The clock on the nearby wall is the only sound within the small room other than the occasional scribble coming from the children's quills. Sitting behind my desk within our little makeshift classroom, I keep my back rigid straight and my eyes down on my interlocked gloved hands. Not daring to look up into the infuriated cold blue eyes of my superior, I continue to keep my uncomfortable position so as not to get scolded further.
Yesterday's incident at the market square had burst throughout the castle like wildfire before we had even arrived back home. Under Mirajane's false security, we had thought that we would have a bit more time before news of the prank the children had committed reached Juvia's ears. We had thought that we had enough time to come up with a good excuse. We were wrong.
Chapter 9 - Praise or Punishment
POV: Lucy
Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail
Upon entering through the large ornate front doors to the castle, the fuming bluenette was waiting for us with her arms crossed and her foot tapping insistently. One downward glare from the older woman left the children and myself cowering under her heated gaze.
"Bedrooms. Now." Had been the only thing the woman had commanded through an inaudible whisper that struck fear even into Mirajane who only smiled nervously, her happy façade almost breaking.
Without further prompting, the children hightailed it to their rooms leaving only dust in their wake. I too, as well as Mirajane, tried to retreat to the safety of the kitchen, but not before we were stopped by the deadly look Juvia sent our way. The deadly look was like that of a distant bluenette with an equally cold and dangerous attitude much like Juvia's. The thought of Juvia resembling anything near my previous ill-tempered governess makes me shake with fear I hadn't felt since I was a child.
"Oh Juvia, don't look at us like that," Mirajane waved with her hand in a nonchalant manner, but the quiver in her voice betrayed her true feelings making me fear the glowering bluenette before us even more, "They were only having fun."
"Fun should not involve creating bombs in town and scaring every citizen within the capital," Juvia snapped causing Mirajane to duck her head at the bluenette's heated words, "You two had just three jobs today: Buy what you needed from the market, Keep the children under check, and get back home safely without a problem. You failed at all three seeming as that basket is nearly empty! The children are being hounded by the townspeople, again! And you are all an hour late!"
Every word is like a whip, striking us every time Juvia ticks of every item on her finger to make a point. Every syllable she utters even intensifies in volume making this all the worse than I could have imagined. Mirajane looks at me from the corner of her eye and grimaces in apology as Juvia continues to go off on us and not paying any attention to our mental discussion with one another.
"So help me, if this happens again I will remove your wedding planning privileges Mirajane!"
Looking over at Juvia confused, I turn my gaze towards Mirajane whose ever-present smile quivers and sweat starts to build up on her temple. When Juvia's hard gaze tightens and her arms are once again crossed across her chest defiantly, Mirajane's composed façade breaks down.
Dropping her basket on the ground and falling onto her knees, Mirajane wails out nearly scaring me to death, "NO! Anything but that! Please Juvia, you cannot be so cruel!" The eldest of us three cries almost as if someone had told her that someone near and dear to her had passed away, "Please Juvia, I'll behave, I promise!"
Confused, I look at the bluenette whose eyes are closed defiantly as she taps her foot patiently while the silver haired beauty sobs before her. Sighing heavily, Juvia looks down at the blubbering Mirajane and shakes her head exasperatedly, "Fine, but let this be the last time this happens under your care, or next time I swear that I'll remove every single privilege towards the planning of my wedding from you and give it over to Evergreen." Shocked beyond words, Mirajane nods her head insistently while thanking the blue haired woman through her continuous sobs, "And as for you," the bluenette says while pointing at me and making me jump, "This is your first warning, and it better be your last. I do not tolerate having gossip, rumors, or stories traveling around the city or the castle. It is your job to keep the children under control, so do your job or so help me I will feed you to the wrath of Titania herself," and with that Juvia turned on her heels and stormed away further into the castle.
Sighing deeply, I look up at the children who are pouring over the work that was left for them to do. Their faces are scrunched up in concentration as they continue to work hard and diligently. Usually they aren't so compliant to do their work silently when it is only the three of us in the room, but with the ominous presence of Juvia watching over us like a hawk we all have no choice but to remain silent. At least until the children finish their work for the day.
"DONE!" Etsuko exclaims while holding his paper high over his head proudly startling Rosalind and I with the sudden noise.
"Hand it over to Lucille so that she can look over it," Juvia replies while continuing to stand beside me with her arms crossed and her expression impassive.
