Friendly reminder that Felt was given the name Freya in Chapter 19.

Special thanks to my fiancée for being the center of our own little family.

Family

Reinhard van Astrea. Wilhelm Trias. One was born into a bloodline of sorrow, while the other had married into and rejected it.

Both were broken by fate, yet there they stood, facing each other.

There was so much to say. There was nothing to say. They wanted to be a family. They had no family.

According to the Dragon Tablet, the Emilia Camp defeated the White Whale. Credit also went to the Freya and Crusch Camps for Reinhard and Wilhelm respectively, of course, but none of them finished the Whale off.

Even so, their victory boosted Freya and Crusch's popularity tremendously. That was wonderful; the two knights had dedicated their lives to their lieges and would do anything to see them on the throne.

But as their Camps were celebrating, they noticed that something was wrong.

They were two loyal, stubborn, sorrowful men…but they were also utterly befuddled. At that moment, neither were thinking of their liege, but of a woman with long, flowing red hair.

Theresia van Astrea. The previous Sword Saint. Reinhard's grandmother. Wilhelm's wife.

Wilhelm alone had torn out the White Whale's eyes with relative ease. Theresia was hundreds of times stronger than him, even without her Divine Protection of the Sword Saint.

Now, the White Whale was absurdly powerful. There was a reason that it had persisted so long. To say that the Whale stood no chance was not downplaying its strength; it was merely a testament to Theresia's extraordinary capabilities.

So, how did she lose?

One thing was for sure; it was not the fault of the young man in front of him.

Bowing his head in shame and self-loathing, he said, "I am sorry, my grandson. I'm sorry for everything."

Reinhard was stuck between embarrassment and confusion. "I do not understand," he confessed. "What do you have to be sorry for?"

Wilhelm had a simple answer, yet it filled him with shame and dishonor. "I apologize for blaming you for my wife's untimely demise," he said strongly. He would not speak quietly, for that would be hiding from his mistakes.

After all, Wilhelm was an Astrea, and Astreas did not hide from their failures.

"You see it," he continued, "as do I. The Divine Protection of the Sword Saint would not have been a deciding factor in your grandmother's defeat."

A lump formed in Reinhard's throat. He could not accept such kindness. "Even so, if there were another foe, that power would have helped her win the fight, and I took it from her."

"Grandmother is dead because of me."

Then, something strange happened. Something unfathomable.

Wilhelm put a firm hand on Reinhard's shoulder in an attempt to comfort him. Begrudgingly, Wilhelm admitted, "We are no longer certain of the circumstances surrounding Theresia's death. It would be a folly to blame you." A shadow covered his eyes. "No, it was always a folly to blame an innocent child."

Reinhard was six during the incident. He had no way of knowing. Perhaps Wilhelm needed someone to blame for his own failure to save his wife.

"It's your fault she's dead!" he had shouted, spittle flying into the face of his own grandchild. Terrified, sky-blue eyes had stared back up at him, filling him with fury. He had scoffed in disgust, turning away from the eyes he would never see again. "I can't even look at you," he had spat before leaving the Astrea family forever.

Wilhelm was the Sword Demon, but perhaps it was more apt to refer to him simply as a Demon.

Reinhard, to his credit, had managed to keep his composure despite his tumultuous emotions. Bitterly, he thought, 'I should not accept such kindness. Even if you change your mind about me, Grandmother is still dead.''

And yet, he did accept it. It wasn't because his grandfather's actions were okay. It was because he would sooner forgive his drunkard father than himself.

But…perhaps he could allow himself to get to know Wilhelm van Astrea.

On the other side of the encampment, beneath the Flugel Tree, the Emilia Camp gathered inside the infirmary tent. It was fairly standard, filled with rows of identical, utilitarian cots. Practical, just like the woman who commissioned it.

Crusch had wanted to convene with the Emilia Camp, but Subaru refused to do anything until Meili was healed. With a contemplative frown, Emilia couldn't help but wonder about the strange girl. She knew that Subaru couldn't cross the Augria Sand Dunes without help, but she didn't know why he believed Meili to be the key. Emilia had asked him about it once and, with a bitter gaze full of regret, he had said, "I can't tell you."

For what felt like the thousandth time, she wondered what her knight had been doing before they met…and why it tortured him so.

Even so, that wasn't the strangest thing. No, it was the way he looked at the girl that piqued Emilia's curiosity. There was a willingness to protect, familial affection, and guilt. It was as if he had personally harmed Meili, and the memory caused him excruciating pain.

And yet, they had never met. Emilia already knew he couldn't tell her what it meant, so she did not ask. It would only hurt him.

Meili's disfigured arm and leg had given out on her, so Subaru had cradled her in his arms and brought her straight to Felix. With a steely gaze, he had firmly said, "Heal her. She is your number one priority. Ask no questions."

Felix hated those who gave up, and by extension, hated Subaru for attempting suicide. As such, Emilia expected Felix to give a sharp rebuttal or even flat-out refuse. He did neither of those things. He simply gave Subaru an odd look and nodded slowly.

Many of the other patients gave Meili strange looks—a child on the battlefield was quite unusual, after all—but there was no hostility. It seemed that the others didn't realize Meili had brought the Great Rabbit. That was…good? Emilia still wasn't sure what to think of the girl, but if Subaru said she could be trusted…Well, he always seemed to know the truth about things like this, so she would give the girl a chance.

Felix reached out to take the young girl from Subaru's arms, but they clung to each other in a vice grip. Subaru wouldn't dare leave her with someone he didn't have absolute faith in. Felix would simply have to work around it.

Despite everything, Emilia couldn't help but smile. He really was good with children. Perhaps in a few years, when they were a bit older—

"Hmph," came a disgruntled voice from beside her. "Betty doesn't see what's so special about the purple thing, I suppose."

Pushing her thoughts out of her mind, Emilia turned to face Beatrice with mirth in her eyes. "Is someone jealous?" she teased. "There's a reason he calls himself the Lolimancer, you know."

With existential pain, Beatrice groaned, "Not you, too! Is there no hope for Betty's sanity, I wonder?"

At their side, Rem giggled. She was covered in blood and smelled like the intestines of the White Whale, but she looked more confident than anyone had ever seen. "Don't worry, Lady Beatrice," she said lightly. "You're still Subaru's favorite daughter."

For a moment, the blonde spirit silently gaped at Rem. Then, she cried out, "Betty is not his daughter, I suppose! Betty is older than her father, in fact!"

