My sleeping schedule is a mess, I had forgotten that days went by so fast and Saturday has arrived again! I just finished this chapter, which I thought was cute and very Nozel-ish.

Enjoy!

[Black Clover characters' belongs to Yūki Tabata]

[I'm also on AO3 with the same username]

CHAPTER 3

The Promise

Nozel P.O.V.

- Why so many clothes? - Solid asked, leaning over the fabrics that had been folded and neatly lined up on my bed. It was late, but he was still awake, as one of the maids was helping me with the final preparations for my trip.

- Because I might be away for weeks or months, or our mother might want to take a walk after she recovers, I don't know.

- But Maria doesn't have that many clothes - Solid said, unlike me he had blue eyes, which looked even more innocent when he was sleepy.

Maria was the maid who was helping me today, she was usually in the kitchen all the time, or was responsible for watching over Solid. I didn't exactly know what she did beyond that, as the servants' lives were not my concern.

There was a bond forming between her and my little brother, maybe because our mom was feeling tired now in her late pregnancy and didn't have that much time for Solid anymore. He was only five years old and didn't understand these things well, so maybe Maria was someone important in his eyes now.

But it bothered me that she could be possible thinking the same thing.

- It's not that, little master, I...

I looked at Maria as she started to speak.

She was not allowed to speak to me, nor should she have thought it would be a good idea to give her opinion on this matter.

Solid was just a child, I would forgive him for now, but with time he would have to learn that some people were better than others.

- Leave - I said, taking Solid out of my suitcase - and put my brother to bed, it's late.

Maria nodded silently, then held out her hand to Solid, who took it without hesitation and they both left the room.

Solid looked at me before the maid closed the door. He didn't seem to understand my new attitude and why I was so angry all of a sudden...

- Oh - said a voice above my head - you could have been more polite to the girl.

My first reaction was to look up at the voice. I didn't jump in fright, nor did I scream at the sight of Corinna's head poking out of a small glowing portal above my head.

-But how... - I tried to mumble something, until I remembered that Corinna could now open portals to wherever she wanted, at least to the places she knew.

And she knew my room very well.

She smiled at me for a second, her greenish hair falling over her cheerful face, until the portal opened wider than it should have. I was quick enough to get out of the way, so Corinna landed on a pile of clothes, but not just any clothes...

If I couldn't stand my nervousness at the knowledge that she was going to fall on top of me, I felt my face burn as I saw that she landed on my underwear.

I stifled a scream of dread with my hands as I tried to push Corinna away from those things.

- Stop this! - Corinna complained, and then ended up falling out of bed.

- I'm very sorry! - I said after putting everything inside the suitcase and closing it suddenly. Then I got down on my knees beside Corinna, who was rubbing her head in pain - It wasn't my intention!

- Okay - Corinna said, but her expression meant otherwise - after all I was the one who came unannounced.

- What are you doing here? - I asked, internally thanking myself for still being fully dressed - Did you...?

I didn't want to ask that, it wasn't the right moment, but it was the first thing that came to my mind when I saw her.

- Did you go to Leon's room before coming here?

- What? - Corinna blew some strands of hair away from her face - No! Of course not! You said I couldn't go there, remember?

I sighed in relief, then helped Corinna onto the mattress, at least where my suitcase wasn't occupying. I think Solid was right when he said I was taking too many clothes.

- I just wanted to say goodbye one more time - Corinna said. She put her hands around her neck as if searching for something, calming down after feeling that the black pearl necklace she had found on our little expedition to the tower was still there. - You're traveling and I don't know when you'll be back.

- And must be bored by having to be alone with Leon all this time.

Corinna rolled her eyes in disapproval of my comment. I don't think she knew, nor did she realize how nervous I got whenever Leon was around her.

- Maybe - she shrugged - your mother won't allow visitors and the location of the house is a secret, for safety, I understand, but...

- But...

Corinna put her feet up on the bed, she was barefoot, and her dress was slight and white, probably the one she wore to sleep every night. I realized I was staring at her too much, so I turned my face away.

-I'll miss you, that's all, that's why I came here.

I tried to hide my smile, but I couldn't, and I knew my face must be as red as an apple right now.

"Should I ask her what she thought about the marriage proposal?". My mind started to flood with racing thoughts. "What if I made the proposal and she ended up hating me for it? I mean, we'd still have to wait a few years, but still..."

What if she didn't feel the same way about me?

- I also wanted to ask you something before you left.

- Sure... - I tried to control myself, but my voice came out too high pitched - What is it?

Corinna hesitated; she was staring at my suitcase, her gaze lost and hopeful.

- Why do you insist so much on competing with Leon?

- What? - I blinked twice until I could understand what she was saying.

- You two want the same things, join the magic knights, to be protectors of the kingdom... Maybe even become the next Magic Emperor...

She took a deep breath. I might be a little surprised, but that seemed like a difficult thing for her to say out loud.

- I am afraid that we will stop being friends one day, because you two will be too involved in a competition.

- You'll be in it too - I said - your father wants you to follow his footsteps, to go to the Magic Parliament, or do you think you won't find competition there?

- Except I'm not going to the Magic Parliament - Corinna said, and maybe that was the most serious and decisive thing she's said to me since she fell through the portal.

- Are you sure? - I said - Don't you think the union between a magic knight and a member of the parliament would be perfect?

She didn't answer me, and her silence, even for a short while, made my heart freeze.

- It depends on what kind of union you're talking about - Corinna replied. I didn't understand what her icy brown eyes meant by that.

- We don't need to talk about this right now - I rushed to say before she ended up rejecting me too soon.

There was a gap between Corinna and me, so I approached her in a lapse of courage.

- Just promise me you won't travel alone in your portals while I'm gone.

- But Nozel...

- You don't have a grimoire yet - I insisted - it could be dangerous.

I touched the black pearls she wore around her neck thanks to another brave moment. Corinna could push me away, but she accepted my touch.

- I promise - she said, finally relenting.

- And you can't go to Leon's room either.

- I'm not going to his room! - Corinna smiled, and then took my hand - I promise.

I nodded, with a feverish feeling running through my entire body, while Corinna still smiled at me.

- You need to cut your hair - Corinna brushed some strands that lightly covered my eyes - or maybe...

She parted a few strands of my bangs and looked like she wanted to braid them, but then shook her head when the strands quickly came free.

- What's it?

- I had an idea - she pointed to my forehead - but your hair isn't long enough yet.

She brought her face close to mine as she spoke, still aware of my silver hair, as if imagining dozens of hairstyles she'd like to try out, not realizing how hard I was struggling with that proximity.

I think this would be the right time to tell her how I felt, or maybe to kiss her for the first time... I should do something; I should be brave again tonight...

- WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

Nebra's voice broke my concentration and ended up startling Corinna, who pulled back a little.

- MOM! - I heard Nebra scream in the hallway as she ran to rat me out - NOZEL HAS A GIRL IN HIS ROOM.

- I don't think she recognized me - Corinna said.

-That brat... Why isn't she sleeping?!

I was about to get up to run after Nebra, but Corinna grabbed my hand.

- Don't be that kind of person, you must be a good brother.

- I am a good brother, but Nebra...

- She was scared - Corinna gripped my hand tighter - and I need to go now.

- But already? - I said, hearing hurried footsteps coming from the hallway, as Nebra had left the door open.

- Can't wait to meet your new sister or brother!

Corinna let go of my hand so I got up to lock the door to maybe give us some more time, but when I got back to bed, she was already gone, leaving me alone again, with only the vivid memory of our meeting in my mind, like a good dream.