Once every being seemed settled again, Natsu addressed the human monarch, forcing his traitorous gaze to stay locked on her eyes and not venture down her delicious form. Not that he found that gesture particularly hard - the smitten dragon would have gladly gotten lost in her eyes forever.
"Your Majesty." The object of his musings addressed him herself, a note of nervousness in her voice. "With your permission, may I be allowed to share my plans for Pergrande with you and this esteemed alliance?"
The Fire Dragon Prince's gaze softened, his expression instantly smoothing into a radiant smile.
"Of course. Please proceed."
And so Lucy did. She explained just how much Pergrande and all the non-magical human kingdoms struggled under the weight of the Alvarez war. How her father, so distracted by his troops and battles, was unable or unwilling to address the problems of the common man. How she had striven and struggled to provide for her people, despite the uphill political battles she was forced to fight just to accomplish what she needed.
"The underlying issue, you see, is that… I am a female." Lucy stated simply, a resigned sigh escaping her.
"How barbaric!" Evergreen, Queen of the Wood Elves scoffed. "How would that in any way diminish your worth as a ruler?"
"True." Her co-sister, Mirajane frowned, a flash of displeasure causing her elfen magic to glow. "From what we have seen and heard, you've done more than any other being in your position would have accomplished - male or female…"
"Thank you for your words of high praise - Oh Queens of The Elves." Lucy interjected softly, shooting both elven Queens a warm smile of gratitude. "But unfortunately, the human Kingdoms follow a very different code. It is always assumed that a male would be better to rule a kingdom. If, in the rare event, a female is forced to take that role, she is still not given enough power to actually rule until she marries a powerful male…"
"So that is why a political marriage is your only option…" Mirajane gasped, a glimmer of recognition sparking in her eyes. "As you've hinted to us when we were younger."
Natsu grit his teeth, his clawed fingers digging into the armrest of his throne once more. He did not know which was worse - the ache of sympathy he felt for her as he realized that being 'female' meant that her kingdom would never accept her as a rightful ruler... or the agony of his heart when he realized her only option to remedy that was to engage in a loveless, political marriage.
To the surprise of the entire assembly, the Princess of Pergrande laughed, beaming at her elven friend.
"A dramatic little thing, wasn't I?" Lucy chuckled. "But never fear, Mira. Over the years I've found a loophole - a clever way to escape my predicament. I've found a way to ensure that Pergrande and the rest of the empire is well cared for, but at the same time… achieve the freedom I have always longed for."
Lucy glanced around the assembly, her gaze steady and scrutinizing. She ended her scan at the front and center of the chamber, her chocolate orbs locking on Natsu's.
"It is for this reason that I have been secretly grooming my cousin, Sir Laxus, to take the throne in my stead."
A sudden silence accompanied her pronouncement, as the assembled magical dignitaries studied the man in question. Lucy coughed delicately to draw their attention back to her, a slight smile of amusement hovering on her lips.
"Laxus has proven himself a worthy and honorable commander in my father's army. He has an equal right to the throne as I - a fact that even my father cannot openly deny. Over the years since he has sworn sole fealty to me, he has won the hearts of the common folk of our kingdom… as well as our hidden magical community. Three months from now, he and I have planned a 'coup' of sorts… where he will claim the throne in my stead. We have the backing of the people - magical and not. My courts however…" Lucy sighed, the sound beleaguered as she lowered her gaze to the ground, daintily tucking a few escaped golden strands behind her ear.
"They are a challenge on the best of days - and although Laxus will have far better luck than I controlling them after his power is solidified, he needs support before we attempt this risky ploy, if only to ensure the powerful courtiers do not try to initiate a full blown riot…"
Lucy looked up, straight into Natsu's eyes.
"That is why we've come here today to request the magical alliance council to endorse Laxus' claim to the throne."
The chamber burst into noise, as every being began at once to either proclaim their support, voice their dissent or further question the three quiet humans standing solemnly in the eye of the storm.
Natsu raised a single hand, the simple yet effective gesture causing the entire assembly to still in a heartbeat, the air tense with anticipation. His intense gaze still held Lucy's in its thrall.
