.

The Stray Girl and the Incompetent Mage

Chapter 8: Two Reencounters

...

"Why do we have to come back so soon?" Sachiko asks, tiredness showing on her face. Her cheek rests against Louis' back, her arms around his middle. After two hours on horseback they finally arrive at the capital. "Once a month should be enough…"

"Stop complaining already" Louis snaps through gritted teeth. He's already given up on making her sit straight, since she returns to the same position even after nudging her over and over. She claims her hips hurt, having to sit with her legs to the side because if she straddled the horse then her dress would go up to her waist, and that isn't a sight proper for a woman, familiar or not. "We're almost there, so I would be really thankful if you straighten before reaching the palace."

She groans but does as he says, not before inconspicuously tracing her hands on his stomach.

She hates dresses, so when Louis told her to dress up in her best one, she complained and refused, asking why she couldn't just go with her shorts. "We're going to see the princess" he told her, throwing a pink dress at her head; "you have to look presentable."

"The princess?" Sachiko held the dress, not attempting to change.

"My petition was accepted… by the princess" he explained, and before she could ask further, he continued; "she wants us to go to the palace immediately."

"I thought it would take months before they accepted your petition" just a few days had passed. She turned her back to him, starting to undress. She didn't mind doing this when he was in the room anymore. Louis never looked, his eyes fixed on the wall or somewhere else entirely, and she knew that even if he did he probably wouldn't care enough to see her naked body.

"I thought so too, but it looks the princess got a hold of my letter, so she wrote to tell me that if I need anything, to go directly to her."

"Do you know the princess personally?" she asked with curiosity, adjusting the laces of the dress. Once she was ready, she looked back at him. As expected, he was looking out the window, facing completely opposite her. He shrugged.

"You can say we are something like childhood friends" and he didn't elaborate further after that.

He could have written directly to her then Sachiko thinks as she sits straight. Her back and legs hurt, but she tells herself she only has to endure a little more. And wearing a dress while riding is not a good idea, this position is really uncomfortable! Well, at least it got me an excuse to touch Louis her smile turns lewd. Holding to him gave her the perfect opportunity to feel up his muscles without looking suspicious. Normally when she helps him get dressed she barely has the time to appreciate them. Today she made the most of her opportunity.

"Also" Louis says just as they reach the gates of the palace.

"Yes?"

"Touch me like that again and I'll cut off your hands."

"Ugh…" so he did notice. Now she feels embarrassed. Louis hands the letter he received from the princess to the guards and they let them in. After dismounting, they follow a guard inside the palace. Sachiko looks around in awe. It's the first time she has ever been inside a palace, so her eyes drink in everything she sees. Compared to the academy, it has an even more majestic air, the walls painted in white and big windows going all the way from the ceiling to the tiled floor, giving the place natural illumination that makes everything shine brightly.

She lets out sounds of amazement, making the guard look at her with a frown and Louis put a hand on his forehead. "Sachiko, stop doing that, we're not in a market."

"Eh?" she looks at him and the guard, her face getting red; "I-I'm sorry, it's just…"

"We're here" the guard announces, opening a set of double doors leading to a small work room. Inside, a woman is looking out the window. Her hands are in front of her chest and her back is turned to them. From behind, Sachiko can only see shoulder-length chestnut hair and a small, delicate crown placed on top of her head. She's wearing a light blue gown. Her arms are covered in white gloves reaching her elbows. "Your highness, I brought the guests."

"Thank you, you may take your leave" the guard bows and leaves, closing the door behind him. The princess turns around, a small smile painted on her face. "Long time no see, Louis François."

Sachiko's breath gets caught in her throat. She's beautiful, slender even though she's not really tall. Her bright blue eyes look like two jewels and her face is like that of an angel. Louis quickly kneels down, Sachiko taking just a second to follow his lead.

"It has been a long time, your highness" he replies in an even voice.

