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Chapter Text

 Subaru was quite satisfied with everything (well, almost). Of course, he had to go through many problems and deaths, but he was glad that he managed to overcome everything and make new connections. And for the trials he had endured, he was generously rewarded - he became the knight of the lovely half-elf Emilia.

 One evening, a small party was held at the Miload estate, which he was now attending. Everything would have been fine, but Roswaal made the same mistake he had made during the winter festival a few months ago - he brought out alcohol. Of course, Otto quickly turned into a drunken wreck, which Garfiel (and a little bit by Frederica). Ram thought she was holding her own, but in the end she passed out as quickly as Rem had last time, which is why she was already asleep at the table. And Emilia...

 – S-Subaru! Subaru... I-I think you have something on your face... Oh, it's just your smile!

 Emilia, like last time, quickly became intoxicated and was clearly not herself. As before, she could barely stand on her feet, keeping herself upright. But even in this state, she was very cute.

 – E-Emilia-tan, I don't think you should drink more! Who knows what might happen...

 – Happen? What will happen? You'll... take care of me, won't you? *Hic!* – asked the drunk girl, hiccuping loudly at the end.

 – Y-yes, I'll take care of you, but that doesn't mean you can drink! And so much! – Subaru rubbed his nose when he realised that his vision was slightly blurred. – I-I think it's time for me to go too...

 – W-wait, wait! I wanted to... say something... something important... – Emilia swayed slightly, trying to remember. – Oh! I remember! Congratulations again on... becoming my... knight.~

 With that, she smiled and collapsed into his arms. Lying on his chest, she turned around and... fell asleep.

 – Wow, even when Emilia-tan is in this state, she's so cute! EMT! – he picked the girl up in his arms. – It would be better if I took her to her room and put her to bed. I'd better go to bed too.

 After wishing everyone else good night, he carried the sleeping half-elf to her room. As he carried her to her room, he didn't notice how his consciousness began to cloud over...

 – Hm? Where...

 The next thing Subaru saw when he woke up was the ceiling. But it wasn't the ceiling of his room that he was used to seeing. His whole body felt incredibly heavy, as if he had spent the entire previous day training. He turned to the side to see what room he was in, and his gaze froze. He was looking directly at Emilia's sleeping face as she slept peacefully next to him. Her calm and peaceful face in her sleep made him forget for a second that he was in the same bed with her. Looking at her more closely, he finally realised that she wasn't wearing any clothes under the blanket. However, neither was he. Trying to remember the events of the previous evening, his splitting hangover-ridden head recalled some disturbing images.

 «Haha, you've got to be kidding me...» he quickly got up, grabbing his trousers lying on the floor. «I need to get out of here fast.»

 Quickly getting dressed, Subaru carefully stepped over the dress and shoes lying on the floor and left the half-elf's room. He noticed that even though the sun was already rising, the maids had not yet started their workday.

 «I need to get to my room quickly!» Subaru thought as he ran down the corridor. «Nothing happened, right?»

 Of course, the events of that day affected both his and her lives. Forever.

~A couple of weeks later~

 – I woke up and I'm ready for a new day!

 Subaru often shouted this phrase when he was sure that the day would bring him many pleasant emotions.

 – You don't have to announce it so loudly, I suppose. Not everyone is awake yet. – Beatrice said irritably.

 – Of course I should! Everyone should know that I'm doing great and I'm excited about what this day has in store for me!

 Beatrice just sighed and headed for the exit of their room.

 When he arrived in the dining room, Subaru already saw a sleepy Otto, who had once again over did it with alcohol the night before. Garfiel, as always, was eagerly awaiting breakfast, receiving scolding from Frederica for it. Ram was already setting the table, starting with Roswaal and Annerose. By the time everyone had arrived for breakfast, the only one missing was Emilia.

 – I'll go check on Emilia-sama. She usually arrives by the time the food is served... – Frederica said before leaving.

 Breakfast was quiet, but not without enthusiasm. Subaru kept making jokes and suggesting new routes for the training area. Soon after breakfast, Subaru and Beatrice decided to go to Emilia. They even took some food with them so that the half-elf could have a snack. Approaching the door, Subaru knocked politely. There was no answer. Shrugging, he pushed the door slightly, and it opened with a quiet creak. Upon entering the room, Subaru and Beatrice saw nothing new: it was the same tidy and neat room where the half-elf lived. Sounds came from behind the bathroom door, and soon Frederica came out of the bathroom and looked at the couple in surprise.

 – Subaru-sama! What are you doing here? You can't come in without knocking...

 – Well, we did knock. We brought Emilia-tan some food, because...

