"Huh, Rem and Ram's birthday?" Emilia's voice of silver bells jingled around the room.
"Yeah, I wanted to surprise them with something, I need to make up for the sculpture contest and party that Ram threw for us, so I wanted to throw a party for them, and I want your help." Subaru responded to her, his face and voice neutral.
"Oh…" Emilia's eyes dropped to the floor. Her voice fell with them. Its Rem and Ram's birthday soon? The silver-haired candidate grimaced. Why did no one tell me? The maid sisters, Roswal, Beatrice, or Puck had not told her. The only one who had was Subaru at this very moment.
Do they… not think of me as a friend? Emilia looked back on the maid's treatment of her. They had always been courteous to her, even with her silver hair and half-elven features. Her very existence which made most people grow fearful and suspicious of her. The maids had tolerated it and treated her cordially.
For a few brief moments, she ran through her individual interactions with the maids. Ram had never once insulted her, she was always nice. The same with Rem, who normally followed her sister's lead on everything.
As she looked back on all of those memories she finally realized it. The maids had treated her with courtesy, but they'd never been nice to her. They'd never been respectful. They'd never been friendly.
They were never my friends were they? Emilia let out a mental sigh. That was to be expected. She didn't deserve friendship anyway. If the twins were friends with her then it would only bring them misfortune.
Her eyes flicked back to Subaru's face, he still looked so guilty. She vaguely remembered his teary face on the night of the snow festival a few days ago. He'd looked so sad, anguished, crushed, and full of despair. Why? Why couldn't she ever help Subaru? Did his pained expressions all come from her, or were they because of something else?
If it was the latter, then why hadn't she helped him? Why hadn't she found a way to help him, even when he'd been able to save her from the bowel hunter, and recover her insignia with ease and after only a few hours? Emilia owed him so much help, so much support.
But she'd never been able to help, and he'd never asked for help. He didn't expect her to help him. A slight hint of rejection stabbed into her heart. No that's wrong. He doesn't expect me to help him because he knows that I can't help him. He knows that I'll just make everything worse.
Emilia had only wanted to go for a walk in the capital, she'd only wanted to have some fun exploring the city, maybe she could've made a friend, or maybe it would have been better if she hadn't. Her eyes focused on Subaru once more, he was completely lost in thought, unaware of the emotions rushing through Emilia's head.
The girl felt hurt by him not noticing her plight. NO! He shouldn't have to trouble himself with that. She continued to force herself down into self-loathing.
Every time she got involved she messed everything up. Pale frozen statues flashed in her mind. Emilia frowned each time her polishing rags ran over their pointed elf ears. It had likely been her fault, it had to be. Who else could have caused anyone so much trouble?
Emilia didn't want an answer to that question, she already knew the answer. Maybe if she'd seen her own reflection at any point in the past year or two she would have pictured herself, unfortunately, or fortunately, her mind had no picture to form.
I always mess everything up. Why would Subaru come to me with this? Why would he want me to help him throw the twins a birthday party? He knows that I'll just ruin it. He really is just a nice person, I don't deserve him. Why hasn't he left yet?
He's smart, he knows that everything I touch will just get worse, and worse, and worse. There is no way for me to make something better.
Emilia shoved her own heart into the dirt. However, words formed in her throat. To her dismay, and self-hatred, she wanted to help Subaru. She desperately wanted it, wanted him to expect something of her, and she was greedy to meet those expectations, maybe even surpass them.
No, I don't deserve to surpass them. I don't deserve his expectations to begin with. I don't deserve anyone to expect anything of me. I always fail everyone's expectations of me. I must have, otherwise, how did the elves of Elior forest end up like that? She grasped at whatever reason she could to hate herself.
"Please listen to me, Emilia. Everything's okay. I'll come... yes, I'll deal with this quickly and come right back. So please stay hidden here while I'm doing that. Please." A maternal voice rang out in her mind.
I even disappointed ….., wait… who? I've disappointed so many people I don't even remember them anymore.
Emilia made up her mind. She couldn't, or wouldn't, accept Subaru's proposal and his expectations of her. The silver-haired failure of a person that she was didn't deserve to accept Subaru's proposal. It wouldn't be right to help plan something fun, she'd only make the entire celebration worse.
"Ah! I've got it," Subaru exclaimed, or Emilia interpreted from the look in his eyes that he was excited, his voice nor his actual face had changed. Over the past three weeks, she'd grown extremely adept at reading his eyes. They were the only part of him that ever gave off any expression.
"What is it Subaru?" Maybe she could let him bounce his ideas off of her, she quickly reassessed her total isolation from the event as soon as she saw that excited look in his normally dead brown eyes.
"So I want to do a surprise party. But, the problem is keeping the twins from finding out. If we can get Roswal's help we could have him send them out of the mansion for a day or two." Resolve filled his expression as he worked out all the broad strokes of his plan. Emilia noticed he'd said we, he already expected her to help him.
"Wait, but won't that make it so they aren't here on their birthday?" The girl found herself hopelessly trapped against her will in Subaru's planning. She still would eventually have to reject her role in the plan, all for the sake of Rem and Ram's enjoyment.
"No their birthday is in two and a half days, so a one and a half-day trip wouldn't get in the way. It would only give us time to prepare the mansion for their arrival, so that when they come back they find a fully decorated mansion waiting for them." Emilia watched as Subaru shaped the details of the plan. His eyes looked to the ceiling to help him picture what the mansion would look like.
Regrettably, Emilia found herself imagining it as well. She would eventually get to see it anyway, but she still knew that she couldn't be involved in the actual decorating process. She shouldn't even be at the celebration, she would ruin it, but, maybe she could have an honest conversation with the two twins and grow closer to becoming friends with them.
No, stop. Stop. I can't, I can't. I would just ruin their party. I would completely ruin it. All of the enjoyment would drain away if I selfishly made it about me trying to become their friend. They don't need that ruining their birthday party.
"Ooh, and we might be able to have Beako mess with the mansion so that all the windows show just a perfectly normal mansion from the outside, so we can keep the decorations hidden until they walk inside the door." He cupped his face in his chin. Even though his tone stayed neutral Emilia could practically touch the emotion that radiated from the boy. She didn't know that most of that enthusiasm was pointed at Ram, he wanted to repay her for the help she'd given him on the day of Puck's mana release.
The level of emotion from Subaru was contagious as Emilia was caught in it and started to imagine herself helping Puck and Beatrice decorate the mansion's entrance.
Maybe if an outsider looked in they would have been confused. To them and most people that didn't know Subaru the emotion he was showing was barely even enough to qualify as emotion itself. Excitement would be an incredibly strong word for it in their eyes, practically a lie.
The boy looked hardly even interested, but to Emilia and any that had known Subaru for longer than a few days, they would know that this level of exhilaration was unheard of from him.
Emilia quickly found herself caught in the spell of Subaru's meager emotion. "That would be great, and then I could bake a cake for them, if I could find the materials for it, do they have milk here? I keep forgetting." He closed his eyes to think again before he waved away his worry with a quick gesture, "Eh, Ros will be able to get whatever ingredients I need, and if he can't I can just make something else."
Once he was done speaking Subaru reassessed his plan and started looking for any kinks he still needed to work out. It didn't take him long to remember that he'd never actually gotten Emilia's assent to being a part of the plan.
"Oh right, Emilia-tan sorry for rambling there, but…" Subaru thought of the best way to phrase it, unknowingly to the silver-haired girl the boy had noticed her racing emotions earlier, and now he was desperately trying to find a way to stop that, and include her in the plan.
After only a few moments of searching his mind, he settled for the only thing he could think of. "Hey Emilia-tan, do you want to help me throw Rem and Ram a birthday party?" Subaru stretched out his hand to her. A touch of warmth glimmered in his eyes and the corners of his lips lifted up a tiny bit.
Emilia saw the tilt of his lips and was instantly trapped. Her doubts about her inclusion melted away. She desperately tried to bring them back to the surface, to summon them; unfortunately, even though they'd rushed into her mind earlier, now not a single doubt answered her call.
The girl's doubts left her alone and her lips pulled up into a smile as she thought of the opportunity to spend time with Beatrice during the planning process, and the oni twins during the actual party.
Emilia grasped his outreached hand, "Let's do it." Subaru's resolve spread like the flu and quickly took over Emilia's expression as well.