Everyone froze and slowly turned to face Beatrice. Grumpy and unaware of what she had said, she scathingly asked, "What is it, I wonder? Betty is cute, but it is rude to stare, in fact!"

Subaru's face was beet-red, but he was grinning from ear-to-ear. "Oh, it's nothing," he said airily. "We're all just thinking about how awesome you were out there."

With a huff, she haughtily responded, "Of course, I was, I suppose. Subaru's Betty is a great spirit, and I'm stronger than I've ever been before, in fact. It's only natural that my performance was impeccable."

"Absolutely incredible," he asserted. "I love you, Beako. You make me happy to be alive."

She tried to continue glaring but failed miserably. "B-Betty loves her Subaru, too, in fact."

With Beatrice temporarily mollified, he turned his attention back to Felix, asking, "Will Meili be okay?"

Felix didn't pause in his actions, but he indicated for Subaru to lean in as he began to whisper. With every passing second, Subaru became more and more furious; he was practically steaming by the end of it. He wrapped his arms around Meili tightly and repeatedly mumbled "she's already gone." She buried her face in his chest and scrunched up his shirt in her fists. It was unclear who was comforting whom.

After Felix finished his explanation, Subaru closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Then, flatly, he said, "Physically, you healed her, correct?"

Felix gave a sharp nod. "She'll be fine," he asserted, looking over Meili's newly healed leg and arm, "but she's malnourished. Don't let her skip any meals. Also, she should nyot walk for a week and should avoid lifting things. Because of the way her limbs improperly healed, I had to disintegrate many of her bones and recreate them from scratch."

Meili—who was surprisingly calm, all things considered—asked in awe, "How did you do that, Mister?"

Patiently, Felix explained, "That level of healing is nyot for beginners."

She pouted, looking disappointed. "Awww, but disintegrating bones sounded so useful!"

He looked a bit uneasy, but Subaru's challenging glare prevented him from saying anything. So, instead of commenting, he turned to Subaru with a slight smile—not a hint of his previous disdain remained. Holding out a hand, the demi-human said, "I'm glad to have been of assistance. My name is Felix Argyle, and I'm the favored knight of Lady Crusch Karsten. It's a pleasure to meet you."

Subaru eyed the offered hand warily as he pointed out, "We've already met."

Felix shook his head. "Last week, I met a coward who gave up on life. Right nyow, I'm meeting a man who nyot only played a large part in defeating the White Whale but also vanquished the Great Rabbit. A man who did not stand down in the face of danger but faced it head-on. A man who placed a child before himself." With a strong voice unbefitting his typical playful demeanor, he declared, "I would be honored to be friends with such a person."

Subaru was contemplative for a moment before reaching out and shaking Felix's hand. With confidence, he said, "It would be my pleasure, Sir Felix. I am Subaru Natsuki, the one and only knight of Lady Emilia."

With clasped hands and mutual respect, the two knights nodded to each other before Felix moved on to his other patients.

"I suppose some congratulations are in order," came a new voice, gently brushing past the retreating Felix. Crusch Karsten, in all her battle-hardened glory, gave them a tired yet satisfied smile. "Two of the three Great Mabeasts defeated in a single battle, and we only prepared for one. Not to mention the incredible displays of power…"

She gave a deep bow unbefitting her station and proclaimed, "Once again, we are in your debt."

Politely, Emilia said, "And us to you. We couldn't have done it without you, Crusch."

With a guffaw, Crusch straightened her back and said, "Please, I stood there and shot a bit of light at a slow, massive target. My Camp's contribution was mostly Wilhelm."

"A large contribution indeed," Emilia responded. "Don't forget your oration, either. The battle would have gone quite differently without your leadership skills."

Their back-and-forth went on for a few more verses before Crusch turned to Subaru. She raised an eyebrow as if to ask, "Why is there a child on your back?"

Subaru gave her a blank look, which they all translated as, "Questions about her are off-limits."

Out loud, Crusch eventually said, "That was a fascinating display of magic. I've never heard of such a spell before."

"That's because my spirit and I made it up," he informed her, much to her astonishment.

Beatrice gave him a sideways look. "I don't remember this, I suppose."

"It was a couple of weeks ago," he informed her. "You just don't remember it."

She scowled, scathingly saying, "Betty has a flawless memory, and Betty does not remember playing any part in creating that spell, meaning it didn't happen, in fact."

"Ah, my bad," he said airily. "Forgive your hopeless contractor for his transgressions."

She glared at him but did not respond.

Hiding a laugh at the byplay, Crusch said, "Nonetheless, it's impressive. Once again, I must thank you for your significant contribution. May we fight alongside one another again in the future."

With that, she turned to leave, causing Subaru to panic. "Wait!" he cried out abruptly. "You can't go! None of you can!"

Crusch raised an eyebrow at his sudden display of emotion. "And why not?" she asked evenly.

Emphatically, he told her, "You'll be attacked by a foe you can't defeat. I can't let you go."

Her gaze pierced his. Slowly, she said, "Not only do you have knowledge of an attack, but one that would demolish my entire military force?"

He hesitated. He was not lying and she knew it. She just didn't believe he was right.

'Then again,' he mused, 'Things could be different.'

Events had drastically changed, and Regulus was gone. Would Gluttony's Gospel still command him to attack Crusch's caravan?

…He wouldn't risk it.

In lieu of answering, he firmly said, "We haven't asked for any rewards or anything in return except for an alliance. I now demand that you come with us and help in our next battle instead of returning to the capital."

For what felt like an eternity, the Valkyrie and the Slayer of Sin Archbishops stared each other down. It was almost blasphemous; alliance or not, someone of Subaru's station had no right to ask anything of a Royal Selection candidate, especially one that wasn't his liege.

However, Crusch had long since realized that if someone on Subaru's "protect list" was in danger, he tossed everything else to the side, protocol included. She wasn't sure how, but she had made her way onto that list.

With a long-suffering sigh, Crusch asked Emilia, "Does he do this often?"

Torn between perseverating over Subaru's unexpected warning and being amused at Crusch's question, Emilia answered, "All the time. He's never been wrong."

"Then I suppose I have no choice."

For the next five minutes, Crusch listened as Subaru detailed a plan involving very specific people and movements. Emilia had heard the plan before, of course, but it was fascinating to see him change his plans on the spot to accommodate his new allies.

It was also amusing to see Crusch's eyes widen to impossible proportions, but she would never say that aloud.

