Chapter 7

"Hmmm…"

Fate puts his hand on his chin observing what is in front of him.

"Blue…?"

"Yes, Sensei.."

"What is this supposed to be?"

"Eh, it's you, Sensei…"

"I see… and why did you make a figure of myself using shrubs?"

"So that everyone can see your amazing self!" She says with sparkling eyes.

"Oho? Then it can't be helped. You did a good job, Blue." Fate pats her head in praises as she purrs.

"Rem, you are desecrating the image of the mansion." Ram who has been watching from the side chides her sister. 

"No way dear sister! Sensei's appearance makes the mansion look even more dazzling." Rem tries to make her sister see the error of her ways.

"The blue maid is correct, I suppose." Beatrice who is holding the other hand of Fate adds her piece.

Ram sighs as she watches her sister with a small smile. 

She is glad that her sister is alive, breathing and well. If she had lost her, she didn't what she would have done.

She looks towards Fate— who is now patting the head of a pouting Beatrice as well— with a smile even as she feels butterflies in her stomach.

She shakes her head in denial.

'No, Ram. You are just thankful to him for saving your sister. That's all. Yes that's all.'

She looks at her sister who looks very content getting her head patted. 

She balls her fist. She had questioned Lord Roswaal after the incident and while he hadn't known the reason, he was undoubtedly aware that something would have happened to Rem, but he made no plans to stop it.

That had made Ram angry, furious even, she doesn't mind being involved in his plans, but she won't let him use her precious sister for such a thing. Not her Rem.

While she has a lot of feelings about the incident, there is one unquestionable fact that she has been forced to be aware of, and that is; Lord Roswaal would do anything or sacrifice anyone for his goals… himself, herself or her sister… If such a thing were to happen again then…

She sighs banishing such thoughts from her mind, she won't let such a thing happen again.

It has been a little over a month since the incident and it is obvious to anyone that her sister is hopelessly smitten by Fate.

Her sister now has an ever-present smile on her face. Talking a lot more and making requests as well. Ram is happy that her sister is no longer burdened by the past.

As for Fate, he is the same as usual, after spending the past month with him, everyone has gotten closer with him that they all consider him a part of the household.

 He still teaches Rem how to cook. Their most recent lesson being making meals with the mayo sauce that has been trending recently, although her sister does not like it, everyone else does not seem to have a problem with it.

He also studies with Miss Emilia during the day as well. And also research magic together with Lady Beatrice. 

He always seemed busy that she had told him not to push himself too much and his response was:

"Pinky, I'm offended that you think my trivial day activities could 'push' me in anyway… but I can also see you're worried, would you look at that, aren't you a cute one?"

Ram's. Heart. Did. Not. Pound.

And she did not blush either.

She looks again at the same boy who has been invading her mind for a while now as she sighs.

'Get it together, Ram!'

◇◇◇

"By the way Lia, when does this election you are preparing for starts?"

Fate who is resting his head on Emilia's lap as he lies on the couch in her room reading a book, asks her.

Emilia puts her quill to her chin in thought, her other hand combing through Fate's hair.

"They will first of all ha~ve to find all five candidates and th~en those candidates will go to the capital to present them~selves. The selection will last for 3 years where the winner then becomes king~." Emilia explains in her usual singsong voice.

"Hmmm. So that means you are already at a disadvantage, Lia."

"Ehhh?! Why?!" Emilia is shocked.

Fate sits up on the couch and flicks her forehead.

"Ow! What was that for Fate~?" She whines.

"Think about it Lia, people discriminate you because of your similar appearance with the witch, who they despise. Do you think they would support you to become king?" Fate asks what she purposely has not thought about.

"Oh…" She says sadly.

Fate looks at her. "So? Are you going to let that stop you?"

"No! I won't…" She replies with resolution standing up from the couch and doing a guts pose. "I'm going to become King!"

"Good, I like that part of you Lia." Fate says nodding approvingly.

"Y-you like me Fate?" Emilia somehow manages to misinterpret as her ears redden.

"Hmm? Of course I like you Lia, did we not establish that already? Do you want a kiss to prove it?" Fatewho is now holding a map says to her casually.

"K-k-kiss?!" She stutters.

 Does Fate want her to have his baby?

 "Fate, do you wa~nt a baby?" She ask.

"Lia, how did we get to this conversation?… Well, I guess having a child is not a bad thing."

