Her eyelids felt heavy, her body was sore and never had she been this exhausted. Vanessa tried to open her eyes, but even that was too much.

What happened? Why was it this calm? Wasn't she supposed to give birth to her baby, while screaming from the pain?

Birth… Baby… Pain…

Yes, she had been giving birth! And the pain had been like nothing she had known before! Did she passed out? Was it always like this? How did Acier Silva managed to go through this pain four times? What about the baby? And Nozel, was he alright?

Her thoughts run through her blurry mind like they were on a carousel and it was giving her some hell of a headache. Her eyelids where still heavy, but Vanessa didn't care. She needed to open her eyes, she needed to know what happen. She needed to know if the baby did came out fine and if Nozel was okay.

Finally, Vanessa managed to open her eyes. She didn't recognize the room she was in immediately. That wasn't her chamber back in the Black Bulls hideout, not enough stuff and enough place to walk through. Where was she?

Of course! She was in the forgotten cottage that belonged to House Silva! Her mind was still blurry, but slowly she began to remember.

She was giving birth, holding Nozels hand as tightly as she could, while Owen, Theresa and a mid-wife she didn't know were working around her. She remembered the hellish pain, she remembered that it was long. But details just wouldn't come to her mind.

Now, what happened after she passed out? How long had she been, well, absent? What about the baby and Nozel? She needed to know, but she was way too exhausted to get up.

"Vanessa…"

She slowly turned her head and he was there. Sitting at the edge on the bed, holding her hand. And his eyes…

"Honey, did you cry?"

Nozel didn't answer, not even trying to hide the tears in his eyes or wash them away. He looked so relieved, smiling while holding her hand.

"For a moment… I have thought I had lost you."

Now he kissed her hand and a tear rolled down his cheek. Vanessa smiled softly. She knew Nozel, she knew how terrible and lost he would feel if he loses someone dear to him.

She passed out, that she figured out. But has it been this terrible? Seeing how relieved he was…

"Sorry that I made you worrying this much."

"Don't apologize. It isn't your fault, it isn't anyone's fault. Owen called Mimosa and she was able to save you. I don't know the details, what she did exactly, I was just so…"

"Relieved. I can see that," Vanessa whispered, lifting her other hand to caress his cheek.

Nozel took her hand and left a soft kiss on her palm, before continuing, "I'm so glad you weren't taken from me… from us."

Us…

"The baby?" Vanessa asked, too exhausted to hide the slight worry in her voice.

Nozel just smiled at her, before standing up, letting go of her hand. Vanessa pouted a bit at the loss of his touch, but she was too exhausted to be upset.

There was a crib beside the bed. A crib… Nozel leaned down and when he got up a second later, there was a bundle in his arms.

Vanessa sucked in a breath, unable to get her eyes of it.

"Don't worry, Aimée is fine and healthy."

"Aimée…"

That name felt so sweet on her lips and it sounded like a song when Nozel said it.

Her body reacted before she could even think about it, as she reached out her arms for her child and managed to properly sit up despite her exhaustion.

Nozel placed the baby in her arms and finally, finally, Vanessa met the little life that had grown in her belly for nine months.

She was beautiful.

Aimées eyes were closed, her breathing was soft. Her adorable little heart shaped mouth was half open between her chubby cheeks and she had just little hair on her skull, who had some silver glowing.

Vanessa couldn't stop admiring her daughter. Maybe she was biased because after all, she was a mother, but in her eyes, Aimée was the most beautiful baby in the world. Vanessa had longed for this meeting and the wait was finally over. True happiness flow through her, slowly fading the exhaustion.

"She already looks very like you, honey."

"Wait until she opens her eyes."

Nozel sat back on the edge of the bed, slowly caressing Aimées head. Vanessa took a quick look at him. He was genuinely smiling, looking relaxed and relieved. Like her, he couldn't really look away from their daughter.

Focusing back on Aimée, Vanessa couldn't help but softly kissing her forehead.

The soft touch made Aimée slowly open her eyes. Purple eyes. But not Nozels metallic shade, it was her purple. Shining like amethysts and ever-changing shades like a kaleidoscope, as her boyfriend loved to describe them.

