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[ENJOY!]
During the morning, at a seemingly specific dirt-road, a carriage is seen moving upon it, heading for somewhere.
Inside, a blond, middle-aged man, with hair reaching to his shoulders, a thick, and pointy mustache and beard, who is wearing a monocle on his left eye, and a royal-looking robe with white, thick collar, trim, and soft-violet the rest, with a red, golden-buttoned attire obvious through its opening, sits there patiently, waiting for when he reaches his destination.
The writer decides to immediately put a temporary label above the man's head that simply writes Louise's Father, for the watcher's convenience.
The man was frustrated enough, due to how Queen Henrietta is handling so far the military, along with the fact she inflames the citizens by forcing them into joining the army, even the young Nobles as well, in a sense aggravating the already pressing situations caused by the war.
He understands that Tristain needs the numbers despite the many supplies and few extra troops we received from that powerful Noble who calls himself Storyteller, but just the thought they have to go with such plan, not to mention the part about the immediate attack they go with against the State of Reconquista before any proper training for the newbies can begin, is absolutely outrageous!
They could at the very least attempt some diplomacy with the enemy, slow-down things where it suits us, and in the case diplomacy proves to be getting them nowhere, then proceed to launch their attack, when their soldiers, citizens, and young Nobles have gained more than enough experience from the extra time they earned for everything the war is to bring them. Just like he along with some others suggested, before their idea is rejected anyway.
Sandorion can hardly understand that Queen of theirs and her need to rush into things with the hope of finishing this sooner, without thinking it more carefully first.
He lets out a weary sighs while thinking of the fact he will have to leave again during this afternoon for the same reason, but at least is content he will pass this little time peacefully with his wife and daughters.
Louise should be there right now as well, given Eleonore's declaration he has heard while present the last days, about bringing her back to focus on more important matters, like she should.
Hopefully she will not make a scene like she used to. Sandorion wonders from who she has taken that trait from.
As the carriage moves on, the driver notices something ahead, which then causes his shock. "Ah- S-Sir Sandorion?"
Sandorion snaps out of his train of thought, and curious of his driver's stuttering proceeds to move his head through the window to look outside. "What is it?"
And then he too sees ahead with much of shock that which caused the driver's understandable reaction.
"Stop the carriage!" The blond Nobleman orders, to which the driver obliges to as he brings the horses and the carriage to a stop, before the former opens the door to step down and move a bit to the side, seeing from a higher point at his residence far ahead, where he sees the colossal balloon-like construction, the Zeppelin, that is placed next to it.
"What the hell is that thing next to my home?!" He questions loudly while raising both his arms up, utterly befuddled with what he sees, along with why it is even there to begin with.
After some time passes, the scene moves just outside of the mansion's entrance which is guarded by four guards, as Sandorion's carriage finally arrives, while stopping in front of them, and with the Nobleman himself stepping out of it, looking all serious and concerned, but now that he notices his guards by the entrance like normal, confused.
The guards salute the man out of acknowledgement and respect, as he is seen a moment later approaching them. "Sir Sandorion, you have returned."
"Yes, I have. Now care to explain to me what is that... Thing about?" Sandorion asks them while still unsure about what that thing next to his home even is.
One of the guards looks back at the Zeppelin, and then back at Sandorion as he understands his confusion. "Oh, that. The previous day, Storyteller Aristidis has visited us with that Zep-Whatever, along with miss Louise Valliere and a few other girls from the Academy Of Magic."
The blond Nobleman was surprised with what he was told, before beginning to wonder why would the said man come to his residence all of a sudden, along with what his daughter Louise has to do with someone as important as him.
"They should all be right now at the courtyard behind of the mansion, enjoying a glass of... Freddo he called it?" The same guard begins, but then questions his fellows unsure about the last bit, to which they are also unsure of, before turning back to the Nobleman with a sweat drop. "Seriously, he speaks of words and names we have never heard before, and is one hell of a confusion with him at times."
Sandorion was somewhat in contemplation, because he is sure he has heard of something called Freddo while in the military meeting, but then shakes it off as unimportant, deciding to focus on what actually is as he moves back and inside his carriage. "Driver."
"Yes, sir." The driver answers, before using the reins for the horses to start pulling the said carriage forward.
The blond Nobleman might not know the reason of the Storyteller's visit, but he will learn.
Plus, speaking with a Noble of his unique calibre can both be enlightening, and maybe even lead to a desirable deal with him by the end of it, which will help the Valliere family to prosper and earn everyone's deserve even further.
But wait, what if the reason the Storyteller visits along with Sir Sandorion's third daughter is of complaining nature, caused by something she did which deeply insulted him in some way?
He really hopes that is not the case, else he dreads for what he might ask as compensation. Rumors say he has everything, so one can only wonder what someone like him might consider as an adequate compensation. A truly scary thought, all things considered.
It doesn't take long for the carriage to reach the front of the mansion, and the blond Nobleman steps just as soon outside, before making his way with quick steps around the building to reach the back.
As soon as he turns around the corner, he sees just a few meters from the middle of the mansion's back-wall, which will be named for our convenience, and sitting together at a table Lady Karin, Eleonore, Cattleya, Louise, Aristidis, Siesta, Charlotte, Kirche, and a tall, middle-aged man with auburn-colored, short hair, along with thick enough mustache and beard, wearing a sand-yellow attire with a brown cloak over it, brown boots, and an utility around the waist that carries a silver-colored, metal-looking and small rod at the side. [Obi-Wan Kenobi from Star Was Franchise, here for the company]
They all seem to enjoy a glass of whatever that brown-colored liquid with the ice-cubes and the straw is, with a few cookies placed at a plate in the middle of the table, with three maids at the background and on standby, one which is Cinderella, along with two other servants that wear uniforms he does not recognize as the ones his own wear, which are Brock from Pokemon and Kronk from The Emperor's New Groove.
"And that is how little Anakin became my apprentice." Obi-Wan completes the part of the story he was explaining while off-screen.
"Our condolences for your master." Cattleya tells him with a respectful bow, with the rest sharing the feeling with her about the fact.
"And his mother?" Louise asks Kenobi. "Did you eventually pay for her to be set free like her son?"
The Jedi is about to answer honestly, but sees the filled with hope eyes of the girl, and decides to postpone it for now as he shows her a fake smile. "All in due time. For now let us continue with the story."
"Before you do as much-" Aristidis interrupts, and then with a playful expression and an open Tome in one hand, turns to Lady Karin. "So, Lady Karin, ready to share YOUR thought with us. Again, no one will judge you for it, I promise."
The pink-haired Noblewoman sweat drops as she looks at him and everybody else, a bit unsure about this, but then decides to give it a good thought, till her eyes settle upon the glass of her Freddo coffee, reminding her of the usual cup of tea she used to have in the days before, which brings her a possibly unique idea. "A big, living cup, capable of speech."
Everyone was just looking at her with a blank expression, and slightly wide open eyes, not quite expecting to hear that from her, while Sandorion who was approaching being able to hear all that and being befuddled with the craziness his wife just let out as he wonders with a raised eyebrow about the reason she did so.
