Louise ran.

She ran, fast as her young little legs could carry her, her body entirely hidden in the beautiful foliage and vegetation of her home. Only the bouncing locks of her strawberry blonde hair were visible.

A laugh of joy escaped the young girl as she caught sight of her sister, Cattleya de la Fontaine, she waited for her by the central lake. "The Secret Garden", a name given by both herself and her dear sister.

Cattleya laughed at the sight of her enthusiastic sister, they smiled, they hugged, they ran.

A small boat in the river awaited them.

"Come! Come Louise! Let us sail through the vast lake!" Her sister called out with a smile, her hands gestured toward the boat.

Louise could not help but smile at that and run toward the boat.

And so, the two sailed through the vast lake, through their home. Their adventures grew increasingly vast. More and more treasures were accumulated such as stuffed animals, priceless plates, or anything really the two girls could get their hands on.

Louise hanged off the side of the boat, eyes peered to the shining water, her reflection clear to her. A joyous expression met her gaze, it made Louise smile even harder.

Such an easy, happy life she had. Away from all the troubles of the world.

She would never ask for anything else.

"Hmm…?"

"Huh? What's wrong sister?" Louise asked, though she did not turn to look at her sibling, her eyes were still focused on her reflection.

"Oh nothing, I'm just wondering just how much more treasure we will find…"

"As much as we can. What's next? Big Sister Eleonore's glasses?"

"No, no…I was thinking of gold or silver." Her sister said after a moment, her tone took a sleazy tone as she said 'gold' and 'silver'.

"What…?" Louise asked, a weird look crossed through her young face, she turned away from the waters, she looked at Cattleya and saw the older girl with her back turned towards her.

"Yes, yes…we shall find all the gold and silver on this place…but not only that, we shall fine even the best wines!" Cattleya said, her tone grew more in greed, her back shook as a she chuckled to herself.

"Sister…Cattleya, please stop saying such things. We have no need for things like that…as Nobles, we alrea—!"

"Who cares! Who gives a rat's ass about our Nobility! I want the adventure, the thrill! I want my heart to flutter any time I take someone's riches! I want to laugh at the tears of all the people I've wrong!"

"Cattleya…" Louise looked at her sister's back with horror, she drew away from her sister as her shaking grew even more. Loud laughter escaped the older girl.

"But what I want most of all? I want men. I want men to please me and throw them off the plank like the trash they are and find myself a new specimen to entertain me."

"…" Louise could only stare at her sisters back in shock at the proclamation. Cattleya turned slightly to Louise, her hair covered her face still, but she could see the leering and lustful smirk.

"Oy, what about the Viscount? I know you want him all to yourself…but you wouldn't mind sharing, would you? As sisters, we can plunder that tender booty raw."

Louise had enough of such foul words.

"Cattleya, enough! This is not you! Snap out of it! This…this isn't you! You are not my kind and sweet sister! You are not the sister who is always there when I need her…! You are not my sister!"

"Oh, really now? Ha! Let me in ya a little secret, little girl."

Louise cringe at the title, the words sounded so familiar to her…so annoying. Still, her lips move before she could command them to stop.

"What…?"

"A pirate's life for me…ARRG!"

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Louise sat up abruptly on her bed, breath haggard, heart beat at a fast rate. Her body was sweaty all over.

The girl cringe, her night clothing to her sticky skin. With a shaky hand, she touched her forehead, frown at her damp hair stuck to the flesh and pulled it back with a sigh.

She felt dirty and fluster.

"What a horrid dream…?" Louise whispered to herself in annoyance, she blinked several times to rid herself of the image of her dear sister in such a blasphemous state.

"Ho~!? Another sweaty dream little girl?" A voice by the side of the bed had asked, in a teasing tone. Louise's body snapped up in rigid pose, stiffly she looked at the direction of the voice.

She found her familiar, Francis Drake, on her feet, barefooted, a smoking pipe on her pink lips. The woman lazily stretched her limbs, the sound of bones popping in place made the Master winced. The woman's blue eyes locked in with the girl's reddish brown ones, Louise wrinkled her nose in distaste as she looked down at the pipe in her familiar's lips.

"What have told you about smoking in my room, you disobedient dog!?"

"Not to do it?" Francis answered cheekily as she took a long drag off her pipe, gabbed it between her slender fingers and blew the smoke through her lips.

