Chapter 3 is here, sorry for the long wait.
I already have a schedule in mind for the next chapters. Just gonna take a while to get there.
Anyway, enjoy!
Chapter 3 – Getting Along with the Residents
I don't own anything except some stuff
After getting a tour of Roswaal's home from Ram, which is more like a castle than anything, I finally have some time on my own. This means it's time for me to start drawing out blueprints for Emilia's wardrobe! I already have an idea of what she would look best in. But I need to make sure that the design will fit her perfectly.
Sitting on the grass in the garden, I hum as I sketch into a book that was provided to me by Roswaal. I appreciate it a lot, but the fact that I will have to use a quill and ink instead of using pens makes things a bit harder...
"Then again," I paused to admire the outline of a dress. "I'm not one to complain when I'm in such a nice place and situation," I smiled brightly before adding some lace to the design. "A few on the skirt...maybe some flower patterns on the chest...definitely need to add a cut out here," I muttered to myself quietly as I continued working on the design.
"And for the color...it has to be her usual white and purple," I said after a thought. "Her hair and eyes will pop out greatly if it's those two colors." I nodded firmly as I began adding the details. By now, I'd be done drawing something like this within 10 minutes at most, especially since I'm really inspired, but I'm limited in tools so...
"Oh well," I shrug before continuing to draw. "Not like I'm in a hurry anyway." I pause and rub my chin thoughtfully. "Now how am I going to make sure the measurements are correct?"
Snip snip!
Blinking, I turned and saw Rem snipping meticulously on the bushes near the mansion. She seemed to have noticed me staring because she turned her head towards me with a questioning gaze.
"Can I help you, Ken?"
"...measurements!" I jumped up from the ground and ran over to her with excitement. "Rem! Can you help me with taking Emilia's measurements?"
She stared at me silently before giving me a deadpan look. "Sister, it seems that Ken's lusts have taken over his mind." From beside her, Ram followed and gave me the same look. "Rem, I believe that our guest has lost his sanity." Her eyes narrowed as she continuously snipped at the open air.
"N-No wait! That's not what I meant!" I quickly shook my hands frantically, waving them about wildly. "What I meant was that I need to know her measurements so that I can make dresses and clothes that fit her properly," I explained nervously while scratching my cheek. "Besides, I want to get started soon so that I can prove to Roswaal that I'm worthy of being Emilia's tailor."
They both stared at me for a few seconds before Rem nodded. "Very well, Rem shall take Miss Emilia's measurements later. Rem will do it in private so Ken can't watch," she said seriously, making me groan in reply.
"I won't peek, I swear."
Ram sniffs, "You better keep your promise, otherwise Rem and I will punish you severely, hmph!" She snipped the shears threateningly, glaring at me as I gulped anxiously. "Y-Yes, of course. You have my word." I said hesitantly.
"Good," Rem nods slowly. "Now then, if you excuse us, we must continue our chores." They bowed before turning away. As they left, I noticed Rem glancing back once more with an unreadable expression on her face. Usually, I'd be worried...and then I saw her nose wrinkling slightly.
Oh…I stink…When was the last time I had a bath? I don't think I have had one since coming here.
"...looks like I'll need to take a bath later..." I mutter as I watch them leave. "No wonder Rem looked at me weird, I bet I smell like crap right now."
Shaking my head, I returned to drawing my blueprints, humming happily as I sketched out various designs and outfits that could possibly suit Emilia's figure and personality. I wanted to go all out when designing for her, but I also needed to make sure that I didn't forget the other people that I'm supposed to be making clothes for.
With that thought in mind, I focused entirely on the task at hand, ignoring everything else around me.
I'll have to take a bath as soon as I'm done though...
6 hours later
Lying on my bed, I sighed happily as I stretched my arms wide across the mattress. After getting tired of drawing, I decided to just explore the mansion a little bit more. Funnily enough, I ran into Beatrice multiple times from multiple doors. Apparently, the library changes doors every so often.
In any case, after exploring the mansion some more, I finally ended up in the bath house where I scrubbed myself clean for what felt like hours. I think that was the most relaxing bath I've taken in years.
"Damn, this place is really something." I said quietly while staring at the ceiling above me before closing my eyes and focusing on trying to talk with one of my spirits. It only happened once back in the slums when I tried to heal the giant old man named Rom. "So far I have Lamb, Wolf, and Lillia..." I mutter to myself before focusing on reaching out to Lamb.
'Hmm? Ken?' Lamb's gentle voice rang inside my head as I opened my eyes. "Hey Lamb, how're Lillia and Wolf?" I asked her with a soft smile. It's always great to listen to Lamb's voice. It's so soothing.
'...they are fine...Wolf dragged Lillia in to play with him.' I blinked in surprise.
'For what reason did you call for me, Ken?' Lamb asked softly.
"Oh right. Just checking up on you guys..." I paused before asking her a very important question. "And I want to ask if you can help me form a contract with the other spirits."
'...Ken, convincing the other spirits to form a contract with you will be difficult and dangerous. Some may even try to harm you.' She told me seriously. My thoughts went to Cassiopeia and Thresh specifically. One is manipulative and has the power to turn others into stone while the other is capable of trapping the souls of those who fall under his grasp. Both of them will be a real pain in the ass to deal with.
I shook my head firmly. "I understand the risks, but I want to gain the trust and respect of each spirit no matter what," I said determinedly. "If-no, once I form a contract with them, the chances of me surviving in this world will increase..." I pursed my lips as my thoughts went back to when I fought Elsa.
"You already know about my last fight. You lent me your power and Wolf helped me, but it almost wasn't enough. If things had been worse than they were, then I'd probably be dead right now." I let out a deep breath before continuing, "I want to make sure that won't happen again. That's why I need all of your help."
