“Seems like I’ve made a lot of unilateral decisions, and I’m really sorry for that, Otto-kun.”

After finishing the meeting and returning to her room, Emilia said this while encouraging Subaru to take a seat. As Subaru settled into the chair, he chuckled softly and replied,

“Well, considering how flustered Otto was, it’ll surely be a story to tell for generations! But honestly, I agree with your thoughts, Emilia-tan. If there’s anything to be anxious about, it’s that they must be thoroughly prepared.”

“But sending a messenger like Anastasia—there’s no way she’d cross such a risky bridge. Even with Mimi-chan there, she could have held Joshua down if she really wanted to.”

“The fact that they are sending a knight as a messenger confirms they recognize us as ‘enemies.’ I’ve always wondered why those in power aren’t just assassinated in dramas about the warring states. But it seems there are intricate reasons for it. Never thought I’d learn it firsthand.”

Essentially, it’s all about the mutual trust between parties.

If the word gets out that you’ve acted dishonorably, your position would be utterly devastated. To act with such a risk in mind, both factions are still far too numerous. Furthermore, as a faction grows, the potential enemies multiply, making it sensible that those in power must be cautious in their dealings.

—The meeting welcoming Joshua Yukrius as a messenger has concluded, and a calm night has descended upon the New Roswaal Mansion.

Since it felt inappropriate to return them the same day, I told Joshua and Mimi to stay the night, and we had responded positively to their invitation to the city of Pristella.

It was known to everyone that while Joshua had put on a grand expression when the main topic was introduced, he showed a slight hint of relief when he received an affirmative answer. That monocle he wore was probably to change the impression he gave off, but it also suggested that he was rather too honest at his core.

“Well, he’s definitely more likable than my older brother.”

“Subaru, you really can’t be straightforward with Julius, huh? Are you still bitter about what happened at the castle?”

Emilia remarked with a playful expression upon hearing Subaru’s muttering.

In the past, just recalling it would make his face heat in embarrassment and his stomach churn with anger, but how about now after some time has passed?

“It’s true that I’m not completely over it. I was young back then. It’s not that I don’t regret it. I want the same from him.”

“Both you and Julius have properly apologized and made up, right? I don’t think it’s cool to just superficially forgive while holding grudges inside.”

“Gruugh… But I’m only human!”

Subaru stubbornly insisted, even while receiving Emilia’s accusatory gaze.

As Subaru turned his face away, Emilia glared at him for a while before bursting into laughter, unable to hold it back anymore.

“Alright, alright! Subaru, you’re such a stubborn little mule! But remember, when you meet Julius in Pristella, you mustn’t start a fight. You’ve become quite the knight now, and knights don’t recklessly use their power.”

“Heh, can’t win against you, Master!”

He feigned being carefree to disguise his embarrassment, rubbing his nose with his finger.

Then, while casually letting his gaze wander around Emilia’s room, he suddenly recalled something.

“By the way, Emilia-tan, I don’t know much about Pristella. Is it a famous city or something?”

“Muuh, you’re so under-informed, Subaru! Pristella is one of the five major cities of Lugnica, located right by the border next to Kararagi across the Tigras River. It’s built in the middle of a large lake, and it’s renowned for its numerous waterways flowing throughout the city.”

“Ah, sounds familiar. It’s a water city then. I mean, if they can do it in the old Venice, it shouldn’t be impossible here either.”

In his original world, Venice was famous as a water city.

Canals crisscrossed within the town, with a scenic view of the water mingling naturally through the stone streets. It was recognized as a romantic spot that Subaru would love to visit at least once.

Thus, Subaru held that impression of Pristella, but,

“No, that’s not right, Subaru. Pristella isn’t a water city; it’s a water gate city.”

“A water gate city?”

“Yes. Since it’s built in the middle of a lake, during heavy rains, a lot of water can flow into the city. To prevent that, they surround the city with high walls and have many water gates to regulate the water levels. Those impressive water gates are famous, which is why it’s called a water gate city instead of a water city.”

With Emilia’s explanation, the lovely image of a water city in Subaru’s mind abruptly shifted to one of a water prison. The potential beauty of the scenic view was completely ruined by those towering walls surrounding it.

Subaru tilted his head in confusion, pondering why they would create such a meaning-laden mechanism.

