Subaru , Emilia and Beatrice conversation comes to and end.
They all decided to go to sleep and rest.
It was an exhausting day.
Subaru collapsed onto his bed, exhaustion claiming him after the chaos of the day. Emilia, after a long pause at her door her mind burdened with thoughts she couldn't yet voice retreated into her room.
But Beatrice… Beatrice did not stay.
She moved through the corridors, her steps light.
She reached the exit and stepped outside.
The hotel gardens were bathed in silver, the moonlight stretching across the petals of flowers.
She stood there, waiting.
And then, as if she had been there all along, she appeared.
Platinum hair shimmered in the moonlight, untouched by the wind. Dark blue eyes glowed with unnatural calm, their depths unfathomable. A serene, gentle smile adorned her lips.
Pandora. The Witch of Vainglory.
Beatrice did not flinch, did not react, did not even blink. She simply gazed at her with hollow, vacant eyes. The warmth of emotion had long since left them.
Pandora's smile did not waver. "You've done well, little one."
Beatrice's lips parted, but no words came.
There was nothing left to say.
But still, after a long silence, she whispered, "I… convinced him.i suppose"
Pandora took a step closer, her presence suffocating despite her delicate frame. "Of course you did. That is why you are here."
Beatrice stared at the ground, her fingers trembling at her sides. "You won't… hurt him now, will you,I suppose?"
Pandora tilted her head, feigning curiosity. "Hurt him? Now, now, what a strange thing to ask."
Beatrice's voice was hoarse, yet brittle. "I did what you asked. I convinced him. I followed your orders." Her breath hitched as she forced out the words. "So promise me… you won't harm Subaru.You won't harm betty contractor, Infact"
The witch let out a soft, amused sigh, as though a mother indulging the foolish worries of a child.
"I have no reason to harm him, dear Beatrice." Pandora's voice was soothing, almost affectionate. "He is… valuable."
Beatrice squeezed her hands into fists, something inside her twisting. "Promise me," she whispered.
Pandora's dark blue eyes met hers, unblinking, unwavering. "I do not lie."
Beatrice stared at her, searching—praying—for any sign of deception. But Pandora's expression remained as calm as a still lake, unreadable, untouchable.
She wanted to believe her.
She needed to believe her.
"…I wonder," Beatrice murmured, her voice distant, "…if I will ever feel real again.I suppose"
Pandora reached out, brushing a delicate finger along Beatrice's cheek. Her touch was cold, like porcelain, like something that had never known warmth.
"You are real," the witch cooed, as if speaking to a doll. "You are exactly what you were meant to be. A tool . A thread in the grand scheme of things. A piece in this ever-moving play of fate."
Beatrice's breath trembled.
Not a Great Spirit.
Not a child.
Not herself.
Just a tool.
A key.
A piece.
And yet, she did nothing.
Said nothing.
Because she had already surrendered.
All to not let Subaru get hurt.
Pandora's fingers lingered for a moment longer before she withdrew them. She smiled—soft, gentle, final.
"Good girl."
Then, like mist dispersing in the morning light, she was gone.
Beatrice remained.
Standing beneath the cold, indifferent moonlight.
Empty.
Tears falling.
The morning sun bathed the capital in golden colour, casting long shadows over the hotel entrance. Subaru stood there, his hands deep in his pockets, his back leaning against the cool stone wall. Emilia is at the karsten mansion along with the other candidates.
Meanwhile Subaru was still at the hotel along with Beatrice.
Beatrice was sleeping in Subaru room after being completely mentally drained after her talk with Pandora which Subaru got no idea of.
As Subaru was walking in the garden to get some fresh air.
Subaru saw a carriage pulling up in front of the gates of the hotel
Subaru heart started racing.
Subaru's fingers curled into fists.
The door swung open, and a figure stepped out.
Blue hair. Soft, kind eyes. A presence that had always felt like home.
Rem.
She smiled, that gentle expression she always had for him. "Subaru-kun."
Her voice was warm, familiar. It cut through him like a knife.
He forced himself to smile. "Rem… hey."
She tilted her head slightly, her soft eyes looking at him. "You look tired."
Subaru let out a short, dry laugh. "You have no idea."
Her brows furrowed just slightly. "What's wrong?"
"Let's go inside first...we need to talk about alot of stuff."
Rem studied him for a moment but didn't argue.