Silence filled my mind, and I began to worry that maybe Lamb rejected the idea completely. But instead of hearing her voice in my head, I felt her presence beside me. I blinked and turned to my side to see her sitting next to me with her back facing me.
"Lamb!" I uttered in surprise before smiling softly. "It's nice to see you again."
"Ken, do you really wish to form a contract with the other spirits? Even if it means putting yourself in danger?" She asked, her voice quiet and hesitant.
"Of course I do," I answered immediately. "This world is dangerous. You saw it when I fought Elsa..." I reached out and held her shoulder, making her look at me. "And you know me, Lamb...I want to make a lot of clothes for children, my friends...for everyone I care about," I smiled gently and cupped her cheek tenderly. "And I want to survive long enough to see everything through until the end."
She stared up into my eyes with her own, her bright red eyes seemingly looking into my soul. "But Ken, there are two spirits that could kill you easil-"
"So you avoid them for now and help me form contracts with the others, it's not like I wanna suicide myself right now." I cut her off with a cheeky smile. "And I'll just have to think of a way to avoid them without making them angry." I rubbed her head affectionately. "Besides, I know enough to not push my luck in certain situations."
A small smile formed on her face, "...you are quite reckless, Ken...but if it is what you want, then I shall help you." She leaned forward and pressed herself against me, causing my eyes to widen slightly. "Wolf and Lillia are still playing hide and seek...it's making me feel a little lonely." She said with a smile as she hugged me tightly.
"Lamb...you know you can visit me anytime, right?" I said with a soft chuckle while hugging her back. She nods against my chest. "Mmm...Ken smells nice..."
"Yeah, well I took a nice long bath earlier." I snickered as I remembered the reason. "I bet I was smelling a bit ripe earlier. Rem, one of the maids, was probably forcing herself to talk to me when I asked a favor from her earlier." I chuckled dryly.
I heard a faint giggle coming from Lamb before she suddenly pulled away. "Ken, please hold out your hand." She requested while holding out her own hand towards me. Nodding, I held out my right palm facing upwards and watched as she placed hers over mine. Her fingers seemed to melt into my skin and slowly traveled down my arm, leaving a mana trail flowing throughout my body.
"Wha...?" I blinked rapidly as I felt magic flow through my arm.
BANG!
"Ken! What's with the surge of ma-" Ram suddenly burst through the door before stopping and staring at us with a shocked expression on her face, her sister trailing behind her reaching for something under her sleeve. But just as quickly as I saw her look of panic, she immediately schooled her features into her usual calm and cool.
"Rem, Rem," she turned to her sister, who had also appeared. "It seems that Ken has managed to sink his claws into an innocent girl," she said in her deadpan tone.
"Sister, sister, Ken has seduced a pure maiden. Surely we must punish him." She replied to Ram with the same monotone voice.
I can only sigh in exasperation. "Don't you two have other things to do besides busting in here and accusing me of indecent activities?" I said with a raised eyebrow.
"Actually, yes. It is time for supper." They both replied at the same time.
"I see..." I pinched my nose before turning to Lamb. "I'll see you later, okay?" I smiled gently and patted her head once more before standing up and walking past the twins.
"Ken," Ram called out to me, making me stop and turn around. "If you really wanted to make love with your spirit, you should have told me so. I would have been happy to provide you with a bed and privacy." She said casually while holding up a key.
"...shut up," I rolled my eyes. "You two are just messing with me again, aren't you?" I asked with narrowed eyes.
"Whatever do you mean, Ken?" Ram adorably tilted her head, making me sigh loudly. "Sister is just providing you privacy while being polite. As expected of her," Rem nodded proudly. "But if you need assistance, then all you have to do is ask."
"Yeah, yeah, whatever," I waved it off. "So, lead me to dinner." I said with a smile, changing the topic.
"Very well, please follow Rem."
Few hours later
Reading through the alphabet, I scratch my cheek before writing down the words that Ram is saying from the kids book. Rem is standing beside me, looking over the paper that I'm writing in to check for any mistakes and Ram is reciting phrases from the book...while lazing on my bed.
"This part here is wrong," Rem stiffly points at a word. "And this one too, this one as well, and this one, and this one, and-"
"Wait,wait, let me correct them before pointing them out!" I cry in frustration as I furiously cross out the words that she pointed out before writing them properly.
After doing that, I turned to look at Ram who was still lying in my bed lazily. "Hey! Shouldn't you be helping Rem instead of slacking off?"
She yawned, "Oh? I'm helping plenty enough." The pink haired maid said with a smug smile.
"Sister helps us plenty by reading the words out loud," she points to another word. "This one is wrong too."
"Damn it, Rem..." I muttered under my breath before fixing the word that she pointed out.
Ram snickers at my situation, "It seems that Ken has become Rem's servant. How pitiful, maybe I should teach him how to read using proper methods." She offered with a bright smile.
I glared at her, "You're the worst kind of teacher ever, Ram."
"Sister is a great teacher. Now write what I am about to say, 'I love serving Rem's sister'."
"...fine, I'll play along." I huffed and wrote what she said.
Rem looked at my work silently for a few moments before nodding. "Your handwriting is surprisingly clean. No wasted movements, no ink blotches..." I smirked as I shrugged. "I can do at least this mu-"
"It's so clean that you can at least be hired as a scribe for noble houses in the future, Ken." Ram says, looking over my shoulder while inspecting my work. I frowned slightly when she pointed that out but nodded anyway.
"...yeah, that too."
"Now then, shall we continue our lessons?" Ram asks before looking at her sister. "Rem, I'll take it from here. It's almost time for Miss Emilia to have her late night tea."
