It had been a little over a week and Lucy was starting to get used to her routine. Granted, she did nothing but walk back and forth and see Levy the majority of the time or spent time with princess Wendy, Lucy was pretty happy with how her life was starting to go. It always ended with Natsu and started with him, the two of them barely spending any time apart unless he had work to do during the day while Lucy was kept occupied. Usually she spent it in the library with Levy, learning more about her heritage and chatting idly about random things.
Sometimes Happy would even join and while Lucy refused to go around the Dragon Kingdom on her own, Natsu had said he would take her around when he had a bit more time. He was just a bit busy during the days for now but he promised once he had an opening he would gladly take her around.
What Natsu did during the day was a mystery to her but Lucy tried not to be so involved in his affairs. She was just some princess from another kingdom and seeing how Natsu worked so hard to get her here, she wanted him to have some time to breathe and figure things out so she didn't have to.
Not like he wouldn't inform her on anything she wanted to know, especially since whenever she asked him for something, he made her ask her with her head held high. She was starting to get used to it and being in Natsu's presence made her feel powerful in a way. He always uplifted her and encouraged her to speak up.
In the last week, that's what she felt like she was practicing. Speaking her demands without a wobbly voice and with her head held high. She felt like sometimes Natsu was berating her because even at the stupidest times he would make her do it with her head held high. Like asking for the blankets or for a refill of her tea or even deciding on what to wear.
It was more embarrassing than anything and at times while she would pout and scowl at him with a red face, it was all worth it in the end when Natsu would just grin at her and reward her with a kiss.
They have yet to be intimate once again and while they spend every night together locked up in her chambers, it was always clothed. He wouldn't dare go any farther with her than kissing her so hotly she would surely melt in his arms.
And she was too afraid to ask why.
Lucy was never the one to beg for attention or even ask for things even if it was on her behalf and knowing how Natsu was, she felt like he was waiting for her. How could she ever come forward and ask the dragon king to bed her? Some nights, he would even run a teasing hand or finger against her back and skin and force goosebumps to prick on her skin till she was squirming. Some days, she would feel his hot breath against her skin and feel the hardness of his body mold against her own.
She particularly really enjoyed when he would hold her at night, running his hand through her hair and kissing her so tenderly that she would believe she was floating in the skies.
But he had yet to move forward with her.
It drove her crazy some days, especially when she would feel his member poke at her during the night or even early mornings. Some days, he would even grind against her in his sleep and she felt like he wanted it as much as she did.
So why did he not touch her?
It had been a long week since he had taken her and while there was no change nor word from her kingdom regarding her disappearance, Lucy tried to forge ignorance to stay in her little bubble of bliss.
She'd rather ignore and not hear about what was happening than be stuck in a turmoil of stress and anxiety. She felt like she already was stuck in that moment where she was choosing to ignore it by seeing Levy, reading books, and keeping her distracted.
Natsu told her if he knew anything else he would notify her anyways so she wasn't kept in the dark so why bother stressing herself into depression about something she had no control over?
For once, she felt like she didn't have to force herself to put out any fires and she completely left it in the hands of her very capable savior.
She was even starting to gain a bit of weight, especially since Natsu would always keep her well fed and stuffed. Every meal for the last week had been extravagant and she didn't know if it was just how the dragons ate or if Natsu purposely did this but she was so incredibly full and stuffed during the days.
She noticed almost immediately once she began to gain weight and seeing how it started with her face, Lucy didn't know if she was glad or upset that she was growing in size. Her cheeks weren't hallowed out anymore as if she was some skeleton. Her ribs began to disappear behind the safety of her skin and fat and even her waist was beginning to even out.
Though it was only a couple of pounds, it made such a difference that her clothes began to actually fit around her now. No more of the loose ends of her dress on her waist and shoulders.
She was starting to look like the princess back at the Heartfillia Kingdom with her weight gradually increasing but at the same time, she looked nothing like her.
