"I have more than enough of your excuses, Samuel."

"But, captain Nozel-"

"What did I just say? Stop with your pitiful excuses. We both know that none of them are even true."

Samuel Évantail tried to talk again, but Nozel just glared at his knight, making him close his mouth again. Good, not only would he have said something terribly stupid, but he also had a terrible, screeching voice, making your ears bleed. Nozel refused to listen to him more than necessary.

"You have no right to protest that you didn't got a star on the last mission. Do you really think I haven't read the rapport Rob Vitesse and Alysanne Dragonstone wrote about it? Do you really think I wouldn't listen to Julia Ambrosia about her complaints?"

"But that old lady is senile, she should have retired a long time ago, she doesn't think-"

"Julia Ambrosia has one of the best and straight-up spirits in this squad, despite her old age. It was her choice to not retire and given the energy she still has, it is clearly not a loss for the squad. Besides, you should show more respect to the elderly. Don't you dare think I haven't heard about how you insulted Curtis Warren two days ago?"

"It was his fault, he-"

"You tried to force your chore duty on him, despite him being of a far higher rank than you."

"But he's from low nobility!"

"Curtis Warren is still a noble and he's acting with more nobility than you by miles. Do you think I forgot how badly you talked about the Wizard King when his current form became public knowledge? And just after he thanked every squad for the help they gave to the civilians in the Forsaken Realm."

Samuel looked down in shame. He was arrogant, yes, but even he knew that insulting the current Wizard King was something all squad captains and almost every Magic Knight wouldn't tolerate. Even the majority of the nobles would think twice before talking ill of Julius Novachrono.

"Back on that mission," Nozel continued coldly. "Rob Vitesse, Alysanne Dragonstone and Julia Ambrosia pointed out that you took a toilet break during most of the mission and that you only came back when everything was over. Not even barely, you had no action taken during this mission, why do you think you would deserve a star?"

Samuel looked like he wanted to reply, but of course, with what Nozel just said, he didn't had any counter argument.

Which didn't meant he wouldn't still try, sadly.

"You should be ashamed," Nozel said in a colder tone. "Do you really think you can call yourself a knight when you just wearing the robe of your squad? A robe means nothing if you don't act like a knight. Protecting the kingdom and his inhabitants is a knightly duty and it takes many forms. Even helping people who are commoners or peasants. We Magic Knights often failed them in the past, as I witnessed it myself. And before you say something stupid again, commoners and peasants are also essential to the kingdom. With this mission, you had also the opportunity to learn it directly and you didn't took it. This is on you alone."

Samuel bit his under lip, clearly holding back to say something. Nozel knew that it wasn't because he was ashamed and regretted what he did. No, like most Évantails, Samuel was too blinded by noble rank to care about anything that would go against his arrogance.

And he was stubborn. Nozel knew that there was no way he could make Samuel understood where he did fail. But not scolding him would be wrong. Samuel might have only be accepted as a Silver Eagle because of the centuries old agreement the squad had with house Évantail, but that shouldn't be an excuse to let him pass with his intolerable behaviour.

"Did you also felt unnecessarily insulted because your half-sister was also sent on this mission? Samuel, after being part of the Silver Eagles, of a Magic Knight squad, for six years, you should have learned that it is also necessary to team up with people you don't hold in your heart, for the sake of the kingdom. Putting your pride aside won't kill you. Besides, unlike you, Grenadine took the mission seriously and got rewarded with a star."

"She is a shame!"

"To house Évantail maybe, but not to the Silver Eagles."

"No, she is also a shame for the squad! It was a mistake of you to even accept her as a Silver Eagle."

Oh, now Samuel was concerned about the squads reputation?

Nozel closed his eyes, trying to not get affected by this pity accusation. He was used to it, after all. Since more than seventeen years, he was used to so-called critics and accusations, to a point that he couldn't even recognize if it was ill-intended or actually to help him.

In appearance, he had the reputation of being a perfect royal, of being a perfect royal Head of House. But behind that golden curtain, the truth was something entirely different.

Even when he didn't took other people than nobles and royals in the Silver Eagles, so many people already had critics about him. Whatever he did, it was never good enough for nobles, for most royals and his father always used his so-called failures for his own goal, whatever this was.

