"I think I need more of that."
"Shut up, Yami."
The captain of the Black Bulls just let out a loud laugh at the tired protest of the beautiful woman lying beside him. Honestly, he was tired too, so there was no way he had enough reason to make fun of her. At least, not too much.
No wonder actually that they were both still tired, the sun only started to rise and they didn't had a lot of sleep last night.
Well, Yami took Charlotte three times last night, which was the reason why they were still tired when they woke up. To be fair, if his body and more importantly her body, wouldn't have been exhausted after three times, he would have taken her at least one more time.
Yami couldn't help but smile as the memories of last night started to dance in his mind. Okay, it hadn't been the plan to actually sleep with his Prickly Queen, but he would rather stop to drink booze before he would regret it. Damn, that was the best night in his life.
If he had known how wonderful it would feel to have Charlotte in his arms, to love and make love to her, he would have given up on his pride a long time ago.
Gosh, he really had been stupid and dense all this time. Kaiser had been right, Charlotte actually loved him back. This woman had proven him enough last night.
Yami turned his head to look at the woman he loved. Charlotte lied on her belly, eyes closed, head lying on one arm, the hair undone except the cute little braid, naked and the blanket only covering down her knees. Which was good, so he could look at her sexy butt.
He put a hand on that specific body part and laughed as he heard Charlotte groan. It sounded frustrated and flustered at the same time. What a woman.
"Must you always be so vulgar even in your gestures?"
"Don't act like you dislike my vulgarity, woman. You more than appreciated last night, each time I took ya. Besides, there is honestly nothing I haven't seen already during our night together."
"Yami!"
She was protesting, but he could hear the smile in her voice.
Honestly, who would have thought that Charlotte Roselei, captain of the Blue Roses and the woman with the coldest behaviour he knew, would actually take the initiative and gave herself to him, body and soul?
Yami thought he had known her well for years and yet, Prickly Queen always managed to still surprise him. Her Ki was still so unique and practically impossible for him to read, but Yami didn't care anymore. He was in love with her and this was probably the reason why her Ki wasn't easy for him to understand.
"Yami…"
"Hm?"
"I… I love you."
"I know."
"Seriously, that's all you have to say to me after everything?"
Yami laughed at her reaction. "I know you love me and you said it yesterday, I'm more a man of action and I think I show you more than enough what you are to me. This is enough for yours truly. Although, I wouldn't mind to give you another proof."
"You… You brute," Charlotte laughed, trying to look falsely offended.
"Your brute, please use the right word, my Prickly Queen."
Charlotte blushed, making her cheeks look like rubies. At least, Yami assumed that the colour was the shade of those kind of gems, as he never seen rubies in his life.
"Well, I don't know what I expected from you, Yami. But you haven't changed your personality and that is actually a relief, so don't get me wrong," Charlotte said as she sat up on her side of the bed. But as soon as she tried to stand, she fell back on the mattress, groaning.
"You seem a bit wabbly on your feet, Prickly Queen. Quite the unusual sight, actually, don't tell me I was too harsh last night," Yami laughed. Dang it, he haven't been in such a pure good mood for way too long.
"Not that much, even though we did it three times," Charlotte mumbled. "It's more that… well… it was my first time…"
Yami stopped laughing abruptly.
Wait… that was her first time?
Shit…
Yami immediately took the blankets, eying them carefully before throwing them away to inspect the mattress.
If he had knew that, he would have at least tried to hold back, to be soft as much as he could manage. And maybe he wouldn't have taken her from behind on their second turn. Charlotte was a strong woman, but this doesn't mean that he would hurt her, even unintentionally. She meant too much for him for that.
Thankfully, he found no trace of blood on the blankets or on the mattress. Either he actually did hold back on instinct… or Charlotte was also the strong woman he knew on this particular domain.
Okay, could he stop loving her more and more for a moment? He started to felt overwhelmed by all this new open emotions.
"I wouldn't have thought that it was your first time, Prickly Queen."
"And how so?"
"You were taking initiative. You didn't blush in offense like a prude old girl and well… I honestly don't know how to explain it, ya were just that amazing."
"Would you stop teasing me?"
"Hey, that wasn't teasing this time, ya truly were amazing!"
Charlotte blushed again, turning her head away. And still, Yami had time to see the little happy smile on her lips. Yep, she really wasn't prude, that was just the normal old Charlotte he knew and love.
It was somehow weird. He discovered many sides of her only lately, especially during their common investigation and even more during their night. But all those sides of Prickly Queen seemed so familiar, as if he already knew them.
How could he knew already things he just discovered.
Charlotte turned back to him, giving up on standing on her feet for now, bringing her legs back to her and putting her arms around them, while her head lied on her knees and she looked at him in the softest smile he ever saw.
