Lucy's POV
"This isn't much really," Levy mused as she dusted stray specks of dirt from the rusted sword handle she gingerly held in her hand, the filth staining her once pristine white cotton gloves. "No stamps showing it to be the work of a certain smith's. For all we know this is merely from a battle fought by the known kingdom that once stood near here.
"What have to find something, "I mutter, "and you of all people would know this place has to exist."
"Perhaps, but one can't construct their theories on the accountings of their own ancestors," she sighs.
We had dedicated the last three years of our careers digging and going through the land with a fine-toothed comb. We searched for a lost kingdom; evidence of a monarch that had history pass by him. So far we had come up with mostly graves of those who did not have a monument for their kin and weapons of war. Most of the weapons seemed to have come from the kingdom kilometers away from where we dug was due to the stamps placed on them.
Many now think where we are was merely marshland d or even a cemetery for the kingdom, made to bury those who had died during times of famine or disease. I reject those assumptions. It was an annexed artifact found in my archeologist of a father's study. He had found the crossbow bolt buried into a breastplate of a knight. It was from the sixteenth century, it coming to a point like a jerkin and not being a simple curved plate used in fifteenth-century armor. He had found it where we dug today. He believed there was another story than a mere war fought by already known kingdoms. That was due to the odd stamp on the inside of the armor. It looked quite odd. It was simpler than most seals. It looked like a flame to me. My dad always thought this was a lead to finding a new kingdom. I feel the same now.
Levy also became another hope along with my father's discovery. After my father telling me of the fateful dig, I became even more entrenched in middle-age history than I already was. By the time I was in college, I was dead set on furthering my father's exhibition. I met Levy at a lecture; I was going for my studies and she came out of interest. She started college with the idea of becoming an English teacher but changed her major to archeology and medieval history. She became a spark due to the casual mentioning that her ancestor had been a librarian of a castle's personal collection. She mentioned a kingdom I had never heard of and have failed to find works on. Fairy Tail was its name. The name was absurd and I thought she had been bluffing until she came forth with an old journal. It was held by threads and the pages were worn and colored by age. It was the entries of a woman named Levy. I later found the woman was Levy's namesake. She talked of an aloof princess, a bookish and poetic prince, and a princess who was to marry said prince. The librarian befriended the princess who just arrived. Levy never let me read the last entries. She also was able to help me figure that the seal was actually a fairy with a tail, hence the name of the kingdom.
Fairy Tail was in the midst of a merger between another kingdom it seemed, for having a princess arrive would be peculiar unless she was a prisoner. Yet, I don't think a prisoner would be allowed into the library. What it made me note was the kingdom close to where we were had had two princesses. One who at some point went missing; she was the eldest child of the king of the Tartaros kingdom.
"One can't reject a primary source," I retort after a moment. She waves me off, returning to logging our findings.
"Point taken, but how can there be any gain of finding another population?"
"If we figure out how they fell, it can possibly lead to figuring out how Tartaros rose to power. They suddenly seemed to control half of the once thriving continent of Fiore. That can't just happen!"
"How could this kingdom existing answer that?" She interrogates.
"It could change the timeline of history," I exclaim.
"History doesn't change. It's made and discovered," Levy hums.
"Oh suck it," I mutter.
Suddenly one of the diggers run into the tent we were in. "Doctor Heartfilia! Ms. McGarden! We found something!" He loudly declared.
We dropped everything and sprinted to the square where he was digging. I see several others gently brushing the dirt off of an object. Peering in and actually taking it in, I see this wasn't supposed to be here.
"This is…"Levy gasps as she climbs down to get a closer look.
"I don't think I've seen something like this," I gape.
"It's a grim day," Queen Juliet sighed as she started off at the garden from her throne.
"How is that so, my lady?" King Laurence smiled. "Our daughter is now of age!" He leaped from his throne, jeering like a jester, but no servant dare chuckle. "She may find a husband! We must find a fitting man." He rubbed his chin, fingers noting the slight stubble. "Maybe she could marry the Middle Eastern prince, Prince Ali? A far away land as an ally could gain us imports from foreign countries."
"He's an arrogant flap-mouth," Juliet whispered, no one catching her bitter tongue. She followed up with a rejection of, "he's too young. Their coming of age is years younger than ours. Besides, his uncle is more likely to gain the throne due to the questionable circumstances of Prince Ali's conception."
