Arc 2: Life in the New World
Chapter 4: The Life of a Familiar
It's morning. My eyes open to the sight I've become used to.
Another day has begun.
I pull off the blanket, and pick myself up from the pile of straw. Since I asked for that makeshift bed from Siesta, my necks and backs don't hurt as much in the morning.
Louise is still asleep, turning away from the morning light invading through the window.
This is the eleventh time I've seen this; I know by now what do I have to do and in what order.
"Louise, wake up. It's morning."
A few repeats of that phrase, and the girl on the bed stirs and gets up, like always.
Louise told me very early on that 'a familiar that has to be woken up by its master doesn't deserve breakfast', but as a matter of fact, I've always woken up before Louise; a habit I got from traveling all the time.
I know what the next command is, and go to get it beforehand.
Louise: "Clothes."
I hand her underwear first and turn around, looking at the wardrobe and the pile of straw that I see every day to kill the time.
Louise: "Done."
Hearing that groggy voice, I turn around and see the naked back I'm used to seeing.
This always gets me a bit tense even though I've done it ten times already..
Putting clothes on Louise has to be done in order: putting a shirt on first, then have Louise turned around and button it up; this way I limit what I see to the minimum. Louise complained at first saying it's bothersome, but probably got tired of saying it every day and stopped.
After the shirt comes the skirt, the cape, socks and shoes are last.
Okay...Once again I've crossed the dangerous territory unscathed. And this is after I've already gotten used to it. When just starting out, having to touch bare skin of a girl had me so tense I didn't dare to breathe too hard. Telling myself this is like helping Neris dress was the only way to prevent myself from feeling any more awkward.
The clothes are on, next comes teeth brushing and face washing, which takes a bit more effort.
There is a small wooden tub on the table adjacent to the wall. Bringing this from Louise's room on the tower all the way down to the fountain at the courtyard takes time, but it's the only source of water available to everyone.
The water is as cold as always; my hands always ache at this time. This is why I leave laundry for lunch break.
On the way back the tub is filled with water, so I need to be a bit more careful; I'm sure there will be complaints if I spill it.
I can already imagine what awaits me behind this door. Louise will either be sitting groggily on the bed with eyelids half closed, or lying on the back asleep again.
Today it's the former.
I put the tub on the small table as Louise approaches and stands still, her eyes stlll not looking at anything as her head sways a little.
Once again, it's up to me and my hands to scoop up water and lightly splash it on Louise's face. Louise flinches a bit as the coldness hit her face. After some light rubs, I wipe her face with a towel.
This is another point I have to be careful. If I wipe too hard she'll complain later. If Louise gets in foul mood in the morning, she'll stay that way almost all day, as I've learned the hard way.
When her face is relatively clean and dry, I hand her a toothbrush and some kind of herb, and step back to watch. Aside from putting on an underwear, teeth brushing is the only other thing she does herself in the morning.
Since I tell myself they're like what I do for Neris, I'm able to do them without thinking too much. But as a side effect, it's starting to really feel like I have another overgrown daughter to care for.
The gargling sound of Louise rinsing her mouth lightly fill the quiet room. In the morning when she hasn't completely woken up yet, Louise is just like any other dainty girl.
But once the cold water starts to take effect...
Louise: "Familiar."
The domineering voice comes back. And she's still not calling me by name, even though she promised; but I'm tired of pointing that out.
"What is it?"
Louise: "When you do laundry today don't damage my underwear again."
"I told you that thing was just old. It wasn't my fault."
We already talked about this yesterday and she's still bringing it up. I just found one of her underwear had its waistband worn out and told her that. Instead it became my fault for not washing carefully. That one was smaller than others, so she probably had it when she was younger. Which also probably means Louise doesn't buy new clothes very often. That's a bit surprising. She was so verbal about being noble, so I thought she would only wear new, expensive clothes befitting the status.
Louise: "I will admit that one's old...Alright, but if another looks like it would snap, tell me immediately, okay? If it snaps while I'm wearing it, you're dead."
"...Understood."
A small part of me kind of wants her to get her just dessert. But the rest scolds me for thinking such thought.
We come down to the Alviss hall for a breakfast.
From what Louise told me when I asked, Alvisses are those small dolls on the shelf on the wall at the back of the hall that only come out to dance late at night. I've never seen it myself, since I've never had business here at that hour.
Louise sits down on the same chair she does every day. I sit down on the floor at the same place I do every day. The food is the same half-bread and miserable soup I have every day, too.
Ever since the day I helped clean the classroom and got a small drumstick as a bonus, I've never asked for anything else, a little hopeful that Louise would soften up to some degree; but she hasn't given me anything at all. This girl is seriously lacking in delicacy.
I finish mine quickly, since there's so little of it. Now I have to put the soup plate away.
"Hey, I'm going to bring this to the kitchen."
Louise waves me away, not knowing my true purpose.
At the back of Alviss hall there is a door, and opening the door leads to the kitchen.
My real meal starts here.
Marteau: "Here comes our hero!"
Marteau-san declares to the kitchen. With his somewhat big build, he looks as energetic as always for a man of forty-odd years.
The effect of his word on the kitchen staff is very clear; they joined in with the same energy he did. His position as the head chef of the kitchen and the respect the workers give him makes him sort of like 'the boss'.
And supposedly his salary is as high as lesser nobles (nobles have salary?), but he personally dislikes mages and nobles, which is probably why he took a liking to me for arguing in Siesta's defense, and 'educating that snobbish noble boy', as he put it.
It still feels kind of bad, since I did it more for my own satisfaction, and even change the reason halfway through. It's like I'm tricking them...
Still, I really am welcomed in the kitchen. They even give me the excess food left after serving the students.
Siesta: "Luka-san, here is what we have today."
Siesta cheerfully places a dish of stew on the table.
"Oh, thanks."
Siesta: "Today's stew is special; much better than ususal, isn't it, Head Chef?"
Marteau: "Of course! I was dead set on keeping some for you, even if I have to secretly cut the nobles' portion!"
"Haha...Thank you, but that's a bit..."
Though Marteau-san always laughs and tells me it's alright, if the words are to get out that they're giving nobles food to a commoner, everyone here will probably be in big trouble. The very least I can do is to limit my visit to only for breakfasts. That made them like me even more, and made me even more embarrassed.
Marteau: "Hmph, if those noble kids think of others just half the time our Luka does, commoners' lives would be so much easier."
It's less of how good I am as a person and more of how bad the impression Marteau-san has of the students here. Even if I wants to make excuses for the nobles, which I don't, I wouldn't know how.
Marteau: "But I really have to wonder where you got those skills from. Fighting three of the noble's golems! Using just a stick to break its arm, then using that arm to destroy the other two!"
This is the second time I'm hearing this tale; the first time was when I first came to the kitchen. There's probably not much to talk about here.