"Three years" the way she says it sounds like accusation. Louis flinches at her tone. "Please stand up Louis, and don't call me your highness, not when there's no one else around" wait, what am I supposed to be then? A picture? Sachiko thinks with annoyance.

"That's…" he tries to protest, but the princess shakes her head and kneels next to him. She takes them both by surprise when she embraces him, burying her face on his neck.

"I've missed you so much."

H-Hey, wait a second! What do you think you're doing?! Sachiko thinks, her mouth falling open at the sight. She can see the way Louis tenses, and at first he doesn't return the embrace, but after a few seconds, he finally gives in and hugs her back.

"I've missed you too… Henrietta."

They remain like that for another minute in which Sachiko bites her nails with anxiety. How long are they going to keep hugging? She doesn't want to kneel anymore. Then, Henrietta finally raises her head, and as if it's the first time she repairs on her, jumps up.

"Oh, my goodness" she says with a hand on her chest. Louis looks at her with confusion, standing up, and the princess gives them both an apologetic smile. "I'm so sorry, I was so caught up in the happiness of reuniting with Louis I didn't notice you here" she says to Sachiko. She frowns, confused. "You must not like it that I hug your lover so easily."

At this, both Louis and Sachiko blush. "N-No! She's not my lover!" Louis quickly clarifies; "she's just my familiar! Please don't joke about that!" oh come on, is it really that bad she thinks I'm your lover?

"Familiar?" Henrietta looks at him and then at Sachiko, confused; "but she looks human…"

"I am human" Sachiko replies, puffing her cheeks in light annoyance. Henrietta blinks.

"Human? I knew Louis was special about his magic, but this is…"

"A-Anyway" Louis interrupts, clearing his throat and his face still bright red; "Your highness… I mean, Henrietta" he corrects when she gives him a look; "called for us, didn't she?"

"Oh, yes" she nods, inviting them to sit down on a pair of chairs in front of a desk. They do just that as Henrietta sits behind the desk. "I saw your letter by chance the other day. It caught my attention the seal of the Vallière family, but I would have never thought the letter was from you."

"I am allowed to use the seal of my family as heir apparent of the La Vallière House" Louis replies. Henrietta nods.

"I am not questioning that, but I do wonder the reason you requested an audience. You were never really keen in mingling with the court; less ask them for a favor."

"And I am still not, but I need their permission just this time."

"Permission for what?" Louis shifts a little.

"To look in the Royal Archive" Henrietta's eyes open wide.

"The Royal Archive?" he nods; "why?" Louis doesn't answer right away. He had an excuse ready to present the court when asked, but he knows it won't work with Henrietta, and he had little time to think of anything else to say. It's not like he doesn't trust her as his friend but… he doesn't trust her judgment or reactions, and he doesn't want to say anything when he does not only know how she'll react, but also when he isn't sure himself he has the void; "Louis?"

"It's important for me, because…" he looks at Sachiko. She jumps a little under his stare, before giving him a small, reassuring smile. Suddenly, they hear Henrietta sigh.

"I wonder how were you going to obtain permission from the court, when you can't even explain the reason to me" Louis lowers his eyes, ashamed, but she smiles at him to ease the tension. "I get it, I won't ask. I know that if you're asking for something like this then it must be for an important reason. It does pain me you don't trust me with the information, but there's nothing I can do about that."

"Henrietta…" she raises a hand, stopping him.

"I said is fine Louis. I will grant you permission" Louis' eyes snap open. Sachiko also looks surprised. "But I can't do it without a good reason, not unless I want the court breathing down my neck. Usually only high officers and court members can enter the Royal Archive, so if you want entrance you'll have to do something to prove you deserve it."

"That means…"

"I want to ask a favor from you, in exchange of granting you permission to the Royal Archive" Louis closes his eyes, taking a deep breath. Figures there was a reason Henrietta herself answered his letter. They are friends, but when it comes to their respective roles in society, there's very little their own feelings can do for the two of them.

