Princess Lucy had a difficult time sleeping that night. She tossed and turned in her bed and to now avail, she barely got a wink of sleep.
A lot of things have been plaguing her mind of late and while she wasn't the type to get a good night's rest the majority of the time, she still has slept better than last night.
Last night, all she could think about was the dragon king and their encounters. The way he smelt and the way he radiated such warmth from his strong body. The way he laughed had her body tingling in delight, echoes of it running through her brain in the darkness of her chambers. Even in the darkness could Lucy see his dark golden eyes, staring back at her as if she was the most precious treasure in the room.
But his stare did not feel like the others. He did not give her the impression that he wanted to claim her in the ways some of these men drink her figure up.
He was gentle and genuine in the way he spoke with her and fed her.
Even when he knew who she was, he continued to treat her like a friend.
Thankfully, her stomach stopped rumbling and she actually felt satisfied for once when she was in bed. Some nights she would spend the night fighting off the pain of her hunger but this night, it was due to the constant thought of a certain dragon.
She wonders if all dragons were like their king. Caring and understanding.
Natsu most definitely noticed her eating habits but had yet to question them and she was thankful for that. He merely just pushed her to keep eating and then having her promise him that she would eat everything he gave her… she didn't know what she was signing up for.
What was his plan for wanting to feed her like this? Make her unfit for a princess? Maybe plump her up so he could swallow her up or allow his subjects to swallow her up?
Her mind was heavy with a lot of things and as the morning sun rose and brought sunshine into her chambers, Lucy could only feel the weight of her worries bring her down the morning of.
With dark circles under her eyes and body feeling heavier than usual, Lucy was unusually quiet as her maids helped bathe her and get her dressed for the day. They tried to get her to talk but Lucy simply blamed it on her nerves about the dragon's presence and left it at that.
And it wasn't like she was lying entirely. The dragons did make her anxious and feel odd.
Just not every one of them.
Only a single rosy-haired king.
Lucy liked to spend her mornings out in the gardens. She liked to get fresh air and it was good exercise for her to keep up with her shape. And having to be surrounded by beautiful flowers in bloom brought her spirits up as much as they could go.
So every morning, after breakfast and reading over documents that needed attention, princess Lucy liked to walk around the gardens to get much needed sunlight and exercise. Her three main maids would follow her, expressing their own gratitude and gossip for the day as well as keeping a watchful eye out for the princess.
Mrs. Spetto had been with her since she could remember. She was her mother's maid until she had been born which then transferred her over to the princess. She had changed her diapers, fed her, bathed her, and been a second mother to her in everything.
Even now does Mrs. Spetto fussed over the princess as if she was her own daughter and Lucy knew she wouldn't have survived this long if it wasn't for her.
"The flowers are in full bloom this year," Lucy commented as she offered a soft smile towards the rows of florals. "I truly adore the array of colors."
"They truly are beautiful, princess," Coco, one of the younger maids that tended to her, agreed, smiling brightly. "Would you like for us to pick some to have in your room?"
Staring at the dainty flowers Lucy sympathized with the most, she merely nodded her head. "Yes, I would love that."
"Right away, my lady!" Coco cheered happily as the three of them got ready to make a bouquet.
Letting out a soft sigh, Lucy turned her head up to look up at the morning sun. She wore a hat on top of her golden head to protect her from the strong rays of the sun and keep her from getting sunburnt. The hot summer days were approaching a lot quicker with the days hot and nights cool.
Normally she wasn't the type to enjoy the summer heat but this time, Lucy allowed the rays to soak into her skin as she knew this would be the last summer she lives through.
After her wedding in the upcoming fall, she didn't plan on sticking around til the new year. She'll be damned if she allowed someone like duke Porla to use her as his own pawn and plaything. She would much rather plunge a dagger into her heart than so much kiss the greasy old bastard.
But with her deepest secret kept hidden, Lucy just looked like the beautiful princess enjoying the morning sun. With her golden locks shining so brightly and her pale porcelain skin glowing, she looked like an angel.
