Chapter Text
In the capital of Lagunica the Candidates are currently in a private meeting with no one else allowed and as such quite the knightly gathering of people are in a nearby room waiting for it to end.
Subaru was sitting on a couch with his face in his hands while Felix was next to Subaru poking him. Julius and Al were across the table with Julius having his hands on freshly poured tea and Al leaned against the back of their couch. Reinhard was setting down a basket of cookies and removed the pink apron he was wearing before taking a seat next to Subaru.
“Has your time away from the capital been well?” Julius asked Reinhard.
“While I would have preferred my time serving Lady Felt it was enjoyable to visit new places.” Reinhard responded.
“Is that where you picked up the recipe for these amazing cookies?” Al asked while stuffing three cookies into his face at once.
“Yes, those in particular originate from Gusteko and I was able to recreate them from some a passing trader had.” Reinhard explained.
“And nyou didn’t even need the recipe, did nya Rein?” Felix asked, knowing the answer.
“Well it isn’t that hard to figure out the flavors from one cookie is it?” Reinhard asked.
“It is.” Felix responded deadpan.
“Oh…” Reinhard said with a somber expression.
Something felt like it was missing. Something loud and kind of annoying. Ah it was Subaru who Felix had just noticed hadn’t said a word.
“Are nya anxious Syubaru?” Felix teased the knight who was visibly and obviously nervous.
“Yeah.” Subaru confirmed in a downtrodden tone as he looked up.
“I get that you’re away from your lady but is it truly that bad?” Julius asked his ally with a small flick of his hair before taking a sip of his tea.
“You don’t get it, my camp or at least Emilia can’t go two weeks without me needing to solve some horrific catastrophe from befalling us!” Subaru complained with worry obvious in his tone as his face morphed into a grimace.
“I’m sure it can’t be that bad Brother. Right Sword Saint?” Al asked Reinhard while reaching for some cookies on the table.
“I didn’t sense any lies and his emotion was genuine.” Renhard said as he brought his hand to his chin.
“It’s true! My first week, mabeast attack! A few weeks later, White Whale and Petelgeuse! The week after that, Great Rabbit!” Subaru explained with a significant amount of stress in his voice.
“Nyow that I think about it yeah those reports do line up.” Felix said as a dawning horror crept onto everyone’s face.
“And that’s not even including the day before my first week! Or that at the same time as the Rabbit we had assassins at the mansion!” Subaru continued not giving them time to break.
“Subaru are you alright?” Julius asked with sincerity… which Subaru didn’t notice as he was still going.
“After that we had the earth spiders and all the bullshit that caused, so yeah of course I’m worried!” Subaru finished taking a deep breath as what was just said sunk in for everyone else.
“After hearing that I’m kinda worried about the Princess.” Al said as he started getting restless and started fiddling with his sword.
“You have a point nya.” Felix said nervously, gripping the hem of his dress.
“I hope Lady Anastasa is well.” Julius said maintaining a mask of calm though it couldn’t keep a nervous sweat forming as his tea grew cold.
“Even I feel quite nervous.” Reinhard said with a nervous smile.
The whole room became tense and the earlier comfort became a restless air. As the minutes passed everyone got more and more restless until… Screams from out of the room.
Reinhard practically vanished. Julius and Al were tripping over each other trying to run out of the room. Subaru used his parkour skills and back-flipped over the couch then ran to the door. Felix jumped so hard he hit the surprisingly low lamp hanging above him.
Scrambling down the hall the knights were desperate to reach their candidates before it was too late. Tripping over each other while they ran, the door slammed open when they tumbled on each other. Reinhard was on the bottom with Julius and Al on his back both laid straight out still holding swords. Subaru was on top of them making it look like knight jenga, Felix fell on his butt on top of Subaru which made it turn into a knight throne with blue at the top.
When they finally managed to look up at the candidates they saw Felt latched onto Priscilla like some sort of murderous koala, while Anastasia looked at them like she was going to burst a vein. Emilia was trying to pull Felt off of the aggravated Priscilla who was currently aiming a legendary sword at the table like it killed her family. And Crusch looked like she's trying to regain her composure while sipping some tea.
The knights stared at them… The candidates stared back…
Felix from atop his throne looked at the table between the candidates and saw the reason this happened. “Monyopoly huh?” Felix saw on the table the board game Monopoly, a game that originated from Banan hundreds of years ago thanks to one Alec Hoshin.
Crusch was the second to recover. “Lady Emilia suggested we play a game to ease the tensions.” She explained.
Felix hopped off his throne letting the others finally stand. Felt slowly let go of Priscilla getting lifted into Emilia’s arms like a cat.
The bright sword vanished from Priscilla’s hands and Al brushed off his helmet.
Julius brushed his clothes of any dust while Anastasia plastered on her negotiation smile.
Emilia kept Felt in her arms and Subaru coughed into his hand before standing straight.
Felt was frozen not moving while Reinhard moved closer and held his hands out and motioned Emilia to let him carry Felt.
Felix slumped over to Crusch who was seemingly the one who yelled.
“We don’t talk about this, agreed?” Anastasia asked but it was more of a demand.
“Agreed.” Everyone voiced at the same time.
This would go down as an event known as the ghost meeting among the candidates. Nothing happened and the public has no idea it happened.
Though one thing was agreed upon.
Never let Natsuki Subaru talk about his past on any major events before something important.