"Yes, Sister." Rem bows slightly before turning to me and handing me a piece of paper. "And here are Miss Emilia's measurements. If there's nothing else, then I will take my leave now." She turns away and walks towards the door, leaving me and Ram alone.
Once she closed the door behind her, I put the paper down on the table and let out a loud sigh before stretching my arms and back. "Man, you two are a pair of slave drivers," I complained while rubbing my wrist. It felt sore after writing for hours. Hopefully I don't get carpal tunnel.
"Oh please, enough with the whining, Ken," Ram snorts softly as she flips through the pages in the book. "So far, you've only been studying how to read and write." She pauses for a moment to look up at me with an amused smirk. "You should be singing praises that Ram has finally decided to help you improve your literacy."
"Yeah yeah, thank you oh great and merciful teacher," I roll my eyes sarcastically.
She just smiles smugly, "Hmph, I suppose I am generous enough to teach you further." She nods slowly to herself before turning to me once more. I nod before turning to her and taking in her appearance. More specifically, her maid uniform.
"...hey Ram, do you want me to make clothes for you and Rem?" I asked her with a genuine smile.
While my muse is focused on Emilia, Ram and Rem should be addressed. Besides, they're both really cute enough to pull off a lot of outfits that I can think of.
Ram blinks before giving me a blank stare. "We already have our uniforms that suit us fine. There's no need to change them."
"That's not what I meant," I shake my head with a small smile. "What I meant was that I could give you something other than those maid outfits..." I trail off as I imagine what I could possibly make for them.
"...for what reason?" I blinked as her eyes narrowed. "Is it because you want to fulfill your lewd fantasies about having Rem and I wear certain clo-"
"No," I shook my head calmly despite her teasing me. "I just want to do it, that's all." I chuckle as I lean back on the chair. "Besides, I'll be working on making one for Emilia, then there's one for Roswaal. After that, I plan on making one for Beatrice too," I looked up with a thoughtful expression. Since I was already queuing up more than half the household, I might as well add these two in. "And of course, I can't forget the two maids that work so hard to ensure everything is running smoothly around the mansion."
A light blush appears on her cheeks as she turns away. "Flattery will get you nowhere with me, Ken." Her tone was dismissive but I can see the pleased smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "If you wish to make clothing for me and Rem, then you may do so...but it will be on our terms."
"Of course, of course!" I nod enthusiastically. "How about you two coming by tomorrow morning? By then, I should have some sketches ready for you two." I grabbed her hand and held it softly. This caused her eyes to widen as she looked at me. "And I'll guarantee that you'll both look beautiful even when it's just a sketch! So what do you say?"
After a few moments, Ram snorts lightly and pulls her hand away. "You really are strange, Ken. You are the only person Ram has met who's willing to spend time thinking about what clothes we would look good in." I can see her lips twitching upwards as if she wanted to smile. "Fine then, since you are so eager, I shall accept your offer." She turned to me with a smug grin before shifting into a frown as she leaned forward.
"However," she whispers, "my condition is to make Rem look even more adorable than usual."
"Hmph, what an easy request," I smirk proudly. "I don't know what kind of clothes you want for yourselves, but I bet I can design something amazing for Rem," I said confidently before chuckling with a soft smile.
"It must be tough being the older sister, huh?" She raises a brow towards me. "The younger ones will always look up to the eldest," I tell her simply as I cross my arms over my chest. "So I guess it's natural that you want your little sister to look as cute as possible." I cracked a grin and winked at her. "Given how Rem's better with chores than you are, you must enjoy gushing over her in priva-"
"Ken," I paused when I noticed a dangerous glint within Ram's eyes.
I immediately closed my mouth and gulped nervously, "Y-Yes...?"
"...if you have plans on courting Rem, then I am afraid that you will have to go through me first before proceeding," she stated in a deadpan tone. "No, perhaps you are fine with me? As her sister, I must take care of any potential threats to her innocence." I saw her lips curve upwards slightly as I glared at her.
"What makes you think I'd ever want to do something like that?"
Ram shrugs nonchalantly before patting my head condescendingly. "Oh? That's quite unfortunate. I thought I sensed some interest from you earlier," she smirked smugly while tilting her head innocently.
I shook her hand off my head before rolling my eyes. "Ram, you and Rem are both adorable maids that, despite all the teasing, are fun to talk with." I stretched my arms above my head with a small smirk. "And who says I'm not interested?" I leaned forward until our faces were inches apart. "But no, I respect you two too much to do anything like that...yet." I smiled mischievously and stuck my tongue out playfully.
Her cheeks reddened as she pulled back. "Tch, so you admit it," she mutters under her breath before turning away with a small pout. "Hmph, it seems that I must keep an eye on you now," she sniffs haughtily before glancing at me. You will neither claim my pure body nor touch Rem's innocent soul."
"With all the teasing you've been doing, I doubt you're pure enough for anyone to want you, Ram," I snort loudly before laughing. "Besides, I'm perfectly fine with just being friends with the two of you." I smile warmly as I stare into her eyes. "And who knows? Maybe I'll become more than that eventually." I winked at her teasingly.
She scoffed lightly before nodding slowly, "Very well, it seems that this topic is settled." She stood up and bowed. "It is getting late now. I must leave this room; otherwise, I feel like your desires will get the better of you." She turns away and walks towards the door. However, she stops right before exiting and looks back at me.
"Remember, design Re-"
"I'll make Rem's cuter than yours, I know." I chuckled softly as I waved goodbye. She smiles slightly before closing the door behind her, leaving me alone in my room.