But now, with Grenadine, he made a really bold move, which made the offences clear instead of subtle. Of course so nobles felt for some reason personally insulted that he took a noble bastard daughter in his squad. Nozel admitted that he wasn't the most open-minded royal, but he respected strengths, even from people outside his class. The Black Bulls magicless peasant proved himself very quickly and even rival worthy. In fact, all the Black Bulls were strong in their own ways. Especially Noelle, who bloomed in this squad who never cared about her past reputation. And Vanessa, of course… Even though her strength wasn't only due to her magic, of that he was certain.

Grenadine was like that as well. She might be a bastard, but no Évantail was able to wield and control fan magic like she did. She was clever with her magic and never let her bastard status hold her back.

Considering the captains, Yami, Jack and Dorothy were also examples. A foreigner, a commoner, a witch and yet, each one of them had unique magics and were strong in their ways of using it. In some cases, it was hard for Nozel to recognize strengths of others, but he still did, because it was better for the kingdom to work together than to cling on arrogance.

And when he saw how most nobles still clinged on their status and privileges, Nozel decided that it was actually much easier to swallow his pride.

"You shouldn't question my decisions that easily, Samuel. If you can't continue in this squad, we could of course transfer you to another one. Although I highly doubt that you would be happy in any squad, since none of the other captains think that bastards are unworthy to be one of their knights."

"I just thought, that… you took some liberal decisions considering the squad," Samuel replied and immediately put his nose high in a snob attitude.

Liberal… For most nobles and royals, this was considered the biggest insult. And Nozel wasn't known to be the most open-minded, so Samuel obviously hoped to have hit a hurtful point.

But Nozel didn't care about so-called critics against himself. If someone wanted to hurt him, his mother had to be involved somehow or his siblings, his Vermillion aunt and cousins, his rival, most of his knights. Vanessa as well, at this point, even though he still didn't quite know why.

Why was he thinking so much about Vanessa?

"The squad comes before my own preferences. If a liberal decision is more beneficial than a traditional one for the Silver Eagles, of course I take the liberal one."

"Don't you have any pride anymore?"

"You can still leave the Silver Eagles, if you can't take it to be commanded by a liberal captain. With how you are now, it won't be a big loss the squad. So, if you don't want to leave, you better get a grip of yourself."

"You can't throw me out, the Silver Eagles have a contract with my house!"

"And when did I say that I will throw you out?"

It was sadly true, he couldn't throw Samuel out because of that agreement between the Silver Eagles and house Évantail. If only he could at least exchange Samuel for another Évantail. But most members of this house were such a pain, so Nozel highly doubted that he could exchange one horrible knight for another horrible knight.

Samuel was about to reply when there was a knock on the door.

"Come in."

Grenadine entered, a bunch of envelopes in her hands. Samuels eyes hardened as he saw his bastard half-sister. Nozel sometimes wondered why he never blamed his father, Cygnus Silva, for having conceived a bastard daughter. Then again, it was almost like a golden rule within nobility to always blame the bastards for their existence and never their noble fathers.

Another reason why Nozel hated adultery.

But it was actually pretty obvious that Samuel and Grenadine were half-siblings. Like any Évantail, they both had delicate, angelic traits, an elegant frame which gave each of them naturally elegant gestures and of course, the typical turquoise coloured eyes. But while the Évantails had either cold or pastel hair colours – Samuels had baby blue hair – Grenadines hair colour was a dark, strong red. Not to mention that her eyes were always brightening. Most Évantails Nozel knew made the turquoise of their eyes dull with their arrogance, which was honestly impressive for such a vibrant colour.

"What are you doing here?" Samuel asked, not hiding his disgust.

Grenadine didn't answered, she only went to Nozel and handled him the envelopes over. "Some evening letters for you, vice-captain Agatha told me to give them to you, but she doesn't think it's anything urgent for now."

"Oh, now you're bootlicking the vice-captain too? Must be easy, she is just from low nobility."

Both Nozel and Grenadine turned towards him with such a cold glare that Samuel actually got a bit scared.

"I'm not bootlicking and it's not my fault that YOU can't bootlick anyone in the Silver Eagles, dear brother."

