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Chapter Text

Everyone knew Subaru and Emilia were close. Like really close, which only made sense given the context of their relationship. He was her knight and confidant and she was his liege and the one who loved him above anyone else. Although a certain twin drilled little girl would beg to differ. But that was neither her nor there. The point is that the two of them have been through thick and thin together. Surviving harrowing incidents such as the machinations of the Witch Cult and the insatiable hunger of one of the Great Demon Beasts of Gluttony. Thus it would only make sense that there would be rumors of just how far their relationship had come since then. With many suspecting an intimate affair of sorts. But nothing has ever been substantiated, which only fueled further speculation about the alleged couple and what they've been up to. So it came as no coincidence when Anastasia Hoshin called for a meeting with both the Emilia and Crush Camp to discuss a potential trade agreement and to renew their alliance. But in truth it was more of a social get together between friends and a subtle way for the savvy businesswoman to scoop out the competition without being blatantly obvious.

Predictably Subaru wanted to accompany Emilia to Lugunica's Capital where the gathering was set to take place and the half elf was more than happy to bring him, along with their Minister of Internal Affairs, Otto Suwen who would be leading the negotiations for their camp and the Oni Maid Ram who'd only agreed to come in order to represent the interests of her master Roswaal L. Mathers and to make sure the others didn't get up to any shenanigans. Coincidentally the group met up with Crusch's Camp outside the city's gate and decided to make their way to the restaurant Anastasia had rented out for the occasion together, with the Duchess's own knight Felix Argyle and Wilhelm Astra joining them.

And almost immediately Emilia's fierce protectiveness over Subaru had begun to become apparent and she was not shy about showing it.

"Stay close to me alright Subaru. Lugunica is a really big and scary place and I don't want you wandering off and getting lost while we're here okay." Emilia said as she beckoned the boy to take her hand.

Those from Crusch's side tried not to laugh and snicker at the awkward situation Subaru found himself in while Otto and Ram didn't appear to be too bothered with this arrangement, almost as if it were commonplace now.

"Yeah, whatever, you say mom." Subaru grumbled and moped, but did as he was instructed with little to no complaint and intertwined his right limb with the half-elf's left, grasping it firmly.

Most assumed that he didn't want to make a bigger fuss over it and draw his crush's anger.

Not that would stop them from teasing him mercilessly.

"Nya, Subaru! You didn't tell me you and Emilia-sama had that sort of relationship." Felix joked, watching the man hold onto the half-elf in an almost maternal fashion. "Nyot man enough to walk around without having your Lady holding you by the leash."

He chuckled, getting a light pinch from Crush who despite trying to be stern and reprimand her knight couldn't help but crack a smile herself.

"Shut up." Subaru muttered, with a slight blush on his cheeks. "And what does it matter, lots of people do this don't they. It ain't that big a deal."

"Well spoken Subaru-dono." Wilhelm smiled faintly, recalling the tender moments when he and his own wife would go on a lovely stroll in the city together hand and hand.

But Ferris wasn't content on letting such an embarrassing moment slide so easily and continued pestering the boy, trying to milk this situation for all that it was worth.

"Nya, but most people don't let their lady friend treat them like an immature brat." He said gleefully,

"Well if Subaru didn't act out so much I wouldn't have to do this." Emilia grumbled, leading the boy through an oncoming crowd of people.

Subaru gave an offended look. "Hey! I don't misbehave that much!" He argued, at which point Otto and Ram had to step in and call him out for his blatant lies.

"Yeah, you sort of do." the merchant and maid said simultaneously.

Subaru blanched, "Ack! My poor aching heart!" Subaru clenched his chest dramatically. "I expected this betrayal to come from Ram but et tu Otto?"

The merchant rolled his eyes. "I'm sorry Natsuki-san but you have to admit you can be kind of reckless."

"And a trouble maker on top of it." Ram jumped in to finish him off.

Subaru growled, unwilling to take these accusations to his character lying down.

"Name one time I dug myself into a hole I couldn't pull myself out of?"

"The Royal Selection." they both repeated again in sync.

God dammit! Subaru winced.

Ferris looked like the cat that literally caught the canary as Crush and Wilhelm were both throwing him pitying looks now.

"You completely embarrassed our camp with your childish outburst, Barasu. Do us all a favor and die quickly." Ram said with no real heat to her voice.

"I may not have been there myself, but a few of my colleagues were and let's just say that your conduct was unbecoming of a knight." Otto grimaced, frankly he was amazed that Subaru got off as lightly as he did after he all but insulted the entire government and made a complete ass out of himself in the process.

Subaru blanched at the double whammy from his friends and ducked his head down in shame as Felix reveled in his fellow knights misery.

"You got that right, Nya!" Felix sing-songed.

"Ferris - " Crush sighed. But Blue would not be deterred. He'd been waiting a long time to tease Subaru about the events of that day and low and behold, here was the perfect opportunity to do that and remind Subaru of just how much he screwed up! Could you ask for anything better!

"If Juli hadn't stepped in, your butt have been toast Subaru-kyun!" Felix mocked and he wasn't lying. There were many knights who wanted to teach the boy the meaning of respect that day and it was only thanks to the vicious beating Julius unleashed that Subaru was sparred from any further reprisal.

Subaru flinched, the memory of being tossed around like a rag doll and being beaten within an inch of his life with a wooden stick made him shutter.

"As if I needed that jerk's help." Subaru raised his fist and shook it in the air defiantly, "I had the situation handled. In fact I could have taken on any of those bozos with one hand tied behind my back." Subaru boasted.

Ram and Otto both deadpanned. Crush scratched the side of her cheek while staring up at a particularly fascinating cloud the shape of a large whale and Whilhelm coughed into his closed fist trying to stave off the awkward tension that had filtered in. No one had the heart to tell the boy the truth.

"Come nya Subaru, Enough is enough." Felix rolled his eyes at the boy's immaturity to admit fault. "We all know you messed up, so fess up and we can move past this."

Of course the healer was lying through his teeth. What? Good blackmail material was hard to come by and he intended to hold this over Subaru's head in the years to come!

Subaru opened his mouth, possibly to retort or possibly to get into another shouting match. He wouldn't get a chance to do either as a rough tug on his earlobe replaced any argument that he might have had with a sharp 'hissss' and an 'owowow!'

"Subaru, what did I tell you about picking fights?" Emilia said, less than impressed with the flailing boy in her grip.

"B-But mom! Felix started it!" Subaru said, with tears budding in the corner of his eyes.

"And I'm ending it. So hush up and don't say another word until we get to the restaurant young man." Emilia said with finality, garnering another round of laughter and heckling at the youths expense.

But unlike before Crusch wasn't laughing and instead she stared transfixed at the couple in front of her. The emerald haired woman wasn't entirely sure what she was searching for, but something about the way Subaru and Emilia were acting struck her as weird.

"As for you Felix," Amethyst's eyes then turned their ire onto Blue who shrunk under the weight of her gaze. "I expected better from you. Bullying a child. Have you no shame!"

"H-Huh!" Felix gaped and sputtered, completely taken back by the woman's outrage. "What do you mean Emilia-sama?! I Nyow, Subaru isn't the sharpest tool in the tool shed."

"Oi!"

"But he isn't that much younger than us, right?" At the wave of silence coming from both Emilia and her camp members, Crusch felt an uncomfortable weight begin to creep into her gut.

"What are you talking about?" Emilia said slowly, as if she were speaking to a dimwit "Subaru is only fifteen years old!"

The Crush camp collectively drew in a deep breath and released it all in one go."

"What!" They blurted out.

"Huh? You're telling me you all didn't know." Ram rolled her eyes at the group's lack of attentiveness. It was obvious when you really thought about it. "Of course Barasu's a brat. Who else could make such a public spectacle of themselves and not feel a lick of shame over it."

"Hm, too true." Otto nodded sagely alongside his companion while holding the edge of his chin as though he were some deep philosopher thinker. "Natsuki-san is legendary for his tantrums and we've been trying to get him to tone it down…with mixed results as you might've guessed."

"Come on you guys! Subaru said miserably, "You're killing my reputation here!"

"Too late for that!" Ram and Otto responded in unison.

Subaru protested and threw a fit but made no refutation about being labeled a 'child' which could only mean…oh dear.

Felix shook his head in fervent denial at the assertion that all this time Natsuki Subaru had been a - no! They were lying or it was a bad joke! Please tell him that they were making all of this up! Because if it was true that would mean…

"Subaru-dono…" Wilhelm started, then trailed off, unsure as to what to even say.

"What is Wilhelm-san?" Subaru said, tilting his head. From this angle his childlike qualities stood out like a sore thumb.

Discounting his height, the small traces of baby fat on his cheeks, the shape of his jawline and the way his clothes barely clung to his still growing body should have made it exceedingly clear now that Subaru was far from being an adult. Not by a long shot.

Then there was his behavior which many attributed to him being spoiled. Yet if one were to take a step back and really examine it, the most likely answer was that Subaru was a loudmouth kid just trying to seek validation from his peers.

"Od, it's true." Crusch trembled and nearly collapsed from the shock of such a startling revelation and the knowledge that she had unknowingly taken a child with her to hunt down and slay one of the three Great Mabeasts!

Wihelm wasn't too far behind his liege in that line of thought, remembering the image of Subaru being flung several meters into the air and the White Whale bearing down on him intending to swallow him whole. What was once a selfless act of bravery had quickly soured and become a horrifying memory as the Sword Demon realized that he had inadvertently used someone who wasn't old enough to drink much less join an expedition to destroy one of the greatest horrors that plagued their world as bait to avenge his dead wife. The old knight felt like was going to be sick.

"Subaru!" Felix growled, his arms stretched out to - Throttle? Hug? Slap some sense in the minor in front of him? He didn't know - uggghhh!

"Y-Your a kid." Felix said shakily, trying and failing to keep his breathing under control "A child, who we took on a dangerous mission. Od, what were we thinking? You must have been what? Fourteen?!"

"Actually thirteen." Subaru grinned, which made Felix go completely pale.

"Nya! That's even worse!" The healer barked, gripping his head to stave off the pounding in his skull. "We let you fight the White Whale, we let you take on the Witch Cult and a fucking Sin Archbishop! A-And- and…oh fuck, Julius beat up a kid."

It would have been hilarious if the truth wasn't so downright disturbing.

"I don't see what the problem is." Subaru pouted. "Mimi is young and so are her brothers. They got in on the action so I should too!" He defended himself poorly, further highlighting his childish tendencies.