Once again, I find myself staring at the ceiling with a blank expression on my face. I felt my lips twitch upwards as I closed my eyes and began to imagine what I can make for Ram and Rem.
"Those two really are interesting..." I whispered quietly as I laid down on the bed with my thoughts still lingering on them. "They could be models in another life if they wanted to."
As I continued pondering possible outfits for the two maids, my mind drifted towards their bodies and facial features, which led to me imagining them wearing different types of clothing—some modest, others risque, and even ones that showed off plenty of skin. The only difference is that Rem's chest is bigger than Ram's flat one.
"Probably shouldn't say that to Ram's face..." I muttered while shaking my head. I rolled onto my side and sighed deeply. My gaze fell upon the paper that contained Emilia's measurements. Smiling gently, I picked it up and read through it carefully. After a moment, I nodded to myself before putting it down and lying back in bed.
"I can handle sketching but..." I bit my thumb as I glanced towards the table. "Learning their alphabet is going to be annoying," I groaned softly. "Why can't I just learn it faster? There has to be som-"
'There is!' I blinked as Lillia's soft voice rang inside my head. Sitting up, I raised a brow as I focused on communicating with the dream fawn. "What do you mean?"
'A contract with spirits is not limited to just summoning us and using our powers,' her voice echoed within my mind. 'Ken, you have yet to realize how I can help you right now!' She cheers excitedly.
I blink slowly before letting out a breathless laugh, "Really?" I asked incredulously. "How so?"
'I can make you dream about learning this world's language!' Lillia said with confidence. 'You will be able to read and write properly like your peers here.' She added proudly.
"...that's it?" I questioned skeptically. "Can you actually do that?" I frowned slightly as I scratched my cheek thoughtfully. "So, I just sleep and you make me dream of me knowing everything that I need to know?"
Lillia giggles lightly, 'It is not simply knowledge, Ken, but memories. You see, when a spirit forms a contract with a person, they, with their contractor's permission, gain access to their mental space. This allows spirits to see things from their contractor's perspective. In other words, we will be sharing each other's minds.' I nodded silently as I listened intently.
'But there are limits!' She quickly added the warnings. 'One of them is that we can only see what memories you allow us to see. Wh-Which means we cannot intrude on your privacy, so please trust us on this!' Lillia stammers nervously at the end of her explanation.
"Hmm...well, it's better than having to take lessons," I chuckled before sighing tiredly. "And honestly, I really don't want to waste time struggling with learning an entirely new alphabet." I shook my head before smiling. "As much as I trust you, there are certain things you shouldn't know."
Such as her being a character from a video game and that this world is the world of the anime, Re:Zero.
That'd probably shatter everything she thinks she knows. God knows what'll happen if they find out that they're fictional characters.
"Alright then, let's go ahead and try this," I said with a nod. "Make me dream about learning what I need to learn, okay?"
'Okay!' Her cheerful response was followed by silence, which allowed me to finally relax as I lay back down on the bed. A few moments later, I closed my eyes and immediately found myself drifting off into a deep sleep.
Next day...
"Sister, it seems that Ken has swiftly mastered the alphabet." Rem says with a hint of surprise as she peeks over Ram who is going through pages of my sketchbook.
I nod eagerly in agreement while sipping some tea, "Indeed!" I smile brightly as I skillfully twirl the quill in between my fingers. "I'm a quick learner, as you can see."
'Although it's thanks to Lillia.' I thought to myself, chuckling softly as I felt Lillia sending feelings of happiness inside my mind.
"Rem is impressed that Ken has managed to master the art of writing so quickly." Rem comments as she looks over the many sketches that I drew, specifically to the written details I wrote on each sketch.
"Heh," I smirk proudly while puffing out my chest. "If I were to give everyone a detailed sketch with details on certain parts, I would make sure that it is perfect. How else can I properly write down the measurements without any mistakes?"
"Hmph, such confidence," Ram sniffs haughtily as she turns away. "I guess I should not have expected anything less from someone like you."
"Oh?" I raise a brow towards her. "You wound me, miss Ram," I shake my head with a sigh. "Did you expect me to fail?" I asked jokingly.
"No, but I did expect you to at least struggle with your lessons," she replied bluntly while crossing her arms across her flat chest. "You at least make an entertaining teacher's pet." She smirks smugly and points at the sketchbook with her chin.
"Now show us how well you can write, hm? Write down something for me."
With a teasing grin, I quickly wrote down the following message, 'I want to hug Ram so much right now'. Then, after finishing it, I passed it over to Ram who grabbed it and read it carefully. After a moment, she stilled before glancing up at me with a blank expression, although I can see a hint of red on her cheeks..
"I see. If you are able to write those words with ease, then your lesson from last night is coming along nicely," she remarked dryly.
"I have two great teachers, Ram," I said with confidence. "One of them has pink hair, the other has blue," I stood up. Both of them enjoy teasing me and are cute girls." I paused and gave them a smile. "And they both love each other so much that it's hard for me to see one without the other around."
"Ken," Ram says slowly while tapping the tip of her foot on the ground repeatedly. "Are you implying something?"
"Of course not," I answered innocently. "I was simply stating the truth." I shrugged before sitting back down. "Besides, you two have been living together since you were young, right? Isn't that just proof enough that you care about one another?"
"Yes...that's right." Rem says slowly before looking up at me.
My eyes widened slightly as I saw some emotion showing through her blue eyes. One of guilt and sadness. Before I could ask what's wrong, Ram suddenly spoke up. "Regardless, we came here for business, not for idle chatter," she clears her throat, gaining our attention once again. "We have agreed to let you design clothes for us, Ken, however..." her gaze flickered between her sister and I. "I believe it would do for you two to get better acquainted first."