"Princess!" Mrs. Spetto's voice startled her out of her sunbathing and she turned to see her maid looking over behind her, wide eyes and frame slightly shaky. So were Coco and her other maid, Michelle, who were both frozen with plucked flowers in their palms.
Turning to see what scared her maids so much, Lucy was surprised to see the said dragon king standing by the gazebo, watching them, with dark piercing eyes and aura so strong it could be noticed by miles away.
Once they locked eyes, he started to make his way over to where they were and her maids openly flinched, standing to come closer to the princess to provide protection.
"Good morning, your majesty," Lucy bowed towards the rosy-haired man who was the sole reason for her lack of sleep.
"Good morning, princess," he purred, a grin stretching across his face. "Fancy a walk this morning?"
"I enjoy a morning stroll in the gardens," Lucy nodded as she noticed her maids were keeping their heads down after they greeted the dragon king, avoiding all types of eye contact. "What are you doing out in the gardens so early in the morning?"
"Maybe I also like to enjoy a morning stroll in the garden," he shrugged, eyeing her up and down before his eyes flickered over behind her.
Her cheeks flushed slightly as she gave her maids a look. They gave her a hesitant one back but resumed their task of plucking flowers from the garden, making sure to keep a safe distance from the dragon king as well as keeping a watchful eye on him.
"Princess," Natsu's voice filled her ears, making her turn back and face him. "Would you do the honors and show me around the castle?"
"Your majesty," Mrs. Spetto spoke, making the two royalties turn and look at her older woman. "If you wish for a tour, I could get someone from the palace to take you around. Our princess—"
"I wish for the princess to do so." His eyes narrowed over to her making her flinch before his dark eyes found hers again. "Is that something the princess cannot fulfill?"
"No, no," Lucy spoke up, stepping between Mrs. Spetto and the dragon king. "I would be honored to show you around." Turning to look at her three ladies, she could see the uncertainty cross their features and Lucy could only offer them an encouraging smile. "You three may take your leave once you have finished with the flowers. I would like to arrange them myself so please just keep them in water in my chambers till I return."
"But princess—!"
"I shall be fine," she nodded her head towards a teary eyed Coco before turning back towards the rosy haired king. "Shall we?"
His grin was contagious because Lucy didn't remember the last time she felt like smiling so freely. The way she could see his teeth as his lips stretched made her feel warm for some reason. It was genuine and for someone to grin at her so widely as if she gave them millions of gold coins, she could only find it in herself to return the gesture. Especially since she knew how charming and boyish he truly was without the worries of prying eyes and status rank.
Walking with the king of dragons wasn't as nerve wracking as she thought it would be, especially since he was the main cause for her lack of sleep last night.
Thankfully with the makeup caked on her face, she could cover it so easily so nobody was to comment on her appearance.
"Were you able to eat breakfast?" Natsu asked, bringing her out of her thoughts as she turned to look at his carefree smile. With his hands laced behind his head, Natsu walked as carelessly as any regular person would but as a king and with the presence of the princess, he surely was being rude.
But it felt refreshing to be with someone who didn't quite care about etiquette.
The thought of food made her stomach twist again and she was thankful it didn't rumble embarrassingly like it has the last two times.
"Yes," she said, trying to give him a convincing smile.
The king narrowed his eyes at her, his grin slipping from his lips. "What did you eat?"
Feeling her cheeks flame, Lucy cleared her throat while maintaining a good distance from him. "A lot of things."
"Like?"
"Like.. breakfast items."
"Hmm," he brought his arms down, one curling under his chin while the other crossed across his chest. "Would you enlighten me on some of these.. 'Breakfast items'? I would like to see if they were any different than what we dragons consider breakfast."
Lucy was dumbfounded as she blinked over at the king, seeing the sly smile he had on his face while his dark eyes pinned on her figure.
Turning to head away to hide the blush, Lucy scowled at the bright sun.
"Such as pastries, fruits, and yogurt. Sometimes we like to indulge in things like toast and eggs and maybe even a side of potatoes."
"Ah, I see," he hummed while they continued to walk. "So, is that what you had for breakfast this morning?"
Memories of her looking down at her breakfast spread this morning and just settling for a single strawberry had her mouth salivating and Lucy merely nodded, agreeing with the king.
