...
{3rd Pov}
The argument had come to a halt, but that did not mean the situation itself had been resolved. If anything, the real consequences had only just begun to surface after what had happened. With Natsuki Subaru now lying unconscious on the floor, the focus of everyone present shifted almost immediately to a new problem, one that none of them could ignore or postpone.
The question was simple, yet far more complicated than it appeared.
Who was going to take him away?
None of the three Royal Candidates were willing to step back from their position. Crusch Karsten, Anastasia Hoshin, and Priscilla Barielle had all made their intentions clear earlier, and nothing that had happened since then had changed their stance. In fact, Subaru's attempt to take his own life had only strengthened their belief that he should not remain under the Emilia Camp any longer.
From their perspective, it only proved their point.
He was not safe there.
At the same time, the situation had shifted in another way as well. The earlier exchange, especially the moment when Emilia had unintentionally revealed how Subaru had been treated under her camp, had left a strong impression on everyone present. The villagers of Arlam, who had been silently observing everything, were no longer neutral in their thoughts.
They had seen enough.
THEY HAD HEARD ENOUGH.
And based on that, many of them had begun to lean toward the Royal Candidates' side.
To them, it appeared as if Subaru had been mistreated despite everything he had done, and now those who held power and authority were stepping in to correct that. Whether their understanding was complete or not did not matter. What mattered was the conclusion they had reached.
And that conclusion did not favor Emilia.
Among those who reacted the most strongly was Ram.
She was seething.
Outwardly, she maintained her composure, but internally, frustration and anger were building rapidly. The situation had slipped out of her control in a way she had not anticipated. Not only had things escalated beyond expectation, but she had also lost even the most basic right to keep Subaru where he belonged.
Her grip over the situation was gone.
Her ability to claim him, to keep him by her side, was being challenged from all directions and she could do nothing about it at this moment.
Her thoughts turned sharp and bitter.
Part of her frustration was directed toward Emilia. From her perspective, Emilia's lack of awareness and her careless words had worsened everything, turning what could have been managed into something far more complicated.
But even more than that, her anger was directed toward the Royal Candidates.
All three of them.
Each one of them standing there, trying to take Subaru away.
Trying to claim what she considered hers.
And that was something she was not willing to accept so easily.
'Why are they after my Subaru?' Ram questioned internally, her thoughts moving rapidly as she tried to make sense of everything that had just happened.
From her perspective, none of this behavior aligned with what she knew.
There should have been no reason for any of the Royal Candidates to act like this.
If her memories were correct, then at this point in time, Natsuki Subaru should have already made a fool of himself in the Royal Capital, damaging his reputation even further.
That incident should have been enough to push him away from any serious attention, not draw it toward him.
And yet, the exact opposite was happening.
Not just one, but multiple Royal Candidates were openly competing for him, treating him as if he held some kind of value that could not be ignored.
The situation had already gone far beyond what could be explained by a simple chain reaction of changed events.
This was not just a minor deviation caused by different choices or butterfly effect.
This felt like something else entirely.
Something that did not fit within her expectations.
She narrowed her eyes slightly as she continued to think, trying to connect the pieces.
'Is there another reason behind their actions?' she wondered, her suspicion growing stronger with each passing moment.
Then another thought surfaced.
'Could it be… that they have returned in time as well?'
She considered that possibility seriously for a moment, not dismissing it immediately. Given her own situation, it was not impossible. If she herself had been brought back, then perhaps others had experienced something similar.
But even that explanation began to fall apart the more she thought about it.
It did not fully make sense.
After all, from her understanding, neither she nor Subaru had any major or meaningful interactions with the Royal Candidates after the events of the Sanctuary. Their paths had barely crossed in any significant way beyond what was necessary. The last major connection had been the temporary alliance formed to hunt the White Whale and eliminate the Sin Archbishop of Pride.
That was it.
There had been no deep involvement, no lasting connection that would justify this kind of reaction.
