Disclaimer: I don't own Fairy Tail

Crossing an arch with 'Fairy Hills' written on it, Hisui and Karie looked at their new home they're going to be staying in. The white porch clashing with the orange brick corners made Hisui wonder if the porch had a history behind it. The walls of the building were white with plenty windows doing the finishing touches. Hisui knocked on the door while Karie leaned the luggage against the wall.

"Who is it?" Erza's voice responded to Hisui's calls.

"Hisui." The doors opened and revealed Erza wearing pajamas with a towel wrapped around her head.

"Sorry about my appearance, what do you need?" Hisui handed the letter to Erza. "Welcome to Fairy Hills." Erza smiled, tearing the letter without even reading it. "Who is this?"

"My maid, Karie."

"Then I'll prepare two rooms, just wait in the lobby." The doors widened, allowing the two to come in. While Hisui and Karie was looking at the lobby, Erza was filling out a form before taking out four keys from a drawer. "Here you go," Erza handed each of the new residents a key to their room and a key to Fairy Hills. "the larger one is the key to the dorms and the smaller one with a number is your room key, if you lose a key, you'll need pay two thousand Jewels for each key lost. I'll show you around after we've put after your things." Erza took one luggage and walked down a corridor. "Don't forget to take off your shoes and put them in the rack."

"You seem excited Hisui-sama. Is living in a dorm that fun of an idea to you?" Karie asked, picking up the remaining luggage before following their guide.

"A bit…"

"I'm glad you're finally away from that suffocating place, I was worried it'll affect your growth."

"I'm not a child anymore Karie."

"Old habits, old habit, I've been taking care of you since you were a child."

"You're only six years older than me!"

"More than enough to take care of a Princess that snuck out of the palace."

"You knew?"

"Why else did you think it was so easy?"

"I thought that was Arcadios."

"I only asked him to keep a close eye on you."

"You two," Erza stopped at two doors labeled different numbers. "these are your rooms, you'll find a bathroom and a bedroom. Though, only a basic one."

"Thank so much Erza-sama, can you show me the kitchen? Hisui-sama hasn't had anything to eat yet."

"No problem. If you don't mind, what happened? It's quite late already."

"We were talking about the damage repairs your guild has to compensate for." Hisui deadpanned.

"As ashamed as I am to admit it, I agree that we go too far at times."

"A bit too much. More than thirty percent of the guild's earning goes towards large scale damage repairs, smaller scale ones are compensated via the job rewards. From what your Master is saying, I roughly guessed that around fifty percent of your personal job earnings are deducted on an average job you all take due to paying back the damage you all caused. Am I wrong?"

"We—well, from personal experience, I say that twenty percent of my pay is used up for repairs."

"That's because I hear that Erza-san is more responsible than others. For trouble makers like Natsu-san or even Gildarts-san are close to sixty, Gildarts-san has the worst of sixty-five percent of his earnings deducted if his job requirement if near civilization. Thankfully, most, if not all his jobs are further away from people. It's unfathomable that Fairy Tail loses so much money."

"Hisui-sama, I believe that we should have our meal, worrying about the past won't do us good. If I may, I believe that looking for a solution is the correct choice."

"Master Makarov has been thinking of an idea for years, same with his predecessors, what can I do? Everything needs a balance, I can't be extreme on one side and forsake the other. And besides, since I'm the mayor now, it's my duty to help to livelihood of my—" A complain from Hisui's stomach stopped her rant all together.

"Hisui-sama, I believe that is our signal to eat, Erza-sama, can you take us to the kitchen first? I'm afraid the rest of the tour will have to wait."

"Karie, I'm fine, we can see the rest of the building first."

"As your guardian, I can't let that go back, his majesty gave me permission to stop your actions if they come at a cost of your wellbeing, and I believe that this covers what he has said. A shower and a good rest will follow, no objections, I'm speaking as your friend and not your servant, no matter how old you get, you still manage to make me worry."

"Then I have no choice…Erza-san I apologise for my behaviour just now, please show us the kitchen."

"The kitchen is downstairs, follow me."

A day of rest proved to be beneficial for Hisui. Now wearing a pair of Gale-Force Reading Glasses and sitting in her office—where Wilber used to work—Hisui was reading the past financial reports for the last twenty years or so, observing the growth of the city as time goes on. Hisui was shocked to find within the past decade or so—after ignoring the seven-year gap—there was a spike in revenue.