"Yes. Did you eat as well?" Lucy tried to flip the script, tired of trying to come up with petty lies to ease the king.
"No, not yet," he let out a sigh and it surprised her that the king had yet to eat. "I was hoping I could maybe have breakfast with the princess but to my surprise, you were up and early before I could even suggest the idea."
"Breakfast… with me?" Lucy echoed, a finger pointed in her direction while she blinked stupidly. "Why?"
"Why not?" His grin had returned, sending a rush of warmth down her spine. "You proved to be great company."
The skip of her heart throbbed against her ribcage and Lucy couldn't stop the blush from taking over her body. She had stopped in her tracks, staring at the man who noticed her pause and stopped two steps ahead of her, turning to look back at the baffled princess.
Why did she feel this way? What was with this man who continued to say such things so freely and carelessly that made her feel so warm?
"Your majesty—"
"Natsu." He corrected and she cleared her throat.
"Natsu," she began once again. "I think you may have forgotten that I am already promised to another man. The duke, specifically."
The way his eyebrow raised made her feel even more flustered.
"I don't see what that has to do with anything?" He sounded genuinely confused and she wondered if the customs for dragons were so different he truly did not see a problem in any of this.
Clearing her throat once again, Lucy turned her head away while huffing. "I am unsure what type of etiquette and customs dragons withhold but here in the Heartfillia kingdom, it is improper for an unmarried woman to be alone with a man as it is to freely speak and linger near one. You may be a king but you are in our country and you are speaking to the princess who is already engaged to another man." She looked down at the ground, a frown pulling on her lips at the thought of duke Porla. "Even if you are the king, if anyone were to see us, it would cause an uproar."
"Hmm, is that so?" Natsu hummed to himself again as he started to circle the princess. "So, you're telling me that what we're doing is 'improper'?"
"Yes."
"Even if you are just showing me around and we are speaking like this?"
"Yes."
"Hm," he nodded while he finished circling her to stand right back in front of her. "So, would this be considered an insult to the royal family or for your husband-to-be?"
"Pardon me?" Lucy looked up at him in surprise, eyes widening at his question while he merely had an amused expression on his face.
"I am simply asking because I am truly ignorant to your customs," Natsu snickered, holding his hands up as if he was surrendering. "I just want to know if I am insulting the royal crown by seeking company from the princess or if it is your fiancé that would be insulted."
Lucy blinked stupidly at the king, wondering what type of question he was asking her.
"It is not a direct insult to the royal family but it is indeed shameful. Especially in the eyes of the duke, he would not be happy to know I am with another man."
"So it isn't an insult to the crown if I continue to be around you?"
"Err… no, your majesty."
"Natsu," he corrected once again before he spun on his heel and started to walk away again. "If that is the case," he said before turning over his shoulder to smirk at her. "I think I will continue to see the princess as I please."
Lucy didn't know what to say or do as she stood in the spot, frozen in place. Did she hear that correctly? That the dragon king was just going to keep seeing her as if she didn't just educate him on her kingdom's customs and etiquette? As if the fact that she was an engaged woman didn't make him want to stop coming to her?
And… for what reason?
"Come on, Lucy, I really want to see what else there is before lunch rolls around!" He called out for her, his hands waving widely in the air while she stared at him.
For some unknown reason, Lucy found herself smiling to herself for once as she quickly made her way towards the king, wanting to finish off their tour for his amusement.
—X—
Once their tour was over, Lucy felt a lot lighter. Mentally and physically, she was feeling more than she ever had in the last ten years of her life. Why? She didn't know. It possibly couldn't be because of the dragon king, could it be?
Natsu has proven himself good company as well. Someone who didn't care so much about etiquette and someone who did what he wanted.
But as king, that was pretty normal, but it was nice to know Natsu wasn't like all the other kings she had met. He certainly was nothing like her father, of course.
During the grand tour of her palace, Natsu asked all the right questions and kept her on her toes. In a way, it felt as if he was testing her knowledge of her own kingdom but the look on his face showed genuine respect. He would keep his eyes on her when she spoke and would even ask questions in between to show his involvement.
