Louise's room was as usual, enveloped in strange anxiety.
After classes, Saito was having tea with Louise, but... the waitress, Siesta's attitude was trying her best to incite Louise.
“Saito-san, please.”
Whilst smiling sweetly, Siesta served Saito a freshly baked biscuit. As if saying that that was her seat, Siesta sat down beside him.
“Th-Thank you...”
Timidly, Saito checked Louise's expression.
With an utterly sullen face, Louise glared at both of them fiercely. Her anger turned into dark waves and struck Saito.
Saito did not want to call out to Louise in this state.
Why are you angry?
You don't really like me, do you?
You had merely said “Reward,” why are you angry?
Yet, it was no use talking about it. Because she would be wounded if he were to say that right to her face, so he didn't get his words out. Whether Saito had become a Chevalier or a noble, to Louise he was still but a familiar. Be it Louise whom he would meet someday in front of the fake grave, or Louise on the bed at Westwood Village who was so cute, in the end it was still but a love towards her familiar.
Don't you get it, Saito?
Saito warned himself.
Louise is occasionally gentle, but... she still doesn't love you.
Saito's master was at any rate, serious. Because of her seriousness, she tried her best to accomplish her duties, and had dedicated her body and her heart towards Henrietta to whom she swore loyalty since young until now.
Because she was serious.... she treated her familiar as really valuable, and occasionally would tell him to do his best and allow him to kiss her; those were probably not rewards, but she did not get angry when he touched her breasts; and had accidentally allowed him to go as far as her body. Recently, she had started saying things like “I will find a way for you to return home.” His strength was probably necessary for Louise to accomplish her aspirations, and yet she had turned away from that, and continually considered Saito's happiness.
Yeah.
Anyhow, Louise is a serious person.
Saito loved such a serious Louise.
But still... Louise didn't love me. If she loved me, because she had been confessed to to such an extent, she should have said “I like you.” at least once. No matter how I think about it, that was the case. And yet, she did not say that at all...
A serious, and significantly foolish, honest Louise. She had allowed me to such an extent, yet did not say those words at all... she really did not like me, huh.
Her jealousy was after all, her desire to possess her familiar.
It was at most a puppy love, Saito felt devastated.
VOLUME 10 ~ CHAPTER 3
Saito reminisced the time when he met Louise. The time when he was almost stepped on by the golem, Louise who said, “A mage who abandons his familiar is not a mage!” Louise had not changed since then. The girl who never neglected the “pride” within her…
Hiding such thoughts within her heart, Louise was divinely beautiful. I grew to like her because she’s like that. Saito thought.
“Louise… I… You are really great. Umm…”
Saito reached out for Louise’s left hand nervously. But that hand avoided him.
“Don’t touch me.”
“D-Don’t be angry!”
Nervous, Saito’s hands reached out for Louise’s shoulders.
“Didn’t I say not to touch me!?”
Louise’s face swelled, and she turned away. Those cheeks turned red. The third time he hugged her shoulders, she did not brush it away. She pursed her lips in an annoyed look, her body stiffening.
Simply speaking, Louise at that state was intensely cute. Saito could not help but to press his lips closer.
“No.”
Louise resisted.
“Th-That’s right! Kissing is a reward. Since I haven’t received anything like a reward. But, I still like to do this. Very much.”
Saito said impatiently, and nyah~~~~~~ displayed an extra large smile. It was an utmost evil smile.
As I thought… such pathetic face is not something he acquired as Gandalfr. Just like what Saito said just now, courage, love… These are surely born from within him…
When she thought about that, relief and a sense of mastery gushed forth in unison. Of course, this fellow is still my servant, right. How do I say it –the worshiper of love, right.
And yet I had worried about it and became miserable. My injured pride demands a restoration of honor. Louise stood up and folded her arms.
With an absolutely triumphant voice, she looked down at Saito.
“Ehhhhhhhhhh? You, what did you say you want to do with me?”
“…Ki-kiss.”
“I can’t hear you!”
Combing her hair back in an exaggerated action, Louise declared that haughtily.
“I said I would like to ki-kiss you.”
Saito was already kneeling and speaking politely. Grasping his fists tightly above his knees, he was trembling all over, somewhat regretfully. I can’t help it. The moment I said I wanted to kiss her, I had already lost.
“You really want it? Say it please. How much do you want it?”
“V-Very much.”
“Very much? Don’t be that abstract! You want to kiss me right? This is the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard. So this beast says with a straight face that he wants to kiss his master. How touching.”
"I-I am not a beast.”
Saito had already started using "mon". That’s a result of his expanding humility due to his wanting to wholeheartedly kiss Louise.
“You’re not a beast?”
Louise raised her eyebrows.
Kirche, the maid, Jessica, pseudo-breasts, the Princess. Various incidences of her pride being bruised were brought back to her like a kaleidoscope that changes its shape.
Her anger towards those memories had finally made Louise wake up.
Louise started putting on her miraculous impish manner. She did not learn it from anyone. Probably, that was because some part of Louise was asleep. Until now, it had only lain dormant without coming out to the surface. While watching Saito’s reaction, Louise started manipulating that imp of hers that had formerly come out only unconsciously.
Smiling, Louise first stood with her arms akimbo. Because of only that pose, Saito almost died.
Not satisfied with that, Louise raised one of her legs, and placed it against the wall. Her dancer costume’s loincloth was lifted up, and her thighs which draw Louise’s delicate lines were burned into Saito’s eyes.
At the same time, she cast a flirtatious, sneering glance at him.
Breathing had already become difficult for Saito.
In a singing-like voice, Louise said to Saito.
“So, what did you say you want to do to me? What did’ya say? Use that funny mouth of yours. With unique, helpless words which can make me laugh. Together with that sickening dog-look, say that word!”
“Ki-Kiss…”
“Well then, praise me.”
With an increasingly triumphant attitude, Louise said further.
“…Eh?”
“Praise me until I’m happy. Oh yeah, firstly, that maid. Give me 100 parts of me that are better than Siesta. If not, I won’t let you do anything.”
Saito was confused, but he still continued.
“Y-You’re… Which parts are better errr… You have good points; Siesta has good points too… As a rule…”
“What is this!?”
