AN: No beta we die like hilichurls


Noelle, Maid of the Knights of Favonius was a very simple person to understand. Her actions were simple. Her actions were easy to comprehend. She was simply a very simple person.

Day in, and day out.

Night come, and nightfall.

From dusk, till dawn.

"No! Not anymore!" with sudden enthusiasm, Noelle woke right up.

◤Maestra?! Is something the matter?◢

"Oh, sorry, Cookie." She'd startled Cookie. 'Good going, me.'

◤I see. Is something bothering Maestra?◢

"No. It's just something I wanted to do since it's the new year now." Noelle stood up from her bed. She began her morning routine. Which essentially boiled down to a few core components except for the rare times that someone would knock on her door as she was getting ready.

Most times, it was Ellin. Wait, no, that was wrong. It was always Ellin.

As she did, she supposed there was no harm in having a conversation while doing so.

"Have you ever heard of a New Year's Resolution, Cookie?"

◤Please hold as I check my database… No. I do not think I have thought to think of the term before, Maestra Noelle. Should I go and find what it pertains to?◢

Noelle shook her head. "No need. I can tell you what it means just fine."

◤Please. Cookie would like to know, Maestra Noelle.◢

"A New Year's Resolution, from what I've heard and what I can understand about it, is a little wish or expectation you set for yourself for the new year to accomplish it within the given year."

◤A wish or expectation?◢

"Yes. It can range from anything like… wishing to get taller, or wishing to learn a certain skill within the year, to something like wishing to be able to fly."

◤That's a rather steep jump in intensity.◢

"It is, isn't it?" she let out a chuckle. "But that's the best part. Your resolution is only limited by what you think you can do. It's something you're not doing for anyone else for yourself."

No one was expecting you to do something you set for yourself, yet there was. Someone was expecting you to do something that you set for yourself. And that was none other than you.

Without telling anyone else, anything that Noelle set herself to do, the only one expecting her to go through with it would be one other than Noelle, herself.

◤I would guess that Maestra Noelle was a resolution of herself? Seeing as she's talking about it rather animatedly.◢

Fully dressed and ready for a hard day's work, Noelle froze. Her cheeks grew flushed as she scratched her cheek with a finger and smiled sheepishly.

"I suppose I was passionate about the subject, was I?"

◤Indeed. But, Cookie doesn't think that's a bad thing.◢ Cookie reassured her. ◤Though, I do wish to ask. What is Maestra Noelle's New Year's Resolution?◢

Noelle shrugged. "I can't tell you. I don't have one yet."

Cookie nodded. ◤I see. I suppose it was rather presumptuous of me to assume that Noelle had one.◢

"I wouldn't blame you at all. But, I guess that means I need to start looking for one, before the year goes by fast."

Cookie opened the door for the both of them as Noelle went out of the door first.

◤Whatever happens, Maestra Noelle, please do not hesitate to call upon me should you require any assistance at all. All of my capabilities are at your service.◢


"Something in your mind, Noelle?" Bruce called out.

Noelle shook her head. "Nothing. Why?"

"No, there is something. You've been staring at that cup of coffee like it decided that the moon was made of cheese and it just took a bite."

Hertha looked at the knight weirdly. "That's an oddly specific comparison."

Bruce shrugged. "It is what it is. Unless, Noelle wants coffee."

"If I said yes, would you give me coffee?"

"No." More than one voice had replied.

Noelle pouted. "See? So there's no way I would've wanted the coffee."

"Good. Because there's no way we're dealing with Coffee Fueled Noelle again. You'll stick to tea." Huffman took a sip of his own coffee as he spoke.

"Was I really that bad?"

"Well, I wouldn't really say it was bad."

"Yes."

Hertha and Bruce replied before they stared each other down.

"Don't be so mean to her!"

"I'm just telling her the truth."

"She can't handle the truth!"

Noelle put a hand up. "I'm not a child! I'm a big girl!"

Huffman sighed. He stood up, walked behind Hertha and Bruce and-

"Don't say I didn't warn you."

And thus, the fist of love was brought down upon its first two victims of the new year.

"Owie!"

"Goddamit, Huffman."

The two knights in question held their foreheads and rubbed them.

"We're not children!" they exclaimed.

"Then stop acting like one. The both of you." Huffman shook his head and sighed. "But

"It's the fist of love."

"The first one in the new year."

"Alright, who bet on the both of them being the first recipients of the fist of love?"

"Aw dammit, I only bet on Bruce."

"I bet on Hertha."

At the murmurs of the knights around them, Huffman sighed. "Children, the lot of you." he sat back down. "But, Noelle does have a point."

