Subaru Natsuki, who returned from the new Three Kingdoms

"If he really is Subaru, why didn't he tell me when I asked him just now?"

“I don’t know either,” Parker said, spreading his hands.

But then, with a hint of seduction, he said, "Why don't you just go and ask him again?"

"Okay... alright."

Emilia nodded.

She wasn't sure if her actions stemmed from trust in Parker or from some inexplicable feeling she had towards the white-haired young man.

In short, she decided to give it a try.

Parker secretly smirked.

Damn you, Frugal, I'm coming directly to you with Lydia.

Let's see how you hide this time!

When the two returned to the entrance of the Hexin Chamber of Commerce, Natsuki Subaru had already finished sweeping the stone steps and walked into the chamber with a broom in hand.

Emilia stood at the doorway, watching the figures coming and going inside, and hesitated before stopping.

This is the territory of Anastasia, another candidate for king.

The other party was also a candidate for the throne, and the two camps were openly competitors.

To barge into someone's territory is, to put it mildly, impolite.

That would be troublesome if it were interpreted as an attempt to infiltrate and steal intelligence.

Emilia, who was already hesitant, suddenly felt a little discouraged: "Parker...why don't we go back..."

Parker whispered in her ear, urging her on.

"Lia, aren't you afraid that man will disappear again?"

“This…” Emilia hesitated, “But this is Anna’s trading company.”

"It's okay," Parker encouraged Emilia.

"That kid dares to sweep the floor here, what's wrong with you just going in and asking a question?"

Emilia was still somewhat hesitant.

Just then, a purple-haired figure walked out from the other end of the street.

He is Anastasia's first knight: Julius Euclius.

His clothes were still neat and his hair was still perfectly styled; only the faint shadow under his eyes betrayed his fatigue over the past few days.

He happened to see the stunningly beautiful silver-haired half-elf standing at the entrance of the Chamber of Commerce.

"Isn't this Lady Emilia?"

“Julius.” Emilia was delighted to have run into someone she knew and was about to ask Julius to call out the white-haired youth for her.

But then he suddenly noticed that Julius looked unwell, his eyes dull and surrounded by thick dark circles. He didn't look like the best knight he used to be at all.

So he first inquired about:

Julius? Are you alright?

Thank you for your concern, Lady Emilia.

Julius gave a wry smile. The two weren't familiar with each other, so he didn't say anything more just because of the other's few polite words.

He hasn't been doing too well lately.

The story begins on the night Natsuki Subaru left.

Although he discovered the turmoil in the palace.

However, in order to prevent Subaru Natsuki from returning and to protect Lady Anna, he did not choose to enter the palace.

They also didn't know what happened that night.

But to my surprise, everything changed the next day.

Lord Crusch enters the palace!

Immediately afterwards, personnel changes began to occur frequently within the Royal Guard.

One by one, the familiar faces who had patrolled, fought, and carried out missions with him were recalled from the Knights.

Some returned with orders, while others never appeared again.

Julius didn't understand what was happening at first and thought that those people had encountered something.

So he went to ask the Knights Commander Marcus.

"Julius, stop asking around. Just wait quietly for your summons."

This was the only reply Rius received.

When he asked again, he was met with a suspicious look from Marcus...

"Am I going to be summoned too?"

Julius could only leave the Knights with a belly full of questions.

Has the Knights Order now begun to treat its own knights as enemies?

But why is that?

Later, a nursery rhyme began to be sung throughout the streets and alleys of the capital, which answered Julius's question.

"The Royal Bell tolls six times, Kurshu, enter the Royal City..."

After listening, he finally pieced together an answer that he was unwilling to accept.

The Knights have been summoning us frequently lately.

It is precisely Lord Crusch who is eliminating dissidents in the kingdom, paving the way for his future ascension to the throne.

Those knights who are willing to obey Lord Crusch can return safely.

Knights who refuse to obey Lord Crusch face only death...

Chapter 92: 090. Mediocre Ruler! What a mediocre ruler!

Disobedience will only lead to death.

