Zero no Tsukaima:Volume6 Chapter2 - MTL

Chapter Two: Cattleya

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Noon, two days after leaving the academy...

Saito and the rest reached the la Vallière territory. However, by the time they would reach the la Vallière's mansion it would already be late at night. Upon hearing the words “late at night”... Saito turned pale. He realized that this “territory” was nothing more than a courtyard.

However, after half a day spent traveling, he could not possibly understand how something this big could be a residence’s garden.

By Japanese standards, Louise’s territory could be called a middle-sized city. A city... Saito had never heard of somebody possessing so much land before. These Upper Nobles are truly intimidating.

Louise’s status as a noble was truly displayed once they entered her territory.

They decided to take a break at an inn…

Once their carriages stopped, Siesta, who arrived just a bit earlier, quickly got out of her carriage. Having been trained as a maid, she went to open the coach's door for Louise.

“Uwaa, I can’t believe Siesta just did that... without any protesting”, thought Saito as he walked towards Louise’s carriage. But before he could get there, he was knocked down by a crowd of villagers running from the inn.

The villagers removed their hats in front of Louise, who had just stepped down.

“Miss Eleanor! Miss Louise!” they cried while deeply bowing down.

The villagers thought that even Saito, who was now lying in the dirt, was a noble. They quickly helped him up apologizing for their terrible manners.

“No, I’m not a noble…” Saito nervously tried to explain.

“Even so, you must be Miss Louise’s or Miss Eleonore’s attendant. And we cannot disrespect that.”

Plain looking farmers said while nodding.

They went on saying things such as “Let me carry your sword for you,” and “It must have been a tiring journey to get here, huh?” as they treated Saito with the utmost kindness.

“We will be resting here for a moment. Please inform the family of our arrival,” commanded Eleanor.

A young boy quickly jumped onto a horse and rode off in order to report.

They walked into the inn. Once Eleonore and Louise approached the table, chairs were immediately pulled out for them to sit on. The two sat down as if it were second nature. Saito tried to sit next to them only to be given a demeaning glare by Eleanor.

“Saito-san! Saito-san!”

Hearing Siesta call, Saito turned around.

“Commoners are not permitted to sit at the same tables as nobles.”

That reminded Saito. Recently he had been sitting next to Louise without worrying. Yet this was a strange thing to do in this world after all. Actually, Louise made Saito sit on the floor at first too.

Louise opened her mouth to say something but was cut off by a glare from Eleonore. Louise could do nothing but sit in her chair like a good girl. Saito stared wide-eyed – it was the first time he saw Louise in such a state. She really looked naturally obedient in front of her older sister. However... she must be a really scary elder sister... to make Louise look so weak.

“Oh how Louise has grown!"

"She’s growing more and more beautiful!”

The villagers were chattering around them.

“It seems Miss Eleanor has been engaged, right?” someone muttered.

“SHHH! Don’t talk about that!” came the scolding.

Eleonore’s eyebrows started to twitch and her expression darkened. The atmosphere in the inn took a plunge. Apparently, speaking of Eleonore’s engagement was definitely something to be avoided…

The commoners, feeling the murderous intent coming from Eleanor, didn’t dare speak another word. Saito and Siesta exchanged glances. Then Siesta quietly got close to Saito and grasped his hand. She was afraid.

Not noticing the change in her elder sister, Louise spoke.

“Eleonore. Eleonore nee-sama...”

“What…”

“Congratulations on your engagement!”

The face of every commoner fell, and a deep sigh escaped them.

Louise had completely misread the atmosphere once again. All of a sudden, Eleonore’s eyebrows shot up as she pinched Louise’s cheek.

“It hwwuuuurrtsss!! Waaahhhhh! Nee-shammaaa!! Whhyy?! It hwurts it hwurts it hwurts!!!”

“You don’t know? You speak of it even though you know you shouldn’t!”

“I won’t whoh wah ur alking awout!!”

“The engagement has been canceled!! C-A-N-C-E-L-E-D!”

“W-why?”

“Who knows? Why don’t you ask Earl Burgandi? He said something about reaching his limit. I can’t understand why.”

Saito completely sympathized with that Earl Burgandi. Yes. Anybody who listened to her would soon reach their “limit”. Eleonore was much more fierce and abusive than Louise. The Earl must have thought he didn’t have the stamina.

