The sound of the rain sounded like a calm, soothing lullaby.

Vanessa closed her eyes, not to try to fall asleep, but enjoy this lullaby better, as much as she could. The fact that she was in Nozels arms right now, that she could feel his chest slightly moving by his breathing behind her back, make it pretty easy.

She was in his room at the Silva palace. Of course she was. They were together since almost two weeks. Vanessa never slept alone since their first time and never again in her bedroom back at the Black Bulls hideout. Sometimes, she wondered if she was even able to sleep back there again, alone and on the too soft mattress. But she didn't want to try even.

To think about that all of this started in Spade, when they talked for the first time. When she finally stopped clinging on that delusion on Yami after she didn't felt any jealousy when Charlotte confessed to him. And the first person she told a bit about it was Nozel. Fate or coincidence? Vanessa couldn't tell, but it definitely had a strange sense of humour, if it was humour.

She had decided to take her love life on a new way. But Vanessa never would have thought that she would fell in love and even more so, getting loved in return. And getting together! Not that she complained, Nozel was definitely one of the best things that happened in her life, alongside the Black Bulls and getting out of the cage.

Vanessa couldn't tell when exactly she fell in love with Nozel. Maybe it came slowly, step by step. Maybe it happened so fast that she didn't realized it immediately. Maybe it happened in Spade already and she needed time to know him better before she realized it.

Did it even matter? It happened and here she was now, in his arms, loving him, being loved by him.

Being with him was enough. Loving each other was enough.

Vanessa sighed. If only it could have been the case. It was enough for Nozel, she knew that, he was showing this in each of his gestures, in the way he looked at her, in the way he loved her. Each small gesture was a proof that he wanted to be with her for the rest of his life. A simple wish.

But they weren't just Nozel and Vanessa. They were also a Silver Eagle and a Black Bull. But this would have been enough too. No, more important was the fact that they were from totally different circles. Circles that usually didn't mixed, especially not out of love, at least from the perspective of nobility.

A prince and a witch.

Vanessa chuckled softly. That sounded like a dark fairy tale or a dark romance novel. She liked that, honestly.

Others won't, especially nobles. She didn't cared about their stupid opinions and she knew that Nozel didn't either. But they both couldn't ignore it either. Nobles had power and Nozel was one of the most eligible royals in the kingdom. Not to mention that his jerk of a father had something to say about it.

Vanessa hated Lac Silva. She only met him once and couldn't know much about him. What she knew already was enough for her to hate him. She still couldn't believe that this horrible man was the father of Nozel and Noelle. Even Nebra and Solid deserved better.

She still hoped sometimes that this man had a brother or a cousin with a better heart and that Acier Silva had a secret romance with said brother or cousin, getting her children from her lover instead of her husband.

But with what Nozel told about his mother, it was impossible that Acier Silva had a secret lover who would have loved her truly.

Vanessa hated that Lac Silva had so much power and even worse, such a good reputation. While he cheated on his wife with women he only used to secure his ambitions, he considered his children only as chess pieces, especially Nozel for some reason.

Vanessa closed her eyes, concentrating on the lullaby in the rain, on Nozel, his breath and his arms around her, his whole presence.

This was what she wanted. Not only in the presence, but also in the future. A future with him, whatever this might be.

She never wished for much before, when she got out of the cage. Maybe that Yami would see her as a potential lover, but Vanessa knew now that this never had been a serious wish. As for the rest, she had the Black Bulls, people to care for, a family. Most of her wishes were for her squadmates, not for herself.

But then, Nozel came along. He became one of her people, someone to care about, to protect, to wish him happiness, Rouge worked on him as well. He became practically the love of her life. Her lost duckling crush on Yami was nothing compared to what she felt for Nozel. How strange. Not even one year ago, she wouldn't thought more about him than Noelles cold older brother and the captain of the Silver Eagles, with a rather original hair style. And look where she was with him one year later.

Vanessa smiled. All things considered, she loved that turn of events.

