Author's Note: There's a small problem with this story where it doesn't show when it's updated or appear on the recently updated fanfiction archive. This story may be deleted and reposted after I finish Lucy's childhood arc, but I don't want to keep my followers waiting for that long! Consider this a test story I suppose.

Thanks for reading!


:Rebirth - Chapter 4


"What are you two doing?"

The voice was the king's!

"Your Majesty!" I exclaimed happily.

Careful, Lucy... I might not want to take Jellal's credit.

To my surprise, Jellal spoke.

"We were talking about math. Lucy actually taught me a lot of things."

"Hmm," Jude said, looking at me. "Is that so?"

I froze.

What do I say?

I stayed silent, nodding and smiling. If prince Jellal said so, I guess I have no right to refuse it.

Sting walked in, probably following behind his father, and said, "Kitty!"

Can I kill him now?

Here I was, nervously presenting myself before the king, and Sting just casually calls me that stupid nickname.

Jude looked like he was thinking. Then he said, "I guess it's true that the two princes often associate with you."

"Yes! I love visiting her!" Sting laughed.

"Interesting," Jude said. "Why don't you join me for dinner tonight?"

I guess this was an honor— to dine with the king.

Family dinners weren't a thing here, not that I'm one to complain. I would probably be frightened the whole time of offending some male.

Ugh, this society...


"Splendid! Absolutely splendid!" A mathematician joined us for dinner, probably to examine the new concepts of math and physics I've "discovered".

"No one has ever thought of this!" The mathematician said.

That's right, I thought. Totally.

He continued to ramble on and on.

"This may be bold to say, but if the princess were born a boy, she would be a renowned genius to the whole country!"

"Perhaps so," Jude said.

"I dare say she's the most intelligent child in the kingdom."

"Yes."

"For sure."

"No doubt about it."

He continued to talk to himself, while Jude and I were eating.

The king seems to be in a good mood, smiling from time to time.

After that dinner with the king, it seemed the food I received every day was of higher quality.

So were my clothes, assorted with dresses and the sort.

I'm making progress, albeit slowly, but progress is still progress.


Setting -Servant's Chambers-

"Have you heard?"

"Who hasn't? I still couldn't believe my eyes nor my ears!"

"Why would His Majesty request to see the princess occasionally?"

"Perhaps he is about to get rid of her."

"Maybe she is useless."

"You may be right. It has happened before."

Virgo, who overheard them, quickly said, "Stop this at once!"

"Princess Luciana is not only kind, but also talented! Do not spread these rumors any longer," Virgo said.

"We are just speaking of possibilities."

"But maybe..."

"The king likes her?"

"If His Highness was going to kill her, he would have done so."

"Hmmm."

"I also heard she is good friends with both princes!"

"What an occurrence!"


Lucy's POV

"Lucy," Layla embraced me tightly. "I am so proud of you."

I miss my mom from the real world, too...

I haven't seen her in so long; after her sickness, she...

The Layla here wasn't much different, and it feels so comforting to have her by me.

"It is such a great honor to dine with the king."

She kissed me lightly on the cheek, and fixed my hair.

"You're about to turn nine soon. The king has arranged a little celebration for your ninth birthday."

I smiled. "I'm so happy!"

Layla had tears in her eyes, and she hugged me once more.

"Kitty! Heyy!"

I internally cringed, looking at Sting standing at the door.

This is awkward...

"How are you, Prince Sting?" Layla inquired.

Although Sting wasn't her son, she still treated each one of the king's children kindly.

"Ah, mother is here too! That's good. Father wants Lucy to come for dinner again."

Layla looked quite surprised. "Thank you for coming here to tell Lucy that!"

After all, the king could have sent a maid or some other person to notify us of this.

Sting nodded. "Yup. It'll be just you, me, father, and... Uh... You too, mother!"

"M-me?"

"Father said so!"

"Oh, then I'd better get ready! Come, Lucy."


We arrived at the huge dinner table with enough food to feed dozens of people.

The four of us sat at the right end of the table, with the king sitting at the very end.

"Lucy," Jude began to say. "I have a question for you."

"Yes, Your Majesty?" I answered. Lucy, huh? He calls me by my name now. He used to either call me Luciana or just addressed me as "you".

"What gets broken without being held?"

Oh... A riddle. I remember discussing riddles riddles with Natsu back when we were in high school.

He had promised me back then that he'd never make me feel unwanted, because he'd always be there.

Natsu...

"A kitty!" Sting exclaimed.

The king shook his head. "You answer, Lucy."

Mother looked really worried, fidgeting from side to side. Jude's expression showed that he thinks I have no chance in solving this riddle.

I pretended to think for a bit. "A... promise," I said finally.

"Indeed," Jude smiled.

I stood up from my chair, pushing it back, and walked towards him.

"Father," I said, testing my limits a little. He told Layla he wanted to be addressed as "Your Highness" or "King" but it seemed he didn't mind if it was me or the princes.

"Since I solved the question, do I get a present?" I pressed. Please work, please work.

Layla froze in her seat.

"A present?" Jude mused. "What kind of present would you like?"

Hmm... It'd be better not to ask something too extreme for now.

"Can you... pet my hair?" I asked.

"Hahahaha! Kitty kitty!" Sting laughed. He's like 13 years old, but was still as dense as he was when I was born.

"What a courageous thing to ask," the king chuckled, straightening my hair a bit.

Success!

Layla sent me desperate looks from across the table.

"Father, I love you a lot!" I was definitely pushing my boundaries, but since I rarely see the king outside of these random dinners, I had better make him like me fast.

To my surprise, king Jude Heartfilia laughed happily.

When he finally stopped laughing, he turned towards Layla.

"Why do you look so frightened?"

"O-oh... No particular reason," she replied.

"Lucy is quite an eccentric little girl," he continued to pat my head. "I like her," he added.

Yep, you heard that right, I thought smugly.

And although I thought that I could change things for girls in this world as an example, others would follow.

I couldn't be more wrong.

Instead of seeing this as a chance to improve women's status in society, it only sparked jealousy instead...


Unknown POV

"The maids are always gossiping about Luciana..."

"How dare she associate with the princes and king like that!"

"I heard she is having an 9th birthday celebration soon."

"How unfair! We never had even one celebration."

"It is our duty, as the other princesses of the Magnolia kingdom, to teach her a lesson."

"I agree with princess Minerva."

"We'll knock some sense back into her at her 9th birthday celebration."


-End of Chapter 4-


I'll have chapter 5 ready to be posted tomorrow! Follow to keep up to date!

Also, this is kind of off topic, but I am so excited to write about how the cold Jellal will fall in love with Erza. xD (And yes, it'll happen, so I don't consider this a spoiler.) Other major characters such as Gray, Juvia, etc. will also be introduced soon.