This volume is where Subaru hits emotional rock bottom. It starts with his negotiation with Duchess Crusch and ends with a renegotiation with her, in the meantime having been defeated, abused, tried to flee with Rem, killed Emilia, met the White Whale of amnesia, learned about negotiations and business manipulation and realized that Puck is much, much more than a fluffy kitten. In parts this book is brutal, really brutal. Interestingly, a scene that's left out of the brilliant anime gives Beatrice a much more vivid and sad existence..... and another clue as to what's really going on? One is left wondering which characters exist within time and which ones are " out of the loop".