"It is kinda risky to do this here, Mylady."

Charlotte didn't recognize that cold, almost calculating and submissive voice. It probably belonged to the servant she didn't know.

"What I do and what I pay you for is very risky, so don't judge too quickly, Robin, and don't give me that attitude. Don't forget where you would be without me, you would be in prison for that amateur fraud."

That arrogant voice could only belong to her dear aunt Rosamund. Although, Charlotte never heard her sound like this before. So determined, as if she was a leader.

"I know what I owe you, Mylady," Robin replied, still sounding cold and submissive.

"We won't have such an occasion like this ball again, even though it's risky. And besides, we don't have much time anymore, the shipping will tomorrow now, as the date changed all of a sudden. The sooner all this crap leaves the Clover Kingdom, the better. Now follow me, you still need to help Stein, Alban and Daisy with the rest."

Rosamund and the lad called Robin left the room and Charlotte immediately behind a statue, so that they wouldn't see her, pulling her wide dress close to her legs. Who knows what her aunt might say if she discovered her niece, who was also a Magic Knight Captain, more or less spying on her?

Thankfully, Rosamund and Robin went in the opposite direction, not looking at all towards the statue Charlotte was hiding behind. Still, she waited a bit that they disappeared completely form the hallway before she moved.

Rosamund didn't locked the room she just came out. Charlotte didn't know if her aunt was just stupid or terribly overconfident.

Maybe both.

There was nothing in this hallway, only doors, statues, paintings on the walls on one said and windows on the other, letting in the first moonlight. She was alone. Time to risk and go into the room.

"Captain Charlotte?"

Charlotte immediately jumped, getting in an attack position. But she relaxed when she saw that it was only Vanessa, who put her hands up with smile.

"Whoa, sorry, I didn't mean to scare you!"

"I apologize, Vanessa, I'm just a bit too much on the edge right now."

"Captain Rill told Nozel and me what he knows. So, is your aunt involved with the thievery in the Common Realm?"

"I still hope not, even though I don't like her, but… I just have a gut feeling."

"It's always good to follow your gut feelings. Why do you think I started to reach to Nozel after the whole raid in Spade?"

"Speaking of, where is he?"

"He went to search captain Yami, so that they can both have our backs once they join us. And captain Rill continues what you ask him to do, search the Wizard King and warn the other captains if he sees them. As for me, I'm here to help you."

Charlotte smiled. Help was certainly welcome and she liked Vanessa more than enough to trust her. So, she quickly told her what she overheard. Which wasn't much, but after working so long as a Magic Knight, Charlotte knew that every little detail that seemed insignificant can have its importance.

Vanessa only nodded during the explanation, a thoughtful expression on her face.

"It really does sounds suspicious. I can't think of another possibility, honestly. But why would one of your aunts and member of your house be involved into those thievery in the Common Realm?"

"I have no idea and honestly, I still hope that my suspicions are wrong. I don't like Rosamund, but she is still my aunt and it would be such a shame still if she is somehow behind all this. For house Roselei of course, but also for nobility. No matter what most nobles believe, they aren't exempted from justice just because of their rank. If the judge isn't corrupt or if the crime is enormous or if there are enough witness, they can still go to prison. The Wizard King worked a lot that Justice should be the same for everyone and even though he doesn't seem like it, Damnatio Kira agreed with him."

"Really? I can't believe he would accept that, given what happened to Asta. But at the same time, there was the case with the Devil Believers…"

"Yes, Damnatio has often very questionable methods and I don't agree myself with his way of thinking. But he sincerely cares for the Clover Kingdom, no one can take this away from him. And nobles already tried to bargain him, but Damnatio always refused."

"Really? Well, I give him that, then, even though I don't like him. So, how about we stop chattering and see what your auntie has hidden in this room?"

Charlotte nodded. She was curious, but also a bit anxious. If her suspicions would be true, what would she do?

At least, she wasn't alone right now. And it helped to know that Yami would soon be there as well. Having him at her side for something like a mission, counting on him for something rather delicate… It felt Charlottes heart with pride and love.

The two Magic Knights slowly opened the door, who seemed to have been oiled recently. Interesting.

The room was some kind of little salon or boudoir, with sophisticated furniture, normal for a royal room.

