Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“But that’s not fair!” 

An angered oni howled at the competition before her.

She had nearly shattered the table she had slammed her hands on while making her proclamation.

It was still in the early hours of the morning, and yet another argument had broken out during what was supposed to be a peaceful conference between all the camps of the Royal Selection.

This time, a fight broke out due to disagreements on how to evenly divide a certain black-haired boy’s time between the many women who had an interest in him, while trying to keep it fair between all of them and disregarding the different social status.

While everything had initially started relatively untroubled, the peace wouldn’t last due to a certain someone being left with only a small percentage of Subaru’s time compared to everyone else.

How small?

5% of his time for 2 months.

“You’ve all been conspiring to monopolize Subaru-kun’s time, both day and night! Rem hardly gets any alone time with her hero anymore! And Rem won’t stand for it any longer!”

As she yelled, a faint pink glow began to shine on her forehead, indicating the maiden’s horn was about to spring out—a warning to those in the room that she was entirely serious about what she said.

Unlucky for her, the competition she faced was fierce and unwilling to back down.

“Oh~? A mere commoner believes herself to be more worthy than my divine self~? The audacity of thyself is astounding!” The woman in a crimson colored dress immediately shot back.

Her smirk and words suggested that she did not truly see Rem as equal competition to her. 

‘A maid thinking that she can stand up to a Goddess? How preposterous!’

“Hate to break it to ya, Miss Maid, but she does have a point ya’know’?” A fox woman couldn’t help but intervene in the conversation. 

All to suit her own interests, of course.

Rem’s growling face was forced to turn to the purple-haired candidate for the nation’s throne.

“Y’er up against the most sought after women of the country, lass’, there’s simply no point in competin’. You should really work on gettin’ in our good graces and hopin’ that you’re allowed to be a mistress at best.” She delivered the hard news to the maid, who clearly wasn’t listening to reason.

Or at least, Anastasia’s definition of “reason”.

“Anastasia-sama, I…..appreciate…..your advice, but I would like to give you some advice of my own, kindly.”

Rem got closer to the woman in white, being within striking distance.

Anastasia, in return, narrowed her eyes at the maid.

“Hmm…..and what would that be—?”

“Mind your own damn business.”

On her lap, the fox woman’s fist tightened.

‘The audacity of this bit—’

“Rem-san,” 

Another woman joined the fray, one who had continued to watch and was willing to remain silent until the most recent interaction forced her to act and set things straight between the women in front of her.

“Crusch-sama…?”

Rem’s tone shifted, no longer holding the same fury behind it as it did when she spoke to Priscilla and Anastasia.

It was understandable after all.

Both the maid and the duchess had fought alongside one another during their crusade against the White Whale and the Witch Cult. 

They had formed a “sisterhood” of sorts, which saw each of them view the other in a positive light, and they had only grown closer with time.

“Please, Rem-san, you need to understand…”

Crusch placed an arm on the oni’s shoulder, making her tense slightly before she grew relaxed with the woman’s action.

“Crusch-sama….” She said, a bit more softly now as her blue eyes met amber eyes.

The duchess, before her, smiled. 

Both women grew naturally calmer in one another’s presence.

Truly, they were long-lost sisters after—

“It was my idea to begin with.”

Rem’s jaw dropped.

“I….considered all the factors at play, and I especially took into consideration that you….shared a bed….with Subaru-sama in the past, meaning as your competitors we are all behind you in this race.”

The verdant-haired woman announced, nodding her head as she was proud to boast that she sought to keep things fair between all the women, even if it meant harming her own chances in this contest.

On the other hand, Rem’s mind immediately shut off for a moment as she tried to process what the Valkyrie had just told her.

“W-Wait a minute, Rem and Subaru slept together in the same bed?! Doesn’t that mean that they’ll have a baby?!”

A certain silver-haired half-elf who was quiet until now immediately expressed her shock.

“Big sis…..” 

Next to her, the other red-eyed candidate for the throne immediately face-palmed.

She did so, since she understood that the half-elf’s lack of education led her to conclude that all Subaru and Rem did was literally sleep together, which would somehow create a baby between the two.

Though she was wrong about the “process” it took to create a baby, Emilia wasn’t entirely wrong about the possibility of the outcome.

The other women in the room, who were unaware of this event between the maid and the knight, immediately felt a fury course through their bodies. 

The tables turned on Rem, whose blushing expression did little to quell the anger that had been directed at her now.

Especially from Priscilla and Anastasia, who understood that they were expressly forbidden from taking a proper lover during the period of the Royal Selection, much less getting pregnant with a child.

Truly, they had been duped by this maid who had bested them both.

“I—” 

Rem didn’t even know what to respond with….

Not because she was embarrassed about her intimate moment with her hero being exposed to the others in the room…

…but because she had absolutely no idea what the hell Crusch Karsten was talking about!

A few months back…

The night before the subjugation of the whale, the Valkyrie would happen to find herself outside of Subaru’s room, where certain “noises” could be heard. 

Something which immediately caught the duchess’s attention. 

Curious, she leaned closer to the door and heard.

“JUST LIKE THAT SUBARU-KUN!!”

Also….

“RIGHT THERE, SUBARU-KUN!!”

And….

“DEEPER MY HERO!!”

Needless to say, Karsten’s face would immediately turn red with the sheer belief that both individuals were engaging in explicit activity within her home. 

She had half the mind to barge into the room to tell both of them off and perhaps kick them out for the night, but as she grabbed the handle to the door, she couldn’t help but feel slightly aroused at the situation—her imagination running wild with thoughts of what lurked behind.

Her body grew hot, and before she knew it—she ran away from the scene, nearly bumping into some of her attendants on the way who were confused as to why their Lady was sprinting full speed down the hallway.

But she would thankfully make it back to her room that night, collapsing onto her bed, never to speak again about what happened that faithful day.

Or at least, that was until now.

Little did she know, if she had just stayed a little longer, she would’ve seen….

“That was incredible, Subaru-kun! I never knew my hero was that great at providing massages!” Rem opened the door of Subaru’s room as she stepped out into the hallway.

“Y-Yeah…well, it’s a skill I learned along the way….” Subaru said, scratching the back of his head while he did. “Besides that and sewing, I’m practically useless….”

Rem’s happy demeanor immediately faded as she grew a frown at Subaru’s words.

“Subaru-kun.” She stated that, no longer possessing any of the joy she had just moments ago.