On the other side of the mansion, Roswal's eyes ached as he stared into his gospel, the moonlight that streamed in behind him, and the pale lamplight only worsened the ache in his eyes. He desperately poured over the section that pertained to Subaru's battle with the white whale, and the Archbishop that came after it.
Something was off. Roswal couldn't deny it for much longer. There was something wrong with the text. Something had messed with it.
Please don't let it be true. Teacher, did you make a mistake in guiding me? Is that it? Did your book of wisdom catch onto a detail that this one initially missed and then you corrected it, is that what happened?
Please, please, please. Please teacher please let it be that. Roswal couldn't, or simply didn't want to think about the alternative. If it wasn't his teacher messing with the book there could really only be one other suspect.
If the platinum-haired witch had messed with his gospel then the very nature of Roswal's plans and all of his four hundred years of scheming, and all of his crimes, atrocities, and horrible actions would be made meaningless.
He searched for another explanation. There had to be something else. He couldn't have wasted four hundred years only for the Witch of Vainglory to come and twist it to suit her own goal. He just couldn't.
"Teacher, teacher, teacher, please, please." He whispered under his breath. Two pairs of footsteps resounded out from the other side of the door.
Dammit. Roswal quickly picked up his gospel and shoved it into the pocket in his cape which had been made specifically for it.
Only a moment after he set his coat back into place the doors to his office burst open. Subaru and Emilia quickly shuffled into the room and closed the door behind them. They acted like criminals as Subaru checked over his shoulder to make sure no one was watching them enter.
"Subaru-kuuuun?" Roswal's tone was jumpy as he tried to determine why Subaru had come into the room like that. Is there something threatening the mansion, did teacher miss that. No. Teacher doesn't miss things, she must not have deemed it important. But still what happened to him?
"Hey Ros, we need to talk over a plan with you, to see if you want to help out." Subaru introduced that something had happened.
"What is iiiiiiiit?" Roswal looked at him suspiciously. What is he planning? Roswal avoided the resolved gaze that Subaru possessed. It reminded him of people like Wilhelm van Astrea. Stop! The clown forced his mind back to the topic at hand. He had avoided Wilhelm ever since he'd transferred to his L. Mathers body.
Roswal didn't want to think about Wilhelm too much. Every time he thought of the man he remembered his resolve. A resolve which might be able to stop Roswal from going through with his plans. He had to avoid thinking of the sword demon at all costs.
"Can you help us plan a surprise birthday party for Rem and Ram?" Subaru asked, breaking Roswal out of his thoughtful state.
"Ahhhhh. Their birthday is coming uuuuuuup, isn't iiiiit." An image of the twins appeared in the margrave's mind. Fondness stoked at his heart. He winced as he thought of what he might have to do for his plans.
Why the hell did I think it was a good idea to make this body alcohol-resistant? He tossed the thought into the back of his mind as he considered Subaru's proposal.
Maybe this party can give them a good memory to attempt to balance out all the horrible memories my plans will eventually bring them. Roswal quickly decided on his answer.
"Veeeeeeery well. I shall aid youuuu both in this endeavor. Let's give theeeem an amazing eighteenth birthday paaaarty." Roswal grinned as he thought of it, but it was clear to Emilia that he was not actually happy.
The girl breathed in to speak to him, unfortunately, Subaru spoke before she got the chance.
"Alright Emilia and I can explain all the ideas we have." Subaru grabbed two chairs and pulled them up to the front of Roswal's desk. The clown noticed as he dexterously picked up the chairs and carried them in such a way that they didn't conflict with his steps at all.
Why is he so practiced at such a simple action? Roswal's blue and yellow eyes landed on Subaru. Just how old are you, Natsuki Subaru?
With that idle thought, Roswal quickly returned to reality to help Subaru and Emilia plan out all the logistics of accomplishing their surprise party without letting the twins know that it was actually happening.
His worries over his gospel's alterations were momentarily forgotten as they worked through all the details.
After around forty-five minutes of working everything out, Subaru and Emilia left the room to get some sleep for tomorrow when they would actually begin to implement their ideas.
"Ahh, truly a good party planner as well." Roswal had noticed that Subaru knew the best ways to make an exciting party, almost as if he'd practiced the art of creating joy all the way until he made it a science.
Roswal's eyes widened, "So you have some connection to him don't you, teacher?" It was the only thing that made sense to the clown.
So maybe I can get him on my side. He can help with my plans, and be like me. Maybe then I'll finally have someone to talk to as I work toward my goals. The loneliness that crushed Roswal's heart had not left him in centuries.
Or if he doesn't fall in line, then I will have to force him into line. He knew that even with all of the affection he had for Subaru, he would still sacrifice everything that the boy fought for to force him into aligning with his goals.
With a grimace, he stood up and walked over to the full body mirror he had in one of the corners of his office. His gaze was a mix of weariness and determination as he pulled out his gospel. Self-loathing entered his expression as he gazed upon the predictions pertaining to the Sanctuary.
"I am truly sorry for what must be done." Roswal finally got his body in front of the mirror. His eyes jumped up and down his reflection. Self-hatred filled him as he looked at the clothes on his body.
A devil, a menace, a monstrosity, a Warlock, appeared in Roswal's memory. Four hundred years had not dulled his recollection of the fight, so when he looked at the uniform covering him he grew sick.
"I am sorry Subaru-kun, Ram, Rem, Beatrice… but I'm weak, a clown, a jester, nothing more than a fool." He tightened his grip on the copy of the tome of wisdom his teacher had bestowed upon him.
"Without this I am nothing, and… oh Od Laguna… something is wrong with it." The man's knees gave out beneath him. He tumbled to the ground without a hint of protest. All light drained from his eyes as he remembered what he'd been able to ignore while he was plotting with Subaru and Emilia.
"Something is wrong with the gospel. Something is wrong with the gospel. Something is wrong with the gospel. Something is wrong with the gospel. Teacher. Teacher. Teacher. TEACHER!" Roswal slammed his forehead into the ground to avoid the melancholy in his soul.
As he raised his head back up to repeat the action a small hand landed on the back of his head. A woman's soft palm caressed his hair.
"I remember once long ago, I wished you well on this journey of yours, Roswal A. Mathers." Roswal turned his head to the soft voice. Only to find a horrid sight. A platinum-haired witch stood next to him. Her hair swayed in an unseen breeze, right alongside the small cloth that covered her body. Pandora's pale skin glowed in the equally pale moonlight.
"I deeply apologize, but your journey must continue." When he heard those words Roswal realized that his attempt to save Echidna was no longer truly his, but did he care? He would be able to continue on in blissful ignorance.
Roswal turned his head back to the ground. He couldn't bring out his determination right now. I suppose I'll go back to my goal, back to dancing on strings I guess. So I was right. I really am nothing without some fucking book. I'm sorry teacher… Roswal sighed to himself before contemplating what lay ahead.
He knew what Pandora had planned for the world. His teacher had warned him of it, made him terrified of it, and told him to avoid Pandora at all costs. Normally he listened to his teacher's instructions, but right now, he just couldn't care.
Maybe if she accomplishes her goal, then that wouldn't be so horrible. I w-
"Your memories deceive you."
Only a few hours later lightly tanned eyelids pulled back to reveal icy blue irises. Rem looked around the room before she eventually forced herself to stand up. If she didn't force herself then she would've remained on her bed for the rest of the day. Since she was so lazy she had to force herself.
Someone more diligent would have been able to get up, her sister was a perfect example. Ram was always up and out of bed every time Rem checked in on her in the morning, which she still did because she had to be a good sister. But for the past month, Ram was always awake long before Rem and had completely cleaned her room before Rem even arrived.
Rem had assumed that her sister's superiority was the reason that she was never in her room asleep, so she never realized the real reason was Ram never slept in her own room anymore. The pink-haired oni was always asleep on a desk chair in Subaru's room to make sure that he never had any nightmares.
Though even now Rem would still go to check on her room as a part of her morning routine. With a grimace, Rem whispered out what she needed to do, "Wash my face and change." It was a habit of hers that she'd kept secret from all the other members of the mansion. She'd needed it to stay organized because she couldn't keep track of a single thing on her own.
The blue-haired girl quickly made her way through all the steps of her morning routine. She started by washing up in the bathroom then changing into her familiar maid uniform. It wasn't the same uniform that she'd worn when she first became a maid, she'd grown out of that years ago, but it was the exact same in terms of appearance.
