The next two days, the princess was thrown into a massive amount of paperwork and tasks that she barely had time to breathe. She had to prepare for the luncheon with the dragons and as well as continue her preparations for the peace treaty. With those tasks bestowed on her, Lucy also had her other duties as princess by meeting with her subjects and going through documents to approve or deny.
This left her scrambling and working nonstop, worries of performing well brewing deep inside of her.
Two days ago, she had done something that was considered shameful.
She had confine in another man and showed him how vulnerable she truly was.
What was alarming wasn't the fact that it was another man but the dragon king himself. Someone who is still considered an enemy to the Heartfillia kingdom and someone who could bring the place down in a matter of minutes.
She should have never broken down in front of him like that but for once in her life, Lucy was glad she was able to have someone to listen to her. She hadn't been held like that since her mother had passed and she was held by Mrs. Spetto during the funeral. Now, she rarely had anyone touching her unless it was out of malicious intent.
What was it about the dragon king that warmed her so? She's never had anyone bring her such warmth nor comfort and when it came from a man nonetheless, it was scary.
All the men she has ever encountered were creepy and sleazy where they looked like they wanted to eat her alive. Take her for their own prize and taint her with their nightmarishly desires.
Natsu, on the other hand, looked at her like an equal. Someone who cares for her wellbeing rather than his own.
But why? She didn't even know the dragon king that well for him to be reaching this level of respect for her but then again, he had met her when she wasn't the princess of the Heartfillia kingdom but just some random citizen who spent the night running around with him.
Lucy truly had no idea what to expect nor need.
That night, after she had calmed down and cried herself into exhaustion, she remembered waking up tucked into her bed and nothing out of the ordinary. She thought she dreamt of what had happened when she woke up in a daze but the puffiness in her eyes and the stones that were still littered around her balcony allowed her to realize it really did happen.
Crying took a lot out of someone and for someone as frail and dainty as the princess, Lucy was surprised she didn't crash sooner.
Maybe it was Natsu's warmth and comfort that had pulled her into that state and allowed her to sleep without her usual worries plaguing her.
She wished to thank him for being so kind and understanding but she had yet any time to even breath with the amount of work that was piling. And forget about meals—Lucy had been fasting for nearly forty eight hours at this point and her hunger had turned into pain.
But even as she ate a bowl of fruit, the guilt of eating anything was worse than the pain.
Was this even something worth thanking him for? Or bringing it up? Her embarrassing breakdown where he watched her sob her eyes out and then pass out from pure exhaustion was an accident.
Surely she should at least thank him for his kindness and compassion he has shown her.
Now as the days have gone by and she had been cooped up in her chambers getting her necessary documents ready and her speech settled, it was now time for the princess to get ready for the luncheon.
"Princess," Mrs. Spetto had her attention as Coco and Michelle came inside her chambers. "We have a gift for you."
"If it is from Duke Porla, please, send it back." The blonde sighed as she sat at her vanity, giving her maids a displeased expression.
"No, it is not from the duke," Mrs. Spetto had a knowing smile on her face as Coco rushed over with a large box, coming over to place it down in front of her.
"Not from the duke?" Lucy said curiously as she looked down at the pale blue box with a white ribbon wrapped around it. "Then who is it from?"
"The dragon king." Michelle had a wide grin to her face.
"The… dragon king?" Lucy echoed in disbelief, looking at the three who were all a mixture of excitement and curiosity.
"Open it, princess!" Coco squealed excitedly and Lucy could only raise a suspicious eyebrow before undoing the bow.
Usually all types of people would send her gifts to grace the princess in the finest jewelry and clothes. Sometimes she even got sent things like perfume and flowers but that was before she was engaged to the duke. Now, the only man who ever sends her gifts was her dear fiancé where she always rejected the gesture.
There was absolutely nothing the Duke could buy and send her that she could possibly want. Even if it was something she had her eye on, she would never accept it from him.
Opening the box, Lucy was stunned to see such a beautiful gown neatly folded peering up at her.