That wasn't a sexy position, more like a cute one and it was enough for him to get all thirsty for her again.
Did she even realize what effect she had on him?
"Will you cuddle? Or is this not badass enough for you, captain I-Surpass-My-Limits?"
Yami laughed loudly. She wasn't the best teaser as she was a newbie on that domain, but her attempts were actually pretty good. At least, he loved them.
"You know that I have a reputation to hold. But who gives a fuck, you're the only one I wanna show my softer side."
"You have a softer side?"
"Just come here and enjoy your privilege, woman."
Charlotte chuckled – why the hell did he never realized how lovely that sound was – and practically half lied down on his chest, while Yami put an arm around her, the other one behind his head.
It was peaceful. Really peaceful…
Yami used to make fun at those kind of fluffy things, to make fun at corny shit like that. Maybe it will still don't change, knowing him. But he didn't find it ridiculous anymore right now. He also never would have thought that Charlotte would be so hopelessly and deeply in love with him and he was still having a hard time to believe it. But still, there she was, in his arms and despite her still complicated Ki, Yami could tell how happy she was.
He slowly started to understand Finral, when he was almost singing a hymn about how beautiful the quiet, peaceful moments were he shared with his wife. There was no way Yami would ever admit it, but having Charlotte in his arms and just enjoying the moment together, it was indeed precious. Maybe Finral became smarter in romance shit now that he was married to the love of his life.
It was like being a bubble, as if it was just the two of them. As if nothing else was important, as if the world outside was far away.
Yami sighed deeply. He kinda wished that it would be like that forever or at least for very long.
And he hoped that he wouldn't have the urge to take a dump soon. For the first time, this perspective would clearly piss him off.
"Yami…" Charlotte whispered after a while.
"Hm?"
"What will come next?"
That was a good question, actually. A damn good question and clearly something they needed to discuss one time or another. Yami might not care that much about nobles and all their shitty complication in their status, but it wasn't like he didn't catch up on a thing or two. Especially during all those time he spend with his Prickly Queen.
And Charlotte was actually the reason why he started to care more about the world of nobility. He wasn't that dumb, he knew that she was one of the best matches by noble standards and she had mentioned here and there that her family were planning to marry her off to a douche.
That thought of course didn't sit well with him. In fact, it was pissing him off just as much like when Asta had been set on trial as a scapegoat – another proof about how important his Prickly Queen was for him. He just couldn't handle the simple thought of Charlotte being chained into a loveless marriage to an asshole who would just see her as a trophy or as a tool for his own goal. Heck, HIS Prickly Queen deserved far better than that! Charlotte Roselei, captain of the Blue Rose squad was the most amazing woman she knew and even though he still had no idea how nobility worked behind the scenes or what would happen in the future, Yami was already decided to not give her up without a fight.
But he didn't want to think about all those details and hurdles right now. In this very moment, everything was so far away and peaceful, he didn't want to spoil this new sweetness. And he didn't want Charlotte to lose her mind about it right now. Yami knew very well how she was when she was stressed and stress was undoubtedly the last thing she needed right, after what she had to deal with after Spade.
"Prickly Queen, let's just say that for now, those will be future Yami and future Charlotte's problems."
"Haha, very funny. You do realize that sooner later future Yami will be present Yami and the same applies to future Charlotte. It's not something we can just continue to ignore until it's too late."
"You worry too much."
"You relax too much."
"Yeah, true. But trust me, Prickly Queen, it's not like I don't give a fuck what all those noble bootlickers would think about us. Okay, I don't really care about their opinions. But I know that it won't be easy and this I care about. Because you're worth it to me."
"Yami, I…"
She was clearly flustered, having no idea what to say and Yami would lie if he would say that it didn't meant the world to him. He put his other arm around her, holding her closer.
"We'll deal with it, I promise you that. But I just wanna enjoy the moment right now, it's the best way to spend my time."
"Okay. But still… Would you agree to keep our, well… to keep a secret what's between us? Even from our squads? Just to have some more time in peace. I know my girls and I know the members of your squad, it won't be calm once they find out about us. Especially Luck."
"Oh yeah, that's the best idea. I don't want to deal with ups and downs right now. Now, can I have a kiss or something more?"
"Kiss is enough for now, I'm still exhausted from the three times you took me."
Yami laughed deeply before Charlotte shifted a bit and to put her lips on his. Yami gave in to the kiss, enjoying her unique and rosy taste. Despite being softer than what he was used to give and get, the kiss still felt full of passion and burnt in his body just as much as the wild kisses from last night.
They continue to make out for a while. Minutes or an hour, maybe more? Yami couldn't tell and honestly, he didn't care about it. Nothing seemed more important to him right now than the beautiful woman in his arms.