“Y-Yes Rem-rin…?”

Subaru asked, a bit uneasy at how the blue-haired maid began to eye him.

“Rem’s hero will not talk about himself like that in the presence of Rem. Cease this behavior at once.”

The black-haired boy gulped as he took a step back while the maid took a step forward—pinning him against the wall.

“I-I….”

“Do. I. Make. Myself. Clear. Subaru-kun?”

Rem’s arm had firmly cemented itself against the wall where Subaru’s back was pressed; his nervous demeanor took hold of him, and he could barely utter his next words.

“......y–Y–Yes! Y–Yes, Ma’am….!”

He closed his eyes as Rem’s face neared his own. 

As she inched closer, he could feel her breath reaching him.

He began to anticipate her lips on his, knowing of the situation inside the oni’s heart, causing his heartbeat to grow to an unnatural rate.

But just as he began to grow comfortable with the idea of being kissed, he was instead flicked on the forehead.

“Yaow!” He cried as he placed his hands on the place where he was damaged.

“Hmph! Serves you right, Subaru-kun! Learn to follow a maiden’s advice better and promise to make Rem stop the need to repeat herself each time!” She exclaimed, disappointed that her hero would still belittle himself constantly.

‘How dare he! How dare her Subaru not see just how amazing he is!’

“Ahh! Right! I-I’ll work on it! I promise!” 

He said, slightly tearing up, not because of the pain he had to endure on the oni’s behalf, but because he wasn’t yet used to hearing such encouraging words aimed at him after spending so much time alone in his adolescence. 

“Good! And next time….Rem might reward you with an actual kiss and more…” She said, progressively getting quieter as she did.

“What was that?”

“Nothing!”

But both individuals knew what the oni maiden had just said, which caused their eyes to widen simultaneously as they both looked at one another, realizing that the other also knew.

A silence took hold of the hallway.

“Anyway….goodnight Subaru-kun!”

Rem swiftly made her exit, her feet gaining more and more speed with each step, which surprised the butler.

“Ahh, that girl! Doesn’t she know she can’t tell a guy things like that?!” Subaru exclaimed to himself, placing a hand over his heart as he tried to calm his heart, which had once again begun beating faster.

An action that the oni also repeated as she made her way to her room, holding her hand over her own heart.

And with that, Subaru and Rem’s night would come to a close, much differently than what the blushing Karsten, who was buried in her sheets, had believed had happened.

But that was months ago, and now….

“Sister.”

Rem felt her heart skip a beat at hearing that voice.

“Nee-sama…?”

A hand was placed on her shoulder.

“It’s alright, sister. You don’t need to feel nervous in front of your big sis.” Ram said as she brought her little sister closer to her.

“Nee-sama….” Rem’s expression gradually grew more hopeful.

Ram then turned her head to the two Royal Candidates who were still displeased at the news.

“Anastasia-sama, Priscilla-sama, on behalf of my sister, I apologize. My wonderful sister is not to blame for the lack of oversight she had in this situation; the blame falls on me as the elder sibling for not educating Rem properly. I wholeheartedly take the blame for this ordeal. ” She announced, causing Rem to gasp in shock.

“But nee-sama—!”

Rem attempted to stop her sister and finally put an end to this entire misunderstanding! 

However….

“It’s alright, sissy.” Ram put a hand on her sister’s head and patted her. “Trust your big sister.”

The younger oni could only sink into her elder sister's calm rhythm as she continued to rub her hair. A feeling very much familiar to how Subaru patted her, which was essentially kryptonite to the young maiden.

“Ram-san, you don’t need to—” Crusch started only to get cut off.

“Hold on, Karsten-sama~.” Anastasia interrupted playfully. “I want to hear what this one has to say.” She ended much more seriously.

“Agreed. Minself has no more patience for this farce. Punishment must be dished out to those who think they can claim what is mine!” Priscilla added.

As all eyes were on her, Ram took the pressure head-on. 

Unwavering, she stood tall.

“I will accept punishment on Rem’s behalf for her actions.”

She bowed before following up with.

“Ram shall take it upon herself to ensure that Barusu is adjusted to servicing his spouse in three years time. Whoever that may be.”  

She announced and was met with silence.

..........

“Ram, could you please repeat what you just suggested?"

Another maid of the manor spoke up.

“Frederica, I believe you heard exactly what I said. There’s no need for Ram to repeat her—”

“On the contrary, I want to hear it again as well.” Crusch backed up the emerald-eyed woman, leaning into her chair while crossing her arms.

Her attitude, which was initially of concern for Ram in taking punishment, was now downright hostile.

Ram could only sigh since she needed to repeat herself.

“Ram believes it is improper for maidens such as yourselves to find a partner who is ineffective in providing you with an adequate experience on your first night together; thus, Ram believes it should be her duty as a maid to ensure that your future partner is adequate during that faithful day.”

Another moment of silence took hold of the room.

…

…

…

“In other words, you’re…” Frederica began.

“.....trying to fuck him.” Felt finished for her.

And with that, the entire room went into chaos. As even Rem, who was still busy submitting to her sister’s affection, was able to break through the chains that bound her and realize her sister’s betrayal.

“Hah! Draw 4!”

Subaru exclaimed as he placed a +4 on Reinhard, who could only smile in response.

“Apologies, Subaru, but I cannot do as you said.”

Out of nowhere, Reinhard pulled a +4 out of his deck.

Which meant….

“There’s no fuckin’ way!” Garfiel immediately sprang up from his seat, nearly making Otto fall out of his own.

“Tis’ the third fuckin’ time! My amazin’ self is done with this bullshi—”

Before Garfiel could even finish his sentence, a crashing sound could be heard in the next room over.

…

…

Nobody said a word.

Though those in the room eyed each other, no one was brave enough to do anything about the sudden noise.

But eventually, everyone’s eyes turned to the one person in the room who could resolve this conflict.

“Shit….”

That was all he could say before he forced himself to get up and make his way towards the door that connected their room to the other, where a “serious” conversation was meant to be taking place. 

In reality, it had been anything but serious….

Subaru had to softly grab Beatrice from his lap and place her on the floor, something which annoyed her immediately, but kept her mouth closed as she knew she wasn’t going anywhere near that door herself.

The black-haired teen closed his eyes as he walked away from his seat.

‘What in the world did I do to get myself in this mess?!’

He shook his head in exasperation as he thought back to his arrival in this world.

