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“The Beach?”
Looking at the six incredulous people in front of her, Vanessa didn’t know if she should laugh or roll her eyes at their reaction. Maybe both. Asta, Noelle, Zora, Nebra, Solid and Rosette glanced at her as if she just suggested to them to go train with Mereoleona Vermillion. As if spending three days at the beach would be just as frightening.
“Yes, the beach, all eight of us, as a family! Wouldn’t that be great?”
“I… guess so…” Solid replied, unsure. “But… really, all eight of us?”
“Why not? It would be the first time all of us would have a vacation together. As a family! Come on, please? I never got this before.”
“But Vanessa, you got this with the Black Bulls before, we went to the beach twice, remember?” Noelle replied sternly, but immediately shut up as Vanessa started to pout. She knew that a pouting Vanessa, especially with puppy eyes, made any discussions more difficult.
“But we only got there because we had a mission or because we needed to train! As great as it was, it wasn’t like a complete family vacation! And I want a family trip at the beach that is just that, just to hang out and be together, without any work as Magic Knights, without any duties or mission, without any training, just a normal family vacation. As normal as we can be as Silvas, Black Bulls and one noble, but you get the point.”
“Wait… So training, missions and workout are not normal for a vacation?”
“I think Astas worldview just fell into pieces,” Rosette said with a sympathetic giggle. Vanessa looked at Solids betrothed. Out of all six, she was the one who seemed the less shocked about her suggestion. Maybe she could get her on board easily? With Nozel and Rosette supporting her idea, the others had no room left to protest.
“What do you think, pearly? Wouldn’t you love to go to the beach?”
“Hm… Actually, why not? It comes a bit out of the blue. But I never went to the beach before, because… well, you know, my mother was convinced that it wasn’t good for my poor health. It certainly would be a nice experience. Even more so if it’s a family vacation, I never got those before.”
“See, you guys? Rosette NEVER got any of this before, reason more to go! Come on, Solid, cutie? You can’t refuse this to your betrothed!”
“I guess not…” Solid muttered.
“Really, so we’re doing this for a noble? Who do you take me for, a butler?”
“Of course not, Zor, and it’s Rosette! She was never mean to you!”
“Yeah, Ro is more than okay for a noble and this is probably the ONLY reason why I consider doing it, wino!”
“Zora, I would highly appreciate that you don’t call my girlfriend like that in my presence,” Nozel immediately replied. During the whole ordeal, he stood behind Vanessa, arms crossed, waiting for the outcome.
Noelle immediately looked at her oldest brother, like she was hoping he would have enough influence on Vanessa to make her stop.
“Brother, you’re the head of our family, what do you think?”
“Vanessa already asked me some time ago and she was very insistent. She also had very good arguments, so I accepted.”
“Brother!”
“Well, do we have a choice then?” Nebra pouted. “Vanessa never gives up when she want’s something and it is difficult to come up with arguments when Nozel is supporting her. Now it’s even impossible, since Rosette is on board too.”
“Come on, we all need to have a few days of,” Vanessa continued. “Rosette never got a family vacation before and never went to the Beach. Asta has been working out and training nonstop since so many weeks. Noelle, you’ve been on edge since you finally made your entrance in noble circles, you need to relax. Solid needs more lessons in family bonding time and a vacation is the perfect opportunity for that. Nebra, you have been dealing with nobles and you played the diplomat for weeks for the sake of our romantic lives, you deserve a treat. Zora… Oh, don’t look at me like that, we all know that you need to learn how vacations work outside of pranking others and brooding in your corner. Nozel has been overwork with captain duties and the Silver Eagles lately, he NEEDS a proper vacation.”
“Really, overworking with captain duties? Is that possible?” Asta asked with genuine surprise. “I never seen captain Yami ever overwork before.”
“Well that’s because he is too laidback and admit it, lazy,” Noelle replied, flicking her hair in her favourite gesture. “If it weren’t for vice-captain Nacht, captain Yami would probably never do anything.”
“What, really?”
“I can vouch for that, pipsqueak.”
“And I can only confirm what Noelle and Zora said. You know how many times I heard Finral complain because captain Yami delegated ALL the paperwork onto him? Okay, I was most of the time too drunk to help him, but you get the picture. Nozels problem is quite the opposite, heck why I insisted that he finally get some vacation.”
