Chapter 7
Respond to - 9linn8 - Thank you, I'm glad you like it (:
Guest - You sure read my mind, I was going to my forged wedding after I'm done with this story, and with Haku and Shion. If you don't mind waiting, since it takes 3 hours or longer to write one story for 1 chapter lol. Yea I know it's expensive ): Well the reason I choose Rufus is, because he doesn't like Lucy in this route or any other character's route so yea.
Thank you for favourite, follows, and reviews, very much appreciate it (:
Disclaimer - I don't own Fairy Tail or A Knights Devotion
Italic is like when the narrator speaks or Lucy's thoughts.
Recap -
"Very well. I'll stand in for the girl." I say to the mayor.
"What are you saying Milady Lucy!?" Sting says surprise by my sudden response to the mayor.
"Sting, everyone.. Please listen. Even though I didn't mean to this happened, because of me. So please let me take her place. After everything's settled he'll open the gate for us and we can continue on to the palace."
"Milady Lucy.."Sting says while looking at me.
Sting stares at me and then closed his mouth. The other knights exchange glances, not sure what to do, but I have made up my mind.
Chapter 7
~Lucy's P.O.V~
"Very well. I'll take the girl's place." I say.
I have decided to stand in for the bride until they find her. The knights seem troubled by my decision, but in the end they relent and accept it.
"Mayor, She will only stand in for the girl until we find her, is that understood?" Sting asks the mayor.
"Of course, but the sooner you find her the better, because the wedding will be held this evening at the count's mansion." The mayor says to Sting and I.
"W-Wedding!?" I say out of surprise.
I glance at the clock and see it's only a few hours until evening.
"That doesn't give us much time. Sigh.. What a pain..." Rouge says sighing.
"We have to find that girl. For Lucy's sake. So once we finish this task, you'd better give us a sweet reward!" Gray says with a grin.
"What!?" I say with surprise in my facial expression.
"Just leave it to us." Natsu says to me next.
"Okay." I answer back.
"Please don't push yourself, Milady Lucy." Rufus says to me.
"I won't." I respond back to Rufus.
Rufus looks at the rest of the knights.
"Sting, you will continue guarding Milady Lucy and the rest of us will search for the runaway bride. Understood?" Rufus says to Sting.
"Yes. Commander." Sting answers.
"Thank you everyone. Please find her." I say to the knights.
The knights split up and begin searching the town leaving Sting and me at the mayor's house. The mayor excuses himself and leaves Sting and me. Please let them find the girl soon... I sit down on the sofa, clasp my hands together and close my eyes. Even though I volunteered to stand in for the bride. I'm just now feeling anxiety over the graveness of this situation.
"Milady Lucy." Sting suddenly spoke up.
"Yes?" I say opening my eyes looking at Sting.
I open my eyes to see Sting gazing quietly at me.
"Since it is something Your Highness decided, I did not say anything, but of you really don't want to do this I shall take you away from here at once." Sting says while looking at me.
His voice is so serious. His eyes are so sincere. Sting's feelings resound in my heart.
"Sting.." I say
Just then, the door opens with a bang.
"It's terrible! The Count has come!" The mayor says panicking.
"What?" Sting says shook with the sudden news.
"!" What to do now?
"He says he can't wait until evening and wants to see his bride at once!" The mayor tells us.
"What should we do!?" I ask.
"We don't know how long it will take the knights to find the real bride, so we cannot stall any longer." Sting says.
Sting scans the room.
"Milady Lucy, let us hide in the closet." Sting says to me.
"But.." I say.
"Mayor, please tell him that his bride is not here yet." Sting tells the mayor what to do.
"O-Okay!" The mayors agrees.
"Come Milady Lucy!" Sting says to me taking my hand.
Sting takes my hand and beckons me inside the closet. The closet is stuffed with clothes and other things. There is barely enough room for the both of us to fit inside.
"Pardon me, Princess..." Sting whispers to me.
"No, excuse me.." I whisper back to Sting.
Sting pushes against the clothes stuffed inside the closet. He's trying to make more room for me, but our bodies are pressed together and our faces close...
"..." Sting and I both say nothing.
Sting and I try to breathe as quietly as we can and suddenly we hear voices.
"Where is my bride Mayor!?" The Count asks.
"Well, well, well! If it isn't the Count!" The mayor says.
