Happy Birthday, Pandora!
Admittedly, there are both strong and weak points to this chapter. Well, "weak" from my relatively skewed perspective, anyway. There's only one real section that I'm slightly doubtful on, but it's fairly short so it shouldn't even be an issue.
You'll be able to tell that I had a lot of fun writing one section in particular! Well, maybe at least two sections. Ha!
I hope that you enjoy!
Roswaal deeply resisted the urge to hit something. He wanted to scream, but he knew better than to give in to such imprudent desires.
... What was going on?!
The scope of the current situation was beyond his comprehension. He couldn't understand the whats and whys of anything that was going on. It felt like everything was crashing down around him.
It frustrated him to no end.
To make matters even worse, their "guests" managed to slip away. Leaving such unpredictable individuals unsupervised would only cause trouble, which was why he and Frederica both wandered the mansion in search of them.
He could only hope that neither of them found Subaru's location. If they did, Roswaal could only imagine how bad it would be.
Roswaal's mind momentarily wandered, thinking about the boy. Subaru truly had his pity.
Things would be tough for them both from here on out. Roswaal could only watch as his plans fell apart, all while Subaru was forced to take the brunt of it all.
Unyielding amounts of vexation tainted the Court Mage's mind and soul. Never before had he been so angry at something, but this situation was almost entirely out of his control.
Most notably, his pact with Subaru was in jeopardy. If Subaru was permanently seized by the cult, or more specifically this "Pandora," then centuries of careful planning would be entirely in vain.
Roswaal wasn't one to easily surrender, though. He was a schemer, one to make plans and act on them with attentive precision. Those thoughts came naturally to his mind, allowing him to garner more than just a few ideas.
Unfortunately, as he pondered the situation, it became apparent that doing almost anything would only result in failure. Roswaal knew better than to take unnecessary risks. Success here could very well mean the difference between life and death. But, as it so happened, one idea seemed fairly plausible.
Roswaal made sure to mask his true intent behind the vizard of formality. He would act receptive to these cultists but, once the time was right, he would make his move. His plan was steadily devised and solidified without a moment of falter.
It was the most likely plan to succeed, he knew. While his chance of success was low, he would try anyway. If things went well, then all of their issues would more than likely be over.
Until then, they were all stuck. Everyone within this mansion was forced to be subjected to this disastrous sham of a marriage. Roswaal hated to even refer to it as that.
He also pitied Emilia. Roswaal could only imagine how the poor girl was dealing with this situation. Judging from her initial reaction, he presumed that she was not taking it very well in the least.
"R-Ros-chi!"
His head turned immediately, recognizing the voice, only to come face-to-face with Subaru. Roswaal was a bit surprised to see him, but he supposed if one spoke of the devil, then he should appear. That's what Subaru liked to say, at least.
The Court Mage performed his signature smile, adopting his classic persona. With his trademarked singing-like tone, he spoke, "My, myyyy! Suuuubaru-kun, it is certainly a pleeeaaaasure to see you awake. Though I muuuust ask, shouldn't yoooou be in bed?"
Subaru averted his gaze, looking almost nervous. "Well, actually … I was found."
Roswaal raised a brow, only for his eyes to widen a mere second later in realization. With only a mere moment of thought, he froze in place. His eyes instinctively snapped to the side, finding Pandora herself standing right by Subaru's side. They held hands, all while the Witch possessed a small, eerie smile.
Through his nose, Roswaal took a stuttered breath. Somehow, he had failed to immediately notice the Witch's presence. That was incredibly alarming. Was she messing with his senses?
He was on instinctively guard, his body stiff yet ready to move if need be. For some reason, his heart skipped a few beats. He was unnaturally hot, feeling as he began to sweat in many places across his body. This girl — this Witch — shook him to his core.
"Indeed," Pandora spoke with a small nod, closing her eyes. She seemed satisfied. "I certainly located my husband without much issue. Nevertheless, we desire some quality time together."
Subaru chose to add to her statement, albeit awkwardly, "We're going to the dining hall for something to eat right now. I hope you don't mind, Ros-chi."
Despite this unforeseen predicament, Roswaal did his best to maintain composure. He kept hold of his persona by a thread, hardly keeping his signature smile. With a stutter, he did his best to retain his singing-like tone, "I-Is thaaaat so? I hope thaaaat the two of you have a niiiice meal."