"We will put it to a vote." His deep voice boomed in the cozy hall. "A representative of each magical race will now say yea or nay - as they see fit."
Lucy wrenched her gaze away from Natsu's, willing down the blush that had arisen unbidden on her porcelain cheeks. She turned to the first magical race representative, her heart beating so rapidly in her chest she was sure every dragon in the chamber could hear the erratic rhythm - she only prayed that they attributed it to the monumental vote she had just instigated…
Lucy listened, her face soon schooled into a cool, unreadable expression, as each representative arose to offer a word of encouragement or doubt as they voiced their consent or dissent. She felt her companions by her side react to each response, Loke letting out a soft chirrup of triumph with each assent, and a small noise of frustration with each refusal. Laxus squirmed uncomfortably as the process progressed, the vote frustratingly tied as exactly half the room seemed supportive of his accession to the throne - whilst the other half were quite vocally not.
At last, it was down to the last two deciding votes.
Prince Ruben of the goblins rose from his seat, the cruel sneer etched on his face leaving no doubt to his stance.
"I suppose you know what my vote is, little girl. I have no interest in this pretend play of yours - the goblins will not support you or your brute of a cousin." The slithery magical being hissed, his beady eyes sweeping up and down the shapely young woman's form.
"However, my minister and I have heard many promising rumors with regards to you, human girl… And from what we understand, you are quite capable of showing your appreciation in a way that any hot-blooded male could enjoy… I wouldn't be amiss to such persuasion if you wished to try your hand at it…"
A pin drop silence fell in the chamber as the shocked assembly assimilated the goblin prince's lewd words. Following which, three things happened at once.
Lucy's magical friends and many other good souls among the magical alliance members rose in indignation of the goblin prince's speech.
Laxus reached for his sword, as Loke rounded on the goblin with a scowl.
Natsu rose from his seat and exploded with fury.
"YOU DARE USE SUCH FOUL LANGUAGE TOWARDS HER IN MY PRESENCE?"
The fire dragon Prince roared, abruptly halting all the other forms of protest that had arisen in revolt against the goblins.
"HER MAJESTY, PRINCESS LUCY, IS MY GUEST - SUCH A DISGUSTING ADDRESS IS NOT ONLY REPREHENSIBLE AN ACT IN ITSELF, IT IS A DIRECT INSULT TO THE DRAGON HOSTS IN THIS CHAMBER… A DIRECT INSULT TO ME! I AM GOING TO RIP YOU TO SHREDS YOU BLOODY BASTARD…"
"Natsu…"
The soft, musical voice acted like an immediate balm - soothing the raging temper that simmered in his veins. The Prince of Dragons turned to the golden-haired maiden, his jaw strained from the force with which he grit his teeth. His anger rapidly faded away, however, as he took in the young woman's confident pose and steely look. With a gentle smile, Lucy addressed her best friend.
"I appreciate your protective gesture, your majesty. However, I am more than capable of fighting my own battles. Would you grant me permission to converse with the Goblin Prince? It is actually fortunate he has steered the conversation to flippant matters, there are other such trivialities I wished to discuss with him…"
Natsu frowned. "How can you call the blasphemous things this beast just uttered 'flippant matters', Lucy? I ought to draw and quarter him after I roast him alive…"
Lucy smiled, taking a few steps towards Natsu's raised seat to place her hand on his where it clutched the throne's armrest. The Dragon Prince could feel the tension in his form ebb away at the light, comforting touch, and he gazed deep into her chocolate brown orbs, looking for a hint of unease or hurt. Happy landed lightly on his shoulder, also studying Lucy closely for signs of unhappiness. They were both surprised to find absolutely nothing in her expression save fiery determination, and a glint of something vaguely sinister in her eyes. With a final encouraging smile at her two best friends, Lucy twirled on her heel to approach the Goblin Prince and his minister. She stopped five feet in front of them. Her gaze was cold and foreboding as she stared down the discomfited pair of goblins.
"Prince Ruben, I could have your head for those words. You should know better than to insult your liege lord…" Lucy's tone was light and teasing, but the fierce glare she shot the Goblin Prince was intense enough to make the magical being shudder.