It was in the same shade as the box it was in, a pale baby blue that would match her pale complexion perfectly. A color that also happened to be one of her favorites and seeing how the gown was encrusted with tiny sequins and beads that shined in the light, it would make her shimmer just like the very stars above. Made with tulle, the off-the-shoulder backless dress was stunning in the way that it would surely make the princess shine like the star she was.
If only she felt that way, too.
"Wow, princess!" Coco gushed lovingly, her hands pressed together as she beamed at the sight. "The dragon king must think very highly of you to send you a dress like this!"
"And it's perfect for you! Even in your favorite color!" Michelle was in awe of the dress, wide eyes trained on the sparkling gown.
"He truly does have good taste," Mrs. Spetto muttered, a slight smile to her lips while she watched the princess stare at the gown.
Even with all the gifts she had received, she had yet to receive such a gift like this one. It seemed to be something right in her alley with the color and design.
How could he have possibly known she would have liked something like this? They never spoke about such things and it felt quite intimate to receive such a gift from another man when she was promised to another.
Someone she has only known for a week has gifted her something she actually liked and she was stunned.
"I… I cannot accept this," Lucy muttered, unsure how to feel about the sudden gift.
"Why not?!" Coco was the most heartbroken about the gown, the young maid pouting.
"It is too extravagant and I truly am not worthy of such a gift. Please, send it—"
"Nonsense!" Mrs. Spetto was first to exclaim, startling the three young girls. Turning to face the woman who rarely ever raised her voice, she looked all sorts of flustered and upset. "Princess, you mustn't say you are not worthy of such a gift. Only you are worthy of such a gift like this—nobody else in the entire kingdom but you."
Michelle and Coco eagerly nodded their heads, agreeing with the older maid who was giving Lucy a stern motherly glare.
"The dragons may be scary and we truly do not know what their intentions may be for the Heartfillia kingdom but I do know this, princess, and it is that the dragon king is not a man who has any malicious intent. Especially towards you, my lady."
Lucy stared at her head maid in surprise, seeing how passionate she was about telling her about the dragon king that they were just so scared of just days prior. What had happened for them to suddenly change their minds?
Seeing how Mrs. Spetto's facial expression softened and she approached the princess to grab her dainty hands in hers, Lucy could only look at the woman who had been the mother she needed.
"Please, princess, do not return such a gift because you believe you are not worthy of it." She pleaded, looking at her with sad eyes. "The king is fond of you. Take it as a good thing. Maybe this means the peace treaty will surely be signed and the future of this kingdom will be saved!"
Looking back at the gown that laid on top of the box, sparkling like a precious jewel, the princess could only sigh while a certain rosy-haired king popped up into her mind.
"I suppose it would be a waste to return such a beautiful gown…"
Michelle and Coco squealed in delight, jumping up and down in excitement while Mrs. Spetto smiled brightly.
"Shall we put this on you for the luncheon? Or shall we save it for another time?"
"Would it not be too much of a waste to wear this to a luncheon?"
"Absolutely not, princess!" Michelle shrieked, looking at her as if she had just suggested treason. "The dragon king has sent this to you and you are about to go see him! You should wear it to the luncheon so he can see you accepted his gift and how stunning you truly are!"
"But…" Lucy eyed the gown as the words of her fiancé rang in her ear.
He was so angry about rumors, how would he react about her wearing a dress that was gifted to her by the dragon king? He would surely blow another fuse and may toss her around again and scream at her till she was trembling like a leaf once more.
She is an engaged woman so surely this would be too crass of her to wear the gown and openly accept his offer.
And if duke Porla caught word that she was wearing a gown that had been gifted to her by the dragon king himself, he would rain down on her like an insolent child.
"Actually, let us save it for another time." Lucy said, making Coco and Michelle frown, pouting about the decision.
"But princess—" Michelle began to whine and Lucy just shook her head.
"No need to make such a fuss about a gown, it was purely out of respect and consideration because I am the princess and am handling the negotiations. I do not want any unnecessary drama to unfold right now because of a silly gift."