After that, she spent nearly fifteen minutes attempting to make her appearance perfect, if she didn't then she would stain her sister's reputation. If her twin sister did not look perfect then it would reflect badly on the pink-haired maid.
Rem never stopped to think that Ram had never once said she looked bad even when she hadn't made herself look perfect. The contemplation never entered Rem's mind.
"Alright, that's perfect, or as close as I can get to it." Rem commented to herself. I still look awful in comparison to sister but now I won't be a shame on her reputation, right? The girl was still unsure as to how others would judge her appearance in conjunction with her sister.
Without ever receiving an answer to her question the maid set off for the final piece of her morning routine: her sister's room.
It didn't take her more than a few moments of walking to get there, Roswal had given them rooms that were very close to each other. Rem smiled as she thought of the lord of the mansion who'd given her and her sister so much in the past decade.
After a quick shake of her head Rem returned to the task at hand. With a hesitant reach of her hand the girl cracked open the door, she made sure to open it in such a way that the hinges did not let out any creaking noises that might wake up her sister.
Rem didn't think Ram was here, her sister was always up before her anyway, but she couldn't slip in her duty toward her sister, so she continued to make sure that if her sister was here and was sleeping that she wouldn't wake up the pink-haired maid.
With a few delicate, and by extension silent steps Rem was able to determine that Ram was already awake. Of course sister is awake, she is so much more diligent than Rem ever could be, and even if she was asleep then she would just be taking a well-deserved break from her tireless work.
With her final statement about Ram taking a break, the blue-haired girl was correct. Ram was constantly awake either helping out Roswal with his management of the domain or making sure Subaru's mind didn't fall back into his torturous nightmares. Rem knew that her older sister usually only got about four hours of sleep a night, if Ram was lucky then she could squeeze in five. Compared to that Rem, who slept a full eight hours, was completely lazy in her own mind.
Although her number was wrong as it didn't account for Ram staying with Subaru the entire night, her assertion that Ram got less sleep was still largely correct though, as the oni slept sitting up in a chair.
Rem didn't think about that, however, as she didn't have the necessary information to know about it, so moving past it she took her confirmation and walked back into the hallway. Where she finally set about her daily work. She moved to where the main service room was, where she, Subaru, and Ram all kept a list of the things that had been done for the past few days and all the things that still needed to be taken care of.
Rem couldn't memorize all of the different chores in their unique intricacies, which was the impossibly high standard by which she measured herself, so she needed to use that list as a guide.
Once she made it there and checked the list she began to sweep the floor of the kitchen so that it was clean for when Subaru made his daily meal. The boy had started his employment by working for four days with her sister, where he'd shown off incredible cooking skills.
Rem winced as she thought of the reason for her own absence from the mansion during those days. She remembered her impulses taking control on Subaru's first day. Ash filled her nose as she continued her daily chores.
Guilt reached into her chest as she tried to make sure the kitchen was clean. Subaru needed to make the food, it would be undoubtedly tainted if Rem touched it at this point. She knew that her own meals could in no way compare to Subaru's.
Rem's remorse continued to itch at her. I should apologize. Rem should apologize. I should atone. She desperately wanted to make some form of apology to Subaru, but every time she approached the man she grew unsettled by the look in his eyes. It was as if he was never actually looking at her and was instead seeing someone else in her place.
Rem's guilt and Subaru's inability to truly see her had worked together to enforce a distance between the two that was seemingly impossible to cross. Even when Rem had gotten drunk on the night of her sister's snow sculpture competition she'd been unable to speak with him.
Rem forced herself to focus entirely on the task at hand as her guilt was insurmountable, and she couldn't focus on it right now.
For the next few minutes Rem tirelessly worked to make the kitchen spotless. She knew that she would miss everything that needed to be cleaned the first time, so she cleaned the entire room almost three times before she stopped working, although she didn't stop because she wanted to.
"Heeeeey, Rem-san?" A familiar voice called out from behind the maid. Rem quickly stepped back from her work and turned to the source of the voice, where she promptly dropped into a bow.
"What do you need Emilia-sama?" Rem asked the silver-haired girl, as she rose from her bow.
"Uhm…" The girl looked guilty as if she was being deceitful, though Rem wasn't suspicious as she knew the girl would never try to harm her, or more importantly her sister.
"Roswal needs to speak with you about something." The silver-haired girl's soft voice eventually finished with.
"What does Roswal-sama need?" The maid responded to the silver-haired girl with all the courtesy she could muster.
"Well, he didn't saaay exactly what he wanted to talk to you about." Emilia was very particular about her wording as she responded to the maid's question.
Rem not wanting to break her protocol as a maid to question the girl further, decided instead to go to Roswal's office so she could figure out what the girl was saying.
"Very well, Emilia-sama. Rem shall go to Roswal-sama's office as soon as possible." The maid took a hold of the broom she had taken from the servant's room and strode past Emilia and out of the room.
Once she was out into the hallway she put the broom back where it belonged before making her way toward Roswal's office.
As quickly as she could Rem arrived at the doors of Roswal's office. Her swift speed could be explained by Emilia's odd actions earlier.
Did I do something wrong? Rem thought as she reached out to the doors of the office. No surprise rose in her heart as she had that thought, only resignation. She knew that this would happen sooner or later, that she would be dismissed for her poor service as a maid.
She expected to be fired or at the very least demoted from her position as head maid. Will I still get to see sister? The maid, or as she thought, soon to be former maid opened the door with a hesitant arm.
Her face was dejected as she stepped into the large office. The first sensation that she registered upon entering the room was the stale scent of papers and ink. Next, she saw Roswal sitting at his desk with Ram standing on the other side of the desk from him.
"Ah, nooooow we are all here." Roswal smiled fondly to Rem, who quickly fell into a bow, as Frederica had taught her to always do if she wanted to be a proper maid.
"What did you need Roswal-sama?" Rem got straight to her duty as she attempted to keep the despair from her voice. Roswal had noticed the maid's troubled emotions as soon as she walked into the room; however, he hadn't addressed them directly as he knew that his words would ease her troubles.
Ram turned and shot her sister a confused gaze at the fact that they had both been requested by the head of the mansion, which rarely happened. After a moment of her trying to figure it out, she realized it would be best just to wait for his explanation. It would be far simpler than attempting to work through the question in her own mind, especially when the man who'd asked both of them to come was right there, and seemed ready to explain it to them.
"Alright now thaaaat you are both here we may begin." Roswal started off his orders for the maid sisters, "I neeeeeed you both to stay in Arlam Village, until tomorrow niiiight."
"If I may ask," Ram began to which Roswal nodded, when she saw this she continued on with her question, "Roswal-sama, why are you sending us to Arlam?"
"I have reason to believe that there may be sooooome issue with the barrier, I know its troublesome work, but it neeeeds to be done," Roswal explained his intentions to them and eased their worries. He spoke with such a convincing and reliable tone that neither noticed his justification had been made up just last night when he was speaking to Subaru and Emilia.
"When do we leave?" Ram asked for Rem who had just now realized that this meant she wasn't being fired and forced away from her sister. A look of joy and relief had spread across her face so Rem was unable to inquire further into the duty that Roswal had just assigned them.
"Thiiiiis is a very important task, and it neeeeds to be completed vigilantly, so as soooooon as possible would be best." Roswal's general eccentricity kept Rem from noticing how odd this all sounded, Ram, on the other hand, had realized by now that the lord of the mansion was not being entirely truthful but she could tell that Roswal was not acting upon his gospel here. His actions seemed too uncalculated for it to be the work of his gospel, so Ram trusted him in this matter.
"We'll get right to it Roswal-sama." Rem's voice was laced with gratitude as she thanked the clown-dressed man who'd given her and her sister so much and had just now not fired her, she didn't realize that her sacking had never been on the table, but she felt gratitude for it anyway.
"Gooood, well you should be on youuuuuur way shortly now." The man responded to the girl's gratitude with a smile.
A few hours later the oni twins strode into Arlam Village and made their way over to the building that Roswal had rented for them to sleep in. It was the same one that Subaru and Rem had slept in after the mabeast incident in the forest.
The sisters planned to get settled in there, and then they would spend the rest of the day looking over the barrier and making sure there were no mabeasts near the village. Or no more mabeasts than there should be. They knew that some would be there even though Roswal had cleared out nearly the entire population only a few weeks ago.
