Chapter 13

Subaru was walking into the mansion after having a difficult training session. He had managed to shave 5 seconds off his previous record on his obstacle course. And he was now going in for a well-deserved bath. When he came upon the entrance, he saw a young man, carrying a bag at his side. The mail was here.

The man turned around and saw Subaru with Beatrice walking behind him.

Man: "Oh. Hello, Natsuki-sama. These are the letters addressed to the residents in this manor."

The man pulled out about 6 or 7 letters and then handed them to Subaru who took them from him.

Subaru: "Thanks for the delivery."

Man: "Of course I'll be on my way now."

With that, the man went on his way to his other deliveries while Subaru walked in, flipping between the letters.

One was addressed to Otto.

One to Garfiel. Probably from Mimi

One to Roswaal.

One to Emilia.

One to Petra.

And...

After flipping through the letters, he saw one with his name and address on it. There was a stamp and a seal on it.

Subaru sighed, knowing exactly what it was

He took it out and then opened the letter and saw what it said.

"Dear Natsuki Subaru,"

"I wish to assist your lady Emilia-sama in her quest for the throne"

Subaru sighed, having seen the same thing many, many times.

Beatrice: "What does it say I suppose?"

Subaru: "Another proposal. Another Lord trying to marry his daughter off to me."

Beatrice sighed

Beatrice: "Well, what did you expect? With your reputation, you're going to get a lot of attention."

Subaru skimmed through the letter, not bothering to read any of the other writing and skipping to the end.

"And I wish for you to meet my daughter Anne and discuss a union by marriage."

"Signed"

"Lord William Brandt"

Subaru: "Ugh, god. These lords are all the same, trying to coax me by offering support in Emilia's campaign."

Beatrice: "So, are you just going to ignore it like the others I suppose?"

Upon hearing Beatrice's words, Subaru had some conflicting thoughts popping into his head. Normally in the past he would have completely ignored all the proposals he'd get. But he remembered, what Wilhelm had told him when he was at the Crusch manor.

Wilhelm's advice: Flashback to the Karsten estate

Subaru was lying on the grass in the front yard. He was doing the same thing that he had done when he had first come here, constantly swinging a wooden sword at Wilhelm out of frustration.

Of course the outcome was the same: every time he tried to attack, Wilhelm knocked him down.

Subaru laid on the ground, out of breath and defeated. He reached up and wiped his eyes with his sleeve. Tears were streaming down his face.

Wilhelm noticed this and felt a sense of guilt. Perhaps he hit him a little too hard?

Wilhelm then saw although Subaru was exhausted, he didn't seem to have any serious wounds.

No. Something else was bothering him.

Subaru started to get up, directing his sword at Wilhelm.

Wilhelm: "Perhaps we should stop Subaru-dono. You're clearly exhau-"

Subaru: "No! I can keep going!"

Subaru then charged at Wilhelm. Only to get knocked down again.

Wilhelm then offered a hand to help Subaru up. Subaru swallowed his pride and took Wilhelm's hand and Wilhelm pulled him up to his feet. Subaru had his eyes downcast.

Wilhelm: "Come and sit. I'll ask Felix to bring some tea."

The scene changed to Subaru and Wilhelm sitting at the table outside with tea and biscuits.

Subaru was avoiding Wilhelm's gaze, staring intensely at the light brown liquid in his teacup as the steam spiralled upwards.

He then put the teacup on the table.

Subaru: "I'm not thirsty. Or hungry."

Wilhelm narrowed his eyes.

Wilhelm: "Subaru-dono. It's clear that something is bothering you."

Subaru: "I'm fine. Don't worry about it"

Subaru mumbled

Wilhelm still pressed on

Wilhelm: "It's obvious from your demeanour that you're not. I'm willing you offer some words if you're willing to tell me what's bothering you. If you don't wish to speak now, then just take your time."

Subaru looked up at Wilhelm. He sighed and closed his eyes. He took a long time to think about what was on his mind. He had no idea how to structure what he wanted to say, so he just said what it was that was bothering him.

