Thinking about how he'd just let Kirche cuddle him, Louise fumed.
"I already told you the Zerbests and the Vallières are mortal enemies—and she doesn't even truly like you, she just wants to steal what's mine. Why do you fall for it every time?"
Seeing puffed-up Louise, Hayashi Maki shook his head with a smile.
"I get the feeling she's serious. And your feud is your elders' business—grudges are better settled than carried on. Besides, after all this time, aside from sniping at you, has Kirche ever actually hurt you?"
"Mm… no. And I'm no pushover—she doesn't have the ability to hurt me!"
Louise tilted her chin proudly—and her little mouth was promptly sealed.
"Mm— you… again… mm!!!"
Her eyes flew wide, but her body went soft on its own. Hayashi Maki grinned, gathered her up, and lay back with her. He'd thought about strolling around and "accidentally" bumping into a certain maid, but if Louise dragged him back this early… well, there was only one way to pass the time.
If she knew how shameless that thought was, she'd probably explode. Right now, though, she was all shyness and half-hearted resistance, arms looping around his neck. The scoundrel was too crafty—whenever she got mad, he used the same strong-kiss move, and she never quite managed to refuse.
After a while, she summoned a bit of strength and pushed him away.
"Enough—cut it out. I have business to deal with."
"Oh? Something to do with that letter you were holding?" Hayashi Maki asked, amused.
Louise nodded.
"It's from the princess."
"The princess? Princess Henrietta of Tristain? Why is she writing to you?"
He already knew, but he still asked—letting her be the one to tell him was a sign of trust.
Louise lowered her head; her eyes went wistful, but she didn't hide it.
"When I was little, I was chosen to be Her Highness's playmate…"
As children, they were inseparable, wild and happy—and became the closest of friends. But growing up, learning the unbridgeable gap of rank and station, Louise had never contacted the princess again. And she'd become "Louise the Zero," the only student in the academy who couldn't cast a single spell—deepening her inferiority.
Seeing that melancholy face, Hayashi Maki gently stroked her pink hair.
"A letter from the noble princess—shouldn't you be happy? Why so downcast?"
Louise blushed and glared up at him. "Don't pat my head like that! I'm a noble!"
Hayashi Maki simply hugged her. "Whatever your title, to me you have only one: my follower—my family to protect."
She shivered, then didn't resist the head-pat anymore; her face burned and her body melted.
"Alright, no more moping. Tell me what Her Highness wrote—I'll help you think it through," he said, earnest.
Louise pouted. "That's a private matter between ladies. Why are you, a man, so nosy?"
Hayashi Maki's face darkened. "I'm worried about you—that anxious look on your face gives you away."
Louise shot him a look, sliding her arms lightly around his neck.
"I don't want to say. Stop asking. It's a secret between me and the princess."
"Tch—fine. Then I'll continue." He dipped down and kissed her again.
Louise huffed inside, but didn't stop him—her heart turned sweet and warm.
Hmph, Zerbst—so what if you've got a bigger chest and can act cutesy? I'm not losing to you!
A long while later, Louise pushed at him.
"Why do I feel hot? And… tingly?"
"That's normal," he said smoothly. "What I'm doing is deepening our connection—mana resonance. Didn't you say you wanted real spells instead of explosions? Even if you're not ready to give yourself to me, this helps."
"Really?" Her eyes lit up.
"Nope." He rolled his eyes. "What are you thinking? There's no free lunch. If you don't give me your body, you'll never cast."
"Y-you… shameless! Degenerate! Lech—mmph!"
Her curses were cut off again; her body went soft. After teasing her a bit more, he relented.
"Kidding. It does help—but if you don't trust me, it weakens our bond—hurts our resonance. I'm working hard to fix your mana problem, and you won't even tell me about the princess. Truly heartbreaking."
Catching the hint, Louise glared.
"You want to know that badly?"
"Yeah. I want to know everything about you—and for us to know each other."
Meeting his heated gaze, she sighed and turned away, cheeks red.
"You're impossible… Fine. Her Highness says she's coming to see me. She's heard I summoned a powerful, unusual human familiar and says she's optimistic about me. But… I still can't cast a single spell, so I'm nervous."
"What's there to fear? You've got me. I won't let you down, my Louise," he said confidently—his hand promptly misbehaving onto her slender leg.
She slapped it away. "Quit it. Since you know my worry, shouldn't you be practicing your swordwork? Her Highness said she's looking forward to it—I don't want to disappoint her."
"I am practicing. Ever heard of the 'sword finger' technique?"
"You're using me to practice?!"
"Haha—joking. I'm going now."
He darted out of the room. Louise blinked, then ground her teeth at the door.
That scoundrel—he's not going out to flirt again, is he?!