Then came the expenses of the city, it was divided into four main categories, healthcare, food, infrastructure and others, all of them taking a good chunk of the revenue, the rest were minors expenditures. As with all cites housing a reputable guild, the money put into security was the lowest, next came education. Seeing education as the second lowest expenditure of the city irked Hisui to no end. While it wasn't an insignificant amount of money, Magnolia could do better. After making a note, Hisui kept pouring time in the documents related to education. Hisui's first priority was the education of the citizens. Compared to the capital, the people here aren't as educated as Hisui expected. However, that's when she found one disturbing detail, a trip to a school was needed.

"Karie, I want you to do something for me." Gone was the casual attitude and a professional tone reined. "I want you to investigate this man."

"Hisui-sama, for you to come all the way out here, we're honoured." Slim man whose expression resembles the people that Hisui had to deal with during her time in the palace, only without respect. Karie was standing at the side line, having just served tea to the two.

"Rex-san, I was reading the documents left behind by Wilber-san, and I found something peculiar. The number of highly educated people are quite low in this city isn't it?"

"Th—that's because not all people can afford it."

"Even so, there's no reason for so many people not having the chance to go to university. As the principal of this place, I'm sure you're aware that citizens can take loans from the kingdom?"

"We—well we receive a large number of overseas students and from other cities, and most of them have better grades than are lo—local ones. We can't just ignore such talent."

"I understand, the people with higher grades has a better chance at improving the kingdom."

"E—exactly. As expected of the Princess."

"Your university receives more non-local students than the others in this city, can you explain that?"

"That's…we're the most prestigious university in the entire city…it shouldn't be a surprise that we have more interested in studying here."

"Can you indulge me in a pet theory of mine Rex-san?"

"O—of course, if it benefits the city, I'll do what must be done."

"I hope that you don't mind me doing a background check on you."

"What did you say!?" Rex spilled the cup of tea he was gripping dearly onto.

"Don't worry, it's nothing beyond your basic information and the rumours on the streets." Rex shifted uncomfortably in his seat upon hearing 'Rumour'.

"Is that…true?"

"Of course, even a Princess like myself don't have rights to pry into other's private lives."

"Then, can you explain to me your theory?"

"I'll get straight to the point then, going on the rumours, you're in massive debt."

"That's…just rumours."

"Please let me finish, also, don't get worked up over the delusions of a sheltered Princess. I would imagine that the foreign students enrolling here are more well-off compared to our local students, you did boast that your university is at the apex of Magnolia. That would also make this place highly competitive. The problem is, you can't receive all the applicants, that would be too unreasonable.

"Here comes my theory and question: What if there was a better way to enrol? For example," Hisui looked at Rex straight in the eyes. "bribery." A sharp blade slashed at Rex's composure, his knees bobbed in irritation, perhaps fear seeing the cold eyes of Hisui.

"Ar—are you suggesting that I throw my school's reputation away for money!? Even if you're a Princess, I can't forgive such slander!"

"You too easy to read Rex-san. I won't even try to play dumb, yes, I am."

"You—"

"I'm not finished!" Karie realised how much anger her master had bottled inside, for someone raised in etiquette to see Hisui raise her voice, must less interrupt someone, was rare. "You must be under the impression that Princesses are like the ones in Fairy Tales and plays; they must be easy to fool. You would be eaten alive if you were a noble. Karie."

"As you wish." Karie handed Hisui a file.

"Before, I was suggesting." Hisui laid the contents of the file on a table. "Now, I'm proving." Seeing Rex's mouth agape, Hisui continued. "These are records of you receiving money in exchange of letting people enrol to your school. To be honest, I was shocked to see so many."

"Where…did you get this?"

"It seems that some students do have a sense of guilt. After having a couple of confessions, all I needed to do was do some searching to get the list you have here. One last thing, I already written a letter to the kingdom, your status as a principal, has been revoked. You can either announce your resignation or have this be published."

"I'll…announce my resignation…"

"You have a week." Hisui rose from her seat, taking the file with her. "Karie, we're giving the map a better look."

Now out of the university, Hisui was looking at a map back at her office. Everything was just as she left it, filled with documents. She compared the map to the population spread, the average income of the people living in each area, number of families and finally, the school numbers. Hisui grabbed four different colour pens and circled a few areas on the map before handing it to Karie.

"Give this to Diamond-san, tell him I want these places to have schools constructed. The red are kindergartens, blue for primary schools, yellow for high schools and black for universities. If there are any problems, have him get back to me."

"As you wish." Seeing the maid leave, Hisui stretched from the hours of sitting and saw Natsu's face pressed firmly against a window, deforming it.

"Natsu-san!" Hisui opened another window for Natsu to climb in. "What are you doing here?"

"I was checking up on you."

"Why?"

