Chapter 38: Living That Domestic Life

Having dressed himself and washed his face, YN found Rem waiting for him at the top of the stairs that led to the foyer, and the meal hall beyond that.

Reaching the empty meal hall, YN went to grab the tablecloth and silverware to set the table, Rem reluctantly turned halfway through the doorway to the kitchen and posed a question to YN.

Rem: Um, YN-kun.

Setting the cloth straight across the able, YN looked up with a "Hmm?" to the perplexed look Rem was giving him.

Rem: How... how useful is YN-kun when it comes to cooking?

Blinking in immediate response to the maid, YN answered more properly.

YN: It's not my professional position here, but I think I can be of some help.

Nodding in simple reply with a smile, Rem waved to YN for him to follow.

Finding himself in the mansion's kitchen, YN could feel drafty coldness increase as Rem set him up with peeling some tatoes while she attended to more involved steps with breakfast.

YN: So is Ram attending to something else or—

Having realized the kitchen was missing its normal pink haired worker, YN had asked of her whereabouts to her sister, but was cut off by the door of the kitchen abruptly opening.

Subaru: Why is it so cold this morning?!

Not paying his outcry any mind, Rem nonetheless acknowledged his entrance.

Rem: Ahh, Subaru-kun, would you please finish setting the table? Roswaal-sama and Emilia-sama will be down soon.

Resetting his composure and furrowing his brows, Subaru replied with a series of questions.

Subaru: Isn't that normally YN's job as of late? Why is he helping cook when it's normally Nee-sama that does that... Where even is she?

Smiling at her sister being brought up, Rem answered.

Rem: Nee-sama is getting some much needed rest by sleeping in, the cold wears on her so.

Putting his hands on his head in gast, Subaru expressionally replied.

Subaru: Are you kidding me?! Lazy good-for-nothing—... errr...

Taking a better look at Rem while smoldering his attitude and trying to find an argument as to why the treatment here was unfair, Subaru realized one odd thing about the sister-in-question's twin standing in front of him.

Subaru: Speaking of which, Rem, aren't you cold wearing just that?

Pointing a finger to Rem, he commented on her conventional maid uniform which left Rem's shoulders, back, thighs, and bosom all partly exposed.

Smiling proudly and shaking her head, Rem proudly answered.

Rem: While Rem is better suited to the cold than Nee-sama, Rem has YN-kun to thank for warming her up in bed this morning.

Snapping his head around from where he was peeling tatoes, YN's wide open eyes met Subaru's, who was also wide eyed.

Context, Rem! Context!

Feeling his cheeks become slightly flushed, and sweat forming his brow, YN saw Subaru's eyes dart over to Rem who was still beaming with a smile of pride and warmth at her statement before they returned to looking at YN.

Croaking out a response, Subaru brought a fist up to his mouth and cleared his throat and pretended to act as if he thought nothing of what he heard.

Subaru: *Ahem*! Umm, anyway, after I get through setting the table, we really should wake up Ram, someone has to prepare Ros-chi's morning tea.

Rem: Rem is more than capable of preparing Roswaal-sama's morning tea, it shouldn't be necessary to wake her.

Interjecting into the conversation, YN gave his thoughts.

YN: Well, I actually have to agree with Subaru here. It might not look good to Ros-chi if Ram is late to breakfast. But having Subaru be the one to wake her up is a terrible idea, I think if I did it then—

Setting her utensils down, Rem patted her apron clean of anything on it and smiled at YN.

Rem: Let Rem come with! We'll go together!

Surprised at Rem's sudden enthusiasm, YN blinked twice before responding.

YN: I guess that works but, who's going to stay and finish cooking?

Reaching for a large wooden stirring spoon, Rem handed it off to Subaru.

Rem: Subaru-kun, please handle the necessary finishing touches on breakfast. And don't forget to set the table as well.

Taking the spoon but becoming speechless in regard to the responsibilities just laid upon him, Subaru was unable to respond outside of letting his jaw hang agape.

