#dorothy unsworth x nozel silva | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

acacia-may · 2 years ago

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I know you're shipping Vanessa and Nozel, but I'm curious to know your thoughts on Dorothy and Nozel with the shipping bingo?

Hi there! Thank you so much for the ask! 🥰 I love Dorothy and Nozel as a BROTP without a doubt, and, honestly, I think I prefer Dorothy as a romantic partner for Nozel rather than Vanessa if I had to pick between the two ships.

Here’s the bingo card! Pink is for the romantic relationship and yellow is for their friendship:

Not a bingo, but pretty close! 💖

Thoughts and headcanons below the cut:

I love Nozel and Dorothy's unlikely friendship! I think I have talked about it a little bit before, but it's one of my all-time favourite dynamics in Black Clover. This may be a bit of an unpopular opinion, but I like to imagine they were friends before Nozel opened up to her about his mother's curse and that being vulnerable with her about that only deepened the friendship they already had as opposed to the other way around. I guess in my mind, I just don't see Nozel spilling what is arguably the biggest, heaviest secret of his life to someone random without them having had a basis of friendship beforehand. Obviously, sharing something like that deepened their bond with each other, but (in my mind at least) the fact that he can vent in her Glamour World wasn't the basis and/or the jumping off point for their entire relationship. I think it is very difficult for Nozel to be vulnerable so I think it speaks to the respect he has for Dorothy, the trust he has in her, and the closeness of their relationship that he was able to open up to her about that even if she is the only person he could tell, if that makes sense(?) It really warms by hear to think that he has someone he trusts so much as to share something that personal and painful with--especially since he has carried the truth around for a very long time, and I can't imagine Dorothy being anything but supportive and comforting when he does decide to open up to her.

I also love how opposite they are and how they have a genuine respect and appreciation for each other despite being so vastly different as people. I think I mentioned this in the bingo ask about Nozel and Vanessa, but I really think Nozel is the type of person who would benefit from having balance in a relationship--being with someone who has a brighter, more energetic, and less serious personality who can help him lighten up and not be so hard on himself. In turn, Nozel could be a grounding, steady influence on Dorothy, and she appreciates how deeply he cares and how he always strives to do the right thing.

While I adore their friendship in its own right, I could imagine that under particular circumstances a more romantic affection could develop between them. I am fond of the "friends to lovers" trope, and I think that kind of relationship would be particularly meaningful to Nozel. Dorothy knows him so well, and he doesn't need to put on airs with her like he does with everyone else. She likes him for who he is--not because he is royalty or a magic knight captain but just because he's Nozel. She sees him in a way that very few other people do. In that scene where Dorothy makes a version of him in her Glamour World for Noelle, I think we get to see that the Nozel that she knows and cares for is honestly a bit of a dork, and while she'd be the first to tease him for being a tsun about his feelings and being so uptight, she has a genuine care and affection for him and thinks he's endearing, I think. I personally like "Nozel in the theater of Dorothy's mind"--he gets to be human and not so insufferably stuffy, and I'd love the idea of her bringing out that side of him and him feeling comfortable enough to be "dorky Nozel" around her (whether their relationship was romantic or platonic). On his side, I can imagine he would be incredibly devoted to her (even if he would have trouble expressing it) and would feel he could never repay her for always being there for him and loving him for who he is. For these reasons, I think, if I had to pick a romantic ship for Nozel, I think I would pick this one.

Some headcanons about them:

Nozel and Dorothy didn't get off on the right foot the first time they met. He thought it was rude she slept through their important captains' meeting, and she thought he was stuck up and stuffy. They earned each other's respect on the battlefield though. He realized he had underestimated her, and she realized he cared more than he let on.

Dorothy was the one who resolved to make friends with him, and Nozel didn't understand why she was being so nice and friendly with him. She went out of her way to talk to him and try to make him smile, and eventually her kindness and persistence, endeared her to him and they gradually became friends.

They had been friends for a while before she took him to her Glamour World for tea. Nozel didn't spill any deep dark secrets to her on their first meeting there, but Dorothy realized that meeting in the Glamour World helped him relax and let down his guard around her a little bit more than usual so she tried to come up with reasons for them to meet there fairly regularly. He slowly opened up to her about himself and his life at these tea parties, and they became better and closer friends.

The first really personal and vulnerable thing Nozel opened up to Dorothy about was his guilt regarding how strained things were between him and his sister and how he felt he needed to treat her coldly and keep her at a distance for her own safety and protection.

Nozel hadn't been planning on telling Dorothy the truth about his mother, even though he knew the curse would have no effect in her Glamour World. However, once they happened to meet there on his mother's birthday which had always been a difficult day for him, and Dorothy realized that something was wrong. He started off just telling her about his mother and how much he had loved and looked up to her, but he let slip that he felt so guilty about her death. When Dorothy pressed her hand to his cheek and told him it wasn't it fault, he broke down and told her the whole story. She hugged him when he began to tear up and said that she sorry that had happened and that he had had to carry that burden alone for so long but he didn't have to bear it alone anymore.

Nozel is the first to realize he has romantic feelings towards her but only after they develop in an extremely slow burn. Naturally, being Nozel, he has a lot of internal panic over it.

The other magic knight captains could not be more excited for them, though it does come as a bit of a shock and surprise to some of them. To anyone who sees them together, though, it is very obvious that they are good for each other even if they are a bit of an odd couple.

Dorothy is very patient with the fact that Nozel wants to take things slow. She is the one to kiss him first though, leaving him all flustered which she thinks is adorable.

Nozel ends up proposing faster than he or anyone else expected, but only because he's so happy and so sure that he wants to spend the rest of his life with her. She enthusiastically accepts and they spend about a year and a half planning the wedding.

Their wedding is very big and particularly fancy (with a bright color palate picked by Dorothy) and is held in the royal capital. Kirsch takes over helps with a lot of the planning and gets very invested in it.

Noelle is very excited to have Dorothy as a sister-in-law, and even Solid and Nebra have nothing particularly nasty to say about her. If they did, she would be very good at shrugging it off or holding her own against them, if need be.

They have four children together: twin sons, Adler and Almos, and two daughters, Acier and Aleria. Asta nicknamed Almos "Al" and much to Nozel's chagrin, it stuck. Adler and Almos get into all kinds of trouble together--though Almos's brand of trouble to usually just falling asleep in strange places he's not supposed to. Their boys were such a handful that Nozel asked if they could wait before having any more children, and Acier was born when her brothers were four. She was much less wild though she is very strong-willed. Aleria was a surprise, later-in-life baby, and she is much younger than her older siblings (much like Noelle and Nozel). Nozel nearly had a heart attack when Dorothy found out she was expecting, but he positively dotes on his daughter as he does the rest of his children.

They spend a lot of time with Noelle and her family, and their children are particularly close with their cousins.

#answered asks #answered anons #ship bingo #dorothy unsworth x nozel silva #nozel silva x dorothy unsworth #dorothy x nozel #nozel x dorothy #absolutely stellar friendship!#but I could see them romantically too

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vilandel · 7 months ago

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Morning Mist & Night Traffic

Chapter 1 – Frustrated Spring

A/N First chapter is now here. This story already got over 50 reviews on Ao3, how is this possible? I'm really happy. Thank you @f-oighear, @kalolasfantasyworld and @mamavino for your kind reviews on the prologue ♣️ 💘

Ao3 link

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Lavender just couldn’t understand why Lord Rosecliff still looked at her like this. Yes, he had been harsh, but she had been the same towards him, if not even more. She truly regretted telling him back then that his pain and perspective didn’t matter. She had refused to understand that day.

Now she did.

And yet, lord Rosecliff still didn’t glance at Lavender with hatred. She didn’t understood. He should, after what happened. Lady Undina was just waiting for an occasion to talk her down and to put herself up into his esteem. It was the perfect opportunity for lord Rosecliff to pay back.

But nothing like this was happening. Lavender didn’t dare to look into his eyes, even though it was difficult to do so usually, given this unique turquoise colour of his orbs. She was afraid of what she could see in it, since it wouldn’t be any disgust or disliking towards her. But she could still feel his glance upon her, kinder than she would have ever expected. Why was kindness more unbearable than disgust?

“That is because Finnegan came to understand YOUR perspective, Lavender cutie. And he was never interested in that bitch Undina in the first place. Even less so after he found out that she knew about what that jerk Ignacio wanted to do to you. Oh right, you don’t know that yet, it’s not yet revealed in the story from your point of view.”

Vanessa swallowed the last bits of her apple as she continued her reading. She would have loved to lie down on her bed instead of sitting, but sadly her cat Rouge has decided to take a nap on her lap.

And when Rouge was napping, it was always very long. Not to mention that he hated to be moved while he was snoozing. End of story, she was stuck in this position for a while. At least, she had some books to read. One of the rare classics she loved, Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen and her other current favourite literature, Roses & Lavender by that mysterious writer N. A. Steel, whom people only know the name. Well, whoever that was, he or she wrote amazing novels since a few years and Vanessa practically own almost each one of the books of this author.

There was also two books recommended by roommate, different genres than what Vanessa was usually reading. Apparently to force her a bit out of her reading comfort zone, but she had yet to give herself a grip and start trying them.

