@MinorGryph to be fair on the why Louise isn't taking immediate violent action thing, she is very pious, more so than in canon, she even considered life as a nun and for her it would undoubtedly difficult to attack a prominent religious authority figure like that, no matter how hard he screwed her over.
The Steep Path Ahead [Familiar of Zero AU]
- Thread starter shadenight123
- Start date
- Pronouns
- she/her
I agree, I was just trying to poke fun at FFN reviews by implying they never suggest actions that are in character.
- Location
- Texas
I have to say that the appearance of canon rails here is unexpected, and not especially promising.
The Cardinal has admitted to usurping the authority of the Crown (because neither the King nor the Queen authorized his scheme), and committing an act of war against the Valliere family. Given her previous behavior, Karin should have dragged him in front of the Queen to denounce him and demand his head - and the Queen would have to execute him, or else she's endorsing his actions and effectively declaring war on her most powerful Duchess. Given her personal relationship with Karin they might be able to work out some other resolution, but the idea of Karin just letting the Cardinal go after a few empty threats really isn't believable. Having her kill him out of hand would be more plausible than that.
Meanwhile, retreading the mission to Albion arc doesn't make a lot of sense here because the situation is too different from canon. Here Louise is not a close friend and confidant of the Princess, so there's no plausible reason for the royal family to jump into trusting her with the mission. The fact that Louise was just presented to court as Karin's returned daughter also makes her (at least temporarily) much too famous for a covert mission - everyone is going to be talking about her for the next few weeks, and her appearance is very distinctive. Besides, in the wake of the assassination the letter is no longer a critical issue. If Gallia blames Tristain for the assassination Germania won't complete the alliance unless they're already spoiling for a fight, and if they blame Reconquista half the kings on the continent are liable to ally against these dangerous lunatics out of self-preservation. Either way Henrietta's virtue or lack thereof is irrelevant.
The Cardinal has admitted to usurping the authority of the Crown (because neither the King nor the Queen authorized his scheme), and committing an act of war against the Valliere family. Given her previous behavior, Karin should have dragged him in front of the Queen to denounce him and demand his head - and the Queen would have to execute him, or else she's endorsing his actions and effectively declaring war on her most powerful Duchess. Given her personal relationship with Karin they might be able to work out some other resolution, but the idea of Karin just letting the Cardinal go after a few empty threats really isn't believable. Having her kill him out of hand would be more plausible than that.
Meanwhile, retreading the mission to Albion arc doesn't make a lot of sense here because the situation is too different from canon. Here Louise is not a close friend and confidant of the Princess, so there's no plausible reason for the royal family to jump into trusting her with the mission. The fact that Louise was just presented to court as Karin's returned daughter also makes her (at least temporarily) much too famous for a covert mission - everyone is going to be talking about her for the next few weeks, and her appearance is very distinctive. Besides, in the wake of the assassination the letter is no longer a critical issue. If Gallia blames Tristain for the assassination Germania won't complete the alliance unless they're already spoiling for a fight, and if they blame Reconquista half the kings on the continent are liable to ally against these dangerous lunatics out of self-preservation. Either way Henrietta's virtue or lack thereof is irrelevant.
Dimensionist
Grandmaster of Apologism, Keeper of the Faith
- Location
- Bangalore, India
shade's pretty much got the right of it, IMO. The Cardinal wasn't exactly a saint, but Karin fucked up immensely as well.
Karin pretty much single-handedly removed the Crown's legitimacy, humiliated the royal family of Tristain and effectively dragged away Tristain's military power on a one-woman crusade to find her daughter. She also caused multiple diplomatic incidents, and routinely murdered people - even innocent people - for attempting to trick her, many of whom didn't even know it was a trick from what we've read.
All this sympathy for her is rather baffling, to be honest. Yes, the Cardinal acted out of revenge - but he also acted in a way to resecure the Crown's legitimacy, as seen with his earlier statements. The fact Karin didn't just kill him out of hand should be a clear indication that even she realizes how much she fucked up by the standards of the time and culture. She did basically commit treason, by drawing authority away from the crown to herself in the eyes of pretty much everyone of note. It was one step away from a coup, and even if Karin didn't intend it, everyone in the court saw it and saw where the real power in Tristain lay.
Yes, the Cardinal prevented Louise from reuniting with her mother - but her mother fucked up immensely. I like how complex this situation is - the Cardinal is acting out of revenge, but he's also doing it to uphold the Crown's authority and also goes as far as he does because from his perspective, this is only justice - and an even kinder one - for the treason Karin committed.
It's actually well written, this kind of nuanced motivation.
Karin pretty much single-handedly removed the Crown's legitimacy, humiliated the royal family of Tristain and effectively dragged away Tristain's military power on a one-woman crusade to find her daughter. She also caused multiple diplomatic incidents, and routinely murdered people - even innocent people - for attempting to trick her, many of whom didn't even know it was a trick from what we've read.
