A group of villagers meandered along the dirt paths, making their way toward a grand mansion that loomed in the distance, having received a personal invitation from their lord.
These were the residents of Arlam Village, on their way to the estate of Roswaal L. Mathers, the court mage and their feudal lord.
Typically, an invitation from a lord would stir feelings of apprehension and worry among the peasants, but today, they were filled with anticipation and optimism.
Their opinions had changed considerably after a few of their children, who went messing were rescued by workers and a candidate for the throne.
There were two individuals they felt especially grateful towards.
Initially, they had been fearful and uncertain about the Silver-Haired Half-Elf, but that had changed after she healed their children from the Wolgram curse.
Then there was the butler, who had bravely entered the forest and saved those children after quickly defeating an entire pack of Wolgram.
Indeed, the lord's popularity among the villagers had never been higher.
A short girl with radish-colored hair and a red ribbon in her hair walked through the crowd of villagers. This was none other than Petra Leyte, one of the children who had been rescued.
She walked alongside her friends—Mild, Meina, Cain, Dine, and Lucas—who were all the children that were rescued.
"Hey, Petra!" Meina called out, the only girl in the group. "Are you excited to find out why Roswaal-sama invited us? Do you think we'll get to see Subaru again?"
"Yes! I really hope so! And I can't wait to see Emilia again; she was so much fun to be around." Petra replied. After their rescue, the butler and the half-elf would sometimes play with the kids, and Petra was eager to see Puck again, his fur was so soft and fluffy.
"But there is something I don't understand," Lucas chimed in. "Why do we have to wear winter clothes? It's so warm here!"
When they received the invitation to the mansion, the message was vague, only mentioning a day of fun and the need for winter attire.
"Well, I'm sure they have a good reason…" Petra began, but her words trailed off as she heard a gasp from the front, the whole group stopping in their tracks. She and the other children rushed forward to see what was happening, and what they discovered was astonishing.
A massive dark cloud loomed over the lord's mansion, softly showering it with delicate snowflakes. The mansion and its surroundings were blanketed in snow, forming a circular pattern, almost as if they were encased in a glass bottle.
What truly amazed them was the enormous wall-like structure in the front yard, complete with towers at the corners, and a grand building behind it.
To their astonishment, everything was made of ice.
It was, in essence, an ice castle.
The villagers stood in awe, a mix of shock and wonder on their faces. The children, in particular, were bubbling with excitement at the sight of such a magnificent spectacle.
Petra exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with wonder, "Wow! It's soooo beautiful!"
Lucas chimed in eagerly from the side, "I know, right? I can't wait to go inside!"
The villagers made their way in, and as they stepped over the threshold where the snow began, the warm air shifted to a chilly breeze.
In front of them stood a grand ice sign that read, "Do you wish to discover the marvels of WindSpire Castle? If so, step right up to the gate!"
The villagers gathered at the enormous gate, crafted entirely from ice and adorned with intricate designs.
"Wow! It's even more amazing up close!"
"I want to see! I want to see! I can't wait to see the inside!"
"I wonder if I could keep it! I want to be a princess," the children exclaimed, their excitement palpable. The adults shared in their enthusiasm, their initial confusion giving way to awe at the spectacle.
Suddenly, a loud noise caught their attention, and they looked up to see none other than Natsuki Subaru, the heroic butler who had saved the village's children during that fateful incident.
Dressed in his usual butler attire, he wore a regal cape and a crown, both were made of ice and snow.
"Greetings, everyone! I'm thrilled you all made it here!" he called out. The children, especially Petra, beamed at the sight of their hero.
He was just as cool as the stories they had heard—fearlessly diving into the forest, defeating a pack of Wolgram in a single blow, and heroically bringing the children back home.
He seemed like a character straight out of their favorite tales.
And there was also the kind Half-Elf who had helped them, even if they were a bit wary of her at first.
Now that Petra thought about it, they truly made a heroic pair.
