Re:Lyra-Starting Life in Another World (Re:Reader-Lyra Edition)

Chapter 12: Heads Will Roll

After arriving back at the mansion, even later then last time, Lyra and Subaru had both settled in for the evening. After supper, they were both supposed to be getting their respective tutoring sessions, however, Ram had decided to retire for the night before visiting Subaru, allowing Emilia to take over his evening lesson.

Lyra and Rem had an un-noteworthy time studying together. Rem had once again returned to her cold tone and attitude, leaving Lyra feeling vacant on the inside.

She keeps flipping in-between the two, being herself and being distant with me. The derailment really must not have worked. She knows I'm acting strange, but how can I not? It's not like I can tell her about Return—

Lyra hadn't exactly considered telling anyone about Return By Death. It wasn't like anyone would believe her about it, anyways. Lyra contemplated letting Rem in on her and Subaru's "secret".

I would have to tell her about it probably being Subaru's doing, and that we just don't know yet at this juncture. But I can keep it at that. I won't tell her more than what I need to. She can just ask Subaru if she has any other questions about it, I think he would understand quite a bit at that point.

Around this time, Emilia had just finished helping Subaru study, finishing earlier than when Ram would have, which gave Subaru some extra time to prepare for bedtime.

But in reality, Subaru was trying to focus on staying awake so that he could figure out just exactly what had happened this same night, on the previous loop. He was determined to see the night through.

Lyra, meanwhile, had given a yawn while writing her next line of repeated words on her parchment paper.

I want Rem to trust me. Lyra thought. I just need to find an opportunity to tell her... The sooner, the better—

Rem: Lyra appears to be tired. Perhaps we should wrap up for tonight.

With Rem cutting off her thoughts, instead of fighting it, Lyra decided to put it off and just let Rem retire for the evening. Provided that both herself and Subaru get past tonight...

"Telling her will be my reward." she told herself.

Capping her inkwell and closing the books that she had open, she was surprised to notice that Rem hadn't left yet.

Turning around in her chair, Lyra saw Rem standing by the door, as if she had gone to leave and decided not to. The gaze she had was unlike her normal, cold, formal attitude. This gaze was... predatory.

Lyra felt a chill run up her spine once her and Rem locked eyes.

Rem: Can Lyra answer a few questions?

Swallowing the lump in her throat, Lyra croaked out her response, fear building in her voice from the atmosphere that Rem was emitting.

Lyra: S-sure, Rem. O-of c-course...

Feeling the atmosphere lighten ever so little with her complying answer, Rem poised her question.

Rem: Yesterday, when Lyra helped wash the bathing area, Nee-sama asked you if you had completed the tasks she had set aside for you to complete. How did you know that was the extent of tasks she would want you to complete that day?

Confused by the question, Lyra had an easy answer to it.

Lyra: That's because she told me about them before. She listed them—

Rem: Which brings Rem to her real question. Nee-sama told Rem that you knew your tasks before she had finished listing them when she gave them to you, Lyra.

Gulping, Lyra knew right off the bat that she had messed up. She recalled exactly what she'd done.

...