Tales of Magnolia : Chapter 11
"Being is like pretending"
~Mira Sorvino
Juvia stared at the deep blue dress laying on the rosy covers of her bed. She hated wearing long dresses. She despised wearing corsets. And she couldn't handle cage skirts more than anything. The shoes he had picked for her were no better. Impossibly high heels, and such a complex design, she knew she would fall on the first step she would take in them. Maybe that was another of his tricks. If she wore those shoes – which she would have to – she would need to hold on to his arm, unless she wanted to fall, and make a spectacle of herself in front of Magnolia's high class people.
She had absolutely no idea where to start. All her life on the streets, she'd worn a simple tight dancer outfit, enabling her to move at her leisure. Now, in this grossly over decorated dress, she would have to take careful small steps, and control her movements so that her blood circulation wasn't brutally cut off at her midsection. The skirts looked like they weighted a ton, even without the cage. The bodice was fancy, a light blue with little bows to decorate. She stared back at the cage skirt, in which she would be trapped for the next three hours or so. Oh, how she wanted to force it on Gray and flip him off, just so that he could have a taste of his own medicine!
The Dancer sighed and proceeded to undress, after having checked for the hundredth time that both the door and windows were locked. She didn't need any peeping toms to add to her frustration. There was no servants in Fullbuster's estate, so she had to take care of her dressing herself. She couldn't call Erza, or Lucy or the strange petite woman Gajeel seemed to hang around. She really didn't want to embarrass herself further, by surrendering that she couldn't dress herself on her own. She pulled on the petticoat, flinching when the foreign silk brushed her leg. Juvia figured that the cage was next, and she watch it haughtily, before deciding it would be better just to ignore it and to pretend everything was alright.
Except it wasn't.
Especially when she tried to tie her own corset. This being her first time, she had absolutely no familiarity with the lace on her back, and the holes it was supposed to lace up into. Resigning to her fate, she unlock the door, holding the corset with her free hand and bumped into her husband.
"I certainly do hope you are not planning to attend that tea party bare-chested." He smirked.
She snapped back immediately.
"Well, I wouldn't have to, if you'd chosen a more casual outfit."
He grabbed the lace in her back, and she turned around to let him tie it. Even if it was him doing it, she was quite glad it wasn't one of the other girls. She didn't want the shame to dig further in her heart. And Fullbuster didn't count, because they were already supposed to be married. She decided to tease him a bit further.
"Tell me, how come you know how to tie a woman's corset? Is it because you've undone so many in the past?"
His smirk disappeared and he pulled harshly on the lace, making Juvia gasp as the air left her lungs. She tried to yank away from his grip, but his hands were like iron. She grimaced as he proceeded to continue to tie her lace, as if nothing had happened.
"I won't forget that. And when I do take my revenge, you are going to regret it bitterly." She threatened.
He shrugged and made a bow at the bottom.
"That was necessary if you want to look like a proper lady. And in your case, you are going to need all the help you can find."
She was about to reply, when he put a finger to her lips.
"Remember the plan."
The plan. The stupid damn plan. The plan – for once smart – Loke had come up with. The only reason she tried getting along with Gray. She was supposed to be a distant niece of King Igneel, and she was supposed to have come in worry for her uncle. The Secretary came up with the idea, because he needed Gray to become familiar with the court. If he did that, then the invitations to parties would pile up in his mailbox, and they would hopefully get invited to the Annual Magnolia Ball. Since Gray had refused to attend for three year in a row, Loke was expecting the Chancellor to reconsider his list of guests, and Gray not to be on it. The tea party Juvia was getting ready for had been set up by Lady Mirajane, who once was the King's right hand. She was known as the Treasurer of Magnolia, and handled the Kingdom's finances. Loke informed Gray that Mirajane was also in the confidence of overthrowing the government. But it would be very unusual for Gray to show up at the party, when he had never attended one for three years, much more to a woman he had no acquaintances with. That was where Juvia came in. As her pretend role, Gray had an excuse to go. He would announce their engagement, while keeping the fact that they were married. He could also talk business with some of the men, hoping to enter their circle of friends. They had all the required pieces: Gray's title, Juvia's role, the party, the dress, the engagement rings,...The only thing that was missing was a fake name for the Dancer. She couldn't go as Juvia Loxar, because she was a well-known dancer, and obviously not nobility. They hadn't agreed on one yet.
"No need to remind me. Have you found a name yet?"
She said as she pulled on her bodice and her skirts. He sat on the edge of her bed, glancing at the room. He'd never been here before, although this was his own house.
