...
{3rd Pov}
When Anastasia woke up after being separated from Subaru, terror gripped her completely.
Her eyes darted around wildly, her chest heaving with panic, and her voice came out sharp and frantic.
"Get away from me!" she screamed, her tone filled with sheer fear and desperation, leaving her camp members frozen in shock at her unexpected outburst.
"M'Lady, it's me, Julius—" he tried to say, stepping cautiously forward, but before he could finish, a vase came hurtling toward him with terrifying speed.
It struck his face with brutal force, shattering and cutting deep into his skin.
Blood poured down his cheek from the wound, and his stunned expression reflected a mix of pain and disbelief.
Everyone who witnessed the scene froze, completely horrified, unable to reconcile this violent reaction with the woman they thought they knew.
"Get away from me, you monster! I want Zero! Where is my Zero?!" Anastasia shouted again, her voice trembling yet commanding, her gaze wild and searching as she scanned the area.
Her eyes had that frenzied, almost unhinged look, and it made those around her not only confused but genuinely frightened.
They had never seen her like this, and the sight of her panic and fury was unsettling on a level that went beyond mere surprise.
"Anastasia-sama, do you not recognize us? It is me! Mimi!" Mimi called out, stepping cautiously forward.
Her voice carried concern and urgency, tinged with the remnants of her own recent suffering.
Though she had been gravely wounded not long ago, she had been fully healed, and now she approached Anastasia with a mixture of caution and hope, desperately trying to reach the terrified young woman who seemed to be trapped in a state of utter chaos.
"Mimi?" Anastasia's voice trembled as confusion flickered across her face.
Her wide eyes locked onto the demi-human girl standing before her, but that moment of hesitation quickly twisted into anger.
"You are the one who abandoned me! I don't want any of you!" she shouted, her words sharp and cutting, filled with raw pain and fury.
The force of her outburst stung them emotionally, leaving her companions reeling from both the words and the intensity of her feelings.
They stood there, stunned and speechless, their mouths hanging open in disbelief at her sudden and violent rejection.
The shock in the air was almost tangible.
Julius, however, seemed to finally understand the gravity of the situation.
His expression turned grave as realization sank in, and without hesitation, he dropped to his knees, bowing his head low in a gesture of complete submission and humility.
"I am your loyal Knight, Julius Juukilius," he said, his voice steady but heavy with remorse.
"Whatever misunderstandings have arisen between us due to Gluttony's Authority, I sincerely apologize. It was I who refused to listen to your words. I will accept any punishment you deem fit."
As he spoke, memories came flooding back to him, each one stabbing at his conscience.
Julius remembered the way he had treated Anastasia after he lost his memories of her, the coldness in his actions, and the moments when he had failed to protect her.
Sweat began to bead on his forehead as the weight of those recollections pressed down on him.
He recalled how Anastasia had once confided that some people were stealing her food, a small detail he had dismissed at the time, now painfully aware of how serious it had been.
Julius's mind also turned to the bruises and small wounds she bore when he met her third time without any memory of their past connection.
The sight of those injuries, which he had once overlooked, now struck him with the full force of understanding.
The situation was far more serious than he had ever imagined.
The depth of her suffering and the mistakes he had made filled him with shame and urgency, reinforcing the sincerity of his apology and the determination to make amends, no matter the cost.
"Apologize?!" Anastasia's voice erupted, sharp and filled with fury.
"Do you really think that you can put on your 'Finest of Knights' face, drop to a bow, ask for forgiveness, and I will simply hand it to you? Just like that?!" Her words cut through the air like a blade, each syllable dripping with anger.
The confusion and fear she had felt when separated from Zero had completely vanished, replaced entirely by raw, burning wrath.
Her face was a mask of fury, her eyes flashing with a dangerous intensity that left everyone around her on edge.
Everyone in the room flinched at her words, stunned not only by their severity but by the sheer force of the emotion behind them.
Tivey, unable to remain passive, stepped forward cautiously.
His expression was one of guilt and fear, and he looked at his guardian with pleading eyes.
