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Lucy Heartfilia had been living at the royal castle as a servant ever since she had been a young girl. Before that life she had been living on the streets as a homeless girl who had had no other way to live but to steal what she could to survive. Then, on one faithful day she happened to meet the king of Fiore. She had been desperately looking for something to eat on the unusually cold evening, and had somehow found herself with a group of other homeless children sneaking up into the palace to steal food from the kitchen. Lucy had been caught by the people working at the palace, while the others were able to escape without looking back. The servants were about to kick her out back to the streets when King Dragneel happened to walk in on the scene. He looked at the unfolding event in silence for a moment and Lucy held her breath. She was sure this man would be just as cruel to her as every other adult had been ever since Lucy had become homeless.
She ended up being surprised by the king’s kindness.
“Why are you dragging this little girl outside?” the king asked.
“She was caught stealing food from the kitchen, Your Majesty”, said the adult holding Lucy’s left arm in his tight grip so she wouldn’t escape.
“I see”, the king said. “And you believe that throwing a child out into the cold night is the right thing to do?”
“It’s what everyone does, Your Majesty”, said the other man holding Lucy’s right arm defensively.
“You shall do no such thing tonight. Let the girl go and continue working as you were.”
“But, Your Majesty – “
“No buts, boy. I expect better behavior from my staff”, King Dragneel said in a tone of authority.
“Yes, Your Majesty”, said the men in unison and they let Lucy go. They bowed for the ruler and then walked away, leaving Lucy standing there with the royal man and his wife and their young son, who just appeared on the doorway. Both of them looked curiously at Lucy and then the king.
Lucy was suddenly aware of how dirty her clothes were when she was looking at the clean, fancy looking family in front of her and couldn’t help but remember the days when she had also been able to wear proper clothes. It felt like it was a long time ago even though it had only been a year since she had become homeless.
After that night Lucy’s life changed forever. She had been fed and eventually given a place to stay which surprised Lucy. The next morning she had thought she would leave the palace because how could her good luck continue? It would be impossible. But the impossible became the exact opposite because in the morning she found herself being taught how to take care of things in the castle and how to behave around the royal family. Soon Lucy realized the royal palace had become her new home.
Lucy smiled. Now, years later, she had been here for eight years and she wouldn’t have it any other way. She owed her life for the royal family for saving her from the life on the streets. She was happy with the life she lived now. She was used to having to wake up early in the morning to start on with the chores of the day. She got out of her very comfortable bed in her cozy little room in the servants’ quarters. It was a pretty plain room with only her bed, bedside table, a wardrobe and a table with two chairs on both sides of it by the window. Lucy often sat on the table reading books or writing when she had some free time. After dressing up to her outfit, she walked into the dining room that had been built for the staff working at the palace. It was a rather chilly room compared to her own cozy room in the second floor. It was a dimly lit room that had stone walls and floor. There were many tables for four people to sit on and on the opposite side was a table filled with different options for breakfast. Lucy’s favorite was the oatmeal because it kept hunger away the best.
After the breakfast it was time to begin with the chores. Lucy was one of the servants who were taking care of the royal family’s breakfast today according to the schedule she was looking at. Sometimes the matron decided to throw a dice to decide who did what as an attempt to keep things interesting because so many people had complained that their work – and their lives – had become dull. Lucy didn’t judge them for their thoughts as she had also been more or less bored at the time. Ever since this new little game had become a norm, things had definitely gotten more interesting.
“You’re so lucky, Lucy, so many girls here wishes to serve breakfast for the prince”, sighed one of the servants when Lucy made her way towards the stairs that would take her to the Sun Room where the royal family always ate their breakfast.
“I guess the luck was on my side”, Lucy just said and shrugged as she went.
“You should tell luck to pick one of us once in a while, too!”
*
The Sun Room was a very delightful room to be in. It was round shaped and had big windows with the view into the garden outside. The room wasn’t big in size and it was often used for the Queen’s tea parties as well. It had been given the title Sun Room because of the amount of sunlight that always came into the room during daylight. Lucy herself thought the room was really pretty during nighttime as well but kept those thoughts to herself. There were massive rose bouquets in big vases on the both sides of the glass doors on the opposite side of the room. They lead into the garden where Lucy had went to get a smaller bouquet of roses for the table. Three other servants were with her helping with the preparations.
“I can’t believe he allows her to call him by his name instead of addressing him as ‘Your Highness’”, someone said.
“I agree. Do you think she gets special treatment?”
“I wouldn’t be surprised if she sneaks into the prince’s room to entertain him when everyone else sleeps.”
Lucy pretended she wasn’t horrified. They were talking about her! She had tendencies to call Prince Natsu by his name instead of addressing him correctly. She and him had known each other for so long that sometimes when they were alone, Lucy forgot that he was the heir to the throne. She made a mental note to herself to be more careful from now on.
“Wouldn’t be the first time it happened with these boys though. The older prince Zeref always had visitors at night, remember?”
The other servant giggled. “I bet the king and the queen married him off to the Vermillion family simply so he’d stop doing so.”