“And what is your reason, witch, um, Vanessa?” Solid asked in a pout. He was told many times to call Vanessa, Zora and Asta by their names, but only slowly started to do so since Rosette asked him for it.
“Oh, I just want a family vacation, this can’t be too much to ask for, right? And you Silvas really need some more family time. Please, it’s really not much to ask for.”
“Oh no, not the puppy dog eyes,” Nebra complained. “If we don’t give in now, Vanessa will cry and Nozel will act as if we all killed the entire family.”
An exaggeration of course, but not a big one.
“Okay, we’re doing it,” Rosette declared, before it escalated. “I don’t think it’s going to be a problem for me to have three days free. But I’m also not a Magic Knight. So, what about you seven?”
“I’ve already took the days off for Nebra, Solid and me for the Silver Eagles. Three days, plus the fourth when we’ll go home. As for our Black Bulls… I admit that it wasn’t easy to discuss with Yami. I haven’t quite understood the reasons why he refused to give you four some days off. But he complied after I talked with Charlotte and she… somehow persuaded him. Don’t ask me how, I’d rather not talk about this interaction.”
Given his tone, it must have been a heavy interaction.
“Well, that’s settles it then!” Vanessa exclaimed, not leaving anyone more room to protest. “We’ll be going in one week to Raque, the Silvas have a villa there, so we won’t need to pay for a hotel!”
“Those fucking royals have another residence than the damn palace?”
“Shut up, Zora. Plus, we might need some new beach things before we go. Noelle, Nebra, Rosette, the four of us are going to have some swimsuit shopping. A girls outing, wouldn’t that be nice?”
“But we already have swimsuits and you even more than anyone!”
“Details, Noelle cutie, details.”
If there was something the Silvas and their respective partners ever learned, it was that no one could say no a witch and live to tell the tale.
♣♣♣
“So, which one should I wear, the seashell one or the fake-lace one?” Vanessa asked, holding the two bikinis in front of her.
“Neither, they barely cover you and don’t even leave room for imagination!” Noelle yelled, while taking a cushion from the couch and hiding her face behind it.
“As much as I appreciate the fashion sense of each, I would prefer if you only wear those only when you’re alone with my brother and please, only in your bedroom, not in public,” Nebra casually answered, more focused on choosing her own bikini for today than on Vanessas barely covering options.
Rosette just hummed, while adjusting her new strawhat on her head. It was coloured in an elegant bright pearly grey, decorated with an apple green ribbon and another one in flamingo pink. It had such large borders that it easily covered her whole body with its shadow.
The four girls were now in the little salon of the Silva Villa in Raque – which was located a bit away from the town and directly in front of the beach – and started to get ready for the day. The room was currently full of swimsuits and bikinis in any colour or shape imaginable, most of them coming from last week’s shopping trip.
“Well, there is nothing wrong with showing some skin at the beach,” Vanessa replied, while putting the two bikinis back on the armchair and holding up another one. A dark green one which had the shape of a snake. Literally.
“That one is even worse than the two others, it covers even less!” Noelle screamed while hiding her blushing face again, this time with a yellow bikini. One that was actually pretty familiar…
“Oh, sweetie, I know that one. You had bought that when we Black Bulls went to Raque for the first time!”
“Yeah… But Asta hasn’t noticed it back then. He barely even looked at me…”
“Goodness, you were already madly into Asta back then?”
“Oh, she was, Nebbie love, but she was still in her denial phase. Noelle was in denial for very long, actually.”
“Could you two please stop teasing me about my denial phase? I’m not proud of it, okay, so leave it!”
“What do you think?” Rosette asked before it escalated. She was already ready for the beach. Not only was she wearing her large strawhat, but also one of her new bikinis. Both pieces were in royal blue, with flounces of different lengths. The border of each flounce had a small flamingo pink stripe, fitting with the blue and also with her big hat. The flounces seemed to puff a bit both pieces of Rosettes bikini, like a ballerina dress, which somehow underlined her thin frame.
“Looking good, Rosette,” Nebra commented with an appreciating glance. “I always knew that flounces would look great on you.”
“I agree, your beach outfit is a sight, Ro. And of course, you still had to wear something grey,” Vanessa smiled while pointing at Rosettes large strawhat.