They ironed out the rest of their plan, feeling a bit nervous. Crusch would be facing an unknown and powerful foe. Subaru was uncertain about whether True Face would work against an unwilling participant. Emilia was about to see the man that was the closest thing to a father she ever had.

In spite of such formidable obstacles, they were confident, for they had proved to themselves that they could overcome insurmountable odds.

To Subaru, Crusch asked, "What do you suppose I should do about the families of my soldiers? If we are not punctual in our return, they shall assume the worst."

He thought for a moment before he realized, "Beatrice can relay a message for you guys. Just give her a letter and she'll teleport."

Crusch let out a low whistle, saying, "Teleportation magic is quite advanced, and at such a distance, it would require incredible power."

Grumbling at how people weren't paying attention, Beatrice interjected, "Betty has said she is more powerful than ever before, in fact. This is insignificant to a magical girl like Betty, I suppose." She blinked. "Wait, did I just—"

Her contractor smirked. "Use a Subaruism? Yes, you did."

She growled and demanded that Crusch write a letter explaining what happened as soon as possible lest her contractor find himself with one less appendage. She did not specify which one.

Mere moments after Beatrice and Crusch left, Emilia muttered, "Well, that wasn't very nice of Beatrice. She should be more considerate of me."

Subaru gave her a sideways look. "Don't you mean 'of you'?"

"I know what I said."

Rem, who had already glared at Beatrice, scrambled over and covered Meili's ears as she scolded, "There is a child here! Do not ruin her innocence with your innuendos!"

With a pout, Meili shook the hands off her and said, "Hey, I'm not a kid! I know all about cutting off appendages!"

Hearing that, Emilia wanted nothing more than to ask what that poor girl had been through, but a quick look from Subaru stymied any questions.

She shivered as those determined eyes fell upon her. She knew she had more power than him, but he was kind of scary when there was someone he wanted to protect. She wasn't sure she could actually defeat him, especially when he wore that expression.

At that moment, Emilia truly realized that Meili meant something to Subaru. She wasn't merely a way to reach Shaula; she was someone he considered part of his family.

As to why, Emilia would never know.

'But that's okay,' she reminded herself. 'If he thinks that she's worth protecting, then she is.'

With that, she vowed to protect Meili as well. She gave Subaru a smile, letting him know that she would trust his judgment on this, as always.

…Even if Meili said some pretty scary things.

Changing the subject, Emilia asked, "Rem, have you heard from Ram yet?"

Shaking her head, Rem answered, "Sister has given no warnings of Sloth's presence, though I'm experiencing a deep sense of loneliness from her."

Subaru grimaced. "She must be missing Ros," he grumbled in distaste. "So, the bastard already left, even without our letter. I don't get it; why is he in such a hurry to get to the Sanctuary?"

Rem gave him a sideways look but didn't bother asking. They all knew it was a lost cause. Instead, she told him, "We can leave now if you want. With Patrasche's speed, we can get to Arlam Village in a couple of hours."

Meili perked up. "We're going to Arlam?" she asked, her happiness evident. "I want to see Petra!"

Ruffling her hair, Subaru said, "And you'll be able to. Might be a bit hectic for a few days, though; we're expecting some unwelcome guests."

Helpfully, she informed him, "There are some reeaally cute Wol-Wols in the forest. They can help kill your guest!"

He shifted uncomfortably. "That probably won't work out," he said awkwardly, "for, uh many reasons. Look, your job is to stay safe, all right?"

She deflated for an instant before brightening again. "That's okay. I know you'll protect me."

Dramatically, he clutched his heart as he choked out, "The trust…The cuteness…It's too much!"

At that moment, Beatrice popped back in. She narrowed her eyes at Subaru as she scathingly remarked, "Betty is ashamed that her contractor has degraded to targeting minors with his risqué escapades, in fact."

Subaru couldn't help but sputter at the accusation, so Meili chimed in and introduced herself before asking, "What's your name, Miss?"

Beatrice glared at the younger girl as she growled, "Betty is Subaru's Betty, in fact. Remember that, I suppose."

Meili nodded sagely. "That makes me Subaru's Meili, right?"

The two stared each other down—Beatrice with envy and Meili with faux-innocence—before Beatrice noticed the teasing glint in the latter's eyes. Stomping her feet, she snarled, "You're messing with Betty, aren't you? You're just as bad as her Subaru, in fact!"

Subaru shook his head at the rivalry before changing the subject. "We should head back now," he suggested. "It'd be good to get some rest and prepare."

It was a fair idea, but Emilia didn't think she'd be able to sleep.

She would see Father Juice again. The man she was about to face was not Juice, but Sloth.

Of course, she had her usual questions. How did Subaru know about Juice going mad a hundred years ago when he had passed away over four hundred years ago? More importantly, how did he have the Witch Factor of Sloth—and Greed, for that matter—while their respective Archbishops were still alive?

It was a strange dichotomy; she trusted her knight more than anything else, but he was also the shadiest individual she had ever met.

'He had warned me of that,' she reminded herself. The poor thing thought he was undeserving of her love and, despite the pain it put him through, tried pushing her away.

"Trust is important in a relationship," he had said emphatically. "How can you trust me when I can't tell you anything?"

It was a silly question, and she told him as such. How could she not trust him?

Now, as he proclaimed that Sloth would arrive soon, she didn't question it. Perhaps she would understand better if she remembered more from her time as—

She shook her head to clear it. 'Don't think like that,' she berated herself. 'I am Emilia. Only Emilia.'

She would keep telling herself that, even if she felt as hollow as always.

They made their way to the carriage and Subaru gave Patrasche a grateful pat. "You did amazing," he said quietly. "No other ground dragon has ever stood up to the Great Rabbit and lived, yet here you are."

Patrasche brayed as if saying, "Of course, I stood up to it. Do you really think that you would have won without me?"

Chuckling, he hopped into the carriage, carrying a still-immobile Meili in his arms. Thinking quickly, he set her down in the seat beside him; it was perfectly timed, too, for Beatrice staked her claim by hopping onto her contractor's lap.

He raised an eyebrow at her brash behavior. 'There's nothing to be jealous about,' he thought to her. 'I still adore you above all else.'

There was a reason he spoke telepathically; it was something shared between the two of them, and no one else. He needed her to know just how special she was to him.

She glared at him as she ground out, 'Of course, Betty is adored more, I suppose. I'm cuter than the purple thing, in fact.'

He ruffled her hair, and she squirmed at his touch; back to old habits, it seemed. 'You're cute as hell. I love you.'

