Editing Zero no Tsukaima:Volume3 Chapter3 - MTL

Sir Osmond was staring at the one volume book, delivered from the palace, and twirling his beard absent-mindedly. The cover, wreathed by an old leather, was so worn-out, that it looked like it would tear up from a single touch. The page colour of a fading parchment was tawny.

Hmm... while muttering Sir Osmond turned the page. Nothing was written there. There were about three hundred pages in the book and all were blank.

“This is transmitted to the Tristain royal family, ‘The Founder's Prayer Book’…”

Six thousand years ago, Founder Brimir offered prayer to a God and wrote down the spells, letters that he used were magical runes.

“It is not a sham?”

Sir Osmond looked at the book suspiciously. Fakes… that often happens with ‘Legendary’ things. Evidently, only one ‘The Founder's Prayer Book’ can exist. Rich nobles, temple priests, Royal families of each country… All of them claimed to have a real ‘Founder's Prayer Book’. Weather original or fake, they all were collected in the library equally as if they were true. 

“But if it is a fake, it is an awful one. All of the characters are gone.”

Sir Osmond have seen ‘Founder's Prayer Book’ several times at different places. The runes always leaped from it and arranged in one or the other order. However, he never found a book with such characters as this one. Could this be not a fake.

At that moment a knocking sound was heard. Should hire a secretary, thought Sir Osmond, inviting into the room.

“It’s not locked. Come in.”

The door opens and one slender girl steps in. Pink-blonde hair and big reddish brown eyes. It was Louise.

“I heard I was asked for, therefore…”

Louise said. Sir Osmond stood up spreading his hands, welcoming the tiny visitor. And sympathizing again with Louise’s pain of the other day . 

“Oh, Miss Valliere. Have you rested after the tiresome journey? Reconsider if it is too difficult. Your great efforts ensured alliance safety, while escaping Tristain crisis.”

Sir Osmond said in a soft voice.

“And, next month in Germania, there finally will be a wedding ceremony held between the princess and Germania’s emperor. It is all thanks to you. Be proud.” 

After hearing this, Louise became sad for a moment. Her childhood friend Henrietta, as a political tool, will marry will marry Germania’s emperor without love. Even though there is no other way for the alliance, when Louise recalled the sad smile on Henrietta’s lips, her chest tightened.

Louise silently bowed. Sir Osmond became silent for a while and watched Louise, then remembering the possession of ‘Founder's Prayer Book’ in his hands, held it out for Louise.

“This?”

Louise looked at the book with a suspicious face.

“Founder's Prayer Book”

“Founder's Prayer Book? This?”

It was given to the royal family. Legendary book. But why Sir Osmond has it?

“In Tristain’s royal family tradition, during royal family wedding one aristocrat is chosen to take the role of bridesmaid. The selected bridesmaid, traditionally is given the ‘Founder’s Prayer Book’ , following the imperial edict.”

“Ha, haa”

Louise, who wasn’t aware of palace etiquette in such details, replied absent-mindedly. 

“Ant the princess has chosen Miss Valliere to be that bridesmaid.”

“Princess-sama?”

“Just like that. Bridesmaid always carry this ‘Founder’s Prayer Book’ with herself, it is important to follow imperial edict.”

“Eee! I do follow imperial edict!”

“Indeed. Of course, there are still things to polish in palace etiquette… Traditions can be rather bothersome. However, Miss Valliere, princess is looking forwards you. This a great honor. So follow the palace regulations, and written edict, as this could happen only once in a lifetime.” 

Henrietta, my childhood friend, chose me to be her bridesmaid. Louise looked up firmly.

“I see. I will obey respectfully.” 

Louise received ‘Founder’s Prayer Book’ from Sir Osmond’s hands. 
　
Sir Osmond smiled looking at Louise.

“You are willing to undertake. Good, good. Princess will be glad.”

**

On evening of that day, Saito was preparing a bath. Certainly, Tristain magic academy, had a bathhouse. Roman style bathhouse, lined with marble. Huge swimming pool, perfume mixed hot water, said to grant a heavenly feeling, and, of course, Saito could not enter there. Only nobles are allowed to enter.

Academy’s bathhouse for commoners compared to nobles looked rather shabby. The joint bathhouse for commoners looked like a hovel. Placed on the stones , underneath which fire burns, strong smell of sweat and tightly pressed bodies, only made one sweat more.

