Work Text:
In a more amenable time, one wedged between consecutive conspiracies, the Lion and his trusted attendant were on the town with the latter’s contract spirit in tow. They weren’t merely taking a stroll for the sake of it, however. They were out on important business.
Fourier: [Remember, we won’t be returning to the palace until we have found the perfect ring for her. Understand? I want that ring to be as splendid as she is!]
Subaru: [I heard you the first time. Honestly, if you keep gushing like this, I might just develop diabetes…]
Fourier: [Oh? Truly? Well, I’m sure it’s nothing Ferris couldn’t sort out!]
The prince patted his friend on the back with gusto, jarring the latter in the process.
Subaru: [Your cheer’s as inexhaustible as always, I see.]
Fourier: [As it should be! Frankly, your cheer seems to be a tad lacking, friend. I take it the navigation of your own circumstances is proving difficult?]
Subaru: [I don’t wanna talk about it...]
Subaru let loose a hoarse sigh. He had thought he would have it easy after returning to his new home. The unexpected arrival of his inamorata in the Royal Capital not long after his return had only replaced one difficulty for another. Instead of having to tend to an endless torrent of letters of courtship intended for Fourier, he now had to wonder if – or rather, when – she might pop by for a “visit.”
Fourier: [Hmm… perhaps you could find something for her while we’re out, as well?]
Subaru: [That’s entirely premature! Besides, anything I could get for her would probably pale compared to the pieces she already owns.]
He barked his objection at his friend, who offered an amused, predictive smile in response. The rationalization that had followed only made the prince sigh.
Fourier: [Hey now, you wouldn’t know unless you tried!]
Subaru: [Awfully rich, coming from you…]
The prince clutched his heart, leaning away from his attendant as though struck through the chest.
Fourier: [Oof! You wound me, sir! Though I suppose I can’t refute you. You gave me that crucial push, after all. Perhaps it is my turn to return the favor?]
Subaru: [Thought you said you already did that?]
Fourier: [Well, evidently, I’m not pushing! You two are still in a rather ambiguous space, yes?]
Subaru: [Yeah, that’s apt… look, she’s a difficult case, alright? It’s like I’m walking a tightrope.]
Beatrice: [It has been since you met her, in fact.]
His partner finally spoke up. She had her own thoughts on her contractor’s flame, though she gave the two their space. She supposed so long as her contractor was happy at the end of the day, intervention was unnecessary on her part.
Fourier: [Goodness. That sounds rather stressful. Perhaps I miscalculated…]
The prince trailed off, holding his chin with one hand in contemplation. Subaru could tell where his mind was wandering off to already.
Subaru: [You don’t need to go planning some sort of extraction plan on my part. Well, not just yet, at least.]
Fourier: [Hmm… so you don’t deny the possible need for such a plan down the line…]
Subaru: [I don’t mean to make it sound unpleasant or anything. On the whole, I feel like I’ve enjoyed the time I’ve spent with or even just around her. We’ve just gotta feel things out a bit more, y’know? And I’ve got some social climbing to do…]
Fourier: [True, you are in a rather disadvantageous state, being at such a lower station relative to her. I would be sad to lose you as my attendant, though if it meant you were able to rise to even greater heights and achieve a greater degree of happiness? Well, what kind of friend would I be to try and hold you back?]
Subaru: [Fourier…]
He was taken aback by the prince’s words of understanding and encouragement. He wasn’t sure why. Magnanimity seemed to run in his family, and he possessed it in greater measure than any of his siblings or relatives. This much was observable to anyone close enough to the Royal Family, especially to those close to the man himself.
Subaru: [Thanks, man.]
Fourier: [But of course! Should you need anything, don’t hesitate to ask!]
The prince accepted the sincere thanks from his friend, putting off a bold aura in doing so. It was as though no one could be more beneficent in friendship than him.
Beatrice: [If you two are done speaking cryptically about romantic matters, we have arrived, in fact.]
Fourier: [Ah, as refreshingly impertinent as always! And indeed, we have arrived!]
The trio stood before a jewelry store in the Noble District. Given the district it was located within, it was a rather modest spot.
Fourier: [Don’t let this shop’s appearance deceive you. It possesses regard and longevity in equal measure. As it should, being one of the oldest shops in the district.]
Subaru: [You don’t say. Guess it’s a fitting place to find your ideal engagement ring… hm?]
Subaru took a moment to see the rationale behind their destination. He looked to his friend for confirmation, only to find him wearing a familiar goofy grin on his face.
Subaru: [Uh-oh, Beako. Looks like he’s stuck in a love-addled feedback loop again…]
Beatrice: [All it took was a single mention of his engagement to the duchess. Betty doesn’t know whether to be impressed or concerned.]
Fourier: [Certainly the former! I would never allow anyone to concern themselves on my account.]
Subaru: [I was literally concerned about you and Crusch for the better part of a month, you know.]
Fourier: [Yes, well… oh, what was it Ferris had said you told him…? “That was that and this is this?”]
Subaru: [Unbelievable. My own words, thrown back at my face.]
Beatrice: [It’s rather believable, given the company you keep, I suppose. Shall we enter?]
Fourier: [Indeed! Say, perhaps there is something here that catches your fancy, Beatrice-sama?]
Beatrice: [Betty is unconcerned about material things, in fact.]
Subaru: [Well, unless they’re plushies or books. Then you absolutely love them.]
Beatrice: [Hmph! And here Betty was trying to safeguard your reputation. Do recall the rather unsavory appellation you have earned, in fact.]
Subaru: [Ugh, don’t remind me…]
The petite spirit turned her head away from her contractor in a huff, reminding him of the reputation he had gained in forming a contract with her. “The Lolimancer” was well-known throughout the kingdom, much to his chagrin.
Beatrice: [At any rate, Betty is quite satisfied with the accoutrement she presently possesses, in fact.]
Subaru: [But you said you might like a dress from me one day…]
Beatrice: [Yes, well… that is because it would be…]
Subaru: [“Would be…?”]
Beatrice: [Grrrrrr, don’t make Betty spell it out, in fact!]
She flailed his arm in aggravation as they entered the jewelry shop. The prince laughed mirthfully at the sight.
Fourier: [How touching! She clearly cares for you a great deal, friend!]
Subaru: [I know that. I’m just not sure why she has to be so tsundere about it…]
Beatrice: [Do not use that obscure term to describe Betty, in fact!]
Proprietor: [Er, how may I help--? Oh! Your Highness, I-I can hardly believe it!]
The store owner, a modest man in his twilight years, lit up upon noticing the clientele his shop had managed to attract. Being within the Noble District, he surely wasn’t unused to distinguished clients with discerning eyes for quality. A prince, however, was not an everyday sight for him. Nor was a celebrity like the Boy from Beyond the Falls, for that matter.
The proprietor looked between the two, utterly starstruck.
