#thelua

[paulobenedeti-blog]

🙏🏼 🇺🇸 #godblessamerica #thelua #tikiboatlakejames #boattours #sunsetcruise #happyhour #nightswimming #movenc #lakejames #northcarolina #lakelife #housetours #livingthedreamlife #livingthelife #listing #homeforsale #coldwellbanker #funagent #topbroker #movenc #lakeagent #fridaythe13th https://www.instagram.com/p/CHi9QI5AhBV/?igshid=v6oszgc8vi9d

[littlestuffstohide]

Okay my writer/reader friend, have any recent recs to suggest for this voracious reader? I'm down for multiple fandoms but I could use some recs. *hugs*

Sure my dear fellow writer/friend! *hugs in greeting* So I created a list that got sorta humongous? *sweatsdrop*. Some are not really new but did update recently. Some are my faves. It’ll be nalu and inukag since that’s I’ve been reading this month like crazy. So it’s a combination of all!?

Nalu

Bloodlust by Shortstack_21

Fatum by Chaol-the-pitiful-potato

Amor est bellica by Chaol-the-pitiful-potato

Gluasad circles by Chaol-the-pitiful-potato

Lost Magic by ChaosreigN

Songcraft by riverofmemories

In Tenebris by riverofmemories

Of Dust and Shadows by riverofmemories

Fairy Tail GO!  by mushi9 

Capturing Her Damaged Heart by mushi9  

Cruel Summer by cosmictrap

What You'd Do To Me Tonight  by Doginshoe

Dauntless  by HungryPeanut

Til Death Do Us Part  by superfreakerz 

A Tale from Thelua  by treacher

Are You Hungry?  by Marsfish

Embracing Fire  by Archid

The Princess and the Arsonist  by Silken Ink 

Celestial Dragon by Silken Ink 

Dragon-Sized Problems by Silken Ink 

Never Look Back by forgeurheart

Growing Pains by KP_Suan

Icarus by phantomessangel

Hidden Within by Bella88

Boiling Point by juggernaught

I Missed You by Phoenix_before_the_flame

The Baby Race by princess_starry_knight

Magnolia Seven-Seven by soprana

The Sons & Daughters of Draconis by VioletPoppy

Welcome to Fatherhood by MamaBearCat

Kidnapper Trilogy by wordsiguesss: Kidnapper, Manhunt and Jailbreak

Unending Happiness by DancesWithSeatbelts

Makarovs Marvellous Flying Fairy Tail Circus  by xXHellfireRavenXx 

Journey's End  by xambedo

True as Steel by xambedo

Fluttering Curiosity  by OneColoredLily 

My Heart or My People by TheDragonWithAPenOfFire

Back to You  by mautrino 

The Nose Knows  by Nenaro

Welcome Home Lucy by Nenaro

I Am Become  by Kemnam 

Also A Form of Love  by YukiMC

Heat by YukiMC (naughty)

What I Want? by YukiMC 

Attack of the Anteaters!  by Tchu-chan 

Through Oblivion by Starstruck_MJ

Slip Of A Tongue  by h1lovecupcakes

Unexpected  by MissMisinterpreted

Request Board Romance  by MorriganFae

Cage  by moeruhoshi

Too Good For Just a One Night Stand  by Hazel Roses (naughty)

The Nudity Theory  by sugarpolis

Not A Rebound  by nalunatics (naughty)

Natsu, The Friendly Demon  by Akela-Nakamura

Departure  by Satyrykal

How to Seduce a Lady  by Aky-san

Flame's Desire  by rougescribe

A Smile In The Embers by rougescribe

Quarantine Days by Angel_Of_Darkness_2004

Together Forever by Phoenix_before_the_flame

A Journey of Self Hatred by Reltic

Inukag

Instance by WitchyGirl99

That Flesh of Mine by WitchyGirl99

Deductions by WitchyGirl99

InuKag Kendo Club  series Fawn_Eyed_Girl: The Way of Finding Each Other, Uchitachi/Shitachi, A Place to Call Her Own, A Little Late-Night Practice, and Having It All. 

The Irony of Fate by Fawn_Eyed_Girl

Resurrected by A_Mad_Youkai_Tea_Party

Delicate by akitokihojo

Youkai In The Mirror by SugarRos

Million Dollar Man by InusSunflower

The Half-Breed's Wife by Gypsyn

The Princess Bride by CrazyPrincessCatLady

Before My Eyes by Sassybratt

One Last Ride by BrigidTheFae, and lemonlush

A Worthy Sacrifice by lemonlush

A Heart's Abduction by lemonlush

Making Waves by  BrigidTheFae

Adverse Effects by FantastiqueParfait

Shards of the Sea by StarlingChild4

Lost & Found by A_Mad_Youkai_Tea_Party

Absolutely Smitten by chocolatecastleinthesky

The will to protect by OutOfThisTown

Your Lying Smile by Dawnrider

Soul Doll by Dawnrider

The Ronin by  MamaBearCat

Jungle Fever by Dawnrider

Little by Little by LittleKnownArtist

Just to Be With You by Miss_Dyana

Everything's Okay by akitokihojo

A Not So Far Quest by BrigidTheFae (naughty fic)

Oblivion by meggz0rz

The It Couple by meggz0rz

Stranded by KeiChanz

Signs by meggz0rz

Enchanted by akitokihojo

No Names and Prompts by akitokihojo

For Her by akitokihojo

In Between by akitokihojo

Nothing's Changed by akitokihojo

A Moment by akitokihojo

Fault by akitokihojo

Manipulation by akitokihojo

Rage by akitokihojo

Plain as Day by akitokihojo

Another Day in Hell by KeiChanz

You Rescued Me by KeiChanz

She's Mine by shantie84

For Him  by Silken Ink 

The Town that Time Forgot by ArtisteFish

A Surplus of Stories by ArtisteFish

Do Your Own Stunts by ArtisteFish

Abnormalities by ArtisteFish

There She Goes by ArtisteFish

Pretending by ArtisteFish

Travelers by ArtisteFish

The Pilfered Bride by ArtisteFish

Freak Attraction by ArtisteFish

Freak Attraction: Seven-Man Circus by ArtisteFish

Nothing But You  by One More Thing

Shikuro: A Caribbean Fairy Tale  by Inuma Asahi De

Entrapment: A 21st Century Adventure  by King Baka

Metamorphosis by King Baka

Tell, Don't Show  by nanirain

[xxccxy]

A Tale from Thelua

I have always been scared of my own feelings. I am scared of falling and hurting. But I did fall, hard, and it hurt. So much that I ran away.

I have always been denying it. But for how long? How much longer did you plan on deceiving yourself? On tormenting yourself?

What a fool.

…

A Tale from Thelua

[25] honest

…

Golden hair brushed her cheek as the wind blew. Lucy tucked the strand behind her ears as she combed the rest of it with her fingers. Her hair that was once braided neatly was now let loose. It fell to her shoulder, down to her lap. The sight of her hair always reminded her of her father. Golden hair was the sign of royalty in Feliose, a prove that she was a part of the royal family and something she took pride in as she inherited it from her father the king. Often, he told her that she resembled her mother a lot, but she couldn’t deny that the brilliant shade of blonde and her brown, almost honey-colored eyes came from him.

Father, how are you?

She was back in her favorite hiding place – the bench beneath the wisteria arch. She had asked Wendy to return first as she had promised Lady Emma to return before the midday. Lucy should have returned together with her, but she managed to convince Wendy that she needed more fresh air. Fortunately, the girl didn’t inquire further so Lucy was freed from the guilt of making her worry.

It had been almost a month since she was married to Natsu. Yet within that one month, she never expected that there would be so many things that happened. Her marriage was one, but she didn’t know that she would be reunited with that man. And if only he had forgotten about her, then everything would be easy. But, sadly, that was not the case and things took a complete turn. Lucy blamed herself for not having enough conviction, for easily being led by him, for forgetting and losing her hold on her feelings.

Father, there are so many things that I want to talk about.

The sound of the palace’s bell rang throughout the palace, telling her that it was midday and that she should be heading inside for lunch. But her legs refused to move, and she was not feeling hungry at all. Millie, Agne, and Ange would flip if they knew she was skipping her meal and Wendy would give her an earful. But, no. She had no appetite at all.

