Zero the Monster Hunter
ESKK: Chapter 3, let's get started.
(Start Des Orielles Main Gate)
It was early morning by the time they made it back to Des Orielles. After carving the monster they had to spend a few hours repairing the wagon before departing. From there they had to set up camp for the night before continuing on to ensure they made it back. The journey back was one filled with tensions so thick you could cut it with a knife. No one said anything to each other and after carving the monsters up the Palico's nearby arrived to cart them off for other uses for the hunters mission. The entire journey was met with silence and poor attempts at small talk and part of it Pierre felt his daughter wanted to strangle him.
So, when they eventually arrived Louise gave a curt nod and walked off to turn in the hunt. This left Saito and Pierre by themselves for the moment as they stood there. "Sorry about her." Saito began as he looked to Pierre. "You all, being here is hard for her." Saito said as Pierre nodded to the Hunter.
"No, its quiet alright I understand." Pierre said knowing his role in Louise's poor opinion of him and his wife. With this the two the noble and hunter entered an awkward silence for a moment trying to find something to say to alleviate it. "Karin my wife… told me about you." Pierre suddenly said changing the subject. He knew who this young man was, his son-in-law Saito.
"I hope it's only good things." Saito joked as he had not actually met Karin only seen her in passing before they had arrived here and during the initial meeting.
"Quiet." Pierre joked as they were both trying to think of something to say. "Pardon me I don't believe I caught your name however." Pierre said and thus Saito realized they did not know each other that well.
"Oh right!" Saito gasped realizing they were basically strangers to each other. "I'm Saito Louise's husband which technically makes me your...Uh...Son-in-law." Saito said with a small chuckle not imagining meeting the in-laws in such a way.
Pierre nodded to this as standing before him was the enigmatic Husband of their youngest daughter, regarded by her with great affection. Under any other circumstances, Pierre would have ended up exploding in rage the moment he declared himself as the partner of his beloved daughter, even having the gall of naming himself his in-law. Now though, he cannot find the necessary energy to even get irritated, let alone erupt like a volcano.
Saito took note of the silence and quickly attempted to apologize for any possible offense. "Oh, I'm sorry. That was too sudden, wasn't it?" Saito said as he then saw he screwed up. "This is the first time we met. You don't have to call me that if you are not comfortable." Saito said but Pierre quickly defused the situation here.
"No...It's fine... Saito." Pierre said before giving off a sigh to this. If nothing else, this Man seems to be polite and considerate, more than can be said for Wardes, who he has come to genuinely regret choosing as the partner for his daughter since Louise's fourteenth winter, seeing how the Viscount never even bothered to visit his fiancé even one time to check on her wellbeing. Still, as a father, no matter how much Louise refused to acknowledge him as such right now, there was something he needed to check first. "Say, you won't mind if I made some inquiries? Like how you and Louise met?" He asked as he wanted this small pleasure of fatherhood he never got to enjoy.
"Most certainly!" Saito said more than happy to oblige, with an enthusiastic, vigorous nod from his head. "But perhaps a more appropriate place would suffice." Saito said as he'd rather not have this discussion at the front gate.
"Oh of course." Pierre said more than happy to concede, and he was certainly famished after the long journey to get here.
"Come on I know a place we can talk." Saito said as he gestured for Pierre to follow him. "Not sure if its open yet though." Saito admitted causing Pierre to chuckle to this response. The Noble then followed Saito as they went to talk and eat as Pierre was hungry.
(Meanwhile over with Louise)
Louise was at the meeting table to report the success of the hunt and receive her payment for said hunt. With a tired sigh she had reported the success and needless to say the headhunter here was clearly impressed. The supplies were successfully delivered, and already more supplies were arriving now that the Great Jaggi had been successfully dealt with.
"Good work Louise." Talva said as he knew Saito was probably dealing with the twins right now. "Expected nothing less from one of the Hunters who solved the mystery of the Rampage." Talva said and thus Louise nodded to this.
"Of course." Louise said and thus they moved on to their next topic.
"The Great Jaggi you hunted hopefully will give us some clues to the breach and maybe a way to plug it up." Talva said as he then gestured to Brok. "Brok and his crew are already working on the monsters remains and should have his forge up and running to supply the hunters with weapons and armor." Talva said and thus Louise nodded.
