XLIV.

"I do believe I underestimated you Miss Heartfilia."

"Most people do." Lucy smiled brightly. Vander's forced retirement for his continued physical and mental health had just been finalized last night and this morning Vander had put Promise bracelets on both Freed and her saying, "Who cares the what, why or how we got these marks. What matters to me is before even then I was willing to give up everything for a single night to be with the both of you. Since that night I've only wanted to find more ways to make both of you happier each and every day. If that's not worth holding on to, what is?"

"Though I don't see that being a problem now that things are more settled. You see, I actually agree with you in one particular case and wouldn't be opposed to furthering that particular goal for a favor of course." Lucy swirled her bubble milk tea. It had taken many months of ordering drink after drink on a variety of menus before Lucy had finally found it, her new signature drink for her new life.

"I had wondered why you wished to meet. It seems to me I never had anything to offer you."

Lucy took her time to sip her drink before she began. "Queen Hisui is an idealist. She wants to do what is best for her people and believe it or not she is an intelligent woman. She also happens to be naive, short-sighted, a poor militaristic leader and hopeless at international relations."

Grendance smiled, his brilliant white teeth sparkling in the sun. The man might be on the other side of forty but he was attractive, had a powerful build many found attractive, and most importantly, as consort to the Fioren Crown he could be the leader to the military and mages that had been needed but been missing for too long. The influence of his position alone would do much for the social reformation many in Bosco desired and it would likely mean actual penalties to crimes many men currently were buying their way out of. Since Hisui was already 35 many of the more conservative Fiorens would appreciate her marring a formidable man 8 years her senior.

"Well now, that is interesting indeed. You say she is actually intelligent? From the reports I've read that don't seem…consistent."

Lucy smirked. "The woman grew up coddled in a palace with an eccentric father. I would think of her as someone with the mindset of their late teens, early twenties. She thinks she knows more than she does and she's more impulsive than she believes she is. That just means she needs time and help to mature which, well, if introduced to the greater world, given a bit of wisdom to temper her behavior…I'm sure you know someone who has the experience needed in managing people. Besides, she is a very beautiful woman and very curious by nature."

And there it was. She could see it in his eyes. He'd taken the bait. It was one thing to offer a man like this the power and prestige an opportunity like this would give him even with all the work they would need to invest in their spouse to make it worthwhile, but to make that offer to a the same man who happened to be Boscan when the woman might not be as open to experimentation and play in sharing pleasure would be a complete waste of time.

Little did he know that the type of power he would be trading in was going from very real to more ceremonial. Oh well. Lucy would make the introductions, sell her "good friend" on the merits of having a Boscan spouse and hopefully Grendance would get her a face to face introduction to Stilford so she could bury that asshole. He was one of the bad eggs they were still trying to pin down and it was the least she could do as a thank you to Presca for putting up with Vander for so many years.

Lucy dropped her voice into a stage whisper, "In fact, Hisui is coming to the capitol next week incognito to help celebrate my engagement. If you're interested?"

"My dear, dear girl. How did a gem like you ever manage to grow up in Fiore?"

Zen was nervous. He couldn't remember the last time he had ever been nervous. Then again, if Hestor's spell worked, he'd finally be free. Physically, mentally and magically free from any external influences for the first time in his life. What wasn't there to be nervous about?

Straightening his spine and flaring his wings Zen waited patiently as both Lucy and Hestor checked and rechecked the symbols and runes painted on his body and the magic circle at his feet.

"It has to be perfect."

"I know."

"Not even a hairline out of alignment."

"I know."

"If we don't get this right-"

"Hestor," Lucy cut the mage off. "We're human, perfect doesn't exist but you know what my mother always told me the most important part of magic is?"

Zen watched as the short male physically struggled not to roll his eyes.

"Probably some ridiculousness wrapped up in feelings. Check again!" he ordered.

"Raise your hand if you've managed to achieve star-dress form. Now don't be shy."

Zen hid his smirk as Lucy waved her arm high in the air while exaggeratingly looking around the almost completely empty room for more raised hands.

Hestor scoffed and muttered "Diva" not at all quietly.

"Devoid"

"Slut"

"Prick"

"Priss"

"Twink"

"You take that back!" Hestor turned on his heal and stood nose to nose with the blond. Without her heals they were exactly the same height and the image they made was ridiculous.

Zen couldn't help it. Great giant laughs burst from his chest. He'd never seen the pair of mages so ridiculously petty and childish and yet the air in the room was light with playfulness. There was no real animosity between these two not since everyone had returned from their missions. Something had happened when the pair had been left alone until now it was like they were a pair of competitive twins, two sides of the same coin.

"About fucking time. Goddess above." Hestor collapsed shortly followed by Lucy who giggled on her way down.

"Hnnn?" Zen questioned startled out of his laughter by Hestor's exclamation.

"You sir were a hard nut to crack." At his continued silence Hestor clarified where Lucy's response was lacking.

"The spell. There wasn't an incantation or anything but we needed to inspire true joy or freedom of spirit so the Sister's spell would dissolve." Hestor gestured to Zen's body and it was then that he noticed all of the previously cleanly written symbols were now smeared and unintelligible.

"The magic circle was crafted by the Brother's of Ma'at and worked as the dissolvent, the Sister's original spell on your body symbolized your imprisonment and the unrestrained joy you found at our behavior fueled the magic circle freeing you and any children you might have from the Sister's magic. Couldn't tell you what we were trying to do before else it wouldn't work." Lucy laid back down on the ground. It had been a good five hours of Hestor and her going at each other making general nuisances to each other but it had worked just like Arman had said.

After so many years living such a hard life only once had the family heard the kind of laughter Hestor and Lucy had enjoyed just now and that was when Vander and Bickslow were having a go at each other over who would eat the last spice cookie the first New Years Zen was home from Pergrande. It was one of Arman's favorite memories. The man had it saved to a video lacrima in a line-up of home videos Lucy couldn't wait to peruse in the future.

"Good job." Zen said before brushing a light kiss on Hestor's then Lucy's lips before he left the room.

"Why do I feel like I'm a puppy all of a suddenly." Lucy stared at the ceiling.

"Not how I pictured finally getting kissed by that man would go." Hestor grumbled.

The End...maybe


So, that's this story! Hope you all enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed writing it. The idea was to try and limit my words while still expressing a storyline, characters and some deeper meaning in a thought of consciousness. As some of you may know I didn't plot or plan this story at all which was different and fun as I got to really enjoy writing in a similar way to how you all read it. It also meant low levels of angst because I can't handle too much of that without knowing things will end well...personal preference.

Much Love, - Blas