Her gaze shifted to the pink flower on her lap that once tucked in her braided hair by Wendy. It was called camellia, the favorite flower of Her Majesty. The pink petals were resting atop each other, creating a beautiful arrangement. The color reminded her of her husband, and she chuckled lightly at the thought of how the flower would go well with his hair.

Suddenly, it was raining flower petals around her. Lucy blinked and raised her head in confusion and surprise, meeting the person who was standing in front of her without her noticing.

“Natsu?”

The man in question didn’t reply. A slight crease was apparent between his eyebrows before he closed his eyes and let out a small sigh. “You didn’t return with Wendy,” he said, sounding almost relieved, “I heard from Gray that you didn’t bring any escort, so I thought you’ve lost your way.”

His hand found hers, spreading warmth to her cold one. He bowed then placed a small kiss on its back – his lips lingered a beat longer than it should be. “Or kidnapped, perhaps,” he added in a quiet murmur.

But Lucy heard it, and as the hold around her hand got tighter, she reached for his head and patted him there. “I won’t be going anywhere,” she said with an amused smile, “and no men would dare to kidnap me with you as my husband.”

Lucy could feel his gaze on her hand. On the ring around her finger. As Lucy retracted her hand from his head, Natsu let go of her hand and proceed to sit on the ground, leaning to the empty spot of the bench next to her. He stared at her as he rested his hand on the bench and propped his chin on it. There was something in his eyes, she noticed, no matter how impassive his face was.

“Brother would,” he said, the eyes that stared at her gleamed almost dangerously.

Her smile faltered. She tore her gaze from him to the flower on her lap. “Yes, he would,” Lucy whispered.

Natsu glanced away. Lucy didn’t know how the slightest mention of that man could affect her that much. Natsu was angry, at least she knew that much. She thought it was fair as she has had her fair share of being angry at him regarding Lisanna. Yet, somehow, the thought of his anger pained her more than she expected.

Her hands made their way to Natsu’s, grasping his bigger hand slowly, almost hesitantly. “Natsu, will you listen to my story?” She asked. “About me and Zeref.”

The hand in her grasp twitched. Lucy waited for his answer, wondering what she would do if he didn’t want to hear it. Of course, she understood if he did so. It was understandable. But then, he nodded wordlessly, and his hand grasped hers.

“Two years ago, I met him several days before Feliose and Thelua’s conference was held,” she started. “He didn’t reveal more than his name and told me that he was one of the knights who was sent to guard the border, yet he knew my identity. From that on, we often bumped into each other around the city as I managed the conference preparation. He helped me a lot with things related to Thelua that I could not manage, and we became close.”

A stray memory of her talking and laughing with him resurfaced. A gentle smile, a gentle laugh, a gentle gaze, a gentle hug.

More memories resurfaced and each was replayed so vividly as if it was a memory just from the other day.

“The night before the conference was held, he confessed that he had something to tell me and we promised to meet again after the conference finished. Yet during the conference, standing behind Thelua’s representative, Lord Makarov, was him. I was informed that the best knight of Thelua would guard the representative, but I also knew his true identity as the first prince of Thelua. I thought of asking him when we meet later, but he never showed.”

No matter how long I wait, he never shows.

No message, no words, nothing.

As if he was gone.

“I missed him.”

She didn’t realize how that thought managed to slip past her lips or when the tears started falling down her face. She pulled a hand to wipe away the tears hastily when a gentle tug came from him, forcing her to return to the present, forcing her into him. She didn’t know since when he had been standing, but the hand that held hers never did waver. When her vision cleared and her sense returned, she was already engulfed by him, caged in his arms. Her hand hung limp on her side as she struggled to speak and failed.

The hand that held her still was warm and strong, but it felt safe. She felt safe, and relieved, and guilty, and mad but none of those feelings could be spoken. Tears continued to fall, dampening his clothes, and her shoulder trembled as she tried not to break into more of a mess.

Natsu had been silent throughout the time, she noticed. He had the right to be angry, she thought – his wife had just told him how she missed another man, after all.

“Lucy, Lucy,” he then whispered her name slowly.

“I’m sorry, Natsu,” she managed to say it in a choked sob, “I’m sorry, I’m so sorry.”

“It’s okay.”

“No, it is not okay.”

“It is.”

“You must be angry at me, right?”

She felt the shake of his head on her shoulder. “I’m not.”

“Lie,” she retorted. “Don’t lie to me just to make me feel better.”

Natsu released his hold on her, wiped the tears gently and said, “I am angry, but not at you. It doesn’t count as a lie, does it?”

This man, Lucy thought, how could he not be angry at her? His eyes found her crying ones, gazing at her gently. When Lucy didn’t answer him, Natsu pulled her once again into him. “I’m angry at him,” he spoke quietly against the crown of her head, “for making you feel like this.”

Lucy wrapped her hand around his torso, clinging into him and pressing her face into his chest. There, the scent of cinnamon filled her. She liked it. It made her felt safe. And home. As if she belonged there.

“You still love him, don’t you?” The question came in a whisper, almost as if he didn’t want her to hear it. But she heard it, and she remembered the same question she once asked him. In fact, all of this was like a repetition of what happened that evening when he told her about Lisanna.

Back then, his answer was a straight affirmation, even if it was thickly coated with something akin to repression – as if he shouldn’t be feeling that way. But she…

“If this is what people call as love, then I don’t want to acknowledge it.”

Her grip on his clothes tightened, concealing the pain that crept inside her chest. For two years, she refused to acknowledge it, ran from it, denied it. No matter how many times the memory of him returned to her, she pretended that none of that mattered anymore. Her marriage gave her another reason to forget him; it empowered her conviction.

But it took only a smile, a glance, and a greeting from him to make it all crumble.

Love, she thought, wasn’t supposed to be miserable.

Love, she thought, was supposed to be warm.

“Tell me, Natsu,” she whispered, raising her head to see him. “How are you supposed to erase this feeling?”

There was something in his eyes that she could not discern. Like a burning fire, yet also gentle. “You will have to meet the right person,” he said, staring deep into her eyes.

“Have you meet her?”

He smiled, a genuine, heartfelt smile and her breath were hitched. Something was set aflutter in her abdomen and Lucy couldn’t help but lean into the hand that was touching her cheek gently. For some reason, she was not afraid of his answer.

“I have.”

For some reason, she wished that that lady he spoke of was her.

She closed her eyes, letting another tear fall to her cheek. “Who?”

“You.”

Lucy’s eyes opened, letting more of the tears she had tried to hold fell. His hand brushed past her hair and tucked some of it behind her ear. Onyx eyes met her brown ones – showing no hint of joke or amusement in there. His smile didn’t falter, and his voice was just as sure. Lucy closed her eyes once again, and the next thing she felt was a gentle pressure on her lips, warm and pleasant. Like home.

As if she belonged with him.

...

Chapter Index

[jon-no-h]

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Finally got the chance to check out @graceingrowlers with my #swolemate @h20wahine it was awesome if you're in the #967🌴4 #thelua come have some fantastic beers 🍻 #cheers #enjoyyourself #kailuatown 👊🏾 (at Kailua, Honolulu County, Hawaii)

[paulobenedeti-blog]

Thinking I Don’t Want To Leave My Weekend Office... Good Social Distancing Habits 👍🏼 🙏🏼 Doing Wonderful Hope You Are 😎 #bettercallpaulo #movenc #virtualclosing #lakejames #northcarolina #lakelife #homeforsale #coldwellbanker #virtualhousetours #livingthedreamlife #livingthelife #paulosells #lakehomes #northcarolina #marion #nebo #mcdowellcounty #thelua #campboats (at Paulo Benedeti Coldwell Banker) https://www.instagram.com/p/CE4Xmoggqy0/?igshid=1jlu8n7ao1ay4

[paulobenedeti-blog]

Hope Everyone Is Having A Wonderful And Safe Labor Day Weekend 🙏🏼😎💐 #thelua #thepaco #campboats #tikiboatlakejames #boattours #sunsetcruise #happyhour #nightswimming #movenc #lakejames #northcarolina #lakelife #housetours #livingthedreamlife #livingthelife #listing #homeforsale #coldwellbanker #funagent #topbroker (at Paulo Benedeti Coldwell Banker) https://www.instagram.com/p/CE1tETygtAc/?igshid=108rab9jtfop0

[paulobenedeti-blog]