"That's not the point!" Felix moaned, he felt as if he were on the verge of a full blown panic attack. "Mimi is trained and the Captain of a Mercenary Group! Meanwhile you were -"

'- a random boy who talked his way into negotiating and allying with the political camps of Crusch Karsten and Anastasia Hoshin. They literally got played by a teenager.

If word of this got out to anyone all their reputations would be down the drain.

"Thanks for reminding me Felix." Emilia said with a growl in her voice, "I've been meaning to have a talk with both Crusch and Anastasia about their conduct on that day along with Julius's actions toward Subaru during the Royal Selection."

"Emilia-sama, I - " Crusch wanted to defend herself but what could she really say? The Duchess had unknowingly led a child into the jaws of death. That was inexcusable.

"You should have consulted me first." Emilia said sternly, "Subaru is my responsibility and as his legal guardian I should have had the final say on any decision involving him.

Wait, hold up! Was the half-elf saying what they thought she was?! Emilia was Subaru's…

"Emilia-sama are you suggesting that Subaru is your - " Wilhelm began shakily, not wanting to imply anything uncouth, but what the woman was saying was utter lunacy!

"I'm not suggesting anything, Wilhelm-san." Emilia said in a no nonsense tone, a hand was placed on her hip as the other squeezed Subaru's protectively. "Subaru is my son. I adopted him a month after meeting him, though officially the paperwork only went through a year ago. But he is mine in every sense of the word." she said, lovingly.

Crusch jaw dropped to the floor. The Winds of Untruth hadn't blown. She was telling the truth. The earlier interactions hadn't been harmless fun after all, but displays of affection between a mother and her child. What the fuck?!

Wilhelm was speechless as was Felix who could only point and stutter out,

"But I thought Subaru loved Emilia, nya!"

"He does." Ram was the one to answer. "As any good son would love his mother. He's obsessed with her." The maid shrugged nonchalantly, knowing just how big a mama's boy Subaru was.

"In hindsight the whole fiasco at the Royal Selection was perhaps due to the insults that were being hurled at Emilia-sama and as you all know Natsuki-san can be quite over protective." Otto chuckled.

"This is unbelievable." Felix said, his face planted in his palms.

"Why are you all getting so worked up?" Subaru said, glancing at his friends and Emilia who were also bewildered by the Crusch and her camp's reaction. "I have a mom. What's the big deal?"

"The big deal?!" Felix laughed incredulously.

'Was he serious right now?'

Crush laid a gentle hand on her knight's shoulder in an attempt to keep him relaxed despite failing at it herself. "Subaru, you have to understand. We were all under the impression you were in love with Emilia!"

"B-But I am!" Subaru defended himself.

"Romantically!"

"E-Eh!"

Subaru made a choking sound at the back of his throat as if he might throw up.

"Ill, gross! Are you insane! That's absolutely disgusting. Me and Emilia aren't like that at all! Why would you think that!" He said in pure revulsion.

Wilhelm wisely decided to keep his mouth shut but he couldn't help but mourn the destruction of the romance between Emilia and Subaru that he was now learning was fictitious all along!

"Perhaps it would be best if we continue this discussion over lunch." Ram drawled, pointing out the numerous eyes that were staring at their group as they stopped in the middle of the street.

This was shaping up to be a stressful day indeed.

And it was about to get so much worse.

...

"I'm sorry! I'm so sorry! Subaru! Emilia-sama! Please forgive me for my ignorance! I should have known better!"

Julius slammed his head on the table repeatedly, rattling numerous dishes and causing one of the servers to 'yelp' and nearly drop the stack of trays they were carrying.

The 'Greatest Knight' had practically been unconsolable since he learned of Subaru's actual age and has been kowtowing to him and Emilia at every opportunity since then.

"Hey, cut that out already you idiot!" Subaru exclaimed hotly, trying not to let the idea of Julius bowing to him of all people freak him out so much. "I said it's fine and it's not like it changes anything! So stand up you moron before you get us all kicked out!"

"But it's not Subaru-kun." Julius said morosely, causing Subaru to nearly lose it again at the change of honorifics the knight started to use to reflect his age. "I have brought shame to the white cloak. If I had known that you were only attempting to defend your mother on that day I would have helped you. Instead I punished you severely. Please accept my humblest apologies."

"It's alright Julius," Emilia smiled gently as she helped Subaru cut the steak that he had ordered into smaller pieces using her own knife and fork. "I'll admit I was a little angry before, but since I know that you and Subaru are really good now I'm willing to overlook it. Just try to play a little gentler with him next time, alright."

"Mooommm!" Subaru whined pathetically. "I don't need this bastard going easy on me!" the dark haired boy argued.

"Heh. I guess he is a brat after all." Ricardo chuckled at the expense of the purple haired knight next to him who was becoming more and more despondent from Subaru's childish outbursts. Honestly, was it really much of a surprise to anyone? "I've got to say Emilia-sama, I never took you for the mothering type. No offense."

Emilia nodded in understanding, "I thought the same thing but when I met Subaru and learned that he was all alone with no home or family to go back to, I couldn't abandon him." the half-elf said passionately, "And besides, I'm over a hundred years old and figured that now would be the best time to raise a family and so far everything seems to be going splendidly."

Subaru hummed in agreement. "Yeah, I never had anyone else until I met Emilia-tan. After my folks kicked me out when I was young, I was living on the streets and thought I was a goner until an angel swept in to save me." Subaru then smiled softly and fiddled with his fingers tentatively, "I'm truly grateful to her."

Emilia cooed.

"Oh, Subaru, you're such a good boy, mwah." Emilia leaned over to give the boy a small peck on his head. "And I love you too sweetie."

Most who were watching the scene found the act to be endearing, Ricardo being one of them, given that he had a surrogate daughter of his own who he met under similar circumstances and who was currently drowning her sorrows with a large swig of alcohol as they spoke.

"I-I can't believe I was tricked by some snot nosed brat." Anastasia slurred her words, with dozens of empty glasses stacked right next to her. "M-My reputation is ruined!"

"S-Speak for yourself!" Crusch said with flushed cheeks, downing another shot with her own knight having already passed out from his bounteous cup of gin.

They were still reeling from the fact that a kid had made a mockery of them both and it would be a while before either one of the women recovered from this humiliation.

"Um, I have a question." Hetaro raised his hand shyly. "If Subaru-chan is so young, why did you make him a knight?"

Subaru grumbled something about 'not being that young,' but a few head pats by Emilia helped to settle him down.

"Truthfully it's a ceremonial title. Subaru did so much for me back at the Sanctuary and helping Beatrice defeat the Great Rabbit it was the best thing I could think of to reward him with at the time." the woman then smiled slyly, "For now he's training to take on the role when he gets a little older."

"I'm going to be the greatest knight in all the land!" Subaru proclaimed, raising his fork in the air triumphantly.

Most groaned. Others like Ram and Otto gave him dry looks, with Emilia being the only one to clap along to the declaration.

Wilhelm for his part sighed in amusement. Despite Subaru being revealed to be an actual brat, he was still the same Subaru which only gave the old man that much more of an incentive to spoil his 'Grandson' to the fullest extent. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad after all!

"Oh! Oh! Mimi's got something to say!" The oldest and the most energetic of the Pealbaton triplets jumped in her seat. "Does that mean your title as The Lolimancer is just a misunderstanding?"

Err…what?!

"Maybe?" Subaru scratched his chin thoughtfully. "Still don't know where those rumors came from since the only people I regularly hang out with who are close to the same age as me are Petra and…maybe Beako if you stretch it?" the boy shook his head as if ridding himself of such a ridiculous notion. "But she's a granny so that doesn't really count I think?"

Mimi's eyes glimmered. "So it would be okay if Mimi asked you out on a date then?!"

"Mimi!"

"Sister!"

"What?" The girl smirked. "He's not that much younger than me so it should be fine." she giggled.

As voices started to be raised from his sister's antics, Tivey Pearlbaton was the only one to bring attention to the serious dilemma arising from the discovery that Subaru was in fact Emilia's son.

"I think you're all ignoring the key issue here." the boy said, drawing attention to himself. "If Subaru is indeed Emilia's eldest son, then if she wins the Royal Selection doesn't that make him her primary heir?!

Silence. You could have practically heard a pin drop.

"So, I get to be King! That's so coooool!" Subaru cheered.

Then chaos ensued.

Yeah, it was definitely going to be a long day.

Chapter Text

Subaru glared at Julius with a menacing look as if trying to sear a hole into the knight's head or make him spontaneously combust, neither of which was going particularly well for him.

Julius mused as he tried to wipe the smirk from his face before the boy could notice.

"You know it's impolite to stare at someone Subaru-kun." Julius chided, with an element of teasing engraved in his tone, that he knew for a fact would drive his friend nuts and get the rise out of him he so desperately craved.

"S-Shut up, bastard." Subaru snapped, falling for the bait as he swiped at the knight's hand again for what to have been his umpteenth time today in an effort to dislodge himself from the prick who'd some how gotten a hold of him and who refused to let go off no matter how many times Subaru clawed at his hands since they'd stepped out of the inn Anastasia had invited them to and merged with the bustling crowd mingling on streets of Priestella - earning themselves a few reputable glances.

Subaru was glowering, out of his depth and completely embarrassed and going off his florid cheeks and glazed expression which resembled a man who had the life sucked out of him, it was evident that the youth wasn't having a good time.

In countenance to that Julius seemed to weather the storm of hushed whispers and suspicious glances the duo was incurring as if it were a light summer rain or gentle breeze brushing against his stupid perfect skin. He wasn't bothered by them at all, maybe because he didn't notice. For someone who held himself up to a high enough standard, the handsome man was pretty inept at gauging other people's feelings.

"Language!" Julius said reproachfully, ignoring Subaru's tantrum as you would a toddler who'd had his favorite toy confiscated, as he dragged the boy, his junior really, merrily along, deliberately ignoring the murderous stare being lasered towards him. "What would your mother think of you misbehaving?" Julius said with a bit of cheek.

Subaru grew redder, a puff of metaphoric steam streaking out of his ear as he turned away while muttering under his breath, probably an insult or two. Julius wasn't offended, having grown fond of Subaru's overarching comments and the banter tagged with it.

The friends (and he used that word loosely) were making most of their time in the Watergate City hampered by the duties they held to their respective lieges. Fortunately, a majority of what needed to be discussed and hammered out in their talks had taken less than a few days, which left ample opportunity for them to go out and explore the various sights Priestella had to offer.

