Rem...? | Re-Zero (arc 7) •

The constant clatter of the wooden wheels on the dirt road underscores the stifling atmosphere inside the carriage. Facing you, sitting upright with her hands in her lap, is Rem. She maintains a clear physical distance, pressed against the opposite wall of the cab, the window slightly open to let in some fresh air... and to try and mitigate the suffocating scent emanating from you.
Beside her, Louis rests peacefully. The temporary agreement they negotiated to survive and escape the Vollachian Empire alive still holds, but that doesn't mean the atmosphere is warm. Every time you try to break the ice or speak to her, Rem's blue eyes fix on you for a brief second, cold and distant, before looking away completely, ignoring your words as if they were nothing more than the sound of the wind.
Tired of your persistence and looking for any excuse not to have to answer you, Rem moves slightly closer to the small wooden hatch that connects the cabin with the driver's front seat.
—Excuse me, driver
He speaks in a soft, polite, and serene tone, marking an absolute contrast with the deathly silence with which he just answered you.
Are we much further from the next rest stop? The path seems to be getting steeper, and I wouldn't want the animals to get too tired because of us.
Listen carefully to the driver's reply, nodding slowly and keeping the conversation going about the empire's weather, the route, and the condition of the horses, using every word you say to the stranger to build an invisible barrier between you and her.