Not A Bad Way To End A Great Weekend 😎 Feeling Blessed 🙏🏼 #thelua #tikiboatlakejames #boattours #sunsetcruise #happyhour #nightswimming #movenc #lakejames #northcarolina #lakelife #housetours #livingthedreamlife #livingthelife #listing #homeforsale #closingsoon #coldwellbanker #funagent #topbroker (at Paulo Benedeti Coldwell Banker) https://www.instagram.com/p/CDsI7u2ApW1/?igshid=84v3eukmh7t7

[paulobenedeti-blog]

Text Me Now 828-559-9562 If You Want To See Lake James And What It Has To Offer #thelua #tikiboatlakejames #boattours #movenc #lakejames #northcarolina #lakelife #housetours #livingthedreamlife #livingthelife #listing #homeforsale #coldwellbanker #funagent #topbroker (at Paulo Benedeti Coldwell Banker) https://www.instagram.com/p/CC_OZxHAa7z/?igshid=82eg9ie3t3tf

[paulobenedeti-blog]

No Filter 🌅 Really Does Not Do It Any Justice‼️ One Of The Prettiest Sunsets Ever I’ve Witnessed 🙏🏼 Storm Went All Around Us ⛈ Thank You Mags And Lea Anne For Pulling Me Wake Boarding And Joining Me Last Night 😎 #thelua #tikiboatlakejames #boattours #sunsetcruise #happyhour #nightswimming #movenc #lakejames #northcarolina #lakelife #housetours #livingthedreamlife #livingthelife #listing #homeforsale #coldwellbanker #funagent #topbroker #ridersonthestorm (at Paulo Benedeti Coldwell Banker) https://www.instagram.com/p/CC9SLNSgh3R/?igshid=kj08es12r64x

[xxccxy]

A Tale from Thelua

Golden hair flutters in the wind. A smile blooms on her face. A melodious laugh, a small step of her dance, an untouchable woman. She is so high. Up, up, and above.

So far away from me.

…

A Tale from Thelua

[23] better not knowing

…

As a knight, Zeref was no stranger to the feeling of pain. For seven years he had dutifully fulfilled his role as a knight in the front line. He had faced situations that endangered his life more often than anyone would ever have. He had thrown himself into a life and death situation numerous times so his comrades would all return with him. He had lost count of how many times he had been faced with the option to take his own life. But he managed. And he survived.

War changed people in more than just one way. It changed one’s perspective on life, and oftentimes the horrendous memory stayed for quite some time. The memory became something akin to a scar that stayed persistently; oftentimes the scar reopened and visited him in his sleep. After all, pain healed, but the scar remained.

Despite that, Zeref never thought of the change within him. He never thought that he changed that much. But he knew that Natsu thought of the opposite. That day, standing before him, Natsu was staring at his kneeling form silently without a trace of emotion present on his face. Solemn and unfaltering yet the sword in his firm grip was shaking slightly. Zeref didn’t blame Natsu for anything he felt that day.

It was expected – for him to feel that way.

Head bowed and then, Zeref vowed.

“I pledge my loyalty to the Kingdom of Thelua and to the crown prince, Natsu Dragneel.”

Through the hair that fell in front of his face, he could barely catch a glimpse of his younger brother stiffening. But then, with a swift movement, the sword moved to his shoulder, barely touching him and then he heard it.

The voice of a man.

“Thy pledge–”

“–not fair.”

Zeref opened his eyes as he returned from the reverie, momentarily forgetting the conversation they had. The pregnant pause which had followed immediately after his last statement was broken as Natsu whispered something he failed to catch. Whatever it was, he knew better to stay quiet for the moment.

Instead, he focused his eyes on the man across him. His younger brother whose age was three years apart from him was sitting behind a heavy, wooden desk he was very familiar with. As expected, Zeref thought, Natsu didn’t bother to change it. Before the arrival of his younger brother, he managed to catch a glimpse of what scattered across the smooth desk surface. Tax report, a proposal of bridge construction, annual kingdom budget; all the important documents he once had to work on.

Once.

A long time ago.

“Leaving important documents out in the open isn’t a good choice, Natsu,” Zeref decided to make a remark and break the silence.

His younger brother blinked. He managed to let out a weak, confused ‘eh?’, perhaps too taken aback with the sudden shift in their conversation. But Zeref couldn’t help it.

“I never doubt the security strength inside the castle, but one can never be too careful. You should be more careful when leaving documents like those. You are lucky I was the one who entered this study.”

“Usually I have Gray guarding this room,” he heard Natsu mumbled, frowning. A pout formed but it was gone the moment he realized it. “And you shouldn’t waltz around into this room as well.”

Zeref almost wanted to shrug. “You often did that back then, little brother,” he said, “and even sneakily read the document more confidential than what you have on your desk right now.”

“I didn’t understand any single of them so it’s fine. Even you said so yourself,” Natsu retorted back.

The gaze Natsu directed at him had somehow softened. Zeref could feel the tension that once present was gone already. One thing that could never change from Natsu would be his stubbornness. In their childhood, Natsu often won their argument by sheer stubbornness. Mostly, Zeref had to relent, but the boy would throw tantrum if he knew he was treated like a child. Unconsciously, Zeref let out a small sigh.

Some things never change.

The sun had risen higher, and Zeref gingerly reminded himself not to dwell longer there. He stood, walked to the door and by then, Natsu suddenly called him.

“Brother, there are things I must ask you.”

He glanced, then noticing the subtle turn of emotion that slowly manifested in Natsu’s eyes. Apparently, the slight incline of his head was enough to set Natsu loose.

“Why did you join the army? Why did you go to the war? Why did you never once tell me about it? Why did you leave–”

“Natsu.”

The words died immediately in Natsu’s lips as the echo of his name rolled out of Zeref’s mouth. Eyes narrowing, Zeref could see anticipation and anxiety written all over his younger brother’s face. Perhaps it was because he rarely used such commanding voice that it sounded too strong, but Zeref knew better than letting Natsu finished his barrage of question.

Zeref turned and continued walking to the door. Behind him, the chair created an irritating scraping sound as Natsu made a hasty movement to stand up, but Zeref beat Natsu into it, saying, “There are things better left unknown, little brother.”

“But–!”

“Come to think of it, Natsu, are you yet to handle the military and international relations affair?” Zeref asked, once again cutting him. He turned around and nodded at Natsu. “I have reports to write, so I’ll now excuse myself.”

Zeref was sure that sooner or later Natsu would ask him about it. The building tension between them apparently had fuelled Natsu’s courage, and Zeref couldn’t deny that this was one of a good chance where Natsu might get the answer. But, not now. He intended to keep those for himself since the start. Natsu didn’t need to know.

Behind him, the door closed with a silent click.

…

Numerous pairs of eyes are looking at us, staring, observing, like a hawk upon its prey. It is unnerving. It is suffocating. How come can you be so calm? Why did you kneel? Why did you bow?

“I pledge my loyalty to the Kingdom of Thelua–”

His voice, his vow; I don’t want to hear it.

“–and to the crown prince–”

No.

“–Natsu Dragneel.”

Why? Brother, why?

“Thy pledge–”

Has my voice always been this calm? Has my arm always been quivering upon holding a sword? Since when I was able to mask my emotions perfectly? Brother, brother…

“–is heard. I appoint thee, Zeref Dragneel–”

You never tell me…

“–as the Flower Knight.”

...

Chapter Index

[xxccxy]

A Tale from Thelua

For years, I had been looking up to him. He was perfect. From manner to swordplay. From leading the conversation to making decision. I had always thought that it would be him who would fill the throne. I had always thought that it would be me who served the kingdom in the knighthood.

Maybe that was why I could dream of marrying her. Lisanna.

Yet I was wrong.

…

A Tale from Thelua

[22] pain

…

He woke up to the color of golden that was his wife’s hair, nose buried in the crown of her head, and a hand around her waist, keeping her close to him. He always woke up long before she did, with an excuse of going to start tackling the paperwork early in the morning. Of course, the actual reason was to gaze at her sleeping face. Serene and innocent look adorned her sleeping face, often differ from how she made herself look like during her wake.

But it wasn’t what made him like her. He wasn’t even sure what did. It was barely three months since they got married and lived together. He didn’t always with her, and their interaction was limited to the unexpected encounter during the day, usually it was she who found him during her exploration around the castle, before they sleep, and when they really need to interact during the party.

Yet lately, he sought her out. Lately, there had been something in him that urged him to go and see her, to talk to her, to make her smile.

