Chapter 1590 Wardes
I don't own Bleach or any of the powers and gear used in this story.
The two looked at the princess as she smiles with Hank behind her.
"So you were with the princess during this time." Sota said.
"She seemed lonely so I came to her aid." Hank smiles.
"I'm sorry for bothering you at this hour." Henrietta said.
"Think nothing of it, Princess!" Louise insisted. "I'm always ready to serve in any way I can."
Henrietta smiles. "Then I have a request for you. It's something of the most secrecy."
Sota and the others got curious about that.
"I have decided to enter a marriage with the ruler of Germania." She had a solemn look.
"What?! How could you consider marrying into such a savage, stuck-up..." Louise was in shock.
"It can't be helped, Tristain is a small country and in order to protect it we need to have a strong alliance with a neighbouring country such as Germania. For my country i'm ready to make a sacrifice." She said.
Hank frowns since she shouldn't be in a loveless marriage.
"For this I ask something very personal." Henrietta said.
Sota stares. "You like someone else right?"
"Yes. My beloved is Prince Wales of Albion." She said.
His eyes widen. "Uh, isn't he your cousin." Louise was surprised too.
"What I require you to go to Albion for is to retrieve a letter that I had written to Prince Wales. With the political turmoil the country at this moment it can affect the marriage." She said.
Sota frowns hearing that kind of stuff.
"Some nobles of Albion have been causing trouble with royal family." Hank said.
"Should the rebels find the contents it will cause trouble." Henrietta said.
Sota heard a sound and opens the door revealing Guiche. "Guiche!"
He got surprised and Louise glares. "What are you doing here?!"
"I was just passing by..." He then goes up to Henrietta. "Princess, please allow I, Guiche de Gramont to assist in this mission."
She blinks. "Gramont? Ah, are you perhaps Marshal Gramont's-"
"My father." He smiles.
"Ah, then you would aid me as well?" asked Henrietta.
"I would be delighted to Your Majesty," Guiche nodded.
Sota and Louise stared at the scene.
"This will be harder." Sota said.
"I couldn't agree more." Louise said.
Hank goes with Henrietta as he was frowning.
"Is something wrong Hank?" She asked.
"It's not right to be married for political things." He said.
She frowns. "But theres no choice."
He then holds her chin surprising her as he smiles. "Theres always another way. You just need hope."
They heard a sound as Skiddo came towards them.
She smiles and rubs his head. "Hey there little guy."
Skiddo smiles as she pets him. Hank smiles at the scene and he wants to make her happy.
Next day
Sota, Louise and Guiche were on horses as they went through with a fog around the area.
"Now where is that bodyguard." Louise frowns since the requested one was late.
"Just be patient." Sota said.
They saw the ground break before a big mole comes out surprising them.
"Verdandi!" Guiche got off his horse and hugs his familiar. "You must have been afraid I'd leave you behind."
Sota stares. "At least that's not the weirdest thing i've seen in my life."
At least it makes sense for an Earth mage to have a mole.
"You don't expect to bring that thing along are you?" Louise frowns.
Verdandi then goes towards Louise. "Ah! Get this thing off me!"
"Oh it must be attracted to your ring." Guiche said and Sota looks at the one Louise has. "She's always had an eye for jewels."
"That's very fascinating but could you please get it off me!" shrieked Louise.
"Okay." Sota helps pull the mole away from her.
But then a gust of wind came surprising them as Verdandi got sent away shocking Guiche.
They saw a guy come out with a hat and cloak.
"Who are you?" Sota said.
"By order of Princess Henrietta, I am to be your bodyguard," he replied, tipping his hat. "I am Wardes, captain of the Griffon Knights."
"Wardes…?" Louise was in shock with her cheeks red.
"The famous mage Knight!" Guiche said.
"Ah, my dear Louise. It's a pleasure to see you again," he said as he approached Louise, he knelt down and took her hand to kiss it.
Sota and Guiche got surprised, Sota's eye twitched seeing that.
"Louise... Who's this guy?" Sota said.
Wardes looks at them. "I apologize for the distress. I thought my fiancée was under attack."
"Fiancee?!" Sota said.
He then carried Louise making Sota frown again. Nearby Annie came and she saw the scene. This caused her to be shocked and she starts to be teary eye.
Sota had to ride on the horses with Guiche and Derf as Wardes took Louise to ride on his griffon. He heard that the two got a arranged marriage from her parents which is just weird.
He's clearly much older than her by at least five years.
Plus he can tell something off about this guy.
"Having the honour of being able to travel with the leader of the Griffon Knights. I feel better about this mission." Guiche smiles.
Sota frowns as he stares at Wardes. "If you say so."
Guiche was surprised at his reaction. "Oh is it because of him being close to Louise."
"Not just that. But theres just something off." He said.
Guiche blinks at what he said.
Later they arrived at a fancy inn as they relaxed for a bit.
