The first time she heard him play, it had been a shocking surprise…
That day wasn't meant to be special. Vanessa just had to deliver a probably very important document at the Silver Eagles Headquarters. A small last minute mission, because Yami had forgotten, leaving Finral to discover it in the evening and having a panic attack, so Vanessa volunteered to deliver it.
Noelle's brother wasn't present, Vanessa had to give that document to Agatha Austen, vice-captain of the Silver Eagles. Who looked very relieved to receive that piece of paper. As it was vital or something.
Vanessa didn't ask, it didn't interested her anyway. But the sincere thanks of the vice-captain was nice to hear and honestly, she wasn't unhappy about the opportunity to see inside another squad, totally different from the Black Bulls.
So, instead of going home, Vanessa decided to visit a bit after saying goodbye to Agatha.
It was already late in the evening, most of the Silver Eagles went home – for those who didn't lived at their Headquarters – or went back into their rooms – for those who did. And maybe some were now going out, enjoying their free time. Even if it was a bigger squad than her own with so much more work to do, Vanessa couldn't believe that the Silver Eagles hadn't any free time.
Only the knights who were here for the night shift were at their posts and some of them looked like they took their job very seriously, so Vanessa decided to not stop by and have a small talk. They would already find it weird to have a knight from another squad visit them this late.
The Silver Eagles headquarters was big and an old building, with many rooms. So of course, Vanessa get lost. Kinda. She didn't panicked, so she just continued to walk, believing that she would find some Silver Eagle who could guide her back.
She didn't found any Silver Eagle, though. Instead, as she was walking through some hallway who looked somehow unoccupied, she heard it for the first time. A melody. A melody played on a piano. Breathetaking, sad and hopeful, nostalgic and peaceful.
Vanessa couldn't tell why she felt that melody like it was calling out her soul. She never been that interested in music before – except singing and even then mostly drinking songs – and such rich instruments like violins, harps or pianos always seemed like some foreign language to her.
But this time, Vanessa found it beautiful, understanding and she couldn't tell why. Back then, she didn't even ask herself. She just followed the melody, who came from a door at the end of the hallway. Behind that door, a surprisingly big room with high windows, but without any furniture… expect a black pianoforte in the middle. Sitting in front of it, the captain of the Silver Eagles, Nozel Silva in person.
It took her a few seconds before Vanessa realized that it was him playing that breathetaking melody. She never would have thought that Noelle's stoic and expressionless older brother would be such a talented pianist. According to Yami, Nozel Silva has no love for music, didn't have any hobbies in general. But according to Yami, Magna and Asta were incredible singers and after hearing them, Vanessa had no idea if captain Yami was just tone deaf or if he just loved to make fun out of everyone.
He was definitely wrong about Nozel. And his face right now wasn't cold at all. It wasn't full with thousands expressions either. Well, Vanessa never had the chance to see that handsome man often, but that expression right there… It was soft, a bit sad maybe, but relaxed, as if nothing could happen to him right now. As if he wasn't a prince and even Head of House, as if he wasn't the captain of an old, royal knight squad.
As if, in this very moment, he was just… Nozel Silva.
Vanessa had no idea how long she stood here, hidden behind the door and peeking. Just listening to Nozel playing, his fingers gliding, almost dancing on the piano keys. It was like something called out to her, for something that wasn't really awake yet. Vanessa had no idea what it was and at that moment, she didn't care.
But of course, it had to end. Just as Nozel stopped and stood up, Vanessa heard footsteps coming down the hallway. She run, afraid to be discovered, but somehow still enchanted by the melody she just had heard.
Nobody discovered her in that lonely hallway back then, but Vanessa was unable to forgot Nozels breathetaking melody.
Secretly, Vanessa came back to the Silver Eagles Headquarters, more often than she would have liked. But that melody was like haunting her. Even more when she just imagined Nozel playing it.
But why? Why was she just that obsessed with music from a piano, played by a man that wasn't even her type?
It was really bugging her more than it should, so Vanessa decided that she had to go back to figure it out.
At least, that was the excuse she gave herself back then.
So, Vanessa went back a second time. And a third time. And many times again and again. Just to hear Nozel playing at that pianoforte.
Slowly, she didn't really cared about her lame excuse anymore. The secret of Nozel Silva was a far better one. She could see how he was when he was playing, as if the pianoforte was the key to unlock the real Nozel Silva, who the person was behind that cold mask on a statue.