He opens his eyes and nods; "as long as it's in my abilities to do so, of course."

Henrietta takes out a wand from a drawer. It's an heirloom of the Royal Family, a delicate thing made of crystal, reflecting the colors of the rainbow when she waves it, whispering a few words. She puts it down once she made sure no one is listening. "Have you heard of the civil war in Albion?"

"Yes" the nobility rising against the monarchy is something every noble in Halkeginia should be aware of by now. It started around two years ago, and by the latest news, it won't be long until it finally ends. Henrietta closes her eyes, clasping her hands on top of the desk as her pretty face shows sorrow, and Louis knows the cause.

"The war is coming to an end, but I'm afraid it might not end there."

"No?"

"Once the nobility manages to depose the monarchy, they will turn their eyes to Tristain" Louis gasps. He has not heard about this at all. Wasn't Albion's civil war an affair only of that country?

"But why? Why would they want to attack Tristain?"

"They have the idea that the monarchy is no longer necessary. For this reason they plan to finish off the Brimir line once and for all. They'll start with Tristain, and from there they'll probably move to Gallia and Romalia, until they have the whole of Halkeginia under their clutches."

"It makes no sense" Louis murmurs. Sachiko looks at the two of them. She doesn't understand a thing they're saying, but she catches a few pieces. When Old Osmond and Mr. Colbert explained the void to her, they mentioned four countries with the power of the void. One of them was Albion. For a holy decree issued from the church, these four countries cannot stop existing or the monarchy be overthrown, because is in their royal lineage where the power of the Founder resides. But it's no longer necessary, if the people believe the void to be a legend.

"Tristain is in no position to outstay a war" Henrietta continues grimly. She stands up and begins pacing, her hands behind her back. "We don't have an established army; if Albion decides to attack tomorrow we will be easily overwhelmed. Is for this reason…" she lowers her head. A small tear escapes from her eyes that makes Louis spring to his feet and go to her side immediately. "Is for this reason yesterday I, along with Cardinal Mazarin, secretly went to Germania."

"…To Germania…"

"I am to marry the Emperor, and in exchange they'll become our allies in case of a war."

"What?!" Louis asks in disbelief, his voice rising to almost a shout. "To the Emperor of that barbaric country? Doesn't he have enough women as it is?"

"It is necessary."

"Who made the deal? Was it him? Or Cardinal Mazarin?"

"That doesn't matter."

"Of course it does! Who sold you to him?! If you marry him, you'll be little more than his personal wh-!"

"I know!" Henrietta interrupts. Now she is openly crying; "but compared to the fate of Tristain, my personal happiness shouldn't be important. However, the Albionese nobles found out about the marriage, and they've been frantically searching for something that will intervene with it…" she hangs her head shamefully "and they've found it."

"A thing that will interfere with your marriage" Louis says. Henrietta nods; "what have you done?"

She lifts her head, looking at him with fiery eyes. They're puffed and some tears hang from her eyelashes. "It has to be something I did, no? Whenever it comes to me, you…"

"Does he know?" Louis asks before she says something she'll regret. His words hit a soft spot in her, and she begins crying again. She shakes her head.

"No, but he'll do soon, and I don't know what to do."

"What Henrietta wants to ask of me…"

"It's a letter" she says; "a letter I wrote to him long ago, if the Reconquista faction get their hands on it…"

"And you want me to…"

"I'm so sorry!" Louis can't bear to see her crying anymore, so he hugs her. She rests her head on his chest, her hands clutching the material of his shirt. "After everything we went through, for me to ask you to go to Albion to retrieve the letter is really selfish from me! I know is dangerous, but there's no one else I trust more than you! If I could erase the past I'd…!"

"It's alright" he calms her, lifting her chin and looking at her with such tender eyes Sachiko feels something in her chest tighten. She clenches the hem of her dress with trembling hands. "I will do it. I'll retrieve the letter you gave Prince Wales from Albion."

