Agnes laughed happily.
Louise blushed more and more. She expected Saito to start making fun from her that she was kissed by a woman. However, he did not laugh.
Somehow awkwardly, he averted his eyes.
Louise glanced up at Henrietta. She as well was twining her fingers hesitatingly.
Besides, a little while ago when the eyes of these two met, they turned their faces down. A strange doubt… crept inside Louise.
“W-well then, since there are a few more things to do, we should get ready to leave, Agnes.”
Henrietta stood up.
“Eh? I thought we were going to have toasts all night long?”
“I’m worried about your wounds… Well then, Louise, I ask you to continue.”
Henrietta hurriedly left the room. Agnes, who seemed to be completely lost, followed.
Saito also stood up and tried to go out.
“There is no need to rush.”
Louise detained him. Feeling a dreadful premonition, Saito’s face turned pale.
“No, well, dish-washing…”
Saito said looking straight ahead. His voice trembled.
Louise smiled, however.
“Mm, sit. It is alright. Stay here until morning.”
She pointed to the bed. Slowly, Saito sat down. What happened, did she find out? Princess’s kiss… No, surely not… She would not be so calm, right?
T-that’s right. If she were aware, Louise would not take such an attitude. She would be countless times trampling on Saito’s face and saying,
‘You kissed the Princess didn’t you?’
Yet she was smiling. Maybe she really, without any ulterior motive, wanted to show appreciation to Saito’s misery.
“W-what is it? You are strangely gentle.”
“No, thank you for your hard work lately. I just want to express my gratitude. Really.”
Louise gave Saito a cup and poured in some wine.
“T-thank you.”
“Look, I…was just upset that the Princess did not need me. These two, no, three days I was in a bad mood… over this and that. But now I am back in high spirits! It’s alright again!”
Seeing that, Saito felt relieved.
Aaah, he just worried too much... I'm so glad… She really seems to have recovered her good humor.
“Was it hard to guard the Princess?”
Louise grasped Saito's hand.
“T-to some extent.”
Why is Louise so gentle? Aah, who cares, I haven’t felt so good in ages.
“As one would expect from my familiar! I am so proud!”
Saito started to boast.
“T-that was… a piece of cake. But we did it together…”
“Still, it was wonderful. The way that no one was able to find you, you must have really tricked the chasers, right?”
“T-that’s right.”
“Drink, drink. I’ll be doing the duty of a caring master today. I’ll be the waitress.”
After saying that, she refilled the cup with wine. Being flattered by Louise in such a way, Saito’s confidence gradually grew.
“Saito is so wonderful! When he was suddenly walked in, he quick wittedly pretended to be the lovers and deceived them, right? You should have become an actor! You could have been Royal Tanaijiiru Theater’s main performer!”
“That’s right! Easy victory!”
Louise continued in the same way.
“Saito’s wonderful! Did he kiss the Princess?”
“That’s right!”
At that moment, the air froze.
Saito noticed that he was splendidly tricked. If you want to draw something out from the partner, first of all, you need to make him feel relaxed. The technique that Louise picked up in the bar! She used it!
Louise was using it every day, so her skills grew.
“L-Louise, this… Y-you… that…”
The tension in the room rose.
Then Louise stood up and locked the door.
Turning back, Louise said in a bright, even voice.
“Hey, dog.”
Dog.
In one breath the giddiness from the wine was gone.
Saito began to tremble.
Why is that dark aura emanating from Louise’s shoulders?
What is this dark aura?
“Dog, what’s wrong? Answer me!”
“W-woof!”
Tonight, ‘Dog’ surely sounded different. It was different. The presentiment of doom pierced through Saito's numb body. The taste of bitter despair filled his mouth.
“Excuse me. With magic or foot, which?”
“E-either seem painfuuuuul.”
“Sorry, ‘it’ has to be painful. Now, make your decision, hurry.”
And so… it was going to be a long night.
Really long. And a long daybreak.
Assuming, that I can survive tonight…
And I should beware of all girls serving alcohol from now on, Saito thought.