Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

"Subaru needs to have a lot of kids, I suppose."

"What?"

It was a typical day in Roswaal's mansion. The maids Rem and Ram did their job in practiced perfection, while Frederica, the most experienced worker, taught Petra the ropes. Emilia, the silver-haired half-elf candidate for the position as the 42nd Queen of Lugunica studied economics, politics, geography and a variety of other subjects in her room.

Roswaal L. Mathers, the margrave, and court magician, was filling out paperwork in his study and trying to convince more nobles to take Emilia's side after the events of Sanctuary 4 months ago.

Otto, the Internals Affairs Officer, was currently overworking himself to exhaustion. Garfiel, the self-proclaimed shield of the camp, was currently training, doing parkour just like his Cap'n had done 5 minutes ago. Natsuki Subaru, Emilia's knight, and spirit arts user, was lying on the ground, exhausted after his daily workout. Clind, an experienced butler, taught him how to use a whip and perform parkour during his brief stays in the manor. Subaru took his training seriously, after all, he knew better than anyone how weak he was.

As he was recovering his breath on the ground, his contracted spirit Beatrice approached him and dropped that nuke out of nowhere.

"Subaru needs to have a lot of kids, I suppose."

"Don't repeat it!" Exclaimed an exasperated black-haired boy.

"Subaru needs to-" Beatrice deadpanned.

"I got it the first time, so don't say it anymore!" Standing up, Subaru interrupted his spirit while blushing red. "And where is this even coming from!?"

"Subaru will eventually leave Betty behind, I suppose. But Subaru's children can still make up for four hundred years of no memories. That's why-"

"I heard you! Don't say that, it's embarrassing! And I will…" He shyly said the last part, so low that if Beatrice was even half a meter away she wouldn't have heard it. Hearing it, her eyes illuminated for a split second before she forced her smile away.

"Betty doesn't care if it's with the half-elf or the maid. So please-"

"DON'T SAY IT ANYMORE!" Dying of embarrassment, Subaru clutched his head while shouting, wishing the earth would swallow him.

"Betty's contractor is easy to tease, I suppose." She said with a smug smile, crossing her arms. In retaliation, Subaru lifted her high into the air, spinning her around as she childishly tried to free herself. "PUT ME DOWN I SUPPOSE!"

"Beako is so cute too!" Subaru let out a small chuckle as he put Beatrice back down and patted her head. "But Beako and I will always be together." I won't die in front of you, at least.

"Betty's contractor always knows what to say to make Betty happy." She huffed and looked away.

A typical day in Roswaal's mansion.

"Kids with Subaru…" In a garden made of shadows, a silver-haired half-elf was fantasizing about having a family with her beloved. She had a dumb smile on her face as a line of drool trickled down her mouth. Wiping it off with the back of her hand, she spoke to herself.

"It seems we finally agree on something. Yes, we must make sure Subaru knows how to properly take care of a kid." Having discussed with her other self, she reached her conclusion. Opening her arms, she murmured something and a series of windows opened all over the garden, all of them showing different realities. "I hate seeing these whores with my Subaru, but this is for the better."

She spent a good amount of time observing all of the different realities, making comments about all of them:

"Lilliana? Uwah, Felix? What happened to this Subaru? Reid's descendant? I liked the Sword Demon Ballad, seems like it didn't happen in this one… RAKHSA!? MY SUBARU IS NOT INTO NTR! All of them are Subaru so I must love them, but…" The half-elf trembled at the sight of some realities that should have never existed.

She swiped her hand, and the windows closed. She repeated the act several times, keeping the few worlds she liked before swiftly removing the others from both the garden and her mind.

She ended with eight different worlds to observe. She took her time observing those before deleting three of them. "Vega is cute, but I already chose one oni twin." She swiped her hand above the crack in the garden, closing the hole to yet another reality. She did the same with the crack to its left. "Subaru would get angry if he learns he ended up with a 'loli'".

She spent a long time deliberating over whether to close the last window or not. "I'm sorry Luna… I can't do this to my own daughter." She shed a tear for her future daughter.

Turning back, she nodded at her genius, crossing her arms with a smug smile. "Yep, I'm a genius! This will make Subaru happy, and since I did it, he'll love me over any of those whores! Now… AL SHAMAK!" She raised her arms high in the air, casting her most powerful spell with a significant difference: Dark tendrils broke their way into the various cracks surrounding the half-elf, tethering to Subaru's possible children and snatching them from their lives, scattering them around the world.

"I'll miss you, Subaru-kun."

"Rem, it's just a short trip to the village. I'll be back in a few hours." Subaru retorts to the blue-haired maid shedding crocodile tears in the mansion's entrance. After yesterday's party with all the nearby nobles, an attempt from Roswaal to gain more supporters for Emilia, the maids were busy cleaning the place after some of them drank more than they should.

After the banquet last night, the residents were low on supplies. As everyone was busy, Frederica suggested sending Petra to the village to get them. That way, she could both see her family for a short time and learn to properly buy food instead of simply helping Ram or Rem whenever they went for supplies. Subaru decided to join; Petra was still a frail little girl after all.

Petra cutely pouted at Subaru after leaving the mansion. "I'm not a little girl, Subaru-sama! I can carry everything!"

"Sure. With Frederica and Ram's training, you could even beat me, hahaha." Subaru let out a dry laugh at that thought. Weaker than a little girl, I need to train more.

"But even if you can beat me in a fight, I can't let you carry everything." He patted Petra's head as they walked, making her pout even harder.

Entering the village, Subaru was tackled to the ground by an army of kids.

"Subaru!"

"He's back!"

"Tell us how you defeated the whale again!"

Laying on the ground with the village kids on top of him, rummaging through his pockets and rubbing their noses on his tracksuit, he begged for help.

"Hey! Rem sewed this for me, don't rub your noses on it! Help me, Petra!" She huffed and pouted, heading towards her parents' house and leaving Subaru with the village children, displaying no mercy.

"Alright, I'll tell you about the fight with the Whale, but leave my clothes alone!"

"Yay!" The children answered in unison. They sat in front of Subaru, ready to hear his tale once again.

"Now, shoo!" Subaru drove the kids away with an exaggerated gesture.

After hearing his legendary battle yet again, the children finally left Subaru alone. He laid under a tree, waiting for Petra to return from her shopping spree.

This was her training after all, he was there purely to help her carry everything. "Mmh?" He was distracted by the rummaging of some nearby bushes. A short girl with silver hair and scary eyes emerged from it, dressed with a white coat over a purple dress came out of it, younger than Petra.

Her hair was messy, her clothes were slightly dirty and she had a few bruises on her knees. "Are you one of the village's children?" She spent a few seconds looking at his face before shyly shaking her head left and right. She's not another assassin like Meili, is she?

"If you're not one of the children around here… are you lost?" She nodded her head. Subaru approached her and put his arms on her shoulders, comforting the lost child. "What's your name?"

"Chocorina. And you, mister?"

"Me? I am Natsuki Subaru, knight of the half-elf Emilia!" He struck his mythical pose.

Hearing that, Chocorina's eyes illuminated, her pointy ears flapping around before jumping and knocking Subaru to the ground once again. "Daddy!"

"Huh?" A silver-haired elf… And she called me daddy!?

"Daddy, where's mommy? And why are you so young now? Where are we, daddy?" The young girl proclaiming to be his daughter bombarded him with questions.

"Just to be sure… Is your mother a silver-haired half-elf named Emilia?"

"Have you forgotten about mommy, daddy?" She pouted, making Subaru's heart flutter from how cute she was.

Breathe in, breathe out. For some reason, my daughter with Emilia is here. This doesn't make any sense, she hasn't even said that she loves me. I need to calm myself before I Return by Death from how cute she is.

"Daddy? Are you ok-ay?" She tilted her head to the right, having difficulty pronouncing the weird word her father often used.

I can't, I can't, I CAN'T! SHE'S SO CUTE GODDAMMIT! AND SHE JUST USED A SUBARUISM! She's my daughter, she has to be! The hair of Emilia, my eyes, subaruisms… There's no doubt about it!

"Subaru-sama? Who is she?" Having returned carrying a sack of tatoes, Petra looked at the young girl riding on top of Subaru. A silver-haired elf? She looks like Emilia… And has Subaru's eyes…

"Petra nee-chan?"

"It's hard to explain, Petra, but my daughter from the future is here."

Petra glanced at the smiling Chocorina before saying, "You say the weirdest things Subaru-sama. How can she be your child? You're too young."

"Look at her Petra! That smooth, silky silver hair is just like Emilia's! And those eyes, doesn't she look just like my daughter?"

"But Subaru-sama… Emilia-sama hasn't said she loves you yet…" Petra said those words without malicious intent. Only after saying them did she realize what she had done. "I-I didn't mean that Subaru-sama! It's just that this is too weird… even for you."

"It's okay Petra. Chocorina, does mommy love daddy?" He took the chance to prove both Emilia's feelings and her identity.

"Hm!" She nodded. "Mommy Emilia reaaally loves daddy!"

"See, Petra! She's my daughter! She must be! I have no idea why this is happening though…"

Grabbing Chocorina away from him and standing up, Subaru patted her head and said:

"Now Chocorina, be a good girl and wait for daddy here, ok? Petra, can you stay with her? I can't walk into the village with Emilia's daughter after all."

"But Petra nee-chan always scolds me. She's bad."

"Be a good girl and listen to daddy this time." He patted her head before leaving. Right after Beako tells me about having children… This isn't a coincidence, is it?

"Yes." Chocorina had a silly smile on her face, elated from all the head pats she had received, her hair messier than before.

A few minutes later Subaru returned carrying a few sacks filled to the brim with food. He gave some of the lightest ones to Petra, despite Chocorina wanting to help he refused. Even if she had elven blood and the strength of 10 Subarus, she was still younger than Petra, and her own daughter as well; letting her work would be a hit to both his pride and dignity as a human being and father. The three made their way back to the mansion.

"Welcome back Su...baru-kun?" Using what she called "Subaru Instinct", which is actually just smelling his miasma, Rem dashed to the main entrance as soon as she realized Subaru was returning. Opening the door, she welcomed Subaru until she noticed the little girl, shorter than Petra, at his side.

"Rem. Tell everyone to meet in the dining room in a few minutes. It's important." He said, tending the sacks filled with tatoes, appas, and various condiments he was carrying to her. His male pride was important but he simply couldn't carry them anymore; they were too heavy. Why is everyone so strong in this world?

"Yes." She answered dumbfounded, confused at the situation while grabbing all the sacks the knight had been carrying. She couldn't help but take a glance at the silver-haired girl with eyes like her father and wonder who she was.

"Petra. Go with Rem, I'll have Beatrice heal these bruises."

"Understood, Subaru-sama." She walked at Rem's side, but after a few steps she turned back to add: "Goodbye, Chocorina." She couldn't wait to befriend the little girl, even if she was extremely confused about the entire situation.

"Hm!" The quarter-elf nodded. "I'll see you soon Petra nee-chan."

"Subaru, why did you call all of us here?" The half-elf inquired to her knight, who was standing near the door, hiding something behind him.

"Whaaaaat might this be about, Suuuubaru-kun?" The lord of the mansion asked with his usual tone. Has he looped?

"I have no clue why this is happening, so don't ask me questions. Come here, Chocorina." A young girl emerged from behind Subaru. While everyone was reuniting in the dining room, he took the chance to comb her hair while Beatrice healed the few bruises she had with a smug face, teasing her contractor about how fast he started pumping out children for her sake.

Except for Petra and Beatrice, everyone in the room was surprised by her appearance. Her beautiful long, silver hair was combed into two small ponytails, one on each side of her head, leaving her pointy ears on full display. What surprised everyone the most were her eyes: intimidating just like Subaru's. Everyone couldn't help but notice the similarity between her, Emilia, and Subaru.

The one taken aback the most was, clearly, Emilia. That girl, who appeared out of nowhere, looked extremely similar to her younger self, a fact aggravated by her clothes: the same clothes she used to wear in the past.

Subaru coughed to grab everyone's attention, an action that worked way too well as everyone turned to him, waiting for his explanation.

"I have no idea why or how, but-"

"Why does everyone look so young, daddy? And who's that clown?" Pulling on her father's tracksuit, Chocorina pointed at everyone inside the room, interrupting her father and spreading chaos even further.

"-My daughter from the future appeared here for some reason." He finished, preparing himself for the barrage of questions that would surely come his way. He waited a few seconds but no one spoke, instead staring at Chocorina with open jaws. Beatrice had a smug smile on her face with her arms crossed, while Petra tried making Frederica answer her questions to no avail. To Subaru's surprise, the first one to talk was Roswaal.

"I see. This is certainly a surprise." Dropping his speech pattern, Roswaal expressed his surprise before continuing, this time remembering to speak like he always does to never forget the humiliation he received in the past. "As she doesn't recogniiiiiize me, it seeeeems I achieved my objective. Congratulations, Suuuuubaru-kun." He congratulated him from the bottom of his heart. He deduced that, after achieving his long-awaited dream, he finally died after receiving his deserved punishment for all his sins. His words unfroze the room, everyone launching a barrage of questions.

"You lied to me, Ram! Kissing does make babies, see!?"

Emilia-sama, kissing doesn't make babies. Where did you kidnap her, Barusu?" Despite her words, she couldn't help but feel unease at the situation. Half-elves were rare, and silver-haired half-elves even more. Where could Barusu have found her? There's no way she's actually his daughter. That made no sense.

"Have some faith in me! I didn't kidnap anyone!"

"Subaru-kun has finally gone mad…" Rem swept the few crocodile tears off her eyes. "Ah, but Rem will still love you!"

"Have some faith in Betty's contractor!" The twin-tailed spirit rebuked at the oni twins.

"Su-Subaru-sama, forgive me but you, did you hit your head?" Frederica timidly asked for Subaru's wellbeing. Her daughter? Despite him being so young and Emilia not knowing the truth? Unless elves truly got pregnant with a kiss, this made no sense.

"I think Subaru-sama says the truth!"

"I think so too." Both the little maid and the half-elf supported Subaru, surprising everyone.

"See! Emilia-tan believes me! We'll be a good family together, Emilia-tan!"

"But this makes no sense, Barusu. Even for your usual antics, this is taking this too far."

"Ram, take a good look at her. See her silky, smooth silver hair? Her pointy ears? Adorable face? Her eyes are like mine too. She calls me daddy as well. The resemblance is there."

"Daddy, I don't like that clown."

"See! We even both dislike Roswaal!"

"You pain my heart, Suuuuubaru-kun. It is true that the reseeeeeemblance is there, but how could she appear here? Time travel isn't possible." The look he gave Subaru while saying the last phrase scared the little elf, who hid behind her father.

"Then, is she Natsuki-san daughter? But…" While deliberating, Otto felt someone tugging on his short. Looking at his back, he saw Chocorina climbing up to his shoulders. He froze for a second, she truly was her daughter. Only when she was sitting on his shoulders, smugly using him as a ride, did he return to his senses.

"Now, onwards uncle Otto! Take me to mommy!"

"She's just like Natsuki-san!" said Otto with a defeated tone, carrying the young elf towards her mother, now fully convinced of her being Subaru's daughter. The way she treated him was just like his friend did.

"Uh, you're my daughter, right? I reaaally don't understand what's going on, but…"

"Hmm. Mommy is such an airhead, hmph!" Puffing her cheeks, she huffed away in a childish manner. "But where are we, mommy? This isn't the castle."

"The castle?" asked Emilia.

"Yes, the castle. I was playing while you and daddy worked on queen stuff when a weeeeird hand grabbed me. Then I met some mabeasts in a forest and then I saw daddy." she explained with exaggerated gestures. Meanwhile, everyone was surprised at the revelation of Emilia winning the Royal Selection and becoming the queen. Subaru shed some tears: a good ending was possible. No one died, Emilia became the queen and he happily lived with the love of his life. He couldn't help but feel slightly saddened at not being with Rem as well.

Moreover, those hands she spoke of… Of course, her sudden apparition wasn't a coincidence.

"Mabeasts? Are you fine Chocorina!?" Emilia panicked at her daughter fighting mabeasts by herself. Even if she didn't understand what was going on, her maternal instincts kicked in, worried for her daughter's safety.

"Yes!" She smiled, before quickly changing to an apologetic expression. "Ah, but you said that I shouldn't use magic. It was dangerous, so…" She apologized while fidgeting, still on Otto's shoulders.

While Emilia and Chocorina talked between them, with Otto being used as a stool by the small quarter-elf, everyone else bombarded Subaru with questions. He tried his hardest to answer all of them.

"Wha' ya gonna do Cap'n?"

"Let her live in the mansion for a while? I don't know what those hands are or why they sent her here, but we can't leave her alone."

"Where did you find her, Barusu?"

"Don't call me Barusu in front of my daughter…" Subaru asked to be treated with at least a hint of respect with his daughter nearby. "She was in the village."

"When are you giving me a daughter Subaru-kun!?"

"REM!?" Exclaimed the pink-haired oni, surprised at her sister's bold statement.

"Ah, I'm sorry Rem, I couldn't hear you, can you repeat?"

"Ah… How are you so sure she's your real daughter? This makes no sense but… Rem is sure Subaru-kun is confused too."

"She looks like a mix of me and Emilia, speaks subaruisms, calls me daddy, apparently knows everyone here, we both tease Otto. I have no clue why this is happening, but the resemblance is there. She must be, even if this makes no sense even for me."

"Congratulations Subaru-sama. Even if nothing about this makes sense, she looks like a wonderful daughter. "

"Thanks, Frederica."

"It seems you followed Betty's words. What a great contractor Betty has, I suppose." Smugly said the twin-tailed spirit, earning a small blush from the mean-eyed knight. Ever since she saw Chocorina, she didn't stop teasing Subaru about it.

"Ah, Subaru. Can we… Can we speak in private?" Emilia spoke with a clear tone at first, gradually diminishing into a whisper as she started blushing and feeling more and more embarrassed with every word she spoke.

"My lovely Emilia-tan wants to talk to me in private?" Somehow, despite her voice being lower and lower with every word, he managed to hear it all. "Has seeing your daughter given you the confidence to finally confess to me?" He left the room, seeing as Emilia was following her with Chocorina at her side, both holding hands.

As mother, father, and child left the room, everyone returned to their duties. Roswaal and Otto marched to their respective offices, Frederica and Petra went to the cellar to make sure Petra hadn't forgotten to buy anything, Garfiel decided to go to the garden and train a bit more, and Rem was interrupted by Ram to have a short heart to heart.

"I can't believe you said that out loud, Rem." Said Ram to her sister. Seeing as she didn't respond, she inquired further. "Rem?"

"Sissy…" Rem turned back to meet her sister's gaze, with tears on her eyes. "Rem should be happy for Subaru-kun, but…"

"You don't need to say anything else Rem." She pulled her sister into a tight hug. "Barusu also loves you. He holds two beautiful maidens close to his heart; how disgusting of him."

"Then, why… why did he leave Rem behind?" She cried into her sister's embrace.

"I'd never allow for my lovely sister to be his number two. He either loves only you, or he can forget about you." Declared Ram with confidence. She respected the young knight, but if he ever dared to hurt Rem…

"That other Subaru also loved me?" She raised her head, this time with a hint of hope in her eyes.

"Surely. I can't think of a Barusu that doesn't love you. But, if you aren't his number one, I won't allow him to marry you." Said Ram with determination. As much as she cared for Subaru, in her own Ram-like ways, her sister being a second wife or a mere concubine is something she'll never allow.

