"I've kept you waiting, Subaru, the clothes are sewn."
Rem handed the mended clothes to Natsuki Subaru, her voice laced with unconcealed anticipation.
"Wow! You can't even see where it was torn." Natsuki Subaru took the clothes, carefully examining the place that had been ripped. "Rem's skill is like magic, not even a trace is visible."
Speaking of which, Rem was not only skillful with her hands but also so gentle and virtuous. Such a girl was simply the ideal wife.
This sudden thought stunned even Natsuki Subaru himself.
Wait… could I have really fallen for Rem?
Looking at Rem's cute face, it didn't seem impossible…
"This is just a basic maid's skill…"
Rem lowered her head slightly, a faint blush on her cheeks.
"Ahem… but to me, it's magic."
Natsuki Subaru came back to his senses and responded seriously.
The tear in the clothes was not only perfectly sewn, but there was also an exquisite cherry blossom embroidery added.
"Rem felt that spot was a bit empty…" Rem nervously wrung her fingers, her voice growing softer,
"So, I took the liberty of adding a cherry blossom pattern as decoration, and it can also cover the mending marks… If Subaru doesn't like it…"
"How could I not!" Natsuki Subaru interrupted Rem, saying happily, "This is the best embroidery I've ever seen. From now on, these clothes will be my most treasured possession."
"Treasured possession or something… Subaru is exaggerating."
Rem shyly turned her face away, but the corners of her mouth couldn't help but curve into a smile.
"I'm serious." Natsuki Subaru touched the cherry blossom pattern, his fingertips feeling the fine stitches. "I will definitely cherish this cherry blossom Rem embroidered."
He paused, then continued thoughtfully, "But, it's really interesting, although apples are called 'Ringa' here, cherry blossoms are still called cherry blossoms."
"I heard Petra mention it before…" Rem began to explain, "To the east of Lord Roswaal's domain, there's a beautiful cherry blossom forest. Every spring, the petals fall like pink snow…"
"A cherry blossom forest, huh…" Natsuki Subaru rested his chin on his hand, his thoughts seeming to drift far away.
Cherry blossoms in another world…
If I could go see them with someone important.
It would surely be wonderful.
Natsuki Subaru unconsciously withdrew his gaze from the cherry blossom pattern, turning to look at Rem beside him.
Sunlight danced on her blue hair through the gaps in the leaves, casting a soft golden halo on her delicate profile.
"What's wrong, Subaru?"
Rem first looked at Natsuki Subaru with some bewilderment, then tilted her head and showed him a brilliant smile.
That smile was pure and warm, as if it could melt all the ice in the world.
Such a smile, I really hope I can protect it forever.
Natsuki Subaru silently made a vow in his heart, a gentle expression unconsciously appearing on his face, then he looked at Rem and said:
"I was thinking, how should I properly thank Rem-sama for mending my clothes."
"R-Rem-sama or something… Subaru is joking again." Rem's cheeks instantly flushed red, "I just did what I was supposed to do…"
"It's not just 'supposed to do'." Natsuki Subaru suddenly put on a straight face, wagging his index finger in front of Rem, "This is Rem's special limited edition mending service, complete with exclusive cherry blossom embroidery. It's absolutely unique."
Hearing this exaggerated praise, Rem couldn't help but lower her head shyly:
"B-because they're Subaru's clothes… so…"
"So what?"
Natsuki Subaru approached Rem with a mischievous grin.
Shy Rem is just too cute.
"So… I wanted to put a little more effort into it…"
Rem's voice grew softer and softer, almost becoming a whisper.
"Ah~ Honestly!" Natsuki Subaru suddenly clutched his head dramatically, "Rem is so cute, I won't be able to hold back!"
After all, facing such an adorable Rem, it was truly hard to resist.
"Subaru… Subaru is saying strange things again!" Rem covered her mouth and giggled.
"Then, as a reward…" Natsuki Subaru pretended to think, then invited Rem, "Let's pick a good day and go see the cherry blossoms together. This season is perfect for something like that."
"See the cherry blossoms… with Subaru…" Rem's eyes instantly lit up, but then she shyly lowered her head, "Mm, Rem understands."
