Black Rose

Welcome Back!

There was a huge commotion when they got to the Wizard King's. Julius met them immediately with a big smile on his face. He looked like a sixteen year old now but he's actually forty-five and he still acts like he's six.
"I had a banquet prepared for you, go and enjoy yourselves while Yami and I catch up. We won't be long." Julius told the rest of the Bulls. He turned to Marx, "Take them to the ballroom."
"Yes, Julius-sama."
As soon as the doors closed, Julius asked to be briefed about their journey and all the discoveries they made about curses and devils.
In the first few months of their mission, they stayed contact regularly but as the months went on, they steadily lost contact. Yami told his mentor all about their journey. He held nothing back. If anything, he believed in Julius Novachrono's judgement.
"We managed to stop the devil Megicula but other devils will keep on trying. Something's also bothering me. Before he was killed, Megicula mentioned about another cursed child in Clover Kingdom that will bring disaster or something."
The Wizard King fell silent. He looked awfully somber when he finally spoke. "Aside from Acier Silva, who in Clover Kingdom is or was afflicted by a curse?"
"We have Henry, but he cannot leave the Black Bulls hideout without Nero's sealing magic so we can take care of him."
"The problem is the other one.."
Yami didn't even have to think for a second. Julius wasn't asking, he was confirming. "You can't mean... But the curse was lifted twelve years ago."
"Yes, but the one who cast the curse is still out there and without a doubt, left his mark on her. A curse of that scale isn't natural, it's an ancient curse. In some cases, unless the caster is defeated, the curse doesn't really go away."
Yami clucked his tongue. "That surly princess is troublesome even just by breathing."
Instead of agreeing with him, Julius smiled at his protègè with warmth in his eyes. "You say that but do you know? You looked worried. And you never look worried."
Yami snorted. "That woman will have my head in platter any day. Hell would freeze over before she ask for my help."
"You did save her from the curse before, did you not?" Julius interjected. "Tell me, Yami, do you have any idea how you saved her twelve years ago?"
"Beats me, all I remember doing was cutting down those thorns enveloping her. As soon as I found her, before I knew it, the curse was lifted."
"I have a feeling that the threat of the curse still exists. The the devils trying to cross to this realm will  try and use Charlotte to do just that. We must never let that happen."
"What do you want to do?" he asked straightforwardly. He knew the Wizard King had something up his sleeves.
Julius have Yami a playful smile. "You saved her once,  why not save her again the next time? I have a feeling only you could do it."
His brows furrowed. "On what basis?"
Julius shrugged. "Enough with the serious talk, this is a day for celebrating. They are all waiting for us. Let's head to the banquet hall."

The scene they welcomed them was so incredulous, it's hilarious. It was supposed to be a banquet what did they expect from the Black Bulls?
Luck was chasing Magna around, trying to pick a fight. The proud Nozel was trying to get in between his dear sister Noelle and the oblivious Asta by the buffet table. Fuegoleon and his little brother were trying to have a conversation with the kid even in the midst of Nozel's antics. Charmy was encouraging Yuno to eat a loooot more, much to the Sylph's annoyance. Vanessa was harrassing the other magic knights to drink with her while Zora was quietly eating beside her. Grey was hiding under the table and Henry was playing with the birds that lived on his hair. Thanks to Nero's sealing magic, she's able to prevent him from sucking magic out from anyone around him. Gordon was being creepy as usual in the corner, mumbling to himself. And finally, Finral was failing miserabley at flirting with one of the female magic knights. Basically, they were all acting like the way they would in their base.
As if on queue, Magna's fire caught Luck's clothes and electricity shocked bystanders, one of which was a hefty lady from Blue Rose who fell towards the buffet table.
Yami sighed in defeat as he watched all the food came flying in the air. Speaking of Blue Rose.. His eyes scanned the room for someone. It's been three years, he wondered what that woman was up to all this time.
"Charlotte not here, you know."
He bristled at Julius sudden announcement, like he was caught red-handed. "I-is that so?" he tried to play it cool. Was he that obvious? It wasn't weird or anything, right? Charlotte is a fellow magic knight captain after all. It's normal to be mildly curious.
"I doubt she could make it, I was told she wasn't home when the news about you being back was communicated."
"I don't really care one way or another. She'll know soon enough." Yami had a strong urge to smoke but he couldn't light his cigarette in his presence.
"Hmm.. She's probably on her way to the wedding at this very moment," Julius said non-chalantly. "Ya.. you really have to come back on this day, huh?"
The unlit cigarette from Yami's mouth hit the floor. "What wedding?" A few magic knights turned to them at Yami's frantic voice.
"Charlotte was in a lot of pressure from her family it seems. I heard they are forcing her to marry in order to succeed as the head of House Roselei."
"That idiot," Yami cursed under his breath. "Finral!"