Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

——

Subaru: “Hey, Emilia?”

Subaru sat cross-armed. He still wasn’t wearing his tracksuit, having decided it was best to let Capella stay at least somewhat decent until they reached the mansion.

Emilia: “Yes, Subaru?”

Subaru: “What’s that insignia for, exactly? Reinhard seemed a little urgent about it. Kinda spooked me…”

He pointed at the glowing insignia that rested in her hands.

Emilia: “Ah! W-Weellll…”

Emilia prolonged her sentence as if she was internally debating something.

Suddenly, Puck chimed in.

Puck: “I wouldn’t worry about telling them, Lia. I’d say they deserve to know!”

Emilia: “I’m not worried about that, it’s just… sigh…”

Emilia paused for a moment.

Emilia: “—It’s proof of my candidacy to be king…”

…

Subaru and Capella simultaneously let out a very monotone: “Huh?”

Emilia: “M-My official title is: ‘Candidate for the 42nd ruler of the Kingdom of Lugunica.’”

Subaru: “Huh?”

Puck: “Are you deaf—?”

Subaru: “No, I heard her! What kind of bombshell is that?! Y-You’re saying you’re a candidate for leading the country we’re in right now?!”

Emilia: “Yes, that is what I said…”

Capella leaned in from her seat.

Capella: “So, that insignia proves your candidacy to lead this country… and you lost it to a thief.”

Emilia frantically shook her head and covered her ears as her face grew beet-red.

Emilia: “Ahhh… that’s why I didn’t wanna say anything! I’m still ashamed of myself…”

Subaru: “No wonder Reinhard was referring to you so honorably! You’re an up and coming monarch!”

Emilia: “I clearly still have a long way to go until I’m worthy of such a title, though…”

Emilia looked downcast as an awkward silence took place.

Then, Capella suddenly spoke up.

Capella: “Well, This lady thinks you handled getting your insignia back decently well. Though, you couldn’t have done it without me—“

Subaru quickly cut off Capella’s narcissism.

Subaru: “Yeah, she’s right! Most nobles probably wouldn’t even think about trading for their possessions back. A good leader needs understanding in my book!”

Emilia glanced between the two before forming a soft smile.

Emilia: “I suppose so.”

Subaru: “Now that I think about it… I understand why Reinhard followed me. Some random guy dragging some girl and a candidate for the throne into a dark alley heading straight for the slums? If I was a knight, I’d follow him too…”

Capella: “He probably thought you were up to no good~”

Capella gave a playfully seductive smile.

Subaru: “I would never do such a thing! I’m an honorable man!”

Subaru turned back to Emilia.

Subaru: “Why didn’t you tell us though? Are we supposed to know? I-Is this some kind of huge secret?”

Emilia: “Weelll, it’s not exactly public knowledge who the candidates are… but it should be fine. You two are my friends, after all!”

Subaru sighed and rubbed the back of his head.

Subaru: “Kinda feeling like you just dragged me into something deep without my consent…”

Capella folded her arms.

Capella: “You’re the one who was so insistent on helping her.”

Subaru: “Oh, come on. It’s just common courtesy. She saved two random people in an alley, and you expect me to just walk away?”

Capella: “Most meat bags would! If I had to say, I’d think you’re just desperate for some lady mea—“

Subaru: “Stop, stop! I told you I’m honorable!”

Capella: “Kye-he! You sure are!”

Despite her teasing tone, there was a small layer of admiration that went unnoticed.

Before Subaru could respond, Ram spoke up through the carriage hatch door.

Ram: “While I’d expect nothing more from freeloaders such as yourselves, Ram would greatly appreciate it if you were quieter.”

Capella got up in defense.

Capella: “Oi! Who do you think you’re talking to, meat hair?!”

Subaru: “‘Freeloaders’ is a bit harsh! We were invited!”

Ram’s grip on the reins tightened. Her voice grew cold, barely under control.

Ram: “Ram will not ask again.”

Each syllable felt like a wave of pressure entering the carriage.

…

Subaru and Capella: “Yes, ma’m…”

They solemnly complied, slouching back into their seats like scolded children.

Ram gave a satisfied smile and shut the hatch.

Emilia chuckled at them.

Subaru, leaning back, rested his gaze on the carriage’s ceiling.

Subaru: “I still can’t believe we’re going to a mansion…”

Emilia: “Have you never been to one, Subaru?”

Subaru: “Nope, I’m not that important, let alone rich enough to even be around one.”

Emilia: “And yet, your clothes look and feel like that of a noble’s…”

Emilia muttered as she eyed Capella, who was still wearing Subaru’s tracksuit.

Capella: “No wonder it fits me more!”

Subaru: “As if! If you’re a noble then I must be a saint. Also, you have to roll back the cuffs just for your hands to fully come through. It doesn’t fit you in any way.”

Capella pouted but before she could retort, Emilia spoke up.

Emilia: “I’m reaallly curious where you’re actually from, Subaru! Your hair is so dark… Are you from Gusteko? Vollachia?”

Subaru’s eyes widened for just a moment before softening after hearing the question.

Subaru: “A-Ah, well… That can be a conversation for another time.”

He rested back his head, glancing outside the carriage window at the passing trees under the moonlight, letting out a small yawn.

“Roswaal Mansion…” He muttered under his breath.

Subaru: “So, a guy named Roswaal owns this mansion? Who is he?”

Emilia: “He’s very famous! He’s Lugunica’s most skilled magic user, the Head Court Mage! He’s also my sponsor in the Royal selection!”

Subaru’s eyes widened for a moment before he smirked, putting a hand to his chin.

Subaru: “Head court mage, yeah? And your sponsor? Sounds like a guy with good taste, then!”

Emilia: “I truly owe him a lot.”

Puck suddenly chimed in, floating down from Emilia’s head.

Puck: “Personally, I’m not the biggest fan of him… but I’ll admit, he’s been a big help to Lia…”

Capella raised a brow as Puck lazily floated towards Subaru.

Puck: “Say. He may owe you a favor, Subaru!”

Capella: “Eh?”

Subaru: “Me? What’s with all these favors I’m getting? I’m flattered…”

Puck: “If Emilia lost her insignia forever, all of Roswaal’s time and resources he invested in her would go to waste; not to mention his reputation…”

Emilia lowered her head in shame.

Puck: “You saved Lia, and consequently, the Head Court Mage. Lucky you!”

Subaru: “What’s next? Am I gonna be a lotto winner?!”

Capella: “Wait! What about Capella-chan?!”

Puck turned to Capella.

Puck: “What about you?”

Capella “This lady was there, too!”

Puck: “You were? Last I recall, all you did was crack obscene jokes around Lia! I’m not rewarding your attempts to corrupt my daughter!

Capella: “Corrupting? This lady could never do such a thing. My presence is nothing but a blessing!”

Puck and Capella comically clashed foreheads, gritting their teeth until Emilia spoke, chuckling.

Emilia: “Hehe… Don’t worry, Capella. I’ll be sure your efforts are recognized as well.”

Capella closed her eyes in satisfaction, grinning with pride.

Capella: “At least someone recognizes me!”

She then retracted a little bit, looking at Emilia with a slightly curious expression, before actually smiling.

Capella: “…Thanks.”

Subaru: “Is that sincerity I’m sensing? From you?”

Capella: “Capella-chan is always sincere!”

Subaru: “…I’m not sure if that’s worse or not.”

The hatch gate unexpectedly opened again, revealing Ram.

Ram: “Emilia-sama, freeloaders, we’ll be arriving soon. Roswaal-sama isn’t home at the moment. So, your lecherous favors will have to wait. He shall be back tomorrow morning.”

She then shut it, not waiting for a response.

Subaru: “Aw. So, no welcoming party then?”

Puck stretched before resting back on top of Lia’s head.

Puck: “Ahh… Well, that’s fine by me. It’s really late.”

Subaru: “You heading out, Puck?”

Puck: “If you mean to sleep, yeah. It takes a lot of energy to stay in a physical form like this. My ideal staying hours are around 9 to 5… Since I haven’t had the need to perform any magic, I’ve been able to push for this long, though. However, it’s starting to wear on me…”

Puck’s words droned out a little as he spoke.

Emilia: “Sorry for pushing you so hard, Puck…”

Puck: “Don’t worry, Lia. As your father, it’s my duty to push myself as much as I can for you.”

Slowly, Puck started fading away. Before going back into his glintstone, he turned to Subaru and Capella once more.

Puck: “Seriously, thanks again. I mean it!”

Subaru: “No problem!”

Capella muttered something along the lines of “No problem” as well, but only to herself.

Puck then burst into a bunch of mana, which illuminated the inside of the carriage, and went inside the glintstone hung around Emilia’s neck.

…

Capella: “…So, is the cat really your father?”

Subaru: “I was wondering that too, actually! Can spirits have children?”

Emilia blinked.

Emilia: “W-Well… no? As far as I remember, he’s been with me all my life, so I can’t see him as anything but.”

Capella just simply hummed in response.

Subaru: “I see… I guess that makes sense. If Puck was your father, wouldn’t that make you half-elf, half-spirit? In that case, where’s your—?“

A familiar, cute yet stern voice called out to him.

Stop.

…

Subaru stopped himself.

Capella: “Hm?”

Emilia: “Subaru?”

He shook his head and blinked for a moment.

His eyes scanned the carriage before resting on Emilia’s glintstone.

…

Subaru: “N-Nothing, just thought I heard something… Guess I’m just tired.”

…

Subaru, a little spooked, leaned back and closed his eyes, intending to enjoy the rest of the ride in silence.

…

——

Subaru: “‘Mansion’ my ass! How high are the living standards in this world?!”

Subaru shouted as he stepped down from the carriage after Emilia and Capella, only to be overwhelmed from the sheer size and glamour of his new home for the unforeseen future.

Subaru: “I’m really staying here? I’m already reaping the end-game rewards, and I haven’t even joined an adventurer’s guild yet!”

Emilia chuckled as she approached him from behind.

Emilia: “I’m not exactly sure what any of that meant, but yes… you’re staying here for now!”

Capella sighed, almost sounding disappointed.

Capella: “This can suffice...”

Subaru turned to her, bewildered.

Subaru: “How are you not gawking at this?! You could fit a modern day mansion inside it!”

Capella smugly smiled.

Capella: “If it was anything less, then it wouldn’t match up to Capella-chan’s beauty!”

Subaru: “…Do you even have a basis for that or are you just narcissistic through and through?”

Capella stuck out her tongue.

Capella: “Just honest!”

Ram: “Ram no longer trusts honesty if that is the case.”

Ram bluntly spoke up as she led them all on the wide cobblestone path that brought them directly to the mansion’s entrance.

Subaru couldn’t help himself from frantically looking around at the yard, the trees, and the mansion itself like a kid in a candy store.

Subaru: [It’s all so big… Seeing it in a manga is one thing, but it doesn’t come close to this! Seriously, parallel fantasies rule…]

He watched the mansion only continue to grow in size as he approached its porch, its grandeur exponentially increasing with each step.

Finally reaching the entrance. Ram opened the doors.

Contrasting with the cold, dark outdoors, light broke free from the mansion.

The foyer alone was arguably more grand than the outside. Two granite pillars stood, both adorned with lights. The doors inside were also accompanied with lights and vases with flowers that aesthetically screamed upper-class.

Subaru: “Woah…”

Subaru gradually took in the sheer size and spaciousness of the entryway.

???: “Welcome back, Nee-sama, Emilia-sama—“

The owner of the voice sounded out from the side of the giant lobby. She was a maid, evident from the uniform she wore identical to Ram, and was facing away from the entrance, tending to a vase.

She stopped herself greeting Emilia. Her face scrunched up in pure disgust for just a moment that you’d easily miss it.

Turning to the entrance with a neutral expression, but with alarming speed, she laid eyes upon two unfamiliar individuals.

…

Her eyes narrowed.

Subaru: “Yo! H-Hey, wait… I know that hair!”

Subaru quickly glanced between Ram and Rem.

Emilia: “Hi, Rem! Sorry we were out for sooo long…”

Emilia eagerly waved to the blue-haired maid only to receive no response.

Subaru: “Rem?! Could you be any more on the nose?”

Silence took the room for a moment as he was ignored.

Ram shut the entrance door once everyone made it inside.

Ram: “Rem. Under Emilia-sama’s request, these two freeloaders will be taking advantage of Roswaal-sama and will be staying here for some time.”

Subaru: “You make us sound so scandalous!”

Ram’s information was met with silence from Rem.

They could’ve sworn her eye twitched as her emotionless gaze lingered on Subaru and Capella for a bit too long.

They were interrupted by a graceful yawn from Emilia.

Emilia: “Ah, Rem, Ram… do you mind giving my friends, Subaru and Capella, rooms?”

She spoke the word ‘friends’ with a subtle hint of wonder and joy.

Rem: “Rooms?”

Rem repeated what Emilia said like a parrot.

Her tone was one of disbelief.

Capella’s eyes narrowed slightly.

Emilia: “Aha… I-I know it’s sudden, but they’ve been a big help today and I’d like to repay them. I’ll explain it all in the morning when Roswaal comes back…”

Rem never got the chance to respond as Ram cut in.

Ram: “Very well, Emilia-sama. Rem and Ram will see to it. Rem.”

…

Rem: “Yes, Nee-sama.”

Rem spoke, disassociated.

Turning to Capella, Rem silently urged her to follow.

Capella didn’t say anything, glancing towards Subaru before following her.

As she walked off with Rem, Ram called out to Subaru.

Ram: “If you could follow me, please.”

Subaru: “O-Oh, yeah, right.”

Being led to the stairs on the other side of the lobby, Subaru looked back as Capella was being led away in the opposite direction. She looked back as well, making eye contact with her for a moment.

Along with Capella, Rem glanced behind her, directly to Subaru for just a moment.

Emilia suddenly called out to Subaru, following from behind.

Emilia: “I hope you like it here, Subaru!”

Subaru: “With how over the top this place is, it’d feel like a crime not to like it!”

Emilia only chuckled before turning away and walking to what Subaru assumed to be her room.

Emilia: “Dummy.”

——

…

Capella: “Meat hair is your sister, yeah?”

Capella walked behind Rem with a hand on her hip.

After being led away from the company of Emilia and Subaru, she was alone with Rem and the silence that came with her.

Capella: “…Not even a response? Can you talk?”

She was only met with silence that was somehow quieter than earlier.

The only sound that came from their interaction were their shoes making soft contact with the carpeted floor. A very subtle sound, yet deafening in the moment.

Capella only sighed as she let her hand drop down from her hip, frowning.

Capella: [This lady gets we’re tired and all, but… not even a little chat? She’s like the opposite of Meat Shield…]

Glancing behind her, she saw only a turn at the end of the hallway, accompanied with doors upon doors.

Capella: [Speaking of Meat Shield, I wonder if his room is any different than mine… If it’s bigger, then that’s unacceptable! This lady will switch rooms if needed!]

Capella folded her arms.

With nothing to do, she only stared at Rem from behind.

As expected, she was walking, not offering a single glance to her.

Capella narrowed her eyes.

Something felt off…

The way she moved with such elegant, methodical motion—almost like a machine… You could chalk it up to her professionalism as a maid.

However, it felt like more than that. Like there was some hidden intent.

The air around her felt disturbing. It felt uncomfortable.

Capella only hummed.

Her gaze drifted to Rem’s side where her hand hung tightly clenched, nails faintly digging into her palm.

Capella: “…Hey—“

Suddenly, Rem stopped, yet did not turn around. She finally spoke for the first time since guiding her.

Rem: “Your room is right here.”

She spoke with no emotion, turning to the side towards a door, still refusing to look at her.

Capella’s brows furrowed.

Capella: “…Thanks.”

The familiar silence hung between them once again.

Before either of them could say anything, they were interrupted by the swiftly approaching sound of footsteps.

——

Ram: “This is where you will be staying.”

After being guided through numerous halls and what felt like at least ten turns, Subaru finally made it to his designated room, sighing.

Subaru: “Seriously, this place is excessive. What do you even need all these rooms for?!”

Ram: “It’s good to be prepared in case we ever need to house stray dogs.”

Subaru pouted.

Subaru: “Be careful! Stray dogs can bite, y’know—that… that sounded a lot better in my head.”

Ram: “Ram is sure everything sounds better in your head.”

Subaru: “Yeesh, you’re brutal.”

Subaru sulked as he gazed at the door Ram led him to.

Subaru: [All these doors are so fancy… I can only imagine the inside…]

Ram suddenly turned on her heel and began swiftly walking away.

Subaru: “E-Eh? Hey, wait, that’s it? Where are you going?”

Ram: “Where Ram goes is none of your business. There’s something rather alarming I must attend to at the moment.”

Subaru watched as she walked down the long hallway, subtly speeding up in her stride before taking a turn out of sight.

He scratched his cheek.

Subaru: “Huh… Well, it is late. Maybe she’s just tired of interacting with people. If I were her, I probably would be too…”

He sighed as he reached for the knob to the door of his room. However, it led to a room that you couldn’t exactly call a bedroom.

It lacked the one thing a bedroom should have—a bed, but not just that… Everything else about the room made it feel even less like a personal space.

A checkerboard pattern floor, numerous shelves all filled to the brim with books, two spiraling stairs with seemingly gilded railings, the size of the room being so big that it shouldn’t even be geometrically possible to fit in between the two adjacent rooms, and…

…a little girl in the middle, analyzing him.

The girl and Subaru only stared at each other. One with intent, the other just confused.

Despite looking no older than a child, her outfit presented her as a girl of importance.

She was adorned with a substantial amount of pink. Wearing a pink frilly dress with an exposed front that left her legs visible, which were covered with pink and purple vertically striped tights. Her hair was long, blonde, and tied into vertical drill-shaped twin tails.

As if that wasn’t enough, her head was adorned with an adorable little crown, and her eyes were sky-blue with pink irises shaped like butterflies. Her appearance felt surreal to Subaru.

An open book in her lap as she sat on a chair in the middle of the room.

…

Subaru: “Eh? A loli?”

Subaru scratched his cheek, blinking twice to confirm if what he was seeing was real.

Subaru: “Uh, hey! Is this my room?”

She didn’t respond.

Subaru: “Uhm… Oh! Are you one of those personal guide NPCs everyone’s into nowadays?”

Beatrice: “What do those mean? Betty doesn’t like either of the things you’ve called her…”

Subaru glanced around the room before looking back at Beatrice.

Subaru: “D-Do you speak in the third person too? Why do so many of you do that?”

She folded her arms and turned her head away with a “Hmph!”

Beatrice: “Betty has no reason to explain herself to you, I suppose.”

…

Subaru: “Okay, now you’re doing it on purpose.”

Beatrice only frowned as she gazed at the man still standing in the doorway.

…

Subaru: “Hey, what’s with the grumpy face?”

She didn’t respond.

…

Subaru sighed, finally walking into the room.

Subaru: “Alright, this is your room, yeah? Well, I was told this was mine now too, so I guess we’re roommates!”

Beatrice deadpanned.

Beatrice: “How frightening.”

Subaru: “Youch! Why does everyone here have so much bite? We just met! I’ll forgive you, however. I’m not the kinda guy to judge a book by its cover!”

Beatrice just blinked at him with a blank expression while he took in his surroundings.

Subaru: “This doesn’t really look like a bedroom, though.”

Beatrice: “That’s because it’s Betty’s multi-purpose room. A library and bedroom, I suppose.”

A little bit of pride could be heard in her tone as Subaru’s eyes scanned the shelves of books that made up most of the room.

Subaru: “That explains a lot. A fitting room for a guide NPC.”

He muttered aloud to himself and Beatrice frowned.

Beatrice: “Stop calling Betty that. I hate how it sounds, I suppose.”

Subaru: “Sorry! Seriously, what’s with that grumpy face, though?”

Beatrice: “It appears to be impossible to make any other face in your presence, in fact.”

Subaru frowned, walked up to her and leaned down.

Subaru: “That’s rude! It’s not nice to say those things, okay?”

He spoke with a tone akin to speaking to a clueless child.

It annoyed her.

Subaru: “Anyways, even if I’m the problem, I can’t have you frowning! Come on, Betty. Smile! You’ll ruin your face if you keep frowning like that!”

Suddenly, she slammed her book shut.

Beatrice: “I’ve just about had it with you.”

Subaru: “Huh?”

Beatrice: “I hope that girl is less insufferable than you.”

Subaru: “Um?”

She held up her hand towards Subaru’s face. A bead of sweat rolled down his check.

Subaru: “Y-You aren’t gonna explode me or something, are you?”

She finally smiled, however it lacked any kindness.

Beatrice: “That sounds rather enticing, however Betty is willing to show mercy. Take your aggravating tendencies elsewhere, I suppose.”

Suddenly, a burst of immensely powerful wind shot out of her hand, immediately swooping Subaru off of his feet.

Subaru: “W-Woah! Wait!”

As he flew towards the door, they opened on their own for him. As soon as he exited, they slammed shut.

Subaru: “Agh! Oof!”

Tumbling through the hallway, he landed flat on his back against the wall, facing the door he just exited from—now upside down.

Subaru: “Ngh… Stupid drill loli!”

Capella: “There you are. So, how’s the room?”

Capella’s voice chimed in from the side, startling Subaru. She stood there in the hallway, hands casually in the pockets of his tracksuit.

Subaru groaned as he got up.

Subaru: “I would leave a review, but this loli kicked me out before I could even breathe in there!”

Capella blinked.

Capella: “Loli?”

Subaru: “Yeah, this girl just threw me out of my room! I’m gonna give her a piece of my mind!”

Gripping the door knob once more, he opened the door only to reveal…

A regular bedroom.

The towering bookshelves, the pristine checkerboard floor… it was all gone.

Subaru: “H-Huh?”

Capella: “Kya-ha-ha! I didn’t think you were that tired! Why’re you hallucinating girls, Meat Shield~?”