"Then it's a promise, Rem." Natsuki Subaru extended his pinky finger, "Let's pinky swear~"
Rem looked at Natsuki Subaru's outstretched finger, hesitated for a moment, and finally extended her own pinky finger:
"Mm… it's a promise."
Their fingers gently hooked together, the warm touch making both their hearts beat uncontrollably faster.
Then, they both looked out the window at the azure sky.
Bright sunlight sprinkled in the courtyard, casting a warm glow on this promise.
Even if the promised day wasn't tomorrow.
But at this moment, both of them were already eagerly looking forward to that cherry blossom date.
.........
.........
Time flew by, and the afterglow of sunset had long been swallowed by the night.
In the corridor of Roswaal Manor, magic lamps emitted a soft glow.
Natsuki Subaru stood alone by the window of his room, gazing at the bright moon in the sky.
"Unknowingly, it's been almost ten days since I came to this world."
Natsuki Subaru muttered to himself, his fingers unconsciously stroking his chin.
"From following Emilia back from the Royal Capital, to becoming a servant in the mansion, to encountering the Mabeast attack in the forest, and even fighting the Bowel Hunter Elsa… However, I managed to resolve all these crises one by one."
"In short, things are developing in a good direction, which is great."
"Besides, I'm an official knight now, so I can help Emilia even better."
Thinking of this, a satisfied smile unconsciously appeared on Natsuki Subaru's lips.
Although the process was fraught with danger, and he almost lost his life, finally winning everyone's recognition and trust made all the effort worthwhile.
More importantly, he actually cleared it in one life.
Compared to the Natsuki Subaru in the original work, who struggled endlessly through death loops, he was simply too lucky.
"But speaking of loops…"
Natsuki Subaru's expression suddenly became grave, and he subconsciously touched his chest.
Regarding the ability of Return by Death, although he knew that if he just said those four words, perhaps he could confirm whether, like in the original work, he had been given this curse-like gift by the Witch of Envy, Satella.
But—
"Better not."
Natsuki Subaru shook his head, pushing this dangerous thought to the back of his mind.
Death, just imagining it was enough to send shivers down his spine.
That heart-wrenching pain, that bone-deep despair…
If possible, he hoped never to experience it a second time.
Knock, knock—
A crisp knocking sound suddenly interrupted Natsuki Subaru's thoughts.
"Is it Rem?"
Almost as a reflex, the image of the blue-haired maid immediately appeared in Natsuki Subaru's mind.
Ever since he had opened his heart to Rem during the day, her every frown and smile frequently appeared in his mind.
"Uh—it's Ram."
Opening the door, what greeted him was the pink-haired maid who had the same face as Rem but a completely different aura.
Ram wore the standard Roswaal Manor maid uniform, the well-tailored black dress perfectly outlining her slender waist.
The pure white stockings extending from beneath the hem of her skirt encased her long legs, glowing softly in the light.
Although she was Rem's twin, Ram carried an air of inviolable dignity in her every move.
"Subaru, why the disappointed tone?"
Ram slightly narrowed her ruby-red eyes, her pink hair swaying gently on her shoulders. Her hands were clasped in front of her skirt, and although her expression was calm, the slight tilt of her chin betrayed a hint of displeasure.
Unlike Rem's gentle demeanor, Ram always exuded an aura of pride and aloofness, and was currently scrutinizing Natsuki Subaru.
"N-no, not at all." Natsuki Subaru scratched his head and laughed, but couldn't help muttering to himself:
I thought it was Rem who came…
Wait, why do I care so much whether it's Rem or not?
"......"
Ram said nothing and walked straight past Natsuki Subaru.
The faint scent of vanilla from her wafted past Natsuki Subaru's nose; it was completely different from Rem's fragrance.
It was worth mentioning that Natsuki Subaru's room was very simply furnished: a bed, a wardrobe, and in the corner, a writing desk he had never used.
And Ram was heading towards that writing desk in the depths of the room.
Although this was standard for every guest room, for Natsuki Subaru, who still couldn't read the characters of this other world, it was merely a superfluous piece of furniture.
"What are you spacing out for, Barusu, come over here."
Ram looked at Natsuki Subaru, who was still standing rooted to the spot, frowned slightly, and tapped her slender fingers on the desktop.
