Authors note: I just read my latest chapter. The part with Pichun was referring to her butt. Yuuka basically burnt her butt. Is that how it comes across? Or should I rewrite it to avoid confusion?
In the end it took me over 1 month to get my **** together and only one day to write the entire thing. This is frustrating. Although I left out the fine tuning. Louise's part is in real need of it too. But I can't wait another day to push this out. May this mess not fail because I refused to fix her pace. ~Crosses fingers~
Rambling: I'll keep writing both version to some extent. Maybe I'll upload the entire remake in one day. :O
And here I thought your ego blows up when you have the slightest success! I wish! I'm more insecure with every chapter!
I'm ded. x-x
PS: There will be no romance in the near future. Anything remotely similar is coincidence.
Chapter 13
Calm before the storm
Upon arriving at the port City La Rochele, Louise and her group decide to take rest in the fanciest hotel the city has to offer, the Goddess's Temple. This place is fancy even for nobles standards. This place is so clean, their faces are reflected on both the floor and their table.
Yuuka sits a few tables away from Louise and Wardes, Siesta and Guiche happily place themselves with their backs to Louise and her fiancee on Yuuka's table. Her orders are to be where Louise can keep an eye on her but upon her fiancees request not too close as he wants some privacy. She is staring down on her drink intently, only rarely throwing a glance over at them. When she does, she can't suppress a gleeful smile.
Being used to deceit and lies from home, the Viscount is just as much an open book to her as her own master. But maybe he isn't putting much effort into hiding it. People don't care about Louise much so her being sold off to someone with ulterior motives is quite probable.
Louise is usually so desperate for anyone's attention she wouldn't dream of questioning anyone who would put up with her, much less someone pledging his unconditional love for her. But she is no longer the same frail girl that falls so easily for lies.
Yuuka's influence has brought about quite a few changes in her. She is no longer desperate, nor blind to those around her. Her senses are much keener than they have ever been. As such it is an awkward sight to behold how Louise returns the bold flirting of her fiancee.
She is a noble. In her world love is not the only, nor the most important reason to get married. Even so she does love him. He has given her the support she needed all throughout her life. Though she tells herself he loves her back, her efforts are bolstered by a subconscious desire to make him fall for her too.
What has begun innocently enough with a confident Louise basking in the warmth of her lover slowly turns into discomfort as she comes to the same realization as her familiar. His words are well thought out, his actions convey much meaning, his gaze, his everything perfectly choreographed, without emotion.
To Yuuka this is a golden opportunity. If he breaks her heart anytime soon, Yuuka will get her revenge right there. Even if the girl doesn't break from his betrayal it will still help Yuuka's agenda.
Louise clings desperately to the image of a man who is not here with her and continues flirting back boldly. She wants him to see her new self and maybe she will even convince herself that everything is alright. As he takes her hand into his she turns to him staring longingly and they continue to chatter. He leans in whispering to her something. Louise takes the initiative and leans closer still to him kissing him on his lips.
Yuuka chuckles to herself, distracting Guiche and Siesta from his feeble attempts to come closer to her. As they turn to look at them their jaws drop.
Wardes doesn't flinch. He shares a passionate moment with her as if it was the most normal thing in the world. He doesn't acknowledge her change at all. It is the same to him as long as he gets what he wants. A sidewards glance toward Yuuka with her open eye strengthens her fears. Yuuka turns her face away with an awkward smile. She has doubts about him too.
As they seperate she replies more heartbroken than happy, "Yes. I will."
Thus they will soon get married. She smiles sadly with a single tear rolling down her cheek. Only one thought occupies her mind at this moment. Please, anyone but him.
Before he can suggest anything more however, she excuses herself and goes to her room early.
Yuuka raises from her seat and follows after her master placing a hand on the Viscounts shoulder as she passes him. "Congratulations, Viscount. It looks like I'll soon be dealing with you too."
His eyes narrow at the ambiguous statement.
…
Louise drops back on the bed in the room she will soon be sharing with him, covering her face with one arm. She doesn't understand her own feelings anymore. She should be happy. Even if he really doesn't love her, he is a noble of high standing and his personality is as noble as his title. She can still make him fall for her. So why does she feel like crying?
"What's the matter? Aren't you happy?", Yuuka interrupts her masters sulking.
Louise raises her arm from her face and finds Yuuka leaning on the doorframe, smiling.
"Congratulations on getting married. You make a good couple." Yuuka continues sarcastically.
Louise sits up angrily demanding, "Why don't you just say what you want and leave?!"
Yuuka's smile fades. "It looks like you've made your choice anyway. What more can I say?"
