Chapter 17: A Stranger in a Strange Land, Weeping at the Sight of a Fellow Countryman (Patreon)

Before Reinhard could even step out to greet her, a crisp, imperious clack of high heels rang out, and the parlor doors were shoved open without ceremony.

"No need to put on that face for welcoming an honored guest, Reinhard. I'm not here for you."

Priscilla Barielle strode into the parlor, her fan swaying in hand.

She wore a resplendent red gown, her expression as haughty as ever. Her crimson eyes swept the room and settled on Natsuki Subaru.

"How amusing—remaining seated even when an honored guest such as myself comes to call?" Priscilla lifted her chin, a haughty smile curling her lips. "Should I call that rudeness, or simply character?"

"I'm still wounded. If I stood up to receive an honored guest and happened to faint, what an embarrassing scene that would make."

Natsuki Subaru went on sipping his tea, unbothered.

"So I think it's best we dispense with formalities. Don't you agree?"

"Hm. He really is an interesting man. Ciel, is this the one you mentioned?"

Unbothered by Subaru's impertinence, Priscilla hid the lower half of her face behind her fan and turned to the girl in the black dress standing attentively at her side, eyes lightly closed. The girl only gave a small nod, her snow-white hair rippling in a graceful wave.

Then the white-haired girl called Ciel opened her eyes. Her jet-black gaze settled on him calmly, as though intent on taking in every detail of the black-haired youth still seated in his chair, from head to toe.

Her eyes finally came to rest on the plastic bag sitting by Subaru's feet.

Inside were a cup of instant noodles and a bag of potato chips.

It was something of a miracle the bag had survived intact this long—Subaru had been deliberately using his void psionic power to keep it safe. After all, it was the only thing he had left that reminded him of home.

As for his phone? That piece of junk had been lost back during his first crossing over, unlike this plastic bag, which had somehow made it all the way to the start of his second.

"Is that... cup noodles?"

At the girl's question, Subaru's fingers froze around his teacup.

"Cup noodles?" Reinhard asked, puzzled.

"Yes."

Ciel's gaze stayed fixed on the plastic bag.

"The kind where you peel back the lid, pour in hot water, and wait a few minutes before it's ready to eat."

She paused, then looked at the bag of chips, a wistful look crossing her face.

"And this one—it makes a loud crackling sound when you open it, and afterward your fingers are covered in salt and grease. You know it's bad for you, but you buy it anyway."

Subaru slowly set down his teacup without answering right away.

The easy playfulness in his golden eyes had vanished, leaving only a calm, appraising stare.

Priscilla watched the exchange unfold with interest, fanning herself idly.

Reinhard, sensing the shift in the air, let his fingers drift unobtrusively toward the hilt at his waist—and only relaxed once he found Reid gave no reaction at all.

"I see. Stepping out of a convenience store and ending up in another world—how wonderfully cliché," Ciel said softly.

Subaru's pupils contracted sharply, delight breaking across his face.

"Wait, a fellow countryman?!"

He clapped his hands as though something had finally clicked into place, and the words came tumbling out.

"Where are you from, sis? I'm Natsuki Subaru, from Japan. Used to be a plain old high schooler. Now, well... call me an unemployed drifter mooching meals off this Sword Saint fella over here."

As he spoke, Subaru slung an arm familiarly around Reinhard's shoulders and leaned in close, as if the two were old pals.

"How should I put it—this guy and I have been through life-and-death stuff together. He's got some real pull in this world, too. Sis, if you ever need a hand with anything, just say the word—me and my bro here will back you up, no problem!"

"Lord Subaru," Reinhard said with a helpless smile, "isn't this gesture a bit... overly familiar?"

"It's how we show brotherly affection where I'm from. Try to get used to it."

"Very well... if you say so."

Ciel blinked, her gaze lingering for a moment on Subaru with his arm around Reinhard, and then, as though something had suddenly clicked, she gave a small laugh.

"Lord Subaru, are you testing me?"

Subaru blinked.

"Oh? What makes you say that?"

"You just called yourself an unemployed drifter mooching off the Sword Saint," Ciel glanced at Reinhard, who stood there looking helpless but still going along with it. "That sounds... like you were deliberately making yourself sound unreliable, just to see how I'd react."

Reinhard blinked in surprise, then turned to look at Subaru with sudden understanding.

"I see—so that's what you meant just now, Lord Subaru?"

"Half and half," Subaru nodded solemnly. "The mooching part's real. But so was the test."

"Did I pass, then?" Ciel asked quietly.

