Zero no Tsukaima - Volume 03 - The Founder's Prayer Book Read online

  Chapter One: Lineage of Zero

  Tristain's Royal Palace was situated at the end of Bourdonne Street. Members of the Mage Guards patrolled the area in front of the Royal Palace gates atop their magical steeds. The rumor that war was looming had begun spreading through the town two or three days ago. It was said that “Reconquista”, the aristocrat faction that had conquered Albion, was poised to invade Tristain.

  As a result, the mood of the soldiers who guarded the surroundings grew tense. In the skies above the Royal Palace, magical beasts and ships alike were banned from flying, and people who passed the gates were thoroughly checked.

  Even tailors, confectionery shop employers, and traders were stopped and inspected thoroughly at the gates in order to prevent mages disguised through illusion or people under the control of charming magic from getting through.

  Due to such circumstances, when a wind dragon appeared in the skies above the Royal Palace, the garrison of Mage Guards grew alarmed.

  The Mage Guards was composed of three corps, and each guarded the Royal Palace, one at a time. While one was on duty, the other two either rested or trained. Today, the Manticore Corps was on duty. Riding atop their manticores, the nobles flew up and headed towards the wind dragon that had appeared above the Royal Palace. There were five figures on the wind dragon's back, as well as a huge mole that was held in between the dragon’s mouth.

  The Mage Guards warned them that this was a prohibited flight zone, yet the wind dragon, ignoring the warning, landed in the palace courtyards.

  Atop the dragon was a beautiful blondish pink-haired girl, a tall lady with burning red hair, a blond boy, a small, petite girl with glasses and a boy with black hair. The boy carried a long sword over his shoulder.

  The manticore guardsmen quickly surrounded the wind dragon and drew their rapier-shaped wands, assuming a stance with spells at the ready. A strongly-built, rough-mustached commander bellowed a warning at the suspicious intruders.

  “Drop your wands!”

  Instantly, the expressions of the intruders grew hostile, but the short blue-haired girl amongst them shook her head.

  “Royal Palace.”

  The party nodded reluctantly and, as ordered, threw their wands on the ground.

  “Flying above the Royal Palace is currently prohibited. Didn’t you know that?”

  A girl with blondish pink hair lightly jumped off the dragon, and introduced herself in a firm voice:

  “I am Duke of La Vallière’s third daughter, Louise Françoise, not someone suspicious. I request an audience with her Highness, the princess.”

  The commander twisted his moustache as he watched the girl intently. He knew about the Vallière Duchy. After all, they were a very renowned noble family.

  The commander lowered his wand.

  “You are Duke of La Vallière’s third daughter?”

  “Indeed.”

  Louise raised herself and stared straight into the commander’s eyes.

  “I see... you have your mother’s eyes. Well, what is your purpose here?”

  “I’m afraid I cannot tell you. It’s a secret.”

  “Then I’ll have to deny your request. I cannot grant you an audience with her Highness without knowing your purpose. I could lose my head over something like that!” the commander replied worriedly.

  “It's not like we can reveal our secret either!” yelled Saito as he jumped off the wind dragon.

  As Saito interjected, the commander glanced over at him. He had a young face. Clothes that he had never seen before. A low nose. Yellow skin. A large sword draped over his shoulders.

  Though it wasn’t clear what country he was from, one thing was certain – he wasn’t a noble.

  “What a rude commoner. That’s not how a servant should speak to a noble. Stay silent.”

  Saito narrowed his eyes, and turned to Louise. It was too much for him. True, he wasn’t even a servant. In fact, he was just a familiar, but it was the commander's disdainful tone that infuriated him. Gripping the handle of Derf over his shoulder, Saito turned to Louise and asked,

  “Hey, Louise. Can I take care of this guy?”

  “Quit boasting. Just because you beat Wardes doesn’t mean you can act so arrogantly.”

  Overhearing their conversation, the commander’s eyes widened. Wardes? Wardes, as in Viscount Wardes, the commander of the Griffin Corps? Defeated? What's the meaning of this?

