Re:Zero FF Beatrice Heart Crossing

Chapter 8: Old Castle, New Calamity

A familiar room covered in old books; she knew it well. Beatrice sat in the center of the floor squeezing her knees. She couldn't remember how she got here but something wasn't right. A voice whispered from the shadows, "You belong here". Beatrice didn't respond, but felt wetness on her cheeks as tears flowed from her eyes. The voice came again, this time louder. The small spirit shivered and closed her eyes. Why couldn't she remember? The shadow voice came again a third time but now she felt the floor slip from under her. She was falling and didn't know why, all she knew is that this wasn't right. She focused as hard as she could and finally she was able to mouth one word.

Beatrice: "Subaru."

The falling spirit said the name of the boy who saved her and became frantic. She had to get out of here, she had to get back to him at all costs. She screamed his name as loud as she could as the world became white around her.

?: "Lady Beatrice!"

Beatrice opened her eyes and saw a familiar ceiling from her bedroom. She reached for her face and felt the tears that stained her cheeks. As she moved to sit up she felt a sharp pain in her head. Her fingers moved up to address the pain and felt fabric wrapped around her head.

?: "Please don't try to remove that! You still need time to heal before you can use your magic."

Beatrice glanced over and saw a familiar head maid sitting on Subaru's bed. Next to her was a small child who Beatrice immediately recognized as Mina.

Beatrice: "Mina?"

Adella: "Yes, this young lady and her mother were waiting here with Miss Niki. Her mother had to return to the village, but this young lady demanded to wait. I had no choice but to oblige."

Mina: "Mommy and I bwought you a pie!"

Adella: "Indeed. I have prepared you a slice. I want you to eat before you ask your questions. I'll happily indulge you then."

Beatrice: "Uhh… okay, I suppose."

Mina: "Mina will help!"

Mina scooted over onto Beatrice's bed and grabbed her plate from Adella. She scooped up a small piece before feeding it to Beatrice.

Beatrice: "Bleh!...Ack! That is no pie, in fact!"

Adella: "Huh? Did I neglect to mention it was a fish pie? Don't be rude my lady, it would be an offence to turn down a present."

Mina: "Have some water."

Beatrice: "Thank you, Mina, I suppose. It is delicious, in fact."

The spirit glared at the head maid as she finished up her meal. Mina took her dishes once she was done.

Adella: "Okay, as promised, ask away."

Beatrice: "What...where is Subaru?"

Adella: "I thought that might be your first question seeing as you woke up yelling for him. Master Subaru stayed up all night after he had you carted back here. I demanded he rest but he refused so I suggested he go take a walk with Miss Niki while little Mina and I watched over you. He should be back soon."

Beatrice blushed when she realized her voice had made it out of her dream, but she was thankful that Subaru hadn't heard it. She recalled their conversation after fishing and felt a rekindled embarrassment.

Beatrice: "What exactly happened to me, in fact?"

Adella: "I am told that you gallantly rescued little Mina from falling by using mana to jump. However, after handing her off, the area collapsed due to the impact and took you with it. You injured your head on the rocks below and sank into the river. Master Subaru dove in and retrieved you before running back to the village. They gave you first aid and arranged a cart to bring you back here. If you want more specifics, you might ask Master Subaru."

Beatrice: "I see…"

Beatrice squirmed uncomfortably at the mention of asking Subaru. Adella picked up on this and pushed the conversation forward.

Adella: "Master Subaru is not upset with you. Quite the opposite. he stayed with you and held your hand the entire time."

Beatrice: "That isn't…"

Adella watched as Beatrice looked over at Mina and hesitated to speak.

Adella: "Mina, my dear."

Mina: "Yes ma'am?"

Adella: "I believe that Lady Beatrice has some dolls over there. Would you like to play with them while she and I talk?"

Mina: "You mean it!? Yes pwease!"

Adella: "Go ahead, dear. Lady Beatrice, please go on."

Mina wandered over to play with the decorative dolls that rested in the windowsill. Beatrice reluctantly continued with her qualm.

Beatrice: "Well… Subaru and I talked, I suppose. I was being...jealous, in fact. He told me that he was mine...and my heart...started to hurt. I think I may have told him that I was his too, in fact. After I hit my head…"

Adella: "Fufufu, is that the case? Do you have any idea why your heart hurt?"

Beatrice: "Not at all, I suppose."

Adella: "What did you mean when you told him that you were his?"

Beatrice's face went red and she turned her gaze down as she fidgeted with her fingers.

Beatrice: "I'm… not sure, I suppose. He was holding me and...I didn't want that to stop."

Adella: "...so cute… *cough, cough*... erhem. Tell me, Lady Beatrice, what would you do if Master Subaru were to kiss you?"

