"Because the Princess usually eats apples that are peeled, cut into pieces, and placed on a silver platter..."
Faced with Priscilla's confusion, Al explained somewhat helplessly, his voice carrying a hint of amusement from beneath the pitch-black full-face helmet.
"Very well. Purchase more apples from now on, Al," Priscilla's command came from within the carriage. "I desire this kind... whole apples."
"As you command, Princess," Al replied respectfully.
Then, keenly noticing that Priscilla seemed to be in a particularly good mood today, he couldn't help but ask curiously, "However... is the Princess in an especially good mood today?"
"Mm," Priscilla took a small bite of the apple, the crystalline juice moistening her crimson lips. "I encountered an interesting fellow."
"Oh?" Al's interest was piqued, his eyes under the pitch-black full-face helmet glinting with curiosity. "For the Princess to find someone interesting, they must not be an ordinary person."
"Just a black-haired brat who doesn't know his place," Priscilla's red lips curved slightly, her gilded fan lightly covering the corner of her mouth. "Not only did he dare to look me in the eyes while speaking, but he even refused the reward I bestowed upon him."
"Although the Princess's thoughts are always so..." Al subconsciously scratched his helmet, his fingers making a slight sound as they brushed against the metal. "But speaking of which, black-haired people are indeed quite rare in this world..."
"Al." Priscilla suddenly tapped his iron helmet with her fan with a 'thwack,' the crisp metallic sound echoing in the carriage. "You've said a bit too much today."
"My apologies, Princess..." Al chuckled sheepishly, his voice sounding somewhat muffled through the iron mask.
A gentle breeze blew past, carrying the distant clamor of the marketplace, mixed with the calls of fruit vendors.
Priscilla gazed at the flowing scenery outside the window, her crimson eyes slightly narrowed.
For some reason, a strong premonition welled up within her.
That black-haired young man would soon appear before her again.
"Next time we meet..." Priscilla murmured to herself, "I will make him understand that arousing my interest is his greatest honor."
The carriage continued onward, carrying the arrogant princess and her rare good mood towards the Royal Capital.
Roswaal's Mansion.
Inside the Forbidden Library, the great spirit with blonde twin-tails sat on a high stool, her fingertips gently turning a yellowed page.
Sunlight streamed through the stained-glass window, casting dappled shadows on the floor, yet she inexplicably felt that the Forbidden Library was particularly empty today.
"...It feels like something is missing."
Beatrice closed the book, her gaze unconsciously drifting towards the door.
Usually, around this time, that black-haired young man would always burst in suddenly, shouting with a grin: Betty, I'm here...
Then, without taking no for an answer, he would drag her off to do some boring things.
Hide-and-seek, tea parties, or even just sitting beside her, chattering endlessly about meaningless observations.
"It's truly strange, why would I think of that annoying human now?"
Beatrice frowned, her fingertips unconsciously caressing the book in her hands.
Clearly, that black-haired young man was noisy and annoying, always disturbing her peace.
He even trespassed into her Forbidden Library without her permission, clinging on like an ill-mannered stray cat.
But yet... yet only he wasn't after Betty's power, nor the knowledge of the Forbidden Library, but simply wanted Betty to play with him.
"...Such a strange human."
Thinking this, Beatrice couldn't help but murmur to herself.
For four hundred years, she had long grown accustomed to solitude.
The doors of the Forbidden Library had long since isolated her from the outside world; she should have felt at ease.
But now, in the empty library, there was only the rustling of pages turning, no boisterous laughter from the boy, no exaggerated gestures, and no sickeningly sweet snacks he would force upon her.
"Why does Betty feel... unaccustomed to this?"
Beatrice pursed her lips, an inexplicable anxiety welling up inside her.
It had never been like this before.
"Is it because only Betty and that red-haired maid are left in the mansion?" Beatrice unconsciously mumbled to herself. "Speaking of which, it's been five days since they left, hasn't it?"
A knock on the door interrupted Beatrice's thoughts.
"Beatrice-sama," Ram's voice came from outside the door.
"...Come in," Beatrice replied sullenly.
Ram pushed the door open and entered.
Although the Forbidden Library's Door Crossing could connect to any door in the mansion, Beatrice also maintained a fixed entrance.
