[AN: Taking pacing slow but the payoff will be worth it :) ]

The morning sun was rising, casting a warm glow over the landscape. Subaru rubbed his eyes, trying to shake off the grogginess of sleep as the dragon carriage approached Roswaal's mansion. He looked over to Emilia, who was still fast asleep, her gentle breathing filling the carriage.

Ram's voice was soft, but her words conveyed authority. Subaru couldn't help but feel a sense of respect for her. As she spoke, she turned her head back to make eye contact with Subaru, her purple eyes gazing into his own.

"We are almost there," she said. "Roswaal will not be returning for a day, so you may wait in a guest room until he arrives to ask if you can join Emilia."

Subaru nodded, grateful for Ram's guidance. He wondered about her role at the mansion. Was she a servant like the one who greeted him at the gates? Or was she something else?

I have sat in a guest room bored out of my mind? I shouldn't try to convenience someone I can help in politics if I cannot write or read the language in this Kingdom. I should try to do the minimum to let me stay instead of not bring too much attention to myself. I need to learn more about this world and history.

As they got closer to the mansion, the size of the place came into full view, and its grandeur once again struck Subaru. The tall towers and turrets seemed to reach toward the sky, and the walls were adorned with intricate carvings and paintings.

Well, this place is giant. How rich is this Roswaal person? Money usually corrupts, so I should be cautious around him when we meet.

Subaru felt excitement and nerves as the carriage pulled up to the mansion. This was a new life for Subaru, and he wasn't quite sure what to expect. But Subaru was both curious and ready for any new challenges that may be ahead. These are the challenges that Subaru craved and never had in his old life.

As Subaru stepped out of the carriage, he noticed a blue-haired maid standing at the mansion's front entrance. She looked similar to Ram, with the same quiet grace and poise. She was waiting for Emilia, and Subaru couldn't help but wonder if she was another of Roswaal's servants.

Subaru poked Emilia, trying to rouse her from her slumber. "Emilia, we're here," he said softly.

Emilia slowly woke up, looking a little sluggish at first. But she quickly regained her composure, looking slightly embarrassed. Subaru gave a slight laugh at her sleepy state, feeling a sense of fondness for the young half-elf.

"I'm awake, I'm awake," Emilia said, yawning. She rubbed her eyes and looked around, taking in the grandeur of the mansion. "Subaru, what do you think?" she said, referring to the estate.

Well, honestly, it's too big. I hope this Roswaal guy isn't like a typically rich, corrupt man. That would be annoying, and I'd most likely get kicked out when he arrived. I need to learn how to read and write soon.

Subaru returned Emilia's excitement, "Yeah, it's massive. Never been to a mansion this size before."

Emilia, Ram, and Subaru approached Rem, who was waiting.

Ram stepped forward, bowing respectfully to Rem. "Good morning, Rem," she said. "I trust you had a good night's rest?"

"Good morning, Ram," Rem replied, bowing in return. "I did, thank you. And may I say, it's a pleasure to meet you." She turned to Subaru, giving him a warm smile.

Something feels about her. She is not necessarily hostile. She just seems annoyed about something. I'm unsure what, but I don't think it directly relates to me. Seriously though, two twin maids look identical, the only difference being blue and pink hair. This world is seriously starting to feel like some anime or video game.

Subaru returned Rem's smile and asked, "Thank you for allowing me to stay here."

Rem simply nodded before beginning to guide the group back inside the mansion. Subaru started to wonder if this Roswaal person was some noble of Luginca. Subaru was both skeptical, and a little amazed as the interior of this mansion was even nicer than the exterior.

Emilia waved Subaru goodbye as she had to study for the Royal Selection, and Rem showed Subaru to his guest room. Decorations, high-quality furniture, everything screamed expensive. Subaru was surprised that even a guest room they'd give a total stranger was charming.

Subaru looked at Rem as she appeared to be leaving, "Wait, Rem, could you remind me when Roswaal will be returning?"

Rem looked at him with a bit of confusion, considering his lack of proper etiquette but responded, "Yes, Lord Roswaal will be returning tomorrow morning."

Subaru smiled, "Thanks, Rem appreciate it."

This is getting boring. Not to mention I still need to do things, Emilia is studying, but there's nothing in here for me to study with. Perhaps if I had a single book from this world, I could figure out how to read and write pretty quickly, but there are no books here. It's strange how similar the writing is to Japanese paper.