Laurence huffed. "How about Prince Laxus from Raven Tail?"
"He's hardly a prince; he's more of a brute. Besides, they're fighting a losing battle against Fairy Tail. They would use our resources to up their cause."
"Ah! Fairy Tail! The prince is of age and I hear he is a gentle and honorable man," Laurence told.
"Well yes. He is Edward's son," Juliet agreed.
"Exactly. He honors his father and from words, he's looking for a wife currently." Laurence sat back down on his throne. He rubbed his fingers over the purple velvet on the armrests.
Juliet sighed dismissively, knowing that she had little place to protest in this case. Fairy Tail was strong, and it would allow them to rule over the hills framing their kingdom, and for Mirajane's interest to be peaked, the boy was one desired by many princesses alike. Even the young girls working as merchants, servants and farmers had found the boy a sight to behold. His father was the same twenty years ago. He and his brother Ivan could've had any woman they desired. Edward almost had Juliet, and many found her beautiful for lasting youth and her sapphire blue eyes she had passed on to all her children. Fairy Tail's army was also strong, almost stronger than Tartaros' kingdom. It could be join or be overthrown.
"Yes, if he'll take her," Juliet whispered to her husband.
"Why would he not? She had eyes more brilliant than the importing sea. The always mused Shakespeare could not find someone more divine. After all, she is your daughter, Juliet." He chuckled gently, amused that his wife retains the name of the fictional Capulet. He always felt like County Paris when she was being courted by Edward many decades ago. Yet time came and Juliet had the place of Rosaline. She was disregarded for a new love. Now she was his Juliet, minus the tragedy.
"At least, you amuse yourself," Juliet sighed and placed her hand on his.
"You slay me!" He grinned and pulled her hand up to his lips, him kissing the back of it. "Don't you know how risky a game it is to kill the king? My madam, you're in check!"
"May I say 'mate' as well?" She laughed and she kissed his lips. As chapped lips molded to her soft ones, Laurence's callused fingers brushed the porcelain cheeks graced by autumn's coolest color. The color allowed warmth to radiate into his nerve-killed thumb, severed from certain caresses due to an age-old oath to a man who has yet passed but the swear still was tucked in that skin. Laurence also held the secrets of Juliet's body, but those nectar words brought alive touch instead of killing it and blood to rush and not to spill. His soul mixed with hers in this kiss, more binding than any blood oath.
The part from the physical vow was an annoyance. The crash of opening doors as a servant marched in. "Lady Mirajane is on her way, your Majesties!"
"Thank you, Marcel," Laurence sighs, dismissing the bowing man. The servant left quietly, and barely a moment later. A woman with silvery white hair and a face glowing with youth stepped into the throne room. She wore an imported silk dress with floral designs embroidered with gold thread. They contrasted beautifully with the emerald green silk of her dress. Her head bowed slightly as she spoke. "You wanted to speak with me, father?" Mirajane asked quietly, cutting to the chase, knowing pleasantries would just be ignored.
"We would like to wish you a happy birthday, dear," Juliet chimed.
"Thank you, mother," Mirajane replied kindly. Though, this was not a happy day. She knew what was now in store for her. She was to marry a man of her father's choosing and bare kids until she produced a male heir. She felt that there had to be more to life than that.
"Now, you know that entails new responsibilities. Soon we'll be picking your fiancé," Laurence announced.
We'll? Yeah, you and the prince or king you pick. You'll choose him, then he has to choose me, Mirajane mentally retorted; she would never talk back like that.
"Yes father," Mirajane breathed, making sure to put no attitude in her tone.
"Good!" Laurence clapped his hands together and stood. He walked out, several servants following suit. "Mard Geer! Send a message to King Edward and say I wish to have Edwardson and Mirajane meet. Come what may and create marriage I pray!"
"As you wish," Mard Geer mumbled and walked out slowly, eyes lingering as he passed Mirajane. He always seemed malicious. He was a scribe, often writing and copying documents, contracts, and letters for Laurence. He knew so many secrets. He could do so much damage, and he knew that. Now he was going to write the letter to seal her fate. A fate she could not see anyone wanting.
Mirajane shivered as the doors shut behind Laurence with a thundering click. Upon the door closing, Juliet stepped towards her daughter and pulled her close. "Oh, my darling…"Juliet knew this was a life her child dreams not of. Lisanna did not possess doubts, but Lisanna and Mirajane were two different women.