Subaru: "You remember my friends Otto-san and Garfiel?"

Wilhelm: "The merchant with the green tunic and the blonde-haired Demi-human from Pristella correct?"

Subaru nodded. He then continued.

Subaru: "Well, Otto and Frederica-san, Garfiel's older sister and Roswaal's head maid got into a relationship a few months ago and I'd say they've been together about six months now. And Garfiel has also gotten together with Mimi Pearlbaton, one of Anastasia-san's vice captains."

Subaru gritted his teeth and clenched his fist subconsciously. Wilhelm noticed this and gave a serious look at Subaru.

Wilhelm: "So I take it that it bothers you that your friends and these women are together?"

Subaru looked up and saw Wilhelm looking at him seriously and realised what Wilhelm might be thinking and instantly tried to dispel any negative thoughts he might have.

Subaru: "Oh, no! No, no it's not like at all Wilhelm-san. I'm truly happy for both of them, and I honestly think they're cute together."

Wilhelm: "I see. So what is it about Otto-san and Garfiel's and relationships that bothers you so much?"

Subaru felt uncomfortable upon being asked that question. But he still chose to speak with Wilhelm.

Subaru: "I...they..."

Subaru remembered the times he saw Otto and Frederica going out on dates together, seeing them kissing in the hallway, and he even got lap pillows from Frederica. And seeing Garfiel playfully tease him for dating his sister and pretend threatening him not to hurt her. Overall, seeing how happy those two were together.

Same with Garfiel. Seeing him playing tag with Mimi. It was weird but Mimi was the energetic type so she clearly enjoyed games like that. But he'd see the two laughing, kissing, sitting outside with Garfiel hugging Mimi while she was on his lap, enjoying each other's company with red cheeks.

Subaru remembered Otto and Garfiel would go on double dates and Frederica and Mimi had a really fun dynamic.

Subaru would always be inside, watching from a distance as his two best friends had love lives. To say it hurt to watch was an understatement.

Wilhelm was about to say something to comfort Subaru, but Subaru raised him hand to stop him before he continued.

Subaru: "I told Emilia that I loved her. She doesn't understand love. So she asked me to give her some time to figure out her feelings, and I did. I said I would wait for her to give me an answer."

Wilhelm: "And how has your relationship with Emilia-sama treating you."

Subaru sighed. Memories of Emilia saying the same thing over and over every time he said he loved her.

"I promise I'll understand love soon"

"I'll give you an answer soon, just wait for me a little longer. I promise"

"I'm reeeeally sorry Subaru. I still don't understand love, so I can't answer that yet. Please just wait for me a little longer Subaru. I promise I'll give you an answer."

Subaru: "I told Emilia I loved her...a year and a half ago."

Wilhelm flinched a little at those words.

Wilhelm: "And there's been no progression in your relationship since then?"

Subaru shook his head.

Subaru: "I promised her I would wait as long it would take for Emilia to understand love and how she feels, and Emilia is really serious and sensitive about promises. After what happened the first time I broke a promise to her, and how upset she got, I just...don't want to do the same thing I did at the start of the Royal Selection."

Subaru remembered when he broke his promise to Emilia and embarrassed both himself and the Emilia Camp and saw how much he had hurt Emilia by breaking his promise. So he had been nervous about doing the same thing to her again. So to avoid that situation, he had given Emilia all the time she wanted to come up with an answer, regardless of how depressed he felt, he just brushed it off and tried to ignore it.

Wilhelm: "If I may Subaru-dono? I'd like to impart some advice?"

Subaru looked up at the old man sitting opposite him.

Wilhelm: "Don't put all your appas in one basket."

Subaru was confused by what he had just said

Wilhelm: "Firstly, you and Emilia-sama aren't in a relationship. It's only natural to be interested in other women. I would think it strange if you weren't."

Subaru was speechless. He wanted to say something to argue back but he couldn't find the words.

Wilhelm leaned back on his seat.

