In the bustling merchant district of Lugunica's capital, a strikingly decorated building stood out among its surroundings.
This impressive structure was both grand and spacious, constructed from luxurious wood and vibrant tiles. Its numerous windows invited sunlight to flood the interior, while a magnificent entrance was framed by lush trees and beautiful plants.
Unlike the other buildings nearby, this one showcased the traditional architectural style of Kararagi, making it appear out of place.
Above the entrance, a banner displayed the logo of the Hoshin Company, a prominent trading conglomerate based in the neighboring nation of Kararagi.
The company is owned by the distinguished merchant and businesswoman, Chairwoman Anastasia Hoshin. Following her announcement of candidacy, she established a branch of her business in the country she might govern in the future.
On the third floor of the building was the main office, a space designated solely for Anastasia herself.
This office was spacious and richly decorated, featuring a door behind the main desk that also served as a private suite, equipped with all the amenities of a typical home.
Connected to this office-suite was a small balcony, furnished with just a chair and a round table, complete with guard rails for added privacy.
Seated in the lone chair on the balcony was Anastasia Hoshin, a wine glass of fine wine in her left hand and a bottle resting on the table. Her right hand absentmindedly stroked the fox-like scarf around her neck.
As she swirled the deep red liquid in her glass, she took a small sip, relishing the robust cherrey flavor. Yet, her focus seemed distant, as she gazed blankly into the horizon, seemingly lost in thought.
She was completely oblivious to the taste, seemingly lost in her own thoughts as she stared blankly ahead.
Her lips formed a frown, and her eyes appeared distant and lost, with noticeable dark circles beneath her striking blue-green irises.
It was evident that the chairwoman of the Hoshin Company was not enjoying herself at all and was clearly preoccupied with something heavy weighing on her mind.
Her sharp and strategic mind was elsewhere, as she replayed the events from days prior that had brought her to this state.
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It was a sunny morning when Anastasia settled into her main office, where documents and paperwork were neatly arranged on her desk.
Holding a file in her hand, she carefully read every word, but once she finished, a slight frown crossed her face as she set it down.
This report was from her merchant network, detailing the individual she was investigating and the unfortunate person who had drawn her ire.
Natsuki Subaru. The man who had publicly humiliated her knight.
Her earlier report had yielded little information; it revealed no names, no family connections, and no country of origin—essentially, nothing at all.
The only piece of information available was his recent appointment as the Margrave's household butler, and that was it.
The reason for her frown stemmed from the same frustration she felt with the previous report; this second attempt to gather information had also come up empty.
Typically, even the most obscure individuals, whomever they are, would always leave some sort of trail or hint behind them.
But not in Subaru's case. There was no trace; not even a whisper of information. Even his last name, "Natsuki," led to nothing.
It was as if he had appeared out of nowhere.
Now Anastasia wasn't arrogant; she understood that her merchant network had its limitations and wasn't the largest or most powerful.
Most of her network's strength lay in Kararagi, with a growing presence in Lugunica as her business expanded there.
Her reach in Gusteko was minimal, primarily due to the harsh conditions that made it a challenging place for merchants.
In the Empire of Vollachia, she had no connections at all, largely because of the Empire's closed borders and its distinct, mighty-rules-all culture.
For now, her background checks were limited to Lugunica, which had yielded no results. This left her with no choice but to send inquiries to Kararagi and hope for a breakthrough.
If that also yielded no results, she would have to consider two possibilities: either Natsuki Subaru hailed from Vollachia or Gusteko, or perhaps he was out of this world.
She leaned towards the first option, especially since his demeanor and appearance seemed more aligned with Vollachia than Gusteko.
'Just How hard can i' be t' find information 'bout him?' she thought, rubbing her temple as a headache began to set in.
This search had been a recurring issue lately, particularly as she dealt with the aftermath of everything.
The aftermath of her Knight's disgrace.
News of the duel had spread throughout the kingdom. The story of the Commoner Butler facing off against the kingdom's top Knight and emerging victorious had become a sensation among the common folk.
No matter where she went—inns, bars, taverns, cafés—people were gossiping about it.
Much of the chatter involved mocking Julius, as many found it amusing that a high-ranking Knight was bested by a mere butler.
Conversely, the butler was celebrated, with the general consensus being that the common people viewed him as a people's hero—a commoner who dared to stand up against knights and nobility and come out victorious.
In her opinion, this was pure injustice. The butler's behavior during the Royal Selection's commencement meeting was largely overlooked or forgotten, with the duel overshadowing everything else.