"I want to see her now! Where is she?" The Count asks again.
"She's not here yet, Count!" The mayor answers the Count.
"That can't be! We're almost ready to depart!" The Count says.
Sting and I make eye contact in the dim light and we hold our breath. What's going to happen if he finds us? Sting's body is pressed right against me. I can feel the warmth of his body on mine. My heart is pounding so hard for two reasons : I can barely breath..
"..." Sting is silent.
Sting is straining to hear the conversation going on outside of the closet. I'm sure he must be nervous, but his expression is clear as ever. He must not think anything of being so close to me like this...
"Are you sure she's not hiding somewhere, Mayor?" The Count asks suspiciously.
"W-What are you saying. Count?" The mayor asks.
He's going to find us! Frightened. I fall backward.
Thump!
Oh no! I inadvertently make a noise since I moved inside the closet.
"Did you hear something?" The Count asks.
"!" Sting says nothing.
Sting quickly wraps an arm around my waist and pulls me against him.
"Please bear with his Princess." Sting whispers quietly to me.
I-I know, but... This is making me even more nervous! Feeling Sting's hot breath against my ear as he whispers makes the thumping of my heart come to a climax! Oh no.. I'm suddenly feeling dizzy, I shouldn't move. I stay still in Sting's arms and he squeezes me tightly as if telling me everything's going to be all right.
"You heard that, didn't you Mayor?" The Count asks.
"N-Now that you mention it..I've been finding lots of mice in the house lately...! The mayor answers the Count.
"Hm.. It was just the sound of mice running? Very well. So my bride really isn't here?" The Count asks once again.
"No, She's not here!" The mayor replies.
"Hmm.. She's still not stuck on him is she?" The Count asks.
"...No! Of course not..!" The mayor answers.
"Him"? Who are they talking about? The mayor and count's voice grow distant. It seems like they have left the room. Phew that made me so nervous.. We finally get out of the closet.
"Princess, please pardon me for the rudeness." Sting says looking embarrassed.
"O-Of course..." I answer back to him.
I look up and see that Sting's face is slightly pink.
"Your face is red Sting." I say.
"What..?" Sting says.
"I'm sorry I made you so nervous." I apologized to Sting.
"Oh no that's not.." Sting said cutting himself off.
"Hm?"
"...It's nothing." Sting says after my reply.
Sting smiles and looks away shyly. Shortly the mayor returns.
"The count has gone home." He informs us.
"That's quite a relief..." Sting says.
"Now we can relax. Oh, that's right. May I ask you something Mayor?" I ask.
"What is it?" Says the mayor.
"What was the Count talking about when he said Is she still stuck on him?" I asked.
"..." The mayor remains quiet for a few seconds.
A troubled expression passes over the Mayors face with great difficulty, he begins to speak.
"To tell the truth, the Count has a very bad reputation, not only does he evade taxes, but he charges ridiculous taxes on the villagers and indulges in every possible luxury and he destroys anyone who opposes him." The mayor says.
"That's what kind of person he is?" I ask.
"It's a terrible thing to use one's social position to torment others." Sting suddenly says.
"And he has banished his bride - to - be's lover to a faraway town, forcing them to break up." Says the mayor.
"That's horrible!" I say.
"So in other words, the girl is being forced to marry the Count." Sting asks.
"Yes, so it's no wonder she's run away." Says the mayor.
"This is just too cruel for words. Just because he's a Count, that doesn't give him the right to take away other people's happiness!" I say getting angry at the Count's selfishness.
"Milady Lucy.." Sting says my name.
"Are you sure you can't cancel this wedding?" I ask.
"Not unless the Count is somehow over thrown." The Mayor says.
"So that's what we must do then." I say.
"Milady Lucy, What are you.." Sting asks.
I stared evenly at Sting and the Mayor.
"If we can get evidence that he is committing crimes, I think we can over thrown the Count." I stated.
"Wha..." Sting says looking at me.
"If the Count is hiding any of his assets, it must be at his mansion." The mayor says.
"Then when I go to the Count's mansion tonight I will search for evidance of tax evasion." I say to the mayor.
"Oh, you will? Thank you!" The mayor says happily.
"Please wait. This it too dangerous Milady Lucy. I cannot allow it.." Sting says his voice fills with worry.
"But this is our chance. Forcing her to marry him is just too sad and I think the villagers are suffering, because of the Count as well." I state my reason to Sting.