I blinked, noticing that Rem's lips were pursed tightly. "Sister, must I really go through this? Surely I am fine with wearing what you deem appropriate."
Ram shook her head firmly, "No, I insist." She turned to me. "Now that you have drawn clothing for us, it is time for you to head to the village nearby. You would not be able to obtain the cloth needed for our dresses if you stay inside these walls." She smirked smugly as she tilted her head to the side. "Or perhaps you plan to use the ones you have in your possession? The quality of the robes you wore were of high quality."
"...damnit," I cursed under my breath while frowning deeply.
Damn her and her smartass mouth.
She was right though. Although there were several rolls of high quality fabric that Ram showed me yesterday, it's not enough for what I have in mind for them. I wanted to make clothes that would look perfect on them. And no matter how much I like what I have, they're just not good enough. Which means it's time to go shopping. Let's hope that I can find some high end quality material to work with. Wonder if using Roswaal's name would get me access and discounts
"We are running low on spices, so it is the perfect time to restock our supply," Ram pointed out before returning my sketchbook to me and turning to Rem. "Rem, you and Ken will go later after lunch. That should give him plenty of time to prepare everything he needs for his trip." She smiled at her younger twin. "With Ken, you do not need to worry about carrying everything back. He seems more than capable of carrying heavy loads."
"So I'm just a pack mule then?" I ask with a roll of my eyes, only to get no reply.
"...yes, Sister." Rem nods obediently after a pause.
"Then it is settled," Ram claps her hands together. "Let us go, Rem," she turns around and starts walking towards the exit, leaving me alone. Looking at my sketchbook, I smiled as I stood up.
"I've already sketched some for Emilia, Roswaal, Ram, and Rem..." I quickly left the room and smiled confidently at the hallway of doors. "Now it's time for me to sketch some for Beatrice!" I grabbed a random doorknob and entered the library.
"Can you keep it down? I heard you loud and clear, I suppose!" A shout echoed throughout the library causing me to chuckle lightly before continuing my search. "You know, Beatrice, you really need to lighten up sometimes." I said playfully while searching through shelves of books. "Besides, I want to ask you if you want me to make you some pretty dresses! Think about it: beautiful dresses made just for you~!"
After several minutes of searching, I found her seated on a chair while reading a large book. "Beatrice!" I called out with a wide grin as I approached her. "Why do you look so grumpy today?" I teased the spirit as I stood beside her.
"Who said I was grumpy, I suppose?!" She retorted angrily while closing her book shut loudly. "You humans always assume things without knowing the full story!"
I snicker softly before reaching out and gently patting her head. She froze in place with wide eyes and looked up at me with annoyance written all over her face. "What are you doing, I suppose? Are you trying to pick a fight with me, I wonder?" She asked while glaring at me.
"Nah, I just think that you're really cute when you're angry," I answered honestly before chuckling. "I have a lot of ideas for your dress, so let's see...what color should it be?" I continued petting her head absentmindedly.
Beatrice stared at me silently as if gauging my expression. After a few moments, she huffs quietly before turning away. "Do what you want, I suppose..."
"Really?" I asked her in a teasing tone before hugging her tightly. "Thank you! Thank you so much!" I cried out while lifting her up into the air as I spun around. "Now we just need to figure out what kind of design would suit you best!" I laughed cheerfully before setting her down.
"Hmph," she pouted while crossing her arms under her chest. "Whatever it is, I expect nothing less than perfect from you, I suppose!" She declared with an adorable glare.
"Don't worry about that," I assured her with a wink. "It'll look amazing when I'm done with it! And after that, you will look even more amazing than ever before! The most beautiful girl in all the land!" I cheered proudly, causing Beatrice to blush slightly before averting her gaze.
"S-Shut up, I suppose! You don't have to rub it in! Just hurry up and finish it already, I suppose!" She snapped back angrily before holding her hand towards me. I blinked for a few moments before yelling in surprise as I felt an unknown force push against my body, throwing me out of the library.
"Gah!" I landed hard on my ass outside the library door with a groan. I sighed heavily while rubbing my sore buttcheeks before standing up. "Guess I should've expected that..." I muttered under my breath while walking away.
"Hm?" I blinked as I observed Emilia seated on the gazebo in the garden. Small balls of light are in front of her, and it seems as if she's conversing with them based on how she was waving her hands around animatedly. "What is she doing...?" I whispered curiously before deciding to make my way towards her.
It took me a short time as I drew near enough to hear what she was saying, I stopped in place and watched as one of the lights darted towards me. It circled above me for a moment before stopping and floating back towards Emilia. "Huh, weird...she must have told those fireballs about me," I said aloud before continuing forward.
As soon as I stepped within earshot, Emilia turned around with a bright smile on her face. "Hi Ken!" She waved at me cheerily.
I smiled back as I sat beside her. "Hey there, Emilia. How are you doing?" I asked politely while looking around the garden. "Nice weather we're having." I commented offhandedly as I stretched my legs outwards.
She nodded slowly, "Yeah..." Putting my sketchbook on the table, I gently slid it over to her, making her look at it with a raised brow. "These are sketches of clothes I designed," I explained casually. "I'm planning to start making some of the dresses for you, Ram, Rem, Beatrice, and Roswaal later."
"Oh, really?!" Emilia gasped before picking up the sketchbook and flipping through the pages eagerly. "They look so beautiful!" She exclaimed excitedly as she examined every detail carefully. "And...that's me?" She looked up at me with wide eyes. I can only chuckle at her endearing reaction. "Yes," I nod confidently. "I wanted your opinion on what you think of my designs."
"That's amazing," Emilia whispers quietly while staring intently at my drawings. But why are you asking me? I'm not an expert or anything." She trails off with a frown.
