I'm starting to get really disappointed. He's not even trying.
"Are you sure you will be alright?" Frederica asked, holding Subaru's jacket on her arm.
Subaru was caressing Patrasche's mane delicately, as a way to soothe his nerves while the noble dragon kept bumping him gently with her head, making Frederica soften her expression a bit.
Surely, Subaru was simply an expert when it came to hide his true emotions. She knew how much suffering he had to feel right now.
This is why Frederica wanted him to know that people were here for him. That he shouldn't face this situation by himself like he always does. Therefore, the fact that even that lovely dragon noticed him of her support was a marvelous relief for her.
"Yeah…I'm sorry if I'm worrying you, Frederica. I just…Need to be alone for a while." He replied, his hand under his dragon's chin as he turned to the blonde maid.
"I understand very well, Subaru-sama" She answered with a soft smile, hiding a slight of guilt, as she handed him his jacket.
"Please, take care and come back to us as soon as you can." The maid concluded, raising the tip of her dress while doing the noble maid pose.
Smiling to her one last time, Subaru proceeded to hop on his dragon's back and start to ride south, under the worried gaze of Frederica Baumaan.
To the capital of Lugunica,
"…And I beg of you…To come back to us." She whispered again, a hand on clenching her dress as she remembered the desperate, unbearable expression he wore.
Frederica wasn't someone to be really close to the young knight, she never had the occasion to be any closer to him that she was as an acquaintance and friend in the mansion. But a part of her wished to be the opposite.
She wished to be closer to him, to laugh with him and to be someone he could rely on, as much as she did on him, for every good deeds he did for her, for this mansion, for the people of the domain, for her brother…
Natsuki Subaru was one who did far more for her than anyone else, her lord aside, in this world.
Someone who allowed her to walk side by side of her precious little brother again…And someone who saved her life from a grim fate she was trapped into, by the same lord who wronged him today. Maybe she forgave him, but she never forgot.
"Frederica." A voice called from behind, approaching her.
"Yes, Ram-san?" She replied, her eyes still focused on where the young boy just went to.
Ram walked forward until stopping her tracks at the side of her coworker, her eyes set on the path of the mansion as well.
"I came to see how you two were doing. I suppose, he already took his leave." She spoke softly.
"He did."
"Did you try to stop him?"
"I did."
"Are you worried?"
"I am."
Both ladies's eyes still focused on the road ahead with an unreadable expression. Pensive, worried, troubled.
"Why?" Ram broke the silence, curious to know what her fellow maid had in her mind.
Frederica winced a bit, remembering the reason clear in her mind, before taking a deep a breath.
"The day I decided to serve the domain…I knew the master was eccentric, but I suppose, this was to be expected of one that employs demi humans in an age of scorn and mistrust against our race. This is also, one of the reasons I found myself deeply grateful towards him, holding my highest respect in the duty that I've been tasked to do…" She spoke, remembering her early days with the man named Clind and the residents of the manor.
"However, the fact that I was still bound to my race always been something I felt uneasy with. We are…Pariahs. Unwelcome, hunted, hated. Because of that…I've always lived in loneliness, from the outside world and even from my own kin." She continued, tears running down her cheeks in remembrance of the sanctuary. "Since the day…Mother…"
Ram kept listening to her with attention. Her eyes still glued to the road ahead.
"My family…My friends…Everyone I loved was away. The only thing I had…Was my role and duty." She cried, wiping the streams off her cheeks. " I lived every day praying for their safety…For the mother I didn't know where she was, for the brother I couldn't see…While guilt weighted on my heart for every day I would remember them…"
Frederica took a short break of her monologue, breathing in and out as a smile slowly found her way on her face.
"But then…! But then, this wonderful man…Out of nowhere, like a gift from fate…He came up and befriended my baby brother…He became his friend and his brother, someone he could trust and cherish other than me…I was elated! I was delighted! Because even if he couldn't forgive me, even if Garfiel would stay away from me…At least, he had someone to rely on!" She cried with a smile on her face, her red cheeks, soaked in her tears.
"Yet it wasn't enough! In his endless goodwill, Natsuki Subaru brought back my brother to me…He saved my people, struggled to give them the will to live again…Certainly, it was side by side with that woman…But I know it wouldn't have happened without him…Because this is what Subaru-sama does. He comes to the help of whoever needs him, he struggles to saves us all, to protect us, to help us and make sure we thrive for the better. We are nothing but a testament of it after all. And…" Frederica said, sniffling as her smile slowly started to fade, her mind set on what the residents of the manor just lived.