I think I can do something about this. So I have to at least try!
"But Princess..." Sting says his voice still fills with worry.
"Don't worry. I won't do anything dangerous!" I say to Sting.
"..." Sting says nothing.
Sting clenches his fists. He stares at me like he wants to say something, but stays silent. Before long it's time to head to the Count's mansion.
"Lucy will go in the bride's carriage. Sir Sting, please ride in my carriage." The mayor says.
"Thank you." I say.
"..." Sting's still silent.
"I'll go on ahead then." I say to Sting.
I say to Sting, who hasn't said a word this whole time. I'm just about to climb into the carriage when...
"Milady Lucy.." Sting calls out to me.
"Yes..?" I say.
He grabs my arm from behind. I turn around and Sting stares at me, his eyes unwavering and serious.
"You're really going?" He says with sadness in his voice.
"Yes." I replied back with.
"You are the princess and I am your knight. I can't let anything happen to you.." Sting says looking at me and still holding my arm.
"Sting.." I say.
"It 's not too late." Sting says to me.
"Don't worry, I'll find the evidence we need." I say to reassure Sting that it'll be fine.
"That's not what I mean, I.." Sting cuts his own sentence off.
"I'm sorry to make you worry, but I'm leaving now." I say to Sting.
"...You are so.." Sting says not finishing his sentence.
His voice sounds forced. His gaze is strong, but pained. He's gripping my arm tightly... Even though he's speaking softly to me. I can tell he's struggling to maintain his composure.
"Sting..?" I say quizzically.
Is he angry with me?
"...Forgive me." Sting says.
He gently removes his hand from my arm.
"Goodbye." I say to him.
"..." Sting staying silent again.
I turn my back to Sting and climb into the carriage. We set off towards to Count's mansion so I can finally put my plan into motion. We finally arrive at the Count's mansion. Before I enter the mansion I lower my veil to hide my face. Sting falls in step beside me, disguised as my escort. He leans over and whispers into my ear.
"Please don't do anything reckless. If anything happens let me know right away." Sting whispers to me.
"Okay." I whisper back to him.
I smile, but Sting's face remains expressionless.
"The Count is waiting in the drawing room. I'll show you in." The servant says.
"Thank you.." I say.
I leave Sting and follow the servant.
"Congratulations on your wedding Madame." The servant says to me.
"Thank you." I say.
Sting told me not to do anything reckless, but I wonder where the Count's room is? As we walk down the hallway. I casually look around.
"The Count is so very pleased he could hardly contain himself while waiting for your arrival. Madam." Says the servant.
"I'm honored. Thank you." I say.
I can't see the Count like this. I have to get evidence before I meet him..
"Excuse me, but I have to use the bathroom.." I say to the servant.
"Turn right at the end of this hallway, and it's the third door." The servant says.
"Thank you." I said as I walk off.
I walk to the end of the hallway, but instead of going straight to the bathroom I begin to search around the mansion. This place is huge! I wonder how many rooms there are. I wander around for a while and come across a door much larger than the rest. Could this be the Count's bedroom? I enter the room and am captivated by the gorgeous furniture. Not a detail has been spread in his room. A gorgeous chandelier hangs from the ceiling. I can tell that everything in this room is extremely expensive. There must be some proof in here. I check the desk drawers under the bed, inside pots. I search everywhere I can think of, but come up empty-handed. Once I read a book where the villain hid money behind paintings, but no one would ACTUALLY hide something in such an obvious place. No expecting much I check behind a painting.
"There's something here!" I say to myself.
There a hole in the wall behind the painting and it's stuffed full of money! This must be proof of his tax evasion! I need to find Sting and tell him! Just then, the door opens.
"What are you doing in here?" The Count says.
"!" Oh no. What am I going to do now?
It's the Count! He's found me.
"..." The Count and I say nothing.
The count walks closer to me one step at a time. I keep backing up until I end up against a wall. Uh oh..
Next Chapter - I've found a hidden safe, but the Count finds me cutting my victory short. "Are you really my bride?" The Count asks me. What am I going to do? Sting! The Count is coming closer and closer..! "I swear, I can't let you out of my sight for one minute." Sting says to me. "Sting..?" I say. How does Sting feel about me? And how will I get out of this mess!?
To Be Continued...
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
