"Damnit, Velours! Attacking while hidden is cheating!"
"Oh, so now it's cheating? It wasn't when you did the exact same thing to me five minutes ago, Hortense!"
The girl just called Hortense turned around, visibly upset to have just been called out like that. Her glance went over snowy flower beds and trees, but eyes in a metallic purple like hers were nowhere to be seen.
Another snowball was thrown on her back and Hortense turned around again. And there he was, the culprit who happened to be her twin brother. So much alike in their looks. Except that Velours was of course a boy and on the contrary of her, his hair was full pink. Rosewood, as their father called that particular colour. Hortense had strands of silver hair in hers, but that would only look weird when her hair was unkempt.
"I just give you a taste of your own medicine, my dear little sister."
"Little? LITTLE? We're twins, remember?"
"Yes, but I was born first."
"By not even a minute, so it doesn't count. And according to Mom, I was holding your foot."
"I'm still the first."
"Aha, Dad always says when someone uses the same argument over and over again, it means that they don't know what else to argue."
"Not true, I only said it once more and by the-"
Velours was interrupted as two snowballs were thrown at him and his sister. The twins turned around, only to find out that the culprit was none other than their little five year old sister, Nymphe.
"Mom and Dad told you to not fight over stupid things. And I don't like it when you fight," she complained with that adorable little pouting face that no one could resist. Except maybe their parents and even they had often difficulties with it.
Especially when she had some tears in her amethyst purple eyes, just like now. Velours and Hortense always wondered if it were crocodile tears or real ones. It was really difficult to say with their little sister when she was pouting.
"Don't overreact, Nymphe," Velours said, trying very hard to a proper older brother. "My dear twin sister and I had just a discussion."
"While yelling?" Nymphe asked, still pouting. She didn't even stop when Hortense started to caress her silver locks and the pink strands in it.
"Well, you know, it's a… twin thing," Hortense answered. This was such a lame response, she knew that. And given how Velours was looking at her, he knew that as well.
"To yell at each other?" their pouting little sister asked again and the twins sighed out deeply. Nymphe was already trying to make them confess that they did indeed yelled at each other. Which meant, if Velours and Hortense wouldn't confess, that Nymphe would actually cry and snitched it to either Dad, Mom or their older sister Aimée. A scenario the twins would like to avoid… but without admitting that they yelled, thank you very much.
"Well, you know… it's like to see if it's possible to yell over things we actually agree on," Velours tried, awkwardly grinning while Hortense looked at her brother while rolling her eyes. This was almost as ridiculous as her twin thing excuse.
"Yes, it is! Auntie Nebra and uncle Zora do that all the time!" Nymphe protested. Hortense facepalmed. Why didn't Velours remembered that well known fact? And why did Nymphe remember it?
"Why won't you just admit it already?" Nymphe continued and she sounded like she was about to sob. Not good. "Dad always says that it's better to just admit instead of being stubborn and falling down in a spiral, whatever that means. And he says that he's talking from experience, whatever that means too."
Oh no. If Nymphe was about to cry, than it would a bigger drama than it already was, Dad, Mom and big sis Aimée would be worried over something that isn't that important, it would be a bad day for the whole family and maybe Hortense and Velours would have no dessert today!
Great, now Hortense was starting to do something that Mom called overreacting and Velours was close enough as well and Nymphe was sobbing even more and-
"Mighty Gryphon, what is going on here!"
The three young Silvas flinched and slowly turned to see their older sister coming towards them. Aimée Silva in all her oldest child glory.
Her glance was like their fathers when he caught one of them doing something they shouldn't do, but she was smirking like their mother when she was amused by their behaviour. So maybe it would end out well. But the older Aimée got, the more she was like both of their parents. Difficult to read her face.
Everyone always said that Aimée was like the perfect mix of their parents, especially auntie Noelle. By just looking at her big sister, Hortense knew that they were right. Even in her features. She had Dads pure silver hair colour, but Moms wavy locks that descended on her back like a waterfall. Her glance, her way to look at everything was like their fathers, just with their mothers amethyst purple eye colour.
Purple…
Hortense liked that colour, all shades of it, but… somehow it frustrated her that the siblings and her were the only ones of their generation of Silvas to have the same colour for their eyes. Different shades, but that didn't really count.