The silence that blanketed them made Lucy uncomfortable but this was the right thing to do. She didn't want to send back the dress but she couldn't wear it either. Maybe she could write a note asking for the kingdom to bury her in this dress since it truly was a sight to behold. She had never seen such a beautiful dress like this before. It almost looked one of a kind and she truly loved it. She was sure she would love it even more on, but for now, she'll have to wait.
"Could this be because of Duke Porla?" Coco asked while she was brushing through her golden locks when Michelle nudged her, giving her a look.
The mention of the duke merely had Lucy frowning, looking down at her lap where her dainty hands laid.
"Truly, I do not know what this kingdom have come to," Mrs. Spetto huffed as she was getting her dress ready while Michelle and Coco helped with hair and makeup. "Marrying the princess off to someone like duke Porla… at least find someone who is not twenty years older!"
Are you truly happy with the duke?
No… but happiness itself was well out of her reach.
—X—
With negotiations approaching in the next three weeks, Lucy's job was to ensure the dragons and the kingdom were in good standing. She had to push and make sure that all of this would go as smoothly as possible, not wanting to start a war or make enemies of fire breathing beasts.
The Heartfillia kingdom needed the support and strength with the recent decline of mages in their kingdom. Even for the princess, who at her age of twenty, should have been harboring great deals of magic, was nearly empty. With the lack of practice and knowledge, Lucy's magical power was almost as if it was sealed up within her, unable to break free from the cage nor figure out its full potential.
With her unable to use magic, duke Porla was their only hope in helping the kingdom thrive and protect the people. That, and the dragons.
The kingdom was going to need as much support and power on their side to ensure they could thrive and if this peace treaty did not go the way she hoped, she could only wish for a quick, painless death when the kingdom burned to the ground.
Styled in a pale pink gown instead of the blue one she was gifted, Lucy sat at the large table where there was so much food, there wasn't a single open spot on the surface. Roasted meats and sautéed vegetables. Three different types of potatoes all prepared for the dragon king. Four different types of breads consisting of rolls, slices, and buns. Little finger sandwiches that were easily one bite. Juice and wine poured into tall glasses. And even fruit was littered around the scene, all sorts of nice meats and cheeses for everyone's taste.
Lucy felt her mouth salivating at the sight in front of her and she could feel her stomach rumbling with protest. She had yet to eat that day or for the other two really for that matter. But today, she did not even eat her usual yogurt or fruit since she did wake later than usual and then had to come here not soon after.
And everything just looked and smelt so heavenly. She was just itching for a bite.
But the dragon king had yet to show and Lucy was beginning to worry as it was now past the time he was to meet them.
She wasn't sure if he had forgotten or just decided to throw away their alliance but she was growing anxious as she sat at the very full table with the queen and king beside her.
The clock ticked obnoxiously loud and there was nothing but awkward silence as Lucy kept her head down and pinned on her hands that were on her lap.
And then finally, the doors had opened and in came the dragon king. He did not even apologize for his lateness as he rounded the table and took a seat right across from the princess and queen, offering a grin their way.
"Thank you for joining us, your majesty."
"Thank you for having me," he looked around at the spread, his smile growing wider. "This is a wonderful spread. It looks very delicious."
"We did not know what kind of allergies you may have so we did a little bit of everything," Queen Fairs offered a smile his way, holding out her hand in front of her. "Please, help yourself to anything and everything."
And with that, they were served their lunches. Lucy watched with a blank face as they began to plate a little bit of everything for everyone and as they placed the full plates in front of everyone, Lucy was well aware of the disapproving look her step-mother was giving her from beside her.
The plate was a lot fuller than she expected and she knew that she would not be able to eat everything given to her. Surely, she could, but she wouldn't. Not with this woman beside her, watching her every move.