The area was a favored breeding ground for the Ulgarm so the animals came here frequently. Even Roswal's extermination couldn't keep them out for longer than a week or two at most. The clown would have to tirelessly work day and night clearing out the hordes of witch beasts for the land to actually be safe.
It took quite a lot to get mabeasts to stop coming to an area, so it would take Roswal a lot of time to clear out the beasts. Time that he could better spend on ensuring that his plans all came to fruition.
So Rem and Ram were unresistant to the fact that they would have to search around this place. Though Ram believed that it may entirely be for the sake of appearances, and she was fine with that if it would help Roswal's reputation.
On the other hand, Rem was accepting of the task because it would likely allow her to spend time with her sister and continue to prove that she was qualified to continue work at the Roswal mansion, even if she was only barely qualified.
As the two set up their beds Ram realized something. Subaru would have to face his nightmares without her. Dammit. She cursed herself as she tried to think of a way around that.
It didn't take her long to remember she was still only a fifteen-minute walk away from Subaru. She breathed a quick sigh of relief at the knowledge that she would still be able to care for him, all she would have to do was sneak back into the mansion. Which wouldn't be difficult, and she knew that she wouldn't be in any real danger at trying to reenter. Only Beatrice would be able to detect her entrance and the spirit would be able to tell exactly who she was.
That solves that then. Ram thought to herself as she set out her bed, though she knew she would likely not use it in the night she would be staying in Arlam.
"Alright, I'm finished." Ram let off an air of smug satisfaction as she looked down at her side of the room. Which to the untrained eye was a haphazard mess of necessary belongings strewn about all over and around the bed. However, to Rem and Ram's twin eyes the collection of splattered objects was, in actuality, a complex organizational pattern that Ram had devised using her extreme intelligence.
"Good work sister." Rem complimented the speed and efficiency with which her sister completed tasks.
"Thank you," Ram's smug smile widened at her sister's words. The pink-haired girl soon laid down on her bed as a yawn fell from her throat.
"Anyway wake me up when you finish organizing the room," Ram forced out in a tired voice, all the while she pulled the covers over her body.
"Of course sister." Rem responded, but Ram was already asleep so she didn't hear the blue-haired girl's words.
For the next half an hour, Rem focused on making their shared room as organized and well-styled as possible. It was the first time they'd shared a room in years, so Rem didn't want to disappoint her sister with poor aesthetics.
Once Rem was done with making sure the room looked perfect, or at least as good as she could make it, she thought. Hopefully sister will be happy with my meager skills. After that, she walked over to the bed where Ram was fast asleep.
With a gentle arm she reached down and lightly shook Ram's shoulder, "Sister, you have to wake up."
"Mmh, five more minutes." Ram curled up further into her blankets and turned away from Rem in an attempt to return to sleep.
"Of course sister, if you want I can let you sleep for the rest of the day and do all of Roswal-sama's tasks myself." Rem whispered down to her sister. Ram turned back to her, and could tell that her younger sister's words were completely honest, not meant to instill any form of guilt. Which is what made Ram feel so guilty as she heard each word in all of their genuine truthfulness.
"It's fine, I'm getting up anyway." Ram forced herself to stand as she pushed away her tiredness with a rub of her eyes.
"Well then we should get to work, sister." Rem began to walk out toward the door of the little building that they were staying in until Ram interrupted her.
"Wait, did Roswal-sama ever actually tell us what we're supposed to be doing?" The red-haired oni asked, her face still twisted with the grumpiness of someone who'd just recently woken up.
"I had assumed that he wanted us to check the barrier stones, to make sure that they don't need to be replaced, and to watch the outskirts of the forest for any mabeasts that get too close to the village or its people," Rem responded to her sister by listing off the duties that she'd felt Roswal had implied to them with his words.
"Of course Rem, I was only testing you to see if you knew," Ram responded with a self-confident expression.
"Typical of dear sister, thank you for looking out for Rem." The blue-haired girl stated as she opened to door to the building and walked outside to go check the village barrier.
Ram remained behind for a few moments. Her face was twisted in guilt. "What am I supposed to do?" Rem's face filled her mind as she spoke those words. All self-assuredness and smug confidence that had filled her face a few minutes ago melted away. Should I change how I act? But that would just worry her. Should I tell her that she needs to stop believing I'm better than her? But she wouldn't listen anymore.
Should I tell her that she belittles herself too much? Will that work, or will she just deny it, will it make it worse? Ram tried to navigate all the things that her little sister needed to work through. It was something she thought about on a near-constant basis.
And still after all her years of searching for an answer Ram still had no idea how to help the blue-haired girl.
Eventually, the red-eyed girl shook her head, she hadn't figured out the answer in the past decade, she wouldn't figure it out now standing in the doorway of a room she hadn't spent more than a few hours in. All she could do was continue to support her little sister, so that was what she did as she followed Rem out into the village.
Rem had noticed that her sister had stayed behind, but she didn't question her sister about it. Even if she did want to question her sister she wouldn't have been able to as soon after she stepped out of the building she was surrounded by a group of village children.
"Hey who are you?" A portly boy asked her.
"Yeah, and why do you look like Ram?" A boy with spiky brown hair called out another question.
"Hmm, she does look like Ram." One of the two girls commented while the other girl, who had orange hair and a red hair tie, crossed her arms as a stubborn expression burst out across her face.
Rem only stared around at the group of children in confusion, she had no idea what to make of all their different personalities all being put on display. The kids, who weren't really paying attention to her anymore, started to discuss how similar she looked to Ram.
This lull in the conversation between Rem and the village kids only lasted until Ram walked out into the sun and inserted herself into the interaction.
"Why are you all standing around my sister?" Ram asked the children.
"Hey, Ram!" A few of the children called out while the one with the red hair tie looked away from the pink-haired maid.
"Hello," Ram gazed at the children with a slight smile, even as her red eyes passed over Petra.
"So this girl is your sister?" One of them asked after Ram greeted them.
"Yes this is my sister, her name is Rem." Satisfied with her answer the kids all moved closer to the two sisters, who were now standing right next to each other.
"What are you guys doing here?" Lucas called out another question.
"And where's Subaru?" Petra asked her own.
"That idiot is still up in the mansion." Ram changed her voice to an infuriated tone, but she was unable to hide the smile on her face.
"And we're here to check for mabeasts." Rem finally spoke to the children.
"Mabeasts?" The children's expressions all flipped from cheerful to fearful.
"You're morons if you think mabeasts will really be a problem for us, also we don't know if there actually are any." Ram soothed the worries of the group.
"Sister is right, and we should get to work." Rem and Ram began to walk toward the edge of the village where the barrier was located. Only for them to realize that the children were following them.
"So what do you have to do?"
"Oh by the Od Laguna." Ram tried to force her face into a grimace at the prospect of talking to the children as she worked, but could only manage to barely dampen her fond smile.
"You won't get away from us that easily," Petra spoke angrily.
Rem giggled at Ram's attempt to act annoyed as the pink-haired woman tried to answer all of the children's incessant questions. As the day stretched on so did their constant curiosity, and eventually, Rem began to answer just as many questions as her sister, to the point where half their total worktime was spent entertaining the children instead of actually working.
However, neither felt guilty about it once they confirmed that the barrier was completely intact. The two sisters smiled at each other as they were forced to answer ever more questions.
A fifteen-minute walk away, the halls of the mansion were bustling with activity and the orders of a black-haired boy.
"Alright, we need this hallway decorated like this." He decorated a small portion himself to demonstrate how he wanted it to look to Emilia and Beatrice.
"You two continue on with this pattern, while I get Roswal to actually help." The boy ordered them with a stern voice and a blank face. Once he'd finished speaking he left to go get the clownish master of the mansion.
Emilia watched with an amused smile, yet a tiny hint of worry mixed in with that amusement. "Subaru is a bit scaaary isn't he?" The girl giggled to herself as she whispered down to Beatrice.
"If you are a young girl then I suppose he could be." The spirit of the forbidden library responded. She had to hide her own surprised expression. Beatrice hadn't expected Subaru to be able to order people around that effectively.
The two worked in silence for a couple of minutes before Puck came out and broke the awkwardness. "Subaru really is determined to get this party right isn't he?"
"Yeaaah Subaru is definitely determined," Emilia responded to her spiritual father.