She let out a "hmph" but seemed satisfied.

Emilia came in looking amused. "Well, well, what have we here?" she teased. "Is my knight in a second love triangle?"

'It'll get infinitely worse once Shaula is here,' he thought to himself.

Then, out loud, "What can I say? They can't resist my knightly charm."

Meili cocked her head to the side. "You have charm?"

Emilia giggled at the heartbroken look on Subaru's face. Beatrice let out a laugh before covering her mouth in horror as if trying to put it back. After all, it wasn't like she found the purple thing funny or anything like that. Betty was simply laughing at how hopeless her contractor was.

For a time, they all took turns poking fun at one another. There was still tension between Beatrice and Meili, though it had dwindled significantly. After all, Beatrice knew that her contractor's heart had a massive space with her name on it, and that was enough.

…She still didn't like the purple thing, though.

About two hours later, they made it back to the mansion, Crusch following a half-hour behind—Patrasche really was a cut above the rest. As Subaru expected, they were greeted by Ram.

With a bow, the pink-haired maid rattled off her greetings. "Miss Emilia. My cute little sister. Human garbage. Lady Beatrice. Another child that I'm looking forward to meeting."

"One of those greetings was significantly different from the rest!"

Brushing off Subaru's outcry with a "hah," Ram turned to Emilia and said, "We've heard reports of nearby Witch Cult movements. It's expected that they will be here within a day or so. Lord Roswaal has evacuated the villagers and taken them to the Sanctuary. I'm going to assume that Barusu somehow knew that and has informed you."

Emilia nodded and confirmed, "He told me months ago. We've been preparing since then."

Ram gave another "hah" before stepping forward and pulling at Subaru's tracksuit. "You reek," she said matter-of-factly. "You must have infected my poor sister and Miss Emilia. How shameful of you, Barusu. Here I thought I could trust you to keep your grubby paws off an innocent maiden."

"Not my fault I got the guts of the Great Rabbit on me," he grumbled.

Completely unfazed, she said, "Miss Emilia. Rem. I shall draw a bath for you. I'm sure it will feel lovely to get the smell of trash off you." To Subaru, she deadpanned, "Do not attempt to join, you pervert. I cannot believe you would try to defile my darling sister in such a horrifying way."

He rolled his eyes. "I was going to bathe after, thank you very much."

"So, that was your devious plan," she said scornfully. "You wanted to get me alone so you could act on your carnal desires. How deplorable of you, Barusu."

Emilia opened her mouth to protest at her knight's treatment, but she remembered something Subaru had once said about Ram.

"It's just her way of showing affection. She's a tsundere, you know? I mean, mostly tsun and not much dere, but that's Ram for you."

Emilia still wasn't sure what a "soonderay" was, but judging by the cheeky grin on Subaru's face and the twinkle in Ram's eye, it seemed there were no hard feelings between them.

And yet…before they had left, Ram had screamed at Subaru. Just what had they talked about after that to place them on such good terms?

Still carrying Meili on his back, Subaru called for Beatrice—who was unable to get dirty in the same way as the others—to come with him. However, she shook her head. "You have something to do with the purple thing, I suppose," she noted. "Am I right, I wonder?"

He nodded, but his eyes were filled with concern. "You can still come, you know? I'm not trying to leave you out of anything."

Her gaze pierced his. Then, she grabbed his hand and thought to him, 'Betty does not like the purple thing, in fact.'

He expected that, so why—

'However, Betty's Subaru sometimes does special things to help people, in fact. Betty will not intrude, I suppose.'

A lump formed in his throat as he anxiously asked, 'But…won't you feel jealous? I don't want—'

She cut him off as she sternly told him, 'Betty's Subaru can give his love to more than just Betty.' Then, mischievously, she added, 'Betty knows she is still the cutest, anyway.'

Warmth blossomed in his chest. His arms were full carrying Meili, so he reached out with a Guiding Hand to pat Beatrice's head. She gave him a glare but subtly leaned into his touch.

Ram saw the new power and was, once again, completely unfazed. "Barusu, growing appendages to grope my innocent little sister with? Disgusting. Please keep your perverted tendencies to yourself."

He waved her off, choosing instead to carry Meili inside. For the first time in weeks, he activated Door Crossing, entering a room unknown to all others in the mansion.

Well, that was a bit of a stretch. It was just another guest room. However, on his own time, he had filled it with dozens of hand-knitted dolls and stuffed animals. He knew how much Meili loved them, so he made one for each of the mansion's occupants—barring Roswaal, of course—the other Royal Candidates, most of the knights, and even a bunch of mabeasts.

He had debated it for a long, long time, but he had eventually decided to make an Elsa doll. It was the least he could do.

He gently set her down on the bed as she looked around in wonder. He was pretty sure she'd never slept in a bed, let alone had a bedroom, so he didn't fault her for being speechless.

Carefully gauging her reaction, he said, "I can't tell you how I knew your preferences, nor how I knew to prepare this room, but…it's yours if you want it."

He laid a hand on the nightstand, saying, "Because of my contract with Beatrice, I get to use her Door Crossing, yeah? I did a lot of experimenting with it, and it turns out that I can transfer some sounds between rooms. So, if you want, with a bit of funky spellwork I can make it so that if you call my name, I'll hear you. It doesn't even need to be if you need help moving; if you're sad, have a nightmare, or just want to talk, I'm here. I don't sleep too well, either."

She turned her gaze to him, olive-green piercing dark brown. There was no innocent smile, no flirtatious winks. She didn't need to wear her mask around him. Instead, she wore her sorrow on her sleeve, torn up as it was from her months on the run.

Quietly, as if she wasn't sure what her voice was supposed to sound like, she asked, "Why?"

Why, indeed?

To Meili, this strange man had jumped into her life, promised to protect her, and provided her with a place to live, one that had already been catered to her tastes. She had no idea how or why, especially when their first meeting had involved her tossing the Great Rabbit at him.

To Subaru, there wasn't a single question in his mind as to why he'd do this for her.

It wasn't just their time spent together while she was held prisoner, fighting together in the Tower, or watching how Emilia acted as a mother, hugging the younger girl at her lowest. Those helped, and he would undoubtedly feel the same way regardless, but something caused his affection to grow a bit faster than he expected.

