"I-I understand…" Emilia bit her lip gently, as if she had made a great resolution, clenching her hands into small fists in front of her chest to psyche herself up.
"If it's the method Subaru suggests, I'll definitely give it my all."
"Emilia-tan… what are you…?"
Natsuki Subaru watched Emilia warming up her hands, a look of confusion on his face.
"Huh? Aren't we going to do something like calisthenics?" Emilia paused, unclenching her fists with some embarrassment.
"Rem told me before that studying while sitting for a long time can make your back sore, and exercising helps to refresh your mind. I thought that was the method Subaru meant, so I was psyching myself up… I'm actually not very good at sports, especially movements that require coordinating my arms and legs…"
"Honestly…" Hearing Emilia say this, Natsuki Subaru shook his head helplessly and couldn't help but laugh.
"Although breaking a sweat with Emilia on such a sunny afternoon sounds great, and it would certainly be refreshing, it's not exercise this time. You won't have to do any of those complicated moves."
"Then what is it, Subaru?"
Emilia breathed a sigh of relief, her curiosity growing even stronger. Her beautiful violet eyes were fixed tightly on Natsuki Subaru, filled with an expectant 'tell me now' look.
"Ahem… This is a highly effective study method from my homeland." Being watched so intently by Emilia, Natsuki Subaru coughed a couple of times, feeling a bit awkward, and deliberately kept her in suspense.
"It's much more interesting than studying alone, and it guarantees you'll stay focused and won't get drowsy. It's the two-person Q&A method."
"Two-person Q&A method?"
Emilia frowned, clearly not understanding.
"You can simply think of it as a back-and-forth questioning between two people!" Natsuki Subaru explained earnestly to Emilia.
"I'll ask the questions, and Emilia will be responsible for answering. If you come across a question you can't answer, it just means that part needs more review. Then we can target those areas to fill in the gaps."
This kind of question-and-answer study method was, in fact, scientifically proven.
"Not only does it help deepen understanding and memory of the material, but studying together also creates a more focused atmosphere. It's far more efficient than burying your head in a book all alone."
"So there's a study method like this." Emilia nodded, a hint of admiration in her tone.
"It seems Subaru received a very good education."
"Ha… hahaha… Well, it was alright."
Natsuki Subaru laughed a bit awkwardly, thinking to himself:
"At the end of the day, I was just an ordinary high school student in my original world…"
There was no way he could honestly admit that this was just a method he'd seen the top students use back in school.
"Alright then, Emilia, if you're ready, let's officially begin… You have to answer each question within three seconds. If you go over, it counts as a failure, okay?"
Natsuki Subaru looked at Emilia, his tone becoming slightly more serious.
"Mmm… Okay, I understand."
Emilia pressed her lips together and nodded seriously, her expression focused as she waited for Natsuki Subaru's question.
"Okay, first question. What were the main topics Emilia studied today?"
Natsuki Subaru began to ask.
"Um… the history of the kingdom."
Emilia answered swiftly.
"The kingdom's history? The parts related to the Dragon?"
Natsuki Subaru continued.
"That's right…" Emilia nodded. "It was the period starting from when the Dragon and the Lugunica Kingdom formed a covenant."
"If I remember correctly…" Natsuki Subaru said, drawing on the knowledge he had previously learned from Rem, "The Lugunica Kingdom was founded by the first Lion King, and later formed a special political system by forging a covenant with the Divine Dragon Volcanica. The national flag's design also gradually evolved from a lion to a dragon. Currently, the country practices a system of royal selection, where five Dragon Priestesses must participate in the Royal Selection using their Dragon Crest insignias. For now, the Council of Sages is governing in the interim."
Natsuki Subaru paused, then added some geographical information he knew.
"The kingdom is located on the eastern edge of the continent, bordering nations like the Vollachia Empire, and has five major cities, including the ground dragon capital of Flanders."
"Wow… I didn't expect Subaru to know so much about the kingdom's history…" Emilia's purple eyes widened in surprise, and then she asked,
"Then does Subaru know which year the Divine Dragon Volcanica formally established the covenant with the Lugunica Kingdom?"
"That… I'm not too sure about that."
Natsuki Subaru admitted honestly.
