Zero no Tsukaima:Volume8 Chapter8 - MTL
After two weeks, the nations conference ended without too much trouble.
The Result was, Tristain and Germania claimed the vast territory of Albion and added them to their territory.
The remaining lands were under the joint rule of three countries: Tristain, Germania and Galia, as it was decided to restore the monarchy. Therefore, the regions, including capital Londonium, were managed by the three countries as a joint ruling territory.
As a ruler, Tristain’s old noble duke Marushiyuaque was recommended. He was aged and didn’t have much ambition. His excellent domestic affair abilities made sure that the troubled Albion will be restored. From Germania and Galia, a representative will be elected, and placed as the king's advisers.
And, with four countries taking part, the monarchy of Halkeginia was defended, the rise of the Republic stopped, and the Alliance monarchy of four countries was announced.
If a new believer in republic ideology starts to cause a revolt in the kingdom, the three country alliance would be able to start military intervention. As a result, new attempts of revolt will be noticed by four governments at the same time.
With the establishment of this alliance, the nations conference was closed.
They were told to return to their countries tomorrow…
In the room of Havirand palace, Henrietta was desperately looking over documents. Cardinal Mazarini could be seen next to her.
“Her Majesty, take some rest already… Lately you hardly sleep.”
Henrietta attended the nations conference almost round-the-clock. For Tristain’s interests, she took part in heated discussions. Albrecht the III concluded in a whisper, ‘Not accepting the marriage was the correct choice.’
“Even if we return home, there are piles of work. I want to do as much as possible.”
“However, it is already 12 o'clock.”
“I will rest later.”
However, the queen does not go the bed.
“Leave such table work to the secretary…”
“I want to look over everything. Otherwise, there will be no point of coming on the cloud.”
Mazarini sighed. Because Henrietta was so young, he couldn’t help but worry. However… Mazarini watched Henrietta through half-way closed eyes. He wanted to keep the princess, whom he was watching over when she was just a baby, out of danger forever.
As if preparing to lecture a student, Mazarini cleared his throat.
“Your Majesty, as I have said repeatedly, we have to be careful of Galia.”
“Uhum.”
Henrietta nodded, not lifting her face from documents.
“Though it was… Galia that brought an end to this war. Yet, their demands were insignificant… They only wanted one port. Also their words, ‘All that we wanted we already obtained.’…”
As a direct control rule territory, Tristain and Germania obtained considerable amount, Galia did not want it. Mazarini is cautious of Galia’s such disinterest.
“Indeed.”
Henrietta nodded.
“Fuaah.” Mazarini let out a big yawn.
“You seem to be sleepy. Please take some rest.”
“No… I won’t leave until Your Majesty goes to bed.”
Henrietta smiled, putting away the documents.
“Will you take some rest?”
“Yes. Because I cannot risk your health.”
“Stay healthy not just for me. Sleeping is also part of work.”
“Yes.” Henrietta nods obediently.
Then… reassured, Mazarini left. Girlishly, Henrietta fell onto the bed. And muttered absent-minded…
“Tired…”
Right now, she could sleep like the dead. But, there was one thing left to do before that. An act which became every days custom before sleep.
Henrietta pulled out a rope next to her pillow.
At once… a court lady appeared in front of the door.
“You called, Your Majesty?”
“Did Agnes return?”
“Musketeer commander, Agnes–sama, hasn't returned yet.”
“I see. Thank you.”
After hearing the footsteps of the court lady disappear, Henrietta shut her eyes tight. Like a child, she bit her fingernail. Looking troubled, Henrietta buried her face into the pillow, with her eyes closed.
At that time, in another room of the Havirand palace…
The lord sitting with his back to burning fireplace, with his elbow placed on the sofa‘s armchair, was watching the guest with great interest.
“Hmm, what does the great ambassador of Romalia want from the ‘incapable king’ of Galia?”
Joseph, while giving a barely contained smile, looked down at the ambassador of Romalia who had 'A personal message from the Pope'.
He had outstanding blond hair… It was Julio.
While kneeling on one knee on the floor, he answered.
“Incapable king?… You are way too modest.”
“Not modesty at all. It is a fact that government and assembly officials, nobles too – they all laugh at me. Calling me ‘incapable’ in the shadows. If you look at it – the domestic affairs and country diplomacy is weird and wrong. Just like playing with a toy.”
“Your Majesty ended the war. The history will remember your name as a great king.”
“Is such compliment of any good? I am not interested in history at all.”
Joseph took a music box that was on the table, and placed it on his hand. It was an old, worn-out music box. It was brown, with the varnish completely fallen off. It was cracked in some places. However, Joseph patted it dearly.
”Antiquary?“
“Aye. I’ve got it from Albion’s royal family, an excellent article, called ‘Founder's music box’.”
