Beatrice's First Errand
Re: Zero Is not owned by any of the writers of this story. This story was a collaborative effort between Knoxxwatt and Reactionist.
Chapter 1: An Ordinary Day At The Miload Estate
It was a bright and sunny day in Costuul. The birds were chirping, the flowers were dancing and the gentle breeze was whistling in delight at the joyful day. Children were laughing and jumping around in the dirt on the playground. The markets were bustling with activity with merchants selling all kinds of rare wares, attracting customers from all spheres. Aromas from baked goods and delicacies wafted across the restaurant road. The tired but earnest workers were hard at work at the magic workshop. The figure seen moving from window to window across the Roswaal mansion not too far away from all that life and joy, stomping her feet could be called anything but that.
"Agh!" She halted, grumbling under her breath, her words unclear if a passerby were to try and overhear. A dark cloud loomed over her head as she stomped her foot, extra hard this time in frustration. The action only hurt her own soles, leaving her even angrier.
"A kid? Just what part of Betty is a kid, I suppose!" She shouted, unable to hold back the thoughts raging in her mind any longer, despite the fact there was no audience listening to her complaints. "They are all stupid, in fact! Stupid, stupid, stupid!" she said, unaware that her tantrum was tarnishing her reputation even further.
"This is all Subaru's fault, I suppose. If he had just let Betty accompany him, she wouldn't have been so humiliated, in fact," she said, clenching her fists. Little droplets built up in the corners of her eyes and her drills bounced up and down as she thought back irately to the beginning of the day when everything started.
Flashback 1
Having a job is a challenging task. That is something that Beatrice could understand very well. Even if she was a great spirit that would be worshipped throughout the lands of the leftover world, she still knew a lot about stressful obligations and responsibility. Yes, Beatrice the great spirit of what used to be the "Forbidden Library" knew, nigh, she understood the meaning of responsibility.
So when she follows her one and only contractor, the person that she chose to intertwine her destiny with, the one fool that managed to make her feel alive in her centuries of lonesomeness and boredom, Beatrice follows him because she damn well deserves it.
She pranced beside him, uncaring to the terrible sunny weather of the day as she held Subaru's hand through the hallway. Usually, he'd be catering to her shortness and would carry her down the hall, but she could forgive him for today.
"Today's meeting is important, I can't mess it up!"
"You won't, I suppose."
Yes, ever the dutiful faithful spirit, Beatrice would always be there to set her contractor straight. So when he's too busy rambling and self-encouraging himself for what's coming, Beatrice can forgive him for not patting her head when she boosts his encouragement with her wisdom.
"I will be the best amongst those bunch of haughty pish posh nobles!"
"That you will be, in fact."
Beatrice didn't understand what pish posh meant, nor did she think a bunch of knights coming down from the capital were adequate to be described as "nobles" but she knew her knight's heart was in the right place.
"Thank you so much for being here, Beako. You're the best~"
"Better not forget so, in fact."
Mhm! He better head pat her for everything she does for him. This was the life she deserved.
Now, keep in mind that the great spirit didn't actually know nor care about what had Subaru so on edge this morning. It seemed to be a culmination of a bunch of meetings he'd had with some grand guard troop from the capital. A bunch of arrogant knights that call themselves "The Royal Guards of Lugunica." Some important soldiers in the hierarchy of this kingdom that Beatrice truly couldn't care for.
All that mattered was that Subaru would show them that he was a competent knight. Apparently, Roswaal naming Subaru a "Mathers Knight" wasn't enough to appease the order from the incident at the castle where her contractor stupidly challenged the very name of what a knight was.
Beatrice still disagreed that any of these names meant anything of significance, but humans would be human in the end.
"Betty is sure that today's final inquiry from the Royal Guards will end up in your favor, in fact. Trust in your abilities and you will win as always, I suppose."
"... Geez, Beako… That's a lot of faith you're placing in me… I hope I will do you proud."
Seeing her contractor insert in on himself like a turtle was not something she was fond of. But she realized when to nib that self-doubt in the bud and sufficed her intention to do so by slapping his leg.
"Ow!"
"Betty didn't come all the way here to see you fail, in fact! Get your nerves together and let us go inside to show the world why you were chosen by me."
Yes, Beatrice was amazing at encouraging him. He'd be nothing without her wisdom and help. Her words shall urge him to own everyone inside of that conference room they now stood in front of. She would have him do the impossible and return to pat her head again, like always.
Her contractor was amazing. And so was she.
"Oh, by the way. I kind of have to go in there alone. The knights might not take my final meeting with them as seriously if I had a child with me."
Her contractor was a bastard who shall pay for his words dearly.
"I'M NOT A CHILD IN FACT! The order of the knight-guard knows exactly how important Betty is to Subaru. You're a spirit knight for heaven's sake!"
"I'm sorry but I can't take any chances…"
He even had the gall to look at her with sheepishness! What the hell was wrong with her sweet, respectful contractor?!
"I'll leave you with Emilia-tan though!" He said with the brightest smile, no-brainer that he thought she was the lucky one to be spending time with his goddess.
"I don't need a babysitter, in fact!" Beatrice's words were ignored as the love-struck boy continued.
"She's doing some homework right now so she might need company."
"... So I'm the babysitter?"
"..."
There was a long pause before Subaru answered, "Yeah… that's it."
And the day just went from hopeful to goddamn irritating.
"What is that supposed to mean!?" Beatrice shouted as Subaru stuck his tongue out and took a step back. "Don't patronize Betty, I suppose! Betty is not-"
The doors behind Subaru opened, and they revealed the collection of well-shaven and noble men who came to represent the entire organization which was the knights of Lugunica.
"Ooops, time to go. Wish me luck, Beako! I'm sorry about this." Subaru waved apologetically as he turned and walked inside.
"But… Betty is not a chil-"
And the doors closed behind him, leaving her alone in the hallway. She huffed in frustration and thought about it reasonably. He must be very worried if he was desperate enough to have her away from his side. She would need to understand the pressure he was under right now. This would be his final examination to become a full knight and further Emilia's quest for kinghood.
She needed to let this go.
"Betty will be gracious this once, I suppose."
He will have to give a lot of head pats tonight.
She walked away from the door, trusting that whatever was going on inside, her contractor was above and far more competent to handle things there. Now where was Emilia's room again? Sometimes even Beatrice can miss the old mansion for how much smaller it was.
*Meanwhile, inside of the room where the final examination was being held.*
"Is she gone?"
"Yeah, she is."
"Good."
Subaru stared at the grand master of the knightly order. A representative from the capital came in place of Julius for the past week or so to test Subaru's ability to join the kingdom in any capacity regarding knighthood. Whether royal or just a knight to the Mathers name.
Now, it would've been more productive if Subaru had to take a physical examination to showcase his abilities in both, the mind, and body when using a sword.
But the complication occurred when Subaru remembered that he had no swordsmanship in either, body or mind. So he decided to take a gamble and force the examiner into a dangerous bet.
"Sit down, Mr. Natsuki. We have a long day ahead of us." The master smiled pointedly at him, easing him with a fake assurance and friendliness that made Subaru's brows twist into a glare.
"I know when to sit down, thanks." After a grunt, the two remained silent as Subaru placed himself before the man.
"Now…" He spoke while staring at Subaru intently. Both men had their glares settled on each other the moment Subaru stood behind those doors from the outside. They both leaned forward as everyone in the room huddled around them.
"Shall we begin? One last time to fully finish things once and for all?"
Subaru simply nods. "Best out of fifty."
The grand master drops a deck of colored cards on the table and Subaru picks it up to start shuffling them.
"Best outta fifty."
Turns out gambling was something the knightly order didn't allow much of… Subaru may have used that to his advantage. Especially with how easy it was to figure out the man infront of him was an obsessive gambler who was on a leash because of how strict the code was against these things.
