The sun hadn't yet risen when Guts felt something slam hard into his side.
Ram (dry tone, without a hint of gentleness):
"Get up, walking pile of muscle. You're headed to the capital today. And if you stain the sheets one more night, I'll burn them."
Guts (groaning as he sat up halfway):
"What the hell now…"
Ram:
"Emilia-sama is waiting. So is Roswaal. And Rem already packed your things. Now get up."
Guts rubbed his eyes, still heavy with sleep. The mansion was quiet, but something hung in the air… a tension he hadn't felt in a long time.
Guts (thought):
The capital, huh… Smells like trouble from miles away.
Ram:
"Get dressed. Get ready. You're leaving for the capital today with Emilia-sama."
A long silence. Then a heavy thud—Guts dropped his mechanical arm to the floor, annoyed.
Guts (darkly):
"No one asked for my opinion."
Ram (cutting):
"You're her knight. You don't have one anymore."
Guts (sitting up slowly, hair messy, eyes dark):
"I didn't sign up for all this noble crap…"
Ram (pretending innocence, slightly mocking):
"Oh? But you were fine carrying crates and killing demon dogs. You should be happy—this time it's just a carriage ride."
She turned on her heels, leaving the door wide open. A gust of wind swept into the room. Guts groaned, grabbed his prosthetic, and stood with dragging steps.
Guts (thought):
A ride, huh… Let's see how many corpses it leaves behind.
TIME SKIP
The carriage rolled slowly through the streets of the capital, rocked by the clatter of hooves and wheels over cobblestone. Through the windows, one could glimpse slate rooftops, colorful fruit stands, guards at every corner… and in the distance, the high towers of the royal palace.
Inside, the atmosphere was almost… cozy.
Guts (forehead resting against the window, mild grunt):
"Hmph. City's way too shiny."
He stayed silent for a few moments. Then, without knowing why, he added:
Guts:
"Dunno what to say, honestly."
Emilia (smiling gently):
"You don't have to say anything. Just… look. This could be your world too, if you want it."
Guts (side glance, teasing):
"You act all grown up, but you still need someone watching over you. Gonna lose your badge again or what?"
Emilia (slightly blushing, pouting):
"That only happened once…"
Roswaal (chuckling softly, with fake complicity):
"Well, that's exactly why Guts is here with you, Emilia-sama~ Let's just say… to avoid any more unfortunate mishaps."
He folded his hands and turned slightly toward Guts.
Roswaal:
"And you, while we take care of a few matters… What will you do, Guts-kun? You've got the afternoon to yourself, after all."
Guts (raising an eyebrow, arms crossed):
"Find a quiet corner, somewhere I can smoke in peace without hearing about politics."
Rem :
"Smoke? Like… a cigarette?"
Guts :
"Yeah. Or better—shisha (Hookah) . Might sound dumb, but I miss it."
Rem :
"I want to come."
A short silence. Even Roswaal looked up, a bit surprised.
Guts :
"Alright. Shisha night. Just you and me."
Emilia :
"Huh? Why her and not me? I want to come too!"
Roswaal :
"My dear Emilia, you're not here to enjoy the exotic pleasures of the capital. You're here… to represent your people."
Guts (finally catching on, looking slowly at Roswaal):
"…So this isn't just a fun trip."
Roswaal :
"Oh, you're only realizing that now?"
Guts (dark glare, arms crossed):
"You let me smoke and then dump this on me…"
Roswaal (with a smug wink):
"I had to keep your hands busy while leading you exactly where you needed to be."
Rem (gently):
"You don't have to hate everything, Guts-kun. There might be… pleasant surprises."
Guts (grumbling):
"If the only surprise is nobles in robes giving me side-eye, I swear I'm walking back."
They chuckled softly. The carriage slowed. Beyond the golden gates, the capital opened its arms… and with it, a new kind of war—gentler, perhaps, but far more insidious.
Outside, the capital of Lugnica buzzed with life, but inside the inn where they'd dropped off their luggage, a deceptive calm lingered. The calm before the storm.
Rem was organizing their belongings with methodical precision, Emilia admired the view from the balcony, Roswaal was flipping through documents… and Guts sat slouched in a chair far too small for him, arms crossed, looking like a wolf trapped in a golden cage.
Guts (grumbling to himself):
"I'd rather sleep in a damn stable…"
Rem (smiling, setting down a folded blanket):
"You'll get used to it. Better than a battlefield, isn't it?"
Roswaal (almost singing):
"And who knows what this city has in store for you, dear Guts-kun~?"
Just then, as Guts lazily glanced out the window, he felt a light tug on his sleeve.
Rem (softly):
"Do you remember… what you promised?"
Guts (raising an eyebrow):
"Promise?"
Rem (gently smiling):
"The pammes. You said you'd buy more. As an apology."
Silence. The image of an angry old merchant yelling about stolen fruit flashed in his mind. Then a hand reaching out… a crushed fruit.
Guts (short sigh):
"Tch… Forgot about that."
Roswaal :
"Oh~ What a perfect errand to keep you busy, Guts-kun. A mission of the utmost importance~"
Guts :
"Right. Not about to start a war over fruit."
He grabbed his coat, shrugged it on with a wide sweep, and without another word, walked out.
Rem (softly, a bit worried):
"Be careful…"
But Guts didn't respond. He had already disappeared into the hallway, pulled once more by the open air… and by that deep, restless craving for solitude that never truly left him.