Roswaal L. Mathers was a man shrouded in mystery, despite being the Court Mage of the Dragon Kingdom of Lugnica, the strongest and most prolific mage in the country, and the Margrave of the Mather's Territory, little was actually known about him personally.

The one thing that was absolutely certain about him was his strength.

His strength was obscene.

Blessed with a natural and potent talent for magic, he was unmatchable by any organic being – only rivalled by the Four Great Spirits. There were six magic elements, he wielded them all with absolute mastery. Most beings would never even practice the use of one element; Roswaal perfected his ability to use them all by the time he reached sexual maturity. He truly was a genetically perfect child, the result of generations of fine-tuning and careful selective breeding amongst his ancestors, holding just a single flaw in his inability to perform healing magic.

He was twelfth Roswaal Mathers in the line, inheriting his name from his late father Roswaal K. Mathers, just as he did from his own father. Similar to his predecessors, he was a strange and most definitely peculiar man. He did what he wanted when he wanted it done, often travelling entire continents just to attend a meeting with highly dangerous people who probably wanted him dead. Nothing could interfere with his goals, his sights set permanently once he decided on his target, anyone standing in the way would simply be moved, whether by force or not. There were few beings who could best Roswaal, and many of them were either allied or on friendly terms with him. He was a truly powerful man, but he was a tad...abnormal?

He currently employed only three members of staff, all under the age of eighteen, and all-female demi-humans. The Mathers family always held demi-humans in a higher light than others did, their territories housing many demi-human settlements, but this Roswaal loved them especially so. Nobody actually knew why, and he was frequently advised by fellow noblemen to stick to more 'pure' servants, but the Margrave would always laugh them off, much to the displeasure of his peers. He liked demi-humans, and nothing could change that…which may be the reason he has one tucked under his arm, travelling at over 100kph through the air, heading right for his mansion where he keeps his demi-human collection.

After recovering an utterly exhausted Subaru, Roswaal immediately departed back to Lugnica, not wishing to stick around in the Holy Kingdom's bitter snowfall too much longer. He needed to get the young half-elf to safety as fast as he could; Subaru's injuries were minor and his exhaustion was nothing abnormal but his mental trauma was most likely extremely scarring.

Roswaal only saw a moment of it before he stepped in, but he definitely saw the worst of it. The cruel mockery they made of the defenceless child, the relentless abuse they meticulously crafted to wound him as deeply as possible, the simple fact that they murdered his entire village in cold blood.

Roswaal didn't see it happen, but he had to fly over the smouldering embers of the once-beautiful elven village, hidden by the cover of secluded mountains and snow, to both get to Subaru and to return home with the boy. Roswaal had seen a lot of things in his lifetime, most much worse in reality, but he still couldn't help but avert his troubled gaze from the peak of human cruelty left below him. He quietly thanked the heavens the child he had cradled in his slender arms was deep in his slumber, not wanting him to re-experience the remainders of the calamity which had brought them together in the first place.

To put it bluntly, Roswaal was extremely concerned about the boy's mental state. He was unsure whether or not he would ever become stable enough to function in the mansion, never mind society.

''If she can't fix him, I doubt anyone can.'' the Margrave mumbled under his breath, becoming increasingly worried at the prospect that Subaru was crushed by the stress he endured.

The silver-haired boy stirred slightly.

Roswaal prayed the nightmares would be over soon.

When the ground beneath them faded from white to green, Roswaal knew they were approaching the border. He could feel the air warm gently, relieved to finally see the snowfall overhead clearing in the distance. He was flying as fast as he possibly could, pushing his magical limits to try to clear the vast amount of land between his mansion and the seclusion of Gusteko before Subaru awoke. He needed him to wake up to absolute safety, in a place where he could explain everything confidently. Not 150 feet in the air.

Roswaal only had one plan to 'fix' Subaru, his trump card. Probably the only soul Subaru would ever trust for a serious amount of time. The person who could share his pain, share his suffering, comfort him, heal him. Roswaal was relying on them so much it was uncomfortable, if they couldn't help him everything else was meaningless. It was imperative Subaru was healthy mentally, Roswaal was praying constantly that the boy would make this easy, but it was severely unlikely.

