Chapter 23: Fragile, Handle With Care

Waking early again the next morning, YN dawned his work clothes and made his way downstairs to start the day. Getting to his tasks early, he started cutting the shrubs, edging the paths, and trimming some of the smaller trees.

It was close to noon when YN was finishing up his duties, getting as much as he could do before it got warm out. He was on his final task, spreading manure on the flower beds around the perimeter of the mansion.

Just starting the final bed, YN spotted Rem coming out of the mansion, her hands full with a set of trimmers, and a vase of water. Setting his tools down, he called out to her.

YN: Oi! Rem!

Turning to meet his call, Rem waved her hand with the trimmers.

Cupping his hands around his mouth to make sure the sound reached her, YN called out again.

YN: Are you getting some flowers?!

Rem replied with just a simple nod, almost barely visible from how far she was, and YN only knew that she had by the way her bangs swung when she did.

Waving his arm in a motion to get her to come to him, YN called out again.

YN: You might not want those flowers! They probably stink!

Taking a better look at what YN was actually doing, Rem put two and two together and came over to the yet-to-be-manured flower bed YN was working on.

Reaching him, Rem bowed slightly in thanks.

Rem: If YN-kun hadn't called out, Rem might have made a terrible mistake and chose flowers not fit for inside the mansion. Thank you, YN-kun.

YN: No problem. But uhh, aren't you usually one for a quick sense of smell? I'm surprised you didn't notice.

Shaking her head when an exhausted look, Rem explained.

Rem: Rem has been following Subaru-kun all around today making sure he was wasn't getting carried away, and well—

YN: Don't tell me those flowers are for—

Rem closed her eyes and nodded her head, causing YN's eyes to grow wide in shock, placing his hands on his head.

YN: W-wha er— How? That's gotta be, what? The fifth he's broken?!

Shaking her head now, Rem opened her eyes back up, and answered.

Rem: Sixth.

Letting out a sigh and a "Goodness gracious", YN let his hands fall to his side.

Rem: Subaru-kun is doing an excellent job of making the floors shine and leaving not a spec when he dusts, but it's at the cost of being so reckless. Rem doesn't even think he noticed breaking this one...

Crossing his arms at the annoyance he felt towards Subaru's recklessness, YN responded.

YN: So why are you doing it? Shouldn't it be him who replaces the flowers and the vase?

Rem: Nee-sama moved all the vases out of the storage room Subaru-kun was getting them from and hid them in a different one. Nee-sama said it's better we don't let him replace them for now or we'll run out.

Shaking his head and wiping the sweat off his forehead, YN replied.

YN: *Sigh* That boy is like a bull in a China cabinet. Well, take your flowers, I'll finish up here and come help you with him.

A look of worry ran across Rem's face.

Rem: B-but you've already worked enough for today as a part timer! Please, let Rem handle it—

YN: Rem.

Stabbing his trowel into the manure to move it to the flower bed, YN cut off Rem.

YN: It's not work if I'm helping you.

Finishing his sentence with a smile, Rem's expression also changed to one, but with an added tint of red to her blush.

Nodding, Rem agreed.

Having finished spreading the manure and putting his tools away, YN and Rem arrived back in the mansion a short while later.

Arriving inside the main foyer, YN was surprised at how spotless and shiny the floor was. Walking up to the wall, he examined the few nick-nacks, paintings, flower vases, and other things around the foyer.

Turning around, he commented to Rem.

YN: There's not a speck of dust anywhere. No grime. Nothing.

Nodding, Rem replied.

Rem: Like Rem said, Subaru-kun is being very diligent with his tasks, just rather careless at times.

Scratching his head, YN looked down at the vase Rem carried, pointing at it he spoke his question.

YN: So where does this one belong?

Rem: Upstairs on one of the main side hallways. Once we place this, Rem would like to see how Nee-sama is doing handling Subaru-kun.

YN: Yeah that sounds good.

Walking up the stairs, they found the empty spot for the vase and placed it. Along the way to where Subaru was, Rem asked YN a question.

Rem: How long have you known Subaru-kun? Is he always like this?

Not wishing to lie, but also unable to tell her the direct truth, YN gave his most honest, vague answer.

YN: Long enough to know this isn't really like him. He's just itching to make a good impression on Emilia I guess.

Rem: Hmm, that's somewhat promising then. Rem hopes he's able to settle in.

