-As though seeing through everything, the heavens looked down with a magnificent gaze upon the people bustling below.
A dazzling white sun, great white clouds drifting slowly past. A warm breeze caressed the back of her neck and stirred her pale blue hair, making her feel with certainty that she was part of the world.
It felt as though something very difficult to understand had been expressed in rather exaggerated terms.
Still, if this was necessary for her now, she would put it into practice before questioning it.
She was the one who had actively sought and begged for instruction. She was still inexperienced. It was too soon to give up.
That said-
"...I can't lie about feeling impatient."
Whether this restless anxiety stemmed from the maid etiquette she was learning or from the circumstances of certain people-one person, rather-shown on the screen that had suddenly appeared in the heavens, it all worried her.
She rested a hand lightly against her chest, the air she had inhaled waiting inside her lungs to exert its strength. The lack of any tangible sensation frustrated her, and her own desire for immediate results annoyed her.
-No, rather than her personality, perhaps the cause lay in her circumstances.
"Lady Priscilla must have seen what was on the screen too, so now..."
Not herself, but someone who was absent, somewhere else trying to complete his task-
"-Ah! Here you are!"
As she quietly meditated, a voice from behind reminded her of the breathing she had nearly forgotten. Exhaling the air left in her lungs, she turned and saw a little boy running toward her.
His fluffy pink hair bounced. With his endearing face, rosy cheeks, and strikingly pale pink legs beneath his shorts, he was a boy brimming with childish charm. He looked about eleven or twelve, and smiled when he reached her. (The cute little boy serving Priscilla.)
"Lady Priscilla is calling for you! Please come with me!"
"Understood. Thank you for coming all this way, Mr. Schult."
"It's nothing important. You really don't need to thank me!"
The boy-Schult-beamed, his cheeks flushing with delight despite his modest words. However, he had come on important business. They could not keep smiling foolishly forever. At that thought, she tightened her relaxed expression, let out a small breath, and nodded-
"Then let's go together."
"Yes! Please come along, Lady Rem!"
Schult jumped up and saluted with a hand to his head. Slightly surprised by his childish enthusiasm, the girl-Rem-nonetheless nodded and went with him to the mistress who had summoned her. To Priscilla Barielle, Rem's temporary mistress in the fortified city of Guaral.
Several days had passed since Subaru and the others had captured the fortified city of Guaral-successfully taking it with minimal casualties through an extremely foolish tactic (cross-dressing).
Fortunately, there had been little unrest in the city, thanks to the concerted efforts of the Imperial Army's commander, Medium (a fairly capable Jia Baoyu type who liked and respected girls, and was thus captured alive by Natsuki Subaru and the others' cross-dressing scheme), and the Shudraq chief (the jungle warriors Subaru and Vincent had first recruited). Conflict between the Imperial Army and the Shudraq had been avoided, and no major disputes had arisen afterward.
However, beyond the reach of their influence, the city's original inhabitants had rather complicated feelings. Naturally, though unarmed, they were still imperial citizens who believed in the iron-blooded law.
Apparently, they held Medium and the Imperial Army in considerable contempt for allowing rebels to occupy the city hall and seize power with almost no resistance.
However, those voices of discontent had soon vanished as well.
The reason was-
"Obeying the strong is imperial custom.
"In that case, anyone can see that my actions make more sense than those of people who do nothing but talk."
"Well..."
"Or do the words of those who bow their heads to endure a storm, then demand repairs to their broken roofs once it passes, have any value?"
"Whatever the case, I think using extreme examples is unfair."
It was not merely her physical position; even her manner of speaking placed her entirely above others. Rem calmly answered this tactic of cutting off any retreat. A second after hearing her answer, the other woman made a faint sound in her throat.
"Heh. Are you denouncing me as underhanded? I see. Having no regard for your life is a virtue too, Rem."
"It would only be disregard for my life if my life were at stake. But you wouldn't act so rashly over something like this, Miss Priscilla."
