Vanessa was crying.

And Nozel hated when she cried. Even more when he had no idea why.

She had landed on his balcony late this evening, teary eyes and shaking. It had worried him. Vanessa was normally joyful, more optimistic than him. But now…

Nozel had asked what was hurting her, but Vanessa didn't answer. She just asked him to hold her. And he did. He wasn't really good at comforting people, but Vanessa loved hugs and at least this was something he was able to do.

If only he could help her better. She was always there for him when he was feeling down, guilty. Nozel wanted to do the same for Vanessa. But what else could he do when she wasn't telling him what made her cry?

Now they were lying on his bed, she had her face against his chest while his arms were tightly around her. Vanessa calmed down a bit, but she was still sobbing. Nozel put a soft kiss on the crown of her head.

"What is wrong, my beloved?" he finally asked her, as even her sobs became rarer. Nozel didn't usually called her by a nickname. That was way more Vanessas speciality. But he would do it on some occasions. To show her that he's happy, for example. Or that he cared for her, like in this very occasion.

"It's… it's stupid, really. You may find me pathetic," Vanessa whispered, her face still against his chest.

"I would never," he whispered back, caressing her hair. Why would he find her pathetic? He was long passed that and for Heaven's sake, he loved her too much to actually care if she would happen to be pathetic on occasion. Well, maybe he biased towards Vanessa at this point, but this was only a detail.

"Well… I had a mission today with Gordon and two other knights from the Golden Dawn. An escort mission… For noble ladies…"

Nozel nodded slowly. He could already imagine where this will go. His hold on her tightened.

"Not much, they wanted an escort from their manor to Raque. I have no idea why they wanted an escort for such a small journey, but a lady pretended it was for her younger daughter, who's health is apparently very fragile."

"Let me guess… those were nobles of house Vitrail."

"Yes. How did you find out?"

Vanessa looked up to him, forgetting for a second her teary eyes, before looking down again.

"It is apparently common knowledge within nobility. Lady Rosette, the second daughter of the Head of house Vitrail, is very well known to be not very healthy. The lady who told you that is probably lady Cristal, her mother. She never misses an occasion to talk about her younger daughters poor health… when it isn't about her perfect older daughter."

Just the thought of lady Athénaïs gave Nozel a sick feeling. Not only because this lady was considered by too many people a perfect match for him, a young royal Head of House and there was no day passing without her parents sending him at least two marriage proposals for her. Because apparently, not every royal would be good enough for her and he was one of the rare ones who would be.

But the thought also made him sick because he could more and more imagine where this conversation was going. Athénaïs was as arrogant and self-centred as she was beautiful and intelligent. She knew which words to use to make a very sure person fall into self-doubt and to the destroy the reputation of someone, without even sounding mean. She had her own opinions about the places of peasants, commoners, witches and even persons from low or medium nobility. Worst of all, her high opinion of herself was also a weapon to crush hopes of mostly naïve and young ladies, who were either of romantic nature or having a crush on someone, in rare cases maybe even in love.

Nozel knew that Vanessa wasn't someone who would let words get to her that easily, she was stronger than that. But with what he knew of Athénaïs Vitrail, he feared that something actually hurt her. And he couldn't allow that, Vanessa deserved nothing of this!

"I see," Vanessa replied to his previous statement. "That must be this girl who stayed in the carriage. She looked very frail and pale… She was actually the only really nice noble there. I'm… I'm not crying because of her."

"It was her older sister, then."

"Yes… how did you find out?"

"I just joined the dots. I know the image Athénaïs gives of herself within royalty and nobility. But I also know that deep down, she is a horrible person. I'm sorry that she said something that hurt you."

"It's not your fault, Nozel. You weren't there… You're not… Well… You're not what she thinks you are."

"Please, Vanessa. Tell me what happened."

"I told you, it's… stupid. I shouldn't have let her words come through me."

"But it did happened and I surely won't blame you for that. Remember how horrible I was feeling on the birthday of my late mother? It was stupid too, in a way. But you were there for me."

Nozel sighed, but continued before Vanessa could protest, "Let me be here for you as well, Vanessa. Once you told that we should take care of each other, comforting each other. I'm not good at that, but I will still try and do it for those I care about. And you're one of them."

Vanessa just looked at him and Nozel tried to not look away, sitting up with her. He felt flustered after that speech, even though he meant every word of it. He just wasn't used to those kind of things. But maybe with time, with her at his side…

There was surprise in her eyes, mixed with gratitude, sadness and happiness. Nozel slowly put a hand on her cheek and she leaned into the touch.

She was such a beautiful soul. Caring for others, being there for them, sometimes even forgetting herself. That last part in particular reminded him a bit of himself. Nozel didn't realized at first and still today, he was surprised about the subtle similarities they shared, despite their complete opposite ways to deal with many things.