So even if, by some chance, they had returned to the past like she had, their priorities should have been completely different. They should have been focused on using their knowledge of the future to secure victory in the Royal Selection or to prevent whatever led to their downfall.
They should have been acting in their own interest.
Not chasing after Subaru like this, competing over him as if he were the most important piece on the board.
From Ram's point of view, the logic simply did not add up.
Which only made the situation more unsettling.
Unfortunately, even though Ram possessed stronger Wind Element magic that she had developed alongside Natsuki Subaru, she was unable to make proper use of it in her current state.
The limitation was simple but critical.
Her mana pool was far too small to sustain those techniques effectively. Without sufficient mana, even the most refined magic remained impractical in real combat situations.
The root of that weakness remained unchanged.
Her horn was still broken.
Even in her previous timeline, there had been no known method to restore it completely. That loss continued to define her limits, restricting her growth and preventing her from reaching the level she knew she was capable of achieving.
If her horn had been intact, things would have been different.
She would not have hesitated like a coward.
She would have shown these Royal Candidates exactly why they should never set their sights on her hubby in the first place. There would have been no debate, no argument, and no need for negotiation.
But that was not the reality she was dealing with.
Right now, she had to rely on something else.
A solution that could work within the constraints of the current situation.
With that in mind, she reached out and pulled Rem aside.
Rem, who was supposed to be her twin sister, still felt like a stranger to her, someone she had no real memories of.
And yet, she knew enough to understand that Rem also had a connection to Subaru.
That alone made her relevant.
"Onee-sama…" Rem began, biting her lip.
"They are trying to take custody of Subaru-kun. I heard them arguing about who should have him."
It was clear that she did not like the situation at all.
"Lil Sissy," Ram said, repeating the term that Subaru had once told her she used to call Rem in her previous timeline.
The word felt unfamiliar to her, but she used it anyway.
Her expression remained composed as she continued.
"We cannot allow Barusu to be handed over to them and taken away from us," she said firmly. "He is close to both of us. That gives us leverage."
Her eyes narrowed slightly as she laid out her thoughts.
"If we present a solution that works in our favor, something that the Royal Candidates can accept without conflict, then they may agree to it," she added, her tone steady.
"A solution?" Rem repeated, clearly surprised.
The idea that her sister was actively trying to help her ensure that Subaru-kun remained by her side was something she had not expected, especially given how things usually were between them.
From her perspective, this was almost too good to be true.
She did not mind the arrangement at all.
Even if she ended up being second, or even third, it did not bother her as much as it probably should have.
Considering what she had already sensed through their connection, the intensity of her sister's feelings toward Natsuki Subaru, she had already accepted that things would not be simple.
If anything, she was already preparing herself for that reality.
Meanwhile, Ram observed her closely, her expression remaining mostly neutral, though there was a slight twitch at the corner of her lips.
'This girl is definitely daydreaming,' she thought, judging by the look on Rem's face.
Through their connection, she could faintly sense Rem's emotional state, and what she picked up only reinforced her conclusion.
Rem was… unusual.
Not just affectionate, but excessively so.
To Ram, it bordered on something unreasonable.
'Seriously, I had a sister like this?' she thought, her internal reaction blunt and unfiltered.
From her point of view, there was only one logical conclusion.
Rem was a bit unstable and perhaps even somewhat delusional.
That realization only made her sigh internally.
'No wonder I was a bit foolish in my early years as well,' Ram concluded, nodding slightly to herself as if she had just solved something important. Naturally, she placed the blame entirely on her younger sister.
After a brief but focused discussion, the two of them came to an understanding.
They had a plan.
Without wasting any more time, they turned back toward the ongoing situation and moved forward, ready to interrupt the discussion between the three Royal Candidates.
...
"Of course not! Natsuki Subaru will remain with us!" Crusch Karsten growled, her voice firm and filled with clear determination as she glared at the other two Royal Candidates standing opposite her.