"You would measure me by your own standards?"
"My apologies, but I have no other standards."
Despite the red eyes looking down at her, Rem firmly argued back. Having lost her memories and the past she had actually experienced, everything she saw and heard was fresh to her, and every action was an unfamiliar experience.
Although that sometimes displeased others, if she feared it too much, she would never take even a single step forward. At least, she had remained perfectly alive during these past few days at the side of the woman before her.
And so-
"Hmph. Always saying such disagreeable things. What an unlovable girl."
Somehow, as now, she could expect the woman to rein in her anger. Though she occasionally behaved unreasonably for incomprehensible reasons, she was fundamentally sensible compared with her dangerous remarks.
That was Rem's impression of her-Priscilla.
Priscilla sat in a luxurious chair, her cheek propped on one hand and a book open across her lap. She carried herself like the mistress of a palace or mansion, every expression worthy of a painting, though the backdrop was entirely borrowed.
Currently staying in the fortified city, Priscilla had taken over its largest mansion and was living there at her leisure.
Aside from the city hall, this mansion was the largest building in the city, and she was now extravagantly wasting enough space to house twenty or thirty people.
Naturally, a dispute over its use had arisen with its original owner, but imperial custom-the savage iron law-had settled it with a small amount of bloodshed. In other words, they had exercised their strength to uphold their respective claims.
"-"
Feeling someone's gaze, Rem glanced toward a corner of the room. Everyone serving Priscilla had gathered here at her summons. Besides Rem and the smiling Schult, there was one other person.
He was the source of that gaze, the man who had wielded a sword in the "duel" over this mansion-
"-Mr. Heinkel."
"...What?"
"Nothing. Your gaze seemed rather meaningful, so I wanted to ask whether something had happened."
The man who answered Rem's call in a low voice scowled at her question. Then he roughly scratched his red-haired head.
"Nothing. I'm just dumbfounded. Taking that attitude with Miss Priscilla-you really are a girl who doesn't know fear."
"First I have no regard for my life, and now I don't know fear? That wasn't my intention, though..."
"That's just how it looks to me. Don't nitpick every little thing."
Clicking his tongue softly, the man stopped scratching his head and waved his hand dismissively in response.
Flame-red hair, a well-trained, lanky body, and naturally sharp, rugged features spoiled by unshaven stubble and a displeased expression. This was Heinkel, one of Priscilla's subordinates. (The father of the "Sword Saint" and son of the "Sword Demon.")
After speaking with Rem, Priscilla had decided to remain in the fortified city. Heinkel and Schult had then come from her previous base to join her. With the addition of that helmeted man-Al-Priscilla's entourage would be complete.
"Of course, Lady Rem is one of us now too!"
"Don't leave out the details on your own, squirt. This woman belongs to Miss Priscilla's rival's side. Far from being one of us, she's a potential enemy."
"What!? Lady Rem, are you our enemy!?"
"Well... I'll reserve judgment on that."
Schult asked in a panic, his round eyes widening, and Rem answered thus. Heinkel's wording was extreme, but Rem's complicated position prevented her from denying it.
She lacked both the awareness and the information to determine which faction her amnesiac self belonged to.
Naturally, the person who could contribute most to establishing Rem's uncertain position was-
"...That person."
The black-haired boy who had left the fortified city to complete his assigned task-Natsuki Subaru.
He was someone who could clarify her uncertain position. Yet Rem honestly could not accept him readily, nor could she fully believe what he said.
The terrifying miasma enveloping Subaru posed a considerable obstacle when judging his words and actions, but Rem no longer thought there was any deceit in them.
Even so, she could not readily accept him because she was uncertain of her own position. Who was she? What was her relationship with Natsuki Subaru and the others? Until she understood those things, neither time nor her stalled footsteps could move forward.
She wanted to face Subaru to discover what sort of person she was, yet to face him, she first needed to establish what sort of person she was. It was like being trapped in a maze with no exit, unable to advance or retreat.