“You know me, it won’t be me with at least something grey. So girls, you better get ready as well, or the boys might go to the beach without us,” Rosette giggled before sitting down on an armchair and putting on some grey flip-flops.
“Our pale rose is right, silver sweeties, time to make the final decision… at least for today,” Vanessa declared solemnly before looking at her bikinis again. “Hm, I think you’re right, Nebbie, the seashell one and the fake-lace one should be a view for Nozel only, the snake one too. If I wear those today, Zora would snicker again, plus Solid and Asta are still too innocent, especially Asta. Hm, how about this burgundy one? It covers more.”
“No it doesn’t, it is translucid!”
“True, Noelle, thank you. So, this one is also for Nozel only. Hm, how about the emerald green one? It goes well with my hair colour and it is quite exotic with those braided strings which goes slightly around the waist, as well as those three flounces on the side. Oh, or this pale pink one? Simple, but covering the quite necessary while still leaving enough for the imagination. Or maybe the teal one?”
“Vanessa, if you continue like this, you’re going to spent all three beach days choosing for one bikini to wear. And I don’t think my dear older brother wants to spent his first holidays since long waiting for you. As for me, I take the black one for today,” Nebra said while holding her definite choice in front of her with satisfaction.
It was black bikini with a very deep straight neckline, rose pink braided straps and also a rose pink braided belt at the bottom piece. Nebra then put on a black braided ankle bracelet above her left foot, covered with little seashells and a Silva cross, adding rose pink flip-flops as a final touch.
Meanwhile, Rosette joined Noelle to help her choose her swimsuit for today. After some discussions, they opted for a green one, which had a similar shape to Noelles yellow bikini. This one had three different shades of green – jade, pine and seafoam – that seemed to melt together like ink in water. Rosette also gave Noelle some black beach sandals, for which she won’t be worried to get them ruined.
Vanessa of course took the longest to choose, but in the end she opted for a lavender purple bikini with only one strap and added to the left of the bottom piece, a translucid shawl of the same colour, descending down to her knees. It underlined her forms perfectly. She wore dark lavender flip-flops to it. Now, all four girls were ready.
“Holly, Dolly, please clean up all of this and put them back into our chambers. After that, go enjoy your day off in Raque, I’ll see this evening for dinner.”
Rosettes maids – identical twins with lovely red curls, many freckles and chocolate brown eyes – bowed before getting all the remaining bikinis out of the little salon, while giggling and chatting with familiarity.
“You are all so lucky, your men are looking so great today.”
“I would even say hot, but this is way too bold.”
“You are so lucky, lady Vanessa, lord Nozel has some well-defined muscles, a dream, no wonder you fell for him.”
“Lord Asta is amazingly buff, he just needs to be a bit bigger.”
“Oh, Holly, this was mean.”
“Dolly, I didn’t meant it that way, but it’s true. Lord Solid and lord Zora are very good-looking too.”
“So true! Ah, we really shouldn’t focus on one type of gorgeous men when there are so many options.”
“Exactly, why only choosing on buff men over beanpoles when you can have both?”
“That’s enough, you two,” Rosette interrupted, rolling her eyes. She was used to her maids familiarity and antics since years, she was also the only one who could tell them apart. The Silva villa in Raque was of course not as big as the Silva Palace, so it had less household, one housekeeper, two cooks and two servants to clean. All have known Acier and were thrilled to see her children return to this villa, along with their partners. Holly and Dolly only came on the trip because Rosette was fond of them and because they became some of the servants the Silvas could fully trust.
After the twin maids disappeared, Nebra clapped her hands. “Well, since we all are finally dressed up, what are we waiting for?”
Their boyfriends – or fiancé in Rosettes case – were all waiting for them on the veranda. Nozel had his arms crossed, looking at the sea that was just a few meters away from the villa. He wore night blue swim trunks, flip-flops of the same colour and pale blue open shirt. His eternal braid shined in the sun.
Zora leaned against the wall next to the door with an annoyed grin. His trunks were dark grey, almost black, with some beach sandals that had certainly seen better days and he still wear his eternal mask.
Solid was almost on the small path towards the beach, with two floaties in his arms. One that looked like a pink donut, the second one had the shape of a fat flamingo. He wore bright teal swim trunks with small red borders and red flip-flops, colour choices that made Nebra slightly frown.
