Kai and Co. were caught and imprisoned by the pirates. Since Derflinger, and Wardes and Louise's wands had been taken, they were allowed to keep their hands and feet unrestrained.
Without their wands, mages, just like the unarmed Kai, were thought to be harmless.
Around where the trio were held there were wine barrels, sacks of grain, and gunpowder casks thrown all over the place. Heavy cannonballs were piled up in one corner of the room.
Wardes looked around the area with curiosity.
In another corner of the hold, Kai sat down, trying his best to meditate. He thought that training would help clear his mind.
With a worried expression, Louise looked at Kai. "Those injuries hurt, don't they?"
"I'm fine."
"You're not fine! Show me!"
"I said I'm fine!" Kai tried moving away from Louise, but tripped over a loose floorboard. Once he fell, Louise forcefully pulled up his sleeve. "Nng!"
That injury looked horrible. It went from his shoulder to his wrist. Even then, it seemed to be getting worse. His arm was having horrible convulsions and most of the skin had been burnt horribly.
"How can you say you're fine with this!? Am I supposed to feel relieved seeing how 'fine' it is?!" Louise quickly stood up and knocked at the door. "Somebody! Somebody come quick!"
Someone came to the door. "What is it?" His voice was gruff.
"Water! Is there a water mage? Someone is injured! He needs to be healed!"
"We have no water mage."
"Liar!"
Kai grabbed Louise's shoulder. "Calm down. We're prisoners here."
"How can I?! You're injured!"
"Stop saying that! It doesn't matter if I am or not!" Kai accidentally let out some of his frustration while yelling. Louise backed away from him, and her eyes started to tear up.
"H-Hey... Louise, don't cry..."
"I would never cry in front of a familiar!" Louise ran off to a corner of the hold.
Sighing deeply, Kai walked over to Wardes. "Hey, can you... comfort her?"
"Why?"
"Aren't you her fiancée?"
Wardes walked to Louise and put his hand on her back.
Kai fell back to the ground, turning away from the two of them. The pain in his arm was just getting worse. It was his own fault for thinking he would be able to defend Louise.
"This don't hurt that bad... Nng!" His arm trembled so hard it felt like a new shock went through his body.
The door to the hold opened, and a fat man with a bowl of soup came in.
"Food."
When Kai, who was right next to the door tried to grab it, the man lifted the plate up.
"Only after you answer a few questions."
Louise, who still had puffy eyes, stood up. "Ask."
"What business do you have in Albion?"
"Travelling."
"Why would you travel to Albion?"
"I don't have to tell you."
"Still pretending to be tough, even though you were crying?"
The pirate set down the bowl of soup as he walked out of the room, laughing. Louise grabbed the bowl, ready to throw it, but Kai took it from her.
"Calm down."
"I can't eat food from these people!" Louise turned her head away from Kai.
"It's not healthy to not eat."
"Don't lecture me about being healthy!"
Despite her protests, the three of them gathered around the bowl and started eating from it. In any normal circumstance a commoner eating from the same bowl as a noble would never happen.
Wardes leaned onto the wall with a tired expression.
Louise tore the sleeve of her shirt and soaked it in water. She tried to cool down Kai's wound with it.
"I'm fine."
"No, you're not!" With her puffy eyes, Louise stared straight into Kai's eyes. "Because you're my familiar, you have to listen to what I tell you!"
With sadness in his eyes, Kai looked away.
"What is it?"
"Louise, you don't have to worry about me. You have more important things to worry about."
"An injury like this takes priority! Is that clear?!"
Kai kept looking away from her, and he noticed something. Those barrels of gunpowder... "We could use that to escape."
"Eh?"
Louise looked to where Kai was walking. He filled up the empty bowl with gunpowder.
Wardes muttered tiredly, "And where would you run? Only emptiness surrounds us."
Kai sat down with a thump. "It was a work in progress plan... but, still... sitting around and doing nothing..."
The door opened once more. This time a thin pirate stood before them.
"Good evening, are you the nobles going to Albion?"
No one answered.
"Judging from your silence, it's true. Though we look like we don't respect nobles, we have to thank them for our business going well."
"But, isn't this a warship of rebels?" Louise sounded confused.
"No, though we are employed. We are involved in a fifty-fifty relationship with both sides. So what is it? Are you nobles? If so, then we'll let you go at the nearest port."
Kai let out a relieved sigh. Since Louise and Wardes were nobles, everything would turn out just right.
