"This is so awkward! This… this is called having boundaries between men and women!" Natsuki Subaru scratched his head, explaining to Beatrice with some embarrassment,
"It means that there need to be some basic boundaries between men and women. It's about mutual respect, and it's… basic social etiquette. Even if you're a spirit, Betty, since you live in a human form, you have to follow these basic rules."
"Betty still doesn't understand. Isn't the bond between contractors more important than these strange rules, I suppose?" Beatrice shook her head stubbornly, then pouted unhappily. "Is Subaru disgusted with Betty?"
"Definitely not!" Natsuki Subaru waved his hands frantically and continued to explain, "It's precisely because I care about you, Beatrice, that we have to follow these rules. This is to protect you, and also to protect my own chastity… uh, I mean, my reputation, yeah, my reputation. At the very least, I succeeded in pulling Beatrice out of that lonely shadow that imprisoned her for four hundred years, allowing a smile like that to often appear on her face, didn't I? As for the rest… let's leave it to time."
"Of course Subaru has to agree with Betty." Beatrice wrapped her entire body around Natsuki Subaru's arm, rubbing her small face affectionately against his sleeve, her tone utterly self-righteous. "Because Subaru is Betty's contractor. Fulfilling the spirit's needs is the contractor's responsibility, I suppose."
"Hey, hey, what kind of weird rule is that? That wasn't written in the contract terms!" Natsuki Subaru couldn't help but roll his eyes and retort. What's with this self-defined rule? And why does 'fulfilling needs' sound so wrong somehow?
"I don't care!" Beatrice's little lips quivered, showing no sign of backing down. "If Betty says it's a rule, then it's a rule. As the contractor, Subaru has to take responsibility."
"Betty understands…" she finally nodded, as if she partly understood. Although she still didn't quite grasp why humans had so many complicated and seemingly meaningless rules, since it was something Subaru insisted on and cared about, she was willing to try to obey and understand.
"But…" Beatrice changed the subject, hugging Natsuki Subaru's arm even tighter. She looked up with her small face, her blue eyes exceptionally serious as she proposed a compensation clause, "Not sleeping together at night is fine, but Subaru must promise that Betty's mana supply won't be reduced. And during the day, he must compensate Betty double by holding Betty's hand at all times."
Looking at this Great Spirit before him, who was at one moment naive and innocent, and at the next a shrewd negotiator, Natsuki Subaru could only nod with a wry smile and say, "Alright, I promise. Forget it, we'll take it slow. After all, teaching a four-hundred-year-old little girl to understand the complexities of human society seems to be a long-term project with a long way to go…"
Natsuki Subaru sighed silently in his heart, but seeing Beatrice's smile, which blossomed again because of his compromise and was brighter than the sun, he felt that all this seemed… pretty good, actually.
Looking at her unreasonable yet completely dependent demeanor, Natsuki Subaru ended up swallowing the words he was about to say in rebuttal. But then again, being so completely trusted and relied upon by Beatrice… it didn't feel bad at all, even if it was a bit troublesome…
Just then, a voice as gentle as water came from the courtyard veranda:
"Subaru, Lady Beatrice, breakfast is ready."
"Mm."
Natsuki Subaru turned at the sound and saw the lovely blue-haired maid, Rem, dressed in her iconic maid uniform, her posture graceful and elegant.
Rem had her hands elegantly folded in front of her, her posture flawlessly perfect, every bit the professional maid.
But if one looked closely, they would notice that her usually clear, azure eyes were slightly downcast, her long eyelashes lightly veiling them. As her gaze shifted, it seemed even brighter and more captivating than usual.
The gentle and considerate Rem is always so thoughtful.
Natsuki Subaru thought to himself, then naturally raised a smile in response, "Rem, thank you for your hard work, coming all the way to call for us."
"Nothing is ever a hardship when it's for you, Subaru."
