Tristanian Royal Palace, 0640 hours
The palace guards looked on impassively as 1st and 2nd Platoons and Dettingen Company's recon element followed closely behind Louise to the gates of the palace, with a bound and gagged Chillan in tow. Upon reaching the palace gates, the Lancastrians removed the zip ties around the former tax collector's wrists. After witnessing the execution of his guards, he knew better than to offer any resistance. He and his captors watched as Louise spoke to the guards.
"We're here to see Her Highness regarding the task we were given a few days ago. This noble here has been abusing the citizens of Charleroi," she stated.
The guards exchanged glances before motioning them inside. The recon element, with Chillan under tight security, proceeded inside with Julius and Louise while 1st and 2nd Platoons stood guard outside. A servant led them into the palace itself, with the nobles gathered there looking on with stunned expressions as the Lancastrians were asked to wait outside the throne room while the servant notified Henrietta.
"You executed Chillan's guards? What the fuck were you thinking?" Julius hissed at Nicholas.
"They had it coming, major, after all that fat fuck had his minions do to the people there," the corporal replied.
The major just glared at Nicholas. "That doesn't excuse the mess that you've caused. We were ordered only to capture Chillan, not go wild on a godforsaken shooting spree," he snarled.
He strode forward until he was only inches from the fiery corporal. "The next time you act out of line, I'll have you busted back down to kingsman so fast that your balls will take a week to catch up. Do I make myself clear, Corporal Fraser?"
If Nicholas felt fear at that moment, he did his best not to show it. "Crystal, sir."
Julius held his glare for a few more seconds before turning away and returning to Louise's side, just in time for the doors to the throne room and the servant to usher them inside.
The major and the recon element marched in after Louise, with every weapon trained on Chillan. Henrietta rose from her throne and approached Julius and his men. Julius turned to the recon element and nodded, and one of the Lancastrians suddenly forced Chillan to his knees, eliciting a muffled gasp from the portly man.
"Your Highness, I present to you Chillan de Marmont. Our recon element caught him in the act of evicting the locals from a tavern for his and his guards' personal use," Julius said.
The princess frowned upon hearing the major's words and stared at Chillan. "Mr. Marmont, words alone cannot express how disappointed I am in you," she rebuked.
Her stare hardened as she regarded the man coldly before her. "Please, escort Mr. Marmont to the dungeon immediately," she ordered.
A musketeer from the 4th Life Battalion, one of the four battalions that formed Henrietta's Musketeer Knights, stepped forward, followed by seven more of her comrades. Two Lancastrians hauled Chillan to his feet and passed him on to the Tristanian squad, who then escorted the man to the dungeon.
Henrietta then turned towards Julius and Louise. "Once again, a job well done, Louise. And to you and your men as well, sir Julius," she began. "Would you like to join me for breakfast? I would like to know about how the mission played out."
The officer and mage glanced at each other. "Your Highness, are you sure it's alright?" Louise asked.
"Please. As my beloved friend, it is no trouble at all," she said as she took Louise's hands in hers.
"Princess Henrietta…" Louise simply smiled back at Henrietta. "I would love to join you, Your Highness."
Julius turned to the recon element and fixed them with a glare that could melt steel. "Gentlemen, I want you all to act professionally. You're standing in the presence of Tristain's leadership, I don't want any complications to arise. Understood?"
"Yes, major," his men responded.
Tristain Academy of Magic, 1142 hours
Louise slowed her horse down to a trot as the academy came into view. Nine Challenger IIs, which had been sent to the palace to transport 1st and 2nd Platoons and the recon element on the way back, likewise slowed down to a crawl, allowing the Lancastrians to disembark and walk alongside the tanks. As they neared the gates, they heard gunfire ring out from one of the academy's courtyards. They also heard Daniel's voice as he shouted instructions to his platoon commanders, which indicated that Blenheim Company was performing a live-fire exercise.
"Alright, lads, pack it in and get some rest," Julius hollered to his men as they entered the academy. As they filed in, the major noted the lack of students and teachers within the academy, with the exception of Kirche and Tabitha, who were in the middle of loading their luggage into a waiting carriage.
"Where are the rest? I don't see any students around," he asked.
"They have gone for the summer vacation. Either they've gone home to their family estates or they're just traveling," Louise replied as the two other mages turned to them.
"Louise? I thought you had already left for home. I didn't see you around today," Kirche stated.
Louise raised an eyebrow at this. "I just ran a few errands here and there. It's nothing significant," she acknowledged as she dismounted her horse.
Julius closed in on the three mages. "Louise, I'll be meeting with the other officers for a debriefing. It should take no more than an hour," he said.