All Subaru had to do was wave the challenge in his face and the grand master replaced the entire physical examination course with a set of card games that Subaru did not know of.
Yeah… It was better that Beatrice stay outta this one.
"Betty is not a child, in fact!" Beatrice proclaimed to no one in particular in the empty hallway. "If anything, it's Emilia who's the child here!"
Although now that she had significantly calmed down from the last encounter with Emilia, she realized it was she herself who had gone to Emilia, disrupted her studies, and stormed out of there like a kid who didn't get their way. But Beatrice would rather die than admit that. Blaming Emilia was just easier and Emilia did call her a child so Beatrice's vexation towards the half-elf was deserved.
In hindsight, the only reason Beatrice could think of for her mistake was probably that her life as a 'shut-in' within the Forbidden Archives for so long had messed up her time perception. Yes, that must be it. Otherwise, Beatrice could never be wrong!
Maybe… Subaru was right. Beatrice could make more of an effort to go outside and interact with more people just to make sure she didn't lose track of the days that went by and repeat the same mistake again. She might even find someone who didn't treat her like a little child. Someone who respected her for the Great Spirit she was, because she desperately needed more people like that in her life. Unfortunately, the only person she could think of who treated her with the respect she deserved was Clind. (Note: Subaru would like to heavily disagree!)
Flashback 2
After being abandoned by the contractor she had set out to sit beside and support all day long, her schedule was all freed up in an instant. It looked like he didn't even need her help in the first place, which quite frankly left her a little sad as she aimlessly roamed around the hallways.
What to do now? What could she do to kill time until Subaru came out?
Maybe she could take Subaru's suggestion and see what Emilia was upto…
She immediately shook her head and erased that thought from her head. She wasn't a child, and she definitely didn't need babysitting. She was perfectly capable of spending the day on her own! She was a respectable Great Spirit and she was going to prove it to Subaru.
She took a single step and the next minute, "Beatrice-chan, where are you?" There was a shout. Following it, auburn locks peeked out from around the corner. "I heard from Subaru-sama that you might be lonely today, so I came to play with you."
Beatrice immediately turned the other way and ran like her life depended on it.
'To Emilia it is, I suppose!'
She scurried away from the place as fast as she could before Petra could catch sight of her and drag her away again. She didn't need someone to play with.
She wasn't like Petra or Garfiel who spent their days frolicking around. She was an adult, an intellectual no less. She spent her time reading and researching. No one, not even Roswaal could match her when it comes to the knowledge she held. Hmph!
She knew she was adorable and she loved the appearance that her Mother gave her, but sometimes she couldn't help but feel that maybe Mother could have made her adorable some other way. One where Subaru wouldn't dare leave her outside while he went to face whatever sketchy thing the knights were going to throw at him alone.
She felt worried again. Subaru will be alright, won't he?
No, Beatrice, don't be weak! Subaru was the one who left her out. If anything goes wrong (which she hopes doesn't), it was his own fault. She'll just give him lots of pats and hugs and force him to take her with him next time.
For now though, Emilia would have to make do.
'Speak of the devil!'
Lost in her thoughts, she didn't pay attention where she was headed and before she knew it, her feet had very naturally taken her to Emilia's room. She looked up and lifted her hand up to knock but her hands stopped mid-air. Her eyes looked back and forth between her dainty hands and the door. It was probably because of what Subaru said earlier but all she could think of was how huge the door looked before her short stature. Stupid contractor! Making her worry about stupid things!
Trying to forget the nonsense Subaru had poured in her head, she clenched her fist and knocked on the door. The instant she did, she regretted her action bitterly.
"Coming!" A voice reminiscent of silver bells responded and she could hear the shuffling of chairs on the other side of the door.
Beatrice was nervous. Before Subaru had forced his way into her life, Beatrice hardly ever talked to Emilia. Now, since her contractor liked to spend much of his time with her, so did Beatrice, being the loving and caring spirit she is. But—
"Eh! Beatrice? What are you doing here?" The door clicked open and the silver-haired half-elf greeted her with surprise on her face.
Beatrice could understand the half-elf's reaction. The two had never interacted in the absence of Subaru before and Beatrice fidgeted. For a moment, she even contemplated running away and letting Emilia greet an empty hallway, but Emilia had already opened the door before she could do anything.
"If Betty is disturbing you, she will leave, I suppose!" Without an explanation, Beatrice turned away, prepared to dash out of the place.
'Please don't stop, Betty! Please don't stop Betty, in fact!'
"No wait, stop!"
Curse you, foolish girl!
Beatrice turned around awkwardly. "Yes, I suppose?"
"Ehehe! It's very rare for you to come to my room, so I was a little surprised! That's all. But I'm reaaallly glad to see you," Emilia beamed from ear to ear, her hands joined together in happiness at seeing her visitor leaving Beatrice dumbstruck.
…Maybe this won't turn out as bad as she thought it would.
"Come in! I've been studying so my room is a mess right now, but I hope you don't mind!"
Emilia ran ahead inside to prepare a chair for Beatrice to sit on, and as the former librarian walked in, she saw that the half-elf really wasn't kidding about her room.
Such disrespect! There were stacks of books around her desk, some open, some knocked over and some even on the floor! But it's Emilia, so maybe… she'll overlook this transgression.
Once both were seated, "It's so uncommon seeing you all alone without Subaru. Didn't you go with him to the exam?"
Beatrice is older than Emilia but even Beatrice doesn't say uncommon anymore.
"Subaru… he…" Beatrice tried to answer as calmly as she could but when the words left her mouth, "He left Betty to go to the exam alone, in fact!" She couldn't help but let out a sob at her hurt pride and reputation.
"Really? Subaru can be such a meanie sometimes!" Emilia exclaimed and Beatrice's eyes widened. Emilia was listening to her and she was on her side?
"He called Betty a child, I suppose." She complained further, testing the waters and to her joy—
"He shouldn't have said that!" Emilia responded, ready to chide Subaru the moment he came out.
Subaru was right! Emilia is an angel.
"I mean, he doesn't behave any older than you! And he behaves like a lost child too sometimes when he's around other nobles during all those meetings!"
The nerve of this girl, I suppose! As if the title of child wasn't enough, this foolish girl had to go and add lost before it! (Also Subaru would cry if he heard that from Emilia, but that wasn't important now.)
She needed to prove to Emilia that she was a respectable Great Spirit, not some lost child that hid behind Subaru whenever they talked to someone new. (Note: Emilia never said this.)
Luckily enough, what Emilia was doing right now was one of Beatrice's specialties—studying. She had been graced with the perfect opportunity to bestow all she knew to this dunderhead and blow her mind away. After this, she'll think twice before calling Beatrice a lost child again!
"You were studying, I suppose?" She asked, getting straight to the point and Emilia turned her gaze to the open book.
"Yeah, but it's soooo exhausting trying to remember all this difficult stuff. Subaru taught me about using 'Ne-mon-niks'. It's apparently a trick they use in his homeland to remember stuff better. It seems to be helping but there's still so much stuff to complete!" She explained and Beatrice felt her curiosity pique when she heard the strange term. Maybe she'll ask Subaru to explain it to her once he comes out.
But for now, she got down and stood on the tips of her toes to look at the notes on Emilia's desk. Turning the pages, she studied all the points Emilia had jotted down. Obviously, she knew everything Emilia was reading, so maybe she'll lend her help to this poor girl.
"Betty can tell you these events exactly as they happened, I suppose. It may help you remember better, in fact," she declared pompously.
Emilia's eyes brightened up. "Really? You can do that?"
"Of course! Betty is 400 years old after all!" Beatrice replied as she puffed her chest with pride.
Emilia giggled and then brought her notebook down to her lap where Beatrice could see it better. Turning to the last page of her notes, she pointed her fingers at one of the more recent events in the kingdom's history.
