Chapter 4[]
Dawn was breaking, morning. Central plaza, Saint Rémy’s temple of Confucius rang the bell. 11 o’clock.
A single carriage stopped in front of Royal Tanaijiiru Theater. Richmon stepped out from it. He looked up at the theatre proudly. The page who sat on the driver’s box, tried to come down and follow him.
“It’s all right. Wait with the carriage.”
Richmon shook his head and entered into the theater. The ticket salesman bowed once he noticed the noble. Not buying a ticket, Richmon went forward. Because play inspection was one of his duties as a censorship director, this place was like his personal villa.
The theater visitors, who were only young women, had started to arrive six minutes ago. At first it was a popular show, but because of the horrible acting it received harsh reviews by the critics. It was likely they had lost business as a result.
Richmon sat down in his private seat and quietly waited for the curtain to rise.
Agnes and Louise had arrived at the front of the theater just a while ago. Louise could not understand why they had to stalk in the alley near the theater all this time. Only when a certain carriage showed up did Agnes let them leave their hideout.
Louise was tired and spent. She hadn’t slept last night. Besides, Agnes did not explain a thing. She said it was a rat hunt, all right, but whenever she asked who the rat was…… Agnes became silent and stopped talking.
Before Louise’s eyes, who was patiently waiting in front of a theater, dearly known figures passed.
It was Henrietta escorted by Saito, who had bags under his eyes from lack of sleep. Though Henrietta put on a robe and commoner clothes, those Louise had bought earlier, and wore her hair in a town-woman’s way…… Louise was certain she was not mistaken.
Agnes spotted the two people earlier as she had sent a report with the mail owl and kept her eyes open for them coming.
“.……Princess. Saito!”
What started as a small mutter turned into a loud yell as she ran up to the pair.
“Louise……”
Henrietta embraced her tiny body closely.
“I was so worried! Where had you disappeared to?”
“I borrowed gentle Familiar–san……and hid myself in town. Forgive me for not telling you. I did not want to drag you into this. So, when I was informed this morning by Agnes that you were acting together, I was surprised. Yet, you are my best friend, so I guess we were destined to run into each other sooner or later.”
Then, Agnes who stood silently nearby, knelt down.
“Everything is ready, waiting for your orders.”
“Thank you. You really did well.”
And the last spectators that arrived in front of the theater……
Were the Manticore Corps, Mage Guards.
Everyone watched surprised as their commander, who had a fantasy beast with a lion’s head and snake’s body on his coat of arms, approached in an angry manner.
“Hey! What’s the big idea, Agnes-dono?! I came here flying after receiving your letter, but Her Majesty is not here!”
Then, the commander of Manticore noticed Henrietta and ran up to her in panic.
“Your Majesty! We were worried! Where were you? We were searching for you all night!”
On the verge of tears, commander raised his voice.
What was with these magic guard units? Spectators started to gather, wondering. Because of such an uproar, Henrietta pulled down the hood of her robe again.
"I am sorry for causing anxiety. I will explain later. For now, Commander, just follow my orders.”
“What are they?”
“With the corps under your command, please encircle Royal Tanaijiiru Theater. Do not let even a single ant out.”
The commander, though he had a suspicious expression on his face, bowed at once.
“As you wish.”
“Then, I’ll go in.”
“I’ll follow.”
Louise shouted. However, Henrietta shook her head.
“No, you must wait here. This is something I should finish myself.”
“But-“
“It’s an order.”
Hearing such decisive words, Louise bowed with poor grace.
Henrietta, alone, disappeared into the theater. Agnes, having some other secret things to do, mounted her horse and rode off somewhere.
So…… only two people, Saito and Louise, were left.
Louise pulled Saito’s sleeve, who watched Henrietta leave with a blush on his cheeks.
“Hey.”
“What?”
“What, what happened?”
“I was told this is a fox hunt.”
“I heard it was a rat hunt.”
