Noblesse Oblige [Znt/SI]

[DrMethilon]

I can't believe Pierre and Karin had a threesome with Queen Marianne.

Click to shrink...

But I mean, we have some pretty compelling first hand evidence that Karin was actually the mother.

Unless...

Oh my. That Illusion Mirror...

Click to shrink...

I'm now hoping someone Omakes that

Click to shrink...

You just said the magic word!

Omake: Mirrors and Deceptions and Revelations, Oh My!

Queen Marianne was worried.

No scratch that, she was terrified! What in the name of the Founder had she been thinking? What she was doing was absolutely shameless, moronic and unbefitting of the ruler of a nation.

Yet despite that, she couldn't help herself. She desperately wanted to see her old friend once more, even if it must be done in these weird and frankly bizarre circumstances. She absentmindely twirled her mustache, as she rode steadily close to the Valliere mansion, the pale moon light revealing her visage to be the exact copy of Duke De La Valliere.

Her plan was pretty ingenious, if she could say so herself. When the Duke was scheduled to return home from his yearly inspection of his lands, she would order checkpoints to be set across the lands, due to a (false) rumor that someone was smuggling illegal wake-up beans from the land of Rub Al' Khali and any and all persons, no matter their rank, were ordered to be stopped, searched and sentenced to a series of long and probing questions. Any refusals would be consider treason to the Crown and a one-way trip to the nearest dungeon.

Then she ordered the Mirror of the Sleipnir ball to be sent to her quarters at once. Suprisingly, Headmaster Osmond didn't object one bit to her request. Of course that could be talled to the fact that she and her royal husband hadn't produced an heir yet and there were those whispered rumors about Henry and his brother, the Archduke being caught with bad drawings of huge breasted elves, but that was unimportant!

While the Duke was busy getting subjected to the vile mercies of bureaucracy, she would use the Mirror to assume his form, get in the Valliere estate, find Karin and then have a long chat with her. And people thought that she was only good at being a pretty face next to the true ruler, ha! There was difference between being able to rule and wanting to actually do it and if all of Tristain wanted to believe that she was only good being a portable baby factory, then let them think so all they wanted.

Shaking those thoughts of her head, Pierre-Marianne finally reached the front door of the Valliere estate. She got the usual 'Welcome Home Master' from the servants, politely ignored them and then steadily made her way to the master bedroom. Marianne fondly remembered the many times she and Karin would converse with each other in her quarters, how they would laugh and enjoy themselves, away from all the etiquette and honeyed words. Although her young hormonal mind prefered to do something much different and improper with her 'dashing knight', it's still a memory she cherishes fondly to this very day.

So it was with those happy thoughts that she opened the door and was immediately greeted with a smoldering kiss in the mouth.

"MFFFFFHHHHHHHHH" Marianne immediately squaked as her mouth was filled with the taste of alcohol and a hint of..... strawberry? She could feel a tongue messing with her own, doing things that she didn't even know it could possibly do.

Finally after a painfully long time, the intruder finally released her mouth from his clutches, leaving behind a trail of saliva and revealed his face to her.

Correction, her face.

Karin Desiree De La Valliere, formerly De Malliart was giving her a wide grin, her cheeks red from either embarassment or alcohol, judging from the empty wine bottle down on the floor, probably the latter and a nightgown that left little to the imagination and wow those dresses were concealing an awful lot and- FOCUS, MARIANNE, NOT THE TIME!

"Um, Dear" she said with a small voice, trying to find out why her usually cold and grumpy friend was acting so out of character "what is going on?". She desperately tried to ignore Karin's leg gently massaging her outer leg, but she couldn't lie that it felt oddly relaxing.

"Well, you know how Eleonore has started showing her aptitude in reading and writing, right?" she answered with a smoky voice and a hint of pride, making Pierre-Marianne nod in response. The Valliere firstborn was already praised as a genius, despite her young age and poeple were already expecting great things from the child of the most influental family in Tristain.

"I am happy that she is showing her worth already and as her mother, I couldn't be more proud of her" she continued, her fingers stroking the ends of her mustache, making Marianne shudder in delight. Then Karin's smirk morphed into a pout "But now, she is no longer cute".

Wait, what?

"Don't get me wrong, physically she is adorable and only a heartless monster wouldn't want to glomp those fat wibbly-wubbly cheeks of hers, till they are red and swollen" she quickly amended, her worried tone in contrast to how her chest was provocately pressing right into her own. "But inwardly, she has matured. She no longer greets me with a hug, but a bow. When she has a nightmare, she doesn't come to our bedroom for hugs and kisses, but tries to be fend it off as nothing. She no longer reffers to me as 'Mama', but Honorable Mother and lastly she doesn't want me to fly her around with wind magic, but wants instead more books" she sniffed, her eyes slightly watering, as she turned them right into Marianne's own "I am not a bad mother, right?".

Marianne was quite shocked at the turn of events. Here she was, disquised as her best friend's husband, subjected to the greatest torture of her life in order to find advice, only to find the roles reversed. That didn't mean however that she wasn't gonna help her friend in return.

"Dear, please don't say that" Pierre-Marianne gently shoothed her friend, using the back of his hand, to dry her moistured cheeks "You are a amazing mother and an even greater wife and don't let anyone tell you otherwise" she stated with conviction, giving her an honest smile.

In response, Karin gave her a truly beautiful smile, resting her head right into her shoulder. They stayed silent for a few precious minutes, until karin finally drew back from her.

"Thank you Pierre for your kind words" she said with a happy tone, lovingly looking at what she thought was her husband. Marianne's danger sense suddenly flared, as Karin's loving smile turned into a lecherous grin "Captain Karin is going to give you a worthy reward".

One minute she is standing at the door, the next she is lying in the bed, her hands in chains and stripped to just her underpants.

"What, when, HOW?" Marianne frantically screamed internally, as a couple of pounds of pink haired Duchess depsosited right on her legs.

"I have decided something, Pierre" she said in a voice, so full of power and authority, that if Marianne's hands weren't preoccupied, she would have immediately saluted.

Karin turned her lust-hazed eyes on her form, with a grin so wide it would have split her face in half "I want another child!".

"Meep....."

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

After that night, Marianne found out many things about her friend that she never thought were humanly possible (no one should be that flexible in that age, damnit!). It also had side-effects, both positive and negative.

Positive: The results from her improptu 'lesson' with Karin made the King so happy, he was finally able to gift the nation with a new heir, Princess Henrietta.

Negative: Karin gave birth to a healthy boy with very distinct dark purple hair. She didn't know whether the fact that she named him Henry should made her laugh or cry!

She made a solemn vow that day to never again use that blasted Mirror to get into the Valliere. NEVER!

That is until she overheard a conversation between the Duke and her husband, about the former's wife waiting him at home in her old Manticore's Captain uniform.

........Well, at least Louise came out with pink hair, right?

AN: Thoughts?

 

[shadenight123]

Chapter One Hundred and Six

I had high hopes that I would return to find the royal palace of Grand Troyes not up in flames, or Anne's body hanging from the highest tree of the courtyards. Thus, I simply hoped against all hopes even as I watched the landscape pass me by from the window of my carriage, a pouting Isabella standing opposite of me with her arms crossed and her expression stern.

"Dear," I said, "I was thinking-"

Isabella snapped her fan open, and began to fan herself while looking out of the window, completely ignoring me.

"Perhaps on our way back we could stop by the Ragdorian lake and spend a few days by its shores, you and I? The royal vacation villa along its shores would be a nice secluded place for you and I to be alone together, wouldn't you think?" as I remarked that, Isabella's fan began to slow down.

"We are cross with you," Isabella huffed. "We are really cross with you."

"I would part with my habit of writing letters or holding correspondence for the time we spent there," I said gently. "My attention would be on you without questions-"

"So you would not bring your familiar along?" Isabella asked, her fan stopping mid-air.

"I would not," I exhaled. Isabella stopped fanning herself, and smiled before hopping off her seat to land on my lap, one of her arms encircling my neck.

"We cannot keep ourselves angry at our husband, no matter how hard we try," Isabella said with a smile, the side of her head dropped against my chest. "We missed you terribly," she mumbled, rubbing her head against my chin, "So, so terribly."

"I missed you too," I answered gently enough, my arms encircling her as I closed my eyes.

Isabella giggled at that, "We know, of course we know. We have kept an eye on that uncouth commoner. If she wishes to be one more conquest on my father's bedside, then so be it." She closed her eyes and snuggled closer still. "We do not like seeing you act so amiably with others, husband. Please, refrain from giving your hand to anyone that does not have our approval."

I sighed, and shook my head gently. "My, what a jealous wife I have."

"Jealous? I am merely stating the obvious. You. Are. Mine." She huffed then, waving her royal scepter in front of my face. "Any who disagree with that, any who do not like that-I'll make sure they understand, and if not, then I'll punish them. I'll punish them greatly."

"As you say dear, as you say," I exhaled, closing my eyes and resting the back of my head against the carriage's soft cushy interior, Isabella's form cradled on my lap. It would take days to reach the La Valliere lands by carriage, but since there wasn't a port to dock a flying ship, then this would have to do. We should arrive there the night before the start of the ceremony, or perhaps the afternoon prior if everything went as expected. If not, we'd arrive on the day of the ceremony.

It would be fine either way.

Cattleya was radiantly beautiful on that day though. She was wearing a pure white dress that was the envy of every single lady present there -meaning Eleonore- and the twinkle of pride in the eyes of my mother. My own marriage had been a state affair, it didn't have the spirit of it, but the mechanics. This one...this one was different, noticeably so.

