Wales, who couldn’t stand Wardes' threatening attitude towards Louise any longer, stepped in.
“Viscount…, that’s enough. Behave like a gentlema…”
However, Wardes struck away Wales’ extended hand.
“Shut up!”
Wales stood still, surprised by Wardes words. Wardes clasped Louise’s hand with his and she felt as if it was a snake twining around it.
“Louise! You are necessary for me!”
“I don’t have any talent as a mage.”
“I told you many times already! You are just not aware of your power, Louise!”
Louise tried to shake off Wardes' hand, but the incredible strength with which he was holding on to her prevented it. Grimacing in pain, Louise spoke.
“I would rather die than marry you. I understand now, you never loved me. You only loved a magical power in me that you foolishly think I have. It is cruel, to marry someone just because of such a reason. It’s an insult!”
Louise raged. Wales put a hand on Wardes' shoulder, trying to pull him away, but Wardes pushed Wales instead, who fell on the ground. Wales face turned red, and, after standing up again, he pulled out his cane.
“You, what impoliteness! It’s an insult! Viscount, move your hands away from la Vallière right now! Or else my magical blade will tear you up!”
Only then Wardes' hand finally let Louise go. A kind smile spread on his lips. However, the smile was forced and obviously fake.
“Even if I ask you this way you won’t do it? Louise. My Louise.”
Louise spoke, while trembling from anger.
“No, there is no doubt left that you are not the one whom I would ever marry.”
Wardes looked up at the sky.
“And I made such great efforts, to capture your feelings during this journey…”
Wardes spread his hands widely, while throwing his head backwards.
“Well, it can’t be helped. I guess I will have to give up on this goal.”
“Goal?”
Louise looked doubtful. What was he thinking about?
The corners of Wardes' lips went up, forming an ill looking smile.
“That’s right. There were three goals for me to achieve during this travel. Sadly, I achieved only two of them.”
“Achieve? Two? What are you talking about?” Louise asked, feeling the shivers of uneasiness travel down her spine. Her mind was working at full power, trying to figure out what was happening.
Wardes put out his right hand in front holding up three fingers, and bent his forefinger.
“First one was you, Louise. I had to get you. However, it seems that I won’t be able to accomplish that.”
“Obviously not!”
Wardes smiled, bending his middle finger.
“The second goal, Louise, is in your pocket - Henrietta's letter.”
Louise was startled.
“Wardes, you…”
“And, the third…”
After hearing Wardes saying “Henrietta’s letter”, Wales understood everything, pulled out his cane and started to chant a spell.
However, Wardes had already prepared two complete spells before.
Wardes aimed his wind cane that had started shining and with the tip pierced Wales chest.
“D-damn you…'Reconquista'…”
Blood suddenly gushed out of Wales mouth and Louise screamed.
Wardes muttered while piercing his shining cane deeper into Wales chest.
“The third, is your damned life, Wales.”
With that, Wales fell to the ground.
“A noble! Are you an Albionian noble as well!? Wardes!”
Louise shouted while trembling. Wardes was a traitor.
“That’s right. I am really a member of Albion's noble faction, ‘Reconquista’” Wardes replied in a cold, emotionless voice.
“Why! Why, would you, Tristain nobility, do such thing?”
“We are the first heralds of Halkeginia’s future – a union of nobles that has no national borders. We are borderless.”
Wardes raised the cane again.
“Halkeginia will be reunited into one by our hands, we will restore the Founder Brimir's ‘Sacred Land’ once again.”
“Before... you were not like this before. What changed you so much? Wardes...”
“Years, accidents and destiny. Though it changed me from whom you knew, it didn’t change my nature that you are talking about. And you are talking too much.”
Louise tried to duck when Wardes moved the cane, however his spell still hit her with ease, throwing her to the floor.
“Help...”
Louise’s face turned pale. She tried to stand up, but her legs stopped obeying her.
Wardes threw back his head.
“For this! For this you rejected my offer to rule the world together!”
He started to cast another wind spell. “Breaking Wind”. And Louise was blown away like piece of paper.
“No…Help…”
“Even the smallest bird can’t hear you, it seems like you will have to bow your head in defeat, huh, Louise?”
She was thrown against the wall and left lying on the floor, groaning in pain. Tears started rolling down her face.
She still asked for the help of her familiar that wasn’t there.
“Help me…please…”
Louise repeated the words like chanting a spell. Enjoying himself, Wardes slowly started chanting.
“Lightning Cloud”
“It is regrettable… That your life will be taken by this hand…”
If even Saito’s arm was scorched by this blitz spell, there was no chance of survival if she was hit by it directly.
From shock her breath was rough and her whole body was in pain. Louise, scared like a child, cried
“Saito! Help!”
At that moment, Wardes finished the spell and lowered his cane, aiming towards Louise and...
The wall of the chapel collapsed with a roaring sound, and a strong gust of wind blew in from the outside.
“Damn you…”
Wardes muttered.
After breaking the wall, Saito jumped in with Derflinger in his hand stopped Wardes' cane.
“You…” Saito swung the sword sidewise. Wardes dodged it by jumping back.
Accidentally, Saito saw Louise out of the corner of his eye.
After screaming her last words, Louise had fainted and hadn't moved since.
With raging anger in his eyes, Saito glared at Wardes. Lust for killing was boiling in his body. Saito groaned while biting his lip hard.
“Unforgivable!”
“Why are you here, Gandálfr?” Wardes asked with a cruel smile on his lips.
Not answering, Saito angrily swung the sword. However, the sword only crushed the floor. Wardes flew up high into the air, successfully dodging the attack.
“That’s right, you must have sensed that your master was in danger.”
Wardes crossed his hands while floating next to the Founder Brimir's portrait. Looking confident and self-sure.
“You betrayed Louise!”
Saito shouted, while thrusting the sword forwards. Yet, Wardes flew up, dodged it and landed gracefully on the floor. He moved around like a feather.
“To accomplish a goal, you can’t be selective with the means.”
“Louise believed in you! You were her fiancé… She yearned for you when she was young…”
“Such selfish belief.”
Wardes dodged the sword while floating. Then he swung the cane and fired another spell. Though Saito tried to hold it down with the sword, the spell “Breaking Wind” blew him away.
Saito groaned in pain as he hit the wall. His injured left arm was aching and because of it, he could not move as freely as usual.
“That’s it? Gandálfr. Your movements are too slow. At least try and make it entertaining.”
A cruel smile floated on Wardes' lips.