"Frederica?" Ram called, noticing the silence suddenly taken.
"I apologize, Ram-san."
"I understand why you would. And I accept it. Please, proceed." Ram notified, closing her eyes with a nod.
"…And these two harlots cut right at the most important member we have. The one that saved my brother and all our brethren in the sanctuary!" She yelled in frustration and anger.
"I remember how Emilia-sama…Nay just Emilia." She spat. "Due to his heroic acts, would praise this boy and be proud of him. How she would smile to him and tell the world about her "wonderful" knight she cherished so much." She growled with her face directed down, tears flowing again to mix with the dust under her feet.
"And this is how proud and thankful she is!? While she is the image and leader of our camp, this is how she treats our most valuable member? The center and reason itself we came this far…?! What. Awful. People! Both of them! None more disgusting than this wretch of a man."
Ram widened her eyes in surprise to the last words spoken by the beast woman. Never in her life she heard Frederica refer to the lord like this…
"Frederica…"
"I think you and I, know how this will end to, Ram-san." She said as she gained back her composure, breathing deeply, before turning towards her coworker.
"If Subaru-sama wishes to leave, I shall follow him. Breaking my oath to Lord Roswaal, as my brother will." She stated, with a face reflecting her might and pride to the words spoken.
In front of Frederica's will and determination, Ram knew her words held the truth of what lied deep in her heart. And the Oni maid was glad.
As she saw Subaru as a member of his own family, the feeling Frederica had knowing her little brother had someone to rely on, Ram felt the same thing right in this moment.
She was glad Subaru had people to trust, people who loved and cherished him as much as she did. She was happy to know he wasn't alone.
She was also grateful for the trust that was gifted to her by her fellow maid…Or rather…
From her friend.
"We should join the others now." Ram said in a low voice, a small smile on her lips.
Frederica smiled as well, a soft expression on her face.
"Right. Of course."
"Are you okay, Beatrice-sama?" Otto asked, seated next to her.
"I am not, I suppose." She answered, her eyes darkened.
Since Subaru announced that he needed some time away from this place, Beatrice was the firs tone to complain and require for her to come along. However, everyone insisted for her to leave Subaru be.
Sometimes, a man needs some time alone with himself to think. And Subaru needed that more than anyone now.
The fact that he was left in this state rubbed off on everyone in the mansion as well. As all cared for him very much so, the betrayal he was victim was not only on Subaru. It was on everyone.
"I still can't believe it." Garfiel growled between gritted teeth, holding his head in his hands. "How could that bitch eve' do that to cap…It sickens me."
"Me too Garf…But…" Otto bit his own tongue, realizing what he was about to say. "Hell no, there's no 'but's' here! Damn…Bitch!"
Otto's sudden yell made both Gafiel and Beatrice raise their heads to him, surprised he out of all people, would dare to say something like that.
"You seem immensely angered, I suppose." Beatrice commented.
"How couldn't I be!" He said with a clearly angered tone towards the little lady.
The door of the room suddenly opened, showing a shaking blue haired maid enter, avoiding the eyes of everyone in this room in shame.
However, immediately after she opened the door, she didn't find the strength to move anymore. She was paralyzed, afraid…Because she knew all of them here despised her, because she felt the threatening aura emanating from them.
Because she felt she wasn't welcome.
But…
"What are you doing here, I suppose? Surely you know no one wants to see your face." Beatrice was the first to speak, her tone bitter and cold.
"I-I know…" Rem weakly answered. "But…I-I need to know…Where Subaru-kun-"
"Hell no!" Garfiel shouted, standing up with a roar. "You thin' you'll get to capn' after what you did to him, damn bitch!"
Rem widened her eyes in shock as she felt tears come out of her eyes. Garfiel never talked to her like this…
"B-but I need to-"
"You need to what, Rem-san?" Otto continued, cutting the maid without any respect.
"Talk to him? Try to justify the fact that you whore yourself to another man while you were bound to an oath?!" He shouted, directing his eyes to the silver ring on her left hand and making Rem tremble even more.
"You don't think you did enough, do you? YOU NEED TO HURT HIM EVEN MORE!" He suddenly shouted, his voice echoing in the room and startling the maid.
"Rem! What is happening?!" A more innocent voice called out of the room.
