The soft warmth of morning filtered through the thin curtains, the golden light stretching across the small guest room the orphanage had prepared for them. Dust motes drifted lazily in the sunbeams, untouched by the usual tension of Noel's mornings.

Noel blinked awake slowly.

There was warmth against his chest.

Charlotte's warmth.

Her breathing was soft, calm… steady. Her arms were loosely wrapped around him, her forehead resting just below his collarbone, pink hair scattered messily over the pillow they shared.

Noel didn't move at first.

Not because he was embarrassed — he was long past that stage — but because seeing Charlotte sleep so peacefully, so openly leaning on him, always did something to him.

'She looks so relaxed…' he thought, surprised and relieved in equal measure.

A ripple of shadow curled at the edge of the mattress.

Noir emerged from beneath the bed, stretching with a tiny yawn before hopping up onto Noel's side.

She stared at the scene with amused judgment.

'You slept well,' she observed. 'That's suspicious. You don't sleep well unless someone is glued to you.'

Noel sighed. "Good morning to you too."

Charlotte stirred at the sound of his voice.

Her fingers tightened briefly around his shirt. Then she blinked her eyes open — golden, still hazy with sleep — and looked up at him.

"…Good morning, Noel…" she murmured softly into his chest.

Noel froze.

Charlotte realized what she had just said, in what position she was… and her face instantly turned pink.

"I—I mean— we should… w–wake up," she stammered, trying to sit up but failing because Noel's arm was still around her waist.

Noel blinked. "…You're the one holding me."

Charlotte looked down.

She was.

Her face went even redder. "O–oh…"

Noir snickered. 'Cute.'

Noel brushed a strand of hair behind Charlotte's ear, his voice softer. "Morning."

She managed a shy, warm smile. "Morning…"

For a few quiet seconds, they stayed like that — sharing warmth, listening to the faint laughter of children drifting through the courtyard outside. A peace neither of them had felt in a very long time settled between them.

Then—

BANG-BANG-BANG.

"NOEL!! CHARLOTTE!! ARE YOU AWAKE YET!?"

Both froze.

Charlotte buried her face into Noel's chest. "Already…?"

Noel sighed. "Probably since sunrise."

Noir padded toward the door. 'Should I hiss to establish dominance?'

"No," both Noel and Charlotte replied instantly.

Noir grumbled.

Charlotte reluctantly untangled herself from Noel, brushing her hair back while trying — and failing — to hide her blush. Noel sat up beside her, pulling his shirt on while Noir sat smugly at the edge of the bed.

Charlotte opened the door—

And half a dozen kids almost fell face-first into the room.

"YOU'RE AWAKE!!"

"CAN YOU PLAY WITH US BEFORE BREAKFAST?!"

"NOEL, CAN YOU SHOW US MAGIC AGAIN?!"

Noel just stared.

Charlotte giggled softly.

And just like that…

The morning officially began.

The moment Charlotte opened the door fully, the hallway exploded with childish excitement.

"CHARLOTTE!!"

"NOEL!!"

"NOIRRR!!"

Three kids immediately clung to Charlotte, one hugged her leg, another tried to climb her like a tree. She laughed — bright and warm — the kind of laugh that instantly softened everyone in the room.

"Okay, okay, one at a time!" she said cheerfully, ruffling their hair. "We just woke up, give us a second to breathe."

"But breakfast is ready!" a girl announced proudly, pointing down the stairs like a commander leading troops.

Noel raised a brow. "You want us to eat before you kidnap us to play?"

"Yes," three voices answered at the same time.

Charlotte covered her mouth with a smile. "They're very… organized."

Noel muttered, "Organized chaos."

Noir hopped onto his shoulder. 'They are efficient minions. I approve.'

"NOIR CAN TALK!"

"NO, SHE'S JUST MAKING SOUNDS—"

"NO, SHE TALKS TO NOEL!"

"NOEL WHAT DOES SHE SAY?!"

Noel pinched the bridge of his nose. "She says you're all adorable. And dangerous."

The children gasped with pride.

They practically dragged them down the wooden stairs and into the dining hall. The room was already alive with laughter — small hands passing plates around, the scent of warm bread and sweet porridge filling the air.

Charlotte instantly stepped into "big sister mode."

She tied the apron offered to her with a bright smile. "Who wants more fruit on their plate?"

"ME!"

"ME TOO!"

"CHARLOTTE PUT EXTRA ON MINE!"

"HEY THAT'S NOT FAIR—"

She giggled as she made rounds, adding fruit, fixing collars, wiping crumbs from small cheeks. She fit here so effortlessly it almost felt like the world had always intended this moment.

Noel sat beside a pair of boys, trying to eat… and failing miserably.

One leaned in way too close.

"Is it true you fought a giant monster?"

Noel blinked. "Uh— yeah. Sort of."

Another boy tugged on his sleeve. "Did you save a princess too?!"