Subaru: “I-I’m not. That wasn’t…”

Subaru pinched the bridge of his nose and groaned.

Subaru: “Why’re you even here? Didn’t Rem lead you to your room?”

Capella: “She did. Meat hair showed up and urgently ushered her away, though… This lady just came to see if yours was any better.”

She looked around inside.

Capella: “I guess swapping won’t be necessary. All the rooms are the same...”

Subaru blankly stared at her, lips pressed in a thin line…

Subaru: “Were you planning to take my room if it was bigger?”

Capella: “Yup!”

Subaru: “Humble just isn’t a word in your vocabulary, is it?”

Capella responded with a yawn.

Capella: “Humbleness is a hindrance to pristine ladies, such as myself.”

She winked as Subaru scoffed and folded his arms. Before he could reply, Capella’s expression became rather bothered.

Capella: “…By the way, I have a question.”

Subaru was taken just slightly off guard by her sudden seriousness. The way she could switch her demeanor in a single beat was impressive.

Subaru: “Okay?”

Capella: “Did meat hair talk to you at all while guiding you here?”

Subaru tilted his head, hand on his chin in thought.

Subaru: “R-Ram? I mean… yeah, we bickered a bit.”

Capella: “Huh… Blue meat hair barely said a word to me.”

Capella looked to the side as if she was lost in thought. It was clear whatever happened between Rem and her was troubling.

However, before he could ask further, something else caught his attention.

Subaru: “Hold on. Blue meat hair?”

Capella: “Do you like the name—?”

Subaru: “No! Stop with the meat! At least ‘meat hair’ kinda made sense!”

Capella; “This lady thinks ‘blue meat hair’ is rather innovative!”

Subaru: “It’s the primest lack of creativity I have ever heard!”

Capella stuck out her tongue at him, to which Subaru pinched the bridge of his nose.

Subaru: “…I actually don’t think I can physically deal with you right now.”

Capella: “Likewise, meat shield.”

Subaru: “I have a name, and it’s Subaru! Na-tsu-ki Su-ba-ru! Learn it, respect it, maybe soon when I slay the demon king you should even fear it—!”

Capella: “Uh-huh. Well, see you tomorrow.”

She abruptly began walking away.

Subaru: “Wha… Wait, hang on!”

She turned back, sighing.

Capella: “What’s up? Need a cuddle partner~?”

Subaru: “It would never be you. Not in a million years.”

Subaru deadpanned, to which Capella playfully frowned.

Capella: “You take me for granted.”

Subaru: “Whatever.”

Subaru extended out his hand, as if he was waiting to be given something.

Capella: “…Wh—“

He made a zipping gesture on his torso.

…

Capella groaned as she begrudgingly took off the tracksuit, fiddling with the zipper. After throwing it at Subaru, she grumpily walked away muttering something about being warm and cozy.

Subaru sighed as she left his sight.

Glancing outside the windows, he was met with pitch darkness.

He turned to face his personal room again.

…

He walked in and shut the door.

——

Ram: “Rem. What was that?”

Ram and Rem stood in private in another bedroom. The door was shut and the interior was only being illuminated by the moonlight shining through the window.

Just minutes ago, Ram dragged her away from Capella—disturbed from the surge of emotions she felt through her.

Rem: “What do you mean, Nee-sama?”

She talked innocently, or at least she tried.

Ram: “Don’t lie to me! I felt it.”

Rem: “…”

Ram: “I-I’ve never felt that from you before… What got you so worked up?”

Ram’s eyes were narrowed in mostly worry.

Rem’s gaze drew to the floor. She seemed disassociated, having an internal debate.

…

She finally took a breath, and looked up towards her sister.

Rem: “I’m sorry, Nee-sama. Rem was just stressed out—“

Ram: “No… don’t give me that. You were angry. You wanted to hurt someone. Emilia-sama’s guests… do you know them? Did they do something to you?”

Rem stood still, considering her answer.

Clenching her fists behind her back, she couldn’t tell her. It’s a burden that Ram didn’t deserve to bear.

Rem: [Rem’s already enough of a burden on Nee-sama already…]

With one subtle breath, she spoke.

Rem: “No, they did nothing to me. Rem just wasn’t expecting guests this late.”

Ram eyed Rem intensely.

Through their synesthesia, she felt way more calm and composed.

…

It was anything but reassuring…

Rem: “As a maid, and as your sister, it was unprofessional for Rem to feel such a way… I’m sorry, Nee-sama. I’ll do better.”

She bowed.

…

Ram stayed silent. The surging rage she felt from Rem still rattled her. Yet, she couldn’t bring herself to push any further.

Ram: “I-I see. Rem, if you’re hiding something from me, please understand… you can tell me anything.”

Rem silently nodded.

…

Ram: “…Alright. I suggest you go to bed, then.”

Rem: “Right away, Nee-sama.”

Rem stoically turned and walked out of the room.

Ram frowned. Rem’s soft footsteps gradually got quieter and quieter.

Despite the composure she felt from her, Ram knew Rem was lying. It was like she was burying something alive and burning.

It scared her.

——

While Subaru folded up his tracksuit and set it aside, he sat on his new bed, talking to himself, lost in thought.

Subaru: “Did I really just hallucinate that entire thing?”

He recalled the twin-drill girl who called herself “Betty”

Subaru: “…No, how would that explain me getting thrown out the room?”

…

He let out a light chuckle.

Subaru: “Maybe I just pathetically tripped in the door way…”

He propped up his chin on his palm as he rested his elbow on his knee.

Subaru: “Hmm…”

His brows furrowed as he recalled the events of not just his interaction with Betty, but the day as a whole.

…

Subaru: “Ahh! Too much happened today!”

He exhaled as he dramatically threw himself on his new bed, eyes clenched, laying down on his back.

Subaru: “Just thinking about it is giving me a headache. I’m just gonna leave it all to future me…”

He rested his head back onto his hands, staring up at the ceiling and closed his eyes.

The silence of the night overtook him.

…

However, far on the other side of the mansion…

——

Rem: “AUGGHH—!!!”

Rem was hunched over a sink, the water running to drown out her hurling.

Just thinking about who was in her home riled up a new wave of bile inside her.

She was grateful Ram was asleep at the other side of the mansion, cause she wasn’t sure how long she could hold it in. That putrid, devilish smell.

As she looked up into the mirror, she saw how she was disheveled. Her gaze was glossy, full with rage.

Memories flashed through her mind as she grit her teeth so hard they could’ve cracked.

Rem: [To think… after everything… you just boldly walk into our home and act so innocent… Disgusting.]

She struggled to find words to describe her utter distaste towards the two guests.

Her mental state at the moment was akin to furious, pencil-shattering scribbles on a crumpled sheet of burning paper.

The sound of the running faucet was like a safety measure. Background sound. White noise. Something to focus on instead of nothing but silence where she’d truly lose her mind.

She remembered the two intruders' faces as clear as day out of nothing but spite. They cackled. They laughed and laughed at her.

It took everything in her power to not go and execute them right now.

Rem: [Ram… I can’t…]

Unable to physically strangle the visions in her mind, lest she accidentally break something, all she did was shout to herself.

Rem: “DAMN CULTISTS!!!”

——

As the sun rose, its rays gracefully caressed Subaru’s face through the window.

Subaru: “Mmh… Good morning…”

He mumbled to no one in particular as his eyes groggily opened.

As his gaze rested on the unfamiliar ceiling, he gradually started to wake up.

Subaru: “Ah, so it wasn’t a dream, huh?”

BANG

BANG

Subaru: “Uwah?! Who the hell’s knocking?!”

Subaru, startled by his door being banged on, leapt out of bed.

Through the door, a familiar voice came through, barely holding back her snickers.

Capella: “M-Meat Shield! Wake up~!”

Subaru: “Aw, come on! I’m not built for waking up this early! Could you let me ease into the morning at least, you menace?!”

Capella: “Nope~! Today’s an important day after all!”

Subaru groaned as he grabbed his tracksuit and put it on, walking towards the door.

Opening it, he laid eyes on Capella.

And she… was wearing a robe?

Subaru: “Eh? You’re actually covered?”

Capella: “Meat hair insisted I wear it…”

Subaru’s lips pressed into a thin line.

Subaru: “Figures, why would I expect decency from you…”

Capella: “You’re the one who stripped me last night~”

Subaru: “Did not. Not like that, at least.”

He finally walked out of his room, glancing around the hall.

Subaru: “Speaking of Ram. Why isn’t she here? Or Rem? Wouldn’t maids like… wake up their guests, whispering sweet nothings into their ear?”

Subaru blushed slightly as his eyes drifted through the air, openly daydreaming.

Capella: “Something like this~?”

Subaru: “EEP!”

Subaru yelped, leaping away from Capella who managed to lean into his ear without him noticing, and whisper sultrily.

Capella: “Kya-haha! And you call Capella-chan shameless?”

Subaru: “At least warn me when you do that! Also, I-It’s the common male fantasy! It’s not even that weird!”

Capella just sighed.

Capella: “Well, to answer your question, I asked Meat hair to let me wake you up… Did Capella-chan startle you~?”

Subaru blinked before groaning.

Subaru: “Seriously? You’re evil…”

She laughed and turned down the hall. Subaru, sighing, trudged after her.

Subaru: “This place is so huge… I feel so out of place…”

Capella glanced behind towards Subaru when he said that before stopping in her stride and turning to face him directly.

…

She opened her mouth to speak, but there was a split second of hesitation.

Capella: “Have you been thinking about what favor to get from Mr. Court Mage?”

Subaru: “Finally, a nickname that doesn’t have meat in it… But, actually… No. So much happened yesterday, I kinda just went to bed.”

Capella: “Really? You’ve got a favor pending from someone of such a high status, and you didn’t even take time to consider what it should be?! You’re a dull piece of meat! This lady should flick you!”

Subaru: “Oh, shut up! Did you think of anything? Ack!”

Capella flicked Subaru in the forehead.

Capella: “Yeah, actually!”

Subaru: “…Okay? What was it?”

Capella grinned as she leaned in on her tiptoes close to Subaru’s face, causing him to blush for a moment.

Capella: “I’m not telling you~.”

He clicked his tongue, averting his eyes.

Subaru: “Why not?”

She squinted her eyes.

Capella: “This lady can see right through you~. You’re trying to steal it…”

…

Subaru: “Huh? How do I steal a favor???”

Subaru muttered under his breath.

Stepping away from him, Capella continued walking down the hall.

Capella: “Besides, if you have at least half a brain in that meat lump of a head, you might come to the same conclusion.”

Subaru: “Eh? N-Now I’m second guessing what my favor should be!”

Capella giggled as Subaru put a hand to chin in thought.

…

Subaru: “Is Roswaal even here yet?”

Capella sighed.

Capella: “No~pe, I asked meat hair and she said he’d be back soon.”

Subaru: “Seriously? I guess a court mage would be pretty busy, but still…”

Subaru scratched his cheek as a few moments of silence passed before he spoke up again.

Subaru: “So, what do we do?”

Capella: “Hm…”

Capella glanced outside the window into the mansion’s yard and turned back to Subaru with a wry smile, pointing towards the outside.

Capella: “Well, your lady meat is out in the yard.”

…

Subaru: “L-Lady meat? Emilia? Never call her that again!”

Subaru complained as he approached the window to confirm Capella’s statement.

…

Subaru: “But yeah, hanging out with her sounds nice.”

——

Subaru: “Calling this just a yard makes me feel yucky…”

Subaru stood right outside the entrance, on the porch, taking in the scenery of the ever expanding field that was the mansion’s yard.

Sure enough, scanning the field, he saw Emilia’s familiar long silver hair sitting in the grass, conversing with Puck.

Subaru ran towards her and Capella followed.

Puck: “Oh? Hey!”

Puck, sensing Subaru and Capella’s presence before they could even say anything, turned to face where they stood, which consequently alerted Emilia to their presence as well.

Emilia: “Hey, Capella! Good morning, Subaru!

Subaru: “Yo!”

Capella: “Hi, Meatlia!”

Subaru’s head whipped towards Capella.

Subaru: “Can you use real names for once?!”

Puck, cross-armed, floated towards Capella.

Puck: “Never refer to Lia that way again, else I’ll freeze you to the bone.”

Capella obnoxiously clashed her forehead into his.

Capella: “Oh, come on, cat. I can’t give your daughter a nickname?”

Emilia: “Puck, it’s fine! I rather like the nickname…”

…

Puck frowned.

Puck: “Lia…”

…

Subaru: “You… like it?”

Capella exclaimed “Aha!” with unmistakable pride.

Capella: “She has good taste!”

Puck shook his head, floating next to Emilia.

Puck: “You’re a horrible influence. We should’ve left you in the alley…”

Before Capella could retort, Subaru spoke up.

Subaru: “Hey, that’d mean leaving me, too!”

Puck: “A worthy sacrifice, I’d say.”

Emilia pouted.

Emilia: “Puck, she’s not influencing me! It’s just… from a frieennnd…”

Before Emilia could finish her sentence, she couldn’t hold back a smile, blushing

Subaru: “…Emilia, you okay?”

Puck sighed, floating to Subaru and Capella, half-whispering.

Puck: “Friends are… kind of a new thing for her. She’s been talking to me about you two all morning.”

Puck grimaced as if he was sick of just remembering her incessant talking.

She was happy, though. That’s all that mattered to him.

Puck: “She’s real easy to please… Things like nicknames make her really happy, no matter how poor in quality they are…”

Puck said, staring straight at Capella, who crossed her arms.

Capella: “It’s more creative than ‘Lia!’”

Puck: “Mine’s charming! Yours is just degrading.”

Subaru just watched the girl who was short in both temper and height, and floating cat bicker until he came to a realization.

Subaru: “Hey, wait a second! This isn’t good!”

Emilia: “Eh? Subaru?”

Capella: “What’s not good?”

Subaru: “You two already evolved your relationship! I’m gonna be left out if I don’t give you a nickname!”

Subaru exclaimed in horror, to which everyone else blankly stared.

…

Puck: “Give it a shot, then.”

Subaru eyed Emilia up and down as if he were trying to find anything noteworthy to make a nickname out of.

He hummed as everyone’s eyes lingered on him, waiting.

Suddenly, he snapped his fingers.

Subaru: “Aha! Emi!”

He jetted out a finger towards Emilia with a smile, declaring his personal nickname for her.

Puck: “…Emi? Really?”

Capella: “You meatbags both lack creativity…”

Both Puck and Capella deadpanned.

Subaru: “W-What? You can’t be talking, you damn cat! You’re just using half of her name, like me!”

Puck: “I get to do that. It’s called fatherly charm. You? You’re supposed to be creative!”

Subaru: “What kinda logic is that?! That wasn’t in the rulebook! Cheater!”

Emilia spoke up, stopping their banter.

Emilia: “Guys, guys! It’s not a game!”

She slightly shrunk, hand to chin in thought.

Emilia: “Emi… I like it. I really like it!”

Subaru blinked before sighing, amused.

Subaru: [Huh. He wasn’t lying when he said ‘easy to please’.]

Glancing back behind him, Subaru internally gawked at the intimidating size of the mansion. Its grandeur was even more prominent in the sun.

…

Subaru: “So, what do you guys even do in such a big mansion?”

He spoke bluntly.

Emilia: “Haha… Well, not a lot. I study, I spend time with Puck, I talk to the spirits… I-I already told you I don’t go to the capital often. The days get a little repetitive, and everyone’s doing their own thing…”

Emilia glanced down for a moment, poking her index fingers together.

Emilia: “It’s… nice. Having people like you here, I mean. It’s normally sooooo quiet, so to have people to openly talk to like this…”

A small smile formed on Subaru’s face.

Subaru: “...Is that so?”

She frowned.

Emilia: “I’m really gonna miss you two when you leave… A-Ah! Not that I’m trying to guilt you into staying!”

Capella: “Don’t worry, you aren’t.”

Emilia: “Eh?”

…

Subaru suddenly pounded his fist into his palm like a gavel as if he made a discovery.

Emilia: “...Subaru?”

Subaru: “I think I figured out what I want from Roswaal.”

Ram: “Emilia-sama, freeloaders.”

Subaru: “GAH! You scared me!”

As if on cue, Ram approached Subaru from behind. While her scaring him wasn’t intentional, she internally got a kick from it.

Ram: “Roswaal-sama has returned. Please come inside for breakfast.”

Subaru: “Eh? Really? Perfect timing! Lead the way!”

Subaru raised a fist in the air, as Ram turned to walk back inside, not offering a glance behind her.

Capella: “…”

Capella shortly followed after.

However, in the distance, she saw someone that made her steps slow.

Rem.

She stood in the shadows by the entrance. Her cold, unreadable eyes clearly locked onto her soul.

The air felt still.

…

Clicking her tongue, Capella looked away.

Emilia: “Capella? Are you okay?”

Capella: “Uweh?”

Slightly startled by Emilia who was walking next to her, she was silent for a moment.

Glancing ahead, she saw Subaru already ahead with Ram. Rem was nowhere to be found. She presumably went inside already.

She considered what to say for just a moment.

Capella: [She’s known blue meat hair for a while. Longer than me… This lady shouldn’t start anything…]

Capella: “…This lady’s fine. Just a little~ tired.”

Emilia: “Oh. Okay!”

Capella’s gaze rested on the well kept grass as she started getting lost in her thoughts.

——

Being led through the mansion’s halls, Subaru approached the dining room. It was a rather giant, yet empty room compared to the others. All that was in it, disregarding the little things, like lights, was a giant table with white tablecloth.

He chuckled to himself.

Subaru: [I really don’t get rich people… What do you even need all this space for?]

Beatrice: “What does your nut-sized brain find so funny, I suppose?”

Subaru jumped in surprise as a voice sounded out from beside him right as he entered the room.

Subaru: “Eweh? N-Nothing… Yeesh, you girls gotta stop sneaking up on me like this!”

Beatrice turned away from him, indifferent.

Beatrice: “Betty did no such thing. You only have your own ignorance to blame.”

Subaru: “Oi! W-Wait… you’re that loli!”

Beatrice’s brows furrowed.

Beatrice: “What does that mean?! I’m very bothered by that word and I demand you to stop using it, I suppose.”

Capella: “What’re you on about?”

Capella asked as she made it inside the dining room, turning to who Subaru was interacting with, before gasping.

Capella: “You!”

Beatrice’s eyes widened for a moment upon seeing Capella. She then immediately turned away, scowling.

Beatrice: “Betty wants nothing to do with you. Smelly, shameless girl.”

…

Subaru: “…I take it you know her too?”

Cross-armed, she half-whispered towards Subaru.

Capella: “Unfortunately…”

She glanced at nothing as if she was recalling their first meet.

Capella: “She’s who you saw last night, yeah?”

Subaru: “Uh-huh. For such a sweet looking girl she’s really cold…”

Beatrice: “Betty can hear you, I suppose.”

Emilia’s hair ruffled as Puck flew out.

Puck: “Seems like you three get along. Hey, Betty! Haven’t seen you in four days! Hope you’re all well and stayin’ ladylike!”

As if a lightswitch was flipped, Beatrice’s cold attitude immediately melted away at the sight of Puck.

Beatrice: “Bubby!”

She ran over to Puck, who lowered himself so she could grab him.

Beatrice: “Those two are insufferable! Will you stay with me today, I suppose?”

Subaru: “Hey! Where do you get off insulting us, you loli?!”

Beatrice’s brows twitched, hearing the word loli again.

Puck: “Haha! Of course. Besides, today’s finally the day we can actually do so!”

Beatrice: “Yay! This’ll be great!”

Spinning in circles, they danced around the dining room. Beatrice wore an eager smile that neither Capella or Subaru ever expected to see on her.

They just stared at the scene unfolding.

Emilia: “Hehe… You two are bewildered, aren’t you?”

Capella’s eyes narrowed as she watched.

Capella: “Of course those two get along…”

Subaru: “I tried to get her to smile last night, and Puck does it easily?! Wait, did you just say ‘bewildered?’“

Emilia: “Beatrice is so enamored by Puck; she just can’t get enough of him…”

Subaru watched as Beatrice cradled Puck, scratching his chin.

Subaru: “You don’t say…”

…

???: “My, myyy~ it’s truly a pleasure to finally see you coming outside, Beatrice-chan~ I truly treasure moments like these where we can spend time together…”

Subaru jumped from the sudden voice that sounded out directly behind him.

Subaru: [Seriously, these people need to stop sneaking up on me!]

Beatrice’s familiar frown reappeared on her face as she replied.

Beatrice: “I’ve spent enough time with such unbearable vermin. Betty only came for Bubby, I suppose…”

Subaru turned around to identify the holder of the rather charismatic voice behind him.

A tall man stood, his face was ghastly pale with makeup that made him look like a pretty boy, especially with his long, straight, indigo-blue hair.

With heterochromatic eyes, purple lipstick, and purple eyeshadow, a generous amount being applied on his left eye, combined with the rather eccentric outfit that could only befit an exaggerated jester, Subaru was stunned.

Subaru: [A… clown?]

The man eyed Subaru up and down, then his gaze drifted to Capella.

His eyes narrowed and brows furrowed for just a moment.

Emilia suddenly clasped her hands together.

Emilia: “Ah, right! Subaru, Capella, this is—“

???: “Oh, noooo. It’s okay, Emilia-sama~. I can handle the introductions. I am Roswaal L. Mathers, the lord of this manor…”

His smile grew as his gaze rested on Subaru, directly into his eyes.

Roswaal: “It’s truly a pleasure to meet you, Capella-chan and Subaru-kun~.”

…

Subaru: [Definitely not a clown!]

——

Subaru: “Ah! I didn’t know how much I needed this. It’s so much better than normal food!”

Soup was silently served by Ram and Rem as they all took seats at the table. Subaru, Capella, and Emilia all sat next to each other. In the first sip, Subaru just then realized how hungry he was.

