"The guy that blew up the place?!"

Subaru exclaimed the question, mouth agape. Emilia turned her head to look at him. "Yes, that would be him. He paid for the damages in favor, thankfully." She confirmed.

"W-wait… You mean the guy with clown makeup on is the lord of this mansion?" Subaru continued to question. With him already questioning what's been confirmed, Emilia half-mindedly nodded and replied, "That would be correct."

"That's totally not the weirdest thing ever…" Subaru stared at Emilia awkwardly in silence, waiting for her to say something else. The silent treatment once more.

"A-anyways, we should get going now. Don't want to keep this Roswaal guy waiting." He stutters, now pacing in a random direction to escape the awkward air.

"The dining hall is this way, silly!"

Subaru could hear her lightly laugh to herself. He turns back toward her, feeling embarrassed. "Oh, right, m-my bad." He scratches his cheek while stuttering. Emilia began to walk toward the mansion, Subaru following along.

They silently approached the mansion's entrance door. Upon walking through, a thought popped into Subaru's mind.

"Say Emilia… Just how long have you been staying at this mansion?" He glanced around the lobby of the mansion while bringing this up. After waiting a few seconds, all he received was silence. He looked back at Emilia, who was in deep thought while walking.

Noticing him looking at her, she quickly began to voice together a response. "Ah- uhm.. Well…" She fumbled her hands. This only made Subaru more curious as to why she was being hesitant.

"I-I haven't told you this, but I'm actually a Royal Candidate. Do you remember yesterday? I asked you if you knew about an insignia I own." She began to explain. Subaru put his hand up to his chin.

"Now that I remember, yeah, you did ask about that insignia." Subaru nodded to himself. "The insignia was given to me by Roswaal-sama. It proves my place in the Royal Candidacy."

Subaru nodded as she continued speaking. "That was about… four years ago? I've been studying and working for my position for quite some time now."

"Hm… That adds up, it explains why she even lives in a mansion in the first place too. This Roswaal guy must have some pretty high standing, at least politically."

"Well I'm pretty surprised, but now it makes sense that you live in a mansion with that title." Subaru said, putting Emilia up on a pedestal. Rather than responding in shock, he accepted it logically. Who else would be living in a mansion if they weren't high class?

Split in between taking the praise or leveling herself out with the picture of her in Subaru's mind, she took another second to herself to think.

"Honestly Subaru, it isn't a big deal. Even though I have a position in the candidacy, a lot of the civilians and people-" She catches herself saying something that she hadn't considered telling Subaru yet.

Upon noticing this, he decided not to press and to quickly change the subject.

"This place looks flawlessly clean, I gotta give Ram and Rem the credit for this."

Emilia, taking the chance to go along with what he was saying, replied. "Yes! Ram and Rem are excellent maids. Roswaal-sama has good selection."

Subaru's eyebrow raised at Roswaal being brought up again.

"Say, what does Roswaal do around here?" Subaru asks.

"Roswaal-sama helps me with my studies. As someone who is looking to become the forty-second ruler of Lugunica, the selected candidates need to be very knowledgeable."

"She must be busy pretty often then, huh?" Subaru thought after her explanation.

A short amount of time later, Emilia and Subaru approached a pair of large doors that nearly stretched to the roof of the floor they were on. Subaru looked up at the almost menacingly towering doors. "This type of stuff looks like I'm about to enter a boss room."

Emilia looked back at Subaru with a light smile on her face. Grabbing the doorknob firmly, she twisted and swung it open.

"Here we are!" Emilia announced upon the door opening.

Subaru stared at the large elongated table in front of him. There were some figures already making seats vacant. He saw the twin maids at the far left end of the room next to a wooden cart that had several platters placed on top of it. He eyed Emilia who was standing to his right side. Noticing his look, she began to walk toward the table. "Sit wherever you'd like, Subaru."

Nodding, he followed Emilia. She sat down at a seat, him naturally taking the seat next to her. "There you are Beatrice!" A familiar voice he only met a few moments ago came from Emilia. Puck, the little cat spirit, jumped out of her hair and across the table. Another voice came from across the table. "Puckie~!"

It was high pitched, immediately catching Subaru's ears. Across the table was a little girl, with two drill cream-colored pigtails. Her eyes glistened at the spirit before her, but the glistening wasn't the only noticeable feature about her eyes. She had butterfly shaped pupils that were pink, surrounded by her blue iris.

She began petting Puck, him showing a clear liking toward the attention. Subaru opened his mouth to speak a greeting to the little girl in front of him, but he was cut off by someone clearing their throat. Looking to his far left, he saw a familiar figure.

"That must be him! Roswaal!" The clown makeup was the first thing that caught his eye, following his hair and clothing. Large dark blue hair covered part of his face, matching color with his dark blue cloak that thickened his appearance.

