Subaru Natsuki, who returned from the new Three Kingdoms

Capela's smile grew even more sinister. Of course she was lying, but Ram had no idea.

"As for your Earl, only I know where he is now."

“If anyone tries to leave the mansion, you’ll never see him again.”

"So, the choice is yours: tell everyone what you saw today, or watch your sister and the Earl live on."

Ram stared intently at her.

But no matter how strong the murderous intent in those eyes was, it couldn't hide the despair that was gradually emerging.

She couldn't gamble with Rem's life.

This guy is so powerful, even Lord Roswaal...

Of the few people remaining in the mansion, aside from Lady Betty, probably no one could rival him...

Capela understood her choice and withdrew his foot with satisfaction.

"very good."

"Continue to be your maid, eat and clean the mansion as usual."

"As for speaking, you won't need to for the time being."

As she finished speaking, Ram noticed a series of wriggling sounds coming from her throat.

A sharp pain followed, but she was completely unable to make a sound...

It wasn't that his voice was sealed by magic...

Instead, I couldn't feel the vocal cords at all.

The reason Capela didn't kill Ram directly is simple.

She no longer has a third person who can play the role of Ram.

If Subaru Natsuki discovers the flaw, it will be a net loss.

It's more useful to keep a genuine product that works well than to create a flawed counterfeit.

Watching 'Rem' and 'Roswaal' leave the dungeon and head towards the mansion.

Ram's body slowly slid down the wall to the ground. Her trembling body beneath her disheveled pink hair and the tears in her eyes revealed her despair.

……

I don't know how much time has passed.

Subaru Natsuki opened his eyes.

The pain from the hangover immediately shot from the back of his head all the way to his temples, as if someone had set up an army formation inside his head, relentlessly beating war drums.

"hiss……"

Natsuki Subaru covered his forehead with his right hand.

"I, Natsuki Subaru, was utterly defeated by a mere bottle of wine."

"This body's alcohol tolerance is far too low right now."

He tried hard to recall what had happened before he passed out drunk.

Elsa.

drink wine.

The mastermind behind it all.

There is also a wise lord who is very likely worth assisting.

I still remember the important things.

As for what he said afterward, it seems to have turned into a mushy mess soaked in alcohol.

Natsuki Subaru stopped torturing himself and stood up, supporting himself on the edge of the bed.

The blue butterfly that had been perched on the bedside immediately spread its wings and followed him back to his side.

As soon as he stepped out of the guest room, a strong urge to urinate made his expression turn serious.

"not good."

"The military situation is urgent."

He wandered aimlessly, searching for the toilet.

Fortunately, this time there was no divine intervention.

Natsuki Subaru found the restroom without incident, while the blue butterfly waited quietly on the windowsill outside.

Wei Wu ~ wielding his whip ~

A moment later, Natsuki Subaru emerged, shaking his clean hands and looking refreshed.

"The military situation has been resolved; we can now discuss other important matters."

The blue butterfly flew back to his side.

Natsuki Subaru hadn't gone far when he stopped in front of a door again.

That familiar sense of unease returned.

It was just an ordinary wooden door, yet it resembled a spear pointing in the wrong direction in an army formation, making it impossible to ignore.

Natsuki Subaru stared at the door for two seconds, then reached out and grasped the doorknob.

"Since fate has brought the door to me, how can I refuse to enter?"

He pushed the door open and entered.

Sure enough, behind the door was that forbidden library again.

The tall bookshelves stretched into the darkness, and the smell of old paper mixed with wood wax dispelled the remaining drunkenness in Subaru Natsuki's mind.

A blue butterfly flew in and hovered slowly beside Subaru Natsuki.

Betty sat on a high chair in the center of the library, still holding a thick book in her arms.

She raised her eyes, first glancing at Subaru Natsuki, then fixing her gaze on the blue butterfly.

It's not an elf, nor does it resemble a monster.

Betty didn't see anything unusual about it, only that the butterfly's movements were far more intelligent than those of ordinary creatures.

"You woke up pretty quickly."

Betty, who was reading a book, spoke without looking up.

Chapter 55: 054. After reading a volume, you should burn it.

After saying that, Betty seemed to smell something, sniffed, and looked slightly annoyed.

"You went out drinking after such a serious injury. It's pathetic that you don't take care of your health at all. I should have just killed you."

Betty gave a soft snort and lowered her head again, but then seemed to realize she had gone a bit too far, and added in a deliberately impatient tone:

"Your body shouldn't hurt anymore, right?"

"Thank you, Lady Beatrice, for saving me."

Natsuki Subaru ignored Betty's sarcastic remarks, immediately stood up straight, and solemnly bowed to her.

Betty paused her flipping through the book, then raised her proud little chin.

"It was just a small favor, don't flatter yourself."

Betty was just annoyed by that blue-haired maid's crying.

"She stood guard at the door, begging Betty to save you, making so much noise that Betty couldn't concentrate on her book."

"If you want to thank someone, thank her."

"Rem is Rem, and I am me."

Natsuki Subaru did not look up.

"Rem pleaded for me, that's Rem's kindness. Lady Beatrice saved me, that's your kindness."

How can these two things be confused?

"Even though I, Natsuki Subaru, only have one arm now, I can still tell who is good to me."

"Hmph." Betty didn't say anything.

She looked down at the pages of the book, but didn't turn to the next page for a long time.

I don't know if it was because I was concerned about Subaru's injuries, or because Subaru didn't say anything he shouldn't have this time.

In short, she did not use magic to drive Subaru away this time.

A blue butterfly gently fluttered its wings and landed on Subaru Natsuki's right shoulder.

Betty's gaze followed, and she hesitated, as if she wanted to say something but couldn't:

"This butterfly..."

Natsuki Subaru turned his head to the side.

"Does Lady Beatrice recognize it? I don't know why, but it's been following me since this morning."

"Betty couldn't tell what it was, but she could tell that it was very intelligent and seemed to want to stay by your side."

Betty looked back at the book in her arms, her voice softer than before, the melancholy in it completely at odds with her age:

"Things that are willing to stay by your side all the time are not something you can encounter every day."

"Now that you've encountered it, you should cherish it and not lose it carelessly."

Natsuki Subaru failed to grasp the underlying emotion in those words.

He looked at the blue butterfly on his shoulder and nodded seriously.

"That's natural."

"I, Natsuki Subaru, will never let down those who are willing to stay with me."

The blue butterfly's wings trembled slightly.

Betty's fingers, which were holding the book, tightened slightly at the same time.

Natsuki Subaru straightened up.

He should have gone straight back to his room to rest.

Since Betty didn't immediately kick him out or throw him out this time...

Subaru Natsuki walked into the library without hesitation and found a chair to sit down.

Betty looked up.

Betty didn't give you permission to sit down.

"I know."

"Then why are you still sitting?"

"Lady Beatrice didn't give permission verbally, but the magic didn't blast me out. That's what you call being stubborn on the outside but soft on the inside."

Betty's temple twitched slightly.

"Do you think that if you get hurt, Betty won't throw you out?"

"If you really wanted to throw it away, you would have done so long ago."

Natsuki Subaru answered very confidently.

Betty stared at him for a moment, but ultimately did not raise her hand.

She lowered her head and pretended to continue reading.

Natsuki Subaru was quiet for a moment, then began to look around.

book.

It's still a book.

Every time I come in, it seems like nothing has changed.