Chapter Text
It was a quiet night at the Elior forest. Ground dragons that were set inside the stables were softly asleep, lesser spirits resembling fireflies were dancing under the cold starry sky, and all village residents that were not assigned to patrolling the forest during dark were sleeping in their cozy houses. Or that would be the case if not for the one house at the edge of Elior where two not so asleep siblings were trying to sneak quietly into the kitchen at night.
A little figure with pointy ears, dark hair reaching her shoulders, and amethyst eyes peaked through the corner of the wall that was leading to the longest halfway in the house. Seeing that it was empty she stepped into it hugging the right side of the wall.
“Sneaky, sneak…” she rolled towards a drawer that was seated in front of the window with chaotic grace. “Sneak…”
“Okay, you can come out!” She whispered loudly to the person that was now lazily coming out of the corner not even trying to keep themselves hidden.
“...What is the purpose of sneaking around if you are gonna *yawn* be this loud anyways…”
“Shush!” she pressed a finger to her lips gesturing to the person now behind her to be quiet “Be more furtive or we will get caught!” she pressed a finger to hear mouth signaling him
“Who says furtive now anyways…Also do I have to remind you that it was YOUR idea to take me along?” answered the tall boy with tired amethyst sanpaku eyes, short silver hair that was scatterbrained clearly showing that he was sleeping not so long ago. “Also…”
“Why did you decide that it is a great time to get food when it's the middle of the night and that I need to go too!?!?” whisper-shouted the boy.
“Shhhhh!, don't be such a loud dunderhead or others will wake up. It's not my fault that I got hungry at nighttime.” Then the girl looked to the side and put her hands behind her back, interlocking them and rocking on her tip toes back and forward ”they are also other weighty reasons…” she answered barely a whisper.
His ears twitched “Reasons in question being?” he asked as he crossed his arms and looked at her with a judging look that really well resembled their mother.
“Well… I promised mom that tonight I will go to sleep early since we have an important meeting with elves from gusteko that will arrive early in the morning…” She recalled the talk her mother has been telling her for the past week.
“And I suppose by you being here you already broke that part of that promise?”
“A little tiny bit maybe…But how could I fall asleep when my stomach keeps making noises that sound exactly like big sister Meili pets?! “ she added as she stomped her foot on the floor trying to get rid of some of her pent up frustration.
“But I still don't get it…Why did you decide to wake me up just for that? I almost woke up my spirits because of you…” he grimaced “Also did you reeeeally have to jump onto my stomach for me to wake up?!?”
“Last time when uncle Garf and auntie Mimi came for a visit Garfie told me about
that one time when one night at the mansion when he woke up to get some food he heard footsteps walking behind him…”she continued with an innocent expression” and when he turned around he saw a real ghost!!”
“First of all you know how uncle Garf likes to exaggerate stories he tells… (‘Especially when it comes to our father.’) The second thing you missed is… It was Otto trying to find his way back to his room after a drinking contest with Ram and he just overdrunk himself…again.” He also recounted in his memory one of his father's stories about when Beako mistook Otto for a ghost when they were at Priestella city.
’I reeeeally wonder how he is still going after years of nonestop drinking? Does he have the divine blessing of an iron liver?!?’ he wondered while scratching the back of his neck, a habit he got from his father whenever he was thinking about something.
“But you can't ever be sure! What if it is actually true and I would be devoured by a hungry evil ghost!? I suppose you wouldn't want to lose your adorable little sister—r-right?” She looked at her older brother as she made puppy looking eyes.
‘Ugh, if not for the fact that she is so adorable i would be already on my way back into my room… I mean not sure if she knows what she' s doing…that little gremlin’ He still didn't know if she is that cunning or just does it without thinking.
“...Dunderhead,” left his lips as a teasing smile appeared on his face.
“Hmpf” she pouted “who even says that in this day and age”
“You little fooz-” As the boy was about to counterattack with words they heard slow metallic footsteps behind them approaching. As they both slowly turned around and glanced towards the halfway they came from, they were able only to see darkness as the moonlight that was illuminating the halfway from the window was now hidden behind the clouds.
“ARGHH!!! I-IT—IT MUST BE A G-GHOST I TOLD YOU ABOUT, I KNEW ITS REAL ! WHY YOU NEVER LISTEN TO ME YOU. BIG. NIPICOMP!” screamed the little girl as she hid behind her older brother to shield herself from incoming danger (or really drunk Otto).
“O-oi calm yourself down, i am sure there is some explanation to this” he said as he tried to calm down his sister, although it was not working since he himself started to feel real uneasy.
’Okey maybe reading that one horror story book before sleep was not a good idea…Okay calm yourself, you are the son of the two biggest heroes of this world…Have more pride in yourself!! In the worst case scenario I will just wake up my spirits to help with anything that comes out of this darkness.’
