Clover Kingdom
Common Realm
Nean
He was never listening to Magna ever again. Why did he possibly think this date was a good idea?
"I'm never listening to Master Fanzell ever again," said Zora's date for the evening. Mariella, the former assassin from the Diamond Kingdom, had graciously agreed to do Zora's experiment in dating. They had worked together previously and got along well. They were at a restaurant in the town of Nean, recommended by Finral, and eating a too bland dinner while sitting across from each other in near silence. Mariella wasn't a talkative person, and Zora wasn't either.
It had been a week since Zora figured out his feelings for Kirsch and it made Zora antsier than he liked to admit to anyone.
The date wasn't terrible per say, but it topped Zora's list of awkward moments he'd rather never live through again. He was dressed in a nice outfit that Vanessa had bought for him as a gift that he never wore before and Mariella was in a pretty dress that she definitely borrowed from Dominante.
"This was a bad idea," said Zora, sighing.
"Why did you agree to it," asked Mariella, curious.
"Because I spent all my time rooting out corrupt Magic Knights and training, I'm unprepared when there's someone that wants to have a relationship with me," said Zora. "I just want to make sure that I'm not imagining feelings."
"Oh, I understand," said Mariella. "I, too, have a difficult time processing emotions and feelings due to my training as an assassin. But I think that you're so worried about this person's heart that it should tell you right away your answer to whatever you're looking for, Zora."
Zora stared at her. "No wonder Asta thinks highly of you. You're pretty quick."
"I only came on this date because Master Fanzell and Miss Dominante seemed so happy, like parents," said Mariella, flushing red.
"We're both messes, aren't we?"
Mariella smirked. "Also, we got an Asta-brand lecture on friendship and teamwork."
Zora snickered. "Don't remind me."
Clover Kingdom
Noble Realm
Coral Peacocks Headquarters
DREAM WORLD
Kirsch knew he was in Captain Dorothy's dream-scape when he saw floating chairs. He must have fallen asleep at his desk again, stressing over the fact that his fiancée had sent him a schedule for dates and the influx of missions that he, himself, would have to attend to some of them. It didn't help that it was hard to sleep at night, because his pining for Zora took to whole new levels since their kiss.
"Kirsch, I sensed your distress, what can I do to help," asked Captain Dorothy, appearing before him seating a cushioned chair. A chair pulled up behind Kirsch and forced him to sit down and a table with the fixings for a tea party appeared before them. "Tell Big Sis what's up?"
"Captain," said Kirsch, "how's your rest?"
"Fine, don't chance the subject," replied Captain Dorothy, with a big smile.
Kirsch grimaced. "Zora's on my mind more lately."
"Since the kiss," his beloved Captain interjected. His face must have shown something, because then Captain Dorothy said, "I found out from Levi. But continue."
"My pining has gotten out of hand, especially since I met my fiancée and she's awful. She's trying to bend me to her will, as if I'm her toy," he complained. "She sent me a schedule, not even a letter, with all the events she wants me to go to with her. I'm a Magic Knight Vice-Captain, does she think that I have time for parties and academic events? There's been a rise in missions that require the squads' attention." Kirsch launched into the story, telling her about his first meeting with Prudence Esmond, as Captain Dorothy listened.
When he was finished ranting, Captain Dorothy made herself a cup of tea and took a sip. "Kirsch, may I be blunt with you?"
"Captain, when have you not?"
She nodded her head, "Good point. So, why do you have to marry this woman, then? What's the worst that can happen if you don't? It's clear that you won't be happy. She's obviously looking for someone that she can control. That person can't be you because you're not a weak, easily controlled person."
"Captain, how much do you know about marriage politics," Kirsch asked.
"Lord Julius gave me the basics, but I'm afraid that he was more concerned with teaching me about other matters," said Captain Dorothy.
Kirsch frowned. "Royals and Nobles are not their own person. My parents were a last-minute betrothal. Look at the situation with Finral, Langris, and Lady Finesse. Do you remember when I told you about the courier missions Zora and I went on a few years ago, where we learned that Mimosa's hand in marriage was being used as a bargaining chip?"
"I recall that seeing Zora protective of Mimosa put him in your good books," said Captain Dorothy.
"Well, when I went to talk to Uncle Aldebrand after it, while Zora did the mission paperwork," said Kirsch. He sighed. "Uncle was very apologetic about it, but we were in a bind. Grandfather Maximillian had previously made deals with two noble families—the Esmond and the Pike. The Esmond run a town in the Noble Realm, while the Pike run Windlass Town. And this is where the trouble started."
"What kind of deals?"
"Mainly for the Esmond and Pike families' unwavering support of the Vermillion in Magic Parliament," said Kirsch. "In turn, the two noble families would get advantageous marriages by marrying into our House."
Captain Dorothy had a pinched look on her face. "I don't like where this was going."
"Originally, Captain Mereoleona was supposed to marry the now-current head of the Pike Family," said Kirsch, shrugging. "But you know my cousin…so when that fell through Cousin Fuegoleon was supposed to marry the youngest sister of Lord Cornelius Esmond."
"Oh, I know this part," said Dorothy. She was very aware of the story concerning Fuegoleon's betrothal—how he fought against it in order to marry Sal, which almost destroyed both their Magic Knight careers in the process and caused Fuegoleon's standing among the royals to fall.