Subaru stood up in surprise. "So you're Roswaal, huh?" He said, to a quick response. "Indeed I am! Roswaal L. Mathers, lord of this manor!"

Roswaal then proceeded to stand up as well, bringing out his hand for a handshake. Subaru brought his hand up to his and firmly grabbed it. "So very pleased to make your ac~quaintance, Subaru Natsuki."

The warming introduction threw Subaru for a surprise. "Wait a sec, how does he know me already?" His eyebrow raises in slight suspicion.

"W-wait, how do you know my name?!" Subaru said in shock, pointing at the lord of the manor in front of him. So far in this different world that he was brought into, the only person who knows his name is Emilia. It would make no sense if anyone else knew who he was.

"Let's just say I know quite a bit about you alrea~dy." Roswaal responded, holding a finger up to his mouth with his blue and yellow eyes looking at him.

"Creepy, but whatever… Emilia probably told him about me at some point." He blinks a few times, sitting back down on his seat along with Roswaal. After getting settled back down onto his chair, a platter was placed in front of him in between the silverware that sat to his left and right sides. Rem brought a cup down next to the platter and poured in some water.

"Thanks Rem!" Subaru smiled at the service being given to him. She nodded at the gesture, walking back to the cart behind Roswaal.

He claps his gloved hands together. "Le~t us begin the feast!" he announces. Subaru looks down at his covered platter. "Food in a different world, I wonder what it'll be like…" He lifts the cover and looks down at the food on the plate. "Definitely something that doesn't look like it's from Japan, but it seems somewhat familiar."

He grabbed his silverware and pinched what looked to be something like eggs. He brought it up to his mouth and bit down. His eyes widen, a sensation coming to his taste that he's never felt before. He picks up his pace, starting to almost shovel food into his mouth. The world of tastes entered his mouth, him enjoying every second of it.

"Man, this food is way better than anything my parents used to make for me!" Subaru spoke, his mouth half full. "Indeed, Rem's cooking is quite spectacular if I do say so myself." Roswaal said while raising his left hand in a smug manner.

"Flexing your maids I see!" Subaru snarks to himself as he suddenly feels something poking his cheek. Emilia looked at him with a disappointed look. "Hm?" Subaru said while chewing his food. "Subaru! Proper manners please, don't talk with your mouth full!" She pouts at him.

"Ah, sorry, I just had to point out how good this food is." He swallows his food and takes another large bite from his plate.

Looking up, he sees the small girl eying him. Noticing that he saw her looking at him, she turns her head and furrows her eyebrows with a "Hmph!".

"Ain't she the friendly type? I'll be great friends with her then." Subaru strokes an imaginary beard on his chin, scheming all the ways he could tease her nasty tsundere-like gesture.

"O-oh, Subaru!" Emilia tugs on his sleeve, grabbing his attention. "Yeah, what is it?" Subaru asks, swallowing his food. "I want to thank you for saving my life yesterday…" She brings her hand up to her chest and looks at him with a grateful smile. "... Oh yeah! I can't even remember much of what happened yesterday. All I remember is that explosion, then Roswaal showing up. Speaking of which, the hell was that?!"

Subaru entirely flipped the topic and pointed at Roswaal again. He wore a small entertained smirk on his face, observing him with his yellow colored eye – opposed to his other shut eye that was blue. "Hm? Have you not witnessed the use of advanced fire magic?" He asks in an interested tone.

"Well whatever it was, the entire building turned into an oven in the span of a second!" The foreigner of this world expressed his amazement and shock at what he witnessed the previous day. "A-and that woman that was trying to get Emilia's badge, she has to be toast after that, there's no other way…" As he thought of her, the images of Rom and Felt flashed in his mind again. A feeling of worry washed over him, looking to Roswaal for any type of reassurance.

"What woman could you be speaking of? Do you mean the blonde girl? She and her guardian were in fi~ne condition afterwards."

Subaru sighed in relief after hearing this. "Ah well nevermind, I gotta be thinking of someone else." Subaru takes another bite from the food in front of him. "So either that woman is dead or she managed to escape?"

Roswaal clapped again, bringing everyone's attention. "Subaru Natsuki, your action yesterday saved the life of Emilia. Certainly you must understand how gra~teful she and many are of your actions?"

Subaru nods at him in return. "Yeah, I didn't know she had that important of a standing until today, I should be internet famous!" He points to the sky, claiming his title of famousness.

"As for your actions, I must offer a proposal as a token of our respect. I shall grant you all but one wish." Roswaal closes one eye again, bringing up one finger. "Whether it be riches or fortune, ju~st say the word!"

Subaru leans back in thought. "Well, I could get away with a ton of money, but what the hell am I gonna do with it? Where am I gonna go? I'm clueless when it comes to where I am right now…" His mind turns blank as his eyes fall on the pink-haired twin maid.

