Emilia sang a tuneless hum as she practically skipped out of the bathing chamber, her damp hair bouncing with each light step. She wasn't quite sure why she felt so wonderfully light, perhaps it had something to do with recent events? Or maybe it was simply the excitement of getting to see new places?
In any case, Emilia felt great as she made her way back to her room.
Turning a corner, her eyes widened in pleasant surprise as she came across Rem and Subaru in the hallway.
"Are you sure we can't just take it easy for— oh, hey! Good morning, Emilia-tan!" Subaru called out, his voice carrying that seemingly endless enthusiasm she'd come to expect from him.
Emilia found that quality rather admirable.
"Good morning, Rem, Subaru!" she replied brightly. "Isn't it just a beautiful day?"
"Pardon me, Lady Emilia," Rem interjected with her characteristic precision, "but the weather is rather overcast today. Most would consider such conditions unfortunate."
Emilia's radiant mood couldn't be dampened by something so trivial. "Is that so?" She tilted her head thoughtfully. "Well, I still think today is absolutely wonderful!"
"What's got you so excited, Emilia-tan?" Subaru asked, clearly noting the extraordinary happiness radiating from the girl of his dreams. "Was the bath really that amazing? Rem and I put some serious back-breaking work into scrubbing that place spotless the other day."
"Oh! I wasn't aware you'd done that." Emilia's expression brightened further with genuine gratitude. "Thank you both so much for all the hard work you do. And to answer your question, Subaru... I'm honestly not quite sure why I'm so happy today!"
"Gah! Emilia-tan is going to give me a heart attack," Subaru clutched dramatically at his chest. "First praising me, then acting so impossibly adorable..."
He actually seemed to be trembling slightly, and Emilia wondered absently if he might be cold.
"Your praise is greatly appreciated, Lady Emilia," Rem cut smoothly across Subaru's theatrics with a respectful curtsy. "We are simply fulfilling our duties as servants of this household."
Subaru quickly attempted to follow suit, trying to curtsy without the benefit of a skirt and nearly toppling over in the process.
Subaru's gaze drifted downward and stopped short when he noticed what Emilia was carrying, a pair of men's boots.
"Oh yeah, Emilia-tan," he said slowly, his eyes fixed on the suspicious footwear, "have you seen Ethan this morning?"
"Mhm! He's sleeping in my room right now," Emilia answered with perfect, innocent honesty.
The effect was immediate and devastating.
Subaru froze completely, his head turning with mechanical precision toward Rem as if seeking confirmation that he'd heard correctly. Rem's expression fared no better, her eyes went cold, her face becoming entirely unreadable.
The silence stretched uncomfortably as Subaru's mind raced back to a conversation from just the day before.
—
He'd been placing fresh sheets on a guest bed when he noticed Rem standing unusually still by the window. For someone whose efficiency bordered on the supernatural, any moment of distraction seemed impossible.
"Rem-rin? What's got you so distracted?" He'd sidled up behind his coworker, following her intense stare out toward the manor's gardens.
The window overlooked the wide grassy area where he'd followed Emilia and Ethan to during his first day at the manor. Tracing Rem's line of sight, Subaru had seen Ethan conjure what looked like a miniature sun above his palm, a perfect sphere of golden light that shifted upward to form a luminous halo around his head.
"Tsk! Protagonist-type guys seriously need to be nerfed," Subaru had muttered, mostly to cover his envy at not having the chance or time to learn magic himself. "What's he trying to do, look like some kind of angel?"
But even as he complained, he'd noticed that Rem continued to stare at Ethan with unwavering intensity.
Before he could comment on her strange behavior, Rem had finally turned around. That chilling gaze landed on Subaru, though it warmed slightly when she saw his confused expression.
"Subaru," she'd said with uncharacteristic seriousness, "you should stay away from Ethan."
"Uh... can I ask why? I mean, I'm certainly not his biggest fan, but I don't think he's done anything wrong."
Rem had glanced away, conflict flickering across her usually composed features.
"He gives me a bad feeling, Subaru. That's all I can say for now." Her voice had carried genuine concern. "I wouldn't want you to get hurt, so I'm giving you this warning."
That had been the end of the conversation.
—
Since then, Subaru had wisely chosen to do the exact opposite of her advice, instead trying to seek out Ethan to figure out what exactly was "off" about him.
But now, staring at Emilia who was practically glowing and processing her innocent revelation about where Ethan currently was, Subaru felt his world tilt sideways.
'He's... sleeping. In her room. She's glowing like... like…'
The clean boots in her hands suddenly took on a horrifying new significance. The way she hummed with contentment. The satisfied smile playing at her lips. The casual way she'd said it, like it was perfectly normal for her to be caring for him so intimately.
A sick, disgusting, all-consuming feeling writhed in Subaru's gut as his mind filled in the blanks. His hands began to tremble, his vision blurring slightly as the blood drained from his face.