"Samuel, have you already forgotten the talk we just had? I won't tolerate how you talk about my vice-captain. Sure, Agatha Austen might not be from high nobility like you, but she's done more to the squad than you ever did. Why do you think I have chosen her as my vice-captain? Now leave and think about your attitude. Because if you continue, I will report to the Wizard King. And trust me, you being from high nobility and house Évantail won't help you in this case."

Samuel looked like he was about to explode, but thankfully, he was clever enough to not reply. He just run out of the captains office and slammed the door behind him. Which wasn't very suited for a noble, ironically.

"With all due respect, captain Nozel, I don't think Samuel will question his behaviour. He's a lot like… our father."

"I know. I will need to report him to the Wizard King soon. You can leave now, Grenadine, good evening."

"Good evening, captain Nozel."

Grenadine was about to open the door, before she actually stopped and turned again.

"Um, captain Nozel?"

"What is it?"

"I just… wanted to thank you for giving me a chance. I think you're the best squad captain in the Clover kingdom."

Nozel was taken aback by this compliment. It was so unusual. Even more, it was normal that he gave Grenadine a chance, she proved herself very well at the entrance exam and never stopped since she joined his squad.

But it seems to mean a lot to her.

Nozel had no idea how take compliments, so he just nodded. Grenadine wished him a good evening again and left the office.

What was with the compliments, lately? First Vanessa who never stopped those with her flirty nature. And now, Grenadine thanking him for that chance he gave her and saying he's the best squad captain in her books. That was not like the fake compliments nobles would gave him on balls and receptions, Vanessa and Grenadine were more genuine. Something he wasn't used too since…

Well, he better look through the letters before he'll take his evening. He would have loved meeting with Vanessa again, but she had a mission with some her squadmates today in a dungeon, which meant she would need rest once she returned.

Somehow, it made Nozel sad. He enjoyed her company, it was soothing for his soul. He knew he didn't deserved her kindness, but once it was with her, that thought didn't seemed important anymore.

Why did Vanessa had such an effect on him? She was just being nice and surprisingly enjoying his company as well, it seems. Which he didn't understood, but it didn't seemed that important.

She even loved the sewing box he got her a few days ago. In fact, Vanessa was enthusiastic about it and she lately told him she already started to use it for a special project. She winked at him while telling him this and Nozel didn't know what she should think about it. But Vanessa was happy, this was the most important.

Back on the letters, Nozel admitted that Agatha had been right. There was nothing urgent, which meant he could go home earlier than usually today. A perspective that didn't appealed to him, since he wouldn't see Vanessa today.

Why was he immediately thinking about her again?

As he reached the last letter of the pile, Nozel froze. He recognized the seal. He recognized the handwriting. He even recognize that high-quality paper with the branded initials on it, L.S. on the left upper corner.

His father wrote him.

Nozel felt anger and fear dangerously mixing up within him. How bold of his father to write him directly at the Silver Eagles headquarters after leaving him and his siblings alone in their time of need and always trying to put him down in order to go higher.

How dare he write him after years of ignorance, disgusts and attempted manipulation? How dare try to get contact again after he put him down during the few times he visited after his wife died? How dare he sent a letter after he didn't even appeared at his wife funeral?

Nozels hands were shaking while he was holding the letter. Remembering all the times his father ignored the affection and love his mother was giving him, using her position and her house for his own goal, whatever that was. Nozel couldn't forget how that man definitely broke his mother's heart that fateful day…

What did Lac Silva wanted from him? Nozel knew that it was something for himself, not for any of his children. Should he read the letter? Should he ignore it? No one could knew what that man was up too. Last hope of a house of low nobility, he abandon them and manipulated three royal house heads good enough to get a perfect marriage. Not to mention he managed to have perfect reputation within nobility, he was loved, considered perfect royal even though he wasn't born into royalty and even though he was now widowed.

Nozel hadn't heard from his father for so long. Seven years, maybe even ten? He didn't know. So, after all this time, what did Lac Silva wanted?

Slowly, he broke the seal and took a prudent look at the first lines.

Like always, fake kindness, apologizing that he couldn't be here, that he will stay in another country for longer due to his diplomatic skills. Nozel probably should stop before he came to the part where his father put him down with all his glorious subtility.

Suddenly, a word got his intention and made him froze even more.