The first one was a spooky fantasy novel, Pure Within The Mirror by Nero Bird. Vanessa usually didn’t liked spooky stuff that much, but Dorothy always said that this author was great and there was no reason so far to doubt her.

The second book was from the romantasy genre, which might be more to Vanessas romantic taste. Emerald Snow by Nymphea Silber, a writer who had been extremely successful years ago according again to Dorothy, but who hasn’t written since over a decade.

Vanessa snickered. Nymphea Silber, N. A. Steel and Nero Bird. If those three had something in common, except having names starting with N, it was also that except their names and their books, no one knew anything about them.

The Three Word Mysteries of Clover, as they were called. But it was still speculated if anyone of them was really from the city of Clover. Sure, their books all where from Clover Editions, but those authors could also be from another city, like Diamond, Spade or Heart, maybe even from a small village. And why not from Raque, their countries own film industry and sea holiday town?

Dorothy loved to speculate about it a lot when she wasn’t busy being sleepy, but Vanessa wasn’t that interested. N. A. Steel was one of her favourite authors, on par with Jane Austen in her books when it comes to romance, and maybe she might try the other two novelist as well.

Caressing a purring Rouge, Vanessa continued her reading.

“Lady Lavender,” lord Rosecliff suddenly spoke. Lavender flinched at how gentle his voice sounded. How could she ever have thought that he was cold?

“Vanessa?”

“Meow!”

Vanessa flinched as she looked up, but thank goodness it was only Dorothy who appeared at her doorframe. Who else would it ever be, no one else was living with them.

Dorothy must have done some groceries, given the full bags she had with her. There must have been some catnips in, because Rouge immediately woke up, freed Vanessas lap and started to go around the bags while meowing.

“Yes, you little rascal, there is also some goody goodies for you. I didn’t expect to see you here, Nessa. Didn’t you have a date today?”

“Not anymore.”

“Oh. Did you got dumped again?”

“It was obviously his attention, but I dumped him first. Which upset him a lot, apparently I insulted his pride or something stupid like that. Gosh, why did I even tried with that jerk? And he even had the audacity to claim that I’m not pretty enough for him to try… you know what. Kicked him in the balls for that.”

“He probably deserved it. But what I don’t understand is why you are still trying to find a boyfriend when you only complain about your dates. Blind dates definitely don’t work with you, maybe you should stop?”

This was true and Vanessa also know that Dorothy might at least suspect her reason already. They were both coming from the same town, after all…

But Vanessa didn’t want to talk about that. It was behind her once and for all (she hoped), she lived now in Clover, had a roof over her head, more than one hobby, two small but good jobs that still leave them enough freedom, especially one of them was also home office mostly, she had friends.

Sure, she couldn’t forget her past… But it was behind her and she didn’t need therapy. Why would anyone need therapy when their life was fine?

Still, Vanessa would love to find someone, to fell in love and truly this time. One reason was her past and this was history. One other reason was her first crush that was the closest experience to love she ever had. A lost duckling crush on which she clinged upon was her only experience with love. She had to change that. Last reason was her romantic joyful side that still was longing.

It would have sounded like therapy might help… No, Vanessa didn’t need therapy. And she couldn’t let Dorothy suspect anything.

Vanessa sighed dramatically as she fell back on her bed, holding her two current favorite books in front of her as if they were some most important evidences during a trial.

“I can’t help it, Dotty! Jane Austen and N. A. Steel have put the level of being a wonderful man onto such a high level that I automatically have too much expectations for any potential boyfriend! But the only thing I get at best are jerks, not Darcys, colonel Brandons or Rosecliffs!”

Dorothy giggled, which could either mean that she was amused or kinda frustrated. “You do have a romantic soul, Nessa.”

“Yeah, maybe that’s the reason why I can’t get a proper boyfriend. But I don’t want to date a macho anymore! Why are gentlemen so out of fashion today? Maybe I was born in the wrong time period.”

“Aren’t you a bit overdramatic?”

“Maybe? I don’t know. I knew I shouldn’t have started to drink less wine.”

It didn’t sound like an easygoing joke and Vanessa knew that this wasn’t normal for her.

Dorothy as well, since she was now looking at her almost frowning, a vague worried glance in her bi-colored eyes. Sometimes Vanessa had the feeling that Dorothy was able to know people even through sleep and dreams.

Time to change the subject quickly.

“I promise I will read those two books you recommended me. But I had to read Roses & Lavender again. I love this story so much! N. A. Steel is just an amazing writer and so good at history stuff. Even when he or she invent a country for a novel, it is so believable! Especially the novels about the witch hunt period, fantastic!”

“Ha, of course witch hunting period is appealing for the two of us, right? Now, coming back to your romantic live-“

“I don’t need therapy!”

“I wasn’t going to tell you that?”

Probably not, but Vanessa acted more upon instinct than anything. Dorothy shook her head before she sat down on Vanessas bed, letting Rouge turning around the grocery bags with purrs and meows.

“I know you love romance, Nessa and you’re always so supportive of helping others with their love lives. But I have the feeling that you’re not really put your heart into it when it comes to your own.”

“How can you be so sure of that? You were never interested in dating, as far as I know.”

“Have you noticed that many of the guys you tried dating are merely pale copies of Yami and that only on a superficial level?”

“Damn, it’s that obvious? Finral said something similar as well.”

“Of course, he did. You should listen to your best friend, Nessa. It is only obvious to people who know you well and only if observant. Plus, like I said, those were pale copies only, so I didn’t connect the dots immediately. But the fact is, buff and rough, some even smoking, it is a vague description of Yami. Weren’t you over him?”

“I moved on from him, really… But I can’t forget my huge crush on him. You know the reasons. Shouldn’t he be my type somehow?”

“Don’t get yourself blinded by types, most of the time they’re never what we believe they are. I don’t why you focus still on guys that are only very vaguely like Yami, but maybe you will have more luck with men if you start thinking outside the box a bit? After all, you love the gentlemen in your books. Why not trying that for reality as well?”

Vanessa frowned a bit. What Dorothy said make sense, but somehow, she still wasn’t really convinced by it. Or didn’t she want to be?

She couldn’t continue to wonder about her rather unusual thoughts, as Dorothy continued, “This can also mean that you don’t need to search for a boyfriend if you don’t want to, you know. All I ask you to is to take a different approach. Maybe you don’t understand yet yourself what you want.”

“You know I’m wary of changes and I think I know at least a bit what I want.”

“Aw, your so cute when you are pouting. But come on, you are always so daring and proud, I am sure that you will overcome your current romantic frustration.”

“Romantic frustration,” Vanessa couldn’t help but snicker. Dorothy had sometimes the weirdest description of things.

“Come on, how else would describe your current state, you silly- No, Rouge, this fish is not for you, come back here!”

While Dorothy run out of the bedroom after the cat, Vanessa lied down again and watched at the ceiling without really seeing it. Dorothys words might have triggered something in her, but it was too sudden for Vanessa to take it seriously yet or not.

Should she really think outside the box? Pragmatically speaking, it shouldn’t be such a bad idea, given that every guy she tried to date ended up being an asshole, sadly proving her mother’s point about men-

No, stop! This time was behind her and Vanessa refused to ever think about it ever again! Even though maybe it was one of the reasons why…

“Stop!”

Vanessa looked out of the window, where a few pigeons were flying by. The spring sun was shining through the glass, giving her patchwork curtains a bright touch. She liked the view she had from her bedroom, it was right in front of the Clover Parc, one of the most beautiful parcs in the world, with the trees and the flowers and the paths. Sometimes, Vanessa could even see the romantic belvedere from afar.

Not that she ever got something romantic at the belvedere, even though it would be so great. Gosh, it was spring, the season of love and if Dorothy was right, she had a romantic frustration. What a time, really.

Well, spring holidays was almost over and the school where she worked as a helping nurse (although not a nurse in the classical way, so the term was maybe not fitting) would be open again and maybe it would help her to distract herself from that frustration or help her having clearer thoughts about her stupid situation.

She wondered if the teachers and students, plus others, were doing fine. She had seen some of them in the city during the holidays. The trouble trio Asta, Magna Swing and Luck Voltia have caused some problems in the parc just two days ago, when she got for a walk with Rouge, but Vanessa knew them, they never mean any harm. Okay, you could never be so sure about Luck, though.

Others had been away. Mimosa Vermillion had told her that she would be in Switzerland during the holidays, with her parents and her older brother. And her cousin Noelle Silva went to her family’s secondary villa with her oldest brother.

Hopefully it had been alright for the poor girl. Vanessa had quite some sympathy for her. She was able to recognize when a household wasn’t doing fine, due to her own experience. Family Silva didn’t seem like it was a loving family. Vanessa might not know the signs and she hadn’t met Noelles brother yet. But she knew the signs and she did hear that he was more like a cold man. But she also knew that Noelles brother went to school with Dorothy and Yami. Could she judge him without meeting him?

Vanessa still didn’t like him. Or at least, given the Silva household, she wasn’t sure yet if she could like him.

But little Noelle seemed to have some strong affection for him and according to Mimosa, he cared deeply for his little sister.

It didn’t explain why the Silva family wasn’t working well, but this at least spoke in his favor. Vanessa just hoped that it was true affection between Noelle and her brother, not something that was abusive.

Well, Vanessa dared still to assume that Noelles brother wasn’t into romance. He was a rich man and if Vanessa knew something about rich people in Clover, it was that they don’t believe in love.