If anything or anyone dared to interrupt such a ceremony-if anyone dared to say but something that made my sister sad during this day-I'd murder them. I'd murder them myself with my own hands and watch as life would ebb out of their dying eyes and last breaths, and I would laugh at their corpses as I smashed their skulls against the ground and grind them into paste-I took a deep breath, and kept watching as the ceremony moved on smoothly.

Nobody had anything to say, nobody had anything to remark, nobody dared so much as speak. It was only a few seconds later that I realized that both my father and I were emitting the same aura of firm ruthless determination. We shared and glance to one another, and then we both nodded in that way that males do when they completely understand one another. Suffice to say, our combined auras were enough to output more than nine thousands units of Disturb the ceremony and die horribly-joules. Even Karin, for all that she was happy -tiny smile on her face- didn't manage to control Pierre.

This did speak volumes, since Isabella didn't as much as try.

As the marriage ceremony came to an end, and Cattleya threw her bouquet, the flowers ended up hastily grabbed by Eleonore. The fact she apparently managed to swing a mean right hook meant absolutely nothing of course, or the fact that she had no competition, or the fact that Cattleya had thrown it in her direction, or the fact that mother had used her wand to quietly change the direction of the winds-none of it mattered, but the Comte de Burgundy was looking slightly green at the prospect now, even as Eleonore smiled warmly.

I hummed nonchalantly in the back of my head. If the Comte broke my sister's heart...perhaps I should maim him a bit too? Just a limb or two? Half of his body? One could survive without half of his body, could he?

"Henry," Karin said nonchalantly as she held Pierre by his arm, "Stop imitating your father. He is not a good example to follow." My father, in turn, looked bemused as we shared another fiery glance of approval about unspoken words.

"Mother in law," Isabella said, holding my own arm, "the festivities are sublime," as she smiled, I didn't know if she was being honest or merely polite, "They truly rival the royal ones of Gallia."

Karin smiled softly, "You are quite kind, your highness," she puffed her chest up in pride. "It took a long time to have them prepared. It is unfortunate they cannot last more than one day."

"Ah, yes, sister in law's sickness," Isabella said with a sad smile. "It is saddening that there is no cure."

"The gods tend to put trials upon his faithfuls in such ways," Karin acquiesced, bowing her head. "But it wouldn't do to be sad on this day," she replied, her voice steel once more. "It is my daughter's most precious day after all," she looked fondly to the side, where Cattleya was linking arms with Jean-Jacques smiling and accepting gratefully the thanks from all of the gathered nobility.

She was radiant.

This was truly the happiest moment of her life, I reckoned. Even Jean-Jacques was smiling, stealing glances at Cattleya whenever it felt as if she wasn't looking. I sighed.

"Father," I said with a somber tone. "I reckon we will have to put the fear of the gods on the Count now."

"Unfortunately it appears so," Pierre acquiesced by my side, we exchanged one more glance, and then nodded as we moved as one cohesive unit towards the poor Count de Burgundy.

Karin remained behind with Isabella, shaking her head lightly but not actually disapproving.

My right hand patted gently the Count's left shoulder. My smile was truly terrifying.

Father's left hand patted gently the Count's right shoulder. His smile was truly terrifying.

And on that day, the Count knew true fear.

 

[shadenight123]

Chapter One Hundred and Seven

One year before the start of canon remained.

What can happen in the blink of a single year?

A lot, little, or some things.

Raven's size had stopped growing for once, his feathers half white and half black crafting a sort of beautifully complex ensemble on his back and wings. There was an unforeseen period of peace within Gallia, even as the revolutionaries of Albion had kept pushing, and were gaining even more ground over the royals. The crux of the matter was that highly powerful nobles had formed a congress of sorts, seeking power for themselves. Cromwell had been nominated Holy Emperor, but only by those nobles.

It was in that sort of climate that I finally decided to unleash a terrifying technological revolution in Gallia. No, to be more precise, it was only then, when tensions were so high, when spying and counterspying were at unforeseen levels of heights, that such a level of technology could be brought into the world.

Because the ancient law applies, now and in the past as in the future. There is no technology that cannot be reverse-engineered, and the very definition of science implies that one can, eventually, achieve the result if he follows the proper steps to reach it.

It was the reason I hadn't gone further than rifling muskets and cannons -because Albion already had them, I merely brought up an equalizer, rather than an advantage.

Breech-loading weapons were a different affair, cartridges another still.

"These things-" Joseph mumbled, looking at the parchments and the papers, "Now?" he looked up at me, "Just like this?"

I shrugged. "Inspiration strikes when it wants, not when it should," I pointed out. I hadn't recreated the things myself -I didn't have that knowledge- but having power and wealth meant that one could hire people who could do it, and in turn, it meant turning theories into practice by having others do the testing and trialing. Crafting working cartridges had required three weeks and twenty-three alchemists working on the powder composition -which was kind of cheating, since alchemy could create powerful combinations that real life couldn't compare to. Creating the first breech-loading rifle had needed fifty-seven blacksmiths and two months. Ensuring both would work together in a single functional prototype?

It had taken its time too.

"The cartridge system ensures no powder needs to be put into the musket," I said as I gingerly pointed at the prototype in question, "You pull this lever here, and the casing flies off once expended," I pulled, and with a satisfying ka-chink the bullet in question left the rifle, "it leaves this open to put another bullet inside," I continued, easily placing the new cartridge within, "And then it closes-and voila, ready to fire once more."

Joseph looked at the rifle, and then at me.

I stared back. "With this," I said, patting the successful prototype, "We can conquer the world. We just need an army worthy of such a weapon."

"Is that why you have increased the number of ships from two to five?" Joseph asked, a thoughtful look crossing his eyes as he seemed to regard me in a new light now, especially after the marvel of technology I had brought in front of him. "You have been emptying the countrysides-filling up the ranks of an army that answers to you, different from a Marquis' army, or a National Army composed of mercenaries-one made of soldiers, trained to be...oh, I see, quite cunning," he acquiesced. "Quite cunning indeed, Henry!"

He laughed, nodding to himself. "This is great. Your genius-with this, we won't have to fear from Albion if they come."

"There's more," I said nonchalantly. "But I am going to need more trust and help than you have ever given to anyone else, Joseph." I locked eyes with him, my eyes alight as my smile threatened to break my face. "Can I count on you? For the greatness of Gallia?"

Joseph smiled, "Let's hear it," he said. "If it's foolish, then I, as the foolish king, can still say yes."

"We are going to need to steal a few things from a few people," I said resolutely, "And kidnap a few persons as well."

"Oh? Stealing things? Then, it must mean those must be quite the important things-royal treasures perhaps?" at his insight, I smiled in turn.

"Among other things, although those can come later. No, the most important thing that must be stolen is the so called Dragon Raiment, found in the village of Tarbes. I understand it might be far fetched, but I haven't just heard tales of its legend, but seen it with my eyes," I smiled. "Among the many things your familiar said, one of it was that her people could fly with metal objects-and the dragon raiment, while small-it fits the description," I pointed that out as I drummed my fingers on the table, "Another thing is...rather than a thing, it's a person. I want him hired, but he won't come easily. He's quite the intelligent person, you might have heard of him as The Flame Snake...a powerful Square class fire mage...but he won't come, not unless he believes his intelligence will be used for peace. So-"

"Craft a place where he thinks that's what happens, but instead, use what he discovers for the purposes of war?" Joseph hummed, musing over the thought as he locked his fingers together. "This sort of thing is...quite vicious of you, Henry. I thought you were only good as a friend and and a drinking companion. I didn't think you had it in you to plot these sorts of things...then again, you did plan the kidnapping of my niece simply because you wished her happy," he sighed. "So who are you trying to make happy now by doing all of this? It is like you are expecting some sort of war to break out in Gallia, rather than elsewhere. I would be happy with a bottle of wine from a precious collection-guns are a bit too off-putting for me."

I swallowed, and then clenched my fists. "My sister-she works at the Academy," I acquiesced. "Where they research spells and alchemy-she wrote to me saying that the Holy Church of Brimir has lifted the bans on researching potions to enhance a mage's power at the cost of their sanity," I narrowed my eyes. "That can only mean one thing."

"Perhaps the new Pope has been bribed," Joseph remarked, "But that is not what you believe, is it?"

"I believe that the Pope is preparing a new crusade," I acquiesced, "And I believe that I have no intention of participating in it," I clenched my fists, "I do not enjoy seeing blood being spilled, not even that of elves."

"Arm Gallia, and make it the dominant power of Halkeginia above the pope itself," Joseph mumbled, his eyes looking back down at the prototype rifle. "I see-stealing things from another country is enough to start a war, stealing them from your country-but at the same time, if such a thing is done, then Gallia can strong arm Romalia in not starting any crusade-that's better, since I have no intention of going to war," he huffed. "I want to drink wine and enjoy women. Is it that difficult for time to go by faster? No, don't answer that, Henry, I understand." He shook his head.

"You have royal decree to get these produced and sent to your Petite Armé first. The funds of the Gallian treasury-hell, even the magical artifacts within, use them to your heart's content," he shrugged as he wrote down on a piece of paper the permission for it. "And when you're done, just, you know what? Hand it over to Isabella and let her have her fun."

I grabbed the parchment and nodded once, quite firmly. Joseph took the rifle in both of his hands, aimed at the wall and then pressed the trigger. With a resounding bang, a bullet shot out and hit the wall in question, cracking the surface and the paint, leaving behind a fuming hole.

