“I'm sorry. But I cannot let my fiancée misunderstand.” Wardes said while looking at Louise; her face turned red from embarrassment in an instant.
“What? She's your fiancée!?”
Wardes nodded in response. Kirche took a closer look at Wardes. She did not realize it before, but Wardes' eyes showed no emotion at all. Just like ice.
She then looked at Saito. He looked listless and was talking to his sword rather dejectedly.
Eh? Is he looking like that because I made advances on Louise's fiancé? As she thought about that, Saito suddenly looked cuter. Looking at Saito, she ran towards him and hugged him immediately.
“Actually, I'm here because I'm worried for my beloved!”
Saito gave a bewildered look, but then quickly looked away.
“Liar.”
Is he jealous? Thinking of that, Kirche's passion in her heart burned brightly.
“Cute! So cute! Are you really jealous?”
“I'm not...”
“I'm so sorry for neglecting you. You must be angry, right?” Kirche said while pushing Saito's face into her breasts.
“Please forgive me! I may have looked at other men, but in the end, the only one that I love is you!”
Louise bit her lips, wanting to tell Kirche off. She could not tolerate Kirche for seducing her familiar.
Just then, Wardes gently placed his hands on Louise's shoulder. Wardes looked at Louise lovingly and gave her a smile.
“Viscount...”
Guiche, who was interrogating the ambushers, had just returned.
“Viscount, those ambushers admitted that they were robbers.”
“Hmm.. If they're just robbers, let them go.”
Wardes effortlessly mounted back to the top of his griffin, carrying Louise up with him. He then announced to everyone, “We'll spend the night at La Rochelle, tomorrow we will take the first ship to Albion at the break of dawn.”
Kirche sat behind Saito, sharing the same horse with him. Guiche also mounted back to his horse. As for Tabitha, she was still reading her book on her wind dragon.
In front of them, sandwiched between two cliffs, was the port city La Rochelle, dazzling with lights.
Chapter Five: A Rest Day Before Leaving
Tired from riding all day, they had decided to rest at the fanciest hotel in the city of La Rochelle, the Goddess’s Temple. It was a very fancy place even for a noble. The dining tables and floor were both made from the same marble and the floor was so clean that one could see their own face on it.
Wardes and Louise came back from the pier.
When Wardes sat down he said hesitantly, “The ship for Albion leaves the day after tomorrow.”
“This mission is very urgent...” Louise pointed.
Saito and the rest finally relaxed, knowing tomorrow they could rest.
“I have never been to Albion so I do not know why there is no ship tomorrow.”
Wardes looked at Kirche and answered to her, “Are the moons overlapping tomorrow? If so, then Albion should be closest to La Rochelle”
A worn-out Saito wondered how it might be related to the ebb and flow of the tide. The ebb and flow were regulated by the movement of the moon.
Wardes put the keys on the table, “Let's rest for now, take the keys. Tabitha and Kirche take one room, Guiche and Saito take another.”
Guiche and Saito stared at each other.
Wardes continued, “Louise and I will be sharing a room.”
Saito felt something tug at his heart and he turned towards Wardes.
“It is the obvious arrangement as Louise and I are engaged.”
Louise looked at Wardes in shock and said, “B-but we can't! We're not even married yet!”
Saito nodded energetically, That's right, she shouldn't sleep with him.
But Wardes shook his head and told Louise, “There is something important I have to tell you.”
Wardes and Louise stayed in the best room in the hotel. They wondered who designed the room. There was an enormous four-poster bed with delicate lace hanging from the top. Wardes sat down at the table, opened a bottle of wine and poured himself a cup. He chugged it down and said, “Why don't you sit down and have a cup as well, Louise?”
Louise sat down as well. He poured one for Louise and refilled his own. He then raised his cup and said, “Cheers!” Louise however held hers in her hands and bowed down her head.
Wardes asked, “Did you keep the princess's letter safe?”
Louise patted her pocket and to make sure it was still there, I wonder why it is so important. What is in this letter? Does the prince already have a letter ready? I think I figured out a small part of it. Being Henrietta's childhood friend, I know how she writes her letters.
Wardes looked at Louise with wonder. Then Louise nodded and said, “The letter is still safe. Are you worried that we might not be able to get the letter from the prince of Albion?”
“Yes, I am very worried.” Wardes answered.
Louise arched her lovely eyebrows and said, “Don't worry; it will be fine because I'll always be with you.”
“That's right; if you're here there will definitely be no problems. It was always that way.”
Wardes sounded very distant when he said that.
“Do you still remember the promise of the day when we were at the lake?” Louise asked.
He nodded his head, “In the little boat that was floating in the middle of lake? You would always go there after being scolded by your parents. You were like an abandoned kitten.”
“Really? You remember the weirdest things.”
Wardes replied happily, “Of course I have to remember those things. You were always compared to your sisters in terms of magical power.”
Louise lowered her head embarrassed and he said, “But I think that's wrong. You are worthless and a failure, but...”
“You are so mean!” Louise said angrily.
“You have an incredible power that nobody else has. I know this because I am a different kind of magician.” Wardes finished ignoring what Louise said.
“That's impossible!”
Wardes replied, “But it is possible. For example whenever you use your magic...”
Louise's face turned red and said, “The accident about Saito?”
“Yes, when he picked up the weapon the runes on his left hand began to glow. Those runes are legendary.”
“Legendary?”
“Yes, those runes belong to the legendary familiar Gandálfr. The familiar that once belonged to Founder Brimir.” Wardes' eyes shone with admiration.
Louise asked, “Gandálfr?”
“Not just anyone can control Gandálfr. You have the magic to control him.”
“That's hard to believe.” Louise tilted her head and thought that Wardes was joking around.
Louise shook her head, thinking Wardes was joking. It is true that Saito’s speed increased dramatically when he wielded a weapon, and became extremely strong, but to say he is the legendary familiar is unbelievable. If it is really like that, then something must be wrong. I am after all “Louise the Zero”.
I am always a failure, there is no way I could have the power Wardes mentioned.
“You could become a great mage. Yes, like Founder Brimir, and leave your name in history as a great mage. I believe so.”
Wardes gazed at Louise warmly.
“After this mission, marry me Louise”
“Ah…”
The sudden marriage proposal left Louise speechless.
“I am not satisfied to be just a mage captain of the Magic Knights... I want to become a noble that will move the whole of Halkeginia some day.”
“B-but...”
“But what?”
“I... I am still... still”
“You are not a child anymore, you are 16 years old. You have reached the age when you can decide things. Your father agreed too. So...”