Subaru let go of Reinhard and rubbed his chin, looking her over.

"You'll pass for now—but there's one last question."

Ciel tensed slightly. "What is it?"

"What's the most dangerous spot in a convenience store at night?"

"...Next to the hot food counter?"

Subaru shook his head at once.

"Wrong—it's the snack aisle! Especially when you only meant to buy a bottle of water and somehow end up at the register hugging a pile of chips, fried chicken, and cup noodles."

Ciel blinked, then broke into a knowing smile:

"I see. That truly is dangerous—especially for a girl like me, who has to watch her figure."

"Excellent!" Subaru clapped his hands. "That settles it—you're not some professional con artist just reciting a few memorized lines to fool me."

Ciel's smile faded slightly, and she said quietly:

"I'm sorry, Lord Subaru. Ever since I came to this world, some of my memories have grown quite hazy. Luckily, I've at least managed to hold on to the things that matter most."

Subaru glanced at her clenched fingers, thoughtful, but didn't press further. He simply waved a hand, casual as ever.

"Take your time, then. I've got a whole pile of stuff I haven't figured out either—we can compare notes on our respective mysteries."

Priscilla took in the whole exchange, then closed her fan with a soft snap.

"It seems my attendant has truly found someone who understands her."

She raised her fan and pointed it at Subaru.

"Well then, Natsuki Subaru—come be a guest at my estate."

"Since my attendant has things to say to you, I shall permit you to ask your questions at leisure, and to dig for your answers at leisure as well."

"But remember—the answers will only be waiting for you within my domain."

Subaru glanced at Ciel, then at Priscilla.

"Is this you trying to recruit me?"

"It's a favor bestowed."

"And can I refuse it?"

Priscilla smiled with easy confidence.

"Will you?"

"I hate people like you, handing out riddles as if they were invitations."

Subaru fell silent for a moment, sighed, then rose to his feet. He straightened his tattered black coat and turned to Reinhard beside him.

"Bro, looks like this witness of yours might have to step away from his post for a while."

Reinhard nodded in understanding. If anything, Subaru's willingness to leave everything in his hands was itself a mark of absolute trust.

"I understand. I'll look after Miss Felt and Old Man Rom—you needn't worry."

"Then I'll leave it to you."

Subaru nodded, glanced around a little slyly, and lowered his voice.

"Also, one more favor, bro..."

"Go ahead."

"If I'm not back in three days, come get me with backup."

Reinhard blinked.

"Lord Subaru, are you worried that Lady Priscilla might—"

"No."

Subaru glanced back over his shoulder.

Priscilla had her fan raised to cover the lower half of her face, as if paying no attention at all—but the faint arch of her brow gave away that she'd heard every word.

"I'm worried she'll suddenly announce one day that I already belong to her."

The fan in Priscilla's hand snapped shut with a crack.

Subaru's shoulders tensed at once.

A moment later, rather than anger, Priscilla's face broke into an unreadable smile.

"Caught, was I? You're the first man ever to pique my interest quite this much."

It made Reinhard feel that his friend's worry... wasn't entirely unfounded.

After all, the 'Bloodstained Bride's' reputation among the royal capital's upper crust was, to put it mildly, not exactly good.

"Well then—good luck, Subaru."

"Please, come back alive."

Under Reinhard's gaze—the kind reserved for a hero marching off, never to return—the Barielle family's dragon carriage slowly pulled away from Astrea Manor.

An hour later, the Mathers family's dragon carriage finally arrived, belatedly, at the manor gate.

Emilia stepped down from the carriage, looking somewhat anxious.

"Mr. Reinhard, is Subaru still here? I wanted to thank him properly, and invite him to stay as a guest at the Roswaal Manor."

But Reinhard only shook his head apologetically.

"I'm terribly sorry, Lady Emilia."

"Lord Subaru has already left."

"Eh? Where did he go?"

"Lady Priscilla came in person, and Lord Subaru accepted her invitation. He's already on his way to the Barielle mansion."

"Priscilla?!"

Emilia froze.

Behind her, the smile on Roswaal's face stiffened, just slightly.

This part wasn't in the Gospel.

Priscilla wasn't supposed to come here today.

And Natsuki Subaru certainly wasn't supposed to become entangled with her this quickly.

The thread of fate had veered completely off course.

Yet Roswaal felt no anger.

He slowly narrowed his mismatched eyes, an irrepressible fervor kindling within them.

"My my..."

"Things do seem to be getting more and more interesting, don't they."