Chapter 35
Evergreen puts the final touches on Lucy's elegant updo. "Finished!"
Opening her eyes, Lucy smiles at her reflection. She absolutely loves the way her hair is. While her bangs are left down, some parts of her hair are in braids. She is grateful there is not a single trace of anything shiny or sparkling pinned in her locks. "I love it, Evergreen! Thank you so much!"
Just as Lucy stands up and turns, there is a knock on the door.
"Come in!" Evergreen says.
The door opens and Bickslow pokes his head inside of the room with closed eyes. "Is it safe?"
"I wouldn't have said to come inside if it wasn't," Evergreen points out.
His eyes open up and land on Lucy. "Wow! You clean up good!"
"Only because I had Evergreen to help me," Lucy says.
Bickslow jerks a thumb back. "The ball already started and that younger prince sure is getting antsy waiting for you to come down."
Lucy rolls her eyes. "He can be impatient."
"When it comes to you," Evergreen and Bickslow say in unison.
Lucy cannot argue that at all. "Shall we go?"
With Evergreen and Bickslow escorting Lucy down to the ballroom. Lucy insisted she does not need a grand entrance so she is not getting one. She and her guards simply walk into the grand room and make their way around.
There is a band providing live music and entertainment. The decorations are fitting to be in the castle of Draconia and everything has been thought of. There is an area for eating later as well as a cleared off space for dancing. Things are going off without a hitch.
Of course, Lucy is looking around for familiar faces. Especially one of a certain second prince. Unfortunately, she does not see him at all.
"Do you see him?" Bickslow asks.
"Not yet," Evergreen replies.
"Perhaps we should just wait for him," Lucy suggests before softly smiling. "He does have a knack for finding me."
"You pick where, Princess," Evergreen says.
"We'll wait with you," Bickslow adds.
A young man stops in front of Lucy and bows in front of her. "How are you this fine evening, my lady?"
Doing what she has done for years, Lucy gathers the skirt of her gown and curtseys. "I am well. Thank you for asking."
He stands upright and holds out a hand. "Would you care to dance?"
Under normal circumstances, Lucy would accept. However, she is not in search for a future husband. "I am waiting on someone actually. So I shall have to turn down the request."
"Has a lucky lad already stolen away your heart?" he inquires.
"I am already betrothed," she says to make it clear she is not interested in him. She has no interest in the slightest.
"Well, what he doesn't know won't hurt him," the stranger presses.
Evergreen and Bickslow do not react to his persistence. After all, they know their charge can handle herself rather well.
Natsu slides in close to Lucy, taking her right hand with his left and lacing their fingers together. He looks as dashing as ever and is even wearing his crown, really playing his role as second prince of this kingdom. "Are you enjoying yourself?" he asks her, completely ignoring the existence of the one failing at flirting with her.
Lucy smiles. "Quite so."
The stranger looks at their conjoined hands before up at their faces. "You're betrothed to the second prince?"
A lazy grin forms on Natsu's face. "So what if she is?"
Panic flashes in the stranger's eyes and he quickly bows. "Excuse me!"
Lucy playfully whacks Natsu's chest with her free hand.
"What was that for?" he asks, even though he knows what he did.
"I do not need someone spreading a false rumor that we are betrothed to one another."
"But it did scare him off."
"That it did," she agrees.
"Now then…" Natsu looks Lucy up and down, drinking in her appearance. "You look…" His words trail off before he finds his voice again, clearing his throat. "I can't even describe it..."
"You have such a way with words," Lucy giggles in a teasing manner. "Although, I suppose I have you to thanks. I do have this lovely gown because of you."
"It's fitting for you." Then Natsu raises their arms and presses his lips to the back of her hand. "Shall we?"
Without a word, Lucy nods. She allows him to lead her over to where others are dancing and they join in. They fit right into the part of the song that is happening.
"Where are the guys?" Lucy questions.
"They're watching over me, no worries. They're letting me have some space tonight." He smirks. "I could ask you the same thing about your guards."
"Point taken," Lucy admits.
When the current song ends and another begins, Natsu pulls Lucy over to the side to avoid others. He slips a hand to her waist and takes a hold of her hand with his right hand. "I like this kinda dancing with you a lot more."
Slipping her left hand to his shoulder, Lucy smiles. "As do I."
They slowly spin in place, simply getting lost in one another. They pay no attention to what is happening around them. They do not even notice Natsu's three guards exchanging some coins because of a bet they placed at how soon their charge would try dancing with Lucy.
"Do most of these people hail from Draconia?" Lucy asks, bringing up something for them to discuss.
"Pretty much."
"Are Sting and Yukino here?"
"I haven't seen 'em around actually. They still might be visiting family."
"But you are family to them."
"But I saw them recently."
"They did not see your father and brother," Lucy points out.
"True," he agrees. He opens his mouth to speak more, but words do not come out.
"Is everything all right?" Lucy questions, noticing him.
He ends up smiling. "I got lost in your eyes there for a bit."
She giggles.
