Actions had consequences.
That was a natural fact of life any man or woman who had stepped out into the world surely knew, and accepted. Magi were no different. No, for them, that fact rang truer than most.
Whether it be a ritual concerning their craft, or political intrigue at the mess that was the Clock Tower, every step a magus took was meticulously considered in every aspect before it was taken.
Waver Velvet was, now, no different.
As one of the Twelve Lords, he had to consider the grander consequences of every single word that left his mouth. There were eyes and ears in every nook and cranny, simply waiting to turn even the simplest thing against him.
He wished it were not so.
He understood that it was.
Sighing to himself, Waver relaxed against the good old coach in his office. Everyone he knew insisted he throw the thing out the window but... if it wasn't broken, why fix it? He was perfectly content, even if he became itchy every time he sat down nowadays, and the rigid springs dug into his back...
"Hm," Waver held his cigar to his lips, and let his gaze wander until he found Gray preparing tea at a small table near the open window. "I think we should see about getting this replaced."
For a moment, his words seemed lost on Gray. Then, his disciple whirred about with such intensity that her dark cloak fluttered behind her. Her usually withdrawn eyes shimmered.
"Are you sure, Professor?"
Her enthusiasm made Waver take pause.
"Reines has been asking for months now. And, I think Henry will like it too... when he comes back, I mean."
...Was his couch really that big a deal?
Waver inhaled deeply of his cigar again, "Henry, huh? That boy will be the death of me."
"I think he would probably laugh at you for that."
He definitely would.
Waver sighed again.
Lord El-Melloi II was a man who well understood actions and their consequences.
Unfortunately for his mental health, the same was wholly untrue for the litter of teenagers studying under him. Repeatedly, without remorse, all of them got into trouble that he had to pull them out of.
Flat had only recently ruined some important catalyst out of curiosity and boredom. Svin had hit someone with a chair for 'smelling' suspicious. Yvette had set fire to a pile of letters in the main hall... again. The Pentel twins had returned a while ago, and already picked a fight with some of their classmates for being... 'peasants'.
And, Henry, was off fighting a city-wide war, with the executioner's block awaiting him upon return.
"They're all really troublesome." Waver clenched his stomach.
In fact, Waver would probably prefer facing off against Doctor Heartless once more instead of dealing with the mess left behind by his class.
"Maybe," Gray placed a ceramic cup on the table, "Maybe that's why all of them are so incredible."
Waver raised a brow. "And you're not, Gray?"
"I-"
"Kyahaha! Of course, she's not!" Add laughed from his brass cage, shaking and clambering, "She's a stupid village girl! That's what she thinks, at least."
...
"I'm not as amazing as-"
"Of course, you're not!"
Surprisingly enough, neither Waver nor Add were the ones to cut off Gray the second time. No, the ridiculously confident and elegant voice had come from outside the office. Waver recognised it immediately.
Dread welled up inside his chest.
Then, the door was thrown open roughly.
"Miss Luviagelita."
The Edelfelt Princess stepped into his abode without permission or announcement, her bright golden locks swaying behind her. From her face, Waver could tell she probably felt that he was the one who should have felt honoured by her stomping into his office.
Well... truth be told, the sleeveless navy dress clinging to her form was probably more expensive than everything he owned combined.
"Call me Luviagelita, Gray. Right! Where was I? Yes, of course, meeting myself in quality is impossible, but you should not sell yourself short either." Luviagelita Edelfelt tossed her hair over her shoulder, smiling so brightly all else seemed gloomy, "You're quite talented yourself."
"Um... I was talking about Henry... and the oth-"
Luviagelita laughed softly, "I see no difference."
Unable to handle her ferocity, Gray let out a quiet hum before nodding her head and backing off. Again, without permission, Luviagelita sat down right across from him but not without first pulling the chair to a spot where the sunlight from the window fell just right enough to make her pale skin seem ethereal.
"Lord El-Melloi II." She greeted respectfully.
Waver exhaled smoke, "Lady. I hope you can forgive the... state of my office."
"Nonsense. As an uninvited guest, it would be rude of me to complain."
Yes, of course, haughty but noble, that was Luviagelita Edelfelt. A true blue-blooded individual.
"Then..."
When dealing with her, it was best to keep it brief and to the point, as Waver had come to learn. He preferred that as well.