“I don’t quite understand, but it seems there are various theories about the city’s origins. Some say they wanted to challenge the limits of technology at that time, while others believe they intended to overcome flooding without resorting to power from dragons or magic. And some say they captured some evil beast or something, but that sounds a bit extreme.”

“Each one seems steeped in fantasy but contains just a hint of possibility—such is the folly of mankind.”

While it’s hard for regular individuals to reach such heights of thought, some geniuses don’t hold back the brakes of common sense. They often put those ideas into action.

Nonetheless,

“Their true intentions remain unreadable. …It’s hard to believe they would go out of their way to give us what we’re searching for.”

“Really? Instead of doubting others, how about trying to trust their kindness a bit more?”

“Unfortunately, every one of the candidates for the Royal Selection has their quirks. And there’s honestly no one I can fully trust based on their motives, either.”

While Crusch’s faction is trustworthy based on her character, we’re left wondering if the kind and naive lady she interacts with after losing her memory still exists, not to mention the everlasting uncertainty of what Felix might do. If Wilhelm can keep a leash on things, it would be reassuring, but that sword demon harbors his own anxieties too. Given these circumstances, it’s challenging to trust wholeheartedly.

Meanwhile, Anastasia’s faction remains unreliable due to her unclear movements and thoughts.

Even with this invitation, their true intentions remain obscured. Even if we conceded a hundred steps back to accepting that Julius represents pure knightly virtue, it’s undeniable that Anastasia holds the reins of power—and her private army, “Iron Fang,” has members whose personalities and sense of professionalism are anything but minor. They are to be taken seriously.

As for Felt’s faction, Reinhardt and Old Man Rom may be trustworthy, but the core of Felt’s intentions remains unreadable. At the very least, if she’s putting herall into the Royal Selection, we cannot remain careless about the schemes concocted by that sly and cunning girl.

Should Reinhardt be moved for justifiable reasons, having to oppose him would be a dream turned nightmare.

And as for Priscilla’s faction, honestly, this is the most unpredictable.

Subaru cannot trust either master or servant; that is a significant factor. He shares a hometown connection with Al, but that man remains fiercely loyal to Priscilla. Given that, he wouldn’t offer Subaru any special treatment, and Priscilla herself is frightfully capricious. With a smile, she could behead someone without breaking a sweat—what a senseless reality.

In the end, even after a year has passed, the candidates are still enshrouded in uncertainty regarding each other’s intentions.

To get to know them better than the time spent at the royal castle, further immersion is needed. In that light, accepting this invitation is a valid option.

“Honestly, just the thought of getting into debt with Anastasia makes me uneasy. After all, how did they find out—did they hear that Emilia-tan is looking for the colorless magic stone?”

“We showed Pack at the royal castle, and if they find out he can’t move freely, that could be a problem. So, I had to take things very carefully… but once information falls into others’ ears, it’s impossible to keep it locked away.”

“I guess that’s how it is. Even if Emilia-tan successfully obtains the magic stone, to other factions, it merely returns to status quo. They gain an extra favor.”

Nonetheless, if Pack returns, Emilia’s combat capabilities will heighten once she can use magic herself. However, no matter how much her individual prowess grows, it won’t significantly affect the Royal Selection battle.

At best, it might lend some credibility to the perceived accomplishments in the ‘Great Rabbit’ hunt.

—The subjugation of the Great Rabbit, one of the three great beasts in the “Sanctuary.”

This feat is unfortunately not yet officially recognized as a success within Emilia’s faction, separate from their battle against the Witch Cult’s Sloth.

The problem being, no one witnessed the moment of the Great Rabbit’s subjugation, and the way it was defeated made it impossible to present its remains as evidence.

It was sent flying to another dimension, banished to a world unknown.

While that was the fate of the Great Rabbit, merely speaking seriously about it won’t lead anyone to believe it. After all, the Al-Shamak spell used by Beatrice has already been lost to time, and due to Beatrice’s mana deficiency, she cannot perform it again.

As such, though the report of defeating the Great Rabbit has been made to the royal capital, it’s still in limbo regarding its recognition as a feat. Once one attempts to explain it in detail, they inevitably have to touch upon the specifics of the “Sanctuary,” bringing to light the fact that Roswaal possesses hidden villages unreported in his territory. As a result, claiming such a feat forcefully would pose unnecessary risks.