"We'll rest here for the night." Wardes said.
Guiche nodded as Sota stares at the side.
"Sota answer to Wardes when he asked you!" Louise yelled.
"Since when did I care what nobles say?" He narrows his eyes surprising her.
Wardes laughs it off. "It's alright Louise i'm not one of those nobles that demands respect."
They went to a table to have dinner as Sota holds a glass.
"So Wardes how did you two meet?" Sota said.
"Well we've been friends with Louise's father already so when I would go to visit the Valliere estate during social functions." Wardes said.
Sota nodded.
"One day Louise had been distressed since her father had compared her magic to her elder sisters' again. It unfortunately upset her so she took a boat to the middle of the lake where she could be alone."
"Sir Wardes!" Louise blushes.
"It's nothing to be ashamed off. I conforted her that day." Wardes said.
"I see." Sota said.
"With the two of us so close and my rising reputation in the Griffon Knights, Louise's parents decided that I would be a fine match for her." He said.
Wardes smiles as Sota clutches the glass as it cracks a bit.
"So are you really her familiar?" Wardes asked Sota.
"Yes I am." Sota said.
"Louise told me a lot about you. The fact your a good swordsman." Wardes said.
"Yes I am. I've followed the ways of my ancestor Sasaki." Sota said.
"Your ancestor. He might have been a strong warrior for his time. How about a spar?" Wardes said.
Guiche and Louise got shocked hearing that.
"You want to spar?! Do we even have the time?!" Louise said.
"I've been curious since he fought Foquete." Wardes said.
"So you heard." Sota said.
"Yes, I wish to see your skills maybe I might surprise you and surpass your ancestor." Wardes said.
This caused something to snap inside of Sota. His ancestor... Being surpassed by this guy.
"Fine. Then i'll be ready." Sota gets up.
"It's a deal." Wardes nodded.
Sota goes to his room as he punches a wall.
"That bastard... Claims he can surpass my ancestor."
"Calm down partner. And you sure you want to fight him?" Derf said.
"I might be younger than him. But i'm more skilled." Sota said.
"I see. Also your a Gandalfr and they're the only ones that can use my full power." Derf said.
Sota go curious about that full power.
Next day
Everyone went outside to prepare for the spar as Sota was getting ready for it.
"Well let us see your skills." Wardes said.
Sota stares at Wardes as the others two watched.
"Well let us see what you can do." Wardes has his sword out.
Sota frowns and takes out Derf out getting ready.
Wardes then strikes at Sota with an upper slash. Sota dodges and blocks another strike.
"Good but you'll need to be better than that." Wardes said going for a stab.
Sota leans to the side and kicks him away.
Wades grunts as he straightens himself up.
He attacks Sota many times as they young man dodges all of his strikes.
"Amazing." Guiche said.
"If this is your best than theres nothing to worry about." Sota closes his eyes.
"Well why don't we finish this." Wardes raises his sword.
He charges up a attack and Sota goes into his ancestor's stance, Wardes attacked but then it got stopped by the swallow strike surprising him as he got hit down.
"I win." Sota said.
"Sota won!" Guiche said.
Louise was surprised too.
"Next time you boast being superior to my ancestor. Make sure to even beat that technique first." Sota glares at Wardes before walking away.
"That technique what was it?" Louise questions.
"The swallow strike. A technique my ancestor created while attacking a swallow." He said.
"Why a swallow?" Louise questions confused.
"Because they're hard to hit and they have a danger sense in them." Sota said.
"Oh." Louise said.
Sota left as he goes off on his own.
"That familiar of yours is a strong one." Wardes said.
She nodded.
"Though can he protect you better than I can?" Wardes questions.
She got surprised by that question. "I trust him."
Later
Louise enters a room and she saw Annie there.
"Annie?!" She got surprised.
She saw her about to cry.
"What's wrong?" Louise got worried.
Annie then cries. "Mommy Louise! Please don't leave daddy!"
"What are you talking about?" Louise questions confused.
"Your going with that other man! Then you'll leave me and Daddy!" She said.
"You mean Wardes?" Louise questions now understanding why Annie is like this.
She nodded. "I don't want you to go! I want you and daddy to be together!"
"Annie we can't." Louise said with a sigh.
Annie cries even more hearing that.
"I have been engaged to Wardes for a long time and Sota is just my familiar." Louise said.
"You always looked at daddy with a special look! Do you even love that man?!" Annie screams.
"Love?" Louise questions in surprise.
Annie kept crying as she swings her bear around. "You don't love him! But you care more about that bad man than me!" She runs off.
"Bad man? Annie wait!" Louise chases after her.
Annie left and Louise stares at the scene with a frown.
"Annie."
Note: Wardes appeared and if you think he would embarrass Sota like how he did to Saito, yeah not a chance Sota is way better than Wardes as he fought way better swordsman than him.