——When
"Rem, do you see that? That's the Roswaal mansion, where
"Our… workplace…"
Ram pointed toward the scenery visible through the dragon carriage window—sunlit, idyllic—and Rem blinked her pale blue eyes, her lashes trembling.
After boarding a shared dragon carriage bound for the industrial city of
A grand gate, and beyond it, a stately mansion. Even more opulent than the Berset estate where she had stayed with Katua in the Volacian imperial capital, the Roswaal mansion was a building so elegant that once you saw it, you could never forget it.
And yet— "How is it?"
"…I'm sorry, sister."
Rem shook her head slowly, apologizing for failing to meet Ram's expectations.
Along the way here, after parting ways with Subaru,
And it seemed that this mansion, so important to both of them, was no exception.
"I see. But there's no helping it. After all, it's been quite a long time since Ram and the others worked at this mansion, and the one that left a deep impression on Rem isn't this one."
"Eh!?"
"For reference, the previous mansion was burned down by Otto in a fit of irritation, so it doesn't exist anywhere anymore. I had considered making a detour to the old site, but…"
"Otto-san… he didn't seem like the type to do that."
Dizzy from the information dropped on her after the fact, Rem grew even more confused by the Otto-related tidbits Ram had shared.
As the camp's chief domestic official, Otto gave off an impression of gentle refinement. He was Subaru's friend and an indispensable companion, and according to Petra and Frederica, a man who never slept. And now, additional information had been layered on top of that: he'd become so irritated he'd set fire to a mansion. Rem's image of him had completely lost all coherence.
Maybe you really couldn't judge a book by its cover—but was that really the right way to sum it up?
"He's like that, but are all of Emilia's allies that kind of people? Garfiel, and Roswaal-san too…"
"Roswaal-sama."
"…Roswaal-sama too."
"Good girl. But lumping those three in with Roswaal-sama is naughty, Rem. Roswaal-sama is brilliant, capable, and the finest mage in all the world. As for those three, all three together barely make one competent person—no, I'd say half a person."
"Three people making half a person…"
In her mind, Rem stacked Otto, Garfiel, and Subaru on each other's shoulders, then lined that trio up beside Ram carrying Roswaal, who could fly using magic. Putting them side by side, Rem couldn't really gauge the exact gap between them, but Ram's assessment was probably spot-on.
For Rem, whose memories still showed no sign of returning, the trust and affection born from the closeness she felt toward her twin sister Ram—that much was unquestionably genuine.
It was, after all, a certain bond tying the Rem of the past to the present Rem.
"…Priscilla would scold me for thinking this way."
At the bitter feeling rising in her chest, Rem recalled the gaze of that flame-like, crimson-haired woman.
In their brief time together, Priscilla had profoundly influenced the way Rem thought and carried herself. She never approved of clinging to the past, of grasping at what was gone. Likewise, she wouldn't have looked kindly on Rem surrendering herself to the honeyed comfort of trust and leaning on Ram.
Rem didn't want to be hated by Priscilla. She didn't want to live in a way that would be embarrassing.
So she berated the heart that was about to turn negative, slapped her own cheeks, and lifted her face.
"But sister, based on what you said earlier, doesn't that mean going back to that mansion won't give me many clues to recover my memories?"
"Oh my, you catch on quickly. Having such a clever sister makes Ram proud."
"No, that's… I don't think I deserve that much praise…"
"But who do you think Ram is, standing here? Do you think Ram, who is your sister, would be so careless as to overlook something like that?"
Ram placed a hand against her own chest and declared with a face full of confidence.
At those commanding words, Rem genuinely felt ashamed of her own misguided worry. Ram had seen through all of this without Rem even needing to say a word—that was just how sharp she was.
That made Rem intensely curious about what Ram was actually planning, but— "If going back to the mansion isn't the objective, then… the objective is a person?"
"I wonder. We can check that soon enough."
Rem had barely made that tentative guess when Ram smiled at her—and the dragon carriage came to a stop at almost the same instant.
Rem had been shaken out of her daze by the return of motion—something she hadn't felt since the blessing of wind resistance had kept it at bay—when Ram stood up gracefully and extended her hand.
"Come. We've arrived. Let's go."
"——Yes, sister."
Rem took Ram's hand, pressed a hand to her slightly nervous chest, and stepped down from the dragon carriage.
While Ram called out to the coachman who had escorted them this far, Rem stepped forward and, through the bars of the closed iron gate right before her eyes, took in the mansion and its beautiful front garden.
"So this is…"
Rem narrowed her pale blue eyes. The mansion reflected in them was, as expected, unfamiliar.
Still, she could tell that everything from the building itself to the flower beds, hedges, and every last corner of the estate was meticulously maintained—and that realization straightened her posture almost involuntarily.
Regardless of whether she had memories or not, if Rem was going to live and work in this mansion from now on, her position would be the same as Ram's and Frederica's: a servant.
