The Vollachian Noble and Stargazer
AN: Chapter 1 was expanded and revised to start from the moment Emilia enters the Loot House and catches more of her confusion as from her perspective, she never met Subaru before. And remember, all power comes with a price in RE:Zero, don't ask for power you aren't willing to bear the costs of.
Chapter 2
Emilia woke up and rubbed her eyes, yawning as she did so. Going to the window she looked outside over the garden.
"Morning Lia," Puck announced as he popped out of her hair and into her open palm.
"Morning Puck, did you sleep well?"
"Certainly my daughter and I have it on good authority that Prince Subaru will be visiting us today. Just don't ask how."
"Really?!" Emilia's face lit up before dropping again, "I'm not dressed yet, I can't see him like this."
"Ah my precious Lia, don't worry, your loving Father has got you covered here," Puck reassured her as he floated towards the bath. "First a nice hot bath with the right scented oils added to it."
"Don't you think that's a little too much?" Emilia asked as she followed Puck who was already using his control over fire and water magic to create a hot bath in her much smaller personal bath.
"Not at all my daughter, Prince Subaru is the key to reaching our goal. You just have to draw him close to you with a good impression after he went through all the trouble to save you," Puck explained as Emilia disrobed and entered the water.
"But wouldn't it be a diplomatic problem? Travel between nations is still restricted." Emilia inquired.
"Nope, not at all Lia, though I can't tell you why as it's a secret." Puck waved his paw in a tssking motion while winking.
Puffing her cheeks in annoyance for a moment, Emilia let out a sigh. Puck wouldn't tell her, and she had no right to pry further. With Pucks help, she quickly washed herself for the day before entering her wardrobe closet.
"Now since we have a Prince visiting, it won't do to wear your usual plain white underwear," Puck explained as he went to over to the, till now, never used laced underwear collection in the wardrobe.
"Umm, Puck, why would I wear these if boys aren't allowed to see them as you always told me?" Emilia asked her father as he pulled out a matching set of white laced bra and panties for her.
"Oh it's not because Prince Subaru will see them, in fact he is forbidden from seeing you in them." Puck explained as Emilia stepped into her panties.
"I'm confused Puck, how does this help?" Emilia inquired as she held out her arms forward for Puck to place her bra on.
"Wearing laced undergarments a boy can't see helps to give you confidence and place you in the right mindset to win his support to gain the throne. And that confidence will rub off on the boy and make him more willing to give you what you want." Puck explained as he tightened her bra and adjusted it to lift and separate her breasts so they would fit properly in her white robes which he had used his magic to wash clean again.
"Puck, you're making it sound like we are deceiving and manipulating Prince Subaru. He saved my life." Emilia pouted at her father as her White Robes from yesterday were brought forth for her.
"No not at all Lia, this only really works if he was already receptive to your beauty. It simply enhances it." Puck reassured her.
"Puck, I'm a half-elf, would Prince Subaru even risk more than he has to help me?" Emilia asked in genuine fear. While he had saved her, it was an open question if he would go beyond that.
"Let's just say I have it on good authority that Prince Subaru will help you. But for now let's finish dressing you and eat a light meal before walking in the gardens."
…..
Dressed, makeup applied, a light meal consumed, and a chat with her lesser spirits later, Emilia strolled through the gardens of the Roswaal Mansion with her lesser spirits. Lord Roswaal was currently away on an urgent errand and would rejoin them for lunch.
"Emilia-sama, a carriage approaches." Ram and Rem announced in unison with a bow as they approached her.
"Thank you Ram and Rem, this must be Prince Subaru." Emilia clapped her hands in glee as she moved to the front entrance to greet the visiting prince.
Standing at the top of the steps with the twin maids behind her, Emilia watched the carriage come up. Three dragon riders bearing the banner of the Astrea Family were in front and three behind. A footman drove the carriage with two seated next to him and 4 at the back of the carriage. No doubt the carriage had a senior maid and at least 2 juniors riding in it with Prince Subaru and Reinhard as well.
