"Go sleep somewhere else."
Beatrice stared ahead with a defiant glare. Pandora stood opposite of her, seemingly unbothered show of open hostility.
Innocently, Pandora asked, "Is it not normal for a wife to sleep with her husband?"
Clicking her tongue, Beatrice replied, "Betty would hardly constitute this relationship as something so traditional." She reaffirmed her gaze, her eyes looking sharper. "Plus, Betty doesn't trust you. You'll likely try to corrupt Betty's precious Subaru with your cold, malevolent hands, in fact."
Pandora waved her hand dismissively in the air, giggling slightly. "I have no desire to do that. I simply wish to fall asleep in my husband's embrace."
Beatrice blushed at Pandora's implicit words, but she didn't lose her composure. With a huff, she declared, "As if Betty will allow you to do such a thing! It's best if you just leave, I suppose. Please let the door hit you on the way out."
"I hardly see what the issue is," Pandora said. "How could my presence be a hindrance?"
"You're interrupting tradition between contractor and spirit, in fact!
The smile on Pandora's face extended ever so slightly. "Is that so? I would hate to interrupt something so important, but perhaps that is merely an excuse to remain here alone with Subaru yourself?"
Suddenly flustered, Beatrice stomped her foot on the ground a few times. She pointed at Pandora, sputtering as she exclaimed, "G-G-Get out!"
With the atmosphere becoming increasingly tense, Subaru awkwardly raised both of his hands. "Uh, guys? Don't I get a say in this?"
Both girls looked at him in sync. Their respective gazes drilled into him, and he instinctively shrunk under the pressure.
Beatrice gave Pandora a quick, side-eye glance. "That actually works perfectly, I suppose. Subaru, please tell this woman to get lost."
With nothing else to say, Beatrice straightened her posture and placed her hands on her hips. Confidence oozed from her demeanor, possessing an aura of self-assurance that made Subaru's heart waver with pity. His eyes lingered on her for a while, not quite sure how to gather his words.
He cast a glance in Pandora's direction. She noticed, meeting his gaze with a subtle wink. The action elicited a sigh from his lips.
In a gentle voice, he said, "Actually, Beako, I think that she should stay here—"
"WHAT?!"
Subaru winced, resisting the urge to plug his ears. Composing himself, he continued, "Look, I understand how you feel, but think about it. Where else is she supposed to sleep?"
Averting her eyes, Beatrice crossed her arms and murmured, "Outside in a ditch, I suppose."
"Beako."
She let out a defiant huff, eying Pandora warily. At Subaru's plea, Beatrice gave his idea some serious thought, and it didn't take her long to realize Subaru's point.
It would be a bad idea to put Pandora in a room alone. Keeping an eye on her at all times was an absolute must.
Though Beatrice hadn't seen anyone for a while, she knew that most of the people in the mansion were already on edge. If the wrong person happened to interact with Pandora, then it could spell trouble for everybody.
She dreaded to think about what that could entail.
With great reluctance, Beatrice looked off to the side and stated, "Fine. Betty doesn't like it, but she can stay, I suppose."
Subaru smiled a little, feeling a tinge of relief amidst his stress. He looked at Beatrice with grateful eyes. "Thanks for understanding, Beako."
"D-Don't worry about it, I suppose," Beatrice replied with rosy cheeks, coughing into her fist. "Just make sure you properly talk to Emilia later."
Pandora stiffened where she stood, and they both noticed it. Subaru and Beatrice turned to look at her, but by the time they did, Pandora had already returned to normal.
Unwilling to ignore it, Beatrice snarkily asked, "What was that reaction for? Did something finally irk you, I wonder?"
Pandora looked down at her with a neutral expression. "Emilia. You mentioned her name. Where is she?"
"Nowhere that concerns you," Beatrice spat back. "Now get ready for bed before Betty reconsiders her decision."
Under his breath, Subaru held his head and dejectedly muttered, "I really wish we could just talk this out."
