Crusch 2

Present,

Crusch is brushing her daughter's hair, as she likes doing so, this is how she usually shows her affection, it was a pity that she could only do this once a week, but that was no issue her daughter Andromeda Karsten Natsuki was satisfied with the time she spends with her, as she understood that her beloved mother had more important things to do and that is to run her kingdom.

While a child, she was mature enough to understand that, she was sensible and smart unlike kids of her age, she's also an introvert if she's given a choice she would rather stay in her room rather than go and talk to kids of her age outside, to her they are immature and annoying but she doesn't have a problem talking to them if necessary.

She likes reading so much that she would stay overnight just to finish a story, but she would be scolded if the maids or her mother were to find out that she's staying out late because it would be bad for her health, which she reluctantly agrees to.

Her father has a big part of why she is like this, not that she complained, the story goes like this one day her father made her a Light Novel as he called it, to read and almost as if it was her destiny, she instantly got hooked and became and became an introvert months later.

Andromeda continues reading while her mother brushes her hair, this was her favorite time of the week and it was no secret to her family, she wasn't afraid to admit that.

"My little angel, it's done." Crusch stops brushing her daughter's hair.

Hearing that from her beloved mother, Andromeda pouted as she wanted her mother to brush her hair a little longer, but it didn't voice out her desire because she didn't want to look spoiled toward her mother, she didn't want to act immature so she didn't say anything.

However, she wasn't good at masking her emotions and Crusch noticed this and said. "You know, you could always ask me to continue."

She smiled at her daughter, hinting that it was okay to ask.

Andromeda hesitated to ask, but ultimately she replied. "It's okay mother, I'm fine."

Crusch was amused at her daughter's reaction. "Is that so? You know my little angel, it's okay to act spoiled because you're a child, it's normal."

Andromeda shook her head and replied. "No, it's because it would put me on the same level as those immature brats."

Crusch sighs at her daughter's reply and thought. 'She's stubborn like her father, she got it from him….though it was no surprise since she admired her father..'

As much as she wants to spoil her little angel, if she says not to then she won't be forced to, sometimes wished her children would act immature more often, but she was also glad that they are mature. It was a bittersweet feeling for her.

While she and her daughter continued to talk about random topics, suddenly someone knocked at the door and said in a polite manner.

"May I come in?"

Hearing the familiar voice, they immediately knew who this person was, it was Leo, Crusch's firstborn and Andromeda's dear brother.

"You may," Crusch replied softly.

Then the door opened revealing the handsome figure of Leo as he saw his mother and sister, he smiled. "How's your day mother and sister?"

Both girls smiled at him and said, "It's wonderful."

"It's good."

Leo nodded at their reply, and Crusch asked. "What about you? How's your training with our royal knights?"

"It's fine, it's the same as always. While it's hard, it gave me some results." As a prince of Lugnica, there was no need for him to train but, this was his choice he didn't want to be weak, he aspired to become amazing like his mother and father as he knew that they were both amazing heroes.

He wanted to be like them, no he wanted to surpass their achievement so that they will be proud of him, saying his name with pride, he wanted to hear that from his parents even though there was no need, as they were already proud of him for what he achieved.

Even though his father says that he was already stronger than him back in his father's age, however, Leo didn't believe his father's words saying that it was just to make him feel better, to him his father was the greatest man, so far he had never met someone greater than him.

Crusch nods at his words and said, "That's great, remember you have to take care of your health first while it's good to train, too much is bad trust me I know, your father always do in the past to which I admired him for his will to become stronger and hated him for neglecting his health."

"I understand mother," Leo noted his mother's words, never once in his life, he ignored them, as he loved his mother and wanted to comply with whatever she said.

As Crusch was about to say something all of sudden, they felt a terrible amount of mana which caused them to shudder as they felt it, then an ominous violet hand grabbed the three of them before they could react.

And just like that the 3 of them disappeared from the face of the world.

—-

In the middle of the night Tokyo, in a dark alley it was like reality became distorted all of sudden a portal appeared and spits 3 different people, a man, a woman, and a girl all of them wore stunned expressions.

They were the royal family of Karsten Natsuki, the moment after Crusch was the first one to speak. "Wha-what in the world was that?"

"Mother, I do not know but one thing for sure we are teleported somewhere." Leo wore a serious expression, looking around with a wary expression, he was preparing to attack whoever had ill intent toward his family.

For the first time, Leo was glad that he wore his sword everywhere, and then, he touched his sheath ready to unsheath it anytime.

Andromeda didn't like this place at all, it looked scary and dark. The reason why she isn't trembling right now is that she was in the presence of her mother and brother and if she was alone, she would no doubt cry.

"I can see that…we need to stay calm and analyze our situation, we need to get more information of where we are teleported," Crusch said with a calm yet serious expression.