However, Louise didn't nod her head and kept glaring at the pirate.
"How dare you have anything to do with those dirty rebels? Don't disregard Albion nobility. I myself am one of the noble families. Albion is still a kingdom, as the royal family is still in power. Because I am a noble who is here on behalf of Tristain, I am, in other words, an ambassador. Therefore, I demand an ambassador's treatment from you."
Slowly turning toward Louise, Kai's eye started twitching. "A...A-A...ARE YOU A MORON!?"
"Who are you calling a moron? You're the moron! Trying to act cool while being injured so badly!" Louise angrily turned to Kai.
"That doesn't matter right now! What matters is when you choose to be so high and mighty! Now was NOT the time for that!"
"Shut up! You are my familiar and you should listen to what I say! Anyway, show your arm!"
"Hey!" The surprised Kai grabbed his arm, while Louise tried to pull it with a jerk.
The pirate laughed seeing the two.
"Stop doing that!"
"You should stop! I can't let you get hurt so carelessly."
Kai was a bit taken aback. "Eh?"
"It's because you're my familiar... t-that's why..."
"I'll go report to the Boss." The pirate left while laughing.
Kai was so surprised by what Louise had said, he couldn't come up with a reply.
"Your arm. Show it."
"Yeesh, don't be like this. Aren't there more things to be concerned about? Like our current predicament?"
Louise responded quickly. "I won't let things like that bring me down as long as we have the slightest chance to survive." She stood up straight. For some reason it flashed across her mind, but the thought of marrying Wardes wasn't so strong anymore.
"...Well, in any case, you lied to them."
"Don't say that. Are you seriously thinking that lying to them is a bad thing?"
Kai let out a sigh. Wardes came over and tapped Louise's shoulder.
"Don't say such things, Louise, you are still my bride."
Hearing that, Kai looked away dejectedly, and Louise's face showed her mixed feelings.
The door opened again. It was the same thin pirate. "The boss calls."
ㅤ
ㅤ
Past narrow stairs, there was a splendid room on the upper deck. Apparently, the pirate's captain was in there.
As the door opened, the group could see a gorgeous dinner table and a pirate sitting at the end, playing with a cane that had a big crystal on top of it. He was probably a mage himself.
He looked intensely at Louise, who had just entered. The thin pirate who had brought her there poked her. "Hey, you, you are standing in front of the Boss, so greet him properly."
Louise didn't, instead she just glared at the Boss as he smiled at her.
"Ah, I like a strong-willed woman."
"I demand the treatment of an ambassador."
"And, what would be the message you are trying to give? And did you say royal?"
"Yes, I did."
"Why are you going there? They will be gone tomorrow."
"I won't tell you."
The Boss spoke in a joyful voice. "Are you willing to betray those nobles? Otherwise, I cannot guarantee your safety even if you pay."
"I'd rather die."
"Hey..." Kai put his hand on Louise's shoulder and noticed something. She was trembling. She was scared. Even though she was scared, she kept staring straight into the Boss' eyes.
She's able to face someone she's scared of with such a brave face... Louise truly did look amazing.
"I'll ask you again. Are you willing to betray those nobles?"
Louise looked straight ahead. She crossed her arms and puffed out her chest.
Before she could open her mouth, Kai interrupted her.
"She already told you her answer."
"And who might you be?"
The Boss looked into Kai's eyes with a piercing glare. Those eyes held some deep secrets within. But Kai looked straight at the Boss just like Louise.
"Just some familiar."
"Familiar?"
"That's right."
The Boss started laughing loudly. "I knew that Tristainian nobles were weird, but not this much. Oh, my stomach hurts."
Kai and the others were confused by the sudden shift in atmosphere and looked at each other.
"Oh, I am sorry. As a noble, I should properly introduce myself." The Boss suddenly stood up. He removed his black hair from his head. It was a wig. He also took off his eyepatch and his fake beard.
Standing before them was a young man with blond hair.
"I am a general of the Albion Royal Air Force and also the commander of our country fleet. Though to tell the truth, this ship is the only one in our powerless fleet." The person bowed before the trio.
"I am the prince of Albion's Kingdom, Wales Tudor."
Kai and Louise looked at the young boy, their eyes bulging out and mouths hanging open. Wardes watched the prince with great interest.
Wales smiled and moved a chair for Louise to sit.
"Welcome to Albion, Ambassador. Now, let's talk about your message."