"May I ask what you are doing in London, lady?"
Her relationship with Henry made her the target of no small level of scrutiny, and though that was nothing to her, she was intelligent enough to understand the danger it posed inside the headquarters of the Mage's Association.
"Ah yes, I've come to bring glad tidings. The Holy Grail War in Fuyuki nears its end." She smiled confidently, and declared something utterly boisterous.
"How...?"
Henry had contacted her, most likely.
"Because I know my Hal. There was no one there to present a threat that him and his servant could not easily handle. As I suspected, this amounted to nothing but a well-timed distraction."
Waver had no words for her. In silence, he considered hers.
Her attitude was strikingly similar to that of Henry's. Neither of them were taking the ordeal seriously at all. It left him quite baffled. He was the only one among them who had experience with the war and yet... why did he feel himself relaxing with each and every declaration either of them made?
Still, if they refused caution, then that fell to him, as their teacher.
"Lady..." He started slowly, measuring every word, "Might I ask what makes you so certain?"
"The Enforcer is defeated. The Matou household is gone. Today, the Einzberns fell. Saber's master is a civilian. All other servants are dealt with, save for the Tohsaka."
Waver looked up, meeting her gaze for the first time.
The Edelfelt Princess reached into her purse and pulled out a phone.
"We didn't stop talking, you know?"
"I'm sure you're aware," Waver inhaled deeply, readying himself for pain just in case, "That the Tohsaka master is a credible threat. They have defeated the Edelfelts before..."
Contrary to his expectations, Luviagelita's smile did not waver even a fraction, "And even stole our craft, yes. What can be expected of low-lives except robbery?"
There was a certain irony in Luviagelita calling someone else a 'thief' when the Edelfelts rose to prominence through tomb raiding and proxy wars. Waver kept those thoughts to himself.
"Believe me when I say, the Tohsaka master is dealt with as well."
"He defeated their servant as well?"
"Nothing of the sort," She waved, "Her servant lives still. He must be a fairly powerful heroic spirit as well."
"Then..."
Why was she not worried at all? How was the Tohsaka master dealt with?
"Your confusion is amusing." She held her palm against her chest, "You see, my interest in the Fuyuki Grail War was negligible at best... but for Hal, I took an interest, and hired some individuals to... let us say, investigate."
Waver rubbed his chin, considering her words.
"The Tohsaka have a woman as their head, the same age as myself even. Henry is terribly handsome, and incredibly talented. Why, his nature is so compelling..."
Admittedly, Waver ended up tuning out most of her rant. He was scarcely interested in hearing a lovestruck noble sing songs of praise for her beau, and they didn't add at all to his understanding.
She noticed, and stopped, but took no insult.
"Let me say, the Edelfelt blood runs strong. She is dealt with. No, I have won. The slight upon my name is returned with interest."
"If she has her servant, and is talented as yoursel-... talented, how is she dealt with?"
In answer to his completely valid inquiry, Luviagelita simply repeated her words.
"Our blood runs strong. I told him to approach her at least once."
Waver could only scratch his head in confusion.
"Ohohoho...!" She laughed freely, holding the back of her palm against her lips.
Thankfully, Gray interrupted just in time to let him save face in front of Luviagelita. Thanks to his disciple's timid words, she never even noticed that he still understood none of what she said.
"But, Miss Luviagelita... if you're both similar, won't H-Henry like..."
The Edelfelt Princess froze mid-laugh.
"T...That wouldn't happen."
"But, he likes-... likes you so much because of-"
Luviagelita smiled softly, "I trust him."
Flustered, Gray immediately retreated to her little corner once more.
...
Waver still didn't get it.
"And that's all you came here for?"
He decided to ignore the topic entirely for now. Gray understood what Luviagelita was getting at so he could easily just ask her later. It was best to simply move on.
"Ah, wait, no, I couldn't stop Henry's mother from returning home."
"...What?"
"So I have a bit of a favour to ask, make up some excuse as his 'employer'. A week is all he needs."
"How am I supposed to-"
Waver clutched his stomach again, buckling over from the pain. She'd just easily dumped that spartan mother on him.
What was he even supposed to say to Miss Louise?
"She's outside."
"Fuck."
Maybe Henry wouldn't mind a minor suggestion spell...
-
Hope you enjoyed.
Less than ten chapters to go before the end. 15, at the max.