But they were now fully out of the snow, and Roswaal was headlining for his territories. The Lugnica-Gusteko border was now past them, and the mage could see the faint outlines of society in the distance.

They were roughly 20 minutes away still, and Subaru was visibly uncomfortable, struggling in Roswaal's arms as the nightmares wrestled with his brain, overwhelming his mind with trauma and grief. The Margrave glanced at the boy, a pained expression littering his face as he tried to clear his mind. He had to be positive about this, losing Subaru to the throes of anguish would foil his careful, meticulous plans. He was stressed to the point where he was straining his magical powers to get home as fast as possible. Nothing had ever pushed him to this in this life.

He was barreling through the air at unfathomable speeds for a human, topping the fastest ground dragons by an outrageous amount. He'd definitely need a cup of Ram's finest tea after this, all the pressure he put himself through for this boy was tremendous. He sighed, now focusing on the ground below, spotting the landmarks which signified he wasn't now far away.

He was irritated that he had not instructed his staff to prepare a suitable room, kicking himself for being unable to foresee the chance that Subaru wouldn't be in a good condition. He knew of the compromise, not willing to have this boy in any room but the nicest one prepared. It was a sacrifice he'd have to take, although he was certain they would thank him down the line.

The border was now long past, and the pair were deep in the territories of Lugnica, zeroing in on the Mathers domain which Roswaal oversaw. The air was significantly warmer, the deep Gustekan winter a distant thought as Roswaal finally calmed down enough from his constant perturbation to rationalise the situation.

He had Subaru, and there was a significant chance his mental state was in tatters.

''Interesting,'' the mage thought, a slight grin forming at the corners of his mouth.

If he could play his cards right, Subaru's situation may not be as bad as he first thought.

In his epiphany, Roswaal missed the moment they passed into the Mather's domain. He could now see the mansion's towers on the horizon, judging his approach trajectory carefully to ensure his landing was as smooth as possible. He lowered his altitude, the mansion rapidly emerging into sight, preparing himself to slam the brakes on and descend into the mansions territories. It was still early enough for one of the maids to be working in the gardens, so he approached his mansion from an angle that would allow said maid to immediately take Subaru to a room. There was only one room appropriate for such an important boy, and he'd have to apologise to her later despite him being certain she wouldn't mind.

He sailed over the decorative stone fence surrounding his lands, gliding into the vast, magnificent gardens which bordered his mammoth home. Like an eagle, he plucked his target from the complexity of the maze-like estate, grasping the boy in his grip tighter to avoid accidentally sending him to his death by dropping him.

Roswaal came to a dead halt, dropping the 60 feet he needed to before landing with a satisfying tap, right in front of the golden-haired maid currently trimming his lush green hedgerows. His descent was silent enough that the maid, absorbed by her intricate and delicate work, failed to notice her master until he audibly cleared his throat.

Turning with a startled gasp, she could only spit out a hurried:

''O-ooh I-I'm sorry Lord Roswaal, I failed to notice your elegant approach, I pray your journey was one of safety and success. Who may the young boy be, if it's in my right to know''

''Fredricaaaa, act with haste and caaaaarry him to a bedrooooom. I believe Emilia-sama's room will be satisfactooory for the time being, this young boy is of utmost importanceeee, after all,'' Roswaal ordered, genuine urgency dominating his tone. The maid, Frederica, took the boy from Roswaal without hesitation, understanding that her master was legitimately serious about how much this boy meant.

With a firm nod and a confident 'yes, my Lord', the maid scurried off towards the mansion, Subaru in a princess carry as she carefully but quickly sped towards the grand front doors.

