If there was one thing Subaru had discovered about this world, it was that the world was flat.
Not only was it flat, but an eternal waterfall cascaded endlessly over its edge, disappearing into an abyss.
After the progress made in the royal selection, Roswaal proposed a rare opportunity for everyone to relax and unwind. With the trials of the past year, facing Witch Cultists, the White Whale, and the Great Rabbit, behind them, the margrave suggested a trip to the beach.
Whether it was meant as an apology or another of Roswaal's convoluted schemes destined to be doomed, Subaru didn't care. Any chance to lower his guard, even for a little while, was something he gladly welcomed.
Subaru sat in the back of the carriage with the rest of his camp members. Outside, Otto held the reins, guiding the vehicle across the rough terrain. Beside him, Garfiel rode shotgun, his sharp eyes scanning the surroundings as he kept watch for any potential threats.
Inside, Frederica was resting peacefully. On her lap, little Petra snuggled close, the two sharing a warm blanket that seemed to shield them from the world. Emilia sat next to them, her head gently tilted to the side as she, too, drifted off into a quiet sleep.
On the other side sat Subaru, Ram, and Beatrice.
Beatrice was engrossed in a book she had brought along, doing her best to ignore the couple seated uncomfortably close to her.
"You excited, Ram?" Subaru asked the maid, sitting next to him.
"Ram is neutral," she replied, her tone as flat as ever.
"Oh, come on... it's the beach everyone loves going to the beach Ram!"
"Hmph, you only want an excuse to ogle Ram's body while she's in the water," she retorted with a knowing smirk.
"Oh, please. It's not like there's anything I haven't already seen…" Subaru quipped, a sly grin spreading across his face.
Ram's cheeks flushed a delicate pink at his lewd remark.
"There are other people here, in fact," Beatrice interjected bluntly, her eyes never leaving her book.
"You should listen to Lady Beatrice," Ram said, crossing her arms. "You shouldn't make such perverted comments in front of everyone."
"Yeah, yeah, but everyone's asleep," Subaru replied with a shrug.
"Ram suggests that you shouldn't risk it."
"That's fair, but… before everyone wakes up…" Subaru leaned in, closing the distance between them. He captured Ram's lips in a soft, loving kiss. Surprised but not displeased, Ram leaned into his warmth, returning his affection with fervor.
Before they knew it, the two were lost in a passionate embrace, arms entwined as they ignored the rest of the world for just a moment.
"Animals, in fact!" Beatrice exclaimed, snapping the two back to reality. "Betty is sitting right here, I suppose!"
Subaru and Ram sprang apart, awkwardly straightening their clothes and looking anywhere but at the irked spirit.
"Sorry, Beako… You know we try," Subaru said, scratching the back of his head.
"Apologies, Lady Beatrice," Ram added, her usual confidence momentarily shaken. "Barusu is a beast, you see-"
"Betty doesn't want to hear it, I suppose," Beatrice cut in, narrowing her eyes. "You two need to behave yourselves while we're out here, unless you want everyone to know your little secret. Or perhaps being risky is some sort of foreplay, I wonder?"
Subaru nearly choked, coughing awkwardly, while Ram turned her face away, clearly flustered.
Beatrice raised an eyebrow and let out an exasperated sigh, shaking her head. "Betty fears she already has her answer, I suppose."
"Don't worry, Beako. Ram and I will be on our best behavior," Subaru assured her, holding up his hands in surrender.
"Ram will simply have to keep her distance from Barusu before he gets her in his grasp again," Ram quipped, though her blush betrayed her.
Beatrice rolled her eyes, turning back to her book. "Hopeless, in fact," she muttered, burying herself in her reading once more.
Subaru gazed out at the ocean stretching endlessly before him. It had been a long, long time since he had set foot on a beach.
Memories of home crept into his mind, those rare, precious moments when he visited beaches in Japan with his parents. The sensation of the sand beneath his feet was just as soft here as it had been on Earth, and the ocean was just as brilliantly blue.
He missed this sight.
