Subaru Natsuki had shrugged off Emilia's efforts to stop him and declared
himself her knight.
When Subaru made his announcement, the hall became bereft of sound,
replaced by a thick, unpleasant cloud. Seeing the conflicted gazes of onlookers,
Subaru realized that something was going deeply, unexpectedly awry as
Miklotov asked, "Mmmm. A knight, are you. Marquis Roswaal… Who is this?"
"Ahhh, a somewhat ignorant boy, is he not? …This is a poor showing, even for
him."
"Indeed, what is the status of Lady Emilia's actual knight?"
"Unlike the other candidates, Lady Emilia currently lacks a knight that she can
place her trust in. That is most certainly a matter of concern. Howeeever, that
does not mean simply aaanyone can be a knight, particularly one claiming to be
a knight of someone who may become king someday."
Roswaal continued to speak in his normal tone, seemingly for Subaru's
benefit.
"Fidelity toward one's master is one of the qualifications of being a knight.
Furthermore, the power to defend one's liege is required. He must have some
special quality enabling him to blaze the path for his master to become king. If
he does not, then…"
A voice abruptly interrupted Roswaal's speech, hailing from the line of
candidates. All eyes fell on the handsome young man with violet hair—Julius.
"—That alone is not enough, Marquis Roswaal."
Julius elegantly bowed.
"Forgive my intrusion. However, there is something I must ask him."
When Julius indicated him, Subaru scowled, remembering the former's
hostility from before the royal selection.
"You need not be so defensive. I have only one question. Once it is done, you
may do as you please."
"Do I look tense to you? Why not let me relax a little, ditch the question, and
save it for tomorrow?"
"Cease with the clown act. At least, if you truly wish to be Lady Emilia's self-
declared knight."
"…What do you mean by that?"
Julius regarded Subaru with exasperation, as if he was a complete dunce.
"It seems you do not understand. Just now, you announced yourself as a
knight before the entire body of Knights of the Royal Guard of the Kingdom of
Lugunica."
Julius slowly motioned to indicate the knights lined up behind him. Prompted
by his words, the knights in their rows stood at attention without disturbing a
single thread of the carpet, saluting with their swords raised.
"Th-that's pretty good stuff there. Did you all practice that just for today?"
Subaru was sniping to keep his wits under the pressure, but Julius's calm
composure did not falter.
"Indeed we did, for we are highly aware we embody the dignity of the
kingdom on a daily basis. We train in body and spirit, including how to behave
in a ceremonial place. Are you prepared to learn all this?"
Only then did Subaru truly appreciate the true intent behind the question
posed to him. Julius was asking him if he was prepared to shoulder the weight
of the title of knight, like the Knights of the Royal Guard behind him did.
Subaru had called himself a knight to demonstrate that he was Emilia's
supporter and the person who held her the foremost in his thoughts—to her
rival candidates, to the knights, to the Council of Elders, and everyone involved
in the royal selection.
"I…I want to…make Lady Emilia king. No, I will make her king."
"Do you have enough resolve, and enough strength, to do this?"
"Resolve isn't everything, and I know I'm not strong enough. The feeling in my
heart may not be the same loyalty and fidelity that other people have…but my
answer won't change."
Subaru took a deep breath, wet his tongue, and braced himself as he stepped
forward.
"—I'll make Lady Emilia king. I'll make her wish come true."
"…Do you not think that this is an exceptionally arrogant reply?"
Dismay entered Julius' expression, as if he were listening to a tale of an empty
dream.
"Do you understand? People are divided according to their birth. Perhaps it is
best to use the term capacity. Nothing is gained by attempting to surpass one's
own capacity. Furthermore, you will never gain what you seek in doing so,
especially not the title of knight, which falls so frivolously from your lips."
Julius drove the scabbard of his own sheathed sword into the floor with a
thump. On cue, the knights assembled behind him produced the same sound a
moment later. The hard, heavy echo displayed that he had all the knights
behind him.
"Those who pursue knighthood require loyalty to lord and kingdom and the
power to protect their liege by force. No one may call himself knight without
either one of these things.—Can you still say there is the will, the power, the
resolve within you?"
"Don't get all high and mighty on me with your buddies. I know I don't have
the power to follow through on how I feel as I am now…"
"You say that you accept your current lack of power? I see; that is a precious
thought. If you had not acknowledged your weakness, I might have been forced
to reduce myself to your disgraceful level."
Subaru was helpless to respond as Julius, unable to conceal his contempt,
heaped scorn upon him.
"You understand that you are lacking in strength? Did you declare it so loudly
in expectation of a reward? Weakness is a matter of shame, not pride."
"—!"
"Next you will no doubt say your feelings will carry you through. I see. Your
emotions conquer all. Fine and well. Did you strive to earn the right to stand in
this palace with the might of your strong and lofty feelings? Did you come here
in an effort to insult us, the Knights of the Royal Guard, to the highest degree
possible?"