Subaru: [He’s, uh, here to purchase a ring…]
Fourier: [Not just any ring!]
Subaru: [Right, right, one as splendid as she is…]
Proprietor: [Oh my, so the rumblings I’ve heard pertaining to Your Highness and Duchess Karsten are true? What a wonderful turn of events! Please, by all means, browse my wares to your regal heart’s content!]
Fourier: [Will do!]
The prince offered a chipper thumbs up to the proprietor, stepping further into the shop to begin the hunt for perfection.
Subaru: [You should probably begin by considering the band material.]
Fourier: [Indeed. Let’s see… sterling silver? Well, she has a sterling reputation.]
Subaru: [Ugh…]
Fourier: [Steel? She’s certainly is a steely woman, though I want something more for her.]
Subaru: [Dude, please, stop it with the puns…]
He slouched his shoulders, unable to bear his prince’s humor. The man hadn’t even been married yet, and he was already joking as though he were a seasoned father.
Fourier: [What? Am I not entitled to having some fun with this?]
Subaru: [I thought you’d have fun with this regardless.]
Fourier: [Fair point. My heart is definitely racing at the moment! Back to it then… yellow gold, white gold, rose gold… she’s not really the type of woman to have a taste for gold though, is she?]
Subaru: [What’s wrong with liking gold?]
Fourier: [Oh, nothing whatsoever! I happen to love the look myself. It’s her tastes that matter, though, not mine.]
Subaru: [Oh. Yeah, that’s true. Definitely.]
Fourier: [You thought I was talking about a certain baroness, weren’t you?]
Subaru: [… maybe.]
The prince grinned in a manner his attendant found unsettling. He knew what was coming.
Fourier: [I’m sure she would be touched to know you became defensive on her part.]
Subaru: [Actually, now that I think about it, she might be annoyed. I dunno. She’s hard to read at the best of times… at any rate, you’ve already gotten her something golden in the past.]
Fourier: [Oh? Ohhhhhhh, you mean her sword! I’ll admit, it’s been some blessed time since I last saw her even hold it. Very well, I retract my prior observation!]
Subaru: [So proudly, too…]
Fourier: [Well, what man worth his salt is incapable of admitting his faults? The best among men are those who not only do that, but seek to correct their faults.]
Subaru: [Okay, Lion King.]
The prince was given pause staring at the jewelry displays. It had been an innocuous joke, but it had hit a sore spot.
Subaru: [… sorry, Fourier. That was too far...]
Fourier: [Now, what did I say about others concerning themselves on my account? But thank you, Subaru. It’s appreciated.]
His examination of the jewelry had been suspended. Instead, he was looking at his reflection in the display.
Fourier: [I used to resent my lot, you know. Being last in line. Being so far beneath my forebears. I thought I hadn’t a chance in hell at achieving the happy future with her I’d envisioned without somehow becoming that Lion King that had such a hold on her imagination.]
He then stared past his reflection at the rings on display. Each one seemed to represent a different future with his beloved. He smiled warmly at those futures, each and every one.
Fourier: [Now, though, I see my fear, my insecurities… they were all unfounded. I can be hers and she can be mine, no fanciful title or legacy required. Why, it turned out to be so simple, I could kick myself!]
He looked up to face his attendant, taking a deep breath before doing so.
Fourier: [I’m enough. And I owe this realization to you, friend. To her for accepting me, sure, but to you for giving me that push. Without that, her acceptance of me could have been perpetually delayed, or worse!]
The prince shuddered at the thought of such a future.
Subaru: [Geez, man. You’re choking me up here… save it for the wedding, would you?]
He wiped some mist from his eyes. He supposed he always had his soft spots.
Fourier: [I make no promises! After all, the wedding won’t be for some time yet. Ah, to be wed already… the damnable waiting mandated by these stifling traditions is insufferable, I tell you!]
Subaru: [I hear you! Let’s get back to it to take your mind off of that.]
Fourier: [A sterling idea, friend!]
Subaru: [You already used that pun.]
Fourier: [Ha! Why, I hadn’t even intended it that time! That one’s on you. Hm? Ah!]
As he jokingly rebuked his friend, something caught the prince’s attention from the corner of his eye. One of the rings on the far side of the display.
Fourier: [What a striking look! It’s scintillating! What is it?]
Proprietor: [That piece was made from a unique piece of ore I happened across while traveling. I sourced it from a crater I found. I’d never seen anything like it. It looks like a shard from the heavens, don’t you think?]
Fourier: [I don’t think I could put it any better myself, good sir! This is the one!]
Proprietor: [A perfect choice, Your Highness! Of course, someone of your stature is essentially the only person who could hope to purchase this piece.]
Subaru: [Oh? C’mon, it can’t be that… --?!]
His eyes shot wide open upon seeing the price advertised by the piece. He reached for his coin purse as though to shield it from harm.
Subaru: [Y’know, usually if the price is this bad, the sign would just say “ask a representative for the price” or something like that!]
Proprietor: [Oh? Perhaps that is why this piece has languished for so long… yes, having the customer inquire presents an opportunity for persuasion. You have my thanks, sir!]
The shop’s owner bowed, having taken the wrong thing away from the flippant response to the price tag.
Fourier: [It’s alright, friend! No price is too steep for her!]
Proprietor: [Very well, then! Shall I set some gems within the band?]
Subaru: [No shame! The man seriously just asked for more money without a hint of shame!]
His palm clapped into his forehead. Beatrice gently patted his other hand to try and assuage him, still reeling from sticker shock.
Fourier: [Hmm… no, I believe if anything, gems being added to this band would only sully it. No, this piece is perfectly fine as is! I’ll leave wanton gaudiness to others.]
Proprietor: [Very well, Your Highness. I shall leave it here on hold for you, unless you somehow happen to have the funds --]
The prince cavalierly dropped a bag of Holy Coins onto the shop owner’s counter top. The proprietor eyed the draconic visage inscribed upon them with wonder. Even working within this district of the Royal Capital, he had never seen so many of them all in one place.
Proprietor: [Um… Your Highness… even without counting this, I believe this is too much…]
Fourier: [Hm? Oh, this isn’t just for the ring. I’m also commissioning you in perpetuity. Should the ring require repairs, I shall be coming to you, good sir. My betrothed has a fiery streak to her, after all!]
Proprietor: [Y-Yes, of course…]
The shop’s owner delicately scooped the coins back into their pouch, still shaken from the display of wealth.
Fourier: [Ah, there should also be sufficient funds in there to commission the construction of a suitable case for the ring. I must keep it safe until the big day!]
Proprietor: [But of course, Your Highness. This one should be suitably protective.]
The proprietor sat a metal ring box on his counter top, having pulled it out from underneath. It was an austere, gray metal, one with intricate, wavy patterning that reminded Subaru of Damascus steel. It looked like it had quite some heft to it.
Proprietor: [I fashioned this from ore I found on the outer edge of the crater I had found. It is astoundingly resilient.]