A few hours passed by Subaru was too bored to lay in a room any longer. Subaru decided to do a self-tour of the mansion. Subaru opened a door that he thought was a bathroom and saw what appeared to be some sort of secret passage or room. He slowly made his way around, both in awe and worried at the mansion's many expensive paintings and other decorations.

Subaru stared at a petite figure with delicate features and a youthful appearance. Despite her small stature, she exudes a powerful presence, commanding attention with her confident and regal demeanor.

Her hair is a vibrant shade of golden blond, styled in a bob that falls just above her shoulders. Her eyes are a deep emerald green, framed by long lashes and set against her fair skin. Her eyes are piercing, seeming to hold endless knowledge and wisdom.

Her outfit is equally striking, consisting of a flowing dress in a pale lilac hue. The dress is adorned with intricate lace and beading and cinches at the waist before falling into delicate pleats. She wears a pair of gloves that reach up to her elbows, and a matching choker adorns her neck.

It would be foolish to think this girl matches her appearance in age. The room seems like some of the libraries. This is perfect. That is precisely what I was looking for. However, the golden-haired girl is giving me a weird look.

Subaru decided to speak first, "Sorry if I disturbed you. My name is Subaru, and I'm waiting for Roswaal to arrive so I can try to convenience him to let me stay here. I was looking for some books to learn how to write and read before he arrived."

The golden-haired girl looked at him confused before responding, "How do you intend to learn to read and write with books if you do not know how to already?"

What do I say? That the language is similar to Japanese. I know four languages, so picking a Japanese copy wouldn't be hard. Now that I think about I don't think anyone has understood what I meant by not being from this world. I wonder if it's better to keep it a secret or not...

Subaru sighed, "I know how to read and write. Just not the language here; however, it's very similar to the one I know. If you would be willing to let me read a book, I'm sure I could figure it out. I rather not bother you, but my room had nothing, and I doubt Roswaal will think much of me if I'm not even literate."

This girl looks strange. She has the same dull expression I used to have in my old world. But she also seems like she desires or craves something... I wonder who or what that may be.

The golden-haired girl looked at Subaru with an expression of curiosity as if she was examining him. Her eyes were piercing, and Subaru felt like she could see straight through him.

After a moment, she spoke, her voice clear and confident. "My name is Beatrice," she said. You can read some books. Betty will be pretty busy, so do not bother me."

Subaru nodded, feeling slightly intimidated by Beatrice's firm and unwavering demeanor. He couldn't help but wonder who she was and her role in the mansion.

Beatrice turned and walked to one of the many bookshelves filling the giant library. She scanned the shelves momentarily before selecting a book and handing it to Subaru.

"Here," she said, "This should keep you occupied for a while."

"Thank you, I appreciate it," Subaru said with a smile.

Okay time to figure this out. It looks relatively similar to Japanese, I can already understand some words, so I'll continue to read until I figure out the rest. This is almost like a puzzle. However, I should also try to ask Beatrice some things. I would guess her physical appearance is the opposite of her age. She could help learn more about this world.

About an hour goes by, and Subaru almost completely understands the new language he is reading. Now Subaru only needed to practice writing, and he would be ready to meet Roswaal.

I could leave now, but I don't want to pass up an opportunity like this. If she does know, I need it. So far, I know barely anything about this world. Depending on how she responds to my questions, I'll tell her I'm from earth... that is, if she believes me. If she does know, I need it.

Subaru returned the book he was reading to the shelf he took it from and then redirected his gaze towards Beatrice, "You remind me of myself, Beatrice."

Beatrice turned her head up to make eye contact with Subaru. Beatrice only could think about how ignorant this boy was.

"How do I remind you of yourself, human?" Beatrice said with a bit of anger in her tone.

So she isn't human. That makes sense. Perhaps a spirit like that dumb flying cat. However, Beatrice seems much more intelligent and accessible to talk to than Puck...

"You seem bored. I was bored with everything. Days, months, and years go by, and nothing of interest happens. I am speaking about myself, but you may be similar." Subaru said with a curious tone to allow himself a backdoor if he was utterly wrong.

Not only that, but she has the eyes I had. The eyes that seek the end. But hers seems more emotionally based than logical. I can only wonder what could've driven her to that state.

