Chapter 2: Return to Sender

Subaru and Beatrice watched in awe as they starred the gray haired boy twisting himself around in his work. What is more incredible is that the boy did not notice the two walking closer to him, at a steady rhythm as Subaru and Beatrice connected their footsteps as their heartbeats. It is almost shocking on how far the two have already grown in the past week. The first day was tough, the first week was trivial.

[Subaru] Hey Otto, what are you doing over there? You need some help with-OTTO!

Regardless if Subaru wanted to help the poor fool, a short orange haired girl came rushing out of a doorway. She immediately collided with Otto and fell to the ground, sobbing in tears as Otto fell to one knee after being slammed by the door.

[?] Oww-owwie! Ottoto-san! Watch where you are going… ow-owwwieee!

[Otto] What do you mean watch where I'm going? You caused this, Petra-sama!

[Petra] I… I… Oh! Do you need any help?! I'll help you pick up those papers!

[Otto] Nah… It's fine. I got it, Petra-sama. Just make sure you watch where you're going. I don't want something like this to happen to Garfiel of all people, you know?

[Petra] Garfiel-sama is a nice person! There is no way he would do that, right Subaru?

[Otto] Subaru..?

Subaru and Beatrice continued to hold hands as the scene played out. Both of them noticed that Otto completely ignored the warning before the accident occured. It was then the moment Otto looked at Subaru that they finally realized why it was so.

[Subaru] Garfiel has grown a lot from a week ago, but he might still have a temper once in a while. An unprovoked attack such as that might drive anyone into a frenzy. I would be glad that you did this to someone as weak as Otto, one who couldn't counter attack.

[Otto] Are you kidding me right now?! Whose side are you even on anymore?!

[Petra] I guess you're right, Subaru! I guess I was lucky running into the weakest Ottoto-san! EEEPPPP! No time to talk anymore! I need to go-uh-that-a-ways!

Petra immediately flees down the hallway and out of sight of the trio of friends. Subaru and Beatrice then help Otto retrieve the papers that fell from his black folder.

[Otto] You guys really didn't have to help with this you know. I could have done it my-

[Subaru] Nonsense. Remember when you punched me for trying everything myself?

[Otto] ...I… I guess you have a fair point. It would be hypocritical of me to say other-

[Beatrice] It appears that someone is coming closer, I suppose. I sense anger in them.

Subaru could tell that his grip with Beatrice was becoming tighter by the second as the two continued to conversate. But as soon as he was about to comment on that, Beatrice had opened her lips and broadcasted those words to him and Otto. Subaru looked into the doorway that Petra had rushed out of and saw another smaller hallway.

Living in this mansion for the past week, Subaru could tell that this hallway led to the Dining Hall where he seemingly thought Petra was supposed to be at this time of hour. It was only four hours past noon, a prime time to get ready for supper preparations. As he scanned his eyes further into the hallway, he saw a shadow of someone rather tall, almost in similar height to the boy on his side that twitched his shoulders around. All three of them knew who this shadow belonged to and it was-

[?] You know what happens when you do something unforgivable, Petra! You need-

The voice of a feminie figure echoed through the hallway, absorbing into the trio's ear space. Her voice could crush boulders if one was caught off guard, and her tone carried more motion that the worst tsunami Subaru has ever heard back from Japan.

[Otto] Here she comes! Everyone get on your guard! She really looks as if she's mad!

Beatrice and Subaru continued to hold hands and both of their faces matched Otto's. The voice from within the hallway called out once more, directing their attention to the black haired boy who held hands with a child. Footsteps rapidly approached and gained traction as the woman made haste to the three; her maid uniform moved rapidly.

[?] Have you three seen Petra?! I've been looking all over for her for an HOUR now!

[Beatrice] If you wish to see the girl, you're going to have to ask Otto, I suppose.

Subaru thought of making a joke to throw Otto under the bus, but after hearing Beatrice's quick witted response, all he could think about was how proud he was of her.

[?] So you HAVE seen her?! Where did she run off to, Otto? Please help me! Please!

[Otto] I… EVERYONE ALWAYS PUTS ME IN TERRIBLE SITUATIONS! Why do you need Petra's attention, Frederica-sama? What did she do so badly that you demand it?

[Frederica] She used the wrong type of oil when cooking and ruined all of the food prep!

[Otto] ...What do you mean wrong type of oil? Fre-Frederica… What type of oil did-

[Frederica] She used YOUR oil, Otto! She mistakenly used your precious cargo oil!

Otto turned around at those bone chilling words and pointed to the hallway he saw Petra run off to mere moments ago with hesitation. He only recently got a new supply after bartering with the local communities near the Miload Estate. Otto could not fathom losing another money pot such as his oil, and rightfully so, sold out Petra to her.