"Apologies, but-" The pitch-black Storyteller begins, right before turning his Tome along with a page to show her, and everyone at the table, in it a wide cup with milk inside, topped with a red and white striped straw, his face consists of eyes that are very close together with black pie-cut pupils, and a small red nose, and wears a black, long-sleeve shirt, white gloves, red shorts and brown shoes. [Cuphead from The Cuphead Show, and game]
Needless to say, the woman, along with her daughters Eleonore and Cattleya, was very surprised to see something like that before her.
"Already existing, among others. Also, I would normally call him along with his twin brother, but he is too naughty for his own good to trust with behaving." Aristidis explains while looking at the picture, before turning once more at the Noblewoman, with a hand on his chin as he appears mildly surprised. "Still, for someone who used to be out there, fighting like the Chevalier she is, your choice was a rather unexpected one. As in, unexpectedly simple."
Lady Karin blushes at that comment as she proceeds to cover her face with both hands, embarrassed with herself for her silly-sounding choice, while a smiling Cattleya puts a hand on her mother's shoulder to pity her.
Almost as soon, they all notice Sandorion approaching as he stops before them, while appearing to have a sweat drop upon his head, due to still trying to make sense of the scene.
"Hello there." Obi-Wan greets the man simply with a raised hand.
"Greetings from me as well." The Storyteller tells the man in a similar manner, before looking mischievously at Obi-Wan. "Also, of course you would, General Kenobi."
"I have no idea what you are talking about." Kenobi replies to him with a somewhat amused smile, showing to actually know exactly what he meant, while also having obvious knowledge of the whole thing, with the rest trying to understand what are they even talking about all of a sudden.
Aristidis with his now neutral expression turns to the blond Nobleman while extending a hand, which the man shakes in response. "By what I have heard, you must be Sandorion De La Valliere. A pleasure to finally meet you, sir, you know about me, of course. A Freddo Espresso for the esteemed Duke!" He suddenly yells the last part as he turns his head at Brock behind him.
"Extra sugar?" The Storyteller then asks the Nobleman as he turns the head to him again but with a kind face, with the out of nowhere question causing the latter to have a little delay in his response, before the former looks back at the slit-eyed man. "Extra sugar, Brock! Proper like your company."
"Of course, coming right away." Brock responds as he immediately runs inside the mansion to do as asked, much to the Nobleman's uncertainty of how to properly react to this, while the rest simply smile awkwardly at the Storyteller's known excessiveness of a behavior.
Cinderella at the moment pulls back a chair and politely indicates it with a hand for Sandorion. "Your seat, sir."
Sandorion snaps out of his little confusion and sits down on it while trying to focus his thoughts. "So-"
"Father, you will not believe what you will hear!" Cattleya interrupts him while getting quickly up, getting attention on her as her father notices how oddly to him enthusiastic and energetic she appears to be than usual.
She continues as she indicates with a hand Aristidis, who puffs out his chest proudly in response upon understanding where this is going. "After so long, Aristidis here has cured my disease."
The father's eyes widen from shock. "He what?"
Louise gets up as well with a smile, while also pointing a finger upward, where a small, rainbow-colored flame soon after comes into existence at its tip. "And thanks to him, I can now perform magic properly, and according to him I am apparently the strongest mage in all of Halkeginia."
"You what?!" Sandorion asks now even louder, in even more shock than before.
Eleonore then lifts a hand enthusiastically, yet awkwardly, upward to get attention on her now. "A-And he has also given us a small contraption that allows for the making of that Freddo Espresso drink, which makes it far easier to make than expected."
They all just look at her, most of them wondering about why she bothered to speak of something that is not really all that special despite its overall uniqueness.
She looks back and forth at everyone a bit troubled, before her expression turns awkwardly upset. "It's important too!"
Aristidis chuckles at that amused as the blonde lady somewhat pouts to the side, the former understanding that she simply wanted to be part of this whole thing that was going on.
Lady Karin nudges softly and secretly with her elbow her husband, wanting to sign him that way to come back to reality, which helps him snap out of his shock.
As he focuses, the man looks at his daughters, mostly the two, understandably specific ones, seeing how they smile at each other's happiness.
Of course he is happy as well for the Storyteller's help and kindness, but still can't help but be in disbelief, all things considered.
There is one thing that Sandorion wants to understand though, as he turns his attention at the pitch-black, mouthless Noble, the former now more focused and serious-looking. "You have my eternal gratitude for what you have done for the family of Valliere. But without wanting to be impolite, I have to ask... What is the reason that made you decide to do as much, and what is the reason for you to visit our home?"
The Storyteller lifts a finger with a kind face. "First let us speak one more time, for you, about a few important details, like how I appeared in your world, and some more, before moving on to the main reason, so you may understand it better."
~A Quick Explanation Later~
"HAREM?!" Both the Noble parents exclaim while looking with widen eyes at the Storyteller, their expression incredulous especially at the fact he just told them about, with Cattleya covering her mouth from surprise while looking back and forth at Louise, him, and everyone else, and with the pink-haired girl and her close/harem friends smiling awkwardly in their own way at that.
Aristidis continues. "And that is why I am mainly here today. To ask you about officially allowing dearest Louise to stay by my side as part of this harem of mine."
He then puts a hand at Louise's chin, moving that way her head upward enough to look him straight into his now seductive eyes as he moves his face closer, before the girl turns half her sight to the side out of awkwardness while blushing softly, mostly due to her parents and sisters watching.
"Having her approval is the most important to me part-" The mouthless Storyteller says, before unhanding her as he turns to her parents with a neutral face. "But it would have been rather inappropriate of me to not also ask for her parents' as well. Before you make your decision, know that your kingdom's rules are not against this activity of mine, nor is the Queen. So? Will you too allow it?"
The two look at each other for a moment, unsure as to what they are supposed to say in this case, till Lady Karin gets up while turning to the Storyteller. "You will have to excuse us, Aristidis, but me and my husband will have to speak of this privately. Please wait."
After that, she along with Sandorion who gets up as soon, begin to walk away, heading for the inside of the mansion to talk about the situation at hand, as everyone watches them go, and wonders.
Siesta turns to Kirche and Charlotte. "Think they will say no?"
"I don't know?" Kirche answers while both she and her close friend shrug their shoulders unsure.
Louise turns to him, who is currently stirring unbothered with the straw his coffee. "You think we should worry, Aristidis?"
"Wait till they come back to give us their final answer, and then I will tell you." He tells her, before putting the straw upon his mouthless area to proceed with drinking his coffee.
Not much time passes, and the two Valliere Nobles come back, and sit back down on their seats, serious-looking yet somewhat concerned, having made-up their mind as Sandorion is about to announce their choice. "The house Valliere respects your grand and high of importance presence. But you have to understand that allowing one of our own to be taken as part of something so against what we believe in, is simply not ideal. Legal or not."
Louise's and the rest of her friends' expressions turn to that of great surprise while looking at each other, with her sisters being the same way, and with Aristidis remaining oddly neutral about it.