Leo nods as he agrees with his mother, they need to know where they are right now, whether they are inside lugnica or outside, it is important so that they know what course of action they would do next.

All of a sudden they heard a scream of a woman, both Leo and Crusch looked at each other before dashing toward the source of the scream, both of them had a huge sense of justice they wouldn't ignore someone like that, especially Leo who is a knight in training.

Andromeda also did the same, though her reason is different from them she just didn't want to be left alone, she had no problem following their speed as she had the divine protection of the wind.

(A/N: I know this isn't their world, but I'mma just let their divine protection stay cause it's important.)

It didn't take them a minute to arrive at the source of the scream, and they saw a woman was being forcefully dragged by males.

"Come on, you'll have a good time with us, you won't regret following us!"

"That's right lady, you'll have plenty of fun with us trust me!"

The woman looked at them with a horrified face, "No, no please leave me alone..!"

The woman sobbed and shouted. "HELP! PLEASE! SOMEONE! HELP ME!"

The men's expressions turned ugly. "Woman! Shut up! And follow us!"

"Tsk, If you're being like that then I have no choice but to…." The other male took out a handkerchief in his pocket and sprayed some sleeping powder, as the man was about to put it on the woman's mouth.

Leo shouted. "You vermin! Stop whatever you're going to do with the lady!"

Then they looked at Leo, Crusch, and Andromeda who had a look of disgust on their faces.

"Hey! Someone saw us! What should we run?!" The first male exclaimed in panic.

The second one was unusually calm, then looked at Crusch with a surprised expression, then turned into a lewd one. "Don't worry, I can take care of this. Hey, you the woman who wears that military cosplay wanna follow us have fun? You won't regret it! You have my words!"

The winds started blowing at Crusch hair, which says he's lying through his teeth, even without her divine protection it was already obvious, her facial expression worsen she stared at the man like he was some sort of animal, just by being started lewdly by this person makes her feel violated, it was disgusting she can't stand staring like that by a man, except for her husband, of course, only him is allowed to look at her that way.

Andromeda and especially Leo looked furious, hearing what that animal of a man said to his beloved mother, right now all he wanted is to skewer this man with his sword! How dare he look at her that way!

Without waiting for his mother to say anything, he dashed toward the man with a speed that was barely visible to the eyes of a normal human. Leo wanted to murder this man, he truly does but he had a conscience, as he was a human, not an emotionless puppet that kills without pity.

So he just hit the man's head using his sheath, it took one hit and that man became unconscious. Leo then looked at the other man with an emotionless expression and that man became scared shitless.

"Please don't hur-!" Before the man could finish his sentence, a fist arrived on his face and it knocked him up and made him unconscious.

Satisfied with what he had done, he shifted his attention toward the girl he helped and said. "My lady, you're safe now."

The woman was stunned by his out-of-place action, it was like he's acting like a knight or something, but it wasn't bad. She was grateful for his help without him, who knows what those men would do to her!

She shuddered as she imagined what kind of things those guys would do to her, after they succeeded in taking her away from this place, then she forced herself to calm down and smiled at Leo and said. "T-thank you, you saved me."

Leo's expression softened, as he heard her, then he replied. "No problem, a knight must help someone in trouble."

The woman was stunned for a moment, before giggling, "Of course, you're acting like a knight…you got me."

Leo was confused by her words. "Excuse me, what do yo-"

Leo couldn't finish his words as his mother called him. "Leo! What were you thinking? You could have gotten yourself hurt!"

Then he looked at his mother, who had a stern expression on her face, he gulped for a bit and lowered his head, and said. "Sorry."

Crusch sighs and replies. "Next time don't rush like that, it makes me worried you know?"

Leo nodded in shame, but he didn't regret what he did, what he did was the right and he was sure his mother would understand, not only did he do it to save the woman, it was also for his mother, he couldn't stand that man looking at his mother a lustful animal.

Then Crusch looked at the woman and said, "I won't ask why you are here, but next time be careful, you won't be lucky next time like tonight."

The woman nodded. "I understand you miss?"

"Crusch."

"Ah, you're a foreigner, let me introduce myself I'm Natsuki Aoi, and again thanks for saving me." Aoi smiled both at Leo and Crusch who had an expression of shock as they heard her name.

"You, did you say you're a Natsuki?" Crusch asked in disbelief.

"Yes? Is there something wrong?" Aoi looks at her confusedly.

Then Crusch looks at her son, and at the same time he also did, both of them thought the same thing, then Leo looks at Aoi and asked.

"May I ask if you know who Natsuki Subaru is?"

Then Aoi's expression changed from confusion to surprise. "You know my cousin?"

And her answer just proved their theory.

(End-)

Title: Cousin of Subaru

Name: Aoi Natsuki

Age: 18

Sex: Female

Appearance: She looks like a gender-bent version of Subaru.

About: Daughter of Kenichi's long-distance cousin, she's born a year after Subaru's disappearance.