Chapter 3:A ragged old Storybook but with a brand new page
"Why, why, why did you all leave me? I thought I was their friend, I thought I was her knight, I—I thought I was the one to make you happy—" a nameless voice screamed in a dungeon.
"So tell me, why won't you remember our contract—" the voice grew louder.
"TELL ME, WHY DID YOU FORGET ME TOO—" the voice roared at the top of his lungs.
"I SAVED YOU BEFORE YOU COULD GET YOUR NAME TAKEN, SO WHY DID YOU ABANDON ME—"
Beatrice's eyes widened as she listened, frozen, unable to comprehend what this voice was saying.
"BEAKO!"
Beatrice looked at the nameless figure, clutching her chest. She didn't understand why he was calling her that until—
"Beako, wake up already."
Beatrice jolted awake, realizing she wasn't in a dungeon but rather a comfy bed. Her contractor, Subaru, was gently shaking her awake.
"Are you alright, Beako? You seemed like you were having a nightmare," Subaru asked, his voice filled with concern.
"You were saying 'sorry' so many times in your sleep. Did something happen? Did you remember something in your dream?" Subaru pulled her into a warm hug.
"S-Subaru?" Beatrice whispered, trying to confirm if he was real.
"Yes, Beako, I'm here. So tell me—are you okay?" Subaru reassured her, holding her closer.
"I'm alright now, I suppose. I was just dreaming about… how I failed you, I suppose," Beatrice admitted, her voice trembling but softening as she felt safe in his arms.
"It's okay, Beako. Whatever you thought, it's just in your head. I'm right here with you," Subaru said, rubbing her back gently, trying to calm her down.
"B-but this happened in the past and—" Beatrice hesitated, stopping herself from revealing too much. But she took a deep breath and decided to trust him a little more.
"It was about how you… ended up losing your memory because of Betty's actions," Beatrice confessed, lowering her gaze.
Subaru looked at her, his expression unreadable. Then, instead of pulling away, he hugged her tighter and gently rubbed her head.
"It's fine, Beako. I forgive you. I'm just happy you told me, and you don't need to explain anymore if you don't want to," Subaru said with a calm certainty that left no room for doubt.
"Betty has hurt you, in fact, and made you lose your memory like the useless spirit I am," Beatrice tried to argue, her voice breaking.
"That's fine, because it's you who is here now, making up for that mistake and helping me remember," Subaru replied.
Beatrice's eyes widened. She couldn't believe what he was saying—or rather, she didn't want to believe that he could forgive her so easily.
"B-but Betty—" she started, but Subaru interrupted her gently.
"Remember what you told me, Beako? You said this contract will only work if we trust each other. And I trust that you didn't mean for it to happen. I trust that you'll help me regain the memories I've lost," Subaru said, his voice steady.
Beatrice began to cry softly. Even though she couldn't fully remember him, the warmth in his words felt familiar—the same warmth she could feel in the fragments of her remaining memories.
"Is it alright for Betty to be by your side? Don't you want to stop being my contractor?" Beatrice asked hesitantly, her lingering doubts spilling out.
"Not at all, Beako. After all, you freed me from that cell. But the real question is: do you want to stay as my spirit, seeing that you have all this doubt?" Subaru smirked at her, teasing slightly.
"Hmph! You're supposed to comfort Betty, not doubt her loyalty, I suppose," Beatrice huffed, puffing her cheeks in irritation at his teasing.
"Right, right. Well, Beako, since you're awake, why don't I get ready?" Subaru said, standing up and heading to the closet. He pulled out an old butler uniform.
"Look, Beako, there even seems to be a uniform for me that fits perfectly," Subaru said, putting it on with a grin.
"Of course it would fit you. You were once a butler for the manor, I suppose," Beatrice replied, finally letting go of her earlier nightmare. She walked up next to her contractor, a sense of ease returning.
"Really? I thought I was Emilia's knight," Subaru said, adjusting his coat.
"As I remember, you were originally part of the service staff, I suppose, before being promoted to her knight," Beatrice said, climbing onto a chair stool to help Subaru tie his bowtie.
