The dawn was just rising when I got the news that I would be marrying King Rogue of a neighbouring kingdom, his father had died quite suddenly,
leaving him the crown, and now in search of a wife. My kingdom, the kingdom of Fiore had fallen into an economic crisis, and marrying King Rogue was the only way to protect my people and expand our land. At least that is what I was told.
Growing up a princess I knew where my duties lie. Our people come before our own selfish desires. Always. That is how we keep them faithful to us and how my family have stayed in power so long. But is it really that selfish to want to marry who I chose. To marry someone I love. Could my people forgive me for that.
"Princess Lucy, if you do not stop daydreaming we are going to be late, your fitting is in an hour!" Said a rather pissed off voice, instantly popping me from my bubble. "Honestly, staring blatantly out of the window at him isn't going to change your fate girl!"
"I know, I am sorry Lady Aquarius. It will not happen again" I said fiddling with the layers of my skirts as my cheeks reddened.
"Bullshit!"
I sucked in a breath, looking around to see if anyone had heard, Aquarius had been my Lady in Waiting for as long as I could remember, and my mothers before that, so our closeness allowed her to relax around me more than any of the other people in our employment. This normally ended up in a bright variety of language being used. By both of us.
"You are going to get yourself fired or killed by my father if he ever catches you! You know he could never abide that kind of language being used around me!"
"Tsk. Look at you being all prim and proper now you are engaged to a King. Pathetic really."
"Oh shut it!" I sighed, before moving from my perch by the window towards the open door, to where boredom awaits.
"The fitting was painful, in any meaning of the word. Being pinned and pricked and bored for an occasion I am less than thrilled for is not my kind of fun for a Tuesday morning. And Aquarius tittering sarcastically about how beautiful I look in the cream puff of a dress put me in a less of a good mood. At least now I have my freedom until my meal with my father tonight."
"Aquarius is quite a character. I quite like her," chuckled my pink haired friend. My best friend.
"Of corse you do, you like nothing more than to wind me up!" I laughed, tapping his arm in a playful gesture. I had met Natsu during one of my escapades outside of the castle wall a few years ago, had offered him a job, and we'd been best friends ever since. He seemed to always have the ability to cheer me up, and one look into his sparkling eyes, had me always trying to suppress a smile.
"I do it in good fun," he winked, flashing that killer smile at me that set my heart racing. I rolled my eyes in pretend annoyance, but i know he could see the corner of my mouth twitch up into a smile.
"So, what's the occasion? From what royal hell does the next visitor hail from?"
Oh shit. He doesn't know. How could he not know, he lives in the castle! I suppose the news hasn't traveled far yet. A relief? I'm not sure. I should tell him straight away but instead i say "Royal hell! Let me remind you a royal hell pays your pay check."
He laughed "only thanks to you Luce".
"Hah, you should be more grateful to me. If it wasn't for me you would be living on the street" the truth, in reality, but he could tell I wasn't being serious. I would never hold something like that over someone. Everyone deserves a home. Especially him.
"I hope this new person is better than the last, i know Lord Ichiya has high political power, but he gave me the creeps. There's only so many times a guy can be sniffed before he starts to feel uncomfortable" and then i just said it.
"Natsu I'm getting married." I blurted out, barely being able to keep it in any longer. I hated the next words that tumbled out of my throat like vomit. "It's a political marriage. My dad has arranged it. Its to help the country, I don't have any say in it" I don't why i was trying to explain myself. I'm a princess. It was a given that one day I would have been paired up with any random member of nobility, he probably expected it. And it's not as if we were together in that way, no matter how much i yearn for it.
"Oh. Thats great Luce," was all he said. He should have punched me. It would of hurt less.