[Lia, once you welcome them, offer your left hand with palm down and fingers slightly curved so he knows you can kiss it.]
[You are ok with that Puck? Normally I have to restrain you when knights kiss my hand.]
[They are deliberately mocking you Lia with false respect and don't follow the proper protocol of waiting for you to offer your hand. You definitely should let me punish them as they deserve, especially that Julius fellow.]
[Puck… Not now the carriage has come to a stop. We'll discuss this later.]
The footmen dismounted and opened the door and helped down an elderly maid, then 4 junior maids who fanned out. Next out was Reinhard, then finally a smiling Prince Subaru in attire more suitable for his station with a scarlet and white noble uniform and full scarlet cape bearing the Astrea Banner, indicating he was under their protection just as the hawks on her robes' sleeves showed she was under Roswaal's protection.
With them out, Emilia addressed them while the maids behind her and behind Subaru and Reinhard curtsied, "On behalf of Lord Roswaal, I welcome you to his home honored guests." Emilia held out her hand in the manner Puck told her to.
"The honor is ours Princess Emilia," Prince Subaru answered as he took her offered hand and kissed it while Reinhard bowed with a fist over his chest.
"Ah good to see you again Prince Subaru, Lia was worried over your health all night. Seeing you took a lift off her stomach." Puck teased as he appeared out of her hair.
"Puck!" Emilia blushed as Subaru and Reinhard smiled at that.
"Good to see you again Puck." Prince Subaru held his hand out to Puck who shook it.
Emilia was again surprised by Prince Subaru. Not only did the prince know about Puck, he was able to casually shake his paw as an equal. Even his escorts were surprised. "It's rare to see anyone treat with a spirit so casually before. You don't have the same awe and fear as others do."
"What can I say? Life is too short not to make new friends, even with those feared due to misunderstandings." Prince Subaru replied with a smile as Puck landed on his shoulder.
"I can read your surface thoughts, so I know you're telling the truth." Puck stated. "That said it was thanks to you that my beloved and lovely daughter Emilia was saved. If there is a wish you would like granted I will do what I can within my power to grant it."
"Well in that case let me pet and groom your fur whenever I want!" Subaru responded as he began cuddling Puck, much to the shock of his escorts and Emilia's that he would ask so light a reward from Puck.
"Lady Emilia, he does realize Puck is a Great Spirit right?" Ram whispered into Emilia's ear as Subaru praised Puck's fur and ears.
"Yes, but then again, his requested reward for saving me was simply my name." Emilia whispered back before smiling and addressing their guests. "Well, would you like to join us for lunch? Lord Roswaal should be back soon to join us."
"Certainly Emilia-tan." Prince Subaru replied.
"Eh? Tan?" Emilia asked confused as she turned to lead the way.
"Tan is a nickname for those you are close to. Think of it as my way of making our relationship closer." Prince Subaru smiled.
"Um, Subaru, you realize I am…"
"A silver haired, amethyst eyed, and very beautiful half-elf who helped the appa merchant Kadomon's little girl Plum who was lost. The little flower pinned onto your dress, that Plum gave you, tells me you are a good person regardless of what haters have to say." Prince Subaru spoke with a bright smile.
"How… You are a Stargazer. Puck, it looks like our suspicion is correct. Otherwise, how could he know? We never met him till the Loot House," Emilia stated with a blush as they entered the mansion, not noticing the temporary look of sadness on Subaru's face. Very few called her beautiful, and aside from Puck, Subaru was the only one she could feel had actually meant it.
"More like highly realistic nightmares you don't know you exited till you find yourself past the point the last nightmare ended. It was how I knew where to be. But I don't need that ability to tell me to open this side door to a Library." Prince Subaru spoke as he suddenly turned towards a broom closet.
