Chapter Four: Love Triangle
Louise was seated in the east courtyard of the Academy of Magic, commonly known as Austri, and frantically knitting. The spring weather was beginning to change as summer approached, but Louise could still be seen in her spring clothing. Even during the summer, it was quite dry instead of humid.
Ten days had passed since they had returned from Albion. That day was a day off. Without even eating dessert, Louise came to the courtyard after her meal to knit. Sometimes, she would give her hands a rest and stare at the white pages of the Founder’s Prayer book while thinking of a fitting edict for the Princess’s ceremony.
Around her, students were enjoying themselves. There was a group playing with a ball. Using magic, they would throw the ball into a basket without using their hands and try to score the most points. Staring at the group of people, Louise sighed heavily and looked at what she had started to knit.
Looking at the scene from the side, it was much like a painting. Sitting there quietly, Louise looked like a beautiful girl. Louise’s hobby was knitting. When she was small, her mother told her that if she had no talent for magic, she should at least have something she was good at, and so her mother taught her how to knit.
But it seemed like the heavens did not give Louise any talent in knitting. Louise had planned to knit a sweater. However, regardless of how favorably she looked upon it, it looked more like a distorted muffler. Actually it was more like an object complicatedly entangled with wool. Louise stared bitterly at the object and let out another sigh.
The face of the maid working in the kitchen resurfaced in her mind. Louise knew that she was making food for Saito. Saito thought Louise didn’t know, but she was not completely oblivious.
That girl can cook well. Kirche has good looks. What do I have? Harboring these thoughts, she decided to try her hobby, knitting, but it seems like it wasn’t such a good choice.
Just as she was becoming slightly depressed from staring at the thing she was knitting, someone tapped her on the shoulder. It was Kirche. Panicking, Louise quickly hid what she was knitting with the Founder’s Prayer Book.
“What are you doing Louise?”
Kirche gave her usual smile that seemed like she was looking down on her, and sat next to Louise.
“C-Can’t you see? I’m reading.”
“But, that book is blank, isn’t it?”
“This book is a national treasure called the Founder’s Prayer Book, you know?”, said Louise
“Why do you have a national treasure?”
Louise explained to Kirche that at Henrietta’s wedding ceremony, she was to read out the edict and how she was to use the Founder’s Prayer Book, and so on.
“I see. I’m guessing that the Princess’s wedding ceremony has something to do with the journey to Albion?”
Louise considered whether to answer Kirche truthfully or not, but since Kirche had acted as a decoy so that they could go on ahead, she nodded.
“We risked our lives so that the Princess’s wedding could proceed smoothly? Not a very prestigious task… So, basically it has something to do with the alliance between Tristain and Germania announced the other day?”
Kirche was quite sharp.
“Don’t say anything to anyone about it,” said Louise with a slightly discouraged expression.
“Of course I won’t. I’m not Guiche you know. Our two native countries have become allies. We should try and get along from now on. Right, La Vallière?”
Kirche put her hands on Louise’s shoulders and smiled, almost purposefully.
“Did you hear? Albion’s new government proposed a non-aggression treaty. Cheers to the peace that we brought about.”
Louise replied half heartedly. For the sake of this peace, Henrietta had to marry a prince whom she didn’t even love. You could say that she had no choice, but it wasn’t something to be happy about.
“By the way, what were you knitting?”
Louise blushed deeply.
“I-I wasn’t knitting anything.”
“You were. It’s here, right?”
Kirche grabbed it from under the Founder’s Prayer Book.
“Hey, give it back!”
Louise was trying to take it back, but Kirche easily restrained her.
“What is it?” asked Kirche, dumbfounded while looking at the object.
“I-It’s a sweater.”
“A sweater? It looks more like a starfish. And a new species at that.”
“As if I would knit something like that!”
Louise finally snatched her knitting back, and looked downwards, embarrassed.
“Why are you knitting a sweater?”
“None of your business.”
“That’s ok. I know why anyway.”
Kirche put her hands on Louise’s shoulders again and approached her face.
“You were knitting it for your familiar weren’t you?”
“N-No! I would never do such a thing!” cried Louise, with a bright red face.
“You’re really easy to understand you know. You like him, right? Why?”, asked Kirche while looking into Louise’s eyes.
“I-I don’t like him. You're the one who likes him. That idiot doesn’t have any good qualities.”
“You know Louise, when you lie, you’re earlobes shake. Did you know that?”
Louise quickly grabbed her earlobes. Realizing that it was a lie, she returned her hands to her knees in a flustered manner.
“A-Anyhow, I won’t give him to you. He’s my familiar anyway.”