One day when he entered that bathhouse, was enough to make Saito disgusted. Saito’s , who was raised in Japan (TN – Japanese bath a lot), bath was an kettle filled full with hot water. The sauna was unsatisfying.

Bothered Saito asked Marteau, the head chef, and received one big and old kettle. He made a bathtub from it. It was a bathtub heated from beneath with a floating wooden lid which is pushed under the water by the bather. Firewood, burning under the kettle, made the water vapour in white steams from the heat.

This Saito’s bath was arranged at the Vestri Courtyard’s nook. It was convenient, as people do not come to this courtyard so often. 

The day was coming to an end, and, shining faintly, two moons appeared. Once the watered was hot enough, Saito quickly threw his clothes off and sank his feet into the big kettle.

“Aah, nice hot water, I say”

He put a towel on his head and started humming a melody.

Derflinger, who was leant against the wall of the kettle, called out Saito.

“Feels good?”

“Aah, feels good”

“By the way partner, why didn’t you take advance of the young mistress awhile ago?

Saito threw at Derflinger a tepid glance.

“Don’t look at me this way. Feels bad, partner”

“Hey legendary sword”

“Indeed I am a legendary sword, what?”

“During these six thousand years, have you found someone important to you to protect?” Derflinger shook lightly.

“I do not protect. It is the one that holds me protects someone.”

“You poor thing…”

Saito said from a bottom of his heart in a sympathetic voice.

“Poor you say. On the contrary – it is comfortable.”

“Is that so? By the way what other things have you remembered? This ‘Gandalfr’. How great he was and what kind of things did you do?..
　
Saito, showing his inborn curiosity, asked Derflinger.

“Forgot.”

“Ara”

“It happened long time ago, anyway. Besides, partner, someone is coming”

A shadow appeared in the moonlight.

“Who?”

Saito’s call started the shadow! It dropped down something that it was carrying . Clatter!  Under the moonlight, one could hear a sound of breaking pot.

“Waaah, broke… I will be scolded again… Shiff”

From that voice Saito was able to recognize the person who showed up from darkness.

“Siesta?!”

Illuminated by the moonlight a figure of housemaid working in Alviss Dining Hall - Siesta - appeared. She just finished her work and though she still wears her usual maid clothes, only the kachusha covering her head was now gone. Her loose shoulder-length black hair shone glossily.  

Seista squatted down to pick something that she dropped so loudly earlier.

“W-what are you doing here?”

Saito’s call made Siesta turn around.

“Ah! That! This! That! Because today I was able to get some really tasty goods and wanted Saito-san to try it!  I would have given it in the kitchen, but you didn’t come today! Waah!” 

Siesta said in panic. Indeed, there was a tray lying next to Siesta. There was an overturn teapot and cups. Seems like Siesta dropped one cup, surprised by the sudden call. 

“A treat?”

Saito asked, still submerged in the bath. Suddenly Siesta became aware of Saito’s nudity and , for a moment, reverted her eyes in shame.

“That’s right. Unusual goods came from the east town ‘Rob Al Karyie’. Tea”

“Tea?”

Those kind of things were extremely rare. Siesta poured some from a teapot into the cup, that did not brake, and gave it to Saito.

“Thank you”

Saito lifted it to his lips. The sweet aroma of a tea tickled his nostrils. And, once in a mouth, it tasted like Japanese green tea. 

Saito suddenly felt overwhelmed with nostalgia. Aah, Japan. Dear mother country. In his big kettle bath, Saito spontaneously wiped the corners of his eyes.

“W-what’s the matter! Are you alright!”
　
Seista bent over the edge of the kettle.

“N-no, I just felt nostalgic for a moment. I’m alright. Yes”

After saying that, Saito brought the cup back to his mouth. Though a tea and a bath made a strange combination, they both soaked Saito with longing.

“Do you miss it? That’s right, Saito-san comes from the east.”

Siesta flashed a shy smile.

“T-that feeling, I wonder myself. However, have you seen me here often?

Such Saito’s words made Siesta blush.

“T-that’s, that’s. I’m just occasionally here, because I saw you going this way with hot water and…”

“You peeped?”
 
Saito’s voice saying that was blank. Siesta hastily shook her head.