Why would he be different?

At the same time, why would he be the same?

Well, one thing for sure, Vanessa would never try to date a rich guy. But this sudden thought surprised her still.

♣♣♣

Noelle took a huge bite from her salami sandwich. It was so good, the servants of the secondary residence even roasted the bread a bit and were generous with the butter. It was almost as good as Charmys sandwiches. And way better than those thin wannabe sandwiches they got in most train stations.

At least, from what Noelle knew about those wannabe sandwiches. She never tasted them before and the only one who always talked or rather complained about those was Magna. Given her classmate’s tendency to hyperbole when he was complaining about something, Noelle didn’t if she could always believe him.

She wondered what Asta had to say about…

STOP!

Now she was thinking about that idiot again, while she managed to have banned him from her mind during the integrity of the spring holidays! More or less, but this was a detail. And to be fair, her brother and her were currently on their way home to Clover, so she will see that idiot again soon.

It was the end of the spring holidays, school will start again like tomorrow and her brother needed to return to work as well. Okay, needed was a strong word, since they were Silvas and one of the three richest family in the city who descended from nobility. According to Nebra – and she tended to overreact – Silvas didn’t need to work.

But Nozel took his job seriously, unlike many rich people in Clover. Too serious some would say, since he didn’t allow himself many holidays, just a day off here and there at best. The fact that Nozel proposed to her to spend the spring holidays, just the two of them for two weeks, at the secondary residence of the Silvas, had been a huge surprise for Noelle. But at the same time, it made her really happy.

Not only was it an opportunity to avoid Asta during the holidays after… that happened, but spending two whole weeks alone with Nozel was always more than welcome. He was the only one she was close to within her family.

Noelle looked at her brother, sitting on the other side of the picnic table between the birches, eating his own sandwich and a small salad, reading a book absently. There was often silence between them, but Noelle didn’t mind. Over the years, this kind of silence became very agreeable and even understanding. Okay, sometimes she was still not sure how to act around Nozel, but it was the same for him around her and they were never stopping trying. At least, it was clear to both that they truly care for each other and even though Nozel could seem cold and distant for other people – which he was for anyone outside of the family and closest people – Noelle loved her oldest brother a lot.

She sighed silently. Oh, those two weeks with Nozel were great, but she was also happy to come back home. She missed the city of Clover, she missed her school – okay, not everything – she missed her classmates and friends, even Asta and Mimosa… somehow, she missed a lot of people and she missed the family cats. At least, those two who remained in Clover, only Canelle came with them on the trip.

But her family… Maybe Noelle missed them a bit, but mixed feelings were a norm in this case. She was never close to her sister Nebra – Vanessa sometimes felt more like an older sister than her own sister – even though they didn’t hate each other. It was just… distant in a strange familiarity. It had been worse in her childhood, but that changed. At least, Nebra was never like Solid.

Noelle never got along with her brother Solid, which made her sad, but given their childhood and how mad Nozel had been after that incident when she was five, it was probably for the best. Maybe one day, they could get along… but Solid was too much of a jerk.

Still, Solid was better than their father and the less Noelle met that man, the better. She didn’t know yet what exactly broke their family apart when she was still a baby. Noelle wasn’t close enough to Nebra and Solid to ask them, as for Nozel… he never show anything, but there were always tears shining in his eyes when it was mentioned and Noelle didn’t want her brother to suffer. Whatever happened, it had shattered him. So, Noelle might be wondering, but she would never ask. Their family was already unstable enough and she didn’t want to be distant with her older brother.

But fact is, their father was not someone she missed and even though Noelle didn’t know everything, it was clear that this man should be better out of their lives completely. If only this could be the case… Maybe Nebra and Solid would have been real siblings during her childhood?

And then… there was mother. That far away person who was a stranger to Noelle. That picture that was like a reflection of her own appearance, but it was someone else. A person Noelle missed, but felt unsure what exactly to feel towards. She sometimes visited their mother at the clinic, but never alone, always with her siblings or her Vermillion aunt and it was always a stranger who didn’t seem to recognize them. Never a mother, shattered, still beautiful but shattered.

Out of her siblings, only Nozel visited mother often. He was the one who still talked to her, softer than even with Noelle, who always brushed mothers hair, who didn’t see a stranger. Sometimes, Noelle thought that it didn’t do Nozel any good to visit their mother, she often heard him cry silently in his bedroom after each visit and she had no idea how to comfort him. It was always heartbreaking to see her strong, proud and strict older brother like this. But at least, he visited her… unlike their father.

So, Noelle couldn’t tell if she missed anyone truly within her closest family. In the Silva household, it was the other two cats she missed the most. Especially Leviathan, who had been Nozels gift on her last birthday in November. A beautiful long-haired Nebelung with kind of an attitude like a stormy sea, but so affectionate. Silvas usually weren’t liked by animals, it was actually a miracle that three cats came to love them.

And maybe Noelle also missed Rosette a bit, Solids fiancée.

It was an arranged betrothal, like how it was still the norm for rich people. Noelle couldn’t understand that, it was the 21st century and even the middle ages weren’t that strict on marital topics like the rich society of Clover. She didn’t know how it happened, given the fights Nozel had with father about it, it had been certainly complicated, somehow things happened and end of story, the betrothed moved into the Silva household.

But Rosette Vitrail was not at all an arrogant bitch like Noelle feared at first. On the contrary, she was kind and polite to everyone, even to Solid, loved the three cats who loved her back, respected the servants, she never tried to slime in and at first it was almost like she was invisible. Noelle assumed that Rosette didn’t choose the situation either and decided to make the best out of it. Even though her fiancé was Solid. And she never felt that unhappy to have left her family already.

Maybe she came from a broken household too? Not a good change to live now in another one, but Rosette didn’t seem to mind. But she was still a bit a mystery, she just moved in just one month ago.

But Noelle liked Rosette at least a bit. She didn’t had a distant, proud and almost sad glance like Nebra or the jerk attitude of Solids. And certainly not the superior, arrogant and disgusted glare of their father.

“Are you alright, Noelle?”

Noelle flinched slightly. Like always when Nozel talked to her out of the blue. How much she would love to get rid of this habit. After all, it was her dear older brother talking, not Nebra or Solid. Or worse, father.

“I’m fine, brother. Just been thinking.”

“Are you happy to come home?”

“I admit that I am. Oh, those two weeks together were great, but I miss my friends still and school… And Waterlily and Leviathan too. But I don’t think that Canelle would like to see them again.”

“Meow!”

It sounded like a protest. Noelle watched happily how Nozels lips went slightly up and she couldn’t help but smile as she turned towards the cat lying next to her. Canelle glared at her with her yellow eyes, like offended by the statement.

Canelle was looking so adorable with her heart-shaped head, her cinnamon brown fur, the white paws and belly, her big eyes and her rather tiny frame. But Noelle was sure that there was no cat with a personality like Canelle. She was the boss in their house, not only over the other cats, but in a way also of them. A few months ago, she had been quite sick and needed to rest. Instead of remaining in the cat chamber, she claimed Nebras bedroom all for herself and end of the story was that Nebra had to move into one of the guest rooms for two weeks until Canelle was better. One of the few rare times in their family were there had been some genuine laughs.

Canelle was not a cat of breed and this was already strange for a strict rich family like them. If any strict rich Clover family had animals, then of breed, please. The other cats of the Silvas were a Nebelung and a Ragdoll. But Noelle was glad that they got Canelle and even Nebra and Solid didn’t care that one of their pets wasn’t of a breed.

It was Solid who brought Canelle home and not even on purpose. This cat had been just a kitten when they got her, living on the streets and on one rainy day, she followed Solid for some reason, so close that she get into the villa the same time as him. And just decided to stay. After some time, Nozel finally decided that they should keep her, since she was determined to stay.

Given the colour of her fur, they named her Canelle, the french word for cinnamon. Noelles choice, as she was rather proud of her skills in that language.

Petting her head, Noelle remembered how Asta had been so excited when she told him about Canelle for the first time. He adored cats and his own, Liebe…

No, stop! Hadn’t she decided to not think about that idiot until they see each other again in school? And even there, if she could ignore him, but it was impossible, they were in the same class and just before the holidays, he had a date with Mimosa, her own cousin! This is what she got for crushing on a dense idiot and being in denial. Someone else got him and Asta couldn’t stop friendzone her and he didn’t even know he did!

Whoever said that friendzone wasn’t that bad was wrong. It was so damn worse than being hated! At least in Noelles books.

She heard that Mimosa went with her brother and her mother to Raque during the holidays. And she certainly invited Asta too. The mere thought of them cuddling at the beach… Or having fun in the sea…

Noelle sighed again. She hated feeling jealous. Mimosa was way too kind to be mad at, Asta was stupid but nicer than anyone she knew. Noelle couldn’t hate any of them and she wanted to be happy for them. After all, Asta didn’t belonged to her, he was free to choose who he would date and Mimosa was never mean to him, unlike Noelle.

But it was still a pain.

“Noelle?”

“Oh, sorry, brother. Did you say something?”

“No, but you seem thoughtful. Is something bothering you?”

Noelle bit her lips. Nozel might be the one of her family she was the closest to, but it was still difficult for the two of them to open to each other. Like any Silva, they had their own issues to deal with. It had been like this since she was a baby.