As the two were slowly backing away and preparing to fight (or run away to their parents bedroom in somebodys case) they heard a familiar voice.
“Huh? Oberon and Corina? What are you two doing here late at night, shouldn't you two be sleeping in your rooms?” asked a confused voice.
What came, or rather who came out of the darkness, was a figure that was weirdly enough wearing a handmade leather royal knight armor with a wooden sword at the hip. With the moonlight that came back they were now able to see dark hair with white stripes tied into a pony tail, and gentle amber eyes and while her ears were human sized they were pointy at the end.
“Electra nee-chan! What are you doing here and would you scare Oberon like that!” Corina said as she now stood in front of her brother while still trying to calm down her fast beating heart from fear. “Also before you ask why i was behind him i was just making sure none one attacks us from behind in fact”
“I dont think i was the one who was scared here…Also weren't you just behind me now ready to run away the moment the opportunity arrived!?” Frowned Oberon as he was looking annoyed at his little sister.
“You two still haven't answered my question, also do you really think that someone would dare to attack this house while the greatest knight in training is living in it?” Electra said as if it was something obvious while she puffed her chest up.
Oberon looked at his younger sister with raised eyebrow and with evil glint in his eyes he asked “I see, so if it was a zoda bug you still would be able to take it in a fight and protect our home from that scary beast, right?” he said as a grin spread on his face.
“YOU ARE WELL AWARE WHY I AM TERREFIRED OF THOSE AND ITS ENTAIRLY YOUR FAULT YOU BIG DUNDERHEAD, WHO DOES SOMETHING LIKE THAT TO THEIR LOVELY SISTER?!?”Electra declared calmly. It was a miracle that they didn't wake up other residents of their house, or other neighboring village houses.
“I STILL HAVE NIGHTMERES BECAUSE OF THAT, HOW DID YOU EVEN CONVINCE OTTO TO GET SO MANY ZODA BUGS IN ONE PLACE!?” She had shivers from just remembering the memory that will most likely hunt her for the rest of her long queter-elf years.
shrugs “I promised you that if you compare Undine to the zoda bug again I will show you for real how those reeeeally look up close. And you should be aware how our mother keeps reminding us of the most important rule of the Natsuki household.” He looked up and held his chin with his hand. “Also as for Otto…Are you aware how much blackmail material you can get on that man when he is mumbling drunk nonsense?”
While Otto didn't like the idea of being a training sparing dummy for Electra for the whole month (something that did happen after he helped with the Oberon revenge prank). What terrified him more was the even a slight chance of Ram finding out what he said about her when he was drunk.
“YES. and I clearly also remember the part where she also taught us that we should care for each other and talk things out when we get into arguments first, what you did SKIPED OVER THAT PART!”
Trying to change the subject before her older dunderhead sibling started to argue even more Corina asked “Hm? Onee-chan why are you wearing your training armor? Wouldn't it be more comfy to sleep in your pajamas?” she said as she looked at her sister's current outfit, which at the time they were didn't make much sense unless she tried to sneak out to patrol the elior forest at night again.
“Oh…w-well…about that...” she fake coughed. “It's just that as a knight you must always be ready for danger to come… R-right? Wouldn't it be a perfect time for an assassin to attack you at night when you are still in your sleeping clothes.” she then gestured at her outfit “-also those are comfy if you find the right position to sleep so it's not weird at all in fact.”
Corina didn't look too convinced but she decided to not push more for answers her dunderhead sister was hiding since this talk made her even more hungry.
“Soooo wanna join us?It can be like a little secret adventure mission between us three” Corina said as Oberon just looked at her, too tired to add anything else to that. She glanced towards the halfway leading to the main room and kitchen. “You could be our guard protecting us from evil ghosts!” She had sparkling eyes as she now was waiting for an answer.
As Electra was about to decline and continue her secret mission her stomach growled.
‘Her growls also sound like Meili' s pets’ noticed Corina but for her own wellbeing she decided to keep quiet.
“Now that sounded like an angry fat mabeast” Oberon said without thinking.
In an instant he said those words he was hit over the head with Electra's wooden sword, as fast as she drew it was back again in her hilt.
“Idiot…’’ekhem ‘’I suppose a little snack wouldn't hurt. Afterall a knight cant give it all when hunger overtakes them andddd most important of all i can keep any danger at bay from you two.” ‘Well as long it was not anything having multiple eyes, wings and legs.’
Oberon after finally recovering from the sword hit that he didn't even see coming until it was too late finally asked.
Sigh “Alright can we go already? I am getting reallyyyy tired and I would like to go to sleep already” Since Oberon was already woken up and was going to the kitchen anyway he might as well also wanted to get something to eat. There were still leftover sandwiches from today's picnic they had with their beloved family spirit.
