Boom!
Amidst a deafening dragon's roar and clouds of dust, Laurent's vision remained unobstructed. His gaze settled on the group not far away.
Over there, besides Jeanne Alter, stood five Servants—one of whom he'd sent flying just yesterday.
Jeanne and the others immediately became vigilant.
Including Laurent, their side currently numbered only three combatants. Ritsuka Fujimaru wasn't exactly a fighter, so they were clearly outnumbered.
Laurent narrowed his eyes slightly. Jeanne Alter hadn't noticed him yet. Logically, even if she was Jeanne's other side, she should still recognize him. Yet, clearly, she had no memories of him at all.
And there was no ring on her finger.
Mash raised her shield, heightening her focus.
"I really...didn't think…"
"Didn't think this would happen…"
After landing, Jeanne Alter's eyes fixed mockingly on Jeanne, dripping with ridicule.
"Hey, someone pour some cold water over my head, please."
"This is too awful."
"Too ridiculous. I'm really about to lose it."
As her words ended, her mocking smile grew even sharper. "If I don't, I might literally die from laughing at this absurd sight!"
"Hey, Gilles, look! That poor little girl—what exactly is she? Standing there so blankly. A termite? A rat? An earthworm?"
With each of Jeanne Alter's insults, Laurent's expression darkened further.
"Well, I suppose it doesn't matter. She's so insignificant I can't even muster pity for her! Honestly, a country relying on such a pathetic girl might as well be ruled by rats—ah. Right, I didn't bring Gilles along."
Jeanne was rendered speechless. She wanted to refute, yet her momentum was completely overshadowed.
Just then, she felt a gentle touch on her back, followed by Laurent's reassuring voice.
"It's alright. I'm right here beside you, aren't I? Let her talk all she wants; it's just meaningless words. Don't let her get to you."
Admittedly, he had been quite irritated earlier, but quickly suppressed his anger.
After all, the person opposite was also Jeanne, his wife… If this was truly her opposing side, it was normal she'd mock the current Jeanne.
However, one thing Laurent couldn't figure out was why Jeanne Alter had completely forgotten him.
If she truly was Jeanne's other self, she should've been on his side right now. She should've even deeply regretted her choice to save the country.
Meeting him under such circumstances, shouldn't she treasure him greatly and desire to be with him? Or was he simply deluding himself, and Jeanne didn't actually like him that much back then?
Hearing Laurent's comforting words, Jeanne's heart calmed. She faced Jeanne Alter directly.
"Who exactly are you?"
Seeing Jeanne unaffected, Jeanne Alter looked irritated. Then she finally noticed Laurent standing there and her smile widened mockingly.
"Oh? Hahaha! Isn't that the bastard king who had you executed? Hahaha! Who would've thought you'd fall so low that you'd choose someone like this as your companion? Should I call you selfless…or hopelessly stupid?"
Laurent's brow furrowed deeply. He'd already sensed the hostility from the Servant he'd blasted away previously. Jeanne Alter's words and actions clearly indicated she had no recognition of him beyond him being England's tyrant king.
Her words deeply displeased Jeanne. She wanted to respond, but Laurent stopped her first.
"Something's odd."
He leaned closer, whispering curiously into Jeanne's ear.
"Wife, when exactly did you fall for me?"
The girl's face immediately took on a strange expression. She gave Laurent a helpless look, silently pleading: Can we please talk about this later?
Laurent felt somewhat exasperated.
Is that how you see me, as someone who flirts shamelessly at every chance?
"I'm serious!"
"I'm serious too! Can we discuss this later? Right now, we need to figure out what's happening."
"No, what I mean is…haven't you noticed? She doesn't recognize me at all!" He covered his face dramatically, looking hurt. "Why haven't you noticed until now?"
Hearing this, Jeanne finally caught on.
Now that she thought about it… If that really was her opposite self, Jeanne Alter's reaction towards Laurent shouldn't be like this. Seeing Laurent, her opposite self should've treasured him deeply, even deeply despising the current Jeanne.
She, who once chose to save the country instead of accompanying Laurent, should have been utterly despised, even scorned, by Jeanne Alter.
Yet, Jeanne Alter hadn't mentioned any of that, not even once.
"Um…"
Jeanne carefully chose her words, embarrassment coloring her voice. "I—I probably liked you from very early on…"
"More specific, more specific! How early exactly?"
Jeanne pushed Laurent slightly, flustered. "Y-you're too close! It tickles!"
"Early means early! Probably…probably before you gave me the cross necklace…"
"So you liked me that early, huh…" Laurent stroked his chin thoughtfully.
Now things were really strange. If Jeanne had liked him that early, there was absolutely no reason for Jeanne Alter not to recognize him. Unless…she didn't possess any of Jeanne's past memories at all.
While Laurent was seriously pondering this, Jeanne couldn't quite handle the embarrassment. Revealing her feelings in such detail was mortifying, especially seeing Laurent looking so serious about it. The girl felt slightly wronged.
He doesn't even look the least bit happy…
Unaware of their whispered conversation, Jeanne Alter continued loudly.
"I was going to ask you the same question, but as your superior, I'll graciously answer yours. I'm Jeanne—the Holy Maiden resurrected after death. Another 'you.'"
"Stop talking nonsense. You're no Holy Maiden. Just as I'm not one either. No…that's all in the past. More importantly—why did you attack this city?"
"Why?" Jeanne Alter scoffed. "Hah! I thought as another Jeanne, you'd at least understand. Did changing your attribute make you this stupid?"
For the first time, Laurent wholeheartedly agreed with Jeanne Alter's words, and he glanced at Jeanne beside him.
This silly girl is just as dumb as always.
Isn't it obvious? If she's really another you, after being abandoned by France, it's only natural she'd come to loathe this country deeply.
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