Inside Out

Subaru was trembling, her hands shaking uncontrollably like a leaf caught in a storm. Her entire body felt cold and fragile, like she could shatter at any moment. The vivid memory of the sound—the snap of her own neck—echoed in her mind. She had died. Again. Right here, in Emilia's bed, in Emilia's room. But this room wasn't just Emilia's anymore, was it? She was stuck in Emilia's body now. This space was hers. The fine silk sheets, the soft velvet curtains...it all belonged to her now.

But who had killed her? Rem? No, that didn't make sense. She was loyal, fiercely so. Ram? No, the maid had her attitude, but she wasn't murderous. Beatrice? That pint-sized tsundere had a bite, but not like that. Roswaal? He was weird, creepy even, but not a killer. At least, not like this. So who?

"Are you feeling better, Lia?" a small voice broke the silence, causing Subaru to flinch.

Subaru blinked and looked up to see Puck, floating just inches from her face. The small cat spirit's fur glistened with a faint glow, his large, concerned eyes focused entirely on her.

Lia. That name. Subaru cringed inwardly. It hadn't bothered her at first. It was just another name, another role to play in this twisted game. But now? Now, every time someone called her Lia, it stung. She wasn't Lia. She wasn't Emilia. She was Subaru Natsuki, a human. And being stuck in this half-elf body, no matter how pretty or ethereal, was far from the fantasy she had once entertained about cute, silver-haired girls. Lap pillows, those adorable faces, the softness—those had been daydreams. But now she was her own dream girl, and it was more nightmare than fantasy.

"Lia?"

Oh, right. Puck was still waiting for a response. Subaru shook her head, trying to snap herself out of her spiraling thoughts. "Yeah," she muttered, trying to force a smile. "I'm fine now."

Puck tilted his head, his eyes narrowing slightly. "What happened? You look pale, and that's saying something, considering how you usually look."

Subaru hesitated for a moment, not sure how to explain it. She couldn't exactly say, *Hey, I just had my neck snapped by some shadowy figure and woke up alive again.* So instead, she went with the easiest answer. "Just a nightmare. A bad one."

Puck hummed, floating closer to sit on her shoulder. "Well, if you're sure..."

Later, at the dining table, the tension that had filled Subaru's chest still lingered. She sat stiffly across from Roswaal, who was sipping tea with that infuriatingly smug expression on his face, his mismatched eyes twinkling with mischief. Everything about him screamed that he knew more than he let on, and Subaru couldn't shake the unease that came with it.

"So, Emilia-sama," Roswaal's voice was smooth, with that odd drawl he always had, "how are you feeeling this morning? You seemed quite… troubled, earlier."

Subaru fidgeted in her seat, forcing herself to remain calm. "I'm fine," she said, keeping her voice steady. "Just...a little tired."

Roswaal gave her a slow, knowing nod. "Ah, yes. That must be it."

Subaru hesitated for a moment before clearing her throat, trying to sound casual. "Say, Roswaal...you ever have, like, enemies? People who really don't like you?"

Roswaal chuckled, the sound low and rich with amusement. "Oh my deaaar, sweet Emilia-sama...I have plenty of enemies. Why do you ask?"

Subaru's eyes widened slightly in shock. "You do?!"

With a wave of his hand, Roswaal dismissed her concern. "Of coooourse. Being someone in my position comes with many...complications. But none are foolish enough to make a move against me or anyone from this manor."

Subaru blinked, her stomach twisting. "Why not?"

A wide grin spread across Roswaal's face as he leaned in slightly, his mismatched eyes twinkling. "Becaaause I aaam the most powerful maage in the land!"

Subaru barely held back a cringe. Yeah, sure. That was reassuring—'not'. She forced a smile, nodding along, but her mind was still racing. If Roswaal really had that many enemies, how could he be so confident? Someone out there was dangerous enough to pull this off. Someone who had killed her once already.

Later in the day, Ram entered Subaru's room with a fresh tray of tea. The pink-haired maid's face was as stoic as ever, her movements precise and graceful as she set the tray down on the table beside her.

"Tea, Emilia-sama," Ram said, her tone cool and distant.

Subaru decided to try and break the ice, forcing a friendly smile. "Thanks, Ram. You always bring the best tea. So...what's it like, working in the manor?"

Ram glanced at her, her expression unreadable. "Emilia-sama, you shouldn't run your brain too much. It's...unused. There might be an accident."

Subaru flinched, her smile faltering. Ouch. That stung more than it should have. It felt like all the progress she had made with the staff had been reset—wiped clean by her sudden death. It was frustrating, but it also brought something else to mind.

Progress. She had figured it out. Her life here was like a game. The Insignia had been the first chapter. The manor was the next chapter, the next level she needed to clear.

She wouldn't die again. She couldn't die again. She'd solve the mystery, no matter what it took.

Û~Û

Author's Note:

Quite a short chapter, sorry. Actually, I was sick— 105 degree fever. Dengue. Been hospitalised.

But I promise the next one will be better!

A question: In the 'Document Manager', it says my 200 document limit is finished. They are telling me to delete some documents. But I have almost no unnecessary documents. Thus, how will deleting an already used document effect the story? Do tell please.

Till next time!