Louise was in her room, lying facedown on her bed and feeling REALLY troubled about. And after what happened not long ago, it's not a surprise at all.
{Flashback}
The scene shows Louise and Aristidis at the table chatting about.
"Excuse me." A voice beside them says, making them both to turn and see Miss Longueville standing there.
The pitch-black Storyteller looks at the green-haired woman for a moment, and then nods politely. "Greetings, miss. How may we help you."
Miss Logueville appears somewhat surprised. She heard from rumors around the academy that this Aristidis Familiar could talk even without a mouth, but seeing it for herself is quite the surprising fact. She shakes the surprise off her, and focuses on the job. "I'm the Headmaster's secretary. I will need you to come with me at his office. He wants to have a word with you."
At the sound of that, Louise's eyes widen in shock. This is definitely about the duel earlier. She knew they will get in trouble for that!
"I see." Aristidis says in understanding. "Very well then." He gets up and grabs his Tome as he turns to the pink-haired girl. "Let us go, Louise. Better not let the Headmaster wai-"
"He asks for your presence only, Mr. Aristidis." The secretary cuts him off to correct the thought, earning both their attention again, along with Louise's confusion.
"Why only Aristidis?" The pink-haired Noble asks her. "I mean, he is my Familiar, so shouldn't I-"
"In all honesty I do not know the reason." Miss Longueville cuts her off while slightly shrugging. "I was only asked to bring him alone."
Louise could not understand. Why would the Headmaster ask for her Familiar only, and not her as well.
"Louise." The pitch-black Storyteller says and gets her attention as he looks at her with a kind expression. "Worry not. I will see what they want me about for, and then come back to enjoy the rest of our pleasant day."
He turns to the secretary. "You may lead the way, miss..."
"Longueville." She simply tells him, before moving a hand toward the way she wants him to go along with her. "Please, this way."
Aristidis nods and begins to follow her. As they go he turns his head toward the worried Louise, and he lifts a hand at head level, with his kind expression showing once more. "See you in a few minutes!"
After they left from the place, Louise could not help but wonder about this. She begins thinking about why would they want Aristidis alone in the Headmaster's office without her. It must be obviously about the duel not long ago. But wouldn't she also be blamed for...
Then a thought crosses her mind as her eyes widen. (Don't tell me that they plan on locking him away, and then give him to the palace for what he did to Guiche!)
Louise places both her hands on her head, troubled at the image of him ending up like that. Even if she doesn't receive any punishment for the actions of her Familiar, having him being taken away like that will not only result in her losing the only nice person to actually be supported by in this whole academy, but it will also ruin her reputation beyond repair! The other Nobles will never let her live that one down!
{End Of Flashback}
While still facedown on her bed, Louise lets out a muffled by the pillow scream, not able to stand that thought. (What am I going to do?! Why things had to go this way?!) Says in her thoughts in despair.
The scene then moves straight to the Headmaster's office, where Old Osmond, who is still sitting on his chair, and the professor Jean Colbert, who now stands beside him, are waiting for the arrival of Miss Longueville and the Familiar Aristidis. The two men can't help but be tense about it. They still have no idea if the being they will meet is actually a danger to be concerned about or not, after all.
A few seconds pass, and a knock sounds on the door. "It I, Old Osmond. I have arrived with miss Valliere's Familiar." The voice of the secretary is heard saying from outside.
"You may come in." The Headmaster allows them, ready along with the professor to meet the peculiar Familiar, even though Colbert met him twice already.
There is a short pause after that, with both the muffled voices of Aristidis and Longueville being heard outside, with the latter sounding somewhat confused for some reason.
As Osmond and Colbert look at each other, trying to understand what takes them so long, till they hear from an unknown voice the word-
"Some-"
The door is then suddenly kicked open, startling them both, while the sound of some music is also now heard with the voice continuing saying: "-body once told me-" As a big green ogre-like creature with trumpet-looking ears, dirty brown and white commoner garb and grumpy expression enters carefully the room while carrying a big silver weird box of some sort under its arm, with the still unknown voice also says: "-the world is gonna roll me! I ain't the sharpest tool in the she~d!"
[Here's Shrek everyone!]
Then in comes the pitch-black being, pressing something on the strange box and making the music stop just as soon.
"That will be all, friend. You may go now." Aristidis tells him satisfied, with the green ogre rolling his eyes as he turns around and leaves through the open door, while in the meantime the still surprised Headmaster and the professor understand that both the voice along with the music from before were coming from that box the ogre is carrying, given that the creature didn't speak while they were hearing that, and that Aristidis's voice doesn't sound like that, much to their now surprised fascination.
And as for Miss Longueville, she was just standing while looking wide eyed back and forth at the ogre and the hallway it walks to, while thinking- (Where did that big green thing even come from without my notice?!)
Aristidis notices Colbert, and thinks for a moment. (The teacher from last day. I think I understand a bit now the reason of my presence being needed here.) He nods his head at them respectfully. "Greetings, gentlemen, and apologies for the out of nowhere joke. Couldn't quite resist the urge, I always wanted to do that outside of the Tome." He says somewhat amused.
"A-A joke?" Osmond questions as the three of them look confused at the pitch-black Storyteller for his strange sense of humor.
"Anyway-" Aristidis starts as he looks around him. "For what reason have I been called in your well-organized office?"
That snaps the Headmaster out of his confusion, and then looks at his green-haired secretary. "Thank you for bringing him, Miss Longueville. I will need you to step outside for the time being once again, though. Hope you don't mind."
"I understand, Old Osmond." She says with understanding and a bow.
She goes for the door, but looks at the pitch-black humanoid one last time curious, but as if feeling her staring at him, he turns his head and winks at her, catching her off guard, and making her feel weird about it as she steps outside and closes the door behind her.
Old Osmond coughs. "Please, take a seat."
Aristidis does as he is told, and sits on the chair in front of the Headmaster's desk.
Osmond continues. "We would like to ask you some questions, Mr. Aristidis. I hope you don't mind."
"Sure." The pitch-black Storyteller says, before he adopts an air of self-importance. "It is understandable considering it is me we are talking about here."
The two men sweat drop at the humanoid's ego.
"S-So then-" The Headmaster begins. "What was the reason you challenged young Guiche De Gramont into a duel?"
Aristidis's face turns serious. "Because you don't insult one's servants and name for nonsensical reasons, and get away with it without a good lesson to remember."
The two men now understand in a way how it started, with Old Osmond sighing for being right of Guiche's idiocy.
"I apologize for the young Noble's behavior." Colbert says apologetically while bowing his head. "I promise it won't happen again."
The pitch-black Storyteller rolls his eyes. "Not the only thing you should apologize for."
The professor is confused by that as he lifts his head again. "Eh?"
"Nevermind that." Aristidis says dismissively. "What other questions may I answer?"
Old Osmond strokes his beard as he thinks about the next question. "If that doesn't sound strange, would you mind telling us how you came into possession of that special Tome of yours?"
"It was given to me by my mentor who created it for me, and who taught me how to properly use it." The pitch-black Storyteller answers. "But please do not ask me about him. I barely knew him myself, so details are not an option."
