“I see. I’m guessing that the Princess’s wedding ceremony has something to do with the journey to Albion?”
Louise considered whether to answer Kirche truthfully or not, but since Kirche had acted as a decoy so that they could go on ahead, she nodded.
“We risked our lives so that the Princess’s wedding could proceed smoothly? Not a very prestigious task… So, basically it has something to do with the alliance between Tristain and Germania announced the other day?”
Kirche was quite sharp.
“Don’t say anything to anyone about it,” said Louise with a slightly discouraged expression.
“Of course I won’t. I’m not Guiche you know. Our two native countries have become allies. We should try and get along from now on. Right, La Vallière?”
Kirche put her hands on Louise’s shoulders and smiled, almost purposefully.
“Did you hear? Albion’s new government proposed a non-aggression treaty. Cheers to the peace that we brought about.”
Louise replied half heartedly. For the sake of this peace, Henrietta had to marry a prince whom she didn’t even love. You could say that she had no choice, but it wasn’t something to be happy about.
“By the way, what were you knitting?”
Louise blushed deeply.
“I-I wasn’t knitting anything.”
“You were. It’s here, right?”
Kirche grabbed it from under the Founder’s Prayer Book.
“Hey, give it back!”
Louise was trying to take it back, but Kirche easily restrained her.
“What is it?” asked Kirche, dumbfounded while looking at the object.
“I-It’s a sweater.”
“A sweater? It looks more like a starfish. And a new species at that.”
“As if I would knit something like that!”
Louise finally snatched her knitting back, and looked downwards, embarrassed.
“Why are you knitting a sweater?”
“None of your business.”
“That’s ok. I know why anyway.”
Kirche put her hands on Louise’s shoulders again and approached her face.
“You were knitting it for your familiar weren’t you?”
“N-No! I would never do such a thing!” cried Louise, with a bright red face.
“You’re really easy to understand you know. You like him, right? Why?”, asked Kirche while looking into Louise’s eyes.
“I-I don’t like him. You're the one who likes him. That idiot doesn’t have any good qualities.”
“You know Louise, when you lie, you’re earlobes shake. Did you know that?”
Louise quickly grabbed her earlobes. Realizing that it was a lie, she returned her hands to her knees in a flustered manner.
“A-Anyhow, I won’t give him to you. He’s my familiar anyway.”
Kirche laughed and said, “It’s good that you want him for yourself. But I'm not the one you are worrying about, I think.”
“What do you mean?”
“Um… perhaps that kitchen maid?”
Louise’s eyes shifted.
“Heh, so I was right?”
“N-Not really…”
“If you go to your room now, you might see something interesting.”
Louise stood up quickly.
“I thought you didn’t like him?” Said Kirche in a playful tone.
“I only forgot something!” cried Louise while dashing off.
Saito was cleaning the room. He had to sweep the floor with a broom, and wipe the tables with a cloth. As Louise had recently been doing her own laundry as well as other things related to her appearance, Saito’s work was reduced to cleaning.
Cleaning was done very quickly. Louise’s room didn’t have many things in the first place, a small desk with drawers next to the closet, a table with a small vase containing a small plant, two chairs at a table, her bed and her bookshelf. As Louise was a fairly studious person, her bookshelf was lined with thick books.
He took one of the books down. It had characters that he had never seen before. Well of course, thought Saito as he put it back. But, why was he able to communicate with Louise then? Their language was different, and yet they were able to understand each other.
“What’s wrong partner?” asked Derflinger who was leaning against the wall of the room.
“Derf! Why do I understand what you’re saying?” asked Saito as he rushed to Derflinger.
“Well, if you didn’t understand, we would be in a bit of a pickle.”
“I come from a different world. And despite that I’m still able to understand your language. I don’t understand why!”
Saito remembered the person who was saved by Old Osman around thirty years ago. He was a person from his world. It seems like he and Osman had spoken with each other.
“How did you come to Halkeginia anyway partner?”
“I’m not sure myself… there was strange gate giving off this light…”
“Then I would think that the answer has something to do with that gate.” Said Derflinger, as though it were nothing important.
“What exactly was that gate then?”
“Dunno.”
Saito was a bit surprised.
“You’re a legendary sword and yet you don’t know anything. You should know a bit more since you’re legendary. Like, how to get me home…” Said Saito bitterly.
“I’m forgetful and not really interested anyway. Can’t rely on legends too much.”
Someone knocked on the door. Who could it be? If it was Louise, she wouldn’t knock. It’s probably Guiche or Kirche? “It’s not locked” Said Saito.
The door opened and Siesta popped her head in.
“S-Siesta.”
“Umm…”
She was in her usual maid uniform but looked slightly different. Her done up silky black hair dangled on her forehead and the freckles on her face emitted some charm. She was holding a large silver tray, filled with food.
“Um, you haven’t come to the kitchen recently…”
Saito nodded. As Louise let him eat whatever he wanted to, he visited the kitchen less often.
“So I was worried that you might be hungry…” Siesta said nervously.
Seeing her cute gestures, Saito’s heart started throbbing.
“T-Thanks. But, Louise has let me eat at the table now, so I haven’t really been hungry.”
“Really? I’ve been serving the teachers table recently so I didn’t notice. If I’m just a being nuisance then…”
Siesta hung her head slightly.
“N-No, that’s not it at all! I’m really happy that you brought me food! I’m actually hungry right now!” Said Saito, even though he was full from eating at the Alviss dining hall just a while ago.
“Really?”
Siesta’s face brightened.
“Well, eat to your heart’s content.”
The small table was crammed full of food. Siesta sat next to Saito, smiling. Saito started to hate himself for eating so much before, but he couldn’t just let Siesta’s good intentions go to waste. Determined, he started to eat the food.
“Is it good?” asked Siesta.
“Yeah, it’s really good.”
He wasn’t lying, but it would have been even better if he had been hungry.
“Ehehe, eat all you want then.”
Siesta gazed at Saito who was eating in a hungry fashion.
“Oh sorry, my table manners…”
“N-No, it’s not that! It’s the opposite. I’m really happy that you like the food so much! The food and the cooks would be really happy!”
Blushing, she wiped her eyes with her hands. Siesta was cute like that. Saito couldn’t taste the flavor of the food anymore.
“I made that one,” said Siesta in a shy voice.
“Really?”
“Yeah. It was difficult to make it in the kitchen, but because you’re eating it, I’m glad I did it.”
Saito felt his heart tense up. Siesta was thinking of me. Me of all people. He lost himself within his thoughts. The atmosphere between them was very tense. Siesta suddenly said in a flustered tone, “S-Saito!”