Beatrice looked at Subaru with eyes laced in sympathy. He wasn't in the wrong for saying something like that. She even understood where he was coming from.
Subaru yearned for a peaceful resolution. Beatrice couldn't fault him; she wanted the same thing.
Alas, those were delusional notions.
Gently, she said, "Unfortunately, that is most likely impossible. Stop burdening yourself with those thoughts for now. It's time for bed."
In those passing seconds, Subaru and Beatrice both failed to notice the shift in Pandora's expression.
Wordlessly, the three of them got ready for bed. Subaru was tense as he went through the motions of his nightly routine. He was anxious, uncertain of how things would turn out.
The three of them huddled together in the bed, with Subaru sandwiched in the middle. Beatrice snuggled closely into his back, her arms wrapped tightly around his torso, while Pandora kept a small distance in front of him.
Subaru's cheeks were flushed as he remained still. Even through the darkness, he could clearly see Pandora's face. She blinked periodically, looking at him with curious eyes.
"Are you uncomfortable?"
Pandora's soft, whispered voice broke through the silence. Subaru's breath hitched, overlapping with the sounds of Beatrice's quiet snores.
"A little," he admitted. "I'm just not used to this."
There was a long pause as neither of them spoke. Pandora's gaze dropped, becoming engrossed by the sheets.
Shifting her body slightly, she replied, "Perhaps I am moving things along too quickly."
Though he was still tense, Subaru's expression became somewhat lighter. "I get why you're eager. You want to learn and understand. I can't fault you for that."
"But you are still uneasy," she stated. "It is my own fault. My approach was brazen and forceful because of my desire to court you."
Wanting to pry a little deeper, Subaru asked, "But you got what you wanted, didn't you? Shouldn't you be happy right now?"
Pandora shook her head, meeting his eyes. "While I have indeed married you, and our relationship is seen as official, I have not captured your heart."
Subaru studied her carefully, searching her face for any sign — any emotion – that could help influence his thoughts. All he saw was a strange, unyielding wonder.
He became torn, his mind deliberating between heart and reason. The sensible part of him wanted the conversation to end, but the emotional side didn't.
"You really want something genuine?"
"Of course," she candidly replied in a low voice. "A marriage cannot be maintained without mutual acceptance."
Pandora was thinking about the long-term — far past their current situation. It was something that Subaru failed to consider when he decided to accept her.
The realization made him reconsider some things. What could happen in the future? If Pandora gets what she wants, would she be satisfied and leave, or would she want something more?
Subaru assumed that it would be the latter, and he didn't know how to feel about it. His mind was muddled with a plethora of emotions and second-guesses.
Looking at her deeply, Subaru let out a quiet breath. He had already made his decision, and it was too late to have regrets.
Pandora seemed meek as she awaited his response. Calming his nerves, he muttered, "As long as you abide by what you said, we'll see how things go."
There was a prolonged, awkward silence. Before it could settle, Pandora shimmied closer, clasping one of his hands with her own. Subaru blushed, freezing in place as her forehead pressed gently against his.
"Believe me." Closing her eyes, she murmured, "That is truly all I want."
Pandora's touch emitted a strange warmth — a stark contrast to the cold he felt from her earlier. Subaru was overcome by a wave of tiredness, and his eyes began to instinctively flutter closed. Without the will to fight it, he soundly fell asleep, feeling oddly comfortable in Pandora's embrace.
She watched as he drifted into sleep, her gaze lingering on his face, memorizing every detail. A soft sigh escaped her lips as she gently ran her fingers through his hair. As the night stretched on, she remained by Subaru's side, unmoving and lost in thought.
At the crack of dawn, Emilia stirred, groaning and lazily rubbing her eyes. She stared blankly at the ceiling before trying to blink her tiredness away.
Sleep eluded her for most of the night. The combined stress of everything going on weighed heavily on her shoulders, and even now, her mind refused to settle.