“No, I didn’t mean it that way!”

Flustered Siesta tripped over the edge of the kettle and with a loud splash of hot water fell into the kettle.  

“Kyaaaaaaa!”

Siesta screamed, but her shriek was suppressed by the hot water inside the iron kettle.

“Are you allright?”

Saito asked in blank surprise.

“I-I’m alright… Wah, but I am soaked now…”

Siesta stuck her wet head of out of hot water. 

Poor girl’s housemaid clothes were sodden. And once she became aware of Saito’s naked state, a furious blush spread on her face

Saito panicked.

“S-sorry! Even though bath is on stoves it is still possible to fall in!”

“N-no, I’m sorry!”

Though apologizing, Siesta doesn’t try to get out of the bath. Saito then decided to take a defiant attitude as well. He pretended in a somewhat manly manner, as if it is not big deal that she is not getting out.

At such time, he tried to act in a calm and collected manner. Was it manly? Saito thought so. Which means that Saito was a fool as well.

“Ufufu”

Siesta laughed still soaking with her maid clothes inside the big kettle. Though it wasn’t a laughable situation, she still laughed.

“W-what’s wrong?”

Perhaps his size was a laughingstock? Though it was dark and no one could see below the surface of hot water, Saito suddenly felt insecure.

“No, but, it feels good. Is this how you bath in Saito-san’s country?

Feeling relieved, Saito answered.

“That’s right. Though, it is unusual to get in while wearing clothes.

“Ara? Is that so? Yet, if you think about it, that must be true. Well then, I’ll take it off.”

“Yes?”

Popeyed Saito asked Siesta.

“What did you say just now?”

Siesta, who is usually hesitant and shy, for some reason became bold. Slightly biting her lips she looked at Saito in a determined way.

“I said, I’ll take it off”

“But Siesta-san? I am a man…”

Saito asked dumbfounded.

“That’s alright. I know that Saito-san is not a person who would hurt me.”

Saito nodded, though he hasn’t heard a single word.

“No, oh my, don’t do such thing…”

“But I also want to use in this ‘Bath’ properly. It is nice.”

And, eh? Saito stared as Siesta rose from the hot water and started taking off her soaked clothes. Saito turned his eyes away in panic.

“S-stop it! Siesta! Wait a moment! I tell you!

However, Saito’s ‘Stop’ sounded weak, betraying his real thoughts.

“B-but I am dripping wet… The Chief would be mad if I’d return like this to the room. I think I should dry it off on the fire first.” 

Though looking obedient, Siesta can be really bold once she decides to.  

The buttons of the blouse and the hook of the skirt were unfastened in a flash. It felt good taking off wet clothes.

Seista took off her housemaid uniform and underwear and left them to dry on the firewood, close to the fire. After that, she stepped into the hot water again. Saito with corner of his eyes watched the submerging Siesta’s legs. He never saw Siesta’s bare legs, as they are always hidden behind the skirt. They were white and healthy. Aah, if only he would turn his face that way, he would be able to worship her entire body.

“Uwaa! Feels good! Sharing a bath this way, soaking in the hot water really does feel good! Feels like taking a noble’s bath. I am so jealous, but I can make it myself, right? Saito-san you are really smart.”

“N-not really”

Saito answered, still turning his away. It felt as if hot water suddenly turned hotter. Next to him was naked girl. In that sort of situation, Saito felt dazed and almost fainted. Siesta said with a shy smile on her lips.

“Please don’t be so shy. I’m not shy as well. It is all right to turn this way. Look, my breasts are hidden behind my arm… besides it’s so dark that you cannot see through water anyway, so stay calm.”

Saito, feeling half-confused half-happy, turned around.　

Siesta was sitting right before Saito, submerged in the hot water. Because it was dark you couldn’t clearly see the body behind the surface of the water. He was somewhat relieved.  

Yet, Saito took a deep breath.

<img src="img/03_085.jpg">

In the darkness Siestas wet black hair, where fascinatingly glittering.

From a close look one could see that Siesta was actually a very lovely girl. He haven’t noticed until now, but she was different from Louise or Henrietta, she was like a charm of a lovely flower, freely blossoming in the field. Her big dark eyes, friendly nature and tiny nose were charming and pretty. 

“Hey, Saito-san, what place is your country?”

“My country?”