In the future, unless the Great Rabbit’s appearances are confirmed for another decade, its credibility will slowly start to sprout. However, getting acknowledgment for the accomplishment at that time would be far too late.

It’s an achievement that sprung from nowhere, so Emilia isn’t fixated on it either.

“It still irks me how ridiculous it is. Damn, I’ve had so many painful experiences with that rabbit monster…”

“But despite who believes you, it’s true that you defeated the Great Rabbit. Because of that, no one has to suffer at the hands of that terrifying beast, which is good enough, right?”

“You’re too kind and overly positive, Emilia-tan…”

When speaking with the kindly and generous Emilia, Subaru is forced to confront his own smallness. How wonderful it would be if he could adopt such a perspective as Emilia’s. However, reality remains a different story for Subaru.

Specifically, he’s wholly annoyed at the situation where he isn’t rightly evaluated.

Noticing Subaru’s sulky expression, Emilia relaxed her lips.

At times, Emilia’s eyes glowed with gentle light, and unbeknownst to Subaru, she gazed at him with emotions that were more complex than mere maternal concern for a child or a younger sibling.

“And about the matter of accomplishments, Subaru, what you did has been recognized! The defeat of the White Whale and the Witch Cult’s Sloth, they’ve been acknowledged during the promotions.”

“That’s… the lingering impression I have is just participating in the latter. Regarding the White Whale, I was involved with people who were desperately fighting before me, and I merely swooped in at the end to take some credit. As for the Sloth, that wasn’t my original intention.”

The confrontation with Petelgeuse was purely driven by Subaru’s desire to protect Emilia.

No, he couldn’t even see his own heart clearly. The reality of Subaru’s feelings regarding Petelgeuse was torn between wanting to safeguard Emilia and harboring hatred for Petelgeuse himself.

It wasn’t a case of which one prevailed; both were Subaru’s true feelings, fueled by selfish concerns.

Thus, being evaluated for a battle grounded in such personal vendetta feels unsettling.

“The same goes for the Great Rabbit as you feel about it. Two beasts that have troubled the world for four hundred years have been defeated in such a short span… even I must admit that it feels a bit too perfect.”

“Yes, that’s certainly so. It’s bizarre thinking I’m involved with either side, and I can’t help but feel it’s too perfectly orchestrated as well. I sincerely hope I don’t cross paths with the last one.”

“—Right, true.”

With belief in the idea that words carry power, Subaru sincerely hoped that he wouldn’t confront the so-called “Black Snake.” However, Emilia’s response was somewhat stiff.

It was almost as if she held some thoughts regarding the “Black Snake.”

“As for Pristella, about that…”

But before Subaru could dive deeper, the topic shifted.

When Emilia adopts that demeanor, it indicates a subtle expression of her desire to not discuss something. Having learned a bit, Subaru refrains from pressing her when her mood changes.

Though sometimes he forgets that courtesy and indulges in revealing the same old stories.

“While it’s confirmed that we will accept the invitation, are we still alright to go with the same members from earlier? I plan to consult with Roswaal later.”

“I think that should be fine for the most part. Emilia-tan is a definite, and naturally, I’m going along as the knight, along with Beatrice, my partner. Besides, for practicality’s sake, Garf is coming along for strength, and we have Otto, who seems dead set on accompanying us. It would indeed be great if Petra or Frederica could join as well, so Emilia-tan wouldn’t need to worry.”

“There’s nothing to be done. Roswaal is promptly busy with a meeting gathering the western lords. It’s been decided long ago that he would accompany Petra for her studies. She was very disappointed, though.”

“Petra really dislikes Roswaal, and it’s deeply rooted because of the ‘Sanctuary.’ Roswaal seems to find it amusing, which is why Ram doesn’t say anything, but I’m honestly feeling a bit cross.”

As a maid and a girl, Petra is maturing correctly and robustly, yet there remains a childish fragility in her core.

Especially with the evident tension towards her master, Roswaal; one wouldn’t be surprised if she secretly slipped some juice from a rag into his tea. Nonetheless, since Subaru also feels protective towards Petra, he’d let such behavior slide if he happened to witness it.

Once trust has been broken like that, a long recovery is needed to mend it. It seems a year just wasn’t enough for Petra to heed Roswaal’s words.

“Then it looks like Frederica will serve as a stopper and model of decorum as she accompanies us, leaving Ram behind at the mansion. Yikes, that’s making me uneasy.”