The pink-haired Noblewoman decides to continue for her husband. "We truly hope you-"
"Oh I am sorry, but I just remembered something that needs to be voiced." The pitch-black Storyteller interrupts with a kind face, before suddenly vanishing from the spot and reappearing much to everyone's surprise right behind the couple, and walks slowly from side to side close to the two. "Is it not true that from a small age you were comparing your youngest daughter to your elder ones, which as practice by itself is not ideal due to different problems it is bound to cause? Or about how you failed to notice her Void Element, seeing it like the rest of the incompetent fools as just a Zero talent, despite the magical signs themselves? And DO I need to remind everyone of the Wardes case, who found out about her true element, with him then taking advantage of the highly sensitive situation you created according to the previous points, resulting in him being engaged to her by you, before eventually reaching the point of him betraying his kingdom, Louise's very trust, and causing the death of a ruling figure, whose position was taken over by rebels, whose goal is to eventually take over all of Halkeginia, starting with the very kingdom you are part of?" Says the last bit before moving his face in front of each, looking at the straight in the eyes with his kind yet somewhat menacing expression.
The two sweat drop, both for what their actions have led to, and for the menacing aura the Storyteller is showing them, with the rest being understandably concerned with the fact.
"And of course-" Aristidis begins before spinning with unimaginable speed at the other side of the table, as he faces them from across it while crouching and bringing an arm upon the pink-haired girl's shoulders, with her smiling kindly in response. "Is there any reason to remind you of the fact I helped your precious, third daughter by not only making her magic far superior than it already was by your world's standards, but save her very life from being nothing but a slave to your kingdom's enemy?"
He then moves fast behind of the pink-haired sister while putting both hands upon her shoulders as he looks at the parents past the side of her head, with her getting startled for a moment due to the unexpected move. "Of the fact I healed your second daughter from her incredibly troubling disease, giving her back the health she once considered a lost cause, which no one else could?"
The Storyteller then proceeds to levitate in a circle around the table and just above them all while he himself is upside-down in a cross-legged stance, causing everyone to both sweat drop but still be impressed by the exceptional use of his magic. "Of the fact I saved your kingdom from an assured and utter defeat, and given you one of the most exceptional advantages to ever receive?"
After doing a full circle around the said table, he lands behind, and between Louise and Cattleya, and across the parents again, both hands behind his back and serious. "And now, the one person responsible for all those is standing before you. Asking you for one single, simple thing, which will not only have as a result your third daughter's well-deserved happiness, but also the protection-" Says the last bit as he raises both hands up, with a big number of Oblivion Guards suddenly appearing from behind him while running to his side to make their appearance apparent, along with many of them riding upon horses, before standing in a stance of attention, causing worry for a moment at the couple.
"The riches-" Says while staying as he is, with piles and piles of golden coins, silver and also golden plates, goblets and more, and precious gems coming also from behind him, surrounding them as some golden coins even fall as rain to the already great pile, causing now their surprise.
Suddenly, a short-lived flashy explosion occurs where he stands, not really blinding but obscuring vision around him, with it as soon dissipating a second later to show Aristidis now seated in a relaxing manner on a thick, black armchair which vibrates, with slices of cucumber covering his eyes, and with Kronk now right next to him using a long, handheld fan to blow softly some air at the pitch-black Storyteller. "The everlasting, godlike treatment of the Tome-Personnel and machinery alike you will receive out of it, as a token of his understandably colossal gratitude!"
The girls and the pink-haired girl's sisters look at the vibrating armchair intrigued, while Sandorion and Lady Karin on the other hand are frankly concerned with the ease he uses his extremely unique magic, understanding now firsthand about why he is considered by most as a powerful figure.
The scene then shows the mouthless Storyteller standing right next to the parents, startling them upon noticing him a moment later, having appeared there at an unknown time while off-screen, which was only a few seconds, his face menacingly serious as he looks at them. "I can be impolite enough as to take Louise with me away from you anyway, and not only deny you from all of the benefits you would normally receive, but you will also not be able to prevent me from doing so."
That declaration shocks everyone, due to the fact they would never expect that kind of threat from him, at least not his ladies.
In the meantime, Aristidis is seen walking next to Louise, and once next to her grabbing both her hands with his own while looking at the latter with much of affection obvious through his eyes, causing her to forget her own shock for a moment as she is filled with emotion upon looking at the said eyes. "I love her, she loves me, and I am not going to just let you choose her future, when it is already as bright as it can get with me. You already had more than enough failing attempts in this, no?" Says the last part as he turns his now serious expression at the parents, his words making them flinch from shame.
Being called out for their past mistakes from a powerful man is not the best experience, after all.
He unhands her, and turns properly at them. "I was willing to forgive and forget, you know. In case you agreed with what I asked from the beginning. In any case, you shall be asked one more time. Will you allow Louise, your daughter, to officialy become part of my harem?"
Sandorion and Lady Karin look at one another for a long moment, as everyone else watch, some with hope, some with anticipation, and some with both, with Aristidis simply having his arms folded, waiting for their answer.
In the end, the two nod at one another, and then bow their heads to him.
"We will." The blond Nobleman answers, both defeated yet determined for the future. "And thank you for what you have done for her all this time."
"Please continue taking good care of our daughter." The Noblewoman tells him herself.
When they hear that, everyone capable of smiling do so as they look at each other, and would gladly exclaim out of happiness if they did not remember their manners before the important Nobles of the house.
The Storyteller really happy puts both hands upon the pink-haired girl, drawing her attention. "Are your parents unbelievably supportive or what?"
Most of them sweat drop at that, some even smiling awkwardly, unable to do anything else from that display of obvious sarcasm.
"Aristidis." Cattleya calls for him, drawing attention on her while getting up and approaching him, before taking his hand with both hers as she shows him a heartwarming smile. "Thank you from the bottom of my heart for everything you have done for us, but mostly for my dear, little sister."
"Always a pleasure helping and bringing joy in any way I can." Aristidis tells her with a kind face of his own, but then his expression turns seductive as he puts his free hand upon her two that holds his other, while also moving his face a bit closer to hers. "And I hope you and Eleonore will not just stay here, and visit us at the academy the very moment you get the chance to. Your company is much appreciated, and desired."
The woman is somewhat caught by surprise for a moment, but quickly smiles like before once more. "We will not miss a single opportunity, you have my word."
As her sister was saying that, Louise that moment narrows her eyes as she thinks of something while looking at Aristidis, and then her eyes widen when the realization hits her, with the rest of his girls realizing as much too as they sweat drop a bit troubled with what he is obviously trying to do, with her parents and eldest sister somehow not realizing it themselves.
She quickly moves between them, breaks with an upward move of her hands the handholding, drawing their attention on her, before turning to him normally while smiling fakely. "Aristidis, would you mind coming with me to have a private talk for a moment you and I?"
The pink-haired girl doesn't wait a single second for her lover to answer, and immediately grabs him by the wrist and begins pulling away, much to his great confusion.
Charlotte decides to go after them, with Kirche about to do as much too, till the latter stops to turn to Siesta. "Siesta, you stay and keep company to the Vallieres while we are away. It will not take long!" Says the last part while running after the rest, much to Sandorion's, Lady Karin's and Eleonore's confusion, with Cattleya suppressing a slightly awkward laugh at actually understanding the situation.
"What?" Is all the black-haired girl can utter while sweat dropping, completely caught off guard by the whole situation, before looking at the four who look at her curiously.
"So, Siesta, I cannot say I recognize you, nor have heard of you before." Lady Karin admits while eyeing her carefully with a thoughtful look. "From which of the Noble houses you come from?"