*'No, as long as Rem is healthy and living each day freely, that's all that matters.'* For an instant, she could see Subaru's face in her mind, saying something like that—but Rem forcibly chased away the phantom that wanted to coddle her so excessively.
It was certainly something Subaru might say, but he didn't have the bandwidth for that right now.
In fact, far beyond anything Rem could compare to, he was right now— "——Oh? Oh, oh, oh, ohhh!"
Suddenly, a groaning sound erupted, startling Rem, who yelped and stumbled backward.
Looking up, the sound had come from beyond the gate—that is, within the mansion's grounds. There, gripping the fence with small hands and staring wide-eyed, was a young girl.
With lovely features and long, peach-colored hair, the girl—who looked to be about eleven or twelve—was clad in a black tunic, her round eyes opened wide as she stared at Rem.
Rem recognized that girl. ——From within the imperial capital's tragedy.
"You— You're the '
"Oh my, Ryuzu-sama, welcome back."
The bearer of the "Great Calamity" pointed a trembling finger at Rem.
While Rem was shocked by this sudden, impossible reunion with disaster, Ram popped her face into view and addressed the girl with striking casualness. At that natural manner, Rem turned to Ram with a stunned "Eh?"—and the "Witch" shot a glare at Ram as if she'd been spring-loaded.
"Ram! Yer back. Yer back, but— Ye've gone and gotten too relaxed, ye have!"
"…Is Ram supposed to pick Ryuzu-sama up like Garf or Frederica, or something?"
"I didnae say any such thing! More importantly, that girl is…"
"Sister, this person is…"
The "Witch" who had plotted the empire's downfall—her name was
But Ram had called the girl before her by a different name—Ryuzu. When those eyes turned back toward her, Rem looked at Ram in bewilderment.
Seeing their reactions, Ram gently placed a hand on Rem's shoulder.
"Introduce yourself."
"————"
Without even the barest explanation, Ram's quiet voice somehow soothed Rem's bristling heart. Naturally letting her confusion dissolve, Rem turned to face Ryuzu.
Then, steadying her breath and meeting the other's gaze firmly— "——Rem. You're Ryuzu-san, is that right?"
"…That's right. Aye, that's right. I'm Ryuzu, Rem."
At the name Rem had offered and the question she'd asked, Ryuzu's expression grew distant for a moment before she nodded softly.
Reading Ryuzu's reaction, Ram's manner, and the fact that she was inside the Roswaal mansion's grounds, Rem was finally able to confirm that the girl before her and the empire's "Witch" were different people.
"Even so, the resemblance is uncanny…"
"You're right. There's an old saying that three people in the world share your face, but in Ryuzu-sama's case, it's closer to ten times that. Which means she's ten times as unoriginal."
"Ye've got some nerve sayin' such things when an old woman's havin' a heartfelt moment."
Ryuzu scolded Ram for the remark Rem had made about the confusing resemblance.
As their banter made clear, the two had a very comfortable relationship. Judging from Ryuzu's demeanor, she too must have been someone deeply connected to the Rem of the past.
"I'm sorry. But I really don't remember anything."
"No need to apologize. I'm—"
"——She's my sister. She has the same hair color as Ram, you see."
"Th-That's true…! But if she's sister's sister, then…"
Ram cut Ryuzu off and delivered the shocking revelation. Stunned by the surprise, Rem looked back and forth between Ram and Ryuzu, feeling the undeniable persuasiveness of their matching hair color.
But Ram and Rem were supposed to be twins, which would mean that Rem and Ryuzu's relationship was— "My… sister too…?"
"Stop that, Ram! Ye're at it again! It's that awful influence of those two—Loz-bou and Su-bou!"
"To put those two on the same level? Even for Ryuzu-sama, there are lines one shouldn't cross."
"And which mouth are ye speakin' from?!"
Ryuzu's cute brows furrowed as her voice rose. Rem, who had been blinking at their back-and-forth, finally realized Ram had been joking.
"Now that you mention it, if she were actually my or my sister's sister, it wouldn't make sense for you to address sister with an honorific, Ryuzu-san."
"Well, in that case, she could be a half-sister or step-sister from a different father or mother, descended from noble blood. Can't exactly call it a perfect refutation."
"That's true too… So, she really is my or sister's…?"
"No. It's unmistakably one of Ram's pranks. Honestly, what a bother."
Ryuzu heaved a great sigh while Ram stuck her tongue out slightly.
Rem had been jerked around a fair bit, but thinking back, Ram's playful antics had plagued and rescued her throughout the journey here in equal measure.
For someone like Rem, who tended to sink at the slightest provocation, Ram's presence—brimming with confidence and humor—was nothing short of the warmth of sunlight.
"I think you're a wonderful person, sister. Playfulness and all."
"Judging by what I learned through those bird-letter reports, it cannae have been that long since yer reunion, yet she's tamed ye this much already…"
"'Tamed'—what an unpleasant way to put it. I simply gave her my wholehearted sincerity and love."
