The day passed in a strange haze for Subaru. Ever since his conversation with Reinhard and Julius that morning, he couldn't stop thinking about Rem. Their words had been blunt, cutting through his usual excuses and forcing him to confront feelings he had been suppressing for far too long.
Reinhard's calm but firm voice echoed in his mind: "Subaru, if you don't want Rem, you need to be honest about it. But if you hesitate any longer, you might lose her—forever."
And then Julius, ever the provocateur, had added with a smirk, "She deserves to be with someone who sees her worth. If that's not you, then perhaps I or Reinhard should step in. She's quite the remarkable woman, after all."
Subaru had shouted, argued, and protested, but Reinhard's final statement had left him reeling. "If you care about her at all, then prove it. Otherwise, don't be surprised if she finds happiness with someone else."
Now, as the sun dipped low in the sky, painting the Roswaal estate garden in hues of orange and gold, Subaru found himself wandering outside, his heart pounding. There, among the blooming flowers, was Rem, her blue hair catching the last rays of sunlight. She knelt on the grass, tending to the flowers with a peaceful expression.
Subaru's breath caught in his throat. She was beautiful—no, more than that. She was radiant, a constant source of support and warmth in his life, even when he had been too blind to see it.
"Rem," he called softly, his voice shaking.
She turned, her eyes lighting up as she saw him. "Subaru-kun," she greeted, rising to her feet. "Is something wrong?"
Subaru scratched the back of his head, feeling a sudden surge of nervousness. Why is this so hard? he thought. Taking a deep breath, he stepped closer.
"Rem, I need to talk to you," he began, his tone serious. "About... us."
Her expression shifted, a hint of worry crossing her face. "What about us, Subaru-kun?"
He looked down at the ground, trying to find the right words. "I've been a complete idiot," he said finally, his voice cracking. "I've taken you for granted. You've always been there for me, always believed in me, even when I didn't deserve it."
"Subaru-kun..." Rem's voice was soft, almost hesitant.
He looked up, meeting her eyes. "Rem, I love you. I've loved you for a long time, but I was too scared to admit it. I thought... I thought maybe I didn't deserve you. That you'd be better off with someone else."
Her lips parted in surprise, her cheeks flushing a delicate pink. "Subaru-kun... do you really mean that?"
"I do," he said, stepping closer. "I know I've made a mess of things, but I want to make it right. I want to be the kind of man you can be proud of, the kind of man who can stand by your side. I want to be with you, Rem. For real."
Tears welled up in her eyes, and she pressed a hand to her chest as if to steady her racing heart. "Subaru-kun... I've waited so long to hear you say that."
He reached out, taking her hand in his. "Then let me make it up to you. Let me show you how much you mean to me."
She smiled through her tears, her voice trembling with emotion. "Subaru-kun, I've always believed in you. I always will."
Unable to hold back any longer, Subaru pulled her into a tight embrace. She melted against him, her arms wrapping around his back as she buried her face in his shoulder.
From a distance, Julius and Reinhard watched the scene unfold from the mansion balcony. Julius smirked, swirling a glass of wine in his hand. "Well, it seems our little intervention worked."
A month had passed since that fateful night, and life at the Roswaal mansion had settled back into a semblance of normalcy—or so Julius thought. He had buried the memory deep, convincing himself that it was best forgotten. It wasn't something he was proud of, and he had tried to justify his actions as a moment of weakness brought on by alcohol.
That afternoon, Julius sat at his desk in the capital, sorting through a stack of letters. Most were mundane—requests for appearances, reports from his subordinates, and invitations to noble gatherings. But one envelope caught his attention. It was simple, unadorned, and bore no official seal, only his name scrawled in familiar, delicate handwriting.
His heart sank as he recognized the penmanship. It was from Rem.
With a trembling hand, he broke the seal and unfolded the letter. The words inside made his blood run cold.
Dear Sir Julius,
I hope this letter finds you well. I apologize for writing to you like this, but I didn't know who else to turn to. I'm afraid... something has happened.
I've recently discovered that I'm with child. I'm certain it's yours. Subaru-kun and I... we haven't been intimate yet. Please understand that I'm not writing this to accuse or blame you. I'm scared, Julius-sama. I don't know what to do.
You once told me you would take responsibility if this ever happened. I'm asking you now—please, tell me what I should do. I can't bear the thought of hurting Subaru-kun, but I also can't hide this forever. I'm so afraid.
Please help me.
