Re: Zero - Dawn Eater

The next day arrived quickly. Rem tidied up Hedin's trench coat and helped him put it on.

Hedin allowed her to dress him, even though he had relented at first. He kept his head high and his expression was a perfect poker face.

This is... ahem! Hedin felt his cheeks burn in embarrassment.

"Rem." Hedin called, looking down. Rem was straightening out the folds in his coat, but he was half convinced she was feeling up his muscles. "Haven't I been appropriately dressed already?"

"Not at all. There's still a lot of folds in between." Rem smiled sweetly at him and he could not find it in himself to reject her. Well... he could, but that would be a scum move.

"Okay." And so he went with it.

"Was breakfast to your liking?"

"Your food is always good." Hedin replied honestly.

Rem felt a blush creep up her cheeks and smiled coyly.

"Rem will always cook for you!"

"...I'd like that." Hedin chuckled. "Thank you."

After 15 minutes, Emilia's voice boomed from the outside.

"Hedin? Where are you?"

And so, Hedin and Rem made their way outside.

They boarded the carriage, Hedin, Emilia and Roswaal and Rem drove it.

In just a few moments, they were out of the estate and on the road.

"Care to tell me what the other candidates are like?" Hedin asked Emilia. He had read about their houses and background, but he knew next to nothing about them. Even their appearances, except for Anastasia Hoshin, were all a mystery to him.

"Well, there's Crusch." Emilia began, keeping a finger on her lower lip. "She's a very strong minded individual and a naturally good leader. She is possibly the one with the most backing out of all the candidates."

"But we have Roswaal, do we not?" Hedin chuckled, throwing a glance at the clown.

The clown did not speak, only smirked wider.

The Mathers family as he had come to find, was second only to the Astrea household in the Kingdom of Lugunica. In fact, almost the entire bunch of knowledge about magic was somehow tied back to their family.

It was the original Roswaal Mathers who had started the groundworks for magical research and his descendants had streamlined the study of magic across generations.

And finally, Roswaal J. Mathers had established the Royal Magic Research Institute.

And with the Astrea household on decline due to the death of the previous sword saint by the white whale and Reinhard's father becoming a waste, Roswaal was the strongest backing anyone could get in the kingdom.

It would not be wrong to say that if Roswaal had chosen to support any other candidate, the royal selection would be all but decided.

"Well yes." Emilia smiled sheepishly.

"The next is Anastasia. I've heard she's very business oriented and aims to turn Lugunica into a trading hub to aid in development." She continued. "And finally, there's Priscilla Barielle. She's the one I know the least about. She's been married a few times but each of those marriages have lead to the death of the groom. She's also known as the bloody princess because of that."

"..." Hedin had no comment on that.

"Well, from what I hear, Crusch and Anastasia are both equally dangerous. Crusch not only has a great number of supporters, her public image is extremely good and military wise, she might also be the strongest out of all candidates. That is, again, if we eliminate ourselves from the equation. But even we have strength in quality. Wars are won by numbers, and she has an army at her back.

"Then there is Anastasia Hoshin. She has an entire business empire supporting her back and as far as monetary power goes, there is no one to equal her. Her word is law among the merchants. Truth be told, there is no way we can surpass her in that regard. The roots run too deep, the waters are all consuming. But we do not need to. As far as military might, money can buy mercenaries, soldiers and loyalties.

"And lastly, Priscilla. She is the most elusive out of everyone and the most chaotic. She's basically a wild cart. Someone that can shake the board. Being from the Vollachian Empire, she must have some impressive firepower on her back; but then again, we cannot be sure how that compares to our camp. As for monetary might, even that isn't sure.

"And so... that leaves us in a peculiar situation." Hedin sighed.

"Your reputation isn't very good to begin with. Even the Lugunican nobles find you unfit for the throne. It is only because of Roswaal's support that you are even being considered for the throne." He paused to nail in that fact.

"As far as military might goes, we have nothing to show for it. Sure, he have the court magician as our sponsor, we have the great spirit of fire and you and me; but that itself will not be considered for merit unless there are feats to testify our might. In the end, it is not Roswaal's reputation that will get you your throne, but that of your camp.

"Our monetary strength is even more pathetic. Not to mention if we try to get into trade and commerce, Anastasia can block us. So it's best to not compete on that front for the time being. Unless we find a golden opportunity, we are basically paralysed on that front." Although Hedin felt he could share some ideas from his old world about trains and stuff to aid in development, he realized something.