Both lost all notion of time, almost as if time itself decided to stop for a while, just to give them more moments together.
That is, until there was a knock on the door, pushing them back into the normal timeline.
"Captain Charlotte," Pulis voice came from behind the door, sounding slightly mischievous. "Most of us will have breakfast soon and we decided to make a common breakfast all together in your little brothers honour, since he's our guest. Would you like to join us? We can ask captain Yami what he wants, since he's here as well."
The last sentence made the lovers jump apart in shock.
Wait, how…
Charlotte jumped from the bed with a squeak, her legs suddenly not all wobbly anymore and she somehow gathered a bathrobe while jumping around and yelling "Wait, Puli!" or something like that.
Yami just groaned as he himself got up and tried to gather some of his clothes from around the bedroom. No, they weren't in the same place, he had to grab each one from another corner of the bedroom and to wabble to each piece of clothing like a dumb dude with a hangover who somehow got drunk again.
Did he throw his clothes at different corners or was it Prickly Queen? Yami couldn't recall and both were highly possible, given how thirsty Charlotte was, especially for her first time.
And why the heck didn't focus on that except on the fact that it was more than probable that the Blue Rose knights already known that he and Prickly Queen slept together?
Oh. Oh! OH!
"Fuck."
Now Yami didn't wabble, he run across the room, trying to at least put his pants on while finding himself in a rare situation of panic.
This was bad, this was really bad.
How much did Prickly Queens girlies know? And more importantly how much did they hear? Yami didn't gave a fuck last night that the Blue Roses might or might not came to hear him fucking their captain and now this was coming back to bite him in the ass.
Damn it, he and Charlotte did just talk that they wanted to wait before telling their respective squads about their still very young relationship. Just to have some peace, was that too much to ask?
Not to mention that those fricking Blue Roses were always high on gossiping and even worse, Luck was present…
Oh fuck!
Luck was present. Luck was present! One of his own brats! And even worse, Luck happens to be the brat who is also Prickly Queens long lost found little brother! Not to mention that Luck was already very overprotective over his big sis and for some reason, especially when Yami himself was involved.
Wait… Does this mean than Luck already knew about Prickly Queens feeling for him? How did he even found out about it before his own captain? Yami couldn't believe that he had been so dense about Charlotte that even one of his dumber brats knew about this obvious secret. Who else of the Black Bulls knew about this as well, then?
While Yami just stood there, thinking about problems that should have been future Yami's problems, Charlotte actually managed to get her royal blue bathrobe on and opened the door. He felt her Ki tense for a second, before she actually sighed deeply, frustrated and relieved at the same time.
"Puli, this is NOT funny!"
"I apologize captain Charlotte, especially for having plopped your happy bubble. But you know, Luck, Églantine and I really had done our most to keep this spicy little secret safe from the others, especially Sol and we agreed that we should better warn you."
Wait! Does this mean that the whole Blue Rose squad didn't know after all?
But before Yami could join Charlotte at the bedroom door, some kind of blonde lightning bold made him fall right back on the bed.
"Can we fight, captain? Can we fight? Since you're here, can we fight?"
"For fuck's sake, Luck, we are NOT fighting in your big sis' bedroom, have some decency!"
"But you had a beddance with her, captain Yami and as her brother, I can't let that pass, you know. Gauche told me that."
Damnit Gauche, why did gave Luck some lessons about being a good brother? And where did he learned such a word like beddance? Did that word even exist? If Vanessa started again to invent some words, he would put her on Astas cleaning duty for the next ten years!
"Luck, please, I did consent and actually, it was in fact me who took the initiative," Charlotte immediately protested. She was blushing a lot – to be fair, which older sibling would want to admit their sex stories to their younger brothers and sisters – but her voice was still firm. Damn, not losing her authority while embarrassed? No wonder she became such a strong woman.
"But big sis, he hadn't realized you're head over heels for him for ten years, I still have some beat up to do with him, please!"
"Luck!"
Woah, that long, huh?
Wait, THAT LONG! Ten fucking years? Prickly Queen had feelings for him for ten damn years and he hadn't realized it all this time?
Yami groaned, closing his eyes. He would never hear the end of it.
Could he please get back into the nice bubble from before with Charlotte? Gosh, how mushy did he became to actually wish for something as corny as that?
"Don't worry, captain Charlotte, you and captain Yami don't need to came down for breakfast with the whole squad. As you see, Puli, Luck and I brought you something you can eat here."
Eat? Now that sounded like a good idea. Not as much as going back to the corny bubble, but still a good one.