"For all that, ye've gotten far too carried away for someone who's usually so composed, Ram. I understand being happy that the sister who was bedridden for so long has woken up and can be together again, but—"
"——For someone who calls herself Ryuzu-sama, you're awfully cheeky."
"Your embarrassment comes out as aggression, so at the very least, be gentler with Garf-bou. Now then…"
Ram's brows creased slightly. Rem was admiring the rare sight of her sister being pressed on the back foot when Ryuzu pushed off the iron gate and stepped away from the fence.
"We cannae keep talkin' through the gate forever. I'd like to hurry up and embrace my granddaughters who've returned safely, too."
"Granddaughters…?"
"One of Ryuzu-sama's signature jokes. Go on, laugh."
"It simply means I care about ye that much!"
Watching Ryuzu purse her lips in that way, Rem couldn't help but let her own expression soften—not because Ram had told her to laugh, but because Ryuzu's thoughtfulness naturally eased the tension in her face.
Still, being treated as a granddaughter by Ryuzu, who looked even younger than Rem—however much goodwill factored in, it was enough to make her tilt her head.
"Just like
"That's right. Beatrice-sama's true self is when she's sitting on Barusu's lap."
"With that level of cuteness, I can believe it."
Same with
Rem was savoring that sentiment when, in the very next moment, her thoughts ground to a halt.
"Well then, everyone, open the gate."
No sooner had Ryuzu spoken than the mansion's iron gate began to slowly swing open.
That in itself was fine. No problem at all. The problem was the way it was opening.
"————"
The gate's latch was released, and the doors swung inward—and the ones operating them, answering Ryuzu's call, were multiple figures. Each had different hairstyles and accessories, decorating themselves in their own individual ways, but every single one of them had the same face as Ryuzu.
Which meant—the same face as the "Witch," Sphinx.
"——!!"
It was too much. Rem's scream pierced the air.
△▼△▼△▼△ "I was alarmed when I heard that scream, but I understand now. Certainly, anyone seeing Ryuzu-sama and the Pico sisters for the first time would be startled."
"Knowing you say that helps… a little."
Rem hung her head in embarrassment at the blonde maid's measured words.
The greeting with Ryuzu before the gate, followed by the shocking arrival of over a dozen girls with the same face as Ryuzu—she was mortified by how she had panicked.
"Sister had told me there were ten times as many people with Ryuzu-sama's face as three, but I kept thinking she was joking…"
"With the way Ram put it, it's no wonder you thought so. If you didn't think that was a joke, you'd be blindly credulous, and even I would question your sense."
"You say that so casually, but perhaps Ryuzu-sama ought to reflect on her own behavior as well? If you keep causing incidents at a frequency that can't be overlooked thanks to your cute appearance, I may soon lose my patience."
"S-Scary things ye're sayin' there…"
Shrinking under the maid's quiet, reproachful gaze, Ryuzu cowered in contrition. Seeing that, Rem finally allowed her lips to curve and straightened her hunched back.
She hadn't expected to be so flustered before even setting foot inside the mansion, but now that she'd been properly led inside, she couldn't afford to keep moping about.
Still— "I was the one being loud and caused trouble. Um…"
"——I'm
"The mansion… So Sylphy-san, you were also a colleague of mine and my sister's?"
The maid—Sylphy—gave a composed bow, and Rem asked.
As was obvious, everyone working in the Roswaal mansion was likely someone Rem knew. She must have caused considerable trouble for them by falling asleep.
But to Rem's concern, Sylphy shook her head with a "No."
"I'm still relatively new, so I've never worked alongside Rem-sama. Furthermore, I wasn't hired by the Margrave—I was hired by Miload-sama. And moreover—"
"Moreover?"
"My master is me alone. And the master of my heart is none other than Emilia-sama."
Overwhelmed by the fierce conviction in Sylphy's gaze, Rem involuntarily leaned back.
The extraordinary devotion to Emilia that Sylphy had expressed—it was evident in the mansion she'd been guided through: the entrance hall, the corridors, and the reception room they were currently in were all kept in immaculate condition. True to the impression the mansion had made from the outside, her work was exemplary.
It was, one might say, the fruit of a devotion that elevated Emilia to the position of "master of the heart."
"Sylphy-san, have you known Emilia-san for a long time?"
"No, we've only known each other a few months. And the time we've spent together directly has been extraordinarily short."
"And yet, you feel so strongly about her?"
"Isn't the share of one's heart that someone occupies determined not by the length of time spent together, but by what that person has done for you?"
"That's…"
Surprised by the unexpected answer, Rem bowed her head at the words that followed.
What flashed through Rem's mind at that moment were the faces of people dear to her—Spica, Katua, and others. But even factoring in that Rem had built those relationships from scratch with no memories, the time she'd spent with them could hardly be called long.
And yet, Rem felt with absolute certainty that they were irreplaceable.