"About the Demi-human war…" Emilia began and Beatrice earnestly nodded her head, eager to show off. "Although the war lasted nine years, it was-"
"Stop right there, I suppose!" Beatrice interrupted her question in the middle, making the silver-haired princess look at her in confusion.
"Huh? What's wrong, Beatrice?"
Beatrice shook her head as she sighed in disappointment. "You've already gotten it wrong, I suppose. The Demi-human war lasted ten years, not nine." It's a good thing Beatrice was here, otherwise just how would this girl have studied if she made so many silly mistakes!
Emilia's eyes widened as she glanced down at her notes, turning the pages in agitation. "I've only just read this section and I'm already making mistakes!" She reproached herself, biting her lips in frustration. "How am I going to finish studying all this now?"
Observing Emilia's expression, Beatrice couldn't help but feel sorry for her. Although it was just a minor error, Emilia looked so disheartened that Beatrice almost regretted pointing it out.
She took Emilia's hand in her. As Emilia directed her sad gaze at Beatrice, Beatrice gave her a gentle smile. "Don't worry, I suppose. Betty will help you, in fact!"
"You will?" The downcast Emilia asked, her spirits rising up as she looked at Beatrice with hope.
Beatrice nodded. Even if it takes all day, she will help Emilia succeed, being the generous and knowledgeable spirit she is.
"You will be the best amongst those 'pish posh' nobles!" Beatrice said, imitating what Subaru had said earlier. Obviously, she still had no clue what it meant.
"Thank you so much, Beatrice!" Emilia beamed as she pulled out the textbook from which she has been studying out of the pile on her desk. Turning the pages, she said, "I don't know what I would have done without yo—" All of a sudden she stopped. Treading her fingers through the lines of the opened page, "No wait!" She said and Beatrice knitted her brows.
The book was on Emilia's desk, a little taller than Beatrice was. She jumped up and down, trying to peek at what Emilia was reading so intensely. Here Beatrice was trying to help Emilia, but this ungrateful girl was not even telling her what had caught her attention! How was she supposed to do anything if Emilia didn't tell her any—
"I was right!" Emilia remarked all of a sudden and Beatrice flinched, startled by Emilia's outburst.
"W-what did you say, I suppose?"
"I was right! The Demi-human war did take place for nine years. Here, look!" Bringing the textbook right in front of Beatrice's eyes, she pointed out the words to her.
There was no mistake. 'Nine years' was clearly written down in front of her.
Beatrice's eyes widened. Could she have made a mistake? But that can't be! She was the Great Librarian of the Forbidden Archives! Her very existence is tied to knowledge. This was unthinkable! Impossible! Unbelievable!
—It's the book! The book must be wrong!
"You know that's not true, Beatrice. I don't think the book is wrong here," Emilia responded with a sympathetic smile that seemed to contain just a hint of pity.
Did Beatrice say it out loud? No, that's not important! What was with that look on Emilia's face, in fact!? Don't pity Beatrice, in fact! She did not make a mista—
"It's alright, Beatrice! Everybody makes mistakes. I make loooots of them and you're still so young! So don't worry about it-"
"BETTY IS NOT A CHILD, I SUPPOSE!" Beatrice shouted, stomping her feet.
"That's not what I meant-" Emilia said in a panic, but, "Betty doesn't want to hear it, in fact!" Beatrice huffed and turned her gaze away, unwilling to listen to anything Emilia wanted to say.
Before Emilia could say anything else, she stormed out of the room with a worried Emilia calling out to her.
But Beatrice won't melt and forgive her so easily! First Subaru and now even Emilia! Both of them are idiots! Birds of a feather, in fact. No wonder her foolish contractor fell in love with that equally foolish girl.
Before she would continue her tirade against Emilia's audacity, Beatrice caught her eye on something blasphemous. Something that induced within her a reaction of panic.
"This is so annoying in fact. Figures it's when I am thinking badly of Emilia this would happen to Betty's favorite dress," she said in a hurrying tone as she wiped at her sleeves and ornate pink dress.
A distinct color puffed in cloud form from wherever she patted her hand on the dress. It was clear that she was displeased by the flour suddenly stuck to her clothes.
"It's all the fault of that wicked pink-haired girl and that blonde buffoon!" Beatrice cursed at the images of whomever she was referring to as she patted her clothes to rid them of the white dust.
Of course, Beatrice would rather blame others than herself for a situation that was totally not her fault but still deserved in a sense. Not that she would think the same.
Flashback 3
The situation in particular was… Annoying.
"Betty is not a child, in fact!" Beatrice was muttering to herself as she walked away from Emilia's studying quarters. "That half-elf girl is lucky to even have me gracing her stupidity with attention and time, in fact! I swear, I don't see what Subaru is so infatuated with when looking at such a dumb-"
Before she could insult the possible future queen of the kingdom for not giving her respect, a sudden smell forced Beatrice to stop in her tracks and look around.
"What's this delicious smell, I wonder?" The previously hell-bent spirit girl had completely given up on her crusade against Emilia and became enamored with the distant smell of baking that overtook the mansion hallways.
"Well… Seeing as Betty has nothing to do after her stupid contractor and his equally numb-brained love interest kicked her out… I suppose I could investigate the source of such an aroma." After lying to herself expertly, the spirit hurried her little legs to find whatever the trail of deliciousness and sweetness would lead her.
And this was right at the mansion kitchens, where a sweaty and defeated-looking Petra was mishandling a patch of batter in a bowl, and a stern Frederica was standing behind, looking at her as she did so.
Of course, Beatrice could care less about both.
"What's going on in here, I suppose? Are you torturing the poor girl?" She asked with a voice of authority and a regal expression of firmness aimed at the blonde maid.
Appearances have to be given at such times. Beatrice supposed that while she intimidated Frederica into submission, there would be ample time to scour the kitchen and find out where these tasty treats were.
As expected, Petra's eyes rose from the darkened expression of tiredness, worry, and despair as soon as Beatrice had interjected upon the kitchen. Beatrice felt really good in knowing that the little girl would at least be grateful for the help her presence was offering.
Beatrice smirked in triumph and pride, awaiting the grateful thanks from-
"Oh, It's Beatrice-chan!" Petra brightened her expression and seemed to have changed her personality as none of the previous despair she was portraying could be found around her. "I'm so happy to see you! I thought we would never be able to catch you today since Subaru is with the adults and you'd be confused around them!"
How the dough in Petra's hands didn't bake itself beneath the heated glare Beatrice aimed toward the maid was a mystery demanding calculations too advanced for such a story as this.
"It's very nice to see you, Beatrice-sama. Please pardon Petra-chan's ill manners. She's been very stressed today." Frederica's interjection managed to save Petra's malleable dough to a crisp as Beatrice turned to the much more respectful maid.
Clearly, this older maid was a lot more experienced in life and so Beatrice should not ignore her existence so quickly. There may have been a mistake.
"Ow!" Petra cried as Frederica lightly tapped her head with her knuckle. "Why?!"
"You should apologize for not respecting Beatrice-sama. She is the great spirit of Master Roswaal's domain! I taught you to always respect your superiors or else you will bring shame on me as your mentor, Petra-chan."
Clearly, Beatrice was extremely wrong in ignoring the older maid's existence.
"Eh?! That's too serious, Frederica-senpai!"
"Petra-chan."
"Awe…" Petra wilted under the glare of her mentor. "Fine. I apologize, Beatrice-cha- Beatrice-sama."
With what one could describe as the elegance of a warlord letting his hostage go, Beatrice looked away from the insignificant brunette and focused on the main objective.
"What is that smell?" Was the simple question she asked in response to Petra's apology.
Ignoring the arrogance in the air (since it was the usual for Beatrice), Frederica was more than happy to answer the spirit.