What was meant to be a real-life isekai journey for Subaru quickly turned into a nightmare on his first day here!

It wasn’t even a full five minutes—he had estimated it was around five minutes—in this world when he would suddenly be grabbed by completely random women who claimed that they were his and that he needed to accompany them to their estates—otherwise the world would end or something along those lines.

‘Finally! A chance to be someone! I can be a hero!’ He thought at the time.

Oh, how foolish he had been….

And while he would technically become one, the steps he had climbed to become a well-known individual were not at all what he had expected.

A chaotic journey would ensue with multiple women, Subaru would come to know, who ferociously battled against one another for his attention and affection—something straight out of a yandere anime at times!

It was still a surprise to him that he would never get caught in the crossfire, however, as whenever he did get hurt—not by their action but by something dumb Subaru did—they would immediately cease all their hostility toward one another and instead care for him as long as it took.

Moments like that were when he felt truly loved by others, more than he had ever felt in his entire life—although he would never forget the warmth his parents gave him.

A smile took over Subaru’s face as he knew he was the reason for the argument that was undoubtedly still in full swing next door. 

“Here goes nothing.”

Subaru reached for the door handle.

Chapter Text

Just a few days after his initial arrival….

“Foolish Barusu, you’re doing it wrong again.”

Ram shook her head in disbelief at the stupidity she was witnessing.

“Uh, I’m sorry, Ram! I’m really trying my best here.” Subaru responded back with, repositioning his wooden sword.

It had already been a few hours since both the maid and knight were at this, yet little progress had been made in that time.

The kind maiden, known as just Ram for now, had taken it upon herself to instruct the being known as “Barusu” in knightly affairs. Starting with how to properly wield a blade. 

Though it was reduced to a wooden instrument out of fear that he would accidentally hurt himself, due to his lack of experience.

While Ram already knew that Subaru had no actual talent with a sword, it was still customary for knights to be familiar with the weapon and have one holstered, even if it was for ceremonial purposes. And thus, this led to the situation both man and oni found themselves in. 

“Again, Barusu.”

Subaru nodded at her words, regaining his stance as he gained a strong hold on his weapon.

He struck the dummy in front of him with the capability of a simple novice.

His target rattled as each strike landed, but it stubbornly remained standing, clearly demonstrating that Subaru would have a long way to go before he would be able to knock it down.

“Damn….”

Subaru said, as he began to grow more fatigued and demoralized, as he was not making much progress.

Ram simply watched on from the sidelines, her arms folded below her chest. Her face was clearly observant and critical.

As the black-haired man was about to strike once more, he was stopped.

“That will be enough for today, Barusu.” 

Despite being tired, Subaru felt the need to protest, unwilling to simply give up without achieving more.

“But Ram—”

“No is no, Barusu, you’ve clearly exhausted yourself. Use that pea-sized brain of yours and realize that you will only strain your body further. Unless you want to wake up unable to roll out of bed tomorrow, heed Ram’s advice.”

The nasty-eyed boy still wanted to object, but Ram’s glare made him shut his mouth.

He could only nod his head in agreement.

“Good. Be thankful for the existence that is Ram, Barusu. Now…”

Subaru’s eyes followed the maid as she went to the nearest tree that provided shade from the scorching sun.

Ram calmly got on her knees and delicately raised her skirt.

“Here, Barusu.” She motioned to her lap.

He could hardly contain his blush at the maid’s actions, yet he obliged immediately. He knew what the oni’s anger would be if he were to object.

Not like he actually wanted to anyway…

Subaru simply dropped his sword and made his way over to the maid. 

Just as she had done, he got on his knees, but instead lay his head on her lap, and she began to softly stroke his hair.

A routine that they had already begun to familiarize themselves with.

The air around the two felt extremely calm as Subaru closed his eyes.

“Ram….I think….I’m….” He took long pauses in between, his mind drifting off.

“Quiet, Barusu.” She simply stated.

“Mhmm…”

And before he knew it, he fell asleep. His exhaustion had clearly overcome him.

Ram could only smile as she began hearing the man’s light snores below her.

“How dare you, Barusu, taking a maiden such as Ram’s heart for yourself while wanting more…”

She said, already knowing that despite Subaru’s eyes falling towards her many times, he was clearly becoming too invested in the affection that the other women in this competition had for him.

One of which was her own sister. 

And yet, despite that, Ram not only sought to secure her place within both his mind and heart but also actively fought to be number one. Something that was much more possible now due to the large reset that had occurred after leaving that forsaken theatre.

It only felt like yesterday, when all the camps, and even people outside of them, would bear witness to the actual journey of Natuski Subaru.

His suffering. His deaths. His resilience.

All on display for everyone to see.

Gradually, over time, the man she had once constantly berated and seen as nothing more than a troublesome friend had become something more.

During the days spent in the theatre, the more she had thought about that stupid smile that had once annoyed her to no end, the more her heart began to turn in a direction she had never thought possible.

She had tried to deny her feelings when they first began shifting—even going so far as to place blame on the “synesthesia” she shared with her sister, but Ram’s lies would only get her so far before her very own heart would go against her.

Her own self-denial would be put to an end in the final loop of “Arc 4” when Subaru came up to her in a moment she can vividly recall and, with his dumb smile, declared to her that he would defeat Roswaal and free Ram from his clutches. 

Seeing it from the outside perspective, set off an emotion within she had never experienced before—which was so powerful it impacted Rem in the process, and caused her to turn towards her elder sister in surprise.

It was then and there that she realized she could deny it no longer. It would only hurt her if she were not to act on what she knew to be the truth. And then, the difficult decision came at the end of the viewing.

The question being, if the cast would prefer to be transported to the time they had been before coming to the theatre, or if they would rather be reset to the past. A new start. From zero.

Either option, they would retain their memories.

And thus deliberations began strongly favoring the former. After all, why would the cast want to go back to the past after everything they had been through? 

Only for, out of everyone, Priscilla Barielle to contest and favor the latter.

Her reasoning was simple. Subaru wouldn’t have any of his memories of his experiences.

Both a curse and a blessing.

He would no longer know any of them, yet his trauma and nightmares would be no more.

A bittersweet reality.

They would have to once again make memories with the black-haired hero from scratch. 

And yet….

One by one, every individual changed to favor the second option, simply because it meant that Subaru didn’t have to suffer the weight of the memories he had.