Waking up, Subaru saw not one but two lolis on his bed. At his right lied Beatrice, his faithful spirit. At his left, a silver-haired quarter elf. He remembered the events of the past day: somehow, his future daughter appeared out of nowhere. She mentioned some hands, so he had a clear idea of who brought her here, but he wondered why Satella would do that.

In the end, almost everyone accepted the truth, they had no choice. The resemblance was there, and even if time travel was completely impossible, she was here. That's all that mattered. Their doubts about her heritage were dispelled in a single day, she shared too many of her parent's traits. He was surprised by Roswaal's quick acceptance of the situation, wondering if he might have some secret plan involving Chocorina. Ram's disbelief persisted through the entire day; despite the rest of the camp believing his words sooner or later, she still refused to accept them. Her words were harsher than usual and she barely interacted with who Garfiel called "little princess".

He rustled the hair of the sleeping girl, happy that it was possible. A good ending was possible. All he went through, and will likely go through, wasn't or won't be meaningless. He noticed his sleeping daughter opening her eyes, erupting into a wide smile and hugging him as soon as she recognized him.

"Daddy!"

"Good morning Chocorina. How did you sleep?"

"I slept well. Ah, but my other bed is better. This one is too hard."

"What a loud pair you are, I suppose. Betty was trying to sleep and you woke her up." The blonde spirit left the bed.

"But you don't need to sleep, Beako."

"That's true Beako nee-chan." Both father and daughter answered in unison.

"Only Betty's Subaru can call me Beako, I suppose!" She huffed away and walked towards the door, just to be interrupted by Chocorina pulling on her drills.

"Leave Betty alone! But since you're half as cute as Betty, Betty can forgive you. Hm, what a generous spirit Betty is, I suppose." She crossed her arms and nodded to herself, ignoring the quarter elf toying with her hair. A few seconds later, the door opened and a half-elf entered the room. Emilia looked at Chocorina, who was too busy playing with Beatrice's hair to notice her.

"Chocorina, stop playing with Beatrice's hair" She softly scolded her.

"Yes, mommy. What are we doing today?" She left Beatrice alone and walked up to her mother. She then continued with a wide, innocent smile. "Can I play with uncle Garf and uncle Otto?"

"Otto-san is busy today. You can play with Petra and Garfiel today."

"But Petra nee-chan always scolds me." She puffed her cheeks. "Can I play with Meili onee-chan instead?"

"Meili onee-chan?" Everyone in the camp now knew about Meili's fate. Somehow, she ended up as Subaru's adopted daughter. Emilia quickly thought of a good enough lie to tell her daughter; the camp decided against freeing her after all. The Meili Chocorina knew, and the Meili the camp knew was different. Subaru would never adopt an assassin, right? That other Meili must have lived a different life.

"Ah, sorry Chocorina, but Meili is busy too. Yes, really busy. Reaaaally busy. Not here. Hm, yes. Can't play with you." Subaru cringed a bit at Emilia's lie; she was terrible at it. However, Chocorina bought it all. She sulked a bit but accepted spending the day with Garfiel and Petra.

"Mayonnaise? But I don't like Mayonnaise."

Subaru dropped his fork at Chocorina's words.

"What? You… don't like mayo? My own daughter?"

"It tastes bad. And looks ugly."

"Oh, woe is me! Betrayed by my own daughter! How can I live after such a disgrace?" Subaru expressed his anger with exaggerated motions.

"Subaru, don't be a dunderhead. If Chocorina doesn't like mayo it's fine." Emilia replied to her knight's antics.

"Who even says dunderhead anymore?" Both father and daughter chimed in unison. Emilia pouted while everyone else laughed. The arrival of Chocorina made life in the mansion even more lively. Spending their free time with her was everyone's joy now, though Rem's jealous gaze made Subaru fear for his purity.

"I'm sorry Frederica nee-sama." Chocorina looked at the ground, asking for forgiveness.

"I thought Emilia-sama told you not to use magic without permission." Frederica looked at Garfiel. Or what looked like Garfiel, at least. Now she understood why the future Emilia forbids her daughter from using magic, she can't control it all.

"Little princess is strong." Said Garfiel, struggling to free himself from the ice that covered him. Chocorina was presuming of her strength after carrying Subaru around in one hand: He'll never forget the embarrassed look on his face after being carried all over the mansion by an 8 year old. He took the chance to flex his own strength, just to end frozen over by the little girl.

"Promise me you won't do it again."

"I won't do it again."

"Now, go and play with Petra-chan. She's been waiting for you in her room."

"But Petra nee-chan always scolds me! She's not fun to play with!" Grumbled Chocorina.

"The Petra you know and this Petra are different. Now play with her. You could be great friends." Frederica implored the young quarter-elf to make some friends in her stay here. She was secretly happy that her apprentice managed to work as a maid in the Royal Palace of all places.

"Aah!"

"Ouch! Are you okay Chocorina?" Falling to the ground, Otto asked for Chocorina's status before anything else. Both of them were playing in the garden, "playing" being quite the understatement. Chocorina was simply teasing and toying with Otto just like her father. Eventually, having climbed onto his shoulders, she decided to grab some apples from some nearby trees. Otto tried his hardest to convince her not to, it was getting late and Rem was preparing dinner already. However, he failed against her elven strength.

That ended poorly, of course. Chocorina tried to get more apples than she could hold, eventually losing balance and falling to the ground with Otto. He managed to protect her in such a way that she fell on top of him instead of to the hard ground.

"Yes, uncle Otto."

"Be more careful next time. Natsuki-san wouldn't want to see his daughter hurt."

"Too late, Otto." Looking up, Otto saw Subaru looking at him straight in the eye. "You let my cute daughter get hurt. Now, get out of my sight. You're no longer my friend." He picked Chocorina up and started walking towards the mansion.

"Forget about him Chocorina."

"Ah, but uncle Otto…"

"I said forget about him. He let you get hurt. He's not worthy of my friendship." Subaru sent Otto a glance that Ram would be proud of.

"Natsuki-saaaan!" Otto was left alone, wailing in despair in the ground.

It was a bad day for the oni prodigy. First, he stubbed his toe when opening his room's door when waking up. Second, he was scolded by Spica for scaring off some children the past day. "I can't do anything about my eyes." He grumbled. Last, while he was accompanying her adorable little sister to school, some shadowy hands appeared out of nowhere and tried to snatch both of them to some unknown location. He managed to hold them for a short while, but they kept attacking without pause. Even his horn was useless against their onslaught. Eventually, both half-onis were grabbed and sent to the shadow realm and sent towards another dimension through a rift in space.

Rigel, the oni prodigy, eldest son of Natsuki Subaru and Natsuki Rem was now laying in the ground with her sister on top in the middle of a street rumbling with activity: Housewifes were buying food in nearby stalls while some workers took a deserved break in some tavern. Once Spica, her little sister, stood up and shook her now dirtied clothes did he stand up and look around. As everyone in the street was now looking at the pair that appeared out of nowhere with foreign attire, the two demihumans silently decided to move to another location to not make a scene.

"Where are we nii-san?" Asked Spica. She was a young girl, no older than 9 years old, with black hair and cute facial features. She was slightly taller than usual for her age and was wearing a blue kimono. Her brother, Rigel, was a young man with defined features, short blue hair and threatening blue eyes. He was also wearing a kimono, black instead of blue, a gift from his teacher for his 18th birthday. Both of them were now in a dark alleyway, free from the glances that everyone gave the two demihumans after suddenly appearing in the middle of the street.

"I'll go and check around. I don't know where those hands sent us. Just wait here for me." Rigel recomforted her sister before vanishing into thin air.

"Nii-sama is truly amazing." She whispered to herself, slightly hating herself for not being as good at either magic or harnessing the oni power as her brother. She knew it wasn't her fault, that Rigel was simply a prodigy and that her parents, Tia and Halibel loved her regardless. Still, she couldn't help but feel slightly inferior. Despite being alone in an unknown city, in a dark alleyway she felt safe, for she knew Rigel always kept an eye on her with the mysterious techniques of The Admirer. In the end, she decided to wander around for information as well.

After vanishing, Rigel started running on top of a variety of buildings, invisible to the naked eye. He paid great attention to the populace chit-chat thanks to the increased hearing his oni blood gave him. He had deduced he wasn't in Kararagi anymore due to the buildings he was running across and the clothes everyone was wearing, but it wasn't until he overheard someone say their location that he truly understood the gravity of the situation. "Karsten Domain." He recalled his geography lessons, he couldn't remember its exact location but he knew this domain was located somewhere in Lugunica. He also overheard a few things about a Royal Selection and the defeat of a Sin Archbishop. Didn't Lugunica's Royal Selection end 15 years ago? He stopped in his tracks, sensing someone pulling Spica away, and turned back to protect her.

"A silver-haired half-elf?" Having walked around for a few minutes, Spica ran into a post about the Royal Selection, informing everyone about the 5 candidates. The one at the top was the domain's lord: Crusch Karsten. Below were Priscilla Barielle and Anastasia Hoshin, with Felt and Emilia at the bottom. The post had a portrait of all candidates, and detailed their goals for the kingdom.

Spica recalled how her mother told her the secret that both of them used to serve a silver-haired half-elf before settling down in Kararagi. She couldn't think about the situation for very long before being called out by someone. Turning back, she saw a tall young man with dark green hair and amber eyes, dressed in formal clothes befitting someone of high status: A long black coat trimmed with orange epaulets, black trousers and high brown boots. He was carrying a short sword at his waist, and the emblem of a lion shined on his right sleeve.

"Excuse me miss. You looked lost, so…"

"Ah… Uh…" Spica was taken aback by the young man. He didn't look dangerous, perhaps he was a knight in training? His clothes certainly marked his high status. Having read the candidate's post, she knew she was in Lugunica, where demi-human discrimination was at its highest in the entire world. Despite her slight fear of what might happen if he knew she was a demi-human, she couldn't help but feel some sense of familiarity towards him, as if they had met somewhere else. She decided to trust her gut and trust in what she thought was a knight of Lugunica. "Yes. I'm quite lost right now. And you are…?"

She doesn't recognize me? I, son of the Queen? Her clothes and accent come from Kararagi but even then… He noticed the post behind the girl. Ah, it seems my theory was correct. I'm somehow back in time. That would explain everything. I shouldn't use my full name then. "Excuse me for spacing out. You can call me Leo." He answered with a hand on his chest, smiling to soothe the young girl. "And your problem is…?"

"Ah, it's nothing too serious!" She panicked a bit, waving her hands while lying to the knight about his current situation. He wouldn't believe it anyway. "I just got separated from my brother."

"That would certainly be a problem, yes. Mind telling me where you realized you two separated? He must be looking for you."

"Ah, yes." Spica mentally scolded herself for lying to this man and now making him waste his time. "It was over there." She pointed towards the alleyway she was in a few minutes ago.

"Then let's go." Leo grabbed Spica's hand and pulled her towards where she pointed. He noticed the strength her hold had. A demihuman? Midway through, he felt someone staring at him. He stopped and took a quick glance around, unable to see anyone who might be the one behind that stare.

"Leo?"

"Ah, it's nothing, young miss. And now that I think about it, I never asked your-"

"What are you doing to my sister?" A male voice interrupted him. Turning back, Leo found himself at the mercy of a blue-haired man, a small dagger pointed at his neck. He stared at the threatening eyes of the man, wondering how he managed to get so close without him noticing his presence, his instincts failing to do anything against him.

"Nii-san, I told you not to scare people off."

"Ah, I'm sorry Spica. I'll stop now." Rigel took the dagger, or "kunai" as both his father and Halibel called it from Leo's neck and hid it inside his kimono. He apologized to the man he just threatened, rubbing the back of his head.

"Uh, sorry young… knight?"

Who are those two? Such strength in a young girl and his brother managed to sneak up on me… I haven't been born yet, so they can't be foreign assassins… And why do I get the feeling I know them? He straightened up, letting go of his hold on the wooden sword he carried for training. "Oh, I am not a knight. You can call me Leo. I apologize for causing distress to you. Your sister looked lost so I proposed to help her."

"Thanks for that. I saw someone dragging my lovely sister around so… And you look so high and noble, just like that Julius my father used to speak about."

Julius? Julius Juukulius, the spirit knight? Those are kararagian clothes so it wouldn't be weird if they had seen him once… And his abilities… I must ask him. "Sir Rigel, wasn't it? I couldn't help but notice your… abilities."

"Hehe." Rigel left a small chuckle and continued smugly. "You couldn't, huh? It's no wonder, I'm amazing after all! I could totally beat you with no problem."

"That's why I wanted to ask for your help. There's one place I want to…" He closed the distance between the two and whispered into his ear. "...sneak in."

"I see." Replied Rigel with a more serious tone. "But I can't leave my sister alone right now."

"Leo-san, can I borrow my brother for a second?"

"Well, of course." Leo saw the two demihumans retreat and speak between them for a short moment before Leo returned and surprisingly agreed to help him.

"I can sneak you in. You just need to give us some money to travel to the Mathers Domain. Normally I wouldn't agree to help someone steal something, but you look like a good person and helped my sister too."

"Oh, don't misunderstand me. A new maid kicked me out of my own house." I wouldn't call sir Ferris a maid, though he certainly dresses like one at times.

And I must admit that appearing out of nowhere, proclaiming to be Crusch's son when the Royal Selection has barely started was clearly not the best option. But what could I have done? I had no idea of what had happened.

"Maids?"

"I haven't given you my full name, haven't I? Leo Karsten, son of Crusch Karsten, lord of this domain." It's not my full name, but I'm somehow in the past and I have no clue of where Father is. Has he met Mother yet?

"I knew you had to be a noble. The way you act just screams nobility. Anyways, where's your house, my lord?" Rigel jokingly bowed to Leo, earning a light chuckle from Spica, who started walking towards the city's doors to find a carriage towards Roswaal's domain.

"This is your house, my majesty?" Rigel took a deep glance at the massive mansion in front of him, teasing Leo as he had done for the past few minutes.

"I told you to stop calling me majesty. Or lord. Or liege." Seeing Rigel smile with a teasing look on his face, he added. "Or whatever you plan to call me now."

"Tch. I ran out of words anyway." Rigel kicked the ground in frustration, sending a few rocks flying. "So is this the place I need to sneak you in?"

"Sneak me in makes it sound like I have bad intentions. I'm merely returning home."

"Yeah yeah, I know. I don't doubt you. I don't know why you can't just enter through the main door though. Now, come here."

"Are you sure about all of this? What if all I've done is just a complex strategy to make you help me steal from the lord?"

"I've been here for less than a day. There's no way you could have heard of me." According to Spica, we might not be born anyways. There's no way he also traveled back in time. "Now, come." Obeying Rigel, Leo approached him until both had their shoulders together. Then, a barrier of wind surrounded the pair.

"A spell?"

"Yeah, a spell I made. No one can hear us now."

"How?" Saying that Leo was dumbfounded would be selling it short. He had completely underestimated him. Judging by her sister's strength, the pair must be some demi-human race. He had no idea of the depth of Rigel's abilities, able to seemingly appear out of nowhere. And now, he had enough magic talent to create custom spells? Only Roswaal L. Mathers and Felix Argyle possessed enough ability for such a thing. "Shouldn't such a spell be from the yin element instead of wind? Yin's concept is "separation", so if you could somehow… No, that would cost too much mana…"

"It's not that complex. Father told me that sound travels through air. So, if I trap the air around me, not letting it escape, no one can hear anything I do or say. Took me a long time to think how to do it though."

"Is your father a genius?" Questioned Leo with incredulity.

"When he's not acting like an idiot? Yeah. Anyways, shall we go, your roy-?"

"Don't even think about it." Sighed Leo, warming up to the blue-haired demihuman.

"Try not to fall." Reaching the mansion's walls, completely undetected by the guards around, Rigel and Leo climbed up to an open window. Leo wondered who trained Rigel, he kept surpassing his expectations minute after minute. That horn… Weren't Onis extinct after the attack on the last oni village? Perhaps there were some onis still alive in Kararagi. And aren't they supposed to have two horns?

Having climbed up the window, the pair found themselves in a closed room. Leo attempted to open the door just for Rigel to pull him back in the wind barrier.

"Not so fast, sovereign."

"Didn't you say you ran out of words?" Exclaimed Leo as a smirk appeared on his face.

"Are you not complaining anymore, my king? Do I need to accompany you or can I leave already?" Sighed Rigel, already wanting to go back to his sister, anxious for leaving her alone in an unknown city.

"Can you wait here for an hour or so? I need to get your payment. Unless you're willing to steal from the nobility, Robin Hood."

"When did you become the teaser in our relationship? And it's the first time I hear someone that's not my father talk about Robin Hood." Inquired the blue-haired young man in shock, no one aside from his father knew about said thief. He was sure of it.

"What a coincidence. My father was the one who told me about him. A valiant thief stealing from the rich to give it to the poor."

"Forget about the money. I can sell some things I'm carrying. Worse case, I can just run there" Said Rigel as he was in a hurry to reunite with his sibling. She was safe, but leaving her by herself for a long time still weighed on his mind.

"No, I insist. Just wait here and I'll return with your payment." Leo tried to persuade his newfound friend, feeling guilty at making him help without receiving anything in exchange.

"I don't feel comfortable leaving my sister alone for so long. This is an unknown city, you know?" Mentioned the nervous brother, although he appreciated Leo's attempts at being honorable.

"I… I see. Then farewell. I'll make sure to visit you soon." Sadly intones Leo, feeling that the two of them could share a good bond of friendship.

"I'll be waiting for that moment. We could be great friends." With that being said, Rigel walked towards the window while Leo opened the room's door. Jumping out of the window, Rigel dashed towards Spica's whereabouts.

Leo kept his gaze to the window from where Rigel jumped for an instant, his mind remembering the last words spoken by this strange yet familiar boy. He had a feeling that he knew him from somewhere. He did look vaguely similar to his father.

"I am sure we will...Rigel." Turning around to face the door, Leo breathed out one last time before opening it, entering the hallway of the Karsten house.

"Hm...It seems this place didn't change much…" He wondered to himself, taking a moment to observe his surroundings to notice any changes possible.

His observation eventually stopped as he reached the middle of the corridor, meeting with the one giant, golden emblem of the Lion. The mark of the Karsten family.

Slowly, the young black-haired boy raised his hand to delicately touch the emblem, feeling the cold of the golden iron as he shut his eyes, thinking about everything he lived until now.

"Just what is the meaning of this...What should I do really…" Leo thought to himself. Maybe it was too late to ask himself this question now that he was inside of his own house, but the situation was way different from usual.

Of course, Leo wasn't one to be foreign when it came to improvisation. He was still the son of his father after all…But this situation was something far different than anything he ever faced in his young life. Something that defied the laws of the world he was supposed to live in.

"Who could have done this?" He murmured to himself. Slowly, the young prince opened his sharp eyes, facing the emblem once again.

"I suppose I don't have a choice." He whispered, turning to his side to meet the other half of the corridor.

"Mother…" Leo worriedly uttered before walking forward.

Until a loud and noble voice resounded in the hallway from behind the boy, a voice he recognized right away.

"And what do we have here?"

With his eyes wide, Leo immediately turned around to meet a tall and old butler, walking towards him with his hands behind his back.

Wilhelm Van Astrea.

"Mh…" Wilhelm narrowed his eyes to the boy, noticing his uniform to be extremely similar to the one of his lady. Adding to that the apparent symbol of the Karsten house he harbored on his shoulder.

Wilhelm kept silently inspecting the young boy, his clothes really well made, the weapon on his belt...But what caught the eye of the old butler, was something he saw as he looked at his face.

