The Palace of Versailles

Since coming to this world, Keitaro and Toko Owari had survived an assassination attempt, fought a war, and dueled to the death, but nothing could prepare them for what waited within the walls of Versailles.

Greeted kindly by the Blue Maiden, Sylvie Marche, they were immediately thrust into a grand ball celebrating their arrival.

The ball was being held in the Hall of Mirrors, a room of such opulence that it was nearly impossible to describe. Crystal chandeliers hung from above, the ceiling was concave and decorated with massive paintings of King Louis XIV, beautiful statues lined the walls, and the entire room glittered with regal detailing. Both Keitaro and Toko were amazed. The grandeur on display was beyond anything they had ever imagined.

Unfortunately, the beauty of their surroundings was difficult to enjoy thanks to the crowd. The ball was packed with people all talking, drinking, and dancing.

This was the worst possible situation for the siblings to be in.

Toko had crippling social anxiety, so any kind of crowd immobilized her. However, while Keitaro could handle crowds, he hated parties, and he especially hated the people who created this kind of environment, and those were the people he had to strike a deal with.

It really did disgust him the more he thought about it. The French army was fighting a war for the very survival of their nation, yet back at home, these people partied without a care like they were in a different world entirely.

He gripped his glass hard, causing a little bit to spill over the top.

“U-um…” Toko mumbled. “W-what are those things floating around in your drink?”

Keitaro absentmindedly took a glass when offered. He hated alcohol, so he hadn’t even had a sip, but it was champagne with some weird shiny pieces floating around in it.

“Those are gold flakes,” Keitaro explained.

“G-gold flakes!?” Toko looked closer.

“Yeah. They’re sometimes put into fancy liquor.”

“C-can you even drink those?”

“They’re completely harmless. Pass right through you.”

Toko’s voice fell. “Seems like a waste…”

“You can say that again.” He examined the champagne closely. There were certainly better ways to spend gold.

“Ah, Mr. Owari. Just the man I was looking for.” It was Sylvie Marche, their hostess.

Sylvie was stunningly beautiful and had sparkling blue eyes. A Madonna to many, although not at all Keitaro’s type.

However, Toko instinctually shrank back.

“Hello, Ms. Marche,” Keitaro responded bluntly.

“I couldn’t help but notice you brooding over here in the corner.” She offered her hand. “How about a dance?”

Without thinking, he replied, “No thanks.”

“Oh, you don’t dance?”

“Not really my thing. Besides…” He swirled his drink around. “Dances are a bit romantic, don’t you think? And aren’t you engaged to Louis?”

It was a small detail in one of Jack’s letters, but it was something Keitaro committed to memory.

“Ah, you don’t need to worry about that. A dance is just a dance, after all.”

“I suppose you’re right…” Keitaro understood that it was rude to deny a dance in such a circumstance, and that that rudeness would negatively impact diplomacy, but he just couldn’t do it. As politely as possible, he turned her down. “I still must decline. Thank you for the offer, though.”

Sylvie pouted. “Well, suit yourself.” She walked away and back to the main party.

Keitaro was fine when dealing with honest, objective people. But navigating a sensitive political scene with a socialite like that was far beyond his station, and blowing her off, even for something trivial, certainly didn’t earn him any points.

On the other hand, Toko remained apprehensive. Her perfect smile, the way she chatted and weaved through the party, even the types who orbited around her. Sylvie reminded her all too much of the girls from her high school, the ones who had crushed her without mercy.

***

Louis Delacroix sat in Topkapi Palace. What was once the administrative center of the Ottoman Empire and the home of its sultans was now where he planned his invasion of Russia.

However, the irony was lost on him as he discussed the details of this operation with his general, Napoleon Bonaparte.

“Moscow should fall just as easily as Rome and Istanbul. Even with casualties, our numbers are still superior.”

“Any information on the Red Knight or Maiden’s Abilities?”

“No, but it shouldn’t make a difference.” He waved his hand, dismissing even the idea that they had anything to worry about. “Nothing can compare to your Meteor.”

That was indeed correct. It had so easily already brought two cities to their knees. Although, the prize had slipped through their fingers…

“Have we managed to track down any of the Knights or Maidens?”

“It seems they’ve all fled to Moscow. But with Tokyo on our side, they’ll have nowhere left to run.” Napoleon raised his hand and squeezed it, as if catching their enemies in his grasp.

“Yes…” Louis looked out the window in the direction of Paris. “Sylvie should be meeting with the Japanese as we speak.” As he mentioned the name of his beloved, visions of her face flashed through his mind and his heart went aflutter. With a deep breath, he returned to his senses. “We need Japan to cover our flank so we can take down London once and for all, and I’m positive that Sylvie will be able to make a deal.”

Napoleon shifted awkwardly before suddenly becoming quite interested in the battle plans.

Louis leaned back in his chair. Everything was coming together wonderfully. The French, despite their innumerable military accomplishments, had too often been overlooked and ridiculed. However, this world gave an opportunity to set the record straight.

“How are our supplies?”

“We have enough.” Napoleon answered bluntly, not looking at him.

In truth, they were low on everything, and had even got to the point where they started plundering from the local population, but they surely had enough to take down Moscow.

“Then when’s the soonest we can begin?”

“Tomorrow morning.”

“Fantastic.”

Louis smirked as he leaned forward, brushing his fingers over the map of Moscow. This victory would indisputably make Paris the strongest city in Kosma, restoring the glory of the French people.