The room was quiet, save for the faint sounds of the city outside.
Subaru sat across from Rem, staring at the polished wooden table between them. His fingers drummed against his knee, a nervous habit he couldn't shake.
Rem, ever patient, simply waited.
Finally, Subaru exhaled and leaned forward.
"Rem… I have something to tell you."
She still looked at him with the same expression.
He took a deep breath. "There was a prophecy."
"The Dragon Tablet revealed it a few days ago," he continued. "It said that… I have to marry all the royal candidates."
Silence.
Subaru didn't dare look up.
The room suddenly felt colder.
"You… have to marry them?" Rem's voice was quiet, controlled.
Subaru nodded, still staring at the table. "I don't have a choice."
A long pause.
Then, soft laughter—light, almost musical.
Subaru blinked and looked up.
Rem was smiling, but it wasn't her usual warm smile. It was small, fragile.
"You're kidding, right?" she asked, her voice was shaking.
Subaru's chest tightened.
"I'm not."
Her smile faded.
He watched as realization settled in, as the warmth drained from her expression.
The silence stretched between them, heavy and suffocating.
"…That promise," she whispered. "The one you made to me."
Subaru clenched his fists. "I… I can't keep it."
Rem lowered her gaze. Her hands curled into her lap, gripping the fabric of her dress.
Subaru hated this. He hated seeing her like this.
Her voice was steady, but there was a sadness woven into it.
"You said you loved Lady Emilia,It didn't matter to me" she continued. "I was happy just being by your side."
Subaru's throat felt dry. "Rem…"
She shook her head. "Let me speak, Subaru-kun."
He fell silent.
Rem closed her eyes for a brief moment, as if gathering her thoughts.
"I stood beside you, even when you didn't see me. I watched you fight, suffer, push forward, carrying burdens no one else could understand." Her fingers trembled slightly. "And even if I was only second one in your heart, I was happy just being there."
Subaru clenched his jaw.
"But now…" She looked up at him, blue eyes glistening. "Now, you're telling me that Rem has to watch you be with not just Lady Emilia but other royal candidates too? Rem was already fine with Lady Emilia being your first wife...now this?You are asking too much Subaru-kun "
His stomach twisted.
Rem laughed softly, but it wasn't a happy sound.
"I thought we would walk this path together," she whispered. "That even if I wasn't first, I would still be by your side."
She exhaled, a shaky breath escaping her lips.
"But the road you're taking now… doesn't have a place for Rem.does it? "
Subaru opened his mouth, but no words came out.
Rem gave him a small smile, but it was laced with pain.
"I don't resent you, Subaru-kun," she said softly. "I could never."
She reached out, hesitated for a second, then placed a hand over his heart.
"But… this hurts."
His breath hitched.
Her touch was warm, familiar—but unbearably distant.
"I was ready to carry your burdens, I was ready to bear your pain," she murmured. "All for the sole reason of seeing you happy Subaru kun, I was ready to do it a thousand times over."
Her fingers trembled.
"But this time, Subaru-kun… I don't think I can."
Subaru felt something inside him break.
Rem slowly pulled her hand away.
"I'll always stand behind you," she whispered. "Even if you can't see me."
She turned toward the door.
Subaru's body felt frozen, his voice trapped in his throat.
She paused at the doorway, her hand resting against the wood.
"…I still love you, Subaru-kun," she said. "And I always will."
She opened the door.
Subaru's heart pounded as he watched her take a step forward—
"Wait."
Rem stopped, but she didn't turn around.
Subaru clenched his fists. "I don't want you to go."
Rem was quiet for a moment.
Then, softly, she said, "Then tell me to stay."
Subaru's breath caught.
Tell her to stay.
It would be so easy.
But he couldn't.
He had a duty now. A responsibility that went beyond his own desires.
Slowly, Rem turned her head just enough for him to see her profile.
"That's what I thought," she whispered.
And with that, she walked away.
The door closed softly behind her.
Subaru sat there, staring at the empty space where she once stood.
Meanwhile
The grand halls of the Karsten mansion were silent, save for the crackling of the fireplace in the center of the room.
The Five royal candidates were face to face each other
"Tch." Felt clicked her tongue, her golden eyes flickering with irritation as she crossed her arms and leaned back in her chair. "So, we all just rolled over, huh? Just like that?"