"Thanks for the help, Beako. With this, I'm ready to face the day!" Subaru said with a laugh, his energy lifting the mood completely.
Beatrice gave a small smile. "Hmph, you're still useless without Betty, I suppose."
"So this means today will be my first day back at my old job, right?" Subaru said, grabbing Beatrice's hand as they left the room. Beatrice nodded in response.
"Nice! But wait—when I met Petra and Frederica, they didn't seem to know me," Subaru said as they walked down the hallway, Beatrice trailing slightly behind him.
Beatrice, realizing it was too early for Subaru to know the full truth, quickly tried to come up with an excuse. "That's because the little maid wasn't here when you worked as a butler, and the head maid wasn't present either. She only recently came back, I suppose."
Subaru nodded slowly, accepting the explanation, but one detail lingered in his mind. "But wouldn't Petra or Frederica at least know me as Emilia's knight? I mean, they should've heard of me, right? Instead, they called me Pride."
"That's because of—" Beatrice hesitated, remembering how perceptive Subaru could be. She quickly improvised. "It's because you always wore a mask around them and didn't interact with them much, in fact."
"Huh?" Subaru blinked, surprised. "I wore a mask? Why would I do something like that?"
Beatrice gave a small nod, thankful Subaru hadn't pressed too hard yet. "Yes, I suppose. You were always self-conscious about your eyes, weren't you? When people commented on them, you seemed discouraged and hid them behind a mask."
Subaru looked surprised for a moment, then laughed weakly. "That… kinda makes sense, I guess. I wasn't exactly the most popular person growing up."
"Don't do that, I suppose," Beatrice said firmly, her expression turning serious.
"Do what?" Subaru tilted his head, confused by her tone.
"Stop putting yourself down like that, and think better of yourself, in fact," Beatrice scolded. "You deserve at least a high level of self-respect, especially as I am your contracted spirit, I suppose."
Subaru chuckled softly, trying to deflect. "Of course, Beako. I know that. After all, you're the best spirit anyone could ever ask for."
"You don't understand, do you?" Beatrice said, stopping abruptly and grabbing both of Subaru's hands.
"Understand what?" Subaru asked, his confusion growing as he tilted his head.
"That I am a Great Spirit who chose you, in fact," Beatrice said, looking straight into Subaru's eyes. Her voice trembled slightly, and water droplets formed at the corners of her eyes.
"And I'm thankful—" Subaru began, but Beatrice interrupted him.
"You don't get it, I suppose. A Great Spirit is different from a normal spirit. A Great Spirit spends hundreds of years building a physical form using mana and is given the highest respect by spirit users," Beatrice explained, her voice filled with conviction.
"So, not only is it incredibly rare to find a Great Spirit, but it's also hard to contract with one. We don't just choose anyone. You were chosen, Subaru, so don't think less of yourself, I suppose." Tears slipped down Beatrice's cheeks as she remembered the vulnerable words Subaru had once said to her in the Forbidden Library.
"Chosen… me?" Subaru repeated softly, his brows furrowed in confusion.
"You told me to choose you over a person who didn't exist," Beatrice said, her voice cracking. "You told me you'd bring me happiness, even though that person didn't exist, I suppose."
Beatrice weakly smiled at her contractor as she continued. "I did choose you, Subaru. Just as you chose me. You chose me over every other spirit. I selfishly made you choose me, and I, too, chose you to be my one and only contractor, I suppose."
Her true thoughts spilled out as she tightened her grip on his hands. "So, please—don't think less of yourself, I suppose."
Subaru's gaze softened, and he smiled warmly at her. "Alright, Beako. I promise—I'll do better."
Beatrice studied his face carefully, then sighed. "Just so you know, from my memories, you constantly failed to keep your promises with Emilia, I suppose."
Subaru's grin turned sheepish. "Well, Beako, you know me. I'll try my best!"
Beatrice huffed, puffing her cheeks slightly. "Hmph. Trying isn't good enough, Subaru. Betty demands results, I suppose."