"There is no library behind that door, just a broom…" Ram started to say but stopped as the Forbidden Library was revealed with an annoyed Beatrice facing the door.
Emilia was in shock with the others of the mansion as Beatrice hissed annoyance.
"How rude I suppose! Did no one tell you to knock first before opening a door?"
"Now, now Beatrice." Prince Subaru made a tssking motion, "Frowning all the time will give you wrinkles. Try smiling."
"Hmmph, a rude boy like you only deserves a sneer in fact." Beatrice retorted before slamming the door shut in their faces.
"Um Subaru, how were you able to find Beatrice's Forbidden Library on the first try? We normally have to open every door in the mansion to find her as she rarely ever comes out." Emilia asked.
Prince Subaru smirked with a finger raised in the air, "Call it luck or fate, I always find what I seek." With that Prince Subaru walked three doors over and threw it open to again reveal Beatrice's Library.
"How are you defeating my door crossing I suppose?" Beatrice asked in shock only for Subaru to close the door on her.
"Prince Subaru, the Librarian is a Great Spirit; it would not be wise not to anger her." Reinhard spoke up.
"You're right, why don't we ask her to join us for lunch as well? Think she will join us Emilia-tan" Prince Subaru suggested.
Emilia was surprised while Puck barely contained his mirth at the situation, "Um Subaru, Beatrice is not exactly used to meeting people."
"Betty is more used to meeting people silly girl than you are in fact. Betty is only joining you because Bubby requested it and not because of the rude boy in fact." Beatrice announced from the top of the stairs as she glared at Prince Subaru and Emilia before going to Puck and pulling him out of the air in glee.
"Ah, well, that will work." Prince Subaru chuckled while Emilia and the others could only look on in confused disbelief. Reinhard for his part still could not detect a single Divine Protection on his liege, yet he continued to surprise him with both his knowledge and the gaps in his knowledge.
"The Lord of the Manor has returned in fact," Beatrice announced suddenly.
….
"My, thiiiis is mooost unexpected. It has been a long time since the Mathers Table has hosted such a fine collection of heroes, royalty, and Greeeaaat Spirits. Carol-san hero of the Civil War, the Sword Saint Reinhard, Prince Subaru of Vollachia, Princess Emilia of Elior Forest, the Great Spirits of Yin and Fire, and of course myself the Court Mage of Lugnica. What has given me the great honor of hosting you aaall?" Lord Roswaal announced in his rather flamboyant way as he entered the dining hall.
"I was the one who arranged for this, to meet and thank Princess Emilia for healing me last night and see that she made it safely home." Prince Subaru spoke.
Emilia felt herself blush, "It was the least I could do after you saved my life."
Prince Subaru nodded with a smile.
"If I may Prince Subaru, what brings you to this country?" Roswaal asked, dropping the clown act to get to the heart of the potential diplomatic problem of a Vollachian Prince being in Lugnica.
"No clue, you are the ones calling me a prince; I never claimed to be one, and my family was just a middle class merchant family. I was just getting some food from my favorite seller and heading back to have dinner with my family when next thing I knew I was bathed in light and found myself in the capital far from home and it was early morning, not late at night." Subaru's face darkened in pain, "Then the nightmares started and I didn't know what was real and what was false or if I had made it out of them till I woke up at the Astrea Manor. Till that point I was seeing and feeling you, me, the thief, and the giant dying in horrific ways and having to trust the nightmares to guide my fight till Reinhard could arrive. You literally feel everything as if it actually happened."
"Stargazing is that horrific? I knew from some of your words that you saw disturbing things, but actual pain as well?" Emilia asked as she covered her mouth.
Subaru smiled, "I see I worried you unnecessarily. I made it through and we are all safe. An Isekai Protagonist like myself is built to get through such trauma."
"Isekai Protagonist? I'm sorry, but what does that even mean?" Emilia questioned.