Subaru was thrilled as any boy his age would be, he deserved it. Having been on his best behavior during the 'various 'boring' meetings the grown-ups were engaged in, he was itching to go out and explore and eat the gourmet style Kararagi meals the city was famous for.

There was only one minor setback. Emilia wouldn't be able to attend with him, at least not until much later as she was completing an important agreement that would allow her to regain her former contract Spirit.

Julius wasn't privy to all the details, however he was aware of the devastation Subaru felt and how painful it was for Emilia to tell him, since the only reason he was happy to take the trip in the first place was because he wanted to show her (his mother) all the neat stuff which conveniently bore a striking resemblance to his 'former' village

The half-elf was aggrieved and promised to make it up to him before enveloping Subaru into a gentle hug that appeared to brighten and alleviate the dark clouds hanging over his head from hearing the disappointing news as he leaned into her touch. It was a lovely sight.

Julius said as much when he accidentally walked into the tender scene between parent and child. The act of which had put Subaru off, who howled 'something' to the effect of Julius being unable to read the room and threatened to beat the knight to a pulp without real heat.

Nothing out of the ordinary there.

The sparse interactions between the bickering boys was enough for Emilia to get an idea, a very good one! It was practically FOOLPROOF!

She asked Julius if he was free to take Subaru out in her place. Throwing both knights for a loop.

But the silver haired woman was sure this was the right call.

Emilia's unwavering love for Subaru had compelled her to ask, and she was adamant in her desire to make sure Subaru gained some much-needed reprieve for all his hard work and unflinching dedication to her.

Subaru squawked, outraged. He hated this plan.

Julius in contrast weighed his options. On one hand, Julius saw no issue with it; nothing important needed his immediate attention, and he was likely going to occupy his time with some light reading alone in his room.

Taking a relieving stroll in the afternoon sun, shopping and eating from the numerous restaurants with one of his favorite people was a marvelous way to eat up the hours in his day. He was sold.

But on the opposite end, Julius also knew that Subaru…

The man turned to see the boy glowering at him, flinty eyes narrowing further as if daring the man to make an enemy of him

Julius shook his head.

When confronted with the option of leaving a little boy to skulk aimlessly around without any parental supervision and brushing off a worried Mother's plea for her only son, there was only one real choice a man of his character could make…

"I can't believe I agreed to this," Subaru bemoaned, having at last given up and accepted Julius dragging him around like a poor mutt.

"Come on, it hasn't been that bad. You've been having fun, just admit it." Julius goaded, with a poorly disguised grin, because for all his bluster and complaints Subaru WAS making the most of his venture. Julius even allowed him to choose the locations and eateries where they could stop at. The process was slow and awkward in the beginning, but as they stopped to browse and take in the local culture designed to draw in tourists Subaru began to get into the swing of things as on occasion, he'd get all excited, a familiar gleam of recognition and nostalgia overtaking his senses when he saw a dessert stand or souvenir shop that drew his notice allowing him to truly shine as Subaru began blurting out information on certain foods or trinkets and their significance to his culture. It was huh - well it threw Julius for a loop truth be told.

Julius knew Subaru was a knowledgeable and BRILLIANT boy. There was no contesting this, as evident by his many deeds and the relationships of those who saw him as a beacon of light in the dreary darkness of their world. And this wasn't just Julius's opinion either, ask anyone, and they'd tell you the same.

Subaru was charming and remarkable and left a positive impression on anyone lucky enough to meet him.

"Well, I guess it could be worse" Subaru conceded, scratching at his scarlet cheeks while avoiding Julius's surprised stare that he actually said it out loud, "And you did put up with me and buy me everything I asked for today so…thanks I guess…"

Tboy said as if he had eaten a handful of sour grapes, gesturing to the large bags Julius had volunteered to hold and easily carried in his free hand; mainly small souvenirs and clothes - lots and lots of clothes.

Subaru seemed to have a thing for fashion as he tried on any garment that caught his eye and showed them off to Julius unabashedly.

Julius was taken back - but welcomed the change. It was refreshing to see Subaru be passionate in a hobby that didn't put his life at great risk.

Julius smiled widely, his heart soaring, "While your praise warms me greatly, I believe it's somewhat misdirected," At Subaru's owlish look Julius chuckled and clarified, "It was actually Lady Anastasia who provided the funds for our excursion. Lady Emilia insisted that wasn't necessary, but -" the knight gave a half shoulder shrug, "I believe she still feels guilty for what occurred with the White Whale...

Julius explained, expecting Subaru's reaction which was to groan and say -

"I told her it's fine! She didn't need to - there's nothing to be sorry for!" Subaru protested, dragging a hand across his bereaved face, eyes narrowing, "And that goes double for Crusch and Grandpa Will. I know they feel bad and THINK they pressured me into that fight, but I -" Subaru grounded his molars and shook his head, stomping his foot in heated frustration. "I had my own reasons for joining - so it's fine!"

Subaru shouted, swerved forward and broke Julius' grip that had gone lax after hearing the boy's statement as he walked off.

Julius let him go. Lips curling and jaw clenched tightly. He couldn't say he agreed with Subaru's assessment as, familiar sense guilt festered in the pit of Julius's stomach - a discomfort he'd long accepted as a form of penance for staining his honor as a knight and harming a child whose only real crime was defending the reputation of a woman who turned out to be his own mother. Disgusting.

Julius vowed one day to make up for his transgression no matter how long it took.

Easier said than done, however, when the one you claimed to have offended didn't believe you did anything wrong and saw the whole incident as old news and water under the bridge and wanted nothing more than to put the whole thing behind him.

Julius sighed breathlessly. Why did Natsuki Subaru have to be so forgiving? Couldn't he at least beat him with a practice sword - once or twice to at least pay him back for his terrible mistake?

"Yo! Julius! What are you doing back their slowpoke! Hurry it up!"

Subarui called out to him from a distance. The knight blinked, ripping himself from his head-space to see the impatient scowl of Subaru standing there, with his arms folded and an impatient tapping sound coming from his lower right foot, signaling his growing displeasure.

"My apologies. I was lost in my own thoughts" Julius said smoothly, trying to cover up his social faux with a charming smile, something that always worked to rile Subaru up even more and get him to diverge from his original talking point and as always it worked like a charm.

"Well take your head out your ass and get a move on!" The boy said, unwilling to hear his pitiful excuses. "There's a few more shops I want to hit up while we're out and I don't want to miss out on them because you decided to drag your feet!" Subaru snarked, nudging his head towards the direction of various stalls a little ways from them that were known for their delicious array of confectioneries.

Julius brow rose to his hairline, an unspoken question hanging loosely in the air.

"I-It's not for me moron!" Subaru stuttered, his expression morphing into a mask of ripe embarrassment, "I-I promised Emilia and Beako I'd get them something sweet, while we were out! That's all!" The boy stuttered, his patient scowl returning in force, as if urging Julius to give him crap about it. The knight rolled his eyes. 'He had more restraint than that, rest assured.'

Although the expression Subaru was wearing right now was kind of lovely in its own way-like a restless puppy trying to nip the bud of your finger. Julius gave a lopsided grin at the thought.

Subaru didn't appreciate that.

"What's with that creepy look," Subaru asked, throwing him a wary glance, Julius' smile grew to a crescendo.

"I was just thinking how much your appearance has changed," the man said casually, his hand sliding on top of Subaru's head who elicited a cute noise and jumped slightly at the sudden contact, "You grew your hair out too hmm?"

Julius mused, unmindful to the sputtering sounds pattering from Subaru's mouth.

The teenager had long decided to discard his old looks - his raven hair, a distinct color in this world, had been allowed to grow out, cascading past his neck and shoulders and down his back - reaching his waist side and camouflaging one of his hazel eyes behind the sheen of dark locks. Even his outfit had undergone a significant change from the bizarre jacket that had once been his staple image and made Subaru stand out like a sore thumb. Nowadays the boy can be seen wearing a simple yet elegant Kargarian style yukata - black and lined with white floral patterns that was fastened by an orange obi that made it all come neatly together.

To be blunt he looked like a girl and a pretty one at that.

"W-Why are you bringing this up now, prick!" Subaru stuttered, swatting Julius's arm away and taking a full step back as he adjusted his hair - more specifically the purple ribbons Emilia had gifted him resembling the bows she wore, and an orange and black eight-pointed star hairpiece Julius couldn't help but inspect a bit more closely. There was just something about that piece which made the knight instinctively shiver the longer he looked at it. Huh, weird.

"No reason, just found it to be interesting, that's all." Julius shrugged nonchalantly, making small talk. "If it makes you feel any better, I think you look quite riveting. You should wear it more often - hmm? Subaru, are you alright?

Julius said, worry consuming him as he regarded the boy's flushed face. He looked to be under the weather.

"W-What the hell is the matter with you!" Subaru said hotly, through grounded teeth. "D-Don't just go saying weird stuff like that out loud idiot! What if someone heard you!"

Julius tilted his head, unaware of what could have gotten Subaru so riled up. He was simply making a factual observation. Then again Subaru was the type of person who shunned such praise. Which Julius found ridiculous and a real shame. Subaru was an amazing boy and any person worth their brain cells would be stupid not to appreciate having him in their lives. Julius told him this with sincerity, but for one reason or another Subaru grew flustered and nervous when he brought those kinds of things up.

Subaru gripped his jaw, skirting the lines between passing out or having a full-blown aneurysm.

"Y-You brain dead, simple minded - NINNYHAMMER!" Subaru cursed or Julius assumed it was hard to say.

"I see you've taken after Lady Emilia in more ways than one - whoa!" Julius started, narrowly dodging the back end of a poorly timed swing from Subaru and then another and another as the youth tried to assail Julius with a flurry of punches. None of which managed to land a decisive blow.

"Subaru I -"

"Just be quiet already!" Subaru spoke with finality, temper flaring, brokering no room for argument as his chest heaved from exerting himself. Julius wisely opted to let sleeping dogs rest as his jaw muscle twitches shut with a resounding 'click' – unwilling to bristle anymore of the boy's delicate feathers no matter how fine its coating was.

'Hmph!" Subaru huffed, crossing his arms and lifting his head up so that his chin was pointed to the sky as he turned on his heels - his torso shifting and hair billowing past gentle shoulders, not dining to let the Knight get another word in edgewise as he left him in the trails of his own dust.