And since Julius had pledged his loyalty to her, she inevitably faced the consequences that came with it.
Those who were once eager to engage in business with her—the successful, powerful merchant who had climbed to her current position through determination and hard work, and who could potentially become a future ruler—were now hesitant to associate with her.
No one wanted to be linked to someone who had close ties with the humiliated knight, especially since his reputation among the common folk was, as mentioned before, far from favorable.
Anastasia had anticipated this setback, knowing it would impact her profits and reputation. However, she was undeterred; she was a risk-taker, which was precisely why she had thrown her hat with Crusch Karsten.
At this moment, there was no update on the status of the Subjugation force. But she remained confident in the Iron Fang's capabilities and their skilled leadership.
Ricardo, Mimi, and Hataro were all exceptional leaders who had successfully led them through numerous challenges and battles, always emerging victorious.
If anything were to go awry, they had strict orders to retreat if the situation turned dire.
Now, all she could do was pray for a smooth outcome and hope for their victory, so she could gather the resources and connections needed to retaliate against the Emilia Camp and, more importantly, the butler himself.
As she pondered these thoughts, a sudden knock on the door jolted her back to reality. She raised an eyebrow, surprised; she hadn't expected any visitors today and had specifically instructed Tivey not to let anyone disturb her.
"Who is it?" she asked, folding the report neatly.
Silence lingered behind the door, and she sensed that the person on the other side was hesitating before finally answering.
"A…Anastasia-sama… It's me,"
Anastasia instantly recognized the voice; it was the one she had longed to hear for quite a while.
"Julius! Took ya sweet tim' to visit me! Come in!" she exclaimed, her frown quickly transforming into a warm smile as the door clicked open and her knight stepped inside.
Exhausted.
That was the word that came to mind when she saw him. Dark circles were evident under his eyes, which, despite once shining with diligence and pride, now appeared dull and heavy.
He was dressed in simple, wrinkled clothing rather than his typical gleaming white knight uniform His cherished sword was noticeably absent from his side.
You wouldn't guess he hailed from the Juukulius family, a noble lineage renowned for its knights.
Her heart ached at the sight of her usually composed, proper, and charming knight in such a state, and she couldn't help but silently curse the person responsible for his conditions.
"Julius… How hav' ya been?" she asked, her voice softer than usual, a tone she reserved for those closest to her.
"Anastasia-sama… I've been…" he began, looking down. He seemed to be avoiding her gaze for reasons she couldn't quite grasp.
"Doing well… Yes, I'm fine," he finally replied, but his body language clearly indicated otherwise.
Anastasia frowned, recognizing that he was far from okay. She stood up and approached him.
"Julius, ya know ya can share what's bothering ya. I won't bite," she reassured him,
There was a moment of silence, and no words were exchanged. Julius remained quiet, still avoiding her eyes.
"Julius," she called out again.
"…"
"Julius. Please look at me," she gently urged, and after a moment of hesitation, he finally met her concerned blue-green gaze with his weary yellow eyes.
"I know yer goi' through a rough' patch, but I want ya t' know that I'm here for you. Not just me; Mimi, Hetaro, Tivey, Joshua and Ricardo are all worried too. So please, stop sulkin' and talk to us, alright?"
As she spoke, Julius gazed deeply into her eyes and recognized the genuine concern reflected there.
A wave of shame washed over him.
He had isolated himself from everyone, trapped in his room, replaying the words Natsuki Subaru had said during their fight, along with memories of his upbringing—from being adopted to the rigorous training that led him to achieve knighthood.
These thoughts looped in his mind like a broken record, each repetition dragging him deeper into despair and exhaustion.
Eventually, he reached a painful realization: he was unworthy of being a knight.
He had underestimated and dismissed the butler due to his status, forgetting that he himself was not born into nobility.
He upheld the knightly codes and responsibilities to a tee, yet Natsuki Subaru had defended a royal candidate against slander without a second thought.
He took pride in his strength and determination, believing that the imperial knights were the pinnacle of strength; yet, Natsuki Subaru was but a mere butler who took him down without a scratch.
He had tarnished the reputation of knighthood with his actions, embarrassed his lady in front of the entire kingdom, and, even worse, sullied the esteemed image of his noble house.
Despite all this, even though he saw himself as unfit for the role, he refused to step down.
Why? Because he was needed.
Despite everything, he remained a high-ranking knight; resigning would only tarnish their reputation further.
He was still the sworn protector and personal knight of his lady, and stepping down now would leave her vulnerable and bring shame upon him as both a man and a warrior.
