That evening, Jellal's carriage stopped in front of the entrance to a large mansion. The group had arrived at the Fernandez Residence, where Erza and her friends will be staying for a while before she gets an audience with King Toma. Hopefully, things will turn out fine in the end. Getting off the carriage, Erza, Lucy, Kagura, Millianna, Wally, and Shô approached the front door. Jellal took the door and opened, and was the first to enter.

"Mrs. Babasaama!" Jellal called with a loud voice. "I'm back!"

On cue, the sound of shattering glass was heard, which almost startled Erza and Millianna. The cat wondered, "Did you guys hear a crack?"

Running down the stairs in a hoof was an old woman with small eyes, wrinkle skin, stretch earlobes, and gray hair tied up in a huge bun. She wore a dark purple vest with a red cloak, studded bracelets on both her arms, a necklace with three sun emblems, and glasses. Her name was Ooba Babasaama, the Fernandez Residence's housemaid and Jellal's caretaker. "Goodness gracious me, is that my Jelly?" the old lady exclaimed.

Jellal nodded with a smile, "Yes, it's me."

"Oh, Jelly! It's so good to see you! How was your trip overseas? I bet it was great! I'm so happy I could kiss you right now!" Ooba cheered, and she ran towards Jellal… and went past him, hugging Millianna herself, making her yelp. Giggling happily, Ooba repeatedly kissed Millianna, which caused her to feel ticklish.

Millianna laughed, "Ooh, ha, ha! That tickles! Stop it! Stop it! That tickles!"

Lucy said to Jellal, "I think she's kissing the wrong guy."

Jellal explained, "Apparently, she's blind. She can't see properly without her glasses."

Erza giggled at Millianna's expense, "I think she just found a new playmate."

In the midst of all the ticklish kissing and hugging, Ooba smelled Millianna's fur, and the foul stench caused her to reel back. "Eww! Jelly, you seriously need a bath."

Jellal stated, "Your glasses must've been fogged up from your cooking. Here, I'll help you." He took Ooba's glasses and wiped the fog from its spectacles. He returned the glasses to Ooba's eyes, allowing her to see well.

Millianna sniffed her fur curiously, "Do I really need a bath? Some cats like me want to enjoy a nice, warm bath, and others don't."

"Oh, I'm sorry," Ooba blushed. "I must've hugged the wrong person." She then laughed and hugged Jellal, "Oh, Jelly. It's so good to see you again. Look at you. My, how you've grown."

Jellal was released from the hug, and he said, "How are things at the house?"

Ooba chuckled, "Oh, the usual. I always make a nice spot of tea." She pinched Jellal's cheek playfully. "You little baby."

Jellal chuckled amusingly, "You never change." He then introduced, "Mrs. Babasaama, allow me to introduce to you Erza Scarlet, daughter of Chief Makarov, and her friends Lucy, Shô, Wally, and Millianna." He turned to Erza and her friends, "Erza, Lucy, Shô, Wally, Millianna, this is Mrs. Babasaama. The Babasaamas have been with the Fernandez family for generations. Careful, she's about to put on some tea."

"I'll put on some tea," Ooba offered, as Jellal had predicted. She was about to leave, but she bumped into Kagura, causing her to look up.

"Jellal forgot to introduce me," Kagura said. "My name is Kagura Mikazuchi. I've been sent by Chief Makarov to accompany Erza as her bodyguard."

Ooba confirmed, "Oh, I see. You've brought lots and lots of friends. Well then, I'll put on lots and lots of tea."

"I'd love to stay and relax for a while, but I'm off to see King Toma at Mercurius," Jellal said, preparing to head off. "Hopefully, I can convince him to arrange an audience with Erza and change his mind about the armada."

Millianna asked, "What's Mercurius?"

Jellal answered, "The name of the Royal Castle of Fiore. It's at the capital city of Crocus. That's where King Toma lives. Well then, I must be going."

Erza grabbed his arm, "I want to go with you. Take me to your king's castle."

Jellal replied, "I understand, Erza. But the conventions in the Kingdom of Fiore are very complex. I have to go alone."

"But..." Erza tried to argue.

"With things going on as bad as they are now, we can't talk to this land's Chief unless he's ready to see us," Lucy said in agreement.

