I don't own Familiar of Zero
AN: Waiting to finish this arc so I can get to the timeskip and eventually the point where everything falls apart.. Sorry this took so long, no excuse.
Saito was staring at the ridiculous pink and purple costume in front of him. The tailor had taken about fifty measurements, and had just finished mending the horrifying monstrosity with gold inlays and gem encrusted sleeves. It didn't look like it was possible to get into it without help. He would probably need a dozen people to help him squeeze into the thing. Skinny jeans would be looser than that thing they expected him to wear. That wasn't even considering the weird puffy white thing at the neck, he could only describe it as a neck doily. He might be able to get the overcoat on, but it was also pink and purple, small, and had way too many golden buttons.
"My lord Hiraga, we are here to help you get dressed." Saito glanced at the two men in the room, Walden and Joseph.
"Help me... What?"
"You don't plan to get dressed yourself, do you?" Walden incredulously asked.
Saito looked back at the clothes, and came to a realization. It wasn't possible to correctly put that abomination on without help. "My God, this place is weird. Do you have something more military."
"That is military formal wear." Joseph said.
Saito groaned, clothes that required other people to help you get into didn't really seem intimidating. Then again, maybe it was intimidating to be able to afford something so impractical that you needed help wearing it. It just seemed stupid to Saito. It probably seemed stupid to a lot of people here. "What else do you two do around here?"
"We help the king get dressed, and you, for now." Both men said simultaneously. Saito could have sworn that the King was dead, though maybe they were kept on staff even though there wasn't a King.
"Well... fun job I'm sure, but I'm not wearing any of that." This world was ridiculous.
"What are you going to wear?"
"Take me to the armory. I'll find something there." Saito muttered.
"Well shit..." Luc muttered as he dragged his feet into his hideout. He sent the all clear to the Fovilles, but it didn't matter. Worse yet, the Fovilles didn't share that Mott had his wand stolen. They just used him to meet his father.
"What?" Skins rasped.
"Our employer might as well be trapped in a dungeon and the Fovilles betrayed us. This ruins everything, what are we supposed to do with this idiot! Mott can't pay us-" He kicked his useless prisoner as he was interrupted
"Wait, what did the Fovilles do?"
"Nothing." Luc growled.
"What?" Tiny screeched.
"No bribes, no blackmail, no kidnapping. They did nothing because they knew Mott was going to lose. They just took his money and saw fit to tell us shit about Mott getting his wand stolen." Even someone with limited knowledge knew that a Royal messenger who could lose his wand was dangerously incompetent. That was like failing to notice having both hands cut off.
"I told you we shouldn't work with the Fovilles." Tiny scolded.
"We were working with the Fovilles?" Conrad asked.
"Well sorry, I thought it was a good risk." Luc ignored the kid. "I could have become legitimate. I could have been more than just another bastard." Mott never had children with the Countess, this job was supposed to earn him and Skins their birthright. He meticulously planned every step. In days he organized 10 kidnappings, readied five families to be blackmailed, and bribed, with his own money, a dozen officials and holy men. He was the only one who followed through with his plan, that had to be modified on the spot with Guiche suddenly choosing to leave the Academy. It just had to be Guiche that they took, they could have taken the Vallière girl. She was worth something.
"We can still ransom him, the Gramont's have allies they can get loans from." Skins muttered.
"I'm a Mage, we were supposed to be legitimized, not get a few extra coins to clank together." After everything their mother had suffered, that he's suffered he deserved more.
"Well I'm sorry but you're not getting legitimized today, so you can either keep whining like the little bastard you are, or you can get a few extra coins to clank together." Tiny pulled him down to eye level, shooting a glare that made him want to flinch.
"You're right, still, we won't get much from a family up to their assholes in debt. At most we'll get 1000 ècu, if we're lucky." They would still be taking a loss.
"By the Founder be optimistic."
"No." He grabbed a quill, a well, and vellum to write a very threatening yet polite ransom note. "All I know is that once we're done with this we are getting payback on those Foville pricks."
"I'm not helping with the Fovilles." Conrad said.
"Yeah, let's not do anything that will get us all killed." Skins rasped.
"Like kidnapping the son of one of the Kingdom's most important Generals." Tiny added.
