Karsten mansion felt suffocating. The rain is washing the streets clean.
Crusch sat in her study, her back straight, hands folded neatly in her lap. The candlelight flickered across her face, shadows dancing on the walls.
Beside her , Ferris paced, his ears twitching, tail flicking in irritation. His usual teasing, his playfulness gone. In its place was something raw. Something desperate.
"This is a joke, right?" Ferris muttered. His voice was tight, like he was trying to convince himself. "A sick joke.Bullshit!"
Crusch didn't answer.
Ferris turned sharply, his eyes burning with frustration. "Lady Crusch! Say something!"
She finally looked up, her emerald gaze calm, controlled but underneath, there was something else. Something heavier.
"What do you want me to say, Ferris?" Her voice was quiet, but it carried weight.
"That you'll refuse!" Ferris snapped. "That you'll fight it! That you won't let some stupid prophecy decide your fate!"
A sharp breath escaped her. Not quite a sigh, not quite a laugh. Just exhaustion.
"Refuse?" she murmured. "And what then?"
Ferris faltered.
She stood, walking toward the window. The glass reflected her face cold, impassive, but the hands at her sides were clenched.
"I have spent my life preparing to lead this kingdom," she said, voice steady but not without emotion. "Not for glory. Not for power. But because this land is my home. Because these people are my responsibility."
Her fingers tightened. "I wanted to free them. Free them from the chains of the Dragon's will. I wanted them to choose their own future. I wanted to choose my own future."
She exhaled slowly.
"But fate is cruel."
Ferris clenched his fists. "Then don't accept it! We can—"
"We can what?" she interrupted, turning to face him. "Do you think the council will listen? Do you think the people will accept my rejection?"
Her voice grew softer.
"Do you think… I can walk away?"
Ferris opened his mouth—then closed it.
She had no choice.
The White Whale
The memory came unbidden.
The battlefield had been chaos. Screams, blood, steel clashing against flesh. The White Whale's monstrous form loomed above them, a nightmare given shape.
She remembered the way her knights had fought, their blades unwavering. She remembered how Wilhelm had moved like a storm, his sword cutting through the mist.
And she remembered him.
Subaru Natsuki.
He was reckless. Foolish. Not a knight, not a warrior. Just a boy.
And yet—
He had stood on that battlefield with them, trembling but unyielding. He had commanded, inspired, fought—bled—for them.
He had thrown himself into danger for people who were not his own.
She had never seen anyone like him before.
He was not strong. He was not noble. He was fragile, weak, human.
And yet, in that moment, he had been more than all of them.
She had fought beside him. Trusted him. And for the first time, she had seen a future where she was not alone.
And now, she was being told to marry him.
Not for love. Not for herself.
But for the kingdom
"You are troubled."
Crusch turned.
Wilhelm van Astrea stood in the doorway, his hands clasped behind his back. His gaze was steady, filled with experience, with wisdom.
She sighed. "Is it that obvious?"
Wilhelm stepped inside, closing the door behind him. "Only to those who have carried such burdens before."
Ferris scoffed. "Then tell her she doesn't have to do this, Old Man."
Wilhelm did not answer immediately. Instead, he walked to the window, looking out at the city beyond.
"I have lived through many things," he said after a moment. "Wars. Betrayals. Loss." His voice was calm, but there was an old pain beneath it.
He turned to face her. "Do you know what I have learned?"
Crusch met his gaze.
Wilhelm continued.
"Duty is not a burden. It is not chains. It is responsibility."
She frowned slightly.
He stepped closer. "There is a word for it among us old warriors.Absolute Duty."
Crusch tilted her head. "Absolute duty?"
Wilhelm nodded. "It means more than duty. It means righteousness, order, the path one must walk." He paused. "It is not about what you want. It is about what must be done."
Ferris scowled. "That's easy for you to say. You're not the one being forced to marry someone."
Wilhelm looked at him. "Do you think I do not understand?"
For a brief moment, there was something in his eyes. Something old.