"I was in a few fights before. It's just experiences." That was as much as I could say without lying.
Marteau: "Did you hear that, people! True masters don't brag!"
The workers cheer, of course. If not for this, the breakfast here wouldn't be so awkward. While I was praised very heavily when I had just defeated Illias and had gotten kind of used to it, the cheer just now isn't the same. This doesn't have anything to do with my previous reputation, so it feels embarrassing all over again.
Marteau: "There are many kinds of mastery in the world, not just the magic that the nobles are so proud of. Your skill that day was really amazing. Noble's magic is incredible, true; creating moving statues in a blink of an eye, shooting fireballs out of thin air. But there are so many more skills in the world, like your skill with the sword, or these food; these aren't any inferior to those flashy spells, don't you think?"
"I can agree with that. There's at least one person I know that would praise Marteau-san's food over any magic."
Said person can use so many magic I got dizzy by just looking them, but five years ago when she tried to cook, the pot was reduced to a smoldering lump of metal.
Marteau: "Haha! I'm liking you more and more, our Hero!"
If not for that nickname this place would be perfect.
Marteau: "It really is too bad that you don't drink, or I'll break out a fine one imported from Albion! Oh hey, is not drinking the secret to your strength?!"
"Uhm...I don't think it's directly related. It's just, if you're drunk you wouldn't be able to hit anyone but yourself."
Granberia once spoke to me about this. I asked her back if she had fought while drunk before. She told me 'Drinking yourself to drunkenness degrades your serene mind in the long term'.
Anyway, the food here is really good. My hands practically move by themselves, and I finish the food in no time.
Siesta: "There's more if you're still hungry."
"That's okay. I'm already full."
Marteau: "How was it?! I put my all into making that!"
"Super delicious. My friends tell me I'm good at cooking, but I can't match Marteau-san at all."
Marteau: "Ooh! You can cook too! Now I have to find some time to taste it for myself!"
...
So, my breakfast went as usual. As always, what happened there has to be kept a secret. I'm not risking the wellbeing of Siesta and everyone there.
After breakfast there's a thirty minutes break before classes start.
The morning jobs involve cleaning Louise' room, its floor and furnitures; and taking the wooden tub Louise used for teeth brushing out to wash.
I made a good time today as well; looks like I've still got it after all. Since I rarely got to do houseworks anymore since moving into the Demon Lord Castle, the first couple days took me a lot of time to get all the jobs done. Now I'm doing everything smoothly like I used to back when I lived alone.
Okay, I'm finished here. I have to go back to Louise; but not before locking the room.
Louise is waiting at the exit of the hall, and she leads the way to the classroom. Louise goes to her usual seat, at the left-back of the room, as I sit down on the seat beside her. The teacher comes into the room and the morning lesson begins.
Grandgold and Grand Noah have schools for learning magic as well, but I never attend any of it, since I had no talent as a magician and there was no reason to. Now, I finally get to sit in a magic class for the first time in a foreign realm. That's kind of ironic.
Louise is in her second years, and the lessons do look a bit advanced to match: changing water to wine, mixing ingredients to create potions.
I feel like I should be a bit excited by these lessons, but the words written on the blackboard is totally illegible to me, and the lecture is both too complex and dull at the same time. I'm finding it harder and harder to stay awake.
On the second day of the lesson, after I got used to being in the class room and managed to relax, the sleepiness got so bad I struggled not to find a spot somewhere to lie down. If Louise hadn't let me sit on the empty seat beside her so I wouldn't embarrass her I might've done just that. Now I can just rest my chin on the table, until I doze off.
No one ever woke me, probably because I'm not a student. Except when my posture was bad and I snored; that's when I got bobbed in the head.
So, I just notice it now; the desks are arranged in pairs, separated by walkable space. So, almost all students also sit in pairs by default, but no one ever sits beside Louise. Probably, they are afraid of her explosion. Well, it's thank to that I got my seat.
...
This is turning out to be one of the good days where I don't doze off. But as always, the lesson today went into a territory my already limited knowledge couldn't follow, and it's not like there's anything in the classroom—
...It's staring at me.
It...that...fire lizard; I really can't call that 'salamander'.
It's looking at me as if trying to communicate something. If Sylph is here she might be able to interpret for me, but I can't make out what it's trying to tell me unless it actually says something.
Kirche, who's the owner, doesn't seem to notice her familiar's staring at me.
...
...
It doesn't do anything at all. I guess it's nothing then.
Wasting time doing nothing at all for hours feels wrong, but it's also really difficult to maintain focus for long on the lessons I barely understand. If something comes up that requires some of these knowledge and I said 'I don't know' Louise will probably scold me. That's unreasonable, but knowing Louise, she'll probably do it anyway.
The bell rings. Finally. Morning lessons has come to a close.
Again, we're in Alviss hall for a lunch. Louise sits at her usual place, as does I on the floor, staring at the bread and the soup that just won't stop being miserable. I finish the meager portion, then it's lunch break.
Time to bring Louise's sleepwear and underwear out to wash. The clothes are folded neatly on the table (by me, of course; Louise just left them on the ground after she took them off). I have to take them, along with the wooden tub, and go back down to the fountain.
Siesta taught me the right way to wash these expensive clothes. The underwear have to be washed gently to avoid damaging the frills and whatnot, or I'll be punished. The last time the waistband gave out I was almost denied a breakfast despite it not being my fault.
I rinse the clothes, then hang them on the rack, along with the other clothes school workers did. Lastly, I bring the tub back to the room, and the work is finished. Now, it's back to the afternoon class.
During the afternoon I'm much more likely to doze off, and today's looking no different. In the afternoon Louise is much more lenient, probably because even some students get sleepy themselves. At least the afternoon class is shorter than morning ones.
...
While I went back and forth between being awak and dozing off, two hours passed by. The lessons for the day has ended.
After school, a lot of female students go out to have some tea at the terrace outside the central tower, and Louise does the same.
It's time to be on my way.
"Well, I'll be going." My destination is off to the side of the tower.
Louise: "You're still going? It's not your responsibility, you know?"
"I do it because I want to."
In the first two or three days I only stood by Louise as she had her tea, but there's one thing I can't help but be irked by.
Students in this school littered everywhere. When they finished eating or using something they just left the trash there in the courtyard, and the workers had to pick them up.
It's not long before I couldn't stand it anymore and asked Louise for permission to go help the workers pick up trashes. Maybe taking care of my old house by myself after my mother passed away have made me unable to stand too much mess. I even got teased be Tamamo that I was 'the perfect housewife'. Alice was very amused by that remark for some reason.
Also, doing this is a way to repay workers for giving me meals; although only some among the people picking up trashes actually work in the kitchen.
Another empty bottle goes in to the bag. Louise is sill relaxing on the terrace.
