Rem and Subaru were back at school after their week long trip to Lugnica. Things went back into their normal day to day routine. Lately the weather started to get colder. Each morning felt like the temperature was dwindling down further and further.
The season of winter was coming close, unfortunately Rem wasn't prepared. Subaru had yet to go out and get her some winter clothing. Everytime he told himself that he would get around to bring her to the mall on a particular day, he would always end up procrastinating.
Rem didn't seem too bothered yet by the cold weather. But that could soon change when the snow eventually came down. She only had sweaters to keep herself warm, and that seemed to be holding her over everyday Subaru didn't know if Rem was just built differently and could take the cold, or she just never complained.
On this particular afternoon, Rem and Subaru were in their English class. It was the start of a new unit, and Subaru nearly slammed his head on the desk when he heard that they would be going over an old English play.
Students would be handed a study book of the play of which they could take home and use to study until they finished the unit. Every class they would read over the entire play from act 1 all the way to act 5. The teacher was hoping to read over one scene each class. Then after that act is finished, do a test on it.
Luckily students weren't going to be asked to act out the play. They just had to sit at their desks and read out the dialog from the book they were given of a character of their choosing.
At the front of the class the teacher had up a giant sheet of papers with all the characters' names. Students got to choose a character they liked and speak out their lines to the class. Even though this was optional, the teachers wanted some participation.
There were three types of characters. Characters written at the top in black marker were main characters that spoke often. They had the most lines out of any other characters. The characters in the middle that were written in green marker were side characters. That only really had a lot of lines during a specific act of the play. Then at the bottom were fringe characters that didn't even have a name like, the clown, officers, porter, harold, and senators 1 2 and 3. These characters only had one or seven lines at most.
The teacher knew students were not going to be keen on voluntarily picking main characters that talked a lot. Mainly because the play they were reading was in a different language and they didn't want to embarrass themselves. But he also didn't want to force students to read out loud in a language they were uncomfortable speaking in.
So he came up with a solution, giving bonus marks to whoever read out loud a character's lines. The characters in black received the most bonus marks, and the characters in purple received the least. Even though they only spoke one or seven lines, they deserved some credit for actually voicing a character.
The second Rem heard the word bonus marks she immediately wanted to voice a character written in black. She also wanted Subaru to play a character since she wanted him to get bonus marks as well.
"Now do we have a volunteer who would want to play the main character, Macbeth?" The teacher asked the class. His response was crickets as nobody put their hand up to volunteer. Even as the many seconds went by. "Alright then, I guess we will come back to that. Now does anyone want to play his wife, Lady Macbeth?"
Rem immediately shot her hand up in the air, claiming the character for herself.
"Ah Rem, do you want to play Lady Macbeth?" The teacher asked.
".. Y-Yes, Rem wants to play… Lady Macbeth" Rem responded somewhat nervously.
"Very well then. Excellent choice. She is the wife of the main character and is essential to the story's plot early on" The teacher said as he wrote Rems name down in black marker next to the character she chose.
After that the teacher answered to another student who had their hand up. Asking him what character he wanted to play.
"Are the senators only involved in political roles?' The students asked curiously.
"Uhhh, yeah…"
The students' faces lit up. "Oh, in that case I will be all of them"
The teacher put on a weird look but put the students name down next to all three senators like he requested. "I guess you'll have to do different voices for each of them"
The list on the board slowly but surely got filled up with students' names that willingly or sometimes reluctantly, offered to voice the characters. Still there were a lot of characters that didn't have anyone voicing them. Most notably being the main character himself which is what the play was named after, Macbeth.
"Subaru, you should play Macbeth," Rem suggested. She looked over at Subaru and he could tell that Rem was already beginning her pleading look and tone.
"No, I'm good, thanks" Subaru said.
Rem's face softened. "Please," She asked.
"Nah, I already told you that I'm good"
"Please" Rem asked again. Her tone became more soft. Her face slowly progressed to become her irresistible puppy dog eyed look.
"Rem, I already told you that I don't feel like playing a character"
Rem latched herself on Subaru's arm. "Pleeeeeease, Subaru"
"Noooooooooooooooo, Rem! This play is in a different language I won't have a clue of what there even saying"
"Subaru please play a character, you get bonus marks. You should play Macbeth, because I'm Lady Macbeth-"
"Fine, how about I play the clown, does that make you happy?"
Rem shook her head. "No Subaru"
"What!? Why can't I play the clown!?"