"Louis…"

"It's my duty after all" he clarifies, letting go of her face. "As a noble I cannot overlook such a crisis. Please allow me, heir apparent of House La Vallière, go."

Henrietta smiles and nods. They separate, and she goes to her desk as she dries her face with her hands. With a wave of her wand paper and quill come out of one of the drawers. Sachiko looks in awe how the quill moves on its own on the paper. Henrietta looks at what is being written, stops to think for a second, and continues, until the quill is put down and she rereads the letter. Once she is sure, she folds it and seals it with wax, before handing it to Louis.

"Give this to Prince Wales when you see him, he should give you back the letter when he reads it."

"When should we go, Henrietta?"

"Tomorrow morning, if possible. Anytime now the royalists will be defeated. I heard they've been driven to a corner of the country."

"Then, tomorrow morning, we shall depart" Henrietta nods, and then turns to Sachiko. With the princess sudden approach, Sachiko stands up immediately. Henrietta gives her a small smile.

"Dependable familiar" she says. Sachiko gulps, feeling nervous because, even though she's the princess of a country from a different world, it's still the first time she has ever been in the presence of royalty.

"Yes?" Louis sends her a cold glare, so she quickly corrects; "your highness."

"You'll be accompanying Louis, right?" Sachiko looks at Louis. He nods, so she gives the princess a nod too. Her smile getting a little wider, Henrietta holds out her hand to her. "Please, take care of my precious friend" her voice is soft. Louis suddenly takes a step forward.

"Henrietta! You can't! Giving your hand to a familiar…" he speaks up with an astonished voice.

"It's alright. This person will be acting for my sake, and without a reward, I won't have her loyalty" Henrietta responds. Sachiko tilts her head in thought. A handshake? What kind of reward is that? Well, it might be a good reward for anyone who was born and raised in this country, but to her it looks a little… She lets out a sigh. If it's all she has to do… She takes the princess' hand and shakes it. Louis face-palms.

"You idiot, don't shake her hand! You have to kiss her!" Sachiko's face immediately heats up, and she takes a step back, releasing Henrietta's hand.

"K-kiss her?" she looks at the princess, astonished, but Henrietta just nods in agreement. Kiss… they're referring to a, a, a k-kiss-kiss? B-but! We're both girls! Isn't that indecent? Sachiko doesn't move, still contemplating what to do. On the other hand, this is a different world, maybe the customs are not the same and kissing the princess is what I have to do, but still… ouhhh, what do I do? She keeps thinking, and Louis gives a low growl.

"Stop making Henrietta wait!" he yells at her. Sachiko jumps up.

"A-Alright!" and without another thought, she gently grabs Henrietta's face and kisses her on the lips. The princess freezes. Before Sachiko knows what's going on, she's out cold on the floor. "A-Ah… what happened?" she looks at Louis for answers. His face is completely red and his jaw slack.

"W-What do you think you're doing?! Why did you kiss Henrietta?!"

"Eh? Wasn't I supposed to do that?" she asks with confusion. Louis gasps.

"No! Why in the world did you even think you had to kiss her on the lips?!"

"You told me to!"

"On the hand! It's on the hand where you had to kiss her!" hearing this makes Sachiko blush.

"W-well, how was I supposed to know?! I'm not from here, how do you want me to know the customs of this weird world?!"

"There's nothing similar in yours?!"

"Ehm…" there is, but she didn't think about it.

"There is! And yet you…" he trembles, approaching her. Sachiko takes a few steps back.

"I-It wasn't my intention, b-besides… Look! The princess is waking up!" she says, feeling incredibly relieved at seeing Henrietta slowly sitting up, a hand caressing the side of her head.