"I know that," I replied with a gentle smile. "But you are a girl like Ram and Rem," I reached out and placed my hand on top of hers reassuringly. "And I thought you would like some thoughts about what I had planned for you. But with your appearance, I'm sure you could pull off any outfit that I design for you."
Emilia blushed slightly at my compliment and averted her gaze shyly. "O-Oh...thank you, Ken." She said quietly after a moment before looking at me again. "Can I ask you something, Ken?" I blinked for a few seconds, watching as Puck materialized in front of me with a big grin plastered across his furry face.
"Go ahead," I nodded encouragingly. "Ask away."
"Why are you being kind to me?"
"...huh?" I blinked stupidly as I processed her question. After several long moments, I finally realized what she meant, causing me to break out into laughter.
"Wha-" She stammered as she stared at me in shock. "W-Why are you laughing?!" She demanded angrily while glaring daggers at me. "Is there something funny about what I said?!" She asked indignantly while crossing her arms. Despite her efforts, it made her look adorable instead of intimidating.
"Sorry sorry!" I apologized between laughs as I wiped tears from my eyes. "It's just...you sound so serious when you say that! It's really hard for me not to laugh!" I grinned sheepishly while shaking my head. "But yeah...to answer your question...there is no reason, really." I chuckled softly as I leaned forward until our faces were inches apart. "I just find you interesting, Emilia." My lips curled into a wide grin. "And I can't help but want to make you look even prettier than you already are!" I declared proudly, earning another blush from the silver-haired girl.
"T-Thank you..." She muttered shyly under her breath. "I suppose..." She added quietly. "Anyway, what do you mean by 'interesting'?"
I hummed before gently reaching out to her hair. "May I?" I asked politely. Without waiting for a reply, I brushed aside some strands of her silvery white hair behind her ear. "You have the most unique hair color I've ever seen." I remarked casually as I played with a lock of hair. "It's really beautiful. Like snowflakes." I commented with a smile. "Your skin is also pale too, and its smooth as well," I traced my fingers across her cheek lightly before pulling away. "In short, you're different, Emilia. And because of that, I guess I am a bit fascinated with you."
"I can't help but want to hit you, Ken." Puck murmured as his tail lightly poked at my nose. "You're getting too touchy with my daughter." He said playfully although I can hear the hint of protectiveness in his tone.
"Hey now," I raised my hands up defensively. "I'm just speaking honestly here." I shrugged nonchalantly and smirked at him. "Besides, Emilia's like a doll." I reached out towards her and bopped her nose affectionately. "A very pretty doll. So pretty that I can't help but want to make her even prettier."
"Is that so?" Puck tilted his head to the side curiously. "Then why do you act so friendly towards her? Are you not afraid of her?" I raised a brow at that question, making me lean forward.
Why should I be afraid of her? As far as I know from what my fellow cosplayers told me, Emilia looks like one of the antagonists. Something about her looking like the Witch of En-oh...
"Then let me answer that question with another one, Puck," I glanced towards Emilia before turning my attention back to him. My lips shifted into a small frown as I gave the spirit a serious look. "Is she and the Witch the same?"
He paused for a moment before slowly shaking his head, "No, they are not." I nodded slowly as he confirmed what I thought.
"Alright, so that's that then," I said cheerfully while smiling brightly. "Just because she looks like the Witch of Envy doesn't mean anything. You don't choose what you look like when you're born, after all." I stretched my arms over my head and leaned on the chair, getting a few satisfying pops from my back.
"As her personal tailor, I plan to do everything I can to ensure that Emilia will look amazing every time I make something for her." I glanced at her with a warm smile. "I guess in my own way, you can say that I'm helping you look less like the Witch." Her eyes widened slightly as she turned to me.
I gave her a wink in return. "After all, no one would call you the Witch if this will bring out the radiance within you! Show the world that you are not their worst nightmare but your own person"
Emilia giggled softly before nodding happily, "Thank you, Ken! Thank you so much!" She grabbed both my hands tightly and shook them vigorously. "You are really kind, you know?" I chuckled at her cute reaction.
"I'm glad to help." I smiled back at her. "So...do you still have questions?" I asked politely, earning a quick shake of her head.
"I think that's it for now," she replied confidently. "But..." She trailed off, biting her bottom lip nervously. "I have one request though, can you give me the name of this dress?" Emilia pointed towards the sketch of her design, which made me hum in interest.
The sketch is Emilia in a dress reaching her knees. The short sleeves are transparent and lacy, and there's an embroidery of silver flowers on the front side of the bodice. It seems simple at first glance, but the detailed drawing shows how intricate the entire thing actually looks. "You like it?" I inquired curiously as I leaned closer to the page.
Her cheeks turn pink as she nods bashfully, "Yes. I really like how pretty it looks." She says quietly while fidgeting with her fingers.
"Alright then," I smile lightheartedly as I pick up my quill pen and dip it in a small ink bottle that I kept on my person before starting to write the title in their alphabet.
Silver-haired Flower.
Reading the words, Emilia blinks before gasping loudly. "I love it!" She exclaimed excitedly while clapping her hands together rapidly. "This dress looks amazing, Ken!" She cheered enthusiastically before turning towards me. "The name makes sense too! The flowers and my ha...ir..." She slows down, a small frown forming from her lips before quickly changing into a large smile.
But despite this, I still easily caught it. I hate to say it, but being born and looking like someone who has nearly destroyed the world has probably given her enough practice to hide her true emotions.
I sigh inwardly as I put aside my sketchbook. "What's wrong, Emilia?" I ask gently while looking straight into her eyes reassuringly.