Lucy had a hard time even looking up from her plate and there were many reasons for that. One, she didn't want to look at her step-mother because she knew what kind of look she would have and two, she was afraid to look at the dragon king. Because she knew he was looking right at her just by how warm she felt. She could always seem to know when his eyes were on her because it felt almost like her body was set on fire.
She did not know how to act nor what to say at the moment. The entire thing was overwhelming for her as much as the food was, too.
She could hear her father and the dragon king exchanging words and while she could only pick up on one or two things, everything was lost in between.
The food was amazing but it tasted bland in her mouth. Picking at the food and gently bringing small bits to her mouth, anxious nerves racking up her figure.
"Princess," the sound of her title jerked her back from her daze and she lifted her head to see Natsu was addressing her, staring right at her blinking eyes. "Are you unwell?"
"Unwell?" She echoed, darting her eyes to the side to see the king and queen also watching their exchange. "I am quite well, your majesty. Do I seem ill?"
"I am simply asking because it seems as if you do not have an appetite at all. You are very quiet and pick at your plate as if it was a plate of worms."
"Oh, the princess does not eat a lot normally," Faris laughed light heartedly, waving her hand out in front of her. "Do not worry, your majesty, the princess is well."
Lucy stayed silent as she dipped her head down to look at her plate again. There were only little bites out of everything that was on her plate and it looked as if a mouse had come by and stolen from her plate. Her stomach was still empty and she was still hungry but she knew she would not be able to eat too much. Not here.
Even if it was her first meal of the day or real food in the last two, she knew she wouldn't be able to eat too much without this witch beside her.
"Perhaps the food is not to your liking?" The dragon king continued to ask and Lucy merely shook her head.
"No, no, I assure you the spread is quite delicious—"
"You should try some of this," the dragon king pointed to the finger sandwiches that were in front of him. One of the servants was quick to come and grab the tray, approaching the baffled princess immediately. "I had a couple and they were splendid. Compliments to the royal chef." Natsu turned to grin at the king who merely nodded in agreement.
Lucy could only blink in confusion as she stared at the tray that was being held out towards her. Small finger sandwiches, some with cucumbers and cream cheese and some with just meat and cheese. The crust had been sliced off and she could see the beautiful little things begging to be eaten but it made the princess anxious to be presented with such food in front of so many watchful eyes.
"Oh, the princess does not like such foods like that. She does not eat a lot, she is—"
"How about we let the princess decide?"
The room fell deadly silent after the dragon king had spoken, interrupting the queen. Lucy was surprised to see how the dragon king spoke to the queen of her kingdom in such a manner and she looked up to see him looking right at her, expecting an answer from her. Even her own father was looking at her and she felt more nervous than ever.
The peace treaty must mean a lot if even her own father was allowing someone outside of the kingdom walls speak to the queen in that manner. Faris looked taken back by the entire thing and Lucy felt like thanking the dragon king for finally putting her in her place.
Slowly reaching for one, Lucy could only offer a small smile towards the king. "T—thank you, I shall try one if you insist that they are that good."
"They truly are. I would like to know what your thoughts are."
Looking down at the daunting sandwich, Lucy swallowed thickly.
Why was he being like this in front of everyone? Especially the king and queen? Does he not see how rude he is being?
Not wanting to seem rude herself, Lucy brought the sandwich to her lips where her hands trembled slightly. Once it touched her lips, Lucy took a small nibble.
"Surely you could not know what it tastes with such a small bite like that one?" His voice sounded amused, almost as if he wanted to laugh.
Letting out a small huff, Lucy put the sandwich to her mouth to take a bigger bite where the flavors of the cucumbers, dill, and cream cheese mixed so beautifully in her mouth.
She was almost starstruck with how the flavors came together, bursting in her mouth in a flavor explosion that almost had her tearing up.
She looked down at the half-eaten sandwich in awe, her eyebrows shooting up to her hairline while she chewed.
"It is amazing, your highness. Thank you for the suggestion."
"As I thought, the princess does have good taste!"
The burning gaze from her step-mother was prominent but she could only see the rosy-haired king who was grinning at her so warmly, a small smile began to spread across her own lips.