And because she loved him and what they had so much, she was now afraid to lose it. Really afraid. Vanessa was certain that she couldn't take it to lose Nozel, in any way possible. She couldn't take to lose any of the people she cared about and he was not different on that matter. Even more so, he was the man she loved. With that, he had a unique place in her heart.

"You're not sleeping?"

His voice was deep and muffled. Nozel was still tired, his face must be in her hair or in the crook of her neck. She could feel his warm breath against her skin. He blow a soft kiss on her neck.

"I was thinking."

She felt him nodding softly. Of course he didn't ask, because he knew what was on her mind right now.

The ball.

That stupid ball that would be use as a trap to force other people to get betrothed against their will. Masked as a victory ball against Spade. So, the Magic Knights who weren't nobles and royals were invited as well. Probably forced to see their noble friends and loved ones being engaged to complete strangers or jerks against their will.

It was a dark way to paint the things and Vanessa even suspected that not everyone would be aware. But this was probably what Lac Silva imagined when he signed this offer. Forcing her to watch Nozel being engaged to a noble bitch.

Lac Silva might consider love as a complete bullshit, but he still might give it enough importance to hurt both Nozel and herself. While assuring a very beneficial marital alliance, two birds with one stone.

She had no proof, of course. But honestly, with what she knew already about Lac Silva, it wouldn't surprise her at all.

"I hate your father."

"No surprise here. You're even absolutely right with that sentiment."

Vanessa chuckled. It was funny and comforting also that Nozel didn't hold his father in his own heart as well. But then, she let out a deep sigh.

"Nozel… What will we do now?"

She heard him sigh. Nozel didn't answered immediately, that wasn't his style. Vanessa let him think. It was already so very soothing how tightly he hold her, as if he was afraid she would disappear if he wouldn't hold enough.

"Honestly… I don't know. I regret that I don't know more about noble etiquette and all those unwritten golden rules. Nebra and aunt Océane are far better experts than I am. But… I love you more than life itself, Vanessa… Whatever happens, I have chosen you already."

Oh gosh, how she loved that. How Nozel was able to say things like that as if it was the most natural thing in the world, without sounding so pompous, cringey or ridiculous.

She kissed him as thanks, long and full of passion. They were out of breath as they broke the kiss.

"Oh gosh, look at us! Honey, I love when you kiss me senseless, but that still doesn't answer what will do."

"I know. But I really have no idea."

He hugged her tightly, his face in the crook of her neck. Vanessa snuggled to him as close as she could. She knew how much Nozel hated to be unsure, to not know what to do next. That was how he felt when his mother had been cursed and he was still not quite over it. Nozel needed so much comfort when he was uncertain.

At least, he clearly more than certain about his love for her and this was more than enough reassuring for Vanessa.

"Will your father leave you in peace, somehow?"

"I fear not. He leaves me alone for now, but this is one of his strategies to get what he wants. My… Lac leaves his victim alone with a subject for a while, before attacking back with force, when his victims expect him the least. I observed him a lot since I was eleven or twelve. At least, when I had the occasion, after all, he wasn't often at home. For now, he's leaving me and my siblings alone. But he certainly hasn't given up to find a match for me. Not for my happiness, but for his own schemes."

Vanessa noticed that he stopped himself to say my father, using the name instead. Goodness, Nozel must have lost all respect for his father. But to be fair, he didn't had much already in the beginning, if he already saw his true colours since he was a child.

How much can parents do that their child loses every bits of respect for them?

"Why does he put most of his hope in you, though? When I met him for the first time, I had the impression that your father… excuse me, that Lac hated you the most from all of your siblings. So why does he want you to get married so badly?"

"I… have no idea."

The hesitation in his voice showed that he never realized this before. Vanessa hugged him more tightly.

"You were supposed to be an only child, am I right?"

"Yes. If I had a magic with water affinity, Nebra, Solid and Noelle would never have been born. Lac never enjoyed fatherhood, but having heirs is always one of the most important tasks within royalty and nobility. So, he planned to only have one child, with a water based magic. His duty would have been done. But when I my affinity was known, he had to change his plans and making more heirs, from which he hoped they would inherit his water affinity. One time mist and two times water, at least he was satisfied concerning this."

