" Your Highness, your time is about to come "
The said King closed his eyes and breathe deeply, flattening his palms at the table in front of him. A thick air surrounds, suffocating him but he stand still and wait for someone to break the silence that is enveloping the court room. Another voice rose.
" You're about to come of age, and I think we have given you enough time to find a lady of your choice " He look up and met Byros's gaze.
" You know the law. If you don't find a lady to marry until your birthday come aroun then we, the court, have nothing to do but to give you a suitable maiden to marry, " Sugarboy, a knight and court member, unexpectedly spoke, " It's not that we are taking this so fast Your Highness, but we all know that anytime soon you need to produce a heir to have someone to pass the throne "
The King remained silent throughout the meeting, thinking hard. Sure this time would come around, it is his responsibility after all, but he didn't expect it to be soon, to have the time ticking so fast.
He tried to find a suitable lady to marry, have the court invite every eligible maiden in Edolas, even from other Kingdoms but he just can't find the one. Those ladies truly are beautiful to deny with. Some are just easy to get, swooning over him as if they are selling themselves to him. Battling their eyelashes whenever they see him, flirt not only with him but also with his soldiers—totally not what Mystogan wants.
He wants someone who can stay by his side and help him raise the Kingdom, advise him if he need. Someone who can be his anchor and source of energy. Someone who will wait for him back home from his battles or tiring meetings. Someone who's not after his power and throne, waste his money for dresses and jewelry and for throwing countless gala. Someone who will not get tired of his seriousness. Someone who will appreciate his efforts. Someone who will . . . love him. Yet someone who seem doesn't exist.
" King Mystogan, if you worry about marrying someone who's not rightful for the throne, a lady who will not fulfil her job as the queen and your wife, then do not fret— we will not just throw you someone like that "
" I suggest that we give the King another month of time after his birthday, to have himself an extra time to find a Queen himself, perhaps? A month wouldn't be a big deal " They all turn silent when the doors burst open, revealing a now grown up, Assistant Chief of Staff Coco. She bowed and apologized for her late appearance and sit across Sugarboy.
Hughes, on the other hand, silently agreed with her, in fact he's also worried just like Coco about having their King getting married. They all knew marriage is the last thing their King would ever want, yet here he is, being forced. Nevertheless, he became one of the King's loyal knights and somehow stayed by his side throughout their years— he knew that if he ever marry, it would be someone he love and love him back.
They may be not be related by blood, he may not be a royalty like Mystogan is, but their best friends, and what's best for him is what Hughes want. He don't want his best bud to tie himself in a loveless marriage and live for it for the rest of his life.
" Coco is . . . right, I think we should give the King more time. We can't give the King a lady and announce a wedding if he doesn't feel like marrying her. A man's intuition, I guess? " Earning an agreement with her older companion, Erza Knightwalker, Coco gave her a grateful smile. To be honest, Erza understand what Hughes is feeling right now.
" But what about the girl from Earthland? " Silence erupted by the sudden change of subject. Byro stare at the King who's surprised in the process and wait for his response.
" You mean the girl that defeated you using a whip nine years ago? " Erza snickered at Sugarboy's remark along with a giggle coming from Coco.
Brings back memories, indeed.
" Yes, Indeed " Byro said with a glare.
" You mean Lucy-san. Nevertheless, I see a point " Coco said.
With the reversion from the topic of his Marriage to Lucy, Mystogan blinked and feel uneasy. They can't involve the young girl, can they?
" The girl from the Fairytail of Earthland that fought us years ago? " Erza lean back on her seat and tao her chin, " Your Highness, since you became a part of their guild in your stay at Earthland, mind if you spare us some details about what you know about her? "
Mystogan was taken back and surprised, " Are you proposing her to be my future wife? You can't be serious about it, can you? She's not from this world after all "
Mystogan thought for a moment he considered marrying her, but can she?
" Not without her permission " They all turn at the end of the table and remembered that they have a company of a certain exceed.
" Your Highness, it is your role and responsibility that we are talking about. Marriage is a must and must be done for a King. If that girl, Lucy, is the best choice we have, then talk to her, pursue her. And from what I had heard she's a wizard, a mage from a powerful guild in her world. It is an advantage for Edolas. A true mage with true magic ruling as the queen and wife of a powerful King of Edolas is an advantage to avoid a conflict of wars with other Kingdoms. It also can be a start for new trading and friendships with other Empires "
Now that is has been said, the exceed do have a point. It's been years since Edolas start receiving threats of wars, believing the Kingdom is getting weaker and weaker by the time as magic disappeared in Edolas and the only reason that stops them is the fact that Edolas is in an alliance with Extalia.
" Now King Mystogan, would you mind if you spare some things about Miss Lucy? " Mystogan stiffen, because after all this years, he's still not used being addressed as ' King '. He dropped his name Jellal and permanently changed it to Mystogan. It is the fact that he grew up and became the man he is right now in the name of Mystogan, became a Fairytail mage and was titled as the new ruler of Edolas as Mystogan. He don't want to be a somewhat the other half of Jellal Fernandes, be his counterpart in his own world, he want to be known as being . . . him.
Before anyone can have the chance to continue the meeting, he stand up and walk out of the room without giving another glance.