Louise was smiling as she gazed at herself in the mirror. Princess Henrietta truly had an eye for fashion. It was an elegant yet simple layered design. The top layer was a light pink color, the silken chiffon dress billowed around a tightly fitted silk bodice hugging her front and back, both held up by a broad strap of pink pearls with a large rose quartz gemstone in the center of the strap. The waist was held tight against her by a band of pink pearls, rose quartzes, and rubies in a magnificent design depicting Brimir's ascent to Heaven. Beneath the band the chiffon dress flowed with each step, the transparent fabric appearing almost as a ghostly afterimage of the solid pink silk beneath it.
It was magnificent. The golden necklace with three large sapphires almost seemed superfluous when worn with her dress.
"I knew you would look absolutely exquisite in that, Louise Françoise."
"Princess!" Louise whipped around, smiling at her Royal Highness. "I can hardly believe that you had a dress like this ready for me!"
"Please Louise, I could get you anything you need." Henrietta said with a smile. "Are you ready?"
Louise groaned. In a ballroom with the most influential Nobles in Tristain and her escort was going to be Saito. Best case scenario was people being terrified of him. She hoped she could steer this in such a way as to make that as much of a positive as she could. Even so, her biggest concern was her Void. All she had was an explosion she had little control over, and a dispel she had little to no control over. She knew that she wouldn't impress. "Let's do this."
"Relax Louise, you helped capture Fouquet, you are void, and you have me. You have nothing to worry about." Henrietta assured as she wrapped her arms around Louise.
"You're right!" Louise exclaimed, only half believing the Princess's words. They still needed to get Saito. "Let's go get Saito."
"Good, you know what the landscape's like right now?" Henrietta asked as she ended the hug.
"The Gramonts, Montmorencys, Paraquets, and Ambrose are in crippling debt. The Montilyets recently required some of their ancestral lands from the Marquis DuRellion, with the Marquis in worse condition than Count Mott. According to Cattleleya the Châtelets are rising in importance, but with what's happening with Andrè it could go either way." Louise recited from memory. Having struggled so long with magic she had to do everything to make herself useful that she could, and she was proud of her political prowess and knowledge of the court gossip and families.
"With the proceedings today I am certain that Châtelets will continue their rise, given time. The blame will be placed firmly on the Count." Henrietta sighed.
Louise shrugged, it made sense. Andrè was an accomplished chevalier from an irrelevant family, and everyone knew that war was on the horizon. No one gains anything if the Châtelets fall further than they already have. While Louise didn't blame Mott for losing to Saito, everyone else will see it as some unknown commoner beat an extremely prestigious man whose position within the court now ready to fall to whomever is ready to seize it. "I suppose, Princess, but I doubt House DuRellion to be in such dire straits."
The pair approached the room Saito was supposed to be changing in. The door was wide open, the formal attire set out for him was still on the mannequin, and a servant looked terrified. "Where is Gandàlfr?"
"He refused to wear the attire provided for him, despite it being fit for a General. We tried to stop him but he went to the armory."
Louise groaned. "I shouldn't be surprised."
Saito fastened the last strap of the rerebrace and vambrace. They were both leather, with overlapping steel strips adding extra protection. Saito drew Derflinger and took a few testing swings with each arm. "What do ya think partner?"
"They're restrictive. I don't have the same range of motion." Saito scowled, he wanted to have some kind of armor. He had a steel plate hidden under his shirt that didn't restrict his movement too much, he already ditched the sabaton since it didn't give him enough traction, and the greaves were also too restricting. The schynbalds were good replacements, but those only covered his shins. He also got rid of the pauldrons and couters from the armor, as they also restricted his movement.
"Do you need armor? It won't do much against magic."
"True, but it will help a lot against non-magic and some magic. I could more effectively turn into a blow, and as long as it doesn't restrict my movement too much it gives me more options."
"Saito!" Came a shriek.
"Hi Louise, hi Princess." Saito turned to meet his two new guests.
"Why aren't you wearing what Princess Henrietta provided?" She asked.
"It looked ridiculous. That stuff isn't my style, you look nice." Saito looked her over, she looked really nice. Though it would have looked nicer if it were more minimalist, all those gems made it look a bit gaudy.
"You look like you're getting ready for battle!"
"That's the point. This is way better than that weird tight purple thing."
"I suppose you do look more like the Ferocious Shield of the Lord." Henrietta said in a placating fashion. "All you need is a spear and you'd capture the image in the chant."
"Chant?"
"Of course you don't know the Chant of the Body." Louise muttered.
"The left hand of God is Gandálfr, the ferocious shield of the lord. His left hand wields a large sword and his right hand wields a long spear, protecting me with endless vigilance." Henrietta and Louise sang together. They probably shouldn't sing, they weren't good.