"No, I—"

A third kid climbed onto the bench next to him. "Is it true you can blow up a house with fire magic?!"

Noel choked on air. "W-what?! Who told you—?!"

"Charlotte said so!"

"So heroes explode things!"

"Promise you won't explode the orphanage, Noel!"

Charlotte turned just in time to see Noel struggling.

She covered her mouth trying not to laugh.

"Kids," she called playfully, "let him breathe a little!"

"NOOO!" they protested. "He's COOL!"

One little girl leaned across the table, cupping her cheeks dramatically.

"Noel is like a knight from the storybooks!"

"…I am not."

"Yes you are!"

"You have a sword!"

"And scars!"

"And four girlfriends!"

Noel froze.

The room fell silent.

Charlotte whipped her head around, face now bright red. Noir almost fell off Noel's shoulder laughing telepathically.

The boy who said it shrugged innocently.

"My big brother said cool guys always have lots of girlfriends. I want to be like Noel!"

Noel coughed so violently he almost died, slamming a hand on the table as his face turned red.

Charlotte covered her entire face with both hands, torn between shock and laughter.

A caretaker from across the room shouted, horrified,

"WHO TOLD YOU THAT?!"

"My brother!" the kid replied proudly. "He said Noel's super powerful so it makes sense!"

Noel buried his face in his arms. "I want to go home."

Charlotte, still laughing softly, walked over and patted his back in circles.

"It's okay," she whispered teasingly. "They admire you… for many reasons."

He groaned into the table.

The children burst into giggles.

Noir whispered smugly in his mind: 'You are influential, Dad. Very.'

"Shut up," Noel muttered.

Charlotte beamed, her laughter soft and bright, filling the room with warmth.

It was messy. Loud. Chaotic.

Breakfast had barely ended when the children swarmed Noel like a pack of energized puppies.

"Come outside!!"

"Show us magic!!"

"PLEASE!! Just a little!!"

"Noel you promised yesterday!"

"You said next time!"

"I never said—" Noel tried to defend himself.

But it was too late.

Four kids pushed him by the back. Two pulled his arms. One tried to lift Noir—who hissed telepathically. And Charlotte walked behind them laughing warmly, covering her mouth with both hands.

"You really are popular," she teased.

"No—I'm being kidnapped!"

"And they adore you," she corrected sweetly.

They dragged him into the courtyard like a heroic sacrifice.

Noir hopped onto a nearby bench, tail flicking. 'Entertain them, Dad. Or I will.'

"That's not a threat I need right now."

The children formed a perfect circle around him, eyes wide, legs bouncing with excitement.

"SHOW US THE COOLEST ONE!"

"No! The fire one!"

"No! The ice one!"

"Noel do the one that goes BOOM!"

"NO!" Charlotte shouted instantly. "No big explosions!"

Noel lifted his hands in surrender. "Okay, okay. I'll show a few—small ones. Very small. Don't copy them, don't jump in front of them, don't try them at home—"

"YESSSS!!"

A wave of cheering nearly deafened him.

Noel breathed out slowly.

"Alright… let's start simple."

He raised his hand and whispered:

"Fire Arc."

A thin, harmless ribbon of flame curved out from his palm, swirling like a glowing ribbon before fading into warm sparks. The kids gasped so loudly Noel thought he ruptured eardrums.

"DO IT AGAIN!"

"IT MADE A LOOP!"

"MAKE IT BIGGER!"

"NO!" Charlotte repeated, now as the responsible adult.

Noel laughed lightly.

He pointed upward.

"Glacialis."

A tiny shard of blue light spun into the air and burst into shimmering flakes, falling gently like soft magical snow.

The kids screamed.

"WOWWWWW!!!"

"IT'S SNOW!!"

"MAGIC SNOW!!"

"I WANT IT FOR MY ROOM!!"

A little girl stuck out her tongue trying to catch the flakes.

Charlotte giggled. "She's going to freeze her tongue."

Noel shook his head affectionately. "They're harmless. It's almost just cold mana."

One kid tugged his sleeve. "Can you do a lightning one?! A zappy one! A really fast one!!"

Noel scratched his cheek. "Only… a very small version."

He lifted one finger.

"Voltage Needle."

A short spark snapped outward—just a flicker of blue-white light with a sharp crack. Enough to impress. Not enough to hurt even a bug.

The kids jumped like they had witnessed the birth of a new world.

"THAT WAS SO COOL!!"

"IT WENT ZAP!"

"CAN YOU ZAP ME—"

"NO," Noel and Charlotte said instantly.

"Last one," Noel warned. "Then no more."

"Awwwww—"

"Frost Wall."

A small, gleaming barrier of ice rose from the ground, perfectly smooth like crystal glass, tall enough for the smallest kids to hide behind.

They ran behind it instantly.

"WE'RE HIDING!!"

"NOEL CAN'T FIND US!!"

