Petra listened to the exchange between Rem and Emilia, her focus mostly on her veggie chopping. However, Rem's command about the boys being sweaty and needing to be cleaned up made her pause for a moment. Her mind wandered, and her face, despite herself, heated up a bit. Seems like she's slowly maturing.
She quickly shook her head to snap out of her thoughts and resumed her work, trying to keep her mind on the task at hand and not the mental image of the boys returning sweaty and dishevelled. Her mind then wandered elsewhere, and she found herself picturing her other friends at Arlam village, the ones she had spent so much time with growing up. She wondered what they were doing, if they were all enjoying each other's company. With David passing by, she could imagine him hanging out with them, catching up and reminiscing about the old days.
She smiled to herself, feeling a pang of nostalgia for her home as she finished chopping the carrots, now having a large amount of sliced carrots, mushrooms, onions and broccoli all on her oversized chopping board. Rem glanced over at the wok on medium heat, noticing it starting to sizzle. She turned her attention to Petra, who was working diligently on chopping the vegetables.
"How are you faring with the chopping, Petra-chan?" she asked, as she resumed slicing the almonds into two, pulling Petra out of her thoughts. She looked down at the veggies she had just finished chopping and gave Rem a nod of affirmation.
"I'm done with the veggies," she replied. "They're all chopped up and ready to be used. Anything else you need me to do?"
"Excellent work," Rem praised, appreciating Petra's efficiency. "Now, could you please add another large pan to the stove? We're going to need it for the almonds."
She poured the contents of Petra's chopping board into the sizzling wok, the vegetables crackling and snapping as they made contact with the hot oil inside. A delicious aroma instantly filled the air, to the reward of those inside.
"Is there anything else I can help with?" she asked, glancing back at Rem, ready to continue assisting. Rem continued slicing the almonds with almost superhuman speed, her knife a blur, her movements fluid and precise. Within a matter of moments, she had finished cutting all of the almonds in half, their pristine white flesh now revealed.
"Done," she declared, setting the knife down on the countertop. "The almonds are now all sliced in half, ready to be roasted."
She poured the contents of Petra's chopping board into the sizzling wok, the vegetables crackling and snapping as they made contact with the hot oil inside. A delicious aroma instantly filled the air, to the reward of those inside.
"I've set the fire laugmites to low heat," she confirmed, gesturing towards the stones, now faintly flickering with a soft, warm glow. "Is this good?"
Rem nodded in approval.
"Yes, that's perfect," she said, as she ruffled Petra's hair.
"We want to cook the almonds gently, so they stay light and crispy. Low heat is exactly what we need." Petra couldn't help but blush a bit as Rem ruffled her hair, feeling a warm sense of pride and accomplishment.
"Got it," she replied, making a mental note of the importance of low heat when roasting almonds. "Slow and gentle cooking, so they stay light and crispy."
Rem and Petra paused for a moment, both inhaling the enticing aroma wafting through the kitchen. The hiss and crackle of the sizzling vegetables mingled with the delicate fragrance of the roasted almonds was enough to make anyone hum in bliss.
The combination was heavenly, and they exchanged contented smiles, appreciating the result of their hard work. As the vegetables and almonds continued to cook, Petra and Rem took a moment to sit down at the island table in the kitchen. Seated side by side, they silently watched the sizzling food on the stove, relishing the delicious aroma filling the room. Petra rested her head on her hands, letting out a soft sigh of satisfaction.
Rem, noticing Petra's gesture, felt a pang of affection for the younger girl. She couldn't help but smile at her contentment.
"You're doing great, Petra-chan," she said softly, breaking the silence. "You're a natural in the kitchen."
Petra's heart swelled with pride at Rem's compliment. She loved helping out in the kitchen and being appreciated, especially by someone as capable and kind as Rem.
"Thank you, Rem-nee-sama!" she replied, her face glowing with a mixture of fatigue, contentment, and happiness.