And while many cried as they raised their hands in agreement, Ram actually smiled, both in gratitude and in seeing opportunity. 

After all, they hadn’t just been shown the main story and the possible future. But the “IF’s” as well.

Some horrifying, Some sad. Some happy.

And the one Ram remembered the most was the one in which she had been blessed with the greatest joy she had begun to long for. 

A daughter.

Vega Natsuki.

The mere mention of her name warmed Ram’s heart just as seeing Rem daily did.

And thus, Ram fought to secure that bundle of joy that she desired the moment everything was reset. For she knew that she needed to act now if she wanted to see the being that wanted for herself in this reality as well. 

On top of that, getting the privilege of being named Ram Natsuki, of course. 

So Ram would fight, dirty if she had to, even against her own sister, as she knew her opponents would be just as ruthless as she would be, since it wasn’t just her who got to witness the most precious being/beings that had yet to be made in this world.

“Vega….such a wonderful name you chose for her Subaru….” 

She said, hoping that her bundle of joy would come sooner to her rather than later.

Chapter Text

A week before the start of the Royal Selection…

It wouldn’t be a mistake to say that, amongst all the women competing for a certain young man’s heart, Frederica was the most insecure. Her appearance, that of a woman with great height and sharp teeth that stuck out, had always caused her self-esteem issues since she was little.

Romance was never an option for her, since she understood that she lacked the qualities any man desired in a woman. This only further hurt her, as Frederica knew that the novels she often read would never become a reality for her in the real world.

And so, when the given circumstances occur before her, she must question what she has ever done to receive such support from the world.

“Ahh, it’s just a bit farther from here!”

The young man in front of her called out.

His hand interlocked in hers, as he led the way to their destination.

The grass below them breezed calmly this time of year, and the skies were clear for the day. Truly a gift from the forces above.

As Frederica took in the feeling in her hand, which she wasn’t too familiar with, her mind could only conjure up one thought

‘I could get used to this…’

She thought, right before reminiscing about how chaotic the last few weeks had been.

The hectic situation that had unfolded from the very moment she was back in the Miload manor, to linking up with her fellow camp members as quickly as possible. Frederica had expected a bit of chaos and was prepared to face the music once she, along with the rest of the camp, arrived at the capital. 

A few weeks back…

A carriage zoomed past the road leading to the Royal Capital of Lugunica. 

Inside, the occupants were Frederica, Rem, Petra, and Beatrice. All of whom were decently nervous at the prospect of meeting the man they all cared deeply about once more. This was their chance to make things right, to set things straight with the man who had endured hell to save all of them. Not because he had to, but because he wanted to.

Outside, guiding the ground dragon was Otto, who occasionally adjusted himself every minute or so, also feeling the burden that the others did. But even more so than the others, the decision that they had all made just before leaving the theatre was weighing on his mind.

On the roof of the vehicle was Garfiel, occupied with his thoughts about meeting his “cap’n” again. But at times, he would make certain that the road ahead was clear and that nothing was preventing them from reaching their intended destination. He preoccupied himself with both of these things to cure the boredom of the long ride.

To simplify the process of reaching the rest of those in the capital, Otto had volunteered to go back and pick up everyone in his carriage rather than heading straight to Subaru, as Emilia and Ram had already assured him they would handle that task.

And so, with belief in the half-elf and oni’s ability to accomplish their task, they were slightly assured that things would go smoothly once they were teleported back in time.

Reaching the gates of the city, they came upon an obstacle none of them had considered.

“Y’er gotta be fuckin’ kiddin'.” 

Garfiel, naturally, was the first to notice the situation.

“What is it, Garfiel-san? Bandits?”

He asked, highly skeptical that their thieves were this close to the entrance of the capital, but not willing to rule out any possible disruption.

“Worse.”

Before Otto could ask Garfiel to clarify, his eyes went wide—finally seeing what Garfiel could.

The carriage came to a grinding halt, jolting its occupants inside.

It took them a moment to regain their bearings after such a sudden movement.

“Otto-sama! Garfiel-sama!” Petra shouted as she exited first, worry filling her mind. 

Thankfully for her, she simply saw that Garfiel and Otto were standing next to each other, overlooking the gates to the capital.

“Why have we stopped Otto-sama?” Rem, coming up behind Petra, sought to inquire.

Frederica and Beatrice followed suit, ready to spring into action if they needed to.

And as all four finally stood next to the merchant and tiger boy, they realized the predicament that they were in.

“Oh shit!”

One individual in the group shouted, to the horror of three and the amusement of two.

“Petra!”

“What? I can swear too!”

Frederica shook her in disbelief, turning her attention to the one who was responsible for this foul mouth, her eyes narrowing in the process.

“Big sis, my amazin’ self—” Attempting to defend himself, Garfiel sprang into action, trying to claim innocence in the situation.

“Quiet.”

“Y-Yes ma’am!” He quickly shut his mouth.

“We’ll sort this out later, but for now….” Frederica turned her attention from her younger brother to the scene that had stopped the group in their tracks. “How in Od Laguna will we deal with this?”

She asked, motioning over to the overcrowded highway that led to where they were meant to go.

It stretched on for nearly two miles, wagons and carriages filling the entire road. All of which had to be vetted before being allowed into the city for safety precautions. 

This was something that they had failed to take into account. The nation was still reeling from the deaths of the Royal Family and was under martial law. Thus, the process of getting into the capital was much more difficult than it would be otherwise.

“Wishin’ we brought the clown with us?” Garfiel asked the rest of the group, but immediately regretted it.

“Leave that piece of shit out of this, Garf.” Rem immediately answered, and no one there contested her. In fact, Petra, Frederica, and Beatrice nodded their heads in agreement at what she said.

“Uh….sure, I was just sayin’ we coulda used his ass to get into—”

“Enough, tiger boy!” Beatrice cut him, unwilling to hear much more from him. “We shall find another solution to our predicament, I suppose.”

“Riiiight….gotta any bright ideas, pipsqueak?”

Beatrice grew irritated at the way she was referred to, but chose not to pursue an argument, as time was of the essence.

She took one more look at the situation.

Beatrice then closed her eyes and reopened them with determination. 

“Just one, in fact.”

Garfiel raised an eyebrow, and the rest of the group looked at the Great Spirit with curiosity.

A Few Minutes Later….

“Miss Beatrice, this is a really bad idea!!!” Otto shouted at the top of his lungs.