Louise's head is spinning now. She doesn't get what Yuuka is trying to say.
"If you had to choose between him and me.." she adds quietly.
Before she can give her familiar a piece of her mind Siesta appears from the side and enters her room cheerfully, unaware of Louise's dilemma. She throws her arms around the strawberry blonde girl, congratulating her while Guiche enters shortly after.
He walks closer to her awkwardly rubbing his head. "Congratulations. I would never have imagined the Zero to pull someone like that."
His comment pulls her attention back to herself. She stares down at herself, comparing and belittling. She doesn't have a body like Kirche, or skills to speak of. Even her name draws out laughs from anyone knowing the great lineage she stems from. She has nothing to offer him at all. Suddenly she feels very insecure about herself.
Another thought crosses her mind. A lesson she has learned not too long ago. When there is nothing to gain there are ulterior motives involved. He is plotting and she is no more than part of it, to be discarded whenever she has fulfilled her purpose. She shakes her head slowly upon the realization unable to stop the tears from coming.
Yuuka knows why Louise is really crying and why her presence will only lead to more harm than good. She turns to leave the room. The blonde made her realize what Yuuka does not dare to say to her face.
"Siesta. We're taking a stroll. Leave the boy to fix his own mess.", she vents some anger by putting the boy on the spot.
Siesta turns to look at Guiche fiercely, thinking that it is his insult that made Louise cry, before walking after the familiar.
Now its just a crying Louise and a flustered Guiche unsure of how to deal with her.
…
It takes him some time to build the courage and sit next to Louise.
He coughs into his fist. "Look, Louise. I'm sorry I said that."
He takes her continued sobbing as a sign to continue. "I didn't really mean what I said. You have much to offer."
Louise's sobbing stops.
"You are beautiful. And you are a diligent worker. Don't tell anyone I said this but it is really inspiring to have someone at school who achieves so much even without ever casting magic."
She lifts her face from her hands glancing at him from her blurry eyes.
He looks away sheepishly but continues. "Sometimes I'm really jealous. You never give up and it drives me to try harder too. And unlike us you aren't too proud to be nice."
He looks down at his feet uncomfortably. "I know it doesn't look like it but some of us really like you. We're just cowards. Unlike you who just keeps going forward unwavering. Always doing what's right no matter what anyone may think of you."
She is at a loss for words. His words, although clumsy, take a great deal of stress off of her. She regains some of her confidence. For a moment the world around her fades away. She feels comfortable. More so than she does around Wardes.
Guiche puts his hand on her shoulder and pulls her closer leaning on her head. "So please don't cry anymore."
It is the first time he has done something nice to her, or anyone for that matter. But most of all she regains hope. A scraping of cloth against wood draws their attention. In the doorway stands the Viscount visibly angry at what he finds in his room. Both of their faces lose color.
…
"Was it really a good idea to leave them alone?", Siesta worries.
"Honestly, I don't care. Lets go have some fun. Is there any place you'd like to go?", she replies as she walks around looking for anything interesting to see.
Siesta is caught off guard by her demeanor. It is similar to that time. Yuuka is like a little kid throwing a tantrum again. Exactly what Siesta is here for.
She grabs Yuuka's arm forcing her to come to a stop. "You know...you can tell me if something is bothering you, right?"
They are pushed aside by an obnoxious bunch of drunk mercenaries staggering along the street.
"Watch where you're going!", one of them yells and gives them a once over. "You don't look half bad. How bout you spend the night with us?"
His fellows cheer at the idea and Yuuka beams with joy at the prospect of some murder to vent her frustration. Siesta, seeing her expression, places her hands firmly on Yuuka's cheeks and pulls her face away. "No! Louise will be furious!"
Both are now surrounded by drunk men. Yuuka gestures for Siesta to go ahead. "By all means, solve this peacefully."
One of them throws his arms around Siesta. Another stops short of touching Yuuka as her own hand intercepts it with an almost bone crushing grip. His agonized scream alerts his companions.
"Make your choice, Siesta. Us or them?", Yuuka offers her the obvious illusion of a choice while already planning out how to deal with them in her head.
Siesta attempts to dissuade her, "If Louise finds out we'll both be in trouble!" Upon closer inspection she feels threatened by the now fully armed men threatening to hurt them. "Just don't kill them.", she finally gives in.
"You worry too much." the green haired demon says calmly and produces a thin stick from her hand, an imitation of a magic wand as she has seen plenty before.
"Careful! She's a noble!", one of them yells at his mates as they get in formation to deal with a serious threat.
"You stand before Fouquet the crumbling dirt! Surrender now and I might just let you live.", she invents a bold lie to save herself the trouble of explaining herself to Louise should the news of her little escapade spread.
