"Finally, it is Lady Felt and her knight, Reinhard van Astrea."
Seeing that it was her turn, Felt temporarily withdrew from the struggle for Green.
She gave a sneer and swaggered onto the throne's high platform.
Looking down at the dense crowd of nobles below, Felt's eyes were filled with undisguised disgust.
"The reason for becoming king? That's hilarious. If I really become that whatever-king, I'll definitely turn this whole kingdom upside down."
"Nobles, knights—I'll destroy them all! I'll kick all you dull fellows out and rebuild an interesting kingdom from the ruins!"
These words were like a thunderclap; the nobles below instantly broke into an uproar, their voices of shock and anger rising one after another.
"You... what are you saying?"
"Simply outrageous! Such a lack of upbringing!"
In the seats of the Sages, only Miklotov maintained his kind and gentle smile.
Even though Felt had included him among the "dull fellows," his expression didn't waver in the slightest.
"Reinhard, your master is quite radical..."
Hearing this, the red-haired knight's lips curled into a gentle smile, and he said with certainty, "One day, Lady Felt's words will reach everyone."
Unfortunately, another bald old man in the Sage seats did not think so.
This old fellow shot Felt a look of disgust.
Then, he fixed his disdainful gaze firmly on Emilia, his voice hoarse and grating. "Simply absurd! What do you think this place is?"
"If we are overthrown, the kingdom won't be able to function at all."
"What is the difference between the Astrea family sponsoring an orphan and Margrave Mathers' foolish act of recommending a Half-Demon!"
From the noble section, Roswaal responded coldly with displeasure, "Calling a Half-Elf a Half-Demon is quite a bad habit."
The bald old man's thick eyebrows shot up, and his tone became even more biting.
"Hmph, a silver-haired Half-Demon—isn't that exactly the appearance of the legendary [Witch of Envy]? You should be grateful just to be allowed into the throne room. To not even understand that... how filthy!"
Emilia suddenly lowered her head, her fair cheeks scrunching up as a layer of mist quickly clouded her clear eyes; she looked so aggrieved it seemed she might burst into tears at any moment.
Yet she instinctively grabbed Green's sleeve, her grip light but filled with an obvious plea, fearing he might cause trouble in a moment of impulse.
Green took Emilia's trembling hand in his and whispered in her ear:
"As your knight, I cannot tolerate anyone who makes you look so dejected. Please allow me to argue with him."
Emilia looked up at him, her slightly reddened purple eyes slowly filling with trust.
She nodded gently, her eyelashes still trembling slightly.
Having received Emilia's approval, Green looked up coldly at the seats of Sage Council.
Fwoosh!
In an instant, beast-like patterns appeared on half of Green's face, his crimson pupils suddenly contracted, and fangs became faintly visible.
This terrifying appearance lasted only for a moment before he returned to the image of a gentle, jade-like youth.
But that fleeting pressure of a ferocious beast was like a biting gale, instantly sweeping through the entire venue.
The physically weaker nobles and Guards froze on the spot, their hair standing on end and their blood seemingly turning to ice.
It was a gaze from the top of the food chain, the most primal fear in the human heart.
For a moment, the vast hall fell silent, and even the air seemed to stagnate.
Countless knights instinctively gripped the hilts of their swords, warily watching the youth with the terrifying gaze.
Leading Emilia by the hand, Green walked step by step to the center of the platform, his voice clear and cold, echoing in everyone's ears.
"Is it not somewhat arbitrary to have someone inherit unearned sins just because they look similar?"
The bald old man was also quite frightened; now that he had regained his ability to move, the anger in his heart burned even brighter.
"The disasters brought by the Witch of Envy are plain for all to see. Everyone in the streets believes that a silver-haired Half-Elf is a symbol of misfortune!"
"By your logic, should the crimes committed by every bald prisoner in the dungeons be blamed on you? If that were the case, you'd have been on the gallows long ago, you old geezer."
Green's tone was flat, but its sharpness was not to be underestimated.
If Emilia hadn't been there, Green would usually have started with the word "mother."
The bald old man was livid, pointing at Green and shouting, "That's sophistry!"
Green narrowed his eyes and shook his head slightly with a look of disappointment, his voice turning low.
"Then what are you? Malicious slander?"
"It's truly strange. A person's two eyes are clearly horizontal, yet they view people unequally. A person's two ears are clearly separate, yet they always love to listen to only one side of the story..."
The "Noble Etiquette" ability of the beast prince quietly activated, causing an awe-inspiring regal aura to surround Green on the platform, as if he were the monarch awaiting coronation.
He raised his hand and pointed at the bald old man, his voice becoming sharp and critical.
"Sitting high in the Sage's seat, ask yourself: is what you are doing truly a wise act?"
"You lack the ability to confront the Witch of Envy to her face, so you vent your anger on an ordinary girl. How shameless."
With Green's companionship, Emilia's expression gradually became firm, and her tense body relaxed.
She was especially touched when she heard Green call her an "ordinary girl."
Her greatest wish was to be treated as an ordinary person.
"Please allow me to reintroduce myself to the honorable members of Sage Council. My name is Emilia, and I am followed by a Great Spirit who governs fire mana."
Emilia took a deep breath, her voice clear, carrying her own persistence.
"As you all have said, I am indeed a silver-haired Half-Elf."
"I also know that I will suffer prejudice because I share traits with the Witch, but I do not want all possibilities to be completely denied just because of that."
"You..." The bald old man was at a loss for words, pressing his hand hard against his chest as if he were about to drop dead.
Reinhard and the other knights fell into thought after hearing Green and Emilia's statements, clearly moved by the words of this master and servant.
The talkative nobles also set aside their doubts, with only a few marveling at the existence of a "Great Spirit of Fire."
Finally, it was Miklotov who broke the silence.
"Bordeaux, you should apologize to Lady Emilia."
The bald old man struggled for a moment before finally bowing his head to Emilia in defeat.
"I was too arbitrary. Please forgive me."
The kind-hearted Emilia was about to speak when Green raised his hand to cover her mouth.
"Emilia, don't just forgive someone the moment they apologize. These despicable old geezers are the best at bullying kind people."
Having finished, Green led Emilia down from the throne's high platform.
If an apology were enough, what would we need Guards for?
You damn bald head, once Emilia becomes king, I'll set up a separate Council of Eunuchs just for you.
Miklotov stood up from the Sage's seat and gave a kind smile.
"You have truly found a wonderful attendant, Lady Emilia."
"In any case, all the candidates are here. Now, I declare the Royal Selection has officially begun!"
...The Royal Selection Meeting ended, and people began to file out of the venue.
"You're holding too tight, Green..."
"Sorry, Emilia, I got a bit carried away."
Green quickly let go, and they simply walked side by side.
Emilia looked at her empty palm with a bit of disappointment and whispered to herself, "Stupid Green, it would have been fine if you were just a bit lighter..."
"Green-kun, over here!"
By the roadside, Rem was driving a dragon carriage to pick them up.
Seeing Green, she couldn't help but stand on her tiptoes and wave vigorously; if she had a tail, it probably would have been wagging.
Green responded to Rem with a gentle smile and led Emilia over.
"You two, please wait a moment!"
Just as they were about to board the dragon carriage, a squad of Guards blocked their path.
Green immediately shielded Emilia behind him.
"Is something the matter?"
The leading Guard waved his hands in a panic and quickly explained carefully, "Don't be nervous, Mr. Grimm, it's just a small matter."
In the circle of Guards, this gentleman's reputation had long since spread; he was absolutely not someone to be offended.