Subaru laughed, ruffling her hair gently. "Got it, Beako. Results it is."
Beatrice rolled her eyes but allowed herself to smile, content with the small victory she had won in getting Subaru to see his own worth—at least for now.
Subaru and Beatrice walked down the grand hallway, the morning sun streaming through the large windows. Beatrice floated slightly above the ground, clinging to Subaru's sleeve as he hummed softly, feeling unusually optimistic about the day ahead.
As they reached the dining hall, they found Frederica and Petra waiting for them. Frederica stood with her hands folded neatly in front of her, her calm and composed demeanor a stark contrast to Petra, who was practically bouncing on her toes with excitement.
"Good morning, Subaru-Sama," Frederica greeted him with a polite bow. "Are you prepared to begin your duties as a butler for the Roswaal camp?"
"Good morning, Frederica. And of course, I'm ready! Butler Subaru is reporting for duty!" Subaru said with an exaggerated salute, earning a small chuckle from Petra and a bemused smile from Frederica.
"It's so great to have you here, Subaru!" Petra chimed in, her enthusiasm shining brightly. "I've been waiting to show you around and teach you everything I know!"
Beatrice narrowed her eyes at Petra. "Betty thinks the little maid is too excited, I suppose."
Petra puffed out her cheeks in response. "Well, of course, I'm excited! It's not every day I get to train someone who's been personally approved by Frederica-Neesama!"
Subaru laughed awkwardly, scratching the back of his head. "No pressure at all, huh? Alright then, Petra, Frederica—show me the ropes. Let's make this butler comeback one for the books!"
Frederica nodded. "Very well, Subaru-Sama. Today's tasks will include a variety of duties—cleaning, organizing, and preparing meals. I trust you'll approach each one with diligence."
"Absolutely!" Subaru declared, though he secretly hoped his enthusiasm would make up for his lack of experience.
Frederica handed Subaru a feather duster and a broom. Petra eagerly grabbed her own duster and led Subaru to one of the mansion's long hallways.
"This is simple, Subaru. Just start at one end and work your way down, making sure to dust all the corners and furniture along the way," Petra instructed, demonstrating with a practiced flick of her wrist.
Subaru nodded and got to work, quickly discovering that "simple" didn't mean "easy." The hallway seemed to stretch on forever, and every time he thought he'd finished a section, Petra would point out a spot he missed.
"Subaru, you forgot to dust the top of the mirror!" Petra called out.
"And don't forget the baseboards, I suppose," Beatrice added, sitting on a nearby chair with her arms crossed.
"Right, right! Top of the mirror, baseboards—got it!" Subaru muttered, wiping sweat from his brow. Despite the challenges, he couldn't help but smile at Petra's eagerness and Beatrice's watchful gaze.
By the time he finished, Subaru was slightly winded but satisfied. Frederica inspected his work and gave a small nod of approval. "Not bad for your first attempt, Subaru-Sama."
"I'll take that as high praise!" Subaru said, grinning.
Next, Frederica led Subaru to the pantry, which was packed with an overwhelming variety of jars, spices, and ingredients. "Your task here is to organize these items by type and ensure everything is properly labeled."
Subaru stared at the shelves, his confidence faltering. "Uh, Frederica, are you sure I'm qualified for this? I can barely read the labels between this jar and this jar…"
"That's why I'll be here to guide you!" Petra said cheerfully, handing him a set of labels. "Just follow my lead."
With Petra's help, Subaru slowly began sorting the items, though he couldn't resist cracking jokes as they worked. "Why does Roswaal need this much flour? Is he planning to open a bakery on the side?"
Petra giggled. "You'd be surprised how much we use for big meals!"
As they finished, Frederica inspected their work and gave a small smile. "Well done, Subaru-Sama. Your effort is appreciated."
"Effort is all I've got, Frederica," Subaru said with a mock bow. "But I'll take the compliment!"
The final task of the morning was in the kitchen. Frederica assigned Subaru the responsibility of chopping vegetables while she and Petra handled the main dishes.
"Just chop them into even pieces," Frederica instructed, handing Subaru a knife.
