Prologue
The royal family was nearing the outskirts of Magnolia when they all but came to a sudden stop.
"Your Majesty," Laxus, the knight in charge of protecting the royal's carriage bowed, his armor drenched from the relentless downpour. "The roads are flooded. Should we reroute, it'll double our travel time and effort."
The blue-haired monarch knew this, of course. He'll be risking his infantry's health and their lives should they brave the onslaught of the storm. It was a necessary stop but altogether an inconvenience especially when they were getting close to their destination's border.
"Gather our men. Our first priority is finding shelter." he firmly decided.
"There is a small town nearby. Hopefully we'll find an inn where they could fit all of us." Laxus informed to which the king approved.
"If rooms are inadequate, we'll request a household to take us in and reward them for their hospitality."
Without another word, the blonde knight bowed once more and went on to instruct the foot soldiers.
"I knew I should have gone alone." he chastised himself, glancing momentarily at the two other figures that were with him inside. One was a woman older than him by birth, her fair skin and ebony hair a perfect contrast. The other was the youngest; a princess full of energy who somehow, still possessed grace.
"Jellal," The King preferred it if his sisters called him by his first name, when they were alone at least since the laws strictly forbid it. "We're glad we could accompany you. Right, Meredy?" The eldest looked to the youngest for support who was unfortunately busy watching in fascination as the rain assaulted the ground and watched the soil crumble.
"What? Oh yeah. Ultear and I are having the time of our lives. Better than staying behind in the dry, warm, comfort of our castle."
Ultear rolled her eyes at this as the king continued to sink back further into his seat.
It was a bad decision, really. He berated himself once more for not listening to his council's advice. He knew all too well about the storm yet somehow, against his better judgment, he pushed through the journey and even allowed his sisters to join him. He couldn't find it in himself to blame the Duke of Magnolia as well. There was some sense of urgency from his letter that demanded his presence in person. In the midst of the torrential rain, he briefly wondered what his concern was all about.
A few minutes passed and they have finally arrived.
They were lucky to have found an inn with hardly any occupants. Laxus had a word with the innkeeper and requested that the royal family's presence be kept secret.
"You Majesty," the blonde knight gave him his room key. "The Princesses will share the same quarters. I've already assigned two guards to stand by their door."
Laxus motioned the King to head up first while the others followed. When the monarch reached his room he ordered his loyal guard to rest but he flat out refused.
"At least settle down first. Take a hot bath so you wouldn't get sick. I can't have my strongest knight catching a cold."
When he finally persuaded the stubborn knight, it was the King's turn to relax inside his personal space. Muscles giving out after a tedious journey, he collapsed onto the mattress. It wasn't as comfortable as the one in his chamber back at the castle, but it will do just fine. He gazed outside the window with the rain still not letting up as thunder growled in the distance.
He could only hope it would stop before the day ends. The King, after all, cannot waste any more time.
"You think Jellal's quit sulking?" Meredy asked her sister who was busy brushing her hair. "Ever since he took over the kingdom, he's barely had time for his family. Not that I'm complaining."
The eldest daughter could only smile at this. "Well, the whole of Fiore's kind of like his family now. Isn't it amazing how he's equally giving each territory his attention?"
"I guess." Meredy continued playing with the strands of her pink hair, twirling the ends on her finger as she shrugged, feigning the fact that she was still not convinced.
"You little devil." Ultear tickled her sister's sides, earning a fit of laughter from the young princess.
.
This was the third place where she searched religiously for her lost purse. First was their shop, the second one was the apothecary and now, the cobbler's place.
"Erza, you've turned my place upside down. It isn't really here." the owner all but whined but she just wouldn't give up. "Maybe you lost it elsewhere."
"It couldn't be!" She slammed her fist against the wooden table, refusing to give up. Today was supposed to be a good day, she thought. The weapons were ready, it was a good weather—for her at least—but then she had to lose her purse which contained the tax money.
The redhead sucked in a breath to calm herself. Closing her eyes, she tried to recall what she had done and where she had been. She couldn't have just dropped it somewhere.
At dawn, I prepared breakfast then early morning I dropped by to deliver metal ornaments to a household, then stopped for a room at—
Running towards the exit she donned the hood of her cloak and rushed outside amidst the horrible downpour. Ignoring the dirt and water splashing against her clothes, Erza waited for her way out of Magnolia.
It was night when she reached an inn. She rode one of the transport carriages on the way to the capital and was dropped off outside the border. The rain subsided and died down to a drizzle but she had to hurry. She was wet and cold and the temperature at night could be unforgiving. The redhead thought she'd have to deal with the penalty of paying late. For now, her priority was getting the purse then she'd retire for the night and sort things out in the morning.
She noticed a couple of horses and guards outside but paid them no mind as she was freezing. She was about to enter the front door when a soldier stopped her.
"Turn back. This place is full."
"I know who runs this place. Let me have a word with him. I'll just retrieve something I left and be on my way." But the soldier didn't budge as if to intimidate her. She wasn't though, and she only stood there stubborn as ever. Her action seemed to alarm the rest of the guards who in turn gathered around her. Taking this as a last warning sign, the redhead backed off.
