In The Manor

Morning had barely scratched the horizon when Rem, ever the dutiful maid, entered Subaru's guest room. It was her task to ensure their honored guest was up and ready for the day. But as she stepped inside, she froze, her usual composed demeanor faltering ever so slightly.

There, sprawled across the enormous bed like a drunk octopus, was Subaru. One arm dangled off the side, the other clutching her own chest like she was guarding buried treasure. Her mouth hung open, and her snores were loud enough to scare away nearby wildlife. Then came the mumbling.

"N-no... Jackie Bruce Lee… not the karate chop... Ugh, five more minutes…"

Rem blinked.

Her keen maid senses kicked in. Conclusion? Honored guest was a closet pervert.

With a disapproving frown and a sharp inhale, Rem approached the bed. She reached out and gently, though firmly, shook Subaru by the shoulder.

"Honored guest," she said in her usual calm tone.

"Five more minutes… Huh? D-dad? Come on, five more minutes…" Subaru mumbled, trying to bury herself deeper into the covers like a mole evading daylight.

"Honored guest."

Subaru shot up like a startled squirrel, her hair resembling a chaotic bird's nest. She blinked rapidly at Rem, her face turning the shade of a ripe tomato. "H-honored guest? Oh, right, that's me. Uh, morning, Miss Maid. Thanks for the wake-up call!"

Rem raised a single eyebrow, the epitome of unimpressed. "It is my duty."

Subaru quickly scrambled out of bed, tripping over the sheets in the process. She gave Rem an awkward thumbs-up. "Well, I'm up! Time to, uh, freshen up! Yeah!"

Rem, unimpressed as ever, turned and left without another word. But Subaru swore she saw a hint of judgment in her stoic gaze.

Once the coast was clear, Subaru grabbed her robe and headed to the bathroom. It was time to face her greatest challenge yet: the morning pee.

She stepped into the restroom and shut the door, leaning against it for a moment. She looked around at the pristine, overly fancy bathroom. The sink gleamed, the tiles sparkled, and the toilet… well, it loomed like a porcelain throne of doom.

Subaru gulped. She undid her robe and eyed her reflection in the mirror. "Alright, girl. You've got this. Just… just pretend it's not weird. Totally normal."

Turning her attention to the toilet, she hesitated. She glared at the void on her crotch like it had personally offended her. "So, this is my life now, huh? Peeing sitting down. Great. Forgive me, Mom. I didn't ask for this."

With a dramatic sigh, she sat down, her legs awkwardly bent inward as she tried to figure out the most "lady-like" posture. The sound of her business echoed in the eerily quiet bathroom. Her face burned with embarrassment.

"Oh my God, this feels so weird," she muttered under her breath. "Why is it warm? Why does it—nope, not thinking about it. Just… get it over with!"

When she was done, she grabbed some paper and hesitated again. "Wait… how do girls do this? Front to back, right? Or is it back to front? No, definitely front to back. Subaru, you're overthinking this. Just wipe and move on with your life!"

Mission accomplished, she washed her hands with more vigor than necessary, trying to scrub away the awkwardness of the past two minutes. She avoided eye contact with herself in the mirror.

"Second day in a fantasy world," she muttered, stepping out of the bathroom with a determined grin. "Can't wait to see what kind of chaos today brings!"

The dining room was grand, with sunlight spilling through tall windows that made the polished table glisten. Subaru walked in, her red hair still slightly damp from the earlier wind-drying session, and greeted Emilia and Puck, who were already seated and enjoying their morning.

"Morning, guys!" Subaru said cheerfully, plopping down into the chair with the kind of casualness that made Rem visibly twitch from the corner of the room.

Puck, perched lazily on Emilia's shoulder, gave her a toothy grin. "Morning, Hero Girl! Thanks again for helping Lia yesterday. You're quite something, aren't you?"

Subaru scratched the back of her head awkwardly, trying to suppress the blush creeping up her cheeks. "Aw, come on. It wasn't a big deal or anything. Just your average day of saving silver-haired beauties from crazy psycho killers, y'know?"

