Rem cleared her head, taking deep breaths and focusing on what her new duty entailed. Rem was considering the possibilities, but her master was incredibly ambiguous in his explanation, leaving her to try to fill in the blanks.

''Person of infinite importance,'' She considered under her breath, her lord's voice humming through her mind. Rem was filtering through the possibilities, contemplating the identity of the figure which made the Margrave drop everything, which made him call all hands on deck to be by this person's side.

''But, Emilia-sama is still too young for marriage,'' Rem worried, praying Roswaal hadn't fallen that low, praying he hadn't brought a gross old noble as a potential suitor to the ten-year-old child's room. Emilia was a mere child, one of her age, and she worried for her. Rem was very mature for a girl her age, and she was very aware of the potential ramifications forced marriage would present.

Rem liked Emilia and was very grateful that Lord Roswaal went out of his way to rescue her, for seemingly little reason. She had only known her for only a few weeks and was aware of her bitter past, which only made the thought sting more. Emilia was a child who needed love and care from friends and family. She was a sweet girl, one Rem wanted to be friends with. Rem could relate to Emilia, they had shared the prejudice and torture of racism, they had experienced genocide in front of their own eyes.

Rem sighed. Her mind flashed back to the words Roswaal spoke when he first explained Emilia's situation to her:

''Reeeem, you have been under my employment for a matter of years now. You have my trust, my praises. It is time I entruuust your services to an individual, rather than have you simply serve meeee'' The mage explained to the blue-haired child.

He continued, ''The young lady I recovered this moooorning, her name is Emiliaaaa, I entrust her care and wellbeing to youuu. Do make her residence here comfortable.''

Rem was shocked and quickly retorted, confused as to why a child her own age would be entrusted to her, ''B-But Lord Roswaal, the girl I-Is no older than me? Would it not be more reasonable to entrust her care to someone like Frederica, s-she's…''

The maid cut herself off suddenly, noticing Roswaals slightly irritated look. He cleared his throat before continuing,

''Reeem, appearances aside, this girl was born over a century ago, I request you consider her as your senioooor than someone your age, even if she has only been conscious for the same length of time as yourseeeelf'' he spoke, his tone stern and stoic.

''Excuse me?'' Rem replied, floored at the idea the silver-haired child with a squidgy baby face and eyes full of passion could be over ten times her age. ''I understand elves age differently, but she looks the same age as me, Lord Roswaal.'

Roswaal laughed at his maid's confusion, remembering she was still young, and her reaction was reasonable and understandable.

''It appeeeears I'll have to explain some things, please Rem, take a seeeeat,'' the Margrave requested, now smiling at the utterly befuddled maid, who felt the insurmountable urge to both scream and vomit.

All she could do was timidly nod, she had already questioned Roswaal's word, and she was deathly terrified of upsetting him further. She scuttled towards the purple couch in the centre of the room, patiently waiting for her Lord to take his seat opposite her.

As he sat, she gulped finding the confidence to look him in the eye,

''I'm sorry for my rudeness, Lord Roswaal'' Rem started, remorse and regret flowing through her voice, ''It won't happen again, I'd be honoured to take on the role as Emilia-sama's caretaker and personal maid. Thank you very much for the opportunity, my lord, Rem will not let you down.''

Rem was truly overwhelmed. Her head was spinning, she couldn't understand the situation, but she had a duty to perform and she would do it to the best of her abilities.

She had prepared herself to be reprimanded. Not only had she questioned her master, but she had acted with a crude audacity unbefitting of a maid.

She lowered her head again into a bow, awaiting his response. Would he let her go? Would he punish her? Would he increase her workload tenfold? Tears formed at the corner of her cerulean eyes, her trembling fingers gripping the hems of her maid uniform, cursing her past self who had the idiocy to even dare question Roswaal.

She took a long, deep breath, but her head shot up when she noticed the amused chuckle coming from the man seated opposite her.

'Reeeem, it appears you have taken this situation much too seriously, caaaalm yourself, let me explain the situation in detaaaail' Roswaal laughed, realising just how inundated his maid had become. He cleared his throat, encouraging Rem to sit back in her seat and listen.

Rem wiped her eyes with her sleeve, taking another deep breath, clearing her mind and meeting Roswaal with a smile. Satisfied, he began, taking the maid back to hours earlier, when the mage stood in a tense face-off with a grey spirit and his half-elven 'daughter'.

''It is truly an honouuuur to be able to meet you. She who dwells in Elior Forest, The Great Witch of Frost.''