"There's no need to pull me to your bosom as if I'm a child who fell from a tree and now weeps," Mirajane sighed. The scent of flowery oils and the incense burnt at the cathedral filled her nostrils. Her mother was a religious woman. The small had been smoked into all her clothing and the perfumes were made by the queen herself. She was of royal class, but she had at times the mannerism of a commoner. She tried to teach that to her kids so that they may more understand those they ruled. Sadly, that gave Mirajane her rejection of her duties of a princess, even if the girl submitted and followed them.
"Yet you do not push me away," Juliet teased. Why would she? She enjoyed the sweet scents. They had always made her feel safe.
"I fear that men will me not worthy to be their bride," the princess sighed. Her father would be livid if she failed to get a man to want her hand.
"Nonsense!" Juliet brushed aside the hair that got in the way of her daughter's eyes and pressed to her lips to her forehead. "A man would have to be lame to not see your beauty as worthy his hand."
"What if he is not worth mine?" Mirajane inquired.
"Your father would never pick a man not worthy of you," Juliet promised.
It took less than two days for King Edward to reply. For the next fortnight, the two kings exchanged letters until Laurence finally gave news to his wife. "He wishes for her to travel to Fairy Tail to get to know Edwardson," Laurence announced to Juliet.
"She's never left the kingdom," Juliet chirped.
"Well, there's an exception right now," he cut. "Now, tell her the good news!"
"Why must I handle the important matters?" Juliet sighed as she got up.
"I am picking her future husband; you're just telling her and helping her prepare to leave."
Juliet cracked a smile. "My point exactly, dearest." She left before Laurence could give a rebuttal. He was a good man usually, but he had tunnel vision when it came to the kingdom. It was a pity Mirajane was now put in the dark and ignored when it came to the future of Tartaros.
She peered around the halls as she walked towards Mirajane's chambers. The day had just come, dawn in full swing and midday not for hours. Upon walking in, she saw Mirajane sitting at her mirror. Sunlight glinted off the silver brush held in the girl's—though Mirajane was technically a woman now—unmarred hands. "Mira-"
"I knew it was a matter of time, mother. Which kingdom will I be going to?" The girl didn't look at her mother directly.
"You're treating this like the gallows," Juliet laughed, her voice flat.
"I want to fall in love. Not get married." Mirajane moaned, "wasn't the idea of marriage for love and not money and power?"
"I love your father," Juliet argued. "You'll be meeting the prince first. Love might blossom in your time there." Juliet moved closer. "You'll be going to our neighboring kingdom of Fairy Tail."
"Edwardson is the prince's name, right?" Mirajane interrogated.
"Yes. He's a spitting image of his father. He's honorable and smart. He's not a bad warrior, either," she hummed, snatching the silver comb clip from the dresser. She pulled back the bangs her daughter always had in her eyes and tucked the cob in her hair to keep them back. She arranged the threads of gold over her daughter's head. "He's your best suitor around here darling. Unless you desire a king?"
"Oh no!" Mirajane cried, the idea making her stomach churn. King's only married princesses under a special case. Usually to replace their spouse who got too old for their tastes. "I'd rather a man more my age."
Juliet chuckled at her daughter's reaction, escalating to a giggle when she saw her eldest child pout. "Aren't you a little too old to pout like a child denied sugar?" She twisted Mirajane's hair and wound it into a neat bun. She grabbed the hair stick she had given her daughter for her birthday. The body was silver, but the end that held a pink pearl was gold. "You're a woman now, darling," she whispered, suddenly serious. She smiled gently and tucked a small lock of hair behind Mirajane's ear. "A beautiful one at that."
Mirajane smiled at her mother. "You're just saying that because I'm your child."
"Oh no. I wouldn't like to you." She looked down at Mirajane. "Oh how I'll miss you." Juliet hugged her daughter close.
"Time will fly, I'm sure," Mirajane sighed.
"But if this works out, I could never see you again," Juliet mourned.
"I don't think that'll be a problem."
"Hope darling. Hope and pray. God has a plan for you. Don't forget that." Juliet pulled a golden chain with an emerald cross on it from a pocket in her dress. "Here's something to give you some security." She put it on around her daughter's neck.
"Thank you, mother," Mirajane smiled.
"Enjoy your time out of the kingdom." She kissed Mirajane's forehead before leaving.