Siesta could only laugh awkwardly at that, as Obi-Wan watches with great curiosity.
The scene moves at the side of the building, the moment Louise and Aristidis make their appearance there from around the corner, now walking along with her on his own, followed by the blue-haired girl and the redhead.
Once the pink-haired girl stops, the rest do so as well, before she lifts with a circling move a finger, and casting silently a spell, which surrounds all four of them into an invisible bubble, which is like that Sound Barrier spell Aristidis used that one time.
"Aristidis-" She begins while still facing the other way. "Did you flirt with both of my sisters just a moment ago?"
The mouthless Storyteller lifts a finger. "Well actually, the first time I did was when your eldest sister first visited the academy, so-"
Before he completes, he is interrupted by Louise who turns around fast to face him with a greatly upset and blushing expression. "Are you absolutely out of your ink-filled mind, you incredulously degenerate Storyteller?!"
Aristidis that moment brings out with a hand from behind him and over his head an advanced-looking screen as big as the said head, which shows through X-ray means his pitch-black brain, with the linings on it barely obvious. "Yes, it is filled with that much, what of it?" Says the last bit while moving and placing it back where he took it from.
The pink-haired girl ignores his random behavior and continues. "My sisters! My two, SISTERS. It is one thing this harem of yours, but this... There is a limit to how much of an absolute pervert one can be! Just the very image my family- EVERYONE will get from you for that is... Is...!" She trails off at the end while looking down to the side as she trembles a bit, trying hard to think of an appropriate word for the troubling to her degeneracy she is currently facing.
Charlotte moves next to her, drawing her attention, as she then proceeds to whisper something in her ear, with what she tells her widening the eyes of the pink-haired girl.
"YOUR MOTHER?!" Louise yells in her great shock, before looking back and forth at Aristidis and the blue-haired girl, as he sweat drops a bit upon remembering that little fact.
The pink-haired girl then stops and remains there frozen for a few seconds, before turning to him incredibly serious/angry. "That does it! Aristidis, you will promise here and now, that you will never again attempt to make part of your harem any sister, any mother, any relative in general of mine, or of anyone else."
That troubles him greatly. "But, my sweet-"
"Not sweet-talking your way out of this one, mister!" She interrupts him while pointing a finger at him. "I can handle you being depraved only THAT much! Now promise!"
Before he can say anything at all, Louise immediately turns around to face the other way with her arms folded and looking at him with half an eye. "Unless you don't love me or the rest as much as you told us you do in the end."
The Storyteller leans back with a gasp that shows his unfathomable shock the moment he hears that.
Kirche in the meantime looks at Louise as if she crazy, while Charlotte simply looks at Aristidis, waiting patiently for what he will answer to that.
No one says anything for some time, right before Aristidis straightens himself normally, he sighs disappointed, stays for a moment longer as he is, with the pink-haired girl turning to face him, and then shows a kind face. "Very well. I promise to never make part of the harem any relative of yours, or of any other. But only because I love you this much." Says the last bit as he brings up with a hand his Tome while pointing with his other hand a finger at it.
The three of them immediately understand the meaning behind his words, how he loves them more than his own power and all, and smile in appreciation, and a bit of astonishment since that is quite the claim to make, but knowing him, they have no reason not to believe it.
Louise drops the smile and walks right in front of him while blushing and supposedly still mad, before turning and leaning with her back on his chest and stomach with folded arms, with him just looking. "I will believe you. But I expect proper reparation for that outrageousness of yours that you made me go through this time."
The pitch-black Storyteller thinks about it for a moment with a hand on his chin, before looking at her again. "A nice bowl of ice-cream is adequate as a start?"
The pink-haired girl turns to him with a smile, hugs him, which prompts him to happily hug her back. "It will suffice, I suppose."
Kirche and Charlotte love the scene as they stay where they are for this.
Louise then breaks the hug as she steps back, before snapping her fingers for the sound barrier spell to be canceled, and then pointing with her thumb behind her. "Now let's go back. We shouldn't let my family wait for longer."
He nods. "Correct, my dear. Let us not." Says at the end while proceeding along with her and the other two to walk back together around the mansion, and straight to the table the others are, having officially ended their little quarrel appropriately.
After reaching the said table, with the Valliere family being at the moment rather surprised to find out thar Siesta is a commoner, they sit back down on their seats as they draw attention on them, while the scene then begins to slowly zoom out.
"There is nothing to worry about, we were simply tidying up a few details she was concerned about, nothing that special, I assure you." Aristidis tells them before any questions about it form.
"I see." Sandorion says, although a bit unsure about the nature of those details Aristidis speaks about, before leaning a bit forward on the table as he proceeds to ask of him of something concerning him. "I know from the Queen and more about you not taking part in the war anymore, but by your personal opinion, since you are quite known as I hear for your vast intelligence, how long you believe the war is going to last between the two kingdoms?"
With a hand placed upon his chin, the Storyteller takes a short moment to think about it. "If Tristain uses its resources, military, even if not of a big number the latter, and information of both their enemy's movements and territories, it can take them approximately three or four months to end this. Although, there is always the possibility for a third kingdom to enter the war, more specifically the very moment the war is close to its climax, so they can both take the two by surprise and while exhausted from the many battles they engaged during all that time, before outright conquer them. That is what happened most of the times within the stories of my Tome, at least. But to be more precise about my latter speculation, I need to know properly first more about the surrounding kingdoms, and current relations with both Tristain and the State of Reconquista. In any case-"
His small talk is eventual cut by the distance of the said scene, with it then slowly blackening to indicate the end officially this part.
~The Very Next Day~At The Academy Of Magic~
Sitting at a table outside, Aristidis, Louise, Siesta, in her maid uniform now and with Jerry the brown mouse on her shoulder, Charlotte and Kirche, who this time are the ones to hug and pet the cute pink ball that is Kirby, enjoy each other's company over a classic cup of tea, and a bowl with small chocolate pieces inside which is placed at the middle, after waking and getting up from their beds from the last day's return back in the academy.
Overall, things were as expected today. With the Musketeers, and the few others the Storyteller assigned them with, teaching the Noble, female students the art of self-defense, and the supposed student that Julio is, outside at the courtyard.
"Girls-" Aristidis begins while he turns his open Tome for them to look, and as he then proceeds to turn pages for them to see a few different groups of characters, which causes their enthusiasm. "Choose what story to read you next this time. We still have a long list awaiting inside this Tome of mine, and most of those characters are sure to love meeting you personally."
As that was going on, the Captain of the Musketeers, Agnes, approaches her Vice-Captain, Michelle, who notices her, before turning immediately to the students while moving a palm forward. "Stop!"
All the students stop, with that also drawing the table group's attention, wondering how come and they were ordered to stop that soon.
Agnes begins. "It has been requested for you all to also begin practicing practical magic. For that reason, a special teacher has been brought from the National Magic Academy."
After telling them all that, a very well-known figure, to the ones at the table mostly, steps forward for all to see.
One that Louise immediately recognizes much to her surprise as her blonde sister Eleonore. "Big sister?"
"I am Eleonore De La Valliere." Eleonore introduces herself at the female students before her. "It will only be for a short while, but let us all have an enjoyable training session. Ok?" She finishes with a smile.