“Yes, please tell me about it.”

Siesta innocently bent forward listening. Ah, when bending so much forward one could see, ah, aah… Saito fell backwards in panic.

“W-well! There’s only one moon, there are no magicians, that’s why they use switch to turn the light off, nad the fly in the sky with planes…” 

Because Saito was so incoherent, Siesta puffed her cheeks.

“Stop it. One moon, no wizards, are you making fun of me. Don’t look down on me just because I’m a village girl.”

“I-I’m not making fun of you!”

Saito thought. Even if he told her the truth it would only confuse her. After all, the only one’s that knew at the moment that Saito was from different world were Louise, Sir Osmond and Henrietta.

“Well then, tell me the truth.”

Siesta looked up into Saito’s eyes. Siesta’s black hair and dark eyes wistfully reminded Saito of a girl from Japan. Of course, the face was different from Japanese. However, a simple. nostalgic feeling still shot through Saito, making him flurry.

“R-right… We have different eating habits.”

Saito started talking about the distant Japan. Starry eyed Siesta listened attentively to the story.

Though it might feel like a vapid talk, Siesta was eagerly catching every single word. And before one knows, Saito and Siesta lost any track of time, as the story of the hometown was told.

After some time passed, Siesta stood up covering her breasts. Saito hastily turned his eyes away. However, for one moment, he still saw Siesta’s breasts through a gap of her arms, and felt his nose bleed.  Without a word, a think trickle rolled down. Holding his nose Saito looked at the other side, while Siesta put on her now dry clothes and bowed her head thanking Saito.

“Thank you. It was very fun. This bath was great, and Saito-san’s story was amazing as well.”

Siesta said gladly.

“Can I hear it again sometime?”

Saito nodded.

After that, Siesta cast her eyes down with a blush, and shyly fiddled her fingers.

“Well err? The talk and the bath were great, you were the most amazing…”

“Siesta?”

“Could you…”

“W-what?!”

But Siesta ran away in tiny steps.

Such thing happening with this girl from a foreign world felt like a joke for Saito, so he dazed off, snuggled in the big iron kettle. 

**

After the bath, he returned to Louise’s room and found Louise doing something on the bed. Once she saw Saito, she hid a book in panic. It was an old, big book.  　

Why? Though, he didn’t worry so much about it as it was Louise. He might not understand even if being told about it. Besides Saito’s head was filled with the sight of Siesta’s body. What he saw through the gap of her hands, was firmly imprinted in Saito’s mind, 

Saito approached the laundry basket, while shaking off the worldly thoughts. He decided start doing laundry right away. He planned using the remaining bath’s hot water, so his fingers would not be cold. 

However, the basket was empty.

“Louise, where’s the laundry?”

When Saito asked, Louise shook her head.

“Washed already”

“You washed…”

And then Saito saw Louise, hu! He was shocked. Louise was wearing his nylon parka that he took off and left in a room before going to take a bath. When Saito goes to public bath Saito always takes off that nylon parka and goes only in his T-shirt, because his body feels too hot right after stepping out of bath

Louise probably wears it right on her underwear. Because sleeves are too long and waist is too loose it makes it look like some weird dress. 

“You, why are you wearing my best suit!”

Hearing Saito, Louise buried her mouth behind his nylon parka. Louise, whose cheeks blushed for some reason, said.

“Because…after doing the laundry, I had nothing left to wear.”

“Nonsense! It’s full!”

Saito pointed to the closet. There were a lot of Louise’s clothes. Because Louise was a noble, she had many expensive dresses to choose from. 

“Still, I wanted to try something else on.”

Louise, sitting straight on the bed, said in a sulky tone

“Couldn’t you wear these casual clothes”

Saito took a plain dress in his hands.

“I don’t want to answer something like that!”

“But these are my only clothes. Return them”

However, Louise doesn't try to take it off. On the contrary, she rolled sheets around her fingers. 

“Well it is light and fits nicely. What is it made of?”

Indeed. Saito had to agree that it really fits rather nicely. Reluctantly he decided to give up. In the room it is not cold, even if wearing only a single T-shirt. 
　
“Nylon”

“Nailon?”

“That’s a fabric from my world. It is maid from oil.”

“Oili?”

“The plankton that is collected at the bottom in the sea, is stored for years, and later becomes oil.”