Her stance made it obvious that she had no intention of backing down.
Meanwhile, Anastasia Hoshin could not help but feel a headache forming as she watched the situation unfold.
The constant back and forth, the stubbornness from both sides, and the lack of any reasonable compromise were beginning to test her patience.
From her perspective, the entire situation had already become unnecessarily complicated, yet neither of the other two seemed willing to approach it logically.
It was turning into a contest of insistence rather than negotiation.
On the other side, Priscilla Barielle was visibly seething.
Her anger was no longer subtle.
If her only opponent had been the Crusch Karsten of the past, things would have been simple for her.
She would have acted immediately, eliminated the obstacle in front of her, and taken back what she considered hers without wasting time.
But the situation now was different.
Crusch was no longer someone she could dismiss so easily.
Not only had her strength increased, but she was also supported by powerful allies.
The presence of the Sword Demon, Wilhelm van Astrea, and the knight known as Felix Argyle, who stood firmly by her side, made any direct confrontation far more complicated than before.
And that was not the only problem.
Anastasia was also involved.
She was not just observing. She was actively competing for Subaru as well.
Her resources were not to be underestimated either.
She had the so-called finest of knights, Julius Juukulius, along with a group of experienced and capable mercenaries under her command.
Even if they were not as individually overwhelming as Crusch's allies, they were still troublesome enough to complicate any direct action.
The situation had become far too crowded and far too uncertain for her to take any action.
Meanwhile, Aldebaran remained silent, standing slightly apart from the center of the conflict. His gaze moved between the three women as they continued arguing over Subaru's custody.
He simply watched the three observing the tension, the intentions, and the growing conflict without saying a word.
"Aldebaran…" Priscilla Barielle called out suddenly, her tone noticeably sharper than before and completely lacking the patience she had shown earlier.
Aldebaran reacted immediately.
"Yes, Princess?" he replied, straightening slightly as he focused on her. From the way she had addressed him, he could already tell that whatever she was about to say was serious.
Priscilla's thoughts were already moving ahead.
'The only way to secure my darling from this situation is to use Aldebaran,' she considered carefully.
'With his Authority and his strength, protecting him and escaping from here would not be difficult.'
This was not an assumption.
It was based on experience.
In her previous timeline, she had been forced to face Aldebaran personally in combat. She knew exactly how dangerous he was.
Fighting him had not been simple or straightforward. In fact, if Natsuki Subaru had not been by her side at that time, there was a real possibility that she would have lost that confrontation.
That memory was enough for her to understand his value.
Which was exactly why she was considering using him now.
If necessary, she could have him act immediately, forcefully removing Subaru from this situation and eliminating any resistance that stood in their way.
At the same time, she was not completely bound by what had happened in the past.
Priscilla was, in her own way, open-minded.
If Aldebaran chose to act differently this time, if he did not repeat the same choices he had made before, then she had no issue allowing him to remain by her side as her servant.
However, there were limits.
If he showed jealousy toward her relationship with Subaru, or if he attempted to follow through with her Sensei's plan again in this timeline, then she would not hesitate to treat him as an enemy.
There would be no exceptions or special second chances.
But that was something to consider later.
For now, he was useful.
Very useful.
With his help, she could deal with the other two Royal Candidates if necessary.
However, killing them directly would create unnecessary complications.
It would attract attention, escalate the conflict, and potentially draw in even greater threats.
Especially one in particular.
Reinhard van Astrea.
That was not something she wanted to deal with.
So instead, she leaned toward a different approach which was to escape, take Subaru and leave before things escalated further.
'As long as I can make my darling love me in return… that is all that matters,' she thought calmly.
'Until then, I shall restrain mine divineself.'
With that decision made, she prepared to act.
However, at that exact moment, before anything could proceed further, there was a sudden knock on the door.