That was rare when it came to a man, especially since she was a woman.
Even with the status as princess, she knew she would never get the respect she deserved because of her gender.
But Natsu never made it seem that way. Even with his status as king, he made sure to show her that he was listening and engaged with her storytelling. Almost as if he was treating her like she was his equal.
By the time they were done, Natsu had thanked her for a wonderful job done before parting ways with her.
She didn't know why she stood in her spot and watched him leave. She should have left the moment he bid her a farewell but something about wanting to watch him leave had her rooted to her spot. Maybe a part of her didn't want to leave him just yet. Maybe a part of her wanted to be around him.
But with a farewell passed between the two, Lucy had no choice but to come back to her own place and finish up her work.
She had finished up reading the documents for the day and approving certain things for the citizens, scanning through important letters and also going over the peace treaty to see if there were to be anything else added or removed.
The Heartfillia Kingdom had worked so hard to try and get the dragons as allies. Ever since the very first Heartfillia had come into power, the dragons and them have had a mutual standing.
Until Acnologia came around.
The destroyer.
The first human turned dragon with dark magic being the result of his experiments. Nobody knew how he truly did it but he was the first to rein down on the mortals and wreak havoc.
A bloodbath for decades where humans slaughtered dragons and dragons slaughtered all. A fight for survival and humanity.
The Heartfillia's have tried for many, many years to try and get the dragons back on their side but with the humans forever attacking the mythical beasts and only resulting in poaching their kind, there had been a very thick line between them. Where the dragons have remained in their own solace and the humans in there.
And now after nearly four hundred years, the alliance of humans and dragons can once again be found.
If it went accordingly.
Finishing up her work, Lucy let out a sigh as she felt her muscles tense. She shook out her hands, easing the tension she held in her fingers after holding a writing utensil for so long.
The sun was soon to be dipping down and she did not know how long she had been at this but she knew it was well past lunch and now probably going into dinner time.
Not like it mattered to her, Lucy has kept to one meal a day, even if what she consumed wasn't really considered a 'meal' and it has been like that since she could remember.
She would think hunger wouldn't be as painful or the lightheadedness that came with it and while she had been used to staying hungry, it was still hard for her to ignore at times. Especially when food was around.
"Princess," a knock on the door before a maid popped her head in, offering a smile. "You have been requested by the queen."
Nothing more could bring her mood down than the mention of the queen.
But of course being summoned by the queen herself was something she could not deny so Lucy let out a sigh and stood from her chair. The sudden movement made her feel dizzy, stumbling against her desk and chair where her palms slammed down against the wood, creating a loud noise.
"Princess!" The maid exclaimed, rushing in to run to her side. "Are you alright?!"
"Yes," Lucy sighed, hand pressed to her forehead while her other hand steadied her against her desk. "I am fine," she blinked back the white spots she was seeing in her vision. "Just.. tired."
"Princess, you must take care of yourself," the maid said worryingly, holding onto her gently to keep her upright. "You are working yourself too hard. You must take the proper breaks and meals to rejuvenate yourself."
"You are right," Lucy had a bitter smile on her lips. "I shall be more mindful in the future."
After regaining her strength, Lucy pulled herself together to make her way over to the queen's chambers where she knew her step-monster was residing. She wasn't sure what the queen wanted to do with her since she knew nothing of importance was in the air but of course with the dragons around, she knew she might be trying to get more information.
Maybe it was to chastise her for leaving the ball too early yesterday or even about the whispers about her and the dragon.
The gossip had not fallen on deaf ears where everyone was mesmerized by how the dragon king reacted when he had first laid his eyes on the princess. Rumors spread about how they were the perfect couple and how well they suited one another.
But of course rumors will always be rumors since she already had a fiancé and for the dragon king… who knows what his love life was like.
Certainly none of her concern.
Waiting for her entrance to be granted, Lucy walked into the queen's chambers where she could see the queen sitting at her table with a nice spread littered around. Delicious side dishes presented in a beautiful way with lobster, sautéed vegetables, and plenty of bread and rice to go around. The smell was almost heavenly and Lucy had to swallow thickly with how much salvia she was producing.