She weaved in and out of the carefully refined bushes like a tiger, leaping over the 12 foot-tall shrubbery as if she were simply stepping over a mere flower. Roswaal watched on, an interesting concoction of interest, relief and cunning scheming brewing within his eyes. The tall, slender man let out a tired sigh before picking up his heels, beginning his stroll back to his mansion whilst he began to consider his plan of action.

He had the boy, who was safe from direct danger, at least for a long while.

He understood the threats of housing two elven children within his home, worse yet two with silver hair, one from a foreign land. As he walked, the gears in his brain began to turn, a small grin once again forming on his face.

Roswaal was in control once again, the pieces fell into play with near perfection, his success being unanimous once again. Time was in his favour, he had the cards in his deck, he was nearly ready to pull the trigger.

Roswaal let out a light chuckle,

''Soon, Sensei. Please wait patiently for me.''

The aureate-haired maid gently pushed Subaru up over her relatively broad shoulder. She used her now-free hand to twist the exorbitant silver door handle, hanging graciously from the towering stained-oak door. Pushing inside, the interior described as only 'magnificent' revealed itself, an array of white and gold forming the majesty which was the Roswaal manor. Floral patterns crawled up the walls, erecting an overwhelming sense of regality and opulence, accentuating the array of exotic and alluring flowers arranged immaculately in lavish vases. The hardwood flooring adorned a long, crimson carpet that paved a royal path throughout the mansion, guiding the demi-human maid up the extravagant staircase.

Frederica strode with a defined and purposeful gait, her objective coherently outlined by her Lord and Master. She held the half-elf close, guarding him with motherly care as she pushed up the plethora of stairs, carefully considering each stride as if each were her last. Her shoes were silent against the carpet, the child's small, sleeping breaths peaceful, his innocent face calm and content.

She pushed on, reaching the summit of the mountainous staircase. She was softly panting as the 10-year-old boy, despite being rather light, was still a mild effort to haul as Frederica had steeled herself to keep him absolutely still. She couldn't have him waking up, or she may as well pack her bags and leave right there rather than face Roswaal's wrath.

Frederica had worked under Margrave Roswaal L. Mathers for around 2 years now, and she had very quickly learned that Roswaal wasn't the type of man to exaggerate. He was flamboyant, yes, but it was imperative to understand that he meant each and every word with his soul, and this situation was one of absolute importance.

She chuckled, reflexively reaching for her mouth before realising that currently, that would be rather difficult. Her mind wandered to a mere few weeks earlier when she was in this same, exact situation, but the child in her arms was a pouty little girl who snored lightly. Her gorgeous silver hair flowed through her arms just like his did, but her ears were ever so slightly pointier.

Roswaal was also much less cautious about her treatment, but Frederica knew that wasn't due to bias or favouritism, but because one of these children was teetering on the edge of sanity, his fragile mind hacked away by sheer brutality and cruel punishment.

Her mind flashed to a child very much like Subaru in a way, one she missed dearly. She stood at the top of the stairs, staring and admiring the boy's features, reminiscing on her recent past, wishing she could see them all again. She knew it was for the best, but her young heart still ached.

Before she got carried away, she hurriedly continued, focusing on putting the resting child into the bed Roswaal specified. The hallways were long and repetitive, but the golden-haired maid was diligent and knew precisely where her destination was. She nearly sprinted to the door when she spotted it, almost forgetting to turn the silver door handle when she reached it, once again slinging the boy over her shoulder, pushing herself into the massive bedroom.

Roswaal was now just reaching the front door, a grin still plastered across his face. The door was still open, a sign that his maid had her priorities in order. He stepped inside, taking the time to wipe his shoes and gently shut the heavy door. Continuing his casual stroll, he climbed the stairs, his eyes catching the azure hair of his joint-most senior maid.

She was focused, carefully replacing the vase that stood on a table in one of the hallways. As she lifted the pink orchids, she simultaneously shifted the white vase which housed them. The young maid always performed each of her tasks with utmost care and prudence, consuming herself in her work.

Roswaal cleared his throat, ''Reeeem, please stop what you're doooing, I have a person of infinite importanceeee you must attend to. I shall infoooorm your sister, please tell me where she is then maaaake your way to Emilia-sama's rooooom,'' her lord uttered, catching her by surprise.