Sylphy's words were entirely correct. ——Just as Rem wanted to accept that reasoning, Subaru's face surfaced clearly in her mind, and she pursed her lips tightly.
"Rem-sama?"
"She must be confused. Sylphy, Ram told you about Rem's situation, didn't she?"
"So she did. My apologies. I was lacking in consideration."
"No, there's no need to apologize. It's just… my own issue."
Hearing Rem's reply, Ryuzu and Sylphy exchanged glances. Their concern was touching, but Rem had no intention of sharing her current turmoil.
As she'd said, this was entirely Rem's own struggle, her own problem.
"——You look troubled, Rem. Did Sylphy bully you or something?"
"————"
At the sudden voice calling her name, Rem looked up toward the reception room entrance. Standing there was Ram, who had temporarily parted ways midway through the guided tour, saying she had something to take care of.
Ram had arrived late—and Rem's eyes went wide as she caught her breath. Because the Ram who had appeared was standing there in an unfamiliar maid's uniform.
"Sister, that outfit…"
"I've told you many times, haven't I? Ram is a maid at this mansion—one who serves Roswaal-sama."
Ram answered while smoothly brushing back her peach-colored hair, and Rem couldn't help but stare. As Rem gazed at Ram in that way, Ryuzu let out a soft "Oh," clearly moved.
"It's been quite some time since I've seen Ram in that getup."
"Indeed. Ram has been in travel clothes for quite a while too, so it's fresh."
"So fresh, in fact, that the uniform is put on wrong in several places. Shall I fix it?"
"Oh? Then please."
Rem watched, wide-eyed, as Ryuzu looked on with nostalgia and Sylphy silently began tidying Ram's outfit. As Sylphy's hands straightened the uniform, Ram looked at Rem's gaze and winked with one eye.
"This is the maid uniform Ram and Rem wore when working at the mansion."
"…It's lovely. But—"
"But?"
"Compared to Sylphy-san's uniform, doesn't it expose a bit more skin? What exactly is the difference… Don't tell me, that person had a hand in this…"
Comparing Ram's and Sylphy's uniforms, Rem hugged her own shoulders, suspicion blooming.
It was certainly a cute outfit, but the differences were so obvious she couldn't grasp the intent. And thinking back, Subaru had frequently commented on Rem's clothing in the empire too—suggesting this would be cuter, or adding this touch would make her more charming—leaving Rem with a complicated mix of feelings each time. Those memories now surfaced at the sight of the uniform before her.
"I knew he had a peculiar obsession with other people's outfits, but to think it extends here too…"
"…It seems a misunderstanding is developing, Ram-sama?"
"That's right. Ram couldn't care less how Barusu's reputation falls in Rem's eyes, but having credit stolen is no fun."
"Credit?"
"Yes. This maid uniform was personally proposed and modified by Ram. All because… Ram wanted to wear a more practical uniform? Or so it was supposed to be?"
"Why'd ye lose confidence halfway through?"
At the tail end of her explanation, Ram had, uncharacteristically, lost her self-assurance, and Ryuzu tilted her head at the sight. At Ryuzu's pointed observation, Ram murmured "How puzzling."
"Being unable to convince yourself of your own opinion is unpleasant. The reason Ram proposed the uniform modification was probably not some half-baked excuse like what I just said."
"Y-You say that about your own opinion?!"
"I sense someone else's design in this. …As much as it's annoying that Barusu and I seem to think alike, it makes far more sense that Ram wanted to put Rem in a cute uniform."
"Mm, yes. I can see that."
For some reason, Sylphy agreed with Ram's deductive reasoning, finger pressed to her lips. Given the flow of conversation, Sylphy must also have felt the impulse to dress someone in a cute outfit.
In truth, in a world where most of Rem's memories had been erased from others, no one would ever know the true nature of Ram's unease—or the correct answer.
"In that case, Ram will simply believe what she wants to believe. Without hesitation from anyone."
"…Sister, I think you would have gotten along with Priscilla too."
Rem's social circle was small and tight-knit, but in the sense of being proud and strong women, Priscilla and Ram shared a dazzling commonality that made one want to admire them both. If Priscilla were still alive, there might have been a future where the two could have become friends through Rem. Or perhaps they would have clashed like natural enemies.
Either way, it seemed Rem had been wrong to suspect Subaru over the uniform.
"But it's all because that person is always doing confusing things."
"If it's Su-bou ye're talking about, that's rather harsh, now."
"You can say that, Ryuzu-san, because you haven't seen him doing incomprehensible things and cross-dressing."
"What! Su-bou cross-dressed in the empire too? What a glutton for punishment."
"Cross-dressing? When he has someone like Emilia-sama? What could he possibly be thinking? Depending on the answer…"
Ryuzu's reaction confirmed that Subaru was indeed a habitual offender. Hearing this, Sylphy expressed her disapproval with stern displeasure, and Rem resolved to interrogate him properly.
