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vilandel · 8 days

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Silver Cats & Black Roses

Chapter 4 – Talks, Hot Chocolate & Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

A/N I quickly post the fourth chapter before I go to work. The title is clearly one of my favorites 💜💙

Ao3 link

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“Vice-captain Agatha isn’t here today, it’s her day off. But captain Nozel is here. If it’s urgent, you can give it to him immediately, he is in his office.”

“This rapport is pretty urgent, so I’ll go immediately, thank you, cutie pie.”

Vanessa gave Nils Ragus a cheeky smirk, which made that poor young knight blush in confusion.

Giggling, Vanessa left with a small wave, before she went to the captain’s office. She knew where it was, after all. The first time she went here, she had been confused by how different this building was with the Black Bulls hideout. So clear and silvery white, so orderly and tidy, so stern and of course, royal. And most importantly, the rooms never changed places on a daily basis. Which actually helped Vanessa to find her ways after some visits. So of course she knew now were the Nozels office was. Vanessa couldn’t help but have a little dancing step.

Finally, she would see Nozel again. Three days, three days since Finrals wedding, three days since she last saw him, three days without hearing his voice. All because Yami was now practically clinging on the Black Bulls communication device for some reason and he wouldn’t let her take it.

“Ya were already clinging on it for those past three months, so don’t complain.“

Okay, which was fair, Vanessa would admit that. But she at least let other people have it when they needed to make some calls. She would take it back immediately after, granted, but she still let other people use it. Yami never let anyonehave it. The worst part, he never called anyone himself, just looking at the device like it was hiding it’s knowledge from him or something.

But when he got a call, mostly from the Magic Knights Headquarters or sometimes from other captains, he looked somehow pissed. Sometimes Yami also got blank calls. Okay, being pissed off about those was pretty normal, but the other calls? And if he was pissed to get calls at all, why would he cling on the Black Bulls communication device in the first place?

Not to mention that Vanessa really missed Nozel, more than she would have thought. Did he missed her too? Or was he relieved that the Black Bull witch didn’t bother him anymore? That thought bothered her, though. She liked talking to him, to tease him and trying to find more about the real Nozel behind the mask. Vanessa really hoped that he missed her at least a bit.

So, of course Vanessa jumped on the occasion to bring something at the Silver Eagles headquarters. Even better, the vice-captain wasn’t here today, so the chance to finally see Nozel again were even higher. Not that Vanessa didn’t like the vice-captain of the Silver Eagles. On the contrary, Agatha Austen was surely one of the nicest nobles she ever met. A little aloof maybe and very serious too, no wonder considering that Nozel Silva was her captain, but she never acted arrogantly with Vanessa despite her squad or her status as a witch. On the contrary, Agatha always had a smile for her and even talked a bit when she had some time to spent.

But it wasn’t Agatha Austen Vanessa wanted to see, it was Nozel Silva.

In front of the door of the captain’s office, Vanessa still took some time to take a deep breath. Her curiosity about Nozel was something entirely new, still not quite clear and sometimes she almost found it a teensy bit scary. But only almost. After all she was a Black Bull, proud and daring, she refused to be afraid of the unknown.

Vanessa knocked on the door. No answer. She knocked louder. Still no answer?

Did Nozel left already? She hoped not and Nils did say that it was still here. Besides, thanks to their many calls of those last three months, Vanessa knew by now that Nozel stood at work until very late, sometimes even a whole night. Did he even get proper sleep sometimes? She couldn’t help but be concerned about him.

Like so often since the talk in Spade.

Maybe he just didn’t heard her knocking? Given how Nozel could sometimes lost himself into work, Vanessa wouldn’t be surprised if he haven’t noticed the knocks.

Swiftly she open the door, only the find the object of her curiosity sitting at his office table, looking at his communication device. Before Vanessa could even have a thought about it, the device glow up, signalising a call.

“Who’s disturbing me while I’m taking a shit? Unless it’s you, Prickly Queen. Will you finally stop blank calling me and-“

Nozel cut the communication, put his device away and groaned in frustration while taking his head between his hands. Vanessa couldn’t help but giggle. This was such a rare sight to witness.

Her giggle made Nozel look up and he almost flinched in his shock when he recognized her.

“Did you hoped it was me?”

Nozel blushed slightly, filling Vanessa even more with glee. He didn’t went with a beet red blush like Noelle, but getting red that easily must definitely lie in the family.

“What… what… What are you doing here?”

“Officially, I’m just bringing this report here and since your vice-captain is on her day-off, I’m lucky to finally see you again.”

It was probably a bit too bold to say that, especially that she didn’t meant it completely as teasing, but Nozel didn’t need to know that. Probably.

Nozel took the report she was handling to him, reading it. Like, really reading. Not just a quick glance. No, he read the report thoroughly.

Was it normal for captains to actually do that? Vanessa couldn’t remember Yami ever doing this. Not even when he was on the toilet. Yami usually let the captains paperwork laying around and after a while, Finral was the one ending up with it, with sometimes the help of Gordon, because Gordon was nice.

But the Black Bulls were a particular knight squad. So, it was probably normal for other squad captains to read the reports.