"Such commoner things..." Joseph muttered as he placed the rifle back on the table in front of him. "And yet..." his eyes glinted with amusement. "Do entertain me, Henry." He smiled brightly. "And be careful. I would actually be sad if I were to lose my drinking companion."

"I will," I said as I bowed lightly as a goodbye, turning to leave.

"Also, Henry..." Joseph said, halting me mid-step. "These ideas, these plans...you've had them for quite some time, I can tell...but only now that Albion's royalty is falling are you bringing them up. Why is that?"

"All inventions need a trial by fire," I replied calmly, turning to look at Joseph. "And reconquering a nation from the foul clutches of Reconquista is as good of a mean as any other to test them."

"Interesting choice of words. Reconquering...not saving. Are you so sure?" Joseph asked, a smile on his lips. "Once more...ah, this time might it be the two green-haired siblings?" I exhaled, and he smiled, nodding his head in understanding as I nodded mine in surrender. "So...one of them is perhaps-oh my, my my my," his grin grew wider by the second. "Henry-you really are the softest heart I have ever seen. To go as far as shelter the product of an elf and a human...is there any limit to your compassion?"

"Give me one year, Joseph," I said with a smile. "And I will show them to you."

No more words needed to be exchanged.

I exhaled loudly as I stopped walking by the nearest window, and stared up at the sky. Joseph had been pacified. A lot of stuff would not happen, or happen differently-but the crusades...I had to stop the Pope. I had to stop the Pope and intercept Bidashal in order to earn his allegiance, at the very least to get some way of communicating between the two races ongoing. It was the only way.

Everything could be resolved peacefully-no, most of it could be resolved peacefully.

It was best to walk carefully...and carry a big gun.

 

[shadenight123]

Chapter One Hundred and Eight

To transport something as big and bulky as the Dragon's Raiment, a company of dragoons was needed. I was going to try my luck and recover it by myself, but if that failed, then plan B would swoop into being.

Siesta's father was, by no small feat, impressed. No, rather than impressed, he was terrorized. Well, not really terrorized. Mostly he was in a mixture of stupor and shock.

Finding a company of dragoons outside his doorstep with a Prince-Consort by his door was not how he planned to spend the evening, I reckoned, and I guess many a normal human being would have begun to scream and shrilly run around the table trying to make head or tails of what was going on.

Even so, acquiring the Dragon's raiment proved to be not as arduous as I had thought it would be.

"We would like to exhibit the Dragon Raiment at a soon to open exhibition of foreign and exotic art," I said. "Hearing of its beauty and presence-we thought about acquiring such a piece of priceless art," I held myself tall and proud, in full royal mode. "We would, of course, pay you a fair price for it."

Men are not by their nature greedy. However, no one is really a man of sane ad whole principles. Well, of course things like kill your child or eat human flesh might be impossible to force with the power of money alone, but something as simple as let me buy your grandfather's relic? You just need to add a few zeros to the price.

"One...one thousand ecus?" the man looked at the hefty bag of money in front of him, and then at me.

"You may count them if you do not believe me," I said calmly, much to his consternation as he shook his head so quickly it seemed ready to spin out of control, and off his head, within mere seconds.

"No! No your highness-you-of course, you may take it-please just treat it well," the man said, adding a last afterthought to his words as he stared at the money bag on the counter with a look akin to wonder. I nodded, and turned to look at my knights who dutifully obeyed my unspoken command. I stood up and left together with them, ensuring they took care of carrying it with large nets.

"It is to arrive intact," I said firmly to the captain of the Vestri knights, "No deviations will be tolerated. Lose it, and lose your head."

"Yes, your highness," the captain said, firmly tipping his hat as he barked orders to the rest of the troops to get the hangar doors opened and the dragon raiment out of there. It was a zero fighter in all of its glory, and if I wasn't wrong, there were still heavy caliber rounds within its firing mechanisms. With the full backing of the Royal Crown of Gallia, with the resources it had and the cheating of Windstones or Firestones or Earthstones...I wouldn't be recreating mere world war two fighters. I'd be creating a magical variant of them, and the Ostland...No, the Windland, would be their carrier.

But to do such a thing, I would need to hire Germanian metalworkers.

Still, this was just the first stop of the day.

While the Vestri knights carried the Dragon's Raiment away, the Sudri remained to help them. I stepped back on Freedom's saddle as the Nordri and Austri regiments instead followed me dutifully. They were here as my escort, and since I had received permission to travel to the academy for the first day of school of my little sister, I decided to do so in grand style. It was funny, but also true. I had just taken a tiny detour, but nobody had bothered much with it. Since the academy didn't have a port, the excuse was that we'd use La Rochelle to fill our coffers with the needed Windstones.

This way, nobody had to be murdered in the middle of the night, and the Dragon's Raiment didn't have to be stolen. Though there was plan B that involved knocking everyone asleep and getting the plane if plan A hadn't worked out.

Now, it came for the most difficult part.

Well, not really. First the sugar, then the bitter pill to swallow.

"Lulu~" I sing sang as I descended on my Manticore into the Vestri courtyard, the first classes of the day done with, and the afternoon just as free as I remembered. Her strawberry blond hair was unmistakable even from way up high. "My little Lulu! I've come to see how you've been doing on your first day of school!"

Louise, for her part, straightened herself up as much as possible. She was a proud fifteen years old girl who would turn sixteen by the end of the year. She was not someone who needed to be pampered, or that wanted to be pampered. With her cute precious mantle on her slender shoulders, and all of the nobility that her tiny form could exude, she stood prim and proper in front of me.

I, on my part, had both of my arms wide open. "What? No hugs? Lulu!" behind me, the Night Wind hung in the background floating softly to a halt. There were enough stares and gazes of wonder about the whole display that I couldn't help but move forward myself. If the hugs did not come to me, then I would go to the hugs. Of course, Louise had other plans.

She curtsied primly, her cheeks red with shame, "Big brother..." she mumbled, "It is nice to see you." She looked straight at me with a glare that would have made a kitten meow, or a puppy hide. "Why did you come?"

"I can't come visit you?" I replied, my hands close to my chest now and clasped together, "My Lulu! You're my precious little sister-of course I have to come see you on your first day of school, because if anyone does as much as hurt a hair on your head, why! I'd be so sad I must just duel them to the death, and then hang their corpses from the sides of my ship's mast." I nodded most wisely, bringing my hand down to pat her head, only to find air as she sidestepped the patting.

"Brother, please control yourself," Louise said, her cheeks even redder.

"Uh? Oh no!" I wailed, "What should I do? My little sister doesn't want my head pats! It's scandalous! Scandalous!" I bemoaned, the back of my hand against my forehead as I sighed. "What should I do now? Perhaps try tackle hugs? Do those works?" I looked down at her, and grinned.

"Brother..." Louise whined, "Why are you here? To embarrass me?" she mumbled, looking up at me.

"Of course not, Lulu," I said with a smile. "Actually, I have to speak with the Headmaster." My right hand snaked by her side unseen, and managed to ruffle her head much to her protest. "But I'll be back afterwards. Be nice. Be good. And if anyone as much as makes fun of you just write me a letter and I'll come running, flying-well, just know I'll be there." With that said, I turned and began to walk towards the entrance to the main tower.

"Brother!" Louise said suddenly as I turned towards her. "It's nice to see you!" she added, and to that I beamed her a smile before waving her goodbye. She had been taking tea with another first year that looked remarkably like Montmorency, but of which I couldn't be sure since I hadn't bothered much.

With the corner of my eye, the last thing I saw was Louise suddenly being swamped by the other students asking just who I was, and what I did.

There you go, Louise. Be the kid with the cool brother.

The captain of the Sudri knights handed me a package that was the payment I had promised Osmond in exchange for the parking of the ship over his academy for a couple of days. I didn't know what was honestly more puzzling, the fact that I had bough the parking space for my ship in exchange of used panties from the Charming Fairy Inn, or the fact that Scarron hadn't even blinked when one of my knights had proposed him a deal.

It was as if he was used to it, and believing the knight I had sent, he even made a favorable price for buying them in bulk.

I...I had no words.

Well, no, I did have words.

"Headmaster!" I said with a smile, "Here you go!" and with that, I handed the package over to the old headmaster who laughed and cheerfully grabbed hold of it as if it were his most precious treasure.

And with that, my stay at the academy was guaranteed for a few days.

Now, time to put these days to good use.

Staff of destruction here I come, right right where we started from.

 

[shadenight123]

Chapter One Hundred and Nine

As I waited patiently for Professor Colbert to finish his lessons, I sipped tea by the Vestri courtyard -coffee was too much to ask for, apparently. A young maid served it to me with all of the proper decorum. She wasn't Siesta, but it didn't matter. I merely sipped tea and enjoyed the pleasant afternoon. When a resounding explosion echoed a few towers away, it still got my knights in high alert. They calmed down after repeated assurances that everything was going to be fine, and in fact after the afternoon lessons were over, I did indeed come face to face with a slightly charred Louise.

She sat down in front of me, wisps of smoke leaving her head, and she sighed, dropping face first against the surface of the table.

"Brother," she whined.

"Do I have to kill someone?" I asked most gently.

"No," Louise mumbled, "But...the teachers say things like...Explosion affinity doesn't exist, or that I should try to do my exercises properly-" she looked up at me, her eyes filling with tears. "Big brother-what should I do?