Louise seems like she has no friend at all. People in her class or different ones sometimes passed by and greeted her, but no one ever sat down and had a talk with her. Though, it doesn't look like she's bullied either.
I know she's looked down on by the whole class, but not having even a single friend is still kind of weird.
Next to the magic issue, I sympathize with Louise for the second time, but if I say it to her face she'll just get worked up.
Oh, someone just sat down at the same table as Louise. That hair and skin; it's the girl, Kirche.
Speaking of friends, while Louise never seemed to care about anyone enough to call them a friend, with Kirche it looks like they had some bad blood. Really, what's it about?
{...}
Look at that familiar, helping the workers pick up trashes at the court below. Why does he bother?
Maybe he has some ulterior motives. That maid with black hair, that he had gone to so much trouble to defend; even having to fight Guiche as a result.
So that's why he's been going into the kitchen every time after meals. 'Bringing the dishes'; what a flimsy excuse.
It's decided. That familiar has to be taught how serious a misdeed it is to ditch its master to go wagging its tail at someone else.
And to think he said all that during our talk last week; so infuriating!
"Sit there."
The familiar kneels down where I pointed, while I sit on the bed and look at him. At least he's obedient, if a little dumb.
But this guy isn't just a little dumb: talking back to nobles, then accepting a duel; he's either very crazy or stupid beyond reasons.
"What the heck were you thinking? Who picks a fight with a noble? Do you have a death wish?"
The familiar looks straight at me with a resolute expression; no sign of repentance at all.
Luka: "That boy blamed someone else for his wrongdoings, and even coerced her. No way I could let that go."
"Haah?! For such a stupid reason! Nobles rule over commoners, that's the norm. Are you going to intervene every time a commoner has to bend to nobles' will? You wouldn't even have enough time to sleep!"
I have to prevent the fire before it gets far, otherwise this familiar would rebel against even me someday.
"Listen well. I forbid you from doing something like that without my permission ever again, get it?"
Luka: "..."
"Did you get what I said?!"
Luka: "...I can't."
"What did you say!?"
Luka: "If someone gets in trouble like just now, I'll help them no matter what."
There it is. Not even a minute and this familiar is already disregarding my order.
"I'm telling you not to stick your nose in others' business! This time as well, that maid didn't ask for your help, did she! Don't get into unnecessary fights!"
The familiar goes silent. Now, he should be rethinking his actions.
Luka: "...It might be as you say. Siesta didn't ask for my help; rather, she was afraid I talked back to that Guiche guy."
By words alone it seems like he regrets what he did, but there is a 'but' somewhere.
Luka: "But" There it is. "I will help even if no one ask."
"Did you hear even a word I said!?"
Luka: "I did, but sometimes people don't call for help no matter how much they need it. If I overlook such people...I will definitely regret it later."
The familiar looks like his mind wandered off at the end. I don't know what it was about, nor do I care to.
"...Haa! I'll leave that for now. Make no mistake, this is not over; I'm just leaving it for later. Now, for the next issue; I went in and intervened myself, but you told me to go away, rudely if I might add. You seem to have forgotten who's the master and who's the dog."
Luka: "But I'm not a dog."
"What else would doggedly get into fight with just about anyone!" Wait, by that line of reasoning, wouldn't Guiche be a dog as well? Whatever, I guess.
"Blood rushing to your head so much you ignored my orders; is your nonsensical tale that important to you!?"
Luka: "They're not nonsensica; but you wouldn't believe me anyway, so think what you want."
Now this familiar is deliberately disregarding me! Why is this guy so good at being irritating!
"If they're not lies then show me some proof! Evidences! Since you so boldly talked about devils and angels that only exist in myths and legends, show me proof worth my patience!"
Luka: "Proof you say..."
...What's with his eyes. Don't tell me he really has something...?
Luka: "...I can't show it to you."
"Haah?!"
Luka: "It's not something to carelessly show off."
"Hmph. If you're going to lie then do it convincingly. Who would believe that excuse."
What's with this familiar! Making me curious, then giving such a feeble answer!
Luka: "Like I said, think what you want."
How dare he!? This familiar isn't any older—he might be even younger than me—but he's being so impertinent!
"L—Let's leave that for n—now..."
Drat. I'm so angry I'm losing control of my mouth.
Calm down. A proper lady has to be patient, be reserved. Now deep breath.
"...Fuu. You seem to know how to fight somewhat. Where did you learn it?"
This topic shouldn't have something to annoy me too much. The familiar changes his demeanor as well.
Luka: "I didn't learn. Wait, no...some things I was taught by others, but I mostly learn how to fight through direct experiences, since I used to fight a lot."
"Used to? When?"
Luka: "When...I was still traveling. Humans and monsters weren't as friendly to each other back then."
Those Monsters again. Be patient.
"And just when was that?"
Luka: "About five years ago."
"Five!? You fought FIVE years ago!? You mean swinging some sticks around like you did today?!"
Well, I didn't mean to say it like that; I was just so surprised. I know that wasn't just 'swinging around', or that golem's arm wouldn't be broken like that; unless he was inhumanly lucky.
Luka: "Of course not. I used a sword. I normally use a real sword...Yes, I use a real sword."
Why did he repeat that? That's suspicious. Well, everything about this guy is suspicious.
"Who lets a kid hold a real sword! What were your parents thinking?"
The familiar goes silent.
Oh...oh...right. I see.
Moving on. Pretend that didn't happen.
"So that's why you looked so used to it. But still you shouldn't have been able to win against a mage. No one can move that fast. Are you really a commoner?"
Luka: "Uhm..."
Why is this guy hesitating? I just asked that out of reflex, but now I'm getting all tense as well.
Luka: "My father wasn't a noble. My mother wasn't too."
"...What's with that roundabout answer?"
Luka: "I was just saying the truth."
That was how many roundabout answers I got from this guy again? Haa...This is looking to be too much trouble than the answers are worth.
"People call that dodging questions...Well, you could be a commoner, you could come from the Holy Land, you could be married to that Monster of yours or whatever; I don't care anymore. What I want is your obedience and loyalty as my familiar. Will you swear your fealty to me?
Luka: "Ehm...What does that entail?"
"Haven't you been listening to me!? You will serve me, and obey my every command!"
Luka: "Then no. If you order me to do something weird I'm not going to do it."
"My orders are always reasonable!"
Luka: "You ordered me, a guy you barely knew, to dress you."
"I told you already that's how nobles do it!"
Luka: "...You're not going to order me to do something suicidal, are you?
"Don't insult me! A master have to care for their familiar in return to its service. A mage who disregards their familiar is a mage without honour!"
Luka: "Then what about that miserable soup? What about sleeping on a floor?"
"I treat my familiar fairly, like any decent mage would do with their own; not too harsh and not too soft." And what is this 'miserable soup'?
