Noelle pushed the heavy door of the Black Bulls hideout, just to sigh at the empty common room. A rare sight, truly.

Almost everyone was on a mission or doing something else, leaving yesterday's guard of the hideout only to Henry, which was normal, and to Vanessa, who of course volunteered to stay behind instead of taking a mission.

Noelle really hoped that Vanessa didn't took the chance to get herself senseless drunk while everyone was away. Henry was to nice – and he still was speaking too slowly – to scold their squadmate and except Finral and maybe Gordon, Noelle was probably the only one who was concerned about Vanessas drinking habits.

This was the main reason why the water mage decided to leave Asta and Magna behind with Yuno, Klaus and David, celebrating the success of their common mission, to fly immediately back at the base. Just to see if Vanessa haven't overdone it.

Her squadmate had been overjoyed more than usual these past few weeks and glorifying wine more than she used to. Granted, Vanessa wasn't seen to drink more wine lately and Finral had the suspicion that she was dating someone very special, using her hymns of wine to hide the fact that she's deeply in love. But Noelle knew that Vanessa too honest to hide her happiness if she was so in love and even though Finral knew her better than anyone, his disastrous dating adventures spoke for themselves and he had the habit to see potential lovers everywhere since he and lady Finesse were definitely betrothed.

No, it has to be some new drinking habit. Noelle was maybe a bit to paranoid, but her gut feeling told her that something was off with Vanessa and since she became a Black Bull, Noelle listened to her gut feeling. Most of the time.

She quickly went to check the bottles of cheap wine in the kitchen.

The amount of wine bottles was still the same as usual, but Noelle knew better than to be at ease or surprised. It happened one or two times that Vanessa secretly bought new bottles to hide the fact that she drunk more than she should.

None of them looked new, though. As new as they could look, those bottles of cheap wine always looked dusty even newly bought. But it didn't looked like they were put in there recently.

Still, Noelles gut feeling was still telling her that something was off.

Alright, maybe she needed to talk directly to Vanessa. Noelle had that intention a few times already, but every time she wanted to talk to Vanessa about her suspicions of her probable new drinking habits, her squadmate always blushed, trying to change the subject or denying it, pretending that Noelle was just like always assuming the worst. More than she used to in the past and that alone was enough for Noelle to suspect that something was off.

Luckily, the girls rooms and so, Vanessas as well, weren't that far away today. Not even two minutes later, Noelle knocked at her squadmates door.

"Vanessa? It's me, I'm back. Can I come in?"

Noelle heard some strange ruffles and other noises, which made her frown with suspicion. Was Vanessa trying to hide some wine bottles?

"I come in."

"Sweetie, wait, I'm not-"

Noelle didn't let Vanessa finished, she just entered the room.

Two things already seemed off as she closed the door behind her.

First, Vanessas room was tidied. Okay, probably what Vanessa considered as tidied. Most of her things were just pushed on the side. But there was for once enough room to actually walk and that fact alone was worth to be noticed.

Second, Vanessa was sitting on her bed, blushing and hiding her… naked body behind a blanket. Which was actually unusual.

"Hello there, sweetie. How was the mission?"

This sounded almost like usual Vanessa. Almost. But Noelle could hear the slight tremor in her squadmates voice. Weird. That wasn't her usual reaction when she was almost caught drinking in secret.

"Hello, Vanessa. Why are you naked? Okay, I know that you don't usually wear a lot in general, but why are you naked?"

"I… um… don't have any clothes left?"

That was such a lame excuse. And why did it sounded like a question?

"Sure you have."

"No, I swear, they're all… getting washed?"

"All at once at the same time?" Noelle just rolled her eyes. "Vanessa, you usually have better excuses than that."

She went to the wardrobe before Vanessa could stop her.

"See? You have dresses, bras, gloves, hi Nozel, shoes, hats- wait!"

Noelle heard Vanessa gasp as she closed the wardrobe, only to reopen it immediately. The strangest vision was again in front of her eyes. Her older brother, sitting in the middle of Vanessas clothes, naked and hiding behind a blanket, looking blankly at her while blushing beet red.

Naked… just like Vanessa.

Blushing… just like Vanessa.

Hiding behind a blanket… just like Vanessa.

Noelle took a step away from the wardrobe. And another one. And another one.

In the end, she actually passed out.

Not for long, apparently. When she came to her senses, the first thing she heard was Nozels sigh and Vanessas giggling.

"No clothes left. Really, Vanessa?"

"Sorry, it was just the first thing that came to my mind! I know, it's a stupid argument. But Noelle surprised me and I was too dumbfounded to think clearly. You know how I am, honey."

"I know, it's part of your charm. But even the most stupid person would have seen through the lie. And my sister isn't stupid."

"Aw, you're so cute when you're a proud older brother."

"Vanessa, please."

Noelle managed to open her eyes. She lied on Vanessas bed, her brother and her squadmate were standing next to it. And so much nearer to each other than needed. Unless they were lovers.

Lovers…

Nozel and Vanessa.

Lovers.

Noelle couldn't help but make some noise. She didn't know if it was a groan or a sigh or a moan. But it was a noise, that's for sure.

Nozel and Vanessa turned towards her.