While this exchange played out, Sylphy finished adjusting Ram's outfit. Ram spun around on the spot, flipping the hem of her skirt and sweeping her hair back with a flourish.
"That will do. Excellent work, Sylphy."
"…I am honored to receive your praise."
"It's praise from Ram, so take it gracefully. That's not all. I took a quick look around, and the mansion's management is impeccable."
"I've spent my days enduring subordination under an impossible master. If so much as a speck of dust fell on the floor, all the maids would suffer terribly. Just recalling it makes my blood boil. Recently, however, I've received my retribution."
Sylphy finished tidying Ram's uniform with a crisp snap. Her workplace—or rather, her former environment—had clearly been terrible, evident in every word she spoke. Rem felt a pang of sympathy.
Just then, the now-perfect maid Ram quietly set a cup of tea before Rem.
"There. You must be parched after being interrogated by Ryuzu-sama and Sylphy."
"Just offering one cup of tea and ye've already cast us as the villains."
"Ha."
Ram snorted at the pouting Ryuzu, then prepared tea for her and Sylphy as well.
It seemed Ram had brought the tea tray out into the hallway beforehand. With practiced ease, she poured for the two while gesturing for Rem to go ahead and drink first. Rem obliged, barely taking time to savor the fragrance before bringing the cup to her lips—and involuntarily, her eyes widened.
"This is delicious…"
"Of course. Making tea is Ram's only skill as a maid."
"Your complete nonchalance about it is almost admirable. …In truth, I've rarely had the chance to drink tea this good, so I have no complaints."
"Frederica always says the same thing, laughing about how she can't compete in this one area."
Sylphy and Ryuzu conceded defeat to the triumphant Ram and sipped their tea.
Rem, savoring the aroma that reached her nose and the taste on her tongue, nodded along to their words—then noticed Ram's gentle gaze resting on her, filled with affection and a faint glimmer of expectation.
"…Ah."
Ram didn't say it outright. But surely, this tea's flavor had carried hopes as well.
A taste this exquisite—tea that only Ram could make—Rem could easily imagine how the Rem who hadn't lost her memories had relished it. In truth, the artful brewing technique, capable of bringing tears of emotion, seemed to permeate every corner of Rem's body with warmth.
And yet, it didn't stimulate Rem's memories or bring the desired result.
"It was truly, genuinely delicious. But—"
Setting the empty cup on the table, Rem lowered her gaze and trailed off. But Ram simply smiled and said, "Silly girl."
"All Ram did was brew some tea. There's no need for the adorable Rem to apologize."
"Ram-sama's gaze was so sharp, it practically compelled me to apologize. My previous master was too much of a mood-winger, but at least he'd be in high spirits if you apologized."
"…Could you brew a second cup for me and Sylphy? My heart aches for this girl."
"Why do you think that? If anything, I'm enjoying unprecedented freedom."
Sylphy furrowed her brows slightly, telling the sorrowful-looking Ryuzu that she was being unfair. At Ryuzu's request, Ram began preparing a second cup for Sylphy.
Watching Ram's back as she worked, Rem made a fierce, resolute vow.
"…I want to repay the people who have been so kind to me."
△▼△▼△▼△ After leaving the reception room, Rem wandered through the mansion at her own pace.
Whenever she stopped, Ram would follow and narrate the memories attached to each place: "Over there is the flower bed where Barusu fell face-first into fertilizer," "This pillar has bite marks from Garf—I'll scold him later," "Oh my, the portrait of the Great Spirit that Emilia-sama and Beatrice-sama drew on the ground is still here." There was no time to feel lost, thanks to Ram's constant companionship and thoughtfulness.
And yet, for all Ram's gentle presence, the sensation of being firmly pushed forward from behind—urging Rem onward—proved elusive.
"Oh, there are more girls who look like Ryuzu-sama…"
"The Pico sisters. They've been released from the '
"…I suppose I'm in a similar situation to them, and to Sylphy-san's group."
Unlike the prematurely aged Ryuzu, these girls—led by the one called Pico—looked as young and innocent as they appeared. They could be seen all across the vast Roswaal mansion, bustling about to assist the maids in their matching uniforms.
These girls, who looked so earnest and endearing, had been born carrying a destiny different from ordinary people. Now they had been freed from that fate and were in the midst of living differently.
As for the maids—their beauty and elegance drew the eye—but according to what Rem had heard, they too had been placed in dire circumstances like Sylphy's, and it was thanks to Emilia that they had been able to escape.
Ryuzu's sisters, the maids—they were all in the same position as Rem, she felt, in the sense of being tossed about by fate.
But to Rem's thoughts, Ram said "That's right," then continued: "Whether you have memories or not, if you've decided to start walking down a new path, in most cases you simply have to build everything up from the beginning all over again. Rem isn't special."
"Sister…"
"No, I misspoke. Rem is special. To Ram, you are impossibly precious."
