Petra and Emilia, reached the kitchen, with a renewed purpose, A side quest, if you will. Emilia could swear she heard Subaru say something to her as she left, but couldn't quite hear him, 'Well whatever it was, Knowing him it's probably something positive, or silky, or both' she thought, as she broke into a warm smile, before. The heavy oak door creaks as Petra and Emilia enter, their eyes adjusting to the sudden rush of light and warmth of the room. Pots and pans dangle from the ceiling over a series of wide cast-iron stoves, with magic stones of fire laying beneath them. Large tables line the wall opposite the doorway, filled with various ingredients that look ready for the cooking process, with knives of all shapes and sizes hung over them, each gleaming with a recent sharpening, likely an anecdote of the extent of Rem and Ram's earlier boredom.
"This kitchen is impressive," she remarked, looking around a little overwhelmed by the organisation and grandeur of the cooking space. Petra chuckles as she follows Emilia into the kitchen, nodding her head in agreement.
"It's the best kitchen I've ever seen!" she declared, her hands gliding over the countertops as she took in the room around them.
"Rem and Ram keep it in perfect order," she explains, her eyes scanning the space in awe. "They must have been bored out of their minds to tidy it up this thoroughly."
Emilia chuckled at Petra's remark, agreeing with her sentiment. It was definitely clear that Rem and Ram had put a lot of effort into organising the kitchen, and it was a testament to their collective boredom.
"Yeah, Subaru really came through with this game. It was the perfect distraction from our monotonous routine."
There was a soft giggle from outside the door before a neutralising 'Ahem', announcing her arrival, and drawing the attention of the other two girls in the kitchen.
"Emilia-sama, Petra-chan. Rem is here to help with the refreshments," Rem said, her voice a mixture of shyness, eagerness and regained composure.
"Rem-nee-sama!" Petra exclaims happily, her expression brightening. "You're here to help us with the refreshments, That's perfect! We could really use an extra pair of hands!"
Emilia turns and sees Rem entering the kitchen, a soft smile on her face.
"Ah, Rem! You're here to help, thank you," she states, appreciating the company, and the help.
"I was just admiring how well-organised this kitchen is. It looks like you and Ram did a great job tidying everything up."
Rem blushes slightly at the praise, sheepishly scratching her cheek. "Thank you...We had some extra time, so..."
She glances around the kitchen, taking in the results of their earlier boredom-fueled cleaning spree. It was indeed much more organised and clean than it had been before.
"We may have gotten a little carried away…."
"Well, it was time well spent, it seems," she grins. "I don't think I've ever seen the kitchen this clean!"
She glances around, taking in all the neatly stacked tins and neatly aligned shelves. It was almost… no, it was indeed immaculate.
Emilia and Rem chuckled together at Petra's enthusiastic exclamation, in agreement as they continued to admire the pristine kitchen. The room was almost spotless, with everything in its place, from the stacks of clean pots and pans to the perfectly aligned spices on the shelves. It was a testament to the hard work and boredom-fueled effort that Rem and Ram had put into tidying up the space. Once they had their hearty laugh together, Emilia paused in thought,
She could see that Rem and Petra were already busy at work gathering the ingredients they needed. Realising that she might not be as helpful in the cooking process, as her culinary skills are… limited at best, she decided to offer her assistance in other ways.
"Actually, guys..." she began, shifting her weight. "Is there anything I can do to help that doesn't involve cooking?"
As she felt the overwhelming power shift, Rem turned away for a second, facing downwards, as a wide, nefarious, sadistic smile curled up on her lips, her eyes glittering with mischief … this was the perfect chance to show Emilia just what it's like to be a maid… and exhaust some pent up angst at the same time
She then composed herself, turning back and facing Emilia blankly.
"Sure, Emilia-sama, since you're not as comfortable cooking," she said, her voice carrying an undetectable hint of mischief.
"How about you help us by filling a jug with ice water for the boys? They'll be thirsty and hot when they get back from their task."
Emilia nodded, glad to have a task she could handle. 'Ice water would be a welcome refreshment for the boys after their tiring work', she thought.
"You're right, they'll be parched," she agreed. "I'll grab a jug and fill it with ice water for them."
As Emilia nods and heads off to fetch the ice water, Petra's eyes dart over to Rem, studying her expression and detecting the hint of mischief in her eyes. Petra can't help but feel a sense of foreboding, wondering what kind of "chores" Rem has planned for Emilia
As Emilia leaves to fill the jug with water, Petra turns back to the counter, eyeing the various ingredients laid out, a selection of fresh vegetables, meat, and seasonings, waiting to be transformed into something delicious, and muses aloud.