Puck's smile widened, but there was something about it—something dark and subtle, like a shadow barely visible in the corner of one's eye. Subaru blinked, and the feeling was gone. Maybe she was imagining it.

The food was served, and it was as heavenly as ever. Subaru attacked her plate with gusto, shovelling food into her mouth like it was the last meal she'd ever have. Meanwhile, Emilia ate with grace, occasionally glancing at Subaru with amusement.

Between bites, Emilia tilted her head. "Subaru, what do you like to do in the morning?"

Subaru swallowed a massive chunk of toast and smacked her chest as it went down. "Exercise!" she declared, puffing out her chest.

Emilia blinked. "E-exercise? Really?"

"Yup!" Subaru grinned. "Gotta keep this body in tip-top shape, you know? Can't slack off, even in a fantasy world!"

Before Emilia could respond, the doors swung open with a theatrical flourish, and in walked a man wearing an outfit that screamed clown goes to the opera. Bright colours, exaggerated sleeves, and a face painted with mischief. He strolled in like he owned the place—which, as it turned out, he did.

Subaru paused mid-chew, staring at the man with wide eyes. Her mouth, still full of food, muffled her question. "Ish he a butler? Or a jeshter?"

Ram, standing at the corner with a tray in hand, looked like she was ready to combust. "That," she said through gritted teeth, "is Roswaal L. Mathers. The Lord of this Domain, Master of this Manor, and Court Mage."

Subaru froze, her brain finally catching up with her mouth. She swallowed hard—literally and metaphorically—and coughed. "O-oh! Uh, sorry about that, Lord Rosewall—I mean Roswaal—uh…" She trailed off, her face turning redder than her hair.

Roswaal, however, simply chuckled, his painted lips curling into an amused smile. "There's no need to apologiiise, dear guest. I am quite used to such... creative interpretations of my attire." His voice had an odd, melodic quality to it, like he was half-singing his words.

Subaru, still flustered, sank deeper into her seat. "Y-yeah, cool. Thanks. Uh, nice to meet you!"

Roswaal joined them at the table, gracefully taking a seat and pouring himself a cup of tea. "The pleasuure is mine. So, tell me, Subaru—what is it you wish to ask of me?"

Subaru blinked, caught off guard. "Eh? Ask of you? What do you mean?"

He smiled knowingly. "You've already done quiiite a bit for Emilia-sama, retrieving her insignia and all. Surely, there's something you desire in return?"

Subaru waved her hands frantically. "Wait, wait, wait. I'm already freeloading here, aren't I? Isn't that enough? Like, seriously, I'm good. No need to give me anything else!"

Roswaal chuckled again, sipping his tea. "Hmmm… You're a curious one. But helping Emilia-sama recover her insignia is no small feat."

Subaru frowned, scratching her red head. "I mean, wasn't it just a... trinket or something?"

The room went silent. Subaru noticed Emilia turning bright pink, her hands fidgeting nervously in her lap.

Roswaal tilted his head, his painted face unreadable. "A trinket? My, my, what an interesting way to describe the symbol of a royal candidate for the throne."

Subaru froze, her fork halfway to her mouth. "...Excuse me, what now?"

Emilia's voice was soft but earnest. "The insignia isn't just a keepsake, Subaru. It's proof that I'm a candidate for the throne of Lugunica."

Subaru's brain short-circuited. She replayed the words in her head, trying to make sense of them. Throne? Royalty? Candidate? All because of that little shiny thing?

"Oh," she said finally, her voice weak. "Ohhh. Cool, cool, cool. So, uh, no pressure or anything, right?"

Emilia gave her a sheepish smile. "I'm sorry I didn't explain earlier. I didn't want to overwhelm you after everything that happened."

Subaru nodded slowly, her mind still spinning. "No, it's fine. Totally fine. Just found out I helped a future queen. No big deal. Happens all the time back in Tokyo, you know?"

