Chapter 82: Wait for Me to Go Back and Check
"So, you're saying I'll have to stay in the royal capital for treatment?"
Subaru Natsuki, munching on some bread, looked at Emilia who nodded slowly, and he casually nodded in response as he said:
"That's fine, I don't mind. But is everything okay at the mansion?"
"Huh? Why would you ask that, Subaru? Of course everything's fine at the mansion."
After swallowing the last bite of his bread, Subaru smiled and said:
"Well, that's true. There shouldn't be any problems at the mansion.
After all, even before I arrived, it was being taken care of by Rem and the senior maid. It's just that ever since I came to the mansion, the senior's been slacking off so much, I almost forgot she's supposed to be a maid."
Subaru reached out to pat Puck's head as he said:
"So, does that mean you're planning to leave first thing tomorrow morning?"
"Yeah, we'll hand you over to the people in charge of treatment in the morning, then we need to head back. We can't just leave the mansion unattended."
"I feel like I'm being treated like cargo."
"Ah, sorry, I didn't realize…"
"No worries, don't mind it. By the way, how long is this treatment supposed to take?"
"...Um, Subaru… there's something I want to talk to you about…"
"Hm? What's with that troubled look? Something bothering you? If so, tell me. I'll help you."
Emilia looked at Subaru, who was patting his chest reassuringly, and after a moment of silence, she said:
"...It's not about me… it's about you, Subaru…"
"Me?"
"Yeah. About the treatment time. We don't really know how long it'll take for you to fully recover, so… you might end up staying in the royal capital for quite a while."
"Huh? You're telling me this treatment could take my whole life?! Forget that, I don't have time to waste on something with no end in sight. Besides, I'm in great shape!"
"No, that's not what I meant… Actually, Subaru, you don't have to work as a servant at the mansion anymore. Once your treatment is over, you can do whatever you want."
Subaru paused for a moment as he understood what Emilia meant.
In other words, he didn't have to work at the mansion anymore — not if he took this opportunity of undergoing treatment.
Although that might sound like good news, there were still things he hadn't finished learning yet, and there was also the unresolved issue with Beatrice. There was no way he could just leave now.
"Ever since you met me, you've been getting hurt every time something happens. Sometimes I wonder…"
Emilia covered her forehead with one hand and looked at Subaru with a confused expression. Subaru quietly withdrew his hand and turned his head to look at Puck, who was perched on his shoulder, and said:
"My dear friend~~~ Don't you think this is when you should be saying something?"
"My dear friend~~~ This kind of thing is best left to you."
Subaru sighed, turned to Emilia and said:
"Do you remember what happened under the pavilion at the mansion?"
"Yeah… Of course I do…"
"Then why are you still trying to take the blame for me getting hurt?"
"…"
Emilia lowered her head, unable to meet Subaru's eyes.
She didn't know how to face the person sitting in bed who had helped her time and time again.
Ever since their first meeting, he had been helping her.
One problem after another had been solved by Subaru. Even if he said it was all for his own reasons, she couldn't help but feel that she owed him a lot.
In this royal selection, when everyone else silently watched her get cursed, he appeared — someone who shouldn't have even been there — and said things that offended all the knights. The duel he had with Julius was also deeply related to her.
How could she ever repay him for all these accumulated favors?
Aside from these complicated feelings, there was another kind of emotion buried deep in Emilia's heart — something different. Though hidden, it was already influencing the way she thought.
"Emilia, I'm going to punish you."
"Punish me?"
"That's right — punishment. This is for once again getting caught up in overthinking. The punishment is: after you return to the mansion, you'll write a 2,000-word reflection. When I get back, I'll check it. If you haven't done it, I'll have to resort to physical punishment~"
Emilia stared at Subaru, stunned.
She completely missed the part about the punishment and the 2,000-word reflection — her mind was stuck on one line: "When I get back, I'll check it."
"Subaru, you're coming back to the mansion? You're not staying in the capital?"
"Isn't that obvious? I haven't even been paid yet. How could I quit? Unless, of course, you guys don't want me anymore and are trying to make me leave — then I would."
"No, no, not at all! So… you're staying, huh… Okay, I'll take that punishment seriously!"
Subaru looked at the smiling Emilia, puzzled.
He didn't understand how she could be smiling after being punished. 2,000 words — not too much, not too little — but this wasn't his world, where reflection essays came with templates.
Without a template, writing a 2,000-word reflection from scratch wouldn't be an easy task.
"Uh… well… good luck?"
"Yeah, I'll do my best."
"You will, huh…"
Subaru looked awkwardly at Emilia, feeling like something was off.
Things weren't going the way he had expected.
Puck, sitting on Subaru's shoulder, watched the two with a mix of satisfaction and dissatisfaction.
He was satisfied with Subaru's decision to stay — otherwise, he was ready to step in and convince him. But he was dissatisfied with his clueless daughter.
She still hadn't realized her own feelings.
As her father, he couldn't just spell it out — if he did, and Subaru, whose feelings hadn't developed into love, rejected her outright, it'd be a disaster.
No — it's not if. It's a certainty. Especially with that blue-haired maid as a role model, Subaru accepting Emilia's feelings was practically impossible.
Puck sighed, feeling anxious and helpless once more.
All he could do was quietly listen to Emilia and Subaru discuss how to write a reflection essay.
.
.
.
The next morning
Subaru was taken to a very large house — its size rivaled even Roswaal's mansion.
While inspecting the decor of the house, he waited for the homeowner to arrive. After waiting a while, he glanced over at Rem, who stood beside him.
"Rem… Are you really going to stay here with me?"
"This is an order from Lord Roswaal and Lady Emilia — and it's what I want, too. Of course Rem will stay with you, Subaru-kun."
"But… if you stay here, there won't be anyone to clean the mansion. The senior maid can't handle it all alone…"
"It's fine. Sister is very capable — you just don't know it yet. And if Rem didn't stay, then after your treatment, no one would be there to guide you back to the mansion.
Plus, no one would be here to take care of you."
"Rem… I'm also a servant, you know? Sure, I might need help with directions, but I really don't need anyone to take care of me in daily life…"
"No, that won't do. Subaru-kun is a patient now — you need someone to take care of you."
Subaru, nursing a figurative toothache, gave up on trying to persuade Rem.
He turned to look toward the entrance.
After he was brought here, Emilia had left — seemingly to personally handle some matters — but maybe due to certain concerns, she had to leave things to Rem instead.
Then she left together with Ram.
As for Roswaal, he had mentioned needing to visit some friends in the capital and vanished early in the morning.
After waiting for some time, Subaru heard the door open — and three people walked in.