After seeing the messenger off, the brief silence in the drawing room was broken by Emilia's voice.
At this moment, the white-haired half-elf girl sat opposite Subaru, her eyes filled with anticipation as she asked, "Subaru, Tsukasa, do you want to accompany us to the Royal Capital?"
Roswaal, sitting in the main seat, sipped his black tea leisurely with his usual smile, completely unsurprised by Emilia's proposal.
Before Subaru could speak, Tsukasa's enthusiastic voice sounded. "Go! Why wouldn't I? Staying at the mansion is so boring. I've heard the desserts in the Royal Capital are the best in the kingdom."
He leaned comfortably against the back of his chair, accepting tea and snacks from Rem, his posture even more relaxed than Roswaal's.
Subaru looked at him and said irritably, "We can go, but you must promise me—you have to stay by our side and not run off the moment you sense a strong presence."
Her gaze was extremely resolute.
Just as Tsukasa was about to brush it off, Emilia turned to him, her expression unusually serious. "Tsukasa, you have to promise me too."
Stared at by the two girls with equally firm gazes, Tsukasa's little plans to "play it by ear" immediately fell through. He had no choice but to raise his hands in a gesture of surrender and nod reluctantly.
Seeing that the constraint was effective, the discussion continued.
Emilia added, slightly apologetically, "However, Subaru, once we reach the Royal Capital, I may have many important occasions to attend and might not be able to stay with you the whole time. This gathering is different from the previous ones."
Subaru waved her hand readily. "It's fine. Just call me when you need me, I can manage my own time otherwise."
Just as Emilia was about to continue, Roswaal set down his teacup, a smile appearing on his face as he interjected, "Accommodations will naturally be arranged. However, after the gathering, I hope Subaru and Tsukasa can visit the Karsten House to retrieve an item. While you're at it, have Rem go to the Karsten Family's healer to check and adjust her mana circulation."
"Are you questioning my judgment?"
Upon hearing this, Tsukasa frowned slightly, his tone revealing clear displeasure.
His Six Eyes could clearly perceive that the flow of mana within Rem was stable and orderly, there was absolutely no problem at all.
"Retrieving the item is fine, but Rem is already fine."
Facing Tsukasa's questioning, Roswaal simply waved his finger, his tone relaxed. "It is just a precaution. Besides, for you, it is merely a matter of convenience."
Facing Roswaal's words, Subaru thought of a deeper layer and asked cautiously, "Is it really alright for us to make contact with other Royal Selection Candidate factions like this?"
At this moment, various possibilities of political maneuvering flashed through her mind regarding Roswaal's words.
At this, Emilia quickly explained, "The kingdom's top healer is there. Subaru, you both saw him just now—it's that messenger, Felix-san."
"Him?" Subaru and Tsukasa spoke almost simultaneously.
Roswaal smiled and confirmed, "That's right. In the talent-filled Royal Capital, he is one of the most excellent water-type mages. With his help, perhaps you can adjust your physical state to its peak. I went to great lengths to secure his services."
His tone carried a touch of well-placed sentiment, as if this had been a very difficult task.
With the matter settled, Subaru could not refuse further and nodded in agreement.
Tsukasa did not say anything more, but the doubt in his heart did not dissipate. He glanced at the inscrutable Roswaal and thought to himself, 'Is he trying to make them grateful to him? Or does he have another purpose? Regardless, in the face of absolute power, you should hurry up and lay out your plans.'
This absolute self-confidence, stemming from his own strength, made him hold an attitude of near indifference toward Roswaal's possible schemes.
—
Two mornings later, the cool air enveloped the Roswaal Mansion.
In front of the main gate, the morning light fell upon his white hair, reflecting a faint luster. Tsukasa stretched widely, moving his Spirit Form body, his face filled with anticipation.
"Finally setting off. Staying in the mansion for these past two days, I felt like I was about to grow mold."
Standing on his right, Subaru immediately poked him gently with her elbow and lowered her voice to remind him again, "Don't forget what you promised us."
"I know, my ears are almost calloused from hearing it."
Regarding Subaru's words, Tsukasa waved his hand, his tone dismissive, because he believed he still had that much self-control.
"Be serious."
Hearing Tsukasa, who intended to brush it off, Subaru glared at him helplessly.
Not far away, Emilia watched the two bickering and couldn't help but chuckle, saying to the maid beside her, "The two of them are like children, right?"
Rem, standing to the side, had a gentle smile on her face, but her gaze remained fixed on Tsukasa's figure, responding softly, "Yes, Emilia-sama. However, Tsukasa like this... is also very handsome."
Emilia looked at the high-spirited Tsukasa over there, then at the bright-eyed Rem beside her, and smiled helplessly. "He is handsome, sure but Rem, you haven't been 'poisoned' by Tsukasa, have you?"
To this teasing, Rem simply raised the corners of her lips a bit higher and did not answer.
At this time, Subaru had curiously walked over to the earth dragon. This creature, covered in dark scales, appeared exceptionally huge in the morning light.
She cautiously reached out and touched the earth dragon's hard, cold skin.
"What a big guy, its skin is so hard but its face looks a bit scary."
As soon as she said this self-muttered evaluation, the earth dragon in front of her suddenly let out a low roar.
"Whoa!"
Although there was no actual attack, the sound and presence from such close proximity still made Subaru jump back a small step, her heart pounding.
"Earth dragons should have high intelligence, so even if we can't speak the same language, they can roughly understand what people mean." Tsukasa said as he walked over.
However, in stark contrast to its reaction when facing Subaru, the earth dragon's body stiffened noticeably the moment Tsukasa approached. No matter how casually Tsukasa patted its neck, it remained motionless, even softening its breathing. In those sharp, vertical pupils, a kind of instinctual awe was clearly reflected.
At this moment, Emilia and Rem also walked over.
Seeing this scene, Rem immediately said in an admiring tone, "As expected of Tsukasa, to make the earth dragon submissive so quickly."
At this moment, having recovered, Subaru put her hands on her hips and voiced a different opinion, "How is this submissive? This is clearly just fear, right? Hey! You snobbish earth dragon, I'm right, aren't I?"
(End of Chapter)
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