesty of me who stands before you."
Priscilla swept her orange hair back, letting it flow boldly into the air, and leisurely turned around.
Her appearance indicated that she had finished saying what she needed to say, and with her back to the group of wise men on the stage, she walked towards the center.
Following his back, the jet black helmet looked up at the stage for the last time,
"That may sound strange, but what our princess said is entirely true. If you come to her place, and it is not against her wishes, you will definitely be rewarded――Heaven has chosen the princess, Priscilla."
Having declared this, Al looked around the hall.
Everyone who saw Al's gaze held their breath, and the one-armed man waved his arm lightly,
"Well, it's up to you when you decide to join Princess. I think you should get on the winning horse while you can."
Both master and servant are so confident, it's as if they left humility behind in their mother's womb.
When they returned to the candidate line, the tense atmosphere naturally relaxed slightly and the air began to feel as if people could somehow take a breather.
Subaru, too, was relieved that the time when even breathing had been so nerve-wracking had passed, and somehow managed to ease the unnecessary tension.
For the time being, the speeches by familiar faces came to an end - although it's hard to say they were proper, it was best that they ended without causing any major uproar.
"Why do I have to be so nervous and anxious..."
Filled with misplaced anger, Subaru glared at the girls as they returned to their line, and at an unexpected moment his eyes met with Priscilla's as she turned around.
Subaru's eyes met hers, and she smiled meaningfully, winking in his direction as if to show her charm. Her gesture was overly seductive, and it easily put Subaru, who had no resistance to it, to his unease.
As expected, at almost the same age, she is already a married woman -- or rather a widow.
Just writing about a young widowed aristocrat with a voluptuous body to spare was enough to fill my heart with excitement.
"There's a cross-dressing woman, a beautiful woman in men's clothes, and now a rich widow. The genres are so diverse."
What is regrettable is that, although she is a widow, there is no trace of her being a widow. It would be cruel to expect more from someone who has only lost her husband in the family register.
"----a"
While my thoughts were running wild about such trivial things, my gaze met with Emilia, who seemed to have followed Priscilla's gaze.
She was a little surprised to see Subaru in the line of her gaze, then lowered her eyes, and from Subaru's point of view, she looked betrayed and lonely, averting her eyes.
Shocked as if he had been punched in the face, Subaru staggered and came up with an inept excuse like, "I, that wasn't emotional infidelity!"
Even amidst all this, the royal selection process shows signs of progressing smoothly.
"Next, Lady Anastasia. And the knight, Julius Euclius! Forward!"
"Yes."
"It's your turn."
The purple-haired girl responded gracefully, and Julius leisurely raised one hand to the sky, then brought it down, loudly rustling the sleeves of his uniform.
A dry popping sound rang out, forcing a complete change of atmosphere. Anastasia smiled in appreciation and said, "Thank you," as she stepped forward.
Next to her, Julius stood without any signs of nervousness.
--And so, in this royal election, the two who stood out most in terms of master and servant were decided.
As the next candidate appeared before him, Subaru also steeled himself and faced forward.