Saito ran and grabbed a disturbingly ornate spear from a statue in the center of the room, wielding Derflinger in his left. "Do I look suitably holy?"
"No put that staff back!" Louise shouted.
"This is a staff?" It looked like a spear with a few gems shoved in. Though Saito saw how it would be an extremely useful for combat, it could easily be used to keep enemies a few steps away while preparing spells. Much better than a staff without a spearhead. Or a little wand, or a rose. Though a wand or rose was a concealable tool.
Louise ripped the staff out of Saito's hand and put it back. "This is the the King's staff, and only he is meant to hold it! It stays here." Louise marched to where Saito took it, and returned the staff to its statue. Saito didn't expect something so important to be in a vault. Or a statue for that matter
"You didn't give me a chance to put it back." Saito began as he started to take off the rerebrace and vambrace on his left arm. It felt looser, more flexible. Saito started swinging Derflinger around, keeping an eye on Louise and Henrietta. Last thing he wanted was to hit them on an errant swing.
"Gandálfr, perhaps you should wear what was provided." The Princess requested.
"It was in no way intimidating."
"It was extremely valuable." Louise pressed.
"Expensive doesn't mean useful or intimidating. I want to separate myself from the nobility, and any political machinations. All of this seems counterproductive to that end."
"Saito, you can't avoid political machinations. You either control them or are controlled by them. We will dive in, and control them." Louise said with an air of finality.
"What are you talking about, I won't be controlling anything. I barely know anything of what is going on. You'll be the ones controlling everything!" Saito finished with a thrust, holding Derf in his left hand and pulling out his Beretta in his right. That didn't feel right. He sheathed Derf and held his Beretta in his left hand. That felt better, though it still felt off with the vambrace and rerebrace on his left arm. He took them off and started putting the right ones back on.
"We're allies. What's good for me is good for us." Louise smugly told him with an upturned nose. "Besides, you have a sharp wit. You should do fine so long as you follow my lead. So trust me."
Saito continued putting on the armor. She was helping him, and had an interest in helping the void ally. Also, she had been helping him. She went through a lot to save him from the love potion. "I trust you, Louise."
"Then wear what we gave you."
Saito finished fastening the rerebrace and vambrace on his right arm. Saito gave a few testing swings as he tried to think of a way to avoid wearing the purple and pink abomination. He held his Beretta in his left hand. Swinging Derf around and pointing his pistol at mannequins adorned in armor. This felt right. He felt limber and flexible, still had a very free range of movement, and some added protection. He grinned, he knew how to escape the what Louise and Henrietta wanted him to wear. "I'm supposed to be the "Furious Shield," correct?"
"What?"
"You want to be the shield?"
"Protecting the Void with endless vigilance, Derf fits as the large sword, and I can do furious. I could do better with a properly practical and intimidating wardrobe. Like this."
Gerald was silently dancing with Melisa Alexandra du Paraquet, her magnificent dress matching her dark green hair. She looked bored, then again it wasn't like she was fond of him. "How goes..."
"Fine." She snapped.
"Sorry." He desperately hoped that her family's plan to rise from their shame failed. If they succeeded there was a good chance that their parents would arrange a marriage.
Hence trying to stay in their good graces, hence dancing with a girl who hates him and was 4 years his junior. "Things are looking up for my family. Father is fairly confident that we will take the position of the Royal Messenger once the current mess is sorted out."
"It won't happen anytime soon." She was right.
"Patience is a virtue."
"My family supports you, when you move to claim the position." Which was a given.
Trumpets sounded, heralding the arrival of the Princess. All turned to a staircase leading to the upper level and huge double doors swung open, and Gerald's throat went dry. Standing ahead of the Princess was Saito, dressed simply but practically, looking ready to fight.
"Entering the hall, The Crown Princess Henrietta, and her esteemed guests, Louise Françoise Le Blanc de La Vallière, daughter of Karin de La Vallière and Vincent de La Vallière..." The man introducing them trailed off, as he turned to Louise and back to his parchment. Then he turned to Saito and gaped. The Princess stepped toward him and whispered something to him. He quickly nodded and continued. "...barer of the Void."
Those who weren't in the courtroom gasped, and Gerald really wanted to punch his father for failing to tell him this fairly important piece of information. "Void..." Marisa muttered under her breath.
"Pretty sure that man is her Familiar." Melisa head snapped toward him.