Subaru as he worked, his lack of experience quickly became evident. "Uh… how even is 'even' supposed to be?" as he messed up to cook up some potatoes as his sleeves showed signs of cuts and tears.
"Subaru-Sama it seems that your sleeves are damaged. Would you like me to fix it" Frederica said as she took out a mini sewing kit from one of her dress pockets.
"You don't need to I think I got this" As Subaru grabbed the sewing kit and made a beautiful pattern design on his sleeves that got Frederica nod of approval and Petra eyes to sparkle as she never had such pretty sewing before.
Beatrice, perched on the counter, observed with a smirk. "Betty thinks your sewing skills are impressive as always but it seems your chopping skills became atrocious, I suppose."
"Hey, everyone's a critic," Subaru muttered, sticking out his tongue at her.
After Subaru said that to Beatrice he suddenly remembered something. "You may get full marks for sewing, but you're still useless with a knife, Barusu."
"Huh, did someone say something to me just now?" Subaru asked the group to only get a head shake of no from all of them.
"Sorry must be my imagination then from all this work" Subaru apologizing as he swore he heard someone else calling him Barusu and this got Beatrice to focus on Subaru actions.
Despite the rocky start, the meal came together nicely, and Subaru felt a sense of accomplishment as he set the table. Frederica and Petra thanked him for his help, and even Beatrice seemed impressed—though she'd never admit it outright.
Subaru wandered through the quiet halls of the mansion, the tasks of the day leaving him with a rare moment of solitude. His curiosity often got the better of him, and he decided to explore parts of the manor he hadn't seen yet. Each corridor seemed to stretch endlessly, the occasional breeze from a nearby window bringing with it a strange sense of nostalgia.
As he turned a corner, Subaru noticed a door slightly ajar at the end of the hallway. He hesitated for a moment, then stepped forward and pushed it open.
The room was bathed in a warm glow from the setting sun. In the center was a single bed, and on that bed lay a young girl with short blue hair, her expression serene but lifeless. Subaru's heart skipped a beat as he took in the sight.
He approached cautiously, his footsteps almost soundless against the carpeted floor. The girl's face was unfamiliar, yet something deep within him stirred—a feeling of longing, sorrow, and guilt that he couldn't quite explain.
"Who… are you?" Subaru whispered, his voice trembling as he reached out, stopping just short of touching her hand.
His mind raced with questions. Why was she here? Why did she feel so important, even though he couldn't recall her face or name?
As he stood there, lost in thought, a soft voice broke the silence.
"Subaru, what are you doing in here, I suppose?"
He turned to see Beatrice standing in the doorway, her arms crossed and her gaze fixed on him. Her usual pout was replaced by an uncharacteristic seriousness.
"Beako," Subaru said softly, his eyes darting back to the girl on the bed. "Who is she? Why does it feel like I should know her?"
Beatrice stepped into the room, floating to his side. Her gaze fell on the girl, and for a moment, an unmistakable sadness crossed her face.
"Her name is Rem, I suppose," Beatrice said quietly.
"Rem…" Subaru repeated, his brow furrowing as he tried to pull any memory of her from the fog in his mind. "I don't… remember her. Why don't I remember her?"
Beatrice sighed, her small hands clutching the edge of her dress. "It's because of Gluttony, I suppose. That terrible Sin Archbishop devours people's names and memories, erasing them from the world entirely, in fact."
Subaru's eyes widened in horror. "Gluttony? You mean… they ate her name and memories? That's why I can't remember her?"
Beatrice nodded solemnly. "Yes, in fact. Even though her body remains, her very existence has been consumed. She's alive, but she's trapped in a sleep she can't wake from, I suppose."
Subaru's heart clenched as he stared at Rem's peaceful face. "That's… horrible. She's stuck like this, and no one remembers her? How could anyone do something so cruel?"
Beatrice's voice was softer now. "It's the nature of Gluttony's authority, I suppose. They take everything from their victims—their name, their memories, their place in the hearts of those who knew them. But…" She glanced at Subaru. "Even if you don't remember her, the feelings you shared with her still linger, in fact."