The pink-haired girl exclaims at that with much greater surprise, and as she tries to understand how did this happen, the pitch-black Storyteller's chuckles draws her attention, who he sees having his arms folded, looking at the former with a kind yet somewhat gleeful expression.
Louise's widen with realization that moment. "Wait, are you responsible for-"
"Smallish Louise!" The serious-looking blonde sister interrupts with a yell toward her, drawing their attention as she approaches the table, before stopping right next to her little sister and the Storyteller, her hands folded. "You sure have quite the leisure nowadays thanks to the great of importance company you have."
Aristidis's face turns delighted. "Your words flatter me greatly. An example as all should be when refering to someone like I." Finishes with a proudly raised-to-the-side-head.
Everyone sweat drops as they just look at him, before Eleonore leans sidewardly enough at Louise to whisper. "Is he always like that?"
"Excessively arrogant? Yes." She replies in the same manner, having more than enough knowledge about his character.
"Guess who else is here!" A known voice at the other side of the table draws now their attention, before seeing there, next to the blue-haired girl and the redhead, her second sister Cattleya, who that instant notices with wide open eyes at the hug of one of the two girls standing next to her the pink ball that is Kirby, right before snatching him from her arms, without them minding that move, and holding him close with a big smile, with Kirby himself liking greatly the new attention like the child he is. "Oh my, what an adorable creature this is!"
"My good sister Cattleya!" The pink-haired girl exclaims while getting up and moving fast to hug her, along with the already hugged pink cute ball, who gladly hugs her back. "What a pleasant surprise!"
"Always good to see you as well, little Louise." The pink-haired second sister responds with a smile.
Louise breaks the hug and looks at both her and her blonde sister confused as she remembers the latter being referred by Agnes as the one to teach the students in practical magic and all. "But I don't understand, how you-"
Before she completes, the mouthless Storyteller is seen moving next to her and placing a hand onto her shoulder, drawing attention on him, as Eleonore soon after walks next to her little sister as well.
"See, while you were absent to go powder your nose, the two of them asked me if I could ask the Queen, since they have rightfully guessed that I have much more influence on her and all, to give your eldest sister permission with teaching practical magic to the female students in the academy, with your second sister acting as her assistant, because-" He stops himself, before his head reshapes itself in an instant to resemble a pitch-black version of Eleonore, including hair, expressions, and voice. "If the remaining students are to defend themselves, the least the palace can do is to also allow as much, instead of simply having them work with anything they are not naturally proficient with."
Aristidis reforms his head back to normal as soon as he says that, with the rest being incredibly surprised that he could both look and impersonate people like that. "Lady Eleonore's words, not mine, to make it clear, but in any case I still agree with her thought. And it was rather fast to help them with that thanks to the cellphone fact." Whispers the last bit with a wink while bringing out his phone, before placing it soon after back.
He then moves himself a bit and with a quick movement extends each of his arms around both Eleonore's and Cattleya's shoulders, and really delighted forces the sides of their face onto his own, startling them for that moment before looking at him with confusion. "Not to mention your most favorite and only sisters in the whole world REALLY wanted to spend more time with you. Now isn't that nice of them, my preciously dear Louise?"
The reason for that move of his causes the rest to react with an awkward smile, with a few chuckles too.
As Aristidis lets them go, with the blonde lady fixing the fabric around the neck and shoulders after the sudden hug, the pink-haired sister looks at her little sister with a somewhat more determined smile and her fists raised. "The chance to stay with our favorite little sister was right there in front of us, and we would not just let it go like that. Especially since I have a healthy body to not concern anyone now."
The blonde sister turns to the side while seemingly serious as she fixes her glasses. "And of course not let any of the Noble students lose the little dignity they have left with those commoner-training drills the Queen's Musketeers are putting them through."
The Storyteller chuckles a bit amused at that, due to recognizing the latter's reaction as that of someone who doesn't want to admit they are here mostly out of love for their favorite person, Louise, too.
The pink-haired girl turns to her second sister with an enthusiastic smile. "This is the best! It will be SO great having here my good sister."
Aristidis lightly slaps her on the back of the head after saying that, drawing her confused attention while holding with a hand that spot, before pushing with the same hand her head by the jaw enough for her to face the very serious-looking blond sister, who is currently waiting with folded arms.
It doesn't take Louise long to understand her mistake, and troubled smiles rather awkwardly at her. "A-And of course you as well, big sister Eleonore!"
The Storyteller nods satisfied as the rest, minus Eleonore and Charlotte, laugh awkwardly at Louise's handling.
He then claps his hands together once to draw everyone's attention. "In any case, this deserves a small, welcoming celebration. During the afternoon, specifically at the point where everyone has free time. An adequate plate of Gyros-type of meat with fried potatoes, accompanied by a small bowl of delicious sauce of choice, and a nice fresh salad. An especially delicious cake for later. And all that while watching together some Tome-TV for our entertainment and learning inside the relaxation, and luxury of our room. Now that sounds like an appropriate plan to me." Says more than half of those somewhat eagerly while visualizing them.
That causes his group to utter with enthusiasm at the idea, looking quite forward to it, while the blonde sister sweat drops while unsure about it, as the pink-haired sister appears interested with the suggestion.
"That sounds great indeed, and we will gladly accept your invitation, Aristidis." The smiling Cattleya tells him while putting both her hands together, but then shows to be kind of confused about something. "Just a question, though. What is Gyros?"
Aristidis simply looks at both her and her eldest sister for a moment, and then his expression turns delighted. "Among everything else I listed, you both are SO going to love that."
After saying that, the two turn at each other, with Cattleya beginning to get especially enthusiastic about the forthcoming afternoon once their duties are over for the day.
~Some Hours Later~During The Night~
The night's veil has covered the entire sky mere moments ago, and only the guards and Musketeers were obvious outside and within the academy, as they were performing their patrolling duties.
The scene moves within the very well-known room of our main group, where seated by the table and bed, Aristidis, Louise, Siesta, Charlotte, Kirche, Eleonore and Cattleya were watching in their TV one of the many stories belonging to his Tome, and specifically the one known as Frozen. And more accurately the part where prince Hans shows his true colors as he betrays Anna, causing most of our watchers to gasp from shock at that twist.
"I knew it!" Louise exclaims while pointing at the screen, having all this time an understanding that something was off with the said prince, which Charlotte also realized, but decided to let her have the moment.
Suddenly, the faint sound of an explosion that comes along with a small trembling reaches them from above as they all look upward at where they believe it came from, startling them, with Aristidis pausing the story of Frozen using the remote control as soon.
"Huh- what was that?" Kirche questions understandably concerned.
Siesta was sharing that worry as she turns her head toward the Storyteller. "You think someone was hurt?"
"One way to find out." Aristidis simply answers, and then jumps off the bed with a graceful spin, landing in front of the door which opens via the Playing Card Soldiers, from Alice In Wonderland, who were placed for some time now as guards outside, before turning back to the rest. "You all stay here and out of possible danger as I take a look, my guards stationed at the floor above did not report anything yet, and that is quite concerning. You may unpause the TV and continue watching without me."
"Wait!" The pink-haired girl yells as she gets up and moves fast in front of him, and all serious. "I want to come as well! You have seen me in action many times before, you can't say I will hold you back if it is that serious or anything."