  Shaking away his concern, the commander raised his magic wand again.

  “Who the hell are you people? Regardless, I cannot allow you to see Her Highness.”

  The commander spoke in a stern tone. The situation was quickly getting out of hand. Louise stared at Saito.

  “W-what?”

  “It's because of you and your blabbering that they think we're suspicious!”

  “It’s all because of that bearded man and his damn attitude!”

  “Shut up. You should have just kept your mouth shut!”

  Watching the strange scene ahead of him, the commander quickly seized opportunity of the situation. The Mage Guards that had surrounded the party quickly raised their wands.

  “Arrest them!”

  Under the commander’s order, the mage guardsmen were about to begin their incantations when suddenly...

  A person clad in a purple mantle appeared from the palace gates. Seeing Louise surrounded by the Mage Guards, she frantically ran over.

  “Louise!”

  Seeing the figure of Henrietta rushing over, Louise’s face shined like a rose.

  “Princess!”

  Under the gazes of the Mage guards, the two embraced one another in a hug.

  “Aah, you came back safely. I’m glad. Louise, Louise Françoise…”

  “Princess...”

  Louise’s eyes began watering with tears.

  “The letter... it is safe.”

  Reaching into her breast pocket, Louise gently pulled out the letter. Henrietta nodded and firmly grasped Louise’s hands.

  “You really are my best friend.”

  “Your words are too kind, Princess.”

  However, upon noticing the absence of Wales in the midst of the party, Henrietta’s expression grew somber.

  “As I thought... Prince Wales sacrificed himself for his kingdom.”

  Louise closed her eyes and nodded quietly.

  “... But what about Viscount Wardes? I don’t see him, did he take another route? Or did he... perhaps... fall by the hands of the enemy? But if it was the Viscount, shouldn’t...”

  Louise's face turned grim. With much difficulty, Saito explained to Henrietta.

  “Wardes was a traitor, Princess.”

  “Traitor?”

  A shadow crept upon Henrietta’s face. Then, noticing the intent stares of the Mage Guards around them, Henrietta quickly explained.

  “They are my guests, commander.”

  “I see.”

  Upon hearing this, the commander withdrew his wand, somewhat unwillingly, and told his troops to do the same.

  Henrietta turned to Louise again.

  “What exactly happened on your trip? .... Anyway, let’s withdraw to my room before we continue. The rest of you, please get some rest in the other rooms.”

  Leaving Kirche, Tabitha and Guiche in the waiting room, Henrietta brought Saito and Louise to her own room. Henrietta sat down on a small and delicate chair, her elbows placed upon the desk.

  Louise explained the entire situation to Henrietta.

  How Kirche and the others joined them en route.

  How they took a ship to Albion and were subsequently attacked by
pirates.

  How they found out that the pirate leader was Crown Prince Wales.

  How Prince Wales refused to escape, even when he had the chance.

  How they missed the ship because of the wedding with Wardes.

  How Wardes suddenly showed his true colors in the middle of the wedding...killing Prince Wales and snatching the letter from Louise’s hands...

  which was swiftly regained.

  ... And how the ‘Reconquista’ had vast ambitions...from uniting all of Halkeginia, to the grand goal of liberating the Holy Lands from the Elves.

  However... even with the alliance between Tristain and Germania now secure, Henrietta still mourned.

  “That Viscount was a traitor… How can that be? To have a traitor within the midst of the Mage Guards...”

  Gazing at the letter she herself wrote to Wales, tears built up and streamed down her cheeks.

  “Princess…”

  Louise silently held Henrietta’s hands.

  “It was I who took away Prince Wales' life. No matter how you look at it, it was I who chose the traitor to be the messenger…”

  Saito shook his head.

  “The Prince had already planned on staying in his kingdom. It was not Your Highness’s fault.”

  “Louise, did he, at the very least, read my letter?”

  Louise nodded.