“It’s the same, anyway.”
After that, they both stared blankly at each other.
“Somewhat, it is a duty……”
“Yeah.”
“Guess we both were just supporting role fillers.”
Saito nodded.
Louise noticed a certain smell and brought her nose close to Saito’s body.
“Wh-what-”
With a dangerous expression on her face, *sniff sniff* Louise started sniffing Saito’s body smell with her nose.
“H-hey, what the-“
“This smell…… It’s the smell of the Princess’ perfume!”
“Eh?”
Saito was startled.
“You…… you didn’t do anything strange to the Princess right?"
Louse stared at Saito menacingly. Saito turned pale. Surely…… he could not tell her about the kiss. He could not betray Henrietta. For the honor of the Princess, he must not tell this. Besides, even if he told, Louise would not believe him anyways.
“Idiot! I didn’t do anything!”
“Really?”
Louise kept staring at Saito.
“It must have attached from the escort a while ago.”
Louise grabbed Saito’s ear and pulled him closer. Then she buried her nose in the scruff of his neck.
“Sniff, sniff. Sniff, sniff. Then why does it smell in such place? Why there is perfume on the scruff of your neck just from being an escort? Hmm? What kind of perfume is that?!”
“No, that…… that must be from turning in bed while sleeping. Faces must have gotten close. Nothing else.”
“It’s all right. I’ll hear everything from your body!”
Louise, still holding Saito’s ear, dragged him into the side alley.
Saito’s scream echoed in the empty lane.
The curtains rose…… the play started.
Because the play was for women, the spectators were only young females. Surrounded by loud cheers, on the stage, gorgeously dressed actors started to play a story of sad love.
It was the play that Louise saw before…… ‘Tristania’s Holiday.’
Richmon puckered up his brows. But it wasn’t because of the actors laughter or posing, not because of impudent and jarring cheers of young women. It was because an expected visitor did not show up at a promised time.
In his head, various questions turned round and round.
Was the queen’s disappearance an Albion plot that I was not informed of? If so, what is the reason? If not, then maybe a third power exists inside Tristania that he was not aware of? Either way, it was troublesome - Richmon muttered to himself.
Then…… a spectator sat next to him. Was it the expected visitor? He threw a side glance. That wasn’t him. It was a young woman with a hood on her head.
Richmon whispered.
“Excuse me. This seat is already taken. Please sit in another place.”
However, the woman did not try to stand up.
This young woman…… With an angry expression Richmon turned to face her.
“Haven’t you heard me, Mademoiselle?”
“Spectators should watch the play, Richmon-dono.”
Richmon’s eyes popped out once he recognized the hooded face. It was a person he was sure had disappeared…… Henrietta.
Henrietta, looking straight at the stage, asked Richmon.
“This is the play for women. Are they having fun watching it?"
Richmon settled down, regained his composure and leaned back into the seat.
“I am looking over such a trivial play only because of work. Anyways, Your Majesty, there is a rumor that you have hidden yourself……Is it for safety reasons?”
“Indeed. I am discreet with my contacts. It’s a good place to secretly meet with my mistress, right?"
Richmon laughed. Yet, Henrietta did not laugh. She squinted like a hunter.
“If one can get everything, it is useless to wait. I was standing in the ticket line. You went watching a play without buying a ticket, such an act is a violation of the law. I would like a royal palace judge to follow the law.”
“Ho! When did ticket sales became the royal family’s jurisdiction?”
Henrietta sighed, breaking the string of the tension.
“Now, let’s stop with this nonsense. The secret messenger of Albion, whom you came to contact today, was arrested last night. He talked about everything. Right now he is in Chernobog Prison.“
Henrietta drove Richmon into a corner.
However, as if knowing everything would turn out this way, Richmon didn’t loose his composure. He smiled broadly in a fearless manner.
“Hoho! My relation is well hidden, you can’t beat this strategy of mine!”
“That’s right, royal palace judge.”