Beatrice begins getting angry at Subaru's words. She resonated with them, but the idea this boy would know what she had gone through was upsetting and annoying.

"I have been alive for four hundred years. What do you know about boredom when you are a young human boy." Beatrice responded with a bit less anger and more sadness in her tone.

Should I tell her? Honestly, it most likely wouldn't be a good idea, but the information is crucial. If she has been alive for that long, she must know far more than me or any other human. Getting her to respect me somehow would be very helpful in both the short term and the long term.

Subaru stared at Beatrice's star-like eyes, "Your right. I wouldn't know a single thing about living that long... I did not mean to compare our situations; I simply wanted to find a way to connect with you. I'm new to this world and, at the moment, only have Emilia. If I never met her in the Capital, I'd be sleeping on the streets or worse."

Beatrice begins to think about the term 'new to this world' that Subaru said. She wondered if that meant Subaru was from beyond the great waterfall or if he may be lying.

"You said your not from this world? Do you mean that? Or are you lying to Betty?"

Odd. If someone on earth said they were not from earth, anyone would think they were crazy, yet this spirit that's centuries old almost asked it like it was possible or has happened before. That adds an entirely new element to this... if others from Japan are also here, then I have no way to explain anything happening. It is more likely this reality is a fabrication at this point...

"Beatrice... do you mean that others have come from my world to this world?" Subaru asked, his tone filled with uncertainty and confusion. His mind struggled to grasp the concept and was desperate for answers.

Beatrice looked at him again, her piercing green eyes seeming to peer into his very soul. Subaru felt a sense of unease as if she could see right through him. He needed to know the truth and hoped that Beatrice could provide him with the answers he sought.

"Yes, there are," Beatrice said, her voice calm and collected. "People refer to them as 'those beyond the great waterfall.' Many claims to have come from beyond the great waterfall, but since there's no way to prove it, it's hard for people to believe those who make such claims."

What? None of this makes sense at all. At first, I could explain it with some half-baked ideas like reincarnation or alternative universes but others from earth? How is that even possible? The likelihood of this all being a simulation or false reality is increasing. Why? Why give me hope to live a new life if it's all fake...

Relax. I still don't know anything yet, and I doubt I could ever figure it out unless I killed myself. The worse scenario is I form bonds with others and then lose them. I don't care if I die, but if this world makes me responsible for others' deaths... just like the last one.

"Subaru?" Beatrice asked, noticing a change in his demeanor. She saw that his face was turning pale, and she sensed something was wrong.

"Beatrice, is any of this real?" Subaru asked, his voice filled with desperation and uncertainty. He felt he was losing his grip on reality, and he was desperate for an answer, even though he knew he might not get one.

"What do you mean, is any of this real?" Beatrice responded, her voice calm and collected. She looked at Subaru with curiosity and concern as if trying to understand what was going through his mind.

It's pointless to ask anyone here. I just don't get it. Maybe if I was less logical, I could accept whatever is happening, but my brain is in conflict. I was over it before, but now, learning this... it just doesn't make sense. But... now I can't die. I lost that chance when I promised Emilia I'd help her win the Royal Selection. Whenever I die, if this world turns out to be fake, I guess the joke is on me...

"Sorry, Beatrice, I'll stop bothering you," Subaru said, walking away. He felt ashamed for having imposed on her time and didn't want to cause her any more trouble.

Beatrice watched him go, her thoughts racing. She couldn't shake the image of the look on his face before he had left, a look of desperation and hopelessness. It reminded her of the beginning she had made when she first came to this place and realized that her life would end.

She couldn't let that happen to Subaru. She didn't want him to do something to himself. She had to act, and she had to act fast.

"Subaru, wait!" she called out, her voice ringing through the library.

Subaru turned around, a look of surprise on his face. "Yes, Beatrice?" he asked.

Beatrice hesitated for a moment, unsure of what to say. She didn't want to say the wrong thing and risk tormenting the boy, but she didn't want to do anything and see him dead due to her inaction.

"Are you alright, Subaru?" Beatrice asked, not sure what else to say.

Did she read my intent like Puck or something? But even then, it wouldn't matter. I can't die now; I've made too many commitments. I won't repeat the same mistake I made in my old life of giving up so quickly. Whether this is real or not, I don't care anymore. The concept can haunt me every passing second, but I won't take the easy way out again.

