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Relatives

As they reached the city square, the two prepared to go their separate ways. Emilia turned to Subaru with a smile. "I guess this is goodbye, then."

But before Subaru could reply, her stomach growled loudly, echoing through the square.

Subaru froze, her face turning beet red. "Uh… sorry about that."

Emilia chuckled, snapping her fingers. "Oh! That reminds me. You don't have any money, do you?"

Subaru shook her head vigorously. "Hey, don't worry about it. I can manage—"

"I don't have any money either," Emilia interrupted with a sheepish smile.

"Huh?" Subaru blinked, caught off guard.

Emilia's expression turned thoughtful. "But… as repayment for everything you did, how about this? You can stay at my manor until you figure things out. It's the least I can do after you saved me."

Subaru waved her hands frantically. "Oh no, no, no! I couldn't impose like that!"

Emilia tilted her head, her tone firm yet kind. "I insist."

Seeing no way out of it, Subaru finally relented. "Okay… if you're sure."

"Great!" Emilia said, her smile bright. She led Subaru to a carriage waiting near the edge of the square.

A short, pink-haired girl in a maid outfit stood by the carriage, her face impassive and unreadable. She gave Emilia a respectful bow. "Emilia-sama." Her sharp pink eyes then flicked to Subaru. "And…"

"I am Natsuki Subaru, the Hero!" Subaru declared, striking a dramatic pose.

The maid's blank stare didn't falter, but her subtle, unimpressed look spoke volumes. Subaru could clearly read… 'and an idiot'.

"This is Ram," Emilia explained, smiling warmly at the maid. "Ram, Subaru will be staying at the manor with us. She helped me a lot today."

Ram's gaze lingered on Subaru for a moment before she gave a curt nod. "As you wish, Emilia-sama."

With that, Subaru and Emilia climbed into the carriage, settling in as Ram took the reins. The cart began to move, leaving the bustling city behind as they headed toward Emilia's manor.

Ö~Ö

Twilight painted the sky in hues of orange and purple as Reinhard von Astrea prepared to return to the barracks. His search for the elusive fifth Royal candidate had proven fruitless yet again. The streets were quieter now, the city winding down for the day.

Just as he was about to mount his horse, a younger knight approached him, his face alight with curiosity. "Sir Reinhard, may I ask… do you have any other relatives with red hair beside your father?"

Reinhard tilted his head, intrigued. "No, none that I'm aware of. Why do you ask?"

The junior knight scratched the back of his head, looking slightly embarrassed. "Well, it's just… I heard about this new knight. A teenage woman in white armour, with red hair. Looks like you, but, uh, smaller. And, you know… female."

Red hair? Smaller? Reinhard's brows furrowed as he processed the information. "Where did you see her?"

"Oh, I haven't seen her myself, but people are talking. They say she was with a silver-haired girl, and they went to the slums."

Thanking the knight, Reinhard mounted his horse, curiosity gnawing at him. A red-haired knight resembling him? It was an odd coincidence, if nothing else.

The slums were as grim as ever, a stark contrast to the bustling city above. As Reinhard ventured deeper, he noticed a trio of men nursing fresh bruises and looking thoroughly disheveled.

He dismounted and approached them, his presence commanding immediate attention. "Excuse me, I'm looking for a red-haired knight. Have you seen her?"

One of the thugs groaned, holding his side. "You mean Boss?"

Reinhard blinked. "Boss?"

"Yeah, that's what we're calling her now," another thug muttered, wincing as he adjusted his position. "She and some silver-haired girl went to the Loot House."

Reinhard's intrigue deepened. "Thank you."

With that, he continued on foot, the path to the Loot House becoming clearer with each step.

The sight that greeted him was nothing short of chaos. The Loot House, notorious for its questionable dealings, looked as if a whirlwind had torn through it. Broken furniture and splintered wood littered the area, and the faint scent of scorched air lingered.

Near the entrance, an old, hulking man and a young blonde girl were busy patching things up. The man, with his broad shoulders and weathered face, was grumbling under his breath as he hammered a loose board back into place. The girl, nimble and sharp-eyed, darted around, trying to salvage what she could from the mess.

Reinhard stepped closer, his armour catching the fading light. "Excuse me."

Seeing Reinhard approach, the giant and the blonde girl visibly flinched. Reinhard's piercing blue eyes scanned the destruction around them before he asked, "What happened here?"

The blonde girl scoffed, crossing her arms defiantly. "Why? What's it to you?"

"I'm a knight," Reinhard answered simply, his calm tone underpinned with authority.

Her lips curled into a mocking smirk. "Nice try. If you're a knight, then I'm a damn noble." She jabbed a thumb over her shoulder, her tone laced with sarcasm. "The only knight we saw here was that redhead in white armour. Superhuman strength, sure, but she's just a fake."