“Looks like this child didn’t hear it properly. I said to praise me. Praise your master, your ruler, your god! Can’t you hear? Feel like dying, are you?”
At the height of this chaos, the taboo came out of Saito’s mouth.
“Umm… Louise… yeah! Your breasts!”
“You’re making fun of me?”
Louise’s lips distorted into something evil. She put strength into her stamping foot. Ouuuuuu A groan escaped Saito’s mouth.
At that instant…
The sound of someone coughing could be heard.
Louise turned back, and saw that Guiche, Montmorency and Malicorne were staring at them from the coachman’s seat.
Being delirious, she had completely forgotten their existence. Louise’s face turned crimson. Because Saito was beginning a journey in his dream, he did not realize anything.
“Errr… Louise. If you don’t finish it, your name will be…”
Guiche said that with a troubled face.
“Stupid. If you’re bored, p-please practice your drama! Isn’t that so, Saito?”
However, Saito could not reply because he had already fainted. Louise cheerfully lifted Saito up, and just like how Siesta did last time, turned him around.
“Hey. Saito here. Just now was the practice of our play.”
Whilst shaking their heads, Guiche and the others looked to the front. Sighing, Malicorne hit the horse with his bridle.
The coach they were in sped up.
Anxiety, joy, hope, and then pride and self-respect... Fully loaded with various feelings, the coach headed towards the country border of Germania, dashing across the streets under the moonlight of the twin moons.
VOLUME 11 ~ CHAPTER 1
Louise pointed at the image of a God with many arms. For a moment it looked like a statue of the goddess of mercy with one thousand hands that Saito saw during a school excursion. Apparently, Louise could not forgive such casual decorating manner in using the furniture of her hometown.
“Look, this is Giovanni Lascault’s religious painting. Its tint completely mismatches the color of the wall. Ugh, these upstart nobles of Germania…”
As Louise continued fuming about, Saito said in an embarrassed voice,
“Umm, Louise.”
“Huh?”
“Walls, statues, paintings – they all are alright… But this… Look of yours…”
“What’s wrong with my look?”
Tsun – Louise turned around to face him and asked.
“…You didn't take your dancer costume off?”
Underneath the mantle Louise was still wearing the same oriental dancer clothes that she wore while saving Tabitha.
With all its worth, these clothes were designed only to conceal the most pivotal points, and it was embarrassing, whatever exposed place he guided his eyes on.
“Reluctantly so. It's the only clothing I have to wear.”
For some reason, when Louise said that, her voice sounded triumphant.
“Argh! Put on the clothes you wore before changing to it – the Academy of Magic school uniform!”
“That? It’s dirty, so out of the question. I won’t put it on.”
“This is dirty in a different way! There!”
Saito shouted while turning his eyes away from Louise. Seeing her like that was making him feel nervous.
“That, isn’t this Kirche’s family house? That sort of attire is very suitable for Kirche's family as it seems from the looks of the servants.”
Just then, a young female employee wrapped in showy red clothes happened to pass by.
Louise calmly hid her body behind the mantle. Indeed, this way, Louise's slender limbs were completely hidden.
“Hey, she can’t see you that way!”
Once the employee passed, while giving a quick bow, swish - Louise provocatively swung the edge of her mantle, exposing the silky skin of her thigh. A teasing smile formed on her pink lips.
Swish-swish More of Louise’s white skin caught Saito’s eyes, making him color up and turn his face away.
“S-Stop it… Your mantle fluttering like that…”
This made Louise’s face blush deeply, yet she continued to stare at him.
“Why?”
“W-Why, well, you, uh, looking like that…”
“Looking like what?”
“Skin and stuff…”
“Are you stuuuupid? Are you excited just by looking at your master’s body? Unbelievable! How vulgar! You should die. In the forest.”
Blushing, Louise declared.
“Do you have any sense of shame?!”
“S-Shame for what! There’s nothing wrong with being seen by a familiar!”
Flurried Louise countered.
Firstly, in the carriage, Saito’s feverish gaze when he looked at her dancer’s clothing, was very amusing. But as if showing was not satisfying enough, she went up with the whole provocative ending.
However, trying to act calm was extremely embarrassing. What the heck was I thinking about – after everyone fell asleep, Louise raged wiggling in her blanket. She raged and raged, continuing to worry and worry more.
What would God think, seeing her present act?
Not just God, but Chii-nee-sama too?
While thinking so, cheeks burning from shame, Louise cursed herself.
While within the carriage, her distress continued… Louise pondered.
Though it was shameful to death, it also felt good.
Aah, his gaze, solely focused on me and not on the other girls — that felt really good. By all means, I should wear these dancing clothes more. It was embarrassing, but this strange feeling of triumph was stronger than the feeling of shame.
“Stop scrutinizing so much. Anyway, there's no ulterior motive and no deeper meaning to this. I’m just wearing what I want to wear.”
Louise said in an angry voice. Though in truth it made her feel wonderful and glad, it would make her very furious if he realized that; although she could not say why it would make her mad. With such contradictions struggling within her heart, Louise continued to speak.
“Stop looking so intensively at me. Haah, what’s a life-form not given by birth? You.”
Naturally, Saito’s pride was severely damaged by such words. Saito turned his neck to the other side, thus completely averting the glance from Louise.
“Who's looking?”
The two walked silently for a while. Eventually, missing his gaze, Louise started to lose her temper. It was so trivial.
Finding the mirror put on the wall, Louise halted in front of it.
“Who is this cute girl?”
“Hey, move on.”
“I think that’s me.”
“Yeah yeah.”
Saito kept his head turned to the other side. Louise was growing increasingly angry. In her mind she started repeating strings of angry words. Loveyouhesaidloveyouhesaidloveyouhesaid.
Whyishepretendingnottoseewhyishepretendingnottoseewhyishepretendingnottoseelooklooklookgettingangrylook.
Irritated, Louise went for her secret trump. She placed her delicate finger on her cheek.
“I wonder.”
“H-Hey, let's go.”
