CHAPTER 2: YOUNG SOULS AND WATCHER
Having learned that Ram is useless regarding sibling problems without her memory, but that she is nonetheless a good sister, time passes on for Subaru and Emilia with no good progress.
Subaru: “But don't you feel like Ram was being pretty unsympathetic?”
Emilia: “Don't say that. Ram has her own opinions. ...She's known them longer than we have, so that's probably the difference.”
Emilia smiles wryly at the pouting Subaru as they walk down the mansion hallway. They have left Rem's bedroom and are reflecting on the encounter as they venture about. Through Subaru's mind passes the words that Ram left them with before their departure:
Ram: <Garf and Frederica's relationship? It should be fine to just leave them be. They aren't children... well, Garf is a kid, but he's not bereft of his own ideas. Though said ideas tend to be inaccurate. They'll manage something on their own.>
It's a rather ruthless judgement on Garfiel, what with how fond he is of Ram. But it's possible that Ram regards Garfiel as something like a younger brother. His crush could be called cute, were the feelings not so intense and violent. Poor Garfiel, infatuated with a fortress of a woman.
Emilia: “—? Hm? What's wrong?”
Subaru: “No, it's nothing. Was just reflecting that man, Garfiel's not the only one looking at a tall hurdle.”
Emilia: “—?”
Emilia tilts her head cutely. Subaru hates how her mind utterly fails to put together what his gaze and words mean. Perhaps the fact that he winds up forgiving it is one of those foibles of loving someone.
Subaru: “Anyway, so Ram's out... who to consult next?”
Emilia: “Huh? You're going to keep trying?”
Subaru: “Well yeah. We haven't solved anything yet, and there's nothing manly about giving up 'cause you stumbled on the first step. Don't you want to improve their relationship too, Emilia-tan?”
Emilia: “I do, but... Ram knows them best, and that's what she said, so maybe that's the best thing to do.”
Subaru: “Leaving them be might solve the problem over time, but you can't forget that it's been a decade since they parted. I'm not going to wait another decade for them to reconcile. I want to give them a shove so they make up quickly.”
Subaru insists that they stick with the plan, while Emilia seems somewhat pressured by Ram's statement. That said, while Subaru does want Garfiel and Frederica to reconcile, he also wants to keep this chance to do things with Emilia from escaping. Since no matter what Subaru does in this caper, it won't escalate into bloodshed. Could this heart, after all that protected trial and error, ever feel so light?
Emilia: “What happened? Subaru, you just burst into a grin...”
Subaru: “No, was just thinking that mulling over things without being frantic about it is bliss. Wow! No matter how everything falls, there's no bloodshed and nobody dies!”
Emilia: “Subaru...”
Subaru shoots her a thumbs up, his teeth sparkling, but Emilia looks at him with incredible pity. Subaru thinks back on his statement, figuring that he must have said something strange. And then shocks himself at what a brutal, inappropriate comment it was, and how impoverished his desires are.
Subaru: “D-Disregard that, Emilia-tan.”
Emilia: “It's okay. I know it's been hard. I'm sorry I didn't realise how you felt. Subaru, maybe you should spend the day resting in your roo—”
Subaru: “No not happening and that reaction's for when you don't realise how I feel!”
Emilia gazes at him with sympathy. And, at that point in the conversation,
???: “...So you're the ones making this racket, I suppose.”
Sighs a voice. Subaru looks over to the speaker, to find a girl in an extravagant dress standing there —Beatrice. She has come from the other end of the hallway and stopped to look at Subaru and Emilia, her brows furrowed on her cute face.
Beatrice: “You two are certainly enjoying yourselves, in fact. I can hear your arguing from the other end of the mansion, I suppose.”
Subaru: “There's some sarcasm. If you're sad you're not included then just say it. We'll let you deliberate with us in our profound discussion hour.”
Beatrice: “Who said anyone is sad about being left out, in fact! Don't just go saying whatever you want, I suppose!”
Beatrice crosses her arms, her cheeks red with indignation. Both Subaru and Emilia have to smile at how incredibly Beatrice the attitude is.
About a week has passed since Subaru and Beatrice formed their contract. That said, nothing especially dramatic changed about their relationship. Subaru teases Beatrice like always, and Beatrice overreacts. These exact same exchanges unfold endlessly for these two. But, Beatrice has been more out and about lately. And sometimes, as if remembering something, she comes to hold Subaru's hand.
