Ending his incoherent reply, Saito turned towards Louise. She had already fallen asleep. Her innocent face took his breath away. It seemed she had drifted off while Saito was thinking of his reply. Her pinkish blond hair mixed with the moonlight, shining brightly. Steady breathing could be heard from her small pink lips.
Looking at those lips, he wanted to press his lips against hers once more and, without even realizing it, he started to move his face forward. But, he stopped. It's cowardly to kiss a girl who isn't even his lover while she is sleeping. I’m not your lover… but I will protect you. So don’t worry Louise.
Smiling warmly at Louise, Saito closed his eyes. With Louise’s breathing as a lullaby, Saito fell asleep.
Louise opened her eyes once Saito had fallen asleep. She knit her eyebrows and whispered, “I was even pretending to sleep”. Louise hugged her pillow, and bit her lips. It’s so different, she thought. When he was making a move on her, he did it rashly like an idiot and yet when he’s obedient, he’s totally obedient.
I don’t understand. I don’t understand what he’s thinking at all. Louise rested her hands on her chest. When Saito was next to her, her chest really did throb. So these feelings really are true?
She wanted to return the favour to Saito, who had been so kind and had saved her so many times… But that wasn’t the only thing. It was the first time she had felt these feelings for someone of the opposite sex and she didn’t know what to do. She didn’t allow Saito to help her change because of this. Once she recognized these feelings, she became embarrassed at the mere thought of him looking at her skin. She didn't want him to see her face after she had just woken up.
When did I start having these feelings for Saito? Probably since that time, Louise thought. Just when she was about to be killed by Fouquet’s golem, she was hugged by Saito. Her heart throbbed. Despite the fact that she was about to die, her heart beat loudly. There was also the time when Wardes was about to kill her. Saito jumped in and saved her. But the time her heart beat the fastest was when they were riding on the dragon and he had kissed her. After that, she couldn’t look at Saito’s face.
I wonder what Saito thinks of me? An unpleasant girl? A selfish and mean master? Or perhaps he likes me? Well, he kissed me, so he must like me. Or could it be that he’s the same as Guiche and just likes women? I wonder which one. I want to know. Anyhow, why didn’t he do anything when I was just sleeping beside him, Louise thought.
“Of course, if he did anything now I’d kick him in the crotch.”
“But…but…” Louise tapped Saito’s pillow. He didn’t wake up. She looked around restlessly. Other than the moon, nothing was looking at her. She moved towards Saito’s face. Her pulse started to quicken. She pressed her lips upon his softly, only for about two seconds. It was the kind of kiss that the person wasn’t aware had even taken place.
Saito turned over.
Louise panicked slightly and drew away from his face, sinking into the blanket, hugging her pillow.
What am I doing? To my familiar as well. I’m such an idiot.
She looked at Saito’s face. He was kind of cooclass="underline" coming from another world, being obedient at times, yet carried away at other times for absolutely no reason. The legendary familiar … I wonder if I really do like him? Is this what they call love?
While she repeated her thoughts, she traced her lips with her fingers. The heat was like iron against her lips. How can I find the answer to this question?
“I don’t want to be left not knowing the answer…” whispered Louise as she closed her eyes.
Chapter Three: The Founder's Prayer Book
Sir Osmond was staring at the book the palace had delivered and absent-mindedly twirling his beard. The cover, sheathed in old leather, was so worn out that it looked like it would tear from a single touch. The book's pages had a tawny color to them.
Hmm...
While muttering, Sir Osmond turned a page. Nothing was written on it. There were about three hundred pages in the book and they were all blank.
“‘The Founder's Prayer Book’ has always been handed down through the Tristain royal family…”
Six thousand years ago, Founder Brimir offered a prayer to God and wrote down his spells using magical runes as letters.
“Isn't this a fake?”
Sir Osmond looked suspiciously at the book. Fakes… they're all too common with ‘legendary’ artifacts. Apparently, only one ‘Founder's Prayer Book’ exists in the world. Rich nobles, temple priests, and royal families of all countries... everybody claims to have the real ‘Founder's Prayer Book’. But regardless of each one's authenticity, all of them were collected in the library as genuine articles.
“But if it is a fake, it's an awful one. All of the characters are gone.”
Sir Osmond had seen the‘Founder's Prayer Book’ several times before in numerous occasions. The runes always seemed to leap from the pages. However, he never saw a book with no characters like this one. Could it be genuine?
At that moment he heard someone knocking. I should hire a secretary thought Sir Osmond as he invited the guest into the room.
“It’s not locked. Please, come in.”
The door opened and a slender girl stepped in. She had pink-blonde hair and big, reddish-brown eyes. It was Louise.
“I heard you called for me, so…” Louise said.
Sir Osmond stood up and spread his hands, welcoming the petite visitor.
He wanted to thank Louise for her efforts from the other day,
“Oh, Miss Vallière. Have you rested after the tiresome journey? Your great efforts ensured the alliance's safety and prevented a crisis in Tristain.”
Sir Osmond said in a soft voice.
“And, next month in Germania, there will finally be a wedding ceremony held for the princess and Germania’s emperor. It's all thanks to you. Be proud of yourself.”
After hearing this, Louise's spirit momentarily faltered. Her childhood friend Henrietta was going to be used as a political tool and marry Germania’s emperor without love. Even though there was no other solution for the alliance, Louise chest tightened whenever she recalled the sad smile on Henrietta’s lips.
Louise silently bowed. Sir Osmond became silent for a while and watched Louise. Then, remembering that he had the‘Founder's Prayer Book’ in his hands, he held it out for Louise.
“What's this?”
Louise looked at the book with suspicion.
“The Founder's Prayer Book.”
“The Founder's Prayer Book? This?”
It was given to the royal family. And it's a legendary book. But why does Sir Osmond have it?
“According to tradition in Tristain’s royal family, when a royal family member is wed, one aristocrat is chosen to take the role of the bridesmaid. Following the imperial edict, the selected bridesmaid is traditionally given the ‘Founder’s Prayer Book'.”
“Uh huh.”
Louise, who wasn’t aware of such detailed palace etiquette, replied blankly.
“And the princess has chosen Miss Vallière to be that bridesmaid.”
“The princess?”
“That's right. The shrine maiden must also come up with a written edict when receiving the‘Founder’s Prayer Book’”
“A...ah! I must think of an edict?”
“Indeed. Of course, there is still certain palace etiquette that you need to learn… traditions can be rather bothersome. However, Miss Vallière, the princess is looking forward to it. This is a great honor. So follow the palace regulations and write the edict, because something like this happens only once in a lifetime.”