 Emilia came out (or rather, crawled out) from behind the maid, wearing a nightdress with a dressing gown over it. In any other situation, Subaru would have been embarrassed, but he was drawn to the girl's tired and slightly tormented face. Seeing Subaru, she jumped slightly in place.

 – S-Subaru! W-w-what are you doing here?

 – Um, you didn't come to breakfast. You don't often skip breakfasts, so Beako and I came to check on you. – Subaru waved the sandwiches in front of her. – And we brought something.

 – Oh, Subaru. You didn't have to...

 As soon as her gaze fell on the sandwiches in the boy's hand, the half-elf's face stretched out and turned green. She immediately disappeared behind the door, and the boy heard the same familiar sound. Subaru rushed to the door and saw Emilia already sitting on the floor with relief on her face.

 – I came to check on Emilia-sama, and as it turns out, she's been here almost all morning. – Frederica reported.

 – All morning?! Emilia-tan, did you eat something bad last night? Or did you have an allergic reaction...

 – Be quiet for a moment, in fact! Let Betty see what the problem is. Maybe she's been cursed with some strange spell that's harming her. – Beatrice pushed the people away from the door and approached Emilia.

 Putting her hand on the half-elf's head, she began her examination. Gradually moving downwards, she found nothing unusual until she reached the stomach. She noticed some kind of lump forming. Putting in a little more mana, Beatrice's once bored face took on a look of surprise.

 – How... How is that possible?..

 – What is it, Beako? Did you find something? – Subaru asked, moving closer to the spirit.

 Without saying a word, Beatrice grabbed his hand and took some of his mana. She froze again.

 – Betty wants to say that there are no curses or diseases on the half-elf. But there is something more important. And to start with... – the spirit turned to her contractor. – Subaru. In the last two weeks, have you been doing anything with the half-elf?

 – I don't think so... – Subaru broke out in a sweat.

 – Don't lie. Betty can sense echoes of your mana in the half-elf's body. Tell me.

 – Excuse me, Beatrice-sama. But what are you trying to find out? – the maid asked.

 – I'm trying to figure out when Subaru Betty managed to conceive a child with this girl! Is there anything else you don't understand, maid?! – the spirit snapped.

 Everyone present froze at Beatrice's words. Subaru and Emilia practically turned to stone, and the spirit's last words spun around in their heads.

 After a while, Frederica gathered everyone in the dining room to discuss the situation. Naturally, she had already informed all members of Emilia camp about the topic of conversation. And, of course, everyone was... shocked. Although every member of the camp already knew about the relationship between the candidate to the throne and her knight, many could not imagine that such a moment could come in the next few years.

 Once everyone had gathered, the main culprits of the meeting sat down next to each other.

 – Well, this is definitely... an interesting development~. – Roswaal remarked with an even broader smile than usual. – And it's quite interesting how it all came about. Isn't that right, Annerose?

 – I have to agree. It's... extremely intriguing. – the girl said, clearing her throat slightly.

 – Cap! Come on, tell us how it happened! – Garfiel was proud of his captain. – How was that...

 Almost immediately, he received a slap on the back of the head from Ram and Frederica.

 – I am amazed by your insolence, Barusu. – Ram looked at Subaru with contempt. – To defile Emilia-sama. Hmph, I expected nothing less.

 – N-nee-sama! I don't remember how it happened at all! According to Beako, it was almost two weeks ago. Maybe even the day we had the party! – Subaru pointed to the clown at the head of the table. – If he hadn't brought alcohol, neither I nor Emilia-tan would have done what we did!

 – Foolishness, Barusu, foolishness! Blaming others when you couldn't control your own thirst! That's so like you.

 – It's m-my fault... – Emilia spoke, drawing everyone's attention. – I don't remember what happened very well, but I remember that I forced him to do it...

 While Subaru and Emilia blushed, the others stared at the half-elf in shock. NO ONE had expected such news.

 – L-let's all calm down and stop blaming each other or trying to figure out what happened that night! – Otto shouted, calming everyone at the table. – Beatrice-sama. How far along are you saying Emilia-sama is?

 – A couple of weeks. Maybe a little more.

 – Hmm, I see. Then we need to be careful that the public doesn't find out about Emilia-sama's pregnancy anytime soon. What are the differences between elven and half-elf pregnancies?

 – The difference is that elves rarely experience morning sickness. Half-elves experience it slightly more often, but still less often than humans. Otherwise, there is no difference in the course of pregnancy.

 – That's very interesting, but what do the culprits of this meeting think? – asked Annerose, turning her gaze to the couple. – There's no need to agonise over it. There are ways to terminate...

 – NO! You... You want to kill a child who isn't even to blame for the situation?! – Emilia jumped up from her seat in anger. – That's... Horrible!