"I promise I will arrange for you to see the King," Jellal insisted with a smile. "You have my word as a gentleman. Trust me." With that, he left the house.

An upset look crawled on Erza's face. It's not fair. She wanted to inform Toma of Jiemma's treachery as fast as she can, before he leads the armada into the Great Land.

With a cheerful smile, Ooba placed a tray with a cup of tea and sandwiches on the table. Kagura sat on a stool, holding the cup on her hand. "So this is the kind of water the outsiders drink?" She smelled the sweet aroma, "And it smells good too. Like the incense of a dog's fur." She drank a sample of the tea, and her eyes flashed with amazement, "Amazing! It has the taste of a thousand fruits!"

Kagura drank the rest of the tea from the cup, and her eyes reverted to the sandwiches on the tray. "So this is what they call sandwiches. One piece of bread with green leaves, red flowers, lilies, and another bread on top of it. I wonder if they're anything like this tea?"

Millianna peeked by the table and grabbed a few sandwiches from the plate. At first, the cat was puzzled as Kagura kept on staring at the sandwiches. She asked, "Um, excuse me, Miss Kagura, ma'am? Aren't you gonna grab me for trying to borrow your food?"

Kagura replied, "Go ahead and take some. I'm just trying a sample of the outsiders' food."

"Oh, okay," Millianna nodded, and she took off with the sandwiches in her arms.

Kagura anxiously took one sandwich from the plate and took a huge bite, and all of a sudden, her eyes flashed. "It has the flavor of ten meats!" she said with her mouthful, before she began gorging her mouth with the rest of the sandwiches.

Meanwhile, Ooba was dusting a few pictures, accidentally turning one of them upside down and causing the dust to fall onto her shades, making her unable to see again. "Gracious, I think the pictures are upside down."

"So, Mrs. Babasaama, you live here with Jellal?" Lucy asked, sitting on a chair.

Ooba answered, "My family and his family had been friends for years. It's been more than a decade of camaraderie; breakfast, lunch, and dinner! When Jellal's parents passed when he was six, I had been responsible for Jelly's child rearing. And after a few years of watching from the nosebleed seats, Jellal just wanted join the King's Royal Court. I was so proud of him for finally working up the courage to do it. As a diplomat, he made successful negotiations in multiple countries the world over, not just for his intelligence and bravery, but his incredible good looks and personality! I have always been proud of Jelly, even when he's a baby. I'm so happy, I wanted to spin myself!"

Suddenly, by the twirl of her fingers, Ooba spun herself around and around uncontrollably, and she flew off to another corner of the house. She cried, "Wheeeeeeeeeee!"

Lucy raised her eyebrow, "What the heck?" She then shrugged, "Anyway, I just hope Erza's talk with the King will turn out alright."

Speaking of Erza, she kept pacing around, looking worried. She said, "What am I going to do? I have to find a way to warn the King AND my people at once. I have to stop this, somehow."

Ooba chuckled in assurance, "Oh, leave it to Jelly. He gave you his word as a gentleman. You can stake your life on that."

Sighing, Erza knew she had no choice but to put her trust in Jellal. However, as long as Prime Minister Jiemma was still around, he would most likely carry out his much-awaited plan to destroy the Fairyndians. One single mistake could be their last, and that mistake would lead to disastrous results.

At Crocus, the capital city of Fiore, the castle of Mercurius stood at the center, the exquisite walls and magnificent tapestries reflecting light as bright as the stars.

Jellal was at the throne room, reporting to King Toma regarding his visit to the New World, while the king was playing chess with Prime Minister Jiemma. Unlike a regular chess game, this version had huge real-life chess pieces moved by Toma's servant, Jason. Princess Hisui just sat with her father, watching the game with a bored expression.

"I didn't bring exactly bring the Fairyndian Chief, but…" Jellal began.

"No, no, no, no," Toma shook his head, interrupting Jellal. "I told you I would meet with the Chief and no one less." He turned to Jason, "Knight to Bishop Three."

"Yes, sir!" Jason saluted. "Real-life chess is SO COOL!" He picked up the large knight chess and lifted it towards the next pieces. But before he could do so, his pants were ripped accidentally, showing off his underwear in the process. Jason dropped the piece and chuckled blushingly, "Sorry."

