Benjamin Witt shifted nervously from foot to foot as he stood in the opulent lobby of Heartfilia Enterprises. The marble floors gleamed beneath his feet, making him acutely aware of the dirt on his worn boots and his threadbare shirt. He'd done his best to clean up, but there's only so much he could do with what he had. Despite this he still ran his fingers through his messy brown hair in a vain attempt to force it in a semblance of neatness and failed horribly.

A young maid with a polite smile got him and led him to a chair outside a door with a placard labeled 'Head butler' . Benjamin's heart picked up pace as he sat in the plush chair, fiddling with the hem of his shirt. This was his chance at a new life. He couldn't mess it up.

Benjamin shifted in his chair, his fingers tapping nervously on his knee. Mr. Spetto's piercing gaze made him feel like he was under a microscope.

"So, Mr. Witt, tell me about your previous experience in landscaping," Mr. Spetto said, leaning back in his chair.

Ben cleared his throat. "Well, I, uh... I've always had a knack for plants, you see. Grew up around them."

Mr. Spetto's eyebrow arched. "Any formal training?"

"Not exactly, sir," Ben admitted, his voice barely above a whisper.

"I see," Mr. Spetto said, his tone flat. "And your references?"

Ben's stomach dropped. "I... I don't have any, sir."

Mr. Spetto's lips thinned. "Mr. Witt, I'm afraid you're not quite what we're looking for. Our grounds are extensive and require a great deal of expertise."

Panic gripped Ben's chest. This was his only shot. He couldn't let it slip away. "Wait!" he blurted out. "Let me show you what I can do!"

Before Mr. Spetto could object, Ben's eyes locked onto the small fern in the corner. He took a deep breath, feeling the plant's life force thrumming in his veins. A faint green glow emanated from his palm.

The fern's leaves rustled. Then, like time-lapse photography, it began to grow. Stems stretched towards the ceiling, leaves unfurled, and vibrant flowers burst into bloom. In seconds, the potted plant had become a lush, colorful masterpiece.

Mr. Spetto's jaw dropped. "How... what..."

Ben gave a sheepish grin. "As you can see, sir, I have a way with plants. I'd be honored to use my skills here."

Mr. Spetto blinked, then a slow smile spread across his face. "Well, Mr. Witt. It seems I may have judged you too hastily. When can you start?"

The rest of the interview flew by in a blur. Before he knew it, Benjamin was shaking Mr. Spetto's hand, a grin splitting his face.

Elated, Benjamin made his way out to the vast Heartfilia grounds. He was told to wait by the hedge maze for an employee who would give him a tour. The late afternoon sun warmed his face as he wandered through the immaculate gardens, marveling at the variety of plants.

As he rounded a corner, he spotted a young woman sitting on a bench near the entrance to the hedge maze. She was completely absorbed in a book, her blonde hair falling in waves around her face. Benjamin hesitated, not wanting to interrupt, but he needed to ask for directions.

"Excuse me," he said softly. The woman looked up, startled. Her warm brown eyes met his, and Benjamin felt his breath catch. "I'm sorry to bother you, but I'm the new groundskeeper. I'm supposed to meet someone here for a tour."

The woman's face lit up with a smile. "Oh! Right, the tour, yes.I'm Lucy." She marked her place in the book and stood up, extending her hand.

Benjamin shook it, relief washing over him. "Nice to meet you, Lucy, I'm Ben. I hope I didn't keep you waiting long."

Lucy waved off his concern. "Not at all! I was just catching up on some reading. Are you ready to see the grounds? There's quite a lot to cover."

As they walked through the vast estate,which he learned was the ENTIRE mountain valley they were in, making it bigger than some towns. Ben couldn't help but shake his head in disbelief.

"This place is ridiculous," he muttered. "Who needs this much space?"

Lucy glanced at him, a mischievous glint in her eye. "Oh, I know. It's completely over the top, isn't it?"

