AN: Originally this was a one shot but I decided to make it a collection of Astelle one shots since I had some written down.
Description: Future AU. After King Kira was overthrown by Wizard King Asta. The Clover Kingdom needs a new Royal ruler, and he thinks he found the perfect candidate.
It had been years since the duo have parted ways, Asta with his preparation to be Wizard King and Noelle as a Silver Eagles Captain. His coronation was celebrated in Black Bulls fashion, much to the noble guests chagrin.
Meeting each other was limited to professional work, after all they were busy and responsible adults. That was until Asta unintentionally overthrew King Agustus, along with the Kira household.
Due to this, the other royal families have been summoned frequently to witness the trials; including Noelle. When the final verdict was made official, the Wizard King had requested her presence that same day. She assumed that this meant she would return to her normal duties.
The Silva enters his office and salutes, though it seems he was too busy reading tomorrow's news paper. By observation, she inquired that he was reading about the public response upon the results of the trial.
"Looks like the Kira's reign won't return for a while. I'm pretty sure you've made a lot of noblemen upset for bringing them down."She decides to break the silence for him by offering her own input. The anti-magic mage drops the paper to the side and turns to his visitor.
"Hi, Noelle! Sorry, I just wanted to see how the citizens would react. Overall I think it's positive, aside from some nobles as you mentioned." He grimaces, recalling the displeasure from numerous people during the trials. Yet all the evidence against Kira justifies their downfall, he insisted.
His face contorts to disdain as he thinks of the many crimes the royal family had done. "The Kira household has been committing corruption and injustice for generations ruling the Clover Kingdom, all I did was tell my people the truth. And I agree with what they wanted. My people deserve better."
She smiles. He really did what was best for the Kingdom, she also found out that he recently started funding the villages at the far end of Clover. The funds provided opportunity for development thereby improving the lives of those who needed.
"Hn, who would've known you'd be so competent?" She lightly teased.
"Hehe, I really have become - wait. What's that supposed to mean?!" He throws her a lookof annoyance.
She chuckles at his outburst. Some things just never change.
"Hopefully you were also competent enough to think about damage control. Although many would find it pointless, you still need to apoint a new King." She reminds him.The ashen blond smirks proudly and replies.
"Already thought of someone." He crosses his hands whilst acting smug. The woman's eyebrows slightly raise in surprise.
"I'm impressed. Who is it?" She thinks of the possible candidates among her family. Surely it came down to two choices: Fuegoleon or her eldest brother.
"Well, they haven't agreed to it yet." He admits, while scratching at the back of his neck.
"They better decide soon then."
"Actually, I still haven't asked." The male leans back into his chair, looking more sheepish by the second.
"It would be best to tell them immediately, though. Otherwise the nobles might cause chaos-" she tries to advise him, but he cuts her off.
"Noelle." The woman watches as he stands and approaches her. She flinched when he grabs her hand.
"Would you..." he looks at her directly into her eyes. Emerald green meets fuchsia pink and her heartbeat drums loudly in her ears.
"Be my queen?"
A stunned silence lingers as the question was slowly processed in her head. Noelle had come expecting to acquire another mission for her squad as usual; just a simple briefing and conversation not this. Definitely not a marriage proposal and they weren't even dating yet!
"E-eh? I'm sorry what?" The woman asks, surely she misheard.
Was she daydreaming again?
Yet the firm grip on her right hand was definitely real.
"Would you like to be my queen for the clover kingdom?" He repeats, eliminating her doubt.
"I-isn't this a little too sudden?" She stutters. The hold on her hand prevents her habit of drenching him.
"Actually Julius recommended me to ask, along with captain Yami, Sisgoleon even your older brother Nozel!" He explains.
"Th-they did?" She wonders for how long they had known she loved him, and why Asta had went along with their suggestion.
Does this mean he likes me?
"We've been thinking about this ever since we found out about the corruption. Now that the trials are over,it's a great opportunity to tell you about it." He gives her one of his wide smiles, not letting go of her.
"B-but what about Sister Lily?" Asta pauses and released his grip.The Silva looks back on his first day as Wizard King and how he immediately proposed to the nun after his coronation. Unsurprisingly he was still rejected. Whether or not he finally gave up that day was a complete mystery.