After all, he had only skimmed a brief overview in a history book and hadn't studied it in depth, so naturally, he couldn't answer.
Emilia gave a gentle smile:
"It was in the year 187 of the kingdom's calendar. It's said that the Divine Dragon circled above the five major cities for three days and three nights before finally choosing to land in the Royal Capital and sign the covenant with the first Lion King."
"You even know details like that. You're amazing, Emilia."
Natsuki Subaru praised her sincerely.
"Well, these are all required subjects." Emilia blushed slightly at Natsuki Subaru's compliment. "But it's incredible that Subaru knows so much already."
"I guess… history isn't my strongest subject." Natsuki Subaru shook his head, then rallied himself and posed the next question with a straight face.
"Next question! What is Emilia's least favorite food?"
"Huh…? That doesn't seem to have anything to do with studying, does it?"
Emilia paused for a moment, tilting her head in confusion.
Her naturally earnest expression was so adorable it made one want to hug her.
"Three… two… one!" As he thought this, Natsuki Subaru had already begun the countdown, a smile playing on his lips.
"If you don't answer soon, it'll count as a failed challenge~"
"Bell peppers—it's bell peppers!"
Hearing the countdown about to end, Emilia blurted it out.
"I knew it. No wonder when we ate together before, you would always quietly push the bell peppers to the side of your plate."
Natsuki Subaru said with a smile.
"It's not like that! I just don't feel like eating them sometimes… Honestly, Subaru is teasing me again."
Emilia puffed her cheeks slightly, her tone carrying a hint of a playful complaint.
"Although being a picky eater isn't a good habit," Natsuki Subaru said, watching Emilia's cute reaction, and continued,
"I'll ask Rem to use as few bell peppers as possible when preparing meals from now on."
He paused, changing the subject.
"Alright, Miss Emilia, the next question is about to begin. Are you ready?"
"The next question already?" Emilia blinked, then nodded seriously.
"O-Okay, I'm ready. I'll be sure to answer properly this time."
Seeing Emilia's serious expression, Natsuki Subaru cleared his throat and asked in a bright voice,
"Listen closely! What is Emilia's greatest hobby? Please tell me in a loud voice!"
Come to think of it, he had been in this world for two months already, but he had never properly asked Emilia what she liked.
This was a perfect opportunity to get to know her a little better.
"Eh… This question… also seems to have nothing to do with studying…" Emilia thought for a moment, gently tapping her chin with her finger.
"But since Subaru asked, I'll answer. My greatest hobby is probably grooming Puck, right? But… Puck is… gone now."
As she said this, her gaze subconsciously fell upon the shattered crystal on her chest, and her eyes dimmed.
Because Puck had voluntarily broken his contract with Emilia, the contract stone had shattered, and he could no longer reside within it.
Although Puck's true form still existed somewhere in the forest, to Emilia, Puck was not just a contract spirit, but a presence like family, like a father.
She often felt lonely without his company these days.
Noticing Emilia's spirits drop, Natsuki Subaru immediately jumped in:
"Ooh, that's a great hobby! To be honest, you could call me a master-class fur groomer myself! I totally get the feel of that fluffy cat fur…"
"You're right, Subaru and Puck got along pretty well too." Natsuki Subaru's words made Emilia laugh, and the gloom on her face lifted slightly.
"Puck seemed to like you quite a bit, too."
"So does this mean we have a shared hobby?"
Natsuki Subaru said, seizing the opportunity.
After all, a shared hobby was a great way to start a conversation.
"Hmm… I guess you could say that…" Emilia nodded lightly, a faint smile appearing on her lips.
"I didn't know Subaru also liked grooming cats."
"People with shared hobbies often get along really well, you know. So we can definitely become closer."
Natsuki Subaru said with a smile, while silently adding in his heart:
One day, I'm going to make Puck my father-in-law.
"Really? In that case… that wouldn't be so bad."
Emilia said softly, a faint blush appearing on her face as her heartbeat quickened unconsciously.
If I could become closer with Subaru… I'd actually look forward to that.
"Then I'll take that as Emilia agreeing to my request to become closer."
Seeing Emilia's adorable reaction, Natsuki Subaru deliberately spoke in a joking tone.
