Chapter 9:
A day before the wedding, Saito, Louise and Cattleya had joined the rest of the group in the royal castle, Henrietta had invited them all to a banquet in order to celebrate the alliance between Tristain and Germania, The whole thing had a serious feel to it, even Saito and Louise didn't perform their usual show, the only one that seemed to be oblivious of the mood was the germanian ambassador.
"Seriously darling, I can't believe you and Louise are getting married… to be able to have so much yet settle for so little… it's almost a shame"
Eléonore had recognized her as one of Louise friends for the academy… Kirche was her name if she remembered correctly…
"If the little is what he wants, then there's no shame on that" Louise answered instead of her fiancé.
"Well… I guess if he's really into 'that' then there's no problem…"
Seriously, was the germanian queen thinking of starting a war when she picked her? ... Wait… was she the one Al had been meeting with the last month?
"Also Alphonse… so young and marrying already, and with a women older than you, now that really is a sh…"
Only one of Eléonore's glares was enough to stop her from finishing that sentence… it seemed that her eagle like eyes had been finally putted to good use.
After the banquet, the Vallière family stayed at the castle, Henrietta had insisted they spend the night there and despite Louise protests, their parents had accepted her invitation; once everyone had their room assigned, Cattleya gathered her family in one of the castle meetings rooms.
"I have a little announcement to make."
She waited until she had everyone's attention and then continued.
"After tomorrow weddings I will be leaving to live on my own"
Everyone became worried, ever since she was born, Cattleya had a weak constitution and it was really dangerous for her to live far away from home.
"You know… the other day I asked my doctor if my body could withstand going through labor… and she told me that… it was a miracle that I was still alive…"
Cattleya took a small pause to wipe the little tears that had formed on her face.
"…That was when I realized, there are still tons of things I want to do before I go, I want to see the world with my own eyes, to find love just like Louise and Eléonore did, maybe I'll even try to become a mother, and I can't do those things if I stay at home… so I will take the risk and search for happiness on my own…"
The entire room became silent after that, only Karin had the courage to say something.
"Cattleya, I think I speak for all of us when I say that we'll miss you… but if that is your decision then I will respect it… it's the least I can do."
Karin had always felt guilty about Cattleya's decease, she felt it was her fault for her to be born like that… it was for that reason that Louise was born 8 years after her… she was scared of not doing it right again.
"Cattleya, you can keep my old house if you like, it's not that much, but I think it'll do just nicely"
Eléonore supported her sister, sure she was going to be worried about her, but she knew that the thing she always wanted the most was to live using her own strength.
"Are you sure about that sis?"
"Sure, after tomorrow I'll be going to Germania, so it's not like I have a use for that place."
After that everyone wished the best for Cattleya future, it would be hard for her to live on her own, but they had no doubts that she could make it.
Later that night as they were all sleeping, Saito felt a presence nearby, since Louise was not staying in the same room as he was; he got up quickly to find the intruder… and it was the queen of Tristain herself who had sneaked into his room.
"Saito san, I'm sorry to come in like this but… I"
Henrietta was dressed in a nightgown that displayed her assets pretty generously… god she looked so tempting on that thing.
"I tried to contain myself, I really tried… I supported both of you… I even wrote that letter like you asked me to… but…"
Henrietta's eyes looked sad… this was how they would always be if she didn't have to fake.
"… I can't stand this anymore… I can't lie to myself any longer…"
Henrietta suddenly pushed Saito into the bed.
"I love you, I really love you"
She jumped on top of him and began rubbing her breasts on his body, her hands were moving to undress him as well.
"Please… don't get married tomorrow… stay with me… I beg of you"
The hands that were moving through his body felt good, her chest rubbing against his felt even better, but…
"Stop…"
Saito's arms suddenly moved Henrietta away, she almost fell but managed to recover her balance by standing up.
"What's wrong? Why…?"
Saito stood back up, and fixed his clothes before answering her.
"Sorry… but I can't accept your feelings… "
She just couldn't believe it… why was he rejecting her?
"Why? Is my body not your liking? Are you really into 'that' as Kirche said today?"
"No, you have a wonderful body and I fell very attracted to it, but…"
Saito took a long breath before saying the next words.
"…I don't love you"
Henrietta felt as if he just stabbed her, the poor girl nearly fainted.
"But… why? On that night, we kissed… we could have even done more than that... but… you didn't feel anything…? You don't love me…?"
She looked so desperate when she said that, it was clear he had hurt her deeply.
"I did feel something… but that wasn't love… it was lust that made me do those things … I'm sorry… I'm really sorry… but…"
Henrietta began crying, her tears made Saito felt miserable… but he had to do this.
"But… the only one I love is Louise…"
The princess slowly fell into her knees, her cries didn't make any noise, she was already used to crying in silence…. Louise was right, he really was a dog, thinking with his other head he had done nothing but hurt the girls that loved him so much.
Suddenly he heard someone crying behind him… and he knew those cries very well … as they were Louise's…
