I stared at the ancient building, not sure how to even find what I was looking for. I sighed, maybe I should have taken Jellal with me. I remembered my conversation with him and shook my head.

"Oh Idis, did you see her?"

"Who? "

"What do you mean who? The scarlet haired princess, I have never seen anyone so beautiful!" he said dreamingly

I laughed, "The eldest? Are you insane? She is the scariest"

"Scary? She is so radiant and her scarlet hair is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen!"

I looked at his face, I had never seen Jellal so taken with another person before, I found it amusing.

"Well don't get any ideas, she is the Queen regent, She is bound to marry an Asterian, not that it matters, father will never let you marry an Asterian anyways."

I laughed as his expression became gloomy

"I wasnt talking about marriage, just wanted to atleast know her name" he mumbled

"Just saying" I replied.

That idiot had developed a crush on the first princess and now gone to learn more about her. I wondered if it was stupid to let him go on like that, but shrugged, Jellal knew better than to fall for an Asterian and worse, the next Queen.

As I wandered around the library, with no idea how to find the book of shadow spells I wanted to get for Rogue, I heard a creaking sound and moved towards it as it got louder then
I stopped, looking up to see Levy almost three shelves up, still stretching to get a book. I stood admiring how her small arms strained to reach the book, and her derriere swayed to keep her balanced. Her braided blue hair swinging back and forth down her back as she suddenly called

"Freed! I think I am going to need you to catc—" she slipped and fell straight into my arms. She stared at me with widened hazel eyes, red with embarrassment and I suddenly felt self conscious and put her down.

"T-thank you." she said still blushing

"You're welcome" I said scratching the back of my neck

"That's really risky, you know. Why didn't you get your servants to get that book for you"

"I like to go to the library alone, it's the only place I can feel—"

"Free" I said, understanding how she felt. I would go to the woods to practice whenever I needed to get away from the responsibilities of a prince.
She smiled and nodded.

"What are you doing here? you don't strike me as a reader"

I grinned "I am not, I am looking for a shadow magic spell book for my younger brother"

"Oh I can get you that, Rogue is interested in shadow magic? That's interesting, you know the Gorgons developed it, inspired by th-"

"How do you know my brother's name?"

"Oh" she blushed, "I like to know things, I have been reading about Erebus". I quirked a brow, intrigued by her intelligence and wide eyed curiosity.

"So I am guessing you know a lot about me" I said with a smirk

Her blush deepened as she nodded

"I guess so"

Then she suddenly looked up, her previous shyness disappearing as she peered into my face with something in her large brown eyes that could only be described as fierce curiosity

"Is it true you developed a magic all by yourself? And can turn any part of your body into iron?"

It was my turn to blush, she really had been reading about me. The thought made me feel strangely warm inside.

"Yeah" I grunted, the blush spreading up my neck to my hairline

"That's amazing, how did you-"

"Levy! Are you OK?I heard you slipped! I am so sorry, but I found the Thalian boo—, Oh! Your highness, it's an honor " A green haired man screeched, running towards us. He bowed and I nodded, then he turned to Levy apologizing profusely while she waved him off.

They chatted excitedly about a book and a language I didn't understand and I frowned, angry with the interruption.

"Gajeel, let me get you your book, I have been looking for a book on ancient Thalian, the Tennin lost language. So I can decipher some old spells written by Mara and Freed found them!" she said, beaming

I smiled back, her excitement infectious. I followed her as she found the book and handed it to me.

"Try not to slip again, I'd like the next time I carry you to be across the threshold when we are married." I said smirking as she turned red again.

~~Levy~~

I blushed again thinking about my conversation with Gajeel. I remembered being in his arms, the strength of his muscles as they flexed and tightened to keep me safe, his strong scent causing butterflies to scatter in my stomach. I smiled, my blush deepening as I thought of his words.
Next time I carry you will be when we are mar—

"Levy! They are back, come look!"