In the end, unhappy with the marriage cancellation, Eleonore just vented all of her anger on Louise…

And so, the preaching started. She scolded Louise for blowing the roof of the carriage. Louise’s stretched cheek became angry red and swollen by then. Naturally, Saito felt sorry for Louise.

However, this reprimand didn’t last very long because suddenly the door opened and a flow of pink blew in.

A girl, wearing an elegant dress around her slim waist and a wide rimmed hat with a feather on top, had entered. Under the hat was a flow of silky pink blond hair – exactly the same as Louise’s.

Surprisingly, a lovely face popped up from under the hat.

Although from the first look it was obvious that she was older, she looked very cute. Such a beautiful face was beyond description. Her eye color and the way her eyes sparkled was the same as Louise’s as well. Noticing Eleonore, the girl stared with wide eyes.

“Ah! I’m so glad I noticed the strange carriage outside and came over here to take a look. I didn’t think I would meet you! Eleonore nee-sama! You’re back?”

“Cattle...ya...” Eleonore muttered.

Noticing the sudden guest, Louise looked up. Seeing Louise, Cattleya’s face radiated a happiness which was mirrored on Louise’s face as well.

“Big sister!”

“Louise! No way! You are not my chibi Louise anymore! You came back as well!”

Louise stood up and launched herself into Cattleya's chest.

“It’s been so long, big sister!!”

Unable to control their excitement, the two hugged with a squeal.

Seems like Cattleya was Louise’s sister. She had the same hair color, the same eye color – it was like looking at Louise. However, Cattleya’s face seemed to have a more calm and placid look than Louise’s. This aura of complete calmness and tenderness coming from Cattleya made Saito’s heart race.

She was like a matured Louise, with added gentleness. Besides, her beautiful figure and breasts well matched Saito’s taste.

Cattleya's mouth half opened as she finally noticed Saito.

“Ah, ah, ah , ahah!”

While Saito was wondering what this ‘Ah’ might mean, Cattleya approached him and gazed at his face.

“W-w-what’s wrong?” Saito asked nervously.

Cattleya began to gently stroke Saito’s face. Saito almost fainted from these sensations.

“You... are Louise’s lover, right?”

“Huh?!”

Siesta's, who was standing right next to Saito, eyes suddenly turned cold. She stomped down on his foot. Hard. Saito jumped up.

Louise blushed furiously.

“He’s just my familiar! Not my lover!”

“Ah, is that so?”

Cattleya giggled and tilted her head with a sweet smile.

“I’m sorry, I got it wrong. Don’t worry about it.”

* * *

Everybody got onto Cattleya’s chariot for the remainder of the ride to the La Valliere household. Eleonore showed obvious discontent of having to sit with a commoner and a familiar. But when Cattleya jokingly said - “The more the merrier right?” Eleonore, though still not uttering a single word, reluctantly consented.

However... Saito and the rest weren’t the only passengers in the large carriage.

It was just like a zoo inside the carriage.

In front of the seats, a tiger was lying sprawled, yawning. Louise sat down next to a bear. Various kinds of dogs and cats were scattered here and there. A huge snake, which was hanging down from the ceiling, appeared right before Siesta’s face, making her faint. While looking after the fainted Siesta, Saito muttered.

“But what a wonderful carriage…”

“Big sister loves animals,” said Louise.

Though he thought that the limits of love had been exceeded, Saito did not say a thing.

“I recently picked up a thrush.”

Cattleya said in a happy voice.

“Show me! Show me!” Louise was frolicking like a child.

Eleonore and the others took a collective deep sigh.

This was a life of three beautiful La Valliere sisters. Saito took a deep sympathetic bow towards Louise’s older sister. 　

Louise and Cattleya continued having a long chat between them.

Seems like the second eldest sister, who was wearing those lovely clothes, was considerably good friends with Louise. When you see two people getting along like this, even tedious time doesn't feel so very uneasy either. Siesta was already sleeping peacefully in his lap. On the left of the coach, hills stretched. On the right – cultivated fields extended. As the rye harvest was ending, here and there mass of straws were piled up. When looking at such tranquil scenery, it was impossible to believe that war was going on. Leaning into the window frame, adjusting Derflinger behind his back, Saito took a deep yawn.

　

* * *

Late night...　

Eleonore took the pocket watch out of her pocket and confirmed the time.

A castle came into the view right behind the hill. Because there were nothing around it, it actually looked bigger than Tristain‘s royal palace.

"Could that be?” Saito whispered, Louise nodded.

