They say one of men's greatest fears is abusive women who'd murder them in their sleep.
Subaru's greatest fear was being told 'you're unlovable' by someone he really liked after showing them his real side.
So.
Subaru was taking a huge plunge. Quite possibly, one of the biggest of his life.
Yet, when Emilia uttered those words, whether fake, of pity, or whatever- he for a moment- went blank.
No thoughts.
No emotions.
Just blank.
The word- love- reverberated in his mind for a while. When it finally settled down, his lips curled, his heart danced, and his breath caught fire. "Oh god!" Their embrace tightened and for once he didn't care about anything else. He smooched her on the forehead, wiped his tears and just couldn't believe it.
This was happening? Emilia accepted him for who he was? All these guilty-
"But Subaru," Emilia said. "How… what should we do?"
"Umm…"
Puck grumbled and settled down on Emilia's shoulder. "I would tell you to only devote yourself to Lia but… if Lia is okay with it, then I will not say another word of it."
"It's okay Puck. Part of me wants him for myself. But… I don't want to lose him. He's mine… if I have to share him to keep him, I'd rather share him than lose him."
Subaru gulped. This was working out well for him. So much so, he was ecstatic. Over the moon perhaps. However, it was working too well.
His gut told him that there might have been an issue.
"I love him," Subaru said.
"You already told me that."
"And I love you too," he said.
"You told me that too."
"I wish things could have gone differently but… I don't want to be unfaithful to either of you. Would you come with me, and sit down with me and Reinhard?"
Lia's eyes widened but she remained steadfast. She hid her tremors. "Okay."
***
Subaru and Emilia stood before the Astrea mansion. They'd been here several times before but usually in the morning, not in the afternoon.
"Did you have other business my lady?" One of the guards ushered her in.
The moderate yet elegant design put Subaru's mind at ease. A familiar tingle arose in his heart… a twinge of expectation of what's to come next. Just a couple of hours ago, in a room, just the two of them… and that wondrous delight.
"Yes," Emilia said. "Lord Reinhard is present?"
"He is in his study. I shall notify him immediately."
Subaru gulped. "So Emilia…"
"Yes?"
"You really love me?"
She pouted. "Did I not make that clear enough?"
Subaru gulped. again, his cheeks flushing red. "She really loves me!"
"Oh you!" She pinched his nose and pouted hard but then laughed.
Her laughter erased the bits of doubt from Subaru's mind and he too laughed. All was working. Everything was working out way better than he ever thought possible.
"Ah Subaru… and lady Emilia!" Reinhard hailed from above. "Please wait just a moment while-"
"Reinhard," Subaru said. "We… should talk."
Reinhard paused.
But then smiled. "Alright. Come up."
.
..
…
Three pairs of eyes darted about each other in a dimly lit room. They stared, not quite making any moves.
Perhaps they were waiting.
Perhaps they were plotting.
Or perhaps-
"Have sex," Emilia said.
"Wh-" Subaru blinked, unable to believe his ears.
Reinhard too took a moment. "What do you mean lady Emilia?"
"Have sex. I'm… I want to see guys having sex," she murmured, cheeks rosy. "And once you're done," She came close, whispered. "Maybe we can also…" She snickered.
Subaru kept blinking.
Was this reality.
Or an illusion?
Or had someone replaced his pure innocent Lia with…
This blushing woman?