Asta stood next to Nozel, a big and happy smile on his face. His swim trunks were black with two big orange stripes at the bottom and he had flip-flops made out of straw at his feet. It didn’t look comfortable, but Asta only bought them because he thought that they were cool. He had two enormous baskets in each arm, courtesies of Charmy for their first picnic at the beach.
“Ah, the ladies are finally here,” Zora welcomed them with a snicker. “Did you really bought so many swimsuits that it took you this long to choose?”
Nebra gave him an affectionate deadly glare while Vanessa just shrugged. “This part is one of the joy of beach days, Zor. Oh, honey, you look so good in your beach outfit!”
Nozel blushed slightly, but still smiled softly, to Vanessas greatest delight.
“Woah, Noelle, you look very good in that bikini! Is that a new one?”
“Really, Asta? You noticed it this time, but not the first time?”
“Huh? What do you mean, Noelle?”
“Nothing, nothing at all!”
“Can we go now?” Solid pouted after he was ogling at Rosette for a few seconds.
Nozel nodded, which was the signal. All eight of them went to the beach that faced the Silva villa. To Vanessas insistence, Nozel didn’t reserved the beach, but it was still empty, as the rest of the people of Raque were actually at the part of the Beach that was right at the city. Still nearby, though, as they could see those beach visitors quite well from where they were standing.
Nebra immediately went to the lounge with the parasols and the chaise-longue’s, took one of her fashion magazines out of her bag as well as one pair of sun glasses, sat down on the best chaise-longue in her mind and started to read.
“Don’t want to swim yet, Nebra?” Rosette asked, while getting the sunscreen out of one of the baskets Asta was holding.
“Hm, no… I’m royalty, I don’t need to swim. Although… maybe I will go near the water later today? Just to see Zora swim, that is. Give me the sunscreen when you’re finished.”
“I will swim only if you will, Little Miss Royal.”
“Try me, peasant.”
“Is that a challenge. Oh, I will remember that.”
“Yeah, don’t hope too much. And for fuck’s sake, put some sun protection on, red only suits you with the hair, not with the skin.”
Zora groaned, but didn’t replied anything about the sunscreen argument. As a ginger, he easily went red in the sun without proper protection. In fact, with the exception of Asta, all of them needed sunscreen.
“Maybe you should put on some too, Asta,” Noelle said while handing her boyfriend the sunscreen bottle. But he just shook his head with a grin.
“Thank you, Noelle, but I don’t need that. My skin is strong and I never got a sunburn once in my life!”
“You almost got one the last time we went to the beach with the Black Bulls, though.”
“But I didn’t!”
“I would suggest that you might still put some protection on, Asta,” Nozel interjected, while he put some sunscreen on Vanessas back. “Just because you have a stronger skin complexion than the rest of us doesn’t mean that you’ll never get sunburned.”
“Thank you for your concern, captain Nozel sir, but don’t worry about me! I will surpass my limits and not getting sunburned!”
“Alright, do as you please. But don’t complain that no one warned you if it happens.”
“It will probably, big brother. Vanessa, have brought some potions with you, in case Asta got a sunburn?”
“Sure thing, sweetie. Speaking of your boyfriend, how are the lessons going?”
“Lessons?” Nozel asked, while turning around and getting is shirt off, so that Vanessa could put some sunscreen on his back.
“Swimming lessons, big brother. Asta still can’t swim. And… well, I can tell you, I have given up very long ago. Teaching him how to swim is like trying to make Kirsch say that he’s ugly or to persuade Luck to not fight ever again. It’s just impossible!”
“That bad, huh?”
“You have no idea, Vanessa. And he will probably tell us that he trained in secret and that I’m overreacting. But since he continues to drown in less than four feet and is so terribly stubborn, I really lost all hope that he’ll learn to swim one day.”
“Less than four feet?” Nozel and Vanessa asked, bewildered by the reveal.
“I know, it is so ridiculous! Even more that it’s true. Maybe you’ll witnessed it today, which I still hope not. I won’t tell you the details. But just so you know, I gave up on giving Asta any swimming lessons. Especially after that incident with the donut and the three black cats. You don’t wanna know! And no, Vanessa, no cats had been drowned!”
Nozel and Vanessa looked at each other, still bewildered. They had no reason to not believe Noelle, but then, how crazy had it been to teach Asta how to swim?