'All this time... all this time I've been working myself to the bone, learning to read, trying to prove myself worthy, and he just... he just…'
The memory of his secret plans crashed through him, how he'd imagined finally learning magic, how he'd pictured Emilia's eyes lighting up with admiration when she saw his progress, how he'd fantasized about gradually earning her affection through dedication and kindness.
All of it. Every pathetic, hopeful daydream. Obliterated in a single moment.
It seemed like that bastard had just completely destroyed any possible chance Subaru might have ever had with the beautiful half-elf standing before him. While he'd been scrubbing floors and bandaging his hands from kitchen mishaps, Ethan had been... had been...
"Lady Emilia, I must ask, did you and—" Rem's voice cut through his spiral of despair.
'No. No, no, no. She can't ask that. I can't hear the answer. I can't—'
"Ah! Rem-rin, I totally forgot!" Subaru practically shouted, his voice cracking with barely controlled panic. "We've gotta get breakfast going, don't we?! Ram will burn the manor down if we don't hurry!"
He could feel his chest tightening, his breathing becoming shallow. If Rem pressed for details, if Emilia confirmed what his mind was already painting in vivid, crushing detail, he wasn't sure he could hold himself together.
"Sorry about that, Emilia!" he called out while gently but desperately dragging the confused maid away, his grip probably too tight, but he couldn't seem to control his strength.
Emilia could only blink as the odd pair disappeared around a corner.
Giving a shrug and chalking their behavior up to Subaru probably being his usual silly self, she continued her little dash back to her room, completely unaware of the emotional devastation she'd just inadvertently caused.
—
A soft, warm touch against my cheek pulled me from the light doze I'd fallen into. My eyes slowly opened, vision still blurry from sleep, and I found Emilia leaning over me with a gentle smile.
"Good morning, sleepyhead," she murmured in that soft tone that was beginning to have an unsettling effect on my composure. "Are you planning to sleep the whole day away? It's an important day for us, remember?"
"Hey, Lia. Back from your bath?" I muttered, working out the crick in my neck from sleeping at an awkward angle in the chair.
"Yup!" she replied, letting the 'p' pop in clear imitation of something I often did. The mimicry was becoming more frequent, I'd noticed.
"Alright, I'm up and functional. When are we supposed to leave for Costuul?"
"Ah! I totally forgot to ask Rem about the timing!" She shook her head with minor self-reproach, silver hair catching the morning light. "Oh well, I'm sure we can find out during breakfast."
I stretched in the chair with a low hum of agreement, idly noticing my boots placed neatly beside me, cleaned of the filth that had been present the night before.
Standing up, I glanced around and noted that Puck was nowhere to be seen. So my attention turned to Emilia, who had moved to her desk and was organizing the papers we'd drafted for our Costuul plans. She leaned over the table with focused concentration, her silver hair now braided in an intricate pattern that caught and reflected the light.
I found myself staring longer than was probably appropriate.
Shaking off the distraction, I quickly strapped on my boots before stepping up behind the girl who'd done so much for me. My arms began to rise of their own accord, reaching toward her, before I caught myself.
'What exactly am I trying to do here?'
The question stopped me cold. I wanted to convey my gratitude somehow, but what was the appropriate response to someone who'd pulled me out of my darkest moment? Who'd let me sleep in her bed while she held me through the worst of it?
'What does that even make us now?'
My arms fell back to my sides as uncertainty paralyzed me.
'Would she be offended if I just hugged her? Isn't that presumptuous? It would be like some creep embracing her from behind without warning. No, I need to find some other way to—'
"Ethan?" Her voice cut through my spiraling thoughts, soft and curious.
'Damn it. Should have just used Reason and Judgment, now I really do look like a weirdo standing here.'
Though even as I thought it, I knew the truth. The version of me under my Authority's influence wouldn't bother with gratitude or worry about appropriate gestures. That artificial confidence would dismiss these concerns as weakness, irrelevant to whatever strategic goal it deemed important.
And despite how much simpler that would make things... I didn't want to be that version of myself. Not with her.
"Uhm... Ethan, are you still tired?" Emilia asked again, turning slightly to look at me with genuine concern.
"Ah! Sorry, Lia. Still waking up," I managed with a crooked smile, forcing myself to focus on the present moment. "What I was trying to do was say... thank you. Truly. I know I thanked you last night, but you really helped me in ways I'm not even sure I can properly express."
I scratched the back of my head, feeling unusually vulnerable. "Is there anything I could do to make it up to you?"
She put a finger to her chin, studying me with those amethyst eyes. Then something shifted in her expression, a confidence I was still getting used to seeing from her, and she smiled.
Instead of answering with words, she stepped closer and drew me into a tight embrace.
The familiar scent of lavender enveloped me, and I found myself frozen with indecision. My body went rigid as my mind raced.
'What does this mean? Why is she—'
A small sound escaped Emilia's throat, soft, disappointed, maybe even a little hurt.
That tiny noise triggered something primal in me, an instinct I didn't fully understand but couldn't ignore. My arms moved without conscious thought, wrapping around her silver-haired form and pulling her closer. Whatever uncertainty I'd been feeling evaporated in the face of that single, vulnerable sound.