This princess that resided in the Dragon Kingdom was much happier, much brighter, and so much prettier than the one that was trapped in the Heartfillia kingdom.
This princess was nearly glowing with skin so soft and smooth she looked like a porcelain doll. Her hair that began to stop being so bridle started to grow thicker and shiny. Even her smiles were starting to reach her eyes and she even noticed it when she was standing in front of a mirror.
Is this what love did to someone? Is this what it is like to finally feel safe and content with one's life?
It was scary to think it only took one week of love and attention to bring her to this level.
Granted, being held by the dragon king every night and waking up to him tangled up with her own limbs, the princess could say she had never been happier than ever.
Even though she was growing very sexually frustrated.
Who did she think she was? Someone who had never even kissed another man or been intimate was starting to crave something she should not even be allowed. Craving a desire that only one man could fulfill and while she was feeling the effects of being around Natsu, she was starting to wonder, maybe it wasn't her body he didn't like … maybe it was her.
Lucy stirred as she felt a slight nudge on her arm, shaking her awake from her slumber. She heard a faint voice mumble into her ear but she was still weighed down by her sleep and she mumbled something back in response. The nudge became more persistent and she popped open her eyes, seeing nothing but a blur and shadows swirling in her fuzzy vision.
"Lucy."
She hummed in response, blinking back her sleep and daze, twisting her head to the sound of voice. "Yeah?"
"Wake up," his soft chuckle was caressing her in a way she wanted to just lean in and drown in it. "Come on, get up."
"Up?" She repeated, sitting up in her bed while bringing one fist to rub at her eye.
"Yes, we're going out so I need you to get up and get dressed."
"Out?" She was now more awake and she sat up straight, blinking owlishly at his dark figure in the dark bedroom.
"Come on," she felt his hand grab at her wrist and his hand slid down to tug her hand outwards. She allowed him to pull her out of bed and she was disoriented, pressed against his hard chest. "Put this on." He was grabbing at something to the side before she heard a rustle of fabric and she felt something drape across her shoulders.
The soft click of the clasp around her neck made her realize he had put a cloak on her and he adjusted the material to sit comfortably.
Having her eyes now adjusted to the darkness, she began to see Natsu's features and noticed how he was dressed similarly.
"Where are we going?"
"Out." Was all he said and Lucy felt like that was all he was going to give her so she accepted his answer and waited for further instructions.
Natsu bent down and her eyes followed, seeing him crouched down in front of her and pulling something from the side of the bed.
"Sandals. Hold your foot out."
She did as he asked and watched him put shoes on her dainty bare feet before he was standing and towering over her now. He flashed her a lopsided grin before reaching for her hand and practically dragging her out the room and down the halls. He held a finger to his lips and shushed her, flashing her a smile and a wink as he whisked her down the empty halls. She could tell that it was late and in the middle of the night with how the large windows casted dark shadows when before they were a flickering red glow.
She didn't know what was going on but somehow felt a bit giddy, almost as if she was doing something she wasn't supposed to be doing. Especially because Natsu was rushing her from wall to wall, shushing and tiptoeing as if he wasn't the king of the palace and someone would see him and chastise him for being up past his bedtime.
But nonetheless, she felt a thrill as she stifled giggles behind her palm and followed Natsu out the palace, running behind him as he tugged her along.
"Where are we going?" She asked while they were now out the palace but now approaching a large set of black obsidian gates, surrounded by flames and molten lava. Surprisingly, it didn't feel as if she was standing right next to boiling magma and walking inside a literal volcano. Was this all an illusion as well?
"I told you, out."
"But where is 'out'?" She questioned and Natsu merely flashed her a boyish grin as they continued to walk.
They came right to the front gates of the entrance and they only lingered for a second before the doors began to open. Massive doors creaked as they cracked open and Natsu came right towards the opening, tossing his head over his shoulder with a grin. "Come on, Luce. Keep up!"
