"Huh, I have to stay here tomorrow?!"

It was currently nighttime after the incident in the alleyway as Emilia, Rem, Akira, and Subaru were all in Subaru's room. Currently, Emilia told the brown-haired boy that he had to stay here tomorrow since that was the day an important summons regarding the Royal Selection was happening. Seeing the boy's expression, Emilia decided to remind Subaru of what he forgot.

"The reason I brought you to the Royal Capital was for you to get your body healed and to check up on people, wasn't that our promise."

"R-Rem, Kira Kira, back me up."

"I have to agree with Emilia-sama on this one."

"Emilia already kept her promise to you. She brought you to the capital to check up on people and she even got your body healed. As for Felt and Rom, i'm sure she'll ask Reinhard tomorrow. Since the Royal Selection is an important matter, i'm positive the knights will show up."

Despite his feelings, Akira knew he had to think logically. He wants to know as soon as possible how Felt and Rom were doing, but he knew he couldn't act rashly. Whether he liked it or not, he was involved with someone in a political matter. Since he's living with Emilia, he can't act rashly and let his personal feelings cloud his judgement. Any negative effects on Emilia's name could damage the name of the manor as well. While Akira was thinking this, Subaru couldn't help but clench his hands as he thought to himself.

"Emilia hasn't trusted me since the incident yesterday. It's so vexing."

"Subaru, I won't ask for much. Please, give me reason to trust you."

As Emilia said this, she held Subaru's hands as she looked at the boy with concern. The boy's eyes widen in shock with the sudden action as he felt his face heating up. Soon he shook his head as he looked Emilia in the eyes as he spoke what was on his mind.

"I-I know. I live as if to always answer your expectations!"

Akira's eyes twitched when hearing these words from Subaru. Just as he saw Emilia leaving the room and heading off to bed, the white-haired boy looked at his fellow native of Japan. Taking a look at the maid that was still here, Akira soon turned his gaze at the blue-haired oni.

"Hey, Rem, could you give Subaru and I some time alone. I promise, it will be quick."

"....as you wish, Akira-san."

Nodding her head at the boy's words, Rem began to walk out of the room. Now it was only Subaru and Akira in the room as the two boys were silent for a few seconds. When the white-haired boy looked at Subaru, he noticed how tense he was and decided to speak up.

"If you're that worried about Emilia, you can ease up a bit. I'm positive the knights will be there for the Royal Selection. This also means Reinhard will be there, her safety may as well be guaranteed."

"It's not about the security. I don't like not being with her when something important is happening. I want to protect, Emilia. I know there are people in the capital that are hostile towards her. There will definitely come a time when she'll need my help. However.... I don't know when that'll be. That's why I want to be with Emilia during these troubled times!"

"Subaru, are you positive you're saying all of this for Emilia's sake?"

It was one simple question. There was no malice or ill-intent behind it. Yet Subaru felt as if something inside of him slightly cracked. He was positive he was doing this for Emilia's sake, yet it didn't feel like Akira was wrong either. With an angry look on his face, Subaru suddenly snapped at Akira.

"What are you talking about Kira Kira? Obviously i'm doing this for Emilia-tan's sake! You know how hostile people are towards her, she needs-"

"Emilia isn't as helpless as you think. Even before we came into the picture, she managed to survive well enough on her own and she has Puck watching over her too. If she's as helpless as you make her out to be, she would've already died years ago."

"THAT'S NOT THE POINT, AKIRA! I want to be by her side and protect her! You wouldn't understand because you don't want to protect her like I do! If you want me to back off how about giving me your power then so I can sleep well knowing I can actually protect her!"

".......Emilia wants you to give her a reason to trust you. That's all she's asking from you. Yet you choose to act like this instead for your own sense of self satisfaction while trying to play hero. "Shut up and do as I say", you claim you want to protect her but that's all i'm hearing from you. Let me give you one piece of advice, Subaru. Living to meet someone else's expectations.... it'll kill faster than you can save anyone."

As Akira said this, he left Subaru's room with a frown on his face. Living as if to answer someone else's expectations, he wasn't going to make that mistake again with the new life he was given. However, just as he doesn't care to know about Subaru's background, Akira knew the boy wouldn't care about his. That's why he refrained himself from saying anything else. He didn't owe Subaru a thing to explain himself. He gave him a warning and it was up to Subaru to take it to heart or throw caution to the wind.

"Honestly, i'm starting to think I care too much about that idiot. Just like a kid loses their ability to be independent when spoiled, he'll lose what braincells he has left if I give him all the answers. If he wants Emilia to trust him, he just needs to trust in her. But with the way he's acting now......he'll do something he'll regret. Just like I did with Ayu."

~The next day~
It was finally the fateful day. Roswaal and Emilia had already left for the castle as Subaru was still inside of the manor. As for Akira, he was currently in the Royal Capital as he kept trying to find Rom. He knew Reinhard would most likely be at the castle for the Royal Selection and if his theory was correct, Felt might be there too. However, he wasn't heading there for several reasons.

