Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail or its characters; that right belongs to Hiro Mashima.
Author's Note: A few things. This will only have mentions of Lucy, as it focuses solely around Erza Scarlet. It is an Alternate Reality inside of the Fairy Tail Canon-verse. So there will be things that are the same, yet different altogether. And no, I have no shame or regret about this pairing. I love it so much! Cause well, yeah, think about the irony of it!
Erza stood before the King of all of Fiore, Toma Fiore, waiting for him to tell her why he had summoned her. She was curious as to why, out of all the people he could call on, he wanted her. He had his Royal Guard and the Rune Knights, yet here she was on a special summons. Of course, if he wanted her to do a task, she'd do it… for the right amount of pay. A perk of being an unbound, guildless mercenary. Able to do as she wished, when she wished for the right pay.
Her life had been harsh from a young age, kidnapped and taken to a tower to be a slave and experimented on for gene splicing of Magical Traits. Of which she has been compatible with. Her magic was a unique one. Able to store weapons and armor in a pocket dimension and trade them out at will. Made most of her jobs easier than one would think.
"Miss Scarlet, I am grateful for you coming," King Toma said. "I am willing to pay you 10 million jewels and cover all costs and fees for food and lodging for this task, should you accept it."
This had Erza narrowing her brown eyes upon her King. The man was dangling a rather tasty carrot before her, yet he hadn't told her what he wanted her to do. So silently she tilted her chin upwards, silently asking him to continue and that she was listening.
"Um, yes, I need you to escort my daughter to Desierto," King Toma stated flatly, clearly not mincing words. "I have finally come to a peace agreement with the three Sultans. And that one of them will marry my daughter to finalize the deal."
Her stomach twisted and knotted for several reasons. Princess Hisui E Fiore was someone that she really detested. The woman was smart, not that that was the problem, no. What she hated about that woman was she would do anything for power, all in the name of her country. The next big reason was that nobility bartered their daughters like they were a good currency. It was sickening and archaic practice that she was glad being born a commoner she got to bypass.
Taking her time to think it thru, while holding the King's gaze with her own cold, detached one. Erza figured that this could actually be beneficial.
"I will do this for you my King, on one condition," she said, letting a cold smile curled her lips upward as she turned her gaze to the Princess who sat atop her own small throne next to her father.
"What is this condition?" King Toma asked, his dark eyes darkening in a manner that told her not to push her luck.
"I am aware that your daughter has magic naturally. I wish her to wear magic restraining cuffs so that she doesn't cause any problems," Erza said bluntly not letting the smile fell from her face at the horror on the Princesses face. "I am sorry if I am asking for a lot, but after the last incident that involved her, forgive me if I have no faith or trust in your daughter to not do something that will cause problems as I escort her several thousand leagues to another Country. One that is harsh and unforgiving."
"Father!" Hisui spoke up.
"I will accept your terms. I was lucky that they even accepted her hand as bargaining in the peace treaty," King Toma said, his voice showing his weariness. "But this means you must protect her at all costs and never let her out of your sight.
Giving a small, sharp nod of her head, Erza stood straighter. As the King told his Chancellor to bring her the scroll with all the details and dismissing her to rest and prepare for tomorrow morning. Her journey would be starting and she was not going to coddle the insipid princess of Fiore.
TBC!