Louise's body twitched, agitation began to settle in her being. The master and familiar pairing had been together for almost a month now, and yet the woman somehow managed to push all her rage buttons with ease. Frankly, she had reached her limit with her familiar and had all but given up on her. She had tried to instill the proper etiquette that someone of her class should show, but that had failed spectacularly. Nowadays she just let the unruly familiar do whatever she wanted since it was easier on the long run.

But that didn't mean that Louise had given up on fighting her every step of the way. She was a Valliere, and a Valliere never gave up.

She turned, sat by the edged of her bed, let her legs dangle from the mattress and glared at the stretching Francis, a moment passed and she sigh in resignation.

"Familiar, prepare my bath and my clothing of the day."

"Aye, aye captain." The response was laced with amusement and a casual flair as the crimson pink hair woman grin savagely and took the pipe out of her mouth.

If Louise hadn't been aware of what would happen, she would've been enormously happy at hearing those words…Founder forgive, she had been the first time her familiar answer one of her orders with an affirmative and without her usual mockery. She had even thanked the Founder above and smiled happily.

Louise placed her hands on her ears as tightly as possible as Francis placed her index finger and thumb on her mouth. The woman inhale a large amount of air and then let out a whistle so loud and so powerful that it had been heard through the entire Academy.

And she had ended cursing the Founder Brimir's name accidently as her familiar caught her off-guard with that move that very first time. That day, already three weeks ago, she had thoroughly thought that she had gone deaf as the ringing in her ears never stopped.

Though, even now she could feel the ringing despite her best effort to defend her poor hearing. She let her hands fall to her side, looked up with an unamused face and glared.

"Could you not do that!? My ears will bleed out because of your incessant laziness!"

"Sheesh, no need to scream little captain."

"What!?" Louise questioned as she strained her ears to try and listen through the ringing. "I hope that what came out of that dirty mouth of yours was 'Yes, my apologies my mistress for being such an uncouth dog!'"

"Not at all!"

Francis just laughed, the usual response just made Louise get even more annoyed. She sat there on the edge of her bed with her arms cross as she waited, since she knew nothing was going to happen, not until two certain individuals who Francis had call out would come to them.

A respectful knock on the door a few minutes later let the two females in the room know that their aid had just arrive.

"Aye, aye, come in already. Sheesh you would've thought those two rascals would've been used to this by now!" Francis said as she rolled her eyes in annoyance.

Not a moment after those words had been uttered, the door opened.

Francis let out a smirk at the sight, she never tired at the always new and refreshing looks of indignation and humiliation the two young blondes gave. Louise while externally disapproved of it, she tried with brave effort to hide the happy and self-satisfied grin that was threatening to spread on her lips at the sight before her.

There Guiche and Montmorency stood both with very humiliating maid outfits. Too short and too provocative, for both. Skirts that showed to much leg, and chest pieces that showed off too much skin. Those cloths had been forced upon them for every morning and night.

Both Nobles were angry and their pride stung, the two sharply glared at Louise when low snickering vibrated from her throat. Montmorency, in a show of lost control grinded her teeth in pure rage. Francis walked up to them and slapped them on the back.

"Oi, oi, the little Master want's a bath and some cloth ready!"

"This is so humiliating…" Montmorency muttered under her breath. Francis clicked her tongue at the words.

"Oi! Ah, come on, it's been almost a month and you're still moaning and bitching about this? Sheesh what sore losers the two of you are. You made bet, and lost, so there's no use with this annoying blabbering bitching just accept it or…Master, want me to kick their asses back into shape?"

At those words the two blondes jumped up, their bodies straightened up, with wide eyes they gulp in apprehension and some fear.

'Kick their asses back into shape' was giant understatement, if a bit crude. The first day that the two blondes had been force to come into her room and serve her familiar, and her as well since she was the Master, the two Nobles were angry and dismissive of them. Montmorency had promised retribution and Guiche had backed her up, the two were also about to leave. Not that it had surprised her, since, what kind of Noble would lower themselves into servitude? That was the duty of a commoner.

But then her Familiar had said those words, Louise dismiss them as just empty threats…but she should've known how her familiar was, even back then. Though, she had never thought of taking said words so literally, the woman really kicked them so hard on their rear and kept doing it until they both submitted to her. In her own words, that was what she considered a spanking and had done to anyone who got out of line with her.

Louise shivered at the though.

The woman then scolded the two as a mass of female Noble's came out of their rooms to see the spectacle, it had ended with further humiliation for the two blondes and they accepted their roles as the 'two rascals' of Francis Drake.

After that day, the two have been forced into their new roles and had hated that with every fiber of their being. It didn't help that a few days after that incident Francis had stolen, or has she liked to put it 'plunder', some maids outfit and forced the two to where them. The maids themselves had been quite shock.