Marriage.

Son, you can't stay a bachelor for the rest of your days, you even should have been married years ago. Given your incapacity to choose a bride, it's better that I…

Nozel didn't continue to read. He stood up, took the letter, ripped it in so many pieces that it couldn't be put back together again, throw it into his bin and left his office and his squad, all that in not even one minute.

As he flew back home, Nozel tried to calm down his anger.

He haven't thought about his duty of an arranged marriage lately. The bonding of his sisters, the still new peace the kingdom lived after Spade and Vanessa filling most of his rare free time… That uncomfortable thought didn't seemed that important anymore.

But now, with his father talking about it, even mentioning he would take this matter in his own hands… Nozel now hated that perspective even more.

He never liked it in the first place and it had been more for his siblings freedom on that matter than for the reputation of house Silva.

But now that his father talking about finding him a betrothed, Nozel loathed that perspective of an arranged marriage even more.

Lac Silva would choose a party who would not be beneficial for house Silva, but for himself. Nozel knew his father. If he let him decide over him like a marionette, Nozel would either get married to a noble lady from a house who owed a lot to his father or to a woman through which Lac Silva would get better control not only of house Silva, but maybe even more.

Nozel refused to be a chess piece. His father might be popular and have influence. But he wasn't head of house Silva. Nozel was. The decisions concerning the Silvas were his, it wasn't his father's political chess plate.

Besides, he was out of the country right now and enjoying the diplomatic missions the king gave him so much, he won't come back so soon. He said it himself once, years ago, to insult him and Nozel knew, his father was many things, but he never lied. In fact, Lac Silva used the truth to gain what he wanted and put others down. Especially his children.

Nozel hoped it endlessly. If he never saw his father again, it would be the best on many levels.

Oh, how he wished he could meet Vanessa right now. She always had that mysterious talent to somehow soothe his worries for a while, to make his problems smaller as long as she was with him.

But he couldn't allow himself to be selfish and wanting her presence every time. Vanessa also had a life outside of their meetings, the Black Bulls were like her family and as such, more important for her.

It hurt a bit, but he could live with that. He lived with that for more than seventeen years, since his mother died… It what he deserved, after all the wrongs he did.

At least, thinking about Vanessa was already enough to calm himself down a bit. How can she had that effect on him, even when she wasn't here?

When he arrived at the Silva palace, one of the head butlers told him that he got a package today, which looked mostly like a present, and the servants were so free to put it in his bedroom.

Nozel frowned. Why would he get something? His birthday wasn't until the end of the year and why would he of all people get something out of the blue? He did nothing that would deserve a spontaneous gift in return.

Still, he was curious. And he hoped it was nothing from his father. Every time that man gifted something, as rare as it was, it was mostly another tool for his own goal.

As Nozel entered his room, he immediately saw the present on his bed. It was covered with brown paper and there was a letter on top of it. The brown paper was already a proof that it wasn't a present from his father. Nozel sighed in relief.

He first took the letter. If he wanted to know who gave him a present and for what reason, this is where he needed to start.

Hello there, Stud!

Hope you had a good day today. Sorry I can't meet you, but it was a long mission and I need some rest. Which sucks, I hate it when I can't see you, you're one of the best company I know. But at least, I can send you this. Yep, handsome, it's a present for you! Made thanks to the amazing box you gifted me! I told you already, but I LOVE that box so much! And I thought you deserve a treat too. So, the first thing I made using the material in the box is for YOU! As thanks, for many things and because I love being with you. Hope you like it. I used silver threads for the embroidery, I haven't forget that you prefer silver over gold. But I used a fabric with darker colour, because you look so good with darker colours. I haven't forgotten how handsome you looked at Finrals wedding, in fact, it was my inspiration for this gift. Don't worry, I choose a colour that goes well with silver, but to be fair, I think any colours goes well with silver.

Your absolute favourite witch

Vanessa

Nozel couldn't help it, a small smile appeared on his lips. Vanessa was always so full of joy, even when she wrote letters. But he still couldn't forget that she could be sad and upset as well. Sometimes, he wondered if she just hide her sadness, ignoring it. Hopefully not, he knew first-hand how terrible this could feel. But unlike him, Vanessa didn't deserve that kind of terrible feeling.