"You know what you should do yourself, Louise," I said calmly. "You can keep trying, and perhaps one day you might succeed, or you can never try. Or you can pick the third option and pick a path best suited for you. I am always hiring." As I said that, I pointed at my ship. "I'm sure mother would just write you a very long and angry letter and that would be all," I grimaced. "Though it would be kidnapping unless you wished to return your mantle to mother first, but even doing that takes courage." I sighed. "Whatever it is you want to do, Louise, you need courage in order to do it."

"You make everything sound so easy," Louise mumbled even as a maid served her tea.

"Things are that easy," I pointed out. "You do, or you do not. There is no try." I nodded most wisely.

"Oh my, howdy neighbors!" a voice called from the sides, where a group of knights had formed a sort of impenetrable wall that was however failing to the tricks and charms of a determined young Germanian. "I am Kirche Von Zerbst-your neighbor from Germania~" as she pressed her breasts together, one of the knights -who would be disciplined quite harshly later on- balked and took half a step backwards, allowing her to snake past their line and take a seat right by my left side. "You are Louise's charming older brother are you not?" she asked next, sultrily. "The Prince-Consort-"

I yawned. I yawned with a hand in front of my mouth right in front of her face, and then sighed. "Yeah, yeah, it's all right, I understand," I raised a hand to signal the guards to chill back in their spots, "You couldn't help but be captivated. You saw me and fell in love. All that tripe, yes, I get it already. Listen kid," Kirche had the galls to purse her lips thinly, "I've seen better," I continued, making her widen her eyes, "I've held better," I smiled warmly, "And I've been to bed with better. So, I am not interested. Now, on the other hand, if you're here to talk about how cute my little sister is, then by all means!" I pointed at Louise's shamefully reddening cheeks. "Just look at her! She's so small, you can easily carry her around! She's adorable-"

Kirche blinked and calmly pushed herself away. I smiled as I watched her look at me, her eyes trying to perhaps identify whether I was serious or not, whether I had mental problems or not, and in the end, she opted for another vector of approach.

"Valliere," she said towards Louise, "Is your brother...inappropriate towards you or something?"

Louise huffed, "He can't stop treating me like a child," she pouted, adorably so if I could add. "It doesn't matter what I say or do-he just never stops."

"So he likes small kids?" Kirche remarked, staring down at her humongous breasts. "Is that it?"

"He's married to Isabella, but she's grown something at least," Louise grumbled as she crossed her arms in front of her chest. "I'm still stuck with nothing!"

"Oh, would you look at that, the man I wanted to talk to has arrived," and as I said that, gazing at Professor Colbert's nearing form, I quietly slid my chair backwards, executing a flawless escape strategy that saw me intercept the man just as he was about to enter his laboratory.

He did see me coming, of course.

"Ah-your grace," Professor Colbert spoke carefully, his eyes warily on me. "Were you looking for me?"

"Yes," I said with a nod of my head. "Professor-do you have a moment?" with a gesture of my hand, I dismissed the guards that had otherwise been following me like hounds. "I would like to talk with you in private."

"I...I suppose so?" Jean blinked, puzzled as he opened the door of his laboratory and allowed me inside. It was chaotic, the place was truly a mess of objects both metallic and not. There were strange vials, concoctions and engine models in there, all coupled with pictures of happy snakes.

"The happy snake engine," I said offhandedly, a small smile on my face. "Everyone laughed when you brought it out in class."

"Ah, that does always make the students laugh," Jean said with a nod, "You did not laugh though."

"It was not something to laugh at," I replied pointedly. "It was something to admire," I acquiesced. "Using fire for creative purposes, rather than destructive ones-I can appreciate such a drive in a man," I looked up at him, "But I think it would be best suited elsewhere. Professor Colbert, would you consider coming to work at the Lutece Royal Academie? It is like the Tristain's Academy, but well, Gallian." I smiled. "We have recovered a priceless object that seems to hold the characteristics of your happy snake engine, but far more advanced than anything seen before. Your aid would be priceless-and you would be paid..."

"Oh my, that is interesting indeed for a proposition!" Jean said, "At the end of the year-"

I shook my head. "Rather, right now," I said. "If you were to accept and come right now, it would be for the best."

Jean's eyes widened in disbelief, "But with such a short notice the students would be...it is tempting, but why can it not wait until the end of the year? Is it something really that urgent?"

"Yes," I said with a nod. "Saying any more would be dangerous, but...It is urgent, so urgent in fact that I have come here in person to request your aid, because the importance of it cannot be discounted."

"Even so...I would like to know what it is about before accepting such an alluring option," Professor Colbert said.

I sighed, and passed a hand through my hair. "Well," I said. "We have acquired the Dragon's Raiment from the village of Tarbes, and we are seeking to recreate the feats of flight that it supposedly has. Before you start laughing at the impossibility of it, know that it actually does work on a model similar to your happy snake engine-if with far more advanced equipment."

"The dragon's raiment?" Professor Colbert furrowed his brows. "I understand your highness, but to subject my students to problems because of this sort of thing...I must respectfully decline-"

"I...I unfortunately will not take no for an answer, professor Colbert," I said gently. "I mean, I would love to, I really would love it if all of this could be done peacefully, but...I will convince you," I awkwardly glanced away. "Even if it means opening sore wounds that have no right to be opened."

"And what could you possibly say to convince me?" Professor Colbert asked, his voice now slightly harder than before.

I grimaced. "The burning of Angleterre," I locked eyes with him. "You lead the squad that incinerated that whole village. When you realized it wasn't the plague, you managed to bring one survivor to safety and then you ran away from your responsibilities," I narrowed my eyes. "You burned those people-and you didn't even stay to face your judgment." I bared my teeth. "Men, women-even the children, professor. They all burned. I wonder if you felt like a hero when that happened-"

"We were lied to!" Colbert snapped, angrily glaring at me. "The plague could have spread anywhere-it was only later that I realized it wasn't like that-"

"You may lie to yourself and your conscience," I hissed at him, "but you cannot hide what you've done...especially when you are, in the middle of it all, a victim too." I sighed, scratching the back of my head. "I really do not like using this method, but...the ones who ordered you to burn that village was Richmon, the man in charge of the high court of justice. He earned himself a lot of ecus to do the deed," I crossed my arms behind my back as I looked at him, his face growing paler by the second. "There was never an official royal order for it. The plague was a pretext. It was a pretext to remove dissidents, as you understood, it was a pretext to burn the independent fools of D'Angleterre...and most of all, it was a pretext by one Vittorio Severare to claim the ruby ring of Fire from the corpse of his very own mother," I smiled softly as I looked straight into Colbert's eyes. "That Ruby Ring...is something the current Pope wished for and paid for with the blood of innocents. And I say that when we cast stones into the ocean, professor-we must expect those ripples to come back to us."

I shook my head. "They may come back in good measure to haunt us with tidal waves after all."

I sighed. "You still have in your possession the Ruby ring of fire, am I not wrong?"

Colbert hesitantly nodded. "You might wonder how I patched it all together, and I'd really love to answer that as well but...it's not something for foreigners to know of," I grimaced. "I did not plan to come here to open wounds...but there are some things you need to know, important things...your vice-captain, Menvil-he still lives, and he is seeking you out for his revenge. If you were to stay here, and he were to catch wind of your location-he would threaten the safety of the students, and of my sister to begin with," I shook my head sharply. "I implore you to at least find yourself another employment not at the academy here. I will handsomely pay you-"

"Menvil...he is still looking for me?" Colbert mumbled, shaking his head as he sat down on the nearest chair. "I thought I had left it all behind. Out of all of this-the Pope is perhaps the last thing I worry of."

"Well, you ran away from your troubles, but...troubles always come back to us until they've dealt with," I mused as I neared the prototype of the happy snake engine. "You would have your own team of like minded mages, and Germanian metalcrafters-the finest of them all," I acquiesced. "You would have funds, and money-you could still even teach classes, I am sure there would be students willing to lie about their age to follow them."

Jean Colbert still hesitated.

"I will not lie to you," I said calmly, "I will be using the engine, and the discoveries you made for war, but...that does not mean I will not use them for peace either. If a machine can fly without magic, then think about what we could achieve from such power-fields could be tilled by machines, the commoners could go around the whole country upon machines that would bring them from one point to another without tiring them-there are so many good things that can come from this," I pushed through, nearing him and kneeling in front of him much to his surprise. "Please, accept."

"There are a lot of good reasons to accept, but even so...even then...I swore never to use my fire magic for destruction again."

"I will not ask you that," I said firmly. "When someone enters my army, I tell them that they enter a new family. They do not believe it at first, but they are always surprised when it turns out it's true. Among them...among them there is the one young child you saved twenty years ago from the fires of D'Angleterre," I grabbed hold of his hand gently. "Her whole life, she has spent seeking vengeance for her pain. I do not wish that for her, and I do not wish to see misery or sadness. If a peaceful solution can be found-then I'll strive hard towards it."

"You are good with your words," Jean muttered, "You know...your highness, when it came to your name-there were many options. The reason why Vicious won out...was in your eyes. If, even after all of this, were I to say no...what would you do?"

I sighed, and stood back up. "I'd let you be, of course. I-I do not intend to bring harm to people, and threatening them to follow is stupid. I would have to find other people though, that much is certain-" I grumbled, scratching the side of my cheek. "Perhaps more Germanians?"

"I'll come," Jean said in the end, standing up from his chair and moving to the side of to recover from a small box a shining red ruby, which he turned to hand me with a grimace upon his face. "This is..."

