Disclaimer: I don't own Fairy Tail

Hisui was finally back in her office, she breathed a sigh of relief, seeing her table being spotless and well-kept made her glad of her staff. It was just the way she left it—for better or for worse. It was organized, but the documents piled on made outsiders think that it was unruly. Hisui sat on her chair, shifting through her files to recollect her work flow from three days ago, thoroughly reading the papers delivered to her in her absence.

"Come in." Hisui answered two sharp knocks on her door. The door gave way, Karie walked in with a letter in her hands.

"Hisui, you have summons to attend a funeral."

"Is it the late Duke Wilford?"

"Yes."

"When is it?"

"In three days."

"Have you made preparations?"

"Already done."

"To think I'm thrown back in just after I arrived." Hisui chuckled. "And I was planning to find out who sent the attack on the city."

"Perhaps you'll find some suspects at the funeral, besides, I think that Bestia will need some comforting, she loved her father."

"You're right, what was I thinking? A good friend of mine is suffering and all I'm focused on is trying to find who attack my city." Hisui continued to shuffle through her reports about the happening for the past three days since she was away. "Am I needed for Bestia's inherence ceremony?"

"No, His Majesty didn't specify."

"Until we leave, I'll have to work harder, I believe I have a meeting with the merchants?"

"The one about being more lenient in wares inspection? That's in an hour."

"And this," Hisui picked out a file from a cabinet behind her, "is why I make sure I finish everything before I leave."

"I don't think you'll manage this time; three days isn't a whole lot."

"I'll just have to prove you wrong." Hisui gave a smile that was flawless to most eyes but strained in Karie's, already, the servant felt that the vacation wasn't enough for her Princess. Soon, office sounds played in the air, drowning Karie's internal sighing. Cutting in the exhaustive noise, was sandals slamming carpet on the corridor outside, subtle wing flapping complimenting the drumming.

"Hisui! I'm here to—whoa!" Natsu's bright voice turned to one that was filled with confusion. "What happened? You just got back and you're already working your butt off?"

"Natsu, I have to leave for the capital in three days, I must finish everything before that, I'm sorry but, can you come around later? How about…eight?" Hisui said, occupied with what's in front of her

"No...I'll just wait until you get back. Let's go Happy!"

"Aye!" The duo rushed out the office, drawing a sigh from Hisui.

"Are you sure that you don't want me to come with you?" Natsu asked, loading a suitcase on Hisui's train compartment.

"I know you're worried," Hisui said, "but Karie will protect me just fine. Don't worry, Crocus is quite safe you know." Hisui giggled. "But, I'm glad you're worried for me. Don't give me that look, Fi is always besides me you know?"

"I can do a better job."

"Better than a spirit that helped found a kingdom? I don't think so, Fi may not look it but, she's pretty scary if she gets mad. And there's only two things that can make her mad; lack of sweets; me being in a dangerous position. Have you heard of Flash Forest?"

"Not really."

"That's a forest that appeared without warning, densely packed with trees to the point of being suffocating. Even if people tried to level the trees, they end up growing back within seconds. A wizard would tell you a different story; they would say how heavy and constricting the air is, how heavy everything feels, the magic density could make a weaker wizard go insane.

"It's been ten years since I was kidnapped, and everything stayed the same. If you go around the surrounding area, you'll find the plants there grow much faster, turn out bigger. Even with the magic being siphoned like that, it's still like a bottomless well. That's why Natsu, I take care of myself more than you think, I always bring someone capable with me to protect me. If Fi ever comes into play, I can't calculate the damage."

"Then that's more reason to bring me along."

"You'll have to ride a train."

"I'm not…"

"And it'll be boring for you, I won't have time to spend with you either."

"Fine…just promise me you'll come back fine."

"Aren't you getting over possessive? I don't think that you should do that." Hisui pushed Natsu out the train as the departure signal rang. "Some girls may like that but, to me, I find it restricting, it reminds me of being in the palace all day. Please keep that in mind."

"Sorry…"

"Of course, there is always a time and place for many things, even for the one I dislike. However, it is your responsibility to figure out when that time is, if you really are planning to follow through with this, you need to learn how to read more about people than you are now."