"Does he have a distaste against metal based magics or what? Why was it so important for him that his child has his water magic?"

"This root goes deep down. You know that house Kira mostly has light based magic, while fire magic is the most common affinity for house Vermillion. And for a time, water magic was the most common for the Silvas. Until my great-grandmother married into the family and since her, metal based magic was as common as water based magic, if not more. But in those old times, any metal affinity was considered unworthy of royalty and nobility. The fact that my great-grandmother was from a noble house didn't change that."

Then why even marrying a woman who had a magic affinity that was disliked by most in the first place?

Vanessa almost asked this question out loud, but held back. The reasons was surely some noble contradictory bullshit and she was certain that Nozel didn't understand it either. But at least, his explanation gave her more intel on why Lac Silva seemed to give that much importance on water magic.

"My grandfather tried to make water based magics the most common for the Silvas again. One of his reason why he married my grandmother and why my mother married my… married Lac. Knowing him, he probably promised my grandfather that water magic would overthrow the metal affinities."

"But you had mercury magic, which wasn't planned by him," Vanessa said thoughtfully. As if anyone could decide what magic affinity the children would have, but nobles like Lac Silva never seemed to take the most natural things into account.

"This is one of the things he hates about me."

"But still, why does he put so much of his hope on you and not on your siblings who have water based magics?"

"Probably because I'm the oldest one? A head of house, a captain… But I have no idea. All I know is that the betrothed he wants for me would serve his own scheme rather than house Silva. She would be his willing or unaware accomplice."

"He's an asshole."

"He is, really."

Of course they agreed on that. Vanessa couldn't help but giggle. Nozel never used cursing words and always blushed when she said some. For him to agree so casually was another proof how much he had no respect anymore for Lac Silva.

"You know honey, normally I would have been happy about the idea of a victory ball. For the Black Bulls to be invited too, maybe to wear a new dress for the occasion, to taste all the fancy wine… and to dance again with you."

This was one of her wishes Vanessa had since she and Nozel became lovers. Next to spend the rest of her life with him, she really wanted to dance with him again. She never forgot their dance at Finrals and Finesses wedding and since the start of their relationship, Vanessa had thought about it again. Starting to dream of dancing with Nozel again, a waltz maybe or even a slow dance, if it wasn't too much to ask from the nobles.

But this particular ball wasn't an appealing one. And with what she learned about Nozel and his world, so different from hers, Vanessa felt herself wary about it.

Her relationship with Nozel made her so happy, she didn't want to lose it. She would fight to keep it if she needed to. She was a Black Bull, proud and daring, she wasn't one to give a damn about what nobles thought about her.

Before Nozel, she never cared to learn about how this world of nobility worked, despite Noelles and Finrals explanations and attempts to avoid too much disasters. But now, Vanessa cared. Because her boyfriend was from this world and to not lose him, she needed to care at least a bit more and to learn about royalty.

Finral told her once that knowing each detail of a problem would be really helpful to solve said problem entirely. He had been right, of course he was. All the Black Bulls should listen more to him, from time to time.

The sound of the rain was soothing. Vanessa was surprised that she loved it now when it was raining. Before, she only liked the rain because it was for the plants and Charmys vegetable garden. Other than that, she only liked the sunny weather, while the rain was gloomy, an excuse to be a sad drunk.

How wrong she was. The rain was just as wonderful as the sun. It washes the world from the filth, it was calming, it was helping to enjoy the most soft moment. And in a way, it sounded like music, mostly a lullaby.

In a way, rain was also romantic.

Nozel was caressing her back, soft and slow. Vanessa knew immediately that he was deep in thoughts. Something very typical of Nozel Silva.

She wondered if he liked the rain or not. If it was just awakening the sad memories he carried with him. Or if on the other hand, it helped him remember them with less guilt and more nostalgy.

Suddenly, Nozel broke from the hug and stood up from the bed. Vanessa looked at him with surprise. She also pouted a bit. Nozels hugs were just the best, she always hated when she had to let go of him.

Nozel chuckled at her pouting face, before he took her hand with a smile.

"May I have this dance?"