It would have been nothing special if it weren't for the strange baskets that were placed around the room. There were all sizes and forms, each one of them covered with some dark velvet sheet, hiding what was inside the baskets.

Charlotte quickly kneeled down to one basket on the floor, removing softly the velvet. Inside were some little wooden sculptures, of regular animals or mystical creatures. Charlotte couldn't help but frown as she covered the basket again.

Weren't wooden sculptures on Marx' list about all the things that had been stolen in the Common Realm?

"There are some stone sculptures in this one. And that basket is filled with things made of iron and steels. This is a lot of craftwork in those baskets. But also common things like common clothes or daily accessories. What does your aunt want with all of this? Nothing looks like luxurious enough for a noble."

"Because all of those things have been stolen in the Common Realm during those last few months. Marx has made a list and I took a look at it from time to time. My aunt has actually something to do with all those thievery acts."

The conclusion felt like a hit for Charlotte. It was really uncomfortable feeling that someone of your own family was behind a crime and even more so, a crime you have been yourself investigating for quite a while.

But the worst part for Charlotte was… that she wasn't even surprised that aunt Rosamund was behind something like that. She wasn't even totally disgusted by this revelation, she was just… done. Not surprised at all. No shock, just almost plain indifference, a little bit of disgust, a bit of frustration.

Charlotte didn't know if this made her a terrible person towards her own aunt or if she just knew Rosamunds nature well enough and that she was instead a bit upset that she hadn't figured it out before.

Vanessa actually came over to her, putting a comforting hand on her shoulder. "I'm sorry for you. It must be hard to know that your own aunt is behind a criminal organization."

"Thank you, Vanessa. But to be perfectly honest with you, I was never that close with aunt Rosamund and I never liked her, even when I was a little child. The worst is not that she is part of my house, but more that I'm not even surprised about… all of this."

"Ouch, this is hard."

"You can say that."

"But, why would she do something like this, then?"

"I have no idea, honestly. I know her personality, but this doesn't mean that I know a lot about my dear aunt Rosamund. It would really important to find out her reasons to do something like that and there are so many questions still we don't know the answers. But I doubt we might find most answers here."

Charlotte also started to wonder if Rosamunds stubborn attempts to marry her of with Reginald Évantail has also something to do with those thievery acts or if it was something else entirely.

There were many possibilities to everything and Charlotte hated to ignore which door was the right one.

How she wished that Yami was here, to hold her, to give her strength.

Vanessa looked thoughtful for a second, before she said, "You did tell me that your unkind auntie mentioned something about shipping. Could it be that all those goods were not only stolen, but were planned to be brought to another country? How is it called? Crap, Nozel explained it to me once! When you can't sell goods in another country due to complicated reasons, that you need to do it on criminal ways… This has a special word! What was it again?"

"You mean, smuggling?"

"Yes! That was the word Nozel tried to explain to me!"

"It is a possibility, I admit. But when it's about smuggling, there would be more luxurious items, more things from the Noble Realm. All those things are common, not luxurious at all, everything was stolen in the Common Realm. So, why smuggle them?"

"Maybe it's going to be smuggled in a faraway country were items that are common for us are actually expensive?"

"It's possible, of course. But I doubt it. Something feels of and I can't say what it is. This is so frustrating."

"I know, not knowing can be a curse when you at least know that there is more. What should we do? If we go to search for more people, we might lose some precious time while your aunt and her accomplices might come back and take everything away. Should someone stay here? Or do you have maybe a communication device on you?"

Charlotte didn't had time to answer, because now voices were coming nearer and nearer.

And one of those voices belonged to her dear aunt Rosamund.

This was bad. As near as they were, Rosamund and her helpers would certainly see the two of them leaving this room.

Charlotte looked more or less panicking at Vanessa, who thankfully understood the problem immediately. She took Charlottes wrist and pulled her behind a curtain. Right one second before Rosamund and her accomplices entered the room.

Taking a discreet peek from behind the curtain, Charlotte recognized Robin immediately. The other three – Stein, Alban and Daisy, if she remembered correctly – were a very huge man, buffer than Yami, who looked really, really dumb, a little boy, very pale, with white hair, and woman who seemed to be young and old at the same time, with too much and cheap make-up.

