Princess Henrietta, who had just appeared in Louise's room, looked like she had been overcome with emotion, and hugged the kneeling girl.
"Oh, Louise, Louise, my dear Louise!" she chanted happily.
"This won't do, Your Highness. Coming to a humble place like this..." Louise said ceremoniously.
"Oh! Louise! Louise Françoise! Please stop acting so formally! You and I are friends! We are friends, are we not?" the princess asked, her voice sounding somewhat hurt.
"I am not worthy of such kind words. Your Highness." Louise replied with a steely, strained voice. Zero just looked on, not sure at this sudden change in the young girl.
"Stop that, please! Neither the Cardinal, my Mother, or those greedy court aristocrats who buzz around wearing friendly faces are here! Oh, don't I have any friends who will open up to me? If even Louise Françoise, my old friend whom I've missed dearly, acts so distant, I would just die!"
"Your Highness..." Louise lifted her face.
"When we were little children, didn't we get together and chase butterflies at the palace courtyard? And got all muddy?"
With a shy face, Louise answered. "...Yes, and La Porte the chamberlain told us off for getting our clothes so dirty."
"Yes! That's right, Louise! We were arguing over those puffy cream cakes, and ended up having a real scuffle! Oh, whenever we fought, it was me who always lost. You would grab my hair, and I'd just start crying."
"Not at all, princess achieved victory on at least one occasion." Louise said.
"You remembered! Looking at the two of us, one could call that battle the Siege of Amiens!" the princess said, giggling.
"That was when we were fighting over a dress in princess' bedroom, wasn't it?" Louise asked.
"Yes, in the middle of our 'Make-Believe Royal Court', we ended up fighting over who would play princess! And it was my blow to your stomach, Louise Françoise, that successfully decided it."
"I'd fainted in the presence of princess." Louise said calmly, as if that would explain it.
After that, the two of them exchanged glances and broke out in laughter. Zero, amazed, just kept watching them in that state. The princess may have looked like a lady, but she was actually a tomboy.
"That's more like it. Louise. Ah, I'm getting so nostalgic, tears are coming out." the princess said as she wept.
"So how do you guys know each other?" Zero asked, as Louise closed her eyes in reminiscence before answering.
"I had the pleasure of serving as princess' playmate back when we were children." Louise responded. Louise turned back to Henrietta. "But, I am deeply moved that princess would remember such things... I thought you'd already forgotten about me."
The princess gave a deep sigh and sat down on the bed. "How could I forget? During those times, every day was fun. There was nothing at all to worry about." There was a profound sadness in her voice.
"Princess?"
Louise looked worried as she peered into Henrietta's face.
"How I envy you. Freedom is such a wonderful thing, Louise Françoise." the princess said, her voice had a hint of jealousy in it.
"What are you saying? You're the royal princess, are you not?"
"A princess born in her kingdom is like a bird being raised in a cage. You go here and there on your master's every whim..."
Henrietta said, looking lonely as she gazed at the moon outside the window. She then held Louise's hands and gave a sweet smile before speaking. "I... I'm getting married."
"...You have my congratulations." Louise, who somehow felt the sadness in that tone, spoke in a subdued voice.
It was at that moment that Henrietta realized she hadn't acknowledged Zero, who had been watching them with a gentle smile.
"Oh, forgive me. Was I intruding?" The princess asked, hands coming to her face in embarrassment.
"Intruding? How would that be?" Louise asked, unsure of what the princess meant.
"Well, isn't he your lover? Oh no! It seems I was so caught up reminiscing that I didn't realize my blunder!"
"Huh? Lover? That creature?"
"Well I suppose creature is better than commoner. I think anyhow." Zero said sarcastically.
"Princess! That's just my familiar! Don't even joke about it being my lover!" Louise shook her head wildly, denying Henrietta's words.
"It?" Zero asked quietly. Louise looked away, knowing she'd get an earful later.
"Familiar?" Henrietta looked at Zero with a blank expression on her face. "But he looks like a human..."
"Close enough, Princess." Zero gave a strained greeting to Henrietta. "At any rate... I'm a familiar. You may call me Zero"
"True, true. Oh, Louise Françoise, you may have changed since our younger days, but you are still quite the same."
"I didn't make it my familiar because I wanted to."Louise saw the annoyed look on Zero's face, and continued,"But Sometimes what we didn't intend for can be worthwhile"
The princess sighed again.
"Princess, what happened?"
"No, it's nothing. Forgive me, oh, I'm so ashamed of myself. It's not something I should tell you... but I am just so..."
