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The following is a fan-based

FICTION

Re:Zero and other products related to the this series are all owned by Tappei Nagatsuki.

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Chapter 20: Cutting Diplomacy

Warning! Lewd inside!

Emilia was normally a calm girl.

It wasn't just a matter of personal nature, but her first years of living in the wild had taught her that patience was a key virtue of the mighty. And right now, that patience was missing as she tried to digest the newest development in the murder case. Good news was that the culprit had been, indeed, captured. Odder news was that said culprit had sworn fealty to Subaru.

And that was an issue to her for a few reasons. Officially, the fact that Elsa Granhiert, and thus also Meili Portroute, had bowed to Subaru and not her meant that their loyalty to her camp was partial. Which, within an intrigue-related mindset, made this whole ordeal unacceptable and she should have forced the matter into shifting their loyalty to her. Unofficially she knew, deep down, that she was upset because of the blatant attempt to use her new closeness to Subaru against the half-elf. Even Subaru knew it, which is why he pleaded to Emilia to not take any harsh reaction, despite how warranted those were.

That conversation genuinely strained their bond because, between worry and suspicions, Emilia found it difficult to accept the logic the young man was pushing for. Yet, his words were not lost to her as the girl knew why he was so careful about it. Elsa may have verbally opened up to an agreement based on loyalty, but without a proper contract there was nothing stopping her from breaking from it at the first hint of unwarranted actions by assassinating Subaru himself. No, she could not go too hard without risking it.

The saving grace for herself and Elsa was just taking a moment to discuss this with Subaru and then work out a solution which would not only spare her from being too harsh, but also put Elsa in her place. It had to be the sort of punishment that Emilia knew would have gotten her equal respect and fear from Elsa, and the solution came in the form of a magical seal branded onto the Bowel Hunter's chest.

She was hesitant to go through the process, but her head perked in clear amusement and somewhat murderous naivety when the white-haired girl mentioned the one holding the 'master command' would have been Subaru. It would have been easy to just tie Elsa to her, but Emilia could tell that was one of the expected wrong moves from the Bowel Hunter. It was a challenge, a test, and one that the half-elf knew she was going to have to sacrifice something to win. And, in this case, was to allow the assassin to be restricted in exchange for her being around Subaru these many hours.

And her friend gave her proof of trust by actually putting Elsa to work by actually helping around the village. It was an amusing sight, at first. Elsa was definitely not pleased with the notion of having to carry things around, that she was caught as a potential culprit and that 'Lady Emilia already punished her the harshest way possible in the name of the villagers that died'. She was eyed through her labors, and yet, just as frustratingly as she could only be, Elsa managed to still get a small win out of it.

Sweat was unpleasant at times, but when it came to glistening one's skin, it was the sort of element which attracted attention. It gained focus, eyes on the flesh, on the curves and on the modesty which her outfit hardly covered. And Subaru started. Why wouldn't he? Emilia couldn't blame him, but she could easily blame Elsa because her gaze bore the clarity of knowledge over that form of attraction her physical frame created to the eyes of many men and a couple of women.

Emilia was not a merciful being. Kind yes, merciful not. So, when it came to retaliating, the solution was slightly more complicated than many would expect. Meili was still unbound, for a time. She was freed and kept under watch, but it would be futile to expend resources to keep a prisoner within a 'light sentence' to expend so many resources without something coming back to them. A talk with Roswaal in this regard opened a chance and one that quite frustrated Elsa.

The Bowel Hunter would have gone out of her way to ignore her seal and kill everyone in sight had the same kind of punishment been inflicted to the child. Hence why Emilia took a moderate approach and merely used a special contract meant to submit Meili to her. Emilia was Meili's boss and the child was now her maid.

Despite how dreadful that sounded, Emilia didn't plan to hurt Meili. No, she would actually want her to be her friend. What was wrong in befriending the very thing that made a loose patch stuck within the system? If Elsa tried something funny, then Meili would have been the one delivering retribution to her. It was all a matter of patience and moderation. She could do it, and she had a feeling that Meili would be open to that- to have someone else to talk to, someone that was expected to be a long-standing ally for the time being due to her and Elsa's current predicament.

In the end, this could all be summarized within a single task to prove her capacities. It was to handle a dangerous element within her ranks, something that was going to happen in the early stage of her future reign and... Emilia will have to weather the storm if she wants to really show her qualities as a proper queen of this kingdom.

Luckily enough, Elsa was being quite hesitant during this first week at the manor and both Subaru and Emilia were on her case to make sure that nothing unpleasant came up to disrupt their plans or even kill someone else for the entire duration of the mercenary's stay within the area. It was difficult to say if this status quo was going to persist, but Emilia could feel it in her guts that the Bowel Hunter wasn't going to keep being tame for too long. Not when opportunities would rise to create more issues for them. Or for her, and her love interest.

