Chapter 6

I hadn't expected for that pink-haired bastard to fall for me. Neither have I expected to run into Michelle and Loke in Fiore High either. But I guess I'm more than satisfied I've been reunited with my old friends.

But now that I'm getting some alone time, aside from currently sitting in the back seat of Capricorn's limo while wearing my soaked PE unifrom, my head has been cleared up. I have been reminded of my place, or more like I've remembered Natsu Dragneel's place and all the reason why I shouldn't find him cute. He was a commoner. I hated him for his happy-go-lucky attitude. I despised him even before I met him! Earth to Lucy!

Right... it was wrong for me to take his 'fallen for you' confession as a heavy weight decision. It shouldn't even be a decision at all. There was no way- no way in hell I would end up with a bastard like him. Come to think of it, there was also no way I would end up with a human. Meaning, I'm forever alone. Well, I've always been from the start, so how bad can it hurt?

"Young mistress?", the bald man hummed, glancing abruptly up at the rearview mirror. "Are you alright?"

I sighed, swinging one leg over the other, "Yes, Capricorn, I'm alright. You just strutted in my normal PE class asking for the almighty young mistress, the heir to the throne of the leading landscape renovation business in the nation in front of all the normal students. Of course I would be okay, why do you ask?"

I heard him chuckle lightly, before the sound of a train passing by drowned out everything. I look down at my wet hands; damp and wrinkled from the pool water. The hands that brushed against Natsu Dragneel's neck. The hands that touched his skin... ughh... thinking about that is making me cringe in disgust. I just... hate him beyond words.

"Young Mistress.", Capricorn spoke up. "We're here."

I rise my head, looking out the tinted window. The sounds of wheels clashing against metal railings were no more. Only... silence. An eerie, lonely silence.

I'm back home.

I open the car door, hesitantly setting a foot on the cobbled path. Capricorn approached, knotting his hands behind his back.

"Young Mistress, you should've let me escort you-"

"No, there's no need.", I wave a hand, shooing him away. I stepped away from the shiny, black car parked in by a humongous and beautiful fountain positioned in the middle of the round, cobbled driveway. I take a deep breath, looking up at the behemoth building looming in front of me. My prison.

Whispers were heard from all directions as the servants and employees working yard shift layed eyes on me. I exhale quite loudly, walking up to the large, wooden, double gates of the entrance.

The doors quickly swung open with a screeching against cold stone. Goosebumps arose from my fair skin, my knees beginning to do a double take.

"Welcome home, princess.", two identical maids at each side of the door bowed. I nod, walking past them.

"Where's Virgo?", I questioned, looking ahead at the two sets of marbled stairs leading to opposite sides of the manor. The two maids positioned themselves each at my side, walking along with me as I ascend the steep, golden stairs.

"We have been notified of your arrival in advane by Libra. Yukino-sama, along with Virgo awaits in your room.", they reported. I hum, crossing your arms.

"I take it he wants to see me too."

"Yukino-sama and Virgo will be aiding you in preparation for tonight's appointment with the Master and the Fernandes family. Please, make haste for there is only a remaining 2 hours until then."

I stopped in my tracks, knowing full well that I was indeed facing the entrance of my bedroom, as well as hearing what they had just said. I turned to look at them with knotted eyebrows. "The Fernandes family?"

"Yes, Princess.", they nodded in symmetry.

"The Fernandes family..?"

"Yes."

"... The Fernandes family."

"I'm afraid so, Hime.", a new voice spoke up.

"Virgo, what the hell-", I started, recognizing the familiar voice.

"Please, Hime.", the pink-haired woman, dressed in a rather inappropriate maid outfit grabbed my hand, pulling me into my room before slamming the door shut on the other two maids.

I turned to her, a small hint of rage embedded in my pupils. "Virgo, why didn't you call me?", I growled, clenching my fists.

"My apologies, Hime. Yukino and I have been stalling this day for a long time now.", she looked down in shame. "But I'm afraid that we don't have the power, nor the rights to completely put a stop to this."

I sighed, rubbing my temples. "Okay, first and foremost... who the hell is the Fernander family?"