Roswaal leaned back in his chair, his amused smile never fading. "Well then, Subaru. It seems your presence here is even more... significant than you initially thought, hmm?"

Subaru slumped in her chair, muttering under her breath. "Second day in a fantasy world, and I'm already neck-deep in royal drama. This is fine. Everything's fine…"

Subaru's fork clattered onto her plate as she leaned forward, her eyes sparkling with a mix of desperation and determination. She needed money. Desperately. The way her stomach grumbled between meals was already a clear warning sign, and she wasn't about to starve in some fancy fantasy manor.

"So, uh, how about this?" Subaru began, waving her hand like she was presenting some grand idea. "You give me a job! Something that pays. Y'know, I'm a little... uh... broke right now."

Roswaal tilted his head, his painted face betraying nothing but amusement. "Oh? A job, you say?"

Subaru nodded furiously, jabbing her thumb at herself. "Yeah! I mean, look at me. I'm strong, fast, and, uh... reliable. Super reliable. Totally the kind of person you wanna have around!"

The twins exchanged a glance. Ram's lips twitched into a smug smirk, while Rem's expression remained unreadable.

"I suppose we could fiiind something suitable," Roswaal said, his grin slowly widening as his gaze flicked toward the maids.

"Wait, wait, wait!" Subaru waved her hands in panic. "Not a maid job! Or a butler job! I'm not wearing one of those uniforms. No offense," she added quickly, glancing at Ram and Rem, "but I'd rather not. Something heroic and honourable, please?"

Roswaal chuckled, tapping his chin theatrically. "Hmm... heroic and honourable, you say? That does narrow things down quite a bit…"

Emilia, who had been quietly nibbling on her breakfast, finally spoke up. "Subaru, you don't have to do this. You've already helped me so much. You should rest and—"

"Nope!" Subaru cut her off, slamming her palms on the table. "I'm not freeloading anymore! I refuse to be that guy—or girl, now, I guess. Whatever. Point is, I wanna pull my weight!"

Roswaal's grin widened further, which Subaru didn't think was physically possible. "In that case... how about this? You can guard Emilia-sama. As her personal bodyguard."

Subaru blinked. "Huh? Like... a bodyguard? For real?"

Emilia's fork paused halfway to her mouth as she shook her head vigorously. "That's not necessary! I'm perfectly capable of taking care of myself. Puck helps me too! There's no need to—"

"Nonsense," Roswaal interrupted, waving a hand dismissively. "The Lady Knight has already proven her strength. She's fast, skilled, and, above all, she seems… quite reliable."

"See?" Subaru grinned, pointing at Roswaal. "The clown gets it!"

"Lord Roswaal," Ram corrected, her tone icy enough to freeze a room.

"Right, right, Lord Clown," Subaru said, not even trying to hide her smugness.

Emilia looked like she wanted to protest further, but Puck chimed in from her shoulder. "I don't know, Lia. Having Hero Girl around could be fun. And she's got a point—she's ridiculously strong."

Subaru flexed her arm with exaggerated pride, though her thin frame didn't exactly scream "intimidating." "That's right! I'm your gal. Strong, dependable, and ready to take down anyone who looks at you funny."

Emilia sighed, clearly overwhelmed by the enthusiasm surrounding her. "I-I guess... if everyone insists, then…"

"It's settled then!" Roswaal clapped his hands, his tone dripping with delight. "Subaru, welcome to your new job as Emilia-sama's personal bodyguard."

Subaru pumped her fist in the air. "Yes! I got a job! Take that, unemployment!"

Ram muttered something under her breath that sounded suspiciously like, "Barely competent."

Ignoring her, Subaru stood, grinning ear to ear. "Alright, Emilia, you're in good hands now. Nobody's gonna mess with you as long as I'm around. Super-Subaru's on the job!"

Emilia smiled hesitantly. "Thank you, Subaru. I'll try not to be too much trouble."

Subaru waved her off. "Trouble? Pfft, please. I eat trouble for breakfast!"

