The dawn had arrived once more and light shone in the room from the gap in the curtains.

It fell on Subaru's eyes, waking him up and he looked at the lovely girl sleeping beside him. He thought back to the events in Vollachia wondering how he got so lucky.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Three months ago in Vollachia,

"Your plan was good, but in the end, not everything works out the way you plan it. You should be glad that it was successful."

Priscilla told him after seeing him be sad because some of their men had died.

"You can't save everyone."

Subaru sadly looked at Rem who was standing some distance away.

"...Emilia, please come quickly. No matter how many times I try, I am unable to fix anything. Rem still doesn't trust me."

"That half-devil is not coming to save you. If you want to escape, you need to escape on your own. So stop moping and do the job you're supposed to do to escape faster."

Priscilla said on hearing his mumble.

"You're wrong! They'll definitely come."

For their next few success, this conversation happened every single time, until about two months ago,

*SLAP*

Rem slapped Subaru.

"Because of your need to be a hero, Louis died. I hate you! When we return, I want nothing to do with you."

Subaru had recklessly gone into the enemy territory to save Flop who had been held hostage by Todd and Arakiya. After dying at least twenty times, he managed to help him escape safely, but he himself was caught by Arakiya and Louis had given up her life to protect him. He tried to reset, but it got updated.

With this, it was the nail in the coffin for him. Louis had died. Rem hated him. He cried and screamed as Priscilla, Vincent and Al came to his support.

"Rem, I'm disappointed in you. He managed to accomplish the objective he was supposed to achieve. The only one that died was a Sin Archbishop. It was the best result."

Priscilla said, defending him.

"Louis is not evil. Maybe she was before. But she was innocent now. But because of him, she's dead now."

"That does not excuse her former deeds. It was only because of Natsuki Subaru that we had kept her alive for so long."

Even Vincent defended him.

"Forget it! There's no use talking to you people."

Rem angrily left. The others left as well, leaving behind a crying Subaru.

"Emilia, Beatrice, when will you come?"

As much as Priscilla wanted to say they aren't coming, she couldn't. Not when he was crying this badly.

As time passed, Rem's anger had died down. She realised that Subaru was just trying to protect a friend and she had gotten too angry at him unnecessarily. However, she couldn't find the right time to apologise. She saw how hard he was trying to keep everyone safe.

At the same time, many others noticed Subaru's deteriorating mental state, every time he lead them to victory.

Priscilla didn't say anything, but she knew the Emilia Camp wasn't coming. And she felt angry at seeing him so depressed after him achieving so many successes.

In the end,

"Rupgana has been defeated!"

Vincent's allies screamed in victory. They celebrated all night. However, the hero who had led to this victory was nowhere to be found.

All of them went to find him, and to her shock Priscilla found him alone on the roof, cutting up his arms with a knife.

"What are you doing!"

She snatched the knife away from him. He looked like a corpse.

"You led us to victory. You destroyed Chisha Gold. You have done so many amazing things, so why are you here doing this?"

She asked angrily. She was angry at Rem. She was angry at the Emilia Camp. Someone who had achieved such feats should not be this depressed.

"I don't know what I should do. No one cares about me."

Subaru said sadly.

"If that is what you believe, Subaru, I'll prove you wrong."

She came closer to him and put her lips on his. Subaru, surprised initially, leaned into the kiss.

Their lips parted as they stared at each other for sometime. He cried in her chest as she comforted him throughout the night.

The next day,

"Pris, about what happened last night…"

"I was just comforting you. There was nothing more to it. In fact, you can forget it ever happened."

Priscilla said. While she did feel sad, she was happy she had managed to improve his mood.

"Pris, thank you for yesterday."

Priscilla smirked and nodded her head. She has something important to tell him.

"I know your feelings for the half-elf. You can return to your Camp for the time being. However, if you ever need my help again, you can always ask for it. You've earned it, Subaru. I'll gladly even welcome you into my own Camp."

"Thank you, Priscilla. …..I was just overreacting. I'm sure Emilia and the others couldn't get to Vollachia because of border restrictions. They're probably worried about me."

Subaru said unconvincingly.

But Priscilla was angry at the Emilia Camp. If they truly cared about him, they should have come no matter what the circumstances. She reluctantly let him go for now, but if this repeated again, she will make sure to get him away from that camp.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Back to the present,

"Pris, wake up! I'm leaving!"

Subaru woke up Priscilla, while putting on his clothes.

"Can't you stay? What purpose do you have to leave now?"

"You know I can't stay too long. If I do, the others will start to get suspicious."

"This wouldn't have been a problem if you just rejected that half-devil and left that place permanently to come here."

Priscilla sat up, while beginning to put on her own clothes.

Subaru stayed quiet, making Priscilla narrow her eyes.

"Don't tell me after all this, you're still in love with her."

"...That's not it. It's just that… she confessed to me and I don't want to hurt her."

"There you go with your stubborn wish to not hurt anyone again. She hurt you for so long, didn't she? You have every right to reject her."

"I can't just reject her and leave. There are people there besides her that I love. And even if I don't love her anymore, I'm still her knight."

"Then are you going to keep hiding until the end?"

Subaru thought for some time. Till now, he had been avoiding telling them and sneaking off using Cor Leonis. But now, how was he going to tell me? What would they think of him?

But nothing would progress, if he doesn't say anything.

"I think I'll tell Beatrice first. I'll be back soon."

Subaru kissed her forehead before he left. Satisfied with his answer, Priscilla smirked.

"I love you, Subaru."

"I love you too."

In the Roswaal Mansion,

"Beatrice, I'm sorry for hurting Subaru for so long, but I want to make it up to him somehow. You'll help me somehow, won't you?"

Emilia begged Beatrice after realising how she had messed up her relationship with Subaru because of her ignoring his feelings for so long.

"...Fine, I suppose."

"Beatrice, I'm back!"

Subaru called out to her as he returned. Both Emilia and Beatrice looked up in delight and ran towards him.

"Subaru, where were you? I was reaaaaallllly worried."

Emilia said, placing her hand on her chest.

"I'm sorry about worrying you, Beatrice, Emilia."

"You haven't eaten anything, I suppose. I've kept some food for you in our room."

"Thanks!"

Subaru smiled.

After a short conversation, they tried to convince a reluctant Emilia to leave as they headed back to their room.

Once inside, Subaru said, "….Beatrice, I need to talk to you about something."

"What is it Subaru? You can tell me as well."

Emilia opened the door and asked. They hadn't realised, she had followed them as well.

"...Emilia, what are you doing, I suppose?"

Beatrice said angrily.

"Subaru, you can tell me as well. Trust me. I know I've hurt you, but please let me make it up to you."

"Emilia leave! I don't remember us interfering with your and Bubby's private talks, I suppose!"

"But-"

"Emilia, let us talk."

Subaru requested.

Emilia reluctantly left.

"Subaru, what did you want to tell Betty, I suppose?"

"Beatrice…. for the last two weeks, I…."

Beatrice was completely focussed on Subaru. She wanted to know where he had been going.

"I'm in love with Priscilla. I've been sleeping with her for the past two weeks."