"I'm sure you all have questions! Why is there a massive black cloud hovering above us? Why is the entire mansion covered in snow? And why is there an ice castle?" he exclaimed.
"Well, due to some... unfortunate circumstances," he said, pausing to glance to the side for a moment, "We found ourselves in this situation. So, we decided to make the best of it and create this ice castle, inviting all of you to come and enjoy it!"
This announcement thrilled the villagers even more; they were used to seeing plain wooden cottages, so the sight of such an extraordinary and seemingly impossible structure was exhilarating.
"That's right! For the entire day, you can experience this magnificent castle and all its splendor, so please, sit back, relax, and have a great time!" he shouted like a sports announcer, and the crowd erupted in cheers.
"Okay, you can open the gate now," he instructed, and the gates began to transform slowly, surrounded by swirling wisps of blue and white, reshaping themselves to allow entry.
Inside, they were greeted by a breathtaking sight. The yard was vast and covered in snow, featuring cobblestone-like ice paths, ice bridges, and a garden filled with ice plants. There was also a fenced open area with ice boots that had Ice-like blades on the bottom.
The children were particularly drawn to a series of tube-like tunnels that twisted and turned before opening at the bottom.
Additionally, there was a bunch of open ice-like fences with two seats connected by an ice chain at the top.
They had no idea what those were, but their childish instincts urged them to go there and play until they were exhausted.
"Before you all head off," Subaru called out, grabbing their attention once again, "The castle's interior is open for everyone to explore, and it's beautifully decorated just for you!"
"And I have two more things to share," he said, raising two fingers. "There are about ten coins hidden around the place, and the first person to find one will win a special prize from me! And remember," he puffed out his chest, "be sure to show your appreciation to your king for this wonderful day!"
The villagers, filled with excitement, exchanged glances before shouting together,
"""Thank you so much, King Subaru!"""
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Puck floated beside Subaru and remarked, "I never thought of you as a speech-giver, Subaru."
Subaru straightened up, saying, "It's 'King Subaru' now, and I do have a talent for public speaking." He observed the villagers milling about the castle—some heading straight inside, children rushing to the slides he had set up, while others wandered into the frozen garden.
"Isn't it beautiful?" Puck said, "I must admit, I've never pushed this far with fire magic before. You always find ways to amaze me!"
This was indeed Subaru's idea. Since Puck still had some excess mana he needed to expel, Subaru thought it best to channel it into something creative, leading to the idea of constructing an ice castle.
Puck would shape the structure, while Subaru, Rem, Ram, and Emilia would focus on the intricate details. Even Roswaal joined in, declaring, "A looooord cannot simply sit back while his servants toil away!"
For once, Beatrice took an interest in the project, taking on the role of planner and lead architect.
One might assume that building the castle would take ages, and it would under normal circumstances. But with a Great Spirit of fire, a skilled magician, two diligent oni-maids—though only one was truly hard at work—a half-elf, and a human with the ability to see things at a subatomic level, it was no surprise that the task could be completed in mere hours.
"Of course, you've caused us quite the trouble these past few days, so consider this your payback," Subaru said, playfully flicking Puck on the head, causing him to yelp.
"Come onnnn, I said I was sorry, okay?" Puck protested.
This entire endeavor served two purposes: to help Puck expend his excess mana and to check off one of Subaru's bucket list items—building an ice castle.
"Let's head down and see how everyone is doing," Subaru suggested, leaping down gracefully, with Puck following closely behind.
He made his way to the other side, waving at the villagers who greeted and thanked him for this opportunity, until he arrived at a frozen stand.
Behind a counter, there was a makeshift bar where the oni-maids, Ram and Rem, were serving hot tea and drinks to the guests.
Rem lit up with a smile as Subaru approached, "Subaru-ku—"
Subaru cleared his throat loudly, prompting Rem to quickly correct herself, "King Subaru-kun!"