Reinhard blinked, processing her words. "A fake?"

"Yeah, fake," she repeated with a snort. "Real knights don't go around breaking people's homes and picking fights with the Bowl Hunter."

With a flick of his wrist, Reinhard produced his badge and held it up for them to see. The polished insignia gleamed in the fading light, unmistakable in its authenticity.

The girl's smirk vanished. Her eyes widened as she stiffened, nudging the giant beside her. "O-Oh, uh… I mean…"

Reinhard's serene smile remained. "Now, care to explain properly?"

The old giant sighed, setting his hammer aside. "Well, if you're really a knight… that redhead and a silver-haired girl came here looking for something. Then Elsa, the Bowl Hunter, showed up."

"Yeah," the blonde cut in, nodding rapidly. "It was chaos! Swords, ice, blood—you name it. The redhead was stupidly strong, but she's no knight, I swear. Anyway, they left after getting that stupid insignia thing back."

Reinhard's smile faded slightly. "Insignia?"

"Yeah, some fancy trinket," the girl added. "The silver-haired chick was freaking out over it. Apparently, Elsa stole it from her. Your 'redhead' helped get it back."

Reinhard's jaw tightened, his mind racing. A silver-haired girl and a red-haired knight, tangled in a confrontation with Elsa… There was no mistaking it. The silver-haired girl was Emilia-sama.

And the redhead?

The pieces fell into place with alarming clarity. He straightened, his resolve sharpening. "Thank you for your help."

As he turned to leave, his gaze lingered on the blonde girl. Something about her presence felt… significant.

"What?" she snapped, clearly uncomfortable under his scrutiny.

Reinhard reached into his pouch and pulled out a small, ornate insignia. It was engraved with symbols of the Sage Council, a tool designed to detect latent candidates for the Royal Selection. Without a word, he extended it to her.

She hesitated, eyeing the object with suspicion. "What's this supposed to be?"

"Take it," Reinhard said, his voice soft but firm.

The girl scowled but snatched it from his hand. The moment her fingers closed around it, the insignia glowed a brilliant red, illuminating the darkened room.

The old man's jaw dropped, and the girl's eyes widened in sheer disbelief. "W-What the hell?"

Reinhard's lips curved into a grin, his tone light yet brimming with purpose. "Felt-sama, how good are your etiquette lessons?"

Felt gulped, the glow of the insignia reflecting her rising panic.

Ö~Ö

Arriving at the manor, Subaru couldn't stop herself from gaping at its sheer size. The sprawling estate loomed before her, an intricate masterpiece of architecture that screamed wealth and refinement.

"Uh… Are you, like… royalty or something?" Subaru asked hesitantly, glancing sideways at Emilia.

Emilia tilted her head, confused, before shaking it. "No, not at all. I used to live in the wilderness."

Subaru blinked. "You mean, like, camping?"

"Sort of," Emilia replied with a soft smile, leaving Subaru to process the bizarre contrast between the manor and Emilia's self-proclaimed wilderness upbringing.

Stepping inside, Subaru's awe only grew. The interior was jaw-droppingly luxurious, with high ceilings, ornate chandeliers, and furniture that looked like it belonged in a museum.

Before Subaru could properly gawk, another maid greeted them. She was the spitting image of Ram, except her colour scheme leaned towards a soft blue, from her hair to her uniform.

"Welcome back, Emilia-sama," the maid said in a gentle tone, bowing. "And… guest." Her gaze lingered on Subaru for a moment, unreadable.

"This is Rem," Emilia explained. Then she turned to the blue-haired maid. "Rem, could you please prepare a bath for Subaru?"

"As you wish," Rem replied with a bow, her movements fluid and precise.

Once the bath was ready, Subaru found herself in a bit of a predicament—no spare clothes. Ram, with her usual deadpan expression, handed her a set of bathrobes.

When Subaru finally stepped into the bathroom, she froze. Calling it a bathroom felt like an understatement. The place was massive, practically a steaming indoor swimming pool surrounded by marble and gold fixtures.

"Jeez, how rich are you people?" Subaru muttered, her voice echoing slightly.

Thankfully, Emilia didn't follow her in.

With a deep breath, Subaru stripped down, hesitating for a moment. She bend down and frowned as her gaze fell to her crotch. She grimaced. "Yup. Still a girl. Damn. Natsuki Jr… Rest in peace."

Shaking off the odd mix of disappointment and acceptance, Subaru slid into the warm water. The heat instantly melted away her fatigue, and she let out a contented sigh. She leaned back, letting her muscles relax, and almost fell asleep in the process. The extra mounds on her chest relaxed too.

Eventually, Subaru forced herself out of the water. She grabbed a towel, wiping herself dry before slipping into the bathrobe.