Noelle tilted her head. "Yes?"

"It's the new year. Three months later you'll be a year older. You are no longer a child. You're getting a little bit bigger, a little bit older, and a little bit wiser each day. It's only natural that we should gradually stop fretting over every little action Noelle does."

Noelle's eyes were shining. Was this it? Were they going to stop treating her like a little girl now? Were they going to stop with the head pats, and the teasing, and other things?

…Somehow, she didn't like that. But if that was the price to pay to be treated more seriously, then so be it!

"That said, that doesn't mean that we won't offer an ear, or a helping hand if need be. Am I understood?"

At Huffman's commanding tone. All of them at the table nodded. Even a few knights that were in earshot had done the same.

"Whatever you're thinking about, Noelle. I trust you to handle it. But, the moment you get stuck and require assistance, don't hesitate to ask for help from any of us." Huffman gave her hair a quick ruffle.

Noelle pouted, but she didn't mind. "Okay."

This was her family, after all. Shows of physical affection were something she had long gotten used to.

No matter how much she feigned disinterest.


"You're progressing well in your studies, Noelle." Rosaria tapped the whiteboard in front of her with a teaching stick. "We may very well make a real girl out of you."

"W-What is that supposed to mean?"

Grace patted the maid on the back. "What she means, is that you're doing well and she is proud of you."

"Don't put words in my mouth, Grace."

"Am I wrong, Rosaria?"

The pale sister clicked her tongue. Noelle's smile widened. "Thank you, Sister Rosaria! I never would've made it this far without your help."

"The fact that you even needed my help says a lot about you." Rosaria sigh, but she couldn't deny a small smile forming on her face. "In fact, I hear you've been turning down the other knights who… request assistance from you recently."

"I- Yes. I do feel bad about it, but when I think of the long-term effects of what my helping could do, it becomes less difficult." Noelle scratched her cheek. "Of course, some do take offense."

Grace and Rosaria's eyes narrowed. "Mmm, I see. And what happens then?"

"I… ignore them?" Noelle was uncertain. "Master Varka once told me, if I didn't have anything nice to say, it's better to smile and say nothing."

"Well, that's very nice of Master Varka." Grace ruffled her head. "Now, about these people who… don't take kindly to your refusal. I think I speak for the both of us when I say we're very interested in who they are, right, Rosaria?"

"Absolutely. Very interested."

"See? Now, would you say who they are, Noelle?"

Noelle sweatdropped as she nervously chuckled. She didn't know why, but she felt like she was in a lion's den, but she wasn't the one stuck in it.

The unfortunate soul that may or may not come out of her mouth would be the one in it. Stuck with two lionesses who dared harm their cub.

"I-I'm afraid the name has eluded me."

Sister Grace and Sister Rosaria both nodded their heads slowly. Way too slowly.

"I see. Then I guess I will have to ask around then. Care to help me, Grace?"

"I would love to, Rosaria. Though, I hear that the senior maids are remarkably chatty when it comes to gossip. Perhaps we can start with them first? Maybe even inform them of this… unfortunate situation."

"A capital idea, Grace."

It was futile. The two women were out for blood and Noelle couldn't stop them. She was confident in her strength, but even she knew never to jump in the middle of two storms.

Not to mention what the senior maids would do if they found out. She loved them, don't get her wrong. But they… well, they had an even bigger protective streak when it came to their juniors.

She still remembered when they would show up with banners to cheer for her when she participated in contests within the Knights of Favonius.

'They were so embarrassing!'

A hand on both of her shoulders snapped her out of her thoughts. Rosaria and Grace had put a hand on them respectively.

"It's alright, Noelle. We're just teasing." Grace gave her a warm smile.

"Really?"

Rosaria looked away. "Well, Mostly."

"Sister Rosaria!"

"Anyway, what we're trying to say is, feel free to tell us more about this, okay? Just so we know what's going on. It's a big change, after all. Considering you've essentially been nothing but a yes woman for most of the last year. But that's going to change this year, right?"

Noelle nodded resolutely. "Of course."

"Good. At least you're trying." Rosaria patted her shoulder before she let go. "Anything is better than being stuck at the church doing… church things. So you can bring me out of my misery by calling me out for anything in particular."

Grace shook her head and sighed. "Although I don't agree with the first half of what Rosaria said, the latter still proves true."

Noelle smiled at both of them as she held both of their hands in hers.

"Never be afraid to ask for help, okay?"

Noelle nodded with a smile as she looked at the people she had long since considered as big sisters.

"Okay."