 – Emilia-tan, calm down. – the half-elf directed her angry gaze at Subaru's calm face. – I think Annerose was testing you. No one is going to do anything you don't want to do. And I, like you, am completely against it.

 This calmed Emilia down a little, and she sat back down.

 – Well, since we've decided that the child is staying, we should create a programme for Emilia-sama and Subaru-kun on how to raise their future offspriiiing~. – Roswaal said this with a hint of seriousness.

 Naturally, this caused the above mentioned couple to turn red again. While the others continued their discussion, Subaru lowered his head and wrapped his arms around it slightly.

 «I... am going to be a father? I mean, if I think about it, this is what it was all leading up to, right? Of course, it happened sooner than I expected, but still...»

 His thoughts were interrupted when he felt his hand being gently squeezed. He looked up for a moment and saw Emilia's tender gaze as she smiled at him. An idea popped into his head.

 – Emilia-tan. Would you like to go on a date today?

 The half-elf was slightly surprised, but nodded gently to him. Together, they quietly left the table and headed for their rooms.

~A little later~

 A few hours later, they were already passing by Arlam village in their carriage, which, as usual, was bustling with life. After getting out of the carriage and greeting the village head, they headed to the location of their date – a flower field.

 – It's soooo beautiful here, as always. – said Emilia, looking at the field of flowers.

 – Yeah. But Emilia-tan is much more beautiful!

 The girl didn't reply, just giggled at his words. Together, they sat down on the grass and gazed into the distance, admiring the view. They spent some time like this until the black-haired boy decided to speak.

 – Emilia-tan. Do you think I could be a good… father? – the girl turned to him with a surprised look on her face. – I'm not that capable. Maybe I'll mess up raising a child and he or she will hate me (or themselves). W-what if I'm... not good enough for...

 His speech was interrupted by the half-elf gently stroking his back.

 – You don't need to be so hard on yourself. I understand how you feel. – Emilia gently touched the hair clip. – When I think about... the future, I remember Mother Fortuna. She always had a hard time with me. Because of my appearance, I had to spend a lot of time at home, but thanks to a secret passage, I constantly escaped from the house and went for walks. When she found out, she scolded me for a loooong time.

 – Oh, Emilia-tan was a naughty child, huh? – the boy asked with a smile, receiving a kick in the shoulder in response.

 – Dummy! Don't be silly. I bet you were a naughty boy too! – Emilia looked at him, puffing out her cheeks. – I just wanted to say that I heard her doubt herself several times. She wondered if she was taking good care of me and if I was getting enough love. And even though I can't tell her that anymore, she was a good mother. I wish I could tell her that directly.

 «We're alike in that way. We both want to tell our parents that we love them. And in the end...»

 – I don't know what kind of parent I would be. But I'll do my best to be a good mother. I'll make every effort to do so. And if you want to be involved too, then...

 – O-of course I want to! I wouldn't be a man if I ran away from my responsibilities! Especially if it's a son, I need to teach him all the male traditions of the Natsuki family! – the boy replied enthusiastically.

 – It's going to be a girl. At least, I think so. – Emilia looked at her stomach with a smile. – I'll name her Chocorina!

 The joyful smile on Subaru's face slowly turned into a nervous one. And the reason was clear.

 – No, you can't name her that. That name sounds stupid. – Subaru said with an unexpectedly serious expression.

 – It's not stupid at all! It's a normal name! And I like it!

 – I don't! I have a better name! If it's a girl, she'll be called... – Subaru thought for a moment, coming up with names until he settled on one that suited him. – Electra. Like one of the Pleiades. It sounds much better!

 – Ch-Chocorina still sounds good! – Emilia turned away and muttered almost inaudibly. – Although I like Electra too.

 – By the way, what name will it be if it's a boy?

 Emilia and Subaru's eyes lit up. They began to suggest names one after another, oblivious to how quickly time was passing.

Chapter Text

 – ... And then it says that the baby starts to become active during the fourth month! – Emilia finished her story to Annerose.

 The girl listened to what the half-elf was saying, but her patience was running out. She had been listening to stories about pregnancy almost ALWAYS since Emilia found a small section in the library dedicated to this topic. And she had to admit: after so much of Emilia's nonsense, for the first time she wanted to slap her forehead with all her might!

 – Emily. I understand that you're very interested in this, but… Why not discuss it with the person you're actually going to have a baby with? I think Subaru would find it much more interesting. – the girl explained calmly.

 «I'm sorry, but I can't listen to you anymore! You keep coming to me and telling me all this!» Annerose shouted to herself.

 – Well, Subaru has his own interests. He spends time with Beatrice in the library or outside. He plays with Garfiel and Otto. And we go on dates anyway, so it doesn't make sense for me to take up more of his time.

