Chapter 2 : Roswaal's Experiment
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[?: "What happened Puck? Is there any problem? I saw Rem talking to you for the first time in this mansion."]
[Puck: "Ah Lia, you're back. To be honest, I don't know what was bothering her, but she said she was looking for some kid in the mansion, who looked like Subaru."]
The young girl walked up to the little spirit after finishing her morning session. She had seen Puck talking to the maid, and it was surprising for her.
[Emilia: "A kid in the mansion who looks like Subaru…? But no one can enter the mansion without someone letting them in. Is he related to Subaru?"]
[Puck: "Well, I don't know about that, but when I offered the maid my assistance in finding the boy, she said she would find him on her own. So, you don't need to worry about him. He might be some random village kid that Subaru would have brought with him."]
Emilia stood in her place and thought for a while.
[Emilia: How could he enter inside? What if he is alone and scared from getting caught?]
She looked at Puck with a smile.
[Emilia: "Thank you, Puck. You are soooo sweet, but I feel like I should help in case the boy might be lost and scared."]
[Puck: "But…."]
The spirit saw a shining glimmer in Emilia's eyes. This was not the first time he found her so excited; she always behaved this way when she was about to help someone and later gave an excuse for assisting the person. This was the reason he found the girl so sweet.
[Puck: "Huh, fine then, I guess there's no helping it. I'll assist you in finding the kid."]
[Emilia: "Thank you, Puck. You are always soooo reliable."]
With this, both of them started walking towards the mansion. The spirit and his contractor planned to begin their search from the ground floor and continue till they reach the top.
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[Emilia: "By the way, have you seen Subaru today…?"]
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[Subaru: "Cut the crap already. I know that you are behind this."]
The kid (or boy inside a kid's body, to be specific) shouted at the clown.
[Roswaal: "Hmmmmmm, well yes, I admit that your condition is due to a small expeeeeeeriment of mine."]
The clown glared down on the boy.
[Subaru: "What kind of experiment where you trying to do anyway, and when did you perform it on me? I don't remember cooperating in any form."]
[Roswaal: "Subaaaaaaru-kun, can't you understand by the look of it? I was trying to create a reverse ageing medicine so that one can enjoy a longer liiiiiiife."]
Roswaal turned towards the window.
[Subaru: "Huh, is this supposed to be a joke? Why in the world do you need to turn young for?"]
[Roswaal: "You won't get it, youuuuuung man, there are specific goals in a person's life which might not be achievable in the span of a single lifetime. So, should he sit down and look at his dreams get shattered in front of his eeeeeeeeyes? I don't know about others but I, Roswaal L. Mathers, am not someone who can give up on his dreams so easily. One muuuuuust strive with patience, tolerance, and courage. There might beeeeee obstacles in the path, and you need more time to overcome eeeeeeach of them. Failure is not an option."]
Then he turned his head backwards and looked in Subaru's eyes with a creepy smile.
[Roswaal: "After all, no one gets a second chance at life, you know."]
Subaru looked at him in the eyes, sweat dripping from his neck.
[Subaru: *Gulp* Now that was oddly specific]
[Beatrice: "Are you done already I suppose. Betty can't tolerate this clowns rubbishness anymore."]
Roswaal brought back his fake clown-like smile.
[Roswaal: "Oh, my Betty, you make my heart bleeeeeed. Why don't you give me a hug to help me tolerate this paaaaiiin?"]
[Beatrice: "In your dreams I suppose. Or not even there in fact."]
[Subaru: "Hey, listen here, I don't know why would you try such a weird experiment, but why did you choose me? What if something would have happened to me?"]
[Roswaal: "Oh noooooooo (wait, is this a reference of some kind), I would never let anything happen to my precious staff, you know."]
The clown smirked.
[Roswaal: "I looked up the procedure correctly and proceeded with the utmost care to ensure your safety."]
Subaru retook a gulp. He felt uncomfortable but got the hitch that Roswaal knew how to reverse this.
[Subaru: "By the way, when did you do this to me? I mean, I don't remember spending much time with you in the past few days. Did you cast a spell on me while I was asleep?"]
[Roswaal: "Oh, that! I just took someone's help."]
[Subaru: "Help? Whose… help."]
[Roswaal: "Weeeeeeellllll-]
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The scene turns into a flashback, the time being yesterday's evening.
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[?: "Roswaal sama, nee-sama said that you had summoned me. What can Rem help you with?"]
[Roswaal: "Oh Rem, my dear staff, today is the day when you will have to prove your allegiance to me."]
[Rem: "Yes, Rem will do anything in her hand for Roswaal-sama's sake. After all, it is all thanks to you that nee-sama can live so happily -" And I was able to meet my dear Subaru-kun.]
[Roswaal: "Oh myyyyyy, you embarrass me. Weeeeeell, the task that I have for you is quite simple."]
