As fast as he could and as fast as royalty allowed him too, Nozel ran towards the Magic Knights Headquarters. He didn't care if he looked stupid or if he surprised people by his unusual behaviour, all he wanted was to get to the Headquarters infirmary. There was someone he wanted to see. No, someone he needed to see.

Back at the Silver Eagles base, he heard two of his junior knights talking, about a Black Bull wounded by a dungeon mission. Thankfully, it wasn't his sister.

But it was the other Black Bull he cared about…

Maybe Nozel was overreacting. It wouldn't be the first time in his life. And they already went over more difficult, risky hurdles than a simple wound from a basic dungeon mission. There should be nothing to worry about.

But it was the first time he was in love. Deeply and unconditionally in love. He almost lost her more than once and after everything they went through, Nozel refused to risk to lose Vanessa ever again.

He saw some knights looking stunned at him as he reached the Magic Knights Headquarters. Of course they were. They never saw Nozel Silva, captain of the Silver Eagles and Head of House Silva, acting like this. Running and looking distressed.

But again, Nozel didn't care. Vanessa was important to him right now, not his stupid status and how he should act accordingly to it. He was sick of those expectations, he was tired of how the nobles watching every of his steps, in hope to find one nit-picking mistake they could transform into a big one they could use for their schemes.

When he reached the infirmary, Nozel wasn't surprised to see two Black Bulls here. The members of this squad always took shifts when one of them was wounded on a mission and needed to be healed. Something Nozel appreciated about the Black Bulls, but of course, he would never tell Yami. Not to mention that Yami never took shifts, for all he knew.

The two Black Bull present were Gauche Adlai and Magna Swing. Nozel knew them, he informed himself about each member before putting Noelle there and Vanessa talked so much about her squadmates, of course he knew them well at this point.

But their conversation actually surprised Nozel.

"It's your turn to take shifts, I have rendez-vous with my angel, which is more important!"

"No, it is your turn, Asta said so and I need to go with Yami to a gambling!"

"Asta said nothing like this! He couldn't even, he has a day off and he's currently visiting his family in Hage with his rival Yuno!"

"Details, he would have said that if he were here!"

"Hell no! And besides, Nacht decided that you should take the first shift!"

"He wasn't at the Hideout for four months for now!"

"Like you said, details!"

"Hell no! And besides, I don't listen to a wannabe vice-captain who dares to criticise us every time he shows up!"

"You just want to gambling with Yami!"

"And you just want to simp over your little sister!"

"Gambling is less important than taking shifts, but Marie is more important than anything else! Except Grey and helping with her shyness."

"Wrong, nothing is more important than gambling with Yami!"

"You're going to lose all your money again!"

"You always waste your salary on buying an entire toyshop for your sister!"

"At least, I gained something from my money spend, you're just going to lose your salary and gain nothing out of it!"

Nozel fight the urge facepalm. Seriously, shouldn't they focusing on watching Vanessa instead of arguing and trying to get out of their duty? Nothing should be more important than taking care of Vanessa right now!

Okay, Nozel was probably a bit biased, because it was his girlfriend resting in this infirmary right now. But still, taking care of a fellow knight, even more so one of your own squad, should be more important than buying a toyshop empty or losing all your salary in gambling!

Nozel would have preferred if another Black Bull would have taken the first shift. Finral Vaude, who married lady Finesse last month, he was Vanessas best friend, after all. That girl Nero, who could transform into a bird. Noelle of course and Asta too. Why not Charmy even, who would give the best food for Vanessa to recover?

Sighing deeply, Nozel decided to let those two continue to argue and enter the room. All he wanted was just to see Vanessa, to stay at her side until she recovers. Passing Gauche and Magna, he opened the door, went in and closed quickly behind him.

"Honey!"

Vanessa already sat up on her bed, spreading her arms towards him. Nozel didn't hesitate. Within the next seconds, he was already sitting on the bed, hugging his beloved tightly against him.

"Are you alright? You haven't been too reckless, right? How is the wound? I'm sorry, do I hold you too tightly?"

"Nozel, please, I'm not made of porcelain. It's just a superficial wound… Okay, it's a bit deep, I have to stay here for the night. But with the treatment Owen gave me, I will be already back to normal tomorrow."

"That's good news," Nozel just muttered, caressing her bandaged arm softly. It was really not a big deal, if this was the wound and if she could leave tomorrow.

But still, he couldn't help but worry a bit. Vanessa of course felt it, because she took his hand and blow a kiss on his palm. One of her many ways to comfort him.

"Nozel, there is really nothing to worry about. We already went through much more terrible things together and we have won. This puny wound is nothing compared to it."

"I know… I'm sorry for overreacting. It's just… I want to be here for you."

Vanessa smiled, before leaning up and kissed him softly on the lips. Nozel gave in, savouring the sweet taste of her mouth. He never could get enough of her kisses. Actually he could never get enough of Vanessa entirely. If he could, he wouldn't hesitate to give her the world.

"I never say no for spending time with you, honey," she whispered as they parted. "And besides," Vanessa added with a smirk, "right now you're better company than Gauche and Magna out there."