He just looks at her for a quick moment. "Very well, you may come, but seriously I want the rest at least to stay here just to be safe." Says the last part to the rest.
"Also..." The pitch-black Storyteller trails off as he looks properly at the remaining group, and then puts both hands together as he sweat drops. "Will it be too much to ask for you not to unpause the TV till she is back?So she will not miss a single scene. I promise to make it up to you."
Most of the group smiles a bit amused at that.
The scene cuts not too long after at the floor above as Aristidis and Louise just now reach it, where they see Old Osmond, with his smallish and white mouse Familiar upon the shoulder, Julio, Agnes, Michelle and a few of the Musketeers standing in front of a large hole on the wall next to the door leading into the old Headmaster's office, with a smaller hole right next to the said door's lock, while facing Professor Colbert and a few students who have gathered to check on the commotion too, all of them there to see what was the explosion about as well.
"Don't worry, everybody. It was only a minor incident." The Headmaster tells the Professor and the students so they may be calm them.
"Everybody, return to your rooms." The Captain of the Musketeers then tells them.
Colbert is greatly concerned as he takes a step forward toward the Headmaster, not believe of it as an unimportant event. "But, Old Osmond!"
Before anyone does or says anything more, a great deal of Oblivion Guards come from the side and begin pushing appropriately him and the students the other way, much to their startling confusion, as the Storyteller and the pink-haired girl walk past them while heading to where Agnes and her group is.
"Alright, you have heard the lady, back to your beds, let the guarding personnel handle the rest proper, thank you and apologies for the inconvenience!" The mouthless Storyteller tells them with a kind face as his guards move them off the screen and away from the supposed crime/vandalism scene, with both the Headmaster and the Musketeers watching with somewhat widen eyes at the whole unexpected act for the duration as the blond young man simply smiles at it.
Aristidis, along with Louise, stops right in front of the main four of the group, and claps his hands together in front of him. "Now, from beginning to end. What happened exactly here?"
Agnes looks at him, and then at the pink-haired girl, her face serious. "Before that, I will have to ask that miss Valliere leaves and wait in her room."
"What?" Louise exclaims, really confused as to why they don't want her present.
The Captain of the Musketeers turns to Aristidis again. "It's for an important reason."
The mouthless Storyteller puts a hand onto his chin as he thinks about it while looking at the large hole behind them. "Is there a horribly mutilated body inside?"
Agnes, and the rest, gets surprised by the thought. "Eh- No, nobody died or got wounded."
"Then she will not go anywhere." He tells her with a very serious face and a sidewardly wagging finger. "My charming lady went to the trouble to concern herself with what appears to be a serious matter, stopping her highly important activity so she can offer a hand of assistance, and I will not just have her leave like that. With all due respect, friend, forget the very thought."
The Captain of the Musketeers looks at him greatly frustrated for a moment, and then sighs defeated. "Very well, both of you may come inside with us as a start."
He nods in response, and the two follow Agnes, Michelle, Old Osmond and Julio inside through the great hole on the wall.
When inside, they see the broken and slightly raised floor close to the door, which ruined the carpet covering it at that spot as a result as well, the open safe in the wall to the right, along with a seal stamp upon the floor close to it, and a seemingly faceless man dressed in a blue trench coat with a matching fedora hat that has a black stripe, and currently looking carefully within the said safe, who causes quite the surprise to the unprepared ones. [Question from DC, here for a second time after so long.]
"How is it going so far, friend?" Aristidis asks him.
"I barely began to unfold the whole case, so is it even worth answering?" The man in the blue clothing questions as he keeps his attention to what he is doing.
"Wait, what- who is that?" Michelle asks incredibly confused while looking back and forth at both him and Aristidis.
"Question." Question says, as he grabs with his fingers and holds close to his featureless face something not that apparent from where the others look.
"Hm?" Agnes utters as she expects from him the supposedly incoming question.
The pitch-black Storyteller immediately understand the little misunderstanding and steps in front of the group a bit amused. "No don't get confused, that is literally the name he uses during his important duties. Question. And before you ask, no, he is not truly faceless, he wears a mask made-out of a special fabric that makes him appear as one."
The pink-haired girl and the Headmaster utter with amazement at that fact, with both the Captain and Vice-Captain of the Musketeers simply being somewhat surprised by it, as the man in the blue clothing is now checking out the broken floor.
Julio smiles. "You sure have quite the collection of interesting characters in that magical Tome of yours."
"Was there any doubt to begin with about it?" Aristidis rhetorically asks while appearing proud of the fact, and then looks at each of the people in the room. "So, who was the witness or witnesses of this whole case here?"
Old Osmond raises his hand in response to draw his attention on him. "That would be me."
The Storyteller turns and points his upside-down hand at him. "Then you may proceed with the explanation."
"With as much detail as you can recall, sir." Question tells the old man as he walks right next to Aristidis, having finished already with searching the room.
The Headmaster proceeds to remember as good as possible about everything that occurred from the beginning, with a flashback starting as it shows to the forth-wall-viewers what happened while speaking of it. "The ruffian broke in as I was sleeping in my room, and destroyed the safe here. However, my mouse Familiar, Motsognir, was watching as the events unfolded, so it came to get me. I demanded with a yell after entering to identify themselves, hoping to catch them off-guard, and the person I see was of average height, dressed in black clothing and cloak, with a white, theatrical mask covering her face, as they were searching the now open safe. In response to my shout and appearance, she turn quickly to face me while pointing a wand at the floor below me, causing it almost as soon to break and be raised enough to force me into stepping back to avoid being in the spell's area of effect. At that moment, she grabs both the rings of Wind and Water Ruby, which were entrusted in the care of our academy by Queen Henrietta the other day for better safety, and lowers the front of the cloak enough for her surprising set of big breasts to show just enough for her to put the said rings between them."
"Between her breasts? What a cliche move!" Aristidis says a bit amused with the said info, and breaking the flashback too as a result.
Louise hits him lightly with an elbow at his side while sweat dropping, concerned with his attitude as she wants to remind him of the seriousness of the situation. "Aristidis..."
Osmond continues as he proceeds to bend down to the side and pick up with a hand the small seal stamp that was upon the floor next to him before straightening up again. "That's when I found the chance to throw my magic seal on her, hitting accurately the exposed part of her upper breast, just before she uses her magic to crumble the wall and make her escape. She was quite nimble in her step, so no wonder she got away that quickly."
"So in other words, she did a Fouquet, but better. I see." The Storyteller says as he makes the comparison with interest, before slurping loudly some of the coffee inside his glass, which appeared in his hand while no one was paying attention.
Michelle gets upset by that as she turns to him. "Don't act so casual! This is a serious matter!"
When the camera cuts back to him again, he now appears to have a straw hat on his head now, a coconut cup with juice inside in the place of his old one, a caramel colored umbrella-looking straw within, and also a small Greek flag sticking out of the said cup, which once more changed while off the screen. "Lady, the only thing I allow myself to truly take seriously, is enjoying life, and my ladies of course. This world is like a vacation to me. The only reason I am standing here right now before you, is out of pure curiosity." Says the last part with a shrug.
"Then leave!" The Vice-Captain demands.