He wanted to comfort her when she was sad.

Nozel frowned. Did that thought just came to it like that? As if it was only natural for him to comfort Vanessa…

Shaking his head to clear his mind, Nozel now focused on opening the package.

The first thing he felt was satin. High quality satin. One of the fabrics he gifted her along with the box?

It was indeed a piece of satin. Burgundy satin, with some silver embroidery representing vaguely branches and leaves with birds. But in the middle of those birds and leaves, there was something like an eagle and a cat, standing really close to each other.

This embroidery was really a work of art. None of the royal tailors were able to create something like this and Nozel doubted that even the ateliers of Soie Velours ever did managed such a magnificent embroidery on their creations.

Putting the piece right in front of him, Nozel realized that it was a one shoulder cape. A bit like the one he wore on his ceremonial suit at the royal wedding. But somehow much prettier. How did Vanessa remembered so well what he wore back then? Sure, they had danced together, but still.

Nozel wanted to try it, so he went out of his knight robe and tried the cape on.

How surprised he was to find out that it fit him perfectly. Also, burgundy suited him better than he thought. Red wasn't his usual colour, but this shade? It was perfect somehow. After all, it wasn't a Vermillion kind of red.

No, this shade reminded him of Vanessa.

Vanessa…

As he took his new cape off, Nozel couldn't help but bury his face in it. Somehow, he could smell Vanessas scent, the cheap but sweet rosewater she always used. As if she was right there with him…

Wait. Did he really just thought that? By smelling a one shoulder cape? Why did he smell it in the first place?

There it was again, the uncertain feeling he always had since his talk with Fuegoleon. Alone in his room, thinking every passing second about Vanessa… and what she was to him.

Fuegoleons words basically haunted his nights, when he wasn't thinking again and again about Vanessa. Or when he wasn't sleeping. His thoughts about Vanessa were a different matter, because she not only haunted his nights, but also his dreams.

It wasn't that much at the beginning, it became more frequently only after they started to interact more and more, since almost a month. But if Nozel was honest, maybe all started originally from their talk in Spade…

It was as she bewitched him somehow and knowing Vanessa, it was surely not on purpose. But it became almost impossible for Nozel to not think about her. Even when he was working at the Silver Eagles, even during the captains meeting. He was not as attentive as he was before during those reunions. And he had been one of the few captains to pay the most attention!

It should have upset him to not be this attentive anymore. But he wasn't.

Nozel sighed. He let himself fall on his big canopy bed, lying with his back on the mattress and stared at the ceiling, as if he hoped it would gave him answers. As if a ceiling could give any answers.

Or did he already know his answers? Was he just afraid of them and so, tried to avoid them with ignorance? Why wouldn't he have realized it?

Was he overthinking this matter?

Fuegoleon pretended to be sure that he was in love. Nozel had first find it ridiculous. He couldn't be in love, because… of many reasons. He was unable to feel romantically, he didn't deserved it, he just made a friend who was kind and caring, just because he wasn't attentive as before or thinking about her practically every day, didn't meant that he was in love.

And many other reasons that were more or less ridiculous. Nozel felt so embarrassed thinking about them.

But it didn't took long before Nozel realized something. If it really was true that he wasn't in love… Why would he then still convincing himself over and over again that he wasn't in love?

Since then, it had been like this. He was frozen, denial behind him and the unknown truth right in front of him.

Nozel still had so many questions. Was it really possible to fell in love this quickly? What consequences will that have for him, his house and his siblings? Would he be able to choose between duty and his heart?

He groaned, hiding his face between his hands. Every question revealed other questions and for some mysterious reason, each one hurts. Especially… Was love even an option for him? Nozel Silva, head of house Silva and captain of the Silver Eagles? Brother of Nebra, Solid and Noelle Silva? Son of the late Acier Silva?

Mother…

She had been in love. With her husband. Some would consider her really lucky, since it was an arranged marriage. But Aciers love had been one-sided, Lac never loved her back. She was just an important step for his own goal.

It had broken her heart when she finally realized it. Romantic love didn't brought her joy. Often Nozel had wondered if that would be the case for him as well, if he ever would fall in love.