While in her thoughts, the male had a hand cup his chin and another on his waist."Huh, I'm not sure if she'd know much about noble politics though." He shrugs.
"Wait, noble politics? What does that have to do with- oh." Upon realization she felt as though reality just slapped her in the face.
Politics? This wasn't a marriage proposal at all. He had asked if she wanted to be the literal Queen of Clover.
She should feel honored right now yet disappointment makes her grimace. The woman was irritated, at Asta for being so careless with his words and herself for being so naive.
"You can't just ask me to be your queen, Bakasta! Phrase your words better or I'll misunderstand!"In her momentary anger she hits his head, ignoring the fact that she technically just punched her superior.
"Ow! What did you think I meant?" Asta grumbles, caressing the bump he just got.
"Ah-ahh uhmmm nevermind that. But what about my squad? I can't just leave them. And aren't I underqualified?"
"Not at all. Based on your achievements as both a Black Bulls member and a Squad captain, you possess exceptional magical power and leadership skills. And you don't have to retire your Captain position, the only change would be that you'll help me in any of the kingdom's political decisions." He even pulls out a long list just to prove his point.
"And between you and me, Augustus never had much to offer." Asta adds in a hushed whisper, cautious if anyone might hear him. She would've laughed if anxiety wasn't busy eating awayat her.
"Then why not Mereleona, Fuegoleon,my brother Nozel or literally any of my other cousins?" She suggests, they definitely deserve an honorable position more than she did.
"Nah, she said something about politics being too stuck up. Nozel and Fuegoleon are only interested in my position.
They believev in you though." He holds her shoulders in a comforting manner.She feels a warmth on her chest, pride swelling within her. Yet a strong sense of doubt immediately plummits her mood.
Unknowingly she starts chewing on her bottom lip."And the council is okay with this?" She hears him laugh awkwardly.
"Technically an agreement from the council is still due, however! I'm certain they would say yes. King Julius suggested you himself, supported by me and the other royal households. I doubt anyone would question your right to the throne since you're already a princess." His explanations did no good to ease the anxiety building up in her chest.
"You know,I used to be a laughingstock among the noble class. I doubt it would be easy for them to accept me as their ruler." She distracts herself from the uneasiness by gripping her arm.
"That was in the past, now you're a respectable Magic knight's Captain.
And that's exactly why you're perfect for the job! I need someone that would help me rule for the benefit of the Kingdom and it's people. My first goal has always been to set everyone as equals regardless of their status.
And there's no better royal that would understand prejudice more so than you." The anti-magic mage gives her a hopeful glance.
"Mimosa could be just as capable though! She's always been a respected powerful mage. Plus she doesn't look down on peasants either, while I always arrogantly threw my title every chance I got." His brows furrow in concern, that was not the response he expected.
"Why do you keep passing this off to other people? You don't want to be Queen?" He tilts his head in thought, he senses the anxiety and doubt in her body language.
The silver haired girl gets flustered from his calculating gaze, unable to confirm nor deny his question.
She just couldn't imagine herself having such an important responsibility, she had too many flaws that made her unfit to rule. Would the Kingdom respect a queen that used to be so weak?
"You think you're unworthy." He brings her out of the cluster of anxious thoughts. The boy had an expression that was a mix between pity and disappointment.His frown falling deeper when she continues to be silent. She bites the inside of her cheek slightly cursing his ability to read ki. Even though she showed no signs of distress he could always figure her out.
Noelle didn't know what to say. Despite having achieved so much and have been told of how great she was, she never lost the habit of doubt since childhood. Sure it had lessened over the years, but resurfaced whenever a big responsibility came up. And to be the queen of the Clover Kingdom was a humongous load.
Asta sighs and quickly recovers his warm smile. He approaches her once more and wraps an arm around her shoulder. "Hey, remember that time during our first festival together?" She blinks, not sure where he was going with this but allows herself to smile back.
"How could I not, I blasted you into fireworks. It was quite entertaining." Her hand flicks a ponytail, a signature action she did.
"I said I liked you." He continued, causing her teasing demeanor to completely vanish. Leave it to Asta for being so honest. She could've sworn she saw him smirk from her momentary pause.