“I won’t dance on Your Majesty’s palms!”
“I really did not want it to turn out…… this way.”
Richmon never showed a malice behind his smile. He never showed a bad attitude, Henrietta remembered in a sore displeasure.
“Because of my disappearance, you decided to come into contact with the secret messenger. ‘The Queen was enticed by hands, other than ours.’ For you this was nothing more than just an affair. You are calm and did not panic. A careful fox, that doesn’t show his tail……”
“Well, since when did you start suspecting?”
“I was not sure. Besides you, there were many suspects. However, the person who was to inform about my disappearance that night, must have been the criminal. And that person was you.”
Henrietta continued in a sad, tired voice.
“I did not want to believe. You were such…… Royal Palace Judge, who should defend the authority and the fineness of the kingdom, assisted a plot of such treason. During my childhood you were always the one who cherished me…… and now sold me to the enemy.”
“Your Majesty, for me you are still a girl who doesn’t know a thing. Being ruled by Albion is still better than by an ignorant girl on the throne.”
“Was your love for me a lie? You looked like such a gentle person. Was it a lie too?”
“Affability for lord’s daughter does not descend to vassal. You can’t understand that. Because you are such a child, that’s why I did it.”
Henrietta shut her eyes. Whom should I believe? Why it is so hard to be betrayed by a person whom you trusted? No…… I was not betrayed. This man cheated me only for the sake of his career. I cannot understand such a thing, maybe I am, as Richmon says, still a child.
But, I cannot be a child any longer.
I should gain…… eyes that see the truth.
To see the truth despite the heart.
Henrietta said in a decisive tone.
“In the name of the Queen, you are stripped of the title, Royal Palace Judge. Surrender yourself quietly.”
Richmon didn’t move at all. Moreover, he pointed to the stage and declared in a tone as if Henrietta was a little idiot.
“Do not say such an inelegant thing. Let the play continue. It just started. Leaving before the play is over is an impoliteness towards the actors.”
Henrietta shook her head.
“At this moment, outside, the Magic Guard has encircled the building. Now, show the nobles’ bravery and hand me your cane.”
“Really…… such an inexperienced lass…… Whom do you think you are arresting?”
“What are you saying?”
“I am only saying that you are 100 years too early to set a trap on me, that’s all.”
"Pon" Richmon clapped.
Then, actors who had been performing the play up till now……, about six men and women, pulled out their wands hidden in their trousers or jackets, and aimed them at Henrietta.
Young women started causing an uproar.
"Silence! Watch the play silently!”
The angry voice of Richmon…… revealing his true nature, resounded within the theater.
“Anyone who makes a noise will be killed. This is not a play.”
Suddenly, the whole building was wrapped up in silence.
“You were really unlucky coming here, Your Majesty.”
Henrietta…… muttered quietly.
“The actors…… were your partners.”
“Yes. This is not a bluff. They are first class casters.”
“And terrible actors, it seems.”
Richmon clasped Henrietta’s hand. Henrietta got goosebumps from his repulsive touch.
“My scenario is far reaching. Your majesty, I am going to take you as a hostage. Then, I’ll arrange a ship to Albion. Your persona will be my emigration gift to Albion. The end.”
“Indeed. This play’s scenario is yours. The stage is Tristain and the actor is Albion……”
“And you’ll be the heroine. So, take part in this comedy.”
“Unfortunately, only tragedy suits my taste. I can’t take part in such a monkey show.”
“Sadly, in this life, no one acts against my scenario.”
Henrietta shook her head. Her eyes shone with confidence.
“No, today’s play scenario belongs to me.”
“Your management is bad. Sadly, as a chairman, I can’t allow you to destroy the play.”
Henrietta, not losing her composure…… pointed her wand towards the mages, impersonating actors.
“The bad ones are the actors. They are ham actors. One cannot help but notice.”
“Don’t say such extravagant things. Sooner or later they will be celebrated actors in Albion."
