~Outside of the throne room~
As Subaru sat alone with the sun beaming down on him outside, the look of disbelief was still upon his face. If he stayed there any longer, he was going to cause Emilia more harm than good. No, that wasn't the only reason he was sitting outside right now.

"I couldn't stand Emilia's cold gaze anymore."

As Subaru was sitting alone he noticed a pair of guards walking by as it seemed that they had someone in custody. He overheard how they had an intruder in their clutches and how they wanted to speak with the captain on how to deal with him. When Subaru lifted his head, his eyes widen in shock with who he saw.

"Is the sight of a dirty, old man that rare? As expected of a typical noble."

"You watch your mouth!"

Subaru was surprised to see Rom act like this. That's when he realized what the man was doing. He was covering for Subaru by taking on this act, but there was more to it. As Rom's eyes were fixed on Subaru, he only had one question.

"Are Felt and Akira past here?"

Suddenly Rom elbowed the first guard that was holding him in his chin. Shortly afterwards, the second guard tried to thrust his spear at Rom. However, the old man simply used his handcuffs to catch the weapon as he lifted the guard up and then quickly slammed him onto the ground. Both guards were knocked out as Rom ran forward.

"Wait for me, Felt. You too, you rude brat."

~In the Throne Room~
It was currently Felt's turn to take the stage as Reinhard stood beside her. While he expected some people to ridicule Felt just because of her status, the knight was surprised to see that no one dared to interject. It seemed that Akira's earlier display still had a strong effect on them. Suddenly the doors to the throne room were being banged upon as everyone diverted their attention to them. Suddenly the doors were forced open as both Felt and Akira couldn't hide their shock.

"Rom/Old Man Rom!"

"Felt .....Akira ....."

"Now, capture him!"

As more knights gathered around and pinned him to the floor, Rom looked at both Felt and Akira. In his mind, he felt as if his worries were for nothing. Felt achieved her dream of leaving the slums, even Akira seemed a bit more lively now. Suddenly Felt turned her head towards Marcos as she tried to plead with the man.

"Hey, tell them to let go of Old Man Rom! He only came here because he was worried about me and-"

"I'm afraid I can't follow your orders. You stated yourself that you had no intentions of participating in the Royal Selection. As long as you have no intention of accepting our sword, you have no right to give us orders."

"I see, so that's how it is."

Her hair shadowed her eyes as Felt was walking closer to Rom. She was getting pissed at this situation, feeling her limit being reached. When she looked over at Akira, Felt could see it. Despite him trying his best to hold himself back, Akira's fists were clenched so tightly, you could see a small drop of blood escaping his hands. She could tell he wanted nothing more than to help Rom, but didn't do so because it would cause more harm to who he was with. Soon Rom lifted his head up as he looked at Felt.

"Felt, stop! Don't come over here! You don't need to worry about me! Your goal was to escape the slums, your happiness is in this world!"

"Not you too, Old Man Rom. Everyone keeps trying to push their insensible logic on me. Just like you said, I wanted to leave the slums. I hated it there but.....how can I be happy if I abandon my family!"

As Felt said this, she soon ordered the guards that were pinning Rom down to let him go. The guards didn't listen to her since she mentioned earlier about her not doing the royal selection, however two things happened that caused them to quickly comply. This first thing that caused them to listen was part of Felt's doing.

"I'll do it. I'll participate in the Royal Selection and aim to be king. So let Old Man Rom go!"

"Felt......."

Rom, Felt, and the guards felt a shiver down their spines. This was the second situation that caused the guards to release Rom in such a hurry. It was for a brief moment, but they felt it. An intense bloodlust, a bloodlust so ruthless yet hidden so well that it reminded them of a predator just hiding and waiting for the right moment to tear out the throat of its prey, when the guards looked over to where they felt it. All they were met with was the gaze of Akira as he was staring them down. However, the boy merely smirked as he faced foward the moment he saw that Rom was freed as he heard Felt's voice.

"Reinhard!"

"Yes, I'm at your command."

"Take those handcuffs off of Old Man Rom."

The moment Felt gave her order, Reinhard swiftly broke apart the handcuffs that held Rom captive with his bare hands. As he witnessed this, Miklotov asked Felt and Reinhard if he were to accept this as them taking part in the Royal Selection after all. The moment the two of them nodded their heads, Miklotov smiled as he stood up from his seat.

"Very well then. The five candidates have the right to become a Dragon Shrine Maiden! The election will be decided with the will of the people, by the brilliance of the insignias, and the guidance of the dragon! All candidates should try their best to help this country prosper from within their own territory until the day they succeed the throne!"

"I hereby declare the start of the Royal Selection!!!"