It wasn't always the same melody he played, but all of them were beautiful, calling something out in her. Vanessa had no idea why.
The tenth time she came, between two melodies, it happened. Nozel looked up and saw her. Vanessa was so surprised from that unexpected reaction that she froze for a minute. She couldn't move and he didn't made any gesture either. As if they both turned into statues.
Their eyes locked and diving into his soft purple eyes was like a tiny window on another world. On the real Nozel Silva. More complex than the cold mask. It was like a firework of emotions glancing in those purple orbs.
A call, somewhere, from someone, unimportant, stopped their intense glaring. And Vanessa immediately run. Suddenly she was afraid. She didn't know why, she didn't of what or of whom, but she wanted to get out of here as fast as possible.
But it wasn't relief she felt once she was back home at the Black Bulls Hideout. Instead, she felt guilty…
Three weeks later
She didn't came back for three weeks. Almost a month. She was afraid. Afraid to have hurt Nozel somehow, afraid to have destroyed something, even though she had no idea what that something was.
Which was stupid. Why would Nozel be hurt by her reaction? He must be angry at her to have spied on something private and evidently important for him. But her instinct told her that it wasn't that, for some unknown reason.
To proof her stupid instinct that she wasn't afraid, Vanessa finally got a grip of herself and went back. It wasn't that she missed those melodies, that she missed to watch Nozel Silva playing them, showing his true self while his fingers glided on the piano keys.
But just as Vanessa entered the room with the pianoforte again, she admitted that she was wrong. She missed the melodies, she missed the mystery of the real Nozel Silva, she missed him. She had no idea why, it was a fact.
He was there. Nozel looked up as she entered. No need to hide, he saw her three weeks ago. Vanessa took a deep breath and closed the door.
Nozel looked like he was waiting for her. Vanessa wanted to doubt it, after all, why would he wait for her. But something in his eyes stopped her doubts before they could form. She couldn't pinpoint what, it was just there.
For a while, they just stared at each other. Eyes locked, just like three weeks ago. But this time Vanessa didn't flee, even though a new fear was nagging her.
Please, don't chase me away, handsome.
She didn't even know why she was scared of that. She just… was.
Nozel didn't say anything, he just gestured at a chair near the pianoforte. Vanessa hadn't seen it before.
But it was like he was allowing her to stay in the bubble of his secret. The fear disappeared to give place for relief as Vanessa sat on the chair.
Nozel turned towards the pianoforte and began to play. The very first melody Vanessa heard him play. Vanessa smiled as she closed her eyes, savouring the beloved melody.
Weeks passed. Vanessa now came almost every day secretly to the Silver Eagles Headquarters to hear Nozel play the pianoforte.
At first, none of them talked. Just silence between them. It was a bit awkward, honestly. At least for Vanessa, who knew what Nozel was thinking. But still, it wasn't a heavy silence, it wasn't a pressure.
It was just so foreign, like another world. A prince playing piano secretly to a witch. No one would ever think about a scene like that. It was already strange in reality and Vanessa doubted that anyone would have thought to write something like that in a novel or something.
Sometimes, Nozel was the first in the room. Vanessa would have thought that he would already began to play at the time she came. But no, he always seemed like he was waiting for her. Touching, in his own way. Not to mention that Vanessa wouldn't lie that she felt honoured about it. That a handsome prince was waiting for.
Other times, she was the one who came first. And then, until Nozel came, Vanessa was afraid that he wouldn't come. It scared her somehow more than it should, but she couldn't help it. She came to love those strange, but lovely music moments between them both. To her relief, Nozel always came.
Vanessa had no idea how long those meetings lasted. It was like time didn't matter when she was listening to the melodies Nozel played on the pianoforte. But it was always dusk, sometimes even the start of the night, when it was over.
Like today. After the echo of the last note vanished, Nozel and Vanessa stood up. Just a glance at each other, a nod and they left. Until next time.
But Vanessa couldn't help to want more than that. She had no idea what that more even was. She just… felt that way.
"Thank you."
Her first words since she discovered Nozel playing this pianoforte.
The captain of the Silver Eagles flinched. Looking at her blankly. For a moment, Vanessa feared to have destroyed what they had. Whatever that was.
