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Chapter One: The Temperature Difference between the Two
A young lady with peach-colored hair was lying horizontally on the bed, with only a thin cape wrapped around her bare skin.
She was the one whom they call “Louise of the Void,” otherwise known as Louise Françoise; only a few high ranking officers of the royal army knew of this secret.
It was now the end of the year, the second week in the month of Wynn. Going by Halkeginia's climate, it was the equivalent of autumn... still not considered very cold in the tent. Winter will have to wait until the coming of the new year. It's also because of this that she can dress so sexily without the fear of catching a cold.
On a simple bed, consisting of a piece of cloth draped over straw, Louise bit her small finger, and sulked indignantly. This gesture of hers has an unbelievable cuteness to it. On that porcelain doll-like face of hers surfaced a peach color, arising from discontent. Louise sat up, and hugged her knee.
This gesture of hers had a cuteness akin to a goddess'. With her feelings immediately written on her face, Louise could not completely hide the uneasiness in her heart. This unease caused some sort of dramatic change in Louise's girlish air, adding to it a layer of perfume called “sexiness”.
Louise's hands nonchalantly touched her long slender legs beneath her cape.
Her fingers touched her toes, and returned to her knees.
Unknowingly, Louise made a seductive move: gently tugging the cape covering her body upwards, exposing her legs and slim yet sexy thighs. All this was done unconsciously.
Beneath the cape was her skin, a young maiden's skin now full of charm, due to her passion.
Which is to say, she was wearing nothing. Why? Because Louise only wears pajamas when she sleeps; so since she forgot to bring her pajamas, she had to replace it with a cape and if she were wearing her undies, she would not be able to fall asleep.
Although the sexy and cute pose from Louise was spreading out an irresistible charm...It was a pity that the other person in the tent took no notice of it.
On the back of the cape covering Louise, was the lily emblem of Tristain. This cape was different from the one worn in the academy. The emblem, a way to distinguish friend from foe, clearly indicated that this area was a battleground.
As a female officer directly under Her Highness's command, Louise was assigned her own personal tent. In the military port of Rosais, buildings resembling hostels were rare, so tents were put at every stop. Such treatment was equal to a general's, but since Louise's legendary magic element ‘Void’ was considered to be a weapon of last resort, it was perfectly normal.
Inside the tent, illuminated by a magical lamp, was a simple bed made up of a piece of cloth covering some straw, a foldable dining table, a small cabinet for clothing and accessories and a bell for ordering the accompanying soldiers. In the battlefield, items like that inside a tent can be considered “luxurious”.
In a corner of the tent, Saito was staring blankly in front of him, feeling low.
“Hey, Saito.”
No reply.
Louise sat up, and called him again.
“Hey, I'm going to sleep soon. Come here, quickly.”
Although Louise was red in the face as she called him, there was still no reaction.
“It's already past 10. We'll have to be up early tomorrow morning to inspect the frontlines. You'd better sleep now.”
Even so, there was still no reply from Saito.
This familiar of Louise, who came from another world, was now sitting crossed-legged on the floor, his face full of depression. He was already like this since a week ago. When Louise recalled the battle which caused Saito's depression, she felt a dull pain in her heart.
A week ago, the combined armies of Tristain and Germania successfully occupied this port-town of Albion. As the main force of Albion's armies were lured to the northern port-town of Dartanes, there were only about 500 defenders in Rosais. The landing party, numbering 60,000, effortlessly destroyed the defenders and set up camp in Rosais.
By enticing the enemy, Louise's Void magic showed its power. The Void spell “Illusion”, is a spell that can create huge illusions.
Louise used the 'Illusion' spell to create illusions of the combined armies landing in Dartanes, causing the enemy forces en route to Rosais to turn back.
But... in order for Louise and the others to reach Dartanes, some sacrifices had to be made. That was the 2nd Dragon Knight Squadron, attached to “Varsenda”, the flagship of the Albion expedition.
It was because of their engagament with enemy forces, that the Zero Fighter carrying Louise and Saito could successfully escape pursuit by the enemy's dragon knights.
The price for this battle's success... was the annihilation of the 2nd Dragon Knight Squadron. Although dragon knights were very expensive, compared to the possible losses while landing in enemy territory, this sacrifice could be considered small. The commanding officer was even rewarded as a matter of fact! This too, was also something to be happy about.
The thing is, for those who took part in that battle, and witnessed the destruction of the squadron for themselves, it was an entirely different feeling.
Louise observed Saito, and pouted her lips.
Of course, it was a sad thing that had happened, but…
During the landing battle, there were sacrifices as well. War definitely brings death along with it. If every death was mourned, there would be no end to it.
In Halkeginia, there were wars almost every single year.
For Louise, although death was something sad, it was also something very close to her.
Louise stood up. Under the dim glow of the magic lamp, the room was rather dark. Under such conditions, even if the cape didn't cover certain areas, her body should still remain unseen.
Louise crossed her hands in front of her, as if hugging herself, and held the hems of the cape tightly. She walked up to Saito, who was hugging his knees as he sat, and said, “Cheer up, alright.”
“Emm,” Saito grunted lifelessly.
“But, I can't help it. After all, it happened right before my eyes. Although it was for the success of the mission, still...”
Saito was really down in the doldrums. It was only then that Louise remembered: those teens were about Saito's age.
Saito… he must have projected himself onto them. This kind-hearted boy from another world, with what was going on in his mind a mystery, must have been hurt by this self-projection.
Just as how Saito had comforted her before, Louise felt that this time, it was her turn to comfort him. But, she didn't know how to go about doing it.
Louise squatted, and sat back-to-back with Saito.
“That... Although you may find me cruel for saying this... Compared to the deaths of the squadron, what makes me sadder is to see you being so depressed. Although I shouldn't be thinking like this, facts are facts. However, maybe because…you are my familiar and were by my side, I really felt very sad.”
Saito slowly turned his head, and stared quietly at Louise.
“Death may sadden people... But that was a glorious death on the battlefield... for honor. They died for a great victory. They'd be pitiful if you felt sad about their deaths...”
“Do you mean what you say... regarding this?”
He felt that something was amiss when Louise started talking like this.
“Of course not, but we have to. We're now at war.”
Louise's right hand let go of the hem it was holding, and gently patted Saito's forehead, now that he has turned around. Her fingers caressed the streaks of dried tears on his cheeks.