Pandora elegantly opened her eyes, the ocean blue of her irises sparkling in the light. Roswaal felt a chill run down his spine. Through that feeling alone, he knew that he was being targeted.
It felt as though she was looking right into his soul.
She studied him with careful precision, critically gauging his internal thoughts. Her gaze was cold, carrying a deep, baleful intent.
Something about her expression changed. It wasn't visible to the eye, but it could be sensed.
The smile on her face seemed all the more unsettling, harboring some hidden, sinister motive. It caused Roswaal to stiffen, if only out of pure instinct.
"Subaru, darling, could you go on ahead?" she asked, her voice unnaturally tender and sweet. The implications of her words, however, horrified Subaru and Roswaal both. "I would like to have a word with the head of this domain, only for a small moment."
While her tone was soft, almost sweet and innocent-like, neither Subaru nor Roswaal were fooled. They both could sense how abnormal it seemed.
… Pandora's eyes had yet to waver from Roswaal's position. She hadn't blinked, not even once.
"A-Alright then," Subaru stuttered out.
At that moment, he spared Roswaal a quick glance. Something stirred in Subaru's chest. Seeing Roswaal in such a sorry state had an effect on him.
Because of that, Subaru was able to scrounge up some of his courage, solidifying his expression before looking back to Pandora. "Please don't do anything bad."
At last, her eyes moved. Pandora looked at him in silence as though she was judging his resolve. After that, something seemed to shift in her expression yet again. It was subtle, but Subaru and Roswaal, as perceptive as they were, could notice.
"Not to worry, darling. Nothing nefarious will occur. Please, trust in your wife. Go on ahead, I will not be long."
Subaru could only continue to look at her, relinquishing what little courage he was able to gather. He had no choice but to do as she requested.
In truth, Subaru held little to no confidence in his earlier words. He thought that, just maybe, since he was her "husband," Pandora would listen to him. Unfortunately, there was no way to tell if his words had any effect on her, but it was worth a try.
Pandora let go of his hand, as if granting him permission to leave. Subaru didn't waste time, commencing his walk toward the dining hall. On his way out, he quietly spoke, "Good luck, you two."
Subaru and Roswaal shared a glance, in which the latter could easily read the message laced within his gaze. In reality, Subaru was wishing him luck.
… Roswaal knew that he was going to need it.
Silence dominated the hallway as Subaru made his leave. Only once he was completely out of sight did the atmosphere change in full.
Suddenly, Roswaal felt an immense pressure weighing down upon him. It was an inconceivable feeling, enigmatic in nature. Roswaal didn't know how to interpret it, but his body froze purely out of instinct.
"For the sake of my darling's wish, I will not act upon my desire," Pandora spoke, maintaining her soft-spoken tone. "I am aware of how you have hurt him in the past. You did it in the name of love. While I would typically applaud and commend such breathtaking acts of love, you hoard a rather disgusting perspective of it. I cannot help but repulse such a visualization."
Roswaal's body tensed as he grit his teeth. Those insults struck deep into his heart and soul, striving him to lash out, but he held himself back. He knew full well that he was completely outclassed.
"But that is not why I am here," she continued. Her smile remained firm, yet Roswaal could sense a different emotion behind it. She seemed amused, like she was mocking him. "Tell me, do you believe me to be a fool? Did you truly believe that you could succeed with such a ludicrous scheme?"
Upon hearing those words, Roswaal's entire facade crumbled. It broke apart, shattering into near irreparable shards.
When he blinked, the scene before him had suddenly changed. Pandora raised her right arm, revealing a very familiar sheet of paper which was grasped firmly by her hand.
"T-That's—"
"Oh? I take it that you do indeed recognize this document, then?"
Of course Roswaal recognized it. He'd etched it into his memory from the very moment he first laid eyes on it.
In Pandora's hand was the very document which sealed Subaru's fate. Roswaal could read every word, hand-written and signed by each member of the Sage Council. The contexts of each paragraph certified the marriage between Natsuki Subaru and Pandora, the Witch of Vainglory.
It was also the target of Roswaal's plan. This was the document which knotted everything together. He couldn't help but feel hopeful. If he could just get a hold of it, then—
RIP!