She melted against my chest immediately, a pleased hum vibrating through her as I felt an involuntary smile spread across my face.
"I'm really happy, Ethan," she murmured into my chest, her arms squeezing me tighter.
"Is that so?" I found myself asking. "Here I am being embraced by a beautiful girl, I think I should be the one saying that."
She shifted in my arms, leaning back just enough to peek up at me with wide eyes.
"You mean it?" she whispered, confusion and something else flickering across her features.
"Mean what? That I think you're beautiful?" I tilted my head, my left hand rising from her back to gently thread through the silver strands that had escaped from her intricate hairstyle. "I'm not sure, Lia... do you think I meant it?"
Her face began to flush a delicate shade of pink, and I couldn't help the smile that grew wider as her cheeks puffed up in an adorable pout at my deflective answer.
"... But still, you didn't really answer me, Lia," I murmured, my voice carrying a stubborn warmth. "You can hug me all you want, but surely that isn't the only thing I can do for you."
"I didn't do it for a reward, Ethan." Emilia pulled back slightly to give him a mildly reproachful look, though her arms remained firmly around me. "I did it because we're partners."
The simple sincerity in her words made my chest tighten. "Alright, alright," I relented, giving her one final, lingering squeeze before forcing myself to step back. "You've made your point."
My face felt like it was on fire as I put some distance between us, though a very stubborn part of me just wanted to pull her back into my arms.
"We've got a lot to accomplish today, Lia," I managed, my voice slightly rougher than intended. "I need to get my things sorted before we leave, then we should grab breakfast. Better to eat now than try to manage it on the road, right?"
Emilia's arms dropped to her sides reluctantly, her fingers seeming to want to reach for me again before she caught herself. After a moment, she gave me a bright, determined nod.
"Right! I just need to organize these papers, and then I'll be ready." She turned toward her desk with renewed energy, though I caught her glancing back at me as she moved.
"I'll come get you when I'm finished, and then we can go get breakfast together?" she offered, her voice carrying a note of hope that made my resolve waver.
"Sounds like a plan..." I strapped the weapon back to my belt and paused at the door, unable to resist one final tease. "...my beautiful partner."
Her head whipped toward the door just as I stuck my tongue out at her, slipping out and closing it behind me before she could respond.
—
The door to my own room clicked shut behind me, and I automatically scanned the space with practiced caution. My eyes swept over the sparse furnishings before settling on my travel bag in the corner, and I couldn't help but notice the scuffed dirt marks still visible on the floorboards from the previous night.
Before stumbling into Emilia's room in my emotional wreckage, I'd dealt with most of the physical evidence of what I'd done in the forest.
The Gospel? Gone. Reduced to atoms. I had no desire to keep that thing on me after that experience. I still held my Authority, if I ever wished to seek out the Cult later, I had a feeling they would simply find me regardless.
The blood-soaked cloak and gore-stained clothing had met the same fate. I'd used Indomitable to impose my will upon the items until they simply disintegrated, allowing me to blow the evidence out the window rather than attempt the impossible task of cleaning them.
If I'd known I would end up confessing what I'd done, I might have tried to salvage the cloak. But hindsight was a luxury I couldn't afford.
'Damn shame, too. I'll need to replace half my wardrobe in Costuul. Though I suppose Lia and I can make an adventure out of shopping in one of the so-called Five Great Cities.'
But that was putting the cart before the ground dragon, as they said in this world.
Packing my personal belongings took a pitiful amount of time. I simply didn't own much, especially after reducing a third of my possessions to literal dust the night before.
A darkly amusing thought occurred to me as I surveyed my meager collection. 'Half of everything I own in this world is stolen.'
All the currency, the sword and sheath, the dagger, the arm bag, even the blanket, weapon maintenance kit, and travel bag had been purchased with money I'd lifted from those thieves in the capital and that psycho, Elsa.
'Well, fuck it. It's a pirate's life for me, I suppose.'
One final check with Reason and Judgment confirmed that all my coins remained secure and that neither the maids nor Subaru had decided to lighten my load during the night. Satisfied, I shouldered both bags and prepared to leave.
At the threshold, I paused and looked back into the empty, cold room that had been my temporary sanctuary.
'Can't say I'll miss this place. Like a hotel room, you never really think about these spaces once you've moved on.'
With those useless thoughts, I stepped into the hallway. Emilia had promised to come find me when she was ready, so I settled in to wait.
A distant rumble echoed through the corridor, drawing my attention to the window, where I watched the first drops of rain begin to streak down the glass.
'This is actually the first rain I'll see in this world,' I realized with something approaching wonder. 'What a strange thought to have.'
—
After around ten minutes of waiting, I finally heard footsteps approaching, but they weren't Emilia's. The footfalls were too heavy, the pace too rapid, yet not quite heavy enough to belong to one of the manor's female staff. That left only one candidate, considering I didn't hear the tell-tale rattle of boot chains that announced Roswaal's presence.
