(A/N: When your readers are disturbing you, upload a short chap and say 'You all deserve a short chap' and then watch them erupt like firecrackers on Diwali)
...
3rd Person POV
"I am the Sin Archbishop, Representing—Pride! Zero!" Subaru declared, his voice unwavering, loud and clear.
Rem and Ram's expressions twisted in absolute shock, their eyes wide with disbelief.
(A/N: Damn, I always thought Pride Subaru was cool asf.)
Even Emilia was taken aback, her mouth slightly agape. "W-What are you saying, Zero?!"
"You're claiming you're part of the Witch Cult?!" Ram shouted, her tone caught between horror and confusion. Rem, anwhile, stood frozen, a whirlwind of thoughts crashing through her head. Had she been right all along?
Even Roswaal looked genuinely surprised, the grin usually glued to his face faltering for a split second.
"Does Betty look like an idiot to you?" Beatrice snapped sharply, her small arms crossed over her chest. "I can clearly sense that the red-haired woman standing beside you is the current Sword Saint. Why would soone of her stature protect a Witch Cultist?"
Rem gasped, the revelation hitting her like a bolt. "S-She's the Sword Saint?!"
"Exactly," Subaru said, staring directly at her. "Isn't that what you thought of , Rem? Just a filthy Witch Cultist?"
He turned to Reina. "So tell , Reina—am I part of the Witch Cult?"
Reina smiled gently and shook her head with quiet certainty. "I swear upon the na Reina Van Astrea—Lord Zero has told a deliberate lie. He is not, and never has been, associated with the Witch Cult."
"That's impossible!" Rem shouted, trembling. "He must be controlling her sohow!"
Subaru threw his head back and laughed. "Oh? So now I have the power to control the strongest Sword Saint in the kingdom? If that were true, I'd already be sitting on the throne."
Rem opened her mouth to argue, but no words ca out. She couldn't refute the logic. She couldn't even comprehend it.
"Rem!" Subaru snapped suddenly. "Wisdom has always chased after you—but sohow, you've always been faster!"
Reina's eyes sparkled with admiration as she chuckled. "That was a great one, Lord Zero!"
"W-Wait! What's that supposed to an?!" Rem demanded, her face red with embarrassnt and frustration.
Ram and Roswaal both twitched at the sa ti, visibly annoyed. Emilia blinked in confusion, tilting her head, clearly lost.
"He's calling you stupid, sister," Ram said dryly with a sigh.
Rem flushed harder, humiliated yet again. This ti, however, the playful air disappeared.
Reina's smile faded into a serious, icy expression. Her golden eyes locked onto Roswaal.
"So, Roswaal," she said coldly. "Your maid attempted to assassinate Lord Zero. I'd like to hear how you plan to deal with this."
Roswaal's face turned pale. Sweat began to bead at his temples. 'This... this wasn't in the book!'
This wasn't supposed to happen. Reina was supposed to be preoccupied with Felt. Subaru was supposed to die—again and again—win Rem's favor through suffering and heroics, and slowly grow stronger. He wasn't supposed to be this... confident. And he certainly wasn't supposed to have the Sword Saint by his side.
Roswaal grit his teeth. Still, he had to play along. He couldn't risk derailing the future entirely.
"Well, I'm still a bit shooort on the details," he said slowly. "Would you be so kind as to explain everything?"
Subaru nodded calmly and began to recount the series of events that led to this mont. He explained Rem's attack, the false accusation, and how it all unraveled. Reina corroborated his words, her voice calm but firm.
When it ca ti for Rem to share her side, it quickly beca clear to everyone that she was in the wrong.
"Rem! Why would you do that?!" Ram scolded, glaring at her twin. "Didn't Master tell us to treat him with the utmost honor?"
Ram had harbored her doubts about Zero as well, but not to the point of attempted murder. If Rem had succeeded, she might've helped cover it up—but not now. Now she needed to step away from the consequences. Let Rem deal with them.
"You tried to kill Zero? Just because you thought he was a Witch Cultist?" Emilia asked, her voice cracking slightly. "Then... would you try to kill , too? Just because I look like her?"
Rem froze, her mouth trembling. "I-I wouldn't do that, Lady Emilia!"
"Don't give that!" Emilia snapped back. "It's the sa thing! You attacked him just because of miasma—just like people judge because of my face!"
Rem's voice died in her throat. The truth had hit her harder than any spell. She had wanted to justify her actions, but now all she saw was guilt.
"Rem!" Emilia said, her voice sharp. "Apologize to Zero!"