Their eyes meet only for a brief moment, her breaking off the eye contact. "... I have an idea." Subaru maintained eye contact at Ram while he stood up and put his hands on the table.

"Got it! Hire me to work here, and make her my mentor!" He claims, pointing straight at Ram.

The room fell into silence for a moment. "Crap, awkwardness!" The small girl looks up at Subaru with an expression of annoyance, while Emilia has her hand over her mouth.

The silence was broken by Ram scoffing at the idea. "Then it shall be done! Starting from this very moment, you are now a butler under the mansion of Roswaal L~. Mathers."

"S-Subaru!" Emilia shouts his name. "That's such a bizarre request! Couldn't you have requested to be a permanent guest here?"

Subaru scratches his cheek. "Hah, sorry, it's the first thing that came to mind… wait, I was able to be a guest?" He quickly turns his head to look at Roswaal.

The mansion owner quickly brings up his finger and wags it, clicking his tongue after every stopping point. "My my Subar~u-kun, you seem to be mistaken. I have already announced you as a butler for the Mathers mansion, no revoking your prize!"

The newly named butler's head hung low at his words. "W-well hey! I get to learn from this experience! Not like I have anything better to do…"

With that, Subaru Natsuki, a foreigner of this mysterious world, began his new (and his first) job.

The maids paced here and there in between the kitchen in a side room and the large table. They cleaned the table of silverware and dirty plates, evenly picking up each piece. Subaru observes intensely, watching their quick and efficient movements. "This looks like serious stuff."

The door to the kitchen closes behind the two maids. Rem broke off from Ram, walking toward the main hall. Ram approaches Subaru, eyeing him up and down. "I must rid you of this clothing, please follow me into the changing room."

Following her up the stairs, she led him into a large room that had rows of hung clothing for multiple age groups and genders.

Subaru skimmed over the many picks of clothing that were presented throughout the room. "Jeez, you guys sure have a lot of outfits to pick from."

"Indeed, Emilia-sama and Roswaal-sama have elegant tastes in clothing for themselves."

"Hm? And where are your guys' outfits?" He runs his hand through the clothing.

"Rem and I have no need to wear different outfits." Ram looks at Subaru while responding. "Huh? So they wear uniforms all the time?"

"Let me guess, it's so you guys always look the same, right?" He questioned her, to a slightly delayed response, "No, it just makes things easier."

"Makes things easier? That's a pretty sharp rule if Roswaal is implying it…"

The two come to a stop. Ram raises her arm, directing toward a display of uniforms. "Anyways Barusu, feel free to pick something that suits your taste."

"Ah alri- Wh-What did you just call me?!" Subaru exclaimed in shock as he heard the name Ram gave him.

"Barusu. Do you have a problem with that?" Ram spoke to Subaru. "N-No, it's fine I guess."

"Sounds like she put a curse on me, eugh…"

After some trial and error with picking out uniforms that were either too big or too small, He picks a perfect one that was his size exactly. He waved his arms about and twisted his body, getting a feel of his flexibility while wearing the uniform.

"You look terrible in that, Barusu." Ram said harshly.

"You didn't have to be so rude about it, you know!" Subaru yelled at Ram. She scoffed and gave a smug smile to him.

"I will begin with giving you a presentation of the manor, please prepare yourself Barusu."

"Man, I'm tired, and this is only day one…" His mind raced while he sank his face in the hot waters. His usually tensed up body relaxed as he let the heat regulate with his body. Whipping his head back, he took a look around at the large room he was in.

There he sat in the large room and bath of the Mathers mansion. Pillars extended up and down the room, having sculptures of animal heads popping out of them. Those heads would dispense hot water from their mouths, acting like waterfalls for the bath.

The size of the bath was no joke either. It stood borderline in between a public pool and an indoor public bath.

Subaru got up and slowly walked over to one of the water-dispensing heads and cups his hands, letting the water collect while he ponders.

"Supposedly Ram's gonna have me help her prepare dinner, but I don't really think I'll be of much help…"

"Whatever, best to not get too stressed about it."

"What I should be worrying about is what happened back there, with Felt and Rom…"

"I swear they died, I saw it."

Subaru's mind went back to the scene that unfolded before him.

"Yet, when I got teleported back, they were still alive."

"Was it just an illusion, or…?"

The water cupped in his hands had been spilling over for some time now. He let his hands separate, dropping the water into the larger body he was bathing in.

"Considering isekai, it was probably some sort of calling to a mission that I had to do. That makes the most amount of sense actually, they are safe now thanks to Roswaal and Emilia, who I brought to that place anyway."

He brought his red hands up to his face, brushing them through his wet hair. He then quickly jumped up and fell backwards into the water, letting the heat embrace him again.