"Subaru," I said without turning from the window. Lightning cracked nearby, illuminating the hallway in stark relief, and I found myself grinning. Even in a foreign world, thunderstorms remained beautifully unchanged. "What can I do for you?"
"Is it true?" My fellow traveler from another world's voice carried a sharp edge of accusation. "Are you really that close with Emilia?"
Now he had my attention.
"And what exactly does that mean?" I turned to face the newfound servant, studying his tense posture. "No, scratch that, why does that concern you?"
I rose from the alcove where I'd been sitting, noting the way his hands clenched at his sides.
"You've only known her for a week..." he muttered, and I could clearly read the jealousy burning in his gaze. But I still didn't understand why he'd chosen to confront me about it, so I remained silent.
"You know..." His voice gained strength, transforming from pitiful whining into something more dangerous. "Rem told me you were suspicious. That I should stay away from you. But I can't just look away if you're doing something to Emilia."
'What the fuck? Is this guy on something? Sure, I guess I could see Rem hating on me behind my back like usual, but where the hell did the last part come from?'
I felt genuinely flabbergasted. Befuddled. Dumbfounded. Completely blindsided by the sheer audacity of the implication.
"You think that I'm... manipulating Emilia?" I asked, pouring as much genuine confusion as I could muster into my voice.
"I don't know what the hell you're doing!" The words exploded out of him like he'd been holding them back for days. "Now that I think about it, you always keep yourself separate from the rest of the manor. You barely interact with anyone besides Emilia and Puck, you never help with anything, you're always off doing your own mysterious business—"
'How is any of that my problem? I thought we were at least neutral in all our interactions thus far? I never prodded or overtly made fun of you, I never antagonized you! Where's the fucking logic?!' I screamed internally while he continued his tirade against my antisocial tendencies.
"Enough." The word came out with more force than I'd intended, my Authority's star burning brighter in response to the provocation.
"My reward for assisting Emilia in the capital was the privilege of staying as a guest within this manor." My voice took on that calm, clinical tone that usually was a side effect of my Authority. "I'm uncertain why you would expect me to provide labor or socialize extensively with the household staff. It is neither my place nor my obligation to do so."
I began counting off on my fingers. "I practice magic. I assist Emilia with her studies. I enjoy the manor's grounds. I rest and recover as befits a guest of the Margrave. In which of these perfectly reasonable activities do you perceive a threat?"
"You—!" he started, face flushing.
"You," I echoed, tone dry, "are speechless. Because you did not have valid concerns when you attempted to confront me."
His mouth opened and closed like a fish gasping for air, but I cut him off before he could gather his wits.
"Consider this: if I truly posed a threat to this manor or to Emilia, who is a royal selection candidate, I might add, then surely the Margrave, who also happens to be the kingdom's court mage, would have dealt with me accordingly."
I spread my arms in a theatrical gesture, letting the absurdity of his position hang in the air.
"And yet here I stand, alive and well, with only a maid who has despised my presence since day one whispering poison in your ears."
Thunder rolled overhead as I stepped closer, my voice dropping to something more serious.
"Listen carefully, Natsuki Subaru. You need to think for yourself. Stand on your own two feet and question the actual facts before you. Was it not I who gave you a cloak from Arlam as a gesture of goodwill? Was it not I who fought alongside you in those slums, bleeding in that wretched house to help fend off that assassin? Was it not through our combined efforts that we all managed to escape with our lives intact?"
"I... I didn't..." he stammered, taking an involuntary step backward as my words hit home.
"You want to protect her, I understand that impulse completely." My voice softened slightly, but the steel remained underneath. "But do not confuse genuine protection with possessiveness. Emilia is not a prize to be guarded from every man who treats her with kindness and respect."
The expression on Subaru's face cracked like glass, guilt, anger, and confusion all warring for dominance across his features.
I walked past him with a shake of my head, the conversation clearly over.
"Grow up," I muttered as I moved down the hallway. "And next time you want to accuse someone of wrongdoing, try bringing actual evidence instead of paranoia and jealousy."
—
Subaru glared at the retreating figure of the white-haired man, his fists clenching so tightly he was certain he'd draw blood if he pressed just a little harder.
Every fiber of his being screamed at him to throw a haymaker right into the back of that smug bastard's head. But several factors held him back: his father would be deeply disappointed in him for resorting to violence against somebody who was walking away, he'd witnessed enough of Ethan's capabilities to know he wouldn't survive a real fight, and most frustratingly... he was genuinely conflicted about whether he'd been in the right.
As Ethan vanished around the corner, Subaru slammed his fist into his own thigh in frustration, immediately wincing as pain shot through the muscle.
He slumped down in the same alcove where Ethan had been sitting moments before, a long, dragging sigh escaping him as he began to question everything. Had he actually been wrong? Was Rem's suspicion misplaced? Had he jumped to conclusions based on nothing more than wounded pride?
Had Ethan been right about him letting emotion cloud his judgment? About jealousy warping his perspective?
"Dammit!" he gritted out through clenched teeth as the painful reality hit him again, he didn't stand a chance with the silver-haired girl of his dreams. Never had, apparently.