"There is still a lot of crap to transport," the woman said, certainly Daisy. Her voice sounded young, but the bored tone made her sound old and mature for some reason.

"Don't complain, Daisy, it is an important task. And don't forget where you were before I engaged you."

"How can I forget, you love to remember me every two or three hours, lady Rosamund," Daisy replied, still bored, but just like Robin, it now also sounded submissive. At least those two seemed to have some respect for her aunt and Charlotte was almost certain that it was genuine. But did they like Rosamund as well?

"Isn't the shipping for tomorrow?" the little boy asked. Charlotte immediately felt compassion towards him. What could have lead a little boy like him to participate with a criminal organization?

"The ship will leave for Hino tomorrow night, but it is still better to make it tonight. Everyone is busy with the ball and to finally engage people to the best party, like it always should be. If we're lucky, there will be a lot of betrothals celebrating tomorrow, so no one will take notice of the ship leaving for the land of the sun."

Charlotte flinched and felt Vanessa doing the same right next to her.

Hino.

The land of the sun.

Both names that were given to Yamis homeland.

Yami didn't talk much about his homeland, not to mention about his past before he was stranded to the shores of Clover. Charlotte suspected that something terrible must have happened back there, because her boyfriend also always had a sad, nostalgic glance in his eyes when someone mentioned the land of the sun.

Yami did promised her that he will tell her about his past and about his homeland one day, once he's ready. And Charlotte was ready to wait decades for him to be ready to talk about that.

But also, Yami never mentioned that he wanted to go back. Charlotte even ignored that there was a way to reach the land of the sun, no one ever talked about that and so, she assumed that it was just impossible for now.

So, how the heck did someone like Rosamund Roselei found a way to that faraway land? Why was she even interested in a foreign country, she who always seemed to hate anything that wasn't from Clover or at least from the Heart Kingdom?

It was really frustrating that the more little details she learned, the more it left her confused.

"Alright, let's not waste too much time," Rosamund commanded, clapping her hands two times. "We still need to bring all those baskets to the ship and I would like to write my letter to our customer back there sometime before tomorrow noon, if possible."

"Mylady?"

"What is it, Robin?"

"Lord Reginald Évantail is coming this way and he looks kinda upset for some reason."

Rosamund groaned in frustration, which honestly surprised Charlotte. Wasn't her aunt at least on good terms with Reginald Évantail? Why this reaction?

She didn't need to wait long for an answer, as the number one of the suitors she refused to marry came into the room, looking upset and nervous.

Charlotte couldn't help but make a face when she saw that suitor again, looking so gaudy in his purple and golden suit, his hair ridiculously styled with gel, leaving his forehead looking bigger than it was and of course, he hid his grey hair with hair colouring again. And this was the man her aunt Rosamund wanted to marry her of to?

Vanessa looked like she was about to burst into laughter. Charlotte didn't know if it was because of lord Reginalds gaudy outfit and hairstyle, or because of the face she made when she saw him.

But now wasn't the moment to get caught. So, Charlotte put a hand on Vanessas mouth and looked sternly at her, her eyebrows raised very high. This seemed to make her companion wanting to laugh even more. But thankfully, Vanessa was now holding back better.

"Dear Rosamund, this can't continue like this," Reginald started to talk and now Charlotte was holding herself back to burst into laughter. How ridiculous was his voice, sounding like a spoiled five year old brad with the voice of an old man?

"Reginald, can't you see that I'm in the middle of important business?" Rosamund replied, annoyed. Well, if this wasn't the proof that lord Reginald Évantail was at least aware of the truth behind the thievery within the Common Realm.

"But I'm still not engaged to Charlotte, like you promised!"

Vanessa let out a silent gasp and Charlotte immediately put a hand on her mouth. She would explain this to her friend later, but right now wasn't the place for having such a discussion.

Reginald didn't even let Rosamund answer, as he continued, "Don't forget this, you let me marry your niece and she becomes my sixth wife. In addition, I won't tell anyone about your little organisation-"

"Little? Just because it's only Robin, Daisy, Stein, Alban and me, plus our contact in the land of the sun, doesn't mean that MY organisation is a little one!"

And she was even proud about that? Okay, this was truly disgusting.

"Listen, Reginald. The Three Leaves Waltz already happened, didn't you just grab Charlotte for it? You would have been betrothed already, without all this draining discussions and hearings that would usually happen."