Subaru: [If that hit your head, it’d sure leave a mark.]
Beatrice: [Why ever would you imagine such a thing, in fact?]
Subaru: [… I’m not sure.]
Fourier: [Gruesome imaginings aside, this is the perfect vessel for her ring! I’ll take it!]
Proprietor: [Very well, Your Highness. I shall nestle the ring within it post haste.]
The shop’s owner opened the display case using a skeleton key he withdrew from one of his pockets. He gingerly picked up the prismatic ring. He opened the metal ring box, revealing a nest of Merlot hued velvet within. The proprietor rested the ring within that velvet, a sight which made the prince’s heart flutter.
The box was then snapped shut and handed over to the prince. He accepted it with both hands, gently cradling it within his hands.
Proprietor: [Here you are, Your Highness. I hope it brings your bride-to-be as much delight as it brought me in shaping it.]
Subaru: [I’m sure it was pretty difficult to make it. I mean, making a ring in general already probably requires skilled hands. Working with such a unique metal probably only compounds that, right?]
Fourier: [Yes, I would expect it to be quite laborious and nerve-rending. One mistake could ruin such a unique piece. But I think it’s precisely that labor that made it worthwhile, no?]
Subaru smirked at his friend. He wanted to pat him on the back, but seeing him so carefully holding the ring box in his hands made him reconsider.
Subaru: [Guess marriage is just the same, huh? Not that I’d know.]
Fourier: [Hey, I’m hardly an expert myself! It’d be rather scandalous if I were. I suppose I’m just being optimistic.]
Subaru: [Aw, you’ll be fine. C’mon, let’s head back. Mission accomplished!]
Fourier gazed yearningly at the ring box in his hands. He felt quite accomplished indeed there and then.
***
The trio made their way through the streets of the Noble District, en route back to the Royal Palace. The prince moved in cadence somewhere between a skip and a march. His nerves from before had faded away, as he had become accustomed to carrying the ring box in his hands. It was a bit too bulky to fit within any of his or Subaru’s pockets.
Beatrice: [You know Betty could simply use her Yin Magic to get us back to the palace expediently, in fact.]
Fourier: [What, and miss out on such a lovely day? Perish the thought!]
Subaru: [It does feel pretty nice out today. Let’s allow him to enjoy himself, Beako.]
Beatrice: [If you say so.]
The prince looked back at the petite spirit, who had responded in a skeptical tone. He was rather surprised by her blasé reaction.
Fourier: [What? Do you not think today is lovely?]
Beatrice: [The weather is fair, I suppose. Oh, but you’re not merely referring to that, are you?]
She sounded almost foreboded as she predicted the prince’s intentions. His subsequent smile all but confirmed her suspicions.
Fourier: [Well, it’s not every day you get to choose the engagement ring for the one you hold most dear!]
Subaru: [I’d certainly hope not, anyway.]
The prince laughed heartily at his attendant’s wry remark.
Fourier: [True, true! Say, when it’s your turn to shop around for a ring, may I accompany you?]
Subaru: [Getting a bit ahead of ourselves, aren’t we? Besides, you’re the prince here, dude. You don’t need to ask for my permission.]
Beatrice: [Wouldn’t he just join you regardless, in fact?]
Subaru snickered at his partner’s supposition. He couldn’t exactly deny he hadn’t thought similarly.
Fourier: [I wouldn’t wish to impose myself upon you. If you would prefer privacy in your decision making, I would grant it.]
Subaru: [It wouldn’t be an imposition, man. You’re my friend, y’know. Hm? Fourier?]
Fourier: [I’m listening, friend, I’m listening.]
Beatrice: [He’s just staring at that ring again…]
The prince was indeed ogling the ring he had purchased, thoughts of his impending proposal dancing through his mind.
Fourier: [Can you blame me?! Imagining this on her hand… ahhhhhh, it makes my head spin!]
Subaru: [You goofball…]
He shook his head. He wondered if he would ever be like this about someone, if he could ever allow himself to be so gleefully vulnerable.
Of course, the prince wasn’t just emotionally exposed. Unbeknownst to the trio, they were being followed.
Light steps pattered across the rooftops. Keen eyes, locked upon the fine, preternatural glint of the ring in the prince’s possession. A young woman became the like the wind rushing towards that object of her interest.
It happened so fast, the trio had briefly been dazed.
Fourier: [W-Woah!]
Subaru: [What the --?! Didn’t realize it was gonna be windy today!]
Beatrice: [No, Subaru, that was no mere gust of wind, In fact!]
Subaru: [It wasn’t? Then --]
Beatrice: [The ring!]
The petite spirit frantically hushed her contractor to point out the theft that had just occurred. Fourier checked his whole person for the precious box containing that even more precious item.
Fourier: [Huh…? A-Ah! The ring! It’s gone!]
The prince was thrown into a panic, breaking out into a cold sweat. Had he left the box shut, had he accepted Beatrice’s offer of an instantaneous return to the Royal Palace, this wouldn’t have happened.
Fourier: [S-Subaru…]
He turned to his attendant rigidly with the whisper of someone whose breath had been knocked out of them. In being bereft of this symbol of his love for his dearest, the prince seemed truly devastated, the most his attendant had ever seen. It was no way for him to be.
His attendant wouldn’t allow this incongruity to linger.
Subaru: [Don’t worry, we can fix this!]
His eyes darted about, trying to see where the thief had disappeared to. He instinctively looked to their left, the direction the gust had been headed. Looking down an alleyway, he could only barely make out a small figure rushing into the shadows.
There wasn’t much time to think. He began to dash down the alleyway, relinquishing Beatrice’s hand in doing so.
Beatrice: [Wha--?! Where are you going, in fact?!]
Subaru: [Beako, stay here with Fourier and keep him safe! I’ve got a ring to retrieve!]
Beatrice: [Why, you… you owe Betty for this!]
The petite spirit clenched her tiny fists, irate at having been ditched by her contractor on such short notice. As insult to injury, she had been left as the prince’s bodyguard in his absence.
He felt bad for leaving her behind in the spur of the moment, but found it couldn’t be helped. He couldn’t very well leave the prince unattended, even in the Noble District. He figured if the prince was safe with anyone, it would be with his teacher.
Meanwhile, he continued dashing through the winding alleyway, utilizing flow method in his legs to move faster. By this point, his stamina had made considerable progress. He figured he had become almost on par with a marathon runner from his world.
Even so, he was up against an unknown. They had moved so fast and so abruptly, he hadn’t been able to catch a glimpse of the culprit. He wasn’t sure how dangerous or skilled they might be, though they certainly hadn’t lacked in swiftness.
Speed alone wasn’t the only issue he had to contend with in pursuing this thief. Keeping track of them through the dim alleyway was challenging.