"So, what are we making for our lunch, Rem-nee-sama?" Petra asks, curious as to what Rem had in mind.
"We're going to make a stir-fry," Rem replied, her tone a little more firm. "With Barbaro rabbit meat."
She picked up a slice of the meat, feeling the texture and eyeing it with a critical eye, testing its quality. She had already cleaved around 5 kilograms of Rabbit meat off of the carcases from their boredom fueled prep, earlier in the day
"We were planning on making this for dinner, but, since we need something on demand, this will do instead!"
Petra nods along as Rem explains the plan for the lunch. Stir-fry was an excellent choice, a simple yet filling dish that would no doubt satisfy the boys and their voracious appetites.
"Stir-fry sounds great. And rabbit meat, too. They'll love that." she says, eyeing the meat Rem is holding with a nod of approval
"Exactly," Rem said, satisfied. "It's easy to prepare, yet filling. And it's thoroughly enjoyable!"
With a final glance over the ingredients, Rem turned to Petra, a twinkle in her eye.
"While Emilia-sama fetches the water, why don't you start dicing up the rabbit meat into small cubes, whilst I make the marinade?"
"Sure, I can do that!" Petra replies, eagerly accepting the task assigned to her. She quickly fetches a cutting board and a sharp knife from the drawer.
"Just leave it to me."
"There! the ice water is ready for the boys, and everyone who needs some," Emilia announced, a sense of accomplishment in her voice, placing the jug down with a thud. Rem immediately swivelled around to her, her face plain, once again
"Great job, Emilia-sama," Rem praised, before quickly adding, "Since you've completed that task, could you please check on the grass in the field, to ensure the pitch markings are still visible? We wouldn't want them to melt and dry up before the boys return."
Emilia nodded, understanding the importance of checking the markings on the field to ensure they were still visible. She made her way towards the door, ready to check the pitch.
"No problem, I'll go check right now," she assured Rem and Petra before heading out.
Petra watched Emilia leave, then turned back to the task at hand. She carefully began dicing the rabbit meat, bite-sized cubes, just as Rem had instructed. As she worked, she thought to herself, 'Rem is being rather quick with the delegations. Is she trying to use Emilia as free labour?'…. Rem hummed quietly, enjoying herself as she peeled her 20 cloves of garlic and 25 centimetres worth of ginger root, with the knife that Subaru dubbed the Shooting Star before quickly mincing them her knife dancing through the garlic and ginger in a flurry of swift, practised motions. As she minced the garlic and ginger root, Rem suddenly had a thought.
"Oh, almost forgot," she muttered to herself, setting down the knife. "Need to steam the yams."
Rem then swiftly left the counter and moved over to the stove, adding a small amount of water before turning on the magic stones of fire. She then opened the windows in front of her and Petra, letting some of the cool air in, but also the inevitable pent up heat escape.
As steam starts to rise from the pot on the stove, Petra can't help but notice the amount of work Rem is undertaking.
"Wow, Rem-nee-sama," she says with a hint of awe. "You're cooking up a storm! You're doing so many things at once."
Rem chuckled at Petra's comment as she turned to face her with a warm smile.
"Well, someone has to make sure this meal is a success," she replied, a hint of pride in her voice, clearly still on a high from Subaru's praise, and her own master plan.
"And Rem wants to make sure that the boys have something delicious to eat when they get back. They've have been working hard in the sun all day after all,"
She continued mincing the garlic and ginger, before scraping it all into one massive bowl, once finished, adding what Subaru told her to make, and what she's used everywhere it fits since, soy sauce, corn starch and a good amount of sugar. Petra nodded understandingly, a smile tugging at her lips as she observed Rem's commitment to making a special meal for Subaru, the other boys, and everyone else in the mansion. As she continued rhythmically dicing the rabbit meat, she spoke up again, curiosity piqued.
"Say, Rem-nee-sama," she asked
"Why did you send Emilia-sama outside to check the pitch markings? It hadn't been too long since she had cast the spell?"
Rem paused in her work, a hint of mischief flickered across her face, that impish smile returning. She glanced towards the door, making sure Emilia was out of earshot, before leaning in towards Petra, her voice barely above a whisper.
"To be honest, Rem just wanted to give Emilia a chance to see what it's like to be a maid," she admitted, a hint of satisfaction in her tone. "She was talking earlier about how we were being so diligent by tidying up, so Rem thought a little taste of what we do everyday might give her some perspective." She continued, sugarcoating her motives slightly.