"My land has stories of folks like me, who were minding their business, going about their lives, then out of the blue, some higher power plucks them away to save a princess. They are given precisely what they need to save her, after which well you can figure out the rest." Subaru chuckled while Emilia slightly blushed.
Feeling a bit bold, Emilia decided she would get him to open up a bit more on his homeland in a more pleasant setting as she could tell he still had some pain in his eyes, "Um, Prince Subaru, why don't you join me for a walk in the garden after lunch and you can tell me more about your homeland?"
"Certainly, it would be my pleasure Emilia-tan."
Emilia blushed slightly at how quick Prince Subaru responded to her bold request. Maybe Puck was on to something about wearing different underwear today.
"Ah don't know about that Subaru, you look a little shady, my fatherly heart tells me to keep between you and my lovely daughter."
"Puck!" Emilia blushed redder at her father's teasing.
"Oi, I'm not that shady father." Subaru shot back.
"Father? I'm not giving my daughter away that easily. Even if you are a prince." Puck made a tssking motion with his paw.
"Oh so you're the type of father that will make me fight you for her hand eh. Well I guess I will just have to train with Reinhard for 30 days and 30 nights to get ready then." Subaru boasted.
"Oh you think you can take…"
"You two, you're acting like children. Eat before your food gets cold." Emilia pouted at the two causing them to get back to their food with apologetic faces.
Carol simply smiled at Emilia putting those two in their place while the others except Roswaal had blank faces at Prince Subaru boldly declaring he would fight the Beast of the End for Emilia's hand. Did the prince not know just who he challenged?
"Betty doesn't know if you are very bold or very stupid to challenge Bubby little pest."
"Beatrice don't start it back up," Emilia chided the librarian with a tssking finger.
"Hmmph," Was Beatrice's response before resuming her meal.
"As interesting as this tangent was. I still need to know, were you adopted or is your family a cadet branch far down the line? You are far too old to be the Emperor's son." Lord Roswaal questioned.
Prince Subaru shrugged before pulling out folded leather and unfolding it and pulling something out of plastic(?) to hand to Lord Roswaal. "Unless my father was hiding infertility, I am as far as I know, born legitimately to Kenichi and Naoko Natsuki who you can see in this photo I keep. I as far as I know, come from no Royal Line."
Roswaal looked over the photo as Subaru called it before handing it to Emilia. "Hmm, well the Yang Sword would not have come to you unless you were of Royal Blood. But I sense no lie from you. You legitimately don't know."
Emilia looked at the picture, which was of a material she never felt before and the artist was highly skilled to make such a realistic and small portrait with a surrealistic background of impossibly tall buildings made of glass. Smiling at Prince Subaru, Emilia handed the picture back, "Your family's portraitist is quite skilled to make such a realistic picture with a surrealistic background. And you're rich enough to have clear plastic or at least skilled enough in Earth Magic to make it."
Prince Subaru raised an eyebrow. "My magic element is shadow, and my gate locked since I was a kid. I never had the opportunity to unlock it."
"Well I can unlock…"
"Ah Puck, I think I will let an actual shadow magic user unlock it and train me. Don't want to accidentally explode and get dirt all over Emilia-tan's dress now." Prince Subaru spoke with a smile and what looked to be a spot of anger in his eyes for a moment.
"Ah definitely don't want you exploding." Emilia agreed with a nervous wave of her hands, "Beatrice-sama would you be willing to teach Prince Subaru shadow magic."
"Hmmph, why should Betty waste time with such a rude boy I suppose?" The Librarian quickly shot it down.
"Ahhhh, but Beatrice-saaama, wouldn't your mother want you to spread soooome of your vast knowledge?" Roswaal interjected.
"I suppose Betty could show him the basic minya spell given how his gate is locked. Anything higher level like Shamac would cause his gate to be damaged."
"Ah you're the best Beako." Subaru praised her.
"What did you call Betty I suppose?"
….