"What is our next hunt?" Louise asked and thus Talva sighed to this.
"For now, just small requests when something shows up, we'll let you all know." Talva said and thus this meant Louise had to deal with her family. "Until then dismissed." Talva said and thus Louise was forced to leave the meeting.
"Why not go and pick up your kids?" Kira said as she looked over to Louise. "I'm sure those little gremlins are driving their grandmother and aunts into pure madness." Kira joked and thus Louise rolled her eyes and walked off to retrieve her children.
(Meanwhile over at the Canteen)
Saito and Pierre were at the canteen as they were dining on some needed food. Saito had a few sticks of Dango with tea while Pierre had something small. Though for many Hunters who saw this they found this off. Then again Hunters tend to eat huge dishes to sustain themselves during a hunt seeing as they burn a lot of calories fighting the Wyverns. "So, you wanted to know how Louise and I met?" Saito asked as they began to dine. "Well, it's actually a funny story see at the time I was still undergoing training wasn't a full-fledged hunter when I first met Louise you see." Saito said as he explained to this to his father-in-law.
"Oh?" Pierre asked wanting to hear more. He figured at the time Hunters were just that but to learn they were given formal training meant that the job was something of high demand for their world.
"Yes, at the time I was going through a basic day of training and observing we had just finished a hunt when we heard an explosion." Saito said then went on to give context. "See our village received reports of such things happening but when we investigate the scene nothing was there suggesting a monster who could be responsible." Saito explained while Pierre paid close attention. "And that was where we found Louise looking like she had been forced to survive the forest without food or supplies for a good few days." Saito said and thus Pierre's fears were made true.
"Lost, dirty, and clearly hungry we took Louise back to the village where I learned of her origins." Saito said and in turn Pierre was surprised to hear this. "Louise of course needed a way to support herself and unfortunately, she's not the best of cooks nor has the patience needed to be a blacksmith so she decided to become a hunter as well." Saito said which made sense considering Louise's skills he witnessed. "We helped each other for the next few years before eventually we were recognized as hunters and began to investigate the rampage." Saito said which he smiled a bit. "After the Rampage we began a romance and then we had to start investigating a new Elder Dragon related situation which was followed by me proposing after all was said and done." Saito said and thus Pierre nodded to this.
"Not exactly the romantic story you were hoping for but then again was never good at those." Saito jested as Pierre chuckled in response to Saito's joke.
"I see." Pierre said and thus Saito smiled to him.
"So, I take it you were a warrior?" Saito asked and surprised Pierre with this. While some of the Upper Class served in the Military, most of them preferred to handle the political intricacies behind the scenes, often relegating the duty of the frontline to the Common folks.
Nowadays, the majority of Tristain's army is comprised almost entirely of people from lower social standings, outweighing the mages by a landslide. Prior to the present, however, there was a time when there were more Practitioners of the high arts that served in the armed forces. Among them was Pierre, but that was a lifetime ago, now he, and shameful as he was to admit it, came across as a typical cushy, arrogant Noble, so the fact that Saito was able to deduce that was impressive.
"I'm a hunter and you just have that aura around you like someone who's seen a lot of battles." Saito said as Pierre looked down at his food for a moment.
"I was. Long ago." Pierre said confirming the story as he recalled those days well. Pierre's solemn eyes glanced up in reminiscence, reliving the time gone by within in his mind, "Back in the day, I was a member of the Royal Guard, before that, I was just one of the soldier in the Magic Knights Corps." Pierre said regaling his bygone days. "Although when I was in the latter, I did not do anything notable to make me stand out at first, other than my family name." He added with a slight chuckle before the solemn look returned. "If anything, I was one of the more infamous members due to my addiction to liquor, a habit of getting into brawls, and what Karin described as a 'total lack of self-preservation'." Pierre said as Saito recalled hearing that from Louise several times when describing him.
"Been there, done that." Saito said as he tried to lighten the mood before focusing back on the duke. "Why is that?" Saito asked as he recognized this man had some emotional baggage to release.
