Juvia wasn't the only one facing a challenging evening. As Princess Lucy returned to the palace, Zash arrived simultaneously from his search for Zeref's descendant. Although he had no luck locating him today, he was determined not to give up. In the meantime, he needed to find a way to delay the upcoming summer trip to the Magnolia Nation. Spotting the princess, he quickly devised the perfect diversion.

"Good evening, fair princess," he greeted her warmly.

"Good evening, Zash," she replied, her tone polite but her eyes betraying a hint of suspicion. From the moment she met the magician, her instincts had warned her that something was amiss. Beneath his charismatic facade lurked a man with dark intentions, and she vowed never to trust him. His leering gaze often made her uncomfortable, a vulgarity that left her feeling sickened. If only he didn't have her father so completely under his spell.

"Did you enjoy your trip to the oasis?" he asked, a sly smile playing on his lips. "I imagine bathing in its waters was quite exhilarating."

He tried to imagine her without her clothes, and she sensed his gaze, instinctively putting distance between them.

"I'd rather not discuss this. I'm heading to my private chambers now."

"Yes, Princess. You should rest well in preparation for the exhausting days ahead."

"Trip?" Lucy asked, her brow furrowing. "What trip?"

"Oh, did His Majesty not inform you? He has arranged for you to marry the prince of the Verdenshav Kingdom."

Her expression shifted from surprise to horror.

"What?"

"Yes, it's a political alliance. Your father fears that the Tiānkōng Empire may one day threaten Lazan City. A union with Verdenshav would help prevent that."

"And he decided this without consulting me?"

"It seems so."

"I can't believe this! My father has always been overbearing, but he would never force me into marriage."

"He is the sultan, and you are the princess. Your happiness is of little concern to him or the city."

"Where is my father? I need to speak with him immediately!"

"He is in his study, drafting a letter to the court of Verdenshav, and he ordered that he not be disturbed. I insist you respect his wishes."

Lucy shot him an infuriated glare before storming off to her chambers. She couldn't remember ever feeling this angry. Her father was actually going to force her to marry a feeble-minded prince against her will. As if it weren't enough that he controlled every other aspect of her life, now he was dictating who she would spend her future with.

"A princess must do this! A princess must say that! A princess must marry a complete stranger! It's absurd!" Lucy ranted to her maids. "I can already picture him—my future groom! Ugly as a toad, mean as an old goat, greedy as a wild pig! The most prideful and arrogant man on earth!"

"Please, Your Highness, calm down," Aries urged gently.

"I refuse to calm down! I won't be forced into a wedding! I won't give up my freedom!"

"There's no rule saying you have to," Aquarius chimed in. "Just speak to the sultan about it in the morning."

"What's the point? We all know how it will end. I'd just be wasting my breath."

"Maybe this prince won't be as bad as the others," Aries suggested. "I've heard merchants say he's kind, intelligent, a wonderful dancer, and quite handsome. You might actually like him."

"I might hate him! And if I do, I'll still have to marry him. I can't take this anymore!"

"What do you mean by that?" Aquarius asked, concern in her voice.

But Lucy remained silent. She felt utterly trapped. To her, her father was about to make a decision that would ruin her life. She needed a way out. She had tried reasoning with the sultan, but he never listened. That left her with only one option: escape. The only thought that could ensure her freedom and happiness was to leave the palace.

"Aquarius, Aries, leave me," she commanded.

"Yes, my lady," they replied, exiting her private chambers.

Now alone, she quickly packed a satchel with some money and a few essentials for her journey ahead. She changed out of her elegant evening gown, donning a simple shawl and the common attire of peasants. As she gazed into the mirror, she barely recognized the reflection staring back at her—a common girl rather than a princess. This transformation was crucial; she couldn't risk being recognized.

Patiently, she waited for the palace to grow dark and quiet, as everyone, including her father, drifted off to sleep. With her satchel in hand, she quietly slipped out of her bedchamber, through the palace gardens, and toward the walls. For a moment, doubt crept in, and she hesitated. She knew this was a risky endeavor; after all, she had never ventured beyond the palace walls or explored the city of Lazan since her mother's passing. The thought of stepping into the unknown frightened her.