“Is it? Since Anne says she will be attending this meeting, isn’t Kirind going too? With Kirind there, Petra should be well cared for, so Frederica may not need to accompany after all.”

“Kirind, huh… that guy is honestly pretty enigmatic.”

Remembering the handy butler from the Milroad household, who once stayed at the mansion for a while, Subaru was impressed by the sheer refinement of his work.

The impressive nature of his skills was such that it was almost nonsensical to describe him as that fast.

By the way, the groundwork Subaru is learning for parkour originated from Kirind’s teachings. Even with his ordinary physical abilities, he was currently learning enough techniques for movement and physical control that suited his limits under Kirind’s guidance.

After moving into the mansion, Subaru occasionally trained alongside Anne, who was well-versed in gymnastics. Kirind managed to effortlessly conquer the athletic zone crafted by Garf, not even ruffling his clothes or breaking a sweat. What a monster.

“Anyway, regardless of who might remain at the mansion, worrying is redundant. What’s more important is that we need to be cautious. That also goes for Emilia-tan.”

“Yes. I reflect on my decision not to consult first; I acknowledge that was a mistake. I have to apologize properly to Otto-kun later.”

“He isn’t the type to worry about his face much, but he can hold a grudge. I’ll make sure to let him know that I scolded you until you cried.”

“Thank you.”

As Subaru pretended to shake his fist, Emilia smiled faintly. Then she gently touched the blue crystal pendant adorning her chest.

That crystal was the temporary resting place of the Great Spirit Pack, who still slept.

Not only has it failed to exhibit its true powers, but it also lacks any ability to communicate. If Pack were to stir even slightly within it, it could easily shatter, releasing its existence. That was according to Emilia and Beatrice.

Should that occur, an uncontrolled Pack would wreak havoc around him and eventually vanish back to its original realm due to a lack of mana.

In a bid to prevent such an outcome, immense mana from Emilia is constantly funneled into the crystal to sustain its existence. All that’s needed now is to refine the colorless magic stone that can tether its existence and produce a suitable crystal, thus allowing for revival.

This time, Anastasia had mentioned stones suitable for that purpose.

“If only I could converse with Pack again… there are so many things I want to share and ask him. So—”

Silently, Emilia closed her eyes, failing to articulate her thoughts.

Watching her long eyelashes flutter faintly, Subaru scratched his head quietly. While he could vaguely grasp what Emilia was feeling, the details eluded him.

“Come back quickly, Spirit Cat. I’d love to express all my grievances against you so badly right now.”

And thus, like a true knight, he agreed with her wishes, albeit with a tone of sarcasm.

—

“Listen! I’m here, trying to consider everyone’s thoughts in what I say!”

With a glass thumped on the table, Otto Suwen was having a rough night.

After finishing discussions and dinner with Emilia, Subaru had come to check on Otto, who had been ceaselessly venting out his grievances over drinks.

“This has been the state of affairs all night. Even I, the great Otto, am getting fatigued from listening!”

Without concealing his exasperation, Garfiel, who sat beside Subaru, remarked while scratching through his short hair. Clicking his sharp fangs, he licked his own glass filled with milk.

Subaru had taken a stance against letting him drink alcohol because he was underage. Also, Frederica and Ram were jointly in this decision, ensuring that Garfiel wouldn’t drink until he turned twenty. Once tricked by the mischievous Otto, he had a taste of alcohol but, contrary to his fierce disposition, turns out he was exceedingly weak to it.

Since then, just the sight of a bottle has him grimacing.

Of course, Subaru had no intention of breaking the law of his previous world, meaning that only Roswaal, Otto, Ram, and Frederica could actually drink within the mansion.

And in this room, the only one still with his drink in hand, rambling away was Otto.

“Don’t be such a downer. I’m pretty sure Emilia’s reflected on this unilateral decision. She acknowledged she should have consulted us. But I doubt it would change the outcome.”

“Things are more than just results. The process matters too. It’s not unusual for conversations to end with preordained conclusions set before the discussion. The important part is the flow it takes. Especially this time; you’ve jumped into the enemy’s invitation without guard—that’s the issue!”

As Subaru tried to mediate, Otto countered with an eruption of spit.