"Because of Karina. My first love." Pierre said while humming out a sorrowful tune, before looking to his son-in-law, who listened to his recounting with undivided attention. "Before you asked, no, it was not Karin, though their name does sound similar now that I think about it." Pierre began as he retold the story of his sorrow. "She was a Commoner, a gypsy as she called herself. Never give much credence to that." He said detailing those bygone days. "I was so enamored with her that I was willing to run away with her, abandoned my family name just for her, against my parents' protest, and it was her death that I ended up becoming a wreck." HE said recalling the day she died the sorrow and anguish he felt years ago.
"Then just when things couldn't get any worse...She returned." Pierre said which got Saito worried as he heard stories of Wyverns and even Elder Dragons who seemingly were able to raise the dead. "When me and my platoon were assigned to wipe out a horde of walking corpses revived by Water Magic, she was among them." He said which surprised Saito as he recalled stories of one Elder Dragon in particular with the ability to do something similar. "Even though I was sure I saw her die before my very eyes, lying in the pool of her blood, she returned, no different than the last time I saw her." Pierre said as Saito felt there was more to the story beyond emotional trauma but out of respect for the man and his time as a soldier Saito chose not to pry into it.
"Sounds similar to a Gore Magala." Saito said recalling facing that particular Elder Dragon with Louise before the twins birth.
"Pardon me a Gore Magala?" Pierre asked and thus Saito knew he had to drop that one.
"It's an Elder Dragon, long story." Saito said promising to explain it another time. "So, what happened next?" Saito asked returning to Pierre's story on his soldier past.
Pierre sighed and returned back to what he was talking about prior. "Overwhelmed in numbers and strength, and me being distracted by Karina, we nearly died right then and there if it weren't for Karin stepping up in my moment of weakness and acting as an improvised Leader." Pierre said explaining how he and Karin came to meet on that day. When all hopes seem lost at that moment, the girl that would one day be known as 'The Heavy Wind' of the Manticore Knights proves to her comrades and those who have ever doubted her why she is regarded by the Crown as having the most potential despite her less-than-distinguished family name and lead them out of the seemingly hopeless situation. "When we managed to retreat, I went into an even deeper end, nearly drinking myself to death has it not been…For a Goat." He said as that last part threw Saito for a loop there.
"Wait a goat saved your life?" Saito asked shocked at what he heard. Out of all the things Saito expected to come out of the Duke's mouth, this is decidedly not one of them. As a matter of fact, in all likelihood, practically nobody could ever anticipate such a sentence to be made by anyone.
"Absurd, I know." Pierre said agreeing with Saito's thoughts. In fact, he would have been thinking the same thing if their roles were reversed. "But that's what has happened." Pierre said as his mood seemed to sour immensely, as did his expression that contorted into an irritated scowl like he had dug up a memory he would very much not like to recall any time soon. "Out of nowhere, just when I was about to down what might very be the cause of my death otherwise, a goat burst through the door, leaped onto the table, and rammed straight into my bottle of wine in hand, destroying it." Pierre said as that was also on top of injuring his hand as well. No matter how strong you are, a charge from a goat is nothing to scoff at. Countless those who try to climb mountains only to have an ill-fated encounter with these loathsome creatures can confirm, had they survived the fall that is.
"Of course, I gave chase to this little monster, and I could have sworn it was laughing at me as I did so." Pierre said recalling how on that day while under the influence of alcohol that bolstered his aggression, the young Noble would hunt down this Goat who, although it might just be him hearing things due to his liquor-addled mind, let out the most infuriating taunt of a laughter he has ever heard in his entire existence, further provoking him into wanting to butcher the thing into dinner that day. Alas, it could not happen as a result of what soon followed, his encounter with a man that changed his life. "By the time I caught up to that damnable animal, it has led me to its owner." Pierre said recalling how that particular chase had ended.
"The owner however was a living oxymoron he dressed in rags of a simple farmer and yet the rings on his finger suggested a high pedigree." Pierre said as he explained this to his son-in-law. "His mannerisms and sword technique he and I had a duel where he bested me that I had assumed he was a disgraced noble." Pierre said as he recalled that day. "He then proceeded to poor water on my face to sober me up." Pierre said before chuckling a bit.