He hardly believed it, it's happening too fast. He's supposed to live his life to the fullest like a normal man, or continue being a mage at Earthland like he always wanted— but he isn't. He's a committed man, a big responsibility in his hands, a Kingdom to raise and people to take care of. He had this responsibility since the day he became the King. And now, he's obligated to marry.
He don't know what's the right feeling to feel. Marriage cannot be pushed away, he need to do it for Edolas' sake and not for himself. By next month he will not be just a King of Edolas but also a husband.
He can't stand a loveless relationship, he know he don't deserve that. He served Edolas with all his heart, spent his childhood to find a way to stop his Father's greed and reverse the anima, and maybe even just for now, as a reward he can marry someone he love and love him back. No, he shouldn't be thinking about that, he served Edolas with willingness and a true King shouldn't be asking for payment. If there is someone meant for him, then he'll wait.
As he walk down the dark hall of the palace, his start thinking about Lucy. She belong to one of the most wealthiest, prominent, and influenced families in Fiore. She grew up with people around her raised her to be the lady they expect her to be, always told what to do and not, just like the way he used to when he was younger until he left. She's independent and a strong woman, ran away from her home to be the girl she want to be and fulfil her dreams without someone controlling her. After all, she's a powerful mage and a member of the strongest team of Fairytail, the strongest guild in Fiore. She'll make a good queen.
He shook his head and force himself to remove the though of Lucy as his future wife. He continued walking until he reached her room and found the door ajar. He ran inside and found the room empty.
" Geez, where the hell did you go? " He whisper. She don't know the ways in the palace and even if she does because she used to be in here years ago, she wouldn't even remember.
As he try to keep himself from panicking, a worried lady burst in the doors, catching her breath like she's been running, two girls in tow. The lady in her late forties bowed along with her companions when they caught sight of the King. Madame Molly, the head of the servants.
" Where's the girl? " He hurriedly asked.
Molly continue catching her breath and look at the King, " My apology, Sire, but the girl has been missing since noon. We've been searching for the past few hours but we can't find her anywhere in the castle "
Mystogan look up at the clock by the nightstand before returning his gaze at the elder woman, " She's been missing since noon and you didn't tell me? The sun's already setting "
Before Molly can respond, he storm out of the room and start running in the halls. Damn, where did she go?
" Your Highness, why are you running in such a hurry? "
He turn around and saw the Magic Army Division Captains.
Mystogan stopped in his tracks and catch his breath, " Find . . . Lucy, she's missing "
Just as the Captains' face turn pale, they heard loud footsteps approaching them and Coco come in sight with such a worried expression. As soon as Coco reached them, her knees weaken, causing her to fall just in time for Hughes to catch her. If she wasn't worried and afraid, she would have blush due to the contact.
" Your Majesty . . . Princess Lucy-sama is . . . kidnapped by . . . Lamia Scale "
It's Mystogan's turn to pale, he felt his fists clenched against his own and his knuckles turn white. He didn't think twice and ran off.
Erza grit her teeth and breathe heavily, " That Dark Guild never fails to get under our skins "
She ran off and start gathering her weapons, the other Captains did the same before gathering half of their armies. Sugarboy smirk as soon as he mounted his Legion, " C'mon, we don't want the Future Queen waiting at the hands of that Filthy Guild "
" Amazing! We will battle Lamia Scale sooner than expected " Hughes agreed. He felt a tug in his coat and look down, only to find Coco worriedly gazing up at him.
He sigh and pinch the bridge of his nose, " No, no, no, no, Coco. You can't come with us "
The lady groaned take a grip on her hair, " For Merlin's sake Hughes! I'm not a little girl anymore, I want to he— "
Hughes impatiently pat his Legion and fly away, leaving a frustrated Coco throwing dragged behind his back.
" Leave the fight to them, Coco, it isn't safe for you to come " She turn around and find Byro. He stomped his stave against the ground, beckoning her to follow him but this time, she refused. She summon her Legion and mounted it before flying away, ignoring Byro's protests she cursed under her breath.
" I'm not a damsel in distress anymore. I'll prove you Hughes "
Just as she caught sight of the Legion Army landing on the ground, she was left stunned at the large building below.
Lamia Scale
She clenched her fists and stare at the building with such fury and hatred. It was no doubt by the beauty of it's exterior design, the jewels used to build it came from stealing and robbing, ransoms from wealthy families for kidnapping their loved ones.
She land swiftly and ignore the surprised reactions of the Captains, mostly from Hughes. Her eyes widen at the sight before her, realising the answer of why the army didn't make a move to attack the dark guild and retrieve Lucy.
There, Lucy stand with a strong firm hold on her whip, surrounded with six unconscious men and four standing more. She watch with worry as Lucy barely dodge the man that aim to stab her with a knife. She noticed the way she move and realised that her left leg is bleeding.
"Even in her messy state, she's still gorgeous " Snapping back to reality, Mystogan unmounted his Legion and came at Lucy's aid. The army reacted and surround the guild.
Coco was about to unmount her Legion when she heard an earpiercing scream. She watch in terror as someone blasted a black ray of light against Lucy's back.
" It can't be . . . " She whisper.
" Magic wasn't suppose to exist in Edolas anymore " Hughes said.
Author's Note :
There you go. I hope you don't find the chapter boring. Just so you know, English is just only my second language and I apologise if there are any mistakes and grammar errors. I'd like to know your opinions so please leave a comment.