Louise was still stunned. She just stood there, dumbfounded, unable to move.
"Why did I dress up as a pirate? To hide myself? No, the rich rebels sent a lot of support to the rebellion, and it was a basic war tactic to cut enemy supply lines. It was necessary so I had to dress myself like an undignified dirty pirate."
Wales laughed louder.
"Still, it was impolite to treat an ambassador like that. But, you have to admit, you don't look like a royal messenger. And I never thought I would receive support from another country's nobles. Yet, I should still apologize."
Even after Wales' words, Louise's mouth was still hanging open. She hadn't mentally prepared to meet the prince so suddenly.
"We brought a secret letter from Her Highness Princess Henrietta," Wardes said while gracefully bowing.
"Oh, from Her Highness. And you are?"
"Captain of Tristain's Griffin Knights, Viscount Wardes. This is the ambassador sent by Her Highness from the La Vallière household, and her familiar, Your Highness."
"Indeed! Such a splendid noble. And I only have my ten guards to greet you, such a miserable greeting. Then, do you still have the letter?"
Panicking, Louise pulled out Henrietta's letter. Right before she gave it to Wales, she hesitated.
"B-But..."
"Yes?"
"Excuse me, but are you really the prince?"
Wales laughed. "Oh dear, you won't believe me even if I showed you my face. I am Wales. And I really am a prince. Here I will show you proof."
Seeing the Water Ruby on Louise's hand, Wales brought his ruby ring close to it. The two rings reacted and gave off a bright shining light.
"This ring belongs to the Albion royal family, the Ruby of Wind, while that one belongs to Henrietta and is the Ruby of Water. Am I right?"
Louise nodded.
"Water and wind make a rainbow. A rainbow connecting the two royal families."
"I am sorry for my impoliteness." Louise handed Wales the letter and bowed.
After looking lovingly at the letter, Wales kissed the signature. Then, the seal was carefully removed. Wales took out the paper inside and began to read.
"The princess is marrying? That beautiful Henrietta. My beloved... cousin."
Wales glanced over the letter once more and smiled reading the last line.
"Understood. The princess is informing me that she wants you to return that letter. More importantly, she hopes that I send a letter to her."
Louise's face beamed with happiness. This was about to be over!
"However, it's not in my hands. It's in the castle in Newcastle. I didn't want to bring the princess' letter to this pirate ship." Wales let out a small laugh. "So, even though it's troublesome, please come with me to Newcastle."
ㅤ
ㅤ
It had taken about three hours for the warship to bring the group to the ragged coastline of Albion. On the edge of the cape was a large castle.
Wales explained to Kai, who were both on the front deck, that it was just the fortress of Newcastle. Their ship didn't go straight to the city, instead they sailed down the coast.
"Why are we goin' down?"
Wales pointed at the sky behind the castle where a huge ship was floating. "Rebels."
The rebel's ship was easily twice as big as their warship, the Eagle, and it seemed like they were aiming for Newcastle Port. With no warning, it opened fire.
"That ship used to be a part of our fleet. It was once named the Royal Sovereign, but once the rebels took control of it, they renamed it to the Lexington." Wales had a bitter smile. "They keep a constant blockade of Newcastle from the sky. They shoot at the castle from time to time, not to do damage, but to annoy us."
Kai looked closer at the warship. Each side hosted more cannons than he could count, and a dragon was painted on the ship.
"It has 108 cannons and can really look like a fire-breathing dragon at times. The whole rebellion started with that ship. We can't match its might, so it's better to sail around to remain unseen. We can reach Newcastle from the other side since there is a secret port that only we know."
ㅤ
When the ship went under the continent, everything went dark. Since they were still surrounded by clouds, they couldn't see a thing. Wales explained that the rebels never traveled under the continent since it was too dangerous.
"For navigators of the Royal Air Force, it's easy to navigate by relying on topographical maps." Wales laughed.
Kai didn't understand a thing he had just said since he was somewhat distracted by the cold, damp air slapping his cheeks.
They sailed for a while and eventually reached a part that opened into a hole overhead.
"Stop here for now."
"Aye Aye sir! Stop here!"
Wales' order was given to the energetic crew. The sails were taken off and their ship started to drift right into the hole.
"Slowly increase speed."
"Aye aye!"
The ship started to slowly rise into the hole.
Wardes nodded. "You definitely aren't sky pirates, Your Highness."
"We are precisely sky pirates, Viscount."