Julius was dumbfounded. No surprise there.

But be that as it may he still chased after the young man – not inclined to let a minor to trek the city by his lonesome – yes, Priestella was relatively safer than compared to let's say Lugunica's capital, but given his track record for getting into hijinks it was only a matter time before Subaru ran into some sketchy character.

Something Julius would like to nip in the bud if possible, by sticking close to the boy.

Subaru for his part had no inkling of this and saw Julius's overprotective need to keep Subaru in his sights at all times as just the jerk underestimating him again and - and he refused to be belittled or treated as second rate! He may have been – young, but he was still a knight (in training) and could hold his own against any threat that came his way. No problem! Subaru puffed his cheek out – looking like the world's most adorable chipmunk. He'd show Julius – and when that happened, he'd -

"Subaru watchout – "

A frantic warning cry from Julius snapped Subaru from his self-reflections just in time to catch the faintest glimpse of someone ahead of him. The boy yelped, stumbling in his haste not to collide with a random passerby as he floundered and nearly fell forward in his attempts when –

A hand gently wrapped around his bottom half, preventing Subaru from taking a nasty tumble. The boy gasped, surprised – as his savior? And gave him a genuine smile.

"Are you okay? You're not hurt, are you? It was a man, white hair (which was wicked COOL by the way) with piercing yellow eyes and a handsome face that just oozed the main character's energy.

Subaru was speechless as he stared in amazement.

Oh God don't tell me that this mysterious guy who he just so happened to bump into by sheer coincidence in another world far from home was actually–

"Gasp! Are you the protagonist!" Subaru squeaked out, thrown for a loop. The man's pale brows rose an inch, a familiar look of confusion that Subaru had long accepted as the norm when it came to him blurting the first thing that popped up in his screwed-up head over was scribbled all over the man's face.

Subaru wanted to scream. He blew it!

"I can't say I know what a 'Protagonist' is" the white-haired man who was definitely the protagonist said, slowly as if testing the waters, Subaru wanted to slap himself silly, for shoving his foot in his mouth! Ugh! "But – "the handsome 'hero' pressed on, allowing Subaru to gain his second wind, if only for a brief stint, "I do say you're one of the loveliest flowers I've ever laid eyes on." He said confidently, with a tongue made of pure butter – making Subaru melt from the epic one-liner.

'So cool," Subaru said in a hushed whisper, trying to keep from freaking out and bombarding the poor guy with a surfeit of dumb questions. He probably had a lot on his plate already – what with him being a bonafide hero who probably rescued damsels on a daily basis – wait did that make me a princess who needed saving?

Subaru paused, going cherry red at the implications. Because that was – hrk!

"Ah. And such a cute expression, truly a marvel to behold." The man cooed, setting Subaru back up on his feet, upright. "Tell me, what is your name dear?" The mysterious stranger graciously asked, and Subaru found no reason not to oblige him.

"M-Me?" Subaru fretted nervously, using the sleeves of his yukata to cover up his gushing redness. Oh, how he hated being put on the spot like this.

"M-My name is Subaru." he said, cursing his high pitch stutter. He cleared his throat and in a more clear and precise manner finished off with; "Natsuki Subaru." Before taking a curtsy like the ones, he'd seen Ram and Emilia do.

"Natsuki Subaru," The man said and there was fondness, but also familiarity. "How refreshing. I believe I've heard it somewhere before, but where…?" He pondered, his fingers caressing the side of his chin rhythmically.

'How sophisticated!' Subaru sighed dreamily. He was so - Wait.

Subaru froze - realization drenching him like a bucket of icy cold water at what the handsome stud had insinuated.

Could it be - was it possible that this awesome guy recognized Subaru's name and his depth defying deeds! Surely not! What were the chances of that being the case?

Subaru gaped and nearly sprung up and did a ridiculous dance at the thought of being in such a man's purview. Talk about a huge honor!

"Fufufu! I'd hoped you might!" Subaru intoned, taking on a tinge of smugness from his revitalized self-importance. "I am the one who personally killed the Sin Archbishop of Sloth, after all." Subaru proclaimed, puffing out his chest at his success in neutralizing one of this world's biggest threats.

Yeah, he had numerous attempts to do it. But who cared if the creepy body snatcher was reduced to roadkill under Otto's carriage?

"Ah, yes, now I remember." the hero grossed, snapping his finger as if he had hit an eureka moment. "The death of Sloth came as a shock to all of us and to think he was bested by someone so young and elegant." he purred.

The compliments kept flooding with this one and Subaru was starving for more as he twisted in place, playing with a lock of his hair anxiously.

"I mean it wasn't that big a deal." Subaru murmured, avoiding eye contact with the man. "My friends did most of the heavy lifting. I just played the support role." the boy said, dismissive of his achievements. To Subaru - anyone else in his position could have accomplished WAY more if given the opportunity to do so. He'd simply been lucky enough to be given a power that allowed him near infinite chances to garner better results than most.

"Aren't you being too critical of yourself?" the man's smile wavered a fraction, "Yes, Sloth might have been an imbecile, but his abilities weren't anything to dismiss so readily. Weren't several lives on the crux of being snuffed out forever if you hadn't acted. Sounds to me like you did more than your fair share." He said glowingly. Subaru felt his mouth go dry, his eyes fluttering, "So stand proud." He went on to say, "A rose such as yours shouldn't wilt when faced with adversity."

Subaru was stunned! That was - Subaru was all for giving awe inspiring speeches to rally folks to your cause, but - those words and the strength and meaning behind them specifically, had left Subaru bewildered. The last time someone spoke to him with that level of determination and passion and open resolve hadn't been since her…

'Since Rem.'

This person reminded him a lot of his BEST friend - well without the bloodthirsty savageness his personal demon maid and caretaker used to exhibit, but Rem was a one of a kind gem and yet Subaru felt this man had the same spark to him that she had and a good heart as well.

"I - thank you," Subaru found his voice again, wobbly, low, but buried deep within that was a renewed conviction and resolve to not mope around and grow stagnant, "You don't know how much I needed to hear that," he smiled sunnily, his mood taking a dramatic shift upwards!

"I am happy to have been of assistance," He bowed respectfully as Subaru tittered at the performance. "But - alas, where are my manners? Since you were magnanimous enough to afford me the privilege of knowing your identity, then it's only fair that I reciprocate the favor." He said, extending his arms out on either side of him, "I am Regulus. Regulus Corneas,"

He smirked confidently, like that of a man who knew what he wanted, when he wanted it and wasn't afraid to stretch the furthest margins to get it. Subaru was captivated as he stared in reverence at the person he wanted to emulate.

Oh and his name was pretty neat too! Subaru chortled.

"Regulus," Subaru breathed, "You know where I come from, that name means ruler or king depending on who you ask."

Which rightly fit this splendid person! The boy swooned.

"Does it now?" Regulus said, his interest steadily peaked. Heh, Subaru knew it would be.

"Yep!" Subaru grinned, resting a hand on his hip, "It originates from the constellation Leo and is one of the brightest stars to shine across the night sky and oh - " Subaru stopped himself short seeing the perplexed look Regulus was shooting at him. Oops. "S-Sorry my bad." Subaru wiggled in place as he scratched the back of his head sheepishly, "I got carried away. I'm a big fan of stars and stuff, not that you'd really care for something so unbelievably stupid - "

Regulus clasped a hand on Subaru's right and left shoulders, startling him, his voice hitched. Regulus gave him a poignant stare,

"No, please continue. I want to hear more." Regulus beckoned and Subaru was only able to crane his neck as he nodded listlessly along.

'U-uh okay…"

Subaru must have resembled a love sick puppy. But like a dog that had been taught to heel on command, he did as he was told.

While this was going on - from the sidelines, still gripping the bags full of souvenirs and trinkets collected from their shopping spree Julius watched on, puzzled and somewhat envious as Subaru and this supposed new friend he'd JUST met a few short minutes ago converged in a deeply seeded conversation of a topic that completely flew past Julius's head.

What just happened?

"...L-Let me see if I understand this correctly," Regulus laughed, an honest to god full blown, belly laugh as he clenched his sides and hollered out, "Y-You're telling me that fool Betelgeuse perished from - getting dragged under the wheels of a dragon cart!" He cackled again, tears springing forth from the corner of his eyelids.

Subaru gave an almost playful smile as he recounted his harrowing battle with the Archbishop of Sloth and his well-deserved demise.

Discounting the gut churning deaths that it took to get there. Now that it is over, it was a fun story to tell at parties.

Subaru mused, leaning back against the surprisingly comfy chair of the cafe he, Julius and Regulus decided to rest at since Subaru adamantly refused to part ways with HIS new bestie so soon after meeting him. Julius wasn't in support of this impromptu detour, but oh well, tough luck. Subaru and Regulus were inseparable!

"Pft, you're telling me!" Subaru sniggered, taking another dainty bite of the expensive cake Julius had ordered for Regulus and him - something that had left the Knight none too pleased. "The guy was nuts and kept ranting about love this and love that," Subaru clicked his tongue in disdain for the madman who almost nearly ended them, "The world is better off without such trash in it." He said derisively as Regulus's head bounced in stark agreement - because of course he did. Regulus was a good person and not irredeemable garbage like Betelguese.

"Well said," Regulus scowled, as though his mind were in some far off place, reminiscing an unpleasant subject, "Sloth was a deplorable cretin, a low scoundrel, you do well in avoiding such rabble Subaru." He said without a hint of humor to be seen anywhere.

"You're preaching to the choir their Reg." Subaru saluted, fork in hand, thereby earning him a debilitating glare from Julius for his poor table manners.

"Sir Regulus." The knight began, with all the unpleasantness of stubbing your toe against a metal bed frame. "From your familiarity I assume that you've met this particular Archbishop before?" Julius said, with suspicion. Maybe it was paranoia or instinct or some other third thing, but there was a feeling this man elicited that put Julius on edge.

Regulus waved his hand dismissively at the question, as if trying to smack down a pesky fly buzzing at his ear.

"Calling it a meeting would be an insult to my person." Regulus said scornfully, "That rapscallion attacked me without warning and prevented me from taking my beloved wife?" He sulked, devastated.

Subaru gasped, covering his mouth in bone chilling horror.

"Then your wife. She's -"

Regulus shook his head, causing Subaru's intestines to twist into a tight, suffocating knot. "The pathetic waste of skin took her from me. If she had been by my side and under my protection, then the grizzly fate that befell her would never have occurred." the white haired man derided. Angry for the loss he'd unduly suffered.