Charlotte felt sick and was grateful that Vanessa grabbed her hand in comfort immediately. So, this ball and especially this waltz were really meant to engage people against their will, despite this tradition being officially removed. And for some reason, Charlotte also had the feeling that it was very tightly bonded to this thievery organisation.

"I couldn't! You haven't been there for the waltz, Rosamund, so you haven't seen how lord Nozel Silva has chosen to dance with the Black Bull witch of all people. He destroyed the meaning of the Three Leaves Waltz by dancing with someone out of his circle, because why would he even choose a WITCH to be his future wife?"

Now, it was Charlottes turn to grab Vanessas hand in comfort.

"Lord Nozel and a witch? What an idiot. Does he think that he's in a novel or something?" Daisy commented annoyed while controlling a basket full of cheap fantasy necklaces made of steel, wood or stone. Charlotte frowned. This woman certainly wasn't a noble and for some reason, she was still for the status quo.

Rosamund looked rather pissed. "I knew that lord Nozel was the worst royal Head of House, even his naïve late mother wasn't that stupid." Now, Charlotte had to hold Vanessa back, just in case. "Such a useful way to organize arranged marriage without the usual, long paperwork and he destroyed it on one ball. But you don't need to panic, Reginald. You're still going to marry Charlotte. You know that I have very good reasons to have my stupid niece out of house Roselei once and for all."

Another reason to hold Vanessa back. Charlotte wondered why her aunt wanted her so badly out of house Roselei. But at least, she knew now how Rosamund really thought about her. Which was actually relieving, in a way.

"But I'm still not betrothed to Charlotte," Reginald said again, clearly upset. "I told you already, I'm going to tell the authorities about your organization of thieves if I'm not going to marry Charlotte!"

Wait, was this blackmail? Rosamund was being so stubborn to marry Charlotte of to Reginald Évantail just because that jerk was blackmailing her about her criminal organization?

Charlotte felt sick for a moment.

But Rosamund didn't look scared or that she was feeling threatened. "And do you think that the authorities would give you a pass? You haven't told anyone about my dear organisation for a rather long time and you can't even bring the argument that I have threatened you."

As much as Charlotte disliked her aunt, she had to give her a point for this. Under some circumstances, keeping silent about a crime can be considered a delict. And in her books, Reginald Évantail fell under those circumstances right now.

"You're also jealous that I, a woman, managed to organize something like this, while you couldn't. But again, I have good reasons to have Charlotte out of house Roselei and in yours, she would be just another Évantail. And by marrying her of, there are good chances that she will stop being a Magic Knight captain anymore. It gives her too much freedom and her so-called curse didn't help to put her in her place."

Okay, this was enough. Charlotte had no patience anymore to listen to all those stupid things. She was strong, but her endurance to stupidity still wasn't limitless.

So, she came out from behind the curtain, Vanessa right at her side.

The other people present in this salon were all surprised, plus showing other emotions. Rosamund was clearly upset as well, Reginald couldn't hide his panic, Daisy was annoyed, Robin had a cold glance and the buff giant looked like he wanted to break bones. The only one who didn't looked unkind was the little boy.

"L-lady Charlotte… I-I didn't expect t-to see you here."

"Obviously so, lord Reginald. You wouldn't be stuttering, otherwise."

She knew her voice was cold. But Charlotte also knew that Reginald Évantail didn't deserve any kindness. She wouldn't have the strength to be kind to someone like him, anyway.

"Charlotte, dear niece," Rosamund started with fake kindness full of venom. "I didn't expect to see you here. Why are you in the company of a witch?"

"Aunt Rosamund, her name is Vanessa. Vanessa Enoteca. You better don't forget that name, because I have the feeling that you're going to hear it more in the future. And drop your act, please. You know that we overheard everything you said."

"Nice collection of items," Vanessa said cheerfully, as if this was a circle of close friends. Maybe she would be able to handle nobility rather well, with this kind of attitude. "Not expensive even. It's nice to see that some nobles are also interested into less luxurious things, you're opening more doors to get items."

"That's why I hate witches, they're always so cheeky," Robin said coldly.

"You clearly haven't met the Witch Queen then, sugar. In fact, you react so much like her that I wonder if you're not related to Her Majesty in some ways."