But then Nozel looked down, whispering a soft, "You're welcome."
His first words since she came to listening to him playing this pianoforte.
They left each other after that. Nothing else was said.
But Vanessa couldn't help but feel that they somehow made an important step forward.
She was thinking of his voice. That soft whisper. That didn't sound like the cold captain, those strict, serious words that Yami made fun of, that Noelle was sad to hear, but who didn't stop her to care for her older brother.
That voice right now wasn't masked by cold. It wasn't masked at all. A little sad, a little grateful… and if Vanessa was being honest, also surprisingly sexy.
She wanted to hear his voice again.
"Hello there, handsome."
"Good evening, miss Enoteca."
"How many times did I ask you to call me Vanessa?"
"Too much."
"Stop being so proper for a minute, you can relax."
Nozel didn't answer, turning away to try to hide his blush. Vanessa giggled. It was always a threat to see him blush, to see any other expression than the cold mask he used to wear outside of this room.
After her thank you and his you're welcome from a few days ago, they started to talk more. First it was only greetings and goodbyes. But Vanessa quickly attempted more conversations. It was mostly her who talked, Nozel was way more restraint with his words.
But never with his music.
He sat down in front of the pianoforte, but waited for her to sit down as well before playing. Like always. Vanessa didn't know if it was just polite, but she greatly appreciated the gesture. She wasn't really used to be treated with respect by people who were nobles or even royals.
Between the plays, Vanessa always asked the name of the play, the tricks to do some passages, the difference between the white keys and the black keys. Not that it interested Vanessa in particular, but she wanted to talk with him so much. The hidden secrets behind his usual cold mask. The more time she spend with Nozel, the more she wanted to know about him. The real him.
Nozel answered her with a few words, but the way he talked about the melodies he was playing and the technologies of pianos in general… It was like he loved talking about his hobby. He opened to her not much, but those tiny bits gave Vanessa the wish to open to him as well. If he let her enough inside his true world… would she feel brave enough to tell him about her past? The cage?
Vanessa was surprised that her answer was yes. She felt that with time, she would tell him and she even wanted to. She wanted him to open to her and she wanted to open herself to him. She felt something that told her that it was somehow the right thing to do.
Wasn't it strange? Her own squadmates, her family didn't learn about her past from her and yet Vanessa was willing to tell it to a complete stranger.
But was he really a stranger?
Vanessa watched Nozel, his fingers gliding on the piano keys, his face almost unreadable, while his eyes clearly shows that he loved what he was doing.
No, he wasn't a stranger.
And Vanessa would make sure that they would become more than just some acquaintances.
The day they opened more was after the attack of the Eye of the Midnight Sun. After captain Dorothy Unsworth told Noelle the truth about the death of her late mother, Acier Silva…
"Why couldn't you tell it yourself to Noelle?" Vanessa asked softly. She was clearly wondering, but she suspected that it was more than just not wanting to.
"I can't."
"There are things that are difficult to say, handsome."
"It's not… that I don't want to. I really do, but… it's not only about the heaviness of this truth. It's also… something else."
Nozel put a hand on his throat while saying those words. He looked scared, as if he feared he had told too much.
Vanessa had no idea what it meant. She was very curious to learn more about this secret, but she wouldn't pry. It clearly was a too heavy topic for Nozel to just talk about.
"You don't need to tell me. If you want, wait until you feel ready."
"I… thank you, Vanessa."
She blushed. It was the first time he called her by her name.
Nozel didn't say anything else, he just began to play the next melody. The first one she ever heard him play. Even if it wasn't from too long ago, Vanessa felt somehow nostalgic.
"I never asked the name of this one", Vanessa said softly as he finished.
"It's called The River flows in you. It's… it was my mother's favourite."
There was definitely sadness in his voice. Vanessa knew that Noelle missed her mother, despite the fact that she has no memory of her. The same must apply to Nozel and he has memories of Acier Silva. How terrible has it been for him? Losing his mother and become the next Head of House Silva at fifteen, while still grieving?
Did he even had time to properly grieve?
"Did your mother teached you how to play piano?"
"Yes, she had a passion for it. My mother loved music, she was sad that would never be a good singer. Something all four of us inherited from her. But she was an amazing pianist. When I began to show some interest in this instrument, my mother made extra time so she could teach me herself. I was the only one who was interested. Nebra and Solid weren't interested into learning to play piano. Neither was Noelle. But she had a preference for the harp."