"I'm fine," Subaru said, his voice confident as he continued walking towards the library's exit. He tried to put on a brave face, but Beatrice could see right through him. She could see the pain and confusion in his eyes and knew he was unacceptable.

Beatrice sighed, feeling a sense of sadness wash over her. She hated to admit it, but she could see that Subaru and herself shared more in common than she had initially thought. They were both lost souls, searching for meaning and purpose in a world with none.

She watched as Subaru walked out of the library, and she couldn't help but worry for him. She hoped he meant what he said and was truly fine. But she couldn't shake the feeling that he was hiding something from her and that he needed help.

What should I do now? I know how to read and write, but I should wait until tomorrow to do anything. I'll just lay in bed until sunset and sleep and see what the next day brings.


Subaru woke up to the sound of footsteps and the rustling of fabric. He rubbed his eyes, trying to shake off the grogginess of sleep. He sat up in bed and saw the two maids, Rem and Ram, standing at the foot of his bed. They were both dressed in their traditional maid outfits and looked at him expectantly.

"Breakfast is ready. Lord Roswaal has returned and will be expecting you," Rem said, her voice soft and gentle.

Subaru yawned, feeling a sense of nervous excitement wash over him. He was eager to see how his encounter with Roswaal would go and determined to make a good impression.

"Alright, I'll be out there in a few minutes," he said, getting out of bed and stretching.

Rem handed him a neatly folded pile of clothing. It was a simple sky-blue coat and black pants with accents that complemented the skin. The fabric was soft and luxurious, and Subaru could tell it was an expensive and well-made outfit.

"Rem, is this for me?" Subaru asked, surprised to be given what appeared to be such friendly and expensive clothing.

Rem nodded, a small smile playing at the corners of her mouth. "Roswaal had me make it for you. I hope it fits well.."

Subaru nodded, a smile of gratitude spreading across his face. "Thank you, Rem. Blue and black are my two favorite colors, and I appreciate you making this for me." He ran his hands over the fabric, feeling the softness and luxury of the material. He couldn't believe that someone would go to the trouble of making such a nice outfit for him, and he felt a sense of warmth in his chest.

Rem felt a little awkward and was not sure how to respond. Ram simply watched, her expression unreadable. It was rare for her to have nothing to mock, and Rem could see that she was a little taken aback by Subaru's gratitude.

Rem cleared her throat, bowing slightly. "You're welcome, Subaru. I'm glad you like it." She turned to leave the room, motioning for Ram to follow her.

Now the game begins. I spent the remainder of last night thinking of the best approach to this situation and came to a rather exciting idea. However, depending on the circumstances, I'll change to option B, but I think this will work out fine. I've yet to try at anything so far, so this will be intense and exciting.

Subaru quickly changed into the outfit, feeling a sense of pride as he looked at himself in the mirror. He was ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead and determined to make the most of this opportunity.

Subaru walked down the mansion, navigating himself to the dining area where he saw Ram, Rem, Emilia, Puck, Beatrice, and a man dressed similarly to a clown, which Subaru assumed was Roswaal.

Alright, let's get this show on the road. Judging from his appearance, I don't think he fits the picture of a corrupt noble or something similar. However, his smile seems off. It's not fake but rather blatantly suspicious. The main goal of this entire conversation will be to be allowed to stay here with Emilia and, second, to figure out Roswaal's eye-accessing cues. That is, if they work the same here as they do on earth. It's also fascinating Beatrice is here. I assumed her role was to guard that library.

Subaru sat down next to Emilia and noticed the bowl before him. He was hungry, so he ate before discussing with Roswaal. The food was terrific, and Subaru was impressed by the taste. He was used to his mother's cooking, but this food would take a close second in flavor.

"May I ask who prepared this meal?" Subaru asked, scanning the room and assuming it was one of the two maids.

"Rem did," Ram responded, her voice calm and collected.

Subaru nodded, "It's delicious. I have to compliment Rem on her cooking skills."

Ram nodded in response, "She takes great pride in her cooking. She always wants to ensure everyone is well-fed and satisfied with their meals."

Subaru smiled, "It shows. The food is fantastic. I can't wait to try more of her cooking."