Capella: “Om!”

Apparently, Capella was too. Soup dripped down her chin as she kept scarfing spoonfuls down her mouth.

Despite the messy, mannerless display, she managed to not get a single drop on the table cloth. The mess was somehow entirely localized on her face. Impressive.

Roswaal: “Y~es. Despite her appearance, Rem’s cooking is truuuly delightful~!”

Capella’s spoon paused for just a moment before diving right back in.

Rem didn’t say a word and only watched the table.

Namely, the side Subaru and Capella sat.

…

Emilia explained the situation to Roswaal.

Emilia: “…And that’s why I wish to house these two. S-Sorry for doing it on such short notice!”

Roswaal dismissively held up his hand, smiling.

Roswaal: “Oh no, no~. Don’t wo~rry, Emilia-sama. I’m more than happy to ho~use these two.”

He turned to Capella and Subaru.

Roswaal: “I mu~st say… from what I’ve heard, you two are one of a kind inde~ed…”

After a large gulp, Capella spoke up.

Capella: “What do you mean?”

Roswaal faced Capella directly.

Roswaal: “As Emilia-sama has said, you mysteri~ously have no memories, despite lacking any head inju~ries.”

He then turned back to Subaru.

Roswaal: “And you know no~thing of this kingdom, correct? Yet, you both, admittedly unfortu~nate individuals, have found yourselves here in the mansion of Ma~rgrave Mathers~…”

Unbeknownst to everyone at the table, Rem clenched her fist tighter than ever, lest she explode right here.

Subaru: “Well, that’s not entirely true. I know that Emi here is an up and coming super queen!”

Subaru swung one arm around Emilia and raised his other arm up in hype as she glanced away in embarrassment.

He then froze for a second and turned to Emilia.

Subaru: “Wait, you said you were a candidate for the throne last night, right?”

Emilia tilted her head.

Emilia: “That is what I said.”

Subaru: “What do you mean ‘candidate’? Wouldn’t the crown just go to the next person in the royal bloodline or something?”

Roswaal: “That’s qu~ite a hard thing to do when the royal family is dead~”

…

Subaru: “E-Eh?! Wait!”

Roswaal: “How amu~sing! You don’t even know that~! Perhaps your memories are lost too?”

Roswaal’s eyes narrowed as he gazed at Subaru.

Subaru: “N-No! I’m fine, I know that much.”

Capella: “Even this lady knew tha—”

Capella blinked. Her muttering was cut off.

Her head pulsed. It was like a headache, but not quite. It just felt like… pressure.

Something felt wrong. It felt like some physical outside force was affecting her head, as if trying to bury something away.

Capella: […What is this…?]

Roswaal’s gaze rested on Capella as if he was analyzing every inch of her before turning his attention back to Subaru.

Roswaal: “W~ell, the royal family succumbed to an unknown disease rou~ghly a year ago~…

Subaru gulped.

Subaru: “Really?”

Roswaal: “Really~. Currently, Lugunica has no king…”

Capella’s discomfort grew bigger, slightly shuffling in her seat. Roswaal took notice of it, glancing towards her as he narrowed his eyes.

Meanwhile, Subaru, oblivious due to the bombshell he just received, shouted in surprise.

Subaru: “No king?! How the hell is this place so well put together then?! It’s like a backdrop for a deodorant commercial out there!”

Subaru exclaimed, pointing his finger towards the window, flabbergasted.

Emilia: “De… ough—door… ant?”

Roswaal: “What unfami~liar terms! I suppose at most we can dedu~ce that you’re not from here~.”

Roswaal, amused, hummed to himself before continuing.

Roswaal: “Well~. Ju~st because we lack a king doesn’t mean we lack leadership~… We still have our tru~sty Royal Guard and Sage Council who will ru~le Lugunica until the 42nd king is selected.”

Subaru’s stiff posture relaxed as he started to fully grasp the situation.

Subaru: “Oh, I see… Man, not even two days here and I got wrapped up into a bunch of politics… This isn’t the fun isekai adventure I had in mind…”

Emilia nervously laughed to herself.

Emilia: “Aha… Sorry…”

Subaru: “No need to apologize, Emi.”

Capella: “If any meatbag needs to apologize, it’s you.”

Subaru: “Oi!”

Roswaal chuckled.

Roswaal: “Now, I must sa~y. I’m rather curi~ous. How did you two meet~?”

Subaru: “Eh? Capella and I? Well… I kinda met her the same time I met Emilia. I was wandering in the capital and I just saw her lying limp in an alley…”

Subaru took one last sip of his soup while Capella, who was already done, rested a cheek on her hand.

Subaru: “I went to check if she was okay, and she was. After that, we got attacked by some thugs, but Emi…”

Roswaal unexpectedly cut in with subtle eagerness.

Roswaal: “Saved you, yes~?”

Subaru: “Y-Yeah…”

Roswaal: “I see. And Capella-chan~… you have no memories be~fore this encounter~?”

Capella: “If this lady did she would’ve brought it up already…”

She responded, shaking her head and taking a small glance towards Beatrice.

Roswaal only smiled.

Roswaal: “How intriguing… And despite all this, you’ve managed to gre~atly help Emilia-sama, a candidate for the throne, even ind~ebting her to you!”

Subaru: “A-Aha… It’s not like we planned it or anything. I guess the stars just aligned or something.”

Capella deadpanned.

Capella: “That doesn’t sound convincing at all, Meat Shield.”

Emilia: “I know you didn’t! I-It was my fault you got into this mess, after all…”

Rem narrowed her eyes as Roswaal closed his for a moment.

Roswaal: [Yes~. The stars have aligned, indeed…]

Roswaal: “Well, the fact of the matter is you helped Emilia-sama, and thus, have helped me~. If the belief that she couldn’t protect a tiny insi~gnia got out, then entrusting her with an entire country would be out of the question~…”

Emilia shamefully cast her gaze on the floor as Subaru smirked.

Subaru: “When you put it like that, I’d say we did a pretty damn good job! I know just what I want as a reward…”

A smug smile formed on Subaru’s face.

Roswaal: “Yes~! I’m willing to grant you both anything you desire~… Just name it!”

Subaru: “Hm-hm… Well, considering Emi here, and that I’m starting to rather like this mansion…”

Capella smiled as Subaru took a deep breath for dramatic effect, standing up and slamming the table.

Subaru: “Hire me to work here!”

…

Subaru waited for a fanfare, a cheer, an “oooh”, a reaction of any kind.

He did not receive one.

Ram: “Achoo—!”

That didn’t count.

Emilia: “S-Subaru?”

Subaru glanced at everybody before turning to Capella, flustered.

Subaru: “Eh? Was that the wrong choice?”

Capella: “What? Are you actually dumb?”

Subaru: “Huh?!”

Capella jetted out an accusing finger towards him.

Capella: “This lady assumed you had at least half a brain in there, but I guess even that was an overestimation…”

She sighed as she rested her head on her hand on the table, and after a moment, she smiled.

Before stating her desire, she looked in Beatrice’s direction.

Capella: “All this lady wants is to be a permanent guest.”

And with that, they locked eyes for a moment.

Beatrice turned away, seemingly even more upset.

Emilia: “Capella?!”

…

Subaru: “Eh?!”

Roswaal donned an eerie smile.

He snapped his fingers as if he was sealing the deal.

Roswaal: “Hoho~. Rather humble requests of you tw~o… I can do those gla~dly…”

——

Emilia: “A-Are you really going to stay, you two?”

Emilia and Capella stood at the entrance of the dressing room, watching as Subaru stood straight up with his arms out as Rem silently held butler uniforms to his back to find the right size.

Subaru: “That’s what we asked for…”

Capella: “Capella-chan is staying, at least. I only wonder how many days Meat Shield will last as a slave…”

Subaru: “I’m a butler, not a slave! Also, why’re your expectations of me so low…”

Ram: “I hate to say it, but the shameless freeloader has her expectations just right, if not a little high.”

Subaru: “Oi! You don’t know me!”

Capella: “Kya—ha! I—”

Ram held up her hand, interrupting Capella before she could speak.

Ram: “However, at least you’re providing some use, Barusu. Even if it’s the equivalent of an ant.”

Subaru folded his arms as he smugly looked at Capella, who rolled her eyes.

Subaru: “A—ha! W-Wait, that’s not my name…”

Ram: “I don’t know what you mean, Barusu.”

Subaru: “My name’s not a blinding curse—! You know what, I’ll take that name as a sign of our developing relationship as co-workers. It’s better than Meat Shield.”

His shoulders were suddenly gripped firmly from behind.

Rem: “Sit still.”

Subaru: “S-Sorry…”

…

Emilia, eyes drifting over the floor, spoke up.

Emilia: “You two could’ve asked for anything, you know…”

Capella tilted her head towards Emilia with a raised brow.

Capella: “What, like money? This lady doesn’t have a place to stay, and it’s not like I can buy my memories back…”

Subaru hummed.

Subaru: “That’d make things a lot easier…”

Capella then turned back to Subaru.

Capella: “By the way, what made you ask for a job? You got a favor from one of the most influential meatbags in the kingdom, and you asked for a job.”

She furrowed her brows in annoyance and confusion at him as Rem held out a uniform for Subaru to try.

Her hands clutched the uniform a bit too tightly…

Only Capella noticed as Subaru grabbed it from her.

Subaru: “I’m trying to be helpful, unlike you!”

As he slid it on, he glanced at himself up and down in the mirror.

Subaru: “Hey… this fits kinda nice.”

Ram, judgmentally eyeing him up and down, spoke.

Ram: “How strange. You fit in a girl’s uniform? If that’s the case, perhaps a maid uniform will suit you better.”

…

Subaru: “Eh? Wait, huh?!”

Capella couldn’t stifle her laughter.

Capella: “Kya-haha! Do it! Wear a maid outfit, Meat Shield!”

Subaru, flustered, looked at everyone in betrayal.

Subaru: “What is this?! A set up?!”

Ram: “Ram won't let you. I’d rather spare myself and my poor sister the sight.”

Rem began silently taking the uniform off of Subaru.

Subaru: “I don’t want to! And if that’s the case, why’d you mention it, then?!”

Emilia chuckled at their banter as Rem brought the uniform to Ram.

Emilia: “Well, I guess I’ll leave you all to it. I have to go study for the royal selection… I hope you both settle in well. I’ll be rooting for you!”

Subaru: “...Thanks, Emi. Study hard, and l-live strong!”

Subaru waved as she walked down the hall, waving back.

…

Capella: “Live strong, huh? Are you positive you didn’t grow up in the slums?”

Subaru: “No, I didn’t!”

Ram cut in with a sigh.

Ram: “It’s a shame, we’ll have to tailor this uniform for you.”

Subaru: “What’s shameful about that…?”

Ram: “Our precious resources have to be wasted on a man like you.”

Subaru’s eyes furrowed in annoyance as he muttered under his breath.

Subaru: “You don’t even know me that well…”

Rem approached Subaru from behind, holding a roll of measuring tape.

Her gaze, though seemingly neutral, felt piercing.

Rem: “Please hold still. Rem needs to take your measurements.”

Subaru: “Yeah, o-okay.”

Suddenly, with a hand to her chin, Capella spoke.

Capella: “Hey, since you’re a butler now…”

Subaru: “Yeah?”

Capella: “And this lady’s a guest…”

Subaru: “Uh-huh—wait…”

…

Capella: “You’re gonna be Capella-chan’s slave!”

She clapped her hands in sadistic glee as Subaru immediately retorted.

Subaru: “I’m not a slave!”

Rem: “Capella.”

Capella: “Eh?”

Capella, immediately startled by the voice she recently began keeping a record on, silently turned to Rem.

Rem: “Please leave. Pointless conversations will only hinder our work. As loyal maids of the Mather’s estate, we must tend to our duties as fast as possible.”

…

Capella and Rem gazed in each other’s eyes for a moment.

Like two firmly shut books trying to read each other.

Capella: “Sure. See you later, oh servant!”

Capella walked out the room, snickering, as Subaru held up a clenched fist at her.

Subaru: “Damn you!”

…

Subaru: “Hey, don’t let me do anything for her. I doubt my dignity would be inTACT!”

Subaru jumped as Rem unexpectedly tightened the measuring tape around his chest.

Ram: “It appears you don’t have much dignity in the first place making such noises, Barusu.”

Subaru: “T-That was out of my control!”

——

Capella silently walked down the halls of the manor, lost in thought.

…

Capella: [Blue meat hair definitely has problems with me… It seems like she does with Meat Shield too…]

The quiet atmosphere was slightly jarring walking away from the dressing room.

Passing through the sun rays that illuminated the hall through the windows, she sighed.

Capella: [And Meat Shield is totally oblivious…]

…

She crossed her arms, turning to face out the window.

Capella: [...Did he do something? Did I do something?]

…

Alone in the hall, her thoughts were allowed to grow.

Capella: [...Did… past me do something?]

Stopping in her tracks, she glanced around the hall.

…

A feeling inside of her that she ignored until now began to grow.

…

Her face tightened to a frown as her hands fell to her sides.

…

Capella: [This lady can worry about that later, right now I gotta find where she is…]

——

Subaru: “Behold! ‘Butler Natsuki Subaru’ is complete!”

Performing a sloppy bow, Subaru stood in his newly tailored uniform.

Though it took a decent chunk of the day, the tailoring went by rather fast thanks to Subaru’s surprising sewing skills.

Ram: “How dreadful. It appears even with my dear sister’s effort, your horrific appearance can’t be saved.”

Subaru groaned.

Subaru: “I put in effort too, y’know! Also, could you leave me alone for like, one second? I can’t even get back up before you verbally throw me down the stairs again…”

Rem suddenly tapped Ram’s shoulder.

Rem: “Nee-sama.”

Ram turned to Rem, and locked eyes with her for a moment.

…

Ram: “Don’t worry, Rem. I’ll bear the burden of showing Barusu around. Just get to work, okay?”

…

Rem: “…Understood.”

Rem walked off into the hall, leaving Subaru and Ram behind.

Subaru: “…She seems really committed to her job.”

A small silence sat between them before Ram responded.

Ram: “Of course she is. Rem’s excellence never leaves anything half-finished. You’ll be a different story, however.”

Subaru: “At least you’re blatant with your bias…”

Ram smiled. It was half-genuine.

Ram: “Make no mistake, Barusu. What Ram says is right and always will be right.”

——

Ram stood, holding open a door for Subaru to view the inside.

She was giving him a rather quick, basic tour of the mansion. Considering she and Rem were starting their duties later than usual thanks to the tailoring done for Subaru’s uniform, Ram couldn’t afford to waste too much time getting into specifics.

Ram: “And this is the kitchen. Any questions?”

Subaru: “Yeah, actually—“

Ram: “Great, we’re finished then.”

Ram turned to walk away.

Subaru: “Oi, wait! This is a serious question!”

Ram turned back around, huffing.

Ram: “…I fail to see what about Ram’s tour confused you, but ask away.”

Subaru: “Where’s the bathroom?”

…

Ram: “Next up, the bathroom.”

Subaru: “You forgot to show me where the bathroom was, didn’t you?”

…

Ram held out a finger toward Subaru in denial.

Ram: “…No. That was a test, Barusu. And you failed.”

Subaru: “What do you mean I failed?!”

She simply didn’t respond, ignoring Subaru’s complaints as she walked down the hall to another set of doors.

Ram: “We have multiple bathrooms around the mansion. Four in each corner to be exact. This is one of them.”

Subaru: “I can only wonder how big it’ll be…”

Grabbing the knob, Subaru opened the door, and was led to a room that couldn’t be called a bathroom by any standard.

Instead, it led to a rather familiar room that you couldn’t forget after entering it for the first time.

Subaru: [Eh? This is…]

Beatrice: “Oh, Bubby. Your fur is so soft, I suppose~!”

Puck: “Haha! Betty, that tickles!”

What was inside the room, however, was not a familiar sight. Far from it.

Beatrice very affectionately cuddling Puck.

Beatrice: “Ah.”

Beatrice immediately halted as her gaze was frozen on Subaru.

…

Subaru blinked.

…

Subaru: “I swear, I won’t tell a soul. I gotta agree with you though, Puck’s fur is pretty s—OFT!”

Before he could finish his sentence, a burst of wind sent him flying out the door, just like last night. The doors shut him out.

Subaru: “Damn it, at least let me finish! Ram, that was not a bathroom!”

Ram silently opened the door in response, only to reveal that the door, in fact, led to a bathroom.

Subaru: “H-Huh? But…”

Subaru: [It’s just like last night…]

Ram: “What you just witnessed was Beatrice-sama’s Door Crossing.”

Subaru: “Door Crossing? So, what, she can connect her library to any door in the mansion or something?”

Ram: “Precisely. I suppose you’re not that hopelessly dull. Once Beatrice-sama eliminates her presence, it’s impossible to find her without trying every door.”

Subaru: “…Really?”

Subaru took that as a challenge. Immediately eyeing every door in his vicinity.

For some reason, three doors down, he felt like a presence was there. Some kind of gut feeling.

He hummed, amused.

Subaru: [Don’t underestimate me!]

Subaru: “She’s here!”

Beatrice: “Uwa!”

Jetting a finger out towards her in triumph, he exclaimed.

Subaru: “Aha! You can’t hide from me!”

Puck: “Impressive, Subaru!”

Beatrice: “You insufferable human! How did you pick the right door again?!”

Subaru smugly smiled as he casually leaned against the doorframe. Ram approached behind him.

Subaru: “What can I say? I just have a knack for being annoyingly persistent.”

Beatrice started adorably stomping the floor.

Beatrice: “Despicable, I suppose! You’re both despicable humans, you and that shameless girl!”

Subaru: “What’s with you calling us humans as if it were some derogatory term? You’re human yourself, young lady!”

Ram: “Beatrice-sama is a great spirit who’s contracted to oversee the mansion’s forbidden library.”

Subaru blinked.

…

Subaru: “Spirit?! Like… like Puck?!”

Subaru glanced back and forth between Puck and Beatrice.

Puck: “That’s right! Betty is my little sister, after all!”

Subaru recoiled in shock.

Subaru: “Sister?! Wait, so would you be Emi’s aunt?”

Puck’s eyes narrowed as Betty huffed.

Beatrice: “Betty isn’t related to that klutzy half-elf!”

Subaru: “What? B-But… Man… this family tree is confusing. Whatever…”

Rubbing the back of his head, Subaru glanced around the library, his eyes taking in the seemingly endless shelves of books with various colors and sizes. Some had labels, some didn’t.

He muttered the titles of the books he glossed over.

Subaru: “Biology of Dragons, The Theatre of Despair, Pest Control, How to Build a Cardboard Fort, The Forgotten Knight, 100 Easy Sweet Treats…”

It seemed the library had no sense of continuity as the books just ranged from informative studies and philosophy, to light novels and cooking recipes. All on the same shelf, too.

Subaru turned back to Beatrice, who met his gaze back with an annoyed glare.

Subaru: “What even are these books? Do you really need so many?”

…

Beatrice’s brows furrowed even more than they already were. Something about what he said definitely reached her wrong.

Beatrice: “Leave already, I suppose!”

She held out a hand towards him for the third time since meeting him.

Subaru: “W-Wait! I’m just curi—OUS!”

Puck shouted out as Subaru flew out the door.

Puck: “Well, that was short lived… Bye bye, Subaru!”

The door to the library shut, leaving Puck and Beatrice alone.

…

Beatrice sighed.

Beatrice: “Why did that foolish girl of yours have to bring in such infuriating pests, I suppose?”

Puck: “They helped Lia a ton, and… you know how she is. Besides, I’m rather thankful for them too. Well, mostly Subaru. I owe him a favor after all.”

Beatrice deadpanned.

Beatrice: “Betty pities you, in fact.”

——

Subaru: “I wish she’d stop doing that!”

Subaru grumpily stood up, dusting off his uniform.

Ram: “Don’t be selfish, Barusu. It’s her job.”

Subaru: “Librarians don’t throw people out with that much force!”

Ram: “Roswaal-sama is the greatest magic user in the kingdom. He has many books that mustn’t be seen by others. Beatrice-sama, like Ram said, is contracted to protect those books. Throwing you out was merely protocol, Barusu.”

Subaru hummed as he turned back to face the door where the library likely wasn’t anymore.

Subaru: “So, all she does is sit there all day, protecting the books, or whatever?”

…

Subaru then muttered under his breath with a tone of respect.

Subaru: “I didn’t know she was a fellow shut-in…”

He turned back to Ram.

Subaru: “Still, she didn’t have to throw me out like that. It’s not like I came in with a live fire to burn it all down or something.”

Ram: “I wouldn’t put it past you.”

Subaru: “Yeah, yeah, whatever.”

Ram turned on her heel and began walking down the hall with Subaru following shortly after.

Ram: “With that, the tour ends here. Now for the ins and outs of your job.”

Subaru: “Right! What’s on my plate?”

Subaru rubbed his hands in anticipation.

After dodging opportunities like a professional bum, his first real job was about to begin!

Ram: “Basically, all you’ll be doing is helping me with my work, Barusu.”

Subaru blinked.

Subaru: “Oh, really? That’s it?”

Ram: “Ram’s work for today consists of caring for the front yard and garden, helping to prepare for lunch, polishing the silverware, airing out the futons, doing the laundry, cleaning the bathrooms—“

As Ram continued, her voice gradually muffled in Subaru’s ears as her words started to overlap each other.

Among everything she listed, the only thing Subaru knew for sure was that today was gonna be a long day.

——

Emilia: “Hmm…”

Emilia sat in silence at her desk, a book spread open in front of her along with scattered notes.

Emilia: “Vollachia seems scary… Subaru probably wouldn’t be from there—ah N-No! I should be studying, I don’t have time to dilly-dally!”

She muttered to herself as she continued reading her studies until…

Knock Knock

Capella: “Meatlia!”