"Hardly." Crusch Karsten's voice was even, but there was an undeniable steel in her amber eyes. "Acceptance and submission are not the same thing. I did not bow to this fate—I chose it, for the sake of the kingdom."
Anastasia Hoshin let out a quiet chuckle, resting her chin on her hand as her fox scarf curled around her shoulders. "You say that, but at the end of the day, you're still marrying the same man as the rest of us, aren't ya?"
Felt scowled. "Like hell I am!"
Anastasia tilted her head, amused. "Oh? Then why are you here, darlin'?"
Felt's jaw clenched. She had already fought this battle with Reinhardt, had shouted and cursed and raged—but in the end, the reality hadn't changed. She was here. And that meant, despite everything, she had accepted it.
Still, the defiance in her hadn't faded.
"I don't like it," Felt muttered, her arms tightening around herself. "And I sure as hell ain't just gonna sit back and let some old-ass prophecy decide my life. But…" She exhaled sharply, her voice quieter now. "If marrying BigBro gives me the chance to shake things up… to change this kingdom the way I want…" Her eyes narrowed. "Then maybe it ain't the worst deal in the world."
Anastasia smiled knowingly. "See? That wasn't so hard, now was it?"
Felt shot her a glare. "Shut it, fox-lady."
Across the room, Priscilla Barielle let out a soft, amused hum, swirling the wine in her glass. "How droll. You all twist and turn, agonizing over your choices, when the outcome was decided the moment you stepped into this room."
Crusch met her gaze evenly. "You sound as if you find this amusing."
"Oh, I do." Priscilla smirked. "A mere commoner, now the center of a grand prophecy, with five noble women bound to him—this is a tale woven by the heavens themselves. To resist it would be to deny the will of the world itself. And, as always, the world bends to my desires."
Felt scoffed. "Yeah? And what exactly do you 'desire' from all this?"
Priscilla smiled, slow and deliberate. "Entertainment."
Anastasia let out a small laugh. "You really are somethin' else, Priscilla."
Priscilla merely raised a brow, her smirk never fading. "And you, merchant, are rather transparent."
Anastasia's smile sharpened ever so slightly. "Ain't no point in playin' a game I can't win, now is there?"
Emilia, who had been silent throughout most of the conversation, finally spoke, her voice soft but uncertain. "I still… don't understand."
The room turned to her.
She looked down at her hands, fingers curling against the fabric of her dress. "Marriage is supposed to be about love, isn't it? But… I don't even know if I love Subaru."
Felt groaned. "Seriously? We're having this conversation now?"
"It's not that simple!" Emilia insisted, her violet eyes clouded. "He's… he's important to me. He's saved me so many times, stood by me when no one else did. But is that love?"
Crusch's expression softened slightly. "Love is not always instant, nor is it always understood. Sometimes, love is a choice made in the face of duty."
Emilia looked at her, searching. "Then… what do you feel for him?"
Crusch was silent for a long moment. Finally, she closed her eyes and exhaled. "Respect. Gratitude. Admiration. And a sense of duty that surpasses my personal feelings." She met Emilia's gaze. "But love? no."
Emilia swallowed, looking down again.
Anastasia tapped a finger against her cheek. "Well, ain't that the million-lagre question? Do you love him, or do you just feel like you owe him?"
Emilia flinched.
Anastasia's smile was gentle, but her eyes were razor-sharp. "It's an important distinction, y'know. And if you don't figure it out soon… well, someone else might figure it out for you."
Emilia bit her lip, looking away.
Priscilla chuckled softly. "How delightfully cruel."
Anastasia shrugged. "Just bein' honest."
Felt sighed, rubbing the back of her head. "Man, this whole thing is messed up. But whatever. It's happening, whether we like it or not." She leaned forward, resting her elbows on the table. "So what now?"
Crusch's gaze was steady. "Now, we prepare."
Anastasia smirked. "And we make damn sure we come out on top."
Priscilla raised her glass. "To the fool we now call our husband. May he entertain us well."
Felt groaned. "I already regret this."
Emilia, still lost in thought, only nodded slowly.
"Y'know, Emilia, it's real admirable how much you're strugglin' with this whole 'love' thing." Anastasia voice was honeyed, sweet but calculated.
Emilia blinked, shifting uncomfortably in her chair. "What do you mean?"