“Founder's treasure?”
Joseph's eyes shone.
“Precisely.”
“Romalia, Galia, Tristain, and Albion… Each royal family received something called founder's treasure.”
“I wonder what would happen if the people of Halkeginia were to learn about that?”
“And the ring of the four elements…”
“This one?”
Joseph showed Julio the ring on his finger.
“Indeed.”
“Hmm, so what business do you have? I am slowly getting sleepy. After all, conferences everyday are tiresome. Like that greedy lass, who never seems to get tired. I want you to be brief.”
“I’m afraid, though Your Majesty doesn’t like it much, it is connected with history. Those treasures, with founder’s will and blood were said to be placed in Romalia… And recently a certain prophecy was excavated.”
Joseph watched Julio evaluating him. So beautiful, that it made all words of description seem banal. Poets would have to invent new words for this… And his eyes, both different color, had a strong light in them.
This fellow… Julio Cesar named Shinto priest… to take part in nations conference, he could not be a useless guy. He might be Romalia’s best man in terms of diplomacy.
“Fum. What prophecy?”
“The Founder's power was great. He divided his power into four parts, putting it into the treasures and rings. There were four people to keep it too. The Founder said ‘For treasures, four rings, four familiars, four users… when all four will gather again, my Void power will awaken.’”
“What was that?! In other words, four users of void exist?! Really?!”
Joseph laughed aloud.
“Stop saying foolish things! Users of void, and four people at that! Founder’s void can be replaced by four people? This is masterpiece!”
“It’s not a lie. Romalia collected true information. Two users existence was confirmed.”
“Well, who?”
“I cannot tell. Only when I will be convinced upon Your Majesty’s cooperation, I will reveal it. “
“What cooperation?”
“Well , that’s easy. As soon as you discover user of Void, I want you to inform our country about it. Don’t worry. Our country doesn’t have great ambitions. However, we want to accompany founder's mind in the fullest sense… only that purpose. Royal alliance concluded today… The alliance between three kingdoms might correctly lead to founder’s true intention - one united country.”
“Tsk…” Joseph shook his blue head.
“About users of void... I know nothing at all. Because I am an ‘incapable king’, the arriving vassals will not inform me about most essential things.”
“There is a way of discovering Voids users. With one of the four rings open the music box. If that person is a user, he will hear founder's melody.”
Joseph nodded.
“I agree. Let’s try it.”
“Well then…” Julio stood up.
“Wait.”
“What?”
“What about sharing Romalia’s true information of everything?”
“Because you are tired, so…”
“What, it may be just right entertainment to kill ones' time during this long night.”
“I am sorry. But it is as I said – only when Your Majesty's cooperation will be assured, I will get the the permission to reveal it.”
“Though young, the king is stronger than the pope.”
“More than others, he has more faith. Therefore, the corresponding level of faith from others is demanded.
“Then are you saying - a faith like one in the founder and god awakening?”
Julio gave a smile.
“This topic of Your Majesty’s interest is closed, but there’s another one.”
"Very well.”
“All substance in the world is made from small grains. Grains smaller than water drops or sand. As clarified and in our recent theology, four element spells influences them.”
“Fuum.”
“But those grains are made from even smaller grains. It is said, that those smaller grains are what Void controls.”
"So what?"
“Following Founder’s mind, and ‘four of four’ would gather… It would be a completely loose situation… in case of the complete Founder’s void’s power resurrection, the void spell might have a dreadful effect. Furthermore, the smallest grains effect could be so big that it may change this world’s existence completely… In fact, there is such spell mentioned in the prophecy.”
“What spell?”
Julio bowed.
“I would hate to obstruct Your Majesty’s rest any further.”
“Shinto priests always seem to be ardent in propaganda.“
Julio, who tried to leave, was called back to stop by Joseph again.
“Wait.”
“Has your faith in the founder’s and god’s truth been reignited?”
“I have a question concerning that faith. You, Romalian’s and these provoking Reconquista… is there any difference between you?”
With a smile on his lips, Joseph gave a deep meaning question to Shinto priest.
“Reconquista was a disorderly crowd after all. They were just bunch of kids against the king. They used term ‘To recover sacred ground’ just to unite themselves. I don’t think they seriously thought about getting back the sacred ground from the elves.’
“…”
“Our Romalia is trying just trying to recover the sacred ground. Besides that, there are no other motives.”
Joseph buried his eyes into Romalian’s.
“Against Elves primordial magic used to control the sacred ground, there is only a founder’s void left as a counter. Well, in case if we were to use it…”
Julio murmured to himself while turning to leave. Joseph said in a happy voice.
“You are mad.”
With his different-colored ‘moon eyes’ shining, Julio answered gleefully..
“This is what faith is about.”