Crusch understood.
Wilhelm had lost.
He had loved, once. And he had lost.
And yet, he had carried on.
She closed her eyes.
"…I hate it," she whispered.
Wilhelm said nothing.
She swallowed, opening her eyes again. "I hate the Dragon. I hate this prophecy. I hate that my life is not my own."
Her voice trembled slightly.
"But this kingdom is my own."
She exhaled, steadying herself.
"I will not abandon it."
Wilhelm studied her for a long moment. Then, he nodded.
"You are stronger than most, Lady Crusch."
Ferris looked at her desperately. "Crusch-sama…"
She gave him a small, tired smile.
"Stay by my side, Ferris."
His ears twitched. His tail flicked.
Then, slowly reluctantly he dropped to one knee, bowing his head.
"Always."
He didn't say anything but Wilhelm could see Ferris fists shaking in anger.
Wilhelm gave her and Ferris one last look before turning to leave.
As he reached the door, he spoke once more.
"There is one more thing about Absolute duty."
She looked up.
Wilhelm did not turn back.
"Sometimes, the path you do not want to walk… is the one that leads you where you were meant to be."
And with that, he was gone.
Crusch sat in silence.Her fist still shaking but a slow acceptance washed through her body.
Nobody saw the small tear on her cheeks.
Astrea estate
The heavy doors of the Astrea estate slammed shut with a deafening bang.
And then—
"THIS IS THE BIGGEST LOAD OF CRAP I'VE EVER HEARD!"
Felt's voice practically shook the entire damn building.
She stomped across the room, golden eyes burning with fury. "Like HELL I'm gonna just roll over and accept this! Ain't no prophecy, no crusty old nobles, no stupid magic rock gonna tell ME who I gotta marry! And Subaru? Big Bro Subaru?!Fuck this shit"
She whirled around, jabbing a finger at Reinhardt. "You're tellin' me I gotta marry my Big Bro?!"
Reinhardt, who had been standing calmly by the window, merely blinked. "Technically, he's not actually your brother."
Felt growled. "That ain't the point, you walking cheat code!"
She threw her hands in the air, pacing like a caged animal. "I told you what I'd do if I ever got stuck in this noble crap! I'd UPROOT this whole damn kingdom! Burn it to the ground if I had to! And now you're tellin' me that instead of tearing it down, I gotta marry into it?!"
Reinhardt let out a slow breath, waiting for the storm to pass.
Felt wasn't done. "What's next, huh?! They gonna make me wear some frilly dress? Give me etiquette lessons? Tell me to start callin' people 'milord' while I sip tea with my pinky out?!"
"…Well, tea is quite—"
"SHUT IT, REINHARDT!"
She kicked over a stool just for emphasis and threw her shoes at Reinhardt which he took on his face like a man he is.
Reinhardt, still the picture of calm, spoke evenly. "I understand that you're angry."
"Oh, you understand, do ya?!" Felt snarled, pointing at him. "Then understand this I ain't doin' it!"
She crossed her arms, glaring. "I don't care what the damn Dragon Tablet says. I ain't lettin' some prophecy decide my life."
Reinhardt didn't argue. Not yet.
Instead, he asked, "Do you remember the night you met Subaru?"
Felt scowled. "Course I do. Idiot nearly got himself killed by that psycho Elsa and dragged me into the mess too."
Reinhardt nodded. "And do you remember why you handed me the insignia?"
Felt clicked her tongue. "Because Big Bro earned it."
Reinhardt took a step forward. "And do you remember why?"
She hesitated.
Reinhardt's voice was quiet but firm. "Because he fought for you. For Old Man Rom. For people he barely knew."
Felt's fingers twitched.
"If it weren't for him," Reinhardt pressed on, "Old Man Rom would be dead. You would be dead."
Felt's breath hitched. Just for a second.
"Subaru has never cared about status. About bloodlines. About nobility. He fought for you because he believed in something."
Felt clenched her fists.
Reinhardt continued. "He's just like you."