Roswaal turns to open his drawer and takes out a bottle with a crystal cover. It was filled with a pink coloured liquid from inside.
[Roswaal: "From what I know, isn't it time for you, Ram and Subaru-kun to have your evening tea?"]
[Rem: "Yes, you are right. Does Rowaal-sama wishes for some too?']
[Roswaal: "My myyyyyy, look how cheerful you have become recently. Is it due to the new member of our mansion?"]
Rem blushes but says nothing. Roswaal smirks.
[Roswaal: "Anyways, what I want you to do is taaaaake this medicine and put a few drops of it into Subaru-kuuuun's tea."]
[Rem: "Umm, I beg your pardon Roswaal-sama, but may I know what is this liquid?"]
[Roswaal: "Ah, this is a speeeeecial potion having the potential to turn someone younger. This miracle was possible only with the heeeeelllp of my dear Betty. Oh my, did I just tell you that she had helped meeeeeeee? She specifically mentioned not to tell anyone that she helped me prepare this pooootion."]
Rem had a stern and confused look on her face.
[Roswaal: "Now listen here, what you have to do is to put a few drops of this pooootion in Subaru-kun's tea. With my calculations, one drop will reduce his age by about one year, so about three drops should be fine fo-"]
[Rem: "Pardon me Roswaal-sama, but… may I know why are you doing this to Subaru-kun. What if he can never turn back to normal?"]
[Roswaal: "Ah, don't worry about thaaaaat young girl, this is only a sample, so the effect will revert after 2-3 days. Nothing bad will happen to my new emploooooyee."]
Rem thinks for a moment. She feels that even if it's for only a few days, Subaru might not like this kind of treatment. He might hate her for betraying him.
With this thought, she lowers her head even more.
[Rem: "Once again, pardon me Roswaal-sama, but I am afraid I cannot do this without Subaru-kun's permission. Since I was not able to carry out your orders, I am ready for any kind of punishment that you have planned for me."]
Roswaal had a stern look on his face for a moment until his creepy smile crept back again.
[Roswaal: "Ah, it's fine, my deeeear. If you cannot to do it, I will find something else to experiment on."]
[Rem: "But Roswaal-sama-"]
[Roswaal: "I said you don't need to wooooorry."]
Rem feels ashamed of herself for not being able to help her master. But she can't break Subaru's trust. She turns around and starts walking towards the door.
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Roswaal stares with a creepy smile.
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As soon as Rem places her hand on the doorknob-
[Roswaal: "But I do wonder how Suuuubaru-kun looked like when he was young."]
Rem stops in her place and starts thinking.
[Rem: Young Subaru… kun.]
[Roswaal: "Just thinking about it makes my heeeeart melt. Oh, how I loooove kids, the epitome of cuteness."]
[Rem: Cute… Young Subaru… kun.]
Rem stays in her place for a few more moments. Roswaal smirks again.
Finally, Rem turns around and approaches Roswaal; her face was red from blushing.
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[Rem: "Roswaal… sama, are you sure the effect of the potion will revert on its own after a few days?"]
[Roswaal: "Yes, if I remember correctly, I diiiiiiid say that."]
Rem takes a gulp.
[Rem: "Then I think that… there is no harm in experimenting just once. After all, Rem can do at least this much for Roswaal-sama."]
Roswaal laughs internally.
[Roswaal: "Huh, are you sure you are not fooooorcing yourself?"]
[Rem: "Of course not, I understand that this is important for Roswaal-sama so I'll put my feeling's aside."]
Saying that, she takes the potion from Roswaal's hand and starts to walk towards the door again. Suddenly, she stops in her path and turns around once more, her head lowered and her face red.
[Rem: "Umm, Roswaal-sama, may I ask something."]
[Roswaal: "Yes, go ahead."]
[Rem: "Is it okay if… I add six drops instead of three?"]
[Roswaal: "Huh?"]
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Scene changes to present
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[Roswaal: "-And that's what happened."]
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Beatrice face palmed hearing the ridiculous tale.
[Subaru: "Huh, now that I think about it, Rem was acting weird since morning. Hey Roswaal, you shouldn't manipulate your staff like that, you know."]
Subaru looked down at his small body again. He then looked at Beatrice, who showed him her tongue.
[Subaru: "So you mean that I will turn back normal in a few days?"]
[Roswaal: "Yeeeeees, now you tell me, can't you do at least this much for me after I helped you by giving you a job aaaaaand saving you from the mabeasts."]
[Subaru: Ghk. "Fine, I'll accept it just this once. But look at all the trouble you caused me. How can I go in front of Emilia-tan like this? She already thinks I'm childish and this is just going to strengthen her belief further."]
[Beatrice: "If you are done then Betty shall take her leave I suppose."]
Beatrice opened the door and walked outside.
[Subaru: "Hey wait for me, and you Roswaal, stop using such tricks, or something bad might happen to me."]