She hurried behind him, slipping through the crack and forcing her way out the palace gates. Her breath was taken from her the instant her eyes came upon the sight in front of her. With trees on either side of the road, right down the path she could see a small opening with a bright glow flickering behind the thick trees. She could hear the soft music and laughter tinkling in the air and she was surprised at how bright and lively it looked.
She was more surprised at the vast sight of the sky, millions of tiny orbs twinkling above her like a timeless painting. She wished she could have an artist paint her such a sight, seeing the contrast of the obsidian that decorated the land to the glow of the flames right below the dark, twinkling skies.
She knew it was the middle of the night and people should be asleep right now but she had never experienced anything else besides her own kingdom so she truly did not think too odd of it. She was more intrigued at the fact that she felt somewhat relieved.
Seeing the bright stars that twinkle just like she always remembered them to, she felt a sense of warmth wash over her.
She didn't realize how much she had missed and needed the stars as much as she did till now. Her and her ancestors are a part of the stars so it was natural for her to feel such a strong connection towards them but realizing she may have not seen stars or been in actual starlight for nearly two weeks, she suddenly felt a lot lighter and calmer. Relieved.
She let out a breath of air, feeling her shoulders sag and her body warm in ways she was familiar with. She tipped her head up and felt the light shining down on her pale body, absorbing and basking in the sight.
She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply, allowing the smell of smoke, ash, fresh trees and air to fill her lungs. When she exhaled, she slowly opened her eyes to see Natsu standing in front of her, offering a smile where her own lips began to mirror his.
Her cheeks warmed at his gaze. "Apologies, I haven't seen or been in starlight in a while."
"No need to apologize, princess, I completely understand." He shook his head while his own fingers gave hers a soft squeeze. "Why do you think I dragged you out here?"
The princess looked surprised, turning her eyes on his when all he did was grin at her.
"You.. did this for me?"
"Of course," he snorted as if it was the most obvious thing. "And we also have a festival taking place tonight so I wanted to bring you to it."
"A festival?" Her eyes lit up at the sound and she looked behind his shoulder to stare at the golden glow. "Is that what that is?"
"Yep," he nodded, turning over his shoulder to peek at the sight before turning his head back to face her. He pulled her hood up, shielding her face from the world while he did the same for himself. "The citizens like to host one every last day of the month to celebrate. To my understanding, it is just another party since they like to indulge themselves but who am I to tell them no?" He waved his hand in the air as Lucy gave him a little smile.
"I don't know, their king?"
The wolfish grin he gave her merely made her giggle and he was tugging her down the cobblestone, bringing her closer towards the liveliness.
Lucy just merely took in her surroundings, her head turning in massive circles. She took in the massive oaks trees that surrounded them with thick branches and leaves that were beginning to fall ever so slowly. The stars were bright and twinkling in the clear dark skies but they were nothing compared to what they looked like in her own kingdom. With almost no light pollution, she was able to map out every single constellation and plants back at home. She spent a lot of time staring out into the skies and making wishes.
The stars in the Dragon kingdom would most definitely rival the ones she sees back at her own kingdom. With the Dragon Kingdom being tucked away surrounded by wildlife and a volcano, the dragons didn't need much light to provide them whenever it got dark out. Which helped with the light pollution in the area, providing her a clear sight of the very precious stars.
The laughter and music began to grow louder the closer they came and calming warmth which she knew had to come from the fire that was lit up in every single direction.
When they came through the opening between the trees, the princess' eyes widened in awe. Groups of citizens lingered around, children running on the streets playing with toys and laughter filling the space. Tents that were pitched up with tables scattered around showed the merchandise the people were trying to sell or showcase. The delicious smell of meat grilling filled the air along with the upbeat music, Lucy almost felt a wave of nostalgia crash into her.
Banners and Chinese lanterns hung above them all, balloons and streamers being used as decoration. A massive fire breathing dragon was on one of the banners, with a large golden crown on top of its head indicating it was a symbol of the royal family.