"I haven't seen you leave this boring place much. So, I came to have you go out and enjoy the town. You still haven't completed the tour, right? I'll do it."

"That can come another time, I'm busy."

"It'll be quick!"

"I don't think it would."

"Fine, I'll come later." Natsu jumped out of the window he came from, leaving Hisui to stare at the piles of paper to pour more time in. Suddenly, Natsu's offer seem more attractive. Hisui still pushed aside her personal desires and worked on bettering the lives of citizens living here. Signing something as little as permits to writing letter to companies for requests. A day or two pasted, ore letters were delivered to Hisui's table, meetings schedules, words of concern from the people, replies to Hisui's own letters. Each time Hisui sent Karie out on an errand, she would make sure to keep her head low and hide her face with paper towers. Even when eating, Hisui kept her head down, reducing her contact time with Karie as much as possible, sending her off one a job one after another.

"Princess, you ready for the tour to begin again?" Natsu invaded from the door this time.

"No, need, I have a good idea of what there is." Hisui gestured to the map on the wall.

"No fun without experiencing it for yourself." Natsu grabbed Hisui by the arm and tried to drag her out of her chair. The Princess tugged back, refusing to leave her position. The difference between honed body and not was made clear with no time at all, and the Princess was pulled to her feet. "What have you been doing!?" Natsu shook Hisui's shoulders, seeing the dark semi-circles under Hisui's eyes.

"I'm…fine."

"Stop joking around! You look worse than gramps when he's doing these kinds of things!" Having pale skin, Hisui's dark eyes were noticeable to even a man with poor eyesight, her green irises lost their bright lustre, bloodshot eyes that made her eyes look slightly pink. "You're sleeping!"

"I said I'm fine!" Natsu lifted Hisui over his shoulders and laid her gently on a couch. Hisui's tired flails only added to Natsu's determination. Feeling the cosy cushioning of the couch, Hisui's squirmed even further, Natsu's quilt-like heat was only making it worse, her eyes were struggling to stay open.

"I'll accept whatever complaint you have when you get up, for now," Natsu took off his jacket and laid it across Hisui's calming frame. "just rest, I'll have someone get something better." Natsu made the room rise to sleep-inducing temperatures, much like when someone is tucked perfectly in bed and watched the Princess surrender to her body's needs. "Sleep well, you earned it." Natsu grabbed a chair and observed Hisui drift deeper into sleep.

"Hisui-sama, we need to have a ta—what are you doing to her!" Karie, having just seen a bare-chest Natsu and her unconscious master, she pulled out a dagger from under her dress.

"Shhh. She's sleeping." Natsu placed a finger on his lips and used another to point to Hisui's bags and the blackened around her eyes.

"I…expected this but…for it to be this serious…I should have stopped her."

"Never mind that, can you get something for her? My jacket isn't great, I want her to have the best rest right now."

"Of course, I want her to rest as well." Karie hurried out the door and came back with a blanket and a pillow.

"I'll leave the everything else to you, make sure she doesn't do this after she wakes up."

"From the looks of it, she might sleep until the next day."

"That's good enough I guess, I'll tell Erza, she was worried that Hisui didn't come back for a while."

"While I'm thankful for you helping me, I still think you should hold some respect for her."

"I already do." Natsu looked at the piles of paper work Hisui had done. He smiled relaxed Hisui's serene face as appose to the one filled with duty. "Hey Kathy."

"It's Karie!"

"Don't you think that Hisui is tired of people being so distant?"

"I do."

"Then stop it, I did the same, why can't you? You know her better than I do."

"I can't, in the end, we're just master and servant. It's against what I was taught."

"Forget them, they're not worth it." Natsu closed the doors as he left, missing Karie's trembling frame. The silence was beneficial for both Hisui and Karie, one was resting. The other, was battling with herself. Rational and instinct, they tugged and changed positions as the favouring side, tormenting the maid with doubt.

"Natsu Dragneel, I owe you one." Picking up Hisui along with the blanket wrapped around her, Karie headed back to Fairy Hills.

Thanks for reading! I have another concern, I'm worried that the quality of the writing is getting worse, perhaps that's just me being paranoid, I don't know.

Anyway, another concern I have is perhaps I'm not thinking deeply about this story enough? Just that most of the things I'm writing is very shallow, hopefully, either my brain will do something about it or someone will give me a good idea.

My only hope is that I don't end up giving up on this story, this it tricky to write, I can't stress that enough. Mainly because I haven't written anything like this before, I find this super taxing on my skills as a writer. Worse comes to worst, I'm going to take a break to gather my thoughts.

Until then, I hope you enjoyed, let me know your thoughts and, have a great day!