Although… Given how often Nozel was working late, maybe he was the complete opposite of Yami and he worked too much? It wouldn’t surprise Vanessa.

“This one came just in time. Thank you.”

“Did you actually say thank you? Who would have thought.”

“I beg your pardon?”

“Nothing, nothing at all!”

Vanessa waved innocently with her hands, but Nozel was glaring at her, as if he knew she was at least not telling the whole truth. This glare was really intense and still so calm, it was really fascinating.

Vanessa just sighed, “Okay, I admit, I never thought you were the type to say thank you, but I never really knew you before, so of course my impression was wrong. And Yami always said you would never be thankful, but he also always said that he never loses at gambling, so I should have known better than listen to him, I’m sorry and-“

“It’s alright. There is no need to apologize. I understand that you would have that impression of me.”

It was just subtle, but his voice sounded so soft for a moment. Was he hurt by her words? Or was he actually just saying a simple fact, nothing else? Hopefully, it was the latter, Vanessa really had no intention to hurt his feelings or something.

She wanted to say something before it really became awkward between them, but Nozel beat her to it. “What is the unofficial reason you’re here.”

“Oh, simple. I missed you and I wanted to see you.”

Okay, that was pretty bold, even for her. But it was the truth. Besides, he was slightly blushing again and she wanted to enjoy that sight as much as she could.

“Sorry that I didn’t called for three days. I wanted to, but Yami got a grip on our squad’s communication device and even though he didn’t initiated any calls himself and always got upset with every call he got, he refused to give it away. It’s not that I didn’t want to talk to you anymore.”

“It’s fine. I don’t hold any grudges against you. It’s that… that I got used to you calls. So… I’ll admit that I was somehow worried.”

“Aw, that was so elegantly said. Thank you for your worries. And for trying to call me as well, you didn’t need to.”

“But it wouldn’t be polite of me to let only you initiate the calls.”

“That’s nice of you, but don’t be so stiff. I bet you only fell on Yami these past three days. Well, I just told you that he refused to let go of the device, so…”

“Yes. I’ve been… trying to reach you. But Yami was the only one that answered and given his attitude, it didn’t seemed important to me to actually talk to him.”

“Oh, so you’re the one who gave him those blank calls lately,” Vanessa laughed.

To be fair, there were many others things she wanted to tease him about. That he wanted to be polite with her, but not with Yami, apparently. That he missed her calling him and actually did try to reach out for her. That he not really used his usual cold mask while talking to her in this very moment.

Oh, and there was the fact that Yami apparently thought that it was captain Charlotte who blank called him, but this was more Yami teasing and not Nozel teasing. Big difference.

“Doesn’t Yami has his own communication device?” Nozel asked, while signing the rapport.

Vanessa almost squeaked in glee. Nozel initiating some small talk? That was new and made her so happy. She had no idea what she did specifically to make him open up a bit more to her, but that wasn’t important right now.

“No, he doesn’t. We only have one device for the whole squad. They’re pretty expensive, so I don’t have one of my own. Isn’t that case for other squads?”

“No. The captain should always have one on his own and depending on the squad’s size, one to three devices.”

“Hm, that makes sense, actually.”

“Why doesn’t Yami have his own device?”

“No idea. Maybe he never had one, he probably thought that it wasn’t necessary for the Black Bulls or that it would be a future problem, so no big deal. Or maybe he had one, but he lost it while gambling. That is actually more probable, knowing Yami. He often also puts his own grimoire on the gamble table.”

Nozel just looked blankly at her, clearly hardly believing what he was hearing. Vanessa couldn’t help but giggle again.

“How does he think he serve this kingdom and it’s people if he can’t even use his grimoire anymore?”

“Don’t worry, he always managed to get it back… somehow. I don’t think I wanna know.”

“He still shouldn’t put his grimoire on the gamble table.”

“That’s true. But we Black Bulls are actually used to it. Well, Noelle and Finral obviously still complains a lot about that habit of his. Vice-captain Nacht as well, when he’s present at least. I guess someone has to, otherwise it could really end badly for Yami.”

Nozel just nodded, before focusing back on paperwork. Vanessa hold back a moan of disappointment. Was that it?

She knew that he took his work and job very seriously. Too seriously even, at least by her books. Maybe even by anyone else’s books. Vanessa feared that it was maybe becoming unhealthy. She was really worried about Nozel, ever since their talk in Spade, maybe more than what she probably should be. But if she should be or not wasn’t important in her eyes, she still was and in her books, that mattered more.

Besides, she wanted to talk more with him, to finally learn more about him and most importantly, to see him without his cold mask. Her mysterious curiosity about Nozel grow more and more with each word exchanged.

“So, what are you plans for tonight, handsome?”

“I don’t have plans, I need to work.”

“Seriously, again? Come on, you can’t spend your whole evenings at work. Don’t you have some free time?”

“I could, but I can’t allow myself to, even if I wanted. The Silver Eagles is a big squad, complicated and a royal one at that, it is my responsibility. Not to mention that some nobles loves to use my squad as a trash bin.”

“Trash bin?” Vanessa asked, stunned. She had no idea what Nozel meant with that. Another thing about him she wanted to find out… She had quite the list at this point.