"See, she has your eyes," Nozel chuckled, not stopping his caresses.

Vanessa lied another kiss on their daughters forehead, while whispering, "Thank you for coming into our lives, sweetheart."

Aimée let out a small, soft babbling sound before she slowly closed her eyes again, falling back to sleep.

Nozel moved a bit to kiss Vanessas forehead, while she leaned back into the pillows, watching Aimée.

She was so small, looking so frail. This innocent baby here had no idea she was born in the middle of an uncertain situation, full of problems concerning bastards and scandals. She had no idea she was a bastard herself, that her parents had to fight to be together and it won't be an easy fight.

But looking at her daughter, Vanessa didn't regret any of it. She never did anyway, but the little treasure in her arms was the confirmation and the reward for this stony way. The pain of the birth, the uncertain situation, the laws for royalty and nobility, the fight Nozel and her have to make so they can be together… Aimée was worth this all and more.

And right now, in this very moment, none of this seemed important. She won't focus on that for the rest of the day. In this very moment, Vanessa and Nozel were just young parents with their newborn baby girl. And they would enjoy every moment with Aimée.

Nozel had seemed distressed, upset even, as he came back to the cottage today. Vanessa immediately knew that something was wrong after she just took one look at him.

She needed to talk to him, alone, and maybe a little walk would be good for him. Spontaneous as she was, Vanessa talked to Theresa about her plan and left her in charge to take care of the cottage and Aimée with the present knights.

Luckily, this time it would be a piece of cake, so probably no fry pan today. The Black Bulls sent Gordon for the shift and he loved babysitting Aimée. Vanessa would trust him taking care of her child any time.

As for the Silver Eagles, they sent Alysanne Dragonstone, an intermediate Magic Knight with obsidian magic, for today's shift. Which was also good thing. Vanessa liked Alysanne, she was a very nice and openminded person, despite coming from a noble house with apparently some complicated history. They became pretty good friends since Vanessa moved to the cottage and Alysanne even helped her a lot while Vanessa was learning how it works behind the scenes of royalty and nobility.

That and the fact that Alysanne loved babysitting Aimée as much as Gordon. Their little girl was in good hands.

Nozel and Vanessa walked a bit, until they reached a hidden spot surrounded by birches. Vanessa liked that spot. When she got outside, it was mostly there she went. Like the cottage, it felt a bit like a sanctuary, a place where she could just sit and let her thoughts wander… while breastfeeding Aimée, if she was hungry.

"Alright, honey. Tell me what happened today."

She would get an answer out of him and she won't take no for an answer. She already promised herself that he won't carry his burden alone anymore and given their situation, going solo wasn't the best idea.

Nozel just looked at her and sighed. He already knew that he won't win this. Vanessa couldn't help but smile a little. She didn't need Ki to read him.

He took her hands, sighed again, before he finally said, "The coalition wanted an audience. Just after the captains meeting."

Shit, this sounded like bad news. Vanessa knew that this stupid anti-bastard coalition was rather bold, but appearing to a captains meeting put the bar on a new height.

"What did they want?"

"At first, it was just about the obvious situation, that the current state in the kingdom was unbearable. As we Magic Knights aren't aware of this. They could have tell us that the sky is blue, it would have been the same."

Vanessa almost giggled, like always when he made a joke unintentionally. But Nozel looked so serious and upset.

"But that was just a pretext. In reality, they came to talk to me. I already suspected it, but at this moment, I knew."

"Knew what?"

"That my father was behind this."

Vanessa felt a cold shiver on her spine. She always had that reaction when the father of the Silva siblings was mentioned. Despite never meeting the man, she couldn't help but dislike him and dislike was still a very polite word.

She never met him and he never met her. Hopefully, it would stay that way. She didn't know what she would do if he was in front of her, but for what he put his own children through, especially – and mostly – Nozel and Noelle, she would have let him have it. But that would might have disastrous consequences and Vanessa too much aware that this was the last thing her, Nozel and Aimée needed right now.

"He didn't came, which wasn't a surprise. He clearly has no intention to face me after our fight that day."

"Because of fear or because of arrogance?"