I ran to the balcony and watched with widened eyes as the large crowd approached the castle. The people cheering and throwing customary flowers in the air. Among them was Gajeel holding up his price as his deep red eyes locked on mine, a wide grin plastered on his face. The crowd roared louder, as they eagerly escorted Gajeel to the palace and my eyes shifted to a tired looking Lily by Gajeel's side, then to Jellal walking alongside a frowning Erza trailing behind the procession.

"I can't believe he beat Erza to it, so shocking!" I heard Lucy exclaim beside me and I smiled, secretly pleased he had won.

In Asterian Customs, there were 3 major events that marked every wedding. The first was Thaleia- the unveiling, Khalenis- the rebirth and Leutha'tala- the binding of hearts. Normally all three was done within a week of festivities and celebrations but mother shortened it to three days. Khalenis was a rebirth from the old and into the new. The groom was to get a rare flower up in the mountains after choosing a partner and made to race against his family which symbolised his old life and present it to his bride during Leutha'tala as proof that he would cherish her above all else and therefore ready to step into his new life. Gajeel chose Lily to be his partner, and even more shocking, Jellal had chosen Erza. Knowing Erza hated to lose, I was pleasantly surprised he won.

The next day

~~Gajeel~~

I placed the rare flower in between the wisps of azure hair escaping the intricate braid that fell to her back. My fingers lingered in the soft curls as my eyes wandered to the full eyelashes shadowing her gaze, before fixating on her lush lips while the elder's chanting faded in the background. She was clad in white today but the color had been engulfed by the soft hues of the twilight sky— varying shades of blue twinkling in the light of the stars overhead like the dust of a thousand sapphires coupled to her skin. She suddenly looked up and my racing heart halted in my chest.

Gods her eyes!

The gold flecks swirled with the deep rich brown like liquid gold dipped in warm chocolate, an innate honesty about them that made me wonder how she kept anything hidden—every emotion seemingly made bare in the depths of those warm irises. Her gaze seemed to lock me in, blunting my surroundings in such a way that I was still aware of the elder's chanting in an ancient language, the feel of the midnight breeze against my skin and the sound of the rushing stream nearby but felt completely attuned to her—like my body was present but my mind and soul had succumbed to the hypnotic pull of those breathtaking eyes. I wondered briefly if the feelings coursing through me had anything to do with the ancient ceremony going on around us or just her...only her.

Leutha'tala I was told, bared your hearts, exposing your true intent and tested your wishes for each other. We had drunk from the river of verity, if either of us wished harm for the other, the river would glow red, if not remain blue. I wasn't bothered, staring at my bride in the light of the full moon, surrounded by our families with the sound of birds chirping in the overhead trees, fireflies illuminating the deep blush across her nose, her long eyelashes sweeping her cheeks as she avoided my gaze and the smell of wild flowers decorating her blue hair, I knew I would never do anything to hurt her. The elder bound our hands together, mine on top her delicate ones and chanted a few words before declaring us married. Everyone cheered, the air pulsating with a thick layer of magic as sylphs and fairies flew about and I held the gaze of my wife, her delicate hand still bound to mine.

Time skip*5hrs*

I searched the gardens looking for Levy, she slipped away as soon as the feast and celebrations started and I was pulled aside by my siblings.

"Congratulations Gajeel, never would I imagine you would be the first of us to be married" Jellal said, barely containing his laughter. I growled, giving him a glare

"Yes, you have made father so proud" added Minerva, laughing

"Though the same can't be said about you Jellal. I am sure I would have won if Gajeel had the guts to go against me." she said hands cocking her hips, still obviously pissed I hadn't picked her as my opponent for Khalenis

"Believe me, I think I was a pretty good opponent, he was just lucky"

Minerva scoffed and I smiled, it was true. Erza turned out to be just as scary as she seemed and with Jellal, it would have been impossible. Luckily Lily had been a diversion and we were able to distract them long enough to escape. The experience had given Lily and I mutual respect for each other.

I zoned out of Minerva and Jellal's bickering, still searching for Levy and spotted her walking down the path, headed towards the house we would live in. So naturally I followed her.