"Because the clown only has a few lines"
"Fine, I'll play… Harold then"
"Subaru, it's a harold. Not just Harold"
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"A harold is a messenger that reads messages. You thought the characters name was Harold, but no, that's just the name of the characters profession"
"Fine! I'll be THE harold"
"Can you please just play Macbeth? It will make Rem happy"
Subaru was finding it hard to resist Rem and her adorable face and tone. Ultimately deciding to cave into her request. "Alright then. Fine, if it makes you happy, I guess I'll do it"
Raising up his hand Subaru accepted the role of voicing the main character's lines. Rem couldn't have been more happy. She was excited to start going through the first act next class. Loving the fact that the characters both of them were playing were married in the play.
Next the teacher proceeded to pass out study books of the play. These books have been used year after year whenever his class would go over the unit. He allowed his students to write and annotate notes in them, which were then redistributed the next year. If a student was lucky they would get a book already annotated by a high performing student the previous year who always got top marks.
"I wanted to change it up this year and do the play "Othello" instead of "Macbeth," but I was unable to get study books for the whole class" The teacher said as he handed out books onto the desk to each student.
"What happens in the play Othello?" Rem asked when the teacher handed her a book.
"Othello's the story of an African general in the Venetian army who is tricked into suspecting his wife of having an affair by his malevolent ensign, Iago"
"That sounds very interesting. What's Macbeth about then?"
"Its a play about a Scottish nobleman and his wife who murder their king for his throne. A story about the extremes of ambition and guilt"
Rem was quite impressed with the story of the play they were going over. Just by hearing a short description she was already hooked. Though there was one question that was on her mind.
"Is this based on a true story?" Rem asked.
"... Kinda, it bears a slight resemblance to a tragedy that actually happened in Scotland around 1005-1057. The person who wrote this play is known for basing his stories off of true events, but he often altered them. Any play he wrote that has the name Henry in the title is based off of a true person"
The teacher finished handing every student their books. Subaru observed the cover and condition of his book. It looked like it had been attempted to be eaten by a dog. Opening the book he noticed that half way there was visible water damage on the pages. Turning the paper all wrintley and dampening the colour of the page. But Subaru noticed something amazing. His book clearly once belonged to a high performing student. Since the book he got was already well annotated neatly in highlighter.
Class was dismissed, they would begin the first act of the play the next day. Rem was really excited. Even though she was only reading out the lines of the character she chose, she felt like she just landed the role of playing the main character in an actual play. Subaru was less enthusiastic, since he had to read it out in English which he wasn't exactly fluent in, it didn't help that he had the most lines out of anyone.
Luckily after each act, the whole class would discuss what they just read. So they didn't have to really follow along with the play since there would be a discussion where they go over what just happened.
Next Subaru and Rem had their food class. Like always Subaru got called out at least five times for not doing anything, and letting Rem do all the work. After that came time to go home. Except Subaru wasnt sending Rem home just yet.
The season was becoming winter, and as a result came the extremely cold temperatures. Again Rem didn't have any winter clothes at all. If she wanted to survive walking to and from school everyday, she needed a jacket at least. That ment Subaru had to take her clothes shopping. He had to take her to the mall most likely, since that's where all the clothing stores were.
But Subaru wanted to use this situation to Rems advantage. He really wanted her to become more adapted to living in Japan. Sure, she had come a long way since she first started living with him. But from time to time she found herself struggling in some areas. Things she struggled with ranged from not being able to understand a piece of technology, or being scared about talking to the locals or other classmates.
This would serve to be Rems' test, to see how adapted she truly was to living a modern life. The test was simple. Rem would go out on her own, and catch a bus to the mall. Where she must find a winter jacket then return home. Surely after months of living in Japan a task like this should be a piece of cake for Rem. That's what Subaru thought at least.
While Subaru and Rem were walking out of school to go home. Subaru stopped Rem in her tracks before they could walk onto the sidewalk home.
"Rem, I'm sending you off on an adventure" Subaru said.
Rem looked at him weirdly, having no clue to what he was referring to. "What do you mean, Subaru?"
"You're going off to get a winter jacket on your own"
"By myself!?"
"Yeah by yourself, you can handle it. I'll give you some money, and all you have to do is catch the bus and go to the mall. Simple"
"Are you sure about this, Subaru? What if I were to get lost?"
"You have your phone on you, so it isn't like you cant call me if you do get lost"
"Well… Okay then"
Subaru handed Rem some money for a winter jacket and gave her directions to a bus stop so she could catch the bus. He then took off and let Rem start her adventure. He practically ran back to the apartment since it was extremely cold outside.
Rem felt her hands growing numb with each passing second as she walked down the sidewalk to make it to the bus stop. What made it worse was the cold breeze that would blow constantly. Eventually Rem would lay eyes on the bus stop she was directed to that was straight across the street. In fact, there was already a bus right there.
