A/N: I don't own Fairy Tail and this plot. The story belongs to Francine Pascal's Elizabeth Series. - Remember Sweet Valley? If you read the book you'll understand the story. The character used in this story is owned by Hiro Mashima, not mine. Cover image used credits to Milady666. Feel free to leave reviews; it would be very much appreciated.
Disclaimers: STANDARD DISCLAIMERS APPLIED.
One
"And this is the right wing of the Fullbuster House, where the earl's office is as well as the main ballroom and library," twenty-year-old Erza Scarlet mumbled, her voice was stiff with boredom. After all, showing people around Fullbuster House at the end of a hard day's work was barely Erza's idea of entertainment.
Particularly when that person was the new kitchen maid, Lucy Kissinger, a girl who already in her short acquaintance with Erza had proved herself to be pain in the neck.
Erza flashed Lucy a sullen look. The girl was annoying in the extreme, and then the way she looked: so fresh and scrubbed and pearly blond - even though she'd been caught out in the downpour just fifteen minutes ago. Everything about Lucy screamed earnestness, and Erza was not in the mood for earnestness. And she was especially not up for playing tour guide to some young blonde girl with title worship.
"What's the family like?" Lucy asked, her hazel-brown eyes shining with interest.
Title worship. Erza set her small, plump-lipped mouth in a hard line and quickened her pace as she led Lucy out of the ballroom and down the long corridor. Tch, only commoners could marvel over the myth of the aristocracy, and romanticize the royals. The whole thing disgusted Erza and made her want to slap the curiosity out Lucy's soft face. And a soft face it was. She's a girl next door type so sweet and sensitive.
"What are they like?" Erza repeated Lucy's question, her mouth twisting into a cold smile of contempt.
"They're like all the rest is what they're like!" She dashed down the corridor, enjoying the sounds of Lucy struggling to catch up. "The earl is a klutz and a bore and has a mouth like a chainsaw. Watch yourself or he'll bite your head off!"
Good, Erza thought, smiling inwardly. She'd visibly blanched at Erza's words. "And as for his children, Wendy and Gray, well, they're absolutely monstrous!"
Excellent! Erza couldn't help enjoying Lucy's expression. She was like a steadily deflating balloon. "If you don't mind your p's and q's around here," Erza continued, stamping on the stairs as she made her way up, "you're toast. Believe me; these people are as soulless as they are spoiled. They're a nightmare to work for, and the atmosphere here is one of complete fear. . . ."
As they walked around the mansion Erza threw in a few extra tidbits: The earl hated all the staff and wouldn't lower himself to look you in the eye. If you were ever caught using the main staircase instead of the servant staircase, you'd be fired without pay. If you were caught standing, the earl would fire you because he's paranoid about eavesdropping . . . .
Naturally she was exaggerating. Life in Fullbuster House was no worse than the life in the real world. Erza knew that all too well, and she dismissed an unwanted memory of being cold and hungry and being forced to wait in a smoky, smelly bar to wait for her mother.
"I'm not sure I can handle this," Lucy murmured, breaking into Erza's train of thought as they swept past a giant parlor and down a never-ending passage of studies and libraries. "The family sounds dreadful."
"I see you have good listening skills," Erza retorted caustically. "That will come in handy. Because every single day here you get lectured at, either by the cook, Mirajane or by the house keeper, Ooba Babasaama. Cana, acts as a Gray's confidant but more likely she's working under the earl. You don't have to worry; you'll meet the other staff's. It's a Fullbuster House tradition. Just like the zipped lip."
"Zipped lip?" Lucy looked actually worried now as they paused outside the billiard room.
"Zipped lip is the key to stay employed as a servant," Erza explained, trying to suppress a smile. "If you ever open your mouth and try to defend yourself while being accused of something, you're out on your arse, know what I mean? Speak when spoken to, not when spoken at, get it?"
"I - I . . . guess so," Lucy stammered, her eyes darting nervously from side to side.
"Remember, Lucy, you're a scullery maid now," Erza hissed as they pressed on and up to the second-floor staircase. "Wherever and whoever you were, or whatever it's called that you're from, you're just a girl with a sponge and bucket here. Got that?"
