The next morning, Emilia sat at the tea table by the window, blinking her amethyst-like eyes in confusion as she looked at the two grim-faced, unannounced visitors standing before her.
"Um... Carlisle? Subaru?" Her voice was soft, laced with a hint of unease.
"Please... why are you looking at me so seriously?" She hesitated, then added in a small voice, like a child who had done something wrong, "Could it be... because I left all the banquet matters to you yesterday, and it bothered you?"
Carlisle's Fingers were slightly cold, the news Subaru had just told him was too shocking. He bowed slightly, his voice low.
"Lady Emilia, I apologize for disturbing you so early. But now, I must speak with the Great Spirit."
A clear worry was in her voice.
"Puck?" Emilia's eyes widened in surprise, "Why do you suddenly need to find Puck?"
"He hasn't... caused you any trouble recently, has he?"
Looking at Carlisle's seriousness and Subaru's rare silence, Emilia's heart involuntarily quickened. She stood up, her slender fingers gently resting on her chest.
"Puck... although he sometimes likes to joke and doesn't always speak properly, he's actually very gentle and considerate."
Her voice grew more urgent as she defended her most important family member.
"If he accidentally said something offensive, or did something that bothered you... I apologize on his behalf. But please believe me, he absolutely meant no harm..."
Just as the silver-haired girl hesitated, wanting to continue explaining, ripples of magic suddenly spread through the air. A gray-furred little cat spirit appeared with a yawn, his fluffy body floating in mid-air, his tail swaying leisurely from side to side.
"Alright, alright, Lia~" Puck patted Emilia's cheek with his small paw, "No need to be so eager to plead for me."
He floated in front of Carlisle, tilting his head to examine him.
"I say, Sir Knight"
Puck's cat eyes narrowed into two crescent moons.
"What's with that expression?"
He deliberately drew out his words in an exaggerated tone,
"Although I'm curious why you suddenly sought me out... is displaying such an unfriendly expression in front of your liege really fitting for a Perfect Knight?"
The temperature in the room rose slightly with Puck's joke. Emilia was about to sigh in relief, but saw that Carlisle's gaze remained as heavy as iron.
Watching Carlisle ignore his joke, Puck's tail movements became a little stiff. This reaction was truly rare for him.
"Great Spirit, I came to directly inquire about the specific contents of your contract with Lady Emilia."
Puck's body visibly stiffened for a moment, even his floating height dropped a few inches.
"This... you... how did you know about this?"
Carlisle took a step forward.
"Please answer my question. This matter is of great importance, and I must treat it with caution."
Emilia was very confused.
"Wait... is there something wrong with Puck's and my contract?" Her fingers touched the crystal stone on her chest, "This is just a normal spirit contract, isn't it...?"
She truly was unaware... Carlisle's heart was complex—she had no idea what was hidden behind this contract, nor did she know what kind of disaster her death would cause.
Puck suddenly changed his tone.
"Let's... talk in the next room."
He floated in front of Emilia, patting her cheek with his fluffy paw.
"Lia, Sir Knight and I are going out to talk for a bit. Don't worry," his voice was deliberately casual, "I'm just curious where this guy dug up all this information."
Emilia still wanted to say something, but Puck had already floated towards the door. Carlisle looked deeply at the silver-haired girl, his blue eyes now filled with complex emotions. He sighed softly and turned to follow Puck.
— — — — — —
A barrier of magic enveloped the entire room, isolating all sound within. This was Puck's precondition for agreeing to talk. He was clearly determined not to let Emilia know the truth about the contract.
Puck floated to the window, his voice no longer carrying its usual playfulness:
"Alright, it's safe here. Now tell me... how much do you know?"
Carlisle's Fingers rubbed the hilt of his sword.
"I know that behind this contract... if Lady Emilia unfortunately passes away, the Beast of the End will awaken, plunging the entire world into eternal ice."
Every word he spoke pierced the air like an ice pick.
"This is not a normal spirit contract, but a failsafe to destroy the world."
Puck's small paw scratched his head in distress.
"Tsk... that's not right, you shouldn't have access to this kind of information."
He floated in front of Carlisle.
"Tell me, who leaked it? Betty wouldn't say such a thing."
Subaru couldn't help but want to interject, but Carlisle stopped her with a raised hand. The Knight's gaze remained fixed on Puck.
"I cannot tell you the source of the information yet. Now, please answer my question, is there still a way to undo this contract?"
In the suffocating silence, Puck suddenly spun around, his tone eerily cheerful.
"Oh my, oh my~ Don't be so serious! See, everything's fine now, isn't it? Lia is very safe under your protection~"
But this time, his smile failed to melt the coldness in Carlisle's eyes.
Puck also didn't notice Subaru's tightly clenched fists as he casually glossed over the topic.
"Why?"
Carlisle slowly spoke.
"Eh?" Puck tilted his fluffy head, "What 'why'?"
"One person's death will drag the entire world down with them."
"With such a contract in place..." His voice gradually rose, "Although it's very rude for a Knight to ask such a question, why did you agree to Lord Roswaal's recommendation for Lady Emilia to participate in the Royal Selection? Why didn't you tell her the truth?"
Puck spun around frantically in the air.
"Well... that... oh dear!"
He suddenly stopped, pointing a finger at Carlisle, forcing a teasing tone.
"Don't dwell on things that haven't happened yet!"
"If a boy is too persistent, girls might dislike him, you know~"
"...I'm sorry, I cannot afford that price."
Just then, Subaru looked up, a terrifying light glinting in her eyes.
"Puck." She said softly, "Do you know how many people will stop you in the world frozen by the 'Beast of the End'?"
"..."
Suddenly, Puck's body erupted with magical light, his formerly fluffy and cute appearance instantly distorting. His pupils narrowed into slits, and his mouth stretched into a nearly ferocious grin.
"Is that so? Then are you now giving me, permission to destroy this world?"
Before he finished speaking
"Boom!"
A violent torrent of magic burst from Carlisle's body, and the air in the entire room seemed to be instantly sucked dry. Puck didn't even have time to react before he was slammed against the wall by an invisible force.
No way?!
Puck's cat eyes widened in shock. He had only intended to test the other party's bottom line in a half-joking manner, but the murderous intent surging in Carlisle's eyes now made his fur stand on end. Even more terrifying was this oppressive feeling... this level of magic... in my current form...
He struggled to move his eyeballs, the magic barrier was emitting an unbearable cracking sound under Carlisle's pressure.
Unless I reveal my true form, there's no chance of winning!
"Wait, wait a minute!" Puck's small paws desperately clawed at the wall, saying in a panicked voice. "I was just joking! Really! I understand! I'll talk properly"
His plea for mercy abruptly stopped.
Because Carlisle had already drawn his sword.
...
Re@d adv@nce ch@pters on p@t
guilt_free_daoist
Jo!n d!sc0rd I!nk in synops!s.
GIVE ME YOU POWER STONES.