"Subaru! Isn't this beautiful!" The voice, sweet and melodic like silver bells, snapped him out of his thoughts.
'Oh my God.' Is all that Subaru can say in his head.
Standing before him was Emilia, radiant as ever. Subaru had seen her in many different outfits over time, each one highlighting her natural beauty. But this… this was something else entirely.
It dawned on him now that he has never seen Emilia in a Bikini, or rather, he's never seen her so revealing before.
Either someone had underestimated her size, or this was some kind of deliberate attempt to end him. The swimsuit clung to her figure like its very existence depended on it, accentuating every curve in a way that sent alarms blaring in his head. Her ample chest, soft thighs, and flawlessly slender waist were on full display, leaving very little to the imagination.
His brain felt like it was short-circuiting. It was as though her body had been sculpted by a team of angels, or perhaps the Witch of Lust herself.
"Subaru, are you okay?" Emilia asked, tilting her head in concern.
"Okay! Yeah, I'm okay!" he stammered, shaking his head vigorously to snap himself out of it. He needed to focus, desperately, before his body betrayed him. The last thing he needed was to get an erection while wearing nothing but swimming trunks.
"Are you ready to have fun at the beach, Emilia-tan?" he asked, forcing a grin.
Emilia's face lit up with her signature, dazzling smile, and she turned to head toward the water, her silver hair shimmering under the sun as she went.
Subaru let out a long, shaky breath.
As Subaru watched Emilia walk away, he suddenly felt a sharp, stinging pain on the side of his head. Someone had grabbed his ear and yanked him down with a firm tug.
"Barusu..."
He recognized the voice instantly. It was Ram, and she didn't sound pleased.
"O-Oh hey, Ram… how are you doing?" Subaru stammered, offering a sheepish grin as he turned to face her.
"Ram doesn't appreciate you staring at other women's assets," she said, her tone sharp and unamused.
"Look Ram, she was talking to me- and did you see- look at her outfit, Ram! What am I even supposed to do!?" He protested, gesturing wildly in his defense.
"Not staring at her would be a good start," Ram shot back, her voice tinged with annoyance. "How do you think Ram feels when you do that?"
Her words carried an edge, but Subaru couldn't miss the slight vulnerability hidden underneath.
"I'm sorry," he said sincerely, lowering his voice. "I know I shouldn't be doing that."
"Apology accepted." She released his ear and crossed her arms, her expression softening ever so slightly.
Subaru straightened up and gave her a warm smile. For a moment, he forgot all about Emilia as his gaze fell on Ram.
She was wearing a bikini, and while it wasn't as eye catching as Emilia's, Subaru couldn't deny how stunning she looked. The swimsuit matched the colors of her usual maid outfit, complete with her signature headband, giving her a charmingly familiar appearance. She looked cute, really cute.
Subaru chuckled to himself. While he'd been momentarily overwhelmed by Emilia's allure, Ram's unique beauty was something else entirely. He noticed how her reaction earlier hinted at a touch of insecurity, likely stemming from the comparison to Emilia's… assets.
Ram obviously suffered from some sort of breast envy. It wasn't the first time he'd seen her express something like this. Back when Rem was awake, Subaru remembered Ram's not so subtle comments about breast size during their playful sibling banter.
Despite how he acts, Subaru didn't care about breasts size at all, that wasn't the type of man he was. Breast size wasn't what mattered to him, not in the slightest.
'Flat is justice.' He told himself. A wise man once said that a woman's big breasts can fill a mans hand, but a small chest can fill a mans heart. Ram was living proof of that mantra. She had worked her way into his heart, as effortlessly as breathing. And if he wanted to count her, Beako had done the same.
Subaru glanced back at Ram, who stood with her usual confidence, though he noticed a faint blush dusting her cheeks.
"Come on, Ram," he said, holding out his hand with a playful grin. "Let's go enjoy the beach together."
"Hmph. Don't expect Ram to save you if you drown, Barusu," she replied, turning her nose up. But she took his hand anyway.