Subaru: [— damn! Bet they timed that rush of theirs just in time to slip into this alleyway! Why couldn’t they have been a little off and run right into a wall instead?!]
He lamented his lot in this situation. Some small part of him wanted to just say the thief had gotten away, and that they would just have to pick another ring.
Subaru: [— that one’s too unique, though. No doubt he’d never settle on another one. Guess it’s pretty fitting for the girl it’s intended for in that regard…]
To keep himself somewhat calm, he reasoned aloud in between breaths. He felt a little disappointed in this minor aspect of himself. He knew giving up here would only crush his friend’s spirit.
Thief: [Dammit, quit following me, would ya?!]
Subaru: [Ah, acknowledging me, huh? Good. Just give up the ring, I don’t want any trouble!]
Thief: [Don’t start any and there won’t be any!]
Subaru: [Oh, for crying out loud!]
At the very least, he could glean more about his target. She possessed the voice of teenager, and by his estimation, likely one younger than himself. She was also a hothead, causing him to wonder if he could exploit her temper to his advantage somehow.
Before he could find out --
Thief: [Later, loser!]
Subaru: [Hah?!]
She leapt high into the air, her figure obscured by the sun as they exited the winding alleyway. They were now in the Market District. He had no idea how far they had gone just by navigating those labyrinthine alleys. He had no better of a look of his culprit than he had before in the shadows, at least for the time being.
The thief landed on the rooftops adroitly, then continued running away.
Subaru: [— can’t let her escape!]
The situation infuriated him to no end. Had he not needed someone to remain behind with Fourier, he could have employed magical aid from Beatrice to easily reach the rooftops in some form. He wasn’t helpless, though.
Subaru: [Been a while since I tried this… Murak!]
He smacked his palm into his chest, taking a running leap into the air, angling to continue his pursuit of the thief. He rushed through the air, soaring until he was a meter or so above the rooftops. He was fortunate the air was actually largely still that day, and that the wind he had perceived earlier had merely been some influence on the thief’s part. He would have otherwise been as helpless as a stray balloon.
Having reached the elevation he required, he then released the spell, causing gravity’s effects to return to him in full measure. He landed on the rooftop in a roll, which flowed seamlessly into a sprint once more. His lessons from Carol and his continued training in combat maneuvers had paid off yet again.
He had lost some ground to his culprit, but they were still within sight. Now that they were in the daylight, he had a better view of the thief.
He could see that the thief was blonde, and about a head shorter than he was. She was dressed in suitably roguish clothing, with a scant black tube top beneath a brown vest, black tights of asymmetrical length, an ill-fitting belt that flew behind her along with her scarf, and an imposing dagger sheathed on her back. Considering how long they had been in chase at that point, he believed she would only use the weapon if her life was on the line.
She wore gloves that matched her vest, which he surmised were worn so as not to leave behind any prints at a scene. This was assuming a similar level of forensic study in this world, of course. A rag tied around her left ankle matched her scarf. He briefly wondered if she were wounded, but given her agility, he doubted this to be the case.
Thief: [Tch! Persistent prick!]
Subaru: [Only when it’s important! Give back the ring, kid!]
Thief: [Wha--?! I’m not a kid!]
Subaru: [You sure look like one to me!]
Thief: [What, you think insulting me is any way to make me give it back?!]
He found he couldn’t exactly retort. He wanted to quip back that he didn’t owe a thief any cordiality, though some part of him was sympathetic to someone who needed to steal to make a living. Still, she had crossed the wrong person.
He was beginning to make up the ground he had lost, closing in on the thief. They were running out of rooftop, though. Before long, they would reach a grand avenue.
Subaru: [Looks like the jig’s almost up! Just give it up already, kid! I swear I won’t report you to the authorities!]
Thief: [And why in the world should I trust you?!]
It was a good question. She didn’t know him, and had been chasing after her for some time now. In her occasional glances back, she had seen he had a rapier on his hip. His apparent ability to cast magic only further unnerved her.
He wouldn’t have a chance to try and talk her down again. She leapt into the air as she approached the edge of the final rooftop before the avenue below, walking along a line suspending various pennants above the street.
Subaru: [— oh, c’mon! Why does everyone here have to make everything look so easy?!]
He knew he didn’t have time to gawk at the acrobatics on display. He needed to keep up the chase. However, he also knew if he tried doing the same as the thief, he would almost immediately plummet to the street below. If the fall didn’t kill him, being trampled by ground dragons and pulled under the wheels of their attached carriages certainly would.
He gulped. He was about to do something phenomenally stupid by his own admission.
Subaru: [— ah, dammit! You better appreciate this, Fourier!]
He took a running start toward the edge of that final rooftop. As he did, he removed his uniform’s jacket, hastily forming it into something resembling a sail. Then, prior to reaching that edge, he again pounded his chest with his palm.
Subaru: [Murak!]
Arriving at the edge of the rooftop, he leapt into the air. The thief, only about halfway across the line of pennants between the parallel rooftops, glanced over her shoulder to see the act.
Thief: [What are you, insane?!]
Subaru: [Maybe!]
He was gliding down in an intercepting trajectory toward the thief, trying to control his descent with his improvised sail and a gradual release of his Murak. It wasn’t quite doing the job, unfortunately. Control was sloppy, and his descent was hurried as a result. He was practically dive-bombing his culprit.
Subaru: [Woah-woah-woah-woah-woah!]
Thief: [Waaaaaaaaah!]
His improvisation proved unable to match his desperate optimism. Instead of heading her off on the other side as he had envisioned, he wound up inadvertently tackling her off of the line she had been running across. The two plummeted to the street below. He had hardly any time to think.
As someone had once pointed out to him, though, he was rather good at performing under pressure.
Thief: [Wha--?! What are you?!]
He hurriedly bundled the thief within his jacket, trying to provide some cushion for her fall should his last ditched maneuver prove fruitless.
Subaru: [Murak!]
One last Murak. He hadn’t cast so many spells in rapid succession in a while, much less one that required such precise control from his gate. The metaphysical gyre within him screamed from being used so much in such a way within such a short span of time.
Fortunately for them, their descent was slowed through his spell. Though they had easily fallen three stories, they managed to land softly on the side of the street below, away from the busy traffic that would have mangled them otherwise.
He could scarcely believe his fortune. It had also been the first time he had used Murak on multiple targets. He was elated by the success, but realized that celebration would need to wait.
The thief was still pretty shaken from the harrying experience, so much so that an opportunity had presented itself.
Subaru: [I’ll… be taking that… thank you.]
Still panting from the adrenaline rush, he pried the ring from her open hand. It was a minor miracle she hadn’t dropped it. Though he doubted such a fall would have damaged the ring within, he suspected it would have made the retrieval all the more difficult, having to find it somewhere along a chaotic thoroughfare.
Thief: [H-Hey!]