"At the moment, Leopold is engaged to marry the oldest daughter of Lord Pike," said Kirsch. "And Mimosa was going to be betrothed to the oldest son of Lord Pike, as a result of my two older cousins saying no. This was what my Uncle told me. I couldn't do anything to get Leo out of it, but I wasn't letting Mimosa marry anyone unless it was the person she loved and who loved her in return. So I agreed to the engagement with Lady Prudence, if only for Mimosa."
"You just didn't plan on falling in love with Zora," said Captain Dorothy, giving him a soft look. "And knowing Leopold, that engagement won't last either. And what about Lady Tarian's sons, the twins?"
"Nat and Theo? Hah, that's a joke, right, Captain," laughed Kirsch. "Nat isn't interested in anyone and Theo is only interested in men. And they aren't exactly the type to settle down."
"So, what? It's up to you then? To be miserable," asked Captain Dorothy, displeased. "They shouldn't be making you honor a dead old man's deal."
"Except in the past years, the Esmond and Pike families have become loud voices in the noble class and the Vermillion are on shaky standing with Kira Clover and the majority of other nobles. And the Silva is no place to help since Cousin Nozel took it over," said Kirsch, sighing. "Magic Parliament is much more cutthroat than you think."
"Kirsch," said Captain Dorothy, tensely, "are you gonna try to make things work with this Prudence woman?"
"No one is all bad," said Kirsch, sighing again. "I think I have to try."
"What about Zora?"
Kirsch closed his eyes and said, "I wonder if this is how Cousin Fuegoleon felt when he realized that he'd couldn't be with Sal, because it sucks."
"Except Fuegoleon fought for his love," said Captain Dorothy, sternly. "Doesn't your love for Zora deserve the same consideration?"
"Of course it does," said Kirsch, immediately getting a bit irritated. "But the fact remains that Zora thinks of me as a friend. I won't force my feelings on him. And so, it's okay if I get married for the sake of my family."
Captain Dorothy rubbed her eyes and said, "Kirsch, you're the most stubborn brat among a family of the most stubborn people in the Kingdom."
"Captain…" He couldn't argue her point.
"And it's not a compliment. You Vermillion drive me up the wall sometimes!" With that, Captain Dorothy disappeared and left Kirsch to his dreams.
Clover Kingdom
Forsaken Realm
Black Bulls' Headquarters
"Are you sure it's okay that I didn't take you back home," asked Zora, as they flew down from their brooms to the surrounding area around the Black Bulls base. Mariella insisted she take him home, since she needed to go in that direction anyway for something she was working on for Sal Vermillion. Zora agreed.
"Yeah," said Mariella. As they walked the short distance to Zora's home from where they landed, she continued, "And I wanted to give you some advice."
"Oh," asked Zora, raising an eyebrow at her.
"I think you should ask that person out on a date. I'm sure you'll have a much better time with that person than with me," stated Mariella. "Put all your feelings out there and see what happens."
"Yeah, you're probably right," replied Zora. "Good night, don't die."
"Same to you," said Mariella before she flew back off into the sky on her broom. Zora waved goodbye at her and once she was out of his line of sight, he entered his house. He was immediately pounced on by Finral and Magna.
"How'd it go?"
"Did it work?"
"Get off," said Zora, shrugging his two friends off of him. "I'm tired and going to bed." He rushed off to get upstairs to his room, before they asked more questions. Because Zora knew the answer to his jumbled feelings.
Zora was gonna ask Kirsch out on a date and then confess and hope that Kirsch would still accept him.
And then, maybe, Kirsch won't get married and leave him.
Clover Kingdom
Noble Realm
Coral Peacocks Headquarters
Office of Vice-Captain Kirsch Vermillion
Kirsch woke up, face down on his desk. He did fall asleep in his office again. He sighed and sat back up from his weird position as his back made creaking and cracking noises. His neck hurt too. His paperwork was still on the desk. Sometimes, he wanted it to magically get done without him having to do it.
He looked at the schedule of events his fiancée sent him, and then the list of missions that needed to be done. While he was still engaged and having only met his fiancée once, Kirsch decided that he was going to make an effort. So, he pulled out a stationary paper and an envelope. He addressed it to Lady Prudence's office at the University. He wrote a quick note to her.
"Professor Esmond,
Next time you want to ask me to come with you to an event, do so by actually asking me and not by sending me a schedule as if I'm your servant.
I have much work to do as Vice-Captain and missions need to be completed, so I cannot attend any events but the one tomorrow. If this is acceptable to your ridiculously high standards, then I will attend and I will wear my normal Magic Knight clothes, as I might be needed ASAP by my squad.
Regards,
Lord Vice-Captain Kirsch Vermillion
P.S. – Perhaps, you should worry about your academic endeavors, like teaching and writing papers, instead of spending all your time brown-nosing and attending parties."
Kirsch nodded at what he wrote. She thought she was going to break him, but she had another thing coming. Kirsch became a Vice-Captain for a reason, after all. He folded the note and got it ready to be sent out.
He sighed, and he was highly tempted to write a letter to Zora, as they hadn't spoken to each other since they returned to Grimmtowne. But he wanted to give Zora space and not be so intrusive. Zora would come to talk to him when he was ready and by then, Kirsch was sure that he'd be over the kiss. Hopefully. Maybe. Probably not. But Kirsch should be able to be composed around Zora.
"Vice-Captain! Captain Dorothy started a bubble attack again," screeched someone who slammed open the door to his office. "And it's the peppermint bubbles of doom again!"
"Coming!"
There was no time to waste, work needed to be done.
~to be continued
Notes:
More chapters coming soon!