A Bitter Pill To Swallow

"Join the Clover Kingdom...?" Lotus and Fanzell, still bound to the tree by the Mana Binding Cables, repeated the words back to the Masked Trio, almost incredulous.

Fanzell, especially, felt the irony cut deep. After all, he thought, even if the Diamond Kingdom's been feeling more and more alien to me lately, it's still my homeland. Black Clover's world was rooted in a medieval-era mindset, with the Church's doctrine strong among the people, instilling values like chivalry and honor. And Fanzell was a relatively upright guy—there was no way he'd stomach such dishonor.

"You're asking us to desert and betray our kingdom?!" he shouted at Blue Eagle, his fury plain.

Lotus grimaced, glancing away in an attempt to calm his friend down. "Wait, kid—"

"Never!" Fanzell cut him off. "We'll never betray our kingdom! Torture or bribe us all you want. Whatever you're after, we won't talk. Just kill us and get it over with," he scoffed.

Lotus twitched. Kid, I'm the superior here, who put you in charge of my decisions? He felt bewildered but sighed with a resigned nod. Maybe a few months ago, it'd have been different, but I've got a lady waiting for me now. Can't risk anything that'd put her in danger.

For a moment, Lotus had assumed the Secret Order would just send them back to Diamond as double agents, stirring tension between kingdoms. But if they were expecting outright betrayal, they had underestimated him. Life isn't worth it to me if it risks her.

Blue Eagle blinked, his masked face betraying nothing. After a pause, he finally spoke in that same cold, emotionless tone. "Who said anything about torture?"

"Huh?" Lotus and Fanzell both froze, blinking at him.

Blue Eagle turned to face Gray Wolf and Green Owl. "Did I ever mention torture?"

Gray Wolf and Green Owl exchanged indifferent looks and shook their heads. You did not.

Blue Eagle looked back at them, exasperated, though his sigh came out robotic and flat thanks to the voice modulator.

"Your General was the same—expected me to torture him, too. Do all you Diamond Kingdom people have some strange fetish for being captured and abused?"

Lotus and Fanzell stared, mouths open, completely speechless.

Blue Eagle continued. "Because if that's what you're after... arrangements could be made."

After a brief, stunned silence, he added, "Not by me, of course."

I've already transmigrated into a body with a wife whose tastes may or may not be 'unconventional' behind closed doors, he thought dryly. I don't need a whole web of BDSM acquaintances.

Gray Wolf kept his head lowered, trying to make himself as invisible as possible, while Green Owl looked like he was seconds away from bolting out of sheer secondhand embarrassment. Meanwhile, Fanzell was a stuttering, flushed mess, utterly humiliated by Blue Eagle's blunt insinuations. Lotus, however, managed to keep his cool, cleared his throat, and decided to ask the million-dollar question.

"If not torture, then how exactly do you expect to get us to talk? Don't underestimate us; we may come from a poor kingdom, but we love it fiercely. Our loyalty isn't for sale."

Fanzell, finally regaining his composure, nodded vigorously, his face setting in determination as he shot a sharp glare right at Blue Eagle.

"Idiots," Blue Eagle replied flatly.

"What do you mean by that?!" Fanzell demanded, his pride stung. Though only sixteen, Fanzell had grown up in a world where survival depended on proving his worth. His environment had forced him to mature quickly, but beneath that rough exterior, he was still a hotheaded young man—a far cry from the composed war veteran he'd one day become. And there was no way he could stomach this casual disrespect, especially with Lotus, his superior and benefactor, on the receiving end as well.

Blue Eagle crouched down to their level, his tone eerily emotionless. "When did I ever say I wanted your intel, secrets, or anything you know? All I asked was, 'Do you want to join the Clover Kingdom?' It's a yes or no question."

Before Fanzell could respond, Blue Eagle continued, his gaze shifting between the two of them. "If I wanted secrets so badly, I'd have tortured Yagos for them. Even if I squeezed every drop of intel from both of you, it would be nothing compared to what that old coot has stored in his mind. Aren't you curious why I didn't?"