"I-I know we behaved very badly towards you," he stammered, his voice trembling slightly, "but it isn't entirely our fault! That… that was Gluttony's fault! They devoured your name, erased it from us!"
His hands clenched into fists at his sides, the intensity of his emotions mirroring, in a much smaller scale, the storm in Anastasia's heart.
Anastasia hissed through her teeth, her entire body shaking with rage.
Those who had once been her family now seemed like traitors, their presence only intensifying her sense of betrayal.
She raised her voice even higher, each word punctuated with pain and fury.
"Gluttony's fault?!" she shouted, her tone ringing with bitter incredulity.
"Yes, they devoured my memories! But do you even realize how I was treated while you looked away? How badly I was beaten? How I ended up nearly dying from starvation and thirst? How close I came to losing my sight entirely? Do you even understand what I endured?!"
Her words hung in the air, heavy with the weight of truth and suffering, shocking everyone present.
"And now," she continued, her voice trembling but firm, "now that someone else has come and fixed everything, you have the audacity to come here, acting as if nothing at all has happened, as if my pain and suffering meant nothing?"
The room went silent, her companions frozen in disbelief.
Their Lady—their Anastasia—had almost lost her sight?
She had been beaten?
She had come perilously close to dying from starvation and thirst?
The enormity of her experiences struck them like a physical blow.
Even though Anastasia Hoshin's memories had been erased from their minds, that erasure had not removed her expertise, her skill, or her capacity to survive.
Given enough time, effort, and determination, she could thrive anywhere—her resilience and abilities had always been extraordinary—but the revelation of what she had endured left them staggered, a painful reminder of how far she had suffered while they remained blind to it.
However, there was a significant problem—one that shaped the path of Anastasia's life and the circumstances she faced.
Just as she had never walked the path of a businesswoman until someone introduced her to a place where she could work despite her harsh background as a slum orphan, her ability to recover and regain her footing now relied on conditions that had never been provided.
If she had been given an environment where people were calmer, where the shame of the devastating defeat at the hands of the Sin Archbishops did not weigh heavily on everyone, and where the constant threat of being held hostage had not loomed over them, she might have been able to rise once more, to stand on her own two feet and regain her confidence.
But that opportunity—what could have been the very first step toward recovery—was never afforded to her.
Starting from zero, rebuilding one's life and trust, requires the willingness and ability to take that initial, most difficult step, and Anastasia had been denied even the chance to make it.
The situation around her was already tense and fragile.
The defeat of the five camps had left everyone irritable, their patience thin, and the hardships of defeat had hardened their hearts.
When Anastasia attempted to make them remember her, to remind them of who she was and wanted to lead them against enemies who they have already lost the will to fight against, her actions were immediately dismissed as nonsense.
Rather than receiving understanding or aid, she was instead perceived as someone trying to exploit the situation for personal gain.
Their perception, colored by her earlier outbursts and misunderstandings, led them to reject her outright, and she was forcibly thrown out, abandoned once again.
(A/N: Refers to her parents making her an orphan)
In the streets, three thugs who were aware of her vulnerable situation recognized her as easy prey.
They knew that the Knights would not believe her due to her previous behavior and stunts, and so they seized the opportunity.
Anastasia's refusal to back down, her stubborn insistence on asserting herself, led to her being violently beaten, the immediate cause being nothing more than her attempt to acquire food to survive.
The situation only worsened as food supplies dwindled further.
The people around her, living in constant fear of death and starvation themselves, could no longer contain their frustration and desperation.
Chaos erupted, turning the environment into a scene of violent unrest.
Amidst the turmoil, Anastasia became a tragic victim, suffering severe abuse and neglect that left her on the brink of death.
Had it not been for Zero, who arrived just in time to save her, she would not have survived.
He was also the one who healed her injured eye; without his intervention, the damage she sustained would have left her permanently blind in that eye, robbing her not only of sight but of a vital part of her life and potential.
Her camp members, after hearing Anastasia's harsh words, felt their guilt deepen.