"Henrietta!" Louis immediately kneels down beside her, and helps her to a chair. She sits down, her face still red. "I'm so sorry, my familiar…"

"I-It's alright, it is a reward, after all…" she says, laughing lightly but still looking embarrassed. She is thoroughly avoiding Sachiko's eyes, the same as her. "I never thought your familiar had those tastes…"

"I don't!" Sachiko yells, but another glare from Louis shuts her up. The young man sighs.

"If there's anything I can do to make it up to you…"

"I said it's alright" Henrietta insists. Louis sighs again. Once Henrietta looks recovered, he continues.

"Then, tomorrow we shall depart for Albion."

"I heard Prince Wales is camping somewhere near Newcastle" Louis bows. Henrietta looks at him; and after some more thinking, removes the ring from her ring finger and also gives it to him. "Please, take this as well" Louis' eyes open with surprise.

"This is…"

"The Water Ruby, yes, this should be proof that you go in my behalf, in case someone tries to stop you from seeing Prince Wales" Louis nods, accepting the ring. Henrietta takes his hands on hers. "I'm really sorry to send you in this mission."

"It's ok" he squeezes her hands, but it does little to reassure Henrietta.

"I'll send an officer with you, someone of my trust. I don't want anything bad to happen to you."

"You don't have to worry."

Henrietta shakes her head. "I do, this mission is too dangerous. You should reunite with him tomorrow morning in front of the academy."

"As you wish" he bows again. Sachiko pouts, wishing they would stop holding hands.

The next morning, Louis is preparing the horse for their journey. Derflinger is already strapped to the side of the horse. Sachiko is in her usual shorts and parka, deciding she will never ride a horse again wearing a dress.

Louis doesn't talk to her. He still looks angry after she kissed the princess yesterday. Geez, I'm sorry, you know? I didn't even want to kiss her. But her grandmother used to tell her to do as the Romans and since she's in a different world she thought that… it's your fault, you should have explained it to me, instead of just saying 'kiss her', now my second kiss has been with another girl! Can this get any worse?!

"Sachiko" Louis says. She immediately stirs, looking at him expectantly.

"Yes?" she asks, before frowning. Why is she so happy at him just calling her name? Louis extends a hand and she looks at him with confusion; "ehm, what is…?"

He rolls his eyes. "Give me your hand, stupid" Sachiko puffs her cheeks.

"Don't call me stupid!"

"Just do it already!" he grabs her right hand, taking her by surprise, and without asking slides a ring on her ring finger. Sachiko blushes.

"T-That's the wrong hand…" she says stupidly. Louis frowns, releasing her.

"You're going to wear the water ruby because it's too small for me" he explains, folding his arms; "don't go around making yourself weird ideas."

"I-I wasn't making myself any ideas!" she tries to lie. Of course she fails. Louis sighs.

"Be very careful with that ring. I don't want you to take it off, ok?"

"O-Ok…"

"It's getting late" he complains, looking at the sky. It's still night time, but a small fringe of sunlight can be seen in the horizon. "The person Henrietta sent is late."

"How far is La Rochelle?" that's the name of the port city Louis told her of last night, when they were packing a few stuff for the journey.

"Two days on horse, and I expect you not to complain a single time" Sachiko pouts, glancing away. Once again there's silence, and she can't help but think of yesterday. The way he interacted with the princess was really suspicious. There was a strange air around them she couldn't decipher. More than childhood friends, the way they talked to each other spoke of something else, and she doesn't know why it bothers her so much. She wants to know, but at the same time she's afraid of asking. But staying like this will take you nowhere, and it's only a small question…

She makes up her mind and clears her throat. "Um, Louis, can I ask you a question?"

He looks at her, raising an eyebrow; "a question?" she nods; "it depends. What do you want to know?"

"About the princess…" he tenses. That's not a good sign. "Ehem, never mind…"

"No, go ahead, I'm curious" he tells her, but Sachiko is not sure anymore.

"I was just wondering… what exactly is your relationship?" Louis raises both eyebrows, the question certainly taking him by surprise, and Sachiko feels like hiding away under his stare.