All of their cousins had each different eye colours! The triplets had it, Gwendolyn had pink eyes, Zoro purple – yes, another one with purple, but at least Zoro was the only one of his siblings with that colour – and Nereïda had the same beautiful blue eyes like uncle Zora. Cousin Glace had the same clear blue eyes like uncle Solid, while his little sister Olympe had grey ones. Due to her eyes and silver hair, everyone called her already the most Silver Silva and she wasn't even six! As for Airgid, his were pink, while Loreleï had green ones and somehow little Nord managed to have two different colours. His left eye was pink, the other one green.
All of their cousins had the chance to have their own eye colour! But Aimée, Velours, Hortense and Nymphe… all purple. Aimée and Nymphe a glowing amethyst shade like their mother, the twins a cold and metallic one like their father. Wasn't it kinda boring to have all the same colour for their eyes?
"Seriously, what's all the fuss about?" Aimée asked, hands on her hips, a tiny smirk on her lips, eyes almost closed so that her glance filtered through her lashes, making it unable to resist. This was her typical Older-Sister-Authority pose. Velours, Hortense and Nymphe knew better than to discuss or run and hide when Aimée put on that act.
"Hortense and Velours were yelling at each other and they don't want to admit it!" Nymphe began, starting to sob again.
"Not my fault, my traitorous twin brother thought it was alright to cheat in our snowball fight only because he was born five seconds before me!"
"But after my traitorous twin sister cheated herself, just because she thinks to have a pass just because she's the younger twin!"
Aimée raised a hand, making her younger siblings stop their defensive explanations. With the other, she pinched the bridge of her nose and Hortense thought she heard her mumble, "Why did I even asked for siblings again, all those years ago?"
Their older sister then sighed, before finally scolding them, "Hortense, Velours, I know that bickering is normal for siblings like us, but honestly, Mom and Dad told you already to not start arguing over the silliest things. Don't use stupid reasons to excuse some inexistent privileges in games. Especially in a snowball fight, were the only rules are to not destroy anything and to not hurt each other."
Aimée then took Nymphe in her arms. "As for you, little crybaby, I understand that you don't like when the twins are fighting. Mom, Dad and myself are in the same boat. But you should stop overreact over the smallest bickering and teasing. Not every argument ends up splitting up a family. How many times did Mom told you that already?"
"Sorry…" all three mumbled.
"Don't forget what Mom and Dad use to say, what our uncles and aunts say as well. We should be happy to have each other. Siblings are precious persons to have for an entire life. And we four," Aimée had now a big smile on her face, "are the children of Vanessa and Nozel Silva. Two amazing people, two strong and devoted Magic Knights… And most importantly, the best parents we could dreamt of, who love us with all their heart and who love each other deeper as deep. I'm more than proud to be their daughter and your sister, I'm happy."
"That speech sounded like Dad, but the tone was more like Mom," Hortense grinned. One more proof that Aimée was indeed the perfect mix of their parents.
Still, that kind of speeches were really heartwarming. It really made her proud to be the daughter of Nozel and Vanessa Silva. The child of a prince and a witch. That sounded like one of those cool fairy tales their granny auntie from the Vermillions told them. How cool was that?
"Woah, big sis, you really sound already like a captain of the Silver Eagles!" Velours said in awe.
Hortense rolled her eyes at her twin brother. Yes, their older sister was cool, but there was no need to put it in words every time.
"That's a bit too far-fetched, my dear little brother," Aimée grinned. "I'm not part of the Silver Eagle for now. Heck, I don't even have my grimoire yet. I will only turn fifteen in June, remember? Now it's January."
"It is something to look forward, though. Our cool big sister becoming a Magic Knight," Hortense giggled. She would love to see Aimée in a cool knight robe as soon as she got her grimoire. That was a bit a consolation, Velours and her still had to wait five long years before they would get hers.
Hortense was really looking forward to become a Magic Knight one day. She wasn't sure if she wanted to join the Silver Eagles or the Black Bulls, though. Dad was the captain of the first squad and Mom a member of the second, Hortense wouldn't like to have her parents on her back every day.
Velours and Aimée were different than her on that topic. Her dear twin brother wants to join either the Silver Eagles or the Black Bulls, he still haven't decided yet. And Aimée, the Silver Eagles was her final decision.
Hortense had heard some words, that because on her older sister's past, a few nobles were apparently surprised that she followed the traditional way for a princess of house Silva. But Hortense had no idea what they meant. Oh, something had happened with Aimée before she was born. Hortense just didn't know what and to be honest, whatever happened, she didn't understand why this has to be problematic for her big sister.