He had read her Book of the Dead. He knew her better than everyone else, for he lived her life alongside her. They were both broken by the tortures inflicted upon her by Capella. They both called Elsa their sister, even though they couldn't decide if that was wrong or right. They both received orders to kill and enacted them with frightening efficiency; after all, they wanted to make sure the victims held no pain. They watched Elsa burn to death while holding back tears, and they were held captive of their own will to avoid going back to Capella.

His mind and sanity shattered alongside her, only to be slowly patched back together by a man with scary eyes.

It's said that to understand a person, you need to walk a mile in their shoes. If that's the case, then he understood Meili perfectly. He saw the girl underneath, and he loved her.

"Why?" was an utterly pointless question.

He knelt to her level, took her hand in his, and quietly spoke: "Because I care about you, Meili. You mean so much to me. I just wish I found you sooner, but now that I have, I promise that I won't let anything happen to you."

He was confusing her; he knew that. It wasn't merely because of their lack of familiarity; it was because she didn't understand what it meant for someone to care about her to such an extent. She had made friends with Petra in the last timeline and presumably this one as well, but what he was expressing was different and utterly foreign.

That was one of the main reasons he wouldn't say he loved her yet: she was overwhelmed enough.

Meili, for her part, was remarkably composed; how fitting for the one who had survived years of Capella's torture. At length, she gave a demure nod and whispered, "Thank you."

Her mind, however, was a whirlwind of unfamiliar emotions. She didn't know what to do, but she needed to do something. Should she hug him? No, she had hugged him before. She wouldn't bother him further. Perhaps another thank you to supplement the first one? No, that would annoy him, and she'd be thrown out. He had already rejected her offer of mabeast reinforcements, so she couldn't even do the one thing she was capable of. Could she be any more useless?

Besides, what could match what had done for her? Was a simple "thank you" enough to represent how she felt?

Judging by the massive smile that was threatening to split his face in two, it seemed like it was enough for now.

She wasn't strong enough to stand so she cast her eyes around the room from her bed. "You bought dolls for me," she noted timidly. "They're very cute. I like dolls."

"Quick correction, I made them," he said proudly. "Sewing is a hidden skill of mine, you see."

"I wish I could sew," she said wistfully. She cocked her head to the side, asking, "Where's yours?"

He gave her a questioning look and mumbled, "Hmm?"

"Your doll," she repeated. "There are so many pretty ones, but I'd really like one of you if that's okay."

He couldn't help it; he clutched his heart and gasped. "Too…much cuteness," he managed to choke out. How is it that she had stopped using her excitable mask yet still managed to be pure as hell? Well, as pure as a traumatized former assassin could be, that is. "Look, I'll make one for you when everything goes back to normal, all right?"

A bit of light returned to her eyes. "Promise?" she asked hopefully.

He held out his pinky and wrapped it around hers as he asserted, "I promise."

A real, genuine smile blossomed upon her face. He couldn't help but wonder if her real personality was anything like her chipper one.

Perhaps things would be okay.

He headed to the closet opposite the bed and rummaged around. "There's something I've been saving for you," he informed her. "Granted, it would have saved my life multiple times, but I figured you'd still appreciate it more than me. Now, where is it…Ah. Gotcha."

He held a black cloth out at arm's length, grasping it only by his fingertips. "This thing creeps me out," he admitted, "but holding onto it was the least I could do after I…You know…"

She eyed the cloth in awe. Then, hesitatingly, she asked, "Is this—"

"Elsa's cloak," he confirmed. "It allows you to survive one powerful magic attack."

She cradled it to her chest, burying her face in it. He turned around to give her a moment.

He hated Elsa. He always would. Even Meili wasn't sure how to feel about her; the young girl's Book of the Dead told him that much.

However, Elsa was the closest thing to a family Meili ever had—her "Mama" was certainly not family. If this would help her heal, then he would happily give it up. He would do it for Emilia, Satella, Beatrice, or Shaula, so why not Meili?

He felt a light tug on his jacket, and he turned to find Meili looking up at him—she appeared meeker than she had ever been before, and he'd seen her mask in the village. Was this what it looked like when she let her guard down completely?

She struggled with herself, as if unsure of how to ask for something she wanted. Then, steeling herself, she quietly asked him, "Can I get some food?"

'Oh, fuck,' he berated himself. 'She hasn't eaten a proper meal in months, and here I am, giving her dolls!'

Plastering a smile on his face, he told her, "I hope you like steamed potatoes because until Rem's done bathing, that's all you're gonna get."

It turned out that she loved steamed potatoes, which instantly endeared her to Ram. Subaru suspected that it was because she hadn't had a hot meal for ages, but that was beside the point.

He still didn't know why she hadn't attacked the village, or why things went differently. It was too early on for him to have made a difference, right?

Then again, Elsa had discovered his Witch Factor. That led to both her and Capella attacking the mansion in an attempt to acquire the Witch Factor of Sloth. Perhaps Capella decided that, since she would become even more powerful, Meili was no longer needed? For that matter, if Capella was right there, why did she have Elsa attack at all?

It had to have been the Gospel. The blasphemous book gave all kinds of nonsensical instructions. The Archbishops claimed it led to their desired future, but it usually led to their deaths. Even the knockoff Tomes of Wisdom that were held by Roswaal and Beatrice seemed to lead to despair. Well, perhaps not Roswaal's copy. He seemed to want to lead Subaru to a very specific place, and it was working out quite well for him.

Subaru didn't know if he wanted to get to that place as quickly as he could or run as far away from it as possible.

Pushing the thoughts out of his mind, he turned to the pink-haired maid that had just served them, asking, "Hey, Ram, how are you on mana?"

Not looking at him, she replied, "Do not attempt to give me your disgusting mana. The only man who could provide me with such an intimate experience is Lord Roswaal."

He rolled his eyes, saying, "I was wondering because Emilia had offered to help in case Ros wasn't around."

Without hesitation, she shot back, "How inconsiderate of you to treat your liege like a spare reserve of mana. I will only accept if you apologize for your shameless behavior."

In other words, she was thanking him for his concern and would be approaching Emilia later.

In the same flat tone, she continued, "As punishment for your horrid suggestion, I shall be temporarily taking this girl off your hands. You reek, and I feel horrible for anyone who needs to be near you."

Meili looked to him with veiled concern, but he reassured her, saying, "Ram's a bit prickly…" He ignored the demon's harsh glare. "…but you can translate what she said as, 'Go bathe, and I'll take care of Meili. You both earned some rest.'"

He gave a comforting smile. "You can trust her, all right? And hey, don't worry. I'll see you right after."