 – I think it's completely different. Because of the Royal Selection, you have to study all the time, so he thinks he's getting in the way too much and doesn't call you as often. – Annerose put her cup of tea on the table. – Considering your circumstances and the fact that he has decided to take responsibility, I don't think you see him as your future... partner. – Emilia blushed deeply at this phrase. – So wouldn't it be better to get to know him better? Where is he from? His parents? What are his hobbies?

 As Annerose listed the questions, Emilia really did begin to worry that she didn't know that much about Subaru. But there was something that bothered her. Ever since Subaru confessed his feelings to her.

 – I-I still haven't accepted his feelings. He... said he loves me. And I... I don't know. I don't know if I love him back. – Emilia's shoulders slumped noticeably.

 – If you sit there wondering whether you love him or not, you'll never know. Or at least not until that maid wakes up. – Emilia looked up. – What if that boy gets tired of waiting for an answer and goes to that girl? I don't think you want her to steal his attention completely...

 Suddenly, Emilia got up and, quickly apologising, left the garden and went into the mansion. Annarose watched as she approached Subaru at one of the windows and, after talking to him for a moment, led him away. The blue-haired girl smiled slightly and took another sip of tea.

 – What were we all thinking? It's time for her to grow up, given the situation. – Annerose fixed her hair. – I hope this will calm her enthusiasm for talking about her pregnancy a little.

~Some time later~

 Emilia and Subaru had been travelling to the capital for some time for a date suggested by the half-elf herself. Subaru hadn't expected her to suggest it, so he was pleasantly surprised. As always, he wore his tracksuit (the original), which had been thoroughly washed and cleaned. Emilia was dressed more modestly: she wore a simple purple dress with black leggings and ordinary hiking boots. She wore the same white cloak over it, only without the ears.

 «Probably to hide the fact that Emilia-tan's figure is changing. It would be awkward if Anastasia found out about Emilia's pregnancy.» Subaru clenched his fist. «I won't let her deceive Emilia too. Just not like this...»

 – Subaru? Are you okay? You look a little... nervous. – the concerned girl asked.

 – Oh, me? No, I was just thinking that Emilia-tan looks wonderful in that dress! – It's just like any other dress you've worn or will wear...

 – C-come on, stop it! W-we're on a date! Or... Did I distract you somehow?

 – What?! You didn't distract me at all. There was nothing that could prevent me from spending time with Emilia-tan! – said the young man, smiling broadly at her.

 Of course, he had been creating his own spells with Beatrice lately, but he was happy to spend some time with Emilia, postponing the creation of the spell until later.

 Upon arriving in the capital, they got out of the carriage, wished Ram all the best, and set off to wander the streets of the city without a care in the world. As they walked through the streets, they chatted about all sorts of nonsense. Emilia, as in her conversations with Annerose, brought up the topic of the books she had read several times. The result: Subaru hastened to explain to her that talking about it loudly wasn't the best idea. Soon, they passed by a poster that intrigued the half-elf. It was an invitation to a small series of performances by various aspiring singers.

 – You want to go? – Subaru asked, also glancing at the poster. – I have money, and it sounds interesting.

 – Hmm, I'd rather listen to you sing with Beatrice. You two were pretty good.

 – I'd be happy to arrange that! But we're not at the mansion right now, Beako isn't here, and it's kind of awkward to sing in the middle of the street. – Subaru said with a smile. – By the way, you still haven't answered my question...

 Emilia grabbed his hand tightly and together they headed for the address indicated on the poster.

~Later~

 The performances were over. Many people took to the stage, and some of them looked like fairly wealthy individuals who apparently spent a lot of time on music. Some came with various instruments (someone even brought a piano!). But almost all of them left the audience with mixed feelings. Some played boring melodies that make anyone sick. Some played or sang frankly badly (even worse than Emilia).

 Only one performer made a good impression on everyone. It was a man dressed in a wrinkled black suit without a tie. Like Subaru, he had black hair, which, unlike the half-elf's knight, was slicked back more neatly. His voice was low and didn't seem suitable for singing. Nevertheless, he sang... magnificently. His low voice perfectly conveyed the mood of both melancholic and more positive songs. It would be an understatement to say that the audience was delighted. Amongst a bunch of untalented people, there was a diamond in the rough, which everyone appreciated with dignity.

 The couple left the room in high spirits, back onto the bright streets of the city.

 – I was so surprised when he started singing! It was reeeealy beautiful. – the half-elf nodded to herself. – I'd like to come to another one of his performances.

 – I agree. It was interesting that a guy with such a low voice could sing... like that! – Subaru scratched the back of his head thoughtfully. – The first song reminded me of one from my homeland. It's also quite sad.

