Requite | ✓

Chapter 1: Loss

"Acier!- Oh, oops! Noelle, right?" Vanica/Megicula asked.

"What do you want?!" Noelle grit her teeth.

"Oh! Of course! I want you to follow in the footsteps of your mother! And right now, you're doing a good- oh, scratch that- great job following!" She clapped her hands.

"What do you mean?" Noelle asked.

"Hahahaha!" Vanica/Megicula laughed. "Don't tell me you haven't noticed? Hahahaha!"

Noelle looked at herself, and when her sight landed on something, she stopped. This... What?... When?... Where?... How? She wanted to ask a lot of questions, however, she settled on one. "How long do I- do I have?"

"About... Just until the end of the day!" Vanica/Megicula smiled her psychotic smile.

It was the sign of Megicula's curse. The very same one she saw on Lolopechika's abdomen. The very same one that killed her mother.

Seeing that made her sad and peacefully happy for some odd reason. Maybe it was because she wouldn't see her family (a.k.a. The Black Bulls), nor her real family anymore, maybe it was also because she wouldn't see her friends she made on missions ever again? Maybe it was because she'll die the same noble death her mother had? Maybe it was because she wouldn't be humiliated by her siblings ever again? Maybe, just maybe, she's happy that she'll finally die?

But a part of her wants to live, she doesn't know exactly why, but maybe it's because she wants to see him again. To act like a spoiled royal in front of him, just so that he doesn't notice her blush everytime he's near her. To fight his battles with him. To see him smile when they finally defeat a strong opponent. To just stay by his side and never leave.

But now, she knows that that won't happen. Not anymore. She should've seized the chance to be with him before all this happened. But she was just too much of a tsundere. But can you blame her? She doesn't want to get hurt anymore, and that was the only way she saw how. Curse her damn tsundere personality. If only she was like Mimosa, then she probably would've had a chance.

Now wasn't the time for reminiscing. That was for later. Now, she needed to kill this demon so she can still have time to say her last goodbyes, and take a good look at her surroundings so she can die knowing she saw and achieved victory.

And so, she did. She finally avenged her mother. She killed Vanica, and her demon Megicula.

Right after she finally killed that monster, she saw Lolopechika descending down to her. But something was wrong. Noelle widened her eyes. Lolopechika was crying?! But she defeated Vanica. Maybe tears of joy?

"Noelle! I'm sorry! I'm sorry! It's all my fault!" Lolopechika cried.

"Huh? What do you mean, Lolopechika-chan?" Noelle asked.

"She- she transfered my curse to you! I'm- I'm sorry! Now you'll die!"

Noelle was surprised by this, but even so, relieved. She was, because she won't lose someone precious to her again. It was all in exchange for her life. And she isn't bothered that that'll happen.

"It's alright, Lolopechika-chan. Now the Heart Kingdom can have their Queen back." Noelle smiled.

"No! I- I can't have this! How long do you have? Maybe we can still find a cure!" Lolopechika stated.

"No need. I only have until the end of this day, anyways."

"What? So after she removed it, she shortened it?"

"It's alright. Now please. As my last request, please help them." Noelle pleaded. She accepted her fate, knowing that nothing can, and will change it.

"Noelle, please. You still have a lot to live for. You're still young, you have infinite possibilities."

"And so do you. You still have a kingdom to rule over."

"But-"

"Please! Go!" Noelle cut her off.

"Alright. For my best friend. Thank you for everything, Noelle." Lolopechika gave Noelle one last hug.

At the realization that this will be their last hug, Noelle cried. At first, they were only one or two tears, but it ended with her bawling her eyes out. Lolopechika cried too.

When they finally separated from the embrace, Noelle put on a brave smile. Lolopechika did the same. Noelle gave Lolopechika her grimoire. "Here, so you'll know when I'm truly gone." She said.

Lolopechika left to help defeat the other demons, but not before shedding several tears.

When she finally left, Noelle's smile faded. Soon, she started coughing blood. It hurt, so so much. But she needed to gather her strength to look around and savor her victory. She needed to look around to see the things she would eventually miss when all she could see was the endless dark abyss. To never see the light again.

As Noelle turned her head, she started seeing flashes of her life. 'So it's true then.' She concluded. From the moment she was born, the moment she found out she couldn't control her magic, when she finally got her grimoire. Meeting Asta for the first time and him saving her, going on missions, defeating the eye of the midnight sun, meeting Lolopechika and training with the remaining elves after Vanica's appearance. And finally, her defeating Vanica and Megicula, and crying with Lolopechika. She saw all of that.

She guessed that this was her last moments. And as the memories stopped flashing, she saw a figure running towards her. A very familiar one. It was him. Did they finally defeat Dante and Zenon?

She reached out her hand to the figure. To him. It was all hoping that he wasn't an illusion. That he really was running towards her.

To her happiness, he was! He was real! And so, when he came, she embraced him as he pulled her into his arms.

"Noelle! Please, don't die! Don't die on me, please! I need you!" He said.

And that shocked her. He needed her? He needed her! However, she doesn't know if it was just a spur of the moment thing, or if he really meant it.

But something shocked her more. She felt something wet, dripping. Was he crying? She didn't know. But she would know soon, very soon.

"Noelle! Please! You can't leave me! Please!" He sobbed.

"Asta?" She called.

"Yeah, Noelle?"

Noelle withdrew from the hug and looked at him. "Please don't cry." She said while a few tears slipped out from her eyes.

She came nearer, and kissed him.

After that, she smiled at him, a genuine smile.

On Asta's side, it was a smile that made his breath hitch in his throat. She was stunning, even in her last moments.

"I love you, Asta." She whispered as her last words.

And his response was something unexpected to her. "I love you too, Noelle. Always and forever."

And she died in the way she never anticipated her whole life. She died in the arms of the man she loves, with him professing his love for her. She died the happiest girl in the world.