Chapter 4
Emilia was leaning over her desk, resting her head on the wood in exhaustion.
She had been working hard all day and hadn't taken the time to give her mind some rest.
The past three days had been exhausting, and she was finally happy to get some time to have some time to rest at the end of a long day.
The desk had papers piled up to her right and plates on her left, having eaten in her room.
Emilia let out a melancholy sigh.
It had only been three days since Subaru had left for Crusch's estate. But with all the work piling up, it felt like he'd been gone for much longer.
Emilia felt a sense of discomfort tugging at her heart. She couldn't understand why she was feeling this way, but she knew it had something to do with Subaru.
His absence hurt her and made her feel lonely. But that wasn't it. She knew where he was, and knew who he was with.
And yes, she felt a little uncomfortable about him being with Rem for some reason, but that wasn't what was causing the discomfort in her heart.
Emilia was snapped out of her thoughts by a knock on the door.
Emilia: "Who is it?"
?: "Tea Emilia-sama?"
Emilia: "Come in."
The door opened and in came Frederica, carrying a tray with a teapot and a teacup.
She walked up to the table and placed the tray on the table.
Frederica saw the stack of plates on the table from all the times Emilia had eaten in her room.
Frederica: "Are you alright Emilia-sama?"
Emilia yawned, rubbing her eyes.
Emilia: "It's nothing, Ram. It's just been a reeeeally long day."
Frederica: "Emilia-sama. Might I suggest you get some rest? You've had rather a full day of work. Anymore beyond this point could."
Emilia took a sip from the tea, letting out a depressive sigh.
Frederica noticed this.
Frederica: "You're bothered by Subaru-sama not being here aren't you?"
Emilia flinched slightly.
Emilia: "Is it that obvious?"
Frederica bowed her head
Frederica: "I apologise if I spoke out of turn Emilia-sama."
Emilia: "No it's fine. Feel free to speak your mind."
Frederica stood upright and composed herself.
Frederica: "Emilia-sama. I'm sure you're feeling unhappy about Subaru-sama's absence. But I do not believe he would wish for you to work yourself to exhaustion."
Emilia looked up from her tea at the beast maid.
Frederica: "He would rather you try to take care of yourself and give yourself some time to rest."
Emilia started to have some new thoughts pop up her head.
Subaru wouldn't want her to wallow in her own misery just because he was absent.
He'd rather she try her best to succeed. Work with everything she had.
But she was exhausted from a long day of work. And she had even more work and meetings with the Lords of Costuul tomorrow.
Emilia knew now that if she didn't rest, she wouldn't be able to face tomorrow full of energy.
Emilia finished off her tea and placed the teacup back onto the tray.
Emilia: "Frederica-san. Thank you. I appreciate your help.
Frederica: "Of course Emilia-san. I'm happy to offer my assistance."
Emilia stood up and picked up the plates on her table. Frederica held her hands up.
Frederica: "Oh no Emilia-sama, please allow me to take those for you."
Emilia: "Oh, I was planning to go to bed in a bit and I just wanted to clean up a bit."
Frederica smiled reassuringly.
Frederica: "It's alright. I was planning to take the plates back to the kitchen on my way back. If you wish to go to bed, please allow me to assist you in making this less stressful for you."
Emilia let out a defeated sigh. She handed the dirty plates over to Frederica who took the plates and the tea tray from her room.
Emilia cleared her desk and organized her various papers, deeds and contracts.
She looked out of her window into the night sky.
She still felt lonely with her knight being away from her. But thanks to Frederica's words, she felt less lonely.
However, that strange feeling of discomfort she had been feeling before still persisted.
But she put it aside. She was exhausted and needed rest.
With that, Emilia got into her nightwear and went to bed.
Subaru: "Hey look we're almost there! Man, it's been a long time since I've seen this place."
The Emilia Camp members had finally arrived at Crusch's estate and could see the mansion in the distance.
When the company had prepared to set off in the morning, Rem hadn't slept well and had bags under her eyes.
Subaru had offered to drive the rest of the journey while she rested.
The three lolis had bickered, saying they didn't want to sit inside the carriage and wanted to sit with Subaru in the driver's seat.
Ultimately, Meili sat in the carriage with Rem and took care of Shaula, while Subaru had to deal with a great spirit and a gluttonous maid up in the driver's seat.
Both girls were seated on his lap. Beatrice on his right, Spica on his left, with his arms wrapped around them both as he held the reins and steered the carriage.
Beatrice: "Finally. It feels like we've been travelling for ages I suppose."
Spica: "Ahahaha!"
Spica threw her arms up in the air.
Beatrice: "Knock it off in fact! You almost hit me in the face I suppose!"
Subaru petted the girls on his lap on their heads.
Subaru: "Come on Beako! Spica-chan's excited we're finally here! Try to act like you're happy"
Spica then wrapped her arms around Beatrice, hugging her. The spirit simply pouted, looking away from her.
Subaru laughed at the two and their dynamic.
The window to the carriage opened and a blue-haired oni was looking through it.
Rem: "It's very loud out here."
Subaru turned around and smiled.
Subaru: "Hey Rem. Did you sleep well?"
Rem: "I slept about as well as you would on the chair of a carriage. It was adequate at best."
Subaru: "Don't worry, we're almost there anyway. So you should be able to get a good rest once we arrive."
Spica then climbed off Subaru's lap to see Rem, smiling at her, showing off her spiky teeth.
Rem smiled and patted Spica on the head, making Spica smile.
Meili: "Hey come on Rem nee-san! I wanna talk to onii-san no~w!"
Rem: "Alright. Just try to keep it down a bit."
Meili: "Oka~y!"
Rem went back to get some sleep while Meili went to talk to Subaru.
Or at least she tried.
But she was too short to reach the window.
Meili: "Hey Rem nee-san. Could you give me a boo~st?"
Meili turned to the blue-haired maid for assistance.
But she was already fast asleep, lightly snoring.
Meili pouted in annoyance.
Subaru: "Hey Meili."
The blue-haired assassin turned to see the nasty-eyed knight.
Subaru: "We're almost there so just hang on a little bit longer."
Meili giggled.
Meili: "Oka~y! I guess I can wait a little longer before I see you onii-san!"
Meili closed the window and Subaru went back to focusing on the road.
Spica then went to try and sit back down on the left side of Subaru's lap.
But unfortunately for her, the spirit had moved to the centre and claimed the entire seat for herself.
Spica pouted. Beatrice simply smiled smugly
Beatrice: "Sorry brat. It's Betty's seat now. Guess you shouldn't have moved if you liked it so much."
Spica: "AAaaaaahh!"
Spica threw a tantrum, waving her arms in the air.
She then tried to push the smug spirit off of the knight's lap.
But Beatrice wasn't going down without a fight.
The great spirit and the ex-archbishop of gluttony bickered.
Subaru sighed. Then started laughing, hugging both of the pouting lolis.
Subaru then looked up.
As the company drew closer to the mansion, Subaru saw a figure standing at the gate's entrance. As they drew closer, he noticed the figure.
An old man, with grey hair tied into a ponytail and a beard, wearing a butler's uniform.