A below average mannered knock sounded on her door, startling her out of her studies.

Emilia: “E-Eh? Capella? Come in!”

Capella opened up the door with an annoyed face.

Capella: “This lady could use a favor…”

Emilia opened her mouth to respond that she was busy, but she stopped herself.

…

Then she smiled.

After all, a friend needed a favor.

Emilia: “What do you need?”

Capella: “Do you know where the bra—Beatrice is?”

Emilia: “Eh? Beatrice?”

Emilia put a hand to her chin.

Emilia: “I’m not suuurre… I don’t talk to her very much, but she’s most likely in her library.”

Capella sighed.

Capella: “This lady knows that much. But I can’t find it at all! I swear I’ve tried almost every door but Capella-chan can’t find this stupid meat bag!”

Emilia let out a small nervous chuckle at her friend’s frustration.

Emilia: “It is really tough to find when she moves it…”

Capella blinked as she blankly stared at Emilia.

Capella: “…Huh?”

Emilia: “O-Oh! Right, you don’t know. Beatrice can connect her library to aaaanny door in the mansion. It’s her own little dimension! At least, that’s what Puck told me.”

Capella blinked.

Capella: “…That explains last night. Wait, Puck?”

Emilia: “M-hm! I told you they’re close, didn’t I?”

Capella: “You did…”

She groaned.

Capella: “Are they together right now? If you could call your mutt, this lady would appreciate it.”

Emilia: “He’s not a mutt, though…”

Capella threw her hands up in frustration.

Capella: “Whatever! Can you call him?”

Emilia smiled.

Emilia: “I can do that.”

She closed her eyes in focus for just a moment.

Emilia: “Okay. He shouuuld be coming now. I-If you don’t mind me asking, what do you need Beatrice for?”

Capella: “Her library.”

She spoke bluntly, hands on hips.

Capella: “While Meat Shield slaves away around the manor, I figured I’d try getting some leads on my lost memories. This lady thinks that the library would be a good start, based on what she told me about it, at least.”

Emilia took a little gasp.

Emilia: “T-That’s reaallly smart!”

…

Capella: “That sounded like you didn’t expect that from this lady.”

Emilia: “N-No, no! It is smart! You’re smart, Capella!”

Emilia urgently replied but it only made her sound less convincing to which Capella softly sighed at.

Emilia: “I wish I could help you myself, but—“

Puck: “Bo-bo-boom!”

Puck exclaimed, adding more flare to his entrance as he popped into existence from a small bright flash next to Emilia.

Puck: “Hey, Lia! Sorry, I was just saying bye to Betty. What’cha need?”

Emilia smiled.

Emilia: “No worries, Puck. Capella needs your help.”

Puck met her with silence as he slowly turned to Capella.

Puck: “Really? Hmm… I don’t recall ever owing you anything.”

Capella clicked her tongue.

Capella: “As if this lady would want anything from you. Unfortunately, you’re the only one who can help me at the moment…”

Puck condescendingly folded his arms as he floated closer towards Capella, his chin raised higher than it needed to be as he stared down at her.

Puck: “A real shame for you, then—!”

Emilia: “Puck.”

Emilia frowned to which Puck sighed.

Puck: “Alright, alright. I’m just kidding… What do you need?”

Capella: “This lady needs help finding Beatrice…”

Puck: “Beatrice?”

Puck narrowed his eyes.

Puck: “What do you need her for?”

Capella: “Her library. This lady thinks that’d be the best place to start when it comes to my memories…”

Scratching her forehead, Capella’s gaze dropped to the floor for a moment.

Puck only stared at her, tilting his head, before letting out a long sigh.

Puck: “Well, that’s gonna be a problem… she’s been keeping her distance from you.”

Capella: “Really? From my beautiful self?!”

He nodded.

Puck: “I don’t exactly know what happened between you two, but she definitely doesn’t wanna talk to you.”

Capella sighed, slouching in her stance.

Capella: “Of course the meat bag holds a grudge…”

Emilia: “Uhm, what happened between you two?”

Capella: “We argued last night. She provoked me and this lady might’ve insulted her just a little…”

She squeezed her thumb and index finger together for emphasis.

Emilia frowned at her.

Emilia: “Capella… That’s not nice!”

Capella slightly scoffed.

Puck: “I find it hard to imagine you weren’t the one provoking.”

Capella: “This lady is better than that! So, are you gonna help me find her or not?!”

Puck folded his arms.

Puck: “I can’t help you.”

…

Capella: “Huh?!”

Puck: “Not even I can find Beatrice when she hides herself. Subaru might be able to, though.”

Capella raised a brow in surprise.

Capella: “Meat Shield?”

Puck: “Yup! He’s got a great affinity for spirits! He can probably track Betty down. I’ve seen him do it myself!”

Emilia eagerly chirped up from behind.

Emilia: “Really? He has a great spirit affinity?”

Puck nodded.

Puck: “I found that out myself last night.”

Emilia: “Wow… So, maybe Gusteko?”

Emilia started muttering to herself as Capella’s eyes narrowed.

Capella: “Wait, wait… What does spirit affinity have to do with finding her, though?”

Puck laughed as he nonchalantly ruffled the back of his head.

Puck: “Oh, shucks… I’m not used to having to explain this.”

Puck let his paw down.

Puck: “You see… Beatrice is a great spirit.”

…

Capella blinked.

Capella: “Seriously?! This lady should’ve known! She’s just as annoying and petty as you. No wonder you get along!”

Puck: “Well, I doubt it’s without good reason. Have you ever considered… being more likable?”

Capella: “As if Capella-chan needs to try to do that~!”

Puck: “You haven’t been trying? No wonder—!”

Emilia: “Puck, be nice!”

Emilia spoke up as if scolding a child.

Capella snickered as Puck stopped himself.

Capella: “Better listen to your owner, pet~.”

Puck folded his arms, sighing.

Emilia: “You too, Capella!”

Emilia frowned, upset that her friends weren’t getting along.

Capella pressed her lips into a thin line out of annoyance as Puck smugly smiled.

Puck: “Don’t get comfortable.”

Capella clicked her tongue before replaying the information Puck shared in her head.

Capella: “So, this lady has to find Meat Shield, then…”

Puck: “Yup!”

Capella stared blankly at the floating cat before responding.

Capella: “Great. Thanks for no help at all~!

With a cheeky smile, Puck calmly responded.

Puck: “The quality of my services depend on the quality of the customer.”

Capella groaned while leaving the room.

She hesitated shutting the door all the way, though.

…

She stood for a moment before speaking, quieter than usual.

Capella: “Thanks, Puck. Emilia.”

She then shut the door, not waiting for a response.

Puck raised a brow.

Puck: “…So she can be sincere.”

…

Emilia: “Puck… do you not like her?”

Puck gazed at Emilia for a moment before sighing.

Puck: “…I have my gripes, but I don’t mind her. I don’t sense any hostility or mischief from her… only arrogance. I just wish she’d be more mindful around you…”

Puck folded his arms.

Puck: “That said, just now she seemed a little… anxious? Her mind was quite alarmed. I guess amnesia will do that to you…”

Emilia: “Eh? Really?”

Emilia looked at the door worriedly, but Puck spoke before she did anything.

Puck: “Don’t worry about it, Lia. That’s her problem. You deal with enough as is.”

…

Emilia reluctantly glanced at Puck, before silently looking back down at her studies, frowning.

——

Capella: [It’s not like this lady is on chatting terms with the meat hair sisters, nor do I want to talk to them... So, Meat Shield is my only option then…]

As she walked through the halls again, she raised a brow to a thought.

She’s only known Subaru for about a day and a half now, yet twice he’s been the catalyst for solving rather troubling problems.

Finding Emilia’s insignia, and now, finding Beatrice.

…

Capella: [He’s surprisingly helpful when it counts, isn’t he?]

——

Rem: “Hold it like this. Push away from your hand.”

At the moment, Subaru was in the kitchen, holding a potato—which he instead recently learned were called ‘tatoes’—being taught how to peel them.

It was rather embarrassing, he hoped cooking standards were lower in this world.

Subaru: “And then… slice!”

In one not-so-clean motion, a peel fell off the tatoe.

…

And, as a bonus, some of the skin on his hand.

Subaru: “Agh—! D-Damn it! Again?!”

Subaru winced in pain as the blood from his fresh wound fell on the tatoe.

Ram let out an exasperated sigh.

Ram: “Disgusting. For the sixth time, you’ve contaminated a tatoe. You're a walking hazard, Barusu.”

Subaru: “Don’t diss me while I’m already wounded, Nee-sama! And wait—you were keeping count?! A-Ah, hey, Rem!”

Subaru yelped as Rem grabbed his cut with a less than caring grip.

Her grip tightened as he called Ram “Nee-sama.”

…

Despite her desires, she applied a bandage on the wound.

They learned after the third tatoe that having a stash of bandages on standby would be ideal when Subaru was in the kitchen.

Subaru: “Well at least I have something to show for it… how’d I do, Ram, Rem?”

One glance in the bowl was enough.

The horrific amalgamation of peels that drastically varied in width and thickness was such a sad sight that it would make any man pity the poor soul who dared to peel.

Ram, however, did not have such mercy.

Ram: “I pity the farmer who grew those tatoes.”

Subaru: “Alright, you know what?! You won’t be talking once I max out my tatoe peeling skills and you find out just how much of a beast I can be in the kitchen!”

Subaru very hazardously held up his blade like a legendary sword.

Subaru: “If my new legendary weapon, shooting star, has anything to say—!”

Ram: “If you have time to ramble impossibilities, you have time to peel. Get on with it before you cut yourself again.”

Rem picked up two tatoes and silently handed Subaru one as he slightly chuckled to himself.

Subaru: “Right…”

Subaru: [Man, they’re really brutal…]

Rem: “Just follow Rem’s lead, Subaru-kun.”

She spoke without giving him a glance, beginning to peel her own tatoe.

Subaru: [This is… what, my sixth tatoe now? Yet, they’re still here… teaching me…]

Subaru watched as Rem displayed her tatoe cutting method for him to copy.

A small smile crept on his face.

Subaru: [They’re really good people. I’m glad I came here…]

…

Subaru: [Reinhard, Felt, Rom, Roswaal, Beatrice, Ram, Rem, Puck, Emilia, Capella. I’ve met a lot of interesting people in the past… what, day and a half?]

Subaru blushed a little at a stray thought.

Subaru: [Most of them are girls… What am I? Some two-dimensional harem protagonist? Wait, what if this is that kind of isekai?]

Lingering on the idea, he couldn’t stop blushing before being interrupted by Rem.

Rem: “Are you following?”

Subaru: “A-Ah, yeah, sorry. I spaced out.”

Rem silently went back to her peeling demonstration as Subaru emulated her.

Subaru: [Some of them are important people too… The country’s Court Mage, the ‘Sword Saint’ and a candidate for the country's throne? What happened to humble beginnings?]

He internally chuckled to himself before he thought about Emilia.

Subaru: [A candidate for the throne, yet she seems a little… clueless? And that’s coming from me…]

His brows furrowed as his blade got firmly stuck in the tatoe.

Subaru: [She lost her insignia to a total beginner level thief, she doesn’t have many friends, and if our time in the capital said anything, she doesn’t have many social skills either…]

Pushing his knife hard enough, he successfully cut through the skin of only the tatoe, and continued to peel, following Rem.

Subaru: [Despite all that, however. I still can't help but feel like she’d be a great—no… phenomenal leader. Her endless kindness, determination, b-beauty… I guess that’s a parallel fantasy world for you…]

Subaru: “Oh?”

Subaru, startled out of his thoughts when the pressure on his knife suddenly disappeared, glanced down at a decently peeled tatoe.

Rem silently picked up the bowl of peels and walked away to the sink.

It was a rather anti-climactic finish.

…

Subaru: “Hell yeah!”

That wouldn’t stop him though.

Pumping his fist in the air in triumph, Subaru bathed in his victory.

Ram: “Congratulations, Barusu. You’ve learned how to emulate basic kitchen skills. Next time, try to do it without a guide.”

Subaru: “Even your praise has bite…”

Rem spoke up from behind them.

Rem: “Nee-sama. We’re out of matoes…”

Subaru: [Is that what tomatoes are called in this world? Seriously?!]

Ram hummed, crossing her arms.

Ram: “I see. Barusu and I will head to Arlam, then.”

Subaru: “Arlam?”

Rem’s eyes widened in alarm.

Rem: “Nee-sama—?!”

Ram: “Don’t worry, Rem. We were running short on multiple ingredients anyways, like tatoes, thanks to Barusu.”

Subaru: “Hey!”

Ram ignored him.

Ram: “Besides, if Barusu is to be working with us, he needs the experience.”

Rem turned her gaze to the floor, gripping the hem of her uniform.

…

Ram suddenly grabbed her wrist, causing her to flinch before looking at her.

Ram: “Don’t worry, Ram will keep Barusu’s stupidity in check.”

As Rem gazed into Ram’s eyes, her posture, while still stiff, loosened some.

Ram: “After all, he’s unfortunately representing Roswaal-sama now. You already have too much on your plate to deal with him, and if Ram sent him to the village alone, he’d undoubtedly tarnish his reputation.”

Subaru clicked his tongue.

Subaru: “I’m right here!”

They didn’t respond to him as they continued to gaze in each other’s eyes like they were having two conversations at once.

…

Ram: “That’s what you’re worried about, yes?”

…

Rem: “Y-Yes.”

Ram frowned for a moment before huffing.

Ram: “We’ll be back before earth time, Rem.”

She gently let go of Rem’s hand, who fought the urge to grab it back.

Rem simply nodded and went back to preparing the peeled tatoes.

…

Subaru: “Okay, what’s this Arlam place?”

Ram: “Just follow Ram.”

——

Subaru: “So, this is Arlam.”

Subaru stood just at the entrance to the village he now knew as Arlam.

Though Ram barely spoke to Subaru during their journey here, she had answered some of his questions rather straightforwardly.

Arlam was a simple, friendly village in the Mathers domain, surrounded by forest.

The village, being in Roswaal’s territory, was under his protection. And, considering the man was the country’s court mage, his protection was definitely nothing to scoff at.

In exchange, Arlam would simply provide the resources they could to the manor when needed.

In this case, those resources would be food ingredients.

Subaru: [So, it’s some kinda starter village. I’m probably gonna be here a lot.]

Ram: “Barusu. Ram will get the ingredients for today, so be grateful. All you need to do is carry them back.”

Subaru sighed.

Subaru: “Something tells me that won’t be easy…”

Ram walked off into the village, leaving Subaru behind.

Subaru: “H-Hey, wait a sec!”

Her walking became scurrying as if she was trying to get away.

Subaru: [E-Eh? What’s she thinking… leaving a level one butler like me behind in a place he doesn’t know?]

Subaru: “Wait up—!”

His call out was interrupted by high-pitched voices from below.

Kid: “Weeh? I haven’t seen you before!”

Kid 2: “Why’re you so mad? Is that just your face?”

Subaru: “Huh?”

He glanced down and flinched.

He saw he was surrounded by kids.

A lot of kids. Tiny, wide-eyed, and curious.

They were all staring at him like he was some exotic zoo animal.

One of the kids tugged on his sleeve.

Kid 3: “Hey, mister! Come play with us!”

Subaru: “A-Ah! I’d love to, but I’m kinda in the middle of a job right now—uh…”

Subaru looked back up to see Ram wasn’t waiting for him.

In fact, she was gone…

…

Subaru: [Really? Am I that annoying to be around?]

Kid 4: “Hey, hey! Come on!”

Another kid tugged his uniform, rubbing his dirty, snot nosed face all over it without warning. A completely unprovoked attack.

Subaru: “—Ack! Oi! Alright, alright, I’ll play with you guys! G-Get off of me, though!”

——

In what felt like the blink of an eye he was on the ground building a castle of dirt.

He wasn’t sure how he got himself into this situation but he wasn’t mad about it. It was a fun little break from his responsibilities.

In this short time he managed to learn the kids names and get to know them just a little.

Petra was carving flower patterns into the side of the castle, which Subaru dubbed the ‘Natsuki Castle’.

Lucas aggressively dug a moat around the castle as if the mini domain would be under attack within minutes

Mildo collected flowers to adorn the castle with.

Some of the other kids just sat and watched, others were giving him ideas for the castle, some even crawled on top of him for a better view…

They were all really friendly to say the least.

As Subaru shaped the roofs, he put a hand to his chin.

Subaru: “Hmm… We need a good stick for the flag. Lucas! Stick!”

He spoke as if he was ordering a soldier. Lucas saluted as he ran off.

As Subaru watched him run off, his eyes drifted to a nearby tree. A glowing crystal was attached to it.

…

Subaru: […That’s a fancy light…]

Girl: “Um… excuse me? I-I haven’t seen you before.”

Subaru turned around to see a small girl with green eyes and long, blue, braided hair that ran down her back to her hips. In her hands was a cute little puppy with a big bald spot. She clutched it as if she was nervous just being outside.

Subaru gave her a smile as he shifted on his knees to face her.

Subaru: “That’s ‘cause I’m the new, up and coming butler at the Mathers Estate, Natsuki Subaru! You might not’ve heard of my name yet, but pretty soon I’ll be renowned all over the world for my fine tatoe peeling skills.”

He held up an O.K sign with his hand as he winked at her.

She didn’t respond as she continued to fidget in place.

Subaru: “Say… What’s your name?”

Subaru, still smiling, spoke softly, noticing how nervous the girl seemed.

The girl stopped fidgeting for a moment to answer.

Meili: “U-Um… Meili…”

…

Subaru: “Meili, huh? That’s a cute name.”

Subaru's smile grew as his gaze fell down to the puppy in her arms.

Subaru: “And that’s a really cute puppy… Can I pet him?”

Her eyes lit up as if her desired topic of conversation just came.

Meili: “S-Sure—“

Before she could respond, a voice interrupted.

Meili frowned, annoyed.

Lucas: “Incoming!”

Subaru turned to the shouter as a stick was flying towards his face.

Subaru: “AH!”

Before it smacked him clean in the nose, his quick reflexes managed to grab it before catastrophe struck.

Subaru: “…Oi, Lucas! Don’t throw it at me! You almost ruined the castle!”

Lucas just rubbed the back of his head as snot dribbled out his nose.

Lucas: “Haha… Sorry…”

Subaru inspected the stick he was almost assaulted with.

Few knots, smooth bark.

A straight, firm twig.

The perfect stick, a man’s true dream.

Subaru: “Hey… this’ll work! It’s perfect, actually!”

Subaru exclaimed as he stood up and the children eagerly watched.

Subaru held a ribbon in his hand, a gift from one of the kids, and tied it to the stick as the flag.

Subaru: “Listen up, everyone. This marks the day the Natsuki Castle is established, led by Natsuki Subaru himself! You’ll all be my royal guards!”

With one lift into the air, he swooped down just hard enough to pierce the dirt but not destroy the castle.

Subaru: “Natsuki Subaru’s reign begins today!”

And with a swift pierce, the stick penetrated the roof of the castle. The “flag” swayed proudly through the air, tied to its firm, trusty, independent—

The castle collapsed.

…

All of it. It just collapsed.

…

In a twisted comical fashion, because of the moat that Lucas dug out, the castle collapsed into it, effectively filling it back up and leaving the once occupied space completely empty. Just a flat piece of land. You couldn’t even consider it a pile of dirt.

A few steps on it and it would blend in with the rest of the ground. It’s like the castle never existed.

The only remains were Mildo’s flowers, and the flag that still stood up straight, which now represented its tombstone.

…

Subaru dramatically crumbled to his knees and hit the floor.

Subaru: “NO! How could this happen?! I made sure it was structurally sound! How could my royal foundation just crumble?!”

He fake wailed into the ground at his loss as some of the kids laughed at him while others genuinely felt bad.

Petra knelt down towards him.

Petra: “Subaru, it’s okay… We can just make another one!”

She smiled, even though she was upset that her flower carvings that she worked so hard on were for nothing.

Subaru looked at her, smiled, and stood back up.

Subaru: “No… At times like these, it’s best to use your undying rage for something productive…”

He pat Petra’s head as she blinked.

Petra: “Productive?”

Subaru: “Listen up everyone, line up in front of me!”

Catching the attention of not just the kids but some of the local adults with his now booming voice, he smirked.

Subaru: “We’re gonna do radio calisthenics!”

——

Ram walked through the village, effortlessly carrying two barrels—one holding veggies and fruits, and the other packed with meat and spices, all stored in separate compartments within the barrels.

With her work done, she made her way back to Subaru.

Left alone with her thoughts, all she thought about was her sister’s obvious distaste for Emilia’s friends.

…

She frowned.

Ram: “I don’t understand, Rem…”

Her eyes narrowed as she kept thinking.

She brought Subaru to Arlam for three reasons.

First, if he’s now a butler, it’s good for him to get experience with the village, even if he isn’t the one acquiring resources.

Second, to keep him away from Rem. She hoped some timely distance would cool her off. She hid it well enough from Barusu, but as her sister, Ram could tell she was about to blow a fuse any second.

And finally… Third, to test him.

She never met Subaru before today, after all. She doesn’t know his character, and if Rem did, she wouldn’t say anything to her. Her sister’s distaste for him couldn’t be without reason, though.

So, she left him alone on purpose, and using her clairvoyance, she periodically checked on Subaru.

Instead of seeing him do anything suspicious, or just waiting alone at the village entrance like a lost child, she saw him… doing some strange dance routine with the children?

Some of the adults were in on it too…

…

Everyone had smiles on their faces.

A small smirk formed on her face before it instantly faded away.

Ram: “Stupid Barusu.”

——

Subaru: “Now, raise both arms in the air as far as you can, and shout with me: Victory!!!”

An ensemble of “Victory!”s followed after his shout.

Standing at the head of a crowd of children, he felt like a general training his little army.

