Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

A lightning looked like it ripped the sky in two. And there was nothing else to be seen in this rainy mist.

Vanessa shook her head. Mist, rain and thunderstorm at the same time. It was such an unusual kind of weather. Normally. But it seems that the four cities of Spade, Heart, Diamond and Clover had the strangest weather from time to time. Especially Clover.

Oh, there were of course very specific scientific explanations for that. But it was so overly complicated and Vanessa honestly found that they didn’t made any sense. But, to be fair, Vanessa understand not much about weather science, whatever the specific name was. And about science in general. Accepting that the weather was like that and move on was probably the best course of action.

But it was still strange.

Not to mention that it was night, even less to see than nothing. Normally, Vanessa could see the ruins of the Clover Castle on its hill from her kitchen window. But not tonight. Vanessa wasn’t unhappy about it, those ruins always gave her some unease feelings for some reason.

But not as much as the abandoned villa, the Silver Manor, on the other side of Clover. Silver Manor was the pretty name the inhabitants gave this house, because it always seemed to have a silver glowing when the sun shined on it. The other name was, well, more fitting for a spooky novel and Vanessa preferred not to use that name in general.

Vanessa let out a sigh and continued to watch the hot milk. Her little kitchen wasn’t the most modern and somehow it made the most odd noises and sudden things that normally shouldn’t happen in a kitchen. Noelle once told her that it was like the kitchen of a witch, even more with all those plants. Vanessa liked witches, so she didn’t mind the state of her kitchen. Even though she needed to be cautious when she was cooking.

Another lightning bolt ripped the sky in two and for just one second, the Clover Castle was to be seen. Only the castle and nothing else, the rest was still hidden within the heavy mist.

“That would be such a good scenery for a horror movie,” Vanessa mumbled, while taking the hot milk from the herd and pouring it in two cups.

“Vanessa?”

Vanessa turned towards the man who stand at her kitchen door. The light wasn’t on, so she only saw his silhouette, but she could tell how down he was and an immense wave of love and compassion flow through her heart at his sight.

“Honey, shouldn’t you be still resting? Today was difficult for you.”

She saw bend his head, looking down on the floor. A sad sigh escaped his lips.

“I shouldn’t… it is selfish of me… Use your kindness…”

“Nozel, stop feeling guilty, please,” Vanessa replied softly. “You deserve to be taken care off and as your girlfriend, I want to be there for you, especially during difficult times. Like you were there for me when my mother visited the city, remember? Today was difficult for you, like every year. You needed to take care of your siblings, while your father was out there doing something for his career instead of being a daddy for you all. Now, it’s time for you to be taken care off. And come on, honey. You know me, I can’t leave you alone when you need affection desperately.”

Vanessa giggled as she saw Nozel turn his head away. She couldn’t see it but it was so obvious that he was blushing.

“Our drinks are almost ready, you can sit on the couch in the meantime.”

Nozel left the door frame and Vanessa turned her attention back to the cups. Her kitchen was small, only two people could fit in it and even only barely. Her entire appartement was small in general. Tiny kitchen, tiny bathroom in which the shower cabin took half of the place, tiny balcony… The living room was a bit bigger, but it was also her bedroom, so Vanessa didn’t if it really counted as bigger.

After the milk was in the cups – her black cat cup and that funny Alice in Wonderland mug who looked like three cups in one – Vanessa searched for the cacao powder, as well as the special ingredient. Today was the perfect day for a rather special hot chocolate and she knew that Nozel would love it, maybe even find a bit of comfort in it.

When she left the kitchen, Nozel was sitting on her patchwork couch, looking at her TV without really seeing it. Absent, probably lost in memories.

“There you go, honey,” Vanessa smiled, giving him the black cat mug.

“This mug is new.”

“Oh, I just bought it yesterday. You know me, I just need to buy any weird and special looking cups for my collection.”

Nozel hummed, starting to drink. There was a sparkle in his eyes when he recognized the smell.

“Hot chocolate with salted caramel…”

“Exactly. I know what day it is today and you told me that this was your mother’s favourite kind of drink. So, I thought…”

“That is nice of you. Thank you, Vanessa,” Nozel whispered, closing his eyes while taking another sip. “My mother always loved salted caramel. To a point that she needed to put it almost everywhere. Especially in hot chocolate.”

“Well, it sounds kinda weird for the first time,” Vanessa said, sitting next to him, closer than needed. “But it is really good, honestly. I’m not a sweet tooth, but this one, I don’t mind to drink it often.”

Nozel nodded, but went silent again. With that sad look in his eyes. Vanessa sighed and put her head on his shoulder, hoping to give him some comfort. Nozel leaned to the touch with sad sigh.

Both stayed silent for a while. It wasn’t an awkward silent, a bit comforting but mostly sad. Vanessa stared in front of her, directly at the TV. This, her phone and her laptop were the only really modern things she possessed. Nozel gifted them to her, he even paid for the wi-fi. A good thing to have a very rich boyfriend, but it was more like that Nozel cared, silently, but still. And that was one of the many things Vanessa loved about him. Even if he wouldn’t have been from one of the three richest families of the city, he would have cared and helped.

It was still strange how they found each other. Normally, they never should have crossed each other’s path, given their different circles. But they lived in Clover, the strange atmosphere the city sometimes had didn’t allowed normally to be part of their lives. So, they came across each other and were together now. In secret, more or less, but for now it didn’t matter.

Vanessa was grateful for Nozels love. After she fled from her abusive mother and went to another city, after she got her heart broken by her first crush, after some disastrous dates, how lucky she was to have fallen in love. Oh, she had friends and honestly, she was happy to live in Clover. But Nozel, it was special, so very special. She couldn’t really describe it, but their relationship was precious to her, despite their situation. Or maybe even because of it. She really couldn’t tell.

“I hope they’re fine,” Nozel finally said, taking another sip.

“You’re siblings aren’t babies anymore and you took perfectly care of them today. No it’s your turn. How are your siblings, anyway?"

"They were fine when we came back from the cemetery and when I left home. Solid was again playing one of his video games and I still don’t know how I should feel about it.”

“Oh, honey, I love that big brother side of yours. Honestly, given how your brother is, I think it’s better for him to play video games than to be a jerk and a bully for everyone else.”