Everyone's face hardened in anger as they heard this voice and footsteps coming closer.
"E-Emilia-sama…" Rem weakly answered, as the half elf entered the room where the maid and everyone else were.
"Oh, what are you all doing here?" She asked with a curious and innocent tone.
However, her tone of voice managed to put everyone one edge even more. Rem at least had the decency to seem and feel ashamed of her actions. But Emilia was here, harboring a smile on her face with a soft and careless expression.
"Surely you must be out of this world, I suppose." Beatrice uttered with disgust and rage.
"Mh? What do you mean, beako-chan?" Emilia replied.
"DO NOT address to me in a manner that leaves to interpretation of both of us being acquainted, you whore!" She immediately replied." How dare you hold this kind of expression after what you done?!"
"E-eh? What I have done…? Oh, you mean that liiiiitle accident with Roswaal?" She answered, making everyone harden their gazes immediately with sheer wrath leaking from their eyes once more.
"What…"
"What the…"
"What the HELL?!" Otto burst in rage.
"Ah, Otto-kun! You should calm down, screaming never made anything easier! You will just pain your lungs, you know?" Emilia said with her hands in front of her, showing her care for him.
Otto's breathing hitched as he found it difficult to answer, turning to Garfiel and Beatrice bearing the same confused faces as him.
Just a moment before, Emilia seemed to be broken beyond compare, sinking the hole of shame she dug herself in…
So why was she so…
It was strange, it was unacceptable.
"Natsuki-san has bled, cried, sweat tears in trying to hold this camp! He is the one who made sure of the position we hold now, in this world and in this race!" Otto lashed out, clenching his knees with strength as a way to release his frustration.
Emilia smiled as she nodded her head to his statements.
"I call myself 'internal affairs minister' but half my workload is taken by Natsuki-san. He is the one who fights our enemies…He is the one who maintains great bonds and relationships with the other camps, all the while he tirelessly promotes a better image for Emilia, for all of us…" He said as he held a hand in front of his eyes.
Emilia agreed to his words once more, under the trembling and troubled eyes of the blue haired maid, looking back and forth to the merchant and the silver haired half elf.
"AND THIS IS WHAT HE GETS! He screamed, emptying his lungs and making Rem jump in fear. "HE DID ALL OF THAT FOR YOU! JUST SO YOU COULD LOOK AT HIM! JUST SO YOU COULD TELL HIM YOU LOVED HIM AS MUCH AS HE DOES!" He continued in anger.
Emilia let a slight grin form on her face as she remembered very well the day when Subaru confessed his love for her.
Truly, Otto was a good boy for reminding her such lovely memories.
"And let's not even talk about Rem-san! Oh, Rem! The man who passed the last years looking after her, protecting her, sheltering her and researching the entire world to find a way to save her! When everyone forgot about her! EVEN THAT DAMNED CLOWN! He was the one, the ONLY one who took care of her!" He shouted, standing up.
Rem started to hiccup in sadness, her wide eyes crying again as she held her arms tightly, not able to hide how uncomfortable and ashamed she was.
"AND THIS IS WHAT HE GETS?! FUCKING STABBED IN THE BACK?!" He shouted again, making Rem cry even more as Emilia frowned a bit.
"Otto-kun! Watch your language!" She replied with a finger up.
"My lang-By the dragon what the…?!" Otto bit his tongue in fury.
Garfiel started to clench his fists even harder, feeling the wrath of his brother reaching him as he felt the exact same way as he did. Getting more and more angry for each words Otto would say, as he shared the same thoughts.
Beatrice stayed silent, staring at him with an indifferent expression as she processed everything she just heard, carefully listening to these words.
"…If it wasn't for my contract with this disgusting Margrave, I would take Subaru, his spirit and my brother Garfiel and leave this place if hedonism and depravity." He confessed with a low tone, showing his distaste. "Where the trust of one's word is as true as the lies they hold back."
Rem felt like she had to intervene…But once more, she didn't have the strength to speak. Her shame and her sadness making it already hard for her to breathe.
"Nah, I think this is already set anyway." Garfiel replied for everyone, his eyes glaring at the half elf.
"Capn' won't stay 'ere." He continued. "And if he's out, I'm out too."
"What are you talking about, Garfiel-kun?" Emilia spoke again, directing towards the tiger boy.