Those words. Exactly like at Finrals and Finesses wedding. Only softer this time, because of the feelings between each other now.

Had she been already in love with him back then, without realizing it? Or had that dance just started the whole process? She didn't know. Maybe it wasn't important to know when exactly they fell in love with each other.

"Right here, right now?"

"Yes."

"That would be lovely."

The exact same words she had said back then. If she remember correctly, her voice acted on its own. She was grateful that it did.

Vanessa smiled as she took his hand and letting him lead her in the middle of his room.

"I'm sorry that there's no music," Nozel whispered softly, while holding her hand and putting his other one on her waist.

"But there is. The rain is the perfect music for this," Vanessa whispered back with a smile.

They started to sway around the bedroom. Nozel hold her close to him, closer than it was needed for a waltz or any similar dance. Her head was resting on his shoulder, she could feel his chin on the top of her hair.

They turned around like that, slowly, enjoying the moment.

Vanessa closed her eyes. Could this be their thing? Dancing when it was raining? Their couple thing? Finral and Finesse had something like that. They were always so happy to do puzzles together. Vanessa didn't know what was so exciting about puzzles anyway, but those two sweethearts obviously loved this occupation and never missed an opportunity to do it. Finesse said her lately that it was their couple thing. Something they loved to do with each other, something that meant a lot for them, something that was perfectly fitting into their relationship. Vanessa didn't know yet why puzzles of all things, but the description appealed to her.

She wanted something like that with Nozel. Dancing to the sound of the rain sounded wonderful.

"I will dance with you," Nozel suddenly said after a while, softly, during blissful minutes of dancing.

"My sweet eagle, you're dancing with me right now, in this very moment."

"No, I mean at the ball. I will dance with you. I want to dance with you only. And I will, I promise."

He sounded so determined despite his soft voice. Vanessa felt her heart racing at the sound. She was used to his romantic words at this point, but it still making her feel like a love-struck girl every time all over again.

"Despite your father, despite the nobles, despite all the risks?"

"You're worth all of this."

"You too…"

She meant that, just as much as he meant his words. It was a scary and also wonderful feeling to know how much worth she was for him. Scary because Nozel would be able to face the world for her, for anyone he cared about, despite not showing it most of the time. Wonderful because it was another proof that she meant so much for him.

And Vanessa wanted to show him that she felt all the same for him.

They were still dancing, but Vanessa now put both her arms around his neck, kissing him deeply. If Nozel was surprised by her sudden action, he didn't show it. He just kissed her back almost immediately.

It was a promise, not only for that ball.

They slowly stopped their dance eventually, going back into bed. Nozel hold her tightly as always, to a point that Vanessa could've swear she melted.

"We really should do this more," she whispered, as slumber finally started to take over her.

"What do you mean?" Nozel asked, his voice deep from his feelings and from sleep.

"Just dancing together. It doesn't need to be at a ball. Just to be our thing."

"Our thing?"

Somehow, it didn't sounded like a question.

"I'll explain this when we're both awake, honey."

Nozel just hummed, his hand slowly caressing her back up and down.

The last thing Vanessa heard before she fell asleep was Nozels heartbeat and the lullaby of the rain. The last thing she felt were his lips on her head and his warm body against her.

There was no better way to fall asleep than this.

It was raining,

Charlotte always loved the sound of rain incredibly soothing, but Yami didn't seem like he felt the same about it. When it started raining, he mumbled something about "stupid rain, stupid Finral who left me alone to go home soaked wet, stupid everything." And something about dumps and Charmys mushroom soup.

She just chuckled at his comments, which made him both pout and take her in his large arms to take comfort.

Yami could be so much like a little child sometimes. Strangely enough, Charlotte liked this side of him. It didn't upset her as much as before. It still did sometimes, but compared to how it was before, she definitely was more patient with him. But patience was always needed with Yami.

It was so relaxing right now. The sound of the rain, being in Yamis arms, in her canopy bed back at the Blue Rose base, under the most warm and fluffiest blanket she possessed. It was just perfectly to rest and calm down.