 – Hah, I'm glad you appreciated me so much.

 The couple turned towards the alley, where the singer who had performed was sitting on one of the boxes, smoking a cheap cigarette.

 – Oh, it was you who performed there! – said Emilia, bowing slightly to him. – Thank you for your performance!

 – Yes, it was damn good! To be honest, I didn't expect you to sing so well with a voice like that. – Subaru immediately received a light kick.

 – Heh, glad you liked it. My friend kept telling me that I sing great and, in the end, advised me to come here. I had a good time and earned a little money for Rin. – the man saw the surprise on the couple's faces. – This is my daughter. She's turning twelve, and I'd like to get her a present.

 – I hope you can find something she'll definitely like. Um, I wanted to ask, sir...

 – Taichi. Just Taichi.

 – Mr Taichi, how did you come up with the first song? It sounded so beautiful and... sad.

 Taichi was a little surprised, but soon his gaze filled with nostalgia.

 – Well, I didn't write the song. A girl named Kaoru used to sing it a lot. She missed home and remembered her loved ones thanks to the song. I helped her a lot in her life and often supported her. Once... Kaoru confessed her feelings to me. – Taichi lowered his gaze. – But in the end, I didn't reciprocate her feelings. She couldn't wait and... married someone else.

 Emilia felt a tightness in her chest. This man's story seemed very familiar to her, and it made her feel even more guilty towards Subaru.

 – After a while, she gave birth to a daughter who... looked very much like her. I didn't want to interfere with her happiness, so I soon left the village where we lived. When I decided to visit her, I found out that the Witch Cult had attacked the village. – the man clenched his fist with the cigarette, turning everything to dust. – Almost everyone died. Including Kaoru. Only Rin, whom she had managed to hide, survived. Since then, I have sworn to protect her at any cost. And I don't want to lose her too.

 – I'm... sorry. – Emilia bowed her head. – My condolences for your loss.

 – It's okay. It's been almost ten years since then, and... Sometimes I sing this song. – he dusted the dirt off his hand. – Nothing can be changed now... I've been a fool...

 Emilia fell silent. For some reason, she imposed his story onto her own and... she didn't like how things were going. Noticing that the girl had fallen silent, Subaru decided to ask a question himself.

 – Um, suppose you could meet your younger self. What would you say to him?

 The man thought for a moment, scratched his chin, and gave his answer.

 – I would punch him with all my strength so that his jaw would crack with pain. – the couple exchanged surprised glances. – And then I would advise him to fall in love with Kaoru quickly and take her wherever she wants to go... as long as she can live happily.

 Taichi got up from the box.

 – Okay, I have to go. You two lovebirds may still have everything ahead of you, but don't linger too long. Otherwise, you'll regret it like I do. – the man waved goodbye and left.

 Subaru and Emilia pondered his words for a long time as they walked through the city...

 As they walked around the city, Emilia couldn't get the man's story out of her head. She kept seeing certain people who fit the roles. Subaru was Kaoru, Rem was the unknown person Kaoru fell in love with, and Emilia was Taichi. Of course, there were differences.

 «Why... Why am I such a fool? Subaru has done so much for me... He loves someone who looks like the Witch. Yet I can't understand something as simple as "love".»

 She couldn't help but remember asking her mother why she fell in love with Geuse.

 «He can be such a fool sometimes. As you know, he's bad at keeping his promises and constantly makes me worry about him. But... when I think about him, I feel good inside. I enjoy it when he tells me about his adventures and his life... Just don't tell him I said that! Otherwise, he'll get the wrong idea...»

 «Emilia-tan! Follow me! There seems to be something interesting over there!»

 Subaru grabbed her hand and pulled her along. This unexpected action made the half-elf's heart skip a beat, but soon a pleasant warmth blossomed in her chest. They quickly reached a street lined with tents selling food and games of some kind. The answer that the black-haired knight had intercepted was spinning around in Emilia's head.

 – Wow, is there some kind of festival here?

 – It's probably in honour of "the day of the contract with Volcanica". Many cities in Lugunica hold such celebrations. – Emilia replied, showing off her knowledge.

 The knight nodded at her answer.

 – Hmm, so it's a festival... How fortunate that my date with Emilia-tan is on such a lucky day. – he pulled the half-elf by the hand again. – I've always wanted to go to a festival with someone other than my parents.

 – Did you often go with them?

 – Yep! True, my father often ruined all the fun: he won all the games, taking all the prizes, or ate all my food.

 Although Subaru spoke with a hint of irritation, he was mostly happy to remember it. And despite the fact that he tried to hide some sadness, Emilia easily noticed it, as she had seen him hide his emotions before. Before that, she hadn't asked or brought up the subject, but thanks to the current circumstances, she had the opportunity to get to know her knight a little better.