''-!''

The girl, whose childish and petite features twisted into a look of sheer confusion and doubt, stumbled backwards through the doorway she just entered. She opened her mouth, but didn't have the chance to speak, the cat-like creature hovering protectively over the girl's shoulder shouting over her, voice dominated by rage and unadulterated hatred,

''I thought i'd try and be quiet and hear you out, but I see that your lack of manners extends well beyond sneaking into my daughter's room.''

Roswaal chuckled, glancing at the clearly uncomfortable child, and then the spirit who had its fangs bared and arms folded. He spoke in place of the girl, carefully watching Roswaal's actions with a circumspect gaze, obviously trying to intimidate him.

Narrowing his heterochromatic eyes, Roswaal methodically chose his words, reading the spirits obvious irritation:

''Whaaat exactly is your pet rodent trying to teeeell me,'' Roswaal chuckled, eyes narrowed into a snide glare, directed at the now enraged Great Spirit.

''Silence your evil tongue,'' the spirit spat, eliciting another mocking chuckle from Roswaal. ''To answer your question, I thought it was pretty obvious what I planned to do with you...invasive pests receive THIS!''

The spirit joined his paws as he finished speaking, a massive whirlpool of mana instantly surrounding him. He turned it into a shockwave, and the man before him was easily-

''E-Eh?!'' the cat sputtered

''If thaaaat's all you've got, I'm more than capable of doing the same,'' the mage taunted, casually snapping his fingers. Within an instant, he had replicated the whirlpool of mana created by the spirit, and the two collided.

With a violent explosion of light, the home of the small child was incinerated, blown to smithereens.

…

''-I have no intention of antagonizing you. I dooo wish you would believe this,'' Roswaal said sincerely, glaring at the grey cat who was hovering in front of him.

''And you couldn't have said that before you destroyed the only part of the forest i had managed to map out, it feels like i've wasted all these months just because you nincompoops couldn't talk civilly,'' Emilia interrupted, an upset pout spread across her adorable face.

''Exactly, just as Lia says. Roswaal, was it? You're really gonna have to reflect on this one.'' the spirit chided, a smug grin littering his feline face.

''Hey!'' Emilia yelled. ''It's your fault Puck! You didn't listen and refused to stop!''

Covered in soot, Emilia was indignant as she shouted at the pair, especially angry at her spirit who she called Puck. She continued,

''Trust is a big thing to me Puck, and after this past year I was hoping you'd understand this. I've lost my home and have nothing left, and you're lucky you didn't kill this man, imagine the consequences!'' Emilia said melancholically, on the verge of tears, hands opening and closing in frustration and anger.

''Emilia, please forgive the spirit you call puuuuuck,'' Roswaal requested, ''I'm certain he was juuuuust looking out for you, now everything is settled, let's taaaaalk.'' Roswaal reassured, taking a seat on the log opposite Emilia. Puck remained silent.

''For one to be able to puuuush me to my limit in a battle of magic, i am moooost surprised. Against my better judgment, my mind fogged and i used my truuuump card, please forgive me,'' Roswaal started, glancing around at the annihilated forest landscape,

Puck finally spoke up, addressing the seated mage, ''That goes for both of us, i believe. Whilst it was only recently, the last being to push me to my Star Beast form was none other than one of the Four Greats, Melakuera. If i'd have understood your power earlier, i could have approached this calmly, my apologies.'' Puck said, his words also an apology to his contractor.

Puck's words spiked Roswaal's interest, the mention of the former Great Spirit of Fire an unexpected treat.

''Hohoho,'' Roswaal chuckled, ''I believeeee you are talking of the 'Day of Red Earth and Sky', where two beings of immense manaaaa clashed in this very forest? It produced a calamity so large, it dyed the forest and the sky reeeed, or so the rumour goes.''

Emilia and Puck shared a glance, the rumour mentioned being extremely familiar to them both. It was definitely that day with Melakuera, the day his power scorched the land and cleared the skies. The day the heavens turned red.

''The 'Arbiter' Melakuera has been absent ever sinceeee, and I believe his role was filled by a spirit addressed only as the 'Beast of the End'. Perhaaaaps this name rings a bell,'' Roswaal winked at Puck, obviously joking around.

''Ooooh how scary,'' Puck giggled, ''My, i don't believe i know of any spirits who take a terrifying name such as that-''

''Puck, didn't you just show him your Beast transformation?'' Emilia questioned, completely failing to pick up on the light banter between the two. Emilia sighed as Roswaal's smile deepened, making it fairly obvious he knew of both Puck's name and title before he even came here.