"Wha—You're tricking me! When did I ever agree to something like that…?"
Emilia finally realized what was happening, her eyes widening in surprise as her cheeks turned an even deeper shade of crimson.
"Just now," Natsuki Subaru said with a grin, unconsciously taking a step closer.
"So, how about it? Do you feel less tired now?"
"Huh…" Emilia thought for a moment, and feeling Natsuki Subaru move closer, her heart beat even faster.
"Now that you mention it, it does feel quite incredible. I don't know why, but I feel much more relaxed."
"That's good."
Natsuki Subaru said with a nod.
"Yeah, I feel like I have the energy to continue studying now." Emilia gave Natsuki Subaru a gentle smile.
"Subaru, thank you."
"I didn't really help with anything. I just used this as a chance to get to know Emilia a little better."
For Natsuki Subaru, just being able to spend time alone with Emilia in the study, talking quietly, was a happy occasion in itself.
"No, Subaru has helped me with far more than that." Emilia shook her head gently, her soft purple eyes instantly becoming incredibly serious as she looked directly into Natsuki Subaru's.
"Subaru has always protected me, supported me… From the very first time we met, you've always been doing things for me. I've always wanted to tell you…"
"Tell me what?"
Natsuki Subaru was a bit confused by Emilia's sudden seriousness.
"Subaru, I…"
Emilia's cheeks instantly turned redder, as if brushed with the colors of a sunset cloud.
Her amethyst-like eyes were filled with surging emotions—shyness, hesitation, but most of all, a deep sincerity she had hidden for a long time.
She tried to sort through her feelings over and over, her heart pounding so hard it felt like it would burst from her chest:
I really want to say what's in my heart.
She remembered her first meeting with Subaru.
Although he seemed a bit reckless, he had stood in front of her without a moment's hesitation…
Later, he offered to become her knight, and even knowing that her identity might bring trouble, he never once flinched.
At the Royal Selection meeting, when faced with the doubts and challenges from the Council of Sages, everyone else remained silent. Only Subaru stood up and loudly defended her, completely unafraid even when facing a group of high-status individuals.
And then, Subaru had risked everything to eliminate the White Whale, fight the Sin Archbishop of Sloth, and resolve the Great Rabbit crisis…
Every time she had fallen into despair, thinking she couldn't go on, Subaru was there by her side, encouraging her, telling her not to give up.
At first, she had only thought of Subaru as a reliable partner, a trustworthy knight.
But she didn't know when it started; those feelings quietly changed.
Seeing Subaru get hurt while protecting her would make her heart ache so much she couldn't sleep, and when they chatted together, she would find herself secretly glancing at his profile.
Even just being in the same room, doing their own things, felt reassuring.
She grew more and more accustomed to Subaru's presence, more and more dependent on his company, and even began to look forward to seeing Subaru every day.
Emilia knew this feeling wasn't simple gratitude, but a deeper affection, a desire to be with him always.
But when the words reached her lips, they were too difficult to say out of shyness, leaving her heart to pound faster and faster, even her breathing becoming a little ragged.
"The atmosphere feels a little strange…" Natsuki Subaru looked at Emilia's crimson cheeks and her hesitant expression, feeling his own heart grow tense as he muttered to himself,
"Looking like this, could she be… about to confess to me?"
Just then—
"Creeak—"
The door was gently pushed open.
Rem walked in carrying an exquisite silver tray, bowing slightly as she said:
"Subaru-kun, Lady Emilia, Rem has brought some tea and snacks."
"…Rem."
Seeing Rem enter, Emilia seemed to snap out of a dream, taking a small step back.
The blush hadn't faded from her face, and a flash of panic crossed her eyes.
For a moment, the atmosphere in the room became subtle and quiet, a faint awkwardness hanging between the three of them.
Rem keenly sensed that the atmosphere was a bit unusual, but she didn't ask anything, simply placing the tray quietly on the table.
"Right, I almost forgot the important thing." To break the silence, Natsuki Subaru acted as if he had suddenly remembered something, pulling the invitation from Crusch out of his breast pocket and handing it to Emilia.
"This is an invitation that arrived today. It's from Miss Crusch."
______
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