Subaru could sympathize. For how many times had he seen someone he loved perish in an unimaginable, gruesome way, as he stood at the sidelines - powerless to do anything but watch helplessly.

For kind people like Regulus and his wife to meet such tragic fate was unacceptable.

Subaru clenched his chest tightly.

"I-I'm sorry, Reg." Subaru said, expression downcast and excruciatingly sincere. Regulus was surprised. Did no one ever offer him sympathy for his loss? That was even more depressing.

Julius held a similar view, witnessing Regulus's unbridled anger trickling to the surface, threatening to spill over was understandable! Anyone who dealt with a Witch Cultist was able to tell you of their mercilessness and nefarious nature and you more than anyone else were susceptible to such emotions brought on by their cruel deeds - without question.

Maybe Julius had been too critical of the man.

"If you survived a fight with an Archbishop, you must be crazy strong, huh, Reg?" Subaru remarked, quickly changing the topic before it entered the realm of discomfort.

Regulus regained his composure, brushing aside a loose strain of his stylish hair. "You have a good eye Subaru." He commended. Subaru preened at the slice of praise he was freely given, "Indeed, I am a being without equal, the ultimate specimen. There is no one in this world who comes close to matching my excellence." he bragged.

'Wow!" Subaru whistled, impressed with the bold confidence being put forth.

Julius' thoughts at once drifted to Reinhard - and his monstrous strength. Was a man like Regulus capable of taking on someone as unreachable as the Sword Saint in combat. He doubted it. This was Reinhard after all. But call it intuition or years dealing with strong foes, but Regulus held the posture of a man was not to be trifled with or provoked.

"I'd love to see you fight," Subaru said giddily, beyond stoked as he pictured Regulus duking it out with those no good dirty Cultists!

"For you, I'd flatten an entire horde of mongols if you requested it," Regulus said temptingly.

Subaru was starstruck and about to agree with that grim proposal if Julius hadn't intervened - unwilling to test whether Regulus was putting on airs or was considering going through with it. Either way…

"As interesting of a proposal as that would be -" Julius blatantly lied, "It's getting late Subaru, and your mother is expecting us soon."

"W-What-" Subaru looked crestfallen. Eyes wandering back to Regulus, "But I - Do we have to go so soon Julius!"

Subaru begged, his reluctance was like a spotlight, plain to see, and Julius wasn't in the glamour of spoiling Subaru's fun - not intentionally! However -

Possibly seeing Julius's dilemma, Regulus intervened and came up with an alternative solution neither Julius nor Subaru expected.

"Actually, Subaru I was hoping you'd be able to assist me in a different matter." Regulus said with a disarming smile. "It's very important."

"Huh? Me?" Subaru said, slightly taken back - but he wasn't in the department of bailing on a friend. Not now. Not ever! Especially one in need who asked him so forwardly...

Subaru didn't hesitate. "O-O course!" He said passionately. "I'll help in any way I can!"

Julius furrowed in displeasure as he prepared to interject, but a hiss and a few wild gestures from Subaru made him hush up.

"My NEW bride is in need of a wedding gown," Regulus said with amusement, "But I'm having difficulty determining the proportions of her figure." He admitted ruefully

That did sound like a conundrum. but more significant than that -!

"Bwuh! Y-You're getting married! Subaru blanched, feeling as if he had the rug swept from under him. Regulus grinned haughty, so sure of himself.

"Are you surprised?"

"Ah - well… " Subaru blubbered out. He knew he shouldn't have been. Regulus was a good looking man - courageous and strong and resilient and while Subaru was pretty sure he wasn't young enough to drink yet, he gave off the vibe of guy who women flocked to in droves.

And considering how he lost his first wife, it only made sense that he'd find a special someone to fill the void.

"F-Forget it!" Subaru said hurriedly, trying to steer his one track mind back on course. He knew he was charting dangerous waters here, "Just tell me what you need me to do."

Subaru said with an unyielding resolve. He might not have been the most valuable person to have around. But he wasn't worthless - certainly not!

"Oh?" Regulus' smile stretched from one end of his face to the next, "Anything you say?"

Subaru suddenly felt like a mouse who'd been coiled in the vice of a hungry snake and was struggling to escape the grasp of its GREEDY maw.

Now he didn't feel so certain of himself anymore.

"'I can't believe I agreed to this." Subaru whimpered out, his voice unmistakably bereaved as he tried to calm his quailing. But it was a herculean feat - with circumstances unanimously deciding that this would be his lot in life and Subaru - he had no one to blame for this turn of events.

With THIS being - forcefully yanked into a local fashion boutique store and trying on their -!

Subaru bit his bottom lip as he clenched at the seams of his - grk! Dress…

"Nervous?" a voice simpered, making Subaru slouch further, curling into himself no different from a butterfly who'd had its wings rooted from its back,

"I-I -" Subaru mumbled incoherently, feeling ridiculous.

He hated this!

The voice chuckled unapologetically.

"It'll be fine, you look great!" They said lightheartedly, "Besides you have a body most women would kill for." the woman next to him said, with no falsehood in her tone. Subaru perked - with a ghost of a smile, while bleeding red from the neck down.

"Really - oh, that's so sweet of you - WAIT a minute! What am I saying? This isn't - this is NOT okay at all!" Subaru whined, struggled not to freak out or lash out at the kind young seamstress who was helping him try on -!

"I told you - you're marvelous." the brunette woman (who he presumed was the store's owner) said, tying the last straps and tempering the fabric to his - outfit, "You'll make any man really happy." She said with boisterous encouragement

Subaru's throat clogged and made a small pathetic croak. Because what she was saying was - she had the wrong idea of what was happening here?!

"That's not -!"

"Subaru are you doing okay in there?"

The boy froze, hearing Julius from beyond the veiled curtain that covered him from his peripheral vision as he was getting settled in.

Subaru didn't respond - what was there to say? Because from the way he was dressed - well it did leave a lot up for interpretation.

"Are you finished? We haven't got all day." Regulus' voice came after, adored with something Subaru could only define as anticipation.

Subaru twitched - the pressure was mounting and beginning to grate at his confidence.

What did he do to deserve this!

"Nervous?" the seamstress said, deceptively sweet. Subaru pursed his lips, but his silence and his tone of action to her comment spoke for themselves. She chuckled with a hearty mirth at seeing him shiver, "Don't worry, men can be so impatient. But it's fine to keep them waiting a little." The woman's eyes lit with a fiery passion - threatening to burn Subaru to sunder. "It makes the main course all that palatable." she whispered, low and enticing.

Subaru's eyes nearly bulged out of their socket as she said this. The air in his lungs seized in his chest, preventing him from doing anything but gasping.

The boy was flabbergasted and so, so lost…

"What are you trying to - " Subaru's mouth worked to understand what she was getting at. But as it did so, he was unceremoniously cut off, with the brunette sliding past his guard and snatching the stupefied boy by his shoulder blades.

"It'll be fine," She said soothingly into his ears, as she began to crabwalk him past the drapes of the dressing room they were in, "Just remember to strut your stuff. You've got this!" She finished off with a mischievous wink.

Subaru wasn't sure what the STUFF was - but whatever it was Subaru was certain he didn't have it!

The dark haired boy wanted to scream - with Subaru being dragged to his destined 'fate' as the seamstress put it, while continuously yelling out things like 'I changed my mind' and 'I'm not ready to do this yet,' to which the woman mistook for him getting cold feet and responded with merciless assurances, saying that Subaru 'would end up like an old maid with an attitude like that' as he was pulled, pushed and stumbled past the veil and into the open, no different from a blank popping out from a smoking gun. Barreling forward, the boy nearly tripped and fell - only managing to straighten himself at the last second through pure luck and grit as he breathed a sigh of relief from exerted lungs.

'Thank goodness.'

"S-Subaru." The ear biting pronunciation of his name being called removed any semblance of joy from his minor victory, no matter how small it was as Subaru gazed up, reluctantly to see the normally perfect and smug and overbearing Julius staring at him as if he were an undecipherable puzzle that needed solving. His mouth parted - eyes coated in surprise and mystery, with an unfiltered awe exfoliating his pristine and charming complexion that Subaru had seen many women buckle and collapse at the sight of.

It was foolish - Subaru realized from the get-go that he shouldn't let it get under his skin, but the way Julius was inspecting him was - he wouldn't say that he necessarily disliked it altogether only - did his personal knight and shiny armor have to look at him so intently.

Subaru shied away. Regulus had plans of his own.

"How imposing." the white haired man applauded, coming close, way too close for comfort. And yet Subaru didn't move. Didn't breathe, even as Regulus was only inches from him and touching his hair, and glistening his fingers down his bare neck Subaru remained unmoving like a bolder, effectively rooted in place under the prods of his touches.

"Uhhh?" The unspoken question bristled at the boy's tongue, lingering in the air. Subaru felt his own rhythmic heartbeat thumping 'da-bum, da-bum, da-bum' over and over again as those golden orbs dissected him as if they were searching for the answer to a complex riddle until at least - a spark, a gleam or intuitive understanding filled Regulus's sights.

"You do resemble her quite a bit - the re

semblance is almost uncanny." the man said with the same aspiration you might receive when recalling a long forgotten memory. He seemed at peace with the thought - Subaru idly prayed he'd keep that look a little longer, however slim the chances of that were

"Who?" Subaru dined to ask, his curiosity getting the better of him. Luckily Regulus was unoffended by Subaru delving into the touchy subject.

"My first wife," he said gruffly, bitterly. Subaru went somber, "I'd nearly forgotten how - breathtaking she was. Like a fresh boutique of flowers picked from a sumptuous garden. He said it so longly, it made Subaru feel as if his insides were getting gnawed at. Grrr. Damn you Betelguese!

"Is that why you had me do this?" Subaru signaled to the gown he'd been shoved into. Which he was still upset about by the way. Furious. But - (sigh) Subaru was a sucker for sob stories. His life was one big one already and who was he to rain on someone else's parade and deny a man some much needed closure - what with his wife possibly being strangled to death by his former archnemesis whose arsenal was a series of invisible hands, which was probably the top ten worst ways to meet the grim reaper. Second too you know - getting eaten by a fluffle of rabbits.

Subaru considered with a jagged, crooked smile, his nails racking the palms of flesh.