Slowly, his eyes wandered to his bedside table or rather, to the two small pile of books on it. Another memory of his mother he refused to flee anymore. Romance novels she had loved and to be fair, he loved them too.

Wasn't it kinda ironic he, of all people, had a secret appreciation for romance novels? This wasn't something he wanted to be out in the open, but… Nozel wondered what Vanessa would think of it. He suspected her to be a romantic, given how sometimes she would rant and even complaint about some of her squadmates being too oblivious to love. The names Gauche and Grey fell most often, but sometimes she complained about Yamis dense mind as well.

And there, he just thought about her again. It's he couldn't stop at all.

One pile were novels about courtly love. Tales of very old times, back when Magic Knights weren't divided in squads, when knights were just serving their king and their country, riding from one place to another, defending widows and orphans. Back when a knight offered his heart to a lady of his choosing, even when they couldn't be together. Loving from afar in all innocence, without hoping for more and cherishing that pure emotion.

Nozel often thought that if, if he would ever fall in love, that only this kind of romance would be possible for him. He was more than aware of his duty for an arranged marriage. At least with courtly love, there was not such a risk as adultery. He would just offer his heart to someone, without hoping for more and do his duty while cherish that feeling of purity in his heart.

But that vision didn't seem very appealing anymore.

The books of the other pile were novels from his mother favourite author. Romance novels, simple romances with happy endings, but those still touched the soul and the heart very deeply.

Pride & Prejudice, Persuasion, Sense & Sensibility…

Nozel knew the titles of each of those novels by heart. They weren't as sad as the courtly love novels and more hopeful. Some of the male heroes were aloof, like him only in certain ways. And still, they did find love.

But none of them had done such horrible mistakes like he did and they were just fictional. Wasn't that another proof that it wasn't possible for him, that he didn't deserved that kind of happiness?

That mantra had followed him for so many years and for the first, Nozel wondered if he was maybe lying to himself.

He had a few crushes in his life, yes. But he had to admit that concerning romance, he was completely clueless. Except with romance novels, but those were just fiction, they didn't count.

So, how could he be sure he was in love?

Of course, he could ask someone. But Nozel immediately groaned at the thought. No, he couldn't. He still had his pride and it was so… ridiculous. Him, a captain, a royal, asking for help because of… love. Besides, who could he ask? His Vermillion aunt? Fuegoleon, who was apparently in a happy relationship? Kaiser, who was apparently happily married? Another captain? But the rest of the captains were all single. Okay, Charlotte was in love. But she wasn't in a relationship and she was in love with Yami! Who was Vanessas captain! No, that just couldn't go. Besides, Nozel didn't even want to ask anyone for help.

Actually… No, that was wrong. There was one person he definitely wanted to take advice from. But that person was dead and buried since over seventeen years.

"Mother… what would you tell me to do?"

Nozel waited in the silence of his room. But of course, there was no answer. He didn't even know why he even expected her to respond him. Nozel tried to imagine his mother talking to him. But he couldn't.

Not because he was unable to imagine Acier Silva talking to him. But because next to her, Vanessa appeared in his mind. Both smiled at him, with their completely different smiles and still in a way so similar.

Acier Silva, Vanessa Enoteca. Two different women, from different circles, who never met, never knew each other.

But for him, they became somehow equally important.

One was dead, the other was alive.

One was his mother, the other was… was…

"Why don't you smile more often, stud?"

That gorgeous smile…

"You really should stop working so much."

That gentle care…

"Guess it's too much to ask for letting me do your braid."

That laugh, like waves crashing on the beach…

"Let's go to our café again, shall we?"

That kindness…

"You know, you can look me in the eye when you talk to me."

Those eyes, like amethysts in the sun…

"Thank you so much for the gift!"

That joy…

"Your hair looks really great in the sun. Guess that silver is more shiny than gold."

Those hair, that breathetaking shade of rosewood…

"Don't you have any baby Noelle stories to tell me?"

That genuine curiosity…

"Like what you see, handsome eagle?"

That frame…

"Thank you for holding me…"

That gratitude…

Nozel slowly took his new one shoulder cape, holding it close to him. He had no idea where he would go with this. He ignored if he could keep the secret forever or if he would be unable to just do like the knights with their ladies in the novels. He had no idea what the next steps were supposed to be.