"Say, Rem-nee-sama, what kind of emotions do you feel when you make a dish like this?"
"Hmm…. A dish like this……?" She mused to herself, taking a moment to reflect, before answering with a beaming smile.
"Well, when Rem creates a dish like this, she feels the weight of her sins bearing down on her, and her immense inferiority to all those around her. She also feels the gravity of the lives of those lost in her place, and sometimes even questions why she was born…. But in the end, is glad she continued living for the sake of those around her! How about you, Petra-chan?"
"O-oh……," Petra murmured, her eyes wide. "That's uhh…" She paused, contemplating her own feelings before Emilia interrupted them, returning. As she entered the kitchen, her senses were immediately filled with a symphony of appetising smells. The scent of frying vegetables and roasted almonds hung in the air, stirring up her appetite. She smiled, greeting Rem and Petra, who were catching a quick break from their cooking duties.
"It smells wonderful in here," she said, setting down the towels and flannels she'd retrieved. "You've both been working hard."
Rem, silently seething from Emilia's interruption, got up from her seat and moved over to the pan of almonds.
"Thank you, Emilia-sama." She began to stir them, her motions slightly more aggressive than necessary. The action served not only as a small outlet for her frustration, but also as a way to prevent the almonds from burning on one side.
"Emilia-sama, its been around half an hour since you last checked the markings outside…. could you check the ice hasn't melted for us?"
Emilia nodded, understanding Rem's concerns about the markings outside.
"Of course, Rem," she replied, her voice filled with reassurance. "I'll go check on the markings right away."
With that, Emilia left the kitchen and made her way back outside, heading straight for the two pitches to check on the ice markings she had made. As Emilia left, Rem slumped back into her seat at the table, taking a deep breath to calm her frayed nerves. The constant interruptions and Emilia's obliviousness to the sheer level of workload they had been enduring were starting to wear thin on her patience.
Petra, sensing Rem's restlessness, looked over at her with a concerned expression.
"Rem-nee-sama...?"
Petra's gentle voice cut through the tension in the air, her concern for Rem's well-being evident in her tone. She could sense that the other girl's annoyance was mounting, and it worried her.
"Are you okay?" she asked quietly, her eyes soft with worry. "You seem frustrated…"
Rem sighed, her shoulders slumping slightly. She appreciated Petra's concern, and the younger girl's intuitive sense for her feelings.
"Rem's feeling great, Petra-chan," she responded, her voice soft but weary. "Rem's just... a bit tired, perhaps. It's been a long day, and we still have a lot to do."
Rem's gaze flicked towards the doorway through which Emilia had just disappeared, her expression briefly hardening. But she quickly composed herself and returned her attention to Petra.
As she walked, the cool breeze of the outdoors greeted her, a refreshing change from the warmth of the kitchen. She couldn't help but feel a pang of weariness in her muscles, a reminder of the day's tasks, and the still unresolved mystery of Subaru's secret project, but she pushed those thoughts aside, focusing on her task at hand.
Soon, she arrived at the two ice marked pitches she had created, and began to inspect them closely. As she inspected the icy lines, Emilia noticed that they were still mostly intact, with only some slight melting from where the sun's rays had beamed down.
She nodded, feeling somewhat relieved that the ice hadn't completely melted away. But she couldn't help but be a tad bit worried that some of it had melted, and she decided to take action to rectify it.
With careful and steady hand motions, she used her magic to re-trace the frozen lines, making sure that they were as clear and visible as before. As she finished tracing the lines, she stepped back to admire her work. The marks were once again clear and distinguishable, their icy blue hue a stark contrast against the green of the grass. She nodded with satisfaction, feeling proud of her handiwork. Emilia smiled to herself as she looked at the newly-repaired markings. Despite the exhaustion that she was beginning to feel, she couldn't deny the fact that these tasks were also enjoyable in their own way.