"I-is that so?… maybe later Fate, I have to pre~pare myself." Emilia who is now sporting a visible blush on her face and ears responds.

She has to tell Puck she will be making a baby soon.

It won't be easy with the royal selection coming up soon, but for the baby's sake she would make sure to do her best.

And she also has to think of a name for the baby as well.

'He he he.' 

Fate watches as Emilia holds her cheeks, giggling to herself.

"Come, Lia." He beckons her to the table he is standing before. 

She walks towards him on peppy steps.

"So, do you know how we take care of your disadvantaged position?"

"How…?"

Fate points at a location on the map smirking at her.

"Instead of asking for the people's support. You instead make them beg you to receive it."

◇◇◇

Standing outside the mansion Fate stretches his body a bit.

"Alright, are you all ready?" He asks.

"I'm all set, I suppose. Where is Betty's Fate taking us to, in fact?" She asks looking at her contractor.

She had been playing with Bubby when her Fate came to get her, saying they are going fishing. She doesn't know what goes through her contractor's head. Why does he want to eat fish all of a sudden?

"Yes Fate~ I'm all set. Although you asked us not to bring anything along." Emilia who has Puck on her head responds.

"Unn, I will also like to know where we are heading." Adds Puck.

"Don't worry, we won't be staying long, as for where we are going to, I'll leave that as a surprise." He gives them a secretive smile.

"Sensei!"

"Hmm? Yes Blue?"

"Rem has something important to tell you when you come back!" She says with a red face.

"Rem! Don't tell me…" Says Ram who is standing beside her sister.

Rem nods to her sister.

"I see. Then await my arrival Blue." 

"Yes, Sensei!" 

As Fate speaks, a magic circle appears below them.

"Ehhh, what's th~is?"

"A magic circle?"

White light engulf them and they disappear.

…

…

Appearing thousands of feet in the sky, Fate takes in the surroundings below as Emilia crouches and covers her eyes.

"Lia, it's safe. We are not going to fall, since there is a forcefield around us."

"Where did Betty's Fate take us, I wonder." Beatrice looks around with a curious eye and then she recognizes the place, although she has never been here before, she has read about it.

"This is…" She starts.

"The Great Waterfall…" Puck finishes.

"Woo~w there is so much water Fate! And every~thing looks so sm~all." Emilia looks every direction in excitement like a kid in an amusement park.

"Hey! Hey! What are you thinking, taking Lia to such a place." Puck starts to get angry.

This place is dangerous and it's not a place Lia should be.

"Hmmm, Fate wh~at is that?" Emilia asks pointing in a direction.

Everyone looks towards it.

"Hmmm, Betty's Fate, when you said you wanted to go fishing…" Beatrice speaks out as she spots it.

"It is exactly as you have surmised. I have once again come to assert my dominance. Feast your eyes upon the disadvantage nullifier…" Fate speaks theatrically.

"…The White Whale."

"Are you crazy? That's the White Whale you know?" Puck yells out.

Puck knew this boy was conceited, he didn't know he was crazy as well.

"Calm down Bubby, my Fate will not take us to a place if it was dangerous for us." Beatrice defends her contractor.

"Not you too Betty." Puck sighs.

Fate pats her head for that.

"As expected of my Betty."

She preens at that. "Betty knows her contractor best, I suppose."

"The White Whale, Fate, are we goi~ng to fig~ht it?" Emilia asks.

She has of course read about it, so she knows what it is. She also knows that nobody has been able to defeat it before even though it has caused a lot of deaths.

"Yes Lia, this is what it means to have goals as grand as yours. You make yourself indispensable… are you scared?" He asks her.

"Hmm hmm." She shakes her head. "We will be help~ing a lot of people if we do this rig~ht? And Fate is here also, so I'm not scared."

"Lia…" Puck looks at her. 

Puck has alway babied Emilia so he is surprised by how determined she sounds, and the trust she has in Fate.

'I see, so you're growing up Lia.' He smiles.

Fate folds his arms as the wind blows his jacket backwards "Well said Lia! When I who is greater than all stands beside you, for what reason should you feel fear? As a reward to your fidelity, I shall grant you the honor of defeating the Whale…" He holds a finger as he looks at her with a grin. "In one move."

◇◇◇

"Woo~w it's so big Fate." Emilia voices her amazement looking at the carcass of the White Whale, which has a very big ice spear protruding from it.