Subaru felt the cold water lap at his feet as he stepped into the ocean. The contrast between the cool waves and the heat of the sun bearing down on his skin was refreshing.
He glanced at his camp members, a smile tugging at his lips as he watched how much fun everyone was having.
Otto and Garfiel were roughhousing in the water, though calling it "wrestling" would be generous. It was more of Garfiel repeatedly dunking the poor merchant into the waves, ensuring he was as drenched as possible.
Nearby, Frederica and Petra were splashing each other, giggling as they tossed handfuls of salty water back and forth.
Emilia was sitting peacefully by the shore, letting the gentle waves roll over her legs.
Under an umbrella they'd brought along, Beatrice sat primly in her bathing suit, engrossed in her another book, while Roswaal reclined on a towel, basking in the sun. Subaru couldn't help but wonder, 'Can that guy even tan with all that makeup on?'
Despite the lively atmosphere, Subaru's heart sank a little. 'I wish Rem was here.'
His gaze shifted to Ram, who was taking cautious, almost hesitant steps into the water. It was adorable, clearly, she wasn't a fan of the cold.
"Not a fan of the water, Ram?" he teased, walking over to her.
"Ram isn't used to water this cold brushing up against her skin," she replied, her usual composure slightly faltering.
"The beach is fun, Ram. You'll like it once you get used to it."
"Ram doesn't dislike it," she said with a small huff, "but she doesn't want to stay in the sun for too long."
"Why is that?"
"When Ram spends too much time in the sun, it does funny things to her skin," she admitted, a faint blush coloring her cheeks.
"Oh do you get sunburnt? Do we have any sunscreen to prevent that?"
"Ram doesn't know what sunscreen is. Ram doesn't get sunburnt as much as her skin temporarily changes color."
Subaru blinked. He wasn't entirely sure what she meant, but judging by her tone, she seemed a little embarrassed about it.
The day unfolded in a blur of laughter and activity. Subaru found himself dragged into a water fight with Garfiel and Otto, the younger man showing no mercy in splashing him repeatedly.
Later, he taught Petra how to dive under the water without holding her nose, with Frederica eventually joining in despite initially protesting about getting her hair wet.
Subaru spent time sitting with Emilia by the shore, talking about everything and nothing as they watched the waves roll in.
Now, he was perched on the sand with Beatrice, the two of them building a sandcastle together.
"Let's try to make this as tall as we can, Beako," Subaru said, sculpting a tower with his hands.
"Why does Betty have to dirty her hands with all this wet sand instead of using magic, I wonder?"
"Because that would ruin the fun! It's more rewarding to build it ourselves."
"Betty admits that this is… amusing," she said begrudgingly, carefully shaping the walls of the castle.
"See? I knew you'd like it," Subaru said with a grin, digging a small moat around their creation. "I'll get some water to fill this up."
"Betty will reinforce the structure, I suppose. The castle needs more support," the little spirit declared, already gathering more sand to add tiny houses around the main structure.
Bucket in hand, Subaru walked toward the ocean to fetch water for their moat. But as he approached, a sight stopped him dead in his tracks.
"Ram... is that you?"
Standing before him was Ram, but not quite as he'd always known her. Her skin, usually fair and pale, now had a warm, caramel glow from the sun.
"Do you see what Ram means by the sun doing funny things to her skin now, Barusu?"
Being the idiot he was Subaru stood slackjawed at the sight before him. Is that what Ram meant when she said the sun did funny things to her? She got a tan?
Ram was already a stunning girl, but the tan somehow enhanced her beauty in a way that left Subaru's brain scrambling to process. Her golden skin contrasted beautifully with her pink hair and maid like swimsuit, making her look both elegant and radiant.
His thoughts spiraled into chaos. Why does she look so good? Why does this feel like a blessing from the heavens?
"Barusu, close your mouth. You look ridiculous," Ram said, a faint blush creeping across her cheeks.
Subaru quickly snapped his jaw shut, his face burning red. "Uh, y-yeah! Totally! You look… uh… great, Ram!" he sputtered, fumbling over his words.
