Re: Zero Ghoul

16# Clash after clash

Felt, was dressed with a fitting yellow and white dress, tastefully combined with a black corset (hopefully, not too tight). She did look like a proper lady. Gone were her ragged clothes and her utilitarian garments. A loss, in a way, but people changed sooner or later. Everyone changes..., Subaru repeated, feeling a bit awkward.

Felt quickly eyed the people around, and advanced through the hall, leaving behind the two even younger kids. Subaru never watched carefully how Felt moved, but he could see that she was walking more gracefully than usual. Like the other queen candidates. A bit tense, as if she was being held by a string, but graceful nonetheless. Roswaal's lessons had been worth it. Hopefully, she would keep her unruly attitude at a minimum too, here in front of everyone.

When the little blonde passed beside Subaru, she stopped, to make a curtsy at him.

- Mister Subaru - she said respectfully, and smiling.

- I feel honored, mistress Felt - Subaru said, playing along, bowing to her with a subtle smile.

Felt turned satisfied, and kept walking until standing beside Emilia. Which prompted Reinhard to walk up to Felt and give her an insignia. Then, the red gem started shining softly on Felt's gloved hand. The sages' gasps followed after, with the revelation.

- As you can see, - Reinhard started explaining. - the dragon gem has recognized mistress Felt as a priestess. With her participation approved, I believe it is time to begin the royal election in earnest.

Then Marcos brought his hand to his chest and bent over as salutation. Al the knights did the same in perfect synchronization. Seeing that, made Subaru tense up. They were too good.

- Very well, Knight Reinhard, would you begin by explaining to us what led you to her discovery? - asked the old sage Miktolov.

- I took custody of mistress Felt about a week ago, thanks to lord Roswaal - Reinhard told as he knelt, laying down his exaggeratedly big long sword. - It was thanks to Subaru and Emilia, that Felt was found nearly a half a month ago, in the slums.

- SHE IS A GUTTER RAT FROM THE SLUMS?! - an old moronic mustached bureaucrat cried out.

The guy was sickeningly pale. And his mustache, eyebrows, and goatee looked like the man wasted more money grooming his face than Subaru's family could ever waste on personal hygiene (all combined).

Even if there were much more simple-looking bureaucrats, all of them were shocked too with Felt's background. And Sadly, Subaru couldn't blame them. A street urchin... becoming ruler? What sort of ruler was one that only knew how to be a good thief? Oh... right... all of them, Subaru sighed inwardly.

Correction. What sort of leader was one that didn't know how to operate in the government? True that anybody could learn. Felt herself learned proper manners fast enough, but there were already four other candidates that had more experience and knowledge (more or less).

That said, reacting as wildly as the goatee man, was unprofessional. This ceremony was going out of control more and more, like school.

- Mind your tongue - warned Felt, not looking at the bureaucrat. - Because this girl from the slums could very well be the reason you might go jobless in the future.

The old bureaucrat stuttered annoyed. But before he could reply, someone else started talking.

- All of this long-winded blather could not be more tedious - Priscilla, the older blonde said dismissively while covering her mouth with a fan. - Still, it is quite funny that a gutter rat thinks it could be something more than that. Let alone win the election.