There was a significant pause as Petra took in Rem's brief moment of vulnerability, sensing that there was more to her fatigue than just exhaustion. The subtle glance towards the door suggested that there might be some resentment or annoyance towards Emilia, and there was the fact that Rem never usually admitted when she was tired.
She bit her lip, unsure whether to speak or remain silent. But her natural inclination to care for others won out.
"I can tell it's more than just being tired," she said gently.
"Is there something bothering you about Emilia-sama?"
"Honestly," she began, her voice carrying a tinge of weariness. "It's not anything in particular... its just..."
Rem paused, weighing her words before continuing.
"Rem just feels as if Emilia-sama just does not fully understand the amount of work that a maid has to endure... she's so cheerful, and happy, and...oblivious." Those words at the end carried a double meaning, which was around half the reason she wasn't very happy at the moment, the half of the reason she really didn't want to admit. Petra listened intently, her eyes wide and her focus solely on Rem. She could hear the tiredness in Rem's voice and the lingering frustration towards Emilia.
Once Rem had finished speaking, Petra took a moment to process her words. She knew Rem took her duties as a maid seriously, and the weight of the work was often underestimated by those who weren't in the same position.
"I get it," she replied, her voice soft. "It can be frustrating when someone else doesn't understand the hard work you put in."
Rem, realising that her frustration was starting to dampen the lighter mood, decided to change the topic. She turned her attention back to the cooking.
"We need to check the vegetables," she noted, standing up and moving back over to the sizzling wok. "They should be just about done."
Petra nodded, thankful that Rem had switched gears. She stood up too and walked to the wok, careful not to lean too close. The sizzling vegetables looked just about done, each piece cooked to a perfect golden brown.
"They look good," she said, her mouth watering. The aroma that wafted from the wok was intoxicating. "Should we turn off the laugmites now?"
Rem tested the vegetables' softness with a wooden spoon. Satisfied, she lifted the white hot underside of the wok with her bare hands, and in pure 'mother material' style didn't even flinch as she poured all vegetables into a bowl, which Petra had promptly placed there in fear for Rem's safety.
"Whoa, Rem-nee-sama," she breathed, her eyes wide. "That was so cool! Didn't it burn your hands at all?"
Rem chuckled softly, placing the wok back on the stove. "No, it didn't burn at all," she replied, shaking her head slightly. "Rem's Oni hands can withstand quite a bit of heat."
She then looked down at Petra with a gentle smile. "But don't try to do that, Okay? It's not something a young girl like yourself should attempt."
Petra nodded, a little more relieved but still fascinated. She marvelled at how Rem's hands were so resistant to heat, something she would never attempt herself.
"I won't. I promise," she quickly assured Rem, her eyes still glued to the older girl's hands. She watched as Rem poured more oil into the wok, the sizzling sound making her stomach rumble.
Rem chuckled at Petra's reaction, amused by her fascination with the cooking process.
"Good," she replied, her smile warm. "Now, let's get started on the meat."
Rem picked up the bowl of marinated rabbit meat from the makeshift fridge sink, before carefully pouring the leftover marinade into another bowl Petra set up, the pair in complete sync, before pouring the Rabbit meat into the Wok that previously held the vegetables, a whole fresh batch of aromas filling the air. Emilia returned, the now-familiar warmth, yet new meaty odour, welcoming her back. She entered and informed Rem and Petra about the status of the markings, reporting that she had fixed them before they completely melted away.
"The markings are all good now," she informed them with a smile. "The ice was somewhat melted but I've fixed it. They're clear now."
But this time Rem was ready, thanking Emilia, before issuing a new instruction. Her face was patently stern and serious
Subaru hummed along as he worked on his secret project, in deep concentration before he once again heard the click-clacking of Emilia's purple bottomed heels. He quickly hid it from sight, exchanging a warm smile that ignited his heart. He wondered to himself 'what she could possibly be retrieving this time', as he watched her go by.
A minute later, she returned, her face portraying pure struggle as she hauled something along behind her.