Or, perhaps it’s more like the director of a play as a crowd formed around them all with mixed expressions that had one thing in common: curiosity.

Some of the adults even joined in…

Subaru: “Hah… It’s been a little while since I’ve done that.”

A prideful smile formed on his face as he gazed at the cheering children, some of whom were even rejoicing with their parents. It was a rather dramatic finish for just a stretch session.

Subaru: [Maybe I’ll take over this world with radio calisthenics… that might not be so bad. Emi would totally love it I bet! …Capella would probably say something like “This lady wouldn’t do something so appallingly pathetic!” Tch. As if she could understand the life changing divinity of radio calisthenics—!]

Subaru was stopped before going into a tangent with nothing but his thoughts by the sound of someone approaching him.

Subaru: “Aha! If it isn’t Ram-chi!”

Ram raised a brow in confusion.

Ram: “-chi? What were you doing, wiggling about like a headless chicken? And why were the villagers doing it with you?”

Subaru gasped, feigning offense.

Subaru: “For your information, that was radio calisthenics! A perfect start to your morning, evening, night, whatever! It gets your muscles loose and makes you feel like you can take on whatever dishes the world makes for you! Right guys?!”

The crowd of children that stood behind him like a bunch of minions all nodded in eager support.

Kid 1: “Yeah, Ram-chi!”

Kid 2: “Ram-chi-chi!”

Ram blinked at the children.

Ram: “Did Barusu tell you to call me that?”

Subaru: “Well, I felt like spreading some friendliness around…”

…

Kid 3: “Ram-chi-chi-chi!”

…

Ram sighed.

Ram: “I see you’ve greatly polluted the village’s future while I was gone.

Subaru recoiled.

Subaru: “Oi! That’s it, Ram. Bully me as much as you want, but I won’t stand for any slander against radio calisthenics! It’s kept me in tip-top shut-in shape! It’s been with me through thick and thin!“

Ram: “How idiotic and sad.”

Subaru: “—Ack! Well, I’m not the only one who thinks that way… I think it’s about time you get a taste of your own medicine, Ram-chi.”

Subaru turned to the kids.

Subaru: “Guys, bully her! Light her up!”

All the kids who’ve taken a liking to Subaru immediately complied, taking a deep breath.

Subaru smirked, waiting for the onslaught.

Kids: “Ram-chi-chi-chi-chi-chi—!”

Subaru: “Don’t just repeat the same thing! That’s not even an insult!”

Subaru sighed in defeat as Ram smirked.

Ram: “Well, if you’re done—no, whether you’re done or not, it’s time to head back to the mansion.”

She gracefully set the two barrels she carried under her arms down.

Subaru: “Ah, that’s right. You need my strength.”

He flexed his… pretty average biceps to emphasize his power.

Before he could approach the barrels though, a girl with a red ribbon tied in her reddish brown hair, Petra, tugged on his arm.

Petra: “U-Um… Subaru, are you leaving already?”

Subaru felt a little sad looking at her. He didn’t expect to get attached to all the kids in such a short time…

Subaru: “Sorry, but work calls! I’ll be sure to come by tomorrow, if that’s what you want. You had fun, didn’t you?”

Petra gazed at him before smiling.

Petra: “I did! Pretty please come back tomorrow!

Subaru chuckled at her eagerness before giving her a thumbs up.

Subaru: “You got it. I’ll be sure to stop by tomorrow!”

Petra’s smile brightened.

Petra: “I’ll go tell the others!”

She ran off to the other kids as Subaru watched.

…

Subaru: [Huh, I don’t see Meili anywhere…]

He glanced around the village in search of the timid girl, before shrugging.

Subaru: [Probably went home…]

Ram: “Barusu. Hurry up.”

Subaru walked towards the barrels and crouched to lift them.

Subaru: “Yeah, yeah…”

He lifted.

…

The barrels barely budged.

…

Alarm bells started going off in his head as he slowly turned to look at Ram, bewildered, and slightly frightened.

Subaru: “Ah… Ram-chi?”

Ram: “Hm?”

…

Subaru: “Just how strong are you?!”

——

Managing to hoist the two barrels beneath both of his arms with minimal help from Ram, Subaru followed her away from the village.

As he looked back, the village kids and their parents were waving at them.

Unable to wave, he just smiled.

Subaru: [At least I made a good impression.]

Subaru glanced at the trees as he walked on the trail before speaking up.

His eyes widened slightly in recognition as he passed by a tree with a glowing, green crystal.

…

Subaru: “Hey, what’re those cool little glowy crystals on the trees surrounding the village? I thought they were lights, but… they had regular torches over there.”

Ram glanced behind her before turning back to face the trail.

Ram: “Those crystals are Arlam’s barrier. The forest Arlam is built in is packed with mabeasts. Should that barrier fall, the whole village will be their meal.”

Subaru blinked twice.

Subaru: “Eh? W-Wait, really? Scary…”

Ram: “Indeed. So, don’t go wandering off like the idiot you are. We need those ingredients.”

Subaru deadpanned.

Subaru: “Wow, thanks for worrying about my wellbeing.”

Ram huffed in response.

…

Ram: “I see you’ve made some friends at the village, Barusu.”

Subaru raised a brow.

Subaru: “What’s with that tone? You sound like a mom picking her child up from school…”

He glanced back at the village one more time.

Subaru: “But, yeah. I like that place.”

…

Ram’s eyes narrowed.

She was conflicted.

…

Ram: “Where are you from, Barusu?”

…

Subaru: “Oh? What’s this, Nee-sama? Are you suddenly enthralled by my mysterious past—GAAH!”

He was interrupted with a swift kick in the shin.

Ram: “Answer the question, Barusu.”

Subaru: “W-What the hell?! You can’t just kick the guy who’s carrying your groceries in the shins!”

Ram: “You’re a butler now, yes? It’s your responsibility to handle threats that’ll hinder your work. You’re doing a terrible job at that.”

Subaru: “I’ve never heard of a butler that has to endure assaults from his colleagues…”

He sighed.

Subaru: “Alright, well, where I’m from? It’s… complicated.”

Ram narrows her eyes.

Ram: “How can your home be complicated? Is that only an excuse to not tell Ram, or perhaps, just like that freeloader, you’ve lost your memories as well—“

Subaru: “No, no! I’m fine, seriously! It’s just…”

Subaru paused for a moment as he remembered.

Remembered his home…

…

A somber glaze covered his eyes.

Subaru: “You probably won’t believe me.”

Ram: “Ram has seen plenty of unbelievable things. In fact, I’d say I’m pretty unbelievable myself… Try me.”

Subaru: “Way to persuade me while also hyping yourself up…”

He sighed.

Subaru: [Is there even a point in telling her? As far as I know, that place isn’t my home anymore…]

He glanced up as he saw the setting sun upon the distant mansion.

Subaru: [Home…]

He took a breath.

Subaru: “I’m from another world.”

…

Subaru immediately cringed internally as he realized how absurd and insane that sounded.

It didn’t help that Ram stopped walking, only to turn around and stare into his eyes.

Ram: “As in… from the Great Waterfall?”

Subaru: “I… I guess? If that’s what you call parallel worlds here…”

Subaru blinked.

…

Subaru: “H-Hey… don’t just stare at me! See, I told you you wouldn’t believe me!”

…

Subaru: “Wait… d-do you—?”

Ram: “For the first time, you were right. That’s absolutely unbelievable. Utter insanity, Ram might add.”

Subaru: “Oh, come on!”

Ram swiftly turned back around and continued through the trail.

Subaru just sighed again and followed after her, doing his best to keep the barrels under his arms.

…

A silence stood between them both before Ram spoke up.

Ram: “How did you get here?”

Subaru: “Eh? Oi, Ram-chi do you believe me or not? I’m getting mixed signals here…”

She only turned her head to stare at him as she walked, to which Subaru sighed once again.

Subaru: “I-I don’t know… I blinked and just… appeared here, I guess. There wasn’t even a truck or anything...”

Ram: “Truck?”

Subaru: “A-Aha… forget it. Forget I said anything.”

Ram didn’t respond as she turned her head back towards the trail.

Subaru felt somber, and Ram felt conflicted.

…

The rest of their walk was in silence.

——

Finally reaching the porch of the mansion, Subaru nearly collapsed, setting the barrels down.

Ram only stood in place and watched, not offering any aid whatsoever.

Subaru: “Oomph! Finally… I thought my arms were gonna fall off.”

Ram: “Unacceptable, Barusu. If this simple task tires you, your future here is looking very grim.”

Subaru: “Oh, shut it! Says the one who shoved her entire schedule onto me!”

Ram: “Ram told you. It’s so you can improve.”

Subaru: “Yeah, yeah—wait! Nuh uh! Last time I asked, you blatantly said it was so you and Rem would have less to do!”

A proud smirk was on her face.

Ram: “Exactly.”

…

Huh?

Subaru: “B-But you… …My brain hurts…”

Subaru just stared at Ram in confusion as she calmly approached the entrance doors and opened them.

Walking into the mansion, the first thing Subaru noticed was Rem standing in the middle of the room as if she was patiently waiting for their arrival.

The second thing he noticed was Capella, still in her robe, slouched forward on a chair twiddling her thumbs.

She looked… slightly nervous?

Hearing the door open, she sprang up from her seat.

Capella: “Finally! This lady’s been looking for you!”

Subaru: “Eh? Capella?!

Capella: “Look, this lady needs your help.”

Subaru was gonna retort with a complaint but as he looked at Capella’s face, he stopped.

She seemed serious.

A little desperate, even…

…

Subaru rubbed the back of his head.

Subaru: “Well, I would, but I… I still have some work to do, so…”

Subaru glanced back at Ram before she spoke.

Ram: “That’s fine, Barusu. Tending to guests is a skill you’ll need to learn as a butler as well…”

Subaru: “Eh? Really?”

Rem: “N-Nee-sama—“

Ram turned her head towards Rem as she tried to interject..

Rem appeared rather alarmed.

Ram: “Right, Rem? He needs as much experience as he can get, after all.”

Subaru: “Normally, I’d admire such a considerate attitude, but coming from you I can’t help but feel like that was an insult.”

Ram gazed into Rem’s eyes.

An inexplicable tense silence took hold for a moment.

Rem turned to Subaru with an unreadable expression that only Ram could barely decipher, and turned back to Ram.

Rem: “Right…”

…

Subaru threw a charismatic thumbs up towards Capella.

Subaru: “Alright, I got approval!”

Capella: “Good, come with me.”

Capella gripped Subaru’s wrist as he dragged him up the stairs and into the hallways.

Subaru: “O-Oi! Wait, Capella! You can’t just drag me like this! My arms are kinda sore, a-and this is really embarrassing for a man! A-Actually, how are you so strong—?!”

His incessant rambling faded off into the distance as they left Rem and Ram behind.

…

Ram: “Rem.”

Rem jolted slightly.

…

Ram sighed.

Ram: “Barusu got to know the villagers quite fast.”

…

Ram: “As far as I know, Barusu is a regular boy. Noisy, oblivious, and perverted. He’s done nothing wrong.”

…

Ram: “Capella hasn’t done anything while we were gone either, has she?”

…

Ram: “If you don’t tell me, I can’t know if they’ve done anything wrong.”

Rem blinked.

Ram: “Rem. Please.”

Rem smiled.

Rem: “It’s nothing, Nee-sama. It’s nothing to be worried about.”

Ram: “Then, why—“

Rem: “Rem is terribly sorry for worrying you, Nee-sama. She’ll go back to her duties.”

Rem turned away towards the stairs as Ram silently watched from behind.

Her footsteps echoed throughout the foyer.

…

It was like she wasn’t even trying to hide it anymore.

She just outright refused to tell her…

…

Ram grit her teeth as her fist clenched.

Ram: [Damn it…]

——

Subaru: “So! What do you need Butler Natsuki Subaru for!”

After being dragged into the middle of nowhere in the mansion, he struck his iconic glamorous pose. Stretching a finger towards the sky and twisting out his hips.

Capella: “Meatlia told me you can find the brat for this lady…”

Subaru: “That’s still an awful nickname, stop. Also …Beatrice?”

Capella: “M-hm. You have a high spirit affinity, don’t you?”

…

Subaru tilted his head.

Subaru: “A what?”

…

Capella: “Wh—Do you know anything about yourself, Meat Shield?!”

Subaru: “I-I don’t know! I just… I mean…”

Capella clutched her forehead, annoyed.

Capella: “Seriously. This lady is supposed to be the one with memory issues!”

Subaru: “Look, I’ve never interacted with a spirit before besides Puck and Beatrice, so…”

He sighed.

…

Subaru: [High spirit affinity, huh?]

…

He smiled.

Subaru: [So I do have something, don’t I?]

Subaru: “Alright, y-yeah. I can probably find Beatrice. I’m on a streak of two today, let’s make it three!”

Subaru marched past Capella as he walked down the hall, to which she started following shortly after.

Her gaze was on the floor as she followed behind.

Subaru: “What do you need Beatrice for, eh? I don’t know if I trust you with kids after Plum…”

Capella tilted her head.

Capella: “Isn’t the brat a spirit?”

Subaru: “Y-Yes, but… you didn’t even defend yourself…”

Subaru sighed.

Capella: “If you’ve seen her three times, she’s told you about her little library, yeah?”

Subaru: “Yeah, well… Ram explained it more, but—oh. Oh…”

The dots connected as he smirked.

Subaru: “The books, huh? You think she’ll have a log of you in there or something?”

She groaned.

Capella: “This lady wishes… It’s not the best chance, but maybe I could find something that could explain why Capella-chan’s memories are… like this…”

Subaru noticed Capella’s tone was a little more… solemn.

Very alien coming from her.

Subaru: “Yeah, that would be nice.”

…

Subaru: “You might have some trouble, though. Last time I asked her about the books, she threw me out. Though, maybe I was just being too annoying…”

…

Capella was silent for a little longer than expected.

Capella: “Is that so?”

Subaru: “Yeah.”

…

Subaru: “By the way, I’ve heard Beatrice call you ‘shameless girl.’ Just how bad of a first impression did you make?”

Capella blinked before putting her hands on her hips in an imposing, defensive manner.

Capella: “Bad first impressions aren’t possible with this lady. After all, you’re the one who insisted you have your tracksuit back…”

Subaru blinked.

Before getting into a laughing fit.

Subaru: “Pfft—haha! You met her in nothing but a bikini last night? That explains a lot! Not that far off character if you ask me!”

Capella, frustrated, clenched her hands into fists.

Capella: “It’s all your fault, Meat Shield!”

Subaru smirked.

Subaru: “Woah, woah. Don’t blame me! I thought you were unable to make a bad first impression… You said it yourself.”

Capella just clicked her tongue before walking behind him in silence.

…

It felt… a little unnatural.

Subaru raised a brow.

Subaru: “You okay?”

Capella: “This lady is anything but okay with how this brat keeps avoiding me!”

Subaru let out a small chuckle.

Subaru: “I’m gonna assume by the lack of a meat-based nickname, you don’t like her very much. Ah, she’s definitely here.”

Swiftly making a turn as if he was given a signal, he grabbed one of the repeating guest bedroom doors and opened it only to reveal the surreal library where none other than Beatrice stood.

Capella stopped in shock for a moment.

…

Subaru jetted out a finger towards her in triumph.

Subaru: “Loli spirit has been found once again!”

Beatrice only blinked at the two intruders standing in her doorway.

Beatrice: “I see you two have both combined together into quite the terrifying duo, and you still enter without knocking, I suppose?

Subaru: “Ah, sorry…”

Capella: “Thanks, Meat Shield.”

She spoke bluntly as she pushed past him into the library.

Subaru: “Right, n-no problem. You need some help—?”

Capella: “No, it’s fine.”

She spoke without facing him.

…

Subaru: “Yeah, okay. I’ll get back to work, then. I hope the plan goes well!”

He held out a thumbs up before shutting the door, leaving himself alone in the hallway.

…

Rem: “What plan?”

Or so he thought.

Subaru: “GAA-HAHA Ahem! Uh, R-Rem-chi! Don’t startle me like that! How long were you there?”

…

Rem: “Was Rem not supposed to be here?”

Subaru: “No, I just… You scared me!”

Rem stood in the hall, staring at him as the sun highlighted her through the window.

She innocently smiled.

Despite the angelic display, her stance felt threatening.

…

He could’ve sworn a cold breeze blew from her direction, and it chilled his soul.

…

A bead of sweat rolled down Subaru’s cheek.

Subaru: “Uh… I-I’ll get back to work! Sorry, Rem-chi!

Subaru ran past her down the hall.

As he passed her, she did everything in her power to not throw up on the spot, or destroy him.

She silently turned, watching him run off.

Her fists clenched as she made no attempt to hide her rage now that he was out of view.

——

…

Capella stood in the forbidden library, wordlessly staring at Beatrice.

Beatrice stared back, indifferent. Maybe a little peeved.

…

Beatrice: “So, despite Betty’s efforts, you’ve found me, I suppose.”

Capella didn’t speak.

Beatrice: “Have you anything to say to Betty?”

Capella stood still before taking a breath.

Capella: “This lady’s sorry about last night. It was late, and…”

Beatrice cut her off.

Beatrice: “What are you sorry for, in fact?”

Her surreal butterfly pupils glared at her.

…

Capella’s eye twitched.

All she wanted was to browse the library.

She really needed to browse the library. The fact that one petty demand for an apology stood in her way irked her.

…

Capella: “I’m sorry for… insulting you… and the library. It’s just… you provoked me, and—“

Beatrice: “You entered Betty’s room nearly naked, in fact. How could I not comment on that, I suppose?”

Capella: “I didn’t have any other—!”

Capella stopped herself.

…

She needs to calm down.

Capella: “Y-You’re right. This lady didn’t need to insult you.”

Beatrice’s expression didn’t change as her eyes still glared at Capella.

…

Silence was shared between them.

…

Beatrice didn't speak. She was waiting for Capella to say something.

Well, this was her chance.

…

Capella: “…Can I look through the library?”

Beatrice frowned harder.

Beatrice: “No, in fact.”

She turned her head back down at her lap, in which an open book laid.

…

Capella: “…Huh?”

Beatrice: “You heard Betty.”

…

Capella’s eye twitched again.

…

Capella: “Hey. Let me read a book, at least.”

She took a step towards Beatrice.

Beatrice: “Your anger won’t make Betty any more agreeable to you, I suppose.”

Capella’s hand twitched as her eyes narrowed.

Capella: “This lady wouldn’t be angry if you’d just humor me.”

Beatrice: “And why should I, I suppose?”

Capella: “Because I asked… didn’t I?”

Beatrice sighed.

Beatrice: “You did, and I refuse. Your apology was nothing but hollow words for your own benefit. If you’d treat Betty with basic respect at least, I’d be willing to grant your wish.”

…

Capella: “B-But, my me—“

Beatrice: “I heard at the table, shameless girl.”

She closed the book in her lap to finally look at Capella.

Her eyes pierced directly into hers.

Beatrice: “Your lost memories are of no concern to Betty, I suppose.”

…

Capella felt… something wrong.

Her heart was beating faster.

…

No…

Something was beating her heart faster.

It had a physical grip on her heart.

Her heartbeat was no longer hers.

With this, Capella clenched a fist before shouting.

Capella: “You? Basic respect?! Why would I treat a meat bag like you like anything more than a hindrance?!”

BA-DUM

Capella: “I haven’t seen you do anything worthy of this lovely lady’s respect! You’re nothing but a stuck-up meat slab who sits in her room all day for what?!”

BA-DUM

Capella: “The fact an idle sack of meat like you, decorated with useless accessories to make yourself desirable is asking me for an apology is abhorrent!”

BA-DUM

Capella: “Do you think you’re more desirable than me?! Me?! Kya-haha! Don’t act like you’re superior to this goddess, short stack. Meat bags like you don’t have the right to ask for love! Not one bit! It’s all for me! Me!”

BA-DUM

Capella: “The only thing you are is tolerable, since you do nothing but sit in here all… day…”

BA-DUM

Ba-dum

Ba-dum

ba-dum…

…

Capella blinked.

Capella: [H-Huh?]

Whatever had a physical grip on her heart let go.

…

Beatrice’s eyes were wide for a second, before she lowered her head and sighed.

Beatrice: “Alright. I see, I suppose…”

…

Capella: “W-What…”

She held her hand up, outstretched towards Capella

Capella: “Wait!”

The last thing she saw before her feet left the ground and everything became a blur was Beatrice’s expression.

Tears were in the corners of her eyes.

…She seemed…

Anguished.

——

Subaru was swiftly walking through the halls of the mansion, slightly nervous.

Subaru: [Oh man… Did I take too long? Rem didn’t look very happy… Being a butler is pretty strict, huh?]

He closed his eyes and took a breath.

Subaru: [Well, I refuse to give up. Especially on my first day—oof!]

Without warning, he bumped into a familiar figure around the corner.

Subaru: “Ah, s-sorry, Ros-chi!”

Roswaal: “-chi? I mu~st say, that’s qui~te the friendly way to refer to your bo~ss…”

Subaru stiffened in realization.

Subaru: “O-Oh! Right, um… s-sorry, Roswaal-sama…”

The honorific that left his mouth felt as artificial as possible.

It was gonna take him a long while to get used to the hierarchy in this world…

Roswaal: “Don’t be! I quite like your fami~liarity… It makes me won~der if we’ve met befo~re…”

His eyes narrowed as he gazed at Subaru with a wide smile. It was almost as if something was hiding behind it.

Roswaal: “You looked like you were in a ru~sh… Is everything ok~ay?”

Subaru: “I’m fine, just… I kinda ran into Rem and I think she’s upset at me for taking a short break, I guess…”

Roswaal: “Hm… Don’t worry too mu~ch, Rem and Ram take their work ve~ry passionately, considering how they’ve served me for ten ye~ars now…”

Subaru gawked.