  “Yes, princess. Prince Wales read Your Highness's letter.”

  “Then, Prince Wales didn‘t love me.”

  Henrietta sorrowfully shook her head.

  “Then... even after you urged the Prince to escape?”

  Henrietta nodded whilst gazing at the letter in sorrow.

  Louise recalled Wales' words. He kept stubbornly telling her that “Henrietta didn’t tell me to escape”. It was just as Louise had thought - a lie.

  “Ahh, with your death, there is no longer any hope. What about me, my lost love?”

  Henrietta muttered softly in her daze.

  “Was honor more important than I?”

  But Saito came to a different conclusion. Wales remained not because he was trying to protect his honor. Rather, Wales remained so as to not give Henrietta any trouble... and to show the traitors that the royal families of Halkeginia were certainly not to be trifled with.

  “It isn’t as you think, Princess. It was because he did not wish to give Tristain any troubles, that he remained in that country. That is how I see it.”

  Henrietta looked up at Saito blankly.

  “To not give me any trouble?”

  “His escape, as the Prince said, would only have given a perfect excuse for traitors to invade.”

  “Even if Prince Wales didn’t flee here, they would still invade here given the chance. But, without a reason to invade, peace can be kept. At the cost of his life, he prevented the rise of war.”

  “... Even then, he still didn’t want to give trouble. Surely...”

  Henrietta, sighing deeply, looked outwards from the window.

  Saito slowly repeated the words he had remembered.

  “To fight with bravery, to die with courage. That... was what he asked me to say.”

  Henrietta replied with a cheerless smile. When a princess, as beautiful as a delicate rose, became like this, even the air itself grew heavy. Saito’s heart ached at the sight.

  Henrietta, resting her elbows on the table beside a beautifully engraved marble statue, questioned sadly.

  “To fight with bravery, to die with courage. That’s your privilege as men. But what of those who are left behind, what are they supposed to do?”

  Saito was struck silent. He had nothing to say. Lowering his head downwards, he awkwardly nudged his shoe against the couch.

  “Princess… If only I had tried harder to convince Prince Wales...”

  Henrietta stood up and clasped the hand of the muttering Louise.

  “It’s all right, Louise. You splendidly accomplished your mission by retrieving the letter. You should not have to be worried about anything because I didn’t ask you to tell him to escape.”

  Henrietta laughed with a smile.

  “With the obstacle that could have broken the marriage now removed, our country will be able to step into the alliance with Germania safely. In such a situation, Albion will not be able to invade us easily. The crisis has passed, Louise Françoise.”

  Henrietta said it as cheerfully as possible.

  Louise took out from her pocket the Water Ruby that Henrietta had given her.

  “Princess, here, I return this to you.”

  Henrietta shook her head.

  “Please hold on to it. It’s the least I can do to express my gratitude.”

  “I cannot dare to accept such a treasure.”

  “For such loyalty, an appropriate reward should be bestowed. It is all right, put it on.”

  Louise nodded and put it on her finger.

  Upon seeing this, Saito remembered the ring he had removed from Prince Wales’ hands. Taking it from the rear pocket of his pants, he placed it onto Henrietta’s hands.

  “Princess, this, is a keepsake from the Prince Wales.”

  Accepting the ring, Henrietta gasped in astonishment.

  “Isn’t this the wind ruby? Did you get it from Prince Wales?”

  “Yes. In his dying moments, he passed the ring to me; he said to give it to Your Highness.”

  In truth, Wales was already dead when he pulled it off his finger.... but Saito had said it anyways. He had said it like that, believing that it would help heal the ache Henrietta held in her heart, even if just a little.

  Henrietta put the Wind Ruby on her finger. Because it was for Wales, it was too large for Henrietta’s fingers… But when Henrietta muttered the ‘decreasing’ spell, the ring became narrower and narrower, and soon it fit the finger snugly.

  Henrietta lovingly stroked the Wind Ruby. Turning towards Saito, she gave a shy smile.