ㅤ
After a bit, light could be seen from the light in the hole that the warship had gone into.
The warship had arrived at a secret port of Newcastle. The port was an enormous limestone cave covered with white moss. Many people were waiting on the dock. Ropes were thrown to the sailors to tie down the ship and finally, the wooden gangway was attached.
Wales hurried Louise and the others to go down the gangway.
A tall and aged mage approached them. "Haha, wonderful military results, right, Your Highness?"
"Rejoice, Paris. Sulfur, it is sulfur!" When Wales shouted, soldiers around him cheered.
"Ooh! Sulfur! This is for the honor of our guardianship!" The old mage began to cry. "I served for sixty years under the previous king... There won't be such happy days again, Your Highness. After the revolt happened it all turned into sorrow... Even with sulfur, we won't make it..."
Wales laughed with a smile. "Even if we'll be defeated, we'll show the rebels the royal family's courage and honor."
"A glorious death. My old bones are trembling with excitement. It is estimated that the rebels are going to attack the castle tomorrow. It's all or nothing now, Your Highness."
"With our last breath, we'll put their soldiers to shame!"
Wales and the others were laughing from the bottoms of their hearts. Louise started getting worried from their talk. In other words, they'll die. Aren't these people scared of death?
"And who are these people?" The old mage asked Wales after seeing Louise.
"This is an ambassador from Tristain. She came because of an important business related to the kingdom."
Paris was surprised for a moment. What would the ambassador from another kingdom be searching for in these ruins? But soon a smile returned to his face.
"So you are an ambassador. Paris Chamberlain at your service, madam. It's nice that you came all the way to Albion. Though it might not be much, we will have a small feast tonight. By all means - please come."
ㅤ
Louise and the others followed Wales to his room. The prince's room, all things considered, looked rather plain.
There was a wooden bed, a desk, a pair of chairs, and a painting of a battle.
The prince sat on one of the chairs and opened a drawer of the desk, and pulled out a small bow. He took the necklace off his neck.
A small key from his necklace was put into the box and Wales opened it. Henrietta's portrait was on the top half of the box.
Wales, who had noticed Louise staring at the box, spoke sheepishly, "Strongbox."
There was one letter inside. It had to be the one from the princess.
With care, Wales took it out and read it. The letter looked older than it should from how much it had been re-read.
After finishing it one last time, Wales gently folded it, put it into an envelope, and handed it to Louise.
"This is the letter you've been looking for."
"Thank you." Louise received the letter while bowing deeply.
"The Eagle will take you back to Tristain tomorrow, as we won't be using it in battle."
After looking at the envelope, Louise opened her mouth. "But, Your Highness... What did you have in mind when you mentioned glorious defeat?"
Wales answered with ease. "My army has 300 men while the enemy has 50,000. There is no chance of victory. So we shall at least die in glory."
Louise looked down. "Your Highness, do you also mean yourself when you talk about dying in battle?"
"Of course."
Kai, who had been listening to the conversation, sighed. The prince wasn't concerned about dying, which made this all so confusing. It just... didn't feel real.
Louise's shoulders dropped when she bowed, but she had more to say. "Your Highness... Forgive my impoliteness, but there are a few more things I have to say."
"What is it?"
"What was inside the letter?"
Kai put his hand on her shoulder. "Louise." The contents of the letter were personal.
Louise still looked at Wales with determination. "When Her Highness gave me this task she looked like she was worrying about her lover. And inside the box was a portrait of Her Highness, and seeing the gloomy face you had after reading the letter... Are you and the princess...?"
Wales smiled. "Do you want to ask if my cousin Henrietta and I are in love?"
Louise nodded.
"It seems so. Well, the letter..." Wales took a moment to consider what he should or shouldn't say. "The letter is a love letter as you guessed. If this love letter were to be passed to the imperial household of Germania as Henrietta fears, it would become a grave threat. In the letter she is swearing eternal love for me in the name of Founder Brimir. It is like an oath when marrying, love sworn in the name of the founder. If this letter were to be brought to light, she would be accused of bigamy. The emperor of Germania would surely break off the engagement. Then, there would be no alliance."
"So the princess and Your Highness were in love with each other?"
"It's an old story."
Louise started to speak rapidly. "Your Highness, return! Return to Tristain with us!"
Wardes put his hand on Louise's shoulder, but she didn't stop.
"I beg of you! Please!"
"It cannot be done," Wales said with a laugh.