The two blonds served Francis whenever and at odd times, even though the maid outfits were specifically limited to the mornings and nights. The reason for this was a deal that Louise had from some miracle managed to achieved with her familiar to not let the blonde's humiliations get out of hand. She did not wish to get the Valliere household in trouble with other Noble families.

Fortunately for the her, the events in the past month had yet to reach either of their families.

Louise blinked several times when she realized that a blushing Guiche looked at her with a pained expression, sweat rolled off him from embarrassment.

"Ze—I mean…Captain Valliere…" The words came out with great difficulty from his mouth as he addressed her. The title 'Captain Valliere' was something that uncouth familiar had forced the two to say whenever they were acting in servitude for Francis. The woman, too had a title, as she demanded to be call 'Captain Drake'. Fitting for the woman's true nature as a pirate, but that was something that others did not need to know. "The bath is ready."

"Oh?" Louise shook her head and stood up from the bed, she must've dose off. "All right then…familiar be ready to have my clothing ready."

Francis had thrown herself onto 'her' chair and had propped her legs up in the table in front of her. Louise winced at the action, the table and chair were used for whenever Louise wish to eat or drink in her room, but ever since she had summoned Francis that table had not been touched by her ever since as it turned into property of the scarred woman.

Not that she would touched it, not after those dirty boots had been on the furniture.

"You heard the little Captain, get to it!" Francis ordered with ease as she continued to smoke from her pipe, the Noble's shook in anger and went to do as demanded of them. The woman turned toward Louise. "Hey, little girl don't waste all the hot water would'ya? I wanna get my own bath without freezing me tits off!"

Guiche missed a step and coughed awkwardly, still not used to the foul mouth of Francis Drake. Montmorency glared at him with venom in her eyes as she caught sight of his blush.

"Stop with your vulgarities you dog! And if I so wish, I'll waste all the hot water I want! In fact, you won't be taking a bath at all!"

"Sheesh, you keep saying that! Always with the not letting me eat, not letting me talk or even letting me scratch my cunt because it itches!"

"Familiar! D-D-Don't says such vulgar things! You pervert!" Louise screeched in despair.

"What!? But it's true! I mean at least you let me get a bath, but that's because you don't want to deal with me smelling like shit. So, threatened me with something more believable next time will ya?"

"I should really leave you off sleeping off on the yard like the disobedient dog you are!"

"Hohoho~! That's not a good idea now would it my tiny Master! I mean you did promised you would always have those pretty eyes of yours on me!" Francis answer with a grin. "Something, something about…ah, aye, me always bringing massive problems whenever you're not looking at me…and I guess your right! Gahahha!"

"Ghryyyaaaaaa!" Louise screamed, stalked forward, she nearly collided with Montmorency who glared at her. Louise entered the bathroom, grabbed the door and slammed it closed, she glared at the door as the sound of her familiar's laughter carried on through the finely design wooden door.

She really disliked the woman's laugh.

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A cleaned and somewhat satisfied Louise walked through the Academy's halls along with her Familiar, her steps precise, her face set into a frown. It was something she had found herself doing constantly in the past month. The girl tried to arrive to her class after she ate breakfast. She turned her head slightly to the right and looked at her familiar who walked with a wine bottle in her hands. Francis Drake easily took a long swig of her beverage and happily drank the alcohol.

Louise sighed and shook her head. This was another thing she had found herself doing.

Both Guiche and Montmorency had been released from their 'duties' after breakfast had been done, forced to serve the two of them their food and forced to spoon feed Francis as she easily sat on the Noble's table. The Noble's around showed their disgust at the woman's action, but no one took any action against her after the humiliating defeat of Montmorency.

Once the two blondes had been released, they were more than happy to run away and licked their wounds. Like always.

And so, for now, the two headed for Louise's classroom.

"Well, well, if it isn't my second favorite person in the Academy~" The seductive drawl of a familiar voice called out. Louise frowned as she turned around and recognized the speaker, she sighed tiredly as she found herself hating the new companionship she had gained.

Francis on the other hand just smiled in mirth as she turned her head back to look at Kirche who, alongside Tabitha, walked towards them. The dark skin girl smirked at the two as she sauntered towards them, she fanned herself dramatically. A few more sensual steps and she finally stood before them.

The blue hair girl, was more subdue and lacked her usual pose of having her face stuffed into a book, she kept her cold eyes locked on Francis's own eyes as she studied her.