"Apparently my assumption was correct though he was not disgraced he renounced his noble titles for the love of a common woman for a simple quiet life." Pierre said as he almost envied that man now. "He told me how I've lost value in my life and should relearn the joy of living and thus made me aid him in repairing a fence." Pierre said recalling how his hands had blistered from the labor. "As we worked, he regaled his tale for me and while I swore never to share it with another it… helped." Pierre said and thus he smiled a bit.
"My task was shotty and with his magic he rectified it before sending me on my way having his goat lead me back." Pierre said recalling how that goat was in fact the man's familiar back then. "Somehow the goat lead me to finding out my Karin was in fact a woman." Pierre said as he recalled that fateful day years ago.
"I see." Saito said as the tale was a bit humorous on his part.
"After that, I went on to marry Karin, forming a family, after a few years, she gave birth to my first daughter, Eleonore, with Cattleya and Louise followed." Pierre said smiling over those wonderful memories. Those times might have passed him by, but Centurion will continue to treasure those tender moments when he cradled his daughters in his arms as he sat beside his exhausted but overjoyed wife. From the Headstrong Eleonore to the gentle Cattleya, and... finally, his youngest Louise.
"I love my children, Saito. I put my days in the military behind me so that they could have a father to depend on, to have a father who would always be there for them." Pierre said as he tone went back to his saddened one. "But...I supposed I've failed on that, just like I've failed Louise." Pierre said showing his own guilt over failing his youngest daughter.
How hypocritical of him. Loving his daughters, but never takes their feelings into consideration. Putting his will above all else, just because he believed he knew what was best for them...Just like his own Parents. He should have known what Louise was thinking, seeing that he was once in a similar position.
"You've made a mistake, and you acknowledged it." Saito said taking a firm tone with Pierre. "That made you better than others, who choose to delude themselves into thinking what they think is right or refuse to owe up to their flaw." Saito said sternly as he placed a firm hand on Pierre's shoulder with , a passionate expression burned on his face. "But I believe you are mistaken." Saito said as he knew Louise well enough.
"What do you mean by that?" Pierre asked shocked by Saito's words.
"I have been with Louise for many years, and I was privy to many of her personal thoughts." Saito said as he smiled at the thoughts of his beloved strong wife. Saito has learned many things about his wife, about her home, about herself... and above all else, what she truly thinks of her Family. "So, I'll let on a little secret...She is scared of you two." Saito said much to Pierre's shock at such a revelation.
"S-Scared?" Pierre asked finding it hard to believe seeing his daughter had faced a great deal of things far more frightening them himself.
"Yes, scared and misses you all." Saito said knowing how unbelievable that sounds. The famed Hunter knew that a person's true feelings will only show themselves in their most vulnerable moment, and Louise had many in the past. "Back then, she confessed to me that she wished to one day see you all again, how she wished for you to meet your grandchildren but the more she thought of it the more she became fearful for them." Saito said as he was like Louise, he'd slaughter everything in his path to protect his children and wife. "That fear became resentment towards you that she tempered with her love for Tsukasa and Sasha." Saito said recalling how loving she was with the twins.
"Mr. Valliere, You cared for her, you still do now, and even though it might not seem like it, all Louise wanted now is to make up with you, but her pride, though tempered, still very much there, and she is set in her way." Saito said knowing how Louise tended to be. "I think that...Maybe...Just maybe, you should have a talk with her, try to offer an apology." Saito suggested as it should start with that a true apology. "I'm certain that is something she wants to hear." Saito said and thus Pierre grew silent once more.
"Do I even have the right to do that?" Pierre asked unsure of himself in this regard.
"What do you have left to lose?" Saito asked with a smirk on his face.
Seeing the wisdom of his words Pierre chuckled a bit. "You are right." Pierre said while wiping a stray tear that had been rolling down from his eyes, Pierre De La Valliere, with renewed hope, slowly picked himself up from the chair, one goal set in his mind, though not before he turned to Saito, his Son-in-Law. "Thank you, Saito." Pierre said as he was truly grateful for this small conversation. Saito was right, it could not get any worse than it already has. The least he and Karin can do is to offer one last word of apology. If she doesn't forgive them, then it would be understandable...But if she does...
Perhaps there is hope for them.
"You can thank me if this ends up working." Saito said with a smile on his face. "Because if it does, I'm certain we will be seeing more of each other down the line." Saito said and thus Pierre chuckled to this. The Hunter has certainly gained himself the Duke's Blessing.