With a resounding sigh, she sat up in her bed and stretched her arms. Emilia reluctantly rubbed her eyes again, doing her best to wake up despite not wanting to.
She paused in the middle of her motions. A chill ran through her body, and Emilia quickly turned her head to the side. Immediately, she caught sight of the face she hated the most.
Pandora smiled, her expression lacking any forthcoming emotions. "I apologize for the intrusion, but I thought it best to meet you face to face."
"Kill yourself."
Pandora was unoffended by Emilia's words, offering no obvious reaction. "I see that you still dislike me."
Emilia, now fully awake, glared at her. "Are you actually surprised? I could never forgive you after what you've done."
"No, I am not surprised," Pandora flatly stated. "In fact, I am somewhat relieved."
Emilia scoffed, pivoting her body so that her legs hung off the bed. "Relieved? So, you want me to hate you? Is that what your sick, twisted plan is about?"
Rising to her feet, Emilia stomped up to Pandora until their faces were mere inches apart. The former's expression scrunched into an angry scowl.
"If it weren't for that stupid contract, I'd kill you right now," she coldly declared. "Someone like you doesn't deserve to live."
Emilia wasn't blinded by her anger. Attacking Pandora and violating the Sage Council's contract would only do more harm than good. If she wanted to protect Subaru, she needed to keep a hold of her rationality.
Their eyes met, and for a moment, Emilia saw something buried beneath the ocean blue of her irises. Pandora masked it well, unwilling to let those hidden feelings breach the surface.
"I understand your anger," Pandora said. "However, my goal in coming here is not to induce conflict, but to make peace with my past transgressions against you."
Utterly stunned, Emilia could only stare, blinking absentmindedly as she tried to comprehend those words. "You? Make peace?"
Her bewilderment vanished in an instant as she yanked Pandora by the collar. With blazing fury, Emilia's narrowed gaze pierced into Pandora's soul like a flaming dagger.
"I remember your face that day. You never stopped smiling. Not even once."
Pandora's body lacked tension, but her expression subtly shifted. "Back then, I was moved by the love—"
"I'm sure you were," Emilia interrupted, her voice low as she tightened her grip. "You wouldn't stop talking about it. But how could you admire something that you don't even understand? You absolute freak."
Pandora parted her lips, her voice soft as she said, "I seek to better comprehend it. Subaru is willing to give me that chance."
Emilia froze, her grip on Pandora's collar weakening as a slight tremble ran through her. The anger in her expression gave way to shock, then melted into sorrow and regret. She swallowed hard, lowering her gaze.
"I don't know what he saw in you, but I know what you are," Emilia quietly stated. "You're a monster. You have no emotion. You can't understand what love is, and you never will."
Emilia forcefully pushed Pandora away, making the latter stagger a bit before quickly regaining her balance. Emilia turned around, showing her back to Pandora's lingering gaze.
"You took everything from me. Fortuna. Geuse. Archi." She closed her eyes, balling her hands into fists. "Now, you're trying to take Subaru from me, too."
Emilia let out a low, scornful laugh. She stared at the floor as her heart reeled with shame.
"It's my own fault," Emilia whispered. "I should've told him about you — about what you did. I was too scared and cowardly."
Pandora's expression mellowed. "Perhaps you cannot believe what I say, but I truly seek to mend the gap that exists in my heart."
"You're right," Emilia agreed, glowering as looked back over her shoulder. "I can't believe you. Not after everything you've done."
Trying to distract herself, Emilia walked to her dresser. She opened a drawer and began fiddling with some of her clothes.
Uncertainty was baked into each of her movements. Her heart was unsteady, and her mind couldn't focus. Emilia forced herself to stop, resting her palms on the edge of the drawer while keeping her head down.
"You'll mess up. It's only a matter of time." She let out a heavy breath, her voice low and threatening as she stated, "Contract or not, if you hurt him, I'm coming for you."
Pandora hummed quietly in acceptance. "I will heed your words. Still, I wish to prove my resolve to you, and I am willing to propose a deal."