All this sympathy for her is rather baffling, to be honest. Yes, the Cardinal acted out of revenge - but he also acted in a way to resecure the Crown's legitimacy, as seen with his earlier statements. The fact Karin didn't just kill him out of hand should be a clear indication that even she realizes how much she fucked up by the standards of the time and culture. She did basically commit treason, by drawing authority away from the crown to herself in the eyes of pretty much everyone of note. It was one step away from a coup, and even if Karin didn't intend it, everyone in the court saw it and saw where the real power in Tristain lay.
Yes, the Cardinal prevented Louise from reuniting with her mother - but her mother fucked up immensely. I like how complex this situation is - the Cardinal is acting out of revenge, but he's also doing it to uphold the Crown's authority and also goes as far as he does because from his perspective, this is only justice - and an even kinder one - for the treason Karin committed.
It's actually well written, this kind of nuanced motivation.
It's a completely messed up situation with both sides being in the wrong, having been wronged, and trying to do the right thing from their perspective.
I love it! Well written shade!
Plus I love how Louise, who was raised to be a nun, has been exposed to the fact a Cardinal can be petty and do terrible things. This is a blow to her faith.
I love it! Well written shade!
Plus I love how Louise, who was raised to be a nun, has been exposed to the fact a Cardinal can be petty and do terrible things. This is a blow to her faith.
Ars Poetica
ULTIMA RATIO NEMO OBLIGATUR
- Location
- The Kingdom of Fiore
- Pronouns
- He / Him / His
@Dimensionist
I agree with the vast majority of the points you've made. But...
Not to mention, it doesn't answer @ShaperV's question.
Why is there still an Albion arc? Why is this happening at all? After everything else, after every canon alteration, why keep the letters that might never have had a chance to be delivered without Louise acting as the royal playmate? Why bother with sending Louise and Saito to do this dangerous mission in this setting? How is it even possible that things turned out this way at all? Too much has been changed to justify it.
Reconquista happening was a direct result of the actions of the Gallian King... and he's dead now. Unless it's a body double or some elf magic, we have to assume that the vast majority of the canon rails are either destroyed or non-existent. So why is it that this rail, that this plotline is still a thing? ShaperV's right to point out that it doesn't make sense. There's not much I can add to it that he hasn't pointed out already, all I can say is that nobody seems to be answering to it.
My theory on the subject, or at least my attempt to answer for it, comes down to Void shenanigans guaranteeing certain events play out the way they are so that any remaining heir to the power of the Void either discovers their power or is placed into a situation where they can discover their power. Based on @shadenight123's previous stories, Brimir is probably some phantom entity carefully guiding the actions of the church to achieve an unclear but ominous goal... hell, I don't need to rely on Shade's earlier works to come to that conclusion, ZnT canon all but encourages that line of thought with the pope's actions and motivations.
I guess what I'm saying is this: if there's justification for the Albion arc in this story, then that justification is very thin. But I'll still read it. I enjoy the characters here more than I do in canon which probably helps answer why I'm invested enough that I want to see where Shade takes this next. It's just that I struggle to reconcile my feelings on the subject at hand. Why bother? I don't know.
I agree with the vast majority of the points you've made. But...
This is what I take issue with. If her guard is to be believed, this is a rumor she deliberately spread to discourage others from trying the same. It did not happen. The most she does is cut the backs of their left hands.
Not to mention, it doesn't answer @ShaperV's question.
Why is there still an Albion arc? Why is this happening at all? After everything else, after every canon alteration, why keep the letters that might never have had a chance to be delivered without Louise acting as the royal playmate? Why bother with sending Louise and Saito to do this dangerous mission in this setting? How is it even possible that things turned out this way at all? Too much has been changed to justify it.
Reconquista happening was a direct result of the actions of the Gallian King... and he's dead now. Unless it's a body double or some elf magic, we have to assume that the vast majority of the canon rails are either destroyed or non-existent. So why is it that this rail, that this plotline is still a thing? ShaperV's right to point out that it doesn't make sense. There's not much I can add to it that he hasn't pointed out already, all I can say is that nobody seems to be answering to it.
My theory on the subject, or at least my attempt to answer for it, comes down to Void shenanigans guaranteeing certain events play out the way they are so that any remaining heir to the power of the Void either discovers their power or is placed into a situation where they can discover their power. Based on @shadenight123's previous stories, Brimir is probably some phantom entity carefully guiding the actions of the church to achieve an unclear but ominous goal... hell, I don't need to rely on Shade's earlier works to come to that conclusion, ZnT canon all but encourages that line of thought with the pope's actions and motivations.
I guess what I'm saying is this: if there's justification for the Albion arc in this story, then that justification is very thin. But I'll still read it. I enjoy the characters here more than I do in canon which probably helps answer why I'm invested enough that I want to see where Shade takes this next. It's just that I struggle to reconcile my feelings on the subject at hand. Why bother? I don't know.