It was firm and impatient, immediately drawing everyone's attention and halting whatever actions they were about to take.
The timing alone was enough to interrupt the flow of the situation.
Crusch Karsten shifted her gaze toward Wilhelm van Astrea. Without needing any words, he understood what she wanted. He gave a small nod and moved toward the entrance without hesitation.
His steps were steady as he reached the door and opened it.
Standing outside were Rem and Ram.
Their presence immediately changed the atmosphere again.
"We are in the middle of an important discussion peasants," Priscilla Barielle said sharply, her tone carrying clear irritation.
"It is rude for people of your standing to interrupt like this."
Despite her words, her attention was not entirely on them.
Subtly, without drawing attention, she made a small gesture with her hand toward Aldebaran.
For a brief moment, he looked confused.
The signal was quick, almost too quick to notice.
But being Priscilla simp that he is, he understood what she wanted.
'She wants me to help her take Subaru and leave,' he realized, his thoughts catching up with the situation.
'Seriously… what kind of relationship did you have with the Princess in the future, bro?'
The realization gave him a headache.
Even for him, this situation was getting increasingly difficult to process.
"I propose a way out for all of us. How about we take joint custody of Natsuki Subaru?" Ram said immediately, getting straight to the point without wasting a single moment on unnecessary explanation.
Her words cut through the tension in the room.
For a brief second, everyone paused.
"Impossible!" Crusch Karsten hissed sharply, her reaction immediate and firm.
"I do not trust others to ensure his safety."
Her stance did not change.
If anything, her resistance only became clearer.
"We can formalize it through a contract," Ram added calmly, her tone steady as she presented the idea further.
That single addition made a difference.
The room fell into a brief silence again.
This time, it was not because of shock, but because everyone was thinking.
Meanwhile, Anastasia Hoshin's eyes lit up slightly, a subtle change that reflected the shift in her thoughts.
She had already come to terms with the fact that securing Subaru entirely for herself in the current situation would not be easy.
Even with the support of Julius Juukulius and her mercenary forces, if the other two camps decided to cooperate, she would be placed at a significant disadvantage.
That was a risk she could not ignore.
'This maid's proposal has value,' she thought, analyzing the situation quickly.
Even if the other two had indeed returned to the past, even if they possessed knowledge she did not, there was one thing she remained confident in.
They did not understand Subaru as deeply as she believed she did.
That, in her mind, was the deciding factor.
'Winning his heart will not be difficult,' she concluded, her thoughts turning slightly greedy as she considered the possibilities.
For her, this was not a compromise.
It was an opportunity, like always the only difference it was not just a business deal for her, but for reclaiming her husband.
"Watcha ya all think? Why don't we let the boy decide for himself?" Anastasia Hoshin said suddenly, her tone calm but clearly intentional as she chose to support Ram's proposal.
"Which camp he wants to stay in should be his own decision, not something forced on him."
She paused briefly, then continued, her gaze shifting between the other two candidates.
"Or are yer both afraid that the truth might come out? That Subaru-kun might actually dislike you all, and that you are trying to force him against his will?" she added with a faint smile, her eyes deliberately moving toward Priscilla Barielle and Crusch Karsten.
The provocation was obvious.
'This imbecile…' Priscilla fumed internally, her irritation rising instantly, while Crusch's reaction was more restrained but no less intense.
She clenched her fists so tightly that the metal of her gauntlets began to crack under the pressure.
Ram did not stop there.
"Indeed," she said, adding further pressure to the situation.
"Other than your high positions, what right do you actually have to claim Subaru-kun?"
Her words only escalated things further.
"Insulting Crusch-sama like this is unacceptable, nyaaah," Felix Argyle said sharply, his eyes narrowing as he looked directly at Ram.
"And I will not allow my Lady to be disrespected in front of me," Julius Juukulius added as he stepped forward, his presence immediately reinforcing the tension in the room.
Ram, however, remained completely unfazed.