That causes the two wise men to wonder about it. A mentor who crafted a powerful magical item like that for his pupil, but at the same time being an enigma to even him for some reason. Aristidis could be lying to them about it, but if it's the truth, it is quite the peculiar scenario, that's for sure.
"So-" Colbert begins. "That mentor of yours is also the reason you knew you will become miss Valliere's Familiar. Was he preparing you for that moment?"
"That is right, yes." Aristidis replies with a nod. "Now as for why her specifically, I don't know, but I wouldn't have it any other way. She is a cutie." He says the last one with a happy face and a hand on his cheek.
"I see..." The professor says while feeling kind of weird at the attraction the pitch-black being shows to have for his summoner.
Old Osmond keeps his eyes at Aristidis Tome. "How many things and beings that Tome of yours has?"
"Alright, look now-" The pitch-black Storyteller begins while feeling somewhat impatient now. "I am always willing for a talk, but I have and a lady waiting for me, so no offense, but I will answer the most obvious questions fast, so we can wrap this up sooner." He tells them, which kind of confuse the two. "Firstly, everything in the Tome is from real stories you wouldn't fathom them as real. Also the number of said stories is more likely to get you mad, so I'll say nothing. Secondly, no, I don't originate from anywhere in Halkeginia, I appeared from a different place than yours. Thirdly, yes, I can speak, eat and drink without the need of a mouth. Reason? Magic. Fourthly, I don't have any actual labeling you would use for species. I am simply the Storyteller, and the only of my existence as intended by my mentor. That's what I believe, at least. Fifthly, because as wise men I see you asking that particular one, the language the Tome is using, in the title and within, is called Hellenic, and no, you do not possess such language here to speak or read it. Just to know, the Tome itself is literally called: TALES AND FABLES: MULTIVERSAL EDITION. And lastly, and I want you to pay close attention to it..."
As he trails off, he suddenly pulls with one hand from behind his back and in front of him a cup of brown warm coffee, while showing a more carefree face. "I like the smell of fresh coffee in the morning." Says as he smells it, before taking a sip from it.
The two men try to process the barrage of information Aristidis gave them, while also being a bit confused at the last random fact. They still find impressive how he can just pull things out of nowhere like that, though.
The pitch-black Storyteller looks at the two as he lowers his cup. "I will allow you to ask me one more question before I take my leave. Make sure it is an important one you want answered."
The two think about it as they look at each other, and then nod before looking at Aristidis again.
Old Osmond decides to make that important for them question. "We've been wondering since you appeared from who knows how far. What do you plan to do now that you're here? In our word, I mean."
He just looks at them for a few seconds after asking him that, and then his face turns serious. "Well, dear gentlemen, the truth is that I plan to do..." He lets the tension build up... But then it falls as he shows suddenly a neutral face. "Nothing in particular, really." Simply says before taking another sip from his coffee.
The two look at him really confused with his answer, especially with him dropping the tension like that.
Aristidis makes his cup vanish. "I am a man who has literally everything at his disposal. The fact that I'm here does not change that. Frankly, to me it's like I'm on a big vacation." He laughs for a bit, amused at that thought.
"S-So, you really plan on doing nothing more?" Colbert tries to confirm rather troubled while swiping his bald head with his handkerchief.
The pitch-black Storyteller raises an eyebrow at the professor's insistence. "You make it sound as if you thought I was going to conquer your world or something." He dismisses the ridiculously to him thought. "Anyway, no, I have need of nothing from your world." His expression then turns jovial. "All I want is simply to enjoy a good time, and care about nothing in the world. Like I always do." His expression then turns neutral. "Just don't make the mistake to annoy me like that blond one did, or worse, and I will not turn you into a lesson for others to remember. The least anyone can do for you if you don't provoke them yourself, right?"
Old Osmond stroke his beard as he thinks about it. "I see. That makes sense, I suppose."
"Well then-" Aristidis gets up. "Apologies once more for keeping our talk so short, but it is time for me to go. Louise must feel quite uneasy with my absence by now."
He turns around to leave.
"W-Wait just a moment, please!" The professor says urgently, making Aristidis to stop but not turn around. "Just one last question and I will not bother you more than this. You said at the beginning something about us having to apologize for more. What you meant with that?"
There is a silence for a moment, till the pitch-black Storyteller turns around to look at them, his face serious. "I was talking about the way you neglect your students, obviously."
That catches them, Colbert mostly, off guard.
Aristidis continues. "This is supposedly the best academy for Nobles Halkeginia has to offer. And yet instead of Nobles, all I have seen so far here is just a bunch of spoiled, unruly children. You teach them how to do magic, but neglect to show them how to act like proper Nobles. The parents of those younglings have entrusted you with their full education, so you can help them grow into the fine examples they expect them to be in the future, since they don't have the time for a number of reasons to help them themselves. But NO! You go as far as allowing them to bully an unfortunate soul, and calling her Louise The Zero, like that's an appropriate action to do. And it's like that for quite some time as I understand. It's almost as if you're afraid of punishing them when they do something they shouldn't, which will just make their audacity grow the more it is ignored. And that will eventually result in them most likely growing to become corrupted Nobles that think nothing of others' well-being, other than their own, which can cause multiple problems to society. Is that the future you want them to grow as?"
That makes the two men to look at each other troubled, till Aristidis gets their attention by pointing at them.
"You and the rest of the teaching stuff should be ashamed of the way you teach them. You're supposed to care more than that." The pitch-black Storyteller says obviously disappointed, before he turns around and walks toward the door. "Good day to you, sirs."
Aristidis opens the door, walks out, but stops to turn to Miss Longueville who was standing to the side, waiting all this time outside. "Miss." He says as he nods politely to her, with her returning the gesture, and then closes the door before he continues walking on his way.
Inside the Headmaster's office again, the two men appear to feel rather awkward after the talk they had with the pitch-black Familiar.
Old Osmond turns to Colbert. "Well, at least it appears we have nothing to truly worry about in the end with that Aristidis fellow."
"R-Right." The professor agrees, while still feeling awkward about. "Still..." He trails off as he lowers his head.
The Headmaster strokes his beard. "Even if it was mainly about miss Valliere's ill treatment, we can't deny that he doesn't make a good point. We have been too soft on our students lately. We must begin taking their education about manners and aristocracy more seriously."
"You're absolutely right, Old Osmond." Colbert agrees, but then he thinks about something. "Should we report about him to the palace? This being must be the biggest discovery... Ever!"
Osmond's face becomes serious. "Do you have any idea what those fools of the palace will do if they find out about a being of his ability, Mr. Colbert? He should be able to summon an entire army out of nowhere if he wishes to, or even monsters and weapons of power our world has never seen before. They would not lose the opportunity to use that power to cause a war and conquer everything in sight. Just imagine the chaos if they somehow convince him to help them do just that."
The professor's eyes widen in that horrifying realization.
The Headmaster gets up and goes close to the window to peek outside, and up to the sky. "I will take responsibility of this case myself. We will speak of this to no one and keep the fact hidden for as long as possible. And if they eventually discover him, let us hope he will just dismiss them and force them to leave him alone, if he really doesn't want anything from our world."
Colbert nods. "Let us hope it will be that simple." He looks down to the side. (We have seen enough war as it is.) Says in his thoughts while remembering of a certain past event in his life.
