Unreconcilable

While Michael was off trying to get as far away from the academy as physically possible, Louise was packing her things for the long journey home back to the Valliere estate.

Her escort wouldn't arrive for a couple of days now, but she had a great deal of clothing to get ready when it came... Unfortunately, she wasn't allowed to make use of the academy employees due to the fact she was no longer a student there, and thus had no right to request assistance.

It'd been a day since she'd been expelled from the academy, and her mood hadn't really recovered since. As much as she wanted to blame it on Michael and his incredibly stupid actions, she knew she was at least partly responsible for it.

*Knock! Knock!*

Louise releases a long sigh as she looks over at the door, the last time she opened that door she'd been expelled from the academy, so she saw it as a bad omen by now... "It's open!"

The door slowly opens and reveals Kirche, who gave a small, sheepish smile as she steps into the room. "Loui-"

Louise frowns upon seeing her 'arch-enemy' assuming she was only here to gloat, "What do you want, Zerbst?" she asks, more harshly than she'd initially intended.

Kirche lets out a breath and looks Louise in the eye, "Listen Louise, I know you don't particularly like me but can we just forget the pretences for now?"

"Pretences?" Louise asks, a vein becoming visible due to her irritation.

Kirche nods, "Despite me playing along with you, I never really cared about our family's distaste for each other. In fact, I actually enjoyed trading insults you with... But now that you've been expelled-"

"What are you talking about? I hate you! I hate you more than everyone else in the academy combined! 'Pretences!?', did you think I'd believe that!? You're even the one who started calling me 'Zero'!... Leave! Before my actions hurt another noble of this academy." she angrily states, getting back to work on packing her things.

Kirche wants to retort, but upon seeing Louise' glare, knows that they'll just end up fighting. While she wanted to make up with her and prove that they weren't really enemies, it was probably far too late to reconcile now. Especially since Louise wouldn't remain here for much longer.

"I don't hate you Louise, so if you ever want to talk, I'd be willing to listen." she says, giving a regretful sigh as she shuts the door behind her.

With Kirche gone, Louise quietly listens for any indication that she was still around, afterwards, angrily shouting as she throws herself atop her bed, screaming incomprehensibly into her pillow. Kirche's actions were incredibly confusing, Louise had always taken their rivalry seriously, so to just hear her say that she was playing alone? Did Kirche thing that she was a child!?

Her packing having all but been forgotten, she continues to release her anger into her pillow but stops when someone else arrives at her door.

*Knock! Knock! Knock!*

...

Louise wipes her eyes scowls, "Who is it!? If it's Zerbst you can leave!" she shouts, wondering if Kirche had returned for something.

"I am Agnès Chevalier de Milan, Captain of her majesty's Muskateer Knights! Permission to enter!?"

...

Louise frowns with consternation, unsure why a Captain would be visiting her... Did they want to ask more questions about Michael?... "Enter!"

The door opens, revealing an armour clad woman with short blonde hair and sharp features. She had a sword and flintlock pistol at her waist and a white cloak with gold accents over her shoulders, marking her as someone of authority. Louise' voice gets lost in he throat as the intimidating-looking woman glances around the rather messy room.

Her eyes lock onto Lousie, "Are you Miss Louise de la Valliere?" she asks.

Louise slowly nods in response, but finds herself unable to voice anything other than an agreeable hum, which, to her own ears sounded more like a squeak than anything else.

"Her royal highness, Princess Henrietta de Tristain had requested your presence." Agnes states.

Upon hearing her childhood friend's name, Louise all but forgets her fear of Agnes and immediately sits up with a gleam in her eyes, "Princess Henrietta? What is it for?" she quickly asks.

Anges shakes her head, "I do not know, but I was told to accept your refusal should you choose to do so. Will you come with me to the palace?"

Louise immediately nods her head, the Valliere escorts could wait if the princess needed her. "Ah, yes, just let me pack a couple things... Will we leave immediately?"

Agnes nods, "As soon as you are ready. We will wait outside the academy for you, so, please don't keep us waiting long. By your leave?"

Louise nods, "I won't take long, I promise!" she says, turning and glaring at her messy room. Determined to pack a small travel bag as soon as possible.

As Agnes was walking back to the academy entrance, she was stopped as Headmaster Osmond approaches. "Headmaster? Do you need something?" she respectfully inquires.

The old man slowly nods, running his fingers through his long white beard, "I have a request for your princess... I need you to take this to her, if you could." he says, handing Agnes a small black book along with a letter that had the Academy's official seal.

While Agnes was someone offended that this old man wanted something from the princess, she knew his position might even equal one of the higher nobles such as Earl Gramont. Even if he couldn't do much with it. "I will deliver it, as to what the princess thinks? That will be up to her discretion." she states.

Osmond just nods, "That is all I can ask." he says before leaving.

Agnes continues her walk towards the entrance, and only has to wait around 45 minutes for Louise to finally arrive, a good time compared to how long most nobles would actually take to get ready.