Each of them was struck by the twisted expression of fury and anguish on her face, and the pain of seeing their Lady in such a state cut deeply into their hearts.
They exchanged nervous, uneasy glances, yet not a single one of them knew what to do or how to calm her down.
The atmosphere inside the room had become unbearably heavy, thick with tension and shame, as though the very air weighed upon them.
Suddenly, a firm knock sounded against the door, breaking the silence.
A composed and clear voice followed immediately after.
"It's me, Crusch Karsten. I have been informed that Anastasia Hoshin has awakened… and from what I heard outside, I do not believe her condition is stable."
The authoritative yet gentle tone carried through the room, drawing the attention of everyone present.
Anastasia, still burning with anger and resentment, reacted with a sharp sneer the moment she heard that familiar voice.
She turned her glare toward Julius and spat her words with venom.
"Julius, your 'Master' has arrived. Why don't you open the door for her?" Her mocking tone was cruel, every syllable designed to sting, and it hit Julius harder than any physical blow could.
Julius's jaw tightened as he gritted his teeth, forcing back the surge of pain her words caused.
His voice rang out firmly, full of conviction, as he stood his ground.
"Lady Anastasia! You are my only 'Master!' No one else holds that place, and no one else ever will!"
His tone was unwavering, his body rigid with determination, refusing to move even an inch away from her despite the scorn directed at him.
The three siblings, Mimi, Hetaro, and Tivey, all looked at one another with troubled and conflicted expressions.
The situation was spiraling out of control, and they were powerless to stop it.
Their eyes darted between Julius, Anastasia, and the door, unsure of what to expect next.
Before Julius could act, the door suddenly opened on its own.
Crusch Karsten stepped into the room, her composed presence immediately commanding attention.
The moment her gaze fell upon Anastasia's twisted, anger-filled expression, her brows furrowed with concern.
"Lady Anastasia," she said softly yet firmly, "are you alright?" Her question, though simple, carried genuine worry.
Anastasia opened her mouth, her emotions ready to burst forth again, but before she could speak, Crusch continued, her voice steady and filled with solemnity.
"I know how it must feel to be forgotten by everyone. I, too, understand the weight of such despair. I carry shame for our defeat against the Sin Archbishops. My pride and arrogance led to our downfall, and that burden is mine to bear."
Her words carried a gravity that silenced the room.
Each sentence was filled with acknowledgment of failure and remorse, words that cut through the tension.
Crusch then lowered her gaze slightly, her voice softening as she admitted, "If not for Lord Zero, perhaps none of us would have been saved at all."
The moment the name left her lips—'Lord Zero'—Anastasia's attention shifted sharply.
Her blazing fury seemed to freeze for a brief instant, her ears and mind honing in entirely on that single name. Her breath hitched ever so slightly, and all the anger, betrayal, and confusion within her seemed momentarily overtaken by a single thought: Zero.
(A/N: Yandere alert!)
"Zero… Yes, Zero! Where is he? Take me to Zero right now!" Anastasia suddenly demanded, her voice sharp and frantic.
Her expression twisted into something almost unrecognizable, a mad and desperate look flashing across her face.
The sudden intensity of her words caught Crusch off guard, but only for a moment.
Composure quickly returned to the noblewoman as she straightened her posture and replied calmly, though firmly, "Lord Zero left shortly after handing you over to us. He claimed no glory, accepted no recognition, and departed without a word. His departure was so sudden and silent that even I found myself saddened by it."
Anastasia's face fell immediately upon hearing those words.
The fire of desperation in her eyes dulled, replaced with a pained emptiness that made her look even more fragile than before.
Her lips trembled faintly, and for a moment it seemed as if she might break down completely under the weight of disappointment.
Sensing the tension, Crusch continued, her voice steady and deliberate.
"However, it is the undeniable truth that we owe our lives to our savior, and such a person must be thanked properly. For that reason, once the rehabilitation of Priestella has been completed and the city stabilizes, official search parties will be mobilized to locate Lord Zero. If you wish to take part in that search, Lady Anastasia, then you would need to resume your rightful position—as the leader of the Hoshin Company and as the fifth Royal Candidate of Lugunica."