"Your standards are higher than Erza's."

"You got yourself into this." Hisui chuckled at Natsu's dismay. "That's all the time we have, I'll see you soon."

"See ya!" Natsu said with a toothy grin. Hisui watched as Natsu's figure was barely visible and the only way she could identify him was the pink dot that blurred with the each second. Walking back to her compartment, Hisui found Karie skimming flipping the pages of a book. Seeing her sitting crossed-legged and being in her own world, if it wasn't for the maid uniform, Hisui would have mistaken Karie for someone with power.

"Sorry I was late, Natsu took more convincing that I thought."

"He does seem to be quite attached to you, why don't you just tell me what happened that night? I'm pretty sure I can figure it out soon enough, it would save me the hassle too." Hisui took a seat opposite of her maid and breathed a long sigh.

"I suppose that's true, we do have plenty of time as well. So…Natsu confessed to me after the festival."

"So that's why you weren't able to focus the next day."

"You're not mad?"

"Why would I be?"

"A Princess shouldn't be in a relationship with someone like Natsu."

"That's not for me to say, if I did, I would be denying my mother's background. Though I'm your servant, my father made me a noble, I guess 'The Foolish Servant' does suit me."

"You still won't tell me why you decided to be a maid."

"That's because it's embarrassing…"

"Well I just told you something I rather not, it's your turn."

"You didn't say anything about that!"

"It's only fair, I won't laugh, just tell me."

"I really wanted to take care of you…" Karie said in a hushed tone.

"Pardon? You worked so hard just so you can take care of me?" Karie nodded.

"Remember when I first met you?"

"How could I not? You stopped me from sneaking out the palace, I received some harsh words from father that day."

"Well, when we first met, I was asking mother for a little sister, but she refused me of course, she already used the little time she had to raise me, adding another one to take care of would be a disaster. That when I ran into you.

"I didn't know you were the Princess, only that you were cute and I couldn't leave a child that's younger than me wander out the palace without adult supervision."

"So your sisterly instincts prevented me from having fun?"

"I was protecting you. When I was back home, I couldn't take you out of my mind. So I asked mother who you were. Afterward, everything else was easy, I asked mother to me train to be a maid."

"I wonder sometimes."

"Hmm?"

"How many more stories like that do you have?"

"That's all I have!"

"Is it? After Fi told me how your parent got together, I was really curious on how many other things you hid from me to save face. Judging from how much your father dotes on you every time we visit him, I'm willing to say that you have plenty." Hisui finished with a playful smile. "Why don't I just ask the man himself?"

"You're going to break down all my hard work just like that!?"

"Don't worry, no matter how crazy the stories are, you'll always be my cool, reliable older sister."

"That not the point!"

Hisui frowned the instant she stepped out the train with Karie carrying the luggage that was holding the same concern. Hisui didn't ask the guards that saluted to her ask she was escorted to her carriage prepared for her, the body language of her people told her plenty, many people lacked the same bounce to their movements compared to when Hisui normally strolling the streets; backs slightly hunched forward.

"Wilford was deeply loved, I know this," Hisui said lightly, "I just didn't expect the impact to be so big."

"I haven't seen the city like this for a while now." Karie remarked.

"The last time was when mother passed…can we hurry? Bestia is suffering the most."

"There's no need." Karie pointed out a window. A white horse in the colours that Hiusi recognised—purple and black—riding closer to them. At the side of the horse, was the Vernati symbol; a black cat on a purple backdrop. Riding the horse, was a girl with black ink as hair that flowed to her waist. The clothes she was wearing wasn't anything gaudy but Hisui could tell it was made of quality materials. The navy-blue jeans and black jacket would catch anyone that wasn't close the girl off-guard. The horse rode side-by-side with Hisui's carriage. And with a leap, the girl jumped off her horse—leaving it to disappear in the crowds—landing perfectly in the carriage.

"Bestia, there are better ways to join us." Hisui chided to the girl that just took a seat next to Karie, giving Hisui a good look at Bestia's yellow cat-like eyes, sharp, observant. Yet, never once did they meet Hisui's eyes

"But it's been so long since we've seen each other."