~A few minutes later~
"That's the situation, Subaru-kun. The Royal Selection has now started."

"Subaru-kyun. You're Emilia-sama's knight, aren't nya? Let's do our best. Though that white haired guy with you looks as if he has a good head on his shoulders. He just might be what nya need to help pull things to your favor."

Currently, Reinhard and Felix were standing before Subaru as they filled him in on the situation. Though internally, Reinhard felt a bit bad he couldn't convince Akira to come by as well. The white-haired boy denied it as two things were keeping him from doing so. The first being that Akira felt he was one of the people Subaru didn't need to see right now and his presence would only do more harm until he calmed down. The second reason was far more personal.

"I hope your talk goes well, Felt-sama."

"Forgive me for interrupting."

Subaru felt himself being filled with anger as he heard this voice. The moment he lifted his head, he saw Julius walking into the room. The brown-haired boy suddenly stood up as he walked up close to Julius with a look of pure malice forming upon his face.

"What the hell are you doing here?"

"I wish you wouldn't make such an unpleasant face. I didn't expect you to warmly welcome me, but if you take that attitude--"

"If I do, then what?!"

"The respectability of those in your company will come into question, do be careful. As for why I am in your presence, I came to see you of course. I'd like for you to come with me for a bit."

~Meanwhile~
Currently standing out of the throne room were Rom, Felt, and Akira as they decided to stay out for a while since they wanted some fresh air. As the three of them sat down, it was silent for a few seconds. However, it was soon broken as a long sigh escaped from Akira's lips.

"....just what the absolute hell have we gotten ourselves into! Literally after the incident, it's been one thing after another. If it wasn't for my natural hair color, I feel like my hair would change from all the damn stress!"

"I know how you feel Akira! The moment I woke up, I suddenly found out i'm a royal candidate. Then suddenly I get forced to learn manners and stuff. As if that wasn't enough, I had to wear a dress!!"

"How do you think I feel? I woke up in the knight barracks without so much as knowing where you two were. Then I see you two in the damn throne room with a bunch of nobles and knights! I almost felt my heart stop for a moment!"

Before they realized it, the trio began to laugh hysterically at what was going on. Despite how long it's been since they last saw each other, it only felt like just yesterday when they were all living under the same roof. As the laughing slowly died down, all three of them had one thing to say to each other.

"I'm glad you're safe."

While they were happy to see each other, Akira knew for a fact that Rom and Felt were having the same thought as him. As soon as they leave the castle, they'd most likely have to go their separate ways. Even though they just reunited, they would have to be split apart again. Soon Felt looked at Akira in the eyes with a serious expression on her face.

"Akira, I have something to ask you. I already know that if I take this selection seriously, then i'll need to gather people. I already know Old Man Rom's answer, but I need......no. I wanted to ask you first."

"What is it, Felt?"

"Akira, will you join my faction? If you do that, we can all be together again. It wasn't long, but it was the three of us against the world. Even if we argued alot, I still had a lot of fun. So...will you please join Rom and I?!"

~With Subaru~
Currently, Subaru was seen standing in the middle of a battleground as the imperial knights all watched him from within the stands. Julius was seen standing in front of Subaru as Reinhard was trying his best to talk his friend out of this as he saw the purple-haired man holding a wooden sword.

"Julius, you shouldn't do this. This isn't like you."

"He insulted us knights in front of the candidates to be our future ruler, and he made light of the chivalry we practice."

"I admit he said some things that went too far. But for such a matter, he need only be warned and corrected."

"No. This is not only my problem."

As Julius said this, he walked away from Reinhard as he was now standing before Subaru. While he lifts his right arm and held the wooden sword in the air, Julius looked around as he proceeded to carry out what he had planned.

"I hereby administer the death penalty to this insubordinate man who has sullied the knighthood's honor! Normally, you would've been cut down for your insolence. However, although involuntarily, you are Emilia-sama's attendant. Therefore, we'll settle this with wooden swords. Shall we begin, Natsuki Subaru?"

"Yeah. Don't expect me to hold back!"

The moment Subaru said this, he ran towards Julius with a wooden sword in hand. Just as he got close, the boy picked up some dirt and threw it forward in an effort to blind the knight. The moment the dirt was thrown, Julius was already in front of Subaru as he hit Subaru in the gut with his wooden sword. The self-proclaimed knight was sent flying backwards as he landed on his face. The moment Subaru lifted his head, blood was dripping from his nose as Julius held his wooden sword at him.

"It appears that you have no pride. What a simple, vulgar way to live."

The knights in the stands cheered as Subaru was on the receiving end of a one-sided beat down. However, Subaru didn't want to give up. He needed to prove himself. He needed to prove he was right. He needs to prove he has the right to stand by Emilia's side and make her the ruler. Yet, as he was being beaten mercilessly, a thought occured to him.