The words carried weight, a mixture of both responsibility and hope, leaving the room in silence for a long moment.
Anastasia did not respond immediately, her expression unreadable, her body tense as though weighing every possibility in her mind.
Meanwhile, Tivey, who had been standing quietly, couldn't help but give a small nod in agreement with Crusch's reasoning.
He understood what Crusch was doing, and although part of him felt guilty for manipulating the situation in this way, he knew there was no better option.
Right now, the most important thing was to calm their Lady, to reach her in some way, no matter how fragile the connection might be.
Even if it meant appealing to her position and pride, it was necessary.
As long as Anastasia remained willing to speak with them, there would be hope.
With enough patience and persistence, they could mend the rift between them, no matter how long it took.
Crusch's carefully chosen words had the effect she intended.
The storm of anger and desperation that had consumed Anastasia began to subside, little by little.
Her breathing slowed, her shoulders relaxed slightly, and although her eyes still held a trace of frustration and sorrow, she was no longer lashing out uncontrollably.
After a long silence, Anastasia finally spoke again, though her voice was tired and distant.
She requested, firmly but without hostility, to be left alone.
Her companions exchanged worried glances but complied with her request.
They understood that pushing her any further right now would only risk undoing the fragile calm that had been established.
And so, one by one, they filed out of the room, leaving Anastasia by herself, her thoughts consumed by the lingering presence of only one name—Zero.
...
A few weeks eventually passed, and during that time Anastasia Hoshin gradually reassumed her position as both the fifth Royal Candidate of the Kingdom of Lugunica and the rightful Leader of the Hoshin Company.
The process was not immediate, nor was it without difficulty, but her determination, combined with the circumstances surrounding her, forced her to step back into the role she once held.
The world continued to move, and she could no longer remain idle.
Eridna, who had been gone after Anastasia' memories were eaten returned to Anastasia's side in secret.
Their reunion was awkward at first, but in the end, Eridna was the first person to truly attempt reconciliation with her.
Anastasia accepted her presence, though deep inside Eridna understood the truth of the situation—that Anastasia's acceptance was less about forgiveness and more about necessity.
With Anastasia's gate damaged and broken, she required Eridna's support more than she cared to admit and she didn't wanted to die, not until she met her obsession, Zero.
However, that perception was shaken when Eridna soon made a shocking discovery: Anastasia's gate, once thought to be beyond repair, had been completely healed.
When she delivered this news to Anastasia, the reaction was immediate and intense.
Anastasia, upon hearing that her gate was restored, felt her thoughts spiral uncontrollably back to the one responsible for saving her.
Her obsession with her mysterious savior, Zero, only deepened further, the gratitude and fixation mixing together into something powerful and consuming.
That obsession grew even stronger when Ricardo, the first family member she had ever considered her own and the only one who had never betrayed her, returned from the clutches of death itself.
Zero had resurrected him, giving her back the one person she trusted above all others.
The act was nothing short of miraculous, and in Anastasia's eyes, it bound her even tighter to Zero. Her desire to see him again, to reach him no matter the cost, intensified to an almost dangerous level.
Still, the return of Ricardo provided a form of stability that she desperately needed.
Their reunion was heartfelt, and she was able to make up with him fully, without the bitterness that clouded her other interactions.
With Ricardo's presence grounding her, Anastasia's emotions, at least towards the rest of her companions and allies, began to stabilize.
She no longer lashed out as violently as before, and though her obsession with Zero continued to grow stronger by the day, she could finally face those around her with a calmer state of mind.
She had also reached a point where she was willing to forgive the three siblings, and even Julius himself, despite everything that had happened between them.
However, it quickly became clear that Anastasia's forgiveness was not unconditional. There was a price attached to it, a demand that could not be ignored.
If they truly wanted her forgiveness, if they truly wished to remain by her side as companions, then they would have to find him—they would have to track down "Zero," the so-called "Witch Hunter" who had not only saved Anastasia's life but had also rescued the entirety of Priestella from the combined threat of the Sin Archbishops and the crushing despair that had been dragging the city into ruin.
