Juvia crashed into her room, went immediately to her dressing table and sat down heavily.
"Princess?" Her maid, Bisca, stared at her in shock. "Are you well?"
"O-of course." Juvia said, breathing heavily.
Why do I feel like this?
It was odd, as soon as she had met that Grey Full-something person's eyes…
This was ludicrous.
This kind of thing didn't happen in real life.
"Bisca," Juvia said slowly.
"Yes, Princess?"
"Say…hypothetically, of course, you met someone…"
Bisca frowned. "Yes?"
"And…like, as soon as you see them your heart flutters and your face becomes hot and you have trouble breathing…what might be wrong with you?"
Bisca laughed. "Why, that's obvious, Your Highness. It simply means love at first sight."
Juvia turned to stare at her in horror.
Oblivious, Bisca turned back to fixing the gauze curtain around Juvia's bed.
"It's very rare, but it happens sometimes, I suppose." She smiled. "I felt the same way when I met my husband, Alzack."
Juvia tuned her out and put her head in her hands.
No.
Absolutely not.
It wasn't just the fact that it was the worst timing possible with her engagement close on the horizon, but this was a commoner here!
Juvia was quite a fair princess and she cared about her kingdom and the people in it, but her upbringing had inherently taught her one thing: Royalty did not mix with the common people.
It was simply the Phantom Kingdom way- they were a good nation but renowned for their harsh and sometimes totalitarian class ruling.
A peasant could get his tongue cut out just speaking to a member of the aristocracy.
A relationship, like the one that Juvia's brain briefly teased over, would mean torture and death for Grey and most probably banishment for her.
That was, if she was even considering a relationship like that.
Which she wasn't.
Juvia looked over at the picture of Prince Lyon that she kept on her table.
He was so handsome, known for his kindness and his intellectual brilliance.
Once he arrived for the ceremony, Juvia would sure that this- albeit gorgeous- Grey would have no more sway over her feelings.
It was just pre-wedding jitters, that was all.
Until then, Juvia resolved to treat him with cool indifference, even rudeness, if need be.
Anything to stop what was happening from happening.
xxx
"Right," General Gajeel laid a sheet of paper in front of Grey. "These are the positions of the guard squads. You need to memorize 'em. Also, the Princess's schedule, the overall Royal schedule, the servant's schedule, the guard patrol routes…" He glanced back up at Grey. "You're getting all of this, right?"
"Right." Grey said unconvincingly and shuffled the papers before him.
They really do take their monarchy seriously here.
"I think you should try to introduce yourself to the Princess again," Gajeel said. "She might have been a little unnerved by you."
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"It doesn't help you go around with that serious-lookin' glare all the time."
Grey rolled his eyes. "This is my normal face."
"Exactly."
"Fine." Grey rolled up the papers and put them on his new desk in the Guard Box, which was the HQ for high-ranking members of the royal protection military. "If you think it'll help."
"And remember, be respectful." Gajeel said. "You won't last long here without some serious boot-licking when it comes to the royals."
"I get it, I get it."
Grey walked out of the Guard Box and the sun hit him suddenly, making him cover his eyes. Beyond the dove-grey stone walls of the palace, the celebratory flags batted each other in the breeze.
They were really pulling out all the stops for the wedding thing.
The Prince of Lamia Scale Kingdom sure was a lucky guy- the Princess was just as beautiful as the rumors.
Grey immediately checked himself.
No time for that.
He entered the airy entrance way of the palace and got directions from a guard and how to get to Princess Juvia's room.
When he found the door, he cleared his throat and, not really knowing what the protocol was here, rapped on the large wooden door twice.
A maid with green hair eventually answered. "Yes?"
"It's uh, Grey Fullbuster. I'm the new Captain of the Guard."
"Oh." The maid bobbed a curtsy. "Pleased to meet you. Did you want an audience with the Princess?"
"Um, I'd very much like to speak with Her Highness, yes."
"Your Highness?" The maid walked back into the room and Grey followed. "Grey Fullbuster, Captain of the Guard here to see you."
Juvia, who had finally settled herself down, answering her letters at her desk, started so violently she knocked the ink pot over and to smashed on the floor beside her.
Grey immediately ran over. "Are you alright Your Highness?"
"Y-yes! Of course!"
"I'll get the mop!" Bisca excused herself from the room with a curtsy.
"Sorry!" Juvia knelt down to try and help pick up the pieces.
Grey was surprised. She actually planned to help out? "Your Highness, please let me. You might cut yourself on the pieces."
"But it was my fault it broke!"
Grey smiled at her. "Maybe it was my fault. I startled you."
