Chapter 17: Would You Still Be There?

The next morning Subaru woke up with Emilia still lightly snoring on his chest. Her bright white hair had fallen in front of her pale face and covered her closed purple eyes. Her body rose and fell with each deep breath as she smiled.

He needed to wake her up so he could get ready but didn't have the heart to do it. She was just so peaceful where she lay.

Before he could bring himself to do it, a knock came at the door.

*knock* *knock* *knock*

"Come in." Subaru answered. His right hand was subconsciously stroking Emilia's long hair.

The door opened to reveal Roswaal. "Sooooo, did my dear Emilia manage to seduuuuuce you?"

"Nah, she just wanted me to stay with her last night since I'm going home today." He pulled the covers up over her, so she wasn't so exposed to their guest.

"Ooooohhh. That reminds me. Pleeease take good care of Rem. She has grown to be like a daaauuughter to me." The master of the manor just grinned with all his make up on. He really did look like a clown, but from what Ram had told him, he knew not to underestimate Roswaal Mathers.

"Don't worry. I love Rem. I promise to protect her with my life."

Roswaal seemed pleased with that answer. "Goooooooood. Then I shall have Ram make some breeaakfaast. Thaaaaat way Rem can get ready."

"Sounds good to me. Thank you Roswaal." The creepy master left them alone for the morning.

It wasn't too long after Roswaal left that Emilia woke up. At first, she was too tired to notice that she was holding someone, but it soon came to her. Her eyes lit up and her lips formed a smile as she held him tighter. "You know, I really don't want you to go."

"Then why didn't you say so?" He knew he had to return, but if the girls really and truly wanted him here, he probably would have stayed.

"Because it wouldn't be right for me to keep you away from your family." Her face was downcast to his chest.

"Emilia." Something else was bothering her.

She then looked him in the eye.

"You told me to choose Rem. Are you regretting that?" His voice was filled with care. His hands still playing with her hair.

"I, I don't know. Part of me wants to ask you to choose me instead, but I can't."

"Why not?"

"Because…" She mumbled something as she buried her face in his chest.

"What was that?"

She lifted her head and let out a shaky breath. "I've never done anything worth loving."

That was it. That's what separated Rem from Emilia. In the life they knew, Emilia never once truly helped him. She was always being helped. From the day she lost her amulet, the capital stunt, the whale and the cult. All of those were her being helped. On the other hand, Rem had helped. Rem helped Subaru fight off the Mabeast in the village. Rem was the one that comforted him when he felt like running away. Rem was the one that said she loved him even though he loved another.

"You're right."

Emilia stared at him. It hurt so much more to hear it from him.

"You haven't really helped me. But that's okay. You need to focus on saving this kingdom and your dream. I will be there with you the entire way."

Her cheeks lit up in a blush. "I guess that would make you my knight."

"I like the sound of that." Subaru just laid there. Another thought popped into his head. Rem's idea of marriage across worlds wasn't impossible, just strange. "Emilia."

"Hmm." She hummed as her head once again rested on his chest.

"Rem had an idea."

"Oh?"

"Since it's strange for me to be married to two people, perhaps we could quite literally split it across worlds."

Okay, now she was lost. Emilia lifted her head again and stared in confusion. "Say what now?"

"Rem had the idea that in my world, she's my legal wife. But here, you are." His face was beat red as he spoke. Of course, he didn't mind the idea, but it was her choice.

After about a minute of silence, Emilia answered. "I'd like that." Her cheeks were flushed as she buried her face in his chest. "That way we can share you fairly. Wait, what about when Rem comes to visit or if I go there?"

That was indeed a good question. They would just be back at square one. "Well, I would think that both of you would find it in your hearts to respect the other one. So, if Rem and I come here, you're my wife while we are here. And if you come to my world, Rem is my wife. No complaining about affection issues and no fighting over me."

"I think I can do that." Emilia giggled and laid back down. "So, when are we getting hitched?"

Subaru just shook his head. "Emilia, no one says 'hitched' anymore. And I don't know. I want to get settled back in my world before I marry either of you. And I'd like for you to be set with the selection."

Her bright smile faded a bit at being denied but another idea soon came up. "Wait! One of the requirements to become king, or in my case queen, is to have a spouse. So, I'll have to be married to take the throne."

He blushed a bit at the fact he might be rushed to do this. "Hmm… that surely makes things interesting. When does the selection end?"

Emilia looked up for a minute, pondering when the date was. "Come to think of it, I don't know."

Subaru just laughed. It was getting closer to breakfast time, and he still needed to get packed to leave. "Alright, as much as I would love to spend the day here with you, I need to get ready to leave. We can talk about this later, okay?"

She sighed as he went to get up. "Okay. When do you plan to leave?"

"We were going to go right after lunch. I hope that the times are somewhat close over there as over here." He stood and stretched while Emilia covered herself with the sheet. Turning back, he saw her blush and smiled. "You're too cute."

"Su-Subaru!" She squealed as she pulled the sheet over her head.

Subaru chuckled at her and put back on his track jacket. "Hey, Emilia." Emilia pulled the sheet over her head to answer him but was stunned when he kissed her. "To make sure you don't miss me too much."

"I-I don't think that's possible." Her pale cheeks were bright red again as she tried to force away the brightest smile.

"I'll see you at breakfast, Emilia!" With that, he shut the door behind him and left to find his other lover. The halls were bright as the sun shined through the large glass windows. No one seemed to be out and about, but it was really that the mansion was just that big. Chances were that the twins were already up and working on breakfast.

As Subaru approached the kitchen, he only heard one voice humming instead of two voices talking. He turned the corner to find Ram preparing food alone. "Morning Ram."

"Good morning." She turned back with a bit of a blush. Ram was not one to let on her feelings, but she had given things a lot more thought after last night. "Did you and Lady Emilia have fun?"

"Well, I would've guessed that's where it was going until a certain couple of pesky maids came over." He snickered as she hit his arm.

"I was making sure that you weren't going to cheat on my sister with Lady Emilia!" The demon maid just kept hitting him. Not really using any real strength, but just making sure she got her point across.

"Yea, Yea. It's just that you're going to miss me."

"Like I would ever miss a pervert like you." She tried so hard not to laugh, but eventually she couldn't hold back. Together, they both started laughing.

Subaru smiled as he placed a hand on her shoulder. "Any idea where your sister is?"

"I think she's still in her room. Strange, she doesn't have that much to pack. Just her few clothes and her stuff from her bathroom." Ram smiled for a second. She was glad her sister found happiness. Even if it was with Subaru.

"Got it, I think I'll check on Rem, then run over to find Betty." He then placed his hand on her pink head. "Ram, thank you for everything you've done for me."

She blushed again at his gratitude. "I don't know what you mean?"

"You've been with me from the beginning and it's been a long and painful road. I'm not able to tell you right now, but I swear I will tell you, and Emilia everything in due time." He moved his hand from her head to her back and pulled her into a hug. "You and your sister have done more for me than you will ever know. Thank you." With that, he placed a light kiss on her head.

"Dammit Subaru!"

"Ha!" He stepped back and laughed at her

"What?"

"You said my name right!" Subaru stood in triumph as he smiled at her slip up. Before the pink demon could go off on him, he ran off to find Rem. A minute later, he found the other demon in the mansion walking down the halls simply staring at the paintings and other random things. "You seem to be done packing."

Rem stopped and turned to face him. "Yes, it was easy. I don't have a lot of things."

"Well, when we get to my world, I'll be sure to spoil you with anything you want." The blue demon immediately rushed over and jumped in his arms.

A tear of joy rolled out her eye. "I can't wait."