"Of course, sir Julius. I need to rest anyway," Louise nodded at the major, who returned the gesture and went off to the rest of the battalion.
Kirche and Tabitha looked on before Louise turned back to them. "So, were you leaving just now?" she inquired.
"Yeah, we were going to visit Tabitha's place," the redhead responded as she made her way to the carriage. Tabitha had already boarded and had her nose buried into one of her books.
"I see. I suppose there's nothing for me to do for the rest of the day," Louise reckoned.
"Well, Louise, we're heading off now," Kirche said as she hauled herself into the carriage before closing the door. The carriage immediately drove away.
With an exhausted sigh, Louise led her horse to the stables and handed it over to a stableman. On her way back to one of the towers where her room was located, she saw Montmorency emerge from the academy's main building, a pensive look on her face.
"Montmorency, what are you still doing here?" Louise asked.
The blonde turned to her, letting out a sigh.
"I still have to take care of Guiche. He's still injured from his duel several days ago, but he's recovering. We… had a conversation about you on the day Guiche lost the duel. He was traumatized, to say the least. He has expressed his regret for everything he has done to you."
Montmorency turned her gaze to the mage before her. "I feel the same way; all this bickering will just get us nowhere. To tell you the truth, I'm tired of it all. Both of us want to start over… that is, if you're willing to," she said, a rare look of remorse written on her face.
Louise stared at Montmorency for a moment, studying her face for any signs of deceit. However, she found none, so she just sighed and rubbed her forehead.
"Alright," the pink-haired mage said. "Take me to Guiche."
With a nod, the blonde turned around and walked back into the building, with Louise not far behind. The atmosphere was tense as the two mages made their way to the medical wing, with neither of the girls saying a word. Upon reaching the medical wing, Louise made a beeline straight for Guiche.
His eyes were blank and unfocused, his hair unkempt, and his right shoulder covered with bandages. He raised his head as he turned to the girls approaching him.
Louise took a deep breath before she spoke. "Guiche, will you be able to recover soon?" she began.
Guiche gave a short nod. "Yes, Louise. I should be out of here within three days," he responded. "I… take it that Montmorency has already told you everything?"
"About starting over? Yes, she has, and I'm more than willing to put all our differences aside. Staying angry for most of the day can be quite taxing," Louise stated.
The blond fop merely tilted his head and gave the pink-haired mage a melancholic smile. "I know that Montmorency has already apologized on my behalf, but please, do allow me to apologize once again for all of the wrongdoings we have done," he said.
Louise returned Guiche's smile with her own. "Alright, Guiche. Consider yourself forgiven."
Alvis Hall, 1828 hours
The dining hall was packed tonight, not with students but with infantrymen and the occasional tank crewman here and there. With most of the students having gone home for the summer vacation, there was little reason to let the enlisted personnel continue having their meals outside on the courtyard. A few students, such as Louise, Montmorency, and Guiche, have decided to stay at the academy for the duration of summer. The three mages were currently seated with Julius and the rest of the officers as they went about their dinner.
"So, let me get this straight. You two want to take Louise out on a trip to Virton and spend the night there as a way of making amends with her?" Travis asked the blonde couple.
"Yes, lieutenant. It is a place that is important to my family," Montmorency replied. "It has been years since I have last been there, and I want us to spend our vacation there. That is, if Louise allows us to."
Louise hesitated for a short moment before she responded. "I think that I would like to take up Montmorency on her offer, on the condition that sir Julius comes along, too. He has already protected us once, when Fouquet attacked during the familiar exhibition. I feel safer with him and his men nearby," she responded, causing Julius to raise an eyebrow as he drank from his goblet.
"Well, I mean technically that's what we're supposed to be doing, eh? Keeping you safe and all that," Christian said, half-focused on the food on his plate.
"What he said," Daniel added.
"What do you say, major?" Lionel inquired as he finished up the last of his food.
Julius took his time as he glanced at the three mages in front of him before he made his decision.
"Captain Green, I want Lieutenant Ingram-Mallory's platoon to start preparations within three days. His platoon will be providing escort detail for us to Virton," he said.
Christian gave a short nod. "Yes, sir, I'll see to it."
"Did you call for me, major? Captain?"
Julius and the three company commanders turned to see a bespectacled officer standing before them. 1st Lieutenant Martin Ingram-Mallory, 3rd Platoon's commander in Chindit Company, was widely known for being enthusiastic, if not too enthusiastic, at doing his job.
"Lieutenant," Christian grunted. "how would you like to go on a little vacation?"
The lieutenant simply grinned. "Why, I thought you'd never ask, sir," he replied.
Christian sighed. "Alright, here are the details…"