He nodded in satisfaction, "That's right! Make sure to address me properly; it's all about etiquette, after all."
Since he came up with the idea, Subaru had insisted that everyone refer to him as "King Subaru,"
He glanced at Ram, who scoffed and looked away, "Hmph, trash Barasu has no dignity if he has to ask others to indulge his fantasy."
"Rammy, we call that 'roleplaying.' It has nothing to do with pride or anything like that," he shot back.
"Hmph," she replied, unimpressed.
"Well, keep serving the drinks, peasant. Grand vizier Puck, let's go check on your daughter," he said, walking away, snickering quietly to Ram's furious glare directed at him.
Subaru then made his way to the ice-skating ring, where he spotted the person he was looking for; the Half-Elf Emilia, teaching others how to skate.
He introduced the sport to the mansion yesterday, and it turned out to be a huge success, especially with Emilia and surprisingly, Ram too. Naturally, she wouldn't openly acknowledge it, just stating, "As a responsible maid, Ram must make sure Emilia-sama is safe during one of Barasu's uncreative ideas."
"Emilia, looks like you're enjoying your new role, huh?" he called out, catching her attention and earning a bright smile.
"King Subaru! Yes, I'm really having a lot of—whoa!" Emilia exclaimed, waving enthusiastically before colliding with someone and tumbling down.
"Oof, looks like you're in a bit of a bind, Lia. Need a hand?" Puck asked, seeing Emilia struggle to stand, but she raised her hand to stop him.
"I'm fine, Puck! I can get up easily, you see—" she said, only to faceplant again, making Subaru chuckle at her clumsiness.
"Heh, looks like Emilia's doing just fine. Let's go check on Roswaal and Betty."
With that, the king and his Grand Vizier making their way to the ice castle, the vibrant blue and white hues gave the place a regal atmosphere.
The rooms were just as beautifully adorned as the main mansion, each featuring its own unique decorations, furniture, and dimensions.
This part proved to be the most challenging and time-consuming. Subaru wasn't an architect, nor was he particularly skilled at decorating, but fortunately, they had an adorable Spirit-loli to assist with the task.
Though she might never admit it, he could tell she was having fun working alongside them.
Seriously, the amount of tsunderes they have at the mansion is ridiculous.
He stepped out onto the frozen balcony on the second floor, where both Beatrice and Roswaal were seated, enjoying their tea while gazing out at the yard.
"Ahh, it's great to see my favorite subjects having a good time," Subaru said as he entered the balcony.
"Whyyyy yes, it's all indeed thanks to your generosity, King Subaru," Roswaal replied.
It would be considered blasphemous for one's employer and lord to be addressed in such a manner, but as Subaru had figured out in the past, Roswaal L. Mathers was unlike any other lord.
He had no qualms about calling him that and even found it "Amusing"; in fact, he was the first to embrace it.
Beatrice, on the other hand, was less pleased.
"Hmph, Betty senses some intruder has invaded her personal space. Now, be gone before I'm forced to take action! Shoo, shoo!" the feisty Spirit-loli declared.
Subaru simply smiled at her, "Good to see you're having fun too, Betty."
"Yeah! You hardly ever leave the library, let alone talk to anyone, not even Roswaal!" Puck chimed in from the side, floating in the air.
"Bubby! Betty's been feeling quite annoyed; would you spend some time with her today?" she asked her spirit companion.
"Ehe, sorry Betty, but since I'm on timeout–I mean, I'm Subaru's 'Grand Vizier,' I can't leave his side tonight," Puck said apologetically.
"I see... So you've made your priorities clear. Betty understands now, I suppose, hmph," she said, tilting her head to the side while pouting.
That pout quickly transformed into a yelp as Subaru scooped her up and began spinning her around like a child with a toy, "Aww, is Betty in a bad mood? Don't worry, once we're finished, you can play with your Bubby as much as you like, I suppose!"
"P-Put Betty down! This is an improper treatment of a Great Spirit, In fact!"