Saying that Subaru rushed behind Beatrice.
The door closed.
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Roswaal kept staring at the door.
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[Roswaal: "Ghhhh, hahahhaha HAHAHAHAHAHA."]
He broke into a burst of maniacal laughter, so much that his eyes teared up. Finally, he wiped his tears and took his seat on the chair.
[Roswaal: "Huh, you amuse me Subaru-kun. 'Something might happen to me'- talking as if you can't change it when something wrong happens to you. You thought the man who sent Elsa was some rival of Emilia-sama, but it was me, Roswaal. (Holy shit, I swear to god this reminds me of something)"]
Roswaal opened the drawer of his desk and pulled out an old-looking book. He hugged the book.
[Roswaal: "I have done what you have asked me. Now, the next me has to wait till the time for the Royal Selection meeting occurs."]
Then he got up and took out a box. He opened the lid of the box and looked at the contents inside it. It was filled with similar bottles like the one he gave Rem last evening.
He took the box with him to the window…
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And threw it out…
[Roswaal: "I have no use of you anymore."]
The bottles shattered into small pieces.
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[?: "Nee-sama, have you seen a child running around."]
[Ram: "Huh, Rem, are you talking about Barusu."]
Running around while searching for Subaru, Rem encountered her elder sister.
[Rem: "You already figured out it was Subaru-kun! As expected of Nee-sama."]
Ram had a smug look on her face.
[Ram: "HAH."]
[Rem: "How did you find out it was him?"]
The smugness changed to disappointment
[Ram: "Rem, what kind of a question is that? Is it that hard to identify? You see, trash always looks like trash; it doesn't matter what you mould it into."]
Rem sweated.
[Rem: "Ah ha ha, Nee-sama is funny as always. So, where did he go?"]
[Ram: "When Ram found him roaming with Beatrice-sama, he said he was going to meet Roswaal-sama to know who made him a child. He was looking quite angry."]
Rem starts to sweat even more.
[Rem: Oh no, looks like the truth is out already, I will have to hurry.]
[Ram: "Oh, Ram just remembered something. Wait here, Rem."]
Ram went inside the near storeroom while Rem stood there. She was getting tensed.
[Rem: I don't have much time; I will have to go right now.]
She turned towards the room in which Ram went and lowered her head as if apologizing to her. Then she rushed towards Roswaal's office.
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Sometime later Ram came out of the room with something.
[Ram: "Here Rem, take this leash with you. If you find Barusu then tie him up- huh."]
But Rem was already gone.
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[?: "What in the world happened to you Subaru?"]
[Subaru: "You see Puck, the best way to describe this will be – It's complicated."]
As soon as Subaru and Beatrice came out of the room, they had seen the little cat spirit floating in front of them.
[Beatrice: "BUBBY! Where were you I suppose."]
[Puck: "Hey Betty, what is going on? What are you and Subaru doing together? And more importantly-"]
He turns towards Subaru.
[Puck: "-How in the world did this happen?"]
[Beatrice: "Ehh-" What should I say?]
[Subaru: "You see Puck, what happened was-"]
[?: "Puck?"]
Subaru looked behind Puck. What he saw in front of him was a sight, a sight he yearned for every day. The silver-haired half-elf, with her eyes fixed at his, was approaching them. For a second, Subaru lost all track of time. He felt as if he was drowning in those pools of lavender of what she called her eyes. But suddenly he realized something.
[Subaru: Oh no, this is bad, I don't want her to see me like this. What do I do?]
He turned towards Puck.
[Subaru (Whispering): "Puck, please don't let her know who I am."]
Puck gave a confused look.
Emilia came towards Subaru and bent down a bit.
[Emilia: "Who are you, little boy?"]
Subaru wanted to cry. Emilia calling him a little boy was the last thing he wanted to hear. He looked towards Beatrice.
Emilia followed his eyes and looked towards the blonde spirit as well.
[Beatrice: "WHY ARE YOU STARING AT BETTY I SUPPOSE? I don't know anything, ask Bubby in fact."]
Beatrice looked at Puck. Following her eyes, Emilia and Subaru looked at Puck. Subaru was looking at the confused and sweating Puck with pleading eyes.
[Puck: "Umm heeeee, ha ha, uh, he is -"]
Puck looked at Subaru. Subaru shook his head.
[Puck: "He is, um-"]
[Puck: "Uh, wait who were you again."]
Subaru fell back on the floor. Trusting Puck was a mistake.
Emilia pouted.
[Emilia: "Uhhh, are you all playing a prank on me."]
She looked at Subaru again and gave him a sweet smile.
[Emilia: "Who are you?"]
[Subaru: "I-I am…"]
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[?: "He is from the village!"]
All of them looked behind to see a maid with azure blue hair standing at the farthest corner of the corridor. Rem, the head maid of Roswaal's mansion, was here to the rescue.
Notes:
Chapter 3 in a couple of days :)