"You are really bold, for a witch. I don't what lord Nozel might see in you, except maybe being good in bed," Rosamund said and Charlotte was ready to slap her for this words, but Vanessa was faster.

"You clearly don't know Nozel at all, lady… Rosamund, was it? Maybe you should change your prejudices on royalty, it might help you open your eyes."

"How dare you, witch? I am lady Rosamund Roselei, member of a noble, ancient-"

"Dear aunt, don't go through all your titles. It won't help you to get away with this," Charlotte replied, in such a cold tone, that everyone in the room except Vanessa actually flinched at her words.

"How dare you talk to me like this, Charlotte? I'm your aunt and a member of your house, of your family! Besides, I'm older than you, your senior, you have to treat me with respect, young lady."

"If you don't respect others, you shouldn't expect to be respected still. I heard you how you talked about me not even a minute ago. I'm your niece and a member of your house, your family and you still talked badly about me. Even stated that you wanted me out of house Roselei."

"I had no idea you were here!"

"Which actually makes it worse."

"Who cares about that? You and your witch friend, who dared to believe lord Nozel loves her, were spying on us, on something that doesn't concerns you at all."

"Oh, it concerns both of us, we are Magic Knights, after all. And unless I'm wrong, thievery is a crime, which is something Magic Knights are fighting against. Besides, it also concerns me. You were willing to marry me against my will in order to keep your criminal organization a secret. Worse, you wanted to marry me to an arrogant old man, from a house with a rather complicated family tree, who has history with marrying again and again and again, to whom I'm just a prize. I refuse to marry lord Reginald Évantail and no one can force me to do so!"

"Old, me?" Reginald whined, clearly offended. But no one paid him any attention. Rosamund lost all cool and put out her grimoire, ready to attack. Charlotte and Vanessa did the same with theirs, while the helpers stood ready but probably awaiting for Rosamunds orders. Reginald just stood there, pouting like a five year old.

Charlotte knew that Rosamund had like many nobles, a lot of mana. But even though her thorn magic could hurt a lot, Rosamund still never trained, so she could only throw spells. It would be easy for Charlotte and Vanessa to overwhelm her, if necessary.

Reginald wouldn't be a problem. Same for the poor little boy, who actually just hid behind the baskets instead of taking an attack position. But the other three… Charlotte didn't know how to determine Robin and Daisy. As for the buff giant, well, he didn't looked like he needed magic to knock anyone out.

But before anyone could move or say something, the door of the little salon was opened again very loudly.

"What the fuck?"

Even though she didn't move still, a wave of relief washed over Charlotte as she recognized this unique voice she loved so much.

Yami was here.

Vanessa felt so terribly relieved as she heard her captains voice and when Yami entered the room, looking pissed and confused, and frankly, in a mood that it would be a true death wish to provoke him right now.

She was even more relieved when she saw Nozel coming in right after Yami.

"Lady Rosamund. Lord Reginald. Miss, sirs."

His voice was terribly cold as he greeted Reginald and Rosamund, plus the helpers. The two nobles immediately flinched, which was funny to witness.

"Good evening Charlotte, sorry it took us a while," Nozel now said to his colleague, his voice warmer.

Then his eyes meet hers and Vanessa felt her knees becoming like butter. He always looked at her so lovingly, so deeply.

Nozel immediately walked towards her, cupped her face with both hands and put a soft but deep kiss on her lips.

Okay, now Vanessa was certain that she would melt right here, right now.

She heard vaguely some people gasp in shock, Yami groaning something that sounded like "gross" then yelling "ouch!" while Charlotte was all "aw". But her entire focus was on Nozel, on his lips, on his presence, on his heart beating in sync with hers.

Sadly it didn't last long, but to be fair, they weren't alone. Still, Nozel kept an arm around her waist, while glancing back at Rosamund, Reginald and the helpers, coldly and judging, looking more like a king than the current one.

Was he, maybe, about to scold them while holding her close to him? Gosh, this was so hot in a way! Vanessa felt her mouth going dry and her face getting hot. This really made her thirsty for him and Nozel was just looking down on jerks while holding her! Damn, would she still be able to focus on the affair at hand from now on?

Why was Nozel so hot with such a cold glance?