Roswaal's eyes widened at such a sound. He'd zoned out and, in that time, Pandora had begun to move. Her left hand similarly gripped the top of the page, only to pull in the opposite direction of the right.
The paper was pulled apart. Pandora ripped it in half, using both hands to create a clean tear straight down the middle of the page. The sound of paper tearing apart only ceased once the document was completely split in two.
Throughout every second of every action, Pandora maintained her stoic smile. Her blank, near emotionless eyes bore into Roswaal's very soul, encapsulating it in a dark aura which he could not shake away. She basked in each and every emotion that he unwillingly conveyed.
But Pandora wasn't done. She ripped both halves in two once more, turning the document into shredded fourths. Then she ripped it again, then again, and again until it was nothing but small, shredded bits.
When she was done, her arms rotated so that her palms could sprinkle the scraps across the floor as if they were nothing but trash. Roswaal's shakened eyes could only watch as each fragment of paper fell to the ground like powdered snow.
Roswaal's breath stuttered, filled with uncertainty. No matter how much he tried, he couldn't fathom any logic behind what she had just done. He furiously questioned it.
Why had she done that? Pandora just destroyed the only thing which bound her and Subaru together. What was the purpose of such an action?
He jitteringly studied Pandora's expression, observing it as she remained entirely unchanged.
Something was wrong, he just knew it. Roswaal, even without his abilities, could sense how eerie the atmosphere became. It put him on edge, causing him to narrow his eyes at the Witch with fretful anticipation.
Pandora cheekily hummed, gauging his expression. "Do you have nothing to say?"
Roswaal scoffed, keeping his eyes narrowed and trained on her face. "Do you think of me as a fool?"
The corners of Pandora's mouth merely extended outward at his response. Roswaal only held his breath.
When he blinked, the scene changed once again. In an instant, Roswaal recoiled at the sight. He took a step back, the shock of what was in front of him taking its toll on his mind.
"Tell me, does this look familiar to you?"
In Pandora's hand was a very, very familiar sheet of paper. Roswaal could read every word, hand-written and signed by each member of the Sage Council. It was the document which affirmed the marriage between Natsuki Subaru and Pandora, the Witch of Vainglory.
The paper which rested in Pandora's grasp was the very document which she destroyed. The scraps of paper which rested on the floor had also completely disappeared.
It had returned from the ashes and was born anew.
Roswaal hardened his gaze, fixing Pandora with a hostile glare. "What is the meaning of this?"
His question was conveyed as a demand. He needed an answer. How could something like this even be possible? It was preposterous and unfathomable.
"You see, I wished to convey a simple message to you," Pandora said, continuing to convey her signature stoic smile. Her voice was soft-spoken yet otherworldly as she continued, "Destroying this document is useless. It can always be undone."
Even with her gentle-like voice, her words carried a boundless authority. Roswaal, however, refused to surrender so easily.
"There is always an opportunity to persevere—"
"It is useless. You need not waste your time on such a meaningless task. The goal in which you wish to reach is unattainable. There is no point in continuing to resist. Even if you manage to destroy the document in my hands, it can be reforged in the blink of an eye. Nevertheless, this document is valueless. Permanent ruination of this paper is of futile effort, as the certification of our marriage will persist through the countless copies in which I have stored away. You see, this is the most important moment of my life. It is something that I simply will not allow to slip away. You cannot prevent what is to come, nor what has already occurred. Natsuki Subaru is mine, eternally bound to me by our most unprecedented union, just as I am eternally bound to him. He is no longer your pawn to manipulate and control for your repulsively twisted love. Unlike you, I do not seek to use or control him for my own personal gain. I merely wish to fulfill my own selfish desires. After our first meeting, these desires were only amplified within my soul. They are overwhelming and urge me to move forward. The purity and genuinity which rest in his heart has ensnared me so. He is the perfect man, both in personality and mind. The emotions that apprehend my heart are unbound whilst I am in his presence. His affinity for remaining unaffected by the wills of my presence has only affirmed his desirability to me. You cannot fathom his importance to me, as only I can see the alluring value in which he possesses. He gives me meaning, a purpose to fulfill. He gives me something to feel. That fact alone could not possibly make me any happier. In fact, the success of this arrangement grants me an unyielding delight. I am the only individual that is worthy of his love, just as he is the only individual that is worthy of my love. We will reach for the stars together, letting their light shine down upon us just as it was always meant to be. We share a divinity that surpasses all, one which the stars will recognize and bless with their everlasting glow. Our bond — our love — will become the most beautiful in this world, for that I am sure. Perhaps it will extend to the stars above, or even past them to worlds far beyond our own. Yes, I will make it known to all that can see and hear. Nobody will take him from me. Nobody will separate us. Together we will stand above all, forming a magnificent union that not even a calamity could tear apart. One day that union will be ceremoniously celebrated, in which you will all be invited to bear witness, all so that our grandeur may be recognized in full. Due to my unremitting love for him, I shall respect all of his wishes. Therefore, for the sake of my beloved, I do not desire animosity with you or the others within the scope of your domain. So do not interfere — do not resist — lest your fate become sealed. May it rest in your hands. I trust that you will not take this gift for granted."