With an amused, sarcastic snort, Emilia inquired, "A deal?"
"Yes." Pandora nodded. "If I do not abide by my stated goal, or if Subaru rejects me, I will personally end the marriage contract."
Emilia paused, not quite believing Pandora's statement. She took a while to fully comprehend it.
Callously, she said, "Promises don't mean anything to you. Why would this be any different?"
Firmly, Pandora assured, "Because this is important to me."
Emilia's grip on the drawer tightened as she gritted her teeth. With hardened eyes, she declared, "Fine. I'll watch you rip up that contract with your own two hands."
Pandora briefly fidgeted where she stood. There was some degree of trepidation in her gaze as she looked upon Emilia's backside.
"What do you plan to do?"
"Nothing," Emilia answered. "I'll just wait — not to say I told you so, but to clean up your mess."
The air was still, and when Emilia blinked, Pandora was gone. The overwhelming presence within the room dissipated, leaving only its shadow behind.
Emilia looked down at her trembling hands. Her breath shook, and her heart pounded against her chest. As her brave face faded, sorrow was left in its stead.
Subaru was always a kind person. He had a habit of seeing the best in people. It was one of the many things that she admired about him.
But Pandora was different. She wasn't human. There was nothing to be saved under that stoic, emotionless exterior.
Emilia knew that.
Pandora was going to tear the seams of her camp apart. Emilia needed to be ready to sow everything back together.
Petra thought that, by now, she would've been accustomed to dealing with stressful situations. They were something that she naturally adjusted to after living at the mansion for so long.
The current situation, however, was nothing like the ones she'd experienced in the past.
Everyone in the mansion was tense in a way that Petra had never seen. The air was so thick that you could cut it with a knife. Everyone acted like they were expecting to be attacked at any moment.
Petra was there when the cultists arrived. She watched as the leader — an attractive, young-looking woman with platinum hair — showed them the marriage contract.
At the time, everything was chaotic. Everyone was overwhelmed, and she had been comforting Meili until Rem led her away. Ram worked to calm Emilia down, and Beatrice had carried Subaru back to their room after he passed out. Frederica tended to their new "guests," leaving Petra to manage on her own.
Petra had only gotten glimpses of people since then. Ram and Frederica were trying to keep everything under control. Emilia wasn't available. Garfiel was mindlessly roaming around, looking lost but occasionally training. Otto was locked in his room. She knew nothing about Roswaal, Subaru, or Beatrice yet.
Meili was still in rough shape. Because of her current mental state, Rem couldn't leave her side. The least Petra could do was wake up early and make breakfast for them.
The hallways were eerily quiet as she walked to the kitchen. Each step felt heavy, and it was easy to get lost in her own thoughts.
Petra had been holding back her emotions for Meili's sake, but now, alone with her thoughts, she could feel them bubbling to the surface. With each passing moment, her blood burned hotter, and her anger grew.
Nobody in the mansion had a voice. These people showed up with a contract and expected everyone to fall in line. They could do nothing to stop it — not Meili, not Subaru, and especially not her.
Petra was only a maid in training. What could she possibly do that Subaru, Emilia, or Frederica couldn't?
Letting out a sigh of defeat, Petra stepped toward the kitchen door. It was slightly ajar, but she thought nothing of it until she pushed it open, promptly freezing in place.
Meters away was the Witch herself. She stood in the middle of the kitchen, looking around the room as if she were unsure of herself.
Petra took an instinctive step back. The floorboards creaked under her foot, making her stiffen. Just as the Witch turned her way, Petra darted around the corner, hiding behind the door.
She took deep, concentrated breaths. One of her hands grasped at her heart, trying to calm it as she reorganized her thoughts.
The pressure had been too overwhelming. Her body almost refused to move.
"Hello."
Petra jumped back, letting out a startled gasp as her head snapped to the side. The Witch peeked from around the door, blinking at her curiously.
"I do not believe we have been acquainted yet," she stated. "Who might you be?"