It looked like every castle. Surrounded by high walls and deep canals. Pinnacles were towering above walls. A splendid, big, true castle indeed! Elegant building.

Siesta, who was sleeping up till now, woke up and, noticing the castle, stared with wide opened eyes.

“Wow! Amazing!”

At that moment, a large owl leaped in through the window and landed on Saito’s head.

“Welcome home, Eleonore-sama, Cattleya-sama, Louise-sama.” Owl bowed greeting them.

“O-o-owl talked and bowed! B-o-w-e-d!” shocked Siesta fainted again. Though coming from a different world, Saito seemed to be not surprised by the talking owl and did not move. Saito was not surprised by such things anymore.

Cattleya smiled.

“And mother?”

“Mistress is waiting for everyone in the dining-room.”

“Father?"

Louise asked anxiously.

“Master hasn’t returned yet.”

Because the most essential member was missing, Louise frowned in displeasure. Coming here to obtain father's permission to participate in the war was pointless without him.

One could see gates behind the canal.

When the carriage stopped, sounds of chains, holding the drawbridge, being loosened could be heard from both of the gigantic statue-shaped gateposts.

Each stone statue was at least twenty feet tall…. Though these golems were created only as gate ornament, they made the whole drawbridge look spectacular.

Once the drawbridge finished lowering, the carriage began to move again, crossed the drawbridge and advanced into the rampart.

* * *

Saito’s surprise about the luxuries of Louise’s family was renewed again. It was a large noble‘s castle.

Saito and the others arrived at the dinning room which was generously decorated by much luxurious furniture. Though Siesta at once went to the servant quarters, Saito, as Louise’s familiar, was allowed to accompany them for the dinner.

However, he was made to only wait behind Louise's chair. So Saito stood guard behind Louise, watching the table that was about 30 feet long.

Though it was just four people that sat on seats during this supper, 20 servants were queuing up around the table.

Though it was midnight, Louise’s mother, the duchess La Valliere was waiting for her daughters to arrive to the dinning table.

The duchess, who occupied the top seat, looked over at her arriving daughters.

Saito flinched from that power. What one can say, though Eleonore possessed a violent, high-handed aura, which pressed Saito, Louise's mother was impressive as well.

And it was just a mother’s hospitality towards her daughters.

She seemed to be around fifty years of age. However, this guessing was made by calculating elder sister's age, in reality she didn’t look over 40. Her look was very sharp. Seems like Louise’s and Cattleya’s pink hair color came from their mother. The duchess had tied her charming pink hair together on the head. This person was wearing a commanding aura around her, Saito felt pressed.

Louise, despite meeting her mother after a long time, was acting tense. Seems like Louise trusted only Cattleya.

“Mother, we returned just now.” Eleonore greeted, and duchess La Valliere nodded.

When the three sisters seated themselves, waiters carried the appetizers and the dinner started.

For Saito, who was standing behind, the time was passing slowly. No words were uttered. Compared with this, even a formal dinner in the Academy of Magic seemed like a happy play. The only sounds coming from the dining room were the sounds of silver forks and knives.

Breaking this silence, Louise said.

“T-that… Mother-sama.”

The duchess did not answer. Eleonore did.

“Mother-sama! Tell Louise! This foolish child said that she wants to go to a war!”

Bam! – Louise stood up hitting the table.

“I am not a fool! Why I am a fool for applying to Her Majesty’s military forces?”

“Aren’t you a girl?! War is men’s business!”

“That’s very obsolete! Now is the age when women and men are given equal position! Therefore, if position would be arranged only to boys in the Academy, even you, older sister, would not be able to become a chief researcher at the Academy!”

Eleonore shook her head in amazement.

“Do you know what kind of place a battlefield is? It is not where woman and children like you should go.”

“But, Her Majesty trusts me…”

“You are trusted? You – the ‘Zero’?!”

Louise bit her lips. Henrietta is taking me to the battlefield, because I am necessary. I am the ‘Void’ user… However, I cannot tell to the family that I am the ‘Void’ user. Therefore, Louise was not able to say anything at all and fell silent.

Eleonore tried to continue preaching, but was cut by the duchess who quietly stayed silent up till now. She commanded in a haughty voice.

“Eat, Eleonore.”

“B-but Mother-sama…”

“We’ll talk about Louise tomorrow, when father comes back.”

And so the story ended.

* * *

Saito, in a room prepared for him, was lying on the bed and looking at the ceiling.