For Anastasia, Zero was not just a savior or a figure of gratitude.
Her fixation went beyond that.
She wanted Zero to be hers—not as a pawn to be manipulated, not as a servant to be commanded, but as a man to be desired, possessed, and held close.
It was not political ambition or corporate calculation that drove her feelings.
It was something raw, emotional, and deeply personal.
Perhaps it was her insecurities born from betrayal, perhaps it was the scars of her trauma, or maybe it was simply an uncontrollable obsession, but the truth was clear: Anastasia wanted him.
She wanted him in a way that words could hardly capture.
The memories of her time with him only fueled this burning desire further.
The sensation of sitting on his lap, the warmth of his chest against her as she leaned against him, the way his voice soothed her when she was at her breaking point, the gentle caress of his hand as if erasing her pain—all of it left an imprint on her soul.
These were not fleeting recollections; they were cravings that haunted her day and night.
She longed to feel that comfort again, to relive every single moment of closeness.
She wanted it repeated, endlessly.
She wanted him so badly that it consumed her thoughts, leaving little room for anything else.
(A/N: 1024 times charm, and Yandere luck)
Her obsession, fueled by trauma and desperation, began to manifest in very clear, undeniable signs. Without something to remind her of Zero's presence, she grew restless, irritable, and unstable.
Fear gnawed at her, anger surfaced easily, and unease became her constant companion.
To prevent herself from spiraling into that chaos, she clung to a peculiar creation—a doll.
This doll was crafted specifically for her, modeled after Zero himself.
Anastasia carried it everywhere she went.
It was not simply an accessory or a trinket; it was a lifeline.
She would hold the doll tightly, convincing herself that Zero was close by, even if it was nothing more than a stuffed imitation of the man she craved.
For her, it wasn't just a charm or a symbolic token of gratitude.
It was far more than that.
The doll became a necessity, something directly tied to her stability, her fragile state of mind, and even her will to continue.
In her eyes, it was not a mere good luck charm.
It was survival.
Seeing Anastasia in such a fragile and unstable state not only saddened her camp members but also filled them with an overwhelming sense of guilt.
Every time they looked at her clutching that doll, or saw the haunted expression that flickered across her face, they were reminded of their own failures, of the role they played in abandoning her when she needed them most.
Their remorse pushed them to act swiftly against those who had directly wronged Anastasia during the time when her very existence had been erased from their memories.
The first and most obvious targets were the three thugs from Felt's camp, the ones who had preyed upon Anastasia in her most vulnerable state.
When the truth of their actions came to light, anger spread like wildfire.
To describe Felt's reaction as anger would almost be an understatement—it was rage in its purest form.
The moment she learned what her camp members had done to Anastasia, and that they had taken advantage of her helplessness after her name was devoured, her fury knew no bounds.
Although the three men tried desperately to apologize, their pleas fell on deaf ears.
No words could erase what they had done, no excuses could soften their cruelty.
They were thrown into prison without a shred of mercy.
Even that was considered lenient by many.
Felt's camp, as well as several others, were more than willing to push for their immediate and brutal execution, believing that such punishment was not only justified but necessary.
Their actions had crossed every possible line—they had beaten one of the Five Royal Candidates to the point of near death, an act that in itself was punishable by execution under the law.
In truth, if not for Anastasia herself intervening, their fate would have been sealed on the spot.
Julius in particular had been seconds away from carrying out their execution with his own hands.
His loyalty to Anastasia, and his guilt for how he had failed her, made his resolve absolute.
He had wanted to cut them down where they stood, ending their lives swiftly as retribution.
But Anastasia stopped him.
She made it clear that a quick execution would be too merciful for men like them.
Instead, she decreed that they would rot in prison, their days filled with suffering, their fates drawn out far longer than any blade could offer, getting the same amount of suffering that she had to endure.
Her decision was final, and while it spared their lives, it did not spare them from pain.
If anything, their survival guaranteed something far worse.
Everyone understood what awaited them.
