Interlude 1

Roswaal's Office

'This did not go as teacher said it would…Where is Subaru Natsuki? Who is Ren Fujimura? Have I failed teacher in one of my actions?' Outrage, confusion and shock were all swirling within the Margrave, at the news of Emilia's Savior's identity.

'Has the Tome started leading me astray?' Doubt soon started to fill in, but is crushed underheel. 'No! I will not become stagnated like that child who could not fulfill her purpose! This is merely a test, yes, a test.' Self assured of his conclusion, The Margrave fishes out his Tome from his desk but does not open it.

"I will await your next instructions, so that we may be reunited once more."

Loot House

Casting a healing spell over the raven haired boy's injuries, they slowly start to close. A minute or two of healing later, the boy is fully healed, but he's not waking up. Why isn't he waking up?

Then she hears the voice of the little girl who stole her insignia. "You let big bro die..." I tried to save him!

Then Reinhard's voice, "You let Ren die…" Please, Listen to me-

Then there was another voice, in her head, "You let me die…" it was the boy, Ren. No…I tried to save you

But despite her denial, they did not listen. Their voices ringing out in unison. "You let him/me die, you monster." Again and again and again…

"Lia."

I didn't mean to…

"Lia, wake up!"

I wanted to save him!

"Wake up!"

"Huh?" Sitting up, I notice my room covered in ice. "Why is-?"

"Oh yeah, this is my doing, it's my Hatsumaki." Puck says from my right.

"Oh, good morning, Puck."

"Good morning to you too, Lia! But are you alright? You seemed to be really distressed. A bad dream perhaps?"

"Yes, but it doesn't matter." I don't Puck to worry about it, it's one of many.

"...Alright. Oh? Looks like we have guests." As if on cue, the voice of Roswaal pierces through the door.

"Emilia-sama! So sorry for showing up so early in the morning! But if you could spare us a moment?" He wants to come in? I don't think that's a good idea.

"Roswaal? Can this wait?" I say back.

"..."

Then another voice responds, one I was hoping not to hear. "Emilia! As much as I'd love to say sure, it's practically freezing out here! So, I'll have to barge in! So sorry if you're changing!

"Eh? Wait! I'm still in-" Too little, too late. Swinging the door open, the face of the boy in my dream appears.

"Gah! It's colder here than out there! At Least I didn't walk in to you changing." He sighs in relief.

"You know it's rude to come into a ladies room, especially my daughters." Puck says, glare behind words.

"Sorry Emilia's cat, but this is important! One more day of this, and we'll all freeze to death!" Ren replies defiantly. "Emilia?"

His sudden call for me snaps me out of my thoughts. "Eh? Oh, um. It's just bad weather?"

"Inside? It's very cute seeing you try to lie, but lives are at risk here."

…He's right. "Cute!?"

Snow Festival, Rem

"Disqualified!" Hearing Guest-sama eliminate another team makes me more anxious. "Honestly…What were you all thinking? And why me specifically?"

I couldn't help but agree with his decision however. The village boys had made a sculpture that portrayed the Guest-sama in a bad light.

"I don't knooow, I think it's quite beautiful. Don't you thiiink?" Ah, Roswaal-sama always does have strange opinions.

"Really Ros? I'm not some evil villain, so there was no point in making me look that way." Guest-sama says back blandly, as he holds up a 0.

"But you are one! You took Petra-chan away from us!" One of the older boys yells out.

"Hm…Why don't we ask ouuur other judge, for their opinionoon." Roswaal-sama holds up a 10.

Looking towards the last judge, she looks back at the boys with a fierce glare. "No!" Petra, the last judge, gives them a 0 as well.

Even with a perfect score from one of the judges, the boys still ended up in last. Next up is…Emilia-sama.

"Alright, Emilia! Show us what you made!" With the attention on Emilia-sama, she quickly starts to crumble under the pressure. Thankfully, the great spirit Puck, was able to calm her down.

"I-I…I will be showing off my sculpture now!" Pulling the sheet off, underneath is a beautifully made sculpture of…The Guest-sama? In a Puck themed pajama.

"Wow…I don't know what to say." The Guest-sama looks away in embarrassment. "It's nicely made, so…8! But, I do have a few reservations about being perceived as cute."

"Well Done! But perhaps how about instead of Reeen-kun, you used me as a model instead?" 7.

"Sooo cute!" 10.