Lotus and Fanzell exchanged wary glances, drawn into his words despite themselves. They nodded, both swallowing audibly.

"It's because I frankly don't care," Blue Eagle replied coolly.

Lotus and Fanzell blinked, momentarily thrown.

"Neither does my organization," Blue Eagle continued, his tone dismissive. "Nor does Master L. Do you know why?"

"...Why?" Fanzell managed, his voice rough.

"Because the Diamond Kingdom has been, and will always be, the least of all four kingdoms," Blue Eagle said coldly. "A forgotten backwater that's never amounted to anything and never will. Nothing you or anyone from Diamond has done, or will do, poses any threat to Master L or our plans."

As Blue Eagle's words settled in, Fanzell's fists clenched, trembling with frustration. His shoulders slumped in defeat, the venom in Blue Eagle's voice stinging deeper than any physical blow. Even Lotus, usually the composed one, looked shaken, a dark scowl shadowing his face as he processed the harsh truths thrown in their faces.

"Simmer down, Kruger," Blue Eagle chided, his voice cold and unfeeling. He remained standing, hands casually behind his back. "You're just proving my point—acting like a fool, a court jester, thrashing around to get a reaction out of me."

The words hit Fanzell like a physical blow. He froze, then slumped back against the tree, eyes dull with exhaustion and shame.

Seeing the crushed look in his young subordinate's face, Lotus sneered up at Blue Eagle, his voice low and bitter. "So, you're torturing us anyway. Just the emotional kind."

Blue Eagle shook his head, his expression unreadable as he took a seat on a nearby boulder, his posture relaxed, casual. "It's not torture; it's just reality. If my words hit so hard, it's because there's truth in them—and you know it. You know exactly why your kingdom feels the need to do things like this assassination attempt, why you constantly pick fights on Clover's borders, and why you run those human experiments."

Both Fanzell and Lotus froze, their expressions twisting in shock. How does he know about the experiments? The twisted research was still confined to Diamond's inner circles, only just beginning within their borders. For Blue Eagle to mention it meant only one thing: The Secret Order already has informants at the highest levels.

Lotus and Fanzell exchanged a horrified glance. They'd thought this mission was a gamble for information, but if the Order already knew this much... What else do they know?

Gray Wolf and Green Owl watched intently, their eyes narrowing beneath their masks, catching every movement, every flicker of panic in the two captives' faces.

Blue Eagle waited a moment, watching them squirm, before continuing, his tone dripping with cold certainty. "You're desperate. And why? Because the Diamond Kingdom is a miserable place, a destitute speck trying to compete with kingdoms leagues above it. You can only hope to achieve a fraction of their results, even with ten times the effort. And even then, it's failure after failure, year after year."

He leaned forward, gaze unyielding. "Your people work like slaves just to keep your kingdom afloat. You're so desperate you've stooped to experimenting on your own people, just to produce warriors who might stand a chance against us. It's pathetic."

Lotus and Fanzell's faces drained of color. Blue Eagle's voice was cold as he delivered the harsh truth.

"Look at Clover. Even in our darkest times, you've never posed a real threat. The Wizard King alone could wipe out your entire kingdom if it suited him. So why would we care what Diamond is doing? Why take you seriously? To us, the Diamond Kingdom is an annoying fly—buzzing around our borders, swatted away whenever it comes too close. But why bother marching in and stamping you out? There's nothing in it for us. It's a waste of time."

Fanzell and Lotus felt the weight of his words pressing down on them, as cold and unyielding as the ground beneath them.

"Your land is barren, your coffers nearly empty. What would we even gain by enslaving you? Another mouth to feed?" The Diamond Kingdom's little more than the Hidden Sand Village of this world—empty, with nothing to offer but a handful of half-baked warriors.

Lotus swallowed hard, anger and despair warring in his chest as he looked away, unable to meet Blue Eagle's unrelenting gaze. Fanzell glared at the ground, his pride and loyalty crushed underfoot like rubble.

Lotus gritted his teeth, his frustration boiling over. "If you're done mocking us, then tell us what you want with us! If we're so worthless, then why are we worth your precious attention?!"