Felt gritted her teeth. "Tch."
"Subaru never cared about being a hero, just like you never cared about being a queen." Reinhardt's voice softened. "But he earned that choice. Just like you did."
Felt turned away, staring at the wall.
Reinhardt sighed. "You wanted to uproot the kingdom. To tear it all down."
Felt scoffed. "Yeah, and? You sayin' marriage is the way to do that?"
Reinhardt didn't answer immediately. Instead, he gave her a knowing look. "What if it is?"
Felt frowned.
He leaned forward. "You and Subaru together? That's not just marriage. That's chaos."
Felt narrowed her eyes. "Watch it, fancy boy."
Reinhardt smiled slightly. "I mean it in the best way."
Felt exhaled sharply. "Tch. Sounds like a lotta work."
Reinhardt nodded. "It will be."
Felt glared at the floor.
"…Still ain't doin' it."
Reinhardt tilted his head. "I figured as much."
Felt crossed her arms. "Ain't lettin' anyone tell me what to do. Not the nobles, not the damn tablet, not even you."
Reinhardt sighed. "Of course."
Felt scoffed. "Tch. If Big Bro wants me, he can come convince me himself."
She stretched, cracking her knuckles. "Until then? I ain't budgin'."
But her fists were still clenched.
Her jaw was still tight.
And the fire in her golden eyes still burned as fiercely as ever.
The only difference was—
Now, she knew.
She knew she still didn't want this.
And that pissed her off more than anything.
Only thing left in her eyes other than fierce defiance..was sad acceptance
Meanwhile, Reinhardt was looking at Felt, His eyes showed wisdom... As if he knew everything.. Well ,Felt does call him a walking cheat code.. Which he is ,without a doubt at that.And there is a reason why he made Felt agree to this marriage.What is it? Only he knows
Hoshin Company
The heavy wooden doors of the Hoshin Company's meeting hall creaked shut, sealing Anastasia and her most trusted allies inside. The air was thick with anticipation. This wasn't just any business meeting.
Anastasia sat at the head of the polished table, fingers laced together, her fox scarf draped over her shoulders like a symbol of dominance. Across from her stood Julius, ever composed, ever dignified—the finest knight of Lugnica, her loyal protector. Surrounding them were the Iron Fang mercenaries: Ricardo, the rugged beastman with arms crossed, Mimi bouncing restlessly in her seat, Hetaro and Tivey exchanging curious glances.
Anastasia tapped her fingers against the table, her violet eyes gleaming with amusement. "Well, now," she purred, breaking the silence. "Ain't this just the most interestin' development?"
Ricardo let out a low growl. "Boss, this ain't funny."
She smiled. "Oh, Ricardo, sweetie, you know me too well. When ain't I serious about a golden opportunity?"
Mimi tilted her head. "Nee~, so does this mean Lady Ana's gonna marry Subaru-kyun?"
Hetaro scratched his head. "That's what the prophecy says, right?"
Tivey adjusted his glasses. "Yes, but the implications are far greater than that. If Lady Anastasia is to be wed to Subaru Natsuki, then it means aligning herself with the so-called 'Emissary of Balance.' This could shift the entire power dynamic of Lugnica."
Anastasia gave him a slow, approving nod. "Bingo, sweetheart. That's exactly what I'm lookin' at."
Julius, who had remained silent until now, finally spoke. "And what exactly do you intend to do with this… 'opportunity'?"
Anastasia leaned back, stretching languidly as if discussing trade routes rather than an arranged marriage. "Oh, I reckon this changes everything."
Ricardo frowned. "Boss, this ain't a business deal. It's a marriage."
Anastasia chuckled. "And what's marriage if not the oldest contract in the book?"
Julius's expression darkened. "Marriage is built on trust, not contracts."
She waved a hand dismissively. "Sure, sure. In fairy tales, maybe. But let's be real, Julius. This whole arrangement ain't about love. It's about control."
