Chapter 1:Small Beginnings
Chapter 1: Small Beginnings
Natsuki Subaru was a strange child, or at least, that was what everyone else always said. The seven-year-old boy with messy black hair and sharp, intimidating eyes always tried his best to look "cool" just like his father, Natsuki Kenichi. He loved superheroes, he loved adventures, and above all, he loved proving himself.
But on one beautiful day in Japan, while Subaru was playing hide-and-seek in the park, a strange sensation suddenly washed over him. The space around him warped. The laughter of the other children faded into nothingness, replaced by a strange, hazy light that swallowed the young boy's vision.
When he opened his eyes again, Subaru was no longer behind the bushes in the park.
He was standing in the middle of a small alleyway paved with rough cobblestones. Bright sunlight beamed down from an unfamiliar, crystal-blue sky. The noisy chatter from the main street echoed in, but it wasn't the sound of car engines or familiar city honks. It was the sound of clopping hooves, merchants shouting to sell their wares, and... languages he had never heard before in elementary school.
"Dad? Mom?"
Little Subaru called out, his voice trembling slightly. He took a few short steps out of the dark alley and stepped onto the main street.
The young boy's sharp eyes widened to their absolute limits. In front of him was a completely crazy world. The carriages weren't running on wheels but were being pulled by giant lizard-like creatures (Ground Dragons). The pedestrians on the street weren't just humans; some had cat ears, dog ears, and there were even massive people with strange skin tones.
"Whoa... So cool..." – The first thought of a seven-year-old child was pure excitement. He thought he was at a massive cosplay festival, or maybe he had accidentally wandered onto a superhero movie set.
But the excitement didn't last long. When Subaru tried to strike up a conversation with a passing man who had rabbit ears, the man just gave him a cold glare and walked away. Nobody knew who he was. Nobody cared about a kid wearing an oversized black and orange tracksuit (since he had purposefully worn his father's jacket before leaving the house).
Subaru's stomach began to protest with loud growls. As the sun rose higher, the heat and fatigue started to weigh heavily on his tiny legs. He had no money for this world, he didn't know the way home, and most importantly, he realized he was truly lost.
Fear began to grip the child's mind. His eyes grew red, and tears threatened to spill over. He squatted down in a corner against the wall, hugging his knees, trying his best not to cry out loud because his dad always told him that "men don't cry easily."
Right at that moment, three tall figures stepped into the alley where Subaru was sitting. It was three thugs dressed in ragged clothes (Chin, Kan, and Ton).
"Hey, look what we have here," the shortest one smirked, staring at the high-quality brand jacket of Kenichi that Subaru was wearing. "A lost brat. That clothing looks pretty fancy, must be from a rich family."
Subaru raised his head, backing away in fear until his back hit the cold stone wall. "Who are you guys...? I don't have any money..."
"If you don't have money, then strip off that jacket, and maybe we'll sell you to some slave traders," the large thug stepped forward, his rough hand reaching out to grab the young boy's shoulder.
Subaru squeezed his eyes shut, trembling as he waited for the worst to happen. He wished his dad were here. He wished he had never left the house.
"Stop right there!"
A clear, melodic voice, ringing like a silver bell, echoed from the entrance of the alley.
The three thugs flinched and spun around. Subaru also opened his eyes to look.
Under the brilliant sunlight, a girl with long, flowing silver hair and amethyst eyes stood there. She wore a magnificent white and purple outfit, radiating an air of nobility and purity. Her face was filled with anger as she looked at the three grown men bullying a child.
"Bullying a defenseless child... don't you people feel any shame?" The girl took a step forward, and small blue glowing lights (lesser spirits) began to float around her, emitting a cold, frosty pressure.
"Another one stepping into other people's business?!" The leader roared, but when he saw the spirits and her attire, his face turned pale. "Damn it... it's a Spirit Arts User! Fall back!"
Knowing they were completely outmatched, the three thugs quickly turned tail and fled through the back exit of the alley.
The alley fell quiet once again. The silver-haired girl let out a sigh of relief, and the icy aura around her vanished. She turned to look at the child cowering in the corner. Her gaze softened, filled with worry. She walked over with gentle steps, then knelt on one knee to meet the boy at eye level.
"Are you okay, kiddo?" She asked softly, holding out her delicate hand.
Subaru stared blankly at the beautiful girl in front of him. In the innocent mind of a seven-year-old child, she looked exactly like a fairy stepping out of the fairy tales his mother used to read to him. His fear vanished, replaced by a strange, warm feeling.
Subaru trembling reached out to take her hand, his voice tiny: "I... I'm okay. Thank you, fairy sister..."
The girl blushed slightly at being called "fairy sister." She smiled gently, a smile that could melt the coldest winter: "I'm not a fairy. My name is Emilia. What about you? What's your name? Where is your home?"
"I'm Natsuki Subaru..." The boy lowered his head, clutching the edge of his jacket. "I... I don't know where my home is anymore. I'm lost..."
Looking at the tiny child, wearing a jacket far too big for him, his eyes welling with tears but still trying his best to look tough, Emilia's heart completely melted. She decided there was no way she could leave this child behind in this dangerous capital.
"Alright, Subaru," Emilia patted the boy's head gently. "Don't worry anymore. I will protect you."
And that was how the journey of the child Natsuki Subaru in the world of Re:Zero began—not with blood, tears, or painful deaths, but with the tenderness of a silver-haired girl.
