Reader POV

I was laying down in the middle of the courtyard on Klaus's lap, reading a book.

Snow was gently falling, but I didn't mind the cold so much.

In fact, I welcomed it.

"Ne, Klaus?"

He looked down at me. "Yes?"

"It seems that your promise is true."

"Oh?" He removed the book, a soft smile on his face.

"Mmhm." I placed my book down and closed my eyes, enjoying the afternoon warmth in wintertime.

Flashback (1 year and 6 months ago)

Langris kicked me aside, spitting on my face.

"Worthless piece of shit," he spat. "How dare you."

"I didn't even do-"

He punched my face. "I didn't ask for an explanation as to why you're whoring yourself out-especially to someone as low and humiliating as that disgrace Finral."

"The only one low and humiliating to House Vaude is you, Vaude." I glared up at him with hatred, holding my bleeding nose.

"Tch. You little bitch."

He kicked me out of his office, threatening to kick Klaus out of the squad if I so much as told a single person what just happened.

I left the office wings and went to the hospital wing to get my nose fixed.

The recovery mages asked how I got such terrible wounds and I told them it was a disagreement, which wasn't entirely false.

"So..."

I looked up and saw Klaus himself. "Klau."

"Hey, (n/n)..." he sat down on the bed with me, a frown on his face. "I heard you had a disagreement with someone. Who was it?"

"Someone I hate."

"I see." He pulled me into a hug.

It was silent for a bit as rain pounded on the windows, a somber aura around everything.

"Ne, (y/n)?"

"Hm?"

He lifted my chin and brushed the hair from my vision. "I want to make you a promise."

"Oh?"

"Mmhm. I mostly see you with a frown and it saddens me to know you're unhappy. So I'm going to make you a promise."

My breathing hitched as I felt him move closer to me, his gaze on my lips.

He kissed me once.

It was sweet and short.

"I promise you: I will be the reason you smile."

He pulled away, resting his forehead on mine.

Your lips will only know mine.

That's what Langris said to me the day I visited my parent's grave last year.

I closed my eyes and allowed Klaus to kiss me more, placing his hands on either side of my cheeks.

End of Flashback

"You kept your promise," I said to him.

He leaned down and kissed my forehead. "So I did. But we're not done yet, (n/n). I truly want to be your happiness, if you'll be mine."

I reopened my eyes and gazed into his magenta ones with affection, something that I hadn't let anyone see in eleven years.

"I will."

And maybe I can get out of this loveless engagement with Klaus's help!

But that was a stretch.

We heard rustling in the grass and saw Mimosa with Yuno, David, Letoile, and Rosseau.

"Oya?" Rosseau smirked. "So the rumors are true. You and Lunettes are a thing."

"Ppft!" David placed a sympathetic hand on Yuno's shoulder as the latter clenched his fist. "Sorry Yu, but you came here too late."

"Like that will make him feel better!" Mimosa frowned.

"Get your hands off me," Yuno glared at David who threw his hands up and backed away. "And don't call me Yu."

"Sure thing, Yu."

"I bet the captain that they would get together before (l/n) turns 18."

"And that's in less than a week! And the vice captain's is in September! The 27th, right?"

"Mmhm."

"What makes (l/n)'s birthday special is the fact that she was born on St. Valentine's Day!"

I glanced up at David with a smile on my face. "Please, call me (y/n)."

The mug of hot cocoa in Letoile's hands dropped and they all stared at me with shock.

"What the hell did you do to (y/n)?" She asked Klaus.

"I made her happy."

"Aw, I'm so glad!" Rosseau clapped her hands. "I remember you being so stoic and cold when we first met, (y/n)! You really are a doll!"

I sat up and placed my book in my small bag, bookmarking the page. "Thank you."

"Not a problem! I knew you were a sweet girl!"

I followed them into the mess hall for lunch, falling back to speak to Yuno.

"Yuno? If you want, we can go to the Black Bulls base together. I promised Luck and Asta I would bring you next time."

"Oh. Well, I suppose-"

"Great!" I gave him a thumbs-up. "We'll be leaving after lunch, so make sure you don't overeat, eh?"

He smiled faintly, remembering clearly how he overate when he was first introduced to the Golden Dawn at dinner.