"Wow," the princess let out a breath, staring at the sight in front of her with wide eyes. "This is…"
"Not as grand as the ones from the Heartfillia kingdom but since it is an end of the month celebration and is held every month, it's not supposed to be so big."
"No, it's magnificent, my lord. It looks so… cozy and a lot of fun."
"It is, they have a bunch of stuff here! Come on!" He tugged at her arm, flashing her yet another wide grin.
Lucy couldn't help but smile back, following him further into the festival where they got lost in the crowd. It was a lot and pretty overstimulating considering this was her first time out of the palace walls since she arrived but nonetheless it was magical. She could feel the love and warmth in the air where the citizens laughed and danced.
Tucked away into their cloaks, Lucy liked the animosity it gave her and Natsu. This way, nobody would try to bother them while they were on their little excursion. Now, it was only him and her and no king or princess. No titles, no obligations, no responsibilities.
Natsu was quick to drag her to the stands, showing her the merchandise the merchants were showcasing. There were so many beautiful jewelry that were made and laid out along with cute adorable knick knacks. Handkerchiefs, dolls, and even clothing were sold at the stands. All sorts of treats like candy and sugared fruit were on display.
There were even stands like face painting and artists who used their magic to manipulate them into beautiful pieces or perform for those who lingered around.
The two spent the night running from stand to stand and the longer they stayed, the bigger the smile on her face grew. She was laughing and smiling with the dragon king as he showed her this and showed her that, pulling her from one place to another. His hand had never left hers, holding on tight and giving her the reassurance that he was still there.
"Look, Lucy! Meat sticks!" His eyes were bright with glee, his lips spread into a wide grin while one hand was extended out to point to the stand. "We have to get some!" Lucy couldn't help but laugh as he practically dragged her over.
The delicious smell of the kabobs grilling made her stomach rumble and her mouth watered at the sight of them looking so delicious.
"Two meat sticks, please." The king held out two fingers at the merchant who nodded before getting to work.
As two meat sticks wrapped in tissue were handed over in exchange for silver coins, Natsu held out one of them to the princess who was beaming with joy. She happily took it to immediately nibble on the charred flesh, the flavors bursting in her mouth with familiarity that made her eyes feel hot and watery.
"This is delicious."
"If only we had some sweet fresh dango to go with it." He was already done with his as he ripped the last meat off before tossing the stick into a nearby trash.
Memories of trying to eat the dango with the dragon king flooded her mind and she felt her cheeks warm. It felt like that moment happened so long ago when in reality it was only a couple months ago. How could her life change so drastically in such a short amount of time? If someone told her in the beginning of the year that she would be living her life like this in the future, she would have probably laughed for the very first time in a long time.
It was almost comical how she had ended up like this. Stolen from the dragon king and now living at the Dragon Kingdom eating meat sticks and playing dress up… what had her life become?
After finishing off her meat stick, Natsu continued to take her around the festival. They danced, they ate, they laughed, and even humored the idea of getting a face painting. By the end of their conversation, they had given in and sat in the seats while an artist came to paint their faces.
The fellow dragon manipulated all sorts of objects to caress their faces with soft brushes slathered in colored paint. It tickled and made the princess giggle while Natsu gave her a warm smile.
At the end of it, Natsu came out with a face painted of his beloved exceed, bright blue paint smeared across his face with whiskers streaked across his cheek. Lucy asked for something with stars and got an intricate design of dark blue, white, and glitter surrounding her eyes and cheeks, making her look as if she wore some kind of mask.
Lucy couldn't stop laughing at the dragon king, saying how he looked almost identical to the feline while Natsu was fuming about being laughed at. It didn't last long when he chased after her, tickling her waist and hips as punishment which only made her squeal and laugh even louder.
The two ran around the festival like they were children, giggling and dancing, laughing and eating. Lucy didn't even know how long the two were there or what it was but she was happy to be there regardless. Time always flew by whenever she spent time with the dragon king and she was immensely grateful he had woken her up and dragged her out here in the middle of the night.