At first, she had thought that it was just usual noble crap rumours, like auntie Nebra called that. But a few years ago, Mom and Dad have taken Aimée to the parlor, which meant they had something important to tell her. Probably about that past thingy, whatever it was? But Hortense still believed that it wasn't such a big deal or at least not a bad one. When Aimée came out, she was holding hands with Mom and Dad. Something she always did when she was happy and a habit she was still doing with almost fifteen.
Her trail of thoughts were interrupted when Nymphe said with a sobbing voice, "I don't want you to become a Magic Knight, big sis."
"Now, why is that, little Nymphe?" Aimée asked, while caressing their baby sisters hair. "It's not a terrible thing, you know."
"But you will go away when you're a Magic Knight," Nymphe replied. "You won't be living with me anymore. If you all go, I will be all alone."
"But Mom and Dad will be with you" the twins replied.
"That's not the same, I don't wanna be the only child."
Aimée sighed while rocking their baby sister to comfort her. "Nymphe, I won't go away to never come back. I will still live here, at the palace, there is no way I leave my sweet siblings. I just won't be there all day, just like Mom and Dad. I'm going to do what they do as Magic Knights. None of us will leave all alone in this big palace."
"I'm… I'm not sure I wanna be a Magic Knight."
"Nobody will force if you don't want to become a Magic Knight. Mom and Dad let us choose that path or another one and they will support, whatever you choose. And Nymphe, you just had your fifth birthday a few days ago. You have plenty of time to decide what you want to do. And even if you don't become a Magic Knight, Mom, Dad, Velours, Hortense and myself won't leave you alone."
"Promise?"
"Promise."
"Pinky oath?"
"Pinky oath."
Aimée put Nymphe back down and made the pinky oath. It was apparently enough for Nymphe to feel better about having siblings who will become Magic Knights.
"Since everything is alright, how about all four of us make a snowball fight?" Velours proposed,
"Oh yeah, everyone against everyone!" Hortense exclaimed, already excited. She still had a tiny revenge to take on her brother, after all.
Nymphe nodded, finally smiling. Aimée seemed to think a bit, before saying with a smug grin, "Alright, we purple eyed Silva will do this. But I warn you, I'm pretty good at this game."
Hortense laughed. Purple eyed Silvas… that sounded good, actually. In the end, it wasn't such a bad thing to have the same colour, after all.
Nozel woke up as he heard happy screams and laughs coming from outside. He tried to sit up, but Vanessa was holding him tightly in her sleep.
That wasn't a surprise. She came home yesterday after being away for three days on a mission and after having spent the evening with their four children, Nozel and Vanessa had spent the night celebrating their reunion. Even after being married for over a decade, none of them ever had enough of their passionate embraces.
A smile went on his lips as he turned to his wife, so beautiful when she was asleep.
His wife…
After all the trouble they had fifteen years ago, their fight to be together, Nozel was still amazed that Vanessa was now his wife.
Nozel caressed her cheek softly, not wanting to wake her up. Vanessa deserved her sleep, after her mission, after spending time with the children, after their passionate night. Then he stood up and went to the window, to see who was laughing and yelling out there.
Well, he already had an idea who it was. And indeed, he saw his four children in the garden, having a snowball fight. Seeing how much fun all of them had, he felt his heart swelled with pride.
He was proud, of each of them. How could he not? Those were his children, his and Vanessas.
Nozel watched how Nymphe managed to throw two snowballs at the twins, before fleeing Aimées attack. But of course, Aimée was still going easy on her little sister.
His glance lingered on his oldest child. Somehow it felt like yesterday when she was born in secret, in a forgotten cottage somewhere in the Forsaken Realm. How much she grew… Aimée was almost fifteen, it was only a few months away before she'll get her grimoire and join the Silver Eagles.
Like his mother with him, he was looking forward what kind of spells Aimée will use. She was already sophisticated with her silver magic, even without a grimoire. But Nozel was even more proud of the person his daughter became in almost fifteen years. She was a kind soul, but also already a fierce authority known within nobility. She knew how to make herself and the people she cared about respected in a calm way. Aimée knew how to be royal, while never forgetting to let go and having fun.
Noelle said it very often that Aimée was like a perfect mix of him and Vanessa. She was, but Nozel knew that his first born was first and foremost her own person. Like all of his children.
His glance went towards the twins, who were jumping while throwing snowballs at each other. Velours and Hortense inherited the most from Vanessa liveliness. They were often giving him a headache when they were going at each other's throat… only to be best friends forever again five minutes later.