Ben, encouraged by her agreement, continued, "I mean, the main building alone is bigger than some castles I've seen!

Lucy giggled. "You should see the grand ballroom. It's so big, you could fit a whole separate building in there alone."

"A grand ballroom?" one of Ben's eyebrows rose. "And what pray tell is the difference between a ballroom and a grand ballroom?"

Lucy stuck up her nose and put on a snooty air. "Grand ballrooms are for the rich; only the poor have regular ballrooms in their homes."

Ben couldn't help but chuckle. "Probably filled with gold-plated chairs or something."

"Close," Lucy grinned back at him. "They're actually crystal. Very impractical."

Ben shook his head. "These Heartfilias must be swimming in money. I bet they don't even know what to do with it all."

"Oh, trust me," Lucy said with a wink, "they find ways."

Ben glanced at Lucy curiously. "So, what do you do around here? You seem to know a lot about the place."

Lucy hesitated for a moment. "Oh, I'm not really an employee. My dad works here, so I just... live here, I guess."

"Wow, that sounds like a pretty sweet deal," Ben said, looking impressed.

Lucy's smile tightened as she quickly changed the subject. "What about you? What were you up to before you got this job?"

Ben rubbed the back of his neck. "Oh, you know, just traveling around. Doing odd jobs here and there. I was actually running pretty low on funds when I stumbled across this gig. Talk about lucky, huh?"

"That sounds exciting though," Lucy said, her eyes lighting up. "Getting to see different places, meet new people..."

Ben shrugged. "It has its moments. But it can get pretty lonely too. Sometimes it's nice to stay in one place for a while, you know?"

Lucy nodded, a wistful look crossing her face. "Yeah, I can imagine. So, do you think you'll stick around here for a while?"

"If they'll have me," Ben grinned. "It's definitely the fanciest place I've ever worked. Might take some getting used to."

"Oh, you'll do fine," Lucy assured him. "Just don't let all the crystal chairs go to your head."

They both laughed, the sound echoing across the vast grounds. Just then, they rounded a corner and nearly bumped into an older woman in a maid's uniform.

"Miss Lucy!" the maid exclaimed. "Your father's been looking for you. He wants to discuss the upcoming gala."

Ben froze, his face turning pale as he looked between the maid and Lucy. "Miss... Lucy?"

Lucy's cheeks turned pink. "Oops," she said sheepishly. "I guess I forgot to mention that part. Benjamin, meet Mrs. Spetto. Mrs. Spetto, this is Benjamin, our new groundskeeper."

Ben's mouth opened and closed like a fish out of water. "You're... you're..."

"Lucy Heartfilia," she finished for him, extending her hand again. "Nice to officially meet you, Benjamin."

Ben shook her hand numbly, his mind reeling. "I'm so sorry, Miss Heartfilia. I had no idea. I didn't mean to speak so disrespectfully about your family or your home."

Lucy waved off his apology with a laugh. "Please, call me Lucy. And don't worry about it. It was fun."

Mrs. Spetto cleared her throat. "Miss Lucy, your father..."

"Right, right," Lucy sighed. "I should go. But Benjamin, let's continue our tour another time, okay? I'd love to hear more about what you think of our 'ridiculous' estate."

As Lucy walked away with Mrs. Spetto, Ben stood rooted to the spot, his face burning with embarrassment. He couldn't believe he'd just spent the last hour complaining about his employer's wealth to his employer's daughter.

"Well," he muttered to himself, "that's one way to make a first impression."

As the weeks rolled by at the Heartfillia estate, Ben settled into a comfortable routine. Every morning, he'd drag himself out of bed at the crack of dawn, yawning and stretching before getting to work. With a flick of his wrist, he'd coax the front garden flowers to bloom, their vibrant colors bursting to life under his magic touch.

Next up were the topiaries. Ben would wave his hands, guiding the greenery into whimsical shapes along the walkways. Some days he'd go for classic designs, other times he'd get creative - once he even shaped a bush into a dragon, much to the amusement of the passing staff.