"I meant what I meant!" He yelled. "That's the end of the line, you broke the one thing you shouldn't break and fucked up! Now Capn' has no reason to stay, and you'll be fucked!" He growled.
"Though, that ain't anything you would dislike right!?"
For these last words, even Otto felt a bit uneasy to hear his brother speak like this. However, he knew he couldn't blame him to be this toxic towards the half elf.
However, what surprised him even more…Was Emilia's expression.
"My, you shouldn't say things like this. Everything will be fine, you know?" She said with a large smile.
Everyone stared at her with confusion and disbelief once more. Even Rem wondered what could be happening in her mistress's mind.
"And what makes you think that…" Otto voiced out in worry.
Emilia titled her head with another innocent smile, chuckling softly with her fist elegantly held in front of her mouth before continuing.
"Well, you know, Subaru…He said he loved me." She answered with a sweet laugh. "He said that no matter what, he would love me…That he would always be here for me…"
Everyone in the room widened their eyes in disgust and sheer disbelief.
"Subaru is a good man…He has a heart of gold and a personality veeeeery mature and caring. Also, he is my knight and my hero…So he certainly won't leave me!" She voiced out loud, holding the hand in which her silver ring was most apparent.
"You're have to be insane, I suppose…" Beatrice snapped, her voice on the border of breaking the eardrums of everyone in this room.
"How dare you speak about the oath of a knight when you broke the oath of matrimony!" Otto yelled once more. "This is an oath binding you to someone by your love for your entire life! And you broke it like it was nothing!"
"Maybe I did, but this was a mistake and an accident!" Emilia replied. "I'm sure Subaru will come back. And then we will have a proper talk, I will tell him I love him again and apologize properly…He will forgive me and eeeeeverything will be back to normal!"
Rem just widened her eyes in shock, tears streaming from her eyes even more as she felt left aside…Why would Emilia only mention herself to be forgiven?! Why wouldn't Rem deserve Subaru's forgiveness as well?
Was she worse than Emilia?!
Did she have to take more blame than her?!
These overwhelming thoughts started to crush the little maid even more, causing her to hold both hands on her chest in an attempt to calm her nerves, as fear was taking her over…
The tone and the voice Emilia employed was sickening and disgusting. It was so off putting that Garfiel felt even more angry that before, clearly thinking that Emilia was about to manipulate his captain, while Otto felt like puking just by hearing the lady talk.
However, Beatrice, her, was staring at Emilia with her eyes narrowed dangerously. She felt something was wrong since the beginning and as such, continued to gaze upon the silver haired lady in warry.
And that's how she realized…The lack of light in her eyes.
The lack of will.
The lack of life.
Emilia didn't change from the moment she was discovered to be wronging her husband.
She was still broken.
But Beatrice was the only one to have noticed.
"Emilia." Garfiel voiced out loud, his tone way calmer than before, earning the attention of everyone in the room.
"Subaru, this man you claim to love." He said as he stood up. "He is my captain, my savior…Hell he saved everyone. He has bled, cried, fought against stronger enemies, far stronger, even my amazing self."
He continued to walk slowly towards the half elf, looking at her with determination.
"But did my captain back down? No, he stood up and did what he does best, and that is to shine, smile, and save our asses. Without needing anything but making sure we were all safe." He continued, making Otto, Beatrice…And Emilia smile a bit.
"But now, his two closest people just betrayed him? Hurt him!?" He growled out, making Rem wince more and Emilia, loose her smile. "And all they can say is sorry?! You damn bitch! If it weren't for my captain, I would shred you two to fucking piec-"
However, in the middle of his monologue, Garfiel was stopped by an icepick suddenly appearing in the half elf's hand, as she tried to slice his upper body in half, all the while creating a floor of ice all around her.
Garfiel immediately jumped back behind near Otto and Beatrice, both in a combat ready stance as they realized they maybe had to fight her…Until the half elf spoke again in a threatening voice.
"Don't touch me."
"You, do not get any closer from my body."
"It does not belong to you."
"No man has a right to touch it, other than him."
And on these last words, Emilia turned around and left the room, leaving them all inside it with a very low temperature.
"What was that?!" Garfiel exclaimed, looking at the two others behind him.
"I-I don't know…" Otto answered, wiping the sweat from his forehead. "Other than him? Was she speaking about Natsuki-san?!"
All of them kept on staring at the door by which Emilia left, still somewhat on their guards, afraid she would come back again…Noticing alongside that Rem didn't move from her place, near the door and previously near Emilia.