This conclusion did not anger Julius; it only made him feel a deep sense of powerlessness.

If it were a conspiracy or a rebellion, he could easily draw his sword to stop it.

But Lord Kuresh is different.

She was a candidate for the throne from the outset and was qualified to inherit it. The Council of Wise Men was able to maintain the struggle for the throne as a peaceful election, but they could not stipulate that all candidates must abide by these rules.

The struggle for power has always been accompanied by bloodshed.

If Crusch takes control of the capital first, even if people initially criticize her for her cruel methods, once order is restored, more people will only admire her for having the makings of an emperor.

She can sit on such a throne.

Even Julius had to admit that he had some respect for this ruthless approach.

If he were a commoner, he would probably have chosen to submit to Lord Crusch as well.

But now it's different; his sword has already been given to Anastasia.

So when the summons fell to him, Julius would resolutely refuse to pledge allegiance to Crucius and then die in that narrow interrogation room.

Julius has accepted this outcome.

The only thing he couldn't let go of was Anastasia.

The Hexin Merchant Guild has a shallow foundation in the capital and has no chance of competing with Kurshu, who has already taken control of the royal palace.

If he could see Crusch one last time before he died, he would give his life in exchange for Anna's chance to give up the royal selection and leave the capital safely.

......

Death is not terrible.

What truly torments us is the waiting.

Every day when Julius returned to the Knights, he would see familiar spots now empty. His colleagues who had patrolled alongside him yesterday were gone from the duty roster today.

Nobody knows who will be summoned next.

Julius wanted to talk to someone.

Anastasia won't work.

There was always a master-servant relationship between them. He rarely mentioned even his everyday troubles to her, let alone something like this that would only add to his stress.

Reinhard is a good option.

The two have known each other since childhood; Reinhard was even dressed as a woman back then. [Original setting, not fan fiction]

They can be considered each other's closest friends.

But in recent days, that red figure has not been seen at all in the Knights.

Julius even made a special trip to visit Astraea's family for this reason.

A blonde, red-eyed little girl opened the door. Upon hearing Reinhardt's name, her expression immediately turned cold.

"No."

The gate was then closed.

If Julius hadn't known Reinhard's strength, he would have almost suspected that the Sword Saint had already been executed by Crusch before him.

"It seems we are all carrying our own burdens..."

Julius could only swallow his anger again and return to the Hexin Merchant Guild alone.

As he passed by a bulletin board on the street, a missing person notice came into his view.

Subaru Natsuki.

The wanted posters that once covered the capital have disappeared, and the title of Archbishop of Arrogance has been erased.

The kingdom is currently searching for a black-haired youth named Natsuki Subaru.

Julius still remembers Natsuki Subaru's impolite yet unrestrained spirit when they first met.

He even quite admired this person.

But later, Subaru Natsuki became the Archbishop of Sin.

That appreciation became a stain that Julius was unwilling to acknowledge.

Until that night, Natsuki Subaru broke into the Kashin Trading Company again.

Rius drew his sword to meet the attack.

A single glance.

Subaru Natsuki's sword was then placed against his neck.

He was defeated so completely...

What bothered him even more was that Anastasia was watching from the side.

The kingdom's finest knight was defeated by a single sword strike from someone who had never received knightly training, right before the lord to whom he had sworn allegiance.

This defeat remains a thorn in Julius's heart to this day.

He originally wanted to challenge Subaru Natsuki again during the arrest operation and personally reclaim his lost dignity.

But overnight, the wanted poster turned into a missing person notice.

New rumors also began to circulate in the capital.

Subaru Natsuki is actually a suicide soldier secretly trained by Crusch.

The assassination of Myrothov was to remove obstacles for her;

The intrusion into the Hexin Chamber of Commerce was ordered to intimidate Anastasia.

Some even claimed to have witnessed Subaru Natsuki appearing in front of Crusch's residence on the night of the palace upheaval.

The swordsman Wilhelm even personally presented him with a jar of wine, making a grand gesture as if he were giving a farewell gift to a fallen warrior.