"Ah a walk in the gardens with Emilia-tan, a total angel to my eyes, even if we have to bring little Beako, Puck-san, Carol-san, Ram-chi, and Rein-chan along as well," Prince Subaru stated.
Emilia blushed at being called an angel, "I'm a half-elf you realize." Emilia reminded him.
"No wonder you're so beautiful then, only a fool would not find you to be an Angel of Heaven." Prince Subaru again flattered Emilia.
"I can read his surface thoughts, so he is telling the truth." Puck added.
"Still a rude boy I suppose," Beatrice added.
Emilia covered her red cheeks, "Such sincere praise is rare for me to hear, Prince Subaru."
"Then I am glad I am one of those to say it Emilia-tan." Subaru replied with a smile and pose before speaking again, "For I am Subaru Natsuki, hopelessly lost, clueless, broke beyond compare, somehow a secret Prince all along, and saved a Secret Princess from a heinous assassin without even knowing about it."
"What a gross individual you are to brag about being stupid in fact." Beatrice rolled her eyes.
"Oh come on Beako, don't be a Tsundere." Subaru moaned while Carol and Ram gave him a deadpanned look, and Puck, Emilia, and Reinhard tried and failed to keep from laughing.
"Bubby I want to give him a few lessons now so we can enjoy tea I suppose." Beatrice announced.
"Ah sure, Rem will be coming with Tea soon, so let's get it out of the way then." Puck agreed.
"Ram will ensure the Prince and Princess keep their honors intact then."
"Oi Ram-chi, don't make me sound shady." Subaru whined.
"Oh enough, Betty will unlock your gate…" Beatrice stopped as her hand touched Subaru and her eyes widened.
"Betty, you feel it as well?" Puck asked while Emilia looked on with mild concern.
"Yes, but he is not that person I suppose." Beatrice spoke in sadness.
"That person?" Subaru and Emilia spoke in synchronicity with Subaru turning to face Beatrice.
"Focus boy in fact!" Beatrice cut him off.
"Ok, um…" Subaru replied as he turned back around.
"Visualize a distortion in time and shape your mana into a spear and say the word Minya." Beatrice instructed.
Prince Subaru created a literal spear with the shout of Minya and hurled it at a shrub which crumbled to pieces.
…..
Rem with the assistance of a pair of maids Subaru brought served tea in the pavilion alongside with snacks. Puck sat with Beatrice between the mana exhausted Subaru and Emilia with Reinhard on the opposite side. To a careful observer, Rem's scrunched nose and barely contained hostility was visible. So much that Ram gently took over from her sister and sent her off.
"Your gate still needs gentle use for now in fact. So no using magic unless Betty or another Yin Spirit is with you in fact." Beatrice laid down the law while spoon feeding Puck some tea.
"Oh you're no fun Beako," Prince Subaru whined.
"It is Betty's job to ensure her student doesn't hurt himself, become shady, a layabout, and a bad influence on fair maidens in fact."
"Emilia-tan, surely you can save me from Beako's tough love."
"Sorry Subaru, but Beatrice-sensei has spoken," Emilia deadpanned while keeping a straight face.
"Even Emilia-tan has gone to stern mother mode. Reinhard, you're my only hope."
"Sorry my prince, but Beatrice-sama overrules even me." Reinhard threw Subaru under the carriage with a friendly smile.
"Arrgh, defeated on all fronts, therefore I must surrender." Prince Subaru whined as he waved a white handkerchief which finally caused Emilia to start giggling and Beatrice to smirk.
"So Subaru could you tell me about your home?" Emilia pressed.
"Well I come from a faraway place so to speak."
"Eh? Please don't joke Prince Subaru," Emilia pouted.
"I did say I was hopelessly lost and an Isekai Protagonist. I truly have no clue as to how I came here or why I am a Prince all of a sudden. I suppose you could say it's Fate that brought me here. For a purpose that has yet to unfold as I navigate the nightmares to the next checkpoint." Subaru's eyes had a look of pain for a moment before lightening again in mirth.