"Probably a mix of both. I don't want to see him either, anyway. But he has influence in this coalition and he used it today. My father chose some of his friends and some nobles with high influences for this. Through them, he wanted to talk me out of this… situation. What they said about you, what they suggest… I couldn't bear it. It's a miracle I didn't snap. Fuegoleon and Rill had to hold me back for the majority of time they were present."

Vanessa didn't ask what was told about her. She could imagine it very well as in the last weeks, any sorts of unpleasant things have come to her ears. Even at this cottage in the middle of nowhere, the offense and the disgust about her, the Drunken Witch, and the role she played in this whole affair, about her squad and her background, didn't go unheard. Vanessa refused to be left in ignorance about it. She had to know them so she could fight for Nozel and her daughter.

She might going to ask later, but not yet. Nozel still felt upset about what had been said and Vanessa knew that the last he needed right now was to turn the knife in the fresh wound. After all, it hurt him that people talked about her in some disgusting way.

"Did you do something?"

"I respond to them."

Vanessa gasped.

Until now, when he needed to be in public, Nozel never let out any words of any sorts about the situation in front of nobility. Even as his father made the whole scandal public, he never responded to any questions or provocations, showing them only his cold mask.

If Nozel responded today, it would maybe be a turning point in their situation. But that turning point being beneficial for them or disastrous, this was another question.

"I didn't snap, if it's what you fear. I managed to stay calm."

"On the outside only, I guess. Don't tell me you were also calm inside, it would be a miracle if you were."

"You're right. I wasn't calm inside. It had felt like a raging storm. But I didn't show them any of it."

"What did they say?"

Nozel sighed very deeply, taking her hands in his, before he finally began to tell her what happened today.

He told her everything. What the nobles wanted, from him in particular – the fact that Nozel was still receiving marriage proposals made Vanessa rather angry – how Rill and Fuegoleon had to hold him back while William and Kaiser had to do the same with Yami. But mostly, about his speech.

How he told them the forbidden truth about how bastards and adultery are handled within nobility. Vanessa had to admit, for his standards he had been pretty bold. Telling those people that they might have bastards in the Forsaken Realm or even in another noble house, that was really a heavy thing.

She couldn't help but to be proud of him. And loving him even more for taking her defence.

"I certainly won this battle and now, it is official where I stand, what I think about this whole mess. If they continue to send me proposals of marriage in any kind, it would be because of denial."

Vanessa definitely agreed on that. It wouldn't be so surprising if it happens. Most nobles seemed often desperate to marry into royalty.

"The thing is… I don't know if this victory would benefit us in anything. Or if it would help to ease the whole situation in the kingdom. I know my father. He is arrogant, has a high opinion of himself and his position. But sadly, he isn't stupid. He knows how to turn tables, how to arrange a disadvantage into an advantage. Some other nobles within the coalition are also manipulative. And there's the criminals, I don't know how they will react. I… I feel like a sailor lost on sea, nowhere to land while I all see are horizons."

"Nozel…"

He looked like he felt so lost, she just had to hug him tightly with all her might. Vanessa knew that it wasn't in his intention to abandon. But it was difficult to find a solution, to fight against the people who were against them for various reasons. She knew that herself, the Black Bulls and Silver Eagles knew that, the Wizard King and the Magic Knight, everyone who wanted to help knew that.

She hated the situation. Sometimes, she found herself wishing for everything to be simple. If there weren't different circles, no bigotry, no unfairness that made their situation so difficult.

Vanessa felt Nozel hugging her back, diving his nose in her hair. She couldn't help but smile a bit. She didn't fell in love with him immediately, given their circles and their squads. They didn't interacted at all first, but over time their path crossed. Step by step, they met more, they get to know each other, they fell in love…

Now here they were, their hearts belonging to each other, parents of an adorable daughter, in an uncertain and difficult situation, but willing to fight to be together. Vanessa found a lot of comfort in their relationship. Nozel made her happy and she just knew now, she always would have chosen him, no matter if he was royalty or not.

Despite the uncertainty, there was still many little things that made them happy, that they could hold on to. There was hope.

Vanessa let a bit go of him, so she could see him in the eyes.

