"It seems it's not your body that's injured, but your brain."
Seeing this, Betty slightly lifted her chin and cast a look of disdain toward Subaru. "Also, that seat in front of you belongs to Roswaal, so don't you go sitting there, you mere mortal."
Subaru, who had been wondering whether the head seat belonged to Emilia or Roswaal, suddenly understood.
She turned to face the girl who, despite her sharp tongue, had genuinely helped her, and asked sincerely, "Then, may I ask, where would be appropriate for me to sit?"
"Hmph."
Betty crossed her arms and walked toward a seat next to the head of the table. "You can sit next to Betty."
Subaru was about to thank her, but Betty cut her off, "If you're thinking of saying anything thankful, don't bother. This is just repaying the favor of absorbing your mana earlier, so don't get ahead of yourself and imagine anything else."
This scene made Tsukasa, sitting at the head of the table, unable to hold back his laughter. He sat with one leg crossed over the other and laughed heartily.
"Interesting. I didn't expect there would be a time when you'd be so stumped."
Subaru was about to retort but could only sigh helplessly and walk over to the seat Betty had designated to sit down.
At this moment, the twins pushed a food cart out slowly from the kitchen.
"Excuse me, guest, serving your meal."
"Excuse me, guest, serving your meal and tea."
Rem placed the salad, bread, and other traditional breakfast items on the table, while Ram efficiently poured steaming hot black tea for each seat.
The tempting aroma made Subaru suddenly remember—she hadn't eaten a proper meal in almost a day.
Not far away, Tsukasa stared at the breakfast portion belonging to Roswaal, his eyes sparkling.
Subaru helplessly covered her forehead and walked over, asking, "Tsukasa, can you taste this food?"
"No."
After receiving a definitive answer, Subaru pointed to the empty seat next to her. "Then why don't you come over and sit?"
"Got it."
Tsukasa drawled, reluctantly floating over to the seat beside Subaru to sit down with one leg crossed over the other.
Just as Subaru was about to pick up her utensils, she suddenly realized something, her movements freezing in mid-air,
"Shouldn't we wait for Roswaal and Lia to arrive before we start?"
This made Betty, sitting next to her, unable to help but cover her forehead. "If you know that, then put down the utensils, idiot."
It seemed that she would have to endure a little longer. Smelling the tempting aroma of the food, Subaru's appetite grew, so she could only try to distract herself to offset her rising hunger.
She turned to Tsukasa. "Tsukasa, when will you be able to have a physical form?"
Tsukasa, who was bored and playing with a napkin, thought for a moment and said, "Probably when you have the ability to protect yourself?"
"Wh—what?!" Subaru's cheeks suddenly flushed red. "My, ability to protect myself?"
"That's right."
Seeing her suddenly blushing face, Tsukasa looked confused.
He had originally been referring to a general timeframe, not knowing that Subaru had completely misunderstood the direction.
Subaru lowered her head, her voice soft. "Then... after you have a physical form, I can cook dishes for you. Although they might not taste very good, I hope you can help me taste-test them."
Tsukasa nodded. "Then I shall look forward to it."
Just as Subaru was planning to find some topics to pass the time, a cheerful, almost exaggerated singing voice suddenly broke the silence of the dining room.
"Aha... is there... any good... things... hmm? Good things~ indeed~"
A slender figure appeared at the doorway. The person who had arrived was not particularly tall, only slightly taller than Subaru, with deep blue hair that reached almost to his waist.
His build was so slender it was almost frail, and paired with his sickly pale skin, he should have been a gloomy-looking handsome man—if one ignored his shocking attire.
"Wait... what is this outfit?" Tsukasa widened his eyes, a rare sight, and even forgot to keep his leg crossed.
"Is it popular for rich people to hire clowns for entertainment before eating now?"
Subaru's expression was identical to Tsukasa's.
The person before them was not only wearing bizarre clothes with clashing colors to the extreme, but his face was also painted with standard clown makeup, looking as if he had walked onto the wrong set from a circus.
Betty watched their shocked expressions, a smile of successful mischief curling at the corners of her lips. "Shocking, isn't it? Everyone who sees him for the first time has this reaction."
Subaru lowered her voice. "We are companions now, right? Quickly tell me, who exactly is this?"
Betty turned her head away awkwardly. "Since you've asked so earnestly... He is the master of this mansion, Roswaal."
"What?" Subaru almost screamed.
At this moment, the clown at the door, Roswaal, spoke in his characteristic, melodramatic tone, "Oh... my~ Beatrice is actually dining here, what a~ surprise. After so long, are you... finally willing to have breakfast with me? This is truly delightful~"
"Having the idiot next to me is enough for those with a bad brain." Betty interrupted him mercilessly, and then her gaze looked expectantly behind Roswaal.
Emilia, who had changed into a dress, walked slowly into the dining room.
"Brother!"
Betty sprang up from her seat, and in the unbelievable gaze of Subaru and Tsukasa, she lifted her skirt and ran over lightly. The smile appearing on her face at this moment was like a blooming flower, and that expression overflowing with happiness made it impossible to connect her with the sharp-tongued girl of the daily routine.
"This contrast is too big." Tsukasa slumped in his chair, sighing listlessly.
At this moment, a small paw poked out from Emilia's shoulder. "Yo, Betty, haven't seen you in four days, have you been a well-behaved lady?"
Subaru tried hard to connect the words "sharp-tongued" and "dignified lady" in her mind, but found they were simply incomparable.
At this moment, Betty happily reached out her hand. "I've been waiting for you to come back every day. We'll be together all day today, okay?"
"No problem."
Puck leaped lightly onto her palm. "It's been a long time since we've done this, let's spend today leisurely."
"That's great."
Betty hugged Puck affectionately, even spinning around in excitement. That innocent and lively appearance was like a different person compared to before.
"Is this really the same person?"