"Sire, I gave these people your word you would meet. Are we not honor-bound—" Jellal began.

"King Toma is bound to nothing when you cannot fulfill your mission," Jiemma stated. "You were sent for the savage leader, yet you bring back a woman."

"A woman?!" Toma exclaimed in surprise.

"And what's wrong with women, Prime Minister?" Hisui frowned at Jiemma. His words sounded like a bash towards all women.

"Your father asked for a chief, not a woman!" Jiemma sternly reminded, annoying Hisui more. "She is nothing less than the Fairyndian insects my daughter encountered. A man does not look at insects around him nor does he speak to them, but simply tramples over them. That is the way of things in life."

Hisui crossed her arms, refusing to believe Jiemma, "So you're saying that the Fairyndians are insects?"

Jiemma nodded, "Exactly right, Princess Hisui. The King has supported my cause. All humans dream of a world without insects."

Hisui scowled, "What value is there in the justice we seek when we spill the blood of a different culture?"

Jiemma countered, "What the people value is spectacle. We in the civilized world are doing what's right. That is enough proof that what we do is just. Once we conquer the New World in your father's name, we will set ourselves to create an ideal civilized nation. We do not wish to be stuck in this heathen abyss forever."

A disgusted look formed around Hisui's face. "You think because you will destroy a different nation, that you're going to automatically be in charge when it's over. It doesn't. We'll see who the people side with, Prime Minister." The last word was growled with such conviction, that her father quickly took notice.

"Alright, that's enough," Toma interrupted with an awkward chuckle. "No one wants to cause havoc in the throne room, right?" He turned to Hisui, "What's the matter, daughter? You look pale. Is there anything I can do?"

Regaining her calm composure, Hisui shook her head, "No thank you, Father." But the secret resentment harbored towards Jiemma still remained.

Jellal interjected, "As I was saying, Your Majesty, she is royalty; a princess. Erza Scarlet is the daughter of a great chief who has travelled far from her homeland looking for peace. I beseech you, Your Majesty. Meet with her. Maybe you can change your mind."

At this, Jiemma's lips curled into a wicked smirk, his head flashing with an idea. Erza could meet Toma… except the ending won't be as she or Jellal would expect to have. And he had the perfect way to do so.

"May I suggest she attend the Grand Magic Ball?" Jiemma suggested. "Let her go back to Magnolia having witnessed the royal might and majesty of Fiore's society."

"Sire, she doesn't know our customs," Jellal pointed out. "Subjecting her to this kind of scrutiny would be—"

"Sometimes I don't understand you, Lord Fernandez," Jiemma smiled slyly. "If she is not a savage, why shouldn't she fit in?" Jellal just gave a glare at the Prime Minister, shaking with silent rage. He was practically asking for a punch in the face for saying disrespect about Erza.

But Toma did not notice the angry look on Jellal's face. Instead, he beamed with Jiemma's idea, "An excellent idea, Jiemma." He turned to the young man, "Jellal, you will bring Erza Scarlet to the Grand Magic Ball. If she proves to me that she is civilized as you claim, I will stop the armada. If not, the armada sails."

"But, sire—" Jellal tried to explain.

"It is decided!" Toma snapped, banging a fist on his throne for emphasis.

"Pawn to king…" Jiemma taunted. He referred to both Jellal and Toma as two pieces of the chessboard. "Check."

In response, Hisui gave another glare at Jiemma. She sat up from her chair and strode out of the throne room. She had some personal business to attend to.

"Hisui?" Toma scratched his head confusedly. "Where is she going?"

"No, they didn't suspect anything."

In the dark confines of her room, Hisui was conversing with a mysterious person communicating from a magic lacrima glowing in her hand.

"How are the preparations for the Grand Magic Ball, Princess?" the lacrima voiced.

"Going swimmingly, I suppose," Hisui grimaced. "Jiemma's influence over my father has grown stronger than before. He'll most likely lead Erza into a trap. Our chances for peace will be expected to fail."

"I see," the voice agreed. "In the meantime, we have to keep an eye on Erza. If anything happens to her, this is where we'll make our move..." It paused to speak a tone with deep conviction, "…and redemption will be mine at last."

Hisui chuckled, "I won't forget that anytime soon… Minerva."

And like that, the magic lacrima ceased to glow.