Dimensionist
Grandmaster of Apologism, Keeper of the Faith
- Location
- Bangalore, India
I saw that scene as him telling the truth, and backpedaling in order to not freak out the messengers more.
I mean, Karin's response to Saito asking her to read the letter was to blast him into a wall.
That's enough to kill unenhanced people. And she did it just like that.
EDIT:
? What are you talking about? Louise had nothing to do with getting the letters to Wales, she was the one who brought them back. Wales already had the letters, without Louise involved at all.
As for the rest, presumably we should wait before shade reveals the twists he has in store.
Because shade stories have a lot of twists. A lot.
His HP story I dropped because it got so absurdly convoluted.
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Ars Poetica
ULTIMA RATIO NEMO OBLIGATUR
- Location
- The Kingdom of Fiore
- Pronouns
- He / Him / His
Remember when there was a flashback where Louise explained how she had to explain away where Henrietta went during parties? Remember that it was Louise who covered for the princess when she went off to meet the prince or when she was writing the letters. Even acknowledging the fact that it's entirely possible for Henrietta to have a different royal playmate, wouldn't that person be the one who's sent instead of Louise and Saito if the canon rails are still in place there?
Until it's explained, it doesn't make sense. If it's explained, it might make sense. I'm waiting on that.
Also, no, I don't think the servant wasn't messing around. I think he really was just screwing with the royal messengers because he's sick of the Gallian king sending people to badger his employer over and over again. This might be the best source of entertainment he's had in weeks if his only job is helping in maintaining border patrols.
Dimensionist
Grandmaster of Apologism, Keeper of the Faith
- Location
- Bangalore, India
Huh. Did not know that. Where was it stated? I mean, Louise seemed extremely surprised to learn about Henrietta's relationship with Wales.
Because, as explicitly called out in the text, Louise and Saito have proven themselves in the fight against Karin and are complete unknowns?
I mean, who's to say the same applies to Henrietta's royal playmate this time around? After all, said playmate is certainly not a void mage with a Gandalfr for a familiar. Nor is he/she necessarily low-key.
Well, here we just have a difference of opinion, I guess.
Either way, Karin blowing Saito into a wall on him questioning her/asking her to read the letter still stands. Louise was pissed off about that for a reason.
Ars Poetica
ULTIMA RATIO NEMO OBLIGATUR
- Location
- The Kingdom of Fiore
- Pronouns
- He / Him / His
You can't call them complete unknowns when one chased after an assassin for a prolonged period of time while they worked together to fight against the Heavy Wind. Unknowns, sure. But rather than argue semantics, the idea that they're "complete unknowns" can work just as badly against them as it can for them. It shouldn't matter that they proved themselves in a one-off occurrence. They have no other qualifications. They have barely any experience under their belts as adventurers. They clearly have no idea what they're doing... and they're being sent anyway. Tell me this doesn't sound like a poor decision and explain why.
If memory served, Karin beat the shit out of Saito the first time she met him in canon. She's, uh... she's kind of a bitch. Arguably, she's worse in canon than she is here, but even so... she's not a nice human being. Just note that I'm going the route of "one example of abuse does not equate to questionable rumors of brutal murder".
This is, again, assuming she even has such a playmate this time around. Who would it even be? What could they possibly do? If Saito and Louise are being sent because they are unknowns, that doesn't make sense -- they were just introduced to a full room of Tristainian nobility who, if memory serves, were not 100% loyal to the crown in canon. Not every person there was free from the reach of Reconquista at this point in the timeline. So calling them unknowns doesn't really work. The royal playmate is more of an unknown than them...
But you're right to point out that we don't know if that playmate is being sent or not. If that playmate is being sent, it probably lends credence to the "unknown" argument -- albeit, not a lot. Otherwise, it really doesn't make sense.
If memory serves, again, this was either within an episode of first being introduced to Henrietta or it was further explained at a later date -- probably during the 'shapeshifting mirror ball' thing. I'll admit, I'm better at remembering that those smaller details happened than I am at remembering when exactly they took place. I think there's a ZnT expert on this forum, somewhere. Maybe ask him? *shrugs*
- Pronouns
- she/her
I think Mazarin has a massive fucking blind spot when it come to the crown. He insists on absolute loyalty and duty to the royal family, yet is perfectly happy to go behind their backs for "justice" (karin, directly against what he knows the Queen would have wanted) or "the greater good of tristain" (he didn't tell the Queen about the letters, and effectively promised war on reconquista by himself instead of advising one of royals to do so).
This makes me suspect that his skewed view is that anything the royal family does cannot be criticized. Because they have the divine right to rule, or because he'll throw all his support behind their bloodline for personal reasons. Might be subconciously bitter about devoting his life to a family of HR disasters.
