Chapter 2

One month later

The travelers in the bland carriage sat quietly as they got closer to what appeared to be a grand gate. The young man was dressed in a white shirt, but his pants looked funny for a commoner to wear, and he had a sword on his back. The young woman that was with him was wearing a plain brown dress with a straw hat that seemed to be a bit too big. If someone was to look closer they would see them holding hands. When the guards stopped the carriage one of them looked like he had seen a ghost.

"You may go through...please wait in the throne room." The guard bowed deeply forcing his buddy to do the same.

"He's just a-"

"A man that faced seven thousand men and lived." The guard had respect in his voice.

As the carriage got up to the stairway Agnes walked down surprised to see such a common carriage in front of the steps. As the door opened its as if her heart stopped beating.

"Hello Agnes...it's great to see you." He walked up to her and shook her hand.

"Come with me." She lead him to the throne room.

"My Queen..."

"..." Henrietta looked to her guard Captain, the pain in her eyes was there as well acceptance.

"He's here."

That's all she had to say. Henrietta ran to her just as Saito walked in, completely bypassing Agnes and hugging him tightly. As if ensuring if he was real, kissing him deeply. He looked breathless and shocked as Tiffania just looked shocked.

He was even more surprised when she started crying into his shirt, so he did what anyone would do, he rubbed circles into her back and just let her cry. Agnes just looked at him and smiled.

"I see you brought someone with you…" The guard Captain pointed to Tiffania.

"Yes...the person that saved my life...Delfflinger did teleport me away from the battle, but she saved my life." He let go of the queen as he kept Tiffania close. "I will say this, don't be too quick to judge, she did save my life." He nodded to her and she took off her hat to show her pointed ears.

"I...see…" Henrietta looked at the elven girl.

"An...elf...saved you?" Agnes had her hand on her pistol.

"Well...I actually died. She brought me back." He smiled to the blonde elf.

"Elven magic can do that only...its a gift. Who were your parents?" The queen looked to her.

"T-The Arch-Duke of Albion...and my mother was elven…" Tiffania looked nervous.

"Then we are related." She walked over and picked up a ring. "This is the Ruby of Wind, since you are the sole surviving heiress to Albion, you deserve it. I welcome you cousin." Henrietta hugged her which caused Tiffania to cry.

"She's...been through a lot…" He looked to Agnes with kindness.

"Louise summoned another familiar...I just thought you should know." Agnes looked at him.

"Then he shall stay here." Henrietta looked to him smiling.

"This valiant man brought to me his savior...and he deserves more." Henrietta looked to him. "Please rest...Agnes, please take them to the guest rooms."

"Yes m'Lady." She bowed as she escorted them to a large bedroom.

"She will want to have breakfast with you tomorrow." She turned to leave. "I will ensure her safety."

He nodded as he plopped down on the plush bed. She followed and they both fell asleep.

xXXx

Louise looked to her new familiar. She looked to her master through the window with one of her heads, the other two heads kept a vigilant watch. The black as night scales covered the three hundred and fifty foot dragon. Her wings was on her back folded. Louise gentle petted the snout of the dragon as the dragon rumbled in pleasure. When the dragon nudged her she hugged the snout.

"I'll do my best to make sure you survive. This I swear to you." A tear fell on the snout which made the dragon chirp.

"I-I know you feel the same..." She started crying openly as she hugged the snout.

"M-Miss Valliere...the Queen has asked to see you...and I have been ordered to come along with." Siesta looked down to her maids uniform.

"G-give me...a few minutes...and then we'll leave..."

"Yes ma'am..." The maid bowed respectfully.

xXXx

The Queen sat at the very large table with six places set. Agnes walked in with Saito and Tiffania and seated Saito on the Queens right and Tiffania on her left. Agnes sat to Saitos right as the doors opened to have Louise walk in with Siesta. The maid caught the small girl as she fainted, with help from another servant, she was placed on Siesta's left, as she was left of Tiffania. The food was then brought out as the queen brought out a piece of paper.

"Saito...here." She handed it to him.

"I...I can't read your language…" He looked sheepish. Everyone that was awake looked shocked.

Agnes took it from him and smiled. "For acts of valor for the kingdom of Tristain, I hereby Knight Saito Hiraga. From this day forth he shall be known as Saito Chevalier de Hiraga. Signed Queen Henrietta de Tristain."

"What does that mean?" He looked confused.

"It means...Your my personal Knight...as well as nobility. If I have you as an example of how a noble should act, others will follow." The Queen smiled at his speechlessness.

"Wh-what did I do to...earn this?" He looked confused.

"You...you made sure everyone was safe by facing that army by yourself...you should be given more...but this is all I can manage for now." She took his left hand and gently squeezed.

