Then, Wardes removed Louise’s black mantle and replaced it with a white one, that was also borrowed from Albion's royal family. Only brides were allowed to wear it, as it was the mantle of a virgin.
However, even while being dressed up by Wardes' hands, Louise was still unresponsive. But Wardes understood Louise's mood as a sign of her affirmative will.
Wardes and Louise stood up in front of Wales, who was standing below the image of the Founder Brimir, wearing his official uniform. Wardes, who himself was wearing his usual clothes and a magical mantle, bowed his head.
“Well then, let's start the ceremony.”
The Prince’s voice reached Louise's ears. However, it sounded like a weak sound of a distant bell. Louise’s mind was still lost in the fog of her own thoughts.
“Bridegroom, Viscount Jean-Jacques Francis de Wardes. Do you take this girl as your wife, and swear to respect and love her in the name of the Founder Brimir?”
Wardes nodded solemnly and grasped the cane with his left hand, holding it out in front of his chest.
“I swear.”
Wales looked at Louise and smiled encouragingly.
“Bride, the third daughter of the Duke of La Vallière, Louise Françoise le Blanc de La Vallière…”
Wales read the oath in a clear voice.
Just then, Louise noticed that she was in the middle of a wedding ceremony. Her partner – reliable Wardes, for whom she once yearned. A marriage arranged by their fathers. Only now was her childish, absent-minded, distant future starting to turn into reality.
It is not like I hate Wardes. Maybe I even like him. But if it is so, why do I feel such pain? Why do I feel so sad?
Is it because I saw a kingdom turning into ruins? Or is it because I faced a prince who deserted his love and hopes, in order to die?
It’s not that. Though those are sad events that hurt, there wouldn’t be such a cloud of sadness hanging on my mind just because of that.
It was a deep, melancholic cloud, which was hard to bear.
Louise suddenly remembered the expression on Saito’s face when she said “marriage” to him.
Why did I say such a thing to him?
It is because I wanted to be stopped.
By whom?
Because I wanted Saito to stop me.
Why?
Louise started to blush once thinking about the reason. Just like thinking about the reason why the previous night she, though in deep sorrow, so easily jumped into Saito's chest, whom she accidentally met in the corridor.
But are those feelings true ones? I don’t know. But isn’t it worth it to try to find out?
After all, no matter how excited or sad she had been, she never jumped into a man’s chest before.
Meanwhile…
On the warship Eagle deck.
Saito, who was depressingly leaning against the edge of the gunwale, began to lose focus on everything around him.
“Mmm?”
“What is it, partner?”
Saito's view grew dim. Just like in the heat haze of midsummer, the view in his left eye started swinging.
“My eyes are acting strange.”
“It’s because you are tired.”
Derflinger said, pretending not to know the real reason.
“Bride?”
Wales looked at her direction. Louise looked up panicking.
She had the expression of a person who didn’t know what she was doing there at all. Louise was puzzled. What should she do? What should she do at times like this? No one taught her that. Only Louise’s familiar, who was leaving the ground at the moment, might know the answer.
“Are you nervous? That’s alright. It’s your first time, it is normal to be nervous.”
Wales smiled, while talking.
“Oh dear, we still have to hold to the etiquette. Doing this would have meaning only if we are to follow etiquette. Then, let me repeat. Do you take this man as your husband, and swear to respect and love him in the name of the Founder Brimir…”
Louise realized. She shouldn’t hesitate with the answer, waiting for someone to tell her what to do.
She had to make decisions for herself.
Determined Louise took a deep, deep breath.
And, before Wales finished his words, Louise shook her head.
“Bride?”
“Louise?”
Two people suspiciously looked into Louise’s face. She looked at Wardes with a sad expression on her face and once again shook her head.
“By all means, Louise. Are you feeling poorly?”
“No, that’s not it. I am sorry…”
“If today is bad, then another time…”
“That’s not it, that’s not it. I’m sorry Wardes, I cannot marry you.”
Wales looked doubtful at the sudden change of events.
“Bride, is this marriage not what you want?”
“Yes, that’s how it is. I want to apologize to both of you, for my rudeness. It was a painful decision to make, but I do not want to marry.”
An angry red blush quickly spread on Wardes face. Wales turned to him and said in an embarrassed, doubtful and regretful voice.
“Viscount, I am terribly sorry, but the bride doesn’t wish for this ceremony to continue.”
However, Wardes didn’t pay any attention to Wales, and took Louise's hand.
“…You are just nervous. Dear Louise. You cannot be seriously refusing my offer.”
“I'm sorry, Wardes. I yearned for you. Maybe… maybe even loved you once. However, it is different now.”
Then, Wardes gripped Louise’s shoulder. The expression in his eyes changed. Gone was the usual kindness from his face, replaced with the chilly coldness of a reptile.
Wardes shouted in a feverish tone.
“The world, Louise! I will rule the world! You are necessary for that!”
Frightened by the sudden change in Wardes, Louise kept on shaking her head.
“…I, I am not needed for that.”
Wardes extended both his hands, drawing Louise closer.
“You are necessary for me! Your ability! Your power!”
This Wardes was frightening Louise more and more. Not even in her wildest dreams did she imagine the gentle Wardes frowning or shouting like this. Louise tried to turn away.
“Louise, have you forgotten what I once told you! You are not inferior to even the Founder Brimir, you will grow up as an excellent mage some day! You just do not know about it yet! That talent!”
“Wardes, you…”
Louise’s voice was trembling with fear. It was not the Wardes that Louise knew. What had changed him into such a person?
On the warship Eagle, Saito rubbed his eyes again.
“What is it, partner?”
“My left eye is really acting strange.”
“That’s because you are tired.”
However, the view of Saito's left eye was getting distorted more and more.
“Uwaa! I can see something!”
Saito shouted. That was really someone’s view.
Saito's left and right eye felt like completely separate parts.
“I can see…”
“What can you see, partner?”
“Maybe, this is Louise’s view.” Saito said.
Now he recalled what Louise said some time age. “A familiar is the eyes and ears of its master, that’s their ability.”
However, Louise said she couldn't see anything through my eyes... It must be, there must be cases when the rules are reversed.
But why can I see Louise’s view all of sudden?
Saito looked at his left hand. The rune carved there was shining brightly, even though he wasn’t holding any weapon. Indeed, his guess must be correct.
This was his ability. Truly, it must be another ability of the legendary familiar Gandálfr.
Let’s see, I guess that’s what Louise is seeing with her left eye then? While thinking so, Saito’s natural curiosity took the lead.