"I would be lying if I say that we shouldn't pay attention to what others thinks of us. Once I would, but not after everything we went through. We should, but not because we should be ashamed. We have nothing to be ashamed of. We have to pay some attention, because we need to know what the problems and their roots are, so we can fight against it. We're also parents, we're responsible for Aimée. I don't know how we can do it, but I can't stop hoping that in the end, we can come out of this uncertainty and raise our daughter in the way she deserves it, together."

"I know all this. I just… need to be reminded from time to time."

"Me too, honey. Me too."

They went silent, just holding each other.

Vanessa really hoped that it would end all well in the end. That there was a future awaiting them. Hope seems so tiny and frail right now, but she couldn't stop.

There were many things to do, to be cautious about, in order to find a solution. Vanessa knew very well that neither her nor Nozel had really the luxury to just jump and take the risks. They already did once, when they realized their love and decided they wanted it. But now, Aimée came into their lives.

As parents, their priority was now their daughter.

Vanessa sighed and let her hands glide over Nozels back and shoulders. "You're slightly tense, honey."

"It was a difficult meeting, so… Vanessa, what are you doing?"

She went on her tiptoes to gently nibble his earlobe. Despite his shock on her sudden action, he was already less tense.

It had been a long while since last time. Almost a year. Vanessa didn't know if it was really a good idea, but what she knew was that they both could need it right now.

Nozel let a bit go of her, a question in his eyes, but mixed with a lust she hadn't seen since a long time. His hands slowly went down her back, making her sigh in a happy need.

Vanessa smiled at him. "Don't worry, my body is ready again. But we can take it slowly and softly, if you want. I have nothing against it."

That was enough for him to go for her lips, drawing her in a soft but passionate kiss. Vanessa smiled against his lips, pulling Nozel closer to her.

Soon after, they get rid of their clothes, lying down on the soft grass in a tight embrace…

It was raining, again. But it didn't bothered Vanessa. In fact, the soft sound was giving her a cosy feeling, especially in the evening or even when night fell over the world, when they were all three together.

Vanessa looked away from Dorothy's letter to take a glance at the sweet image of her boyfriend and their baby on the bed.

Nozel was half-lying on the mattress, Aimée in his arms. He looked so much calmer now, happier too, compared to his arrival earlier today. Spending time together as a family really was soothing for him and it couldn't make Vanessa anymore happier.

He really deserved the break. Breaks, even. Not only because of their current situation, but also because of the pressure he had lived with for years.

Vanessa had convinced him to let her go through some papers for the evening, he had enough for today, with the members of the coalition.

Sighing, Vanessa focused back on Dorothy's letter. She had hoped that the captain of the Coral Peacocks could have gave her some news, but as expected, she had nothing again. It wasn't her fault, of course. But Vanessa had hoped, slightly only but still, that some news would have given the clue, the small insight of a solution.

"Still nothing new from the Witches Forest?" Nozel asked.

"No. Captain Dorothy hasn't heard anything either. I hope it won't be so much of a problem."

After the whole situation became a public scandal, Vanessa had written to the Witch Queen. To inform about the situation and to warn the witches to be cautious and prepared, in case everything would escalate somehow. But she never got a response.

Being a witch herself, captain Dorothy made the proposition to take this burden from her and to keep her informed, even when nothing new had come. Vanessa gladly accepted. She wasn't sure if she was able to take care of this task.

What an irony. In the past, she never had cared, even once, what exactly her status was, where she exactly came from and witches in general. She never really wondered if the Witch Queen was directly her mother or if she just took interest in her because of her spell. It had never been important.

But now, Vanessa did care. She didn't know if making her status clearer would solve anything, but maybe it would kinda help? To find some kind of a solution? Would it help if her origins were clearer? Vanessa had no idea.

She didn't even know if it was a blessing or a curse that the agreements between the Witches Forest and the Clover Kingdom were unclear, blurry even. Not to mention that logically speaking, Aimée would be half witch. But even that wasn't really clear. Heck why Vanessa would have love for once to know more. But the Witch Queen was mute on everything.

Vanessa was at least grateful that captain Dorothy took over this task. And that Nozel didn't push on that subject. He wouldn't even dream of it. Vanessa smiled. Because of her, Nozel had taken a lot of interests into the culture of witches and even though he refused to push because of her past, she had found liking teaching him, at least for what she knew.