Perhaps I'm not taking this situation seriously enough, but then again, that's precisely the point I'm trying to accomplish. So Rem is a great cook. I hope Emilia is a good cook too.

Rem returned a genuine smile before returning to her regular blank face. Subaru didn't understand why she acted like that, but he didn't have the time, nor was it the right occasion to ask.

Subaru finished his bowl, noticing the tension growing ever so slightly. Subaru could tell Emilia was nervous and didn't want him to leave, bringing him comfort and reassurance as his plan for this encounter was linked to Emilia.

Roswaal begins, ready to speak to this boy Emilia brought to the mansion. His Tome of Wisdom never mentioned anything about this boy, so he was intrigued and suspicious. If the Tome of Wisdeom does not say a specific person, then they are not needed for the user of the Tome to help them reach their goal. However, Roswaal was open to seeing what this boy had to say.

"Soooo~ I heard that you met Emilia at the Capitalll~" Roswaal said with a weird tone and elongated words throughout his sentence.

Well, he's weird. But that's usually a good thing.

Subaru nodded, "Yes, my name is Subaru, and I'm both grateful and honored to meet you, Lord Roswaal."

Judging by his attitude in general, clothing, and the look he gave me when I said that he most likely does not care for formalities.

"Youuu~ can you just call me Roswall Subaruuu~ no need for formalities, also is Subaru your full name?" Roswaal said, sipping a cup of tea.

Either my luck is insane, or some god is playing with me. I thought I'd have to bring that up, but it looks like he did that for me.

Subaru nodded in confirmation, "Yes, just Subaru... now that I think about it, I don't know Emilia's full name."

Emilia turned her head, being reasonably close to Subaru due to the seating.

"My name is Emilia... just Emilia," Emilia said with a slight blush from embarrassment.

If she gets a blush from that, she has no idea what is coming. I hope she will forgive me, but this is necessary to ensure my goals are met.

"Well, Emilia, that's a big problem. First, when we get married, what last name will we have? What last name will we give our kids? I'm terrible at picking names, so that's your job." Subaru said with a hint of laughter but also confidence.

While Subaru appeared to be teasing Emilia, the main goal was observing Roswaal and figuring out his eye-accessing cues. Emilia turned into a face resembling a tomato after Subaru's comment while the rest of the room, excluding Roswaal, was simply staring at Subaru in either shock, worry, or disappointment.

Judging from the reactions, everything is going how I wanted it to.

Emilia coughed, "Subaru? What are you-u talking about?"

Subaru changed his attitude to more of a calm, serious tone, "If we have a boy, we will name him Subaru Jr, alright?"

Never outshine the master. This makes me seem more like either an idiot or very infatuated with Emilia, but Roswaal's reactions are the same. I've only linked two eye-accessing cues from him. I have four more to go, and that's assuming that my first glance's we're correct.

Emilia couldn't contain herself, "Subaru... are you sure this is the best thing to discuss when trying to stay here?"

Yes, it is Emilia. Regardless of how this exchange went, I already had a plan to stay here that involved Beatrice, who is also here, which makes things easier. However, this is going reasonably well now. I need to wait for a response from Roswaal.

"Youuu~ are you quite fascinating, Subaru. Not only do you befriend Emiliaa~ in the Capital, you then come hereee~ what is your goal?" Roswaal asked with the same tone as he spoke previously.

Subaru took seconds to respond, "Simple. I will make Emilia King of Lugnica."

Emilia stared at Subaru with so many emotions going through her brain that she felt like she was about to pass out. Roswaal simply seems intrigued but also skeptical of Subaru's confidence.

"Youuu~ say that with such confidenceee~ do you have anything to back up your claimmm~?" Roswaal asked, making eye contact with Subaru.

Now it's time.

"I can't do that. But what I can do is simple, if I fail, you can either make me your slave or kill me. As far as I'm aware, you are the sponsor for Emilia, so I assume you want her to win. I will assist her in that, and to prove that to you, time must pass for me to show you." Subaru responded with confidence in his words. His posture matched, and his tone matched. He spoke as if he was confident in what he said.

Emilia turned around to Subaru, "What? Why would you even do that? Putting the rest of your life on the line for someone you just met to win the Royal Selection? Subaru, I can't let you do that."