As they start their attack she makes a movement with her fake wand and the ground breaks apart. Hidden from their sight enormous roots worm their way through the earth creating fissures. As the ground dissolves into fine sand beneath them knocking them all of their feet a dangerously smirking Yuuka stares them down cracking her knuckles. Siesta turns away pretending not to notice the display of violence beside her.
A little shimmer draws her attention. In the distance Tabitha hides behind a wall, holding a tiny mirror to reflect light. Siesta nods once. She knows what to do if the situation requires it.
…
Guiche and Wardes face off in the parading grounds. He is shaking with fear in front of his opponent. Wardes is the leader of the griffon knights after all whereas he is just a boy with minor military training. Nonetheless he draws his rose wand and produces all of his available golems at once.
Louise is uneasy. The Viscount won't believe her that it is just a misunderstanding. He is firmly convinced that Guiche has the audacity to try and seduce his soon to be wife. Instead of being sensible Guiche has gone back to his prideful self and declared that he wouldn't stoop so low as to seduce Louise. The consequence is a duel for Louise's honor that is long overdue.
Guiche begins by sending one of his bronze Valkyries ahead but Wardes easily sends it flying back with an air hammer. Multiple Valkyries now lunge out to overwhelm him but Wardes proves to be faster and more flexible. He sends one of them back in shatters using his air hammer, deflects anothers blow with his blade-wand and leaps into the air where he remains floating. He has the advantage since the Valkyries can't fly.
"Is that all you have to offer, boy?", the Viscount taunts him as he chants another incantation.
Guiche attempts a more basic spell while his Valkyries rush to defend him from any incoming attacks. With a short incantation the earth forms a few massive spikes that shoot out of the ground. Wardes easily avoids them. As soon as his own incantation is finished he hurls himself at his young opponent and with a flick of his wand unleashes a small tornado that pulls up all of his Valkyries, cutting them apart. Only Guiche is spared from this attack.
...
Yuuka and Siesta chatter happily as they search the Goddess's Temple for any sign of their entourage. She seems surprisingly docile after some exercise much like Siesta's younger siblings. Since then they have been sightseeing and discussing whatever comes to mind. They stop at the parading grounds where Guiche and the Viscount are dueling, or rather where the Viscount is mercilessly beating up a defenseless boy while Louise is trying to get him to stop.
"That's enough Wardes! He learned his lesson!", she pulls him away gently.
"No, he won't learn his lesson that easily. I say you continue.", Yuuka interjects.
"You're not helping!", Louise yells in anger.
Yuuka stares at this boy and is reminded of another idiot she knows that doesn't know when to shut up. Only this boy is not immortal and may not live to grow out of his stupidity. She feels nostalgic thinking back to a time when a certain fairy used to cause mischief in her garden no matter how many beatings she will get. And the person she has become. She is mildly curious how this boy will develop if given a chance.
She grabs him by his collar and pulls him to his feet. "You brought this upon yourself, boy. Louise, its time for your first lesson. From now on you will fight your own battles.
Although she is happy to obey, the Viscount prevents her from stepping forward. "What are you talking about? My dainty, little Louise will fight no battle as long as I am with her."
"Why is that?", Yuuka turns to face him.
It dawns on Louise now. The reason she is so uncomfortable around him. He views her as his possession. It shows in the little things he does and says. She is a precious doll to be protected, no more.
She pulls on his arm to get his attention. "Wardes, do you love me?"
He is visibly confused. "Of course, my little Louise. Do you even need to ask?"
She takes a deep breath. "What do you love about me?"
He replies without hesitation. "You are my dainty, little Louise. You are the most beautiful little flower. What is there not to love about you?"
His reply takes away the last hope she has clung to until now. It is as she has thought. He will never love her. She leaves feeling empty inside.
"You talk big about protecting her honor when you don't even respect her.", Guiche taunts him.
Yuuka shakes her head. In a way he is right, but he is in no position to talk.
The Viscounts anger is upon him again and this time there is no one who cares enough to stop him.
His agonized wailing echoes deep into the night.
Such nostalgia.
…
Fouquet the crumbling dirt holds a paper in her shaky hands. The blood rushes to her brain. She is seething. The paper is a wanted poster of herself. There is no picture included but a description instead. She is wanted dead or alive. For some reason news have spread that she showed herself around town, a green haired noble woman, probably an earth mage of at least triangle class, terrorizing the city.
She rips the paper apart in anger.
Pulling her hoodie over her head she sneaks around in the towns back alleys. Now that people know have an idea what to look for she can't show herself around.