I looked at it, and then nodded, my index and thumb picking it up with a grimace on my own face.

"No village should ever be burned for a single piece of jewelry," I whispered, my eyes narrowed as I gazed at the reflection of the fire burning within the gem itself. "The Pope will pay for what he did."

"I will need to tell the headmaster about this," Jean said with a sigh.

"We'll stay here just a few more days," I replied with a small awkward smile. "It should be enough to give you time to pack your things and settle your affairs with the school. If there are any expenses, by all mean forward them to me and I will gladly pay them."

I extended a hand towards him, and he looked at it in surprise. "A handshake," I said. "It is how I welcome my men."

"I...I will not be part of your army-" Jean mumbled.

"Research and Development is a subsection of Supply and Logistics, which in turn stands for one of the three main branches of my army. The second is Infrastructure and Management, and the third are the actual military corps. So..." I held the hand up.

Jean blinked in perplexity as he grabbed the hand.

I gave him a gentle, but firm shake.

"Welcome to the family, Lord Colbert."

The pact is sealed.

 

[shadenight123]

Chapter One Hundred and Ten

By the end of my stay at the academy, the right type of men had already mapped the place, and the areas they needed to enter. If I stole from the academy on the same day of my departure, it would raise eyebrows. Nothing prohibited taking mental images and recreating them on paper for a future endeavor however. One that would be left in the hands of knights more suited for this kind of wet work.

Thus, I faced the dragon.

No, rather than call her a dragon, it would be more righteous to call her a bear.

She was in a good mood though, which spoke volumes about how things were going on her side of the barricade. Her office wasn't filled to the brim with papers, but it wasn't unusual for servants to come by and deliver this or that notice or letter for her to read. Honestly, she was an earnest hard worker, and would make for a good queen. At the same time, it was clear that the only reason she was so overworked was specifically because she sought out the power of an Absolute Monarchy.

If a King wishes to rule over everything and everyone, then they must also take care of everything and everyone.

"Lord Richelieu has failed in keeping up with his promises twice now, if he does so a third time, send him a reminder of the loans he still owns the Crown," she spoke with a clipped tone to a nearby servant, who bowed as he made for a hasty retreat at my sight by the doorway. Isabella's face was framed with a pair of thin golden rimmed glasses, the bags under her eyes hidden away.

"Dear," I said with a small smile as I knocked at the side of the office's open door, "How are you feeling?"

"Tired," Isabella grumbled, putting down her quill and stretching on her chair, extending both arms to one side, "I want my husband here-come on," she grumbled, and I drew closer with a chuckle. Her face pressed against my chest, she sighed in relief. "Have you succeeded in whatever father sent you to do?" she asked next, pulling herself begrudgingly away and removing her glasses from the bridge of her nose.

"I'm working on it," I acquiesced as I took a seat by her side, rather than in front of her. "I've acquired the services of the famous Flame Snake, the Dragon's Raiment has been brought into the folds of the Royal Academie, and the first batch of rifles is ready for testing..." I grinned. "Do you need a hand? I can still crunch out some numbers if you need-"

"No, no, it's fine," Isabella shook her head with a chuckle. "All of this is my problem to deal with," she grumbled, dropping her head against my arm, "Ah...why can't all the nobles just be like my Henry?" she sighed. "Is it too much to ask for punctuality with their reports?"

"Is someone giving you troubles, my dear?" I asked softly, my left hand gingerly moving around her shoulders to pat her head. "Just say the name-"

"Ah..." Isabella exhaled, "No, I'll deal with them in my own way." She yawned, and pulled away. "You should go deal with your army. If you stay here, I won't get any work done anytime soon," she pouted. "Also, you have to explain why you had so many furnaces built by your mages-are we gearing up for war? Is that what father didn't want to tell me?"

"Nothing of the sorts," I replied. "Just planning on building something really big, and thus there is a need for a lot of furnaces to go along with it." I grinned. "Also...there is something I need your help with, my dear Isabella."

Isabella blinked, rubbing her eyes. "I must be more tired than I thought," she mumbled. "My Henry, asking for my help? Are you sure?"

I nodded, and pulled out from within my sleeve a couple dozen of parchments with the drawings of the magic academy of Tristain. "There will be a need for the Staff of Destruction from within the treasury of the Tristain's School of Magic, documents from within its secret archives and a ring held by a Water spirit within the depths of the Ragdorian lake," I awkwardly flipped a page, "Also, the Royal Tristain Treasury possesses the Founder's Holy Book, the original copy which is utterly blank-"

"All of these things..." Isabella mumbled, looking at the papers in question, "This is...father's gone mad," she closed her eyes and swallowed. "Did...Did he tell you why you had to come to me, my Henry?" she asked that, but her voice was slightly trembling.

I blinked. "He didn't," and to that, Isabella sighed in relief and breathed in and out deeply.

"Thank the gods," she mumbled, before shaking her head. "I guess this is a lot of things you ask of me, dear husband. How are you going to pay for them, I wonder? My services do not come cheap." She smiled at that.

"Uhm...if all of my love is not enough, then..." I turned thoughtful, "If I am not wrong, you could use some rest somewhere without all of these papers," I gave her a gentle kiss on the side of her temple, "We could take a vacation on the shores of the Ragdorian lake once more?"

"Is that so?" Isabella mumbled with a smile, dropping her head again with her eyes closed as my arms encircled her. "Oh Henry-I'd love that. But if I leave these things as they are-I do not wish the moniker of being a foolish princess like father, or a foolish Queen-" she sighed.

"There is such a thing as overworking oneself to death," I mumbled back. "So, as your husband, I'm taking you on a vacation."

"Oh? You'd order around a Princess like that, uh?" Isabella grinned, her eyes closed.

"One week from now," I said. "What do you say?"

"You win, my Henry. You win," she answered with a giggle. "But now, seriously, go before I get further behind on my work schedule."

I nodded, and stood up. "See you at dinner," I said with a grin.

"See you," Isabella said with a parting smile as I left the office -four servants entering in quick succession soon after that with more letters for her. As I walked past them and through the hallways of the palace of Grand Troyes, my eyes briefly shared the vision of Raven's form, resting upon his perch on the Night Wind mast with a dozen of small versions of himself perched all around it.

"Raven," I mumbled, a hand in front of my mouth as if I were yawning, "How are things going?"

His vision showed me the arrival of Colbert, his descent and his welcoming by the Germanian and Gallian alchemists and Earth and Fire mages, and then his disappearance in the Academie of Lutece. He'd be fine.

"Love you," Raven mumbled softly.

"Love you too," I muttered back.

I grimaced as I came to an abrupt halt.

"My goggles of magic perception told me you would be here!" a hand raised in front of her, Anne Mallard looked at me with a bright grin, the runes on her forehead covered by a thick black bandanna as she held a pair of wood-rimmed glasses on her face. "Joseph wants to talk to you, so you should head over!"

She had a long dark cloak covering her body, but below it I was sure she was packed with objects and leather belts to hold them all in her place. Joseph had opened the royal treasury to her, and she had jumped into it like a woman would a jewelry that gave off free jewels. Thus, the end result had been that below her cloak, there wasn't a decent dress by any name. There were simply belts. Belts upon belts that formed a sort of horrifyingly perverted dress of sorts and cargo pants. All pockets were rendered magical to allow them to hold more stuff than normal, and practically...

She was practically the Mary Poppins of magical items.

"I understand," I acquiesced. "I'll head over right now."

"Why walk when we can... teleport?" Anne replied cheekily, hopping and grabbing hold of my arm before a circle of shadows surrounded our feet, swallowing us whole. The next second, we were out right in front of Jospeh's form, his eyes twinkling.

"Ah, Henry! Welcome back!" he said with a smile, bottles of wine in front of him and of an empty chair meant for me. There were bottles also in front of Anne's seat, but only one -she wasn't a hefty drinker after all.

"What's the urgent development?" I asked, yawning as I took a seat. "I want to sleep in a bed worthy of its name as soon as possible, Joseph."

"Now, now, to think I even went as far as send Anne to get you, she'll...teleport you into your rooms later," Joseph said with a smile, "Anne here wants to see the world outside of the palace," he added gesturing at Anne, who grinned in turn. "Since you'll be gone for long periods of time, why not bring her along?"

I blinked, and sighed uncorking the first of the many bottles of wine in front of me.

"Can't she just teleport wherever she wants?" I muttered, taking a sip. This one was a fruity mixture, quite nice and mellow.

"I need to have seen the place before doing it," Anne replied. "The more places I see, the better." She made a pout. "Come on, it's an order from your king, so shouldn't you say yes anyway?"

I sighed once more. "I have plans next week to spend time with my wife by the Ragdorian lake-alone."

"I promise I won't peep," Anne said with a nod, a hand on her heart. "You won't even realize I'm there! I've found the cloak of invisibility too! Well-not really, but...it's similar enough, I guess?"

"Do take her along, Henry," Joseph said, finishing his first of many bottles. "Show her around your barracks and stuff like that. She's been one year inside the palace, she should get used to the outside world too."

"Very well," I pinched the bridge of my nose, and said nothing more. "If that is all-tomorrow morning I'll take her for a trip of the capital," I grumbled as I stood up, draining half the bottle and then plopping it back down on the table with a sigh. "I'll go get some rest."

With that said, I turned to leave.

"Wait a moment," I blinked. "Does this mean there's no limit to the distance your...teleport can cover?"