Nervous, Saito urged Louise. As always, he was looking at the opposite direction. Kaaaaan – a lot of blood went up to Louise’s head. I’m acting so cute, I’m acting so cute and yet... Can’t let that happen. Pride soared high in Louise, like from the blood that ran up to her head. Result: Louise’s temperament broke loose.
“B, B-B-B, B-B...”
“B? What about it?”
“B, B-B-B-B-B, my breast cloth, i, i-i-i, i-i, if I remove it, w-w, wonder how I would look. Sex appeal increases cuteness, no doubt.”
“HAAH?!”
“There’s no doubt. Sex appeal easily attracts my familiar.”
Saito, determined not to lose, stood his ground. It was like this in his head – looking at Louise now would mean her victory and his defeat. Thus, with his right hand he pinched himself, desperately fighting against the overwhelming desire "to look."
“Then the b-b-breast cloth w-w-w-will go.”
“How long will you hesitate? E-Everyone will see you if you wait.”
“Hey you!”
“Pshh.”
“I won’t hesitate.”
Saito applied more power to the finger digging into his thigh. From the pain, cold sweat flowed. Seriously, flowed.
However, he wouldn’t look. A man decided not to look; so, he won’t look.
Louise gave a lot of care to the cloth which covered her chest. "Move," but the hand wouldn’t move even if ordered. It was shameful. No, shame was not the only thing. Death. Her head would explode and she would die from shame.
And then it changed again. Though she returned her noble position to Her Majesty, her noble pride was still there. By all means. It is necessarily for a master to make a familiar turn his eyes on her, so that there would be no regrets left.
Even though she was confused, because blood went up her head, Louise didn't notice such thing. Her pride was driving her insane.
“Waah!”
With a shout she lowered her breast cloth.
Saito was surprised. Even if he were not surprised, the moment when Louise shouted, his head moved on its own, disregarding his intentions. And thus, his head graciously turned to Louise.
The first thing Saito’s eyes jumped on was the pulled-down fabric of the dancing costume, covering the breasts, Louise’s slender fingers covering the exposed top of her breasts… which looked rather plain.
Saito, with a reflex speed at the insect level, jumped at Louise. And clung close to her.
“Sorry, can’t help it.”
Recovered from her daze, Louise gripped the back of Saito’s head and tried to pull him off.
“W-Wait a minute… stop! W-W-W-What are you thinking…?”
Then she saw Saito’s feverish eyes. W-What a look. Such a crazy passion that she, she… contrary to her will, Louise closed her eyes.
“W-We… are very likely to be imprisoned when returning back to Tristain, right?”
“…R-Right.”
Then a painful thought pierced Louise's mind. If… she were to be put into prison for all this…
Then she would not be able to meet Saito for a while.
“…then if so, maybe it’s the only time we can be alone as a couple?”
After those words… that time spent held firmly in Saito’s arms felt irreplaceable. Those thoughts, and Saito’s passionate look, deprived the last remains of the strength from her resisting hand.
“I-Is it alright?”
Louise, still nervous and shy, slightly parted her lips and puckered them up.
“S-Stop a-asking, idiot…”
Louise, looking very shy, was so lovely at this moment, that Saito’s head started spin.
He hugged her close to him,
Louise’s mind was in a turmoil.
Aah, I am sorry ancestor-sama. Louise Françoise is about to be swept off her feet in the bitter enemy Von Zerbst's castle. When I passed through the gates, I never thought it would lead to this. I am sorry ancestor-sama, mother-sama, elder sister-sama, Chii-nee-sama – everyone – I am sorry…
The passion was so strong that her mind started to leave, fading away…
But then, with the corner of her eye, she noticed red hair moving across the corridor. Louise's reaction was blitz-quick. She kicked Saito in the groin and quickly leaped back to her feet.
“Because you were both missing for so long, I came to check up on you.”
Guiche put a hand on his chin and shook his head.
“You, what are you doing in other people's homes?” Kirche asked, not hiding the amazement in her voice.
Louise’s mouth opened and closed few times, vaguely trying to remember any letter of the alphabet to utter. She shivered while cold sweat dripped down her skin.
“ An i-insect leeched to my neck so I tried to take it off.”
“And of course for that you needed to take off your breast cloth?” Kirche asked with a malicious smile.
Louise’s body stiffened. Slowly, she dropped on her knees and her shoulders sagged.
Meanwhile, Saito was busy twitching on the floor.
On board of the ship traveling from Rosais to Tristain, Saito was having a nightmare while lying in the cabin’s bed.
He had received more damage from the fight with Jörmungand than Louise.
“Ugh, ugh” - although he was having a nightmare, somehow Saito was feeling refreshed. He had now somewhat straightened up his feelings on the things he had to do.
Thinking about this and that, Saito was gazing at the ceiling…
*Knock knock*
Someone knocked against the door.
“Who is it?”
“It’s me.” Answered Louise’s voice.
“…it’s open.” He said in an ill-tempered voice, and with an awkward expression on her face, Louise stepped in.
“Excuse me. Just in case, I came to check. Are you alright?”
“You… hit me more than enough already.”
Louise pouted and said in a sulky tone.
“Y-you were the one who was wrong. You said you love me only as a familiar. I-it was a lie wasn’t it? Truly. You love me, right?”
She sounded almost desperate.
Saito glared at Louise and said.
“Such a thing can be said to anyone. As a noble.”
“S-still, you love me?”
“I don’t dislike you.”
“So you like me?”
“Isn’t that the opposite? Aren’t you the one who likes me?”
“N-n-n-n-n-n-no way!”
Blushing Louise, whirled her hands fast.
“So, were you not this jealous because you love me? And you even amassed your willpower so quickly because you were angry I was kissed. It’s so obvious.”
“Uuuuuh” Louise let out a half-sobbing groan and nodded.
“…Really. It might be so.”
“…Huh?” Surprised, Saito stared at Louise. Seeing him like this, Louise once again gave a triumphant ‘nya’ smile.
“No way. The dog is drooling again.”
“Y-you cheated!”
“And you got all ‘dokidoki’ from that. Idiot.”
Saito turned to the other side to hide his embarrassment and said.
“Really… I’ll just gradually find a way to return home. And then I will definitely drink miso soup.”
“What is miso soup?”