"It should be past evening tea time now, logically you and Rem should be cleaning the kitchen…" Natsuki Subaru looked at Ram and said half-jokingly,
"Could it be, Ram, that you're going to give me a massage and a back rub?"
"Barusu's brain is indeed as empty as his appearance." Ram sighed lightly, a hint of helplessness flashing in her ruby-red eyes,
"I'm going to teach you how to read. Now sit down quickly, or do I have to use wind magic to blow you over?"
"Read?"
Natsuki Subaru's expression showed surprise.
On the table, neatly arranged, were a notebook made of pure white paper, a quill pen, and a book with a reddish-brown cover.
Seeing these things, Natsuki Subaru couldn't help but suck in a breath of cold air.
It seemed this was neither a joke nor a prank; Ram really intended to teach him how to read.
Thinking about it, he had been in this other world for over ten days, yet he hadn't even mastered the most basic characters.
The reading and writing skills he took for granted in his original world had become an unattainable skill here.
After all, the literacy rate in this other world wasn't high to begin with; most ordinary villagers only recognized commonly used characters.
However, as a guest of Roswaal Manor, and even Emilia's knight, it was indeed a bit unreasonable for him not to know basic reading and writing.
"Subaru, as Lady Emilia's knight, if you can't even decipher basic official documents, it will not only damage Lord Roswaal's reputation but also bring shame upon Lady Emilia."
Ram explained in a rare serious tone, her fingers gently stroking the cover of the book.
"That's a rather harsh assessment…"
Natsuki Subaru muttered softly as he slowly pulled out a chair and sat down somewhat uncomfortably.
However, he quickly became alert again, leaning forward slightly, his eyes full of suspicion,
"Wait, this isn't actually some kind of devilish special training, is it?"
"If you're willing, Ram can also become a devilish teacher~"
As she spoke, a wisp of wind faintly gathered at Ram's fingertips.
"No, no, no, the normal teaching method is just fine!"
Natsuki Subaru hurriedly waved his hands.
"In a while, as Lady Emilia's knight, you will need to accompany her to the Royal Capital." Ram gently placed the quill pen beside the inkwell, her ruby-red eyes staring intently at Natsuki Subaru,
"Lord Roswaal has already made the travel arrangements."
"To the Royal Capital?"
Natsuki Subaru was slightly stunned, looking thoughtful.
He remembered that Emilia's main purpose for going to the Royal Capital was to participate in the Royal Selection ceremony and compete for the throne.
That being said, the White Whale, the Witch Cult, and that troublesome Sin Archbishop of Sloth would appear one after another…
In short, all sorts of trouble would follow.
My current level is only 8, and all my attributes are very low. I must increase my strength as soon as possible.
"What's wrong?" Ram looked at the dazed Natsuki Subaru and asked.
"N-nothing." Natsuki Subaru snapped out of his thoughts, shook his head helplessly, and looked at the unfamiliar characters in the book, "It's just that these characters are completely different from those in my hometown."
Speaking of which, these otherworldy characters were neither angular like Japanese katakana nor flowing like hiragana.
At first glance, they bore some resemblance to English letters from his previous life, but upon closer inspection, the complicated strokes and strange ligatures made him completely clueless.
If he had to describe it, it was almost like a child's doodles.
"Could it be that you're not an idiot, but simply a fool?" Ram narrowed her wine-red eyes and looked at Natsuki Subaru.
"Hey, hey, those two are practically the same thing, right?!"
Natsuki Subaru protested, feigning dissatisfaction.
"Of course, there's a difference." Ram said with a serious face, "An idiot can't learn, a fool won't learn. Which one are you, Barusu?"
"...I choose the third type, the hardworking type!"
Natsuki Subaru puffed out his chest and said loudly.
He wasn't going to fall into Ram's trap.
"I hope so." Ram snorted lightly, then opened the book, "Then, let's start with the most basic characters."
"Yes, yes, Ram-sensei—"
Natsuki Subaru drew out his tone, trying to make it sound more lighthearted, but earned a sharp glare in return.
Ram was still the same as ever, her sharp tongue hadn't dulled in the slightest.
______
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