"Yeah..."

I left him to his own thoughts, seeing the familiar faces of the people I had grown to care for.

Even the captain looked quite content with the scene.

My comrades all engulfed me in hugs, letting me know how much they truly were happy I was happy and smiling more.

But my smile vanished in a snap when I saw Langris enter the mess hall, wondering why everyone was so cheery and calling my name.

"What's going on?"

"It's (y/n)! She's actually smiling at all of us!"

His eyes widened as he indeed knew I only smiled for Yuno, Klaus, and occasionally Finral.

"You're smiling?"

"Mmhm! And she's so beautiful when she smiles! It's like a breath of fresh air," Mimosa butted in.

He looked down at me expectantly, but my frown only got bigger.

"Huh. Yet she won't smile when I'm here."

"Well, you have always been mean to her," Yuno said quietly.

Langris looked pissed and was about to slap the latter when I quickly grabbed his arm and pressed it down to the table, fury in my eyes.

"Do not harm my friends."

He glared at me with hatred and I glared right back.

Klaus placed his hand on Langris's shoulder, his aura deadly. "I'll thank you not to harm my teammate, vice captain."

Langris stared at Klaus with so much hatred. "Lunettes. Get your hand off me."

Klaus did and stood behind me, placing his hands on my shoulders protectively. "I think you should go."

I released my grip on his wrist and he scoffed.

"Mark my words, (y/n). You'll regret doing that."

"No," I said. "I regret meeting you that day. You say Finral is the disgrace to House Vaude. I think you're the disgusting disgrace. Now get out before we make you."

"This is my squad!" He spat.

The captain stood, crossing his arms as he walked over, feeling the tension from across the mess hall. "What's going on?"

"Nothing," Alecdora said. "Langris was just leaving."

Langris scoffed but left, casting a final look over at me and I didn't pay any mind.

"Did something happen?" The captain asked.

"Nope. Just the usual Langris being an ass," Rosseau snickered.

After lunch, I said my goodbyes to the squad and hopped on a surfboard made of shadows that took physical form and Yuno using his broom.

Yuno flew beside me, a satisfied smile on his face. "So you and Lunettes. Are you officially a thing?"

I shrugged. "You'll have to ask him for confirmation, but I suppose."

"I see. I'm happy for you,"

"Thank you, Yuno."

We arrived at the Black Bulls base and I saw Noelle outside, yelling at Asta for destroying her snowman.

"Bakasta! I worked so hard on that! And you just destroyed it!"

"But Luck pushed me-"

"(n/n)!"

I landed, Yuno right behind me. "Hello, Noe, Asta"

"Oi! About time you showed up, you handsome jerk!"

Yuno glared at his adoptive brother of sorts. "Urasai, Asta."

"Gomen, Yuno."

"What in the Haikyuu...?"

Finral appeared and frowned. "What's a Haikyuu?"

"Just an anime I saw," I shrugged. "Okay, now...where's that lightning thief Luck?"

"Right here! Let's kill each other!" He leapt at me, but I dodged.

I smirked, a double-edged sword appearing in my hands. "Calm down, Dazai."

Yami was watching from the window and I waved at him.

He waved back and went to yell at someone, but he was inaudible.

"Ne-ne! What's got you all smiles?" Finral asked me as I fought Luck, Asta fighting Yuno.

I looked at Finral and smiled. "It's love."

"OH?!" His jaw dropped. "Did he finally confess?"

"Who, Langris? Pfft! As if!" I dodged Luck's attack, meeting his fist head-on with my shadow armor. "No. Just someone I know very well."

"It's that Lunettes guy," Yuno informed with his usual bored expression.

"Aw...but what about the wedding?"

Yuno stiffened and held a hand up for Asta to stop. "Wait, what wedding?"

I drew with Luck and my blood was cold. "Finral, I was going to end it."

"Oh...shame."

"Finral, you idiot! I was going to tell them!"

Yuno looked at me, shock on his face. "Wait, are you and Finral engaged?!"

"No, though he's nicer than his brother. Yuno, don't you dare tell a single soul." I took a deep breath. "Since I was little, I've been engaged to our vice captain."

