Chapter 3

*Notice* - I made a poll for everyone to vote if I should write one for Gray and Rouge as known as their own routes. So feel free to vote if you wish.

Also I'll be busy these few days so that's why I won't be able to update for you guys, but if I at least have some time I'll try to write it and update it.

Disclaimer - I don't own Fairy Tail or A Knights Devotion

Italic is like when the narrator speaks or Lucy's thoughts

Recap -

"I promise I will stay by her side no matter what. Is that all right, milady?" Sting asks me.

"Of course." I answer Sting.

I feel hesitant at being treated like a Princess and am filled with anxiety about my journey into the unknown, but the only thing I can do right now is trust Sting and surrender myself to his guidance.

Chapter 3

~Lucy's P.O.V~

After a few hours in the swaying carriage. We finally reach the next village. The knights start to carry our luggage into the inn.

"Oof!"

I pick up my bag with both hands, but it's suddenly taken away from me.

"I'll carry your luggage Princess." Sting says taking my luggage.

"Oh thank you. This town is really busy. There are so many shops. It's really lively. Isn't it?" I say it Sting.

Since I've barely been out if Kanai village. Everything I see is fresh and exciting. There are rows if bread and sweets.I 've never seen before in storefront windows. The people walking through town are dressed fashionablely, and I can't take my eyes off them. (Lu thought)

"Is this your first time in this village, milady?" Sting asks me.

"Yes, I've heard a lot about it, but I had no idea it was so wonderful!" I answer Sting.

"After we put down the luggage would Your Royal Highness like to take a look around town?" Sting asked me.

"Oh! Is it all right?"

"Of course. It must be stifling to be surrounded by us at all times. " Sting answers me.

Sting peers down at my face and grins. (Lu thoughts)

"I'm just happy to have so many people to talk to. " I say

"...Are you sure you're not forcing yourself?" Sting asks.

Sting peers at me with a worried look on his face . (Lu though)

"Haha, I'm serious. Everyone's so different. Time really passes quickly when we're together." I answer Sting honestly.

"I feel much better hearing you say that milady." Sting said.

Sting smiles gently. (Lu thought)

"Walking around town will be a nice change of pace, milady. I will accompany Your Highness of course." Says Sting.

"Thank you" I replied.

Sting smiles quietly and Gray comes up beside us . (Lu thoughts)

"You two are having a fun little chat, aren't you? Let me come with you!" Gray suddenly says to me and Sting.

"You must have very good hearing." Sting says to Gray.

"I can always pick up on the voice of a pretty girl." Gray says in a teasing tone.

"Sigh... Just don't cause any trouble for the Princess." Sting tells Gray.

"Yeah, yeah." Gray said to Sting.

Gray says, brushing off Sting's warning.

"Princess, Gray and I shall accompany you into town." Sting then tells me.

"Yes, thank you!" I say while looking at Sting and Gray.

After we set down our luggage, we go out to see the town. There are all kinds of rare foods, goods, and clothes. I've never seen before in Kanai Village. My chest begins to hurt from sighting in wonder at each new thing. I wish I could have gone on a journey like this with Grandma. Now that I think about it. I never got to take her anywhere.

"Who are you buying that cup for?" A girl from the store asks another girl.

"Mother, She's feeling down after her favourite cup broke yesterday." The customer responds to the girl who's working.

I hear two girls chatting together at the general store. That's right I should buy something to send to Grandma. What should I get? I think for a while and an image of Grandma in the kitchen wearing an apron springs to mind. I'll get her an apron! I'm sure there's a wonderful one in this town! I visit various shops with Sting and Gray. However I can't seem to find an apron.

"I wonder where they would be?" I suddenly said out loud.

"What are you searching for milady?" Sting asks me.

"An apron.." I answer Sting.

"I bet we'll find one in there." Gray says.

Gray points to a shop that has some kitchen and clothes in it. Wow there are all kinds! Which one would suit Grandma best? I begin to look through all the aprons when...

"I think you'll look good in this one, Lucy." Gray said.

Gray points to an apron with a flashy loud pattern on it.

"No, this one is more suited for a princess." Sting says holding out an apron to me.

Sting picks up a tidy white apron.

"U-Um.." I think they are mistaken for my reason of buying an apron.