With Rem taking his hand, YN was led out of the kitchen.

Grabbing the door frame before leaving, YN called back to Subaru once more, hoping to encourage him to prevent a total disaster of today's breakfast.

YN: Just think about how much you'll be able to brag to Emilia-sama about the breakfast you made her!

Hoping he'd planted the seeds of determination in Subaru before he was left to his devices, YN was pulled through the meal hall by a happily humming Rem.

*Sigh* I remember the last time I was dragged out of the kitchen by my wrist by Rem... It didn't end well...

Shaking off the negative thoughts, YN and Rem walked hand in hand to Ram's bedroom to rouse her from her late morning sleep in.

Having woken the elder maid, Rem helped her sister dress while YN waited outside. Opening the door while wearing a scowl on her face, Ram looked to see if Subaru was with YN, which he was not.

Seeing that she did not have to contend with him, Ram's expression softened to a neutral one.

Ram: Ram takes it that breakfast will be late this morning since you and Rem have come to awaken me and Barasu is nowhere to be found?

Surprised at her assumption, YN answered her.

YN: No actually, me and Rem did most of the prep work. And Subaru should hopefully be doing the finished touches. We only woke you up for breakfast and to make Ros-chi's morning tea.

A soft, yet faint expression of approval went across Ram's face.

Ram: While it is a welcome change of pace to be woken up to good news—

Rubbing her shoulders to warm herself, Ram lamented.

Ram: —It's overshadowed by this cold.

YN: It is frightfully cold.

Like Subaru had to Rem, YN noticed Ram's partially exposed shoulders and bosom, her maid uniform leaving these open to the cold.

Noticing his watching eye, Ram slightly tilted her head, prompting YN to speak up.

YN: Don't you and Rem have a winter version of your maid outfits?

Stepping out of Ram's bedroom door behind them and shutting it softly, Rem answered YN's question.

Rem: Yes, Nee-sama and Rem have much thicker outfits for the colder time of the year.

Turning and raising an eyebrow to YN after Rem had answered him, Ram also spoke.

Ram: ... While Ram doesn't know what 'winter' is, Rem is correct, we do have more appropriate clothing should this dreadful coldness continue.

Rem: Nee-sama, should Rem prepare them for tomorrow, just in case?

Nodding, Ram agreed.

As the three walked down the hallway to return to the meal hall, YN made note of how Ram continued to act towards him.

Between me and Subaru, Ram really continues to show me a lot more respect than she does to Subaru.

And it was true. While Ram was amicable at best towards Emilia, merely out of duty, she truly was only pleasant with her sister, Rem, and Roswaal. YN fell somewhere short of that, but it was clear, nonetheless that she respected him. Which was a stark contrast to how she treated Subaru.

While I seem to be on Ram's good side, there is one person who continues to really dislike me, but she is somewhat sociable to Subaru...

Rounding the corner towards the stairs to the foyer, she came into sight.

Rem: Beatrice-sama.

Hearing her name called, the spirit turned around and faced the three headed towards her.

Rem: Will you be joining us for breakfast this morning?

Ram: It is rather unlike you to show up without Barasu dragging you himself.

Pouting in reply to the maids' question, Beatrice answered.

Beatrice: Betty is only showing up on her own terms rather than eventually having to deal with that troublesome man when he comes to kidnap her away with honeyed promises of bubby saying he wanted to spend time with her, I suppose.

Losing her pout, Beatrice looked the three up and down, and asked the question she had formed from their presence up on the second floor.

Beatrice: Since the three of you are also headed to the meal hall, then Betty can assume breakfast will be late this morning?

Wishing to save Ram some face from saying she needed to be woken up, YN answered for the group.

YN: Oh, Subaru is finishing up the cooking for us, we were—

Beatrice: While surely not as a good of a cook as the younger maid sister, Betty would much rather eat a meal prepared by him then you.

