Chapter 13

The days that followed the ball were filled with anger and anguish for the young prince. Alone, he combed the kingdom, searching for the young Cinder Woman. It was after a week that he had finally snapped. He put up wanted posters and sent out his personal guard to help with the search. Levy was now considered a felon in the eyes of the kingdom.

Day after day, the prince's frustration grew as no word came in regarding the young woman. The McGarden Estate had been thouroghly searched by his men, but they still found no trace of the woman. It was like she wasn't even there to begin with!

"Arrrggh!" Gajeel slammed his fists against the wall, creating two large craters in the old stone.

"Your Highness!" Lady Erza gasped, appalled by the prince's actions. "I understand that this is frustrating, but you need to control your anger!"

At the moment, the woman knelt before the enraged prince who now paced the center of the grand throne room. He visibly fumed as he tried to keep his anger in check, his erratic steps echoing off of the polished marble.

"Have ya checked the McGarden Estate again?" he growled.

Erza's armor chinked softly as she brought herself to her feet. "With all due respect Your Highness, I think we should stop this fruitless search. We have examined the Estate several times already and we have come up with nothing,"

"Then ya haven't looked hard enough!" the prince snarled at her, baring his teeth.

"Gajeel!" a man's voice boomed behind the two. Gajeel and Erza turned to see the king standing in the large doorway of the throne room.

"Your Majesty!" Erza quickly knelt before the king.

"Stand Lady Erza," The king spoke coldly, a rare occurance for the warm man.

"Yes sir," The knight stood and folded her hands behind her back.

"Lady Erza, please return to your post. I need to speak with my son in private," The king's eyes never left the furious red eyes of the prince.

"Yes sir," She bowed and quickly left the throne room.

"Gajeel this needs to stop," The king spoke sternly, squaring himself up to his considerably taller son. "You have been leading the soldiers on a wild goose chase for someone who has disappeared completely. What's worse is that you've actually managed to make the poor girl a felon!"

"What?" Gajeel was shocked at his father's words. He had put up those posters in hopes that someone would have news on where she was, not to make her seem like a wanted criminal.

"Yes!" the king confirmed, "This has been going on for far too long. Your 21st birthday is this week, and if you can't find a bride by then…" He stared firmly into his son's eyes, "I am marrying you off to your cousin, Evergreen,"

"What? No!" Gajeel shouted. There was no way in hell that he would marry her, tradition or not. "Look Pop, I can find 'er! Jus' gimme some time!"

"You have until sunset on Friday," With that, the king turned and left the room.

Snarling, the young prince turned and marched out a separate door that lead into one of the many courtyards. "Droy!" he bellowed, summoning the large man.

"Yes Your Highness?" The stableman bowed.

"Prepare Lily. I'm going out,"

*Levy*

Levy sighed for what seemed to be the thousandth time that day. Maybe, if she had just stayed to speak with him she wouldn't be in this mess. She sat, alone, in a dusty corner of her new room: the attic. Cobwebs and dust were her new comfort and the rats and spiders were her new friends. After the whole fiasco at the ball, and the wanted posters, Lady Minerva had thrown Levy into the attic, making sure that no one knew that she lived there.

For about the millionth time since the ball, Levy wondered if she had made the right choice. Gavin- or Gajeel now- and Juvia were her only friends, to find out that they had been lying to her all of those years had hit Levy like a freight train. She had been furious and hurt that her friends would do such a thing; she spoke out of anger, and had ruined her life in the process. Why would they do something like that to her?

She knew why. To protect her. To protect him. If word had gotten out that the crown prince was hanging out with a slave, he would have been a discrace, ridiculed by his people. Not to mention, Levy would have been the target of several assassins and higher ups, threatening her to get at the prince. Whatever the reasons may have been, it still hurt.

Levy brought herself to her feet, clutching at her stomach as she did so. Beatings were daily now. Every time Levy would show her face down stairs, whether it be to clean or cook, her step-siblings would always find a reason hurt her. More often than not, they would send Levy to the attic, bleeding and bruised, left with nothing to clean her wounds with. It had gotten to the point to where Levy was numb. She didn't feel the blows that her step-siblings sent her way. She didn't feel the profanities that were shouted at her. She didn't feel anything.

Levy stumbled over to a small window, barely big enough to fit her body through, and opened it wide. The rusted hinges squealed in protest, and she hoped and prayed that her step-mother was asleep. The cool night air greeted her battered face, kissing the wounds that reside there. She sighed gratefully and bent down to retrieve an old rope that sat on the dirt covered floor. Quietly, she tied the rope around a small hook at the base of the window and threw it into the air.

Tugging on the end to make sure it was secure, Levy began to cautiously maneuver herself out of the small opening. Inching her way slowly down the rope, Levy began to trail the side of the manor. When she reached the end, her feet were dangling about three feet off the ground. She let go of the rope and fell gracelessly to the ground.

"Oof!" she grunted, falling backwards onto her rear. "I'll never get used to that," she mumbled to herself.

Levy peeled herself off the ground and made her way through the woods next to the manor, in the direction of the graveyard. She needed to speak with her father.

AN: Ok so this chapter kind of sucked, but it was somewhat important (even though it was boring af). So I apologize for the shittyness but it has to be done. I can't just randomly throw in a make-out scene, that would make no sense (although I'm pretty sure you all would love it if I did that). I promise the next chapter will be more enjoyable. (at least I hope so *sweats nervously*) I hope you somewhat enjoyed!

Later Taters!

~Icy