"Please tell me. What troubles are they that cause princess, as cheerful as she is, to sigh like this?"
"...No, I cannot tell you. Please forget I said anything. Louise."
"I will not! Didn't we use to talk about everything? Princess was the one who had called me a friend. Won't you share your worries with your friend?"
After Louise spoke, Henrietta gave off a cheerful-looking smile. "You've called me a friend, Louise Françoise. That makes me so happy." Henrietta nodded her head in determination, and began to talk. "You must not speak to anyone about what I am about to tell you now."
After that, she gave a quick glance in Zero's direction.
"Should I step outside?" The reploid asked.
Henrietta shook her head.
"A mage and her familiar are as one. I see no reason for you to leave." And with a sad tone, Henrietta started talking, "I am to marry the Emperor of Germania..."
"Germania, you say?"Louise, who hated Germania, spoke out in astonishment.
"That country of barbaric upstarts?"
"Yes. But it can't be helped. It must be done to solidify our alliance."
Henrietta explained the political climate of Halkeginia to Louise.
There was an insurrection among the nobles of Albion, and it looked like the Royal Family would soon be overthrown. If the rebels won, then the next thing would be the invasion of Tristain. To defend against this, Tristain was looking to form an alliance with Germania. For the alliance's sake, it was decided that Princess Henrietta would be married into the Germanian Imperial Family...
"So that's why..." Louise said with a depressed voice. It was clear from Henrietta's tone that she did not desire this wedding.
"It is alright. Louise, I have long since abandoned the notion of marrying the one whom I love. As a member of the royalty I have no choice. I have to protect my kingdom. Its the reason we royalty exist." she said with a said surety, that seemed to weigh down on everyone in the room.
"Princess..."
"Those two-faced Albion nobles do not want Tristain and Germania to become allies. Two arrows are easier to break when they are not tied together."Henrietta murmured."...Therefore, they have been searching frantically for anything that would interfere with the marriage."
"And they've found something?" Louise questioned the princess.
Zero didn't know anything about the alliance or Albion, but in any case, it seemed like it was something serious. He just sat and watch as the two sat in silence on the floor, the princess having lost all composure, clung to Louise.
"Then this is about that thing that could get in the way of princess' wedding?" Zero guessed.
Louise looked at her familiar, her face went pale, and Henrietta gave a regretful nod.
"Oh, Founder Brimir... please save this unfortunate princess..." The princess covered her face with her hands, and sobbed loudly.
"Tell me, please! Princess! Just what is it that could interfere with the princess' wedding?" Louise, like she had also been infected, rattled off with an agitated look. With both hands still on her face, Henrietta looked like she was in pain as she began muttering.
"...It is a letter that I had written some time ago."
"A letter?"
"Yes. If those Albion nobles get their hands on it... they would probably send it forward to the Germanian Imperial Family as soon as they could."
"What kind of letter could that be?"
"...That I cannot tell you. But if the Germanian Imperial Family were to read it... they would never forgive me. The marriage will fall through, and with it, the alliance with Germania. Then Tristain would stand alone against the strength of Albion."
Louise gave a gasp and seized Henrietta's hands.
"Where would that letter be? The letter that would bring crisis to Tristain!"
Henrietta shook her head.
"It is not with us. The truth of the matter is, it is already in Albion."
"Albion! But then...! Is it already in the enemy's hands?"
"No... the one who holds the letter is not with the rebels of Albion. As the conflict between the rebels and his kinsmen unfolded, Prince Wales of the Royal Family..."
"The Prince Wales? The Prince Valiant?"
Henrietta bent back and laid down on the bed.
"Oh, it's a disaster! Sooner or later, Prince Wales will fall captive to the rebels! And when that happens, the letter will come to light! And everything would be ruined! Ruined! Without an alliance, Tristain would have to take on Albion by itself!"
Louise held her breath.
"Then, Princess, the favor that you're asking of me..."
"Impossible! It's impossible, Louise! How could I be so terrible? It's all confusing! When I think about it, I couldn't ask you to do such a dangerous thing as to go to Albion while this conflict between the nobles and the royalists is unfolding!"
"What are you saying? Be it the kettles of hell, or into the jaws of a dragon, if it's for princess' sake, I'll go anywhere! There is no way the third daughter of the House of la Vallière, Louise Françoise, could overlook such a crisis for princess and Tristain!"
Louise kneeled down and lowered her head reverently.
"Please leave this matter to me, the one who has captured Fouquet the Crumbling Earth."
"Actually, I'm the one who caught her. Just clarifying" Zero said simply, a wicked grin on his face.
