[Subaru: I’ll wake you, as soon as

[Subaru: I’ll wake you, as soon as I can. So, please, scold me angrily for feeling the softness of your body with these fingertips of mine]

[Frederica: It was such a good line, until you had to go and ruin it.]

Subaru exited the dragon carriage, leaving Frederica’s disgruntled words behind him.
He nodded a quick goodbye to Patrasche, who had poked her head out of the stables. Subaru then entered the mansion, led by Frederica.

Led to the Eastern Maid’s room——The bedroom, the room that once was Rem’s.

[Frederica: You talked, with Beatrice-sama]

The statement was thrown out abruptly, as they walked.
Subaru, who had been carefully going up the stairs, looked up at Frederica’s back.
She narrowed the pupils of her sharp eyes, and looked back down at Subaru with a gaze that held only intimidation. Although, Subaru understood it was only a misunderstanding, as he had the same kind of eyes, with more white area than was usual.

Coming to the correct assumption that his silence was affirmation at her question, Frederica said,

[Frederica: Is she doing well? I ask because, since my return to the Mansion, I have yet to see her face]

[Subaru: I already told Emilia-tan, but she was doing ok…I guess. Though, I couldn’t talk to her as much as I normally do, since she was in a worse mood than usual]

[Frederica: Is……that so]

As though anxious, her expression at Subaru’s answer was not a bright one.

Seeing that look, Subaru couldn’t help but wonder about something. It was about what the role of the girl named Beatrice actually was, in the Mansion.

Up until now, Subaru had not dug deep into her position or background.

The girl, in the Mansion of Margrave Roswaal, stayed in a mysterious magical space, the Forbidden Library, and was treated by Rem and Ram as both guest and nobility.

Then again, she seems to childishly adore Puck, a spirit contracted to Emilia, a candidate for the Royal Election, as though he were an older brother. Also, the way she behaved towards Subaru seemed appropriate for her age, though her actions during their last encounter——they were all mysteries.

[Subaru: Umm, Frederica, you’ve been working in the Mansion for a while?]

[Frederica: Oh, are you interested? Emilia-sama, the girl in your arms……and Beatrice-sama…you seem to have a lot of interests]

[Subaru: Stop mixing Beako in so smoothly, I’m not interested in young kids. You can see that both my hands are filled with Emilia-tan and Rem, right? Frederica is…Honestly, it’s only been a short time, but you’re not my type]

[Frederica: Oh, I’m hated]

[Subaru: It’s no good, you trying to yank my chain feels just like what one of Roswaal’s maids would do. Oh, and it’s only an issue of personal preference; I don’t hate you or anything]

Frederica’s eyes danced, and she laughed at Subaru’s comeback, while covering her mouth with its cruel-looking fangs.

[Frederica: I’m not much concerned. You, also seem to be a worrywart]

[Subaru: It’s because I hurt you when we first met. You laughed it off, but it still hurt a bit, didn’t it?]

[Frederica: ……]