Why Does Emilia Subaru Refuse The Royal Throne?

Seeing their first encounter in 'Re:Zero' still gives me that giddy, awkward-teen vibe—even if I’ve watched it a dozen times. Canonically, Subaru and Emilia meet on Subaru’s very first day in the world: it’s the opening of the story in both the anime and the light novel (anime Episode 1, light novel Volume 1). He’s just been summoned, wandering confused through unfamiliar streets and countryside, and then runs into a silver-haired half-elf who’s clearly important to the plot. That moment is simple on the surface—two strangers crossing paths—but it sets everything in motion, so every little glance or line afterward feels loaded when you rewatch or reread. I like to think of that meeting as the spark more than the commitment: Subaru doesn’t know what he’s stepped into, and Emilia doesn’t yet know him at all. Later arcs complicate and deepen their relationship—so while the literal first meet is early and almost casual, its consequences echo through every timeline Subaru revisits. If you want the exact place to look, jump to the start of 'Re:Zero' (Episode 1 or Volume 1) and you’ll see it play out exactly as canon intended—small, human, and quickly tangled into chaos.

Walk into any con artist alley or scroll through a 'Re:Zero' fan shop and you’ll quickly see which items scream Emilia + Subaru the loudest. For me, figures are the crown jewel: scaled figures (1/7, 1/8) often show Emilia in flowing dresses or battle poses, and you’ll sometimes get limited duo sets where Subaru is sculpted next to her or in companion packs. Nendoroids and figmas are another big one — they’re adorable, poseable, and there are multiple releases where both characters come as a pair or in matching outfit lines. Acrylic stands, keychains, and charms are everywhere because they’re cheap to produce and super collectible. I have a small rack of acrylics on my desk featuring Emilia staring placidly while a tiny Subaru looks panicked beside her. Other common merch includes posters and wall scrolls (great for bedroom displays), dakimakura/body pillows (Emilia-heavy, of course), clear files, artbooks, and collaboration café goods. Prize figures from arcade machines and gacha items also frequently pair the two, and seasonal collaboration apparel or special edition Blu-ray sets sometimes bundle duo artwork. If you’re hunting for both on a budget, keep an eye on prize figures, keychains, and acrylic stands; if you want something display-worthy, look for scale figures, Nendoroid combo sets, or limited edition box sets. Oh, and watch out for bootlegs — check official tags and seller reputations before dropping cash. I still smile whenever I swap one of my Emilia posters for a Subaru-acrylic when I’m reorganizing my shelf.

There’s a delicate hush behind Emilia’s polite smiles that I always notice when I reread 'Re:Zero' late at night — like she’s carrying a suitcase of things no one asked her to hold. On the surface she hides the violent weight of being constantly judged for her looks and the constant, ugly shadow cast by the resemblance to the Witch of Envy. She doesn’t parade her background or the painful holes in her memory; instead she keeps conversations light, deflects questions about her past with a laugh, and tucks away details about the people who raised her and how she felt abandoned. It’s also clear she conceals the depth of her insecurities: the scars from discrimination, the fear that she’s not worthy to be loved or trusted, and the complex mix of gratitude and dependence she feels toward spirits like Puck. Those are the human, quiet things—stuff you can’t fix with a sword. Subaru’s secrets are thunderous in comparison. He hides the nature of his power, ‘Return by Death’, for a long time because it’s terrifying to explain and sounds insane; he also hides the sheer number of times he’s died, the small betrayals he’s been forced into, and the selfish or cruel choices he’s made under stress. More tenderly, he hides how often he’s doubted himself and how much he’s terrified of becoming a burden to Emilia. Both of them keep pieces of themselves locked away as a kind of protection, and that makes their bond feel fragile and painfully real. I find myself rooting for them every time they inch toward honesty.

If you want Emilia to sing off the page with accuracy, start with references and obsession—I've got a folder of screenshots, official art, and stills from 'Re:Zero' that I stare at like it's morning coffee. Emilia's look is built from layers: the long silver-lilac wig with a soft gradient, the elf ears, her white-and-lilac dress with that distinct green gem at the throat, and the delicate sleeves. For the wig, buy a heat-safe fiber, get it cut with long face-framing pieces, and add a small ahoge (the little strand that sticks up). Use wig caps and a low braids-to-side-clip approach to recreate her hair flow; pin subtly so it doesn’t look too stiff on camera. The costume itself benefits from pattern work: start with a fitted bodice and a flowing overskirt—use lightweight satin for the outer layer and a matte cotton or crepe for the underdress so it photographs with depth. The green brooch? LEDs concealed behind translucent resin make it glow in photos. I used a corset-style busk to keep the bodice shape and a few hidden snaps for quick bathroom breaks. For accessories, fabric gloves, thigh-high boots (you can shoe-mod an affordable pair with matching trim), and the embroidered motifs on the hem are worth the time; even subtle embroidery elevates the whole thing. Makeup and mannerisms finish the look. Pale, dewy skin, soft lilac eyeshadow, and violet contacts are a game-changer. Use prosthetic elf ears blended with silicone adhesive and match with foundation. Practice Emilia’s gentle smiles, reserved hand gestures, and the slightly distant eyes she sometimes has when Puck is off-screen. For group or couples cosplay with Subaru, coordinate scale, color temperature in photos, and little interaction poses—an outstretched hand, protective stance, or an embarrassed glare. Above all, wear what makes you comfortable; accuracy matters, but confidence is the final detail that sells Emilia to a crowd.