After leading the young Subaru out of the dark alleyway, Emilia decided to take him to her temporary lodgings in the capital. Looking down at the seven-year-old boy, who had to frequently pull up the hem of his oversized jacket just to keep from tripping, Emilia's heart swelled with deep sympathy. She gently took hold of Subaru's small, slightly cold hand, guiding him through the bustling streets.
"Subaru, are you hungry?" Emilia leaned down and asked, her voice tender.
Subaru's stomach, as if on cue, let out another loud growl. The boy's face flushed bright red, and he quickly covered his belly with both hands. "I'm... I'm a little hungry."
Emilia giggled softly. She led him to a small food stall by the street and bought him a couple of hot meat-stuffed buns. Subaru's eyes widened at the unfamiliar food, but his hunger overcame his shyness. The young boy took a huge bite, leaving sauce smudged all over the corners of his mouth.
"So good! Fairy sister, what kind of meat is this?" Subaru asked while chewing enthusiastically, his usually sharp eyes sparkling with pure joy.
"That's Ground Dragon meat. And I told you, I'm not a fairy. Just call me Emilia," she said, pulling out a silk handkerchief to gently wipe the sauce off the young boy's face.
Once Subaru had eaten his fill, Emilia brought him to a luxurious carriage waiting at the edge of the capital. Standing by the carriage was a man with an incredibly peculiar appearance. He wore a butler's uniform, but he had a large scar across his face and... a pair of cat ears along with a twitching tail. It was Ferris (Felix Argyle).
"Oh, Lady Emilia, you're back nyan~" Ferris waved, but his eyes instantly locked onto the child clinging tightly to the trim of Emilia's outfit. "And... what do we have here? Where did you pick up a lost brat nyan?"
Subaru flinched, immediately hiding entirely behind Emilia's back, peeking out with only one eye. His eyes widened to their absolute limits as he stared intently at Ferris's cat ears. In Japan, he had only ever seen people wearing fake cat ears at anime festivals, but these ears... they were moving!
"Mister... do you have real cat ears?" Subaru blurted out, a child's curiosity temporarily overriding his fear. He took a step forward, pointing at Ferris's head. "That is so cool!"
Ferris raised an eyebrow, then burst into a teasing laugh. "Mister? Who are you calling mister nyan! You should call me the beautiful Big Brother Ferris, got it, kiddo? Though this child... his scent is quite strange nyan."
As an elite guard and a high-level healer, Ferris instantly caught a very faint but dark aura surrounding the child—the scent of the Witch of Envy. However, this aura was incredibly weak, and the child before him was entirely a normal human, possessing no mana or ill intent whatsoever.
"Stop teasing him, Ferris," Emilia spoke up, shielding Subaru. "He is lost and doesn't remember the way home. I couldn't just leave him behind. We will take Subaru back to the Roswaal mansion first, and then figure things out."
Ferris shrugged, opening the carriage door. "If that's what you've decided, then so be it nyan. Get in, snub-nosed kiddo."
Subaru was lifted into the luxurious carriage by Emilia. For a seven-year-old child who had never ridden in a carriage before, this trip felt like a thrilling rollercoaster. The young boy kept pressing himself against the window, watching the scenery of Lugnica fade into the distance.
Exhausted after a long, event-filled day and with a full stomach, Subaru's eyelids began to feel heavy. The young boy let out a massive yawn, his head leaning against the side of the seat as he gradually drifted off to sleep.
Watching the young boy sleep soundly, his innocent face showing signs of fatigue while his hand still gripped a corner of his father's jacket, Emilia gently pulled him closer, letting his head rest upon her lap. She brushed her fingers softly through his messy black hair, letting out a quiet sigh.
"Poor child... I wonder how worried your parents must be right now," she whispered.
The royal carriage continued to roll forward, carrying the seven-year-old Subaru away from the capital, heading straight toward the Roswaal mansion—where a completely new life, and new companions, were waiting for him.
The journey from the capital to the Roswaal mansion took several hours. By the time the carriage wheels finally ground to a halt, Subaru was only half-awake. The young boy rubbed his sleepy eyes, staring blankly out of the window.
In front of him stood a massive, magnificent mansion, as grand as a fairy tale castle. The pure white walls, deep blue roof tiles, and perfectly manicured gardens left the seven-year-old boy completely jaw-dropped.
"Whoa... Sister Emilia's house is huge!" Subaru cheered, his previous fatigue vanishing into thin air.
Emilia smiled tenderly, taking his small hand as they stepped down from the carriage. "This isn't my house, it belongs to an acquaintance who is letting me stay here. Come along, I'll introduce you to everyone."
As soon as the grand double doors of the mansion opened, two familiar figures were already standing perfectly in the foyer to receive them. They were twin girls wearing identical maid uniforms, differing only by their hair color: one had peach-pink hair (Ram) and the other had sky-blue hair (Rem).
"Welcome back, Lady Emilia," they spoke in unison, bowing flawlessly.
But the moment they raised their heads, both Ram and Rem's eyes instantly locked onto the tiny creature hiding behind Emilia's legs. Subaru was tightly clutching the fabric of her outfit, his sharp eyes warily observing the maid sisters. He had never seen twins who looked so identical yet so cute before.
"Lady Emilia," Ram spoke first, her tone flat but her brow slightly furrowing. "Who is this human child? It is rather inconvenient for you to bring such a small, strange thing back to Lord Roswaal's mansion without prior notice."
"Sister Ram, please do not say that," Rem quietly checked her sister, though her blue eyes were also filled with wariness. Much like Ferris, her sensitive Oni nose had picked up a very peculiar scent—a faint, lingering miasma wafting from the child.