"Barusu you're staring..."
"I know," Subaru replied, a soft smile spreading across his face.
Ram shifted nervously under his gaze, her cheeks tinged pink.
"You're so beautiful, you know that," he said, his voice quiet but sincere.
"You think Ram looks pretty like this?" she asked, her tone carrying an uncharacteristic hint of uncertainty.
"You look pretty all the time, but… there's something special about this," he admitted, his gaze unwavering.
"Pervert," she muttered, though her blush deepened.
"Yeah, your pervert," Subaru quipped, his grin widening. He glanced around to make sure everyone was preoccupied. "And this pervert wants to fool around a little while you look like this."
"Are you crazy, Barusu? What if we get caught?" she hissed, her voice lowering to a whisper.
Subaru's eyes darted to a cluster of boulders near the shoreline. The rocks offered a secluded hideaway, and the sound of waves crashing against them would muffle any… noises.
"Not if we go over there," he said, nodding toward the spot.
Ram hesitated for a moment, but then sighed, her resolve melting. "Ram can't believe she's agreeing to this…"
"Because you love it," Subaru teased, a mischievous glint in his eye.
Her face turned a deeper shade of pink, but she didn't argue. Instead, she grabbed his hand and started pulling him toward the boulders, glancing around to make sure they weren't being followed.
From a distance, Beatrice let out a long, exasperated sigh, watching the two sneak off together. With a flick of her hand, a veil of magic surrounded them, shielding their little escapade from prying eyes.
"Betty swears that girl is a succubus, in fact," she muttered, shaking her head. With a huff, the little spirit turned back to her sandcastle, determined to enjoy her day despite the antics of two certain individuals.
Secluded behind the boulders, Ram and Subaru wasted no time getting frisky. The shallow water lapped gently at their ankles, the sound of the waves crashing nearby providing a perfect backdrop to their stolen moment.
"Stupid pervert Barusu," Ram muttered, though her tone lacked any real anger. It was her usual way of speaking, but the faint blush on her cheeks betrayed her true feelings. "Dragging Ram away just to have his way with her."
Subaru grinned, his expression as cheeky as ever. "Look at you, all flustered. You're so cute like this."
""Shut up and kiss Ram, you dolt," she snapped, though the soft lilt in her voice was anything but cold.
With no great spirit or interruptions to worry about, the two resumed what had been cut short earlier.
Their lips met in another intense, heated kiss, the kind of passion they had shared many times before. Ram's arms instinctively wrapped around Subaru's neck, pulling him closer, as if trying to erase the space between them.
Subaru's hands, always a little too bold, moved to her waist before sliding down to her rear. Ram's eyes fluttered open for just a moment in surprise as Subaru hoisted her up effortlessly.
Caught off guard but not resisting, Ram wrapped her legs around his waist for support, her small frame light as a feather in his arms. The new position only deepened their connection, their kiss becoming even more fervent as they lost themselves in the moment.
The swimwear they were wearing was basically underwear. Ram could feel Subaru's full erection pressing against her. The tip was lightly touching her special place, but not fully. An Idea popped into Ram's head, something that would feel good for the both of them now that they were alone together.
"Barusu, lower Ram a little," she instructed.
Subaru loosened his grip on her, letting her slide slightly downward. She shifted with purpose, positioning herself so her lower body pressed directly against the prominent bulge tenting his trunks.
He adjusted his stance, leaning back against the smooth curve of one of the boulders, creating just enough space for the two of them to move freely.
Without hesitation, Ram pressed her full weight against him, her hips beginning a deliberate, rhythmic motion. She grinded herself against him, her every gyration perfectly aligned to ensure the friction ignited her most sensitive areas. Her movements grew fluid and purposeful, drawing out every tantalizing sensation as she moved with precision and intent.
Subaru's grip tighten on her again when he clenched her backside and started doing the same thing as her. The two of them were dry humping each other, despite the fact they are still at the beach and were still wet from earlier. No penetration, yet anyway, but his hard prick felt the opening of her lips through the wet swimsuit. He thrusted in to her vibrating hips to rub against her just right.
