Ram told her story. How she suddenly appeared in a black void. How the voice had appeared right before she reached insanity, and, more importantly, how she had seen Subaru in a room completely identical to the one they were in.
They all wondered whether Ram had talked to Subaru, and, if affirmative, what he had told her. But they were surprised to discover that what happened in that room was nothing like they had pictured it.
Ram explained how he didn't acknowledge her presence at all. No matter what she tried, to Subaru, she wasn't there.
The sensation Ram carried from that moment was one of anguish, but she didn't let her feelings take control of her and suppressed them as much as she could, leaving her looking as emotionless and cold as always.
As she explained all the events in chronological order, everyone listened carefully. Garf's case aside, the resentment the group currently held against Rem and Ram was not made apparent—at least not verbally.
"Did Subaru look fine?" Beatrice interrupted her. "Was he scared?"
"Subaru was... fine? He didn't look sad or happy. I don't know how to explain it, but he looked somehow relaxed, as if he had accepted the situation."
While pondering, Ram tried to remember Subaru's face in that room. The memories were a bit blurry—just enough that she couldn't quite describe him.
"Can you think of how you got there?" asked Otto. "Any clues on how we can leave this place? Or maybe go with Natsuki-kun... no. I guess now isn't the time for that."
"There's nothing more we have to say."
With that final statement, Ram shot Otto down and closed the door to any more questions, leaving everyone in the room with at least one or two unanswered questions.
Excluding, of course, Petra, who was still deep in slumber.
"Ram, is there really nothing else you can tell us?"
Frederica, not making use of the usual suffix nee-sama, tried getting something more out of Ram. Having known each other for a long time and sharing a profession, one could argue that those two were pretty close. For that very reason, Frederica felt something was off about what she had seen.
The half-blooded maid hadn't been present during the time of the events, but she knew the sisters very well. She was the one who taught them the basic skills needed to be maids.
They must have had a reason.
Rem and Ram wouldn't have acted like this without one.
There had to be something Subaru did—something that brought the two maids' attention. Something so serious it made them take such a route.
Frederica believed that.
But Ram and Rem didn't.
"No, I have nothing else to say. Nothing I can add will be useful information. So now, kindly take your eyes off of us. That goes for you too, Garfiel."
"Tch— you..."
Bastard is what he would have said, yet he didn't. Garf bit his tongue and got up from the seat next to Beatrice. With a drop of blood coming from his mouth, he walked back and sat next to Otto.
◇
Seeing the situation becoming more and more complicated by the second, Beatrice got close to Emilia's ear and whispered, "Emilia, are you feeling any better?"
Emilia's feelings...
Beatrice wasn't thinking about that.
Her real objective wasn't knowing how Emilia felt. Maybe that made her selfish, or so she believed. But as the one and only Royal candidate, Emilia had to be the one making the decisions. Beatrice wanted to see if she was ready to take on that role already.
Nonetheless, she quickly realized what she was doing was pointless. There was no world in which Emilia would be prepared. Her mental resilience was far from impressive, and without Puck or Subaru by her side, the burden was unbearable.
"Sorry... Forget I said anything... There's no way one would... agh... damn it..."
That very moment was when the great spirit Beatrice finally broke down.
I'm only thinking about myself again... I'm awful.
All this time, her hand had been holding Emilia's, but now she took it away. She needed it for herself; she had to use both her hands to cover her face. Beatrice couldn't stay composed anymore.
"I'm sorry... Emilia... I'm supposed to be helping you— I can't anymore—"
Suddenly feeling the warmth flee from her hand, Emilia turned to Beatrice to see what had happened.
"Bea... trice... what are you saying...?"
"I have to... I have to be the one to help you. Subaru would tell me that... he would—"
Tears ran down her fingers as she tried to hide them.
Beatrice knew what Subaru would have told her: "Make sure to take care of Emilia while I'm away, okay?" That last part, the "okay", was something like alright, a word she had learned from him.
It was fine. She would take care of Emilia. Beatrice would successfully help Emilia deal with her emotions. She would be there whenever she needed, being her support. If she did that, Subaru would be happy... right?
Subaru would have no reason not to praise her and pat her head until she said so... right?
"Beatrice..." Emilia looked at the little girl spirit and, without thinking twice, wrapped her arms around her. "Do you really think Subaru would have wanted this?"
"—"
Enclosed in Emilia's arms, Beatrice finally took her hands away from her face. For now... just for a moment... she would hug Emilia... just for a while...
"This is... far, very far from what Subaru would want, Beatrice." Gently, she caressed her head while still embracing her.
Emilia, who was usually not quick with that sort of thing, saw through Beatrice immediately.
"You're not here to protect me."
"...what?"
"You don't have to hide your feelings so much."
"I need to... I need to be strong. I have to be here to help you... he would have—"
"You're wrong."
Beatrice couldn't accept her words. How could she be wrong? Subaru always seemed at his worst when Emilia was having a hard time. Therefore, as her spirit partner, if Subaru wasn't there, she had to take his role.
"If you take care of me..."
That's my role. That is what I must do. I have to do it. I must... Subaru will love me even more if I do. That's what he wants. He wants this. This is what he wishes for. I'm certain of it. She wants to see Emilia be happy—
"...who will take care of you?"
Of... Me?
"—huh?"
Emilia rested her head on top of Beatrice's, whose trembling body was holding onto her.
The silver haired girl's fingers gently danced within Beatrice's blonde hair.
"You've got Subaru's desires all wrong, Beatrice."
"Wh-what do you mean?"
"He would have never wanted you to suffer like this."
There is no other choice. I have to do it.
"We are together... aren't we?"
"—"
Emilia and Beatrice loosened their hug.
Beatrice, with swollen eyes, looked up at Emilia.
Their eyes met.
"What Subaru would have desired... is for us to be united and deal with all the hardships together. That's the type of person he is."
Emilia's lips curved, forming a smile.
Whether it was real or not—only she knew.