"I apologize for not warning you beforehand, Ram, Rem," Emilia hastily explained, gently patting Subaru's head to reassure him. "But this child was lost in the capital. His name is Subaru, he's only seven years old, and he doesn't remember how to get home. I couldn't just leave him behind."
Sensing the tense atmosphere, the young boy gathered all his courage. He took a firm step forward and bowed deeply from the waist, exactly the way he had been taught in his Japanese elementary school.
"He-Hello, big sisters! My name is Natsuki Subaru! I am seven years old! I accidentally got lost and Sister Emilia saved me. I promise I won't be a bother to you!"
The perfectly executed 90-degree bow, delivered in a high-pitched, loud yet slightly trembling "Shotabaru" voice, caused the grand foyer to fall completely silent for a few seconds.
Ram's cold gaze froze. She looked down at the child drowning in the oversized black and orange jacket, his chubby cheeks flushed red from straining too hard to be polite. A strange, unfamiliar emotion flickered in Ram's chest, though she quickly recovered her haughty demeanor. "Hmph. A child with peculiar manners. But that jacket of yours looks incredibly sloppy."
Meanwhile, Rem stared intently at Subaru's tiny, tightly intertwined hands. Her Oni wariness was suddenly dealt a heavy blow by the sheer innocence and pitiful look of the child. The Witch's scent on him was far too weak to be any threat. Instead, her deeply ingrained maid instincts to nurture and care suddenly flared up.
"Is your... is your name Subaru?" Rem stepped forward, kneeling down in front of the boy. Her voice was noticeably softer than usual. "My name is Rem. And this is my older sister, Ram. Don't be scared, we won't throw you out."
Subaru raised his head, meeting Rem's gentle smile. The young boy grinned widely, revealing a cute missing baby tooth. "Yes! Thank you, blue-haired Sister Rem! Pink-haired Sister Ram is really cool too!"
Being praised so purely and innocently by a seven-year-old child caused the tips of Ram's ears to turn slightly pink. She averted her gaze, clearing her throat. "Rem, prepare a vacant room for the brat. And find him some clothes that actually fit. He looks like a discarded doll wrapped in rags."
"Yes, Sister Ram," Rem smiled. She extended her hand toward Subaru. "Come along, Subaru. Let's get you washed up and get you some sweet cake, alright?"
"Whoa! Cake! I'm coming!" Subaru excitedly grabbed Rem's hand, completely bought over by the mention of sweets.
Watching Rem lead the young Subaru inside by the hand, Emilia let out a sigh of relief. She turned to Ram and smiled, "Thank you, Ram."
"I am merely doing my duty, Lady Emilia," Ram said, crossing her arms, though her eyes lingered on the hallway where the child had just disappeared. "Let us just hope that small thing doesn't turn the mansion upside down."
The bathroom of the Roswaal mansion was nothing short of a luxury hot spring resort to seven-year-old Subaru. He stared wide-eyed at the massive stone tub, steam rising gently from the crystal-clear water. Rem had carefully helped him out of his father's oversized jacket and his dirt-smudged clothes, leading him into the warm room.
"Alright, Subaru. Let's get you all cleaned up before we head to the kitchen," Rem said softly, testing the water temperature with her hand.
Subaru, initially a bit shy about having a big sister wash him, quickly forgot his embarrassment once he splashed into the water. "Whoa! It's like a swimming pool! Sister Rem, look, I can float!" He kicked his tiny legs, splashing water everywhere, giggling uncontrollably.
Rem couldn't help but smile, a genuine, warm expression softening her features. She carefully scrubbed his messy black hair with scented soap, making sure not to get any in his sharp eyes. As she washed his back, she noticed how small and fragile he really was. There were no scars, no hidden weapons, and absolutely no malice. He was just a child. The faint, dark scent she had smelled earlier seemed almost entirely masked by the sweet aroma of the soap.
After drying him off, Rem dressed him in a set of spare clothes she had quickly altered. It was a simple white tunic and loose trousers, but on Subaru, it made him look incredibly adorable, like a little porcelain doll.
"You look very handsome, Subaru," Rem praised, wiping a stray drop of water from his cheek.
"Hehe, thank you, Sister Rem! I feel super clean!" Subaru grinned, his stomach letting out another timely rumble.
Rem giggled. "Come along then. The cake is waiting."
She led him down the grand hallways toward the dining room. Subaru hopped beside her, holding her hand tightly. However, as they passed a particular set of double doors, a sudden wave of curiosity washed over the young boy. The doors looked different, older, and somehow more mysterious.
Before Rem could stop him, Subaru's childish impulses took over. He let go of her hand, ran up to the door, and pushed it open with a loud creak.
"Subaru, wait! That room is—" Rem started, but she froze.
The room inside wasn't a hallway or a regular guest bedroom. It was a massive, dimly lit library, its walls lined from floor to ceiling with thousands of ancient books. Sitting on a step-ladder in the center of the room was a tiny girl who looked no older than Subaru himself. She had long, cream-colored hair styled into massive drills and wore a flamboyant, frilly pink dress. She was holding a large book, staring at the intruder with absolute irritation.
"Who dares trespass into Beatrice's library without permission, I suppose?!" the little girl snapped, her butterfly-shaped pupils narrowing.
Subaru blinked. He didn't look scared at all. Instead, his eyes lit up with pure awe. He walked right past a panicked Rem and stopped at the base of the ladder, looking up at the frilly girl.