"Ok! Moving on! Rem! Show us your sculpture!" Alright, Nee-sama may not be here, but I can still do this!

Pulling the sheet off, I present my masterpiece. Guest-sama dressed like Roswaal-sama!

"Ugh…why is it always me?" Guest-sama looks to be crying, from joy if I had to guess. "No, just no…" A 0?! How? Where did I go wrong? I was sure Guest-sama would like this!

Later on in the Festival, Ram

'What is that idiot doing now?' Staring at the guest of the mansion in confusion, I started to approach him. Passing by the line of children and adults leading to him, I started questioning him.

"What am I doing? I'm making snow cones! It's a big hit for well…Everyone!" He says, operating a large machine that produces said snow cones. "Here you go." Handing one to the next child in line, he turns to me. "Want one? There's Raspberry, Blueberry, and Grape flavor. I recommend Raspberry."

"What? What is Razz-Belly?" I start questioning his strange words.

Sighing at my words, he reiterates. "Red, Blue or Purple?"

"Red, of course." Red is the only correct answer, anything else is inferior.

"Alright, one Raspberry cone coming up!" He starts operating the machine once more, it doesn't take long at all for it to produce the cone but without the color. He then places a bottle over it, pouring a syrupy liquid on the ice. "Here you go, free of charge! Call it a thank you for cleaning up the mansion all the time."

Grabbing the cone off his hands, I start trying to find a way to eat it. Sighing again, he explains how to eat it. "Do you see the straw? Just sip it, it probably won't melt due to it being really cold but I'd rather not watch you struggle to eat it."

"Heh! I knew that of course!" I don't need some idiot's help in eating ice!

'It's good, really good, but I can't let him know that, it'll get to his head.' I feel an overwhelming feeling of happiness as I take another sip.

"Judging by that look of pure bliss, I guess you enjoyed it?"

"W-What!? Do not spread falsehoods about me, lazy fool." There is no way I had an expression like that!

"Hey, there's no shame in enjoying a good cone every now and then. Anyways, I'll be heading back to work, if you want one again, just line up." He actually got me, even now he's still got that smug grin on his face.

Dinner after Snow Festival, Beatrice

"Are you sure you should be drinking Emilia?" The boy asks Bubby's contracter.

"I'll be fine, I'm old enough anyways!" She is already tipsy despite not drinking anything. 'I don't know what Bubby sees in this foolish girl.'

"Somehow I doubt that, and you?" He directs his question at Betty.

"I have lived far longer than you, I suppose."

"I guess, but what I meant was, if your body could handle the alcohol." 'Your concern is unnecessary, I suppose.'

"Hmph! Betty was designed to be as human as possible, so it matters not if Betty were to drink. I suppose."

"Huh, That's neat." He pauses for a moment, before re-engaging in our conversation. "It's a nice surprise seeing you out and about though, here I thought you were stuck in that library or something."

"O-Of course not, I don't see a point in showing up if not absolutely necessary. In fact." He should be grateful that I even let him into the library. "Not that it's any of your business, I suppose."

"I guess not, but…nevermind, it doesn't matter." Leaving it at that, he turns and starts speaking with the half elf again. 'What a confusing boy.'

Castle of Dreams, Echidna

"Hey Chidna! How've you been?" My student's enthusiastic greeting surprises me, as I sit up from my relaxed position.

"Oh? I've been fine, but I'm more curious as to what's got you in such a good mood?" I question, as my eyes land on the boy I've taken in.

"We had a Snow Festival, and I ended up making snow cones for everyone. Oh! I'm pretty sure I still have some in my…" He doesn't finish what he says, but pulls out several of what I believe is a snow cone. From where exactly? I don't know, he said that it's better that I don't know. Not that I have stopped trying to find out, but to no avail.

"Here you go, I didn't know which you might like so I made all of them. There's also some extras for the other witches, so be sure to share them, but don't eat it too fast, you'll get a brain freeze."

"How very motherly of you. I'm flattered you care so much about me."

"Someone has to, you're not exactly a people person, and the people around you aren't exactly normal either. Try it, I mean you're already dead, so think of it as a new experience." Now that has piqued my interest. Sipping through the 'straw', the taste of Raspberry floods my taste buds.

"It is good, I can see this as being quite the treat for the summer."

"And it is, back in my world at least…" He gets like this every time his world is mentioned, and yet he refuses to speak about it. What am I going to do with him?