"You do make for a charming set piece," Regulus said absent mindedly, scratching his lower chin. Subaru took the distraction by the reins and devoured it with gusto like a poor man landing himself an expensive dinner.

"So, you're saying I'm attractive then." Subaru said with a lopsided grin, trying to get a rise out of Regulus and downplay his irrational fear of everything small and fuzzy.

But the stupid 'protagonist' of this world seemed to have neglected reading the 'fine art of teasing' and with a face drained of any mirth responded, "Yes." Quick to the draw and followed up with - "Like a bunny rabbit."

Huh?

Subaru hacked. "W-what!"

The boy's smile dipped as he felt the urgent need to kick the rude jerk in his perfect shins for comparing him to those filthy creatures - a sideways glance reveals the treacherous Julius shrugging in agreement with the insult coated in milk and honey. Terrific. A two for one deal in busting knee caps.

"Oh, hush up. The both of you," he said sardonically. Was it dramatic, probably, yes, but since he was wearing a wedding dress that felt hot and stuffy and uncomfortable on his skin, he (rightfully in his opinion) felt entitled to be somewhat of a drama queen.

"Is everything okay over here?" The nosy tailor popped up suddenly like a ghostly specter making Subaru - 'eep,' nearly making his heart pause. Had she been there the whole time!

"Yes, we are," Julius spoke, flanking his left as Subaru made the clever ploy to use the eggplant knight as his meat-shield against the demonic woman in their presence. His shoulders were broad enough to deflect attacks! He'd be fine. Subaru reasoned assuredly. "And I'm assuming we're taking the ensemble." The knight asked rhetorically, shifting his pupils to Regulus's who remained laser focused on Subaru - lost in reflection.

Because of course he was.

"Just pay for the dress dummy." Subaru nudged Julius's back, giving Regulus a consoling leer overflowing with empathy. "He's still mourning." Subaru said in a hushed whisper.

Julius lowered his head in defeat.

"Right?" He said flatly, annoyance flaring as he reached into his own wallet with a remorseful expression.

Julius prayed Anastasia wouldn't be too upset for plowing through his rainy day funds all in one sitting.

The seamstress for her part in all this accepted the payment wordlessly, but a pitiful understanding continued to fester in her gaze like a stubborn weed refusing to die, "It's always hard when shopping for daughters, isn't it?" she said with an inconspicuous smirk.

Julius, caught off guard, wanted to amend her statement, but a cautionary glance at a distracted Subaru put a pause to the decision. "You may be onto something there."

He said with an insufferable sigh.

The woman's grin grew with the sweet, sweet incense of victory.

Regulus's departure was done with little fanfare - well unless you count Subaru giving the man an earful for making him wear a wedding dress.

'As if he hadn't worn one several dresses already,' Julius thought idly, but he kept the opinion to himself, there no need to get Subaru riled up again as the peculiar child divulged into usual tirade - threatening to beat the 'literal crap' out of Regulus if he wasn't invited to the man's wedding.

Julius made a blithering comment about Subaru's poor manners, only it was more eloquent sounding than the hot-tempered mouth and Subaru candid glare that had all the intimidation factors of an over-stuffed teddy bear.

Regulus - perhaps having properly grown used to Subaru's bratty behavior as they all had at some point (a bad contagion in which there was unfortunately no cure) agreed to Subaru's demands without much convincing needed done.

However, he did make a few vague insinuations of Subaru being a focal part of the ceremony - as he petted the boy's head, leaving space for further confusion.

Subaru theorized he meant being the flower girl (which he wasn't opposed to but still-!) Julius in contrast took it differently - call him paranoid or jealous, but there was an ill feeling that creeped up in him whenever Regulus was near. It may be nothing, but Julius wasn't willing to risk Subaru's safety because he ignored a hunch.

The knight kept his guard up, refusing to turn his trained eyes away from the white haired man until he was far enough away from them to no longer be a literal disaster waiting to strike behind their back when they least suspected it.

Subaru thought he was being a weirdo again and Julius's didn't refute the claim. Perhaps he was right. Regardless…

"Ready to go?" Julius asked, adjusting his grip on the multiple shopping bags he was continuing to hold despite everything else. Subaru gave him the faintest murmur, but didn't protest as they set out on their way. Small miracles there.

Along their walk back, Subaru talked excitedly about Regulus and wanting to meet with him again, with a glitter in his eyes. Julius had mixed emotions with this, obviously he was belated that Subaru had made a genuine connection with someone new. Then again should it have come as a surprise. Subaru's knack for making friends was a part of charming personality! Though in this instance he'd have preferred the person in question wasn't an older man with ambiguous intentions.

" - Hey you bastard! Are you even listening to me!" Subaru complained, pulling at Julius's sleeves. The knight jostled, returning from his reflections and cooling his face into an indifferent smile.

"Mm, what is it?" Julius asked, turning to the boy who for some reason seemed to be red faced - perhaps he was exhausted or the weather was getting to him? They had been walking for sometime now and most of the stores they visited weren't ventilated that well.

Maybe there was a shaded area where they could -"

"Thank you."

The words were barely a whisper, slow and strained as if the person it was coming from was exerting a tremendous amount of will power to get it out, but he heard the words anyways and well - Julius was paralyzed in shock. Did Subaru exactly just-!

Subaru moved his gaze to the floor quickly at seeing the incredulousness on Julius's dumb face, but he persevered, "You did a lot for me even when you didn't have to and it's a lot considering well - ahem. Anyways I appreciate you helping Emilia out and showing me around the city. I had a great time, probably the best in a while and it was because of you so I…"

The boy trailed off, he was spent. It had taken everything out of him to get that much out. But he did it. Kind of and - Subaru knew he'd given Julius a hard time today and the guy may have been an ass, but a knight of his caliber probably had a million better things to do then entertain some snot nosed kid. So him doing that and putting up with Subaru's treatment of him was - cool of him, he guessed.

"Well don't stand there gawking like a goldfist! Say something to you - you purple headed eggplant!" Subaru demanded, with his usual splurge of childish outbursts.

Julius recovered quickly and smiled even wider - damn it, even when grinning like an idiot he still managed to look like a damn playboy model. How was that fair!

"Your very welcome Subaru-chan!" Julius curtly, even though he was practically 'oozing' enthusiasm. At least he didn't try to hug him. Subaru may have bitten him if he attempted it.

"D-Don't get used to it!" Subaru mumbled, half-way serious, "I only said it because mom would have a 'fit' if she knew I was messing with you.

Ah. I see.

"So saving your own skin then." Julius mused, giving the boy a playful shove. Subaru grunted and stuck his tongue out tauntingly.

"Shut up."

Julius laughed, his mood lifting immensely.

"How about we get those desserts for Lady Emilia and Lady Beatrice - my treat of course." Julius tempted.

Subaru didn't need much convincing - he readily accepted.

"Yeah!" the Slayer of the Witch Cult said with exuberance.

This day was shaping up to be one to remember.

A day later the Witch Cult attacked the City of Priestella - causing a mass panic to ensue.

In the midst of this catastrophe Subaru was kidnapped and according to witnesses was - spirited off by an unknown man with bleach white hair.

Unsurprisingly no one was particularly happy with this development.

Subaru was confused - the kind of confusion similar to if you found yourself on a deserted island or rummaged through your pants pockets to discover precious valuables missing or if you got burnt or stabbed or torn apart by mabeasts and needed a second to compose yourself. That type of confusion.

But Subaru's current predicament was a bit more complicated than that – heck he would have preferably settled for all those other things instead of this -!

"Natsuki Subaru, will you take my hand in holy matrimony?" Regulus Corneas declared, offering Subaru a ring. It was a nice ring – encrusted with a jade colored gemstone Subaru didn't recognize, but it was very pretty. Mm - maybe he could try it on to see if it fits…NO!"

Subaru shook his head, taking a measly step back - nearly tripping on the seams of the stupid wedding gown Sylphy and the other girl had shuffled him into. His other clothes had been singed beyond recognition thanks to that pyro manic Sirius and he himself would have shared a similar fate if it wasn't for Regulus intervening and jumping in the way to rescue him at the last possible moment.

At the time Subaru thought it was epic and heroic – the type of stuff you only see in cheesy action movies or story books!

Especially when he used his 'powers' to kill the Archbishop of Wrath in one swipe and carted him off to safety in case any danger was lurking - as he provided Subaru with all the necessities he wanted like a bath, fresh clothes and any food he wanted! Subaru was elated.

Of course, there was a caveat – there always was with these sorts of things.

"Reg – isn't this a little sudden!" Subaru said, bringing his clasped hands to his chest – flustered. "I mean don't get me wrong I'm flattered, but aren't we taking a big leap here! We only just met and I feel like any potential – ngh, partnership - requires more time to foster and grow!" Subaru laughed; a tad bit nervous. "So maybe we can start slow – oh, I know! Maybe take a walk on the beach or catch a play. I know a really neat place that sells the best Lugunican cuisine so perhaps we should start there and – eep!"

Subaru stopped mid rant as a single gloved hand cupped over his chin, silencing him. It didn't hurt, for someone so strong Regulus was surprisingly gentle.

"Weren't you the one who wanted to be closer." He said with that silky smooth tone of his. Yellow eyes stared at the boy intently. Subaru wanted to kick his past self in the butt.

But he did say those things hadn't he…

"Now we can." Regulus continued, not wasting a beat, "All you have to do is accept and I promise I'll provide you pleasure beyond your wildest imagination."

Subaru was befuddled. What – what the HELL did that mean! Was Regulus – was he suggesting what Subaru thought he was!

The boy swallowed thickly. Eyes went static - losing focus.

Subaru wasn't an idiot – though he played the part well enough. And he wasn't blind or ignorant or dead to the type of stuff grown ups got into when it came to relationships.

Was Regulus actually insinuating to Subaru that he and him should -!

Before he could begin to wrap his head around that mixes bag, the cathedral Subaru and Regulus - a long with the other woman Regulus has brought with him and who'd come to watch this fiasco play out were nearly knocked to the floor by a sudden loud explosion which rocked the very building they were in.

Not too long after the main doors were blasted off their hinges by a protruding spell of ice spears as a cold gust of air then settled into the room like nails to a coffin.

Regulus looked up in seething annoyance while Subaru's body uncoiled at the one who stepped in through the man-made hole.

"Emilia!" Subaru exclaimed, his relief was nearly palpable as he saw his mother emerge from the smoking wreckage, a worried and unhappy frown touching her lips.