"Huh?" Red-faced, Juvia looked up at him whilst reaching for one of the pieces.
Accidentally, the tips of her fingers brushed against his.
His hands were rough and surprisingly cool to the touch.
She instantly yanked her hand away, as did Grey.
He coughed, looking embarrassed. "Uh, forgive me, Your Highness."
"N-no, it's fine."
A few awkward seconds passed as they both stared down at the broken shards of the ink pot as if it would take the hint and reanimate itself.
Great. The weirdness between them was obvious.
Bisca came back in with the mop suddenly. Both parties sprang to their feet guiltily.
"Um. Captain Fullbuster," Juvia tried to regain some regal composure. "Please accompany me on a walk around the gardens. I wish to speak with you."
"Yes, Your Highness."
They both hurried out of the room, painfully aware of Bisca's rather suspicious gaze.
When they got outside, into a sunlit garden strongly scented by the breeze that carried the fragrance of the many flowers, Juvia turned to Grey.
"I should know somethin about my Captain of the Guard shouldn't I? Tell me about your life."
Grey looked down, making sure to keep at least one pace behind her out of respect. "Well, Your Highness, there's not a lot to tell. I was orphaned right from the start, put in an orphanage, left two years early and got drafted into a child army. After that was dissipated by the Government, I joined up properly. And, uh…"
"Gained a celebrated military career?" Juvia smiled.
"Well," Grey looked away. "I don't know if I'd say that."
"You're too modest."
"Fighting is all I've ever done, Your Highness. It's all I'm good for."
"Not at all! You're good for so much more!"
Grey looked at her in surprise.
Juvia froze.
What the hell was that?!
"I-I mean!" She scrambled desperately back for her point. "Everyone's good for many things! Besides just fighting…or anything!"
What is wrong with me?
"Thank you, Your Highness," Grey smiled a little sadly. "But I think you may have overestimated me. I have no other talents. And as long as I can protect you, I need no other."
Juvia could actually feel her heart speed up in her chest.
Why did this have to happen? Why did his words have such an effect on her?
"D-do you have any interests or hobbies?"
"No, Your Highness. Not really." Grey half-smiled at her. "I'm pretty boring actually." He paused. "What does…Your Highness do with her free time if I may be so bold as to ask?"
Juvia didn't reply.
Grey immediately backtracked. "Forgive me, Your Highness, I-"
"I like to draw." Juvia said quietly. "Just little sketches. Nothing impressive."
Grey studied the side of her face. Her cornflower blue hair fluttered back across the nape of her neck in the breeze.
He swallowed. I can't be taken in by this. This is the one woman in the world I absolutely can't feel anything but loyalty for.
Grey fell to one knee, deciding to set the line himself.
"I am from humble and unworthy beginnings, Your Highness," He took her hand. "But from this day on, I swear to dedicate my life to you."
Juvia practically keeled over.
WHY did he have to say it like that?!
Grey leaned forward and kissed her fingertips.
Before Juvia could draw a breath to say anything, a page boy ran into the garden and hastily bowed.
"Your Highness, Captain Fullbuster! There is an immediate security threat!"
Grey shot to his feet. "What is it?"
"We have a belief that an unknown party has infiltrated the palace!"
Grey glanced at Juvia who smiled shakily.
"This is a warm welcome on your very first day."
Grey nodded. "Allow me to prove myself, Your Highness. I will dismiss myself."
As Grey ran out of the garden, heading for the Guard Box and the main strain of reinforcements, one part of his mind was planning out a search and destroy defense plan and the other was on Juvia.
Kissing her hand had been a mistake. It had made him realize what kissing her was like.
And it was a problem.
Grey flung open the door to the Guard House. "Gajeel!" He yelled, then started in surprise at seeing the black-haired man reading a book with his feet up on a chair. "On your feet, General! There's a breached security threat!"
Gajeel blinked. "No there isn't. I'm in charge of this stuff. I would know."
Grey stared at him. "So…who infiltrated the palace?"
"What are you even talking about?"
"Wait…then…" Grey's heart just about skipped a beat. "Shit…"
Turning on his heel, ignoring Gajeel's shouts, he raced back the way he came.
xxx
Juvia wrung her hands, taking several deep breaths to calm herself.
She had no acted so inappropriately.
She had just asked him a few questions was all.
Innocent questions.
And it seemed he was not married…
"Your Highness," The pageboy prompted.
"Right, of course." Juvia turned back towards the door and went cold all over as someone clamped a hand around her mouth from behind.
"Your Highness," The 'pageboy' smirked. "Don't. Make. A. Sound."