"If this were Akira, would he be beaten so pathetically? Would he be relentlessly beaten to a pulp like I am now? If it were Akira, would this fight even be happening? If it was Akira.....would they gladly accept him as Emilia's knight?"

~With Akira~
Right now, it was currently just Rom and Akira sitting next to each other as Felt was called to attend a meeting with the other Royal Candidates. Due to the interruption, Akira didn't get a chance to answer Felt's question. Yet all this did was leave Akira in even more conflict. Seeing this, Rom couldn't stay silent any longer.

"Do what you want."

"Huh?"

"You're worrying too much. About how your choice might hurt Felt and I, about how it might hurt that boy and the young lady from back then. Don't base your choice around what others might want. You're more than capable of making your own choices for your own sake. Just as Felt chose to be part of the Royal Selection, you can choose who you want to stay by. I'm sure even that brat won't rag on you for doing what you want."

"Excuse me, are you acquainted with Natsuki Subaru?"

Just as Rom finished speaking his mind to him, Akira heard someone else speaking to him. When he turned around, he saw that it was an imperial knight. Shaking his head in order to collect his thoughts, the white-haired boy spoke calmly to the knight.

"What happened?"

"Currently he is engaging in a mock battle with Sir Julius. From what I am told, it was Sir Julius who issued it and Natsuki Subaru agreed. The reason I came to you was because it was so one-side--"

"I'll head over there immediately. You let Emilia-sama know of the situation while i'm heading over to their location. With my ability, tracking him down should be no issue."

"Yes!"

As the knight was leaving to find Emilia, Rom could only look at Akira in amazement. He only knew him for three days, but it felt like the boy changed so much. No, that wasn't the correct way to see it. It was more accurate to say that Akira hasn't changed at all. He merely decided to reveal more of himself now. With a smile on his face, Rom only had one thing to say to Akira.

"I'm proud of how you truly turned out to be, ya damn brat."

"Oi....why are you being gross all of a sudden? Don't tell me something like that after Felt asked me to join her."

If one could look at Akira's face, they could see tears threatening to fall from his eyes. It was just one damn sentence. One simple word of praise and acknowledgement, yet here he was getting emotional. When he turned towards Rom, Akira's eyes were closed as a grin was seen plastered over his face.

"You're only making it harder for me to go on if you praise me like that, you old man."

"Heh. Sorry, do what you have to do, Akira."

"...I will. Thanks for everything, Rom."

~With Subaru~
The cheers of the knights turned into silence. Their gaze of hostility turned into ones of pity. The sound of a wooden sword bashing against a weak body echoed throughout the stadium. As Subaru was being beaten, Julius didn't break eye contact with the boy a single time as he himself suffered no injuries.

"Why don't you admit that you've reached your limit? I'm sure you've realized now to a painful extent just what the knights that you insulted and made light of are really capable of doing."

As he swung his sword once more, Julius saw Subaru slowly getting back up as the boy was coughing up blood. While this happened, Julius felt something off. Something was heading towards this area. There was very few things that could make him feel this way, but right now, Julius felt on guard. Something dangerous was heading this way, but his eyes turned back to Subaru.

"I believe continuing this any further will endanger your life."

"Damn it. I'll break that nose of yours. I'll crush you."

"That's enough, don't you think?"

Both Subaru and Julius' eyes widen with shock as they heard this familiar voice. Soon all the imperial knights in the area turned towards the source of this voice as he was walking into the pit. With his hands in his pockets and his eyes shadowed by his hair, Suzushima Akira made his presence known.

"Suzushima Akira."

"Now's my chance!"

Taking this brief moment of distraction, Subaru ran towards Julius with a vicious smile on his face and an evil glint in his eyes. Just as Subaru got close to Julius, he held up his sword as this was his last ditch effort.

"I told you i'll break that nose of yours, Julius!!!!"

"Subaru-kun, don't!"

"Shamak!"

"So this was your trump card? Such low level magic will only work on unintelligent beasts."

Just as Julius said this, he rushed towards Subaru as he struck the boy in his gut and sent him flying into the air. While Subaru was sent flying, he opened his eyes for a brief moment. The moment he did, all he could see was the pained expression of Emilia's face. Due to how rash he was acting, he didn't even notice it was Emilia trying to stop him. As his body hit the ground, Subaru saw Julius walking towards him.

"You are irredeemably powerless. You aren't worthy of standing by her side."

Just as Julius was about to bring down his sword once more, he was shocked by what happened next. Akira was suddenly standing in front of him, but the sword didn't even touch him. The moment Julius' wooden sword was swung at Akira, the sword was instantly reduced to splinters as Julius was sent flying back. The knight felt his hand shaking from that moment and could only watch as Akira was picking up Subaru and walking away.