“Now, leave the stage.”
Up till now, noisy and frightened women……
After Henrietta’s words, they changed their looks completely and pulled out their guns at the same time
Richmon’s subordinate mages, who were pointing wands at Henrietta, surprised by the spectacle, delayed their movements.
Doon! Sounds of tens of gun shots melted into one big sound.
Because inside of the theater the sound was multiplied, it felt like a thunderous roar.
When the dark, thick smoke cleared up…… The Albion mages who were impersonating actors were riddled with bullets, all of them were killed on the stage before casting a single spell.
All theater spectators…… were members of the musketeers. Naturally, even the suspicious Richmon could not see this through.
All the musketeers were young commoners…… moreover – women.
Henrietta informed her neighbor spectator in an icy tone,
“Please stand up, Richmon. The play is over.”
Richmon stood up with much effort.
He laughed loudly and pulled out the dagger at the same time.
Continuing to laugh loudly like a madman, not afraid of the swords pointed at him, Richmon went up to the stage slowly. The musketeers surrounded him. They were prepared to skewer him if he were to make even one suspicious movement.
“Know when to give up! Richmon!”
“I am glad with the success! Cannot become a splendid scenario written by Her Majesty! So much for my play scenario……”
Richmon watched the surrounding musketeers in a hoity-toity way.
“Your Majesty…… The last advice from someone who served Your Majesty since the day of your birth.”
“Speak.”
“Though it started a long time ago, Your Majesty……”
When Richmon stood up in the corner of the stage…… and *Don* hit the floor with his foot. Then, just like a pitfall, the floor opened.
“It ends up short here.”
Richmon fell straight through it. Though the musketeers ran up hastily ……the floor shut and did not open though they pushed or pulled. Apparently, it was controlled by magic.
“Your Majesty……”
All members watched Henrietta anxiously. Mortified, after biting her fingernails, Henrietta looked up and bellowed,
“Search for him at the front gates! Move it!”
The hole led to an underground passageway. Richmon made this loophole for a rainy day.
To stop from falling Richmon used ‘Levitation’ and, putting a light spell on his wand, began to walk through the underground passageway while illuminating the ground under his feet. The passage ran to Richmon’s residence. He needed to return there. He was going to escape to Albion after collecting his money.
“However…… the one that led to this was the Princess……”
On the day of his escape, he was going to apply to Cromwell for one troop regiment. Then he’d return to Tristain again, catch Henrietta, and after repaying her for today’s humiliation many times over, he’d rape and kill her.
While walking and imagining such things…… he saw a shadow in the light.
A moment passed.
The face that surfaced from the darkness was…… the face of Agnes, the musketeer.
“Oh my, it’s Richmon-dono. Taking another way home?”
Agnes said with a smile. Her voice echoed in the narrow, gloomy and damp passage.
“You……”
Smiling in relief, Richmon answered. Indeed, they might have found out about this secret passage and might have seen his theater plans…… but this was not a mage, just a fencer who ambushed him, this should not be hard. He, like most mages, looked down on fencers.
“Move out of the way. There is no time to play with you. It’s too bothersome to kill you in a place like this.”
After Richmon’s words, Agnes pulled out her pistol.
“Checkmate. I have already uttered an incantation. I’ll only have to release it on you. Bullets can’t get past my twenty layer mail. Your obligation to Henrietta doesn’t include giving your life. Because you are a commoner.”
Richmon continued talking in a bored tone.
“An insect’s pay is not worth going against a noble’s spell. Leave.”
Agnes squeezed out the words.
“I will kill you not out of loyalty to Her Majesty, but for my personal revenge.”
“Personal revenge?”
“D’Angleterre (Angle province).”
Richmon smiled. Come to think of it, the other day, before leaving my residence…… this fellow asked me about it. That was why, Richmon, finally understanding the reason, laughed.
“I see! So you are that village’s survivor!”