That explained why Noelle insisted that she got this expensive big harp in her room, despite the fact that her room at the Hideout wasn't that big.
"Those moments with mother are some of my favourites memories of her," Nozel continued. It was the first time that Vanessa heard him talk this much. "She loved teaching me and I loved spend time with her like that. Even when I didn't need it anymore, we still managed to find time for those lessons. I never stopped even after her death. I was just… always alone. Until you…"
Nozel looked away, clearly flustered to have confide all of this. But he couldn't hide his pink cheeks and the subtle tears in his eyes.
Vanessa had grown a habit to tease him since they started talking during those meetings. But in this very moment, she couldn't. Even while feeling uneasy, she couldn't.
She was touched, because he told her such an important part of himself.
She was also sad, because it was so obvious that Nozel still missed his mother. It was years ago, over a decade and yet he seems that he still wasn't over it. So, this is how it was when you have a good relationship with your mother.
Vanessa never knew that.
"It's sad that you had to lose your mother so young. It's nice that you had such a loving bond with her. I wish I had the same with mine."
"What do you mean?"
Vanessa looked up. Nozel was looking at her, curious, concerned.
For the first time since they started their meetings like that, their eyes locked.
Vanessa couldn't turned her head, captivated by his intense glance. Nozel had purple eyes, just like hers. But it was a different shade. A metallic purple, somehow cold but not really.
Finral told her once that eyes were a mirror to the soul and she had to admit that her best friend was right. There was no mask over those eyes, they hid nothing. They showed care, compassion, a bit of fear, a lot of sadness, a will to protect, some carving for affection maybe… and something else that just couldn't be named yet.
Nozels glance was like an invitation. A hand reached, a door opening. If she would confide to him, he would not back away. He would listened.
Vanessa wanted that and it this very moment, she wanted it more than anything.
So she told him everything. Her past, her cage, her loneliness, how she find a home with the Black Bulls, how she got back and got Rouge how her relationship with the Witch Queen, somehow her mother, wasn't anything like a mother loving her child.
How she still wasn't sure if she had come to terms with her past.
Which she only realized while telling him. How odd was that?
"I… I don't know what to say."
"You don't need to say anything, Nozel."
He really didn't need to. His eyes said more than thousands of words.
Nozel took her hand. He hesitated a bit, but still took it. Vanessa let him be, even intertwining their fingers. Nothing more needed to be said.
Vanessa couldn't tell why yet, but she just knew that they both took an important step with whatever was happening between them.
The attack on Spade was in three days. Soon, they were going to defend the Clover Kingdom and even more, go to Spade to safe captain Yami and captain William, to also stop the devils taking over the world.
Nozel would go. He was one of the strongest in the Clover Kingdom and given that his mother was killed and cursed by Megicula, he also had a very personal reason to went to this land of cold and winter.
Vanessa would go. All of the Black Bulls wanted to safe their captain and they will. That was their first reason, their personal reason, but not their only one. Captain William also had to be saved, the devils wouldn't go on rampage on the world and the Clover Kingdom would not know the taste of defeat.
The two of them still managed, during all those preparations for the upcoming attack, to find time for their music moments.
Vanessa knew that it was important, for Nozel and for her. She was worried about him, she hoped that he would come out alive out of this raid just as much that she hoped her family would come out of it alive.
She didn't know what she felt towards him, if it was friendship or maybe even something else, but one thing was sure. She didn't wanted to lose Nozel. The mere thought was terribly frightening.
They didn't talked much during their last meeting before Spade. Nozel played and Vanessa listened. The melodies were full of hope and definitely had more joy than them right now. But they needed it, to have hope for a happy outcome, whatever would happen in Spade. Vanessa was certain that they would win.
Because she had no idea what they will do if they didn't.
As the last note faded away, Nozel took a deep breath and softly took her hand as well. Vanessa almost sighed at the touch.
"Vanessa…"
"Yes, handsome?"
"When we'll go… please be very careful."
"You also, Nozel."
They didn't say anything else. It wasn't needed.
But Vanessa couldn't help but putting a soft kiss on his cheek. Nozel didn't back away.
After all, it wasn't a teasing kiss. It was already so much more than that. They both just haven't realized it yet.