“My country’s soup.”
Then Louise gently said.
“I too would like to drink soup from Saito’s country.”
Saito’s cheek turned redder than from a kiss.
Louise became embarrassed as well and turned the other way.
“It may be very difficult, however… for the moment, the way things are, I would like for you to continue helping us.”
Though she said it calmly, Louise was burning with emotion on the inside.
Surely after all this, Saito will deny such a pledge with curses.
‘Why should I do such a thing?’
Why doesn’t Saito say such words.
That time… he saved her from Fouquet’s golem.
And that day, he came to Louise’s rescue again…
That’s why behind his snappish words, Louise felt Saito’s love. And then, when he went through Tiffania’s spell… It wasn’t a familiar’s affection, but genuine love.
However, why do I still doubt? That it isn’t given by a familiar magic? Why can’t I get rid of this fear?
…because I am still not confident in myself.
Because I am not confident, I refuse to accept my feelings and doubt Saito's words. Therefore, all I can say are such things – while thinking so, Louise shyly said.
“I-I am being manipulated too.”
“Eh?”
“I hold affection for my familiar as well. That’s why I felt such burning jealousy, even though I did not want to. Really.”
Louise placed her palms on both of Saito's cheeks and suddenly brought her lips close to his.
Eh? Eeh? Nmh…”
Two pair of lips slowly melted with each other.
Gently tracing Saito’s lips with her own, Louise thought absent mindedly while kissing.
When I used Void, why was I so angry?
Was it because… Saito did that with another girl? Apparently, it recharged real fast. What an annoying willpower – Louise thought.
Besides I got angry from the bottom of my heart.
It was hateful, it was painful… however, there was nothing I could do…
Louise’s lips kissed the corner of his mouth before pressing themselves hard against his lips again.
After continuing kissing him wildly for a while… Louise suddenly pulled her lips away from his, catching her breath.
“Poor me - I have been manipulated by the Void to feel an attraction towards my familiar. I am such a poor girl.”
After saying those words, Louise leaned in and passionately recaptured his lips again.
While kissing her lips repeatedly… Saito understood that Louise’s words were a lie.
It was painfully obvious.
Louise’s kisses were increasingly feverish and hot.
Hot because her feelings for Saito were spoken out loud.
The moment he saw the lower half of the Albion continent covered by a white cloud from their ship, Saito mused.
Was… Tiffania’s magic really effective against me?
Originally this ‘Fake motive’ might have been nothing more than, in Cattleya’s words, ‘the locked mind’.
Well, when he thought about it, it may have been just showing off Saito's natural optimism.
Something that even your own heart is not aware off.
However, he knew one thing for sure.
Looking at Louise always made his heart beat fast. Even Tiffania’s magic could not change that – it still remained the same.
Saito recalled a dream he saw in Tiffania’s house.
That time, Saito’s mother had asked him.
“Haven’t you forgotten something?”
After all, the meaning of a man’s existence, was to protect the girl that made his heart beat hard.
Even at the cost of his life.
That was all that there was to it.
That was what Saito thought, inside the ship drifting further away from Albion, and continuing to exchange passionate kisses with Louise.
VOLUME 12 ~ CHAPTER 1
Siesta prepared the bed and invited the two of them. It seems that today Louise won't take a stroll in the middle of the night. Squirming, Saito and Louise entered the bed. Their backs were facing each other; the two of them rolled up. Siesta was changing to pajamas, and after that, slid next to Saito.
Siesta was about to place her face onto Saito's back, but suddenly...she felt an odd aura. That aura was emitted from the back of Louise.
(Don don)...The aura of Louise's back was wriggling and accumulating, pressuring Siesta.
Siesta withdrew her hand that reached for Saito.
For some reason, she felt she shouldn't do that.
With her cheeks facing Saito's back, she was hesitating for a moment... Her body entrapped in fatigue because of the daily work... Siesta soon fell into slumber.
Noticing Siesta was fast asleep, Louise began to move her body.
She was rolling to Saito.
Saito was awake, glancing from aside, he was watching Louise.
With her voice expressing anger, Louise muttered.
“Why did you ignore me during the day? ?”
She had many questions she wanted to ask, but she couldn't ask thoroughly. So for now, she charged him about his attitude during the day.
With a calm voice, Saito replied,
“Eh? Wasn't it because you ignored me?”
“Don't distract me from the subject that I'm talking with you about right now!”
A smile surfaced from Saito when Louise said that. Somehow, the smile felt lukewarm.
“Don't put reasoning to satisfy yourself. See, you are acting selfish now, Louise. Tomorrow we must wake early, now go to sleep.”
Saito was closing his eyes with his face facing Siesta's direction. As for Louise, she was mumbling with a declined face, fiercely struggling inside the blanket. Somehow, she was looking very pathetic.
“You are forbidden to face that way.”
She was unconsciously pulling Saito sleeve.
But, without any sympathy, Saito responded,
“Goodnight.”
“You have to face this way!”
However, Saito still pointed at Siesta's direction.
“Okay, if that's what you want... I don't know this kind of familiar of anymore!”
Louise covered herself with the blanket. However... Soon she grew anxious. In secret, she examined the situation by showing half of her face from the blanket.
Even so, there was no indication of change from Saito's back.
Louise was half-crying, as if someone in a mortifying state. Uuuu, those were sounds of moaning from her. Nevertheless, whatever she did, Saito did not turn to face her.
Soon, Saito's sleeping breath could be heard. He was fast asleep.
Louise was trembling as if in fear.
What's wrong with you!? This whole week you have been keeping that attitude. Tell me about it!
What about the thing when we rode that ship, weren't you offering the palm of your hand to me?
I can't believe it!
Inside the blanket, Louise was rolling around with anger.
You always said you loved me before. Could it be a lie?
Was it possible that one hour event on that Albion ship was an Illusion?
For some interval of time, Louise, struggling inside the blanket, bit by bit grew more violent... But she knew she can't do that.
Why did he show a cold attitude? Thinking calmly, more or less, I pretty much understand it. Saito always said 'love' to me... But not once have I returned that feeling.
But, but, but... It can't be helped.
I have determined to return his feelings when he's about to return home!