“Well, whatever, captain Nozel, I might be not the best expert about work, but I know at least that without at least a bit of free time, there are high chances to get overworked and I really believe that this is exactly what is happening to you right now. I’m worried that it’s starting to get unhealthy for you.”

Nozel looked up at her, genuinely surprised. Was he surprised that too much work could be unhealthy? Or that she admitted to be worried about him? Vanessa wasn’t sure if it was a good idea to admit that, but on the other hand, Nozel was very able to not understand a point if it wasn’t said directly.

“Besides, it’s true that I missed talking to you and don’t you think that I’m going to slip this occasion through my fingers. Also, for your information, no one can say no to a witch and live to tell the tale. I know a nice little café in the capital, I love the hot chocolate they serve… and their cakes are really exquisite, they can actually hold a candle to Charmys cooking.”

That cake argument was quite spontaneous, but Vanessa remembered that it always worked on a sweet tooth like Noelle and Nozel was her brother, so maybe it might work on him too…

Indeed, Nozels eyes had a twitch, just like Noelle when Vanessa try to lure her with anything sweet. Maybe being a sweet tooth was a family thing. Although, Nozel might be more difficult to convince than Noelle.

“My vice-captain isn’t here today.”

Okay, that was a good argument, Vanessa would admit. But…

“It’s almost six o’clock and if Finral hasn’t told me something wrong, it’s about the time night shifts usually starts, right?”

“That is correct, but��”

“Which also means that there are people here for the night to look that everything is alright. Isn’t that what night shifts are usually? Well, it is for the Black Bulls and I bet that this is one of those things we have in common with the other squads. And if you fear gossip, the café I know isn’t big on that, it’s a calm place.”

Vanessa almost said that he shouldn’t care about gossip in the first place, but she held back. Something told her that this wasn’t something to say bluntly to Nozel Silva of all people.

Nozel really looked almost convinced, but his eyes never left the orderly placed paperwork on his office table. Vanessa almost rolled her eyes. Did he actually loved to do paperwork? Who would even love doing that? Finral himself was only doing the Black Bulls paperwork because no one else would.

“If there’s nothing really, REALLY urgent, you can leave the rest for tomorrow. It doesn’t matter if you read them now or tomorrow. Have a good time for once, I’m sure that Noelle would freak out if she ever learns how much time you work. Come on, would it kill you to relax a bit once in a while?”

She was bold, very bold. Much more than she would have thought, even for her standards. But she wouldn’t let go, she wanted to have more time to getting to know him and even more, she wanted him to let go a bit of whatever burden he had. She knew that he had one, but not what it was exactly.

Nozel sighed and with that sound alone, Vanessa knew that she had won.

“Alright, I’m coming then. Also, let me invite you. Just… give me a moment.”

“As long as you’re coming, take all the time you need. And thanks for inviting me.”

Smiling, Vanessa watched how Nozel put some documents in straight piles, rearranged some quills already perfectly placed and reopen a drawer just to close it. It kinda reminded her how Noelle would react when she had been convinced to do something and was embarrassed about it.

Noelle and Nozel were actually much more alike than at first sight.

Suddenly, someone knocked on the door. Nozels subtle blush suddenly disappeared and his face was covered again by his usual cold, serious mask. Vanessa was actually amazed how quickly he could put it back.

“Come in.”

A redhaired Silver Eagle knight entered, probably even younger than Asta and Noelle.

The young girl was a bit taken aback to see Vanessa in the captains office. Giving her a polite nod, the young Silver Eagle turned towards her captain, unsure.

“Miss Enoteca brought the missing report about the thieving incidents in the Common Realm, Grenadine. It is pretty normal for squads to exchange reports about current affairs, in order to enlarge teamwork between squads and serve the kingdom more efficiently. You’ll learn the details soon enough.“

Oh, so this was a Silver Eagle rookie. Vanessa smiled at the young girl, who gave a shy smile back. Grenadine couldn’t be indeed older than fifteen and maybe she was quite nervous, given the nervous look in her bright turquoise eyes.

“Is there something I need to know?”

“Oh, yes captain,” Grenadine said, giving Nozel a sealed envelope. “This is from Lucinda Sandler, she’s asking for a leave of absence because she’s… pregnant… again?”

Vanessa frowned at Grenadines hesitation. It sounded like she didn’t believe that Lucinda person to really be pregnant. And given Nozels own frown, he didn’t believe it either.

“How peculiar. If I remember correctly, she gave birth like three weeks ago and she is still in a leave of absence due to the pregnancy and birth.”

“I know, captain. Curtis said that we aren’t allowed to not grant that, but… well… she’s not really pregnant, so…”

“You learn fast. No, we won’t grant her that leave of absence. She didn’t give us a believable reason for that. Besides, Lucinda Sandler is taking non-stop leaves of absence for more than two years, there needs to be a limit.”

Vanessa just looked away, pretending to not hear anything. It wasn’t one of her squad’s affairs, after all. But having a knight like that Lucinda sounded problematic.

Nozel was still in full captain mode, asking Grenadine, “Anything new about Linus Gem?”

“Not since he came to get his salary last week ago, sadly.”

“How can someone like him even call himself a magic knight if he never comes to work as such in the first place?”