"I know we used a lot of mana to create the ice spear but was a single spear really all it took to defeat it?" Puck voices his wonder as well.

"Oh? Do you doubt even your own eyes cat spirit named Puck? A single spear is all it took because a single spear was all I needed it to take. It's as easy as that." Fate replies observing the Whale as well, apart from the horn and extra bits, it's seems it's almost the same as the ones from his previous world, he notes. 

Sighing, Puck thinks that does not make any sense but after bringing the maid back to life, he is sure nothing makes sense when it comes to Fate.

"As expected of my Fate, in fact. But your Betty is displeased." Beatrice who is holding the hand of Fate, pouts.

"Oh? And what displease my Betty?" He asks.

"Betty didn't get to show her capabilities, in fact."

Fate laughs as he picks her up from behind.

"Worry not Betty. You will have another time to display your prowess. And besides, I know Betty is capable you know, I chose you after all."

Beatrice blushes as she holds onto his arms.

"As long as you get it, I suppose." She smiles.

Being held by Fate has become Beatrice's favorite place.

"Alright, come closer Lia. There is still one more thing to do."

"Hmm~ wh~at's that Fate, do we have to defeat some~thing else?"

"No, Lia. Now we show the world your resolve…" He smirks.

◇◇◇

The wind gives offers no resistance as Reinhard speeds up, running to his destination.

He had been given an emergency investigation order from the council.

It was a usual day where he had been trying to get his Lady Felt to cooperate as usual but his lady is a very stubborn one. 

He does not mind it though.

He believes that stubbornness will help her in ruling the kingdom.

Rom being around also helps, since he is her only family. But that doesn't make it any easier. His lady does not even like to wear dresses.

'What?! You want me to wear this? What next? Are you going to make me do ball dances?… Reinhard? Why are you not denying it? Oi Reinhard, you bastard!!'

He smiles at the memory.

It has been lively in the house because of her.

Running along the Lifaus Highway, he also finds his thoughts drifting to two separate events from the past month. 

The first being when Reid had deemed his rival Fate— Reinhard does not know how but whenever he says Fate's name out loud or in his mind, it always feels like the name is being emphasized— as a worthy opponent.

He had been very surprised, with the way Fate had carried himself, Reinhard would have thought that such a person would be well know, especially as Reid had acknowledged his strength as well, he guesses that just shows there is a lot even he doesn't know about the world. He was also glad that he seemed to treat him normal… well as normal as he could.

The second event is the day where it seemed like the world shook, nobody knows where or how it happened. 

Reinhard had heard some people saying it was a bad omen. 

Some had said the gods were angry.

Some even went as far as speculating that it was the Witch.

As for Reinhard, he doesn't really know what to believe or think about it.

As he sees his destination approaching, he marvels at the sight.

'It truly is the White Whale.'

The White Whale lay on the foot of the Flugel tree, a large ice spear protruding from it, off to the side there are people sitting on tables and chairs… having tea.

He comes to a stop in front of them as they face him as well.

"Lady Emilia. Lady Beatrice. Fate."

"Rein~hard! It's been a while. How are you~?"

"Oh? So you're the one that was sent Reinhard…?"

"I'm fine Lady Emilia, I'm glad to see you are doing well. It's good to see you again Fate." 

"Umu… anyway, you are permitted to seat. I shall answer your questions."

Reinhard takes the offered seat, surprised that a warm cup of tea is already before him.

He reaches for it and takes a sip, his taste buds is filled with what he can only consider delicious, whoever made it must be a professional.

"Hmm, this is quite tasty."

Divine protection of tea brewing received.

…

Really?

"As it should be for something made by myself— Oh? As expected of myself for having such a rival, you grow stronger even now." Fate smiles with closed eyes. 

That surprises Reinhard.

He didn't know Fate could detect Divine Protections, he can't detect any from him either, perhaps a secret art?

"You flatter me." He easily replies.

He also sees Lady Beatrice sitting on him, did he perchance make a contract with her?

As expected of his rival.

"No Reinhard, I do not flatter you, I genuinely praised you. Accept it."

Reinhard chuckles embarrassedly at that.

"I see, then I graciously accept your praise."

"Good. Now ask your questions, we don't have all day after all."

Reinhard nods and proceeded to ask for the circumstances that led to the encounter with the White Whale.