 The half-elf grabbed his hand tighter and led him to the first stand.

 – Come on, Subaru, don't dawdle! You don't want to keep your lady waiting too long, do you? – Emilia asked with a sly smile, looking at her knight.

 Subaru, without answering, followed his lady, continuing his "escort".

 The time spent at the festival flew by. They visited a bunch of stands: at some they ate delicious food (Emilia managed to completely clear out one of the counters), at others they played games with prizes (winning nothing but a cheerful mood). They wished the day would never end, but evening crept up on them. Subaru wanted to visit a place they had been to once before. A place only he remembered.

 By the time the sun had disappeared from the sky, they had reached a hill with an excellent view of almost the entire city. It was here that Subaru had introduced himself to her for the first time. And it was here that he wanted to come today.

 They both stood at the stone railing looking at the city, and the half-elf mentally scolded herself. After all, she hadn't spoken to him properly all day! And although it was late, the right moment had come.

 – Subaru.

 – Yes?

 – Remember, you said you would wait for my answer? – the boy perked up slightly. – I'm sorry for making you wait. I don't know if it's inconvenient for you, but... I want to give you an answer. Very much so. And that's why I wanted... – Emilia took a deep breath and said as she exhaled. – ...To get to know you better!

 Subaru looked at her with surprise. He didn't know if it was her hormones talking, making her so anxious that he was willing to wait years, or if she had wanted to talk about this for a long time. But he couldn't joke about what she wanted to talk about with all her heart.

 – Of course, Emilia-tan. Ask me anything you want. However, I can't promise that I'll be able to answer everything.

 Emilia nodded and thought about her first question. She had always wondered why he never told anyone where he was from. Of course, it could be that he was from a small village where, by coincidence, there were people from Gusteko with the Kararagi culture. But that wasn't enough for her.

 – Subaru. Where are you from? I mean, what country did you come from? – Subaru just opened his mouth, but the girl immediately covered it. – And no, I don't believe there's some village in the east. You were dressed too strangely. You're talking about things that even Roswaal doesn't know anything about. Subaru. Where are you from?

 Panic appeared on the black-haired knight's face. He didn't know how Emilia would react to the news of his otherworldly origins. Beatrice was a completely different case, as she was his contract spirit who promised not to tell anyone about their private conversations. But now Emilia was standing in front of him, ready to listen.

 – I... I... Emilia... – Subaru shook his head and straightened up, exhaling as calmly as possible. – This... is probably going to sound strange. You may not believe me...

 – If you tell me the truth, I'll believe you. Even if you say you came from the Great Waterfall.

 Subaru visibly flinched and looked away. Before, Emilia wouldn't have noticed this movement, but now she noticed every little thing about him. Even the scent of the soap he used after bathing.

 – Are you... really from another world? But how did you get here? What magic did you use?

 – Well, none at all. Where I came from, there is no magic. Not even the simplest kind. – Subaru scratched his chin awkwardly. – I... I don't even know how I got here myself. I left the shop, blinked, and I was in the capital. The day I saved you was my first day in this world.

 – B-but why did you do that? You could have just left me there. Besides, I caused you more trouble...

 – Not at all! I decided to intervene myself. Besides, you may not remember this, but you saved me that day. – Emilia looked at him in surprise. – I accidentally stumbled upon three thugs and they beat me up. You had your own problems, but you didn't walk by, you saved me and healed my wounds. And one thing led to another, and I accidentally found out what Elsa was planning. And before you ask any more questions, I'll tell you that I liked you from the very beginning. True, I didn't express it well once. It was awful.

 Emilia immediately understood what he meant. She still remembered that conversation in the capital. But now, with experience and knowledge of Subaru's origins, that already bad conversation became even more terrible.

 – Back then in the capital... all those things you said...

 – I know. I just wanted you all to myself and saw you as some kind of prize...

 – Not that. Not just that… Now I understand how you really felt.

 To Subaru's surprise, Emilia gently hugged him and began to cry quietly.

 – I'm sorry... I'm sorry... I'm such a fool...

  – Emilia-tan, why are you crying? It's my fault that...

 – You... just wanted me to be there for you. When you started bragging that I needed you, but in reality... you needed me. – she pulled back slightly, but didn't let go of him. – You ended up in a completely different world. Without money or a home. Without knowledge of language. Without the support of others. It's no wonder you behaved that way. You didn't want to be alone. And I... let you down...

 The half-elf felt the urge to cry again, but she managed to hold back. She didn't want to lose face even more.