(Scene Break the Vallier Residence)
Louise had arrived at the front door of her families temporary abode as she prepared to knock on the door. Her kids where inside but Louise was nervous of what she might find inside, her son and daughter running to her in tears was the one of the bad situations her mind began conjuring up. How foolish here she was Bakuretsu Zero Louise slayer of Wyverns and Elder Dragons culled towards fear by her family. If her master saw her now, he'd probably have the right words to give here.
"If you don't face what cowers you, then you can never truly move on." The voice of the old man called out before laughing heartly as Louise swore that large man despite his methods had given sound words of wisdom.
Just as Louise was about to knock a new voice cut in from behind. "Louise?" Pierre spoke and thus Louise looked and saw her father standing there with her husband Saito and their Palamute Kiba.
"Oh Duke Vallier, Saito… I just arrived." Louise lied as she had been outside for a good 30 minutes by now an hour at most.
"Here to pick up Sasha and Tsukasa?" Saito asked with a knowing smile at Louise.
"Yes obviously." Louise said avoiding speaking to her father here as she had other things of importance to focus on.
"Well, no use wasting time." Saito said as the Duke Vallier looked to his daughter for a moment before sighing and entering the house. He wanted to have this conversation when everyone was comfortable and doing it now would not be a good time now. Plus call him selfish but he wanted to meet his grandchildren the twins Sasha and Tsukasa after hearing about them.
"Welcome back Duke Vallier." Siesta greeted with a few other servants when they saw the Duke enter the household. It was not as many as the main household just a few to handle the minor tasks for the nobles.
"Lady Louise." Siesta greeted as she walked over to Louise.
"Wait… aren't you?" Louise began as she recognized Siesta from the Academy. "Didn't you use to work at the Tristain Academy?" Louise asked making her recognition of the maid known here.
"Why yes I'm actually quiet surprise that you recognized me." Siesta said as she didn't think Louise would remember her.
But before Siesta and Louise could say more a pair of voices echoed through the house. "Momma papa!" Sasha and Tsukasa both cried out as they ran through the house to their parents and came to deliver their parents a hug.
"Oh, my sweets!" Louise gushed as she hugged her children happy to see them smiling.
"Your children were little angels." Siesta said smiling as the pair were more or less well behaved. They were children perfection was well beyond their reach, but they hardly caused any issues.
"Sasha Tsukasa wait for auntie Cattleya." Cattleya huffed as she had given chase to the twins but was already exhausted by it.
"Sister wait." Elenore called over as she was trying to keep her sister from overexerting herself. Needless to say, Cattleya was unusually chipper with the twins running around the house.
"Auntie Cattleya has so many pets!" Sasha called out as she was currently all smiles and joy to her mother.
"That's wonderful to hear." Louise said as she already knew about this.
"But she's really smothering." Tsukasa said with a pout as he had his cheeks pinched by her constantly. Her excuse was always about how adorable her nephew was.
"You get used to it." Louise assured her son with a smile on her face.
"Ah Louise." Karin greeted descending down the stairs. "You've returned." Karin said as she was grateful her daughter safely returned.
"Hello Duchess." Louise greeted with a cold neutral tone.
"Hi granny!" Tsukasa greeted as Karin chuckled over her grandsons words. Children will be children after all, or at least that is how the saying goes.
Pierre seeing a chance saw his daughter was preparing to leave once Tsukasa and Sasha's belongings are gathered. "So will you be joining us for a meal?" Pierre offered as he knew he had to take Saito's advice.
"Well, we need to make sure our housing is in order and." Louise began but then Sasha cut in.
"But mama I don't want to leave yet." Sasha said giving her daughter the most adorable pout ever.
Louise would not break but she forgot her daughter had her husband eating out of the palm of her hands. "Come now Louise." Saito said as he smiled to his wife. "It could take a bit of time and we could use the chance for the kids to get to know your side of the family." Saito said offering Louise incentive and giving Pierre the opening to make his intentions to his daughter known.
"Please." Sasha begged as Tsukasa was wide eyed in worry for his aching cheeks.
