Heya guys!

I want thank everyone who has followed, favourited and reviewed on this fic, it really is appreciated.

Here's the new chapter...Enjoy!

Lucy sighed. Even though it was an exceptionally beautiful morning she couldn't enjoy it. The sky was a crisp blue, birds were singing excitedly and the general ambiance was lively. But today was the day she was going to meet her fiancé.

Laxus Dreyar. It was a name that carried a variety of her fears; leaving the only place she knows as home, growing up and being a woman, bearing children. It was terrifying. Just two days ago the only thing on her mind was how she could coerce Minerva into giving her an extra cupcake after dinner.

She quickly shook out of her thoughts, it was not good to think such dispiriting things.

Lucy stood up from her perch at the window in her room where she was staring out from. She had to bid everyone good bye. They were more her family than servants after all, each having influenced her upbringing greatly.

She glanced around her room in nostalgia, wondering when next she would return, if ever. The soft-pink walls had watched her grow, the lush cream carpets had always been there, the bed privy to midnight escapades of her and her mom as they read together; these things were constants. Take them away from her and she was floundering. Not the literal objects themselves, but the memories they carried. Her mom tickling her, her dad giving her piggy-back rides, listening to the soothing voice of her mother as she lulled her to sleep. These memories were all she had.

But these things had also been there when her mom died, they watched her cry for her mama, they watched her father become less and less of who he was. In a way, perhaps it was liberating having to leave them behind. Maybe she could finally move on to another chapter of her life.

Lucy forced a smile, determine to make the best of the situation. She still was going to try to end the engagement some way or another, but in the mean time she would try to grow.

She glided to the hallways, taking in the ornate hallways and rooms, trying to engrave them in her mind. She dragged her fingers on the rose-coloured walls absent-mindedly while staring at the portraits. She greeted everyone who was instrumental to her upbringing with a warm smile, embracing them and occasionally shedding a few tears. She would miss this place.

Lucy trudged out to the gardens, soaking in the sunlight and gentle breeze. Here was always her respite. She loved the feeling of the warm, moist earth between her toes and flower petals kissing her skin. She could never stay out long though, she hated bugs but they always seemed attracted to her.

Lucy made her way to the statue in memory of her mother and caressed it. Of course it was nothing more than a slab of concrete, but the emotions it invoked were rich. She associated it with good things and would many times come out when feeling particularly despaired.

She sighed. This was good bye.

"Lucy," Minerva called softly, interrupting her reverie, "It's time for you to get ready."

Lucy gave the monument one last glance then followed Minerva inside. Although Minerva was difficult to handle, she had always given Lucy a break when it came to her mom and she was extremely grateful.

Lucy went through the motions blandly, mind brimming with thoughts.

Her maids had set the bath water already so she just stripped and entered the tub. They lathered her hair while she soaked in the special water infused with milk and scented oils to make her skin and hair radiant. After they finger-curled her hair while it was still wet, she was laced up in her usual corset and dressed in an opulent, but surprisingly simple pale blue dress.

It dipped in a slightly daring scoop neckline, hugged her bust and waist before fluttering down to her ankles in a different style than what she was used to. Her dresses were usually flared at the hips, but she preferred this one. It was much easier to walk in, and she felt much more elegant than usual.

Her cheeks were dusted with a light red, giving her an even healthier glow, and lips lightly coloured in keeping with the innocent look. Lucy smiled at her appearance. At least she looked good.

Minerva eyed her approvingly while tucking an errant strand of hair in. She smiled proudly before clasping a silver necklace with a sapphire pendant around her neck.

"Let's go," Minerva said then turned abruptly.

"I have to say good bye to Father," Lucy replied while following her.

Minerva stiffened, "Your father did not request your presence."

Lucy's heart dropped. This was it. He wasn't even going to say good bye. She bit down on the inside of her lip. She thought he would at least send her off like a father would. Then again, how could she even think that? The man was heartless.

I hate him, she thought while suffocating the tears threatening to burst out. She followed Minerva to the carriage that was waiting outside without a backward glance at her home. For that moment she was glad that she was leaving here. Glad that she would not have to try to please her father anymore…that she had to leave that place that kept reminding her of her mother. She would make the best of her trip to her fiancé…she would run away when she reached there.

Lucy accepted the help of the footman to enter the elaborate coach that was waiting near the house. She greeted the coachman then settled in, knowing it was going to be a long ride to wherever she was going. For her not to know the name of her father's business partner when she was drilled with information pertaining to them meant that he was either not very prominent, which was not likely, or that he lived quite far away and her father and him only just started transactions.

"I have something to attend to, Lucy, I'll be back in a moment," Minerva called out to Lucy.

She knew Minerva was travelling with her, and she was glad. It meant that she could hold on to her governess for a little while longer, and she could pretend she was still a child.

She sighed and stared out of the window and up into the sky. That was something she was doing quite a lot these days: sighing. Lucy's attention was captured when she heard the gossiping of two maids. They probably didn't know that she was already in the coach.

"...Miss Lucy is marryin' that Mister Dreyar, I pity the poor girl. I hear' tha' he's quite the beast, if you catch me drift," the maid giggled.

"Yes, I hear' the same thing, there's a rumour aroun' the place that the las' Lady he's been with couldn' walk after their…interactions."

The two maids giggled again, but kept walking so Lucy couldn't hear anymore. She paled. No wonder Minerva refused to tell her much about her fiancé when she asked. He was a beast. Women were so scared of him that they could hardly walk after they spoke to him.

Dear lord, what was she supposed to do?

Lucy felt like crying. She wanted to run away from him, she had to run away from him.

Laxus Dreyar. A beast was her fiancé.