"This is… you… all those years… I don't know what to say!"
"You don't need to say anything, Vanessa."
His voice was soft while looking at her with a sad glance. Nozel looked like a burden was taken from him, or at least part of a burden.
But Vanessa couldn't stop looking at the subtle scar around his neck.
They came back from Spade a few days ago. Happy of their victory, but still recovering from the trauma and all the different kinds of pains they felt and witnessed back there. Not to mention that even though they came back as victors in the Clover Kingdom, a mysterious, uneasy feeling was there since their return.
It was their first meeting since their return and after playing three or four melodies, Nozel told Vanessa about the full truth of his mother's curse.
That he was there when Acier Silva fought Vanica, while he hold a newborn Noelle in his arms.
That he saw her getting cursed.
That he got a side effect of that curse.
That he searched desperately for a cure, for anything that could have saved his beloved mother.
That he had to watch her slowly fade away during one whole year, without being able to say anything.
That he couldn't do anything against the rumours surrounding his mother's mysterious sickness, coming from his own father, letting everyone believed that it was the afterwards of a difficult pregnancy and birth.
That he tried to stop his father to blame baby Noelle, but got slapped several times before giving up, finding himself unable in his grief and despair to find the energy to stand against his father and how hated himself for it.
That he watched his mother die, while he held her hand, becoming slowly cold and distant, wanting to protect his siblings at all cost but hurting them in the process, especially Noelle, leading him in a spiral of more guilt, cold, pressure and mistakes.
Nozel told her everything and Vanessa was shocked by what she heard. Shocked and sad and a bit angry and very compassionate.
"How did you… How did you managed to stand strong under all this pressure? I don't think I could have handled it!"
"I don't know. Honestly, I don't think that I was strong… just desperate. I've made… so many mistakes. I was wrong for so long. I should have done things differently from the start… I'm not-"
"Stop it right there!" Vanessa protested and rushing to him to take his face between her hands. Nozel was too surprised by her sudden gesture to even take a few steps back.
"Don't you dare say that you aren't a good person, Nozel! You are! You made mistakes, but it was never out of malice! There were circumstances, anyone would have made mistakes under those. Nobody would have done it perfectly, nobody would have known what were the right things to do from the start, that would be inhuman to expect of anyone! You are a good person. You know you made mistakes, you apologized and you do anything to make up for them. I think that you're strong for not denying them, for owning them. And… you love your siblings, you basically sacrificed yourself for them. You tried everything to save your mother and given the circumstances, I don't think it was a failure in a way. Nozel, you're clearly one of the strongest persons I know! What you need is to understand that you can lean on other persons."
You can also lean on me.
Nozel just looked at her, surprised, his eyes watering. Vanessa didn't looked away. She had no intention to.
"Nozel, you are a good person. You did so many things because you care. And… And I…"
And I love you.
Vanessa stopped. She didn't want to blur those three precious word out like that.
She also didn't want to blur them out while she was still trying to get used to her feelings.
It was in Spade when she realized that she was in love with Nozel. Vanessa had been worried for him as much as she had been worried for her friends. Especially during the fight against Lucifero.
Of course she hadn't been really surprised about it. Nozel and her had bonded during their musical meetings. But…
The moment she heard captain Charlotte confess her love to captain Yami, the moment she finally realized that her own crush on Yami had been over for so long already, the moment she surprised herself that she wasn't jealous at all of Charlotte, Vanessa knew that she loved Nozel.
She had no idea when it started, though. Maybe she hadn't realized it before it was so different from the idea she had of love before. A naïve idea, now that she thought about it. It was nothing compared to her lost duckling crush on Yami, to her teasing towards Finral with Finesse and Noelle with Asta. It wasn't as fluffy and pink and sweet and childish and simple and whatever her idea of love was.
What Vanessa felt for Nozel was deeper. The pink fluff was mixed with darker colours, it was way more bittersweet than sweet. It wasn't only happy, it was also sad and hopeful. Another kind of simple, while hiding in a shell of complexity.
It was… somehow like the very first melody she heard him play.
Vanessa knew it was complicated. How ironic, she never cared about statuses and circles before, she never gave any importance to the problems of a relationship between a royal and a peasant when she teased Noelle about Asta.
But now that she was herself in that kind of situation, suddenly she cared. And unusually for her, she was overthinking this, despite the possibility that Nozel didn't felt the same. Which was possible… but believing it hurt too much.