Louise sighed as she knew that Sasha had won this round. More so Louise had no excuse not to stay for a bit that she could use. "Very well." Louise said and thus Sasha cheered and went over to her aunt to give her a big hug.
"My poor cheeks." Tsukasa moaned as he knew that his aunt was going full pinch on them soon. The boy could already feel the soreness.
(Scene Break later during Lunch)
The extended family was gathered in one of the outdoor tables for their meal. Karin felt it was practical since out in the grass Sasha and Tsukasa were running around playing while Cattleya was entertaining the pair of twin children.
Pierre was left in shock much like Karin and Elenore had been when they saw the amount of food Saito and Louise were eating now. On either side of them empty plates were slowly being stacked up but there was still a certain air of elegance and politeness with Louise. Pierre felt it was good to begin with small talk, but Louise cut in first.
"So… I've heard you've been visiting the castle recently, duke." Louise spoke with a neutral tone to her father.
"Oh yes, with the Wyvern issue and growing tensions with Albion the princess has found herself with no end of troubles." Pierre said before taking a bite of his own food. "She is struggling I'm afraid." Pierre admitted with a sad tone in his voice now. The brewing war with Albion and the Wyvern's appearance had made the Princess now Queen stressed beyond any reason.
"I've noted she's getting early grey hairs." Louise admitted worried for her childhood friend. "Though I was under the impression you did not think her ready." Louise said giving her father a critical stare.
"After you vanished, she was not well for a while." Pierre admitted as it was true. "I felt I owed it to you to ensure she was able to rule and stay alive." Pierre said knowing how close Louise had been to Henrietta when they were children.
Louise was of course reminded of the fact that for a time everyone thought she had died. Elenore was of course there as well as Louise decided to change the subject noting how she was glaring at Saito who did not seem to notice it.
"So, sister Elenore how have things been for you since I've been… away?" Louise asked as she kept her tone neutral.
"Your disappearance had caused a great deal of issues." Elenore calmly said knowing Louise had yet to forgive any of them for their treatment of her during Louise's childhood. "I had to return home to help ease everyone through things." Elenore said her voice dropping more to a whisper. Everyone was heartbroken especially when the search was called off and Louise was labeled diseased. Mother steel mask broke, Cattleya's sickness had grown worse, and Pierre had become distant with his grief. Seeing Cattleya with the children gave Elenore hope for her sister and seeing Louise here gave Elenore hope their family may finally heal.
"You had to be the rock." Louise summarized her own tone showing sadness to this.
"Yes." Elenore said as soon things grew quiet once more.
Just then Cattleya returned catching her breath now as she sat down next to Louise. "Sorry Louise your children are bundles of energy." Cattleya said as her pets were now playing with the children. With them was Louise's kinsect Kiki, her Palico partner Tako, and Saito's Palamut Kiba. The children were laughing as they were clearly enjoying themselves like any child at that age would.
"I know just let them tire themselves out, they'll be napping for hours afterwards." Louise said speaking from her own experience raising those two children.
"Well, you've certainly… grown up." Karin said trying to find the right words to say. She was proud of Louise and her ability to raise the twins. In fact, Karin saw Louise was doing a better job then she did when Louise was that age.
Just then Siesta arrived on the scene as she spoke to Pierre and Karin. "Duke, duchess." Siesta began as she had a look of concern which Karin had taken note.
"Is something the matter, Siesta?" Karin asked as she looked to the maid with concern. Karin trusted Siesta and the young woman was competent with her duties as a maid. In fact, Karin had been in talks with Pierre about making Siesta the households head maid due to her experience.
"You have a visitor he's here to see Lady Louise." Siesta said and thus it was clear this visitor was not someone they needed to see. "It's Viscount Wardes." She added and thus everyone was surprised by this.
"Duchess." Louise began glaring at Karin.
"Louise, I had nothing to do with his arrival." Karin said as she looked to her daughter showing that she had not expected Wardes to arrive.
"Please send him away, Siesta." Pierre said not wanting a brawl to break out.
"No." Louise began surprising the group. "I knew he'd come eventually once word spread of my arrival." Louise said and in turn Siesta looked worried. "Let him in, its only fair he be let down gently." Louise said as she was going to deal with this.
"Very well." Siesta said and thus took her leave to bring Wardes in.