Osmond keeps on looking outside the window, contemplating about something. A disembodied laugh can be heard in his thoughts that is not his, and from the past. He narrows his eyes as he keeps on staring at the unknown.
The scene then moves back into Louise's room, showing her to still be at the same facedown position on her bed from before and still troubled about.
Suddenly a few knocks from her door can be heard, before they turn into a continuous random rhythm [In The Megalovania Rhythm], which draws her attention, with the said door then opening to reveal the mouthless Aristidis, who was leaning with his back on the door's side frame and with his arms folded.
"Missed me?" He asks as he winks at her.
Louise's eyes were wide open in great disbelief. Her Familiar was fine! "A-Aristidis!" She yells as she lifts herself on all four fast at her mattress.
The pitch-black Storyteller chuckles a bit amused. "What is with that reaction?"
The pink-haired Noble gets off the bed and takes a few steps toward him while still in disbelief, as Aristidis removes himself from the previous stance to stand normally. "I-I thought-"
"That I will be in trouble because of that duel?" Aristidis guesses her thought as he cuts her off. "Worry not." He walks toward the table nearby and sits on one of the chairs. "We simply had a polite little talk."
"Re-Really?" Louise questions still in disbelief. "J-Just that? What did the Headmaster wanted to talk with you about?"
The pitch-black Storyteller begins. "Well, at first it WAS about my duel with that impolite blonde-flea, but the Headmaster and that teacher of yours from the summoning ritual yesterday, were very understanding about it, so no issue there."
As she listens to what he says, the pink-haired girl approaches the table and sits on the second chair across him.
Aristidis continues. "Then the rest of the talk was mostly about what I am, my Tome, and so on. Nothing you don't know already, really. I kept the talk about it short, because it would keep me much more preoccupied than I wanted, and it would have been impolite of me to let the charming lady that is you wait for me for longer than appropriate." Says the last part seductively.
That makes Louise to blush, before feeling again troubled about. "A-Aristidis, please stop with that already, I told you that I'm engaged!"
"Still not believing that." He says simply and fast, which makes her feel annoyed of him still not believing her. "Anyway, at the end I decided to give them my honest opinion about their handling of students here."
"Huh?" Is all the pink-haired Noble can say, not quite understanding what he talks about.
Aristidis winks once more at her. "I believe that from now on, the students of this academy will be far less annoying toward you than usual after that. You may as well forget that Zero nickname, and that inappropriate treatment you were receiving ever existed."
Louise finally realizes what he meant as she looks at him with surprise. Once more her Noble of a Familiar has shown that no matter what, he is always looking out for her. Even going as far as to talk directly to the Headmaster to make sure about it.
She turns the other way enough to keep her face out of his line of sight, and tries to keep her emotions in check. (Keep the tears in, Louise. Don't show him how touched you actually are with his action.) Says in her thoughts while still trying.
Aristidis can understand that she is obviously trying to not show how happy she actually is about it, and he can't help but feel happy about it himself.
"So anyway-" He begins, catching her attention as she looks at him normally and in control of her feelings again. "I was planning to come back to where we were after finishing with my business at the Headmaster's office, but I was informed by Cinderella that you left and went to the building as well, and guessed you most likely went back to your room. So, here I am, ready like before to pass the time with you." He shows his kind expression. "Tell me whatever that is in your mind, Louise."
Louise thinks about it for a bit, and then finds something she doesn't quite understand. "You said before that your magic was weakened, yet that bull monster you called at your duel with Guiche was looking really strong."
Aristidis understands why the confusion. "Ah, that. You are not wrong, Asterius the minotaur IS a strong call to make. Was quite taxing on my magic to be honest, even with the extra I gained back in my short time here, not mentioning risky since in case of any actual possible emergency my choices would be limited, but it was OH so worth seeing the shock in his face." Says the last bit with glee and no regrets.
The pink-haired Noble sweat drops at the fact he went so far with that, mostly to cause shock and awe. But then again, if she had magic like that, she would probably do that as well for the same reason.
The pitch-black Storyteller now appears to be contemplating as he has a hand placed on his jaw. "Though, it would be best for us just in case to remain in here till I have some of that magic back." His expression then turns joyous. "And I know just the thing to keep us preoccupied!"
He places his Tome to the far side of the table, and then from below the table pulls out a deck of cards, with red and black painted back cover, and also big yellow words on the middle part that writes UNO. "We will play a card game!"
"Cards?" She asks confused, but then puts her hands forward troubled. "B-But that's not an appropriate activity for Nobles like us."
"Oh, naive you." The pitch-black Storyteller says while shaking his head amused. "This is nothing like the betting card games you often hear about. And even if it was, such activity is inappropriate only when you actually make bets with money and valuables."
Hearing that, causes Louise to stop for a moment and think about it. "Well, when you put it like that..."
Aristidis's expression then turns cunning as he leans a bit forward while shuffling the deck. "And after all, aren't you curious to learn a game no one has ever played in this world before?"
The thought of learning to play an entirely new game to her AND the world, intrigues Louise greatly, to the point she can hardly keep her enthusiasm in check about it. Eventually the pink-haired girl can't keep it to herself anymore.
"LET'S PLAY!" She says with a yell, before she realizes herself and puts both hands on her mouth to cover it, feeling really embarrassed about her enthusiastic outburst. That's not how a Noble like her is supposed to act. "I-I mean-"
"GREAT!" Aristidis cuts her off with his own enthusiasm, catching her by surprise. "That is the enthusiastic spirit I like seeing. And do not be afraid of expressing yourself more than usual. It is after all just the two of us in here." He stops shuffling the deck, looks up for a moment as if remembering something, and then looks at her again. "Well, the two of us plus the ex-king of the Egypt."
Before she can process that, she notices being seated beside them by the table all of a sudden a serious-looking person with his arms folded, dressed in a strange to her blue uniform with black undershirt, a small golden upside down pyramid with a sculpted eye in the middle being tied with a chain around his neck, and hair... [OK, I am not describing that weirdly spiky hair, people, you all know by now that he is Yami Yugi from Yu-Gi-Oh, also known as Atem.]
Needless to say, Louise was really surprised by the sudden appearance. She turns to Aristidis. "Umm, who-"
"Louise, that's Atem. Atem, Louise." The mouthless Storyteller introduces the two fast.
Atem nods politely at her. "Nice to meet you."
"N-Nice to meet you too." The pink-haired Noble returns the greeting a bit awkwardly. She is still not used to those kind of appearances.
Aristidis places the deck at the middle of the table. "Alright, now while Cinderella brings us something to drink, I will explain how the card game UNO works."
"Wait." Louise stops him. "When did you inform the maid about it?"
The pitch-black Storyteller looks at her. "If I choose to, I can make people hear my thoughts from a distance." ({Like I do with you right now.}) Says that directly into her mind.
The pink-haired girl just looks at him wide eyed in shock after discovering that.
Aristidis feels amused at her shock for a moment, before going back on topic. "So, as I was saying about the UNO game-"
He begins explaining for a few minutes the rules and how each card works, till they eventually start to play, and with four glasses of juice being brought by Cinderella, with her sitting to play as well.