Luka: "But I'm a human! How can you treat me the same way you do animals!? If you've summoned an owl, would you force it to sleep at night and be awoke at day!?"
"Did I force you to sleep under water or hanging from a tree? Did I make you eat grass or insects?"
Luka: "Humans need more than food and sleep! Can you stand it? Having only enough to eat and sleep, and nothing else."
Ah...!
Luka: "Well?!"
"Well...N—No...B—But I'm a noble; I have honour, and responsibility to behave myself in a way befitting of one. Serving the royal family, managing the land; of course I have more than eating and sleeping!"
Luka: "Non-nobles have more than that too!"
"Th—That's true..."
Kuh. This familiar almost swayed me. Be stern. My conduct is appropriate; I am in the right. Put the things about nobles and commoners away for now; this is about me and my familiar.
"But a no is a no! A mattress isn't cheap. I can't ask for one just to indulge a familiar; the school would never allow it." Well, 'never' is a bit exaggerating, just 'probably won't', and if the school says so I won't have anything to argue with.
"Aside from what the school provided us with, we need to buy what we want ourselves."
Luka: "...Aren't you a noble's daughter. You should have enough money to buy a mattress."
"My family isn't one of those that pamper their children. The money have to be used only on necessities. A mattress for a familiar to sleep on is not necessary."
Luka: "What is necessary then?"
"For example...clothes, like horse-riding gears, ones to wear to a social gathering, and some as reserves."
Luka: "Clothes, huh..."
"You're underestimating how important clothes are. Without appropriate outfits, how would you have the face to meet people? Nobles that don't go to social events are like farmers that don't go to farms, like merchants that don't go meet customers."
Luka: "...I guess you're right."
"A—And" Why is he accepting this so easily? It throws me off. "a mattress's price isn't something to scoff at. For commoners that aren't rich, they would use one for years; you should already know that much."
Luka: "So that's how it is...It can't be helped, I guess."
"G—Good."
Why is he suddenly so accepting. I don't get this guy at all.
It actually is a good thing. This is how it is supposed to be. It's just that...
No, don't think about it. This famliar says too many strange and irrational things. I should quit thinking about them before I get a headache.
Luka: "Then at least call me by my name. Not 'you' or 'familiar'. Just calling me by name doesn't cost money, does it?"
Calling him by name. That shouldn't be a problem, but I have to be careful not to recklessly promise anything; I have to think carefully before granting wishes. If I bend to him once he might get carried away and demands more.
Luka: "..."
"Wh—What are you staring at me for? ...Alright, I'll call you by name. Are you satisfied?"
Luka: "Yeah, I am."
You'd better be.
Luka: "My name is Luka. I'm your familiar."
...I hope I didn't flinch outwardly, because I just realised I really have forgotten his name.
Other mages name their familiar, but this guy already has his.
What a weird familiar.
"Then make sure you remember my name as well. I am Louise Françoise le Blanc de La Vallière, the third daughter of Duke de La Vallière, your master.
Luka: "Alright...Though I only remembered Louise."
"You will have to remember all of it soon. Since I got a human instead of a mystical beast as a familiar, at least I want to use your communication skill for something."
? Huh...Wait...Wait, I got it.
"...Fufufu."
Luka: "What are you laughing for? That's creepy..."
"Got you! I caught on to your lies!"
Luka: "Lies?"
"That's right! If you really are from the Holy Land, then your people and mine haven't been in contact for six thousand years! There's no way we'll still be using the same language!"
Luka: "We aren't."
...Huh?
"What do you mean?"
Luka: "I don't know why we speak a lot of the same words, but we don't use the exact same language. I can't read the texts here."
"That's because you're a commoner."
Luka: "So rude. My mother taught me how to read and write since I was a kid. I can read just fine."
"...Lies again." I'm not so sure anymore.
Luka: "I said I'm not lying."
"Then proof!"
Luka: "What proof. Does this place have a book from my home?"
"How would I know which book is from where?!"
Luka: "The ones you can't read, and maybe have a picture of the sky with one moon."
"What kind of stupid moon has only one of itself!"
Luka: "I had to hold myself back from blurting out something similar when I saw you have two moons here."
*bam!*
"What an infuriating familiar!"
Students: "..."
...Drat. I hit the table out of frustration; now people are looking at me weirdly. I need to appear calm.
This is the worst. This is all because of that familiar. Being a human is bad enough; he just had to speak about things no normal people would.
And, wasn't I going to recall when the familiar talked about going back home, not the throng of nonsenses I had to endure!
Of course, it's because everything he said was equally frustrating! Only roundabout answers or ones that are completely unintelligible!
"Just go back to your home already.
Luka: "If I can I wouldn't be here."
"Holy Land or whichever hole of a country you're from, just go back! My head hurts!"
Luka: "I did say I'm trying to find a way to do that, didn't I. Why would I want to be with such a foul-mouthed, temperamental girl like you. I have my family waiting for me."
Family. What family! Hasn't his parents been dead for years!?
That guy didn't actually say that; he just looked uncertain when I asked about them. But anyone would've interpreted his expression that way!
Speaking in circles, making it all seem so important I started to be unsure, talking about going back home, and now what is he doing? Picking up trashes to win that maid over, as if he doesn't remember a thing he said himself.
...
Why is it like this. It wasn't supposed to be like this. The familiar summoning; it was suppposed to be the chance. If I had summoned a wonderful, or even a decent familiar, it would've been enough proof. I would've finally shook off the label of failure. I would be...
Kirche: "You look stressed out, Vallière. It's about your familiar again, isn't it."
"What else—Zerbst!?"
My worst enemy; since when was she there? And who gave her permission to sit here!?
Kirche: "How are you, Vallière? We haven't talked since that day you knocked out a Triangle mage."
"Who knocked whom out? Don't accuse me of something ridiculous! And I didn't talk to you because I had nothing to say to you. That's all."
I stated so clearly I don't care for her company, and yet this Zerbst girl grins at me, clearly with something to mock me about again.
"If you have something to say then say it and be gone. I'm not in the mood to argue with you today."
Kirche: "My, you're quite moody today; more so than usual anyway. Did Luka do something you don't like again?"
"It's not your business—And how do you know my familiar's name?! I never told you!"
Kirche: "It's his name, you know? He can tell anyone he wants to."
"Th—That mutt~ Of all the people in this school, it just had to be the Zerbst. He's definitely getting punished when he comes back!"
Kirche: "Haa. Really you. One second it's 'dog', another it's 'punishment'; this is why Luka doesn't pay you any attention."
"Wh—What are you babbling about! I'm his master, I can order him to do anything: clean the room, wash clothes, move furnitures, dress me; that guy does it all!"
Zerbst blinks, like she just heard something weird.
