Rem knocks on the door to her Sensei's room, her heart pounding in her chest.
She had no idea doing such a thing would be so nerve-wracking, but she's determined to see it through and she's also prepared to accept whatever response he gives to her.
It has been a month and some since the morning where Rem had left the world and then brought back by her Sensei.
She had decided that she doesn't want to live with regrets, so she wants to live her life to the fullest, just like her Sensei said.
'You don't need to hold back.'
So she won't.
Rem also knows that she is not the only one who finds her amazing Sensei endearing, she knows her dear sister does as well but she also knows her sister hasn't come to terms with it yet.
Rem hopes her sister does soon.
As she hears her Sensei telling her to come in, she opens the door, stepping in and closing it behind her.
She breaths in the smell of her Sensei in the air.
Right now, Rem is being a bit mischievous, in order to improver her chances, she had adorned her night wear and.
"Blue, you wanted…" He starts but stops, noticing what's on her head. "So? Why are you wearing cat ears?"
Squirming a bit under his gaze, she asks "Does Sensei not like it?"
"Hmm, come here, Blue. I do think it suits you." She smiles at that, that's just like her Sensei, never hesitating to say what he thinks.
She skips to him and sits on his lap.
"Oh? You are acting bold all of a sudden, Blue."
"You are the one who told Rem not to hold back, Sensei." She replies even as she blushes.
He chuckles hearing that. "I see, then I shall permit it."
Rem giggles at that.
"Sensei…?"
"Yes Blue?"
"Can Rem be selfish for a bit?" She asks resting her back against his chest.
"Go on, I don't mind." He says easily.
Just as she thought, her Sensei is very kind, Rem has never experienced romance before, the only thing she knows about it are from the books she has read.
But she knows without a doubt that she is very much in love right now.
She's in love with this boy that came into her life like a raging storm, breaking apart the chains that had bound her for years, same chains that she held no hope of even budging, he had broken through them easily.
Rem watches her Sensei everyday with feelings that are hard to put in words, thinking about him makes her feel warm, happy… safe.
So.
She would tell him, she would say.
"Rem loves you Sensei!" She says blushing but determined to convey her feelings.
She continues with a smile. "Rem doesn't know how or when it started, but this warm feeling in Rem's chest only means one thing. That's why Rem wanted Sensei to know that she loves him…"
"The Sensei that always says what he wants, Rem loves him. The Sensei that teaches Rem how to make meals she doesn't know about, Rem loves him."
"The Sensei that gives Rem head pats, Rem loves him. The Sensei that is always working hard, Rem loves him. The Sensei that tells Rem not to hold back, Rem loves him."
"The Sensei that makes Lady Beatrice wear cute clothes, Rem loves him. The Sensei that banters with dearest sister, Rem loves him. Even the Sensei that scolds Rem when she's being unreasonable, Rem loves him."
"Rem loves every and all part of you Sensei. Hearing the voice of Sensei makes Rem's heart races. Rem likes it even when you call her 'Blue'. Rem loves the Sensei that hums casually to himself."
"The Sensei that walks with grace, the Sensei that never hesitates to say what he wants, even the Sensei that thinks appas and tatoes were named lazily."
She giggles.
"Rem loves the Sensei that always seems to be enjoying himself each day. The whimsical Sensei, Rem loves him as well. Rem thinks about Sensei every time, and it makes her happy."
"Rem wants to make Sensei happy as well, she doesn't want to hold back on her feelings anymore. That's why, Rem loves Sensei and she wants Sensei to love her back!" She finishes.
The words hang in the air for a bit before he responds.
"I see… so you are demanding my love, Blue?" He asks even as he brushes her hair.
Hearing such a response makes her remember a conversation with her Sensei.
「"Listen Blue, there are some things in the world you do not ask for. If you want it so desperately then reach out and take it."
"Rem don't do that, that would be considered a crime in most places." Her sister had rebutted.
He had laughed and said "Don't worry about it, if you're in trouble then I'll take care of it."
"But Rem doesn't want to bother Sensei." She had said.
Smirking at her with his hand to his chin. "Think nothing of it, Blue. I am one of a kind. Nothing you do could ever 'bother' me." He had said. 」
She smiles at the memory.
"Unn, that's right. Rem wants Sensei to love her. Rem wants to wake up on the same sheets with Sensei like Lady Beatrice, Rem wants Sensei hugs, Rem wants kisses and more from Sensei as well. The feeling of Sensei's hand brushing through Rem's hair is enough to make Rem do her best each day, so Rem wants that too." She pushes past her embarrassment and blushes as she speaks.