"I see, thank you for saving me again Prince Subaru." Emilia responded before nodding to him to continue. [Puck, do you know more?]
[Afraid not Lia, I just know he is the key to saving Elior.]
Prince Subaru took a sip of his tea before continuing. "I was born in Sapporo, to a middle class family. We lived comfortably as you can see from my hands," Subaru held up his hands which were soft, "And nowhere in my life was it ever brought up that I was a Prince in disguise."
"Your father must have been paid to keep quiet about your birth to protect you from the assassination. Mayhaps Drizen or another member knew his time was nearing and wanted to keep you from being slaughtered. That or your mother was a mistress and…" Reinhard stopped at Subaru's glare. "Forgive me, I retract the last sentence, it was out of bounds for me to imply impropriety."
"Look there is nothing to go off of, and if the white light was anything to go by, Sapporo and my family are lost to me." Prince stared at his tea in sadness.
"I always heard that Vollachia was a violent place where strength is valued above all else. It is not uncommon for villages to be wiped out on a whim in their constant power struggles. I am saddened to hear this happened to your home." Emilia empathized with Subaru's pain as her lesser spirits hovered around her, the passive spiritual presence that Subaru gave off drawing them to show themselves despite Puck's presence.
"EMT… Emilia-tan Major Angel." Prince Subaru complimented her.
…..
Back in her room, Emilia looked out on the Gardens as Prince Subaru and Sir Reinhard sparred, Subaru with the Yang Sword and Reinhard barehanded. Ram and Puck were in the process of choosing her evening Dinner Gown on Puck's orders while Rem prepared the dinner. Rem seemed anxious about something and her nose was twitching, but Emilia hadn't pried into it.
"Emilia-sama, everything is ready for your dinner engagement. Puck asked me to inform you that he needs to take care of something and rejoin you at the dinner table in 2 hours and bids you to read till it is time to dine with the prince again." Ram announced as she motioned Emilia to follow her into the wardrobe.
Inside, a pink form fitting long gown was laid out alongside lacy pink underwear, long pink elbow gloves, and a pink hairclip with white flowers arranged along its length. With Ram's help Emilia quickly changed and reapplied her makeup before Emilia went to a comfy chair with a book on Vollachia, determined to know more about Subaru's homeland. Maybe even a way to see if his family survived.
"Ah, Betty sees you are alone in fact." Beatrice announced as she entered the room.
"What brings you here Beatrice?" Emilia asked out of curiosity.
"That boy is not they. But he has the chance to be. Mother wishes to meet him I suppose."
"I'm not sure I understand Beatrice." Emilia asked in confusion.
"It is Mother's wish that Betty form a contract with you and aid Bubby in protecting you I suppose," Beatrice announced as she held her hand up.
Emilia blinked before smiling and taking Beatrice's hand, "Well I always wondered what it would be like to have a cute little sister. Thank you for choosing me Beako."
"Aughh, that rude boy's habits have rubbed off on you I suppose. And Betty is older than you in fact." Beatrice grumbled before outlining the contract, "Mother's knowledge must be kept out of the hands of those who would abuse it. Only those who can find the Library without opening all the doors are permitted to read Mother's knowledge. You will stay away from reflective surfaces. If Bubby is unable to choose your wardrobe and hair style, I will choose it. We will bathe together and wash each other's backs. You will not be picky about food. You will talk to your lesser spirits every day. You will maintain an exercise regimen in the morning and at night. And you will marry the person that Betty and Bubby choose for you."
"I accept these terms." Emilia agreed before hugging Beatrice to her.
…
"Ah Emilia-tan, whoever chose that outfit for you totally gets it." Prince Subaru greeted Emilia as he offered his hand as they met at the opposite ends of the hall going to the dining room. The Prince dressed in a deep scarlet dinner outfit worthy of a Vollachian Prince and escorted by Reinhard while Roswaal accompanied Emilia.
