“Hey, what kind of person are you? You’re not a person from Halkeginia, are you? Having said that, it feels more like you’re a completely different human from your very core. Are you?”
As he was being examined like that, Saito was surprised. What’s this? She found out that I’m from a different world? Or more like, did Louise tell her?
“Fufu. Your face is saying that you’re wondering how I know. But I understand you. It just seems that I am unusually sharp.”
“Y-Yeah...”
“But, things like that are of no importance. Thank you very much. Truly.”
“Huh?”
“Thank you for helping that selfish Louise all the time. There is no way that little girl would get Her Majesty’s recognition if she were alone. You definitely helped her along the way. That’s true, isn’t it?”
What would be a good answer? Or more like, how much should he tell her? Seeing Saito worried like that, Cattleya laughed lightly.
“There are things you can’t tell me, hmm. It’s fine. Now then... it’s regrettable, but I have to inform you.”
“Eh?”
“Louise’s talk with Father didn’t go well. Because of that, she was told that she has to find a son-in-law. And she then disappeared off somewhere.”
“Really?”
So the servants that barged in earlier on were searching for Louise. Saito said, “Achaa...” and covered his face.
“Father wants Louise to get married. That girl is troubled as well. And just after a while back her fiancé turned out to be a traitor, now she has to get another engagement. Even though she’s still so young.”
Cattleya muttered as if she had completely no relation.
Saito shivered in pain. Louise is going to get married? After the matter with Wardes, those words hurt him really deeply. They were words he didn’t want to hear a second time.
“You don’t like it, right? The fact that Louise is getting married.”
Cattleya muttered with an angelic smile.
Saito shook his head.
“Th-That sort of thing... is fine. I can’t think much of Louise in the first place. Because Louise, about me... about the me that isn’t a noble or anything, she doesn’t think much of me, that’s why...”
Raising her body, Cattleya asked Saito.
“Hey, are you aware of the condition to be a Noble?”
What’s with that sudden question? That’s completely clear.
“Eh? I’m pretty sure, umm, they have to be able to use magic... they have to be rich...”
“Those are trivial things!”
“But, in this world if you can’t use Magic, you aren’t a noble, right?”
“Wrong.”
Cattleya shook her head.
“There is only one condition that needs to be fulfilled to become a noble. To swear that you will protect the princess even at the cost of your own life, that’s all. Our ancestors were given territory and money by the king, because they protected the princess’, his daughter’s, life at the cost of their own. It wasn’t because they could use magic.”
Cattleya stared at Saito with sincere eyes.
“That girl is somewhere in the courtyard, so go look for her. In the courtyard there’s a pond... in that pond there’s a small boat floating. She’s inside it. Ever since she was young whenever there were bad times she’d go there and hide. After you take Louise from there, leave the castle grounds. On the main road there is a carriage waiting for you. The maid that you brought along with you is leading it, so go there.”
“Eh?”
“I don’t admire war. I hate it. Honestly, I don’t want to let Louise go. But, if that girl has decided that she wants to do that and there’s someone that she finds it necessary to go for... If that’s the case, I think we have to let her go. That’s not something for us to decide.”
Cattleya held Saito’s face in her hands.
“May the Founder’s Divine Protection be with you and Louise.”
And then, as if she was dealing with a noble, she kissed Saito’s forehead.
“I leave my cute little sister in your care, Knight-dono.”
Louise was crying inside the boat in the courtyard.
She could hear the sounds of the footsteps and voices of the servants that were looking for her inside the castle. But, just like when she was a child, this boat in the courtyard was a safe place. With its figure hidden by the small island’s shadow, it became a blind spot when looked at from inside the castle and didn’t stand out at all.
Just like in the time when she was still a kid, she had curled herself up and had covered herself with the blanket that she brought with her. When she was a child and did that... her feelings would usually slowly calm down, but this time it didn’t go so well. It appears that her mood that had sunken so low, just couldn’t brighten up no matter what.
The small steps of someone stepping on the soil inside the courtyard resounded.
She held her breath and stood still as the sounds transformed to the powerful sounds of feet crossing over the wooden bridge that reached up to the small island.
Thinking, “This is bad,” she buried her body even deeper into the blanket that was covering her.
As soon as she did that... Splash! The sound of the master of the footsteps jumping into the pond could be heard and she tugged on the blanket.
Unintentionally she uncovered a part of her body and then heard her name being called.
“Louise.”
“... Saito?”
“Let’s go. Your big sister has prepared a carriage.”
“... I won’t go.”
“Why?”
“Because my family hasn’t allowed me to.”
“It’s impossible. Your family is on the other side after all. You all sure are stubborn.”
Saito stretched out his hands. However, Louise immediately shook them off.
“What is it already?”
“I don’t want to anymore. It’s fine.”
“Why?”
“Because no matter what I say, no matter how hard I work, I just can’t talk with my family. Who would recognize me? After I thought that I ended up feeling really very lonely.”
Are you concerned with stuff like that? Think about earlier. This girl... as soon as I’m not around for a little, she starts thinking normally.
Getting in the boat, Saito grasped Louise’s hand.
“Geez. I will recognize you. I will, your whole existence, completely positively. That’s why, stand up. C’mon.”
After hearing that, Louise blushed and felt her heart becoming warm and fuzzy.
But, she thought to herself that she couldn’t have confidence in Saito’s words alone.
After all, Saito is fine.
After all, her breasts’ size was the same as a kid’s.
That black-haired girl that listens to anything he says is better, isn’t she?
She felt lonely, because she couldn’t get either her parents or sisters to understand her. The Siesta from yesterday’s words left a trail as well. “Saito doesn’t like Louise at all.” Those words had seriously harmed Louise’s self-confidence and will to do anything. Louise hadn’t recognized those words as her own thoughts, but she kept remembering them.
Therefore, Louise grumbled.
“What 'I’ll recognize you?' Don’t lie”
“It’s not a lie.”
“It’s a lie. Even in this time’s war you want to fight for the Princess’ honor. The same as Guiche.”
“W-What does the Princess have...”
Remembering, Louise said with cold voice.
“You kissed her, didn’t you?”
“Are you an idiot? That was just the way things turned out...”
“Are you saying you kissed her by mistake? Heee... is that so?”
Saito was slowly getting angry. In anger, he caught Louise’s shoulder and forced her to face him.