After nearly being thrown away, Subaru and his grand vizier strolled out of the ice castle, wandering aimlessly.
"Well, Puck, it seems everyone is enjoying themselves. Any idea on what we should do next?" he asked.
"Subaru, Subaru!" A cheerful shout interrupted Puck before he could answer, and they turned to see none other than Petra rushing toward them.
"Subaru, I found it! I—" she paused, noticing Subaru's serious expression, her finger pointing at the crown.
"I-I meant King Subaru, hehe," she said, looking a bit embarrassed, and Subaru affectionately patted her head.
"No need for that, Petra. I'm just teasing! You can call me Subaru," he replied, earning an outraged look from Puck.
"Hey! That's not fair—Ow!" He was playfully flicked on the head.
"So, what did you want to tell me?"
"I found it, Subaru! I found one of the coins you mentioned!" she exclaimed, holding up a silver coin. It was unique to this land, because it was a Japanese hundred yen, a nation that doesn't exist in this world..
"Oho, you really did, Petra! Now, Grand Vizier Puck, if you please." He gestured, and a massive pillar shot up from beneath them, causing Petra to yelp and cling to Subaru like a lifeline.
He extended his hand, and wisps of magic swirled around Puck's paws, forming an ice crown similar to Subaru's but less ornate.
He approached the edge, gazing down at the crowd gathered below.
Hey everyone! I'm thrilled to share that one of my guests has discovered one of the ten hidden coins! He said, as he carefully placed the crown on her head, leaving her in awe.
"Now, let's all give a big round of applause for our newly crowned Princess of WindSpire Castle, Petra Chan!" he exclaimed, lifting the girl for all to see.
The crowd erupted in loud applause and cheers, but nothing could compare to Petra's joyful giggles.
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"Man, what a day this was," Subaru said, sat at the top of the straight path in front of Roswaal's mansion.
"I know right! Today was quite extraordinary." a voice chimed in next to him—it was Emilia.
"Extraordinary? Who even uses that word these days?" he teased, earning a pout from her.
"Stop teasing me! I'm serious!"
"Of course you are."
"Do you even pay attention to what I say?"
"Of course! I hang on to every single word, 'just Emilia'!" he replied, and they both burst into laughter.
After a moment, they fell silent, gazing up at the night sky, captivated by the beauty and peace surrounding them.
"…Hey Subaru," Emilia spoke softly.
"Yeah?"
"I just wanted to say… thank you… for everything you've done for me."
"Don't mention it, I haven't really done much," he replied, but Emilia shook her head.
"No, you don't get it, Subaru… before you arrived, it was just me and Puck. Ram and Rem weren't as kind as they are now. Because of my appearance… I had no friends. Most people either hated or feared me because of my looks being related to the witch…" Her voice trailed off, a sad look in her eyes, and Subaru felt a pang in his heart.
Being linked to a monster that had devoured the world 400 years ago and facing such isolation was incredibly unfair in his eyes.
"But then you showed up." Her eyes sparkled as she looked at him. "You came, and everything changed. Ram and Rem are nicer to me now, and the villagers don't despise me anymore. And…" she blushed slightly, "I have so much fun when you are around."
"So Subaru, thank you for coming into my life and making me sooooo happy."
Her smile was bright, cheerful, and warm—just like the one she had when he first expressed his desire to befriend her.
Subaru felt his cheeks heat up as well; a wave of warmth and nervousness washed over him.
Which had never happened to him before with anyone else, let alone a girl.
"Y-you're welcome… Emi."
"Emi?"
"It's just a nickname. Do you like it?"
"I do… Can I call you Soubie?"
"Absolutely not! That name is horrible!"
They burst into laughter once more, returning to their stargazing, where silence spoke louder than words.
From that day on, a thought would enter Subaru's mind whenever they were together.
'Being this close and genuine with Emilia… I love it.'
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Had an internet blackout happening. It was not fun at all.