The carriage zoomed past every other vehicle stuck on the highway, occasionally almost crashing into a few, if not for Otto’s masterful steering in the front seat. 

“Shut up, Merchant! Quit your whining and focus on not getting us killed before Betty reunites with her Subaru!” Beatrice, also in the front seat now, shouted back. She helped in making the entire carriage much lighter with her magic. 

“Good work, Otto-sama! You’ve only almost crashed twelve times!” Rem cheered on, serving the role of morale booster for the group.

“THAT”S NOT A GOOD THING!”

The carriage, somehow undamaged, finally began reaching the end of its journey.

Confused guards who were in the process of going over paperwork for the next person in line suddenly drew their weapons at seeing the commotion approaching them rapidly.

“What the hell is that?!” One guard shouted, drawing his weapon. 

The others suddenly drew their weapons as citizens attempting to enter the city watched on in disbelief.

“HALT!” Another guardsman shouted at the top of his lungs.

A third guard looked at him in disbelief.

“Dude, they’re not going to stop just because—”

And to all their surprise, the carriage stopped suddenly, right at the city’s gates.

“Oh…”

But right before they could even ask what the hell the occupants in the carriage were thinking or doing—

“Behold, humans! For it is I!” 

A little girl in pink suddenly posed before the confused crowd. Her finger pointed to the sky first before being moved towards the guards themselves.

“Beatrice Natuski! The Great Spirit of Yin! Contracted to Betty’s Subaru!”

She announced, much to the amusement of those in the carriage and the shock of those outside of it.

“.....”

No one said anything for a moment.

Until the silence was ultimately broken.

“Great Spirit….?” One guard repeated, and his surprise began to subside, which caused him to look towards his fellow men.

Otto only watched on before sighing at the scene before him. 

He voiced his thoughts out loud, intending for the others around him to hear.

“There’s no way this is going to work…”

A Few Minutes Afterward….

‘There’s no way that just worked!!!’

He kept his thoughts inside, not wanting to appear like a madman at that moment.

“Apologies, everyone. I was unsure of when your arrival time was going to be, and I didn’t anticipate the wait being so long.”

Reinhard Van Astrea announced to the group.

He had been specifically called upon, as he had previously informed the guards at the gate, to anticipate a group of individuals with precise descriptions. But the thing that stuck most with the guards was the arrival of a Great Spirit, and so they immediately called for the Sword Saint after Beatrice’s proclamation.

“It’s quite alright, Reinhard-sama. But please, can you now lead us to where Subaru-kun is?”

Rem, having no more patience with being without her hero, applied pressure to the knight.

“Betty agrees with the maid! Let Betty reunite with her contractor!”

Beatrice, to no one’s surprise, also backed up Rem.

“Rem an’ the pipsqueak got the right idea! Let’s see the cap’n already!”

Garfiel followed suit.

Reinhard looked at the group once more before bowing again.

“Of course I’m sorr—thank you for your patience. I will now personally escort you to Subaru.” The knight changed his language fairly quickly, something which didn’t go unnoticed by the group, who were certain that it was the result of a certain rebellious individual constantly scolding him for it.

And so the group went, with Reinhard now driving the carriage.

They passed by buildings, some recognized, street vendors that only Rem and Otto were familiar with. And even got to see a glimpse of Kadomon, with his wife and child, which put a smile on their faces. Though no one, except for Reinhard, knew his name, so he was called “Mr. Save Point Guy.”

Overall, it was a peaceful yet slightly nerve-wracking journey that the group had. 

There was just one thing that the group had failed to address.

“Umm…. excuse me, Reinhard-sama,” Petra called out to the man sitting in front.

His attention was still on the road, but he acknowledged he was listening.

“Yes, Petra-san?”

“Where are we going exactly?”

With that question, the group suddenly realized that they had no actual idea where they were headed. Sure, they were there to see Subaru—but where was he exactly?

Reinhard paused momentarily.

Before taking a deep breath, something which didn’t also didn’t go unnoticed by the others.

“Yes, I suppose I didn’t mention that.” 

He spoke before following up.

“We’re headed to Lady Barielle’s estate at this moment. That is where everyone currently is—it’s where Subaru is.”

…….

…….

The silence in the carriage lasted for the remainder of the ride's duration.

‘Oh, how chaotic that was!’ 

Frederica finished reminiscing at that moment. Her focus shifted to what was currently happening.

A date with Subaru.

A smile grew on her face, and a blush quickly followed.

Currently, she wore an outfit that was practically alien to her. A summer green dress with brown boots, the color meant to complement her eyes and make them stand out, which would hopefully draw her partner’s attention to that part of her face rather than her teeth.

Her partner wore a much more refined outfit than the tracksuit he had transported to this world with. A grey dress shirt with a brown vest, along with black trousers and shoes. A 10/10, Frederica approved for the future knight.

“We’re here!” Subaru said excitedly, his attitude also making Frederica’s heart flutter at that very moment.

“So….I uh, hope you like it.” He said, scratching his head. Slightly nervous about not meeting her expectations.

Frederica only took a few steps forward and gazed at the field that Subaru had brought her to.

A field full of nothing but flowers, ranging from a variety of colors.

“Yeah, I chose this because from what Beako told me, the flowers were very pretty this time of year.” He said, still waiting for her response.

Another moment passed without the blonde-haired woman saying anything, which made Subaru slightly worried that he had chosen a bad destination.

He walked up to her.

His mind racing, he sought the only logical solution to messing up again.

“Freddie…I’m sorry—” 

His sentence never finished as the woman’s reaction to the scenery before them caught him off guard. 

She was crying.

Tears rolling down her cheeks, and yet…

They were not out of sadness but joy.

“Subaru-sama….” 

Frederica uttered softly, her eyes hidden. 

“Y-yes?” 

He could hardly respond.

“Thank you…”

Subaru couldn’t even respond, as his body was propelled forward by Frederica, who began running to the field below them.

“Hahahaha, thank you! Thank you! Thank you, Subaru-sama! Hahahaha!”

She laughed, nothing but bliss on her face. Her mouth remained uncovered for the entire duration as she expressed her elation outwardly. 

Subaru could only smile and laugh at Frederica’s own demeanor. Her smile was nothing but contagious to him and beautiful to see.

Unbeknownst to him, the reason for her reaction wasn’t simply because of the gorgeous field that he had brought her to, but because of a memory she vividly remembered from the time she spent in the theatre.