“I know. I just hope that this hobby won’t become an obsession. Like the period when he locked himself up in his bedroom all day to do… I still don’t what he did back then. But it certainly wasn’t good for him. I’m glad he grow out of it and that the phase didn’t last long.”

“So, maybe it was just some teenager puberty crisis. And your sisters?”

“They were in the living room when I left, eating marshmallows and watching a movie. One of those old Hollywood films, apparently. They were looking fine to me, but… I can’t help but still worry about all three of them.”

“Of course you can’t help. You care for them, you did so much for them.”

Vanessa didn’t ask him about their father. It was obvious that this jerk was off to some cocktail party or fancy dinner while his children tried to grieve and to heal from a horrible loss.

The Silva household wasn’t a healthy one… Vanessa was able to recognize the signs, thanks to her own experiences. After she became friends with Noelle and even more after she started to date Nozel, she couldn’t help but feel concerned for them. Vanessa loved Noelle like she was her little sister, she fell hopelessly for Nozel, her terms with Nebra were just starting to get friendly and she cared even for Solid, even though… Solid was Solid. But between him and the Silva father, Vanessa still chose to care for Solid.

“A misty thunderstorm,” Nozel mumbled. “It had that kind of weather too when she died. And now, it’s like that every year, it seems.”

“Maybe it’s just you seeing things,” Vanessa replied kindly, although she couldn’t deny that the weather somehow looked the same every year at this date.

“I know. But I can’t shake that feeling off. I can’t forget the weather of that fateful day. It really was like in a movie, there was lightning the moment my mother…”

Nozel didn’t finished, starting to sob slightly. Vanessa put her mug on the tiny table and hugged him tightly.

She couldn’t imagine how traumatizing it must have been for him. His siblings were still too small, Noelle was even still a baby, and his father hadn’t been there, but he was there when his mother died, holding her hand. How terrible must this have been for a fourteen year old…

Nozel loved his mother so much, losing her so young and so brutally must had been terrible. Vanessa wondered sometimes if he ever was able to properly grieve. Given how the Silvas were after Acier Silva died so tragically…

But Vanessa wanted to help him, even if it was just being there for him. He was doing the same for her. Like the time her mother left their hometown for a visit in Clover, not so long ago. Vanessa had fled, afraid that her mother would see her, and she hide in her appartement for a whole day. Nozel stayed with her the whole time, hugging her, comforting her, doing everything to calm her down and distract her. How grateful she had been…

“Cry all you want, I’m here for you, honey.”

“I know. I’m grateful to you, Vanessa. Even though-“

“No need to say anything. Nozel, I’m begging you, let me take care of you tonight and also tomorrow until you feel better.”

Nozel sighed, before putting his cup on the table too and pulling her in for a kiss.

His lips tasted like salted caramel. The kiss quickly became passionate and Vanessa hold on to him as tightly as she could. Maybe it won’t be over tomorrow, it hadn’t been for years. But she would give Nozel all the comfort he needed on this terrible day.

Later that night, after finishing their hot chocolate with salted caramel and after a comforting, passionate embrace, they both lied on Vanessas bed, ready to fall asleep soon.

Vanessas caressed Nozels hair, listening to his soft breathing. He would probably sleep like a baby tonight and if he would, she as well. Vanessa always slept so good in his arms. She felt safe, as if nothing could happen to them.

The misty thunderstorm felt so far away as Vanessa fell asleep shortly after Nozel. But as soon as the lovers drifted to a deep sleep, the sounds of the storm were suddenly more menacing…

Chapter Text

“You’re coming, Noelle? We shouldn’t be late.”

Noelle rolled her eyes, while walking a bit faster to catch up with Nebra. She wasn’t slow, of course she wasn’t, but her older sister was almost running for some reason. Even though they still had time.

“Nebra, the movie starts in more than half an hour, we have plenty of time.”

Not to mention that they went a roundabout way, like always. Of course the Green Praying Mantis Cinema wasn’t within the rich district of Clover, where Noelle lived with her family. But it also wasn’t at the limits of the city and every time the Silva sisters were going out somewhere, Nebra always dragged Noelle with her down here. The most sleepiest part of the city, nonetheless.

Clover was somehow a strange city. Noelle lived here since she was born and she was honestly used to it. But the more she grew up, the less she was able to ignore it. Clover was like a sleepy town and a lively metropole at the same time. Full of contrasts, rich and poor, happy and angry, so many things. Some district were livelier than others, some looked old and shadowy in comparison to their modern, bright neighbours. But so often, the atmosphere didn’t matched with what the eye saw.

Not to mention that it was difficult to determine if Clover was just a small town or a big city. For some reason, it was never clear.

Maybe Noelle was just seeing things, maybe it was normal and she was overthinking it, like the Silva she was. Last time she was overthinking something like that, it had been about her secret crush on Asta, a classmate. Noelle had tried to deny it, searching over and over again for the most complicated reasons why she acted like she did around him, only to give up and finally accept that she was simply in love with this idiot. Surely, that city mystery has a very simple explanation as well.

And it probably won’t get her any far, like with her conclusion about her feelings for Asta. After all, Noelle only admitted to herself, never to anyone else, because of… Asta, who was such an oblivious idiot, of the two or three other girls who had a crush on him, like her cousin Mimosa Vermillion, because Asta only saw any of them as friends, because Noelle often couldn’t believe that she fell for such an idiot, because he was poor and she was rich. There were more reasons, of course there were, Noelle was a Silva after all.

And honestly, she didn’t want to think about Asta again. He just get on her nerves yesterday, because of… well, Noelle didn’t remember, but she was still upset about him and she was still waiting for his apology.

That was just her being stubborn in a very Silva way, but this was just a detail.

“Noelle, stop dreaming around!”

Oh crap, Nebra was already very far ahead. Noelle ran over to her, which took no time. Noelle had good grades in sports, after all.

“Sorry, Nebra.”

“It’s okay, but don’t get too dreamy. Just because it’s a sleepy part of the city doesn’t mean that cars never come here. Imagine if an accident happens and a car got you, I will lose my sister and I don’t know how to present myself in front of Nozel ever again.”