After Julio left, Joseph took up the doll from the table. The doll had a shape of a thin, brunette woman. After patting it dearly for a while, Joseph brought his mouth close.
“Did you hear it too, cute goddess? Yeah! That’s the right thing you heard! Romalia still does not know truth about us. The fellows that were running after Founder’s tail for thousands of years, still do not have enough knowledge!”
Joseph brought his ear close to the doll.
“That’s right! It’s like you say, Myozu! They have information, but not the tools. Haha, in this game, we have an unquestionable advantage. Ruby of earth, Founder‘s censer, Founder‘s music box… three parts are already ours. Aye, Tristain has three too… but they do not have the information. With the knowledge about prophecy and Albion‘s royal family treasure, it could be worrisome. Yet that lass is only interested in money and land. Haha, stupid beyond help! In other words, only we have information and tools. It‘s more than anyone else has.“
Joseph shut his mouth.
“What? Is that so?! Tristain’s user is coming to Albion? Moreover, alone? It’s like a chicken waiting to be cooked! Capture it immediately. We need to get the founder’s prayer book and the ruby of water, before Romalian raccoon dogs do. Hurry up!”
After giving instructions to the doll, Joseph sank into the sofa.
Seems like he will be able to sleep well tonight.
Joseph, opened the lid of founder's music box, which was on table’s left.
And… closed his eyes.
After a while, the door next to his bedroom opened. Mrs. Moliere, in slovenly night clothes, showed up.
“Your Majesty, did the guest leave?”
“Aye.”
“Such a rude person, barging in, in the middle of the night! I hate that Shinto priest! Just because they believe in Founder and the God, they think they can obstruct lovers!”
Mrs. Moliere ran her hand up Joseph’s neck. And combined hair in lover’s way.
Hey, Your Majesty. Is it all right?”
“What?”
“You always listen to the music box… Isn’t it broken though? I can not hear anything. Maybe I should have a master to mend it? I know a master with good, crafty hands, who makes me nice jewels. Now, look at this godly necklace. When it comes to that, he is really skillful…”
Joseph interrupted Mrs. Moliere's chat with an annoyed waving.
“You are impeding the appreciation of a beautiful experience. Shut up.”
“…But, I-“
“Let me listen.”
On his finger… in a vivid brown color, the Ruby of Earth shone.
Louise and Siesta arrived to Rosais on the third week of February, it was the fourth day of the Eoro week, and an evening of Raag day.
Usually, it would take twice as much time.
The shipping service between the Albion continent and Halkeginia had many people to serve. There were long lines of people who waited their turn to leave to Albion from the port in La Rochelle.
Unless one uses Her Majesty’s commission to get on board of private ship.
This way, Louise interrupted the regular order of flights, and arrived to Rosais after one week.
Louise, upon arriving at Albion, was amazed again.
The reason for that was, port Rosais was even more overcrowded than La Rochelle.
Peddling merchants whose business by war in Albion, speculators trying to get rich, government officials, people who were visiting the ones that they could not due the war… it was over flown with big crowds of people from all over Halkeginia.
“So many.”
Louise, who descended from the port, muttered and sighed. From the port, the road to the urban was framed with arsenal and commanders, like exposition of Halkeginia.
Along side the road, a lot of people stood with wooden signs with names on them.
“What are those names?”
The apron taken from the Academy of Magic housemaid clothes and the coat worn, Siesta stuck out from her cap and asked wondering. She was carrying a big bag over her shoulder. It was packed with traveling needs.
“They are looking for people who gone missing during the war.”
Louise said in a sad voice. Though she was wearing the usual Academy of Magic uniform, she had a big leather rucksack over her shoulders as well.
“I wonder if we’ll find… Saito-san.”
Their only clue was an order note given to Louise. There, was written:
“Stop the enemy at the northeast hill, 50 leagues away from Rosais.”
Though she inquired the army about missing Saito, clues were not obtained. Though she thought about meeting Henrietta, she was not in the royal palace. Seems like she went to some conference in Albion.
“Mo, after all the only ones that we can rely upon are ourselves, right?”
“But, why we couldn’t borrow a horse?”
Looking at her Siesta said.
“Go by foot. There is no distance we could not walk.”
She said and began to walk… wile Louise slumped onto the ground.
“Auu…”
Because she was dragging a heavy luggage since she came here, her body screamed.
“Pathetic.”
“We've been on foot since we left the ship. It’s late already, let’s stay for the night and start searching by tomorrow again.”
“You have some stamina, don’t you?”
Saying that, Louise looked over at Siesta’s bag on her shoulder. It was three times bigger than Louise’s rucksack. She was carrying such big bag, which looked to be heavy.
“I grew up in the countryside. It‘s nothing special.“
Siesta said nonchalantly.