Etsuko does as he's told and gives me his paper of mathematical problems. I scan over the paper while going over the math in my head and marking a few things throughout his paper. Looking up, I hand the paper back to Etsuko who receives it eagerly, "Seven out of ten correct," I inform him as he looks over the small marks I made for him with a small pout on his face.
"Just minor flaws, but I'm sure with time and Lucille's constant supervision you'll be able to get them all correct in no time," Juvia commends clearly bringing the younger boy's mood up significantly.
"I'm done too," Rosalind informs us popping up next to her brother and holding her paper out for me to check as well. No doubt looking for equal praise to that of her older sibling.
"Nine out of ten," I commend the young girl as I hand back her own mathematical problems making her shine with excitement as she clutches her paper joyfully. Her tiny hands clutch her paper close to her chest as she jumps up and down excitedly making the older boy groan out in annoyance.
"That's not fair!" Etsuko cries out, all happiness he had received from Juvia vanishing into the air, "Her problems were easier!" he complains while crossing his arms across his chest stubbornly while earning a disapproving look from Juvia.
Knowing that the youngest Dragneel is about to make a snide comment – being around the clock with both children has taught me that they both don't always get along – I try to think of something to say. I can feel Juvia's irritation towards our small situation begin to grow and I fear for my life and the threat of her feeding me to the wrath of Titania begin to grow. I still don't know what she meant with that, but I was in no hurry of finding out.
A knock at the door causes the squabbling children to cease their arguing and saving me from having to yell at them. All four of us turn our head towards the opening door to find the king entering the room with his ever-present scowl set upon his face. Undeterred by her father's obvious foul mood, Rosalind rushes past her desk chair and barrels into her father nearly knocking him down from the blow.
"Daddy!" comes her exclaimed muffle as the young girl buries her face into her father's leg making the older man stand awkwardly so as not to fall on top of the small girl, "Happy's being mean!" she tattles as she pops her head back away from her father's leg so that she can look up with her gorgeous blue eyes up at her father's confused face.
"LIAR!" the boy in question hollers out while rushing to his father's side, "That's not true!"
"Is too!" Rosalind yells back while sticking her tongue out at the older boy.
"It's so early in the day and you two are already fighting with each other," the older Dragneel male sighs while affectionately petting the top of his daughter's head with his large hand, "If you two keep arguing with each other Miss Ashley is going to be in bigger trouble than she already is," the older male informs both children who instantly cease their squabble, "I hope I didn't interrupt anything," Natsu says while looking towards Juvia who heaves a frustrated sigh and shakes her head.
"No, we were just finishing up with math," she says while moving around my desk, allowing me to relax a bit from my rigid position, "Was there something that you needed?" she asks while stopping just a few feet in front of the king.
Without saying anything, he hands the female a stack of papers that I hadn't noticed he had been holding until now. Juvia wordlessly takes the paper from his hand and looks over them quietly while the children cling to their father as if he were to suddenly disappear into thin air.
I take this moment of silence to look over the wary king. His usually scowling face looks downcast and tired. His eyes are bloodshot with dark bruised bags underneath them looking as if he hadn't slept in days. Even his clothes look like they haven't been changed out of in a while as they're riddled with wrinkles and even his hair looks more tousled than usual.
His dark eyes suddenly look away from Juvia and land on me making me flinch from the sudden attention. I immediately look away feeling as if I got caught doing something I wasn't supposed to be doing. There's also the fact that every time I have looked into his eyes it always feels as if I were burning from the inside.
"Very well," Juvia says while breaking the silence, "I'll get started on the planning right away," she says before looking back down at her papers and shuffling through them one more time.
"What's that daddy?" Rosalind asks while looking curiously up at Juvia.
"Just some plans for a ball that we're having at the end of September," he says with a heavy listless sigh, but indifference in the king's voice does little to deter both children from exclaiming excitedly. Both Etsuko and Rosalind ask a million questions a minute making the older male deadpan from the onslaught of his children, "Yes you two are going," he grumbles when the children ask repeatedly if they were going to attend this ball, "You both have to go and get your measurements taken for your attire later today."
"Is Lucille going to get measured for a dress too?" Rosy asks as she bounces excitedly on the balls of her feet, "Is she also going to get to go to the ball with us?"
I watch, surprised, at the child who stares up at her father with the glint of excitement and hope shinning in her large baby doll eyes. As much as it warms my heart having the young five-year-old try to include me into their family endeavors I can't help but feel uneasy. Large parties meant lots of people. Lots of people meant exposure to those who may recognize me from former parties my own father held. Exposure meant that I would no longer be safe.
