100 Prompt Challenge - Astelle

Prompt Request from InsanityError on AO3: Noelle learns that Asta and Mimosa are getting married. Naturally, she can't accept that, so she rushes to stop the wedding with a grand objection. Unfortunately, Noelle didn't get the memo that it was a fake wedding designed to lure out and catch a wedding ring thief.

—

Noelle Silva couldn't breathe.

The words echoed in her skull, rattling against the walls of her mind like a cruel, relentless storm.

"We are gathered here today to witness the union of Asta and Mimosa in holy matrimony."

No. No, no, no.

This wasn't happening.

This couldn't be happening.

Yet there Asta stood at the altar, dressed in a crisp black suit, grinning like a fool. A bright, excited, happy fool. And opposite him stood Mimosa Vermillion, draped in an elegant white gown, the perfect noble bride.

The noble bride meant to be hers.

Noelle felt her chest tighten, her breath quicken. She clenched her fists, nails digging into her palms. It was like the entire world was tilting, spinning wildly out of control.

How? How had it come to this?

She had told herself—lied to herself—that she had time. That someday, Asta would notice her feelings, that maybe he already noticed but was waiting for her to say something first. That someday she'd be ready.

But there was no more time. No more waiting.

Asta was getting married.

And she was losing him.

Her vision blurred.

She refused.

Before she could even process what she was doing, her body moved on its own. She shoved open the grand cathedral doors with a burst of magic, light from the stained-glass windows cascading onto her like some divine warrior of heartbreak and chaos.

Her voice rang out, loud and raw.

"I OBJECT!"

The entire cathedral froze.

Hundreds of heads turned.

Asta, Mimosa, the priest—everyone—stared at her, slack-jawed.

Somewhere in the crowd, Nozel choked on air.

Noelle stood there, chest heaving, heart slamming against her ribs. Heat flooded her face, her pulse roaring in her ears as the sheer weight of what she had just done crashed down on her.

Oh. Oh, no.

There was no turning back now.

Asta blinked at her, utterly bewildered. "Noelle?"

She squeezed her eyes shut. No use running now. If she was going to humiliate herself, she might as well go all the way.

"I—I love you, Asta!" she blurted, voice cracking. "I've always loved you! I love how you never give up! I love how you make everyone around you believe in themselves, even when they don't! I love how ridiculously loud you are, and how you always jump headfirst into danger like an idiot—but you always come out smiling! I love that you never let anyone decide your worth! And—I—" Her throat tightened. But she pushed forward. "I love you, and I don't want you to marry Mimosa!"

Silence.

Complete, suffocating silence.

Noelle wanted to die.

Then—

A strangled cough. A loud, sputtering laugh.

She opened her eyes just in time to see Mimosa hunched over, clutching her stomach.

"Oh, oh Noelle, that was—" Mimosa wiped at her teary eyes, shoulders shaking. "That was so dramatic—!"

The laughter spread like wildfire.

Yami was wheezing, slapping William on the back while pointing at Nozel, who was clutching his face in absolute agony. Mereoleona had thrown her head back in a howl of laughter. Fuegoleon was pinching the bridge of his nose. Charlotte seemed indifferent. Dorothy snapped awake. Rill nearly fell off his chair.

Noelle blinked.

What—what was happening?

"Ahahaha! Noelle, you're too cute!" Mimosa finally straightened, still giggling. "I don't have feelings for Asta anymore! This is a fake wedding!"

Noelle's brain short-circuited.

"…What?"

Asta rubbed the back of his head, looking sheepish. "Yeah… turns out there's been a string of wedding ring thefts lately, and the Magic Knights set up this wedding to lure the thief out."

Noelle stared. Then at Mimosa. Then at everyone, who was all very obviously in on this.

Her eye twitched.

"AND NO ONE THOUGHT TO TELL ME?!"

Jack cackled. "Kekeke, wouldn't have been nearly as funny if we did!"

Noelle burned with the intensity of a thousand stars.

She was going to kill all of them.

But before she could unleash righteous destruction—

Asta stepped forward.

The laughter dulled.

His face was red.

He scratched his cheek, eyes flicking to the side before locking onto hers. "Uh… Noelle…" His ears were glowing. "Did you mean all that? About… you know…"

Noelle's heart lurched.

This. This was her last chance to backpedal. To run.

But she didn't want to run anymore.

She exhaled. "Yes."

Asta's face ignited.

The world seemed to blur around them.

She saw him swallow, hands clenching and unclenching. He opened his mouth, then closed it. Then opened it again.

Then—

He grabbed her shoulders.

And kissed her.

Kind of.

Their noses bumped. She jerked. He fumbled. Their lips crashed together in a completely graceless, flustered mess of oh my gods, this is happening, what do I do, oh no, oh no—

Someone whistled.

Someone else cheered.

Noelle shoved Asta back, face burning hotter than Salamander's flames. "You IDIOT!"

Asta, equally red, just grinned.

"WELL, IT'S ABOUT TIME!"

The Black Bulls pounced.

"OUR BOY FINALLY DID IT!"

"NOELLE! YOU GO, GIRL!"

"CAPTAIN, LET'S CELEBRATE WITH BOOZE—"

"I SWEAR TO THE GODS, GET OFF OF ME—"

Amid the chaos, Mimosa patted Noelle's back with a bright, amused smile. "Honestly, Noelle, if you'd just confessed a little sooner, we could've avoided all of this."

Noelle groaned into her hands.

"Shut up."

Mimosa just laughed.

And Asta—Asta just stood there, looking at Noelle like she had just handed him the world.

Maybe she had.