"Whoa... You're so cute! Are you a princess?" Subaru blurted out, a massive, gap-toothed grin spreading across his face. "Your hair looks like giant bread rolls! It's so cool!"
Beatrice's jaw dropped. For four hundred years, people had entered her library with fear, respect, or caution. No one—absolutely no one—had ever burst in, called her a princess, and compared her sacred drills to bakery items.
"Y-You impudent brat, in fact!" Beatrice's face flushed bright red from a mixture of embarrassment and rage. She slammed her book shut. "How dare you speak to Betty that way! Rem! What is the meaning of this, I suppose?!"
"Great Spirit Beatrice, I deeply apologize," Rem bowed hastily, stepping forward to grab Subaru. "This is Subaru, a guest of Lady Emilia. He is just a child and didn't mean any disrespect."
"A child? He is a menace, in fact!" Beatrice pointed a trembling finger at Subaru. "Leave at once! Betty has no time for noisy fleshbags, I suppose!"
But Subaru didn't want to leave. He saw how lonely the big library looked, and despite her angry face, the little girl looked like she needed a friend. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, shiny colorful wrapper—a piece of Japanese hard candy he had forgotten was there.
He stepped closer and placed it gently on the bottom step of her ladder.
"Don't be mad, Princess Bread-hair," Subaru said softly, his sharp eyes turning gentle. "This is a magic candy from my home. It makes you happy when you're sad. You can have it!"
Beatrice stared down at the strange, glittering wrapper, completely stunned into silence. Before she could process her emotions, Rem gently scooped Subaru up into her arms.
"We will take our leave now, Lady Beatrice," Rem said, carrying the boy out and closing the doors behind them.
Inside the quiet library, Beatrice sat frozen on her ladder. She looked at the heavy doors, then slowly looked down at the tiny, colorful candy wrapper on the floor. Her heart thwacked strangely against her ribs.
"What a ridiculous human, I suppose..." she muttered, but she didn't throw the candy away.
The dining room was vast, dominated by a long, polished mahogany table that looked entirely too large for a seven-year-old child. Subaru sat perched on a chair that Rem had stacked with several thick cushions so his chin could comfortably clear the table.
True to her word, Rem returned from the kitchen carrying a tray laden with a freshly baked strawberry sponge cake and a pot of sweet fruit tea.
"Wow! It looks amazing, Sister Rem!" Subaru cheered, his eyes sparkling as he watched her slide a generous slice onto his plate.
He didn't wait. Shoveling a massive forkful of cake into his mouth, his cheeks puffed out like a happy hamster. "Mmm! It's so fluffy! You're the best cook in the whole wide world!"
Rem's cheeks dusted with a soft pink hue, a genuine smile gracing her lips. "I am glad it pleases you, Subaru. Eat as much as you like."
As Subaru was happily devouring his second slice, the heavy double doors of the dining room swung open. Emilia walked in, looking relaxed, but she was followed by a tall, looming figure that made Subaru's fork freeze halfway to his mouth.
The man was wearing a flamboyant, mismatched outfit of purple and white, a long dark cape draped over his shoulders. His face was covered in thick white makeup, with a blue teardrop painted under one eye and a star under the other.
"My, my, whaaat do we have here~?" the man spoke, his voice rising and falling in an absurd, theatrical cadence. "Is this the little stray that my dear Emilia-sama brought hooommee~?"
Subaru stared, completely captivated. He didn't look scared. To a seven-year-old boy raised on Japanese television, this man didn't look like a dangerous Margrave—he looked like a high-tier anime villain or a circus ringmaster.
"Whoa..." Subaru blurted out, cream still smudged on his nose. "Are you a magician? Your makeup is so cool! Can you do magic tricks?!"
Roswaal L. Mathers blinked, his mismatched yellow and blue eyes widening slightly. Usually, children cried or hid when they saw him. Adults became stiff and cautious. No one had ever asked him if he did birthday party magic tricks.
"Oho~? A magician, you say~?" Roswaal chuckled, stepping closer. With a theatrical flick of his wrist, a small, harmless flame danced upon his fingertip before morphing into a tiny butterfly made of light and fluttering away.
Subaru's jaw dropped. He clapped his hands frantically. "So cool! Do it again! Do it again!"
"Subaru, please be polite," Emilia interjected hastily, though she couldn't help but smile at the scene. "This is Lord Roswaal. He owns this mansion and is a very powerful mage."
Subaru immediately slid off his cushion pile, landing on his feet, and gave another perfectly executed 90-degree bow. "Thank you for letting me stay in your awesome castle, Lord Magician! I'm Natsuki Subaru!"
Roswaal looked down at the bowing child, his playful smile remaining intact, though his sharp mind was calculating. Like the others, he could sense the faint, almost imperceptible shadow of the Witch's scent on the boy. But looking at the child's pure, unadulterated enthusiasm and complete lack of mana, Roswaal knew this boy wasn't a threat—at least, not yet. He was an anomaly.
"You are veeery welcome, young Subaru," Roswaal said, waving his hand grandly. "As long as you remain a goood boy, you may stay here as our guest."
"Yes, sir!" Subaru grinned, proudly showing his missing tooth, before scrambling back up onto his cushions to finish his cake.
Ram entered the room shortly after, carrying a fresh set of towels, but paused when she saw Roswaal entertaining the brat. She let out a small, fond hmph.
For the first time in a very long time, the dining room of the Roswaal mansion felt warm, filled with the loud, bright laughter of a child who knew nothing of the cruel destiny waiting for him in the shadows.