"Of course she is," Natsu says, clearly annoyed at having his daughter continuously pulling his arm to the rhythm of her jumping, "She needs to look presentable along with you two. I mean, who else do you think is going to look after both of you at the party?"
Without missing a beat both children stare at their father and both state, "You," at the same time making Natsu roll his eyes with a deep groan.
The trio continue to argue, completely forgetting that Juvia and I are still in the room. I take this time to process what the king has said so far about there being a ball near the end of the month of September. The thought of a ball quickly sends my mind towards images of glittering dresses, the sound of lulling music, the clinking of fine champagne glasses, as well as the sound of laughter coming from haughty nobles.
Looking at the small family, I can't help but notice the easy nonchalant way Natsu carries himself. He seems to be enjoying the attention his children are giving him and it is more than clear that the children are enjoying the same treatment from their usually busy father. Back home, warm relaxed moments like these were near nonexistent when news of a ball would arise.
At the mention of a ball being held at the manor, my father would always be so tense and on edge. Every day was dedicated to planning the grand party making sure that everything went according to my father's plan. He always wanted his parties to be the talk of the town, and would not accept anything to go wrong.
Thinking back on it now, I don't think I was ever as excited as Rosalind and Etsuko are now towards attending such formal events. I would only ever show up for two or three songs before being allowed to retire to my bedchamber. I can remember faintly hearing the music in my room and allowing the soft melodies to lull me to sleep. It was a routine I would follow with every social gathering held at the old manor much to my father's frustration.
Speaking of which, I can't believe that I almost forgot!
Quickly turning to look at the wall to my left, I find the long calendar marked with the months, weeks, and days on it. My eyes land on today's date which reads August 31. My eyes then scan the small numbers that lead through the first few days of September before landing on the specific number that I was looking for. I stare at the date feeling my chest tighten and my hands ball up firmly on top of my lap. I can feel my eyes burn as well as a lump form in my throat as I try to keep my emotions in check, even when all I want to do is scream and cry out.
"Are you alright Lucille?" a deep voice asks and when I turn around I'm surprised to see Natsu leaning on top of the desk in front of me looking worried along with the children who peer over the edge of the table at me. I hadn't even heard them come near me.
"I…" Looking up at the worried expression of the king I can't seem to say the blatant lie every person ever says. I want to tell him and the children that I'm fine, that I'm just spacing out, but I find myself just staring right back at them with my heart in my throat.
"Lucille?" Natsu inquires while leaning in closer, those large dark eyes of his filled with that familiar worry he used to show me when we were kids. It was always the look he would give me after he would find me crying over something my dad ever said or did to upset me.
Keeping myself from letting out a sob, I take a deep breath and clear my throat while shaking my head, "It's nothing your majesty. I apologize if I startled you," I tell him while earning a scowl from the male, but this expression looks more playfully annoyed than his usual frightening expression, "I did, however, want to ask something," I say before he can lean away, "I wanted to ask if I could get the seventh off from work?"
From over Natsu's shoulder, I notice Juvia freeze before looking out way from the corner of her eye, "I don't see why not," Natsu says while standing up straight, "Can I, however, ask why you need the day off?"
"It's a personal day for her Natsu, let's leave it at that," Juvia's stern voice states as she tucks the papers under her arm making the king pout in annoyance, "You can have the day to your leisure, Miss Ashley. I'll have Mirajane watch over the children so there is nothing for you to worry about."
"Thank you," I thank the older woman who quickly turns to leave.
"Come now your majesty, we have work to get to before the new month begins," and leaving no room for argument the King follows while grumbling something under his breath. Before he leaves the room, however, he looks back once to say goodbye to his children and his gaze lingers on me for a bit before he leaves the room before Juvia follows.
As strange as that seemed, it could not beat the remorseful look that Juvia sent my way before she closed the door behind her.
It almost seemed as if she knew what awaited me the following week.
Sorry for the SUPER late update guys. I've been in and out of town lately for personal reasons with little to no time to update. Thankfully my schedule should be clear from now on so regular updates will finally recommence.
I want to give an immense shout out to every single on of my Favorites, Followers, and Reviewers! You guys are amazing for always being so patient with me and I love you all to pieces.
Chapter 10 - Ladies Who Fish will be out on June 17, so please look out for that.
Well that's all for today!
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Until next time my lovelies.