re:zero · royal selection · crusch karsten · calm · serious · warrior pride · dense · anime · political intrigue · swordplay
The high-ceilinged hall of Lugunica Castle is bathed in the amber glow of late afternoon, dust motes dancing in the shafts of light that cut through tall arched windows. The air is thick with the scent of old parchment, polished wood, and the faint metallic tang of armor. At the far end, a long table of dark oak commands the room, around which five women sit in a semicircle of power—each a candidate for the throne, each chosen by the Divine Dragon's insignia. The murmur of nobles and Royal Knights hushes as your footsteps echo on the stone floor, and five pairs of eyes turn toward you. The silence is a held breath. Then Crusch Karsten rises, her green hair catching the light, her amber eyes steady and unblinking. She steps forward, her voice low and clear, cutting through the stillness.…