Nozel sounded so done by this knight and Vanessa fought the urge to go to him to put a hand on his shoulder. She didn’t know Lucinda and Linus, but it was fair to assume that they were somehow difficult to deal with.

Was it normal for Nozel? Did he deal with problems like that every day?

“I’ll deal with those matters tomorrow. I’ll… take some time to… rest, this evening.”

Grenadine looked at Nozel as he got a second head. Goodness, even a junior knight who wasn’t there for long wasn’t used for her captain to actually take time to relax?

“Who is taking the night shifts tonight?”

“Curtis Warren, Alysanne Dragonstone and granny Julia, captain.”

Vanessa couldn’t help but let out a snort, making the two Silver Eagles looking at her, Grenadine with confusion, Nozel with annoyance.

Nozel actually sighed, before focusing back on his knight. “Her full name is Julia Ambrosia and you should talk about her accordingly. I know she allowed everyone to call her granny, but this is still not proper.”

“Right. Sorry, captain.”

“Good. Now, take your evening, you had long day.”

“Huh? Um… I will, captain, thank you.”

Grenadine just looked between Nozel and Vanessa, confusion plain on her face. It was really adorable.

Nozel finally got up from his desk and walked towards the door. But just as Vanessa was about to follow him, he turned back again and said, “By the way, Grenadine, I got news from yesterday’s mission. The Wizard King granted you a star for your success. Congratulations.”

“Really, I did? Thanks, captain.”

“Good evening, Grenadine. I see you tomorrow.”

“Good evening, captain. Oh, you too, miss Enoteca.”

“Right back at you, sweetie. And you can call me Vanessa.”

Grenadine just nodded in confusion, before leaving the office quickly.

Vanessa followed Nozel in the corridor and couldn’t help but smirk while he closed his office door.

He locked it three times and even put an extra seal on mana signature on it. Wasn’t that kinda paranoid? It was totally tease worthy, maybe she would use it once in a while.

“Can we go?”

“Anytime you want, handsome.”

They walked in complete silence through the streets of the capital. Dusk already started, bathing anything with read and golden lights. It was a nice evening, the streets weren’t full, there were even some birds singing on the roofs or on the rare trees on the streets.

A comfortable silence settled between them. Well, comfortable for Vanessa, at least. Nozel still seemed pretty stiff.

To be fair, he looked stiff and serious most of the time. But most of the time, he was at work and it wasn’t the case right now. Vanessa almost felt bad to practically pushed him to come to this café with her. Although, maybe a push out of his comfort zone was exactly what Nozel needed.

Still, the silence was probably not as comfortable for him as it was for her. So, Vanessa decided to talk.

“That young knight, Grenadine, is she new?”

“Yes. I don’t know if you heard about it, but the Wizard King made a special entrance exam within the month following Spade. We usually only have one a year, but after everything that happened with the Eye of the Midnight Sun and especially Spade, this year we’ll have two, to try to recruit more knights. Grenadine was one of them.”

“She seems nice. And also very focused to do things right.”

“It’s probably because she feels she has to prove something. Especially to her house. Grenadine is… a bastard from a noble house.”

His tone didn’t had any disgust, he was just stating a fact. And given the conversation Vanessa witnessed between him and Grenadine in his office, Nozel seemed somehow content with his new recruit.

But this would also mean…

“I thought you couldn’t enter the Silver Eagles if you weren’t a noble or a royal. Um, no offence, captain.”

“None taken. It is true to some degrees. But… I had some lessons to learn myself since two years. Besides, Grenadine is very capable and has a way with her magic affinity no one of her father’s house had. House Évantail is specialized mostly in fan magic, but the members are rather lazy despite their big amount of magic. I took Grenadine in because she has intelligent use for her magic and she takes her job seriously. One of her older half-brothers is also one of my knights, but Samuel Évantail is like the rest of his family. More talk and arrogance, less action and care for others. Compared to his bastard sister, he’s only a knight by title.”

That was a lot talk coming from him and Vanessa suspected that Nozel needed to put words on his concern about his squad. As well as his frustrated resignation about knights who didn’t do their job. The way he talked about that Samuel Évantail was just like how he talked about Lucinda Sandler and Linus Gem before.

Nozel was the captain of a royal squad and Noelle told her that he even had the reputation to be a perfect royal. So, why wasn’t he as much respected in reality? Their talk in Spade, their dance at Finrals wedding, this talk just now, all the times she called him with the device…

With Noelle, Vanessa already knew that even some royals weren’t as respected as one would think. But Noelle was somehow a royal black sheep. That wasn’t Nozels case and still, three of his knights, maybe more, weren’t doing their job and maybe also ignored his order. At least, it wouldn’t surprise Vanessa if it was the case.

Royalty was maybe far more complex than what she imagined at first. A lot of dark spots behind a golden curtain.

Vanessa didn’t know is she wanted to know more about that world, it seemed so complicated. But it was Nozels world as well and he was someone she wanted to know more about. Complex world and all.

“It’s very nice of you to give Grenadine a chance.”

“I…? Thank you. I got a lot of critics from nobles for taking a bastard daughter in. But I hope I did the right thing. I… Lately I took some decisions I wouldn’t dare to do before.”