"...and Saito de Hiraga of the United States of America, Son of Captain Emiko Kubo de Hiraga and Corporal Jonathan de Hiraga, and the Left Hand of God, Gandálfr."
The room was silent. Saito started forward, walking with a purpose. He had a hard look on his face, determined, and intimidating. Gerald knew he had to avoid him. The pair bowed and curtsied, along with the rest of those in the audience. Melisa began dragging Gerald with her through the crowd once they all rose, moving to the throne. "Stop it." Gerald muttered under his breath.
"We need to meet them." She hissed as others recovered from the shock and started moving forward too.
"Not with me."
"We are practically connected by the hip by our families, so if I say we meet them, shut up and follow." Her glare brokered no argument. If he kept resisting she'd just stomp on his foot and make him look a fool.
"Please, allow us some space." Princess Henrietta said in a soft tone, her voice carrying over the crowd.
The crowd parted, and Malisa grinned. The trio were heading straight toward Gerald and Malisa. The pair bowed with Gerald saying, "Your royal Highness Princess Henrietta, Chevalier Louise Françoise Le Blanc de La Vallière, and Saito de Hiraga. It is an honor. May I introduce Melisa Alexandra du Paraquet, and I am Gerald Armagnac de Fézensaguet."
"Malisa! It is great to see you, any chance we'll see you at the Tristain Academy of Magic." Louise asked.
"It's looking favorable." Gerald knew that Malisa was lying. She lacked the skill, family connections, and family wealth to get so much as a tour there. She probably wouldn't be able to serve as a guard.
"It is a school for only the best." Louise smiled at her
"It's a pity that I can't throw my name and get in, instead they must base it on merit."
"Some families are know for managing commoners." Louise replied.
Gerald interrupted before his companion said anything. "Gandálfr, your family's military."
"Yes, my mother and father, as well as my older brother and sister." Gandálfr said as he grabbed a glass of wine from a servant. He seemed disinterested, looking at other Nobles who seemed intent on staring at him.
"What about you?"
He paused for a moment, taking a sip, then taking a deep breath. Gerald could practically see Saito's thoughts churning, trying to find the right way to speak. "Unfortunately I have not undergone formal training yet, I was summoned before I officially began my officer training."
Gerald paused, holding in his urge to gasp. This non-mage was going to be an officer. Of course he had almost died twice at his hands, so perhaps it was wrong to be surprised. "You were going to be an officer?" Malisa wasn't as good at hiding her surprise.
"Yes, I had applied for and been accepted into a special program, where once I finished my general education I would receive four more years of schooling as well as formal training. Once I completed my training and education I would be made an officer."
"Four more years of schooling?" Louise asked. Gerald was wondering himself, most formal schooling was only for three years. Four was unusual, but four tacked on to some other education? It almost sounded like they wanted to put scholars on the battlefield.
"Is that odd? Four years? Because I have a lot more than just four." Gandálfr added with a grin.
"I suppose it explains the poetry." Louise said with a grin, and he scowled.
Malisa practically jumped for joy, "I love poetry! 'On the wings of griffins on gentle winds, I follow the divine light to guide me, that soaring skyward I may find, my resting place and home, However my soul is trapped in doubt and gloom, adorned in a feverish flame.'" She would choose a Whittler poem. She was fond of that no-talent hack.
"I love Johnathan Whittler's works." Gerald lied as he glanced around, people were finally congregating around Gandálfr.
"You have me at a disadvantage, I'm not familiar with the poetry of the local region, or continent for that matter."
"Perhaps you would like to share a poem from your home?" Marquis Mattieu de Montmorency asked.
"Alright, 'Out of the night that covers me, Black as the pit from pole to pole, I thank whatever Gods may be For my unconquerable soul. In the fell clutch of circumstance I have not winced nor cried aloud. Under the bludgeonings of chance My head is bloody, but unbowed...'"
Wardes was pinching the bridge of his nose. He should be meeting Gandálfr, spending time with Louise to ensure that she stays with him. Instead he was staring down a servant with a package, trying hand it off to one of his men now in charge of transporting missives for the crown. He had the contents, a rose like wand, a lock of golden hair, and a note.
Good Day, General Gramont,
I regret to inform you that your son, Guiche, is in my custody. It has been a terrible inconvenience for my compatriots and I to look after him, and I would appreciate it if you would compensate us for our services with a sum of 1000 ècu, to be taken to the fountain at the market square today. We will be waiting for you with further instructions.