Natsu did have a kingdom to run so he wasn't always available to be with her and she surely wasn't expecting him to drop everything to entertain his guest. So it was nice to spend some time with him in such a carefree manner.
"I had so much fun," Lucy said with wide sparkling eyes and a wide smile to her face. Her face paint was a bit smudged from the time she spent there and she could see Natsu's art had smudged, too, soft blue paint knocking at their clothes and limbs as he brushed against it often.
"I am so glad you did," Natsu gave her hand an affectionate squeeze, giving her a soft smile. "I apologize for being so busy and not being able to spend time with you, princess. I know how lonely and bored you must be."
"Oh, no, I am fine!" She waved her hand out in front of her. "I am truly blessed at the moment and I do not have a single thing to complain about. I spend my time with Levy or Wendy and I have been learning a lot so time does fly when I am here."
"I am glad to hear," his voice was a soft hush in the dark night and Lucy hummed in response, basking in the moment. "I think it is good for you, too. The starlight most definitely helped, too, because you are glowing, my star."
Her cheeks warmed at his words making her dip her chin down in embarrassment. She knew from what Natsu and Levy had told her that starlight would most definitely help replenish her energy but that wasn't the only thing that did. Natsu could help immensely and while she was still too chicken to pull a move or say anything about being intimate, it didn't mean she never thought of it.
She was a virgin when she had met him and they've only been intimate a handful of times but Lucy could never forget how he made her feel. When they were intimate, she felt like she was strongest and for some odd reason, warm. Almost as if she was absorbing some of Natsu's magic and having his fire light the wick that was inside of her.
"I think we're making good progress," Natsu's voice shook her out of her thoughts. "You have been growing healthier and stronger. It is most definitely a good sign. I can see you are regaining your strength and gaining weight so your body isn't so frail anymore. If we keep this up, you may reach your full potential one day. We just need to continue to fight and push."
Lucy could only nod at his words as she was so absorbed into her own thoughts. Could this actually work? Could she actually come to power if she continued to push through? Would her magic just suddenly release one day?
Even though she was safe and she was living such a fairy tale life, the darkness that haunted her always lingered in the background. Waiting to strike and drag her back down. Would she be strong enough to one day fight against it?
Or would she perish like the delicate withered flower she was?
Her days continued to move on as if nothing mattered. Lucy spent her days doing what she usually did and that was being cooped in the library and reading. There was so much information about the Dragon kingdom that she had never learned about, she was enjoying herself just getting educated. She always loved to learn so even spending time in the library where it was just her, Levy, and thousands of century old books, the two would even have times where they sat in silence, so absorbed into the text.
Once in a while Wendy would come by and join, chattering about all sorts of things. She would bring Happy sometimes and or sometimes she would even bring her own exceed, Charle, who was not happy. Quite literally, she had never met such a grumpy cat.
But seeing how she was also a princess of her own race, it was fitting to have such a strong figure besides a timid princess. Though, Lucy couldn't say she preferred Charle over Happy because Happy will always be her first friend outside of Natsu. And he literally was happy.
The last couple of nights, ever since Natsu had woken her and brought her to the festival, she was seeing a pattern where he began to wake her up to drag her out the kingdom walls. It was never during the day but always at night where he would take her somewhere in the kingdom so she could just bask in the starlight.
He would sometimes bring a basket of goodies so they could sit somewhere and just eat and drink, chatting about their days and dreams while Lucy could enjoy as much starlight as possible. Most nights, she would grow tired and sleepy while they would lay there wrapped around one another and she would wake in the safety of their bed. Some nights, Natsu would even help her meditate and train trying to call out to her magic and sometimes, she truly did feel it wiggling around inside of her.
There weren't many times where she could feel it and oftentimes Natsu would comment on her soft glow but it wasn't anything like it was when they had first made love. While the first time it was a bright shine, now it was just a small dim light coming from her skin or her orbs during certain times.