Another world, where both individuals were together. 

Another world, where she was in the early stages of pregnancy, yet to have decided on a name for the child, whose gender was unknown.

Another world, where Subaru had proposed to her in a field similar to the one he had just brought her to.

A reality that Frederica also wanted for herself in every regard.

As they continued enjoying their time together…

…running together somehow turned into each running after the other. 

That’s how they spent their time together, enjoying each other’s presence, uncaring for the world around them.

And although it lasted for only a few hours….

…to both, it seemed like a lifetime.

Chapter Text

Immediately after the return….

The baroness of the Barielle estate opened her eyes to find herself sitting on her throne.

‘Finally, away from that cursed place…’ She casually picked up her fan, which was placed between her breasts.

She would continue to fan herself for a few minutes, contemplating the next steps.

‘In just a few more moments, that commoner will be brought to this world. He will be startled at first—then excited, both as a mask to hide behind and out of genuine sincerity.’

Prisclla leaned into her left arm while fanning herself with her right.

‘If he isn’t aided, he shall quickly fall victim to his foolish method of thinking and get himself hurt one way or another. His naivety makes him a target—vulnerable prey to hungry predators who will use him for their desires and then discard him once he has nothing to give them.’

She sighed.

‘It’s a shame, truly. Survival of the fittest. This world of ours does not show kindness to individuals beneath the threshold—then again, neither do I.’

The red-eyed woman smirked as she remembered her final actions in the prison where everyone had been kept.

‘Those commoners and peasants fell for it. It only took a little convincing from mineself, and they easily gave in. They chose to prioritize the boy’s safety, selfishly made a decision he had no say in whatsoever, and gave themselves an easy out to not deal with his trauma that came from their idiotic errors.’

She almost laughed as she shook her head, until she stopped and narrowed her eyes. Her fingers tightened on the handle of her fan as the smirk she had quickly faded.

‘But I’m also sure…..I wasn’t the only one who had also come to another realization….’

Priscilla got up from her chair.

The seat that had once been of royal value quickly reverted to another seat in a building full of them. A luxurious piece of furniture, but just that at the end of the day. Furniture.

After all, a throne wasn’t the physical object but the achievements and manifestations of the individual sitting on it. A person’s desires, wit, and passion. And certainly an individual’s dreams.

And right now, the Baroness had one dream in mind. Even more important than winning the Royal Selection.

She walked to the next room over.

The destination on Priscilla’s mind—her bedroom.

As she did, she passed more and more luxury, paintings, vases full of her favorite flowers, and servants attending to her estate’s upkeep.

Quickly, she called one over.

“You.” She pointed with her fan.

The maid didn’t hesitate, immediately bowing to her mistress’s words. Ready for anything she desired.

“Yes, Miss Barielle?”

“Find me, Schult and Aldebaran. They were to be out for the day, but shall be returning any moment now. Once you do, tell them to get ready with one of the most luxurious dragon carriages we have.”

“Of course, Lady Barielle, if I may, however.”

Priscilla raised an eyebrow.

“You may.”

The maid raised her head with a smile on her face.

“All of our carriages are of the highest luxury.”

The woman in red could only smirk at that response. She had chosen well to rule these lands and people. The world did work in her favor after all.

“I know.” She responded, allowing the maid to depart with the newly assigned task.

Onward, Priscilla went, and her destination finally came into view.

With slightly more haste now, she entered her room and quickly closed the door behind her.

As soon as she did, she began undressing until all that remained were her undergarments. From there, she opened her closet, which was almost the size of an entire living room.

If that living room was from a mansion….

“Now then…” She looked around herself as she stepped into the room. “What shall excite your heart the most, Natsuki Subaru…?”

“Oh boy…”

Al muttered under his breath.

His words would’ve been unable to be heard by most due to how much of his head was covered by his helmet—which was the entire damn thing.

But Schult was not like most people.

“Are you okay, Al-sama?” The pink-haired boy asked, worry on his mind for his superior.

The butler was specifically trained to hear everything around him, which enabled him to relay information to his Lady. Gossip, conversation, flirtation, disagreement—whenever someone of status or nobility would say something, Priscilla Barielle would be amongst the first to know of it.

Information was power after all.

But aside from that, Schult used his skills to ensure that his allies were fine and did not need any aid, as he was always ready to help anyone in need, just as his mistress had done for him in the past and even now.

“Yeah, I’m okay, kid.” Al laughed at how Schult used the unfamiliar word, his nerves slightly calming down.

“Are you certain, Al-sama?” Schult asked, slightly pushing a bit more as he knew that Al was dealing with a lot internally.

Al was a bit surprised to see Schult not take his immediate answer and drop the subject, which gave him a sense of pride at seeing him grow just a bit more.

“Honestly, kid. No I’m not.” He answered truthfully, leaving a moment of silence between the two.

After walking for a few more minutes, Schult spoke up.

“It’s about Priscilla-sama, isn’t it?”

Al stopped in his tracks.

He scratched the back of his head.

“Yeah…”

Schult’s eyes turn downcast.

Another few minutes of silence passed as the two continued walking to the manor in which they currently lived.

After arriving at the front doors, a maid had approached them and told the two that Priscilla had ordered them to get a dragon carriage, which they immediately set out to do.

Getting the dragons ready and moving the vehicle to the front of the estate, Schult decided to resume the conversation they were having earlier.

“I….believe in Priscilla-sama,” Schult said.

Al turned his head to face the young boy.

“Is that so?”

“Yes. And even if we saw that future where she…..chose to devote the remainder of her life towards saving the people of Vollachia, I….believe she will prevail in this world without needing to do such a thing.”

His answer gave pause to Al.

“Mmm….” He simply responded, unsure for a moment of what to say.

“Do you also believe in Priscilla-sama, Al-sama?”

That question caught Al’s full attention. He sighed just before he chose to answer.

“Of course I do, kid…it’s just….”

Schult nodded his head, understanding that the words to express his feelings weren’t conjuring up in his superior’s mind.

“There’s no need to say more, Al-sama. After all, as long as you believe in Priscilla-sama, then her will shall be invoked.”

Al laughed at Schult’s statement.

“Christ kid, now you’re starting to sound like her too.”

Both individuals laughed at his words before they were interrupted by a third voice.

“As he should! Schult is, after all, the most perfect servant an individual of my caliber could ask for.”

Lady Barielle stepped out of the manor.