This young boy...Seemed really familiar.

But as he was about to ask the boy more questions…

"Grandfather Wil, is that you?" Leo exclaimed in excitement. "You seem so much younger...Even though you're still old. Forgive me."

Startled by such words, the old butler narrowed his eyes to the boy with utter confusion clear on his face, silently urging him to further explain the situation.

"Ah…" Leo realized, coughing in his fist with elegance. "I am sorry. I do realize that my words may seem confusing to you, but you must believe me. I am as troubled as you are, grandfather."

"Are you…" Wilhelm replied, coming closer. Noticing how the boy lowered his guard and seemed to welcome his approach.

"Yes. However, I strongly believe there is a proper way to resolve my predicament." Leo smiled, turning to the side, where the emblem of the Lion was.

Wilhelm followed the young one's gaze towards the wall to meet with the emblem as well, nodding his head in understatement.

"Very well, if you would follow me…" Wilhelm asked for the young's name in a roundabout way.

"Leo Karsten Natsuki. Heir to the throne of Lugunica." The boy answered confidently, following the steps of the old man.

AN: Massive thanks to batmanthewombat (7 tales author), Archer (Dragon Candidate author) and strelok for letting me use their OC's and helping with the plot. Thanks as well to all the beta readers who spent time fixing my mistakes.

Chapter Text

"Take care, Subaru-sama, Emilia-sama." In the mansion's entrance, Frederica wished for the two young lovebirds' wellbeing with a bow. Or at least one of them was, as the half-elf still didn't understand love yet. She wished for her to answer the knight's feelings, she couldn't help but pamper the cute little quarter elf after all, which seemed to be the general opinion of the entire camp, except for two oni maids. Speaking of quarter elves…

"You forgot about me, Frederica nee-sama." With Subaru at her right and Emilia at her left, Chocorina stood in between her parents with her arms crossed and pouting at the maid who had forgotten about her existence.

"My, I didn't forget about you Chocorina. Didn't you say you could take care on your own?"

She teased the little girl, covering her smile with her right hand. That, of course, made Chocorina pout harder.

"Frederica nee-sama is such a tease." She turned her back to the maid, grabbing both of her parent's hands as the elven family headed off to the flower field near the village.

On the way, Emilia passed the time thinking about the whole situation. Frederica, Ram, and Rem decided not to properly teach her how babies are made, even if her own daughter was running around the mansion. They said something about Subaru-sama being saddened if she knew, but why would Subaru be sad?

If they won't tell me I'll just have to ask my knight. Then we can name our other daughter Selena as he wanted.

Those thoughts made her remember the kiss they had in Sanctuary, and she blushed at the memories. She was so embarrassed about her past self thinking she was going to have a baby…

Luckily, neither Chocorina nor Subaru noticed her blushed face as they were busy with their own shenanigans. The sudden appearance of the quarter-elf brought doubt to her heart: Did she want to end her run for queen like this? Peacefully spending time with Subaru, or working to unfreeze the elves? Is this what love was?

She was flustered beyond belief, confused, excited, yet nervous.

She thought about it for the entirety of the journey, but couldn't find an answer.

Stupid Barusu. Look at what you did to my sister.

Ram looked at her twin from behind the slightly open door. It was an hour past noon and she was hunched on her desk.

Usually, around this time, she would write in her diary about Subaru's actions; she had reached volume 20 already.

But since Chocorina's sudden appearance, she hadn't written anything, still saddened that she failed to get Subaru's love. Ram clicked her tongue and looked away in frustration. The pink-haired maid thought to herself:

Once that child you call your daughter is gone, I'll make sure to make you pay for hurting Rem like this. Can't you see how fake are her smiles towards that impostor of Emilia-sama?

She continued with her hypocritical thoughts: She was sure that if that young quarter-elf was truly Emilia's daughter, she had been the one to stop Subaru from marrying her sister as well. She knew about Subaru's love for her sister, he even agreed to take her as the second wife should Emilia allow it. Emilia-sama was kind and both Subaru and Rem loved the other, so the only one who could have stopped that was her.

Despite everyone accepting it during the course of the first day, including her master, Ram still refused to believe that Chocorina was Subaru's daughter. Maybe because stopping time was an impossible task even for Roswaal, going back on time was a poor joke even for the knight. Or maybe because she didn't want to believe that she ruined Rem's chance at happiness.

As she passed by the main entrance, heading towards Otto's office to give him some paperwork by orders of Roswaal, she heard some whispers thanks to her enhanced oni senses.

"Dad worked in such a big mansion?"

"It's as big as Leo's house…"

Please don't be who I think you are. Ram thought to herself, as her nerves increased alongside her hope.

She approached the door with silent steps and took a deep breath before swinging open the mansion's gates. She bowed and welcomed the two new guests with practiced perfection.

"Welcome, esteemed guests." She stood up again, taking a glance at the two demihumans in shock.

She first looked at the girl on the left, whose features looked familiar, but she couldn't remember anyone looking like that. Afterward, she gazed at the tall man on the right, almost taking a step back. The man confirmed her suspicions, for he was too similar to Subaru. In fact, if not for his dyed hair, she would have confused him for the mean-eyed knight.

"Please don't tell me you're another of Barusu's spawns." She blurted out without the care or decency of a maid, before awaiting their answer. Seeing as the two were still dumbfounded at her appearance, she continued:

"Are you so entranced by my beauty you can't answer? You truly must be Barusu's spawns then. Who did he seduce this time?"

"Who are you to insult dad like that!?" Spica lashed out. "Dad loves mom and only mom!" Who was this girl to speak so badly of her dad!?

"Calm down Spica." My horn is reacting, but it never did with mom or Spica… Is she also an oni? But Spica doesn't seem to notice anything… And her features look familiar… almost like my mom? Well, she doesn't have her chest size, that's for sure.

"I'm sure she has a good reason for degrading dad like that, isn't that right?" He took advantage of his intimidating eyes, courtesy of his father, to try to scare the maid into answering.

"How disgusting of Barusu, teaching his son to use that gaze to scare young maidens." Exclaimed Ram, while hiding a smirk from the new 'spawns' in front of her.

"Stop talking bad about dad!" Spica tried to protect her father's honor. Her daddy was the best, so hearing his name being slandered was unacceptable to her.

"I will, once he stops trying to seduce Emilia-sama and corresponds to my sister's love." Ram teased, enjoying herself tremendously.

Rem? Mom? An oni, has a sister and she looks familiar… Could she be Ram? Rigel managed to discover the maid's identity, but before he could confirm his thoughts Spica kept pressing her aunt, infuriated with the way she treated her dad.

"Dad doesn't need to answer anyone's love! He already loves mom!" She rebuked, leaving Ram dumbfounded, but for a completely different reason. In her wrath, her horn subconsciously materialized.

"Spica, calm down. Your horn is out." Stated Rigel as he got nervous at the idea of someone besides him knowing. This was Lugunica and demi-humans were treated harshly, though if she really was their aunt there shouldn't be any problem.

"Ah!" exclaimed a visibly alarmed girl.

Panicking a bit, Spica quickly hid her horn. She was prompt to take her horn out when emotions took the better of her. "This maid won't do anything to us for being demihumans, right nii-san?"

"Of course she won't, right, auntie Ram?" Rigel chuckled as he finally understood the situation.

"Auntie Ram?" Spica tilted her head slightly to the left, before understanding what those words meant and jumping in excitement, her eyes now shining. "Then, is mom here!?"

"Auntie Ram? Ah, but then…" Ram's mind was racing with different thoughts.

A horn? Auntie Ram? Are they Rem's children? Rem… Rem needs to see them. Perhaps she'll be happy again... No, Rem will surely be happy upon this news.

"Are… Are you Rem's children?" She timidly asked, still having a hard time believing the situation, slightly bewildered at the scenario. She had managed with several bizarre encounters in the past but this clearly surpassed anything she had dealt with.

Emilia's daughter was one thing, but Rem's… She had no option but to accept the small quarter-elf was real now.

"Hm! Spica nodded her head. "Ah, but it's complicated, Auntie Ram. You see…"

"I don't need you to explain this, I think I may have an inkling of suspicion confirmed." Ram interrupted as a headache was forming in her mind. She continued:

"Barusu isn't here right now. He's on a date with Emilia-sama right now. So go ahead, and, enter. I'll... go get my sister to meet you." Having said that, Ram started walking to her dear sissy's quarters.

"Emilia? Wasn't she…" Dead? That's what Halibel told me… The older sibling thought about the meaning of that before quickly casting his thoughts aside, the entire situation was already weird enough, there was no need to think a lot about it. They had been taken to the past, any knowledge they had might be useless at the moment.

"It seems we have a lot of explaining to do, auntie. Now Spica, let's go see mom." Grasping her sister's hand, Rigel dragged Spica into the mansion, not giving her the chance to rebuke at Ram.

As she was dragged, she turned back her head and stuck out her tongue in a childish tantrum, though Ram didn't see anything as she headed in another direction.

"Spica." Painfully stated Rigel, as he became aware he needed to share some long-held secrets with his beloved sister.

"Yes, nii-san?" Innocently exclaimed an adorable quarter Oni, as she was enjoying the sights of this vast mansion. It was far more luxurious than anything she had seen, though the sight was getting repetitive.

"I suppose it's time to tell you the truth." Sighed the troubled youth. His parents decided not to tell the pair the truth, so him telling Spica about it ached his heart slightly.

Roaming down the long hallways of the manor, Rigel started an important discussion with his sister. Both of them had been walking for a minute, Ram going in the opposite direction, not giving any instructions to the pair.

Not knowing the circumstances surrounding the half-onis, the maid erroneously assumed they already knew the mansion's layout. They stopped every so often to open a random door, hoping to stumble into anyone else who lived there.

"What truth, nii-san?" Spica asked her brother while opening yet another door. She pouted to herself:

How many rooms does this mansion have? Does anyone even live here?

"Spica, you remember how mom told us that she and dad used to serve a silver-haired half-elf? A few years ago, Halibel explained to me what happened, or his theory at least."

"Eighteen years ago, this mansion and its inhabitants were killed by a sin archbishop of the Witch Cult." Stated Rigel, imitating Halibel's voice word by word.

Spica gasped at what her sibling revealed. No wonder the stories her parents told her about the cult were far scarier than what she had heard her friends talk about. They had escaped from the cult's hands. And judging by what she knew of the cult, the mansion's inhabitants didn't have a quick death.

"But…" She had trouble saying that single word.

"Don't worry Spica. Before meeting Leo, I overheard something about the Sin Archbishop of Sloth being killed. It seems no one died, not Auntie Ram, nor the half-elf. Or whoever else lives here if anyone resides in this mansion at all because every single room is empty!"

It was getting tiring at this point. How many doors had he opened yet? And every single one of them looked the same: Empty and perfectly cleaned. How many maids did this place have? Maybe some metia cleans everything? The pair hadn't seen a single soul aside from Ram.

"I don't get what you're trying to say, nii-san." She took her hand away from the knob she was going to grasp. It was futile anyway.

"What I'm trying to say is that things went very different from what we know. There's a chance that this dad doesn't love mom." He said with a serious tone, not wanting to believe it himself.

"Don't you dare say that nii-san!" Outraged by his declaration, Spica lashed at her brother. She was a romantic at heart, the thought of his father not loving her mother would never cross her mind.

She had tried to avoid thinking about that "Emilia-sama" her aunt spoke of, who was currently on a date with his father.

"What a loud pair you are, I suppose." stated a drill loli, trying her hardest to conceal her smile.

Hmph, this contractor of mine sure knows how to deliver, Betty will never be lonely again, in fact.

A few steps ahead of the two half-onis, one of the doors in the right wall of the hallway swung open, a small blonde girl with hair braided in two spirals coming out of whatever room she had connected her Door Crossing to. Standing in front of the pair with her arms crossed, she inspected the pair with her butterfly-shaped pupils before nodding.

"You truly are Betty's contractor's children." With a smug smile, she pointed at the door left of the pair.

"Betty's Subaru is not here now. You can meet the maid you two call mother while he returns, I suppose." She left as quickly as she came, going back into the room she had appeared from. Rigel, wanting to know more about her relationship with his father, approached the door she came from, just to find yet another identical empty room behind. In the end, the pair had no option but to enter the room she signaled.

Grasping the cold doorknob, Rigel turned his head to the right, meeting Spica's gaze. She gave a slight nod, and then Rigel took a deep breath before opening the wooden door. Inside stood two short figures dressed in identical uniforms, one with pink hair he quickly recognized as Ram; and another with short light blue hair, lying over a wooden desk.

"You went the opposite way, how did… Ah, Beatrice-sama sent you here." She rose a brow to their sudden interruption, before arriving at her conclusion.

"Nee-sama, who…" Rem straightened up, looking at the two intruders. She first looked at the young Spica, her features being vaguely familiar. Then she glanced at Rigel, her eyes widening with a slight hint of hope behind her pupils.

His features, hair… Everything about him screamed what she had been hoping for the past few days.

She started to tear up, hoping that what she is currently thinking may be true.

"Are they…" She turned back to her sister, waiting for an answer. Wishing for her thoughts to be confirmed.

"Yes, Rem. They're your children with Barusu." Rem covered her mouth as tears fell down her face. She felt nothing but happiness: Seeing Chocorina reminded her of how she was and would always be second, unable to get Subaru for herself.

She wished for her own children to appear as well despite that being impossible, one person going back in time was enough. Yet, there they stood. Her own children.

"I'll come back when Barusu returns." Ignoring how Spica looked at her as if wanting to keep scolding her for mistreating her father, she left the room, closing the door after her.

"This is hard to believe, but we're your son and daughter. Even though I'm probably older than you." Said Rigel while fidgeting behind his back. The whole situation could only be described as "awkward".

"I liked your long hair…" In an attempt to improve the mood, Spica spoke the first thing that came to her mind. She did love her mother's long blue hair, and enjoyed braiding it every so often.

Taking her hands off her mouth, Rem extended her arms ready for a hug. The half-onis took the hint, approaching her mother and spending a long minute in her embrace as she cried of happiness.

"Why did you cry so much?"

After their long hug, Rem finally separated from the pair. Fixing the few wrinkles on her dress, telling the duo to sit at the bed with a slight nod of her head while she cleaned the tears off her face, her eyes still reddened. Meanwhile, she grabbed the desk's chair and sat in front of the bed.

"I was so happy. Seeing Emilia-sama and Subaru-kun having fun with Chocorina made my heart hurt so much, seeing how I'll never get Subaru-kun's love…"

"Spica will help!" Raising her hand as high as she could, she offered to help her mother get her father's love. "I don't know who Emilia-sama is, but dad loves mom a lot! I won't let someone else steal my father!"

"You don't know who Emilia-sama is?"

"No. You and dad moved to Kararagi. It's our first time in Lugunica."

"Spica, let me explain it." Rigel, sensing how his sister might accidentally spill the secret of everyone in this mansion dying, offered to explain everything instead. "You and dad used to work for a silver-haired half-elf before moving to Kararagi and getting married."

"But that silver-haired half-elf is Emilia-sama. Subaru-kun chose me above Emilia-sama…" Rem couldn't help but feel a slight sense of superiority. Not only did she win against the half-elf, but she even gave his beloved two beautiful children instead of one.

"What's wrong mommy?" Making a small crown of flowers, Chocorina asked what happened to her mother, who had just trembled for a short instant.

"It's nothing Chocorina. I just felt like someone was talking about me." The silver-haired doting parent frowned for a moment, before all thoughts disappeared as she saw her lovely daughter showing off her new 'crown', fit of a queen.

"How was our life in Kararagi, uh…" She waited for them to give their names.

"Rigel. And this is my sister, Spica."

"Wonderful names. I'm sure Subaru-kun chose them." Said Rem with a shining smile, proud of her two wonderful children, elated thanks to the fact she won Subaru's heart.

Over the course of the next half hour, the half-oni duo spoke about their daily lives in Banan: Their father's branch of quirkiness with the constant festivities he came up with, Halibel's training of Rigel, though he skipped over the dangerous part of it. He didn't want want to worry his parents, neither his real ones nor the younger counterpart he was talking to right now. They also talked about Spica's life in school, and she complained about how Rigel scared away everyone who dared trying to be good friends with her. Rem gave him a good scolding: Protecting her sister is something he was supposed to do, but being so overprotective wasn't good.

Perhaps the most tense part was when Rem asked the duo to take their horns out. They obeyed reluctantly, showing remorse upon seeing their mother's face. She had no idea how to feel about it: Onis with a single horn were looked down on, her own life almost forfeited because of that. And she just brought two more to the world. Thankfully, they were loved by everyone around them.

Afterwards, Rem started describing her own life. How Roswaal-sama took Emilia-sama under his wing to sponsor her for the Royal Selection and Subaru-kun's arrival. How he saved her from a mabeast attack and fell in love. While Spica had her eyes shining, begging for more, Rigel was visibly uncomfortable about hearing the two maidens speak about love nonstop.

Spica even cried when Subaru rejected Rem for Emilia, swearing to instill some common sense into her father: You can't reject a maiden in love like that and then force her to help you end with the one you truly love. Rigel agreed to it, even if he understood what Subaru's words truly meant: The Subaru that Rem loved was back, though he didn't understand how he ended with such self-loathing out of a sudden. The dad he knew wasn't like that.

After that, it was Rigel's turn to get excited. His dad took down the fricking White Whale! His legs were trembling with excitement as Rem narrated the epic fight. Spica even called him "a child who just wants to see people fighting", which pained his heart. It was a shame Rem ended up so injured she had to retreat with Crusch to her mansion to recover while Subaru killed the Sin Archbishop of Sloth. He even managed to free Sanctuary, not that he understood why it was important; end the life of the Bowel Hunter, contract with a Great Spirit, and banish the Great Hare away.

Dad was so cool! He already is, with all the deal of being friends with the strongest fighter in all of Kararagi and somehow taming the murderous Great Spirit of Wind, but this one is just so much better! Killing one of the upper echelons of the Witch Cult, contracting a powerful spirit, and ending the life of two of the Three Great Mabeasts, why couldn't my real dad do this instead of forcing me to participate in dumb festivals as a kid?

Though, this raised the question: Where was Leo? By Rem's description of Crusch, she was too young to have a child, and he was nowhere to be seen in her narration. It was not until the very end, when Rem spoke about Chocorina, that he understood who he was. Another of his father's children. He quickly bonded with the knight and jokingly called him a brother, but not even in his wildest dreams would he have thought he was actually his sibling.

Or half-brother. However, he kept that a secret, at least until he could tell everyone. Or Leo himself came here, he would certainly discover the truth upon seeing a younger mother.

Is that why he asked me to sneak him in? No one believed him so he was kicked out? They always say I look just like dad, did he recognize me? Ram instantly knew I was one of his children, though that was due to Emilia-sama's kid also being here… Speaking of which, what's going on? We, Chocorina, Leo… Why are we all here?

Eventually, the topic changed to Rem discussing everyone in the mansion. Spica jumped out of the bed once her aunt Ram came up, not being happy about her treatment of his father.

"Mom! Where's auntie Ram?" Exclaimed an overexcited young quarter oni, wishing to 'bond' with this new family member of theirs.

"Nee-sama said she would gather everyone once Subaru-kun returned. Not all chores have been done yet so she should be working right now. Why do you ask Spica?" Questioned a puzzled Rem, smiling at how adorable her future children are.

"I need to tell auntie to treat dad better!" She attempted to dash towards the door, but her hands were simultaneously grabbed by Rem and Rigel.

