"Isn't it boring waiting out in front all this time? Maybe take a breather?"
The old man on the box seat widened his eyes in surprise as Subaru came
with some tea. The dragon carriage was still parked by the front gate of the
mansion.
"Forgive my rudeness. This is somewhat unexpected, and so, please watch
out below again." With that, the aged gentleman leaped down from the box
seat. Just as before, his landing was nearly silent. He continued, "I shall do as
you suggest. Certainly, my throat has become slightly parched."
"Well, then, here you go. I didn't know what you liked, so I just brought the
most expensive tea I could find."
The aged gentleman had a mild smile on his face as he accepted the tray. The
expression deepened the age-appropriate wrinkles around his mouth, Subaru
noticed, studying him intently now that he was close, when…
"Whoa, what the…?"
Suddenly, a light impact from the side took him by surprise. He quickly found
the culprit—the land dragon was poking its snout into Subaru's shoulder. The
jet-black creature regarded Subaru with sharp, reptilian eyes.
Its gaze felt strange, but not uncomfortable. Perhaps he simply didn't feel any
hostility in those gentle eyes.
The gentleman quickly addressed Subaru. "M-my apologies. This land dragon
is the finest one in our house, but…"
"Ah, no, don't worry about it. Actually I feel lucky to get so up close and
personal."
"I am relieved to hear that. I must say, it is rare for it to react in this manner."
After apologizing for the animal's discourtesy, the aged gentleman turned his
blue eyes on Subaru as well.
The boy's body tensed, as if he were suddenly at knifepoint.
The gentleman continued. "—If I may ask, are those battle scars?"
"These? Well, a bunch of things happened, but I wouldn't go as far as calling
them battle scars…"
"They are from the claws and fangs of beasts. That is why you are favoring
your left side, yes?"
"..."
Subaru was surprised the old man could tell exactly what had left the white
traces exposed by the rolled-up sleeves of his track jacket. It was true that
Subaru had been favoring his left side ever since he had been injured.
"—I am deeply sorry for my repeated offenses. It may not be a question you
wish to answer." Apologizing in response to Subaru's silence, the aged
gentleman took a cup of black tea and brought it to his lips. He commented, "A
fine taste. It has a considerable kick to it, I think."
"…Well, I didn't exaggerate. It seriously is the most expensive tea in the
mansion. I'll have a pink-haired maid on my case if I get caught for this…"
That was no hyperbole, either. Ram would have quite the lecture waiting for
him if she found out he used the "Do Not Touch" top-class tea without
permission.
The aged gentleman kept one eye closed as he appraised Subaru with the
other.
"Now then, what do you want from this old fossil after buttering me up with
such wonderful tea?"
Faced with the man's calm demeanor and shrewd discernment of his ulterior
motive, Subaru could only tense up. As a youth, he knew he was sorely
outmatched in this war of words, so he promptly raised the white flag.
"Ya got me. My name is Subaru Natsuki. At the moment, I'm an apprentice
servant here at Roswaal Manor. I'd at least like to ask what your name is."
Acknowledging his status as a novice, he hoped to get his senior to offer a
shred of mercy.
Seeing Subaru meekly bow his head, the aged gentleman relaxed his
expression.
"My, that is polite of you. I am called Wilhelm. I currently serve the House of
Karsten, and that work has brought me to this place."
"Wilhelm, is it? Thank you very much… I'd be really grateful if you could at
least tell me what brings you here… Ah, er, would you like to come inside?"
"I believe that the envoy is speaking about the matter?"
"Well, yeah, but they won't let me in on that. It's no fun to be left out of an
event and not advance the story, so I figured I'd approach it my way."
He knew this was not a man to spill secrets about important matters. But
gradually growing on people was Subaru's specialty. He wasn't just a delinquent
without any talent for reading the mood.
For a brief moment, Wilhelm was at a loss for words at Subaru's ambitious
behavior.
"You remain levelheaded at unforeseen developments, and when your
motives are exposed, you do not cower but only grow more defiant—Such a
personality will assuredly incur displeasure."
"…So you're saying I can't even take a hint?"
"As I do not know your position within this manor, I cannot carelessly run my
mouth. I hope you understand."