"You and that sour crass Langris Vaude?!"

I nodded. "Unfortunately. I don't even like him. I'd rather marry someone I love."

"But does he know?"

"Of course. I'm still surprised he hasn't said anything. Though I plan on telling Klaus next week on my birthday."

"Oh...I'm sorry to hear."

I waved my hand in the air. "Why? It's not your fault."

"I know, but that's horrible."

We were about to leave since it was getting dark quickly and I was tired.

"(y/n), I want the full story when we get back," Yuno said.

"I'll do you one better and tell you on the way back. We're walking half of the way."

I waved goodbye to my friends and Luck was pissed that I hadn't stayed for long, but I didn't care.

"Listen closely, Yuno. I'll only say it once."

He nodded as we walked side by side.

"I'm the second child of Lord Maxillion (l/n) and Lady Claire (l/n). I have an older brother who went missing twelve years ago. He's Shielo (l/n), the first heir. Seeing he was gone and we found a pool of his blood in this very forest, my father decided I would be the next heir as my mother had died giving birth to me."

"So he made a pact with the Silvas at first to marry their second son Solid, but Acier turned down the proposal before it became official. Then my father made a pact that I would marry the one and only Langris Vaude. And he especially wanted to see us get along as all my ancestors had died young. It's a curse."

"A curse made over 600 years ago. I'll explain that in a bit. Anyways, my father wanted to see Langris and I get along and we did, but a very long time ago. When my father died two years ago at the age of 35 as anyone with the blood of House (l/n) dies that young, Langris and I were far less than acquaintances. He's done horrible things, Yuno. Unspeakable things. And I can't get out of this pact because his parents are alive to see that we'll be wed on his 21st birthday."

"And now, the curse. I'm a direct descendant of the Witch Queen since one of my ancestors had a son with her. The father died at 35, the age the witch queen cursed us all to die at. And since then, our family was banished from ever entering the Witches Forest unless she wants us to die even younger."

"And since my family has rare magic, shadow magic, we cannot just simply stop our bloodline, especially since we protect the kingdom from the underworld spirits. So that's why all of my ancestors married young and made sure they have a son before they're dead. And usually the widowed woman never remarried to keep bloodlines intact, but it's complicated. I never quite understood it."

"I saw my father's body when he died. Bloody flower petals were in his mouth and in his hands as my ancestor gave the witch queen those flowers. It's a beautifully tragic death. And not one of my ancestors escaped the curse. Not any of them in the last 600
years."

Yuno was very quiet as he took it all in. "Wow..."

"And I'm sure you heard I used to walk around with a blackened blindfold around my eyes. I did so because I couldn't stan the sun. It just seemed too bright. I was used to and comfortable with the shadow realm. It's more nice there."

"And now, how does Klaus tie into this? Well if I marry Klaus before the wedding, I will be free. Of course, I would tell Klaus immediately of the situation. But only if things go a certain way."

I stopped walking and looked up at my kohai. "You're a good person, Yuno. That's why I'm letting you in on the secret."

"Thank you for trusting me enough," he said. "But I swear, I will assist in any way I can to make sure you don't have to marry that Langris. But what happened between you two?"

I looked down and gripped my wrist. "He hurt me. Multiple times. Abusing me. Verbally, physically, mentally. I hate him so much, Yuno. He also is a bastard to those under our rank and those who have little to no mana. It's repulsive!"

"I'll say."

We were quiet as we walked back to the base, our faces cold and ears and hands red.

"Thank you for letting me tell you," I said. "You're a very good friend."

"Mmhm. But I swear: if Klaus hurts you, I'll kill him."

"Ppft. As if. Don't worry so much, Yuno. Klaus is a good man."

Said nobleman was waiting for us, a smile on his face.

"Don't forget what I told you," Yuno said. "Goodnight."

"Goodnight."

Klaus wrapped my cold form in his cloak. "(y/n), you're freezing!"

"So? It's a nice walk."

"You walked from the Black Bulls base to here?!"

"Only part of the way. But don't worry, I won't get sick."

"Yeah, and pigs fly. You're coming with me." He picked me up and ran into the dining room where soup was being served. "We'll get you warm soon enough."