"Your Highness, I disagree. The princess would agree with me! Didn't it say so in the letter? I have known Her Highness since childhood, I know how she thinks. She would never desert the people she loves! Your Highness, you didn't say it, but I am sure she told you to run away as well!"
Wales shook his head. "There is no such line written."
"Your Highness!"
"I am from a royal family. I am not lying. There is nothing in the letter from the princess telling me to run away. I swear it by my honor." Wales spoke as if he were in pain. "Henrietta is a princess. She has to give priority to her country rather than me."
Louise understood what he meant. Even if Wales loved Henrietta, it would never be supported by other nobles.
"You are an honest girl, Vallière. You have honest, clear, and kind eyes."
Louise looked down desolately.
"But, let me give you some advice. It's not good for an ambassador to be honest like that... However, you are a perfect ambassador to a ruined country like ours as the government will be destroyed tomorrow and we have nothing left to defend besides our honor."
Wales pulled something out of his pocket that resembled a watch.
"Ah, it is time for our little party. Since you are the last guests of our kingdom, I would like you all to attend."
Kai and Louise went out of the room, and before Wales followed them, Wardes stopped him.
"Oh, do you have some more business, Viscount?"
"I have a simple favor to ask of you, Milord."
"Ask away."
Wardes whispered into Wales' ear, who smiled widely.
"Ah, such a lovely request, it would be my pleasure."
ㅤ
The party was held in the castle's hall. The king of Albion, James the First, sat on the throne and watched the nobles and vassals who had gathered through narrowed eyes.
Though the following day everyone would die, it was still quite a feast and the table was filled with various foods.
Kai and the others were watching this colorful party while standing in the corner of the hall.
"They aren't focusing on tomorrow's battle, they're just focusing on enjoying the moment," Kai said with a sad smile on his face.
Wardes nodded in response to Kai's words.
"Yes, they behave joyfully."
When Prince Wales showed up, there were some enthusiastic sighs from the ladies. It seemed he wasn't just popular as a prince. When he approached the throne, people started whispering.
The King tried to stand up straight to greet him, but because of his old age, he staggered and almost fell.
Some laughter could be heard from the hall.
"Your Majesty! It's too early to fall!"
"Indeed! Save that for tomorrow!"
The King wasn't insulted by such comments and smiled.
"Don't worry, my legs were numb from sitting for so long. I wouldn't miss tomorrow for the world!"
Wales came closer and supported the king's body. There were a few more chuckles.
"You. I will tell all of you brave and loyal vassals, that tomorrow 'Reconquista' is planning to attack our Newcastle with their full force. You followed and fought bravely for this incapable old king, however, tomorrow won't be a battle. It is likely to be a one-sided slaughter. Let's endure it and show our bravery for one last time." The old king coughed loudly, and continued, "But it might be asking too much for all of you to die. Thus tomorrow morning the warship Eagle will take all who choose to leave to a safer place further from this forsaken continent."
However, no one answered. One noble loudly informed the king, "Your Majesty! We are waiting for the order! Whole Army Forward! Since our hearing is so bad tonight I doubt we will be able to hear any other orders!"
All the nobles nodded.
"Yeah! What would others say if we were to run away?"
"It's too late to retreat, Your Majesty."
"It's alright! We will continue to serve the king like we did years before! Tonight is a good night! The founder has blessed us with a wonderful moon and warm night! Let's enjoy drinking and dancing for tonight!"
With that everyone returned to feast. The three guests from Tristain attracted a lot of attention. The nobles didn't seem to be sad or worried, they playfully kept joking and offering wine or food to the guests.
"Ambassador! Try this wine! Tell us which country's wine is better!"
"Here! Try this! It's Albion's special, chicken with honey, it will make you healthy and strong for sure!"
No matter what, Albion kept having fun! Even... in the end.
Kai let out a melancholic sigh. The people around him put on brave faces despite throwing their lives away tomorrow.
Feeling that same feeling, Louise couldn't endure the atmosphere anymore. She shook her head and ran out of the hall.
Kai was about to follow her but stopped himself. He walked up to Wardes and asked if he would go in his stead.
Wardes nodded and went after her. Kai took a deep breath in, wiped his face with his left hand, and let out a deep sigh.
Wales saw Kai and walked over from the center of the hall toward him.
"You were Miss Vallière's familiar, correct? You know it really is unusual for a person to be a familiar. Tristain really is an unusual country."