"Well… It's true, Athénaïs told me things that really hurt me. At the start, I actually liked her, because she took care of her unhealthy sister, always looking if she was alright."

Nozel nodded slowly. He didn't know if taking care of her younger sister was Athénaïs' only redeeming quality or if it just was a strategic way to give a good image of herself.

"But… at one moment, during the trip… we ended up alone. I don't really remember why. And… she took a look at me… it was like she was judging me and I didn't like that. But I was used for nobles to judge me quickly, so I said nothing. But… then… she asked me if I'm in love."

Vanessa let out a tiny sob and Nozel already felt the urge to hug her again.

"I found the question strange and it made me feel… I don't know, odd maybe? So, I just said yes… I didn't mention that I have a boyfriend and of course, I never said it's you. And then… she looked at me with… pity? I don't know, it didn't looked genuine, so I don't know if it really was pity."

It wasn't.

Nozel took her hands in his.

"So… she said things about love… that it was the only privilege non-noble people could have, but that it was, well… still rather foolish to marry out of love. Because apparently, once the feeling is gone, we're stick with a person we only respect at best and that soon adultery affairs would start. That it was better for non-noble people as well to marry so that they would gain more land for their farm for example… Well, she said that with such compassion and explained that this is why nobles usually never marry out of love, that I have no idea what to respond."

Vanessa looked down, sighing. "I asked who she wanted to marry, if not for love. Well… is it true that her house has a high reputation from marrying a lot into the royal families in the past?"

"Yes."

"So it wasn't bluff… well, she… she apparently considers herself… the perfect match… for a royal… especially for you," Vanessa continued and it broke Nozels heart to hear her sobbing again. "First I was angry, because she clearly only saw you as a prize, which she thinks she deserves more than anyone. I hated it so much! I even told her that you're more than just that. She said yes and I thought… I don't know what I thought exactly, maybe that she would say something positive about you. But then, she had rather harsh words, not really against you but against the way you lead your house. She said that you took some dumb decisions… it was basically the same things that old fart from House Vermillion judges you own, only that she… excuses you a bit because you became Head of House with fifteen… that was the only point I couldn't disagree with her, honestly and it made me sick to agree on something with her! But then… she said that you should have been married long ago and still do, that only a spouse would make take good decisions concerning your house… and of course, she… considers herself the perfect one for that."

"And I refuse to even consider her an option," Nozel whispered angrily before hugging Vanessa tightly. "She can't even hold a candle to you."

"I… I still let her words go through me. Because she then looked at me, claiming that she understood that I defend him, because you have a literal fan club in the kingdom."

Which was by far not as amazing as it sounded."

"And well, she told me that you won't ever notice me, because I'm a witch and you're a prince and because this would never happen in real life. She then went away and I… I'm so ashamed, Nozel! I compared myself to her and her beauty really made me insecure. And… I… asked myself if you didn't proposed already to me because I'm not good enough…"

Vanessa put her hands on her face as she started crying again, "I told you it was pathetic! I told you that freedom is important to me and we agreed to… wait… with that important step, because you know how royal laws and rules and such can be like a cage! You told me that you refuse to take my freedom away from me. We agreed to go step by step with every important step! And now, I'm here wondering why you haven't propose to me, comparing myself to a beautiful but bad woman and let her words get at me. But I was so angry how she view you, I…"

She cried again and Nozel just held her tightly against him. He wished that it could be enough to protect from those stupid but hurtful words, from the self-doubts, from… so many things. It wasn't enough, he knew that.

And still he wished for it.

"I don't blame you, Vanessa. Athénaïs is sadly talented to put words in a way so that they hurt other people. But you know me, better than she ever will."

He let her go a bit, so that he could see her in the eyes. In those beautiful, teary eyes. Nozel took in a breath. He knew what he wanted to say, he knew what he needed to say. It flustered him and he clearly wasn't used to say things like this. But he wouldn't back away.

"I love you, Vanessa. If I could, I would give the world. You're the one I want to grow old with. I would have propose to you many times already. But I know how much you love your freedom and I refuse to be the one to put you back in a cage. You know all that, we already talked about this. Our relationship is still young and well… marriage… isn't the priority, other steps come before that. But don't think that I didn't propose to you because you're good enough."

He take her face softly in his hands, leaning his forehead against hers. "You're more than good enough. You're perfect for me. I will propose to you, only if you want it and only when we're both ready."

"I… I'm not against it. Not with you, because you would never put me in a cage. Marriage out of love aren't cages, I believe. I… want to grow old with you as well, Nozel. I want it, I'm just… not ready. I want to learn and understand how your world works, I want to get over my fear. But I'm not there yet."