Nebras voice sounded sassy, but also very caring and this made Noelle happy.

It wasn’t easy to be a Silva, especially since their mother died in that accident. Noelle ignored most details and the circumstances, she had just been a baby when it happened, not even a year old. So, she couldn’t remember how it was when her mother was around and sadly, no one talked much about it. Solid didn’t had many memories as well, Nebra would like to talk more, but then she always felt guilty because of what she did afterwards and Nozel… Noelle only knew that he had been with their mother when she died and that he still was grieving. He would never cry in front of Nebra, Solid and herself, but when was alone, he surely was. Noelle remembered how she heard him softly sob one day, in his bedroom. 31^st of August, their mothers birthday and the birthday she should have become forty. So, Noelle never asked him, in fear of hurting him.

After all, Nozel just took it upon himself to take care of them after their mother died. It wasn’t perfect, he did make mistakes, but it had been a too heavy burden for a grieving fourteen year old who just lost his mother and Nozel always tried. Especially that their father never had been there for them.

Noelle swallowed a bit, her hands clenching into fists. She never liked to think about their father. He didn’t even deserved to be called father, he never was paternal towards any of them. Noelle couldn’t tell if that man just started to be like that after their mother died or if he was like that before – she didn’t want to ask her siblings about this subject either. When he wasn’t home, Lac Silva was preoccupied about his career, political and whatever his ambition was. When he was, he ignored them at best or insulted them in the most polite, hurting, calm way. Slaps too, when he was angry. Although, it seemed he had a particular hatred towards Nozel…

Noelle didn’t like thinking about her childhood either, especially the early one. It was better now, but some things haven’t changed yet. Especially their father and his behaviour. In fact, Noelle wondered if he wasn’t worse today.

Solid and Nebra haven’t been nice to her during years.  Nozel had been distant at first, to all of them, but it stopped when Noelle was almost five. She got into an accident, while she was alone out of the house and a car almost killed her.

The memory of the accident itself was still blurry in her mind, but the aftermath, Noelle remembered it so well. She had been lucky to only got a few bruises and scratches, but the shock had still been hard and she woke up at the hospital. Nozel had been at her side, even crying in relief when she woke up. Silently crying, but it means so much coming from Nozel.

He had been the one witnessing her accident, rushed to her and called the ambulance. When she woke up, her brother apologized heavily for his behaviour, for their family’s behaviour and even took an oath to make it better.

Nozel visited Noelle every day at the hospital and when she could came home, he never left her bedside until she was healthy again and even then, he tried so much to be more present.

He got into a huge fight with their father, because that man didn’t care enough that his youngest daughter almost died. Noelle had no idea what exactly was told between them, but whatever it was, their father didn’t got a change of heart. In fact, the only change was that him and Nozel seemed to have a lot of distaste of each other. More than before.

Nozel also had scolded Nebra and Solid heavily, because they should have watched over Noelle, while admitting that their behaviour was also his fault, and that he refused to let them go near Noelle if they still wanted to bully her. Nebra took it at heart and started to treat Noelle better. Well, the effort had been slow, but baby step by baby step, the Silva sisters started to become real sisters. Solid, like the stubborn little boy he was, refused at first, but eventually tried as well.

Today, Noelle got slightly along with Solid, but honestly, it was still a work in progress. It was already a miracle when he would leave his video games so that they actually could see each other. It was so much better with Nebra. Oh, she haven’t changed her personality and they got into fights once in a while. But those were sisterly arguments, the kind to make peace five minutes after.

Often, the sisters went out together. Shopping or cinema, sometimes taking a bite somewhere. It was always rather classic and sometimes Noelle preferred to go out with her friends, but she wouldn’t miss an opportunity to spend some time with Nebra. Her older sister was the one of her siblings she went out the most. Sometimes Nozel joined them, sometimes he would take Noelle somewhere – mostly to eat or to go to the library or a book shop – but it was always nice when her or Nebra could get him to have some fun, as much as possible with Silvas. As for Solid… well, this was also a work in progress.

With how their family was, Noelle sometimes wondered how they didn’t break apart for good since all those terrible years since their mother died.

“You’re dreaming again,” Nebra snickered, while taking Noelle’s arm, forcing her to walk at her speed.

“Sorry… Do you know why Nozel didn’t come?” Noelle asked. They had asked him, but like most of the time, he refused to join them, whishing them to have fun. It was normal, but Noelle still wished that Nozel would come out more often to just have a good time.

Did their family maybe didn’t break apart because Nozel took it over himself when he was only fourteen?

“You know Nozel, he just doesn’t want to risk to spoil our fun with his brooding attitude,” Nebra laughed, before getting serious again. “He was always calm, even before… the tragedy. But after mother left us, it’s like he became adult already at fourteen, in order to take care of us. And it wasn’t easy, of course not. Solid and I were brats, you were just a baby and father was never concerned about our wellbeing in the first place.”

“I’m just… worrying about him.”

“Of course you are, I’m worried too. Solid as well, even though that jerk is too proud to admit it. Our Vermillion aunt is worried too and I wouldn’t be surprised if Mimosa and even Kirsch are concerned about Nozel.”

Nebra took a deep sigh and Noelle couldn’t help but find that this concerned face made her very pretty. Nebra took mostly about their father from the physique, but what looked hard and arrogant and mean on him, was softer, prouder and sweeter somehow on Nebras traits.

“Nozel is strong, you know that, we all know that. But aunt Océane told me that he had been strong alone for too long. And no one can stay strong alone for too long.”

“I want to help him.”

“I want it too. But for now, we don’t know how we can do that. Our aunt said that being there for him is already a good start. We should trust her. I hate to admit it, but Océane was always right when we were worrying about anything.”

Noelle nodded. It was true, the sister of their mother always had been of good advice. It was sad that they only got more interactions with their aunt recently. But Océane married into the Vermillions and of course, their father refused to let her be there for their grieving nephews and nieces after her sister died. Officially because she was a Vermillion and should have no ties with the Silvas anymore. But Noelle suspected that it was something else, his career, his reputation, his ego, anything about him.

Thankfully, Nozel had gain authority for taking over the family and the businesses, allowing Océane to come visit more often step by step.