This kept him busy until lunchtime when Lucy would finish her morning classes. But unlike their first encounter, Ben now kept his distance. He'd give her a polite nod and a quick "Good afternoon, Miss Heartfillia" before hurrying off to his next task.

Lucy, however, wasn't having it. "Ben! Wait up!" she called out, jogging to catch up with him. "What's the rush? Don't you want to chat?"

Ben slowed down, but his posture remained stiff. "I appreciate your kindness, Miss Heartfillia, but I really should get back to work."

"Oh, come on!" Lucy pouted. "Just five minutes? Please? I want to hear more about your travels!"

Ben sighed, torn between his resolve and Lucy's enthusiasm. "I'm sorry, Miss Heartfillia. It wouldn't be appropriate. I'm just the help, and you're..."

"I'm what?" Lucy crossed her arms, a mischievous glint in her eye. Then, her expression softened. "Look, I'm sorry I didn't tell you I'm the owner's daughter. I thought that might be why you're acting so stiff now."

Ben's eyes widened slightly. "Oh, no, that's not it at all. I don't hold a grudge over that."

"Then why?" Lucy asked, frustration creeping into her voice. "You treated me like a normal person when we first met. What changed?"

Ben ran a hand through his hair, looking uncomfortable. "It's just... I'm just a groundskeeper. It's not my place to be friendly with the boss's daughter."

Lucy rolled her eyes. "That's ridiculous! Who cares about all that? I thought we were becoming friends."

"I care," Ben said quietly. "I've learned the hard way that getting too close to people in power never ends well."

Lucy's expression softened. "Ben, I'm not 'people in power.' I'm just me. Can't we just be Lucy and Ben, two people who enjoy talking to each other?"

Ben hesitated, a conflicted look on his face. "I... I'll think about it, okay?"

Lucy's eyes sparkled with determination as she declared, "That's all I ask! And don't you forget, I always keep my word. You're not getting rid of me that easily, plant boy!"

She held out her pinky finger, a childish gesture that somehow felt entirely fitting. "Pinky promise that you'll at least give our friendship a chance?"

Ben hesitated for a moment, then found himself linking his pinky with hers. "Alright, alright. I promise to try."

Lucy's face lit up with a triumphant grin. "Perfect! Now, I've got to run, but I'll see you tomorrow, Ben!" With a cheerful wave, she skipped away, her blonde hair bouncing with each step.

As Ben watched her go, he couldn't help but shake his head, a mix of amusement and trepidation settling in his chest. This stubborn, cheery girl was definitely going to be trouble for him, he could tell. Her enthusiasm was infectious, and he found it harder and harder to maintain his professional distance.

"What have I gotten myself into?" he muttered under his breath, running a hand through his hair. But despite his words, there was a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. Maybe a little trouble wasn't such a bad thing after all. It had been a long time since anyone had cared enough to be persistent about befriending him.

With a sigh that was half exasperation and half fondness, Ben turned back to his work. He had a feeling his life at the Heartfilia estate was about to get a lot more interesting.

Ben wiped the sweat from his brow, focusing on the task at hand. The garden always needed tending, and he found solace in the repetitive work. It kept his mind off... other things.

Weeks had passed since Lucy's declaration of friendship, and true to her word, she hadn't given up. Ben couldn't help but smile as he thought about her persistent attempts to break through his shell. It was both frustrating and endearing.

"Ben! There you are!" Lucy's cheerful voice rang out across the garden.

He straightened up, trying to maintain his formal facade. "Miss Heartfilia, good afternoon."

Lucy rolled her eyes. "Still with the 'Miss Heartfilia' stuff? Come on, we're friends now!"

"I'm not sure that's appropriate, Miss-"

"Lucy," she interrupted, grinning. "Say it with me. Luu-cy."

Ben sighed, fighting back a smile. "You're quite persistent, aren't you?"

