“That's more like it. Louise. Ah, I'm getting so nostalgic, tears are coming out.”
“So how do you guys know each other?”
Saito asked, as Louise closed her eyes in reminiscence before answering.
“I had the pleasure of serving as Princess' playmate back when we were children.”
After that, Louise turned back to Henrietta.
“But, I am deeply moved that Princess would remember such things....... I thought you'd already forgotten about me.”
The princess gave a deep sigh and sat down on the bed.
“How could I forget? During those times, every day was fun. There was nothing at all to worry about.”
There was a profound sadness in her voice.
“Princess?”
Louise looked worried as she peered into Henrietta's face.
“How I envy you. Freedom is such a wonderful thing, Louise Françoise.”
“What are you saying? You're the royal princess, are you not?”
“A princess born in her kingdom is like a bird being raised in a cage. You go here and there on your master's every whim.......”
Henrietta said, looking lonely as she gazed at the moon outside the window. She then held Louise's hands and gave a sweet smile before speaking.
“I... I'm getting married.”
“......You have my congratulations.”
Louise, who somehow felt the sadness in that tone, spoke in a subdued voice.
It was at that moment that Henrietta noticed Saito, who had been sitting on his bundle of straw.
“Oh, forgive me. Was I intruding?”
“Intruding? How would that be?”
“Well, isn't he your lover? Oh no! It seems I was so caught up reminiscing that I didn't realize my blunder!”
“Huh? Lover? That creature?”
“Stop calling me that.”
Saito said with a disappointed voice.
“Princess! That's just my familiar! Don't even joke about it being my lover!”
Louise shook her head wildly, denying Henrietta's words.
“Familiar?”
Henrietta looked at Saito with a blank expression on her face.
“But he looks like a human......”
“I am a human, Princess.”
Saito gave a strained greeting to Henrietta.
And he was even more hurt by how hard Louise had denied they were lovers. Even though that really was the case, it hurt all the same.
He recalled Louise's profile as she gazed at the other young noble during the day.
At any rate...... I'm a familiar. An earthling. Not a noble.
And I want to go home. I want to eat a teriyaki burger. Yeah, and I might even receive an answer at the online dating service. Painful thoughts like these were swirling together into a chain.
Feeling a great weight upon him, he put his hand on the wall. As fast as Saito had become elated, his feelings fell just as soon. What a hectic personality.
“True, true. Oh, Louise Françoise, you may have changed since our younger days, but you are still quite the same.”
“I didn't make it my familiar because I wanted to.”
Louise looked disappointed. Henrietta gave off another sigh.
“Princess, what happened?”
“No, it's nothing. Forgive me, oh, I'm so ashamed of myself. It's not something I should tell you...... but I am just so......”
“Please tell me. What troubles are they that cause Princess, as cheerful as she is, to sigh like this?”
“......No, I cannot tell you. Please forget I said anything. Louise.”
“I will not! Didn't we use to talk about everything? Princess was the one who had called me a friend. Won't you share your worries with your friend?”
After Louise spoke, Henrietta gave off a cheerful-looking smile.
“You've called me a friend, Louise Françoise. That makes me so happy.”
Henrietta nodded her head in determination, and began to talk.
“You must not speak to anyone about what I am about to tell you now.”
After that, she gave a quick glance in Saito's direction.
“Should I step outside?”
Henrietta shook her head.
“A mage and her familiar are as one. I see no reason for you to leave.”
And with a sad tone, Henrietta started talking.
“I am to marry the Emperor of Germania.......”
“Germania, you say?!”
Louise, who hated Germania, spoke out in astonishment.
“That country of barbaric upstarts?!”
“Yes. But it can't be helped. It must be done to solidify our alliance.”
Henrietta explained the political climate of Halkeginia to Louise.
There was an insurrection among the nobles of Albion, and it looked like the Royal Family would soon be overthrown. If the rebels won, then the next thing would be the invasion of Tristain. To defend against this, Tristain was looking to form an alliance with Germania. For the alliance's sake, it was decided that Princess Henrietta would be married into the Germanian Imperial Family.......
“So that's why......”
Louise said with a depressed voice. It was clear from Henrietta's tone that she did not desire this wedding.
“It is alright. Louise, I have long since abandoned the notion of marrying the one whom I love.”
“Princess......”
“Those two-faced Albion nobles do not want Tristain and Germania to become allies. Two arrows are easier to break when they are not tied together.”
Henrietta murmured.
“......Therefore, they have been searching frantically for anything that would interfere with the marriage.”
“And they've found something......”
Saito didn't know anything about the alliance or Albion, but in any case, it seemed like it was something serious. Yup, as big as another Yagoto, Saito thought with a nod.
“Then this is about that thing that could get in the way of Princess' wedding?”
Louise asked, her face looking pale, and Henrietta gave a regretful nod.
“Oh, Founder Brimir... please save this unfortunate princess......”
Henrietta covered her face with her hands, and crumbled on the floor. Saito was a little shocked at the dramatic gesture. He'd never seen anything so grandiose in his life.
“Tell me, please! Princess! Just what is it that could interfere with the princess' wedding?”
Louise, like she had also been infected, rattled off with an agitated look. With both hands still on her face, Henrietta looked like she was in pain as she began muttering.
“......It is a letter that I had written some time ago.”
“A letter?”
“Yes. If those Albion nobles get their hands on it...... they would probably send it forward to the Germanian Imperial Family as soon as they could.”
“What kind of letter could that be?”
“......That I cannot tell you. But if the Germanian Imperial Family were to read it...... they would never forgive me. The marriage would fall through, and with it, the alliance with Tristain. Then Tristain would stand alone against the strength of Albion.”
Louise gave a gasp and seized Henrietta's hands.
“Where would that letter be? The letter that would bring crisis to Tristain!”
Henrietta shook her head.
“It is not with us. The truth of the matter is, it is already in Albion.”
“Albion! But then...! Is it already in the enemy's hands?”
“No...... the one who holds the letter is not with the rebels of Albion. As the conflict between the rebels and his kinsmen unfolded, Prince Wales of the Royal Family......”
“The Prince Wales? The Prince Valiant?”
Henrietta bent back and laid down on the bed.
“Oh, it's a disaster! Sooner or later, Prince Wales will fall captive to the rebels!! And when that happens, the letter will come to light! And everything would be ruined! Ruined! Without an alliance, Tristain would have to take on Albion by itself!”