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Hiro Mashima owns Fairy Tail
Lucy and Loke were on foot now.. just like the previous Heartfilia Residence.. the Junelle residence was HUGGEE and the private property could only be entered by foot..
They were walking silently together.. Lucy was holding onto Loke's arm and they looked like a couple… which made Loke verryyy happy.. he had a very blissful expression on his face…
After walking a while, they saw something approaching them and were surprised to find that it was a horse-drawn carriage.. the stagecoach driver bowed slightly to Loke and Lucy… of course Loke and Lucy versed in upper class customs.. bowed slightly back..
"The Duke has sent this carriage for you. You are the mage that accepted the job request yes?" The man said.
"Yes. I am the mage. Here, is my celestial spirit Loke who is accompanying me. Thank you for the lift."
The two mages entered the carriage.. and soon were being carried away towards Duke Sawarr's mansion… the trotting of the two horses were heard…
Loke eyed Lucy wearily… the closer they were getting… the further the Fairy Tail Lucy was fading.. and a different Lucy was taking its place… she was more alert.. more stiff… her face blank… her eyes… her beautiful eyes losing their sparkle…
"Lucy." Loke said sternly.
Lucy snapped out of whatever trance she was in. She looked at Loke and the sparkle came back just for a moment. "Yes.. sorry Loke.. did you say something?"
"What's wrong? You've been out of it every since I came here.."
"… Duke Sawarr…."
"What about him?"
"..He's the man my father tried to marry me off to… before he… we lost everything… he bought the Heartfilia Konzern…"
Loke's eyes widened… he frowned and looked down at his lap… "that's why…"
"Yea…. But.. I'll be okay.. I'll finish the job…" Lucy smiled warmly.. bringing back the Lucy he loved… just for a moment… before it was rudely interrupted…
The carriage abruptly stopped.. and the carriage doors were flung open… the driver was so quick on his feet! He lent out a hand towards Lucy…
Lucy was hesitant to take his hand… her expression back to the blank faced Lucy.
"Princess Heartfilia of Fairy Tail… I'll be right next to you." Loke whispered.
Lucy's eyes widened… "Fairy Tail… she thought of her family waiting for her.." and her eyes softened…. A smile crept on her face… and she gently placed her hand on the drivers's extended one….
From a window on the second story… he looked down at the front of his home… he was using a hand to push aside half of the long draped curtains…
A blonde woman stepped out of the carriage.. her curvaceous body was accentuated with every step she took.. she was graceful and confident.. quite different from the little girl he remembered…
He was amazed at how much she had matured over the years.. she… was a woman.. of course no man in Fiore didn't know of Lucy Heartfilia now.. she was the famed celestial mage of the whole Eclipse Gate incident… and it did help that most of the upper class society all knew of the Heartfilia name.
A orange haired man exited the carriage after her.. which made him frown… he clenched his fists.. and watched the two visitors enter his home.. he gently let the curtains fall down.. and disappeared from sight..
"This way please Ms. Heartfilia. We have a room ready for you. Will you be needing a room sir?" A butler led them through the mansion.
"No. It will not be necessary. Loke will not be staying over the night." Lucy said.
Loke slightly pouted.. knowing full well that he could not stay out from the celestial realm for too long.. fearing that he would deplete all her magic.. then a sudden shock overtook him.. his princess was alone.. in a strangers home.. with no one to protect her.. waves of horrifying thoughts were plaguing his mind now…
The old butler led Lucy to up some large wide stairs.. and through some hallways. Lucy was accustomed to such grandiose mansions and didn't seem that impressed... Soon, they came to a room and the butler opened the room for her.
She stepped inside… and her eyes grew wide….. it was just like her room at her Heartfilia mansion… the very room she grew up in… the bed.. the colors.. the furniture…
"Duke Sawarr thought you would be more accustomed to having your belongings that were at the Heartfilia mansion. He had them moved here today."
Lucy was shocked.. and she quickly stared at the butler.. "Duke Sawarr knew I was coming? He knew that I took the job?"
"Why yes. He had contacted your guild to ask who had taken the job request. He was quite pleased to find that you had taken up the offer." The old butler said with his hands together.
"Oh…." Lucy was still startled.
"I will send the maids to help you change and freshen up. The Duke is expecting you to join him for dinner and he will discuss with you then the terms of the job request." The butler left closing the doors.
Lucy was about to speak but the butler had already left… she hand up to stop him.. and it was still left in the air.. her mouth open to speak… but no words came out…
Sigh…..
A bright light appeared.. "Hime… May I assist you?" Virgo appeared
Lucy just stood in the middle of the room… frozen as she found herself… in the middle of a familiar.. yet unfamiliar environment… it was her old room.. in a stranger's mansion… something… didn't seem right… something warned her that this Duke Sawarr…. Was someone she had to keep an eye on..
"Lucy…" Loke said softly..
"Loke. You may go. I need to change.." Lucy said without looking at him.
"But Luce.."
"I'll be fine. Please… just go.." she said softly..
"Okay... call if you need anything…." And he vanished..
Virgo went to the closet and came out with a dress….
Lucy looked over at Virgo… and was shocked even more…
It was one of her old dresses…. Lucy quickly walked over and went inside the closet herself… she looked at every dress.. Every shoes.. every jewelry cabinet… everything… was hers… everything she had left at home… it was as if… she was taking a step back in time..