"It's unusual there too, but I ain't her only familiar. She's got another guy as a familiar." Despite putting on a joking tone, Kai's deep sadness still came out.
"Feeling down?"
Kai had plenty to feel down about. The pain in his arm was almost unbearable, Wardes was always one-upping him, and the people around him were just preparing to die...
Kai shook his head and asked Wales, "Sorry if this is rude... But... aren't you scared?"
"Scared?"
"Yeah, aren't you scared to die?"
Wales laughed at Kai's words. "You are worried about us! Us! What a nice boy you are!"
"No, it's more that it's terrifying for me. I probably couldn't laugh the way you do if I knew I was gonna die tomorrow."
"I am scared. No person wouldn't be scared to die. It doesn't matter if you are a noble or a commoner."
"Then why stay?"
"It is because I have something to defend. Something that makes me forget the coldness of the grave."
"Then what are you defending? Your honor? That's pretty dumb to die over... Eh, I probably just don't get it."
Wales answered with distant eyes. "The noble faction Reconquista is our enemy, and they try to unite Halkeginia. It hangs to the 'Holy Land' ideal. It's good that people have such ideals, but it shouldn't be brought about with force and blood. All it would bring is ruin."
"Still, there's no shot at winning, so what's the point in dying? You might find some other way to beat them later."
"No, we should at least show off a glimpse of courage and honor to other nobles even if it is not possible to win. We can show that Halkeginia's royal families are not weak, even though the other side does not seem like they will throw away the ambitions of 'Union' and 'Recovery of the Holy Land' anytime soon."
"Why?" Kai just couldn't understand. Why would someone show their courage like this despite it costing their life?
"Why? Simply because it is our obligation. The obligation of those born in the royal family. The obligation imposed on the royal family to defend the kingdom to the very end."
Kai still didn't understand. Wales has a person that he loves, and who loves him back. Wouldn't surviving for that person also be an obligation?
"The princess loves you. It was in that letter..." After Kai said that, Wales smiled.
"Because of love, sometimes it is necessary to pretend not to know. Because of love, sometimes it is necessary to let go. It would only give others an excuse to invade Tristain."
"But..." Kai hesitated. Wales wouldn't change his stance no matter what.
Wales gripped Kai's shoulder and looked straight into his eyes. "Since this is the end, don't tell this to Henrietta. No need to worry her pretty face with unnecessary worry."
Kai nodded.
"Just tell her that I fought bravely and died bravely. That would be enough."
Kai smiled a bit. "Anything less, and I'd feel like I was disrespecting you."
Wales laughed a good bit. "You know, you remind me of an old tale my father used to tell me."
"Oh yeah?" In the back of Kai's mind, he thought it related to Gandalfr.
"Let's see... There were two versions of this tale. The Golden Demon, a terrifying being that would destroy a town because children would act up..."
"Ah... that's nice to hear..." Kai's shoulders drooped a little.
Wales laughed. "Well, you remind me of the other version. It's less known, but instead of The Golden Demon, it was a man known as a Super... something. I can't quite remember what it was called..."
Super... "Was it a Saiyan?" He had heard that one from Wardes, but it might be right.
"That's it! The Super Saiyan. He was a man capable of changing the world around him. That's the one you remind me of."
"Thanks, but... I can't do much..." Kai ended his sentence with a bitter smile.
"That's what makes him super... Regardless, I hope someone like that appears for this forsaken country."
With that, Wales returned to the center of the hall.
ㅤ
Kai left the feast not long after finishing his conversation with Wales. Since he was lost, he asked a nearby waiter where his room was.
After he was told, someone tapped his shoulder. Kai turned around to see Wardes.
"I have to tell you something." Wardes had an unfriendly voice for some reason.
"Yeah? What's that somethin'?" Kai returned the unfriendly tone.
"Louise and I will hold a wedding here tomorrow."
Kai's relaxed demeanor instantly disappeared as he froze. He wasn't able to comprehend what he just heard.
"R-Right now? W-Why?"
"Because we want to ask the brave Crown Prince Wales to act as minister of our marriage. The Crown Prince pleasantly agreed. We will hold the ceremony before the battle."
Kai silently nodded.
"Will you come?"
Kai shook his head.
"Then you can leave with the ship tomorrow. Louise and I will return on my griffin."
"Isn't that too far?" Because of his confusion, Kai could only ask a stupid question.
"Only if we flew fast without resting," Wardes answered. "Well then, I need to go now."