"HE DOESN'T KNOW WHERE WE ARE!"

Noel stared directly at them through the transparent wall.

"…Yes I do."

They froze.

One kid whispered loudly: "He's too smart…!"

Charlotte burst into laughter, holding her stomach.

Noel lowered his hands, breath steady.

"That's enough magic for today."

"Awwwwww!!"

But their disappointment lasted two seconds, because now they had something even better to do:

play with him.

They tackled him, dragging him toward a corner of the courtyard.

"Come play tag!!"

"Be the monster!"

"Noel chase us!!"

He stumbled forward with a helpless sigh. "Charlotte—help—!"

Charlotte stood nearby, smiling bright and soft, her joy genuine.

"You'll be fine," she laughed. "Go on, hero."

Noir snorted. 'I'll judge from here.'

The courtyard was alive.

Children ran in circles, screaming with laughter as Noel chased them with exaggerated monster noises.

"RAAAWR—!"

"HE'S BEHIND US!"

"RUN!!"

"Nooooel no eat meeee—!"

He slowed down on purpose every few seconds, letting the smallest ones "escape," then lunged forward just enough to make them shriek again.

Charlotte watched from under the shade of a flowering tree, hands clasped behind her back, golden eyes shimmering with warmth.

The sight softened something deep inside her.

Noel — the boy who carried guilt, fear, scars, and a world's worth of burdens — was… smiling. Truly smiling. Freely. The weight that usually dragged his shoulders down seemed absent.

He lifted one of the younger kids onto his shoulders, spinning him around while the others cheered.

Charlotte felt her heart bloom quietly.

'He always looks so tired… but with them, he looks alive.'

Two little girls approached her, one tugging at her sleeve with innocent boldness.

"Charlotte…"

"Mm?" she asked, kneeling to their level with a soft smile.

"Do you like Noel?"

Charlotte's smile blossomed without hesitation — bright, honest, and full of quiet joy.

"Yes," she said simply. "Very much."

The girls gasped, stepping even closer.

"Are you gonna marry him?"

Charlotte giggled softly, covering her mouth with one hand.

"Maybe one day," she answered playfully. "But that's a secret, okay?"

Both girls squealed and ran off giggling, leaving Charlotte smiling to herself — not flustered, just genuinely happy.

When she looked back at the courtyard, Noel was spinning a child around, laughter ringing through the air. He really did fit here, even if he didn't see it.

But then—

The atmosphere shifted.

Footsteps. A quiet murmur spreading through the grounds.

A caretaker hurried into the courtyard, breathless.

"Saint Charlotte! Sir Noel! Orthran… has returned!"

Noel stopped mid-step.

Charlotte's eyes widened with soft, trembling hope.

She took one step forward—

then another—

and then she began to run.

The old wooden gates creaked open.

Cleric-guards entered first, forming a path.

And in the center…

A tall, robed man with silver hair tied neatly back, deep wrinkles on his face — not from age, but from worry — and eyes that softened the moment they landed on her.

Charlotte's breath escaped in a whisper.

"…Grandpa?"

Orthran smiled — a small, relieved, breaking smile after days of exhaustion.

"Charlotte…"

She didn't slow.

She jumped straight into his arms, throwing her arms around his neck.

Orthran staggered back a step from the force of her hug, then let out a breathless laugh as he wrapped both arms around her tightly.

"My little girl…" he whispered, voice cracking. "I've missed you more than you know."

Charlotte buried her face against his shoulder, eyes glistening. "You're safe… you're really safe…"

Noel watched from a few paces away — the tiniest smile forming as the children gathered around them in awe.

Orthran stroked Charlotte's hair once more before lifting his gaze.

His eyes found Noel.

He gently placed Charlotte down, one hand still resting protectively on her back as he stepped toward Noel.

Then Orthran extended a hand.

"Noel Thorne."

Noel approached respectfully. Orthran placed his hand on Noel's shoulder — firm, warm, sincere.

"Thank you," Orthran said softly. "For staying by her side… for protecting her, you kept your promise."

Noel shook his head lightly. "I didn't do anything extraordinary. I just stayed close."

Charlotte nudged him with her elbow, smiling brightly. "He did much more than that."

Orthran chuckled — a tired but heartfelt sound.

"You have my trust," he told Noel, eyes steady. "From this moment onward… completely."

Orthran glanced at the children gathered around them, a tired but gentle smile forming on his face.

"Well…" he said softly, "now it's my turn to kidnap these two for myself."

The children burst into giggles.

Orthran lifted his hands slightly in a playful gesture of surrender.

"Thank you for giving them such a warm welcome, little ones. I'll return them to you soon."

A couple of kids shouted:

"Don't keep them too long!"

"Bring them back before lunch!"

Charlotte laughed, bright and sweet. Noel sighed in quiet resignation. And Orthran, affection clear in his eyes, motioned for both of them to follow.

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