"You're my familiar." Louise said simply.
"And?" Zero responded annoyed.
"A familiar's achievement, is its master's achievement." Louise said with perfect confidence.
"And a familiar's mistake?" Zero wondered
"That would be your mistake, wouldn't it?"
"That's hardly just," Zero said, in an annoyed tone.
"So you will help me? Louise Françoise! You are a dear friend!"
"Of course! Princess!"
Louise grasped Henrietta's hands, and as the former spoke heatedly, the latter gave in and started crying.
"Princess! I, Louise, forever friend of the Princess, will be your confidante! Have you forgotten my vow of eternal loyalty?"
"Ah, the loyalty. This loyalty and sincere friendship! I'm deeply moved. I will never forget through life your loyalty and friendship! Louise Françoise!"
"Louise. Sorry to bother you while you're reaffirming your friendship and everything." Zero interrupted.
"What?" The princess asked, looking startled at the casual way Zero was acting.
"Going to Albion in the middle of a war is fine, but I have some questions to ask" Zero said, as he interrupted their moment.
"What?" Louise, "But you're my familiar! You have no right to question her highness!"
"And? I still have questions." Zero looked at the princess "If you'll answer them truthfully, I'd be willing to go along on this job. And without me you'd be sending your friend to her death. Therefore you wouldn't send your friend."
Henrietta looked at Zero, and saw he was serious,"Ask what you will"
"This revolt, what caused it?"
"A number of the nobles thought that they would like to gain control from the royals. Basically, a group of people decided that they wanted the power and had consolidated together to take back the power from the Albion Royalty. From what we know, they have plans to move on all the countries. As a group, they wish to take over the world as we know it. There is the possibility that they might even move on the lands of the elves, but that wouldn't happen till they have all of our Galad, Germania, and Tristian under their control as well."
"So this group of nobles has moved to take over Albion, and is likely to attack this country next?"
"Yes"
"And you're being forced to marry for the sake of an alliance before that has a chance to happen?" Zero pressed further.
"Yes" She sighed, she didn't want to think about it.
"So, in the end, you're ultimately setting yourself up for a lifetime of misery to protect your people from war?" Zero asked, a sad smile on his face.
"I, suppose you could put it that way..." The princess said, her voice unsteady.
"Well. Nobility. Congratulations" Zero said as he looked at her.
"What?"
"You're the first person I think deserves the title noble since I've come to this world"
"This world?" She said, shocked. What did he mean by that?
"Yep. Whatever, if you give me a mission, I'll accomplish it. I've already proven myself against two triangle mages. One of them was even a noble!" Zero stated
"A jerk of a noble at that!" Derflinger said from where he was resting against the wall.
"You're the one who defeated Count Mott!" the princess gasped, shocked at this turn of events.
"Yeah. Wasn't hard. He couldn't exactly wave his wand around when i removed his hand. Didn't really want to fight but he was going to bring harm to someone I said that I will protect. If he hadn't gotten in my way i wouldn't have done it. But the nobles here seem so puffed up and self important that they can't tell when they're obviously outclassed." Zero said.
"I see..." the princess looked down. This familiar was different than anyone she had ever met. "So you'll do this mission?"
"I suppose. I'm not all that thrilled about it since you're throwing your life away, but I can respect your decision." Zero said.
"Then shall we go to Albion, find the Crown Prince of Wales, and get the letter back, princess?"
"Yes, that is correct. I feel confident that you, the ones who have caught Fouquet the Crumbling Earth, should be able to accomplish this difficult mission."
"As you wish. How urgent is this task?"
"I've heard that the nobles of Albion have managed to drive the royalists into a corner of the country. It will just be a matter of time before they are defeated."
Louise's face looked serious as she bowed to Henrietta.
"Then tomorrow, we shall depart."
Afterwards, Henrietta turned her gaze towards Zero. "Dependable familiar."
"Huh? You mean me? My name is Zero." he responded
"Ah, yes. I am sorry. Please keep taking care of my most precious friend."
And then she gently held out her hand. A handshake? he thought, but the back of her hand was turned upwards. What sort of gesture was this? Ah, the whole kiss the girl on the back of her hand.
Louise spoke up with an astonished voice. "That won't do! Princess! To offer your hand to a familiar!"
"It is alright. This person will be acting for my sake, and without a reward, I won't have his loyalty." The princess said simply.
"Huh?" Zero seemingly bewildered. For some reason, he felt like paying back his little master talking down to him again. He had warned her, and now he'd play the fool for her benefit.