Petra suppressed a chuckle as she heard the cheeky reason behind Rem's delegation of Emilia.
'So it wasn't about practicality, but rather a subtle lesson.'
As she finished chopping up the meat, she couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy for Emilia. Knowing her cheerful, energetic personality, she would unknowingly do any task assigned without complaint, not realising she was being used as a pawn in Rem's ploy.
"That's a bit sneaky, Rem-nee-sama," she said, suppressing a giggle.
Rem smiled as Petra's suppressed giggle escaped, and nodded in agreement.
"Maybe it is a bit sneaky," she admitted, a hint of playfulness in her voice. "But sometimes, a little bit of cunningness is necessary, especially when it comes to making sure everyone contributes to the household equally, don't you think?"
Rem continued stirring the meat vigorously, the muscles in her arms flexing with each vigorous movement.
"Plus….we're all experiencing new things today, whether it's collecting wood, creating kit, marking pitches, making a ball, or when the project is done, playing 'Socca,' were all doing something that we don't usually, because that's what makes life fun! So think everyone deserves to experience that fun!"
Petra couldn't help but agree with Rem's words about experiencing new things and having fun. She could see the sense in that.
"I see your point," she nodded. "It's true that we're all trying something new, and it's important for everyone to pitch in. I guess Emilia-sama is doing her part, in her own way." She chuckled.
"You sound just like Subaru-sama right now."
Rem chuckled as she continued stirring the meat, enjoying Petra's company and the fact that she was catching on to her plan.
"Really? Does Rem really sound like Subaru-kun?" she teased, a sly smile on her face. "Rem will take that as a compliment."
She gave the bowl one last stir before setting it aside, before filling the sink with ice... making a makeshift refrigerator, putting the massive bowl inside. As Emilia re entered the kitchen, she was startled by the sight in front of her. Rem and Petra seemed to be preparing dishes fit for an entire feast, far more than what was likely necessary for the returning boys' thirst and fatigue.
"Wow, you guys are reeeeeeeally have your 'noses to the grindstone'," Emilia commented as she made her way towards the counter where they were working. Petra tilted her head
"Nose to the grindstone…?"
Rem turned to face Emilia with a bright smile, half cutting in her expression showing no hint of the secret agenda she had in mind.
"Ah, you're back!" she said, her tone cheerful. "And yes, you are correct. We are truly 'putting our noses to the grindstone,' as you say."
Rem glanced over the counter, assessing the various ingredients and the progress
"We want to make sure that everyone in the mansion, especially Subaru-kun and the boys, are well fed and refreshed after their hard day of work."
"That's very thoughtful of you," she said. "But please make sure you don't overdo it. You've been working diligently all morning."
"Oh, but Emilia-sama," Rem continued. "Could you please find a medkit as well? Some of the boys may have sustained some injuries whilst collecting wood, considering the nature of that forest," She smiled slightly, remembering the time that it all kicked off in that forest, and the wave of relief she felt at the happy ending...
"And it's better to be prepared."
Emilia nodded, acknowledging the potential danger and the need for a medkit. With everything happening today, it was better to be prepared indeed.
"Good thinking," she replied. "I'll go get one right away. Just stay here and keep working."
Rem watched as Emilia left to retrieve the med kit, then turned back to the counter, refocusing on the task at hand. There was still much work to be done. Petra, who was listening in on the conversation between Rem and Emilia, couldn't help but feel a bit nervous. She knew the boys, Especially Garfiel and David, were reckless and were likely to get hurt, which is why Rem had asked Emilia to fetch a medkit. But still, the idea of any of them being injured caused her some worry.
"Do you think any of them will be seriously injured?" she inquired as she began chopping the vegetables. Rem put the steaming rack into the now stove of boiling water, before placing the yams inside, and covering the pot with a lid.
"It's possible," she admitted. "But don't worry too much. Those boys are durable. They're tough and resourceful, and Rem trusts them to look out for each other."
Rem reassured Petra with a smile. She didn't want the younger girl to be overly concerned about the boys' well-being. After all, they were a capable and resilient group. Petra nodded. Rem's words eased her worries, but there was still a nagging feeling of concern. She knew that the boys could handle themselves, but their reckless nature often led them into dangerous situations. As she finished chopping the onions, she couldn't help but shed a tear, wondering whether it was from the vegetable, or fear for their safety.