Kirche: "You had Luka dress you?"
"And?"
Kirche: "Every piece?"
"I put on underwear myself!"
Kirche: "And you don't think anything's wrong about that at all?"
"The only thing that's wrong here is that guy told you his name without my permission."
Zerbst's eyes grow even wider, before she lets out a long sigh.
That's much more insulting than any word she ever said to me.
Kirche: "Vallière, really you...It's only a matter of time before Luka goes off to find a new master."
"What new master? That guy's master can only be me. We made a contract."
Kirche: "Do you really think that matters? A contract helps a familiar adjust to its master, but to change hate into love isn't easy. Luka is more likely to run out of patience from your behaviour and leave you before that day ever comes."
"And just what behaviour of mine would drive him away?
Kirche: "Not seeing him as a human."
"I do have eyes. If I don't see that guy as a human, why would I let him enter the dining hall?"
Kirche: "Is that how Tristanian nobles treat their servants? Wow, I guess they're right when they say women of La Vallière household are devils' incarnates; seeing you now is more than enough proof."
"Don't insult my family, Zerbst! My house treats its workers fairly!"
Kirche: "Then do the same with Luka."
"That guy's a familiar, not a worker!"
Kirche: "And who was it that just said she did see him as a human?"
"Ah...! W...well..."
Kirche: "There. You should've said 'he is both a human and a familiar' right there. The fact that you hesitated is enough proof that you only see him as a familiar, but fool yourself into thinking you're treating him as a human."
"Wh—What proves what?! That's just you trying to fool me with your wordplay!"
Kirche: "I don't even need to see your reaction for proof; I can tell just by looking at Luka. Has he ever stayed close to you when you don't need him catering to your whims?"
"What a stupid question. ...Of course he does!"
Does he?
Kirche: "Is that so. Then during meals, where did he run off to after he finished his?"
"Hmph. The joke's on you; he left to do the jobs I ordered him to. I told you, I have him under control." Fu, how's that!
Kirche: "That's all you ever care about; that's why you don't know anything."
Zerbst smirks as if she holds all the cards, as if she knows something I don't. It's time like this that she's the most aggravating.
"I don't know what?"
Kirche: "You don't know how close Luka is to the workers in the kitchen."
"How would I not know, when he's picking up trash to impress that mousy maid over there."
Kirche: "He already has a girl he's interested in? Vallière, you really don't know how serious this situation has become, do you."
"What's serious? It's just a cur being a cur and can't control itself."
He's definitely getting some scolding once he comes back.
Kirche: "Unless he's doing some job you push on to him, Luka's either with the workers or that maid you're talking about. That means he only sees you as someone who orders him around."
"Wh—What do you mean? Of course I would do that! I'm...his master! It's normal to order your familiar around isn't it!"
Kirche: "And that's the reason. You only see him as a familiar that has to obey your every command, so he does the same and sees you only as someone who always tell him to do something. For now you're providing him food and a place to sleep, so he's still with you. Heck, maybe the food doesn't even count anymore. He's close to the kitchen's workers; he can probably ask for however many meals he wants to, especially since he seems to have become quite famous from his duel with Guiche."
"...Is that really true?"
Kirche: "This is your familiar I'm talking about; how could you not know any of this?"
"...Because that guy never told me."
Kirche: "And have you bothered to ask him? Of course not. Even his name I had to learn from overhearing the workers; because you never called him by name."
"..."
Kirche: "Do you see? Your chest is zero, your magic is zero, trust between you and your familiar is also zero. Even if you succeeded in summoning a familiar, you're still the Zero."
"...! Shut up Zerbst! Why do I have to believe what you say?!"
Kirche: "That's up to you. But considered yourself warned; if anything happens, you can't blame anyone but yourself."
"What do you mean? What are you planning?!"
Kirche: "I'm not planning anything. If something does happen, it will be all you."
"Zerbst! Where are you going!? Come back and explain yourself!"
Saying whatever she wants and leave when she's done; the nerve!
This is why I hate dealing with that girl. Every time she said anything longer than three sentences, I ended up being angry. It's like this with all the Zerbst. It's why my family have hated them for generations: they think they can do whatever they want to, even butting in other's business.
And what Zerbst said is preposterous. How can she know more about my familiar than I do. There's no way. She's a Zerbst. Impossible.
A familiar, running from me? A mage that has a familiar run away from them would be a horrific failure beyond hope. There's no way that will happen to me, of all people.
Never. I will not let that happen. I'd rather die.
They finished cleaning out trashes, and the familiar is coming into the tower.
That guy walks so lazily. He doesn't want to be near me that much, huh? Why do all these tables just have to be in the way at this exact time. And the staircase is unnecessarily long! Who designed this tower?!
"Familiar! Follow me, now!"
Luka: "? What's wrong?"
"Just do as I say!"
{...}
Louise led me back to her room. Strange. She usually relaxes at the terrace until dinner; it's still early afternoon.
Louise: "Sit there."
Louise has me kneel on the floor like always, but this time she stands just in front of me instead of sitting on the bed, and looks kind of restless.
Louise: "Tell me all of your secrets."
"...What are you saying all of a sudden?"
Louise: "I know you keep secrets from me. Familiars must not hide things from their masters. Tell me, now!"
Is this about the kitchen...? It's not clear yet; I should play dumb for now.
"I said I don't know what you're talking about."
Louise: "So you'd rather I ask that maid directly?"
She's specifically referring to Siesta, which might means she knows and just doesn't have proof yet. If she tells the school, Siesta and Marteau-san could get in serious trouble.
"If you promise you would keep it from the school, I'll tell you."
Louise: "What right do you have to set conditions with me?"
"Then I won't say a thing."
Louise shakes from anger. But I'm not afraid; what I'm doing is right.
Louise: "...Alright. If it's nothing too serious, I won't tell anyone. Are you satisfied?"
"I am."
Though I'm not sure what counts as 'serious' with Louise, this is probably the best I can get.
"I admit it. I went into the kitchen every morning for breakfast. But they're all leftovers. We're not taking anything from you."
Louise: "I don't care about that! Wait, no, I do a little, but not now! If your food wasn't enough why didn't you tell me?!"
"You're the one giving me that portion. If I told you, you'd have just said 'you're familiar, don't be choosy' "
Louise: "I—I gave you what I thought was appropriate! I—If you had told me, I'd have considered it!"
"...Really?" Considering how she has been so far, that's hard to believe.
Louise: "I—I'm not lying!"
"Then give me enough to not be hungry."
Louise: "I'll give you the amount I deem appropriate."
"We'll see."
I hope it won't be just one more of half-bread and a pitifull strip of meat each.
Louise: "But in exchange, you will stop going to kitchen."
"Why?"
Louise: "Since you have enough to eat, there's no reason to go anymore."