“In my books, you did the right thing. It is your squad, after all, no one else should decide how you must lead it.”

Nozel just looked at her, surprised and maybe also sad. Why?

The he nodded, rather solemnly, but Vanessa liked to think it was one of his ways to say thank you.

They were now just at the street with the café Vanessa talked about. She even already saw it. But just as she was about to enter, Nozel stopped next to her. He looked frozen somehow.

“What’s wrong, handsome.”

“This café… It was my mother’s favourite.”

Shit… Vanessa had no idea, of course she didn’t. But now, she felt bad to even brought him here, since it gave him certainly some unpleasant memories.

“I’m sorry, I-“

“Of course you couldn’t know. Don’t take my reaction wrong, I’m not upset. It’s just, I haven’t been here for years.”

Nozel closed his eyes and sighed: “Maybe I shouldn’t flee from my memories anymore.”

Vanessa had the feeling that this last sentence was more said to himself than to her. But it made something to her, she felt it.

Like the same kinship she felt towards him in Spade…

Nozel moved forward and opened the door for her.

“My, aren’t you a gentleman, thank you.”

Nozel just nodded, blushing a bit as Vanessa gave him a cheery smile. It was fascinating how handsome he was while blushing. Well, he was already handsome must of the time, but when the mask gone, showing more of his vulnerable side, it made him more beautiful than he already was. At least, for Vanessa.

Nozel guided her to a table in a nice corner, right by a window with perfect view on the street. That table was a bit apart from the others, it wasn’t usually the one Vanessa would choose.

But if she had to guess, maybe that was the table Acier Silva always sit at when she was here. So, Nozel must have some fond memories about it and who was Vanessa to not let him have those?

They ordered two hot chocolates, plus a slice of black forest cake for Vanessa and a lemon cake for Nozel.

A comfortable silence settled between them. Nozel seemed lost in thoughts, probably having memories of his mother and Vanessa wouldn’t disturb him with those. If there was something she learned about Nozel, it was that he deeply loved his mother and that it was still missing her a lot.

She wondered if he had been able to properly grieve. I question she asked herself a lot since their talk in Spade.

After a while, Vanessa took all of her courage together and asked, “Your mother… Did she came here often?”

“Not as often as she would have loved to. Her duties as Head of house Silva and as captain of the Silver Eagles didn’t gave her as much as free time as she would love to and when she had, she preferred to spend time with my siblings and me. But she always loved this café.”

Nozel looked swiftly around, before say in a sigh, “I didn’t changed much since was here with her.”

Vanessa just hummed, taking a sip from her hot chocolate. There were so many things she wanted to ask, about his mother, about his sentence of fleeing memories, if he ever had been able to grieve…

But at the same time, she didn’t wanted to push him, despite her growing curiosity. Nozel was so much like a bird. If she pushed too much, he might fly away and then it would be more difficult to reach him.

“It’s sad that you lost your mother so young,” she said instead. “Especially since you had such a good bond with her. Isn’t it kinda rare within nobility and royalty?”

“It is. I know it’s not the norm, but I’m glad she didn’t follow it concerning my siblings and me.”

“I wish I had such a good relationship with my mother.”

Those words came out before Vanessa could even think about them. She froze slightly. It had been a while since she thought about the Witch Queen and everything involving her majesty.

The cage…

She knew that she was over it, that this was finally behind her. She could come back to the Witches Forest if she wanted to, her terms with the Queen of Witches were distant but still friendly and she had her family with the Black Bulls. And still, the memory made her flinch. That wasn’t normal, right?

“Your mother… the Queen of Witches?”

“Yes, well… She calls every witch her daughter, so I have no idea if I’m really her biological daughter or not. My relationship with her… is rather distant, for personal reasons. There was a time when I had wished it would be different, but… it can’t be. And today, I don’t want it anymore. We’re on friendly terms, at least. But I can’t consider her my mother.”

She felt unsure to talk about it, especially about the cage and to someone she just started getting to know more. Heck, even her own squadmates didn’t learn about her past from her.

Nozel just looked at her, with sorry eyes. Was it compassion? It would be so foreign coming from him. But it did looked so much like compassion. And didn’t Vanessa already started to suspect more hidden and deep feelings behind his cold mask?

“I’m sorry.”

Just those two words and his hand softly put on hers. He didn’t show many emotions right now, but the mask was still gone. Compassion in his eyes.

Vanessa decided that Nozel never been as handsome than in this very moment.

She couldn’t help but smile. “Handsome, this isn’t even your fault.”

There was a small blush again on his cheeks, making Vanessa giggle.

She had no idea what they were exactly, if they were friends or not quite. But she had to admit that she definitely started to like him. Maybe already in Spade? Vanessa had no idea. She just knew that she wanted to know him better and hopefully, Nozel would accept her.

“I wanted to ask, Noelle had a very beautiful dress for Finrals wedding. Was it new? I can’t remember her ever wearing it,” Vanessa asked after a while of comfortable silence. Not that she really were curious, but as handsome as Nozel was, she couldn’t learn new things about him by just looking at his beautiful face.

“Yes, it was. Actually, our Vermillion aunt offered her and Nebra new ball gowns for the wedding.”

“Your Vermillion aunt? As in the mother of Mimosa?”

