Chapter Text
Chapter 13: Uninvited Guest.
The door slid open with a satisfying sliding sound. The inside looked bright white at first. She blinked and everything was visible again. Gathered there around the table were familiar faces. Some faces she had known for years and forged deep bonds with, and some she knew for a few moments, but could die for.
Her eyes immediately caught the faces of everyone in the room- Anastasia, Julius, Emilia, Beatrice, Otto, Joshua, and her Subaru. He hadn't noticed her yet, he was engrossed in a conversation with his contracted spirit.
Then Felt declared their presence in the room. “Yo! Thanks for the invitation you greedy merchant.” Felt yelled loudly with a confident smile.
That redirected everyone's attention to the door. All eyes were on them. “Welcome! You are right on time, come have a seat with us.” Anastasia said with invitation.
Then Subaru's voice called out to Felt. “Oh Felt! It's been so long- wait not that long just a few days.” He snickered with a grin.
Subaru was too distracted with Felt's arrival that he didn't even see the Sword Saintess next to her.
But that can't be said for the other people in the room. Their eyes had been staring at Adelheid since she entered the room. The intensity in the air had doubled- no tripled since her arrival. She exerted so much pressure that even Julius shifted in his seat.
‘Oh Od, who in the world is that lady? Her aura rivals the intensity of Reinhard's.’ Julius thought as he looked at the woman. Then his eyes drifted down to her waist.
His eyes went lower and then they widened in shock. ‘What! That's.... I might have to question this individual after the pleasantries are over.’ He thought and maintained a straight face.
“Yeah big bro just a few days ago remember...” Felt said with an anxious smile. She noticed Julius from the corner of her ruby eyes.
“I don't see Reinhard here- oh and Adelheid-San is here as well?” Subaru said his eyes drifting off to the redhead standing next to the blonde gremlin.
‘Adelheid? Hmm noted.’ Julius noted down the name of this mysterious individual. ‘Subaru seems to be affiliated with her.’ He thought.
“Ah, Subaru who's Adelheid?” Emilia asked the nasty eyed boy with confusion as she had never heard that name.
“Emilia-Tan how could you forget so soon! Remember a few days ago I told you about Reinhard's sister. She visited us along with Felt a few days ago at night.” His words kicked the air out of the lungs of Julius and a few others.
‘Reinhard has a sister?!’ Julius's eyes widened even more, a little bit of shock was showing on his face but he maintained his composure.
“Ohhh I remember now. Nice to meet you Adelheid-San.” Emilia greeted the lady who bowed in return.
“It's my pleasure Lady Emilia.” The so called sister of the Sword Saint said.
Julius's thoughts were tangled, he looked around and his eyes landed on one individual. A certain bum genius of a merchant who sitting modestly with his eyes cast down. His body language screamed suspicious. ‘Otto Suwen was it... Member of Emilia Camp. He might be related.’ The violet haired knight caught on.
“I don't recall the Sword Saint having a sis...” Anastasia addressed the elephant in the room nonchalantly with a sly smile. Felt and her knight froze.
“Betty doesn't think that the Sword Saint ever had a sister.” Beatrice rolled her eyes and looked the Sword Saintess right in the eyes. Felt's jaw tightened at the words.
Then the Great Spirit's butterfly eyes lowered to the woman's waist. “Betty does not recall there existing two legendary dragon swords, I suppose.” Beatrice said with eyes stuck on the one and only dragon sword which belongs to the Sword Saint.
Subaru looked at the sword as well. “That belongs to Reinhard doesn't it... As much I know him, he doesn't just hand out world ending weapons to people.” He said.
‘Fuck! Fuck! FUCK! This is bad, so bad! The situation is going out of control before we even started.’ Felt thought with darting eyes trying to think of something to gain ground.
Then Julius stood up, posture perfect. “Lady Felt may I ask who is Miss Adelheid. Nobody present here seems to have any clue about a sister of the Sword Saintess.” He said and side eyed Otto who just shrunk back into his seat. “And secondly, why does she possess the legendary Dragon Sword, everyone here knows it's rightful owner is Reinhard Van Astrea.” He said and most of the people nodded their head in unison all eyes on the two. “Lastly, where is Reinhard Van Astrea. I do not particularly know about others but I haven't met him for a while and it is unusual for him, because he is not the avoidant type to his friends.” That was the last question. The redhead's mind went blank from stress.
Felt sighed. ‘I guess we can't even make ourselves comfortable first huh?’ She thought and then replied loudly with confidence. “I thought the finest of knights would be less direct than tis'. But fine I will tell y'all the truth... Just calm down first and listen- don't y'all dare utter a single word.”
“Please enlighten us Lady Felt. We are all awaiting your answer.” Julius said politely.