Every point he made held sound reasoning, and there was no way to retort against that, but listening to him…

“You’re really becoming quite the bureaucrat, huh? You were resisting being absorbed into this for so long. Is it really true that when you dislike something, you start to like it instead?”

“Are you saying I’m a kind of ‘desirable target’? That’s a rather convoluted compliment, eh, Otto-nii?”

“You two haven’t changed a bit since we met, have you!?”

With a perfect timing, Subaru and Garfiel teamed up to poke fun at Otto. Being close in age at Roswaal’s mansion, this trio shared a kind of friendship. As such, their banter fell into its usual rhythm—a sort of stylistic beauty of their exchanges.

Whether or not Otto appreciates it, he certainly has the aptitude for being a bureaucratic officer.

Having been raised as a merchant’s son, he received good education, accustomed himself to the ways of commerce through being a traveling merchant, and he is a cunning fellow with sharp wit and quick thinking. He could have easily ended up as a deceived vagabond or even a slave somewhere else; he’s treated much better here.

Even if he spits out the phrase, “This isn’t what I expected,” quite often, while still managing paperwork, he often finds himself scratching his head in confusion about the current state of affairs.

By now, he acts just like Roswaal’s secretary while also fitting into the role of Emilia’s assistant—he is deeply immersed in managing the territories of Baron Meisars, thus making escape impossible.

“What’s with that pitiful look in your eyes? You look like a bird expecting to be choked before it’s even laid.”

“This is more like the face of a bird kept in a cage, living simply to lay eggs.”

“Even worse!? What a negative twist!”

“Shush! Just keep it down, okay? Now, everyone here better not poke fun at Otto-nii. Didn’t we agree to limit it to ten Ottos a day?”

“What unit of measurement is that!? What even is ten Ottos a day!?”

Otto cried, his face turning beet red, but Subaru and Garfiel remained silent in response.

After a few rounds of drinks, Otto became more agitated. This drinking event was routine to help ease Otto’s stress from the demanding job, but it felt like drinking parties only made the tension worse for him.

“Well, for you, it seems that shouting is the best way to relieve stress.”

“That makes no sense!”

“Hey, hey, Otto-nii, just quietly have a refill. Speaking of which, there are some things I want to confirm with you, boss.”

“Oh? That’s unusual. Go ahead.”

Grumbling complaints as he filled his glass back up, Otto began to sip it slowly.

As he looked on, Garfiel said, with milk dripping from his lip,

“Let’s get straight to it, what’s the enemy’s target? Up until now, those other candidates haven’t had any skirmishes between them, but we’ve been thrown into a direct confrontation now, right? There’s no way they’d just let it slide!”

“So, is that how it feels to you? Like you received a formal challenge?”

“Well, of course! They must have a motive! At least, that lanky Joshua fella, but what about that catgirl who was right next to him?”

—That girl, calling her a ‘kid,’ but she’s around your age, you know?

Though Subaru couldn’t point it out, Mika seemed to be just her usual self, innocently reaching for tea and snacks.

During dinner, it seemed to play out along similar lines as well.

“That little one is much stronger than she looks. I thought all of this was just in that room, but she was glaring at me at dinner too. She definitely noticed I was the strongest in that space.”

“Is that so…? Well, for sure we’ve seen that Mimi’s strong and her eccentric battle junkie side is pretty noticeable.”

Subaru just couldn’t see her as anything other than a silly girl—naively candid, almost empty-headed.

“At least while in the mansion, I’ll remain alert. After all, when we go to their territory, I’d avoid allowing you and Emilia-sama to wander alone if I could. While I aim for you, Emilia-sama, will be sorely missed if absent.”

“Let me just say, even without me, the territory is doomed, you know!? Please understand that and handle it with care!”

Garfiel warned, but he wasn’t underestimating Otto either.

He declared it not from contempt but to leave a strong, unforgettable impression on Subaru to remain cautious. Of course, part of him used the opportunity to poke fun at Otto.

“In that regard, I can’t deny what you said is true. I don’t want to burden you in any way—but let me say, I’ll count on you, Garfiel.”

“Sure thing! I’ll turn into the ‘Legend of Guardian,’ Garfiel Tinsel once again!”

Puffing his chest out proudly, he pointed his thumb to himself, and Subaru nodded in agreement.

He drank some milk from his glass and reflected that Garfiel’s title was perhaps too cool for comfort.