"...nothing's wrong," she mutters under her breath before forcing herself to give me a smile. "I just remembered something bad, that's all." She answers vaguely, making me sigh. Turning to Puck, I scooped up the spirit and played with his ears teasingly. "Hey hey, little kitty." I called out with a mischievous grin. "Do you know what happened to make her sad?"
"Kitty?!" He shouts in false anger before swatting away my hand with his paws. "How rude of you, Ken! Of course I do! But don't think that I'll let you in on our secret because you're getting a bit close to Lia!"
Glancing at Emilia, I sneaked a wink at Puck. "I can and I wi-"
"Puck punch!"
"Ow!" I dramatically clutch my nose as I rub it tenderly. "Well, it doesn't hurt since it's so soft and fluffy, but I have to retaliate somehow!" I smirked as I poked him again with my finger, causing him to squeak cutely.
"Hmph!" Puck crosses his arms and turns away. "That was not nice of you, Ken! I demand reparation for this grievance!"
"Reparation, huh..." My voice trailed off as an idea popped inside my head.
Grabbing my sketchpad, I quickly sketched Puck with the most dapper top hat and a ribbon around his neck. "Here," I handed it to him happily. "You can have this if you want."
He stares at me skeptically before glancing towards the drawing. After several moments, he shrugs nonchalantly. "Very well, I suppose! I shall accept your gift as reparations for what you did." Puck says haughtily as he snatches the paper and holds it high above his head proudly.
"...I still have to make your hat, you know?"
"What?!" His eyes widen as he looks up towards me with a pout. "Don't you have any magic to will it into existence or something?!"
"Unfortunately, no." I answered with a grin, which made him huff loudly.
"Fine!" He grumbles before jumping into my shoulder and curling up comfortably. "It better look good, Ken." He warns me sternly.
"Of course it will, Puck. After all, you asked for it!" I reply confidently, earning a nod from him. "You will be the most dapper cat spirit in existence!" He looks at me with a tilt of his head before shrugging. "I don't know what 'dapper' means, but alright."
Emilia giggles lightly before leaning over and rubbing Puck's back affectionately. "Thank you for cheering me up, you two." She gives us both a warm smile, making me return it while scratching behind Puck's ear. "No problem, Emilia." Both Puck and I answer simultaneously.
"You know...you guys are getting along so well." She comments playfully while resting her cheek on her hand. "Maybe it's because Ken is a Spirit User like me?"
"That could be a reason," Puck comments as he moves up to my head, his tail playfully flicking at my cheek. "But I think it's because Ken is a really trustworthy guy." He adds, his paw gently patting my head. "Although I'm still watching you, Ken, just so you know."
I laugh softly as I roll my eyes. "Yeah yeah, whatever you say, Puck."
"Ken," I raised a brow as Puck lowered his head just enough to look me straight in the eyes. "Jokes aside, you're a really happy guy, aren't ya?"
"Well...I guess so," I responded after a moment. "Why do you ask?"
He stares at me silently for several long seconds before shrugging. "Well, I guess it's because you can design dresses. It's not that hard to see how passionate you are when making these sketches." He smiles happily before stretching lazily. "Its like you love designing clothes or something."
My lips twitch upwards slightly as I shake my head. "I enjoy it more than anything else. It's always been something of a dream of mine" I reply honestly with a slight sigh. "There's a saying that clothes make the man, Puck. And by making them beautiful, they'll feel good about themselves and hopefully become happier too. Not needing to worry about how others would like their way in disdain or turn their nose up at you when your eyes meet."
"Huh..." He muses thoughtfully before letting out a loud yawn. "That's a nice mindset to have. Glad to know Lia has someone who cares for her and her well-being here in this mansion."
"But more importantly," I looked down at my sketchpad with a soft smile. "It'll make children more happy. And for me, children that are happy are treasures more precious than gold..."
"If an orphan dresses up nicely and walks around town proudly, then everyone will admire him or her and treat them with kindness. They won't be afraid of the person simply because he looks different. Because instead of thinking 'Look, there's a weird kid.', they'd say 'Wow, such an adorable child!'" My fingers run across the leather cover. "And if you add a bit of flair to it, like a cape, a cool hat, a mask, and so on, then those kids will feel like heroes. Like superheroes who protect the world!"
"You're really passionate about this, Ken," Puck notes with a grin before sitting on my head. "I'm glad that Lia found you."
"Yeah, I'm lucky too," I chuckle softly as I lean back on the chair. "This place is definitely better than what I was used to."
"...what were you doing before you came here, Ken?" Emilia asks curiously, making me pause. "Your words make me wonder if you had a tough life before coming here."
Running away from loan sharks, forced to kill in self-defense more than once, forced to keep my guard up and lay low several times, moving from place to place, and being unable to stop myself from feeding into my addiction og designing my own cosplays to attend conventions...
...yeah...definitely not normal.
I sighed deeply as I shook my head. "Don't worry about it, Emilia. I just really wanted to start over and do things differently." I closed my eyes and exhaled slightly. "Let's just say that people make dumb decisions when they're desperate."
"Like stealing?" She inquires hesitantly, earning a snort from Puck. "Hmph! If that's true, then you must've been really stupid."
"Probably," I agreed readily while chuckling. "But hey, now I'm here, safe and sound, without any worries at all." I spread my arms wide open with a cheerful smile. "My past is just that, the past. There's no way for me to change anything even if I wanted to." My smile dims slightly as a faint memory comes to mind.
I just couldn't help myself...not when those damn brats looked so desperate for help in that alleyway.
"Hope those brats are doing okay though..." I mutter quietly under my breath before looking back up to her. "But yeah, don't think too much of it, Emilia. My bad decisions don't matter anymore, because I'm free." I finished cheerily, causing her to blink before nodding slowly.