"I don't go there just for food. The workers there are my acquaintances; I go there to socialize too."
Louise: "And why does it have to be them?"
"Because everyone else are nobles. They won't talk to me."
Louise is taken aback. There's no reason for her to be surprised about that, is there. I've been here for just ten days, and I already know how big the gap between nobles and commoners is. It feels wrong, but I'm still new here; I shouldn't oppose the social norm yet.
Tamamo once said drastically changing the way society works will have serious consequences; going against established rules without thinking very carefully is the same. It's why I'm able to stand how Louise and other nobles here act; because the consequence of doing otherwise can be disastrous.
Louise: "...You don't need them."
"Eh?"
Louise: "A familiar only needs its master! You don't need friends!"
"Ha? What the heck are you saying?"
Louise: "From this moment, I forbid you from going to the kitchen, or speaking to those workers, especially that maid!"
"That's absurd! Who would do that!"
What's with this girl!? She's even more unreasonable than she usually is!
Louise: "If you don't do as I say, I will tell the school the workers in the kitchen sneaked nobles' food to a familiar, and then I will starve you for three days. If you think I'm joking then try me!"
That's playing dirty! I never knew Louise is like this; or even if she is, I'd never have imagined she could stoop this low!
Louise: "What. What's with that look you're giving me?"
It's exactly how you see it.
Louise: "If you hate staying with me then sleep outside!"
These kind of orders, I've heard so much I don't even bat an eye anymore. I just scoop up the straw and take it outside. No need to waste my energy on meaningless arguments.
Even as I'm closing the door, Louise is still standing arms-crossed at the center of the room.
*kachak*
"...Haa..."
Are all nobles like that or is it just Louise? Probably just Louise. Self-centered, abusing authority, not listening to people; she's just like angels from Ilias' days. She's even louder.
Just thinking about it isn't going to help. For now, I'll just go get the clothes I left drying. Clothes are clothes and need to be cleaned properly; who they belong to doesn't matter.
{...}
I heard that. That familiar walked away from my room, probably to meet those workers again, and right after I just ordered him not to!
My hands hurt. My fingers feel like they will break. But if I don't ball up my fists until they're shaking, if I don't clench my jaw until it hurts, I won't be able to hold back my scream.
"Why?!"
I strike the bed with all my power; over and over; until my arms hurt, until they're numb. Yet, these feelings in my chest; the rage, the frustration, they wouldn't go away.
"Why! Why! Why?! That Zerbst! The students! The teachers! Even my own familiar! Every one of them treat me like a failure!"
Why am I even asking this of myself; it's because I'm a failure!
So what if I managed to summon a familiar by a fluke!? That familiar chose fellow commoners over me anyway! Such a disgrace! How could my family face anyone!? They're going to be a laughing stock! As if we aren't ridiculed at enough already!
"Magic...If only I could use magic...it wouldn't be like this...!"
If I could use magic, I would be thinking about how to apply the lessons I learnt from the class in practice. When teachers call me out to the front, I would only have to take my wand out and cast the spell; complimenting myself if succeeded, encouraging myself to try again if failed. On the Day of Void I would be testing out the spells I learnt, from classes, from books. I might not be interested in perfumes like Montmorency, but I would still be trying my hands on hair dyes like Princess did. I would train myself, and one day be able to cast a spell as powerful as Mother's own.
Not trying to ignore my own doubts in classes, that the lessons are useless to me. Not trying to reassure myself every second when called out to the front that this time would finally be it. Not confining myself in my room or library, reviewing lessons, reading up on land management or magic theory, fooling myself 'I can still be a good noble' 'These spells would be useful to me one day'.
'Be a good noble'. What a joke! How delusional can I be!? A mage that can't use magic: who would acknowledge someone like that. Even if Father and Mother don't disinherit me, I'd still be living away from public eye; as if I don't exist, as if the House doesn't have the most incompetent daughter of all Halkeginia. Restoring the soiled family name!? Pathetic! I am the biggest blemish of them all!
The feeling of having succeed at something. The feeling of having someone says 'good work' to me. The feeling of going back home and is praised for the effort. Small words of recognition, rewards of tiny accomplishments: such normal and mundane things even commoner kids get to experience; to me, they are something only seen in a dream.
"Let me have it too! Isn't it normal for everyone!? Then why not me!? Why am I the only one like this!?"
Why all I have is the feeling of someone born to be a burden!?
"Ha...Ha..."
Look; just a few seconds and I'm out of breath. What can I even do. Without magic, I'm even weaker than a commoner.
"Why is it like this? Why am I the only one like this?"
Hiding my face in the pillow staves off the fear, but only a bit, only for a moment.
In this room with no one looking, crying without anyone to judge me, without anyone to console me, I am alone in my uselessness, hopelessness.
No way out.
"No more...Sister Chii...I miss you..."
{...}
{...}{...}
*knock knock*
"I bring the clothes back."
...
Is she out—
*kachak*
Oh.
Louise: "..."
She peeks through the slight gap.
"Here."
Louise: "..."
She snatches the clothes, and closes the door.
"Strange..."
She didn't say a thing. I thought for sure she'd just have me bring them in myself, then chased me out afterward.
[...]
[...][...]
Really, what's up with Louise?
When it was dinner time she came out of the room and started walking without waiting for me; then after the dinner, she went straight back into her room, not saying a word all the time. When asked what's wrong she just turned away. She also didn't mention the fact that I didn't go to the kitchen this time.
"Really strange..."
If I have to guess, she's probably still angry from our argument, or this might be a new way to punish me. They're both possible. But still, something feels off.
But it's already dark, and almost time to sleep. She didn't answer when I knocked just now either; I guess I have to wait for tomorrow to ask her anything.
It seems I'll be going to sleep without a shower today; Louise's behavior and the preparation to sleep outside took all of my attention and I forgot about it.
But a 'shower' that I had to squeeze inside a cramped room filled with hot steam and only got to wash away sweat once at the end isn't a place I'd want to go to again anyway. Other things I can take, even being ordered around by Louise, but that 'shower room' is something I will never get used to. I need to actually touch running water to consider it a shower.
I pull a blanket over myself and lie down on the straw. It's colder than I expected outside: wind blows through the window, and coldness creeps in through the blanket.
If I have to sleep outside like this for several days I'm going to catch a cold. If tomorrow I'm still not let inside I'll probably have to find somewhere else to sleep.
*kachak*
...Huh? Was that a sound of a door being opened? It's too dark to see clearly.
?: "*kyurrrrr*"
This time it sounds like an animal's growl; just barely away from my face even. The source is a flame floating in the dark and radiating warmth. My eyes haven't adjusted to the new source of light yet so it's glaring. I have to wait a little.
...Oh, it's Kirche's fire lizard. The flame was on the tip of its tail.