Oh, Noelle would love to tell Nozel about her love problems. But she didn’t know if he could be of any help or comfort, nor if he would be happy that she was crushing on someone out of their circles. Nozel still had a lot of pride, after all.

But he was still her brother and until she met Vanessa or Nero again, or waiting for Kahono to be back from her tour in Switzerland, Noelle had only Nozel to at least confide in a bit. Just a bit, she was a Silva after all.

Not something to be proud of, at least Noelle sometimes felt that way.

“I had… well, I had a difference with one of my classmates. Nothing important, though.”

Not quite the truth, not quite a lie. This should be enough.

“Did that classmate of yours insulted you? Shall I have a talk with that person?”

“No, no need to. But thank you still, brother. We didn’t had a fight and he probably… doesn’t remember our difference or haven’t even realized it. But I needed some distance and your proposition was a perfect opportunity for that. I will… see how it goes once school starts again.”

“If you don’t want to go to public school anymore, you can just tell me, I will arrange that.”

“I know, but there is no need. I still like my school and I’m happy that I can to go to the same school like you did. And Nebra and Solid.”

“It had been mother’s wish that we go to the public school and not a private one.”

“And it was probably a good idea. I have friends at least and there is Mimosa too. I want to finish school with them.”

“I’m glad that you have friends, Noelle.”

There was a tone in his voice that was almost sad. As if he wanted to say more or something else. Noelle always wondered if Nozel was lonely. Sure, he had friends, like Fuegoleon Vermillion or Vanessas roommate, Dorothy Unsworth. Such a small world. But still, even with friends, he could seem lonely.

And Noelle was worried for her big brother. She just had no idea how to help him. She was just a teenager, how could she help a full-grown adult?

There was not a lot she could do.

“Have you finished the last corrections on your manuscript?”

“Yes, I’ve sent it to Mr. Novachrono already. If everything goes like usual, it shall come to the market next month.”

“I’m looking forward to it, you write so well,” Noelle smiled and felt some relief when Nozel smiled back at her.

She was the only one in the family to know that secret of Nozel. She found it out some time ago and since then, it was more than just a secret between them, it was something like they were a bit like accomplices and Noelle loved that feeling.

Not to mention that she might be Nozels biggest fan and even though he never said it, her support meant a lot to him. She saw it in his eyes every time she talked about his works and what she loved the most.

Sometimes she wanted to share it with her friends, but this was not her secret to reveal. And it felt good to know something they didn’t, especially Astas arrogant best friend Yuno who was such a genius in everything.

And now she thought about Asta again, just like that. Why couldn’t she just stop? Why was Asta everywhere? She almost hated him for putting her in such a pathetic state, but then again, it wasn’t his fault and he didn’t know.

But Noelle still wanted to be mad at him, on principle. At least a bit.

“Meow!”

Canelle suddenly stood up and hoped down the bench, patting her cat bag and looking at them with some impatience. Which meant in her eyes, it was time to continue to return home. And she would pester Noelle and Nozel until they got their things together.

“Seems that we have to finish our meal,” Nozel said as he stood up as well and put the rest of their picnic back in the bag.

Noelle sighed deeply as she looked at the two chocolate-banana muffins. They looked so delicious and creamy, the old cook back at the secondary residence backed them at dawn especially for them.

“We can still eat the muffins on the way.”

Noelle beamed. Nozel must have seen her ogling very obviously on those muffins and since he was a sweettooth too… Noelle grabbed the muffins plus the cat bag and followed her brother who carried the picnic bag, while Canelle was already at the car, waiting for them with a grumpy look. She certainly almost had a Silva personality, but at least she didn’t act like a spoiled princess like Waterlily or like a stormy sea like Leviathan.

When they reached Nozels silver Porsche, Noelle immediately opened one of the doors so that Canelle could just jump in and into her cat bag once Noelle put it on the back seat. Then she entered the car herself, sitting at the front next to Nozel who just started the car.

Well, time to go home. With a bit of mixed feelings still, but Noelle was grateful that she had still more things to look forward to back in Clover. Even though Asta was currently not fitting into one of the two categories.

Stop, Noelle! Stop thinking about this idiot!

The siblings were silent when they left the picnic area and went back on the road. Even Canelle was silent, but maybe she fell asleep. That cat was always calm in the car, unless she had to be brought to the veterinary. Then the meowing would never stop and she would refuse any petting.

“Did you make nice photos during our vacation?” Nozel suddenly asked once they were back on the road.

Noelle smiled. As subtle as it might was, she was so happy that her brother supported her with her hobby.

“I think so, I’ll work on them once we get home. Thank you for helping taking pictures of myself too. Some of the servants also helped to-“

Noelle bit her lips. Maybe she shouldn’t have mentioned that. Nozel was never keen on befriending the servants back in Clover, it certainly also count for the once at their second villa. Noelle didn’t really understood why they couldn’t befriend servants, but she still hoped that it won’t destroy the fragile bond she had with her brother.

But to her biggest surprise, Nozel didn’t scold her. He just nodded and sighed, almost more to himself than to her, “It is wonderful that they helped. Those servants were always loyal to mother.”

Noelle flinched, like always when mother was mentioned. She still was curious, why would Nozel made an exception for the servants working at the secondary Silva residence? But she wouldn’t ask, mother was never a happy subject.

Nozel seemed a bit sad, so Noelle handed him one of the chocolate-banana muffins. Her brother smiled as he accepted it. Noelle relaxed at the sight and bit in her own. It was actually good to go home.

If only Asta…

And shit, now she was thinking about Asta again! Noelle was really fed up with those stupid thought. Okay, maybe she would stop if she would finally start to actively move on from her crush for him.

After all, it was just a teenage crush, nothing she would regret in a few days.

Right?

♣♣♣

Charlotte opened the door to her appartement, she could hear a lot of yells and screams and laughs from the living room.

This could only mean that Luck invited some friends to play some video-games. Probably Magna and Asta, given how loud it was.

Hopefully they wouldn’t end up destroying the TV or anything else. Not that many of these things were irreplaceable, of course not. But Charlotte preferred to not put this kind of finances on her budget.

“HAHAHA! I got you Magna! Now fight me!”

“No, I’m not fighting you, stopping attacking me with the controller! And no, you didn’t got me! You just cheated!”

“How can anyone cheat at a videogame? Oh no, Magna watch out, your ship is going towards a rock!”

“UAAH! Phew, thanks Asta. Ah, shit, you two are already this far ahead of me! Oh hell no, I’m not going to lose!”

Charlotte took a look in the living room. Ah, yes, Luck and his two friends were indeed gaming. Sails of Waves, a newer game a bit like Mario Karts, but with ships instead and a setting that was a mix of Pirates of the Caribbean, One Piece and corsairs & pirates of the 17th and 18th century.

Thankfully this was a rather harmless game, in comparison. Charlotte knew the creator very well, she went to school with him and Jack had a habit of being very bloody and scary in the games he created.

To think that he also opened a toy shop & atelier years ago…

Charlotte sighed and shook her head. She just came home from her tearoom and given how some of her girls were either on vacation or sick – stupid spring cold, really – they only had been three to be here for the customers.

And Sunday was one of the best days for the Blue Rose tearoom. So she was exhausted and since she forgot to buy bread and milk on her weekly grocery shopping, Charlotte had to go to the only shop open on Sunday in Clover, the small supermarket at the train station, on the opposite of her appartement.

But she could live with that. After all, it wouldn’t be the first time something like that happened. But she had to meet Yami today on her way home.

Yami…

Charlotte had a deep sigh as she put the milk in the fridge and the bread into the bread box. Goodness, why was she unable to spend even one day without thinking about him? One hour would already be a record.

Just one hour without feeling the heavy love that hasn’t left her for like a decade. Ten years living with that! Others were well able to move on from a one-sided love and crush more than once in such a period of time, then why was she unable to?

If her life would have been a fantasy story, maybe she would have been curse and falling in love with Yami would have lifted it. It was ridiculous, but it often felt that way for Charlotte. Maybe she read too much of Nymphea Silber’s romantasy novels in her youth. Rather pathetic for a grown adult woman, wasn’t it?

Yami…

Why was she still so worked up about that stupid crush after ten years in the first place? It wasn’t like the rest of her life was hell in any way. She was independent from her family and their stupid business, not to mention she cut most ties with the Roseleis, her tearoom and little fencing school worked amazingly, she had a nice and big appartement, fought for and won her younger half-brothers custody… her life was pretty good so far.

If she could finally get a grip about that stupid crush, it would be perfect.

But how? By moving on? By daring to ask him out directly? By deciding if it was just a crush or something more?

Always those questions and Charlotte was unable to find a proper answer. She was really pathetic, wasn’t she.

Why did had to be him? And why did she not wanted to be anyone else than him?

Maybe this was the never ending hurdle of being in love with terribly dense man. Oh yes, Yami was dense, terribly dense, so dense that despite his claims to be good at reading people, he was unable to tell if someone was in love with him.

Oh, it was easy to put all the blame on him. But Charlotte was well aware and smart enough to know that she wasn’t innocent either. How many times had she been rude to Yami to hide her feelings? How many times had she – often with reasons – been frustrated by his carefree behavior in everything? And made him know? How many times had she told him that work was her only partner?