Subaru: “And so on is what you say, but really you're here because you wanna hold my hand. Oh geez this poor girl's too much.” Beatrice: “Don't distort Betty's actions by giving them these weird pretexts, in fact. Betty keeps touching you because circumstances demand it, I su... Subaru, I suppose.”
Subaru: “It is adorable how you reminded yourself to say that.” Emilia: “Subaru.” Emilia cautions Subaru as Beatrice's face goes red. Subaru pokes his tongue out at Emilia and reaches out for Beatrice. Her hand lightly closes around his fingers, before she re-thinks it and timidly grasps his hand proper. It's what Beatrice always does. He feels her small fingers on his palm. This tickly, awkward touch is the fruit of Subaru's labour.
But this time Beatrice does not do it, and instead she simply stares at Subaru's hand, hesitant. Subaru: “What's up? I do wash my hands after going to the bathroom.” Beatrice: “I wasn't worried about that, but now that thought's going to be in my head and it's disgusting, in fact! No, it's something else...”
Beatrice glares in response to Subaru's unneeded comment, and she glances behind her. Subaru tilts his head at that, when he hears the answer come from down the hallway. ???: “Where'd you go, Beatrice-chan?” A voice calls from down the hallway, beyond a corner, searching for Beatrice. The voice is female, filled with affection and friendship. But hearing it makes Beatrice's shoulders hitch up,
Beatrice: “Eep!” Squeaks Beatrice, her eyes darting around before she dives into a nearby room. Subaru and Emilia watch on wide-eyed as Beatrice peeks out from behind the door.
Beatrice: “Tell her that I'm not here, I suppose. Please, in fact.” Subaru: “Hey.” Beatrice: “Please, I suppose.” With that, she silently shuts the door. Subaru shrugs while Emilia furrows her brows in confusion.
And, ???: “Oh! Subaru!”
A girl appears from beyond the bend in the hallway, her face lighting up as she comes darting over. With the skirt of her maid outfit fluttering, the auburn-haired girl trots near—it's Petra. Petra is also staying in this mansion following the incineration of Roswaal's estate. Considering the danger that comes with being involved, Subaru had tried to convince her to go back to the village, but she refused to listen.
Petra has been utterly focused on helping with odd jobs around this mansion as part of her maid training. What an ambitious, disciplined girl, Subaru thinks. As if complimenting Subaru's thoughts, Petra curtseys politely to Emilia,
Petra: “Please forgive me, Emilia-sama. I present my apology for having raised my voice.”
And says that. The childishness she displayed toward Subaru instantly disappears, and Emilia's eyes widen at the maidly behaviour.
Emilia: “Ah, um, it's okay. Don't worry. You can please relax, knave.”
Subaru: “Emilia-tan, 'knave'?”
Emilia is going to need to learn how to respond when others humble themselves around her. But putting aside that messy-yet-heartwarming conversation,
Subaru: “So, what's up, Petra. Something happen?”
Petra: “No, nothing has happened... but since I've finished my work, I was thinking to entertain Beatrice-chan. But I haven't been able to find her.”
Emilia: “Beatrice-chan... gosh.”
Emilia's breath hitches, and she puts her hand to her mouth as she holds in her laughter. Subaru also comes close to snickering. Beatrice, for all of her hauteur, has been dubbed with a -chan by Petra. Subaru burst into laughter when he first caught them interacting.
Petra: “Is there something the matter, Emilia-sama? Have I perhaps said anything strange?”
Emilia: “No, nothing. I just thought that was a bit sooo funny.”
Petra: “'A bit' but 'sooo'?”
Sometimes Petra's childishness does come to the fore. Emilia gives her a smile and glances to Subaru, her gaze asking him what to do. Subaru pretends to mull over the issue,
Subaru: “Right. Beatrice. She loves the attention, so I'm sure you have fun fussing over her too?”
Petra: “Mhm, I do. Beatrice-chan isn't honest at all. She's super cute whenever I'm with her. I don't think people like her should be left on their own.”
Subaru: “Why do you think that?”
Petra: “'Cause she'd be lonely. You can't leave her there.” Subaru nods to Petra's smart-yet-simple reply. It took a lot of words to get there, but ultimately it's the same reasoning by which Subaru dragged
Beatrice out of the Forbidden Archive. Children see to the truth of things. Or really Subaru and Beatrice just argued at each other using child's logic. Petra: “How come you're laughing now too, Subaru?” Subaru: “It's not that I'm making fun of you. It's just that you're so brilliant, Petra.” Petra: “Really? Eheehee.” Subaru pats Petra's head and gives her a nod.