When Garfiel’s mighty feats echo throughout the land someday, would he come up with something more impressive than the current title? Should he place such expectations on himself regarding that?

“Whether I’ll receive that ‘spark’ again like at the Invisible Providence… the goddess’s capriciousness makes it hard to say how many times she’ll smile upon me.”

“You’re thinking too deeply about this, Boss. But you don’t need to stress out. You’re a man who’ll get the job done when it counts. I trust you on that.”

Despite Emilia being the same, Garfiel’s gaze of trust bears considerable weight. His unspoken expectations push Subaru into a desire to have that level of resolve.

Of course, he knows that blindly running without setting any defined goals won’t be a valid response to earn their trust.

“Well, with Garfiel on board, our faction is at least reassured on the strength side. Emilia-tan is quite powerful on her own as well, and with Beatrice, that should be good enough. The only problem lies with Otto… are you really going to come along?”

“Of course! If I don’t go, how will I know what kind of ridiculous conversation Emilia-sama and Natsuki-san have when it’s all said and done?”

When it comes to negotiations, it felt rather refreshing at how little trust they’ve placed in each other.

Emilia is naïve and pure as she appears, and while Subaru can be quite harsh and stubborn, he’s strangely inexperienced too. So, from Otto’s perspective, it’s quite natural to see them as easy prey.

“Also, Pristella was once known as the birthplace of Kararagi’s founder, ‘The Ho-shin of the Wastelands.’ Given its border with Kararagi, it holds significant ties for merchants. I was hoping to visit at least once.”

“You’ve already cut ties with commerce for some time now, so what’s the plan?”

“Just to clarify, I’m not going to sit idle as an internal official forever, okay!? My end goal remains becoming a great merchant with my own shop! My stay here is merely a necessary detour to reach that goal!”

“That detour you took could become your lifelong home, you know.”

The possibility of escaping reality feels far-fetched, but with the allure of lands he admires plus his supportive role as a bureaucrat, Otto has plenty of legitimacy for joining them.

Deep down, everyone here—no, everyone at Roswaal’s mansion—understands that it doesn’t function without Otto. Being aware of that allowed Otto to stay comfortably even in a situation seemingly mistreated.

“Well, there’s also the chance of having a masochistic tendency, but let’s put that aside.”

“Is it just me, or do I get the feeling you’ve made some terribly rude assumptions about me?”

“Not a significant story or anything. Since the brilliant Anastasia is showing up, we can only wonder what unfavorable circumstances she’ll throw our way. I’m counting on you, Otto—you’re the pen, Garfiel is the sword, and I’ll be the entertainer.”

“Try to work harder!!”

In this world, tailored roles exist.

Subaru could never be stronger than Garfiel even if he pushed himself to the brink; moreover, despite intense study, he wouldn’t match Otto’s capabilities as a bureaucrat.

“I’ll be doing what I can. I’ll discuss this thoroughly with Beatrice and proceed positively.”

“Realistically, with Emilia-sama and Beatrice around, you should be alright for the most part, but naturally I’ll take it upon myself to cover for you, Otto. Do be careful.”

“Why do I have to sound like the biggest hindrance around here… I’m not buying into this!”

Rebellious Subaru, and Garfiel, who looks like he’s taking on a nurturing role. Otto, all the while, grumbled and sipped his drink.

As the night continued to deepen.

“Well, we can expect tomorrow to be busy; so I think it’s about time I’m off. What about you, Garfiel?”

“I’m gonna keep drinking with Otto-nii for a bit longer. Plus, I’m just about ready to rack up some victories in our Shatranji game. If we’re drunk, I should be able to win now.”

While Subaru stood up to leave, Garfiel pulled out the gaming pieces and board from the back of the room. Shatranji is a board game that closely resembles chess or shogi. It was fascinating to see how such pastimes are present in any world.

Otto reportedly excels at these games, and Garfiel seems to be trying hard to reverse his previous losses. By the way, Subaru happens to excel at Othello, but when it comes to shogi or chess, he is laughably bad.

“Don’t stay up too late; you’re gonna stunt your growth.”

“Hey, I’ve been doing what I can, but is there any merit? I don’t think I’ve grown much in the past year.”

“You, on the other hand, have lost some height from Frederica sucking it away.”

“Damn, that sister!”