Kirche laughed and said, “It’s good that you want him for yourself. But I'm not the one you are worrying about, I think.”
“What do you mean?”
“Um… perhaps that kitchen maid?”
Louise’s eyes shifted.
“Heh, so I was right?”
“N-Not really…”
“If you go to your room now, you might see something interesting.”
Louise stood up quickly.
“I thought you didn’t like him?” Said Kirche in a playful tone.
“I only forgot something!” cried Louise while dashing off.
Saito was cleaning the room. He had to sweep the floor with a broom, and wipe the tables with a cloth. As Louise had recently been doing her own laundry as well as other things related to her appearance, Saito’s work was reduced to cleaning.
Cleaning was done very quickly. Louise’s room didn’t have many things in the first place, a small desk with drawers next to the closet, a table with a small vase containing a small plant, two chairs at a table, her bed and her bookshelf. As Louise was a fairly studious person, her bookshelf was lined with thick books.
He took one of the books down. It had characters that he had never seen before. Well of course, thought Saito as he put it back. But, why was he able to communicate with Louise then? Their language was different, and yet they were able to understand each other.
“What’s wrong partner?” asked Derflinger who was leaning against the wall of the room.
“Derf! Why do I understand what you’re saying?” asked Saito as he rushed to Derflinger.
“Well, if you didn’t understand, we would be in a bit of a pickle.”
“I come from a different world. And despite that I’m still able to understand your language. I don’t understand why!”
Saito remembered the person who was saved by Old Osman around thirty years ago. He was a person from his world. It seems like he and Osman had spoken with each other.
“How did you come to Halkeginia anyway partner?”
“I’m not sure myself… there was strange gate giving off this light…”
“Then I would think that the answer has something to do with that gate.” Said Derflinger, as though it were nothing important.
“What exactly was that gate then?”
“Dunno.”
Saito was a bit surprised.
“You’re a legendary sword and yet you don’t know anything. You should know a bit more since you’re legendary. Like, how to get me home…” Said Saito bitterly.
“I’m forgetful and not really interested anyway. Can’t rely on legends too much.”
Someone knocked on the door. Who could it be? If it was Louise, she wouldn’t knock. It’s probably Guiche or Kirche? “It’s not locked” Said Saito.
The door opened and Siesta popped her head in.
“S-Siesta.”
“Umm…”
She was in her usual maid uniform but looked slightly different. Her done up silky black hair dangled on her forehead and the freckles on her face emitted some charm. She was holding a large silver tray, filled with food.
“Um, you haven’t come to the kitchen recently…”
Saito nodded. As Louise let him eat whatever he wanted to, he visited the kitchen less often.
“So I was worried that you might be hungry…” Siesta said nervously.
Seeing her cute gestures, Saito’s heart started throbbing.
“T-Thanks. But, Louise has let me eat at the table now, so I haven’t really been hungry.”
“Really? I’ve been serving the teachers table recently so I didn’t notice. If I’m just a being nuisance then…”
Siesta hung her head slightly.
“N-No, that’s not it at all! I’m really happy that you brought me food! I’m actually hungry right now!” Said Saito, even though he was full from eating at the Alviss dining hall just a while ago.
“Really?”
Siesta’s face brightened.
“Well, eat to your heart’s content.”
The small table was crammed full of food. Siesta sat next to Saito, smiling. Saito started to hate himself for eating so much before but he couldn’t just let Siesta’s good intentions go to waste. Determined, he started to eat the food.
“Is it good?” asked Siesta.
“Yeah, it’s really good.”
He wasn’t lying, but it would have been even better if he had been hungry.
“Ehehe, eat all you want then.”
Siesta gazed at Saito who was eating in a hungry fashion.
“Oh sorry, my table manners…”
“N-No, it’s not that! It’s the opposite. I’m really happy that you like the food so much! The food and the cooks would be really happy!”
Blushing, she wiped her eyes with her hands. Siesta was cute like that. Saito couldn’t taste the flavor of the food anymore.
“I made that one,” said Siesta in a shy voice.
“Yeah. It was difficult to make it in the kitchen, but because you’re eating it, I’m glad I did it.”
Saito felt his heart tense up. Siesta was thinking of me. Me of all people. He lost himself within his thoughts. The atmosphere between them was very tense. Siesta suddenly said in a flustered tone, “S-Saito!”
“Y-Yes?”
“Umm.”
Siesta paused, as if trying to choose the right words.
“That talk, that we had before, was a lot of fun! Especially about that thing! Um, what was it called? Oh, the airplane!”
Saito nodded. Saito had talked to Siesta about his world and Japan in the bath. Siesta, coming from a village, didn’t know much about the world and was able to grasp what Saito had said as though they were things from another country.