And to shield her from any worries and sadness.

The image of her crying appeared in his mind, the one in his hideout after she talked with his brother. Gone was the woman whose determination set; “that’s why I’m going to ignore it.”. In front of him, she faltered, as if something inside her was broken. In front of him, the unwavering, strong-willed woman was gone.

Part of him wanted to ask almost immediately as soon as she came to him, but once she cried, he knew he had to wait until she was calm. Asking her after the party was the best choice he had, but even he wasn’t sure if it wouldn’t hurt her even more. That was why he sent her to return first to their room – to calm her down. Crowded place would do nothing to her state and they could be called to attend the guest anytime.

Once he returned to their room, he failed to ask her. Maybe he was too tired last night that he forgot to ask her about it. Then again, judging from how unusual she was, it might be the best that he didn’t ask. He thought he could cheer her, yet even in his attempt of doing so, it turned out to be a serious talk.

“Why?”

She asked, and even if he could ignore it, he still caught the question biting him, thick in suspicion.

Because I love you.

And he said it.

“Would you believe me if I say that it’s because I have fallen for you?”

That sentence was heavy. Yet somehow it rolled out quite easily. Speaking of the truth had always been easier than lying.

Lucy, Lucy…

The woman stirred, snuggling deeper into the pillow. Few strands fell into her face, tickling her cheek and lips. Rosy cheek and rosy lips. Eyes of the melted chocolate, skin as flawless as the cloud. Golden hair that reflected the sun. A smile like a blooming flower.

“Would you believe me if I say that I love you?”

He sighed. A long, quiet sigh.

You didn’t answer me.

Sometimes he wondered if what he felt was real. If anything, what he felt toward her now was different from how he used to feel toward Lisanna. Shallow, impulsive, light. Compared to that, this was heavier, and although they were married already, it felt even more complicated.

Perhaps it caused by how she carried herself around him. She hardly expressed her feelings; the one she had for him. There was no hate in her, but there hardly love either. Even if she regarded their marriage as a good fortune, even if she had vowed to be faithful only to him, wouldn’t it only become a torture?

Natsu slid off the bed, carefully, quietly, and walked out of their room. His feet brought him to his study, and he eyed the piling documents on his desk with disdain. It was still early in the morning, he thought, and decided that he better go and train his swordsmanship and broke a good sweat to clear his head first. It had been a while since he last wore the mesh shirt and the brown boots. He guessed that he would have to re-adjust his grip on his wooden sword as he held pen more often than a weapon lately.

There were hardly people when he reached the training field. He thought he could surprise the other with his visit and earned himself a good spar, but it seemed that they had chosen to sleep in some more. He made a reminder to give them a piece of his mind later that day, and perhaps, getting more chance to escape the piling documents for a longer time.

“My lord,” someone called, just when he thought that he had the entire field for himself, “fancy seeing you here around this time.”

Natsu laughed. “No need for such a sarcastic remark there, Gray.”

His private knight sighed. “I have placed a new document on your desk just now, my lord, and God knows it will reach the ceiling by the end of this day.”

“Now, now,” Natsu threw a wooden sword at him, which he caught it with ease, “I will do those papers if you can win against me.”

The knight smirked. “And grant me a day off.”

“Only if you can win. Remember it, Gray.”

“Of course, my lord.”

And as soon as the words came out of him, the knight charged at Natsu, aiming to his open sides. Gray was one of the best knights, one of the reasons why he was chosen as his private knight as well, perhaps ranked third after the first prince and the captain of the knight. He was the son of the captain, and almost inherited the position if he wasn’t chosen as private knight. The captain, while being at the age already, refused to retire as he preferred to teach the recruit rather than doing nothing in his retirement.

Sometimes he acted as Natsu’s right hand. Sometimes he didn’t treat Natsu like he was his superior, probably because he was older than the prince, but Natsu was fine with it. After all, Gray was one of the few friends he had and the only one who could beat some sense into him.

“You should do something about the mistress,” Gray said suddenly as he swung the sword. “The rumor about them doesn’t seem to be going away anytime soon.”

“You knew,” Natsu replied, blocking his attack. Gray shot him a look that said, ‘everyone knows already’. “Though I’m afraid there is nothing much I can do about it,” he continued.

The next blow that he was forced to block was heavier than before. There was a glare coming from Gray and Natsu leaped back to distance himself. “Nothing? Really, Natsu?”

Natsu wiped a sweat from his forehead, watching as the other man’s frown deepened. The knight clicked his tongue in distress and charged at him once again.

Dust was kicked into the air and Natsu held his ground while defending himself from another heavy blow. It was a miracle that the wooden sword didn’t break from their blow exchange. The sound echoed in the empty field, competing with the sound of the spectator that suddenly present.

Natsu glanced around, momentarily forgetting the spar he had with Gray as his eyes spotted a particular person among the crowd of the cheering knights. It earned himself a good hit on his arm, but before he registered the pain it caused, he had moved on pure reflect, swinging his blade aimed to Gray’s side and knocked him with a swift, hard blow. It had Gray stumbled to the side, wooden sword fell out of his grip and the tip of Natsu’s wooden sword came to a contact with Gray’s neck.

There was a moment of silence before the crowd erupted a loud cheer and clapped. Beneath him, the knight was smirking.

“Did that one got you awaken, eh, my lord?”

“It’s my win,” Natsu said instead. “The papers have to wait, it seems.”

He quickly glanced to the spot where he saw him earlier. The man was gone. Natsu threw the sword to the nearest knight and quickly left the training field, guessing where he had gone to. That man wasn’t the type who will train so often with the other knight, so Natsu had to guess some places that he often used for training. He wouldn’t be in the private training field as his troops would be taking that place to train.

Yet he was unable to find him anywhere. The man couldn’t have gone, disappeared into the thin air. But it was always been like that. He always turned in some place he would least expect him to be when he knew that Natsu was looking for him. Like a game of hide and seek, yet he was waiting to be discovered. Perhaps, he bitterly thought, again, he knew that he was looking for him and decided to wait for him somewhere.

Somewhere Natsu would least expect him to be. Somewhere that Natsu thought he would never come even for visiting him. From the garden, Natsu’s eyes swept to the windows located in one of a room in the castle’s second floor.

His study.

The man was inspecting his desk when he opened the door and giving Natsu a smile upon noticing him. “Took you long enough, little brother,” he said, putting one of the papers back to the desk. “You haven’t changed.”

“Brother,” Natsu greeted, walking to the desk as Zeref sat on the sofa near the bookshelf. “I thought you didn’t have time to play as you prefer to train with the other.”

You always did…

The man laughed. “I send them all home to rest. After all, it’s not all about fighting and training, is it?” He said. “They also need to meet their loved ones.”

Natsu sat behind the desk, finger interlaced on his lap. “You too, brother, and apparently, you’ve met yours.”

There was a long silence that followed Natsu’s statement. He studied the man which was his own brother whose smile disappeared. Suspicion and the detachment returned, completely masking his once gentle face, yet there was something, something that was different in his eyes. Somewhere, there lacked the cold compassion that always guarded him together with his impassiveness.

Natsu felt like staring at himself when he locked eyes with his – those dark onyx irises reflected him, yet it felt like he wasn’t staring at him. He was staring past him, meeting the gaze of someone else. He could guess whose gaze that his brother was looking at, whose gaze that his brother was searching in his eyes. But Natsu refused to spell it because he knew who.

And then, without so much as moving, it broke. The mask slid away and once again, Zeref smiled. A genuine smile. A smile from his heart. Yet, along with closing his eyes, the voice, the sigh that came out from his mouth was accompanied with something so deep. Something that Natsu thought he would incapable of feeling.

Pain.

“I did.”

…

Chapter Index

[xxccxy]

undefined

two people. one hurt, and the other was trying. without anything such as clarity, their love went straight undefined. Nalu AU.

“I love you,”

she said.

“I love you so much,”

she smiled.

“Natsu.”

-----

One year ago, she came unannounced, uninvited, like the orange sunlight in the afternoon at 2 p.m. past the window and through the drapes, and along with her, unexpectedly, came security. But she brought more than security and offered it to me with great generosity. Once, I thought, she was a nuisance. A complete moron with too much free time and a big nose to butt into my–

“You know, you can tell me if you want. I’m all ears.”

my–

“And unlike some people, I do know how to shut my mouth.”

Why do you care?