It has been a repeated cycle for the last couple of days and she couldn't deny that she felt stronger. She was more awake during the days and even more mobile. She was even eating more which helped her in the sense of gaining weight. She still had a long way to go but seeing how her ribs weren't so easily traceable and her face had evened out, it made her happy regardless.
And it was so odd since she was always woken in the middle of the night to be whisked away into the darkness, staying up till the wee bits and then doing it all over again.
She truly enjoyed it since she was able to spend the alone time with the dragon king without any distractions or disruptions. It was only him and her and the stars. He would whisper such sweet nothings in her ear and only praise her for her hard work. Telling her stories about the kingdom and or his childhood.
It was surprising to find out that princess Wendy was almost two hundred years old but Natsu educated her that dragons live long so aging takes a bit. Wendy was still very young in her eyes and while she was still considered young in the Dragon kingdom, she was still much older than she was.
The science behind it was confusing but she accepted it as it was.
Sitting in the library once again for her daily routine, Lucy was nose deep into a history book about the dragons. Levy was somewhere in the library with her and knowing how she is, she's probably buried underneath a stack of books. She had never met someone else who had such passion for books and all things knowledge and she was happy she had gotten to meet such a person.
It somewhat didn't make her feel so alone anymore.
The sound of the double doors opening caught the princess' attention and hoping it was the dragon king, her smile slipped slightly when she noticed it was someone she had never seen before with Happy floating so leisurely beside him.
The newcomer looked scary in her eyes and Lucy found herself hiding behind her book she had, staring wide-eyed at the tall, muscular, dark brooding man with long black hair and piercings all over his face. He was such a contrast to her own dragon that she didn't know what to say or do but lock up and stare.
He had a sneer to his face and she didn't know if it was aimed at her but she found herself trembling as he approached her.
"Lucy!" Happy happily exclaimed and she was grateful he flew right into her arms, shielding her between her and this angry looking dragon.
"H—hi, Happy." Her voice wobbled slightly, trying to keep her eyes on the newcomer but finding it harder the longer he stared her down. His crimson eyes made her think of blood and she was parting her lips to ask who he was but he opened his mouth and barked out his demand, it made her flinch.
"Levy! Where you at? It's nearly lunchtime and if you're holed up in here again under all those books, I swear I'm going to destroy this entire place!"
She heard rustling from somewhere in the library before a loud crash and a squeal erupted making the brooding man let out a frustrated sigh. She watched him pinch the bridge of his nose with one hand planted on his hip.
Soon, Levy came rushing out from somewhere behind a bookshelf, her face red and a scowl painted across her soft features. She had her hands planted on her hips and for someone so small, Lucy was surprised to see her sneering back at the scary dragon and barking right back at him.
"That is an act of treason and an abomination! How could you threaten to destroy such a sacred place like this?!"
"If it'll get yer ass out of here and stop being holed up in this dusty, dark room then yes, I will!"
"Stop being stupid, Gajeel! You're acting like a caveman, again."
Lucy's mouth popped open at the interaction the two had, her head swiveling between the couple as they went back and forth. Happy just happily and quietly nuzzled into her arms, purring like the cat he was while completely ignoring the bickering that was happening in front of her.
Was this normal? Why was she being the only one worried about her new friend's life and this brooding moment?
She didn't know why she was so afraid but she was more afraid for Levy because it seemed like this dragon truly does eat people for breakfast.
"Lu, back me up here! Tell Gajeel he's being a barbarian right now!" Levy shouted with one finger pointed at the dragon and Lucy's eyes went wide when she realized she was being thrown into whatever this was.
Her lips parted with surprise, staring at the dark-haired one named Gajeel who turned and glared at her. She shrank down in her seat and refused to say anything with him staring her down like she was scum of the earth.
"Gajeel!" Levy shrieked, slapping her hand against his chest. "Stop looking at her like that! That is so rude! Do you even know who she is?!"