Correcting herself, Ram's words made Rem blush with the weight of the love being bestowed on her.
Of course, Rem felt a strong sense of closeness and an overflowing love for Ram too—but where Rem's feelings amounted to one, she felt as though Ram was giving ten, even a hundred, and the imbalance left her restless.
Carrying that restless feeling, Rem and Ram continued their tour of the Roswaal mansion.
And at last— "——This is your room, Rem."
Ram opened the door, and Rem stepped into the room she indicated.
Compared to the other places they'd toured—the reception room, the dining hall, the grand bath, the secret training grounds, the sitting room, the garden, and the balcony—this guest room had little that stood out.
Given the mansion's size, the room assigned to a mere servant like Rem was properly furnished, but that was about all.
"————"
A large bed, a bookshelf holding poetry collections and picture books. A writing desk, neatly arranged, with a vase of fresh flowers on display.
"There was once when I absentmindedly tidied away Rem's personal belongings without realizing it. Barusu pulled every single thing back out, and put them all back just like this."
"That person…"
Standing before the bookshelf, Rem heard Ram relay Subaru's effort.
Ram was generally known for her sharp tongue toward Subaru—and Rem could see why in many respects. But the words she had just added carried nothing but sincerity, and it struck Rem's heart.
She pulled out a poetry collection and turned the pages. The poems written within were all unfamiliar, but they must have been the verses the Rem of the past had enjoyed and loved. Somehow, many seemed to be about love and romance, and Rem found a mix of amusement and embarrassment in her former taste.
"I was asleep for over a year, wasn't I."
After returning the poetry collection to the shelf, Rem gently touched the bed and narrowed her eyes.
In Rem's stead, Ram, Frederica, and Petra had tended the mansion and cared for the bedridden Rem day after day. Even now, the pillow and sheets on the bed were kept spotless, a testament to their diligent care.
Beside the bed, the faintly sun-bleached mark on the floor was proof that a chair had been placed there for a long time. In her mind, an image arose of whoever had visited the sleeping Rem, sitting there and speaking to her.
It must have been Ram, and Emilia, and— "————"
Without a word, Ram sat down beside Rem on the bed. As her gentle, pale-coral eyes looked at Rem's profile, Rem closed her eyes and shook her head.
Nobody had asked. But she was surely being asked.
Nothing in this mansion, nothing in this room could jog Rem's memories. What existed here was affection—overwhelming and palpable—every piece of it a reminder to the Rem who couldn't remember anything that she had been blessed beyond measure.
She felt it so keenly that her eyes were on the verge of brimming over.
And precisely because of that— "…Sister, I'm curious about that—what is it?"
In a corner of the room where sunlight filtered through, where the air was warm and kindness seemed to permeate every surface, sat a mysterious object—a spiked iron ball attached to a chain, its alien appearance drawing the eye.
At Rem's question, Ram let out a small "Oh" of realization.
"That's a morning star."
"…A morning star?"
"Yes. Barusu started calling it that, and before anyone knew it, the name stuck. …That was something Rem treasured, apparently."
"That was mine?!"
The subject was so wildly different from all the reminiscing before that Rem's eyes darted back and forth between Ram, the spiked iron ball—the morning star—several times.
After doing so, she was about to write it off as another one of Ram's playful jokes.
"I understand the urge to doubt it. But when you see Barusu polishing that thing every day with a dedicated cloth and oil, it seems like far too elaborate a setup for a pointless prank."
"Y-You think so? But that person is exactly the type to do something that pointless, isn't he?"
"You're not wrong. I won't deny it."
It seemed they had already exhausted this particular argument, because Ram's answer carried a note of resignation. Watching Ram, Rem rose from the bed and approached the morning star.
"I don't understand what this means…"
Drawing closer, she saw that a handmade iron stand had been carefully placed beneath the spiked ball so it wouldn't damage the floor—a subtle attention to detail. The cloth and oil container set beside it corroborated Ram's claim that Subaru polished it daily.
But even so, so what?
"This has to be another one of that person's pranks—"
Just like with the cross-dressing, it had to be an elaborate ruse, nothing more than a malicious joke dressed up in a convincing act, a reflection of Subaru's own peculiar tastes.
Rem bent down and touched the iron ball with one finger. ——In that instant.
"…Eh."
Without warning, Rem's vision warped sickeningly, and she found herself sitting hard on the floor. The undignified position might normally have embarrassed her, but right now she didn't have the composure to care.
"Ugh…"
Even sitting on the floor, the unrelenting dizziness made the world spin.
Despite being right there, she could no longer tell floor from ceiling. Black and white inverted. What she saw, what she heard, what she smelled, the taste of the air, the feel of her skin—all five senses blurred and crossed, and she could see sound, smell light, touch scent, taste color, hear touch.
"…Ah, ugh."
Everything she perceived blended and churned together, mixing Rem's past, present, and future into one.
