Zero no Tsukaima:Volume17 Epilogue
Epilogue
Reynald had brought Henrietta and all members of the Ondine Knight, accompanied by a large number of officers of Gallia, and approached the place. Suddenly, this arming caused an uproar in the middle of the night.
Jack, still unconscious, was recognized by the officers of Gallia as a former member of Chevalier Do North Partel and he was taken immediately into custody.
These officers also ask Saito the reasons why he was in that place, what Saito said was that he was halfway to meet Louise lost in the course and ending up at that place.
He also added the prior information about the incident. He honestly admitted that an unknown nobleman in his country had hired a group of murderers to kill him.
Henrietta still agitated, came running to the place where Saito was. The first thing she did was to see him, and after confirming he was safe an expression of relief came over her face.
Finally the issue was resolved, including that of Louise’s, all decided to return to the guest house.
In Henrietta’s room, Louise and Saito are called inside so that the three could be alone. The first thing they agreed was to put an order and reveal all the information they had obtained over all this time.
Saito and Louise began explaining all that had happened over the last few weeks, and at that time Saito decided to pursue a group of bandits who call themselves "Elemental Siblings" going behind his head as he had decided to attack. Derflinger was lost in his first battle against them.
Upon hearing the death of Derflinger, tears welled up in the eyes of Louise, and then for a moment they all kept a respectful silence.
However, Louise knew that now was not the time to mourn, so she continues to listen carefully to what Saito had to tell.
The exchange came to the point where it was explained to Louise that the current Tabitha had been replaced by an impostor who had taken her place on the throne of Gallia and how that impostor proclaimed her support to Romalia to continue the crusade.
Louise was not aware of what was lost in her absence. Saito then informed Henrietta about the details of the conversation he had with Isabella before being attacked.
After listening to what he had to say, Henrietta gave a deep sigh.
“What a burden ... problems just accumulate one after another...! And the worst, you were attacked right in front of our diplomatic visit in Gallia!”
“Looks like it was just coincidence, and to belonged to secret squad of knights of Gallia, to be here just give them the opportunity to make their job easier.”
After saying this, Henrietta nodded to Saito's comment.
Having finished speaking Saito, Henrietta then give a stern look towards Louise.
“Then if you may, could you explain what you've been doing all this time.”
Louise began to tell Saito and Henrietta what had happened.
As she began her flight, and spent her days of drinking to forget, her encounter with a strange girl in the village of Cherphis and the people that this girl called ‘brothers’, who taught her about a hidden monastery ...
“That huge man called Jack, I was very surprised when I recognized and saw him attacking Saito.”
“So that means, you were hiding in the village of Cherphis with them ...?”
“Yes, I asked those guys to help me hide.”
The unexpected connection of all the events so far, greatly surprised the three.
Afterwards, Louise started to tell them about the encounters she had in the convent of Saint Margarita.
“That girl I had befriended, Josette, I clearly saw the day she was taken by Julius somewhere, thinking that he might want Josette, I conclude that it is likely that she is the new "user of the void".”
As Louise told these, those two were in great surprise.
It was inevitable that their anger and despair mixed-up, however Henrietta could endure and overcome it somehow.
As pictured ... they have already found a replacement for the missing Void user. The Romalia wanted to continue the crusade despite the death of Joseph.
“So that means this girl is identical to... Tabitha?”
“Yes, I am almost certain that this is Josette. At the convent, I had to wear a special cross that gave off a magic to transform my face, surely this girl ... is the twin sister Tabitha.”
Finally, Louise informed them about her return and escape from the convent for the sole purpose of passing this information to them.
After their conversation... Louise stood up straightly, and then show them a very cold attitude.
“If I may, because our conversation is over, I recall. Can you tell me where is the room should I stay?”
“My private tent is out there, but I hope you do not mind it's something small.”
Saito said. Louise stared at him heavily.
“Could you explain why it is that I have to stay in your tent.”
“Well, really, is that we are ...”
What happen was Saito only increased the anger of Louise. So that's it... Louise returned here does not mean she have forgiven me for that incident. Man, although I think that it was pretty obvious...
After the sudden declaration of Louise, Henrietta coughed clearing her throat, and said in an annoyed expression.
“If you ask for a room I regret to inform you there is none available, you must take into account that we are in a foreign country.”
“So yes, if that's the case, I have no choice but to stay at an inn in Lutetia.”
Henrietta had anticipated that cold attitude of Louise then she glanced to Saito.
“Saito-dono, therefore, I wish you to give your tent to Louise.”
“Eh, and then if I do that ...”