But…

"I love her. I love Vanessa Enoteca."

It was just a whisper, but Nozel had the feeling that his words echoed through the whole Silva palace.

The cemetery of Heladise just looked like any other cemetery in the Common Realm. Crosses and gravestones on grass. A tree here and there. Some tombs looked like they were taken care of, but must were probably abandoned a long time ago.

But Yami didn't care about that. He cared about the investigation and even more about Charlotte.

Seriously, why did Goldie Guts speech from a few days ago making him think and overthink EVERYTHING about Prickly Queen?

Yami side-glanced at his companion. Charlotte was focusing on the tombs, searching for the mother of her half-brother. A dash of sadness and compassion was shining in her eyes and for him, it made the blue of her orbs even more brightening than normal.

Wait, did he really just thought that? Why did he always have thoughts like that about Charlotte since his talk with William?

And why he focusing on Charlottes beauty instead of their quest? Fuck, he already knew that Charlotte was more than beautiful, he didn't need to look at her beauty as if he just discovered it for the first time!

Besides, they had an investigation for a lost sibling going on!

The first thing they did Heladise was searching for the inn where that Grace girl was working. Only to find out from the innkeeper that she died years ago and that her son – that stupid innkeeper was getting old as he didn't remembered the name – had been sent to an orphanage. Apparently, that kiddo has some weird habit to fight and to always smile, even at his mother's funeral. After he got his grimoire, left to become a Magic Knight and well, he never returned.

That story sounded pretty familiar to Yami, but he didn't gave it much attention. His thoughts were turning around Charlotte mostly or to things related to her.

It was like his something in him, maybe his subconscious or anything hidden in his spirit, wanted to tell him something. One specific thing. Like for many, many years and since he probably didn't listened, it was now screaming that thing. And he still didn't get it! What was going on?

"Looks like that we need to search within the Magic Knight squads for our next step. Too bad the innkeeper didn't remembered my brother's name. Well, he probably doesn't have good memories of him as well, he must have caused him some difficulties in the past, given how he talked about my brother."

"Hm…"

"Yami, are you listening to me?"

Charlotte punched him slightly with her elbow, causing him to interrupt his merry-go-round of thoughts about her.

Normally, Yami would have been happy for the distraction. But since Charlotte was the one haunting his mind, it didn't really helped. Which honestly sucked in his books. But Yami would never dare to accuse his Prickly Queen of it. After all, it wasn't her fault he couldn't stop thinking about her.

Wait… did he just considered her his Prickly Queen?

"Oh, um, sorry, I was in thoughts. What did you say?"

Charlotte sighed deeply, before repeating what she just said. And afterwards immediately adding, "I can't say it's not like you to not pay attention, but this seems too much even for you. Couldn't you at least tell from my Ki that I was talking to you?"

"Come on, Prickly Queen, you know me. I'm not an idiot, I can read every Ki."

Except hers, for some mysterious reason, but he wouldn't tell her that. Although, this was indeed the proof that something was wrong with him and that he included Charlotte. Her Ki was so unique and he was unable to understand it. Him, one of the two only Ki-readers in the whole kingdom and the only one out of the two who wasn't an idiot. And didn't Goldie Guts mentioned something about his ability to read Ki in his speech? Damn, William really put his finger on something and Yami couldn't tell what it was.

But that didn't meant that it was stupid or dense. No, no, no! He wasn't stupid when it came to Charlotte, he was just…

What was he, actually? Something else than stupid, surely. But what? It was so difficult for him now to not think about Charlotte. She even haunted his mind when he was taking a dump now! And since he thought more about his Prickly Queen than the fierce battles he fought against his digestion system, his toilet breaks took longer these days. Much to his brats worries.

Hold on… he just considered Charlotte his Prickly Queen again? What was that supposed to mean?

Time to change the subject, definitely.

Yami took a look at the bouquet of purple lilies and white roses in Charlottes hands. "What are those for?"

"For Graces grave. Didn't I told you that already?"

"Of course, of course," Yami replied, hiding the fact that he haven't listened to that part as well. "It's nice of you, but why actually? You haven't known her at all."

"Just because I didn't know her doesn't mean that I shouldn't care or that I shouldn't pay my respects. What happened to her was horrible and she didn't get any justice. She deserves respect, even after death. It doesn't matter that she's my brother's mother or not."