Yes, she was quite to blame as well for her frustrated romantic situation. Would it have been sorted out much earlier if Yami wasn’t dense and less carefree? But would she be in love with him if he was any different?

Love was complicated and like hope, not rational at all.

“Meow!”

Charlotte looked up and saw Briar on the table, looking at her with some impatience within her beautiful green eyes. Briar was one the three cats Charlotte and Luck had, a beautiful tortoiseshell cat with a black and orange fur.

“Hello, Briar. I know that it is time for your dinner, but I think we had agreed that you shouldn’t jump on the kitchen table.”

Briar seemed to pout, but still jumped of the table, sitting down in front of her bowl and waited. Charlotte smiled as she took Briars favourite food, a mash with chicken flavour. Seems that someone was really hungry.

And of course, as soon as Briar started to eat, Lightning appeared suddenly in the kitchen. She was also a tortoiseshell cat, but unlike Briar, the eyes were amber and the fur was black, grey and white.

“Okay, okay. I will give you your dinner as well. Dry food with fish for you, right?”

Lightning meowed happily, while hoping up and down. She was almost as excited as Luck. After giving Lightning her food, Charlotte left the kitchen to join the boys in the living room. It felt good to feed the cats, they were always distracting her from her unresolved romantic frustration with Yami.

And now, she thought about him again. Why was it so easy to think about him and so difficult to stop?

Charlotte sometimes wondered if she really had puberty completely behind her.

When she entered the living room, the boys were still playing their video game. Given the image on the TV, they were currently on the storm level of the game. Luck and Magna were even jumping. Asta might have done it as well, if it weren’t for the long-haired grey cat napping on his lap.

Ah, there was their third cat. Charlotte and Luck did receive Queen as a kitten roughly six months ago, from a great-aunt who spent most of their time traveling the world and who didn’t cared that Charlotte cut ties with most of the Roseleis or that Luck was an illegitimate child, born out of an affair.

Queen was the only breed cat they had, a beautiful Russian Blue with the characteristic blue-grey fur and green eyes, and very affectionate. Asta seemed to love her too, as he sometimes put his controller aside to pet Queen a bit, even though his own ship lost some speed. Yes, he was a kind boy and Charlotte was glad that Luck was friends with him.

She didn’t had quite the same feeling about Magna, though, he and Luck were always fighting a lot, plus Magna was kind of almost a delinquent and even more or less proud of it. Not something Charlotte appreciated. But at the same time, it was mostly Luck who provoked Magna, not the other way around and this boy still had his heart at the right place. And Yami trusted him.

Yami again… She just couldn’t stop thinking about him. Maybe was it because of spring? This season was always considered the lovers season in Clover. Great, now she started to believe those stupid traditions of people.

She needed another distraction, right now.

“Hello, boys.”

“Bis Sis, you’re back!!!”

“Luck don’t jump on me, you little fucker… Oh shoot, hi, erm, I mean, hello Mrs, no, Miss Roselei! I wasn’t insulting your brother, I swear!”

“Hello, madam Charlotte, sir!”

Charlotte almost laughed as Asta somehow tried to salute. With the controller in his hands and Queen on his lap. She couldn’t blame him, she probably appeared like some kind of strict military officer when Luck brought him home for the first time. Which she was probably still a bit for him.

“Did you have fun playing Sails of Waves?”

“Yes, madam Charlotte, sir, I mean-“

“Asta, please, just Charlotte for you. How many times shall I tell you that?”

“But that wouldn’t be polite, madam Charlotte, sir… Oh no, I shouldn’t say sir to you, I apologize!”

“Don’t scream like that, Asta, you’re scaring the kitty!”

Magna said while yelling himself. But Queen was a calm cat, she just yawned before turning around and continuing to nap.

“How was your day at the tearoom, Big Sis?”

“Rather exhausting. It’s Sunday, not to mention spring holidays, so we had a lot to do at the tearoom. Especially since most of the girls were either sick or on vacation today. We were only three, let’s hope there will be more next week.”

Charlotte really hoped that, because one of the most productive seasons will just get started for her tearoom and the Blue Rose couldn’t be with just three waitresses every day during that season.

Not to mention that it was also a season were a lot of couples, from teenagers to old people, to have dates at the tearoom, which wouldn’t help Charlottes current mental state of romantic frustration concerning Yami and…

And she did it again. What has she ever done in some potential previous life to deserve this?

“Hey, Big Sis, if you want I can help you out sometimes!”

“Only if you promise to not attack costumers out of the blue. Remember what happened last time? If you want to help me, please behave?”

“Not even a little kick between the legs?”

“No.”

“Ah, but okay.”

“Maybe we could help you too!” Asta said with a big kind grin. “I never worked in a tearoom, but sister Lily always said that the more experience I have, the more I can go far in life after school!”

“I’m not that much into tearooms, but if you need manly help, maybe I can jump in?” Magna added, forgetting the game for a moment and not noticing that his boat was trapped into a maelstrom. “I’m helping out three times a week at the Black Bulls Motorcycle Garage, but I’m sure captain Yami will agree that I help one of his old classmates. After all, captain Yami is great!”

“Oh, you work with Yami? And you call him captain?”

“Yeah, it sounds manly! Oh crap, what is happening to my boat?”

While Magna tried to save his ship under Lucks laughs and Astas encouragement, Charlotte took a deep breath. Oh yes, Yami did mention that sometimes students were helping him out at his garage. He did this to help young people and give them a chance, as he said and this was one of the side she admired about him.

If only… If only…

Yami won’t leave her thoughts, wouldn’t he? Even if she hadn’t met him to day after doing her groceries, he would always haunt her mind. Gosh, their meeting today hadn’t even been long, he just teased her and she fled, like always.

This couldn’t continue like this! But at the same time, Charlotte had no idea how to change her whole romantic mess of the mind. Maybe she needed therapy? No, it couldn’t be that desperate. But nothing else came to her mind.

Well, then she needed to try distracting herself again, even though it never worked really. But what other option does she have?

“Can I play with you, boys?”

“Really, that’s so cool of you, Big Sis!”

“Here, sit next to me, madam Charlotte, sir! Oh, sorry, I said sir again!”

“We’ll show you how it works, maybe we can start all over again. That’s the neat thing with this game, it’s not a bother to start all over again. First, you need to design your own ship.”

Under the explanations of Luck and his friends, Charlotte tried to use a controller and to create her own ship. Next to Lucks Thunder Goods Boots, Magnas Crazy Cyclone and Astas Black Meteor, a new ship was now ready to sail.

Prickly Queen.

It was only when a new race started that Charlotte realized it. She gave her ship the very nickname Yami always gave her.

♣♣♣

When Lital woke up, there was a tongue licking all over her face. A tongue that didn’t belonged to her boyfriend, but to a flame red stripped cat.

“Hello, Salamander. What’s the big idea to wake me up in the middle of the night, you little rascal?”

The cat just meowed, before making himself comfortable on the pillow next to her. But the other side of the bed was empty.

Not that Lital could see much. First, the lights were off. Second, her bangs weren’t braided and like always when loose, it covered most of her eyes.

But Lital could feel it still. It was empty, but the sheets were still warm. Which means that he was still here. Of course he was.

“Fue, where are you?”

“Right here, my dearest.”

Pushing some of her bangs away, Lital saw Fuegoleon standing at the window, only wearing his shorts, his hair unkempt but still so softly looking. The lights of the city coming from outside barely came into the room, but it was enough for Lital to admire his muscles, the wonderful red of his hair, his proud back, his big and elegant hands, one of his arms leaning against the window frame, looking outside without really seeing the lights of Clover or the night traffic, which noises sounded like coming from far away.

Yawning, Lital stood up, took his undershirt that was lying on the carpet floor and put it on, before joining Fuegoleon, hugging him from behind. She still wasn’t quite sure on her feet and he must have felt it.

“Have I been too rough with you? I’m sorry.”

“Not at all. I’m just still very tired. It is just passed midnight, after all.”

“I didn’t want to wake you up.”

“It wasn’t you, but Salamander.”

Lital heard him chuckle and it seemed like he turned his head to look at the bed.

“Salamander, how many times have I told you to not wake up my beloved in the middle of the night?”

“Meow!”

Lital and Fuegoleon just laughed softly at the protest of the cat. But sadly, it was short lived. And she knew exactly what was bothering the man she loved.

“I’m sorry that you had this fight with your grandfather today.”

“It was bound to happen and it is certainly not your fault, darling. I just wish I could have gone through him. But you know how stubborn he is. And he probably already forgot about our little fight already. Like with everything that doesn’t fit in his views.”

Well… that sounded very much like Achilles Vermillion, from what Lital heard of him.

Fuegoleon sighed. “I still care for my grandfather. But I fear it becomes more and more difficult for me to really love him. Mereoleona was right to just leave, cut ties with him and do her own thing.”

“She didn’t cut ties with a lot of the family and your grandfather is still too afraid of her to cut her out of his will.”

“Yes… I really thought that I could try to persuade him, after he was such a good mood about that contract with this rich family form Diamond. But… Augustus had to be with him today. And Nozels father. I don’t need to tell you that my rather liberal request came at a bad time. I wasn’t even direct, you know why.”

Lital couldn’t help but hug Fuegoleon even tighter. He really didn’t need to tell her. She knew exactly what this meant for them.