“Due to the circumstances, I see no problem if you stay for night in my room.” Henrietta said with a compound expression.
Louise's shoulders began to shake.
“Eeeeh? But! That cannot be!”
“We at the moment we are being threatened by an immense danger, so it is pretty obvious that the queen of Tristain is protected by her elite escort at all times. So, please Saito stay here overnight to protect me.”
“B, but ...”
“Is it alright to you, Louise?”
Then Louise nodded with a face like she was suffering from a seizure.
“It doesn't matter what I feel, if that's what your majesty wants, go ahead. I humbly ask you to accept it as a gift.”
Listening to Louise saying this, Henrietta also started to experience a tick in her eyebrow. “What you just said ... What does it means? eh, Louise.”
“It means that I kindly ask you to please accept this dog that I am offering as a gift, he can be a bit annoying so try not to hit him too much.”
Henrietta began to move her fingers nervously through her hair as if she had lost her patience, but trying not to break her dignity as queen, she went to Saito and showed a smile.
“You've heard Saito-dono, we have the permission from your master, so there is no longer any obstacle, however, because of all the commotion that occurred recently, I think I would be in trouble to fall asleep, if it doesn’t bother you please be so kind to accompany me with a glass of wine.”
Caught between the hostilities of these two women, Saito did not know that it was appropriate to answer each proposition. He were entirely lost within himself helplessly. Truly, I was like walking among rows of barrels of gunpowder while holding a torch, if I made the slightest slip, Baaam! Think of a giant explosion.
Then in a voice trembling with anger, Louise said:
“No matter how many years pass Princes never change, you're just like when we were kids. When I was playing with one of my dolls "Ah Louise! That was a nice doll you have there, give it to me please!" and then I had to put a face as if nothing was wrong and I had to give it to you.”
“That was when we were kids, let us makes things of the past in the past.”
“As if I could, it happens again and again and again. Saito, let me warn you, you must be very careful as this princess tends to get bored very quickly of the things she asked.”
With a completely altered voice of almost shouting Henrietta replied:
“How dare you compare both men and dolls! But that is what you always do Louise.”
These two were about to explode in a brilliant fireworks.
“I, I’ll sleep outside, yes, so the princess can stay in her room and Louise can use my tent.”
“I'm afraid I cannot let you do that, if I remember correctly I gave you an order to be my escort and thus you need to be responsible for my safety at all times, yes, yes, even if you have to sleep with me in the same bed.”
Then, inevitably Louise exploded, unable to hold and shake her shoulders, as Louise came and brokenly murmured something.
“... Oh God, in truth ... since when did you became an adult?”
Henrietta slowly turned her gaze to Louise's face, her expression had become totally expressionless. Saito remembered seeing a face like this when they were in the royal palace. This expression on her face always emerged in critical situations, Saito could practically smell fuses being burned.
“Did you say something!!?”
“I said I only succeeded in revealing this useless adult sensuality of yours, your majesty!” Henrietta started shaking out of anger.
“You, perhaps fail to understand the consequences of what you're saying!”
“If only your ability to handle political affairs was as big as your sensuality, then we would not have to worry about the security of the country as we do now...!!”
Then Louise turned around with an arrogant attitude as if she had launched a final attack.
In response Henrietta furiously approached Louise and attempted slap, however Louise skillfully evaded attack.
“Yes, I would advise you to stop the work of being a Queen, I assure you that you would be much better if you worked as an actress at the Theatre Royal Tanaijiiru, and at the same time peace will be achieve in the kingdom! Indeed so everything would work PERFECT!”
The following her attack Henrietta connected to trip on the legs of Louise, the skill with which she remembers from time of her childhood.
Lying on the floor for a moment, Louise recovered from the impact and then calmly get off the floor.
From that moment she just stared at Henrietta with a glare.
“As you wish Princess, but let me make it clear for the record, so far my record is 27 wins, 25 losses and 2 draws!”
“No, if I remember I have had 29 wins, 24 losses and 1 draw!”
Then the fight between the two started. Little bitch! Women idiot! Queen incompetent! Priestess no breasts! While such insults to began accumulated, it became increasingly imminent that it leads to physical confrontation.
“Stop it! Stop it please!”
Unable to bear it any longer, seeing this horrible scene, Saito tried to come between them and stop their fight, but instead got a fist in the stomach by Henrietta and kicked in the head by Louise.
Saito ended up launched in the floor of that rough battlefield.