"To think he shows this much determination for a birthday party. Hmph." Beatrice didn't want to admit that she might consider, to think about possibly, maybe, asking for a birthday party of a similar degree.
"I guess it just shows that he cares about the maids-" Puck looked like he wanted to say more when an annoyed Subaru and an amused Roswal appeared in the hallway.
"Time for you to help out, Ros," Subaru ordered the clown. Resolve glimmered in the boy's eyes as he was determined to create the best birthday party the twins had ever had.
"Is there anything in iiiiiiiiit for meee, Subaru-kun?" Roswal shook himself out of Subaru's grip with ease and used his height and a twisted expression to loom over the boy. Subaru was unfazed by the clown's attempt at intimidation and quickly responded to the question which he'd been expecting.
"How does a smile on Rem and Ram's faces, as they have the greatest eighteenth birthday party ever sound?" Subaru asked, maybe if he still held his humanity he would have given off a convincing smile, but now the only thing he could manage was honeying his words a little.
"Ahhhhhh, well I suppose I haaaave been thoroughly outwitted and entirely beateeeen. How delightful." Roswal gave the boy his amused smile once more and began to decorate the mansion hallways.
"I'm going to go see what ingredients we have on hand for the birthday dinner tomorrow night." Subaru quickly walked off to go attend to that leaving the group to all think over his behavior.
"Subaru reaaaly is strange." Emilia's voice held a hint of warmth as she spoke those words.
"Quiiiiiite," Roswal responded before setting to work.
"He is that, in fact," Beatrice added her agreement.
"Very strange indeed." Puck commented.
By the time the sun fell low and descended below the horizon above Arlam Village, Rem and Ram were finally free of the children, who'd eventually gotten bored of their constant questioning of the two sisters.
At the same time, they'd also determined that the barrier on the forest was safe and that there was no threat of mabeasts.
"What should we do, sister?" Rem began to question her older sister, "We know that there is no threat to the village but lord Roswal said that we were to stay here until tomorrow night."
"I can make sure tonight. I need to return to the mansion for something anyway, so how about you just sleep here for the night, and then I can confirm with Roswal-sama." Ram answered her younger sister's question. And I can also figure out why Ros sent us on this complete sham of a job. Ram had used her Clairvoyance as soon as they'd entered the village to determine that there was no real buildup of mabeasts in the forest.
And Roswal had told them to wait specifically until the next day to return. There must have been something that he wanted to hide.
Why would he want us out of the mansion? Ram raised her hand to her chin as she and Rem walked through the door of their temporary housing.
Both of the sisters moved to their respective beds, Rem laid down on hers and Ram simply sat on her own. What could it be? Wait… Is it-
"Good night, sister," Rem whispered over to her as she changed into her nightgown and tucked herself beneath the covers of her bed.
"Good night, Rem," Ram responded to her sister's words.
What could need us to be out of the mansion? Ram continued to work through all the possible reasons that Roswal could want her and her sister out of the mansion for.
It took her quite a long time, about ten minutes, to finally figure it out. Our birthday! Ram's eyes widened and hopped over to the sleeping form of her sister. She realized that she had completely forgotten her and her sister's birthday. When she started to think about it she wasn't surprised. It was common for them to forget their birthday. They were usually too focused on their constant work as maids to remember it completely.
Roswal always had to remind them about the day. Is this a surprise party? Ram thought to herself. She continued to think about it, until her eyes looked out the window to see that the sun had completely set, and by now it was fully nighttime.
Barusu! Ram, as quietly and as quickly as she could, moved from her bed all the way to the exterior of the room. She made sure to not move the door too fast so the hinges didn't creak on her way out.
Once she was out into the village proper she walked swiftly until she was outside of the village, then took off into a sprint in an attempt to reach the Roswal manor in time to catch Subaru as he went to sleep. She knew that he usually went to sleep right after sunset so that he could wake up at an incredibly early hour to make sure everything in the mansion was as it should be.
Ram herself looked less than fondly on that habit of his, because it meant that she had to time her sleep schedule so that she awoke nearly a full thirty minutes before him, just to be sure that he didn't catch her holding his hand at night. Ram wouldn't have been embarrassed if he discovered, but she didn't want to have to go through the trouble of explaining her reasoning, at least not until she'd properly figured out how she felt about him.
She had a rough idea of how she felt but she'd never vocalized those feelings to anyone so she couldn't truly explain them. Maybe the only way to know how to explain them was to confess them to Subaru, but she wanted to at least be a little bit surer of herself before that, and she wanted to know whether or not she would choose between him and Roswal. She didn't want to tell him until she'd made that choice.
While she was running to the mansion she tried to think about her feelings further but only succeeded in confusing herself. Dammit Barusu. She cursed him in her mind as she arrived at the gates of the mansion.
With a conscious effort on her part, she slowed herself down and hid from the windows of the residence by putting her body behind one of the hedges in the courtyard. Roswal is either planning a surprise party which I don't want to ruin, or he's planning something with his gospel. As Ram thought about the prospect of Roswal's gospel and the plans he'd made using it her lips curled in disgust.
She directed that emotion at the gospel, and Roswal's teacher, which had driven him to do so many horrible things, she didn't direct them at him since she still loved him, but she directed it at the things he'd done and what had driven him to that point.
After her disgust subsided she forced her mind to stay calm while she activated her Clairvoyance.
She threw her head back so that her face was pointed up to the night sky, before she let her eyes begin to vibrate, they weren't actually vibrating but it was the only way that she could describe the sensation. It was a jarring feeling that she would never get used to, as her vision changed wavelengths to allow her to look through the eyes of others.
Ram knew the wavelengths of everyone in the mansion so she would always be able to tell which set of eyes she was looking through. So when the interior of Emilia's room shoved itself into her mind she was able to confirm that she was actually using the half-elf's eyes.
Nothing out of the ordinary. She watched for a few seconds as Emilia got herself ready for bed, then Ram switched to Beatrice's vision, which she realized was impossible, so the spirit must have been inside the forbidden library at the moment.
Beatrice isn't up and about in the mansion then. Next, she shifted into Roswal's eyes, all she saw was a desk full of papers. So Ros is working for the night.
Finally, she switched into Subaru's vision only to be met with blackness. She had gotten into his perspective but was only able to see the backs of his eyelids.
Damn. Ram moved out from her hiding place and toward the doors of the mansion. Thanks to her Clairvoyance she also knew that there were no intruders in the mansion, she had checked for any extra sets of eyes she could have switched into. Now that she knew there were no unforeseen invaders to the mansion she reached the doors with sure steps.
With a swift flick of the doorknob, she opened the door and pushed it open. Quiet footsteps let her enter the mansion and started to move toward Subaru's room without making a sound.
A smile stretched across her face as she noticed the birthday decorations that had been put up in the entryway of the mansion. They all had wishes of a happy birthday to her and her sister on them. She could tell that many of them were done by Subaru's own hand, she'd set him to do some unimportant paperwork for Roswal before, so she knew his handwriting.
Her face colored as she looked at the delicate touch that she was sure Subaru and Roswal had placed into organizing everything. It only made her steps more determined as she traveled toward his room.
Once she'd reached Subaru's room she was interrupted by the door right next to his opening. Ram's neck twisted in that direction and her vision jumped into the doorway of the room, which was filled wall to wall with ancient books.
Ram caught sight of a spirit garbed in a pink dress encircled by the stacks of what she had always assumed were Roswal's books. Beatrice got out of her seat with an annoyed look on her face and came out to speak to the maid.
"What are you doing back here, maid?" She asked tiredly, almost as if she didn't want to be having this conversation.
"I need to help Barusu sleep, that moron isn't even good enough to sleep properly without having an utter meltdown," Ram replied to the spirit with a concerned voice as she spoke of Subaru.
"He wanted you to stay out of the mansion, I suppose. So he could surprise you and the other one with, oh what did he call it, the best birthday party they've ever had, or something like that." Her voice flattened out to mimic Subaru's own blank tone as she spoke his words.
"Well, Beatrice-sama, I would have hated that surprise, it would have been awful." From the way Ram said it, Beatrice could easily figure out that the girl was lying through her teeth. The librarian wanted to say something about it but the maid continued to speak. "But it would have been far more annoying if he got another guilty look in his eyes from those dreams of his." Ram's voice twisted in anxiety as she thought of the face he made each time he dreamt.