“We still have to be in secrecy for a while longer.”

It wasn’t a question, just a fact. Fuegoleon didn’t answered, but he still put a comforting hand on her arms.

Lital sighed deeply. She wasn’t surprised, but still terribly sad. It was just so unfair and so stupid. This was the 21stcentury, marrying out of duty, power or money should be a thing of the past since so long already.

Too bad that the majority of the rich society in Clover was somehow more strict than the middle ages about that topic.

It wasn’t her fault she was born in the slums, it wasn’t her fault that she was illegitimate. This didn’t determined who she was. But enough for many people in this town to consider her unworthy for one of the heirs of the Vermillion family, one of the three most powerful rich families in Clover.

At least, they would say that if they would knew. But Lital and Fuegoleon kept their relationship in secrecy so far. Only a handful of people knew and after ten years, their love just grew stronger and deeper.

But Lital didn’t want to be in secrecy. She wanted to be at Fuegoleons side for the rest of her life and show it to the world. She wanted to marry him, grew old with him. Simple things, but so important and yet still considered flimsy by this stupid rich society.

Fuegoleon wanted it as well. They have talked about it so much more since a few months. Their wish really wasn’t too much to ask for and yet…

Lital felt like she would start to cry. It was just so frustrating. And after today… It would have worked if Fuegoleon would have managed to convince his grandfather. But circumstances played again against them.

She was very close to not consider spring a happy and romantic season anymore.

Fuegoleon suddenly turned in her arms and cupped her face, brushing her bangs away. His beautiful purple eyes just showed the same sadness and frustration she was feeling, but there was still hope in them, this familiar resolution to not give up.

And the love he had for her.

“I’m as upset as you are, Lital. But do not give up. I certainly won’t. We haven’t come this far for nothing. We’ll continue to fail until we succeed. I love you and I won’t let one defeat take everything away.”

Lital couldn’t help but smile. This man could always feel the right words to comfort her. No wonder she fell in love with him all those years ago.

She leaned against him, savouring his presence, his strength, his determination. It was good to know that they won’t give up, that they could lean on each other each time they felt down. Lital closed her eyes.

“Fue, don’t you have sometimes the feeling that we are a couple from like a fantasy or a historical romance novel? Something like that.”

“Rather ridiculous, isn’t it? We are in the 21st century, after all.”

“It’s not us who made the situation rather ridiculous.”

“I know.”

There was silence again, more comforting this time. They just hold each other, the noise of the night traffic sounding from far away. Lital felt a bit ashamed that she felt so quickly frustrated for a moment. Almost as if it wasn’t worth it.

But it was worth it, she realized it every day again.

“Fue.”

“Hm?”

“I love you.”

“I love you too.”

The next moment, his lips were on hers for a short, loving kiss. A bit desperate maybe, but determined and so sweet. Just as fiery as all the passionate kisses they shared a few hours before.

When their lips parted, Fuegoleon rested his forehead against hers. “Let’s forget about our worries for tonight, my love. Tomorrow is another day.”

“Can I have cuddles before we fell asleep.”

“As you wish.”

Fuegoleon carried her up bridal style towards the bed. They cuddled and kissed a bit before falling asleep. Fuegoleon fell asleep first and Lital felt her own eyes closing quickly as well, when a thought crossed her mind before slumber took over her.

I hope no other couple will have the same difficulties we are facing right now.

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simpingforthisonedeer · 1 year ago

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Chapter 15: Mercy, Mercy

Summary: Aika and Evan are gone for an indefinite period so the story turns to Julius. A ghost from the past and painful memories for the failed protagonist and a new chapter in his life.

Notes:

- Manga and Movie Spoilers from here on out! - 5k words - We’re going to touch more on Ellie’s power later but you do get to see some of it here. - Relationships are really important in this fic. Not only Aika and Julius’s but the other characters' relationship to them and others as well. - Read endnotes for more info and commentary

Tagging: @t-f-t @funky-sea-cryptid @loosesodamarble @lyranova @thoughtfullyrainynightmare

“Then what about her grimoire?” Julius moved his gaze to Ellie’s grimoire pouch but it was not there.

“Where’s my grimoire?!”

“Gods don’t need grimoires, Ellie,” Arthur said wryly as he plopped down in an armchair. “You’re a part of The Pantheon now, and you draw your power from all your fellow Gods.”

“I—Okay…” What? She sighed deeply, begging the tears to stay away. She needed some private time to come to terms with all this. “I did not ask for this…”

“We know you didn’t.” Arthur grinned. “No one asks for Godhood. You achieve it or in your case, stumble upon it. I’m sure Aika saw this coming since she met you. You were, after all, enlightened since you were born, right?”

“Yeah,” she answered meekly. She was born with eyes that burned her mother, father and midwives out of existence. She lived her life blindfolded until Miss Aika reached a hand out to her like a lifeline and taught her how to bring her strange powers under control.

Ellie didn’t like all the attention that the room was giving her. Most of them she doesn’t even know. And Miss Aika was not here to guide her through this. No one would know more about divinity than her or her master.

“That’s why she took you along, you know?”

“What?” She looked up at him. What was he saying?

“What are you implying?” Jayce growled beside her.

“I’m not implying anything! I’m saying that she only gives the time of day to people who she sees potential in, or has business with.”

“Oh, I’m sorry, but not everyone has a wrinkled prune for a heart. She actually likes the people she spends most of her day with. She has friends.” Jayce cocked his head as he stuffed his hands in his pockets in a blatantly arrogant pose. Julius, Jien, Fuegoleon and Dorothy shared a look crossed between amusement and concern. “Something you clearly don’t have even after thousands of years!”

Arthur leapt out of his seat and Jayce flinched when he closed the distance and smiled down at him, gleeful.

“Ah, but that’s where you are wrong.”

“I’m the keeper of Aika’s secrets,” he turned to look at Julius dead in the eyes. “And she’s mine.”

Julius stared back impassively, tamping the ugly jealousy that was welling up in him.

“Look at me,” Jayce bared his teeth in a mocking grin. “Do. I. Give. A. Shit.”

Ellie threw up some portals where fists flew.

“Stop it!” She turned to Jayce. “Have some respect for your elders! He’s not wrong!”

“But—”

“Zip it.”

She pointed an accusing finger at Arthur.

“And you! Responding to schoolyard taunts is beneath you,” she snarled. He pursed his lips and looked away. “People would be nicer to you if you didn’t portray the most benign things so negatively!”

Arthur clicked his tongue but said nothing.

“Okay, well, if we’re done talking, I need to take you to Aika’s old Temple. The High Priest is waiting for you.”

“Wh—”

“No.” Jayce placed himself between Ellie and Arthur. “You are not taking her away too.” He hung his head, fists shaking by his sides.

“Too?”

He exploded on Arthur.

“Aika and Evan are gone! And you didn’t even realise because your head is so far up your ass, you self-serving prick!”

“I’m going to ignore the last half of what you said.” Arthur narrowed his eyes. “But what do you mean they’re gone?”

“Evan’s dead, and Miss Aika had gone berserk so she activated her Shadowed Star spell which Ellie had to transport using impossible means which is why you are here in the first place!”

“Evan is dead?” Arthur whispered, eyes widening. “But Aika brought him back, right?”

“Yeah, but it’s not going to matter because,” Tears fell as he looked up at the older man. “Because what use is it to be alive when you can’t feel happiness, grief, anger, love, all the things that make us alive. He’s going to wake up in a month, a shell of what he is.” He buried his face in his hands. “Why the fuck do you care anyways?”

“Why do I care about Aika’s oldest child, my daughter’s beloved brother, a young man whom I have known way longer than you have?” Arthur grit out. “Where is he?”

Julius cleared his throat. This was going too far in front of people who are completely unaware of what they are even talking about.

“This discussion is getting out of hand. Evan is in the infirmary. Please continue there.” Julius all but glared at them in disappointment. His tone made no room for argument so Ellie made a portal and before she walked through it after Jayce and Arthur, she locked eyes with Julius, looking for something, permission or assurance, he wasn’t sure. His expression softened and he nodded curtly. She pursed her lips and frowned as she walked away. Julius had a sneaking suspicion as to why.

It was 2 a.m.

“What the hell just happened.”

Julius stayed quiet as discussion exploded along with his head. It felt like there was a raging storm inside but he kept calm and restored the room back to its previous state and walked over to the desk where his gifts were. He plucked the gold ring Aika left him out of its box and slid it down his pinky finger as he stared at the wisteria trees glowing outside the giant arched window that the long desk faced. He shuddered as a warmth washed over him, and hugged him like a weighted blanket.

Julius closed his eyes and for a moment, pretended it was Aika hugging him from behind. He smiled at the fantasy but the voices behind him were only getting louder.

“The Pantheon? Does that mean she is one of—”

“Who is she anyway? I haven’t seen her around before.”

“Agreed. I would remember a dark-skinned foreigner like her.”

He turned around as he took off his cloak. It seemed like he didn’t need this giant blanket for warmth anymore.

“Enough.”

A word alone brought the room to silence in an instant.

“It was unfortunate that you all had to witness Miss Aika’s troubles throughout the day but please be professional. Go home, get some rest, write a report if you can’t sleep. Prepare for the Captain’s meeting tomorrow. We’ll discuss everything then.”