“Pulankuton?”

Louise stared blankly at him, she looked like a child parroting Saito’s words. Her expression unreadable as half of her face was hidden behind Saito’s parka. For a moment Saito thought that this Louise looked irresistibly cute. 

Furthermore, Louise even washed for him. It is impossible. Saito became scared somehow. Up till now, such actions were unimaginable for Louise.

Her cheeks were red, so concerned Saito decided to check if she is not ill and doesn’t have a fever. 

Louse got startled when Saito approached her! She trembled. And… turned away.

Trying not to think how she must hate this, Saito grabbed Louise’s shoulders and brought his forehead close to her. Louise’s body stiffened but she doesn’t fight and quietly closes her eyes. Just as I though, her body condition must be really bad, Saito thought.

“It seems you have a fever.”

When Saito pulled his forehead away from hers, Louise for some reason clenched her fist in tightly.

“What is it?” he asked, as Louise turned away from him and after some quiet rustling snuggled under the covers. 

“Hey” Saito poked, “Sleep” Louise answered and became silent again.

Wow, the fever must have eased up, Saito thought as he crawled into his pile of hay.

It was quiet for a moment and then a pillow flew at him.

“What the…?”

Saito asked.

“Bring the pillow back that I threw. Didn’t I tell you to sleep in bed from now on. Idiot.”

Louise’s sulky voice was heard. 

He just couldn’t understand Louise’s mood, weather it was gentle or saucy as usual. What does it matter, Saito thought as he slipped in Louise’s bed.

Though Louise was stirring restlessly in her futon, she soon quieted down. 

Now he could think about the passed day. Anyway, now his head was filled with Siesta Siesta’s parting words were repeated in his head again.

Siesta certainly said “The most amazing was you…”

Was it a confession? No, was she making fun? That’s not so. Am I popular? He isn’t popular too. The only one who showed that interest was Kirche, but it is surely because I am convenient. 

Aah, but, Siesta was cute. Though Louise is also cute, Siesta also has a different charm…

Naïve, simple but honest. Unlike Kirche, she looked wonderful when taking her clothes off. Ghaah. T-that’s right. Nice. W-w-w-what. Damn. Beaten. I’m beaten.

For something that he hadn’t considered so much up till now, the impact was huge. Fascinated by the girl, Saito starts to think of the ways to return back to earth.

He’ll find it surely, even if for know he hadn’t had even a slightest clue how.

Then , feeling dizzy, he starts thinking about Louise. He loved Louise. But, because Louise was a noble she would never think of me that way. Besides I decided to protect her. This way it wouldn’t be that far from a lover.

Still, to be lovers one would need to sway a girl… No, even Siesta might be only making fun. Aah,I guess that’s how it is.

Becoming sleepy while thinking about various things, Saito fell into the happy sensations of the dream world.

**

Outside Louise’s room window Tabitha’s Sylphid was floating. On top of which, as usual, Kirches and Tabitha’s figures were sitting. Tabitha is reading a book in the moonlight. Kirche was staring into Louise’s room from the crevice of the window.

Kirche snorted.

“After all, it is not looking good”

She remembered the blush on Louise’s face as she cuddled with Saito on the back of the dragon, returning from Albion. Louise seemed to be not her usual self.

“Really, he doesn’t treat me seriously? Every time I approach him, I get rejected, it makes me worried against my will.”

Until now, there were no man who would refuse courting her. It was Kirche’s pride. Truly, Kirche felt forgotten like an inconvenient thing.

Kirche was irritated. A little while ago, he even bathed with commoner's daughter. She was ignored and two-timed. Kirche’s pride was shaken. She was defeated by Louise, she was defeated by a commoner girl, this made her name “Slight Fever” cry. She had to plunder Saito from Louise, by any mean possible. Snatching away La Valliere’s lovers was an old Zerbst tradition. 

“Yees, though plotting isn’t my specialty, I can still think of some strategy. Right, Tabitha?”

Tabitha shut a book, and pointed at Kirche.

“Jealousy”

Kirche blushed. And then she shook her head at Tabitha’s words.

“D-don’t say that! I’m not jealous! I cannot feel jealousy! Game! This is just a game of love!”

Nevertheless Tabitha is not convinced. She repeated the same words again.

“Jealousy”



The end of chapter 3