"We are fulfilling our task in providing a decent dessert menu for our guests from the capital city."
"Mhm mhm! And Meili-chan said she would like a cake baked just by me~! Poor girl's never had one before and now she's all alone in the basement rooms as a prisoner… We gotta do our best!" Petra gave a bright smile from the blonde's side.
Beatrice bit her tongue at the mention. "That assassin should be irrelevant to happy thoughts as making sweets for guests, I suppose…"
At this, Petra gave a look of attention, "Hm?! You like sweets, Beatrice-sama? I never took you as the type since you're always so serious and against eating some with me."
"I never eat with you because you're always putting Betty's sweets away from Subaru, in fact…"
"Aw… that's so adorable!"
"NO IT'S NOT, IN FACT!" Beatrice coughed into her fist at the horrified look from Petra. "I mean… Would Betty be allowed to give the delicious-smelling treats a taste test, I suppose?"
"Uh… Oh… really?" Petra and Frederica looked at one another, trying to figure out if that was allowed for them both to do. Frederica herself shrugged, seeing nothing wrong with it. "I suppose that Beatrice-sama already has the right to do such a thing… Considering we have a big amount to make after all."
"That's what I thought, hmph!" Beatrice childishly proclaimed this a victory as she stepped into the kitchen with brazen confidence. "I'll start with this one, in fact."
Petra hands her the plate of rolling sweet cakes that Subaru had taught them how to make in his spare time. Being already familiar with how delicious it tasted, Beatrice wasn't about to wait to treat her mouth to the taste once more—
"It's not sweet enough, in fact."
"Huh?" Petra tilted her head at the girl. "What do you mean, Beatrice-sama?"
"Betty's mouth doesn't perceive this pastry commendable enough to be called a sweet, in fact! How dare you treat Betty to such an imperious—"
"But… We've already added the maximum amount possible of sugar… A little more and the entire formula collapses like with what happened when Petra-chan tried to make an extra sweet one for Subaru-sama…"
Beside Frederica, Petra nodded her head with a grimace.
"Yeah, I messed up back then. But I learned so I couldn't disappoint Subaru or anyone else today! I'm sorry, Beatrice-sama. But these treats are at their level point max in sweetness!" Petra held a hand to her chest in pride, giving her own version of 'Subaru speak' at the end of the sentence.
Beatrice pursed her lip at the two's incompetence. How dare they? Betty's tongue was nothing if not refined, ESPECIALLY when it came to sweets… These two were absolute clowns—
"I personally think…" Petra whispered her suggestion in a hushed voice, "Maybe Beatrice-sama… has a sweet tooth? Isn't that what some of my friends in the village went through when they were still younger? I can't remember but maybe it's just an urge for more sweetness since you're growing up like them, Beatrice-sama?"
That was it. Petra's head would roll and Betty's shoe sole shall mark itself upon the cheeks as she gains it for kicking.
It was over.
It was over for Petra. Over for Frederica. And most certainly over for this whole sweet-less kitchen.
As Beatrice's hand stretched to activate the first spell for her new football.
Beatrice felt a light tap on her shoulder. Startled, she jumped up and turned around, ready to Minya whoever had dared to approach her while she was complaining about the mansion's residents. Fortunately, it was Otto, the one person who had not annoyed her today. She decided to let him go. For now.
"Beatrice-sama, it's strange seeing you alone here. Natsuki-san left you behind didn't he?" asked Otto.
She knew better than anyone else where their conversation was headed. Veins popped on her head, but before she could even protest that she wasn't a child, Otto continued, "Makes sense. He wouldn't want you involved in all his shady dealings with the knights."
Beatrice narrowed her eyes. "Shady dealings?" Wasn't today's meeting a test to see if Subaru was worthy of being a knight?
Otto slapped his hands over his mouth painfully in a panic. It only succeeded in making Beatrice more suspicious. It was not beyond Subaru to resort to underhanded methods to succeed, but why wasn't Beatrice informed of it. Before she could further interrogate the internal affairs minister, Otto spoke up in a hurry, "Beatrice-chan, there's something on your forehead."
It was a poor attempt at distraction, yet it proved to be extremely effective due to the events that took place earlier in the day.
Beatrice grumbled, huffing as she crossed her arms.
"I'm sorry, what was that? I couldn't quite hear you. Whose fault did you say it was?"
"Betty said it was the next Sin Archbishop of Sloth, in fact!"
Otto's eyes widened as he broke into a panic. "Wait a minute, you're not serious, are you!?"
"Hmph!" Beatrice simply looked away in annoyance. "What else would you call that pink-haired incarnate of sloth, I suppose?" She wouldn't be surprised if the Witch Cult showed up on their doorstep one day to crown Ram as the next Sloth.
Otto held his chest as he heaved out a sigh of relief. "You nearly scared me there for a moment. You shouldn't joke about stuff like that. Natsuki-san is a bad influence on you," he cried. "Although… I understand why you would say that."
"That maid has no right lecturing other people about their work when she doesn't do any, in fact! The next time Betty sees her, Betty will teach her a good lesson, I suppose!"
"That reminds me," Otto said, "I just ran into her a couple of minutes ago. She seemed to be searching for you and Garfiel. Did something happen between you?"
"Is that so? Let her come, I suppose. Betty is more than prepared to take her on, in fact."
"She is headed this way—"
No sooner than Otto said those words, he was met with a gust of wind in place of where Beatrice stood.
Beatrice was not running away. Such a thought was ridiculous… unthinkable, in fact. She was more than prepared to take Ram on. But a bit more preparation could never hurt. Yes—that was the reason. It was a strategic retreat to prepare herself better. And definitely not because she was scared of the red-eyed demon.
Flashback 4
"What is happening here?"
The commotion stopped instantly, and they turned to greet the crimson gaze of the speaker silently judging them from the doorway. If the maids in the mansion were incorrigible, the new speaker was a level above the rest of them. Even the master of the mansion was less imposing than this pink-haired devil.
"It's nothing, Ram. We were just letting Beatrice-sama taste-test sweets," Frederica answered, as she used her free hand to cover up a wry smile.
Ram closed her eyes and clicked her tongue, commenting nothing of the sugar in the blonde maid's hand just out of reach of Beatrice on her tiptoes. "Tsk! So Barusu abandoned Beatrice-sama like the deadbeat he is and dumped the burden on us. Why is Ram not surprised?"
"AGAIN! BETTY IS NOT A CHILD, IN FACT!" Beatrice shouted. What was wrong with these idiots adding prefixes like 'lost' and 'abandoned' before the Great Spirit of the mansion!? She had spent four centuries on her own. Why do these foolish humans keep implying she cannot spend a few hours on her own!?
"Of course, Beatrice-sama. Ram apologizes," Ram replied in the same condescending tone she used on the naive Emilia sometimes and looking not the least bit sorry about it. "Beatrice-sama is not a child. She is just as capable of doing any work around the mansion as Barusu or Petra are."
"That is right, I suppose!" Beatrice huffed. She suspected that Ram was up to no good with her sudden buttering but she was too angry to care about it.
Ram nodded and proceeded to lift a bucket of water and drop it before her. The water swiveled, spilling over the sides and nearly falling on Beatrice's dress but she jumped back just in time to avoid it.
"Ram, what are you doing?" Frederica directed a questioning glance at the pink-haired maid, who held a hand over her mouth as she yawned.
"What's this?" Beatrice asked.
"It is a bucket of water, Beatrice-sama."
"Betty can see that, I suppose! Why did you drop it in front of Betty, in fact?"
"The kitchen is dirty." Ram swiped a finger over the table, demonstrating the dust that had accumulated over it.
"It wouldn't be if you were working," Frederica pointed out, which Ram proceeded to ignore.
"Beatrice-sama, if you wish to be useful, Ram suggests beginning with this table."