—With that, Pandora's smile adorned an abnormal cuteness, filled with unyielding fixation and resolution. Her eyes sparkled as if to reflect that resolve.
Roswaal was stunned. His breath hitched and sweat poured across his face. He could only stand there, quivering and unresponsive, as he looked on at Pandora's grand posture.
He could feel an arise of anger within him. Pandora made a mockery of both himself and his teacher to the fullest extent. That was something which Roswaal simply could not stand, but he was powerless to prevent it. He needed to remain calm.
As he did his best to maintain composure, Roswaal tried to digest the meaning behind all of Pandora's words. At the end of it all, he came to one, simple conclusion:
… They were all at a dead end. Everyone needed to play along.
The consequences of stepping out of place were abundantly clear.
"I trust that you will gracefully fulfill your duty as head of this mansion and domain, correct?"
Roswaal snapped out of his stupor. His eyes shakily avoided her as his body slumped in defeat. With an uncharacteristic stutter, he meekly replied, "Y-Yes."
"Good."
Pandora steadily walked, her footsteps echoing across the walls as she passed him. Neither of them turned their heads or shifted their gazes yet, as she passed, Roswaal could still feel a disturbing chill crawl up his spine.
Only a few steps behind him, Pandora ceased in her movements. With a small glance over her shoulder, she softly spoke, "I will meet with my beloved in the dining hall. I promised that I would not be long, after all. However, as it so happens, I have come to realize that there is nobody available to prepare our meals. Would you be so kind as to take care of that for us?"
Roswaal gulped, doing his best to smile and deliver a more chipper tone of dialogue. "Of course! I'll get on of the maids to—"
"No."
He flinched. Her tone felt like a sharpened blade, one that he could feel at the edge of his neck. It was threatening, barely scraping against the surface of his skin to make him bleed.
"See to it personally."
Pandora's angelic-seeming tone was outweighed by the authority in which it carried. It left Roswaal frozen in place as she resumed her pace. Within only a few seconds, he was completely alone in the hallway, left with nothing but his thoughts.
The state of his brooding only deepened. Roswaal grit his teeth, clenching his hands into fists so tight that they nearly bled. His eyes narrowed into a frightening glare, though it did nothing but intimidate the floor beneath his gaze.
He cursed Pandora in his mind. He damned her to a fate worse than death. He wished that, one day, she would get the comeuppance that she deserved.
Roswaal loathed his situation, but he had no choice but to play nice. For once, things were entirely out of his influence and control.
"I want to kill her."
Ram looked at the girl in front of her with softened eyes. "We all do, Emilia-sama. Ram understands how you feel, but creating further tension won't solve anything."
"No!" Emilia exclaimed, her voice laced with an icy retribution. "It would solve everything. I won't let her lay a hand on Subaru! I can't! I won't!"
Ram truly felt sorry for her. Emilia's condition was pitiable in the greatest sense, but Ram also understood how she felt. Nevertheless, that didn't change the fact that it was a handful to deal with.
Unfortunately, Emilia was left with her and her alone. Everybody else had their respective roles to play, so Ram accepted the burden of taking care of Emilia on her own. Fortunately, she was just the right person for the job.
"It's best if we do what Roswaal-sama says for now. Ram is confident that he has a plan."
"And what if that plan fails, Ram?" Emilia sarcastically asked. She turned around, letting her angered gaze meet Ram's eyes. "What happens then? Does she just get to take Subaru? Do we just let her take him?"
