The Royal Capital, Roswaal's Mansion.
Carlisle stood by the bed, his brows furrowed as he gazed at the unconscious black-haired girl. Her face was pale, fine beads of cold sweat trickled from her forehead, and her Fingers unconsciously clutched the bedsheet.
"Felix, how is Subaru doing?"
The cat-eared youth withdrew his probing magic, the faint glow lingering on his Fingers slowly dissipating. He sighed softly, his tail wagging restlessly.
"Hmm... it's a heart ailment."
"A heart ailment?"
"Subaru's body has no problems at all, in fact, she's overly healthy," Felix scratched his head. "Her magic circuits are stable, her internal organs are undamaged, and although there are some faint traces of minor wounds on her wrists, they've already healed. In this situation, it can only be a problem on the mental level."
He turned to look at Subaru on the bed. "She... seems to be resisting something. Even though her body has relaxed, her consciousness is tightly strained, as if... she's afraid of something."
"Afraid?"
"That's right, Nyaa~" Felix nodded. "In this situation, neither medicine nor magic can help. We can only wait for her to wake up naturally."
Carlisle's Fingers gently brushed Subaru's brow. "I understand... Thank you, Felix."
"I told you~ Carlisle doesn't need to be so polite!" Felix waved his hand. "Since the check-up is done, I'll take my leave now~ Lady Crusch is still waiting for me to return."
Carlisle gave Subaru one last look, and after confirming her breathing was steady, he turned and said, "I'll see you out."
With that, the two left the room, one after the other.
Rem sat by the bed, her hands clenched into fists on her lap, her blue eyes fixed intently on the unconscious Subaru.
Just then, Subaru's eyelashes trembled slightly, and she slowly opened her eyes.
"Subaru! You're awake!" Rem immediately leaned forward. "Is there anywhere on your body that feels uncomfortable? Do you want some water?"
Subaru's gaze was unfocused for a moment, then she suddenly remembered something and looked around in panic. The familiar figure wasn't in the room.
"He... where is he?!" She suddenly propped herself up.
"Please wait a moment!" Rem quickly pressed down on her shoulders. "Carlisle just went to see Lord Felix off; he'll be back soon."
"Soon... how soon? I need to see him now... right now..."
Rem looked at Subaru's neurotic state, her brows tightly furrowed. She gently but firmly pressed Subaru back onto the bed, hesitated for a moment, and then asked in a low voice.
"Subaru... have you come into contact with anyone strange recently?"
"Strange people...?" Subaru's eyes flickered.
"Yes," Rem nodded, her expression unusually serious. "Because Subaru... suddenly has a very foul smell on her..."
"Foul smell..."
That smell... she was all too familiar with it. It was the smell of the Witch, the scent only found on the Witch Cultists who destroyed her hometown and took her sister's horn. But Subaru could never be one of them... so the only explanation was... she had come into contact with someone from the Witch Cult... or... she had been targeted by an Archbishop of Sin... Connecting this to Subaru's sudden breakdown this afternoon, Rem's heart sank to rock bottom.
"In any case," she held Subaru's cold hand, "you must stay far away from those people. If you encounter them... you must immediately go find Carlisle."
Just then, the door was gently pushed open.
"Subaru, you're awake."
The familiar voice made the girl on the bed tremble. She struggled to get up, and Rem, seeing this, quickly released her hand. Subaru stumbled and lunged towards Carlisle, her trembling Fingers cautiously touching his cheek, as if confirming whether this was a fragile illusion.
"Yes, I'm here." Carlisle gently held her cold wrist, the warmth from his palm calming Subaru's breathing slightly. He carefully helped the tottering girl back to the bed. "You need to rest. I'll go get you a glass of water."
Just as he was about to get up, Subaru suddenly grabbed his sleeve tightly.
"Don't go..." Her voice was tearful. "Please... don't leave..."
Carlisle paused slightly, then immediately sat back down by the bed. "Okay, I won't go." He gently stroked Subaru's hair and turned to Rem, saying, "Rem, could I trouble you to get a glass of water?"
Rem looked worriedly at Subaru, who was clinging to Carlisle, and nodded softly before leaving. The sound of the door closing made Subaru's body visibly tremble, and her grip on him tightened even more.
"Did you have a nightmare?" Carlisle asked softly.