He had formed a close bond with the captains of the Iron Fang—Mimi, Hetaro, Tivey, and Ricardo—caring for the triplets as if they were his younger siblings, and resigning would be akin to abandoning them.
So many people and responsibilities relied on him. He had already brought shame upon them once, and he wouldn't do it again.
He would continue his role as a knight, but without lifting his head.
"I… Thank you for your kind words, Anastasia," he finally replied, offering a strained bow in return.
Anastasia laughed softly, "No need for the 'sama,' when we're in private, Julius."
Her relief was palpable; her words, the ones she always wanted to say, were finally reaching her proud knight, easing the pain in her heart.
Whatever troubles Julius faced, he was finally on the path to recovery, and soon she would have her knight back.
So what could possibly go wrong?
Julius was just about to reply when a series of knocks interrupted him, shattering the serious atmosphere.
"What is it?" she inquired, a hint of annoyance creeping into her voice.
"Forgive my abrupt interruption, Anastasia-sama, but I bring news from the troops you dispatched with Crusch-sama's subjugation force," he announced.
Her eyes brightened with recognition. She had been eagerly awaiting updates on their progress, and it was about time they reported their success!
Anastasia quickly made her way to her chair, straightening herself up as she did so, all while Julius looked on in confusion.
"Come in!" she called out, her voice cheerful as the Iron Fang messenger stepped into the office, a folder in hand—clearly a written report.
"Here you are, Anastasia-sama. A comprehensive after-action report on the subjugation of the White Whale," he said, placing the document on her desk, which she snatched up eagerly.
"Excellent, dismissed," she instructed the messenger, who bowed briefly before exiting.
With a gleeful expression, she opened the report, a smirk forming as her eyes scanned each line with great focus, all while Julius watched in shock.
'Subjugation of the White Whale…?! When did this happen—' he was jolted from his thoughts by a piercing scream that made him flinch slightly.
"WHAT?!"
Anastasia's voice was so loud that rumors suggested it could be heard all the way to the royal castle atop the hill.
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By now, the wine glass in her hands was nearly empty, just like the wine bottle beside her.
The alcohol did nothing to alleviate her headache; in fact, it only intensified as she reflected on the events that had transpired.
A dry chuckle escaped her lips, devoid of any real amusement, as she remembered the contents of that dreaded report.
Her forces had utterly failed to eliminate the White Whale, which was unfortunate enough, but what made it even worse was the following revelation.
Natsuki Subaru, the very reason for this entire subjugation mission, not only intervened during the battle with the White Whale but also personally rescued everyone and fought it single-handedly.
And he killed it. All by himself.
Initially, she thought the report got mixed up with one of Mimi's wild stories; that girl had such an overarching imagination that it could be exhausting to keep up with her.
But no, the report was authored by Ricardo, and he never jokes when it comes to after-action report.
Naturally, she had to inform Crusch Karsten about this unwelcome and surprising turn of events. She still clung to the hope that it was all a misunderstanding or a paperwork error.
However, Crusch confirmed in her response that Natsuki Subaru had indeed accomplished what the report stated. She even mentioned that he had saved her life from imminent danger.
And to top it all off? The Mathers domain had been attacked by the Witch Cult, which anyone with common sense would realize they would target the place which housed the silver-haired half-elf candidate.
Take a guess at who led the strike force against the Witch Cult and successfully eliminated the Sloth Archbishop without any casualties, soldiers or civilians alike .
If you guessed Natsuki Subaru, then Anastasia might just pull out all your hair herself.
At this point, Anastasia felt as if Od Luguna was playing a cruel prank on her, or that she was trapped in a never-ending nightmare, waiting to wake up to some of the triplet's shenanigans.
But no, everything happening was, apparently, all too real.
She spent countless sleepless nights contemplating the consequences of everything that had transpired. The target of her pursuit had evolved from a formidable butler into a genuine living legend.
She didn't need to ponder the impact of this change. The Emilia camp's popularity would soar, while hers would plummet due to her failure, leading to increased hesitance towards her company and potential financial losses.
Now, she found herself caught in a dilemma: should she continue to chase after the Emilia camp in hopes of revenge, or should she accept defeat and fold her hand?
The former seemed more appealing, especially since Julius himself had urged her to let it be and not to fight the camp for whatever reason.
Right now, the only source of comfort was the fox-scarf draped around her neck, whispering words to her which helped to ease her anxieties.
Truly, Anastasia Hoshin was not having a good time.