Knowing the bus was about to leave soon, Rem made a dash. She ran onto the street. Where she heard a loud sound of a horn right next to her. Soon feeling a metal bumper crash into her sending her falling onto the road. Luckily the driver hit the breaks before the car could run her over.
"Hey watch where you're going, and get off the road!" The taxi driver angrily shouted from out of the window.
Rem felt a tad bit of pain from being hit by a car. Luckily the injury was nothing serious, so she shook it off. Rem slowly stood up from the road, and saw that the bus was gone from the bus stop.
"Are you going to get out of the way? Or are you going to get in?" The taxi driver asked.
"Wait, you want me to get in? Are you able to take me to the mall?' Rem asked.
"Well yeah… If you have the money of course"
"I have money," Rem said.
"Get in then and I'll take you"
Rem got into the taxi and made her way to the mall. The same one Subaru directed her too. She felt a slight pain ache on her back from the collision with the taxi. Rem also had some road burns. Though since she was sitting in the back seat and the driver's attention was facing the road, she healed her injuries secretly.
The ride was silent. The taxi driver thought Rem was incredibly dumb for running out onto a busy street. Though he couldn't say this to a customer so he had to stay quiet. She also ran out onto the crosswalk, and he didn't want her to sue.
Eventually Rem arrived at her destination. Once she paid the driver she got out of the car. There she laid eyes on the very large shopping center. Rem had never been to the mall before and was truly fascinated by its architecture. No place in Luginica had a shopping center this big. She was quick to bring herself indoors, not wanting to stand outside in the cold for one second longer.
When Rem first laid eyes on the odd type of entryway of the glass rotating doors, she hesitated for a second unsure of how to proceed. But luckily she was able to pick up on how others went through the doors, and quickly followed suit.
Going through the doors, she was greeted with the beautiful interior. Stores were aligned along the walls going up to a multitude of floors. Rem was truly fascinated once again, she never thought she was going to get tired of seeing everything Subarus' world had to offer. Whenever she felt like she had seen it all, there was always that something that was ready to surprise her mind again and again.
Rem then felt like calling Subaru and letting him know that she made it to the mall safely. Reaching into her pocket she pulled out her phone and selected Subarus name on her contact list.
The phone rang for a bit and Subaru eventually picked up. "Hi Rem, is everything alright?" He asked.
"Everything is fine Subaru. I just wanted to inform you that I have made it to the mall. A nice driver offered to take me there after I got hit by his car. It's very cold out"
A couple seconds of silence went by. Rem waited for Subaru to respond to her but he seemed to be silent. "Subaru are you still there?"
"You got hit by a car!?"
"It's nothing serious Subaru, Rems alright. She really likes the mall. It looks very fascinating"
"... Rem you need to be more careful before you walk out onto a road. You can seriously injure yourself"
"I'm fine Subaru. Now where do I need to go to get a jacket? There are so many stores here"
"Just ask around and find the clothing store. Surely you could find it on your own. Just look around. I will give you a hint, it's the store with clothes in it"
"Ok Subaru" Rem said, as she hung up the call and put her phone back into her pocket.
Rem didn't know where to start looking to find the clothing store, there were just so many stores to start looking in. When she looked ahead of her she found a car on display at the center of the mall.
Finding it funny that a car was indoors, she walked up to the display. Rem found the car to be very fancy and clean looking. Clearly this car hadn't seen the road and was just manufactured a matter of days ago. Not even showing the slightest bit of dust or dirt on its white paint job.
She peaked inside the interior and it looked even cleaner in there. The interior itself was quite fancy. She made extra sure to refrain from touching the car. Thinking that if she even laid a single finger print on the car, she would be forced to pay for it.
Standing next to the car was a sign advertising it. Rem read the price at the top and couldn't believe how anyone except the extremely rich and wealthy could afford a car like this. But reading how the advertisers were describing the car Rem started to somewhat understand why it was priced so high.
This car was advertised like it could do anything. It could conquer mountains, deserts, tornadoes, storms. This car could traverse through any environment. Truly a car so indestructible needed to be priced highly, since it was pretty much indestructible. That's what Rem thought anyway.
Leaving the car display Rem made her way around the mall trying to look for the clothing stores. The only problem was there were so many distractions. It took Rem an entire hour to make it down one hallway.
She wandered into a multitude of stores. Including one that sold electronic appliances. There she could experience some more amazement from all the revolutionary technology that Japan had to offer. Only thing was, Rem had seen these types of appliances before like a television and computer. But the ones that were on display were a lot more futuristic looking, they even had a bigger screen.