They would be subjected to torment and humiliation in prison, suffering countless forms of cruelty for the unforgivable crimes they had committed.
Their punishment would not be swift—it would be long, drawn out, and merciless, a fate Anastasia herself deemed far more fitting than the release of death.
By now, the official search for Zero had already begun, and Anastasia, along with the others, waited restlessly for any results to surface.
Yet, week after week passed, and the man's disappearance remained a mystery that defied all logic.
Nobody could understand why someone like him, who had done the impossible, would simply vanish without a trace.
His absence left a gaping hole not only in Anastasia's heart but in the entire nation.
After all, Zero was not just some ordinary fighter or mercenary.
He was the savior of all Lugunica, the one who stood against the Sin Archbishops when even the strongest faltered.
He had demonstrated strength surpassing that of Reinhardt, the Sword Saint himself, who was supposed to be unmatched.
Reinhardt, by the way, had only recently returned from Od Laguna after being thrown out of it during the chaos.
His return caused a storm of controversy.
Many people, ignorant of what had truly happened, erupted in anger when they saw him again, accusing him of cowardice and claiming that he had run away and abandoned them during their greatest crisis.
It was only after Reinhardt personally explained the truth, and only after Felt and Crusch openly vouched for him, that the fury of the people was quelled.
Without those reassurances, the public's outrage would have boiled over into something far worse.
But shifting back to the true topic at hand—Zero had saved the entire nation, and not through coincidence or luck.
He had done it decisively.
For a man like that, claiming rewards should have been easy.
If Zero had wanted, he could have received a noble title without anyone daring to object.
If he desired, he could have even asked for the hand of a future queen in marriage, and such a request would not have been dismissed as unreasonable.
With such status, he would have gained the right to multiple wives if he so wished.
In Lugunica, polygamy was not common, but it was not unheard of either.
It was mostly restricted to wealthy merchants and high-ranking nobles, often practiced when political alliances demanded it or, more rarely, when a man genuinely loved more than one woman. Even then, it was unusual.
Yet if Zero had chosen such a path, nobody could have stopped him.
All the wealth, power, and companionship of women that this world had to offer were within his grasp, and most would have considered it nothing less than what he rightfully deserved.
But instead of pursuing any of that, he had vanished, disappearing without explanation.
The only trace he left behind was a simple request given to the people he resurrected: 'Please give Reina a place to stay if she ever comes, and tell her that Zero was here, and that he will return for her.'
These words, left behind without further explanation, baffled everyone who heard them.
And the ones entrusted with that request were not ordinary individuals—they were Ricardo, Wilhelm, and Theresia.
The resurrection of Ricardo alone had been enough to shake Anastasia to her core, for he was her first true family member.
But Wilhelm's return had also deeply moved the Astrea family, as they had lost him only a year prior.
Yet nothing compared to the impact of Theresia van Astrea's return.
Her resurrection changed everything for the Astrea household, sending ripples of shock and upheaval through the family.
Fortunately for Anastasia, she had no direct involvement in the Astrea family's personal affairs, nor did she care much about their complicated reactions.
Her one and only concern remained unchanged: finding Zero.
And it was not just her.
All five Royal Candidates had, in some form or another, committed themselves to the search for him.
Their motivations, however, varied greatly.
Anastasia and Crusch both had personal reasons that went far beyond duty or gratitude.
They were in love with him—Crusch sincerely, Anastasia obsessively.
Between the two, Anastasia's fixation burned the strongest, pushing her thoughts and decisions into dangerous territory.
Felt's reasons, by contrast, were simple and straightforward: she only wanted to thank him sincerely for saving her and for protecting her people.
As for Emilia and especially Priscilla, at first glance, it would not have made sense for them to join the search.
Their personalities and positions did not align with the idea of seeking out Zero out of personal desire.
Yet even here, the reasons became obvious once examined closely.
By this point, all five Royal Camps had come to a clear realization—whoever managed to bring Zero to their side would effectively secure victory in the Royal Selection.
The logic behind it was undeniable.