Should you fail to make this simple payment we will be forced to dispose of Guiche in another fashion, while spreading word of your inability to make simple payments for simple services.
I apologize for the inconvenience. Sincerely
A Bastard
"So." Wardes looked up at the servant caught carrying the ransom note. Her hair was graying and she looked terrified. "Who told you to deliver this message."
"It was given to me from the cleaners for the servants uniforms." She meekly said.
That was an obvious hole, while the Noble's clothing was washed and dried on the premises the common worker's uniforms were sent to a local cleaner. He would need to keep a watchful eye on that. "Go back to work." He needed to look into this now, he could inform General Gramont later. Last thing he needed to deal with was an irrational father.
"Gandálfr, I'm having doubts..." Shit, he knew he wouldn't be lucky enough to get through the day without being asked some kind of existential question. The noble looked young, probably no older than 14, with deep chestnut hair slicked back. He was hunched over, refusing to make eye contact and trembling.
"Doubts about what?" Saito asked in a tone that he hoped sounded like he was confident.
"I have been questioning some aspects of the Papacy-"
"Please Johannes!" A middle aged woman with long chestnut hair and bright green eyes practically screeched. "I am terribly sorry Gandálfr for my son's lack of faith!"
"Lady Agricola, it is quite alright. Saito, would you care-" Louise began trying to pull him away before another religious question could be asked.
"Johannes Agricola, is it?" Saito asked. He was uncomfortable with this, however the fact that this boys mother was so against questioning doctrine that it sparked such vitriol made him feel like he had to do something to encourage doubt.
"Yes, Gandálfr?"
"Saito, what are you doing." Louise hissed under her breath.
"There's nothing wrong with doubt." Saito said with a confident grin, enjoying the shock of the Noble's who heard him. "Doubt helps us learn. It helps us find truth. While certainty is far more comforting than doubt, only fools are certain. You have doubts, understand why you have them, what they mean, and if they lead to questions, find answers. Remember, do not dismiss doubt."
It was quiet, as the crowd digested the fact that Gandálfr basically endorsed questioning the faith. That he defended the idea of Protestantism. Johannes straightened himself, stood tall and confidently. He ceased his trembling, and finally made eye contact, his eyes bright green. "Thank you, your council, while not comforting, it is... Enlightening."
"I am not very a comforting person." Saito said with a cold chuckle. "Enlightenment is far better than comfort."
"I like this song, would you care to dance." Louise didn't ask as she dragged Saito away.
"What's wrong?" Saito asked as Louise placed one of his hands on her hips, and held the other.
"What was that?" She whispered.
"My honest views?"
"I was trying to get you away so you wouldn't have to answer that."
"I know, I just thought that bit of advise would help the kid. You need doubt if you want to grow intellectually." Saito said with a shrug.
"Whatever, I'm just glad you've been handling yourself relatively well. You aren't nearly as abrasive as you normally are. However we could use more Furious Shield. When we rejoin the crown try too keep things on poetry and your previous accomplishments." Louise ordered. Saito held in a groan, he was tired of exaggerating about himself, and he was running out of poems he memorized.
"Tell me about you."
"Huh?"
"I've been talking about myself, but I don't know much about Louise François le Blanc de la Vallière." Which was true, though hopefully if she started talking about herself and her family it would keep himself away from the rest of the Nobles.
"There's hardly anything exciting about me."
"So? Exaggerate. Tell me about your family, make stuff up."
"...Did you make stuff up?" Louise asked.
"Maybe, I'm not entirely sure how much I should trust my memories. For now I'm assuming that what I know about myself is true." Saito said with a shrug. That was an honest concern he had about his state of mind. He didn't consider it likely, but he didn't want to dismiss the possibility.
"...You want to know about my family?" Louise asked, looking away, slightly guilty. Saito probably should have considered that bringing up his questionable state of mind would make her feel bad.
"Family's important, talk to me."
"My mother and father were both in the military with the Manticore Knights, my father served under my mother, and she eventually became the Commander of the Manticore Knights before retiring. I have two older sisters, Éléonore recently got her own team of researchers working under her at the Oriz Magic Academy. OH, she's also getting married in 5 months to the Count de Burgundy." Louise was starting to get downright giddy.
"Where's the wedding?" He really did like weddings. "And can I go?"
"You want to go?"
"I believe I've already told you that I love weddings." Saito said with a chuckle.
AN: This is a bit short, don't have much to say, though next chapter should be the end of this arc.
This is Lee, and I'm out.