"Spica, you can talk with auntie Ram later. Let's stay with mom for now." Intones a nervous Rigel. He perfectly knew that his sister could be quite spontaneous, not afraid to speak her mind.

"You can talk with nee-sama later Spica." Said Rem as she giggled at the cute antics of her beloved daughter.

Both answered in unison. Seeing how neither would let her go, she begrudgingly sat back on the bed. She changed the topic from Ram to Emilia, bored of hearing her mother speak nonstop about how perfect she was. Her brother shared the same sentiment.

"Mom, can you tell us more about Emilia? She also has dad's love, so…" She shyly asked while fidgeting. She wanted to know more about the one who currently monopolized Subaru's love.

"Spica, I've already told you. Subaru-kun loves us both, you don't have to say anything to Emilia-sama."

"But she looks like the witch!" The moment she finished speaking she realized her mistake. Her parents never told her bad stories about the witch and silver-haired half-elves, having to learn about them from her schoolmates instead.

Now she knew why. While Emilia looked like a nice girl to her, the fact she monopolized her dad's love was unacceptable to her. Her father knew about Rem's feelings, so why was he spending time with another girl who won't say that she loves him back?

"SPICA!" Rem responded with wrath unfitting of her usual demeanor. Calming herself a bit, she continued with her voice lower this time. "Emilia-sama is not a witch. Nee-sama has told me how much she respects her after Sanctuary, so Rem will respect her too. And Subaru-kun loves us both, Rem is sure of it. Now come here."

Extending her arms, Rem prepared herself to hug both her children. Spica had tears peeking out of her eyes after Rem's scolding, genuinely sorry for her words. The trio spent a few seconds together before Spica broke free of her mother's embrace to apologize:

"I'm sorry mom. I didn't mean to say that."

"You don't need to apologize to me. Apologize to Emilia-sama." She patted Spica's head as she swiped her tears. Tenderly watching the scene, Rigel deviated his sight to the door as he heard someone's footsteps approaching. Then, the door opened and Ram entered unannounced and with nervous energy:

"Rem. Barusu has returned. Everyone's waiting in the dining room." As soon as she came she left, ignoring Spica's glare.

"Let's go and meet Subaru-kun. I'm sure he'll be happy to see you." The blue-haired oni got up and patted her slightly wrinkled clothes, due to all the hugs that have been exchanged while beckoning both Rigel and Spica. Both gulped in sync and prepared to meet this current version of their dad.

"Ram? Can you explain what's happening now?" Not a single second had passed after Subaru's return and Ram was dragging him across the hallways before entering a random door and locking both in.

"I had hopes about you Barusu. But you just destroyed them." She spitted those words with venomous hate, glaring at Barusu as if he was someone lower than an insect.

Yet, despite how she tried to hurt him with her words, she couldn't help but feel happy about the situation. Her sister had finally found happiness, after all.

"Ram? I don't really get what's going on." He begged for an explanation, to know why she just treated him like that. She often treated him harshly, but not to this extent.

He wracked his brain for any information, or manner in which he may have offended the pink-haired girl he regards as a sister. Yet she continued her accusations without pausing:

"Not only did you make Ram see her sister's saddened while you spent time with the one you call your daughter, now Ram will have to stand her family being forever tainted by you."

"You don't mean!?" His eyes illuminated for a brief moment. As much as he loved Chocorina, leaving Rem's love unanswered still pained him. He thought to himself:

This is amazing, judging on how Ram is talking I may get to meet… my other children. Satella, we have so much to discuss next time we meet.

"Yes, Barusu. Somehow, your disgusting self defiled my sister's purity, and now I'll forever be reminded of my failure to protect my sister from your vile enchants."

Ram had a look of scorn on her face as she explained all of the knight's sins, yet couldn't keep the growing smirk on her face from not showing up.

"Ram… Could it be, you're actually happy about all of this?" Despite her rude words, Subaru couldn't find any bite behind them, just like usual. And she even had a smirk on her face.

"Speak a single word and I'll make sure your bloodline ends right here." Subaru trembled and covered his private parts, Ram's gaze might have left him forever infertile otherwise. The warning was clear.

"Where are they?" Subaru struggled to pronounce those words, both excited about meeting more of his children and scared about Ram actually following her words.

"On the dining room. Everyone is waiting for you, Beatrice-sama should have guided Emilia-sama there already."

"I'll be going then." Declared Natsuki Subaru, as he prepared himself to face even more of his children, with a happy smile on his face.

Seeing the mean-eyed man leave the room, Ram muttered a few words of gratitude towards him before heading to the dining room as well. The first and probably last time she would, probably.

Rigel used to think he was someone prepared for all situations. He had been trained by the Admirer himself and the Great Spirit of Wind helped him a few times. However, that belief had been destroyed when those shadow hands dragged him to a past different than the one he knew, and that same belief was spat on the ground by fate himself.

In front of the half-oni duo stood now two silver-haired demi-humans of elven blood. The smallest one, who he assumed was Chocorina, pointed at him before exclaiming:

"Daddy, you're back!" She ran towards him, jumping into his arms and tackling Rigel to the ground as she left a childish chuckle.

Spica giggled at the situation, while Rem couldn't help but make a smile of superiority towards the half-elf before switching to her usual gentle smile, befitting of someone of less status.

"Hm? Did you dye your hair daddy?" Riding on top of Rigel, Chocorina tilted her head to the left and asked who she thought was her father.

"I'm not your father Chocorina." Laughing as well at the situation, Rigel carefully stood up and patted Chocorina's head, acknowledging her strength.

I knew elves were strong, but this much? She might be stronger than me without using the horn… And mom wasn't lying about her being an airhead, she didn't even doubt that I could be an impostor. How can a little girl be so cute! Ahhh, focus Rigel, now is not the time to be distracted.

"Chocorina, I'm your brother." He explained in the simpler terms he could, thinking that the complicated explanations can come from his real dad.

"But I don't have any brother." Chocorina said as her cheeks grew into a full pout. She put her hand under her chin as she looked to be deep in thought, a move she learned from her daddy.

"It's… complicated. Let's just wait for dad to explain. I'm Rigel, and this is my sister Spica." Without even knowing why, he was already starting to feel undeniably close to this cute little silver tornado of joy.

"Then nice to meet you Rigel nii-san and Spica nee-chan!" She then proceeded to give such a radiant and innocent smile that Rigel felt like an instant KO was landed on him.

Those words and her smile were a critical hit to Rigel's overprotective big brother mind. He didn't even care about Subaru being with another woman, he had to protect the quarter-elf now. He didn't notice he had spaced out until Chocorina tugged on his kimono.

"Rigel nii-san, why is Spica nee-chan looking at me like that?" Rigel turned back to see her mother with an apologetic face and her sister hiding behind, growling at her half-sister.

"Spica, I told you to wait until dad explains everything." Sighed Rigel, as he felt a slightly throbbing migraine forming.

"But, nii-san!" Pouted an adorable half-oni.

"Spica, listen to your brother. You can be friends with Spica, just wait until Subaru-kun explains everything." Rem cut her daughter short. She reluctantly approached the mean-eyes elf to introduce herself, before being quickly dragged into the hall, helpless against the elf superior strength. Giggling at the exchange, the trio left behind entered too.

Grasping the cold doorknob, Subaru took a deep breath before having his name called out by the maid behind.

"How pitiful Barusu. It seems your brain has been reduced to a point you can even open a door." Ram's words rang from behind.

"I was preparing myself!" His preparation was pointless as Ram swung the door open and entered the room, with Subaru begrudgingly following behind.

The pair was met by a unique sight. Roswaal and Petra were suspiciously absent. He didn't want Roswaal near his children anyways, but where was Petra? Emilia and Rem were discussing something while Chocorina and Spica played with Otto, their bitter beginning apparently forgotten as they quickly became friends. Beatrice was observing the room from a corner with the biggest smug smile she could make, and Garfiel and Rigel were talking about their respective training routines.

Hearing the door crack slightly while being opened, everyone turned their heads to the two intruders.

"Hi. Nice to meet you two, I guess?" Subaru shyly said, slightly threatened by everyone observing him out of a sudden.

Taking a better glance at the approaching Rigel, he joked about his appearance.

"So you're my son too? You look more like my brother… Or twin, maybe." He compared both his appearance and his own.

Threatening eyes? Check.

Short unkempt hair? Check.

He looks more fit than me… Though we could probably pass as twins if he died his hair.

"I get teased a lot about you, especially from you." He rustled the back of his hair before nervously continuing:

"Nice to meet you, dad. Again." The charged emotions in the youth were heard by Subaru as his eyes melted in warmth.

Spica followed her brother, taking the chance to stick her tongue out at her aunt on her way, an action she took her chance to tease the knight about.

"Look at her, Barusu. She fails to acknowledge my perfect self, just like you." In response to her words, Spica huffed away and continued walking towards her father.

"This is confusing but...hello dad." Shyly whispered Spica, as she looked up with big eyes that further warmed the black-haired father's heart, wanting nothing else but to know more about them.

"Come here you two." Both half-onis looked at their dad's face, his eyes slightly wet, before getting closer and accepting his hug.

"Are you crying, dad? Said Spica, hearing a few sniffles coming from his father.

"I-I was feeling bad about Rem… I felt guilty about her, so knowing I ended with her makes me happy…"

At his words, Rem started tearing up and went to embrace her hero. Meanwhile, Emilia prevented Chocorina from jumping in and ruining the moment, feeling… envious.

Suuubaru… You didn't hug me like that…

Ram huffed away in her usual demeanor, while the others observed the scene in silence. Frederica started tearing up like Rem, sweeping a few tears running down her face with the back of her hand; Garfiel and Otto engraved the sight in their minds to tease Subaru about it later, and Beatrice was looking more smug than ever.

Noticing Subaru's sniffs, the oni family hugged him tighter, quickly replacing his sniffs with groans of pain as his spine was dangerously close to being snapped in two. Leaving his arms, the trio apologized for accidentally using their superior strength. Rem started healing him as Beatrice and Emilia rushed to help.

"Are you better Subaru-kun?" Asked a worried Rem.

"Betty's Subaru is fine. Betty wouldn't have chosen a contractor who dies from a hug." Replied a tsundere spirit, as she had burned through her mana healing Subaru. His injury would be a simple inconvenience for the next two days.

"Why is everyone stronger than me!? Petra is learning magic while I'm stuck with a broken gate, she'll be stronger than me in a few months!" Hunched over a chair, Subaru expressed the unjust treatment he had received in this world while caressing the lower part of his back.

Can't believe I almost die from a simple hug. That would be a first for RBD, and a new low even for me.

"Daddy is such a dastard." Chocorina's words brought everyone's attention to her. It was the first time she used such an outdated word.

"Betty is four-hundred years old and doesn't even know what that means, I suppose." Beatrice teased the quarter-elf in Subaru's place, making everyone laugh.

In response, she puffed her cheeks. Her new friend, Spica, poked her left cheek and she blew her pout away, a situation that reminded Emilia of her younger self, casting more doubts about her understanding of love.

Love is supposed to be between two persons so why… Why do I want this to happen? Why does my heart melt at this sight, and why do I want another adorable daughter like Spica or Chocorina? I reeallly need to ask my knight how babies are made. Maybe this night.

Beatrice found the exchange cute. Almost as cute as herself. Of course, Betty's existence is the cutest thing in the world, so that event can be the second cutest thing.

"Didn't know you thought that Natsuki-san." Otto used the extremely rare chance of being able to tease his friend. Sadly, it backfired.

"I'm the tease in our relationship Otto. As revenge, I'll ask Roswaal to give you double the paperwork." Subaru enjoyed seeing Otto's face go from a slight smug smile to a petrified shock, and finally despair as he realized he won't sleep a single minute this night.

"Cap'n' child, can' y show me yer trainin'?" Slightly nervous about him refusing, Garfiel asked Rigel to show him his strength. He was the shield of the camp, he had to take all chances to get stronger. And Rigel had been trained by someone said to be the strongest in Kararagi.

"Sure. We can go outside later. I have something to tell my father." He met his father's gaze with a serious face.

"Can't you speak of it here, with everyone present?" Rigel slowly shook his head, a grim determination set in his eyes to divulge important news without agitating anyone else.

Seeing how he wanted to speak in private, Subaru stood up with difficulty, his back still hurt a little. Then, he followed his son. He overheard Spica saying something to Ram, but couldn't understand it properly before leaving.

Father and son then entered the closest room: The kitchen. Rigel started the conversation with a serious tone:

"So, what do you think of mother?"

Subaru was surprised by his choice of words but answered honestly:

"I think Rem is a wonderful person. She's sweet, caring, devoted, strong, brave, works hard and has helped me a lot. I wouldn't be here if not for her." He listed Rem's good qualities, raising his fingers one by one. After he finished, he added with a flushed face. "I love her."

However, Rigel's reaction was not what he expected. He lashed at him with an angry scowl:

"Then why were you on a date with someone else!?" Losing control of his emotions, he hit the table with his fist, slightly denting the solid oak table. He apologized as he rubbed his head. Always forgetting to control his own strength. With a sigh he continued;

"Others might not know, but you taught me what a date is."

Subaru's eyes shined briefly at all the memories of his true self: how he is a coward, sinful, lustful, indecisive, slothful, envious individual only liked due to his ability. Someone who needed not one, or two, or even three lives to protect those he loves. Yet he knows at heart what he wants and he said it so:

"Rigel. I love both: Emilia and Rem." He said with confidence, yet hating himself for loving two beautiful women. He wasn't worthy of being loved back.

The blue-haired youth looked at his dad and saw a burning determination, to try to get his good ending. The sight of his dad fired up made him smile a bit.

"I know dad. Sorry for being so angry about this. I was scared of you only loving mother after the cult attacked the mansion." He accidentally spilled the secret he wanted to talk about next.

"WHAT!?" Subaru loudly exclaimed.

Emilia's death? How could that be? I would have Returned by Death! I would never let Emilia die, no matter how many times I must die for that. I would go through the depths of hell and back to make sure that never happened, why, why WHY did that happen during my son's timeline?

"I also wanted to talk about this." Rigel sighed and continued." Knowing this topic was going to be anything but pleasant he forged on:

"Dad, our family lives in Kararagi." Rigel's words left Subaru in shock, trembling in place, as he slowly pieced everything together.

Emilia died? Kararagi? Please, anything but that. Tell me it isn't true. This shouldn't be real, I can't believe this happened. My other self what the hell did you do… Did you give up?

"I didn't know I had an aunt until I was ten years old, and you two never told me. I discovered on my own that everyone in this mansion died by the Witch Cult's hands. I didn't… Dad?"

Rigel fell silent as he noticed Subaru's status. He was trembling, his gaze was empty, was whispering nonsense and his left hand was clenching his right arm tightly, as if wanting to leave permanent scars on it.

I didn't. I couldn't have. I couldn't have possibly left Emilia to die. She took my hand and everyone died. Emilia, Beatrice, Ram, the villagers… How can I call myself her hero after this?

Images of his past mistakes flashed through his mind. Petra's eyeless corpse. Rem, dragging her twisted body across the ground. Emilia's dying in his arms after he told her about the taboo. He felt the phantom pain of his veins slowly being frozen as Puck's true form towered upon him, ridiculing all his efforts. He was taken off of his trance by Rigel, who wildly shook his shoulders until he reacted.

"Are you okay dad?" Said Rigel, worried about his dad's sudden panic attack, waving his hand in front of Subaru's face until he was sure he was back.

"Yeah… Just, give me some time." Seeing as his dad was still dazed, Rigel dragged him to the wall so he could support himself. He waited for a minute that seemed eternal until Subaru spoke again:

"I'm… good for now Rigel. Don't mention what you just said to anyone." His mind was in shambles yet he had to keep up being Natsuki Subaru. The silver-haired half-elf spirit knight, not the failure that couldn't become Rem's hero.

Taking his back off the wall and heading towards the door, he continued, not giving Rigel the chance to reply.

"No one needs to know that they died, after all." Whispered Subaru under his breath, as he forced a smile and with turbulent emotions, left the kitchen and entered the dining room again, with Rigel silently following behind. He seemed like he wanted to say something, but kept his mouth shut.

Subaru was welcomed by yet another strange sight. This time, it was Ram treating Spica with great care, right after threatening to put an end to his bloodline.

"You are pampering her." Subaru pointed at Spica, sitting in Ram's lap as she patted her head. Her opinion of her auntie had changed 180º degrees while Subaru was away.

"I'm not pampering anyone Barusu. I'm merely making sure my own blood doesn't go to ruin due to your fault. But I must admit, I never thought someone so cute could come from you. Surely my sister did most of the job." She said with a neutral expression, still patting Spica's head.

"Auntie, so you treat dad like this so that he'll become a better man? Are you a tsundere?" While Subaru and Rigel were discussing between them, Spica demanded an explanation from her aunt about her treatment of her dad.

"I'm making sure his ego doesn't get too high." She then proceeded to pat her head and ask if she wanted to eat something. She now thought of her as someone who cared about his father, in her own way.

"What's with this development?" Asked Subaru, incredulous.

"Am I seeing the 'dere' to Ram's 'tsun'?"

Everyone reacted in a different way to those words. Otto and Garfiel genuinely feared for his friend's life, Beatrice spilled some nonsense about how only she can be tsundere on this camp, Emilia had trouble pronouncing the Subaruism his knight had just used while Chocorina pronounced it without problem. Frederica giggled while covering her mouth and Rem started pestering her sister about Subaru-kun's good qualities. Said sister, of course, looked at Subaru with a gaze who could kill.

Sometime later, when everyone was getting to know each other better, Roswall finally showed up.

"Is everyooone here? Good then, this shaaalll be rather intriguing."

"What are you up to, Roswaal?" With no sympathy for the clown, Subaru asked for his current intentions. Not related to his children, he hoped. Rigel and Spica recognized his clothes and makeup as the one Rem called 'Roswaal-sama', but didn't ask anything and simply remained in silence.

"Crusch Karsten messenger's just delivered a leeeetter addressed to our very own spirit knight. Detailing a meeting to take place between both of ouuuurr camps alliances in around 5 days."

Rigel heard this and immediately thought of Leo, the half brother he so badly wanted to meet again, even if it was for teasing him with pompous titles once more.

I forgot about him!

Slamming his closed fist on the palm of his other hand, Rigel got everyone's attention before dropping a bomb to everyone in the room.

"Can the candidates for the throne have kids?"

"Whyyyy do you ask? And the answer is nooooo. The candidates muuuust remain pure until the Selection end." Replied Roswaal.

"Hm, that explains it. It's just that I and Spica met someone calling himself the son of Crusch Karsten." Everyone understood what those words meant. Coming from one of Subaru's future children, this could only mean one thing. Rigel didn't leave this opportunity go to waste, it was time to take revenge for his father teasing him through his childhood.

"My, you call Halibel the "Eternal Playboy" but look at you right now, dad. Having children with three different maidens."

Author here. Sorry for the delay, and massive thanks to both my betas, the people who helped me come up with the plot and characters, and everyone for the good reception this had. Also, AOUI Eita drew something really cool for my other fic, Satella's Champion. I'll come back to it, don't worry, I need time to properly think of the plot. And maybe rework a few chapters. Anyways, you can find it here: https://imgur.com/a/Y1xsACW

Here's the only social media she gave me: https://www.instagram.com/aouieita18/

Chapter Text

Chapter 3: Lions and wolves.

Walking towards Crusch's office, Wilhelm van Astrea couldn't help but wonder about the young man he was following. He walked with confidence, exactly knowing where to go, as if he had been living here for years. He had many questions on his mind involving the man's identity but decided to wait until meeting his lady.

