I, Natsuki Subaru, Swear to Properly Protect These Two Beautiful Ladies!

This day, the weather was clear.

In front of the Roswaal Manor, a large, ornately decorated dragon carriage stood quietly, pulled by a sturdy earth dragon.

This was the mode of transport that would carry Natsuki Subaru, Emilia, and their party to the Royal Capital today.

"But speaking of which, was it necessary for Rem to prepare such formal clothes for me?"

Natsuki Subaru looked down at his pure white knight attire, his fingers lightly tracing the exquisite stand-up collar and gold-trimmed cuffs. He then turned to look at the white cape fluttering gently in the wind behind him.

Embroidered on it with silver thread was the Mathers family crest, sparkling in the sunlight.

Seriously, this is too formal.

It's almost like going to some royal ball.

But he had to admit, this knight uniform, rushed by Rem over several days, was exceptionally well-made.

Every stitch was neat and fine, every cut was just right, and even the lining used the most comfortable fabric.

From these details, one could see how much effort Rem had poured into its making.

"Rem is truly too gentle and virtuous. Even though she's usually so busy with work, she still found time to make clothes for me."

Natsuki Subaru couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

"Subaru looks very handsome in this knight uniform."

Rem stood with her hands clasped before her skirt, a gentle smile on her face.

"This is made by Rem according to the latest knight styles popular in the Royal Capital."

"It really suits you, Subaru."

Emilia, standing to the side, also cast an approving gaze, her silver hair sparkling in the sunlight.

"You look like a real knight."

"Meow~ Isn't this quite dashing!"

Puck poked his head out from Emilia's silver hair, winking playfully.

"But compared to a knight, Subaru looks more like a dressed-up white cat."

"Hey, Puck."

Natsuki Subaru feigned anger and glared at Puck, uncomfortably tugging at his collar and looking down at his pure white attire.

Speaking of which, this outfit is too conspicuous.

I'm not someone who likes to show off.

"Subaru."

Perhaps noticing the conflict in Natsuki Subaru's eyes, Rem suddenly said with a serious expression, her blue eyes carrying a rare gravity,

"As Lady Emilia's knight, formal attire is a necessary etiquette for official occasions. This concerns Lady Emilia's dignity."

"Oh, is that so..."

Natsuki Subaru scratched his head.

Come to think of it, the noble circle really does care about these superficial efforts.

Sigh... What a hassle.

"Rem is right, and this knight uniform really suits you, Subaru."

Emilia's amethyst-like eyes curved into crescents, and she chuckled lightly, speaking to Puck, "Right, Puck?"

"Mhmm~"

Puck floated lightly in front of Natsuki Subaru, circling him once, his fluffy little paw stroking his chin as if in thought.

"Although this outfit of Subaru's doesn't quite match your temperament, well... it does look the part, meow."

"What do you mean it doesn't match my temperament? I'm a perfect fit for this outfit, okay!"

Natsuki Subaru retorted, somewhat unconvinced. He then straightened his back, elegantly placing his right hand on his chest, and gave Emilia and Rem a standard knightly salute.

"As a knight, I, Natsuki Subaru, swear to protect these two beautiful ladies."

"Mm, Subaru is Rem's hero."

Rem stood with her hands clasped before her skirt, blooming with a smile as radiant as the spring sun, her blue eyes sparkling with admiration.

Emilia's silver hair swayed gently, and she covered her mouth to chuckle lightly:

"Then we'll be counting on you, Sir Knight."

"Mm, Emilia-chan, leave it to me!"

Natsuki Subaru confidently clenched his fists, his white cape rustling behind him.

No matter what the future held, he had to protect Emilia and Rem.

The tragedies that occurred in the original work, he would absolutely not let them happen again.

Natsuki Subaru secretly made a vow in his heart. Although he knew the road ahead was perilous, this determination was firmer than ever before.

Just then.

The tardy Roswaal and Ram finally appeared from the main door of the mansion.

The clown-dressed lord still wore that trademark bizarre smile, while the pink-haired maid was, as always, expressionless.

"Oh my, oh my~ It seems we've arrived just in——time, eh~"

Roswaal dragged out his tone, opening his arms and saying, "What interesting ceremony is this?"

"This is a solemn knightly oath, okay!"

Natsuki Subaru stood with his hands on his hips, unable to resist complaining to Roswaal, "Hey, hey, what's the deal? It's almost noon and you're just arriving? Weren't you the one who set this departure time? Don't tell me you overslept?"