She stood, slowly circling the table, her voice honeyed yet razor-sharp. "This little prophecy ain't just pushin' for a ruler—it's forcin' unity. Now, unity's a pretty little word, but what it really means is control. And if I'm one of the five brides in this grand scheme, well… I'd be a fool not to take advantage of that, wouldn't I?"
Tivey nodded. "You mean to leverage this marriage to secure influence over the kingdom's future."
Anastasia's smile widened. "Sharp as ever, Tivey." She turned to Julius, her voice taking on a teasing lilt. "What was that fancy phrase you knights like to throw around? 'To serve is to reign'?"
Julius's eyes narrowed. "Manipulation is not leadership."
"But it is power," she countered smoothly.
Ricardo leaned forward, his voice gruff. "Alright, boss, spill it. What's your play here?"
Anastasia's fingers danced along the table's surface as she spoke. "Oh, it's simple, really. This whole setup? It's a chessboard. And everyone in it—my fellow candidates, their knights, even poor ol' Subaru—is a piece."
She smirked. "Most of 'em? Easy to move."
Mimi blinked. "Ooooh! Like a game?"
Anastasia winked. "Exactly, darlin'."
She tapped a finger against the table, her voice lowering into something almost conspiratorial. "Subaru? Now, that boy's straightforward. Predictable. He's got a hero complex a mile wide, which means all I gotta do is frame this whole thing as a noble sacrifice for the good of the kingdom, and he'll play along."
Hetaro hummed. "Yeah, he's pretty reckless when it comes to helping people."
Anastasia nodded. "Emilia? She's still got her head in the clouds. She don't even know what she feels about Subaru yet. Give her a little push, a little jealousy, and she'll be too flustered to see what's happenin' 'til it's too late."
Tivey adjusted his glasses again. "That leaves Felt, Crusch, and Priscilla."
Anastasia's smile turned sharper. "Felt's firey, but she's also got the least to lose. If I spin it right, make her think she can use this marriage to uproot the kingdom from the inside, she might just go along with it. Priscilla? She don't need convincin'. She's just here to enjoy the show."
Julius crossed his arms. "And Crusch?"
Anastasia's playful demeanor cooled.
"Crusch," she admitted, "is a problem."
The room fell silent.
Julius regarded her carefully. "Because she cannot be swayed?"
Anastasia exhaled through her nose. "Because she don't play the game. She don't care about power, don't care about profit. She's bound by duty—a word I don't much like dealin' with."
Ricardo let out a low chuckle. "So, what, boss? Ya gonna outmaneuver her?"
Anastasia tilted her head. "If I can. If not…" She trailed off.
Tivey's eyes gleamed. "Then you make her your ally instead of your opponent."
Anastasia beamed. "Now you're thinkin' like a merchant, sugar."
Julius sighed. "And Priscilla?"
Anastasia let out a breathy laugh. "Oh, Priscilla ain't a person you manipulate, honey. She's a force of nature."
Ricardo scratched his head. "So what, you just roll with whatever she throws at ya?"
Anastasia shrugged. "Pretty much."
Julius exhaled. "And what about yourself, Lady Anastasia?"
Her violet eyes gleamed as she met his gaze. "What about me, Julius?"
Julius hesitated. "You act as if this is just another game, another deal. But marriage true marriage isn't something you simply profit from. It's a bond that changes people. You cannot expect to walk away from this untouched."
Anastasia's smile remained, but there was a flicker—just a flicker—of something unreadable in her eyes.
Then, she laughed.
"Julius, darlin', that's where you're wrong."
She turned away, gaze flicking toward the window, the cityscape stretching beyond it.
"Everything in life is a trade. And I never make a deal I can't walk away from."
Julius was not happy with this. His duty as a noble knight, his values, and his honor conflicted with his loyalty to Anastasia. He clenched his fists in anger, something Anastasia didn't notice... Or did she?
Julius still remembers his fight against the Archbishop of Sloth and how he and Subaru coordinated against him. Now, his lady wants to manipulate Subaru, a fellow knight and a friend. What can he do? Is it right? Is it wrong? Does his honor matter? Does his loyalty take priority? What can he do!?