Slit pupils during the day widen into circles, staring at me the same way they were at the class. This thing really wants something from me, it seems.
"Ah! Don't come any closer! My bed's going to catch fire!"
If people in this dormitory gets freaked out by the fire I'll probably be banned from bringing the straw into this tower ever again; then I'll have to sleep on the floor.
"Hey, what do you want?"
The lizard takes the sleeve of my shirt in its mouth and pulls.
"Where do you want me to go?"
The direction it's trying to pull me toward is an opened door; the sound I heard is probably from that door, and the lizard probably just came out of that room. This is looking ominous.
"Okay, okay, I'll go!"
With the straw as a hostage, I guess I have no choice.
...
This room is pitch black. I can't see a thing, but this is probably Kirche's room, since she's the lizard's master.
Kirche: "Close the door."
Kirche's voice comes from the back of the room. I don't know why she called me here but I guess I'll do as she says for now; the wind is cold after all. The lock will have to be left opened though, just in case.
*snap*
That's a snap of fingers.
The lamps laying on the floor making two rows, on my left and right, start lighting up one by one, going from my feet to the back of the room, as if making a path. At the end is the figure of Kirche in a thin nightgown sitting on a bed.
"Do you need me for something?"
Kirche: "Don't just stand there. Come closer. We can talk better that way."
Well, it's true I can't quite see her from this distance.
I can finally see her face once I'm at the center of the room. She seems to be frowning, as if dissatisfied with something.
Kirche: "Come on, sit beside me."
Beside her means on the bed. ...The experiences from my home don't exactly apply here, but, just in case.
"Uh, I'm good. Looking straight at each other like this is better. Our necks won't hurt."
Actually since Kirche's not a monster there shouldn't be any danger, unless she uses weird spells, but it's already ingrained in my head not to take chance. It probably won't be fixed anytime soon.
Kirche: "We can look straight at each other; you just have to come here."
Kirche scoots back until she hit a wall and spreads her legs, her hand patting the bed in front of her. She sends me a smile that doesn't hide her intention at all.
"Well...If it's not something urgent can it wait until tomorrow? I have to wake up early."
Kirche is outwardly scowling now. Then she sighs and closes her legs.
Kirche: "Alright, onee-san gives up. Come sit here. I won't do anything; I swear."
"...Really?"
Kirche: "Really. Geez, you're so cautious for someone so young."
I approach and sit down beside Kirche, but without letting my eyes off hers, so I'd know if she decides to try something. Even a millisecond earlier would help.
Oh, this bed is so much softer and sturdier than my pile of straw... I was envious for a moment there.
"Well, what do you need me for?"
Kirche: "There were two things really, but the first one went out of the window just now. So I guess I'll just skip to the second one."
...I should scoot back a bit and make some distance.
Kirche: "Don't run away. Geez, I told you I won't do anything. I'm just giving you an offer."
"An offer?"
Kirche: "Right. Quit being Louise's familiar and come live with me."
"...What do you mean?"
Kirche: "I mean what I said. You don't need to rely on Louise. A place to sleep, food, everything; I'll take care of you instead of Louise."
"...Why do you want me? Don't you already have a familiar?" And another thing I wonder is how she knows my name when I never told her; but that's not important right now.
Kirche: "That doesn't matter. Flame is Flame, and Luka is Luka. I just can't stand seeing an unfair treatment."
"...Is that so?" Should I really just take her at her words?
Kirche: "It is so! You're so young and already you beat Guiche without magic! Your master doesn't appreciate just how lucky she is to have you as a familiar; treating you as if you're some kind of low-class animal. She doesn't even call you by name."
Everything's spot on. Hard to believe someone who's only superficially acquainted with me would notice so much. Though, I guess she's pretty familiar with Louise.
"But I'm Louise's familiar. Louise summoned me."
Kirche: "What's a few Runes letters anyway. You can just ignore something like that. There's no rules forbidding familiars from running away from their masters."
That's probably because familiars are basically animals and don't understand rules anyway.
Kirche: "Anyway, that's my offer. Just ignore Louise and come live with me. I promise I'll take a good care of you. I won't force you to do anything you don't want to either; I'm serious."
Flame: "*kyurrrrrr*"
The fire lizard seems like it's trying back Kirche up. There's no need, since Kirche looks so sincere I don't think she's lying anyway.
What Kirche said was true; every bit of it, that Louise doesn't treat me like I'm a human; that I don't have to tie myself to Louise. My goal is to get back home, so staying with someone who listens to me would be better.
But still.
"Thank you, really. But I'll have to decline."
Kirche: "Why?"
That girl isn't just self-centered; she abuses her power, uses violence, and gets angry all the time. It's not surprising at all that she doesn't have friends, since even I, her familiar, am mistreated heavily. There's nothing that should make me like Louise at all.
But even so... I feel like I can't leave her just like this.
"I don't know why either. It's just a hunch. But I believe in my instinct."
At first Kirche didn't seem too surprised at my rejection, but once I told her the reason she immediately looks confused.
Kirche: "A hunch?"
"Yeah."
Kirche blinks twice, and smiles. Not a seductive smile like the one just now, or the mocking one she gave Louise, but a gentle one like she's a different person. Even the alluring air that had filled the room just a moment ago seems to have dissipated.
Kirche: "Hmm. Come to onee-san."
She pulls me in. The hug from behind takes me by surprise.
"Didn't you say you wouldn't do anything?"
Kirche: "Mm, I won't~"
Kirche strokes my hair and put her chin on the top of my head.
Kirche: "Why does such a good kid have to stay with Louise I wonder~ But this might be good for her."
Eh? What does that mean? I thought Kirche doesn't like Louise.
Kirche: "Hey, I'm going to introduce you to a friend later. You're probably close in age."
And I was just going to talk to her about my age, too.
"...Hey, Kirche's a student, right. How old are you?"
Kirche: "Fufufu, asking a woman about her age is rude, you know? That's just asking to be scolded."
"It's not like that. Since you treat me like a kid, I just wonder..."
Kirche: "And how old is this young boy?"
"Nineteen."
Now, for the familiar reaction.
Kirche: "...You're kidding right?"
"I'm serious."
Kirche parts from me, holds my shoulders and looks closely at my face.
Kirche: "You're kidding, right?"
"I've looked like this since I was fifteen."
Kirche looks at me in surprise, but seems to slowly process the information.
Kirche: "Then...does that mean you already did it?"
"Did what?"
Kirche: "My first offer."
? Oh...she means that.
"Uh...Why do you want to know?"
It's actually not something I need to hide, but it feels kind of embarrassing.
Kirche: "I knew it! When? With who? Ahh, onee-san's so jealous~"
"Hey...Can you let me go now?" So I can pretend I didn't hear that last sentence.