"Apologies——apologies, eh~"

Roswaal wagged a raised finger, his heterochromatic eyes twinkling with a strange light.

"After all, leaving Ram alone to watch the house, we won't see each other for quite a while, you know~"

"So——that——is to say, the farewell was a bit——more meticulous——oh~"

After saying that, Roswaal even adjusted his collar.

Ram, standing beside him, quickly tidied her hair and skirt; this action alone vividly conveyed the ambiguous atmosphere of their farewell.

"Never mind, never mind, pretend I didn't ask..."

Natsuki Subaru waved his hand dismissively, then turned to Ram and asked, "Are you really going to watch the house alone?"

Is it really okay to leave Ram alone?

"There's no choice~"

Ram sighed, a hint of helplessness in her pink eyes.

"We can't leave the mansion completely empty, and I also have to take care of Lady Beatrice. It's utterly troublesome."

"You're letting your true feelings slip out. Anyway, Betty would also be troubled if no one cooked, right?"

Natsuki Subaru looked at Ram and complained.

Although Beatrice, as a spirit, didn't need to eat to sustain life, she still enjoyed tea and sweets daily.

"If Lady Beatrice heard you say that, this time Barusu would definitely be beaten to a pulp, oh~"

Ram looked at Natsuki Subaru expressionlessly.

"Hey!"

Natsuki Subaru couldn't help but say, "What kind of terrifying analogy is that, and why 'beaten to a pulp' specifically!"

"Because it suits Barusu."

Ram said flatly.

"Err..."

Natsuki Subaru's mouth twitched unnaturally, and he was ultimately defeated by Ram's sharp tongue, only able to sigh helplessly.

It was worth mentioning that the party heading to the Royal Capital included Emilia, as the Royal Selection candidate; Natsuki Subaru, accompanying her as her knight; Roswaal, Emilia's supporter; and Rem, the maid responsible for looking after the three of them, totaling four people.

Left behind at the mansion were Ram, responsible for housekeeping, and the Great Spirit Beatrice, who spent all day in the Forbidden Library.

This arrangement, while making the mansion less lively than usual, ensured it wouldn't be completely empty.

"Speaking of which, is it really okay to leave Ram alone?"

Natsuki Subaru looked at Ram with some concern.

"Maintaining and managing this mansion, which is larger than two football fields, isn't easy."

You know, Rem usually handled all of this.

The ever-capable Rem was proficient in everything from cleaning and laundry to cooking, practically the epitome of a perfect wife.

In comparison, Ram was much more clumsy.

"Doesn't Barusu know?"

Ram flicked the pink short hair by her ear and said matter-of-factly, "Humans, even if they don't eat for three or four days, won't die."

"Hey, hey! Don't tell me you're planning not to cook at all?"

Natsuki Subaru's eyes widened, and he loudly complained about Ram's brazen declaration.

"Barusu..."

Ram suddenly hesitated, her expression becoming uncharacteristically serious.

"What is it now? Big Sis Ram."

Natsuki Subaru asked, puzzled.

Ram looked directly into Natsuki Subaru's eyes and said in a low voice:

"Take care of... Rem and Lady Emilia."

So she was worried about them.

Even without saying it explicitly, Ram undoubtedly meant this.

Natsuki Subaru looked at Ram, who was rarely showing such concern, patted his chest forcefully, and confidently assured her:

"Rest assured, my status is that of a knight. I will definitely protect Emilia and Rem!"

"Hmph, I hope so."

Ram crossed her arms, a dangerous glint in her pink eyes.

"If Rem or Lady Emilia loses even a single strand of hair... Barusu, you'll die without a burial place."

"Hey, hey, Big Sis Ram, that's too strict a requirement."

Natsuki Subaru exaggeratedly wiped the non-existent cold sweat from his forehead.

Ram is still the same as always, that earlier feeling of being moved must have been my illusion.

Next, Natsuki Subaru turned his gaze towards the dragon carriage and happened to see Rem skillfully placing the last piece of luggage.

Compared to Ram, Rem is so gentle and considerate.

"Rem, is everything ready?"

Natsuki Subaru walked closer and asked.

"Yes, Subaru."

Rem nodded and said, "All necessities have been loaded, including some of Subaru's favorite snacks."