"Ho~! Only second?" Francis asked with a tone lanced in amusement as she leaned back comfortably against the wall.

"But of course, my favorite person is my dear Tabitha right here…" Kirche said as she affectionately patted the blue hair girls head, Tabitha didn't even bat an eyelash as her gaze kept focused on Francis. The redhead then looked at Louise as she noticed the annoyed look. "Oh, don't worry little Zero, you're my fourth favorite individual! After my precious Flame, of course!"

"What do you want Zerbst?" Louise asked.

"I just wanted to see what new trouble the two of you would cook, it's already been three week you know! And nothing outside of the daily humiliation of Montmorency and her poor lover have kept me entertain." Kirche said as she crossed her arms and looked off to the side dramatically.

"And I prefer for it to stay that way! Having to endure trouble after trouble because of some unruly familiar is exhausting and humiliating! Especially if it means entertaining you, Zerbst!"

"Humph, sheesh, come on little girl, still with the same 'unruly familiar' shtick? Be original and come up with something new! It's getting old." Francis exclaimed, she rolled her eyes and looked down at her Master.

"Silence familiar! I won't lower myself to your standards!"

"Hoho~! Louise the Zero sure does like talking about not lowering herself to others level and yet she doesn't hide her true nature does she, Tabitha?" Kirche asked her little friend as she looked down at the girl. Louise turned towards the dark skin girl in outrage.

"What is that something to mean?" Louise demanded as she grinded her teeth in annoyance. Francis behind the girl smiled viciously and shook her head at the girl's action.

"Same free spirited nature." Tabitha said stoically, she took her eyes off the familiar to look at her fellow petite Noble. Louise choked on her own spit at the words, surprised that Tabitha had even talked. Though she was more outrage at the comparison.

Kirche smirked as she saw an opportunity.

"Indeed, indeed! They even have similar tendency towards arrogance!"

"What!? A-A-A-Arrogance!" Louise cried out at the accusations. Francis lips curled upward and let an explosion of laughter escaped her.

"Ghahaha—! Aye, aye! You see now little girl? You will really end up like me in the future!"

"I-I-I'm not going to end up like you! You hear that!" Louise screeched out in anger, her face turned deep red as she glared back at the woman. Francis smirked at the words and raised an eyebrow. Kirche placed her hand on her lips as she giggled furiously.

"Hohoho~! You say that Louise the Zero…and yet you have the same mirth that familiar of yours has whenever you looked at poor Guiche and Montmorency."

"…!" Louise eyes went wide at that as she turned red at the revelation of her inner pleasures. It was true that she did in fact feel satisfaction at the sight of those two, after all, it was her victory by right. So, there wasn't anything wrong with her enjoying it. She had thought that she had done a fine job in hiding it, but it seemed that had failed.

But to be compare to her familiar…that was going too far!

"Hmm, aye, aye, that expression of hers does seem quite familiar to mine whenever I find myself a fine treasure!"

Louise snapped at those words.

"Shut up! I am not like you! I'll never be like you, you, you, you, you, you pirate! Never you hear! I will—!" Louise's eyes widened as she noted what she had said, she slapped both hands onto her mouth as she looked horrified. She noted the look of surprise from Kirche and the way Tabitha stared right at her. "W-W-Wait…! I didn't say p-p-p-pirate! I mean I—I did! It...uh, it was just me…me just saying that my familiar acts like…"

Louise's words trailed off as she realized that she would only make the situation worse. Kirche's look morphed from surprise to a mocking smirk.

"Already suspected it." Tabitha admitted easily, her eyes stared directly at Louise's, it made the strawberry blonde squirmed and looked down in embarrassment. Tabitha then turned, focused her sole attention on Francis, the woman jus smirked at the continuous attention.

"What!? But…how?" Louise asked pathetically her gaze focused down on the floor.

"Clothing, attitude…the talk of treasures." Tabitha mentioned each of the facts as if they were the most obvious thing in the world. That made Louise's eyes go wide and slumped down in pure embarrassment.

"Ghahahaha! And here I thought everyone in this place were just idiots. But you surprised me little four-eyes! There seems to be brain on that tiny body of yours…unlike somebody here!" Francis teased mercilessly, she took delight as it caused Louise to slumped even further in defeat, the girl to burned out to put up a fight.

"Hohoo~! How very cruel of you! But there is something concerning here…do you believe me to be a fool?" Kirche asked as she placed her right hand over her forehead, looked away and acted as if the words hurt her. Francis smirked radiated mirth.

"Well—!"