Anastasia gestured with an elegant wave of her hand. "Love ain't always about butterflies in your stomach or dreamy sighs under the moon. Sometimes, love is about what you do for a person, not what you feel. And from what I've seen, you've already been actin' like Subaru's wife for a long time now."
Emilia's veyes widened. "That's not—!"
"Think about it," Anastasia continued smoothly, tilting her head like a fox observing its prey. "You trust him more than anyone. You let him be by your side even when it doesnt make sense. You go outta your way to make sure he's okay, and you get all emotional when he ain't. Ain't that what a wife does?"
Emilia hesitated, her fingers curling into the fabric of her dress. "I… I never thought about it like that."
Felt groaned, resting her chin in her palm. "Geez, you're making it sound like we're all already his wives. I don't like where this is going."
Anastasia turned to Felt with a small, knowing smirk. "And you, Felt-chan, don't tell me you ain't seein' the benefits in all this."
Felt frowned. "I never said that. But don't think I'm some idiot you can sweet-talk."
"Oh, I wouldn't dare, darlin'." Anastasia's tone was light, playful. "I'm just sayin', you're in a position now where you could actually change things. Subaru's got power now—power you could use. Imagine what you could do with that."
Felt narrowed her eyes. "You mean what we could do."
Anastasia smiled. "That's right. We're all in this together now. And between all of us, you and Emilia are the most… impressionable."
A sharp tension filled the air.
Crusch, who had been silently observing the conversation, finally spoke.
"Enough."
Anastasia's smile didn't waver, but there was a glint of amusement in her eyes as she turned to Crusch. "Oh? Somethin' botherin' you, Lady Crusch?"
Crusch's amber gaze was firm, unwavering. "You're trying to shape the minds of my fellow candidates to suit your own ends.You are planning to exploit this marriage for your own selfish gain. I cannot allow that."
Anastasia chuckled, tapping a finger against the table. "Now, now, that ain't entirely fair. I'm just helpin' 'em see the reality of the situation. This ain't some fairytale love story—it's a political arrangement, plain and simple. And if that's the case, wouldn't it be best for all of us to make the most of it?"
Crusch's expression darkened. "You seek to manipulate them into following your vision. I will not stand by and let you shape Emilia and Felt to your liking."
Anastasia's smile grew sharper. "And what about you, lady Crusch? Ain't you doin' the same, just from a different angle? You want this marriage to serve your sense of duty. You're imposin' your ideals on the rest of us, just like I am."
Crusch's jaw tightened, but she remained composed. "I act for the kingdom's sake, not for personal gain."
Anastasia raised a brow. "Oh? And how's that different? You wanna end the contract with the dragon, yeah? You wanna change the kingdom? Ain't that the same as me wantin' to turn this whole situation into somethin' profitable?"
Crusch's fingers curled into a fist. "No. It is not the same."
Anastasia tilted her head. "And why not?"
Crusch exhaled slowly, her voice measured. "Because duty and ambition are not the same thing. I act out of obligation—to the people, to the kingdom, to the ideals I uphold. You act out of self-interest."
Anastasia smiled, unfazed. "And you don't?"
For the first time, Crusch hesitated.
Anastasia's eyes gleamed. "You think you're above all this, Lady Crusch, but you're just like the rest of us. You accepted this marriage not 'cause you wanted to, but 'cause it was the best move for your goals. Ain't no shame in that, but let's not pretend you're any holier than the rest of us."
Crusch inhaled sharply. "I do not deny that I made a choice for the kingdom's sake. But my intentions remain pure. Unlike you, I do not seek to twist and manipulate those around me."
Anastasia shrugged. "Ain't about purity, darlin'. It's about playin' the game right."
The tension was thick enough to cut.
And yet, throughout the entire exchange, Priscilla Barielle sat back, watching with an amused smirk.
"Hoh? This is getting quite interesting." She swirled her wine in her glass, golden eyes glinting with mirth.
Anastasia turned to her. "Somethin' funny, Priscilla?"
Priscilla chuckled softly. "Oh, I simply find it amusing how both of you speak of ideals and strategy, as if either of you have true control over this fate." She smiled lazily. "The world bends to my will. And thus, in the end, it is I who will benefit the most."
Crusch narrowed her eyes. "And what do you mean by that?"