"As expected of Rem! You're too thoughtful~"

Natsuki Subaru gave a thumbs-up, praising her sincerely.

Rem is indeed very reliable.

"Hmph, Barusu only knows how to say nice things."

Ram's voice drifted over from the side.

With the luggage loaded, the time for chatting also came to an end; it was time to prepare for departure.

"But, Betty didn't even come to see us off."

Natsuki Subaru looked around, his expression somewhat disappointed.

It seems my relationship with Beatrice is only at the level of borrowing and returning books.

"Lady Beatrice has never liked such occasions."

Rem explained softly.

"Yeah, that shut-in elf never likes such lively occasions."

Just as Natsuki Subaru was about to board the dragon carriage, his peripheral vision unexpectedly caught a small figure at a second-floor window corner.

Looking closely, he saw Beatrice hiding behind the heavy curtains, only half of her small face visible.

The moment their eyes met, her body visibly flinched, but then she straightened her back, pushed open the window, and fully exposed herself to everyone's sight.

"What's with this girl? She clearly cares, yet she has to pretend to be indifferent."

Natsuki Subaru looked at Beatrice's stern little face and couldn't help but complain inwardly.

"This elf is truly a tsundere."

Thinking this, Natsuki Subaru couldn't help but wave vigorously towards the second-floor window.

Beatrice immediately showed a disgusted little expression, made a perfunctory shooing gesture, and then transformed and disappeared from the window, as if saying her farewell duty was complete, so get lost.

"What an unfrank fellow..."

Natsuki Subaru's lips unconsciously curved upwards.

"But that's just like Betty."

"—Subaru, what's wrong?"

Hearing this gentle call, Natsuki Subaru turned his head and saw Emilia leaning out from the dragon carriage compartment. The sunlight cast a soft halo on her silver hair, her amethyst-like eyes full of concern.

At some point, everyone else had already boarded, leaving only him standing there, lost in thought.

"Nothing, coming now."

Natsuki Subaru shook his head and quickly walked towards the carriage.

Just as he reached out to pull open the carriage door, a fair, slender hand extended from within the compartment.

"Hmm?"

Natsuki Subaru paused slightly, then understandingly took that soft, warm hand.

Such a warm hand, I must protect it well.

Rem, in the driver's seat, confirmed that everyone was present, then solemnly nodded to the Ram who was staying behind. Her slender fingers lightly flicked the reins. The earth dragon let out a low neigh and began to move with steady steps.

The dragon carriage began to move slowly, the wheels making a crisp sound as they rolled over the gravel path.

Natsuki Subaru leaned his upper body out of the window and waved vigorously at Ram, who was standing at the main entrance of the mansion:

"We're off, Ram, you take care of yourself too."

"Barusu too."

Ram responded expressionlessly, the breeze ruffling her pink hair.

"If you encounter any danger, as a knight, at least fulfill your role as a shield."

"Hey, hey, what kind of parting words are those!?"

Natsuki Subaru's mouth twitched slightly.

And so, this seemingly casual yet deeply caring conversation became the final farewell of the morning.

As the earth dragon gradually accelerated, the speed of the dragon carriage increased.

The outline of the mansion gradually blurred in their vision, and Ram's upright figure grew smaller and smaller.

Until the very end, Ram maintained perfect maidly etiquette, her hands clasped before her skirt, her pink eyes shimmering with complex emotions.

When the dragon carriage turned at the street corner and the mansion completely disappeared from sight, Natsuki Subaru finally sat back in his seat and let out a long sigh.

This trip to the Royal Capital was not only to accompany Emilia to the Royal Selection but also to face the multiple threats of the Mabeast White Whale, the Witch Cult, and the Sin Archbishops.

With his current strength, he would likely find it difficult to deal with these powerful enemies.

Furthermore, Roswaal would most likely not offer assistance, and Puck's power was limited by his contract, unable to provide round-the-clock protection, so he couldn't be counted on either.

"It seems I must find a few more reliable allies in the Royal Capital."

Thinking this, Natsuki Subaru's expression unconsciously became grave.

Meanwhile.

At the second-floor window of the mansion.

Beatrice had, at some point, returned to the window. Her small palm was pressed tightly against the cold glass, her light blonde twin-tails hanging limply.

Watching the gradually receding dragon carriage, a sudden, inexplicable unease gripped her heart.

"That fool... must return safely..."

Beatrice silently recited in her heart, this was a concern she would never speak aloud.

___

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