"—she has arrived! We must prepare for her arrival! We must prepare a hurry greeting!" The loud words from down the hall cut Francis off as two teachers ran at top speed and rounded the corner of the hall. They ran in their direction.

"Why arrive here unannounced without giving us any time for preparations!?"

The four girls turned to look at the two teachers, both middle-ages men, one of them was rather thin, the other much more fit. They ran at full speeds, bodies wet with sweat and short in breath. Just as they were about to pass the girls, Kirche shot out her arm, grabbed the thin teacher and managed to stopped him before he passed by her.

"Professor! What is happening? Who is coming?"

"W-What!? This no time for simple questions like those! Her Highness, the Princess will be arriving here soon! Come on, we must go to the Academy's gates to greet her accordingly!" With those words said the teacher shook off the hold over his arm and ran after his fellow colleague.

The three Noble's stood there surprised by the announcement. Francis looked, unlike the other three, interested.

"Aye, so we'll be getting to meet royalty, hm. Well lass, might not be the trouble you were hoping for, but it's something new, right?" Francis turned to look at Kirche.

"…huh, I believe you are correct, after three weeks of nothing occurring, this should shake the monotony up. Right Tabitha?"

"Let's go." Tabitha answered simply as she moved forward, Kirche smiled and moved after her.

Francis smirked as she stared at the back of the little blue hair mage. The girl appeared to be more than met the eye, and for that reason she had caught her interest. She looked down to her still stupefied Master.

"Oy little girl, you going to stay there like a gaping fish?"

Five seconds passed, Kirche who was ways ahead jumped in fright when Louise finally reacted.

"HER HIGHNESS IS HERE!?"

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Outside on the yard, the mass assembly of Noble students, their familiars and the teacher stood in front of the Academy's entrance gates.

The commoner class, the workers, maids and cooks, stood behind the Noble's. As they were behind the crowd of Noble's the arrival of their princess would be obstructed. Unfortunately, there was nothing they could do about that.

Francis stood behind her short Master, they waited for the arrival of the princess of Tristain in silence with the curious murmurs of the people around to fill their ears. Kirche and Tabitha were beside them, the blue hair girl had pulled out a book from her cloak and had begun to read it. The redhead fanned herself to rid the heat of her body.

The crimson pink hair woman stuck her pinky on her ears to soothe the ringing from earlier.

"Tsk—and you say that'll burst yer eardrums with my whistling, little girl?" Francis mocked, she looked down at Louise who blushed in embarrassment. "Though, gotta say, I really underestimated those little lungs of yours."

"…" Louise ignored her as everyone noticed the arrival of the Princess. The carriage, followed by the Noble Knights to protect the royal princess, entered through the Academy's gates as they were pulled open.

Louise hurriedly grabbed her wand and along the other Noble's, raised up toward the sky in greeting as the royal carriage stopped before the crowd that had come to greet her.

The Academy's Headmaster, Old Osmond, an elderly, white haired mage walked towards the carriage and stopped respectfully a few feet away from it. The ride's door opened and a man dressed in high quality cloth that could only belong to a priest came out.

The Noble's around groaned in disdain at the sight of the man. Francis raised an eyebrow in curiosity.

"Hm? Is that the princess? Humph, now that's a remarkable sight." Francis said as she saw the man and the headmaster exchange greetings. Louise didn't respond, her body rigid with attention, eyes focused in anticipation.

"That is not the princess, you dimwit." The annoyed and scornful voice of Montmorency filled Francis's ears. "That is Cardinal Mazarin, a commoner…like you."

Francis turned her head to look at the drilled blonde with disinterest.

"Oh~? That's rather disappointing, I was really finding the entire possibility to be quite amusing."

"Fool, of course someone like you would find it amusing." Montmorency said with disdain, her eyes were cold as ice then gained a shine of appreciation in them as she, alongside every Noble and commoner clapped their hands as the princess finally made her debut on the Academy.

It was beautiful young woman dressed in white, the royal violet cloak over her shoulders showed off and gave her feeling of warm splendor and dignity. The crown princess of Tristain, Henrietta had made her appearance.

The princess looked over all the people applauding for her and gave them a dignified wave, a small smile on her face. Her blue eyes were warm…but Francis noticed a hard edged in them, it was something that she hadn't seen in a long time.

"Hehehe—!" The Servant laughed quietly to herself. Kirche who was beside her turned towards her and raised an eyebrow.

"Is something the matter?"

"Humph, nothing, this whole thing really does bring me back…to some very fond memories that I have."