Then he puts his hand on the doorknob behind him, and swings the door open. Beatrice: “Whaugh!?” With a thunk, an eavesdropping loli gets sent to the floor.
The loli pushes herself back up, her eyes teary and forehead red from the door belting against her. Subaru: “The heck are you doing.” Beatrice: “Moreso what the heck are you doing, in fact! This hurts! This sincerely hurts, I suppose!
It hurts and furthermore you broke your promise...”
Subaru: “I didn't promise anything, and I didn't even say I'd do it. After taking careful consideration of who to support, I decided that supporting Petra'd be funnier.” Beatrice: “Funnier! Funnier, he says, in fact! Just abysmal, I suppose!” Complains Beatrice, rubbing her forehead while Subaru blocks his ears, pretending not to hear her.
When a girl cuts into their exchange. Petra faces Beatrice directly, making Beatrice's mouth gawk open and pigtails bob.
Beatrice: “Ah, erm, um, don't get the wrong idea, in fact... I, I wasn't hiding from you or anyth...” Petra: “Come on, Beatrice-chan. You're going to get told off if you play hide and seek in other people's mansions. Though I understand wanting to play so much you can't help it...”
Beatrice: “What!? S-stop acting as though Betty were a child, I suppose! Though I might look like this, I am fully an... erm, fully an...” Petra: “Fully an?” Beatrice: “...Nevermind, in fact.” In the end, Beatrice surrenders. Emilia looks surprised, and Subaru also closes his eye at the unfamiliar happenings.
The entertaining thing about Beatrice and Petra's relationship is that somehow Petra is the dominant one. Beatrice always maintains a haughty, cocksure attitude when interacting with anyone. Subaru and Puck had been the exceptions, and now Petra has thrust herself into that count. For some reason, Beatrice can't interact with Petra using her normal demeanour. Not even she seems to understand why that is. But Subaru has spotted her holding hands with Petra, looking rather reluctant about the whole thing, several times now.
Nevermind what Beatrice thinks, to an outsider they're just a couple of young girls. And this is two girls, with portents of feature beauty, holding hands. A charming spectacle. Petra looks slightly older than Beatrice. Perhaps it's happening because Beatrice struggles to counterbalance Petra when she behaves like an older sister.
Petra: “Okay, let's go. We don't want to interrupt Subaru and Emilia-sama's work. And Brother Clind got some sweets for us, so let's go eat them together. In the dining room.”
Beatrice: “O-Okay, I suppose. I'll go... so you don't need to pull me along, in fact.”
Beatrice sends a pleading look to Subaru as Petra leads her out of the room by the hand, but Subaru cruelly replies with a thumbs up. Emilia waves her goodbye as Petra drags her away, still looking mad and with her tongue sticking out.
That circumstances-demanded skinship with Subaru will have to come later. Emilia puts her finger to her lip as she contently watches one girl abduct the other,
Emilia: “That is sooo surprising. I didn't expect Beatrice to be weak to Petra.”
Subaru: “Right? It stunned me at first. It's adorable to watch though so I didn't say anything. And I think Petra's totally right.”
Emilia: “She'll be sad if left alone?”
Subaru: “I don't mind being with her all hours of the day, but that defeats the point of leaving the Archive. If she's making memories, then the pages of her photo album ought to have as many people in them as possible.”
Since she has to compensate for four centuries of blank pages. If Subaru consumes all of the space in her album, it's going to get samey quick. Her memories need to be full of lots of people and lots of faces. Subaru believes it best to stand at her side as she clicks the shutter, sometimes slipping into the frame.
Emilia: “Subaru... sometimes you are sooo cool.”
Subaru: “Huh, what, seriously? What happened, what RNG was that!?”
Emilia: “It really is only sometimes though.”
Subaru scratches his cheek as Emilia giggles.
While it was somewhat joking, compliments from Emilia inevitably get him excited. He wants to always be reminded of this feeling whenever he teases Beatrice. Gotta keep teasing her now.
Subaru: “Feels like the aims and the means swapped places, but you do get that sometimes. Now, we got to see that heartwarming sight, so next is...”
???: “Indeed, a heartwarming sight. The spectacle of two girls with their lovely souls, smiling as they join hands... that is this world's splendour. Effulgence.”
Emilia: “Eek!?”
Just when Subaru starts moving to the next topic, a voice speaks up that makes Emilia yelp. Because the speaker's arrival is just that abrupt and unexpected. And their location is just as unexpected as their arrival. This character stands behind Subaru, so close that he can feel their breath on his neck, their expression nonchalant as they join the conversation.
