"They're here."
Carlisle stood before the Mansion's main gate, watching the approaching earth dragon carriage, the sunlight outlining his tall figure. Today, he had changed into a brand new Knights Order uniform, white fabric adorned with dark red piping, buttons gleaming faintly in the sun, and an elongated coat tail and cloak gently swaying in the wind, adding a touch of solemnity compared to his usual attire.
Subaru stood beside him, unconsciously glancing at him a few more times. It was her first time seeing Carlisle in formal wear other than his white Knight's uniform, she muttered softly. "...Dear God, you truly favor me today."
"Subaru?" Carlisle suddenly turned his head. "Did you just say something?"
"N-nothing!" Subaru quickly waved her hands, a smile on her face, trying to hide her panic. "Um... are the people in the carriage the guests you've been waiting for all morning?"
"Yes." Carlisle's gaze returned to the distant, approaching ground dragon carriage, a hint of nostalgia in his voice. "They are two old acquaintances."
Subaru blinked. She was about to ask something else when the sound of the ground dragon's footsteps became clearly audible.
The carriage door slowly opened, and a flaxen-haired, cat-eared "girl" lightly leaped out. Dressed in a blue and white dress, her lively yellow eyes darted around, suddenly brightening the moment she saw Carlisle.
"Found you~ Carlisle-san~!"
Accompanied by a clear, joyful shout, and under Subaru's shocked gaze, the "girl" lunged forward and, like a koala, latched onto Carlisle. "Her" fluffy tail stood high and wagged from side to side, and her cat ears twitched slightly with excitement.
Carlisle caught her without moving, a helpless smile playing on his lips. "Felix, long time no see."
"You... what are you doing! Get off him!" Subaru's face flushed crimson. She bit her lip, her eyes darting between Carlisle and Felix. She hadn't even hugged him like that herself... Hearing this exasperated voice, Felix's cat ears keenly turned towards the source. He blinked his large amber eyes, tilting his head as he scrutinized the black-haired girl before him. "Oh my~ Who is this?"
"I, I'm Natsuki Subaru, I'm the Maid here... No! Now isn't the time to talk about that!" Subaru stamped her foot in agitation, "Get off Carlisle right now!"
Felix's lips curved into a mischievous arc.
"Sorry, Miss Maid, but I haven't seen Carlisle-san in so long, I'm just too happy, Nyaa."
"Then hurry up and get down!"
"No way." Felix hugged him even tighter, deliberately burying his face in Carlisle's shoulder and rubbing against him, his tail wagging triumphantly. "Carlisle-san still smells so good, Nyaa~"
Just as Subaru was about to explode, a calm voice interjected at the opportune moment.
"Felix, that's enough." A white-haired elder in a crisp black butler's uniform stepped down from the dragon carriage. "Did you forget Lady Crusch's instruction not to cause trouble for young Carlisle?"
"Yes, yes, I know, Old Man Will." Felix drew out his words, finally sliding reluctantly off Carlisle.
Carlisle straightened his ruffled collar and turned to Subaru to introduce them. "Subaru. This is Felix, my friend from the Knights Order, and that is Mr. Wilhelm."
"...Friend?" Subaru's voice suddenly became light and airy. She stared at Felix, a forced smile on her lips. "Carlisle's standards for making friends... are certainly unique."
"Hehe, Subaru is such a jealous Maid~" Felix narrowed his cat eyes, his tail wagging happily. "Don't worry, my heart only belongs to Lady Crusch, I won't fight you for Carlisle-san, Nyaa~"
"If you have someone you like, you should keep your distance from other boys!" Subaru shouted, her face red.
"Other... boys?" Felix tilted his head, his cat ears twitching in confusion. "But Lady Crusch is a woman, you know?"
"Eh?"
"Subaru," Carlisle interjected at the right moment, "Felix is a male."
He thoughtfully glanced at the cat-eared young man who had begun to link arms with him: "Though he is indeed more enthusiastic today than usual."
Carlisle did not notice that Felix's cat tail was unhappily flicking the air. For this cat-eared young man, besides his grand ambition to help Lady Crusch ascend to the throne, he harbored another obsession, bringing this genius Knight into his own faction. He had planned for a long time, only to suddenly learn that Roswaal, that old fox, had interfered, taking the man away under the guise of the fourth Royal Selection Candidate.
"Those greedy old geezers..." Felix gritted his teeth inwardly. This unusual display of intimacy today was half the joy of a long-awaited reunion, and the other half was a deliberate provocation against Roswaal. This matter would certainly not be left at that.
Just as Carlisle was smiling wryly, a blue figure suddenly stepped between the two. Rem's slender yet strong hands precisely gripped their arms, separating the two with an undeniable force.
"Excuse me, guest." Rem bowed slightly, her raised blue eyes seemingly freezing over. "Please mind your manners."
Felix's cat ears suddenly perked up, his gaze darting between Rem's icy stare and Subaru's pouting face. A mischievous curve played on his lips as he gently nudged Carlisle with his elbow.
"Oh my, oh my~ Carlisle-san certainly has quite the fortune with women, Nyaa~"
Carlisle was about to speak when a light patter of footsteps came from the corridor. A silver-bell-like voice followed.
"Have the guests arrived already? I apologize, I'm late."
Emilia hurried over, smiling with a hint of apology.
...
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