"Of course not, Emilia-sama," Ram said. Despite being pressed by Emilia's resolve, the maid's composure remained strong and firm. "If events ever came to that, we would act. But, as it stands now, there is nothing that we can do."
Emilia grit her teeth, making her anger and frustration known. "You just don't want to act."
"With all due respect, Emilia-sama, you're wrong," Ram denied, her tone slightly defensive. "They're cultists, the most deplorable scum that there is. They've now chosen to invade our home and threaten Barusu's freedom. So please believe that Ram wishes to annihilate them more than anything."
"Then why won't you help me—"
"They're diplomatically protected by the Sage Council," Ram continued. "If we act against them in any manner, the consequences could be extreme."
Emilia scoffed as she snapped her head to the side, subsequently breaking their shared gazes. Many thoughts ran rampant in her mind, her fists clenching as her irritation endlessly festered.
"I don't care about the Royal Selection," Emilia uttered, taking Ram aback. The latter's eyes widened, shocked to hear such unexpected words. "Subaru matters so much more to me than that. I can't let Pandora take him away!"
Not after what she did to Mother Fortuna. Not after what happened to Geuse.
"Please, Emilia-sama, you need to consider the consequences of all of this!" Ram pleaded. "It isn't just about the Royal Selection. If you act against the Sage Council's wishes, they could consider your actions as treason and mark you as an enemy of the kingdom. That would include those that defend you, and you know that fool Barusu would be the first in line."
Emilia grit her teeth, knowing that Ram was right. The Sage Council already wasn't fond of her, so they would surely take any given excuse to label her as a threat.
That path would only get Subaru hurt. Emilia refused to ever let that happen.
They were all hypocrites, she thought. They'd damn her, yet they'll let the Witch Cult and Pandora roam and do as they please.
… Was there really nothing that they could do?
Emilia refused to give up. There had to be something that they hadn't considered yet.
Her heart relentlessly gave an unbearable ache. It hurt as it pounded against her chest.
The more she imagined Pandora at Subaru's side, the more sick she felt. The thought of them being married, respectively dressed in a suit and dress as they spoke their vows made Emilia want to gouge out her own eyes.
It should be her at his side, not Pandora, she thought. Subaru was her knight. He said that he loved her — he said that he would always support her.
She didn't want him to leave her behind, yet it felt like he was moving further and further away.
Subaru would never willingly join Pandora, would he?
As those thoughts raced through her mind, her heart yearned and reached for something beyond her grasp.
What was this feeling?
"Emilia-sama, are you alright?"
Ram's words were able to bring Emilia back to her senses. With a deep breath, Emilia held her heart. "Y-Yes, Ram. I'm alright."
The maid gave her a small, sympathetic smile. "You shouldn't worry. We will—"
Ram cut herself off, suddenly perking up as if she was alarmed by something. Emilia noticed right away, fixing her friend with a worried gaze before asking, "What's wrong? Are you okay?"
"Ram is fine," she replied, slightly taken aback. "But I feel a disturbance. It's like Roswaal-sama's hopes and dreams were just suddenly shattered."
Emilia gave her a wondrous look. "You put a lot of faith in Roswaal, don't you?"
"Of course," Ram affirmed with a nod. She closed her eyes, allowing herself to recall many moments from the past. "Roswaal-sama has always been reliable. I cannot overlook his greatness, nor what he has done for all of our sakes."
"Uh-huh …" Emilia trailed off, not very convinced by Ram's words. "I wouldn't put a lot of my faith in Roswaal, but Subaru is the most reliable person I know."
Ram opened her eyes, giving Emilia a cheeky smirk. "Ah, yes, of course. It makes sense that you've fallen for that fool Barusu, Emilia-sama. You always fawn over those shameful theatrics of his."
With a light blush tainting her cheeks, Emilia pouted. "I'm not entirely sure of what you mean, but I know that you're teasing me. That's not nice, Ram! And I'll let you know that Subaru's 'theatrics' are very cool!"
The maid let out a triumphant "hmph." She seemed mighty satisfied with herself, though Emilia still wasn't sure as to why.
While the interaction was short, the change in atmosphere was apparent. It had gone from being dark and gloomy to something more lighthearted in nature. Because of that, both girls felt more at ease.