"Lady Rosamund, lord Reginald… I've already known that your moral compass wasn't working so well. But it seems that I still gave you too much credit. Never would I have thought that you would go so far to become thieves of items that you would normally consider unworthy of your noble status."

"I'm innocent, I have nothing to do with this!" Reginald protested in panic, sounding like a child trying to get out of trouble. Vanessa couldn't help but snicker discreetly. This weak lord wouldn't have survived even one week of married life with captain Charlotte.

"Shut up, you perfumed gaudy freak," captain Yami groaned, while immediately joining Charlottes side.

"How… what… dare… Excuse me, you scoundrel of a low peasant foreigner, how dare you insult me. I am lord Reginald Évantail, member of the noble house of-"

"Don't you dare insult captain Yami Sukehiro ever again, especially in my presence," Charlotte whispered dangerously, her eyes getting darker with each word.

"Shut up, lord Who's It of house Who Cares! You may not like captain Yami, but this is not a reason to be this insulting and disrespectful!" Vanessa snapped as well, angry like always when someone she cared about was getting disrespected. If that stupid noble would also start to insult Nozel, she would strangle him with her threads and those from his gaudy clothes immediately. "Unlike you, he doesn't get offended at insults, he stands far higher than that. How ironic, aren't you the one that is from a higher class?"

"Not to mention that being a foreigner is the only thing that can be maybe hold against the captain of the Black Bulls and even that term isn't even that much of an insult in the first place," Nozel added, cold voice like before, but still holding Vanessa to him. "Aside from that, he has achieved and done more for this kingdom than you ever did for even half of your children, lord Reginald. And Yami is a Magic Knight captain, you're just a member of a noble house with no leader position. From nobility's flawed logic, the foreigner captains is standing above you. Thank goodness."

Oh, Vanessa would have kissed Nozel for those words. She knew that despite his genuine respect for Yami, her boyfriend was often irritated with her captain, for many reasons. To hear him take his defence like this, in front of others, it meant so much to her.

Yami looked stunned and rather irritated as he heard Nozel defend him. Charlotte just smiled.

"But… but… He insulted me too!"

"Yeah, Reggie, because you're a fucking dumbass liar."

"Liar? LIAR? How dare you, foreigner, I am NOT a liar, I'm the most innocent one in this room!"

Charlotte took a loud step forward, which made Reginald Évantail shut up immediately. Now, that was some authority, Vanessa hoped that Charlotte could teach her this one day. She would definitely need this kind of strategy once she enters the world of royalty and nobility for good.

"Innocent? I don't think so, lord Reginald. Oh, you're certainly not part of my dear aunts thievery organisation, you probably lack the intelligence for that."

"What? How-"

"I wasn't finished! You aren't a member of this organization, that is for sure, but you were still aware of its existence and this for probably a long time now. But instead of warning us Magic Knights and the Wizard King, you kept it for yourself and even thought you could gain something out of it… Like my hand in marriage, by more or less blackmailing my aunt. This points alone can make you guilty. And despite the reach house Évantail, you can escape justice and what is right. Shall I also remember you that Damnatio Kira can't be bribed or bargained? You can promise him the moon and thousands of stars in the sky, but he still will judge you. In fact, he considers bribery as a crime as well. Just to remind you."

Whoa, that speech was so impressive. Vanessa looked at Charlotte with admiration. No wonder she became a captain with that kind of mindset and attitude. Auntie Dea raised her well.

But the captain of the Blue Roses wasn't finished, as she turned towards her fuming aunt, her eyes darker than ever. "And this is the man you absolutely wanted to engage me to, dear aunt Rosamund? I know that behind policy and family duty, we were never close. In fact I despise you, especially after what you did. You brought shame upon the Roseleis with your crime organization and you can't excuse yourself for that. Your position as a noble lady isn't a pass for crimes and thievery."

Rosamund Roselei looked like she was about to explode. She could be considered as a beauty despite not being that young anymore, but her current stated negated any of her beauty, each traits of it, into oblivion. Some strands of blonde hair escaped from her complicated hairdo, her green eyes looked like they were about to pop out of their holes and Vanessa wouldn't be surprised if she would tear her poison green dress with the red roses from her body if she would lose it completely.