"There is a limit," Anne sighed, "But it's not important since I can make multiple jumps."

"Oh well," I shrugged. "Night."

"It's the middle of the day, Henry," Joseph pointed out, but I simply waved goodbye and headed for my rooms.

Derflinger wasn't, surprisingly, in Tristain's blacksmith shop yet. It had yet to arrive, apparently. Well, whatever. I'd get him later and hand him over to the Gandalfr. Hopefully-no, it couldn't be Saito, just like it hadn't been Sheffield.

Whoever would come...I could only hope they were capable of listening to reason.

Once the servants were done changing my clothes, I dropped down on my bed and fell asleep, my tiredness seeping into my very bones.

Weather changes were still mood-killers in this world as they were in the other, apparently.

 

[shadenight123]

Omake - Isabella's Magical Marital Adventures

Isabella was pretty sure she was a good wife. What other wife understands that a husband's duties would take him away for long period of times? What other wife would understand her husband's softness when it came to misers and paupers and commoners? She was sure that if it weren't for her, he'd sometimes even thank the commoners for their jobs. He certainly wasn't one to mince praise, but the fact that he gave it so freely to everyone-muh, he should have praised her, and her alone!

Her earnestness had captivated him, and while she was sure that it hadn't been love at first -she had been a child, who'd love a child?- it had grown to be love in the end. He cared, he was interested, and he was there. She had but to pout, and he'd ask what was wrong. It was so easy to string him along too. She could feign a headache, and he'd take time to spend it by her bedside. She could say she felt under the weather, and he'd tell her stories all day with that soft-spoken voice of his that filled her mind with wonders.

She had exchanged correspondence with his twin sister and his other sisters to find out more about him, and they all concurred, if with different words, that Henry didn't really have preferences, because he liked everyone and was liked by everyone. It was so strange-the oldest said that he could go for hours without saying a peep, simply reading books and enjoying silence. The twin said that he was great with animals, especially those with feathers and would run around mimicking their sounds, or telling stories. The youngest said that her brother was the best ever and to give him back to her or she'd blow her up with magic.

Lulu was quite the cute kid, which was why Isabella decided not to have her head cut off for the insolence. Also, it would make Henry sad, and she'd rather not make him sad.

The problem was that when birthdays came around, she really had no idea what to gift him. He had the easy way out, because she was simply fascinated with his stories, but she? She had to wrack her brain and think about it a lot. One year, she had the servants bring him a golden chain to tie to his swordwand's handle, and after a few weeks he had stopped sporting it. She hadn't asked about it -even though it had hurt- but it had helped her get a good idea on what he actually liked, since fancy jewels and goldsmith's accessories were out, she had to look at the more practical approach.

She would have bought him a hippogriff, but he was already spending time with his familiar, if she bought him another fluffy feathered companion, she'd never see him again -of that, she was sure. She had even made it an official-but-not-really order that whoever brought up even the mention of hippogriffs would be thrown inside the darkest and coldest cell of the dungeons never to see the light of the day again, and everyone had obliged.

He liked exotic things though, so she decided to try various things. Objects from the far east, especially those that held no apparent function but to be heavy paper holders captivated him the most.

Square, block shaped things with metallic thin needles on one extremity, strange rubbery objects shaped in rectangles, stuff that to her meant nothing and probably had no use were gifts that her Henry adored above all the others. He even made a room for them, so-so it was clear this was what interested him.

That and helping people.

Her Henry wasn't as good as her in dealing with nobles. He did say he had the bluntness of a sledgehammer, so...if a miser came begging for work, he'd give them a job. Even if they were spies, he'd still bleed his heart open for them.

So she had to take things in her hands and ensure that the only people spying on her husband were her own. She had executed a few servants who relayed information to other nobles or foreign powers, had given the order to torture a few more -a couple were innocents, but oh well, they were commoners, a sous in an ecu while her Henry was one of a kind- and she had made sure that those nobles who thought they could use her husband changed their minds, and if not...well, there were enough nobles to go around that one more or one less dead by accident wouldn't have mattered anyway.

The Knights of the North Parterre were the best at their job, be it spying, protecting, or assassinating targets. They required payment, but they did their jobs with minimum fuss.

Didn't matter who she asked them to kill, be it a daughter of a fallen Noble who was stirring up trouble in Brittany, random troublemakers making her husband's job more difficult, or nobles that refused to follow his orders on minimum wages and controversial things-she knew that when he said Noblesse Oblige he meant it, which was endearingly childish on his side, but also problematic for the nobles who were used to sleeping on their laurels.

Replacing the nobles with others, taking care of problems-everything required a lot of time.

But it was all worth it to see him smile at her.

The more territory was under direct control of the Crown, the worst it got. At the same time, his Petite Armé had done some good. Among the many fallen nobles there, a few caught his eyes enough that when he came asking if there was land that could be given to them to take care of, she had taken the chance and disposed of quite a bit of problematic lands into their hands.

Yet, deep down, she knew she was a shameful woman. If he knew the things she did to keep his dreams afloat, if he knew how many peoples were screaming in the dungeon cells because of her orders, if he knew just what sort of sinful woman she was...he'd never look at her with those loving eyes of his any longer.

She probably wouldn't be able to survive if he did that.

Thus, when he came to her with his request, she felt dread. She felt fear. If he knew-what would he say? If he knew, what would he do? If he knew...would he still forgive her? She would need to talk to her father, ensure his lips were sealed and never set loose upon this particular detail, because if they weren't...

Then, the gods would forgive her for this, but she would rather become a patricide then lose the love of her life.

If you killed a king, another could be put in place.

If you killed love...then nothing could be done to restore the pieces together.

And if someone dared to as much as hurt her love...

...then she would ensure their last days of Halkeginia would be more painful than those of hell itself.

 

[shadenight123]

Chapter One Hundred and Eleven

Isabella was truly a darling. I had merely made a request, but I hadn't thought she'd need but a few weeks to get me what I asked for, nor did I think that it would take her a couple of days at most to ensure a group of alchemists willing to work on the staff of destruction -after I had told them about my intuition on not pushing the trigger with the strange explosive thing in it. I had been true to my word with professor Colbert, and hadn't asked him to research deadly weapons, or anything that wasn't related to the Zero's engine. There were other alchemists who were more than willing to take into exam the priming mechanism of the Zero Fighter's machineguns, recreating them with ease through the use of magic.

There was no need for complicated industries that created singular modular pieces to be then put together. An Alchemist could, with the right reagents and time, create a rifle out of a whole piece of iron or steel. The costs were indeed exorbitant -mainly because fallen nobles or not, this sort of unique type of work required great care- but at the same time, considering just how easily Joseph had managed to find the money to build his fleet...

Let us just say that the concept of Anti-Air guns took another turn when I somehow had the intuition of putting four Spitfire Zero-like machineguns upon a movable base that spun around a fixed emplacement.

Colbert might have created the entirety of the Windland's main propulsion, and his skills with a couple of pointers -intuitions, once more- from my side had ensured it would actually be slightly better at holding itself up, but in the end, Wind Stones were still needed to make it fly.

The Windland wasn't merely a flying exploration ship. That sort of thing, I left to Canon. The Windland was a carrier ship for ships. It was the Death Star of flying ships. It was a fortress on its own right armed to the teeth and capable of holding not a mere full complement of soldiers, but a whole invasion force if the need arose.

It was perhaps an affront to the physics of the whole world, and it was a costly endeavor to hold afloat or to make fly, but the fact was simple.

It could fly.

"I've gotta admit this thing is big," Anne whistled from my side as she stared up at one of the thick iron plated that were being soldiered on with fire magic to a side wall of the Windland.

"You do not have things this big back home?" I asked her, and she quietly thought about it before shaking her head.

"This thing's as big as the Tour Eiffel," she mumbled, "Perhaps even bigger-and it flies?"

"Why wouldn't it?" I remarked. "Alchemists have worked on hardening and lightening up the material-Windstones are used to keep it stable, and the strange fuel recovered from the Dragon's engine has been successfully recreated-"

"The plane," Anne said. "It's a plane."

I hummed nonchalantly, nodding. Crafting something like a giant flying fortress was quite the expenditure, but it had its practical reasons. Rather than conquer a city, for example, why not plop down a city from the skies to serve as a forward base for an invasion? Once it was airborne, and reached for Albion-then one would need but to put it down somewhere and let the Albion force come for it.

One could use magic to detect magic, and while the Windstones per se were only slightly magical, they needed to have willpower poured into them to activate their abilities, which in turn made them far more magical than their normal, inert state.

Perfect targets for magic-seeking missiles filled with a mixture of plane fuel and capable of flight not through propulsion, but through the use of the Soaring spell. This was something Jean had theorized as possible, and had done -in Canon- if with far less lethal intentions.

"I realized something," I said suddenly as I glanced at Anne, the young woman blinking briefly before turning to look at me. "I asked you once, but you didn't answer me. What was it that you wanted? Deep down...what did you desire?"

Anne furrowed her brows, and then shrugged. "Well-I wouldn't have answered being a kick-ass magical girl," she said nonchalantly, "but it is pretty cool. Also, hot boys. I would have wanted all the hot boys I could have." She smiled leisurely. "But now-I guess I dunno," she stretched, "I kind of like this thing, but at the same time...I don't know what to do with my life. Like, yeah, I'm a familiar and if Joseph asks I might be inclined to help him out but at the end of the day, what do I do in my free time? I don't have any lofty goals like your I want to rule the world or-"

"I do not wish to rule the world," I replied pointedly, "I merely wish for the world to stop being stupid. If they won't understand it through words, then I'll slap sense into it. Repeatedly, if necessary." I nodded once, most wisely.