"What do you mean by that? We're childhood friends, I told you already."

"No, well yes, it's quite a surprise you're childhood friends with the princess."

"Well, I'm the son of a Duke, so it shouldn't be that surprising they chose me to be her playmate."

"You're the son a Duke?" Sachiko's eyes widen. Louis blinks.

"You didn't know?"

She shakes her head, "no, you never told me. So, your family is very important if they let you play with the princess" the way she words that sentence makes Louis blush. He shrugs.

"Only second to the royal, but that's not what you wanted to ask, is it?" he says. Sachiko fidgets a little. She shyly nods. "What did you really want to know?"

"Em…" she feels heat pooling under her skin. She's suddenly unsure of asking. "By relationship I mean if you two… well…" Louis senses what she's going to ask. He becomes nervous.

"That's none of your business!" he replies quickly before she can finish. She pouts, glancing away.

"Alright, sorry for asking" and she really does look sorry. It makes Louis feel bad for yelling at her, and he opens his mouth to say something. However, he doesn't know what to say, so he decides to forget about it and go back to checking if the horse is ready. Because honestly, not even he has a real answer to Sachiko's question, and not because he has not thought about it before.

His relationship with Henrietta is by far the most complicated he has. When they were children everything was so much easier. Henrietta was his best friend, one of the most precious existences in his life, along with Cattleya. Instinctively though, he always knew the two girls held his attention in very different ways. He had not been in love with Henrietta as children and has never been naïve enough to claim otherwise, but he did know he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her, and the only way he knew as a nine-year-old to do that was through marriage. So he wanted to marry her, but not because he loved her romantically, but because she was his best friend.

And then, one day, they grew up and Henrietta started sneaking into his room at night and everything went to hell. It makes his stomach churn just remembering it, and sometimes he wishes more than anything he could erase those nights, because those nights were what ruined their friendship forever, what leaded to him refusing to talk to her for three years until yesterday.

And yet she trusts him. Trusts him enough to send him to Albion to retrieve what is most likely a love letter she wrote to Prince Wales. But she doesn't have reason not to. If not because of what's left of their friendship, then his sense of duty to their country would do the trick. Although she still seems to consider you her friend. She said so when she offered her hand to Sachiko.

He bites his lips, holding back a curse he wants to scream at the top of his lungs. Three years apart from her and the first thing he does is notice how much more beautiful she'd become. Three years apart from her, after he willingly cut off any ties with her, and he just returns her embrace and tells her he missed her. Because he did, and he didn't notice until he had her face to face. Not just for what could have been but for all of their childhood memories together. The days they spent playing and laughing, the nights when everything changed… and that single night that ruined everything.

"What is that?" Sachiko asks. Louis turns to her, seeing she's looking up, and he follows her eyes until he can see something flying in the sky. He squints as the thing slowly descends, and when it's halfway through the air he recognizes the creature.

"That's a griffin. Henrietta's officer is finally here" he says with a sigh of relief. The sigh gets caught in his throat however, when he sees the person mounting the griffin.

"Hey there" a man in his mid-twenties greets, his long blond hair flowing in the wind and a kind smile on his face. He's wearing a uniform with a feathered hat and there's a rapier attached to his side, his beard is well-trimmed, and he has a few wrinkles around his eyes he didn't have before, but it's impossible for Louis not to recognize him. He forgets any thoughts he had about Henrietta and without thinking runs up to him.

"Wardes!" he exclaims happily. He halts just when he's in front of the griffin. Even though he planned on hugging him when he was approaching, now that they're face to face he realizes he can't do that anymore. After all, he's no longer ten years old.

Wardes chuckles, dismounting and folding his arms. "What? Too old to give your big brother a hug?" he asks teasingly. Louis blushes, but he can't erase the smile from his face no matter how much he tries to.

"You're an idiot" he laughs before finally hugging him. "I didn't know the princess was going to send you!"