Bowing to the queen, Lucy showed her respect to her step-mother who merely gave her a pinched smile, teacup lowering onto the table.
"This won't take long," Fairs spoke, dabbing at the corners of her lips with her napkin. "I just wanted to see how the dragons were liking their stay. Have you been able to speak with them at all?"
"Yes, your majesty," Lucy kept her head high, shoulders squared, while trying to keep her eyes from pinning on the delicious spread. "I had the privilege of showing the dragon king around the palace today. It seems as if we are on track and the dragons are not showing any hostility or hesitation in the matter of our peace treaty."
"Good," The queen nodded as she picked up her silverware. "Make sure you are to keep the dragons in good spirits and carry on with the peace treaty. This is important, Lucy."
"Yes, mother."
"And make sure you are still maintaining your figure. Your wedding is a mere four months away," she sang while she cut a slice of her lobster before dunking it into the melted butter. Lucy felt her stomach twist with her hunger, swallowing down her saliva that continued to pool in her mouth while watching her eat the delicious meal. "You know the duke prefers women who are thin. You must think of him as he will be your husband and cater to his every needs and desires."
"Yes, mother."
"And this coming Friday, we shall be hosting a luncheon with the dragons. The king will be in attendance and so will I," she continued to eat at her meal, disregarding the starving princess. "Make sure you dress appropriately and prepare a speech of some sort. The dragons are aware of the reason why they are here but we would like to continue to speak about the peace treaty so it is instilled into their heads."
"Yes, mother."
"You may leave now," Faris waved her hand at the blonde, not even bothering to look back up at her.
Lucy simply curtsied before turning around, leaving the queen's chambers as the scent and sight of food made her nauseated.
Lasting on a single strawberry the entire day really drained someone. She felt faint and lightheaded but she knew deep down she couldn't indulge herself in anything.
In two days she was to be having this luncheon and she had to make sure she could still fit into her dresses. The last time she couldn't fit into a dress was when she was sixteen and she remembered the queen chastising her for her lack of discipline and being such a pig. Screaming at her that she would never be fit to wed if she couldn't even fit into a simple dress.
Even when the maids tried to sneak her something to eat, Lucy had become so traumatized that she refused to eat anything. Afraid someone might go to the queen and tell her that she had been eating behind her back.
And while the compliments were nice, Lucy hated the ones that pertained to her body the most.
Because at the end of the day, this was not a body she was proud of. She could nearly see her ribs on certain days and she bruised so easily due to the lack of nutrition. She was always tired and drained and some days she would faint.
Now, she was a lot better at managing herself but thinking about how much she has even eaten in the last two days made her feel queasy.
Turning the corner, Lucy yelped as she came crashing into something hard and she nearly fell backwards till a hand shot out and grabbed her steady. She felt arms wrapping around her slim figure and pull her into something warm, making her grimace and then look up to see a pair of black golden eyes shining happily down at her.
"Y—your majesty!" Lucy squealed, trying to push herself away from him but his strong hold kept her in place. "Please, you must—"
"I feel like you've gotten thinner since the last time I saw you," a frown immediately adorned his features, his brows furrowing. "How could you be so small?"
"P—pardon me?" Lucy pushed herself arms distance away from the man, very aware of how his hand was still placed on her hip and the other on her shoulder. "Do you know how rude it is to constantly tell a lady about her appearance?"
"I am merely stating an observation." He finally let her go, making the princess stumble back and bring her arms to her chest. "I do apologize if I may have upset you."
Lucy casted her head down, swallowing thickly as she could only stare down at their feet.
So many people have commented on her appearance whether it was negative or positive and what the dragon king was saying wasn't really negative in a sense but it still struck her as hard. He was the only person who has ever spoken about her figure as if it wasn't ideal. Wasn't beautiful. Wasn't something that men preferred but rather something that is more concerning.
"What are you doing, your majesty?"
"I thought we agreed to drop all formalities." The frown on his face hasn't left, his hands planted on his hips.
"All due respect, your highness, but I cannot simply drop all formalities while in the palace." Her eyes darted around to see if there were any lingering knights or maids, hoping to catch them in the act or drink up some tea.