Subaru: “Ten years?! Woah, I’m really sticking out like a sore thumb here…”

Roswaal chuckled.

Roswaal: “That’s fi~ne. You’ve only just sta~rted working here, ye~s? I wouldn’t want a new servant of mine to feel overwhelmed on his fi~rst day…”

Subaru blinked, before loosening his posture some.

At least Roswaal was chill.

Roswaal: “Speaking of which… what do you think m~y manor?”

Subaru: “Asking your own employee to review the company? You’re scrapin’ the barrel, man…”

He folded his arms and sighed with a smile.

Subaru: “But, I like it here, the place and the people. It’s awfully big, way bigger than any place I’ve been… Rem and Ram—ah… well, Rem is really efficient and hard-working, it’s honestly inspiring.”

Subaru glanced to the side.

Subaru: “Ram is… she means well, probably. That’s good enough!”

He turned to face the direction he came from.

Subaru: “I‘ve only talked to Beatrice about four times now… I’m really good at annoying her, though! I feel like we’ll get along well.”

Roswaal smiled.

Roswaal: “Hoho… you’re quite honest, I se~e. And what about Emilia-sama?”

Subaru: “Emi?”

Roswaal: “From what she's told me, you’ve met her yeste~rday. As her bene~factor I’d like to know how she’s behaved in the ca~pital.”

Subaru: “Behaved? You sound like her parent…”

Roswaal hummed.

Roswaal: “Well, she’s had qu~ite the… isolated upbringing, you see… On top of my support, I’ve been assisting her studies on the world, politics, etiquette, all so she’ll become a fi~ne ruler when the time comes…”

Subaru: “Really?”

Subaru glanced towards the floor.

Subaru: [You’re telling me she just joined the game and is expected to lead a whole country?]

His eyes softened.

Subaru: [That’s gotta be overwhelming… Meanwhile, I’m complaining over housework…]

He looked back up at Roswaal with a small hint of admiration.

Subaru: “You must really have a lot of faith in her if you’re going this far…”

Roswaal: “Y~es! After all, you’ve taken a lik~ing to her, haven’t y~ou?”

…

Subaru blinked before glancing at the floor.

He pictured her face. Those adorable eyes, those pointy ears, her flowing sliver hair, her voice as angelic as wind chimes…

Subaru: [Well… she’s pretty… Definitely my type…]

…

He started to blush.

Subaru: “Aha… well… I-I guess?”

Smiling, he looked up at the clown-attired lord.

Subaru: “You’re a weird guy, but you’re also pretty awesome, Ros-chi!”

Roswaal: “Hm-hm~… I’m glad you vi~ew me so! I su~re hope we get to know eachother we~ll, Natsuki Subaru-kun…”

Subaru: “For sure, man! I better get back to Ram before she kills me… By the way, Emilia was great in the capital!”

Roswaal watched as Subaru ran past him down the hall.

He could only smile as he continued in the other direction.

…

Turning another corner, however, he almost ran into another person.

Capella: “Eh? Oh, it’s you, Jester…

Capella spoke indifferently. She appeared tired with her hair slightly disheveled.

Roswaal: “My, my~! You two are most certa~inly a break from forma~lities!”

Capella: “…Two?”

Roswaal: “I just enco~untered my ne~w, rather energetic servant, Subaru-kun just a minute ago…”

Roswaal narrowed his eyes.

Roswaal: “In fact, he ju~st came from this direction. Might I ask what he and my este~emed guest were doing?”

Capella only blankly stared into Roswaal’s eyes before glancing to the side.

Roswaal: “You ar~en’t in any trouble. As the lord of this manor, I’d just like to kn~ow what my residents are up to~.”

Capella sighed.

Capella: “He helped me find Beatrice…”

Roswaal: “Beatrice, you say~?”

Capella: “I tried using the forbidden library to find out anything about my lost memories, but she threw me out.”

Roswaal: “My, how tro~ublesome! I’m te~rribly sorry to hear that.”

Capella didn’t respond.

Roswaal: “Be~atrice stays in the library ne~arly every day all day. As a spirit, she’s contracted to pro~tect it, after all.”

Capella: “…I know.”

Roswaal: “So you already know of her sta~tus? I see…”

Roswaal narrowed his eyes as his ever present smile rested on his face.

Roswaal: “Anywh~o, Her isolation has made her a tad fi~ckle when it comes to inte~ractions… I’m sure you can me~nd things with her tomo~rrow. If not, perha~ps I could help you. They’re my bo~oks as well, after all~.”

Capella only blinked.

Roswaal: “However, to get such an idea… Do you beli~eve your situation to be more than just amn~esia?”

Capella stiffened for a moment.

…

Capella: “…I’m not sure…”

Roswaal narrowed his eyes as he gazed down at her.

It was clear she wasn’t in the mood to talk.

…

Roswaal: “…Well, you mu~st be tired. Ho~pefully, I’ll see you at dinner, Capella-chan.”

With verbal resignation from Roswaal, Capella didn’t respond as she walked past him down the hall.

Roswaal silently watched as she walked off, clearly submerged in her own thoughts.

…

With no more eyes to pretend for, his smile fell flat as he briskly walked to his room, not far from where he stood.

There was one thing on his mind.

…

Shutting the door, he tensely approached his desk.

Opening a drawer, he pulled out an item that he cherished most. A rather thick book with a bland, unassuming symbol being the only decoration on its bleak, black cover.

Opening the book, he flipped through its mostly empty pages to where it documented the most relevant recent event.

Natsuki Subaru’s arrival.

…

He read the cryptic passage.

He flipped the page back and forth.

He read it again.

…

Again.

…

Not once.

Roswaal: [This girl… she’s never mentioned once in your guidance, Teacher…]

Natsuki Subaru, the boy he’s been waiting for, has finally blessed him with his arrival.

And here he comes along with an unaccounted, unknown variable.

…

They say they’ve only met yesterday, but they appear rather close.

…

Roswaal stared outside his window into the approaching night. His brows furrowed.

His gospel wasn’t very specific, no… It was quite cryptic with its guidance. It left decent crumbs for its user only for them to figure it all out sooner or later. It gave the surface-level how, but never the why.

But, still…

Roswaal: [I would imagine her to be mentioned at least once in some shape or form, so… why?]

He felt… stressed.

Just a little stressed.

He’s spent so long following his gospel to achieve his goal, and now for an unknown, potential obstacle to stand in his way…

After so many years of his gospel never leaving him in such darkness.

Roswaal: […Perhaps she poses no threat, and that’s why she’s not written… Yes, she’s merely collateral…]

That answer brought peace to him. It made sense.

…

Still…

Her association with Natsuki Subaru…

And, not to mention…

…

Golden hair, crimson red eyes.

…

Roswaal: [It’d be wise to keep an eye on her….]

…

He sighed before shutting the book and setting it back in the drawer.

——

Subaru: “Rem-chi! Does the table cloth go on like this?”

Rem: “…It’s upside down, Subaru-kun.”

Subaru: “…Eh?!”

Subaru stared wide-eyed at how he made such a blunder.

They were currently in the dining room. Setting up the table for dinner.

The doors to the room opened as Ram came in carrying a fancy pot with steam coming out of it.

She stared at the table cloth before staring at Rem and Subaru.

…

Ram: “Barusu. How do you manage this?”

Subaru: “I’m the first suspect?!”

Ram sighed.

Ram: “Even you should know how logical of an assumption that is. I understand you just started working for once in your life, but this is just sad…”

Subaru: “Come on, Ram-chi… Cut me some slack…”

Subaru whined as he frantically tried to fix the table cloth.

Ram: “The only thing I’m cutting is your pay.”

Subaru: “Eh?! Can you even do that?!”

Ram: “Would you like to find out?”

Subaru: “…N-No…”

She sat the pot down on the center of the table once Subaru finished fixing the cloth.

Wiping her brow, she smiled proudly.

Ram: “Well, Ram’s famous steamed tatoes are ready. Rem, Barusu, Could you grab the plates, utensils, and candles?”

Subaru: “So you just bring in a pot of food while we have to fetch everything else? And what do you even look so proud for?!”

Ram huffed.

Ram: “Rem, feel free to make Barusu carry everything.”

Rem: “Yes, Nee-sama.”

Instead of refuting, Subaru just sighed.

Subaru: “…I should stop talking…”

Ram: “A wise decision.”

…

Subaru approached the doors to leave the Dining Room with Rem following from behind.

Subaru: [Man, I’m hungry after all this work… Looks like I won’t have to wait too long, though.]

——

It was as if the world was against him…

Subaru stood, hands behind his back, standing as professionally as he could, though he stuck out like a sore thumb next to Ram and Rem.

His position was behind Roswaal. He was alone on his right side, and Ram and Rem stood together on his left.

Putting on as best of a smile as he could, he watched everyone else eat at the table.

He wished to be seated at the table with his own plate of food, but before he came back with the kitchenware…

{}{}{}{}{}{}

Rem: “We won’t be eating till afterwards.”

…

Subaru: “Eh?”

Rem: “We will be standing behind Roswaal-sama until dinner is finished.”

Subaru couldn’t believe what he was hearing. Neither could his stomach.

Subaru: “B-But… why?! I’ve been working so hard doing Ram-chi’s work! Shouldn’t I get a bite?!”

Subaru jetted out a finger towards her in denial.

Rem: “The lords and nobles get to eat first as that’s when the food is the freshest. Not to mention, as servants, we will be providing more servings when called for. This is how we function.”

…

{}{}{}{}{}{}

Subaru: [Would’ve been great if I wasn’t told that just minutes before dinner…]

His eyes twitched as he kept his stance.

Beatrice sat with Puck, enveloped in her own Bubby infested world. She tried to leave the table with Puck, but seeing that he wouldn’t leave with her, she begrudgingly stayed.

Emilia sat on the other side of the table, effortlessly dignified like the beauty she was.

Capella sat a seat away from her, silently eating, occasionally prodding at her food. Beatrice would always scowl at her if they ever met eyes.

…

It wasn’t a lively table, to say the least.

The dish of the day wasn’t anything special. Just as Ram said, it was steamed tatoes, along with some veggies on the side.

A rather unimpressive dish. At least to Subaru.

But, watching everyone else at the table eat, along with his increasingly agitated stomach, this looked like gourmet to him.

However, he had to stay in place. It was his duty.

…

Subaru: […Ugh…]

If he didn’t do anything his stomach would growl in front of everybody.

Sure, not his fault, but it’d be a pathetic display, which would be unacceptable in his position that he took so seriously.

Subaru sighed.

Subaru: “Yo, Ros-ch—R-Roswaal-sama…”

Subaru quickly corrected himself as he felt Ram’s glare on him.

Trying to figure out an excuse, he cleared his throat before speaking.

Subaru: “T-Three people standing behind you looks kinda asymmetrical, doesn’t it? I think I should step down and sit at the table, what do you think?”

He tried his best to sound professional as Rem glared at him, and was met with a rather uncomfortable silence.

…

Subaru: [Really? That’s the best excuse you could come up with? You dumbass!]

Emilia: “S-Subaru?”

Roswaal only laughed which didn’t really give Subaru a good feeling…

Roswaal: “Hoho~! If you’re that hu~ngry you just need to a~sk!”

Subaru slumped over.

Subaru: “Was I that obvious…?”

He then blinked before jumping back up in realization of what Roswaal implied.

Subaru: “W-Wait… so, can I—?”

Roswaal: “Of co~urse! Who am I to let my hard working servants sta~rve? Especi~ally on their first day~.

Subaru blinked as did Emilia. This was… rather unexpected?

Subaru: “…Thank you, Ros-chi! Seriously, you’re the best, dude! I’ll get some plates!”

He rushed out of the dining room with delight.

Roswaal: “Ram, Rem, you should sit with us as we~ll! Today is a spe~cial day, after all! We haven’t just gotten a new lasting guest, but a new butler as we~ll!”

Emilia chirped up after Roswaal.

Emilia: “Yeah, Ram, Rem! You should come sit with us!”

She was rather excited at the idea. She doesn’t even know if she’s seen them eat at the table before…

Roswaal smiled.

Roswaal: “You even have the enco~uragement from Emilia-sama~…”

Rem didn’t speak.

Ram straightened herself to respond.

Ram: “With all due respect, Roswaal-sama. It’s only right that I stay in my position, despite Barusu’s brashness.”

Roswaal: “Hmm~? Well, I beli~eve I heard Subaru-kun mention bri~nging plates, as in multiple… I beli~eve he exp~ects you two to sit with him, as do I~!”

Ram paused before glancing at Rem.

…

She huffed.

Ram: “I suppose Ram can take that offer.”

Rem: “N-Nee-sama—“

Ram: “Come, Rem. We got Roswaal-sama’s permission, after all…”

Ram narrowed her eyes towards her, as if she was begging her to sit.

…

Rem: “Alright.”

——

Subaru, feeling like some fancy waiter, sat down two plates of food for Ram and Rem before taking a seat himself between Capella and Emilia with his own plate of food.

He rubbed his hands together in hungry anticipation, grabbing his utensils.

Subaru: “Thanks for the meal, Nee-sama!”

Rem almost crushed her fork hearing him say “Nee-sama” again.

Emilia: “Subaru!”

Emilia beamed at him, finally speaking up at the table as it would’ve been quite rude to talk to him across the room before he sat down.

Emilia: “How was your first day?

Roswaal: “Inde~ed. I’m ra~ther curi~ous myself… How has your first day on the job be~en?”

Subaru folded his arms.

Subaru: “Well, if anything, it was definitely tiring. Dusting, washing, drying, brushing, peeling tatoes… I’ve learned quite a few things today…”

Ram: “Ram can vouch for that. You were an absolute mess today.”

Ram spoke bluntly, ending her statement by putting a chunk of tatoe in her mouth.

Subaru jetted out his fork, which had a slice of tatoe on it, towards Ram, who was across the table, in defense.

Subaru: “Oi! You practically gave me all your chores!”

Ram: “Of course. Ram had to teach you the ropes one way or another.”

Subaru: “Teach me the ropes my ass!”

Emilia blinked at the use of profanity… no, the fact there was shouting at the dinner table.

Puck: “Hey! Watch your mouth!”

Puck spoke sternly. His voice and appearance was still so cuddly and adorable, but Subaru would rather stay on his good side and not get a giant ice cube to the face.

Subaru: “S-Sorry.”

Beatrice: “Ignore him, Bubby. Eat this!”

Beatrice held a tatoe to Puck's mouth, to which he happily nommed on, eyeing Subaru.

He sighed.

Subaru: “If I had to say, Ram, it sounds like you’re just using me to get rid of your work!”

Subaru pulled back his fork and put it in his mouth as if he was a lawyer who just rested his case.

Ram: “Well, of course.”

…

Subaru: “Eh?”

Subaru blinked and swallowed at the blunt agreement.

Ram: “Ram can get off easier by lending her responsibilities to you, Barusu. Consequently, Rem also gets less work to do as she has to tend to my work sometimes as well. It’s a win-win. Why wouldn’t I take that?”

Subaru: “Y-Yeah, so… y-you…”

Subaru tried to respond, but he was a little shocked at the fact she so openly admitted it in front of everyone at the dining table.

Also, no one seemed to care.

Emilia: “That’s a little unfair, Ram, isn’t it?”

Except Emilia.

Subaru: “Thank you, Emi!”

Ram: “It’s strategic conditioning, Emilia-sama. By giving my work to Barusu, he’ll be shaped to a fine butler in no time.”

She spoke as if she didn’t even believe her own words.

…

Emilia: “O-Oh! Okay…”

Emilia smiled as she went back to her plate.

Subaru: “Don’t just agree! That’s obviously the least of her worries!”

Suddenly, Capella spoke out of nowhere.

Capella: “You make a good slave, Meat Shield. I’d do the same thing.”

Subaru slouched on the table as he buried his head under his arms, groaning.

Subaru: “Is anybody on my side…?”

Puck sighed, folding his arms together.

Puck: “You chose to work here yourself!”

Subaru: “Yeah, as a butler, not a slave!”

Roswaal: “It appe~ars you’ve been worked to the bo~ne, Subaru-kun~!”

Roswaal laughed.

Roswaal: “But, it cle~arly wasn’t for no~thing! I must say, the halls have been looking parti~cularly cleaner today!”

Before Subaru could thank him, Rem unexpectedly spoke up.

Rem: “That’s because Rem did it shortly after Subaru-kun, Roswaal-sama.”

Subaru blinked.

Subaru: “S-Seriously?! When?! What did I miss?!”

Rem: “While you were out at the village, Rem noticed multiple feisty spots of dust, so Rem took care of them. You might as well have not dusted, Subaru-kun.”

Ram proudly smiled.

Ram: “As expected of my sister. How diligent.”

Subaru, mouth agape, just slumped in his chair.

Roswaal: “My, my! How embar~rassing! It truly is your fi~rst day, isn’t it, Subaru-kun~?”

His eerie smile grew larger.

…

Subaru: [A-Am I useful? Even a little bit?]

The sound of reassuring, comforting silver bells chirped up next to him..

Emilia: “It’s okay, Subaru. You just have to keep trying, and don’t stop! Uh… Con-Consistency! Yeah, you need consistency! I believe in you!”

Emilia raised her fist in the air just like Subaru did with her in the morning.

Subaru looked at her with comically watery eyes.

Subaru: “Oh, Emi… You’re my only ally here!”

Roswaal hummed, amused.

Roswaal: “While we’re on the topic of consi~stency… Ho~w have your stu~dies been, Emilia-sama?”

Emilia: “Eh? O-Oh, it’s been going weeellll…”

She put a hand to her chin in thought.

Emilia: “I’ve learned more about Vollachia. It’s a rather scaaaarry place… So much war and brutality…”

Subaru folded his arms.

Subaru: “You talk like you’ve witnessed it yourself…”

Emilia shook her head.

Emilia: “Ah, besides that, I learned a little bit more about leadership and some history… I figured out why the royal family made a covenant with the Divine Dragon.”

Subaru: “Divine Dragon?”

Everyone looked at Subaru in confusion for a moment. Even Capella.

…

Roswaal: “…Ah~. Perhaps I should supply you with stu~dies as we~ll, Subaru-kun…”

Subaru shrunk back a little in embarrassment. What was he supposed to do? It was only his second day in this world after all…

Roswaal: “The Divine Dra—“

Suddenly, Emilia spoke up.

Emilia: “W-Wait, Roswaal-sama, may I tell Subaru?”

She had an unexpected gleam in her eyes, hoping for acceptance.

Roswaal: “…Go ahe~ad, Emilia-sama. Also, your sta~tus is above mi~ne. I’ve told you there’s no ne~ed for the forma~lity…”

Emilia ignored him and eagerly turned to Subaru with a proud smile.

She inhaled…

Emilia: “Back when the Vollachia Empire and Lugunica were at war, Farsale Lugunica, the 35th king, made a covenant with the Divine Dragon, Volcanica. The covenant was for Volcanica to protect Lugunica from scaaarry things, like Vollachia. In return, the royal family stays friends with Volcanica! That’s why Lugunica is called the Dragon Kingdom of Lugunica!”

She finished her speech with a prideful smile.

Subaru blinked, absorbing the information.

Subaru: “Woah, so… This dragon is like… this country’s deity or something?”

Emilia: “M-hm!”

Subaru: “But… isn’t the royal family dead? So, that covenant…”

Capella blinked, and shifted slightly in her seat.

Emilia: “That’s partially why there’s a Royal Selection. The next ruler can renew the covenant!”

Subaru blinked. Processing the info.

Subaru: “Huh.”

Emilia: “So, how did I do? Did I explain it well?”

Emilia looked around the table for approval.

Roswaal: “Quite we~ll, Emilia-sama. I’m gla~d to see you’re taking your studies se~riosuly…”

Puck started clapping his paws together.

Puck: “Wow! Great job, Lia! You really know your stuff!”

Ram: “Barusu’s getting a history lesson by a clueless girl. I’d expect no more.”

Subaru: “O-Oi!”

Subaru sighed before turning to Emilia, smirking.

Subaru: “You seemed really eager to tell me that…”

Emilia blushed for a moment, before looking away, flustered.

Emilia: “A-Ah, well…”

Puck spoke up before she could respond.

Puck: “You wanted to show off to a friend, didn’t you Lia?”

Emilia: “E-Eh?! Show off? N-No, I…”

Emilia rapidly waved her hands towards Puck in rejection, but Subaru cheekily elbowed her with a wry smile.

Subaru: “Aha… I didn’t know you were like that, Emi…”

Emilia: “I… I’m not! Showing off isn’t good. Only bad girls show off!”

Subaru blinked.

Subaru: “Bad girls? W-Whatever. I’m kinda impressed, anyways. Ros-chi told me about your situation, so your confidence is admirable. Thanks for the expo dump, Emi!”

Ram: “Barusu. Please refrain from referring to Roswaal-sama so casually. Even during pleasant gatherings like this, you are still his servant.”

Subaru: “Oh, come on… I told you I felt like spreading some friendliness around today, where’s the harm in that?”

Roswaal: “There’s none at a~ll. I quite li~ke that about you~…”

Subaru: “See! My charm wins every time.”

Ram huffed.

Ram: “First, the villagers, and now, Roswaal-sama. How many poor souls will you taint?”

Subaru: “I’m not some demon!”

Subaru sighed as Rem’s grip on her fork tightened.

Subaru: “Alright, Ram-chi. You keep teasing me, but is there anything I’m actually good at?”

Ram opened her mouth before closing it again.

She stared at him for a little while.

…

A little while longer.

…

A little whi—

Subaru: “Can you seriously not think of anything?!”

Ram: “Ram would rather not get a headache thinking too hard.”

Subaru: “I can’t be that bad! How good am I at washing dishes?”

Ram: “Horrible.”

Rem spoke up.

Rem: “Rem recalls you somehow burning yourself in the water—“

Subaru: “Okay, okay! W-What about my mopping skills?”

