Authors Note: Hey Everyone. I have a good chunk of this story written and am going to upload more if people seem to like it. I've been an avid reader on this site for years and had published 2 other stories that I unfortunately did not continue. The reason for this? I wrote them when I was like 13 years old and that was a LONG TIME AGO *seriously, though*. I look back a bit and cringe at my writing so I cant bring myself to continue those stories at the moment, maybe a revamp one day. But I've since improved and am uploading a new story!
Summary: Lucy Heartfillia is a rich heiress with a lot of secrets. Her newest secret? She just agreed to marry a man she doesn't know for a price even the wealthy cant buy. NatsuxLucy
It wasn't like she had planned to fail her chemistry test. In fact, she would have aced it if she hadn't fallen asleep during the exam. However, Lucy Heartfillia had stayed up to an ungodly hour the night prior marathoning Supernatural with Sting at the hospital, and quite frankly she didn't care what her grade was in that class.
She was smart. So smart that she could take one look at something and have it engraved in her memory forever. Some would call this a gift, and in many regards it really was. However there were often times in Lucy's life that she wished she was born as normal as the idiot Sorano Agira who sat three rows down from her. Sorano's biggest problems seemed to revolve around which boy would produce the most suitable offspring, and her worst nightmare would be wearing lipstick that clashed with her outfit.
Taking another look at the giant "F" that adorned her otherwise unmarked paper, Lucy crumpled up the wretched piece of tree and stuffed it in her bag. She would have to remember to burn that before Mirajane saw it. It shouldn't be too hard to remember considering she couldn't forget something even if she tried.
Sighing, Lucy's eyes flashed towards the clock ticking unnecessarily slow at the front of the class.
"And so I expect you all to find a suitable partner for your first project before the week is over." Mrs. Blackburn's monotone voice interrupted Lucy's thoughts of escape. "For all you expecting to suffer from a lack of a substantial GPA, this is where you will make up marks that could assure you don't waste my time again next term."
Rolling her eyes, Lucy groaned at the thought of having to work with one of the idiots from her class. If she broke the entire class down, they would all fall into three separate categories. First, there was the herd of athletic males that would rather be playing with a ball than an equation. Then, there were the giggling social climbers, Sorano included of course, who Lucy was quite sure was only in the class flaunt their assets and to play with a very different set of balls. Finally, there were the GPA boosters who were actually there to get a good grade in order to move on to what they thought were bigger and better things.
"Make sure to have your partners chosen by Wednesday's class, that includes you as well Miss Agira." Mrs. Blackburn looked pointedly at Sorano who was trying very hard to get Footballer Trystan Blake's attention.
As if on cue, the bell rang out a long tone that signalled the end of fourth period and therefore the end of the day. Packing up her things, Lucy quickly exited out the back door and began making her way towards the parking lot where Mirajane would be waiting in her shiny black SUV. Climbing in, Lucy glanced towards Mirajane, a woman whom was hired by her more absent then not father to take care of her while he was away on business. Mirajane was in her early twenties; she had platinum blonde with startling blue eyes, and doubled as a personal assistant for Lucy's father Jude. Despite her age, the woman was scary good at her job, and excelled in perfection when it came to organization, cooking, and self defence.
Lucy had gone through many different keepers since a young age, as she had been the target for many bad organizations who wanted to kidnap her for their own personal gain. It wasn't just her skill of a perfect memory that made Lucy a target. In fact, most people didn't even know that she possessed the gift. Rather, the true reason she had been targeted was solely due to her family name. The Heartfillia family lineage could be traced back for generations and had become a global conglomerate when it came to the world's most technological advances. Ever heard of the internet? You can thank the Heartfillia family for backing that innovation. Not only did they possess great wealth, their intellectual prowess was known across the world and, as such, made them a large target for their competitors. It seemed genius just ran in the family.
"How was school?" Mirajane asked as she pulled out from the parking lot.
"Enlightening" Lucy replied sarcastically as they passed through the grand Fairy Falls Academy gates.
Fairy Falls Academy for the noble and gifted was an old establishment tracing its roots back to one of the original Fairy Tail schools of ancient the ancient roman empire. It was a sister school that had a few locations around the world where only the elite of the elite were permitted to enter. In Lucy's point of view, the academy must be lacking in the gifted department and instead seemed to be focussing more on the rich and spoiled for candidates instead. Her mind drifted momentarily back to Sorano Agira, a wealthy jewellery heiress who had trouble spelling the word cat in grade six.
"Your grandmother is expected to be in town this evening and wishes for your presence tonight for dinner." Mirajane informed her as she took a left towards the Heartfillia estate.
Lucy nodded as she pressed her forehead against the side of the car window. It was raining outside and the condensation on the glass cooled her forehead, calming her. The rain had always seemed to bring a great amount of peace to Lucy. Perhaps because no matter how much she stared at the millions of droplets falling, there was no way that she could remember the shape of every single one. It was one of the few things she could enjoy without it taking up more space in her mind.