The stern words bit into him. But even then, Julius did not sheath his verbal
blade.
"Only those of certain birth may be recommended for entry into the Knights
of the Royal Guard, the pinnacle of knighthood. This is not out of deference to
lineage, but because their ancestors have displayed their loyalty to the
kingdom, down to the very blood that flows through their veins. I do not accept
that you, nor the mercenary calling himself Al, have any qualifications to call
yourselves knights."
"Bloodline… It's not like a person can do anything about something like
that…!"
"Indeed. It is just as I have said. People are separated by birth. It was the
same in your home. Just because two people have been born does not make
them equal."
"—"
"Of course, not all born to knightly households become knights. Many lack the
will. A knight eternally strives for greater heights, ever willing to cast his life
aside, coughing up blood, to protect whatever greatness stands behind him.
That is the ultimate honor of those qualified."
With classical nobleman's thinking, Julius stomped on Subaru's feelings,
rejecting the essence of his very existence. And every knight there felt the exact
same way.
Not a single person in that place acknowledged Subaru as a knight. And yet,
he replied, "—Even so, I'll make Emilia king."
"I do not understand. In the face of such rejection, why are you still even
here?"
Cold glances from throughout the chamber watched Subaru's recklessness
with scorn and contempt. But Subaru couldn't feel any of that.
He felt something far stronger—the gaze of the silver-haired girl behind him.
He felt Emilia.
He couldn't look back. He didn't have the courage.
Feeling her presence, he hesitated for a brief moment, and then answered.
"—Because she's special."
That was his answer.
Julius's eyes widened slightly in apparent surprise. However, the surge of
emotion was immediately concealed when his face calmed again.
"You are obstinate. I accept that you have a reason for standing here
regardless of whether you are qualified or not. In that case, I have nothing more
to say to you."
Julius turned his back to Subaru as if he was returning to the line of
candidates. But his very first step halted, and his head alone turned back
toward Subaru.
"—However, do not think that I accept you as a knight, or ever will."
"What are you…"
"I understand that you esteem her enough that you wish to protect her.
However, your thoughts are… No, it would be ugly to elaborate deeply upon it."
Julius shook his head, pitying Subaru.
"A man who brings such an expression to the one he wishes to stand beside…
is not a knight."
Subaru's thoughts shifted behind him. Everything felt cold.
He wondered what kind of look was on Emilia's face.
He was too frightened to find out.
That was why the next thing out of Subaru's quivering lips was a transparent
attempt to get in the last word.
"Y-you're saying that whether you can be a knight or not is settled from birth?
What, every one of you was a golden child, the best at everything? Don't make
me laugh. You're not the one who gets to be called the knight among knights
around here. Don't think anything you say can get to me."
It was a cheap insult. But Julius did not display his emotions as he casually
replied, "Subaru Natsuki, you said? You should know that speaking such cheap
insults to others diminishes not only your own worth, but damages the worth of
everyone around you. Subaru Natsuki.—There is no beauty in it."
And so, Julius summarized Subaru's words and actions to date, rejecting
them, and him, in one fell swoop.
That single remark made Subaru realize that he, and his own conduct, had hit
rock bottom.
The candidates gave Subaru blank stares. Behind the dignified Julius, many of
the knights seethed with resentment at Subaru's rude statement.
For their part, the rows of civil officials had no love lost for Subaru, who
seemed unable to make any argument not based on sentimentality. He didn't
even have the courage to look up and see what the Council of Elders thought of
him.
Even if it meant making an enemy of the whole world, he'd be in Emilia's
corner.
Until that moment, his resolve for that part, at least, had held strong, but…
Before Subaru summoned the nerve to look back, a voice, clear as a bell,
moved around to his front.
"Subaru, that's enough."
The trembling of the hand touching his shoulder shocked him enough that
even he wanted to look away.
Emilia took hold of Subaru's wrist as she bowed her head to the Council of
Elders and said, "I apologize for the waste of your time. He will leave
immediately."
The words waste of your time sliced into Subaru's heart sharper than any
razor.
But he could say nothing.
He had indisputably taken his resolve, determination, and himself, and
trampled on them all.
Subaru did not resist as he was led away from the stage by his arm. As Emilia
pulled him forward, he still couldn't look at her face.
From the dais, Miklotov sounded hoarse, yet mysteriously, his voice carried
far.
"I judge some of this to have been time well spent, Lady Emilia."
Neither of the two stopped walking as Miklotov continued.
"He showed us that, at the very least, you are not a half-elf like the one the
world fears.—You have a good vassal."
Emilia paused and looked back.
"—Subaru…"
She was watching the Council of Elders on the dais. Subaru, standing beside
her, was not in her field of vision whatsoever. But when she turned, he could
clearly see her face.
Her expression was frozen over. Her eyes were frigid with the readiness to
emotionlessly cast something aside, when her tranquil, clear voice stated
plainly—
"…is no vassal of mine."
Thus, she spurned Subaru's words and feelings up to that very moment.