Natsu finds himself slowly leaning forward. "They just suck me right in–"
A piece of bread is thrown at the side of Natsu's head and he jerks back, eyes looking around for the perpetrator.
Gray, Gajeel, and Loke all look rather innocent and are avoiding any possible eye contact from their charge. Surprisingly, no one is ratting out who did throw the bread.
"They are just trying to keep you in line is all," Lucy says to justify their actions.
"They didn't hafta do that…" Natsu grumbles.
"At least it was not something harder," she jests playfully.
Zeref strolls over to the duo and holds out his right hand. "May I cut in?"
"Sure thing!" Natsu steps over to his older brother and makes him his new dancing partner. He only does it so no one else dances with Lucy.
Lucy has an absolute fit of giggles as she watches Zeref struggle to break free from his sibling. It is a sight she never imagined would be possible.
"Natsu, release me this instant!" he chides.
"But I wanna dance with my awesome big brother!" Natsu says as they spin around.
A few others begin to notice the spectacle and laugh at their antics.
Lucy wipes away a tear from her cheek.
Evergreen and Bickslow approach their charge so she is not alone. "He's a real character," he comments.
"And he's the one you do want to marry?" Evergreen asks even though she knows the answer.
"Yes," Lucy replies without hesitation as a smile forms on her lips.
"Did you put him up to that?" Gray inquires as he and the others approach the small group.
"Why would I suggest such a thing to Natsu?" Lucy asks rhetorically.
Gajeel nods. "Bunny Girl does have a point."
"No one really has to put him up to anything," Loke comments. "He'll think of it all on his own."
"Kinda makes ya wonder what goes on inside that brain of his," Gajeel says, crossing his arms over his chest. "Scary place probably."
"Dearest Lucy, would you care to dance?" Loke asks flirtatiously.
"I wonder how Natsu would react to seeing that…" Bickslow muses.
Evergreen chuckles. "I bet he would throw something much worse than bread at you."
Loke looks over at her. "Perhaps you would like to dance with me instead."
"In your dreams," she scoffs, turning his nose up at him. "I like manly men."
His mood slightly deflates from defeat. "Another time maybe."
Lucy laughs at the rejection, but thinks of Evergreen's response. A certain manly man comes to her mind.
"Evergreen, you should meet this guy named Elfman," Gray suggests, obviously having the same idea as Lucy.
Gajeel rolls his eyes. "He claims to be the manliest of men."
Bickslow cracks up. "Are you seriously trying to hook her up with some guy–" He sputters when Evergreen's elbow knocks into his side.
"No one asked you!" she reprimands with a stone cold glare.
Natsu joins Lucy, discovering others are with her. He grins at all of them. "Who's ready to party?!"
A/N Part 1: Because this is Chapter 35 (which is totally awesome by the way) I figured I'd get the ball started at the very least! I'm more than sure y'all will next the next chapter :D (I have certain things in mind…)
A/N Part 2: I'm sooooo excited since I'll be attending Ohayocon this coming weekend! I'll be cosplaying as Asuna from SAO (and the boyfriend will be Kirito!) :D If someone is going and you happen to see me, feel free to say hi! Also, I'm pretty sure I won't be able to post another chapter (same goes for CAF) until after con, but make sure to stay tuned for more!
stefwilczynski: Oh, wow! Thank you! That makes me happy that you do :) I'm pretty sure the duke will appear, but now ain't the time. AND HECK YEAH IT IS!
Nekokittygirl: The other half the Thunder Legion shall appear again for sure! Now ain't the time though! Gruvia (along with other ships) shall be a thing!
Guest: Gah, thank you! I'm happy you like it :D He would fight Lucy and fight for her if he had too! XD
FlamingAngel525: Jude will be good. I can promise that. The bandits are just some group of bandits, but the leader of the bandits was hired by someone/a group to kill Lucy. That person/group is unknown as of now…
Guest: Glad you think it's awesome!
izziebizziebuzz: I'm happy you love it :) Hopefully you didn't hafta wait toooooo long :P
craycraynalu: I love you, tooooooooo :) Natsu miiiiiight try seducing Lucy so she loses focus XD But I skipped their spar so I could start the ball for this chapter!
Blix: Hey, you're cool. I know people have lives outside of reading fics! Mood bosters are always greaaaaat! Gah, thank you! I'm glad you like it! (The smut is cool on 2 conditions… 1 you give credit where credit is due and 2 you let me know when it's finished/posted so I can read it!)
nalu lover girl: The reminders are super great and always welcomed! Give me a little booster to keep on writing! I think everyone wants them to marry sooooon XD
Guest: Haha, puppy dog Natsu XD Great mental image!
Guest: Aye, sir! At a point, the mystery of Laxus and Freed will be solved, but now ain't the time :P
Justareader: I'm trying, mate! Work and life sometimes get in the way :P I try updating when I can! Sometimes twice a week. Once if life is hella slammed :/
Crazy lady: I honestly haven't heard of either of those titles you mentioned :P