Heaven's knew how she needed this right now. To calm and to relax. After the news about the Three Leaves Glory ball fell during the captains meeting. Not to mention that her not so dear aunt Rosamund had something to do with this.

Charlotte sighed. She never had been fond of balls before, but at least the few balls she had known were mostly there for a party, for having fun. Not to trap naïve people into betrothal and matrimony.

It was a good thing that the past goal of that ball was now forbidden, but well, the roots of the problem were still there. As long as the roots were there, the problem would stay, even if it was another version of it.

She was glad that her mother warned her about this ball, so it didn't took her too much by surprise. Since their talk when her mother told Charlotte her story and since she met the Black Bulls, Orchidea became very supportive and in a way, also protective. Not overprotective, Orchidea wasn't like that, but she never hid the hurdles that were on her way.

Like this ball…

Charlotte let out another sigh. This perspective of an arranged marriage would never leave her in peace at this point. Right at the time when she find her brother, when she finally became closer with her mother.

Right at the time when she was finally together with Yami.

The time seemed so perfectly chosen that Charlotte wondered if she hadn't somehow upset Fate or any divinity to deserve that.

Most members of house Roselei were eager to marry her off, of course for personal reasons, whatever those were. But no one was more motivated than her aunt Rosamund. Seriously, why was she so determined to marry her into house Évantail, one way or another? And why Reginald Évantail of all people? The more Charlotte thought about it, the more fishy all of it seemed to be. Was there something more than the usual alliance wishes that happened with a marital alliance? More than more power, than reputation?

Maybe she was overthinking this. But still, it bothered her a lot.

As if she didn't had enough to deal with right now. Captain duties, the marriage plans of her house, helping her mother to come to terms with what happened to her, Luck becoming more and more a member of her family. Or herself becoming more and more one of his family. Or both?

And of course, her relationship with Yami. She still had sometimes difficulties to believe that it really happened. But every day was another proof that it was reality, not one of her dreams and fantasies becoming too real.

But of course, it wasn't like a silly, normal romance novel where the couple got everything they wanted after they got together, the End. Reality was different. There were still problems lingering after the lovers finally get together. Especially in a world like the Clover kingdom, especially since she was a noble and Yami a foreigner. There were so many details and Charlotte doubted that she would have enough nerves to deal with any of them.

She didn't ask for much for herself, really. She just wanted to be with Yami, to spend the rest of her life with him. Charlotte already waited for over a decade to love him fully, she refused to let go of the happiness she just found.

But for nobility, this was too much to ask for, while marrying out of duty was considered pretty normal, no one was allowed to complain about that.

It didn't make any sense, but that wasn't surprising for Charlotte. She knew all that, she knew that for years, she knew that even more since the return from Spade.

"Ya know, just sayin' screw you all might be a solution."

"What do you mean?"

Charlotte didn't even asked how Yami knew what she was thinking about. Of course he knew what was bothering her.

"Yer suitors. You can do that. It's not like they can take the better of ya."

"I know that, Yami. I'm already known kinda as a cold queen when it comes to suitors, you called me that as well from time to time, remember?"

"But you are. Well, you were, yer not that cold anymore with me."

"With you, yes. But I still have suitors and I can't act like they interest me. It's better to make it clear from the start that they're not for me."

"Ya could still be nicer to them."

"Weren't you just the one who told me to screw them?"

"Was I? I'm getting old."

"You're one year older than me."

Yami laughed at that, which really relieved Charlotte. At least, he wasn't pouting like a child anymore because of the rain.

But the laugh didn't last long and she knew that this conversation would get more serious. Yami let go of her – she Charlotte felt like she would pout – and sat up on the mattress, pensive.

It was the ball that worried him. Of course it did. But even in his book, he worried a lot. Charlotte knew first-hand how easy going Yami could be on serious matters. Too easy going sometimes, if you asked her.

But right now, maybe she would have preferred his usual behaviour. Maybe.

"I really don't like this, ya know."

"No one does."

"You have such a bitch aunt. There's something fishy about how stubborn she is to make you Reggies wife number six or number seven. Or was it eight? Lost count somehow about how many times this geezer went at the altar."