Fanzell stiffened, stunned. He'd never seen Adjutant General Lotus, normally the image of calm and control, this furious.

Unfazed, Blue Eagle crossed his legs, one arm resting casually in his lap. "Even in the dirtiest backwater, you sometimes find diamonds in the rough. Master L has noticed that the two of you aren't as far gone as the rest of Diamond's riffraff and has bestowed upon you the supreme honor of joining our ranks."

"Joining your ranks?" Lotus and Fanzell exchanged a look. Then, Lotus's eyes went wide, realization dawning on him like a thunderbolt. He snapped his gaze back to Blue Eagle. "Master L… is Conrad Leto?!"

Lotus felt a rush of certainty. It all makes sense. Why did the Secret Order know exactly where to ambush us? Why did they intercept us in the first place? They must have been protecting Conrad's wife and family.

A thrill shot through Lotus's mind as he connected the dots. In a classist society like the Clover Kingdom, how else could a disowned noble like Conrad Leto possibly have risen to the rank of Wizard King, unless he had a powerful network doing his dirty work behind the scenes, clearing out his competition, eliminating enemies in the shadows? His heart raced as his gaze flicked subtly to Green Owl.

That explains Damnatio Kira, Lotus realized. If our intelligence is right, Damnatio despises his father. It would be natural for him to secretly sabotage his plans whenever possible. Of course Conrad would notice that hatred and bring Damnatio into his inner circle. When Damnatio caught wind of this operation and learned of his father's dealings with us, he probably reported it and was ordered to stop it in its tracks!

Lotus's eyes blazed with excitement as he locked his gaze onto Blue Eagle. This has to mean that Blue Eagle isn't Sebastian Silva at all! Everyone knew Sebastian was Conrad's greatest political rival, so it made perfect sense. Master L, Master Leto, ordered this "Blue Eagle" to pose as Sebastian. Once we're gone, Diamond would assume Sebastian orchestrated the mission's failure and the death of their general, sparking tensions and knocking his influence down several pegs.

Lotus's grin spread, his joy undisguised. He laughed mockingly at the masked figures before him, a silent declaration of triumph. I've seen through everything.

Fanzell felt a spark of realization, piecing together stray thoughts and coming to the same bold conclusion.

Gray Wolf didn't so much as blink, while Green Owl's expression shifted slightly, a flicker of suspicion in her eyes. I thought about it before, but now I'm sure. Master L isn't Lord Leto. Lord Silva wouldn't leave such an obvious breadcrumb trail; he's too meticulous.

Blue Eagle, under his mask, was fighting hard to keep from grinning. What a perfect misunderstanding. Thank you, Master L!

(Across the kingdom, in both the Aqua Deer Base and Magic Knight Headquarters, Julius and Conrad both sneezed.)

Putting on a show of irritation, Blue Eagle stiffened, narrowing his eyes at Lotus. "If you want to live, learn how to keep your mouth shut."

"Heh." Lotus and Fanzell exchanged a smug glance, reclining against the tree with a newfound air of confidence. Tied up or not, they felt in control now, flashing a smug grin at the Masked Trio, especially Blue Eagle.

With a pause to keep up appearances, Blue Eagle continued, "Your mission is simple. Join the Clover Kingdom, build relationships, and climb the ranks. Prove yourselves, and you might even earn a place in Master L's inner circle… as one of the Masked." He tapped his own mask for effect.

Gray Wolf's and Green Owl's brows twitched in unison, clearly annoyed by his theatrical pitch.

Fanzell scoffed and, through his bindings, managed to throw Blue Eagle a defiant finger. "Getting a little ahead of yourself there, 'BirdMan.' Who said we'd join you?"

Earlier, they'd been wary of the Secret Order, but now, convinced they'd unraveled their true identities, Fanzell and Lotus felt a lot less powerless. Knowing an enemy's identity stripped away the dread of the unknown. Conrad might be powerful, maybe even unstoppable in battle, but his motives were simple, even sympathetic. He was a man of the people—especially the poor. In the world of ruthless schemers like Morris, Conrad Leto was straightforward and predictable.