Subaru: [Oh, don’t even! You’re the one who stole here, alright? You can’t exactly be indignant…]
The thief simmered. She appeared to recognize his inconvenient point. There wasn’t really much she could say in argument. It wasn’t as though the ring was rightfully hers or something she had earned.
???: [Subaru!]
Subaru: [Eh? You guys? What’re you doing here?]
Beatrice and Fourier had finally caught up to them, though he could have sworn he had asked them to stay behind while he pursued the thief.
Beatrice: [Betty’s sorry! Your prince took off not long after you did. Betty was forced to help him catch up to you.]
Fourier: [And it’s good that we did! We saw you leap off that roof. What in the world were you thinking?!]
Subaru: [Relax, I had it under-- nope!]
He tried to explain himself, only to barely avoid the ring being stolen again. The thief had sprung back to her feet, trying to quickly nab the precious object. Being so much shorter, all he had to do to prevent it was raise his hand higher than she could reach. He firmly placed his free hand on her forehead to push her away to further prevent her from succeeding.
Thief: [Gah! Get your hand off my face, you jerk!]
Subaru: [Stop reaching for the ring, and maybe I will!]
Thief: [Whaddya mean “maybe?!”]
As the two one-sidedly grappled, Beatrice and Fourier watched on.
Fourier: [Subaru… I’m glad you retrieved the ring and all, but… this just makes you look like a bully.]
Subaru: [What?! C’mon, she’s trying to steal it again!]
Beatrice: [Betty knows she hates it when you leverage your height over her… Betty can oddly sympathize with this thief.]
Subaru: [I don’t do that! Well, not often… I-I’ve helped you reach books on high shelves!]
His companions and their sympathy for the thief caused him to reexamine. He looked down at the thief he was presently keeping at arm’s length. Then, something caught his attention.
Subaru: [Hm?]
Fourier: [What is it, friend?]
Subaru: [Oh, nothing. It’s just a funny thought I had.]
Fourier: [Oh? Hatching jests at a time like this?]
Beatrice: [Can’t that wait until we return, in fact?]
Subaru: [No, no, it’s not a joke! It’s just… I think she kinda looks like you.]
Fourier: [Pardon?]
The prince was taken aback hearing this observation from his trusted friend. Given the situation, he didn’t believe he was being pranked.
Fourier: [Could you move your hand? I can’t really see her face.]
Subaru: [Only if she promises to stop trying to steal this ring.]
Thief: [What, and let you guys better identify me?]
Subaru: [I mean, we’ve already got you dead to rights here. If we wanted to take you to prison, we easily could.]
Beatrice: [This is true. Betty could easily subdue you.]
Thief: [… tch!]
The thief again couldn’t articulate any further. She knew her pursuers were right. There wasn’t exactly any way she could flee at this point. She briefly considered reaching behind for her dagger. Though she was very agitated, she didn’t quite feel as though her life was in peril. This perception was aided by the verbiage of her pursuer, who seemed to have no intention of actually making a citizen’s arrest.
The thief relented in her reaching for the ring, and Subaru removed his hand from her head. With it removed, the resemblance became clear as day. The golden hair, the crimson eyes.
Fourier: [… impossible.]
Thief: [Hm? W-What? Why’re you looking at me like that?]
The thief’s concern was understandable. Fourier appeared utterly shell-shocked, tears beginning to run down his cheeks from his unblinking eyes.
Subaru: [Fourier? You good, man?]
Fourier: [I… I was only a child when… when you…]
Thief: [When I what? W-Wha--?!]
The prince suddenly hugged the thief, surprising everyone present. None more so than the thief herself, of course.
Thief: [Q-Quit hugging me, you weirdo!]
Fourier: [Ah, apologies! It’s just… it isn’t everyday one finds themselves reunited with lost family!]
Thief: [Lost… family?!]
The thief was thunderstruck by this tearful revelation. Subaru himself was similarly knocked for six.
Subaru: [Woah, woah, woah, hold up! I thought you were the youngest in your family! Plus, you only have brothers!]
Fourier: [Both true! Yet… it’s as you say, friend, the likeness is undeniable! None in the kingdom possess these exact features!]
Subaru: [Hm… is she… no, I couldn’t think such thing about your father. Pretty sure there’d be a pillory with my name on it…]
Beatrice: [What, you mean to suggest this thief might be an illegitimate child of the king?]
Subaru: [Beako!]
The prince cracked up hearing the exchange between contractor and contracted. He wiped the tears from his eyes as he turned to address his friends.
Fourier: [Oh, I certainly couldn’t imagine my father being given to infidelity! He’d sooner fall on a sword! No, no. This girl… well, there’s much to be confirmed.]
He returned his attention to the thief, who appeared very shaken by what was going on.
Fourier: [What’s your name, little miss?]
Felt: [F-Felt.]
Fourier: [Felt?]
Felt: [Yeah, just Felt…]
The thief uttered her name shakily, still caught off guard from all that was going on. She wasn’t exactly afraid, or if she was, she wasn’t letting it show. More than anything, she was rapt by confusion.
Fourier: [And how old are you, Miss Felt?]
Felt: [What’s it to you?]
Fourier: [It’s just to confirm a suspicion of mine.]
Felt: [Well… I dunno exactly…]
Subaru: [You don’t know?]
Felt: [I dunno, it hasn’t exactly been important info until now, apparently!]
Subaru threw up his hands in resignation, hoping for the temper on display to settle down. Felt had been leaned forward adamantly, her fists planted firmly on her hips, her crimson eyes narrowed into an annoyed glare.
Felt: [To answer your question, prince… I dunno, 12? Maybe 13?]
Fourier: [I see… yes, it lines up…]
Subaru: [What does, exactly? The way you’ve been talking, it’s almost as though she had completely disappeared ages ago.]
Fourier: [If she is who I believe she is, then she had. Specifically, she had been kidnapped as an infant.]
Subaru and Felt both appeared beyond blindsided.
Subaru had heard of how Ford Lugunica, Fourier’s uncle, had lost his daughter in a kidnapping over a decade ago. He was familiar with the grim assumption most in the Royal Palace had been operating under since well before his arrival in this world. He had never expected to ever meet this missing royal, much less under such circumstances.
Felt, meanwhile, had been rendered speechless for a few moments. It was clear to the trio that she had never suspected such an origin for herself.
Felt: [W-What the hell are you talking about?! Me, a royal? Are you outta your mind?!]
Fourier: [My mind is quite sound, Miss Felt. I have a powerful suspicion, and my suspicions are rarely wrong, as my friend here may attest.]
Subaru: [Well… he’s got a point…]
The prince’s intuition had always been well known to Subaru. His skill in games had been an elementary introduction to said facet. The conspiracy surrounding Leip Barielle had only cemented this faculty of his.
Fourier smiled at Felt pleasantly, his eyes electric with excitement.
Fourier: [What do you say, Miss Felt? Would you like to return to the palace with us?]
Felt: [You’re… giving me a choice?]