"Glad to know that I'm not the only one to find Rosamunds schemes suspicious."

"Yeah, whatever she has in mind, I really don't like it."

His voice was so unusually soft, somehow it broke Charlottes heart to hear him like that. So, she sat up as well and hugged from behind. He was so buff, she barely could put her arms fully around him. But it was more than enough, as he put a hand on her arm.

"I have the feeling that you're almost more upset about this whole charade than I am."

"Well… You're my girlfriend and I really don't like how people, like your own bitch auntie, are treating like yer a price or a tool or anything not living. That's not what yer deserve. At least, your mom is having yer back. But I just want to beat those assholes blue and green."

"As much as I'm not against that perspective, you do realize that beating them up won't solve everything on the long road? A lot of nobles are very talented to use their beat up to their own advantage. Some might even use it a shortcut for their goal."

She thought about Lac Silva and how he took advantage on her mother when she was drunk and down. He really seemed like the type of person to do this. It was so hard to believe that all four Silva siblings were his offspring.

"Yami, we should all work together to stop all the schemes that might have been planned for this Three Leaves Glory ball. Be happy that Gueldre isn't a captain anymore, he would have been one to either approve or to sign the offer. He had a history on doing shaming deals on balls as well."

"Yeah, that boneless ham would be excited about that ballish crap."

"But he's not a captain anymore since a long time and the rest of us are more level-headed to recognize some backhanded scheme when see one, even you and Rill and Jack."

"What do you mean, even me and Glowing Hair and Beanpole?"

Charlotte just laughed at his words, even though he sounded like pouting child again. She kissed his neck softly to settle him down and he calmed down immediately.

"I don't know what lies in front of us with this ball. All I know is that it will be difficult. We're from two different circles out of our Magic Knights and squad captains positions. I'm a noble, you're a… well…"

"I'm a foreigner, I know. Don't be afraid to call a cat a cat. I don't blame ya. You don't mean to be insulting, ya just stating facts."

"Still… I don't like calling you that."

"As long as it's the fact and not the insult, I'm good. Besides, one of us needed to put the situation with those shitty circles in words and we both know that it's not me. I don't care too much about that."

"I don't care either. Or at least, not in a way nobles want me to care. But if… if we want a future together, we can't ignore any of this, we need to face it instead."

"Future together? Ya already plan that?"

"Well… I mean… It's the normal course of action to… to think about our future if we want to stay together. And it's not if because we WANT to be together! At least, I want and you want as well, right? I mean, we don't need to be classic or full out rebels, we need to find out what we out, but we need to plan for that. Gosh, I know we're together for not long yet, but… Come on, I'm not that patient anymore since I've been hopelessly in… in love with you for ten years and… For Heaven's sake, why is this so complicated?"

Now she was blushing and stuttering like crazy. This hadn't happened since a while in Yamis presence. At least the stutter, she still blushed a lot about him, even if it wasn't as crazy as before. But still!

Yami burst out of laughter at her confused speech. Now it was Charlottes turn to pout. She still didn't like it too much when he made fun of her, even though she was well aware that it wasn't to insult her.

"No need to pout, Prickly Queen, ya know how much I love that side of you."

"At least one of us likes my stuttering and blushing side, to bad it's not me."

Yami laughed again, before turning in her hug and making them both fall back on the mattress. Charlotte yelped as she find herself very close to his chest, one of his strong arms around her, holding her so tightly that if it had been one inch more, she wouldn't have been capable to breath anymore.

"I'm not against to have my whole ass life spend with you, Prickly Queen. Seems even very appealing to me. But as ya said, we're not hooking up for long, so let's not quicken too much the inevitable, alright?"

"Okay…"

"Ya know, yer lucky that your mom warned you about that. She's a good woman."

"Thank you. I haven't realized it before, but I can't wish for a better mother."

"Yer lucky she's still alive…"

His voice soften so much, it took Charlotte aback. It sounded sad, somehow, so unlike Yami. And at the same time, that tone was still like Yami.