“It's related to big bro sitting over there.” Felt pointed out to the nasty eyed boy who just gave an innocent look.
“How's it related to Subaru. Do you know anything about this Subaru?” Emilia said to Subaru who just shook his head. “No I don't know have a clue of what's going on.” He replied to her.
Otto sitting next to Emilia shuddered as Felt's words boomed out into the room. ‘Oh no.... are they really doing it.’ He thought.
Julius then answered back to Felt. “It's related to Natsuki-San?” He said with doubt. “Do you know anything about this?” He asked looking at Subaru's direction.
Subaru cringed and shook his head vigorously. “Hell no, I don't know anything about what's going on!” He stated.
There was a long uncomfortable silence which stretched out after this. Subaru still looked disdainfully at the knight as he usually does. Anastasia was very invested in whatever was going. She took a sip of her tea and put the cup back down which made a sharp clinky noise. “So ya two gonna just admire each other or....?” She said teasingly making the two break their eye contact.
Julius coughed and tried to save himself from embarrassment. “Ahem, so Lady Felt you are free to continue. Please go ahead.” He instructed politely.
Felt was about to open her mouth but was stopped by a white sleeved hand on her shoulder. She turned her head to see Reinhard with a pleading look. “Lady Felt let me handle it, you take your seat and rest.”
“But I ca- you know what I believe in you. Go get your point across the board.” Felt said with a smile. Reinhard's face lit and she whispered a “Thank you for making this easy for me.” to Felt.
Felt then turned towards the knight in violet. “Let her explain this shit, I'm going to take a seat.” Felt walked past Julius and sat down next to Subaru who scooted to the side and made space for her.
Now that Felt was settled, every eye was on the crimson haired girl with the legendary dragon sword around her waist. She seemed to easily carry it, just like the tension of the entire room on her shoulders.
Julius's violet eyes bored right into her soul, he was gifted in every aspect. The Sword Saintess swore she would've been intimidated if she hadn't been prepared earlier.
Anastasia watched her with great interest. She was observing every little action being made.
Emilia wore an expression which was a mix of confusion and worry. She really didn't get what was happening.
Otto had shrunked in size, his hands folded into his lap and his gaze was downcast. He had beads of sweat on his forehead.
Subaru and Beatrice were sitting next to each other. Beatrice had shifted to the middle between Felt and Subaru after the ex slum dweller made herself comfortable. She was holding onto Subaru's hand, and ready to cast a spell with the other. Those butterfly eyes of her were locked on the red haired woman. Subaru held a neutral expression. He didn't want to jump to conclusions.
Joshua was watching with great interest and held a somewhat giddy feeling in his chest. He was seeing his elder brother's skills in action with a first row seat.
Felt had a determined expression. She expected the best from her useless knight. If she failed to deliver now, then it would all prove to be in vain.
She took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. Then after opening her eyes she looked first at Subaru and her expression turned determined. She was going to get her point across the board. She began. “The truth is... I'm Reinhard Van Astrea. The Sword Saint of Lugunica now Sword Saintess. The successor of the Astrea Bloodline. Descendant of Reid. Wielder of the Legendary Dragon Sword. The knight of Lady Felt and this knight has a dream...” Pause. “I want to court Natsuki Subaru, the contractor of the Great Spirit of Yin, the knight of Lady Emilia, the liberator of the Sanctuary, the slayer of the White Whale and the Great Rabbit and... The one who triumphed over my heart.”
Everyone's exoression had already gone through a thousand expressions at her confession. Nobody dared to utter a single word through the entirety of her speech. They couldn't believe their ears.
Anastasia snorted. “Ahem, are my ears deceiving me? What did I just hear...” She said.
“Rei-Reinhard-San ? Is that you, what happened...” Emilia said hands flying over to her mouth in shock.
“Betty had a hunch this was the Sword Saint and Betty was indeed right.” Beatrice said with a calculating expression as she tightened her grip on Subaru's hand. She didn't like the prospect of her contractor getting courted yet. Not against his will. She saw insanity and obssession in the depths of her eyes. She wouldn't hand him to anyone- not even the Sword Saint or Sword Saintess.
Otto's frame trembled within every single word. ‘Oh no no no no no.... They are going to find out about me too....’ His nails dug into his palm marking small cresents.
Julius didn't utter a single word yet. Though his face spoke volumes. He knew she wasn't done speaking yet so he chose to keep his silence.
The main subject of the speech was dumbfounded. He didn't process anything after the courting part. “Huh?... Wait wait wait WHAT!” He yelled after realizing what her words meant.
She looked at Subaru with a warm expression and eyes filled with devotion and love. “Subaru... I-”
“Just when I thought you couldn't possibly dissapoint me any further.” The stench of cheap booze filled the room. Reinhard froze and halted mid sentence. She knew that voice...
To be continued...