But where Emilia was so invested in keeping an eye on the external trouble which was Elsa Granhiert, she failed to realize that, within the manor, someone had unconsciously plotted a plan that would present her Subaru a few more dilemmas related to love and... more.

This is just not my week.

The idea of keeping Elsa around, despite how suicidal and somewhat insane it sounded, was working. In part. Elsa was a handful when it came to social situations, and not due to inherent incapacity to handle people. That was a thing, yes, but it wasn't as impactful as her willingly turning any chance to flirt in an opportunity to make him uncomfortable. And her teasing was working way too well for his tastes.

He had experienced this sort of stuff recently, but now he had an older woman doing this to him while he had just girls around his age teasing or even craving him. And for a young man such as himself, this was not doing him any favor in keeping his thoughts straight. One moment he was busy at work or studying some magic with Beatrice, and the next one saw him daydreaming about that curvaceous killer.

Her hips swaying, her leaning forward and accentuating her glorious bosom- Subaru was taught to be a gentleman by his mother, but Mrs. Natsuki had also told him many times to 'man up' when a woman was paying this much attention to him. And he really didn't want to do that with a killer. His killer at that, the one that had already claimed his life twice through his checkpoint power.

He couldn't handle the stress and he needed some time alone. Rem was more than happy to have Elsa help around preparing food, a task which, surprisingly enough, was well-received by the assassin. And while his new burden was busy with that chore, Barusu sought shelter in the only place he could find some peace in: the manor's bathroom.

The large 'lake' that worked both as a sauna and an onsen became his source of relief the moment he submerged his body into it. The heat eased his skin, the steam soothed his breathing and the warmth in this chilling night made him feel... at peace. He was at peace. And he was alone. For a time. He thought he could have been spared from any visit by any other occupant in the manor. And then, he heard footsteps and a voice called out.

"May I wash your back, Barusu-sama?"

Quiet, calm, collected- Ram. It was Ram. Subaru tensed up instinctively. He was in quite the tight spot as he knew that he had to react quickly before making a fool out of himself.

"N-No. It's fine."

That should have been it. He heard Ram moving, but rather than leaving the pinkette approached the water and then... she stepped down into the liquid, soon sitting beside him. She was naked- Barusu hadn't turned around to look at her, the nervousness having kept him from, and now that very unease was keeping him from staring at the nude maid. Gulping nervously, he rigidly stared forward, forcing himself to not look beside him where the maid was.

"Apologies for intruding," The girl remarked. "But I was planning to take a bath too and... I wanted to talk with you."

He blinked. "W-What about?"

"...Why did you... why did you give a chance to the Bowel Hunter despite the fact she's a... a killer?"

"W-Well, it wasn't like I planned it-"

"But why not refuse it? Were you not in an advantageous position? Why not kill her on the spot?" The maid interjected with many questions, then paused as she realized she was going too fast with her inquiry. "Once again, apologies, I was just... curious."

There's more than mere curiosity in that question, and Subaru wasn't sure he could pry the truth out of the pinkette just yet.

"I suppose it's because... she set herself in a position where I could get her to respect her part of the deal," The young man admitted. "The seal makes it so that Elsa has to do what I think would be enough to start repaying for her crimes in the village."

"And how would you repay them for their death? For those that died?" The girl pressed on and Subaru could tell it was something that was personal for Ram. Maybe about her and Rem's past?

"By helping the living, I suppose. They are those that really carry the legacy of the dead," Barusu calmly replied. "It's... I suppose it's part of my culture. We are honor-bound to respect our ancestors. So, I feel that the best way to honor those that were killed by her would be to have Elsa go through the hassle of helping those families she broke with her action."

"I... I see. And what if you can't have them to respect that?

Subaru frowned. "W-Well, then you should not show them mercy. If they have killed someone willingly for no good reason and they feel no regret, then they deserve to no longer be able to hurt anyone else anymore."

"..." Ram paused and then sighed. "That would explain a lot... yes."

"And how would that fit with you?"

He was still not looking at her, but he could tell she tensed up at the question.

"I-It's not a matter you should concern yourself about," She half-snapped, clearly unwilling to part ways with that information. Yet, as Subaru thought their conversation was finally over, the girl switched topics. "Also, I thought a pervert like you would have stared at an exposed maiden."

"...What?"

"I-I want to know why- why are you not staring at me like the pervert you are, Barusu?"

Subaru snorted. "I am not a pervert. Plus, my mother always told me to not stare at a nude girl if I can look away. It's not proper."