"Wasn't it decided who took the first shift? I would be much happier if someone more capable would look after you."

"You're someone more capable," Vanessa giggled, making him blush. "But seriously, but Gauche and Magna are capable. When they want, but since my wound isn't a big deal… Actually, Gordon should have taken the first shift, but a sudden mission apparently popped in and he asked those two if one of them could take over for him. Gauche and Magna still came, as you see, but they still disagree on who should take it."

"At least, it means they care for you," Nozel muttered, looking at the door, unsure how to feel about Gauches and Magnas behaviour.

"In their own quirky ways. But you're a special case of caring for me, you're my boyfriend."

She kissed him again and Nozel gave in, not caring anymore about the two Black Bulls outside.

Vanessa was in his arms, she was fine, her wound wasn't that horrible and he would be able to spend all time with her until she was on her feet again. He couldn't wish for more right now.

Nozel had no idea how long they kissed and cuddled, but in his agenda, it had still be too short when the door of the infirmary room opened loudly.

"WHAT THE HECK!"

Nozel and Vanessa parted a bit of each other, but without letting go completely, to look at the two intruders.

Gauche and Magna seemed to have forgotten their argument. Instead, they were no looking at the couple as if they saw Asta giving up.

"What, never saw a couple making out before?" Vanessa casually asked, before kissing Nozel again.

It wasn't as if they keep their relationship a secret. At least, not anymore. A while ago, they had started to came out of secrecy step by step and a bunch of people were already aware of their relationship. Some Black Bulls as well, but not the majority. Gauche and Magna were part of that majority.

"Wait, I thought you were dating some creepy bastard merchant from the Black Market!" Magna exclaimed in disbelief.

"And I thought you had an affair with some married noble jerk who kept you a secret from his wife," Gauche added, for once not focusing on a picture of his little sister.

Nozel frowned as he turned towards them. The two Black Bulls shivered at his cold glare.

"You know Vanessa better than that. She still has her pride, she wouldn't date a scoundrel or noble committing adultery."

Well, honestly, Nozel was still not sure if he was a better person than that. But Vanessa helped him so much to stop thinking so little of himself and he knew that there was some kind of persons she would never date due to past experiences.

Vanessa giggled, before hugging Nozel from behind. "Well, we did talk about telling you guys. Of course, not like this, but well, here we are. Just don't tell Yami yet, We'd rather want to announce our relationship to him ourselves."

"Relationship," Magna repeated, clearly trying to understand the significance of that word. "Wait, are we the first to know?"

Nozel shook his head and Vanessa added even in a giggle, "Not even the first of the Black Bulls."

"Wait, who knows?" Gauche asked, still in shock.

"Nero, Gordon, Finral, Zora for very special reasons he will tell you when the time is right, Noelle-"

"Wait, Noelle knows?" Magna screamed. "But… that's her brother!"

"I am very aware of the obvious family bonds I share with my sister, thank you very much," Nozel just said, pinching the bridge of his nose in annoyance. He really would have preferred if another Black Bull would find out. That shy girl Grey, for example.

Vanessa laughed at his statement, while kissing his cheek.

"Gross," Gauche muttered, for which Vanessa throw a pillow at his face. "Geez, Wino, what was that for?"

"I'm very open, but I don't accept showing affection for my boyfriend being called gross."

"I would gladly appreciate if you won't call my girlfriend Wino, Adlai," Nozel added, looking sternly at Gauche, who gulped. "Vanessa might not care about it, but I won't tolerate kindly that you call her like that in front of me. I'm not sure that Grey would like your attitude either, even though she likes you a lot."

"Wait… how do you… Vanessa!"

"What? Nozel knows how much I care about you all, so he asks me how you're going and I tell him everything, of course. Nothing to worry about."

"Everything?" Magna asked in fear.

"Yes. And for your information, Swing, betting your own grimoire at gambling isn't a smart move. How can you properly continue to use magic without a grimoire, especially as a Magic Knight?"

"But captain Yami does it as well and he-"

"I won't deny that even Yami has a lot of qualities, but his gambling habit are not part of it. You two should stop giving Finral Vaude such a headache and you should be grateful he does his best for your squad."

Vanessa smiled happily at the compliment given to her best friend. Magna looked like he hesitated between fighting back or keeping it quiet. Because even he had to admit that captain Yamis gambling habit wasn't really an example to follow.

"Who is taking the next shift," Nozel asked in a defeated sigh.

"Um… Noelle, captain Nozel."

"Good, she doesn't need any explanation. You two can go now, I'll stay with Vanessa until she's better. And yes, I intend to stay here the whole night."

The two Black Bulls only nodded, Magna even saluted, before they both quickly left the room. And the infirmary.

"Honey, maybe you have frightened them a bit right now," Vanessa giggled.

"I'm sorry."

"Nothing to worry about, they'll survive it. Now, little Eagle, can you please continue to cuddle me, please? It's maybe not much, but I still need to be taken care of."

Nozel smiled. It was generally difficult for him to resist Vanessa, but it was basically impossible when she did her adorable kitty eyes. He pressed his lips on hers, holding her against him.

Vanessa was right about her wound, of course she was. Nothing to worry about.