Otherwise, if the twin maids had to try every door each time to find her, it would be too absurd.
"Beatrice-sama, it's time for lunch." Ram held the all-too-familiar silver tray.
Beatrice glanced up, her eye twitching slightly. "...Sweet potatoes again?"
"Yes." Ram nodded, her expression unchanged. "Today's sweet potatoes are steamed especially soft. Please enjoy."
Beatrice stared at the plate of sweet potatoes, her mind involuntarily replaying the scenes from the past few days:
"Good morning, Beatrice-sama. This is steamed sweet potato for breakfast."
"Betty knows, just leave it there."
"It's time for lunch, Beatrice-sama. I'll leave the utensils outside."
"...Understood."
"Beatrice-sama, it's dinner time."
"What is it?"
"Steamed sweet potato."
"Steamed... steamed sweet potatoes are not bad."
"Good morning, Beatrice-sama. Today's sweet potatoes have been specially steamed for you."
Initially, when Beatrice first tasted sweet potatoes, she found them novel.
But several consecutive days of repetition had made Beatrice completely lose interest.
Although, as a spirit, Beatrice didn't need to rely on food to sustain her life, she usually thoroughly enjoyed the exquisite desserts and afternoon tea prepared by Rem.
When the same conversation looped to the present, Beatrice finally couldn't bear it anymore:
"Enough is enough! Betty's patience has its limits!!"
"What's wrong, Beatrice-sama?" Ram blinked her wine-red eyes, asking with a composed expression.
"Betty remembers eating sweet potatoes yesterday, the day before, the day before that, and even earlier. Every! Single! Meal! Betty! Ate! Sweet! Potatoes!!"
By the end, Beatrice practically squeezed the words through gritted teeth.
"My apologies, Beatrice-sama. Ram only knows how to make this." Ram replied calmly.
Does she?
"..." Beatrice fell silent for a moment, then raised her voice, "Honestly, the maids of the Roswaal Mansion don't even know basic cooking?!"
"When Rem was here, she indeed prepared more varied meals," Ram responded, her expression unchanged. "But now, with only Ram, ensuring the food isn't burnt is already the limit."
"..."
Beatrice looked at Ram, and Ram calmly looked back.
The air between them seemed to freeze for a few seconds.
Finally, Beatrice sighed as if deflated. "...Nevermind, just leave it there."
"Understood, Beatrice-sama. Enjoy your meal."
After putting down the tray, Ram retreated.
With the soft click of the door closing, the Forbidden Library was once again enveloped in silence.
Beatrice's gaze unconsciously drifted to the door, as if in a daze, seemingly expecting that figure who always trespassed to suddenly appear as usual.
"He's clearly gone to the Royal Capital, it's impossible for him to be back so soon..." Beatrice muttered to herself, then, as if startled by her own thoughts, shook her head violently. "Wait, is Betty... thinking about him? No! Why would Betty think such a thing? I'm definitely not thinking about that rude fellow!"
Beatrice defiantly held the book up in front of her face but found she couldn't concentrate at all.
Logically, with that noisy human gone, she should be enjoying some rare peace and quiet.
"But why... why does Betty feel this indescribable emptiness in her heart?"
Beatrice stared at the plate of steaming sweet potatoes and suddenly realized:
She seemed to miss the exquisite desserts made by the blue-haired maid a little.
—No, perhaps what she missed wasn't just the desserts.
"...Honestly." Beatrice buried her face in her book, her voice as light as a sigh. "Hurry up and come back to Betty."
Night in the Royal Capital, the inn room brightly lit.
Natsuki Subaru, Roswaal, and Emilia were gathered around a round table, with Rem standing quietly to the side.
As Emilia's knight, Natsuki Subaru had been accompanying Emilia and Roswaal to meet with the nobles of the Royal Capital for the past few days.
To be precise, they were trying to win allies for the upcoming Royal Selection.
However, the reality was not very optimistic.
Emilia's half-elf identity, and her resemblance to the Witch of Envy, put her at a clear disadvantage among the Royal Candidates.
"Everyone has worked so hard these past few days..." Emilia raised her head slightly, her amethyst eyes filled with sincere gratitude, her gaze finally resting on Natsuki Subaru. "Especially Subaru, for always accompanying me to visit the nobles..."