Emilia, still slightly suspicious, pondered what a man of his ability would want with the newest Great Spirit of Fire.

As Emilia grew wearier, Roswaal stood up, flipping his frayed coat and bowing deeply. Such a refined gesture was one even the ettiquitless Emilia could instantly respect, able to tell just how polished it was.

Emilia's eyes widened as the man before her continued:

''Paaardon my unexpected and sudden visit, I humbly apologise for the troubles and damages the Great Spirit and I have caused. I am Roswaal. Margrave Roswaal L. Mathers. I am the current head of the Mathers family and have gooooverned the land containing this forest for countless generations.'' Roswaal declared, remaining in a stout bow.

Emilia remained frozen in place, shocked at the man- Roswaal's words, and soon fell deeper into her shock when she realised just what he had said.

Governing the forest. Those words reminded her of something Puck had said before.

''A-Are you perhaps...h-here to collect money from me?'' Emilia stuttered, dreading the man's response.

''Huh?''

''Puck explained it to me before,'' the tearful girl continued, ''outside of the forest, even the roads and the land are people's possessions, even things like passing through them and living on them mean you have to pay money...and you own this forest.''

Even if she didn't know, Emilia thought she had done something outrageous. Her head was dizzy, her gut sank. She had just wanted to live in peace, waiting patiently for her companions to awake from their frozen slumber. But to think she had caused a man like Roswaal such inconvenience, oh how her guilt burned.

''That would be...well that would be terrible.'' Puck added, eyes fixed to the man. He did doubt her fears, and Emilia herself hoped she was misinterpreting something, but even then, she had been living on someone else's land free of charge for months.

She took a peek at Roswaal, who was watching their exchange with a highly amused expression.

''I see,'' the Margrave said, ''It appeeeears you're aware of the debt you owe me, the one acquired by inhabiting this forest and collecting its resouuuuurces, correct?''

''Yes, but i'm not quite sure how you you expect this girl to repay your debt, after all, you did destroy everything she owned.'' the grey spirit growled, a rising impatience showing in his features.

''P-Puck, we talked about this!'' Emilia shouted, ''You did too, so hold some accountability.''

Roswaal met Emilia's worried gaze, peering into her with an uncomfortable, observing glare.

''Be at ease,'' Roswaal said calmly, ''I have a muuuutually benefitting alternative to anything of monetary value. I will not request the incomplete map, nor any form of labour, instead I have-''

''Are you not scared of me?'' Emilia interrupted, pure shock once again erupting through her very soul. She was wearing no robe, her silver hair, her amethyst eyes, her pointed ears all exposed to the man before her. She was so shaken she asked Roswaal outright, worry starting to fill her mind as she pondered if she had been too blunt.

However, before she could fall deeper into the throes of doubt, Roswaal chortled, ''To answer your question directly, no, I am not scared of you.''

Roswaal solemnly shook his head before continuing: ''The reeeeason being that I knew from the very start that a half-elf possessing silver hair and amethyst eyes dwelled in this forest, and my reaaason for being here was to find said person.''

Hearing that he had searched for her specifically, her mind couldn't help but wander to the scoundrels who invaded the forest, searching for she, who looked like the witch, seeking to enslave her and her companions. She had stood up earlier, when he mentioned who he was, and she now stumbled back, absolutely horrified.

''D-Don't tell me...you're not one of those guys,'' Emilia said, shaking in pure fear and confusion.

''Need not worry. My goals are faaaar nobler than those of such a bunch, for I seek mutual benefit, not criminal enslavery,'' the Margrave explained, which raised an eyebrow from Puck.

''You sure do like to dance around the point, huh. This is the second time you have mentioned mutual benefit, so spit it out. I am a cat after all, my patience is low.'' Puck ordered, hovering over the now calmer Emilia's shoulder.

''I woooould rather avoid your ire, I shall get to the point then. How do you wish to be addressed.'' questioned Roswaal to the girl, who once again met his gaze with a look of utter confusion.

Thinking about it, Emilia had never once given her name. Puck seemed to just know, and everyone else simply would never care for the name of devil spawn such as herself. She cleared her throat, and declared boldly,

''My name is Emilia, just Emilia. I possess no family name, so Emilia is fine.''

Introducing herself as so, she thrust her chest forward with pride. With Puck sitting on her shoulder as she did so, she had nothing to be afraid of right now.

