Hello everyone, I apologise for the break in updates and I want to say thank you for sticking through with me.
I had exams, but I am finished now so I should be updating more frequently. I really wanted to introduce Laxus in this chapter, but I didn't want to rush everything so it'll be next chapter.
Thank you again and Enjoy!
The ride was monotonous and boring. Lucy had brought a book along to indulge in but eventually found it difficult to read while being constantly jolted from the rough terrain. She was never let out to the house often so she instead turned to peering out of the little window to her right. The scenery was nothing different than usual with the flourishing gardens, looming gargoyles and such that was customary of the socialites and upper-class people, so that didn't capture her attention, leaving Lucy to wallow in self-pity for a little while.
Soon it morphed into poorer villages of which Lucy had scarcely seen before. She was initially shocked having been shut in the mansion most of her life but surprisingly, the people seemed happy, laughing and conversing eagerly like a family. It was astounding. Lucy had been raised in high society where persons hid their true intentions behind flickering fans and well-powdered faces. Nothing was ever what it seemed. For a moment, Lucy envied those people who seemed truly happy despite not living lavishly.
Lucy greedily observed the even more well-worn roads than normal and the tiny houses with homely back gardens that sprouted vegetables. It was all so quaint and the pang of envy in her heart changed into a terrible longing. She averted her eyes once more, since it seemed that even these lively sights were rousing her more depressing thoughts.
Lucy had taken to trying to name clouds and picking at the binding of her book to pass the time. She wasn't particularly inclined to make conversation with Minerva and it seemed the sentiment was shared since Minerva looked rather distracted and worried and hardly casted a glance towards her companion.
Lucy fidgeted in her seat, she was extremely uncomfortable, body aching from the long, bumpy ride without respite to stretch her legs. She didn't think that she would be able to properly greet her fiancé after this ordeal.
She glanced out of the window, now observing the tall, lumbering trees of the new terrain. The wide, awning branches blocked out the sunlight, casting the area into a creepy shadow, made even more eerie by the inhuman silence. The coach was moving much more smoothly now and the roads seemed shockingly well-paved for such a dismal path, leaving Lucy wondering if they were near her fiancé's mansion.
She switched her attention inwards to Minerva then, not wanting to look at the eerie stillness for too long. The woman was looking a bit troubled and Lucy only just dwelled upon it. It was a bit shocking considering the fact that Minerva was usually in control of her emotions and personal life, not that Lucy knew much of it.
Now would have been the perfect time to return to her book since the path was much smoother, but Lucy preferred to observe Minerva a bit longer. It would be a while again before she would see her and impending loneliness stabbed at Lucy's heart. Minerva had become her friend. Sure she was proud and a perfectionist, but she basically raised Lucy after her mother's death and her father's withdrawal.
Of course the other servant around the house played a major role in Lucy's upbringing but most of the time, Minerva was the one with her. Even though Lucy fell and dirtied her clean dresses when she snuck out to play in the gardens, Minerva would berate her but always helped her up. She was a tough-love sort of person, but whenever Lucy was drowning in sadness, Minerva had always raised her spirits.
Before she knew it, tears were welling up in Lucy's eyes. She clasped her dress tightly, looking away quickly. No crying. She was strong. She was a woman now, about to meet her fiancé. She couldn't be crying over her governess like a little girl.
Lucy suffocated her sadness then turned to Minerva, reaching over to the next seat where Minerva was sitting and grasping her hands. Minerva looked startled, recoiling a bit but relaxing after seeing the melancholic smile on Lucy's face.
Lucy opened her mouth to say something but Minerva spoke quicker than her.
"Don't. Don't say anything," her voice cracked and tears shimmered in her cobalt eyes in a startling display of emotion. Minerva paused, swallowing the lump in her throat then pulled her hand away from Lucy.
"No goodbyes now Lucy. I'm always going to be there for you. You can just write me," Minerva smiled while touching Lucy's cheek and brushing aside a tear, "Now, what have I told you before. A lady must always be composed. No crying."
Lucy chewed the inside of her lip and nodded, straightening her shoulders and folding her hands in her lap. Minerva gave her smiled at her reassuringly then looked away, the troubled look returning.
Lucy was curious but decided not to pry so she turned to the neglected book and began flicking through the pages half-heartedly. Her mind was on her fiancé. Although she was terrified of meeting him since - heavens forbid - he could be a short, perverted, balding old man, there was also a chance that he was handsome and kind. This was not likely though after the quite disturbing reports she overheard from the maids.
Lucy sighed. She just couldn't imagine what he would be like. She wanted to be optimistic and believe that all would work out fine and the time she spend with her fiancé preceding her runaway plan, which was yet to be formulated, wouldn't be too terrible. However, there was a niggling, more realistic part of her mind that debunked that.
She glanced outside again. More towering trees. The sunlight barely penetrated the thick weave of branches and leaves and there was slight chill in the air. If this wasn't foreboding, then nothing else was.
Lucy shifted uncomfortable in her seat. She was sitting for almost five hours. She could hardly feel her legs anymore. She closed her eyes and took a few deep breaths to calm herself, know that she was about to panic, what with the extremely long ride and the emotional duress she had been operating under for the past few hours.
When she felt suitably relaxed, Lucy reopened her eyes. Surprisingly, in the few fleeting moments she had retreated to her mind, the coach had left the dreary path and was pulling up in front of a gate. Minerva drew Lucy's attention by clasping their hands together, a slightly frantic expression occupying her face.
"Lucy!" she whispered harshly, "Promise me something! No matter how difficult it may be, please try to tolerate your fiancé, if only for a few months. Promise me!"
Lucy's brows furrowed, recoiling from Minerva as if her words physically harmed her.
"What do you mean?"
Minerva hesitated, casting a furtive glance towards the head of the coach where the coachman was. It seemed as if she couldn't tell her in case the coachman heard.
"Just promise me Lucy!" Minerva whispered again, tugging Lucy's hands insistently. Her eyes were pleading, creased brows marring the perfection of her porcelain face. She was biting her lip and her grip trembled.
Whatever it was that was making Minerva act this way must have been terrible. Even though Lucy couldn't understand at the moment, she would have to trust her.
"Alright Minnie, I promise," Lucy caved in, unconsciously reverting to a childish nickname.
Minerva's visage relaxed and she smiled in relief. She cupped Lucy's cheek then leaned forward and pressed a kiss to her forehead.
"Good luck, Lucy. You are a fine woman, believe in yourself!"
Lucy's heart stuttered then she positively glowed at the acceptance of her teacher.
"Yes!"
