3^rd Pov

“W-Why do you want to become my Knight?” Subaru asked confused, he knew Reina for a short period of time and even if they had become close to each other as friends, it didn’t made sense!

‘D-Don’t tell me she had fallen in love with me?’ he thought shocked at his speculation, but then decided to not go overboard ‘Well it’s definitely a possibility, there might be other reasons’

Meanwhile, Roswaal looked at kneeling Reina disbelief wondering ‘Who is he?’ ‘Where is he?’ ‘What the fuck just happened?’

Well not that extreme, but he was definitely surprised. He clenched his fists ‘If she is to become his knight! All my plans will fail!’ he thought with a grim face.

“Lady Reina, your decision to accept Sir Zero as your ‘Lord’ is a very bad idea. He doesn’t even belong to nobility, while you are the heir of respected Astrea family, on top of that you are the current Sword Saint, if you were to accept a commoner as your master it would definitely cause concern among the Nobility, they won’t even allow such a thing to happen!” he quickly tried to make her change her mind.

“I don’t need your opinion clown- I wish to serve Lord Zero as his loyal knight. It’s my decision- regardless of the consequences” she replied making Roswaal’s eyebrows twitch ‘This doesn’t even make sense! She was supposed to become that gutter rat’s knight!’

 Subaru meanwhile couldn’t help but glance at Roswaal who was trying his best to prevent Reina from becoming his knight.

‘To be honest this is an extremely lucrative offer, with Reina as my Knight I won’t have to die again- With her power and my intelligence I could solve anything- but it will certainly cause problems for her’ he thought.

It wouldn’t have been much of a big deal if Reina had sworn her fealty to one of the candidates for the throne, however for someone of her stature to swear fealty to a Noble much less a commoner can shake the entire kingdom!

She was sword saint for a reason, the Kingdom’s trump card. If she were to swear her fealty to a commoner, and an outsider nonetheless will bring her position into trouble.

“Miss Reina, why do you want to become my knight?” he finally asked, ‘Let’s say even if she loves me- this is too farfetched!’

Reina blushed, to be honest she wondered how to stalk Zero*ahem* follow him, without any problem, then an idea came to her mind.

What if she becomes his knight? If she was to become his knight, she will be able to stay with him- forever.

However, she knew she couldn’t tell her selfish reason and in the presence of a Great Spirit she couldn’t lie either.

“I- I think Lord Zero, is someone worth giving my loyalty to” she replied and he sighed.

‘If I can say yes, I will definitely avoid 90% of shit that will happen in future. But it is wrong, I cannot put her into this position-yet’ Subaru thought, and decided what to do.

“I am quite moved by your offer, however-”

“I refuse” he said surprising Rem and Ram, since they knew what he had declined, he basically turned down the offer to become the Lord of Astrea family’s heir and the Kingdom’s sharpest blade!

“Before you ask me, why? I don’t deserve to be your Liege. At least not yet” he said truthfully.

It was an enticing offer, having Reina would solve nearly all of his problems, but he cannot do it selfishly, as of now as much as he hates to admit Roswaal’s words, he is just a commoner.

However, it can change in future. If nothing goes wrong, the White Whale and the Witch cult will attack, and by getting rid of them by himself, he can prove himself.

At least Reina will have a valid reason to swear her fealty.

Reina’s mood dropped hearing the rejection ‘W-what if he gets in danger again? Sho-Should I just lock him up? That way no one will be able to harm again! And I will be able to be with him; Forever’ a dangerous thought came in her mind.

However, it dissolved the moment she received a head pat, an expression of pure joy appeared on her face as Arthur patted her head.

“I am really moved by your offer- However it will be selfish of me to accept it without considering the consequences you might face” he said in a soft tone.

“Now, don’t kneel before me and also no need to call me ‘Lord’ you can call me just Zero and treat me as your friend” he said with a smile and she stood up, blushing.

She wanted to say she wanted to be more than his friend but kept the thought to herself.

‘~Ah~ How good it be if he only smiles for me’ another dangerous thought bubbled up in her mind.