"Actually, you're right, Prickly Queen. Sorry."

Charlotte just nodded. He traits were soft and sad, as she walked to the cemetery, searching for Graces tomb. That caring and compassionate side really made her look so much more beautiful as she was already. Oh, she might seemed cold and aloof, but Yami knew very well that Charlotte was a caring person. For the kingdom, for her girlies, for any other people, civilian or knight, noble or commoner, royal or peasant.

His Prickly Queen was probably the most caring person Yami knew.

There again! He thought again about her like his… For the third time in less than five minutes! Vanessa would have said that the third time always was a charm and for the first time, Yami might admit that she was onto something.

Okay, Charlotte was definitely special for him, even more so, unique. But how? And why? Couldn't he just have the full answer and be done with? Apparently no, whatever was messing with him, Fate or something else, probably thought he needed more steps to get his answer.

While he was blaming something he didn't even know what it was, both he and Charlotte finally found Graces tomb. The innkeeper did described the gravestone as a simple cross with her name, her birth date and the date of her death.

"Oh… she wasn't even twenty-five when she passed away," Charlotte said, her voice full of sadness and compassion. "And this also means… She probably got my brother very young."

Yami just nodded. That poor girl didn't get a fair life. Losing her parents very young, working her health away to supply, got pregnant by a noble jerk who abandoned her with a newborn, was left alone taking care of her kiddo and died very young probably due to exhaustion, because it was too much for her.

Grace deserved justice, to be taken care of and didn't get any of it.

"I'm sorry for what happened to you…" Charlotte whispered while putting the bouquet of roses and lilies in front of the grave. Some tears were lingering in her eyes, one of them rolled down her cheek.

Yami looked at her. It was clear that this whole story went close to her. Her father did this and Charlotte was deep down a sensible, caring person. She probably wished that Grace was still alive, to give her protection and to take care of her. Some would say it would be too late, but Yami knew that often, it was better late than never. Sadly, for Grace it was never.

Her father was a jerk, no doubt about it. Yami wished for a second that mama Roselei would have cheated on him with a better man and got Charlotte from her lover instead. Because it was so hard to believe that a jerk like that got such a wonderful daughter.

But Charlotte had his eyes, so there was no doubt. Sadly.

Strange… they had this in common. A jerk dad. Yami haven't thought about his father for a while and his memories of him were pretty much never positive.

Looking at Charlotte, who now knelt in front of Graces grave, Yami couldn't help but realize that both their fathers didn't hated them, but were still jerks. Well, his father died. Hers was still alive.

Yami had the sudden urge to take Charlotte in his arms, to hug her. He had this strange longing quite often lately after his talk with William. But since he didn't make any sense to him, he ignored it. Which hadn't been as easy as he thought.

But this time, it felt different. This time, he didn't want to hug her because some mysterious power pushed him specifically to her, making him long for her touch. No, he wanted to hug Charlotte to comfort her.

Would she accept to be hugged by him, though? Just because they were getting along slightly better didn't meant that Prickly Queen would appreciate to get hugged by him out of the blue. She sometimes complained about his smell – which was true most of the time, but Yami would never admit that – or about his rude attitude – true as well, but well, being polite was future Yamis problem.

But this time? Maybe it was the right thing to do. After all, he didn't need to drown Charlotte in his arms. A hand of her shoulder or one arm around her seemed more appropriate than a bear hug and could say so much more than any word.

So, Yami knelt down beside her.

But just as he was about to put a hand on her shoulder, something did catch his eye. On Graces gravestone.

The cross stood next to a tree and the shadows of the branches and leaves covered some of the inscriptions on the stone.

Like Graces family name.

But a soft blow of the wind, a small movement of the tree branches, the sun fell on that spot for one second.

Yami frowned, looking more closely, trying to identify the letters.

Grace Voltia.

Voltia. Voltia… Wait a fucking minute!

He heard Charlotte gasp next to him and when he turned to her, she was looking at him as well. Her eyes wide open in surprise, proving that she was doing the same conclusions as Yami.

Voltia… That was the family name of Luck.

Which would mean…

That Luck, one of his own knights, was the lost half-brother of Prickly Queen.