(24) In The Assembly: 01

There's morning sun bathed the Roswaal estate in golden light, a perfect backdrop for the departure of their little entourage. The carriage, an opulent vehicle adorned with the Margrave's crest, stood waiting. The horses neighed softly, their breath visible in the crisp air.

Rem stood by the door, her hands clasped neatly in front of her as she watched the group prepare to leave. "Please travel safely, Subaru-sama, Emilia-sama," she said with a polite bow, her voice calm but tinged with concern.

Emilia, seated inside the carriage, smiled warmly at her loyal maid. "Thank you, Rem. We'll do our best to return with good news."

"Yeah, don't worry about us," Subaru added with a grin, leaning out of the carriage window. Her red hair caught the sunlight, making her look more vibrant than usual. Her blue eyes sparkled with determination. "Just keep things in order here, and don't let Betty cause too much chaos!"

Rem chuckled softly. "I will do my best, Subaru-sama."

Up front, Otto was already settled in the driver's seat, looking more nervous than usual. His knuckles were white as he gripped the reins, and he kept glancing at Ram, who sat beside him with her usual air of disdainful elegance.

"Stop shaking, ground dragon boy," Ram drawled, her pink hair swaying in the breeze. "If you drive us into a ditch, I will not hesitate to shove you into one myself."

"Y-yes, Ram-sama," Otto stammered, his back straightening in terror.

Inside the carriage, Subaru adjusted her red cape, which draped stylishly over her armour. She shifted slightly, trying to find a comfortable position. "Man, they really don't make these carriages for people in full armour. It's like sitting on a pile of rocks."

"Then why are you wearing it now?" Emilia asked, her tone half-amused, half-curious.

"Because, Emilia-tan," Subaru said, giving her a confident smirk, "I'm your pseudo-knight. And knights should always look ready to protect their lady."

Puck, floating lazily beside Emilia, chimed in with a teasing tone. "I think she's just showing off."

"Hey!" Subaru pointed an accusatory finger at the spirit. "I'll have you know this armour is super practical! It even makes me look cooler, doesn't it, Emilia-tan?"

Emilia giggled, her silver hair shimmering as she turned to face Subaru. "You always look confident, Subaru. That's what matters most."

Subaru's grin softened, and she leaned forward slightly, resting her elbows on her knees. "Speaking of confidence… how are you feeling about the assembly, Emilia-tan?"

The smile on Emilia's face faltered for a moment, and she looked down at her lap. Her hands fidgeted with the hem of her dress. "I'm… a little nervous. This is such a big responsibility. What if I say something wrong? Or what if the other candidates—"

"Whoa, whoa, hold it right there," Subaru interrupted, holding up a hand. She straightened up, her expression turning serious. "First of all, you're gonna crush it, okay? You've got this, Emilia-tan. You're smart, kind, and way more capable than you give yourself credit for."

Emilia glanced up at her, her violet eyes wide with surprise.

"Second," Subaru continued, leaning back with a playful smirk, "if any of those candidates try to mess with you, they'll have to deal with me. I might not be a real knight, but I've got the attitude down, and trust me, that's half the battle."

Puck snickered. "More like a quarter of the battle, but sure."

"Not helping, fluffball," Subaru shot back before turning her attention back to Emilia. "Seriously, Emilia-tan. You're not alone in this. You've got Puck, Roswaal, me, and even that grumpy Ram up front. We're all here to support you."

Emilia's lips curved into a small but genuine smile. "Thank you, Subaru. That means a lot to me."

"Anytime, boss lady," Subaru said with a wink.

From outside, Roswaal's distinctive voice broke the moment. "Ahem, if we're all ready, let us be off! The capital awaits, and we wouldn't want to be late for such an important occasion."

Subaru rolled her eyes. "Yeah, yeah, we're coming, clown man."

The carriage lurched forward as Otto urged the horses into motion. Rem waved from the estate gates, her figure growing smaller with each passing moment. Inside, the atmosphere was a mix of anticipation and nervous energy.

As the countryside rolled by outside the window, Subaru leaned back and crossed her arms, a determined glint in her eyes. She was ready for whatever challenges awaited them in the capital. For Emilia's sake, she would face them head-on, no matter what.

I will be posting chapters every day. Big chapters will be broken into 3 or 4 chapters, you can read it ahead by checking out the tips in my bio.

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