Subaru looked at Beatrice, his chest tightening. "Feelings? I don't even know what kind of bond we had."
Beatrice hesitated, then placed a tiny hand on his arm. "You told me that she was someone who you cared deeply for, Subaru. Someone who believed in you when you doubted yourself, in fact. Even if her name and memories are gone, those feelings can't be erased, I suppose."
Subaru clenched his fists, his gaze fixed on Rem. "Then… is there a way to bring her back? To make her whole again?"
Beatrice's expression was unreadable. "It's not easy, I suppose. To restore her, you'd need to defeat Gluttony and recover both her name and her memories. Only then can she awaken, in fact."
Subaru stood silently beside the bed, his gaze fixed on the peaceful face of the blue-haired girl. A strange, unshakable feeling stirred within him—one he couldn't quite name. He hovered his hand over hers, hesitating for a moment before softly speaking.
"I don't remember you, Rem," he murmured, his voice carrying a weight of guilt and determination. "But… if you manage to wake up, I'd like to get to know you. Let's start fresh."
As those words left his lips, a faint voice echoed in his mind, warm and resolute.
"Let's start here, from square one. No… from zero!"
Subaru's eyes widened as the voice faded. He blinked, then smiled softly, shaking his head. Am I imagining things? he thought. Is that what her voice might sound like?
The room fell silent again, the quiet only broken by the faint rustling of the curtains. Subaru sighed, his hand still hovering over Rem's.
Elsewhere, in a dimly lit room in Pristella, Roswaal sat with Ram by his side. The sound of a knock interrupted their quiet conversation.
"Come iiiiin," Roswaal called, dragging out his words in his usual singsong tone.
The door creaked open to reveal Emilia, Otto, and a visibly exhausted Garfiel. The three stepped inside, their expressions hinting at frustration and weariness.
"Weeeeeelcome back, you three," Roswaal greeted, a wide grin plastered on his face. "It seems your expedition was unnnnnnsuccessful… again."
Otto sighed heavily. "Indeed, Roswaal-sama. This marks the ninth failed attempt in three months. The conditions are simply too harsh—the environment, the mabeasts, and even the mana flow in the area make it nearly impossible to approach the tower."
Emilia nodded in agreement, her silver hair glinting faintly in the firelight. "Reinhard and Anastasia's camp have been helping as much as they can, but it's still not enough."
"Well," Roswaal said, stretching out the word dramatically, "there is noooo sense in attempting something that caaaaaan't be done, at least for the moment. But—" His heterochromatic gaze shifted to Emilia. "—there are other maaaatters to discuss, wouldn't you agree, Emilia-sama?"
Emilia tilted her head curiously. "Do you mean Betty suddenly leaving us during the expedition?"
"But of coooourse," Roswaal replied with a sly smile. "It seeeeeems that Beatrice returned to the manor for a reeeeeason."
"Betty went back to the manor? Why would she do that?" Emilia's eyes widened in surprise.
"Weeeeee shall find out," Roswaal said cryptically, his grin never wavering. "When we return in two weeks' time, perhaps all will be reeeeeevealed."
Meanwhile, back at the manor, Subaru had just finished his tasks for the day alongside Petra, Meili, and Beatrice. The group had worked hard, but as evening set in, Subaru decided he needed some fresh air.
Leaving Petra and Meili under Beatrice's watchful eye, Subaru stepped outside for a moment of peace. It wasn't long, however, before Beatrice joined him, her small hand slipping into his.
"Beako," Subaru began, his tone light but laced with curiosity, "I have a question."
"What is it, I suppose?" Beatrice asked, smiling faintly as she looked up at him. Spending time with her contractor, just the two of them, always brought her a sense of peace.
Subaru's expression turned serious, his grip on her hand tightening slightly. "Did I… have my memories eaten by Gluttony?"
Beatrice froze, her usual composure breaking as her eyes widened in shock. "W-what…?"
Subaru turned to face her fully, his gaze steady and piercing. "Not just my memories, Beako. They ate my name too, didn't they?"