Natsu let out a small huff of annoyance and Lucy continued to avoid his eyes, squirming in her spot.
"How about when it's just us?"
"As you wish," she bowed her head and she missed the way Natsu's face twisted in annoyance before he blew out a raspberry. "Perhaps you are lost?"
"No, I was on my way to the dining room for some supper."
The mention of food made Lucy squirm even more, her dainty hands fisting in her skirt.
"O—Oh… of course, it is dinner time." Lucy said in an awkward manner. "I apologize for running into you. Enjoy your meal." She curtsied towards him before she tried to walk around but as soon as he stepped into her way, she lifted her head to look back up at him.
"Have you eaten yet?" He asked, tilting his head to the side.
Lucy swallowed back her saliva, her head slowly nodding. "Yes."
"What did you eat?"
The princess pressed her lips into a tight line, looking at the king who waited for her response.
What was with this guy and wanting to know if she's eaten or what she's eaten? Why did he care so much? And why did he want to know?
"Steamed lobster with a side of sautéed vegetables and a little bit of rice." She ratted off the first thing that came into her head, remembering the spread from her mother's room. "Now, if you excuse me—"
"Why does it seem like you're in such a rush?"
Feeling her cheeks flush with embarrassment, the princess lowered her head again. "I am not in a rush. I just have a lot to do at the moment."
"Really? Like what?"
Lucy didn't know why she was growing so frustrated being questioned by him. They've only met twice and it wasn't like they were friends. Why did he keep pestering her so much?
"I have a lot to do when it comes to the kingdom. It is my duty to hear out the citizens and nobles with the complaints they may have. I still have a lot of documents to read over and approve as well as the peace treaty we are working on. I may need to revisit it and see what may or may not have to be added or removed."
The way the king hummed and started to nod made her believe he was going to finally let her go but when he looked down at her and smirked, she could only gulp nervously.
"Peace treaty, you say?"
"Yes, your majesty."
"Well, it seems like you have your hands full for the evening. I wanted to see if you would like to join me—"
"Princess Lucy!"
The new voice that echoed down the hall startled the two as Natsu turned to see a tall man standing down the hall. Lucy visibly tensed at the sight of the duke, her hands fisting tighter into her dress where her eyes widened.
Watching her fiancé make his way down towards them, the tall older man peered down at the king and the princess in a way it would be considered hostile.
Until a smile stretched across his dark-stained lips and he bowed towards the dragon king.
"Good evening your majesty, I was not aware my fiancé was speaking with the dragon king."
Natsu merely quirked a brow at him, taking a step back from the princess as the duke came around to stand beside her.
"I am Duke Jose Porla, fiancé of our dear princess Lucy. It is an honor to meet you."
Lucy's spine straightened as she felt him come beside her and place a hand around her waist, holding back the shiver of disgust.
"I apologize if the princess was being out of line or being rude. She is still quite young—"
"She was not being any of those. We were simply exchanging pleasantries." Natsu's voice cut him off from speaking any further, tone stern.
Clearing his throat, Jose's smile became more pinched as he wrapped his arm around her tighter and brought her closer. "Certainly, my lord." He said before he glanced down at the princess who kept her gaze down before looking back up at the king. "Please, excuse us, I was just looking for the princess to have a word with her. I hope you enjoy the rest of your stay and have a great night."
Lucy could feel her figure trembling, wondering what the duke would have to say to her. Certainly he has heard about the rumors that floated around the kingdom? He was there last night to witness the exchange and he would have had to be deaf if he did not hear the whispers.
Without so much of a warning, Jose had spun her and started to pull her down the hall.
Lucy could only stumble beside him, wincing at how hard the duke was holding onto her wrist before turning over her shoulder to glance back at the king one last time.
But the look on his face worried her, seeing such an expression painted on his face being something new to her.
Why did he look so angry?
With the door being slammed open, Jose practically tossed the princess inside before slamming the door shut. Lucy yelped as she nearly fell to the ground, scrambling to stand as her husband-to-be approached her with the look of anger on his long pale face.