"But...but I died...isn't that a failure?" He was having trouble wrapping his mind around it.

"No...you went out knowing you were going to die...when half of the other nobles that was there ran to the ships. You have earned more than this…" Agnes nodded to a servant and then looked at him with gratitude.

When a black cloak with a silver clasp was brought in that was when Louise woke up.

"Please accept this Saito…" The Queen looked pleadingly at him.

"I...I accept." He nodded.

"Stand and be recognized." The Queen took the cloak and placed it on him.

"How...how are you alive?" Louise just stared at him.

"Elven magic...brought him back from the dead." Delfflinger told her.

"So...you aren't my familiar anymore?" She looked at him still shocked that he was alive and before her.

"Yes...could I meet your new familiar if you will allow it?" He asked her as she nodded.

"Agnes will get you some armor...and Siesta is now your personal maid." She looked to the shocked maid that was seated per the queens orders.

"You mean…"

"Yes." The Queen noticed how she perked up.

"I...I want to be near him too…" Tiffania looked down.

"...Cousin...your staying here with me. So you will be with him." She smiled to the half-elf.

Louise then noticed the half-elf and took out her wand...which was quickly taken away by Agnes.

"You STUPID DOG!"

"That girl is the one that brought him back. So pay some respects...he isn't your familiar any more...sorry, but that's how it works…" The sword sounded apologetic.

"When you're here...could you hand over your wand?" Agnes looked to the explosive pinkette.

"...Fine...lets all go outside and meet Yoru[ Yoru no ryu {夜の龍}(dragon of night) ]..." Louise got up and left, with the others leaving after her.

Yoru looked as she saw a small group being lead by her master. The center head lowered so that she could touch the snout.

"She's beautiful…" Saito stared in awe.

"How did you know she was a girl?" Louise looked just as shocked as everyone else.

"Slimmer than one of the dragons we seen on the boat ride to the mainland." He nodded to the dragon.

"Mating season...at least they keep it over the ocean." The sword sounded happy about that fact.

"Well she is still very pretty." He looked to Louise and smiled.

"What are her breath weapons?" Agnes looked questioningly to her.

"As far as I know, fire, ice, and lightning."

"Well...It was nice seeing you Louise...I have to go with Agnes now…" He left with the other Knight.

"Tell me of your life before you met Saito?" The Queen walked with Tiffania.

As the small group dispersed the maid went to Saito. Louise looked to Yoru.

"Lets go home…" She boarded her dragon and left the royal palace.

xXXx

Julio looked as Louise landed with Yoru. It was night time as he smiled to her. He walked up to her and took her hand. The courtyard was silent this time of night.

"Was the meeting good?"

"...Saito's alive." It was all she had to say.

"Is he..?"

"No...not anymore. I have Yoru now...and I will make sure she stays alive, no matter what." The way she said it made it feel like she would go against her own family if she needed to.

"Then so shall I."

She looked at him surprised.

"Come, there's something I wish to discuss with you..." He lead her to her room.

xXXx

The palace was quiet as she roamed through the halls. She then came to a certain door and opened it revealing a large bed with two figures lying in it. The female that was laying in the bed was holding the sleeping male close. She noted how close they looked and got into the bed with them. 'I hope my cousin doesn't mind sharing...' She finally fell asleep as she held his other arm to her bosom.

xXXx

The sun came through the window and was in his eyes. By now he knew that his left arm was Tiffania's in the morning, but when he tried to move his right arm he found he couldn't. When he looked over and saw the queen he suddenly got a little nervous.

"SSaito...don't move around ssoo much..." The Queen draped a leg over his.

"Saito...please...right there..." Tiffania blushed as she pressed her ample bosom into him more.

"My Queen...it's time to wake up..." Agnes walked into the room viewing the three in the bed.

"I...don't wanna..." Henrietta buried her face into him.

"Your mother wants to have a word with you." The guard captain pulled off the blankets. "And put some clothes on."

"Alright..." The purple haired girl got up and put her clothes back on. The ones that she had kicked down to the bottom of the bed.

"She also wants to see your new Knight." Agnes smiled at him.

"What for?" He looked confused.

"She was happy to hear that the Queen decided to have you as a partner. She just wants to have a good look at you." Agnes said as she left the room.

"What does she mean by 'partner'?" He looked confused.

"Since I am Queen I need an heir...we really don't need to do that, but I'll be sleeping with you from now on...it would be the same if Tiffania took back Albion. The bureaucrats would want her to have an heir, either with a partner of her choosing or one of them...its the downside of being royalty..." Henrietta was dressed and waited as he dressed.