Maybe that was why he looked so tortured in the days leading up to the mabeast incident. Ram had always assumed that it was from what Rem nearly did to him, but he'd never seen Subaru direct any hatred toward the girl, not since just after it happened. Maybe it was the torture of his dreams which had given him such a haunted look.
Could I have helped him earlier? Ram thought to herself. If she was someone else she would have been guilty; however, she knew she had no way of knowing what was happening to Subaru, so she didn't let herself grow too guilty about it.
"So you would go against what he wants because you think it is in his best interest?" Beatrice's questions seemed more honest than they normally would have. Ram didn't have time to dwell on it as she was busy formulating a response. "Is that a sign of you thinking he's an imbecile or is it you holding a far greater opinion of him than you let on?"
At her words, Ram was shocked away from her bluster and gave an honest response. "Why can't it be both?" The maid posed that question to the spirit.
"If that's the case, then why do you pretend to hate him?" Beatrice found herself speaking truthfully to the maid. In turn, Ram found herself doing the same.
"Why do you?" She responded with a question of her own, which set the blonde spirit's eyes wide.
"Hmph. I knew you maids were annoying." She quickly turned back into her library to hide the embarrassment that was plain on her face. "Betty wishes you a good night, I suppose." Once she was finished speaking she shut the door with a gust of wind.
Ram watched the spirit's back disappear in the doorway. Even if you don't know it Barusu, you have a way of getting people to grow fond of you. The oni knew that the way she thought of Subaru was not the same as the way the spirit thought of him, but that did not change the fact that they both looked upon the boy with some form of love.
After a few seconds of thought, she turned back to Subaru's door and pushed it open with silent finesse. An image of Beatrice's face lingered in her mind. Ram would never admit it to anyone, but she'd greatly enjoyed that conversation with Beatrice.
Ram grabbed Subaru's desk chair and pulled it up next to his bed. As she sat down and reached out her hand to grab hold of Subaru's a small black spirit floated up to her arm and quickly circled around it.
Beatrice, what do I really think of her? Ram started to reassess her opinion of the spirit as her eyes slipped shut.
Emilia woke to the dim light of the morning sun and a yawning Puck. "Hey Lia," Her feline father waved down to her from his hovering position in the air.
"Good morning Puck," Emilia forced her body to get up and out of her bed, which was difficult as she was still a bit tired out from all the work that Subaru had made everyone do the day before. "Haaaa, did Subaru have to make us do so much?" She asked Puck.
"Hey now, some hard work builds character, and the guns." Puck flexed his furry arms. "But cute girls such as yourself probably shouldn't have those so it might be a good idea to avoid doing too much of that in the future." Puck asserted his overprotective, and slightly sexist, nature once more.
"Eh well it is nice to do things to help out Rem and Ram, so as long as it's in the name of helping them I'll keep doing it, even if it is tiring." Emilia got up out of bed and got ready for the day, her familiar cheerful and naïve smile returned to her by the time she was ready.
"I wonder what Subaru is going to have us do today," Puck cupped his chin in his right paw and let his tail wag in a fake breeze, "We've already done all the decorating, the only thing left would be-"
Puck was interrupted from speaking, as the subject of his speech pushed open the door. "Hey Emilia-tan, sorry to bother you but I need you to help me prepare the food today, there's a lot of it so it might take the whole day." His voice held a touch of anticipation and maybe even a little bit of excitement at the idea of surprising Rem and Ram with their birthday party.
Emilia couldn't help but get caught up in what was, in comparison to his normal behavior, a massive display of excitement for Subaru, "Of course I can help, what do you need?"
After she'd said those words Subaru had whisked her off to the kitchen where he made her cart around all the ingredients and do all of the simpler tasks that she could do. Here was where she spent most of the day, tirelessly working so Subaru could prepare everything.
However there was one large benefit. She got to watch and experience as one of the greatest meals she had ever smelled was being cooked before her very eyes. "Hey Subaru, caaan I taste test it?" Emilia's voice took on a childish edge as she looked at the full feast of food that he was preparing.
"Of course you can, Emilia-tan." Subaru quickly accepted her request and returned to his task, "Oh, but until then can you make sure Roswal needs any help, I'm pretty much sorted here." Roswal was in charge of any extra planning that still remained, as Subaru had his hands full with the food.
"Will do Subaru," Emilia responded with a serious, and determined, expression.
After a few minutes, Emilia eventually made her way to where Roswal was, it was difficult to locate him as he was moving throughout the mansion checking on all the decorations. Puck however, was able to track him down using his magic.
"Heeey, Roswal." Emilia waved to the lord of the mansion. The make up around his eye bent slightly as he crinkled his brow upon her walking over to him.
"Whaaat is it Emilia-sama?" Roswal asked with a cheerful voice. He let the clipboard that he was holding fall to the wayside as he focused on her, and on Puck who was currently floating atop the girl's head.
"Is there anything more for us to do, to help out?" Emilia asked with enthusiasm. "I'll do anything you need." She added as a touch of resolve entered her eyes.
Roswal tilted his head slightly when he noticed it.
Emilia was too naïve to entirely notice the slight annoyance that had entered Roswal's eyes.
After a few moments Emilia got closer to him, "I mean it Roswal, I can do anything you need me to." Emilia spoke matter-of-factly as she attempted to take a look at his clipboard.
She would go to these lengths to give maids that never talk to her a nice party. Roswal couldn't decide whether he should be disgusted, disappointed, or impressed. The three emotions weighed against him until Roswal eventually raised his clipboard to find something for her to do.
It'll at least get her out of my hair for a few minutes. He commented to himself on the situation as he found a task for her.
"Alriiiiight, Emilia-sama you and Puck can goooo help out Beatrice with making suuuure the maid's don't discover the party." Or at least that Rem doesn't. He'd very easily noticed Ram coming into the mansion, seeing as he used Yang magic to keep track of who entered and exited the mansion. It was similar to Beatrice's use of Yin magic, except Roswal figured it would be more effective if both Yin and Yang were used, so that way it would be more difficult to bypass both of them.
"Will do, thaaaaanks Roswal," Emilia turned around and walked to the spot in the mansion where the spirit was working on her spells.
"Oooh, we get to see Betty," Puck celebrated by pumping his arms in the air as he hovered after Emilia. "Though she might get distracted by me, so it would be best if I stayed hidden, at least until she finishes her work." Puck knew very well how much of a diversion his fur would be to Beatrice.
With those words, the spirit fled back into the magic stone that Emilia kept on her chest.
Roswal watched this interaction with an interested and slightly annoyed expression. Hmm, maybe if she was able to demonstrate that resolve in other areas when she didn't have Subaru to constantly motivate her, or if she was able to grow out of that childish naïveté, then I could respect her somewhat.
At that thought, Roswal L. Mathers looked down at the floor in guilt. Even if it would never happen normally, my future actions in the Sanctuary certainly won't help. Beatrice flashed in his mind. Drops of blood soon stained the floor. It dripped down from where his nails had bitten into his skin.
For a few moments, the man let himself stew in the punishment of his own self-hatred. I'm sorry, Beatrice-chan. Roswal didn't care enough anymore to keep up Hector's speech pattern in his own mind. He didn't need to remind himself he was a weak and terrible man in his own mind. He already had enough constant reminders.
After a few more seconds passed Roswal tossed aside the clipboard that held the rest of the preparations, he didn't feel any extra guilt at that, all the items had already been crossed off the list, aside from the duty that he'd sent Emilia on.
Without a second glance, Roswal started to walk toward his office. "I need a drink," He thought to himself aloud, "Even if this body can't get drunk, maybe I can still take some solace in the taste." His face twisted in agony as he thought upon his own words.
This body? This body? This body? Is that what it is to me? Just a body to use? Of course that's what it is, I decided upon this course centuries ago. The clown thought of his current form.
What kind of man would you have been, L. Mathers? Surely better than me. With an uncaring shove, he pushed open the door to his office and quickly found the drawer where he kept the alcohol.
With a trembling hand he grabbed onto a bottle and exerted his mana to extract the cork with ease. Without another second of hesitation, Roswal slammed the bottle and his head back. He let the wine pour down the back of his throat. He didn't particularly care for the taste, maybe if he drank enough then he could overpower this body's resistance to alcohol.
I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, but I must continue on this course. I've put so much into it, so much time, and so many lives. So much agony… I can't back out now. Until the sun set, and Roswal realized it was time for Rem and Ram to arrive back in the mansion the clown drank.