Yami opened his eyes to see to whom that third voice belonged. A Blue Rose, of course, not older than twenty at most he'd say, with big turquoise coloured eyes and azure blue corkscrew curls. Typical noble hairstyle, he'd say, although he couldn't tell if those curls were styled or actually natural.
Corkscrew put a silver tray with lots of food and some things to drink as well on a table, before turning towards him. Yami immediately frowned, trying to determine if this Blue Rose was hostile or not.
But Corkscrew just smiled at him and put a hand in front of him. "I've already heard about you, of course. But still, I'm happy to finally make your acquaintance properly, captain Yami. I'm Églantine Évantail and as you could guess, I'm a Blue Rose."
"Um, nice to meet you," Yami just mumbled, shaking her hand. Églantine Évantail, huh? Such a typical noble name, why were those always so elegantly complicated and difficult to learn by heart? He would call her Corkscrew still, it worked with her hair.
Évantail did she say? Wasn't this also the family name of that old noble fart that tried to court Charlotte in this restaurant weeks ago? When she told him about her long lost sibling? Well, Corkscrew had the same eye colour as that Reggie guy or whatever his name was. Who could forgot people with turquoise shade in their eyeballs?
But unlike Reggie, Corkscrew's eye colour wasn't dull and from her Ki, she seemed like a genuinely nice girl.
"Ah, here's the man of the hour," Puli laughed, one of the rare Blue Roses Yami already knew. Actually, maybe he needed to learn about the whole squad than just that nice fatty and that earthy amazon that was fangirling over Prickly Queen. The Blue Roses meant so much to Charlotte, he was only fair that he should get to learn her girls.
But this was something for future Yami.
"It's really a good thing that you finally got a grip on herself, captain Charlotte waited very long for you," Puli continued, Yami couldn't define if she was subtly warning him or she was just very happy. "You should be happy that it was just us three who woke up that night and heard you busy being busy. If it would have been Sol, Wainsley or Galgaria, goodness, the whole kingdom and even the three others would know about you right now. Maybe the far away land of the Sun as well."
Puli, Luck and Corkscrew laughed as if it was some kind of joke, but Yami and Charlotte were more embarrassed. The thought that not only Clover but also Heart, Diamond and Spade would know about them… That was actually kinda scary.
After a while, Charlotte coughed a bit. "I'm grateful to the three of you for keeping the secret. You might understand very well that Yami and I would… like to be in secrecy for a while. You know… The nobles, everything… So, can we count on you three to guard our secret until we're ready to make our relationship open."
"Of course, captain Charlotte, you can't count on us."
"Hey, I know first-hand how my house has their eyes on you, so don't worry, you have my support."
"That's mean I know something Magna doesn't? That is actually cool, I have your back, big sis! Just a question, will I be soon an uncle?"
Puli and Corkscrew laughed, while Charlotte blushed heavily. As well as Yami.
"Geez, you brat, do you wanna die so badly? Just because we're fucking doesn't mean we intend to make babies already!"
"That's right, we're… we're not even married!"
"Well, not being married doesn't stop from making babies, you know," Corkscrew replied, before actually bursting into laughter again.
"Églantine is right, but yes, it is way too soon to talk about babies," Puli chuckled, before actually passing through the door. "We'll leave you alone for now, sorry for having bursting in. Captain Charlotte, captain Yami, we see you later. Do you come, little Lucky? You can have breakfast with Églantine and me, if you want."
"Hell yeah!"
Luck gave Yami one last punch and hugged Charlotte before jumping after Puli and Corkscrew, leaving his sister and his captain alone again.
Once the door was closed again, both lovers sighed deeply in relief.
"Well, that went better than expected," Charlotte muttered as she came back to him on the bed, literally falling on the mattress.
"You really think so, Prickly Queen? Our secret is out in the open."
"But it's not our two whole squad who are aware. Just my brother and two of my knights. And we can trust them to keep the secret until the time is ready. Puli knows better than anyone how I feel about the whole situation, Églantine will always help me against my unwanted suitors, especially coming from her family and Luck is just happy about us, of course he'll keep the secret."
"He still tried to beat me up every time, especially when I'm close to you."
"He's just protective of me, that's all. I think that's what brothers do usually."
"What a pain in the ass. I actually have question."
"Go ahead."
"Is Corkscrew-"
"Cork- Yami, please, her name is Églantine!"
"- related to Reggie or something? The one who bothered us at that restaurant weeks ago."
"Actually, yes. I think it's her great-uncle or something like that. House Évantail have one of the most complicated family tree in the whole kingdom. But don't worry, Églantine is one of the rare nice Évantails out there."
"Is she also the one with the bastard sister she wishes to know better?"
"Yes, that's her."
"Okay, then. Well, she's a nice gurl in that case."