Both sisters continued to walk in silence, as the wind began to blow slowly. Unusually for the middle of September, the air started to get misty. But well, the weather was often weird in Clover. But it gave the sleepy district here some atmosphere from a horror movie – not one with ghosts, one with slasher killers – and Noelle wasn’t sure how to feel of it.

Looking up, Noelle had a good view on the both hills that were facing each other, the city of Clover in the middle. The ruins of the Clover castle on one, the abandoned villa on the other, also known as the Silver Manor or the Villa of Bloody Roses.

Noelle had no idea where those names from, sounding more like spooky novels. Well, the villa, as well as the ruins could wonderfully fit for spooks and ghosts. A reason why Noelle refused to ever go up those hills one day. As much as she loves spooky novels and movies – something she had in common with Nebra – in real life Noelle would rather not have it. Luckily, ghosts didn’t exist in real life.

Right?

“Actually, you never told me we always take this detour when we’re going out,” Noelle suddenly commented. In order mostly to get rid of this dumb thoughts about real ghosts.

Also, because she was really wondering about it. Especially that they would never take this detour when Nozel was with them. Interesting.

“Seriously, you only asking me this now? After all those times we went through here? Granted, we only started to have our sisterly outings not even a year ago, since we just started to get along better. But seriously Noelle, I’m surprised that you haven’t asked me that from the start.”

Nebra laughed. Well, honestly, it was true, she could have asked this question a long time ago, but for some reason, Noelle never did. Well, better late than never, like Vanessa said.

Suddenly, Nebra stopped laughing as they came near a little shop. One of those which sold cheap but delicious sweets, as well as cheap snacks and drinks, cigarettes, magazines and newspapers, maybe also some stickers or keychains. Not to forget a gas station.

Okay, it was exactly that kind of shop and Noelle knew that one. Nebra always stopped here to buy some Milky Ways. Which was stupid, she could also buy them at the Green Praying Mantises Cinema, so why made such a detour into the most sleepy district of the city for some cheap everyday sweets?

Unless…

For once, Noelle didn’t waited for Nebra outside and followed her sister. The shop itself was rather small and with all the shelfs full of junk, there weren’t much place for more than barely two people.

Nebra just took her Milky Ways and was already paying for them… Noelle gasped as she recognized the employee of the shop. Zora Ideale!

What was he doing here? Was this one of his prison jobs as he called them with a half-amused snicker, without telling more details? Did he need to work here because of his vandalism past?

Noelle knew Zora, not completely but more than a bit. Thanks to Nozel and to their fathers disagreement, Noelle had been able to go to school instead of being tutoring at home like her siblings. Thanks to that, she not only made friends her age other than her cousin Mimosa, but also adult friends, especially Vanessa, who helped her with her homework sometimes and with whom she also went on outings, mostly shopping.

Zora was among them, although Noelle only made his acquaintances later, thanks to Asta and Mimosa. But never would she have thought that her siblings would know some of her own acquaintances who weren’t from the so called rich and beautiful circles. At least Nebra and Solid, Nozel wasn’t as closed off as it seems, he was good friends with Dorothy Unsworth and he even knew Yami Sukehiro and not just a bit!

Well, today Noelle just learned that Nebra also had people she knew outside of the rich circle.

“Coming for your fattening snacks, Little Miss Royal?”

“I know more fattening sweets than Milky Ways, Peasant.”

Why did they almost sounded like an old couple?

At least, good to know that Zora wasn’t only calling Mimosa and Noelle Little Miss Royal. Noelle always used her rich status to do some authority over Asta and Magna especially, but honestly, she didn’t liked it that much if someone reminded her that she was from one of the three richest families in Clover. After all, there were other very rich family in this city, like the Roselei, the Vangeance and the Boismortier.

But the Silvas, the Vermillions and even the Kiras were apparently from noble ascendance, maybe even from royalty for the Kiras. But it was the city’s president, Augustus Kira, who claimed that and his word… it had to be taken with cautious, to say it in a polite way.

“Oh, hi Noelle,” Zora grinned as he discovered the younger Silva sister. “Your sis finally let you in? Not that there’s much to see here, you haven’t missed anything.”

“Hi, Zora,” Noelle muttered. Zora wasn’t surprised to see her here. But she didn’t remember that she told him of all people that she was going out with her sister once in a while. Unless… did Nebra told him?

“How long do you need to still work here?” Nebra asked when she took her change. Since when did Nebra know about change? How many clues about her older sister did Noelle miss already?

“Only one week, then I’m finally free from this place. Hopefully, Revchi will let me go. When I’m not here, he will need to do all the hard and dirty work all by himself.”

“He has no right to keep you here after your punishment.”

“The laws are difficult to obey when they don’t arrange the own schemes, this is how it works in this city.”

“You and your old grudges, really. But I can’t deny that, look at my father. Still, Mr. Granvorka would surely help you, give a job in his book shop. Haven’t you told me that he knew your father well and that he was the one who find a tiny appartement in good shape for you?”

Okay, on one hand, Noelle was surprised that her older sister apparently knew so much about Zora. But she wasn’t surprised that Kaiser Granvorka, the owner of the Purple Orca Book Shop, seemed to have taken Zora under his wing. No wonder, Kaiser Granvorka was a peaceful and nice man.

“I hate to admit it, but I owe him a lot. Just as much as Yami. I don’t to ask both more, but… well, it’s not like I have a lot of opportunities.”

“We could also ask Nozel to give a job,” Noelle suggested. It was just a spontaneous thought and she couldn’t really saw Zora in the Silver Eagle Bakery or one of the fashion boutiques and ateliers the Silva owned as well. But if it could help one of her friends…

Zora and Nebra turned towards her, as Zora began to snicker, “Thanks for the offer, but I pass. I can’t really see myself as selling and baking expensive cakes and pastries or sew those really gala dresses and suits, I’m not Vanessa.”

He wasn’t that much of a reader either and he still already helped out at the Purple Orca Book Shop. But Zora had a special connection with Kaiser Granvorka who knew his father, so there was that. As for Yami and the Black Bulls Motorcycles… well, Zora was a motorcycle type himself.

“Besides, I don’t think that your bro would want a delinquent with a past working for him.”