???: “I do apologize for the surprise. But I could not suppress my occupational urge to present you with astonishing service. Misfire.”
Subaru: “C-Clind-san?”
Clind: “Yes, this is Clind. I do hope that I have not fouled your temper? Trepidation.”
A handsome, slender man gives them a perfect bow. His blue hair is just long enough to touch his shoulders, and he wears a monocle on his left eye. His starched, black butler suit seems to take joy in being his clothing as it perfectly displays its potential, his every movement so refined that Subaru unwittingly has to stand up straight.
This man's posture is so perfect that it could be a match for Wilhelm's, but the aura that Clind exerts differs from the Sword Demon's. If Wilhelm gives the impression of a honed blade, then Clind is the flow of pristine waters. Material beauty is dissimilar to conceptual beauty. Though both soothe the mind equally.
Subaru: “It's kind of shitty to show up behind people out of nowhere, Clind-san... almost had a heart attack.”
Clind: “Should that occur, we will devote our utmost efforts into your resuscitation. There is no need to fret for everything is well. Death's Door.”
Subaru: “Um!? Except that's no help at all!?”
While Clind's polite gestures remain strong, his reply falls apart terribly. However, his current behaviour gives no indication to his personality or capabilities. Clind is as excellent a servant as he appears, being the paragon butler of the Milord household.
Although young, he keeps the mansion in order with his bold personality. And that isn't all—he's even capable of swordsmanship in an emergency. He is so skilled that, when they first met, Garfiel tried to pick a fight with him: “Guy's pretty fuckin' good.” Though Clind ignored the duel invitation.
However, for all of Clind's excellence, he does have some flaws. One of them is his demonstrated penchant for mischief. Another is, Emilia: “Petra hasn't been any trouble for you, has she? I know that you're letting her participate in the work, but I'm still kind of worried...”
Clind: “There is no need for worry. Petra is outstanding for a girl of her age. I await to see how her proficiency and beauty shall bloom. Envy.” Emilia: “I see. Thank goodn—”
Clind: “However, she shall grow into an adult. ...Which I find a terrible shame. Chagrin.” Clind furrows his brows, looking utterly disappointed. This is one of his flaws, and a big one.
Clind is extremely interested in young girls like Petra and Beatrice.
Putting it straight, he's into little girls—a lolicon. Clind: “What could be the matter, Natsuki-sama? You look as though you've seen a prospective criminal. Have I perhaps done something untoward? Confirmation.”
Subaru: “It sort of seems as though you're self-aware about it, considering how precise that comment was. I'm not really into younger girls so you have that, but seriously when they're that young...”
Clind: “It appears that you could be under a terrible misapprehension. Smile.”
Smile, he says, while not smiling in the least. His attractive face darkens dejectedly as he adjusts his monocle, and he turns to face Subaru. Clind: “Do I have your attention? I do not admire Anne-Rose-sama, nor Petra nor Beatrice-sama because they are young. It is because I am infatuated with the promise and youth of their souls. To be enraptured by pure, immaculate souls is natural. And it happens that many possessors of such souls are young. Thus Misapprehension.”
Subaru: “Well... great.” Clind gives a speech to rebut Subaru, though Subaru tunes out for most of it. However, Clind's next words destroy that attitude of Subaru's. He looks at Emilia, and, Clind: “In fact,” Clind: “My eyes perceive a similar lustre to Emilia-sama's soul. Purity.” Emilia: “Me?” Subaru: “Goddamn geez, Clind-san!”
Emilia tilts her head. Subaru can only find himself shocked and awed at Clind's perception. It should not be possible to determine that Emilia is mentally much younger than she appears without investigating her background and upbringing. Clind's eyes have penetrated straight through that, and he has ascertained that Emilia is mentally a loli. A lolicon's nose is to be feared, thinks Subaru in dumb astonishment.
Subaru: “So then Lewes-san or something'd be...”
Clind: “Her appearance is exceedingly darling, but her soul is matured. It is beyond the means of someone as callow as I to divine promise from someone so set in their ways. Recklessness.” Subaru: “Amazing...” It truly impresses Subaru that he can see through the loligranny.
Emilia has been party to this exchange, but doesn't seem particularly interested in Clind's fetishes. Emilia: “Clind-san, there's something I kind of want to ask...” Clind: “Please ask whatever you wish. Inquiry.” Emilia: “Did Frederica use to work here before she started working in Roswaal's mansion?” Clind: “...Indeed. Affirmation.” Subaru furrows his brows, sensing that Clind was tongue-tied for a second.
