Astrea Mansion.
Reinhard, dressed in a crisp white uniform of the Knights Order, stood before a closed door and took a deep breath.
This was the third time today he had come to knock on this door.
The first two times, the person inside had either pretended not to hear him or had thrown a pillow directly at the door, making a sound as loud as a drum.
Reinhard raised his hand and lightly knocked on the door again:
“Lady Felt, breakfast is ready.”
A rustling sound came from inside the room, accompanied by undisguised annoyance, followed by the dull thud of footsteps on the wooden floor.
The door was pulled open a crack, revealing a pair of golden-brown eyes filled with rage, a canine tooth biting at her lip, as she spoke fiercely:
“Are you annoying or what? Reinhard, you’re going to be the death of me!”
“Lady Felt, you look very healthy.”
“I’ve already been annoyed to death by you, I’m dead.”
“That expression is not quite appropriate.”
“What’s not appropriate about it?” Felt sneered, revealing her cute little canine tooth.
“Anyway, I never wanted to be a royal candidate in the first place. Whoever wants to be one can be one. You take that insignia away and give it to someone else; consider it a return.”
“The recognition of the dragon stone cannot be returned.”
“Then smash it.”
“The dragon stone cannot be smashed, either.”
“You’re in cahoots with that damn rock, aren’t you?”
Felt glared fiercely at Reinhard and turned back into the room.
She didn’t close the door, probably knowing that even if she did, Reinhard would just stand at the door like a pillar waiting for her.
Reinhard stood at the doorway, not entering.
This was his habit; he never stepped into her room without Felt’s explicit permission.
It wasn’t because of rules, but out of respect.
Or perhaps, because he knew this room was the only space left that truly belonged to Felt.
After a while, Felt came out, having changed her clothes.
She was wearing a newly tailored noble dress, off-white fabric embroidered with pale gold patterns, the hem falling just to her calves.
But Felt had rolled up the left sleeve above her elbow, revealing her thin arm, and the bow at the collar was tied crookedly and loosely, with not a trace of a lady’s appearance to be found on her. Visit novelping . com for the full chapter.
Reinhard’s gaze fell involuntarily on the girl’s improper attire.
“What are you looking at?”
Sensing Reinhard’s gaze, Felt immediately glared back fiercely.
“Lady Felt, if you were to lower your sleeve, your appearance would be more appropriate and proper.”
Reinhard lowered his head slightly and gently reminded her.
“Tch~” Felt sneered and deliberately rolled up the other sleeve.
“I dressed like this back in the Slums. If you don’t like looking at it, then don’t look.”
“…”
Reinhard did not continue this topic.
In the half-month they had spent together, he had long since figured out Felt’s rebellious and stubborn nature.
For such trivial matters that didn’t affect the big picture, rather than arguing repeatedly and making her angry, it was better to give in and accommodate her wishes.
Thinking of this, Reinhard returned to the original topic and gently reminded her:
“Lady Felt, the kitchen has carefully prepared quite a few snacks and hot soup today. It is the perfect time to go downstairs and eat. If you delay any longer, the food will go completely cold.”
Felt turned her head away and sullenly spat out three words:
“I’m not hungry!”
“Lady Felt, you didn’t eat much last night either.”
“I said I’m not hungry, so I’m not!” Felt stamped her foot, her voice involuntarily rising a notch.
“Reinhard! Do you think that just because you brought me back from the Slums, gave me noble clothes to wear, and put me in a big room, I should be grateful and listen to you for everything?”
“I do not think that.”
Reinhard looked at the agitated Felt with clear eyes, his expression remaining calm, without a hint of defensive anger.
“Then why do you control what I eat, what I wear, and not let me go out every day?”
Felt took a step forward, looking up and glaring at Reinhard.
Although she only reached his chest in height, her aura was not inferior at all, like a bristling wild cat.
“I’ve told you so many times, I don’t want to be a royal candidate! That’s something you forced on me!”
“It was not I who made the choice; it was the dragon stone, which bears the destiny of the kingdom, that chose you.”
Even though the girl was agitated, Reinhard’s tone remained calm and unruffled, maintaining the composure of a knight throughout.
“Then let it choose someone else!” Felt waved her hand violently, nearly hitting the tip of Reinhard’s nose.
“Choose that silver-haired half-elf, or that black-haired guy would work too! Although he looks silly, at least he has more responsibility than I do! Anyone is fine! Why does it have to be me? I’m just a thief from the Slums with no talent for governing or stabilizing the nation. Can you all really be at ease handing the future of the millions of people in the entire Kingdom of Lugnica to someone like me who has nothing?”
“No one is born proficient in governing the country or understanding all the principles of pacifying the populace; all abilities can be learned and grown through experience,” Reinhard said slowly, patiently soothing Felt’s self-negation. This chapter was taken from g.com without permission.
“At the very least, the dragon stone, which bears the destiny, has determined that you, Lady Felt, have the potential to fulfill this responsibility.”
It is worth mentioning that the scene from half a month ago is still clearly imprinted in Reinhard’s mind.
At that time, he was performing his patrol duties on the streets of the royal capital as usual, when suddenly a noisy sound of fighting and cries for help came from a distant alley.
He rushed over immediately.
Deep in the alley, a black-haired boy in strange clothes was being cornered by several thugs, his face already bruised, but he still stubbornly held up his fists, refusing to give in.
Reinhard stepped in to help, and it took less than a few breaths of time to drive those thugs away.
That boy…
he later learned his name was Natsuki Subaru, and although he was in a sorry state, he brushed off his clothes, stood up, grinned, and started chatting like an old friend.
Although their conversation was brief, some information that Subaru inadvertently revealed during their talk…
concerning the insignia, the silver-haired girl, and the “Gut-Hunter,” caused a subtle concern to arise in Reinhard’s heart.
Therefore, he decided to personally go to the Slums to investigate.
It was on that chaotic and hot afternoon that he encountered Felt’s plea for help again.
Just like that, Felt led him through the spiderweb-like narrow alleys all the way to a warehouse full of miscellaneous stolen goods.
There, Reinhard witnessed a life-or-death struggle with his own eyes.
Subaru and that silver-haired half-elf woman were being pushed to a dead end by a mercenary wielding a curved blade, the “Gut-Hunter” Elsa Granhiert.
Immediately, Reinhard drew his sword and intervened, repelling Elsa with overwhelming strength and saving everyone present.
After the incident subsided, the blonde girl named Felt pulled an insignia from the corner, which she had stolen from Lady Emilia during the chaos.
Felt had intended to sell it for money, but the moment she gripped the insignia, that originally gentle dragon-crested insignia suddenly emitted a dazzling red light.
The moment Reinhard witnessed that light, he understood in his heart.
That red light meant that the dragon stone had recognized the holder.
It meant that Felt possessed royal blood and had the qualifications to participate in the royal selection.
A descendant of royalty who had been living in the Slums was pushed before him by fate in this way.
Reinhard immediately grasped Felt’s wrist and carefully identified her bloodline markings; that iconic pattern was exactly the same as the family crest of the previous emperors recorded in ancient books.
He had to bring Felt back to the royal capital and let her stand in the position that belonged to her.
This was not only for the sake of the rules and system of the royal selection, but more importantly, to protect Felt.