"What a tsundere fellow…"
After closing the Door Crossing, Natsuki Subaru muttered to himself.
He remembered from the original story that Beatrice had made a pact with the Witch Echidna, waiting alone in the Forbidden Library for someone who would never arrive.
Day after day, year after year, waiting for a promise that would never be fulfilled.
The Tome of Wisdom in Beatrice's hands was now blank. For this Great Spirit who had lived for over four hundred years, she had already lost the will to live, only seeking someone to grant her release.
"Four hundred years, huh."
Thinking of the long years Beatrice had spent waiting alone, Natsuki Subaru's heart couldn't help but tighten.
These past few days of interaction had made him develop a sincere affection for this sharp-tongued but kind-hearted Great Spirit.
To watch her walk towards her end would be truly unbearable.
"This is really a bit of a headache…" Walking down the corridor, Natsuki Subaru irritably ruffled his hair, "Forget it, why think so much, I should just help that lonely, older l0l! spirit."
Although his heart already belonged to Emilia, he still couldn't ignore Beatrice's plight.
"Speaking of which, the girls in this mansion all seem to have heart-wrenching pasts."
Natsuki Subaru suddenly realized this fact.
Ram and Rem's tragic childhood of having their clan exterminated, Emilia's suffering of being discriminated against by the world because she resembled the Witch of Envy, and now Beatrice's four hundred years of lonely vigil, seeking release.
Thinking of these, Natsuki Subaru couldn't help but sigh,
"Have I unknowingly come to consider everyone here so important…"
It seems there are more things to change than I imagined.
"But speaking of which, this time, I've successfully cleared this loop in one life."
Natsuki Subaru whispered to himself.
You know, in the original story, Natsuki Subaru died four times before reaching this point.
This time, although he himself almost died at the hands of the Bowel Hunter Elsa, he at least survived.
Furthermore, after the Mabeast incident in the forest, the attitude of everyone in the mansion towards him had clearly become much closer.
Emilia's smile was warmer, Ram's sharp tongue began to be mixed with concern, and even that four-hundred-year-old spirit's attitude towards him had softened somewhat.
But what Natsuki Subaru cared about most was Rem's change.
That blue-haired girl who once eyed him with vigilance, now, when he trained, would quietly prepare a towel, would remember his casual remarks about food preferences, and even…
"Subaru-sama!"
As he was thinking, Rem's gentle call came from behind.
Turning around, he saw the blue-haired girl's face blooming with a gentle smile.
Natsuki Subaru couldn't help but sigh inwardly; recently, Rem not only smiled more, but her concern for him had also increased day by day.
Although they say there are three great illusions in life, this was definitely not an illusion!
Natsuki Subaru gazed at Rem's azure eyes, the gentle and complex emotions rippling within them making his heart beat uncontrollably faster.
"Hey, hey, Rem." Natsuki Subaru helplessly scratched his head, "I've told you so many times, just call me Subaru."
"But…" Rem's fingers unconsciously clenched the hem of her skirt, her gaze slightly lowered, "Subaru-sama is now a noble knight."
"Uh…"
This sentence made Natsuki Subaru's heart tighten.
He suddenly realized that Rem always placed herself in the position of a servant.
Thinking of this, Natsuki Subaru deliberately clutched his chest exaggeratedly, making a hurt expression,
"Wait, what does this mean? Did I do something to make Rem dislike me?"
"No." Rem gently shook her head, lifting her azure eyes to look at Natsuki Subaru, "It's just… Subaru is becoming more and more dazzling. You used to be so clumsy, but now you can stand on your own, and even become a respected knight…"
Rem's voice gradually softened, almost as if talking to herself,
"Rem is weak and full of flaws… When Subaru was attacked by the Mabeast pack in the forest, I didn't know what I could do for you at all…"
All along, as the all-powerful maid of the mansion, as the impeccable younger sister in Ram's eyes, Rem had never doubted her own worth.
However, ever since the Mabeast attack in the forest, when she was on the verge of unconsciousness from the curse and saw Subaru, bathed in blood, saving her—
That flawless Rem had been broken.
And the out-of-place stranger who had barged into the mansion now carried an air of reassuring strength in his every move.
Someone like me… am I really still worthy of standing by his side?
