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"Princess Lucy, His Highness has summoned your ladyship to his chambers." The maid bowed and said.
Princess Lucy was wearing a red silky sleeveless gown with a cape which contrasted her fair skin. Her golden hair was partly tied in a bun and partly kept loose with precious diamonds and pearls adorning it. Her neck was laced with a beautiful Ruby necklace with rare precious stones and diamonds. She wore arm-guards matching her dress on both of her hands which extended up to her fingers .She was indeed a figure to behold with, with her large beautiful eyes, thin lips and finely sculpted body with just the right height though she was a little short than the Queen.
She hurried to her brother's chambers knowing very well about facing his wrath. She knew him like an open-book - even well than the Queen or others. She and Laxus were the only persons who knew about the 'real him.' For all others, he was just a ruthless evil tyrant. But both knew that he really had a soft side inside which deeply cared for his underlings and would do anything to protect them.
She reached his chambers and told the guards who bowed when they saw her. "Tell his highness that Princess Lucy has arrived in response to his summons."
The guards went inside but came back out quickly. They gestured her to go in holding their heads down.
She immediately went inside and bowed to the King who was staring through the window on the moonlit sky and was now wearing a dark green long-coat under which a silver-plated armor was worn. His black pants were neatly tucked into his boots. A black cape was seen fluttering from his back-side. His azure hair was as unruly as ever and his reddish black tattoo above and below his right eye (which was the image of the royal crest) shone brightly when the moonlight hit his pale handsome face.
"Princess Lucy awaits your majesty's command." She said keeping her head low politely.
His hazel eyes softened a bit when he saw her. He went close to her, hugged her and kissed her fore-head. He was actually more than a head taller than her.
"Lucy, I am planning to fix your engagement with the King of Celestia. I hope you don't have any objection."
Lucy became thoughtful for a moment. She knew that none of them had ever had any say about their marriage. His marriage was a part of diplomatic alliance - a step to gain more power. Her second brother Sting's was also going to be the same. Then, why would hers be better? Deep in her heart, she knew that him and the Queen never went along well and was always pained deep inside to see their troubled marriage. She had also wondered that had it been a love marriage, then what would it have been like? She wanted to try that. But then again, she did not want to give trouble to him.
She put a fake smile on her lip and said. "Your majesty always knows what is better for me."
He held her chin with his two fingers and said, "I am willing to listen to you as an older brother. Do you have any romantic interest? If so, I won't go ahead with this marriage plan further. Don't worry even if he is a peasant or the lowest in our kingdom. I am willing to bend the law if it is for your happiness."
She smiled genuinely and said, "Older brother, never ever do that. If it is for the happiness of the kingdom and you, I would accept to do any sacrifice and I am even ready to lay down my life for it. I want to see you always as the Proud King of Fiore."
"Will you accept me as your older brother if you come to know the heinous deeds that I committed?" His voice was warm.
"Nobody could stay in power and enforce a righteous rule unless they are ready to dirty their hands. In the end, someone should be a scapegoat for the greater good, isn't it?" She had conviction in her voice.
"Like the others, do you hold me responsible for the fate of Simon and Mikazuchi household?" He asked curiously turning his back and moving a bit away from her.
Lucy thought a bit before replying. "Are you asking me this as a sister or as a Princess of the Kingdom? As a sister, I would like to see both of you together even at the cost of someone's life if it gives you some amount of happiness as I value you more than anything else. As a Princess, I would definitely condemn you for claiming the life of a subject whom you had to protect. "
"Clever, Lucy." He clapped his hands with a smirk. "Great diplomatic answer. It shows that if something happens to me, you are better to be the ruler than Sting."
A soldier knocked and came inside. "General Dreyar wants to see your majesty." He said politely with a bow.
"Ask him to come in."The King commanded and the soldier retreated.
"May I take your leave, your majesty?" Lucy bowed and asked.
"No, stay where you are." He ordered.
General Laxus Dreyar came in. He bowed to both the King and the Princess.
"What brings you here at this ungodly hour, Laxus?" The King asked.
"Lady Scarlet was reported to be missing and I heard reports of her being captured by your majesty. So, I was asked to inquire the truth."