Really hard to believe that this harpy here was related to captain Charlotte and that she was of the same family of auntie Dea.

"How dare you talk to me like that, Charlotte? Do you really think that being the most eligible member of house Roselei gives you the freedom to be this cocky?"

"I've never chose to be the most eligible member of our family, Rosamund. In fact, this was more a pain than anything. In your eyes and in many others, my accomplishments as Magic Knight, as a captain, as myself, is negated and I become just a very beautiful and eligible noble lady. Who just needs to smile and to wave and to be betrothed and to even fake gratitude when a spouse is chosen for me."

"You ungrateful young lady! I knew that being a Magic Knight will make you too cocky, too impertinent and disrespectful. Orchidea was too soft while raising you."

"Don't insult lady Orchidea, you bitch," Vanessa yelled and if Nozel wouldn't still have hold her, she would have scratch Rosamunds venom green eyes all by herself. No one should disrespect auntie Dea like this. "She is more a noble lady than you will ever be."

"How DARE you speak to me like that you-"

"How about I call my buddy Jack from the Green Praying Mantises and we cut you in pieces before you insult one of my brats, auntie Rosabitch? And before you actually say more bullshit about Charlotte and Blue Rose Mama, for that matter, this pisses me of even more."

"And why should it concern you how I treat my niece, you foreigner captain?"

"Yer not good at insulting people, are ya, auntie Rosabitch? But to answer your damned question, it does concern me, I'm Charlottes fucking boyfriend!"

Silence was placed in the room, as everyone except for Nozel and Vanessa tried to understand this declaration. Yami was still fuming and looking at Rosamund like he wanted to kill her with a dimension slash through his eyes, while Charlotte had a proud smile on her face.

"That's a lie," Reginald finally said in a whine, which really sounded like a child. "Lady Charlotte can't be with this… this… this man!"

"I don't know how this should concern you in any way, lord Reginald," Charlotte replied coldly, but still smiling with immense pride. "We're not betrothed, as far as I'm concerned and besides, I'm not a minor anymore. It is up to me to choose who I spent my life with and it's definitely not with you."

"I can't… We can't tolerate that! Rosamund, tell your lackeys to attack the foreigner and the witch!"

The one called Robin replied immediately for his boss. "That would be a bad idea, Milord. My colleagues and I are from the Common Realm or from the Forsaken Realm, with not much magic power. And those people are Magic Knights, three of them squad captains. Sorry, but there are more agreeable ways to kill myself."

"Not to mention that finding helpers of their quality is nearly impossible, these days, where do you think I can find more lackeys like Robin, Daisy and Stein? Alban was just a bonus, since he's a child."

Vanessa hold back another insult. How dare she talked like that about this poor little boy? But Nozel still had something to say. "Can I ask you why you became a criminal mastermind, lady Rosamund?"

"Why does everyone make it sound as it's a bad thing? My life was boring and since someone told me that I need to find myself something exciting, I-"

She couldn't continue as the door of the salon opened again. Vanessa hoped that maybe their cavalry arrived. But when she saw who entered the room, a chill came over her body.

"What I nice reunion do we have here," Lac Silva said casually, as if it was about the weather. But there was an arrogant assurance in his eyes, eyeing everyone as if they were chess pieces on his game board. There was even a hint of anger in his magenta eyes as he looked at Nozel.

Vanessa instinctively hold Nozel closer. He immediately did the same. They wouldn't let this man go between them, no matter how difficult it might be. Vanessa refused to let Lac hurt Nozel ever again, as he had done enough damage to his own son already.

He was her strength and she hoped she was his as well.

Rosamund, Reginald and even the lackeys looked quite unsure all of a sudden, glancing with cautious at Lac Silva. But Yami and Charlotte glared at this man is if he killed someone dear to them for some reason.

Clearly enjoying the effect he had on others, Lac Silva looked around with a satisfied smile. Vanessa never looked away, refusing to yield to him. After a few seconds that felt like centuries, Lac Silva opened his mouth…

But just before he could spite some of his arrogant venom, the door of the salon opened again, breaking the effect Lac Silva had.

Vanessa hoped that it was their cavalry this time. But the person entering this scene of crime was surprising for everyone, even for Lac Silva, as if he just witnessed a game move he had never seen before within his game.

"Lady Rosette Vitrail?"