"So...one way or another you have to have someone..." He looked to both of them.

"Yes...cousin, meet us for lunch, we have much to talk about." Henrietta took his hand and left the half-elf in the large room alone. 'What could we need to talk about? He is mine, but do I have to share?' The half-elf slowly got dressed as Agnes walked back in.

"I will accompany you to breakfast." She smiled to her and lead her to the dining room.

xXXx

The woman sat in the room as if she was being viewed by the public, in a word, regal. When the door opened to reveal her daughter and her daughters Knight. She glanced at them as they entered as she sipped her tea.

"So happy that you could make it...and I'm glad to meet your partner…" She sat the tea cup down.

"Mother…"

"Please dear, have a seat with your partner…" They did as they were told.

"This is my partner...Saito Chevalier de Hiraga…" The purple haired girl looked down.

"P-Pleased to meet you ma'am…" He bowed his head in respect.

"So...are you going to be happy with her ruling?" The mother looked to him.

"Yes." He didn't hesitate.

"My...can you really be happy like that?" The mother looked worried as she looked to her daughters shocked expression.

"Yes...where I'm from...there are only two monarchies left...my country and a country called England. The monarchs are figureheads, nothing more. Though if the Queen of England says she disagrees with something, the people will rally behind her. The rest are democracy's, their leaders elected by the people. Henrietta is a great Queen, so yes, I have faith in her ruling." He looked to her mother seriously.

"I...see...So you're saying you don't want to be King?"

"Why would I want that headache? And besides from my homes history...if you were royalty you had more to worry about your own family killing you off than a peasant revolt." He held Henrietta's hand.

"I see...At least you're honest...and I approve." She nodded to her daughter.

"You...you do?" Henrietta looked surprised.

"Yes...and because he doesn't want to be king, he should be made king. But that is his decision." She looked to him.

"What about the other nobles?" She looked to her mother.

"Oh...I've said something about a fiance…" The look on Saito's face said it all.

"...Are you saying I'm that Fiance?" He looked to her mother shocked.

"Let me put it like this. It's either get married to her, or have some other power hungry noble become king. Here its the continuity of the royal bloodline that carries weight." The woman was quite firm.

"...But I'm a familiar to her cousin. And I'm already a knight to Henrietta..." He looked utterly confused.

"How can you be a familiar?" The mother looked to her daughter confused.

"The third daughter of the Valliere family summoned him." Henrietta looked away.

"I thought the contract couldn't be broken..."

"I died...but her cousin revived me." He was honest with the old queen.

"And in my opinion, he got a better deal." The sword spoke up.

"I want to meet this cousin of yours."

"Don't judge please." He got up, this got the mothers attention.

"Why?" She turned from a servant that had left to get Agnes and Tiffania.

"She comes from a mistress." Henrietta looked to him knowingly.

When the half-elf and the musketeer showed up the look of horror made itself known on the mothers face.

"What is this thing doing here?"

"I asked you not to judge...she's a half-elf. And my master. She is one of the kindest people I know...and she brought me back from the dead." He stood protectively in front of Tiffania.

"Do you have any idea what these monsters-"

"She is not a monster...very few people have been kind to her..." He had his hand on his blade when the guards had drawn their blades. The look in his eyes told her that if push came to shove, he would go through the guards.

"Mother...she is my cousin. And since that is the case, she is welcome here." Henrietta had a scalding tone.

"You will still be my daughters partner. You can keep...it here..." The mother left completely horrified.

"She has a name...Tiffania." The mother shuddered at that comment.

"I'm so sorry..." Henrietta hugged her cousin.

"...Whats that one saying? You don't know what its like till you walk a mile in their shoes?" The heated tone he used let them know how upset he was.

"Mother is a devout Brimirist..." Henrietta had a weak voice.

"It's ok..." He hugged them both. "...And I faced an army to protect..."

"Me. Not her, me." Henrietta looked firmly at him. "And now, you're protecting Tiffania as well."

He processed it as well.

"Make some changes...I'll stay the Fiance, but promise me you'll make some changes. There's nothing saying we have to get married immediately." He gave a kind look to the young Queen.

"I'll work on it." She nodded, knowing she had his forgiveness.

"I...I guess I have to share…" The half-elf looked down sadly.

"Yeah…" He looked at them and then it hit him.

"Its ok, as long as I get an heir you two can stay together here."

"What about the academy?"

"...She does need to learn some magic...as well as to control the void. I see your point, I'll have her enrolled...but please come back here once a week for your...consort duties." Henrietta blushed at the thought as did he.

xXx

A/n: I didn't like how the story was going when I was working on Chap3, so I changed a few things. This in my opinion is stronger. Lemme know your thoughts.