"Of course, you are free to punish me," she replied without hesitation.
"You may even behead me here for speaking out of line. But wouldn't that only prove my point? That you have no way to win this argument other than silencing me?"
Her audacity shocked everyone present.
She did not back down, despite how she was insulting Royal Candidates despite being a mere maid.
"As Onee-sama said, that's right," Rem added, stepping forward as well.
"Subaru-kun would choose me over any of you. What you are trying to do is use your positions to forcibly take him away against his wishes."
Her words, combined with Ram's, only pushed the situation closer to another escalation.
"Ha… I will have both of them punished right now," Felix Argyle said as he stepped forward, clearly unable to tolerate their continued insolence any longer. His patience had already been pushed to its limit, and the way Ram and Rem had spoken only made it worse.
"Stop."
The single word came sharply from Priscilla Barielle, immediately halting Felix's movement. Her voice carried authority, and without needing to raise it further, she made it clear that she intended to take control of the situation.
A slow grin appeared on her face.
"Is that so, maid?" she said, her tone shifting into something more amused and mocking as she looked toward Ram.
"You truly believe that Natsuki Subaru can belong to anyone other than my divine self?"
Her grin widened slightly as she continued.
"Very well… I will entertain this, since you seem so confident."
There was one thing she was absolutely certain about.
She understood Natsuki Subaru completely, she had spent an entire lifetime with him.
She knew how he thought.
How he acted.
What he valued.
What he desired.
There was no uncertainty in her mind when it came to him.
Because of that, she had complete confidence.
In a contest of affection, she believed she would always be the one to win. It did not matter if, at this moment, he still held feelings for Emilia. It did not matter if there were lingering emotions toward Rem either.
None of that changed her conclusion.
"I will have Natsuki Subaru willingly devote himself to my divine self," she declared, her voice filled with certainty.
"And I will do so right in front of your worthless eyes."
Her gaze sharpened as she looked at them.
"Watch closely," she added, her tone turning openly mocking.
"Lady Priscilla," Crusch Karsten spoke again, her voice steady as she regained her composure.
The earlier tension in her expression settled into something more controlled, but her thoughts were already moving quickly beneath the surface.
'I know exactly how to please my Lord. There is no possibility that he would choose someone like her over me,' she thought with firm conviction. Her amber eyes reflected that confidence clearly, showing no trace of doubt.
"Very well," she continued aloud.
"I agree to this arrangement as well. I am certain that Subaru-sama will naturally prefer me once he sees the difference between our feelings and the shallow attachment you claim to have for him."
Her words were sharp, directed straight at Priscilla Barielle without hesitation.
Then her gaze shifted.
"Maids," she said, looking directly at Rem and Ram.
"Once Subaru-sama makes his decision and chooses me, I will personally ensure that both of you are punished for your insolence."
The threat in her voice was unmistakable.
Ram, however, did not react with fear.
Instead, she let out a small chuckle.
"Let's see how our esteemed Royal Candidates attempt to win over a man," she said, her tone carrying a hint of mockery.
"Especially when that man is already tied to others."
Her words landed exactly where they were meant to.
This was what she had intended from the beginning.
Her gamble had paid off.
The situation had been at a complete standstill earlier, with all three candidates unwilling to compromise. But by pushing them, provoking them, and forcing the matter into the open, she had created a path forward. A temporary joint custody, combined with allowing Subaru to decide for himself, became the most acceptable solution among them.
It was not ideal but it was workable and more importantly, it allowed all three of them to maintain their pride.
By challenging them openly and insulting them in front of their subordinates, Ram had ensured that none of them would back down easily. At the same time, it pressured them into choosing a method that appeared fair, one that would preserve their dignity rather than diminish it.
Anastasia Hoshin supported the idea because she saw it as the only viable way to break the deadlock.
Priscilla accepted it because she viewed it as a challenge she could not ignore.