Wilhelm's expression sharpened for a brief moment, then softened as he
politely brushed off the impudent request. If things continued this way, Subaru
would just wind up making Ram angry.
"I will say, you do seem very close to Lady Emilia. It does not look like you are
a mere servant."
"R-r-really? Emilia-tan and I don't look like an odd pair to you?"
"'Tan…'?"
Wilhelm raised an eyebrow at the odd manner of address. Then, he smiled
thinly as he realized the nature of Subaru's feelings.
"You walk a treacherous path indeed. She may become the next queen of
Lugunica one day."
"Right now, we're just a super-cute girl and a dull servant boy. With the
infinite future ahead, you never know what'll happen. When you asked your
wife to marry you, Wilhelm, did you think she was the loveliest woman in the
whole world?"
"My wife—"
Subaru's radical assertion made Wilhelm slip for a brief moment. He
immediately nodded.
"I see. Certainly, it is just as you say. I think of my wife as the most beautiful in
the world. I felt like everyone was staring at her, and I needed to woo her while
I could. Pathetic, yes?"
"You see? I'm like, if she has to end up with someone, might as well be me,
even if I'm 'unworthy.' It might take a lot of persistence, but that's my win-win
ideal."
"You certainly act according to some very amusing logic. Fascinating, really.
However, in the end I am a mere driver. I do not think I shall be of much
service."
"I wonder. If you could tell it was Emilia-tan under her hood, I don't think the
'I'm just a driver' excuse works very well."
" "
Subaru's flippant statement wiped the expression from Wilhelm's face and
silenced him. "The robe Emilia-tan wears is supposed to stop bad magic users
from figuring out who she is. Plus, because of some stuff recently, a hooded
mantle was added that makes it even stronger… People can't see who she is
unless she wants them to, or they can break through the magic."
The robe, put together with Roswaal's magic, was an effort to nip trouble in
the bud before Emilia's half-elf background could cause it. It was to protect her
from the unfair handicap she had to bear, being born in her world.
"—And you realized all that from the beginning. Very cunning."
"Oh no, it was total dumb luck. When I was pouring the tea inside the
mansion, I was like, 'Wait, wasn't that kinda odd?'"
The color of Wilhelm's gaze changed as he watched Subaru smile very
casually. At the very least, he probably figured Subaru wasn't just a tea fetcher.
"I suppose I cannot call myself a mere driver, then… As you surmised, I am
indeed related to the royal selection—or related to someone related, I should
say."
"Related to someone related… That's pretty much the position I'm in here."
"You and I are different, I believe, because my reason for involvement is not
so romantic."
"Well, of course not, when you're married to the most beautiful woman in
the world. I think Emilia-tan would beat her out for cuteness, though."
"No, even in loveliness, my wife has no match."
Subaru had meant to make light of things, but the firm reply left him without
a comeback. Wilhelm's cheeks seemed to slacken again as he successfully drove
the riposte home.
"However—it would seem we are out of time."
"Ah?" Subaru blurted like a dimwit as Wilhelm silently motioned to the
mansion. "That's Rem coming out with… Who is that?"
The familiar blue-haired maid was leaving the mansion with someone
unfamiliar. Based on Wilhelm's behavior and their previous conversation, he
reasoned this must have been the all-important envoy in question.
"I guess, objectively, this fantasy stuff is extraordinary…"
Perhaps he said that without thinking because the object of his attention
didn't look like an "envoy" at all. The visitor noticed Subaru's gaze and
responded with a teasing smile.
"Hey, it's normal to fall in love with a beautiful person at first sight, but don't
you know it's rude to stare?" The speaker was a girl with a lovely face, her
flaxen hair cut semi-long. She was tall for a girl, almost the same height as
Subaru. However, her figure was terribly delicate, and her every action terribly
feminine—everything just screamed girl at you.
A white ribbon adorned her hair, and the sparkle in her wide eyes gave her
the impression of an adorable cat. Indeed, atop her head were…
"Seeing them in person, I have to admit, cat ears do have a certain magic to
them."
"Meow, meow?"
As if responding to his murmur, the animal ears, the same color as her hair,
quivered. He hadn't had any chances to get up close and personal with a demi-
human before. The genuine article was really a sight.
—Subaru had never felt such anguish before at keeping his inner fur
connoisseur in check.