"You did." She simply replied, but oh how her mind was on overdrive. It was a memory she vowed never to forget. After all, it was one of the rare times that she believed she had a chance with him.
"I said it because when you helped that lost girl, you didn't shrink from the crowd. In fact, you were bold enough to announce that peasants and nobility should be treated fairly. Even when we were younger we already had the same ideals.
You only threw your title here and there 'cuz it's an excuse for you to hide you're feelings; everyone in the black bulls knew that." She couldn't help but hide her face in the safety of her palms, not sure if she felt embarrassed or frustrated.
Does he not realize what he does to her? He makes it seem as though he was aware of her feelings and still didn't know she liked him!
She feels his rough hands grip her own and gently steer them away from her flushed face, allowing her to witness his reassuring gaze.
"You aren't the same arrogant girl that couldn't control her powers when we first met. You worked hard to change that eversince.
The promotions you've been getting aren't by accident, people just happen to see what you constantly deny.
You even reacted the same way when they appointed you as the Silver Eagle's Captain." She hadn't realized that he paid such close attention to her deterrent tendencies. Her anxiety was replaced with shame. Captain Yami would be disappointed, he taught her better than this! What was she doing? The Kingdom was relying on her yet she chooses to be held back by her insecurities.
"When will you stop being so hard on yourself?" His hands lightly squeeze hers and she can't help but wish he did it more often. The girl takes a breath and prepares to speakwhilst looking away, not used to showing her vulnerable side.
Shyly she admits her nagging fear."What if I'm not good at being Queen?"
"Pfffft—" She hears him laugh, the woman blinks from the unexpected response. Was he mocking her? She immediately shots him a dirty look. He wasn't fazed though.
"I'm sorry! It's just, you looked so adorable I couldn't help myself." Her annoyance was replaced with a blush on her cheeks.
"Anyways, you'll figure it out.You're Noelle Silva, the most amazing girl I know! I'll say it as many times as I have to until you start to believe it." A strong hand ruffles her hair, the same way he had done all those years ago in the Underwater Temple.
"Besides, I'm not perfect either! If a magicless peasant like me became Wizard King, what's stopping you?" The water mage could no longer think of avalid argument that wouldn't sound like an excuse to reject the offer.
"You really think I can do this?"
"I know you can and everyone will be there to support you, that includes me." He winks, reassuring her again.
Another pause ensues, this time the atmosphere wasn't from discomfort or anxiety rather a peaceful one.She returns him a smile of relief, finally ridding the tension in the air.
"So, what do you say?" Asta asks once more.
"You're negotiation skills have definitely improved." She comments, instead of directly giving her answer.
"Is that a yes?" He beams, happy to have gotten through to her.
She mulls it over once more, if everyone else thought she was capable surely that meant something. Besides she wouldn't go through this challenge alone, not anymore.
"It depends, treat me to dinner?" She requests, admittedly it was also a sneaky way to ask him to a date. She peeks, at his reaction hoping that her momentary confidence doesn't disappear. The man's smile widens and he takes her hand again.
"Anything for my queen." His words made her heart jump again, goodness if he kept doing that it wouldn't be long before she dies of a heart attack.
"I th-thought I told you not to call me that."
"Hm? Well Yuno's guard always called him my kingout of respect so I thought I'd do the same." He shrugs, acting as if the endearment didn't have a double meaning.
"J-just don't do it in public or people might get the wrong idea." The water mage huffs, trying her best to calm the blood rushing to her cheeks.
"Wrong idea about what?" He innocently asks, she wonders if he really was still dense or he finds pleasure in making her flustered.
"Hmph, I guess even becoming the Wizard King didn't stop you from being a dense idiot." She tells him while flipping a ponytail.
"Says the queen that can't even be honest about her feelings." He mutters, though she couldn't hear him clearly.
"What was that?" She dares him to repeat but he immediately brushes it off.
"Race you there!" He summoned his sword and flew out his open window.
"What the- hey no fair! I don't even know where we're going! And aren't we too old for this already? Astaaaa!" She transforms into her Valkyrie dress and attempts to catch up.
The full moon lights them as they pass through the dark knight. He glances at her form, admiring the way her water magic reflected the evening light.
Seeing her in that armor will never cease to amaze me. The male gushes to himself.
Now, where should we go for our date?