"Keep doing it like that, Barusu," Ram murmured, her voice soft but insistent. A quiet gasp escaped her lips. "Right there... don't stop."
"You too Ram, keep moving your waist like that." Subaru buried his face in the curve of Ram's neck, planting a series of soft kisses against her skin. The warmth of her caramel complexion, kissed by the sun, seemed to amplify the intimacy of the moment. He only hoped that any marks he left would blend in with her tanned skin.
"Barusu… try not to leave too many marks on Ram," she murmured, her voice soft yet teasing.
"I'll try my best," he replied with a playful grin, "but you're so beautiful, it's hard to stop myself." His lips found another spot on her neck, lingering there as he gave her a gentle nip.
A shiver ran through Ram's body, her arms tightening around him. "Ram is happy that you desire her like this," she admitted, her voice tinged with a rare vulnerability.
"How could I not?" Subaru said, his voice earnest as he pulled back to look at her. "Beautiful caramel skin, bright pink hair… Ram, you're incredible. If we weren't surrounded by people, I don't think I could've held myself back this long."
"Barusu…" Ram whined softly, pressing her forehead to his chest. Her voice carried a mix of irritation and affection. "Your stupid comments are making Ram's heart throb. You need to take responsibility for this…"
"What do you think I'm doing?" He gave the maid's rear a light smack, making her shiver. "Need to take care of my girl," Subaru said with a cheeky grin, his hands steadying Ram against him as he kept thrusting.
'My girl...' The words echoed in Ram's mind, her heart fluttering in response. 'Stupid Barusu... spoil Ram more please.'
Subaru felt Ram's movements grow more fervent, her hips pressing harder against him with renewed energy. Her grip around him tightened, her legs locking firmly around his waist as if to pull him closer.
"Ah, Ram!"
"Ram is almost there~ keep going!"
Soon after, Ram's body shuddered in Subaru's arms, a soft quiver running through her as her movements slowed. Her grip around him loosened, and she leaned heavily against his chest, her body going limp in his hands.
Subaru instinctively held her closer, his arms steady and protective as he supported her weight. He could feel her rapid breaths against his neck, her warmth pressing into him as she clung to him for a moment longer.
Ram came intensely, her breath hitching as Subaru's gaze traced the glistening trail of fluid streaming down her thigh. It escaped the confines of her dampened bikini, now clinging to her skin with an even darker, wetter sheen.
"Barusu..."
"Ram..."
Their voices softened as they leaned into each other, their lips meeting in another tender, lingering kiss.
"Ram," Subaru murmured, his breath warm against her cheek.
"Yes?" she replied, a hint of curiosity mingling with the heat in her tone.
"I'm still hard," he confessed, the words carrying a blend of awkward honesty and unspoken desire.
Ram sighed, though her smirk betrayed her amusement. "I guess it can't be helped."
Without hesitation, she slid off his lap, moving with her characteristic grace. She turned to face the boulder, her hands pressing lightly against its surface as she positioned herself. Her back arched ever so slightly, presenting her ass to him with a deliberate, inviting motion.
"Well, Barusu," she teased over her shoulder, her voice laced with playful mischief, "Don't keep Ram waiting."
Subaru slipped his fingers beneath the edge of her bikini, sliding it down with deliberate slowness. As he spread her cheeks wide, a sharp contrast caught his eye, her skin, bronzed from countless hours under the sun, gave way to the untouched, pristine pale of her hidden flesh. The sight was mesmerizing, almost surreal, and he couldn't help but silently wish he could capture this moment forever. Her asshole, funny enough, was still brown. It was pretty much winking at him and he knew what he had to do.
"Barusu hurRY UP!" Ram yelped as Subaru roughly jammed his hard cock right inside her asshole. Before she could say another word, Subaru pulled out and pushed himself into her again with an abrupt, forceful thrust. The sudden intrusion drew a yelp from her lips, her voice hitching as her body tensed momentarily before adjusting to the intensity.