They went silent again. Not awkwardly, it was like the comfortable silence of their bubble was coming back.
Yami was honestly relieved about that. But if he could fill the silence with moans and groans and cries of pleasure again, it would be even better.
"Shall we have breakfast?"
"Later, Prickly Queen. For now, I'm hungry for something else…"
He didn't wait for her answer as he rolled over her, already getting rid of his pants and her bathrobe.
Charlotte wasn't even surprised by his actions, on the contrary, she seemed quite appealed. Damn, how much could he love this woman?
Yami pulled her in a very deep and passionate kiss, barely noticing how he entered her again, making love to her already for the fourth time.
"Are you sure he's not dying or something? Or at least sick?" one of his junior knights, Aurelius Or, asked quietly, sounding almost like panicking.
"Trust me, kiddo, he it was that, he won't be there working in the first place," Julia Ambrosia, the oldest Silver Eagle in his squad, replied, sounding really amused by the whole situation.
"He's not working right now, Granny. Captain Nozel seems more like… dreamy, somehow," Alysanne Dragonstone replied.
"Yes, but that's Nozel Silva, captain of the Silver Eagles and Head of house Silva we're talking about, he was never dreamy before, so why now." This panicking voice belonged to Nils Ragus.
"Well, there can be a start for everything, even for captain Nozel," Curtis Warren said, although he sounded quite unsure about his own statement.
"So, there is something wrong with him?" Aurelius asked again, almost panicking even more.
"I wouldn't say something is wrong with him, but something is definitely happening to him lately," Simon Vivaldi said.
"Not even lately, I think something changed within him since he came back from Spade."
"Alysanne is right," Rob Vitesse replied, sounding as if he just joined the group. "There was a change with him since the return from Spade, but it was only more obvious since two months and especially since a few days."
"Good observation, young man."
"I'm not that young anymore, Granny."
Julia had a cackling laugh. "Compared to my old age, you're all young. But let this old and weak lady knight tell you this still."
"Old and weak?" six voices asked quietly, knowing better than to argue with Julia Ambrosia.
"Well, you hatchlings, I can't be entirely sure. But from my long experience as a knight and in gossip as well as in observation, I firmly believe that captain Nozel is in love."
Silence.
"In love?"
"No need to look so shocked, you hatchlings, it happens even to the best of us. And if captain Nozel comes even halfway after his late mother on that matter, he is even deeply in love. Come on, you can trust the frail old lady I am."
"Well, it would definitely explain his attitude lately," Alysanne said thoughtfully. "It's just… You have to admit that it's difficult to imagine captain Nozel of all people being in love."
"Especially since he's so stuck on his duty, more than anyone else I know," Nils added.
"You know, silver hatchlings, even the most disciplinary people like captain Nozel can be fed up at some point. And trust me, given how most nobles and royals treat him behind closed doors, even some of our good for nothing squadmates, he has every excuse to finally screw them."
The other six only nodded at Julia's little speech. Aurelius, Alysanne, Nils, Simon, Rob, Curtis and Julia were all nobles, but each of them belonged into the rare category of Being A Knight Before A Noble and who also didn't appreciated the common attitude of nobility in general.
"But who would captain Nozel be in love with?" Aurelius asked naively. "Do you think it could be captain Dorothy Unsworth? She is always so familiar with him."
Alysanne immediately shook her head. "The captain of the Coral Peacocks is always familiar with practically everyone. And according to my friend Gisela who is a Coral Peacock, captain Dorothy might be interested in the love stories of others, but not into having a love life herself."
"Oh, then what about captain Fuegoleon Vermillion?"
This made Simon laugh. "Goodness, Aurelius, you're really green still. Don't you know that captain Fuegoleon is courting and maybe even properly dating a member from his own squad, Lital Lys? It's practically an open secret at this point."
"Not to mention that captain Nozel knows this two colleagues very well for long years already," Julia added. "If he was in love with one of them, he would have that kind of dreamy attitude LONG before the raid in Spade. No, it's most certainly someone he met afterwards or at least getting to know better."
"But who could captain Nozel be in love with?" Nils asked quietly.
"That is a good question, he is not of the most easy people to read," Curtis said with a shrug.
"Not to mention that he's like vice-captain Agatha when it comes to his private life," Alysanne added. "A closed book with three locks and four other locks for each one of them, just to be safe. We should think twice or even trice before considering investigating about his secret lover."
"Ah, but doesn't stop us for at least speculating, silver hatchling," Julia cackled.
Nozel could hear them very well while he was more or less discussing some reports with his vice-captain. In fact, she did most of the talking and while he was well aware on every word that came out of her mouth, Nozel couldn't help but let his thoughts wander away.