"Tch." Beatrice whispered in a tone so faint, only her could hear. "So, I was right, I suppose."
Slowly, Rem turned from the door to the people in the room once more, tears in her eyes as she wished for someone, anyone, to tell her to come and join them. So she could explain, so she could apologize, so they could allow her to be able to speak with Subaru again. Just speak to him, or even just be near him…That's all she asked, that's all she wanted, and she was desperate.
The more she thought about it, the more she didn't understand how and why she did what she did with Roswaal. She couldn't comprehend it, nor understand it. Only thing she knows is that she did the greatest sin a married woman could do…Therefore…When she looked at them and met nothing more than disgusting gazes…Reality struck her again.
'Ah…Of course, how did I forget…'
'I don't deserve it.'
'So useless.'
'So disgusting.'
'I don't deserve him.'
Her eyes closed again as she remembered the look on her sister's face. The look of the woman she admired so much and loved from all of her heart.
The look of disgust she wore when she last looked at her.
"Rem is nothing but a disappointment, after all…" She whispered in a hushed and broken tone, slowly turning around and walking out of the room as well, under the nearly pitying gazes of the 3 camp members.
"Damn it…" Garfiel grunted.
Like the green merchant…He was conflicted. Rem deserved what she was going through right now, after all she was the one who betrayed Subaru to begin with…
However, seeing someone you were calling an ally and friend only moments ago, someone you grew up with and lived with as much as Garfiel did…
It wasn't easy.
Otto didn't say anything as he understood it very well, as Beatrice did.
While walking away from the room with her head hung low, Rem met face to face with two other members. A pink haired Oni and tall beast woman.
Both stopped in their tracks, surprised when they saw the blue haired maid leave the room where the others were…But Rem, didn't stop. And gradually, she passed her sister and her fellow maid, without saying a word.
No one stopped her.
"Ah…We're approaching the capital." Subaru whispered as he saw the walls of Lugnica.
Patrasche walking peacefully without any haste, faintly cooed in delight to feel that her master was feeling a bit better than before.
During this entire trip with no one but the both of them, Subaru has been contemplating the vast, relaxing sights and pleasant breeze of the rural country. Trying to empty his mind and think about something else than what he lived today.
Than what he lived in the past to reach today.
Than what he will have to do later, in a near future.
"I…Really can't have a break, can I?" He whispered as he caressed Patrasche again, earning a purr from her as she accepted his touch.
"At least, I still have some faithful people around…Do I? Eh?" He laughed as Patrasche raised her head multiple times to show her joy and agreement with the statement.
And as he was laughing, he remembered about everything he had been through so far. Only to get to this day…Only for his love to betray him…But also for his friends to step out for him.
"Damn it…" He growled as he did his best to keep his tears in, a broken smile on his face.
"Ah…Ahahah…" He held a hand on his eyes. "Damn it all…"
Still on her way, Patrasche let out a faint squeak to show her worry to her master's state, which why Subaru quickly tried to gain his composure back, tapping her long neck.
"It's alright…It's alright, don't worry."
Accepting his gentle touch, Patrasche continued to walk towards the gate, until both of them entered the capital.
Truth be told, Subaru had absolutely nothing prepared. He really just needed another place to be at this moment, and decided to go somewhere else he knew rather well.
Within the walls of the place, Subaru started to look around him with wide eyes, gazing upon the lively streets of the city, with people from every race and origin walking alongside each other.
And with a nostalgic feeling taking his soul over, as he remembered his early days in this world and how he got here, Subaru continued to make his way on the paved streets of the capital.
"Oh…Hey, isn't that you kid?!"
Alerted by a sudden voice he felt like he recognized, Subaru turned to his right to see a green haired and muscled merchant, in the middle of various fruits and vegetables.
"Ah…You're the appa man!" Subaru recalled with a grin, as he hopped down from Patrasche.
"Hey, I got a name ya know? Kadomon! It's KA-DO-MON" He laughed with a fake outraged tone "How you've been doing?! Been a long time since I saw you!"
"It's true that it's been a long time. Since my second visit to the capital I believe…When I finally bought you some appas" He laughed back.
"Aye! Though…You looked way more like a kid back then! I don't know why but now…You seem for tough! You got some eyes right there, of a grown man!" Kadomon praised, showing him a thumb up. "I guess all this fighting steeled you eh?"