“Hold your prejudices back, peasant, Nozel is not our father,” Nebra replied calmly. “I know he doesn’t look like it, but he’s not a snob. He’s still friends with Dorothy Unsworth and he gave a young girl with problematic past a job in one of the ateliers lately.”

Noelle nodded. Nozel was a lot of things, but he wasn’t a bad guy. He was just difficult to read and was so calm and cold, but behind the mask, he could be a softy.

“Well, yeah, I don’t really care, but I will keep this offer in mind, if it makes you both happy. Have a nice movie and greet Asta and Magna for me.”

“Will do,” Noelle replied. She knew that those two would also go to the cinema today and they would also going to watch a horror movie. But Asta and Magna would watch a slasher movie and Noelle didn’t like the majority of those. She and Nebra preferred when it was more spooky and mysterious, preferably with ghosts.

Noelle waved at Zora while she left the little shop with Nebra.

Outside, the fog was now more dense. Noelle almost couldn’t see the end of the street. Thankfully, Nebra and herself knew the way already so well.

Speaking of which…

“So, you know Zora as well.”

Nebra only hummed, already eating one Milky Way. There was a strange glimmer in her eyes and her cheeks were slightly pink. There was even a tiny, dreamy smile on her lips.

Oh.

Oh!

OH!

“You have a crush on- hmm!”

“Not so loud,” Nebra hissed, looking panickily left and right. Which was useless, they were the only ones within that misty street and Noelle hadn’t been that loud, Zora surely haven’t heard her.

Noelle grinned. She didn’t have often the occasion to tease Nebra, she won’t miss it now. Well, to be fair, Noelle didn’t had the occasion often to tease anyone in general, especially Vanessa.

“Come on, big sister, there is nothing to be ashamed to be in love, even if it’s not with someone from the rich and beautiful.”

“Well, we might be not in the middle ages anymore, but that doesn’t mean that no one would care, you know that. Besides, Zora and I aren’t together yet. Heck, he doesn’t even know that I’m… well, interested in him! I mean, I’m a jerk and even today, I haven’t really grown out of it, how would he even know that I… more than like him?”

Nebra took a deep breath, before she continued her rant. “Not to mention that he’s a jerk too. Argh, he got on my nerves most of the time! But it’s weird, because… he means well, deep down, he’s so harsh but so honest and why did no one ever told me that honesty could be so hot?”

Noelle snickered. Well, she had seen Nebra nervous before, but never like that. It was honestly a sight to see.

“Oh, and don’t tease me, Noelle, I don’t think you’re very advanced either with your peasant orphan buddy, what was his name again? Asta, right?”

Instead of snickering, Noelle was now coughing in embarrassment. Damn, she hadn’t expected that.

“How… do you know that?”

“Remember how we went to watch that new Disney movie, three weeks ago?”

“Yes, Asta came along, but-“

“He didn’t realized it, but you had your eyes more focused on him than on the screen. You were between us and while he was too focused on the movie, I noticed it.”

Oh crap, Noelle remembered that! Even more so that when Nebra invited them to the Golden Dawn Café afterwards – the first time her sister invited one of her friends, important to notice – she couldn’t really join the discussion about the movie, because… she had been a bit too much focused on Asta to even pay attention to the film.

Well, it had been nice to see one of her friends – a secret crush even – interacting so good with one of her siblings. But still embarassing, since she had been mostly quiet.

“If it reassures you, it still took me some time before I realized it. And you can say that… if I didn’t have that stupid crush on Zora, I wouldn’t have noticed at all.”

Nebra was now looking away, clearly embarrassed.

And here they were, the Silva sisters, in the middle of nowhere and a dense mist, having a huge crush on two boys that weren’t part of the rich and beautiful circles. One was an idiot and dense but lovable orphan, the other an ancient vigilante scoundrel with an attitude, but so much caring.

“That’s the reason I want to come here when we’re going out,” Nebra mumbled. “As long as Zora has to work here. But he will stop soon, so we might need to not come here anymore.”

Noelle hummed. She could totally understand that. If it was Asta instead, maybe she would have done the same.

“I’ll keep the secret about your crush, if you also keep the secret about Zora and me. It is… well, I’m still in the phase of figuring it out, you know. Trying to understand something new, something like that. And with our father…”

Oh, Noelle totally got that, nothing needed to be said.

“And… Nozel?”

“It’s too soon! I told, I still need to figure my feelings out! And knowing our older brother, he would probably get himself into some old-fashioned medieval arranged marriage so that we can date who we want. I know it’s not the middle ages anymore, but Noelle, in our snobby circle in this city, it’s still not out of fashion, sadly.”

Nebra was maybe overreacting, but Noelle couldn’t deny that it still wasn’t so far from the facts. She couldn’t say about the subtility of rich arranged marriages in Clover, but Nozel ready to sacrifice his own happiness so that his sisters could date poor boys…

Noelle wished that it would surprise her. But sadly, it didn’t.

“He deserves someone too. Someone to love, who would love him and cherish him.”

“Yes, that would do him good. If there was someone who would love him beyond the mask, but right now, it is rather impossible. Come now, it’s time to go the Green Mantis Cinema.”

Noelle took her sisters arm and walked with her out of this sleepy district. Still, she couldn’t help but think about what would make Nozel happy. Like, really happy. Be it a lover or something else. But her older brother was so secretive and Noelle was sometimes so unsure what would go through his head at times.

The fog was getting denser and Noelle softly hold Nebras arm tighter. Why was she so frightened all of a sudden? It must be her imagination, but why was she suddenly almost seeing silhouettes in the mist.

Well, they would watch a movie with ghosts and with her overthinking habit, it could make her see the most curious things.

Quick, she needed to focus on something else before she would overwhelm herself with scary, silly thoughts!

“So… how did you meet Zora for the first time?”

“It’s a sinister, embarassing story involving cats, mist and a lollipop, you don’t wanna know.”

Actually, with that description, Noelle wanted to know even more.

♣♣♣

“Goodness, I needed that,” Charlotte sighed in exhaustion, after she took a huge ship from her blueberry frappuccino. The blue coloured creamy drink left a slight moustache on her lips, which the blonde cleaned up with her tongue.