Raising her brows, Beatrice asked, "And why would Betty do your work, I suppose?"
"Beatrice-sama is obviously not obliged to help," Ram answered with a disappointed sigh and a shrug. "Ram was merely trying to help you and let you join us in our work. Of course, if you feel it is too much for you, Ram will let Barusu or Petra do it."
"Ehhh!? That's unfair! Why me? I already have so much to cook!" Petra complained.
Beatrice surveyed the assortment of sweets at the counter and then shifted her gaze to the bucket of water before her. Despite her age, Petra diligently attended to various tasks around the mansion. From cooking to cleaning to shopping, the little maid was very efficient in her work.
In contrast, Beatrice was just treated like a clumsy child everywhere, not even allowed to add a touch of sugar to the sweets before. A sharp pang pierced her heart, probably from indulging in too many sweets (and certainly not because she was jealous).
"Give that to Betty, I suppose!" Beatrice exclaimed, snatching the cleaning rag from Ram's hands, who wore a smug smile while Frederica and Petra watched with concern. "Since it seems too difficult for you to complete this work alone, Betty will be gracious enough to lend a hand, I suppose."
"Beatrice-sama, you don't have to—" Frederica began, worried, only to be cut off by Ram.
"Frederica, Beatrice-sama is the Great Spirit of this mansion. She wants to clean the kitchen. It would be disrespectful to deny her," Ram said, earning a stern glare from Frederica.
"Ram, you will regret this," Frederica warned, but Ram was too busy scraping a comfortable chair to the middle of the room and seating herself cross-legged on it.
Beatrice felt like she ended up walking right into a trap. The embodiment of laziness began barking orders at her, and she scurried forward, dipping the rag in water and wiping the table before her. As excess water from the rag dripped down the table and onto the floor, she wondered how hard could cleaning be. After all, she had seen Subaru do it a number of times.
—As it turned out she was wrong.
"Beatrice-sama, you are supposed to wring the excess water out of the rag before using it."
"…"
"Beatrice-sama, please clean underneath the cupboards too."
"…"
"Beatrice-sama, there is dust in the corners."
Beatrice takes it back. Cleaning was not easy, in fact!
She panted as she finished cleaning the floor, wiping the sweat from her forehead.
"Ah, Beatrice-chan, wait! That's the dirty rag!" Petra exclaimed.
Beatrice promptly threw the rag that dirtied her forehead to the ground, hissing as she stomped on it. If only she had more mana… This filthy stupid thing should be Al Shamaked to the Great Rabbit. Ram snickered and Beatrice growled.
Beatrice had done enough work for today. She had cleaned the table (note: it was Frederica), cleaned up the cupboards (note: also Frederica), mopped the floor (Frederica liked to see the good in people so she tried to at least be impressed by the fact that someone in their camp held the title for the world's worst housekeeper) and moved the giant wooden box that was making poor Frederica trip (note: *sigh*).
Beatrice deserved a nice long bath. So she decided to do so. Not even bothering to put the cleaning equipment away, she had just began walking away when—
"Beatrice-sama, where are you going?" Ram asked, now even enjoying a cup of tea while Beatrice was slaving away.
"Betty wants a bath, I suppose."
"The windows are yet to be cleaned—" Ram began and Beatrice wondered if Ram would be missed if she were to be Al Shamaked as well, "—but Ram supposes it would be hard for you to reach since are too small—"
"Give that to Betty, in fact!" Beatrice wasted no time snatching the rag that Petra was starting to put away, marching to the window.
"Beatrice-ch—sama, you don't have to…" Petra tried to talk her out of it but the words went through Beatrice's one ear and out the other as she glared at Ram.
The nerve of this maid! Any work that Petra can do, Beatrice could definitely do as well…
…is what she had declared so boldly, but the upper part of the windows were impossible to reach even on her tiptoes while jumping. Her pride refused to let her accept the stool that Frederica had offered. So she continued to jump in vain.
"Awww! That's cute!"
Beatrice stops as her eyes twitch. She turns around fuming to the voice of who she recognised as one of the three stooges of the camp.
Garfiel, who was simply passing by the kitchen, had remarked his thoughts out loud upon glancing upon the scene. "Do ya need any help, Beatrice-chan? My amazin' self can help out!" Garfiel grinned.
She refused to be treated like a child by the most childish member of their camp!
"And what can you do, I suppose? You aren't the tallest member of the camp either, in fact!"
Garfiel was a bit taken aback at the sudden animosity as a frown etched itself onto his face. "My amazin' self was just tryna help. You don't have t' be so rude…"
"As if the fool that breaks vases by walking beside them can do better than Betty, I suppose!" Beatrice grumbled.
Garfiel snarled at her. "My amazin' self's not huge like si—" he paused all of a sudden. A shudder ran down his spine, feeling Frederica's gaze at his back and quickly corrected himself, "My amazin' self's not huge but 's still better than ya just jumpin' up and down. My amazin' self can do a better job!"
"At breaking crockery?" Ram smirked, taking a sip of her tea. No one paid her any heed as Beatrice and Garfiel glared at each other.
"Ram, stop! You're not helping. Garf, Beatrice-sama, please calm down!" Frederica cried, but to no avail.
"Betty doubts a fool that thinks with his flimsy muscles can do a better job, in fact!"
Garfiel gasped, taking personal offense at that. "Yer one to talk! Yer too tiny for someone who's suppos'd t' be an eon old spirit!"
Beatrice fumed. How dare he disrespect Betty like that!
Lightning struck as their gazes remained fixed on each other. Beatrice took a step forward and the fool had the audacity to take a step back. With her blood boiling, she matched forward and Garfiel sneered and he stepped backwards, their glares never conceding.
The silent game of cat and mouse came to a head when Garfiel abruptly broke into a laughter. Beatrice narrowed her eyes wondering what the idiot thought was funny. Garfiel simply smirked. "Ya'r still too adorable, tryin' to stomp towards my amazin' self with yer little feet."
Beatrice had had it! She grabbed the nearby half-filled bucket of water that she had just been using to clean the kitchen and threw it to the overgrown cat with all the force she could muster. It wasn't really much because, "Ha!" Garfiel kicked it back much more easily than she had expected.
What neither of them had not realized was that Garfiel had made a grave error. He had miscalculated the trajectory of the bucket and both watched as it zoomed over the short Beatrice before landing with a splash over Ram's head, who was still sitting comfortably cross-legged on the chair sipping her tea.
There were four simultaneous gasps heard in the room. Ram's face might have been concealed by the bucket, dirty water dripping down her neck and elbows, but it didn't take a genius to figure out how Ram was feeling.
"Ram-nee-sama!" Petra whispered teary-eyed, her hands over her mouth, as she backed away as slowly as she could.
Frederica's gaze was tinged with a mix of pity and an 'I told you so', though from the way she was pursing her lips, Beatrice had the sneaking suspicion that the blonde maid was simply trying to suppress her laughter. Beatrice turned to glance at Garfiel only to find the hall empty and no one hiding by the doorway.
Did that coward just run away!?
Before she could even turn back to look at Ram's reaction, she felt a small push shoving her out of the kitchen.
"Run!" was all the warning Petra gave before Beatrice watched her get swallowed into the kitchen.
Right before Petra had slammed the door while being dragged away, Beatrice had caught a glimpse of the demon inside.
Could eyes even glow like that!? And were those claws and teeth or was she imagining it!?
A blood-curdling screech reached her ears. Beatrice abandoned her curiosity as she ran for dear life.
With that memory playing on her mind, Beatrice's legs did not abandon their running rhythm once she'd gotten out of Otto's sight.
"Ridiculous, in fact. That devil will not catch Betty in a million years, I suppose!" Beatrice's low growl was cut short as soon as she turned around the corner to see someone familiar to her.