"For one, i'm basically an outsider. Me showing up unannounced would not only draw unwanted attention to me, but it might also harm Emilia's chances if they find out my affiliation with her after crashing an important ceremony."

"You kept me waiting, my brother. Looks like the other one isn't here yet?"

As Akira heard this voice he turned around and saw Al standing before him. While the white-haired boy looked at the man, he felt something off about him. While he couldn't put his finger on it, he decided to address the issue laid out before him.

"What exactly do you mean by kept you waiting?"

"The princess and I are actually headed to the castle. She has a hunch that your friend may want to go to the castle and is willing to assist with that."

"Knowing that idiot, he definitely will. For someone who claims to do something for someone else's sake, he sure does ignore the feelings of said person he claims to protect. But what does Subaru entering the castle have to do with me?"

"I don't know. The princess simply wanted you both with her. We'll find out what she wants on the way, but what if I told you I have some information you might be intrigued by."

"What could you possibly know that will intrigue m-"

"You're not from this world either, are you, Akira?"

The air grew tense as those words escaped from Al's lips. Akira could be seen glaring at the man in front of him as he could feel the smirk on Al's face from behind his helmet. He knew Akira wouldn't pass up a chance to learn more about someone who was in the same situation as both himself and Subaru.

"If I go with you and my presence causes trouble, it'll be on you and that blondie for inviting an outsider to the castle. Those are my conditions for going along with you bastards. If you don't like that, i'll simply just leave right now."

"Fair enough. This is one of her whims after all, so it makes sense some don't want to be apart of it without a backup plan. Anyways, follow me."

As Al said this, Akira began to follow the man towards the carriage where the woman that Al served was waiting. If he had to describe her transportation, flashy would be the first word that comes to mind. A red, dragon carriage with yellow and black accents upon it as it had wings attached to the back of it. The moment Al opened the door, Akira stepped inside of the carriage as he was now gazing at the blonde haired woman he met yesterday.

"You've made me wait long enough. Your insolence will cost you."

"That implies I give a damn about wasting your time to begin with. I didn't come here for you, so don't go flattering yourself."

"You say that, but I wanted you in this carriage to begin with. Even if your intention wasn't directly associated with me, I still got what I wanted in the end. As I said the other day, the world works to turn everything into my favor."

"Hopefully the world does everyone else a favor and teaches you how to stop rambling."

While the two of them were sitting across from each other, Al sat next to the woman as both of them looked at Akira. Truth be told, Al was a bit wary of Akira. Unlike Subaru, Akira was smart and far less easy to fool. Not to mention, his ability was unlike anything he had ever seen. Meanwhile, Akira looked at Al and the woman in front of him with an analytical gaze. While he was sure this woman only brought him here for her amusement, both him and Al had the same thing in mind. To squeeze any information they can from the other. Soon the silence was broken as the young woman spoke up

"By the way, peasant, do you know why this dragon carriage is heading to the castle? If you were only caught up by what was in front of your eyes than you would be a fool. I can't afford to keep fools in my carriage, so i'll have you cut down should you answer wrong. Now, do answer carefully."

"It's one of those answer correctly or you're dropped situations, isn't it? You're heading to the castle and a summons regarding the Royal Selection is about to start, only an idiot couldn't piece it together. You're most likely one of the candidates chosen to participate in the race for the throne as Lugunica's forty-second ruler. This also means tin-head over there is your knight, considering he seems to know much about you and played your babysitter yesterday."

"You got it right, brother! This lady here is one of the candidates to become ruler of Lugunica, Priscilla Barielle."

"It seems your sharp mind prevented you from being cut down."

Prideful, no other word fits Priscilla perfectly like that word did. Akira could tell from their first meeting, this young woman was arrogant, proud, and absurd. Though he did respect the woman in one regard. She had faith in her own abilities and knew her worth, carrying herself according to her own ego. That was something he failed to do in his own world, which caused him to be miserable in the end. But this wasn't the time for any reminiscing.

"Considering your status, I assume you already know who i'm acquainted with since you met her yesterday. Isn't that right, Priscilla?"

"Of course. She seemed to be hiding it with a miserable piece of cloth. It suits her to hide herself on the edge of the streets. It was quite the sight."

"Riling me up isn't gonna do you any favors. Plus i'm smart enough to know whether to take the bait or not. Just like I did, that girl that you say was hiding in miserable cloth might interest you because she has something you don't."

"Oh, then enlighten me. What may that be?"

"She has me backing her up and doesn't need to try so hard just to get my attention, you damn peasant."

The sound of steel breaking apart was heard inside of the carriage. Al and Priscilla could only look in a bit of shock with what happened. Just as Akira finished his sentence, Al drew his sword but the blade shattered before it could even so much as get close to Akira. With a smirk on his face, Akira leaned his head onto the palm of his right hand as he looked at Priscilla.

"Now then, let's stop the childish talk and get down to business. I did what you wanted, so now it's your turn. Entertain me unless you both want to be the ones who get cut down instead, your highness?"