 – I won't do it again. I won't abandon you again. Never. – Emilia grabbed his shoulders more tightly. – Subaru Natsuki. Let me see more of your true self. Let me support you... Please.

 The black-haired boy had no words for that. Their date had started out light and easy, but now it had practically turned into a discussion of who "Subaru Natsuki" was. Although it wasn't very pleasant for him to remember those days, Emilia was able to lighten the burden a little. He didn't know yet if he could show the side that Rem had shown, but...

 «At least, it's not what I imagined... And I'm glad about that.»

 – O-okay, Emilia-tan. I... I'll let you. But don't think that I can reveal all my secrets. There are things I can't say, not that I don't want to.

 Emilia nodded cautiously. Now she could get to know her knight better. Better understand how to love him.

 – I just don't know where to start. Maybe with the same thing I started telling to Beako?

 – W-what?! Beatrice knows?! So you told her, but not me? And you said you loved me! D-dunderhead! Dummy! – Emilia recoiled from the boy in shock.

 Their exchange of words quickly turned into laughter. As they sat and talked, time flew by to a new day, in which the two would begin to understand each other a little better.

Chapter Text

 Beatrice was sitting in the Miload estate library, as usual. She was reading a new book she had recently found, even though it didn't particularly interest to her at the moment. Why? It was very simple: her contractor, Subaru Natsuki, wasn't there.

 Usually, when Subaru spent time with her, he would crack jokes or tell stories from his world and somehow make the day more meaningful. But ever since it was revealed that the half-elf Emilia was pregnant, he had been spending a little less time with her. He usually spent time with the half-elf on dates, but after the last one, he began to spend more time with girl. Beatrice often saw the boy telling her something, and she would either laugh or ask him to continue. It didn't help that over the course of a month, she had become more demanding of her knight's presence due to her raised hormones.

 «Betty understands that the half-elf is carrying my contractor's child. But that doesn't mean she should take him completely for herself!»

 Unable to bear it any longer, the spirit jumped out of her chair, opened the door, and ran out into the corridor, not noticing the surprised looks of the maids. She ran straight to the half-elf's room, intending to find out what they were doing. Fortunately, the door was ajar, and she could easily hear what they were talking about...

 – You're so good, Emilia-tan! Even Ram praised your academic achievements, and I can see for myself that it's not for nothing! – said Subaru's enthusiastic voice.

 – O-of course I tried my best! It would be silly if I did nothing while Subaru was working so hard. – noted Emilia's embarrassed voice.

 – Heh, that's true! So what did you want to talk about? – the boy asked with interest.

 – Indeed. What did you, silly girl, want to talk to Betty's Subaru about, I suppose? – Beatrice muttered, moving closer to the door.

 – W-well, just... I w-want our relationship to become... better! – Emilia raised her voice at the end, causing both Subaru and Beatrice to jump. – After that date, I began to understand better what I want. So the next step will be my little request...

 – What is it? Do I need to climb the highest mountain? Cook the best dinner for my lady? Or...

 – You dummy! Stop it! This is serious! I wanted you... – Beatrice held her breath. – ...to sleep with me. In the same bed.

 – I... Um... – Subaru was in shock from her words.

 – I read in that book that p-people who are in a relationship s-share the same bed. And... considering that, I wanted...

 – I WON'T ALLOW IT, I SUPPOSE!

 At that moment, Beatrice burst into the room and grabbed Subaru by the arm.

 – Betty won't allow her contractor to do such... such...

 – Beako was listening to the whole conversation? – Subaru asked with a sly smile, guessing the reason for her behaviour.

 – Of course! Betty needs to know what the half-elf was planning to do. And I realised that she was trying to take Subaru away from Betty without any doubts, in fact! – the spirit pointed at Emilia with anger on her face.

 – Take him away? Why do you think that? – Subaru asked in confusion.

 – You've been spending less time with Betty!

 – Well, I often spend time not only with Emilia and you, but with others as well.

 – Lately, you've been coming to bed later!

 – Otto. No further explanation as to why he is guilty.

 – You've been telling the half-elf more about your past than you've been telling me!

– Is that... a problem? I've told you a lot of things. I'm telling Emilia the same things I told you because I wanted to share them with the people I love the most!

 Beatrice couldn't find a response to the last statement, as her face flushed (as did Emilia's).

 – Beako. I wasn't going to take Subaru away from you at all. – Emilia interjected. – It's just... I want to understand my feelings better so that I can give him the answer he wants.

 – Only Betty's Subaru can call me that, in fact! And you'd better do it quickly if you don't want to lose him, I suppose.

 – Hehe, of course. – Emilia nodded to the spirit with a smile. – But since you're so jealous, why don't we all sleep together?