She wore a crimson dress with black and gold accents. Her heels were dark this time around. And the most signature thing present on her person was, without a doubt, the smirk on her face.

Her shoes clicked on the ground beneath her as she addressed the two individuals who stood ready for her orders.

“Now then! Shall we go ahead and find ourselves the commoner who dares defy fate?”

With Schult in the driver’s seat and Priscilla and Al inside the cabin, the group had entered the streets of the Royal Capital.

“Sooo….uh, Princess, how do we go about finding pal?” Al asked, breaking the silence that enveloped the cabin.

Priscilla simply raised an eyebrow before answering.

“Have you forgotten who I am, Aldebaran?” She fanned herself as she continued. “The boy will fall into my arms because I have willed it so.”

Al scratched the back of his head.

“Right. Of course, Princess. I was just sayin’, because if we needed to, I could split up and—”

“Does mineself need to repeat her words?” She asked, slightly angered with how Al seemed to be questioning her judgment.

Al began sweating under his helmet.

“N-No! Not at all, I was thinking—”

“Then do less of that lest you want to keep that head of yours.”

And so, the cabin was once more consumed in silence.

Taking advantage of it, Priscilla began reflecting on the thoughts she had earlier.

‘Had we not decided to reset the boy’s mind and the world by extension, it would’ve been much more difficult to get his heart to turn another direction.”

She caught a glimpse of a couple holding hands, walking down the street, their attention completely engrossed in one another. Her expression was neutral but focused.

‘The boy wore his heart on his sleeve. He loved the half-elf more than the oni. After all, if he didn’t, why would he only take the oni as his second wife rather than the first? If she didn’t stand a chance without the half-elf’s consent, none of us would’ve been able to compete with such circumstances—not even mineself.’

She frowned as the carriage finally left the couple she was eyeing behind.

‘It wasn’t just coincidental that the circumstances would change if the boy, conveniently, had his mind reset and thus his heart—it was all premeditated.’

Priscilla closed her eyes momentarily.

‘All of them, they understood what exactly it was they were doing. Even the blue-haired maid—if it meant she might get a chance of being number one this time around. Funny how she now has to compete not only with her own sister, but with many more women this time around.’

Lady Barielle reopened her eyes.

‘Including and especially mineself.’

Her smirk returned to her face as her ruby eyes lit up with resolve as she started out the window.

‘For I have been the first to find him—just as the world intended.’

“What the hell is that?! That ain’t legal tender around here, boy! That means you’re broke, doesn’t it?! Get the hell out of here!”

Subaru was shoved away by the street vendor.

“Jeez! Alright, alright! I’m going!”

He said, exasperated that his circumstances weren’t as glamorous as he would’ve thought once he had been transported to another world.

“What on earth am I even doing here? I’ve got no proper starter equipment, no money from this world, and I can’t even understand the language here! What am I meant to do with these circumstances?!” Subaru shouted, much to the displeasure of those around him, who looked at him with annoyance.

Realizing that he was making a fuss and possibly painting a target on his back, he quickly shut his mouth and walked faster out of the area he was in.

He passed architecture that seemed to be European, more medieval than modern, of course. Despite not having gone to school for a while before getting transported here, he recalled his history lessons from when he tried to be a top student.

And so he took notice of the buildings, the path he walked on, the vehicles people used, and the weapons some carried.

All of it would’ve led him to believe that he was transported to the past had it not been for one little detail…

Demi-humans.

Their animalistic features stood out, from ears to eyes to skin to arms.

‘I wonder if there are any elves here?’ He thought to himself, and for some reason, immediately felt a breeze go by just as quickly as it appeared.

“Huh,” He shrugged his shoulders, thinking nothing of it.

‘What was I thinking about….? Oh yeah!’

The mere existence of people whom he assumed were called demi-humans stood out like a sore thumb to him, and don’t even get started on the creatures that hauled the luggage and carts around.

He didn’t know what they were called yet, but it was undeniable that they were super cool.

Subaru had a strong urge to pet one and almost did until it nearly bit his hand off.

‘Yeah, better to admire them from a distance from now on….’

He admitted to himself

As he continued walking, he quickly realized something.

‘Am I back where I started?!’

The nasty-eyed boy had just walked around in a circle somehow.

Shaking his head, he chose to do something he should’ve done the second he was placed in this world.

Take a breather.

“Better now than never, I guess. I wouldn’t have had gamed all night if I had known I would’ve been isekaid.”

And just as he was about to sit down—

A carriage, red, black, and gold, pulled up right beside him.

It came to a screeching halt, which drew the attention of everyone nearby.

Vendors who were in the process of selling their merchandise fell silent, as did buyers.

Passersby who had been minding their own business stopped in their tracks.

Even the creatures Subaru had been thinking about paid attention.

The area fell quiet, with only the occasional whisper being heard, but whatever was being said, Subaru couldn’t make out.

Due to how long the carriage was, Subaru was unable to see the driver, and the door to enter the cabin faced him.

‘There’s no way right….?’

He thought to himself, his heart pumping in his chest.

Excitement was growing and adrenaline spiking.

“Is this….”

The door to the cabin opened, and Subaru’s eyes lit up.

“......THE CUTE GIRL THAT SUMMONED ME—?!”

“Hey, bro!”

“......”

“......”

“......”

“Oh damn, I kinda ruined it, didn’t I—”

The helmet-wearing bozo was kicked off the carriage steps.

“You absolute buffoon! You dare ruin my introduction!”

A gorgeous woman in an incredible, expensive-looking dress stepped out and immediately began railing on the fallen man wearing a helmet.

“OW! OW! Princess please! I was following procedure—!”

“I’ll show you procedure, you insolent fool!”

She conjured up a blade out of nowhere, flame surrounding it, and aimed at the man.

He lay there, paralyzed. Unable to say or do anything as he was mere moments from having his life extinguished.

People watched in shock as they began to fear they were watching a murder unfold right before their eyes, and many covered their eyes.

The woman continued forth with her actions, uncaring for the terrified people around her.

“Any last words—!”

“THAT WAS SO COOL!”

The woman stopped.

Her head turned to face the one who had said those words.

“You just went woosh! And an Excalibur appeared out of nowhere! You gotta show me that again!”

The crowd watched in horror as the woman’s gaze was now on the boy in a strange outfit.

The same thought ran through everyone’s minds simultaneously.