"Still... I hope they won't be too banged up," she mumbled, mostly to herself, but loud enough for Rem to hear. Rem nodded in understanding, showing her sincere and compassionate side as she sprinkled a bit the perfect amount of salt all over the yams, before preparing another wok, setting another set of magic stones to medium, and drizzling a bit of oil on the pan
"Your concern is reasonable, Petra-chan," she said kindly. "It's natural to worry about the people we care about. But Rem knows woth every fibre of her being that they are strong and will look out for each other." She watched as Petra continued chopping the vegetables, admiring her diligence and dedication to the task.
"Can you finish up on the veggies?"
Petra nodded, appreciating Rem's kind words and reassurance about the boys. It helped to hear that they would be all right. With renewed determination, she set about chopping the rest of the vegetables.
"Of course, I'll finish up the veggies quickly," she affirmed, her chopping becoming more vigorous, dicing up the carrots with practised finesse. Then there was the sound of click-clacking of footsteps, and laboured breaths, a sure sign of Emilia's return. As she re-entered the kitchen, she smiled, glad to have found what they needed. "Found one," she announced, holding up the medkit to show Rem.
"Ah, excellent," Rem said, swivelling quickly as Emilia arrived. "Good work, Emilia-sama!"
She quickly turned to Emilia with a new instruction.
"Could you also retrieve some towels or flannels? The boys are bound to be covered in sweat after working in the sun all day. They'll need to be wiped down, and cleaned up," she explained. Emilia, once again, nodded, understanding the need to have towels ready for the boys. She set down the medkit on the counter and made a mental note of yet another task to complete before the boys returned.
"Got it, I'll grab some towels right away," she responded with a smile, despite her slight fatigue. Rem watched as Emilia scurried off once again to retrieve the towels, her innocent smile faltering slightly as a small flicker of annoyance flitted across her face, her ploy was so far ineffective, though deep down she also knew that these tasks weren't nearly as draining for nearly as long what she does everyday. As Emilia turned the corner, going left instead of right this time, she was surprised to see Subaru in the main hall, having fully unloaded the boxes, fiddling away at something. She couldn't help but pause and observe his actions. Subaru seemed deeply engrossed in whatever he was doing. Curiosity piqued, she walked over to him, a soft smile adorning her face.
As Subaru noticed her sudden arrival, his heart skipped a beat, worried that his secret project might be discovered. He quickly hid whatever was in his hands behind him, though the look of surprise and concern evident on his face.
"Wh-what's wrong Emilia-tan? Is everything okay?" he asked, trying to sound casual. Emilia chuckled lightly, amused by Subaru's quick attempt to conceal what was in his hands, causing him to flush up slightly. She raised an eyebrow, curiosity getting the better of her, her questioning gaze was just as enticing as it was intimidating..
"Everything's fine," she replied, a smirk playing on her lips. "What's that you're hiding there, Subaru?"
Subaru lets out a sheepish chuckle.
"Just... just working on something. It's uh... 'Top Secret' like uh...'Operation Strix'!" he quipped, switching between a lighthearted tone and a faux serious one, trying to brush off her inquiries. Emilia's smirk widened at Subaru's nervous, yet light-hearted response, the cryptic nature of it only going on to stoke the flames of her curiosity.
"Operation Strix, huh?" she echoed, a hint of playfulness in her voice. "And what exactly does 'Operation Strix' entail?" She asked, misunderstanding the comparison as the project's actual name. She took a step forward, her eyes darting down, trying to see the item he was so meticulously hiding behind him. She couldn't help but wonder what he was cooking up this time. However, Just as Emilia was about to inquire further about Subaru's mysterious project, Rem's task popped into her head, reminding her of the pressing matters at hand. With a slight pang of disappointment, she hesitated, torn between her desire to learn more about Subaru's secret endeavour and her responsibilities to Rem. But ultimately, the task in front of her and the needs of the others won out.
"Oh... right," she muttered, her eyes momentarily flicking away. "I have something I need to do for Rem. I'll... talk to you later, alright?"
Subaru felt a pang of disappointment as Emilia suddenly remembered her task, her interest in his secret project momentarily forgotten. Despite that, he hid it well, his disappointment quickly masked by a warm smile.
"Sure thing, Emilia-tan," he said, nodding. "You go do what you gotta do. I'll be here, working on... well, stuff."
He chuckled a little, trying to maintain his carefree demeanour. Emilia hesitated for a moment longer, her gaze lingering on Subaru, who was still hiding something out of her sight. But ultimately, she shook her head, reminding herself that her duties came first.
With a small smile, she nodded to Subaru before reluctantly heading off to complete her task for Rem, the lingering curiosity about Subaru's project weighing on her mind.