Louise held her breath.
“Then, Princess, the favor that you're asking of me......”
“Impossible! It's impossible, Louise! How could I be so terrible? It's all confusing! When I think about it, I couldn't ask you to do such a dangerous thing as to go to Albion while this conflict between the nobles and the royalists is unfolding!”
“What are you saying? Be it the kettles of hell, or into the jaws of a dragon, if it's for Princess' sake, I'll go anywhere! There is no way the third daughter of the House of la Vallière, Louise Françoise, could overlook such a crisis for Princess and Tristain!”
Louise kneeled down and lowered her head reverently.
“Please leave this matter to me, the one who has captured Fouquet the Crumbling Earth.”
Saito, who had been leaning on his arm against the wall, turned to look at Louise and spoke.
“Hey, wasn't that me?”
“You're my familiar.”
“Woof.”
“A familiar's achievement, is its master's achievement.”
Louise said with perfect confidence.
“And a familiar's mistake?”
“That would be your mistake, wouldn't it?”
Though he felt somewhat cheated, it was useless to object when Louise got into her usual threatening attitude, so Saito just nodded half-heartedly.
“So you will help me? Louise Françoise! You are a dear friend!”
“Of course! Princess!”
Louise grasped Henrietta's hands, and as the former spoke heatedly, the latter gave in and started crying.
“Princess! I, Louise, forever friend of the princess, will be your confidante! Have you forgotten my vow of eternal loyalty?”
“Ah, the loyalty. This loyalty and sincere friendship! I'm deeply moved. I will never forget through life your loyalty and friendship! Louise Françoise!”
Saito opened his mouth gaping, and stared half amazed at the two. It was like a conversation between two people who were getting drunk with their own words. Ah, so this is how it's like for nobles and princesses, it's troublesome, Saito was strangely convinced as he watched.
“Louise. Sorry to bother you while you're reaffirming your friendship and everything.”
“What?”
“Going to Albion in the middle of a war is fine, but what use am I gonna be?”
“I've bought you a sword. You can use that, at least.”
“Yeah. I'll do my best......”
Saito lowered his head gloomily. Come to think of it, they haven't talked about the Legendary Familiar Gandálfr's rune that had appeared on the back of his left hand yet.But even if I say it, it's just going to be a waste, Saito thought.
Legendary or not, she still treats me like a dog.
“Then shall we go to Albion, find the Crown Prince of Wales, and get the letter back, Princess?”
“Yes, that is correct. I feel confident that you, the ones who have caught Fouquet the Crumbling Earth, should be able to accomplish this difficult mission.”
“As you wish. How urgent is this task?”
“I've heard that the nobles of Albion have managed to drive the royalists into a corner of the country. It will just be a matter of time before they are defeated.”
Louise's face looked serious as she bowed to Henrietta.
“Then tomorrow, we shall depart.”
Afterwards, Henrietta turned her gaze towards Saito. Saito's heart skipped a beat. Though Louise was also foolishly lovely and neat, Princess Henrietta was so beautiful that he almost gasped. Her millet-colored hair, trimmed right above her eyebrows, was swimming gracefully. Her blue eyes shone brilliantly like the southern seas.
White skin, on which floated a feeling of purity, a nose like a priceless and finely shaped sculpture.......
Saito stared at Henrietta as if he was in a trance. Louise looked at this with a chilly gaze. It didn't seem like she was in a good mood.
Why are you looking at me like that, Louise? Ah, is it because I'm staring at the princess with admiration? Could you possibly be getting jealous? But weren't you blushing when you saw that noble with the feathered hat? And weren't you completely out of it after that?
It's funny how jealous you're getting, Louise. Saito shook his head.
Rather than your lover, aren't I just your familiar?
Will I never be more than a dog for you?
I'm just your dog, so why are you looking at me like that, Louise? Ah, is it because I am a dog? Is it because someone like me, who's just at the level of a dog, is looking at her? My apologies. Please forgive me for ever being born. Woof.
Saito's head spun for a mere two seconds.
Louise looked away from Saito with a “Hmph”. Saito turned away as well.
Henrietta didn't notice the subtle exchange between Saito and Louise, and she began speaking in a cheerful voice.
“Dependable familiar-san.”
“Yes? You mean me?”
After Henrietta called him dependable, the slumping Saito became happier.
“Naw, that's too much. Just treat me like a dog.”
“Please keep taking care of my most precious friend.”
And then she gently held out her hand. A handshake? he thought, but the back of her hand was turned upwards. What sort of gesture was this?
Louise spoke up with an astonished voice.
“That won't do! Princess! To offer your hand to a familiar!”
“It is alright. This person will be acting for my sake, and without a reward, I won't have his loyalty.”
“Ah......”
“Offering a hand? The way someone does to a dog? Is that how you treat your dogs?”
Saito stooped and lowered his head.
“That's not it. Ooh, this is why you're a dog......, a commoner dog who doesn't know anything. When she offers her hand, it means you can kiss her. That's saying it plainly.”
“That's...how aggressive......”
Saito's mouth opened widely. He'd never thought that he'd be allowed to kiss a princess from another world.
Henrietta smiled sweetly at Saito. His smile appeared business-like to other people, but Saito was thinking 『I'd love to』. To be liked by such a princess wouldn't be half bad, he thought.
Saito grinned deliberately at Louise. Louise muttered under her breath and turned her face away.
Ah, what, so you *are* getting jealous. Just look at yourself. This is what you get for getting charmed by that noble with the plumed hat and for blushing, Saito thought.
Saito caught Henrietta's hand, and then firmly pulled her to him.
“Eh?”
Henrietta absentmindedly opened her mouth in surprise. Then before they could blink, Saito pushed his lips against Henrietta's.
“Mmph......”
What tender, tiny lips they were. Henrietta's eyes opened widely into circles.
The circles went white. The strength left Henrietta's body, and, slipping through Saito's hands, she fell to the bed.
“She fainted? Wh-why's that?”
“What are you doing to her highness?! You d-d-d-dog!”
“Woof?”
When Saito turned around, the bottom of Louise's shoe was flying towards him.
Saito took Louise's jump kick in the face and tumbled to the floor.
“What was that for?!”
When Saito said that, Louise stamped angrily on his face.
“It was on her hand she gave you permission, the back of her hand! A kiss on the back of the hand! Why'd you give her an all-out kiss on the lips?!”
Louise was so mad, it looked like she was going to catch fire.