“Yes, Océane Vermillion. Our mother’s younger sister. She was married into house Vermillion a long time ago.”

“It was nice of her to give her nieces new dresses for the occasion. Do you know where I can get one like that?”

“Those are dresses from Soie Velours, the most renown modiste in the kingdom. In fact, her shop and ateliers are just on the other side of this street.”

Really? Vanessa immediately looked out of the window.

She actually saw that shop already lots of times when she came to this café, but without knowing what it was exactly. Once in a while, she even stopped to admire the dresses presented at the store window. But of course, she had no idea that this shop was such a big deal.

Right now, she saw three women, probably noble ladies, one older and two younger, entering the shop. Today, one light blue dress with garlands of flowers with different shades of pink and lemon yellow gown were presented in the window.

“I have to admit, those dresses are quite beautiful. But they must be expensive as well.”

“Indeed. I’m not that much interested in fashion, but I know that most of nobility and royalty are clients mostly, as well as the richest of the gentry.”

“Well, not for me then. That’s sucks, I probably would have been better dressed with a gown like that for the wedding.”

“But you were nicely dressed.”

“Oh, thank you. It’s my best one, but it’s just second-hand.”

“It doesn’t matter. I think you looked better than the present noble ladies.”

Vanessa just stared at him. Did… did Nozel just complimented her?

The captain of the Silver Eagles just stared back at her for a few seconds, before the meaning of his words probably hit him. He immediately looked away and drank his hot chocolate awkwardly, blushing again, maybe afraid of his own boldness.

Vanessa couldn’t help but giggle again. Not only was he handsome, but also cute. Taking another sip from her hot chocolate, she promised herself to make Nozel open up to her more.

♣♣♣

“So, what do you need to calm your worries down while open your heart, captain Charlotte? Love Angel Puli’s very special grilled cheese sandwiches! Enjoy~”

Charlotte frowned. She always thought that people rather eat sweet things, like cakes or ice cream when they needed comfort while worried. But this was Puli and her grilled cheese sandwiches were really exquisite. Everyone in the Blue Rose squad loved those.

So, maybe Pulis grilled cheese sandwiches were a good alternative to sweets, cakes and ice cream.

“I’ve also made some tea. Rose tea with milk and no sugar, just as you like it, captain Charlotte.”

“Oh, this is very nice, Gordon, thank you.”

Charlotte smiled at her Black Bull visitor, who smiled back. In his own creepy way, of course, but Charlotte knew that Gordon never meant to be creepy, so she wasn’t taken aback by his smiles anymore.

A plate of grilled cheese sandwiches, a cup with delicious rose tea and herself, sitting in the kitchen of the Blue Roses headquarters with Puli Angel, one of her knights, and Gordon Agrippa, a Black Bull and by that, one of the knights of the man she was hopelessly in love with for over ten years.

What a situation.

But she couldn’t avoid it. Not anymore. Charlotte needed help with her love life.

Ever since the royal wedding more than three days ago, when she had that talk with Yami and even more that intense stare into each other’s eyes, she felt so overwhelmed by her emotions. Well, not that she never felt overwhelmed when Yami was involved. But during those three days, this overwhelming feeling had been more intense than in the last ten years.

It was obvious, so obvious actually. Charlotte knew that she couldn’t live like this anymore. Ever hiding her love for Yami, putting a strong and cold armour to not show how much she loved him, while longing for him and at the same time, fear his reaction.

She went like that for ten long years and it just haven’t brought her anywhere with her feelings. Her love confession in Spade was one of the biggest step she took considering her love for Yami, it was impossible to go back to how it was.

Which didn’t she find it difficult. Somehow, fighting devils and the Dark Triad was more easy to deal with for Charlotte than fixing everything with Yami.

This was why she decided to talk with Puli. Oh, all of her knights where more than helpful to help her with Yami. But Puli was so good to talk about fears and doubts, she mostly gave good advice – sometimes along with crazy suggestions, but still – and was a good listener.

It also helped that Gordon Agrippa and Finral Roulacase were now on board. Her love confession gave her two new helpers and like Puli said, having two Black Bulls on their team was a good thing. Not to mention that those two were very kind and helpful, even Sol came to like them the more they came to visit the Blue Roses.

Puli gave another plate of her sandwiches to Gordon and take one cup of rose tea, before both sat in front of her. Charlotte hoped that this won’t end up like an interrogation or something.

“Alright,” Puli said, already eating her first cheese sandwiches. “Finral couldn’t come of course, this lucky fella is on his honeymoon. But given that Gordon is here too, we can all guess what you want to tell us about, captain Charlotte.”

“Yes… Well, it’s… you know…”

“Captain Yami?” Gordon asked softly.

“Yes.”

“Of course it is, who would made you all stuttering like that, captain?”

“Pu-… Puli!”

“Oh, I apologize, but it’s true. So, take a deep breath, then tell auntie Puli and uncle Gordon what makes you desperate about Yami.”

Puli was her subordinate and Gordon was younger than her, she couldn’t call them auntie and uncle. But well, Charlotte also felt like a stupid teenage girl who needed adults to help her dealing with a huge crush, so she let it pass this time.