"Yeah, right," she pointed a finger at one of the anti-air emplacements, "That one's called Diplomacy, the one next to it is Friendly Handshake, and over there," she pointed at a missile position, "We have Friendship. I am sure that's just how you go about not ruling the world."

I shrugged, "It is when we have power, that our true self is revealed," I clipped. "It is easy for the weak man to say that he is kind and good, for he has no way of doing true evil. The one with the powers over the life and death of an individual -those are the ones that show their true character."

"You really are an old man," Anne said. "All Zen and shit-"

"You still haven't answered me," I replied gently. "What did you really wish for? I doubt it was something as silly as hot boys. Where would you find a burning boy anyway?"

"Burning? No! Hot means-nah, I'll drop this," she mumbled, pushing a lock of her hazel hair behind her right ear, "Maybe I just...dunno, wanted to make a difference. Having unlimited magical powers of doom and cool are the icing on the cake, really," she grinned and propped her chin quite high, "I am the holy Mind of God, quite important I might say, quite important indeed."

"And now?" I asked. "Will you bask in the glory and powers you have until you grow bored of it?"

"What are you trying to say?" Anne asked, puzzled.

"You have power. You wished to make a difference. How much of a difference can you possibly ever make by simply enjoying your powers without using them?" I remarked offhandedly.

Anne crossed her arms in front of her chest, beneath her cloak -the movement was noticeable even with her body covered. "And what should I do? I couldn't leave the palace for a year in order to learn what the world was like, and now...now I don't know. I mean, we got rid of nobility by cutting nobles' head off, and here we have nobles that can cut people's head off with the flick of a wrist," she sighed. "I just want to have fun. I can think about my future when I'm older."

"Ah, right," I nodded. "You are a child by your world's standards," I said with a small smirk. "Such a strange thing..."

"Oi," she narrowed her eyes, staring at me with a sour expression. "I'm not a little kid."

"Then you are an adult," I pointed out. "You are either unable to withstand the weight of responsibilities, or you are. There is no in-between, Miss Mallard," I hummed. "That is all that marks the difference between a child and an adult. The ability to be responsible for oneself -age really is not a factor in that."

"You done preaching?" Anne asked, huffing.

"Never," I replied with a lazy smile. "Us adults have a responsibility to educate the new generations," I brought my right hand down to pat her head, and she disappeared in the shadows that instant, only to reappear on my shoulders, her left hand closed in a fist to rub her knuckles against my head.

"Here you go you condescending asshole! Let's see how you like it!" as she rubbed my scalp furiously, I hissed and weathered the storm, her right arm surrounding my neck in a choke-like manner.

"Gah!" I gasped after a few seconds of this torture, my composed manner leaving the place to the desire not to die strangled, and thus I grabbed her arm and pulled her off, easily pushing her away as I took deep lungful of air. "Control yourself-"

"You didn't expect that, did-" Anne began, smiling.

The next second, her face was literally on the ground with enough strength that I heard the bones crunch as a pistol was primed against the back of her head. Anne disappeared engulfed by the ground, leaving the heroic soldier to blink in surprise as the young girl reappeared behind me, a hand clutching her bleeding nose, her face covered in dirt and dust.

"It's fine!" I said with a hand raised, "It's fine. She was just playing, nothing to be worried about-" I looked at the soldier who had thrown her down and smiled. "Thank you for your intervention-"

"Your highness-I am unworthy of such praise," the man said as he kept his head low in a kneeling position.

"Now, now!" I grinned, patting his shoulders. The man couldn't be older than eighteen, or perhaps nineteen. He was one of the guards assigned to patrolling and protecting the workers and the construction of the Windland -there were basically more than five fully armed complements of musketeers doing the round and ensuring nobody unauthorized entered or left, together with half a dozen of knights. "Do stand up, you did well enough-"

"He broke my nose," Anne's voice came out muffled as blood was indeed pouring down her broken nose, "He broke my nose!" she exclaimed, her face red with anger. "He broke my nose!" as she extended a strange rod of sorts, I widened my eyes as a fiery sphere of fire left it.

My hand moved deftly to my swordwand, "Wind!" a thundering shield of air intercepted the fire, smothering it in mid-air before it could actually hit the man.

And then my eyes narrowed as Anne dropped the magical rod and kept trying to clutch her broken nose, her hands a few inches away from it as she didn't know what to do towards it.

This was the main reason I didn't want Joseph to give her access to the entire treasury of magical items that Gallia possessed, but did he listen? Did he?

No, of course he didn't.

 

[shadenight123]

Chapter One Hundred and Twelve

Repairing a broken nose was a matter of a simple chant of water to dull the nerves and then putting it back into place before using another chant to repair the damage done. Calming down from doing anything stupid a teenager girl wasn't that easy, unfortunately. We were in one of the infirmaries used by the workers in case a work-related injury happened -I was a really good man, forcing them to wear helmets and stuff because I respected dutifully the construction laws of the future, even in a world where such trifling things were not needed since, broken a commoner, you could always buy another.

Seriously, that sort of shit didn't fly well with me. It didn't fly well with me at all.

"He broke my nose! It hurt! What's your problem now!?" she snapped, arms crossed in a huff as I finished putting her face back together. "So it's fine if others hurt me, but it's not if I do?!"

I stared at her. "To fix your broken nose, it took me ten minutes," I said. "To fix the flesh of a burnt man...how long do you think it would take?"

"Dunno, a chant of five seconds?" she snorted, her eyes angrily on me. "You can just magic the problem away, can't you?"

"So...you would let a man experience the painful sensation of burning flesh," I said nonchalantly as I stared at her. "He did his duty. When you assaulted me, he came to defend me. You were the one who acted out of place," I continued. "The world where you come from might be more uncaring about that sort of things, and I might let you off the hook for it, but others will not, because they do not know you, or the reason behind your actions."

"But he hurt me-he's not going to get punished for that?" Anne asked, her fists clenched on her legs.

I sighed. "I did not say that," I pointed out. "But it's one thing to verbally reprimand-"

"He broke my nose! Just because I'm not one of your toy soldiers-"

"They are not my toy soldiers!" I snarled, slamming my right hand against the nearby table. "They are living human beings! Had the roles been reversed, I would do the same thing!" I bared my teeth, "This is why I was against it. Reacting to being in pain is one thing-reacting by trying to murder someone else is not! If you can't see the difference between hurting someone and trying to kill them-then perhaps you shouldn't have been allowed to leave the palace to begin with!"

"God, you're such a hypocrite! I guess it's normal for you to think that commoners should just bend over and get fucked by others, but I don't give a shit about that! I'm not a commoner-I'm not one of your people, and I don't care!" she yelled at me with a sharp screeching voice. "He broke my nose! Why are you such an asshole? Aren't I your king's precious familiar? You should have had him punished! You should have-"

I exhaled, shaking my head slowly. "You..." I mumbled, "You don't get it, do you?" I sighed, and closed my eyes taking deep breaths all the while.

"What? What is there to get? I got hurt, and nobody's going to be punished for it, hurray me!"

I remained quiet. "Well? You got nothing to say? You done being a preaching righteous ass?"

I opened my eyes with a sigh and a small smile. "Perhaps you're right," I looked at her. "I'll have him executed. Would you like to do the honors of beheading him?"

"What?" she widened her eyes. "Executed?"

"Of course, you are the King's familiar, an extension of him-what he did was clearly assault on the King, high treason. I'll have to execute him, and arrest the people close to him. I wonder if he has kids-or a wife, well, it doesn't matter because soon they'll be begging for money in a corner of the streets. Then again, I guess what's fair is fair. Perhaps I should have let you burn his face right off, melt his flesh, break his muscles, char his bones. No, you know what? You wanted to burn him, so I reckon I'll have to set up a pyre and burn him. Did you know that they scream quite a lot while they burn alive? I suppose you would, since you seem to be keen on getting him punished," I crossed my arms in front of my chest. "So? Want to go burn him right now?"

"I-" Anne looked at me, and I looked back at her, with my face stern and serious. "No, forget it." She looked down at her hands.

"Noblesse Oblige," I said softly, her eyes glancing back up at me. "Nobility obliges us," I chuckled. "We are nobles, and thus we have responsibilities. We have responsibilities, therefore we are nobles. That is how it is. To be a noble, it means having the power to rip and kill thousands with but the moving of a wand...and yet not using such powers unless necessary. Your power, to use all magical objects-it brings you on par with nobles, but you cannot take only the good that it entails, and forget about the duties you must uphold." I smiled. "From great power, comes great responsibility."

She nodded, and then stopped mid-nod.

"Did...did you just quote Spider-Man?" she looked up at me, and I blinked, my eyebrows rising both at the same time.

"Uh?"

"That-where did you hear that from?" she asked.

"Oh, it's just something I found fitting to say," I shrugged nonchalantly, "With having great power as nobles, it is obvious we must have great responsibilities. Why? Is this...spider man someone from your world? Is he a monster similar to a spider?"