The scoff that came out of his mouth wasn't friendly as he crossed his large arms over his broad chest. "If yer implying I don't even know who the infamous runaway princess is, then yer the barbarian. She ain't worth my time."
Lucy didn't know why she felt such shame wash over her, leaving her rigid and twisted in her spot. She dropped her chin down to the table to stare at the book she was recently invested in.
Infamous runaway princess.
Is that what people referred to her as here? As the runaway princess?
She was a princess of a goddamn kingdom and here she was, sitting in another kingdom, ignoring her duties and living such a comfortable life that she had completely forgotten herself. Is this how Natsu thought of her, too? Saw her as some charity case? His prize for rightfully stealing her?
The wave of heat that suddenly washed over her was suffocating and she nearly choked when the double doors slammed open and she saw her fuming dragon come barging in.
He looked angry and if the heat didn't say so, his dark expression did.
"Why, isn't it the almighty dragon king himself?" Gajeel had a smirk pull to his lips and it seemed to further agitate her lover.
"Apologize. Now." His voice was stern and the air was thick as she watched the fiery exchange.
"Apologize? For what?"
"For disrespecting Lucy," his teeth were clenched and his hands balled into fists. Lucy just knew he was holding back with how his shoulders trembled. "Do not speak about her like that."
"Why does it matter how I speak to her? All I said was the truth. She's a runaway princess from another kingdom you brought back here. She isn't anything special. Why should I waste my time acting all posh because I'm in the same room as a princess? A princess who pushed aside her duties and responsibilities to play house with you?"
His words stung and hit her hard against her chest as they echoed in the library. She heard the gasp and angry shout of his name come from Levy but it was all a watery blur to her.
He was right. Why should he act any differently to someone like her? Royalty by title but not deserving of such title.
Her worst thoughts were being voiced out by someone else now and it made her feel like utter garbage, her small frame trembling. She could feel Happy's small paws try to nudge at her but she could only hear the pounding of her heart and the taste of copper fill her tongue.
As Natsu tried his best to keep his composure, she could see it slipping ever so slowly as smoke puffed out of his flared nostrils. He looked most like a dragon now, glaring menacingly at his prey and teeth bared like he's ready to rip him apart.
His voice was heavy and sharp, cutting through the air like a knife. "Regardless if she is from another kingdom or not, she is still a princess from royal blood and you will not disrespect her. Not in my kingdom, not in my walls, and especially not to her face. Apologize." He took a step forward, never breaking his eye contact with him. "Now."
His magical force was now seeping out and made the room feel heavy and dark. It was as if a weight was pushing her down and her chest was heaving with her breaths, wide eyes unable to peel away from the sight.
She wondered if this Gajeel would go against his own king, seeing how he was just standing there with a scowl and glare to his face. His own fists were clenched to his side while the two stared one another down and she wondered how destructive this fight would be considering there were two dragons involved rather than one. She wondered if that's how Natsu had gained his battle scars and she didn't know if she wanted to know how ferocious this fight would be.
Standing from her seat, the screech of the chair scraping across the floor caught their attention. Lucy avoided all of them, keeping her chin dipped down at the messy table with Happy clutched against her chest.
"I—it is fine, I do not require an apology from him… he is not wrong and I am not going to sit here and pretend his words are not true." Her voice wobbled slightly at the end and she swallowed thickly, feeling the sting of her tears pinch at her already misty eyes.
"Lucy!" Levy's surprised gasp came slicing through the air and Lucy shook her head, tightening her grip on Happy where he peeked up at her in worry.
"Thank you for allowing me to grace your presence, Levy, I shall see you tomorrow." The princess gave a curt nod to the hurt looking scholar before her eyes flickered over towards Gajeel who looked indifferent. Her eyes found Natsu's in the midst of her departure and he looked upset but not at her but at the situation.