For some reason, his instincts told him he wasn't lying. Perhaps it was the way he walked, showing confidence in every step yet paying full attention to his surroundings like a skilled swordsman. Or the way he proudly declared himself heir to the throne, using the surnames of both his lady and friend. Or even how he seemingly perfectly knew the layout of the mansion.

He raised an eyebrow when he took a turn to the left instead of to the right. Before he could ask, Leo answered.

"We should pick Ferris up before meeting Mother and Father. He chased me out, though I can understand why. Uncle Wil, I noticed the Royal Selection is still going on. When did it start?"

"All candidates were found and the Selection officially started five months ago." He replied, not having a chance to discuss why Subaru would be here, as Leo quickly continued:

"That explains it. No wonder he kicked me away without contacting my mother. Proclaiming myself as her son made no sense whatsoever. It's been five months, so how are the preparations for the whale hunt going? I wish I knew more about the fight with Sloth to help father with his revenge." Leo chastised himself for not knowing all the details about the fight with the Sin Archbishop of Sloth. If only he knew everything… He could help his father that way.

Wilhelm caressed his beard, unsure how to proceed. Leo seemed to be sure of the whale being taken care of half a year after the Selection began, but that was far from the truth. He deduced events had gone differently for his lady to end with Subaru, but it seemed they had changed more than he thought.

And his father's revenge… If he truly was Subaru's son, that would mean he had already met Sloth and had a personal reason for taking him down. A hypothesis came to his mind before quickly being dismissed. That reason could be anything, and he prayed for it not to be what he first thought of.

"The whale is already dead." He laid the truth bare, with a fond tone, remembering the fight. The day he avenged his wife.

Leo froze in place before turning back with a surprised face.

"Excuse me? How could that be? There was almost no info on its movements until Father found a clue."

"Mmh? But Subaru-dono had a metia who warned him of the Whale's attacks. It was hunted shortly after the Selection began."

"And Sloth?" He launched that question as soon as Wilhelm finished talking, not giving him the chance to breathe. He needed to know.

"Sloth was killed right after the whale. All for the safety of Emilia-sama." During his speech, Wilhelm managed to catch himself before a tear slipped out of his eye. Subaru's acts reminded him too much of his younger self. Love was truly a powerful force.

Meanwhile, Leo's face had confusion written all over it. He slowly turned his back to Wilhelm before walking towards Felix's room with a small glint of hope.

"I-I see. We should resolve this with Felix before meeting Mother. I suppose Father is with Emilia-sama, right?" He asked.

"Yes." He kept to himself the rumors of him defeating the Great Hare in less than a week after the Whale, as well as the news of him officially becoming Emilia-sama's knight.

"I see." The pair kept walking in silence. Wilhelm thought about how different the lives of Subaru, Crusch, Felix, and him must have been had he not known about Sloth's attack, before dismissing those thoughts away. Had that happened… Subaru would be broken.

Meanwhile, Leo couldn't keep his feelings in check. He was both sad and happy, despaired and hopeful. He wouldn't exist in this reality, but he had the chance of meeting the ones he wanted to meet ever since he was a child. To thank her for making Subaru such an amazing ruler.

"Felix."

"Yes, old man Wil?"

Hearing the gentle knocks on the door, Felix quickly answered Wilhelm's call. After kicking the intruder, he started dressing like he always did, embracing his lady's feminine side.

"Someone wants to meet you."

Having said that, Wilhelm opened the door and stepped to the side, leaving Felix thinking about who might want to meet him, and slightly angry at whoever came without warning. Seeing the intruder he had kicked off the house, he left a soft "Hah?" as confusion filled his face.

"Please Ferris, allow me to explain myself this time." Stepping into the room, Leo begged for Felix to hear his words this time.

"I'm Leo Karsten Natsuki, heir to the throne of Lugunica. And a few hours ago, I found myself back in the past." He made sure to show the emblem of the Lion on his right sleeve.

Felix rejected his words, having too many questions and not believing the young prince. He lashed at his companion.

"Wilhelm! Why did you let a liar like him back inside the mansion?"

"Felix, let's hear what he has to say."

"Please, hear me out Ferris. I can assure you I am indeed Crusch Karsten's son. If you were kind enough to allow me to meet my mother…"

"Why would I annoy Crusch-sama with this nyansense?" Felix wanted nothing but to kick him away again.

"Then hear me out. Allow me to explain everything before you chase me out."

"Felix, I am curious about how Subaru-dono might have ended with Crusch-sama." Wilhelm supported the idea.

"If old man Wil wants it-nya…" Felix begrudgingly accepted Leo's offer. Despite not believing his words, he was curious about how Crusch and Subaru ended together. And, deep down, something about the prince screamed that all he was saying was the truth.

Mother won't believe my words. I know how her Divine Protection works, so that's inevitable. I can't barge in and expect her to trust me. The only plan I can think of is having Wilhelm and Felix support me, but how do I accomplish that?

Those were Leo's thoughts as he walked to the mansion with the demihuman he had met earlier. And the time to set his plot in motion had come.

Leo sat in the bed with Felix, while Wilhelm remained near the door. He was unsure of how to start the conversation, and Felix's stare was getting to his nerves. In the end, he decided to start from the very beginning.

"Father joked about you being both the best and worst wingman."

"Hm?" Those were not the words Felix had been expecting. He was surprised, his feline ears twitching slightly. Before he rebuked, Leo continued speaking.

"In his words, he really... Hum..."fucked up" at the Selection. Interrupting like that was something he shouldn't have done. However, thanks to your words, Father strived to improve himself." Leo explained, his eyes focused on his gloved hands as he remembered the painful expression his father had when he explained this part of the story. He closed his eyes, preparing himself for what was to come.

"However, Emilia-sama passed away in an attack by the Witch Cult. Father joined Mother's camp after that."

Felix gasped before covering his mouth with his hand, while Wilhelm looked at the ground gritting his teeth. It wasn't hard to see how much Subaru cherished the half-elf, nor imagine how he would be had she died.

Opening his eyes and noticing the troubled expressions on both Felix and Wilhelm, Leo understood that they cherished his father as they did in his reality.

"Forgive me for not saying more, Father never wanted to speak about this. All I know is that he focused more than ever on his swordsmanship, despite uncle Wil repeatedly telling him he had no talent. Around this time, he expressed his desire to help hunt the whale. Mother described his plan as the most reckless strategy ever attempted in the story of Lugunica."

Both the old man and the healer scoffed as they reminisced about the unbelievable bet of the young man to bring down the whale and win the fight. It was for sure a reckless and foolish plan, something only someone bearing the name of "Natsuki" could have done. That single action perfectly explained Subaru's personality.

"Near the end of the selection, the Sin Archbishop of Sloth was defeated thanks to another of Father's reckless plans." Leo smiled as the story became more pleasant to hear. "That was the last push mother needed to win. Not long after being elected queen, she married father."

"So the death of the whale and sloth were attributed to Crusch-sama…" Wilhelm wondered, his gaze directed to the ground as he was lost in his thoughts.

"That's not all." Leo replied, earning the attention of the healer and the old man.

"Mother also did far more! For the people of the kingdom and even the other countries! With the help of father by her side, she became the more popular candidate by a large margin, helping all citizens, no matter who they were!" Leo continued, wanting to attribute more to her mother than the whale and sloth, to voice her great leadership skills.

Wilhelm and Felix widened their eyes, attentively listening to the young man, eager to know more about their lady's achievements.

"She brought the kingdom back to a shape long lost! Out of all 4 countries, ours was…" He forced his mouth shut, realizing his mistake.

"Forgive me, I've said too much. I shouldn't divulge about the future." Felix raised a brow at his sudden interruption, craving more honest praise for Crusch-sama, but Wilhelm voiced Leo's worries.

"You fear that if too much about the future is known, it might cease to exist, right?" Deduced Wilhelm.

"Yes. Even though I'm afraid I won't exist in this reality, I still shouldn't speak about it." He said disheartened. Wilhelm lowered his gaze to the ground, while Felix's feline ears fluttered down, expressing his slight disappointment towards the self-proclaimed prince.

"I wanted to know more about Crusch-sama's achievements…" He trailed off. The young prince got his interest and now stopped due to a logical fear, leaving him unsatisfied.

"Of course you do. Your blind loyalty towards Mother hasn't disappeared yet." Leo replied with his eyes narrowed. As Felix was going to raise his voice about the tone Leo used, the prince continued, not happy about the treatment Felix gave to his mistress.

"You used to put Mother on a pedestal, not even seeing her as a human sometimes! Seeing her as a perfect woman with no flaws, believing everything she said, and not acknowledging her faults!" Lashed out Leo. The man he looked up to as a child, going as far as wanting to become a healer like him, needed help to improve. He'll do the job his father won't do in this reality.

"I… wasn't a good follower to Crusch-sama?" Said Felix disheartened, his feline ears flopping down. Wilhelm stepped forward, in case things escalated too far.

"You weren't. When Mother needed advice it wasn't you who gave it, but Father. When she wasn't sure of her actions, you bathed her in praise while Father spoke his honest opinion. When she failed, you comforted her while Father gave her criticism and told her how to improve."

Felix was taken aback by Leo's words. His failure as Crusch's knight weighed down on his heart. However, Leo's following words calmed him down. Wilhelm didn't interrupt, perfectly knowing the admiration the knight had for his mistress, borderline reaching obsession at times. Love can have many flaws...

"That's why I'm telling you this. I want you to become the man I adore, the gentle uncle who healed every bruise on my body after my training, the knight "Blue", the man I imitated as a child. Not a puppy who blindly wags his tail to his master."

Felix rose his head, his eyes slightly red and teary. He gazed at Leo, before the prince grabbed his shoulders forcing the knight to keep looking at him.

"You need to improve, Ferris. Don't stand behind Mother, but rather beside her. Don't be a loyal follower telling her what she wants to hear, but rather what she needs to know. Become the man I looked up to." He spoke with determination.

Wilhelm smiled fondly at the situation, fully convinced of Leo's being Crusch and Subaru's son. He clearly knew both him and Felix, and his actions were bold to a point only someone bearing the name of Natsuki could do them.

"I… Even though you are… I-I don't…" Felix stuttered on the verge of breaking into tears.

"Maybe this will help you then." Leo spoke softly, grabbing Felix's right hand and positioning it on his chest.

Felix obeyed his wordless instruction, checking his gate. He noticed something that shouldn't be there. It was the first time he met this man, and while his words were convincing they were still well-crafted lies. They had to be. But then, how could his own mana be on his gate already?

"You have healed me thousands of times. When I tripped on a pebble as a kid. After my daily training with uncle Wil. Every time I got even the slightest injury, you were there ready to heal me as you called me reckless."

Felix slowly put his hand away from his chest, hesitantly bringing it to Leo's cheek. He gazed into the young man's eyes and came to recognize them….

There was only one person who could have such eyes. A fiery gaze like her mistress, paired with the boldness of the half-elf's knight.

"So it is true nya… You are Crusch-sama's son…" Said Felix with a smile, wiping his teary eyes with the back of his hand. Wilhelm faintly chuckled at the realization of the healer, so slow to realize the truth. Leo went to great lengths to prove himself.

"And...What now, Leo-dono?" Wilhelm asked the young man.

"Mother won't believe me, I'm certain of it. I know how her blessing works, she'll think of me as a lunatic. Revealing everything won't work a second time. That's why I need your help, Ferris, Wilhelm."

Both glanced at each other before nodding in acknowledgment.

"What does Ferris need to do?"

"It's simple. You both must stand by me, especially Ferris. Your opinion is highly valued by her, after all. If you can't convince her I'm telling the truth, and if she does not recognize me as her heir..." Leo stopped, wincing at the thought. "No one else will."

Upon entering Crusch's office, Leo saw Crusch working on some documents, a stack of papers on her desk.

"No matter the time, she's always working hard." He thought with a faint smile.

She raised her head, looking at the unannounced visitor, her fierce gaze piercing Leo's soul. He briefly considered the slim chance of her believing his words, but quickly brushed it aside. Crusch intensified her gaze at the prince who was yet to introduce himself.

"Who are you?" She asked in a cold and slightly intrigued tone.

Hearing her words, Leo straightened up and with renewed determination, clenching his fists, he faintly nodded as he opened his eyes with resolve… And proudly declared:

"I'm Leo Karsten Natsuki, heir to the throne of Lugunica...And your son."

Crusch raised an eyebrow at his words and waited for the wind of untruth to blow around Leo. She waited one second, two, three, until five seconds had passed and the wind didn't blow.

However, she wasn't confused. She fully knew the power of her blessing, and that if someone believed something to be the truth then it wouldn't activate. Therefore, she was sure the young man in front of her was lying. Yet, the confidence he pronounced those words with was astounding. Moreover, his attire was suspiciously similar to hers. He even wore the emblem of her house.

"Very well." She continued, giving him the benefit of the doubt. "Let's assume I have a son I've never heard of. How could I have married Natsuki Subaru?" She stood up, still observing the man who called himself her son, giving him a chance to explain himself. Leo momentarily froze, before answering with honesty.

"Do you loathe the idea?" Leo asked with a saddened gaze.

Crusch picked up on how his expression changed and narrowed her eyes. In her eyes, Natsuki Subaru was indeed a wonderful man. But she never went as far as to think of him as a potential lover. Love was in itself a complex feeling for her, and everyone present during the Royal Selection meeting knew who he loved.

"This is not the question that interests us now." She answered, obviously trying to avoid an answer.

But it was enough for the young prince, since she didn't confirm his grim thoughts.

"I await your explanation, 'my heir'." The duchess continued, earning the green-haired boy's attention.

"It...It is as strange for me as it is for you, mother. But in my... In my world, things happened differently." Leo replied, not completely sure how to begin, as Crusch kept listening.

"When Father embarrassed himself at the Royal Selection, he stayed here by your side until he realized his mistakes, then he strived to improve and fix his faults for Emilia-sama." The green-haired woman narrowed her eyes a bit.

"But… The Witch Cult attacked and she perished. Father was taken under your wing and you two married not long after you were elected queen-"

"So those are the words of a lunatic. Not only do you barge into my house, but also start spreading lies about my allies." Crusch cut him, her gaze reminding him of the fierce scoldings he received as a kid. She wasn't believing any of his words and found himself soon to be kicked away again. He decided to reveal more of the past he knew in hopes she would believe him.

"As I told you, while I found myself in the past, it is different from the one I know. To me, Emilia-sama perished in Sloth's attack, the same one you prevented. The White Whale was hunted around this time, while Sloth's death was the last push you needed to take the throne. I learned swordsmanship from you, Wilhelm and Julius. And you and Father became wonderful leaders renowned in the entire world for how great you made Lugunica."

Crusch couldn't understand what the man was talking about. He thought of him as a lunatic but wasn't sure now. Perhaps her Divine Protection was failing for another reason. She knew that her ally was safe, yet the wind of untruth didn't blow when he spoke of her fate. How could those two contradicting statements be both true?

"Do you have the slightest idea..." Crusch spoke with eyes closed. "How unbelievable your words are?"

"I know." Leo answered with determination. "But these words are the truth...And regarding my situation, I won't make it without help. I understand if you don't believe me, mother. And I won't hold any resentment towards you if you ever throw me out. But I beg you to consider what I said…"

Crusch raised her eyes towards Leo again. His eyes reflected the same color as hers, as if she was looking at a mirror. His face features and shape of his eyes reminded her of Subaru, while his hair had the same verdant green tone as hers.

No matter how hard she believed him to be a lunatic madman, this boy had serious arguments by his side. This situation was truly one of a kind for the duchess.

"Mother-"

"Stop." She sternly cut him, her voice showing a slight degree of anger. "Do not call me that."

Hearing this much made Leo suddenly choke on his words, his eyes reflecting the pain he felt for his mother to deny him this way.

Until the door of the duchess's office opened.

"It seems you need some help, Leo-kyun."

"Forgive our intrusion, Crusch-sama."

Felix and Wilhelm, who were waiting outside the room, decided this was the best moment to barge in.

"Ferris? Wilhelm? You allowed this nonsense to happen?" Crusch reprimanded them, not realizing her built-up confusion let her anger radiate from her.

"Don't be so angry at me, Crusch-sama. You'll make Ferris-chan's weak heart faint."

"Crusch-sama, let's hear what Leo-dono has to say."

"Before that… Crusch-sama, I hate you." Felix told an obvious lie, Crusch quickly catching on to his intentions as the wind of untruth blew all over the room.

"I see. So my Divine Protection isn't failing. But then…" She was cut short by her knight.

"I haven't met this man. Yet, there are signs of me manipulating his gate, Crusch-sama."

"How come…" She whispered as she turned to the young man one more time, her eyes getting softer as she came closer and closer to the truth.

"I too, believe Leo-dono might not be lying, Crusch-sama. From the interactions I had with him, he seems to carry mannerisms only you or Subaru-dono would have." He explained with a smile.

That explains why the wind doesn't blow around him…

Crusch now had a faint blush on her cheeks. The one she thought of as a lunatic was actually her own son. She straightened up, attempting to stop herself from flushing further. While it was true that she did admit that she might have fallen for Natsuki Subaru, actually doing so was another matter.

"So, are you really-" Despite her proud stance, her voice was weak, faltering. Even if she seemed to be against it all the time...A faint part of her she didn't know she had in her heart, wished for this to be true. And now...

"Yes, Mother. I am your son." Said Leo, interrupting the Royal Candidate and confirming the urging feeling that rose in her chest.

Without realizing it, small tears began to form in the duchess's eyes. Holding a hand to her mouth, she kept gazing at the young man who carried her own blood.

She slowly stepped closer to him, wiping her tears.

"What...Was your name again?" She asked in a hushed tone. She didn't pay attention at first, believing him to be a fake wanting some sort of connection with her house. But now she needed to know.

"Leo." He answered, coming closer as well.

"Leo...It sounds marvelous..." She said while sobbing, raising a hand to her son's cheek.

"You told me Father was the one who chose this name, as it represented our family well…" The boy replied, beginning to tear up as well. "He said...It came from the constellation of the Lion."

Crusch immediately widened her eyes in shock, her hands now trembling as tears wouldn't stop flowing. However, those were tears of happiness.

"The lion…" She whispered. "Leo…"

Now unable to resist, she clenched the boy's coat harder as she brought him in her arms, something he happily accepted as he wrapped his arms around the duchess as well, closing his eyes.

"My...Leo…" She cried as she ruffled his hair. "My son...My own son…"

She felt horrible for the words she dared to speak earlier, for how she made him feel. But she would dedicate her every being to fixing it. As a mother should.

They remained in each other's embrace for a long minute, thoughts running wild in the minds of both. Wilhelm and Felix observed the scene in silence, warmth filling their hearts.

It was a good day in Agante. The sky was clear and the streets rumbled with merchants vociferating their low prices and housewives buying food for dinner. A certain man stood out, sporting an iron helmet on his head, carrying a sword at his waist. His left arm was missing and he carried a bag of peeled appas in his other hand.

"Schult should be the one doing this…" He thought, shaking his head at his lady's orders. Schult was busy giving her a massage, so he had to come and buy appas for her, doing the small butler's job.

"I should have checked this when I woke up… Now I have to go out and buy more." He sighed, advancing forward. Turning a street he saw a chorus of grown men and women talking to a lost child in the middle of the square.

"Why won't thou believe me!?" A childish voice rang out.

"That's bullshit kid!" The group of civilians replied in unison.

Deciding he had nothing to do with this, he shrugged off and continued walking towards Priscilla's residence. Sadly, the commotion was on the shortest route to his destination, so he kept walking straight instead of turning the street, purely to not involve himself. His plans failed as the childish voice called his name.