While it is true that Karin should not have used the manticore knights to search for her daughter, if the previous King had any sense of her personality he should have know there was zero chance she would listen to an order to stop looking. There is something to be criticized in her bonehead personality, but a king is the kind of person who needs to take factors like that into account before acting. The thing that made him look weak was being defied; if he had made it look like supporting the search with the knights was an endorsed move or not said anything there wouldn't have been that perception. Accusations of favoritism might be a problem, but Karin literally can move a goddamn mountain so honestly the nobles who complain about that can go suck a dick.
As to what Mazarin did, I think a fair bit of my contempt comes from the fact that I fail to see how his actions supported the crown at all. He went directly against what the royal family wanted. He went behind their backs and hid information to do so. Worst of all the Duke managed to foil so many of Mazarin's plans that it wasn't obvious Karin was being punished by "the crown" at all, so what the fuck did he accomplish besides emotionally traumutizing her children? Everything bad that happened to Karin was caused by foreign powers, not Mazarin. Mazarin literally had to enable the enemy's plans to do any "damage" to her. He rejoiced over the fact that Tristains borders were breached a second time and a young girl was assassinated, just because it also hurt Karin.
This makes me suspect that his skewed view is that anything the royal family does cannot be criticized. Because they have the divine right to rule, or because he'll throw all his support behind their bloodline for personal reasons. Might be subconciously bitter about devoting his life to a family of HR disasters.
While it is true that Karin should not have used the manticore knights to search for her daughter, if the previous King had any sense of her personality he should have know there was zero chance she would listen to an order to stop looking. There is something to be criticized in her bonehead personality, but a king is the kind of person who needs to take factors like that into account before acting. The thing that made him look weak was being defied; if he had made it look like supporting the search with the knights was an endorsed move or not said anything there wouldn't have been that perception. Accusations of favoritism might be a problem, but Karin literally can move a goddamn mountain so honestly the nobles who complain about that can go suck a dick.
As to what Mazarin did, I think a fair bit of my contempt comes from the fact that I fail to see how his actions supported the crown at all. He went directly against what the royal family wanted. He went behind their backs and hid information to do so. Worst of all the Duke managed to foil so many of Mazarin's plans that it wasn't obvious Karin was being punished by "the crown" at all, so what the fuck did he accomplish besides emotionally traumutizing her children? Everything bad that happened to Karin was caused by foreign powers, not Mazarin. Mazarin literally had to enable the enemy's plans to do any "damage" to her. He rejoiced over the fact that Tristains borders were breached a second time and a young girl was assassinated, just because it also hurt Karin.
Dimensionist
Grandmaster of Apologism, Keeper of the Faith
- Location
- Bangalore, India
It's not, because Saito is a superhuman super warrior who got right back up after being knocked into a wall and blocked oneo f Karin's attacks and Louise just negated a killing spell from the Heavy Wind.
They're very, very good at this point as adventurers, and what they did in the battle with Karin speaks for itself.
You're relating canon Karin's actions with this Karin's actions when they don't work. It's not 'one example of abuse', it's 'one example of her casually attempting to kill someone else for telling her to read a letter (because once again, most unenhanced people would die to what she did and she had no way of knowing otherwise) being indicative that those rumors can quite easily be true, and everyone else involved in the matter treating anyone attempting to trick Karin on this matter - knowingly or not - as suicidal'.
And it's not just that one guy - everyone involved basically treats doing that as the equivalent of committing suicide.
So yes, I have quite a bit supporting me on this matter. I was willing to leave this as a matter of opinion regarding the guard, but let's not pretend that Karin didn't just casually attempt to kill someone for that.
... Is there a sudden lack of nobility in Tristain or what? It can be literally anyone. The idea that Princess Henrietta would be entirely friendless is what's baffling to me.
They are unknowns in terms of military ability, which is what matters, and they're still relative unknowns even socially outside of Tristain (just as canon Louise was - the daughter of the Heavy Wind isn't going to send up red flags). And the royal playmate is unknown to us, because we don't know who it is. For all we know, it could very well be a prestigious square class mage.
What. I never even said that. Seriously, what is with this weird response of yours? Correlating canon Karin to this fic's Karin, putting words in my mouth ...
Nor have I said that the playmate is unknown. Quite the opposite - I suggested that he/she might not be low-key.
I have never heard of it. For now, I'll tentatively accept this as a thing that might have happened, but I'm waiting on a citation.
All that said, I'm done with the argument for now.
