100 Prompt Challenge - Astelle

Prompt: Nozel wants to do something for Noelle, after being the source of nightmares for his little sister for years. Nozel's thought process is a little weird. 

—

The war was over.

The Spade Kingdom was free, the devils banished, and the scars of battle had begun to heal. Yet for Nozel Silva, one wound refused to close—the damage he had inflicted upon his own sister.

For years, he had pushed Noelle away, burdening her with cruel words and cold indifference. And all for what? A misguided sense of protection? A failure to confront his own grief?

Now, with their mother's curse lifted, as well as his own, he had no excuse.

He should apologize.

But every time the thought crossed his mind, he faltered.

Noelle was stronger now, a force to be reckoned with. She had proven herself, time and time again, in ways that even he couldn't ignore. She no longer needed his approval.

So what right did he have to step into her life now and pretend to be the brother she deserved?

—

The weekly Captain's meeting was usually a tedious affair. Politics, border disputes, knight rankings—it was all background noise to Nozel. But today, something unusual happened.

It started with Dorothy.

The dream mage leaned forward with a sly grin. "So, Nozel, I heard something interesting~"

He barely acknowledged her. "Is this relevant?"

"Oh, I think you'll find it very relevant."

The other captains perked up with interest. Dorothy rarely spoke during these meetings unless she had something mischievous to say.

She continued, "Your dear little sister has been smitten with a certain magicless musclehead for years."

Nozel stiffened.

Fuegoleon, ever the composed royal, cleared his throat. "Dorothy, it is not our place to discuss the personal lives of our subordinates."

Charlotte, clearly interested but pretending not to be, looked away.

Yami snickered. "Oh, this is good. I knew that brat was into him."

Charlotte's expression darkened.

Nozel's fingers twitched against his chair. "This is nonsense."

Dorothy giggled. "Oh, come on, Nozel! Everyone knows Noelle's got a massive crush on Asta. She's just too stubborn to admit it. Or maybe too scared?"

His jaw tightened.

Scared? Of what?

Him?

Nozel found that thought more unbearable than anything else.

Dorothy, noticing his silence, smirked. "Aw, Nozel. If you feel bad about how you treated her, why not do something nice for her?"

Nozel didn't respond.

But later, the idea festered.

What could he do for Noelle?

She wasn't the same girl he had once belittled. She didn't need protection or training.

But if there was one thing a noble could provide, it was a future.

A future with someone worthy of her.

And so, with all the grace of a socially inept nobleman, Nozel came to a single, catastrophically ill-advised conclusion.

He would arrange her engagement.

—

The next day, the kingdom held a ceremony honoring the heroes of the Spade War. Nobles, knights, and citizens alike gathered in the grand hall of the Clover Kingdom's palace.

Asta stood alongside Noelle, grinning as King Augustus made a big show of taking credit for the knights' achievements.

Noelle, dressed in her best noble attire, sighed. "This is pointless."

"At least there's food," Asta said cheerfully.

Then, without warning, Nozel stepped forward.

"I have an announcement."

The room fell silent.

Noelle blinked. "Huh?"

Nozel's gaze swept across the hall, his voice carrying over the crowd. "As head of House Silva, I have decided upon an arrangement that will ensure the continued strength of our family and honor a deserving warrior."

He turned toward Noelle.

"Effective immediately, my sister Noelle Silva is engaged to Asta of the Black Bulls."

Silence.

Noelle's brain short-circuited.

Asta blinked. "Wait. What?"

The crowd murmured.

"Engaged?"

"Did I hear that right?"

"The Silva princess and the magicless peasant?!"

Noelle felt lightheaded. "Nozel… what… what did you just—"

Asta, meanwhile, was processing. Slowly.

Then, it hit him.

Noelle. His friend. His battle partner. His—wait, fiancée?

The idea lodged itself in his brain.

And for some reason—

He didn't hate it.

No, actually—

He liked it.

—

"Nozel, you absolute—WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?!"

Noelle stormed into House Silva's estate, her face red with fury. Asta trailed behind her, arms crossed, deep in thought.

Nozel, completely unfazed, sipped his tea. "I was ensuring your future."

"My future?! By marrying me off like some—some political pawn?!"

Nozel set down his cup. "It is hardly political. You care for Asta, do you not?"

Noelle sputtered. "Th-That's not—"

He tilted his head. "You hesitated."

"I—!"

Asta, meanwhile, finally spoke.

"…Noelle?"

She turned to him, expecting him to be outraged.

Instead, he looked thoughtful.

"…You know," he said, rubbing his chin, "this actually isn't a bad idea."

Noelle's stomach dropped. "What."

Asta shrugged. "I mean, think about it! Nozel's super picky about, like, everything, right? So if he thinks I'm good enough to marry you, that's kind of a big deal."

Noelle stared at him.

Was he seriously rolling with this?!

Asta continued, "Plus, we already fight together all the time, and I think we make a great team. And you're amazing, Noelle! You're strong, smart, and kinda scary sometimes, but in a cool way! So, yeah. Why not?"

Noelle's entire world was unraveling.

"I—WHAT—THAT'S—"

Asta grinned. "We should start planning the wedding!"

Noelle opened her mouth. Closed it.

Then turned and bolted out of the room.

—

No matter how much Noelle protested, nothing changed.

Asta was fully on board. He had convinced himself that this was a fantastic idea, and no amount of screaming, yelling, or water magic could deter him.

Worse?

The kingdom loved it.

The commoners adored Asta for rising so high. The nobles were scandalized, but the young generation saw it as a revolution—proof that birthright meant nothing in the face of true strength.

Even the Black Bulls took it upon themselves to start preparing.

Vanessa: "We're throwing the wildest bachelor party for Asta!"

Finral: "I—I can't believe I'm saying this, but Asta's getting married before me."

Luck: "Can I fight everyone at the wedding?"

Noelle, meanwhile, lay facedown on her bed.

"…This isn't happening."

Charmy, sitting beside her, giggled. "It is happening."

Noelle groaned.

—

As the months passed, something changed.

Noelle began to realize that Asta wasn't just going along with it.

He was excited.

He threw himself into planning, choosing flowers, deciding on a venue—he even started wearing noble-appropriate suits.

One night, under the stars, Noelle sighed. "You're really happy about this, aren't you?"

Asta grinned. "Of course! I get to marry you."

Her face burned.

Then, softly—

"…You really mean that?"

Asta's smile softened. "I do."

And just like that—

Noelle stopped fighting it.

She still grumbled. She still denied her feelings.

But when the wedding day came—when she stood at the altar and saw Asta beaming at her—

She knew.

She had lost the battle.

But she had won something far, far greater.