Chapter Two
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Levy POV
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After riding for 7 hrs. past towns, we made camp in the forest and while they pitched up tents and they had me and Rhea share a tent.
They would not talk about the state of Captiosus in front of her and just looked sad yet awkward.
Then Rogue and another soldier, Sting, went to get some food while the rest of them got wood/ made a fire, got drinkable water, and guarded me and Rhea.
While Erza got the wood and built the fire, Panther lily, the other soldier, got water and purified it. During this, Gajeel had been watching over her and Rhea.
"Gajeel, what's happened to my kingdom while I was in the tower? I was being kept from it in the tower and I don't wish to be kept from it now," I asked, my voice quivering with nervousness.
"After ya were put in the tower, Jose started to overwork and overtax people in the kingdom. Many of your old people, now are citizens of my kingdom.
During droughts, or if famine, Jose would work people even harder. The ass is slime and would imprison people deemed as traitors in camps where they would not come back.
He built up the army and heck almost went to war with Naurnos because of his reasonings.
Levy, the kingdom is failing as Jose is wasting resources on himself and his commanding officers," Gajeel told me with a mirthless growl. During this, I began to cry and think about how they probably coincide with the beatings and burnings.
As I cry, Gajeel holds me in his arms and then pulled away. He used his hands and wipes away my tear marks on my face.
"How can someone be that cruel?" I ask Gajeel as he looks at me. He is somewhat holding me with one arm around my waist and the other was curling one of my strands of hair into a ringlet.
My palms felt sweaty and my knees weak. He guided me to in front of the fire and had me sit while he held me and gave me his response.
"Jose is a bastard who is used to getting what he wants. He wanted your throne so he put you in the tower. He did not want rebellion so he crushed his people's spirit," Gajeel told me as he sat down next to me.
He continued to look at me until Erza coughed and I notice her and Pantherlily smiling at us. I feel the heat racing through my cheeks as I looked away.
"I'd hate to interrupt this moment but Sting and Rogue saw soldiers on the horizon so we'll need to leave to escape them," Pantherlily spoke in his deep voice. Gajeel nods as he helps me to stand. He lifts me up and carries me to his horse after he hears me yawn.
He places me on the saddle and mounts his horse behind me. Je hands me an apple and lets me eat as we begin to ride again.
I fall asleep to the steady movement of the horse's gallops.
When I awaken, I am in a queen sized bed with clean sheets. An old pink haired woman was placing a damp and cool washcloth on my forehead. I try to rise but I get pushed back by her.
"Your Highness, you need to rest. You have a fever and to make matters worse your left ankle is sprained and you had glass in your feet. You will not be walking for a long time. Is that clear Princess?", The old woman asked me.
"Yes madam", I respond as I try to get myself to sit up. I think and ask,"Can someone move me to a different room, please? It's a bit dreary in here."
The woman replies "So long as you are not up and about it is alright, I will allow visitors, seeing now you are awake." She exits the room.
Suddenly, Gajeel comes in with Rhea, Metalicanna, Wendy, and Grandeeney. I try to bow in some way but Metalicanna doesn't want me to injure myself further.
"Princess Levy, it is wonderful to see you again though not under the present circumstances," Metalicanna told me as he walked forward.
"You've grown into a beautiful young lady, though I wish we could have freed you sooner than now," he added looking guiltily away.
"It wasn't your fault and besides I am free now anyway so no hard feelings. Though it would get out of this room," I tell Metalicanna as I smiled.
"Levy if that's what you wish I can carry you to the dining hall because you need to eat anyway. You weigh almost nothing from being in the tower for so long," Gajeel says as he comes over to my side. He gently lifts me up and carries me to where ever the dining hall is.
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Meanwhile… Jose POV
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"So let me guess, she is in Naurnos right?" I asked Acnologia as his face was very pale.
This means that I'll have to abduct my stepdaughter and keep her in the castle. Only when she will stay on the top floor in the highest tower so that it is nigh impossible for her escape. When she is in there I will torture her myself. She'll regret leaving the tower.
I gather some chloroform on a bouquet of white roses, a sword, walking stick, and I use a potion that my royal sorcerer gave me to transform into a different form so that I won't be recognized.
Soon my little stepdaughter, soon I thought as I left the palace.
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