Turning to continue down the stairs, Beatrice didn't see the look Rem had given YN from the crass way she had mentioned him.

Walking down the stairs, YN sought to maybe change the subject and not leave such a poor interaction before the start of breakfast.

Clearing his throat, YN stepped down to where Beatrice was currently on the stairs, hoping to have some sort of positive impact.

YN: Umm, how are you faring in this colder weather? I hope the library has a fireplace or some way to heat itself—

Reaching the bottom of the stairs, Beatrice spun around to face YN with an annoyed look on her face.

Beatrice: Are you implying Betty knows something about this cold? That she had something to do with it, I suppose?

Caught off guard from her sudden hostile reaction, YN put his hands up and fumbled over his words.

YN: B-Beatrice-sama, please forgive me, I only meant—

Beatrice: Hmph! Truly, Roswaal will hire anyone to work here now.

Spinning around, Beatrice stomped onward to the meal hall, leaving YN at the bottom of the stairs, speechless to her reaction.

Arriving just behind him, the twins stopped on the steps just just behind him, bringing them to similar heights.

Turning to them for some clue, Rem could only stand with a worried look on her face while her hand covered her mouth. While she wanted to coddle and comfort YN, she was barred from doing so should Emilia or Roswaal come down the stairs behind them at any time now.

Looking to Ram, she only continued to stare coldly at Beatrice's back as she walked to the meal hall door.

Entering the hall, the three were left in the foyer with silence between. About to speak up, Ram closed her eyes and shook her head to YN as she walked on by, heading to the meal hall herself, preemptively answering him.

While not a shake of disapproval, it was rather one of "It's not worth getting upset over."

As Ram also entered the meal hall, Rem could not stand it any further. Quickly stepping up next to him, Rem clasped her hand into his and hooked her other arm around his same arm, halfway hugging him.

Looking up to YN with an expression of worry, all he could do was hold her hand tighter in response, acknowledging her concern.

Sighing, YN smiled at Rem, prompting her to do so back to him, showing her that everything was alright.

Letting himself take relief in the blue of Rem's eyes, YN turned to face the door they were set to enter next.

It really is just that, isn't it? Ram really does seem to have my back while Beatrice... Really doesn't seem to be too fond of me.

While it wasn't lost on YN that Subaru was in a completely opposite position when it came to Beatrice and Ram, he couldn't understand why it was Beatrice had such a dislike for him.

Shaking the thought away, YN looked back to Rem and nodded. Letting his arm go but holding his hand still, Rem walked with YN to the meal hall door and entered, ready to not let such an ultimately small thing stop another happy day together at the mansion.

Despite the previous interaction, breakfast was normal at best. Even Emilia had once again asked her usual series of questions to YN.

Emilia: And you're sure you haven't noticed anything with your gate? What about your magic?

Scratching his head, YN tried to reply as politely as he could.

YN: E-Eh, Emilia-sama, there's really no need to fret over my well-being, any instances with my gate were days ago now.

Looking down at her plate that sat next to his own, YN could see the attempt that was made to mimic the ones Rem would give him.

YN: Besides, shouldn't you be enjoying the meal? Subaru put a lot of effort into plating yours.

To the opposite side of Emilia sat the artist of her plate, patiently awaiting a response to the efforts he had put in, that had now only been called attention to.

Emilia: Hmm, I guess that's true. I hadn't noticed until now—

Impounding his head into the table, Subaru let the rejection of his labor be fizzled off whilst he mumbled words of encouragement to himself, resigning from any further discussion on the topic.

But continuing to elaborate, Emilia's voice became slightly hushed, almost with a pinch of sadness to them.

Emilia: —but it does sort of look like the plates Rem normally gives you.

Hearing his "daughter's" tone of voice change, the small cat that was her contracted spirit poked his drowsy head from her silver hair.

Puck: *Yawn* Why do you say it that way, Lia?

Thinking she had misspoke, Emilia perked back up, blinking and slightly shaking her head.