"I will never force you. Take all the time you need. We made it work so far, we will continue to make it work… This is what you told me at the beginning of our relationship."

"Yes."

They stayed like that for a while, before Nozel spoke up again, "Also, you have no need to compare yourself to Athénaïs. You're thousand times more beautiful than her."

"Don't you think you're a bit biased? After all, you're my boyfriend…"

"I was also talking about your inner beauty, my beloved."

He felt his cheeks getting red and saw her blushing as well. Still, he felt happy and relieved as a soft smile appeared on her lips. She was starting to feel better…

"I really hated how she talked about you…"

"Don't be. I'm used to it, after all those years."

"You shouldn't be."

"I know."

They felt silent again. Not a heavy one, it was more comforting. Nozel wrapped his arms around Vanessa, pulling her softly against him, while she leaned her head on his shoulder.

"Feeling better?"

"I do… Really. But isn't it stupid that let her words hurt me?"

"No, Vanessa. We all have moments like this. Moments of self-doubt, when insulting words, even the most subtle ones, can pierce our hearts. We just have to know that we aren't alone, that there are people we can go to, for comfort, for a shoulder to cry on. It usually goes better after a good cry."

"This sounds familiar, in a way."

"I'm sure of it. Normally, you tell me things like this and we both know that I need speeches like this."

Vanessa giggled softly, which Nozel could definitely consider as a victory. His lips brushed her temple, lingering over her silky skin."

"I never cared about it in the past."

"What do you mean?"

"What nobles think about me. About my status and my background. I never cared that I'm just the Drunken Witch in their eyes. I had the Black Bulls, I enjoyed my life. But since you became such an important part of my life, I began to care… I didn't understood immediately, but… now that I think about it, it's maybe because you're important for me. Our relationship, what the future awaits for us. It's surely this."

Nozel swelled with love and pride at those words. She was important to him too, their bond was today one of his biggest treasures.

He didn't care about what others thought of them. Or, he didn't care enough to let it lead his decisions. Even though he knew what consequences rumours could have, opinions and prejudice within nobility were far more important than they should be.

But Vanessa was worth it to stand strong against this unfairness. Even more than worth it. And he would do anything to protect and help her. He was ready to fight for her and he would.

"Does it confirm somehow how serious it is between us?" Vanessa asked, looking up at him. Nozel just smiled at her, caressing her cheek.

"I believe so."

Vanessa smiled. A soft smile, but it was the proof that she was really getting better. Nozel didn't know if his comforting was good at all, but it visibly helped her. Nothing else mattered to him right now.

"I'm… I'm actually happy that I immediately came to you, instead of worrying and doubting all alone. I just… needed you at my side, to confirm that this is the real you, not what that… woman pretended."

"If you ask me, this proves that you have a strong spirit. I think most people would have let those words get even more through them. Not you. You came and you told me what was the matter. Thank you."

"What for?"

"For trusting me. It really makes me happy."

"You trust me too, otherwise you wouldn't show your sad and vulnerable side in front of me… Thank you Nozel, for being there, for me."

Nozel smiled as leaned down his head to kiss her. Just softly, but it was enough to leave an immense fire in him. Vanessa gave in, one hand in his unkempt hair.

This kiss only lead to another one. Soft again, but it soon became more heated. It might lasted long but Nozel couldn't tell. When Vanessa and him finally parted, he was on his back, with her over him, gorgeously smiling at him while running a finger on his nose. It wasn't much, but that vision of her made his heartbeat increased heavily.

"Athénaïs Vitrail clearly doesn't deserve you. You're thousand times too good for her," she said with a smirk, before kissing his nose.

Nozel just chuckled. "Why should I even think about her?" He rolled them both over, making Vanessa yelp. "I have the most wonderful woman of the Clover Kingdom in my arms right now."

He didn't even wait for an answer from her, as he directly went for her lips again.

"I hope I will never work for Athénaïs and the women of her house ever again," Vanessa sighed as they parted. "Except maybe her poor unhealthy sister. But how in the world can she be considered a perfect match for a royal when she is obviously lacking kindness and respect?"

"No idea," Nozel replied as he kissed her temple. "And honestly, I don't even care about the reasons. They're probably stupid."

"You're right. I don't feel sad about her words anymore, thankfully. But I'm still angry at her. How can she talk about you like that?"

"I guess that no one ever put her in her place. Since you're this upset about her, how about I let you rip or throw in the fire any marriage proposals about her I surely will get tomorrow?"

"You mean… I can do whatever I want with those?"

"With my blessing."

"Thank you so much, honey!"

She rolled on top of him, laughing breathlessly and she kissed him senseless.

Nozel kissed her back, happy that Vanessa was now feeling better. Yes, he would be there for her, just as she was there for him. That was the kind of relationship they had.