"This is my duty as a knight. Besides, being able to stroll around with a cute girl like Emilia-tan, how could that be tiring? Others would beg for such a good opportunity." Natsuki Subaru grinned, showing his signature cheerful smile, half-joking.
Emilia is still so gentle.
She's clearly under the most pressure, yet she always thinks of others first.
"Honestly..." Emilia couldn't help but let out a light laugh, a faint blush appearing on her fair cheeks.
"Emilia-sama~ please don't worry too much~" Roswaal interjected at the right moment, his face bearing his trademark clownish smile. "Those far-sighted nobles in the Royal Capital~ are very optimistic about your potential~ they a~re~"
"Spea~king of which," Subaru said, turning his gaze to Roswaal, "Emilia being able to participate in the Royal Selection, your support must have been indispensable, Roswaal?"
It's known that Roswaal went to great lengths to get Emilia into the Royal Selection.
Of course, Roswaal's motives aren't pure.
To be precise, Roswaal wants to help Emilia become queen to achieve his own crazy plan of slaying the Divine Dragon and resurrecting the Witch Echidna.
Roswaal bowed slightly, his clown makeup particularly striking under the lights. "This is all because the Dragon Insignia~ acknowledged its master~ granting Emilia-sama the qualification~"
"Hmm... that's indeed true."
Natsuki Subaru pretended to agree, though he knew very well that without strong backing, Emilia would probably have had difficulty even entering the Royal Capital.
Although the Dragon Insignia's acknowledgment meant one was qualified to run, just like Felt, who came from the slums, could also gain candidacy because of it.
But without the support of a powerful individual like the Sword Saint Reinhard, Felt wouldn't be able to truly participate in the Royal Selection.
Similarly, if not for the full support of Margrave Roswaal, Emilia probably wouldn't even have had the chance to step onto this stage.
After all, Roswaal was the Court Magician, known in the Kingdom of Lugnica as the Chief Court Magician.
He possessed extremely high attainments in magic and mana, and was granted the titles of "Red," "Green," and "Yellow" by the Kingdom of Lugnica.
In the end, this world is still all about power.
Thinking this, Natsuki Subaru looked at Roswaal and asked directly, "So, Roswaal, you've gathered everyone tonight to discuss Emilia's participation in tomorrow's Royal Selection council meeting?"
"Precisely so~" Roswaal drew out his tone, his mismatched eyes glinting strangely in the candlelight. "At tomorrow's Royal Selection council meeting, the Sage Council will primarily examine Emilia-sama's qualifications as a candidate~ If we act rashly without a thorough plan~"
He paused deliberately here.
"The consequences could be quite severe~ especially considering Emilia-sama's special~ identity issue..."
The air in the room seemed to freeze instantly.
The candlelight flickered restlessly, casting dancing shadows on everyone's faces.
Emilia unconsciously clenched the fabric of her skirt, her silver hair particularly striking in the dim light.
Everyone knew.
Emilia's silver hair and half-elf features inevitably linked her to that forbidden name, Satella.
The witch who had nearly destroyed the world four hundred years ago was still the greatest taboo in the Kingdom of Lugnica.
This baseless association filled the populace with irrational prejudice and fear towards Emilia.
In the Royal Selection, this was undoubtedly a fatal disadvantage.
If she couldn't even gain the support of the Sage Council, let alone win the approval of the common people, even with the Dragon Insignia's certification, it would likely be difficult to turn the situation around in the face of such strong opposition.
"So, what specific countermeasures are we taking?"
Natsuki Subaru looked directly at Roswaal, his gaze like a torch.
He was sure that since Roswaal had brought up this issue, he must have already prepared a solution.
___
Greetings! ✨ Walnut here!
🔥 AN INCREDIBLE OFFER IS ON THE TABLE! 🔥
We're only 12 members away from our 65-member goal! 🎯
The second we hit it, 10 BONUS CHAPTERS for ALL STORIES will be released to everyone. No exceptions!
🪦 Your membership is the key. Let's make it happen!
100 powerstones = +1 Bonus Chapter for everyone! 5 reviews = +1 Bonus Chapter for everyone!
Secure your early access before it's too late!
👻 patreon.com/Walnutchan