The hesitation makes Emilia blink too, but the conversation continues as is. Emilia: “Which means that you've known Frederica for a long time?” Clind: “Frederica and I have known each other for a decade—I was still a manservant who had only just begun work when the Margrave brought Frederica to the Milord household. We would have known each other since then. Old Friends.” Emilia: “I knew it! Okay, so I have a question about Frederica. Is there anything she likes or dislikes that we can use as a starting point for her to reconcile with Garfiel?”
Clind: “A starting point for reconciliation. Rumination.” Clind puts his hand to his chin, in thought. He looks pretty as a portrait even while ruminating. Subaru fiddles with his track suit zipper while lamenting, “So hot guys can get away with being lolicons...” about the amazing differences in beauty. After a minute of thought, Clind nods with a quiet sight. Clind: “I shall make chicken the primary dish for Anne-Rose-sama's next birthday. Plan.” Emilia: “Where'd Frederica go!?” Clind: “...Ah, forgive me. Whenever I attempt to meditate upon her, my brain unfailingly rejects it.
I'm afraid this is my idiosyncrasy. Beg Your Pardon.”
Emilia: “Do you maybe not get along with Frederica, Clind-san?”
Clind: “Preposterous. Denial.”
Clind shakes his head at Emilia.
Clind: “She is an excellent servant who conducts her work swiftly and accurately, and is also proficient in tact. Should you ignore that her appearance sullies her station, what demands the maid to be adorned in splendour and beauty, I have not any complaints about her. Indifferent.”
Emilia: “Um? I think I just heard something extremely prejudiced, but is that just me? Subaru?”
Subaru: “No it's not just you, it's just Clind-san.”
It seems like Clind's unrelenting prejudice springs from Frederica's appearance. While yes, the initial impact of it did startle Subaru, Frederica is actually both diligent and abounding in femininity. There's nothing wrong about her as a woman except her appearance.
Clind: “I sense that Natsuki-sama has reached the same conclusion as myself. Espy.”
Emilia: “Did you? Subaru?”
Subaru: “I'm trying to end my habit of probing for other people's flaws, so could you please not!? Emilia-tan your looks are a mega critical on me!”
Emilia: “That's not what we were talking about, geez. ...But, thank you.”
Says Emilia, her cheeks slightly flushed. These compliments seemed utterly ineffective before, but since Emilia finished the TRIAL they've starting working on her somewhat, which is novel. Puck isn't around to give Emilia lessons on fashion any more, and she's gotten into the practice of dealing with her own grooming and dress. Apparently she's been doing some trial and error on what looks stylish. Though naturally when she started thinking about chopping her silver hair short, everyone collectively yanked the breaks on it.
Either way, it doesn't seem like they're going to get any useful information about Frederica from Clind. Subaru and Emilia sigh, hitting a quick dead end yet again. When Clind speaks up,
Clind: “Simply as speculation...”
Clind: “Judging by what I have heard, could you be seeking an improvement to the sibling relationship between Frederica and Garfiel-sama? Conjecture.”
Emilia: “Yes, we are. But neither me or Subaru have any brothers or sisters, so we have no idea what to do. We've been asking around, but...”
Clind: “Being that Frederica's only issue is her appearance, I believe that issues pertaining to
Frederica that are unrelated to her appearance will resolve themselves if left alone. But it seems that you may find this stance unsatisfactory. And so I offer. Proposal.”
Both: “Proposal?”
Clind raises his finger. Subaru and Emilia tilt their heads in unison. For the first time that day, Clind smiles.
Clind: “If you are concerned about them, then ought you not speak to the person closest to them? Not Ram, but another? Opinion.”
Emilia: “Closest to them... oh!”
Emilia claps her hands, her eyes shooting open as she finally hits upon this idea. Subaru reaches the same conclusion, but something is bothering him first. Which is,
Subaru: “Not Ram? I'm pretty sure we only mentioned her ages ago, Clind-san, how long've you been listening to us talk?”
Clind: “It is because I am the butler entrusted with the peace and chores of the Milord household. Declaration.”
It kind of sounds like an answer and also kind of doesn't. Subaru scrunches his face up while Clind bows respectfully.
His conduct as a subordinate is so perfect that it overwhelms any observers. All Subaru can do is shut his mouth, and look sour.
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