Almost instantly, she donned an innocent smile, but it wasn't genuine. She was simply preparing to be around someone who wasn't Subaru.

Ram gave a "hah" and scooped the smaller girl up in a princess carry, tactfully ignoring the way the other girl stiffened. "You poor child, being held victim to Barusu's sick fantasies. The least I can do is ease your sore muscles before cleansing you of his filth."

He watched them go in concern, but he trusted Ram. Then again, Meili had a habit of imitating those around her. For all he knew, they could come back and he'd have yet another person calling him a pervert.

"Ah, Barusu." He was torn out of his thoughts as he heard Ram say, "There was a stranger asking for you: a grey-haired fiend masquerading as a merchant."

Subaru let a relieved smile spread across his face. "Oh, that's Otto," he said lightly. "Great guy, you'll all love him. So, where is he?"

"He is an intruder who posed a threat to Lord Roswaal. As such, he is in the dungeon." With that, she went to take care of Meili as Subaru ran off.

"Damn it, Ram!" he shouted, despite being out of hearing range. "There's a limit to our mistreatment of Otto!"

In a frenzy, he dashed through the nearest door, coming out into the dungeon. Now, the "dungeon" was actually just a room with a series of powerful mana seals that restricted the use of one's gate and Divine Protections. It was excellent for holding someone like Meili or Garfiel but was overkill for Otto.

With a jolt, Subaru realized that the room was once Echidna's laboratory. "How fitting," he mused aloud. "No matter the title, this room always holds innocent prisoners."

Speaking of innocent prisoners…

"Is someone there?" a strained, yet familiar, voice called out. "I told you, I'm here for the job! Oh, I should never have listened to—"

"Subaru Natsuki, at your service!"

Otto Suwen, who was chained to the wall but otherwise okay, gaped at the approaching knight. "What took you so long?" he asked incredulously. "I was stuck here for hours!"

Subaru brushed him off, saying, "Sorry. I was kinda busy killing the White Whale and the Great Rabbit."

Otto blinked, his face blank. Then, incredulously, he asked, "You killed…Why the hell didn't I hear about this from the Dragon Tablet?"

Subaru paused for a moment, deep in thought. Emilia had said something about this during the Royal Selection, hadn't she?

"Both this event and our achievements in the coming year will be known to everyone outside our Camp."

"Outside our Camp," he murmured before his face lit up in a massive grin. Louder, he told Otto, "It's because you're part of the Emilia Camp now, yeah? But hey, that's all in the past, so let's get you out of here and into a bedroom, all right?"

Otto sighed, but it seemed he had decided to go along with Subaru. He had gotten this far, anyway.

Realizing that he didn't have a key, Subaru walked through a nearby door and, within seconds, came back with a ring of keys. "One of these should work," he muttered to himself. The first one didn't, and neither did the second. "Eh, only a few hundred to go."

Ten minutes later, he looked up at Otto, confused. Holding up a bronze key, he asked, "Hey, do you know if I already used this one?" At the merchant's shaking head, he shrugged his shoulders. "Eh, might as well redo it all, anyway."

Otto sputtered, but, luckily, it only took a few minutes to get the right key. Rubbing his sore wrists, the grey-haired man angrily said, "This is the worst interview process I've ever had."

"Mine was worse," Subaru responded evenly. "Before Roswaal gave me a job, I was stabbed multiple times, tortured for hours, cursed by a shaman, and forced to jump off a cliff." Otto gasped in horror, so he reassured the merchant by saying, "Don't worry; the girl who tortured me was really cute! It was all a misunderstanding, anyway."

Otto struggled with himself for a while before asking, "How the hell are you alive?"

Subaru thought for a moment. Obviously, he couldn't say Return by Death, so he settled on the other truth. "At any point, I can give up. I can take the hand of one who loves me." He looked Otto in the eye and earnestly said, "But there are people I care about, and I won't give up until they get the happy ending they deserve."

At length, Otto responded, "…Huh."

He saw the drive, the determination in Subaru's eyes. Otto couldn't help but feel that this strange man would be a friend worth fighting for.

…Even if he said some pretty scary things.

Subaru set Otto up with a nice office, as well as a bedroom with a full wardrobe of clothes. The Mathers line was rich enough that they had that kind of stuff just…laying around. That was great, especially considering that Subaru was the type of person to adopt strays.

Dropping a fat stack of paperwork on Otto's desk alongside the promise of a hefty paycheck, Subaru strolled out, feeling quite satisfied with himself. Not long after, he sunk into the now-empty bath, washing the literal blood, sweat, and tears off of him. He let himself sink into the warm water, the heat soothing his aching muscles. Normally, he'd try to relax and think about what he had accomplished that day—Beatrice said it helped with self-esteem, and Emilia had recently begun asking for nightly "reasons why Subaru is great" reports—however, he couldn't help but feel jittery.

Sloth would come tomorrow.

His mood dropped as he thought of Petelguese. That was not Guese, the diligent student of the Sorceress and the Sage. This was an insane monster. Subaru couldn't help but wonder if it was possible to remove the Witch Factor of Sloth from someone so loyal to the Witch of Envy.

He shook his head to clear it. He now had evidence that it would work. It would just be more difficult, considering that the participant was unwilling.

Another issue was keeping his trance during True Face. He hadn't been able to do it during Emilia's pseudo-Trial, and he had barely managed to hold it in the presence of a mere fraction of Pandora's essence. Could he really pull it off?

He'd like to think that he could. After all, he had been working hard on his anger; he wasn't the man that had screamed at Roswaal and taunted Capella. He was a knight, and he would act like one.

…That didn't make it any easier. It was too easy for him to fall into self-hatred.

Perhaps, one day, he could let go of his self-loathing. Mere moments after that thought, he let out a laugh. He had experienced dimension shifting, reincarnation, time travel, and an army of loli clones, but that was where he stopped his suspension of disbelief.

Feeling a bit better from the laugh, he promptly hopped out of the bath and dried off; he wanted to leave before Ram had to bathe Meili, thank you very much. Despite Ram's comments, he did not view Meili in that way. If anything, she was like a—

He stopped himself. He had no right to feel that way. His only solace was that her death never happened: not here, or in any universe.

It didn't make his actions excusable. Even if she didn't understand why, he would spend his entire life making it up to her.

Donning some fresh clothes, he exited the bathroom and bumped into someone he had never met.

Golden hair and cerulean eyes. Soft features and a beautiful smile. She looked just like Sylphy…but he had never seen one of Regulus's wives smile so brightly.