Rem gulped, her hands clenched into trembling fists. She couldn't look Subaru in the eye.
"A simple apology won't suffice," Reina interrupted coldly. Her voice was low, dangerous. "Lord Roswaal—what is your verdict?"
Roswaal's grin cracked. "Rem, from this mont on... you are banished from the Mathers estate. Do not show your face here again."
Rem's legs gave out. Her entire body shook.
"B-But Lord Roswaal!" Ram cried out, stepping forward, but she was stopped cold by his harsh glare.
She bit her lip and looked away. She couldn't save her sister this ti.
Rem's eyes filled with horror. Her lips trembled. "B-Banished…?"
"For attempted murder, she should be executed," Reina said flatly.
"No!" Ram shouted instantly, stepping in front of her sister.
But Reina's glare made her flinch.
"If that is your will, Miss Reina," Roswaal said with a grim tone, "then Rem shall be executed."
Rem's head bowed low. She bit her lower lip until blood ran down her chin.
Ram, tears in her eyes, rushed forward and dropped to her knees in front of Subaru. "S-Sir—No, Lord Zero! Please, I beg you! Spare my sister's life!"
Emilia followed suit, her voice wavering. "Miss Reina! Isn't that too much? Can't she just apologize and accept punishnt?"
She didn't like the maids much, but even she couldn't stomach watching soone be sentenced to death like this.
Subaru turned to Emilia. "Let ask you, Emilia—what would Puck do if soone tried to kill you, just because you looked like the Witch?"
Emilia went still. Her entire body trembled. "H-He'd kill them without hesitation."
Subaru gave a slow nod, then looked at Rem. Her eyes t her sister's, watery and resigned.
"Sister... don't beg. What I did is unforgivable," she whispered. "I'll accept whatever cos."
Before anyone else could speak, Subaru stepped forward.
"I've made my decision," he said calmly. "I won't execute Rem—and I won't banish her either."
Ram gasped, eyes wide. Even Rem looked stunned.
"I believe in second chances. For those willing to change. But if she does anything like this again—I won't be so forgiving."
Both sisters stared at him in disbelief, their faces slowly filling with gratitude.
Reina, standing behind him, smiled softly. 'Lord Zero is far too kind… for a world like this.'
Roswaal forced a grin. "I am gratefuuuul, Zerooo, for your rcy toward Rem."
"However," Subaru added, turning slightly. "I do have a punishnt in mind."
Roswaal tilted his head, curious. "Ooooh? Do tell."
"For the next three months, Rem will serve as my personal maid. Exclusively. All tasks, duties—everything. Only for ."
The forced smile on Roswaal's face twitched and faded.
Ram gave Subaru a suspicious glare. Was this so kind of punishnt or a personal fantasy?
Before she could speak, Subaru raised a hand. "No need to worry. I won't ask for anything indecent. I find coercion disgusting."
Reina nodded approvingly. "Lord Zero speaks nothing but the truth."
Ram relaxed a little. Guilt nibbled at her for doubting him, but she said nothing.
"Hmph! If everything's been resolved, Betty shall return to her library, I suppose!" Beatrice huffed, disappearing into a swirl of mana.
Emilia let out a soft breath of relief and gave Subaru a small, appreciative smile.
(A/N: Emilia is too kind and innocent for this world.)
"So, Lord Roswaal," Subaru said, a smirk curling at his lips. "Satisfied?"
Roswaal didn't reply. His face remained frozen, as he wondered what fresh chaos was coming next.
Suddenly, Reina stepped forward, drawing everyone's attention.
"Ahem! Before we end this," she said, "there is one thing I wish to clarify."
Subaru looked at her, puzzled. "What is it?"
She looked at him seriously. "Why do you ask to call you Lord Zero? There's no need for such formality."
"It is only right," she said, eyes unwavering, "that I address my future lord with proper respect."
Then, to everyone's shock, she bent down on one knee.
"Lord Zero, I, Reina Van Astrea, hereby offer myself as your knight."
Gasps rippled through the group—even Roswaal's eyes widened.
"W-What are you saying, Reina?!" Subaru asked, stunned.
She looked up at him with a soft smile. "As I said, Lord Zero—I wish to serve as your knight. That is my choice."
She had spoken. Her loyalty was no longer a question.
She had made her choice.
To be continued…
(A/N: Another reason I wasn't using AI before was because it made chapters shorter. But, well, this turned out longer—and better. You all deserve proper chapters.
EDITED NOTE: IT IS BIGGER NOW)
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