Without waiting for an answer from his sisters he turned on his heel and started walking towards the kitchen. His sisters just gave each other a quick look and decided to follow him in silence since they already made too much noise.
As they were getting closer to the door they started hearing some rustling noises becoming louder and more clear, Oberon gestured to his siblings by zipping his mouth shut, which his sisters did listen to him for once. Electra saluted as if she got an order from her captain and Corina covered her own mouth with her hands so as to not let any sound out.
When he approached the door he gently pulled the handle and opened it only a little to peek inside. Corina and Electra joined in which created the image of three heads stacked on top of each other sticking out of the door frame and what they saw were their parents (and their family guardian spirit who was devouring cookies with an uncanny speed at the moment) talking and going through the fridge.
“Mmm.. Thank you for making this sandwich Baru, although i reeeeally think we shouldn't eat this late at night” said the half-elf as she was nibbling on the sandwich made by her husband for her. “Also didn't you add a bit too much mayo on your toast? It can't be good for your health if you keep eating that much mayo especially before going to sleep.” She tried to lecture Subaru as she tried to look intimidating which only made her look cuter.
Subaru hearing his wife dramatically clatched his heart “EMT is worrying about me, it makes me so happy to have such a loving caring wife!” He gave her a wink and then did a fast spin and held the jar with mayo inside. ” Also don't you know that there isn't such a thing as too much mayo? Especially made by someone as beautiful and cute as you.” replied Subaru as he was taking another spoonful of mayo onto the toast.
“Listen to the half-elf Subaru, what she is saying is true i suppose” Said Beatrice as she continued devouring homemade cookies she had Subaru make for Corina and her a few days ago. “Your health is the most important thing for us, if you don't take it seriously me and Mili wont forgive you hmpf” she huffed at the end as she turned her away with a slight blush coloring her cheeks.
Before she could say anything else Subaru scoped her up and put her in a hug “My contracted spirit is the cutest in the world! How could it be that I have been blessed so much that I have the cutest spirit in the entire world while also having a wife whose beauty and kindness can melt my heart in an instant!” he was spinning around in place as he started praising his wife and spirit.
Emilia giggled at Subaru acting like an overexcited puppy again "Don't forget our wonderful children dear husband, they are our gifts to the world and would be upset if you didn't even mention them” Or at least Corina would be since she was the one who loved getting praised the most out of all three.
“But of course Emilia-tan, i love them so much i could say one thousand reasons why they are my pride and joy but i can’t help but to express my love to you and my sweet spirit first!” He declared as he finally put down his spirit onto the chair after having his fill of spoiling her.
He approached Emilia as she was sitting on one of the comfortable chairs in kitchen and leaned down to give her a soft kiss on the lips, which was something she was more than happy to receive from him “By the way wasn't the reason we are here right now is because a certain dunderhead spend too much time at work today and forgot to eat anything since breakfast?" He looked at Emilia as she flinched guilty in her seat.
“I didn't mean to forget about eating…But the paper work just keeps piling up! There was also a meeting with elves from Gusteko and I had to make sure everything was prepared for them… If i didnt do it all in one go i wouldn't have time for you or the kids tomorrow again… I don't know how mother Fortuna was able to do that work all by herself while also taking care of Elior forest affairs…”
After unfrezzing the Elior forest Emilia has become the ambassador of elves and the leader of the village which has become a safe home for elves and other demihumans from all the kingdom. Unfortunately for her that means she has to take care of documents, reports, trade, supplies, and people going in and out of the forest or taking care of inside conflicts.
Last time an Elf that moved in from all over Volachina had an argument with a cat demi-human about the fence separating the two houses and the argument was about who owns it.
She put her sandwich down and rested her head on the table "And I didn't want to bother you since you were reeeelly busy with your own work too”
Of course sometimes she would have to ask Subaru for help with her work when it became too overwhelming and impossible to manage alone, but she promised herself that she would always repay him in kind later at night for all the help he would give her.
Subaru gently took hold of Emilia's hands and looked her in the eyes “Emilia-tan, we have been married for 15 years now, didn't we promise to rely on each other, and share our burdens together on the day of our wedding? I would rather help you with your work then have you not take care of yourself, after all your happiness is mine you know?”
He said as he looked gently at her with his amber eyes full of love, the eyes she loved so much and would often get lost staring at them for hours. “Also who wouldn't want to spend an entire day with their sexy cute wife in a closed room” he showed her his silly smile again.
“Subaru…” Emilia said as tears of happiness appeared on the corner of her eyes. He just always knew what words work the best on her didn't he? Although he still had to put a silly joke at the end? A mischievous idea popped up in her head.
She leaned into his ear and whispered “You just reeeeally~ like the idea of me doing whatever you like later in our bedroom in return for your help, isn't that right my dear husband~?” A teasing smile and a blush decorated her face.