The rest of the lunch went well with Lucy continuing to pick at her plate and get her fill. With the amount she ate, her stomach was so small, even if she wanted, it would take her a while to get used to such large portions in her eyes.
"Have you been enjoying your stay in the palace, your highness?" Faris asked as their meals were taken and were swapped for tea.
"Ah, yes," Natsu said as he sipped his tea, not caring to be cautious about the steaming liquid. "The Heartfillia kingdom is indeed a beautiful place full of beautiful things and beautiful people." His eyes wandered over to look at the princess who merely dipped her head down to hide her blush.
"That is nice to hear, thank you for your kind compliment."
"As you can see, the Heartfillia kingdom is full of surprises and we truly are on the path to rebuilding our kingdom." Jude spoke, bringing the attention to him. "With the alliance of the dragons, all this would be available for you as well. I believe our union, the peace treaty, would be pliable. We would be honored to have you on our side." He placed a hand over his chest, showing his sincerity towards the king who stayed quiet while listening in.
"Yes, indeed."
"And to show you our gratitude and show you how much we want this alliance, we will be throwing another banquet tomorrow night to introduce you to some of our best nobles who help run this kingdom. I assure you there may be some mages who may interest you, dragon king." Jude had a wide smile to his face but Lucy could easily tell how tense her father was.
It was not easy being mortal in front of a fierce dragon who can live centuries. A fire breathing beast that could easily assassinate the Heartfillia king and kingdom in a blink of an eye.
This was a worry everyone in the Heartfillia kingdom had, even with the amount of mages and saints they have surrounding them, they all knew they would not be able to match the strength of such beasts. Especially the king of all dragons.
Lucy often wondered to herself how this seemingly young king had become the king of all dragons. She remembered the last she had read about the dragon kingdom when she was a little girl. They were being ruled by a fierce dragon named Igneel. He had been on the throne for over three hundred years and since they were not in alliance to her kingdom, they never got word about the previous king passing.
That is, if the previous dragon king ever passed. It was likely the next of kin would have been pushed into the throne if the king wasn't able to and Lucy wondered to herself as she watched the dragon king speak with her father if his father was still around.
And what kind of king he was.
The luncheon was over before she knew it. A successful lunch that had no bad blood was a check in her books. Especially since her step-mother was there to monitor the entire thing yet she did not say a single negative thing towards her. Maybe it was because the dragon king was making her uncomfortable by speaking over her and brushing her off as if she was some kind of pest.
The mere thought of it had Lucy smiling and for once, she felt full and content.
Ever since the dragon king had come to their kingdom, Lucy was finding herself smiling and eating a lot more. She had no idea what type of magical charm Natsu had but it was indeed strong.
Strong enough that it even had her swayed but it surely was not only because of him, right? She did not know the king nor did he know her well enough to be spending time like this but the king certainly did not care as he always continued to weasle himself into her schedule.
"Princess!"
Turning in her spot, Lucy was surprised to see the said dragon king calling out to her and rushing down the hall to reach her. He looked hilarious running towards her, his long legs stretching across the floor as he reached her. His signature grin was plastered on his face and Lucy found herself flushing at the close proximity.
"Are you busy?"
"I was actually going to head to the gardens to grab some air before I plan for the banquet tomorrow evening."
"Excellent! I shall join you." He stuck his arm out for her to hold and she blinked at the gesture before looking up at his toothy grin. "Well? What are you waiting for?"
"Ah!" Lucy quickly recovered and grabbed his arm, dipping her chin down in embarrassment. "My apologies, your majesty, I was just a bit taken back."
"Why is that?"
Placing a hand on her cheek, Lucy merely twisted her head to the side to hide her blush from the king.
"I just did not think you would want to accompany me to the garden. Seems rather boring for the dragon king, don't you agree?"
The laugh he produced shook her to her core and she didn't know why she felt so warm but this was becoming something common when it came to him.