A few hours pass, and Louise seems to enjoy quite a bit the UNO game, along with everyone else.
While they were playing, Atem appeared to be telling his story to her. "And that's how I went from Pharaoh, to King Of The Games."
"I still can't believe your case, Atem." Louise says surprised with his story as she places a card of hers to the card pile at the middle, and then gets troubled as she realizes something. "I-I mean your majesty!"
"Just Atem is fine." He simply tells her. "No such formalities needed."
"Also, something I don't understand. What is a duel disk exactly?" The pink-haired girl asks confused.
"It's one of those complicated to answer things." Aristidis tells her. "I will tell you details at another time myself, worry not."
Atem places his last card on the card pile. "I win."
That gets the pink-haired girl to cover her face with her hands in frustration. "Aagh, I knew I should have changed color there!" She then uncovers herself and shows a happy smile. "I guess that proves why you're called King Of The Games. You're good at this."
Atem nods in appreciation.
Aristidis decides to speak as he looks happily at her. "You enjoy the game, Louise?"
She nods at him. "Yeah, it's very fun." She looks at the cards. "Who would have thought that such a unique game could be made with cards? I could play it for hours and not be bored of it." After saying that, she places a hand in front of her mouth and yawns, obviously a bit tired.
Cinderella smiles. "Looks like someone is tired."
Louise rubs one of hers eyes sleepily. "That's strange, I usually don't get tired so soon."
Aristidis places a hand on his chin in a contemplating manner. "It was a rather intense day for you, taking into account the somewhat incredible facts that occurred thanks to yours truly-" Says that part in a self-important way as he indicates fabulously himself, before going back in his previous contemplating stance. "Along with that angsty to you moment with the Headmaster asking for me, and the hours we have spent playing this game here, it is quite understandable that you are tired after all that. I suggest taking two or three hours of relaxation. You will feel much better later."
The pink-haired girl stands up, still feeling a bit drowsy. "I suppose you're right. A little rest now sounds good."
Cinderella stands up as well and approaches her. "Allow me to prepare you, miss Valliere."
Aristidis looks at Atem. "That will be all, friend. Thank you for the fun game."
He nods with a smile at the pitch-black Storyteller. "To you as well, Storyteller." He stands up. "Till next time."
Atem walks toward the door, before opening it and exiting as he closes it again behind him.
In the meantime, Cinderella undresses Louise of her uniform, and dresses her in her nightgown. The latter then lies on the bed, with the former covering her with the blanket till the neck, and bowing before the pink-haired Noble, before stepping away as Aristidis approaches the bed.
He looks at the tired Louise. "While you rest, I will take a walk around the academy. Maybe find a calm place to sit down and read for a bit. If you need me, just speak to Cinderella and she will communicate with me in the same way I did with you right before the game. Tome personnel are capable of doing that with me specifically due to the connection of magic-"
The mouthless Storyteller stops as he sees that the lying Noble just stares at him, trying not to sleep from tiredness, so he decides to not bother her with further details. "You know what? Nevermind, I will just go and tell you once you have gotten a proper rest."
"Before you go-" The pink-haired begins somewhat sleepily. "I want to ask one last thing. This morning I woken up, why your bed was missing?"
"To be honest-" Aristidis begins as he rubs the back of his head for a moment. "I thought it would get in your way after waking up, being pretty much in the middle and all, so I removed it afterward to help your day start as easy as possible."
Louise just looks at him for a moment, and then can't help but feel amused. "Pffft! That's so silly!"
The pitch-black Storyteller shrugs. "What can I say, I like being hyperbolically considered at times. Now have a good rest, and I will see you later, Louise."
After saying that, he turns around to leave.
"Aristidis?" Louise says, which makes him stop and turn his head to look at her.
She smiles weakly at him. "Thank you for being here for me." After saying that, she closes her eyes, and sleeps.
"Aw~." The pitch-black Storyteller quietly exclaims as he places a hand on his chest, because of how nice and cute of her all that was.
"Shh." A serious Cinderella shushes him. "Let the girl sleep properly, Storyteller, sir."
Aristidis turns toward the door. "Right, right."
({Storyteller, got a moment?}) Brock's voice from pokemon can be heard into the mouthless Storyteller's mind.
({Yes, my good chef, what is it?}) Aristidis responds in the same manner.
({The chef's academy and some of the other servant personnel would like to see you in one hour if you're not too preoccupied at the moment.}) His personal chef tells him telepathically from where he is.
The pitch-black Storyteller stays silent for a moment, and then a bored expression forms in his face. ({Tell me you didn't flirt aggressively with one of their women in the end.})
({NO! I didn't, really!}) The personal chef tells him troubled, before returning to his more calm character. ({It's about another reason.})
Aristidis thinks about it. ({Is it of concern, or pleasant invitation?)}
({The latter.}) He tells him.
The Storyteller's expression gets enthusiastic. ({Ooh, I already love this!})
~One Hour Later~
The scene shows Aristidis having just entered the academy's kitchen, with his personal tanned chef, Siesta, a few maids and cooks noticing him, before bowing for a moment respectfully before him with a smile.
Then a somewhat tall and well-rounded man with a rather muscular built, brown hair with matching-coloured thick eyebrows and beard, and wearing a white chef uniform complete with an also white torque on his head, approaches the Storyteller with a smile. "You truly came!" He bows before him. "Allow me to welcome you to our academy's kitchen, our Noble." He straightens himself up again. "I'm the chef here. You may call me Marteau."
"Well, thank you for-" Aristidis begins, but then stops and raises an eyebrow somewhat confused. "Wait, I would understand it if it was simply something like dear Noble, but our Noble?"
The chef smile gets bigger. "Even though you're a Noble yourself, you fought that snobby Noble boy to defend a servant of yours from his injustice without a second thought. That, along with the right treatment Siesta and your chef Brock over there told us that you show to both your servants and commoners alike, was more than enough to be considered a literal noble example for us commoners like no other. A true Noble indeed, our Noble!" He laughs loudly after saying that.
"Ah, I see." The pitch-black Storyteller says in understanding. "I mean come on, what kind of person would I be to treat my subjects unfairly? Not to mention that you commoners in general are the ones who do most of the work in this society, and that is to be respected obviously, no?"
That makes Morteau's smile shine with pride, before he turns to the rest. "Heard that everyone? Now things would've definitely been better if there were more Nobles out there like him."
Almost everyone chatters positively at that.
Aristidis looks the other way with his head high in a self-important way. "Well what can I say, I AM pretty great after all."
The way he said that in such a heavy self-important way, causes most people, including Siesta and chef Brock, to sweat drop.
(I suppose arrogance is a trait you can't expect a Noble not to have. Well, at least he is still a great guy to know, taking everything else into consideration.) Marteau says in his thoughts. "Come this way please."
The chef leads the mouthless Storyteller into another room through a door, with the said room being quite simple, except for a somewhat long table in the middle with multiple chairs. The said table is filled with multiple deep plates of warm white soup, with obvious pieces of carrots and potatoes sticking out, and slices of bread beside the said plates.
"Chef Brock who you sent us as extra help, thank you for that by the way, taught us quite a few tricks and recipes about food, that not even I knew about." The chef says before approaching one of the plates to wave with his hand some of its smell to his face, which he happily breaths in. "Seriously now, who would have thought that a simple soup of rise, carrots, and potatoes could become a first class plate with the right preparation and the simplest of extra ingredients?"