Neither Lotus nor Fanzell could imagine Conrad hunting them down, hurting those they cared about, or destroying their kingdom. That simply wasn't Conrad's way. And the fact that his "subordinates" refused to torture or enslave them? Just more proof.

Lotus and Fanzell felt their anxiety and tension drain away, replaced by cool confidence. Blue Eagle's earlier claim—that Conrad alone could destroy the entire Diamond Kingdom—now seemed almost laughable. If he'd claimed Conrad could beat their Generals single-handedly, maybe, they thought, but the entire kingdom? Did they look like fools?

Unlike the Clover Kingdom, none of the other kingdoms treated their Wizard Kings with such blind reverence. Why would they? It wouldn't exactly bode well for morale to worship the military might of a rival kingdom, especially one that constantly loomed over them.

After the First Wizard King, Lemiel, famously defeated an Ancient Demon single-handedly, Clover's neighbors had been forced to contend with his legacy. Heart and Spade downplayed it somewhat, given their greater distance from Clover. Diamond, however, took a different approach—actively working to diminish the Clover Kingdom's heroes in the eyes of their people.

Diamond had long been casting greedy glances toward Clover's fertile lands, so it was only logical for their leaders to twist the narrative. Why would their citizens fight and train tirelessly to attack Clover, Blue Eagle mused, if they admired its greatest hero?

This relentless propaganda machine had ensured that Diamond's people didn't merely lack admiration for the Wizard King; many outright despised him. The fact that Lotus and Fanzell could even acknowledge the Clover Kingdom's strength was an achievement on its own—though, clearly, they were still affected. The idea that Conrad might rival, or even surpass, the First Wizard King was something they just couldn't fathom.

Lotus and Fanzell tensed as a wide grin emerged on Blue Eagle's face, visible through the mouth hole in his mask.

"What's so funny?" Fanzell narrowed his eyes, feeling an ominous chill.

Blue Eagle chuckled, though the sound came out stilted and robotic through his voice changer. "Oh, you two will say yes. You don't really have a choice."

Lotus met his gaze with an unreadable expression. "Or what? You'll threaten us? How many times do we have to tell you: we're not afraid of death."

Blue Eagle shook his head calmly. "Nope, you'll be joining us of your own free will."

Lotus scoffed. "And what makes you so sure?"

"Because…" Blue Eagle's voice dropped, drawing them in. "You both have people you care about."

Lotus and Fanzell blinked in momentary confusion, caught off guard. Then, Blue Eagle's attention focused first on Fanzell.

"Fanzell, you've got a precious friend named Dominante, right?"

"What do you want with her?" Fanzell demanded, his voice sharp as he struggled against his bindings. "What do you know about her?"

Blue Eagle's expression remained impassive. "Well, her skill in magic tool craftsmanship could make her a valuable asset to our organization—but that's not what I'm getting at."

"Then what are you getting at?" Fanzell's voice was raw with unease, though he didn't fully understand why his heart was racing the moment Dominante was mentioned.

Instead of responding directly, Blue Eagle continued. "You're aware of Morris'... experiments with the children, aren't you? You must have crossed paths with them by now."

Fanzell froze, dread creeping up his spine. How did they know about that? Seeing no point in feigning ignorance, he nodded slowly, his voice hoarse. "Yes. And what of it?"

Blue Eagle shifted his gaze to Lotus. "And you, Lotus—there's someone special in your life, correct?"

The look of darkness that passed over Lotus's face was answer enough, and Blue Eagle knew he'd hit his mark.

Blue Eagle watched as Lotus and Fanzell glared at him, their eyes red with barely-contained fury. Nodding in satisfaction, he spoke in his monotone, every word calculated to hit its mark.

"Tell me," he began, "do you honestly believe the Diamond Kingdom of today is a safe haven for the people you hold dear?"

The question lingered, and as the realization began to dawn on them, Blue Eagle continued. "Imagine: you leave for a mission, and by the time you return, you hear that those children you tried so hard to protect have perished from some failed experiment. Or worse—some twisted soul could decide to use the people you care about however they please, then discard them when they've had their fill."