Mountain village, a wolf banner pierced by a sword, the creaking wheels of a wheelchair, a sky blanketed by flying dragons, a horrifying white whale soaring through the night sky, a broken horn rising into the firelit twilight, and a boy with a desperate expression pleading—a boy, furious—a boy, crying—a boy, laughing.
"————"
Eventually, the shock that felt as though it had rebuilt the entire world burst suddenly, like a bubble popping.
"————"
Sight, hearing, smell, taste, touch—each one returned to its proper form, reminding her of what it meant to be alive.
Feeling the searing afterimage of that intense stimulation and the pulse that sent blood coursing to every corner of her body, Rem blinked once, twice, three times.
She didn't understand what had just happened.
But— "…I…"
Still sitting on the floor, she touched her own cheek with trembling hands, confirming her existence.
The sensation beneath her fingertips didn't vanish. Fragile, fragile, like a sandcastle crumbling away—she was afraid, and couldn't bring herself to press any harder.
If she reached for more, she feared everything might disappear.
"————"
And then, from behind, a warmth enveloped her.
Rem froze, unable to even turn around. Arms slid around her from behind, and the embrace gave Rem's head and heart—previously consumed entirely by herself—somewhere else to turn.
The first place she turned it was toward the presence holding her from behind.
"Hey—"
"——Wait."
"————"
"Don't turn around yet. This is the first time in Ram's life that Ram has been disappointed in herself."
Rem had begun to speak, begun to turn—and the other had stopped all of it. Rem stiffened.
She couldn't see Ram's face. The arms encircling her, the voice that had been uttered—they were trembling. It was so far removed from the image of Ram that Rem knew.
Ram had always been valiant, noble, and poised—the only version of herself she had ever shown to Rem.
It had been like that when they reunited in the empire, like that during the journey here as just the two of them, like that in the early days at the mansion when her horn had just broken and the burden was greatest, and like that when she had fought off the
Whenever Rem looked at her, Ram had always been magnificent.
"I'm sorry, Rem. I'm pathetic."
"Sister… what are you…"
"So much—"
"————"
"To have lived all this time without remembering Rem, who I love and cherish more than anything—what kind of cold-hearted sister does that make Ram?"
Rem's eyes widened at Ram's voice, heavy with regret born from possessing far too much love. And then, breaking free of all restraint, Rem turned around and faced Ram head-on.
"——!"
Ram's pale-coral eyes glistened as she looked at Rem in surprise. ——That face, the one Rem had stared at longer and more than any other in her entire life—her chest grew hot.
She was certain now. Of how blessed she was, and how precious the people surrounding her were.
"Sister, you're not cold-hearted at all. If anything, I'm the one who's sorry. Always, always burdening you with worry—I'm a terrible sister."
"Rem."
"I understand everything. How much you've torn your heart apart for my sake, how much you've sacrificed to stay with me until today. And…"
"Rem…"
"The things that I—weak, helpless Rem, who's only ever taken—need to do from now on."
"——!"
Looking directly into Ram's face, Rem brushed the tears from her sister's cheek with her fingertips and smiled. Then, with an outstretched hand, she drew Ram's head to her and held her against her chest.
Still sitting on the floor, the two sisters held each other gently, cherishing one another. ——No, Ram had always been doing this. It was Rem who hadn't been able to.
"I love you, sister."
Pressing her lips to the ear of the one she held, Rem poured out all the feelings that overflowed within her. Warm tears seeped into her chest as she continued to embrace Ram, who was crying without making a sound.
With all her heart, she accepted this reunion—the true reunion—for the first time. Rem conveyed her love with every part of her past and present selves.
For now, she wanted to stay here with Ram, to her heart's content.
If she could reclaim the sisterly time that had been left unfilled, then Rem had so many things to do—so many people to whom she needed to convey her gratitude and love.
And first and foremost among them, the person who came to mind was that black-haired boy with the sharp gaze.
"——Subaru-kun."
To convey her love, she had to stand up.
What a happy reason to be alive. ——That was what Rem thought.
△▼△▼△▼△ "————"
Before the girl in the maid uniform who had given a deep bow and then raised her head, Petra held her breath.
Her eyes went wide, her body rigid and motionless. She wasn't the only one struck speechless—the same went for Meili, for Emilia, for everyone.
Into that enforced silence, the first to speak was— *'——Rem.'* The intangible, imaginary Subaru stood frozen, gazing upon the same person Petra was.
His dazed voice reached no one but Petra. Tragically, the girl who was its target couldn't even meet his translucent gaze. There was simply no room to spare for helping the "Subaru" that no one—neither Petra nor anyone else—could perceive.
But one thing could be guaranteed: the name he had called out was correct. ——Standing there was unmistakably Rem, a girl who was precious and dear.
"…Ah."
In that instant, a spark shot through Petra's mind, and one by one, the fog-shrouded territories of her consciousness cleared.