Garfiel bared his fangs and complained, roughly placing the Shatranji board on the table. Then he hunched over as he carefully set up the small pieces in a neat manner.

Watching that from above, Subaru waved goodbye at the blushing Otto.

“Don’t drink too much, Otto. If you’re too hungover to be useful tomorrow, Petra might start to look down on you too.”

“That girl has been acting kind of tough on me lately. Is that just my imagination? You should say something to Natsuki-san as well.”

“Does that mean you’re not aggressive enough?”

“Could you please ask for her to be sweeter toward me?”

That’s too difficult, Subaru responded with a wry smile as he exited the room, leaving the two staring each other down across the gameboard.

As he walked through the corridor, a magic crystal embedded in the wall indicated that the date was about to change. Usually, it’s time for him to head to bed in his room, but—

“I’ve ended up staying out a bit longer than usual.”

Mumbling an excuse, Subaru decided against heading up to the third floor of the east wing where his room was, instead heading to the west wing where the women’s quarters were.

And then,

“—Pardon my intrusion.”

Before entering that room, Subaru always knocked on the door.

He knew there would be no response. Yet he couldn’t help but feel hopeful.

Or perhaps it was to confirm that silence, so he wouldn’t forget.

—To continually remember the warmth of the burning fire in his chest.

“———”

As the door opened, he was greeted by the now dark room after sundown.

It was a simple room. Similar to the countless guest rooms within the mansion, it had an even clearer lack of furnishings. In the center was a bed, a small table, and a vase with some flowers—a slight gesture of care.

Subaru didn’t like the practical stance over sentimentality.

Though it has been said that he should put aside such emotional attachments, wishing for human warmth can’t shake the feeling that it’s a weakness. That day might never come for Subaru, in which he would doubt such weaknesses.

Regarding the women nearest him, their sentiments would often lead to remarks like:

“If you were the sort of person capable of such detachment, I might never have understood you after countless arguments. So I really like the Subaru that he remains as he is.”

“Wanting what’s lacking is a poor habit. It’s a thought beyond what you can manage alone. …That’s why, since you’re not alone now, it’s okay to indulge a little.”

“Spoiling me, huh? And Emilia-tan, these cryptic statements are way too confusing.”

Please refrain from haphazardly throwing around such words as “like” and “cool.”

Even if Subaru expressed his feelings clearly, Emilia has yet to catch up to his emotional development. In terms of romantic feelings between the two, there has been no progression at all.

However, if it suddenly escalated, Subaru wouldn’t be prepared emotionally. After two years—well, three years—no, ideally even more, that reflects his cowardice.

“What I’m doing is rude. Once I’m by your side, it’s disrespectful to keep talking about Emilia and Beatrice. If Petra heard me, she’d give me a serious talking to.”

A girl around that age might actually have a very keen understanding of relationship dynamics in the mansion. It seems like, apart from the likes of Roswaal, who can be forgiven for being love-struck, Garfiel is just as naive as Subaru when it comes to love.

Garfiel’s feelings for Ram remain largely stuck in a middle school mindset, and Subaru can’t point fingers. Ram’s extreme loyalty complicates any emotions regarding love; Frederica’s sentiment is shelved entirely. Even though Otto claims to have had romantic flings during drinking, everyone unanimously considers that an exaggeration.

He’s really lagging behind a thirteen-year-old girl.

“Thinking back on it, even with Rem waking up, it feels like nothing really changed. Is it because I’m such a coward, or is it that you treat me with too much respect?”

Sliding his chair back, Subaru took a seat beside the bed.

The faint moonlight filtering through the curtain softly illuminated the sleeping girl’s face on the bed.

Her alabaster complexion, cherry blossom-colored lips, and short blue hair were all wrapped in a simple nightgown, rising and falling in a rhythmic sleep.

—This girl has continued to slumber like this for over a year.

“Today, I have so much to report. After all, an unwelcome guest has brought an outrageous problem. So, my day went just like any other—I—”

Speaking gently to the sleeping girl, Subaru kept a calm face.

While maintaining his usual joking demeanor, the tone of his voice exuded a significant gentleness. He shared the events of the day in a manner akin to comforting a sleeping child.

The girl offered no response. Still, their meetings continued every night.

Especially on this night, rich with so many stories, the pair exchanged whispered tales until the moon tilted down low in the sky, continuing their small dream-telling into the night.

“`

 

---