Wilhelm: "Listen carefully Subaru-dono. Let's say that you were going appa picking. You'd obviously need a basket to carry them once you've picked them."

Subaru nodded his head, leaning in, intrigued by Wilhelm's words.

Wilhelm: "But you've picked 100 appas, and the one basket you have only holds 20."

Subaru: "Is that what you mean by not putting all my appas in one basket?"

Wilhelm nodded.

Wilhelm: "Forgive me for being blunt, but that is exactly what you've been doing with Emilia-sama."

Subaru flinched, knowing deep down that Wilhelm's words rang true.

Wilhelm: "You've allowed yourself to be sucked in by your love for Emilia-sama and I can assume you have forbidden yourself from taking interest in other women."

Subaru nodded. He remembered when he had spent time talking with Shaula and felt himself heat up when thinking about her. But every time he did, he always slapped himself and told himself his heart only belonged to Emilia.

Wilhelm nodded and smiled

Wilhelm: "Subaru-dono."

Subaru was snapped out of his thoughts.

Wilhelm: "I admire your loyalty and devotion to Emilia-sama. And while it is important to treat a woman with respect and not as a mere object, just remember, you're a young single man. If you wish to take interest in other women, then you can. And if Emilia-sama takes issue with it, well...that's not your concern."

Wilhelm saw Subaru had an uncertain look on his face.

Wilhelm: "I should perhaps put it into context:"

Wilhelm placed his tea back on the table.

Wilhelm: "I'm not telling you to give up on Emilia-sama. If you wish to pursue a relationship with her, you may do so. But you should also pursue relationships with other women in case you and Emilia-sama ultimately don't become lovers. It's a good way to protect yourself from heartbreak. In this scenario, you're still choosing to love Emilia-sama, but you're also allowing yourself to have a life outside of her."

Subaru was having a lot of words thrown at him. He'd been feeling really miserable these past few months. Emilia taking all the time in the world, Rem's and now Shaula's amnesia had been a source of discomfort for him. But this talk with Wilhelm had really given him some perspective.

Wilhelm: "Trust me Subaru-dono."

Wilhelm placed a hand on Subaru's shoulder and smiled.

Wilhelm: "I'm sure you'll have a beautiful woman on your arm before you know it. Just don't restrict yourself because of one woman."

Back to the present...

Subaru had remembered every word clearly.

He loved Emilia. That was a fact. Undeniable. So much that he would scold himself when he found himself thinking about other girls. But...

Subaru: "On second thoughts Beako, I suppose it wouldn't kill me to meet this woman."

That was a very stupid thing to do. Wilhelm was right. He shouldn't scold himself for thinking about other girls just because he loved Emilia.

Beatrice: "What? You're actually considering marrying one of these girls I suppose?"

Subaru: "No of course not. I'm not going to marry some girl I've never met before. I said I would meet her. See what she's like. Put my appas in multiple baskets."

Beatrice pouted

Beatrice: "That phrase sounds ridiculous in fact! Go and get in the bath already! You smell in fact!"

Beatrice literally was pushing Subaru over to the bathroom. Subaru dropped all the letters in his hand.

Beatrice: "Don't worry about the letters. Betty will deliver them I suppose."

Subaru: "O-okay Beako I'm going! I'm going!"

With that, Subaru went to take a bath.

Beatrice looked down at all the letters that Subaru had dropped, picking them up.

Although Beatrice said harsh words, she was truly happy that Subaru was trying to talk to other people to take his mind off how selfish Emilia was being. So she decided to support her contractor in his romantic endeavours.

Which is why he couldn't smell like sweat when he went to meet a woman.

Shaula: "Lord's daughter? Proposal?"

Shaula had been upstairs, doing her duties as a new maid of Roswaal's manor in one of the corridors near the stairs to the entrance. She was hidden from view so Subaru and Beatrice hadn't seen her. She'd heard their conversation and it had piqued her interest.

For some reason, she felt uncomfortable. But she just decided to ignore it and got back to work.