“It might be forward of me, but you might as well try it out.”

I don’t even know you.

“While you still be able to be honest with yourself.”

Why you look–

–life.

“By the way, I’m Lucy.”

–sad?

Lucy. Lucy. That was all I knew about her. Except the fact that she had this temper, liked sweet things, able to gulp down two bowls of udon alone and stayed slim especially around the belly, and she had a sweet, sweet smile and understanding glances. She was bright. Her blonde hair made it so. And if I were to compare myself with her, I would like to say that I was the shadow of her light, despite my salmon pink hair. She was deep, passionate, and positive. Maybe not always, but 8-% of her was made of positive energy, 5% negative, and 15% neutral somewhere-in-between. And it seemed like her energy was powered completely by the sun. Eco-friendly, I once commented and earned myself a sweet, sweet laugh from her.

She blended perfectly in my dark room. Often she would pull the dusty drapes and pushed the window open to make it a little bit less dark. A little bit less dreary. She glowed, smiled, and told me to open the window as often as I could remember for the sake of air circulation. Maybe it wasn’t that. Maybe it was meant for me. To see the world as a bright place. While she knew I could hardly done that, she always tried it nevertheless. But she didn’t force it to me. She always understood. She was patient.

I like to touch her. Her slender fingers, her soft hair, her arm. I like how she always let me did that and I was careful not to go further. I was capable of hurting her, I knew it. But I didn’t want to. Even though I knew she would forgive me, but I didn’t want to disappoint her.

I didn’t want to lose her.

-----

“What are we?”

What do you mean?

“Are we friends? Or lover? Or somewhere in-between?”

It’s up to you to decide. I’m fine with whatever you choose.

“I love you.”

I... love you too.

“Does that make us a lover?”

I’m not sure.

“Me, too.”

I’m sorry, Luce.

“Don’t be, Natsu.”

-----

She was so high above me. I learned it one day as I accessed Instagram (she made me one and had my account followed hers immediately) and saw her post in which she became a princess. Literally a princess. Luxurious gown, a string of gemstone around her neck and on her ears, high class dining. It was pictured that she was having her birthday party with her friends.

Why she bothers befriend a scum like me?

It was her birthday. Yet she never told me that. Maybe I was delirious, but I found it as an opportunity to celebrate with her. I quickly ordered a pizza with extra cheese just as she liked and cola. Though, the pizza hadn’t arrived yet, there was a familiar knock on my door. Lucy was there, yet there was something missing. She didn’t bring those positive and sunny vibe with her. It was as if it was lost somewhere when she made her way here.

She was silent. Like a waning moon, covered by drifting clouds. I had never seen her like this before. Her rigid posture was something she never had when she was with me. She was always relaxed, open, even though she was guarding her personal information. Yet now she was as rigid as statue and reclusive.

“Lucy,” I called. There was no response. “I’m sorry, but you can kick me if you don’t like it.”

A hug. I had never realized it before but she was so small. So small. She squirmed but didn’t try to break free. Her posture began to relax and there was a muffled sob. She was hurt. Somewhere. But I couldn’t make her talk it out. I knew nothing of her wound. All I know that she was hurting. Just like me. And I was trying to help her gathering every fragment that was lost. Just like what she did to me.

So we are the same.

-----

“I love you.”

Why would you love me?

“I don’t know. I just did.”

Don’t.

“Why?”

I don’t want to hurt you.

Because all I could do was causing wound to people. I was good at that. Maybe I had hurt her before, but she never showed anything. She was like a saint, but she wasn’t perfect. But, to me, she was perfect. But she wasn’t meant for me, and even if I yearned for her, I knew better than letting myself have her. I didn’t want to break her. I didn’t want to show her my ugly side.

“You’ll never hurt me.”

You don’t know what I’m capable of.

“Maybe I don’t, but I believe you.”

…

“And I love you.”

..I love you too.

-----

I love her. Her smile, her voice, her laugh, her scent, her glance. And she loved me. But we weren’t lovers. We weren’t friends, either. We were somewhere in-between. One step ahead of friends, one step behind of lovers. We were at the gray zone. And we were both content with it.

Maybe I was obsessed with her, maybe she was infatuated with me, maybe we both yearned for each other. A hug was nothing new, kissing became a routine, and sex… we both agreed not to go somewhere near that. A silent agreement. I knew she was reluctant because she wanted to do it with someone she would spend her life with. And me, I didn’t want to make it as a coping mechanism. Because I knew I would be addicted to it, because I knew I wouldn’t be able to let her go. Because I knew I would force her to stay with me.

The love between us is something ambiguous. But neither of us wanted to define it. Neither of us wanted to go further or step back from it. We were content of it.

For now.

-----

I thought that I will be fine with anyone, with just anyone else. But I was wrong.

“What?”

I need you.

“Me?”

Yes, you.

She smiled, a sad smile.

I’m sorry for having to put up with a depressed person like me.

Her smile faded.

Her eyes found mine.

I’m sorry for loving you.

And warm. Warm. A big hug.

“You crybaby.”

Her voice muffled, reverberating through my chest. I wasn’t crying. Why did she call me that?

Don’t cry, Luce.

“At least let me cry for you. You aren’t going to do it, anyway.”

-----

And many, many moment between us lost in the time as we took everything for granted. When we lost it, we didn’t even bother think about it. I thought that we would be able to do more next time, to create more memories and I thought that it would forever be burned into my mind. Thus, as she leaned against me chest and my arms around her, nose smelling the scent of sun left on her hair, I asked her:

What are you gonna do if I have been in love with you all this time?

And she tilted her head.

“That should be my line.”

Why?

“Because you’ve been loving me all this time.”

Her hand found mine.

“But me, the love I gave you is…”

A lie?

She gasped, turning toward me, eyes wide in astonishment.

“No! I would never lie to you! It just…”

It’s okay if you don’t want to talk about it.

"No, I’m just trying to say that.. for someone like me… to love you that way is…"

She sighed. I released the breathe I didn’t know I was holding. Tough topic. But she wasn’t going to back down from it.

“I’m afraid of falling, Natsu. Falling to you too hard, too deep, and only to find it a delusion.”

-----

’You know, I think we should put an end to all of this.’

That sentence had been swirling around my head since the past four days. Since the last time she came here, since she told me her fear. I couldn’t chase away her fear, and even if I wanted to, it would have the need for us to act as a lover.

What good would it bring when her love to me was strained and my love to her was a coping mechanism?

-----

“Thank you,”

she whispers.

“Thank you for all these times, for knowing me, for accepting me, for loving me. I’m glad I met you, know you, loving you. And then,”

she cries–

“Goodbye, Natsu.”

Just like the sunlight in the daybreak, she wasn’t all sunny. Waning, out of reach.

Goodbye, Lucy.

–and she disappears.

-----

a/n: A Tale from Thelua is on hiatus, but I will be back around Christmas! thank you for reading and being so patient with me :”) 

[xxccxy]

A Tale from Thelua

I didn’t mean to lie. I could never tell you another lie. When I spoke of it, I intended on making it as a promise. I intended on fulfilling it.

Yet Makarov knew it. He always knew. And he was the reason why I couldn’t fulfil my promise; to go to you and tell you the truth.

In the end, I never did once decide anything by myself.

…

A Tale from Thelua

[21] faltering

…

Lucy could hardly recall anything in the party. All she remembered was dancing with Natsu and did some talk with Zeref. And cry. She cried. Again. For the second times that day.

It was embarrassing and pathetic when she thought about it. Then again, she also thought that she deserved a good cry for whatever that made her chest swell with feelings and confusion. It was a lie when she told herself ‘fine’. But she kept on repeating it. Like a mantra.

It’s okay, it’s okay.

She sat in front of the mirror. Her reflection stared back at her. A woman with long blonde hair, rosy lips, and a tired face was staring back at her. Her mouth was shut, lips formed a thin line. She should be getting help from her three maids to remove the rest of the makeup. But she had dismissed them right after she bathed and helped her change into her white sleeping gown.

It felt like a stranger; her reflection. Hollow. The eyes that stared back at her felt empty. It was as if she was staring back at her own shell. Her soul was gone somewhere. Or maybe she was just feeling too tired. She was tired, she decided. Yet her mind refused to stop. Deep and calm baritone voice echoed inside her head. The image if a pair of dark onyx eyes stared at her almost piercingly.

“I was just trying to impress the woman I love.”