"Emilia, I wouldn't bet my life on something I wasn't certain of," Subaru responded calmly. "Not to mention, you downplay your role. Even though we only met a day or two ago, you helped me find a place to stay and gave me a purpose. I have nothing to lose, anyway."

Beatrice heard the last part of Subaru's statement the most out of everyone in the group. She knew what he meant by that. He didn't care if he died because he had nothing in this world. Only Beatrice knew at this point of Subaru's true origins.

"I don't get you," Emilia said, lightly pushing Subaru. "Why do this for me?"

"Right, right, why do this for you?" Subaru replied. "Did you think I was joking about our future together?"

Roswaal was beyond surprised by what he had just witnessed. He didn't expect Subaru to act the way he did, but he also found it refreshing. The mansion was always dull, and having someone for Emilia to talk to besides Puck would only strengthen her chances of winning the Royal Selection, even if Subaru was lying about his abilities.

A floating cat appeared from Emilia's crystal. "What are you saying to my daughter, Subaru?" Puck asked, his voice filled with suspicion.

Puck began forming magic icicles, directing them towards Subaru, but Subaru didn't show any sign of fear or even a single drop of sweat at the attack that could quickly kill him.

"Puck, what are you doing?" Emilia asked, annoyed by Puck's aggression.

Beatrice watched the scene unfold before her, her mind racing as she tried to understand what was happening. She felt terrible, as if she was a bystander to a tragedy unfolding before her eyes. She didn't know what to do, but she couldn't help but feel she should do something to stop it.

"Bubby, stop!" she demanded, her voice carrying a note of authority.

Emilia and Puck were in the middle of an argument, with Emilia questioning why Puck was attacking the first person that seemed to like her for who she was. Puck responded that he only wanted the best for Emilia, but Subaru laughed at the exchange.

"I believe we had this debate before, and from what I remember, you had no response," Subaru said with a smirk. "Do you want me to repeat myself, or do you remember? Of course, you could kill me and solve the issue that way."

Roswaal was beaming with intrigue as he watched Subaru, his eyes shining with a mixture of excitement and uncertainty. He was fascinated by the boy's confidence and determination, and he couldn't help but wonder what other surprises he might have. He wasn't sure what role Subaru might play in the future of obtaining his goal, but he knew that he was helpful at the very least.

"Subaruuu~ I will appoint you as both knight and adviser for Emiliaaa~ does that sound good?" Roswaal asked with a commanding tone, giving a glare to Puck.

Subaru nodded in agreement, "Yes, that works great, but I have one condition you must swear on your life to fulfill if Emilia becomes the King."

Roswaal's expression changed as he heard Subaru's demand. He began to question whether he had made the right decision in appointing Subaru and what this request might entail. He looked down several times at his Tome of Wisdom, hoping to find guidance, but nothing was revealed.

"Whatt~ is your requesttt~?" Roswaal asked, his cheerful tone replaced with a hint of caution.

"Simple," Subaru replied, his tone dead serious. "You pay for the wedding expenses once she wins. That's all."

Subaru's request dumbfounded Roswaal. He couldn't decide if Subaru was a complete idiot or a genius, but the latter seemed too far-fetched even for Roswaal. Nevertheless, he couldn't deny the boy's confidence and determination.

"Consider your wishhhh~ granted," Roswaal said with a tone of confusion hidden behind his smile. "That will be an easy task for me to fulfilll~."

Despite his reservations, Roswaal couldn't help but be intrigued by Subaru's boldness. He couldn't wait to see what other surprises the boy might have, and he was eager to see how their relationship would develop. This went... more than well.

Easier than I thought it would be. All six of Roswaal's eye access cues have been confirmed. The top right is imagined memory, the request is a good memory, and the bottom right is internal thinking. The top left is constructing images you've never seen, the left is sounds, and the bottom left is feelings or sensations. Now I can read Roswaal just by making eye contact.

AN: [

Okay so anyone wondering what the fuck eye-accessing cues are it's basically the direction people's eyes look when they're thinking.

Subaru's goal this entire chapter was to figure out Roswaals eye-accessing cues and now he does. Basically, with Roswaal he'd have the Divine protection of empathy, assuming he can make eye contact with Roswaal

Since I'm trying to make this Subaru smart I got to put in effort to get him what he needs so yeah.

Next chapter kill off Puck? Maybe.

]