Meanwhile, Rosette went closer to the sea. It was the first time she saw it properly and directly, so it was quite the sight for her. The waves crashing on the sand, going back and coming again, the fabulous blue of the water, the seagulls screaming, that scent of salt and sand in her nose…
Slowly, Rosette got her flip-flops of and put her feet into the water. It wasn’t as cold as she imagined, it was actually warm but not too much, just enough that it still felt refreshing without giving a cold feeling.
Rosette closed her eyes. This was truly one of the best days of her life. It had been the right decision to go live with the Silvas…
“Enjoying yourself?”
“Oh, hey Solid. Did you came to swim?”
“No, I’m not going to swim today. I can, I just don’t want to, that’s all.”
“But since you can swim and since you won’t, why did you brought two floaties with you?”
“Because I could?”
Rosette giggled, this was such a typical answer coming from her fiancé. And it actually gave her an idea. Maybe she was spending a bit too much time with Zora, but it would certainly be fun. Later today.
“Let’s go back, dear betrothed. I think Vanessa brought a frisbee and I always wanted to try that. Care to join me?”
“Sure.”
Solid sounded unbothered, but Rosette could tell that he was excited. Laughing at his adorable behaviour, she took his arm and lead him back to their lounge.
♣♣♣
The picnic Charmy prepared for them was close enough to be a little banquet and just as delicious. She put the favourite food and dishes of each of them in the basket, not forgetting the three Silver Eagles and Rosette. Plus, the lavender syrup she created for the occasion was sweet and refreshing. Since Charmy learned that having lavender in some of their desserts was a tradition for the Silvas since generations, she learned any recipe with lavender she could find and of course, created her own dishes by the occasion.
It was peaceful during the meal, just chatter and laughs, even Nozel seemed very relaxed, he even got his shirt off, to Vanessa delight.
Seeing her betrothed lying lazily on his chaise-longue after the meal, Rosette decided to put her idea into action. Discreetly approaching him and putting her flip-flops and her strawhat aside, she acted as if she wanted to borrow one of Nebras fashion magazines.
Suddenly, she took Solids flamingo floatie and run as fast as she could towards the sea, under the surprised glance of her companions.
“Hey, come back here!” Solid yelled and run after his fiancée. With his other floatie.
“Ha, Ro really has some guts, are you sure she’s a noble after all?”
“Of course she is, she just spend some time with you, after all. This might influence her in a way, peasant.”
“Do you have something to say, Little Miss Royal?”
Leaving Zora and Nebra with one of their flirty arguments, Nozel, Vanessa, Noelle and Asta went after Solid and Rosette.
The betrothed were already knee deep in the water when they arrived. Solid looked down, as if he only realized that he was in the water and forgetting his flamingo floatie for a moment, while Rosette giggled helplessly, happy that she lead him so far.
“You just wanted to get me in the water, didn’t you?” Solid finally said deadpanned.
“Of course, future husband. We’re at the beach, it’s not logic to not go in the water.”
“That is the spirit, Ro!”
“Vanessa…”
“What? But our pale rose is right, honey.”
Nozel was probably about to reply, but never got the chance, as they heard Nebra scream. Just a moment after, they saw Zora running towards the sea, holding Nebra like a potato sack over his shoulders. Before any of them actually could process what was exactly happening, Zora already reached them, went into the water passing Rosette and Solid, before throwing his girlfriend into the waves.
“You will pay for this, peasant!”
“And what will you do to me, your Royal Majesty? Execute me with illusions or- Argh!”
Nebra immediately went back on her feet and jumped on Zora, making them both fall. And before their companions realized what happened, some kind of water battle started between the two, kinda difficult to follow.
“Since when is Nebra acting so unproper for a royal?” Solid asked, completely dumbfounded to see his older sister act that way.
“I guess it is since she started to date Zora, future husband.”
“Should we stop them?”
“Noelle, sweetie, do you have a death wish? Just let them be and enjoy the show?”
“Enjoy?”
“I will stop them.”
“ASTA, NO!”
“Captain Nozel, Vanessa, why are you so worried? Oh, did Noelle told you that I can’t swim? Don’t worry, Noelle is kind to be worried about me, but I promise that she is just overreacting.”