In this storage room, a broom was leant against the wall and a dust cloth placed upon the bed. Saito learned anew about the difference between his and Louise’s status. Recently they slept in the same bed, they lived in the same attic and they ate from the same table, yet he could not feel any difference in their status…

But when you meet her family, it all starts feeling like groundless fantasies.

Louise is beautiful. Rich. Noble, so to say. Great noble miss.

Also, Saito recalled that they did not speak with Louise once they left school. Louise lost her nerves against Eleonore and did not talk much. In fact, she took all preaching of her family like servant from master – for some reason, she hid her true self.

He felt pity.

He was no one, he had nothing to do with this world's class system.

But… after seeing such a dinner in this castle – you just can’t help but wonder about it, right? He thought.

He felt like he learned the majestic difference between his and Louise’s positions.

Like that, he was feeling down…

There was a knock at the door.

Who would be coming to this storage room? He thought while opening the door, just to be greeted by the shy smile of Siesta, who stood there.

“Siesta?”

“W-well… I couldn’t fall asleep, so I came here.”

“Eh? Eeeh?”

While Saito was panicking, Siesta entered the room.

“Even so… how did you know where to go?”

“I asked servants where Saito-san is staying.”

“Is that so…”

Siesta sat down on his bed, idly swinging her legs. For some reason her face was red. When Saito tried to pass her, Siesta grabbed his arm and pulled him to sit next to her. Then , she rested her head against his shoulder, just like in the carriage a while ago.

“Siesta?”

Hearing him ask, Siesta looked up at him innocently.

“I, it was a first time I came into such a wonderful castle. This castle is a real maze.”

“It’s great.”

“A friend at the academy kept saying that La Vallliere family is one of five most distinguished families in Tristain. Living in such a castle. Haa, titles, riches and good looks… Miss Valliere can only be envied.”

“Is that so?”

“It is. That’s a very secure life, one can get, whatever one wish for, like….”

Then Siesta looked into Saito’s face.

“…Saito-san.”

“I, I am not her property. I am her familiar…”

“I understand.”

Siesta said slowly.

“Eh?”

“The way Saito-san looks at her, I understand. I do not have the winning chance. She is rich, she is noble and she is beautiful… And such big castle as a home. Hiccup.”

Siesta turned her face down, looking lonely. Trying to understand what was just said, Saito became silent as well.

“Hiccup, hiccup.” Siesta sounded like she was sobbing. Was she crying?

While Saito was at a loss what to do, Siesta suddenly stood up

“Siesta…”

“On the other hand.”

“Eh?”

“I too have something.”

“Siesta?”

Looked like situation changed. With a new resolve ‘I won’t give up on Saito-san!’ Siesta turned around.

“My b-b-b-breasts definitely beat Miss Valliere’s! Hiccup!”

“Sh-sh-shieshie?”

Shaking with anger, Siesta continued talking.

“N-n-noble family, so what?! I am a maid. A maid! Hiccup!”

“Y-yes. I know.”

Siesta continued hiccuping many times over and over again. Saito noticed that.

“Siesta, could you be… drunk?”

“Made dinner alone. And they can’t say ‘You had a long journey, thank you, please take some rest’. Hiccup!”

Not only her face was brightly red, but also she smelled of alcohol. Saito was dumbfounded. It was the first time he saw Siesta drunk.

Indeed, she is a servant here being a maid. Siesta had to entertain and to serve alcohol in this castle. Drunk, Siesta took out a bottle of wine from the crevice of her shirt

“W-where did you get the bottle from?..”

Siesta brought her face close to Saito.

“Shtole it.”

“I, I see.”

Siesta drew out the cork and immediately drank from the bottle. Wide-eyed Saito stared at her gulping it down.

“Phua!” Siesta separated her mouth from the bottle. Her face became even more red.

“Hey, Saito!”

At last she was calling him informally.

“Ye-yes?”

“You also must drink.”

“Cheers.”

Knowing that if he disobeyed, the mood would change to bad, Saito took the offered wine. And tried to take it down in one gulp, and “Buaagh” spit out. W-what was wrong with this wine? It was really strong stuff.

“S-siesta. This wine…”

“It was on a kitchen table.”

Seems like Siesta was the type whose mood increased after one glass of wine, and one gulp from the bottle on the table was enough to make theft look okay. Siesta was an indescribably bad drunk. Surprisingly one-sided.

“That, you shouldn’t have taken it without permission…”

“Hey! Saito!”

“Y-yes?”

“Whatever, drink.”