They don't understand that it's not for me, but they're so wrapped up in their argument they don't even hear me trying to speak up.

"You have terrible taste, Sting." Gray says to Sting.

"Why? I'm the one who can't understand YOUR tastes." Sting says arguing back to Gray.

"The Princess will look best in pure white!" Sting explains.

"No. no. This bold pattern will really bring out Lucy's pale skin! You just don't know anything about Lucy. Do you?" Gray replies back with.

"What did you say!?" Sting says sounding a bit angry.

"White's a pretty meaningful color, huh?" It's almost like you want to make girls completely blank so you can turn them whatever color you like!" Gray says with an almost angry voice.

"Enough! Stop bring so rude in front of the Princess!" Sting says trying to hold in his anger.

Sting's cheeks redden. Seeing this, Gray begins to laugh uproariously.

"Ahaha! Look Lucy! Sting's blushing! He NEVER blushes!" Gray says with laughter.

"Come on. Gray nobody asked you!" Sting says feeling embarrassed.

I look at Sting and...

"You really are bright red," I say to Sting.

"I know I shouldn't let my emotions show so much..." Sting says still blushing.

Sting says with a sheepish grin and scratches the back of his head.

"Anyway Lucy. Which apron do you like the best?" Gray asks me.

"Um, actually... I'm looking for an apron for my grandma..." I answer back.

"What!?" Gray says sounding surprised.

"For Lady Mavis?" Sting says surprised as well.

Both of them exchange embarrassed glances. They hurriedly put back the aprons and begin searching for others.

"I think Lady Mavis would look good in a pastel apron." Sting says.

"I think a bright pattern would be better. It might take her mind off her loneliness since Lucy is gone." Says Gray.

"Does Lady Mavis prefer a more simple design? Or one with some frills?" Sting asked me.

Both of them are so serious as they look through the aprons. I can't help, but think how cute they are. I look at the shop across the road and see that they sell aprons there as well.. I'll go look in that shop! I walk away from the knights and look at the apron in the shop across the way. Oh, this one is so pretty! This one will look good on grandma too!

"Sting, Gray...Which one do you think would look best on Grandma?" I called out to ask which one they think looked best.

I turn around with both aprons in my hands, but both of the boys are gone from the last shop. I look all around, but can't seem to find them. Oh no, I lost them! Just then...

"You're really cute!" A man says to me.

"What's your name?" Another one of the men said.

Two roguish looking men start talking to me. Are they hitting on me?

"U-Um.. I..." I try to say something, but I don't know what I should say.

"You're totally my type!" One of the man said.

"Hey, you wanna hang out with us?" The other man asked.

"Um..um.." What to say?!

What should I do? I've never been hit before. So I'm frozen in be wilderness. Just then...

"What's so cute about her?" Someone spoke up.

A voice behind me says. I turn around to see Rouge standing there. After shooting me a bored glance he turns his irritated gaze back on the men.

"What's so good about this girl? She smells like potatoes." Rouge ask the 2 men.

"..." The men were speechless.

The men exchange troubled glances.

"Can't you find anyone better? I'm telling you, you're wrong about her." Rouge asked the men once again.

Just then...

Thud!

"Oww!" Rouge screams a little.

"Sting!?" I said surprise by his sudden appearance.

Sting appears and hits Rouge on top of the head with his fist.

"Hey, Rouge! How dare you say such a thing!" Sting scolds Rouge a little.

"Well, It's true!" Rouge says in a bored tone.

"..." Sting's got nothing to say to that.

Bonk!

Sting silently punches Rouge again.

"Sigh. Here we go again. Rouge always pisses off Sting doing stuff like that." Gray says and sighs.

"Really!?" I say surprised.

Gray returns and we both watch the two knights fight. The men who hit on me hurry away. Do I really smell like potatoes? He did save me, but I feel so conflicted.

"Lucy, if you're not interested in men who hit on you all you have to say is No thank you." Gray suddenly tells me.

"Okay, I understand." I say to Gray.

Gray brings his lips close to my ear.

"But don't say no to my advances. Got it? Gray said to me.

"..." I got nothing to say to that.

"I'm going to buy this apron now!" I say to Gray.

I quickly take the apron and go to enter the shop when someone calls out to me from behind.