Night fell quickly over the Margrave's estate, enveloping the grand mansion in a blanket of quiet serenity. For little Subaru, the excitement of the day had finally caught up with him. After a hearty dinner where he endlessly praised Rem's cooking and tried to mimic Roswaal's bizarre way of speaking—much to Ram's secret amusement—the seven-year-old boy was thoroughly exhausted.
Rem had tucked him into a large, soft guest bed that felt like sleeping on a cloud. She smoothed down his wild black hair, whispered a gentle goodnight, and left the door slightly ajar, leaving a single magical lamp lit in the corner to ward off the darkness.
But sleep did not come easily to Subaru.
As the mansion grew completely silent, the reality of his situation began to creep into his childish mind. The grand castle, the fairy-sister, the maid sisters, and the clown magician were all amazing, but they weren't his home. He missed the familiar smell of his mother's cooking. He missed his father's loud, boisterous laughter and the way Kenichi would swing him over his shoulders.
Subaru clutched his father's oversized black and orange jacket tightly against his chest, burying his face into the fabric. It still smelled faintly of home, of laundry detergent and tobacco. A lone tear escaped his sharp eyes, soaking into the cloth. He was a brave boy, a cool boy just like his dad, but he was still only seven.
"Mom... Dad..." he whimpered softly.
Meanwhile, walking down the quiet hallway, Emilia was on her way to her own room. She paused as she neared Subaru's door. Her elven ears caught the faint, muffled sound of a child sniffling. Her chest tightened with a sudden, painful wave of sympathy.
Gently, she pushed the door open a bit further and stepped into the room.
Under the dim, warm glow of the mana lamp, she saw a small lump buried underneath the heavy blankets. The blanket was shaking slightly. Emilia walked over to the side of the bed with soft, silent footsteps and sat down on the edge of the mattress.
"Subaru?" she called out, her voice a soothing whisper.
The lump froze. Slowly, the blanket was pulled down, revealing a pair of red, puffy eyes and a tear-stained face. Subaru looked up at Emilia, looking incredibly small and vulnerable without his usual energetic bravado.
"Sister... Emilia..." Subaru choked out, trying desperately to wipe his nose with his sleeve. "I'm sorry... I'm being a baby."
"Oh, Subaru, no you're not," Emilia said, her heart aching. She leaned forward, scooping the small boy up into her arms.
Subaru hesitated for a fraction of a second before burying his face into her shoulder, his tiny hands gripping her white robes. He finally let go, sobbing quietly as Emilia rocked him back and forth.
"It's okay to cry, Subaru. You are in a completely strange place, far away from your mommy and daddy. You are being so, so brave," Emilia whispered, rubbing soothing circles into his back. "I promise you, we will do everything we can to help you find a way back to them. But until then, you are safe here. I will protect you."
Subaru's sobs gradually slowed down as the warmth of Emilia's embrace and the gentle cadence of her voice calmed his racing heart. He pulled back slightly, looking up at her with genuine awe.
"Fairy sister..." he mumbled in his native tongue, before correcting himself. "Sister Emilia... you're really nice."
Emilia giggled softly, wiping the remaining tears from his chubby cheeks with her thumb. "And you are a very good boy, Subaru. Now, how about a lullaby to help you sleep?"
Subaru nodded eagerly, snuggling back down into the pillows, pulling his father's jacket up to his chin. Emilia pulled the heavy blankets over him, smoothing them out.
She took a deep breath and began to sing. It was a soft, ancient elven melody, a song with no words but filled with an overwhelming sense of peace and warmth. Her voice drifted through the quiet room like a gentle breeze.
Unbeknownst to them, two figures stood just outside the cracked door. Rem stood with her hands clasped, a soft, melancholy smile on her face. Next to her, Ram leaned against the wall, her arms crossed. While her face remained blank, her eyes softened considerably as she listened to the child's breathing turn slow and rhythmic.
By the time the song ended, Subaru was fast asleep, a peaceful smile on his face, safely guarded by the residents of the mansion.
The morning sun filtered softly through the grand curtains of the guest room, painting the floor in warm, golden hues. Subaru woke up with a wide yawn, rubbing his eyes as he sat up. For a brief second, he looked around the unfamiliar, luxurious room, expecting to see his old bedroom in Japan. But then the memories of yesterday came rushing back—the magic, the beautiful fairy sister, the maid sisters, and the funny clown magician.
He didn't feel like crying today. He felt energized and ready for an adventure.
With a determined nod, Subaru scrambled out of the bed, carefully dragging his father's oversized black and orange jacket with him. He managed to slip his arms through the sleeves, though they completely swallowed his hands, and shuffled out into the hallway.
It didn't take long for him to run into Rem, who was carrying a basket of fresh linens. Her blue eyes brightened the moment she saw the small boy.
"Good morning, Subaru," Rem said, her voice carrying a gentle warmth that wasn't there when they first met. "Did you sleep well?"
"Good morning, Sister Rem! I slept super-duper well!" Subaru grinned, doing a little hop. "The bed is like a giant marshmallow!"
Rem giggled, setting the basket down. She knelt in front of him, gently rolling up the long sleeves of his jacket so his small hands could actually pop out. "We can't have you tripping over your sleeves all day, can we? Come along, breakfast is almost ready. Today, I made stuffed fluffy pancakes."
"Pancakes?! Yay!" Subaru pumped his fists in the air, practically vibrating with excitement.
