Hello, everyone !
I'm back with the nineteenth chapter !
I hope you enjoy reading this chapter as well :D
Disclaimer: I only own this plot
They weren't using different carriages but Lucy distanced herself from Natsu. It wasn't a hard thing to do, especially with Lisanna plastering herself all over him. All she had to do was sit silently in front of them.
Natsu sighed as his head pounded. He should have asked Wendy to give him more of her herbal tea. Wendy had created lots of herbal tea to help their family overcoming their motion sickness.
The carriage shook and Natsu's stomach churned.
"Natsu!" Lisanna fussed. "Come on, just lay down, okay? You'll throw up!"
Natsu ignored her and closed his eyes instead as he laid his head on the carriage. He opened his eyes however when he felt someone was in front of him and something touched his forehead.
Lucy's worried chocolate eyes made his heart went wild.
She carefully wiped his beads of sweats with her handkerchief. Just a sight of her was enough to calm his stomach down. Not to mention her sweet smell was lulling him.
But of course, Lisanna just had to ruin that.
"What do you think you're doing?" Lisanna hissed. "I can take care of Natsu!"
Lucy's senses snapped back. "I—I'm sorry." she bowed down in apology and sat back down.
Lucy mentally scolded herself. What had gotten into her? She let her control slipped when she saw just how pale Natsu was. She shouldn't do that.
Lisanna fished out her own handkerchief and started to wipe Natsu's sweats. Natsu sighed and closed his eyes again. Lucy's smell that was lingering in his nose put him into a slumber.
"Welcome, Your Highnesses." Loke greeted as he bowed down. "I deeply apologize for my king's absence, but the queen is not feeling very well. He's attending to her right at this moment."
"Is the queen okay?" Lucy asked in worry.
"Fear not, Your Highness. The royal doctor is attending to her as we speak." Loke assured.
"Well then, we better start the construction right away." Natsu said.
Loke bowed down and took them to the mine. The miners were all set when they got there. They bowed down politely and smiled.
"Well then people," Loke clapped his hands. "Let's get this job started."
Loke laid out a map on the ground and Natsu told them the path. They all nodded their heads in excitement. Making a secret path like this does sent a sense of thrill down their spines! They started working by digging deeper.
Lucy and Lisanna stayed outside as Natsu stepped into the mine to see its condition.
"Yep. All good." His voice echoed.
"I can never get used to seeing you in a wig." Lisanna chuckled as Natsu stepped out. "Is this because of that particular political issue?"
"Yeah."
"When will you explain it to me?"
"Later, Lisanna." Natsu said and made his way to the workers to discuss something with them.
Lisanna pouted but she didn't say anything. She knew just how immersed Natsu would be when he was working. The miners kept working until midday.
"Lunch break!" Loke shouted.
The workers wiped their sweats and sat down as their wives brought their lunches to them.
"Your Highnesses." The royal cook bowed down and laid out their lunches on a table. "I hope you enjoy it."
Lisanna sat down beside Natsu while Lucy sat across him. Loke opened up a huge umbrella to cover them from the bright sun. Loke also sat down beside Lucy and he got an intense stare from Natsu as the result. Not that he minded though. He wasn't stupid enough to try to do anything to Lucy while Natsu was in his vicinity. Their lunch today was a good-looking sandwiches.
Lucy took out a sandwich and bit into it. "This is delicious!"
The cook's eyes beamed. "Thank you very much, Your Highness!"
"What is this meat?" Natsu bit down. "It tastes great."
"It's camel's meat, Your Highness." The cook answered. "Does it meet your satisfactory?"
"Absolutely not!" Lisanna huffed. "It tastes weird!"
"I am sorry!" The cook down bowed in panic. "What do you want to eat, my Lady?"
"Make me a beef sandwich or something along that." Lisanna said. "I don't like camel's meat!"
Natsu scoffed. "They don't have cows in here, Lisanna."
Lisanna gawked. "What? Why?"
"Do you think cows live in the desert?" Natsu asked back.
"But this tastes weird, Natsu!" Lisanna pouted.
"I—I can make something else if—"
"It's okay." Natsu smiled at the cook. "It tastes really great."
"Will it be a hassle for you if you wrap some of these for me?" Lucy asked. She had to bring some back home! Coco would love this taste! And she would also like to share it to the other servants as well. And to the royals too.
"Certainly not!" The cook smiled. "I will pack up as many as I can, Your Highness!"
"You're not bringing these sandwiches home!" Lisanna rejected. "No one in the Dragon Country likes it!"
