Carlisle's meeting with Natsuki Subaru and Roswaal took place in the dining room at noon on the second day after their arrival at the Mansion.
Subaru, driven by curiosity about the Border Earl who possessed a long list of titles, had pestered Carlisle with questions early that morning.
Of course, this was merely an excuse the young girl came up with to spend more time with Carlisle.
However, when she asked what kind of person Roswaal was, Carlisle's expression became extremely strange. He hesitated for a long time before finally managing to say only one sentence.
"You'll understand when you meet him."
The Roswaal standing before her had thick clown makeup covering his face, with bizarre colors exaggerating and distorting his features.
He was also wearing a flamboyant clown suit, as though he had just stepped out of a circus performance.
All of his intelligence and natural elegance were completely ruined by the strange makeup and ridiculous attire.
Subaru sat frozen in her chair in the dining room, unsure how she should react.
She looked at Roswaal, then turned to glance at Carlisle, her eyes filled with confusion.
Carlisle simply shrugged, clearly having anticipated this reaction.
"Welcome to my Mansion. You must be Natsuki Subaru, Lady Emilia's benefactor, correct?"
"It is a pleasure to meet you. As the rumors say, you are indeed a beautiful and lively young lady." Roswaal bowed slightly. His tone carried exaggerated flattery, and the clown makeup made his smile appear particularly eerie.
"...Thank you."
Subaru forced out a reply with a stiff smile.
Even though she was being praised by such a handsome man, she felt a strange chill crawl up her spine, as if something unsettling were staring directly at her.
Roswaal seemed completely unaffected by Subaru deliberately avoiding his gaze. He continued smiling at her, his eyes showing a faint and unreadable interest.
His gaze soon shifted toward another person seated at the dining table, and his tone suddenly became overly theatrical.
"Oh? I didn't expect Betty to come out today. I'm so happy. You know, you haven't eaten with me in quite a long time."
That exaggerated tone made Subaru shiver involuntarily. She secretly glanced at Carlisle and noticed that his smile had become extremely strained, clearly finding Roswaal's tone just as unbearable.
Roswaal seemed completely oblivious to their reactions and continued speaking to Carlisle in that hair raising tone.
"As expected of the Perfect Knight, Carlisle. Lady Emilia must have caused you quite a lot of trouble in the Royal Capital."
Carlisle finally could not stop himself from shivering slightly, and his polite smile almost collapsed.
He took a deep breath, trying to keep his voice steady.
"You flatter me, Lord Roswaal."
"It is my duty as a knight."
"And please refrain from calling me by that title."
At that moment, the small figure sitting beside the dining table, Betty, finally spoke.
Her voice was clear and cold, filled with undisguised disgust.
"When will you finally have your head examined?"
"Do not speak to Betty in that disgusting tone. It completely ruins her appetite."
She then added calmly,
"Even if you changed out of that ridiculous outfit, Betty still would not eat with you."
"Betty is only waiting for Brother."
Roswaal placed a hand over his chest and revealed a wounded expression before letting out an exaggerated sigh.
"That truly is too heartbreaking."
"Alas, why are there no people around me who can appreciate true beauty?"
Subaru looked toward Carlisle again, her eyes clearly asking for help.
"I cannot endure much more of this."
Carlisle returned her gaze helplessly and shook his head slightly.
"I cannot do anything either. Just endure it."
Subaru immediately understood what he meant.
"Alright, alright, Natsuki Subaru, there is no need to be so reserved. Everyone here is actually very easy to get along with. There is no need to be so polite."
Roswaal waved his hand casually, his tone light as though he were humming a song.
He pointed toward the petite figure seated at the dining table and made an introduction.
"Carlisle, Natsuki Subaru, this is Betty, the administrator of Forbidden Library."
"You may call her Beatrice."
Subaru looked at Beatrice somewhat awkwardly.
"...Um, please take care of me."
Carlisle also nodded politely.
"It is a pleasure to meet you, Lady Beatrice."
Beatrice glanced at the two of them coldly, her tone filled with obvious disdain.
"Do not introduce Betty to strangers without permission."
"Betty has no interest in stiff knights or little girls like you."
Subaru's gaze settled on Beatrice, and she could not help but admire how adorable she looked.
Beatrice had pale cream colored hair styled into elegant twin drill curls. She wore a delicate ruffled dress, making her look just like a beautifully crafted doll.
However, her expression was as cold as ice, giving people the feeling that she was impossible to approach.
"Is there really not a single normal person in this Mansion?" Subaru muttered quietly to herself, feeling a deep sense of helplessness.
At that moment, Emilia's voice came from the doorway of the dining room.
"Sorry, I'm late."
Her arrival broke the slightly awkward atmosphere inside the dining room.
However, before Subaru could finally relax, Beatrice's reaction made her freeze once again.
"Brother!"
The moment Beatrice saw Emilia, she immediately jumped out of her seat and rushed forward like a joyful little bird.
Emilia seemed to have expected this scene. With a helpless smile, she gently pushed a greyish white kitten toward Beatrice.
"Oh Betty, long time no see. Have you been behaving yourself lately?"
That kitten was Puck.
"Brother?"
All sorts of thoughts suddenly exploded inside Subaru's mind.
"Wait a minute."
"The cat... no, Puck is Emilia's father, right?"
"But this girl is calling Puck her brother?"
"No way. This girl looks so young. Is she already an aunt?"
"Could she also be a Spirit?"
Beatrice noticed Subaru staring at her. While holding Puck in her arms, she spoke with clear displeasure.
"Hey, stop looking at Betty with such rude eyes."
Subaru froze for a moment before she could even respond.
Beatrice then added coldly,
"What?"
"Do you really think Betty is just a child?"
"Betty is already four hundred years old."
"Four four four... four hundred years old!"
Subaru's eyes widened in shock, and her voice unconsciously rose several pitches.
She never would have imagined, nor could she easily believe, that the small girl standing before her was old enough to be her great great grandmother.
"Hahaha, that's right. Betty is a four hundred year old Spirit loli."
"Roswaal, do you want to die?"
"Four hundred years old?"
"And your relationship with the Great Spirit?"
"Could it be..."
Carlisle also revealed a surprised expression as his gaze shifted back and forth between Beatrice and Puck.
Puck lay lazily in Beatrice's arms. Smiling calmly, he answered Carlisle's question.
"That's right, young man."
"Betty and I are both Great Spirits."
...
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