Lotus and Fanzell trembled, fighting to keep their composure, but Blue Eagle pressed on. "And what if you two were to die in the line of duty, or suffer a serious setback—say, an injury or a major failure? What would happen to your precious ones then? Without your protection, what do you think would stop the Diamond Kingdom's executives from using them as pawns or worse?"

Blue Eagle shifted his focus to Fanzell. "Take Dominante, for example. Morris has yet to experiment on a witch, and he must be very curious to find out what makes them tick. Sure, she has some value as a skilled artisan, but if you were out of the picture, how long do you think it would take before she ended up on his operating table?"

Fanzell clenched his jaw, biting down hard enough to taste blood as he dug his fingers into the ground, struggling to contain his anger.

Blue Eagle turned to Lotus. "And you… Do you really think the Diamond Kingdom of today is a safe place to have a family? Children, if you're lucky enough to have any, would be nothing more than pawns in their eyes, leverage to control you, to force you into slavish loyalty. And if you ever slip up, the fate of those children will be far from pleasant."

With a heavy sigh, Blue Eagle thought to himself, If only this mask didn't strip my voice of every nuance. If he could just sneer or jeer, he wouldn't have to explain everything so clearly. I need to get this thing fixed; a voice changer should alter voices, not make them sound like they're being spat out by some AI chatbot.

He looked down at Lotus and Fanzell, his cold, mechanical voice adding a subtle menace. Well, at least the mask had a certain eerie effect on them.

Lotus's composure snapped as he strained against his bindings, desperate to break free and lunge at Blue Eagle. "Just get to the damn point! If we disappear and desert the Kingdom, the fate awaiting them will be even worse! We'll never join you!"

Blue Eagle stood calmly, nodding as he approached them. "Didn't I already mention Master L's all-encompassing love and forgiveness?" He paused, realizing he hadn't actually explained that yet. As Lotus and Fanzell shot him a confused look, he cleared his throat awkwardly before continuing in his usual, emotionless tone.

"Do you think Master L doesn't understand your greatest weakness? What you'd sacrifice everything to protect?"

"What are you talking about?" Lotus and Fanzell demanded in unison, the desperation creeping into their voices.

Blue Eagle crouched down, bringing himself to their level. "We in the Secret Order come from all kinds of backgrounds and stories. Though we serve Master L with unwavering loyalty, we're individuals, with our own motivations and desires. We're not mindless zealots willing to die for the cause without question. We're thinking, feeling people who look out for our own, just as the Order uses us, we use it to fulfill our own aspirations."

Fanzell and Lotus kept their eyes locked on him as he nodded, his tone unwavering. "And because we protect our own, your problems are our problems. Therefore, our newest mission priority will be an extraction."

Their throats went dry as they tried not to hope, not wanting to risk disappointment if Blue Eagle wasn't hinting at what they thought he was. But he didn't leave them hanging for long.

"Our targets are as follows: first, Dominante Code. Second, the children held captive in Morris's research facilities. And third…" Blue Eagle's gaze lingered on Lotus, "your lover."

Lotus and Fanzell's breaths caught, a complicated mix of hope and disbelief crossing their faces. Lotus nearly murmured a word of gratitude, but Fanzell spoke first, a touch of desperation in his voice.

"Then why can't you just help us eliminate Morris?" Fanzell asked, gritting his teeth. "We'd owe you everything, and with Morris gone, the Diamond Kingdom could correct its course. Lord Leto should want that—without Morris, those twisted experiments will never reach completion. We'd no longer be a threat to Clover!"

Fanzell knew he was making excuses, but every word he said felt true. This is my home, my birthplace, he thought, and without Morris, it could be the kingdom I remember. I want to live and die as a citizen of the Diamond Kingdom.

But as he looked into Blue Eagle's eyes, his heart sank, seeing the faintest flicker of pity.

Blue Eagle shook his head, his voice unfeeling. "Setting aside the fact that, even if Morris succeeded, he'd be little more than a minor inconvenience to us—do you really believe his experiments would end if he were gone?"