I don't have a citation either, but it did happen and I'm reasonably certain it was shown in the arc in which the prince's corpse was revived.
e: I've looked it up and while Louise did cover for Henrietta, she never told Louise the nature of her excursions. Here is one (perhaps questionable) translation:
Of course, whether that meeting had to do with later letters, or whether Louise had to cover for letter-writing, or whether it is material that the playmate know of the tryst is all a matter of speculation and butterflies.
e: I've looked it up and while Louise did cover for Henrietta, she never told Louise the nature of her excursions. Here is one (perhaps questionable) translation:
Of course, whether that meeting had to do with later letters, or whether Louise had to cover for letter-writing, or whether it is material that the playmate know of the tryst is all a matter of speculation and butterflies.
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- Location
- https://discord.gg/z9tBvbh
*Just adding this in before starting to write the next chapter*
We aren't in modern world. No Youtube, no cellphones, when someone wanted to marry, the father of the bride sent a painting over for the other side to gaze at. If the painting was appreciated there were chances for encounters.
And, 'Oh, the heavy wind's daughter has come to court, she's everything like her mother down to her hair and is accompanied by a recently minted Baron, which kind of implies he's a mage'. is not the same as 'Look, two adventurers, one has a mask, black hair and is called 'Louis' the other's a commoner from out of nowhere with a sword'.
'Who sane of their minds would send the Duchess' only daughter on a battlefield!? You've got to be kidding me! That's not possible!'
And that is how you get people not to believe what's in front of their eyes. As for why the Albion Arc is happening...heh.
Remember that in canon, the Cardinal had no idea of the letters involved. This was the Princess doing all that she could by asking a favor out of her 'friend' because it was the only person she could trust. (And then added Wardes to the company going out, and even Guiche, who was just outside the door) basically, the princess was more for a 'recover those letters, if I have to send random students at it, so be it!'
The Cardinal's approach is different. It goes and works on more layers.
The Duchess wishes to return to court now? How far can she be trusted? How far is she willing to go?
The letters must be recovered for the Princess' sake, and for the Crown's sake, but sending random adventurers won't get them to be trusted. On the other hand, I can send a girl who will do it for her mother's reputation and her fiancé, who I know has been following her around since the beginning. They were shown today, but no paintings were taken, they haven't been out in public, the only foreign powers present at court were the Gallian royalty and their retinue, who have no business in Albion.
And there's a very poignant question that nobody's bothered to ask yet.
This isn't about 'taking the letters back from Wales'.
This is about 'Finding where the letters are in Albion and getting them back from the Reconquista agents that have them'.
Do you see the difference now? That's kind of like saying 'Oh look, Shade's doing the Uzumaki Bridge arc in Naruto!'
... Have I ever done them the same? Each time I had to do one?
I don't use rails folks.
I fly~
We aren't in modern world. No Youtube, no cellphones, when someone wanted to marry, the father of the bride sent a painting over for the other side to gaze at. If the painting was appreciated there were chances for encounters.
And, 'Oh, the heavy wind's daughter has come to court, she's everything like her mother down to her hair and is accompanied by a recently minted Baron, which kind of implies he's a mage'. is not the same as 'Look, two adventurers, one has a mask, black hair and is called 'Louis' the other's a commoner from out of nowhere with a sword'.
'Who sane of their minds would send the Duchess' only daughter on a battlefield!? You've got to be kidding me! That's not possible!'
And that is how you get people not to believe what's in front of their eyes. As for why the Albion Arc is happening...heh.
Remember that in canon, the Cardinal had no idea of the letters involved. This was the Princess doing all that she could by asking a favor out of her 'friend' because it was the only person she could trust. (And then added Wardes to the company going out, and even Guiche, who was just outside the door) basically, the princess was more for a 'recover those letters, if I have to send random students at it, so be it!'
The Cardinal's approach is different. It goes and works on more layers.
The Duchess wishes to return to court now? How far can she be trusted? How far is she willing to go?
The letters must be recovered for the Princess' sake, and for the Crown's sake, but sending random adventurers won't get them to be trusted. On the other hand, I can send a girl who will do it for her mother's reputation and her fiancé, who I know has been following her around since the beginning. They were shown today, but no paintings were taken, they haven't been out in public, the only foreign powers present at court were the Gallian royalty and their retinue, who have no business in Albion.
And there's a very poignant question that nobody's bothered to ask yet.
This isn't about 'taking the letters back from Wales'.
This is about 'Finding where the letters are in Albion and getting them back from the Reconquista agents that have them'.
Do you see the difference now? That's kind of like saying 'Oh look, Shade's doing the Uzumaki Bridge arc in Naruto!'
... Have I ever done them the same? Each time I had to do one?
I don't use rails folks.
I fly~
Roadie
A plate full of blins and a cat nearby.
Randomly, I just realized something:
If a professional but unextraordinary water mage can regrow missing teeth from scratch, undoing the effects of plaque and/or fixing minor cavities must be pretty easy.
I bet a lot of people in Halkegenia have anachronistically shiny teeth, especially if being able to afford the costs of yearly magical-dentist visits is a status symbol among the merchant class.
