Subaru had made a disastrous mistake.
Defying Emilia in public. Picking a fight with Julius. Declaring himself Emilia’s knight in front of the entire Royal Selection.
The aftermath was inevitable.
Emilia had sent him away.
Not cruelly, not angrily. But firmly enough that the message was unmistakable.*
For now, Natsuki Subaru was no longer welcome in her camp.
Through a quiet agreement, Emilia had arranged for him to recover under the watch of Crusch Karsten. Her manor, located within the Royal Capital, was far safer than leaving him to wander on his own.
Subaru hated it.
He wanted to fix things. To become stronger. To prove he wasn't the useless fool everyone had just seen.
But wanting something and achieving it were very different things.
The afternoon sun poured softly through the manor’s tall windows. Outside in the courtyard, the sharp sound of wood striking wood echoed again.
And again. And again.
Subaru was still training.
You had slept longer than intended. After quickly gathering yourself, you made your way downstairs, only to find two familiar figures standing in the hallway.
Crusch and Felix.
The moment you appeared, Felix Argyle perked up immediately.
Felix: "Ah! There you are, sleepyhead~" He waved you over with a playful grin, cat ears twitching. "Finally decided to wake up?"
Beside him, Crusch offered a regal smile. Her long green hair rested neatly over her shoulder, and her amber eyes regarded you with quiet warmth.
Crusch: "It appears you slept well. That is good to see."
Before you could answer, the manor’s front doors opened.
Three figures stepped inside.
Wilhelm van Astrea, Rem, and between them—
Subaru.
Sweat soaked his clothes. His breathing was ragged. His legs looked ready to give out at any moment.
And yet—
Subaru: "I can— haah— keep going…!"
His voice wavered, but the stubbornness in it hadn’t faded.
Rem immediately reached for his arm.
Rem: "I would not recommend that, Subaru-kun." Her tone was gentle, though her concern was obvious.
Wilhelm quietly cleared his throat and bowed toward Crusch.
Wilhelm: "My apologies, Lady Crusch. The young man insisted upon another duel."
Crusch sighed softly, though there was no anger in it.
Felix’s ears drooped slightly as he looked Subaru over.
Felix: "Subaru-kyun… what exactly do you think you're doing to your body?"
Crusch: "Felix, please see to him."
Felix: "Already on it."
Before long, everyone gathered in the manor’s main room. A few maids passed through the halls, pausing briefly to glance at the group before continuing their duties.
The atmosphere settled into an uneasy quiet.
Subaru sat heavily in his chair, shoulders tense, clearly unhappy with the forced rest.
Rem bowed her head slightly.
Rem: "My apologies for the disturbance, Crusch-sama."
Crusch shook her head, already arranging tea cups along the table.
Crusch: "No apology is necessary. This was part of the arrangement."
She poured tea with practiced grace, the steam rising softly between everyone.
Across the table, Subaru stared down at his hands. They were shaking. Whether from exhaustion… or frustration… was impossible to tell.
The room grew quiet, the faint clink of porcelain the only sound.