Very nervous, he sucked on Louise’s celadon skin.
“Nh…!”
Louise must have been nervous too, as giving out such a cry seemed to confirm.
Tiredness soon took over her and Louise started to breath in a faint sleeper’s way after a while.
Dazzled he looked at his own red mark on Louise’s nape of the neck. It looked like a red strawberry in the middle of white snow.
Saito breathed roughly, he had to restrain himself many times, or else, he would have attacked Louise who was peacefully sleeping next to him.
Calm down! Louise is acting this way only because of the potion!
He had to find the antidote quickly, to return Louise back to her usual saucy self, instead of this cute one!
Then Saito noticed something that Louise was grasping tightly in her sleep.
It was the pendant that Saito bought her in town. She was grasping it tightly as if it were some sort of treasure. Seeing that lovely view he lost all his strength.
It was cruel. Louise was horrible. It’s a crime to look so disturbingly cute.
Subconsciously, he extended his hand towards Louise, only to clamp it with his other one. I don’t have the right to take advantage of Louise this way. It is not because of me. It’s because of the potion. Endure it.
If only I wouldn’t have wanted for Siesta to wear that sailor uniform, Louise would have not turned into this… Therefore it is my fault.
I am useless, Saito thought. I never turn down an opportunity to flirt with a girl and…
Siesta. That’s right, Siesta.
Aah, Siesta, she would calm him down simply by her presence. She was a fine looking lass too.
But when Louise was nearby she made his heart race.
Aah, which one do I love more?
What a luxurious worry. He couldn’t even imagine having such worries back on Earth.
Watching Louise’s sleeping face, he started to think… why return back to his former world, if you can stay here?
When Louise became a court lady of Henrietta, it became difficult to travel to the east… Though he was disappointed, at the same time he felt glad. Because of that he could stay by Louise’s side.
Aah, Earth, Siesta and Louise. Those three turned round and round in Saito’s head, making him frustrated.
Which choice should I make? He could not make a choice today, but he would have to.
Maybe, in the near future.
In the evening the next day, Saito was in Montmorency's room. He had a quarrel with Louise before leaving her in her room and coming here…
“You can’t make an antidote?”
With his face lifted, Saito stared at Montmorency. Beside her sat Guiche holding his chin and scowling. Montmorency and Guiche had gone into the city that day to face the black-market traders in the hopes of finding the antidote, however....
“It can't be helped! It was sold out!”
“Then when can you buy it?!”
“It… seems like they do not have the goods needed.”
“What is it?”
“The specific medicine comes from Ragdorian Lake, at the boarder with Gallia. It is made from the tears of a water spirit… however it seems they were not able to contact the water spirits recently.”
“Whaat?!”
“In other words, we cannot get this special medicine.”
“Then what about Louise?”
“Well, I mean, really, what is so bad about all this? She has fallen in love with you. You like Louise, do you not?”
Saito couldn't consent with what Guiche said, though.
“I can’t be happy if the reason she likes me is because of that medicine. These are not Louise’s true feelings. That’s why I want Louise to return back to her original self.”
But… Montmorency pouted her lips and Guiche shook his head reluctantly. Even Saito thought quietly for a while, until he finally grasped his hand into a fist, determined.
“Where is that water spirit?”
“I told you already, it's at the Ragdorian lake.”
“So you only need to get in touch with her, right?”
“Eeeeeh!? Now listen here! The water spirit rarely shows her face before humans! And even if she did, she is very strong! If angered, the results can be disastrous!”
“I don't care, let’s go!”
“Well I do care! I am absolutely not going!”
Saito crossed his arms.
“Well then, there's only one thing I can do. I will have to tell Her Royal Highness the Princess about the love potion, or is it Her Royal Highness the Queen now? Anyway, I will have to ask for her help about the problem. Come to think, wasn't that potion banned? It's not supposed to be allowed to be made, right? Now then, I wonder what would Her Highness do if she learned about it?”
Montmorency's face quickly turned pale.
“What do you think, Monmon?”
“Fine, already! I understand! I will go, if you go!”
“Hmm, we can't let Louise stay this way, either. Or else others may notice her strange behaviour and suspect the love potion.”
Guiche shook his head.
“Fear not, my lover. I will stay by your side on this journey,” said Guiche while leaning in and trying to slowly put his hand over Montmorency's shoulders, but she quickly evaded him.
“That’s not really inspiring. You are too weak.”
After that, the trio made arrangements for the journey.
They would leave the following day, early in the morning. Because they did not know how Louise might act if left alone, they decided to bring her along as well.
“Haah, this is my first time skipping school.” Montmorency sighed.
“And what about me, as I have not been going to school for half of a year now? After Saito came, it was adventures everyday! Ahahaha!” Guiche burst into a hearty laughter.
Chapter Six: The Water Spirit
The hills and mountains overlooked the dark blue waves of Ragdorian Lake as they rippled. The sun's illumination on the lake was spread like a layer of shimmering glass.
Saito and others arrived at the lake on horseback.
Because Louise disliked riding alone, she and Saito took the same horse. She sat in front. It seemed like she didn‘t want to leave Saito‘s side even for a single moment.
Montmorency and Guiche were riding on separate splendid grey horses.
“This must be the famous Ragdorian lake! No, the beauty of this lake is indescribable! The Water Spirit is in there! I’m impressed! HO-HO-HO – YAHOO!” yelled Guiche while whipping the horse and sending it plunging down the hill.
However the horse was afraid of water and when it reached the shore it came to an abrupt stop. Following the laws of inertia Guiche flung off his horse and, with a thunderous crash, fell head first into the lake.
“Can’t reach the ground! It’s deep! Deeeeeeep!”
Guiche desperately cried out for help while struggling in the water. It seemed that Guiche did not know how to swim.
“I wonder if we should reconsider our fellowship after all?” muttered Montmorency.
Saito nodded. “That would be nice.”
Louise looked up at Saito with a worried face. “Montmorency is nice?”
“I d-don’t mean that. Just wait. I will return you to your normal.”
Saito then brought the horse close to the shore.
Guiche, after a long struggle, was shivering and soaked from head to toe when he finally reached the shore. He had a bitter look on his face.
“Hey hey, shouldn’t you help me? Do not desert someone who cannot swim!”
However, Montmorency completely ignored Guiche and was instead looking at the lake suspiciously.