In an instant Subaru's face became red as an appa and he became a bubbling mess of words and stuttering unable to come up with an answer, although he still did not deny the fact his wife did bring up.
“E.M.T…” was all his blue screened brain was able to come up with as an answer.
‘I suppose those two idiots never left their honeymoon phase, they even have forgotten that I am still here in fact. ’ Beako thought, although a smile still bloomed on her lips as she watched those two dunderheads she loved be happy together. She would just have them both or the kids give her attention and head pats in the morning.
As Subaru calmed down he was about to lean in to kiss his wife once more they heard a thud sound coming out of the entrance to the kitchen. As they looked towards the now already swung open door they saw Corina and Electra laying down on the top of Oberon, who seemed to be growling in pain both from the impact he took when his face planted into the floor and a weight that now was on top of him.
“Ugh…My face…Did you two have to lean on me that much? Get off me… You weigh a ton and are crushing me…” he muttered as he was slowly losing air from his lungs.
“I just wanted to see what mama and papa were going to do…but Electra nee-chan tried to cover my eyes for some reason…“ huffed the youngest sibling at the top.
“Sorry… but when Corina got on my back I was unable to keep my balance…wait… DID YOU JUST CALL ME FAT YOU FOPDOODLE?!” Electra shouted offended as she pinched her older brother's cheeks hard.
Oberon tried to defend himself but to no avail “OUCH! STOP IT! IT'S NOT WHAT I MEANT I PROMISE! OUCH! STOP, YOU ARE WEARING YOUR ARMOR AND CORINA IS ON TOP OF YOU!”
Subaru, Emilia and Beatrice looked at three bantering quarter-elfs at the floor, then at each other, and again at three siblings making a quarter-elf tower.
“HAHAHAHA, y-you three… l-ook ridiculous…HAHAHA” an uncontrolled laugh left Emilia as she was holding the sides of her stomach.
“Pffff I suppose that all you three inherited ridiculousness from your father” Beatrice said as she was wiping her tears away from laughing again.
“Geez, talk about an entrance eh? Although I should give prompts where they should be given, you are making a perfect emergency landing cushie for your sisters Oberon.” Subaru teased his son as he finally calmed down.
“...Shut…it… you…geezer and come… help…me…” Oberon said as he was trying to catch breath and hide his embarrassed face.
Since Emilia and Beako were still recovering from laughing Subaru approached the quarter-elf pile first and picked up Corina from the top and put her on the side, shortly after he gave a hand to Electra who slid down from Oberon and stood up while trying to fix up her armor.
Oberon, finally feeling the weight of him, rolled on his back and gasped for air.
‘Few more seconds and I would actually pass out…Is that armor reallllly made out of leather?!’
After catching his breath he looked up to see his father reaching his hand to him, he took it and muttered out a quiet thanks. Now three quarter-elfs were standing together in front of their parents and their beloved Beako.
“Oh-keeeey” Emilia clapped her hands together. ”Since we all calmed down, why don't we talk about what you three are doing here at this hour?” Emilia asked as she looked at her kids, her hands at her hips now.
Corina answered while trying to not look in the eyes of her mother “Weeeeell… Oberon nii-san and Electra nee-chan were arguing in front of my room and woke me up…then they had me go with them to then put blame on me for eating the sweets by themselves…”
All Electra and Oberon could do is give a deadpan look as they looked at their sister who tried to come up with a bad excuse.
Emilia approached Corina and started petting her head “Thats not very nice of your siblings then Corina-chan, although i dont think they would do something like that to their adorable little sister~ ” then Emilia lowered herself to the Corina eye level and while her smile stayed the same the air around got a little bit colder “ Of course there is noooo way my sweet little girl would lie about something like that right?” Corina gulped and looked to the right trying to avert her mother's intense gaze.
“B-but of course… m-mom”
Emilia softly sighed and took Corina into a hug “There is no shame in asking for help and there is no need to be lying you know?”she said as she started to slowly stroke her head. “If you were scared to go alone you could just ask us. After all, you shouldn't lie to your family. I am sure nobody would mind going with you” She said as she continued petting Corina's head.
“I am sorr- i mean thank you… mom” corrected herself Corina
After a moment of silence a low grumbling sound was heard from everyone in the room, all eyes went to the source of the sound which was a quarter-elf in leather armor standing close to her father.
“I uh… em… you heard nothing.” Electra said as a huge red blush spread across her face.
“Well, I am sure we still have enough leftovers for us all, so how about our dunderheads kids join us?” Subaru smiled as he tried to tease his kids for the last time.
“Who even says dunderhead in this day and age?” His family responded at the same time and laughter erupted across the house once more, most likely waking up the neighbors for sure this time.