From what YN could tell, these were Rem's honest feelings on the matter. What stood out to YN about it though, was that Rem was genuinely concerned about the longstanding possibility of their continued employment as staff members of the mansion.

Does this mean we earned their trust? No... It's gotta be from something else... What made it different this time?

Rounding the corner, the two came upon Ram, sitting in a chair moved to the hallway from a nearby room.

Next to her was one of the maid's service carts. Covered with a white cloth, it hid the lower shelf and only exposed the small caster wheels used to push it around. On the cart itself however was a multitude of various items. Vases, cups, porcelain busts, items containing magic ore, glassware, and other certainly fragile nick-nacks.

In Ram's hands was a cup of tea, more than likely her own brew. She was parked in front of the study YN and Subaru had borrowed books from while as guests of the mansion.

Stepping ahead of YN, Rem walked up to her sister, mid sip of her tea.

Rem: Nee-sama. How goes supervising Subaru-kun's tasks?

Finishing her sip, Ram set her tea cup on the only part of the cart she could.

Ram: Barasu is making a continued, complete disrespect to the mansion as usual.

YN: You seem too calm given you think he's actually doing that.

Delaying her answer with another sip of tea, Ram spoke.

Ram: Considering he's been doing that since he first awoke in this mansion, Ram is powerless to stop that at this point. The best we can hope for is to have him atone by cleaning the mansion.

At a loss for words to Ram's disdain for Subaru, YN could only sigh in response.

Realizing their conversion was at an impasse, Rem jumped back in.

Rem: Where is Subaru-kun now, Nee-sama?

Raising her hand flat, facing upwards, Ram directed them to the door just to her side.

Ram: Barasu is currently cleaning the study under my instruction. Ram did take liberty of removing anything fragile from the room before letting him begin, however.

YN: Well, that explains the antique road show display you've got out here.

Without anything further, Rem went to enter the study, with YN in tow.

Inside the study all the rugs had been rolled up, stood up, and leaned up, against the far side tall bookcases lining the wall, leaving the bare exposed wood plank floor.

On the opposite side, both Rem and YN saw Subaru pushing a broom along the floor, as well as dusting bookshelves, at the same time.

He was making his way around the perimeter of the study, going around the bookshelves. Circling around back to middle, Subaru finally made eye contact with, and realized the two were in the study with him.

Greeting them in a flamboyant voice, he did not stop what he was doing.

Subaru: Rem! YN! How good it is to see you both! It's a beautiful day to be cleaning, isn't it? I could do this all day!

Rounding the corner to the bookshelves he was sweeping against and dusting, Subaru continued on his path that now led away from the two he had just greeted.

Out of Subaru's ear shot, Rem sighed and spoke in a hushed tone to YN.

Rem: And you are certain this isn't like him?

Shaking his head and crossing his arms, YN replied.

YN: I'm certain. He'll blow a gasket if he keeps this up.

Rem: Is there anything we should do?

YN: Sometime later today when I get the chance I'll see if Emilia can speak to him. At this juncture, there's little you or I can say to him to solve this.

Rem: Should we just work ahead of him? Hopefully we can limit what can be broken and let Subaru-kun do his best at cleaning.

Shrugging, YN agreed.

YN: That's about all we can do.

The rest of the day, YN and Rem set about to stay a step ahead of Subaru's duties should they involve areas with fragile items. With Subaru's diligence, it kept YN and Rem busy trying to maintain their lead.

The two finally got a break once dinner was to be prepared. With all four staff members helping prepare, it was easier to keep an eye on and control Subaru.

With dinner finishing up, YN volunteered to help Rem with the dishes, as this evening's meal was one that had definitely left many dishes in bad shape.

This also let Rem give Ram some free time, and kept Subaru from possibly breaking dishes.

YN: Here, let me scrub and rinse, you can dry and put them away.

Rem: Are you sure? Rem can help you scrub.

YN: No it's fine. Besides, all this scrubbing will dry your hands out and we can't have that.

Rem: Why not?

YN: Because, girls are supposed to have nice soft hands to hold, that's the best kind.

Quiet for a moment, Rem looked down at her hands, opening and closing them a few times, trying to determine if she had dry or soft hands.

YN had his back to Rem, scrubbing away at dishes while Rem placed the dry ones into their racks in the cabinets. Finally, she replied.