"Don't you mean you cause it?" Ram muttered, earning a glare from Subaru.

With that, Subaru's second day in this fantasy world officially kicked off—with her as a newly minted bodyguard. And while she wasn't entirely sure what the job entailed, one thing was clear: things were about to get a whole lot more chaotic.

Ö~Ö

The garden was massive. Like, ridiculously massive. Subaru felt like she'd stepped into a botanical wonderland designed by someone with too much money and not enough sense. Flowers of every colour bloomed in perfect symmetry, hedges were trimmed into fancy shapes, and there was even a small fountain that gurgled happily in the centre. It was like stepping into a painting.

But Subaru had no time for admiring art.

"So, this is where you hang out, huh?" she asked, hands on her hips as she turned to Emilia.

The half-elf nodded, her silver hair shimmering in the sunlight. "Yes. It's peaceful here. I like spending time in the garden when I need to think or relax."

Puck, perched on Emilia's shoulder, stretched lazily. "And it's perfect for sunbathing, right, Lia?"

Subaru raised an eyebrow. "Sunbathing? Aren't you, like, made of magic or something? Do you even tan?"

Puck puffed up his tiny chest. "I don't need to tan to enjoy the warmth of the sun, Hero Girl. You wouldn't understand."

Subaru rolled her eyes. "Yeah, sure, totally. Meanwhile, I'm over here thinking about how much sunscreen it'd take to keep from turning into a lobster in a place like this."

Emilia giggled softly, her violet eyes sparkling with amusement. "You're funny, Subaru. I can see why Puck likes you."

Subaru gave her a mock bow. "Thank you, thank you. I aim to please."

Then, with a sudden burst of energy, she clapped her hands. "Alright, enough chit-chat! Time for me to show you guys something awesome. My favourite exercise routine. I call it... Victory!"

"Victory?" Emilia tilted her head, clearly confused.

"Victory!" Subaru repeated, throwing her arms wide. "It's not just an exercise. It's a lifestyle. A philosophy. A celebration of life!"

Puck snorted. "Sounds like a lot of flailing around to me."

Subaru shot him a mock glare. "Watch and learn, furball."

She took a deep breath, planting her feet firmly on the ground. "Step one: the warm-up!"

With that, Subaru began jogging in place, her movements exaggerated and over-the-top. "Feel the burn, folks! Gotta get that blood pumping!"

Emilia covered her mouth, clearly trying not to laugh. "Is this... normal?"

"Totally normal!" Subaru replied, her voice slightly breathless. "Now, step two: the poses!"

She struck a dramatic pose, one arm extended toward the sky and the other on her hip. "This one's called 'Reach for the Stars.'"

Puck blinked. "Looks more like 'Reach for the Cookie Jar.'"

"Quiet, you," Subaru muttered before transitioning into another pose. She crouched low, one hand on the ground and the other stretched behind her. "And this one is 'Lightning Strikes!'"

Emilia clapped her hands. "That's impressive, Subaru!"

"Thank you, thank you," Subaru said, panting slightly. "But wait, there's more! Step three: the grand finale!"

She leapt into the air, twisting her body into a dramatic spin before landing with her arms raised in a V-shape. "Victory!" she shouted, grinning from ear to ear.

Puck stared at her, unimpressed. "That was... something."

"Something awesome," Subaru corrected, wiping sweat from her brow.

Emilia, on the other hand, was genuinely delighted. "That was amazing, Subaru! You're so full of energy."

Subaru puffed out her chest. "That's right. Energy, determination, and a whole lot of style. That's me in a nutshell."

Puck sighed. "You're definitely something in a nutshell, alright."

Subaru plopped down on the grass, her grin never fading. "You guys should try it sometime. Nothing beats a good round of Victory! to start your day."

Emilia shook her head, still smiling. "I think I'll leave that to you, Subaru. But it's nice to see you so happy."

Subaru leaned back, resting her hands behind her head as she stared up at the sky. "Well, what can I say? Life's too short not to strike a pose every now and then."

