I opened my eyes, greeted by the gentle sunlight filtering through thin drapes and the luxurious feel of silk sheets against my skin. The scent of incense and cleanliness replaced the smell of smoke and gunpowder.
Standing before me were two maids with identical features, but with hair and eye colors that differed, one pink, the other blue. Their appearance was perfectly symmetrical, their expression completely devoid of warmth.
Blue Twin : "My sister, look. Our guest has finally woken up."
Pink Twin : "Yes, my sister. And he woke up with that lewd gaze and that heavy breathing which fouls the air of the room."
I jolted and sat up abruptly, my muscles protesting after the burns of the fight.
Me: (I was taken aback, anger and confusion rising.) "Wh...? Who dares to insult someone who just brushed with death and saved your mistress from a psychopath obsessed with entrails!?"
The two twins began to stare at me with their mismatched eyes, as if I were a rabid dog that had just peed on the carpet. Strangely, that icy attitude helped me calm down. It was their absolute tranquility that brought me ack to reality.
Pink Twin (Ram): (Her tone was dry, full of superiority.) "Our guest is far too loud. His manners are insufferably vulgar."
Blue Twin (Rem): (She nodded slightly, her voice monotone.) "Yes, my sister. And with his perverse thoughts. I can sense the chaos he emits. He is unworthy of breathing the same air as Emilia-sama."
I took a deep breath, determined to end this absurd conversation and get information.
Me: (I steadied my voice.) "Very well. I on't know what's going on or how I got here, but let's end this gossiping. Let's get straight to the point."
The two twins looked at me with a mix of curiosity (hidden) and amusement (barely visible), as if they had found a new insect for their collection.

Me: "My name is Trizz, and I suppose I owe my survival to my Pride. Now, ladies?"
Pink Twin (Ram): (She made a slight bow, an air of boredom on her face.) "I am Ram."
Blue Twin (Rem): (She made the same bow, with clinical politeness.) "I am Rem. And we are both the maids of this manor."
Rem and Ram (Together, in perfect sync): "And you are now our guest, Trizz-sama."
Me: "Thank you. And please, just call me Trizz in private. The word "sama" is really too much for me."
They nodded in synchronized agreement, the subtle disagreement visible in their eyes. Then, they continued to talk, giving me information about the mansion without ever uttering Roswaal's name. Thanks to my vague memories of the universe, I more or less guessed that this was where I was meant to end up. They left simple clothes (a grey shirt and black pants) on the bed and exited.
My old clothes had been burned in the fight against Elsa, reminding me of the violence of the last time loop. The phantom pain of the explosion's burn was still there.
Once ready, I opened the door and stepped into a magnificent, endless corridor, with thick carpets and ornate walls. The architecture was strange, almost labyrinthine.
I opened a door at random, searching for an exit or news of Subaru. Behind it, I discovered a little girl sitting on a chair, reading a black book with infinite pages. Her eyes were like iridescent butterflies, and a shiver ran down my spine. I knew immediately that she was not human "but where had I seen her before?".
She stopped reading. Her gaze settled on me with an annoyed expression that didn't fit her childlike appearance.
??? : (Her voice was that of a child, but the tone was ancient and haughty.) "I suppose Betty is quite annoyed that idiots are entering her forbidden library without permission, I suppose."
Me: (I bowed slightly.) "Alright, sorry to bother you... But wait, have you seen Subaru? The other young man you might have crossed paths with?"
Betty: "The other idiot? Yes. I took some of his mana and he fell asleep. He was far too noisy. He's now sleeping deeply in a room like a rabid dog that's been anesthetized."
This little girl frightened me. She spoke of draining mana as if it were drinking a glass of water. I started backing away, feeling vulnerable.
Betty: (She blinked, her butterfly gaze immobilizing me.) "Stop, human. I need to draw some of your mana to see if you represent a danger to the mansion."
My fear doubled. I stopped, resigned to my fate. She approached. Her small hand reached toward my stomach. The contact wasn't direct, but a sharp pain spread through my body, as if a needle were sucking out my life force. The pain was intense. I backed away to avoid physical contact and glared at her, my determination overriding the panic.
Betty: (She pulled her hand back abruptly.) "I see you have more mana than the other idiot... I suppose. That's strange..."
Her already wide eyes widened even more, with a confused and almost alarmed expression.
Betty: "Have you ever learned magic, human? Your reservoir is... strangely resistant and pure, I suppose."
Me: (I clenched my teeth, the pain contorting my face.) "N... no. And stop calling me 'human'. My name is Trizz."