Breakfast in the grand dining room was a lively affair. Subaru sat on his tower of cushions, swinging his legs back and forth as he happily stuffed his face with Rem's cooking. Emilia watched him with a fond smile, relieved to see him back to his cheerful self after last night. Even Ram, who stood by the wall with a stoic expression, didn't complain when Subaru accidentally dropped a dollop of cream on his cheek—she merely clicked her tongue and tossed a napkin his way.
Once his belly was full, Subaru's adventurous spirit couldn't be contained. "Sister Emilia, can I go play outside in the big yard? I want to see the giant lizards!"
"You mean the Ground Dragons?" Emilia smiled. "You can go to the gardens, Subaru, but you must promise to stay where Rem or Ram can see you. And don't go near the stables alone, alright?"
"I promise!" Subaru saluted sharply, sliding off his cushions and dashing out the back doors into the sprawling gardens.
The estate's garden was a paradise for a seven-year-old. There were towering hedges, colorful flowers he had never seen in Japan, and large paved pathways perfect for running. Subaru ran around chasing colorful butterflies, pretending he was a legendary superhero defending the castle from invisible monsters.
"Take that! And that! Ultimate Subaru Punch!" he shouted, throwing tiny fists at the air.
Sitting on a stone bench under a large shade tree, Ram was supposedly checking the estate's inventory list, but her eyes kept drifting toward the small boy running around the grass.
Suddenly, Subaru stopped. His sharp eyes caught sight of a strange, small creature rustling in the bushes. It looked like a tiny, chubby rodent with vibrant blue fur and large, curious eyes.
"Whoa... a real-life Pokémon?" Subaru whispered in absolute awe. He dropped to his hands and knees, slowly crawling toward the bush. "Hey there, little guy... I won't hurt you..."
Ram noticed his sudden silence and stood up, her brow furrowing. "Barusu—I mean, Subaru. What are you doing over there?"
Before she could walk over, the blue creature suddenly got startled and leaped out of the bush, jumping straight onto Subaru's face.
"Wah! It's attacking me! Save me, Pink-haired Sister Ram!" Subaru yelled, flailing his arms as he fell backward onto the soft grass, the harmless garden spirit happily sniffing his hair.
Ram let out a heavy sigh, but a tiny, rare smirk tugged at the corner of her lips. She walked over with brisk steps, effortlessly scooping the tiny blue creature off the boy's face.
Subaru sat up, his hair completely messy and a few blades of grass sticking to his cheeks. He looked up at Ram, pouting slightly, but then his eyes went wide when he saw how easily she handled the creature.
"Whoa... Sister Ram, you're like a beast tamer! So cool!"
Ram's cheeks turned a faint shade of pink, and she quickly turned her face away, crossing her arms. "Hmph. It is merely a minor garden spirit, you silly child. Now get up and clean the grass off your clothes. If Rem sees you this dirty, she will think I wasn't looking after you properly."
Subaru scrambled to his feet, grinning brightly as he dusted off his trousers. He didn't mind her sharp words at all. In his mind, everyone in this giant castle was incredibly awesome, and he was determined to make them all his friends.
By the afternoon, Subaru's energy had reached its peak. Having successfully befriended the garden spirit and won a tiny bit of favor from Ram, the seven-year-old boy was ready for a new game.
"Sister Rem! Sister Emilia! Let's play hide-and-seek!" Subaru pleaded, tugging at the hem of Emilia's dress while Rem was setting down a tray of afternoon tea in the courtyard.
Emilia clapped her hands together, her purple eyes lighting up. "Hide-and-seek? Oh, I haven't played that in such a long time! I would love to play, Subaru."
Rem smiled warmly, bowing slightly. "If Lady Emilia is playing, then Rem shall participate as well. Who will be the seeker first?"
"Me! Me! I'll count!" Subaru volunteered excitedly. He ran over to a large oak tree in the courtyard, pressed his face against the rough bark, and covered his eyes with his tiny hands. "I'm counting to thirty! One... two... three..."
Emilia and Rem exchanged a fond look before quickly scattering to find their hiding spots.
"...twenty-nine... thirty! Ready or not, here I come!" Subaru shouted, spinning around with a dramatic superhero pose.
His sharp eyes immediately scanned the courtyard. It didn't take him long to spot a flash of silver hair peeking out from behind a large rosebush. Emilia was trying her best to stay small, but her tall frame made it difficult.
Subaru giggled, sneaking up quietly on tiptoes. "Found you, Sister Emilia!"
"Ah!" Emilia gasped, jumping slightly before laughing softly. "My, you found me so fast, Subaru! You're an excellent tracker."
"Hehe, I'm the best!" Subaru puffed out his chest proudly.
Next was Rem. She had chosen a much better hiding spot, blending into the shadows of the mansion's side porch. It took Subaru a few minutes of intense searching, crawling under benches and checking behind pillars, before he finally spotted the edge of her white maid apron.
"Found you too, Sister Rem!"
"Wonderful job, Subaru," Rem praised, stepping out of the shadows and gently dusting a stray leaf off his head. "Your eyes are very sharp."
"Now it's my turn to hide! No peeking!" Subaru declared, already looking around for the ultimate hiding spot.
Emilia covered her eyes and began to count out loud. Subaru dashed inside the mansion. He knew the backyard was too open, so he wanted to find a spot indoors where they would never think to look. He ran down the grand corridors, his small footsteps echoing softly against the carpeted floors.