‘Yeah, he’s dead.’

The lady in red stood there, silent for a moment.

She had just been interrupted, and for the first time in her life, she didn’t feel like killing someone for it.

Her face gained a smile.

“Of course!” She addressed the boy first and then everyone in the vicinity. “Mineself shall do you all the service of witnessing the power of a superior being such as me. Gasp in awe as you witness what I, Priscilla Barielle, am capable of! For no other individual can perform as I can!”

She declared, withdrawing her sword and then somehow, manifesting it again with a simple flick of her wrist to the amazement of everyone around. The sword’s light was unlike anything anyone had ever seen, and the flame attached to it only bewildered them even more.

Still.

They were unsure of how to react to the entire situation, and so people simply watched on until—

CLAP

CLAP

CLAP

A series of claps resonated within the area as the boy with a strange outfit gladly expressed his thanks to the woman, showcasing her skill.

And so, people followed his example and also began clapping.

Some sent cheers aimed at the woman.

Shouts of praise riddled the entire area as the woman known as “Priscilla Barielle” gladly accepted everything and even bowed.

All eyes were on her, and she felt nothing but sheer joy because of it.

And just like that, everyone forgot about the helmet-wearing man who was still on the floor, biding his time lest he wanted to re-anger the woman in red…

A few more moments of this followed until people simply went back to what they were doing and casually forgot about why their attention had been taken away entirely.

“Uh, so….I am—” Subaru tried to introduce himself, but….

“I know who you are, commoner.” Priscilla cut him off.

He nearly choked, as he went wide-eyed.

“You do? Does that mean that you’re—”

“SUBARU!!!”

He turned around to face an absolutely stunning woman with silver hair running towards him, being followed closely by a pink-haired maid.

“You dunderhead!!! We were so worried about you! We thought you would’ve gone from this area long ago, you nincompoop!” The silver-haired woman yelled, scolding him for worrying her heart.

“Indeed, Barusu, you’ve made our job a great deal harder because of your insolence. You owe Ram back massages for a whole month once we get home.” The maid by her side also said her piece.

“Who—”

He could barely start his question before….

“Subaru-sama! Apologies for the wait; it took us a moment to pinpoint your exact location.”

Arriving on his other side, a verdant-haired woman in military uniform suddenly called out to him. Alongside her stood a cute cat girl and a sharply dressed butler.

“Nyo Nyo Subaru-kyun!” She said, shaking her head. “You nearly made us search the entire capital just for you!”

“A task that I would’ve gladly done.” The elder butler stated, with a smile on his face.

“What—”

“Natsuki-kun! Never heard of the phrase time is money? Y’er constin’ me a lot by wanderin’ off on your own like that and then comin’ back to where you started!”

A purple-haired woman dressed in soft white clothes arrived. Next to her stood another purple-haired individual, a man in knightly attire.

“Subaru, it’s not good to make a lady wait. But I will be sure to correct such actions in the future when you inevitably become a knight, my….friend.” He finished his sentence with hesitation, almost as if the last word he said seemed foreign to him.

“Why—”

A red-haired man with a blonde-haired girl in his arms came out of nowhere and landed on the ground.

“Found you, my friend. Apologies for taking so long. I hope that you haven’t been mistreated during your time here already.”

“What’s up, big bro! Sorry, we kinda had to take care of something first.”

“Where—”

He still didn’t get to ask his question when his right arm was suddenly pulled.

“C’mon Natuski-kun! Didn’t ya’ here what I said? Money's bein’ wasted the more we—”

Then his left arm was grabbed.

“Excuse me, Miss Hoshin, I didn’t recognize that we were rushing to move Subaru-sama to another location.” The green-haired woman pulled Subaru towards her. “If so, we would be happy to accommodate him in the Karsten estate—”

“Sorry lass’, we’ve already got that covered at the Hoshin HQ—.” The purple-haired woman pulled this time.

Subaru attempted to open his mouth and say something, anything! But—

“I insist. No need to waste more of your money by spending your time here, right? Besides, Subaru-sama and I have a lot to discuss in terms of him being the hero of the nation.”

“Hoho~ Seeking to use him for your campaign, aren’t ya’? Quite crass of ya’ considerin’ everythin’ we’ve come to know.”

The woman in military attire stopped momentarily.

“That’s not what I—!”

Again, Subaru tried to open his mouth, only for the air in his lungs to be forcibly expelled.

“Enough! What are you all doing to my Subaru?!”

The white-clothed woman shouted, enveloping Subaru in a one-sided hug around his back and pulling.

“Emilia-sama….this—”

The verdant-haired woman was unable to formulate the right words, so the other one generously did it for her.

“What she’s meanin’ to say, Miss half-elf, is that the boy doesn’t belong to you right now. Y’er on equal footing with the rest of us.”

Subaru gasped for breath as someone else jumped into the conversation.

“I mean, she’s kinda right, big sis.”

A loud gasp escaped the woman, now described as a half-elf.

“Felt?!”

“Hey, I’m just saying!”

She put her hands up, still in the red-haired man’s grip, because she was too lazy to get off.

“Regardless, we have another sayin’ in Kararagi, finder’s keepers!”

The purple-haired woman attempted to pull Subaru to her side, only to discover a flame almost reaching her hands, which caused her to pull away.

The same happened with Crusch and Emilia, who recoiled in shock and instinct.

Their faces morphed from shock to anger as they turned to the one responsible.

Priscilla Barielle—with her sword touching Subaru’s jacket, had spread her flame to the boy and thus created a natural repellent for women who sought to get too close to what was hers.

Subaru, panicked, was unable to breathe as he remained motionless.

But just as he was about to stop, drop, and roll—the flame went away, and his jacket was left perfectly fine, no burnt mark remaining.

Taking deep breaths, finally, he sought to say something about this entire situation!

“Okay, what the f—!”

Two large cushions enveloped his face, causing him to lose focus.

Despite initially wanting to resist, he chose not to.

The tiredness from not having slept for many hours was getting to him, and he was done with everything that had just transpired.

Arms gripped the back of his head tightly into Priscilla Barielle's breasts.

He could hear arguing in the background, but he couldn't really make out anything they were saying.

The only thing he could listen to was the words that the woman who held him softly whispered into his ear just as he was blacking out.

“….world abides by…..dreams.....will.....Subaru….

….and….

…..my desire…..

……Helena Natsuki....”

And with that, he collapsed from exhaustion.