When he set the bottle down, not the same one he'd started with, he realized once more that there was no way to break through his form's resistance to alcohol. However, that didn't mean this would be his last attempt at bypassing his body's tolerance.
Earlier in the day across the village Ram sat at the edge of the village, her back resting against the fence that guarded against mabeasts with the help of barrier stones.
"So Roswal-sama does want us to stay until tonight, sister?" Rem asked her older twin who was still busy trying to wake herself up. From what Rem could gather her sister hadn't been able to get much sleep last night.
"Yeah, haaaa…" The pink-haired girl responded to her.
"And why does Roswal-sama want that?" Rem tried to figure out what Roswal was doing, she trusted him but he was acting a little suspicious.
"Oh it was nothing important, you don't have to worry about it." Ram dismissed her worries with a soothing statement.
Hmm, I should trust sister, but Roswal is acting off-
Seeing her distress Ram continued to ease her worries, "Don't worry about it, your big sister has it taken care of." Ram let loose a smug smile to calm Rem down.
"Ah, then I will trust you sister, Rem apologizes for doubting you." She bowed her head slightly.
"Hey you talk funny!" One of the village kids ran over and shouted.
"What do you mean?" Rem responded to him as the same group of kids ran over to them.
"Oh… more questions." Ram shook her head and tried to force her face into a scowl, she eventually succeeded, however it was quite the struggle.
"Hehe," Rem giggled at the expression on her older sister's face.
I suppose this could be a fun way to pass the time. Rem thought to herself as she started to run through all of the children's incessant, yet oddly charming questions.
By the time the sun was beginning to set Rem and Ram finally bade farewell to the children. "Hey will you guys come back?"
"And can you bring Subaru next time?" The children saw them off with one final question.
"Hmph, it would be a pain to drag that idiot along-" Ram didn't continue as all the kids raised up their arms in victory, they knew how Ram's words related to her actions well enough by now to know that she meant she was going to bring Subaru. The pink-haired maid flashed the children an exaggerated pout at them ignoring her words.
"We will likely return very soon." Rem answered their other question as she and her sister started their walk back toward the Roswal mansion.
The twins walked back to the mansion in relative silence, though it didn't feel like awkward silence, and it didn't take them long to approach the mansion.
The first thing that Rem's blue eyes noticed was the odd way the residence was lit. She couldn't quite describe it but the lighting coming from inside of the house felt odd, as if it had been tampered with.
Her vision quickly flicked to her sister who had seemingly noticed nothing out of the ordinary and was walking along casually. I must just be imagining things. Rem dismissed her own worries as the two traveled through the mansion's garden.
After a few more moments of walking, they arrived at the doors of the mansion. Rem watched as Ram struggled to keep her face stoic.
Oh… so it's as I thought yesterday, I'm getting fired. Roswal-sama finally recognized what an awful maid I am. Rem looked down to the floor, she had expected something like this from the moment Ram had returned saying not to worry about it.
With only resignation in her heart Rem pushed open the doors of the mansion. Only to reveal a dark entrance room. Huh?
"Whose there?" Rem called out as Ram shuffled into the room behind her. When no response came she reached into a concealed pocket where her morning star was kept.
As the silence stretched on and Ram made no moves to address the suspicion Rem's oni senses started to activate. Sister must be protected. I need to atone, so I can't let anything happen to her.
The girl felt her horn begin to affect her emotions, until the lights in the room all flicked on at once.
"SURPRISE!" Roswal, Subaru, Puck, and Emilia all shouted out, Beatrice said it too, but under her breath so she didn't have to deal with the embarrassment.
Rem's arm moved out from her concealed pocket and her eyes darted across the room. Written across decorations, which were ornamenting the walls, were wishes of happy birthday to her and her sister.
Oh, it is our birthday, isn't it? Shows how organized I am… Rem smiled at the prospect of continuing her employment at the mansion and getting to stay with her sister. I'm not getting fired, and now, I get to spend time with sister.
"Alriiiiiight, let's get the celebrations started," Roswal began by stretching out his long arms, "Fiiiiiirst it's time for some dinneeeer, made by our one and only, chef Subaru-kuuuuuun." A smile burst out across the clown's face at the hidden excitement that was beginning to show on Ram's face at those words.
Rem soon felt her sister's anticipation spread to herself, no matter how she viewed him, she could not deny that Subaru was an impeccable chef.
"Come along now youuuuu two, don't want to miss deaaarest Subaru-kuuuun's food." Subaru ignored Roswal's words.
The rest of the group did as well, they were used to him by now, instead of responding they walked along with a hub of conversation. Rem watched as Roswal and Beatrice began to speak to one another. She also particularly noticed that Ram and Subaru had begun to speak.
"You didn't look all that surprised when you walked in." Subaru mused to her sister, he sounded slightly impressed at her ability to figure it out.
"Of course I can figure out your idiot tricks Barusu, you aren't all that cunning, actually you aren't cunning at all." Rem didn't know what to make of Ram's words to Subaru. The blue-haired oni could tell that Ram's voice was filled with fondness but she still couldn't determine exactly why that was.
"Heeey, Rem-san, how did you like the surprise?" Emilia suddenly asked her a question, bursting into her observation of Subaru and Ram's conversation.
"Yes, it was nice Emilia-sama, thank you." Rem's words sounded a little less distant than they usually did.
"Don't thank me, you should really be thanking Subaru, he arranged all of this," Emilia pushed the responsibility onto Subaru, "It wouldn't have been nearly as good if I'd organized it." Rem noticed the half-elf whisper to herself under her breath.
"Hmm…" Rem didn't particularly like the idea of speaking to Subaru to thank him, thanks to that ever-present feeling that he was never able to see her.
"Well I'm sure he couldn't have done it entirely on his own, you must have helped somewhat, Emilia-sama." Rem offered her support to the young girl. With a few words, the distance between the two started to melt away.
"Thanks, Rem-san." Emilia offered her gratitude to the maid, unfortunately it didn't seem like she had actually taken Rem's words to heart.
A small understanding awoke in Rem's heart. Emilia-sama… Why do your words, your attitude, why do they feel so familiar… Rem wouldn't allow herself to come up with the answer to that question, instead, she only spoke to Emilia further.
For a few moments, everyone talked softly to each other until the group arrived at the closed white doors of the dining room. With a flourish, Roswal reached forward and opened the doors.
Behind them was a well-lit room, and a table stacked to the brim with food. An entire feast had been laid out there, and it gave off an incredibly appetizing aroma.
"Ahhhh, youuuuu do not disappoint, Subaru-kuuuun," Roswal whispered to Subaru while the clown sniffed softly at the air.
"It smells, mediocre, I suppose." Beatrice crossed her arms and rejected Roswal's judgment.
"Beatrice, don't be rude it smells greaaat and we should credit Subaru for that," Rem watched with an amused smile as Emilia jumped into the conversation.
Behind her, Ram stepped up to correct the injustice that she saw, "Forgive me, Emilia-sama, but you have been horribly tricked by Barusu," She turned her attention from Emilia to Subaru, "Honestly how disgusting can you be Barusu, to attempt to fool Emilia-sama into thinking you are a good cook," She crossed her arms and closed her eyes to finish her statement, "It may smell good, but that's as far as someone with your passable cooking skill goes, Beatrice-sama was too light in her judgement.'
"Hehehe," Rem could only giggle slightly at her sister's tone, which made it clear to everyone that every word that had just come out of her mouth was a complete lie.
"Hmph, you have no right to question Betty, I suppose, you can't even believe your own words. My judgment stands, this food only smells mediocre, in fact." She asserted a different ending to her sentence to make it clear to everyone that she was serious.
"Hahaha," Roswal let out a great laugh at Beatrice's words. "I suppose you haven't changed Beatrice-chan, just as deceitful as ever."
"Shut up, and go back to your odd kinks, you think I haven't seen what you like to do in your spare time," Beatrice walked over to the table where the food was ready and started to take her seat; however, along the way Roswal accompanied her.
"Youuuuu wound me so horribly Beatrice-chan." Roswal continued to tease the girl as he took his seat at seat to the direct left of the head seat.
"Huh…" Subaru gazed upon the conversation with a wistful, and slightly confused look. "That was… something, why do I still try and figure out what that clown is thinking." He shook his head in exasperation and walked off toward the kitchen to go get drinks for the group.
