The proposal:
King Heartfilia raised an eyebrow at the red headed messenger. "A marriage proposal?"
"Yes, your Majesty" The woman gave the king a blank stare as she lifted her head. "In an effort to ally our two kingdoms, King Acnologia of Fiore has asked for the hand of your princess"
The King raised both eyebrows. "He is going to marry her? Forgive my suspicion, but we… never had such an offer before."
The woman stood proudly and a hint of a smiled reached her lips. "Oh no, Your Majesty. It's Prince Natsu who is going to marry your Princess. It's natural to be curious, your Majesty. Prince Natsu and King Acnologia have only the best of intentions towards Princess Lucille" The messenger coughed a little. "However, they want to request something of you"
King Jude stood from his throne and walked to the window. "We have understood that the Princess has not been let out of this castle since her birth, so the Prince Natsu would like to ask of you to let her come to our kingdom in an effort to please the Princess. She will stay at our Royal Castle and have her activities in there for the period of a month."
"Why is this necessary? Why can't they just marry?"
The messenger flinched in response but the King didn't notice. "I'm sorry you Majesty, I was instructed to say that it was to prepare the Princess."
Hmm. This servant is loyal and efficient. It would be good to have some of those in here. Also, the country of Fiore is a little bigger than the Heartfilia and it is said to have many riches still hidden. Jude considered his options briefly in his head. He was King of the country of Heartfilia, before named the country of Bosco. Fiore was one of the most intelligent (and volatile) countries out there, and, if Capricorn was right, with the impeding danger having an ally wouldn't be a bad idea. Lucille would just have to comply to his wishes and go to the Fiore's Royal Castle…
Oh, Lucille. That stubborn girl he had gotten for a daughter was one of his biggest problems. Since she was little, she had been instructed to remain inside her castle, for a prophecy said that when the eight Princess of the country of Boston set a foot outside of her home, terrible danger would come to the country. Well, that and the fact that Lucille had such a curious habit he had tried to stop since she was young had gotten the young Princess in many "adventures".
Well, if getting rid of his daughter (and in safe hands), helping his kingdom and raising his gold were the meaning of this proposal, then the answer was as clear as water.
"The kingdom of Heartfilia accepts the generous offer of the royal family of Fiore. We shall send Princess Lucille on her way in three day's time"
The redhead's face brightened a little and she bowed deeply. "Of course, Your Majesty. The kingdom of Fiore eagerly shall await for the arrival of her Royal Highness"
King Jude walked to the door where a pair of guards we standing. Just before he could cross the door and send the messenger off, the woman coughed a little and spoke again. "Your Highness, I have been instructed to ask you a question, in a way we can identify your Princess for when she arrives to our Kingdom"
Jude turned around and set a frown in his face. He did not like to answer questions.
"And what would the question be?"
The messenger stood as she took a piece of parchment from her clothes and read it out loud.
"King Jude Heartfilia, Prince Natsu desires and requests your honest answer to the following question: what would you instantly notice about-" She snorted lightly, not enough for the King to notice. "- the Princess' eyes?"
Her eyes? Jude stopped thinking momentarily, startled from the question. Then he got an idea. If he answered that, they probably wouldn't question anything from him again.
Opening his mouth, the words rolled off his tongue as the redheaded woman wrote in the paper.
"Her eyes are what make your day better on winter, and when you gaze at them deeply they might remind you of a sunny day at the beach"
The woman gasped before writing his answer and bowing again. The King walked to the exit, wanting to be out of that place as soon as he could. Just as he passed the guards, his personal servant, Capricorn, walked to his side.
"Tell Princess Lucille to come down for a moment" He mumbled as he walked "and make sure that messenger is gone before she does"
"Of course, your Majesty"
Nothing is better than loyal, faithful and obliging servants. He thought as he walked to his office.
Why can't Lucille be like that?