Ram: “You’ve slipped over yourself multiple times and kept walking where you cleaned, you were in an infinite loop like a dog chasing its tail.”

Capella started coughing just picturing that scene as Roswaal’s smile grew, while Emilia glanced at Subaru, concerned.

Roswaal: “Oh my~…”

Subaru stuttered as he tried to speak again.

Subaru: “A-Ah… There’s gotta be something… What about my peeling skills?”

Ram: “Half of the tatoes you peeled were unusable because your carelessness got your blood on them. As of now, your peeling skills are not just poor, they’re a hazard.”

Rem simply nodded to her sister’s words.

Puck: “Geez, Subaru…”

Puck sighed, rubbing the back of his head with one of his paws.

Even Beatrice spoke up, setting down the tatoe she held back on the plate in disgust.

Beatrice: “How revolting, I suppose.”

Subaru: “We obviously didn’t cook those ones!”

He sighed in defeat, but clung to hope one more time.

Subaru: “W-Wait! You said ‘as of now!’ Meaning, you believe I can get better, Ram-chi—?”

Ram: “My hopes are not high. Besides, only the present matters, and as of now, you’re an utter disaster.”

…

Subaru was shot down four times in a row in front of everyone. He’s never felt so embarrassed.

His head sunk low as he contemplated everything in his life, much to the amusement of everybody else.

Gazing at the waist of his uniform, he saw a familiar patch in his suit where a hole used to be.

…

Subaru: “…Okay, what about my sewing skills?”

Emilia: “Sewing skills?”

Ram blinked before sighing.

Ram: “Surprisingly, you are rather skilled at sewing. It’s unfortunate you can’t apply such a skill to any of your important duties…”

Subaru: “Sewing is important! How else would I have this uniform? What’re you gonna do if your uniform gets torn?”

Ram scoffed.

Ram: “Of course you’d want that. Pervert.”

…

Subaru: “Hah?!”

Emilia watched the bickering from her seat.

Then, she started giggling.

Before fully laughing out loud.

Emilia: “Hahahaha!”

Her laughing fit even brought a few tears to her eyes, which would’ve made her the center of attention if her unexpected laugh already didn’t.

Subaru: “Emi?”

Emilia: “Ha… E-Eh?”

She blinked, wiping a tear from her eye as she saw everyone looking at her with mixed expressions.

Emilia: “S-Sorry, everyone, I just… I’m reaallly happy right now!”

Subaru rubbed the back of his head.

Subaru: “While your smile definitely brightens the room, I’m not sure how I feel about that… Is my failure really that amusing?”

Emilia: “No, no! It’s just…”

She smiled.

Emilia: “It’s nothing…”

Subaru: “Y’know, when someone says ‘it’s nothing’ it’s way less comforting than you think!”

Emilia only laughed once more in response, to which Subaru sighed.

Ram: “Emilia-sama, it’s quite rude to laugh aloud at the dinner table. It’s especially unbecoming of your position.”

Emilia: “Ehhhh? But you two were just arguing!”

Conversations carried out across the table.

…

A small smile formed on Subaru’s face.

This moment… It was nice.

Despite nearly being strangers to Subaru, the atmosphere was warm like a comforting blanket.

…He felt a sense of belonging…

…

——

Dinner time was officially over and all who was left at the table was Subaru, Ram, and Rem. As expected, they’re all on cleaning duty.

Ram: “Barusu, I trust you’ll get the dishes washed tonight. Ram needs her beauty sleep now.”

Scratch that. Rem and Subaru are on cleaning duty.

Subaru: “Beauty sleep?! You keep worming out of everything!”

Rem: “Nee-sama is not a worm.”

Rem firmly spoke up from the other side of the table.

Subaru: “I-I didn’t say…”

Subaru just sighed and proceeded to collect the leftover dishes.

Earlier, Emilia wanted to wash her plate herself just to make Subaru’s workload a little easier, which he appreciated, but Ram insisted she leave it as “it would do no good to spoil Barusu.”

At this point he swore Ram was just giving him work out of spite.

…

Subaru: “W-Wait, did you say you trust me, earlier? That’s a first…”

Ram: “Of course, my lovely sister will be aiding you, after all.”

Subaru: “Yup, don’t know what I expected.”

Subaru deadpanned as he grabbed the last of the plates that remained on the table, turning to leave the Dining Room.

Ram suddenly spoke up.

Ram: “Despite your obvious lack of skill and talent, you’ve completed nearly all of your work. You’re rather committed, Barusu.”

Subaru responded without turning around.

Subaru: “Well, I kinda have to, yeah? I’m the one intruding here, so it’s only right I give it my all.”

Rem’s eyes narrowed.

Ram blinked before huffing.

Ram: “I suppose that’s a mindset Ram can admire.”

A stupid grin formed on Subaru’s face as he turned to face Ram.

Subaru: “Haha! Friendship points secured! I knew you liked me, Nee-sama—“

Ram: “Move your small legs before Ram makes you do more work.”

Subaru: “Roger that!”

Subaru darted out the door, with Rem following slowly behind, glancing back at her sister.

The door shut behind them, leaving nothing but silence in their wake.

…

Ram, now left alone in the Dining Hall, uncomfortably gripped her arm.

Ram: [Rem…]

——

Subaru stood alone, sleeves folded, with Rem in the kitchen.

Hot water flooded the sink as he washed dishes with Rem, forming a humble, two-person assembly line. Subaru washed, Rem dried.

The running of water and clinking of plates and utensils was the only source of sound between the two.

The silence wasn’t necessarily bad. It left room for Subaru to be alone with his thoughts.

Subaru: [Today was one hell of a ride. Seriously, butlers and maids have my respect now. They really live and breathe labor…]

He remembered his work, and exhaled in amusement.

Subaru: [Ram was right… I really am a mess, huh?]

He remembered the day.

He remembered dinner.

A soft smile rested on his face.

Subaru: [That was fun…]

Blankly staring at the dishes that he washed like a robot, he replayed the dinner table in his mind.

The bickering, the laughing…

Subaru turned to gaze at the ceiling in thought for a moment.

Subaru: [I… I can get used to this…]

He continued washing dishes silently.

Glancing to Rem, she saw her completely focused on the dishes he handed her. Each one she snatched, not offering a single glance back at him.

…

Subaru: “…A sponge would make things a little easier.”

…

Rem: “A sponge?”

Subaru: “Yeah, a… r-right, Medieval times…”

Subaru sighed.

Subaru: “It’s this little handheld rectangle that has a rough side and a soft side, it’s really good at absorbing water and cleaning off dishes.”

Rem blinked.

Rem: “Rem’s never heard of this… sponge.”

Subaru: “Yeah… you probably haven’t. It’s from my hometown.”

…

Silence took over them both again.

…

Subaru: “Hey… sorry…”

Rem stopped drying for a moment.

Subaru: “F-For having to deal with me, I mean. I’ll try to get better at my job…”

Rem didn’t respond.

…

Subaru: “You… really don’t talk a lot…”

Rem: “Rem doesn’t participate in pointless conversations.”

Subaru put a soaked hand over his heart in feigned offense.

Subaru: “Seriously? I’m getting all heartfelt with you and you call it pointless?! You’re rough!”

Rem didn’t respond.

…

Subaru sighed before slightly chuckling.

Subaru: “Heh, I can tell you have a soft side, though. The way you talk to Nee-sama…”

Unbeknownst to him, Rem clenched her fist.

He finished washing another plate and handed it to Rem.

Subaru: “I hope we can be friends.”

Rem didn’t respond.

…

Rem: “You’ve gotten better at washing dishes, Subaru-kun.”

…

Subaru smiled.

Subaru: “Huh. Guess so.”

——

It was officially the end of the day.

Subaru trudged through the halls towards his room, groaning, yearning to get back into his tracksuit.

He let out a yawn, stretching in the cold, open halls.

Subaru: “Man… is every day gonna be this tiring?”

He blinked as he glanced at through the windows he passed by.

Subaru: “If this were your typical isekai, I’d probably be doing some intermediate quest with my party by now, leveling up to defeat some demon king.”

He sighed.

Subaru: “Yet, so far, I haven’t even heard of any demon kings. Maybe this is just a really slow introduction arc…”

Through the night, he saw a few little specks of light illuminating the garden.

Subaru: “…Emi?”

Subaru scratched his head.

Subaru: “I wonder what she’s doing… Those are lesser spirits, I think…”

He shrugged to himself, turning back to the hall.

Subaru: “I guess I’ll go say goodnight to her in a bit. Capella, too…”

Subaru stopped for a moment.

Subaru: [Capella…]

He recalled the day once more.

Subaru: [She seemed a little… different today…]

He put a hand to his chin.

Subaru: [She barely talked at dinner, too. Is she okay?]

He stood in the hall, completely lost in thought.

…

Suddenly, he turned around and began walking in the other direction.

Subaru: [She was nowhere near as annoying as usual… I’ve only known her for about two days now, but…]

His brows furrowed in worry.

Subaru: “Tracksuit-chan can wait. I have a bad feeling…”

——

The mansion was quiet and static, it was a little creepy but felt strangely comforting at the same time.

Subaru’s steps slowed as he made his way to his desired destination. Capella’s room.

Her door, the exact same as all the others, was cracked open. A faint shine of moonlight illuminated the doorway.

Subaru: “Destination reached!”

He announced to nobody in particular as he approached the door, intending to knock.

However, he was interrupted by—

SQUISH

A wet, fleshy noise.

…

Subaru: [Huh?]

He paused right outside the door, confused.

SQUISH

…

He leaned to peek through the crack in the door.

All he saw was Capella, sat on the edge of her bed in her robe.

SQUISH

She was unnaturally slouched, her expression unreadable as her eyes glazed over with a… concerning emptiness.

The object of her attention, and the source of the revolting, fleshy sounds, was her hand.

She held out her hand in front of her as it morphed into various shapes.

From a small stump, to a skin tentacle, to a ball, it transformed over and over like a shapeshifter with bipolar disorder.

It was quite the show…

Subaru was stunned, just watching her from the crack in the door.

Subaru: [I… kinda forgot she could do that…]

…

SQUISH

…

Subaru: [Should I be watching this? This feels really weird…]

Subaru dragged his attention off of her formless hand and looked at her face.

…

Subaru: [Yeah, something’s definitely wrong, I’m going in.]

CREAK

Starting with a small creak, before thrusting the door fully open, Subaru announced his entrance.

Subaru: “Natsuki Subaru on the scene!”

Capella: “Ah! W-What?!”

Capella’s hand snapped back to its original, five-fingered, human form as Capella leaped up, startled.

As her eyes made contact with everything around her as if she was just waking up, she finally rested her gaze on the nuisance in her room.

Then, she pressed her lips into a thin line, her shoulders slouching down.

Capella: “Oh, it’s just you, Meat Shield…”

She spoke soft and bluntly, a clear difference from her usual loud, brash, narcissistic demeanor.

Subaru: “What’s with the disappointment?!”

Capella: “What’s with your intrusion?”

Subaru: “I just wanted to say good night to you, sheesh…”

Subaru waltzed in and sat on her bed.

Capella: “So, you break into this lady’s room, and then sit on her bed without asking? Capella-chan should hit you.”

Subaru: “Not sure if I wanna get hit by a tentacle for a hand…”

Capella’s eyes narrowed.

…

Capella: “How long were you watching?”

Subaru: “Eh? O-Oh, I…”

Capella smirked and leaned in towards his face.

Capella: “That’s naughty, Meat Shield…”

Subaru: “D-Don’t say that! You weren’t doing anything like that anyways! It’s just… I couldn’t take my eyes off of you, so…”

Capella: “Oh~? This lady’s beauty was too much for you to handle?”

She tried to cup his face with a hand but Subaru backed away, flustered.

Subaru: “Agh! You know what I mean!”

Capella giggled as she sat down next to him.

…

Subaru opened his mouth but struggled to say anything.

…

Capella: “What was it like being a slave?”

Subaru sighed.

Subaru: “Now that I think about it, I really did feel like a slave… Ram gave me nearly all of her tasks for the day.”

Capella: “This lady would do the same.”

Subaru: “Gee, thanks… I heard you the first time at dinner…”

Subaru leaned back in thought, before looking at his bandaged hand. Back from his peeling failures.

Subaru: “Well, you heard it from Ram didn’t you? I was a total mess…”

Capella: “This lady would like to hear it in detail, though~.”

Subaru chuckled.

Subaru: “Screw you.”

Capella: “You’d like to, wouldn’t you~?”

Subaru blinked before backing away from her, flustered.

Subaru: “Agh! Stop that! You keep making everything weird!”

Capella only chuckled as Subaru calmed down before sighing.

He held his hand up, which was bandaged from his tragic peeling attempts.

Capella held a hand to her mouth, stifling a laugh.

Capella: “Pft—! Meat hair wasn’t lying…”

Subaru: “Asshole…”

Subaru muttered under his breath.

Capella: “You’re fine... What kinda meat shield can’t take a few shallow cuts?”

Subaru clenched his bandaged hand into a fist with determination.

Subaru: “I swear… I’ve never been more motivated to learn to peel potatoes just out of spite. Give me a week and you’re all gonna be amazed at my skills, begging for forgiveness…”

Capella: “Po—tatoe?”

Subaru groaned even louder and threw his back onto the bed, muttering to himself.

Subaru: “Stupid world and its stupid names…”

Capella smiled at his expense, before taking a more serious look.

…

She blinked and took a breath.

Capella: “What about Blue Meat Hair?”

Subaru: “I hate that name so much…”

Subaru sighed, muttering under his breath, leaning back up.

Subaru: “Rem? What about her?”

Capella: “What was it like working with her?”

Capella gazed at Subaru, waiting for an answer.

Subaru: “Well… she’s really good at her job. Completely overshadows me…”

Subaru rubbed the back of his head.

Subaru: “She really doesn’t talk much. I think she just doesn’t like being around me… I guess it kinda makes sense.”

Capella raised a brow as Subaru continued.

Subaru: “Her and Ram have been working here for ten years, apparently… Ros-chi told me. I’d imagine they had a pretty good thing going till I showed up and threw it all off…”

Subaru gazed at the floor for a moment, but turned back to Capella with a smile.

Subaru: “Meh, they just need time, I bet. I’m sure in like a week they’ll fall for me and my supreme housekeeping skills!”

He held a stupid grin to which Capella bluntly responded.

Capella: “More like a century.”

His prideful stance shattered.

Subaru: “That’s a bit extreme don’t you think?!”

Capella chuckled.

…

Capella: “You surprised this lady, you know…”

Subaru: “Eh?”

Capella: “This morning. The last thing I expected was for you to ask for a job…”

Subaru groaned.

Subaru: “I know, I know… Becoming a guest, like you, would’ve been smarter. You don’t need to tell me that over and over…”

Capella: “You still didn’t change your answer, though. It’s not like you couldn’t take it back…”

Subaru glanced at Capella for a moment before answering.

Subaru: “…Well, I guess it’s just… I wanted to provide some use to everyone. They’re treating me so well, I’d feel bad if I just laid back and took it all…”

…

Capella’s gaze lasted on Subaru for a minute.

…

Subaru sighed.

Subaru: “Seriously, though… If I knew the sheer magnitude of work I’d have to do, I would’ve gone for something lighter if I could—“

Capella: “…You really are an idiot.”

Subaru: “Huh?!”

Capella: “Your insistence to help others. To repay them…”

Capella flicked Subaru on the forehead.

Capella: “You really don’t have a chunk of brainmeat in that meat dome of yours…”

Subaru: “I’d expect to be praised for that, not insulted…”

Capella exhaled with a smile before muttering under her breath.

Capella: “This lady’s glad she was wrong about you…”

Subaru heard it and made a mental note, however decided not to comment on it.

…

Silence took over the space between them once again.

…

This time, however, Subaru spoke up.

Subaru: “So, what have you been doing, esteemed guest?”

Subaru referred to her with a mocking tone.

Capella: “This lady’s been enjoying her new lifestyle so far. Meat hair made me tea once. It tasted horrible…”

Capella huffed.

Capella: “The fact she thought she could serve something like that to this dazzling lady is insulting.”

Subaru scoffed and spoke sarcastically.

Subaru: “Alright, princess…”

Capella: “At least you understand, Meat Shield.”

He blinked.

Subaru: “N-No, that was…”

He decided to drop it, sighing. She definitely knew he was being sarcastic… It just wasn’t worth the trouble.

Capella turned her head away from Subaru, looking blankly ahead.

Capella: “However, it’s been rather uneventful.”

She spoke rather somberly.

…

Subaru’s brows furrowed.

Subaru: “…How’s your memories?”

Capella’s breath hitched for a moment.

…

Subaru: “C-Capella?”

Capella: “Same as usual… T-This lady doesn’t remember anything.”

She choked on her words for a small moment.

Subaru frowned.

Subaru: [Something happened… I’m treading on something fragile here…]

…

As silence took over between them for the third time, Subaru gathered the courage to speak again.

Subaru: “H-How did your conversation with Beatrice go?”

…

Capella let out a subtle choking noise.

…

Subaru: “I-If you don’t wanna talk about it—“

Capella: "It went awful.”

Capella spoke, forming a small, sad smile.

Subaru didn’t respond, letting her continue.

Capella: “I suppose she just isn’t one to get along with such a… b-beautiful… lady…”

Capella’s lip quivered before she lowered her head.

…

Subaru: “…Capella…?”

…

Capella: “Meat Shield, why me?”

Subaru blinked.

Subaru: “Huh?”

Capella: “This lady… doesn’t get it…”

She turned her head back toward Subaru, teeth grit.

Capella: “Something… Something’s keeping my memories away from me!”

Her voice elevated, she was shouting.

Subaru was taken aback.

Capella: “I’ve been getting headaches. Some things felt like they should be familiar to me, like this lady should know them, but I don’t!”

She inhaled through her grinding teeth, her anger clearly evident.

Capella: “It’s like someone is actively holding my memories back! I just… I don’t understand!”

She gripped her head.

Capella: “When I talked to the brat today, something happened to me! I lost control! I-It was like something hiding inside me took control of me!”

She grit her teeth harder.

Capella: “Why?! Why do I not know anything about myself and only myself?!”

Her hand squeezed a fistful of her golden hair.

Capella: “This lady doesn’t understand! Who am I?! Why does Capella-chan talk like this?! Why do I think this way?! Why do I feel this way?! What did I do to get to this point?!”

Subaru tried to respond, but couldn’t. He watched and listened in stunned silence.

She held up a hand in front of her face, clenched firmly into a fist, and watched as it rippled into a mass of flesh with no form.

Subaru stared at it.

Capella grabbed her wrist with her other, regular hand, viciously shaking it around.

Capella: “What… What even is this?! Why can my body do this?!”

She shouted at Subaru, demanding an answer, only to be met with silence.

…

She slouched over, defeated, her transformed hand snapping back to normal as if nothing had happened.

Capella: “Why is it all hidden from me? I…”

Her voice quivered.

Capella: “I don’t even know how old I am… I’m not sure if I’ll ever know…”

…

She slowly turned to Subaru, tears threatening to fall from her entrancing, crimson red eyes.

Capella: “Who am I…? Who was I?”

…

Subaru: […Are you kidding me? T-This is what was happening?]

Capella stared into Subaru’s eyes as if she was waiting for an answer from him. Any answer. A blatant lie would suffice, and that broke his heart.

Subaru clenched his fist that rested on his leg.

Subaru: [She… She was suffering… Of course she was… Meanwhile, I was being an idiot, struggling to learn basic household tasks for what?]

Subaru guiltily bit his lip.

Subaru: [I… I even said I’d help her, didn’t I?]

Subaru closed his eyes for a moment.

Subaru: […No, I don’t have time to whine. She’s hurting…]

…

Subaru: [What do I even say?]

Subaru took a breath.

This current Capella was a far cry from the one he started getting used to.

To say it was jarring was an understatement.

…

Subaru: “I… I don’t know”

Capella’s eyes almost seemed like they started to droop.

Subaru: “I don’t know who you were…”

She opened her mouth just for it to heavily quiver. She was about to cry.

Subaru: “A-Ah! But… I know you now. A little, at least.”

Subaru rubbed the back of his head. Struggling to find the next thing to say, he sighed.

Subaru: “I’m sorry… Look, I… I’m not gonna say I understand your situation. I can’t imagine what it feels like…”

Subaru closed his eyes.

Subaru: “But, I said I’d help you.”

He opened his eyes with as much conviction as he could muster.

Subaru: “Whatever you think is holding your memories back, I’ll help you get rid of it, I swear.”

Capella: “…Why?”

She spoke softly, almost emptily. It could’ve been interpreted as a general question to the world for putting her in such a situation, but Subaru responded anyway.

Subaru: “…Because I want to.”

Capella’s mouth closed to a frown.

Subaru: “It must be terrifying… I might not be able to understand just how terrifying it is, but I can assure you that I’ll help you.”

…

Capella: “…But, why? You don’t even know me—”

Subaru: “Do I need to?”

Capella blinked.

Subaru: “Sure, I might’ve only known you for two days, but that has nothing to do with what I want to do for you.”

Subaru turned away, facing the wall, finding the next thing to say.

Subaru: “I think you’re pretty cool. Before Emilia saved us both, you kinda saved my ass back in that alley. I feel like that alone is enough to see what kind of person you were.”

Subaru smiled.

Subaru: “You’re a good person, Capella. That’s about all I know, but it’s enough to make me want to help you.”

In truth, Subaru did desire to help Capella. Despite barely knowing her, he couldn’t bear to just leave her in the dust with what she’s going through, and this current conversation just solidified that.

…

In the back of his mind, he knew some self-service was involved as well…

Whenever he talked to her, he didn’t feel… alone…

…

He was disgusted with himself.

…

A familiar silence began.

…

Until Capella held a small smile.