He also didn't expect to see one in a maid costume.

"Sir Subaru!" she called out, surprised, yet excited. "It's great to see you again!"

His mouth flopped open and closed like a fish out of water. At length, he tentatively asked, "Sylphy? Is that you?"

A light giggle filled the hallway. Subaru began to question his sanity.

"Is it so shocking?" she asked him. "You set up dozens of jobs for us. I was one of the women who chose to become a maid."

He scratched the back of his neck, mumbling, "To be fair, I kinda thought Ros would deny those positions…I had to make some backups."

Were they in Roswaal's Gospel? He had clearly expected Subaru to leave for the Capital early, but that didn't mean he had to accept more people into his home. What did he have to gain?

Oblivious to his thoughts, Sylphy continued. "They're with the other villagers right now, but Num- Rebecca and her little sister, Petra, became maids; a blonde lady named Frederica, too." With a blinding smile, she admitted, "I've never felt so…free."

Subaru's heart broke a bit at those words. Not at the other mansion employees—he was happy to have them here—but because the poor girl viewed indentured servitude as freedom.

He was glad that Regulus was dead.

He hastily excused himself—after inviting her to talk over tea sometime, of course—and headed to his room.

Laying on his bed in her pajamas—had the evening truly come so quickly?—and cuddling a cat-like creature to her chest was Emilia.

His dour mood forgotten, he couldn't help but laugh at the sight. "Bold of you to assume I'd let you sleep in my bed," he teased.

She winked and stuck her tongue out at him but wouldn't dare make an innuendo with Puck in the room. It was a shame; they always brought a smile to his face.

Ever since Emilia and Puck had modified their contract, the spirit had been…pretty absent, to say the least. He slept for most of the day, only coming out for the occasional hug or to play with Beatrice. He still talked to Emilia every so often and was incredibly useful as a conduit for her overwhelmingly large pool of mana, but he had otherwise relinquished his "taking care of Lia" responsibilities to Subaru.

At first, Subaru was wary of such changes; he felt like he had taken away Emilia's father. However, the two of them seemed much happier. Puck was able to laze about and get positive attention whenever he felt like it, and Emilia could grow as a person.

"I can be myself," she had told Subaru. "I'm not being told what a girl should or shouldn't do. I'm now allowed to discover who 'Emilia' is."

He couldn't help but realize that last time, she only started to change when Puck left, and she grew dramatically in a day. Subaru knew it was mostly because she overcame her past, but perhaps Puck could be considered part of that past.

Perhaps it was unfair to blame her development entirely on True Face.

Regardless of the cause of her sudden maturity, it didn't change that Subaru and Emilia were careful to not be too affectionate around Puck. Ever since their first kiss, Subaru had steadily become more comfortable in his skin, while Emilia had become more…bold, would perhaps be the correct word. It was a healthy development for the both of them—odd, considering that everything emotional outside of their relationship was a complete mess.

Healthy though it might be, no father wanted to see his daughter kissing someone, especially not as enthusiastically as Emilia did. However, as long as Puck wasn't around, they had free rein to do whatever—after all, Puck was often unaware of what happened outside of his crystal.

It seemed that he didn't really care what happened, so long as she was alive. Subaru didn't know how to feel about that.

A few minutes later, Puck disentangled himself from Emilia's air-tight grip and flew in front of Subaru's face. "Take care of Lia," he said seriously.

With a smile, Subaru vowed, "I always will, and that's a promise."

With a grin and a salute, Puck vanished into nothingness, having completed his nightly ritual. He would not notice anything outside of his crystal unless Emilia specifically called for him.

Subaru crawled under the silky blanket with a relaxed sigh. "Home, sweet home," he murmured to himself. Crusch and Reinhard had lovely mansions, but the Forbidden Library held a special place in his heart.

After all, he now shared it with Emilia.

Yes, he had previously shared it with Satella, and he would cherish those memories. He would always love her, and he would do anything to get her back.

Even so, his wife from another life—which sounded crazy, and he knew that, but it felt wrong to call her his ex-wife—was supportive of his love for Emilia.

If he reached into the depths of his soul and entered the Shadow Garden, he would find the Witch Factor of Envy proclaiming him as hers. However, the actual Satella…Well…

'She's a massive shipper,' Subaru thought with humor. 'I know she's still technically shipping me with herself in another body, but it's still weird.'

But hey, all three of them were happy. What more could they ask for?

At his side, Emilia curled up against him, her silver hair tickling his face and neck. "Tomorrow," she murmured, "I'll see Father Juice again."

His mood soured at the thought. "He won't be the same," he reminded her, unable to hide the bitterness in his tone. Whether it was from the memories of his fight with Sloth or the fate he gave Geuse, he wasn't sure.

Noting his distress, she curled an arm around him and said, "You weren't you, remember? We'll bring Juice back, and he'll forgive you."

He gave a wry grin as he ruefully muttered, "You have more reason to be stressed than me, yet you're the one offering comfort."

She shook her head and gently said, "You can't quantify pain. You comfort me, so it'd be selfish to not comfort you in return."

His smile turned genuine. "You're one of a kind, Emma," he said fondly. "You make me glad to be alive."

She beamed at him, earnestly saying, "And I'm glad you're here, Subaru. You make my life worth living."

Holding himself up by his elbow, he brushed the back of his knuckles over the smooth, porcelain skin of Emilia's arm. His eyes roamed her figure, barely hidden as it was by her thin nightgown.

In awe, he told her, "I know I say it a lot, but you really are stunning. I can't tell you enough just how lucky I am, or how long I've waited for even a single moment like this."

Tinkling laughter filled the air. "I feel like I've been waiting much longer," she admitted for the umpteenth time. "For three months, the most my handsome knight would do was cuddle with me. Do you know how much more I wanted?"

He rolled his eyes and light-heartedly grumbled, "Yeah, well, how was I to know that my pure, sweet EMT was such a minx?"

"It's not my fault that you thought hand-holding was scandalous," she joked, making a show of intertwining her fingers with his. "You're such a tease, keeping a woman waiting."

He chuckled at the irony. 'Oh, if only you knew how long I waited for you.'

Out loud, he airily said, "I'm sensing some repressed emotions. Anything you need to confess?"

Of course, she did; she had been waiting months to say it.

Without warning, she rolled on top of him with a playful smirk, lightly pinning him down by his arms. Amethyst jewels glinted with mischief and desire as she gazed down at her lover.