"Alright, gentlemen, I'll go." Erza retracted her steps and disappeared into the black of the night. The guards returned to their designated posts as if nothing happened.
"Those bastards," Erza muttered. "I'm not leaving without my purse."
She swiftly and quietly made her way to the back of the inn where there were a few guards patrolling the area. The redhead observed when and where the soldiers would stop, monitoring their every movement. When the coast was clear she took her chance and sprinted stealthily in the dark. She nimbly climbed the inn using the dents and spaces of the wood on the structure. Remembering where the room she had stayed in, Erza unlocked the window and silently went in.
Success.
Her footsteps were calculated and every movement quiet. She didn't want to disturb the person residing in this room after all.
She pulled the second drawer out and was relieved to see her purse still there.
"It's amazing how you didn't manage to slip and fall." A voice had her almost tripping on the floorboard.
She saw a figure standing against the corner of the room where the candlelight was closest to her, bathing the room with a soft and warm glow. The area farthest from the flame was dim and badly lit it was hard to make out the person's face. But based from the guards and horses outside, Erza decided this person was a noble.
"I apologize, I didn't mean to disturb you. I just came to retrieve something." she patiently explained. Nobles were quite a pain in the neck if she could recall. Having to deal with them and their fragile ego was worse than straightening a badly bent sword. "I'll be just taking my leave, My Lord."
The man chuckled at this which surprised her. She'd faced a few nobles in her life and most of them were annoyed, some even mad, by how she speaks out the honorific as if she wasn't worthy. But somehow, this man seemed amused.
She turned on her heel and faced the man who was now walking towards her, with panic rising in her chest, Erza instictively reached for the window to escape. She was stopped however by the man who was now grasping at her wrist, his face easily distinguishable.
"Y-Your Majesty?" Erza reflexively fell to her knees shocked at how things had escalated from bad to worse. There was no denying his identity with that undoubtedly blue hair and rather famous red insignia on his cheek and forehead. She still couldn't believe she was face to face with the most powerful man in the kingdom—King Jellal Fernandes of Fiore.
The redhead went pale and rigid.
"Forgive me Your Majesty. If I had known—"
"Surely my soldiers had warned you? Or have you come here and managed to avoid them? That would mean your intentions are already questionable."
"I have talked to them, Your Majesty, but they wouldn't let me in and provided no other explanation, so I...kind of found my own way in." She mentally slapped herself. Of course, they probably didn't want anyone knowing about the King's whereabouts for his own safety.
King Jellal didn't let her go. Instead he used his free hand to help her to her feet and remove her hood—scarlet hair a mess and drenched in the rain. Her skin, pale from the cold and cloak stained with mud.
His firm and unyielding, green eyes met her tired but determined brown eyes.
"Your Majesty—"
"A knight is just outside my room," he reminded her. "It'd be best if you keep your voice down. Now, what is your name and why have you come here?" The King continued to inspect her, checking for hidden weapons beneath her cloak.
The redhead reached for her purse and shook it for emphasis. "My name is Erza, a blacksmith of Magnolia and I left my money here, Your Majesty. Like I said before, I just came to retrieve it and nothing else. I mean you no harm. I'm no thief nor assassin." She spread her cloak, and turned slowly, revealing no weapons.
"Intruding inside the King's chamber is a crime punishable by death."
Erza turned white.
"Please I—" she practically begged.
"I can't let you go." Her heart sank.
"Stay the night."
"Your Majesty, I—what?"
"There's hot water in the bath. Take the other bed. As your King, I cannot allow you to travel all the way back at your present condition and in this unpredictable weather."
"I-I don't understand, Your Majesty." Erza was confused. Did she hear that right? She, a lowly subject, offered to retire for the evening and share a room with the King?
"You're not going to punish me? I could be a thief or assassin."
The monarch smiled at this. "You're not helping your case, Miss Erza—" he deliberately drawled her name out as if waiting for her to fill him in with her last name.
"It's just Erza, Your Majesty. I'm an orphan."
The King silently nodded, accepting her answer.
"I'm honored to have met you, Your Majesty. Surely you ought to be resting. I must go."
"You need rest as well. You're not to leave this room and that is final."
With that said, everything was set in stone. Erza couldn't believe what was happening even until she took a bath. As awkward as the situation was, the best she could do was spare herself and the monarch the least humiliation. A few minutes later when she got out, she found him sleeping on his side, facing her bed.
Erza was exhausted, a good night's sleep was all she ever wanted right now. But simply, she cannot take advantage of this. She walked quietly to the edge of the King's bed.
King Jellal was fast asleep. The ride undoubtedly wore out the monarch.
She stared at the King's face for a good long second before thanking him silently, bowing in the process. The descent down was easier than the climb. She reached the ground moments before the soldiers could spot her.
Erza could not shake off the image of the King sleeping soundly and so defenseless in his state. She briefly wondered how his kindness could cause his downfall.