Julius didn't know. He just stood there
As everyone left the room leaving Anastasia alone
She rubs her scarf and says in a quite tone
"You need to help and guide me, Echidna"
"Of course" was the voice that came from the scarf.
Bariella Manor
The lavish chamber of Priscilla Barielle ,she sitting on her bed. Ornate pillars framed the walls, each adorned with tapestries of battlefields she had never stepped on, victories she had never needed to claim. For Priscilla, victory was a given. The world itself bent to her whims, like a dancer swaying to an unseen rhythm.
Al, standing near the doorway, arms crossed, let out a long, exaggerated sigh. "Yo, Princess, I gotta ask—what the hell, man?"
Priscilla, lounging on a silk-draped divan, idly twirled a glass of wine in her fingers, her crimson eyes glinting with amusement. "What vexes you so, Al? Did I not give you explicit instructions to think as little as possible? It appears you have failed even in that."
Al groaned. "No, seriously, what gives? You agreed to this marriage thing without even battin' an eye! I mean, don't get me wrong, I ain't expectin' ya to be all, I dunno, heartbroken or some crap, but come on!"
Priscilla took a leisurely sip from her glass, savoring the taste before setting it aside. "Ah, Al, you remain as dull as ever."
Al huffed. "You ain't answerin' the question, Princess."
A smirk curled on her lips as she stretched out, utterly unbothered. "Because the answer is obvious. I agreed because I chose to."
Al threw up his hands. "Yeah, no shit, but why?"
She laughed—light, mocking, as if the very idea of explaining herself was beneath her. "Oh, my dear Al, must I truly spell it out for you? Is it not as clear as the sun that graces the sky solely for my pleasure?"
Al narrowed his eye. "Humor me."
Priscilla rolled onto her side, propping her chin on her palm, her expression one of sheer amusement. "Very well, if only to rid myself of your incessant whining. This entire farce, this so-called 'prophecy,' is nothing more than the world once again bending to my will."
Al scoffed. "Princess, I dunno if ya noticed, but this ain't your idea."
Priscilla flicked her wrist, dismissing the notion. "Tch. Foolish. Does it matter who spoke the words? Does it matter whose hands arranged this outcome? Fate itself knows better than to defy me. Destiny is but a puppet, and I, its master."
Al deadpanned. "Right. So lemme get this straight. You're marryin' Subaru 'cause the world wants you to?"
She smiled—a wicked, knowing smile. "No, dear Al. The world wants it because I allow it."
Al let out an exasperated breath, rubbing his helmet. "Man, you're somethin' else."
Priscilla rose from her seat in one fluid motion, stepping toward him, the silk of her robes trailing behind her. "Do you not see, Al? This is amusing. A play put on for my entertainment. To watch fools squabble, to see the feigned reluctance, the tangled emotions, the desperate little schemes oh, what joy!"
She twirled, arms outstretched, as if embracing the world itself. "They struggle, they resist, but in the end, the result is inevitable. I will be wed. Whether by fate or by force, the outcome does not change. The sun does not ask permission to rise it merely does. And so too do I."
Al scratched his head. "So lemme get this straight—this ain't about love, ain't about duty, ain't even about gainin' anything. You just… think it's funny?"
Priscilla chuckled. "Oh, Al, you make it sound so crude. But yes, if you must put it so plainly, then yes. It is entertainment."
Al shook his head. "Damn. And here I thought you were gonna say somethin' deep."
Priscilla arched a brow. "Depth is for those who drown. I float above all things, for I am above all things."
Al sighed, muttering, "Ain't no winnin' with you."
Priscilla smirked. "Of course not. Victory was mine before the game even began."
This way, four of the five candidates have decided to marry Subaru, albeit on their conditions, with conflicting emotions, and for their own purposes. This is a marriage which isn't for love.
It's for:
* Duty
* Defiance
* Greed
* Amusement