“Ah, the airplane.”
“Yes! Being able to fly without magic must be wonderful! So even commoners like us, can fly freely in the sky like birds?”
“Isn’t there an airship?”
“It only hovers.”
“My village is actually a very nice place. It’s called Tarbes. It’s about three days from here by horse, in the direction of La Rochelle."
Saito listened intently while eating the food.
“It’s a very remote village and there’s nothing really special there but… it has a very spacious and beautiful field. During the spring, the spring flowers bloom and during the summer, the summer flowers bloom. It’s like a sea of flowers, as far as the eye can see, past the horizon. It should be very beautiful at the moment…” Said Siesta, eyes closed as if she were drowning in memories.
“I want to look at that sea of flowers just once in an airplane.”
“Sounds nice…”
“Oh, why didn’t I think of it before!” cried Siesta who suddenly grasped Saito’s hand.
Surprised, Saito nearly fell backwards.
“W-What?”
“Do you want to visit my village Saito?”
“Huh?”
“The princess is getting married right? There’s a special holiday for us. It’s been quite a long time since I’ve returned to the village… If it’s ok, please come. I want to show you that beautiful field of flowers. My village has this really nice way of cooking stew as well. It’s called "Yosenabe". It’s made from vegetables that people don’t usually use. I really want to let you taste it!”
“W-Why do you want me to come?”
“…You showed me that there’s a possibility,” said Siesta, nervously looking downwards.
“A possibility?”
“Yes. A possibility that even commoners can win against nobles. We live in fear of the nobles. Knowing that there are people who don't live like that makes me happy, as if their happiness was my happiness. Everyone in the kitchen believes that as well.”
“I want to show such a person to my hometown…” said Siesta.
“I-I see…”
Saito felt embarrassed. I’m not great or anything. Occasionally I’m a legendary familiar, but that’s all. It’s not something to be praised over.
“Of course, it’s not only that. I also want to show Saito the village… But, if I bring a man back suddenly, my family will be shocked. What should I do…”
Suddenly Siesta blushed deeply and whispered, “I can just say you’re my husband.”
“If I say it’s because we’re getting married, they’ll be happy. My mother, father, brother and sister will all be happy.”
“Siesta?”
When Siesta glanced at Saito, who was staring at her dumbfounded, she shook her head.
“Sorry! That will be troublesome! I'm not sure if you'll even come! Haha!”
Embarrassed, Saito replied, “S-Siesta, you’re really bold sometimes. Like when we took a bath.”
Siesta blushed once again.
“I’m not being bold or anything.”
“Eh?”
“When I left home, my mother told me to not show anyone my body except to my chosen man.”
And with that, Siesta reached out and grasped Saito’s hand. Saito’s heart beat very loudly.
“I would have showed you if you simply asked.”
“Y-You’re joking…right?” Saito said, slack jawed.
“It wasn’t a joke. Even now…”
“W-W-What about now?”
Siesta looked straight into Saito’s face.
“Am I not attractive?”
“No, that’s not it at all.”
She was attractive. Too attractive.
Siesta continued looking into Saito. Stop, Saito thought, feeling as though he were being drawn into those black eyes.
“Then why didn’t you do anything when we were taking a bath?”
Siesta hid her eyes sadly.
Ah, don’t look like that, I’ll feel as though I’ve done something very bad.
“…I see, I’m not attractive. You have such a cute girl with you too…That La Vallière is a noble too. I’m just a village girl after all.” Said Siesta sadly, sighing.
“No, it’s not like that at all!”
“Saito.”
“You’re really attractive. I can guarantee it. You look stunning without clothes on.”
Normally those words would get him beaten up, but Siesta was glad.
She had been wondering whether to bring in the dessert or not. While Saito was rambling on, she closed her eyes and stood up. With a deep breath, she let her apron fall to the ground.
“Siesta!” Said Saito, shocked.
Siesta looked at him calmly. She was the kind of person who would do something well once she had decided to do it. She started to undo the buttons on her blouse one by one.
“Siesta! I don’t think it’s a good idea!” cried Saito, shaking his head.
“Don’t worry.”
Her blouse was half undone. Her well-sized cleavage captured Saito’s vision. Saito sprang at Siesta, but suddenly found himself shaking his head, crying, “W-Wait! Wait a moment! I have to think about something like this!”
“Kya!”
Siesta, whom Saito was grasping by the shoulders, lost her balance and fell onto Louise’s bed behind them, as if Saito had pushed her down.
“Sorry…”
Directly below Saito, Siesta lay with her blouse undone. Siesta put her hands on her chest and closed her eyes.
...
seamuss