It was almost six in the evening when Lucy decided she should start preparing for her dinner with her grandmother. Grandeeney Heartfillia was the head matriarch of the family and spent most of her days in France running the European branch of Heartfillia Enterprises. While the woman did not share her granddaughter's photographic memory, she instead possessed an uncanny ability to persuade people to her will. It was said she once coaxed a Prince to give her a title in his land just simply because she enjoyed a fruit that was grown there.
Growing up, Lucy had heard whispers from the servants that her grandmother had even aided in stoping the Cuban Missile Crisis in the 60's. While Lucy didn't know if that last piece of information was fiction or not, a shudder ran through her body that made her not doubt that she had a hand in it. She had experienced the "will of Grandeeney" before, and agreed that it was an ungodly power.
Looking in the mirror, Lucy examined her reflection to see if she was presentable enough to keep Grandeeney from insisting on one of her day long makeovers from hell. While it had been raining the last couple of days, Lucy's skin still carried a sun kissed glow from the hot weather leading up to the precipitation. Her hair, as blonde as was her mothers, fell just past her elbows; and her brown eyes, a gift from her father, stared right back at her. She wore a black spaghetti strap dress that flowed out just past her knees. It was a souvenir from the back of her closet that she had acquired when she was last forced to go shopping with her grandmother. While it wasn't really her style, at least it was comfortable and that was a large plus in Lucy's mind.
Walking towards the dining room, Lucy passed the many pictures that lined the hallway leading to her destination. On all sides she was surrounded by pictures of her ancestors, their faces engraved long ago into her memory since childhood. She could describe them down to the smallest visible mole and it made her smile to see similarities in her own features from them. A petite nose from her great Aunt, Grandeeney's sister. Dark, slender eyebrows similar to her great-great grandmother; and the golden coloured hair that her mother's picture portrayed. Stopping at the last picture before the door to the dining hall, Lucy smiled at the picture of her father. When she was younger she used to sit under that picture when he was away and was often found sleeping there by shocked servants in the middle of the night.
Letting out a defeated breath, Lucy pushed the door to the dining room and was greeted by the sight of not one, but two occupants. Grandeeney Heartfillia sat at the head of the table, a swinging necklace of pearls hanging loosely on her neck. She didn't look too much different from Lucy's memory. She still held the same smiling face and caramel coloured hair that Lucy remembered; her eyes smiling as if she knew something Lucy did not. Her grandmother never got that look on her face unless she was up to something. That fact alone made Lucy cringe a bit. An expression on her face clearly wondering what was the old bat up to now.
"Ah, Lucy. So lovely of you to join us" Grandeeney smiled as she motioned for her to take a seat across the other rooms occupant. There, to Grandeeney's left, was a young man appearing to be in his early twenties. He wore a pair of glasses that he straightened quickly before extending his hand to her. Grabbing her hand, he quickly placed a kiss on the top of her hand and bowed slightly.
"Hello Miss. Heartfillia. My name is Gray Fullbuster."
Nodding slowly as she withdrew her hand, Lucy's mind began to tinker at the young man's last name. If she wasn't mistaken, which she rarely was, the Fullbuster family was very notorious for their influence in the medical industry. They owned hospitals all over the world and ran the world's leading medical advancement labs. You couldn't walk into a doctor's office without seeing their name plastered on something in the room. From what Lucy remembered from watching the news, their company's stock had risen considerably in the last couple of months.
Noticing that her granddaughter had zoned out into one of her trademarked calculations, Grandeeney coughed slightly to remind her of her manners.
Falling out of her distraction, Lucy gave a quick "Hello Mr. Fullbuster" before taking her seat.
Sighing at her granddaughter's lack of self awareness, Grandeeney motioned for the maids to bring in the first course. The conversation turning into idle chit-chat between the older woman and Gray.
Taking a bite of her salad, Lucy sneaked a peek under her long lashes towards her Grandmother. While it was quite normal for Grandeeney to host large parties with many people, Lucy had never witnessed the older female to only invite one other guest.
The remaining courses came in and out promptly enough that within twenty minutes everyone at the table was sitting full and content with their meal. As one of the maids pulled away the last of the plates, tea was served to everyone at the table as the idle chit chat turned to silence.
Deciding that there was no more stalling, Grandeeney turned towards her will-full granddaughter with a twinkle in her eyes. "Lucy, now that we are all filled up there is something we must discus."
Raising her eyebrow, Lucy looked from her grandmother to Mr. Fullbuster and then back to her grandmother, wording a question without having to open her mouth.
"Mr. Fullbuster is here on behalf of the Dragneel family."
Grandeeney could practically see the gears of her granddaughter's brain turning a mile a minute to try and remember such a name.
Unfortunately for Lucy, the name did not ring a bell, so she would be walking into whatever conversation her grandmother had planned blind.
Taking this as his opportunity to interrupt, Gray Fullbuster swiftly pulled out a briefcase that had previously been at his feet during the dinner. Entering the lock code, the hinges flapped out swiftly as he pulled out a a thick stack of legal paper. Flipping though the papers he began to read its contents aloud to the rooms occupants.