He chuckles.
"Such selfish request. Do you think you can handle me, Blue?" He asks her, not with malice but curiosity.
Handle him?
"But, you do not need to be 'handled', Sensei." She says then she feels him tremble as he starts to laugh.
"Sensei…?"
"What a surprising response." His laughs turns to chuckles. "I like that… then I shall let you have a piece of me, Blue. But in turn, I shall have all of you."
Her heart pounds as she turns around, hugging his mid section, looking at him with a blush on her face as he rubs her head.
"All of Rem?" She asks.
"Yes, all of you."
"Truly? Then you'll let Rem be with you?"
"Unn. I will allow it." He nods.
"Th-then Rem is allowed to to-touch S-sensei?" She asks even as her blush increases.
"Hmm? Do you not touch me already?" He asks with an head tilt.
"No, no. Rem wants to do what lovers do with Sensei." She says looking away.
"Oh, aren't you a naughty one?" Saying so, he holds her chin up and brings his lips to hers even as Rem melts from the sensation.
He pulls back after a while looking at her blushing face with a smirk.
"It's okay. I don't hate it."
◇◇◇
The clown closes his gospel with a sigh.
He is happy that so far everything has been going according to plan but it is also obvious that the information the gospel provides about Fate has been getting vaguer each time.
He wonders why that is so.
Is it a testament to his strength? Or is there something else at play, he has no way to find out yet.
He thinks to the incident of last month, the same incident that leaves him baffled even till now.
Rem had died, the gospel had told him that letting that happen was very important in order to achieve the next steps of his plans, he knew that would likely turn Ram against him but he was willing to risk it.
Rem's death was not particularly mentioned in the gospel either, all it had said was that he shouldn't take any actions to protect the horned maid.
He had only put two and two together and realized that something might happen to Rem, and he had been correct, all he had been waiting for next was for Ram to snap at him.
Then Fate came into the room and Roswaal witnessed it.
The world had shook as he brought Rem back to life right before their eyes.
With no effort at all. He did something impossible.
He still wonders if it was an Authority even till now, surely, it wouldn't be out of place as one.
But then the power he felt when Fate spoke didn't feel like an authority or anything like that. It had felt divine. Something far greater.
But.
That is the power that Roswaal seeks.
That is the power that will bring his Teacher back.
And the obstacle he faces right now is, how would he convince Fate to visit the sanctuary?
After watching him for a month, Roswaal knows that Fate does things on a whim, and he would not listen to a request, especially one made by him.
Why does he have a problem with him anyways?
Tsk, perhaps he should have used a female's body this time around?
It can't be helped, his plan for Fate is simple, instead of telling him to go to the sanctuary, he just has to make Emilia go, and with Emilia going, it is almost guaranteed that he will go as well.
Roswaal will have to make the idea of the Sanctuary enticing enough for him.
Another thing that has happened is the subjugation of the White Whale.
Roswaal had not believed it until he saw it himself. It seems Fate had realized Emilia was at a disadvantage for the Royal Selection due to her lineage, he then proceeded to have her defeat one of the three great Mabeasts that has been plaguing the world for centuries.
That action had made almost everyone who had been against Emilia in the council rethink their decisions, after all what she accomplished is not a small feat.
The ice spear that had been protruding from it was evidence enough that the killing and only blow had being dealt by Emilia, quickly proving her capabilities.
Roswaal knows that Fate had helped her, but he doesn't know how he did it, but between him and Beatrice, he guess they would have found a way to pull it off.
Finding out Beatrice had made a contract with him was also an interesting find. It seems the Four-Hundred-Year-Old Child has finally found her 'That Person'. He wouldn't admit it to anyone but that had made him a bit happy.
He is also aware of the maids feelings for the boy, that was somewhat of a forgone conclusion after he had revived Rem and for Roswaal whose goal is to make Fate view them as important people to himself, he greatly considers it a satisfactory outcome.
He looks at the two letters on his desk, the letters he had received a short while ago from two of the candidates.
From what he has gathered about them, he doesn't think the letters a surprise.
Anastasia Hoshin, who had been spurred on by Natsuki Subaru and Emilia's recent achievement plans to visit in hopes of forming an alliance with her.
That makes him smile a bit. It seems letting Natsuki Subaru go was indeed the better option.
The second letter was from Crusch Karsten, who hopes to hear more details about the subjugation of the White Whale.
That must have been partly due to the Sword Demon's influence.
They would be spending a while in the manor, and he is a bit curious about how the whole thing would play out.
Tapping his fingers on his table, he once again ponders on his plans.