Thankfully, Subaru avoided a bad ending.

(A/N: He is walking a thin line and doesn’t even knows)

…

Roswaal looked at the food on the table. Looking at the artistic monstrosity, and the smell that burned his nose, he could only stare in silence.

Emilia hesitated seeing the food on the table, Puck floated around her and said “Lia, I don’t think it’s a good idea-”

He paused seeing his daughter already have been taken a bite, her face became paler as she gulped down the food and collapsed on the ground.

“Lia! Stay with me! Please!!” Puck cried out, desperately shaking her.

“You wretched Oni! What poison did you mixed in the food!” he glared at Ram who huffed.

“I have made the best food of course; Miss Emilia must be sick for some other reason” she said and then looked at Roswaal.

“Roswaal-sama please eat the food” her eyes shined while the clown wanted to cry.

Ram was not only lazy, but her cooking skills were in the negative.

Thus, she probably just threw some ingredients here and there, and behold! an unthinkable dish!

‘I can do this! I will revive Lady Echidna, I cannot falter before this’ he looked with determined eyes and took a spoonful of the soup, his face became emotionless.

Then he quickly put the spoon down, took out a paper bag from God knows where and vomited in it.

Ram meanwhile looked at him with worry and asked “Lord Roswaal, are you sick as well?”

After finishing vomiting, he stared at the ceiling with dead eyes ‘It’s over, I won’t be able to revive you Sensei’

(A/N: My boi is already dead inside)

Suddenly a delicious aroma filled the room, Emilia who was lying on the ground half-dead suddenly woke up as if nothing happened under the shocked eyes of Puck.

She smelled the aroma and couldn’t help but drool, even Roswaal’s life seemed to return.

Under their stunned gazes Zero entered followed by Rem who was holding a tray of dishes.

“Good morning, Emilia and to you as well Sir Roswaal” he said as he took his seat, and Rem placed the dishes on the table, and the removed the cloches.

A delicious aroma filled the room, and Emilia and Roswaal drooled at the sight of the food.

With various side dishes, and the main dish as roasted chicken it looked extremely appetizing. Rem cut a lemon with knife and sprinkled some juice on the roasted chicken.

Emilia staring at his food gulped her saliva and then glanced at her own dish, the difference was bigger than the difference between day and night.

“Ah, Emilia would you like to eat with me?” Subaru invited and Emilia asked with hesitation, “Can I? Isn’t it your food?”

“You are my friend, right?” he asked and she nodded innocently and he smiled “And don’t friends share good things with each other? Of course you can eat it!”

Tears almost appeared in her eyes, “Zero! You are not only my friend! But my best friend!” she said and Puck looked at her stunned, his daughter had betrayed him for food!

Emilia quickly moved her chair beside him, and started eating with him.

Roswaal suddenly said “Sir Zerooo, am I nooot your frieeend as weeell? Why don’t you share your fooood with me?”

Zero shook his head “Lord Roswaal, you are Noble and I am a mere peasant? How can I be worthy of being your friend?”

Roswaal’s eyebrows twitched and Ram nodded satisfied “Indeed Roswaal-sama he speaks the truth, not to mention I have made these lavishing dishes for you”

His eyebrows twitched ‘Lavishing? More like ravishing! They will fucking ravish my insides!’ he thought.

“*Ahem* It seems I am ill Ram, and I don’t feel like eating today” he said while involuntarily glancing at Emilia and Zero eating together.

“Is that so? I have made boiled tatoes to eat myself, perhaps as a lighter dish they might help?” she asked with worried eyes and he nodded with joy.

“Yeeessss, I would like boiled tatoes!” he replied and soon Rem fetched a few boiled potatoes from the kitchen.

Seeing the tatoes, Roswaal almost cried with joy!

‘I love tatoes! They are the best thing in the world! All hail tatoes!’ he thought with joy.

That day, Roswaal got a new favourite dish.

Just as planned.

(A/N: ALL HAIL TATOES!)

To be continued...