"What's on that screen certainly is troublesome, and you seem quite troubled yourself. The wrinkles between your brows are the best proof."
"That... is true. But whether it concerns the screen or practical matters such as etiquette, I intend to put your advice into practice, Miss Priscilla, but..."
"But what?"
"What you say is always difficult to understand, Miss Priscilla."
Lowering her eyes and suppressing her embarrassment, Rem explained that the cause lay in her own lack of learning. Although she did not state it outright, Priscilla's choice of words was difficult to understand and grasp.
It was a trait similar to Abel's (Vincent's)-no, perhaps identical. However, saying so might displease both Priscilla and Abel, so she deliberately refrained from mentioning it.
"Advice? What advice? Miss Priscilla gave this woman advice?"
"Yes, Lord Heinkel. I know about it! Lady Rem has been granted permission to learn at Lady Priscilla's side! That's why she's looking after Lady Priscilla's daily needs, just like me!"
"Hey, hold on, are you serious, Miss Priscilla? What benefit could that possibly have? You're just training an enemy."
Unaware of the full circumstances, Heinkel strode toward Priscilla in astonishment, his lips turned downward as he pointed at Rem.
"I thought you were keeping her around to run errands... All our faction's information will leak. Deliberately putting yourself at a disadvantage-this childish game needs to..."
"Silence, common fool. You presume to instruct me?"
"Guh...!"
"A man who never learns. Even to discipline you, my hands are not idle. They have pages to turn."
Stroking the cover of the book on her lap, Priscilla informed him of this. Heinkel drew a sharp breath. Wearing an expression as though a sword were pressed against him, he retreated a step or two.
His fear only struck Rem as excessive.
Naturally, Priscilla's combat skills were extraordinary, and her swordsmanship had even repelled one of the empire's mighty warriors known as the "Nine Divine Generals." (She defeated Arakiya, one of the "Nine Divine Generals," who was later rescued by Axe King Todd.)
Rem had witnessed that herself, but-
"I think Mr. Heinkel is no less capable..."
That was ultimately only her own perspective.
But when they took possession of this mansion, Heinkel had disarmed the swordsman representing its owner before the man could do anything, claiming victory without any casualties.
Even if the Imperial Army here attacked him together, they would probably be no match for his polished swordsmanship.
Yet Heinkel's fear seemed an excessive reaction. Still, Rem remained a novice at "being herself," and perhaps the world seen by the strong held things that people like her could not fully understand.
In any event-
"That girl caught my eye on a whim, nothing more. But picking up Schult when he was near starvation in barren lands, and calling out to you as you bled for efforts that would bear no fruit-those were all whims of mine as well."
"Yes! Lady Priscilla's mood was what saved me!"
"You're all right with that...?"
Priscilla's startling declaration as she tapped the book's cover left Rem somewhat surprised and speechless, while Schult happily boasted of his good fortune.
Heinkel also seemed to have recovered from his earlier tension, but his gaze toward Rem retained a measure of wariness. Broadly speaking, his way of looking at things was probably the most correct.
But Rem knew in her heart-Priscilla called them "whims," yet picking up Schult and calling out to Heinkel had both been acts of assistance she had personally extended.
She never called her own charity kindness, yet she understood how to cherish those around her better than people whose mouths were full of righteousness.
Being kept at such a person's side to learn-Rem vaguely felt that this might be the greatest good fortune she had received since losing her memories.
"May I ask why you summoned us, Miss Priscilla? If it was merely to attend to your daily needs, I can think of no reason for Mr. Heinkel to be here as well."
In terms of dividing the work, Rem and Schult alone were enough to handle the various aspects of Priscilla's daily life in the mansion.
Besides, she had become quite accustomed to moving around with a crutch, and mere housework posed little difficulty. Perhaps she had originally been the first to take on such a role.
With the work divided this way, there was no place for Heinkel.