The force drawing her in—the fact that its cause stood before her—brought the painting of memories that had been unconsciously banished to a corner of her mind and draped with a cloth of oblivion back into the corridor of her awareness.
And every one of those vivid, newly displayed images struck her with the impact of scattering sparks.
——Petta hadn't spent that much time with her, as Petra.
A girl in a maid uniform who came to the village from the Roswaal mansion to shop. They'd barely interacted, hadn't even exchanged words—but after Subaru started coming to the village, she'd become more expressive. And above all, she was the savior of Petra and the others' lives. ——Though the one who had endangered those lives was Meili, controlled by magical beasts, which made the whole thing painfully ironic. Actually, at critical moments, Meili and her sister kept targeting the lives of those around them far too often.
In any case, Petra's connection to her had been that tenuous.
After that, at the start of the royal selection, she had fallen victim to the Sin Archbishop of Gluttony, and Petra—hired to fill the vacancy—had joined Emilia's camp as a maid.
In other words, without Rem's tragedy, Petra's current position wouldn't exist—and that reality alone was an enormously complicated feeling.
"Rem… is it really Rem?"
As if flipping over a face-down card and confirming the illustration and text written on it, one by one, Petra's incomprehensions about her were replaced by understanding.
Alongside that, the one who called her out in such a halting voice was Emilia, her eyes blinking.
Emilia stepped forward, opening and closing her lips several times as if struggling with what to say next.
"No—I'm sorry, that came out wrong. I've known Rem was Rem from the very beginning… What I'm trying to say isn't that."
"It's all right, Emilia-sama. Take your time—I understand this is sudden."
"…Right. Thank you. There's so much I want to say, but—"
"But?"
"…That outfit suits you so well. It just feels so much like… Rem."
Emilia pressed a hand to her chest, her violet eyes glistening, and smiled at Rem. At her words, Rem raised her brows slightly, then nodded.
Proudly, she held her chest high in her maid uniform.
"My sister had this uniform tailored to suit me."
At Rem's answer, Ram, arms crossed, nodded with satisfaction.
"What on earth is going on over here…"
Beside Rem and Emilia's exchange, Meili scowled and grumbled.
A small crimson scorpion poked its head out from her hair and clacked its pincers as if worried about its master's reaction. Meili, one eye closed, pressed a hand to her forehead.
"The moment I saw Ram-nee's little sister, I remembered how that guy crushed Urgarm and his whole swarm. It's probably why I failed at my job…"
"If that's the case, then you should be grateful to Rem. It was because Rem caused your job to fail that there were no victims other than Barusu—which is why you're here right now."
"What a complicated feeling… hard to feel grateful…"
Hugging her own elbow, Meili made a sour face and stuck out her tongue at Ram's pointed observation.
It was harshly put, but Ram's remark contained a truth. The fact that Meili—who had once been an enemy—had been accepted into Emilia's camp was undoubtedly because her actions had minimized the damage. ——And Ram's specific point about there being no victims besides Subaru was, ironically, correct even from the perspective of "return by death."
"As you can see, the moment Rem's form came into view, memories of her resurfaced among those who knew her before. Regeneration. Even I and Ryuzu-sama couldn't contain our composure. As a result, our rendezvous was delayed. Confession."
"
"I see. Quite the spectacle, was it? Indeed, I did witness something rare. Understood."
"…Hmph."
What had occurred among those surrounding Rem—the return of her "memories." ——No, given the conditions of Gluttony's authority up to now, this event should be called the return of her "name."
When Clind pointed that out to Ram with a knowing look, she clearly averted her gaze in dissatisfaction and snorted.
Now that Rem looked more carefully, the faint redness around Ram's eyes might have been related to Clind's spectacle comment.
But Petra didn't mention it. ——Not out of tact, but because she simply couldn't.
"…Petra?"
Rem, who had been the center of everyone's attention, suddenly noticed the silent Petra and widened her eyes. Emilia and the others turned as well, alarmed by Petra's state.
Their reactions were entirely justified. Petra, who hadn't said a single word until now, was streaming tears from her round eyes, desperately pressing her hand against the throat that threatened to sobs.
"Petra-chan?! Oh no, crying so much—"
"——!"
The instant her tears were noticed, Petra kicked off the floor and broke into a run.
Ducking under Emilia's reaching arms, dodging Meili's sleeve, slipping beneath old man
And then— "Rem—!!"
"Nyaah!"
Caught by Rem, who hadn't dodged, Petra clung fiercely to her slender form. Holding the desperately clinging Petra close, Rem blinked.
"Rem… Rem, Rem…"
At Rem's response, Petra wept openly, unable to stop her tears—doing the one thing she had absolutely sworn never to do in front of others: sniffling her nose. And still she couldn't let go.
Supporting the sobbing Petra, Rem looked around求助ingly— "Um… Petra and I… did we actually get along well enough for her to cry like this? Just because I can't remember…?"
——And with that look of undisguised bewilderment, she gently stroked Petra's head.