He never talked about his home country before, about his family from there, about his time before he stranded in Clover. Charlotte was curious about this secret past, even more so since they were in a relationship. But she kept her curiosity for herself, because she clearly felt that it was a heavy subject for him. Did he definitely moved on from his past since he started his life in Clover or did he still hoped to see the famous Land of the Sun again?

The rain still fell heavily against the window. Somehow, Charlotte had the feeling it was telling her something. To ask Yami about his past? No, that was too bold. But still, she felt that she needed to say something.

"I'm sorry about your mother…"

That felt like the right thing to say in this very moment. She could hear Yami chuckle, more softly than it was usual for him.

"Thanks, Prickly Queen. One day, I'll tell ya more about my time in my homeland."

"You don't need to if you don't want or if you're not want."

"But I trust ya and I want to tell ya one day. Just not yet… I don't think I'm ready."

"And that's okay. You can be vulnerable with me. You always say that to me, it's only normal that it also works the other way around in a relationship."

"Yeah… But don't tell anyone about that side of me, especially not my brats or our captain colleagues! I'll never the end of it if Nacht or Nozel especially hear about that!"

That sounded more like usual Yami. But Charlotte know that there were different side to him. And she loved every side of him, even those he didn't want to show to others.

So she promised, because it was such a nice feeling to know that he trusted her enough to feel vulnerable in her presence.

"Ya know, it's weird, but suddenly I like the sound of that shitty rain."

"It's not weird, it's just normal to suddenly appreciate little things. And it is soothing."

"And it turns me on…"

"Yami!"

"Just kiddin'. Okay, not that much, but we can wait a bit before another round. Just to forget all the crap for a while again."

"Alright, give me five minutes first."

"Thirsty, Prickly Queen?"

"Up to you to find out."

It was early in the morning at the base of the Crimson Lions. There was no sun shining through the windows, since it was still raining, but Fuegoleon didn't mind. Rain was always calming and with all his love for passion, he also knew that calm was needed from time to time. Passion and calm were nothing without each other.

Fuegoleon was looking at the rain, pensive. Soon, he would get ready and prepare himself for the day. As a captain of the Crimson Lions, there was always a lot to do and Fuegoleon knew better than to push his duties away until it was too late.

He also knew better than to do everything all by himself. As responsible as he felt, he also knew his limits. It was needed if you wanted to be stronger, but one of the first things Theresa Rapual teached him when he was still a child, was to accept that it was okay to delegate and to rely on others. Teamwork was important, all the battles the Magic Knights from all nine squads had to fight during all those years were proves of it.

Even today, with those thievery affairs in the Common Realm. Or that Three Leaves Glory ball demanded by many nobles.

It was worrying and Fuegoleon knew that it wasn't just on a Magic Knight level.

"Dear? What is bothering you again?"

Fuegoleon turned around and smile came across his lips as he saw the beautiful woman sitting on his bed, her eyes still half-closed from the sleep.

Lital Lys, his girlfriend for like ten years and for him the most wonderful woman in the kingdom. Well, he loved her, so his opinion was certainly biased, but Fuegoleon had no reason to believe anything else.

"Is it about the ball?"

"You know me too well, my beloved."

"We're a couple for ten years, I better do."

Both chuckled, then Lital stood up and came over him at the window. She was shamelessly wearing one of his shirts and Fuegoleon couldn't help but appreciate the sight.

She hadn't made her little braids yet, so the curls of her thick dark purple hair fell over her eyes, which made her push them back as much as she could, only for her hair to fall over her face again. Lital often complained that she was practically blind she didn't braid her bangs and curls out of her face. But Fuegoleon loved her hair, be it slightly braided or not. It was like a lion's mane, how could he not love it?

Lital hugged him, her head against his shoulder. Fuegoleon hugged her back as tightly as he could, one hand running through her wonderful hair.

"Fue, I know how this ball is concerning. My mother already sent me three letters and called me twice just to tell me to be careful with it. You know her… But I don't think we should be to worried about ourselves. I was bastard and I came from the slums originally, there's no denying that people will always hold this against me. But I was legitimized, no one can deny that I belong to house Lys and we're together for so long. Heck, we practically made it definitely official at the royal wedding three months ago. Not to mention that Mereo would probably kill anyone who dared to object. Nobles can't really do anything to keep us apart."