If the savior of Lugunica, the man who had accomplished what even legends failed to do, openly supported a particular candidate, the scales of power would tilt so heavily that the outcome would already be decided.
Not just the commoners, but even the nobles, who normally held themselves as the true arbiters of influence, would fall in line without hesitation.
The reasoning was simple and brutally obvious.
The entire world, and especially the Kingdom of Lugunica, had been reminded of an ugly truth: their nation was fragile, weak to threats like the Witch Cult, and frighteningly vulnerable.
Even with someone like the Sword Saint supposedly guarding their borders, catastrophe had struck without mercy.
They were almost destroyed.
Reinhardt's presence had not saved them.
The illusion of security had been shattered.
So when Zero appeared and not only fought against the Sin Archbishops but utterly defeated them—when he displayed power greater than Reinhardt and accomplished what everyone had considered impossible—the people of the kingdom saw him as the one true protector they could rely on.
If such a person were to lend his strength, his reputation, and his endorsement to any of the Royal Candidates, the population of Lugunica would not hesitate.
They would choose that candidate without question.
Because choosing them meant choosing safety.
Choosing them meant choosing survival.
With Zero on their side, the nation would not have to live in fear of external destruction.
And so, naturally, they would choose the candidate whom Zero himself chose.
This truth was so apparent that even Priscilla and Emilia, despite their vastly different personalities and ideals, recognized it immediately.
They understood the political weight behind Zero's existence, and because of that, both camps made efforts to assist in the search for him.
It wasn't purely about gratitude or sentiment—it was about survival and strategy.
For Anastasia and Crusch, however, the reasons went much deeper.
They weren't simply chasing after political advantage.
Their desires were personal, their motivations wrapped in complicated emotions that neither of them wanted to voice aloud for now, even though everyone close to them understood it.
Yet, even for them, another factor stood out—the mysterious name Zero had left behind: Reina.
Neither Anastasia nor Crusch had the slightest clue who this "Reina" truly was, but both of them understood that she was connected to him in some critical way.
She was their only lead, their only thread, and because of that, they made sure she was also included in their search efforts.
Months passed as the search dragged on with little to show, and eventually, a decision was made to arrange a major gathering.
All five camps would meet, discuss progress, and pool what little information they had.
The location chosen for this meeting was none other than the Crusch Camp's mansion, a neutral and respectable ground where order could be maintained.
Anastasia arrived at the mansion accompanied by her two closest confidantes, Ricardo and Julius.
Together they approached the entrance hall, stopping before the grand double doors.
The guards stationed there immediately stood at attention, saluting her with rigid formality.
Anastasia responded with her usual composed nod, signaling them with a calm hand gesture to open the door.
Because wind magic was being used to suppress sound, neither the creaking of the large gates nor the footsteps of Anastasia and her companions echoed through the hall.
Silence followed them as they stepped across the threshold.
Once inside, Anastasia came to a halt.
Her sharp eyes immediately caught sight of the chaos unfolding ahead—the Astrea family was in the middle of one of their trademark emotional scenes. She quickly signaled Ricardo and Julius to hold their positions.
They had not yet been noticed, and Anastasia decided that it was better to wait and observe.
She was not a stranger to tactics like this.
She understood the power of timing, of a dramatic entrance that could shift the atmosphere of a room.
She also understood the value of overhearing conversations not meant for one's ears—information people would never reveal if they knew they were being watched.
So she held her ground, silently watching the unfolding scene.
But then something unexpected happened.
Theresia van Astrea, calm yet firm, reached into her belongings and produced a notebook.
The moment Anastasia's eyes fell on it, she froze.
It was not an ordinary object, but something personally made by Zero.
Instantly her demeanor cracked.
Her eyes lit up with sharp intensity, her breathing grew heavier, and without even realizing it, a faint blush spread across her cheeks.
'I want it.'
The thought erupted inside Anastasia like a storm, raw and unfiltered.
The greed that consumed her in that moment was overwhelming.
It was not simple desire for the notebook itself, but for what it represented.