The screen displayed a multitude of pictures. Showing off its high definition capabilities. They looked so realistic Rem would definitely have a hard time distinguishing them for reality if she had discovered this store only a month earlier.
The store also showed off a wide variety of laptops and computers in one aisle. Rem spent about five minutes analyzing each and every laptop. Trying to figure out and marvel to what each of these computers had to offer that would be different then the other. Though Rem couldn't understand computer specs, she just liked looking at all the different models.
An employee walked up to Rem when he found her looking around at all the computers, and asked if she needed to help with anything. Rem got a little scared since she wasn't expecting to get in any social interactions so unexpectedly.
She also felt like it was wrong for her to be in a store and not be buying anything. Shaking and starting to sweat slightly, Rem shook her head. To her relief the employee gave her a nod and left her be.
Rem soon after exited the store, and continued her search to find a winter jacket. It again took her a while to make some progress around the mall. Mostly because she got introduced to the revolutionary way of marketing called "free samples."
After much walking around, and after getting yelled at for sleeping on a bed that was on display in a furniture store. Rem finally found the clothing store. Where she was met with a wide variety of clothes. Finding where the jackets were located was a journey in its own right. She was too scared to ask an employee, so she just wandered aimlessly until she found the jackets.
Rem even got deceived when she laid eyes on display mannequins. They were all dressed up, and at first glance she thought they were real people. But then immediately realized that they were completely motionless and their skin was made out of plastic.
This trip to the mall alone had introduced Rem to a multitude of ways of marketing. Just by reading a description of something she felt a sudden urge to buy the thing that was being advertised. She never expected advertisements to be so effective.
After retrieving a winter jacket and paying for it. She made her way out of the mall to make her journey home. This time when she stepped outside she luckily had her newly bought winter jacket to protect her from the elements of the more cold then it was earlier in the day since the night had descended.
Subaru was back at home having fun playing a random but addictive game. He let the time fly by, and when he eventually broke his sight with the computer screen he was alarmed to find that it had grown quite late outside, and that Rem had yet to return home.
Just as he was about to reach for his phone to call her, Rem came walking into the apartment with a giant smile on her face. Subaru let out a sigh of relief when he found her safe and sound and wearing a winter jacket. Being a little paranoid while she was out, because of the whole her getting hit by a car situation.
Luckily, Rem seemed fine. She even seemed happy and excited to tell Subaru all about her adventures off in the modern world.
"Hi Rem, how was your shopping trip?" Subaru asked.
"It was amazing, Subaru. There were so many stores at the mall you sent me to" Rem said while she was taking off her jacket.
"That's great Rem, but did you get hit by another car while you were returning here?"
"No, I took the bus. A nice man sat next to me and gave me a business card. He told me that I would have a good chance of getting a job at the place he owned"
"... Huh? Can I see it" Subaru asked curiously.
Rem reached into her jacket pocket and pulled out the small business card. She walked over and handed it to Subaru. Who upon reading it grew a giant frown. He slowly set the card down and gave Rem the blankest stare that lasted a full minute.
"Rem… You are not becoming a stripper" Subaru stated as he threw the card away.
"Why Subaru? Whats a stripper-"
"Let's not ask questions like that… You are not doing that as a job. Although we would probably be set for life if you were to become one of them"
"Subaru, if we make a lot of money how come you're not letting me do it?"
"Because I consider that cheating"
"Well I don't want to do it then if it were to be considered cheating" Rem stated.
In Lugnica
Ram was wandering the streets of the capital trying to make her way home after a meeting that went late into the evening. She kept her head low, because she wasn't exactly in the best of moods.
Lately Ram felt awful about how she wrongfully accused her sister and Reinhard of having an affair. She felt so embarrassed. Whenever she would think back on the situation she would always want to slam her face against the wall, over and over and over again.
The fact that Reinhard was willing to stick by her after that truly amazed her. She was impressed by his direct loyalty. Though this was Reinhard she was talking about, so it wasn't that surprising. Still though she was grateful he stuck with her.
Safe to say, both Ram and Reinhard left that island still a married couple. Reinhard held no grudge or had anything against Ram for how she acted. After learning about the scheme himself, he was baffled to say the least. He didn't expect something like that to happen while they were on the island, especially by someone who was once considered an honest man that never told a lie.
Even though Reinhard had told Ram time and time again that he forgave her instantly before she could even say sorry, and even though Rem left back to Japan being on good terms once again. Ram still felt guilty and embarrassed. She had never done anything like this before, and looking back on it. Couldn't understand how she could have been deceived so easily.