He passed the kitchen, the dining room, and the guest wings. Eventually, he found himself in a quiet, isolated hallway that looked vaguely familiar. His eyes landed on a specific, heavy set of double doors.
The giant book room! Subaru thought, his face lighting up. The bread-hair princess's room! They'll never look for me in there!
Without a second thought, Subaru grabbed the large brass handles, pushed with all his childish might, and slipped inside, closing the heavy doors behind him with a soft thud.
The library was just as dimly lit and massive as before. Sitting in the exact same spot on her step-ladder, Beatrice was quietly turning the page of a thick, ancient tome. Hearing the doors open, she froze, her butterfly-shaped pupils snapping toward the intruder.
"You again, I suppose?!" Beatrice huffed, her tiny face contorting into an annoyed pout. "Betty explicitly told you to leave her alone, in fact! This is a restricted area for noisy, troublesome brats!"
Subaru didn't look bothered by her harsh tone at all. He put a finger to his lips, giving her a frantic shhh gesture, and quickly scrambled under the nearest low mahogany table, curling himself into a tight little ball.
"Shh! Princess Bread-hair, be quiet!" Subaru whispered loudly from under the table, his sharp eyes wide with excitement. "I'm playing hide-and-seek with Sister Emilia and Sister Rem! You can't let them find me!"
Beatrice stared at the empty space where the boy had just been, then looked down at the table where a pair of small, black-and-orange sneakers were clearly sticking out.
"Betty is a Great Spirit, not a co-conspirator in your foolish juvenile games, I suppose!" Beatrice crossed her arms, turning her head away haughtily. "If they come in here, Betty will tell them exactly where you are, in fact."
"Please, Princess?" Subaru's muffled voice came from under the table. "Just for a little bit? If I win, I'll give you another magic candy next time!"
Beatrice's chest gave a strange, tiny flutter. She glanced at the corner of her desk, where the shiny, colorful wrapper from yesterday was still neatly smoothed out and tucked under a paperweight. She hadn't thrown it away. She hadn't even eaten the candy yet, but the bright colors made her dark library feel a little less lonely.
Before Beatrice could say anything else, the heavy doors of the library vibrated slightly as a soft knock echoed through the room.
"Lady Beatrice? Forgive the intrusion," Rem's polite voice called out from the hallway. "Have you seen Subaru? We are playing a game, and he seems to have wandered off."
Under the table, Subaru squeezed his eyes shut, holding his breath and praying to his anime superheroes for a miracle.
Beatrice looked at the closed doors, then looked down at the poorly hidden boy. She let out a heavy, dramatic sigh, closing her book with a soft snap.
"Betty has not seen any annoying brats, I suppose," Beatrice called out, her voice perfectly calm and indifferent. "Keep your loud games away from my archives, in fact."
"Understood. We apologize for disturbing you, Lady Beatrice," Rem's footsteps faded away down the hall.
The library fell completely silent again. Slowly, Subaru poked his messy black hair out from under the table, his face glowing with absolute triumph.
"Whoa... you lied for me!" Subaru gasped, scrambling out and looking up at her like she was the coolest person in the world. "You're the best, Princess Bread-hair!"
"H-Hmph! Betty did not lie for you!" Beatrice's cheeks flushed a furious pink as she snapped her book open again, desperately trying to hide her face. "Betty simply didn't want the maid bothering her any longer, I suppose! Now sit there and be quiet, or I will throw you out myself, in fact!"
Subaru grinned brightly, entirely unfazed. Instead of leaving, he plonked himself right down on the soft rug at the base of her ladder, pulling his knees to his chest, content to just quietly keep the lonely spirit company.
For nearly an hour, the forbidden library of the Roswaal mansion remained unusually peaceful. Beatrice sat on her tall step-ladder, pretending to be deeply engrossed in her ancient tome, but her butterfly-shaped pupils kept darting downward.
At the base of her ladder, seven-year-old Subaru was sitting cross-legged on the soft, plush rug. He had found a discarded picture book with a leather cover and was quietly flipping through the pages. Since he couldn't read the complex i-glyphs of this world, he was simply making up his own superhero stories based on the illustrations of knights and dragons.
"And then... the awesome knight did a mega-punch! Boom!" Subaru whispered to himself, throwing a tiny fist into the air, completely lost in his imagination.
Beatrice let out a soft, dramatic sigh, closing her book. "You are being incredibly loud for someone who is supposed to be sitting quietly, I suppose."
Subaru blinked and looked up, not looking guilty at all. Instead, he scrambled to his feet, holding the heavy book awkwardly against his chest. He walked over to the ladder, looking up at her with wide, pleading eyes.
"Princess Bread-hair, what does this page say?" Subaru asked, pointing a tiny finger at a drawing of a massive silver dragon soaring over a castle. "I can't read the letters. My dad taught me kanji, but these look like squiggly worms."
"Kanji? Squiggly worms?!" Beatrice's brow furrowed in sheer disbelief. "This is the sacred script of Lugnica, you uncultured brat, in fact! To call it worms is a direct insult to Betty's vast knowledge, I suppose!"
"Then read it to me!" Subaru grinned, completely missing her irritation. "Please? You're a super-smart princess, right? My mom always reads to me before bed."
Beatrice froze. The mention of a mother made something twinge in her chest. She looked at the boy's eager, upturned face, completely devoid of the fear or political motives that adults usually carried when they approached her. He just wanted a story.
With a huff, Beatrice floated down from her ladder, her frilly pink dress billowing around her like a blooming flower. She snatched the book from his small hands and sat down on the soft rug, crossing her legs.