Marteau then straightens up, and approaches the tanned chef with a big smile, before the former places a hand on the latter's back. "No wonder this guy is your chef. And here I thought I was great!" He laughs heartily at that as he pats strongly Brock once at the back, almost making him lose his balance forward and causing the tanned chef to smile awkwardly as he rubs the said back with a hand.
Aristidis nods proudly. "That's Brock for you. Simply the best."
The tanned chef rubs the back of his head awkwardly at being praised like that. "Come on, you guys, you exaggerate now. I just-"
"Oh shut up, Brock, you know it's true." The pitch-black Storyteller cuts him off while looking at him seriously.
Marteau places a hand onto Aristidis shoulder, making him to look at the chef. "We have one extra plate ready on the table. And right now is our break time. It would be our honor as commoners if we could have you eat together with us, our Noble."
"Say no more, mister Marteau." Aristidis tells him and then nods. "Your invitation is both appreciated, and accepted."
The chef laughs at that, and then turns to the rest. "You heard him, everyone! Let's sit down commoners and Noble together, and eat!"
Everyone smiles happily with that, and take their seats to begin.
Some minutes pass, and everyone is almost done with their plate.
The pitch-black Storyteller in the meantime was telling them details about his duel. "And then Asterius whacked comically the blonde-flea down with his own bronze golem." Says before he proceeds to laugh amused.
Marteau laughs as well. "Blonde-Flea? Now that's an insult I've never heard of before."
"Oh!" Aristidis exclaims surprised. "You are actually the first one to comment about it! I said it so many times so far, without anyone responding to it, that I was wondering if it was smart at all."
The mouthless Storyteller takes two more spoons of soup, officialy emptying his plate, and seems pleased. "That was an enjoyable soup."
Marteau looks at him curious. "Say, our Noble, I know you're not human and all, but I'm curious, how do you-"
"Eat, drink, speak? Magic." Aristidis cuts him off and answers simply.
That answer appears to be more than enough to not only satisfy, but also amaze the academy's servant personnel in the room.
The pitch-black Storyteller looks at his empty plate. "By the way, was there a specific reason you prepared soup for today?"
"Of course." Marteau answers. "You see, Brock here told us how much you love soup-based foods over everything else, so we decided to make today one as such for everyone in honor of your visit."
The tanned chef turns to Aristidis with a smile. "I thought you will like the idea, Storyteller."
"And how can I not?" Aristidis asks somewhat incredulously, before beginning to obviously imagine about soups with a pleased expression. "The pleasing delicious sensation it offers... That warm liquid goodness that makes you want to swallow more and more..."
Everyone sweat drops at the way he said that.
Even Brock thinks that. "That sounded kinda-"
The pitch-black Storyteller pinches the bridge of his own nose slightly frustrated. "Yes, I realized it as soon as I said it." He lets his nose and looks with a serious look at the tanned chef. "That is what came out, you know in what way I meant it, and like Elsa would say, let it go."
As everyone else tries to understand who that Elsa person he is referring to is supposed to be, Chef Brock smiles awkwardly as he puts his hands in front of him defensively toward Aristidis. "O-Ok, understandable, don't worry about it."
The pitch-black Storyteller sighs. "Anyway. Friends-" He says to everyone as he stands up. "I thank you very much for not only the delicious food, but your great hospitality too."
That brings a smile to everyone.
Aristidis turns with a happy expression to Marteau. "And thank YOU, mister Marteau, for preparing all this for me. Such a wholesome idea of you."
The academy's chef shakes his head. "Oh no, I can't take credit for this. This whole thing was actually Siesta's idea."
"Oh, really now?" The pitch-black Storyteller says as he turns to the black-haired maid, who is slightly blushing and smiling at the attention.
She decides to speak her mind while avoiding eye contact. "I-I just thought that someone as great as you, would like to see just how much the servants of the academy appreciate you, and eating together crossed my mind as the most appropriate way, s-so-"
"Everyone!" Aristidis cuts her off as he turns to everyone else again, his face not showing any expression. "Once more I thank you for everything-" He says with a polite nod before he turns to his tanned chef. "You may continue helping them out till the end of the day-" And then turns to Siesta. "And I would like to see you for a moment outside, if you don't mind."
"Eh?" Is all the maid can say, as the pitch-black Storyteller walks out of the room.
She looks at the tanned chef, who just shrugs unsure of what is this about, and then looks at the exit, before deciding to stand up and walk after him.
As she does so, a feeling of dread fills her at remembering that empty expression of his. The maid is thinking that she might have unknowingly upset him, and now she is in actual trouble.
Eventually, she reaches the outside of the kitchen, where Aristidis expects her with his arms folded and staring at her, his expression still devoid of any emotion. Siesta can't help but tremble a bit, as the pitch-black Noble in front of her just stares into her eyes, and does nothing more at the moment.
"Siesta." He suddenly says, which makes the black-haired maid yelp in surprise.
She finds her composure fast, and looks at him with an awkward smile. "Ah, y-yes?"
Aristidis looks at her for a bit more, before taking hold of her hand with one of his own, and bows as he brings it in front of his face, with his action causing her confusion. "Thank you for being such a kindhearted and thoughtful girl toward me."
Hearing his honest appreciation makes her blush, before turning her head the other way with an awkward smile. "C-Come now, s- A-Aristidis, I didn't do anything THAT important to deserve such praise from you. Everyone did their part."
While still keeping her hand like that, Aristidis looks at her. "But who came with the idea, Siesta? Oh trust me, you deserve that, and so much more."
He lets her hand as he straightens himself up, and then from behind his back pulls out a small brown sack. "Like this sack of gold." He says before handing it to her hands.
Siesta looks at it for a second, and opens it to see a great amount of golden coins. She looks troubled at the pitch-black Storyteller. "I-I can't accept those! Th-This is too-"
"You know-" Aristidis cuts her off. "I would normally give something more appropriate for a girl like you, like a precious pendant or something. But with the way this society of yours is, people seeing a commoner like you having something like that would make them think you stole it, so instead I am giving you those to be safe."
Just as the maid was about to protest troubled more, he points fast at her, his finger barely touching her nose, startling and stopping her.
The pitch-black Storyteller appears to be looking at her shocked. "Siesta! You don't really think of refusing such a generous gift, do you? Think of all the great things you can do with this gold! Buy something nice for yourself or family, share some with your fellow workers, throw them in a well- Whatever you prefer, the ideas are many really."
He then goes fast beside her and places an elbow on her shoulder. "And let's be honest here, do you think someone like me has any need of some measly golden coins? The thought itself is outrageous! So just take the coins, and have yourself a good time like you deserve. Cause if in life you don't enjoy, then there is no point. Won't you agree?"
The black-haired maid just looks at him, not sure of how to properly respond to the way he brings all that up. "W-Well, I guess..."
"There you go, I knew you we will see eye to eye." Aristidis says pleased. "And always remember, if you ever need anything from me, I will be more than happy to give."
With that, he lets her and starts walking away with his hand raised. "Till our next meeting!"