"When she offers her hand, it means you can kiss her. That's saying it plainly enough for you." Louise said, unhappy that the princess would lower herself to this.
"That's...how aggressive..." Zero said simply, as if bewildered by what she had said.
Henrietta smiled sweetly at Zero.
Zero grinned deliberately at Louise. Louise muttered under her breath and turned her face away.
Zero caught Henrietta's hand, and then firmly pulled her to him.
"Eh?" Henrietta absentmindedly opened her mouth in surprise. Then before they could blink, Zero pushed his lips against Henrietta's.
"Mmph..." The strength left Henrietta's body, and, slipping through Zero's hands, she fell to the bed.
"She fainted? I wonder why that is?" Zero said, seemingly mystified.
"What are you doing to her highness? You d-d-d-dog!"
"I'm not quite sure I understand the question?" Zero said innocently.
When Zero turned around, the bottom of Louise's shoe was flying towards him.
Zero took Louise's jump kick in the face and turned his head with it. He was actually surprised she'd been able to jump that high.
"What was that for? 'Master', this humble familiar was simply doing what he was told!" Zero said, playing the part of ignorant fool to the T.
"It was on her hand she gave you permission, the back of her hand! A kiss on the back of the hand! Why'd you give her an all-out kiss on the lips?" Louise was so mad, it felt like she was going to catch fire.
"How should I know! I don't know anything about your rules here. I'm in fact just a commoner dog. If you don't explain things to me correctly, how am I supposed to know?" Zero asked, with a mock innocence.
"Y-y-y-you, you, you dog..."
Louise's voice began trembling in fury.
Henrietta rose from the bed while shaking her head. Louise rushed to kneel beside her. She then grabbed Zero's head and pushed it down to the bed.
"I-I'm sorry! My familiar's misconduct, is my own misconduct! And you say it, too! Apologize!" Louise demanded.
Zero almost laughed as the ever-prideful Louise was apologizing to someone. On top of that, she was shaking all over. If he didn't do what she says, she'd probably give me hell for it later. Well more hell later, anyhow. "Sorry. I only did it since you told me I could kiss you. I misunderstood the instructions given to me" Zero said, his clear voice sounding sincerely contrite.
"And where can you find someone who would go for the lips when they hear that?" Louise demanded of her familiar, and when he raised his hand, she hit him again.
"I-it's alright. Loyalty must be rewarded, after all." Henrietta bowed her head, giving real effort to appear calm. While the familiar was a commoner, he was also perhaps the most attractive man she'd met, with the exception of the Prince Wales. And the firm but gentle way he'd held her made her heart race.
At that time, the door slammed open and someone came flying in.
"You! The princess! What do you think you're doing?"
It was the one who had dueled with Zero before, Guiche de Gramont. With an ever-present imitation rose in his hand.
"Ah, a spy, listening to a classified meeting?" Zero said, as he stood up, facing the kid.
"Guiche! You! Were you eavesdropping? Did you hear our conversation just now?" Louise shouted at the young dot mage.
Guiche, however, didn't answer the pair's questions and just stood in a daze. "For my hunt of the rose-like, lovely princess bringing me to this place... and then seeing a theft, so to speak, occur through the door's keyhole... that idiot commoner taking a kiss..." Guiche flourished his imitation rose and cried. "Duel with me! You scoundrel!"
Zero extended his saber in front of him, giving Guiche the first real look at its deadly light,"You sure about that? I won't go easy this time."Zero gave Guiche a scornful look after he fell to the floor.
"Barbarian!" was Guiche's only response. "To think I had praised you!"
"So, what now? This guy overheard princess' story. Shall we have him hanged?" Zero wondered aloud,"Or do we do this more silently."
"That might be best... it's really too bad he had to hear our conversation just now..." Louise added.
"Your Highness! By all means, please appoint me, Guiche de Gramont, to this difficult mission." the young man begged.
"Oh? You? What use do I have for someone who couldn't last a second against me?" Zero wondered aloud.
"Let me join your group!"
"Why?" Zero asked him.
Guiche's face reddened. "I wish to be of use to Her Highness..."
Zero was sensing something from Guiche's appearance right then."You, are you in love? With the princess?"
"Don't say such rude things. I am, absolutely, just wanting to be of use to Her Highness."
However, Guiche's face was burning intensely as he said this. Telling by the passionate look he was giving Henrietta, he was certainly under her charm.
"But you have a girlfriend. Who was that again? Uh, Monmon-something..."
"It's Montmorency."
"So what's going on?"