Emilia: Oh, uh. 'Normally.' Normally like how, uhh, how Rem normally does it, but that's not the case today, right?

Turning back to his own plate, YN took in the extra elaborate plate he was given today by the blue haired maid.

While she had captured his heart, he still certainly wished he wasn't made to stand out so much from it.

Looking upon the details, it was enough to know that Rem had seen the plate Subaru had tried to make Emilia, and could not let herself be outdone.

In addition to the normally heart shaped foods and their garnish, Rem had gone as far to fold his napkin into that of a heart, and had even somehow managed to make the grill marks of his food heart shaped.

Now looking to the girl responsible, Rem also enthusiastically awaited a judgment for her work. With her two hands held in fists to her chest, Rem was ready.

Pointing to the plate, YN did feel the warmth of Rem's affection she had put into it.

YN: You did all this for me?

Nodding, Rem eagerly proclaimed her motivation.

Rem: Rem could not let her devotion to YN-kun be out-shined by anyone. That's why Rem thinks she deserves some praise, doesn't she?

Tilting her head forward, Rem offered YN the chance for the headpats she so craved.

Knowing it was truly what she wanted, YN decided she had well and truly earned it.

Patting the maid on her head, her hair softly sprang back to place with each pat. Between YN's fingers he could feel the un-patted strands were smooth and silky to the touch.

Looking back over his shoulder for the judgment he knew he was receiving from the others, the only two who had seemed to notice were Ram and Beatrice.

Perhaps this is a normal enough happening now that no one cares anymore.

While Beatrice had simply "Hmph!"-ed and turned her nose away, Ram was leaned well forward in her seat, one elbow on the table as she chewed, watching in amusement as her sister reacted cutely to being praised.

But, unseen to all but one of those seated at the table, was the almost somber expression that hung on Emilia's face. While not having to look directly at it to know it was happening, YN's praise to Rem and the satisfaction Rem was showing of it was apparent.

Emilia knew not what she felt, but it was rather unpleasant.

But having a connection to her himself, the tiny cat in her hair poked his head out once more, smiling at the cute exchange between YN and Rem before turning to look at the side of his daughter's face.

Knowing there was little he could do at that moment for her, Puck only thought to himself as he looked upon the half elf's face.

Lia, why do you feel this way all of sudden?

Taking one last glance before retreating back into her hair, Puck looked YN up and down, and then back to Emilia.

This isn't the first time you've felt this way, but you've only felt this way as of recent.

Helping to put away the table dishes and silverware, YN assisted Rem and Ram while they discussed what they should try and accomplish today with chilly conditions inside the mansion.

Ram: If possible, Ram would like to work on something where it isn't as cold.

Having finished, Subaru was now also awaiting further instructions.

Putting a hand to her chin, Rem thought for a moment before deciding.

Rem: Nee-sama, aren't we due to clean some of the storage rooms sometime soon? It should be warmer in that part of the mansion...

Ram: That's not a bad idea. YN, Barasu.

Knowing what she was going to ask, YN snapped to attention and nodded in agreement. But to his side, Subaru protested.

Subaru: Oh you're just going have us do all the work? How's that fair? Aren't we catering to your displeasure here already?

As Ram went to fire back, YN politely stepped in, trying to prevent another pointless session of bickering.

YN: Someone will need to supervise, right? It's a part of the mansion neither of us are entirely familiar with.

Crossing her arms and putting an air of smug superiority on, Ram built on what YN had brought up.

Ram: YN is correct. Barasu, please learn your place.

Turning to her, YN gave Ram an expression of "Please I'm trying to get him to cooperate." Seeing this, Ram's face softened somewhat.

Sighing, she continued.

Ram: Now, the two of you can follow me.

Following the older maid sister, YN reflected on what was just said.

Ram normally doesn't outright ask for special treatment like that. She's much more "fake it till you make it" oriented.