"Dragons love the outdoors, princess," he purred, chuckling at her bashful expression. "Especially places that have the most beautiful flowers. I also enjoy a stroll in the gardens from time to time."
The blush would not go down no matter what the princess did. She didn't know why she felt so shy and flustered around the king and she wondered if she looked so obvious to his charms. Her entire body felt too warm.
"I do not think we should be spending so much time together," Lucy murmured lowly as they passed a group of royal knights. They bowed towards the two before they walked away, leaving the couple to their sneaky adventure.
"Why is that?"
"My fiancé will not be happy," she said, keeping her eyes peeled for anyone that could even remotely resemble him. "He was not happy last time."
"And you care if he is happy or not?"
Lucy opened her mouth to speak but decided against it when she remembered what happened last time. She could still hear his voice ringing in her ear calling her a whore and his threat as he tossed her to the ground. It sent a shiver down her spine and Lucy bit down on her bottom lip, dipping her chin down once more.
"I…"
"Is this why you did not wear my gift today?"
Lucy was taken back by his question as the two now reached the royal gardens, the array of colorful florals and all sorts of insects flying around to steal pollen of their own. The summer breeze blew between them, sending their clothing flapping in the air and their hair to swing carelessly. Lucy tucked back her hair behind her ear, squinting at the man in front of her with the bright afternoon sun beating down on them.
"Your majesty—"
"Natsu," he corrected her again and Lucy pressed her lips into a tight line, her eyes looking for a soul around before she looked back at him.
"Natsu," she spoke again, softly. "I want to thank you for the beautiful gift you sent me this morning but I cannot accept such an extravagant gift from you. I do not deserve—"
"Who said you do not deserve such a gift?" He cut her off and Lucy was beginning to realize that this man did this to everyone and not just those she disliked. "Is it not to your liking?"
"No, your majes—!" Lucy cried out but when she saw the look he gave her she reeled back and cleared her throat, her cheeks flushing crimson once more. " Natsu," she corrected herself before continuing. "I—I just think the dress is a lot for someone like me. I do not even leave the kingdom often and a dress like that is a lot for a princess who just stays in, don't you agree?"
Natsu hummed, crossing his arms across his chest. "No, I do not agree," he said, which made Lucy look at him in surprise. "I thought the dress would suit the princess beautifully and I was hoping you would wear it to today's luncheon. Not to say the pink gown you have on now doesn't look stunning on you, princess, but I would have loved to see you in that beautiful blue gown."
"B—but… why the sudden gift?"
"I just thought the princess needed something to lift her spirits up and nothing like a gift couldn't help." He flashed her another grin and Lucy was baffled, blinking stupidly at the dragon. "And who cares if you don't ever leave the palace walls or have 'nowhere to wear it to'." He curled his fingers around the word. "Wear it just simply because you can and want to. There are no rules to what you can wear and where you have to wear it."
Lucy didn't know how to respond to him. This man had shown her too much kindness and Lucy has never experienced such a thing from another. Sure she could reject the gift if she wanted to but it would be considered rude and she was definitely not trying to get on the dragon's bad side.
But how could she accept such a gift from him? Duke Porla would surely blow a fuse if he were to ever find out where she got such a gown from.
"M—must I remind you that I am spoken for?"
"You remind me every single time we meet, princess, how could I forget?" He gave her a slight smile, tilting his head to the side. "Surely the princess receives all types of extravagant gifts, especially from the duke himself, so what is the issue with mine?"
"It's…" Lucy bit down on her tongue, unsure if she should even tell him such trivial things as gossip.
Surely he had to hear the whispers from the others during the welcome ball so why wasn't he more aware of the situation?
"Does the duke not fancy me?" The dragon king smirked, his hands planted on his hips while a look of amusement arose.
Lucy was taken back by his question, her hand flying to her chest to clutch her imaginary pearls.
The dragons seem to have a keen eye for things and there was no use lying to the king if he already knew it pertained to her fiancé.
"I—it is not that," she averted her gaze to the ground so she didn't have to look at him while lying. "Have you not heard the rumors?"