"She thought since I've known you since you were a child, I would be a good option for this mission."

"She thought right" they separate; "I heard you're the captain of the griffin corps now. Congratulations! I know you've been working really hard!"

"Thanks" his eyes fall on Sachiko, who's looking at the scene with her mouth open. She has never seen Louis smile so much. "And this young lady here?" Wardes asks as he approaches her. Sachiko straightens, looking him up and down.

He's pretty handsome she thinks as her cheeks get red. Tall, muscled and with an elegant stance, he walks towards her with firm steps, showing off his confidence and making Sachiko go weak in the knees. Once he's in front of her, he gives her a smile that almost manages to melt her down on the spot.

"She's my familiar" Louis says, walking up to them. He's glaring at Sachiko for the way she's ogling Wardes, but she isn't looking at him. Wardes blinks upon hearing this.

"Your familiar?" he asks with a small smile. Louis pouts.

"Not because I wanted to…"

"Hey!"

"Don't worry Louis; I'm not making fun of you" he chuckles before glancing back at Sachiko. "My name is Jean-Jacques Francis de Wardes. It is a pleasure to meet you" he bows down, taking her hand and placing a soft kiss on it. Sachiko blushes from head to toe, her body getting numb. Louis is fuming at their side, finding her behavior incredibly annoying.

"That's enough Wardes, you should release her before she throws herself at you" Sachiko snaps awake from her fantasies and turns to glare at him.

"Hey, who do you think I am?"

"Please, don't fight you two" Wardes says in a conciliatory tone, before looking at Sachiko again. "And what is your name, young lady?"

"Ah yes" Sachiko smiles, her mood changing rapidly; "my name is Hiraga Sachiko, but you can just call me Sachiko."

"That's a strange name, if you allow me to say so" Sachiko chuckles.

"Ah, don't worry about it. And how do you two know each other?" she looks from him to Louis, who looks pretty pissed off by that point. She would take out her tongue at him but better not to do so when Wardes is looking. "I heard you say you are Louis' big brother, but I thought he only had sisters."

"Oh, we're not related by blood" Wardes explains; "I'm actually a Viscount, and my lands are neighboring La Vallière's territory. It's a very small territory though."

"But you take great care of it" Louis says, smiling again. Wardes shrugs.

"You should say that to my steward. He's the one taking care of my lands while I spent my time with the Imperial Guard."

"Still, you shouldn't underestimate yourself. You've come a long way since you left six years ago. I'm sure your parents would be proud of you" Louis gives him a small smile, trying to be supportive. Wardes smiles sadly in return. Then he looks at the road in front of them.

"Enough of this small chat. We should get going if we want to make it to La Rochelle before night time."

"Night time?" Sachiko asks, confused. "I thought it took two days on horse to get there."

"We'll try to get there sooner. After all, this mission is very urgent, isn't it Louis?" he looks at the young boy. Louis nods vehemently.

"You're right, we should go now. Maybe we can make it in a day" he smiles as if he has just been given a challenge. Sachiko is really surprised at the change in him. He must be really happy to see Wardes again.

"Perfect then, let us go" and with that they mount, Wardes his griffin and Louis and Sachiko their horse, and take off.

A/N: You'd ask 'was it necessary to have Sachiko kiss Henrietta?' and I'd say 'no, but darn it I was going to make it happen'. I feel the chapter was kind of rushed though. Keep in mind I'm slowly beginning to fall more into headcanon territory, so if you find something off with Henrietta and Louis' exchange, it might be because of that. Also, Louis is heir apparent of La Vallière, even though I'm pretty sure gender has little to do when it comes to inheritance in Halkeginia, considering a woman can easily stand level with other men in terms of magic. It does give him another reason to lament being unable to cast magic though.

And before you say anything about Henrietta, the next chapter I'm planning on going more in depth in her relationship with Louis, as well as the role Wardes played in his life, since he's obviously not his fiancé in this story.