Fanzell blinked, baffled, as Lotus sighed beside him. What am I missing here? he wondered.

Blue Eagle stood tall, hands folded behind his back as he continued, "It's one thing to start something; stopping it is another story. Morris might die, but his program would persist. Do you honestly think he has no assistants or detailed notes that someone else could inherit?"

"No," Lotus replied hoarsely, shaking his head. He knew some of Morris's team all too well.

Blue Eagle nodded, his voice as cold as ever. "In fact, eliminating Morris Libardirt might make things worse."

"And why's that?" Fanzell demanded, unable to grasp the reasoning.

Blue Eagle began, "Because Morris is skilled and uniquely qualified. He's a paragon of your kingdom's magical and scientific advancement. Without him to guide this...madness, his lesser-trained assistants would step in, desperate to match his results, but they'd only make things worse."

He went on, "To see the same results, they'd have to work ten times harder—meaning ten times the resources, and ten times the sacrifices. If you thought the lives lost to Morris's experiments were horrifying now, you've seen nothing."

"Desperation breeds desperate measures, and weak leaders lead to weaker times. When a weak and desperate nation becomes weaker and more desperate, what do you think will happen? Morris, as much as you hate to admit it, is a pillar of the Diamond Kingdom. His systems, brutal as they are, keep it together. Without him, the kingdom would fall apart."

Lotus and Fanzell recoiled, feeling sickened. Blue Eagle's unfeeling tone made it worse. "As vile as it sounds, his methods, competence, and efficiency protect people—both in your kingdom and beyond—from an even darker fate. In some twisted way, Morris Libardirt is a shield, sparing many from his own horrific practices."

Fanzell clenched his fists, his stomach churning. The awful truth hit him—Morris, the man he hated most, was ironically a protector of sorts.

Lotus let out a long sigh. "So, what's the plan? Sneak into the kingdom, cause a distraction, grab everyone, and get out?"

Blue Eagle shook his head. "First off, Gray Wolf and Green Owl have other tasks to handle. I'll be the only one accompanying you."

Lotus and Fanzell exchanged a brief look before the latter spoke, "And the second part?"

Blue Eagle nodded, his voice detached. "Second, it would be foolish to dismiss your high positions for the sake and trouble of sneaking in, especially if it raises suspicion. We can simply walk in through the front doors."

The two paused, confused. Fanzell pointed to themselves. "We can do that, but you can't. You'll still have to sneak in and meet us."

Blue Eagle smiled cryptically. "Oh, on the contrary, Kruger. I'll be right with you."

Fanzell blinked. "...How?"

The only answer was Blue Eagle snapping his fingers. Fanzell watched in awe as Gray Wolf's hands glowed with a silver-gray aura, and from his grimoire satchel, something flew out.

A leather canteen drinking pouch soared through the air. Catching it, Blue Eagle uncorked it and smiled slyly. "I've got just the plan, but first, let's get you two untied, shall we?"

With a flick of his wrist, the Mana Binding Cable holding them unraveled, bathed in that same silver-gray aura. Lotus and Fanzell awkwardly stood, hurriedly catching their grimoires as they were flung back at them.

Looking at Blue Eagle, they found his expression serious as he narrowed his eyes beneath his mask. "Well, gentlemen, let's begin Operation: Diamond Rescue."

Short Story: How did Nozel seduce Dorothy? (Canon)

As Nozel and Dorothy strolled through the estate in an awkward silence, the moonlight casting soft shadows across their path, Nozel struggled to find the right words.

How am I supposed to talk to her? He'd sworn just a few hours ago to sweep her off her feet and win her heart—when a Silva makes a promise, they'll live and die by it. But every time he tried one of the lines drilled into him during etiquette training, Dorothy stepped further away, widening the distance between them both physically and emotionally.

After an hour of stiff silence, in which he'd managed only to give her a dry tour of the estate, Dorothy slowly drifted back closer to him.

But we're right back at square one. How do I get her to come closer? Nozel clenched his fists in frustration. I've seen my tutors seduce noblewomen effortlessly with these lines, so why, as a dignified royal, do I only get looks of disgust?