Rem replied softly, slowly walking forward. Her gaze swept lightly over Beatrice, who was clinging to Natsuki Subaru's side, and she continued, "Whether it's the flavors of the food Subaru likes, his usual waking habits, or the most subtle changes in his expression… Rem has committed them all to heart, without missing a single thing. Rem… is always watching you, Subaru."
"Er…"
Natsuki Subaru was left speechless by Rem's direct and earnest words. He could feel the sincerity in her gaze, but for some reason, behind this overly intense gentleness seemed to lie a certain indescribable pressure.
Wait, why has the atmosphere suddenly become a little strange?
The sun is so bright, and Rem's smile is still as warm as ever, but why does it feel like there's an extra, unexplainable tension in the air?
Is it my imagination?
Natsuki Subaru muttered to himself internally.
"After all, Subaru is the most important person in Rem's life."
Rem took half a step closer, her gaze intensely focused on Natsuki Subaru's face.
"Wait a minute." Beatrice immediately sensed something and hugged Natsuki Subaru's left arm tighter, saying defiantly, "Subaru is Betty's contractor. He doesn't need anyone else watching him all the time."
"Lady Beatrice must be joking. Taking care of Subaru's daily life is Rem's duty as a maid."
The smile on Rem's face didn't change. She paused for a moment, then continued in the same gentle tone, "Besides, Subaru is also the master to whom Rem would devote her everything. There is nothing wrong with Rem caring for her master."
What's going on?
Not only is Rem speaking more directly than usual today, but the aggression in her tone is much stronger too.
She's definitely jealous!
Is it because Beatrice has been sticking to me so much lately that it's bothering her?
Looking at the two facing off against each other, Natsuki Subaru instantly understood the crux of the problem and felt a massive headache coming on.
Before Natsuki Subaru could answer, Beatrice, who was holding his left arm, immediately protested loudly like a small beast whose territory had been invaded. She hugged Natsuki Subaru's arm even tighter, almost hanging off of it, as if declaring her indisputable sovereignty. "No! Subaru is Betty's contractor. Betty can take care of his daily needs too. I don't want to share him with anyone else."
"Lady Beatrice has been clinging to Subaru quite a bit lately."
As Rem spoke, she stepped forward with an undeniable naturalness and gently took Natsuki Subaru's left arm.
In truth, seeing Beatrice constantly clinging to Natsuki Subaru recently, Rem, who had always been by his side before, was also feeling a little jealous.
Although Subaru was very charming and now had both Emilia and her, Rem's feelings for Subaru had never changed.
Rem loved Subaru very much; there was no doubt about that.
Because Subaru is Rem's hero.
She remembered that time, when Rem had recklessly entered the forest alone and was knocked unconscious by a Magic Beast's ambush, it was Natsuki Subaru who had rushed over without a second thought, stood in front of her, and faced the ferocious Magic Beast with his not-so-strong body.
Even though Natsuki Subaru had been scratched in several places by the Magic Beast, his clothes soaked with blood, he didn't retreat a single step, fighting the Magic Beast to the death until Emilia and the others arrived to rescue them.
It was from that moment on that Rem completely submitted to his courage and fell completely in love with this black-haired boy who would never give up.
You see, a person's value doesn't lie in how superior their abilities are, but in the attitude they show when facing difficulties.
Rem loves Subaru precisely because she saw determination in his actions, saw his struggle against fate.
Just like her past self, helpless when her sister Ram lost her horn. If it were Subaru, he would absolutely never have given up.
What is a hero?
A hero doesn't necessarily have to have strong muscles or invincible skills, but is someone who can step up when they are needed.
And Subaru is exactly that kind of person, a person deeply loved by Rem.
She was also by Natsuki Subaru's side at all times, and this feeling was the same as that of Beatrice, who had emerged from four hundred years of solitude.
"Wait! That soft feeling…!"
Natsuki Subaru's body suddenly stiffened. The astonishing elasticity and warmth coming from his left arm made his scalp tingle, and it felt like all the blood had rushed to his head.
"Even if it's Lady Beatrice…" Rem's voice was still calm, but an unyielding light shone in her blue eyes, "Rem will not give Master Subaru away so easily."