“I’m not overreacting! At least, not on that topic, that is.”
“What I haven’t told Noelle yet, I actually have been training how to swim in secret for long.”
“And how and where, Bakasta?”
“Back in my bedroom, on a chair. Apparently, it works.”
“Apparently?”
Nozel and Vanessa looked at each other, frowning, while Noelle was just done. Solid and Rosette were confused about the conversation, while Nebra and Zora didn’t pay any attention, still focusing on their naval battle. At least, they seemed to call it that way.
“I proved it to you all! See, I just take a few step and…”
Noelle sighed and started to count on her fingers. “Three, two, one.”
“AARGH, HELP ME!”
Under the confused glances of Nozel, Vanessa, Solid and Rosette, Asta was actually genuinely drowning. In four foot deep water. Noelle just snickered. After trying to teach her boyfriend how to swim for so long without any success, of course she realized what was about to happened. She had witnessed it so many times.
But Asta did stop the fight between Zora and Nebra, just not the way he intended to. With his scream, he got their attention and the two angry lovebirds were dumbfounded to see him drowning just in front of them. At a spot where the water wasn’t deep at all.
Zora and Nebra quickly grabbed Astas arms, pulling him out and holding him firmly so that he won’t get drowned again.
“Excuse me if I sound rude, Asta, but how do you manage to drown in only four feet?”
“Yeah, what the fuck?”
“Well, Bakasta, have you learned your lesson?”
“Huh? No, I wasn’t swimming right now…”
“That is not what I meant. So?”
“Oh, that… Really, in front of Vanessa, Zora, Rosette and your siblings?”
“Yes!”
“Okay… When I go into the sea or a lake, never without a floatie until I finally learned completely how to swim and always listen to you or other swimmers.”
Vanessa giggled.
Solid and Rosette looked at each other, then at the floaties which they were still holding. Which were also the only floaties right there.
Rosette then just shrugged and put the flamingo floatie right under Asta. “Here, you can use this one for today.”
“We can go to Raque the next morning and buy a floatie just for you, Bakasta.” Noelles voice was much more softer right now. As much as Asta could get on her nerves sometimes, she still loved him dearly.
Zora and Nebra nodded at each other, before dropping Asta onto the floatie. First he was confused, but then found his usual good mood again. “Hey, it is actually really funny. Solid, you got such a good idea to bring them, thank you!”
“You’re welcome… Wait, did the peasant just complimented me?”
No one answered him, as Asta just started to paddle on the flamingo floatie, laughing when he met a wave. Solid looked at his donut floatie, then at his fiancée, who splashed some water at Zora and Nebra, only to get splashed back immediately. Hm, maybe Rosette wasn’t wrong, maybe it wasn’t a bad idea to go into the water while being at the beach.
Besides, he needed to defend the honour of his betrothed. At least, it was a good excuse.
“Hey, sister, peasant, this calls for revenge!”
“Revenge? Excuse me, Solid, but it was YOUR fiancée who started- Ouch! Okay, you will pay for that!”
“Get your stupid lil’ bro, Little Miss Royal! Hey, Ro, what was that for?”
“You called my fiancé stupid, Zora!”
“Hey, wait for me!” Noelle laughed as she went also into the chaos and splashed the four. Only to get it back four times.
Asta laughed and paddled back at them, just to get splashed by Zora. Not losing his good mood at all, Asta tried to give it back, but somehow got Nebra and Noelle instead, who immediately joined forces to make him pay.
Nozel and Vanessa were now the only ones still not in the water, observing this chaotic naval battle.
“What about us, honey? Should we join them?”
“Do you think we should?”
“Come on, captain eagle, there is nothing wrong with this kind of fun. And it is the golden opportunity for you to bond more with more with your siblings! There’s no better bonding for siblings than fun!”
Without letting him any opportunity to protest, Vanessa took Nozels hand and pulled him into the water, right next where the other six where laughing and splashing. Without losing any time, as she knew that she needed to act fast before Nozel would maybe flee, Vanessa throw some water at her boyfriend.
Nozel seemed to freeze, apparently trying to figure out what was happening. It was so adorable that Vanessa couldn’t help but laugh with affection.
“Oh, handsome, you should see your face, aren’t just the cutest- Huh!”