[Subaru] Wow… I can't believe you would sell out a child that quick, Otto-sama!

[Otto] Don't. You. Dare. You do realize that the oil Petra used-oh bye, Frederica-the oil was bought using borrowed capital from Annerose. She even included… interest…

Before Otto could even turn around after pointing, he sees the silhouette of the fanged teeth maid sweep past him. After giving her a one-sided farewell, he motioned for the two to follow him down the hallway that led into the Dinning Hall. Without thinking much thought into it, both Subaru and Beatrice agreed to it, interrupting one another.

[Subaru] Sure, why not?

[Beatrice] Alright, I suppose.

The duo gave each other a wry smile and followed the hopeless boy down the hallway. Across the walls showcased people who had positional power in this Estate. There were many unfamiliar faces that lined the similarly colored walls that reminded Subaru from back when Roswall still had his own Estate; the same Estate that was burned down because of Otto's expensive oil. History sure does repeat itself, right?

[Subaru] But history is destined to change as long as there is a will to change it.

[Otto] Hmm? What are you mumbling back there? Oh… the paintings here, right

[Beatrice] Subaru was simply talking to himself again, I suppose. Sho-Sho.

[Otto] You don't have to use your hand to wave me off like that, Beatrice-sama…

The three made it to the end of the hallway and noticed the door Frederica had opened, before sprinting down the same hallway and into an unknown territory Otto had pointed to a minute ago, was presenting them all with an alluring smell resonating from the kitchen area. However, Otto could only think about how much oil of his was wasted.

Subaru's eyes adjusted to the brightly lit room that had a large white table with purple linen dominating over its surface. Platitudes of dinnerware were neatly positioned on the table with many empty prerequisites such mood lighting and cushions rested on the sturdy handcrafted chairs that were happily tucked into the table, wishing someone would finally rest their bottom and feel the embrace of the quality of the fabric it shouts.

[Beatrice] Are you ignoring me, I suppose? What is going on with you, Subaru?

[Subaru] Huh? Oh… I was lost in my thoughts again. I… What did you say, Beako?

[Beatrice] Ugh… making me repeat myself, in fact. Look to your right, I suppose.

Subaru accepted her terms and followed her command. His eyes became bewildered as he saw Otto hunched over on the ground with his hands on his head. Beatrice motioned her free hand to make Subaru move his feet, and they both went to investigate what had happened to the one who secretly ran this mansion's finances.

[Otto] ...All of it… Even though there wasn't much to begin with… All of it is ruined…"

[Subaru] ...So, Otto… Um… Like how bad is bad when you say that 'it's all ruined'?

[Otto] Do… Do you honestly not know what is planned for tonight? Did Ram tell you?

[Subaru] Ram? Come on now. You know too well she won't tell me anything important.

[Otto] -Tsk! I… I don't know what to do. I don't know what to do. I don't know what to-

[Subaru] Do you want some help? I may mess around at times, but you are my friend.

[Beatrice] ...I will also help you to get you out of that pitiful mood, I suppose. Stand up.

[Otto] We are having guests in a few hours… These guests are fellow merchants you-

[Subaru] And these merchants had some sort of deal lined out with that… Oh… I see…

[Otto] Now you get my predicament! I can't be allowed to blunder this opportunity, okay?

[Beatrice] Is any of what you are attempting to collect salvable? Could we try diluting it, I suppose? Maybe if we could substitute the oil for another it could possible work, I-

[Otto] Impossible. I am not that type of merchant. I do NOT cheat my customers at all!

[Subaru] No, no, hear her out Otto. She might be onto something if you give her a mo-

[Otto] Just as you were on to something when you tried to kill a Guiltylowe using DUST?

[Subaru] Oh come on! If the circumstances were proper, the thing would have caught-

[Beatrice] Killing… A Guiltylowe using dust… That's a first for me, I suppose. ...If you don't want to substitute anything, then your only option is to tell them the truth, in fact.

Otto did not like hearing his only two options being told so harshly to him. From the minute of going back and forth conversating, Otto had managed to retrieve around half a hand sized jug's worth of precious oil, roughly thirty percent from what he bought.

[Beatrice] Your bags on your eyes make even me worried about you, merchant boy.

[Otto] ...Bags… Around the eyes… Wait, WAIT ON A SECOND! I GOT AN IDEA!

[Subaru] You know your last idea with oil caused a whole mansion to burn down, right?

[Otto] Oh come on! If I didn't do that the Guiltylowe would have killed… wait a minute.

[Beatrice] You two fools begin, continue, and finish each other's sentences, in fact.

[Subaru] But regardless of OUR last transgressions, what is this plan of yours, Otto?

Otto gave a wide smile as his eyes finally breathed in some happiness for once.

[Otto] Well… if you will… This plan will only work with the assistance of Emilia-sama.