She didn't say anything but scurry out of there, taking Happy with her. She ignored the calls of her name coming from Levy and Natsu as she hurried down the halls, the click of her heels echoing in the massive halls. She also ignored the royal knights that lingered in the halls, seeing how they all stopped to bow at her but she didn't feel worthy of their respect.
She didn't feel worthy of any of this, actually. Gajeel is right. She was the worst. Abandoning her kingdom and her title to play house with the first man to ever show her any type of compassion. How foolish of her to act as if she was some mighty princess when in reality she was nothing but a doll.
Hot tears pricked at her eyes and as she ran down the halls to get out, she wasn't paying attention to her surroundings and nearly crashed into someone. She yelped, jerking backwards as Happy screeched being caught between two bodies. He flew out of her arms, scurrying off into some corner where she almost fell backwards but a hand shot out to catch her, lifting her upwards by her arm.
She was alarmed, staring wide-eyed at the person who caught her and when she saw a familiar face, she was surprised.
"Princess Lucy," his voice matched her surprise as he blinked down at her.
Lucy recognized the blonde as one of the dragons who had accompanied Natsu to her kingdom. With the giant build and scar down his face, the princess felt ashamed to not know his name when he knew who she was.
Her eyes flickered beside him when she noticed another figure and seeing how her eyes clashed with icy blues, she parted her lips in surprise.
She was stunning. With long silver waves draped down her shoulders and back, she was a tall, slender pale woman with wide crystal blue eyes and a warm smile.
"Ah, so this is princess Lucy."
Lucy felt the shame wash over her again as she heard her title, a harsh gulp being pushed down her restricted throat. She could only nod, feeling all types of discomfort while she stood in front of the couple.
"I—I apologize for running into you two. I—I wasn't looking and I just—"
"Are you alright?" The silver-haired one took a step forward, her thin eyebrows furrowing. "You look upset."
"Is someone trying to hurt you?" The blonde one asked, his shoulder squaring as his eyes darted behind her. "Are you running from someone?"
"No!" She cried out, her hands flying out in front of her. "I—I just… I needed some air and space to recollect my thoughts and I…" She bit down on her bottom lip, dipping her chin down.
There was a pregnant pause as they waited for her to continue but she couldn't find the words to speak. She didn't know how to say it or what to even say.
"Need somewhere nice and quiet, I assume?" The woman offered, smiling softly at her.
Lucy could only sniffle, nodding her head while she kept her eyes at their feet.
"Well… It seems as if you aren't familiar with the palace grounds just yet if you're running in this direction. You're heading towards the training and battle grounds right now."
Lucy blinked stupidly at the floor as her cheeks warmed with embarrassment. She was squirming in her spot now, her hands fisted into her skirt while she tried to think of something to say so she wasn't standing there like an idiot.
"Oh… Well… I…"
"Would you like to come see it? Maybe it's what you need to release some tension."
"Mira, you can't be serious right now."
"As serious as I can be!" She declared before taking a step towards the princess. Lucy flinched visibly, feeling shy and awkward as she peeked up at the smiling woman. "Come on, if your body naturally took you over here, maybe it is what you need. Laxus here is the head general of our military force and I help train the soldiers."
"Y—you help train the soldiers?" Lucy asked in complete surprise, seeing how such a thin woman could train a bunch of dragons.
"Yep!" She flashed her a grin, a soft giggle coming from her lips. "Come on, let's go blow some steam!"
"I don't know if that's a good idea, Mira… Natsu might not—"
"Psh," she waved her hand at him dismissively. "You really think Natsu would reprimand me for trying to help the princess?"
Laxus pressed his lips into a tight line but didn't say anything further making the woman giggle and turn to face the princess once again.
"I'm Mirajane, it's so nice to finally meet you!" She said with such glee her blue eyes were shining with mirth. She reached for her hands, making Lucy jerk forward in surprise as the woman held onto her dainty hands. "I hope you're ready to blow some steam off because I'm great at that!"
And for some reason, Lucy couldn't find it in herself to doubt it but the fear of the unknown was strong as it clawed at her.