That's why I hastened the action for finding him a way to go home; meanwhile, this idiot is always indecisive. Well, I can pretty much understand the reason, but still...
I'm a Void user who's being targeted by Galia.
There is another concern with Tabitha's mother which hasn't been settled yet.
Besides, abandoning them to go home, Saito's sense of responsibility won't permit it.
He has been bestowed with Gandalfr's power, the reason he came here. That is a not a fake sense of responsibility. It is Saito's own feelings of responsibility...
But since you had come here, could you act a little gentle? Why did you neglect me all this time?
What's with 'insolent pink-haired girl!?' Wasn't it you who liked the pink-haired one!?
Those words not even said yet, the next words have been drifting in her mind; being both in anger and a confusing state, Louise was trembling. Now that it reached this state, it didn't matter anymore if the words have been said or not, it has already in her head; Louise grew more irritated.
In the middle of her irritation, anxiously, gradually resurfacing in Louise.
The most foolish thing perhaps... is my feeling that says, “When a way to return home has been found, I will return his feelings.” It's okay to decide like this, but what if before that happens, Saito has a change of mind?
If by any chance he falls for another woman, not me... “I'm glad I came here,” what would I do if that's the case?
Each respective woman that she felt was charming was floating in her mind.
It's somehow tolerable for the Princess to be acting strange in past occasions... Currently, Saito and I are not close enough yet. I can't let my guard down, there are many other women like that.
For instance, the figure whom was sleeping right there, the daring Siesta.
Another instance, the one who put so much devotion to Saito, Tabitha.
But whatever comes to me, not even once I will let my guard down...
The accident during the day was being recalled in Louise's mind. She's the one who was brought here from Albion, the one who has fascinating golden hair, that person right now is surfacing on the back of Louise eyelids.
The one that was seen with ridiculously big breasts.
Among her group of stalkers, my familiar was not among them, but that doesn't mean there's a guarantee. Saito always said 'love' to me, it's only his personality that acted based on his whim. I'm the most familiar with him, so I knew about that.
Now that I think about it, that fellow, previously he was always captivated with women that have big breasts.
Anxiety was being born within Louise, she was in helpless situation.
Strange ones. Smaller than me! This is the best! Now feeling like in trance because of what I just said, the important thing is there is no certainty anymore.
What if before a way home has been found, that kind of possibility really happens?
What if before I can tell him my feelings, Saito has changed his?
If that's the case, my name will be engraved in the history of Halkeginia as the most block-headed person.
The more I think about this, it makes my mind closer to breaking.
Eventually, Louise grew tired of thinking... She can't defy drowsiness' temptation any longer... Louise's sleeping sounds began to be heard. 
When he noticed Louise has fallen asleep, Saito opened his eyes.
To make certain if she was really asleep, cyun cyun, he poked her nose. Kyuuuu, a cute sleeping breath resounded. Seems like she was really asleep.
Saito sung a victory song in his mind.
Because Louise's behavior is close to a cat, if not the same, seems like I was not mistaken with my judgment.
When I draw closer, the manner Louise would behave... that will most likely be the attitude similar to an insolent angle, and staring at me with eyes full of passion, “No, being as cute as you is a sin.” I am pleased to say I'm fine with that (sarcasm).
But see... what about if we treat her a bit cold, what will happen?
First, she will respond by distancing herself while watching the situation. That's the time when she took a night stroll.
Even so, don't follow her... It will become impatient while still observing us, thereafter, it will draw closer eventually. Yes, this is exactly like that.
Wonderful, I'm really a genius...
Now I understand perfectly, composure is important after all. Saito was motivating his inner self. Because of my composure, Louise became the same as the fallen women whom think of me as if I'm the core of the world.
Nevertheless, watching her sleeping face like this, Louise is looking really cute.
His nose grew longer... And his long eyelash bent up, the shape of his eyes were closing... His lips faintly switched to the kissing pose.
Unintentionally, his lips drew closer... But when it was close enough, Saito shook his head.
It's not yet time.
It's not the time yet, Saito.
Just a little longer, and Louise will completely fall to you. If you offer your hand right now, Louise will be victorious with a smile floating on her face.
'No, mole! After all, you want to touch me! I wonder what I should do? Aaaah! I know, if you want to touch me, go praise me until the quantity is enough to make one volume of a book. Just kidding! I won't give you anything. Ever.'
Looking all important, she would declare that.
Do you think I will lose? Saito strongly gripped his right wrist.
Bear with it, Saito. The sweetness of victory just lies ahead. If you were tempted here, you'll lose. What I did until now... For instance, I did my best to come home from Albion. All will be just like bubbles in water.
However, looking here and there, Louise is cute. Reach for her lips, retreat, reach for her lips, retreat, it's a repetitive event, until a voice could be heard from behind.
“What are you doing?”
It was Siesta's voice.
When he turned, she was grinning with a smile.
VOLUME 12 ~ CHAPTER 6
The Alviss dance party in the moonlight began.
Surrounded by the moonlight, the Alviss danced silently.
Such a fantastic spectacle brought back the memories in Saito's mind, on the ball in the past.
The one that happened one year ago.
Indeed, it was Frigg’s ball wasn’t it?
That day, when Saito was bored and alone, Louise came into the veranda. Dressed in a dazzling white dress, her hair tied in a pink bundle on her head, Louise looked like a beautiful goddess.
The girl alviss approached Saito, who was emerged in his past memories, again.
The alviss, as if asking Saito for a dance, bowed.
Saito smiled.
“You are going to take care of me? Haha, you are very kind… But my size differs from yours too much. Listen, find a companion to dance with among your friends.”
After a while, alviss turned from Saito, and disappeared into the crown of her dancing friends.
Louise too, asked me for a dance like this…
Blushing Louise was really cute back then.
“May I have this dance, sir?”
She said.
When you think about it, those were the words that made me fall in love with Louise.
And, one year later, those feelings still haven’t changed.
The proud, selfish, short-tempered mistress… but sometimes, Louise sweet gestures spoke volumes to Saito.
Friendship with Guiche and Malicorne, the people he was indebted to take care of - various reasons were stopping Saito from leaving this world…
All in all, the strongest bonds he had, from the whole Halkeginia, were with Louise.