This realization made Rem's heart feel as if it were being squeezed by an invisible hand.
She should have been happy for Subaru.
But a selfish corner of her heart missed the less mature Subaru who would rely on her.
"Honestly."
A familiar voice interrupted Rem's thoughts.
Natsuki Subaru's hand suddenly landed on her hair, the warm touch making her shiver all over.
This intimate gesture was so natural that Rem almost forgot to breathe.
So warm…
"The Rem who wakes up first in the morning to prepare breakfast, the Rem who cleans every corner spotless, the Rem who never complains even when it's hard." Natsuki Subaru looked at Rem with gentle eyes,
"Why would someone like you say you're weak?"
"But…" Rem's azure eyes trembled slightly, glistening with unshed tears.
"There's no 'but'." Natsuki Subaru's voice softened, "I, ah, I love watching Rem when she's seriously working. At those times, you're practically sparkling."
"Subaru… always says such troubling things." Rem's tears finally fell.
"Because it's the truth." Natsuki Subaru stepped forward and gently wiped the tears from Rem's cheeks,
"So promise me, don't belittle yourself anymore. In my eyes, Rem is the most special existence."
"And even if I become a knight, I'm still the Natsuki Subaru who steals snacks from the kitchen and gets scolded by Rem until I'm running for my life."
As he spoke, Natsuki Subaru's fingertips gently combed through Rem's blue hair. This intimate gesture, which he would never have dared to do before, now happened so naturally.
"Mm… Rem will continue to work hard." Rem nodded and said softly, her azure eyes reflecting Natsuki Subaru's figure, "So that… I can always stand by Subaru's side."
In Subaru's clear black eyes, Rem saw her own reflection.
That always meticulous, perfect maid, was now, due to his gentle touch, her heart racing.
She suddenly understood, Subaru had never asked for her perfection.
In Subaru's eyes, she could just be Rem—she could make mistakes, she could be fragile, she could be… imperfect.
"That's the Rem I know!" Natsuki Subaru suddenly grinned and said, "So, as a reward… hmm, I'll specially allow you to use thirty percent less force when you scold me in the future, how about that? I'm risking my life bargaining here!"
"…Subaru is joking again."
Rem whispered softly, feeling her cheeks heat up.
But this time, she didn't avoid his gaze. The curve of her lips was gentle and real, as if she had finally let go of some heavy burden, revealing her purest smile.
As long as I can still stand by your side… that's enough, Rem's hero.
.........
After resolving Rem's worries, Natsuki Subaru insisted on helping her share some of the work.
Although Rem repeatedly declined, he still insisted on helping.
"After wiping this top window, the morning's work will be finished, and Subaru can rest well."
Rem looked up at Natsuki Subaru, who was standing on a chair.
"Piece of cake! Wiping windows was my specialty during cleaning duty at school!"
Natsuki Subaru confidently wiped the glass on the windows.
"If you need it… Rem can massage Subaru's shoulders during the break."
Rem suddenly suggested softly.
"Speaking of which, my shoulders are indeed a bit sore～" Natsuki Subaru immediately seized the opportunity, "If you could also give me a back rub, that would be the pinnacle of life!"
Score, score…
I didn't expect helping Rem with work would come with such extra benefits.
"Rem understands."
Rem covered her mouth and chuckled.
Looking at Rem's brilliant smile, Natsuki Subaru sighed in his heart:
"Indeed, Rem is cutest like this."
As work neared its end and break time approached, Natsuki Subaru's mood also became cheerful.
After successfully wheedling more benefits from the considerate Rem, his inner delight was almost overflowing.
However, joy often turns to sorrow. Natsuki Subaru, lost in humming a little tune in his mind, completely failed to notice the danger at his feet.
"Subaru, the chair is very wobbly, please be careful…"
Rem approached worriedly to remind him.
"It's fine, it's fine, I can totally handle this height… wait… whoa!"
It would have been fine, but as Rem approached, Natsuki Subaru, standing on the chair, noticed that from this angle, he could clearly see the scenery beneath Rem's collar.
Fair collarbones, a delicate valley, and a tantalizing glimpse of… like the fruits of high summer, full and enticing.
Instantly, Natsuki Subaru's heart raced.
"Oh, no! This angle is too dangerous!"