“You were responsible for that crime…… my hometown was destroyed without even knowing why.”
Agnes declared, biting her lip. A stream of blood ran down her lips.
“Romalia’s heresy, ‘Protestant Hunt’. You claimed ‘Protestantism’ was a rebellion and crushed my town. How much did you earn from Romalia’s religion agency in return, Richmon?”
The edges of Richmon’s lips turned up.
“Amount of money you ask? You want to know? I’d like to tell, but I cannot remember the sum of the bribe.”
“Is money all you believe in? Miserable man.”
“The way you trust in god, I trust in my money, is there any difference? The way you regret about relatives that passed away, I yearn for money, is there any difference? Tell me. I would like to know.”
“I’ll kill you. Spend your savings in hell.”
“Though it is wasteful to use a noble’s spell on the likes like you…… this is fate.”
Richmon muttered releasing the spell.
A huge ball of fire appeared on the tip of the wand and flew towards Agnes.
He expected for Agnes to shoot the pistol that she was gripping in her hand…… yet, she threw it away.
“What?”
She covered herself with the mantle and received the fireball. Though the mantle blazed up in a moment…… the water bag beneath it evaporated absorbing the impact of the fireball. However, it did not disappear completely. It knocked against Agnes body, incandescing her chain hemp garment,
“Uwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!”
However, Agnes endured it not falling down. Fearsome willpower. Enduring the pain of having all her body burned, pulling out her sword, she rushed towards Richmon.
Richmon, in haste, shot another spell trying to counterattack. The blade of wind attacked Agnes. Though it tore through the chain hemp garment and sheet metal armor, it prevented her from suffering a mortal wound. While receiving innumerable cuts on her body, Agnes still rushed on.
The moment when Richmon tried to recite another spell, Agnes crashed into his chest.
“Uoo……”
It was not the spell that escaped Richmon’s mouth……but red blood. Agnes pushed her handle plunging the sword deeper into Richmon’s chest.
“M……mage to a commoner…… a noble like me…… to a fencer like you……”
“.……tell me, are a sword and gun still toys for you?”
While having her whole body burnt and cut, Agnes twisted the sword slowly scooping Richmon’s chest out.
“They are not toys. They are weapons. Unlike you nobles, we have at least polished fangs. Die from those fangs, Richmon.”
*Gop* Richmon vomited an especially large amount of blood.
And slowly crumbled down.
Silence returned to the vicinity.
Agnes picked up the lantern that she dropped earlier, and, supporting her shoulder with the wall, staggeringly started to walk. The cuts on top of burns hurt so much that Agnes could fall down at any moment.
Still, Agnes walked.
“.……Cannot die here. Still, still……I need to kill.”
Slowly, step by step, using her sword as a cane, and still bleeding, Agnes headed towards the exit.
The nearest exit of the secret passage going under Tristania’s soil was…… the drainage trench on the Chicton Street. As Agnes crept out of there, pulling her body through, townspeople started to scream. Looking up at the dazzling sun…… feeling lucky to be alive, Agnes fainted.
Three days later……
In the kitchen, Saito was washing plates as usual. *Don* Louise bumped against his back. Almost dropping the plate, Saito complained,
“Be more careful! Don’t make me break the plates!”
Grrr, Louise glared at him. Feeling relieved, Saito turned his head. Since that day…… Louise hadn’t talked to him.
Louise criticized him, as eventually Saito told her everything that happened while hiding with Henrietta in that cheap lodging house. Except one thing…… the kiss.
She was only pouting now, but she would get really serious if she were to find out about the kiss. Anyhow, Louise’s desire to monopolize was very strong. She raged whenever her familiar Saito got distracted by other girls; the kiss with her highly valued Henrietta would be even worse.
She would kill him if she knew.
Consequently, no matter what, Saito had to make sure she didn’t find out.
“.……D-don’t be so angry.”
“I am not angry.”