Upstairs in her room, Princess Lucille of Heartfilia with her legs swinging, her hand quickly moving the pen in its fingers as it floated with a high speed over the piece of paper she had in her table. Her blonde hair fell into her shoulders and she was in a soft blue gown that reached to her knees. This was how she spent most of her time since she was little. Her mother had been killed when she was at the age of five, and her father hadn't been the pest role model she had had, which had been his personal servant, Capricorn. He had teached her how to write and read, dance and sing, poetry and politics, from battle tactics to how to know when one thing was being falsified, however, and as soon she was able to write her name in a piece of parchment, she had written many books talking of her dreams, what she wished to do if she was let out of her room just once.
"Lucille? Lucille, its Lisanna. Can I come in?"
Lucille was jolted out of her writing frenzy and dropped the pen on the floor with a light thud. Lisanna had been the only female servant that had been allowed inside her chambers without being fired. That, even though Lucille didn't know it, had a very reasonable reason.
The octave Princess of Boston had been cursed as many times as blessed. Her beauty would be, from what the written prophecy said, the same from the inside to the outside. If she was teached to be gentle, humble and care-ful for other people, her astounding good looks would be the jealousy if many woman. However, if by the contrary, she was teached to be arrogant, greedy and egocentric; she would be the most horrible woman the Earth had ever seen.
Well, Lisanna knew that she was definitely the first.
"Yes, Lisanna"
The door to her well lit room opened and the white haired woman walked over to her friend. Lisanna never went to Lucille unless Capricorn asked her to do it, or when the Princess requested her assistance and they ended having a pillow fight. Lucille trusted Lisanna with her life and would tell her all her problems.
"Your father has news for you, Lucille"
Her chocolate eyes turned cold and narrowed ever so slightly. Lisanna felt a shiver go down her spine as she looked at them. "News? What kind of news are them?"
The blue eyed girl smiled sheepishly and looked at her "I don't know. Capricorn said Kind Jude looked agitated and he had requested your presence in his office."
Lucille stood up from her chair and changed- with the help of her friend- onto a midnight blue dress and some heels. Her hair was quickly done in a bun and she walked towards the door, waiting for the white haired girl to follow her. As soon as they stepped outside, she started talking to her Princess.
"Are you nervous?"
Lucille snorted. "Nope. But what could my father want me for? He almost never asks for my presence…"
Lisanna noticed her teeth biting on her bottom lip, a habit of hers when she was nervous. Smiling softly she added.
"Maybe it's nothing. It probably are some updates or something."
"There's no way he would call me for just updates"
Good point Lisanna thought. "Well, I'm sure it's okay. Maybe he is finally going to let you out of the castle? Who knows, we better hurry and see what he wants" They started walking down the stairs and Lucille smiled.
"Thanks Lisanna" The blonde smile thankfully at her before walking the rest of the stairs alone.
Lisanna bit back a comment about Lucille's attitude and followed her. The white haired girl was, if much, a mere companion in her own opinion. She had never asked for the Princess to find a friend in her, or to be the only woman her age working in the castle. What was Lucille's problem? Even with her curses, being a princess with some blessings seemed like a pretty good deal to Lisanna. Better than tending to that princess, at least.
As the two girls walked to the throne room, otherwise known as Jude's office, King Jude heard the doors open and didn't even spare a glance to Lucille and her companion, before he started to speak.
"Lucille, you are to be married off to Prince Natsu of Fiore. He desires for you to start living with him before the marriage, and I have approved for you to travel there to meet him."
There was silence.
Lisanna's eyes widened as she looked to her King. Prince Natsu? He was said to be one of the most charming, loving and fun people out there, always caring more for his kingdom than for himself. Lucille was marrying Natsu? And she didn't even know the guy! Was she really okay with this? Her face was impassive. I can't believe it. She is agreeing? The blue eyes servant thought to herself incredulously.
A series of loud crashes as the Princess ran through the halls told her otherwise.
Next chapter tomorrow!