As Subaru drifted off into the clouds, the girl turned to Wilhelm as he greeted
her.
"Hey, Grandpa Wil. Sorry to make you wait outside like that. It was boring,
meow?"
"Not at all. This kind individual deigned to engage these old bones in
conversation, helping me pass the time pass quite enjoyably."
"Fumyu?"
At the old man's reply, the girl put a finger to her cheek and tilted her head.
Her catlike pupils narrowed as she observed Subaru. After a supercilious
inspection, she clapped her hands together and announced, "Oh-ho. You're the
boy Lady Emilia meowntioned."
It was what she did next that caught him completely off guard.
"Uh, eh, ehh?!"
"Don't move. It's time for a little inspection."
Subaru was dumbstruck as the girl wrapped one arm around his neck,
embracing him with her slender body. Since their heights were similar, her face
pressed up to the side of Subaru's. The whisper of her voice in his ear made his
body tingle all over, and he blushed in acute embarrassment. The soft sensation
was accompanied by a curiously nice scent. The sudden turn of events froze him
solid as he devoted every ounce of willpower to keeping his cool.
"Nom!"
"Hyaa!"
His efforts crumbled when he felt a single nibble on his ear.
Laughing at Subaru's adorable yelp, the girl released him from her embrace
with satisfaction. He hastily backed up, tumbling down onto his bottom.
"Tee-hee, what a cute reaction. Anyway… The flow of water mana inside your
body really is stagnant. If only there was time to do something about that,
meow."
"Wh-wh-what were you doing?!"
"Checking your body out a little. The bite was complimeowntary."
Her glossy eyes locked on him as she provocatively bit her own pinkie finger.
Even knowing that she was teasing him, Subaru was still agitated and couldn't
dismiss it as mere humor.
"Oh, don't blush so much. Anymeow, I guess nobody's told you anything,
have they?"
"What do you mean? About what?"
"About your body, and the deal, and things like that."
Illustration 1
Subaru's eyebrows rose as the girl seemed to be deliberately prancing around
the details. Though he found it hard to ignore her peculiar disposition, he had to
simply hang on for the ride. "It would kinda help if you could tell me what those
things are, you know."
"Oh, what to do? This is an important job, too… Tee-hee."
"Let us leave it at that, Ferris." Wilhelm scolded the girl for her excessive
teasing.
She pouted in response. "Thhbt. You're too serious, Grandpa Wil. It's no fun."
"I am grateful to Sir Subaru for the tea, and besides, it is time to be on our
way."
Wilhelm bowed as he exchanged what somehow seemed like lighthearted
banter with the girl. The girl still had a sour look about her, but she seemed to
recover her humor as she winked in Subaru's direction.
"Sowwy. You look like you could use some more teasing, but we're meowt of
time for today. If we don't get home soon, dear Lady Crusch will be so worried
she won't sleep a wink tonight."
"I don't want to ignore that first part, but who's Lady Crusch?"
"A name you'd better remember—she's the lady who'll rule this country
someday."
At the last sentence, her carefree demeanor vanished, replaced by total
seriousness. Then she gave him the dumbstruck Subaru a little wave. Wilhelm
set his empty teacup back on the tray.
"It was a fine drink. Well then, Sir Subaru, may you be in good health."
Wilhelm agilely leaped back up to the box seat and took hold of the land
dragon's reins.
"Well, sorry for no introductions but Ferri's real busy. Later!"
"Hey, wait! There's a mountain of things I still want to ask—"
"You should take all that up with Lady Emilia. If fate permits, we'll meet again
at the royal capital. Bye meow!"
The girl left him nothing, her smile being the last thing he saw as she entered
the dragon carriage. Realizing that his opponent had completely thrown him off
balance, Subaru instinctively realized she was his mortal enemy.
As Subaru held back his frustrations, Wilhelm cracked the reins with a brief
"Farewell."
The land dragon brayed while the wheels of the heavy carriage creaked into
motion. It stomped the ground several times before taking a powerful step,
accelerating rapidly the next moment. Before Subaru's eyes, the land dragon
burst into a high-speed sprint down the road, kicking up a large cloud of dust as
it sped off into the distance.
Subaru, left in abject defeat, had only the scent of the high-priced tea, largely
left untouched, to console him.