Ram closed her eyes again, allowing herself to recall the past once more. "Nevertheless, Ram can't deny Barusu's reliability. He's certainly a man of good timing. If anyone other than Roswaal-sama could handle this situation, it would definitely be him."
At Ram's words, Emilia smiled. "Wow, Ram, I'm surprised! You must reeeeally like Subaru a lot if you can say something like that!"
The maid's eyes steadily widened before immediately returning to a deadpan. She snapped her head to the side, letting out an annoyed "tsk." Emilia only giggled at Ram's coy response.
"Let's put our faith in Subaru," Emilia said, her voice gentle and soft. She gently grabbed at her heart, closing her eyes as she affirmed her confidence with certainty. "I trust him."
Ram straightened her head, looking at Emilia with an indeterminable expression. "As much as Ram dislikes it, she will also put faith in Barusu's abilities. For tonight, though, we should remain here. Someone will fetch us tomorrow and update us on the situation."
Hearing those words made Emilia smile. She was genuinely happy to hear that Ram shared her faith.
She dared to let herself hope. Maybe, just maybe, everything would turn out alright.
… But, still, one thing would never change. If the opportunity ever arose, Emilia wouldn't hesitate to kill that Witch in cold blood.
"Don't worry, Meili-chan, everything is going to be okay."
Rem did her best to comfort the girl in her arms, but it seemed to be to no avail. Meili was shaken, having curled into herself as a desperate, last-ditch form of self-comfort. She had stopped crying a while ago, but the stains of her tears still remained.
Meili didn't speak. She hadn't uttered a single word since the whole situation began. Yet, still, Rem knew exactly how she felt.
While wounds heal, scars still remain. Scars can only fade away, never to be forgotten. It was a cruel reminder that, no matter how hard you try, you can't always outrun the past.
… Someday, the past always catches up to you.
Capella's sick, twisted smile had been engraved into each of their memories. When the Archbishop first laid eyes on Meili, a sadistic look had crossed her face. It was haunting, having shook the young girl to her very core.
"Meili, what a surprise! You've been a very bad girl, disobeying and hiding from momma like this. If you come back now, I might just forgive you!"
Meili repeated those words in her head constantly. Something about the way that she spoke — about the way that she acted — was different than how it had always been. It was like Capella was suppressing herself.
… That made things all the more scary for her.
Needless to say, Meili panicked immediately. Rem acted quickly, shielding her from the Archbishop's gaze and taking her away from the scene. Louis, although worried about Subaru's condition, chose to follow closely behind.
Ever since then, Rem and Louis remained by Meili's side. Both girls did their best to comfort her, but nothing seemed to completely calm her down.
Rem couldn't blame Meili, not even in the slightest. When it came to traumas of the past, Rem liked to think that she understood the subject quite well. Even so, it wasn't like she could completely relate to the extent of Meili's past suffering, so she had to do her best with what she did know.
Louis, however, was different. She seemed to share a strange connection with Meili. Though it wasn't expressed through words, both girls conveyed their feelings through their tightly conjoined hands. Louis was persistent, adamant on not leaving Meili's side, just like Rem, and continued to support her through every waking moment.
The three of them remained there, huddled in a rather awkward, yet warm, embrace.
As time passed, Rem's thoughts began to wander. The mansion was almost too quiet, causing her to wonder what was going on beyond the small room that they currently shared.
When it came to Capella, Rem was sure that they would be okay, at least for a while. From what everyone told her, Capella had demonstrated her cruel and sadistic nature during the Battle of Priestella. She wouldn't hesitate to punish those that she deemed beneath her.
So, like Meili, Rem realized that something was off about Capella. Her words, nor her demeanor, fit the descriptions that she was so adamantly told.
As for why, Rem had an idea. The other girl, the one that wore the wedding dress, seemed to encompass a different type of aura. Like Capella, she possessed a putrid, acrid smell, but it was different in nature. The other girl's scent was distinct, enthralled with a sense of authority that contaminated the atmosphere with pure, unrefined vainglory.
It was nigh unbearable to withstand. Had Rem stayed in that room for any longer, she may have attacked on instinct alone.
Still, she was there when Beatrice revealed what was going on. Because of that, she couldn't help but worry about how Subaru currently fared.