Betty: (She crossed her arms, her irritation returning.) "Don't give me orders, human, hein? Get out of Betty's library, now, public trash."
I obeyed and left the room. I continued walking down the corridor, exhausted and with a terrible, dull ache throughout my body. I knew now that she had taken some of my strength, but also that I had resisted.
NOTE: Trizz's mana is very pure because his Authority uses mana (thus cleansing his mana and making him very resistant to the effects of miasma), and also because he has a slightly higher than average mana pool.
(Jump in Time...)
I continued down the corridor, still exhausted, the dull ache in my body reminding me of my encounter with the strange little girl. It was then that I stumbled upon a silver-haired half-elf with amethyst eyes. It was Emilia. She walked with a certain grace, though she carried an air of slight preoccupation.
Emilia: (She stopped, a gentle smile on her lips.) "Hello. You must be Subaru's friend. Did you sleep well, uh...?"
Me: (I made an effort to look relaxed.) "Trizz. Yes, thank you. And you, uh...?"
I already knew her name, but I wanted to be cautious, to avoid ending up on Puck's bad side or betraying the source of my knowledge. I had to act as if this was the first time we were speaking face-to-face.
Emilia: (She looked surprised but answered politely.) "Emilia, yes, thank you. I'm doing well too."
Me: "Very well, Emilia. I have an urgent question ,Have you seen Subaru? I need to speak to him immediately."
I didn't know how long I had been unconscious, and Subaru was the only one who could tell me what had happened after the explosion, how they had handled Elsa, and what they had told Reinhard. I was lost without his end-of-loop information.
Emilia: (She blinked, then blushed slightly.) "O... yes, he's in his room. He was very worried about when you would wake up. He's just a few doors down."
Me: (A slight relief washed over me. I wanted to know more.) "He's worried? Is he alright? We had quite a finish yesterday..."
Emilia: (Her expression clouded with sadness.) "Yes. He was very brave, both of you were. I told him to be careful. You are... very reckless, even to the point of sacrificing yourself for..."
Me: "Alright. Thank you, Emilia."
I thanked her and continued straight ahead, but I quickly realized I didn't know the room. I got lost like an idiot, the long corridors all looking identical. The silence was heavy, only the sound of my breathing and footsteps could be heard.
"Subaru said 'a few doors down'. I should be able to find it!" I thought, turning left. After rounding a corner and finding myself facing a wall, the fatigue returned".
"No, I'm lost. Béatrice is the only person who can help me find Subaru without going through Rem and Ram," I thought, the cost of mana being cheaper than the judgment of the twins.
I went back down the silent corridor and identified the massive door to the library. I opened the door at random, and of course, I found her sitting at her usual desk.
Betty: (She looked up from her black book, deep annoyance in her voice.) "You again! You are truly annoying, human. Get out of Betty's library immediately, I suppose."
Me: (I stood straight, ignoring the pain and the insult.) "It's Trizz, not "human". Anyway. Leave that alone for now and help me find Subaru."
Betty: (She crossed her small arms, her butterfly gaze indifferent.) "Why should I obey your orders, human, I suppose? You are just a noisy intruder, and you disrupt the order of things here."
I was annoyed, but I quickly thought. Mana didn't work, respect didn't either. I needed an idea to convince her.
Me: (I sketched a sly smile, knowing I had the right card.) "I suppose I'll prepare some cakes for you to thank you for your service. I have a particular talent for red fruit desserts... I suppose."
Her eyes widened for an instant (a quick crack in her stoic facade) before returning to their usual expression. My Re:Zero fan instinct had hit the mark.
Betty: (She sniffed, but there was a note of hesitation in her voice.) "Fine, I accept your bargain, human. You are annoying enough as it is, but never utter Betty's words again, human, I suppose. The library is not a flea market."
She was annoying when she called me "human," an insult that seemed to be her exclusive nickname for trash like me.
Betty: "Close the door on your way out, then open it again. You will find the other idiot (Subaru), I imagine."
Me: (I nodded, relieved to have the information.) "Thank you. Just one last question before I leave."
Betty: "What now, human? Don't abuse Betty's generosity."
Me: "Tell me your name."
She was surprised by my question, as no one cared about her, the moment of silence stretching her small, haughty expression.
Beatrice: (She straightened her back, her small stature not diminishing her arrogance. She pronounced her name solemnly.) "Betty's name is Beatrice. Remember this precious name well, human."
She gave me a mocking look and a smirk before I left the library, closing the door behind me.
A vein throbbed on my forehead. I felt like I was already a victim in this mansion.
END OF CHAPTER ONE: THE MANSION