Erza had done an exemplary job of avoiding him for the past couple of days, she mostly sat in her room attempting to lock out the events that had recently occurred between her and the king… no, Jellal. There was no way around it, she really did care about him, But Erza wasn't going to be the one to tell him that. She knew he had only kissed her for the hell of it, and that he'd probably toss her aside like he did with most of his women, showing no emotion as he did so. Erza believed that the best remedy to alleviate this caring feeling was to not care at all.

The scarlet knight lay neatly on her bed peering up at the ceiling, she had lost track of how much time she had been laying there, it felt like hours. People were probably suspecting she was dead, but Erza didn't care. She sat up looking at her reflection in mirror that was on her nightstand. That was another thing, she wasn't a princess. The rules for marriage in Edolas where the same as the ones told in children's story books, the commoners marry commoners, and royals marry royals. No exemptions. The captain came form humble beginnings as a commoner and rose through the ranks of the military at an astonishing rate, working for the king was the closest to royalty she would ever get. Erza's thoughts began to lull her to sleep as she lay back down tossing an arm over her eyes.

"Captian… Captain." The voice of one of the servants called from outside her door.

The sound awoke Erza, she jolted up to a standing position grabbing one of her swords and pointing it towards the door.

"Captain Kightwalker." The servant called again. Erza relaxed at the sound of the servants voice, placing her sword back on the nightstand.

"Come in." The captian replied.

A petite and frail young woman wearing a fitted black dress and white apron entered her room, she smelled of fresh grass and rosy bushes. The maid was probably sent from the gardens. But why? Erza had a feeling she was about to find out.

"I have been sent here from the council to remind you that the Rehearsal Dinner for tomorrows coronation is to be held in the gardens at six o'clock. I also have a letter for you giving further details about the security measures that are being enforced at the coronation, since you are in charge of that part the council felt it was only necessary to give this to you." She said handing Erza a sealed envelope.

Erza snatched the letter and folded her arms over her chest. "Yes, I'm aware, the council wouldn't have just sent you for that reason tell me why you are really here." Erza spoke forcefully.

The maid spoke submissively. "I was also given the order to ensure your well being, you have been out of sight for the past couple of days. People are wondering where you've been."

"And might I ask who gave you this order?" Erza Questioned.

The servant swallowed roughly. "The King."

Knightwalkers eyebrow quirked. "Thank you, you may leave now." She said calmly resisting the urge to kill someone. In a matter of seconds the maid vanished out of the room.

Erza sat back down on the side of her bed as she opened the letter quickly. "Checking up on me huh?" She spoke softly to herself, sneering at the letter then crumpled it in her hands. "Disgraceful."

Not to far down the hall resided the Kings room. Behind its massive double doors was a flurry of Servants, Tailors, Seamstresses, and a few Royal Advisors all getting the King ready for tonights rehearsal dinner. The king was being forced to stand on a small carpeted stool as the Tailors stood around him admiring the outfit he was sporting.

Jellal hated all of this attention, he was never the type of person to be in the spotlight. Maybe because of all the time he did staying out of the spotlight when he was in earthland, but for whatever reason this was getting on his nerves. These Tailors had poked him with sharp clothes pins more than he could count! One more sharp prick and he could've killed someone. Luckily for him the fitting was over and he was able to change back into his usual attire once everybody left. Jellal relaxed into his chair, he hadn't seen her around the castle in a while. Ever since their argument it was almost as if Erza had just dissolved into thin air. She didn't come to yesterdays council meeting and the palace guards were more relaxed than usual. Her absence guilted him, why did he always have to screw everything up? His feelings always got in the way, thats why he rarely ever showed them. But there was a light at then end of the tunnel, it was tonight, she would have to see him there at the dinner. Jellal could only imagine the exquisite beauty she would be radiating at the rehearsal.

Once the Tailors finished tormenting the king they moved to bothering the captain. She along with several other higher ups were being dressed and readied in one of the large ball rooms. In this ballroom were what seemed like miles of tables piled with thread, vibrant cloth, and many other assorted sewing items. Sitting around the room were mobile mirrors and mannequins displaying this years latest formal designs.

Erza found herself being forced to stand on a small stool in front of a mirror as the Seamstresses ran circles around her, fixing the evening gown she was wearing.

"Alright Miss Knightwalker, you can turn around and see your dress now." One of the Tailors cooed.

Miss Knightwalker? She hadn't been called that in a very long time. Erza turned towards the mirror revealing a dark blue haltered dress that dipped low on her back. The skirt was short only reaching a couple inches above her knees, while the back of the skirt formed a long train behind her. The gown was completed with a thick blue silk belt that traveled around her waist and bare back. In the center of the belt were diamonds that looked to be arranged in the pattern of a shield. The scarlet knight was surprised not by the dress but by the fact that she looked good in it. Since she spent most of her days fighting it wasn't very often that you would see her in a dress. Erza wasn't the only one admiring herself, from what it looked like everyone else in the room was as well.

The current time was five forty five, guests would be arriving soon, Jellal thought as he gazed up at the clock in his office. A little while after the fitting he escaped here, in the hopes of finding something to get his mind off of tonight. It was going to be so awkward, what do you say to a person who basically rejected you? "Hey Erza, I tried to admit my feelings for you but then you rejected me, thats alright. I respect that. Lets just be friends okay?" That's exactly what he didn't want to happen! So many things were going wrong right now. Why was this so hard? Why did his feelings ruin everything. Why did he ruin everything? He peered up at the clock again.

"Five Fifty already." He sighed while standing. "Guess I had better get down there."

Once he got down to the gardens and all the guests arrived the dinner went off without a hitch. Between the exquisite food and superb wine all of the dinner guests were greatly satisfied, and for a short while so was Jellal. All throughout the evening his eyes were immediately drawn to his captain Erza Knightwalker. She looked stunning, not that she didn't always look that way, but seeing her in such a delicate state made his heart melt.

The dinner met its end and Coronation Day was the closest its ever been. As the servants escorted the guests and council members home, Jellal was the only person in the gardens left. He rose from his chair and started down a gravel pathway, taking an evening stroll before heading back inside the castle. He admired the thorny rose bushes and their passionate red. They were so beautiful just like the color of the captains hair. He couldn't help but smile when looking at the beautiful flowers, his ears perked when he heard the sound of footsteps walking along the gravel. Jellal looked up only to see Erza a few feet away.

"You sure have done a great job of avoiding me." He said.

"What did you expect?" Erza retorted. "I'm not just going to fall into your arms like all of those other women."

Jellal hung his head. "I don't blame you for keeping your distance."

"Why wouldn't I? It's pretty hard to do when you have someone checking up on you!" She said firmly.

He looked back at her. "I was only doing that because I care!"

"I don't need you to care! I can take care of myself!" Erzas voice was raising.

"Why are you acting like what happened between us a couple days ago never happened? Did that kiss mean nothing to you?"

"Are you saying it should have? Because it didn't." Erza said calmly as she took a deep breath. "Anyway we both have a long day ahead of us tomorrow, its best that we both get some rest."

Jellal overlooked the flourishing garden. "Yeah."

The two stood there for a while taking in the last few peaceful moments they would have for a while, not acknowledging each other in any way. Starting tomorrow things around this silent and peaceful kingdom were going to get crazy. Jellal and Erza both weren't ready for this change. But who would be, Jellal had tomorrow and only tomorrow to meet the woman he would spend the rest of his life with, build a family with, and let go of the one he already loved…. Erza. He defiantly wasn't ready for that.