"You what?"
Despite the softness in his voice, Vanessa was taken aback from Nozels question. Slowly, she looked up again. She almost gasped as she saw the hope in his eyes. Vanessa could even see that he was trying very hard to fight against that hope.
Vanessa took a deep breath and closed her eyes. She had maybe not much to lose, but not nothing. And still, her instincts told her to take the risk. So she leaned up and softly put her lips on his.
Nozel didn't back away. To Vanessa's surprise and delight, he even didn't hesitate to give in to the kiss, his hand slowly going up to her cheek.
Their lips parted, only to seal another kiss, a bit more passionate than the first one.
And another one. And another one.
They just couldn't stop.
Vanessa had no idea how long she and Nozel kissed like there was no tomorrow. All she knew was that during those blessed minutes, she could heard his mother's favourite melody clearly in her heart.
The atmosphere in the kingdom had been strange those past few weeks. Their victory in Spade had some mysterious bitter taste since their return and it was like time was playing crazy.
But no one had an idea what was going on. Everything seemed so normal for now, which lead everyone to come back to their habits before the war, although they were still cautious deep inside.
Vanessa hated that atmosphere. Even the Bulls could feel it and their Welcome-Back-Party for captain Yami hadn't been enough make this mysterious feeling disappear, sadly. It wasn't really like before Spade…
One of the only places she felt more free from this atmosphere and – what a paradox – she was brave enough to talk more openly about it, was at the Silver Eagles headquarters, in that room with the pianoforte, when she was with Nozel.
Since their first kiss, it was fair to say that they were dating. Secretly, that is. There were to many factors, to many stupid rules and ill-intended people that would be ready to kept them apart if they learn about this relationship.
After all, a witch wasn't a good option for a prince, even more a Head of House. Not to mention that love wasn't even worthy to consider in such an alliance.
Well, that's what most nobles and royals would say. Vanessa knew it wasn't true, but she also knew that prudence was something Nozel and her needed to have. She didn't wanted to give up on him, to risk their young relationship.
They haven't said I love you to each other yet, but their feelings for each other were as clear as crystal.
Their dates were usually in this room. Sometimes outside, but Nozel always disguised himself when they met elsewhere and is disguising skills were still a work in progress. But Vanessa didn't really care that their dates were mostly their music meeting.
The pianoforte wasn't the only thing in this room anymore. Recently, there was also a very comfy couch and an elegant table, at which they had some romantic dinners already.
Nozel also made sure that there was a bed. Since the return from Spade, the Black Bulls had more missions than before and Yami had apparently decided to work them all to the bone for some reason.
It wasn't rare that Vanessa would take a nap on that bed when she was here before Nozel. Sometimes, she even spent the night in this room. Alone. Because Nozel was still very respectful with her, refusing to take action without her consent.
Vanessa appreciated to have such a respectful boyfriend, she hadn't known that with the guys she had dated in the past. But she would love if Nozel would take action one day. The more they dated, the more their love grew, she slowly wanted more than just kisses and cuddles.
Maybe she would take action instead.
"This one is new," Vanessa commented as the last note of Nozels piano play faded away.
"Yes. I discovered it only recently. Apparently, it's from a compositor from Spade who fled in the Clover Kingdom two centuries ago."
"It is pretty. A bit haunting and nostalgic, but still lively somehow. How so?"
"I think the compositor wanted to share what he felt during his exile. Missing his own country, but grateful for the hospitality in Clover. I can't really say for sure, but it felt like it."
"I believe you're right, honey."
They went silent as Nozel started a new music piece. A bit more sad, more longing.
Vanessa sit closer to him. Closer than she needed to, but not as much as she would love to. She put a hand on his leg. Nozel didn't stop his fingers dancing on the piano keys, but he blushed. Like always.
But this time, he didn't back away. Vanessa smiled.
"Will you go home tonight?" Nozel asked quietly, as he finished playing.
"Hm… No. I'd rather sleep here. There was a fight at the Hideout, between Gauche, Asta and Finral. Oh, they probably sorted it out as we talk, but… Well, I fear it has something to do with the strange atmosphere that reigns lately in the kingdom and it really makes me feel uneasy."
"I understand what you mean."