When it comes to the person she loves, Rem is just that direct.
She had thrown a straight pitch, declaring her feelings.
"No, absolutely not! Subaru is Betty's!"
Beatrice nearly jumped up, clinging tightly to Natsuki Subaru's arm as if it were her most beloved doll.
"Subaru is Rem's master. Rem has a duty to take care of him."
"Betty is Subaru's contractor, so I have more right to be by his side!"
"When it comes to taking care of Subaru's daily needs, Rem is more experienced than Lady Beatrice."
"Betty can learn maid work. Betty can learn anything…"
Rem and Beatrice argued back and forth, their gazes meeting in mid-air, seemingly giving off invisible sparks.
Meanwhile, Natsuki Subaru was caught in the middle, feeling the distinctly different yet equally intense passions coming from his left and right sides, as well as the distracting softness on his left arm. He felt a massive headache coming on and wailed with a helpless, wry expression:
"Hey, hey… you two… I'm not some kind of object, why are you fighting over me?"
"Can you let go of me first?"
However, his protest was completely ignored.
And so, Natsuki Subaru was pinned, held tightly on his left and right by the two girls, trapped in a sweet yet extremely painful pincer attack, unable to move.
"I have to say… Rem is surprisingly well-endowed. I can feel it even through her clothes…"
"Rem is just fulfilling her duties as a maid." Rem also lowered her head slightly, her voice tinged with sadness, "If Subaru finds this troublesome, Rem will be very sad."
This was a no-win question; either choice was a death sentence.
What a headache…
As Natsuki Subaru thought this, he looked at the two girls on his left and right and finally understood what was meant by a happy problem. He could only force a laugh:
"I-I think the breakfast might be getting cold if we keep this up. Shouldn't we first…"
"No!"
The two refused in unison, then glanced at each other as invisible sparks seemed to fly through the air.
Natsuki Subaru wore a look of utter helplessness.
At this moment, the black-haired boy, held tightly by two beautiful girls, wore a complex expression of both bliss and distress.
If nothing unexpected happened, it seemed this war without smoke or fire would go on for a very, very long time.
But just as they were at a stalemate and the atmosphere was delicate, a clear voice, carrying a hint of innocent purity, broke the strange balance:
"Huh? What are you all doing? It looks like fun!"
Everyone turned their heads to see the silver-haired half-elf girl, Emilia, blinking her pure violet eyes. She walked over curiously from the other end of the corridor, looking at Rem and Beatrice clinging tightly to Natsuki Subaru's left and right sides with an expression of simple curiosity and confusion.
"Lady Emilia, you've come at the right time." Upon seeing Emilia, Rem gave a slight, courteous nod, but the hand holding Natsuki Subaru's arm did not let go. She explained in a calm tone,
"I am inviting Subaru to have breakfast."
"Hmph…"
Beatrice, however, just snorted and hugged him even tighter, clearly not intending to explain to anyone.
At this moment, Emilia looked at the peculiar scene before her, tilted her head, and her long silver hair swayed with the movement:
"Is that so? But… if you hold Subaru like that, isn't he heavy? And it looks like it would be hard to walk."
"Exactly." Faced with Emilia's question, Natsuki Subaru immediately looked as if he had seen his savior and nodded vigorously, "Emilia, you're so right, it's really hard to move! So…"
Emilia was practically his spokesperson, saying what was on his mind.
So, in the next moment, Natsuki Subaru tried to take the opportunity to break free.
However, Rem and Beatrice simultaneously tightened their grip and said in unison:
"He's not heavy!"
"It's fine!"
Natsuki Subaru was speechless.
Save me!
In the end, this small battle temporarily subsided in an extremely bizarre manner.
On the way to the dining room, Natsuki Subaru was practically escorted forward, held captive on both sides by Rem and Beatrice, while Emilia followed beside them, still innocently pondering the question:
Why is everyone being especially close to Subaru today?
______
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