"No." Aristidis simply replies, before taking a sip through the straw, and much to the woman's absolute annoyance, which causes the rest to see at drop at his current and out-of-nowhere audacity.
The Headmaster decides then to tell of a small detail. "Fortunately, the ones the woman stole were fake."
"Fake?" The Vice-Captain questions with a raised eyebrow as she snaps her head toward him, with both Agnes and Question eyeing her for a moment somewhat suspiciously.
"The real ones were forwarded to one of my friends in Romalia." The old man informs them.
Michelle appears to be concerned with that info. "Is it alright to give her Highness's precious items to a foreigner?"
"Considering what happened here, it is safe to answer positively about it." The pitch-black Storyteller points out, with his smart-a*s attitude irritating the blue-haired woman quite a bit, and then his eyes widen for a moment as he realizes something, vanishes the cup from his hand, and with narrowed eyes looks at the Captain of the Musketeers. "Wait a moment, you think one of Louise's sisters is the culprit, don't you? Well, Cattleya at least considering-"
"What?!" The pink-haired girl exclaims, surprised with what she just heard.
The Captain of the Musketeers nods. "Yes."
Aristidis then visualizes that fact into his mind as he looks upward while folding his arms. "That is why you did not want her present. So she will not cause a scene for what she will consider as insult."
The pink-haired girl is about to yell at them for that insult against her sisters, and pretty much her family's name, but the man in the blue clothing stops her by putting a hand in front of her as she then sees him turning his head toward Aristidis, signing her to let this be and see how the mouthless man continues this.
"Understandable considering the circumstances, but there is one small problem with your current theory, ladies." He tells them while lifting a finger upward at the end there. "From the moment of their duties' end, they were both with us inside our room, watching Tome-TV."
The Vice-Captain raises an eyebrow again. "Tome-what?"
Agnes decides to not trouble herself with what that meant, and looks him. "So, you tell us they have never left that room till now?"
The Storyteller nods. "Precisely."
She puts a hand on her chin in a thoughtful manner. "Since that is the case, we cannot accuse them of the crime if they were not even nearby to begin with."
"You may apologize to them once the case is closed." Aristidis tells her, and then turns to the man with the featureless, skin-colored mask, who is currently contemplating about everything he has heard so far. "Till then, any thoughts, friend?"
Question stays as he is for a second more or two, before turning his head toward Agnes. "Was there any report about anyone entering or leaving the academy during and after the crime was committed?"
"None that my Musketeers have seen." The Captain of the Musketeers answers.
"That goes for my guards as well, I already checked via telepathy." The Storyteller adds, before lifting a finger as he looks at everyone with some glee. "You know what that means, no?"
"The culprit is an insider." Julio states the obvious with a smile, either because of confidence or due to finding the situation interesting.
"An imposter among us!" Aristidis says enthusiastically while suddenly moving almost in front of the blond pretty boy, and showcasing a small, red-colored character from Among Us upon his palm, which he brought right in front of the latter's face as he looks at the rest, much to their confusion toward what they see as randomness, and then puts it quickly back while proceeding to walk in a circle around all of them as he begins seemingly contemplating about it with a hand onto his chin. "Which makes this even more of a Fouquet situation. Now the question is who it is this time."
While keeping on thinking about, the man in the blue clothing takes another look at the magic seal the old man is holding. "How easily can the seal be removed?"
Osmond raises the said seal upward enough to make it apparent. "It needs magic above that of a triangle-mage for that to be possible."
"I see." Question understands while not breaking his contemplation. "Who is the first one you saw reaching the room after the ruffian's escape?"
The Headmaster strokes his beard with a hand as he tries to carefully remember that part for a moment, with the pink-haired girl, the Captain, and the Vice-Captain of the Musketeers wondering where Question is going with that question, and it comes to him as he looks at the two responsible for the Musketeers. "As I remember, it was the Captain and her second in command to come running to my office a moment later along with a few of their Musketeers after hearing the breaking of my wall."
"From both sides of the hallway?" The seemingly faceless man in the blue clothing also asks.
"Yes, actually." Osmond answers, and then raises a curious eyebrow. "Why?"
Question seems to think even more carefully of everything he has heard, wanting to ensure he misses no detail before deciding anything.
"Because I see your mind going there-" The mouthless Storyteller begins as he draws attention on him while moving close to the window behind the office to indicate the closed handle with a finger. "My men already checked the hallway windows, along with the inside of the doors that lead to the nearby rooms. All of the windows were closed as expected of the night's guarding schedule, and everyone knows you can't just open windows from the outside since the said handle is on the inside, and no one of the culprit's description was found in any of the rooms. That includes of course the chance of teaches and students from this floor and below that could be forced by her into hiding her in, which my men had no such issue with proving that not being the case."
As everyone else is surprised, or in Louise's case amazed, with how proper the Storyteller was about handling that part effectively and to the last detail, the man in the blue clothing thanks to that has finally sorted things out in his mind about the case, and is ready to voice his thought. "With all that in mind, the evidence leads us to only one possible scenario."
After saying that, he turns and points at the two higher ups of the Musketeers. "The culprit is one of you two."
That shocks the old man, the pink-haired girl, and Michelle, with Agnes simply narrowing her eyes a bit, seemingly insulted in a sense but still calm.
The Vice-Captain on the other hand was rather upset at Question. "How dare you think of one of her Highness's Musketeers as the ruffian! The very idea! And a stupid one too! Did you forget that the ruffian used magic to commit the crime? Do we look like mages to you?"
Question walks up to her. "People are filled with secrets. It will not be a surprise for one of you to have kept your true nature as such till this very moment." Says the last part while leaning his featureless face in front of hers, causing her to feel nervous.
He then looks at the Captain of the Musketeers, and walks up to her next. "And considering your higher status and much more freedom, it is more than likely for you to be the one. Captain."
The Musketeer Captain remains as she is, serious-looking and not showing any other emotion as she looks at him.
"Wait a second." Michelle begins while remembering something, drawing attention on her, and then turns to the Storyteller, her expression serious. "Normally this floor is guarded by at least nine of your guards, yet there were none when we arrived after the ruffian left. Where were they?"
"The reason is quite obvious since they were given no order to leave the area. They were killed by the ruffian." Aristidis explains simply, causing quite the surprise to everyone but Question.
The Vice-Captain snaps out of her surprise and continues. "If that is the case, then wouldn't someone have found a body by now?"
"That is not the case with whoever comes from my Tome." He begins, and then lifts a finger as he proceeds with the explanation. "See, when someone is killed, despite the method, the body crumbles as if turned to dust, before vanishing completely."
As everyone else recalls mostly that fight against Fouquet, where they witnessed or heard about the thief back then crushing some of the same guards using her golem which resulted to their bodies indeed doing that after death, something seemingly comes into the Storyteller's mind that moment, and suspiciously yet gleefully approaches her.
"And you were to be stationed with them along with a few of your Musketeers during that time according to what I know." He mentions as he stops in front of the blue-haired woman, causing her shock for a slight moment. "I keep track of all my men and their whereabouts, which includes having knowledge of the ones working with them."
The faceless-looking man in the blue clothing approaches her slowly, and right next to the Storyteller, quite serious about. "Here is what happened. You learned all this time with them about their patrol patterns, and after you discover about how their existence works once killed, you order your fellows elsewhere, took care of each one of the Storyteller's guards secretly without anyone realizing anything, which leads to the reason he received no word to begin with when the crime was committed."