◇◇◇
"Betty is displeased, in fact!"
Beatrice who has been pouting that her Fate kissed the blue maid makes her displeasure know for the nth time.
"Hmmm, how do I please my Betty then?" Fate asks, indulging her.
They are both sitting in the garden's rest area, Fate is wearing a button up short sleeve vintage jacket, short pants and flip flops.
He made Betty wear Puck-shaped onesies, it has cat ears and a tail sticking from it.
The appearance of a pouting Beatrice in such an outfit is ridiculously adorable.
"Betty wants a kiss as well in fact!" She proposes a trade as she swings her feet sitting on his lap.
If he gives her a kiss, she will stop being displeased. To Beatrice, this is an offer that can't be refused, should not be refused.
"Oh? Is that enough to please my Betty?" Fate who is chuckling asks.
"Hey! Don't laugh at Betty in fact. For that, you would have to kiss Betty whenever she wants, I suppose." she pouts some more.
Fate picks her up to face himself even as she starts blushing heavily.
Pressing his lips against hers, she leans into it.
She notes the sweet taste.
As they separate, she brings her fingers to her lips.
"Betty thinks she might have liked that a lot more than she thought." She whispers under her breath.
"Is that so…? Then you can indulge yourself as much as you want." He replies with a smile as he pats her head and she leans into his chest, enjoying the feeling of comfort.
"By the way, what is this outfit that Betty is wearing?"
"Oh? Do you not like it? I think it looks cute on Betty. Right now, you are the most adorable person in the world." He tells her seriously.
"Well, if Betty's Fate think so, then Betty doesn't mind wearing it."
Her contractor always makes these items she has not seen before. Even his personal dimensional space was a marvel to Beatrice.
While she herself is capable of creating another dimension, she has to maintain it with magic, but the personal dimension of her Fate felt more natural. As if it just is.
She has suspicions that her Fate is not of this world either, but she would not pursue such things, she would wait for him to tell her whenever he wants.
For now, she is content with enjoying his head pats.
◇◇◇
"Puck th~ere is some~thing impor~tant I have to tell you"
"Hmm? What is it Lia? Are you okay? Why is your face red all of a sudden?" He floats towards her, putting a paw to her forehead.
She waves her hands sideways repeatedly "I-I'm fi~ne Puck, truly."
"Really? You're acting really suspicious Lia~" Puck squints his eyes at her.
She brings both hands in front of her thighs, poking her hands together nervously.
"You~see, Puck…"
And then with a raging blush and a loud voice, she speaks.
"Fate wants me to have his baby!!"
…
A few seconds passes.
"Although I don't kn~ow much about being a mother, I will do my be~st!" She continues even as Puck sputters.
"Wait, wait, wait, Lia, getting pregnant is not something that just happens you know? And what is wrong with that idiot telling you such a thing?!" He says, not knowing exactly what to tell her.
"But Fate said he likes me, and he wanted to kiss me." She looks at him in confusion.
Ehhh, it's even his own fault?
And that idiot tried to kiss his daughter?!
How dare him?!
"Lia, like is not the same as love, you know. Fate might like you but you don't know if he loves you, and love is what you need to get pregnant." Puck bullshits.
"Oh…" She says sadly.
He knows he shouldn't lie to her like that, but Emilia is definitely not ready for something like that.
Phew! Crisis averte— except, Emilia has other plans.
"…Then I just have to tell Fate to love me then."
"Eh?! Wait Lia! that's not how it works, you have to be in love with each other." Puck is almost panicking now.
Does his daughter want to get pregnant that bad?
What is happening here?
What is this nightmare?
Emilia had never been this assertive before but after studying everyday with Fate since the past month and some, she has gotten a lot more strong-willed.
"I see, then what is love Puck?"
This is it! His chance to make her give up.
He floats to her suddenly wearing glasses and a white board behind him.
"I'm glad you asked Lia, now listen. You see, when you are in love with someone, you think about them all the time, you enjoy spending time with them, and you always want to protect them. Thinking about them and talking to them makes you happy and you feel safe around them. Love is not something you do, it is something that happens without you even realizing it." Puck finishes, happy that he has finally dissuaded her.
He looks at her.
Emilia is blushing with an astonished look on her face.
Puck feels a trepidation.
"I see… so I love Fate~."
Puck sighs.
…
…
That deviant has finally done it.
It seems like he will be having Fate-stew for breakfast tomorrow.
◇◇◇
In the middle of the night, feeling a weight on top of him, Fate opens his eyes, he is not surprised by who he finds straddling him.
"Sensei…"
A red faced Rem looks at him.
"Blue…"