  “Thank you, kind familiar.”

  A sad smile filled with grief, yet also a smile of gratefulness towards Saito. Such was the nobility of the smile that Saito was dumbstruck by its beauty, and could only mumble incoherently.

  “That man, he died bravely. Is that right?”

  Saito nodded.

  “Yes. It was so.”

  Henrietta, whilst staring at the shining Wind Ruby, declared softly.

  “Then I… I will live bravely as well.”

  On the flight from the Royal Palace to the Academy of Magic, Louise remained silent. No matter how much Kirche asked Louise and Saito what was contained in the contents of the letter Wales had written, the two kept their lips sealed.

  “Oi, c’mon, won’t you at least tell me what the mission was? And the fact that the Viscount was a traitor, it’s all so shocking.”

  Kirche looked at Saito with a feverish glance.

  “But darling fought him, right?”

  Saito, having glimpsed Louise's face, nodded.

  “Y-yes. But he escaped…"

  “Still, that’s quite an achievement! Hey, what was that mission exactly?”

  Saito lowered his head. Louise was even more silent, and neither spoke.

  Kirche puckered up her brows and turned to Guiche.

  “Hey, Guiche!”

  “What?”

  With an artificial rose in his mouth, Guiche, who was spacing out, turned around.

  “Do you know what was in the letter Princess Henrietta sent us to retrieve?”

  Guiche closed his eyes saying:

  “I do not know well. Only Louise knows.”

  “Louise the Zero! Why don’t you tell me?! Hey, Tabitha! What do you think? Well, I think that I am being treated like an idiot!”

  Kirche shook Tabitha, who was reading a book. As she was being shaken, her head followed suit and shook as well.

  Because of all the shaking by Kirche, the wind dragon lost balance and suddenly slowed down. Guiche, who was sitting on its back, lost his balance and fell down. “Gyaaaaaa!” he screamed as he fell, but s
ince it was Guiche, no one noticed. Mid-way, he pulled out his wand, and using “Levitation”, floated down slowly, avoiding near-death.

  Louise lost her balance as well, but Saito softly reached out and held her waist with his hand, supporting her body. Seeing the hand on her waist, Lousie blushed. This morning, when running away from Albion, Saito kissed me. That time I was pretending to be asleep.

  But why? Why was I pretending to be asleep?

  It might be love… However, I do not want to admit this thought, because Saito is my familiar; moreover, he is not a noble.

  Loving a person who is not a noble was hard to even imagine. “Nobles and commoners are different kinds of people”… As Louise grew up with such beliefs, her uneasiness turned into puzzlement. Anyway, whether these feelings were true or not is not a matter of importance right now.

  In the end, having felt Saito's hand move around her waist, Louise shouted in an angry voice:

  “T-to be so bold, I’m going to get angry!”

  “You looked like you were going to fall over. Like Guiche.” Saito replied, his face blushing as well.

  “It’s all right, even if Guiche falls - it's just Guiche.” stated Louise, still bewildered from before.

  “T-that’s, even if he falls he will be all right. It would be troublesome if you fell though, since you can't use magic.”

  “You're just a familiar and you dare insult your master?”

  Louise drew a sharp breath and quickly averted her gaze. However, she didn’t seem angry.

  “You are being too daring. Hmph.”

  Though Louise grumbled and complained, she didn‘t try to shake off Saito's hand. On the contrary, she leaned closer, snuggling against him. Yet, her face still remained averted. Saito stole a quick glance at Louise‘s face.

  Her white cheeks were faintly dyed with pink and she was slightly biting her lower lip. Although Henrietta was beautiful... Louise was also incredibly cute, he thought. The hand on her waist pressed closer. And he felt how her waist and thighs pressed further into his body.

  It was just when this was happening that Kirche spun around and muttered softly.

  “Since when did you become like this, you two?”

  Louise, suddenly realizing how things looked, blushed a furious red and sent the daydreaming Saito flying with a shove.

  “Nothing happened! You idiot!”