Thinking back more, YN continued his thoughts as the three trekked through the mansion's back hallways.

Plus, Subaru should be able to see Ram is freezing, she obviously doesn't do well in the cold.

Weighing why that may be, and why her and her sister were so different like that, one key difference came up.

Maybe it's something to do with not having a horn? That does seem like a pretty vital thing for an Oni to have... Losing it probably creates a whole laundry list of problems.

Shaking his head at the pointlessness of his theory-crafting, YN arrived at the rooms they were set to clean, and set to work.

Setting about to beat rugs, dust shelves, sweep floors, and organize items, YN and Subaru worked to Ram's command.

These back rooms were mostly under-utilized storage rooms with mostly trivial possessions, probably built up over the four hundred years of Mathers that had lived here.

Pulling a rug up to beat clean, YN had noticed a crooked floor board in the center of the room, formerly covered by the rug he had moved. Setting the rug down, both Ram and Subaru watched as YN curiously kicked the board in question, causing it and a few others near it to move in unison.

Getting down on his knees, YN noticed a set of tiny hinges, inset into the floor to prevent their protrusion.

YN: Ram, what is this? A door of some sort—?

Going to open the hatch, Ram immediately interjected.

Ram: Hold on. YN, at least wait till Ram is out of the room and have Subaru open it in case some hideous bug comes crawling out of there.

Subaru: Hey why me?!

Ignoring the outburst, YN continued with his question.

YN: So you don't know?

Shaking her head, YN turned back to the hatch in question.

YN: Well, only one way to find out.

Subaru: W-wait! What if Ram's right? What if some huge rat comes crawling out, pissed you disturbed it's nest?

Holding his hand up, YN focused his mana in his palm, causing it to glow white.

YN: That's when I flash it with a Jiwald and add the title of "experienced exterminator" to my resume.

Going to finally open the hatch, Ram stood behind YN, wand in hand should he need assistance, while Subaru stood to the side, broom handle raised above his head, ready to bonk anything he didn't like.

Lifting the hatch open, the three were treated to a shallow opening, filled with dividers keeping separate brown, green, and clear bottles of various brown and clear liquids apart.

Seeing no sign of bugs or rats, the two kneeled down next to YN to get a better look at the bottles in question.

Reaching aimlessly for one of the more brightly colored bottles, Subaru had his wrist slapped in response.

Subaru: Ouch! What gives?!

Ram: It's foolish to touch bottles of unknown liquid. What if they exploded in some mana reaction?

Rubbing his still stinging skin, Subaru guessed aloud.

Subaru: What are they... Potions?

Silent in reply, Ram now watched YN's careful hand reach for the same bottle Subaru had. It's bright, orange-brown shimmer softly calling to him.

Grabbing the bottle, YN swished the liquid around, obstructed by the opaque glass it hid behind. Taking his free hand, he popped the cork that held the contents in its glass prison off, and brought the opening of it to his nose, ready for whatever it might give him.

Taking a whiff, YN had actually not prepared enough for what he experienced.

Removing the bottle from anywhere near his face, YN's face contorted in displeasure.

YN: WOOOO-WEEEE!

Subaru: Woah! What is it? Let me smell!

Ram: YN? Does Ram need to fetch Rem?

Blinking from the tears of irritation in his eyes, YN regained his composure. Shaking his head to Ram's question, he put the cork back on the bottle.

YN: That's some liquor strong enough to peel the paint off the walls.

Subaru: Alcohol? Is this where we find out Ros-chi has a drinking problem?

Bonking him on the back of the head, Ram corrected Subaru's behavior as she stood back up.

Ram: Barasu, you would do well to watch what you say about Roswaal-sama in Ram's presence. But—

Changing her tone, Ram continued with her thought.

Ram: —I do remember hearing something about Roswaal-sama's grandmother being quite the heavy drinker...

YN: A stash then?

Putting a hand to her chin, Ram's thoughts were interrupted by the sound of someone new at the door to the room.