"M—my lord—"
"What do you think you're doing?" He snapped, walking right up to her trembling figure. "Must you make a fool out of your husband-to-be?"
Lucy squealed as he reached for her again, grabbing at her thin wrist to yank her forward where she could smell the awful stench of cigarettes pooling from his mouth.
"Do you know what kind of things they are saying about you and the dragon king?"
"M—my lord, they are simply rumors. It is all a misunderstand—"
"Misunderstanding?!" He screamed, making her wince and reel back. "They are saying you and the dragon king are a much better match than I am for you!" The way he tightened his grip on her made her hiss out in pain.
"My lord, it is too tight—!"
"You are my fiancé, you hear?!" He screeched, ignoring her plea. "You are not to be frolicking with any other man! You are promised to me! Duke Porla! Not that filthy savage!"
"Do you have no shame?!" Lucy yanked her arm away from his grasp, feeling all types of anger swell inside of her. "The dragons are not savages! Do not call them that! They are here to seal a peace treaty with us, something the kingdom desperately needs and wants, and you still continue to call them as such?!"
"That is what they are! Thieving, filthy beasts that are no better than savages!" He roared, getting back in her face. "You are to stay away from the dragon king! Do you have no shame?!"
"I cannot accept such a request! I am to build relations with the dragons to ensure this peace treaty will go through without delay!"
Grabbing at the princess by her hair, the duke yanked the shrieking woman close who tried to claw her way out of his hold.
"You are acting like a whore." He spat in her face, the blonde trembling as a dark purple aura started to seep out of his body, a menacing expression on his face. "Stop acting like some attention whore and start acting like the princess you are meant to be," he pushed her towards the ground making Lucy yelp and fall to her knees. "If I continue to hear about how my wife-to-be is fraternizing with those damn savages, I will not be so nice next time. Peace treaty be damned."
Keeping herself on the floor while she quivered and stared down at the ground, Lucy could only feel the hot sting of her tears well in her orbs. She remained quiet and frozen, not wanting this to escalate any further than it should.
And after a moment, she could hear the duke scoff before he spun on his heel and walked away from her.
"Do not take my words lightly, princess, or this will just be the beginning for you."
Lucy allowed the tears to fall as she heard the door slam shut, leaving her alone in her misery and pain. Her salty tears fell to the marble, splattering against the clean floor where she stared at the drips of liquid.
Why was her life like this? Why did she have to be the one to suffer such a tragedy like this one? She did her best in everything and never went against anyone. She made sure to study hard and keep up with her appearances but yet, it was never enough.
Never enough for the queen nor for the king. Never enough for her fiancé who only sees her as some attention whore. Never enough for even herself.
When would that ever be? Will she ever be enough?
Or is this just the life she was given?
—X—
After returning to her chambers for the night, Lucy had refused to see anyone else or do anything else for that matter. She locked herself in her room for the rest of the night, taking her nightly bath and getting dressed for bed as she asked to be left alone.
While the sun had yet to dip down when she had returned to her chambers, the night sky had now replaced the evening skies once she had finished up her bath.
It was a matter of time before the duke lost his cool. He had done this plenty of times before when he felt embarrassed, especially from the princess. Usually when he was drunk he would be a bit rough but never in the sense he would toss her around.
And for someone who was twice her age, she had no chance going against him.
While she was still a princess, he was a man in high power and he still held the power when it came to them.
She was to be his wife and she was just a mere woman with little to no magical abilities. Jose was strong and considered one of the saints of their kingdom, how could she ever go against that?
Her tears had run dry and now feeling like an empty shell, Lucy could only sit on her bed and stare off into the air.
If only someone could save her from this miserable life… would she even accept?
She wasn't even in the mood to read any of her novels as she felt so drained and empty from the long eventful day. All she wanted to do was curl up and go to sleep but it was so hard for her when she could not find any peace.
Looking up from her daze, Lucy blinked into the emptiness of her room when she heard a soft tap. She sat there in silence, trying to see if it was her imagination but when she heard it again, she turned around to see where it was coming from. Once she heard it coming from her balcony, the blonde princess furrowed her brows and stood from her spot, coming towards the French doors that lead out to her balcony.