"Al! Come and help mineself this instant!"

Al stopped in his tracks, hearing a voice he didn't recognize speak as if she knew him. As everyone in the crowd turned to him, he begrudgingly walked towards them.

The crowd opened to give a path to the helmeted knight, many recognizing him instantly as the 'jester' of Priscilla Barielle.

Once he was in front of the little girl, he took a deep look at her features. Her long black hair was braided in a single ponytail adorned with a red lace. She wore a blue dress adorned with a white flower at her waist, as well as a necklace sporting a lustrous emerald. Her fierce crimson eyes inspected the helmeted man figure, and she carried a small crimson fan in her left hand.

"So? What's your problem kid?" He irritatedly asked.

"Mh? Not even thou recognize mineself? Hm..." She massaged her forehead with her fan, deep in thought; an act Al smirked at behind his helmet.

"First that shadowy, mysterious hand drags me away, mine vassals do not recognize me nor does Uncle Al… And he lacks a few scars as well. Could this..."

"Al, take off your helmet. Mineself orders so." She proclaimed, hiding half her face behind her fan just like her mother.

"Excuse me, who's this girl?" Al carefreely asked a random merchant in the crowd, ignoring the girl entirely.

"She claims to be Lady Priscilla's daughter, sir."

"She certainly does act like her." Thought Al, noting the obvious similarities in mannerisms.

Being ignored, the young miss intensified her gaze.

"Mineself recalls ordering you to take off your helmet. Don't force me to do it, Aldebaran." The little princess, being familiar with Al's personality, struck where she knew it would sting.

Al, hearing his full name being called, straightened up. The crowd, sensing the situation turning dire, quickly dispersed, feeling pity for the young girl about to be reprimanded for daring to claim to be the domain's lord daughter.

"Acting as I wanted… It seems your loyalty doesn't change no matter your age." She put her fan down, smirking at her success. Al realized he had been tricked to scare the crowd away, now having a genuine interest in the girl's identity.

She acted just like Priscilla, was as smart as her, and knew Al enough to both know his full name and how to taunt him.

"So, little miss, what's your name?" He asked. Perhaps he would discover Priscilla's true surname this way. There was no way she would keep that disgusting pig's name.

"Ah, so you finally recognize mineself. Very well, I shall give you the honor of knowing my name. You better remember it: Helena Natsuki. Now, let's go, Al."

Her surname, however, was not what he expected.

"So you're my bro's daughter?"

Having left the square and now walking towards Priscilla's mansion, Al inquired about Helena's father. Natsuki was the surname of the only one he could truly call brother, both having lived in Japan before being mysteriously sent to this hell of a world.

"Indeed. Father is a wonderful leader and your best friend as well, Al." Said Helena, walking at Al's side.

"So you decided to follow the path of the big breasts, bro…" Thought Al behind his helmet.

"So, uh, what do I call you? Helena? Lena? Little princess?" Al would be scratching the back of his head should he not wear a helmet. Or if he wasn't carrying something on his only arm.

"Little princess will suffice for now." She replied.

"So… how does being in the past feel?" Al asked.

"Hm? Thou believes me?" Replied Helena.

"Well, yeah. You know Princess, me and my bro. You also look like Princess and even act like her. Do I need anything else?"

"No. Good job Al. Unlike your future self, it seems you're smart now." Helena congratulated Al, just to throw a small jab at him right after. Another of the mannerisms she took from her mother. If he was the same both in the past and future, he wouldn't even feel hurt.

"That hurts. Though not as much when compared to Princess' insults." Helena hid a smirk behind her fan: She was right.

"So, what does it feel like? You didn't answer me."

"Hm… Where to start…" She thought for a few seconds about how to explain the situation.

"First, mineself must explain how I ended up here. I was 'vibing' in my room, as Father would say…" She was interrupted by a faint chuckle coming from Al.

"I'm sorry…" Said Al, managing to stop himself from laughing further.

Having noticed the distinct pronunciation and word itself, Al deduced it had to come from Earth even if he didn't remember its meaning. And only he and Subaru could teach her said word. Paired with the distinct way she said 'Let's go' and now this, all doubts on his mind were dispelled.

"I shall forgive your intrusion this time. But don't expect a second chance." Said Helena, slamming her fan against Al's muscular arm. He secretly gulped, not wanting to be left armless.

"As I was saying, I was in my room when a shadowy hand dragged me away. The next moment, I found myself in mother's old domain instead of the castle. Furthermore, none of those commoners recognized me. And that's when you appeared. I must congratulate you for that, Al." She snapped the fan close, seeing Barielle's house mansion at the end of the street.

While she spent most of her days in the royal castle, she had visited Barielle's mansion a few times in the past. All rulers had to know their vassals, and what better place than her mother's old domain?

The rest of the walk happened in silence. Al was thinking of the implications of his otherworldly brother marrying Priscilla. Everyone knew how much he loved the half-elf, something he could perfectly understand. Silver hair had something… special about it, a fantasy feeling like nothing else. He would still choose Priscilla's body over it though, her figure was perfect. He would never admit it of course, but he was jealous of Schult-chan dressing her up day after day.

Meanwhile, Helena contemplated those same implications but in a completely different direction. She wondered who that hand belonged to, and why she was in the past. A chance to change the future, perhaps? One misstep, however, and she might cease to exist, having destroyed her future existence with a few words or a simple act.

She got annoyed at the prospect. She won't be able to burn that disgusting pig bearing the name of Leip to cinders. As much as she was disgusted by his existence, she had to admit he was necessary for her mother to have a domain to rule and show her fantastic leadership skills. She needed to think about every step she would take, anything could change the future in a major way.

"What did father call this phenomenon? A butterfly effect, was it?"

Deep in her thoughts, she didn't realize she had already entered the mansion. The guards, seeing Priscilla's knight return, let both him and the little girl at his right side enter without trouble, though they gave a few glances to the maiden so similar to their lady. The little princess was taken out of her trance by a high-pitched voice.

"Al-sama, who is she?"

Turning her head to the side, Helena saw Al handing the bag of appas he had been carrying to a young boy with peach-pink hair. His eyes were of a crimson red and he wore a butler uniform. Although far younger than the Schult she knew, Helena still instantly recognized him as his mother's follower.

"Now I understand why mother took him in. He's certainly cute." Remarked Helena in her mind. She didn't particularly care for the young butler. They were on amicable terms, but to her he was nothing more than one of her mother's followers.

"Her? Oh, she's a noble wanting to meet Princess." Schult gazed at Helena for a short moment, before she and Al continued towards Priscilla's study, leaving the young butler behind.

Now in front of Priscilla's study, Al turned back to Helena.

"Uh, you're sure you wanna do this? Princess was in a bad mood before." Said Al, recalling how he had made her slightly mad by gazing at her breasts for too long. Not that he would ever admit to it in front of her daughter. Only Od Laguna knows how she would react.

"Shouldn't expose them so much if you're going to get angry, Princess. You weren't quick to forgive me like usual. Did the recent attacks sour your mood?" Thought Al, worried about the recent assassination attempts on his mistress.

"Don't waste my time with nonsense. My beautiful visage shall gladden mother." Ignoring Al's warning, Helena opened the door with determination.

"So the world also works in your favour… Should have thought so." Thought Al, a faint smile forming on his face at the exchange. He was slightly excited about Priscilla's reaction.

Behind a desk stood Priscilla Barielle. Orange hair like the sun, with jeweled hair pins scattered through it. She wore a blood-red dress that exposed her chest and shoulders. Her blazing crimson eyes gazed at the two intruders, Al and Helena, before opening her mouth and asking Aldebaran about the young girl's identity in her usual demeanor.

"Al, did you grow bored of being a jester and decided to bring a replacement?" Al shrugged off her usual jab.

"No Princess. But I found this kid outside and thought you would be interested in her." Technically, he didn't lie. Al wholeheartedly thought Priscilla would be interested in her. Whether she would accept Helena as her daughter was another matter.

"I see. You did well Al. So, entertain me." She said, looking at the young miss at Al's side. She noted the similarity in looks between her and herself, especially her eyes. Crimson red, just like her and Schult.

"As you wish." Said Helena with a bow, grabbing the edges of her dress. "I am your daughter, Helena Natsuki." To Al's surprise, she revealed her identity.

Priscilla froze momentarily, before erupting in laughter. She giggled for a long minute before calming down. The crimson-eyed princess' introduction incited nothing but laughter on her.

Helena merely stood in place, concealing her smirk behind her maroon fan. Al threw himself to the ground in order to grab a few documents before they fell to the ground. He had known Priscilla for long enough to know she would somehow blame him purely to see his reaction for her amusement.

After a long minute, Priscilla calmed down. With a sigh, he straightened up and looked at Al.

"You did good, Al. This girl has done a better job at entertaining me than you've ever done." Said Priscilla, wiping a few tears off her face, observing Helena's reaction.

"Indeed. Al's loyalty is commendable. A single glance at mineself, and he knew what to do." Said Helena while nodding. Al let out a dry laugh in response to her words.

"Al, you can leave now. She does your job far better than you." Priscilla dismissed the mercenary with a wave of her hand.

"What? You can't leave me now Princess!" Said Al in a panicked rush.

"That's right, Mother. You shouldn't abandon Al. He's a great retainer." Helena panicked as well, though not as much as Al. She managed to conceal it, but Al being thrown out didn't align with her plan.

"It seems my new jester has taken a liking to you, Al. Be thankful to her." Said Priscilla in a more joking tone.

Priscilla had taken a liking to the red-eyed princess. Her cunning to convince Al to bring her here, and her sheer arrogance to proclaim herself as her daughter. She even studied her mannerisms and imitated them with practiced perfection.

Despite the fact that her actions constituted a critical breach in security, no assassin sent against her would act so boldly. Moreover, Priscilla was sure of her skills and deemed it impossible for this girl to best both Al and herself in combat. The world saw her bored and sent a new jester her way.

Truly, the world worked in her favour.

"Where would I even go if you threw me away… What's a one-armed mercenary supposed to do to earn his pay?"

"You merely need to prove your skills, do you not? Min- auch!"

The room went silent. Both Al and Priscilla stared at the now flushing red Helena, who froze in place after biting her tongue midway word.

"You… bit your tongue." Deadpanned Al, barely managing to stop himself from erupting in laughter.

"Only because Mother and Father will make me go insane! Mother with her overly extravagant speech and father with his expressions no one understands!" Helena exclaimed. Between Priscilla's archaic speech and Subaru's 'subaruisms', paired with Al's own brand of quirkiness, her speech slowly degenerated into a mess she actively tried to prevent from getting worse.

"You still did it though." Deadpanned Al once again, letting a small chuckle free at the situation. The archaic words of her mistress and his expressions from earth wouldn't pair well, would they?

Helena wasn't sure how to respond, but something clicked in her head. Her original plan had deviated, but she could still be recognized as Priscilla's daughter. Al now gave her a perfect excuse for it.

She straightened up, closing her fan with a loud thump. She then stared at Al with a fierce gaze and continued with a serious tone. Priscilla, focused on observing her reactions, smiled at the act.

"I gave you a second chance, Aldebaran." Both her tone and gaze made Al gulp behind his helmet. Surely she couldn't do any serious harm to him, right? Why was she scared of a little girl? He repressed his instincts to activate Territory right there.

"It is time to remove that other arm of yours." Al was wrong about Helena not being able to harm him. Against his arm now stood an ornate crimson sword, reflecting light like the sun itself and hot to the touch. It was a weapon Al easily recognized, having seen it in action in Priscilla's hand several times, although bigger than Helena's counterpart.

It was the Yang Sword Vollachia, one of the Ten Swords of Power, and one pertaining purely to those fit for the Vollachian throne, sporting the Vollachian emperor's blood.

"I-Isn't this going too far, little princess?" Al muttered out.

"Indeed it is. Put your sword down, Helena." Said Priscilla, in a more caring and motherly tone, something Helena didn't fail to notice.

Silently casting the Yang Sword aside, Helena approached her mother.

"I know it's hard to believe, but…" She was interrupted, as Priscilla grabbed her towards her bountiful chest.

"I already knew. Not even Al is foolish enough to bring a complete outsider here. He already figured you out, didn't he?" Said Priscilla, patting Helena's head as she pulled her into a tight hug.

"You knew all along? Not fair! I worked hard and you always knew?" Freeing herself from the crimson baroness' tight embrace, Helena complained about the unfairness of her mother already knowing about her identity. She worked hard to bring Al to his side just for him to slip up at the most crucial moment, almost ending in him being thrown away from the candidate's side destroying her plan; before she made a grandiose return by summoning the Yang sword.

It was her last resort, as it consumed too much mana for her to adequately use for longer than a few minutes. It was, however, the absolute truth of her lineage.

"You barge into my house proclaiming to be my daughter, perfectly imitating my actions while looking like mineself, and expect mineself not to believe you? You seem to have overlooked a crucial detail: You look like me." Helena shut her mouth tight at Priscilla's facts and logic. While Helena was certainly as smart as her mother, though not as lucky as her, she often made the crucial mistake of ignoring obvious details. Such as her appearance in this case.

It was something that only experience could fix. Given her young age, it was something she clearly lacked.

"Though mineself doesn't recognize thy surname, he must have been a great man." Priscilla couldn't be further away from the truth.

"Uh, Princess, you do know him. Remember the man you brought into the Selection just for him to make a mess?"

"Hm?" Priscilla pushed Helena aside, focusing on remembering who Al was talking about. Helena's gaze pierced Al, as if telling him to die right there for ruining the moment.

"Oh." Priscilla's mood instantly turned sour. "Mineself marrying such a pitiful man? Bound by blind devotion, a pig with no pride of his own. What a joke." She spat out.

"Don't speak of Father like this!" Rebuked Helena.

"Why should mineself care for such a disgusting man?" She hid half her face behind her fan.

"Because Father improved! While his actions at that point were disgusting, he changed and became a far more respectable man! To the point even you, Mother, chose him as husband." Helena defended Subaru to the very end, going as far as directly opposing Priscilla. In response, the baroness slammed her fan shut, hid it inside her chest and dropped the subject.

"This will go nowhere." She hugged Helena once again, patting the back of her head. Helena simply snuggled into her embrace. Recently, she had been too busy governing to give her lovely daughter proper attention.

"Al, bring a few appas. Helena and I have so much to talk about." She ordered.

"Alright. Two appas for Princess and little Princess." With his usual joking tone, Al left the room, leaving mother and daughter by themselves.

AN: So, uh, sorry for the delays. I was too busy passing my exams to write. Satella's Champion will get an update soon. Akihito Evon made an art for this, you might have seen it already since I posted in Reddit. I'm sharing it anyways, you can see it here: /AkihitoEvon/status/1407020064310710283 (go follow him)

Chapter Text

Where the fuck is chapter 4 of Stars that From the Future Syra? Where the fuck is it? I was promised a chapter with more Subaru's children fluff 16 years ago Syra, Where is it? I sacrificed my firstborn child to the goat god for chapter 4, Syra. I commited several warcrimes in Afghanistan just to get intel on where the fuck the google doc for chapter 4 is, Syra. Where is it Syra? Dyn died in a car crash and Grimbo was cancelled on twitter all for the continuation of Stars that Form the Future, Syra. Where is it Syra? I am going insane, all I see is among us, Syra. I need chapter 4 Syra please it will save me from Wannabe's cringe. Chapter 4 will solve world hunger please Syra. I need the adorable Natsuki family fic, Syra. Its been 16 years Syra. Please Syra ... Syra ...

Archer has been informed.

Wouldn't it be funny if I delayed updating this just to post on the three month anni of no updates? also sorry for this being so short

Crusch Karsten's letter created tons of work for the mansion's residents. In two days a candidate for the throne would arrive for an important meeting. Anyone with the status to request a meeting with Margrave Mathers deserved nothing but the best of treatments, and this was no exception.

In fact, this meeting was far more important than any other. While for the average citizen this was nothing more than a mere formality due to Emilia and Crusch's camps' alliance, for everyone involved the matter was far more private. Everything needed to be absolutely perfect.

For the past three days, the four maids worked the hardest they ever had. Frederica, Petra, and Otto headed to the capital to restock on necessary ingredients impossible to find in Arlam. Rem did double her usual duties, yet managed to somehow take the same time as before. Ram… tried her hardest. She took care of the little silver tornado of chaos whenever Subaru was busy with his own work, but she could barely keep up.

With only a couple of days remaining before the duchess' arrival, the mansion residents' exhaustion began to catch up to them. One day Petra had fainted on the floor, needing to take a few hours off to rest. Otto was caught sleeping at his desk far more often than usual, even Rem made a few comments about how tired she felt.

Rem, of all people. Subaru was shocked to hear such words coming from her. A loud 'thump' was heard as Ram cut a carrot in two, her knife hitting the table below. Subaru hoped for it to be just a coincidence.

With two days remaining and exhausted servants, measures had to be taken if the preparations were to be completed. After lunch, the mansion residents discussed the subject.

"I know it sounds easy but Roswaal… Can you just call more maids? Like how you did with Frederica?" Asked Subaru, steadying Chocorina on his lap as she ate a small slice of cake.

"Ah, Chocorina, you need to be more careful. You have some cake on your cheek," he muttered, getting a napkin to wipe the girl's face.

"It isn't so easy, I suppose," Beatrice replied, glaring with jealousy at the small half-elf.

"Bea~trice-sama is correct. Rem, Ram, Frederica, and Petra-chan a~re the only maids my household employs currently."

"Aren't you the most important noble of the kingdom? And you only have four maids?" Roswaal nodded before taking a moment to think.

"There is an exce~ption. I'm certain Clind co~uld help us in our predicame~nt."

"Roswaal-sama." Frederica interrupted, struggling to keep her tone neutral. "I implore you to reconsider that option. Clind's tastes are… particular."

Subaru nodded at Frederica's description. "Roswaal, I don't want him anywhere near my children." He pondered for a second before coming up with a solution of his own. "What if we help instead?"

"But I don't wanna work! I wanna play!" Chocorina replied, having finished eating her dessert. She turned to face her father's gaze, pouting at his decision.

"Ah, she's so cute! But I can't say yes to her…" Subaru rolled his eyes to the side, evading his cute daughter's face. By coincidence, his gaze met Rigel's. He silently pleaded for help, and Rigel stood up from his chair.

He left Rem's side, a pink light shined from his forehead and he disappeared from sight. Subaru quickly formulated a plan and hoped Rigel would follow.

"You don't know, Chocorina? Bad kids who don't listen to their fathers and work get kidnapped by evil ghosts."

Truly his father's son, Rigel followed Subaru's plan perfectly. As soon as Subaru finished speaking, the invisible Rigel lunged forward, grabbing Chocorina and putting her on his shoulders. She squealed before trying to squirm her way out, but the half-oni tightly held her in place.

"Ah! Mommy help me!" She shouted, tears beginning to form in her eyes.

"Rigel, don't be so mean." Emilia gently reprimanded him. Once she finished, Rigel removed his invisibility. Rem chuckled while Spica merely sighed at his brother's prank. Seeing Rigel, Chocorina pouted.

"Now, be a good girl." He put her back on the ground. "If you help I'll play with you."

"You promise?"

"I promise."

"Pinky promise?" She extended her hand forward.

"Pinky promise." He grabbed Chocorina's hand, both putting their pinkies together. Rem wiped a few tears off her eyes.

"Rem can't stand it anymore… Rem needs this to be a reality…" Rem's whisper didn't go unnoticed. Subaru laughed it off, choosing not to think about the implications. Ram clacked her tongue and crossed her arms. However, she couldn't stop looking at Subaru.