Then it dawned on him: Wait. Dorothy isn't a noblewoman—she's a witch, raised in a world of strict limits and secrets. What she wants is honesty, not honeyed words.

Fortunately, Nozel Silva wasn't entirely clueless about love.

"Dorothy," he said, breaking the silence and coming to a stop.

"Uhhmm." Dorothy paused as well, turning to him with a strained smile.

Please don't start again, she thought, her heart sinking. The atmosphere was finally clearing up—don't ruin it again with those awful lines!

She could still feel the embarrassment from his earlier attempts. If loving thee be treason, then I am ready for the gallows. Are you a sorceress? For I am surely under thy spell. Doth thy father own the castle? For thou art surely the crown jewel.

And then the most mortifying: My sword may be long, but my patience is not—shall we retire to the bedchamber?

Dorothy felt a surge of irritation mixed with a wild desire to slap some sense into him. I don't think even Dad would blame me. Who talks like that?! First off, this is literally your castle, and secondly, we just met a few hours ago, and you already want to bed me?

Dorothy was tempted to tell Nozel to shut up and keep walking, but something about his expression gave her pause. Unlike the rest of their awkward tour, his face was now oddly serious, almost somber, and for the first time tonight, it felt like he was looking at her—really looking—not as a prize to win but as a person.

So, with a sigh, she decided to humor him.

Nozel scratched his cheek, hesitant. "What you said, in Glamor World, about not being able to imagine your mother helping you… what did you mean by that?"

Dorothy blinked, caught off guard. Well, I didn't expect that. A moment of silence stretched before she realized Nozel wasn't going to drop the subject, so she sighed and began to explain.

She told him about meeting Sebastian yesterday, recounting their conversation and the reasons she'd come here, though she left out the part about Sebastian being a prophet. We did make a pinky promise, after all.

As she spoke, Dorothy had expected Nozel to brush off her story with some indifferent remark, but when she shared pieces of her childhood under her mother's rule, she noticed his jaw clench and his fists tighten.

"Mothers aren't supposed to be like that!" Nozel burst out, fury glinting in his eyes. "No parent should be. It—it reminds me of how Father used to be!"

Dorothy blinked and gave an awkward nod, surprised by his vehemence.

Then Nozel continued, his voice quieter. "So…my father arranged this marriage to tie you to our family. House Silva adopting a 'stray' is too scandalous, apparently." He looked down, as though the words left a bitter taste.

Dorothy nodded and hesitated before speaking up. "But Dad said, no matter what, even if it doesn't work out, he'll adopt me regardless. And I know you don't actually feel any sense of love for me—you're just trying to prove a point. So, why don't we just make this easier? Let's break the engagement, and Dad can adopt me."

"Stop." Nozel put a hand up, waving her off. After a brief pause, he went on, "How do you know how I feel about you? It's not your place to assume. A relationship is a two-way street, Dorothy—you have to understand your partner's feelings, with sensitivity."

Dorothy blinked at him incredulously. If that's the truth, shouldn't you be paying attention to my feelings? Can't you see I'm not exactly thrilled with this engagement?

But Nozel didn't seem deterred. Without warning, he reached out, drawing her into his arms.

"Eeep!" Dorothy squirmed, about to pull back in protest, but paused when she realized he wasn't exactly hugging her. Instead, he gently pressed her ear to his chest, right over his heart.

Bump! Bump! Bump! Bump! The rapid beat startled her, and she looked up to find that same impassive look on his face.

As she slipped free, putting enough distance between them to meet his gaze, Nozel locked eyes with her, his voice steady as he continued speaking.

"In my entire life, since I was old enough to walk, I've had girls my age and older women approaching me," Nozel began, his voice quieter. "I didn't understand what they were doing at first. I thought they were just being friendly—until one day a maid tried to lure me to her room. She almost succeeded, but Father intervened just in time. I was five"

Dorothy felt her breath hitch in disgust. "And… what happened to that maid?"

"Before Father could dismiss her from service permanently, Mother came storming in, flying through the window, and dismissed that maid from this world. Permanently."