"Upon the death of Igneel Dragneel, his last will and testament leaves his entire company, estates and monies payable to the grandson whom marries the granddaughter of longtime friend Grandeeney Heartfillia. If no marriage is made within a year from Igneel's death, the entirety of Dragneel estates will be sold off and donated to various foundations highlighted in appendix E of this document."
Pausing for a moment, Gray looked up from the document to take a look at Lucy's face. The girl looked rather calm for someone hearing that they were to be married within the year; he was at least expecting another one of her raised eyebrows that she was keen on using all evening. Instead, the fair haired girl turned towards her grandmother and smiled sweetly.
"Grandmother." She began. "I don't see why this person's will, a man whom I have never even heard of, has been granted an evening of your time. If that is all Mr. Fullbuster, it has been lovely." she finished, rising from her seat.
"Sit down Lucy." Grandeeney's voice cut through the room. "This matter is of utmost importance for you as it influences your future."
Taken aback by the unusual strictness in Grandeeney's tone, Lucy's own voice faltered out a response. "Why would this influence my future? We have had marriage proposals from multiple families thrown at us for my hand since I was a mere child, and never once had you even humoured the idea. Why now? Why should this man's will even be a consideration?"
Taking a long sip from her tea, Grandeeney thought carefully on her next choice of words.
"I had never considered any of those proposals because I had promised you to someone way before your birth." she stated matter-of-factly.
"When I was young, I fell in love with the man who left this will presented before you. Unfortunately for us, your great grandfather deemed him to be unworthy as his family held no value in our world. You see, he was a simple farm hand at the time of our first encounter. However, one day while out for a afternoon ride my horse had become spooked and decided to take off with me upon him. Igneel had been working in the fields training a newly acquired stallion when he heard by screams for help. I was a trembling mess by the time he got to my horse and coaxed him to calm down. He really had a way with animals that boy, it was as if they were drawn to the calmness he offered." she paused, taking another sip from her tea.
"As the months continued I came to love Igneel with the entirety of my heart. However my father became suspicious of my growing interest in riding lessons with the new farm boy. It was only a matter of time before he found out about my indiscretions with Igneel and fired him from the very stables he had loved so much. Within days of our relationship being exposed your great grandfather granted Lawrence Heartfillia my hand in marriage." she finished, her eyes unfocussed as she remembered the painful memory of her lost love.
A large bang echoed throughout the room as Lucy's clenched fist slammed down on the table top. "I am still failing to see how this tale relates to our current predicament grandmother." she seethed.
Sighing, Grandeeney continued. "Before I left the country to meet my betrothed, Igneel made a promise to me. He swore that if we could not be together in this lifetime because of our social standings, that he would spend his entire life dedicating himself so that his family would one day be able to walk as equals with mine. It was there that we promised our grandchildren, instead of our own children.
We realized if we promised our own children, that the relation was too close, and the chances of our significant spouses suffering would break our promise. You see Lucy, jealously can be a powerful thing. We understood that even though we were to live our lives apart, we still needed to remain considerate to those we shared our lives with."
Lucy allowed for the information to sink in for a moment. What she was getting from this conversation was that her grandmother was a fool who traded her only granddaughter on a whimsical promise made in her youth. Her hands rubbed circles in her temple to dissuade the ever growing migraine she was starting to get.
"I don't see why you didn't marry this, Igneel guy, to begin with if you loved him so much. You never had trouble persuading anyone to your will in the past grandmother." Lucy argued.
A sad look graced her normally smiling grandmother's features for a split second before being covered up with her usual charming smile. "Back then things were very different my dear, and your great grandfather was the one person in this world that I have come across whom bends to no one's wishes but his own."
Growing more and more angry at the situation, Lucy countered again. "You speak of not harming your spouses feelings with this preposterous proposal, yet if your husband Lawrence was still alive, would he not be harmed by this news? Is this not an insult to his memory?"
Getting tired of her granddaughter's remarks, Grandeeney snapped back. "I loved your grandfather with all my heart. While he indeed was not my first love, I did come to love him with time. He was aware of the arrangement that I had made with Igneel, and he respected that if my first love was able to keep his promise of entering our world, then there should be no reason for me to go back on my word. A Heartfillia does not go back on their promises he would tell me, and that made me love him even more."
For once, Lucy was at a lack for words. She was stunned that her grandmother was even considering this as a possibility, and was furious that this was the first time she had heard of such arrangement. Lucy wondered if her grandmother had hit her head or consumed some sort of freaky european plant that made her not think straight, a vast chasm of possibilities circling through her mind to explain Grandeeney's nonsense. Her grandmother must be off her rocker if she thought Lucy would take this laying down.
Just as her mind started to work again, the argument on the tip of her tongue was cut off by the feeling of a sharp prick going into her neck. Instantly, Lucy's body fell limp on the table as she looked up to see Gray putting away the needle he had used to inject her with.
"Oh was that really necessary Mr. Fullbuster?" her grandmother tisked as her granddaughter's eyes began to flutter.
"My apologies Ms. Heartfillia, but as you know time is of the essence." Lucy heard him reply as her eyes finally closed, losing the battle with the sleeping drug in her system.
DUN DUN DUNNNNNNNNNNNNN. Want more? Review pleaseeeeeeeeee