Emilia tilted her head up, her gaze meeting Rem's. Though both were apparently smiling, Subaru could swear he saw sparks flying. Thankfully, Frederica quickly took notice and defused the situation.

"Now Chocorina, I'll tell you what you and your mother can do together. Rem, take care of Spica." Subaru silently praised the blonde maid. Emilia left her seat and joined her daughter, leaving the room along with Frederica.

"Women 're scary."

"Garfiel, please don't say anything that might put us in their sights… I enjoy my life."

"It's not fair," complained Chocorina as she dragged a wet cloth along a window. "Garf and Rigel can play, but I have to clean the windows."

"Now Chocorina, everyone needs to work. Rigel and Garfiel made a promise that they'd work after this," answered the half-elf at her side. Both mother and daughter were giving the windows a quick clean-up.

"But…"

"No buts, or you won't get any sweets tonight." In response to Emilia's reprimanding, Chocorina pouted but continued cleaning while observing the three demi-humans in the garden.

In front of Rigel stood Garfiel a few meters away. At the side, standing beneath a tree was Ram, observing the pair.

"So, what did you call me for, Garfiel? Is it time for our duel?" said Rigel while performing his father's exercises as a warm-up.

"Captain told me ye' trained with the strongest in Kararagi. As the shield of the sanctuary, I need to see that strength." Garfiel adopted his fighting stance. Light reflected on the two shields at his arms.

"Don't over-exhaust yourself, Garf. I don't want to see your crying face after losing."

"No matter what, I'll never get used to auntie Ram's mannerisms…" He turned to face Garfiel with a smile. "Are you sure you want to do this? I'm pretty strong, you know?" Seeing as Garfiel ignored his bluff and was fully focused on each of his movements, he took it one step further.

He relaxed his stance.

"Alright then. Hit me if you can." Garfiel dashed forward, closing the distance between him and Rigel in a second. He punched forward and Rigel stepped to the right, evading the hit. Garfiel then launched a kick with his left leg to his ribs, but the half-oni easily blocked it with his hand and counterattacked with a kick of his own.

The exchange continued with each side trading blows, not leaving themselves open enough for a proper counterattack. However, Rigel had long moved from his original spot, being forced backwards.

He parried another of Garfiel's strikes but took a step backwards to recover some breathing space instead of attacking himself. Garfiel tapped the ground and the ground cracked open behind the oni. A pink light shined on Rigel's forehead as his horn manifested. He stood in place as invisible blades of wind danced behind him and turned the spikes into dust.

"Seems like I underestimated you. Time to get serious." He dashed forward and the tide of battle changed. This time Garfiel was the one slowly being forced backwards. Rigel's strikes were getting increasingly faster, stronger, and more precise than before. Every time Garfiel tried to use his blessing, wind would shred the earth to pieces.

The exchange continued in Rigel's favor. Suddenly, Garfiel noticed something wrong. The half-oni had left himself wide open after a kick. Was it real? Or bait? He chose not to take the risk and block.

He made the right decision, as Rigel spun around and launched a gut punch with his palm open. Garfiel was forced to transform his hands into his beast self to defend against it. However, it was not enough, and he was forced backwards wide open, a chance Rigel didn't let go to waste.

He followed him and did the same attack for a second time. This time Garfiel was unable to defend himself and he was sent flying towards a bush. Rigel swiped the sweat off his forehead as his horn vanished. He then approached Garfiel and extended his hand towards him.

Garfiel took his hand and Rigel pulled it, helping Garfiel stand up. The half-oni patted his back, a wide smile on his face as he said:

"Man, that was a good fight. I didn't think you would be so strong. If I hadn't used my horn I would have lost."

"So cool!" Garfiel half-screamed with stars in his eyes. "Of course Cap'n would have such a strong kid!"

Garfiel's enthusiasm caught Rigel by surprise and he took a step backwards.

"How did you get so strong!? Whatcha do for training!? Can ya teach me some cool ninja stuff!?"

"Garf, the fight is over. Now go and help as you promised," interrupted Ram, standing next to Rigel.

"But Ram, I-"

"No excuses Garf. Now go and cry somewhere else. My work won't be done if you don't start working on it." Garfiel slumped his shoulders in defeat as Rigel sighed at Ram's attitude.

"Ah, we'll speak later, okay Garfiel?" He turned to face Ram. "Mom wanted me and Spica to make some of Subaru's favorite dishes for everyone to taste, right? I'll be going now." He didn't go very far as Ram quickly dashed in front of him. With a nod of her head, Ram told Garfiel to keep going.

"So… What do you want, auntie Ram?"

"Take it out," she demanded.

"Huh… Did I hear that well? Take out what, auntie?"

"Your horn. Now." Her tone was as serious as it could get. Rigel obeyed and a pink flash of light appeared on his forehead. Ram extended her hand towards it but stopped midway through, leaving Rigel blushing slightly.

"Rigel, do you have a voice in your head?" Ram's question left him stunned. After a short moment, he answered.

"No. Why d-"

"If you ever hear someone in your head telling you to kill everyone, cut your horn off." She turned back and started walking towards the mansion. "Now get to work."

Rigel was puzzled at the interaction and about what Ram was talking about. He sighed and scratched the back of his head. He then followed his aunt back to the mansion.

Anastasia Hoshin lied in her office in one of her various quarters over Lugunica. An endless amount of paperwork fully covered her desk. Despite that, she worked without complaints. Taking one paper, taking a quick look, and then dumping it into either of two piles, one for rejected business offers and another for accepted. The rejected pile towered over the accepted one.

A gentle knock on the door distracted her.

"Anastasia-sama." Julius' voice came from behind the door. "A merchant and his bodyguard desire to speak with you."

"Without soliciting anything beforehand? How rude of them. Leave them out Julius, I'm busy right now. Maybe I can meet with them in a few days."

She readjusted herself before going back to work until Julius' next statement echoed through the room.

"They both claim to be able to read ancient Kararagian."

Anastasia dropped the plume she was using to sign all documents. She dragged her hand along her scarf, which seemed to purr under her touch.

"Let them in, Julius," she said, smiling ear to ear. If that claim was true, then this could be an excellent business opportunity, one never seen before.

A minute later, Julius walked into the room, accompanied by two people of around the same height. The first was a young man with short purple hair and green sharp eyes, wearing a white buttoned shirt with dark trousers. He was wearing a black apron on top of his shirt, full of various flasks.

Behind him was a bulky woman with hazel eyes and short, spiky black hair. Her body was clad in heavy black armor with an orange tone on the joints. The weight of it made the ground slightly tremble with every step. On her back was a blue cape with white fur.

"Come on Julius, ya didn't need to take away my weapons…" The woman complained to the knight.

"Forgive me. But I cannot allow someone to meet my lady while armed."

"Yer stronger than me, ya really don't need to…" she sighed and whispered: "I never won against you."

Having heard her whisper, the man with the apron nudged her while frowning.

Taking their eyes off the knight, both strangers stared at the merchant candidate. With their mouths open neither could take their shocked eyes off her. A moment later, tired of the gazes on her, Anastasia spoke.

"Will ya stare at me all day? My time is limited and we have an offer to discuss."

"Ah. Eh, uh, sorry. My mind went blank for a moment." The man excused himself as the woman at his side turned back and wiped something off her eye.

He coughed to focus himself on the task at hand and introduced himself.

"I'm Nikolai Hoshin, and this is my sister Maia Hoshin. We're merchants and wish to make a deal with you."

Julius walked to Anastasia's side, keeping a hand on the handle of his sword. The purple-haired candidate crossed her arms and slightly bent forward.

"Using the Hoshin surname… Ain't that a little daring from ya?"

Nikolai stepped forward.

"There are only three people who can read jap- I mean, ancient Kararagian. We have all rights to be daring, Miss Anastasia." Anastasia waved her hand with a smile.

"But how can I know ya really can?"

"How can you know we can't?" Nikolai replied with a grin.

Anastasia's smile widened and she lied back on her chair.

"I like ya. What are yar terms?" Nikolai and Maia stared at each other, both unsure of how to proceed. Maia shrugged and Nikolai turned back to face Anastasia.

"First, we'll get lodging nearby. Second, bring Natsuki Subaru here."

Both Anastasia's and Julius' eyes widened. He let go of the grip on his sword.

"Subaru?"

"What does the half-elf's knight have to do with this?" Anastasia asked.

"He, along with us, is one of the three persons who can read ancient Kararagian."

"And you'll need his help for some of the contents," Maia added to Nikolai's explanation.

Anastasia furrowed her brows at the vague explanation.

"I'm interested. How could two merchants I've never heard of before possibly know more than me and my entire merchant information network?" She froze for a second. "Oh, I see. You two are Russel's underlings. Is he too busy counting his dirty money to come and visit cute ol' me?"

Nikolai gulped and took a step backwards with a grimace. Maia approached him and whispered into his ear.

"Niko, you fucked up."

"How many times do I need to tell you not to call me Niko?" He growled. "I can understand Venti, but you?"

"You're no fun, my cute little brother," Maia said as she poked Nikolai's cheek. He brushed her hand aside and pointed at himself.

"I AM THE OLD ONE! I WAS BORN FIRST!"

"But I'm the taller one, oh my cute, innocent little brother, unable to understand a woman's feelings." Maia taunted her twin with a smug smile, playfully wagging her finger in front of his eyes.

"WE'RE TWINS, WE ARE THE SAME HEIGHT! YOU'RE ONLY TALLER WHEN YOU WEAR HEELS!" After shouting at her, Nikolai dragged his palm along his face, sighed, and turned back to face Anastasia.

"Forgive us, Miss Anastasia." He took a deep breath. "Rest assured, we're not here as per Russel's orders."

"But you were taught by him, am I right? Yer not revealing anything about your goals, just like that greedy snake."

"I cannot confirm nor deny that accusation."

"I like tha' answer." Anastasia's gaze hardened, wary of the two in front of her. Nikolai didn't budge, he knew the hardest part was to come. "So? What are ya here then?"

"To make a deal," he answered without wavering from Anastasia's attitude.

"Why should I make it? How do I know that your claim is true?"

"Mister Perfect Knight is at your side," Nikolai said with a slight tone of disdain, eyeing Julius.

"Julius." A single word perfectly conveyed her order. Julius left Anastasia's side, heading for the door. Anastasia continued as he left the room.

"Let's assume ya can read ancient Kararagian. How can I be sure I can get money out of those?"

"The merchant is not me, but you. If Anastasia Hoshin can't make a profit out of something, no one can."

Anastasia nodded in approval. Julius stepped through the door carrying a yellowish sheet of paper and handed it over to Anastasia. Nikolai approached her desk while Maia stretched her arms out of sheer boredom.

However, Anastasia didn't hand the paper to Nikolai as he had thought, instead waving her free finger.

"Before that, answer. What does Natsuki Subaru have to do in all of this? How will his help be mandatory to make a profit? And most importantly, how did you know?"

"While we can read what's written, he is the most suited person to-" Before he could finish, Maia interrupted him.

"He's dad, he knows how to make these things wo- Oh." She covered her mouth with one hand as she instantly realized her mistake. "I wasn't supposed to say that."

"MAIA!" Nikolai screamed, turned to face his sister. "I TOLD YOU TO LEAVE THIS TO ME, THE NEGOTIATIONS WERE ALMOST DONE!"

"I'm sorry!" She apologized. Her previous pride upon teasing her brother was now nowhere to be seen. "This was getting boring, can't we just tell her? We'll have to do it anyways!"

Nikolai groaned as he couldn't rebuke Maia's facts. Anastasia and Julius would learn at some point.

"I must ask you two to leave right now," Julius said, his gaze piercing the duo. He kept his hand on his sword. "Your foolishness is disturbing Anasta-" A laugh broke off, coming from the purple-haired merchant.

"Anastasia-sama?" He turned to meet his lady with his eyes open in shock.

Anastasia Hoshin was currently holding her stomach with one hand, hunched over her desk. She was having trouble controlling herself as the sound of her laughter filled the room. Maia and Nikolai looked confused at each other, unsure of what to do.

After a while, the merchant managed to control herself. She wiped a few tears while sighing.

"That's th' best joke I've hear'. Natsuki Subaru? A father?" Merely talking about it made her go into a small fit of laughter.

"Natsuki Subaru is around your age," Julius said with a stern tone. "Please refrain from such jokes and leave at once. You're bothering Anastasia-sama." The grip on his sword became tighter and he slightly unsheathed it. The rays of the sun reflected on its edge.

The warning was clear: If they did not leave, he would need to drive the twins out by force. However, the warning became void as Anastasia spoke,

"Let them be, Julius."

The knight closed his eyes and put the sword back in its sheath.

"I'll convince Subaru-kun to come here." Nikolai opened his mouth but Anastasia continued before he could say a word. "Ah, don't bother explaining to me why he's useful. He just is."

Anastasia started dragging one hand along her scarf. Nikolai recognized a familiar glint behind her eyes, one of greediness. However, it was soon gone as it was replaced by something else. Her gaze sharpened as she looked at the twins.

"I couldn't help but hear that ya two are hiding something from me. Since ya'll teach me at some point, why not do it now and spare both of our times?" The duo unconsciously gulped. Despite her words being a mere suggestion to save time, the intention behind them was far different.

After all, why would she make a deal with someone who admitted to keeping secrets right in her face? Someone more desperate might, but her? Anastasia Hoshin of the Hoshin Company? She would never take such a risk.

"As expected of mother." Nikolai let out a defeated sigh as he shrugged. "No matter how many lessons Russell gives me, I'll never be able to defeat you."

Both Anastasia and Julius stared at him with creased brows. Mother? What was he talking about? Anastasia's look of confusion soon changed to one of suspicion as her eyes narrowed.

"So ya we-"

"Waking up, we found ourselves on the streets and twenty years in the past," Maia said, cutting off the merchant her brother had called 'mother'. "Our surname Hoshin doesn't come from our boldness, but because you are our mother."

Anastasia's lips quivered. Her narrowed eyes widened until they couldn't expand more, and her mouth went agape. She stopped patting her scarf and her arm fell slump to the side. She couldn't focus as hundreds of questions went through her mind.

The knight at her side, however, didn't fare so well. He didn't buy any of Maia's words and his expression turned into a scowl. He turned to Anastasia with a hand on his sword, ready to unsheathe at a moment's notice should it be necessary.

"Anastasia-sama." His voice had a very small hint of irritation. "Please allow me to escort them outside."

Julius' words snapped Anastasia out of her short trance. She immediately dismissed all the questions in her mind. They held no meaning for Maia's words made no sense. Her? A mother? Russell going bankrupt would be a better joke.

"Yes, Julius. Please esco-"

"Echidna." Both twins replied in unison, cutting Anastasia off. She froze and her body trembled. Her eyes became wide open and she attempted to mutter out something, but couldn't find the words. Her scarf seemed to tremble as well for a split second.

"She is here, is she not?" finished Nikolai with a grin.

"Anastasia-sama?" Julius had not failed to notice Anastasia's sudden change in attitude.

"H-how…?" she recomposed herself enough to mutter that.

"We told you. We come from the future, and you are our mother. How could we not know?" Nikolai answered.

"It's been so long since… since we saw you like this," Maia said, her persona crumbling as she couldn't suppress her sniffles and tears anymore. "You've been too weak for a few years to even stand up from bed… Can I… Can I hug you?" she asked while deviating her gaze away and wiping some tears off.

Anastasia was too shocked to answer, yet Maia advanced up to her. Julius didn't interrupt, observing from the sidelines with furrowed eyebrows.

Now next to the purple-haired merchant, Maia extended her arms and hugged her mother. Ana didn't reject her embrace. With the armored woman sniffling next to her, she recovered some semblance of her usual self.

"B-but… how…?" she muttered, but no one answered. Given the bulk of her armor, Maia should be tightly hugging her. However, her embrace was just right, with the perfect amount of strength, as if she knew about her body's complications and was too scared of snapping her in two.

Not knowing what to do, she obeyed her instincts. They told her to pat the crying girl's head, and so she did. That only made Maia's dams break as she couldn't suppress her cries any further.

Meanwhile, Julius inspected Nikolai with a frown. While his sister moved next to his lady, Nikolai stood in place. He looked at the mother and daughter duo with a vacant stare, and then tightly gripped his knuckles until they became white.

Opening his hands, he looked at them for a while. He slowly moved his right hand to his cheeks, noticing a few tears running down his face. He wiped them off, but they kept coming. His sniffles were drowned by the sound of Maia crying as loud as she could.

After some long minutes, Maia finally separated from her mother and went back to her brother's side, who quickly broke the awkward silence.

"Your armor will rust with how much you cried, Ms. Great Waterfall." Despite the jab at his sister, Nikolai's eyes were red as well.

"Oh, woe is me, my brother has been replaced by an evil doppelganger." Maia effortlessly returned her brother's jab back at him. She then put a finger to her chin, as if deeply contemplating something. "Wait, if Niko can now express feelings, doesn't that make him a better doppelganger…?"

Nikolai struck Maia in the stomach with his elbow. His 'attack' was reflected with a metallic clang. Nikolai caressed his elbow while frowning at his sister, who had a smug smile on her face. Anastasia coughed into her fist to catch their attention.

"Julius", she ordered, "I wish to speak in private." Julius nodded and left the room in silence.

He took a last look at the twins before leaving and shutting the door close.

"Mo-" Maia was cut off by Anastasia extending her palm forwards.

"You might know me, but it's impossible for you to be Anastasia's children like you proclaim." A female voice rang out. Anastasia's scarf twisted on her own, turning back and revealing a fox-like face. "Stopping time is impossible, much less time travel. Not even the Witch can do that."

Maia's eyes turned downcast. "Then, you don't-" Before she could finish, Anastasia raised one finger and interrupted her.

"First, what's my objective, the reason I want to get the throne?"

"Use the dragon blood to fix your broken gate," Nikolai answered. Anastasia nodded and raised a second finger.

"What's my favorite food?"

This time, Maia stepped forward to answer.

"Mimi's special burned crispy hamburger. She asked Julius for help but Ia burned it." Once more, Anastasia nodded and raised a third finger.

"Finally… How do I sleep?"

The twins looked at each other with confusion.

"You mean posture?" asked Maia. "If that's it you always sleep facing the wall. When we were kids we alternated sleeping with you, but nowadays it's just Mimi."

Anastasia's smile faltered and her arm hung downwards. She leaned back on her chair, looking at the ceiling.

"So it's true…" she muttered. "I thought you were here for Echidna, but there's no way you could know about what I asked. Only someone who has known me for years could know all of this."

"So, do you believe us!?" Maia asked, hope entering her voice.

"The facts are there, so I have no choice but to accept them." She slumped forward, meeting the gazes of her children. "Natsuki Subaru is your father, right? We'll have to make a quick visit to the Roswaal domain then." With her hand, she ordered the twins to come closer.

"Now, I wanna know. How did you arrive here, and how has your life been."

Chapter Text

Two days passed in the blink of an eye. Crusch Karsten, along with her three companions, were scheduled to arrive in a few hours.

The mood in the dining room was heavy. For a change of pace, and partially due to the maids being tired from all their hard work, Subaru took it upon himself to make breakfast for once.

Of course, the only breakfast he knew how to make. Plain rice and miso soup. Or an imitation of that at least, the rice here wasn't as good as back on Earth, and miso didn't exist…

Oh well, he'd have to figure something out. There should be something similar lying around, Roswaal had bought ingredients from basically all over the world. And enough of them to feed an entire village for a full season.