Dorothy tensed, watching as a complicated expression clouded Nozel's eyes.

"That was the first and only time in my life when the roles were reversed," he continued. "I was hiding behind Father—from my own mother. I felt scared of her and, for once, grateful for him."

Dorothy leaned in slightly, sensing he had more to say. "And then…?"

"After a brief nod to Mother, Father left without a word, and then Mother hugged me," Nozel said. "She explained the truth—that people would always lust after me for my name, my body, my inheritance. That besides family, I should never let my guard down."

Dorothy looked at him with a deepening understanding as he went on, "I thought someone like me could never experience true love, so I didn't bother trying. I took courtship lessons only so I could recognize when someone was trying to seduce me—and know who to avoid. I never thought I'd ever have a reason to use what I learned."

A wry, self-deprecating chuckle escaped him. "Maybe that's why I'm so terrible at it?" he asked, almost rhetorically, attempting to lighten the mood.

Dorothy let out a nervous laugh, nodding. "Maybe."

Then Nozel's expression grew serious again, and he took a step forward. Despite the slight flutter in her chest, Dorothy held her ground.

Reaching his hand out to her, Nozel waited until Dorothy, after a moment's hesitation, placed hers in his. Gently, he guided it to his chest, just over his heart.

"I've only known you for a few hours, but you already have me feeling this way," he began, his voice low. "Growing up with a mostly absent father and everyone around me harboring hidden motives, I learned to value those few sincere bonds in my life more than anything."

"So…?" Dorothy fidgeted, feeling her pulse quicken as she waited for him to continue.

"So," Nozel said, "when someone comes into my life—a girl with no interest in my family's wealth, name, or status, who just wants a family—I don't want to let a chance like this slip through my fingers."

He looked directly at her, a rare softness in his eyes. "You, Dorothy Unsworth, are everything I thought could never exist in nobility: a lover who's only after love. It's like something out of a fairytale. In our aristocratic circle, we romanticize love because so many are stuck in loveless marriages, using stories as an escape. But I don't want an escape—I want the real thing."

Dorothy's face grew warm, and she tried to avoid his gaze as he stepped closer, gently taking her other hand in his. He held them both, giving a reassuring squeeze.

"I don't know what you might think of me, Dorothy," he continued, "but let me make something clear. I'm not after a prize or a trophy wife. If I ever marry, it will be someone I can love—and who will love me back. I want someone who'll love Nozel, not Nozel Silva."

Dorothy's cheeks flushed even deeper as he continued. "My parents' relationship has been a rocky one for as long as I can remember. Whatever rumors there were of them being in love as teenagers—they were just rumors. That's not what I grew up with in House Silva."

Dorothy started to interject, "Wait, Nozel, Dad isn't—"

But Nozel shook his head. "I don't know the Sebastian Silva you know, but the one I spent sixteen years under the same roof with… he's different. Only recently has he even started acting like a father." A complex look crossed his face before he cleared his throat and refocused. "But enough about that. My point is… about us."

"Us?" Dorothy's breath caught. Is there an us?

"You want a family, and so do I. Not just the one I have now with my siblings and mother, and hopefully Father. I want a family of my own someday—a marriage where husband and wife share unconditional love and respect, where children don't have to wonder or romanticize about seeing their parents." He paused, taking a deep breath. "Dorothy Unsworth, will you give me the chance to be your family? Will you make me the happiest man in the world and let this dream come true?"

Dorothy's mind spun as she took in his words, feeling tears slip down her cheeks before she even registered them. With a shy nod, she managed, "O-okay."

Nozel reached into his satchel, taking out a napkin to gently wipe her tears. He glanced up at the bright highmoon, then back down at her, smiling softly. "Let's head back to the main estate and join my siblings for dinner. It's time I introduced you to them."

"Okay." Dorothy nodded, and they walked together toward the Silva dining hall, shoulders brushing, each step feeling a little lighter.

Author's Notes:

[1] Well let's start the Diamond Kingdom arc

[2] Writing misunderstandings are fun

[3] As always feel free to join the Discord: //discord.com/invite/s3MME8X8ar