But Guiche was silent. Ah, I see, Zero thought. "Did you get dumped? She completely dumped you, I bet? Well, being unfaithful to one's partner is normally a sure way to be left all alone, no matter how clever ya are. Not that I'm accusing you of being clever!" Zero said, with a laugh.
"Q-quiet! It was all your fault! If you had displayed any tact at all, then none of this would have happened!" Guiche said, glaring at Zero.
"What did I tell you about taking responsibility for yourself? So you wanna be like Count Mott huh?" Zero said, his eyes narrowing as he taunted the young man.
"Gramont? Son of General Gramont?" Henrietta interrupted their argument.
"I am his son, Your Highness." Guiche stood up and gave a reverent bow.
"Are you also saying that you wish to help me?"
"It would be an unexpected blessing for me if I were to become a part of that mission."
Henrietta smiled at Guiche's enthusiastic expression. "Thank you. Your father is a great, brave noble, and it seems you have inherited his blood. Then, please. Would you help this unfortunate princess, Sir Guiche?"
"Her Highness has called my name! Her Highness! Tristain's lovely flower, has smiled her rosy smile at me!"
Guiche, having felt too much excitement, fell on his back in a faint.
"Is he alright?" the princess asked silently.
Zero poked at Guiche. He wondered if there was a flag pole to hang the idiot from. Louise paid no mind to the disturbance and spoke in a serious voice.
"Well then, tomorrow morning, we shall depart for Albion."
"We have heard that Prince Wales has set up camp somewhere around Newcastle in Albion."
"Understood. I've traveled through Albion with my sisters before, so I'm familiar with the geography."
"It will be a perilous journey. If the nobles of Albion discover your mission, they will do everything in their power to get in your way."
A short laugh followed,"That wouldn't be half enough to cause us trouble." Zero said in response.
"At least you are confident Zero, but do not underestimate the nobles of Albion. They have access to the dragon knights which are the signature of their country" Henrietta responded.
"I suppose we'll say," Zero said with a mysterious smirk on his face.
Henrietta sat at the desk and, with Louise's feather quill and some parchment, wrote a letter out. Henrietta quietly gazed at the letter she had written herself, before she began shaking her head sadly.
"Princess? What's the matter?" Louise, asked, unsure about her friend's sudden hesitation.
"I-it's nothing." Henrietta blushed, gave a nod as if she had settled on something, then added another line at the end. After that, she murmured in a soft voice.
"Founder Brimir... Please forgive this selfish princess. Even though my country is in distress, I cannot help but write this one sentence... I cannot lie about my own feelings..."
Henrietta's facial expression made it seem like she had written a love-letter rather than a secret message. Louise couldn't say anything more, and just looked at Henrietta quietly.
Henrietta rolled up the letter she had written. She waved her staff. Out of nowhere, sealing wax appeared on the rolled-up letter, and a seal pressed down on it. Then she handed the letter over to Louise.
"When you meet the Crown Prince Wales, please pass this letter to him. He should then return the letter in question immediately."
After that, Henrietta removed a ring from the ring finger on her right hand, and gave it to Louise.
"This is a Water Ruby that I had received from my mother. It should work as a good-luck charm, at least. If you have any money concerns, please sell this to get some travel funds."
Louise bowed her head in silence.
"This mission is for the future of Tristain. For that, my mother's ring will protect you from the harsh winds blowing in Albion."
***Author's notes***
Zero finally found a good noble. And that good noble is getting the shaft. Kinda sucks.
Another slow chapter. But wow, Zero finally won one on Louise without scaring the hell outta her. He just embarrassed the hell out of her in front of her most cherished childhood friend. Wait, is that better, or worse?
As for the current equipment, Zero wasn't able to make/maintain those changes on his own. It was Cerveau in the base who kept giving the upgrades and maintaining em. Most of em had more moving parts and other things that would make them more complicated on upkeep and repairs, esp without the tools required.. Zero only has his unmodified Z-saber, and Buster, and of course his hand to hand capabilities. With the correct facilities he could probably do such, but not with what he has on hand. Thank you for the reviewers for letting my lazy ass know the name.
Zero is not becoming human. Being a human would mean his body would rip itself apart if he did half the crap he is able to. That is the only spoiler you'll get.
Zero: As a word to the readers, I'd just like to say, even if this world is fucked up, i can reliably say Sigma is not responsible for this. That bastard just wouldn't stay dead. And if the author does try working him in, expect slower updates as the author may or may not be missing one or more hands.
Heh, that's funny. I wouldn't do that. You are joking right? You are just a fictional character after all
Zero: Say whatever you need to, to help you sleep.
Right. No Sigma. Enjoy the story all.