"If that's the case, then what a way to start a story, jeez. On top of that, I don't have any powerful weaponry."

"... Maybe I should ask Emilia if I can cast any magic."

As Subaru let his thoughts run to an end, he rose from the water and slowly proceeded to the lip of the bath. Making use of his arms, he lifted himself up to the glossy floor. Almost immediately after exiting the water, the waterfalls slowly came to a stop. "Fancy."

Grabbing his towel, he proceeded to dry himself off. Compared to all of the baths and showers he's taken back in Japan, he couldn't think of any that matched the quality of this one.

"That sure was nice… Better than anything I would've experienced back in Japan." Subaru spoke to himself while walking out of the large bathing room. "That's rich people for ya."

He looked down both directions of the hallway, before ultimately choosing to go down to his left. Finding his room was easy for Subaru, all he had to do was find the painting he sees every time he left the room.

"Aaaaaaannnnd…. That one!" Subaru gripped the doorknob with enthusiastic force and threw it open. Low and behold, there stood his room. Looking at the bed he woke up in earlier that day, he saw his tracksuit laid out. "Hm? This wasn't here before. Did she wash this for me?" Subaru looked back at the door, then back at the tracksuit on the bed.

Letting out a sigh, he ignored the clothing on the bed and walked toward the night table where he left his butler suit. "I gotta thank her later for doing that."

Subaru finished changing into his butler uniform. As he was about to venture to the bathroom in search of something to comb his hair with, a knock on his door could be heard, and with it, he responded.

"Who is it?".

"Barusu, we must prepare dinner soon." Ram spoke from behind the door.

"Already?"

No response came with Subaru's question. With another sigh, he walked to the door and opened it. "Hey Ra-"

He stopped himself when he realized that Ram had already left. "How is she so fast?!"

He began walking left down the hallway in search for the bathroom.

"I just gotta hope they have something to comb my hair with here."

"To handle a knife, you must hold it still and turn the food item." The stern voice of the pink haired maid instructed Subaru. He observed Ram holding up the knife and turning the vegetable against the blade.

"So like thi-TCH!" He followed her instructions with his knife, but the blade quickly slipped off of the potato he was cutting and pierced right into his right thumb. He quickly brought up his bleeding thumb up to his mouth to cover the wound.

"Barusu, you are far too clumsy." Ram poked Subaru's forehead with her index finger, as she turned around and scoffed.

Across the room was Rem, who was at the sink. "As always nee-sama, you make such a lovely image when peeling vegetables." She warmly spoke to her older sister in contrast to the former's response to Subaru.

"Your favoritism is so blatant it's almost comforting! I'd like a comment on my work too if you can muster one up!" Subaru slammed the potato down and pointed straight at Rem while yelling.

"The spirit of Phoenix Wright must have possessed me for a second… Well, minus me yelling an objection."

"How about, I feel bad for whoever grew those vegetables?" The cold remark from Rem striked Subaru's feelings, as she turned her head to him with an innocent smile on her face.

"Stop, you're only making it worse!"

His complaints filled the room as he grabbed the potato once again and attempted to peel the skin.

"Focus, like Ram said, turn the vegetable…" The blade glided along the skin of the now turning potato. His eyes widened as he looked up to Ram and Rem. "G-guys look, I'm doing it!"

As soon as his confidence begins to rise, Ram and Rem turn their heads to look at Subaru cutting the potato properly.

But all good things come to an end. While he was presenting his achievement proudly, he was not paying attention to the blade's position. Only a few seconds into his confidence boost, the blade slipped once more, entering the flesh of his fingers.

"Oooh." The maids both winced in unison as blood began to drip out of Subaru's hand once more.

—-

"Ahhhh…"

He relaxes his muscles once more upon falling back into his soft and comfortable bed. "What a day…"

After his trial and error with the potatoes, dinner for that night was prepared. Roswaal and Emilia were prone to asking Subaru about his first day as a butler. Ram and Rem had more to comment on his work than he did.

The bandages on his right hand pulled on his skin. "Damn that feels annoying." He brings his hand up to his face to count the amount of bandages on his hand. "It shows my hard work though…"

Knocking was heard at his door again. "That you Ram?" Subaru asks loud enough for the person on the other side of the door to hear.

"Barusu, we will be going to Irlam Village tomorrow for groceries, be sure you get enough sleep."

"Irlam Village?" Subaru said in confusion.

"It's a small village near here." Ram confirms.

"A small village, huh?"

To be continued

A/N:

Hello everyone! Sorry for the bit of delay with this chapter, but here it is! Sorry if it was a bit quick paced as well, we didn't want to copy canon content too much since I'm pretty sure you all would be really familiar with it by now. I will say though that Chapter 4 will introduce some noticeable changes ;) Thank you all for reading, and till next time

O7

- DACHero