'What the hell am I even doing here, then!?'
The thought of leaving crossed his mind, the dark, pouring rain outside seeming to mirror his inner turmoil perfectly. Maybe he should just pack up and go. Emilia clearly had someone already, someone who could offer her things he never could. And being a servant...
Subaru winced at his own honesty. It wasn't that he hated the work, actually, he found it surprisingly rewarding, but he'd be lying if his primary motivation hadn't been the hope of growing closer to Emilia.
His savior from that first, terrible loop. The connection they'd barely begun to build before Elsa's curved blades tore it away from him. The chance to maybe, eventually, recapture that spark, now completely monopolized by someone else.
All those familiar feelings of inadequacy from Earth came surging back, eager to consume the newfound confidence he'd discovered since arriving in this world. The sense of freedom he'd felt after leaving everything behind was being shredded apart like wet toilet paper.
'Maybe I should learn to read and write properly, save up some coin, then just…'
"Subaru?!" A soft but urgent voice cut through his spiral of self-pity.
He knew exactly who it belonged to. Rem came sprinting down the hallway from the opposite direction Ethan had taken, moving with startling speed and obvious concern.
"Subaru?! Are you o-kay?" The blue-haired maid used the Earth expression he'd taught her, and despite everything, he felt a small smile tug at his lips.
"I'm... fine, Rem-rin. Just had a chat with Ethan. I'll be okay."
Her aqua blue eyes narrowed with dark intensity. "Did he do anything to you?"
The way she asked made Subaru think she was ready to produce a weapon from her sleeves and go hunting if he gave her even the slightest excuse. But he couldn't bring himself to lie.
"Besides bruising my ego? No, he didn't do anything except talk to me." He managed a weak smile. "Sorry for running off during breakfast prep, Rem-rin. Should we get back to it?"
"Subaru..." Rem's voice carried a note of concern that made him feel somewhat relieved that at least somebody in this world cared for him.
—
I paced swiftly down the halls, my boots tapping an urgent rhythm against the tiles as confusion whirled through my mind. I needed to find Emilia and get the hell out of this manor. The place had been nothing but uncomfortable from day one, except when I was with her.
'I'll be relieved when we're finally out of here. Time hasn't looped since the capital, so maybe Subaru isn't even the favored one after all. If that's the case... maybe I can convince Emilia to consider taking up residence in the capital instead. This place is suffocating.'
Heading down the main staircase toward her room, I suddenly noticed something that made my stomach drop, I felt unusually light on my feet.
'Ah, fuck.'
In all my haste to escape that confrontation, I'd left my travel bag sitting in the alcove like an idiot.
'Well, that's embarrassing. No way in hell I'm going back to retrieve it now.'
Writing off the bag as a temporary loss, I continued down the stairs with determined strides when I caught sight of exactly who I'd been searching for.
"Lia!" I called out, unable to keep a note of genuine excitement from creeping into my voice, which immediately made me feel self-conscious about how eager I sounded.
"Ethan?" She looked up with surprise, quickly closing the distance between us. "What are you doing here? Where are your belongings?"
Without any hesitation, she reached out and intertwined our fingers. The casual intimacy of the gesture still caught me off guard, even though it was becoming routine for her.
"Had a little... situation," I said carefully. Part of me considered telling her about Subaru's accusations and his obvious jealousy, but the guy hadn't actually done anything beyond yelling at me. Maybe he'd get himself together on his own. I had no interest in damaging his reputation over what amounted to jealousy. "But I got all my stuff sorted out, it's fine. How about you and I go grab something to eat? I'm personally starving."
"Oh, alright!" Her face brightened with that gorgeous smile that never failed to affect me. "Come on, Ethan!"
And away we went, me being pulled along as usual by my energetic half-elf partner, her enthusiasm infectious enough to push the unpleasant encounter with Subaru to the back of my mind.
—
Breakfast was a tense, uncomfortable affair. Subaru and Roswaal were conspicuously absent from the dining table, while Rem and Ram observed us with those unnervingly blank expressions that made my skin crawl.
The entire atmosphere felt barely tolerable, but Emilia's presence beside me kept me grounded. When Puck arrived with Beatrice trailing behind him, the oppressive mood lightened slightly, though not by much.
"So where is Lord Roswaal? Does anybody know?" I asked after taking another cautious bite of the pancakes, half-wondering if they might be laced with something unpleasant.
A thunderous crack of lightning outside answered my question before any human could, the sound echoing ominously through the dining hall.
"Master Roswaal is currently occupied finalizing his preparations before he must depart for the event in Costuul," Ram replied with her characteristic precision. "He should make an appearance before Lady Emilia's departure, honored guest."
Her tone carried that familiar dryness, polite on the surface but with an undercurrent that made it clear I was merely being tolerated.
"Oh right, Ram, could you please tell me when we'll be departing?" Emilia asked from beside me.
"We should expect to leave around Fire Time, Lady Emilia," Ram replied, gesturing toward the ornate time crystal suspended above the dining hall's double doors.