"Oh, already awake, sweetie? I told you, honey, my potions work wonders."

"I don't doubt your talent, Vanessa. It's just… it's my sister."

"I know and I completely understand you."

Noelle just looked at them, trying to understand. Granted, she already came to the conclusion that her brother and her best friend were lovers. But… how?

"You… you two… are… sleeping together!"

Noelle yelled those two words, hiding her face behind her hands. That was just too much to handle. Even the devils in Spade were easier to fight than get used to that surprise romance.

"Not only that!" Nozel protested, looking away and blushing.

Noelle took a look at her brother between her fingers. She never saw him flustered her entire life and she doubted that anyone else ever saw him like that. Except maybe captain Dorothy, but that had just been the Glamour World version of Nozel, so Noelle doubted that it counted.

"First of all, deep breath, sweetie," Vanessa said, caressing the crown of her hair. "And second, it wasn't in our intention to hide it from you forever. It's just that it's still pretty new for us."

"New? But… but you already… did sleep…"

"Couldn't help. It just felt so right for the both of us and your brother is such a god in bed."

"Vanessa!"

Not only Noelle protested, but also Nozel. Both looked at each other, deeply blushing, before looking away again.

"I… I really don't need to know the details, thank you very much."

"Vanessa, don't you think we shocked her enough already?"

"Sorry you two, but you know how excited I can be when I'm nervous."

"Yes."

The siblings spoke again at the same time. They shared a glance again. Still blushing, but their embarrassment seemed to have calmed down a little. They weren't looking away this time.

There was a bit an awkward silence in the room, before Noelle decided to speak up again.

"Don't think that I'm against you being together! I'm not, really. But I'm… still shocked."

Nozel sighed, before he actually put a comforting hand on her head. "It's normal, Noelle. We don't blame you."

"For how long… have you been… dating?"

"For a few weeks already, sweetie."

A few weeks.

A few weeks.

A few weeks!

Wait… that would mean…

"So my brother is the reason why you were so happy lately."

"Why, yes. Why wouldn't I, I was happily in love and even better, loved in return. What did you thought was making me happy?"

"You… you were glorifying wine so much since… a few weeks… so I was worried you started to drink in secret."

"Oh… oopsie. I just did that to hide how happy in love I am. You just need to change wine into love, then the cat will be out of the bag."

Vanessa giggled and Noelle had no idea if she should be done by that reaction or at least a bit offended.

She looked over at Nozel who just shook his head.

"Vanessa, I thought you were joking when you said that you would use literal hymns to wine to hide our relationship."

"I was… half joking."

Vanessa giggled again. Nozel just sighed, but still took her hand, a small and happy smile on his lips.

Noelle stared at that smile. She never ever saw her brother like that and it actually suited him so well. She surprised herself that she wanted to see him smile more often. And even better if Vanessa was the reason.

"So… um… do you usually met here? At the hideout, I mean."

"Oh no, sweetie. You know how difficult it is to have privacy in our base. We met usually at your palace and you have no idea how much I came to love this giant bed and bathroom, to name a few. But this time, there were only Henry and me at the base, it was just such a perfect occasion to meet at my place for once! I knew Henry wouldn't disturb us and trust me, it had been such a magical night!"

"Vanessa!"

"Sorry. But it's true."

It certainly was true, but Noelle had no intention to learn about the spicy details of the relationship between her brother and her squadmate, thank you very much.

"So… I'm happy for you two, I really am. I still need to get used to… this. And… do you want me to keep the secret?"

"We won't force you!" Nozel immediately said. "But… you know how status and rumours work in our society. I don't want to take a risk that could separate Vanessa and me."

Noelle could have sworn that she never saw such determination in Nozels eyes before. He was still flustered, but less and when he glanced at Vanessa, he looked so certain and in love. He was really serious about her.

Vanessa smiled so fondly at him, the same love and certainty shining in her eyes.

Noelle made her decision.

"I will help you. I know it's going to be difficult, but you both deserve to have your own happiness. So, I will help you."

"Thank you so much, sweetie. It really means a lot for us. We will tell you when we're ready to take the next step."

"Good. Um… I leave you alone then. I'll come to warn you when the other Black Bulls will come back."

"Noelle, is it really alright. You just passed out."

"I'm okay, brother. It's not a big deal. And I practically barged into your alone time, I owe you that."

Noelle smiled at them when she left Vanessas room. But after taking a few steps, she turned and quietly went back. She couldn't help but take another glance.

Nozel and Vanessa were kissing. Softly only, but it still looked like it was full of passion. Noelle smiled. They both looked so beautiful and happy together.

"Noelle, that is really not necessary," Nozel suddenly said, as he parted from Vanessa.

"Sorry!"

She run away, hearing Nozels sigh and Vanessas giggle behind her.

Noelle was happy. That sentence didn't sound like a cold Head of House or a stern captain of a Royal Knight Squad. No, that just sounded like an older brother. An older brother who just found his happiness, with one of his sister's best friends.

She would help them. Difficulties surely were waiting for them and Noelle was sure that a lot of people would freak out, especially the Bulls.

But she would help them to get their happy ending. Noelle was so sure that they would have it one day.