Fouquet's eyebrow rose. Power? What kind of power are they talking about?
“Your Excellency, what power has Founder Brimir granted Your Excellency with? If it is all right, I would like to know.”
Cromwell continued in a slurred tone, caught up in his own theatrics.
“Do you know about the four great elements of magic, Miss Saxe-Gotha?”
Fouquet nodded. Even children know of such things. Fire, Wind, Water, and fourth – Earth.
“In addition to the four great elements, there is another magical element. The element that Founder Brimir used, the element of zero. Really, it was the first element of all things.”
“Element of zero… Void?”
Fouquet turned pale. The lost element. The magic of nothingness that, as dark legends say, disappeared. Did this man know something about the element of zero?
“That is the power that Founder Brimir granted me with. For this reason, the Baronial Council agreed to make me the emperor of Halkeginia.”
Cromwell pointed at Wales' corpse.
“Wardes. I had wanted to make Crown Prince Wales my friend and ally. But alas, in life, he chose to be my greatest adversary; but now in death, he will become a great ally. Do you see anything wrong with that?”
Wardes shook his head.
“He should have never resisted Your Excellency's decisions.”
Cromwell laughed with a smile.
“Well then, Miss Saxe-Gotha. I will show the element of ‘Void’ to you.”
Fouquet breathlessly watched Cromwell’s movements.
Cromwell pulled out the cane that was attached to his waist.
A low, silent aria escaped from Cromwell's mouth. He was chanting words that Fouquet never heard before.
When the aria was completed, Cromwell gently lowered the cane and aimed it at Wales' corpse.
Then… all of a sudden, Wales, whose body was already lifeless, opened his eyes. A chill ran down Fouquet’s spine.
Wales slowly sat up. A once bloodless face suddenly sprang back to the life it had previously held. Like a withered flower absorbing water, Wales’s body gradually imbued itself with life.
“Good morning, Crown Prince.”
Cromwell muttered.
The revived Wales returned Cromwell’s smile.
“It has been a long time, Archbishop.”
“How rude, I am an emperor now, my dear Crown Prince.”
“Is that so? I apologize for that, Your Excellency.”
Wales kneeled, taking the posture of a vassal.
“I think I’ll make you my personal bodyguard, Wales.”
“With pleasure.”
“Then, let’s be friends.”
Cromwell began to walk. Wales, who didn’t look like he was just dead, walked behind him. Then Cromwell, as if remembering something, halted and turned around saying,
“Wardes, do not worry. Even if the alliance is formed, it is of no matter. In any case, Tristain is helpless. There is no change in plans.”
Wardes bowed.
“There are two ways of diplomacy - the cane and the bread. Let’s give warm bread to Tristain and Germania for the time being.”
“As you wish.”
“Tristain is a necessary area to add. That royal family has the Founder's Prayer Book. I need to have it in my hands in order to retrieve the Holy Land.”
After saying this and nodding approvingly, Cromwell left.
It was only after Cromwell and Wales were out of sight, that Fouquet was able to open her mouth.
“That... was the void...? To revive the dead. That’s impossible.”
Wardes muttered.
“The void element manipulates life… That’s what His Excellency said, seems like he was right. Even though I cannot believe it as well, after witnessing this – how could I not?”
Fouquet asked Wardes in a shaky voice.
“A while ago you were acting very similar to this, perhaps you were affected by void magic too?”
Wardes laughed.
“Me? I am different. This is a result of a sorrowful life that I have led since birth.”
After that, Wardes looked up at the sky.
“However…many lives were sacrificed for the Founder’s Holy Land… what if they all will be revived by the element of ‘Void’?”
Frightened, Fouquet clutched her chest. She felt a light heartbeat. She suddenly felt the need to confirm that she was still alive.
“Don’t look that way. It was only my imagination. You could even call it my fantasy.”
Fouquet sighed, feeling relieved. Then she glared at Wardes.
“It was surprising, that’s all.”
Whilst patting the stump where his left arm had once been, he spoke softly.
“However, I myself also want to know. Is it a mere fantasy? Or reality? The answer lies in the Holy Lands... that’s how I feel.”
Three days after Saito and company had returned to the Academy of Magic, the marriage between Tristainian princess Henrietta and Germanian emperor Albrecht III was officially announced. The ceremony would take place the following month, before the conclusion of the military alliance.
The alliance conclusion would be held in Germania’s capital Vindobon, where the letter of agreement was to be signed by the Tristain prime minister, Cardinal Mazarin.
The day after the alliance, a new Albion government was officially established. In an instant, tensions sparked between the two countries, but the Kingdom of Albion’s First Emperor Cromwell sent a special envoy to Tristain and Germania at once, in order to sign a non-aggression pact.
As a result, both countries had a conference. Even with the two countries' combined airforce, they could not oppose Albion’s fleet. Though the non-aggression pact felt more like a dagger pointed at the neck, the two countries didn’t have much of an alternative, and this offer was the best they could hope for.
However…peace was established in Halkeginia only on the surface. Politicians could not sleep day or night. And it wasn’t just the nobles; the commoners tensely awaited each day, as well.
Tristain’s Academy of Magic was no exception either.
Chapter Two: Louise’s Lovesickness
The morning after her return from Albion, Louise’s attitude began to change. To put it bluntly, she became nicer. As usual, after waking up, Saito prepared the wash basin for Louise. He poured water into the basin and then washed Louise's face. It was troublesome, but if Saito forgot about the wash basin, severe consequences would follow.
Once, when Saito forgot to prepare the wash basin, he wasn’t allowed to eat. The next morning, he was quite angry, so he caught a frog from the pond behind the Academy of Magic and put it in the wash basin. Louise, who hated frogs, squealed at the sight of the slimy amphibian. She burst into tears when it suddenly appeared in front of her. Saito apologized profusely, but Louise did not forgive him for making her cry.
That time, unsatisfied with merely starving Saito, Louise tried whipping him, and as a result, Saito escaped the room and slept outside.
They would get into fights just like the one with the wash basin, but after going to Albion something changed. Warm feelings towards Saito started to sprout within Louise and vice versa. However, they did not realize each other’s feelings.
In the morning, Saito prepared the wash basin, feeling slightly awkward. Louise sat on her bed with a drowsy look.
With the wash basin placed on the floor, Saito scooped up water with both hands, but Louise didn’t move. Her pinkish blond hair dangled on her face. Seemingly tired, she rubbed her eyes. With an absent minded expression, she said, “Leave it there, I’ll do it myself.”
Saito was shocked. He didn’t think the words “I’ll do it myself” could come from Louise’s mouth.
“Louise?”
Saito waved his hand in front of her face. Louise pouted, facing away. She was blushing. As if she was angry, Louise said, “I’ll do it myself. Leave me alone.”