Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail or its characters; that right belongs to Hiro Mashima. Nor do I own the Pradesh boys/family; that right belongs to Desna (who permitted me after asking them) to use them for my story.
Author's Notes: I have finally decided how many chapters this story will have. And I will not state the number here, but this will be shorter for me. So, if you know the regular number of chapters I write, you have a rough guess. Now, on to messing with fictional characters for my own self-gratification.
Vander could not help but stare dumbfounded. What his mother said had physical proof of being held in his father's hands was undeniable. Hell, they all knew this would happen.
"Mom, how is this going to be handled?" Farron asked as his eyes narrowed to dangerous slits.
Silence fell as both his parents looked at Lucy, who had not reacted once to the news that had been delivered. It was eerie how calm she was at the moment.
"Your Majesty, is there a neutral ground where people can congregate safely?"
At Lucy's inquiry, Vander felt his stomach drop to his ass. He did not want her to be seen by the other countries. She was unique and his.
At that thought, Vander felt shocked at how possessive his train of thoughts had suddenly become. Pressing his lips together, he looked at the floor as if contemplating something, which he was.
"Yes, the Holy Church's Main Citadel is in the small country of Kreya(Midi's equivalent)," Queen Garnier replied. It's a true neutral zone. Why do you ask?"
Vander looked up and wanted to shout for them to be quiet or to leave. However, neither choice was an option he could choose since this situation could already become a political war if they tried to hide Lucy from the others.
"Let's give these nosey delegates what they want; however, it will be on ours, or rather my terms."
Closing his eyes as his hands curled into fists, Vander knew there was nothing that could prevent the other countries of Ussirea from meeting with the traveler from another world. It was bound to happen. All in Ussirea knew of the prophecy given by the last saint on their deathbed. All had a stake in this, and a saint didn't belong to any one country, even if they were married into that country's leading family.
Lucy sat on the plush chair, her magic speed reading glasses on, devouring every text, scroll, and tomb about the other countries of this world and the laws of Ussirea.
She made a calculated choice, and Queen Garnier had already told her she'd have to meet the delegate ambassadors or a country's Royal family. As a unique entity from another world, thus could not be hoarded by the Pradesh Royal family of Ciaqearon; otherwise, it'd start a political war, and the Holy Church would have to be involved.
Feeling her lips pull down into a frown, Lucy rubbed at the intricate lace-like patterns on her wrists. In the past few days since making this choice, Lucy had not seen hide nor hair of 'Prince' Vander. Oh, but she had felt his emotions loud and clear, and he wasn't happy about the situation.
Ciaqearon was one of the smaller countries of this world, Ussirea, which mirrored Earthland. A total of 13 Countries and the Holy lands and sanctuary of Kreya(midi) made up this world's main continent. The largest was Debrerune and its Kingdom, which just so happened to overlap with Perigrande.
Sighing, Lucy finished reading the tomb about Noxotia(Erica). Their cultures were similar to Earthland, as was their climate. They were special in how their belief was carried out in worshiping the Gods of this world. One could say they bordered on zealotism.
"Lucy, can I have a moment?"
Blinking and looking at Prince Zen, Lucy nodded and smiled as she put the tomb down.
Zen sat across from her, his body looking like a mountain in the small plush library chair. It was cute and comical, yet the aura that rolled off him kept her from actually smiling.
"I'd like to ask you a favor," he said, his calm gaze seeming to pin her.
Slowly, Lucy nodded her head and rubbed at her wrist again. Lucy didn't miss when Zen's eyes flicked down to her wrist and back to her face.
"Can you talk to Vander? I don't know what your world version is like, but I do know my younger brother. And while he can be confident, he is a horrid flirt and prankster. Overly so at times," Zen said, leaving Lucy feeling perplexed. "Van, our Van, is very sensitive and isn't in a good place right now. The bond, as you can tell, is a two-way street. This situation with you is more than he has ever had to deal with in the emotional department. He is jealous, upset, and sad right now, and you have done nothing but sideline, insult or reject him."
The rush of heat to her face made Lucy feel shame. She let her gaze drop to look at her wrists, which she was once more rubbing. She knew that she was being rebuked by Zen, and rightly so, even if lightly. Zen spoke nothing but the truth.
"Talk with him. Explain yourself, listen, and try to understand him," Zen requested as he stood. In any relationship, no matter the kind, it takes two and a lot of work. He does like you, and if you look, you can see he's made changes to accommodate you."
Unable to say anything, Lucy kept looking at her wrist and nodded, watching Zen leave from the corner of her eye. She was the one at fault and knew it. So, with a sigh, Lucy stood, stretched, and mentally asked Virgo to locate Vander, her impromptu and forced fiancee.
As soon as word spread that in a month, the world traveler would be hosting a meet-and-greet in Kreya at the Holy Citadel, ripples began to spread across Ussirea.
Many wanted to see and talk to this woman, for it had been confirmed that she was a woman. Their interest was, for the most part, pure.
Others wanted to try and secure an alliance for any benefits she could share about herself and her world.
And a few wanted to bind her and make her their property. She was a traveler from another world. Her body was filled with foreign magic. Thus, a resource some felt it prudent to acquire, whether she liked it or not, so they could chain it to their own dwindling magical abilities.
TBC!