Zero no Tsukaima:Volume16 Chapter2

Chapter 2 - Searching for a Residence

At the countryside Tristania of the Kingdom of Tristain......, a corner past the Rosrollforest.

Wales was an estate agent running a business at Tristania, his customers either rich entreprenures or nobles. Today, he was scratching his head in frustration. Though say he deals with nobles, the estate he handles are not "territories" and has nothing to do with title. They are mere "lands" any rich merchant and aristocrats can purchase.

Which explains a lot why today's customer's appeared, he was overjoyed. However one looks at it, these customers must be one of the top nobles of this country.

If someone famed like them becomes his customers, sooner or later his shop will rise to fame accordingly.

If he is able to make a successful deal, this customer may very likely introduce other new customers. Imagining how big his business could become, Wales actively searched for all sorts of estates.

But, this master and servant......

"Isn't my cup of tea" Both hands crossed in front of her chest, critizing Wales's estates, was the third child of the Vallière family, Louise Vallière.

This morning, around 8 a.m. they came to Wales's office. Without much ado, they had already asked "Introduce us to a house" describing how their future home should be made for two, how it wouldn't matter even if it were smaller. Looks like it's a pair of young lover trying to avoid the eyes of the world, preparing a temporary residence before their marriage. Couples seeking refuge because of their difference in statuses like them are common. According to their situation, Wales quickly picked out a few estates for them.

But, it seems like their dream house has still yet to show up. The third lady of the duke's family, this pinked-haired beauty could not stop her grumbles against any of Wales's suggestions.

"What's wrong with it, tell me" said the frowning servant of Miss Vallière, a black haired teen. Just by the looks of his clothing, it was obvious that he was not any teen. From the silver coat of arms of a Chevalier, he should he the legendary knight of a civilian's background - co-captain Hiraga Saito.

Because of his civilian background, he was a much easier customer to communicate with. So far, for most of the houses recommended by Wales, he had shown much interest in.

"This place isn't so bad, is it?"

In contrast, everytime he says so, Miss Vallière's eyebrows springs into action. Using either the colour of the exterior wall, or the worn out structure, how it faces a bad direction, even going about how the trees planted in the gardens aren't good enough and so on so on, all sorts of reasons to send him off.

Wales is also a person with his own dignity. Displaying the last house possible, it would seem quite unreasonable if they complained even about this one. Wales was in for a surprise "Yong m'lady, what do you don't like about this one? The one who designed this house was a famous architect, Sir Rosa Venturini. Under the invitation of an artistic grand noble, he designed every inch of this building!"

It was true that this house was filled with an artistic atmosphere.

Compared to the other buildings seen so far, this certianly looked very outstanding.

Piled into a hemisphere with stones, in the middle was a grand staircase and courtyard. In the courtyard grew an enormous tree, running through the entire house.

Its walls were decorated with flowerbeds, planted with different kinds of flowers. The entire house seemed to be cut out from a part of the forest.

"Incredible, how should I say it, it feels like merging with the nature itself. Mhm, this is incredible" Saito praised while nodding. Wales nodded affirmatively towards Saito's words.

"Isn't it? As expected of the Highness's knights, you see things differently! For this one, you only need 10,000 ingots, it's the absolute exception out of all exceptions! Houses better than this one, you won't be able to find any throughout the entire Kingdom of Tristain!"

He's got a point, Saito thought, urging Louise "Take a look, no matter from which angle this looks very nice, doesn't it?"

"You're annoying, I ask you, how is this good? Which part of it looks good. This is a vase"

"that's what makes it interesting"

With a displeased look, Louise sighed "Are you dumb? Choosing a home just because of this reason, it's no wonder you have such bad taste!"

"What?"

Seeing them fight, the black haired girl behind them suggested "Well well, calm down both of you! Since we're here to search for a good home.... let's not fight, OK?"

"How annoying, this has nothing to do with you, does it"

"Of course it does, it's because I'm the caretaker, it's my duty to help choose carefully right now" Countered the black haired girl with a calm expression. Seeing this incident, Wales began to worry.

From the looks of it..... the only reason this pinked-haired aristocrat is unhappy is because of the black-haired girl. The more she praises the house, the worse Miss Valliere's expressions will look, eventually complaining here and there, such as how the colour of the wall looks bad. If the teen knight comforts then, she mood will take another turn for the worse. Seeing how the pattern has cycled many times, Wales became very frustrated over this.

"Saito! Come and look! This kitchen, is so big, hurrayWildk 01:56, 17 July 2012 (CDT)!" she screamed happily. Saito and Siesta began wandering around the shop for more. Behind them, Louise kept a gloomy expression for the whole time.

