Chapter 40: Priscilla Barielle = Major General Chun, Q.E.D. (Patreon)

As long as Emilia and Priscilla Barielle teamed up, everything would work out!

So his original plan had been this: if someone from Emilia's camp came for a reading, he'd tell them that Emilia's reading showed failure and pessimism, then steer them toward an alliance.

But given how things stood now, he knew he absolutely couldn't do that. Emilia's self-doubt had already hit rock bottom. If he piled one more weight of denial on top, God only knew what would happen to her. She might simply shatter.

Interests aside, even if he had no stake at all, Subaru Natsuki would never stand by and watch an innocent person break down, least of all be the straw that broke the camel's back. He'd sooner die than do that.

Even after reading so many tales of emperors and kings, none of Subaru Natsuki's schemes so far had ever gone against his conscience. Not all of them could be called open schemes, but he had only steered the momentum that was already there, and he had never truly lied.

His moral bottom line let him go no further than that.

"After all that talk, the fox's tail finally shows, huh? Speak, schemer disguised as a stall owner. Who's behind you? Who put you up to this? Who do you want Lady Emilia to ally with?"

In a flash of thought, Ram's face turned to frost, her brows slanting sharply. This had to be a plot by some other Royal Selection candidate!

"I'll protect Lady Emilia myself!"

Before they left, Lord Roswaal L. Mathers hadn't given any instructions on this matter. Until word reached the territory and Lord Roswaal L. Mathers made his decision, Lady Emilia absolutely must not be allowed to act on her own. Otherwise there would be trouble.

"Easy there, little girl."

This time, Puck sided with Subaru Natsuki. He drifted over unsteadily and stopped Ram from doing anything more.

Ram's eyes went cold. "What is that supposed to mean, Lord Puck? Don't you think this is a scheme aimed at Lady Emilia?"

"Hmm, I did smell a scheme, that's true. But it doesn't seem harmful, so let Lia judge for herself. That's fine, right, little girl?"

Royal Selection or not, Puck couldn't care less. Lia wanted it, so he tagged along. Only Lia's feelings mattered.

Ever since the stall owner had affirmed Lia and laid out an alliance plan, her mood had been soaring. As long as his daughter was happy, nothing else mattered.

And if anyone tried to use an alliance as a stepping stone to hurt Lia, that would be when Puck stepped in. So there was nothing to worry about.

"Phew… You look totally unreliable, like you're all big talk, but who knew you had such a good head on your shoulders, Puck? Nice! Keep holding Ram off like that. In the end, what matters is Emilia's own judgment!"

Subaru Natsuki gave Puck a thumbs-up, praising him without reservation.

As for Emilia, ever since she was first affirmed she'd been delighted, giddy as a child with a lollipop.

Backed by both Puck and Subaru Natsuki, and given the right to choose for herself, she grew a little bashful. "Is it really okay not to let Roswaal L. Mathers decide? And, and… um, would any of the other Royal Selection candidates really be willing to ally with me?"

"If you work hard, there's definitely a chance!"

Subaru Natsuki encouraged her. Everything was going swimmingly, right on track. He was about to start analyzing the situation and steer Emilia toward allying with Priscilla Barielle, when—

"—Hey, buddy, you do readings for Royal Selection candidates? Still open?"

A man had stepped into the ten-meter dead zone around the stall, a one-armed man who paid Emilia no attention at all.

He wore a steel helmet sealed so tight there wasn't a single gap. His clothes, though, were crude and tattered, offering no protection whatsoever. A sword hung at the small of his back. His left arm was gone, leaving only the right, but he didn't seem to care.

He was carefree, and that carefree air came from confidence.

Puck glared and threw a flurry of punches and kicks at the air, threatening the guy who couldn't read the room. "It's Lia's time right now! Ever heard of first come, first served? Go wait over there. Oh, and back off ten meters. Can't have you eavesdropping on secrets. Line-cutting clown, hmph, meow!"

"Even if you put it like that, it puts me in a bind. The princess would never be willing to wait that long…" The helmeted one-armed man scratched at his helmet with his one remaining hand, looking troubled.

Emilia, beautiful and kind, promptly stepped aside. Her voice was gentle. "It's all right, Puck. If you're in a hurry, please go ahead. I'm not in a rush."

"Much obliged. Shame, though. Whether I go easy on you when we meet again isn't my call. It depends on the princess's mood. But if I can, I'll try to hold back a little."

The mysterious helmeted man thanked them perfunctorily. No, maybe "perfunctory" wasn't the word. It was more as if he'd given up long ago, the sort of man who drifted through his days without caring about any of it.

That attitude made Puck want to fly over and claw his face to ribbons, but the helmet was in the way. All he got was a clanging, scratching racket that accomplished nothing, and in the end he gave up, panting and dejected.

Puck, useless as ever.

It only made Emilia look at him with concern. She cupped her hands and let Puck rest in her palms.

Subaru Natsuki pushed out paper and a brush. "Since Emilia has no objection, please step forward, sir. Which Royal Selection candidate would you like me to read?"

The mysterious helmeted man didn't answer right away. He stared at Subaru Natsuki eerily, lost in thought for several seconds. Then, looking as though nothing had happened, he sketched a crude drawing, helmet and all, and handed it over.

"You've got to be kidding…"

Subaru Natsuki took it, and the corner of his mouth twitched. It was too abstract, too crude. All he could make out was a woman with long orange hair, a blazing red dress, and a fan, wearing a haughty expression and blessed with a very large bust.

As for reading her face, uh, could anyone actually read anything from that?

Oh well. He couldn't really read faces anyway. All he needed was the name. "So, who is this?"

"Priscilla Barielle. I'm her knight, technically. Just call me Al. Knight in name, but in her eyes I'm just a jester to amuse her."

Al shrugged. "Come on, buddy, take a good look. Judging by her face, can this one become the ruler of the kingdom?"