And when she asked Saito for a dance, Louise’s profile was glowing with embarrassment, almost like she was mad at him.
Until now, for this very profile, Saito leaped into various death jaws.
And yet, blinded by the temporary fury, I left Louise’s room.
Really… after all this time, we cannot fall apart just like this.
And when he hugged his knees thinking what to do…
“Saito.”
Having his name called, Saito stood up.
“Is that you? Come out. Just now I saw the moonlight with your eyes.”
“Louise…”
Accepting his fate, Saito pushed his body out of the shadow of the pillar.
Louise, who changed her clothes, was standing there and staring at Saito. It was this look of Louise’s eyes that made Saito to give up. Like Guiche, he might as well receive his punishment from Louise.
Even though he never intended to peep…
“Were you in that hole as well?”
In a tired voice Saito answered.
“Yeah. Do with me as you please. It’s pointless to run away and hide.”
However Louise pushed behind Saito’s shoulder, and faced the darkness.
“Louise?”
Standing alone, Louise said while looking away.
“If you have anything to say – then say so.”
Saito, with resignation on his face, explained the circumstances.
“They said they were taking me to the place to lift my spirits… and it turned out to be the girls bath. But honestly I didn’t notice until I had a peek.”
Louise said no word.
“Haha… even I do not believe it… But it’s alright – you would not believe me anyway. Whatever I would say…”
“I believe.”
Louise said, determination in her voice.
“Heh?”
Saito muttered at a loss.
“I hate it. Really, I hate it. I thought you were lying before, and was angry because how unbelievable it was. I…”
Louise said angrily.
For a moment he was doubtful. With a skeptical expression on his face, Saito opened his mouth.
“You are saying you trust me?”
“I do.”
Louise said.
Then Louise nodded, shocking Saito. Even if whole world shakes, it hardly can change the stubborn Louise, Saito thought.
“Therefore I do not think you were at a fault.”
“Me?”
Louise glared up at Saito with a scowl.
“Yes, you, so do not break my trust…”
Louise said emotionally.
It was mortifying. And sad. Though Saito left the room less than a day ago, she could not bear the thought of not being around him ever again.
With various feelings battling inside her, her eyes became wet with tears.
Louise hit Saito’s warm chest.
“Why are you always so mean? Why am I always so mad? Why? I hate it… waaah.”
Louise buried her face into his chest and burst into tears.
Helpless against crying like this, Saito was at a loss. He felt bad for being the reason for her tears.
When one thinks about it, I was as wrong as Louise.
Louise may still be a child… but she could at least admit her mistake just fine.
“I am sorry.”
“… Stop it. It is pointless now.”
Louise rubbed her eyes.
Not knowing what to do, Saito placed his palm on top of Louise’s head and patted her peach colored hair. Though Louise continued to cry for a while… after a few moments she stopped and glared at Saito, while pouting.
“What’s wrong?”
“We reconciled?”
“Yeah…”
Saito nodded.
“Wrong. If Saito doesn’t say it - it’s not good.”
“Lets make up. Wha-“
Saito held out his hand, but Louise brushed it away.
“Your apply for reconciliation was insufficient. More.”
“In that case, what do you want me to do?”
Louise murmured angrily.
“Kiss me.”
That moment, when Louise turned her face away angrily, she looked dazzling cute. Hesitantly, Saito’s trembling fingers touched Louise’s cheek. Louise’s eyelashes trembled as she slowly opened her mouth.
Pursing her lips, Louise slightly opened her eyes before closing them shut again, feeling his lips brush against hers.
After dozen of long moments, when their lips finally separated again, Louise started to complain again. Mainly, the center of her ramblings, was Saito’s behavior. Not really following her, Saito continued to nod his head. Finally, after a deep sight, Louise asked Saito.
“Tell me the truth.”
“Yeah?”
“After all, you like a girl like Tiffania more, right? You don’t like my child-like body…”
Saito looked deep into Louise’s eyes and said clearly.
“Because I am a man… I cannot deny that I do feel attraction. This is a basic instinct. But you…”
Looking straight into Louise’ eyes, Saito said.
“But you I love, Louise. No… more like I totally lost my head over you.”
That moment, Louise’s cheeks dyed scarlet.
“R-really?”
“Yeah.”
Saito said with a straight face. And gave a refreshing smile.
“So, sooooo…”
Bashfully, Louise’s slender fingers played with the neckline of her shirt. This gesture, for some reason, made Saito’s heart pound madly.
“’So’, what? ‘So’, what?”
Saito sucked in breath as Louise sidled up to him.
Louise took a deep breath. Then she looked up Saito into the eyes. Her cheeks burning red.
In Louise’s room, the dreadful party was still storming.
Fearing her own involvement, Siesta retreated from the room. Even after that, the scuffle between Louise and Saito seemed to continue without end.
The furious Louise was nimble. Like a cat pouncing all around the room, she inflicted damage on Saito with accuracy. Saito finally managed to grab onto the bouncing Louise.
“Let go of me! I still haven’t finished punishing you!”
“…hey, this has gotten more out of hand than usual!”
Saito threw Louise onto the bed.
“Kya!”
Covering the yelling Louise with a blanket, he pinned her down.
…………….
With that done, Louise settled down as if a demon was exercised from her. She was too quiet though, so Saito started to worry and flipped the blanket to check on her.
At that point…
Louise looked up at him with swollen eyes.
“W-What?”
Saito said to her.
“…I’m still angry.”
Louise replied in a defeated tone.
“The one that should be angry is me. M-making me wear this of all things…”
Ignoring Saito’s protest, Louise instead fumed about her own dissatisfaction.
“You like maids after all.”
Narrowing her eyes, she stared at Saito. Even though it was a joke, there was a strangely tempting ring to it. For a moment, Saito became flustered like his heart had stopped.
“Well, I like maids, but it’s the person inside that matters. It’s not like I particularly like this piece of clothing, especially more so when I’m wearing it myself.”
Teary-eyed, Louise said.
“If I hadn’t been around, you would have spread cream onto Siesta.”
“I-I wouldn’t have done that! What the hell!”