Rem studied him with a thoughtful gaze, until her sister grabbed onto her arm, "C'mon Rem, I'm getting tired of standing when there are perfectly good chairs over there." Rem was led along by her sister who eventually sat down at the head of the table while Rem took a seat to Ram's right, directly across from Roswal.
Emilia quickly took a seat to the right of Rem while Beatrice was already sitting to the left of Roswal, though the spirit had left a single chair of space in between her and the man.
The group all sat in silence staring at the platters of food which were set out on the table. They didn't know whether they were supposed to wait for Subaru to serve them or take what they wanted directly from the large platters.
Finally, to their delight, Subaru arrived with their drinks. "Why aren't you guys eating yet?" He asked as he walked over and poured out drinks of water for them.
"Reaaaally we could have eaten the whole time?" Emilia's face transformed into a pout as she quickly reached over to grab the food, except right before she did she stopped herself, "Oh right, it's your birthday, you guys should get the first pick."
"Thank you Emilia-sama." Rem whispered before allowing her sister to take what food she wanted. With a gesture Rem signaled her intent to wait to Ram, who contrary to her earlier condemnations of Subaru's ability, reached over with and used the ladles that Subaru had placed out to take as much food as she could.
Once Rem and Ram had finished getting their food the others, aside from Subaru, all descended upon it like the Great Rabbit. When they were done Subaru slowly reached over, he'd known that there would still be a lot of food left, he had made extra just so that he wouldn't have to fight to eat. He would not have won that.
For a few minutes, the entire group spent their time eating. Eventually though, they all grew satisfied enough to slow down for a while.
"Sooooo it seems Emilia-sama and I were right abouuuut the food." A smug expression stretched across Roswal's face.
"Please do shut up, I suppose. Betty thinks it's-" The girl froze as she tried to think of an adequate lie for how the food tasted; however, unfortunately for the spirit, the sensation of the taste still on her spiritual tongue wouldn't let her lie about it.
"Oh never mind, I suppose." Beatrice threw her arms up in defeat, but she still did not admit to the food's quality. Upon seeing this Roswal's smugness grew.
"Shut up," Beatrice grumbled.
"Hehe," Emilia chuckled at the spirit's behavior, "Anyway Subaru, what happened to that cake thing you were going to make?"
"What's this cake idiocy, Barusu?" Ram quickly intruded upon the conversation.
"A delicacy from my homeland," Was all he said in response to Ram; however, he still answered Emilia's question, "I had wanted to make it, though I quickly realized, I didn't know how, then I remembered it was because I'd never learned, and that's because this damn country doesn't even have cows, so no milk to actually make it with." Subaru shook his head with an exaggerated motion at his own words.
"I miss that stuff almost as much as my parents," Subaru whispered to himself so quietly that Rem could barely hear it even with her enhanced oni senses.
"Hmm, weeeeell how about we enjoy some nice alcohol?" Roswal asked.
Which quickly prompted a response from Rem and Ram, "No." They both said the word in unison. Rem because the last time she'd woken up to a massive headache and Emilia's arm being wrapped around her. Ram because she remembered what had happened to Subaru the last time he'd drank alcohol.
"Please be quiet with your familial alcoholism, I suppose," Beatrice called out the jester.
"Ah! Youuuu don't have to be soooo harsh, Beatrice-chan," Roswal clutched at his chest as he spoke out in mock pain.
Around the table, most of the people giggled at the man's antics before conversation burst out once more.
Emilia and Rem talked for a little while as did Ram and Beatrice. Subaru and Roswal also discussed a few things but it was easy for Rem to tell that Roswal was holding himself back from fully engaging with Subaru.
After a few hours of all the participants conversing the party eventually began to wind down, until Roswal finally wore them down enough and was finally allowed to bring some alcohol from his office. With an enabling smile he shared it around with all the people in attendance.
Subaru stood a few meters from the table observing as a tipsy Rem and Emilia laughed at some dumb joke one of them had told the other. Maybe if he wasn't so exhausted from his years of abusing Return by Death he would have smiled. Though he didn't entirely see the benefit in smiling, or the concept that being unable to was even a bad thing.
So he ignored the implications that had for his mental state, as he spectated Ram conversing with Beatrice. "Those two are quite similar aren't they?" Nan's said as he spoke into Subaru's mind.
"You'd think it would make them not get along." Subaru mused to his spiritual companion.
"It is very interesting," Nan's curiosity returned until he squashed it down with distaste, "Still are you satisfied with how your plan went."
"Of course. Emilia and Rem are starting to become friends. Beatrice and Ram are understanding each other, and Roswal is… Roswal." The clown was sitting in his seat drinking mostly alone, though Ram had been speaking to him throughout the night.
"Are Rem and Ram happy?" Nan prompted Subaru to look out over the small group of partygoers to find the oni sisters. Rem's face was flushed from the alcohol and a silly smile was stretched across her face.
"They-" Subaru cut off as his vision shifted to Ram who seemed distraught over how the celebration was going. "Why does she look like that?"
Nan shied away from responding to that question directly. Maybe the spirit was codling Subaru but he didn't think the mindset that his contractor was currently trapped in was something he could force him out of. So he switched to a less direct method.
"Maybe you should relax, Subaru," Nan offered, "Enjoy the party you've made, you don't have to keep making sure it goes perfectly."
"What do you mean?" Subaru asked him.
"Go join the party, have fun, you haven't talked to anyone this whole time. I can watch the party for you, just go on." Subaru felt denial rise in his chest at those words. "This isn't a choice Subaru."
"Alright…" Subaru shook his head and walked into the group of party-goers. He navigated around Rem and Emilia before grabbing one of the empty glasses on the table and pouring out some of the liquid from the bottle of wine that was right next to Roswal.
"Ahh, enjoooying the wondrous joooys of alcohol I see," Roswal looked at the bottle of wine in Subaru's hands with fondness that one might direct toward a lover or trusted friend. After a few seconds, Roswal let out a faint whisper, "How I envy you." His speech pattern was absent as he spoke those words.
Subaru paid him little heed and finished pouring out his glass, once he'd done that he returned the bottle to Roswal, and turned around to see Ram standing behind him.
"Oh, hey Ram," Subaru greeted the now eighteen-year-old girl.
"What are you doing with that, Barusu? You aren't trustworthy when it comes to alcohol." Ram reprimanded him.
"Hey, you're only basing that assumption off one night, I'll be more responsible this time." Subaru defended himself, only for Ram to investigate his body language to see if he was telling her the truth.
"So you aren't stupid enough to attempt to lie, well I suppose it isn't my responsibility to watch over Barusu as long as he is responsible," Ram paused for a second before speaking again, "Ha. Who am I kidding you aren't responsible, so I suppose I will have to carefully watch you the rest of the night. How shameful of you to make me do this."
Subaru ignored Ram's antics for the most part and slowly sipped at the wine in his glass. "Well, you don't seem too unhappy about it." Subaru pointed out the slight smile that had built up at the corners of Ram's mouth.
"Idiot Barusu." Ram shook her head and let loose her most commonly spoken phrase. She tried to force a scowl onto her face but eventually gave up when warmth flashed in Subaru's gaze.
"Fucking Barusu." Ram's cheeks colored against her will as she and Subaru began to converse with each other.
Roswal turned his eye upon the group and sighed to himself. He took particular notice of Ram and Subaru as the two spoke to each other.
I'm glad you've found the solace of love, Ram. Next Roswal turned his eyes to Rem who was speaking with Emilia. And I'm glad you've found the beginning of friendship, Rem.
Roswal turned back to the bottles of wine on the table in front of him to hide his pained expression. The most difficult part of my plan is almost here. The four-hundred-year-old clown thought of the forest where this had all began.
Sanctuary is almost here, only a few weeks away now. Roswal stared at the glass of wine before him with eyes full of melancholy.
As the sound of laughter rang out behind him, Roswal forced his guilt back. Rem, Ram, Beatrice, Subaru, and maybe even Emilia, I'm sorry for what I must do.
In another attempt to break the tolerance of his body Roswal grasped a full bottle of wine, after a burst of mana he popped the cork off and knocked the bottle back once more as wine poured down his throat.
I'm so sorry, but I need to see teacher again.
Alright, now onto some arc 3 interludes. Then arc 4 yay. Though I will be working on a project in between this and the arc 3 interludes so watch out for that one. Anyway see ya then.