“So why are you not talking? The Princess and I embraced each other because we had no choice. We didn’t want to be found out……”
“.……You didn’t do anything else?”
“O-of course not!”
Saito started to whistle while washing the plates.
Although from the outside it looked like a quarrel between lovers…… they both thought otherwise. Saito viewed Louise’s jealousy as a desire to monopolize her familiar. And Louise being Louise did not admit her feelings to herself. So altogether, both their relationships were still going in parallel lines. Would things continue to remain the same? For now, they were parallel lines.
Then, in the place where two people’s relationships were complicated as usual, the door opened and two visitors showed up. They were wearing hoods.
“Hello. Can I help you?”
When Louise went to take an order, one of the guests quietly lifted the hood and showed their face to Louise.
“Agnes!”
Agnes whispered to Louise.
“Please prepare the room on the second floor.”
“If it’s you, then…… the other……”
“.……is me.”
Henrietta’s voice.
Louise nodded and prepared the guest room on the second floor.
“Now then…… Louise. First of all, let me express my gratitude to you……”
Henrietta said looking at everyone who sat around the table.
Louise, Saito, Agnes……
Though Agnes was badly injured, with Henrietta’s, who was a water user, “Recovery” spell help, she was almost completely healed. However, she still couldn’t wear armor. Therefore, today she was wearing a padded undershirt and plain trousers with boots.
“The information that you collected is really useful.”
“I-is it really useful for you?”
It wasn’t only political topics that the town’s gossips were about. It was also citizen’s opinions and criticisms. Even though she couldn’t think all of them through, they were useful for Henrietta……
“This way I can see without pretending myself how I really look to others. I want to hear the true words. Even if they are painful for the ear……”
Anyway, there are a lot of criticisms regarding Henrietta. Though Louise did not agree, she reported everything as it was. That’s why she was glad.
“I am still a greenhorn, thus I should accept the criticism, because it is necessary for future improvement.”
Louise bowed.
“I also need to apologize. I am sorry for borrowing your Familiar-san without permission and not explaining the circumstances.”
“Indeed. It was cruel to ignore me.”
Louise said dully.
“I did not want you to get too much involved. I needed to do a dirty job of setting traps…… for the traitor……”
“The Royal Palace Judge was the traitor……”
Though Henrietta tried to keep it a secret…… such secrets always seemed to leak somewhere. Richmon being an Albion spy was already a popular rumor in town.
Louise reared her head.
“However, I am not a child anymore. I can keep Princess–sama’s secrets. From now on, always tell me.”
Henrietta nodded.
"I see. Let’s do it that way. Anyway, the only the people whom I am able to trust from the bottom of the heart…… are the ones in this room.”
“Familiar too?”
Louise wondered. Henrietta and Saito’s eyes met for a moment. After that, a light blush appeared on both their cheeks, and they mutually looked down.
“Y-yes…… Naturally. Ah! That’s right! We still have not had a formal introduction!”
Henrietta, trying to change the topic, held out her hand towards Agnes.
“This is my trustful Musketeer Commander, Agnes Chevalier de Milan. Though she is a woman, she uses a sword and gun as skillfully as a man. She also punished splendidly the betrayer who was trying to run away. Without fear she stood against a mage with just a sword…… A hero.”
“I am not a hero.”
Agnes brushed off the statement and returned to her cheerful expression again. Then she said in a smooth voice.
“Her Majesty, we don’t need the introduction. With Miss Vallière, we already had a relationship overnight.”
Louise blushed, remembering the kiss.
“I-it wasn’t like that!”
“That was an unforgettable night, right, Miss Vallière?”
Agnes said laughingly. Which made Louise blush even more.
“Unforgettable night?” Henrietta asked.
“Nothing, to trick the enemy’s eyes we pretended to be lovers. We kissed! That was so funny! Ahahahaha!”
Agnes laughed happily.
Louise blushed more and more. She expected Saito to start making fun of her that she was kissed by a woman. However, he did not laugh.
