DISCLAIMER

The following is a fan-based

FICTION

Re:Zero and other products related to the this series are all owned by Tappei Nagatsuki.

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Interlude 1: Competition 'n' Crushes

If someone was to ask Petra Leyte how she came to love head pats, the answer would surprise a few people.

The simple village girl was not exactly devoid of affection or neglected by paternal love. No, she was happy with her parents and happy with her social disposition. She dreamed a few times of being born a pretty princess, but she knew she was already one when it came to her parents and her friends. She was pretty and nice, hence why she was beloved by so many.

But what really caught her into the obsession that characterized her life ever since she met Subaru was the fact that it happened so suddenly and so... unexpectedly. Headpats were no novelty to her at this point, but when her Oniichan just started to do it, the way he rubbed his palm over her hair and head- she felt a jolt of delight that had her smiling and craving for more.

She wasn't completely sure what was different, only that her Oniichan knew how to head pat much better than any other adult. It was baffling, really. For a time the girl thought she was just going 'nutty' as her granny would when she would mention how she loved being hugged by friends and family. Even now she makes odd and silly faces when she is getting hugged by her but...

Granny wasn't the focus for her current circumstance. What Petra knew was that she liked her Oniichan, his headpats and that she had a rival in Meili Portroute. Her Oniichan told her that Meili's friend was a scary assassin, but Petra didn't care- it was a matter of affection and Meili couldn't hog all of that from her. Not when she wanted Oniichan to favor her the most. The rest of the kids in Arlam had already accepted that, albeit while giving her weird looks, and the simple girl was happy to think she was on top of the situation.

Yet, Meili now lived at the castle, she was 'limited' in the ways she could interact with others, but she was close to her Oniichan! Petra tried to not react too strongly at this... yet it was getting to her! It didn't help that the little jerk was also telling her how many times she was alone with her Oniichan.

How many chances she had to get treated with Headpats and other affection-driven gestures. It irked her to no end... and it drove Petra to think. And to ultimately come to a conclusion. Hence why she was now standing in front of a very confused Meili as she was done telling her what big plan she had plotted up to this point, with Big Sis Rem standing right being the new 'servant' of the castle.

"W-What? That's ridiculous-"

"Ridiculous?! Pfftuah, more like you are jealous of my good thinking!" Petra rebuked confidently. "I will marry Oniichan once I am of age and then you will never get any headpats from him."

"That's ridiculous!" Meili repeated. "Why would Oniichan even see you as a potential bride if he is around other women his age? A-And me-"

"The fact that I will start working hard to be prettier and smarter!" The bow-wearing girl replied sternly. "I will study a lot, I will focus on having a healthy diet, and... I will ask Lord Roswaal to let me work at the manor as one of his maids!"

"Lord Roswaal has plenty of capable maids," Rem interrupted, but Petra grinned at this.

"Not when it comes to the library!" The orangette remarked giddily. "And I will ask very little from Lord Roswaal. Knowledge... to be closer to my future husband!"

"W-What about Emilia? She wouldn't allow that-"

"Which is why I will offer myself as a mistress to both!" Petra struck once again, stunning Meili into silence. "Once I am old enough, I will request that and Lady Emilia will surely let me be that!"

To Meili this was utterly stupid. Rubbish even. But the more convinced Petra sounded and the quieter Rem got, the more suspicious Elsa's 'little sister' started to get. What if the girl had found the fastest way to their Oniichan's heart? The idea just filled her with unease at the idea of losing headpats. She may not be as hooked to those as Petra was, but she had grown fond of affection, and losing that would pain her immensely. Hence why a harsh response was needed.

"Then I will do that too! I will study, I will eat healthily and then marry Subaru so you can't get any of that!"

A gasp came and more harshness ensued from both. To Rem this was getting quite silly. She knew both girls were crushing on Subaru, and she expected these pretenses to fall once Roswaal denied their requests. Surprisingly enough for Rem, Roswaal ended up accepting both as assistants to Beatrice.

The spirit wasn't entirely happy with that decision, but saw the two children's thirst for knowledge as somewhat entertaining. It was still odd how Roswaal just allowed this, but the blue-haired oni girl could tell something about their plight resonated with him. Quite unexpected and it sure provided for quite a few interesting situations at the castle once both had settled in their roles.

Subaru was, as expected, quite uneasy before the competition between these two, while Lady Emilia was quite 'amused'. It's not to say she was annoyed, but she found the entire development as interesting as frustrating. And, what really got Rem fairly invested in this situation, was the reaction her sister had. Ram shouldn't have made any big reaction, but to say that the pinkette was slightly unnerved would be an understatement.

Rem didn't need to ask to know that her irritation stemmed from the notion that Subaru was now subjected to more attention from people planning to settle down with him. If before Rem had some doubts about it, now she was confident she got it all clear:

Her sister was in love with Barusu, and she may have to help her about it.

AN

A little 'pause' from big chapters and a little interlude to introduce new situations at the manor. Elsa is still being monitored, Meili is allowed around with Rem as her guard/warden, and Petra is going to work at the Manor a bit earlier than expected and for a few interesting reasons.

Now, the big question is- what about Frederica? And I can promise all my readers that she will get a job there, just for different reasons than canon.

P.S. I now have a discord server! Discord .gg/ceBMM2Zz6c