Emilia thanked her graciously, but my attention had shifted to the peculiar details I'd been observing since arriving in this world.
Time was measured weirdly in this world. They divided up days into an inordinate number of sections, but considering I now lived here, I memorized them so as not to stand out.
The day began with Brightsun, spanning what would be 6 AM to 6 PM in Earth terms. Simple enough in concept, but they subdivided this twelve-hour period into two distinct phases: Wind Time, covering morning through midday, followed by Fire Time, which carried from midday into evening. Darksun completed the cycle with Water Time and Earth Time, dividing the remaining hours until dawn.
'Such a strange method of keeping time. The 24-hour and 12-hour clock is so much better.'
Still, I suspected there might be practical reasons behind the seemingly arbitrary naming conventions. The elemental terminology, Wind, Fire, Water, Earth, corresponded directly to the fundamental schools of magic, while Brightsun and Darksun seemed to echo the Yang and Yin philosophical concepts I'd encountered in various magical texts.
Perhaps ambient magical energies fluctuated throughout the day in ways that influenced spellcasting effectiveness?
I took another bite of sausage, filing the theory away for future investigation, before returning my attention to the more immediate entertainment of watching Puck systematically pilfer small bites of Emilia's eggs, occasionally snatching a sweet roll from my plate before washing it down with generous gulps from my glass of tea.
"You absolute little food thief," I said, unable to suppress my amusement. "Where do you even store all of that in such a tiny frame?"
I reached out to poke his furry belly, and was rewarded with an utterly improper belch that would have made a tavern patron proud.
"Charming," I muttered.
"Puck!" Emilia quickly admonished her wayward spirit, though she wasn't exactly setting the best example herself, considering the syrup smeared near the corner of her mouth.
Trying to refocus on my own meal, I became aware of eyes boring into me from across the table. Beatrice was staring at me with an oddly contemplative expression that shifted to visible annoyance the moment she realized I'd caught her watching.
"You are quite rude, in fact," she declared with her characteristic bluntness. "But that clueless look on your face is somewhat more bearable than what you looked like last night, I suppose."
Emilia paused mid-bite, glancing between us with concern, but I kept my tone light. "And what exactly did I look like last night?"
"A corpse, in fact." Beatrice's response was immediate and merciless.
'What a nice way to describe me.'
"Anyway," I continued, deliberately shifting the conversation before Emilia could dwell on that particular observation. I turned toward the food-thieving spirit. "Puck, should we track down Roswaal to discuss our... business? Or do we just wait until he deigns to show up?"
"Mmm, we'll probably need to seek him out," Puck replied. "It's the sort of matter that should be properly documented, after all."
I caught the subtle emphasis in his words. What we needed to discuss with Roswaal wasn't something either of us wanted Emilia to overhear. Learning that people had specifically targeted the manor with her as their objective would be demoralizing at best, terrifying at worst.
I understood that sometimes people needed to hear difficult truths. But when you had the option to shield someone you cared about from unnecessary anxiety that would otherwise serve little purpose... well, that seemed like the kinder choice.
But as I nodded and opened my mouth to respond, the exact opposite of what we wanted proceeded to happen.
"Can I come with you?" Emilia asked brightly, and both Puck and I simultaneously froze. A shared look of understanding flickered between us in an instant, we'd been outmaneuvered by simple curiosity.
"Of course, Lia," I said, recovering quickly. "We'll all go talk to Roswaal after breakfast."
"Absolutely," Puck agreed while floating up to hover in front of Emilia's face, producing a tiny napkin from somewhere to dab at the syrup still clinging to the corner of her mouth.
Emilia beamed at us both, clearly pleased that we weren't trying to exclude her from whatever boring administrative business we had planned. She probably sensed that we'd been coordinating something, but our immediate agreement seemed to satisfy her completely.
'We can still control the narrative,' I thought. 'Just have to be more creative about it.'
As we finished eating, Beatrice suddenly stood with a forlorn look on her face, holding out her hands toward Puck in a silent plea that the small spirit immediately understood.
"Puckie..." Her voice carried all the emotion and sadness that was usually buried beneath layers of contempt and irritation. "You're not going to be gone for a long time, are you?"
"Of course not, Betty." Puck's response was gentle, floating into her waiting arms. "This is just a quick trip to the city. We'll be back before you know it, and then I'll have to reward your patience by spending lots of time with you."
Beatrice clutched the small cat against her chest, and for a moment I thought she might actually cry. The raw emotion on her usually guarded face seemed strange to me.
But as I pondered emotion, my attention was diverted by approaching footsteps.
"Esteemed guest," Ram's voice carried its usual formal detachment as she approached with a familiar travel bag. "It appears you misplaced your belongings."
I stood to accept the bag, Emilia immediately rising as well and positioning herself at my side like it was the most natural thing in the world. The weight felt right as I shouldered it, not that there was anything valuable enough inside to steal anyway.
"Thank you for bringing this to me," I said.
Ram gave me a curt nod before gathering dirty dishes and retreating to the kitchen alongside her twin.