Puck chuckled. "Hero Girl, you're one of a kind."

"Darn right I am," Subaru replied, closing her eyes and basking in the warm sunlight. This world might be strange, but moments like this made it all worth it.

Emilia knelt down, a mischievous smile playing on her lips as she waved her hand. A tiny, shimmering ice cube materialised out of thin air, twirling in the air like it was showing off.

"Ta-da!" she exclaimed, holding it up proudly.

Subaru's jaw dropped. "No way! That's actual magic? Like, real magic?"

Emilia giggled, pleased by Subaru's astonishment. "Of course. It's not much, but it's something I can do easily."

Puck, perched smugly on Emilia's shoulder, chimed in. "Everyone has at least some magic affinity. Even you, Hero Girl."

"Me?!" Subaru's eyes widened as she pointed at herself dramatically. "No kidding? What's mine?"

Puck shrugged nonchalantly. "Don't know yet. But we can find out!"

Subaru scratched her head, confused. "Uh, how? Do I have to, like, eat a magic rock or something?"

Emilia stifled a laugh while Puck sighed. "You've really got a lot to learn. Lucky for you, I'm an excellent teacher." With a bounce, he leapt from Emilia's shoulder onto Subaru's head, nestling in like a smug little crown.

"Whoa, hey! What're you doing up there?!" Subaru protested, trying to swat him off.

"Stay still," Puck ordered, holding a paw up like he was an all-powerful wizard. "This'll only take a second. Hmm… interesting…"

Subaru froze. "What's interesting? Is it something cool? Please say it's cool."

Puck hummed thoughtfully, then gasped. "It's Yin! Shadow Style!"

Subaru blinked. "Shadow Style? What the heck is that? Sounds like I should be wearing a ninja headband or something."

Puck jumped off her head, landing neatly on the grass. "It's a rare magic affinity that manipulates shadows. Very few people have it, and almost nobody knows how to use it properly. The last recorded user was the Great Sage Flugal himself."

"Wait, Flugal? As in, that super famous guy who did all the sage-y stuff?!" Subaru exclaimed, her hands flailing.

Emilia nodded. "Yes, he's a legend. They say his knowledge was unparalleled, and he used Shadow Style magic to accomplish incredible feats. But no one knows much about the technique anymore. It's almost like a lost art."

Subaru grinned ear to ear. "So you're saying I'm one of a kind, huh? A living, breathing relic of awesomeness!"

Puck snickered. "Relic might be pushing it, but sure, Hero Girl. Let's go with that."

Subaru cracked her knuckles, excitement bubbling up. "Alright, let's give it a shot! Shadow Style magic, here I come!"

She focused, furrowing her brows as she stretched her arms out dramatically. "Alright, shadows! Time to bend to my will! Do my bidding!"

Nothing happened.

"Uh… maybe it needs a warm-up?" Subaru muttered, wiggling her fingers.

Still nothing.

Puck covered his mouth with his tiny paw, trying not to laugh too hard. "It's not that simple, you know. Shadow Style isn't just about waving your hands around like a lunatic. You need to channel your mana properly."

"Oh. Yeah, sure, totally. I knew that," Subaru said, her face red as a tomato.

Puck tilted his head. "You know, the Great Sage Flugal sometimes used shadows to enhance his combat skills. A technique called Domain Expansion—err, something like that. With mana, of course."

"Combat skills, huh?" Subaru muttered, rubbing her chin. Her eyes lit up as an idea hit her. "Wait a second. Does that mean I can, like, summon a cool shadow sword or something?"

Puck shrugged. "Probably. If you learn how to control it."

Subaru's grin widened. "Awesome! I'll just whip out a shadow sword and—" She paused, looking down at her empty hands. "Oh. Right. I don't have a real sword to, uh, compare it with. Guess I'll have to postpone my epic shadow training montage."

Emilia tilted her head, concern etched on her face. "Are you sure you don't want to try practicing now?"