Beatrice: "K-k-kiss! Umm… well...that would never happen, I suppose! Such a barbaric question to ask a maiden, in fact!"

Mina: "But mister did kiss you!"

The small cat girl appeared next to Adella without warning and made a proclamation that shocked Beatrice.

Beatrice: "What are you talking about, I suppose!"

Mina: "In the lodge, mister cawwied you and put you in bed there. While the cart was coming he had your head in his lap. Me and the others saw him kiss you on your head!"

Beatrice: "WHAT!"

Beatrice's eyes spun before going dark. The new revelation was more than she could take, yet Adella interjected to take control of the situation.

Adella: "Lady Beatrice, wait right here."

Adella rose from the bed and left the room. A few minutes passed before she returned with a book in hand.

Adella: "Here."

Beatrice: "Huh? A book?"

Adella: "Indeed. It is considered a romance novel. My bookshelf is full of them. Might I give you a suggestion?"

Beatrice: "I can listen, I suppose."

Adella: "Well, why don't you borrow that book and feel free to swap it out with others as you finish. Consider it research. It might help you figure out why your heart hurts."

Beatrice: "I guess Betty can do that, I suppose. What do I do when I figure out why, in fact?"

Adella: "Simple, we will take a trip in a week! A camping trip! I will attend as well, of course. What do you think, Mina? Would you like to go camping?"

Mina: "Yay! Mina wants to go!"

Adella: "Okay, but you can't tell Master Subaru what we talked about today, okay?"

Mina: "Yes! Mina will stay quiet."

Adella: "Good girl."

Beatrice: "Wait, why are we going on a trip, in fact?"

Adella: "So you can have time to talk to Subaru, of course! Under the stars in the woods, how romantic!"

Beatrice: "R-romantic!"

Adella: "Yes, it will be a date for you two. You can talk to him about your heart. Trust me, it will all work out."

Beatrice: "Well, I would like to go on another date, I suppose. I'll give your idea a try, in fact."

Adella: "Fufufu... You were surprisingly easy to convince. Oh, and try to keep those books a secret. Boys tend to not understand such things."

Beatrice: "O-okay?"

Adella: "One last thing! Master Subaru should be back any minute, so please focus on talking to him. He really went through a lot getting you back here."

Beatrice: "I understand, in fact. I'll be sure to thank him properly, I suppose."

It was at that moment that the door to the bedroom burst open. A severely disheveled Subaru burst in with Niki trailing behind. Subaru was still wearing his clothes from the day before and had dark circles under his eyes. He ran over and hugged Beatrice with all his strength, much to her surprise. Beatrice heard him sniffle and realized that he was crying. She wrapped her arms around him to return the hug.

Subaru: "I'm so sorry. I should have caught you…"

Beatrice: "Nonsense, you caught me before in the forest, I suppose. This was the fault of no one, in fact."

Subaru: "But Beako… you could have…"

Beatrice: "Yet, I did not, in fact."

Subaru: "Heh...Sometimes I forget how strong you are."

Subaru tightened the hug and Beatrice felt a tinge of embarrassment at his words. The moment was interrupted by a certain cat girl.

Niki: "Well, I didn't know there'd be a show. I'm glad yer okay, little lady, but you might wanna save the gushy stuff fer when the door is closed."

Adella: "Agreed. I'm even starting to get a little toasty."

Mina: "I don't get it? It's not hot in here…"

The maid and the cat girl laughed as Mina looked around in confusion. Realizing the situation, Subaru and Beatrice separated and shared a shade of blush. Niki stepped forward and offered a bouquet of wildflowers to Beatrice.

Niki: "Here ya are. Me and your guy picked these while we were watin' fer you to wake up. I am really glad to see you still kickin'. Ya should come back to the village soon so we can thank ya properly."

Beatrice: "It was no trouble… but, thank you Niki, I suppose. For helping keep Mina safe as well, in fact."

The sweet sentiment shared by all was interrupted by an unnaturally deep groan. Every pair of eyes turned to look at Mina, the source of the sound.

Mina: "I'm hungy!"

All: "Wha!?"

Adella: "My, my, she must be starving! I shall prepare lunch immediately."

Niki: "I'll come with ya! Let's go, Mina, I think these two wanna talk alone."

Niki grabbed Mina by the hand and led her out of the room with the dolls in tow. As she passed out the door she looked at Beatrice and stuck out her tongue. Beatrice furrowed her brow but the cat girl paid her no mind. The door softly fell shut and a delicate silence fell over the room. Subaru and Beatrice sat quietly for several minutes before Subaru reached over and squeezed her hand. He held on to it as he spoke.