And Crusch agreed because she believed the outcome would naturally favor her.
For all three of them, the conclusion was already decided in their minds.
They were certain they would win.
Because in their respective timelines, each of them had been Subaru's wife and that belief made them confident that the result would not change.
Finally, after a long exchange and several rounds of argument, a contract was drafted and agreed upon with clearly defined terms that all parties would be bound to follow.
The first condition was straightforward.
All Royal Candidates involved would cease any form of intentional hostility toward one another until the completion of the contract.
This meant no direct attacks, no sabotage, and no actions that could escalate the situation into open conflict while the agreement was still in effect.
The second condition addressed the main point of contention.
Each Royal Candidate would be given a single opportunity to have Natsuki Subaru accompany their camp for a period of seven days. During that time, Subaru would stay with them, observe their environment, and interact with them without interference from the others.
The third condition ensured fairness in the order. The sequence of Subaru's visits would be decided by drawing lots, removing any bias or advantage that could come from choosing the order manually.
The fourth condition imposed strict limits on behavior. No one would attempt to use underhanded methods that crossed ethical boundaries. This included manipulation, coercion, or any form of pressure that would unfairly influence Subaru's judgment during his stay with each camp.
The final condition placed the ultimate decision in Subaru's hands. Once all the visits were completed, he would be free to choose the camp he wished to join. That decision would be considered final, and it would not be influenced by threats, force, or any external coercion.
With those terms established, the agreement was set.
The five women present exchanged looks, each of them fully aware of what this meant moving forward. Rem and Ram naturally stood together as a pair, while the three Royal Candidates remained independent, each representing their own camp.
Around them, the others present could not help but question the situation.
Was it really worth going this far?
Was a single person like Subaru worth this level of competition, tension, and risk?
To an outside observer, it might have seemed excessive.
But to those involved, the answer was simple.
To them, Subaru was not just another person.
He was everything.
And because of that, they had no intention of backing down.
No matter what it took, they were going to reclaim him.
"So how exactly are we going to draw the lots?" Ricardo Welkin asked, clearly confused as he looked at the group. From his perspective, the agreement had been settled, but the method of deciding the order still remained unclear.
He was trying to understand how the women intended to proceed with something that would directly affect all of them.
"There is only one proper way to handle this," Ram replied without hesitation, her tone calm but decisive.
"We need a neutral party. Someone who cannot be influenced, someone who has no stake in the outcome, and someone whose judgment cannot be questioned."
She paused briefly before continuing.
"And I believe the most suitable person for that role would be Reinhard van Astrea."
Her suggestion immediately surprised everyone present.
It was not an obvious choice at first glance, but the more one thought about it, the more it made sense.
Reinhard was known for his integrity, his strength, and his inability to act dishonestly.
There was no one else who could guarantee fairness to that extent.
Ram, however, had another reason behind her proposal.
By bringing Reinhard into the situation, she was not just selecting a neutral judge.
She was introducing a safeguard.
Even though the contract was strict and clearly defined, she understood that no agreement was perfect. There could always be loopholes, subtle ways to exploit the rules without technically breaking them. That was something she could not ignore, especially given the people involved.
With Reinhard present, those possibilities would be reduced.
His very presence would act as a deterrent and no one would risk crossing the line under his watch.
And because of that, the entire arrangement would become more balanced, more controlled, and far less likely to be manipulated.
It was a calculated move.
A way to make the situation as fair as possible while still protecting her own interests.
However what none of them realized was that the situation was already more complicated than they believed.
There was still someone else.
Someone who had not revealed herself yet.
Someone who had also returned through death.
Someone far more dangerous than any of them could anticipate.
A person who carried more knowledge, more experience, and more secrets than all of them combined.
And when she eventually stepped into this conflict everything they had just established would be at risk of collapsing.
It was only a matter of time before they met her.
The final player.
The last piece on the board.
The one who would change everything.
The Final Wife
To be continued...