“C-cheers.”

Because the mood might change to a raging one if he would refuse, reluctantly Saito drank the wine.

* * *

Meanwhile.　

In Cattleya’s room, Louise had her hair combed by her older sister.

Cattleya's room was an elegant mix between a botanical garden and zoo. Potted plants placed all around, a lot of poultry baskets were hanging from the ceiling, puppies were running on the floor.

Cattleya gently combed Louise’s hair.

“Louise, little Louise. Your hair is so charming, such a beautiful color.”

“Big sister, you have the same hair.”

Cattleya laughed happily.

“Oh well. Your same hair – I like it.”

Louise pouted and muttered.

“Big sister’s Eleonore’s blond hair color is the same as father’s, I trow.”

“Well, I asked big sister Eleonore about that. She was offended.”

“Right. I don’t think big sister Eleonore matches her fair hair.

“Ara, why?”

“She is mean. She is different older sister. For a long time, she keeps on bullying me.”

“It’s because you, Louise, are so cute. So cute that it makes one worry. Therefore it is her way of caring. “

“That’s not true.”

Cattleya slowly embraced Louise tightly from the back.

“It is true. Everyone in this house loves you, Little Louise.”

“Saying such a thing, big sister.”

Cattleya buried her face in Louise’s hair… and closed her eyes.

“However, I'm so glad, Louise, because I thought that you would become completely depressed…”

“Why?”

“Viscount Wardes. He was a betrayer, right? Half a year ago, Magical guard leader Wardes's mansion was attached to our territory. When the engagement reached that point, didn’t that hurt you?”

Louise shook her head.

“Not really. I am not a child anymore. Don’t confuse a childish crush for love."

Cattleya smiled when Louise said so firmly.

“You are reliable. You have grown up, Louise.”

“Right,” Louise muttered to herself.

“I am not a child anymore, therefore I want to make decisions for myself.”

“Then, if father were to oppose it, would you go to war without his permission?”

“If possible, I want him to agree. I want everyone to understand me.”

“However, I do not feel admiration for the war either.”

“Our mother country is in crisis. And, princess… no, Her Majesty, needs my powers. Therefore…”

“It is useless to say that to me. It is difficult to understand for your elder sister who always shuts herself up in the castle. “

Cattleya gently patted Louise's head. Then, she had a strong coughing fit.

“Big sister! Are you all right?”

Louise watched Cattleya with a worried expression. Louise’s second elder sister’s body was weak. She hadn’t gone out of La Valliere’s territory more than one step.

“Did you call a doctor?”

Cattleya nodded.

“The local doctor was called, though he tried to cast powerful ‘Water’ spells many times…Magic is useless against this sickness. Nothing is good for such a body. Touch of water flow is useless.”

The cause of Cattleya’s sickness was unknown. Even if you suppress the worsened part of her body with medicine or magic, another part starts to shriek. Eventually, all doctors fail against such cycle. Her symptoms had been relieved by various medicines and magics now.

Despite that, Cattleya still smiled. Louise felt pity for her elder sister. Because of her condition, Cattleya could not get into the magic academy either, though she can cast magic. She cannot marry, though she is so beautiful.

“Are, why such long face? I lead a rather happy life everyday. Look!”

Cattleya pointed at the bird cage.

There was a bird shut inside. A small bandage was rolled around the wing.

“Look, it is the young bird that I talked about in the carriage a while ago, I picked it up recently.”

“C-cute.”

“This young bird was hurt badly. Her wing was wounded. When I was passing by, I heard the pain in this young bird's voice, I stopped the carriage and picked it up.”

Seems like Cattleya, in the forest, brimmed over with birds, heard the call of broken winged one, stopped the carriage and picked it up.

“Big sister! It is just a bird!"

“Don’t you feel the same about your familiar?”

Cattleya smiled knowingly. Louise’s cheeks flamed up in an instant. I do not understand what I feel about Saito. Is it because he is a human?

“So you understand me. This young bird is the same.”

Cattleya said pointing

“Really?”

“Yes. I’m happy, you already reached the age of falling in love.”

Even Louise’s ears turned red.

“What are you talking about?! I didn’t fall in love!”

“It is useless to hide it from me. I understand everything.”

“I am not in love, really!”

Very embarrassed, Louise shook her head, on the verge of tears.

“Don’t make such a fuss, I understand everything. Then, shall we sleep together after such a long time?”

Still blushing Louise nodded, biting her lips.

* * *