With the same flirty grin, she whispered three words that he didn't process for quite some time. Immediately after, she dove in, eagerly capturing what was hers. Her body melted into his as her lips pressed into his neck; he had never felt so vulnerable, yet so at ease. When she pulled back to take a breath, he lifted himself up to once again take her lips with his own.

For how long had he craved a moment like this? Was it when he became a butler, or perhaps her knight? Was it during those lonely nights in the capital, or during the nightmares of the Tower?

It was a silly question, of course; he'd wanted this forever.

Eventually, she backed off. As he admired her puffy lips and disheveled hair, he finally heard the three words that she had told him.

"I want you."

They were the words he needed to say, but couldn't—the emotions he needed to express, held back by fear. Slowly but surely, Emilia had allowed him to heal enough to say:

"I want you, too."

After that, she would no longer settle for merely sweet nothings and a kiss; for the first time in ages, they were truly alone, not to be disturbed. With a coy smile and a bit of magic, the candles that illuminated the bedroom were extinguished. The last thing Subaru saw before darkness took over was her seductive smile as she gazed hungrily at him.

She threaded her slim fingers through his messy locks, as she so often did. Careful to not crush him with her elven strength, she leaned her forehead against his, asking, "Are you sure about this?" It was barely a whisper, but it was permanently etched into his mind. "I will gladly wait forever if need be."

Despite how much she craved his touch, he knew she would keep her word, and he loved her for it.

His heart yearned for her, but anxiety attacked his mind, trying to silence his attraction. Taking a deep breath, he managed to take stock of the situation.

It was not dark enough for total obscurity, but neither was it light enough to garner any details. She would see the scars that had held him back for so long, even if their magnitude was unknown. He was not completely safe from a potentially judgmental gaze, but he trusted her enough to not view him any differently.

Then again, even if light filled the room, would he mind? He didn't know, and he didn't care.

Forget about baby steps; they both wanted the same thing, and there was no point in holding back any longer.

With boundless affection, he echoed himself: "I want you, Emilia. I can't wait any longer."

With a trembling voice that belied both nervousness and excitement, she ordered, "Then take me. Make me yours."

Their lips met again, and the rest of the world faded away as they became one. Throughout the night, they held each other close, communicating their adoration in the most intimate way possible.

Satisfied and spent, they finally parted, gasping for air as they stared up at nothing. Eventually, Emilia caught her breath enough to say, "Geez Louise, that was amazing."

Subaru let out a breathy laugh. "Figures that the first thing you say is something old-fashioned."

Too euphoric to feel annoyed, she shot back, "It's impossible to be eloquent immediately after you took me in such a way." Then, with a slight stammer, "Especially when you…you know…"

She made vague movements with her hands, causing him to blush furiously. Rushing to defend himself, he stuttered, "Look, it was a spur-of-the-moment thing, and—"

She rolled over, slowly outlining the scars on his chest with acceptance in her eyes. "It was wonderful," she murmured, "even if it was unexpected. I want you to do that next time, too."

'Next time,' he excitedly thought. 'She wants there to be a next time!'

This beautiful, compassionate, incredible woman wanted to sleep with him again. He never imagined that his devotion could be reciprocated so thoroughly.

It was hard to see, but he could just barely make out the lazy smile on her face as she said, "How odd that you fiercely take what's yours in the throes of passion, but as soon as the curtains fall, you're as shy as ever."

Failing miserably to adopt a chiding tone, he retorted, "How odd that you're so assertive about what you want, but the moment I touch you, you turn into putty."

She laughed and said, "I don't know what 'puddie' is, but I'm happy to give you all that I am, my love."

The epithet "my love" bounced around his head like a hyperactive lesser spirit, and he smiled once more. He'd gladly sprint non-stop to the Great Waterfall and back if those words would leave her lips again.

The way she said it, with that exact inflection and emotion…There was no way it was a coincidence. Judging by the fulfilled smile on her angelic face and the acceptance in her eyes, it seemed like she knew it, too.

His resolve had not changed in the slightest, and his confession of love would remain unaltered. Nonetheless, he felt more secure in their relationship than ever before.

"I love you so much," he whispered against her lips, and she repeated it back. Those words from her, once a pipe dream, were somehow a reality. He didn't know what he did to deserve them, but he—

"Hey, Subaru?"

Their faces were inches away from each other as their breath intermingled. All he saw was a gorgeous blur of amethyst, and all she saw were the blazing eyes she loved so much. They were so close to yet again losing themselves in each other, but he would hear her out. "What's up, Emilia-tan?"

For a moment, anxiety filled her face as she said, "Can I ask you a question?"

He grinned cheekily. "Sure. You can even ask another, too."

She giggled, and her unease melted into a fond smile. "For a while, I've watched you with the village children, Beatrice, and now Meili. You're amazing with kids, Subaru, and I've been thinking…"

She bit her lip and asked, "When this is all over, can we start a family?" He gaped at her and she hurriedly clarified, "N-not for a few years, of course! I mean, eighteen and nineteen are deemed acceptable child-rearing ages, but there's so much going on with our lives! Maybe when we're twenty? Twenty-one? Is that still too young? Oh, and the Royal Selection isn't complete yet, and—"

He cut her off with a searing kiss. "I would love a family more than anything," he said breathlessly. "You have no idea how happy that makes me."

The dream that he had carried across multiple lives would be fulfilled. He felt different, lighter, unburdened; he could take on the world in one shot.

She reached out, letting her dainty fingers dance upon the back of his neck. Fire cascaded down his spine as she gifted him with another kiss: this one chaste, light, not unlike the one that a bride would give to a groom. She pulled back and leaned her forehead against his, just like she would if they were still clothed.

How fascinating, that such a primal act could change them so much. They were still Subaru and Emilia, but now they were lovers in the truest sense.

His warm, muscular body, pressed against her lithe frame, gave her the strength to ask her final question: one she had wanted to ask for a long time. Without an ounce of hesitation, she proposed, "After the Royal Selection, will you marry me?"

The world stopped for a moment as they both held their breaths. It was the most unconventional time to ask such a question and the traditional roles were reversed, yet neither could imagine a better way.

In the Shadow Garden, deep within his soul, Satella cheered him on and gave her approval.

His answer was obvious.

With a smile that threatened to break his face in two, he said, "You stole my line."

Caught up in the moment, he once again claimed her body as his, sealing their promise.

For the first time, Subaru and Emilia were truly content.