"Huh?" Is all Michelle can utter as she looks back and forth at the two in her great confusion and slightly apparent distress.
"They may be good at what they do, but they are still human, after all." Aristidis mentions.
"Not to mention your own comrades would not just think of their own higher-up as a traitor. If they are not involved in this as well behind your Captain's back." Question adds, as now everyone else looks at her with great suspicion, if not outright believing the ruffian is her.
"W-Wait just a moment, I see what is this now." The Vice-Captain begins while taking a step back, and with a finger points at Aristidis. "This is all a ploy of yours, isn't it? You're trying to put the blame on me for what YOU actually did! We all know you have the power to do as much! And I bet it was not even for an actually serious reason too. You want to see us all stressed up just so you can get a laugh out of it! To think you would have such an audacity against the Queen's Musketeers like that! Making everyone lose their time for a childish joke-"
Before she finishes that line, a large star-studded hammer strikes her from behind the head with such power, that forces her fast and strongly onto the ground face first, startling everyone but the Storyteller.
When the hammer is moved off her, Michelle is seen unconscious, in a cartoonistic kind of way, with the wielder standing behind her being none other than King Dedede from Kirby Series, making the exact same appearance like that one other time.
Aristidis turns to the side while folding his arms, and feeling offended enough, as King Dedede puffs out his chest while feeling proud of his work. "Saying I would even go to the trouble of considering on making a trolling move like that when I and my favorite people are in the middle of enjoying one of my stories. The very nerve."
The Captain of the Musketeers, and the rest, looks at him with a sweat drop. "Th-That..."
"Before you say anything like how unprofessional it was of me, know that I already knew it was her by the moment I saw the small piece of blue hair Question found into the safe and which he still holds, since no one here really has that shade of blue." The pitch-black Storyteller tells them, while Question lifts his hand to show the small piece, before he crouches next to the blue-haired woman, turning and placing the body so her back faces the floor, and then brings both hands right above the upper part of her chest as his fingers are put together to resemble a square, and through the opening it reveals through the fabric the skin where the magic seal of the Headmaster is for all to see. "Plus, I could sense both her magic, and the different, smaller amount emitted by the seal itself."
"You what?!" Louise exclaims, feeling rather incredulous as to why would he keep it to himself till now!
He gets up and folds his arms once more while pompously turning his head to the side. "I was curious about what she would do or say to not be found out, but her unamusing amateurism was so much of a boredom inducer, that losing more of our precious time here with this would be a sin."
There is silence for a moment, as everyone tries to comprehend that logic of his, and then Question lets the piece of hair fall as he proceeds ask. "Why did you even call me to begin with then?"
"To show one of the people I have received my exceptional detective skills from-" Aristidis begins, before with a joyous expression and a quick spin turns to him, with a well-decorated piece of cake upon a plate now in his hands. "And have you join us in our room on your now free time to enjoy this little pie Brock and Kronk were preparing all this time."
As all keep on looking at him, the faceless-looking man in the blue clothing shrugs his shoulders, and begins walking toward him. "I suppose it wouldn't hurt to grab myself a bite."
He takes the plate while walking past him, and moves outside and toward the way the said room is.
King Dedede points at himself while facing Aristidis. "What about me- Don't I get a cake? Took her down myself unless you forget."
The Storyteller looks at him. "You may join us as well in that room of ours. Just remember, Kirby is also present, so no fights between you are allowed." Says at the end with a wagging finger.
"Oh." The penguin-like king utters, and then with a weary expression leans a bit down. "Of course he'll be. Fine then, you have the word of the best king that is King Dedede himself in this." Says while trying to keep his composure as he walks past the Storyteller and out on the way for the room as well.
At the moment, Agnes is seen searching the unconscious Michelle all around her body, till she decides to put a hand between her breasts through the opening of the uniform, which makes the pink-haired girl blush from awkwardness, while the old man smiles in a lecherous manner at it! where she takes ahold and pulls out the two rings of Wind and Water that she has stolen.
Aristidis was rather surprised at that. "She had them in there still? Wow, talk about dedication."
He then notices something while looking at the rings more carefully, and his expression turns mischievously gleeful as he turns to Old Osmond with a wagging finger. "Ahh, I see what you did there, sly old man, you. I can tell just by looking that those are not mere imitations. You lied in order to trick the ruffian in the case she was among us from the very beginning. Great thinking."
The old man scratches the back of his head while obviously flattered by the recognition he received for his work.
The Storyteller then turns and points his finger at the Captain of the Musketeers, who straightens herself up normally at the moment. "And with the way you were so calm and collected before, shows you knew as well about them being the real deal. Of course you would. If you cannot entrust an important secret to the one closest to the Queen, then to who else will you?"
The blonde Captain nods her head out of gratitude. "The Queen's Musketeers thank you for the help you have provided us with ensuring the safety of the rings."
"And the academy both of you for the same reason." The Headmaster adds in the same manner toward both.
Louise smiles at that, happy with her Familiar's help into solving the situation, with him being obviously filled with pride in himself.
Henrietta will be so happy to know her precious rings are safe thanks to him, and her of course, even though she didn't get to do anything this time.
Aristidis looks at the unconscious Michelle with a thoughtful expression. "Now the question is, what is the reason for her to attempt what she attempted?"
"That leave it to me." Agnes says as she signs with a hand for three of her Musketeers to come inside the room, before grabbing and carrying the blue-haired woman carefully away. "It is the Musketeers' duty from here on. You all may return to your rooms."
After telling them that, she along with Julio move after her group out of the room.
The Storyteller turns to Osmond with a kind face. "I will have my people fix the holes during the morning. Have a good night, Headmaster."
With that, he signs to the pink-haired girl to move along with him, with her happily clinging onto his arm in a rarely bold show of love, and they both head for their room where everyone else expects them.
Moments later, the scene moves inside a room, where the Captain of the Musketeers interrogates the blue-haired woman, before this goes to how the latter ended up losing her title and family, blaming the royal family for that, Agnes sympathizing with her at the sense she too lost everything, because of her hometown being razed, but still stays loyal to the Queen for it is not her fault for the relatively few men who most likely yet remain who monopolize the kingdom's authority and deceive her in general, as the interrogation reaches its eventual end, with the Captain not only finding out the name she wanted to hear as the one mainly responsible, Lishman, Chair President Of Legal Affairs, but also revealing to Michelle that along with the raze of Agnes's town, he is responsible for what happened to the blue-haired woman's family, due to researching much about everything that has to do with the man, showing a great desire in doing everything in her power to see him punished for his actions.
And this action tonight has most likely given her the chance to see it happen.
In the meantime, standing still upon a drawer nearby between other objects and without drawing any attention, is a small, metallic box with lens, which makes it appear as a surveillance camera, with two hook-looking arms and wheels instead of feet, watching at the whole thing from the beginning. [Purpose Robot from Rick And Morty, doing something that is not passing the butter for once]
Through its camera, the scene moves to Aristidis who is seen outside of the building, who looks and listens through it everything that was said, with his expression being extremely gleeful. "How he-interesting."
{To Be Continued}