Vanessa giggled. Honestly, it was a sight to see Charlotte like that, when she’s usually so disciplined, almost strict and as straight as a wall in a top modern villa. But well, with all that attitude, it was only normal that her friend needed to relax and lay back from time to time.

Not as much as Nozel, but still.

“So, what worries do you have now?” Vanessa asked with a smirk, while taking a sip from her own drink. Pumpkin Spice Latte, perfect for Autumn, honestly.

Vanessa liked the Golden Dawn Café à lot. It was very elegant but not snobbish like the majority of the rich restaurants in Clover. It was also not expensive, even rather cheap, but the coffees and other drinks, as well as the meals were always perfect, not like in the majority of dubious bars who were a lot in this town.

The Golden Dawn Café also had three private rooms to book, for a meal or even just for drinks. Nozel invited her here from time to time and he always booked one of those three rooms. Always so secretive, but Vanessa loved how much he tried to have what he called a real date with her from time to time, instead of just meeting at her appartement. Oh, she knew why they still kept it a secret and even if she would love to come out of secrecy one day, right now, their little moments shared were so precious. Even more that Nozel treated her with so much respect and care. He often said that he would love to do more for her, but Vanessa never missed to remind him how much his gestures meant to her.

Still, those dates at the Golden Dawn Café and the others, as rare as they were, she loved them. Vanessa sometimes wondered if William Vangeance, the owner of this place, had at least suspicions about Nozel and her, but he never said anything and Vanessa wasn’t worried. William was a nice, good guy, after all.

“Ah, you know, the usual trouble with my parents and most of family members,” Charlotte sighed.

“Are they still not happy that organize your florist shop your way and not the family way?”

Not that Vanessa complained, the Blue Rose Flower Shop was so much more diversified with his offers than any other, especially the traditional florist shops of family Roselei. Not as rich as the Silvas, Vermillions and Kiras, but still very wealthy. And even more conservative, from what she heard from Charlotte and also from Nozel.

“Of course they are, but not only that,” Charlotte replied with a deep sigh. “You know about that fencing club I created for my girls. They still think that it’s not only a stupid idea, but also that I shouldn’t doing some fantasy like this only after I got married.”

“Wait, isn’t that contradictory?”

“That’s my parents way, it doesn’t matter how contradictory their arguments are. As long as it’s against something they dislike.”

That really sounded stupid for papa and mama Roselei, but also exhausting for Charlotte. Sometimes, Vanessa had the feeling that almost everyone in Clover had, in a way or another, parents issues or family issues in general.

Vanessa herself wasn’t an exception, given her own mother… Now, Vanessa didn’t want to think about that again. Her past in Witchtown was now behind her, she lived in Clover now, she had a job and friends, and even a boyfriend.

“If I understand that correctly, they still want you to get married.”

“Yes and preferably with someone from another rich family. Even more preferably someone who would be ready to give up their own family name and become a Roselei. Seriously, we’re in the 21^st century, arranged marriages should be a thing of the past!”

“Not to mention that you have Yami,” Vanessa smirked. She was happy that she stopped feeling jealous a long time ago.

Yami had been the first one to help her when Vanessa came to Clover. She had been still very naïve back then – no wonder with how she lived with her mother – and developed a huge crush on him, which she thought was true love while it was mostly gratitude. She basically put Yami on a pedestal, thinking that he was perfect through and through. Well, it was her first crush, so…

But it didn’t last for long, Vanessa quickly understood that he wasn’t interested in her like that, like not at all. For Yami, she was a friend, basically a sister. It still broke her heart, even more so when she found out – way long before Yami – that another woman was interested in him. A woman who didn’t put him on a pedestal, who saw his flaws and even though she could be exasperated by his attitude, she still embraced all sides of Yami.

Back then, Vanessa had been jealous and didn’t understood why Charlotte would love Yami, when his attitude was getting on her nerves. But Vanessa decided that since she didn’t had a chance with him anyway, she wouldn’t push through. After a few more or less disastrous relationships, Vanessa had thought that in the end, romantic love wasn’t for her… and then, Nozel came along.

Falling in love with him, really in love, unconditionally, despite the fact that they came together in a more or less unorthodox way… Vanessa finally understood why Charlotte still loved Yami despite his attitude and flaws.

“My mother now thinks that my rebellious phase is to blame for my relationship with Yami and that I will grow out of it eventually,” Charlotte said, taking another sip from her mug. “It’s ridiculous, I’m twenty-seven years old, my puberty is long behind me! As for my father, he blames all my wrong and stupid decisions on him. And I gave up to tell him that I can make decisions on my own and even more that Yami and I don’t have the same opinion on everything. Knowing my father, that would just prove his point, somehow.”

“Be happy that you don’t live with them anymore,” Vanessa replied in compassion.

“Oh, that I am, trust me. Otherwise, I would never have been able to take care of Luck.”

A soft smile appeared on Charlottes lips, like always when it was about her little brother. Well, actually it was half-brother, but Charlotte didn’t care about it. Her affection for Luck was as big as her love for Yami.

Luck was honestly a sweet boy, even though his tendence to fight and his cheery attitudes he had in his battles were almost a bit concerning. Probably given how he was raised and the history between his mother and Charlottes father… who was also his father, it could explain how he ended up like that. But he was still a sweet boy.

“You don’t have problems with Luck, I hope?”

“Well, except the usual school reports that he beat up another student or that loves fighting like a passion… but I can live with that. He was already like this when I met him for the first time, I knew what I was getting into when I took my brother in.” Charlotte smiled, showing how used she was to Lucks quirks. “But we have a tiny difficulty. Speaking of siblings, have you already met Ichika?”

“Yes,” Vanessa replied, already suspecting what the difficulty was.

Ichika was Yamis younger sister, who came to Clover to live with her brother just a few weeks ago. Vanessa didn’t know their family history, but something must have happened and Ichika seems to be upset about Yami, but the reason was unknown and Yami just waved it off like it was no big deal.