Melancholy words never suited with what he showed on the outside – cold, detached – but it strangely made her chest swell. Maybe it was because she was the only one of the few who really knew how and who he was. Maybe it was because of the remnants of the feelings she had for him. A feeling that she had long forgotten along with his existence. A feeling that she had shoved deep into one of the corners somewhere inside her and shut it tight. A forgotten feeling that managed to make her move forward.

Move. And forward.

Of all the time, why does it have to be now that I remember it?

She felt like she was back at that time. Back to the time where she felt like half of her was stuck in the past that wanted to dwell on the pleasant feeling when she was with him.

I loved him. I loved him.

She loved him. She always loved him. Could it be… it was what drove me to come here? To Thelua?

But it shouldn’t matter anymore. It shouldn’t. Just like how she told him; she only thought about the best outcome for the people in Thelua and Feliose. Back then, when she spoke of it, it felt like the truth. And that her feeling in the past didn’t matter anymore.

Yet now it felt like she was lying to herself. Her chest felt tight.

It hurts.

The door was opened, revealing Natsu still in his suit. He stepped in wordlessly and made his way to the bed, lying on it and sighed tiredly. Lucy stared at him through the reflection of the mirror, watching as his onyx eyes disappeared behind the lids. Another sigh escaped his mouth and Lucy felt the tension in her started to disappear. She smiled, then.

“You should sleep, Natsu,” Lucy spoke, grabbing the cloth dipped in the tin bowl filled with lukewarm water and wrung it. The damp cotton cloth that she pressed to her cheek created a pleasant feeling to her tired face and the subtle smell of lavender released any tension left in her.

The man didn’t move as he replied, “I’m waiting.”

Lucy raised an eyebrow. “For what?”

“For you.”

She understood what he meant. He was waiting for her to finish cleaning her face. “You should change into something more comfortable for sleeping,” she said. “I will be finished by then.”

He didn’t reply, but she knew he agreed. Through the mirror, she saw him walking behind the folding screen. There was a soft rustle sound came from behind the folding screen and then, Lucy returned to watch her reflection.

Gone was the rosy lips and rosy cheek. The woman in the mirror didn’t differ much from before she wiped her cheek and lips. A beautiful woman, one might say. A miserable woman, she would say. The word brought a thin smile to her lips because it fitted just right for her situation right now.

She put back the cloth inside the tin bowl and walked to the window. She could see the dim light of the carriage of the guests that had left the castle, past the castle gate and into the dark road in between the dark grass plain. The party had ended a while ago, but she didn’t get the chance to see the guest off. Natsu had urged her to return first to their room, and she complied.

The full moon stared at her coldly in the sky. Almost immediately, she was reminded again to her encounter with Zeref this evening. Something caught her, and that was the question whether anyone saw her and Zeref slipped away from the party. If there was indeed someone who saw them, then it could become yet another nasty rumor, one that she preferred having the prince of Pemberna’s rumor arose once again rather than that. It was enough for her to have such a rumor about the first prince of Thelua being in love with his brother’s wife. She didn’t need another rumor about him.

“If you are wondering if anyone see you and brother slip away from the party, then you can be at ease as everyone’s attention was caught by the song sung by the bard,” Natsu said as he walked toward the bed. “Don’t want my wife stressing over another potential rumor, do I?”

She turned to him, smiling. “How considerate of you.”

“Of course,” he said, not impressed.

“And I do wonder what kind of excuse that you told our guest regarding me returning first to our bed-chamber.”

“Well,” he lied to the bed, staring at the ceiling, “maybe you can expect congratulatory cards by tomorrow.”

Her eyes widened. “You didn’t–”

“I did.”

“I think I’m having headache now.” Lucy sat on the side of the bed, her back facing him.

Natsu closed his eyes. “Telling them that you are under the weather was the most reasonable excuse I can make. It’s them whose mind just wanders around and reached to that conclusion.”

“But you can’t just let them assume things as they please!” She sighed in exasperation. “I am not pregnant, Natsu, and both of us know that we haven’t even–”

“Then, should we make one now?”

Lucy turned her head abruptly to him, meeting his serious gaze as he propped a hand and rested his head on it. There was no hint of humor when he talked nor the smirk that he always wore when he teased her. Real. He was asking her for real.

“Why?” she asked.

He didn’t answer.

“Is it because of the rumor?” she asked once again.

“Would you believe me if I say that it’s because I have fallen for you?” he asked instead.

Silence met his question.

Fallen for me?

“Would you believe me if I say that I love you?” he asked again.

Lucy averted her eyes. She moved to lie on the bed in silence, turning to her side. Her lips were pressed into a thin line as she didn’t know how to answer him. She closed her eyes, letting the question slide, letting her mind wander somewhere past her talk with Zeref, past the question Natsu asked.

Love was an abstract thing. Love was what every woman wanted. Love was… what she yearned for. For years.

There was a rustle, a sense of blanket draped over her, soft lips pressing against her temple, a soft whisper of good night, and a pressure over her waist that was Natsu’s arm. A familiar warmth and the slight scent of cinnamon washed over her. She was searching for the familiar rhythm of a beating heart, and when she found his, another question arose in her sleep.

Whose love? 

…

Chapter Index

a/n. i’m really sorry for not updating for a long time :(

[xxccxy]

A Tale from Thelua Index

So I noticed that there are actually people who like my Nalu fanfiction! Thank you for reading and liking it! Since I think it must be a pain to search for the other chapter, I decided to make this so you can easily read it! Thank you~ :D

Summary

Because marriage was not always based on love, and happiness was a luxurious thing that not everyone could have. When they vowed, there were no love and happiness. But, they could learn, and, slowly, they understand. You see, it’s just a simple castle romance.

| Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6 | Chapter 7 | Chapter 8 | Chapter 9 | Chapter 10 | Chapter 11 | Chapter 12 | Chapter 13 | Chapter 14 | Chapter 15 | Chapter 16 | Chapter 17 | Chapter 18 | Chapter 19 | Chapter 20 | Chapter 21 | Chapter 22 | Chapter 23 | Chapter 24 | Chapter 25 |

[xxccxy]

A Tale from Thelua

Crystalline tears…

Fall from her eyes.

Trembling lips, broken sobs, aching heart. She screams a silent scream. Fragile hands gripping me tight, searching my beating heart, catching my heat. Golden hair covers her face, brown eyes hides behind the lids.

Look at me.

Look at me.

Lucy.

…

A Tale from Thelua

[19] secret

…

She had been staring, far into the distant horizon where the sky met the orange roof of the city houses, and it still felt like the time ticked slowly. Time was merciless to her today. It went like a blur this noon, but it refused to slide now. She stared at the reflection in the window as it grew more visible, as the sun disappeared, and the night took over. Her husband was sleeping soundly on the bed, facing her side with an arm stretched to take her portion of the bed in his grasp.

She had filled the empty space before, her back against his chest and his arms around her waist. But she woke up a couple of hours ago and she had been staring since then. Her mind had wandered to all things that happened this day. The jousting, the corolla, the dance offer, the overwhelming confusion.

She had convinced herself, that their reunion wouldn’t affect her and that she should ignore the gnawing tug in her chest. Meeting Zeref was natural; he was the first prince, he was Natsu’s elder brother. Whether he or she wanted it or not, their reunion was inevitable. It was just that both he and she had to act as if it was their first time meeting each other. It was the best for them.

What he had for her was an affection, and it had always been like that since the first time they meet in that forest on the border of Feliose and Thelua. What surprised her was the fact that it had stayed the same in him, even after the passing years.

She would be lying if she didn’t have anything toward him. But she knew better than to dwell with it.

That time, the peace between Feliose and Thelua couldn’t be guaranteed, after all.

Forgetting him was easy, yet it was harder to diminish the longing. Throwing away her feelings came next. Thus, when he stood in front of her, all memories of him she thought long gone managed to return and they filled her head.

No. It never happened.

That simple sentence was the only shield she had against the pouring memory, to withstand the mixed feelings, to cope. She had been repeating it over and over – the same mantra she chanted to herself for years until eventually she forgot them.

She could repeat it. She could bear with it for the second time. She had wished it would be the same as before; no one knew except him and her. Not even Wendy or her personal maid.

But Natsu knew.