Roswaal smiled before taking a step back and dropping down to one knee, bowing respectfully to the child and her spirit.

''Very well, Emilia-samaaa. Allow me to start over, I am Margrave Roswaal L. Mathers. As a noble assooociated with the Dragon Kingdom of Lugnica, I have come to visit you on this occasion in order to enlist the aid of your esteeeemed self.'' Roswaal declared, eliciting a gasp from the duo he was bowed to.

''...Aid?'' They said in tandem.

''Correct...Emilia-sama, you have inhabited this foooorest for longer than my current lifetime, much of that spent entrapped in an ice that shouldn't have melted. Your friends and family all remain froooozen, standing as beautiful ice statues, never to thaaaaw,''

''Coooome with me, become a guest of my manor, train and study to become a fine warrior and scholar, rather than a girl despiseeeed for her resemblance to the greatest evil, and in return I promise you but one thing...'' Roswaal looked up at the girl before finishing:

''Emilia-samaaaa, I believe there is a way to thaw the frozen elves of Elior forest.''

''-!''

The look on Emilia's face was one of absolute befuddlement, nothing but a small ''Huh'' escaping her lips. Her mouth opened and closed, unable to articulate her tangled thoughts, mind racing at an unimaginable speed.

Puck was the one to question the smiling mage's bold words, unable to comprehend just what he had heard, ''Excuse me...do you realise how bold of a claim that is, Margrave, And how does this benefit you in any way whatsoever? The words you speak are significant, and i fail to believe this is mutually beneficial, what do you have planned?'' Puck spat, his impatience peaking, quietly preparing to blast the mage into a billion pieces.

''Beeee at ease, both of you. This situation has many selfish benefits to myself that have driven me to seek your heeeelp. As i said, you will study and train as a noble, a requirement for the plan, which will unfortunately take maaaany years. But imagine how much interspecies relations will improve within the kingdom if I can do something such as basically reeeeviving an entire village? You have my word, I have my reaaaasons,'' Roswaal explained, never once breaking eye contact with the child.

''I doubt that's the only reason, Roswaal.'' Puck said, floating in front of the mage, arms folded.

'Well, i do have one other reason,'' Roswaal started, voice lowered so only the Great spirit could hear his words, ''Listen, Puck-sama, slave trading has increased with the failing economy, this forest is a key trading route. The Maaaathers family has always wished to protect those of demi-human blood, and this situation is too perfect to pass uuuup.''

''So you want my daughter to live alone in your mansion? This whole situation seems far too sketchy, Roswaal.'' Puck retorted to the man who's smile never once left his face.

''Once again, Puck-sama, be at eaaaase. My mansion houses more than just myself, for exaaaample, if I mentioned the name Beatrice, would thaaaat spike your interest?''

''-!?''

Puck went to reply, before sighing, a look of defeat plastered across his face.

''Wherever you go, I go Lia. What would you like to do?'' he asked, floating back in front of her face.

Emilia, who was still struggling to fully comprehend Roswaal's words, smiled gracefully, extending her palms flat for her spirit to sit on.

''I think it's wonderful, Puck. I know you'll protect me no matter what, so why not I say'' Emilia said with eloquence, finally drawing a small giggle from the spirit.

''As you wish, Lia.''

''And yes, Emilia-sama was the only one unfrozen from the ice, she didn't age a minute physically or mentally, so she remains a pre-teen, 10 years of age in body and mind, with a century-old soul'' Roswaal finished explaining to the blue-haired maid, who was staring at him with a look of utter shock.

''T-That's...interesting.'' Rem stuttered, a broad smile across her face.

''Weeeell then, I expeeect you to assume your role immediately, you maaaay be excused.'' Roswaal said, standing up to face the door.

''Very well, Lord Roswaal.'' Rem said with a bow

…

As Rem's mind cut back to reality, she reached the door belonging to Emilia. She took a moment to gather her thoughts, and adjusted her uniform once again, wanting to look presentable for her guests of high stature and importance.

With a practiced and light knock, Rem pushed her way into the room 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'' Rem muttered, capturing the attention of the two women previously encapsulated by the boy, once again having her expectations destroyed by a scene she had never once pictured.

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.

3. In canon, Roswaal would have found Emilia under a year before we first meet Subaru, and he is able to give her the insignia to get her out of the forest. Because this is 6-7 years pre-canon, I have had to work with what I had. This really doesn't change much in the grand scheme of things, and I hope this isn't offputting.

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. Yall are simply great and I owe you one.