Capella: “Wow. You suck at comforting people…”

Subaru blinked.

Subaru: “H-Huh? That’s the first thing you say?”

Capella: “You see this lady in such an undignified manner, and all you do is throw a half-hearted promise to her?”

…

Subaru: “Half-hearted? It’s not! I wanna help you!”

Capella: “Your reasoning is so pathetic, though! You barely know me, and yet one, meager event is enough to make you a loyal dog to this lady!”

Subaru started getting mad.

Subaru: “Loyal dog?! I-I’m helping you by my own accord, Capell—!”

Subaru stopped himself as he finally took a look at Capella, and all his frustration disappeared.

She was giggling.

The tears in her eyes remained, unable to fall, but she giggled with genuine amusement.

…

Shortly later, her giggling died down, and she looked at Subaru with a small smile.

Capella: “You’re so stupid, Meat Shield.”

Subaru sighed.

Subaru: “What did I even do?”

Subaru rubbed the back of his head, unsure of what else to say.

Capella: “You were being you. You should fix that…”

…

Subaru: “Fix? Are you saying I’m a mistake?! What’s with the ruthlessness?! I’ve been nothing but kind to you since I walked in here!”

Capella pouted, putting her hands on her hips offensively.

Capella: “You’ve been quite rude to Capella-chan, actually. You just waltz into my room and try to butter this lady up? Do you think I can’t take care of myself?”

Subaru tried to speak up but was cut off by Capella placing a finger on his lips.

Capella: “Or, were you trying to get something from me~?”

She talked seductively in a quieter tone.

Subaru waved his hands frantically in rejection, before projecting a finger towards her.

Subaru: “Agh! Damn it! Stop accusing me! I don’t wanna hear it from you, you stupid, shameless, shorty, exhibitionist!”

He rapidly insulted her, flustered.

Capella smiled at him before turning away for a moment.

Subaru: [What… What the hell?! Wasn’t she about to cry seconds ago?!]

Subaru was currently having whiplash.

…

Subaru: [She… She is good at switching her demeanor in a heartbeat, isn’t she?]

He felt conflicted about that.

…

Capella took a subtly shaky breath, which Subaru, now paying closer attention, noticed, before she spoke again.

Capella: “When we got here this morning, I thought you’d ask for money or sex, Meat Shield…”

Subaru, flustered, stuttered back.

Subaru: “T-That’s a bit forward! I… U-Uhm…”

Capella cut him off with an amused exhale.

Capella: “But, I guess this lady was wrong. You’re stupid through and through…”

…

She then started to laugh.

…

Opposed to what she was displaying just a minute earlier, her face held nothing but unmistakable joy.

Subaru, still flustered, could only laugh a little with her.

…

And in that moment…

…

It was as if the world itself slowed down.

He watched as she laughed, finally wiping the lingering tears from her eyes.

When she stopped, she smiled, and then grinned.

…

Her alluring crimson red eyes gazed into his with a slight hint of admiration.

Her genuine grin was spread across her face, showing her yaeba.

He watched as she opened her mouth to speak.

…

Capella: “You really are a good guy, Meat Shield.”

…

The smile on her face was blinding.

There was a slight sadness behind it. Her worries… The stress of her situation wasn’t completely alleviated. Not at all. But for now…

She’s okay.

…

Then, a thought crossed Subaru’s mind.

It was a simple thought, nothing convoluted. Yet, it left a permanent mark on him.

…

Subaru: [I wanna protect that smile…]

…

Capella clapped her hands in Subaru’s face, catching his attention.

Subaru: “Eh?”

Capella: “Oi! Is my body that entrancing, Meat Shield~?”

Subaru blinked, then sighed before chuckling.

Subaru: “You wish.”

…

Subaru turned to face the window. It was as dark as it could get.

He sighed.

Subaru: “It’s pretty late… I haven’t talked to Emilia yet…”

…

Capella: “So, after all we did just now, you’re just gonna run off to another meat bag~?”

She spoke teasingly, but a flicker of sadness could be seen in her eyes.

Subaru: “Hey, you’re making me sound bad…”

…

Yet another silence was held between them.

Subaru felt awkward.

Despite how natural interacting with her felt, he didn’t know Capella very well, and now he’s gotten himself into such a vulnerable moment with her.

…

Subaru scratched his cheek, nervous.

Subaru: “W-Well… it’s late. If you’re doing okay now, then maybe you should get some sleep…”

Capella opened her mouth to reply, but stopped.

She glanced at the floor.

Capella: “…Sure.”

…

Subaru: [Yeah, she’s definitely not doing great.]

Despite how playful she was acting mere seconds ago, she became somber once again. Subaru was almost convinced that she was back to normal.

He frowned.

Subaru: [Well, she looks a little better, at least. That’s a start.]

…

Subaru silently stood up, and approached the door.

He wasn’t exactly sure how to leave. Should he just… not say anything?

…

He decided to say one last thing.

Subaru: “I’m, uh… probably not the best person who could help you…”

Capella looked up at him.

Subaru: “Sorry… I didn’t get to help you very much today, but tomorrow… I’ll help you as much as I can. I promise you…”

Capella stared at him for a moment before smiling.

Capella: “…Thanks.”

…

Subaru casually waved at her.

Subaru: “Good night, Cappy.”

…

Capella: “Cappy?”

Subaru blinked. He didn’t even really realize what he said until he said it.

He blushed, slightly embarrassed.

Subaru: “Ah, t-that… It’s uh… a nickname, I guess. We have one for Emilia, and I just kinda realized I didn’t give you one, so…”

…

Capella smiled cheekily.

Capella: “Cappy? Really? Your taste in nicknames is—“

Subaru: “Shut up!”

Subaru promptly interrupted her before shutting the door, flustered.

He stood there silently for a moment.

…

He then sighed, and turned to walk away.

——

Subaru walked through the mansion in silence.

He couldn’t think of anything but his conversation with Capella.

Subaru: […All this time…]

…

He still wasn’t sure what to make of it all.

There was… a lot. That’s for sure.

…

Capella’s nonchalant, narcissistic attitude made him overlook just how serious her situation was.

But now, he felt awful. He should’ve paid closer attention to her…

…

He sighed. All he knew was that the future was gonna be interesting to say the least.

…

“You’re a good guy, Meat Shield”

Those words echoed in his mind.

…

He exhaled with a hint of grim amusement.

Subaru: “If that makes her feel better…”

——

Subaru, exiting the mansion, felt the cool breeze immediately sweep across his skin.

He took a deep breath of the fresh air, gazing upon the yard in search of Emilia.

Thankfully, finding the half-elf was a piece of cake, thanks to the glowing lights that surrounded her like a divine aura.

Subaru: [Pretty…]

Running up to her, she didn’t notice him until he spoke up.

Subaru: “Yo, Emi!”

Emilia: “Eep!”

Emilia yelped, whipping around to face Subaru.

All of the little lights scattered away, leaving them in nothing but the soft, cold glow of the moon.

…

Subaru: “A-ah… were those spirits? Did I scare them off? I’m sorry—“

Emilia: “N-No, no! It’s fine, Subaru.”

Emilia smiled, despite his interruption.

Emilia: “In fact, I’m reaaallly glad you’re out here! I’ve been wanting to talk to you all day!”

Subaru’s eyes widened in surprise, before he held a smug smile.

Subaru: “Oh? You wanted to see me, Emi? You love me that bad~?”

Emilia’s cheeks flared red before she spoke back to him, a stuttering mess.

Emilia: “L-Love?! I don’t… Y-You dunderhead!”

Subaru: “I know, I know…”

Subaru laughed, rubbing the back of his head.

Subaru: “Capella wouldn’t stop teasing me and I could barely get her back, so I had to get someone…”

Emilia opened her mouth to speak, but stopped when she heard Capella’s name.

Emilia: “Capella, huh?”

She glanced at the ground, worried.

Emilia: “How’s Capella?”

Subaru blinked, before letting out a soft sigh.

Subaru: “You noticed too?”

Emilia nodded, frowning.

Emilia: “She was unuuusually quiet at the table tonight…”

Subaru took in her worried expression and sighed.

Subaru: “Well, it’s probably not my place to tell you, but she’s, uh… a little rattled about her memories, now…”

Emilia tilted her head

Emilia: “Rattled?”

Subaru: “I mean… it’s starting to get to her, y’know?”

Subaru turned up and faced the stars before continuing.

Subaru: “If I was in her situation, I’d probably be in the same state, if not, worse…”

He paused, deciding not to go into detail.

Emilia: “Is… is she okay?”

Subaru: “She’s kind of alright now. I talked to her a little bit, and I think my charm failed so badly that it somehow turned around and worked successfully in cheering her up.”

Subaru pressed his lips in annoyance as Emilia giggled

Emilia: “Hehe… Yeah, that sounds like you.”

Emilia turned away to look at the stars as well.

…

Emilia: “I feel really bad… Not knowing anything about yourself sounds scary…”

Emilia gazed somberly at the stars.

…

Emilia: “I’d like to help if there’s any way I can…”

Subaru turned to face Emilia and smiled.

Subaru: “Of course you would.”

Emilia: “Eh? What does that mean?”

Subaru grinned.

Subaru: “Nothing. Just remembering how kind you are.”

Emilia, blushed slightly as Subaru let out an amused sigh.

Subaru: “Anyways, I just came to say good night, but you said you wanted to talk to me, yeah? What can Butler Natsuki Subaru do for you?”

Subaru performed an awkward bow.

Emilia: “O-Oh, yes! Er… well, I’d rather just talk to Natsuki Subaru, please.”

Subaru: “Eh? Are you doubting my butler skills, Emi?! Of course you are… thanks to Ram-chi…”

Subaru clicked his tongue to which Emilia giggled.

Emilia: “It’s not that, dummy. I just wanted to talk to you. No favors, no requests. We’re friends, and thanks to my studies and your work, we haven’t talked allll day! That’s unacceptable!”

Emilia spoke with passion that made Subaru blush slightly, rubbing the back of his head.

Subaru: “Aha… well, I’m glad you take our friendship so seriously, Emi!”

Emilia blinked before shrinking back slightly, frowning.

Emilia: “E-Eh? Am I going too far?”

Subaru: “No, no! I find it really sweet, actually…”

Subaru held a sad smile.

Subaru: [Right… friends are new to her…]

Emilia immediately smiled again, reassured.

Emilia: “Ah, that’s good. Here, let’s sit!”

Emilia gracefully lowered herself to the ground, patting the grass next to her. Subaru, following her gesture, plopped himself down with absolutely zero grace.

He then took a quick look at himself in realization.

Subaru: “Uh, maybe I shouldn’t have laid on the grass in my uniform…”

Subaru’s uniform, as if it already wasn’t dirty from his sweat, got even more dirty from the grass.

Subaru: “Eh, whatever, too late now… I’ll just wash it tomorrow or something…”

Emilia chuckled.

Emilia: “I see you’ve gotten preeeetty comfortable in that uniform. It suits you.”

Subaru: “Really? I haven’t really worn a uniform ever since I stopped going to school… Good to know I still got it!”

Subaru smirked.

Emilia: “So… how was your first day?”

He then sighed.

Subaru: “Y’know, Capella asked me the exact same thing… Ram-chi pretty much laid it bare at the table. It didn’t go very well.”

Emilia frowned.

Emilia: “That can’t be true! Ram was over exaggerating... I wanna hear it from you! I’m sure you did great!”

Subaru: “Haha… While the support is definitely a nice change of pace, everything Ram said was kinda true. I still got a lot to learn.”

Subaru turned to look back at the stars.

Subaru: “I’ve been told I’ve gotten a little better at washing dishes, though.”

Emilia stared at him for a little bit before sighing.

Emilia: “…Well, I’m sure you’ll get better in no time. I believe in you, Subaru!”

Subaru smiled.

Subaru: “That means a lot, Emi. Thanks…”

…

A silence was held between them. Not an awkward one, a peaceful one.

Emilia began twiddling her thumbs lost in her own thoughts.

Before Subaru could ask what was wrong, she spoke up.

Emilia: “S-So, you realllly wanna work here?”

Subaru raised a brow.

Subaru: “That is what I said earlier. Is it that unbelievable?”

…

Emilia blinked.

…

Subaru: “What? Can I not do that? I’ve been second guessing myself enough… don’t look at me like that…”

Emilia: “Hehe… No, no. Just… you could’ve asked for anything.”

Subaru: “I guess, but what I wanted at that moment was what I truly wanted. I wanted to repay you all. Sure, becoming a guest probably would’ve been smarter, but… no use crying over spilt milk, I guess…”

Emilia blinked before tilting her head in confusion.

Emilia: “Eh? W-What spilt milk?”

Subaru: “Ah?”

Subaru stared at Emilia, bewildered, before laughing.

Subaru: “Aha—ahahaha!”

Emilia: “Subaru? What’s so funny?!”

Waving a dismissive hand at her, he spoke through his chuckles.

Subaru: “N-Nothing! Nothing, I just—haha… It’s a saying where I’m from.”

Emilia: “A saying?”

Subaru: “It just means that the past already happened, so there’s no use whining over it, basically.”

Emilia hummed in interest.

Subaru lifted up his bandaged hand, remembering the events of the day as he gazed at it.

His moments with Rem and Ram.

His small interactions with Emilia.

His recent conversation with Capella.

Emilia: “S-Subaru, your hand!”

Subaru glanced at Emilia, then back at his hand before laughing.

Subaru: “Haha! You seriously didn’t notice this at dinner?”

Emilia pouted, flustered.

Emilia: “It’s not funny, dummy! Here, I can heal it.”

Subaru gently pulled back his hand as Emilia tried to reach for it.

Subaru: “Ah… No, it’s fine.”

Emilia’s brows furrowed.

Emilia: “I can see very clearly that it’s not…”

Subaru: “No, no, like… I’m fine with it this way.”

Emilia: “Fine… with it?”

Subaru: “Yeah. It’s like… a reminder of everything I’ve done today. You know, I’ve never really peeled vegetables before till today, hence the bandages…”

…

Subaru: “What I’m trying to say is… learning something new? It’s not so bad.”

Emilia blinked for a moment before giggling.

Emilia: “Hehe… S-Subaru, you dunderhead…”

That smile…

Subaru: “Aw, come on, what’d I do now…”

Emilia: “Nothing… You’re just so strange…”

It’s so bright…

Subaru: “I’ll take that as a compliment!”

Yet…

It’s not as bright as Capella’s…

…

Emilia: “I’m so glad you two decided to stay… The mansion already feels so different with you both. I’ve never had a dinner like that before…”

Emilia felt giddy just thinking back to it all, before looking back at Subaru, worried.

Emilia: “A-Ah! I’m sorry! That was selfish of me…”

Subaru frowned, rubbing the back of his head.

Subaru: “Not at all. It’s only natural to wanna stick with your friends. If you think that’s selfish, then I must be more narcissistic than Capella.”

Emilia blinked as she smiled at Subaru’s reassurance.

She was really grateful for him.

…

Emilia: “I really wonder where you’re from… I’ve never met anyone like you before…”

Subaru paused for a moment.

…

A somber sensation washed over him as he recalled the faces of his parents.

Take care.

The last thing his mom got to say to him, and he didn’t even say goodbye.

…

Subaru lowered his head slightly and looked back towards Emilia, fighting back a swirl of emotions.

After all, there’s no use crying over spilt milk.

…

Subaru: “Tell you what. Tomorrow, I can tell you and Capella a little bit about my home town.”

Emilia: “Really? It’s a promise?”

Subaru: “It’s a promise. I’m kinda flattered at how curious you are…”

Subaru yawned.

Emilia blinked before glancing away.

Emilia: “Maayyybe we should go to bed, then…”

She spoke in a softer tone, feigning fatigue.

Subaru: “…And suddenly you wanna turn in? Weren’t you busy talking to the spirits or something?”

Emilia nervously glanced away.

…

Subaru: “You just wanna hear about my mysterious origins, don’t you?”

Emilia: “N-No… I just think sleep would be good for you! It’s healthy!”

Emilia immediately defended herself, which ironically made her drop the fatigued act. Subaru got up and stretched, chuckling.

Subaru: “Ahh… Well, I can’t deny that.”

…

Once Subaru stood up, he finally realized just how tired he was.

Subaru: “Alright, well, I guess I’ll see you tomorrow, Emi.”

Emilia: “Hehe… Good night, Subaru! I’m gonna stay out here for a little longer.”

He waved back behind him as he approached the mansion’s entrance.

Subaru: “Good night…”

Emilia smiled.

Emilia: “O-Oh! Could you tell Capella I said goodnight too?”

Subaru blinked before sighing and giving her a thumbs up.

Subaru: “She’s probably already asleep, but I’ll do that.”

Emilia watched as Subaru waddled back into the mansion.

She smiled before returning to the spirits.

——

Basking back in the enclosed warmth of the mansion’s halls, Subaru trudged past the repeating doors, eyes heavy.

…

The day replayed through his head as he had nothing better to do.

…

He remembered how Emilia looked in the moonlight.

Her flowing, silver hair. Her glowing, amethyst eyes.

Those cute elf ears, her adorable voice, her entrancing bod—

Subaru: [N-No, Subaru! Perish these thoughts!]

Emilia was absolutely his type. He was undeniably attracted to her, something he only truly realized tonight.

Her smile was bright like the sun, yet not harsh to look at at all.

However, his mind consequently wandered to Capella’s smile.

…

Why was he drawn to hers so much more?

Was it because he saw her sad? Is that it?

…

When he saw her nearly crying, it felt so wrong to him.

He felt like he had to fix it.

He must fix it.

…

He sighed.

Subaru: “I’m probably just being stupid… Anyone would feel the same way.”

He blinked as his eyes started getting heavy.

Subaru: “Man, I’m too tired to think about this…”

…

Embracing the silence, he continued dragging himself until he made it to Capella’s room.

Knock Knock

Subaru: “Yo. Emilia says goodnight.”

…

No answer.

…

Subaru: [Yup, she’s asleep. I’m just gonna go to bed…]

He turned around but was stopped when a concerning sound reached his ears.

Drip

Subaru: “Eh?”

…

Drip

Subaru turned back towards the door, curious as to what the source of the sound was.

…

He must’ve been really tired, as that's when he finally noticed the door wasn’t completely shut.

…

Both that, and a strange, black substance, stuck to the door, was dripping on the floor. It was the source of the ominous sound.

Subaru: “The hell?”

He approached the door again, analyzing the mysterious substance.

At first, he thought his eyes were playing tricks on him in the darkness of the night, but upon closer inspection, it was, in fact, black.

Well, it was more… black-ish purple?

…

Subaru thought about getting closer to inspect it, maybe even touching it, but ultimately decided against it as… the smell…

It smelled… familiar.

A metallic, pungent odor came from it.

…

Blood. It was blood.

It dripped onto the door knob, and slipped off onto the carpet below.

He couldn’t forget that scent. It was all he could smell back at the loot hou—

No. He wanted to forget. That didn’t happen.

…

Maybe… maybe it’s not blood?

He must be mistaken. Whose blood looks like that, anyways?

…

…

…

He felt a harsh coldness wash over his body, just like the chilling breeze from back then…

He was scared.

It was just like the loot—

Subaru: [NO!]

Beyond that door, was something he didn’t want to see—

Subaru: [NO! SHE’S FINE! I JUST TALKED TO HER!]

He clutched his head.

Subaru: [SHE’S OKAY, EMILIA’S OKAY, I’M OKAY. EVERYONE IS ALIVE.]

…

[Then why won’t I open the door?]

…

At that very moment, Subaru grabbed the door knob with his bandaged right hand, making contact with the rather viscous substance he refused to accept as blood.

SQUISH

He threw open the door, and…

Subaru: “CAPELL—a…”

…

His breath hitched.

Capella’s headless corpse laid cold on the bed.

Black blood splattered the walls like a fresh coat of paint, while chunks of flesh made the finishing touch.

Her body was undeniably battered and broken, as if she clashed against an unstoppable force.

The room was a mess. Broken bed, broken floorboards, the wall looked ready to crumble.

…

Subaru fell to his knees.

He didn’t know how to comprehend the sight. He couldn’t know. He didn’t understand.

Subaru: [This… this isn’t…]

He forgot how to breathe properly.

No, he forgot how to breathe at all.

Subaru: [This isn’t… right…]

He wanted to look away, but couldn’t muster the strength. His eyes could only gaze upon her headless body that laid as limp as a rag.

…

Subaru: “A-Ah…”

He made a pitiful noise both out of sorrow and pain.

His right hand stung, but he ignored it.

Subaru: “C-Capella, I…”

His right hand felt weird.

Subaru: “I… I p-promised…”

Tears began falling down his cheeks.

Subaru: “D-Didn’t I… didn’t I promise—ah… A-Ah! AGH!”

His mourning was cruelly interrupted by his right hand. The stinging pain quickly evolved to a throbbing, aching pain.

Subaru: “Agh! Hck! Nagh!!”

Finally being able to pry his gaze away from Capella’s body, he clutched his right hand with his left in concentrated agony.

It felt like his hand was on fire.

Subaru: “F-Fuck!”

He observed in horror as its veins unnaturally pulsed and its color fade to a rotten looking black.

The bandages tore off as his hand trembled and throbbed unnaturally.

Tears continued streaming down his face. He didn’t know how to compute the situation. All he could think was:

Capella’s dead. Hand hurts.

As his hand only continued to pulse and throb in agony, Subaru heard one more thing that sent chills down his spine.

???: “Disgusting.”

A woman’s voice spoke from behind him.

Just like the loot house…

Fear took over every feeling in his body, even the pain.

He turned his head around as fast as he could, but was only met with the rapidly approaching silhouette of a spiked sphere, accompanied with the sound of chains.

The silhouette quickly took over his peripheral vision, encompassing his world in darkness.

…

And in that moment, his head was obliterated.

Natsuki Subaru died that night.