Kirche: "Alright, alright." Kirche sighs and lets me go reluctantly. "I didn't think you'd be older than me. If I'd known I wouldn't have made that promise."
Alright, I'll just be glad nothing happened and keep the words with me.
Kirche: "But now I understand how you could stand her attitude. You probably see Louise as a kid you have be patient with, don't you."
"Well...I guess you could say that." Sometimes I even felt like she was another daughter I have. Even though we're probably not even five years apart.
Kirche: "And Louise probably doesn't know you're older than her yet."
"Now that you mention it, I've never told her that." So she probably doesn't know.
Suddenly Kirche is furrowing her brows, as if thinking about something.
Kirche: "...Can you not tell Louise your age yet? If she asks you, just gave her vague answers like, you're not too far apart, or something like that, but don't let her know you're older."
"Why?"
Kirche: "It's hard to explain. Just do as a I say. It'll be good for Louise as well."
"..."
Kirche: "Why are you making that face? You don't believe me?"
"Not that...Just wondering if you two really dislike each other."
Kirche: "Of course we do. That girl hates me, and I hate her. That's just about the only thing we ever agreed on."
Kirche shrugs as she answers. She doesn't seems to be lying; it's just that it feels like there's more than she lets on. She's pretty similar to Alma Elma in that regard.
*kachak*
There's a sound, and Kirche's door is opened. A person stands in front of the room.
Louise: "Zerbst. That's my familiar."
Louise doesn't raise her voice. Though her expression shows anger, it also shows a bit of fatigue, like someone who had just recovered from a fever and doesn't have enough strength to shout yet.
Kirche: "We just talked. Nothing more, right?"
"Yeah. Well...yeah." You could say that.
Louise: "Familiar. Back."
The command is briefer than usual, but not loud.
Kirche: "Hey, Luka is your familiar, sure, but he can think for himself, you know. He has the right to go with whoever he wants." Kirche crosses her arms.
Louise glances at Kirche, then turns to me.
Louise: "So? What are you going to do?"
Louise's eyes dare me to choose any option other than her.
"Well then... Kirche, I'll be going."
She doesn't have to threaten me; I'd go back anyway. Kirche doesn't seem to have anything more to say either.
Kirche: "Alright, see you later. Let's take our time next we meet, Okay?"
Kirche grins knowingly, like there's an underlying meaning, before turning to face Louise.
Kirche: "Vallière, be sure to take a good care of Luka. You did go to a lot of trouble to finally summoned him after all."
Louise: "I don't need you to tell me that."
Louise answers irritatingly, and walks out of the room and through the opened door into her own room, leaving it to me to close the door as always.
Well, time to go back to sleep, with the blanket and the cold wind.
*kachak*
Huh? Was the door not shut all the way?
But that's Louise peeking at me through the gap.
Louise: "...What are you doing. Hurry up and come in."
"Eh? Didn't you tell me to sleep outside?"
Louise: "I changed my mind. Come in, before I do again."
Louise's face is gone from the gap, which is still there.
"...What's up with her."
Well, I'll just do as she said. The straw and the blanket fill my hands, so I have to use my foot to nudge the door opened. Louise could've at least held the door open for me.
Louise is sitting on her bed. The room is dark, but I can still see enough.
"So, why did you change your mind?"
I'm happy to not have to endure the wind and wouldn't want to go back out again, but I'm curious.
Louise looks steadily at me, not saying anything.
Haven't I seen something like this before? Ah, right. Alice does this sometimes. If she looks at me intently without saying anything, it means there's something that she doesn't want to tell me directly. It's best to be quiet and wait.
Louise: "...You haven't thanked me."
"Eh?" If I ask 'What about' she'd just become irritated.
Louise: "If not for me you'd be marked by tens of nobles right about now."
"Eh? Why?" What's she saying all of a sudden?
Louise: "You don't know anything, do you. You think you're the first one Zerbst took an interest in?"
"I...didn't think like that at all." Actually, I didn't even think to think about it at all.
Louise: "Then you'd better know that girl have men in her clutches more than ten at a time. Last year male students actually shed blood numerous times fighting over her. These days that doesn't happen anymore because the whole school knows she's never serious with anyone. But things are still going on; it just doesn't become an uproar. That girl still changes men three times a month like before; she might as well be a succubus."
I didn't think I'd get to hear that word here.
"There are succubi here?"
Louise: "As if. It's just myths. What's with that reaction? You're not going to say they have one back at your home, are you?"
"...Then I won't."
Louise: "..."
I said I won't, didn't I. What else does she want?
Louise: "...Let's leave it here for today. I'm going to sleep; you should as well. Tomorrow is a Day of Void, so we'll be going into the city."
"The day there's no class, isn't it? What are we going into city for?"
Louise: "To buy a replacement for the underwear you damaged."
"Oh, the one with loose waistband. And it wasn't my fault; we talked about that already."
Since I got here I've always been inside the school. I wonder how the outside is; how different is it from my home.
"Uh, you'll go with me, right?"
Louise: "Obviously. What would you know about nobles' clothes. I have to choose for myself, and you will carry it for me."
Then it's fine. If I choose out something she doesn't like it would just be trouble again.
Louise: "...Now that you know what you have to do tomorrow it's time to sleep. If you make a sound, this time I'll really have you sleep outside permanently."
"I won't."
Louise snaps her fingers to put out the lamp and lies down. I do the same. There are only rustles of blankets from me and up on the bed in darkness.
Louise's behavior just now, she was probably using Kirche's story as an excuse to cover what she really wanted to say. When Alice stared at me unblinkingly like that, sometimes the things she said after was another thing entirely from what she was thinking. Though I don't know Louise that well yet, my hunch tells me just now was the same as those times.
What she really was thinking about, I wouldn't know.
If Louise is like Alice in that way, a lot of what she says might not be what she has in her head.
It took me a long time, even years after we got married, before I could reliably guess what Alice is thinking about. Just how long would it take before I could do the same with Louise; just thinking about it makes me want to sigh.
PBW: "Things got heated up a bit this time around, but it's necessary to tune Luka and Louise together."
Ilias: "That was rather long. Though I do wonder how many people would be sympathetic for such a temperamental girl. Not many I presume."
PBW: "I do, a little, and I try. I believe any loner will see something in her they can relate with. Not that any of it matters, though. Well, at least you would be one of them, wouldn't you."
Ilias: "Me? With that girl? Where have you gotten such an idea?"
PBW: "When one feels one has nothing left, doing something a little nice for someone is one of the only ways to feel some worth. I believe you would understand that quite well, wouldn't you?"
Ilias: "...Whatever it is you are talking about, I wonder?"
*Edit: change the text regarding Granberia's drinking habit to fit with the answer in 'Question Corner' by Torotoro.
*Edit2: change remarks about Luka's friends situation during childhood.