"R-Right..." Kai's shoulders dropped.
He knew that this would happen eventually, but he still felt a deep pit of despair welling up inside of him.
ㅤ
Kai was walking through a pitch-black hallway with a small ball of energy in his hand. It was all he could muster. The moon shone through an open window near where he was.
In that moonlight, there was a girl who walked alone. She had long pink hair... Tears streamed down her white cheek. It was such a beautifully sad face.
Louise looked up and noticed Kai. Her eyes were still wet, even after she had just wiped them.
When Kai walked up to her, she leaned on him.
"Hey... why're you crying?"
Louise didn't answer, instead, she pushed her face into his chest.
With his left hand, Kai held her.
At first, Kai was confused as to why Louise was clinging to him. He wasn't used to it in the slightest. One thing he could tell was that Louise was clinging on to him dearly. She was hurt, and he felt bad for her, but what did it mean?
She grabbed onto me because of pure chance... She doesn't need me, but Wardes.
Even though Kai thought that he said nothing and patted her head awkwardly with his right hand. She seemed so frail...
While crying, Louise started to speak. "Those people... Why? Why are they choosing to die? Even though the princess loves him... Even though Wales loves her... Why does he choose death?"
"He said he had something important to defend."
"What's more important than the person you love?"
Kai softly shook his head. "I don't get it either."
"I will persuade him! I will try again!"
"Don't."
"Why not?!"
"He's already made up his mind. We had a job to do, and he has his duty..."
Tears kept streaming down Louise's face. "...I want to go back. I want to go back to Tristain. I hate this country. These foolish people and this foolish prince who will leave everything behind..."
Even though Louise acted tough, she still cared for others. She couldn't understand Wales' way of thinking. Kai understood her since he thought the same way, which only made the dagger in his heart twist more.
"Put out your right arm," Louise said.
"What?"
"Just do it."
Kai did as he was told and stretched out his right arm as much as possible. Louise took out a can and scooped some sort of funny-smelling medicine out of it with her fingers.
"I got this from someone in the castle a little while ago. This medicine is really effective against burns. I could only get this small amount, but it should be fine." Louise started slathering the stuff onto Kai's arm.
I didn't know she could be so gentle... Damn it... I shouldn't depend on her for things anymore.
Kai shook his head and pushed Louise away from him. Louise looked up at him with surprise. He had a painful look on his face, which made Louise bite her lip.
"...What happened?"
"It's nothing, Louise."
"I get it. As soon as we get back, I will look for a way home for you." Louise's voice was full of hesitation.
"...You don't need to help."
"What?"
"I mean, you're getting married soon, so it'd be rude if Saito or I got in the way of that... So you don't need to worry about it."
"What? Don't tell me you're worrying about that. You're still thinking about what I said in the hotel in La Rochelle? I did say 'marry' back then... B-But I wasn't serious about it." Louise turned her face away from Kai. "I can't marry yet. I'm not a good enough mage... And I haven't found you a way back home yet..."
She's not marrying because she feels responsible for me. It isn't fair for me to hold her back.
"It's alright. I'll take Saito, and we'll find a way back, so you should go ahead and get married."
"How could you say something so selfish!? You are my familiar! You said you would protect me!"
Wardes' words flashed into Kai's mind. "I... can't protect you."
Everything on this journey proved he couldn't. Wardes had saved him when arrows rained from above. Wardes had defeated him in a duel. When the white-masked man appeared, he couldn't do a thing. And finally, he almost risked everyone's lives by trying to fight Wales on the other ship.
"I'm... just me. I'm not strong like Wardes. Even if I am some legendary familiar, I don't know how to fight. All I can do is swing my sword and fists recklessly. I can't protect you."
Louise's palm struck Kai's cheek. "Coward!"
Kai's expression didn't change. "From here on, we'll go our separate ways. You return with Wardes on his griffin and I'll go back on the ship. When I get back, I'll grab Saito and find a way back home... As things are, I'm already indebted to you... and for that I'm sorry."
"Are you serious?"
"Yeah."
"IDIOT!" Louise shouted. Tears streamed from her eyes.
Kai didn't say anything, he only watched Louise tremble.
"I hate you! I HATE YOU!"
Kai looked toward the ground. "I'm sorry..."
Louise turned around and ran down the dark hallway.
Kai lightly touched his cheek. The aching on his face made his heart ache.
"Goodbye, Louise..."
Though he didn't want to cry, tears streamed down his face.