“L-like a dog, you would have licked the cream.”
“No, I wouldn’t!”
“Yes, you would!”
Louise pouted loudly. Looking at such a face, a grin floated onto Saito’s face.
“What? Are you jealous?”
“I’m not jealous! I’m not, I’m not!”
Louise violently flailed around. Saito tried to hold her down, though it was futile.
“Hey, hey. Calm down~.”
As expected of Louise, she gave a kick to Saito’s nether regions. However…, since Saito was currently wearing a skirt, she couldn’t aim very well, so her foot only managed to hit his thighs.
Triumphantly, Saito stirred up Louise.
“Hey~, you really love your familiar, don’t cha, Louise-chan~.”
With a face dyed completely red, Louise bit his arm. But…, it didn’t hurt him at all. An evil smile drifted instead on Saito’s lips.
“What’s wrong, Miss Vallière? It doesn’t hurt at all? I see! You love me after all. You love your familiar that does nothing but act like a dog, don’t cha. Of course, you wouldn’t bite me for real.”
Louise instantly let go, and yelled loudly at him.
“I-I don’t like you!”
“Well then why?”
Saito glared at her forcefully.
From that, Louise uneasily frowned and looked to the side.
“…be-because you’re my familiar.”
“You’re still saying that?”
“Yes! Yes, I am! Because I’m unfortunate. And…that I have Founder Brimir’s magic. I instinctively get angry when you ignore me when you are supposed to be protecting me. I really am quite unfortunate.”
“Liar!”
“It’s not a lie. It’s the truth.”
Louise mumbled softly with a pout, as if she was telling herself that.
Saito sighed deeply.
“I get it.” Saito said, standing up.
“What do you mean you get it~ ~ ~?”
Louise asked him as she started getting up, with the bedding still covering half her face.
“I’m going to look for a way home.”
“Eh?”
Louise’s eyes got really wide. As if testing Louise, Saito continued speaking.
“Thanks for taking care of me. Goodbye. I will be taking my leave. If I make it back home, you will be able to summon another familiar. Have him protect you from now on. Later.”
“Hey! Wait a minute! Why all of a sudden?! No no no!”
Leaping out of bed, Louise stood in front of the door with her arms spread. Then, she noticed Saito’s expression. He had what looked like a strange smirk floating on his face.
“…Oi!”
Louise’s face was dyed completely red. As if she was going to smack Saito’s cheek, she struggled to hold her hand back.
“How dare you trick me…”
As her angry tone started rising, Saito suddenly stared at her face with a serious expression, which made Louise swallow her next words.
“I love you, Louise.”
That phrase was a surprise attack, such that Louise couldn’t move.
“I-I, someone like you…”
Before she could finish her sentence, her lips were covered.
“Mmh……”
From the sudden kiss, all of her energy drifted away from her body. Saito held her up, as she started melting to the floor. With him holding her tight, Louise couldn’t think of anything at all. She was really such a simple girl.
As their lips parted, Louise mumbled softly.
“…S-someone like you should just go home already.”
“I-it’s not like I don’t want to go home.”
Louise started getting angry again and closed her eyes. Saito embraced her again, and like that, he moved her to the bed and laid her down.
Louise continued to lay there motionlessly with her eyes closed.
Sweat started to run profusely from Saito’s forehead, and he let out a deep breath that he had been holding in. The smoothness of his actions had stopped dead. He could no longer act like one of those suave guys anymore. With panicky, stiff motions, Saito sat down next to Louise.
“………….”
With Louise still blushing deep red, he laid down next to her.
Was it really ok?, Saito thought. Should he take it as a sign it was ok? With all of the usual misunderstandings that made her mad and led to failures, Saito was quite skeptical.
First, he took a deep breath.
A deep breath, which he then exhaled.
But after that, he still had no idea what to do. Instead, he wanted to run away in frustration. If he did that though, he knew that he would regret it for the rest of his life.
As many vague questions danced around his head, his steaming head was certainly overheating.
“Uh…, for the moment, can I see your boobs?”
Louise’s eyebrows rose. Even without Louise’s complex about her size, this was not a question to be asked usually. However, Louise accepted his rather blunt request.
For now, Saito started undressing her. He was extra careful to be gentle and delicate, so that he wouldn’t overstep her expectations. With her eyebrows twitching, Louise bore with the situation.
“I’m undoing the b-bu-buttons.”
Those foolish words that tried to hide his embarrassment bothered Louise a bit. Without thinking, she opened her mouth and glared straight at Saito.
“I love you.”
Although her words were a bit rushed, the pure feeling of them was like a magic spell cast straight into Saito’s heart. Pink flowers were swirling inside of his head as he looked at Louise, who looked away with enchanted eyes and her mouth slightly open.
Basically, the thought of Louise undressing not only affected her, but also Saito greatly.
With shaky hands, Saito unbuttoned the first button on her shirt.Arriving back to his room, Saito looked around at the ridiculous scene. Tabitha and Siesta, who had somehow got herself drunk, were snoring away.
Louise was the only one who was still drinking wine. Looking up at the returned Saito, the words from her mouth slurred out.
“Wher diya go~~?”
“C-Colbert-sensei’s place. What the heck happened here…, you guys….”
Three empty wine bottles were laying on the floor, which surprised Saito.
“One fer each o’ us, we merrily drank. Wait, wassit merrily? Ahh, wha-ever.”
“You guys… really overdid it.”
It was rather strange for the normally, lightweight Louise to drink this much.
Louise yelled out in an irritated tone.
“…but, Shaito didn’t come back”, she mumbled out weakly.
Don’t tell me that she was waiting this whole time for me!, Saito thought as Louise looked more and more cute to him.
“ShaitoShaitoShaito”, she yelled his name repeatedly.
“Wha’s wid Shaito…
Ya reely shink is o-k to na go home?”
She asked whether it was ok for him not to go home. As she was drinking, Louise kept dwelling on the meaning of those words.
“Yea.”
“Whyy?”
“Because you’re here.”
“Riar.”
“I’m not lying. Whatever.”
“Wha er ya gonna do in da few-cha?”