Pressed firmly against the boulder, Ram's breath came in quick, uneven bursts. Her hands gripped the rock's surface, knuckles pale from the effort, as her body rocked with each movement. "Dammit Barusu not so sudden," she muttered, though the tremor in her voice betrayed the heat coursing through her.
"We need to hurry before the others notice we've been gone too long," Subaru muttered, his voice edged with urgency as he thrust into her again. "So I'll make this quick." His hips snapped forward roughly, drawing a sharp gasp from her as her body squirmed beneath him.
"Then hurry," Ram replied.
"I'll do my best," he said, his grip tightening on her hips as he maintained his relentless rhythm as he humped her ass. The heat between them intensified, and Ram began to respond more eagerly, her movements syncing with his in a way that spoke of familiarity and mutual understanding, pushing back against his force.
"Barusu, don't you dare stop," she breathed, her usual sharpness softened by her growing need.
"I wasn't planning on it," he growled, his voice low and gravelly. His pace grew even rougher, his hands possessively gripping her small, little frame as their bodies moved together in frenzied unison.
Subaru pressed her harder against the rough surface of the boulder, his hard cock going as deep as it can go deep inside her asshole, their frantic movements perfectly synchronized. Ram pushed her body against his force while Subaru kept thrusting hard inside her. Their shared pleasure mounted, building toward an inevitable peak.
"Barusu!" Ram gasped, her voice trembling with urgency.
"I'm right there, Ram!" Subaru panted, his breath hot against her ear.
With a final, powerful thrust, he pulled her away from the boulder and into his arms, her back pressed firmly against his chest. A shudder ran through both of them as Subaru reached his climax, his arms tightening around her petite frame as he held her close.
The pink haired maid exhaled softly, her body melting into his embrace. Ram felt all of his hot spunk surge inside her rectum, stuffing her completely like a freshly made pastry. His dick, while still being deep inside her, she felt the overflow of semen leak out. She turned her head slightly, her cheek brushing against his in a quiet, tender gesture.
"Are you okay, Ram?" Subaru asked, his voice low and gentle.
"Ram feels good," she murmured, nuzzling into him affectionately. A contented smile played on her lips before her expression turned thoughtful. "We should start heading back."
Subaru nodded, planting a light kiss on her shoulder. "Yeah, I think so too."
Ram slipped gracefully out of Subaru's grasp, stretching her petite body after their rough romp. Her legs ached from holding that demanding position and the rough fucking she just received, and she rolled her shoulders to ease the tension.
"Was I too rough, Ram?" Subaru asked, a hint of concern lacing his voice as he watched her.
Ram glanced back at him, "Barusu, you should know by now," she replied, her tone calm but tinged with a familiar sharpness. "Ram has told you several times, she doesn't mind when you're rough. Ram will be fine." She picked the loosed bikini back up from between her legs and slipped them back on. "Ram is going to be gaping again for a while."
Subaru laughed, "Ram, you're such an ego booster, and you don't even realize it," Subaru said with a playful grin.
"Oh? Do Ram's words really lift Barusu's mood that much?" she teased.
"A little more than just your words," he admitted, his grin widening. "But we can go with that."
Subaru reached out, gently pulling her closer. Their lips met in a deep, passionate kiss, the world around them fading away as they melted into each other's embrace, the sound of the waves adding to the romantic moment. For a brief time, nothing else mattered.
When they finally parted, their foreheads touched, and Subaru gave her a soft smile. "We should head back now."
"Indeed," Ram replied with her usual composed tone, though the faintest hint of a smile lingered on her lips.
When Subaru and Ram returned to the beach, the first thing that caught Subaru's attention was the sprawling array of sand structures stretching across the shoreline. His jaw dropped slightly, a wide grin spreading across his face. What had once been a modest sandcastle was now an elaborate sand kingdom. Towers, walls, and even an intricate moat connected various parts of the sandy metropolis.