Rem: Does Rem have dry hands?

YN: No, but if you were to wash all this, you might.

YN was caught up trying to scrub a particular difficult spot on a dish when he answered, not giving much thought to the context of his answer, rather focusing on honesty.

Rem: Then they must be soft then?

Still concentrating, YN answered again in his semi oblivious manner.

YN: Yeah, really soft.

A blush running across it turned Rem's face a shade of scarlet as she turned around, her thumbs feeling the opposite side hand they were on, trying to see what YN meant.

Speaking through her increasing blush, Rem drew her conclusion out loud.

Rem: Then, YN-kun must have enjoyed holding Rem's hand then.

Realizing what he had implied by giving his honest answer, YN's head snapped around, giving him a scene of Rem with her back to him, putting a dish away, unable to see, and unaware of, the large blush on her own face.

She's not responding to that any further... Maybe she just meant nothing by it. I gotta be more careful with just letting my thoughts escape like that.

After the dishes were finished up, the two headed upstairs to YN's room for a tutoring lesson. As the two continued walking they rounded a corner leading to their destination, the light from the evening sun was pouring into the hallway from an opened door.

The two slowed their pace upon seeing it, knowing it was irregular for a random guest room door to just be left open.

However they both quickly realized why it was open. Outside the door was a bucket and a mop.

YN: Did Ram forget to clean this room today or...?

Shaking her head, Rem replied.

Rem: Nee-sama has already retired for the evening. Which means...

YN moved to stand next to the wall the door was on, walking more quietly he stepped closer to the door, listening for the sounds of Subaru cleaning to confirm if it were him or not.

Rem followed his lead, also taking up a quiet position, leaving him between her and the door along the wall.

Taking another half step, YN heard the first noise out from the room. It was the sound of a sniffle, like ones makes when crying or having a stuffy nose.

Turning his head to Rem, YN tilted his head and furrowed his brow.

YN: —?

Frowning slightly in question at the sound too, Rem looked at YN for a moment, herself in thought, before walking around YN to investigate the room head on.

Watching Rem's face, YN saw her expression change to one of surprise, as a name YN had not expected to hear left Rem's mouth.

Rem: E-Emilia-sama?

Thoroughly confused now, YN poked his head into the door-frame to see inside, his head directly above Rem's.

At first he did not see anything, but looking downward—

Emilia: Shhhhhh.

Putting a finger to her mouth in a shushing motion, Emilia stroked the hair of Subaru, whose head was lying on her lap, asleep, his face covered in dried snot and tears.

Not wishing to intrude on what YN thought maybe was a private matter between house royalty and her butler, YN withdrew from the door frame.

No longer witnessing the scene, YN still heard Emilia speak to Rem nonetheless.

Emilia: He looks like a child when he sleeps like this.

Silent for a moment, Rem regained her composure before responding.

Rem: He does.

Emilia: And YN is here too?

Looking back at YN and then back to Emilia, Rem nodded.

Emilia: Hmmm. Since it's you two, were you going to have Subaru help with some more tasks?

Shaking her head, Rem answered.

Rem: No, YN-kun and Rem were headed back to his room for tutoring. Even if, I don't believe Subaru-kun would be much help for anything at this point.

Emilia: What a bad boy Subaru is, taking the rest of his day off on his second day here... Oh, and YN?

Hearing his name called, and seeing Rem look over to him, YN answered Emilia.

YN: Y-yes, Emilia-sama?

Emilia: Study hard, okay?

YN: I will.

With Rem turning to leave with a bow, YN stepped passed the door with no hesitation. If Subaru knew he had been seen in this state, he knew he'd be extremely embarrassed.

Just as Rem exited the doorway, Emilia called out to Rem one last time.

Emilia: Rem.

Rem: Yes?

Emilia: Subaru is a good person.

With silence as her reply, Rem bowed again and partially closed the door.

Rem and YN had arrived at his room, where Rem had set about finding out where YN was in terms of his education.

With YN sitting at his desk, and Rem sitting on his bed.

Rem: It seems like you struggle still with reading and writing but...

YN: But?

Looking down at the floor, Rem hesitated on how to answer, swinging her legs hanging off the bed.

Rem: YN-kun seems to have little grasp on the other practical academic skills.

Confused by what she meant, YN tilted his head and furrowed his brow.