But Nozel still loved them. Of course he did. Velours was adorable when he admired something or someone. And even more when he tried to defend his sisters. Hortense often knew what she wanted and wasn't afraid to tell her opinion, even when it brought her difficulties. But at the same time, she wasn't afraid to go back at nobles and was talented to call them out, despite being only nine years old.
Lastly, there was Nymphe. The last child, the baby basically. She was a sweet girl, a little shy maybe and she tend to overreact a bit like the Silva she was. Like when the twins have a silly fight again, Nymphe would fear the worse out of it. She was a bit like him on that topic, somehow. At least, that was what Vanessa said and even though he wouldn't admit, Nozel didn't felt like he could disagree with this statement.
But Nymphe was a really sweet girl, sensible and loving. It was difficult to be mad at her for long and reasons to be mad at her were already a rare occurrence.
All four of them were his pride and joy…
He never would have thought that he would feel so well as a father. Not to mention that he would fall in love and fight for it. Nozel had been convinced for a long time that he had to sacrifice himself into an arranged marriage to allow his siblings a chance to choose their spouse freely.
But instead, he met Vanessa and fell in love with all of her. They got Aimée and despite the difficult fight and all the problems fifteen years ago, they had won their battle, get married, had three other children and were happy.
Of course, this was simple way to put it, it had been way more complex than that. But it didn't matter anymore. They were happy, that was all that mattered for him.
"Honey?"
Two arms embraced him from behind and he felt Vanessas warm breath on his body. It was still making him shiver in the sweetest way, just like back then when he was younger and hopelessly in love with her… which he still was.
"Oh, look at them having fun," Vanessa said in awe. Outside, Nymphe escaped one of Hortense's snowballs, who landed on Aimées leg.
Nozel smiled, before glancing at his wife. She was now starting her forties, but didn't look like it. And even if she did, it wouldn't matter to Nozel. In his eyes, Vanessa would always be beautiful at any age.
"You're looking at me with heart eyes again."
She laughed. Clearly teasing him. Nozel looked away, flustered but still smiling.
"I… I can't help it."
"Honey, we're now married for over a decade and we got four children together. Normally, we should be grown out of it."
"We're not normal. And since when should the length of our marriage and the fact that we have children determine what we have to feel towards each other?"
"Good point, honey."
She came to face him, kissing him softly on the lips. Nozel closed his eyes, savouring the touch and the sweet taste.
Every time they kissed, it felt so new like a first kiss and at the same time, it was so familiar since years.
Vanessa looked again out of the window and sighed happily, "Isn't it weird how time seems to pass by fast sometimes? There are moments when I feel like it was just yesterday that Aimée was a baby and we were in that cottage, uncertain about our future and worried for our little one. And look, there she is, playing with her siblings and she'll get her grimoire this year."
"She grew up so fast, somehow…"
"Come on, we both know that she wouldn't stay your little baby girl forever."
"Vanessa…"
"Sorry, I'm just teasing you. I know that you're not going to make an overreacted drama when Aimée becomes more and more an adult. Unlike Solid and Asta."
Nozel scoffed. It was true. Solid and Asta were already fearing the day when their little girls would grow away from them, despite Olympe and Loreleï being only six years old.
It was already a miracle that his younger brother and his brother-in-law had found a common ground, but here they were. Although, since their daughters were best friends, it had forced them to hang out pretty often.
Outside, Aimée had looked up to their window and smiled as she saw her parents. Nozel smiled back and Vanessa waved with a happy grin. Aimée waved back, but immediately jumped back into the snowball fight as Velours, Hortense and Nymphe tried to sneak up on her.
"Ah, it really makes you want to join them," Vanessa sighed. As he didn't answered, but put an arm on her waist, she asked smugly, "Or do you have something else in mind, handsome husband of mine?"
Nozel pulled her suddenly towards him, crashing his lips on hers. Vanessa moaned against his mouth, clearly loving it.
"You know very well that I can't resist your temptation, lady Silva."
With those words, he carried her up in bridal style and kissed her senseless, while carrying her to their bed.
"Are you really sure we're both over forty?" Vanessa asked in a breathless laugh as the parted, after they landed on the mattress, holding to each other like they were drowning.
Nozel just smiled at her. It wasn't important and Vanessa knew that very well. They were just happy with their life and with what they had in this very moment. And he felt it once more as he leaned down to kiss his beloved wife again.