"Louise are you sure?" Saito asked knowing who Wardes was and deciding he did not like him.
"I'm certain of it but don't let Sasha and Tsukasa out of your sight." Louise said ending with a warning. She knew the age difference and did not want to give her former betrothed any ideas assuming he'd even try.
"Right." Saito said and thus soon enough Siesta returned with Wardes in tow. With a small bow Siesta stepped aside and allowed Wardes to enter.
"Viscount Wardes your arrival was most surprising." Karin said as she kept her tone neutral in the presence of a fellow noble.
"Well, when I've heard that one of those Wyverns causing damage to our trade routes had been dealt with, I simply had to have met the hunters responsible." Wardes said as Saito was on edge as Louise seemed oddly calm about his arrival. "But imagine my shock that one of the Hunters was none other then little Louise back from the dead a miracle made real." Wardes said as he laid his eyes on Louise sitting with Saito.
"Yes, its most fortunate." Louise calmly said and that was when Karin saw it. Her daughter her entire demeanor had changed in an instant. This was no longer a woman enjoying a meal this was a predator on the prowl defending its territory from invaders. It has found said invader and was now stalking it trying to decide if it was a threat and if it was worth dealing with.
Karin almost felt bad for Wardes the viscount had just walked into the lion's den and Louise was the lion. "How have you been little Louise?" Wardes asked using her old pet name when speaking.
"I've been quiet well actually." Louise said as she then wiped her mouth before picking up a cup of tea. "I had not spent my days idle while I was marooned." Louise calmly said before taking a sip of her tea. Once she did so she placed the cup down waiting for Wardes to say what he really came for.
"Well, it certainly has been a while, you've grown." Wardes said putting a hand on Louise shoulder which caused Saito to tense up with concern.
"As must we, all, but I would highly recommend you remove your hand from my shoulder." Louise said her voice carrying a dangerous edge now.
"I did not mean to offend you." Wardes said noting the tone and removing his hand. He knew well enough that the way Louise carried herself now was that of a seasoned warrior who had seen battles of titanic proportions. "I had assumed since you have returned you may consider continuing our previous engagement." Wardes said and thus the Valliers and Saito all knew now Wardes has sealed his doom.
"Then it seems you assumed wrong." Louise said in a calm tone of voice now. "Not only have I grown but I had come to accept there was no way home for me, so I had remained in that world and had married before having children with my husband." Louise said digging up old lesson from her past that came with being of noble blood. "My husband, Saito, who is currently sitting right next to me and our children who are currently out playing in the field." Louise said gesturing to Saito and then over to Sasha and Tsukasa playing about.
"I'm sorry what?" Wardes asked shocked by what Louise said.
"Yes, I am currently married and happily so." Louise said as she kept a neutral face to the older Viscount. "And while I can respect you remaining unwed for my sake, I'm afraid to inform you it was for not." Louise said leaving Wardes no room to try countering this.
"And as her husband." Saito said as he sat up. "I'd prefer you not continue with this discussion especially with the children within earshot." Saito said as Wardes saw the Vallier's would not assist him.
"I… I see." Wardes said as he looked to the scene. "While I do wish to further discuss this… perhaps now is not the best of times to do so." Wardes said seeing that this was not a topic for children to overhear. "Perhaps we can discuss this over dinner." Wardes offered and thus Louise raised a brow to this.
"We shall see, as one of the Hunters assigned to this commission my tasks may clash with your schedule." Louise said and thus Wardes nodded in understanding to her words.
"Yes." Wardes said and thus began to take his leave. "It was a pleasure meeting you, Saito was it." Wardes said and thus Saito nodded to the older male.
"Yes, a pleasure to meet you." Saito said but clearly, he was only saying it to be polite to Wardes. With that Wardes took his leave and thus everyone knew that their meal had been spoiled by another one of Louise's issues with her family.
(Scene Break later that evening)
Pierre was in the study as he was going over the last few bits of documents that needed his attention. He had yet to find the time to speak with Louise to make his intentions clear to her. But he had not found a time to speak with her alone. Something always seems to happen that requires either of them to be elsewhere for it.
