Béatrice (ベアトリーチェ, Beatorīche), more commonly known by the nickname Riche (リーチェ, Rīche), is a supporting character from Jun Mochizuki's The Case Study of Vanitas. As a Dhampir, Riche belongs in neither human nor Vampire society. And so, she makes her living off working as an information broker alongside her coworkers and brethren, Dante and Johann. Occasionally she will sell information regarding curse-bearers to Vanitas and Noé, aiding in their quest to find and cure every curse-bearer they can.
This article contains plot and/or ending details for The Case Study of Vanitas.
Read at your own risk.
Appearance[]
Riche appears as a young woman with circle-lenses glasses and wears same uniform with Dante and Johann, making her appearance look rather masculine for her era, more like a working woman in modern day. Her hair is short and tied back with a light ribbon.
Personality[]
Riche is a very scholarly and passionate woman, who often gets carried away talking about what interests her. She is also quick to apologize after sharing her knowledge, as she is self-conscious of her habit to overshare and ramble. She can be very competitive with her fellow information-brokers, but also cares for others deeply.
History[]
Coming Soon!
Plot[]
Parisian Excursion Arc[]
Riche running from Berneux
Riche volunteered to tail a curse-bearer, Thomas Berneux, in an attempt to help Dante but instead was lured into an abandoned area and attacked by him until Vanitas and Noé intervened. When her rescuers were attacked by Jeanne, she remained in the area to observe the battle and was later joined by Dante and Johann.
Hunters of the Dark Arc[]
While chasing down a lead on a curse-bearer who had entered Paris, Dante, Johann, and Riche found said curse-bearer in the middle of being abducted. Riche attempted to stop the kidnapper, causing Dante and Johann to be drawn into the conflict as well. The three suffered injuries but managed to snatch a button containing the crest of the Chasseurs from the kidnapper, which they gave to Vanitas. In an attempt to find more information, the trio led Vanitas and Noé to the catacombs beneath Paris where Riche enthusiastically displayed a remarkable amount of knowledge to Noé, much to her later embarrassment.
Powers and Abilities[]
- Enhanced Speed, Skill and Endurance - Due to her vampiric parentage, Riche has an elevated physical prowess.
Relationships[]
Dante[]
Riche and Dante consider each other as family, and are fellow information brokers. The two of them have somewhat of a rivalry most of the time, and they're always bickering very much like siblings — well shown when Dante's primary reaction to Noé stopping Riche from slipping is annoyance at her for possibly ruining his chance at obtaining an influential customer.[1] He often calls her "runt" and can be jealous of how easily she can speak to others, and Riche insults him similarly. But, as shown by how Dante leaped in to save Riche from a Chasseur trying to kidnap her,[2] he does truly care for her safety and wellbeing, enough to risk his life for her. Although Dante sometimes treats Riche as a nuisance, he believes in her ability and trusts her to chase after suspects and to accompany him while chasing after leads.[3]
Johann[]
Johann worried about Riche.
Johann is very protective of Riche and hurries after her when he believes she may be engaged in something dangerous. This is a cause of dispute between him and Dante, due to Dante's belief that she can take care of herself clashing with Johann's overprotectivness. Johann also takes issue when Noé catches Riche in the catacombs.
Noé Archiviste[]
Riche is easily embarrassed around Noé, causing Dante to accuse her of having "bedroom eyes" around him, a claim which she vehemently denies to be true. Otherwise, she is polite to him and unafraid to share her knowledge about many things, especially the catacombs.
Gallery[]
Quotes[]
Coming Soon!
Appearances[]
- Mémoire 3: Jeanne — The Hellfire Witch (First Appearance)
- Mémoire 4: Femme Fatale — Love
- Mémoire 13: Glissando — Glissando
- Mémoire 14: Catacombes — Where the Dead Sleep
- Mémoire 28: Dal Segno — Question Mark (Mentioned only)
- Mémoire 51: Tempest — A Silent Scream
- Extra: The Case Study of Vanitash!!!! —Expanded Edition— (Non-Canon)
- Mémoire 55.5: Après la pluie — His Wish (Part Two)
- Mémoire 56: Faire un gâteau — Bittersweet*
- Mémoire 58: Observation — The Darkness in Between (Mentioned only)
- Mémoire 61: Jeu de paume — Court Tennis (Part One)
- Mémoire 61.5: Jeu de paume — Court Tennis (Part Two)
- Mémoire 62: Bourdonnement — Wingbeats of Scattered Thought (Part One)
- Mémoire 62.5: Bourdonnement — Wingbeats of Scattered Thought (Part Two)
- Mémoire 2: Noé In the City of Flowers
- Mémoire 3: Archiviste -Fangs That Lay Bare Blood-
- Mémoire 8: Catacombes -Where Death Slumbers-
- Mémoire 23: Pleuvoir -Tears like Rain-
- Mémoire 24: Après la pluie -His Wish-
(*) - Denotes that the character did not appear physically, but as a part of another character's memories.
Trivia[]
- It is revealed in an installment of Vanitashu no Karute that Riche's real name is "Béatrice." This may possibly derive from Beatrice Portinari,[4] the first love of Dante Alighieri—who may be the source behind the name of her brethren and colleague Dante—and fictionalized as one of the guides in his famous narrative poem the Divine Comedy.[5] However, "Riche" is not in truth a commonly used diminutive of "Beatrice" and had been applied liberally by Mochizuki, based on the true common nickname of "Biche."
- In the same installment of Vanitashu no Karute, it is revealed that Riche is a reference to the character Beatrice Ushiromiya from Umineko no Naku Koro ni, and Mochizuki only barely refrained from giving her the same nickname of "Beato."
- In the French publication of The Case Study of Vanitas, Riche's name is instead rendered as "Trix," another commonly used diminutive of "Béatrice," to avoid confusion caused by the dissonance in language.