That notebook was not merely paper and ink—it was the only tangible connection they currently possessed to Zero.
More than that, in her mind, it was something he had touched, something that carried his presence, something that carried his very scent.
To her, it was as if a part of him was contained within those pages.
As she stood silently, still watching, Crusch suddenly stepped forward, breaking the rhythm of the ongoing discussion.
With her usual grace and calculated composure, she made her offer.
"Lady Theresia, I would like to purchase that notebook. Would 100 Royal Gold Coins suffice?," she said firmly, putting her bid on the table for the Theresia's treasure.
Anastasia's lips curled into a sneer the moment the words left Crusch's mouth.
A hundred coins?
Did the Duchess truly believe that such a pitiful sum could measure the worth of something connected to Lord Zero?
In her mind, the very idea was laughable—insulting, even.
Her thoughts turned sharp, her obsession swelling with dangerous intensity.
'Just one hundred Royal Gold Coins for a direct link to Zero? How ridiculous.'
Even if it meant selling off every last asset of the Hoshin Company, even if it meant draining every vault and shattering her fortune, she would claim it.
She would pay any price.
He was worth more than the world itself.
A slightly mad expression flickered across her face before she forced herself to regain her usual composure.
Her sharp, businesslike persona slid back into place as she stepped forward at last, making her presence known.
Her voice cut through the air like a knife.
"100 Royal Gold Coins? How pitifully low, Duchess Karsten."
The moment she spoke, the entire room's focus shifted instantly.
Up until then, everyone had been absorbed in the unfolding drama of the Astrea family, too distracted to even notice that Anastasia and her two confidantes had already arrived.
Now all eyes turned to her, curiosity and tension filling the air as they registered both her words and her presence.
Without hesitation, Anastasia took another step forward and delivered her counter.
"A mere hundred coins won't do. My Hoshin Company values such knowledge far more highly."
She lifted the doll and wagged it slightly before declaring, "I am willing to pay 1000 Royal Gold Coins for that notebook."
The weight of her words fell upon the room like a hammer.
A silence followed for a single heartbeat before the inevitable reaction erupted.
"WHAT?!" voices cried out in unison, shock and disbelief echoing from every direction.
The sheer audacity of her offer had shaken them.
A thousand Royal Gold Coins was not simply a fortune—it was a staggering amount of wealth, enough to buy estates, armies, or entire businesses.
To put such a price on a single notebook revealed far more than Anastasia probably intended.
But for those who looked closely, her eyes, her posture, and that faint intensity betraying her control made one thing unmistakably clear—this was no business negotiation.
This was desperation wrapped in obsession.
To be continued...
March Tier Expansion & Update Notice
As promised, I have increased the available slots across all tiers.
Arthur Tier → +2 slots
Mommy Minerva Tier → remains at 15 slots
Royal Tier → now 40 slots
Loyal Tier → now 50 slots
Respected Member → remains at 50 slots
Trial Membership → no slot limit
Thank you for your continued support and patience.
📖 Chapter Clarification
"All available chapters" means access to all chapters currently written at that tier level.As I continue writing, higher tiers will receive additional chapters in advance, as usual.
Some fanfics such as:
Re: Zero – Wives Reboot
Sloth IF
are available only to Loyal Tier and above, as they are secondary/tertiary projects.
Soon:
Re: Zero – The Great Sage will increase to 40 chapters for the Mommy Minerva tier.
Arthur tier will also receive additional chapters.
Regular Patreon updates for VM: Infinite Resources will resume starting tomorrow.
⏳ Temporary Public Release Pause
Public releases will be paused for one month.
Reasons:
I will be traveling to my village for the next three weeks.
I need to slow down and stabilize my health.
During this period:
Patreon updates will continue at a steady pace.
I will be stocking chapters and preparing future releases.
Public updates will resume after this short break.
Thank you for understanding.
💡 Membership Reminder
Please choose the tier that fits your needs.
If you only want access to a specific fanfic, select the tier that provides the available chapters for it. You may upgrade later when additional advance chapters become available.
There are no refunds, so please choose responsibly.