"Truly~?" Kirche leaned towards the crimson pink hair woman and whispered into her ear. "What was it? Hmm, maybe a handsome prince that you had taken and roughen up?"

"Ha! Nay, a prince is way to prissy for my taste…though a queen? Hoho, now those can actually turn your world upside down and make you loyal."

Kirche looked surprised at the statement, she then smiled and rose an eyebrow.

"Hmm, must have been quite the queen to have such an effect on someone like you."

"You have no idea…" Francis said as she looked back at her Master, she raised an eyebrow as she noticed her Master was silent and red all over, though it wasn't from the usual embarrassment. The look that Louise gave was one of attraction, lust. The Servant narrowed her eyes in confusion, the sight of her Master like that was truly something to behold…probably a treasure that she would not see again.

She needed to see what had caused her little Master to lose that annoying pole up her ass.

Francis looked in the direction her Master was looking. And what she found was a handsome man with a sharp face, long silver hair and trimmed beard. Dressed in high quality clothing, grey and white, that were comfortable for fast movement. The cloak fluttered through the wind with the medal of a griffin fastened on his cape. The man rode a large familiar, a griffin, with his body posture high and mighty.

The feather-hat on his head made him look grand, like a hero from a fairy-tale book, though Francis just smirk as the feeling only came off because of the man's posturing.

"Oh my…~!" Francis heard Kirche breathy words, the woman turned toward the dark skin Noble who stared at the man with barely restraint lust.

"Humph—aye, aye, I guess I wouldn't mind getting some drinks with the man and letting him as his way with me." Francis said with a smile and closed eyes, she really was rather tempted to do so.

As of late her body had felt weird, not like a Servant's body should behave. It felt to alive and demanded many things of her such as eating, sleeping and other cravings in her most inner self. Still, she had paid them no heed. For such feelings for someone like Francis Drake were natural and didn't need to think further of it.

Unfortunately for her, while the Servant was in thought, her words carried the necessary effect of breaking Louise out of stupor and turned even redder.

"W-W-What did you say you stupid familiar!?" Louise asked in outrage as she turned towards Francis. The woman let out a sigh, scratched her head, opened her eyes, and looked at Louise in disappointment.

"Ah…sheesh. And here I was hoping to treasure the little girl acting finally like something that isn't a brat a little longer."

"Y-Y-You—! You disrespectful, annoying, perverted familiar! Have you no shame at all!?"

"Uh! Shame is for low-esteem fools and morons who have nothing to show off! I threw those meaningless things to the wind first chance I had!"

"Well I'll agree with one of those things…and that's that your colossal idiot!"

Louise screams had reached such a level that everyone present there heard them, including the princess and her escorts.

The Noble's, students, and teachers, groaned in exasperation as another fight began. They all already knew the routine, the familiar said something, Louise took it as an insult, they argue back and forward until the crimson pink hair familiar dominated Louise by saying something that completely floored her and made her shut up, unfortunately, whatever the familiar said tended to pissed them off as result too.

The princess's eyes widened as she saw the strawberry blonde argued with the crimson pink hair woman in the chest-opened red trench-coat.

"Louise Françoise…?" She muttered softly eyes focused at the rather embarrassing spectacle before them. The man with the feather-hat heard her words and looked up, interested at the scene.

Osmond who stood behind the princess alongside the Cardinal, let out an amused sigh. "Please, your Highness, due forgive the behavior of my student. She and that woman possesses quite catastrophic and completely personality's that don't match at all as you can see."

"Still, to do so in front of her Highness…" The Cardinal said he shook his head, he was about to say something else when he noticed the feather-hat knight dismount the griffin easily and stomped forward in a smooth transition. "—!"

The man cut through the crowd, who once they noticed him parted away and looked at him in surprised and awe. They all watched as the griffin knight walked without hesitation towards where the bickering duo were.

Many Noble's present smirked, especially Montmorency who had front seat rows at the spectacle that would commence. For it was obvious to them that the reason a knight who had been tasked with the protection of the princess would walked so furiously and full of determination towards someone was only if he were to protect he Highness. And even though the Zero and her familiar were not harming the princess physically, they were hurting her dignity and pride.

Such indignity could not go unpunished.

They all stared in anticipation. When the knight arrived towards the two, the Noble students took a step forward. When Louise turned around to scream at the knight and froze as she stared up at him, they prepared their jeers and mockeries. The Noble's smirks grew wider when the knight's lips moved, ready to shame the two.

"My Louise, my dear and little fiancé, it has been far too long." The knight said as he pulled Louise into a hug, her face buried into his navel.