Not to mention that Ichikas arrival made some chaos about Yamis name. Apparently, Yami was the family name and his real first name was Sukehiro. Most of his friends of course continued to call him Yami, even though now both brother and sister would turn their heads to the speaking person

Vanessa had no idea how this name switch could have happened in the first place. Julius Novachrono, the mayor of Clover and Yamis foster father, had also been confused. Heck, even Yami himself had been genuinely stunned, having been used for years to be called Yami instead of Sukehiro by his closest friends.

“Then you probably know as well that Ichika lives with her brother. And Luck lives with me. We both live with our younger siblings.”

“Go on.”

“Yami and I… we would love to move in together. But of course, we would never leave Luck and Ichika behind. I have custody for Luck and Ichika is still adjusting to her new life with her brother. So… the idea is that they move in with us. And it will be probably in Lucks and my appartement. It is big enough.”

Big enough was an understatement. That appartement was like as big as the whole floor on the building, clearly too big for Charlotte and Luck to live alone. Damn rich people.

But… with four people it could work. It would still be very big, though.

“Did you already talk with Luck and Ichika about it?”

“Yes. Luck has nothing against it, he likes Ichika and would love to fight her one day, you know him. I will honestly miss a bit when it was just the two of us. But that kind of change won’t bother him, thankfully.”

“And… Ichika?”

“She’s a bit our main concern. I really don’t know what happened between her and her brother. Yami don’t have much secrets with me, but that, he won’t tell me. And I know better than to push him. Well, Ichika is clearly not pleased to live with him for now, but she also refuses to find an appartement of her own. Most of the time, she’s in her room and Yami thinks it’s just a phase, but I can tell he’s concerned. I’m concerned too, she needs to go out a bit more. So, maybe living with other people and not only her brother would do her good. Ichika is upset with Yami, but I don’t think she hates him, despite her attitude? I can’t tell, but I want to mend their relationship. There’s nothing worse than a broken bond between siblings.”

“I’m an only child, but I can get that,” Vanessa agreed. It made her think about her best friend, Finral and his brother Langris. Or the Silvas. In both situation, the sibling bond was better, even though the Silvas had still some work to do, especially with Solid. “It did work out for you and Luck, after all.”

“True. But to be fair, Luck opened to me very quickly and he never hold a grudge against me, for me being the legitimate child and he the illegitimate one. He’s not one to hold grudges, he needs a good reason for it. Ichika is not Luck. Whatever happened between them, she won’t open up to Yami that easily, even though I hope it’ll happen eventually. And also… she doesn’t seem to hate me or Luck. At worst she tolerates us, but she doesn’t seem to mind. Ichika just thinks that I could find better than Yami and that Luck shouldn’t admiring him this much. Technically, we could move all four together, but Ichika isn’t pleased at all to have Yami still living under the same roof as her.”

Charlotte took a deep sigh, before drinking again from her mug. Maybe they should have ordered an alcoholic drink, but Vanessa doubted that it would have been a good idea. Charlotte couldn’t hold her liquor and given to… embarassing circumstances including costumes, some rare roses and Yami, she always refused to drink any drop of alcohol ever again.

“She’ll come around, eventually,” Vanessa said in a comforting tone, putting her hand on Charlottes.

“I really hope so. Yami doesn’t say it, but I can tell that the estranged really bothers him. I love him, he helped me too when I fought to get custody over Luck. So, I want to help him too with his own sibling. We’re here for each other. That’s how a relationship works.”

Vanessa only nodded. She knew that, she knew that so much. Nozel and her were there for each other, despite the rather secretive and rather difficult situation. More difficult than it should be.

He had been there when her mother came for diplomatic visit in Clover. Never would Vanessa forget how protective it felt to be in his arms that day.

“She knows that I live in this city, of course she knows. What if she also came to take me back to Witchtown? I don’t want to go back!”

“She can’t force you. Vanessa, you’re an adult, you make your own choices and you are a citizen of Clover today, she can’t force you. And even if she could, I won’t allow it.”

“You’re not good at dealing with politics, honey.”

“I know, but as your boyfriend, I won’t let it happen still.”

He hadn’t left her the whole day and even stayed the night.

As for her, whenever it was the death anniversary of his mother, Vanessa made sure to be here for Nozel as well, letting him stay the night, giving him a shoulder to cry on, even though she needed to push him a bit before he finally let his tears flow.

Vanessa took a sip from her mug as she took a look out of the window. This morning had been a bit cloudy but still sunny and now, a dense fog has settled in and masking the light. As if it wasn’t in the middle of September and as if it was already 6 o’clock in the evening and not 3 in the afternoon.

Oh, the weather was weird in Clover, Vanessa knew that. But still, so much fog? It was weird. Almost like the strange misty storm on the death anniversary date of Acier Silva…

“Vanessa?”

“Hm?”

Vanessa turned towards Charlotte again, forgetting the dense fog outside. Although she could have sworn to have seen like a kinda bright silhouette in the mist. But that was probably just her imagination.

“What about you and Nozel?” Charlotte asked in a low tone.

Vanessa was grateful that she didn’t drink from her Pumpkin Spice Latte, otherwise she would have spewed it all on Charlotte due to her shock.

“How… do you know about… Nozel and me?”

Normally, she would have laughed it off and try to deny it. But this was impossible right now. First, Charlotte wasn’t dumb. Second, Vanessas own reaction made all denying attempt of course worthless. And third… She didn’t want to deny her love for Nozel, it was too precious for her.

“Two weeks ago, I went to the Green Mantis Cinema with Luck, for that new Batgirl movie. Oh, don’t worry, he didn’t saw you, he couldn’t stop jumping from excitement. But I saw you while I was paying for our tickets. You just were about to enter another movie room.”

“Oh… yes, The Prince and the Witch, a fantasy romance film, from the movie studios in Raque,” Vanessa said softly, a faraway smile on her lips. That had been a beautiful date.

Raque was a famous sea side city, not only known for the white beaches and vacation villas, but also for their film industry. Oh, it wasn’t as big as Hollywood, but they still produced a lot of amazing films. The Prince and the Witch was one of them, just recently released and it became one of Vanessas favourite movies. As well as Nozels.

The story was beautiful, a dark fairy tale and honestly a lot of angst, but with a happy ending. Vanessa couldn’t tell why, but she could somehow relate a lot to the two heroes of the story. In a way, they reminded her a lot of her own relationship with Nozel. As if that would be their roles in a fantasy world. A prince and a witch.