"Will you come with me Miss? Someone says to me.

Not again...

"No thank you." I answer him.

I turn around and my breath catches in my throat. A man in black is starting at me with a sharp gaze. The enemy in black.

"!" What to do now.

I can't speak. It takes everything I have to slowly slowly back up, but the men still approaches me.

"Now, will you come with me?" The man in black asked me once again.

"..: I still can't speak.

Someone..!

Just as the man in black stretches his hand out towards me...

"Don't get any closer!" Sting says to the man in black and comes to my rescue.

"Sting!" I call out in surprise and relief that he came in time to save me.

Sting roughly pulls my body towards him. Sting stands in front of me putting distance between myself and the man in black. He thrusts his sword at the man, who stares at me with a coldness like I've never seen before.

"Grr.." The man in black sounds angry.

"If you cause a scene here, it's you who will be in trouble!" Sting says to the man in black.

"..." The man in black say nothing.

"So what'll it be?" Sting asks the man.

Sting says in a low menacing voice as he presses his tip of his sword against the man's chest. Curious onlookers have gathered around us clearly putting the man in black at a disadvantage.

"Tch.. You'll pay for this!" The man in black says.

The man makes a face like he just swallowed a bug and runs away. Sting lets go of my arm and gently puts his sword away.

"That was close. I'm glad I got here in time." He says to me with a smile on his face.

"Thank you, Sting."

"Will you please promise me something, Princess?" Sting asks me.

Sting stands in front of me and gazes steadily into my eyes.

"Please don't ever leave my side again." Sting says to me.

"...I'm sorry. Even after Rufus lectured me. I'll be more careful from now on. I won't leave your side Sting."

I say gazing back at him until a smile finally returns to his face. Now that the commotion is over, Sting and I take a walk through town until we reach the town square. Children are happily playing throwing a ball around.

"Just looking at the children playing calms the heart. Doesn't it?" I asked Sting.

"Yes..Children are honest and carefree. Their smiles are contagious." Sting answers me.

The ball suddenly rolls by Sting's feet. The children wave at us, waiting for their ball.

"Here it comes!" Sting says to the children.

Sting throws the ball to them. The ball arcs up into the blue sky and falls right into the hands of one of the children.

"You're really good, Sting." I complimented him.

"I used to play that's all. The time when I was a child. Brings back a lot of memories." He says to me with a soft voice.

He whispers in a warm, soft voice. Although he's smiling, his eyes seem far away. Sting? My heart skips a beat as I get a glimpse of him looking so vulnerable. I stare at his profile for a while, then Sting looks back at me.

"..." Sting just looks at me saying nothing.

The sad look on his face has vanished. He's back to his usual clear, peaceful expression.

"Let's go back to everyone else." He suddenly says.

"Okay." I replied.

The sun is low in the sky by the time we arrive back at the inn. Sting helps me prepare the package with the apron inside for Grandma.

"I wonder if she'll like it.." I say out loud.

"I'm sure she will. It's a symbol of your kindness, Princess." Sting says to me with a smile.

"No, that's not what I meant." I say back to Sting.

"Hm?" Sting says then look at me.

Sting stops folding up the apron.

"She raised me this whole time and I wasn't able to give her anything in return." I explain to Sting.

"So this is to apologize.. or rather to thank her." I say to Sting.

My chest squeezes painfully when I think of Grandma.

"That's why you have such a kind heart. Princess." Sting says to me with a smile.

"Sting..." I say his name.

He nods and smiles tenderly at me. I feel my mood getting lighter from Sting's words.

Next Chapter - We leave the village and are headed for.. "Whoa, look Lucy! All those rocks falling into the bottom of the ravine!" Gray suddenly says. "Aahh! I'm scared! I replied back with. We'll die if we fall!? We have travel up to Mt. Otaka to reach the palace. "Hand over that girl!" Some man said. "Do not leave my side Princess! No matter what happens..." Sting says to me. Another enemy suddenly attacks us. And this time we have nowhere to run!

TO BE COTINUED...

Notice - All characters will be OC, to fit the characters in the game.

Characters -

MC - Lucy

Lute - Sting

Haku - Gray

Ken - Natsu

Shion - Rouge

Gaia - Rufus