"W-what do you mean?" The Prince scoffed, chancing a worried glance at his minister, who returned the gesture with a wary look of his own.
Lucy's smile grew grim. "Why, I simply refer to the fact that the Goblin's 'support' is redundant at this point... for I already own you and your entire race."
Lucy's bold words caused a tumult of frantic whispers in the conference chamber, one that Natsu subdued with a growl and a raised hand, his eyes never leaving the lithe human maiden's form just a few feet away from him. Lucy waited patiently for the chaos to subside, tossing a smile of gratitude at the Dragon Prince before turning to address the goblins once more.
"The contract you formed with the house of King Hector, one of my subjects and a member of my high court, contained a stipulation that they would provide lands and human 'slaves' to work in your dreaded mines, provided you - the Goblin Prince - broke bread and drank wine with them and signed a waiver to that effect - is that correct?"
The Prince leered at her, desperately trying to hide the unease in his voice.
"Yes, I did. It was a pitiful exchange - your sniveling humans wanted the right to brag about friendship with magical royalty so badly, they were willing to sign away the lives of so many of their fellows!"
Lucy grit her teeth, her entire form trembling with rage.
"Oh foolish Prince, did you truly underestimate those contemptible men so much? Did you not investigate the race with which you were forming a contract? The breaking of bread and sharing of wine in a noble's house is considered an act of swearing fealty to that noble amongst humans - signing a waiver to that effect merely gave them the power to flaunt that connection in the courts if the need arose."
The Goblin Prince paled for a moment before recovering with a vicious scowl.
"So what if it is? We are a powerful magical race - those puny humans could never force us to do anything we are not inclined to do. The fealty they tricked us into is useless…"
"Not if they possessed the Goblin Staff of Kings." Lucy interjected quietly.
A pin drop silence fell in the chamber, as all beings held their breath as they listened to the fascinating exchange. The brooding goblin minister broke the silence, speaking for the first time since he entered the assembly hall.
"Well met, Princess of Pergrande. It is true we underestimated your kind - the news that we have unknowingly sworn fealty to that human family is… disturbing. And as admirable as your research into our customs has been, your boast is ill-timed - for now that you have given us a hint of their intentions, we will ensure the staff, that is currently in the possession of our Prince, is so well guarded that…" The minister trailed off, frowning as he took in the frantic expression on his Prince's face.
"Where is my father?! Gunther, you told me that my accession to the throne was only temporary - until my father returned from his secret mission. Where is he?"
The panic and longing in the goblin Prince's voice was so spontaneous and genuine, that Lucy regarded him with a look of mingled surprise and grief. Her previously harsh expression wavered, replaced with a gentle, understanding, pensive mien.
"You loved him…"
Her soft, sorrowful voice carried in the silent chamber. The Goblin Prince jerked away from his minister, returning to scowling suspiciously at the young human maiden instead.
"What do you mean by using the past tense, you dastardly human?"
Lucy continued to gaze at him with sorrow and sympathy for a moment more, before turning around with a shudder. She approached Natsu's throne once again.
"I request your permission, oh leader of the magical alliance, to call upon the men of my guard. They carry a few important treasures which I must return to the goblin Prince…"
Intrigued, Natsu nodded his consent. Lucy walked up to Loke, whispering an order under her breath that was still loud enough to be heard by their dragon hosts.
"Summon Sir Brom. Request him to bring the casket."
The moment Loke stepped out of the chamber to do as he was bid, Lucy turned back to the quiet goblins, her expression resolute.
"Your father was not my friend." Lucy spoke loud and clear, her voice strong as she addressed Prince Ruben. "But neither was he my enemy. Unlike you and the rest of your people, he respected me… as I respected him. When he discovered the foolish pact you had made, he confided the fact to me, knowing that I could manipulate my people into letting you out of the contract…" Lucy's gaze hardened as she shifted it from Ruben to his minister Gunther. "I managed to modify the fealty agreement - to have it sworn over to me instead, so that I could release the goblins as your father requested. Your father was eager to inform you of your blunder, and how he had repaired the damage - so eager that he refused my advice to take an escort or wait till morning, and rode off that very night to meet you at King Hector's abode…"
Lucy's tone turned bitter. "He never made it. Your minister had betrayed him - he had informed King Hector of his whereabouts, and my bastard of a courtier ambushed him on that dark, forsaken road and…"
Lucy's soft voice petered off, as a muscular, middle-aged man with curly black hair entered the chamber, a casket balanced on his shoulder and the shoulder of the equally tall, helmeted man behind him. The pair solemnly approached the Princess, gently placing the casket on the floor before her.