Fourier: [Well, I can’t make you come back with us.]
Subaru: [Wait, woah, just like that? You’re not gonna try to persuade her? Even with this hunch of yours?]
Fourier: [This isn’t about me, Subaru. And trying to sway her into a life she isn’t excited for would hardly be the noble thing to do.]
The prince turned again to the thief. His smile had lapsed while offering his earnest take on the situation, only to return when addressing his suspected kin again.
Fourier: [What would you like to do, Miss Felt?]
Felt: [This is a pretty big decision here. I… I need to talk to Old Man Rom about this.]
Fourier: [“Old Man Rom?” I take it he’s someone whose word you value highly?]
The thief nodded meekly.
Felt: [He’s like a grandpa to me.]
Fourier: [Like a grandfather… it’s nice to know you have been in someone’s care all of this time. But then, how else could an infant have made it into adolescence!]
The prince laughed at his own joke, one the moment wouldn’t allow most to find the humor in there and then. He cleared his throat before proceeding.
Fourier: [Alright! Let’s go meet with this “Old Man Rom!”]
Subaru: [What? Fourier, are you nuts? We don’t know who this guy is or where he even is!]
Felt: [He lives in the slums. That a problem, scary eyes?]
Subaru: [That’s uncalled for! Fourier… c’mon, man…]
The attendant urged his prince to consider this further. However, the prince wasn’t one to shy away from a course of action once it had been decided upon.
Fourier: [We’ll stop by the palace quickly so I may retrieve my disguising cloak. Then, we will make haste to the slums.]
Subaru: [Seriously?]
Fourier: [She wants assurance from someone she trusts, Subaru. How can I refuse?]
The prince’s reasoning disarmed his attendant’s apprehension. The latter sighed, slumping his shoulders.
Subaru: [Alright, fine. Beako, would you take us back home for a bit?]
Beatrice: [Very well. Betty finds this to be rather ill-advised, though.]
Subaru: [Yeah, well… it can’t be helped.]
With a shrug from her contractor, Beatrice opened a spatial rift back to the prince’s chambers for him to retrieve the same cloak he had used to fool the sages during Subaru’s hearing over half a year prior. From there, their destination had been determined: the slums, where the girl who was possibly of royal lineage had been living for over a decade.
***
The sun was leaving its apex in the sky as the group made their way to the slums. Along the way, the prince had been chatting with his suspected kin. Subaru himself largely kept quiet, not wanting to get in their way. Fourier spoke fondly with Felt, who seemed to be thawing somewhat herself. He was presently recounting the occasion that had called for the cloak he was wearing.
Felt: [So you snuck into the throne room?]
Fourier: [But of course! I would always stand up for a friend in need!]
Felt: [Huh. For a royal, you sure sound like you live strong. Of course, it’s probably pretty easy to do when the rules don’t apply to you.]
Fourier: [I wouldn’t say the rules don’t apply to me, per se, though I will admit most in the kingdom wouldn’t have gotten away with such a feat. Even if it had, though, I wouldn’t have let that hold me back. To me, living boldly is the only way to live! Isn’t that right, Subaru?]
The prince had finally noticed his friend’s quiet, pitching a question his way to ensure his inclusion. It took him a second to respond.
Subaru: [Yup. Sure is.]
Felt: [That wasn’t very convincing…]
He didn’t have it in him to rag on his friend for his long-held inability to confess to Crusch twice in a single day. He would reserve it for some other day, perhaps when the prince least expected it.
Beatrice: [Rest assured, Betty’s contractor certainly lives boldly.]
Subaru: [You can tell her about the wolgarm and only the wolgarm.]
Beatrice: [What about the baron, in fact?]
Subaru: [… that’s still too fresh.]
Beatrice gently patted her contractor’s hand as she held it. The recent past had been particularly trying for the young man.
Felt: [What’s this about wolgarm?]
Beatrice: [Betty’s contractor spared an entire village from the looming threat of a horde of the witch beasts, slaughtering them wholesale on his own.]
Subaru: [Well, I had some help…]
Beatrice: [On his own.]
Beatrice refused to acknowledge any other aid he had received. Even he only begrudgingly mentioned it, though he found he couldn’t say the person’s name without feeling off.
Felt: [Huh. And I here I thought nobles lived cushy lives.]
Fourier: [Oh, I don’t mean to misrepresent, Miss Felt. My life is rather plush, if only because of my friend here. He’s my attendant, you see.]
Felt: [Oh. So he does everything for you, then?]
Fourier: [No, not everything. He can’t act as an envoy on my behalf. In those situations, it is on me to act as the face and voice of our nation.]
Subaru: [Y’know, I never really thought about it before, but that sounds like a lotta pressure…]
Fourier: [Certainly no more than you’ve unfortunately become accustomed to!]
Their friendly chatter continued as they made their way into the slums. Once there, the prince began to speak less. His attendant took notice. Moreover, he could already tell why.
Subaru: [I thought you might hate walking through here…]
Felt: [Why? ‘Cuz he can’t stomach being around the other half? Hm?]
The thief had spoken sardonically toward the prince. She had turned to gauge his response, since she had been the one leading them into the slums. She could make out his face only barely beneath the hood of his disguising cloak. She could only recognize that it was him due to context clues.
The prince seemed woebegotten. The sight of such squalor and dire straits clearly tore into his heart. Despite his disguise, people could still assume he was from the upper crust. His friends being almost equally well-dressed only further reinforced this notion. People cowered in the windows of their homes, looked up at them from the dusty streets with weary eyes.
The thief didn’t need to gauge any further. She realized she had misjudged him, but was too stubborn to admit as much for the time being.
Just because she wouldn’t broach this didn’t mean the prince’s attendant was going to let her comment slide.
Subaru: [Knowing him, he’ll wanna advocate for the people here however he can.]
Felt: [What? Cuz’ he saw them once? These people aren’t worth the effort anyway.]
Subaru: [Geez, harsh much?]
Felt: [Not really. These people? They aren’t living strong, though they’ll try to convince you of as much. They’ll say it all they want, but they aren’t doing anything to get better.]
Fourier: [Surely that can be changed?]
Felt: [Not sure why you’d wanna bother trying, but knock yourself out, I guess…]
The thief trailed off as she offered a brusque yet subtly sympathetic invitation. For some reason, she believed pushing back against the prince’s optimism would only make them both feel bad.
Felt: [Anyway, here we are. Old Man Rom’s loot house.]
Fourier: [“Loot house?” Oh. Your grandfather is a fence for stolen goods, then?]
Felt: [… maybe.]
Subaru: [Sounds more like “definitely.”]
Felt: [So? What’s it to you?]
Subaru: [Look, I get why you’re being defensive. You care about the guy. We’re not here to make extrajudicial decisions. We’re just here to talk.]
Felt looked to Fourier, seemingly unable to take his attendant’s word for anything.