"Subaru!" Emilia said, relaxing somewhat in seeing her beloved son alive and safe and more importantly unharmed, while he was wearing a – uh?" "What exactly are you wearing?"

Subaru was dipped in pink, mortified. He wanted to die – 'again' from the way his mom was examining as if he were one of those suspicious shady characters that lingered on the street corners that parents told their kids to steer away from.

"Maybe this isn't the right time to be asking that – Emilia-tan!" he whined, his voice slightly muffled by his palms.

The half-elf blinked, confused. But as she moved to speak, two other figures approached her from behind.

"Ugh! P-Please don't run so fast, I suppose!" A blonde-haired girl in a frilly dress and two drills said as she hunched forward - grasping both of her knees for support as she gasped for breath as if she may very well collapse at any second, "Ack - didn't you hear me calling you!" She said, overcome with indignation.

"I'm sorry Beatrice." Emilia said, rubbing the back of her head regretfully, as she gave the spirit an apologetic smile, "But when it comes to Subaru I tend to get a little scatterbrained." she chuckled, in that comforting bell-like chime of hers.

A one track mind was a dangerous thing - but in the context of Emilia's decision to forgo everything and all to save Subaru, it was understandable - to a phenomenal degree.

"Beako-neechan! You're here too!" Subaru said, gladdened. Beatrice rolled her eyes, but anyone with a working set of eyes could tell the Great Spirit was enamored to see her contractor again.

"Of course! Betty wouldn't let her Subaru be stolen from her so easily, in fact!" the blonde said errantly, shooting a smug grin that quickly frizzled out into concern.

"Subaru what are you doing in that gown, I suppose?" she deadpanned, she knew of Subaru's habit of crossdressing, but wasn't this going overboard somewhat.

'No, no, NO!" Subaru screamed, fingers pressed against his head "Not you too Beatz!"

This was a nightmare! It couldn't possibly get any worse!

Oh how wrong he was.

"While I can't say I approve of such an arduous plan-" a male's voice began, overflowing with distaste as he staggered through the layer of ice left in the wake of Emilia's attack. "I believe I can make an exception considering the unusual circumstances permitted."

Julius Juukulius - spirit user, knight of Anastasia Hoshin and the absolute LAST person Subaru wanted to see him like THIS stepped forth, his hands gripping the handle of his sword with intent.

The two locked eyes.

One was of shame and regret, while the other…

"If you wanted to attract our attention there were different ways to do so Subaru without resorting to this." Julius said teasingly. Subaru groaned.

"Agh! What are you doing here you handsome prick!" Subaru said, rallying whatever fraction of his beleaguered and shattered dignity that was left pointed a - weak, pitiful and incessant glare at Julius.

But rather than take offense to Subaru's hostility Julius looked reenergized like one embracing a fresh spring day at seeing the boy in one piece. He was deeply glad that Subaru was okay.

"Subaru." Emila sighed exasperated, shaking her head in errant disappointment, "Be nice. Julius was more worried than anyone when you disappeared and worked really HARD to find you!" the elf said sternly.

"Urk?!" Subaru croaked, floored and speechless.

Julius scratched the tip of nose awkwardly.

(Why was he acting shy now?! Subaru was the one who should be humiliated. Not him!)

"You make it out like I did something any decent Knight in my position wouldn't." Julius shrugged off casually. No one was convinced, least of all Subaru who was suddenly feeling very sentimental.

How sappy could he get?

"Excuse me!" Regulus cheeks were red - fuming with his rage barely bedded by confusion. "Don't you people have any manners and common sense! What is wrong with you! Who raised such lowlives who think it is acceptable to waltz into one's private ceremony uninvited and laugh and joke around and engage in comradery as if they belonged there. Unforgivable - leave now, while I'm still in the mood to forgive such an offense or stay and see what I do to common brigands who dare to disrupt my nuptial.

The man demanded forcefully. The three did not budge.

"We'll gladly leave young man, but first we intend to take Subaru with us." Emilia said unwaveringly, never once backing down or losing her footing as amethyst irises narrowed challengingly as if waiting for the smallest sign of hostility to attack.

Regulus brewed in anger as he raised his hand as if to lash out violently.

Seeing this Subaru decided now when the time to step into the fray - arms outstretched and gesticulating up and down frantic

"Wait Stop - Reg, don't! Subaru said panicky - caught off guard by the man's weaving temper. "This is my mom and big sister and Julius, you remember him right! He's a (gulp) friend I guess." he said the last part with bitter discontent.

"Your mother…" Regulus said, looking at Emilia considerately. The half-elf was an immaculate beauty that was frankly speaking - unparalleled and a fools' effort to compete with. He was almost partial to the idea of taking her as a wife, 'almost' being the key difference. 'Hmph. No matter. I have no need for taking someone so uncouth and soiled as a bride."

Regulus said dismissively. Subaru's throat bobbed, his mouth going slack. Julius and Beatrice furrows deepened in offense on the half-elf's behalf. Emilia's perfect eyelashes blinked, confusion flickering her gaze

"I don't know what you find uncouth about me," Emilia eyes narrowed threatening "Be that as it may I won't allow you to do what you wish with my Subaru."

Emilia said with an untempered conviction and power and uncompromising stance to give any headway to this putrid villain.

Regulus clicked, his tongue at the half-elf's bluster. How disgraceful.

"You should be honored," the white haired man spat, peering at the wedding crashers with unveiled contempt. "What type of mother would deny their child a chance at true happiness."

Emilia sputtered, her cheeks flaring red at the barbed insult - she was so affected that she barely held herself back from lunging at the man for spouting such drivel.

"How dare you!" She said, her glare as hot as molten lava. "I'd be more than happy to walk Subaru down any aisle." Emilia said with a deeply seeded conviction making Subaru mewl.

"M-Mom?" Subaru shook and was in near tears - dying never sounded so good as it did now.

"That is of course if it's a person Subaru is really in love with." Emilia's eyes narrowed, examining Regulus's with open disgust which for someone as kind and forgiving as the half-elf might as well have been a direct slap to the face. "And is an appropriate age."

Regulus expelled a brusque breath of air from his lungs, nostrils flaring at the blatant disrespect being shown to him.

"Age is merely a number and Subaru's is number 79." Regulus proclaimed shamelessly.

Everyone looked sickened, none more than Subaru who gagged - not bothering to hide his shock and dismay at the turn of events.

"Wait, those weren't cute pet names?!" Subaru gasped, betrayed, "You actually name the woman in your life after numbers!" he stuttered, pointing a finger at Regulus animatedly who didn't seem to be all that bothered with the stunning revelation, "But Reg that sounds so villaneous!"

"I would hope so," Julius stated tersely, throwing a pitying look at the other wives who watched the dramatic events unfold with stony expression, "This man is irredeemable. A complete monster."

"That's right honey!" Emilia produced a ridiculously sized, two handed warhammer - grasping it and holding it over her shoulder as if it weighed next to nothing, "Step away from the bad man and let mommy take care of this okayyy!"

"Eh, what?" Subaru eyelashes flickered in confusion. "But I-!" The boy looked uncertain.

"Oh for OD's sake!" Beatrice smacked a hand over her doll-like face in frustration, "Subaru that deplorable creature you're standing next to is a Sin Archbishop of the Witch Cult, in fact!"

Subaru's mind went blank as if someone had gone in and unplugged his brain - he tried to speak but his throat refused to form a single syllable.

"That is correct," the Witch Cultist said proudly, verifying the claim much to Subaru's sinking dread. "I am a Sin Archbishop of the Witch Cult presenting Greed. Regulus Corneas."

Caught off guard by that reeling declaration Subaru was slow to react when Regulus - the Archbishop proceeded to grasp him by his upper bicep, pulling the boy roughly and possessively towards him as if Subaru were an object rather than a living, breathing person.

Subaru let out a small feeble noise in response to the harsh treatment.

"Ah! R-Regulus that hurts!" Subaru whimpered in obvious discomfort. "P-Please let me go!"

"Don't you dare!" Julius swore, outrage pouring from like a rapid stream threatening to flood.

Emilia and Beatrice held equal if not harsher looks of fury and offense at the actions taken against their son and contractor and moved to intervene and separate the Archbishop him by force if necessary.

"Careful now," Regulus taunted, holding a hand inches from Subaru's nape. "One step more and I'll be forced to do something drastic."

"You would dare harm a child!" Julius snapped, his contempt for the Witch Cultist growing more and more as the seconds ticked by.

Regulus barked out a laugh as if he found the knight's words to be comical.

"A good wife would happily sacrifice herself in service to her husband." The monster known as Greed said with a wormy smile as if what he was spouting was common sense. "And I expect nothing less from Subaru."

This sentiment infuriated those present further, but they knew better than to do anything rash and risk Subaru's safety.

Meanwhile Subaru was beating himself for falling for such a predictable ploy and leaving his loved ones with very few options to free him.

'Think. There has to be something I can do to get out of this.' Subaru gritted his teeth, trying to come up with a clever solution that would let them get out of this mess, hopefully in one piece.

That minor comfort unfortunately evaporated when Julius decided to open his big mouth.

"While I agree that Subaru is a one of a kind marvel who few can compare to," Julius spoke out, making Subaru shriek and kick and shout at the stupid knight to stop being - well stupid and saying that kind of stuff out loud, "But given your inclinations can I correctly assume that you value young maidens above all else." Julius voiced, throwing a meaningful look at Regulus's other wives.

"Obviously," Regulus agreed, suspicious at what the knight was implying. Subaru already had a good idea and was shaking his head negatively, trying to get the blockhead to shut his trap.

"Julius wait-!"

But Julius was on a roll and couldn't be persuaded to put a break on it as his next words came suddenly, with the same momentum as a pistol whip to the back of the skull, making the Archbishop falter.

"Then you should know that the person you're holding at this very second isn't a girl at all, but is in fact a young boy!" Julius proclaimed with conviction.

A damning pause consumed the room, which was then broken by an uncharacteristic and unsteady garbled, "W-What?" from Regulus himself.

Subaru face was inflamed.

"Julius you-!" Subaru struggled to speak, "O-Of course Regulus knows I'm a boy! Right Reg…"

Subaru's voice lost traction when Regulus gave him an unintelligible stare as if Subaru was one of those abstract paintings that he couldn't quite understand no matter how long he looked at him.

'He really DIDN'T know!' Subaru realized, jaw gaping open in a wild daze. Regulus, didn't -!