Drying her hair, however, turned out to be another challenge. No matter how much she tried, it refused to behave.

As if sensing her struggle, Ram was waiting outside the bathroom when Subaru finally emerged. Without a word, the pink-haired maid waved her hand, casting a spell that sent a gentle breeze swirling around Subaru's head. Her hair dried in seconds, neatly falling into place.

"Wow, thanks—" Subaru started, but Ram turned on her heel before the words left her mouth.

"Dinner is served," Ram said curtly, already walking away.

Subaru watched her go, blinking. "Well, okay then."

Still, the enticing aroma wafting through the halls quickly redirected her attention, and she hurried off to see what kind of feast awaited her.

Ö~Ö

The food was incredible, a veritable feast that Subaru didn't hesitate to dive into with the enthusiasm of a starved animal. She devoured everything in sight, her table manners all but forgotten in the face of such a delicious spread.

Emilia watched, amused, while Rem remained as stoic as ever.

"You're a fantastic cook!" Subaru declared, patting her stomach contentedly.

"Thank you," Rem replied curtly, her tone polite but devoid of emotion.

Emilia took the opportunity to explain Subaru's presence. "Rem, Subaru helped me retrieve my insignia. She's a… uh, hero. For now, she'll be staying with us until she finds a stable income."

Rem nodded without comment, her face unreadable as usual.

As they continued eating, Emilia turned to Subaru with curiosity. "So, where are you from?"

Subaru hesitated, debating whether to answer truthfully. Finally, she said, "Tokyo, Japan."

"Tokyo? Japan?" Emilia repeated, tilting her head. "I've never heard of such a country."

Subaru sighed, resting her chin on her hand. "Yeah, I figured. Isekai problems, huh?"

"Isekai?"

"Nothing, nothing," Subaru said quickly, waving it off.

Emilia's next question caught her off guard. "How are you so fast? And strong? You were moving faster than most trained knights I've seen."

Subaru leaned back with a smug grin. "My mom always made sure I ate well, and my dad trained me like crazy. Good genes, I guess."

"Your master too, right? Jackie Bruce Lee, was it?"

Subaru nearly choked on her food, coughing and waving her hand for water. "Oh, him? Yeah, uh… he's a great shinobi—uh, I mean warrior. He taught me some cool stuff."

Emilia didn't seem entirely convinced but let it slide. "I see."

"And that uh, what about Puck?"

"Puck?"

Subaru perked up. "The floating feline? Yeah, what's his deal? He was awesome against Elsa."

Emilia smiled softly. "Puck is my contracted spirit. He's very powerful, but he can only remain active for a limited time each day. When that time runs out, he has to rest until the next morning."

"Huh, so he's like a rechargeable cat spirit? Cool," Subaru said, nodding as she pieced it together. "What happens when he's gone, though? Isn't that risky?"

"It can be," Emilia admitted, "but we've managed so far. Puck always makes sure I'm safe before he disappears."

"Got it. Still, that guy's awesome," Subaru said, admiration clear in her voice.

With dinner over, Emilia stood up, stretching gracefully. "I'm heading to bed now. Goodnight, Subaru."

"Goodnight, Emilia!" Subaru called back as she was shown to the guest room.

When Subaru stepped inside, her jaw dropped. The room was massive, more luxurious than any hotel suite she'd ever seen. The bed was enormous, the furniture ornate, and even the curtains looked expensive.

She caught sight of herself in the large mirror on the wall and paused. For a moment, she just stared, her reflection capturing her attention entirely.

The red hair cascading down her shoulders gleamed like fire under the soft lighting, its rich hue almost unreal. Her sapphire-blue eyes shone with a bright, piercing clarity that seemed to hold an unnatural brilliance. Her pale, creamy skin was flawless, with a softness that practically invited touch. And then there were her curves—not overly exaggerated, but subtle and elegant in a way that screamed beauty.

"Wow," Subaru murmured, running a hand through her hair. "This body is… something else."

She spun around once, admiring how the bathrobe flowed around her. Despite the strange circumstances, she couldn't deny that she had landed in a body that could easily turn heads.

With a contented sigh, she flopped onto the plush bed, sinking into its softness. A smile tugged at her lips as she pulled the covers over herself.

Her first day in this strange new world had been an adventure, to say the least. And yet, as chaotic as it was, Subaru couldn't wait to see what tomorrow would bring.

"Yeah," she whispered to herself. "This is gonna be awesome."

Ö~Ö

Author Note: This will be a very lighthearted story— almost a crack fic, the Re:Zero tension will be here though, just not too much. You may think Subaru is out of character but that is because it is time, Subaru has plot armour.

Thanks for reading this chapter. The next chapter will be released depending on your responses.

Drop your thoughts in the review section. Your words motivate me to write better, larger and with more depth.

Till next time!