"Nah, I need props. Props make everything cooler," Subaru said, waving her off. "For now, I'll just revel in the fact that I've got some super rare magic style. No big deal."

Puck smirked, climbing back onto Emilia's shoulder. "Hero Girl, you're one of a kind, alright. In more ways than one."

Subaru puffed her chest out proudly. "Darn right I am."

With a newfound spring in her step, she looked at her companions. "Alright! Let's go conquer the day!"

The garden fell silent for a moment before Puck quipped, "Just don't trip over your own shadow on the way out."

Subaru groaned, but even she couldn't hold back a laugh.

The sunlight poured down over the garden, casting a golden glow over the neatly trimmed bushes and vibrant flowers. Emilia and Subaru found a cozy bench beneath a blossoming tree, its petals occasionally drifting down like nature's confetti.

As they sat there, enjoying the tranquil atmosphere, Emilia tilted her head and gave Subaru a curious look. "You know, Subaru," she began, her voice soft and sincere, "your hair is really beautiful."

Subaru blinked, caught off guard. "My hair? Oh, uh… thanks, I guess?"

Emilia smiled, reaching out hesitantly as if asking for permission. "It's so long and red, like a ribbon of fire. And the way it shines in the sunlight… it's just so pretty."

Subaru flushed instantly, her face turning as red as the hair in question. She awkwardly rubbed the back of her neck, suddenly very aware of how warm her cheeks were. "Oh, uh, w-well, y'know, it's just hair. Nothing special about it, really…"

"But it is special," Emilia insisted, her silver hair catching the sunlight as she leaned in for a better look. "It's such a rare colour, and it suits you so well. I've never seen anyone with hair like yours before. It's… enchanting."

"Enchanting?!" Subaru's voice cracked, and she immediately tried to cover it up with a cough. "I-I mean, uh, thanks. That's really nice of you to say, but you're way prettier than me, Emilia."

"Me?" Emilia blinked, surprised by the sudden praise.

"Yeah, you!" Subaru pointed at her dramatically, her embarrassment temporarily forgotten. "I mean, look at you! You've got that whole ethereal, fairy-princess vibe going on with your silver hair and those big, innocent eyes. You're like, unfairly gorgeous. It's honestly kind of intimidating."

Emilia's face turned pink, and she quickly waved her hands in front of her. "Oh no, I'm not that pretty! You're exaggerating, Subaru. I'm just… normal."

"Normal?" Subaru repeated, her tone dripping with disbelief. "Emilia, you could walk into a room and make flowers bloom out of sheer embarrassment. You're that pretty. Don't even try to deny it."

Emilia laughed nervously, her fingers fiddling with the hem of her dress. "Well, thank you, Subaru. That's very kind of you to say."

Subaru leaned back, crossing her arms with a smug grin. "Kind? Nah, just honest. But seriously, if we're going to talk about looks, you're like, the leading lady, while I'm just the goofy sidekick."

Emilia shook her head, her laughter more relaxed now. "No, Subaru, you're the kind of person who brightens up any room you walk into. You have this energy that makes people feel happy just being around you."

"Oh, stop it, you're gonna make me blush," Subaru said, already blushing harder than ever.

The two girls sat there for a moment, the sunlight warming their skin as the petals from the tree above floated gently around them. The garden seemed to hum with life, and for once, Subaru felt like she could actually take a deep breath and relax.

"Hey, Emilia," Subaru said suddenly, glancing sideways at her. "Thanks for, y'know, being cool. Not everyone would be this nice to a weirdo like me."

Emilia tilted her head, puzzled. "Why wouldn't I be nice to you?"

Subaru chuckled, shaking her head. "Eh, forget it. Let's just say you're one of a kind, and I'm lucky to have met you."

Emilia smiled softly. "I think I'm the lucky one, Subaru."

For once, Subaru didn't have a snarky comeback. Instead, she simply smiled back, feeling an odd sense of peace in the quiet garden.

TBC