"I know all that, Lital. It's not what worries the most about this ball, trust me."

"What is it then, my love?" Lital asked. Fuegoleon let go a bit of her, enough so that he could push her bangs out of her face and look into her eyes. Those beautiful nacreous eyes.

"I'm worried about Yami and Charlotte. I'm worried about Nozel and his secret sweetheart. They're not quite in the same situation as us, like being in a relationship for a decade or being lucky to not care about the different status too much."

"I understand that you are worried for captain Yami and captain Charlotte. But if they're already together like you suspect, they're might be less to worry about, since both are stubborn enough to face those kind of hurdles together."

"I do hope so."

"And why are you worried about captain Nozel and his secret beloved? Can this ball be dangerous for them as well."

"If Nozel is in a secret relationship with someone out of royal circles, then yes, there is danger for them. And I'm very certain that his beloved is neither a noble nor a royal."

"How can you be so sure about that?"

Fuegoleon laughed at the surprise in her nacreous eyes.

"You don't know Nozel like I do, dearest. His appearance of a perfect royal is a mask, he is perfectly capable to not only fell in love with someone out of his circles, but also to act upon it. Whoever this person might be, they certainly are together for some time now. Why do you think Nozel started to finally spend less time at work?"

"Wait… Nozel Silva, the ever-so-busy captain of the Silver Eagles and the only actual royal Head of House to actually doing his job choose to work less?"

"I was surprised as well, I'll admit. His mother's legacy had always been so important to him, he worked so much to keep it safe. But love can make people jump into the Unknown. We both know that very well."

Lital chuckled. "You really do know him very well."

"He's my rival and my childhood friend, of course I do."

"But you still don't know him fully, so be cautious with her assumptions, my dear."

"Touché."

The both laughed, but the seriousness of the situation came back to their minds immediately.

"So, what do you want to do for them?"

"I sadly don't know yet, Lital. Yami, Charlotte and Nozel went through a lot and even though I don't know exactly everything they went through, it's pretty much obvious to me that they deserve to have finally good things happening to them. Same for Nozels beloved, whoever that person might be."

"You do know that all three would probably tell you to mind your own business?"

"They would and in a way, they would be right," Fuegoleon laughed. "But I would be a bad friend and colleague to still not try to help them. Not to mention it would be unworthy of a Magic Knight and even more a squad captain."

Those arranged marriages were one the things going wrong in this kingdom and Fuegoleon wasn't blind. He couldn't look away. There were so many things that weren't right and no matter how long it would take, a better world and a better system will one day see the day. He wanted to achieve that, for the people of the Clover kingdom, for the people he cared about, for his own future with Lital, for his friends, which included Nozel, Yami and Charlotte.

Lital chuckled again.

"What is it?"

"Nothing, my great lion. I just love how caring you sound for the world when you act this pompous."

"Pompous, me?"

"Exactly and-"

He didn't let her finish, pulling her immediately into a deep kiss. How amazing was it that those long years could still deepen his love for this woman?

Their kiss was short-lived though, as an upset hiss was heard.

"You know that you don't need to watch us kiss, Salamander," Fuegoleon gently scolded his spirit, who was right now in his tiny form, resting on one of his pillows.

Lital laughed, breaking from the hug and going to the bed to caress the little yet powerful fire spirit.

"At least there is one who isn't worried," she laughed. Somehow, it sounded like Salamander was purring.

"I'll admit that sometimes I envy him for that," Fuegoleon replied, joining them and hugging his beloved again.

They went silent for a moment, enjoying the calm morning and the sound of the morning rain falling against the windows. Somehow, it sounded like a song.

"If helping them to get the same happiness we have is this important to you, you'll have my support," Lital said after a while, sounding determined. "Besides, if we want to get married soon, it's better to make sure that our marriage shall be the norm one day and not an exception within royals and nobles."

"Thank you."

That was all he said, while holding Lital closer and blowing a kiss on her shoulder. Yes, one day they will get married and they won't be the only ones to change the system of those arranged, loveless marriages.