"Is Lord Roswaal strict?" Gojo propped his chin in one hand, curiosity plain on his face.
Rem shook her head, a gentle smile surfacing. "The Master is quite unique. He treats us well."
"What a shame. I was hoping I might poach you someday. Open a little dessert shop together."
"Coveting a nobleman's property is a criminal offense."
"Property?"
"Then let the Margrave hand you over as part of our reward!"
"If that happened, the desserts would probably become something lethal."
"Hey, hey. Saying that right to my face? Really?"
"My apologies, sir. Rem is already reflecting on her words."
Faced with a maid who deflected everything and had a quiet venom to her tongue, Gojo expressed his displeasure the only way he knew how: by demolishing every last dessert on the tray.
The flavor surpassed any bakery he'd tried. Genuinely rare quality.
Their brief afternoon tea didn't last long.
When Reinhard rose to take his leave, it was time for them to depart the capital and head for Roswaal's manor.
"Try not to miss me too much while I'm gone." Gojo stood by the Dragon Carriage, waving.
"If at all possible, even outside the capital, please try to keep a low profile... Gojo."
"Call me Satoru."
"If a friend asks, I suppose I can agree to that." He grinned. "And look, if you're worried things might go sideways, just come along. If the Margrave turns out to be less than friendly, you could lend a hand."
"I'll be sure to pass our guest's concerns along to Lord Roswaal." Rem glanced up from where she was soothing the Earth Dragon, that same sweet smile fixed in place.
"Rem is using her baking skills as leverage to bully people. That's not fair."
Reinhard laughed, warm and open as ever. "The Margrave only invited your group. It wouldn't be appropriate for me to show up uninvited, and the capital still needs looking after." A pause. "But when you return, I'll treat you properly. All the sweets you want."
"Deal!"
Gojo's answer came without a shred of hesitation. Their palms swung out and connected with a sharp clap.
They hadn't met many times. Even so, both had arrived at the same quiet conclusion: they got along.
Reinhard's figure grew smaller down the road. Rem, perched in the driver's seat at the front of the carriage, turned to look back.
"Mr. Gojo, shall we be off?"
In the carriage behind her, Subaru and the others were already seated. The interior was roomier than expected, two bench seats facing each other with space enough for four without anyone feeling cramped.
Gojo hadn't taken a single step toward it before he caught Subaru's eyes darting his way, silently screaming for help.
Tch. Time for the protagonist to make his entrance.
A faint smirk tugged at his lips as he climbed inside.
In one fluid motion, he grabbed Subaru by the collar, deposited him in the empty seat next to Emilia, and dropped into the spot beside Felt with an exaggerated sprawl.
"Honestly, stealing my favorite seat next to Felt. The nerve."
"Don't think saying that makes any of this okay!"
Felt's indignant voice came from somewhere between Gojo and the carriage wall. Small as she already was, his sprawl had compressed her into a sliver of remaining space. Her face flushed red as she shoved against him with everything she had.
"You two really do get along." Puck lounged across Emilia's lap, grinning.
"Of course. We've been through life and death together. Isn't that right, Felt?"
Having finally managed to push him off, Felt shot him a look of pure disgust. "Back off! Show some respect to the person you owe money to!"
"Yes, Lady Felt."
Subaru watched the three of them fall into easy, bickering conversation and stole a glance at Emilia. He clenched his fists in his lap.
Okay. Be natural. Like Gojo. Just... talk.
He drew a deep breath.
"Miss Emilia, I wanted to apologize for what happened last time."
The words left his mouth and he regretted them instantly.
Idiot. Who leads with the most awkward thing possible?
Gojo blinked, watching Subaru squirm, and filed the observation away.
"It's all right." Emilia's voice was kind. "I've heard about everything that happened after. Thank you. And thank you to Mr. Gojo and Felt as well."
"Wait, why am I the only one who gets the formal treatment? Are you singling me out?"
"Huh?" Emilia's eyes went wide and she waved her hands. "No, that's not what I meant! I just... Mr. Gojo seems more mature, somehow."
"What? I'm the same age as Subaru."
"Then call me Satoru, same as him."
He shot Subaru a wink.
Subaru picked up on the cue without missing a beat. "That's right. Just treat all of us the same, Emilia."
With Gojo breaking the ice and Subaru being, well, Subaru, the conversation found its footing fast. He wasn't shy by nature. Anyone willing to shout at the top of his lungs in the middle of a public street didn't exactly qualify as an introvert. Once the opening was there, he ran with it, and soon everyone was talking and laughing together.
Up front, Rem heard the noise drifting from the carriage and spoke up.
"The journey will take about two days. We'll be camping outdoors tonight. The Earth Dragon keeps a smooth pace, so there's no need to worry about bumps. There are snacks and water in the carriage. If you need anything, let me know."
"About the snacks, you don't need to announce that. I'm already eating them."
"Understood. Rem only hopes our guest won't eat through tomorrow's supplies as well."
"Huh?"
"You! Stop eating! Put it down!" Felt snapped.
"It's fine, isn't it? Rem said to let her know if we need anything."
"That's correct. Please tell Rem. I'm listening carefully."
Subaru caught something off in Rem's phrasing. "And then what? That's it?"
"That's it. Surely our guest doesn't expect Rem to conjure desserts out of thin air in the middle of nowhere?"
She turned around, regarding both Gojo and Subaru in the back of the carriage with a look one might reserve for a pair of particularly hopeless fools.
"We're doomed, Satoru!!"