"Looks like Beako got creative," Subaru said, marveling at the craftsmanship. Given the scale, he could only assume she had used magic despite her earlier protests.
"It's about time the two of you came back, I suppose," came a small but unmistakably annoyed voice.
Turning, Subaru and Ram found Beatrice sitting cross-legged near her sand masterpiece. She was covered in sand from head to toe, and her pout was as fierce as ever.
"Oh, sorry, Beako," Subaru said sheepishly, scratching the back of his head. "I just had to take care of something for a moment."
"Take care of something?" Beatrice repeated, narrowing her eyes. "More like giving in to your lust, I suppose."
"But Beako, just look at how beautiful Ram is right now!" Subaru replied dramatically, motioning toward Ram like a showman unveiling a masterpiece.
Beatrice raised an eyebrow and finally gave Ram a proper look. Her expression shifted slightly as she took in Ram's caramel-colored skin. "I see," she said, her tone flat but with a hint of amusement. "Betty understands now. She didn't get a good look at the maid earlier, but now Betty gets why your loins were on fire."
Ram immediately covered her face with her hands, groaning softly in mortification.
"Woah, Ram!" Emilia's cheerful voice chimed in as she approached. Her lavender eyes sparkled with excitement. "Look at you! You look so pretty, Ram!"
Ram peeked through her fingers, only to see Emilia smiling at her with genuine admiration. "Ram wants to die," she muttered under her breath.
"HOLY SHIT, RAM!" Garfiel bellowed as he and Otto trudged over from the water. His emerald eyes widened as he took in her new appearance. "You look amazin'! I didn't know your skin could do somethin' like that!"
"Wow, Ram," Otto added, his tone more subdued but still impressed. "I didn't think tans suited you so well, but it looks really nice."
"Ram, you look adorable," Frederica chimed in, walking over with Petra by her side.
Petra's eyes practically sparkled as she gazed up at Ram. "Ram, how did you do that so fast? You're so pretty!" Her thoughts whirled with ideas, wondering if Subaru would like to see her with darker skin too.
"Ram~" Roswaal's voice purred as he sauntered closer, his mismatched eyes gleaming. "It has been such a long time since I have seen you like this~. What a delightful surprise."
Ram felt the collective attention of the entire group bearing down on her. Her face burned with embarrassment, and she desperately wished the ground would swallow her whole. "Ram wants to go home," she mumbled, her voice barely audible over the laughter and chatter around her.
The ride back to the manor was a quiet one, the day's activities having worn everyone out. Frederica and Petra were fast asleep, the younger maid snuggled up against her mentor, their breaths soft and steady. Emilia sat beside them, her head leaning against the carriage window as she dozed.
Beatrice, Ram, and Subaru were the only ones still awake. Beatrice, seated with her legs tucked under her, was engrossed in finishing the novel she'd started earlier in the day.
Ram and Subaru sat side by side, the gentle sway of the carriage creating a calming rhythm. With the others asleep, Ram leaned against Subaru, resting her head on his chest. She could hear the steady, comforting rhythm of his heartbeat, each thump grounding her in the moment.
"Did you have a nice time today, Ram?" Subaru asked softly, his voice low and warm.
"Ram did," she murmured, her voice uncharacteristically gentle. "Ram really liked the beach… but she liked spending her time with you more."
Subaru smiled, wrapping an arm around her and pulling her closer. He pressed a tender kiss to her forehead. "I always love spending time with you, Ram."
Beatrice, without looking up from her book, let out an exaggerated sigh. "All this sappy love dialogue between you two has inspired Betty to read a romance novel next, I suppose," she said, her tone dripping with mock disdain.
Subaru chuckled, his hand gently stroking Ram's hair. "You'd love it, Beako. Let me know if you need any recommendations."
"Betty would rather not rely on you for such advice, I suppose," she quipped, though the faint upward twitch of her lips betrayed her amusement.
The carriage continued it journey on the long way back home, Subaru looked through the window and watched the sunset, a sense of peace settling over him as they drifted closer to home.