Just as Natsuki Subaru was distracted for a moment, his foot suddenly slipped.
A strong sense of weightlessness hit him, and the whole world spun before his eyes.
Then—
"Whoa—!"
Accompanied by Rem's cute cry of surprise.
"Careful!"
Natsuki Subaru's unbalanced body fell heavily onto Rem. In the instant of falling, he subconsciously protected the back of Rem's head with his hand, and the two ended up on the floor in an ambiguous position.
At such close proximity, they could clearly hear each other's breathing.
Rem's delicate face was right before his eyes, and Natsuki Subaru could even count her slightly trembling eyelashes.
Just a little further, and their noses would touch.
In the sunlight, Rem's porcelain-white skin glowed with a pearly luster, and her azure eyes clearly reflected Natsuki Subaru's stunned expression.
"Subaru… are you alright?"
Rem frowned slightly, her voice filled with unconcealed concern.
When she noticed Natsuki Subaru's direct gaze, a blush quietly crept onto her cheeks, even the tips of her ears turning a cute pink.
The air was instantly filled with a heart-pounding, ambiguous atmosphere.
"N-no, I'm fine!" Natsuki Subaru sprang up as if electrocuted, clumsily pulling Rem up, "Are you okay? Are you hurt?"
"R-Rem… is fine…"
Rem lowered her head, her long eyelashes casting light shadows on her face, her voice almost inaudible.
Realizing the ambiguity of the atmosphere, Natsuki Subaru quickly changed the subject:
"Th-that… the windows here are done then."
"Yes, they are… Th-thank you for your hard work, Subaru."
"Th-then… I'll go get a glass of water first."
Just as Natsuki Subaru was about to flee the scene, Rem suddenly called out to him:
"Please wait a moment!"
"What is it?"
"Your clothes are torn…"
Following Rem's gaze, Natsuki Subaru found a clear tear on the back hem of his tracksuit.
"Ah… it must have snagged when I fell just now."
Natsuki Subaru scratched his head.
It was worth mentioning that this was his only remaining modern outfit; his previous black butler suit had been destroyed long ago in the battle with the Mabeast pack.
"Please take it off, let Rem sew it for you."
"Such a small thing, no need to trouble you…"
"No."
Rem slightly lifted her face, her sapphire-like eyes shining with a gentle but undeniable light.
"Uh…"
Rem's firm gaze left Natsuki Subaru momentarily speechless.
At this moment, he suddenly realized:
So gentleness can also be this assertive.
And this kind of persistent gentleness is the most irresistible.
"…Then I'll trouble you, Rem."
Facing such a gentle and considerate Rem, Natsuki Subaru ultimately chose to compromise.
This Rem is really… makes one want to cherish her properly.
Strange, why did I suddenly have this thought?
"Yes! Rem will sew it very carefully."
Rem's face instantly bloomed with a flower-like, brilliant smile, as if she had received a great reward.
"Why is Rem so happy?" Natsuki Subaru couldn't help but ask.
"Because…" Rem's slender fingers gently smoothed the wrinkles on the clothes, an incredibly happy expression on her face, "Being able to do something for Subaru makes Rem really happy."
"Uh…"
Natsuki Subaru felt his cheeks heat up, wildly complaining in his heart.
Damn it… Rem is way too cute.
It's just sewing clothes, how can she look so happy.
This kind of direct attack, who can withstand it.
......
And so.
The two sat side by side against the wall at a corner of the mansion.
Sunlight dappled through the shadows of the trees, and Natsuki Subaru quietly watched Rem's focused profile.
"Rem looks so serious when she's sewing."
"B-because these are Subaru's clothes…"
"You care so much just because they're my clothes?"
"O-of course!"
In the time that followed, time trickled by like water, drop by drop, and even the air seemed to flow more slowly…
"Rem, you should be almost done sewing…"
Just as Natsuki Subaru wanted to peek at Rem's progress, Rem happened to look up.
"Subaru?"
"Ah, it's nothing! It's just…"
Their gazes met in mid-air, then, as if startled like little deer, they hastily looked away.
My heart is beating so fast… What is this strange feeling?
This is bad… This is the feeling of a heart-stirring moment!
Could it be that I've fallen for Rem?
Natsuki Subaru subconsciously clutched his chest.
______
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