If a professional but unextraordinary water mage can regrow missing teeth from scratch, undoing the effects of plaque and/or fixing minor cavities must be pretty easy.
I bet a lot of people in Halkegenia have anachronistically shiny teeth, especially if being able to afford the costs of yearly magical-dentist visits is a status symbol among the merchant class.
SolipsistSerpent
Endlessly Devouring
There's probably less in the way of missing fingers, facial scarring, and so on as well, at least for everyone of any means.
And actually between the water mages and the low ranking fire mages who incinerate waste and garbage, disease is probably a lot less common in general.
Chapter Fifty-Four
- Location
- https://discord.gg/z9tBvbh
Chapter Fifty-Four
There was something strange in sleeping in the same house as a corpse. Saito didn't know why it bothered him so much, since the palace was pretty big and the Gallian King had died in the ballroom, on the far end of where the sleeping quarters were.
As the servant that had shown him his rooms bid him goodnight and closed the door to the admittedly spacious room, Saito sighed and then shuddered slightly. Someone had opened the window of his room, probably to change the air, and hadn't bothered closing it. As he moved to close it, he removed the cloak around his shoulders, letting it fall on the ground. With the window closed, he began the delicate process of undressing from the sheer amount of clothes he had on his body.
"What a day," he groaned. Louise was probably taking it far worse than him, or perhaps her mother was. Still, he'd better go to sleep early since they'd be off by the next day. It was kind of puzzling, trying to understand the Cardinal. Didn't Tristain have better suited people for the task? Did it really have to be Louise and him?
He settled on the border of the bed, sighing once more.
The bed shifted slightly.
Saito blinked, and then carefully stared at the bed's strange form hidden by the sheets. There was a light wiggling, soon followed by a bush of blue hair emerging from below the sheets, a face with a pair of red glasses on it.
In a second, Saito had done a jump back worthy of an Olympic master and knelt, his head low. "L-Lady Charlotte!" he exclaimed, "I-I apologize! Th-This must be the wr-wrong room!"
"No," Lady Charlotte said with a small yawn, stepping out of the bed and thankfully still clothed. "I decided to catch a nap here," she added. "For fear of the Reconquista coming for me," she said kindly. "I hope this does not bother you?"
"N-Not at all!" Saito said. He did blush slightly, and look away.
"There is also another reason for why I am here," Charlotte said, looking at Saito. "The noble retinue that my uncle brought are all in distress, but they are also quite incapable. At most, there is a line mage among them. I would rather be protected by one of my knights rather than by any of them," she smiled softly. "But who would have guessed your partner, Louis, would turn out to be the long lost heir to the Valliere family. It must have come as quite a shock."
Saito blinked, and chuckled nervously. "Well, sort-of. I mean, I'm glad for her and all-"
"I mean for your sexual orientation," Lady Charlotte said bluntly, making Saito guffaw and choke on his spit. "You like boys do you not, Sir Saito?"
"I-I-I do not!" Saito squawked out, "I mean-no! It's just that-that-"
"Ah, so you knew she was a girl from the very beginning?" Charlotte said, stifling a giggle. "Forgive me for making fun of you at your expenses, Sir Saito, but I do need something to cheer me up after the sad event of tonight."
Saito's expression changed from embarrassed to worried in a couple of seconds, his eyes softening up, "I'm sorry for your loss."
"Don't be," Charlotte replied. "I am sad, because I could not watch the life leave that man's eyes." Her eyes hardened to orbs of ice, which kind of made the cold breeze on the back of Saito all the more chilling -he had closed the window, hadn't he?
"W-What? But he was your uncle, wasn't he?"
"He was a monster," Charlotte said flatly. "Make no mistake, I do not like Reconquista, I do not like their methods, I do not like what they do-but I would gladly kiss whoever killed the King of Gallia," she clasped her hands together tightly. "The things that man did-they cannot really be spoken. Well, now they can, since I'm the future Queen of Gallia, I can say them all if I want to," the girl shuddered, "But they aren't pretty, so perhaps it's best if they're kept secret."
"Lady Charlotte-why are you here?" Saito asked carefully. "Couldn't you have sent for me?"
"I do not trust my uncle's men, Sir Saito. I am a powerful mage in my own, but I do not trust any of them, especially with my sleep. On the other hand, Louis -and by consequence Louise- had nothing but the highest of praises for you. I'd feel safer falling asleep with you guarding over me, rather than all of my retinue put together."
Saito nervously chuckled. "I-I'm flattered you think so highly of me, Lady Charlotte, but-"
"Call me Charlotte when we are alone, Sir Saito-no, Saito," Charlotte said softly, a light blush on her cheeks.
Saito blinked. Wait. Louise couldn't have possibly been right, could she!? No, no, the girl was clearly shocked for the death of her Uncle and needed reassurance, it would be utterly shameless to take advantage of her sad state like this!