Subaru didn't answer, simply resting her forehead on his arm. Warm tears silently soaked through his white sleeve, spreading dark stains on the fabric. Carlisle could feel Subaru's subtle trembling, like a young animal with nowhere to go in a storm.
He sighed softly, and his other hand slowly stroked Subaru's back. "It's alright. If you're very scared, just rely on me. I'll always be here with you."
"Mm..." Subaru responded softly, her voice muffled against his sleeve. "Don't go... please..."
Carlisle patiently stayed, letting her hold onto his sleeve. After a long while, perhaps feeling that he truly wouldn't leave, Subaru finally slowly released her hand and lay back on the pillow.
Silence fell upon the room for a moment, with only their intertwined breathing. A moment later, Carlisle's voice gently broke the quiet.
"Is Subaru very scared?"
Subaru slowly turned her head, her moist eyes meeting his concerned gaze.
"I don't know what Subaru is afraid of... but... Subaru can tell me everything."
"Carlisle... will you believe me?"
This sudden question made Carlisle pause, but he quickly responded. "I believe you."
"Really...?"
"Of course, it's real." He slightly curved his lips. "If you need me to, I can swear."
"No matter what I say?"
"Mm."
Subaru didn't speak again. Carlisle suddenly raised his hand and gently placed it on her head. "It's alright," his Fingers ran through her soft hair. "If you want to cry, just cry it out. I will accept everything."
"Oh, really..." Subaru's voice was nasal. "When you say that, I feel so embarrassed..."
"Not at all," Carlisle's voice held a gentle smile. "Subaru can entrust everything to me. It's perfectly fine to be as willful as you want."
"Can you... stay here all the time...?"
Carlisle nodded without hesitation. "If Subaru doesn't mind, I can sit here all night."
"Waaah... I thought... I wouldn't be able to feel it again..."
Subaru suddenly began to sob, grabbing his hand that was in her hair and slowly pressing her cheek against it. Carlisle's body visibly stiffened for a moment, but he quickly relaxed, allowing her to be so close.
The two quietly nestled together like that. Moonlight streamed through the gap in the curtains, casting overlapping shadows on the floor. Carlisle's hand was held tightly against Subaru's cheek, and he could clearly feel the warmth of her tears and her slightly trembling breath.
Until the gentle sound of the door opening broke the room's tranquility.
"Carlisle, Rem is back."
Rem walked in, carrying an exquisite tray with a steaming hot dinner. She carefully handed a cup of warm water to Subaru. "Since it's dinner time, Rem brought dinner along."
"Thank you for your trouble," Carlisle said gently.
"Carlisle doesn't need to be so polite." Rem shook her head slightly.
Subaru took the water cup and sipped slowly. She looked at the warm scene before her, Carlisle sitting safely by the bed, and Rem healthy and lively. This contrasted sharply with the bloody night in her memory, when one had died and one was severely injured... Suddenly, a perfectly cut piece of fried egg was offered to her. Subaru stared blankly at the fork in Carlisle's hand, not reacting for a moment.
"Ah, sorry." Carlisle somewhat awkwardly withdrew his hand. "Subaru shouldn't be so weak yet..."
Before he could finish, Subaru had already leaned forward and gently took the fork into her mouth. She chewed slowly, a faint blush on her cheeks, her voice barely a whisper. "I need it..."
Carlisle smiled understandingly and continued to carefully cut her food. Rem, beside them, flashed a hint of envy, but quickly lowered her head and quietly enjoyed her own dinner. The three of them shared dinner under the warm light, with only the soft clinking of cutlery in the room.
After the meal, Rem cleared the dishes and hesitated before asking. "Carlisle, aren't you going back to rest?"
"I'm staying here with Subaru," Carlisle answered softly. "Rem, you go back and rest first."
Rem opened her mouth, but ultimately just nodded: "Mm... Then Rem will leave now." She gently closed the door, leaving the space to the two of them.
Carlisle turned to Subaru and tucked her blanket in. "Rest. I'll always be here."
"Mm... you're not allowed to leave..." Subaru gripped his hand tightly.
"I won't leave. Please rest assured."
Subaru then closed her eyes, but her fingers still held Carlisle's hand firmly. Even when her breathing became even and deep, Carlisle didn't let go. He leaned back in his chair, quietly keeping watch. For a well-trained knight, where he slept made no difference.
In the dead of night, Subaru's sleep-talking softly began.
"I... I will definitely save you..."
...
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