He was far too dumb to explain those concepts in a manageable way.

Though Roswaal might be able to figure it out... I might need to bring this up with him later.

Making a mental note, Hedin continued.

"But moving to the important matter." He said. Emilia's face was serious. "In this meeting, it is very likely that you'd be targeted for your appearance. They might call you all sorts of derogatory words and might even directly associate you with the Witch of Envy. Do. Not. Let them."

Emilia flinched.

"The moment you step back due to their words, they will only continue to oppress you more. Do not let them walk over you. Stand proud. You have been chosen by the dragon, the patron of this nation. Should the situation develop for the worst, we shall reveal the great spirit of fire." Hedin smiled maliciously.

This was their battle plan for today. Although they did not know what the meeting was for, it stood to reason that such a meeting when all the candidates were to gather would be anything but calm. The least they could do, in case of the worst case scenario where Emilia's right to the thrones was challenged due to her resemblance to the witch, they would reveal Puck, the god of cats.

Emilia nodded.

"A greeeaaaat plan, Hedin. I did not knoooow you were sooo adept at political maneuveriiiiing." Roswaal chimed with a chuckle.

"Neither did I." Hedin leaned back into his seat.

The rest of the carriage ride passed on in silence for the most part.

Before they got off, Hedin gave Emilia an encouraging smile and told her to steel her resolve. They were going into a battlefield of the mind now.

She could no longer doubt herself from this point onward.

Emilia, understanding his words, nodded in affirmation.

...

The royal palace was as opulent and over the top as Hedin had imagined it to be.

A giant palace that seemed to touch the heavens with many spires and towers rising to pierce the clouds as if they held a grudge towards the sky. The red and gold banners that hung off it's walls fluttered ever so slightly in the gentle breeze.

The coloured glass lined some of the walls, sending glittering beams of light reflected off of them.

The main entrance comprised of a giant wooden door, supported by metal railing styles into dragons and swords.

Rem dropped them off directly in front of the gate, and as Hedin got off the eye catching carriage, he could not help but marvel at the wonders people were capable of building.

Still not as impressive as the Cathedral of the Hunt. He mused competitively. The Cathedral with which he compared the royal palace was dark and Gothic in structure and had such an extensive level of detail put into it that it's construction had taken a ridiculous 492 years. It was a sprawling structure of more than 250 meters and in front of which, even the royal palace would look ordinary.

Hedin turned around and offered his hand to Emilia.

After they got off, the gates were opened and they headed inside.

They passed through the well lit corridors with Hedin looking around at every turn. It was a force of habit. He could not help bit memorize the structure of every building he entered.

Not long after, they were led to a set of double doors.

Emilia huffed, steeling herself for the meeting.

She turned to Hedin and nodded. "The meeting will not start immediately. You should talk to some of the knights in the meantime. Sir Felix Argyle would also be there."

Hedin chuckled. "Worry about yourself. You gave to talk to the other candidates after all. Talking to anyone else will make you appear weak."

"That's riiight." Roswaal agreed. "Lady Emilia, be sure to measure your wooooords here."

Emilia's spirit didn't waver. She breathed deeply and the Guard that was leading them opened the door.

An announcement off, telling of their arrival in the room.

Whooosh!

And instantly, Hedin came face to face with a large hall.

...

Raven stood at the tip of the one of the spires of the royal palace.

It's empty red eyes observed the world around itself. Simultaneously, it saw through all the hundreds of eyes they were travelling through Lugunica, a large bunch of which were back in Arlam Village.

One of the ravens landed outside of the kitchen window, looking inside.

There, stood a certain pink haired maid. Her cheeks were dirty with flour and the hem of her dress had somehow been burnt. The kitchen lay in shambles before her and one of the furnaces was burning. Ram, ever the stoic, clicked her tongue and cast wind magic onto the fire.

Shaaaaaa!

Though it only served to intensify the flames...

Raven sighed.

These humans...

...

...

Anyone have more tips on how to gain more engagement?

I feel like the synopsis might be a bit pretentious, which might be why there's aren't many people willing to try it out.

Anyway, comment your thoughts.

...

(Image Here)

...

A/N: Enjoying my content so far?

Read ahead on my patreon! : patreon . c o m/Yesnth Just remove the spaces from between.

Cheers~