"Come to think of it, what exactly do you do, Mr. Heinkel...? Apart from wielding your sword, drinking, and playing with Schult, I've never seen you do anything else."
"...Let me make this clear. I don't recall ever playing with this squirt."
"Exactly! Lord Heinkel is always concerned about me, so I'm the one who approaches him on my own! Since Lord Heinkel always looks lonely all by himself, I don't want him to feel lonely..."
"Oh, so that's how it is. You're very kind, Mr. Schult."
"Heh heh heh."
Her question answered, Rem gently stroked Schult's unruly hair. Making people want to pet him like this was part of his mysterious charm.
"Damn it, I'm not putting up with this. Miss Priscilla! Hurry up and answer her question. If there's nothing else, I'm going to the tavern..."
"-It should be about time for those who left to arrive at the Demon City."
"Ah..."
"If circumstances change, they are very likely to do so around this time. You had best brace yourselves."
Priscilla's words, spoken with her cheek resting in her hand and her elbow on the armrest, changed the humidity in the air. Heinkel's gaze sharpened, and Rem's heart jolted as well. Only Schult, still having his head stroked by Rem, thanked the traveling party for their efforts with, "Thank you for all your hard work, Lord Al~."
-If circumstances changed, Priscilla had said by way of introduction. However, Subaru and the others had set out with a purpose, and some sort of change was bound to occur regardless.
Yet from what she had just said, she wanted Rem and the others remaining in the city to stay on their guard.
"Acting around this time... Do you have something in mind, Miss Priscilla?"
"No, I have nothing specific to mention. It is merely a rule of thumb drawn from my experience."
"A rule of thumb? What sort...?"
"When great changes occur, they come all at once, making the preceding quiet seem like a lie. Almost as though by prior agreement, like toppling a pile of blocks in one stroke."
"Like the calm before the storm."
Priscilla's words carried an indescribable persuasiveness. They reminded everyone to remain in their best condition at all times and not let their guard down.
Rem took a deep breath, then looked down at her feet again. Neglecting the dangers around her because she was too worried about Subaru and the others would be putting the cart before the horse.
For that matter, upon reconsideration, constantly worrying about Subaru was a thoroughly unpleasant state of affairs.
"Whether he's here or not, he's a troublesome person..."
"Lady Rem? Are you all right? Your face looks very red."
"I'm fine. It just welled up a little. Boiling anger."
"Anger isn't good at all! You look prettier when you smile, Lady Rem~!"
Schult waved his hands and feet in a panic, desperately expressing his thoughts. Rem smiled faintly. Meanwhile, Heinkel took Priscilla's warning seriously.
"Miss Priscilla, if that's all, I'm leaving."
"As you wish. Whether you drown yourself in alcohol or idle your days away is your choice."
"Who's in the mood to drink? I'm going to talk to that wet-behind-the-ears commander (Medium) at the city hall."
After that brief response, Heinkel strode out of the room.
"Stay sharp."
He even said that to Schult before leaving. Watching his back disappear, Rem turned to Priscilla again.
"Then what will you do, Miss Priscilla?"
"Are you concerned about my movements?"
"Well... yes. I'd also like to ask you about what's on the screen, Miss Priscilla. After all, I don't remember anything anymore..."
Whatever the case, Priscilla judged things with knowledge and insight that Rem lacked. To Rem, who possessed so little, those were precious resources for deciding what to choose. At Rem's words, which were extraordinarily rude in a certain sense, Priscilla chuckled.
"Heh. You have no intention of being a mindless doll. Otherwise, there would be no point in keeping you at my side."
"Miss Priscilla?"
"If you seek an answer about our defenses, leave the preparations to that common fool. That 'general' and the Shudraq people are quite capable as well."
"If it concerns what's on the screen, you should ask that person instead. After all, he has piqued my interest as well."
"In that case, I shall..."
"Lady Priscilla, you're going to...?"