The King arched his brow. "By whom? The Council of Lords or the Council of Ministers?"
"Until now, other than Lord Yajima, the palace affairs minister, no one else knows about this matter. As he is a friend of the Old King who happens to be your majesty's and my Grandpa, he shared this information with him."
"So, it was Grandpa who asked you to inquire, right?" He asked after drinking water from the earthen pot.
Laxus nodded to which the King replied. "She tried to attack me yesterday. I have to commend that lady's mad skills. No one else could have survived her assault had it not been me or any of the upper echelon Generals like you. But still, it was a child's play for me. I pinned her without much effort and presently she is being held a captive in my bedroom."
"Of course, your majesty could do that. You are known to be the strongest fighter in the country not without a reason. But I guarantee that, the next time we spar, your majesty is definitely going to lose." Laxus said with a playful smile.
"I would like to see that, dear Laxus. Right now, I hold the record of having the most number of victories in spars against you. But still, you always manage to put me on the edge during the spars. So, I would rather say that both of us belong to the same class." Jellal's face brightened up.
"But what do you plan to do with her, your majesty? If the council of Lords comes to know about it, there could be a violent uprising." Laxus was concerned.
Lucy who was silent for all this moment, slowly talked. "Can I see Lady Scarlet, your majesty? What if I can clear the misconceptions or the grudge that she has against you?"
"I would absolutely not allow that." The King's tone changed. "She has committed the capital offense of trying to assassinate the King. It won't go unpunished. It will serve as a lesson to others to not mess with the throne."
"But Brother, you love her, isn't it?" She asked anxiously.
"So what? She would be presented before the court tomorrow morning and the court will decide what to do with her." His strong voice quivered her.
She was about to say something but he raised his hands up and commanded, "Princess Lucy, you may leave now."
She bowed gracefully and exited the room.
Meantime, Laxus made a drink for him and King and offered to King which he readily took and sipped.
"Even though she is presented before the court, you will be deciding the verdict, isn't it, Jellal?" Laxus asked informally as they were both alone.
Jellal moved on to his previous chess board. He moved the King piece forward and left the white knight to its mercy. Then he slowly sipped his wine and said. "Nope, it is up to the court. But, rest be assured. I will be the one playing with those pieces."
Laxus let out a chuckle. "Then I would be eager to watch that for I hate those Councilors more than anything. They are just a pain in the ass."
"Mind your words, Laxus. Don't forget that you are standing before the King." Jellal said with a smirk.
"I apologize, my King. But tell me the truth. What did you do with her? Don't tell me that she is not a virgin anymore." Laxus had a glint of naughtiness in his eyes.
"Laxus, I have not fallen to your level to sleep with any lady I meet though I do technically have the right to do so with any virgin in this country by law. Moreover, her virginity is going to be my trump card tomorrow. So, why would I waste it?" He drained the entire glass.
"But mate, you need to have steely nerves to maintain your self-control before someone as beautiful and sexy as Lady Scarlet." Laxus refilled both of their glasses.
Jellal chuckled, "Self-restraint? I nearly broke it when I made out with her."
"So, you did lose it and here I thought you were an absolute gentleman before ladies. By the way, is Duke Scarlet there in the palace?"
"Yes, he is. He is confined to his chambers after the incident. If she resists in court tomorrow, I have threatened to execute him before her eyes in the courtroom itself."
"Will you really do it?" Laxus asked curiously studying the King.
"I have no qualms in doing it. Even though it might distort our relationship a bit, the lords will tremble before my command and never will they dare to stand up against me." Jellal chuckled darkly.
Laxus knew his cousin well. He had become a King rather early owing to their Grandpa's illness. He ruled with an iron-hand to stabilize his territories and bring the nobles under his full control. His policies helped common folk a lot and they actually thrived and prospered during his rule. He strengthened the military and expanded the borders thus increasing the influence of Fiore in the world.
"Did you know about the move of King of Frostia?"Jellal's question awakened him from his reverie.
"Did he start his moves on the border before our expectations?" Laxus became serious.
"Yes. I want you to deploy Major General Mira Jane Strauss and Sergeant Lisanna Strauss to abduct Princess Yukino Aguria. Prince Sting will do the needful. They will just have to provide the supporting role."
