Vanessa woke up from thunder, just to open her eyes on rain dropping heavily against the window. Well, that was some mighty storm out there. She stood up from the bed and went to watch the show Mother Nature was running right now.

She could see the trees bending under the howling wind, rain falling down almost like a waterfall and the drops dancing with the wind. From time to time, a lightning was to be seen, followed by thunder.

Still, the storm seemed far away from her. In this little cottage, Vanessa felt secure. Almost as nothing could happen to her.

Almost.

But that wasn't the case. It was just that the situation was uncertain, maybe even more complicated than it should be. But given the current atmosphere in the kingdom, especially among noble circles…

Vanessa sighed. She felt so tired, despite having slept for most of the afternoon. The situation was exhausting, driving her nuts. But this wasn't the only reason.

A short, babbling cry came out of the crib next to her bed.

"Oh, sweetheart, afraid of your very first storm? Of course you are, it's a heavy one."

Vanessa went to the crib and she smiled as she looked at the baby resting in it. A girl, not even two weeks old, with purple eyes and soft little hair that seemed to be silver, just like her fathers hair. Her daughter. Looking at Vanessa with a rather scared glance.

She leaned down, took the baby into her arms and went back to sit on her bed. Rocking softly her baby girl, Vanessa sighed, a sad smile on her lips. This little treasure here was the other reason why she felt exhausted. Sadly, it was also the reason why she found herself in an uncertain, overly complicated situation.

"It's not your fault, of course. It's the rather fucked up society we live in. That and the fact that your father and myself couldn't help but fall deeply in love with each other, despite coming from different circles."

Her daughter just looked at her, feeling reassured in her mother's arms. Vanessas sad smile turned into a happier one. She definitely didn't regret her child and her love for the father. That was more than worth those hardships they were facing right now.

"Don't worry. Your father and I love you so, so much."

It was true. Despite the situation, neither her nor him wanted to give up on their daughter, loving her with their entire souls. How could they not, she was such an adorable baby. Vanessa even forgot that wine and alcohol in general was now taboo for her. But well, she could live with that.

Vanessa giggled as one of those tiny hands grabbed one of her locks, pulling it slightly.

Just at this moment, there was a knock on the door.

"Come in."

It was Theresa, one of the two servants that staid at the cottage with her. The chubby woman smiled at her, "Glad to see you're awake, lady Vanessa."

Vanessa blushed a bit. She was not used, to be called 'Mylady' or 'lady Vanessa', not even after the two servants staid at the cottage with her after the birth. But Theresa and her niece Ninon already treated her like she was married to the father of her child.

"Lord Nozel came a bit after noon. But since you were asleep, he didn't wanted to disturb you."

"Nozel came? Is he still here?"

"Why, of course he is!" Theresa laughed. "He would be in a bad mood if he can't spend some time with you and the little princess. I'll fetch him now, you can distract him from his incessant working."

Vanessa giggled. Theresa had apparently worked for the Silvas since she was a little girl and was one of the rare servants who had the guts to act a bit more freely, even around Nozel.

"Oh, just so you know, the Black Bulls and the Silver Eagles sent the knights for night shifts. It's Gordon Agrippa and Nils Ragus. Which is a blessing, at least those two would be quiet and not try to fight each other. Not like that little fire delinquent and that arrogant girl from House Sandler."

Vanessa sighed as Theresa left, but she did it with a smile. Of course the Black Bulls would take shifts, but it was a nice surprise to see that the Silver Eagles were also willing to help in this situation. Even if it was guarding the cottage, in case some angry mob of nobles would come to make a siege or something. Which was at least probable, given the tension the kingdom had since some time…

Vanessa held her daughter, who was still pulling at her hair, closer to her.

Nozel came shortly after. He was looking just as exhausted as she was feeling. Did he even get some sleep since yesterday? Still, Vanessa smiled as he sat next to her. She was happy to see him.

"Look sweetheart, daddy's here."

She heard Nozel sigh, but it sounded happy. Gladly she saw him caress their daughters head. The baby let go of her mother's hair to grab her father's fingers instead.

For a moment, they just sat there. For a moment, there was no storm outside, no uncertain situation, no corrupt nobles and royals who put stones on their way, no tension concerning bastards.

For a moment, they were just young parents with their daughter.

"You look tired."

"Right back at you, honey. Did you sleep since yesterday?"

"A bit."

"Not enough, then. What were you doing instead of resting?"

"I tried to find a solution. The royal laws and rules have some loopholes, so I tried to find one that could benefit us. But these are tons of documents to read and I didn't came very far yet. Besides, Fuegoleon basically dragged me out of my office, with Noelles and Nebras help before I could find something useful. They told me to come back here and get some rest. But… I need to find something that could help us."

"I know you do, but you're working yourself to exhaustion and it's painful to see. Allow people to help you more. Us."

"I know, but… I just… I have no idea what to do and I hate it."

He sounded so defeated and Vanessa hated it. Even more that she was feeling quiet the same. After everything that happened, the return of the Silva father, the accidental outing, the tension in the kingdom from the last month, the scandal and the overflowing offense within noble circles, it had been difficult for her to stay positive. Not to mention the difficult birth.