"......although I said I didn't need maids"

Just like what happened last night, Siesta followed them in broad daylight. If she complains to Saito, he would then say "where could you find a better helper than Siesta?"

Certainly, on closer inspection one would realise how it's almost impossible to find a maid quicker and more efficient than Siesta for housework. Moreover, the idea of not hiring a maid was incomplete to begin with. There are work that cannot be handed to a male after all.

Rather than hiring an unknown maid, Siesta was certainly a better choice.

On the other hand..... these things cannot be decided with reason. The bright coloured future Louise originally imagined began to turn grey.

"Incredible, I never knew a stove could be so big! This way we can cook anythingWildk 01:56, 17 July 2012 (CDT)! Would you like to make your order, Mister Saito?"

"Well..... as long as it's made by Siesta, any food would taste great"

Louise gritted her teeth to the degree where she could rip her hankerchief into shreds. What is this! This is as if a conversation between a newly wed couple! Who exactly does he want to live withWildk 01:56, 17 July 2012 (CDT)!

Feeling as if she lost very badly, Louise began to fight. After searching around herself, Louise discovered an excellent item.

"Hey--, ahem, ahem ahem"

"Hmm? What's wrong?" Saito noticed the events on this side. Keeping a calm expression as much as possible, Louise pointed to a corner on the ceiling.

"This is an excellent chandelier don't you think, as expected of something built by an artistic noble, an avant-garde design, but you can feel its elegance through its simplicity" Louise nodded with a straight face.

".....but that's only a basket used to dry vegetables" Siesta chuckled, making Louise go red all the way to her neck.

"Please Louise, don't joke around, even I can see that it's only a basket"

"Ha, if the job was given to Miss Valliere, I'm sure we'll never be able to choose a suitable house"

"nobles don't have much common sense, it can't be helped"

Finding it hard to swallow, Louise swung open a trapdoor on the floor "L-look, there's a basement"

"A storage room, I guess?"

"Possible. Say, Saito, shall we have a look?

"Nah" Saito swiftly rejected, soon turning back to Siesta's presentations. With the choice completely on the other's hands, Louise was out of ideas and snuck into that storage room sitting down and hugging her knees.

"Look, Mister Saito! This is the ultimate oven! It's the newest product! Look how much effort they spent even on the vents!"

"Although I don't really get it, if Siesta says so then it must be very incredible!"

Hmm--hmm--hmm--hmm. Louise hummed a song alone, but no one heard. Suddenly in front of her eyes, something popped out.

"F-frog--!" Louise who have always had a genuine dislike for frogs panicked, unconsiously casting spells. The house was quickly filled with surprised cries and smoke....

After the smoke have finally cleared, Wales told them "My deep apologies, but it would be impossible for me to suggest a house that is able to satisify Miss Valliere"

"Then, in the end you didn't find a single thing?" The shopkeep Scarron sighed. After Wales have completely given up, to clear up their gloomy emotions, Louise and the rest came to Tristainia's "Charming Fairies" inn.

"That's what happened, all because of her, only saying selfish things. In addition, even magic was used. Just the repair bill alone was 200 ingots"

Saito complained grumpily. Louise hung her head in shame "I-it's not completely my fault either"

"And? Exactly what kind of house will you be pleased with?" Saito asked exhaustedly from the bottom of his heart.

Actually, all she wants is for the maid to be gone, but directly saying so would mean admitting her own defeat.

With no choice, Louise began naming one by one, saying how the position of each room should be like, where the sunlight should reach, so on so on.

Standing next to Scarron, Jessica nodded from watching Louise. "In short, Louise feels uncomfortable living with Siesta, right?"

Instantly the atmosphere froze. Well that was to be expected. Realising so, Saito couldn't help but turn pale. It felt as if the thing he feels most guilty about has been placed under the spotlight.

On the other hand......, he had always felt that Louise and Siesta had an understanding on this. After all, the one he likes is Louise. Plus, even after clarifying it with Siesta, Siesta was still willing to be a maid..... Siesta completely sees his charming points, the way she feels for him has already surpassed love.....

Just by looking at Louise and Siesta, in addition to the embarrasing atmosphere, one can feel the cold chilly air hanging between them.

"Recently your relationship with each other seemed to have improved" Saito casually mumbled. Scarron patted Saito's shoulders and said "Saito-kun really doesn't understand the heart of a womanWildk 01:56, 17 July 2012 (CDT) well, this has been the way it was from the start"

"Eh? Eh? Eh eh?"

Scarron continued, wiggling his waist "After purchasing a house, that's when your real life begins, isn't it? Cute little Louise wants to settle down, but so does cute little Siesta"