Nozel actually just gave her the same treatment. He even got a small, smug smile on his face. Smug, him. It was such a rare sight on his face, but Vanessa didn’t mind it. On the contrary, she loved to see different emotions on his face. It made him even more handsome. Especially when he was smiling.
“Oh my, honey. I really should do this more to you, I really adore that side of- Hm!”
Without any warning, Nozel took Vanessa into his arms and pulled into a deep, passionate kiss. His arms were firmly around her, holding her to him as close as possible. Vanessa closed her eyes, giving in to the kiss and putting her arms around his neck, enjoying his lips on hers and his presence.
Both Nozel and Vanessa actually forgot that they weren’t alone in the water, as the chaotic naval battle was still going on around them. They didn’t even noticed when they got splashed or when Asta came against them on his floatie.
It was just a perfect moment.
♣♣♣
“Ouch, Vanessa, this hurts!”
“Hold still, Asta. It will hurt you more if you move around while I’m not finished to put this potion on your sunburn.”
“How did I ever got a sunburn, I was in the water most of the time!”
“Water doesn’t protect from sunburn and you were the only one of us who didn’t put any protection today.”
“Bakasta, tomorrow you will put sunscreen on, understood?”
“Yes, Noelle.”
“Good. I promise that I will pay your new floatie tomorrow, you can also choose which one you want.”
“Thank you, Noelle, you’re the best!”
“Asta, what did I say about moving around?”
“Sorry, Vanessa… OUCH!”
It was early evening, the sun just started to set and they were all on the veranda of the villa, where they would have dinner. Holly and Dolly went back from their free day in Raque, getting everything ready for some barbeque.
Nozel stand at the border, facing the sea but looking over his shoulder, at his family being happy.
Rosette and Solid were already around Holly and Dolly, looking with watery mouths at the meat and vegetables. Nebra and Zora were arguing about knives it seems and from the sounds of it, they seemed to even agree. It wouldn’t be the first time those two would argue about something they were actually agreeing on. Nozel gave up long ago to understand their relationship. Asta, who of course got a sunburn, was sitting on a chair, while Vanessa put some of her potions on his back. Noelle stood right next to them, arms crossed and frowning, but her eyes were still looking the purest affection at her boyfriend.
They still wearing their swimsuits and it didn’t look very royal, but they didn’t seem to mind. Nozel certainly didn’t.
It hadn’t been a bad idea. That all eight of them went on a small vacation together. Without any duties as royals or Magic Knights, without any missions, patrols or trainings. Without any memories about guilt issues, tragic pasts, curses. Just family bonding, affection, fun times and proper rest.
Vanessa had been right. It really do them all good. It did him so good for sure.
Looking over at the sky, Nozel couldn’t help but wonder what his mother would think right now. How it would be if she would have been there, with them today. With her children, with her future sons and daughters-in-law.
Nozel thought so often how it would have been if their mother would have been there. But lately, those thoughts didn’t hurt anymore. It gave him a warm feeling, as if his mother was now sending them her love from the afterlife.
“That is a lovely smile, honey. What is the reason for it.”
“Nothing specific, I’m just happy. Is Astas sunburn taken care of?”
“Yep, it should be settled tomorrow. But we all need to make sure he doesn’t forget to put sunscreen. And that he goes with a floatie in the water. Noelle is repeating it nonstop, especially to him. Aw, isn’t it cute how she is worried about him?”
It was and Nozel was actually proud of his baby sister. Smiling happily, he put one arm around Vanessas waist. She snuggled against him more than necessary.
This was truly perfect.
“Hey, dinner is ready!” Zora called. “You two over-romantic idiots better come here right now, or Ro will eat all of the best food away.”
“Hey, don’t be angry that I got the spare rips you were ogling on. Guys, how about a card game after dinner? Holly and Dolly bought it earlier, apparently it’s new on the market. We could try it and decide if it’s good or not.”
“How is it called and how is it played?” Noelle asked while choosing a big steak for her meal.
“Uno or something like that. It doesn’t seem that difficult. Not worthy of royalty maybe, but the rules doesn’t seem that difficult to understand.”
“Except maybe for the buff pipsqueak with the sunburn.”
“Hey, Zora, I heard that!”
Nozel and Vanessa smiled at each other, before joining the others around the barbeque. Yes, this vacation just started and it was already one of the best ones each one of them ever had.