"You bet!" Lucy winked. "Most guys would be over the moon to spend time with a beautiful young lady like me."

"Is that so?" Ben raised an eyebrow. "Well, I'm smart enough to know beautiful young ladies usually mean trouble."

Lucy gasped dramatically, placing a hand over her heart. "Are you calling me trouble, Benjamin Witt?"

"I wouldn't dream of it," he replied, his formal tone slipping just a bit. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have work to do."

"Oh no, you don't!" Lucy laughed, grabbing his arm. "You're taking a break, mister. Chef Aed made lunch." She smiled innocently even as she tempted him with a delicious bribe

"I really shouldn't-"

"Oh, come on!" Lucy insisted. "Chef Aed's famous sandwiches and lemonade. You can't say no to that!"

Ben's stomach growled traitorously. The aroma was tempting, and Lucy's smile... well, it was hard to resist. He sighed, setting down his tools. "I suppose a short break wouldn't hurt."

They settled on a nearby bench, Lucy's chatter filling the air. Ben found himself relaxing despite his best efforts. She told him about her latest magic practice, her eyes sparkling with excitement. It was... nice, he had to admit.

"So, then Aquarius got all huffy and drenched me!" Lucy laughed. "Can you believe it? My own spirit!"

Ben's eyes widened. "That's incredible, Lucy!" He meant it, too. "I can't imagine what it's like to command such powerful beings. Celestial Spirit magic is truly remarkable."

Lucy blushed, waving off the compliment. "Oh, it's not that special. What about your plant magic? I bet you can do some amazing things!"

Ben's stomach clenched. He shrugged, dropping his gaze to his hands. "It's nothing compared to your abilities. I just make things grow a bit faster, that's all."

Lucy leaned forward, eyes bright with interest. "Come on, Ben! I'm sure there's more to it than that. Tell me about your training."

Memories flashed through Ben's mind – harsh voices, screams, the smell of smoke. He shifted uncomfortably. "Oh, you know, it was... pretty standard stuff. Nothing special." He cleared his throat, desperate to change the subject. "What about you, Lucy? Got any big plans for your magic?"

It worked. Lucy's eyes lit up, and she launched into an enthusiastic explanation of Fairy Tail. Ben listened, genuinely interested. Her excitement was contagious, and he found himself smiling.

"Sounds like you've got it all figured out," he said when she finally paused for breath.

Lucy's smile softened. "Yeah, well... it's just a dream for now. But someday, I'm gonna make it happen!"

As Lucy continued chattering, Ben felt a twinge of envy. Her future seemed so bright and full of possibility. He pushed the feeling aside, content to bask in her excitement for now.

Ben glanced at the sky, his eyes widening as he realized the sun was nearly setting. "Oh no," he muttered, running a hand through his hair. "I can't believe we've been talking for so long."

Lucy's grin widened, a mischievous glint in her eye. "Time flies when you're having fun, huh?"

"I... I guess it does," Ben admitted, a small smile tugging at his lips. "But I really should get back to work."

"Oh, come on!" Lucy playfully nudged his arm. "You've already spilled the beans about your adventures in bluebelle and Crocus. You can't leave me hanging now!"

Ben chuckled, shaking his head. "You're relentless, you know that?"

"It's part of my charm," Lucy winked. "So, tomorrow? Same time, same place?"

"I don't know if I should-" Ben started, but Lucy cut him off.

"Great! It's a date!" she declared triumphantly.

Ben blinked, suddenly realizing what he'd agreed to. "Wait, I didn't-"

"No take-backs, remember?" Lucy laughed, hopping off the bench. "Face it, Ben. We're friends now, whether you like it or not!"

As she skipped away, Ben couldn't help but smile. "What have I gotten myself into?" he murmured, but there was no real regret in his voice.

For the first time in ages, Ben felt a genuine laugh bubble up. Maybe letting his guard down wasn't so bad after all. Especially if it meant more of Chef Aed's sandwiches and Lucy's company.