"D-Don't be sad Subaru!" Emilia stoked a fist heartedly in encouragement, "You make for a beautiful girl!"

"Mom! Please!" Subaru wailed, dispirited, as this humiliation ritual he was enduring came full circle.

"Rrraahhh!"

That was the only warning any of them received as Regulus - furious and red, proceeded to bring the roof of the building down on top of them.

It hurt like hell.

'Why must love fade?'

Subaru thought morosely as he sat on the floor, hugging his knees closely together against chest as he stared somberly into a dark open crater - occasionally throwing some loose pebbles into its murky depths

Not even half an hour ago Regulus had taken a nose dive from several feet in the air and was given the most coveted prize sought after by many Subaru's growing list of enemies. Death – as he was washed away by Priestella's famous currents.

Turns out Regulus wasn't the 'happy go lucky' hero who saved the burning city and slayed the evil monster like Subaru thought he was. That man never existed. Instead, he was a monster himself – a creep and a loser drunk off his own power who forcefully kidnapped women to marry and killed any who disagreed with him.

Subaru should be glad he was dead. And yet…

"I was wondering where you skirted off to." Julius said, walking towards him with a noticeable limp in his movements. Subaru was surprised he was able to do that much seeing as Regulus practically used him as ragdoll while Subaru, Emilia and Beatrice tried to find a hole in the Archbishop's seemingly impenetrable defenses. "Are you alright?"

Julius asked, taking a seat next to the boy with a small hiss though he disguised with a cough to not worry Subaru. He had enough to beat himself up over.

"I should be saying that to you." Subaru said into his sleeves, not looking at the man. "You're the one who nearly got yourself turned into mincemeat." He said, not sugarcoating it.

"Don't remind me." Julius grimaced at the memory – between Regulus's deranged rants and dodging flying projectiles as the cultist demolished at least a dozen city blocks trying to kill him. It was not a feat Julius cared to try his luck in repeating anytime in the near future. "Lady and Emilia asked me to check up on you." Julius scooted closer to Subaru who surprisingly didn't shy away from him, "They're seeing to the needs of the women who were being held hostage by the Archbishop."

"I know," Subaru revealed, wrapping an arm around himself to stave off a chill that had crept up on him, "I asked mom if they could stay with us at the manor., while they try to get back on their feet"

"That was kind of you." Julius nodded in approval, not expecting anything less from Subaru.

Subaru made a noncommittal noise, before releasing a tense breath.

"This is my fault." Subaru whispered. Julius was startled. "I should have realized that Regulus – the Sin Archbishop of Greed wasn't a good person." He said in a raspy, miserable way.

Julius hummed; it was soothing in a way Subaru had difficulty conveying. "You couldn't have known. The Witch Cult are notorious for their deceptiveness. Not many would have caught onto his schemes."

"You did." Subaru pointed out, brushing a strain of his hair aside. "Back at the tailors." Subaru elucidated, "You were able to tell something was WRONG the minute you saw him."

That was true, but Subaru was emitting one crucial detail."

"Only because of his obsession with you. If not for that I probably would have fallen for his ruse as well."

Subaru whimpered, "I can't believe I said all those things about him! Idiot!" He said regretfully. The boy was taking this pretty hard. Julius hoped to lighten the mood a smidge.

"Look at the positives, you were able to ascertain Greed's authority in one try, how many can say that!" Julius said encouragingly.

If Subaru's mood was grounded before, Julius had inadvertently taken a shovel and buried it fully.

"Yeah, ONE try…" He said with clouded eyes and cruel mirth.

Julius frowned, had he said something he shouldn't? He was sure that Subaru…

"Right then! Enough doom and gloom!" The boy stretched his limbs and aching muscles as he began to rise off the pavement, "The city is still under attack and we need all hands-on deck if we want to stop those bad guys. So, let's-!"

A forceful grip slid around Subaru's wrist, impeding his movement.

"J-Julius?" Subaru stammered in surprise as the knight gave Subaru a look that he'd never would have thought he'd see from the man.

Fear.

Not for himself, but for Subaru of all people.

"Please sit." Julius asked, but if one were to listen closer you'd be able to make out the desperation in his voice. Subaru hated it.

"Okay." the boy whispered, complying with the request obediently as he retook his seat.

Then there was silence, so quiet in fact that Subaru could practically hear his own heart beat slamming against his chest like a drum.

The boy's mind raced for something - anything he could say that would kill the suffocating tension hanging over him and Julius.

And then…

"Julius I -!"

"Subaru you -!

The two stopped midsentence, starting awkwardly at the other.

"You go first," Subaru urged, wringing his hands on his lap.

Julius tipped his head gracefully, even worn out and sweaty the knight still managed to be the prettiest person as far as the eye could see.

"I wanted to thank you."

"Thank me?" Subaru said loosely, a bit taken back.

"Yes," Julius said somberly, but with a smile that beat back any of the negative emotions he was feeling. "I don't think you've been told this enough and if we have I wish to say it to you again, you're truly a remarkable person Natsuki Subaru."

"W-Where is this coming from." Subaru shrank, red blots dying his cheeks.

"Is there ever a reason not to tell someone dear to you the many ways they're special?' Julius jested poking at Subaru's ribs playfully.

Subaru fumbled in coming up with a witty retort for that.

Fortunately for him Julius had plenty to say.

"I love the way your grit and determination and strength and the passion you exhibit to say what's on your mind without a shred of care of how those around you may perceive it. Even during the Royal Selection when confronted with the entire might of the Order you never once wavered or backed down in defending Lady Emilia in the face of such mountainous odds."

Subaru snorted.

"Hah! Yeah and look where that landed me." Subaru huffed, "I got a massive butt kicking from one of Lugunica's best knights!" He said with a half-jovial smirk.

It was meant to be taken as a joke, but Julius found very little humor in it.

"That…" Julius bit his lip, as if struggling to get the words out "That moment - is one I consider to be my most regrettable acts."

W-Wait - Huh!"

Subaru hacked, astounded. Julius held up a hand.

"Please let me finish." Julius said frantically, knowing he needed to get this weight off his chest now otherwise he would never be able to work up the courage again,

"I should never have attacked you. No, even BEFORE that I should have intervened on Lady Emilia's behalf in the face of the nobles insults." Julius said aggrieved, hating how his actions or rather the lack thereof had allowed things to escalate the way they did. "You were a child. You should never have been put into such a position to begin with.

That's right, Subaru was a child and as a child he was prone to outbursts, saying stupid things that he normally wouldn't say in a less chaotic environment

But Subaru had every right to be upset didn't he? For the way those around him had treated Emilia in such a detestable manner.

Subaru was aware of this already and many other instances where his friends would get into their heads that he was still angry or dissatisfied with them in some way, but that couldn't be further from the truth. Because in Subaru's mind he was the outliner, the one who always messed up and he was only fortunate that his 'ability' gave him infinite chances to get it downright with no one being in the know. Similar to a child wetting the bed and hiding the sheets away before anyone caught wind of it.

But here was Julius spilling - no, willingly giving a piece of himself to Subaru at the drop of a hat.

Subaru was a lot of things, but naive and insensitive to other people's feelings? Of course not!

"I-I…" Subaru took a difficult swash of air, trying to gather the strength to say what he'd kept close to his heart for a long time. "I was jealous of you." Subaru admitted finally, feeling as if he was drinking sulfur for how foul it was on his tongue to say. "I think I've always been envious of you Julius."

"You - what?" Julius croaked as if someone had rammed a fist into his diaphragm, making him recoil.

The thought of letting his confession die right there was an alluring thought, but Subaru forced himself to continue no matter how nail wrenching it was. He needed to say this, there would be no better opportunity presented then this one.

"When we first met in the capital I thought you were going to steal Emilia away from me." Subaru gave a reassuring gesture when Julius immediately rose to protest that, "Yeah I know, it's ridiculous now, but back then…" Subaru reflected on that moment at the guard station when he encountered Julius and how he'd antagonized the knight for showing the most basic decor to Emilia.

And more than that…

"You were so beautiful." Subaru said with amazement.

Julius gawked, but Subaru didn't give it the slightest attention, too lost in his thoughts.

"Like a knight or prince from a fairy tail brought to life," Subaru went on to say in avid detail, recounting how Julius resembled a character ripped straight from the pages of a storybook - superlative, fearless, strong. Everything Natsuki Subaru wasn't. "And when I insulted you and the other knights, when I said you were stuck up and selfish, I - I shouldn't have done that." Subaru rubbed his eyes feeling emotional, "I shouldn't have bad mouthed and assumed those awful things about you. I'm sorry Julius."

Subaru rushed the last part of apology, his head bent low in submission - unwilling to see the kind of look Julius was probably delivering him with. Disappointment certainly and who could blame him.

"Idiot," Julius chuckled just as he brought Subaru to his chest, joined by a strong, powerful hug, "You're an idiot Subaru."

"I know." Subaru said not bothering to resist the teasing insult and warm hug he was being slammed with. They were both well earned.

"Why don't we call this an even draw," Julius said, not easing up on his hold on Subaru. If anything he increased his grip on the boy even more, "Seems like we both got outplayed today." Julius said with a comforting smile.

Subaru nodded, fighting to not nod off - his eyes were sagging from the straining day he'd had so far as he used Julius as his own substitute pillow.

A moment passed and then another when at last Subaru spoke again, this time more dreary.

"Hey Julius." Subaru murmured sleepily.

"Hm? What is it?"

"If you ever want to date Emilia I'd be fine with it." Subaru stated suddenly, in a hushed tone that only Julius could hear thanks to their close proximity.

Julius blinked, stunned, "W-What brought this on!"

"Nothing, just thought I'd say it." Subaru chuckled coozing up to Julius's side. The latter remained unbothered by this, "I guess this recent battle got me thinking it would be good to have someone in Milia's corner who's actually good at fighting and can help me avoid putting myself in danger.."

"That's smart," Julius praised with a sound approval, before a thought occurred to him, "But in that scenario wouldn't that make you my -!"

"I wouldn't mind." Subaru said with a deep softness, his eyes fluttering shut "At least you apologized for beating me unlike my old man."

Subaru said, falling into a peaceful sleep.

Julius smiled at Subaru's adorable face for all, but five seconds until the boy's words and the horrifying meaning behind them were fully understood to him.

"Hold on, what did you say? Subaru!" Julius tried to shake the teenager awake.

But by then Subaru was already too far gone as he rested comfortably in Julius's embrace.