The considerably drunk Louise bounced from topic to topic. As embarrassing as it was, Saito thought that the drunken Louise wouldn’t remember it anyways, so an incredible response came from his mouth.
“Marry Louise.”
“Reely? Wid me? Reely?”
“Yea. I have to be responsible. You called me after all.”
“I wanna hab two childden.”
Louise continued to say unbelievable things.
“I, I guess.”
“Yep, yep. I…hab a requessst.”
Louise suddenly got up and held out her hand.
“What is it?”
As she tiredly talked in her drunken state to Saito, Louise jabbed him with her finger.
“I…wanna hab a bigga chest, so ya should exercise ‘em.”
“Huh?”
“Ya know, da dis and dat chest exercise.”
The air got tense.
As Saito was petrified in confusion, Louise grabbed his hands.
“Like dis, they say it’ll git bigga.”
Louise was encouraging Saito’s hands to rub her bosom.
“Lou-Louise…”
Saito did not know what the heck was going on anymore, as Louise whispered into his ear.
“If dey git bigga, ya may like ‘em. But ya might like ‘em small instead. I’b bin worryin bout zat.”
As the moonlight hit them… all Saito could think about was Louise.
Louise drew close to Saito and started licking his cheek.
How cute she was right now. If this was what she was like drunk, then he wished she would stay drunk forever. He wanted to push her down so badly, but he couldn’t.
She was drunk after all. If he took advantage of her like this, he wouldn’t live it down. Ah, but it was so hard not to. What should I do, ah, what should I do? his mind screamed…
A shadow flew across the night sky.
At the same time, something twinkled under the moonlight.
Feeling the presence of danger, Saito instantly returned to normal.
“What the?”
He gently pushed Louise back onto the bed.
“Wass wid you, hab a problem wid me afta all?”
“Just go to sleep.”
"Ha..." Louise sighed
"I am... I am a coward, I want to hold on to Saito, I don't want him to go anywhere. Even if it's his home."
That time when he said as a joke he was going to search for a way back, I tried to stop him without a second thought. "How selfish," Louise scolded herself.
When starting to think like this, she resolved,
"Tell him about my feelings in the last minute so his feelings for me don't turn into a ball and chain."
Even saying this, it starts to seem to me like a pathetic excuse. In the end isn't it that I just don't have enough courage?
"I'm just a coward."
Thinking this she felt ashamed and at some point tears started to come out.
Being in this mood the door suddenly opened and Saito appeared before her,
"It looked like you were quarreling with Kirche, is there something wrong?"
Louise pulled the blanket over to her face,
"Wha... what is it?!"
Saito sighed as he sat sorrowfully beside Louise... but Louise didn't move a single inch.
"Damn! For a strong-minded girl like you to be such a weakling..." whined Saito. Probably Kirche said something to depress her again, no doubt about it.
"Sheshhh! This girl would be helpless if it weren't for me," said Saito trying to sound high-and-mighty.
Probably I am the only one able to help, reassure and encourage her. And thats because she is so damn selfish, anyone would have given up by now.
Which means she will be no good without me. Maybe she'd die if I weren't here? thought Saito, who did not know about Louise trying to jump from the fire tower.
"Louuuiseee.... c'mon cheer up!..... Mm, eh? Louise?" peeling the blankets showed a red-eyed Louise.
"What the!... Why are you crying!?"
"Saito...... Is it o.k? Really? Really for real? Is it o.k even if you don't go back?" asked a sobbing Louise.
Saito smiled kindly as she peeked over the sheets.
"It's all right, I mean, I've got good friends and comrades here so, I don't feel very lonely. Even that Guiche said to me 'if you have nowhere to go, come to my home.' I don't know how reliable is his statement but, the feeling alone is alright for me."
Because of those words Louise suddenly remembered her family. She always thought about her father and mother being just annoying. But that was a mistake.
By punishing her themselves, they hoped for the country to forgive her crime of desertion and infiltration of a foreign country. Father said that time,
"If you say you are going to use Louise as a war dog I am going to stand against the government as an enemy."
And the Cattleya that will wrap me in a benevolent smile.
I'm sure even Éléonore loves me. If I were not to see them again I would not be able to answer.
"No, please do not say that. I am sure Saito's father and mother are, too..."
"It's alright," said Saito laughing.
"Are you really sure?" said Louise with a very sorrowful face. "You might never be able to meet your father and mother again."
Saito thought that Louise blamed herself for bringing him to this world.
He felt sorry about her always worrying about this, because she even wept about it. Therefore he made the decision to lie to her.
"Truth is I have no family."
"Eh?!"
Louise remembered the letter Cattleya sent her, there she wrote that Saito wept like a child on her lap remembering his birthplace.
"Lies, that's a big fat lie. it was on Chii's letter that you cried when remembering your place."
"Ah, ehm, nn, well that's, how do I say it, true I thought about my home, and it made me cry but, its not like I cried because of my family, also true I had friends, there were as well relatives but there were no family."
Saito tried to make it sound as truthful as he could. He didn't want to hurt Louise anymore over something he could not do anything to fix.
"Really, really for real?"
"Yeah, why would I lie, you sure are a strange one."
Even that visible lie from Saito totally fooled Louise. That feeling to not hurt Louise anymore was so serious that it made her believe in Saito's words.
"Is that so? I'm sorry, I said some weird things."
"T's all right," said Saito gently laughing. "So to speak I have no family there but here I do have. I mean you Louise."
"Me!?"
"Yes, master and servant are in some way a relationship that surpass family isn't it?" this words made Louise deep red even to her ears.
"Are you trying to say my existence makes up for your father and your mother? Is that it?"
"Guess I don't know but, how do I say it, its like the sole existence of your loved one makes things different. I feel like it makes up for any and every thing else," said Saito in a very serious fashion.
Indeed so serious that it almost made Louise faint away. Slowly approaching Saito, Louise's eyes started to close numbly.
Ahhh! Ahhh, the happiness, if we were to say that it has a shape and a concrete form it would have to be this kind of moments, I'm sure of it.
Louise tenderly held his face with both of her hands and kissed his lips. Their lips met and their tongues began to move. Only the sound of their kissing could be heard in the room, or at least it should had.