Nozel and Vanessa had talked about that strange atmosphere more than once. Giving each other news about unusual details they find out about, about people they cared about reacting out of their habits due to those strange post-Spade feelings.
Vanessa was sad that she couldn't really talk about it with her squadmates as well, except for Finral a bit. She didn't why, she didn't know how and she hoped that it wouldn't last. The Black Bulls couldn't break apart just because of some stupid mysterious atmosphere.
But she was grateful that she was able to talk freely about her worries with Nozel. He was also worried. It seemed to Vanessa that her beloved captain of the Silver Eagles was slowly more willing to talk about his own concerns with her.
Maybe opening up and talking about the truth concerning the curse his mother's curse, about his own pressure and struggles he had to deal with for almost eighteen years had the same effect on him like opening a cage. Vanessa knew Nozel well today, she knew how much he needed to trust someone, how much he longed for affection despite having denied it himself for so long.
Somehow, it was also the same for Vanessa. That love she had for him, the sweet and even healthy relationship they had… She had no idea how much she wished for something like that before she already got it. Oh, Vanessa would have loved to have a boyfriend for a long time. First Yami, who she had learned would never consider her as a potential lover and more like a little sister. Then the few guys she dated in the past, who were never really interested in her than a few dates.
Until she met Nozel, Vanessa had come to conclusion that in the end, love wasn't for her. How wrong she had been.
Despite the difficulties with their situation, she found herself happy with the romance she found with the captain of the Silver Eagles. All because the curiosity about some beautiful melody of a piano got the better of her.
It had been a good idea to peek into that almost empty room back then. About one year already…
"About that, honey…"
"What is it?"
"Well, to be honest with you, I don't really wanna sleep alone tonight. Do you know maybe a certain prince or even better, some squad captain with silver hair and a handsome braid who would spent the night with me?"
That was very direct and bold, Vanessa knew that. Most of the time, Nozel wouldn't catch on every attempt, even though he blushed basically every time she flirted with him.
But this time, even he should realize what she was implying right now. And he did.
Nozels face turned beet red, which was honestly so adorable. Vanessa giggled, even though she also blushed a bit. Just because she wanted more than just kisses and cuddles from, it didn't meant that she wasn't nervous about it. She was. Because this time, she was deeply in love and that fact only made it feel like a first time all over again.
"Are… are you sure, Vanessa?"
He was really so adorable when he was unsure and even more when he was clearly concerned while blushing.
"If I weren't, I would have asked you just now, honey" Vanessa whispered, putting a soft kiss on his lips before teasing the area between his mouth and his nose. Now she could even feel his blush. "I would love to spend the night in your arms… But I will not force you as long as you're not ready. Never."
Vanessa closed her eyes, enjoying his warm presence, his subtle touches, his subtle lavender scent… Even if he won't be ready tonight, she would enjoy Nozels simple presence to the fullest.
She heard him sigh deeply, before he put softly his hands on her cheeks. His lips brushed hers, as if he was trying a new thing out. But the next moment, he went fully on her lips, kissing her with a passion she hadn't known from him before.
Vanessa had no idea how long they made out like that, but when they finally parted to catch their breath, they weren't sitting at the piano anymore. They were lying on the bed and she already lost her Black Bull robe on the way.
She looked up to Nozel. There was a determination in his soft purple eyes she never really saw before. Or maybe it had been there already, she just never realized it. But also the love he had for her. It made her heart beat furiously in her chest.
With a soft yet seductive smile, Vanessa caressed his cheek, giggling as she saw him blush again. But Nozel also smiled, a soft and gorgeous smile. She loved those.
He went for her lips again. This kiss was so much softer, but still filled with a burning passion. Vanessa didn't wanted to think anymore, she wanted all of her focus on Nozel, on him only.
It wasn't long before they got rid of their clothes. And it wasn't long either before they became one…
Hours later, Vanessa lied in Nozels arms, exhausted and happy. It had been fantastic. No other word seemed fitting enough to describe what she felt right now. Even fantastic felt almost like an understatement.
She didn't regret it. If Vanessa ever had doubts before, they had disappeared by now. Despite the difficulties, despite the strange, mysterious atmosphere in the kingdom, being in Nozels arms, being loved by him and loving as well… it all felt just right.
"Seems that I had a good idea back then," she whispered as she played with a strand of silver hair of her lover.
"What do you mean?"
