Chapter 58: Anastasia is the MVP! (Patreon)

"What did you say? Do you even know what you're saying? Duke Karsten, you're siding with a filthy commoner and defying the orders of the Council of Wise Men!"

Cavendish III was both shocked and furious. He had never imagined things would turn out like this.

He bellowed in a panic, looking toward one of the two figures standing at Crusch's side. "Sword Demon! Sword Demon! What do you think you're doing? Have you forgotten? The Sword Saint family's loyalty to the Kingdom must be absolute! With the throne empty, the Council of Wise Men speaks for the will of the nation! You have to save me!"

The two attendants flanking Crusch were these. One was the Kingdom's foremost healer, the Blue Mage Felix Argyle, his cat tail and ears swaying, his true name restored. At that very moment he was blowing a boy-charming, crossdresser's wink across the distance at Subaru Natsuki.

The other, white-bearded and ramrod straight, was none other than the famed Sword Demon, Wilhelm van Astrea!

"The Council of Wise Men does indeed speak for the will of the nation now. That much is true."

Wilhelm regarded Cavendish III coolly, his eyes sharp with loathing. He spoke slowly, every word falling like a stone. The first half of his sentence made Cavendish III's heart leap with joy, but the second half crushed that foolish hope at once.

"But I resigned from my duties in the Knight Order long ago. I do not belong to it, and your summons has nothing to do with me. Were I a free man, then as one of the Sword Saint's bloodline I would indeed have no choice but to obey. Fortunately, I now serve Lady Crusch, and her will is my will. On that basis, you have no authority to command me."

"How can this be…"

Cavendish III's pupils contracted sharply!

His savior, the savior he had prepared in advance. Why was he now standing back and watching?

"Damn it, damn it! What did I do wrong? I only came to purge some unruly rabble! That money should never have been wasted in the hands of commoners to begin with. I'm a high noble. What have I done wrong? Why is everyone against me today?"

Cavendish III roared in desperation, driven to a vicious rage. "Fine! If you won't help me, then just wait! Wait and see!"

"I'll go complain to Grandfather! I'll have the Council of Wise Men order the punishment of your entire Sword Saint line! I'll have the Council punish House Karsten too!"

Even now, he didn't believe he could die or lose.

Even without the Sword Demon Wilhelm, he still had the Finest of Knights, Julius. At the very least, this man was an active member of the Knight Order and had to obey his commands.

The Finest of Knights was surely no match for the legendary Sword Demon. But he had only brought him along to be safe in the first place. Even without the Sword Demon, the Finest of Knights was more than enough to deal with whatever strong man the rabble had to offer!

Cavendish III roared again. "You worthless fool, what are you waiting for? Hurry up and put down that rioter! Kill him! You're the Finest of Knights, aren't you? Then show me what you can do!"

"…"

Julius tightened his grip on his sword hilt, head bowed, teeth clenched.

Subaru Natsuki was no longer reeling from the shock that Cru-Cru was Crusch. He turned to face Julius and asked only one question. "Are you going to be my enemy?"

"…Kill him, and you make an enemy of the entire Kingdom," Julius murmured.

"I know."

"…Kill him, and the Council of Wise Men will put a warrant out for you. No matter which country you flee to, the others will only help hunt you down to avoid angering the Kingdom, and they'll send you back to be executed."

"I know."

"…Your wealth, your freedom, your life, and that still isn't all. After you die, your name will be nailed to the pillar of shame in history, listed as the Kingdom's foremost criminal, a villain of the gravest crimes, cursed for a thousand years. Even so, you don't mind?"

"I know."

To every one of Julius's questions, Subaru Natsuki gave the same answer.

Only at the end, looking at Julius, did he finally say something different. "So, are you going to be my enemy? To protect that thing that tried to kill my family?"

Ah…

Julius was suddenly dazed.

For the first time, he tasted what it meant for the world to spin, for his mind to go blank, and for a man's charm to be like no other.

Time seemed to slow to a crawl. Before his eyes, his heartbeat, his thoughts, all of it vanished, leaving only those three questions and three answers replaying over and over.

It was simply, simply indescribable. Why, why was it so beautiful?

To protect his family, he would strike down even a duke. He cared nothing for rules or restraints, free and unbound, moving as his heart led him. Subaru Natsuki, why was this man, why was he so beautiful…

"Hurry up and do it, Finest of Knights! I get it, I get it, you want something in return, don't you? Ahhh, I'll talk to Grandfather! I'll raise your family's rank! I'll even get Grandfather to back that merchant Royal Selection candidate of yours! Whatever reward you want, I'll give it to you! Just go kill him, Finest of Knights!"

Julius stood there stupefied, as if he had suddenly been brainwashed, hypnotized, bewitched. Cavendish III grew anxious, terrified that this last lifeline would slip away too, and at last he gave in and made a flood of promises.

Julius could ignore every other reward, but when he heard that House Cavendish would support Lady Anastasia in the Royal Selection, the logic buried deep in his mind took hold, and he finally, instinctively, took a step forward.

He had no wish to turn his blade on Subaru Natsuki. But if it was for Lady Anastasia's sake—

"Stop right there. Even if filth like House Cavendish wanted to back me, I wouldn't touch it, ya know? I may be a merchant, but I only ever deal with honest merchants. I don't take just anyone. Julius, do you want me to turn into a wretch who can't even stand herself?"

"!"

The sudden voice made Julius freeze. He turned his head. Entering through the slum's entrance, flanked by Ricardo and Mimi, was none other than the lady he served, Lady Anastasia!

He gaped at her, stammering. "This, how could… But, Lady Anastasia, this truly is for your…"

Faced with the somewhat pedantic Julius, still thinking only of her gain, Anastasia was no longer all smiles. Her face turned icy, and as the master of her knight, she issued a direct and unmistakable order.

"I said stop. Then get away from that disgusting, rotten thing. You're not to show any hostility toward Mr. Natsuki. Did you hear what I said?"

"—Yes. I will follow your every command, Lady Anastasia!"

Under Cavendish III's gaze, pleading to the point of tearlessness, Julius obeyed without hesitation and abandoned him outright!