Louise Françoise Le Blanc de La Vallière sat on the ground and sobbed.

The summoning of her familiar was supposed to be her one chance to prove her worth as a noble and student at the Tristain Academy of Magic.

Not only that, she'd promised the Zerbst that she'd summon a familiar much better than her own.

Her own pride had blinded her.

She should have known that she'd fail the summoning.

She shouldn't have gotten her hopes up.

Now, they were crushed.

She only created another explosion and, after dust faded, there was nothing there.

Nothing but the soot from her explosion.

She is, and always will be, Louise the Zero.

She barely heard the jeers from her "fellow students" as she fell backwards, tears filling her eyes.

Then, footsteps were heard and everyone was silenced. Louise looked up in hope.

Her familiar was tall, muscled and clad in armour with a sword bigger than him and her combined slung over his shoulder.

His armour was mainly metal with fur slung over his shoulders, probably from hunting, and the pelt looked noble and mixed with the armour well.

His silver helmet covered his identity completely apart from the T-shaped opening for him to see through. It seemed fairly sturdy and strong.

And he was holding a hand out for her to grab.

She was so shocked that she took the hand stood up as he pulled, staring into the T on his helmet with child-like wonder.

The Monarch's POV

The little girl in front of him was not of Drangleic origin, that's for sure, or he would feel the curse within her. His old-fashioned and gentlemanly side, born from when he was just a knight, led him to help her.

"Are you hurt?" The Monarch asked. The little girl looked up at him in confusion before she spouted some foreign language, sounded a bit Drangleian but with a French accent?

French? What was that?

Anyway, the Monarch looked at the girl for a second before he placed the Ring Of Whispers on his finger.

"Are you okay?" The Monarch asked.

The girl looked up in wonder, as whispers began with the other children.

The Monarch looked down at her in silence, as he cast a Warmth spell just in case. The girl watched the small ball in wonder, as did the rest of the class.

"Hah, Louise's familiar is more magical than she is!"

The Monarch turned to stare at a student in the crowd, his harrowed glare staring straight through the student.

Quickly, the student backed away behind another student and shrunk.

The Monarch turned to look at an old man as he cleared his throat.

"Well, it appears you truly are a mage. A fire mage, judging by your familiars spell." He gestured at the Monarch. "Please, continue the ritual."

The little girl stepped up to him and pulled out a wand, chanting a few words before she stepped up and kissed his helmet.

Pain burned in his hand, though nothing he couldn't handle. He stared down at his gauntlet as he stepped next to the Warmth ball, just as it flickered and died.

"Well, that was that." The old man turned to address. "Please, return to your rooms."

All the other students began to gossip as they flew out of the room. The Monarch watched before turning to look at his little summoner.

"Is there anything you need me for, Summoner?" The Monarch asked. The little girl's back seemed to stiffen up with pride.

"Follow me, familiar." She ordered as she walked away. The Monarch watched in wonder, why did she walk when the rest flew?

Nonetheless, he followed.

The Monarch closed the door behind him as his Summoner began to undress, throwing her clothes at him.

He caught them deftly as she began to speak.

"Wash those, familiar. And fold them for tomorrow." She ordered. The Monarch looked down at her discarded clothes before water covered them, washed them, then vanished silently. He folded them masterfully, before placing on her bedside table.

"Done." The Monarch stated.

The girl turned around and stared at her clean clothes, half-naked in her bra and panties.

"How did you clean them?" She asked, touching them to confirm her suspicions.

"All magic is easily done by the King of Drangleic. I have had time to study every type of magic." The Monarch muttered.

The girl looked up at him in disbelief.

"Y-You're a King!?" She yelped. He nodded.

"King of a cursed kingdom, but still a king." The Monarch chuckled. Louise immediately kneeled.

"My lord, I'm sorry for not showing my respects earlier. Please, forgive me." Louise spouted to the Monarch's confusion.

"I am not your king. You have no need to show me respect." The Monarch placed his hand on Louise's didn't seem to pick up on it.

"My lord, I humbly ask for your forgiveness. My ignorance shall not be repeated." Louise hurriedly rattled off. The Monarch sighed. He hardened his features and entered King mode.

"Stand, Summoner." He boomed. Louise rose to her feet quickly. "My Kingship extends only to Drangleic and it's colonies. Wherever we are, it is most certainly not a colony or actual piece of Drangleic. And since Drangleic has nothing but minerals and no economy to share with other kingdoms, there is little point in acting or being treated as an emmisary. I am just another denizen in this kingdom." The Monwrchwatched Louise think for a second then nod.

'I see." She stated. 'Though still, if you truly are a king, then you must be able to do more than two spells, correct?" Louise asked, her shock having gone now led her to being suspicious of the claim. "The actual ruler of out kingdom will be coming here soon, for the Familiar Talent Test. I wish you to show your sovereignty, and speak to the princess if you do."

"I must merely cast spells to be accepted as King? Very well, if it gets you to calm down and shut up about the whole thing, then I will prove my sovreignty, when this 'Talent Test' arrives." The Monarch grumbled. Louise nodded before yawning. The Monarch placed his hand on hr shoulder and led her to bed. "But for now, you must rest."

"It appears so, my liege. I shall see you in the morning." Louise slowly said as she drifted off to the sleep, the warm hand on the Monarch rubbing her head with a fatherly feel. Beneath the hand, she felt warm and sleepy. So sleep came quickly.

"I will return, but for now, Summoner, I must rest." The MoMarch pulled the Aged Feather out from his pocket, rubbing his finger along the spine of the feather as he slowly vanished.

"Sleep well, Louise."