Before she could ponder the thought any longer, Meili's head suddenly arose. It caught both Louis and Rem by surprise, causing both of them to fix their gazes on her. Rem and Meili's eyes met and, for once, they read each other's thoughts.
At long last, Meili spoke in a hushed tone, "I'm worried about him."
Rem's eyes softened, yet they maintained a particular firmness. "I am too, but I'm more worried about you right now."
Louis made some noises, like she was agreeing with Rem's words.
Meili shook her head, denying their concern. "He's more important."
"Meili," Rem spoke, her voice firm. "You shouldn't disregard your own well-being."
"You don't understand," Meili argued, her voice nearly a whisper.
She ducked her head back down. In an instant, Meili receded back into her shell.
She was right, though. Rem didn't understand. Despite how much she wanted to, she couldn't understand how Meili felt.
"... Then help me understand."
Meili's expression shifted for a moment, but neither of the other two girls saw it. With a gentle voice, she meekly replied, "He's important to me."
Rem's face softened after hearing that. Unfortunately, it didn't help her to understand anything at all.
But those words struck a few chords within her heart. Chords that, until now, never seemed to exist.
It was an unusual feeling, one that pulled at her heart and influenced her thoughts. As each second passed, an overwhelming urge to rush out of the room, straight to Subaru's side, became ever stronger.
Rem didn't know what was happening to her. In a sense, she suddenly felt like an imposter. She felt fake, like she wasn't the real Rem. Deep within her heart, something yearned to come out.
… It was terrifying.
Louis made a few worried noises, looking between both Rem and Meili with a dejected look on her face. It snapped Rem out of her stupor, causing her to turn her head toward the distraught girl with a rather sorrowful expression.
"Sorry, Rui," she said. Her voice was gentle and soft, like a caring mother comforting her child. Rem caressed the top of Louis' head, doing her best to ease the girl's worries. "I really worried you, didn't I?"
Louis made some small noises, but she eased into Rem's touch fairly quickly.
Rem's thoughts were clouded, yet that didn't stop her from seeing the path ahead of her.
She needed to protect these girls. She needed to make them feel safe.
In spite of what was happening, Rem was confident that they would all persevere together. She was sure of it.
…
Still, her thoughts wandered. In the back of her mind, she couldn't help but wonder about Capella's whereabouts.
A loud slam was heard, echoing throughout the entire room. It conveyed the sheer annoyance and anger that one particular individual felt.
"Leave. Me. Alone!"
"Aww," an orange cat purred. "But this is just so much fun."
Otto Suwen was never one to lose his patience, but he was truly at his wits end. He couldn't hold back a deafening scream, one that erupted from his mouth with absolutely no restraint.
After learning about everything that was happening, he just wanted to think in peace. But then she showed up.
He never should have left his window open. He would never make that mistake again.
She jumped in like a stray cat and, of course, he wanted to pet it. Otto was always an animal lover, so he didn't hesitate to give it some attention.
But, to his absolute horror, it was no cat at all.
The "cat" had been Capella, the Archbishop of Lust. After that revelation, his suffering instantly began.
He was subjected to an endless amount of torment. It was disguised as teasing, laced with a disgusting amount of sexual innuendo that he couldn't bear to even listen to.
"So, you really do like cats, don't you?"
"C'mon, give this lovely lady another pet. You know you want to!"
"I'm all the pussy you need, aren't I?"
Sadistic laughter followed after each and every line. At this point, Otto didn't know whether his face was painted red with embarrassment or out of pure, unbridled rage.
To make it worse, he was always forced to look at her eyes. Her sparkling red eyes always looked up at him, confident and smug, knowing that he loathed each and every second that he was in her presence. It was clear that she deprived some sick, twisted enjoyment from watching his anguished suffering.
Otto could feel his sanity slipping away with every comment that she made. The urge to physically throw her out of his room was overwhelmingly strong, but he needed to control himself.
He knew the potential consequences of not abiding by the current "arrangement." The Sage Council could be especially unfavorable to those that went against their dictations.
… On the bright side, at least Capella couldn't physically harm him, either.
Still, Otto was getting desperate. He was nearly at his breaking point, unable to handle any more of her verbal abuse.
So, in a last-ditch effort, he mentally cried out for help:
"Natsuki-san, Garfiel, anyone … Please save me!"