Everyone quietly mumbled “goodnights” and “goodbyes” as they left. Marx and Jien gave him worried looks but understood that he wanted to be left alone with his thoughts right now. They needed time to reflect on the day too.

Julius laid back on the armchair and laced his fingers on his lap, closing his eyes with a sigh.

What a long day.

A deep laugh echoed in his head as his stomach fell.

An apparition of his mirror image sat in the sofa in front of him, legs crossed in an arrogant pose and a bemused smile. The man was his twin, looked exactly like him except for his dark hair, deep as the night sky.

“Lucius.”

“I have to applaud your restraint, Julius.”

The memories came roaring back, a migraine pounding in tandem with each glimpse and tidbit of information.

A childhood in a cold country, two brothers and a sister who were ever so relieved to see him. His real family, not the fake one his brother masterminded in Clover Kingdom. The grief, the pain, the guilt, the shame. Blood dripping down his chin and a half eaten heart in his hands. Visions of the world ending, a cataclysm of his own design. Monsters encased in crystal. The wheelchair.

Lucius kept talking.

“There is no greater story than your life,” he laughed. “And I have enjoyed watching every single moment of it. You definitely keep it interesting.”

The fear, the pain. And a reprieve. Watching swordsmanship practice. An eager friend with a beautiful smile. The only person ever brave enough to befriend Lucius. Someone his siblings looked up to with awe and affection in their eyes. The only touch Lucius didn’t flinch at as she picked him up and ran. Explosions that left bells ringing. A pact made from mercy and a new lease on life.

“You and I have disagreed on some things, but I have never taken you for a fool—”

“She knows.”

Lucius dropped his head to the side.

“Knows what?”

“Our father was her mentor. She studied at the War College. She babysat our siblings for free and our father favoured her,” Julius’s voice rose with each word in panic. “Lucius put your arrogance aside and remember! The Oath she made with Arthur broke that made people forget that she ever used Time Magic but you were so obsessed with the fact that she used Time Magic that the Oath made us forget her entirely. But Arthur and Aika never forgot as they were the ones that cast the magic. She knows about us, Lucius.”

“She—” Lucius' eyes widened.

“I desperately want to say she doesn’t remember because she has never seen me but she has always remarked how Zenon was ‘Mini-Lucius.’ She has an eye for appearances and a long memory.”

“In one of your conversations with her, she mentioned that she hasn’t been to Spade Kingdom since she had left. She hasn’t seen Zenon and she most definitely doesn’t remember us. She would have said something if she did.” Lucius touched his chin in thought. “Was it only the pact that was broken?”

“What do you mean?”

“You’ve never taken this tone of voice with me,” he scrutinised Julius. “I never allowed you to.”

Julius felt the hairs raise on the back of neck.

“I wouldn’t know if your spell is there or not because I’ve never felt it.” He glared at him coldly.

“That’s right. You wouldn’t.” Lucius only smiled. “I was just wondering because it would be a problem if my spell on our siblings also vanished.”

“Even if that did happen, you won’t be able to do anything about it.”

“After all these years, you’ve finally developed a rebellious streak.” Lucius stood up and placed his hands on Julius’s armrest, caging him. “I really do wonder where this confidence comes from. Is it from her?”

“You can’t even bring yourself to say her name,” Julius spat, his eyes glinting in anger.

“She’s not even worth mentioning.”

“Lies.” His heart was in his throat as he ran his mouth. “She just foiled your plans and it spells the end of you if she did this on purpose. And I can’t say she was your friend, but she meant something to you and you can’t reconcile with that and your delusions of grandeur.”

“Now where is this resistance coming from? This,” he grabbed Julius’s head, searching for his resolve so that he may squash it before it turns on him. “Determination.”

Julius faltered as Lucius poked around his head but he gathered his courage and grit his teeth.

“Is it, again, from her? You were feeling particularly inspired earlier in the dungeons.”

“Just because she has affected you so much when we were teens doesn’t mean the same for me. My determination comes from years of experience and rising above my station to become Wizard King.” Julius glared up at him. “Not trauma and obsession.”

He flinched and gasped when Lucius began choking him, that smug expression gone and his eyes wide in that all-so-familiar insanity.

“My, my,” he grit out between his teeth. “Where did you acquire that silver tongue of yours? You’re so quick to hurt your brother.”

Julius grabbed his wrists and gasped for air. Blood roared in ears as Lucius’s magic lashed out at him. He heard the muffled screams of souls he had consumed and Julius made a decision. Enough was enough.

He took them to the infirmary with the last of his strength and to his relief, Jayce was there. And so was Arthur and Ellie. It was two too many people but he was out of options and didn’t have space for “Plan B.” They all leapt to catch him as he fell to his knees and the moment they touched him, they felt an evil unlike any other. They stared at the warping silhouette of a demon, not unlike Aika earlier, who pressed on their hearts, as if directly stepping on it to squash it.

“Seal…Him!” Julius gasped. Jayce set to work as Ellie held the dying king. Arthur used all of his strength to pry this poltergeist’s arms away, growling as it barely budged.

Ellie took this moment to whisper into Julius’s ear.

“You cannot keep this from her. She will know.”

He turned his quivering head in question.

“You dare? You dare?!” Lucius’s garbled screams shook the room. “After all I’ve done for you?!”

Arthur reared his arm back and punched the apparition.

Lucius’s form went back to normal and looked at him in shock. How did he touch him?

“Anyone who claims to have done something for someone and then tries to choke them has probably done jack shit.”

Jayce’s makeshift seal shook and shook, threatening to break.

“Aim at his soul,” Ellie whispered to him as Julius rubbed his neck in her arms.

“I don’t know how to do that!”

“Yes, you do,” she said gently. “It is like sealing anything else.”

Arthur pinned Lucius to the floor and bared his fangs at him. He tried to fight back by reaching for the man’s soul but it was nowhere to be found.

“Whatchu lookin for?”

“How?”

“You live for over two thousand years, you’ll find a lot of things to do in your free time.”

“Jayce, go for the soul Arthur has grabbed.”

“Oh, gee, yeah let me suddenly learn Soul Magic right now so I can find it.”

“Ugh.” Ellie grabbed his hand and placed it on Julius’s chest. “Everyone has a soul. Meaning we all have an affinity for its magic.” Her eyes shimmered with her newfound powers, and she lent some of it to him.

“Look,” she commanded, and so he saw. He saw what made the king before him: the life, the memories, the atoms—

“That’s too much.” She reeled her power back with a wince. “Sorry. Still getting used to it.”

Jayce blinked quickly and then he saw what he needed to. Two souls crowded in one body, but one was going nuts, as if fighting back.

His magic locked in on it.

“Yes, that one.”

And it snapped into place.

Silence as Lucius disappeared.

“Did it work?” Jayce whispered.

“Yes.”

“Mmm.”

“How?” Jayce jumped with an embarrassing yell when Lucius reappeared in front of him.

“You,” Julius gasped for air. “You sealed his magic.”

“That’s what I am most familiar with so that’s what I did. I-I don’t know how to seal souls!”

“That’s okay,” Julius rasped as Arthur handed him a glass of water. He downed it in heavy gulps. “It was better that way.”

“Why?” Ellie asked him. She had a strange glint in her eyes that made him look away for some reason.

“Because he had granted me mercy not once, but twice. Even when I didn’t ask for it. If you had sealed his soul, he would’ve been stuck in purgatory with nothing to see and no one to talk to.” He looked up at Lucius’s openly shocked face. “He may be a bit prickly, but he’s still my brother.”

“First thing,” Arthur raised his hands. “You have a brother? Second, him choking you is him being ‘a bit prickly?’”

“That soft heart of yours will be the end of you,” Lucius hissed as everyone stood up.

“Yeah, yeah. Okay.” Jayce caught Julius as he nearly fell. “How can all of you see him?”

“Godhood.”

“I sealed him so…”

“I grabbed onto his soul in case he acts up.”

“Godhood,” Lucius scoffed. “How ridiculous.” He gasped when a force grabbed him and turned him around to face Ellie.

“Careful,” she warned lightly. “It won’t be so ridiculous when I erase you out of existence.”

“How do you know what to do with your powers?”

“Instinct. It comes with her Awakening,” Arthur explained quietly.

“Please don’t do anything to him,” Julius pleaded.

“I wasn’t going to. If I wanted to, I would’ve when you first fell to your knees but I wanted to hear the story before I did.” Lucius closed his eyes when she tried to force him to look at her. Ellie let him go and he dropped to his knees. “I simply wanted to remind him of his place.” She picked him up by the collar. “You are a mere apparition now with your magic sealed. Try to hurt Sir Julius who is dear to Miss Aika and even the last vestiges of your ambitions and your memory would be wiped from reality.”

Silence again.

“That was hot,” Jayce whispered and Julius stared at Ellie in shock.

“It looks like she learned from the best, isn’t that right?”

“I’ve never seen you like that.”

“It’s because you’ve never seen me on solo missions with Miss Aika.” Jayce seemed disappointed at that. What Jayce also doesn’t know was that she had been faking it. It took all of her strength to keep her voice from shaking. Arthur had just calmed her down earlier but Gods she was just acting on her protective instinct. That is all.

“Er, thank you. Ellie, was it?”