Subaru smiled to his remarks as he scratched the back of his head to the compliments he received.
"Wait, what you mean, all this fighting?" He questioned him.
"Ah! What do you mean?! "Natsuki Subaru, the half elf's knight!" The one who brought down the whale, beat the witch cult, conquered the tower and stopped a conflict with Vollachia!" He laughed loud, earning the attention of some people around.
"You're a celebrity now! Everyone admires ya! You really come from far away, you know that?"
Subaru winced a bit as he heard Kadomon's description…" Half elf's knight" wasn't a good statement. Not anymore, at least.
"Hey, what are you doing this face?" Kadomon said with worry showing up in his eyes.
Subaru instantly shook his head, smiling as to show that everything was alright.
"Nah don't worry…Something…I just remembered the day when I first came in here. When I met with you and your daughter." He answered.
"Uh?" Kadomon widened his eyes. "Met me and my daughter? You met Plum that day?"
When hearing this, Subaru widened his eyes as well, realizing he was talking about another reality.
"O-oh...Yeah, when I first met you, she was visiting you, with her mom." He tried to explain.
"Ooooh! I think I remember!" Kadomon laughed, remembering his wife and his daughter coming to see him that day. "You rather have a good memory eh?"
Subaru laughed along with him, before looking around him, and, toward the great royal palace, towering over the city. The place where the monarch of the kingdom, the chosen candidate, will have to rule from.
"Here!"
Subaru suddenly turned around, catching a red, beautiful apple in his hands.
"Hey…I'm flat broke, you know?" He told the merchant with a grin, remembering the first day he said that.
"It's a gift from me!" He said with a wink. "Take it, I'll take the popularity I'll get for the knight "Natsuki Subaru" coming into my shop as a compensation!"
Subaru chuckled softly, in happiness…And pride for having his name getting such importance.
Even if the "knight" part of this title…Will have to fade.
"Thank you, Kadomon." He answered with a warm smile, making the merchant smile in a similar way.
"Thank you, boy."
And on these last words, Subaru went on his way to continue his visit to the capital.
He continued to walk through the streets alongside his ground dragon. He didn't really know where he was going…He just walked. He just let himself go.
However, as he went on his way, Subaru's eyes stopped on a place. A hallway. His eyes narrowed, as his memories immediately flashed in his mind, making him remember why this place instinctively took his attention.
When he was living his first misadventure in this world.
When he was saved for the first time by the woman he loved.
Emilia.
The one that was supposed to bear his name.
Telling Patrache to stay here, Subaru engaged himself into this hallway, every memory he had of his first day coming back to him like it was yesterday like a storm. Focused on one thing and one thing only.
Emilia.
Emilia.
Emilia.
The silver haired half elf, the heroine who came to his help when no one would. The one who truly helped him to survive in this world.
Who saved his sanity and gave him a place here.
His first ever friend. And his first ever marriage.
"Why…?" He whispered as he kept walking.
"Why did you do this to me?"
"You looked at me…You smiled to me…You praised me, you said you loved me when you accepted the ring I gave you…" He lamented in silence.
"So why did you have to wrong me?!" He exclaimed as he punch the wall to his side.
"Why did you…Out of everyone in this world…You, the only one I though I could believe in to always save me, to always be there for me…" He cried silently, sticking his back against the wall and slowly sliding until sitting on the ground, desperately.
"But nah…You needed to be a support for me…Just so you could make me fall from even higher…" He whispered with a broken smile.
"…What am I supposed to do…"
"Subaru?"
Startled by the call of his name, Subaru raised his head towards the other side of the alley to meet someone he also knew very well.
"…Reinhard?"
The sword saint came closer immediately when he recognized one of his dearest friend, sensing that something was wrong as soon as he heard his tone of voice.
"What happened, Subaru? A-are you okay?! He asked with worry clear in his eyes, kneeling down to meet his eyes.
"I am, don't worry…" He said as he got back up. "How…How did you know I was…"
"I saw Patrasche at the entry of the hallway…" Reinhard said with a smile. "This lovely bird kept gazing towards you even when she couldn't see you. She seemed ready to rush in here if ever anything happened."
Subaru sighed faintly with a smile on his face…Surely, Patrasche was really a good girl. Maybe the best.
"Subaru…" Reinhard worriedly called again.