"Lady Charlotte," Saito said, "I am unworthy of such familiarity, and it would be improper-" that was how it went, wasn't it?
"I am the Queen, or will be. I decide what is proper, and what is not," Charlotte said with a huff. When faced with such a cute pout, even Saito's morals were unfortunately prey of a losing battle.
"T-Then C-Charlotte," Saito said. "Are you sure you can trust me? I mean, you know nothing about me-"
"But what little I know is of the highest quality," Charlotte said. "And I have yet to be proven wrong. So, Saito, guard over the sleep of your Queen -at least, as long as you keep being a Knight of the North Parterre, that's among your duties, you know?" she giggled next.
"Right," Saito nodded awkwardly.
Charlotte settled back beneath the bed sheets, still dressed, and closed her eyes after putting the glasses away on the bed desk. "Then, good night, Saito."
"Good night...Charlotte?" but the girl was already asleep, apparently.
Saito sighed, and after quietly grabbing the nearby plush armchair, decided to sit on it and 'stand guard'.
His head, meanwhile, was drawing graphs of cuteness between Louise's sleeping face and that of Charlotte's.
His common sense, on the other hand, had surrendered and barricaded itself behind a brain-door, screaming at the top of his lungs that something fishy was going on.
Unfortunately, he wasn't heard.
Rarely is Common Sense heard after all.
There was something strange in sleeping in the same house as a corpse. Saito didn't know why it bothered him so much, since the palace was pretty big and the Gallian King had died in the ballroom, on the far end of where the sleeping quarters were.
As the servant that had shown him his rooms bid him goodnight and closed the door to the admittedly spacious room, Saito sighed and then shuddered slightly. Someone had opened the window of his room, probably to change the air, and hadn't bothered closing it. As he moved to close it, he removed the cloak around his shoulders, letting it fall on the ground. With the window closed, he began the delicate process of undressing from the sheer amount of clothes he had on his body.
"What a day," he groaned. Louise was probably taking it far worse than him, or perhaps her mother was. Still, he'd better go to sleep early since they'd be off by the next day. It was kind of puzzling, trying to understand the Cardinal. Didn't Tristain have better suited people for the task? Did it really have to be Louise and him?
He settled on the border of the bed, sighing once more.
The bed shifted slightly.
Saito blinked, and then carefully stared at the bed's strange form hidden by the sheets. There was a light wiggling, soon followed by a bush of blue hair emerging from below the sheets, a face with a pair of red glasses on it.
In a second, Saito had done a jump back worthy of an Olympic master and knelt, his head low. "L-Lady Charlotte!" he exclaimed, "I-I apologize! Th-This must be the wr-wrong room!"
"No," Lady Charlotte said with a small yawn, stepping out of the bed and thankfully still clothed. "I decided to catch a nap here," she added. "For fear of the Reconquista coming for me," she said kindly. "I hope this does not bother you?"
"N-Not at all!" Saito said. He did blush slightly, and look away.
"There is also another reason for why I am here," Charlotte said, looking at Saito. "The noble retinue that my uncle brought are all in distress, but they are also quite incapable. At most, there is a line mage among them. I would rather be protected by one of my knights rather than by any of them," she smiled softly. "But who would have guessed your partner, Louis, would turn out to be the long lost heir to the Valliere family. It must have come as quite a shock."
Saito blinked, and chuckled nervously. "Well, sort-of. I mean, I'm glad for her and all-"
"I mean for your sexual orientation," Lady Charlotte said bluntly, making Saito guffaw and choke on his spit. "You like boys do you not, Sir Saito?"
"I-I-I do not!" Saito squawked out, "I mean-no! It's just that-that-"
"Ah, so you knew she was a girl from the very beginning?" Charlotte said, stifling a giggle. "Forgive me for making fun of you at your expenses, Sir Saito, but I do need something to cheer me up after the sad event of tonight."
Saito's expression changed from embarrassed to worried in a couple of seconds, his eyes softening up, "I'm sorry for your loss."
"Don't be," Charlotte replied. "I am sad, because I could not watch the life leave that man's eyes." Her eyes hardened to orbs of ice, which kind of made the cold breeze on the back of Saito all the more chilling -he had closed the window, hadn't he?
"W-What? But he was your uncle, wasn't he?"
"He was a monster," Charlotte said flatly. "Make no mistake, I do not like Reconquista, I do not like their methods, I do not like what they do-but I would gladly kiss whoever killed the King of Gallia," she clasped her hands together tightly. "The things that man did-they cannot really be spoken. Well, now they can, since I'm the future Queen of Gallia, I can say them all if I want to," the girl shuddered, "But they aren't pretty, so perhaps it's best if they're kept secret."
"Lady Charlotte-why are you here?" Saito asked carefully. "Couldn't you have sent for me?"