While walking through the streets, a gust of wind blew over. Sending a poster flying directly into Ram's face. Removing the poster from her face, she looked at the poster and read at what it had to say. It read: "Do not vote for an incompetent ruler like Ram. Someone who drew a conclusion and wrongfully accused her own SISTER and HUSBAND of having an affair. Think twice"
Ram tried to hold back shedding a small tear upon reading an attack poster on her. She had no clue who set this poster up, but she knew more than one of them existed. Since she could see more copies of the exact same poster on the walls of buildings she walked past on the sidewalk.
Only deepening the feeling of guilt she had in her stomach. Being a royal candidate meant her personal information and life was bound to leak out to the public. Even her private feuds were not safe from the public eye. Often her opponents would wait eagerly for her to make even the slightest slip up just so that could exploit it and capitalize off of it.
Sadly this tactic had been working. As of late Rams numbers in the polls had seen a significant drop. Her numbers before this event had been all the way up. Mainly because she married Reinhard. People like this action because of one main reason. Ram was the only married royal candidate. Meaning electing a married royal candidate, meant possibly getting an heir. An heir meant a secured succession. A secured succession meant that once that candidate were to die, the kingdom wouldn't be dragged into another royal election. In other words, people thought if they were to vote Ram it would guarantee a stable government for years to come. Reinhard was also very popular with the people.
Her numbers were so high to the point she was actually in the lead for a bit. But all it took was a scheming unloyal ensign to send it all crashing down. Even though this event actually did little to affect her numbers in a negative way. Ram was still quite popular for marrying Reinhard. This event did have some impact on how others saw her as a ruler. But going forward, Ram is definitely going to be more careful to who she trusts.
Even going as far as to swear in front of everyone during a meeting that an incident like this would never happen again. Saying she learned from the situation. That would eventually lead to her becoming a better ruler as a result.
Regardless of her promises, she still felt guilt and embarrassment internally. That would constantly plague her mind, and give her stomach a sinking feeling.
Ram returned home quite late at night. She quietly entered through the front doors, and made her way to the bedroom to get some rest for the night. She had a long day and needed to sleep it off. Tomorrow will hopefully be a better day.
The second she slowly opened the door. The moonlight in the distinct was able to illuminate the sight of her very loyal husband already asleep seemingly.
Ram walked in and gently closed the door, making sure not to cause the slightest of sounds. She changed into her nightgown. She didn't go into a separate room. Ram never did. Mostly because she knew Reinhard was anything but a pervert and wouldn't look at her while she was changing. Intentionally that is. In fact, Ram and Reinhard had one of the cleanest marriages out there.
Once she was ready for bed, she walked over, threw the sheets up and laid herself down on the mattress. Laying her head on her pillow, Ram closed her eyes and tried to drift off to sleep for the night. She let out a small sigh, when the thoughts of guilt came rushing back to her brain.
"I know that sigh in your breath when I hear it. Is something bothering you?" Reinhard asked, revealing himself to be awake the whole time.
"... It's nothing to worry about,'' Ram responded, trying to dismiss his worries.
"So something is bothering you?. You must tell me what's on your mind. I promise you now that I will do everything I can to help you"
"This is an issue only I can fix… I feel so awful right now, I'm such an idiot. Why did I ever trust him to begin with?"
"Everybody trusted him, it wasn't just you. I trusted him, and never would have suspected him to put together such a disgusting scheme like that. But, didn't I once say that unloyal figures with high influence are bound to do stuff like this?"
"Yes…But it's just… I'm so embarrassed right now. I thought you were having an affair with my sister. Why did I!? There was no direct evidence to prove you guilty, and.. You would never do that to me! Neither would Rem. I feel so selfish right now! How were you able to forgive me so easily!?" Ram asked, as faint tears streamed down her face.
"I instantly forgave you simply because you are Miss van Astrea. You don't need to feel bad for me. You were smart enough to realize that what he was saying was false at one point, so truly your more smart than you think you are"
"Actually, how I found out was that I read your journal…" Ram said in a shameful tone. Knowing full well Reinhard didn't want her reading it.
Reinhard's face dropped a bit "You did…"
"It was just a couple pages, you were going on about our wedding day and that helped me realize that you truly loved me"
"Is that all you read?"
"Yes, that's all I read"
Reinhard let out a sigh of relief. "Good, thank you for respecting my privacy. I wouldn't want you reading my… You know what never mind"
"Reading your what? What have you been writing?"
"Embarrassing stuff…" Reinhard responded. He was glad to be saved from the embarrassment of having Ram read his love poem section of his journal. Which was only one page away from when he wrote about their wedding day.