The evening had set in, and Pierre was grateful the study here had a wide selection of books. This might be a good place to have that talk if needed. Pierre had to admit that Louise had grown into a remarkable young woman if the stories of her exploits are to be believed. Facing Elder Dragons was truly something of note even here slaying dragons would put you as a great mage of the land. It would even earn you a noble title of a higher social circle in Tristiana. So, to find out his daughter had done so and bested several Elder Dragons filled him with pride for her.
His musings were of course cut short when the door opened and in came the topic of his thoughts, Louise. "Oh, duke pardon my intrusion I didn't know you were here." Louise said as she was currently in her sleep wear suggesting she was preparing to go to sleep soon.
Seeing his chance Pierre quickly put down what he was doing. "It's no problem I could use the distraction." Pierre said as he put the quill down to speak to Louise. "So did you require something?" Pierre asked as he looked towards his daughter.
"Nothing from you, Sasha and Tsukasa refuse to sleep without a story." Louise said as this made Pierre grateful to his grandchildren in his attempts to seek his youngest daughters forgiveness. Another benefit was that Pierre and Karin managed to talk them into staying the night. Well, they suggested it and Tsukasa and Sasha convinced their parents to take the offer.
"Well, I can't promise much but there might be a few here to entertain them." Pierre said gesturing to the shelves filled with varying books. He hoped that there was at least one book available to entertain the young twins.
"Very well." Louise said as she began her search for a story book to read the twins Sasha and Tsukasa.
As Louise searched through the several books Pierre was all but yelling at himself to reach out to his daughter. Estranged as she may be Pierre did not want to lose her completely. Soon enough Louise found the book she felt would be ideal and upon pulling it out began to take her leave. This was the moment where Pierre finally broke and spoke up.
"Louise wait." Pierre said as he looked to his daughter causing her to stop. "I've been a fool." He admitted as he looked down in shame. "No that's not the right words I mean… for your entire life I had wronged you." Pierre said trying to get the words out in a way his daughter would be able to understand. When Pierre saw Louise take pause, he continued with what he was saying to her. "All those years we've pushed you well beyond your limits forcing you to be something we wanted but not once did we consider what you wanted." Pierre said referring to himself and Karin in their treatment of Louise when she had still lived with them. "I just want to say, Louise my daughter I am truly sorry for the years of neglect you've endured." Pierre said as Louise took pause for a moment as she stood there almost in shock.
"Duke… father." Louise finally spoke as she tried to keep herself level and neutral here. "Saito has been telling me that I should try to forgive." Louise began keeping her tone as neutral as possible. "Maybe one day I might be able to… but right now is not that day." Louise said as this was what Pierre was most afraid of. "But… I'm willing to try for the sake of my children." Louise added looking to her father her face no longer neutral but now held the smallest glimmer of hope for a better relationship with her estranged parents. "If your willing to put in the effort so shall I." Louise said and thus Pierre smiled to his daughter.
"Yes, I would like that." Pierre responded and thus the path had started to healing a broken family of past mistakes. They did not hug nor shake hands but making eye contact was certainly a start.
(Later Saito and Louise's Room)
Saito was already laying in bed when Louise walked in. Needless to say, despite being a well-adjusted Monster Hunter a loving husband, and a responsible parent there was just something pure and domestic for Louise about walking in and seeing her husband in bed calmly reading a book before bed.
"Well Sasha and Tsukasa are asleep." Louise said as she had just finished reading them a bedtime story before bed. "I think we have a good 5 or 6 hours before Cattleya sneaks into their room." Louise said as she pulled the sheets back and joined Saito in bed.
"Anything interesting happened?" Saito asked with a knowing smile at Louise. The way Louise looked showed that Louise had made some progress with her parents or at least one of them.
"I'd tell you but that would mean saying you were right." Louise said causing Saito to smiled and put the book down.
"But you just said that." Saito said only for Louise to playfully smack her husband in the arm.
"Just go to bed, we have work in the morning." Louise said reminding Saito they had mouths to feed still.
"Yes dear." Saito responded and thus the two allowed themselves to drift off to sleep. Tomorrow, they had work to get too such as securing their position and searching for the reality breach bringing the Wyverns into this world.
(TBC)
ESKK: Another day another chapter. I hope you all enjoyed it and will join me next time for the next chapter. So until we next meet be sure to leave a review so as I always say on here, ja-ne.