After losing his consciousness, the fierce battle of these two women continue indefinitely, until at some point, the two gasped each other while both were dropped rendered on the bed. Still breathing hard ... without really having the strength to move yet, they said:
“27 wins, 25 losses, 3 draws!”
“29 Wins, 24 losses, 2 draws!”
Then as if Henrietta murmured:
“You said cruel things really, really know where an attack will hurt!”
“Princess-You too, you were very cruel to take advantage of my weak points!”
Then sighing Henrietta said:
“Take care of Saito-dono. Bring him to your tent, it's an order.”
“I do not want to.” Louise said stubbornly.
“I ask you, do it as a favor, right now I want to be alone. “ Henrietta said with a sad solemn voice.
Regaining consciousness, Saito realized that he was in his private tent. At the side of his bed, sitting on a folding chair Louise could be seen distracted while looking at the landscape from the window of the tent.
Saito suddenly felt something warm flowing through the inner edge of her eye.
Her figure was simply an appearance of divine beauty, dressed simply like a nun, but even this could not hide the incredible charm that radiated from Louise.
As her resolution was unshaken, Louise's eyes just turned gently to see the outside from that window, her mouth in a straight line only accentuated the serenity that now dwelt in her face. The charm possessed by Henrietta was so vast that you could be drown in it, indeed was disturbingly fascinating, however ...
If the beauty of Henrietta represents the evils of desire, then in contrast, the charm of Louise represents the "divine" blessing. This blessing was truly a sight quite unusual, but Saito really admired it... Like when she was determined to do something, like when she gathered the courage to face her fears, it was on those occasions when Saito was lucky enough to see Louise radiates this divine charm.
Charming women are very common in this world.
But only one women could show this divine expression, it was Louise.
Then in a voice that seemed stuck in his throat Saito said:
“Louise...”
Upon hearing this, Louise turned her head towards him.
“Hey, are you crying?”
“No ... Is that ... I'm so glad you're back ...”
Saito had realized that simple truth.
The reason I had decided to stay in this world.
Because Louise is here. There was no other reason. Then Saito also discovered the reason why I was attracted to Louise.
So far his life had always been gray and boring. When I lived in Tokyo, I had accepted this truth so naturally I have no time to questioned whether this was correct or not.
But the moment he met Louise, he learned a lot of things that until now he didn’t knew to exist.
Fun stuff, happy things, sad things, painful things ...
The first time he went to a dance ... At the same time when he thought "how cute she is" his heart trembled for the first time, Louise had made his heart dance. And likewise, at the time he was in this world, Saito keeps thinking that there could be a "future" for him.
"I get the impression that Louise has transported me somewhere."
To a place not here, a very exciting place, I was transported to a fantasy world ...
Maybe this was only due to my imagination, maybe it was just a misunderstanding, but at some point I actually felt it, it sensed that this moment actually existed. And this became the most precious thing he had ever had in his life.
Saito stood up and tried to hug Louise, but Louise quickly stopped him ...
“Don’t be naive, you know, the reason I have returned has nothing to do with the fact that I wanted to see you again, it was only because I felt compelled to tell everyone about the appearance of the missing Void user.”
Although she had said this in a cold voice, the joy she felt at being able to see Saito again exceeded everything else. Then Saito embraced Louise with all his might, of course Louise tried to resist ... for a moment. She throws kicks and punches but Saito only hugged her stronger.
Seriously, what's the matter with this guy?
He could have done this with the Princess, how dare he, being a little kind to me and have me dancing in the palm of his hand. In truth it was very painful, I will never forgive him.
But then ... I feel so relieved to embrace Saito again, I feel like a puzzle piece, a piece made exclusively to fit into his arms.
And as if it was an instinct, a thought arose in the mind of Louise, I want to kiss him.
No! He was just making fun of me.
He was unfaithful.
And I will never forgive you, you'll see.
Louise felt a frustration so great that almost made her cry, that was the truth.
Then Saito began to bring his lips.
“No, let me go, never!”
I love you, I could not take it anymore, I love you so much.
“You did the same with the Princess right? and so no, never.”
Upon hearing this, the face Saito changed as if to cry.
But what is she thinking?
“Please.”
“NO, I’ll never forgive you!”
“I understand.”
“You do not understand, I’ll never forget it, what you and Princess did, never, even if I die, I will not forgive you!”
Saito nodded and then pressed his lips to Louise.
This guy, as if he never understand.
This was her thought, but still she was unable to reject the kiss.
Without realizing, the night seemed to be coming to an end.
From the window, the light of a new dawn was beginning to flood the tent, the glare completely stained Louise’s dress from deep black to bright blue.
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