Rem held her breath slightly, waiting for her to finish. At some point, Schult had also clenched his fists expectantly beside her, awaiting his mistress's answer. Under their gazes, Priscilla narrowed her almond-shaped eyes.
"-Take a bath. With flower petals and incense."
"...Huh!"
"What? Do not make me repeat myself. I wish to bathe. Make haste and prepare the bath."
She waved a hand, urging the two servants along. Rem was utterly taken aback by the abrupt order, but Schult saluted solemnly.
"Understood! I'll go run the hot water right away~!"
After answering spiritedly, he promptly dashed out of the room. Rem watched him leave in a daze, and Priscilla spoke as she continued turning the pages of her book.
"Rem, are you not going? Leave it to Schult alone, and a great deal of hot water will go to waste."
"...I'll go help Master Schult. But may I ask what you're thinking?"
"Your suspicious nature speaks to the strength of your preconceptions. Do you take me for an observer of the world who can freely control every event?"
"I-I didn't mean anything that extreme..."
Her reasoning was clear and orderly, weakening the force of Rem's questioning. Priscilla scoffed and continued:
"Listen well. Everything in this world exists for my convenience."
"However, that does not mean everything obeys my commands, such as that story-telling canopy in the sky. That would be far too dull, and it is not what I desire."
"Having everything go as you wish is dull?"
"If everything that happened went as one wished, what meaning would there be in greeting tomorrow? Rem, do you desire a world where everything was already over from the moment you were born?"
Asked this, Rem closed her mouth and fell silent. Her words were still difficult to understand, but Rem could just about grasp their meaning. Living every day with everything going one's way meant encountering nothing new or unknown. And that was not what Priscilla wanted.
But-
"For me, when nothing goes my way, that's a luxury to reject."
Having lost her past, Rem longed to escape her present useless state. She suffered because not a single thing went as she wished, so she could not understand Priscilla's attitude of enjoying things not going her way. Even if that made her a boring girl in Priscilla's eyes.
"I do not expect you to become like me, nor will I demand you seek the same things. Be yourself as freely as you please."
Yet Rem, who had braced herself so grimly before speaking, received an unexpectedly gentle response.
Priscilla looked at her surprised face with the gaze she might give a dog she tended herself. In those red eyes, there was neither pity nor a condescending appraisal-only a faint, almost imperceptible protectiveness.
In her own way, she was giving this girl who had lost everything a place to stand firm. Rem could not say what it was, but she could feel it.
"-The world is beautiful simply by existing."
Rem sensed the utterly sincere sentiment contained in that quiet murmur. Once the thought surfaced, she dismissed it as foolish.
Because if those truly were her unreserved, heartfelt words, their scope was far too vast. It would mean Priscilla loved and cherished the immense entirety of creation.
"Valuing and nurturing things is the exact opposite of the impression you give, Lady Priscilla..."
"What did you say?"
"No, nothing... Yes."
Rem slowly shook her head, the knot in her heart easing a little. Though she had not figured everything out, the feeling of dark clouds hanging overhead had disappeared.
Yes, just as Rem's self-analysis reached a stopping point-
"Waaaah~! This is terrible! The hot water, the hot water's overflowing! I-I'm going to drown~!!"
Schult's alarming scream came from the bathroom. Just as expected, Rem raised her head. Her eyes met Priscilla's, who commanded, "Go," with a gesture of her pale chin.
"I won't act according to your wishes, Lady Priscilla."
"But you cannot ignore Schult's cries, either. In that case, victory is mine."
She was not blindly obedient. But Rem's resistance quickly dissipated. If she continued arguing, Schult's life would be in danger.
"Ugh~ I failed again... I'm so useless..."
Schult walked listlessly down the corridor, shaking his head of unruly pink hair. His little head was filled with sorrow over his own incompetence.