Subaru: "Beako, I'm so happy that you're okay. I'm not sure what I'd do if anything happened to you."

Beatrice: "I-is that so, I suppose? Well...Betty is sorry for worrying you."

Subaru: "You don't need to apologize. If anything, it's my fault for not being by your side."

Beatrice: "Idiot… you need to watch how you say things, I suppose. Betty is still a maiden, after all, in fact."

Subaru: "No, I mean it! I...want to be... by your side from here on out..."

Beatrice: "Erk! Subaru…"

Subaru: "..."

Beatrice: "Subaru?"

Subaru: "zzz…"

Beatrice: "Such an irresponsible idiot, I suppose…"

Beatrice looked over at the sleeping Subaru and covered him up with her blanket. She surmised that his sleepless night of worry had finally caught up with him and decided to berate him for his word choice later. Unwittingly, she took a moment to examine the circles under his eyes and, before she knew it, she was stroking his hair behind his ear. She noted that it felt a little greasy but not unpleasant as she ran her fingers through it. As she considered laying him down so he could get proper sleep, the bedroom door swung open. Beatrice quickly withdrew her hand from Subaru's head.

Niki: "Aha! Just as Adella suspected!"

Beatrice: "What!? We weren't doing anything, in fact!"

Niki: "Whaddya talkin' about? Adella said he would be asleep or speakin' gibberish. I came up here to give him this sandwich and put him to bed. By force, if necessary."

Beatrice: "Why would you need to force him, in fact?"

Niki: "I figure he might be a little hard headed if I try to take him away from you."

Beatrice: "Wha!? N-nevermind that, I suppose. Just do what you came here to do, in fact."

Niki: "Fine, can do!"

Niki proceeded to shove the entirety of the sandwich into the sleeping Subaru's mouth. The shock jolted him awake as he coughed to clear his throat. Niki offered him water as she spoke.

Niki: "Alright mister, Adella says ya need to eat that and get to bed. She said that was the deal! So get to it…*sniff, sniff*... uh… ya may also want to shower…"

Subaru: "Ahn...yeah...I'll go do that now…"

Without calling her out on her crudeness, the sleepy Subaru picked himself up and gathered clothes before heading to the bath.

Niki: "Well that was easy… Not very exciting."

Beatrice: "What did you expect, I suppose? He was already sleeping when you showed up, in fact."

Niki: "Is that why ya were petting him?"

Beatrice: "I-I was not, I suppose. He just had some leaves in his hair, in fact!"

Niki: "Ya know yer pretty cute when ya lie. I can see why he fawns over ya."

Beatrice: "That will be quite enough teasing, in fact."

Niki: "Okay, okay. Since ya saved Mina, I'll let ya off fer now. Adella told me about campin', by the way…"

Beatrice: "Has that meddlesome maid recruited you into her meddling, I suppose?"

Niki: "Guilty! Although, I'm more interested in campin' if I'm bein' honest. You two are gonna be just fine without me messin' with ya."

Beatrice: "Do you really think so, I suppose? What is 'fine', in fact?"

Niki sat down on the bed next to Beatrice before scooting close and facing her.

Niki: "Wow, fer such a small head, ya got some big worries! Ya should just focus on havin' fun. I know the kiddos sure like ya better when yer smilin'."

Beatrice: "Thank you, I suppose… You are very mature for your age, in fact."

Niki: "Huh? Well I am going on 50."

Beatrice: "WHA!? But you're shorter than me, in fact!"

Niki: "Well aren't you like 400! Yer the old lady here!"

Beatrice: "O-old la-"

Niki gave a devilish smile as she leaned in toward Beatrice's face, creating an uncomfortable distance before interrupting her.

Niki: "Why were ya worried about my age anyway? Maybe ya have taken a shine to me too?"

Niki slowly decreased the already dwindling distance between Beatrice and her. Beatrice began to turn a shade of pink as she became flustered and looked around nervously for a way out. Niki halted her approach and looked into Beatrice's eyes with a serious look on her face.

Niki: "*Sniff, sniff*... Ya probably want to take a bath too…"

Beatrice: "IDIOT!"

Beatrice scrambled off the bed and retrieved a change of clothes before storming out of the room. Niki smiled as she watched the small spirit rush out in a huff and subsequently voiced her thoughts out loud.

Niki: "So fun to tease…"

Beatrice stomped down the hallway towards the bath. As she went to push the door open, it moved on it's own and her momentum sent her falling forward. She was softly impeded by a confused looking Subaru in his pajamas.

Subaru: "B-beako? Did you forget I was in there? I'm done now so feel free to use it."

Beatrice: "IDIOT! IDIOT!"

Beatrice pushed past Subaru with crimson up to her ears before slamming the door behind her.

Subaru: "What did I do?"