"Rumors?" He echoed, his eyebrows knitted together. "You mean the useless tongue wagging your kingdom likes to partake in?"
Lucy felt like crawling into a hole and hiding in there forever by the embarrassment that swallowed her whole. The tips of her ears burned and she hung her head in part shame, chewing on her bottom lip.
"Honestly, I do not care for such things. Dragons are simply creatures who say exactly what they want and think. No need to go around speaking nonsense," he waved his hand in the air, uninterested. "I do not see why you humans are so secretive and do not speak what is on your mind. Wouldn't life be easier if you got to say the things you want to say and do the things you want?"
The princess felt lightheaded with the words the king spoke, piercing through her like an arrow. He was one hundred percent right. Life would be much easier and the life of a dragon doesn't seem so stuff like hers. She did not remember the last time she could utter words that would not get her reprimanded or could be considered an act of treason.
"Anyway," the king blew raspberries, dropping his arms from his hips. "If the duke has an issue with my gift, he can come address me but for now, I would like for you to hold onto it till you see fit."
Lucy just simply nodded, not wanting to further this conversation into deeper waters.
The king was right, if the duke did not like the gift she received from him then he can be the one to tell the king. She was just going to have to try and keep it from reaching his ears or so heaven help her for the amount of pain he will reign down on her.
"Maybe you can wear it tomorrow evening!" He suddenly snapped his fingers, beaming in her direction. "And see? Here you were saying you have nowhere to wear such a gown. You should wear it tomorrow."
"A—at the banquet with all the nobles?" Lucy had a look of fear flash across her face. "A—absolutely not!"
"Why not?" Natsu tilted his head to the side, frowning slightly. "It is going to be a party so you will need a dress… save the troubles and wear that one."
"Must I remind you that this is a banquet with all the other nobles so you can meet them?"
"Uh… and?" He looked even more confused while he scratched the side of his face. "Is that not allowed?"
Lucy felt frustrated at this brazen king who knew nothing about customs and etiquette. He might as well stamp his name on her forehead and get her to be thrown into the dungeon for the way or have the duke kill her right there.
"It is a gift given by the dragon king and must I remind you that my fiancé, Duke Porla, will be in attendance? He will surely blow a fuse once he sees such a gown on me!"
"How will he even know?"
"How—?!" Lucy caught herself, reeling back from her explosive exclamation. "How will he..?" Lucy did not even think to herself that the duke won't have any knowledge if she never uttered such words to him. He could simply believe it was just a gown that was made for her for this specific night. It looked like something from the Heartfillia kingdom with the pastel blue and sequins that shined like stars.
"See? You people freak out too much over the smallest things," the dragon king scoffed as he crossed his arms. "I have decided for you, princess, that you will wear the gown I gifted you tomorrow night and you will not utter to another soul that it was a gift from yours truly."
"What?" Lucy gaped at him. "How could I not tell the others that this was just a dress I had made? They must know how generous the dragon king is to gift such a thing to me!"
"Nah," he waved her off casually, throwing his arms up to hold up against his head. "I would rather not."
"But.. why?"
"Because," he shrugged his shoulders, turning on his spot where his back now faced the princess. Lucy stared at his backside, confusion coursing through her as he finally looked over his shoulder to flash her a toothy grin. "I'd rather keep it between us. Consider this our little secret. Could you do that for me, princess? Keep a secret?"
The dragon king was full of many surprises and Lucy shouldn't be so taken back by his behavior or his actions but she had never met anyone like him. Never in her twenty years of life has she met a man as careless and brazen as him. Someone who does what they want and does not care about what the other has to say or feel. Someone who did things simply out of the kindness of their heart and someone who continued to show her the good in the bad.
Lucy still couldn't tell if it was a good or bad thing that she was encountering such a man like this beast.
But it was fine because it's not like they'd ever have to cross paths again once this treaty were to be signed and he returned back to his kingdom.
And then, she would truly wither away like the plucked flower she was.