Seeing his reaction, Rem stood up and grabbed one of the many books stacked on YN's desk. Opening up the book, Rem placed it in front of YN.

YN recognized this book. He had seen it the third night of the first loop.

Rem: Do you know where we are?

Looking at the large book spread before him, YN looked around at the colored map before, beautifully illustrated with roads, towns, names, mountains, hills, forests, everything.

Quickly locating the Capitol, YN traced his finger along the road going north. Getting to another large city, YN's finger passed over Costuul, and continued north till his finger reached an illustrated forest with a tiny road going through it. Following it just a little further, there was another town, much, much, smaller then the two he had already passed over.

YN: This one is Arlem, right?

Nodding with approval, Rem responded.

Rem: Yes.

Changing her expression ever so, Rem posed a question of her own.

Rem: Where did YN-kun come from before arriving at the Capitol? Do you see anything that looks like where you're from is?

Knowing full where he was from wouldn't be anywhere on the map, YN pretended to look around the map, trying to find something before sitting back in his chair and shaking his head.

Rem: Hmmmm. It cannot be helped then. Not everyone knows where their home is on a map. Many are either uneducated enough to, but most are never given the proper chance to.

Saying this, Rem closed the book and set it back onto the stack.

Rem: Rem will have YN-kun work on that, okay?

YN: Sounds good.

Picking up his quill, YN set to practicing his writing, Rem giving him instruction the entire time.

What may have been close to an hour later, Rem let out a yawn, signaling the tutoring session would soon be coming to a close.

In response to Rem's yawn, YN spoke up.

YN: Yeah, me too. I suppose you shouldn't be falling asleep in here, so if you want to take off, I don't mind.

With the same look a child may give when telling them it's time to go home from the playground, Rem nodded in agreement.

Rem: Today was quite the day wasn't it, YN-kun?

Capping his ink and organizing his papers, YN responded.

YN: Between the flower gardens to chasing Subaru around, it was pretty hectic.

Standing up, Rem also reflected further.

Rem: Once it was time to prep for dinner though, it became much easier.

YN: And afterwards too. It seemed talking to Emilia about him was the right choice. Although she handled it in a way I wasn't expecting.

Rem: Yes. It was rather... unorthodox.

Giving a slight chuckle to Rem's polite opinion, YN spoke under his breath.

YN: Lucky bastard, haha.

Not expecting YN to say such a thing, Rem tilted her head in question at YN.

Seeing her reaction, YN hadn't a clue to what she made this expression over, stopping his slight chuckle and simply responded with a "What?"

Rem: 'Lucky'? For how Emilia-sama handled him?

Getting a slight blush, YN looked up and away from Rem while answering.

YN: Well, I mean, what guy doesn't want a lap pillow, right?

Rem: 'Lap pillow'? Is YN-kun jealous that Subaru got to lay his head on Emilia-sama's lap?

Putting his hands up slightly as if surrendering, YN replied.

YN: No no no. Not that specific. Not because it's from Emilia, but—

Rem: Then does YN-kun desire to have someone else give him a lap pillow?

Feeling the tension in the air rise around him, or so he thought, YN struggled to respond.

However, just before he stumbled out a word in response, the door to his room opened with a "ker-chunk."

?: Rem?

With the two turning to see who had opened the door and spoke, it was none other than the mansion's eldest maid, and older sister of Rem, Ram.

Ram: Rem. It's rather late. Don't you think YN has been lectured enough?

Ram asked this question while holding a rock light, dressed in her pink nightgown, and holding the door halfway open.

Rem: Nee-sama, yes. Rem was just saying goodnight to YN-kun.

Rem gestures to YN with her open palm turned upwards in his direction, in her very maid-like fashion.

Nodding at Rem, Ram turned to shut the door, but not before saying goodnight to Rem.

With the door shut, Rem spun back around to YN.

Rem: Rem will also be retiring for the evening.

YN: As will I. Oh. Hey, Rem?

Rem: —?

YN: Thanks for all the help, today. With everything. And the tutoring.

Nodding and smiling back at YN, Rem replied.

Rem: Rem is always happy to help YN-kun.

With that, Rem walked to the door and opened it slowly. Stepping out of the room, she turned once more to face YN before closing it.

Rem: Goodnight, YN-kun.

YN: Goodnight, Rem.