Lucy's gaze fell. "O—Oh, I s—see. T—then, j—just five perhaps? I—I want to share it to my friend."
"Don't worry about it." Natsu said and looked at the cook. "Please give us as many as you can."
"Natsu!" Lisanna protested. "You can't possibly agree to take these home!"
"It's my home." Natsu retorted as he bit another sandwich. "I know their tastes better than you do."
"Right away, Your Highness!" The cook bowed down in happiness.
Lisanna huffed and glared at Lucy. "This is all your idea! What if they get sick?!"
"Don't worry, my Lady." Loke smiled. "I can guarantee you that our meat is in its highest quality."
"If you don't like it then don't eat it." Natsu said. "Don't give a fuss about it."
"Natsu! Why are you so mean to me?" Lisanna whined.
Natsu gulped down but he didn't say anything. It would be so much easier for him to ignore Lisanna rather than replying her back. He wasn't in the mood right now, especially with Lucy avoiding him.
"Coco!"
Coco lifted her head from a pile of laundry in front of her. She broke into a huge smile immediately. "Princess!" Coco ran to Lucy and hugged her. "Welcome back!"
"I'm home." Lucy smiled back. "I brought you something."
Coco tore herself away as Lucy stepped inside. The servants were sitting together right now as they were about to enjoy their dinner.
"Right on time." Lucy said as she put a huge basket on the table. "Eat up, everyone!"
Coco opened the basket. "Where did you get these many sandwiches, Princess?"
"I brought them from the Sand Country." Lucy said. "Please have a bite everyone."
The servants glanced at each other nervously. Is it… Is it really okay for them to do that? Coco saw their reactions and smiled. She reached out her hand and took a sandwich.
"Better get used to my princess's kindness, folks." Coco winked as she took a bite. "Oh wow, this is good."
"I thought so too!" Lucy said. "Do you like it?"
"Yeah." Coco munched some more. The other servants followed her steps, each of them took a piece.
"Oh my, this is really great indeed, Princess!" One of the maids said.
"What kind of meat is this?" Coco wondered.
Lucy held out a laugh. "It's camel's meat."
Coco choked. "C—c—c—c—ca—camel?!"
"It tastes great, isn't it?" Lucy laughed. "Who knows that camel's meat tastes like this?"
Coco stared at the sandwich and the image of a camel popped out in her head. She quickly shook her head and chomped down. Nah, who cares what it looked like as long as it tasted great!
Lucy's treat sent smiles to the servants. Even the cooks decided that they should really try to create meals using camel's meat. Lucy joined in their conversations, her presence and voice eased them.
From afar, Zeref was looking at them from behind a pillar on the second floor, smiling. His sister-in-law soon-to-be was such a lovely person. Everyone—except her own family and Lisanna—couldn't help but liking her. Although it seemed like her little brother couldn't escape from her charm either.
"I knew she would be there." Natsu stood beside his brother, his eyes were glued on Lucy. "She's too kind."
"The sandwiches do taste great." Zeref said. He remembered how Lucy gave each of the royals a piece of the sandwiches. They wondered what meat the Sand Country used and choked upon learning it was actually camel's meat. But since the taste was divine, they decided to let it pass and shook the image of a camel away. Even Rogue ate his happily and he even asked for some more.
"She looked happy." Natsu mumbled but it was still loud enough for Zeref to hear.
"You're not." Zeref glanced at his brother. "Still fighting?"
"We're not fighting." Natsu replied.
"I can totally see she's avoiding you." Zeref said.
"But we're not fighting."
"It's because of Lisanna, isn't it?"
At the name of his childhood friend, Natsu's eyes twitched. He let out a sigh. "I have to set things right with Lucy but she won't let me."
"She who? Lisanna?"
"Both of them." Natsu scowled. "I did tell Lucy that Lisanna isn't a matter but clearly she matters a lot to her."
Zeref also sighed. "But we can't exactly do anything now that Lisanna has received Father's permission."
"I've been betrayed."
Zeref laughed. "Well, you're the only one with ears thick enough to be beside her all this time."
"But she is betrothed to someone else and so do I." Natsu said. "She is mature enough to know that we are not meant to be."
"What matters is that whether she can accept it or not, Natsu." Zeref said.
Natsu scoffed. "Clearly she can't."
"But you can't stay like this forever either." Zeref leaned his back to a nearby pillar. "Your mood is awfully bad and it's just not like you."
"I know, I know."
"Funny how love works." Zeref teased. "She has this much influence on you, huh?"