Talking about this always gets me a little excited because Emilia's influence on Subaru isn't just romantic wallpaper — she's the gravity well that reshapes almost everything he does in 'Re:Zero'. From the very start she gives him a reason to stick around in a world that constantly chews him up and spits him out. Her kindness cracks his cynicism, and her vulnerability forces him to be brave in ways he wouldn't choose for himself. Subaru's 'Return by Death' power is the sci-fi/fantasy mechanic that frames the plot, but Emilia is the emotional engine: she motivates him to reset, learn, and sacrifice. Without her, I can't imagine Subaru would endure the repeated trauma; with her, every painful reset becomes meaningful because there's someone worth protecting. On a plot level, her choices and past create ripple effects that alter Subaru's possible futures. She isn't just a passive beacon — her own secrets, decisions, and the political storms around her open or close paths for Subaru. Sometimes she directly changes events; other times her mere presence changes how Subaru interprets his failures and how he chooses to act afterward. Watching them together, I love seeing how their relationship becomes both a stabilizer and a source of new conflict. It makes the story feel alive and painfully human, and it keeps me rewatching the scenes where she says something small that makes Subaru stand back up again.

There’s so much I could gush about with these two, but to keep it clear: in 'Re:Zero' Emilia is the magic user and Subaru is... well, the human wildcard. Emilia’s core strengths are her spirit arts and an enormous magical reservoir. She’s bonded to Puck, which lets her channel huge amounts of mana and cast complex ice-based spells — think massive barriers, freezing attacks, and battlefield control rather than flashy swordplay. Because she’s a half-elf with a lot of innate mana, her spells are both powerful and sustainable; she can hold defensive wards and manipulate the environment to protect allies or trap enemies. She also has a knack for sealing and binding techniques in certain situations, especially when working in tandem with spirits or allies who can shape the fight around her magic. Subaru is a totally different kettle of fish. His signature “ability” is 'Return by Death' — the supernatural loop that resets him to a previous save point whenever he dies. In practice, that makes him invaluable in high-risk situations: he learns enemy patterns, tests strategies by dying (horrible, but effective), and coordinates people with knowledge no one else has. Outside of that, he’s not a naturally skilled fighter; he relies on grit, improvisation, and occasional basic sword/dagger training he picks up over time. He also brings psychological warfare: using knowledge of outcomes to manipulate opponent choices or protect others. Put them together and you get a classic support/offense split: Emilia shapes the battlefield with magic and spirit power, Subaru shapes the narrative by taking risks, learning, and steering the team. I love how the series contrasts raw magical capability with stubborn human determination — it makes fights feel unpredictable and emotionally charged.

Man, I still get chills hearing the two different takes on these characters. If you’re asking who voices Emilia and Subaru in both languages: Emilia is voiced by Rie Takahashi in Japanese and by Lindsay Seidel in the English dub. Subaru is voiced by Yusuke Kobayashi in Japanese and by Sean Chiplock in English. These four give really distinct flavors to the show, and if you’ve watched 'Re:Zero − Starting Life in Another World' in both versions, you know what I mean. Rie Takahashi brings this soft, airy vulnerability to Emilia that fits her mysterious-but-kind aura; Lindsay Seidel captures that same fragility in English but sometimes leans a touch harder into the emotional beats for the dub. Yusuke Kobayashi’s Subaru has this raw, sometimes frantic energy in the original that feels visceral, while Sean Chiplock nails the comedic timing and the moments of desperate sincerity in the English track. I love switching between JP and EN depending on my mood — JP for subtle emotion, EN when I want lines that hit a bit more bluntly. If you’re diving into the dub vs. sub debate, try a scene like Subaru’s early breakdowns back-to-back in both languages — it’s a neat study in voice direction and performance. Personally, I keep rewatching certain scenes just because the voice work is that good.

I’d been scribbling fan theories in the margins of my notebook after a late-night rewatch of 'Re:Zero − Starting Life in Another World', and honestly there’s something about Emilia’s origin that sparks every kind of headcanon. One popular line of thought is that Emilia is deeply connected to Satella, the Witch of Envy — not necessarily a literal copy, but maybe a fragment, descendant, or even a clone created from witch-related powers. People point to the silver hair and ambiguous past as hints that Emilia isn’t just a random half-elf; she could be a living echo of the Witch’s essence, which would explain why the world reacts so violently around her and why there’s so much secrecy from the royal candidates and elites. Another theory I like is more biological-magic: Emilia as part-spirit hybrid. Puck’s attachment, her affinity for ice and spirits, and the way ancient magic seems to recognize her suggest some lineage tied to the world’s older magical beings — maybe the ancient spirits or a lost royal bloodline that mingled with spiritkind. Then there’s the darker idea: she could be the result of research or manipulation by powerful mages (Roswaal-adjacent conspiracies bubble up here) — a purposely created figure meant to stabilize or trigger certain events. Each of these theories shifts how you read Subaru’s role too: was he summoned because of her, to protect her, or because some higher power wanted a companion anchored to both worlds? I keep flipping between them depending on what scene I watched last; the ambiguity is part of the charm and the heartbreak for me.