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…

…

"WHAAAAAAT!?"

The loud surprised scream came from both Montmorency and Kirche, who stepped back in utter shock. The other Noble's around looked slacked jaw as the revelation completely floored them. They muttered among themselves as they tried to understand the fact that 'Louise the Zero' was the fiancé of a Noble knight.

"L-Lord Wardes…please stop it, you are embarrassing me…" Louise face blushed furiously, she buried her face further into the Noble knight's, Warde's, stomach. The man smiled at the words.

"Oh, my dainty and little Louise, there is no need for you to feel such way for as long as I am here."

Louise face turned even redder, to be in the arms of Wardes, it felt warm. Underneath the man's embrace she felt safe, protected from the rest of the world. It was like a barrier kept even all the stares from the rest of the Noble's away.

"Hehehe—!"

Unfortunately, the damned chuckle from her familiar registered into her hears. Louise turned her head towards her familiar who had a smirk that little to hide her amusement. The woman's blue eyes shined with mirth.

"Seems I underestimated more than your lungs little girl, never knew you had in you to have such a fine catch, you flirt!"

"Ghu!" Louise glared irritably at her familiar, she opened her mouth to say something, but Warde's turned towards the crimson pink hair woman with a raised brow.

"Oh…you must be, my dear Louise familiar, are you not?" Wardes asked, the words made Louise looked up at the man in surprise.

"H-How do—!?"

"My dainty fiancé, how could you even ask such a thing? Is it not obvious that I would keep a fine eye on you?"

"…" Louise looked, a fluster rosy blush settled on her cheeks. Warde's chuckled at the display and let go of Louise, he turned towards Francis who looked at the scene with mirth.

"Keep my dear Louise safe, in another time I would've tested you here and now to see your prowess, but I am in a tight schedule as you can see." The man gestured towards the princess carriage. He looked down at Louise. "I shall be seeing you soon my precious Louise."

With that he walked away.

Everyone stared as he went back to the princess location, the man's steps steady and harmonious. Louise and Francis eyes stayed lock to the man's back. Louise look down with a blush, a small embarrass smile on her face.

Francis caught the smile, she smirked.

"Quite the catch you made their o precious little girl."

Louise smile turned very quickly into a frown and she glared at Francis.

.

.

.

.

Interlude

The cold winds of the afternoon chilled her to the bone.

The forest near the Tristain Academy looked darker and felt even heavier, a foreboding presence awaited behind the shadowy trees.

And Fouquet the Crumbling Dirt stood before such a forest, her body hugged tightly by her cloak.

Her face shadowed by the hood over her head.

She shivered as she took a step forward and walked further into the forest. Her steps slow and cautious.

The sudden chirp of a bird nearly made her jump out of her skin.

Haggard breaths escaped her, cold sweat rolled through her forehead. She looked up and saw a grey dove on a low tree branch. On its mouth was small piece of paper.

A message from her…superiors.

Fouquet sighed and tried to control her trembling body. She walked towards the dove, she reached out toward the small bird and took the message.

The dove remained calm, its eyes focused intently on Fouquet. This unnerved the woman.

Fouquet let out another sigh, she took a step back and went to read it. She rolled the little letter opened and…

"Have you found the Staff of Destruction?"

A masculine voice asked behind her.

Fouquet jumped, a surprised yelp escaped her lips. Just as her feet landed on the ground, she spun around and pointed her wand, ready to cast a spell.

The sight that greeted her was of the griffin knight, Wardes. The man stood there with a stony expression.

"Y-Y-You bastard! You did that on purpose didn't you!?"

"Humph. Answer the question." The man brushed off the questioned as he stared at Fouquet.

"…always so direct, but yes, I know the location of the staff, all that's left is to take it."

"I see, and you have chosen not to take any action to take it have you." It was not a question and neither was it an accusation, Wardes simply made a statement.

"For the short time you and I have work together, I have learn that you are cold-hearted bastard, but you are definitely not stupid. How do you expect me to attack when a Void familiar is right there…you have even saw her upfront!"

"Humph, true…"

"…quite the balsy move to pull when confronted with such a powerful familiar."

"You speak as if the defeat of the little Gramont brat is a source of the power that the familiar possess."

"And yet we have both witness the power this types of familiars possess first hand…"

"Hmm, you are making far too many assumptions here…ah, yes, you weren't informed, were you?" The man asked dryly. "Ah, of course…I keep forgetting that you are not here by choice."

"Gukh—you bastard…come on, out with it, what was it that I wasn't informed about?"