Sincerely,
Rem
Julius stared at the letter, his chest tightening with every word. The paper trembled in his hand, and he sank back into his chair, his mind racing.
She's pregnant. The reality of it struck him like a blow. Despite all his efforts to suppress the memory of that night, it had come back to haunt him in the most tangible way possible.
He ran a hand through his hair, cursing under his breath. "What have I done?"
His promise echoed in his mind. If anything happens, I'll take responsibility. At the time, it had seemed like a noble thing to say, a way to ease her worries. But now it was real, and there was no escaping it.
For a moment, anger surged within him—at himself, at the situation, and even at the laws that allowed him to invoke the rule that had led to that night. But none of that mattered now. Rem was scared, and she had turned to him for guidance.
Julius folded the letter carefully, placing it on his desk as he rose to his feet. He knew what he had to do, but that didn't make it any easier.
Julius arrived at the mansion just after dawn, his heart racing. He had ridden through the night to reach Rem as quickly as possible. The weight of her letter hung heavily on his shoulders, and he knew every moment was precious.
He slipped inside quietly, avoiding Subaru's usual haunts. The last thing he needed was to encounter him before speaking with Rem. Eventually, he found her sitting in the corner of a small parlor, her hands trembling as she clutched a piece of cloth. Her face was pale, her eyes red from crying.
"Rem," he called softly as he entered the room.
Her head snapped up, and for a moment, relief flickered in her eyes before being replaced by overwhelming fear. She stood, her legs shaky, and Julius crossed the room to steady her.
"Julius-sama..." Her voice broke as she clung to his arm. "I—I don't know what to do. Subaru-kun... he'll hate me. I can't lose him."
Julius's heart ached at her distress. He guided her to a nearby chair, kneeling before her as she wept. "Rem," he said gently, "we'll find a way through this. I won't let you bear this alone."
Her sobs quieted slightly as she looked at him, her hands clutching his as though he were a lifeline. "But how? How can we hide this from him? He'll know—it's only a matter of time!"
Julius closed his eyes, formulating a plan. "We need to buy time," he said finally. "Subaru must be kept away from the mansion until it's safe. Once the child is born, you'll be free from suspicion."
Rem looked at him in confusion. "How? He's always here. He never leaves."
"That's why we need Emilia's help," Julius explained. "If she can find a reason to take Subaru away for a few months, it will give us the time we need. You'll stay at my mansion in Kararagi. It's far enough away to ensure secrecy, and I'll make arrangements to protect you."
"Kararagi?" Rem repeated, her voice trembling. "You mean... I have to leave?"
"It's the safest option," Julius assured her. "We'll make it seem like a kidnapping. Subaru will search for you, of course, but I'll create a false trail leading to the Vollachia Empire. By the time he realizes the truth, the child will already be born."
Rem stared at him, her hands shaking. "A kidnapping? Subaru-kun will be devastated..."
Julius nodded solemnly. "He will, but it's the only way to protect him from the truth—for now. You can't face him like this, Rem. You said it yourself: he'll be hurt, and the guilt will destroy you both. This way, we give him hope while keeping you safe."
A heavy silence fell between them. Rem's tears began to fall again, and Julius reached out to wipe them away. "I know this is hard, but it's the best solution. Trust me."
Julius and Rem explained the plan to Emilia, who listened intently, her expression shifting from confusion to shock.
"This is... a lot," Emilia said finally, her hands gripping the edge of her desk. "You want me to take Subaru away for two months? And lie to him about Rem being kidnapped?"
"I know it's asking a lot," Julius said. "But it's the only way to protect both of them. If Subaru learns the truth now, it will break him—and Rem."
Emilia glanced at Rem, who sat quietly, her head bowed. "Rem, is this really what you want?"
Rem hesitated before nodding. "I don't see any other choice, Emilia-sama. I can't hurt Subaru-kun. This way... maybe I can protect him from the pain."
Emilia sighed, leaning back in her chair. "I'll do it. I don't like lying to Subaru, but if this is what it takes to protect you both, then I'll help."
"Thank you," Julius said, his relief evident.
Over the next few days, Emilia found an excuse to take Subaru on an extended mission. She told him it was urgent—a diplomatic trip that required his unique perspective and presence. Subaru reluctantly agreed, leaving the mansion under the assumption that everything was normal.
Meanwhile, Julius arranged for Rem to be secretly transported to his mansion in Kararagi. He planted false clues suggesting she had been taken by operatives from the Vollachia Empire, ensuring that anyone investigating would be led astray.