The False Vice-Commander ~The Forest Witch Blooms in Secret Love~ - Episode 3

It was a night with a white moon floating in the sky. The Moonlight Garden spreading behind the royal castle——was wrapped in a silence as if it were another world entirely. The orange light of the magic lamps softly illuminated the petals of the blooming queen of the night, and a sweet, slightly green, mysterious fragrance drifted through the air. In the distance, the voices of civil officials and craftsmen preparing for the Star Festival could be heard. The sound of hammers, the tearing of cloth, voices shouting instructions. They were carried by the wind and faded, carried and faded again. Noir Elmreef gently straightened the collar of her white blouse and let out a deep breath. Her jet-black long hair swayed softly in the night breeze, its silver gradation glittering in the moonlight. Her indigo-violet eyes were calm as always, seeming to gaze somewhere far away, yet also as if enjoying the scenery right before her. "Hmm. There are more people than I expected." Standing beside her, her escort knight Celes Lindbloom nodded, his short silver hair swaying. His blue eyes were sharp as ever, but tonight, just a little, a soft light seemed to dwell deep within them. "High-level magical power is required to activate the altar's magic circle. Within the castle, the only ones who can handle this much power stably are myself, Lady Noir, and the Court Mage Commander, Lady Griselda." "So that's why the arrow of fate landed on me." "...Was it a bother?" Celes's voice became just a little stiff. He kept facing straight ahead, not looking at Noir. His profile was utterly serious, as if he were delivering a report on an important military operation. Noir tilted her head slightly and peered up at Celes's face from below. "No. In fact, I'm excited. It's been a while since I've been able to be of use to someone like this." Celes caught his breath for a moment, then turned his face away. The tips of his ears, visible through the gaps in his silver hair, were tinged with a faint redness, different from the orange of the magic lamps. "...I see." I see, was all he said. But in that single phrase, it felt as if something he couldn't quite hide was packed tightly. Seeing Celes like that, Noir's lips softened into a smile. (This person, he somehow reminds me of a horned rabbit from the forest.) Wary, yet once he warms up to you, he stares intently. Quiet, but conveys everything through his attitude. That clumsy side of him—— "Well then, shall we begin?" Noir walked towards the center of the garden with light steps. Her black tight skirt fluttered, and her slender, elongated shadow fell upon the polished stone pavement. The altar was an old stone pedestal, placed solitarily in the center of the garden. Complex geometric patterns were carved into its surface, which was the magic circle for the Star Festival. Normally it just looked like a decoration, but apparently, if you poured magic power into it, the entire garden would be enveloped in starlight. Noir stood before the pedestal and held her right hand over it. "Celes, step back a little. The initial activation makes the magic power a bit turbulent." "Understood. I will come out immediately if anything happens." He took two steps back and stopped, his hand resting on the hilt of the sword at his hip. He was in work mode as an escort knight. Noir nodded slightly and quietly closed her eyes. The air trembled with a *whoosh*. From her white fingertips, an indigo light overflowed. It was a beautiful radiance, as if fragments of stars scattered in the night sky had gathered at her fingertips. The moment the magic power touched the magic circle, the lines carved into the pedestal began to glow faintly. A dazzling, indigo light. The patterns of the magic circle increased in brilliance one after another, as if in response, and ripples of light spread throughout the entire garden. A wind was born, and the petals of the queen of the night danced softly in the air. Particles of light like golden dust welled up from all over the garden. "This is... amazing." Celes let his voice slip out involuntarily. The countless small magic lamps installed in the garden had all begun to emit a starry radiance at once. A fantastical sight, as if the Milky Way had been scattered at their feet. The civil officials and craftsmen who had been working also stopped their hands and watched, breathless. Noir kept her eyes closed and stabilized her magic power. A faint sweat appeared on her forehead. Handling a large amount of magic power was indeed draining, it seemed. "Lady Noir, your complexion..." Just as Celes was about to take a step forward. *CRACKLE!!* A corner of the magic circle suddenly scattered unnatural purple sparks. Noir's eyes opened wide. "...This is!" Her voice carried a tone of genuine surprise. Someone had tampered with the magic circle. A separate magic power from the one Noir was pouring in—much smaller, a tiny and insidious magic power—had been secretly embedded in a part of the circle. It was a malicious prank, like deliberately mixing dissonance into beautiful music. Noir grasped the situation in an instant. (This is a malicious trick. But, I can still——deal with it.) Keeping her right hand pressed against the magic circle, she gently opened her left hand. Deep concentration. Her indigo-violet eyes, while maintaining their usual calmness, held a strong light deep within. The magic power overflowing from her fingertips softly changed shape. It took the form of a small, silver-shining butterfly, fluttering through the air. The butterfly alighted gently upon the purple sparks, closed its wings, and enveloped the sparks whole. A moment of silence. And then—— With a faint *crack*, the foreign magic power completely vanished. The magic circle regained its calm indigo light, and the particles of light scattered throughout the garden continued to dance gracefully, as if nothing had happened. Noir let out a small sigh. "...Phew. That was quite a heart-stopping joke." "What was that