"A FUTON?!?!" Subaru burst out in pure bewilderment, as Emilia dragged, not one, but 3 beds in a bag into the hall. As Subaru let out a surprised exclamation, Emilia couldn't help but chuckle to herself. She looked at Subaru who was sitting on the floor, his eyes wide with surprise and confusion. She could see the genuine shock on his face as he stared at the futons she was struggling to drag across the room.
"Yeah, three of them!" She strained out, her breath slightly laboured from the effort of moving such heavy items. "They're for the boys to rest when they return. Rem asked me to arrange them here…"
Subaru's surprise turned into further confusion and even more questions as Emilia explained the reason for the futons. He watched her struggle to drag them across the room, her labored breath and the weight of the futons adding to the intrigue.
"O-oh... I see," he responded after a moment, his voice still tinged with surprise. "But three?"
Subaru was too flabbergasted to speak, his mind racing with confusion and questions. Why were there even three there!? He'd only adked Rem to make one for himself... and Why did Rem specifically ask Emilia to arrange them in this room? And why hadn't he been informed about this beforehand!?
Trying to process what was happening, he stood up, walking over to Emilia and helping her drag the futons onto a suitable area in the room. As Subaru walked over to help her, Emilia flashed him a grateful smile. The extra pair of hands made the task much easier, and together they were able to move the futons to where they were supposed to be. As they set down the third futon, she sighed with relief, feeling her muscles protesting from the exertion. As they lay down the final futon, Subaru couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief, running his hand through his hair. Helping Emilia move those futons was more work than he anticipated. Looking over at Emilia, he took a moment to catch his breath, his mind still reeling from the unexpected arrangement of the futons.
"Why do we have three? I only asked Rem for a single one, right?" He questioned, looking back at Emilia, confusion evident in his voice.
Emilia shrugged in response, her own curiosity still not satiated. "Rem just asked me to arrange them here," she repeated, her eyes scanning the three futons in front of her. It seemed odd that Rem would make three when Subaru only requested one.
"She miiiiiiiiiiight have thought you might want company, when out stargazing?" Emilia suggested, her tone half-teasing.
Subaru's lips curled into a small smile at her suggestion, the idea of having company during his stargazing sessions was something he hadn't considered. Still, he couldn't help but feel there was something more to it.
"Maybe you're right," he replied with a hint of doubt in his tone.
"But it still seems strange that she made 3 when I only asked for one. Maybe Rem has other ideas up her sleeve that I don't know about…"
Emilia nodded, agreeing with Subaru's skepticism. Rem was known for her unexpected actions and meticulous planning, so it wasn't completely out of character for her to have a hidden agenda.
"Yeah, maybe there's more to it than meets the eye. Rem can be pretty 'taciturn' when she wants to be," she commented, her eyes darting around the room, as if expecting Rem to suddenly appear and reveal her hidden intentions, in a typical villain style entrance.
"'Taciturn?' Who says that in this day and age...?"
As the conversation lulled for a moment, Emilia's mind returned to the tasks that still awaited her. She knew that she couldn't afford to sit idly by and chat for too long; she still had duties to attend to. With a reluctant sigh, she turned her attention back to Subaru.
"I should get back to the kitchen," she said, a hint of disappointment in her voice. "Rem and Petra are likely waiting for me."
Despite his desire to keep chatting, Subaru knew that Emilia was right. They both had their responsibilities. He nodded in understanding, a hint of disappointment, once again, mirroring her own.
"Yeah, you probably should head back," he responded, trying to hide his reluctance. "I'm sure Rem and Petra are wondering where you are. And I have my... project to work on."
Emilia picked up on the hint of disappointment in Subaru's voice, and a pang of guilt tugged at her heart. She wished they could have more time to chat, but their duties couldn't be neglected.
"Right," she said quietly, her eyes lingering on Subaru's face. "I'll see you later, alright?"
He gave her a small smile and nodded. "Yeah, see you later," he murmured, watching as she turned and left the room.