Petra scrambled to reorganize her thoughts and steady her nerves. That was fine, though — the Witch was patient enough to wait.
Taking a deep breath, Petra steadied herself as much as possible and answered, "P-Petra."
"I am Pandora," she replied with a small smile. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Petra."
Words were caught in Petra's throat, and she forced herself to spit them out. "W-What are you d-doing in the k-kitchen?"
Pandora contemplatively gazed into Petra's eyes, adopting a thoughtful expression. The looming silence only served to weigh heavily upon Petra's shoulders. Raising a hand, Pandora gently rested it atop Petra's head, making her freeze in place.
"This is how Subaru usually comforts you, right?" Pandora's face became softer as carefully ruffled Petra's hair. "Please, do not be so anxious. I have no desire to hurt you."
Petra clammed up, not knowing what to think. Pandora's actions felt nothing like Subaru's. Instead of conveying warmth and comfort, her touch was just cold and hollow.
"What brings you here, Petra?"
The question left Pandora's lips in a soft, almost kind voice. Still, Petra hesitated to meet her gaze, wavering where she stood.
Eyeing the wall, Petra quietly answered, "I just wanted to make breakfast."
"What a coincidence," Pandora remarked. "I am here for the same reason."
Shocked, Petra looked at Pandora with a gaping mouth. Pandora giggled at the reaction, finding it amusing.
Her gaze drifted toward the kitchen as she spoke. "I suppose it is quite surprising. I had intended to learn myself, but alas, my knowledge is lacking."
"So—" Petra glanced between Pandora and the floor. "—Are you learning to cook for yourself?"
Pandora didn't hesitate to reply, "In a sense, yes. I plan to put the skills to good use."
There was a long silence as Petra sorted her thoughts. After a while, she did her best to puff out her chest and show a prideful grin. "I— I can teach you!"
With a small turn of her head, Pandora looked surprised. "Are you certain? Would it not be burdensome?"
"N-Not at all!" Petra insisted, placing her hands on her hips. "I may still be training, but Frederica has said that my cooking is great! I'm— I'm sure that I can teach you at least a little bit!"
Pandora considered it for a moment before giving her a small, thankful nod of acknowledgement. "Very well. I appreciate your tutelage."
A hint of reluctance flickered across Petra's face before she gave a small nod in return. With her decision made, she led Pandora into the kitchen, prepared to spend at least an hour alone with her.
Since Pandora was a complete novice at cooking, Petra planned to take it slow, carefully laying everything out and guiding her through each step. To her surprise, however, things unfolded much differently.
If Pandora hadn't blatantly admitted her lack of skill, she would've had Petra fooled. Pandora's aptitude for learning was incredible. She picked up on things quickly, and she never failed more than once.
It was demoralizing. It was unnatural.
By the time Petra finished her lesson, an hour had yet to pass. The result was a rather simple breakfast dish, put together with obvious professionalism and grace. It almost looked like a full-course meal.
With a grin, Petra clasped her hands together and stated, "For your first lesson, this turned out great!"
Pandora took a small bit of the food into her mouth. As she tasted it, her expression instantly brightened.
"I am grateful for your guidance." Pandora looked at her with a soft, genuine smile. "I am certain that this will be delicious."
Petra faltered under Pandora's gaze. Nearly losing her composure, she replied, "I-It's nothing. If you want, why don't I teach you more tonight?"
Pandora tilted her head curiously. "Would that be alright?"
"Don't worry, don't worry," Petra reassured with an awkward laugh. "It'll be fine. I'll teach you how to make a good dinner for yourself! I know a few really great dishes from Frederica!"
Pandora fell silent as she contemplated the offer. With an appreciative nod, she eventually replied, "If you insist, then I will gladly accept."
Delicately, Pandora picked up the tray of food and made her way toward the door. Petra watched her go with a neutral expression, even as Pandora bid her a farewell wave. She walked out of sight, leaving Petra alone to let out a deep, uncertain breath.