Peeking through the glass, Lucy was surprised and confused to see pebbles sitting on her balcony and she pushed open the doors, staring down at the many stones.
"Pebbles..?" She murmured to herself, stepping out onto her balcony when suddenly a figure jumped up on her railing and nearly had her screaming.
She slammed her back against the doorframe, clutching her imaginary pearls while staring wide-eyed at the newcomer.
The dashing grin he gave her instantly made her aware of who it was and she was dumbfounded to see the dragon king so casually perched on top of her railing as if she wasn't located on the third floor of the palace.
But she guesses for someone like a dragon, this would not be something too difficult to manage. They did have wings and could soar through the skies as if they weighed nothing.
"Hello, princess," he purred at her, dark eyes piercing right through her.
Lucy merely gulped at the sight of him jumping off her railing to step onto the balcony, the same boyish grin stretched across his face.
"You look beautiful, is that what you wear to sleep?"
Lucy's eyes flickered down to look at her white nightgown before looking back up at the dragon king, cheeks flushing.
"Wh—what are you doing here? This—it's not—you—"
"I came," he took a step towards her, making her take one back but it had her leaning further against the doorframe. "Because I wanted to see how you are."
Lucy blinked at him, eyes still rounded out in surprise, seeing how his features softened and his smile began to drop.
"S—see how I am..?"
"Yes," he now stood in front of her, making her tremble slightly and entire face to flush crimson. "I was worried about you."
"Worried?" She echoed. "Why would you be worried?"
"Lucy," he said, making her straighten up. "Are you truly happy with the duke?"
The question itself caught her off guard and she looked up at him in disbelief, watching his expression that had changed into something so glum rather than the beaming smile he had not that long ago.
The princess could only dip her chin down, frowning herself as she thought about her fiancé and their earlier encounter.
Was she happy with the duke? Not at all. Was she happy at all? Not that either.
But this certainly was not something she could confess to the dragon king. What would he think of her?
"I…" she tried to speak but her voice trailed off, failing her.
Why was this so hard to say?
She could feel the hot sting of tears press against her eyes again and she was sure she had milked herself dry when she had sobbed all on her own. But she was quick to find out that maybe she had not.
Sniffling, Lucy merely lifted her head and gave him the biggest smile she could muster. Even with the tears that betrayed her and fell down her face, Lucy kept her smile while looking at the dragon king himself.
"The duke is… the duke is really good. He'll do the kingdom a great favor."
"That's not what I asked." He growled at her and it was the first time he's ever spoken to her in such a way. "I asked if you were happy with him."
"He truly is a strong mage. He has already brought profits—"
"Lucy." His commanding voice immediately stopped her from speaking, her vision blurry from the tears that continued to stream down her face. She didn't realize how numb she was this entire time until she felt his warm palm press against the side of her face, her eyes widening as she felt it rush down her very figure.
Her heart was pounding against her ribcage as she stared into the dark eyes of the dragon king. All sorts of emotions swirling through her trembling figure—mainly confusion but nonetheless overwhelming.
The way he stared into her very soul had more tears spilling out of her eyes and once the sob broke out from her lips, she couldn't control herself anymore.
She cried and cried, sobs and unintelligible sounds escaping her lips. Her entire body shook, leaving her weak and broken as Natsu brought her into a hug, holding her against his chest where she drenched his shirt.
When was the last time anyone had ever shown her such sympathy and support? Someone who she has only known for two days now has shown her more comfort and love than anyone she has known since birth. The way he held her was healing in a sense that he was incredibly warm and gentle with her. With two strong arms wrapped around her while holding her close, Lucy could only bury her head in his chest while she broke apart.
It took her so long to calm down and she had no idea how long it was but it felt like hours as she clung onto him and cried.
What bursted her dam wasn't Natsu asking if she was happy, it was the fact that his simple touch was all it took for her to feel real warmth again.
When was the last time someone had touched her without any sort of fear or temptation? Someone who truly cared for her?
She had no idea what this feeling was and it scared her.
But what she wasn't afraid of was this supposedly fierce beast that breathes fire and has wings and a tail.
Because he gave her hope.