Lucy walked to the bed and sat on the edge of the bed near Natsu’s sleeping body. The man had been sleeping soundly and she wondered if he hadn’t gotten any proper sleep lately. Her hand brushed the soft locks that fell to his sleeping eyes as he slept on his side. He stirred and turned to sleep on his back.

Natsu… it seemed like he could always find her, even after she thought there would be no one who could find her in the garden. At least none of the guest would come there and the maids rarely pass the corridor leading there. She thought it was the perfect place to be alone, to relax. But the more she tried to relax, the more she tried to forget what happened before she came there, the more it frustrated her. Before she knew it, her cheek was wet. Before she knew it, Natsu was there. Before she knew it, she was already engulfed in his embrace.

“Is it him? Brother?”

He knew something. But she knew Natsu left the audience seat before the match between Zeref and the knight from Westwend. Thus, Natsu shouldn’t have known about the blessing, the corolla, and the dance.

She didn’t want him to know, but she knew better than hiding it from him.

Her hand brushed back the hair on his forehead and kissed him there. “Natsu, wake up.”

Onyx eyes revealed, still filled with drowsiness, but he didn’t look as tired as before. She smiled, retracting her hand, and greeted him, “Good morning.”

“Lucy?” He pushed himself to sit, glancing to the window. “What time is it?”

“An hour before the party started,” she stood, walking to the closet and opened it. “We should get ready.”

There was a rustle and the sound of his footsteps. He was standing behind her, a hand on her shoulder, pulling it slightly. “You don’t have to do it if you don’t want to,” he whispered.

“You knew,” she said simply. Her hand stopped moving, resting on a dress with emerald color. “It’s fine. I’ll manage. Thank you, Natsu.”

She felt his grip on her shoulder tightened, and she gasped when he suddenly pulled her, turning her over. “Lucy, brother is–”

“In love with me. I know,” she cut him, giving him a small smile. “I know, Natsu. I’m aware of his affection. That’s why I’m going to ignore it.”

Lucy watched as his expression changed from surprise to worry. “He will not stay silent.”

“But I have you.”

His eyes widened.

“And I trust you,” she continued. “Now, try not to lose to your brother, will you?”

“Lucy, I’m serious.”

“Natsu, I’m trying.” Her smile vanished. Her hand gripped the sides of her dress, crumpling it as she bit her lips. “Don’t you trust me?”

It was harder than she thought. Convincing him that it was nothing to her was harder than she had imagined. He must be worried that it would create a disgrace and put a shame to the royal family, but Lucy knew better than making it true. And Zeref, as much as she didn’t want to rely on him, she knew he wasn’t unreasonable. He wouldn’t dare creating more scene, especially after what he did this morning.

Natsu’s grip on her shoulder weakened and there was a sigh from him. “Fine,” he said finally.

She smiled. “Thank you, Natsu,” Lucy said, kissing his cheek. “I promise I’ll tell you after the party ends.”

He took her hand, kissing it on the back, smiling a bit as he did so. “Of course.”

The man grabbed his suit, pushing his fingers through his hair to remove his bed hair and left the room. Her three maids along with Wendy entered afterward. Looking from the way Wendy frowned, Lucy could guess that it had reached the young lady’s ears. And not only Wendy, she thought as she noticed the tense expression on her maids.

She said nothing to the blue-haired girl as she sat on the edge of the bed. Lucy let Millie donned the silk dress of red in the favor of the knight’s red characteristic. Aside the tense expression, they weren’t as chipper as they usually did. It brought a gloomy atmosphere around them, and Lucy couldn’t help but noticing that they were waiting for her to talk first.

“So,” Lucy started as she sat before the mirror, watching Agne brushing her hair, “can I take it that you four ladies have already heard a certain rumor about me and the first prince?”

She felt the hand that brushed her hair stopped for a moment and saw the rest of the ladies flinched. Wendy’s eyebrows knitted, and she puffed her cheek. “I don’t understand,” Wendy said, breaking the long silence.

“You don’t have to, Wendy.”

“No! I mean this is a very serious matter! How can you be so calm about it, sister?”

“It’s just a rumor, Wendy, not a fact. I can easily ignore it. What makes it different from the one rumor about the prince of Pemberna?”

Wendy fell into a stagnant silence, fiddling with the hem of her dress as she thought over about it. “Well, yes, they don’t have much difference, but I’m afraid that it will affect the other noble’s view about you, sis.”

“Their view wouldn’t change drastically just because of this, and besides,” Lucy’s eyes met Wendy through the reflection on the mirror, “I have both you and Natsu.”

“My lady…”

Lucy glanced at Millie, who stood next to her, carrying a tray filled with jewelry. “What is it, Millie?”

The grip on the tray tightened. “Pardon my forwardness, but… His Highness is… Prince Zeref is already betrothed.”

Brown eyes blinked slowly. “Betrothed?”

To whom?

“I’ve never heard anything about this,” Wendy murmured, seemed to be surprised as well. “Is what you said true?”

There was an underlying demand of ‘tell me everything you know’ in Wendy’s tone. The tray the maid held was trembling as she paled. “M-My lady–”

“Calm down, Millie,” Lucy said. “You’re going to drop the tray. Don’t worry, even if it’s just a rumor, I’d like to hear what you know about it.”

The maid took a couple of deep breath, calming herself. The color of her face was returning. She said, “It is what I heard a few months ago from Lady Emma. She said that not only our second prince who is betrothed, but also our first prince.”

“My nanny?” Wendy questioned, confusion clearly displayed on her face. “But she never told me anything about that even after I returned here!”

“Indeed, my lady, for it is supposed to be a secret,” the maid said, placing the diadem on her head gently. “His Majesty only announced the betrothal of Prince Natsu to Princess Lucy as it is should be known for both Thelua and Feliose.”

Lucy nodded, fully taking in the information into consideration. The King only announced their marriage, but not Zeref’s. What suspicious was the fact that they made it unannounced. No one knew about it aside the royal family and the other family whose daughter got betrothed with Zeref.

Did Natsu know about this?

As if on cue, the door was knocked as it opened and Natsu entered the room. He closed the door behind him and leaned into it, watching Lucy as she stood and Wendy standing next to her. His gaze fixed to her hidden feet. “You wear those shoes again,” he remarked, smiling a little. “Shall we practice the dance before we go?”

Lucy laughed, remembering the same situation she had on the first day of their marriage celebration party. “I think I already get the hang of it.”

Natsu extended his hand, offering it to her. “Shall we go, then?”

“Of course,” she said, taking his hand and held it.

Before they left, Lucy spared a glance to the three maids hiding in the bathroom. As they noticed her leaving, they waved at her and she mouthed a ‘thank you’ to them accompanied with a smile. Wendy was walking on her left, taking her left hand while silently matching her pace.

When they arrived at the stairs that led to the hall, Lucy almost staggered as she saw the familiar figure who stood near it. He was there, and Lucy felt the squeeze Wendy gave to her hand. It was alright. Nothing was wrong with him standing there. Zeref was also the member of the royalty, she reminded herself. It wasn’t strange for him to be there.

He had a small smile on his face, giving the serene air around him, one that he only capable showing when less people around. “Good evening, Natsu, Wendy,” he greeted his siblings, paused, and then looked at her, “Lucy.”

“Good evening, brother,” Natsu greeted back first; not too soon or too late. “What are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be at the hall already?”

“I’m waiting for our sister,” he replied, looking at Wendy, “to escort her.”

Wendy blinked. “I-I’m honored, elder brother,” she quickly responded properly. “It has been a while, why don’t we dance?”

Unconsciously, Lucy gripped Natsu’s hand tighter, anticipating the other man’s reply. She managed to sigh inwardly when he affirmed Wendy’s offer with a natural nod. The blue-haired young lady took Zeref’s hand and they descended the stairs first, leaving Lucy and Natsu as they wait for them to reach the bottom.

There was a cheer coming from the guest. Lucy took the moment to whisper at Natsu. “Don’t leave me alone with him.”

“I won’t. Why?”

She gave him a blank look.

“Just a hunch.”

...

Chapter Index

[xxccxy]

A Tale from Thelua

“Shall we meet again here tomorrow?”

“But I have to attend the meeting with Thelua’s–”

“It doesn’t matter.”

When he said that, I am sure he was smiling at me. I am sure he took my hand and placed a brief kiss on the back after he said that. I am sure we were making a promise. Because, then, he said–

“I will wait for you.”