The devil incarnate herself, Ram the maid, was standing in the hallway, conversing with the young mistress of the mansion.
Madame Annerose Miload was a young girl who was the noble master of the estate they had now resided in after Roswaal's mansion was burnt down. That same young girl had played a hand in annoying Beatrice to an impossible degree just moments before seeing her now.
Beatrice glared at the two and walked the other way before Ram could see her.
"Little brat, I suppose… She dares to treat Betty like a doll…"
The small spirit glared harder once the memory began coming back to her.
Flashback 5
Beatrice ran as fast as her legs could carry her, the wind of horror and despair howling around her like a malevolent spirit. Shadows seemed to stretch and reach for her like a predator. Her heart pounded in her chest, each beat echoing the fear that gripped her soul. She needed to find safety, a place to hide from the relentless pursuit of the maid who hunted her.
Finally, she stumbled into a secluded room, a sanctuary she hoped would shield her from the outside world for years to come. Trembling, she wrapped herself in a fetal position under a desk, her small frame quivering with exhaustion and terror.
"Please, library, come back," she whispered, tears streaming down her face. She clutched her knees to her chest, seeking comfort in the small, dark space.
Suddenly, the door creaked open. Beatrice held her breath, every muscle in her body tensing. Multiple footsteps echoed in the room. A chilling feeling overcame her heart at the realization that more people may have joined Ram in her pursuit to punish the spirit for her misdeed.
"No one is here. We are safe to continue, my sirs," a voice said cryptically. It was Clind. Beatrice swallowed hard, forcing herself to calm down.
"How stupid can you be?" Annerose's voice shattered the suspense, her tone dripping with disdain. "Roswaal, your maturity, and etiquette are severely lacking."
Beatrice sighed, pressing herself further into the shadows beneath the desk. She tried to block out their conversation, focusing instead on staying hidden.
"Ah, Annerose, always so quick to judge," Roswaal replied cheerfully. "You see, in Subaru-kun's h~ooo~meland, this particular activity is quite popular."
Beatrice's ears perked up, her fear momentarily forgotten. She leaned closer to the desk opening, her full attention now on Roswaal's words. The mention of Subaru and his homeland piqued her curiosity, drawing her away from her immediate concerns.
"What activity?" Annerose snorted at the man even though he was much taller than her. "Subaru-sama's people are quite the rowdy bunch if these are the ideas of fun they indulge in from time to time."
The spirit beneath the desk couldn't help but clench a fist to satiate the sudden need to drop-kick the royal matriarch of the estate. How dare she insult Subaru's people like that.
Beatrice's eyes catch what's going on from a little hole in the desk's cover, she watches the stand-off between the two supposed great cousins.
She watched Roswaal's expression darken as he fixed his gaze on the little girl, his eyes narrowing with an intensity that could chill the bravest soul. But Annerose stood her ground, unflinching beneath his aura of intimidation.
With his hands clasped in a pleading gesture, Roswaal's voice dropped to a grave, serious tone.
"Please," he implored, "let me open Lugunica's first circus."
Annerose's response was immediate and firm. "No."
"It's good for the economy," Roswaal argued, his voice desperate.
"No."
"Our descendants will have nothing without it."
"No."
The argument devolved into absurdity, and Beatrice, hidden beneath the desk, slowly began to lose interest. She leaned away, her face reflecting a mix of disappointment, sympathy, and pity towards this man who was supposed to be the monster who resurrected himself through his children's lives, now begging a ten-year-old child for some authority.
Her thoughts turned bitter as she observed the power dynamic in the room. Annerose commanded so much respect and influence that even Roswaal, with all his might and cunning, had to beg like a child for his whims.
Meanwhile, Beatrice herself was reduced to hiding under a desk, her dress stained with dirty water droplets and flour smeared on her sleeves. The realization that no one trusted or respected her enough to let her help stung deeply. Her anger simmered, fueled by the ridiculous conversation happening above her.
"Let us have some paint for the circus," Roswaal suggested.
"There will be no paint because there will be no circus," Annerose retorted.
"We can make the poor village kids ride ground dragons for the first time!"
"Our dragons are only taught to be ridden by the nobility, not the poor people. You will not have this circus."
"The gardens of the estate are perfect for an animal showcase!"
"Where would you even get the animals?!"
"If we believe in anything, we can ach~iii~eve."
"...You are going to use mabeasts, aren't you?" Annerose didn't sound impressed.
"It's a big forest filled with monsters that offer no use to me. This way they can be usef~uuu~l. Besides, Meili-chan will love helping out with that, and she can control them! Even though she's a child, she commands so much of our respect—"
At this point, Beatrice's fury boiled over. She jumped up, kicking the desk harshly, startling everyone in the room. She pointed an accusatory finger at Roswaal, her voice trembling with rage.
"You're an idiot, in fact!" she shouted. "Annerose, don't allow such a stupid decision."
Annerose nodded, grateful that someone as respected as Beatrice supported her stance. Roswaal, however, simply snorted, a derisive smile playing on his lips.
"Children," he scoffed, "with n~ooo~ comprehension of the greatness of my idea."
Beatrice's anger flared even hotter, and she hissed at Roswaal like an enraged cat.
Annerose crossed her arms and looked at Roswaal with disdain. "That's insulting to both me and the Great Spirit," she said sharply. "Beatrice-sama deserves more respect than you could ever hope to muster."
Beatrice felt a small wave of calm wash over her. For once, someone of higher status was acknowledging her worth. She straightened slightly, a hint of satisfaction in her eyes, while Roswaal's expression darkened with irritation.
"I'm done with this," Roswaal snapped. "I'll m~aaa~ke my circus happen anyway I like. Clind-kun, come with me. We have stripes to put up."
Clind stood his ground, his expression firm. "No, Margrave-sama," he said calmly.
Roswaal's face twisted in a look of betrayal. "Clind-kun, you dare refuse me?"
The butler's voice remained steady. "You should leave and think about apologizing to Annerose-sama and Great Spirit Beatrice-sama, Margrave-sama."
Roswaal's eyes narrowed, his frustration boiling over, but he had no choice. With a final glare at everyone in the room, he turned on his heel and stormed out. Clind followed him to the door, shutting it firmly behind the disgraced noble.
"Thank you," Beatrice murmured, glancing up at Annerose, who gave her a respectful nod.
"You're welcome, Great Spirit," Annerose replied, her tone sincere. "You deserve far better than to be dragged into Roswaal's ridiculous schemes."
Beatrice nodded, feeling a renewed sense of dignity.
Annerose's eyes sparkled with genuine admiration as she looked at Beatrice. "You truly are a remarkable Great Spirit," she said, her voice filled with awe. "Your power, your wisdom, it's all beyond compare."
Beatrice couldn't help but indulge in the thrill of being respected, her chest swelling with pride. She glanced at the wall to the side, huffing in tiredness. "It's not just Roswaal," she complained. "Everyone in this mansion has shown me such disrespect. Sometimes I wish I had Bubby's powers for a day to freeze them all, in fact."
Annerose's expression turned even more apologetic. "I disown everyone in this mansion!" she declared profusely.
Beatrice's eyes widened in panic. "Wait! Anne, you can't just do that. I don't want everyone to become homeless!"
Annerose shook her head, her eyes sincere and admiring. "Beatrice-sama, you're so generous and merciful to the people who were rude to you. You're wise, powerful, and kind-hearted."
Beatrice's panic started to melt into a warm glow as she soaked in the compliments. She nodded along, enjoying the praise. But then Annerose continued.
"And what I admire most about you," Annerose added, her voice taking on a dreamy quality, "is that you're such an adorable child."
Beatrice's lips went thin, her eyes darkening as the realization hit her. Annerose wasn't worshipping her as a god; she was gushing over her like a doll.