Siesta was simply looking at him for the duration as she was holding the sack of gold in her hands, and then smiles. "What a strange Noble he is." She then looks somewhat longingly at him. "And yet..."
Realizing herself, she shakes fast her head. "Don't be ridiculous now, Siesta, th-that would be unacceptable for someone of his status and you're just a commoner."
She sighs, stays like that for a moment, and then turns around to walk toward the academy's kitchen again. (Let's just go start with our duties and forget about it.) Says somewhat sad in her thoughts, before entering and closing the door behind her.
The scene then moves back to the pitch-black Storyteller, who appears rather pleased with himself. He brings a closed hand in front of him with one finger extended. "Reward an act of goodwill: Done." He extends a second finger. "Make a move on Siesta: Done." He half-extends a third finger. "Find a quiet and somewhat distant place to read in peace, and for future plans-" He looks around to see himself close to the big wall and at an appropriate distance from the central building of the academy. He extends both the third and the fourth finger. "Done and done."
He sits down upon the grassy ground with his back against the wall, and opens his Tome to begin reading.
While he was doing that, the blue-haired Noble Tabitha appears from behind the central building across, who then notices Aristidis sitting by the wall at the distance.
She looks at him for a moment longer, and then decides to lean with her back against the central building's wall, before opening a book she was carrying to begin reading as well, while at times staring at the Storyteller, being obvious that she is not standing there just to read in peace.
Roughly an hour passes without anything special happening, with Aristidis having started at an unknown time humming the Flowey's theme from Undertale.
({Storyteller?}) The voice of Cinderella inside his head interrupts him. ({Miss Louise has woken up from her midday rest and asks for you.})
({Ah, I see.}) Aristidis answers back. ({Tell her I am on my way.})
The scene cuts to Louise's room, with her, dressed once more in her usual uniform, and Cinderella standing there waiting, before the door opens suddenly to show the pitch-black Storyteller entering the room with an extended hand forward and the other behind him bended upward while holding the Tome right behind his head, with the said head facing slightly upward, his eyes closed, one foot in front of the other, and his entirety sparkling fabulously.
"And here I am, coming through the door like a normal person!" He says without breaking the pose.
That causes both the Noble and the personal maid to sweat drop.
(How was that supposed to be normal?!) Louise can only think about.
Aristidis drops the pose, and sparkling, and looks at Louise with a kind expression. "Hey, Louise. Did you have a good rest while I was missing?"
The pink-haired girl finds her composure and smiles. "Yes, I did. It was actually quite nice having some proper rest in the middle of the day for a change."
"I am sure it was." The mouthless Storyteller agrees. "So, now that I am here, would you like us to go out and simply talk about whatever over a cup of tea?" He says as he pulls such cup out of nowhere from the side and in front of him. "Or perhaps a nice long walk through the woods not far from here? Looking at the calm green nature is always a great feeling to have. OH!" His cup vanishes from his hand when a certain idea comes to his mind. "What if instead of all that, we go fly around the sky like before? With a different mount this time, of course." He opens his Tome and starts searching through the pages enthusiastically. "I have such a plethora here that you will simply-"
"Wait, wait!" Louise yells at him while moving her hands in front of her and feeling quite nervous with his sudden enthusiasm. She then smiles awkwardly at him, with him stopping on moving the pages as he looks at her. "A-As great as those ideas are, I was thinking of something different, actually." She finds her previous composure back and smiles normally. "Do you have any other unique games like the last one to show me?"
Aristidis just looks at her for a moment, and shows an expression filled with glee. "My, aren't you in for a treat now?" As he says that, he pulls from behind his back a black top hat which he puts on his head.
Then beside him, a really short old man, shorter than even Louise herself, with a white moustache and who is wearing a black morning suit with a bow tie and a top hat stands there, holding in his hands in front of him a thin squared box with his face on it.
The Storyteller decides to start introductions. "Allow me to introduce you to Mr. Monopoly. And his game, Monopoly."
Mr. Monopoly presents his board game to her with a smile, which causes her to exclaim with some enthusiasm and a clap of her hands as she looks at the entirely new game she is going to learn about soon.
~Many Hours Later~
Pretty much the rest of the day was spent with them playing many different types of board games, with almost as many game mascots as extra players, and the night was present outside.
Aristidis, who was not wearing any hat on his head now, looks at the dark outside of the window. "Oh, looks like it is night already."
Louise looks at it as well surprised. "Already?!"
The pitch-black Storyteller sighs. "One of the bad things about having fun, is that you almost never realize the passing of time." He looks at her with a kind face. "On the bright side, at least we had no duties today to annoy us.
Aristidis stands up, while Louise yawns strongly on her chair. "If it was not for the fact you ate some snacks during our games, I would be worried about letting you sleep with an empty belly."
Cinderella stands up as well and approaches the pink-haired girl. "Let us prepare you for sleep, Miss Louise, shall we?"
"Yeah..." Louise accepts rather sleepily.
The pitch-black Storyteller turns around toward the door. "In that case, I will go out."
The pink-haired girl opens her eyes a bit wider in surprise at the sound of that. "Hu- Where are you going out at this hour for?"
He turns his head to her. "I have something important to prepare somewhere outside at the courtyard. Do not worry, I will be back in ten minutes or so." He winks at her. "See you in a bit."
With that he opens the door, before leaving and closing it behind him.
Louise wonders what could this be about, but if she had to guess, it probably is something she will enjoy, knowing her Noble of a Familiar at this point, so she doesn't worry. He will be on his bed, which he will summon like the last time, once he is done with whatever. It's not like he will not come back in time like he said.
The scene moves to Aristidis who is walking downstairs after leaving the room, and who is currently reading his Tome, in search for something.
Once reaching the first floor, his tanned chef Brock is standing to the side, waving his hand at him while smiling. "Storyteller."
The pitch-black Storyteller stops and looks at him. "Everything well till the end, my good chef?"
"Nothing to worry about." He answers. "Chef Marteau once more thanks for everything. We left a great impression to him."
"As we always should." Aristidis says proudly. "Good work for today, friend. I will call you again once I need your services."
As the tanned chef bows, the pitch-black Storyteller makes him vanish with a wave of his hand.
Then he thinks about something. "Maybe I should introduce him to someone one of these days, for his good work. Yeah, I will think about it. Later, though."
Aristidis begins once more walking, making his way out of the main building and outside in the dark of the night with the minimum light of torches around, and going straight to the appropriately distanced place close to the wall, which he was using some hours ago to read in peace.
He places the Tome below his armpit to hold it there, and then from behind his back pulls out a pen and a piece of paper, before he begins using them as he looks at times at the place around.
After a few seconds, he is done with the pen, and then with a snap of his fingers a team of multiple people in worker uniforms appear coming running and stopping in front of him with a salute. The said people appear to be simple background human characters, with the exception of a few who look like different anthropomorphic animals straight out of Mickey Mouse series.
Aristidis looks at them. "Alright, people, listen up! I will need you to do some top tier work here that will strain not only you, but most likely even me."
He offers his paper to the one in the middle who looks like the one in charge of the team. "Here is what I want you to build in the designated area."