Fourier: [He’s absolutely right! We’re here for you to gain peace of mind. Nothing more.]
Felt: [… okay.]
Walking up to the porch of the loot house, the pint-sized thief knocked on the door. From behind the door, a gruff voice spoke up.
Rom: [For a rat…]
Felt: [Poison.]
Rom: [For a whale…]
Felt: [A harpoon.]
Rom: [To the noble dragon lord…]
Felt: [We’re bags of shit.]
Fourier: [“Bags of…?” Oh my…]
Subaru: [Must be a secret code.]
The door opened, revealing a hulking figure with dark skin, long eyebrows with beads on their ends, and white chest hair to match. His frame was too massive for most shirts, instead being mostly covered by a crude vest. Tattered trousers were cinched by a red sash, and he had an iron chain across his torso. They could hear a thud of something being sat down as the door opened further.
Rom: [What gives with the well-dressed posse, Felt? Don’t tell me they’re customers.]
Felt: [Er, no, no… hey, Old Man Rom… could we talk a bit?]
The giant seemed intrigued, then eyed his guests.
Rom: [Seems like something’s got you spooked. Guess you all should come on in.]
The sight of a giant took Fourier and Subaru by surprise. Beatrice seemed more guarded than anything. It took the former two a moment to respond, looking to each other for an answer.
Fourier: [… well, thank you kindly, sir! I must say, I wasn’t expecting to cross paths with a giant today!]
Rom: [Mm-hm.]
The old man grumbled at the prince’s enthusiasm. Everyone took a seat at a bar counter, where the giant poured a glass of milk for the young thief. She quickly gulped down the glass, capped off with the pleased exhale of a thirst having been slaked.
Subaru: [Guess she needs her milk if she’s gonna grow any taller.]
Felt: [Hah?! You making fun of me?!]
Subaru: [Sorry, I can’t take you seriously with that milk mustache.]
Felt: […]
She sheepishly wiped her mouth with a rag offered to her by the old man. Beatrice glared at her contractor for having made light of the thief’s height again, no doubt feeling sympathetic in kind. He could feel the stare burning into him, though he didn’t want to make eye contact to address it.
All the while, Rom observed.
Rom: [So… you guys friends of hers or something? ‘Course, she’s never talked about having any friends…]
Felt: [Aw, who needs them?! I’m out there working, I don’t have time for that crap!]
Subaru: [“Working,” she calls it…]
Felt: [What? I’m good at it. Besides, beats the pittance others my age would get paid for in whatever jobs are even available to us around these parts.]
She answered very bluntly, without a hint of shame in her voice. Subaru couldn’t exactly say she was a bad thief. Had he been a regular citizen, the theft would have been quite easy, and she would have made off with a king’s ransom.
Rom: [True enough. Thought you had something you wanted to talk about? Does it involve these… guests?]
He eyed the three of the warily. Subaru and Beatrice were left on edge. Fourier, however, seemed perfectly fine. In fact, he seemed happy to see this response in the giant, as though he were just happy Felt had someone watching over her like this.
Felt: [Right… hey, prince. May wanna take the hood off for a moment.]
Fourier: [My hood? Hm…]
Subaru: [Why? Does he really have to?]
Felt: [Well, it’s a pretty big thing I’m gonna be telling him here! I don’t want him thinking this is some elaborate joke.]
Rom: [Felt, what exactly’s going on here? And did you just call that hooded fella “prince?”]
Felt: [Yeah… because he is one. And apparently… I might be related to him.]
Rom fell silent. He didn’t seem astonished or angry or anything, really. He just seemed like something had finally caught up to him.
Felt: [Old Man Rom? You okay?]
Rom: [… yeah. Guess it was just a matter of time, huh?]
Felt: [H-Huh?]
Rom: [When I found you way back when, I could tell right away you weren’t just another abandoned tot. Believe it or not, I met some royals before.]
Fourier: [Truly? Have you met my father?]
The prince removed his hood, following Felt’s guidance from before, though it hadn’t been as necessary as she had suggested. The old man had taken her far more seriously than she had anticipated.
The giant looked at the prince for a moment, then to Felt. He seemed conflicted.
Rom: [… no. I met… other members of your family. I remember them well. Their eyes and hair were… a lot like yours, really. And, of course, like Felt’s. No sense in denying it or chalking it up to coincidence.]
Fourier: [Oh, I see. At any rate, it seems you have done well by her. Current profession notwithstanding, she appears to be happy and healthy.]
Subaru: [I dunno about happy… she seems jaded beyond her years, man.]
Felt: [Hey!]
Fourier: [True.]
Felt: [Hey!]
She had leaned forward against the counter, protesting them in turn. Fourier put his fist to his mouth to stifle a laugh at his suspected kin’s expense.
Fourier: [But! Given what she had said of others who live here, she seems more spirited than most. Tell me, sir, was it you who gave her the name “Felt?”]
The giant softly smiled. Or at least, as softly as he was able, given his stony features.
Rom: [… yeah. Seemed like a fitting name for her at the time.]
Felt: [Whatever, we’re not here to talk about my upbringing!]
Felt seemed embarrassed about them talking about her like this. The teasing from people who were largely strangers to her still hadn’t helped, either.
Rom’s smile proved fleeting.
Rom: [Guess not. Let me guess. You’re wondering if you should leave? Return to your family?]
The room became still as these questions hung in the musty air of the loot house. Felt became visibly uncomfortable just having to think about this. She found she couldn’t reply verbally, nodding timidly instead.
Rom himself was quiet in consideration. Then --
Rom: [Well, it’s a no-brainer, ain’t it? You shouldn’t.]
Felt: [I… I shouldn’t?]
Subaru: [But --!]
Subaru was ready to advocate on Fourier’s behalf. The prince raised a hand of caution, causing his attendant to stay his tongue.
Rom: [Of course you shouldn’t. You think you’d wanna live around a bunch of stuffy royals? You’ve seen how little they care about us.]
Fourier: [We have been wrong to avert our eyes from the plight of those living here.]
Rom: [Living where? Can you say where you are right now, prince?]
Fourier: [… the slums.]
The prince was uncomfortable just saying the word. It felt like a painful admission from him, acknowledging the system his family line had evidently been complicit in allowing to develop.
Rom: [Look. You seem like a nice guy, prince. Well-intentioned. Optimistic. But those things don’t get you far in this world. ‘specially not here.]
Fourier: [… forgive me, Miss Felt.]
Felt: [H-Huh? Why?]
Fourier: [I’m afraid I must go back on my word this once, if only because I can see that the alternative is more objectionable option. That is, I must lay out my case in favor of your return.]
Rom: [Oh? Is it ‘cuz it’s “where she belongs?”]
Fourier: [There is an inkling of that, yes. But it is far from my only reason why I believe she should return to the palace with us.]
Rom: [You don’t say? Well, let’s hear it, prince. Why should Felt go with you?]
