••the updates on this will take a little while until I finish one of my older works••

I woke up to the sound of abrupt knocking. My body jolted and I sat up, sending strands of my golden hair flying forward with the sudden motion. Before I even had a chance to pull the covers off an annoyingly familiar voice came through the door, making my mood turn sour as quickly as you could say my name.

"Lucy, I need you down in the main dinning room by eight!" Natsu's voice demanded before I heard his footfalls headed away from my door. I groaned quietly before the door opened and a girl stepped in. She had on a maid's uniform and her hair was short; it was the color of cherry blossoms.

"Hello Princess, I came to help get you ready for the day," her face was expressionless and her words where monotone, what a strange girl... I nodded and got out of the warm bed, immediately yearning to be asleep again.

"What's your name?" I ask the girl as she opened a door leading to a massive closet. I quietly gasped at the sight.

"My name is Virgo, I'm your personal attendant. Now please come get dressed," she continued to be static with her emotions. I forced myself forward, my legs moving without my commanding them to. Virgo pulled a dress out that was red with gold veiled fabric over the skirt. Black lace was layered over the chest and there where gloves for me to wear. The neck was high and had small chains dangling in loops over my chest.

"Will this fit me?" I ask her hesitantly.

"I'll fit it to you. Now put it on, please." I am already nodding and reaching for the silky fabrics. As I pull myself from my typical work clothes I feel a strange urge to hug the familiar cloth to my chest. Virgo seems to notice my hesitance to hand over the old dress and with a small smile she places her hand on mine. "I'll bring this back as soon as I wash it." I give her a smile of my own and let go of it. Then I slip on the red dress. It fit well in most places, and after a little adjusting it was laced up the back and the golden sash was tied. I released a soft breath in attempt to calm my jumping nerves.

"Would you like to have your hair done?" Virgo's voice snaps me out of the daze I was unaware of. I shake my head no, I liked having my hair loose. I felt her slip a hair ornament behind my ear to sweep some of my hair away from my eyes. "At least let them see the kindness your eyes hold." her voice was tiny as she turned to leave.

"W-would you mind guiding me to the main dinning hall? I would get horribly lost if I went on my own..." my face flushes with embarrassment as I ask. She looks back at me and nods.

"Please, follow me."

I do just that and I look around in awe. The place was massive, and filled with rich colorful draperies, intricate artwork and metalwork. It was breathtaking. Right as the clocks chimed eight I entered what Virgo told me was the main dining hall. My face was flushed with slight embarrassment as I had almost been late. Natsu was seated at the table along with a few other extravagantly dressed people.

"E-excuse me..." I murmur and when my eyes lock on Natsu's he motions for me to come sit beside him. I hurry to do so. Once I sit down everyone begins speaking to one another and I breathe a sigh of relief.

"You just barely made it," Natsu notes and I look over at him with a sharp glare. He raised an eyebrow and smirked.

"I'd behave if I where you," he leaned in close to my ear. "This is my family." I had sneaking suspicion that was who they where, but now that I knew my nerves jumped. Then Natsu did something unexpected and he blew gently on my ear. I jerk my head to look at him with wide eyes and flushed cheeks.

"Natsu, this is not the time to tease your woman, please have some manners," the older woman at the table said sternly, but her look seemed amused. Just how difficult has this guy been with women?

I turn then to the food before me. I thanked Mavis that there was nothing unfamiliar before me and as everyone ate I enjoyed the familiar delicacy—poached quail eggs with rolls and assorted fruits. I had only ever got to have it on special occasions so it brought a small smile to my face. After the meal was finished, Natsu kept me behind so we where the only two in the room.

"Do you want to make me look bad?" He asked as soon as the last person had left and the door had shut, wasting no time.

"Good morning to you too," I fold my arms and roll my eyes.

"Hey, we have a deal, remember? You help me or your friend's life goes to hell," he growls. I glare at him.

"I did my part, you're the one who made yourself look bad!" I tell him with a huff.

"You where barely here on time, do you have any idea how bad that looks? Are you clueless as to how to act properly?" He grabs my arm and pulls me towards him.

"I think between the two of us it's you who's clueless," I try and jerk my arm free.

"Alright, here's how this is going to work," he brings his face so close to mine that our noses touch. "I'm going to teach you how to act like a princess. You want Levy to be safe, don't you?"

I sigh and nod. "Let's do this..." He grins.

"Follow me Lucy, I'll tell you everything you'll need to know to survive as my Princess," Natsu starts to leave and he motions for me to follow him. "Oh, and the announcement has been made by the way."

"What announcement?" I ask as I follow him.

"That I've 'had my heart captured by Lucy Heartfilia, the daughter of Layla Heartfilia; baroness of Magnolia', or something of that nature" Natsu looks at me with a sly grin. My blood runs cold and I freeze.

"My mother was a noble?" My voice is low.

"You didn't know? Your father gambled away everything and thus was forced to beg for his life and fortune in front of my father," Natsu tells me. Tears form on the brim of my eyes.

"That's why he was killed?! He gambled away everything?" My voice cracks and Natsu turns to me.

"You seriously didn't know?" He asks with surprise in his voice. I shake my head and brush at the tears quickly.

"Your father's debt was massive...nothing he could begin to pay back. So he exchanged his life and his wife's as long as you where left to live." Natsu pushes his hands in his pockets. "It was sad really."

"I was left alone...because my parents where forced to lay down their lives as payment?! What kind of cruel people leave a little girl on her own!" I exclaim, startling Natsu slightly.

"What do you mean cruel? Your father was the one to gamble himself so far into debt that he couldn't make it up in two lifetimes!" Natsu scowls.

"But to take my mother too? I was forced to fend for myself in the slums, I worked in the smudgy factories and wore myself thin as a young girl all because someone saw it fit to take my mother's life for a debt?!" Tears ran down my face now. Natsu's scowl faded and he wiped at my tears slowly.

"I can't change what my predecessors did, but we have to make an impression somehow. Show the people that we aren't afraid to do what it takes to rule," Natsu's tone was icy.

"Is that why you're forcing me to be your temporary princess?" I ask in a small voice.

"Partially, yes. Now come on, you have a lot to learn." He turns from me and continues on. I sigh and hold my arm, watching him walk. Maybe...maybe he's different. But I can't be sure yet, I can't naively believe that yet. I bite my lip and sigh before moving my feet in the same direction as his.

• • ✿ • •

★ Update one day early! Happy winter, I hope you all are having a better week than I will be. I need the new year desperately! Haha, well, this is dedicated to sempiternalhiraeth for the sexy cover.