"Not all Void Familiars are equals, they each possess their own attributes, their own power, their strengths…and their own weaknesses."

"…and I guess you will reveal that you have already figured out such weaknesses then."

"Indeed, my little Louise's familiar is quite the buffoon and she shall stand no chance against the power that your helpless dear half-breed possesses."

The sound of a powerful slap echoed through the forest.

"You son of a bitch! Don't you call her that! Don't you dare mention her at all!"

"Hgrr…enough. Prepare yourself to take the Staff of Destruction tonight on the festivities that is being thrown for the presence of the princess of Tristain." Wardes said as he rubbed his reddened cheek in annoyance.

Fouquet merely looked disgruntled, she turned and looked to the sides.

A few minutes of silence pass.

"Is there any specific moment I shall retrieve the Staff?"

"Do not worry, I shall give you the signal…a flourish of my wind spell during the dance, pay attention or you shall miss your chance." Wardes stopped for a moment and narrowed his eyes. "Remember not to touch the Staff directly with your hands, that treasure will destroy you entirely, for the staff can only be hold be the hands of a true Monarch. If the secret documents about the Staff are to believe."

"I know, I know, I shall have my golem take it while we escape…but you know I can't do this alone, will you provide back up?"

"No—!"

The sound of loud footsteps interrupted the man. Wardes looked behind Fouquet, the woman turned her head slightly back and cringed.

"—but he shall provide a suitable back up."

The 'back up' was hulking beast in human flesh.

The beast's chest was bare, pure muscle flexed, red tattoos ingrained on it.

It's arm long and bulky with elongated nails that could tear flesh apart.

Monstrous blue legs were present, feet too long, too sharp for even an animal.

Sharp, razor sharp bluish bones popped out of its flesh, from its elbows and knees.

A long blue tail waved harshly behind the beast, the trees that were on its way were snapped and destroyed.

Each step created a small crater as it stomped down hard.

The muscle on its body quivered incessantly.

On its body was a blue cloak that was in tatters reached to its knees.

The monster looked up, it's face covered by a blue hood.

Its teeth were bare, pointy, and sharp. Saliva and spit oozed out as it growled and snarled.

Fouquet frown at the image.

Wardes smiled, a vicious and unrelenting smile.

"Rejoice Fouquet of the Crumbling Dirt…for this is an opportunity of a life time, you shall command the familiar of a Void."

"…"

"And I hope for your sake…no, for the sake of your helpless…friend, that you succeed…or else—!"

"I know…there is no need to say it."

"Then I bid you luck, go on and command the familiar of the Void, Vindálfr…" Wardes stopped himself and looked at the monster. "Or is it better that I say…"

"Berserker."

A/N:

Heya folks! Simply dropping by a new chapter of Golden Sails. Things are about to get quite heated up soon as we approach the ending of the first arc of the story.

On a unrelated note, oh my goodness, the ending for Fate/Grand Order was amazing! Best thing I've ever seen! I really want to see the entire story be animated! And good news are we're getting an hour long special for Grand Order! Wooo!

Now onto answering reviews.

: Who knows? :D

Yuki Kyuu Aizawa: Hahahaha! Seems like the interaction between the two is good then? But no, I don't think its weird.

Lander Blazer: 5 star assassin? And a him? Buddy, I do believe that the only 5 star assassins are women or little lolis! :D And soon, the fight will happened soon. A geez, you have Da Vinci, that's so cool. I tried getting Merlin but fail, still fortunate enough to have Waver in my team.

EternityDragon2610: I'm glad you've enjoyed it! Those questions shall be answer in the future.

Suzululu4moe: Yeah, that would be somewhat saddening for Kiritsugu.

Fimbu1vetr: Haha! I'm happy to know you've been entertain.

victorhliu121: That is quite true and it would be interesting to see it, wouldn't it? :D

etheral-23: Thank you!

741AuthorNCS: Ooh, you're about something in that review.

Sony Ninja: Glad that you enjoy. And if Grand Order has thought me anything, is that even I can be affected with the power of salt. Still, I'm jealous, always wanted Francis on my team.

Shinoki: You should play, well, you shouldn't if yor the kind of person who gets overwhelm by the salt and fall into the trap of dropping hundreds of dollars to get your favorite Servant. (5 star Servants are 1% to get in the Gatcha, so better get lucky if you ever decide to play it). Or just look up translations for the story, its pretty good!

And that's that, hope you enjoy this chapter. Please review and enjoy a Merry Christmas and an incoming Happy New Year!