Without a word, Beatrice's face turned to stone. She walked out of the room, her expression unreadable. The thrill of respect had been shattered by the cold truth, and the Great Spirit felt smaller than she had moments before.
"Imbeciles, the lot of them, I suppose! Betty is a Great Spirit for Od's sake! Betty is not a doll, not clumsy, not a fool and certainly NOT A CHILD, IN FACT! If Betty had her library and her mana, those cretins would be shaking in their boots, I suppose! Betty humors them and this is how they treat her in return, in fact? Those numbskulled buffoon-headed fools will regret—"
A pair of familiar voices cut her tirade short. With a swift step back, she peeked her head around the corner to find Subaru and Otto chatting away happily with not a care in the world.
Beatrice fumed. How dare that fool not seek her out as soon as he was done, choosing instead to engage in mindless conversation with an idi… with an Otto! What a terrible contractor, in fact!
She strained her ears trying to eavesdrop but couldn't quite discern what they were speaking about.
" Sneaky sneak, I suppose!" she whispered, hiding behind the marble pillar a little ahead.
"—and you should have seen his face! I played a ' Draw Four' card and he literally flipped the table over! I won and I got a good laugh out of it so thanks a lot, Otto! I am super grateful! From now on, I will reduce it to five Ottos a day!" Subaru snorted.
"Reduce what!? And the hell are five Ottos a day and why isn't it zero!?" Otto shrieked.
"Honestly, when I heard gambling, I was thinking of Poker or Blackjack, not Uno!" said Subaru animatedly. "Good thing it wasn't though. I have no idea how to play either of those and a certain hypocrite used to tell me I have a terrible poker face." While Beatrice couldn't quite see the expression on his face, she could recognise the fondness in his tone. She wondered who he could be talking about.
"As always, I didn't understand a thing about what you're saying," Otto sighed. "How can you manage to make a Singles game sound so complicated?"
Beatrice furrowed her head. Singles? That didn't sound right. What was her sweet contractor doing playing such a dastardly game!? He will pay dearly if he blows away all her sweets mon… urm… all his savings money. Before she could ponder any further over the nature of these suspicious Knights Evaluation—
"By the way, Natsuki-san, since you're free now, could you please go down to the Costuul post office and send this letter for me? It's for my brother. I would send it myself, but…"
"But?"
Otto let out a long, weary sigh. "Margrave Mathers is up to his old tricks again," he said, shaking his head. "He's concocted yet another so-called 'project,' but it's obviously just a scam in disguise. And now, he's foisted all the paperwork on me. I'd be really grateful if you could—"
"Yup, no problem! Send your heartfelt precious letter to your brother. Got it! You can count on me! He'll be so happy, he'll weep tears of joy," Subaru interjected, flashing a confident wink and giving a reassuring thumbs up.
"Yes yes, whatever. Thanks for–"
"Betty will take that, I suppose!"
"Eh?"
Out of nowhere, Beatrice sprang into action. In one swift motion, she snatched the letter from Otto's grasp as he extended it toward Subaru. The boys stared at her in stunned silence as she danced around with a look of triumph on her face.
"Beako, what are you doing?" Subaru asked, his voice a mix of surprise and concern.
"Betty has heard your story, I suppose," Beatrice began with a smug grin, her voice resolute. "And she has decided that she will personally deliver your precious letter to your brother, in fact. Consider it done, but from Betty, I suppose."
"Beatrice-chan, you don't have to do this. The letter is not nearly as impor–"
"Nonsense, in fact!" Beatrice interrupted, her voice sharp and defiant. "Do you think Betty is incapable of delivering a simple letter just because she's a child?"
"That's not what I meant, Beako! Well… I am a bit worried, but–"
"So, you do think Betty is just a child!" she retorted, her tone growing more indignant.
"Beatrice-chan, let's not point fingers. Just give me back the letter, please–"
"SHAMAK!"
Beatrice's patience had run out. The incessant yammering in her ears had her casting the spell before thinking. If they wanted to treat her as if she were incapable, she would prove them wrong. She would handle the letter with utmost care and see to it that it reached its destination.
She flipped the letter over to check the address.
"Regin Suwen," she read aloud. Her mind had already begun to envision the scene; Regin would read the letter and be moved to tears of joy, while Otto would be so overwhelmed with gratitude that he'd fall to his knees before her. Beatrice would be respected for her dedication and never again dismissed as a mere child.
The dense black mist hung in the air, swirling around the boys as it swallowed their bewildered protests whole. She wasted no time dashing out of the mansion, the letter clutched tightly in her hands. Every second counted; if she didn't finish her task before the boys managed to break free from their magical prison, she would probably never get another chance to do anything errand ever again.
…
…
…
"What the hell!?" Subaru's voice cut through the fog.
The mist began to dissipate, revealing faces flushed with confusion and disarray. Subaru looked around in irritation, lingering in the bitter aftertaste of the spell that had ensnared them.
"My letter!" Otto exclaimed, noticing the absent figure of the one that got away.
Subaru's gaze was already set, determination hardening his features. "Don't worry, I'll rescue it," he declared, sprinting forward.
Otto, still trying to gather his bearings and find his voice, could only watch as Subaru disappeared into the distance. "It's not important!" he protested, but his words were drowned by the receding echo of Subaru's retreating footsteps.
"Beako! Come back!" his shouts echoed in the hallway, but to no avail.
In his single-minded pursuit, he avoided colliding with Emilia by a hair's edge as she sidestepped with grace.
"Emilia-tan!" Subaru exclaimed, skidding to a halt beside her.
"Subaru, it is dangerous to run like that!" Emilia admonished, her voice tinged with concern. "I know you're thrilled about passing the evaluation, but surely there are less reckless ways to celebrate?"
Subaru, his gaze still locked on the direction Beatrice had headed, jogged in place, trying to keep his focus. "Emilia-tan, I'm so glad you're worried about me, but I'm not the child you should be scolding!" And then, her words registered into his mind in a rush, and he stopped abruptly. "Wait, how did you know I passed?"
Emilia's cheeks turned pink, her usual composure faltering. "That's… erm," she stammered, fidgeting with the hem of her sleeve. "I trusted you," she finally squeaked out, barely meeting his eyes.
Subaru's eyes sparkled with joy. "Ahh! Emilia-tan trusts me! I'm so happy I could die!" Maybe Return by Death could help even catch Beatrice faster. "But wait, if I die, wouldn't I be greeted by angels in heaven? And if Emilia-tan is an angel, does that mean I'd meet her in heaven?"
Emilia's brow furrowed in confusion, and she gave him a light tap on the head. "Geez, I don't understand what you're saying!" Her voice softened with concern as she looked at him closely. "You seem worried though. Did something happen?"
Snapping back to the present, Subaru nodded, his expression growing serious. "Yeah, actually. Beatrice stole Otto's important letter, and I know she's just trying to help but this is the first time she's going to the city alone. I can't help but worry."
"Oh!" Emilia exclaimed. "Is this because of what I said? Because I accidentally called her a child. I didn't mean to hurt her feelings," she said, her eyes downcast.
Subaru shook his head with a reassuring smile. "The day you hurt someone's feelings is the day the world ends. Beatrice might be upset about people calling her a child, but she'll probably demand a head pat after she successfully delivers the letter."
"But won't she just get more upset if you try to stop her?"
"I'm not really trying to stop her. I was just planning on tailing her and maybe rough up a few suspicious characters that might come in her way." He knew he couldn't actually take on anyone in this world. However, he hoped his notorious 'mean-looking' eyes might have the same effect.
"Do you mind if I join you?" Emilia asked in concern.
"The day I refuse would be the day–"
"Heaven and Earth switch places. I know, I know," Emilia finished for him, a small smile playing on her lips.
Subaru's eyes widened in mock astonishment. "We're even completing sentences now! Have you finally fallen in love with me?"
Ignoring his words, "Let's hurry before we lose her!" she said.