Taking his offered hand and walking with him to the opening doors, Emilia blushed at the praise, "You look nice yourself Subaru."
"Ah Reinhard has a talent for choosing clothes." Subaru replied as he led Emilia into the dining room.
Once seated, Puck and Beatrice joined them followed by the 6 knights of the Astrea Banner and Carol-san. The Oni Twins and the Astrea Servants began serving the first course. Rem whose twitching nose was visible was gently dismissed by Ram with a touch and glance back to the kitchen. Subaru declined wine and Puck ordered Emilia's watered down and restricted to 2 glasses.
After some time into the meal, Subaru turned to Emilia. "Emilia, what do you say to a trip to the Village of Arlam tomorrow. A future ruler should be known to their people and having a big show with Reinhard and me would increase your popular appeal."
"What a splendid ideal, I agree." Puck spoke up before Emilia could.
"Indeeeed, a splendid ideal and it so happens I need to speak with the village elders as well and do a perimeter check to ensure the Mabeast population is under control." Roswaal added.
Emilia with all the enthusiasm around her couldn't help but agree, "Very well, I would be honored to join you, Beako as well."
"Aughh, that rude boy's habits have truly rubbed off on you I suppose. Very well Betty will come along, but only because the rude boy is shady, a layabout, and a bad influence in fact."
"Oi Beako, that is harsh. I thought we were close." Prince Subaru complained to various levels of mirth around the table.
"Betty doesn't know what relationship you think we have, but I find you a pest in fact."
"Yep Emilia-tan, Beako is certainly a Tsundere. Be sure to give her lots of love and attention and she will become a Deredere."
"I am not sure what those terms mean but I will certainly give Beako," Beatrice face palmed at Emilia's use of the nickname while Puck consoled her, "Plenty of love to open up."
"Ok, our next chapter in our relationship starts tomorrow then. But before that, would you like to dance?" Subaru enthusiastically asked as he pulled out a strange metia.
"Certainly, but we have no musicians." Emilia pointed out.
"Got that covered her with my metia. Thanks to Reinhard's DP of Metia Charging and Sound Amplification, we can fill the room with music." Subaru explained.
"Hoooow Marvelous! A good dance is excellent practice Emilia-sama for the more formal balls that will soon come your way. Let us move the table and clear a space." Roswaal agreed with Subaru's plans.
Standing up with Prince Subaru who handed his metia to a footman who was familiar with its use, Emilia stood with the Subaru, Reinhard, Roswaal, and Beatrice with Puck floating by the fireplace. That way Subaru could have a picture(?) taken to commemorate this moment while the table and chairs were moved.
Once done, the metia was handed to Reinhard who got it to begin playing a waltz. With this, Emilia allowed Subaru to lead her into a dance while Puck added some magical effects to make the moment all the more beautiful and memorable. In Subaru's arms, Emilia forgot she was a hated half-elf and began to enjoy herself.
Unnoticed to Emilia, Rem looked upon the scene with barely contained hostility.
"Dear sister, remember Roswaal's orders." Ram gently reminded Rem with a hand on her shoulder.
"Nee-sama, he is a witch cultist, the scent is overwhelming. And he is a foreigner."
Ram made Rem look her in the face, "He is protected by the Sword Saint, two great spirits have cleared him to be close to Lady Emilia, and Lord Roswaal has explained to you already that he is a Stargazer and part of that ability causes them to be drenched in the witches scent. Do not do anything rash; in fact, Roswaal has asked me to relay to you to go to the capital tonight and meet with an agent and return in 4 days' time. I will see you off."
Oblivious to all of this Emilia enjoyed herself.
AN: With the contracting of Beatrice, Emilia now has access to all elements of magic and can fly with the help of Beatrice and Puck. Her combat power has massively increased over canon. But as with all things, that power has a cost in her personal freedom. Subaru will eventually contract his own spirits.