"Your majesty trusts that demon and her sister so much?" asked Laxus bending on a knee before asking to take the leave.
"Yes and General Laxus, you should not forget that she is your fiancée when you call her a demon",said the King with a smile.
King's Stately Bedroom
Queen Ultear made her way to the King's bedroom which was hers too. But today, she was blocked by the guards.
"His highness has prohibited anyone from entering his bedroom." The guards bowed politely and said.
"That does not include me. So, move. I need to take rest." The Queen was growing impatient.
The guards looked at each other. They knew very well that if they defy the King's command, they will be promptly executed. But they were saved by the appearance of a messenger. "Lord Fullbuster is awaiting your ladyship in your chambers."
Her face was brightly lit. She was actually longing to see someone from her family. She preferred it to be her brother than her father. She turned back and quickly walked to her chambers.
An hour or two passed quickly and the King came back to his bedroom. The guards bowed and made way for him.
He gazed at the figure now asleep in his bed. She was beautiful. Her scarlet hair accentuated her beautifully sculpted face. Every feature of hers was just perfect from face to neck to bosoms to waist to hip to buttocks to thighs to hands and legs. She could actually be called a sculptor's dream. He was enchanted by her beauty and mesmerized by her spirit. She knew that she would not be a match to him. But still, she tried her level best to uphold her pride! Now, that is what he would call a woman.
To crush her would be really interesting. To entrap her in an abyss from which she could no longer get out and thus forever remain within his grip seems too good to be true. He could have actually claimed her before her marriage with Simon as he knew her before that. But he did not do it. Partly believing that she would understand his unrequited love for her and partly because he wanted to see how she would deal with herself when her feelings are crushed which is why he ordered Laxus to send Simon to front lines where there was heavy war going and subsequently desert him by calling back the troop.
If it had been him in Simon's place, he knew very well that he would have returned alive even when he is a sole warrior in the midst of heavy enemy formation. So, it was his sick idea to show her who simply was the best for her- him or Simon.
She woke up and stared at him. Her chocolate orbs fumed with rage.
"Lady Erza Scarlet, the more feisty you become, the hotter you are." He went close to her and slowly stroked her scarlet tresses with his long fingers. She lifted her legs to kick him. But he held it tight within his strong grip.
"Still revolting, are we? Don't you remember our bargain? Your father, the Grand Duke will be killed before you, if you try to be over-smart." He whispered in her ears in his cool baritone voice.
Not a muscle moved on her face. She said with pride. "It is better to die than being slave to some power sick monarchs."
He was taken aback with surprise. Her nerve is just too awesome. He has to give her that. Even at this desperate juncture, she is not ready to forgo her ethics?
"What if I violate your body right now?" his voice was venomous.
"Oh! You won't do that. For your sick plans to succeed, you will definitely want me as a virgin." She hissed.
This woman - Lord, she is driving me crazy, thought he. If her court trial is going to get prolonged, he knew that it would not bode well for him. He might actually make her eat her own words by showing her what it means to be a real man.
"A real man is someone who protects and cares and not someone who assaults the weak and needy." She spoke as if she was able to read his mind. He was astounded by her ability. Lord, I want her so badly, thought he inside his mind.
"If you are even a real man, than show it to me by your deeds. I swear, I will willingly follow your command then." She said boldly.
This was the limit. He unsheathed his sword and pointed it to her neck. Blood started to ooze out as the sword had caused a scratch on her neck. But she was unfazed and smiled. "You are forgetting, King Jellal that I am foremost a warrior and only then a woman. Death by a sword is rather an honor to me. "
The King was at loss with words. Whatever he tried to do to bring down her spirit boosted her up. If his enemies among the Council of Lords know about this, they will ally on her side and together group up to bring him down. No, he should not allow that.
He put his sword back in its sheath and took out his whip. He thrashed her until she was not even able to utter a single sound. Then he threw the whip aside and leaned closer to her caressing her wounds with his calloused hands.
"Erza, we are now even. Our next confrontation will be in the courtroom and I will see to it that you understand what it is to be a King and what it is to be a subject. Until then, take rest." He slammed the door and went to the royal harem.