"I'll see you very soon, Betty," I heard Puck concluding his goodbye across the table. "Stay ladylike and proper while I'm gone, alright?"
I turned to find Emilia unusually quiet beside me, a thoughtful expression on her face.
"What's the matter, Lia?" I asked, gently taking one of her hands in mine.
"Oh, it's nothing serious." She looked down at our joined hands with a small smile. "I just feel a little melancholic about leaving the manor for an extended time. I had similar feelings before I left for the capital, but that trip turned out wonderfully since I found you there." Her smile brightened considerably. "Now I have you by my side, so I know I'll be strong enough for whatever comes."
The simple honesty in her words struck me once again. Straightforward emotional truth shared without reservation.
'How do you do it so easily?' The ability to express vulnerability without spiraling into paranoia about who might exploit it or how it could be used against her seemed almost miraculous from my perspective.
I gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. "I'll certainly be by your side, Lia, and so will Puck. We'll have a great time together, you'll gain valuable experience, and hopefully begin to build a strong base of supporters. I'll be right there with you, helping you to the best of my ability."
The promise felt different than the calculated assistance I'd offered in the past. Aiding Emilia had become something I genuinely wanted to do, not just logical strategy or political maneuvering. It was my choice, influenced not by obligation or fear, just my own free will.
She stepped closer to me, arms rising as if preparing to pull me into another embrace, but a fuzzy guardian swooped to the rescue.
"Alright, kiddos!" Puck announced with forced cheer, floating directly between us and blocking her view of me. "Time to go! Come on, Lia, much to accomplish, not much time for you to engage in such... activities!" He rapid-fired the words while deftly extracting her hand from mine and steering her toward the door.
I could only shake my head with a wry smile at the overprotective father spirit.
—
I'd never sought a private audience with Roswaal during my time at the manor. The prospect had always seemed akin to walking into a viper's den, and the way the Margrave lounged in his ornate chair with that insufferable smirk as our trio entered only reinforced that impression.
"And whaaaat can I do for you, Lady Emiliaaa?" The clown began by addressing the highest-ranking person in the room, a transparent show of respect.
"Oh, I'm just accompanying Puck and Ethan here. Don't mind me!" Emilia responded with an innocent smile while clutching my hand tighter.
Puck's attempt had failed. Simply the moment he looked away she grabbed me again, not that I minded.
Though I had tried to let go of her hand before we entered, apparently that wasn't allowed. I'd need to do some more work to prepare her for political scenes. This wasn't a good look unless I stepped up my position in the kingdom.
"Is that sooo?" Roswaal's heterochromatic gaze shifted to us with interest. "And what is it that I can do for youuu, Puck and Ethan Caaaldwell?"
"Good morning, Lord Roswaal," I began with careful formality. "I'm afraid I bear rather unfortunate news."
"Ooooh my! And what might this unfortunaaate report be?" His drawn out pronunciation and enthusiasm felt particularly grating this early in the day.
Puck decided to cut straight to the point.
"You let twenty armed infiltrators slip into your domain, Ros." His tone carried sharp accusation, clearly intent on making this seem like a failure of Roswaal's security rather than random misfortune.
"I encountered an organized group in the forest last night," I explained with deliberate neutrality. "They had plans to attack the manor in what they called 'retribution' for some perceived slight."
Roswaal leaned back in his plush crimson chair, the leather creaking softly. For just an instant, genuine confusion flickered behind his blue eye before his practiced smile reasserted itself.
"Well, that iiis rather... inconvenient timing." His usually carefree tone gained a subtle edge. "This group, describe them for me in detaaail, if you would."
"Dark clothing, heavy cloaks, I believe." I adopted a thoughtful expression, as if trying to recall specifics. "I didn't pay excessive attention to their appearance. They represented a clear threat, so I neutralized them."
"Fortunate that he did," Puck interjected with deceptive casualness. "Because if he hadn't handled it, I would have been forced to intervene personally. And I'm certain you understand what happens when I become... involved in conflicts, Ros."
The temperature in the room dropped several degrees, frost beginning to form on the windows.
"Indeed." Roswaal's gaze lingered on the Great Spirit, whose innocent expression didn't quite mask the lethal promise in his words. "Well theeen, I suppose I shall have to investigate this little incident thoroughly. Was that everythiiing?"
The dismissive wave of his hand suggested he considered the matter a mere trifle.
"Actually," Emilia spoke up from beside me, her voice carrying new authority, "I wanted to inform you that Ethan will be accompanying me to Costuul."
"Ahhh, yeeees." Roswaal's smirk widened with obvious amusement. "Lady Emilia, you may certainly do as you wish. But in what capacityyy will he be... attending you?"
The suggestive emphasis in his words made my jaw clench. 'One day, you clown bastard, I'm going to introduce you to Indomitable.'
"He'll serve as my personal advisor," Emilia continued, likely missing the innuendo entirely. "I trust that arrangement presents no complications?"
The phrasing was lifted directly from lessons I'd given her about projecting confidence in political situations. Watching her apply those teachings with such natural authority filled me with unexpected pride.