…

A Tale from Thelua

[16] forgotten

…

She had been sitting there for a while. Her horse was left alone, the reins were tied to a tree branch not far from her, and she was gazing at the sky. The clouds were drifting lazily as the wind gently blew, making leaves rustled against each other. Lucy couldn’t help but thinking, then; what a long morning she had. It felt like the time ticked with an agonizingly slow pace, as if it mocked her. Lucy wanted to take back all the compliment she had for today’s weather. Today wasn’t a good day for her.

It wasn’t as if her encounter with Zeref left her with a bad taste in her mouth. It wasn’t that. If all, she should be feeling happy to be able seeing him after a long time. But that was impossible, and she didn’t want to deceive herself. She was tired of playing pretend. Once, just once – she wanted to be a little selfish.

Seeing Zeref should be easy. Talking to him should be as easy as talking with Natsu. They were siblings. There was nothing to be afraid of. But she should admit it; it was uncomfortable. Even if the way he talked, the way he gazed at her managed to calm her, she couldn’t help but feeling uncomfortable still.

Why? Because he broke our promise? But it was already in the past.

The promise. The promise that he broke; it was nothing major, actually. True, she had been looking forward meeting him again, but she remembered not being too dejected when he didn’t come. She had anticipated it because she knew he risked his place to see her. Because she was the princess of Feliose while he was the knight of Thelua. A princess and a knight from the opposing country shouldn’t be able to meet so casually.

Maybe because seeing Zeref brought memories to the surface, and it was so intense that she couldn’t handle it at once. Everything came in a blurry motion; the memory of him laughing, talking with him, meeting him for the first time.

Oh…

She forgot one major thing. Zeref was the first prince of Thelua, an older brother of Natsu and Wendy, the one who should be taking the throne. Why did he become a knight?

“I am just a knight who guards the border for the conference’s sake. But I do wonder what business does a Feliose’s princess have in this forest, hm?”

He was such a lowly knight when he introduced himself to her. Yet, even in her disguise, he could tell she was Feliose’s princess. She knew he wasn’t just an ordinary man from that time. It was just that she never expected that he was the Flower Knight.

The title of Flower Knight was already bestowed upon him the moment she first saw him, but he never once mentioned it. Lucy learned that when she was attending the meeting as the delegate from Feliose. Even behind the mask of the armor that he wore when he stood behind Makarov Dreyar, she could tell that it was him. Why didn’t he tell her?

The promise they made was to meet after the conference ended, but at that conference was the last time she saw him. He didn’t come, no matter how long she waited.

“This sounds like a novel Levy would love to write,” she laughed. “Or maybe I should write one myself.”

“Write what?”

Lucy almost yelped when a voice suddenly broke the pleasant silence she had. She didn’t need to turn her head to the owner to know whose voice was it. She knew it very well, it was just that she wasn’t expecting him to be here.

“Natsu Dragneel, you are going to cut your wife’s lifespan short every time you did that,” Lucy sighed.

The man was leaning to the tree where she rested her back on. With arms crossed across his chest, he continued staring at her as if studying her.

“I didn’t know you can ride a horse,” he finally said, offering her a hand to help her stand.

Lucy took it immediately and replied, “I wasn’t called Feliose’s Stallion for no reason, of course. Now I know where your attention was when we were out for horse riding on our celebration party.”

“Are you the type who hold grudges?” Natsu asked.

“Usually, no. But I can if I want to.”

“Looks like I am a hot topic in your hate list.”

Lucy looked at him. “Why would I place you on that list?”

Natsu brushed a leaf from her hair. He held her gaze before replying. “You know very well what the reason is.”

Lisanna. The duchess’ name popped in her head immediately. She had forgotten about Natsu and the internal argument she had with herself regarding him. Lucy could swear; all of this was going to give her a severe headache, Natsu and Zeref.

While she was partly irritated for having her peaceful morning disturbed for the second time, she was actually relieved for having Natsu here. She wasn’t sure how she would react if Zeref was the one who appear. She wasn’t sure if she would be at today’s mercy if Zeref made his appearance once again. She started regretting on going horse riding.

“Why are you here?” She asked, changing the topic. “How about your paperwork?"

“Wendy told me about you riding alone and that I was a failure of a husband if I continue working instead of seeing you,” he sighed. “Can’t afford to lose my wife’s affection now, can I?”

Lucy turned her head to Natsu. “Hm? How much of affection do you think I have for you?”

Lucy had forgotten that she was – had fallen in love with this man beside her. The thought didn’t send her any ‘racing pulse’ or ‘butterfly in the stomach’ as how it was described in ��Estelle and Jules’. If she had to describe anything about this moment, she would choose the word ‘nothing’.

But, then, he smiled and Lucy had to admit that she liked it when he smiled.

“On the scale of ten, I would safely assume three.”

Three. No more and no less. The number was small, but it might be the perfect number if Lucy could measure it. The thing was that she wasn’t even sure about it herself.

“You don’t really have to go here, actually,” Lucy finally said, remembering her main purpose of horse riding. “I’m still on the lord’s field so it’s not dangerous."

Natsu sighed, reaching for her hair and played with it. “Still, you should at least have Gray with you. You know that you shouldn’t be wandering around alone.”

“Well, actually the first prince–”

Why did I mention him?

Natsu looked at her, confused as to why she stopped talking. “What?”

Lucy looked at Natsu’s finger. The motion, twirling her hair, playing with it, stopped. It wasn’t on purpose – Lucy never wanted to mention it to him. She wanted to forget their encounter and the fact that she knew him. But Natsu wasn’t a fool. He would notice something if she didn’t talk.

“Your brother was here,” Lucy said.

Natsu tilted his head. “He was?”

“He was here to find Wendy and get her to her class with Sir Larry. I left him shortly after Wendy left to continue horse riding.” She didn’t know why, but she wanted to skip all that was happening between her and Zeref.

I don’t want to remember it.

A water fell on her cheek, and on her hand. She looked up to the sky. It had filled with grey clouds and water started spilling from them. Lucy took a step back so her back was touching the tree as she continued watching the grass grew wet. Her view was blocked suddenly and she found herself ducking beneath Natsu’s arm as he stretched his cloak to use it as a shield from rain.

“It may be a slight drizzle, but you can still catch a cold,” he said as he glanced at her.

“I know,” she replied. “I hope this won’t change into a heavy rain.”

“It won’t,” he said.

The conversation ended. The sound of the water hitting the trees, leaves and grass were the only sound Lucy could hear. They stayed in a long silence. There wasn’t much that she could do beside watching puddles that slowly formed and the water droplets from the edge of Natsu’s cloak. She glanced at him and stared at him from a low angle. He was looking straight at whatever he was looking at, undisturbed by her gaze.

“Natsu,” she called, somehow feeling unnerved by the silence. “What are you thinking right now?”

He had to drag his eyes away from the wet tree across the clearing where Lucy’s horse took a shelter. His onyx eyes met her warm chocolate and she found herself comparing him and Zeref before she could stop it. Natsu has a lighter eye color.

“We will have a welcoming party for the knights in three days,” he started. “I was wondering if you have any specific person to invite.”

Levy. She had missed the blue-haired authoress because she had yet to send her a letter or receive any letter from her. She could bring along her daughter so they both can busy themselves with entertaining the baby. But, of course, she couldn’t do that in reality. She had guests to talk to and she knew it wouldn’t be good if Levy received all of her attention.

And about Lisanna–

“The duchess of Livre,” Lucy decided, “you can invite her.”

“Why?” He asked. I thought you don’t want to, was left unsaid but she knew from the way he gazed her.

She smiled a little, closing her eyes. “I trust you, Natsu.”

I will trust you.

When he didn’t reply, she added, “She will look bad in other’s eyes if you didn’t invite her and I don’t want any new rumor to arise.”

He gave her a nod and Lucy smiled. “Natsu, can I ask another thing?”

“What is it?”

“If one day,” she whispered, “if you and I were to be separated for a long time, would you hug me when we finally see each other?”

Natsu gave her a glance, confused. “I can’t pass this one, can I?”

Lucy shook her head.

His expression was unreadable. Impassive. But, he replied her. “Maybe I will.”

Lucy glanced back at the puddle near them, it was reflecting the grey sky. It didn’t look like it was going to clear up any soon. She didn’t like this. This, and the fact that there was something that tugged her chest, and somehow, the weight on her shoulder increased. She exhaled softly and closed her eyes.

Is that so?

...

Chapter Index