Chapter 3: Hot! Hot! Antics In The Miload Manor

Beatrice sat in her usual corner spot in one of the Roswaal Manor's bedrooms, a pink book in her lap. Yet, her eyes weren't scanning the pages before her. Instead, they stared into the distance, a small, almost imperceptible frown tugging at the corners of her lips. Her mind wandered back to Subaru—back to the moment that made her break the promise she had made to her mother.

As she kept blaming herself, she decided to refocus her attention on the book resting on her lap, which had replaced the blue one she held earlier. But as she opened it, her breath caught. She couldn't believe what she was reading—the book began glowing brightly, the light revealing the next chapter, one she had not expected.

Flashback Pov:

"Beako, I'm telling you,thisis the key to happiness," Subaru proclaimed, holding up half a sandwich like it was a sacred artifact.

From atop her perch on a pile of cushions, Beatrice regarded him with her usual disinterest. "What nonsense are you spouting now, I wonder? A mere sandwich will bring happiness, you say? Betty doubts that very much, in fact."

Subaru grinned mischievously, taking a dramatic bite of the sandwich. Bits of cheese, lettuce, and—most notably—a vivid red ingredient slipped out onto the plate.

Beatrice wrinkled her nose. "What is that peculiar thing, I suppose? It smells… strange."

"This?" Subaru plucked a thin red slice from his sandwich and held it up between his fingers. "It's a chili pepper. A magical spice from my world that makes your food ten times better. And, bonus, it feels like your tongue is on fire when you eat it!"

Her nose scrunched further in disbelief. "You enjoyfeelinglike your tongue is on fire? Humans are even more ridiculous than Betty thought, I suppose."

Unbothered by her judgment, Subaru casually began fishing seeds out of the pepper. "Hey, it's an acquired taste. Trust me, once you start liking it, you'll never go back."

That moment marked the beginning of Subaru's absurd pepper-growing adventure. Somehow, the seeds he salvaged from his sandwich took root in the manor's garden, sprouting small plants after weeks of Subaru's relentless care.

The first harvest was modest—barely a handful of peppers—but Subaru was practically glowing with pride.

"Beako! Emilia-tan! Everyone!" he called one sunny afternoon, holding a basket of bright red chilies as if it were a treasure chest. "Get over here! History's being made today!"

The camp gathered, their expressions ranging from intrigued to wary. Emilia tilted her head, smiling hesitantly. "Subaru, what are these?"

"Chilies!" he declared triumphantly. "A fiery gift from my world! I grew them myself, and now I'm sharing the magic!"

Frederica and Petra exchanged doubtful glances, while Garfiel squinted suspiciously at the peppers.

"Oi, Cap'n," Garfiel growled, crossing his arms. "Yer sure this ain't poison or somethin'? Looks like it'll knock ya flat."

Subaru laughed, clearly unfazed. "Oh, it's definitely dangerous—for your taste buds! But don't worry, you'll survive."

The first taste test was nothing short of chaos.

Subaru sliced a single pepper and handed tiny pieces to everyone, his grin never wavering as they hesitated.

Emilia went first, nibbling delicately at the slice. At first, her expression remained calm. Then her eyes widened, her cheeks flushed red, and she began fanning her mouth frantically. "Subaru! This is… this is…!"

"Spicy? Amazing? Life-changing?" Subaru offered, looking far too pleased with himself.

"It burns!" Emilia squeaked, her voice trembling. "Why does it hurt like this?!"

Garfiel, ever competitive, had popped an entire slice into his mouth. His bravado didn't last long. Tears streamed down his face as he staggered backward. "Cap'n! What kind o' death trap is this?! It ain't food—it's freakin' warfare!"

Even Otto, who had taken the smallest possible nibble, was pacing the room, muttering regretful things under his breath.

Beatrice, meanwhile, barely touched hers, giving it a single experimental lick before recoiling. "Betty fails to see why anyone would subject themselves to such insanity, I suppose."

Frederica, ever composed, ate her slice without a word. Though her lips pressed tightly together, her furrowed brow betrayed her discomfort. "It… certainly has a unique flavor," she finally said.

Despite the initial horror, no one could resist the peppers for long.

Over the following weeks, Subaru's peppers became an unlikely obsession for the entire camp.

"Oi, Cap'n," Garfiel called one day, leaning against the garden fence. "Got any more o' them peppers growin'? I ain't gonna admit it, but… they kinda grow on ya."

Subaru grinned triumphantly. "Knew it! You're a chili convert now, Garf!"

Even Emilia, who always approached the peppers with trepidation, began adding tiny slivers to her meals. "It's strange," she admitted one evening, stirring her soup. "I don't really like how it burns, but… I can't stop eating it."

Otto was less enthusiastic but still found himself sneaking bites occasionally. "It's like some sort of curse," he muttered one day. "Every time I eat one, I swear it'll be my last, but then I find myself craving more."

Beatrice, meanwhile, remained unimpressed. She refused to eat the peppers outright but couldn't avoid their growing presence in the manor's meals. "Betty didn't agree to live in a house of lunatics, I suppose," she grumbled one day, watching Subaru mix diced chilies into a pot of stew.

Despite her complaints, she couldn't deny that Subaru's ridiculous pepper adventure had brought a new kind of energy to the manor.

The chaos reached its peak when Roswaal decided to join the trend.

"Suuuuubaru-kun," Roswaal drawled one evening, his mismatched eyes glinting with mischief. "I hear you've been introducing our dear caaamp to some fiery delights. May I partake in this cultural exchange?"

Subaru handed him a pepper with a knowing grin. "Sure thing, Roswaal. But fair warning: these pack a punch."

Roswaal, ever the showman, bit into the pepper with dramatic flair. For a moment, he maintained his usual composure, but then…

"Hmmmmmm… I must say, this is—AH! Oh dear! Oh my!" Roswaal's voice rose several octaves as he fanned his mouth and reached for a glass of water. "What sorcery is this, Subaru-kun? Are you trying to kill meeeeee?"

The entire room burst into laughter, even Beatrice unable to suppress a giggle at Roswaal's uncharacteristic outburst.

As the weeks turned into months, Subaru's pepper plants flourished, and the fiery fruits became a staple in the manor's meals. Even Beatrice, though she never openly admitted it, found herself growing fond of the ridiculous antics that surrounded the peppers.

Present day Pov:

"W-what was that I suppose" Beatrice confused on what just happened as the book seemed to release Beatrice from the light from earlier.

"That was B-Betty and that m-man, Betty doesn't understand why would I get along with him in fact." Beatrice grabbed herself thinking this book was a cruel joke so she threw it across the room.

"B-But Betty wants to continue reading this, Betty wants to know why it showed her this I suppose." Beatrice getting up and moving closer to the book but then—-.

"W-Wait" Beatrice tries to run closer to the book as the book suddenly starts levitating and glowing. " Betty hasn't finished reading all of it yet"

The pink book has vanished and was replaced with her same old blue book. Beatrice crumbled to the floor again and wondered why it disappeared. But then suddenly a person opened the door.

"H-hey there, Beako , I made something new I call it a chili soup want to try it" Subaru who seems to be wearing a semi formal attire, more tired eyes, and a black gem around his neck spoke to the broken spirit.

Beatrice looking at him didn't try to kill him time; rather she simply got up and grabbed the soup surprising Subaru. She wanted to use magic to kick him out but rather she went back to her corner to eat as Subaru watched her. After tasting the soup all she did was let out a small smile saying a small line that Subaru could barely hear.

"It is hot, But at least it gives me some warmth I suppose," Beatrice said as she took another sip.