The person in charge takes the paper, and looks at it thoroughly. "I see." He then takes a paper of his own from behind his back to write something. "We are gonna need the specified materials, along with the tools listed. Also appropriate lighting for the night." Says before giving the list to the pitch-black Storyteller.
Aristidis frowns a bit at some of the tools listed. "Ok, but due to problems, I will need you to use simpler tools. You will do your job as needed, but slower than appropriate. In other words, don't expect anything more mechanical than these." With a wave of his hand, both materials and tools, with one or two jackhammers and small drills, appear before the workers. "And even those were somewhat costly to summon, just so you understand my case. Also due to the fact it is night, I will need you to not use the more noisy ones yet, as to not disturb people's sleep."
With a snap of his fingers, more torches appear around to light the area better.
The person in charge looks at the tools, and shrugs. "No problem by us, but it's gonna take longer."
The Storyteller nods. "I believe it's going to take you an entire day to get this done. If you need to rest and eat, you have thirty minutes for every six hours." His expression turns serious. "Don't you think of lazing around, I will know."
"Understood." The person in charge agrees. "But what about energy? No offense, but I don't see any plugs around to use."
"Don't worry about it." Aristidis reassures him. "Your more mechanical tools I made sure to be the kind that use batteries. And as for the thing you are to build for when it's done, I have that one covered with the energy as well." He claps his hands. "Enough chit-chat, time for work, people!"
The person in charge turns to his workers, while the Storyteller makes two tables filled with lunchboxes appear into existence at the background. "You heard the Storyteller, let's get to it!"
"Yeah!" The workers exclaim, before starting to carry out their respective task each, with some carrying materials and others digging the ground with shovels.
Aristidis looks at them performing their duties. "Good. If anything else is needed, just give me a call and-"
Before he says more, he feels something tugging at his cape, and when he looks back, he sees Kirche's Salamander pulling the end of the cape with its mouth, which stops as soon as it notices that it has his attention.
The pitch-black Storyteller raises an eyebrow curious. "Yes?"
The Salamander turns around, makes a few steps toward the academy's main building, before stopping to look back at Aristidis again.
"Ah, I see." The Storyteller says in understanding. "This is going to be interesting." Says quietly to himself, interested at what the Salamander's Master might want with him.
Aristidis takes the Tome normally in his hand, and as he follows the Salamander he appears to be placing two fingers from his free hand to the side of his head, obviously communicating with someone from distance, as they enter the building.
Not that long after, he is outside of Kirche's room, and knocks on her door.
"It's open." Kirche is heard saying from within.
The pitch-black Storyteller opens the door, goes inside the barely lit, by a few candles, room along with the Salamander, and then closes it behind him as he sets his eyes upon Kirche. He was somewhat surprised to see that the red-haired Noble was wearing nothing more but a VERY provocative purple nightgown, which was wide open enough to show the bra, the bare slender belly, and panties.
Kirche smiles and looks seductively at him. "Welcome to my suite, Aristidis."
The scene then moves to Louise's room, where the pink-haired girl is seen in her nightgown and sitting to the side of her bed, with the maid Cinderella just standing to the side of the room.
Louise was getting impatient. "Where is Aristidis? He said it will take him only ten minutes, and yet-"
"Oh right-" Cinderella cuts her off as she seemingly remembers something. "He called me a moment ago. Apparently a Salamander was sent to invite him into its master's room, for some reason."
The pink-haired girl's eyes widen when she realizes what the personal maid is talking about, before she stands up upset. "SHE WHAT?!"
The scene moves once more into Kirche's room, where no progress between her and Aristidis was noticeable yet.
A giggle escapes the half-naked redhead. "Stunned, aren't we?"
The pitch-black Storyteller folds his arms. "Well, I surely did not expect that." He looks to the side. "Not that soon at least."
"Hmm?" Kirche utters, but still with a smile, not quite able to hear what he said at the end.
"Nothing." The pitch-black Storyteller says with a small waving of his hand dismissively.
The half-naked redhead walks toward the side of her bed, and sits down, while looking at him for the duration. She then pats the part of the bed next to her. "No need to just stand there now. Come, have a seat."
Aristidis just stands there for a moment, and then decides to approach.
The scene cuts right outside of Kirche's room, where Louise is seen coming fast and about to touch the handle to rush in, but is immediately stopped by Cinderella who grabs her by the wrist.
The pink-haired Noble looks at the personal maid upset. "What are y-"
"Shh!" Cinderella shushes her. "Don't just rush in like that! There is nothing to be concerned about with the Storyteller."
Louise looks troubled. "B-But-"
The maid brings a reprimanding finger in front of the Noble's face. "No buts! Now just stay calm, and let's listen to the door." She says as she places an ear to the said door, wanting to listen at the occasion within.
Louise looks at her for a moment, and then decides to do the same, still worried about with her Familiar.
The scene cuts once more within Kirche's room, where Aristidis is seen seated beside the redhead at the side of the bed.
"Comfortable, isn't it?" The redhead asks him seductively as she gets a bit closer.
The pitch-black Storyteller feels the bed below him a bit with a small bounce. "I suppose."
Kirche gazes at him more intently. "I must say, the way you took care of Guiche, along with the way you talked to everyone at both that moment and at the dinning hall earlier today, was really something."
Aristidis turns his head a bit the other way in a pleased and self-important way. "Of course it was."
The redhead blushes and moves a tiny bit closer to him, with him turning his head to look at her again normally. "You really captured my interest. I don't believe that you know, but my byname is Fever. And I tend to burn like a torch."
At the moment outside, Louise feels quite the revulsion at her rival's way of attracting men.
The pitch-black Storyteller raises an eyebrow as he puts a hand on his chin somewhat in contemplation. "You don't say?" (So she is pretty much the Queen Bee of this academy, just like I guessed.) Says in his thoughts.
Kirche looks at his body. "Say, I'm curious about the fabric you're using. You won't mind if I touch a bit, right?"
Before he can answer, she touches the upper part his arm, going all the way to the shoulder slowly, and then stops.
The redhead appears somewhat confused. "Eh?"
After that she simply touches his chest, then his sides, and lastly one of his legs, with him wondering what is the issue suddenly.
As Kirche stays like that for a moment, she looks at him suddenly with a face filled with incredible surprise. "Wait, this is your skin?! You were actually naked all this time?!"
Louise is incredibly shocked by the revelation she just heard from behind the door. "HE WHA-"
Cinderella immediately covers the pink-haired girl's mouth with a hand to stop her, and troubled tries to keep her in check. Somehow the two inside the room did not hear her yell.
The scene again moves to the inside of the room, where Kirche is slowly gaining her old composure back. "T-To think you were walking all this time around with nothing to cover yourself... How scandalous of you." She says the last one while making some air with a waving of her hand toward her blushing face as she smiles seductively. "Not even I am that bold."
Aristidis takes a hold of a part of his cape and brings a bit forward. "I mean, not completely naked. I wear a cape, after all." He says before letting the fabric free.
"I knew this was meant to be." The redhead says longily. "No wonder Kirche the Fever became Kirche the Passion after witnessing you in all of your glory."
Aristidis covers his face with one hand, with a few chuckles of amusement escaping him. (The things this girl says just to get laid!) He thinks.