He was distracted by a chopping sound coming from his left. Turning his head, he saw Spica wearing a pink apron and cutting some vegetables.

"My brother is too busy playing with Uncle Garfiel and Rina to come and help," she said.

"I was supposed to make breakfast myself..." Subaru sighed and then smiled, turning on the stove with fire stones. Picking up a pot full of water and waiting for it to boil, he continued, "It's nice to know that you're getting along with Chocorina."

"Why wouldn't I?" She dropped the knife on the table before tightly clenching her hands together in front of her chest. "Rina is soooo cute! I love how her cheeks are so squishy, when he pouts I just want to pat her head and-"

She was interrupted by Subaru patting her head. With a slight blush, she looked down and let herself be patted.

"I was worried that you wouldn't get along with her because…" Subaru paused for a second, looking for the best words to say. This was complicated. "Because she isn't your real sister."

Spica swiped her father's hands away and looked at him with an expression he couldn't decipher. Was it a smile? A scowl? Was she going to try to comfort him? Say how pathetic he was for daring to love two people he wasn't worthy of?

"Dad." Spica looked up to him. "I like Chocorina. I consider her my sister. You love both mom and Emilia, right?" Subaru could only give a faint nod as an answer. "Then everything is fine."

"The dad I know loves mom and only mom. The dad Rina knows loves Emilia and only Emilia. The dad we both know loves both, so there's no problem."

It wasn't like that. Subaru knew himself perfectly. Him not loving Rem… That's something he couldn't believe would happen. And for Rigel and Spica… Emilia was dead. No matter how much time passed, him not feeling anything was a thought he couldn't wrap his head around.

Maybe not love. But regret? For sure. How many resets did it take for that Subaru to accept she was gone? How stacked were the odds against him? Both Subaru's, the one that married Emilia and the one that married Rem, must have loved both.

They were his number 1 and number 2. Nothing would change that. Nothing could change that.

Even if Spica was wrong, her words still helped. Everything was good simply because he loved both. An answer so… simple. Obvious. Childish. Yet it hadn't crossed his mind.

"Thanks, Spica," he said, his lips curving into a slight smile. "Now, let's finish making breakfast, okay?"

Having finished making breakfast, Subaru headed towards the dining room, behind a sizable trolley loaded with various trays. When he opened the door, he found most of the mansion's occupants absent.

Garfiel alone was already in his seat, giving his Captain a quick nod while leaning back in his chair. Soon after, Otto and Roswaal entered, with Frederica following behind. The lord of the mansion kept his usual grin, while Otto had even worse eyebags than before and Frederica let out a long yawn along the way to her seat. It was strange to see the maid so tired, considering how early she usually gets up.

The two other maids, along with Rigel carrying Chocorina on his back, entered a minute after them. To Subaru's surprise, Rigel sat next to his aunt instead of his mother. On a similar note, Chocorina decided to use Otto's lap as a seat, before Frederica promptly pulled her away. While Subaru took notice of the curious seating arrangement, Spica made her way into the room and sat next to her brother.

And finally, Rem and Emilia waltzed in side by side, holding the same determined expression. What had they been talking about, surely this couldn't be a coincidence? Once the pair was in front of him, something clicked inside Subaru's head.

Ram had moved away from Roswaal, only Frederica remaining at his side. Rigel and Spica were eating with her aunt, and Chocorina was sitting in between Garfiel and Otto. It just so happened that there were two free seats, each at his side.

Wait, two? Shouldn't it be three? Where was his cute little Beako?

"Ah, uhm, Emilia-tan?" Subaru asked the beauty at his left, "Where's Beako?"

"Beatrice-sama? She said she had an urgent matter to take care of…" answered Rem, earning a glare from Emilia. She closed her eyes and smiled in retaliation. Just what had they been talking about?

Thanks to this incident, their relationship had become even more tense than usual. There was no way harem anime was right about women fighting each other for affection, right!?

Thankfully, there didn't seem to be any more incidents. All that happened was Rem and Emilia glaring at each other, leaving Subaru even more confused.

A few minutes later, Ram broke the silence the residents found themselves submerged in.

"As expected of Barusu, this soup is as bland as your face," she spat out, letting go of the spoon and moving the bowl to the side.

With Rigel in between Ram and Spica, the oni couldn't see Spica's face falling off and reddening.

"Ah, Ram, the truth is… I was the one to prepare the rice. Spi-"

"As expected of my adorable niece, not even Rem's food is a match for this." After interrupting Subaru, Ram picked the spoon back up and quickly devoured all of her soup. After gulping it all down, she flashed a smile to Spica.

"It was delicious, Spica. Meanwhile, Barusu's rice…" Her previous kindly smile transformed into a deep belittling frown.

Subaru slammed his fist on the table, standing up with a scowl. "Don't act like that! You thought I was too useless to even cook breakfast, right!? Yet you ate everything I made!"

"I have no idea what you're talking about, Barusu."

"And aren't you pampering Spica too much!?"

"I have no idea what you're talking about, Barusu," she deadpanned. "I am merely giving the daughter of my adorable sister the treatment she deserves."

Subaru sat back on his chair while muttering some words, earning a giggle from Rem and Emilia. The rest of the mansion residents were unfazed by the event, it was a common occurrence by now.

"No~w." Putting aside his utensils and wiping his mouth with a handkerchief, Roswaal grabbed everyone's attention. "Has everything been prepa~red for Crusch-sama's arrival?"

Frederica straightened up, speaking in a serious tone. "Yes, Roswaal-sama. I double checked everything and there doesn't seem to be any mistakes."

Roswaal gave a nod of approval before continuing, "Ve~ry well. Now, it's time to wa~it for them. They should be arriving soon. Ram."

"Yes, Roswaal-sama." There was no need for a command. Ram closed her eyes for a few seconds before opening them again.

"The children in Arlam saw a carriage pass by. They should arrive in a few minutes."

"Ve~ry well. Let's wait at the main entrance then."

Standing up, Subaru's right hand was taken by Emilia. She held it right above her chest, forcing Subaru to look at her.

"Are you ok-ey, Subaru? Your hand was trembling." Not even the cute use of a Subaruism could calm him down.

"I…" He was about to meet the son he had with Crusch. Just… how could that be? How could that other Subaru had fallen in love with her?

He had admitted Crusch could have become the third spot on his heart. But, to think it did happen… Had he failed to save Emilia from Petelgeuse? In that alley, was he saved by the gallant duchess instead of Emilia? Was he kicked out of her camp?

How… How could he have left Emilia's side? How much of a failure had he been? Thinking about it… It terrified him.

"I'm fine, Emilia-tan." He forced a smile on his face and shook her hand away.

Emilia watched as he walked past, an obvious look of concern on her face. She took a deep breath, and her expression turned into serious determination.

A luxurious carriage could be seen trekking down a thick forest. Painted with a crimson color and decorated with golden ornaments, it moved at a fast pace despite the rough terrain. Carried by a pair of earth dragons with green and brown scales and bulging muscles, the carriage didn't budge an inch off course despite the uneven rocky path.

Soon, the forest cleared and the road changed from uneven dirt to somewhat level cobblestone. A few houses could be seen at the sides, with more at the horizon. The driver, an old man with battle-hardened features, heard a knock coming from the inside, signaling him to come to a halt. He followed the order coming from the duchess or prince inside, stopping halfway through a square. Many of the villagers around stopped whatever they were doing and stared with puzzled faces.

The driver, who many recognized from Sloth's hunt, stepped down from his seat and opened the door, from which came a green-haired prince, followed by the Karsten Duchess. He stopped to gaze at his surroundings, inspecting every building and saving every face in his memory.

"Why did we stop here-nya?" An androgynous voice rang out, belonging to yet another familiar face for the villagers.

Seeing both the greatest healer in the kingdom as well as the Sword Demon, they figured out the two other people had to be from the Karsten house, surely here due to some business with their partners in the Royal Selection.

They returned to their jobs, except for a bunch of kids who approached the prince with sparkling eyes, hiding mischievous smiles behind their innocent and impressed faces.

"Wilhelm, Ferris, you two should go on. Leo and I will spend some time here, then continue to the mansion," Crusch said, and then turned to face her son. "Is this what you want?"

Leo nodded and, posing cutely, Felix spoke. "As you say Crusch-sama! I'll make sure Subaru-kyun is ready to receive you!" He hopped back inside the carriage, the duchess blissfully unaware of what he truly meant.

His tone, however, didn't go unnoticed by Leo. With a simple glance at Wilhelm's eyes he communicated his message: "Don't let Ferris get too excited." Wilhelm nodded in response, and climbed back onto the rider seat, spoiling the two earth dragons to move forward.

"Who are you mister?" "Are you a knight?" "Can you show us your sword!?"

A barrage of questions was launched his way by the group of kids circling around them. One of them tried to snatch his sword but he swatted his hand away, other attempted to put some dirt in his pockets.

He coughed and glared at the children from above. They stopped playing with him, waiting in front of him in a straight line, fidgeting with their heads down as if they had been caught playing a prank on their parents.

Leo bent his knees until he met the children at their level, patting the heads of two of them. However, before he could speak, the kids squirmed out of his grasp with scowls on their faces.

"Hey, only Subaru can do that to us!" the skinny one said.

"Yeah!" the chubby one agreed.

At this, the prince smiled, before it quickly faded into a frown. He stood tall and regarded the group, none older than twelve or thirteen. In his world, they forever remained this age, never growing into adulthood, never living past the crisis the witch cult brought.

Leo clenched his fist, thinking, "I understand now, father. You treated these children like family, gave them care and attention without being asked or told or expected to, all because you wanted to…

"And I understand why it hurt you so much to lose them, without even accounting for those in the mansion itself you lost…"

"I can see why," Leo replied to the confused children, "he is truly someone to respect."

And just as the crowd of kids were going to recount the dozens of embarrassing stories they had of the black haired boy, a stronger voice replied to the prince.

"Correct, in fact. Betty's Subaru is Betty's, so naturally he's deserving of praise."

It was another child, who had quickly pushed through the line, and was staring up at Leo with her butterfly-shaped pupils. Before anyone could say a word, the blonde haired girl stole a glance at Crusch and gave a quick nod with a proud smile, then grabbed Leo's hand and dragged him away.

Surprised by the strength the little girl had, he stumbled for a few steps. "You're here to see him, I suppose," she spoke, noting Leo's light resistance. "Betty has no time to waste with petty children, so come with me."

Seeing that this girl was no normal child, the prince decided to go along with her. As they ignored the cries of the children left behind and trekked towards the mansion, Crusch followed after the pair. Both mother and child held a sense of trepidation in their hearts, but all Beatrice had was yet another reason to put on a smug smile.

After five minutes of walking, Beatrice, Leo, and Crusch arrived at Roswaal's manor. Two maids were waiting at the door, one blonde and the other with pink hair. Both bowed in unison once the trio got close.

"Welcome, Crusch-sama, Beatrice-sama, Leo-sama," they spoke. Crusch and Leo stared in confusion at each other, how did they know his name? She hadn't mentioned it in the letter. And no one could possibly deduce his identity.

"Please, follow us. Emilia-sama and Subaru-sama are waiting," the blonde maid said. Beatrice strolled inside, a big grin on her face. Still bewildered as to how they knew who he was, Leo sighed and followed Frederica, with Crusch and Ram behind him.

After turning a corner, Beatrice vanished from sight, leaving the awkward group by themselves. Leo could feel Ram's stare boring into the back of his skull. Somehow, he could sense a weird mix of pride and disgust in her gaze.

With nothing better to do, and feeling too nervous to speak to his mother, he inspected the walls of the mansion: shining in pristine white, just like the floor, with potted plants and vases next to every door. Just how he expected from one of the most influential families in Lugunica… At least before they all died out.

A demihuman in the corner of his vision grabbed his attention. Through a window, he saw a demihuman stepping into a garden, followed by a familiar butler. Of course. Wilhelm and Felix had arrived before them, so it wasn't all too weird that they knew his name.

Arriving at a pair of ornate wooden doors, Leo took a deep breath. How would he explain this? Just walk in, say that he was Subaru's son despite being as old as him, and hope everything went right?

The entire kingdom knew how devoted Subaru was to Emilia. He wouldn't accept the fact that he fell in love with someone else. Much less Emilia herself. Curling his hands into fists, he stopped himself from shaking. Trying to explain the situation to his mother was nothing compared to this.

The first thing he noticed when entering the room were two couches, one in front of the other. Subaru was sitting in the middle of one, keeping his head low and hands on his knees, flanked by a silver-haired elf and a blue-haired maid, who raised their heads and looked at them once they entered.

The elf had to be Emilia, but who—

"Yo," a voice rang out. Turning his head, Rigel—sitting in front of Subaru—took a good look at the two visitors. After a quick glance at Crusch, he focused on Leo. "Been awhile since we met."

Another tuft of silver hair peeked through the backrest, eyeing Crusch. "Are you my third mommy?" she asked.

Before either of them could react, Subaru rose his head and spoke, his voice cracking a bit. He was even more nervous than Leo. "You can sit down, Crusch, Leo. It's complicated, but…" He quickly glanced at the two figures sitting in front of him. "You know Rigel, right? You don't have to explain who you are."

Mother and daughter looked at each other in confusion. Neither could speak a word. Why was Rigel here? Why were there two Emilias? How did they know who he really was!? Wilhelm and Felix would keep it a secret. They'd never reveal it before Leo himself could.

As they approached the group, Emilia patted the seat to her right, indicating Crusch to sit down there. Meanwhile, a dark-haired girl and Beatrice made some space for Leo on the other couch. Seeing as there were too many people sitting there, Beatrice stood up and sat on Subaru's lap instead.

"Emilia-sama," Crusch said, earning the attention of everyone in the room. "I sent a letter wishing to discuss our alliance, but the truth is-"

"We already know that Leo is Subaru's child," Emilia said, cutting off Crusch and looking at Leo straight in the eyes. His mouth went gape and his mind, blank. He wanted to say that was absurd, but the way she was gazing at him and the tone of her voice convinced him that it was true. Was this how Crusch felt when he introduced himself to her?

The only thing more ridiculous than someone saying they were someone's child from the future was someone else knowing about it.

"I know that this sounds impossible, but it isn't the first time this has happened. The truth is," Subaru eyed Rigel before turning back to Leo. "Rigel is also my son."

"WHAT!?" Leo exclaimed, looking at Rigel, then back at Subaru, repeating the process a few times. He could see some of the similarities between father and son now. He hadn't paid that much attention to her, but the dark-haired girl sitting next to Rigel was wearing similar clothes to him. Were they brothers?

"Let me explain everything," Subaru said. "A week ago, I was buying some supplies in the village when I met Chocorina. I brought her here, and she turned out to be my daughter. My daughter with my beloved Emilia-tan, coming from the-" Subaru started getting excited, raising the tone of his voice, when he suddenly stopped in his tracks. He muttered a quick apology and continued.

"Then, the next day, Rigel and Spica came here, and they were Rem's children. And finally, when we received a letter from Crusch, Rigel told us that he had met Leo. And this leads us to this moment."

"I see," Crusch said. "It certainly is a hard prospect to believe."

"I'm sorry that you ended up dragged onto this," Subaru said, deviating his gaze from her. Seeing as the air in the room became awkward, Rem raised her voice.

"We've made preparations for your stay, Crusch-sama. Rigel, Spica, why don't you show Leo around?"

Rigel and Rem met their eyes for a split second before he nodded. He stood up and grabbed Chocorina by her shoulders, then nodded at Leo.

"I wanted to talk to my third mommy…" Chocorina pleaded, earning a pat from Spica. Once they left the room, Rigel let go of Chocorina, who had her hand grabbed by Spica and dragged away.

Seeing his two adorable sisters turning a corner, Rigel stretched his arms high and turned towards Leo.

"Man, thank Od Laguna that we left that room. The air was so tense I could slice it with a knife." He patted Leo's back and continued. "I'll introduce you to everyone."

Leo looked back at the door, thinking about what his mother could be discussing. "Sure…" he muttered, a tone of indecisiveness in his voice.

"Mind if I ask a few questions?" Rigel said in a serious tone. Leo nodded, and the half-oni shot the first one.

"Do you think that something feels… weird? How everyone just accepted what happened?" Rigel continued speaking, not giving Leo a chance to answer. "I know there's no option but to shrug this off and accept it… But, dunno, it doesn't sit right with me. It doesn't feel real."

"At first I was scared that Mother wouldn't believe me, but-"

"Yeah, same! But everyone trusted you without thinking twice about it, right!? And those weird hands, never heard of anything like that. Who brought us here?"

"I'm afraid I have no clues."

"I thought so…" Rigel answered, dropping his head and sighing. "Oh, one more thing. Whatever happened in your life, how dad ended up with your mom, and all of that, don't mention a word to him. This whole mess is being hard on him, no need to worry him more. Not sure how he's even taking your whole existence."

Having finished speaking, Rigel hopped and put his right arm over Leo's left shoulder, closing the distance between the two.

"But enough chit-chat, let's go meet your aunt!" A puzzled look crossed his face. "Hey, do you think the sister of the mom of a half-brother from another timeline counts as an aunt?"

As you can see, this chapter isn't finished. The very last part is unpolished as fuck, and that's because fuck this fic. Been trying to write this single chapter for months and it's just never good enough, the characters don't sound real, the body language is scarce and I can't for the love of me be happy with what I wrote.

I love this fic, I really do. I was excited when I first began, and I loved the first chapters and how the characters came to life. But writing it has been a fucking chore. I had more plans, more interactions between everyone, but it soon became a hassle to manage everything. I kept cutting ideas until eventually I arrived at whatever mess this chapter is. And I quit here. This mess is destroying my love for writing.

Because you probably want to know the rest of the fic, I will tell you. If some poor soul wants to write the ending, feel free to do it. Dm it to me (my discord tag is Syra#1737, though dm's also work. A google docs link if possible) and I will edit it a bit, give you credit and post it. I don't enjoy people making spinoffs or spiritual successors off this, so please don't do it.

As for the rest of the plot, here you go, straight from my notes. Thanks for reading and for all the love.

Helena meets Nikolai and Maia in Arlam, instantly deduces who they are. She gets on Maia's nerves by making fun of Nikolai's inexistent sense of fashion. They go towards Anastasia's carriage, where she and Priscilla are bickering and not getting along like usual.

They storm into the mansion and take Subaru by surprise, because a certain clown conveniently forgot to mention the two other letters that arrived a day after Crusch's. True reason why everyone was so overworked, the mansion has like four times the people than usual.

A  very  tense lunch takes place. Subaru wishes to just disappear from the place. He can't take hold on his feelings towards Crusch, he did admit she could be third place in his heart. But a timeline where he ended with Anastasia and Priscilla? He barely knew one of them and hated the other!

After eating, Rigel has the same talk he had with Leo with Ana and Pris kids. Man just worries about his father. The "no one needs to know they died" line really impacted him.

The meeting continues, except this time Anastasia and Priscilla have joined. Some pointless talk and a bunch of insults after, Subaru feels something tingling his spine. A black shadow overtakes the room.

Satella's plan backfired (who could have predicted this? The jealous girl got jealous!). Seeing how happy everyone seemed, Envy took over and decided to pay everyone a visit and remind the whores who Subaru belonged to.

Fight breaks out, but like it's Satella, they ain't doing jackshit. In the end, Subaru is forced to stab his throat with an ice shard that broke off one of Emilia's ice spears.

Open ending. Interpret what happens next as you will. Subaru was cut off by Tella-chan, but he was about to reject everyone but Emilia and Rem.