Young as he was, Schult had already decided to serve this one mistress for his entire life. Born in a poor village, he had been driven out because the heavy taxes that year forced his family to reduce the number of mouths to feed, and he should have starved to death by the roadside. As he ate mud in hunger and thirst for the last meal of his life, what saved him was the dazzling sun passing by-saved by a way of living that seemed ready to burn everything in the world to ash, Schult had become who he was today. Thus, he had decided to devote everything he possessed, and everything he would ever possess, to his savior.
But-
"I hate how I'm no use at all..."
He sighed deeply, and even that exhalation revealed that his lung capacity was weaker than most people's. He had not even finished the bath preparations he had been ordered to make earlier, merely bustling about and making a mess of things. He had only been serving Priscilla for a short time, yet he had already burdened Rem, whose legs were impaired. It was truly shameful.
"Even though Lady Priscilla and Master Al both told me I don't need to rush to change..."
The comfort offered by his gentle mistress and the broad-minded Al made him happy. But he hated himself for being unable to repay them.
In that respect, Schult felt deeply grateful to Heinkel, who treated him differently from those two. He learned sword practice from Al, while Heinkel corrected his methods. Thanks to them, he felt that the muscles in his arms had become a little firmer than before.
"Rather than Master Al's method of practicing for one day and resting for five, Master Heinkel's method of keeping at it every day suits me better... But I have to keep that a secret from Master Al."
At any rate, seeing signs of growth had made him a little carried away, leading to the disastrous hot-water incident just now. Schult reflected deeply on that. Right now, Rem was probably helping Priscilla wash herself in the freshly refilled bath. He increasingly felt that Rem was someone worthy of respect who could do anything well.
"Oh? You look rather unhappy, Mr. Butler. Could something be troubling you?"
Flop (the merchant fellow, Vincent's future brother-in-law, Medium's older brother, and Subaru's ally in Guaral) came along just then.
"Huh!? A-amazing! You could tell, Master Flop!?"
"Yes, of course! After all, most people have worries! Even my little sister, who looks like she doesn't have a care in the world, has them!"
Flop's cheerful laughter lifted Schult's spirits as well. Just as Priscilla was like the sun, bringing brightness to those around her, many flowers surely bloomed around Flop.
"You're like a prince in a flower field."
"Hahaha, calling me a prince is too much. I'm just an ordinary traveling merchant! So, Mr. Butler, what's troubling you? Would you like to tell me?"
"I want to work harder for Lady Priscilla, but it isn't going very well. How did you become as wonderful as you are now, Master Flop?"
"Oh, I see. How I became who I am today... That's quite philosophical!"
"Philosophical... Is it...?"
"I more or less have similar thoughts myself. That's why I'm also working tirelessly to achieve my grand goal. The road is very difficult, but I don't want to give up."
"Please don't give up! Ah! But could you tell me a little more specifically? How are you working at it, Master Flop?"
"Well, let's see, I've thought about a lot of things... But instead of talking about me, let's use my sister as an example. My lively little sister, who's taller than me and very strong."
"Ooh-!"
Flop reached upward to indicate her height, because the person he was talking about was that tall. Schult had yet to meet the sister he spoke of so happily. By the time Priscilla summoned him to Guaral, Flop's sister had already left with Subaru and the others.
"I want to become strong like your little sister too, Master Flop...!"
"Medium would certainly be happy to hear you say that. No, she might get embarrassed. Not many people hold her up as an example, after all. I look forward to seeing her reaction."
Schult clenched his fists, and Flop smiled in encouragement.
But suddenly-
"The s-sky!? Um, saying that out of nowhere, I have no idea..."
What was happening-that was what Schult had meant to say, but his remaining words were cut short. Not by Flop, however, but by something else.
"-"
His eyes darting about at Flop's words, Schult looked up at the sky and noticed it too. He saw a whole flock of threats approaching the city from far off in the sky.
"-They're flying dragons."
Yes, Flop's voice, certain as it was, sounded so tense that it hardly seemed like his own.
-As ill luck would have it, this was exactly when the "Great Disaster" emerged from the ground in the distance.