“Yes,” she smiled. Julius bowed his head.

“Thank you, Ellie.”

“We have to get going. We’ve already stayed for too long.”

“Wait—”

“It’s okay, Jayce. I’ll be back as soon as I figure things out. You know how to take care of Miss Aika’s paperwork and whatnot, right?”

“Yeah…”

“Then you got this.” She laid a hand on his shoulder and leaned it to kiss his cheek. “You are more like her than anyone,” she whispered as she pulled back. “If anyone can do it, it’s you.”

Jayce’s jaw fell as she walked away. Do what?

“I’ll keep her safe and sound. Don’t worry,” Arthur smiled wearily and turned to Julius. “Take care of yourself. We’ll talk about your so-called ‘brother’ next time I see you.”

They disappeared together in a flash of light, leaving some residual magic in their wake.

Jayce led the quiet Julius to a chair next to Evan’s bed and brought him another glass of water as he eyed Lucius’s floating form warily.

“Let’s go to sleep, Sir.”

He nodded but just barely and stood up, lost in thought.

“Are you going to be okay?” He asked as he walked towards the door. Jayce faltered but in a stuttered breath,

“I will be.”

“Will you be okay, Sir?”

He paused and looked down at his feet. The silence stretched for a minute before Julius drew his shoulders back and smiled at Jayce.

“I will be,” he echoed.

Julius woke up to someone trying to break down his bedroom door.

“Sir! You are going to be late to your meeting!”

Oh, it was just Marx. He stumbled into the room as the doors flew open.

“I’m sorry, Marx,” he yawned as he rubbed his eyes.

“Don’t be sorry, Sir!” He exclaimed as he threw the closet door open. “I already ordered breakfast to the conference room for everyone. All the Captain's secretaries informed me that no one ate so you won’t be the odd one out.”

Julius jogged into the bathroom with half-formed thoughts and did a 3 minute version of his morning routine, which was the whole routine sped up to 3 minutes with the help of Time Magic so he walked out looking fresh as ever.

When Marx looked at him, he paused with a slight frown. Apparently he doesn’t look as fresh.

He helped Julius into the first layer of his clothes with the shirt and pants and when he tried to fit the brown robe over him, Julius stopped him.

“That’s no longer needed, just get me a standard open cloak.”

“You don’t have a Wizard King version of the open faced one, Sir…”

“Order one then.” Julius walked to his bedside table and slid the gold ring down his pinky and sighed as warmth enveloped him.

“Yes, Sir,” Marx said as he offered him a plain red robe. Julius moved to leave as he threw the robe on him, thinking about how quiet Lucius had been since last night. But he was stopped as Marx tugged at his sleeve. He turned around in question and Marx simply just pursed his lips and dragged him to the vanity. When Julius was forcefully sat down, he saw the problem in the mirror, he understood why his assistant looked like he was constipated.

Julius had bags under his eyes, dark enough to put a raccoon to shame. He did not have any energy left to use magic to elongate the time he slept, hence the bags.

Marx sifted through the drawers looking for something and pulled out a tube of makeup and powder that was surprisingly his shade.

“I ordered stage makeup but also the everyday one just in case,” Marx muttered to himself. “Knew it would come in use.” He showed the tube to Julius. “This is a concealer.” He began applying and blending it under Julius’s eyes. “And the powder is setting powder.”

Julius just sat still as Marx fussed over him as one thing became apparent: Marx really cared about him. He makes sure he eats breakfast, he stresses over his work, he cares that he looks good to the people. He really cares about him. He thought back to last night.

The way Jayce, Ellie and Arthur didn’t even hesitate to help him and ensure his safety just because he meant something to Aika. He wondered if Aika would also help Marx if he needed it because he meant a lot to Julius.

He wondered if Marx knew he meant a lot to him.

His eyes fluttered as Marx brushed the excess powder away.

“Don’t bother walking to the room, Sir. Just teleport.” He stepped back as Julius got out of his seat. “I have your agenda set in your seat and—” He nearly fell back as Julius hugged him.

“I hope you know how grateful I am for you, Marx.”

“Sir, I—”

“You mean a lot to me.” The younger man’s throat closed up all of a sudden. When was the last time he heard that? Heck, has anyone ever told him that at all?

“All your hard work that you put into me, I know you stress over me so much, but it’s never wasted.”

Julius pulled back and smiled warmly. Marx blushed at the emotion on the older man’s face.

“Keep up the good work.” He laid his hand on his head and he was gone before Marx could get a word in.

Julius had praised him before but not like this. This was more of an emotional confession than praise. Marx let a tear fall as he blinked. He began to worry even more now. Why did it sound like a deathbed confession? Can’t be, because Julius’s story has just started. He won’t let it end yet.

Julius sat in his throne-like chair at the head of the table, staring at the omelette in front of him.

He was early for the first time in forever.

“What are you going to do now?” He asked Lucius who stood by the window, looking out at the wisteria trees.

“Watch you, I suppose. I can’t do much when you have such fierce protectors.”

“I don’t believe you’ll just give up.”

He stayed quiet.

“Did you really spare me like I spared you?”

Julius shrugged, opening the folder Marx set aside for him.

“This soft heart of mine is the reason why you’re alive today. But I’ll tell you what? That’s a lie.” He let his head rest against the chair. “I know you wish you were dead rather than be trapped with nothing to do for the rest of our lives but that's exactly why I spared you.” Lucius stared at him in shock but he continued.

”You erased the memories of our pact, the reason why you spared me. You erased my conviction. If I had known, I would’ve acted quicker, I would’ve worked harder but no.” Julius gripped the armrests as anger like never before raged beneath the surface of his skin. “You stacked the odds against me. I never knew the stakes. Now you will get to watch me as a powerless ghost. You will get to watch me fall in love, succeed in our dream without the bloodshed you desperately wanted, and watch me be happy. You took my anger, but now I have it back. I will prove you wrong.”

Knock, knock.

Julius took a deep breath and counted to 10.

“Come in.”

The new Captains filtered in and split off in a ceremonial fashion to stand behind their respected seats. Julius nodded and they all sat.

“Welcome, Captains,” he began, making eye contact with each and every single one of them. The stasis spell over their food broke. “Please dig in while I ramble,” he joked, motioning to their plates. “We will have meetings all week because we have a lot of work to get done. But afterwards, we will have a meeting weekly and sometimes it may be as short as an hour or as long as a day. Plan as if it will take up the entire day.”

“Straying from the agenda you have in front of you, I have to let you know that there was an incident or two yesterday and a report could not be sent to all your offices in time. Captains Dorothy, Fuegoleon and Jien were present when it happened. You three can take this initiative on this.”

They took turns explaining what happened as Julius sat back and ate slowly, quietly listening. One thing that intrigued him in the oral report and the subsequent discussion was that they never mentioned the incident with Aika and Ellie. Perhaps that was for the best.

“Who is Aika Tolliver?” Charlotte, the Captain of the Blue Roses asked, directing the question at Julius directly but he seemed to be lost in his thoughts.

“Sir?” Fuegoleon called out a little louder.

“Julius.” He looked up when Jien called him by name.

“Ah, sorry.” He wiped his mouth with a cloth. “Was the question about Miss Aika?”

Everyone except Nozel, the Captain of the Silver Eagles nodded.

“She was a consultant for the previous Wizard King and is going to be one for me. Miss Aika usually prefers to work in the shadows but decided to be public recently. She is an excellent strategist, fighter, and knowledgeable about all sorts of magic and magic techniques. She was born and brought up here in Clover Kingdom but lived most of her life overseas.”

The Captains who didn’t know about Aika before erupted in silent awe.

“She left the continent? People who leave usually don’t come back.”

“Ke, was it too good for them that they can’t come back? At least she did, I guess.”

“She sounds a bit familiar to me.”

“She is the owner of the merchant and information guild, Eidolon, here in the capital. So I’m not surprised you know, Gueldre.”

“Mmhph,” Julius finished the last bite of his meal. “If that is all, Captain Sal of the Royal Guards is investigating the two assassins. If you wish to work on the investigation, talk to him. Let’s get onto the next piece on the agenda.”

“We don’t know what the next piece is because it only says ‘Surprise!’”

Julius laughed.

“That is because I wanted to let you all know, we will be having two new Magic Knight squads!”

The room blew up in discussion as they all bombarded him with questions. Jien looked utterly betrayed. He mouthed “sorry” and then answered each question one by one.

After what felt like an hour of answering questions, Julius gathered his papers and stood up to dismiss them but then, Marx’s screen popped up in front of his face, with a dire expression that he knew would foil any of his plans to relax.

“Sir! I have some news! The Spade Kingdom has retreated all its troops and our spies say that the Zogratis siblings have stepped down and pledged a Magic Oath of fealty to Queen Ciel of Spade.”

That was very quick.

The room exploded once again.

As Marx’s screen turned around to face the Captains and tell them again and again that he doesn’t know every detail yet, Julius only looked at the one person that mattered.

Lucius looked furious.

And so it begins.

#black clover #black clover fanfiction #julius novachrono #oc: aika tolliver #fuegoleon vermillion #dorothy unsworth #nozel silva #jien du #marx francois #oc: ellie #charlotte roselei #julius novachrono x reader #julius novachrono x oc #demons run #demons run chapter 15 #demons run fic stuff

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