A small shriek came from the maid as she jumped, so engrossed in her work that her master's sudden words completely startled her. The vase in her hand was dropped, shattering as it hit the solid wooden flooring. All Rem could do was stare at Roswaal with pure mortification in her expression, her heart beating out of her chest in pure fear and shock. In her 3 years serving Roswaal, she had never made a mistake like this, and all she could do was tremble in fear as she timidly bent down to gather the shards of vase scattered across the floor.

''Reeeem, leave that, pleaseeeee do as I asked, fooooorget a minor error suuuuch as this,'' Roswaal assured, to which the maid he addressed as Rem could only nod at,

''She is in the kitchen, Lord Roswaal, I am very sorry for my lack of care, please excuse me to do as you asked'' she said, standing up and scurrying away, hanging her head.

Rem gently rubbed her eyelids, clearing her mind to tend to her obviously salient duty.

''Emilia-sama's room?'' the maid questioned to herself, ''It was obvious he wasn't talking about her, so why there?'' she continued, genuinely confused but refusing to question her lord, especially after her mistake earlier.

As Frederica entered the room, the small child sat at the desk in the corner peeked her head up, looking to see who was at the door. She had a feeling whomever it was had something urgent to discuss, the lack of a knock highly unusual. When she noticed the long golden hair and large frame, her sudden nerves were settled. She trusted Frederica, she was like a kind big sister, but her jaw hit the floor when she noticed the boy in her arms.

''Emilia-sama, mind the sudden intrusion,'' Frederica started as she approached the gigantic bed. ''Lord Roswaal has instructed me to place this child in your bed temporarily, his name is Subaru, I am certain he will explain the details shortly,'' she said, directing a smile at the utterly baffled girl.

''W-what? I'm sorry but- oh my goodness,'' Emilia stuttered, unable to process what was unfolding in front of her. She gingerly approached her bed as Frederica was tucking Subaru under the heavy covers, taking in the situation as the original shock slowly faded away. She reached the edge of her bed, leaning over to get a good look at the boy before being blown away once more.

Long silver hair wasn't uncommon, but when she saw the boy's ears, her mind went blank. She took a step backwards, tripping over her own feet as she fell onto her backside. Frederica could only giggle, before softly remarking:

''Be assured, Emilia-sama, I am confident he is of no relation to you, from what I gathered, he is from a secluded part of mountainous Gusteko, you know, the place you are studying in your geography lessons? It's where Lord Roswaal departed for earlier today.''

Emilia could only stare at her with a look of utter bafflement and confusion, but also one of relief.

As she accepted Frederica's now outstretched hand and stood up, she could help but think to herself.

''He's rather...well he's very pretty''

At that moment, the blue-haired maid, Rem, burst through the door, to see an infatuated Emilia, a tender-looking Frederica and a boy which in her 10 years of living, she had never once seen before.

''Ah, h-hello everyone''

AN

Once again, thank you for reading!

I'd just like to establish some important things as this is an AU,

1. In canon, Emilia froze Elior forest when she was 7 years old. Here, she was 9. This removes the moral grey area the technically 2 year age gap presents (Emilia is now emotionally the same age as Elfbaru (10) rather than 2 years younger). This changes nothing but just makes their relationship easier and less weird.

2. This one is a lot more significant but is very damn important. In canon, Emilia spends around 6 years with Puck in the forest after she unfreezes, and then just under a year in the mansion. This means she is mentally 15 by the time canon arc 1 rolls around. In my fic, she is awoken as usual, but Roswaal finds her 6 years earlier (cos of Subaru) so she spends just under a year in the forest, and around 6 years in the mansion with Subaru.

So to summarise, the changes are to make Emisuba work as best as possible! Hope this is all good!

Once again, massive thanks to my beta readers Moe, Argo and Caleb, as well as Austin and Bio. Yall are simply great and I owe you one.