Gosh, on that topic, she challenged her own inner Nozel with her overthinking. Vanessa tried to not focus too much on the topic and captain Dorothy reminded her that in every letter or every time she came to visit. Worrying could be exhausting, especially in their situation, and Vanessa didn't want that.

She looked at the remaining sheets. Some of them came from Nozels office in the cottage. A little room under the roof. Vanessa had grabbed some papers back there, to take a bit from his burden, even though it was more complicated to understand for her than it was for him. But of course, she had undone the order of those papers.

Honestly, she didn't felt like cramming through. Not with the soothing sound of the rain and her loved ones so close. It invited to a cosy evening.

Vanessa looked at Nozel and his eyes were basically inviting her to stop and to relax for the rest of the evening. Sometimes, they didn't need any words to understand each other.

So, she decided to call it a day and went to lie down at Nozels side. But not without grabbing one of the numerous marriages proposals.

Nozel couldn't help but make a face when he saw the sheet in her hands. "Really… why do you always want to read them before I throw them into the fire. It can't be this interesting. And I don't like it when they mention you…"

"Don't worry, it's okay. I find it rather funny, with all their contradictions and sophisticated choice of words. As for them mentioning me… I don't want to ignore it. If I know their arguments, I can come up with counter-arguments. Besides, I don't recognize myself in the way they describe me, which makes it a bit easier."

"I just don't like how they dare to talk about you."

"You really more upset about that than myself, honey," Vanessa giggled, but Nozel didn't laugh. He had still this serious look on his face, while gently holding Aimée. Her glance was soft, but also serious. It was amazing to see she can already look at someone almost like her father.

Vanessa sighed as she leaned her head against his shoulder. "I would lie if I say that their words don't hurt me. They do. But it's still less about how they talk about me than the way they treat you."

She felt Nozel turn his head slightly towards her while she focused on Aimée.

"They clearly never tried to know you, they never trusted you and if they did, it wasn't you, but an image they had of you. An image you destroyed many times since our situation became public. As for respect, it's quite the same, in a way. They respect the image, but the real you offenses them. They don't see what a broken but wonderful man you are. I want to show the world how lucky I am to be loved by Nozel Silva, but they would never see and even less accept it."

"And I thought I was the lucky one to be loved by you."

She could hear that he was smiling. Looking at their daughter, Vanessa couldn't help but smile as well.

"Lucky to be loved by me? Nozel, do you realize sometimes how touching your compliments are? It makes me feel like a queen or something."

"But a queen it's what you are. Queen of my heart…"

Vanessa looked up, just to see him turn his head, a deep blush on his cheeks. Did he realize how cute he was when he blushed?

"I apologize, that sounded too corny."

"Don't be sorry, honey. I love it when you're in your poetic phase," she giggled. He had been the only one to call her a queen and it had made her fell in love with him all over again.

"Ga," Aimée babbled, making her parents focus back on her.

"See? Even our baby girl loves it when you're a poet."

"I'm… not that good."

"Ba!"

"Aimée and I have to disagree on that."

Nozel let out a soft laugh. "I'm already outnumbered."

"With two girls, it is highly possible, so you better get used to it, my sweet eagle," Vanessa chuckled, before leaning up a bit to kiss his cheek. Nozel was still blushing a bit, but his smile was enough proof about how good he felt right now.

Aimée let out a babbling sound and as Vanessa turn to her daughter, her heart shaped mouth had turn into a smile.

Aimées very first smile…

"Nozel, do you see that?"

"I do."

The young parents went silent, just happily focusing on their little daughter, who was smiling while looking up at them.

Just like any young parents would with their own child.

They had a lot behind them and it wasn't over yet. Vanessa knew that there was still a very stony way in front of them, unknown for the most parts, and that they're going to have more moments of worries, of being unsure, of desperation.

But hope was there. In those little happy moments, in their daughters first smile, Vanessa could almost feel the hope. It was soothing, for both Nozel and her. It proved once more that their fight was worth it.

Whatever new complications might come in the near future, right now Vanessa felt ready to face them. For Aimée, with Nozel at her side, with their friends and families helping them. In this moment right now, she wouldn't worry.