"Ah-No! He's...he's a superhero I guess," she said. "He was bitten by a radioactive spider, and so acquired super strength, and the ability to swing from buildings and cast webs-"

I tapped my chin thoughtfully, "Uh...what does radioactive mean? And superhero? Is it a hero that is...for supper? Do they eat him or something-"

Anne laughed at that, shaking her head. "No! No-he's a super hero because...I guess because he does heroic things while having powers other people don't have-and radioactive, it's...well, nuclear power is like, when you take things and split them up-really small things, these atoms, you split them and they explode, and in so doing you create a large amount of energy which we use to power up things. Radiation is dangerous to humans, and it makes them sick-"

"So...shouldn't this Spider Man die when bitten?" I remarked.

"No! Because see, in the world of superheroes, radiation usually gives powers instead, like flying, super-strength, telekinesis-stuff like that! So, anyway, this Spider-Man is just an average everyday guy who gets bitten by a radioactive spider and he becomes a superhero, but at first, he uses his power to earn money and lets a thief get away with his own robbery...only for his uncle to then die by the hand of the robber that he could have stopped, but didn't because he didn't care-so that's where that sentence, from great power comes great responsibility, comes into play."

I furrowed my brows. "Is this a successful book in your world?" I asked, my poker face absolutely perfected over the course of decades.

"It's not a book, it's-well, it's based on a comic-book, which is an ensemble of images put together...and a movie-"

My lips twitched in a nostalgic smile as I played the part of the ignorant Middle Ages noble.

Ah...what wouldn't I have given for a cinema.

 

[shadenight123]

Chapter One Hundred and Thirteen

The marching of soldiers in prim and proper lines with their rifles held by their sides was a majestic way of showing off a country's strength to their own people, and that was why the uniforms had to be pristine, the soldiers fit and tall, and the marching synchronized to perfection.

"It's like watching one of those old history films about Nazism," Anne said from my side, and I inwardly held back a breath and a curse. The hell? They were marching in parade, and all of the things you had to compare them to, you had to pick the Nazis? Why? What did they do? They're holding the banners of Gallia, they're proudly displaying their heritage and-no, you know what? I am not supposed to grow offended since I shouldn't know what Nazism is.

"Oh?" I blinked. "What is this...Nazism?"

"Nothing," Anne said, perhaps for once wising up to her own words -a miracle by itself. "Nothing important." I returned my gaze to the marching lines, and smiled briefly. Learning how to march in formation was important, but perhaps more important still was the fact that fairness in the ranks was absolute. Both men and women wore the same trousers, had the same uniforms, and had the same rights. There were, of course, differences in certain areas of their lives that had been thoughtfully been taken care of, but Agnes wasn't alone in the army as a woman.

Equality. Fraternity. Liberty.

This was-

"Your grace," General De Montpassant neared me with a smile. The man had been picked from a prestigious family that owed most of its livelihood due to commerce with the Crown of Gallia. Isabella had suggested him, not just because a General had to be someone from an important noble family, but also because it had to be someone loyal to the crown. "I hope you are enjoying this small thing we put together to honor your arrival-" as he spoke, I hummed and looked at the divisions standing still and to attention, not one of them moving an inch out of line or position.

My eyes gazed at the tip of the gleaming bayonets mounted upon their rifles, and as I gave one curt nod, I smiled. "You have done well, General," I smiled. "They should number four thousands, am I wrong?" I asked, looking at the General who nodded in turn.

"Indeed, your Highness-four thousand soldiers-"

"Increase the recruitment effort," I said plainly. "I want the numbers multiplied by ten by the end of the year."

"T-Ten times?!" the General mumbled, "But-such an amount of...where would we house them?"

"Do not worry, they will be shipped out soon enough," I said, gazing back at the four thousands. "I have thought about it, and have come to the conclusion that a military that is not there for its people is not a military worth much. So, I have instituted the Gendarmerie Act. Small outposts capable of housing hundreds of soldiers at a time are being built all across Gallia, to act as a first line of warning and defense in case of an unexpected attack."

"The situation in the White Country has worsened so much?" the General asked, his eyes taking on a worrisome expression. He was perhaps thinking about it. From the pro-law, the idea was sound enough. A hundred men were a pittance against a full armada from Albion, but they could quickly scatter in all directions, most would elude capture, and link up with other Gendarmeries bolstering their numbers as they alerted more and more troops along the way.

Those against such a law were stating how it basically gave the Monarchy power to ensure the laws would be respected without going to the Lords, basically putting them on shelves. At the same time, some nobles were instead not seeing the bigger picture, and instead happy they didn't have to leave their homes. Others lamented the loss of pieces of land where the buildings would be constructed.

The villagers were on one side kind-of happy in having some trained soldiers keeping an eye on their villages, and on the other wondering if it meant increased taxes.

It didn't, but mostly because Joseph was, and had perhaps transmitted down to Isabella, the shrewd political and economical acumen of a shark in a pool filled with bleeding lambs. It was terrifying, but while he had been ridiculed as the foolish prince, and while as a King he was mostly concerned about his next bottle of wine, in order to reach his next bottle of wine he first had to do stuff, and do it well enough for Isabella's standards. Thus, he did it not just fast enough to make dozens of men blink in surprise, but he also did it extremely well.

All in all, Gallia was arming up for war. This was clear, it was so clear, it was no use hiding it. Even as no other country remarked on it, it was on the lips of everyone, and the only question was on the when it would be declared.

"It has," I acquiesced to the general's worried expression. "Only few lands remain under royal control, and the King and Prince of Albion have retreated into the areas of Newcastle. They no longer have a way out of it. The hope is that they hold on until next year," I looked back at the soldiers standing still to attention. "And that we will be ready. Dismiss the men for now. Tell them I'm pleased. If there are any grievances, tell them that today I will be listening to them personally."

The general nodded, and then barked with a loud enough voice to raise the very dead. "Men! Your Prince is pleased! And if he's pleased, then I'm pleased too! You are dismissed for now! His Highness shall be listening to your grievances for today, but don't waste his time!"

The lines of soldiers saluted and moved away from the courtyard in an orderly manner. I walked towards the offices left for my own use in case of my visit, and as I took a seat, Anne plopped down on a nearby chair, curiously glancing at the library's selection with vivid interest.

The first soldier that stepped inside was a starry eyed teenager the same age as Anne, and as a grievance, it was a minor fact that he hadn't received the package his mother had sent him -which implied that a soldier that had been assigned checking the mail had stolen his stuff. I nodded, told the boy I would ensure someone would check on it as soon as possible, and he went on his way with the biggest smile possible on his face.

"I don't get it," Anne mumbled. "You just told him someone's going to check on it-why did he thank you like you gave him paid vacations?"

"Because I listened to him," I replied gently. "I understood and acknowledged his problems, and promised I would look into it. Since the word of a noble is pretty important, he is now reassured."

"He came all the way to you-" Anne began, but as another soldier entered soon after, she remained quiet as I spoke with the man. He was having troubles breathing and his hip had been giving up on him for a couple of months. He really wanted to make the difference and aid the Crown, but he had been confined to peeling potatoes because there were better shots than him.

I sent him on his way with permission to get a Water Mage to fix his hip and to draw the money from the healthcare funds.

"How old was that guy?" Anne asked, blinking in surprise.

"Forty, perhaps fifty," I pointed out. "He must have been a good shot. Since I told the recruiting officers to value aim and skill over endurance, it happens. For some things, patience is key." Left unspoken was that I had been looking to form a sniper unit for the sole purpose of taking down enemy officers from across whole fields.

Anne returned to the library. "Hey-" she said suddenly, "It's been bothering me for a while," she mumbled, "but...why are most of the books here written by a certain Shadow of the Night? There are whole shelves of his books."

"Oh, he's a quite prolific author of children fairy tales and theater plays, alongside novels and brief treaties on certain aspect of every day life," like how not to treat commoners if you expected them not to poison your cup, or how you should always ascertain the truthfulness of statements not just from both parties, but when possible by a third one too-and so forth. They should have been called Common Sense in book form.

"He's wrote all of this? How old is he?" she asked next, grabbing hold of a book and pulling it free from the rest of its brothers to flip through the pages. The Hunchback of Notre-Lord had apparently caught her interest.

"I do not know," I replied even as another soldier slowly came inside with his head low and explained his trouble about his older sister getting married and him not being allowed to go to her wedding. I gave him permission, and as he hastily left, I suddenly found myself with the book being slammed down on the surface of my desk.

"This guy!" she exclaimed, "This-" she pointed at the words at the start, "But you never can run, nor hide what you've done from the eyes...the very eyes of Notre-Lord! Even the names are the same-Frollo here is an evil heretic feigning to be pious, but-but this story, I know it! It comes from my world!"

I blinked. "Are you sure?"

"Yeah!" she said earnestly, "This guy-he must have come from my world! And if he has-then there's got to be a way through!" she smiled, clutching the book's sides.

I looked at her with a small smile, "Well-I can ask around and see if I can manage to wing an encounter with the artist-he is renowned for being pretty reclusive."

"You would?" Anne asked.

"I cannot guarantee I'll find him quickly, but in a few months perhaps I'll have a lead," I said, "What do you say?"

"I'd...I'd like that," she said, nodding as she glanced at the book now firmly in her hands. "Can I...Can I read it?"

"Sure," I said. "Treat it well though."

Anne remained silent for a bit after my last words, and then sat back down on a nearby chair. As she began to carefully turn the pages, another soldier entered. By the time I finished with him, she was still entranced by it, like a child having found hidden candy.

If you want to avoid being found out as the main culprit, simply be the man in charge of leading the investigation.

And if it failed, then...well, the Shadow of the Night would suffer a terrible death by random accident.

I'm sorry, little duckling, but I cannot yet give you the truth.

It is a terrible thing, this truth of ours.