Those last two days – or was it three, he couldn't tell – he spent with Vanessa had been the sweetest and happiest he ever knew since the death of his mother. In fact, he had been in such a dreamy state that real life felt at best like a harsh slap in the face.
First, the investigations about the thievery acts in the Common Realm all ended to be dead ends and he knew that even the Wizard King was starting to be fed up with this affair. But honestly, Nozel could live with that.
Then his most wannabe knights, also known as those who never got the job done, leaving their squadmates to overwork themselves, were making a fuss. Lucinda Sandler already asked six times in the row of two days for a maternal leave, despite not being pregnant. Nebra made her a visit last week and confirmed what every Silver Eagle already suspected. Linus Gem had the audacity to demand a raise of his salary, despite never coming to the Headquarters when it wasn't pay day. Samuel Évantail became more and more a pain to the whole squad by refusing orders at best and attacking his squadmates in rage over stars he never got and deserved at worst.
And that was just three knights, but Lucinda, Linus and Samuel were pretty good examples of every Silver Eagle who were just knights by title and not by work.
But this was also something Nozel could deal with.
No, the most difficult task he got today sadly had nothing to do with the Silver Eagles. It has to do with his so-called duty of an arranged marriage.
As if the urge of nobles to marry off into royalty and to marry off in general wasn't already such a pain since the war with Spade was over. But these last few days, many nobles houses, be it from high, medium or low nobility, seemed to have the very specific goal to marry some of their members into house Silva. And for some reason, he became their principal target.
Nozel wasn't stupid. It was more than probable that his father was behind this. To make him yield or to make his life miserable or maybe even to just mock him, he didn't know. It didn't matter anyway. Lac Silva always got what he wanted in the past and he always knew exactly what to do and who to use, to manipulate to obtain what he wanted. Nozel didn't know what his father said to the nobles to make them believe he was the most eligible candidate to marry right now. His ways were diverse and Nozel didn't believe he wanted to know them.
He hated it, he hated so much. It reminded him of all those years he denied himself any kind of happiness, just thinking about following his duty so that his siblings would be free. Now looking back at those time, Nozel find himself so pathetic. Being with Vanessa gave him a sweet happiness he was now clinging on.
Being away from her, like in this moment, wasn't doing him so much good. When Vanessa was with him, in his arms, it was so easy for Nozel to forget their rather complicated situation, their different status and worse, how most people of this society of prejudice would view their relationship. Love wasn't important in their eyes, it has nothing to do with marriage, it was an inconvenience when potential alliances between noble or royal families were considered.
And Lac Silva was practically the embodiment of this mantra.
Nozel knew more than anyone how his world was. He was swimming or more like trying to not drown in this sea since his mother died and all he saw for years were horizons with nowhere to land.
Until Vanessa…
When she wasn't with him, Nozel wondered sometimes if there was a future for both of them, for their relationship. He knew how royalty was like a golden cage and he refused to put her in any cage. There was something about her, about how free she was, that just make it not right to put her in a cage, literally or not. Nozel couldn't do that to Vanessa, he loved her so deeply.
When she wasn't with him, Nozel wondered if Vanessa would be better off and happier without him…
But he refused to give in to those doubts. He always done that for years and where did it brought him? It might be selfish, but he refused to give up on her, at least not without a fight. Giving up on Vanessa… and Nozel was certain it would kill him one way or another.
He wanted to be with her so much right now. Everything seemed so simpler in her presence, it was so easier to forget their situation, to not overthink and to not worry. He couldn't stop doing this alone yet, he still needed her.
Nozel sighed silently. Was this what Fuegoleon felt when he was with Lital Lys? Was it what his poor mother to have with his father?
He was tired. It had been a while since he overworked himself like that, even forgetting to have dinner. For a long time, this had been always how he followed his duty, as a captain and as a royal Head of House. But then Vanessa came into his life and now, Nozel found this kind working day really despicable.
If only nobles would be more cooperative, knights or no knights.
"I think this is all for today, captain Nozel," Agatha said, getting him out of his thoughts.
Nozel just looked at her, her eyes in the colour of old parchment and her ink blue hair as always hold together in two low braids. Agatha Austen had become a Silver Eagle around the same time as himself and was now his vice-captain for as long as he was captain himself. There weren't many people he could really trust but thankfully, Agatha was one of them.
Nozel sometimes wondered if he should tell Agatha about Vanessa. His vice-captain was someone quiet and very understanding. But at the same time, she was also as private as him and his relationship with Vanessa was still very young, so Nozel didn't know if he should tell Agatha already.
But if he wanted a future with Vanessa, no matter how still blurry and unsure it was right now, he would need allies. And this was a subject that was still unknown land for him. Having people willing to help him of all people. Was that even possible?