just now? It looked like the magic circle was about to run wild." Celes immediately rushed over and stood as if supporting her shoulder. His hand trembled slightly, and there was a clear color of anger in his blue eyes. "Someone had tampered with the circle. A little act of sabotage. But it's alright now. I removed it properly." Celes's expression changed. His voice lowered. "Sabotage, you say. Do you have any idea who might do such a thing?" "Hmm. Well, I wonder who it could be. I'm the type who gets envied by people rather quickly, you see." Noir said that smoothly and smiled brightly. That smile was as calm as ever, as if she had already forgotten the trouble just moments ago. "...This is no laughing matter. Someone tried to harm you, Lady Noir." "Yes, but it seems they failed." "Are you telling me to let the culprit get away scot-free?" "Of course, I'm not saying that. It's just that, right now, I want to enjoy this beautiful garden. The search for the culprit can wait. Besides——" Noir gently looked at Celes's hand. He was still holding her shoulder as if to support her. That hand was large, hard, yet trembling somewhere, and felt very desperate. "Because you were by my side, I wasn't scared." Celes's blue eyes opened wide. (This person, truly——) Something swayed heavily within him. It was an emotion completely different from professional loyalty—more personal, more humble, and far more intense. Silently, he released the hand that had been supporting her shoulder. His fingertips, trained to grip a sword, faintly cut through the empty air. "...I merely did what was natural. I am also your escort." Noir tilted her head slightly and looked up at him. "Oh my, then, will you stay by my side from now on, I wonder?" It was a curt reply. "Of course. I will protect you even if it costs me my life." At that moment, deep within Noir's chest, something made a small sound. It wasn't so much a *thump* as a *thud*—a gentle but definite heartbeat. Unable to put it into words properly, she simply smiled. "Thank you, Celes. Then I'm counting on you tonight. And, when work is finished, let's have tea. I want to try a new blend." Celes said nothing, but simply bowed deeply in a knight's salute. His expression as he lowered his face was hidden from everyone, but the tips of his ears, adorned with piercings, were certainly much warmer than before. The light in the garden twinkled gently, endlessly. The sweet scent of the queen of the night, and the particles of light like star dust. The sounds of the Star Festival preparations heard in the distance. And between the two of them, a quiet, yet definitely warm atmosphere flowed. Noir looked up and gazed at the star-filled sky. "Hmm. The stars are so beautiful." At her words, Celes also looked up at the same sky. "...Ah, truly." He started to speak, then closed his mouth. (Rather than the stars, watching you is far more beautiful——I've just realized that I almost said that.) He wouldn't say such a thing even if his mouth were torn apart. So he just stood silently beside her. In the Moonlight Garden, the night quietly deepened. The preparations for the Star Festival would continue tomorrow. Thinking about the culprit could wait until tomorrow. For now, he just wished this peaceful time could last forever——Celes thought so from the bottom of his heart. As if suddenly remembering, Noir took a small vial from her skirt pocket. "Oh, right. I'll give this to you." "What is this?" "A magic recovery potion. I got a little tired from that interference earlier, so I'll take one myself, but one is for you. I want you to have it, just in case something happens." Celes stared at the small vial handed to him. A deep blue liquid swayed gently inside the bottle. Noir must have concocted it in the forest. "Such a precious thing..." "If you collapse, who will protect me? So, this is insurance. Hmm, rational, isn't it?" Saying that, she smiled mischievously. Unable to say anything, Celes just gripped the small vial tightly. The cold sensation of the glass only emphasized the heat in his chest. "...I will definitely use it with care." "Yes. Very good." The moonlight softly illuminated her profile as she nodded, satisfied. The magical light scattered on the garden floor was just like stardust. Stepping on those particles of light, the two quietly began to walk back towards the castle. After walking in silence for a while, Celes spoke. "Lady Noir." "Yes?" "I... want to continue being your escort. I have already obtained His Highness's permission. Therefore, I would like to receive the formal appointment from you as well." Noir stopped walking. Her indigo-violet eyes stared straight at Celes. For a while. "Hmm. In other words, you want to be my exclusive escort?" "...That is what it means. Please refuse if you dislike it." "I don't dislike it. Rather, I'm very happy." Noir smiled and softly held out her right hand. Accepting it, Celes knelt on one knee. Then he gently took the offered hand and kissed her fingertips. Her hand was much smaller and slender than he had imagined, but it was warm. A warmth with a core, never weak. "Once again, I look forward to working with you, Celes. My escort knight." "...It is an honor, Lady Noir." Saying that, Celes's lips softened into a faint smile. It was the first time since coming to this castle——that he had clearly smiled. Seeing that, Noir felt a gentle warmth spreading deep within her chest for some reason. (Ah, I see.) (When this person smiles, I become very happy.) She still couldn't put a name to that emotion, but she somehow understood that it was something very precious. Under the starlight, their two shadows stretched out quietly, side by side. They would likely come to the Moonlight Garden again tomorrow. The purpose was the Star Festival preparations. But surely, that wasn't all. Having stood up, Celes still hadn'

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Episode 3

Name: The False Vice-Commander ~The Forest Witch Blooms in Secret Love~
Author: Novelia

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