"Fine! But only because Betty cannot stand your ignorance, I suppose. Sit down and listen carefully, in fact."
"Yay!" Subaru cheered, immediately plonking himself down right next to her, so close that his shoulder was brushing against her frilly sleeve.
Beatrice flinched slightly at the sudden proximity, her cheeks turning a faint pink, but she didn't push him away. She cleared her throat, opened the book, and began to read in her clear, melodic voice.
It was an old legend about the Divine Dragon, Volcanica, and the founding of the Kingdom of Lugnica. As she read, Subaru listened with rapt attention, his jaw slightly slack and his sharp eyes wide with wonder. Whenever she described a battle or a display of powerful magic, Subaru would gasp or make quiet "pew-pew" sound effects, which made Beatrice's lips twitch with a hidden smile.
As the story drew to a close, Subaru's head began to tilt. The warmth of the library and the soothing rhythm of Beatrice's voice were making him drowsy again. Without realizing it, his eyes fluttered shut, and his head slumped sideways, landing softly right on Beatrice's shoulder.
Beatrice stiffened completely, turning into a statue. "Y-You impudent...! Get off Betty at once, I suppose!" she whispered fiercely, but the boy didn't move. He merely let out a soft, contented sigh, curling his tiny fingers into the fabric of her dress.
He looked so small, so completely defenseless, and so entirely trusting of her.
Slowly, the tension left Beatrice's shoulders. She looked down at the messy black hair resting against her robes, a sensation of profound warmth washing over her lonely heart. For four hundred years, she had been waiting in this dark library for "That Person." But right now, this strange, loud, and affectionate child was making her feel like she wasn't completely alone anymore.
Gently, so as not to wake him, Beatrice closed the book. She raised her tiny hand and softly brushed a strand of black hair away from his forehead.
"You really are a ridiculous human, I suppose," she murmured, her voice softer than it had ever been in centuries.
Beatrice remained perfectly still for a long time, acting as a makeshift pillow for the sleeping seven-year-old. The rhythmic, soft breathing of little Subaru against her shoulder was strangely comforting. The Great Spirit, who had spent centuries in absolute isolation, found herself deliberately slowing her own breathing just to match his.
However, the quiet sanctuary of the library was suddenly broken when the heavy double doors creaked open.
"Subaru? Are you in here?" Emilia's voice called out softly as she stepped into the room, followed closely by Rem.
Beatrice snapped her head up, her butterfly-shaped pupils widening slightly. Her face immediately flushed bright red with embarrassment at being caught in such a vulnerable, affectionate position.
"Keep your voices down, in fact!" Beatrice whispered fiercely, glaring at the intruders. "You will wake the noisy brat, I suppose!"
Emilia and Rem both froze, their eyes widening as they took in the sight. Sitting on the plush rug, the fearsome and notoriously anti-social Great Spirit Beatrice was carefully supporting a fast-asleep Subaru, who was snoring softly with his face buried in her frilly pink sleeve.
Emilia gasped, her hands flying to her cheeks, her purple eyes melting with absolute adoration. "Oh my goodness... Beatrice, that is the most precious thing I have ever seen!"
"Lady Beatrice..." Rem whispered, a brilliant, proud smile spreading across her face. "It seems you have a new little admirer."
"H-Hmph! It is not what it looks like, I suppose!" Beatrice stuttered, her voice trembling as she tried to maintain her haughty demeanor despite her burning cheeks. "The clumsy child simply fell asleep while Betty was educating him on the history of Lugnica, in fact! He is heavy and incredibly troublesome, I suppose!"
"Of course, Beatrice," Emilia giggled softly, walking over on quiet tiptoes and kneeling down beside them. "Thank you for watching over him. We were getting worried when he didn't come out of hiding."
Rem stepped forward and gently bent down, carefully sliding her arms under Subaru to lift him up without disturbing his slumber. Subaru mumbled something incoherent in his sleep, shifting slightly, but ultimately stayed asleep, his tiny head rolling onto Rem's shoulder.
As soon as the boy was lifted, Beatrice felt a sudden, cold wave of emptiness leave her side. She quickly crossed her arms and turned her face away so they wouldn't see the tiny pout forming on her lips.
"Take him away at once, in fact," Beatrice huffed. "And make sure he doesn't barge into Betty's library tomorrow, I suppose."
"We will, Beatrice. Goodnight," Emilia said gently, giving the spirit a warm, knowing smile.
Rem carried the sleeping boy back down the dimly lit corridors to the guest room, with Emilia walking right beside them. They tucked Subaru back into the large, marshmallow-soft bed, pulling the heavy blankets right up to his chin. Rem carefully placed his father's oversized black and orange jacket on the bedside chair, right where he could see it first thing in the morning.
As they stood by the bed, watching the boy's peaceful face, Emilia softly spoke. "He really has a magical way about him, doesn't he, Rem? Even Beatrice couldn't resist him."
"Yes, Lady Emilia," Rem replied, her blue eyes filled with an intense, protective warmth. "Subaru has a very pure heart. It is impossible not to want to protect him."
Outside the window, the stars of Lugnica shined brightly over the Margrave's estate. Ten chapters into his strange new life, Natsuki Subaru was no longer a terrified, lost child in a dangerous foreign city. He was the beloved, cherished "little brother" of the Roswaal mansion, completely wrapped in a blanket of love and safety.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Author's note: I don't know how to write it anymore.
Bạn đang đọc truyện trên: Truyen3h.Co