Natsu watched curiously as Lucy gracefully sunk to her knees in front of the casket. She undid the ornate locks, and slowly slid open the beautiful, intricately-carved wooden lid…
"FATHER!"
The Prince of Goblins let out a heart-broken wail, leaping over the assembly's barrier to land clumsily in front of the casket. He sobbed and screamed in misery as he took in the dead body of his father - lying cold and lifeless in his rich encasing.
Lucy regarded the grieving Prince with compassion. She placed a hesitant, comforting hand on his shoulder.
"I can see your innocence, Prince Ruben. It makes far more sense now. You loved your father - so you left the staff in his care, did you not? As per tradition, that staff should have passed into your possession on the eve of your magical maturity. But you refused it, because you trusted and loved your father as much as he trusted and loved you…"
She withdrew her hand, her sharp gaze snapping upwards to land on the pale-faced, trembling minister of the goblins.
"Your minister did not know this simple fact. That is why he betrayed you - he believed you were a far more gullible and malleable ruler than your father, and his greed got the better of his good sense. If he had any to begin with."
Lucy ended her terse speech, shooting a commanding look over her shoulder at the third muscular guard who had entered with the other two of her retinue. The cloaked man stepped forward, withdrawing a long package from within the dark folds of his garment. Lucy accepted his offering, briskly undoing the ties binding the object until the silken cloth covering it fluttered to the ground to reveal a beautiful, glowing staff.
"This staff belongs to you, oh Prince Ruben. And as for your vote - I accept your dissent. There is too much bad blood between us, and I have no desire to ally with one who harbors so much ill will towards my people and I."
Lucy rose from the floor, leaving a stunned goblin in her wake, his numb hands still clasping the staff as he gaped at her retreating back. Lucy paused, a frown forming on her face.
"What I can't seem to understand, however, is why the house of King Hector was so desperate to trick you in such a despicable way… As cruel as they can be, they rarely take such risky decisions without a possibility of some truly great reward…"
A soft gasp issued from the stands, Levy lunging to her feet immediately with a small cry.
"Your courtier is after lumenoire, Lucy!"
The Princess blinked. Her expression slowly morphed from one of confusion to one of fury as Levy's detailed description of the event that had transpired in the assembly just before she had been introduced continued and concluded. Lucy's eyes flashed with rage as the young monarch gestured to her dark-haired human guard with a nod, the man instantly coming to her side at her beckoning. She conversed with him in low, muted tones for a few moments.
"Have the number of guardsmen watching King Hector's palace doubled. And request Sir Mest to have one of his spies installed in their household. We will find and observe this 'Sir Marcus' who will undoubtedly lead us to King Hector's stolen lumenoire…"
Natsu marveled at the regal way she held herself and the firm yet kind tone with which she issued her orders. Lucy was a queen in every sense of the word. The besotted fire dragon Prince couldn't help but acknowledge how he longed to make her his Queen someday...
Dismissing her guard with a graceful nod, Lucy continued her progress to the center of the chamber after throwing one last parting shot at the Goblin Prince.
"Oh and… I'd get myself a new minister, if I were you…"
At that, the Goblin Prince struggled to his feet, his chest heaving with fury as he turned on his now fear-stricken subject.
"Permission to leave with my council, oh Prince of Dragons."
"Granted." Natsu replied solemnly to the incensed Goblin Prince, the dragon's gaze once again drawn to the svelte figure of the golden-haired Princess who sauntered leisurely back to her spot before his throne. As the Goblin Prince dragged his cohort out of the assembly, a lighter mood fell in the chamber, all magical beings now turning their attention to the final voter…
E.N.D.