"Tell me, why didn't you try to help him during his duel with me?"

"Subaru had a chance to back out of this. He choose to stay and fight a pointless duel and got this result. He even went as far as breaking a promise he made just to satisfy his own ego. I had no intention of bailing him out of trouble that he caused. If he was prepared to risk it all, he should've been prepared to lose it all as well. But, I have one thing I would like to say to you. In the throne room, you believe weakness is something to be ashamed of. Do you still believe that?"

"Yes, weakness is something to be ashamed of. It isn't something to be proud of."

"I see. I'll take this idiot back with me and Emilia. Though if you want my opinion, there's no shame in being weak. But choosing to stay weak is another story."

"Suzushima Akira, are you Emilia-sama's true knight?"

"I doubt it. I just don't have what it takes to be something that grand. I already let one person die because of my incompetence, I simply just don't want to make the same mistake again. If you're a knight because you wield your sword for someone else, then I guess i'm just a villain who wields the sword for himself. Whether it saves someone or not can be chalked up to mere circumstances."

~Evening~
"Thank you for bringing him back, Akira-kun."

"I don't need your thanks. Someone had to pick him up anyways, so I saved us all the trouble."

Currently, Emilia and Akira were seen talking in the hallway of the castle while Subaru was recovering from his fight. Apparently, Emilia formed a contract with Crusch so that Subaru could stay her mansion until his healing was complete. However, she still had something she wanted to talk to him about and she was currently asking Akira about something.

"Akira-kun. I've decided to return with Roswaal back to the manor tomorrow. I'd like for you and Rem to stay in the Royal Capital with Subaru at the Karsten Mansion to watch over him as he's treated by Ferris."

"So I have to play babysitter, huh. Fine then, I guess someone has to keep him from digging an even bigger hole."

"Thank you, Akira-kun. Not only for this, but also for helping me prepare for toda-"

"I didn't do shit to help you today, Emilia. You stood up on that stage and made your resolve known. It was your own efforts that got you this far, simple as that."

"I see, but still, thank you. I'm going to go chat with Subaru-kun, so can you please wait out here."

After simply nodding his head, Akira leaned against a wall as Emilia was heading inside the room Subaru was currently in. However, Akira merely looked to the side as he saw someone walking towards him. A scowl was slowly starting to form on his face when he found out who it was.

"I was just considering trying to find you. Glad you saved me the trouble. Care to have a chat, Roswaal?"

"Oh myyyyyyyy. To think that Akira-kun would waaaaaaaaant to speak with me personally. But to think that not only you, but Suuuuuuubaru-kun managed to attend the roy-"

"Both Rem and Ram were at the manor. They can quite easily overpower Subaru and force him to stay, especially if you're the one who ordered them too. Yet Subaru somehow managed to slip by both of them. Roswaal, you ordered them to not get in Subaru's way of coming to the castle, didn't you?"

The two of them were silent for a brief moment. Their eyes locked onto each other as they were trying to figure each other out. Soon, Roswaal simply smiled as he nodded his head. Soon he began to chuckle as he decided to break the silence.

"It's true. Though it seems lady luck was aaaaaalso on my side by having you here, Akira-kun. Despite your attitude, you know when to play your cards right and you're highly intelligent. If Subaru were to make a mistake, you would know exactly how to clean it up. In the eyes of others, they won't question Emilia's knight status and her chances of succeeding the throne increase. One candidate has Reinhard van Astrea as a knight, another possessed Julius as hers, what Emilia-san needs is someone she trusts of their caliber. She needs someone who's presence can bring more to the table, her own Reinhard and Julius. A powerhouse that can shake the tides. What you did today proved just that."

"So you wanted Subaru to screw up, because you knew I would only step in when necessary. And by doing so, I basically made everyone believe I was a candidate for being her knight, even if by name only. Roswaal, you really know how to piss me off."

"Caaaaalm yourself. I didn't expect you to enjoy this, that's why I prepared a special rewaaaaaard for you. The book you selected from my library, you're having trouble to fully understand it. Well, there's a way to do so. You see, that book didn't originally belong to my library. Rather, it was taken and stored amongst the library. The person who stole the book and placed it in the library, if you learn more about him and who he took it from, it may shed some liiiiight on your study. While I don't know who the original owner was, I do know the person who took it deeply despised him."

".......fine then, i'll bite. Who was it that brought it to your library?"

"A man so deeply drowned in taboo, he couldn't even receive the name of Roswaal. The Black Sheep of the Mathers household......."

"......Samuel Liddell MacGregor Mathers."