Priscilla smirked. "I mean that I need not manipulate nor strategize as you do. Fate itself ensures that I get what I desire." She leaned forward, her gaze flickering between Anastasia and Crusch. "So do continue your little battle of wits. It is, at the very least, entertaining."
Anastasia exhaled, shaking her head with a grin. "Ain't no winning against you, huh?"
Priscilla simply smiled.
Felt groaned. "You guys are exhausting."
Emilia, who had been silent for a while, looked between Crusch and Anastasia, then down at the table. She still wasn't sure what to think.
Anastasia gave her a soft smile. "Don't worry too much about it. You'll figure things out soon enough."
Crusch, still wary, exhaled. "Just be cautious, Emilia. And don't let yourself be used."
Emilia nodded slowly, though her mind was still filled with uncertainty.
No matter what happens.
One thing is set in stone
They all are going to marry Natsuki Subaru.
Subaru's heart raced as he sprinted, each breath a sharp gasp, his lungs burning, but he pushed on.
He couldn't stop.
Rem was leaving.
The thought twisted painfully inside him. He had watched her turn away before, seen her walk ahead without a glance back—but this time, it was real.
And he wouldn't let it happen.
The doors flew open with a bang.
There she was.
Her blue hair caught the faint glow of the street lamps, her steps slow but determined.
She hadn't hesitated.
"Rem!"
She stopped but didn't turn.
His pulse thundered in his ears as he closed the distance between them. Before she could move, he grabbed her wrist.
"Please," he begged, his voice trembling. "Don't go."
A long silence followed.
Finally, she turned to face him.
"Subaru-kun."
Her voice was soft—too soft.
He had expected anger or frustration, maybe even sorrow. But what he heard was worse.
Emptiness.
"I thought you would've let me go."
The words hit harder than any wound.
"I—" He swallowed, his throat tight. "I was a coward, Rem." His grip tightened. "I thought… maybe letting you leave would be easier. For you. For me. For everyone." His fingers shook. "But I can't do it. I can't watch you walk away."
She lowered her gaze.
"You don't have a choice, Subaru-kun," she whispered. "You're bound by duty now. The Dragon Tablet has decided your fate. The kingdom needs you."
Subaru clenched his teeth.
"I know," he admitted. "I know I have to marry them. That I have to be the 'Emissary of Balance' or whatever the prophecy says. I know I can't promise you the same future I once did." His voice cracked. "But Rem… I can't just let you go."
Rem's shoulders trembled.
"I don't understand," she murmured. "What are you saying?"
"I'm saying that even if the world forces me down this path, I will never let you be just another face lost to time," Subaru said fiercely. "I'll carry you with me, always. No matter what happens, no matter what choices I have to make, you will always, always be in my heart."
Rem let out a shaky breath.
"That's not enough."
The words were like a knife to his chest.
"I know."
He looked at her, really looked at her. The girl who had given him everything, who had chosen him even at his lowest. The girl who had promised to stand by him, even when he had rejected her once before.
She had always been strong. Stronger than him.
And now, she was breaking because of him.
Subaru felt a painful tightness in his chest.
"I am ready to fight, ready to struggle, ready to die," he whispered. "I am ready to face despair, ready to feel the pain of losing everything. But if there are two things that will keep me going, two things that will keep me from shattering completely… it's you and Emilia."
Rem's breath hitched.
"You were my light when I couldn't see a way forward," he continued. "You were my strength when I was ready to give up. You loved me when I didn't even love myself." His voice shook. "And now, when it's my turn to fight for you… I won't let you slip away."
Rem bit her lip, her eyes glistening.
"You're so selfish, Subaru-kun," she whispered.
"I know." He let out a weak chuckle. "But I'm selfish because you matter to me."
Tears welled in her eyes.
"I don't want to be left behind," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.
Subaru took a deep breath.
"I don't want that either," he said. "I don't know what's going to happen next. I don't know if I'll ever be able to give you what you truly deserve." His voice was raw. "But I know this—no matter how much time passes, no matter how much changes, my heart will always have a place for you."
Rem stared at him, her expression unreadable.
Then, slowly, she took a step closer.
Her fingers curled around his hand.
She didn't say anything.
But she didn't have to.
She wasn't leaving.
Subaru let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. His entire body sagged with relief.
The future was uncertain. His fate was no longer in his own hands.
But at least, for now—
Rem was still here.