"Um, captain?"
Agatha was looking at him, frowning. Oh. Of course. She was still waiting for an answer from him.
"Thank you, Agatha. This will be enough for today. Will send this reports to the Wizard King first thing the next morning. You can go home now, it's rather late."
"Good night, captain."
Very late indeed. He was exhausted. Nozel had decided to sleep at the Headquarters for this night. That hadn't happened since very long. Would he still be able to properly spend time with Vanessa tonight? He had written her, to tell her he was drowning in work and that he might won't be able to come back to the palace.
But all Vanessa did was calling him – thank goodness at a time when he was alone in his office – ask him were his usual room was at the Silver Eagles base and telling him she would be waiting for him.
It was a bit of a risk, meeting at the Silver Eagle's base, given that some of his knights were either on night shift or had their chambers here.
But Nozel didn't care. The perspective of seeing Vanessa was the first wonderful thing to look forward to this day.
Agatha left, but Nozel stood where he was, looking out of the window. But he didn't see the already dark sky, the last lingering small lights of the sun, the first stars, the whole landscape.
All he saw was Vanessa…
He closed his eyes, smiling at all those memories with her. How she talked with him about everything that could came to their mind. Her naked body under him or on top of him. Her gorgeous smile, her hugs, all those kisses they shared…
A soft, happy smile escaped his lips.
"Oh, shoot!"
Nozel turned around, realizing he wasn't alone, as the seven Eagles were still there. Aurelius, Alysanne, Rob, Curtis, Simon and Nils all froze when he lied his eyes on them. Julia wasn't frozen, she was way too old to be intimidated by him, but she still looked at him as if he cut his braid or something.
Did his cold mask work so little lately? Probably, otherwise they wouldn't be gossiping about him and his so secret love life.
And for the first time in life, not only did Nozel Silva not care at all about his own knights gossiping about him, he was even rather amused by it.
Vanessa must have bewitched him by how wonderful she was, he saw no other reason for that.
What would mother say if she saw him like that?
"Does anyone of you have to take night shift today?"
The words fell of his mouth before he could even think about them. A question any normal Magic Knight captain would ask almost automatically.
And still, his voice seemed so much softer than usual when he asked this question.
"No, captain."
"Good. You can go home now or back to your chambers in this base. Good night."
His voice was still soft. And the eyes of his knights were still frozen and shocked.
Nozel passed them by and couldn't help but put a hand on Aurelius' head. He heard the gasps and still, he smiled. Now it was already enough to think just of Vanessa to be at ease again, not worrying anymore.
She made a better person out of him. Did she even realized that?
He went away, walking through the halls he had known for years since he became a Silver Eagle. He reached the night quarters pretty soon.
But Nozels own room was a bit apart from the rest of the chambers. Of course it was. He had free choices of rooms when he joined the squad and the grieving, chained boy he was back then had to choose a chamber that was not only away from the rest, making him even more lonely, but also the same chamber his mother had when she was a knight and later captain of the Silver Eagles.
Different from his room back in the Silva palace, smaller but more cosy, green tapestries with simple gold yellow embroidery, an atmosphere as like his mother never really died…
This was his room when he slept at the Silver Eagles base. He never shared it with anyone. Not even his siblings, it was just too painful. But today, he wasn't alone in this room that keep his guilt and loss alive, despite all the cosiness.
He wasn't alone.
"Hey there, handsome eagle. You took your time, I was so lonely while waiting," Vanessa greeted him as he entered the bedroom.
She smiled brightly while she put something on the table. Nozels eyes widened as he recognized the smell of roasted duck.
"You…"
"Yep, I brought you something to eat. Knowing you, you certainly haven't eaten yet. Come on, jumping a meal because of too much work is never a good idea. I asked Charmy to prepare your favourite meal, I think you deserve it."
"I… thank you."
"You're welcome, stud. Now, come eat."
He knew that tone. When Vanessa used it, there was no option to decline, he learned that pretty quickly. According to her, some of her squadmates still haven't got the lesson and that made him laugh.
So, Nozel sat down and started eating his roasted duck, while Vanessa stood behind him, making sure that he was eating and hugging him at the same time.
It was strange, somehow. Everything right now seemed so domestic, so calm and serene. Was this normal for a relationship, especially still a young one?
Nozel never asked himself how domestic life would feel like. Such a bliss was not required when nobles and royals married, only the alliances mattered. He remembered how his mother tried to have some domestic bliss with his father, only to have that hope shattered every time until she gave up.
If this was how domestic bliss should felt like, then he definitely wouldn't mind having it.
Nozel was finishing the dessert Vanessa brought as well, a slice of orange cheesecake, while she took a proper look at the chambers.