Yet, she realized that staying any longer would mean sacrificing her happiness and freedom. She longed to explore the world and find true love, rather than remain trapped in a loveless marriage. Though it pained her to leave her father and handmaidens behind, she felt she had no other choice.

"Forgive me, Father," she whispered, casting one last glance at the palace. "I do love you, but I can't stay here any longer. I've tried to find happiness within your laws, but this arranged marriage is the last straw. If I can't even choose who I marry, then I have no life of my own. I see no other way to claim my independence."

With determination, she climbed the garden tree and carefully scaled the wall, slipping into the night unnoticed. Lucy was uncertain of what awaited her, but she was confident it would be a thousand times better than becoming the wife of a stranger who might be just as dreadful as Prince Dan—or worse.

...

Since that day at the fortune teller's tent, Natsu's luck had truly taken a turn for the better. After mastering the art of using the ring to produce and control fire, he crafted a captivating street performance. Fireworks erupted from his fingertips, transforming into remarkable shapes like camels, peacocks, and monkeys. Peasants gathered, mesmerized, showering him with coins for Happy to collect. This newfound success meant they enjoyed more meals and gained weight—though the good kind, the kind that brings strength.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you!" Natsu exclaimed to the applauding crowd during his evening act. "You're a wonderful audience, and now for my grand finale!"

With a flourish, he raised his hands, unleashing a torrent of red flames that spiraled into the sky, forming a magnificent dragon with outstretched wings. The crowd was spellbound—half cheered enthusiastically, while the other half stood in stunned silence, witnessing something they had never imagined.

"How does he do that?" many murmured in awe.

"Trade secret," he would always reply, concluding his performance with a dazzling display of colorful fireworks that rained down over the city.

"You're really raking in the dough, pal," Happy said, counting the coins tossed by the crowd.

"Which means another hearty breakfast for us."

"Yep! So, what are you in the mood for dinner tonight?"

"Fish. I want fish."

"Why is it always fish with you? Seriously, every time we talk about food, it's fish, fish, fish."

"I can't help it! I'm a cat, and cats love fish. Maybe if you let me have some once in a while, I wouldn't ask for it all the time."

"Okay, okay. Fish for dinner it is."

"Yes! Finally!"

The two friends made their way to the marketplace, stopping at a fish vendor where Natsu bought two salty, flavorful trouts before heading back to their humble home for breakfast. This had been their routine for an entire week: wake up, perform for money, buy breakfast, eat at home, give a second performance, buy and eat lunch, rest, perform one last time, buy and eat dinner, and finally go to bed. Natsu thought he would be content with this simple life. He had always believed that as long as he could provide for himself, he wouldn't need anything more. Yet, despite having a steady income, he felt a lingering sadness.

"What's wrong, buddy?" Happy asked, noticing that Natsu had barely touched his trout.

"Yeah, I guess I'm not as hungry as I thought."

"You not hungry? That's a first. Are you getting sick or something?"

"No, it's just... Happy, I know I should be grateful for how things are going. With this ring, we'll probably never go hungry again. I can even cook our meals with it. If we save up, we could buy new clothes and maybe even a house of our own. But it still feels like something's missing. Something that money can't buy."

"Like what?"

"Oh, I don't know... Maybe someone special to share my success with."

"Well, you'll always have me," Happy said with a smile.

"Thanks, Happy. But that's not quite what I had in mind."

"Then what? Oh no, don't tell me you want a dog."

"A girl, Happy. I want a girl."

"Oh..." Happy sighed, hating to see his best friend down. "Don't worry, Natsu. You'll meet someone when you least expect it."

"Yeah, right. What woman would want me? Look at where I live and what I wear." He gestured to his ragged clothes. "I can't even afford a shirt without holes. How am I supposed to keep a wife?"

"Just be patient. Love takes time."

"Happy, what do you know about love? You're a cat. You mate with the first female you find."

"For your information, we cats have standards and prefer to take things slow. Well, I do, at least. Granted, I've never met a female, but I wouldn't breed with just anyone. That's undignified."

Natsu chuckled at his cat's words and glanced out at the city once more. He wondered if Happy was right—if he could really find a good wife. A special lady who was smart, fun, and kind. Beauty wasn't a requirement, but it wouldn't hurt. Most importantly, he hoped she wouldn't mind that he was a street rat and would love him for who he was on the inside. But what were the odds of that happening?