“Oh my, you’re really smitten,” Charlotte chuckled, while taking a sip from her frappuccino.

“No one uses that word anymore. With a few exceptions. But yes, I’m smitten, you can say that,” Vanessa replied, a soft smile on her lips. “But… can you please keep it a secret for now? We… um, how to explain…”

“Don’t worry, I understand. The Silvas are one of the three richest families in the city and sadly, our rich and beautiful people are still less marrying out of love than for more stupid things. Also, given the reputation of Lac Silva, it’s no wonder that you want to keep it a secret for the time being.”

“So, you’re not blind to the golden reputation and sweet words of Nozels father.”

“Of course not, I’m not stupid. Even though, it is difficult to see behind his game. Lac Silva doesn’t use lies or he creates circumstances to make lies true. He uses the truth and make it sound so it benefits him. I can’t say for sure, but it did helped him to make a lot of people more than just appreciate him. My parents as well, of course.”

Vanessa just hummed. The circle of the rich and beautiful, the current situation and wealth of the Silva, even the father alone made her and Nozels situation rather difficult. But not only… they were also the private life of the Silvas and rather sinister secrets. But they didn’t scare Vanessa away. On the contrary.

“It is difficult, but we have no intention to give up on what we had. I mean you didn’t gave up on what you have with Yami despite your parents, right.”

“With the exception that family Roselei isn’t family Silva. But you’re right. All I can is wishing you and Nozel good luck. I think you both need and deserve it.”

“Thank you, Charlotte. Thank you.”

The staid for half an hour at the Golden Dawn Café before parting ways. Due to the dense mist, Charlotte did suggested to drive her home, but Vanessa preferred to walk. Her appartement wasn’t far away, after all. And… there was someone waiting for her there.

There weren’t many people on the streets today and not many cars. Well, less than it was normally in the district of her appartement. Vanessa guessed that no one wanted to go out in this fog.

It was really dense now, it was difficult to see over ten meters. Luckily, Vanessa knew the way from the Golden Dawn Café to her appartement by heart.

Still, it was somehow unsettling. Vanessa couldn’t tell why. She was used that the atmosphere was weird in Clover. But today, she could felt it more than usual. As if something was watching. Not her in particular but still watching.

Vanessa didn’t know why, but her eyes went up in the direction of the Silver Manor. Of course, she couldn’t see it with all this mist. But… it was as if someone was up there. Which was weird because no one would ever go up there, not even for a rave party. That ruined villa was too sinister.

“I’m probably imagining things. This mist just gives me spooky vibes,” Vanessa muttered. But still, she couldn’t wait to be home again, to finish her afternoon in Nozels arms and maybe spend the night with him. She always felt safe in his arms.

So Vanessa focused on her way home and no longer on the fog, who almost seemed to form like silhouettes behind her.

When Vanessa closed the door of her appartement behind her, Nozel was already on the couch, Rouge on his lap. Vanessa smiled at that vision. Nozel and Noelle always pretended that animals don’t like Silvas, but it was either not true or Rouge was just the exception. That cat even especially loved Nozel, as if he gave them his blessing to their relationship. Given how kitten Rouge always hissed at her few previous partners, it was surely a good sign.

“Are you sure that animals hate you, honey?” Vanessa smirked as she sat down on the couch, cuddling her handsome boyfriend.

“Rouge is the exception,” Nozel replied, giving her a kiss on the cheek. Rouge just meowed and hoped on the floor to go lie down in his basket. That cat seemed to have decided that they needed quality alone time.

“Charlotte knows about us. Don’t worry, her lips are sealed,” Vanessa told Nozel while playing with his braid. It was such a weird hairstyle, having a braid in front of your forehead. But it surprisingly looked pretty good on Nozel and Vanessa even came to like it a lot.

“I’m not doubting Charlottes discretion. But how did she found out?”

“Two weeks ago, when we were going to watch The Prince and the Witch.”

Nozel smiled softly. Of course he also had good memories about that date. “But there wasn’t any swashbuckling movie that day.”

“But the new Batgirl movie and Luck was with her.”

“I see… Vanessa, wouldn’t you mind if I stay the night?”

“Never, honey. Did something happened?”

“A fight with my father. The usual, I basically left his office before I could lose myself and… well, do something to him.”

“I wouldn’t blame you if you did, honey.”

“I know, but it would have consequences. It will always have consequences with him.”

“I know, Nozel. I know.”

“But that’s not the only reason… I really wanted to see you.”

Vanessa blushed a bit, but still smiled. That was so cute of him, to come just because he wanted to see her. Her first impression about him had been a stiff and cold man, but in reality, he was just broken, sappy and caring guy, who still was strong and capable to take over the business his mother left behind. And who would never admit how much he needed affection.

She kissed him softly on the lips. Nozel let out a contented sigh as he kissed her back, hugging her slightly at first but his arms went more firmly around her as the kiss slowly became more passionate.

That would be a nice late afternoon. Cuddling with each other, having a simple dinner together, maybe a movie with Rouge if he wanted some petting and spending the night together.

“What shall I do for dinner, honey? Something hot or something cold?”

“I’d rather have something cold. Last time you tried to do some eggs, something exploded.”

“How rude, it wasn’t my fault, but the kitchen’s fault! Okay, maybe I did something, but you know my witchy kitchen. Well, I have bread, some butter and jam, also cheese and ham… We’ll see what we can find. Oh, and I have two slice of Black Forest cake left in the fridge.”

“With kirschwasser?”

“Nope, without, I now you prefer that specific cake. And we can watch some movie, if you want.”

“Um… Beauty and the Beast?”

“Oh, don’t be so flustered, handsome boyfriend of mine. There’s no shame to love an animated movie for kids. But honestly, I can’t wait until The Prince and the Witch is finally released on DVD.”

“Me too, Vanessa.”

They kissed again, cuddling on the couch, completely forgetting the foggy, distant world outside.

If Nozel and Vanessa had looked outside at this very moment, more precisely in the direction of the Silver Manor despite the distance, they would have saw the mist disappear for a moment at this specific post.

Revealing the silhouette of a woman, looking down at the city of Clover below…