"This is a very cosy room. And a very unusual style for you, I have to say."
"It was already like this when I took it. It belonged to my mother."
"Oh, I see."
Her voice was always so soft, so full of compassion when they talked about Acier Silva. Sometimes, Vanessa asked questions about his mother out of curiosity and the more he told stories, the more his pain seemed to soothe.
Maybe he needed that from the start.
Nozel remembered that Vanessa mentioned she never had a nice bond with her own mother and still, she was never envious when they talked about his memories of Acier. Was it possible to be this kindhearted?
Vanessa took a framed picture in her hands and Nozel blushed as he realized which one it was.
"Oh my gosh, Nozel, is that you? Aw, you were such a cute little boy, look at those chubby cheeks. And you already had such a serious look, so adorable."
Since when where serious glances adorable?
Nozel finished his cheesecake and walked up to her, hugging her from behind. A hint of sad nostalgia pierced his heart as he looked at the small painting. His mother smiled, not much older than twenty, while a two or three year Nozel was in her arms.
"Your mother was really a beautiful woman."
"She was. Noelle got really lucky to get most of her looks from her."
"Don't be so harsh on yourself, you're one of the most handsome people in the kingdom. And you got a few looks from your mother as well."
"Oh, really?"
"First off, you got her eye colour, I love that metallic shade of purple, it's so unique. And the smile. Noelle has a very different smile than this, but when you're happy, you smile just like this as well."
Nozel scoffed, but her words touched him very much. He couldn't recall that anyone ever pointed out the similarities he had with his mother. Being the only one of his siblings who was perfect mix of his parents, he never got that.
But Vanessa was doing it. Because she seemed to see all the smaller details most people would ignore.
He hugged her more tightly, diving his face in her rosewood curls. The scent of rosewater filled his nose.
Was it too much to ask to have this in his life, in his still blurry future? Was it bad to wish to do the most simple things with her, like…
"Can I brush your hair?"
"Oh my, handsome eagle, I know no one else who has such simple wishes. Well, except maybe Gordon and Finral in a way."
They both sat down on the canopy bed, Nozel took his brush and started to entangle her beautiful curls. It was such a soothing task to do. He vaguely remembered doing this to Nebra once when she was four or five years old and his sister had seemed to hate it, preferring to have mother brush her hair.
But Vanessa seemed to love what he was doing.
When he was finished, Vanessa turned around, smiling so softly at him that Nozel forgot everything around him for a second.
"Alright, now it's my turn, captain eagle."
She started to undo his braid. A habit she took just yesterday, but she seemed to love to undo his braid and then later, braiding his bangs again. Nozel let her do it and even came to enjoy each time she touched his hair, no matter if it was to play with it or to try something.
Vanessa took her time to brush his hair, she clearly enjoyed gliding her fingers through it, along the brush. But when she finished, she dived both her hands fully in his thick hair and started to give him a scalp massage.
Nozel didn't except this gesture and at first, he had no idea how to feel about it. But it was so relaxing he stopped caring about it very soon.
"Just enjoy it, honey. I know you had a hard day today and you deserve to finally relax for this evening."
"Thank you."
"You're welcome."
By the heavens above, he loved this woman even more each day. Was this even possible? Well, for him it certainly was and he just wished he could find a way to properly show it to her, as she deserved it.
"I want this for the rest of my life."
He hadn't meant to tell those words aloud, but his mouth rebelled, like always when Vanessa was with him, actually.
"Me too, Nozel. Me too."
They both stared at each other, full of emotion but also full of understanding. Vanessa wasn't stupid, she was also pretty much aware of the situation they were in and even though she had a carefree attitude, she understood more than most people would probably gave her credit for. And yet, they loved each other.
Nozel sighed as he pulled her into a deep kiss. He didn't want to keep his relationship with Vanessa secret. When he was with her, he wanted to show her to the world, to show everyone what a wonderful woman she was and how lucky he felt to love her so deeply.
For now, it wasn't possible. But despite all his worries when she wasn't with him and the burden he still carried with him, Nozel found herself more and more determined to fight for her. The future was blurry and he didn't know yet what Vanessa wanted for later in her life. But she always told him to stop worrying from time to time and enjoy the presence more often and right now, it seemed like the best thing to do.
Their kiss deepened, became hotter and both of them knew what would come.
It didn't took too long until they got rid of their clothes. Like every time, they lost every sense of time and place, only knowing each other, only loving each other.
As their bodies were completely intertwined in their lovemaking and Nozel kissed Vanessa again with all the passion he could manage, one certitude became clear to his mind.
He was too far gone already, as he knew he would not hesitate to give up his royal status to be with Vanessa.
For once since long, Nozel felt completely free.