“Well… I feel this way since my love confession in Spade. It’s just… it’s frustrating? It definitely is frustrating. I just can’t continue like this anymore, staying in my current situation with Yami, like it was before the war!”

“No offense, captain Charlotte, but… duh.”

“Duh?”

“Of course you can’t continue like you did for a decade and even before Spade, if you ask me. You just dwell painfully in your still hidden feelings while the love of your life still has no idea that your heart belongs to him. It is time to move more forward.”

“But… how?”

“There are many ways to move forward and I don’t think you lack motivation. The problem is more your own emotional insecurity, captain Charlotte. But that would be easy to work out. The bigger problem is obviously captain Yami.”

Gordon nodded, “My captain is really oblivious, even though he can read Ki. I don’t think he would get it if you yelled I love you right into his ear. But he is a wonderful friend to all of us, don’t worry about it.”

“I don’t worry about how much he cares about you all, Gordon. But… if even something direct won’t be enough to make him realize how I feel about him, what should I do?”

Puli just flickered her hand. “Welp, we already know he’s on the stupid side and trust me, even the worst idiots of mankind are able to finally understand that another person is in love with them. One way or another. Maybe we should learn more about him and then, captain Charlotte, you can use it to reach your goal. Gordon, tell us everything you know about your captain.”

“Well… He must have some indigestions problems, given how much time he spent on the toilet.”

“Yeah… I don’t think that this kind knowledge would help us on that matter.”

“He loves gambling, to a point that he would bet his own grimoire away.”

“What?” Charlotte yelled, almost jumping from her seat. She already knew that Yami had some kind of addiction to takes the most risky and ridiculous bets and gambles. But risking to lose his own grimoire like that, really? Why did she fell in love with him again? And why did she still love him despite this disastrous habit?

Did she need to know the answer for this last question?

Puli shook her head. “If we wanted to blackmail him, that would have been some juicy knowledge to work with. But blackmailing is a big no-no to get two people together. We need something else. What does he like or what is he afraid of?”

“Is there something Yami could ever be afraid of?” Charlotte groaned.

“Oh, yes. He’s afraid of moths.”

“Moths?”

But Puli and Charlotte looked surprised at their Black Bull visitor.

“Yes, moths. I don’t think my friends knows it and captain Yami doesn’t know that I know. But I saw him many times freak out when there was a moth and when he thought to be alone. When he’s not alone, he would start leaving his spot and break a wall for distraction or something like that. I don’t think he wants anyone to know about that fear of his.”

Puli grinned, “Now that is some useful knowledge that could help.”

“Wait, Puli! I won’t use his fear to blackmail him!”

“Of course not, captain Charlotte. As I said, blackmailing is a taboo in romance. But imagine, you helping him with his fear, reassuring him and such. Even buff and stubborn men like captain Yami must appreciate to be taken care of, even by just one person. That is really something we can work on.”

Charlotte was about to reply, when her communication device lighten up. Hopefully it wasn’t an emergency or a spontaneous captains meeting, like Julius loved to do.

“Oh, take that call, captain Charlotte, maybe it’s captain Yami.”

“Or maybe it’s a friend who can help you with captain Yami.”

Charlotte doubted that it was one of those possibilities, but she still hoped it.

“Blue Roses base, captain Charlotte Roselei.”

“Hello, Charlotte, my dear niece.”

Oh no. Not aunt Rosamund. It was never good when she called. Especially when she used that sick sweet tone to talk, that could only mean Rosamund has something up her sleeves.

“Rosamund, I’m rather… busy at the moment, can’t this wait-“

“Oh, magic knights affairs are not as important as you think, trust me, I know that very well.”

How so, Rosamund never had been a magic knight.

“Listen well, there’s a golden occasion for you. I talked to lord Reginald Évantail just today and you know what? He IS interested to get married again! And when I mentioned that you were still on the market, he seemed really happy about that perspective! Charlotte, isn’t it fantastic? You would finally-“

Puli just let three fry pans fall at once, making a lot of noise.

“Oh dear, what was that, Charlotte?”

“An emergency in town, I really need to go. Thank you, Rosamund, we’ll talk about it later.”

And by later, Charlotte meant never ever.

Cutting the call, Charlotte leaned back in her chair, sighing in defeat, taking a bite from a grilled cheese sandwich. As if Yami wasn’t the only problem she got, there was still her family trying to get her finally married. And aunt Rosamund was the worst, what would she even got to have her niece married to a prestigious family while she had own children to wed off?

Ugh, how she hated nobility when it came to arranged marriages. Especially towards women.

“Thank you, Puli. I don’t think I could’ve taken to listen to my aunt any longer.”

“Always happy to help you, captain Charlotte. But tell me… Is your family also eager to have you wed off?”

“Sadly yes, and it’s getting worse after the war. That’s I avoid to go to any Roselei villa lately, my future wedding is always a subject and of course, they dismiss what I want.”

“Typical problem for any nobles, I know,” Puli said, frowning slightly. Despite being a noble herself, Puli was very open minded and always heavily complained about any kind of arranged marriages. “Goodness, this might also be a problem.”

“You mean… her family would never accept that captain Charlotte and captain Yami are in love together?” Gordon asked and Charlotte was touched as she saw him slightly cry, the biggest tears she ever saw. Oh, Gordon was such a sweetheart.

