However… for the new guest, she neither showed or made such expressions or attitude.
A refrained voice called outside the room, informing Henrietta about the guest's arrival.
Right after, that the door opened.
Louise stood there, reverentially bowing her head. Next to her, Saito’s figure could be seen. Even now, a restraining device used to tame wild creatures was attached to his body.
“Louise, aah, Louise!”
Henrietta ran up and embraced Louise closely. Looking up, Louise muttered.
“Princess-sama… No, I have to call you Your Majesty now.”
“I don’t like it when you say it so formally. Louise Francoise. Aren’t you my beloved friend?”
“Then, I will call you princess-sama, as usual.”
“Please do it for me. Aah Louise, I didn’t want to be a queen. It is twice as boring. It is three times more straining. And ten times more worrisome.”
Henrietta muttered, looking bored.
After that, Louise became silent, waiting for Henrietta’s words. This morning, the messenger from Henrietta came to the Academy of Magic. They boarded the carriage that Henrietta prepared and came here.
I guess I was called for a specific reason thought Louise. Is it about the ‘Void' spell? However, she seems hesitant to talk about that.
Henrietta just looked into her eyes, not talking. Reluctantly, Louise said “I ought to give my congratulations on the victory”. Louise tried to find a harmless topic to talk about with Henrietta.
“This victory was all thanks to you, Louise.”
Louise watched Henrietta’s face with a startled expression.
“You can’t hide such a great secret from me, Louise.”
“B-but I didn't do anything…”
Louise still tried to pretend not to know.
Henrietta smiled and handed a report, written on parchment, to Louise. After reading it, Louise sighed.
“You scouted even that?”
“Well, since it is the war results, it is better not to overlook anything.”
After that, Henrietta faced Saito who was left out up till now. On the way there, he heard from Louise that Henrietta became a queen, so he felt very nervous.
“For controlling the foreign country flight machine that destroyed enemy’s dragon knight corps, I express my greatest gratitude.”
“No… it’s not like that.”
“You are the hero of this country. So now I am giving you a noble’s title…”
“That’s so wrong! Turning a dog into a noble!”
“Dog?”
“N-no… it doesn’t matter” Louise murmured with a blush.
“Then, I will grant you a peer’s title.”
When Henrietta said this, Saito muttered, ‘Haa’. Then he remembered Kirche's words a while ago. That in Tristain, if you are not a mage from birth then you cannot become a noble.
But, despite his thoughts about the peerage, he didn’t open his mouth. Either way, when returning to Japan, all the titles would lose their meaning.
“Great… a really great war outcome. Louise Francoise. The way the war ended is all thanks to you and your familiar. There has never been such a victory in the whole of Halkeginia’s history. By all means, Louise, you should be given a territory the a size of a small country and a title of duchess for this. And your familiar awarded with a peer's title.”
“I d-don't need anything... this deed was my familiar‘s...”
Louise muttered hesitatingly.
“Weren‘t you the cause of that light, Louise? That light was called a miracle of the castle, yet I do not believe in miracles. The light came from the flying machine that you were flying in. Aren't you the cause of it?”
Henrietta intently watched Louise. It was impossible to hide anything this way.
And what about Saito? Even though he constantly pulled Louise’s shirt sleeve, trying to cut in with “By the way…”, she slowly began talking about the Founder’s Prayer Book. She could not consult about it with anyone else. It was too risky to do so.
Slowly… Louise talked to Henrietta.
She took Henrietta’s ‘Water Ruby', placed it on the pages of Founder’s Prayer Book and an ancient script appeared. When she read it out back then, she cast a spell of the light.
“The Founder's Prayer Book was written using the element of 'Void'. Is this true, Princess-sama?”
Henrietta stared over Louise’s shoulder.
“You knew, Louise? Founder Brimir gave rings to three children from three royal families to keep as a treasure. Tristain got the ‘Water Ruby’ and Founder’s Prayer Book, which are now both in your possession.”
“Err…”
“It has been handed down like this among the royal families. Royal families were the ones that inherited the Founder’s power.”
“I am not from a royal Family.”
“What are you saying, Louise? The ancestor of Duke of La Vallière was the king’s illegitimate child. And you are the Duke’s child.”
Louise was startled.
“You, too, have the Tristainian Royal Family's blood. And that is good enough.”
After that, Henrietta took Saito’s hand. Seeing the runes, she nodded.
“Is this the sign of 'Gandálfr'? The sign of the Familiar that Founder Brimir used for protection while casting spells?”
Saito nodded. Sir Osmond also said the same thing.
“Then… I am really a 'Void' user?”
“I think it really is so.”
Louise sighed.
“That’s why you understand that I cannot reward you that way, right, Louise?”
Saito, who didn't understand, asked why.
“Why?”
Henrietta answered with a clouded face.
“If I were to give the reward, Louise's secret services would be exposed in the daylight. That would be dangerous. Louise's power is too big. Even one country could not manage such power. If an enemy learned about Louise's secret, they would become frantic about it and would do anything to get it. I alone should be the enemy’s target.”
After that, Henrietta sighed.
“Enemies are not the only ones interested in 'Void'. Even inside the palace… those who know about that power, will always try to use it for their own purposes.”
Louise nodded with a scared look.
“Therefore, Louise, you should not talk to anyone about that power. Your secret is safe with me.”
Then Louise thought for a while…
And, in a slowly determined way, she opened her mouth.
“Don’t worry princess-sama. I want to dedicate my 'Void' to you.”
“No… it is all right. You must forget that power as soon as possible. And never use it again.”
“But… Princess-sama I want to help you with the powers I was granted!”
However, Henrietta shook her head.
“Mother said, great power drives people mad. Who could be sure that you, after gaining the power of ‘Void’, would not turn out the same way?”
Louise proudly lifted her face. It was the face of a person who had decided her mission. However, such a face was somewhat dangerous.
“I always wanted to dedicate my power and body to princess-sama and the mother country. I was taught so, I believed so, and I grew up with that. However, my magic always failed. As you know, I was nicknamed 'Zero'. Behind sneers and contempt, I was always shaken with regret.”
Louise clearly asserted.
“However, God gave such power to me. I, myself, believe in using this power. Still, if you say that Your Majesty will not need it, then it is necessary to return my wand to Your Majesty.”
Henrietta was touched by Louise’s speech.
“Louise, I understand. You are still… my best friend. From the times when you helped me on Ragdorian’s lake. You took the blame for me…”