He was in the middle of sword training when I first saw him. I was hiding behind a tree, but he noticed me without even glancing. He could find me almost immediately.

That was when I saw his eyes. Obsidian black, and so did his hair.

I thought that he would be so cold. But God knew I shouldn't be judging someone by his look. I was so wrong about that.

A Tale from Thelua

[15] honored flower knight

"Brother!"

Wendy's voice rung in her ears, loud and clear. The girl ran to the man who stood beside his horse and hugged him. She was smiling, almost laughing when she was lifted from the ground and placed on the horse. The man had a gentle smile, one that Lucy thought would never see again after all this time. One that Lucy thought would never bear to see.

"What are you doing here?" Wendy asked. "I thought you'll be back by noon!"

The man, whose smile still graced his face, replied, "We arrived sooner than planned. The others were eager to get some proper rest, so we paced up."

His voice, too, was as gentle as she remembered. He had such a calm voice, smooth and soft despite how he looked. Obsidian black eyes then met hers and Lucy caught herself throwing her gaze somewhere else. He caught her off guard. He always catches me off guard.

He approached her, standing before her and said, "Greetings, princess."

"Good day," Lucy managed to swallow the lump in her throat and greeted back the knight, "Zeref."

He gave her a smile, knelt, and took her hand to place a kiss on its back. Lucy couldn't tear her eyes away from the sight of him kissing her hand. It made a memory to resurface, and suddenly, Lucy was drowned in the memory of the same man who kissed her hand several years ago. The same man whose hair was as dark as his eyes, whose kiss lingered a couple beats longer.

But she managed to stop it. She didn't really want to remember that. There was no importance on remembering it. Somehow, suddenly, she felt a little bit better than before.

Smile. She should be smiling.

"What brings Thelua's most honored knight here?" Lucy asked calmly, as if nothing was different from any other day, as if he was nothing new to her.

Zeref chuckled. "I received a complaint from Sir Larry. He said that his student is missing so I volunteered on searching," he glanced at Wendy, "and apparently I have found her."

"I thought Sir Larry said yesterday that we will have no class today!" Wendy pouted. "That's why I went with Sister Lucy."

"Yes, but apparently he changed his mind," Zeref patted Wendy's hair, giving her a wry smile. "You should be going now."

"But what about Sister Lucy?"

"I'll accompany her."

Lucy blinked. He would?

"I should be going as well," Lucy quickly spoke, walking to her horse. "I would like to apologize to Sir Larry for taking his student with me."

"It's fine, sister. I will explain it to him. Well, then, I'm returning first, sister," Wendy said as she rode the horse, followed by her nanny, leaving Lucy with a slightly ajar mouth, ready to stop Wendy if only she didn't ride so quickly.

The wind blew, and Lucy caught the faintest smell of cinnamon. Cinnamon and other spices that brought more memories to resurface. It was his scent; it was still the same as before. For her to be able to smell it, he must be somewhere near her. He must be standing right behind her. She didn't know how he did it without her noticing, but the sound of his fluttering cape was enough.

She didn't turn at him. Her hand found its way to the horse's coat, brushing it as a poor attempt of not arousing his interest. But she knew it was all in vain. Thus, Lucy braced herself and spoke.

"Surely there is something else than volunteering for Sir Larry."

"I've been missing you."

He wasted no more than a beat to say it, and Lucy was left without able to reply with anything. That simple phrase reminded her of his question from a long time ago, one where they made a promise but left with him breaking it. She had forgotten all about it until just now. Until he showed.

There was a sigh from him. And then, a whisper, "I've been wanting to see you."

The gust of wind blew once again, and Lucy suddenly found herself in an embrace. The scent of cinnamon and spices filled her. She was stunned; body stiffening unconsciously while she struggled not to lean to him. Her brain screamed at her to push him away. But it was futile. Her arms hung limp on her sides, and she felt the distance between them grew narrower.

It was something she didn't anticipate. He caught her off guard – always caught her off guard. Even back then she could never catch him off guard. When she managed to push him away, she saw astonishment that came across his face, his eyes.

"I-I'm sorry," she whispered hastily, breathlessly.

"No, I should be the one who apologizes," Zeref said. "I wasn't aware that… we aren't like how we used to be. I'm sorry for startling you, princess."

Princess. She never liked it when he used such honorific. It made her feel as if there was a wall between them. But back then, she was unable to tell him about that. Because you might distance yourself from me and I didn't want that.

There was a pause, and she wondered if the expression she forced on was a smile when he spoke.

"Congratulation on your marriage, Lucy."

When he said that, he wasn't looking at her. His gaze lingered on her fingers, on a finger where the golden ring settled, and Lucy could feel a slight tug on her heart. When he took her hand and pressed another kiss, brushing against her ring, a lump was formed once again in her throat, a tug grew stronger, a mixture of feeling formed in her chest.

"And I wished for your happiness."

Happiness. There was something bitter when he said that. The wish almost sounded like it was forced. Just like how she forced her smile to linger, just like how she forced herself to stay here. The urge to drive off with her horse was getting unbearable. She had wanted to find peace here, to keep some unwanted thoughts away from her head. She certainly never expected this encounter.

This was just too soon. Lucy wasn't ready for this.

"I-I..." she stuttered. "Thank you, Zeref."

The smile he gave her was as gentle as she remembered. She couldn't deny the fact that there was something in him that calmed her. Was it his eyes? His gaze? His voice?

Because it's him, because it is Zeref.

Lucy climbed her horse, glanced at Zeref and said, "You should return and have a proper rest. Good day, Zeref."

Without waiting for his reply, she took off and rode deeper into the forest while minding not to cross the border of the hunting ground. She needed this, as much as she knew she was being rather rude to him, she needed some time alone. To think.

Zeref. She had forgotten all about him when she first arrived here. Maybe she just had her mind on the marriage. That was why she forgot about him. The thought never once crossed her mind. But now that she had met him, all memories about him resurfaced. While it wasn't unpleasant, she just preferred not to be reminded much about it.

I just don't want to regret anything.

I just don't want to make anything harder.

i'm sorry for re-uploading this chapter! i pressed the wrong button and just realized an hour letter when i checked my email ^^;; anyway, i hope you enjoyed this chapter ^^ thank you Rushii for pointing it out! :D