"Well, Natsu suggested you go as Wendy Marvell."
"Who is that?"
"One of his cousins."
She nodded. It would work, since she was a pretend distant relative. She couldn't understand why Gray was smirking though.
"Do pray tell how that is funny," She stated more than asked.
He took his time.
"Wendy is supposed to be twelve. You're seventeen."
Magnolia Market Place, Central Plaza
Natsu had more than enough of the oversized hood he had been forced to wear. In fact, like Juvia's case, he hated every single article of clothing he was wearing. Rags did not suit a Prince. Even if Lucy had argued that they weren't rags, but rather expensive clothes for a peasant to wear. He had white trousers that puffed around his knees, and a simple black vest, with matching black sandals.
Lucy on the other hand, had kept the outfit she'd previously bought, the whip tied around her thin waist.
The two were walking down aisles of fruits and vegetables as merchants from left and right yelled out to potential customers. Erza's punishment for eavesdropping. Grocery shopping. Natsu had expected something much more harsh, but didn't complain at all. After all, knowing Erza if she didn't make them do anything else, it was because she had obviously something else on her mind, and that she didn't want to deal with him and Lucy.
"Where are the tomatoes in this place!" He yelled out in frustration, while clenching the little piece of paper on which the Knight had written the list of things she needed.
Lucy sighed. That was the fifth time Natsu had asked that, and she was wondering if he actually came to the market before.
Of course, it wasn't her first time.
When she'd been living with Levy, she would go to the market everyday, hoping to catch up of the things in life she was so sheltered from.
"Just a little bit more." She advised.
The Prince whined and gave her the puppy eyes. Lucy shook her head.
"No, you are coming along. I don't want Lady Scarlet to point her sword at me again."
The pink haired boy dropped his head and continued to trail after Lucy. She, on the other hand, was very glad to be back on familiar ground. She had spent so much time going there before moving in Gray's mansion – Loke wanted to keep every member of his plan close and at hand's reach – and thought she would never get to come back here.
They reached the tomato merchant. Lucy ordered a dozen, and Natsu opened a bag for the merchant to place the fruits into. The blonde reached in her pocket to pay. Only to find that the wallet Erza had given her was gone.
"No money, no tomatoes lass." The clerk said as he snatched back his property.
Natsu look bewildered.
"Look there, sir. I can pay for them later, how much do you want for them? I can easily double the price."
The merchant looked thoughtful for a little while, before shaking his head.
"I don't take credit from strangers." He mentioned to Natsu's hidden face.
Lucy was surprised at Natsu's reply. How could he double the price, when he had no money to pay for the original? She started to look around, fearful of the often present guards in search for her.
"If it isn't little Luce! Hey! Lucy!" Someone yelled.
She turned around, and came face to face with Cana. Unsure of what to do, she waved a little, only to have the older woman pull her into a bear hug.
"What have you and Lev' been up to! Haven't seen you in ages!" She exclaimed loudly.
The blonde sighed again. Taking time to formulate her words, she explained to Cana.
"You're drunk again aren't you? Levy and I told you we were going to be away for a short while."
The innkeeper shook off the comment.
"Nah, I know when I'm drunk. Just be glad I'm not sober. Rent's due in two days, by the way."
As far as Lucy could see, she was very much drunk, if it wasn't obvious from the bottle of liquor in her hands from which she took a gulp. Noticing Natsu, Cana arched her eyebrows and tried to look at his face.
"What's up with your friend? Why's he all covered up?"
"Because I am-" Natsu started.
Lucy cut him off.
"Sunburns! He gets sunburns very easily on his face, so we have to cover him up whenever we go out!"
Cana shrugged, and mumbled a whatever. The merchant who was getting annoyed at being ignored, loudly interrupted.
"Well are you going to buy or what!"
Cana turned around.
"Yep! It's on me Wakaba!"
Relieved, the merchant handed the bag back to Natsu who glared at him from inside his hood. Cana patted his head and Lucy's and proceeded to run off, waving at them as she did so.
"See ya later!"
~from Tales of Magnolia: Chapter 11
A/N: Hey look! No cliffhanger this time! A few things about this chapter: one, I hope I correctly described Victorian style dresses. Two, I hope I wasn't too confusing as to why Gray and Juvia had to go to that party and lastly, sorry for not putting Erza and Jellal and Gajeel and Levy in this chapter! Next one will surely have them. I'm still getting wonderful reviews and positive comebacks, and I'm really glad my story is liked. Please keep up with me as we approach deeper into the story!
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