"I see..." Her voice trails off, sounding slightly doubtful, but I didn't comment on it. Instead, I leaned on one hand and gave her a wink. "I made bad decisions, I'll keep what those decisions are to myself...but let's just say I got tired of being an idiot."
Especially since I can finally get rid of my addiction for League of Legends...although I can summon and form contracts with them as my spirits.
She nods again, albeit slower than last time. "That makes sense, I guess." She sighs softly before looking at me with a slight frown. "I'm sorry if I brought up bad memories for you."
I waved my hand dismissively. "Don't worry about it, Emilia. As I said before: the past is the past. You can't change anything about it. But what you can do is learn from your mistakes and do better next time," I pause and chuckle slightly. "Although making stupid decisions in the future can be fun sometimes too."
"How so?" She tilts her head quizzically, making me smile. "Well, for example, say that someone has never eaten sweets before. And then when he tried his first bite of candy, he'd probably freak out over how sweet it tastes." I laughed lightly as I pictured it in my mind. "He'd most likely end up eating so much that he gets sick afterwards, but it wouldn't have mattered to him because he learned that there are many different kinds of food!"
"And then there's the more serious side of making stupid decisions," I continued after clearing my throat. "Such as...doing something suicidal in order to enjoy whatever happiness you can muster during the moment." I shrug nonchalantly as I rub the fabric of my robes. "Imagine being forced into a position you don't want to. Forced to run away every single time a certain group of people come looking for you, having no choice but to hide yourself away lest they find you." I took a deep breath before exhaling loudly. "It's hard to care about yourself when you can't help but look at others who are suffering. Sure, they weren't on the same position, but seeing them scrounging up trash for their daily meals while you're feasting on half-decent food..." I shake my head slowly. "It's enough to make you feel guilty and ashamed."
"...that sounds terrible," Emilia comments quietly as she hugs herself tightly. "Why would anyone do such a thing? Don't they care about themselves?" She looks up at me with wide eyes filled with sadness. "What if you had died?"
I shrugged half-heartedly, "Better me than them."
Her expression changes instantly. The frown that formed earlier returns along with a scowl. "But why?! Why does it have to be you?!" She demands angrily, her hands clenched tightly into fists. "You shouldn't throw your life away like that! What if your family finds out that you've gone missing? Wouldn't they be sad knowing that you disappeared without warning?!"
"The question here, Emilia," I looked at her with an uncaring smile. "Do they deserve to be called that? Family, that is."
She pauses for several seconds, seemingly stunned by my answer before opening her mouth again. "How can you say that?!" She snapped angrily, her voice echoing throughout the garden. "Family should always be important to us! They're the ones who love and protect each other, right?" She glances towards Puck briefly. "They will support us no matter what happens!"
"True," I nod solemnly before sighing. "But what if they're the reason a certain group is chasing after you in the first place?"
That made her freeze completely, her body stiffening noticeably. "W-What?" She whispers softly as she stares at me incredulously. "Did your own parents betray you...?" Her tone was low and quiet, yet still loud enough for me to hear.
I chuckle lightly, earning another glare from her. "Funny how they easily ran away, leaving nothing but a mountain of debt for me to deal with." I lean forward while placing both elbows on top of the table. "As far as I'm concerned, they were never my family in the first place." I finished casually.
Emilia blinks several times before shaking her head vigorously. "No, that's wrong!" She cries out as she stands up. "Family is supposed to stay together no matter what! If they truly cared about you, then they wouldn't have left you behind!" She slams her hand onto the wooden surface causing the objects on top to shake violently.
"Then," I gently grabbed Emilia's hand and Puck's head. "As your personal tailor and as your friend, Emilia...you'll let me make you happy, won't you?" I asked calmly, making sure that I met her gaze head on.
She hesitates for several moments before nodding slowly. "Okay..."
My lips curl upwards slightly. "Thank you," I gave her palm a comforting squeeze before letting go. "Now, don't worry about me anymore, Emilia. Whatever happened to me in the past doesn't matter because I am here now. Safe and sound."
"Yeah...bu-"
"No buts!" I smile cheerily. "My own family may have been a mess, but that doesn't mean it'll be like that now!" Grabbing Puck from my head, I scratched his chin, making him purr. "After all, I've got you guys right now! Friends are just as important as family members, aren't they?"
Emilia nods slowly, her expression softening significantly. "Yes, they are."
"Exactly!" I laughed heartily. "So please, don't think too much about it. Okay?"
"Yeah...alright..." She mutters softly under her breath before sitting back down and closing her eyes. "I hope you're right, Ken."
AND CUT!
A little over 800 or so words less than usual, but I figure it's a good place to stop the chapter before we get through the much-needed violence in this arc.
Beta readers' notes:
Slothful: Ah, the complexity of familial relations. How unfortunately common you are. Clearly, this must be corrected with a few kilo-tons of affection and found-family trope shenaniganry.
Demonoid: He's gonna need it. Poor bastard doesn't know about what's in store for him. Hopefully he'll find some sort of happiness that won't end in him irreparably traumatized right? RIGHT?
Old man: We all know what's likely gonna happen next in the future, he just has to be mentally prepared for what's coming. For all those who watched the canon, you'll know what I'm talking about.
Demonoid: I know…just trying to convince myself that beer and a lot of copium isn't needed for what's in store for him.
Old man: No amount of Beer, copium or heroine would be enough to deal with that extreme mental health trauma.
Anyway, I have a naughty P word if you want to support me. You know what it is!
Pat /luckyerofu
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I'll see ya all in the next chapter/fic/update!
Ciao! Peace!