He expected this response to be satisfying for the maid. But what it got from the young woman was a scoff.

"Ridiculous. What if I just told you to stare right now?"

"Why would you-"

"J-Just do it," Ram quietly interrupted, ordering and yet sounding so begging for a brief moment.

Subaru turned his head slowly, bracing for a trick which would grant the pinkette the chance to smack him, but when he turned to see Ram, the girl was looking right at him and her body was exposed to him. It would be a lie to say that Ram was shamelessly doing so as a dark-pink blush hue was impressed on her cheeks and her eyes had trouble keeping up with his own as he found himself staring. And why shouldn't he?

Despite the fact she was flat by her chest area, her tits looked pleasant within her curvy shape. Her hips were nicely formed and her physique was quite impressive as hints of abs were visible to him. He was almost tempted to touch her stomach to see how close to form those she was but Subaru restrained himself.

Her groin was also pleasant despite it being underwater and thus slightly difficult to notice through the steamy water. Ram would have normally lashed out at this ogling, but something about her reaction made Subaru realize that she was actually preening under his long gazing. And her red eyes offered a silent question to him.

What do you think?

"You are..." He muttered, his voice still missing from that pleasant gazing. "Gorgeous."

Her blush darkened at his words, and she nodded with some satisfaction at the choice of terms. Yet, as she recoiled from the compliment, her eyes wandered below his face and down to his own crotch. Ram knew she should have stopped there, that's what Subaru would have preferred to but... part of her, some of the untouched instinct from her Oni blood just couldn't be stopped from giving her ideas. And needs.

"It seems I- I caused you a problem, Barusu." She said, and it wasn't difficult for the boy to see the source of her sudden mood shift. He had perceived action within his lower body, but he didn't expect for his boner to elude detection for so long. It was a bit embarrassing and... and he had to stop things from escalating, he had to.

"I-It's alright, I can handle it-"

"I-I have a duty," She justified herself first and Subaru next. "I caused you this grievance and I will not back down from aiding you to... find relief~."

There was more than just that and both knew that. Both should have stopped at it as this could easily go south really fast. But...

Both were soon sitting one beside each other. Subaru was too stressed to put a stop to this, and Ram was a maid that had a duty but also a girl with needs. So, it wasn't too difficult for Subaru to make it less awkward on himself by making it awkward for the pinkette.

Legs spread slightly open, the maid's lips twitched in delight as his fingers dangers around her clit and lower lips while her left hand teased the young man's length. It wasn't sex, it wasn't anything too outrageous in their minds. It wasn't a confession, it wasn't love- it was the yearning of two youths trying to bond closer. Odd, confusing, messy and yet cathartic. Barusu's mind was clouded with a need to find peace within this arousal, with Ram sharing this desire as they selfishly used each other in a most devious manner.

Both may have ideals, standards and morals, but both were, after all, mortals with mortal desires. And the Oni girl was also someone that had been missing having someone worthy of caring for her without deception but genuine interest for many years. She was a woman, she had to seek a mate and, even though Subaru was not available because he would be with Lady Emilia, the pinkette sought to at least glimpse part of his skills just as she faithfully showed hers to him.

Her inner spot tightened around his finger, the girl shuddering as he too could feel himself close to cum. Finally, his throbbing erection allowed ropes of white out and into the water, while the maid tensed up, leaning onto him and resting her chin on his shoulder as she moaned softly, tenderly and allowed her own orgasm to pass through. Silence ensued for a while, with Ram still resting her head on his shoulder for a while, her breasts pressing barely onto his arm as she enjoyed the connection they had and then... she gave him a calm look, one where her eyes sported an eased glint.

"May I wash you properly now, Barusu?" The request now lacked arousal or desire, but it was rather driven by genuine interest to help.

Subaru could only nod. "But you let me help you too."

She smiled- she actually showed a pretty smirk which, combined with how surprisingly calm and relieving the whole cleaning up process was, made the entire scene before this one incredibly confused. From aroused partners, to individuals that were surprisingly close in their friendly fashion but not straying too deep into their helpfulness. By the end of that session, both left the bathroom with relieved looks, with their minds cleansed of any frustration as they resumed their usual routine and prepared to rest in their respective rooms.

Yet, while Ram promised herself that this would have been the last time she tempted herself and the young man through this intimate place, it wouldn't take long for her subconscious to start plotting means and reasons to be in that bathroom whenever Barusu was alone and in need of help to clean.

A true friendship was born by trust and some physical understanding, yet the Pinkette didn't know how really interested she was in the boy that her lady yearned for.

AN

Emilia and Elsa engage in mind games while Ram comes in and gets herself up ahead in the competition without even knowing how attracted she is to poor Barusu. Oh mai.