"I do not trust my uncle's men, Sir Saito. I am a powerful mage in my own, but I do not trust any of them, especially with my sleep. On the other hand, Louis -and by consequence Louise- had nothing but the highest of praises for you. I'd feel safer falling asleep with you guarding over me, rather than all of my retinue put together."
Saito nervously chuckled. "I-I'm flattered you think so highly of me, Lady Charlotte, but-"
"Call me Charlotte when we are alone, Sir Saito-no, Saito," Charlotte said softly, a light blush on her cheeks.
Saito blinked. Wait. Louise couldn't have possibly been right, could she!? No, no, the girl was clearly shocked for the death of her Uncle and needed reassurance, it would be utterly shameless to take advantage of her sad state like this!
"Lady Charlotte," Saito said, "I am unworthy of such familiarity, and it would be improper-" that was how it went, wasn't it?
"I am the Queen, or will be. I decide what is proper, and what is not," Charlotte said with a huff. When faced with such a cute pout, even Saito's morals were unfortunately prey of a losing battle.
"T-Then C-Charlotte," Saito said. "Are you sure you can trust me? I mean, you know nothing about me-"
"But what little I know is of the highest quality," Charlotte said. "And I have yet to be proven wrong. So, Saito, guard over the sleep of your Queen -at least, as long as you keep being a Knight of the North Parterre, that's among your duties, you know?" she giggled next.
"Right," Saito nodded awkwardly.
Charlotte settled back beneath the bed sheets, still dressed, and closed her eyes after putting the glasses away on the bed desk. "Then, good night, Saito."
"Good night...Charlotte?" but the girl was already asleep, apparently.
Saito sighed, and after quietly grabbing the nearby plush armchair, decided to sit on it and 'stand guard'.
His head, meanwhile, was drawing graphs of cuteness between Louise's sleeping face and that of Charlotte's.
His common sense, on the other hand, had surrendered and barricaded itself behind a brain-door, screaming at the top of his lungs that something fishy was going on.
Unfortunately, he wasn't heard.
Rarely is Common Sense heard after all.
Mizu
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Heh, cute. Still, this is confirmation that Charlotte didn't kill her father, if nothing else, so now it's either actually Reconquesta who did the deed or a body double of some sort got killed. Or the Charlotte Saito's chatting with isn't Tabitha?
Bleh, lots of options.
Bleh, lots of options.
Who needs common sense after all? It is over rated.
Okay, I've had some time to think.
To be crude: Was Mazarin fucking the old King? Because his entire justification here is about as irrational as a man whose lover was killed.
Kings are not absolute rulers and have never been; the very concept of the feudal system rests on the presumption that even lesser nobles have rights.
You cannot order a Great Noble to give up theirs when you signally fail in your responsibilities towards them.
And smart leaders know better than to give orders that will not be followed.
Not to mention that it's doubtful whether the King had the legal authority to give orders to the knights in the first place; a lot of knightly orders had no formal allegiance to a crown.
Just look at the Templars.
By his own admission, Mazarin just spent almost two decades undermining a Great Noble of his country whose only focus was border security.
Someone who never crossed the border despite Germanian provocations.
His country's major nuclear deterrent, and the guarantor of a border which a significantly larger neighboring country regularly raided across to fuck over the citizenry.
A family that remained respected enough that two decades later, the Manticore Knight Order was still following the Duchess, and firstborn stayed in their employ.
Isolating her politically do anything to diminish the sheer military power she wields, it just means she HAS to act militarily.
It raises the question of whether Mazarin was at all involved in the latter assassination of Cattleya.
Dude just put a rift in between the Vallieres and the royal crown.
And called the Duchess a traitor.
At the same time he's relying on Valliere agents to pull his diplomatic bacon out of the fire.
*jackiechan.gif*
@Minor Gryph was right; Mazarin as characterized here is a stereotypical Hard Man.
And an incompetent one to boot.
Especially when you combine it with the fact that whatshisface Mott was kidnapping women across the kingdom while his men were dressed in royal livery, or that he was fucking stupid enough to let the daughter of two powerful mages be raised in an enemy country, and develop possible loyalties elsewhere.
OTHER NOTES
And I have to ask: How did Henrietta get to have an affair with Wardes?
Especially since Eleanor was her maid in waiting?
And she still has, by your own admission, half the knights of the corps following her.
And you were pushing the family into a corner, raising the risk they would rebel. Or simply stage assassinations of their own; they had vampires available to kill Mazarin in his bed.
The problem with politicians is that they overestimate the power of politics when the opposition has viable military options.
Her land, her prerogatives.
Her responsibility even, given that the Germanians had made sport of raiding across the border and taking
Karin might be a bitch, but nothing he's accused her off were anything other than her legal rights.
And to be brutally honest, the King may have been a good man(or not), but his lack of magical oomph was noone's fauly.
Karin was not of the royal line; she married a Valliere, she was not born one.
So claims of diluted blood do not hold water anyway.
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