"There are times when I wish that you weren't a spitting image of the Vernati house members, your energy can be hard to keep up with." Hisui said, noting the strange tameness to her friend's figure, they weren't filled with the small movements like rubbing her thumb and index finger together, or the eyes that darted around to take in her surroundings.

"Emily was the only one that could, wasn't she?"

"Both of you are similar after all." Hisui traced Bestia's eyes, the book on Karie's lap. "I'm sorry about what happened to your father, it must really tough for you."

"I'm managing…I still haven't gotten over it…I still…say good morning to him but then…"

"Don't you find it strange? How could a healthy man like him just leave overnight? Do you know if anything could have caused it?"

"I…don't know…Hisui, can we save it for later?"

"Of course! I'm such a terrible friend! I shouldn't be asking these kinds of things, please forgive me." Hisui pulled Bestia into a hug.

"Thanks." The rocking helped calm the girl down as they slowly made their way to the palace. "Everyone else doesn't understand."

"What do you mean?" Hisui asked, confused at her friend restarting a topic that wasn't healthy for her at the moment.

"I have to act like everything is fine because everyone is expecting me to be the next leader."

"That's why you have me don't you? I'm sorry I didn't rush over to comfort you. You don't have to act when I'm around, you cheeky fox."

"But I thought that I'm more like a cat?" A small smile creeping up on Bestia's lips. "My family is based on a cat."

"Strange isn't it? Everything about you but your acting is leaning towards a cat, even your take-overs are mainly felines, people are even speculating that you won't ever wed because of all the cats keeping you company. But anyone that has interacted with you would say you're a fox."

"Speaking of my children, I wouldn't have recovered this much if it wasn't for them."

"I assume Zoey is still adventurous?" Hisui asked, hoping to pull mortality away from Bestia's mind.

"Yes, just this morning, she caught a bird and brought it to me."

They continued to chat as they went through a gate, acknowledging the salutes from guards as the carriage parked at the door steps to the palace. Karie got out first and held the door for the other two passengers to follow.

"Not much has change since I last came here." Hisui noted, scanning each stone brick with fondness, "I suppose that isn't bad." The door opened, a short man stepped out with a smile.

"Hisui, welcome back."

"Father? Why are you here?"

"Is it wrong for me to see my daughter as soon as she comes home?"

"No, it's just, I didn't expect you would come to me."

"Urgent matters, we've found out that the late Duke was poisoned." Bestia stiffed, Hisui frowned while Karie held hate in her eyes. "I hired people to do a check to find the cause of death, no physical damage or signs of magic was found. But hints of poison were present."

"You think that this connected with what happened at Harvest Festival?"

"There's a high chance, they're too closely timed to be disregarded as a coincidence."

"I'll figure out who is doing this."

"Are you sure?"

"I'm not really the kind of person to hold a grudge but, I was planning to investigate the one behind the attack, if they are related, I'll find out who is behind the poisoning. But for now, I want to focus my efforts on honouring the Duke's death first."

"Then I'll leave it to you, report to me all your findings. For now, let's have lunch, I presume that you didn't eat?"

"I haven't. Bes, do you want to join us?"

"Is that okay?" Bestia asked, looking at the King of his answer.

"Of course, you're always welcome." Toma said with a smile.

Thanks for reading! Sorry for being slow again on this chapter, I want to highlight the funeral for plot reasons, hopefully I do a good job on that.

Again, I feel like I'm doing a terrible job in balancing the two aspects of the story. I also realise that I use these sections to complain a lot, this is mainly due to bad planning on my part and thus, making the writing more frustrating that it needs to. Maybe I'll learn my lesson this time and have a clear plan rather that a few bullet-points on a notepad.

It's also affecting my uploading time, I generally try for every 7 to 10 days per chapter, it's been moving a bit backwards, sorry for that.

Thanks for the nice suggestions by the way, I thought that I have been bitching a lot rather than expressing my gratitude to the people that have been giving me great suggestions forward the plot in the romance side. So let me take the time to say: Thank You!

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed the chapter, have a nice day!