Somehow awkwardly, he averted his eyes.
Louise glanced up at Henrietta. She as well was twining her fingers hesitatingly.
Besides, a little while ago when the eyes of these two met, they turned their faces down. A strange doubt…… crept inside Louise.
“W-well then, since there are a few more things to do, we should get ready to leave, Agnes.”
Henrietta stood up.
“Eh? I thought we were going to have toasts all night long?"
“I’m worried about your wounds…… Well then, Louise, I ask you to continue.”
Henrietta hurriedly left the room. Agnes, who seemed to be completely lost, followed.
Saito also stood up and tried to go out.
“There is no need to rush.”
Louise detained him. Feeling a dreadful premonition, Saito’s face turned pale.
“No, well, dish-washing……”
Saito said looking straight ahead. His voice trembled.
Louise smiled, however.
“Mm, sit. It is alright. Stay here until morning.”
She pointed to the bed. Slowly, Saito sat down. What happened, did she find out? Princess’s kiss…… No, surely not…… She would not be so calm, right?
T-that’s right. If she were aware, Louise would not take such an attitude. She would be countless times trampling on Saito’s face and saying,
‘You kissed the Princess didn’t you?’
Yet she was smiling. Maybe she really, without any ulterior motive, wanted to show appreciation to Saito’s misery.
“W-what is it? You are strangely gentle.”
“No, thank you for your hard work lately. I just want to express my gratitude. Really.”
Louise gave Saito a cup and poured in some wine.
“T-thank you.”
“Look, I……was just upset that the Princess did not need me. These two, no, three days I was in a bad mood…… over this and that. But now I am back in high spirits! It’s alright again!”
Seeing that, Saito felt relieved.
Aaah, he just worried too much…… I’m so glad…… She really seems to have recovered her good humor.
“Was it hard to guard the Princess?”
Louise grasped Saito’s hand.
“T-to some extent.”
Why is Louise so gentle? Aah, who cares, I haven’t felt so good in ages.
“As one would expect from my familiar! I am so proud!”
Saito started to boast.
“T-that was…… a piece of cake. But we did it together……"
"Still, it was wonderful. The way that no one was able to find you, you must have really tricked the chasers, right?"
“T-that’s right.”
“Drink, drink. I’ll be doing the duty of a caring master today. I’ll be the waitress.”
After saying that, she refilled the cup with wine. Being flattered by Louise in such a way, Saito’s confidence gradually grew.
“Saito is so wonderful! When he was suddenly walked in, he quick wittedly pretended to be the lovers and deceived them, right? You should have become an actor! You could have been Royal Tanaijiiru Theater’s main performer!”
“That’s right! Easy victory!”
Louise continued in the same way.
"Saito’s wonderful! Did he kiss the Princess?”
“That’s right!”
At that moment, the air froze.
Saito noticed that he was splendidly tricked. If you want to draw something out from the partner, first of all, you need to make him feel relaxed. The technique that Louise picked up in the bar! She used it!
Louise was using it every day, so her skills grew.
“L-Louise, this…… Y-you…… that……”
The tension in the room rose.
Then Louise stood up and locked the door.
Turning back, Louise said in a bright, even voice.
“Hey, dog.”
Dog.
In one breath the giddiness from the wine was gone.
Saito began to tremble.
Why is that dark aura emanating from Louise’s shoulders?
What is this dark aura?
“Dog, what’s wrong? Answer me!”
“W-woof!”
Tonight, ‘Dog’ surely sounded different. It was different. The presentiment of doom pierced through Saito’s numb body. The taste of bitter despair filled his mouth.
“Excuse me. With magic or foot, which?"
“E-either seem painfuuuuul.”
“Sorry, it has to be painful. Now, make your decision, hurry.”
And so…… it was going to be a long night.
Really long. And a long daybreak.
Assuming, that I can survive tonight……
And I should beware of all girls serving alcohol from now on, Saito thought.
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