Let up a little, Erza's inner voice protested as Lucy looked more and more dejected with each harsh word from Erza's mouth. Maybe she was spicing them up a bit, but there were certainly Fullbuster rules and regulations to follow. But Erza felt strongly about her work: which is to say she detested everything about Fullbuster House and the family who owned it. And she wasn't about to talk them up to some new servant-to-be.
Lucy Kissinger. Please. Erza snorted seeing Lucy's pretty and privileged face. She's a bonny. Not to mention those hands. ("Yes. I'm familiar with kitchen work . . . .") Erza shook her head. The girl had never touched a mop in her life!
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"Erza?"
At the touched of Lucy's cool hand on her arm, Erza stopped her fast-paced and reluctantly turned. "What is it? We have a lot of ground to cover, you know," she snapped.
"I think I may be in too deep," Lucy replied at once, her eyes clouded with worry. "Really. I think perhaps you're wasting your time giving me the tour. Sounds like I won't last a minute."
Half amused and half annoyed, Erza swatted her arms away. "Relax!" she replied with a dry laugh as they passed the earl's sumptuous suit. "You commoners believe everything you hear. Trust me, you are actually allowed to breathe here!"
Lucy felt relieved and managed a small smile on her still fearful face. Which made Erza smile, a secret smirk she didn't want Lucy to see. This was exactly where Erza wanted her. Not too terrified, else she'd quit. And where's the fun in that?
No, Erza didn't want that. For one, they needed another scullery maid, and also she wanted Lucy to stay because it might be mildly entertaining to watch Miss Girl-Next-Door to make faux pas in front of the Fullbuster's.
"You'll be fine," Erza said coolly as she guided Lucy up to the third floor. But she didn't want Lucy to get too comfy. "Yes, you'll survive," Erza repeated, "but overall, you'll don't have a too easy time here. Might as well be honest about that!"
"Well, okay, but if you think I'll make it through." Lucy smiled shyly. "I mean, if you say so, then maybe I will."
Oh, she was just so coy and sweet. "Didn't say that," Erza muttered back. This girl might be trying to befriend her. And Erza did not need a friend. She had important things to do, and she needed to do those things alone.
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Remind me again what am I doing here? Lucy asked herself. This girl, Erza Scarlet, she's very strict and I have a feeling she doesn't like me. I'm sure; I'll have a hard time befriending her. She called me a commoner, if only you knew. Lucy Heartfilia, Kissinger! Lucy corrected herself.
I had to take the only job was offered, I, as a kitchen maid in an earl's mansion. This is so nineteenth century. Great Lucy! You still have the guts to complain. But I was desperate. I'm over miles away from home with no money, no friends - and nowhere to go. So maybe working as maid would not be that bad. Erza's voice echoed along the hallway as it broke Lucy's stream of consciousness.
"On your left, the earl's infamous son Gray's bedroom." Erza returned to her tour-guide program. "As you can see, it's positively palatial. Bitch to clean too, with all that leather everywhere. Luckily that's not part of your job or mine. Only kitchen for us."
"How long have you been working here?" Lucy ventured as Erza strode purposefully toward the third-floor servants' staircase. Oh great personal-chat time.
"Six months," Erza barked harshly. A life sentence, she thought. "But I'll be out of here soon," she added with certainty, lifting her chin. Though of course there's a lot to be done before she could get to that point. She had to -
THUD!
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"Pardon, sorry."
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Red-chan corner: Who do you think did Erza and Lucy bump into? :D
A/N: The story is inspired by Francine Pascal's Elizabeth Series. The story line is exactly the same as the book. I really wanted to write it as my own version of the Elizabeth Series - that's when Fairy Tail came into picture. Still, disclaimer is highly applied. But as the story goes you'll find that there is a twist so hope you all bear with me. ^o^
As you can see, I revived Gray's deceased father in this story and I made Wendy as his little sister. What do you think about Lucy's new surname "Kissinger"? :D I wanted it as Scherzinger but it's too long. Or just Hertz but her identity might be exposed. XDD
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