 Now both the contractor and the spirit looked at Emilia in bewilderment.

 – What? My bed is big enough for everyone. Besides, I never planned on separating you two. And I think Beako also wants to keep an eye on Electra's growth, right? – Emilia said with a sly smile.

 Subaru was speechless. He wanted to praise the girl for her resourcefulness, as Beatrice seemed to have already thought through her response.

 – Well, okay, I suppose. I agree with that outcome. But I have one condition...

 – You want to be one of the first to know the baby's condition? – Beatrice was surprised, but nodded. – No problem. I wanted Beako and Subaru to be the first to know!

 Both Subaru and Beatrice blushed at such attention from the half-elf. And although Beatrice still had some grievances against the girl, she decided to keep them to herself for now.

 «Betty will see how she behaves when she finds out about my contractor's problems, I suppose. And then I'll make my final decision.»

~A few nights later~

 Emilia stayed up late in the library. Ever since she and Subaru (and Beatrice) had started spending their nights together, Emilia had been waking up earlier than she usually did.

 One reason was so she could watch Subaru sleep for a while. At such moments, her heart fluttered with happiness that he had accepted her offer. With such pleasant thoughts, the half-elf gathered her things and headed back to her room. The corridors of the mansion were already shrouded in deep darkness, and all the residents were probably asleep (Emilia and Frederica had made Otto go to bed early). As she approached her room, Emilia noticed strange sounds coming from behind her. She politely opened the door.

 – It hurts... U-under my skin... They r-ripped out my insides... It hurts. It hurts. It hurts...

 As soon as Emilia entered, it became clear what the strange sounds were. Subaru was writhing in pain, tossing and turning in bed, while Beatrice stroked him and used magic on him. The stunned half-elf ran to the bed and discovered that Subaru was bleeding from a torn wound on his forearms.

 – W-what... What happened?! How did he?..

 – That was one of the reasons why Betty didn't want to agree, I suppose. – Emilia looked up at the gloomy spirit. – Subaru often has nightmares. And sometimes they end up... like this. – Beatrice looked grimly at his wounds.

 Emilia placed her hand on one of the wounds, and soon a spirit arrived to help heal them faster. But the painful sobs and pleas didn't stop. Then Emilia gently took his head and placed it on her lap, slowly stroking his hair. To Beatrice's surprise, the boy began to calm down and soon he was sleeping peacefully again.

 – He usually woke up when he had a nightmare, I suppose. This is the first time he's continued sleeping, in fact.

 Emilia didn't answer, but she already had a topic for their morning conversation in mind...

 Subaru opened his eyes. He quickly glanced around, noticing that Beatrice was still sleeping nearby.

 «Strange. I remember... I had a dream... something painful.» Subaru scratched his forearm. «And then everything calmed down. As if nothing had happened. It feels the same as when Emilia-tan gives me a lap pillow.»

 – Thinking about something silly again?

 He turned at the voice, meeting Emilia's gaze. Even though her hair was a little messy and her eyes were sleepy, the half-elf looked beautiful to him. But he noticed that there was... anxiety in her gentle gaze.

 – Subaru. Can I talk to you about something?

The boy nodded uncertainly. The half-elf stood up and began ruffling his hair.

 – Do you often have nightmares?

/Subaru's eyes widened in shock. He now realised that he had fallen asleep before Emilia had gone to bed, and she had probably witnessed one of his... incidents. He wanted to try to lie, but it was too late for that. So he did the only thing he could.

 – Y-yes, often. Sometimes it's nothing serious. But sometimes...

 – Does it all end when you wake up and... hurt yourself? – Subaru flinched.

 Emilia slowly sat up and pulled Subaru's head on her lap. He looked at the half-elf in surprise, making her giggle.

 – You're such a... dummy. Did you think I would run away or no longer want to be with you? I promised I would support you. If you have bad dreams, I will be here to dispel them. – she quickly kissed him on the forehead. – You are my dear knight who protected me so diligently. Let me protect your sanity a little. Okay?

 Subaru turned his head away. He decided to lie there a little longer, not noticing how quickly he fell asleep again.

 After a while, there was a knock at their door, and then Ram entered, looking sternly at the sleeping boy at his lady's lap. She already knew that they had spent the last few nights together.

 – Hmph. Barusu is sleeping again? Apparently, all this training is useless...

 – Shh. – Emilia gently put her finger to her lips. – He couldn't sleep properly all night. Let him sleep a little.

 Ram's eyes widened at what she saw. Her lady spoke with such tenderness and sensuality that there could be no doubt: she was in love.

 The half-elf, who had the mind of a child, had finally grown up to the point where she could reciprocate the feelings of the one who had sacrificed his life for her more than once.