Vanessa sighed and let her head rest on his shoulder. Looking down at their sweet daughter, who has no idea in what uncertain, difficult situation her parents were right now.

And an unfair one at that, because technically speaking, neither her nor Nozel didn't do anything wrong. But of course, for most nobles and royals, the corrupt ones, falling in love with someone out of your status and having a bastard was the definition of doing wrong.

It hadn't been planned, after all their relationship has been a secret, given their different circles. Nozel and Vanessa had wanted to take it slow to come out of secrecy, step by step. Their daughter had been an accident. A happy surprise for both, but it complicated things so much more for them. After all, they weren't married. So, their daughter was a bastard.

There were already more rumours and scandals about illegitimate children in the kingdom since a few months, more than ever before. It might have begun just after the war with Spade had ended.

The scandal wasn't even that Nozel had a bastard child. A lot of nobles had illegitimate children, offspring from affair with women that mostly weren't nobles. No, the true offense was more that Nozel wasn't willing to give up his child and Vanessa, that he wasn't going to throw them away. Him, a captain of a royal squad, a Head of House, one of the most strict and serious royals, one of the princes that many nobles wanted to marry their daughters with.

The fact that Nozel Silva got out of the status quo because he dared to apparently love a witch and having a child with her he didn't throw away like anyone would… that was more or less the true scandal.

And it gained so much more importance than it should because his father, who appeared again suddenly after years of absence, considered this an insult – officially against royalty, unofficially against himself – and just spat the news in front of basically all nobility of the Clover Kingdom.

Vanessa let out an angry sigh and closed her eyes. She didn't wanted to think about it, not now, not while Nozel and her were tired, not when they had the chance to have some quiet time together, with their daughter.

"I should have married you in secret."

"Hm, that might have been an idea. But I don't think it would had changed much. Wouldn't there be an assumption that since it was a secret wedding, it wouldn't count?"

"You're learn fast to understand the stupid bigotry of nobility."

She heard him smile and couldn't help but laugh a bit. Maybe it wasn't so desperate, if they could still laugh and joke, after all.

"Any news from your brother?"

"I wrote Solid a letter, to inform him about the situation. But I don't know if he will respond yet. We haven't seen each other since… that day."

There was sadness in his voice. Nozel cares so much for his siblings, after all. But while Vanessa has still been pregnant, there had been a fight between the two Silva brothers. She ignored the detail, neither Nozel nor even Noelle wanted to talk about it and it has to be the same for Nebra. She just knew that the next day, Solid had requested from the Wizard King to take missions that sent him basically anywhere away from the capital. He sent letters from time to time, but only the Silva's Vermillion aunt received more detailed news.

Vanessa didn't like Solid, but Nozel still cares for him, Nebra too and even Noelle. So she hoped that someday, a reconciliation and better terms would come for the siblings. At least, Nebra and Noelle were trying to get along better, in order to help their older brother in his rather special situation. At least, that was a positive outcome.

Their child let out a babbling sound, leading her parents focus back on her. Vanessa smiled, then handled her to Nozel.

While he had been anxious during the pregnancy and rightfully so during the birth, holding his newborn daughter hadn't been difficult at all for him. Vanessa watched him holding the baby, cradling her into a protective embrace, softly rocking while looking at his daughter with all the love a father could have.

She could easily imagine him as fourteen-year-old, holding baby Noelle just as careful.

The rain was still dropping furiously, the wind howling and the storm going on, but it didn't matter right now. Vanessa just felt perfectly fine and safe. She just wanted to enjoy that quiet moment she had the man she loved and their child.

"Let's forget our hardships for tonight, honey," she whispered, placing a small kiss on his cheek.

Nozel turned towards her, softly smiling before placing his lips on hers. Vanessa pulled him carefully closer to her, while one of her hands caressed her daughter on the cheek. The baby let out a small babble that sounded like a giggle. This girl was loved and maybe she was already able to feel it.

"Don't you think we should come up with a name?" Vanessa asked, her hands on her belly, who already began to become bigger.

Nozel looked up from his piece of paper. Probably one of the numerous Royalty Laws. He said he had been searching for a loophole concerning bastards. While Vanessa gets that it was kinda important, there were other matters rather important concerning the baby. Like the name.

"Do you have any suggestions?"

"Oh, plenty, honey. But there are a lot and I don't trust myself to have found some appropriate ones. I'm not good at naming."

Vanessa giggled as Nozel gave her a suspicious look.

"You sure? After all, you find a new nickname for me almost every day."

"Oh, nicknames are easy. But proper names are rather more difficult for me. Do you have any suggestions?"

Nozel seemed to be thinking, dropping his paper. But then, he moved closer, putting softly his hands on her belly. Vanessa sighed happily at the touch.

"I might have a few ideas. But I don't know if they're good."

"Let's hear it."

"I thought… about Candid for a boy."

He blushed a bit and Vanessa couldn't help but giggle again. "I admit, honey, that might sound weird, but also sweet. Maybe I could live with a Candid. And if it's a girl?"

"I hesitate between two. Either Lavinia… or Aimée."

"Aimée… I love the sound of it."