Laxus was on the train.. soundpod on his ears… he was looking out the window… trying to ignore all the girls currently giggling and walking by as they spotted the infamous Laxus Dreyar of Fairy Tail…
The level of annoyance was skyrocketing and Laxus really need to punch something…. when he met Lucy.. oh… he would make her pay… he smirked evilly…
He was agitated… she was taking longer than he would have liked.. he was currently sitting at his seat at the dining table.. of course he sat at the end of the long table..
Then he heard the doors creak open..
"Master Sawarr… Miss Heartfilia has arrived." The butler bowed.. and stepped aside to reveal….
Lucy Heartfilia. Dressed in a beautiful silk dress adorned with lace and frills. She had a lacy chocker around her neck. Her hair was done in a bun… and she had a pearl headband on. She definitely… looked like a Heartfilia.
Duke Sawarr stood up and bowed towards Lucy. She curtsied back.
The butler directed her over to her seat at the dining table.. taking her chair out for her and tucking it in for her to sit comfortably. Duke Sawarr finally sat in his seat again after the lady.
Maids burst into the dining room and soon plates of food were presented before them. And they began to eat in silence… that is until one of the maids began to play the piano… lightening the mood a little…
"Miss Heartfilia.. It has been a while.." Duke Sawarr spoke finally.
Lucy froze in the midst of her eating her steak. She looked at him and smiled.
"Yes.. yes it has Duke Sawarr.."
"It was quite unfortunate for us to…"
"I apologize but Duke Sawarr… Let me make this clear... I am here on a job request.. Whatever my father had promised you.. or said to you regarding an arranged marriage.. will never.."
"Lucy. I have no interest in marriage at this point. And let me make this clear to you as well. I strictly view you as a hired mage and will treat you as such." Duke Sawarr interrupted.
Lucy and Duke Sawarr glared at each other.
"Then what is the meaning of all this." Lucy demanded. "Why go through such extremes. Bringing all my furniture, clothes… everything from the Heartfilia mansion to here."
"I did it so you would feel at ease… I understand staying at a stranger's residence can be nerving for a lady such as yourself and since I do now own the previous Heartfilia residence.. I had everything moved here.. But seeing how ungrateful you are of my generosity.. I see that I shouldn't have moved a finger." Duke Sawarr said calmly.
Lucy stared at him.. he was… being nice? Thoughtful? What was this man playing at?
"I was hoping that we could be on amicable terms but now I see all you want is strictly business. Then just business it shall be. Miss Heartfilia. You are to join me every night of this week in the ballroom to prepare with me for the ball I will be having on Saturday evening."
Lucy remained silent. Watching him calmly…
"The reason why I had hired you.. is that I needed a mage to accompany me at the ball. I will be mingling with the most powerful and influential men and women from all over Fiore. They will be bringing their own mage body guards as a precaution and I needed a strong woman who was from a powerful and recognized guild.. a woman to be my partner but my own personal body guard in disguise.. and how fitting is it that you should come." He smiled gently.
"From what you have just told me… Duke Sawarr.. I will not be enough to protect you.. these guests of yours will most likely hire the best of the best. S-class mages. You should have specified in detail that you were seeking a female mage of higher class."
"But you are of higher class. Don't you see. You Lucy Heartfilia.. the daughter of Jude and Layla Heartfilia.. the once heiress of the Heartfilia Konzern. Every one of my guests have heard of you… but you are not just a Heartfilia… you are Lucy Heartfilia of Fairy Tail. The celestial mage that played a crucial part in saving all of Fiore at the last Grand Magic Games.. There isn't a person in Fiore who hasn't heard of you and your strength"
Lucy looked away.. "You exaggerate. You make me sound more than I am."
"No. You fail to see how tall you stand."
Lucy's eyes widened… she refused to look at him.
"Back to business." Duke Sawarr said as he took his napkin and wiped his mouth.
"My guests will see me… representing the Junelle… with you… Lucy Heartfilia of Fairy Tail…. And they wont even bother to try anything on my life."
"I'm flattered that you think so highly of me Duke Sawarr." Lucy said politely. She really didn't know what to think of him anymore.
"I always did Miss Heartfilia.. it seems that it was you who thought so low of me." Duke Sawarr said as he stood up from his seat and walked towards some large doors.
Lucy just stared at him wide-eyed… how did things come to be like this…. He was supposed to be the bad guy! The guy that tried to buy me off from my father! He was supposed to be a snobby aristocrat who had no heart! But… but.. this man…. Walking away…
She had a chance to get a good look at him now.. when she first arrived… she was too nervous.. and scared to get a good look.. but now….
There stood a tall man… with broad shoulders.. wearing a black suit.. and white undershirt… he had a simple black tie on.. his hair was brown... and he... looked surprisingly handsome.. he was young too.. she didn't remember him being so young.. but then again.. she never paid attention to him when she first met him..
"I will be waiting in the ballroom when you are finished. We will begin preparing immediately." He said as he walked through the giant doors..
Lucy's hands trembled.. she dropped her fork onto the plate with a loud clank… she was frozen.. she was being overwhelmed with so many emotions.. fear.. anxiety.. guilt.. anger..
She just wanted to run away… run away from him.. far away from this place…
Meanwhile.. Lisanna and Happy were walking happily through a town… Natsu lagged behind them… looking distant…
"Come on Natsu~" Happy said
"Yea Natsu! You're being a slowpoke!" Lisanna said teasingly.
"Sorry~ I'm coming!" Natsu said as he broke out of his deep thoughts…
He looked up the stars… the twinkling stars above… and the crescent moon..
.
"Luce… be safe…" he said to himself..