The prince folded his hands on the counter, giving him a diplomatic air. It wasn’t the first time Subaru had seen his friend become so serious. He still remembered being defended upon his arrival and again during his hearing. He suspected this defense would be no less determined.
Fourier: [For one, it would improve her lot in life significantly. If you care for her well-being, it is the real “no-brainer.” For that matter, there is an entire life within my family she has missed out on, and a family that has missed out on her in turn.]
Rom: [Prince… you don’t know what you’re talking about here. Or what you’re getting yourself into.]
Rom growled out his answer, taking a deep breath to compose himself some. He only did so because he noticed Felt’s woefully confused expression. It was the look of a child who had experienced something profoundly sad without understanding why it had happened and why it made her feel that way.
Rom: [Look. I can see why you’d think these things. I know there’s someone out there missing her. Even so, you gotta believe me when I say that her being returned to the palace would be a mistake.]
Fourier: [Yet you won’t tell me why that is.]
Rom: [That’s… I can’t say. It could be the end of me if I don’t keep my word.]
Fourier: [Keep your word to whom?]
Rom: [… like I said, I can’t say, prince. All you need to know is this: I made a promise to keep Felt safe. And I intend to keep it.]
Subaru: [Keep her safe? Safe from what? You’re not making any sense here, Rom.]
Rom: [… he didn’t say. And ‘fore you ask, no, I can’t say who.]
The giant’s tone was becoming increasingly defensive. After Subaru had entered what had become an interrogation, the old man was beginning to feel beset. He poured himself a beer in a massive mug, taking a swig to take the burgeoning edge off. The mug hit the counter with a thud.
He glanced over at Felt, who seemed no more assured than she had been when she had returned to the loot house. If anything, she appeared quite the opposite. The giant shifted his gaze to his beer, observing his somber reflection within the bubbling beverage.
Rom: [You gotta understand. Everything I’ve done since she was entrusted to me, I’ve done for her. The same’s true here, even if it doesn’t make sense. Hell, I know it doesn’t from where you’re sitting. It’s just something you need to accept.]
Subaru: [And if we don’t?]
Rom: [If you think I’m liable to get violent here, then you must think I’m an idiot. Hurting people like you would get a person like me executed.]
Fourier: [It’s alright. I didn’t expect you to become violent at any rate. If I understand correctly, you believe that our failure to accept and forget this would likely hasten or perhaps even cause whatever this nebulous hazard is. Am I correct?]
Rom looked at the prince with a knowing grin, one which contained volumes. He was pleased that he had managed to get his obtuse point across to one of them.
Rom: [… yeah. You’re pretty sharp, ain’tcha?]
Fourier: [So I’m often told.]
Rom: [So you see that this is bigger than us? That we should just accept this and move on with our lives?]
Fourier: [… such that they are, yes.]
The prince sounded dispirited in his response as the giant sought confirmation of their mutual understanding. Subaru watched on in confusion. This wasn’t the Fourier he had come to know.
Subaru: [Wait, are you just giving up?]
Fourier: [We came here for Miss Felt to seek reassurance in the decision that had been at hand. It doesn’t seem to me like that has been achieved here, Subaru, and to no fault of our own. There are clearly factors at play which reside outside of our control.]
Subaru: [But --!]
Fourier: [It is as I said before. I can’t make her return with us. It has to be up to her. Does it look to you like she wants to return with us?]
Subaru looked toward Felt, who seemed very apprehensive. The trust she had in Rom was patently obvious, especially in light of what they had been discussing.
Subaru: [… alright. I see what you mean.]
Fourier: [It’s alright, Subaru. I’m rather disappointed as well. Still, this seems like it will be for the best.]
The prince rose from his seat, prompting Subaru and Beatrice to do the same. He turned to face Felt, a bittersweet smile on display.
Fourier: [It was nice to meet you, Miss Felt. Live strong, okay?]
Felt: [… pfft, that just sounds weird coming from a royal… but thanks.]
She felt a bit off-kilter still, only able to let loose a strained exhale of amusement. She seemed to have been glad to have met the prince, even if it seemed their bond as family would never be fully reconnected.
The prince then turned his attention to Rom.
Fourier: [And don’t you worry, sir. You won’t be seeing me or my attendant and his spirit again. Nor will we breathe a word of this meeting to anyone.]
Rom: [Glad to see we’ve got an understanding.]
Without any further words, the trio departed from the loot house, entering a spatial rift opened up by Beatrice connecting back to the prince’s chambers. The prince glanced back through the rift before it closed. He could swear Felt still seemed dismayed prior to its closure.
***
The light of the half-set sun poured in through the grand picture window of the prince’s chambers. His amiable disposition faltered upon the rift’s closing. He approached his desk, leaning against it with his palms, his head hung low.
Subaru: [Sorry, Fourier…]
Fourier: [… whatever for?]
The prince responded in a low, drained voice. It hurt Subaru to hear his friend so despondent.
Subaru: [I know you had your heart set on bringing Felt back into the royal fold. I’m sure there’s gotta be some way to work past this murky arrangement Rom had with this unknown man...]
The prince loosed a cathartic sigh, then raised his head. He stared out the window, watching the slowly setting sun. He narrowed his eyes into a resolute glare.
Fourier: [You and I think so much alike, friend. I knew I was right to choose you as my attendant.]
Subaru: [Geez, man, you had me worried there for a sec. What exactly do you have in mind?]
Beatrice: [Betty suspects it likely involves more work for you, in fact.]
Subaru: [Maybe so. Doesn’t matter if it is. This is important, Beako. Let’s hear it, Fourier.]
The prince stood up straight, folding his hands behind his back as he continued to stare out the window, organizing his thoughts.
Fourier: [Rom’s chief issue is some nebulous threat posed to Felt, evidently by virtue of her being a member of my family. Something about her being hidden and isolated from this life is sheltering her or will shelter her from this threat. If this threat could be identified and neutralized, then she could at least be afforded the opportunity to return. Therefore --]
The prince turned to face his attendant, silhouetted by the burning golden sun.
Fourier: [-- I want you to do just that. I understand it would be asking much of you, but --]
Subaru: [Say no more.]
Fourier: [Pardon?]
Subaru held a hand aloft, cutting off his friend in an assuaging gesture. The look on his face said it all. He was on the same wavelength.
Subaru: [If this threat to her is contingent upon her being here with the rest of the Royal Family, then doesn’t it stand to reason the threat could potentially equally apply to any of you? I swore an oath to protect you and your whole family, if it comes to that. This is precisely what my role was meant for.]
Fourier: [… thank you, friend. If there’s anything I can do to help --]
Subaru: [Ah-ah-ah! You’re busy with wedding prep, remember? Leave this to me and Beako.]
Fourier smiled with relief. He had chosen wisely, indeed. Even he was yet to realize the precise extent, though time would tell in its own cruel, indifferent ways.