Reinhard Van Astrea…The sword saint of the kingdom of Lugunica. He was a strong and powerful knight. Perhaps the most powerful man of the entire world. However, there was a few people in this world that saw him for something else, something different than this. Than the sword saint of the Astrea family.
Than a powerful man.
Sometimes, than a monster.
Subaru was different. He was part of the few people, who always saw and treated Reinhard as any other person. In fact, he was the first one in his life who immediately treated him as a friend, without any hesitation or form of fear.
He closed the distance they both had as strangers in an instant, earning his friendship since the first day they saw each other.
Add to that everything they lived alongside each other. The fact that he helped him to find Lady Felt. The fact that he helped to avenge the former sword saint. The fact that he claimed to be his support in Priestella…
Subaru was the first one in his entire life, that Reinhard felt naturally compatible with as a friend…The first one who really gave him the feeling of knowing what a true friendship was.
And this was why Natsuki Subaru was one of the dearest people he held in this world. And something that he couldn't bear to see, no matter what, he had to help Subaru. May it be to pay off the huge debt he had towards him for the better he brought to his life…
Or simply because it was his duty as a friend.
"Please, tell me what's wrong." He asked him, putting a hand on his own chest. "Let me help you…"
Subaru widened his eyes. His expression showing his surprise to the sudden devotion Reinhard seemed to have. He was a knight and Subaru knew what kind of behavior he had to hold in this task and duty…However, this was different.
It felt genuine.
"O-of course…" He ended up answering, earning a relieved smile from his friend. "But honestly, I just feel like…" He said as he scratched the back of his head.
"You…Want to hang out?" He proposed, making the sword saint softly smile warmly.
"Gladly."
"Here is your afternoon dinner." The pink haired Oni said as she placed a plate of food on the table.
"Oh? We won't head to the diiiiiining room?" Roswaal inquired with a smile.
"I believe this is not a good idea, master."
Roswaal narrowed his eyes as he faintly cleared his throat to the sudden, bitter tone his lovely made just took to refer to himself.
"Ram…I believe there is something we must discuss." He said using a more serious tone.
"There is nothing else to say." Ram immediately answered before heading towards the exit.
"Ram." He called one more time.
"…"
"Stay here." He voiced loud, with a tone losing its accent.
Ram simply obliged to his request as she stopped in her tracks, waiting for him to walk his way to her until stopping, several feet behind her back.
"You must know that I didn't wish things to go the way it went." Roswaal told her.
"However, it seems like it did." She answered.
"I didn't have a choice."
"You had. What would explain that you needed to betray Barusu and defile my sis-"
Ram suddenly stopped speaking…As she turned around with wrath clear in her eyes.
"You…Didn't…"
Roswaal sighed, his face translating his pain as he pulled out a book from his vest.
"How…" She uttered in sheer disbelief.
"It has been restored." He said with a small smile. "And as soon as my hand reached it…It's teachings came to me."
"…"
Ram kept silent, gaining her composure back as she stared to her lord with pitying eyes.
"I see."
"Mhh?" Roswaal hummed, looking at her. "What do you see?"
"I realize that my lord is really nothing but a useless and pathetic man."
"…"
"I cannot believe that I, after struggling so much to release you…Casted yourself into the arms of the witch again." She coldly spoke with a threatening glare.
"…"
"I cannot believe, you decided to fall back so low after managing to do better. Even Barusu knows how climb up and keep his position. You, legitimately decided to step down and eat the dirt like a disgusting pig, like a lowly animal. You decided to dig your own way to fall into the deep, for everyone around you." She mercilessly spat to him.
"…"
"And I hate it. I hate that you became this way again. But most importantly, I hate myself. I despise my own self, for still having feelings for you. I despise my own self for ever trying to save you and redeem you. And I despise myself for still wanting to try and help you." She admitted, making Roswaal lose all of his cheer. Lose his smile.
"But I won't." She shot back immediately. "I decided to take example on someone I would have never believed I would one day. I decided to take my own life within my hands, and do what's best for me. I decided to stop struggling for something as meaningless as you."
"…"
"So, for here on out." She said, pointing Roswaal with he finger. "You shall be on your own, master."
And with these last words, Ram turned around and left the room walking in the hallways of the manor her head hung low, as to hide her wettened eyes…Leaving Roswaal, left alone with no one but himself and his book of wisdom…
Grieving.
For another of his loved ones.
Special thanks to my dear friends and beta reader Killthestory and Otey. This chapter took this shape because of you guys.