“Yes, but will deal with that more precisely when you and the captain of the Black Bulls are finally together,” Puli declared with a certainty Charlotte wished she had herself.

“But… How can I be sure that Yami might fall in love with me? And how can I make sure he realizes I love him? He must think that I hate him even more since Finrals wedding!”

“Wait, captain Charlotte… You two TALKED at Finrals wedding? Why didn’t you tell us?”

“Because… I feel so unsure about it. We had a talk, yes, not friendly like usual. But at one point… We were this closeto each other, smelling each other’s scents, looking deeply into each other’s eyes… I have no idea what happened between us, but there was something. Like a spark, something I could feel into my entire body, but… it didn’t last long and I ran away immediately. I don’t know how he must have felt while being so close to me and even more when I ran away from him… again. He asked me if I got a new perfume. Which I hadn’t, how would he even knew that I wear perfume. I feel so stupid. It’s like before the war and-“

“Wait! I’m sorry to interrupt you, captain Charlotte, but captain Yami had been weird since the wedding,” Gordon interrupted her, looking all excited.

“Oh, really? How so?” Puli asked with the same excitement.

“For some reason, he takes our squads communication device everywhere with him, not letting anyone else have it. Which was upsetting Vanessa, she gave lots and lots of calls since we returned from Spade. Anyways, captain Yami never called anyone while he hold the device. But every time a call came, he looked excited and then upset, as if it wasn’t who he hoped.”

“Gordon… This is fantastic! Captain Charlotte, maybe your other half was waiting for YOU to call him! You should do it!”

“What? Right here? Right now?”

“Yes, of course. You have to strike while the iron is hot. Jump while you still can, it will be only more difficult later on.”

Charlotte wasn’t so sure. But she never had been sure so many times lately and Puli and Gordon were giving here such encouraging smiles and thumb ups she couldn’t say no.

Taking a deep breath to give herself some courage, Charlotte picked her communication device and called the Black Bulls hideout.

“Geez, who’s calling while I’m taking a shit? You’d better be Prickly Queen or else-“

“Yami? It is me.”

“Prickly Queen? Finally! ‘t was about time you answer instead of blank calling me again.”

“Blank call you?”

“Yes, you did. After your strange act at my wheels wedding, I was waiting for you to call and explain yourself, but you always let me blank. Geez, Prickly Queen, I thought you had a better education than that, even my brats don’t do blank calls… I think.”

“But… but… I never called you since the wedding! And I would never blank call anyone, who do you think I am?”

“Wait… you never called me since the wedding?”

“Of course not, you brute! Why did you even assume it was me! You know me better than that!”

“But if it wasn’t you, who was blank calling me then?”

“I don’t know. If you think it was a captain, the only who would such a thing would be Jack and if she’s awake, maybe Dorothy. Those two are the only ones who would do that. If they would.”

“Yeah, that makes sense. Beanpole loves getting on my nerves especially and who knows what goes through that dreamy mind of Sleepy Hat. Hard Nose, Braids, Goldie Guts, Glowing Hair and Purple Moustache Grandpa aren’t pranksters at all.”

“Me neither, you know.”

“Don’t know, you often acting weird around me, breaking my delicate little heart, y’know.”

“What… You… I… I’m not a prankster and you know it!”

“Geez, don’t get offended, I didn’t meant to insult you.”

“I can never be sure of that, you know.”

“Fair enough, I guess. So, will you explain yourself?”

“Why did you think I called you. But… I admit that it’s difficult to do it over the phone. You know what? Let’s have dinner tomorrow, it would be easier to at least try to talk things out.”

“Will you pay? You know that I’m broke.”

“Why, you… Okay, I’ll invite you this time, but I won’t make a habit out of it.”

“Geez, I’m not being that impolite. But okay, I come get you and you’ll pay, so were even.”

“At least, you’re trying to be polite. We’ll meet each other at six o’clock at the Blue Roses headquarters. And don’t you dare be late!”

“I’ll try to, but I can’t promise. My wheels is own his fucking honeymoon, so who knows how long it will take me.”

“I don’t if I should believe that, but okay. See you tomorrow, goodbye.”

“Bye, Prickly Queen.”

Charlotte cut the communication, letting go on that breath she was somehow holding during the entire call. Yami couldn’t read Ki over the device, so he didn’t noticed how nervous she felt.

Puli and Gordon just smiled at her, Gordon was even clapping. Charlotte would admit that it was an accomplishment. At least, it was better than during those last three months after Spade. Charlotte leaned back, finishing her grilled cheese sandwich. It was actually relieving to finally do a step forward with Yami.

But as Charlotte took a sip from her rose tea, it hit her.

Did she just got a date with Yami?

#Black Clover #Black Clover Fanfiction #Silver Cats & Black Roses #My Writing ☘️♣️#Nozel Silva #Vanessa Enoteca #Charlotte Roselei #Yami Sukehiro #Nozessa #Yamichar #Nozel x Vanessa #Yami x Charlotte #Nils Ragus #Black Clover OC #My Black Clover OC ☘️#Grenadine Évantail #Puli Angel #Gordon Agrippa

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