"The Fernandes family; a successful diamond trader business. With three possible heirs to the business-"

"Three..?", I look up, disbelief written on my face.

"Yes, three. Three identical twins, with the same names; Jellal."

"So... how am I supposed to fit in to all this?"

"I suppose the Master plans for you to be married off. The new land we had bought a little by the sea line has been spotted with a few diamonds here and there and he plans to ally with the Fernandes family."

"Of course..", I groaned, walking towards my large king-sized bed, decorated with a thick, fluffy white comforter along with throw pillows, body pillows and a horde of stuffed animals. "So.. this is like... an omiai (an arranged marriage meeting thingy :( )?"

"I'm terribly sorry, Hime."

"And... I can't run away on this one.."

"He will find you, Hime."

"I can't... go into hiding.. can I?"

"You know he'll put his best men on the job. Though if you do plan on doing that, please know that we will try our best to hide you."

"Is killing myself an option?"

"Oh no there's no way we'll let you do that, Hime."

"Is killing him an option?"

"Only if you have the guts to pull it off."

This shut me up. No. As much as I didn't want to be forced into this, and as much as I hated my biological father... I did not have the guts to kill anybody. I couldn't.

There was a long silence before Virgo spoke up once again. "Well... I suppose if you were to be married, or say, engaged.. then..", she trailed off.

I stood up abruptly, snatching the neatly ironed dress from the bed. It was an ankle length, strapless, formal, royal blue gown. Tiny silver gems imbedded the collar, shining in the dim light of my cozy room.

"So... this is my omiai dress?", I asked, brushing off her suggestion. It won't work. There was no way Lucy, his daughter would say that. And he knows that. Plus, he'll ask and I'd have to be stuck humiliated in front of the whole dinner partay.

"I've prepared the bath.", Virgo stated, nudging open the bathroom door. I entered the small tile room after gently throwing the gown back on the bed. I spotted a fluffy bath robe and bath slippers set on an end table by the lone victorian bath tub.

"Oh, and Hime?", Virgo called out. I turned around, raising an eyebrow. "Just know. That there is no way we would've let this happen. I-"

"It's alright.", I smiled half-heartedly at her, earning a suprised emotion. "You tried your best. Thank you." With those words, I felt my heart ache. She was right. There was no way they would've let this happen. Not on their watch, and definitely not with their word. I trusted them, and they knew that. But now... in a little over two hours, it'll be the end. I'll be married off without a say and it's will be the end. The end. No more Lucy Heartfilia. No more free Lucy Heartfilia. Only Lucy Fernandes.

"But Hime.", Virgo spoke up again. "You don't understand. There's still two hours left and we're not going down easy."

I felt my breath hitch. "Virgo...", I uttered, my stomach turning over due to my anxiety. "What are you doing?"

"Yukino had left a little earlier with Capricorn just after he dropped you off, with a plan in mind."

I slipped into the bath tub as I listened. "And?"

"Well, the plan is to riderect the route of the Fernandes Family's limosine. But I just recieved word that approaching closer to the vehicle proved to be a task since they have police officials riding along them."

"Well no duh.", I sighed.

"So Plan B was to dig in a pit bomb so-"

"A WHAT?!", I choked on air.

"A pit bomb."

"A pit bomb.."

"Yes, Hime. A pit bomb."

"Wha-? Virgo, what the hell?!", I stood up abruptly, water sliding off my shoulders and curves."

"I agree, I'll call of the plan immediately.", the maid turned around, pushing in buttons in a little device she held in one hand.

I groaned. Bombing the Fernandes Family was stupid and a suicide plan. They'd track it back to Yukino and Virgo, and it certainly wouldn't stop Papa from finding a new mating partner for me.

Without another word, I stepped back into my bedroom, Virgo helped me fit into my dress while I pondered in my own pool of bloody thoughts. I exited my bedroom and walked through the long, empty halls.

Paintings and portraits of my previous, happy life dotted the walls of the corridor. I payed no attention to them however, as I focused on calming down my heart in fear of having another panic attack. The hem of my elegant dress dragged on the wooden floor as my high heels clicked and clacked at my progress on the dining room. Only 25 more minutes until my faith is decided.