"Don't start." Natsu growled, a tinge of blush dusted his cheeks.
Zeref laughed. "Fine, I won't. But you have to find the chance as soon as you can, Natsu. Or just make one."
"I'm trying." Natsu gripped the stone railing.
Zeref smiled and ruffled his little brother's hair. "I'll do everything I can to help you. Only after you admitted to me that you love her, though."
"Get lost!" Natsu said in embarrassment which made Zeref laughed again. He then waved his hand as he walked away, leaving Natsu's face in deep red.
Natsu stared down at Lucy once more and he let out a smile. His brain replayed back how she wiped his sweats during the trip and how she eyed him in worry for the rest of the trip back. Seeing her worried look today was more than enough for him. At least for now.
Lucy excused herself while bringing the huge basket with her. The Sand Country's cooks surely gave her a generous portion.
"What do I do with the rest…" Lucy pondered. Just then, Lucy eyes caught someone. "Gray!"
Gray stopped walking and faced Lucy. "Hey." he greeted. "How's the trip?"
"I'm getting more used to it." Lucy smiled. "Ano… Here… For you."
Gray raised an eyebrow as he stared at the basket. "What's this?"
"I brought some sandwiches home from the Sand Country." Lucy said as she opened the basket. "Here. But ugh… It's sort of leftovers so if you don't want to have any, it's totally fine."
"Hey, I'm not someone who is picky." Gray laughed as he took one out and bit it. "Oh wow, this is good."
"Thank goodness you like it!" Lucy smiled and Gray's heart thumped.
What was that?
Gray blinked in confusion but shook his head lightly.
"Uhm… Do you think you can give it to Juvia and the others as well?" Lucy asked.
Gray smiled. "You can do that yourself."
"Huh?"
Gray grabbed Lucy's hand. His heart thumped once more, but it wasn't the same thump he felt when he was around Juvia. The thump didn't make his heart race, it's… Making his heart melt?
What the heck is wrong with him?
Gray shoved the thought away as he pushed a door open. Inside, were his friends, minus Natsu and Lisanna.
"Lucy!" Erza walked up to her. "Why are you still up at this hour? You're supposed to get plenty of rest for your departure tomorrow!"
"Lu-chan!" Levy hugged Lucy. "Oh, what is that?"
"Lucy has something to give to us." Gray said as he gave Juvia his half-eaten sandwich. His fiancée stared at it for a few seconds then bit it.
"Oh, this is good!"
"Would you like to have some?" Lucy smiled and opened up the basket.
"A night snack!" Levy took one out. "I'm so craving for a sandwich!"
They bit down on their sandwiches and were amazed at how good it tasted. And were more amazed when they knew it was camel's meat. Jellal borrowed some plates from the kitchen and placed the remaining sandwiches on top of it.
"I can be addicted to this!" Juvia munched.
"Totally agree!" Levy laughed.
They happily chatted together when the doors suddenly opened.
Natsu blinked his eyes as he entered the room. Why was Lucy here?
"Oh, hey guys!" Lisanna popped into the view, standing beside Natsu. "What's with the snack—YOU!"
Lucy winced and closed up the empty basket. "I—I will take my leave then." Lucy quickly bowed down and ran out of the doors.
She didn't even spare a glance at Natsu.
"Lucy—"
"What are you guys eating?" Lisanna hissed, her arms encircled Natsu's.
"Sandwiches." Gajeel answered. "Lucy brought it."
"Sandwiches?" Lisanna raised an eyebrow. "You mean… That camel sandwich?"
"It tastes good, Lisanna." Juvia said. "Do you want some?"
"Hell no!" Lisanna shook her head hard. "First of all, I'm not eating any food given by a Heartfilia! And second, that meat tastes weird!"
"Eh? But this tastes—"
"Save it, Levy." Natsu sighed as he took a piece and sat down. "Lisanna's been saying it tastes weird while others said the otherwise."
"Mou, Natsu!" Lisanna pouted. "It does taste weird!"
Natsu ignored her and just kept eating. His mood had just plummeted down now that Lucy wouldn't even glance at him.
"Say, Juvia…"
"Yes, Gray-sama?"
"There's something I've been thinking…" Gray said and leaned closer to his fiancée's ears. Their friends were still chatting but he wouldn't take any risk of them hearing.
Juvia nodded her head as Gray whispered his idea.
"What do you think?" Gray asked.
"A wonderful idea!" Juvia smiled back. "Juvia totally agree!"
Gray let out a relieved sigh. "Alright."
Done !
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