Beatrice tied her hair up in small flaxen buns on each side, giving her a mouselike appearance before disrobing and stepping down into the bath. The warm water was a pleasant contrast to the cold marble stone floor held in by the ashen castle walls. There were a few stone benches and cubby holes to store personal items. For the most part, the bath was very simple containing only simple closets for towels and toiletries. A few window slits near the ceiling allowed light to shine in without the threat of onlookers. Beatrice sat and cradled her knees while she voiced her mind to the cold stone room.

Beatrice: "Ehh...What should I do, I suppose? Betty keeps getting flustered so easily, in fact!"

Beatrice: "..."

Beatrice: "Now I'm talking to myself like a fool, I suppose. That idiot boy keeps making Betty's heart jump, in fact. It must be some sort of trickery. The maid and that cat are in on it, I bet. Yes, that has to be it…"

Beatrice: "Ugggh!"

Beatrice kicked her legs forward and splashed her arms in the water before continuing.

Beatrice: "Or… maybe Betty has feelings, I suppose. Feelings that she needs to work out, in fact. The others keep trying to help Betty… but I keep running away. I don't want things to change, but I want something more too… Maybe I should listen to them and give the book a try, I suppose. Even Niki is trying to help Betty… in her own way."

?: "Gosh, and here I was about to accept yer apology!"

Beatrice shrieked and covered herself underwater at the sound of an intruder. She glanced up behind her to see an unclad Niki smiling down at her.

Beatrice: "W-what are you doing in here, I suppose!?"

Niki: "Well, I never saw a bath like this before since we use the river in the village. I thought I might join ya. I was gonna offer to wash yer hair since I was bein' mean before."

Beatrice: "Did... you hear Betty talking, in fact?"

Niki: "Not all of it, but I get the gist. You need to relax, lady. Just listen to yer heart when it finally speaks and ya will know what to do. I'm gonna make sure you relax by visiting ya every day! Yer Niki's friend now, so ya need to stop bein' a worry wart."

Beatrice: "Friend…"

Niki: "Well yeah! It's been so exciting since ya came around and I'm not gonna miss a minute of it! I gotta make sure ya don't go crazy before then. So count on Niki and just relax and read yer books or whatever!"

Beatrice: "Hmm… okay, I suppose. I'll be in your care, in fact."

Niki: "That's what I wanted to hear! Now, come here so I can wash yer hair and get you all pretty!"

Beatrice smiled shyly as she moved to a bench and let Niki lather up her hair before returning the favor. The two giggled as they discussed the differences in their hair and the advantages of Niki's cat ears. After they had finished their bath, Niki escorted Beatrice back to the bedroom where Adella was waiting with lunch and fresh bandages while Mina slept in Beatrice's bed. Adella began to change Beatrice's bandage while Niki divided out the sandwiches.

Adella: "Niki, I took the liberty of putting fish in your and Mina's sandwiches. I'm happy to see you two have gotten close."

Niki: "Thank you very much! Of course we would get close, this lady is a hero in the village. Only makes sense that I would be her best friend."

Beatrice: "Best friend? When did you get that title, in fact?"

Niki: "Just now, in fact."

Beatrice: "Grr…"

Niki: "Growl all ya want. Yer stuck with me!"

Adella softly smiled as the girls bickered over their lunch. After a while, they woke Mina up and had dinner while Subaru soundly slept. Niki returned with Beatrice to the bedroom to say her goodbyes before taking Mina on her back and leaving. As Niki left, she promised to come back to see Beatrice tomorrow. With the excitement over, Beatrice laid down on her bed and heaved a sigh. Subaru stirred from his sleep and turned to the small spirit.

Subaru: "She's a handful, huh?"

Beatrice: "Yes, I suppose. She's a good friend, though… My best friend, in fact."

Subaru: "I'm glad you two are getting along. Finally someone your size to be friends with, right?"

Beatrice: "She's 50, in fact."

Subaru: "Wow, that's crazy!"

Beatrice: "You don't seem very surprised, in fact."

Subaru: "Well, it's not my first time meeting someone older than me that is a total shortie…*yawn*"

Beatrice: "You should get some more sleep, instead of making fun of my height, I suppose."

Subaru: "I'll take you up on that...zzz… Goodnight, Beako."

Beatrice: "Goodnight, Subaru."

Subaru closed his eyes and drifted off facing Beatrice. She waited for his breathing to go shallow before reaching under her pillow and producing the book that Adella had given her. Hushedly, she ran her fingers over the title and embarrassingly read the words "Tell Me That You Love Me" before opening the novel. And so, finding it hard to put down, Beatrice read into the night hoping to translate the words her own heart was speaking to her.

Chapter 8 End