Kirche then looks at his lower area, noticing the lack of a certain something confused and somewhat troubled, before she points there. "Wait... If you're not covered, where is your...?"
The pitch-black Storyteller looks at where she points to and understands what she means. "Yes, I do have one. It is just conveniently covered." He says the last part with a wink.
That brings the seductress's smile back with great interest. "Mm, interesting..." She says before slowly bringing her hands closer and closer to the spot between his legs.
The scene moves outside the room's door, with Louise having calmed down from her previous outburst, with Cinderella still close to her, but now after hearing the last bit from within, she can understand where this is going, and is afraid that her Noble of a Familiar will be tempted by the filthy Zerbst and be taken away from her. Her worst nightmare! The only reason she is not bursting through the door right now, is because she is too shocked with the thought to focus on making the decision.
The scene moves again inside the room, where Kirche is really close to touching the place, only for her to miss the last moment and fall clumsily on her bed due to Aristidis getting up with a fast graceful turn of his body, with his back now turned to her.
"I believe you are getting a bit ahead of yourself, miss Kirche." The mouthless Storyteller says and then turns his head to look at her. "Now why would I give myself that easily to you. It is obvious by your behavior that you already have quite the harem of guys already, and even though you are willing, I can't say I like the thought of sharing you with them."
The redhead gets up and looks at him troubled with an awkward smile. "N-Now, now, I think you're having the wrong-"
"Even if my assumption was wrong-" Aristidis cuts her off, before fully turning around to look at her properly, and with a serious expression. "Let's not forget about your unacceptable behavior toward Louise."
That catches Louise's attention from the other side of the door.
The pitch-black Storyteller continues. "Whether the main reason being the family rivalry or something else, I do not care. You have been awful to her, and I don't like that. Not one bit. You should be ashamed of yourself at least for that."
Hearing that, the pink-haired Noble feels happy. Not only because her Familiar is not falling for the Zerbst's tricks, but because of the constant support he keeps on showing toward Louise's name.
At the moment, Kirche was feeling rather troubled by Aristidis reprimanding her like that, because of the treatment she has shown toward the one who pretty much summoned him, and is not sure what to say to fix the situation so she can have her way with him.
The pitch-black Storyteller moves closer to the redhead. "Of course I am not saying that just to sound heartless. Just making sure it is understandable why I don't like your treatment toward my cute Louise."
That makes Louise behind the door blush with surprise, as Kirche in front of Aristidis just looks at him.
"Cute Louise?" The redhead repeats.
His expression turns to a happy one as he looks up and imagines of the pink-haired girl. "I mean have you properly seen her? She is such a cutie in every way possible, that it makes you just can't help but want to make her happy." His expression turns neutral as he looks at Kirche again. "And yes, I like her that way, in case that was not obvious enough already."
Meanwhile, Louise from behind the door was covering with her hands her blushing face from embarrassment. (Don't say stuff like that to just whoever, you idiot!)
The redhead can hardly comprehend his likeness toward someone like Louise.
"Of course-" Aristidis begins. "If you promise that you will cease clinging to other guys for their, attention, and also apologize to Louise for all the bads she had to endure because of you-" He gets his head close to her ear to whisper. "I will give you a chance, and will have no problem having you and her together." After saying that, somewhat seductively, he straightens himself up normally again.
Louise outside could not hear what he said at the end there.
Kirche's eyes widen as she realizes his motive, and can't help but find the pitch-black man even more intriguing than before as she smiles. "Y-Yes! I will do it, I promise! And I will apologize-"
"Do you think me for a fool?! An idiot?! A complete moron?!" Aristidis cuts her off seemingly upset, catching her off guard. "It is obvious you only want to do it for me, when I want you to do it for your own self! How can I trust you if you are driven by lust, and not the need to make things right?" He turns around toward the door and folds his arms. "You know what, we might as well forget about all of this, it is obvious you don't take it seriously."
The redhead gets really troubled at the sound of that. "W-Wait! J-Just a moment, if you give me a chance to just show you-"
As she tries to approach him from behind while saying that, suddenly from the side a person in steel armor appears as he grabs both her hands and one of her shoulders, before he pins her at the wall on the other side while shouting "Stop right there, criminal scum!"
[Do I even need to describe that it's your typical City Watch/Guard from Oblivion?]
Kirche surprised looks behind her at the serious-looking guard who holds her in place, with her Salamander hissing at him, but doing nothing more. "What is-"
"I am putting a restraining order on you." Aristidis cuts her off as he keeps on looking at the door. "Every time you try to get close, guards like him will make sure you keep an appropriate distance away from me." He approaches the door and grabs the handle. "This meeting of ours is over. Goodnight to you."
He opens the door, and looks at Louise with Cinderella still standing in their eavesdropping position, before they notice that the door is open and that he is looking at them. "Looks like we have some eavesdroppers here."
Louise gets troubled about it. "Th-This is not-"
"Do-ho-n't worry about it." Aristidis cuts her off somewhat amused. "I would have done the same if the situation was reversed. Now come on, let us go back to our room." He says the last bit as he begins walking on the way for the said room.
"W-Wait!" Louise says as she runs after him, with Cinderella following from behind and smiling.
At Kirche's room in the meantime, the Oblivion Guard looks toward the door the others just left from, and then unhands the redhead, with her turning around to see the said guard leaving and looking at her while bringing two fingers in front of his eyes before pointing them both at her, pretty much telling that he has his eyes on her, as he leaves through door and closing it behind him.
Kirche keeps on looking at the closed door, and then falls on her knees, before looking at the ceiling and growling in frustration. "This is so unfair!" She then lowers her face toward the floor. "And I made sure I had nothing scheduled tonight just for the occasion too...!" She looks at the door again, determined and smiling. "Don't think I will give up that easily, Aristidis. I will make you change your mind, just wait and see."
The scene moves at Aristidis, Louise, and Cinderella who keep on walking through the hallway.
Aristidis looks at the pink-haired Noble. "So, did you hear everything from within. And don't start telling me that I have the wrong idea, Cinderella will tell me if you don't, and you know it."
Louise looks at him, and then lowers her head ashamed. "Y-Yeah..."
The pitch-black Storyteller appears happy with her response. "Good." Says that as he looks forward again. "Then that means you know I will always be there for you no matter what, and that I will let no one badmouth you without ending up giving them a piece of my mind."
The pink-haired girl looks at him with a surprised expression, and then smiles as she looks forward. "Yes. I'm sure about it now. Thank you for putting Kirche in her place."
Aristidis looks amused. "No problem."
Louise blushes softly. (And thank you... For appearing for me.) Says in her thoughts.
The pitch-black Storyteller appears to have a cunning expression on his face as he walks. (The plan worked perfectly. Thanks to the idea of allowing Cinderella to tell her where I went, along with making sure to not let her enter the room, more progress has been made. Louise will see eventually that she can trust me, and be honest with her feelings instead of lying with the whole engagement thing just because she is scared.) Says in his mind. (Also, what a full day this was. And it was just my second day here only! SO looking forward for the next one.)
{To Be Continued}
[Seen anyone out of character, or simply bad grammar anywhere in general? Notify me about it and I will fix the mistake. Other than that, I hope you enjoyed the chapter, and I'll see you at the next one.]