Her eyes narrowed into a nasty glare. With her palms clenched tightly at her sides, she snarled and grit her teeth.
Did Pandora really think that acting friendly would make a difference? What a joke.
Pandora had no right to earn forgiveness. Not after causing everyone so much pain.
Petra hated her.
If Pandora wanted to play nice, Petra could do the same. She was tough, and her friends needed her. She could endure this for a while — she needed to prove that she was capable of doing something to help.
Burying those thoughts, Petra turned around. Her motions were dull yet focused as she prepared the kitchen, setting up the cookware to make another meal.
Meili was still waiting for her breakfast. Petra didn't want to keep her waiting.
"Subaru! Wake up, I suppose!"
Beatrice shook Subaru with both of her hands, stirring him from his slumber. He groaned, groggily opening his eyes to see her face.
"You're finally awake," she said with a huff. "You've been tossing and turning all morning, I suppose."
Upon registering her voice, Subaru blinked to focus his eyes. His tiredness vanished as he quickly sat up.
"Beako? Thank goodness! I just had the worst nightmare!"
Deadpanning at him, Beatrice sat up straight. "Really? Betty's been having one for the past few days."
He dramatically grabbed her shoulders. "You don't understand. It was Otto. I saw him doing inappropriate things, with Capella of all people."
Beatrice parted her lips to speak, only to close them again. She just looked at Subaru with pity.
"Do you need to lay down some more, I wonder?"
Subaru shivered, holding himself with his arms as he stared blankly ahead, looking traumatized. "I can't erase those images from my brain."
Sympathetically, Beatrice reached up to pat his head. She affectionately rubbed his hair, trying to comfort him.
Moments later, Subaru gathered his composure. After taking a quick glance around the room, he asked, "Where'd Pandora go?"
"No idea," came her quick, irritated response. "So much for keeping an eye on her, I suppose."
It was Subaru's turn to pat her head. He ruffled her hair, softly saying, "I'm sure it'll be fine. I don't think she'll cause any trouble."
"What makes you so confident?" Beatrice gave him a sharp, inquisitive glance. "What happened yesterday? What did Betty miss?"
Just as Subaru readied himself to reply, a light knock sounded from the door. Their heads turned in sync, and Beatrice promptly clicked her tongue in annoyance.
The door opened and Pandora stepped through. She held a tray of food in her hands, sporting a look of excitement and anticipation.
Striding toward them, she placed the tray at Subaru's bedside. With a curious gaze, he asked, "What's this?"
"I made you breakfast," Pandora replied. "As your wife, I felt that offering you something like this was the least I could do."
Stunned into silence, Subaru could only stare at the food she prepared. From just one look, it was easy to tell that she put considerable effort into making it.
Quietly, he said, "You really didn't have to do this."
"You're right, she didn't," Beatrice agreed, letting out a skeptical huff. "Betty bets that the food is poisoned, I suppose."
Subaru gave her a gentle nudge. He understood her concern, but he needed her to keep a level head. Beatrice got the message, responding to his nudge with a prominent pout.
Gazing at Pandora again, he asked, "Did you make this yourself?"
"Mostly," she answered. "I had some help. The little maid, Petra, is a fantastic teacher. She is a kind girl."
The admission surprised Subaru, but a small smile still found its way onto his face. At the very least, he was glad to know that their interaction was positive and that Petra was doing okay.
It took him a while to realize that Pandora bore an expectant look. Getting the message, Subaru grabbed the silverware and used it to slowly take a bite of the food.
Uncertainty lingered in the atmosphere as Subaru tasted her cooking for the first time. His eyes lit up, and he hurriedly went back for a second bite, followed by a third, a fourth, and a fifth.
Mid-bite, Subaru exclaimed, "This is really good!"
Within seconds, Pandora's face lit up with a radiant smile, brimming with more emotion than they had ever seen from her before. She looked proud, and her happiness only seemed to grow.
"I will make plenty more, just for you."