"None whatsoeveeer," Roswaal replied smoothly, though something calculating flickered in his mismatched eyes. "I'm sure any… complications you face, he will be most helpful towards resolving."
'Rather ominous and pointed words,' I thought while studying the man's expression.
"Well theeeeen, if that is allll, I must return to my woooork. I shall meet you at Costuul, Ram will handle the arrangements when you arrive. I have complete faith in her capabilities." He gestured toward the window with languid grace. "She should be bringing the carriage around shoooortly."
His gaze drifted to the rain still pelting the glass, dark clouds rolling ominously overhead.
"Rather poooor weather for travel, but alas... sometimes we simply cannot get what we want, hmm?"
I could read between the lines clearly enough, he wanted us gone, and I certainly had no objections to that arrangement.
"Thank you for your time, Lord Roswaal," I said with a respectful nod. Emilia demonstrated her lessons beautifully, placing a hand over her heart and offering a graceful curtsy, the hem of her skirt swaying as she dipped in proper deference to the Margrave.
"Thank you for your assistance, Lord Roswaal," she said with newfound authority. Without waiting for his response, she turned and led Puck and me from the office with confident strides.
The door clicked shut behind us, and we made it perhaps two alcoves down the hallway before Emilia suddenly spun to face me, anxiety written across her features.
"Did I do alright? Roswaal always makes me so nervous!" The words tumbled out in a rush. "I tried to use everything you taught me, but did I seem too stiff? Was I impolite? Wasn't I supposed to wait for him to respond at the end? I think I made a terrible—"
"Shhh, Lia. You're overthinking this." I squeezed her hand reassuringly. "You were excellent. No need to worry at all."
"Two paws up from me!" Puck chimed in while patting her head affectionately. "You sounded completely regal in there, my daughter!"
"Absolutely," I added. "While the etiquette books do suggest waiting for responses, when you outrank someone, taking the initiative shows proper power. You handled it perfectly."
Emilia seemed to deflate with relief, the tension melting from her shoulders as both Puck and I exchanged satisfied glances over our successful coaching.
"That's such a relief..." She brightened considerably. "Well, since everything went smoothly, shall we go help Ram with the travel preparations?"
I shrugged agreeably. As long as the end result was our departure from this place, I didn't mind contributing some physical labor to expedite the process.
—
Roswaal L. Mathers stood at his office window, watching the carriage roll through the manor gates and disappear into the storm. Rain streaked down the glass, distorting his view of their departure.
He caught sight of his reflection in the window and quickly schooled his features into something more appropriate. A small sigh escaped him, his breath fogging the glass momentarily before he turned away and settled behind his desk.
Reaching into the space between realms, he withdrew his most precious possession: the Book of Wisdom, his greatest treasure and burden both.
He had felt that familiar sixth sense during the conversation with his three guests, but patience was a resource he possessed in abundance after four centuries of careful planning. The Witch Cult's unscheduled attack on his residence didn't concern him, in fact, he had plans to utilize them again quite soon.
But this deviation from the predicted path... that troubled the ancient mage considerably.
He opened the tome to the precise page where new revelations would manifest, hoping to find guidance about the variable that had suddenly materialized in his carefully orchestrated design.
The elegant script was already present in place of what had been a blank page mere hours prior.
"The strings of the Saintess are of little concern as of this moment. Stay the path. Continue with the plans as directed."
His apprehensions dissolved. If his teacher decreed it so, then it must be. Still... this "Saintess" warranted careful observation. His teacher had provided no specific instructions regarding this anomaly, but due diligence demanded investigation.
'Nothing must obstruct our goal, must it, Teacher?'
The Book vanished back into its dimensional pocket. Events would become quite interesting very soon indeed.
Roswaal rose from his chair and moved across the room with supernatural silence, positioning himself by the door. He waited in absolute stillness, counting heartbeats and breaths until the precise moment arrived.
Then he opened the door just as a familiar figure rounded the corner, black hair disheveled, posture dejected, the very picture of emotional turmoil.
A smile curved across the Margrave's painted lips.
—
Author's Yap Session:
...This is the second chapter I started writing that began with the title "Costuul," hopefully me uploading this one so quickly makes up for the fact that we still ain't there yet. But I had to wrap things up in a nice package, and I actually think I did pretty decent with addressing most of the threads.
Anyway, Subaru kinda got his shit kicked in this chapter... I hope I didn't write this as like some cliched Chinese face slapping nonsense, because it's supposed to be the beginning of Subaru's development as a character.
This is still Arc 1/Arc 2 Subaru and so he ain't too emotionally bright, nor really in the best of places mentally. Hopefully Ethan's advice for him to think for himself will help him in the future...
Last thing. Some of you know I'm rather detail oriented in my writing, so when I fail to add something in, it kinda drives me insane... Ethan never got magic training from Roswaal. There it is. My colossal failure as a writer. My plot hole. It just... never happened. Oops. I'll probably maybe try and fix that later, or I could just retcon it and say Roswaal was busy or some shit.