"That I took a peek in this room back then, while exploring your silver headquarters and get lost myself lost, kinda."
Vanessa giggled and even more as she heard Nozels chuckle as well. His laughs were rare and never loud like some of the Black Bulls. It quickly became one of Vanessas favourite sounds, exactly because it was rare. Between two music pieces, she wasn't only trying to make him blush but also to make him laugh.
"Yes… Yes, you're right. It was a good idea."
His whisper alone made her heart heavily flutter again.
Nozel caressed her cheek and leaned down to kiss her again. Only soft this time. Just like that. But Vanessa savoured it just as much as the fiery ones.
As they parted, Nozel hold her more tightly against him. "I… I want more of this."
Vanessa giggled. She could almost hear the blush in his voice.
"We will have. I promise you. There is no way I'm going to give up on a handsome royal eagle."
"Vanessa…"
"Hm?"
"I love you."
Now there was no way that she couldn't be any happier right now. Not after he said those three precious words.
"I love you too, Nozel."
I had been difficult.
The situation in the kingdom first. The revelation of Lucius Zogratis, who took control of the Wizard King Julius Novachrono, had left absolutely no one unfaced.
A second battle against devils, the kinda revived Dark Triad, a new chaos in the kingdom, who wasn't even totally recovered from all the aftermath of the Attack by the Eye of the Midnight Sun.
The Magic Knights, the whole Clover Kingdom and their allies had won in the end. But that victory had still been a bitter pill to swallow. Especially with the death of Julius Novachrono, who sacrificed himself again for their country. Only that he didn't came back alive, this time…
Life had come back, everyone was now ready to face the future. But it had been clear as crystal that it would never be like before. Vanessa didn't want to think too much about those dark days of battle and despair again.
What also had been difficult had been the revelation of her relationship with Nozel. One would have thought that with all the chaos and dark days occurred in the kingdom, the nobles wouldn't have cared so much about the Head of House Silva being in love with the Drunken Witch of the Black Bulls, even intending to grow old with her.
But of course not. Apparently, the chaos in the kingdom even strengthened their grip on their ambitions and beliefs. Many asked for his hand in marriage or for his siblings hand. Heck, at one moment, his father returned and without even informing Nozel, basically pre-engaged him to three different foreign princesses, so that he could choose which one apparently.
Nozel didn't want to hear any of it and he fought against the arrangements of his father. Vanessa helped him. There was no way she was letting her boyfriend getting chained to an arranged marriage, with some princess who wouldn't love him.
That battle had been hard and the sudden coming out of secrecy even more. Without Nozel, Vanessa doubted that she could have handled to be in the middle of gossip and rumours, to be judged and let Nozel be judged for the simple fact that he loved her.
The reaction of the Black Bulls to their relationship had been funny. The noble's reaction not at all.
But in the end, they had won. And that was what mattered today.
Even though today Nozel and Vanessa had no reason anymore to hide their love, they still continued to meet in that room with the pianoforte.
They couldn't do otherwise. That room was were their story began and many of their best memories together were in there. As well as some of the important decisions they had made since they knew each other.
That room was like a sanctuary and they refused to stop continuing to spend time in there.
Nozel was playing his mother's favourite piece again. With maybe a bit more joy than the first time she heard it, but Vanessa didn't care. That melody was the first reason she was now here, with Nozel and she would love this music forever.
Vanessa sat closer to him than necessary, but honestly, why should a wife sit a few meters away from her husband when he played piano to her?
Yes, they were now married. Vanessa smiled while she glanced at the silver wedding bands that were on their left ring fingers.
They weren't the only Silva couple with someone out of royal or noble circles though. Asta and Noelle were engaged, Zora and Nebra should soon come back from their honeymoon. Only Solid wasn't with anyone for now and it seemed that the role of a happy single uncle who would spoil his future nephews and nieces was appealing to him.
Let's hope he wouldn't spoil them too rotten.
Vanessa put a hand on her belly. It was just a small roundness for the moment, but she couldn't wait to finally hold their baby in her arms. She also couldn't wait to see Nozel as a father. He was concerned if he would really be a good one, but Vanessa knew that he would be an excellent one.
Softly, while still holding her belly, she lied her head on Nozels shoulder. Vanessa heard him chuckle in affection, without stopping to play.
The melody she heard back then brought her to her current happiness.