"As you wish, my lady!"
Subaru and Emilia hurried outside, their pace quickening as they reached the outskirts of the mansion. They came to a halt when they realised they had lost sight of the spirit.
"I'm worried, Subaru! We've lost her. How do we know if she went the right way?"
Subaru chuckled, his eyes scanning the area. "I wouldn't worry too much, Emilia-tan." He pointed to a trail of wilting vegetation and the occasional dead bird scattered along the path. "It looks like Beatrice has left quite the mark."
Emilia's eyes widened in alarm. "Oh no! What is that? Is this some kind of curse? I hear something very faint, but I don't quite understand what it is. Is that an incantation?"
Subaru grinned mischievously. "There's only one singing voice that can rival Emilia-tan as a weapon in biological warfare! Let's follow the trail of destruction!"
Emilia's cheeks flushed with a mix of embarrassment and irritation. "I don't have a horrible singing voice! You're just being mean! Hmph!"
They resumed their pursuit, carefully making their way along the trail of devastation. It didn't take them long to find Beatrice, a few feet ahead, humming her discordant melody, leaving chaos in its wake.
Subaru and Emilia hid behind the trees, peering out to keep track of Beatrice's progress. "We're close now," Subaru whispered, "Let's stay hidden and make sure we don't spook her."
Emilia nodded. "We'll keep our distance but stay ready to step in if necessary."
Meanwhile, in the Miload Estate—
"Choose your last words, Garf," Ram said, rather calmly despite the content of her words, her eyes fixated on Garfiel, who was pinned against the wall.
"T'was 'n accident! I swear!" Garfiel protested vehemently, struggling futilely against Ram's grip. "My amazin' self would never hurt ya! Ya know that!"
"Choose your last words, Garf."
"Don't just ignore everythin' my amazin' self said! And why do I have t' be punished first! Beatrice-chan started it!"
Ram shook her head, her gaze unwavering and icy. "Your face is punchable, your hair is annoying, and your teeth are a menace."
"That's ain't a good enough reason!" Garfiel shot back. "Ya just couldn't find her, could ya?"
Ram's hands paused momentarily as she directed a piercing glare at Garfiel. "My condolences to Frederica-san."
However, before Ram could complete her task of sending him to the afterlife, Garfiel seized the fleeting moment of distraction. With a burst of energy, he pushed past her, darting toward the nearest room of the mansion, which just so happened to be the library.
"Subaru-kun did say canons are used in his circuses so maaaaaybe bombs might also be an entertaaaaining idea," a hushed manic mutter reached Garfiel's ears.
Garfiel skidded to a halt in the room, his eyes widening at the unexpected sight. Instead of finding an empty library, he was confronted with the unsettling presence of a clown—Roswaal—whose heterochromatic eyes gleamed with a curious mix of amusement and surprise upon seeing him. Spread out before him were detailed maps of the estate and the city of Costuul.
The combined forces for his fear of Ram and hatred for Roswaal at play, he reacted instinctively. He grabbed the small desk and hurled it at Ram, in a desperate bid to buy himself some time. Maps and papers fluttered through the air like confetti.
With a swift, almost effortless kick, Ram sent the desk crashing aside, its contents scattering across the floor. "How dare you interrupt Roswaal-sama while he is working? For this slight alone, Ram will no longer grant you a merciful death."
"What mercy!?" Garfiel cried out in bewildered outrage.
"Now noooow, let's be friieeends," Roswaal said in an attempt to placate them.
"Why should my amazin' self listen to ya?" Garfiel snarled.
"Do you see, Roswaal-sama? Ram has been cordial. Unfortunately, an untamed beast will forever remain a beast," Ram replied mournfully.
"Ram, Garfiel-kun," Roswaal began, his face beginning to take on a more serious expression. "Our lives are naaaaauuught but a mere speck in time, briiieeeeef flickers in the grand tapestry of existence. Yet, however minuscle these moments maaaay be, the choices we make define our very essence."
He paused for effect like a monologuing actor in a play as his heterochromatic eyes glinted with an almost theatrical madness. "We staaaaand upon the precipice of our own destinies. We are not sooooolllitary actors but participants in a graaaaand drama where the stakes are nothing shoooort of the balance of this world. If we allow ourselves to be at ooooodds, then this world will have an eeeeaaasier time picking us off, one by one."
Roswaal's gaze swept over them both, his tone suddenly growing more sombre. "The Evaluation that our dear Subaru-kun is currently faaaaaacing is nothing but a farce, a plot to thorooouuughly scrutinise and humiliate an outsider knighted by a looooord whom many distrust. Their presence is a reeeeeeminder of the intricate balance of politics, power, and fate we aaaaare a part of. Our rooooles are serious, and our alignment is cruuuuucial. The world is watching us. We must fight on the saaaaame side, or risk the collapse of all that we hooooold dear."
Ram's stern expression softened as she listened to Roswaal's speech. The depth of his words seemed to touch something deep within her, making her fall in love with him all over again. She turned her gaze from Roswaal to Garfiel, her demeanor now a bit more calm and lenient. "Very well," she said, "Roswaal-sama has spoken with wisdom, and Ram finds herself moved by his words."
Garfiel, still catching his breath from his earlier escape attempt, blinked in confusion. "Huh? What's goin' on now?"
"Roswaal-sama's insight has convinced me. For his sake, and in recognition of the greater cause we all serve, Ram forgives you for your buffoonery, Garf. Consider yourself fortunate."
"Uh, thanks?" While Garfiel agreed that Roswaal's speech was definitely charismatic enough to sway him, he found it hard to take anything that came out of the clown's mouth seriously. If he knew any better, Roswaal was definitely upto something.
Roswaal's eyes softened, though his voice remained firm. "So, let us caaaaast aside our differences. For in uuuuunity, we find strength; in discooooord, only destruction awaits."
"He's not done!?" Garfiel exclaimed. A single, whipping glare from Ram was enough to silence him instantly.
Roswaal, lost more in the throes of his own grand vision, barely seemed to notice his audience as he continued to speak with a self-satisfied air. "It is impooooortant that we all find common ground. With our unity, with our strength, we will iiiiiinspire. By harnessing the cooooollective will of the common folk, we will create a mooooovement that Annerose cannot resist."
"Annerose-sama?" Ram tilted her head in confusion.
"What's she gotta do with this?" Garfiel too asked in confusion.
Roswaal spread his arms wide, his voice brimming with manic delight. "Can you imaaaagine it? The roar and passion of the masses, all raaaallying under a single banner. They will pleeeeaaad for it, and the louder their voices, the more impoooossible it will be to ignore their will."
Garfiel, his instinct to flee intensifying, longed to escape from whatever scheme Roswaal was hatching. Unfortunately, Ram's firm grip around his neck kept him rooted in place.
"The circus will proceed," Roswaal declared, his eyes blazing with fervor. "This will be the dawn of a revolution!"
Author's Note:
Reactionist: Hello everyone! Knoxxwatt has been one of my idols for writing ever since we began speaking a few years ago. I was very happy that she picked me to write with her on this collab. We spent a year or so writing an outline for a full story that became a 20K words of notes. So this story is going to have some of the best writings from the both of us.
Writing with one of my favorite writers in the community has been a blast, especially since the talent Knoxxwatt displayed inspired my own. It's so much fun, and I laugh so much reading what I wrote.
Hope you guys enjoy what is to be one of my favorite works in any community.
Knoxxwatt: Hi everyone! This Collab has been a year in the making and this is the most fun I have ever had writing a fic. Reactionist has been one of my fav authors for a long time and I'm so glad I asked him to write this fic with me. It wouldn't have been as good as it turned out without him and this has become one of my favorite fics to write due to the sheer madness we have packed into it.
Hope you guys will enjoy this fic as much as we did and thanks to all who read it.