Subaru Natsuki, who returned from the new Three Kingdoms

If he makes a fuss over a hug from the other person, wouldn't he become a sissy on par with Reinhard?

Relieved, Clarissa glanced up at Subaru Natsuki, and after confirming that he wasn't angry, her face inexplicably flushed...

'I just... bumped into [Dad]...'

The two continued walking toward the prison.

At that moment, Natsuki Subaru also remembered Capella hanging on his waistband.

A surge of gratitude welled up in my heart...

Just now at the Astrea mansion, if Capella hadn't interrupted, who knows how things would have turned out.

And he even yelled at Capela...

"I'm sorry, Capella."

Natsuki Subaru slowed his pace and reached under the cloak to pick up Capella.

"It was our fault just now. We shouldn't have yelled at you just because you reminded us a few times."

"If it weren't for you, our family..."

Capela's lips remained pressed tightly together, without even a sliver of a gap.

Natsuki Subaru pulled her to his chest and gently stroked the top of her head with his hand.

"Capella?"

He reached out and touched the top of her head.

Capela turned her face to the other side.

Natsuki Subaru's fingers moved over, and she turned her face away again.

He tried several times, and wherever his palm landed, her head would turn in that direction, never facing him directly.

"Are you still angry?"

Capela kept his mouth shut, not even bothering to blink.

Natsuki Subaru sighed.

"You're doing this for our family's own good, we know that."

Capela still ignored him.

"Once we're done with the Sage's Tower trip, I'll find you a nice spot to sunbathe, and then we'll..."

Capela's eyes twitched, as if he was about to open them.

"Oh, I almost forgot to bring Clarissa along, after all, she'll be responsible for carrying our swords and leading our horses!"

Capela's expression instantly returned to normal, and he remained motionless.

Natsuki Subaru sighed and could only hang her back on his belt, using his cloak to cover her head and remaining torso.

They continued walking towards the prison with Clarissa.

The two soon arrived at the street outside the prison.

The tall stone walls obscured the view inside, and two squads of knights stood in front of the iron gate, responsible for the changing of the guard.

As soon as the knights saw Subaru Natsuki and Clarissa approaching, their hands instinctively reached for their weapons.

Clarissa swallowed.

She was now certain that everything her father had said to that high-ranking official in the palace—about whitewashing and obeying the law—was just rhetoric to lower the kingdom's guard.

This can be seen from the fact that his first reaction upon leaving the palace was to go to the prison.

What Dad really wants to do is still to take over this country!

This can be seen from the fact that Dad said he was going to the Tower of the Sages.

After realizing this, Clarissa was surprised to find that she didn't seem to be afraid at all.

From childhood to adulthood, she lived only in the fear created by Capella.

That fear was like an endless darkness, making you have to be careful even when you breathe.

Until Subaru Natsuki appeared.

He would pat her head and keep her by his side.

He would protect her most of the time.

That faint warmth, though not dazzling, was enough to make her forget how cold the darkness truly was when it fell upon her.

Just like a real father...

Anything Dad wants to do, even if it means risking his life, is worth it.

Clarissa looked up and asked softly:

"Dad, how do we get in? Do we have to use force?"

Natsuki Subaru glanced at the heavily guarded prison gate in front of him and smiled slightly.

"Simple."

He raised his hand and snapped his fingers.

Starry night!~~

The night seemed to spread out beneath their feet, enveloping both Capella and Clarissa.

The knight before the iron gate seemed frozen in place, his fingers resting on the hilt of his sword.

Even the dust particles that flew through the crack in the door and were made visible by the candlelight became almost motionless.

Natsuki Subaru grabbed Clarissa's wrist and led her, slightly blushing, through the still figures.

The stone gate, the corridor, and the patrolling guards all stood like statues, completely oblivious to the two of them.

Clarissa opened her eyes wide.

At first, she thought Subaru Natsuki had cast some kind of immobilization spell.

As a result, she saw Natsuki Subaru leading her through one iron gate after another.

After discovering that everything seemed to have stopped.

That's when I realized what was going on!

Is this what Dad's ability is?

Can we stop time?

So that's how it is!

That's not surprising!

No wonder my father dared to lead eight hundred men to attack the palace in broad daylight.

It turns out he already had a trump card that allowed him to escape at any time.

Clarissa swallowed hard, her heart pounding with shock.

Who exactly is Dad?

The question had barely formed in her mind when Natsuki Subaru had already stopped in prison.

"This prison looks like it's been renovated."

Natsuki Subaru sounded confused.

The prison appears to have expanded considerably since the last time he left.

Almost every cell held three or four prisoners, totaling at least two or three hundred people.

Moreover, these prisoners were quite different from the disheveled, vicious ordinary people he had seen the last time he came.

They looked like nobles, both in their clothing and appearance.

He doesn't look like a criminal at all.

"Could these be the political enemies that Crusch purged?" Natsuki Subaru wondered thoughtfully.

But that's a minor matter. The important thing is that Elsa and Melly have been moved to some cell.

Let's ask.

Subaru Natsuki lifted the Starry Night spell.

The sounds returned to the surroundings.

The clanging of chains, suppressed coughs, and the distant sound of patrolling footsteps all rushed over at once.

Those prisoners who had been staring blankly ahead in the jail subconsciously turned their gaze away.

I saw Natsuki Subaru, but I didn't react much.

But when they saw Clarissa, the person closest to the iron bars lunged at her.

"The Shatterer?"

Why are you here?

"Did Mom send you to rescue us?"

"Mom! I never expected Mom to save us!"

"I can never repay my mother's kindness!"

The other person also quickly grabbed the railing.

Hey you, man over there! Don't just stand there like an idiot!

"Hurry! Hurry, let me out!"

"Being detained here for the past two days has almost killed me!"

A cacophony of noises rose and fell.

Clarissa's initial respect and affection for Subaru Natsuki was immediately suppressed by anger.

She raised her finger to her lips, almost biting her nail again, but finally stopped herself.

She placed her hand on the stone table beside her.

Boom!

A loud cracking sound rang out, silencing the prisoners who were held captive.

"presumptuous!"

"Who do you think you're talking to?"

Clarissa took a step forward, her voice echoing through the narrow corridor.

"This is Dad! How dare you ask Dad to do your chores and help you?"

Are you all tired of living?

After he finished speaking, the cell fell into a deathly silence.

Those people looked at each other, their gazes shifting back and forth between Subaru Natsuki and Clarissa.

dad?

All they knew was that Capela was their mother.

When did another dad appear?

Subaru Natsuki turned to look at Clarissa.

"Do you know these people?"

Clarissa was a little confused. In her eyes, wasn't her father in prison for these people?

However, she still provided an answer to Subaru Natsuki.

"They were all my former comrades."

Natsuki Subaru suddenly realized.

"I see. I thought it was Crusch purging his political enemies, but it turns out it's just another group of neutral ambush troops!"