Lucy remembered it well. Prince Zeref had been well known for playing games of seduction with the servants of the royal palace. Lucy had seen many of them come and go on a daily basis, usually after sunset, and when it had been reported to the king and the queen by one of the servants, they had immediately taken action. He had then been sent away to marry the daughter of the Vermillion family. He had agreed to it, but Lucy was sure that if the maid hadn’t told his parents about it, he wouldn’t have been caught doing it. Still, to this day, Lucy wasn’t sure what had happened exactly but since the maid had also left the palace soon afterwards, Lucy had a hunch that she had been carrying his bastard child.
“Hurry up, ladies, we must have this place ready in ten minutes!” said the matron in a bossy tone.
“Yes, madame”, Lucy and the other servants said in unison as the matron walked over to the windows and began opening them.
“You two will not be in this room when they arrive”, matron told the other two maids who had been gossiping earlier. “You gossip too much instead of working and I don’t want my staff to make me look like a fool”, she went on.
“Sorry, matron”, girls said in unison.
They were replaced with two other maids after the room was ready for the breakfast. They looked disappointed when Lucy was the only one of them who was allowed to stay in the room. She didn’t think much of it though because she had to concentrate on making sure everything was spot on. Replacement maids arrived just when Lucy had finished her last minute check up. She then joined the other two maids by the table just when the royal family walked into the room. Lucy bowed, trying her best to keep her emotions in check when she saw prince Natsu walk in.
Lucy had developed feelings for him over the years she had spent living in the palace. But because of her social status, he was an unrequited love for her. She could only love him from afar but never get too close to him.
Which is the mistake that I have actually done since I tend to call him by his name which I shouldn’t be doing! I don’t want that Zeref issue to be repeated! Lucy furiously thought while she served the Queen her morning tea that she loved so much. She smiled kindly as usual. She was a very kind woman but it was not a weakness. She also had a strong sense of justice and didn’t let anyone walk over her. She was also a loving and caring mother. She had dark hair like her oldest son but her eyes were the same shade as Natsu’s.
King Dragneel had salmon colored hair that Natsu had inherited from him and dark eyes that Zeref had inherited from him. He was also a very kind hearted man. It was obvious because he had saved Lucy’s life all those years ago. He was also strong willed but also very charming which he used to his advantage when he discussed politics. Lucy had witnessed him in action when she was serving tea to him and his guests few times in the past.
“Thank you, Lucy”, Natsu said when Lucy poured tea into the cup next to his plate.
Lucy nodded so she didn’t accidentally call him with his name instead of addressing him correctly. He was so handsome. And he had such a fun personality as well even though he had a hint of sadness to it, too. He had been close with his older brother and seeing him leave had made him seem a little bit lonely at times. Lucy had sometimes kept him company if he asked her to stay and that was why she had eventually developed feelings for him.
*
Later that day when Lucy was on her way back to the servants’ quarters after a very long and exhausting day. She didn’t mind the silence that had fallen into the corridors of the palace. Corridors were dimly lit and when Lucy had been younger, they seemed a little bit scary but as she grew up, she appreciated it a lot more because it relaxed her enough that she’d fall asleep quickly later. She needed to be energized every day because if she wasn’t, her work results wouldn’t be on the required level and the matron would be absolutely livid over that. Lucy didn’t want that to happen because she was frightening when she was mad. Lucy had seen her lose control too many times and had also been at the receiving end of her anger twice in the past.
Lucy shivered at the thought. “Don’t think about it, don’t think about it…” she mumbled as she walked forward.
Suddenly a door nearby opened and a hand grabbed Lucy’s wrist. She gasped when she was pulled into the room that’s door had appeared out of nowhere on the wall. Lucy was aware that the palace had many secret rooms and passageways for safety reasons but also to make servants’ movements in the palace. Lucy used these passageways on a daily basis but this particular room where she had been pulled inside was completely unfamiliar to her! It looked like it hadn’t been cleaned in years judging by the spider webs in the corners and all the dust that covered the floor and the furniture.
Lucy turned around to look at the person who had pulled her into the room and was surprised to see prince Natsu standing in front of the door, looking at her with his onyx eyes. Lucy had a hard time to not to get lost in those eyes because to her they were beautiful.
“Your Highness”, Lucy said and bowed a little bit as she should.
“You can call me by my name, Lucy”, Natsu said and furrowed his eyebrows. “I thought I told you it was fine.”
“Other servants are talking about us in an unacceptable manner, Your Highness. I must address you correctly or they will think there’s something forbidden between us”, Lucy said.
“But we are alone now, Lucy. You have my permission to address me by my name”, Natsu said and grinned, which made him even more handsome in Lucy’s eyes. “You don’t have to be formal around me if it’s just us”, he added.
“Alright, Natsu”, Lucy sighed. “Are you sure it’s okay if we meet like this?” she asked him.
“It probably isn’t, but I had to see you”, Natsu said and he walked over to her. “It seems to me that I can’t sleep without talking with you first.”
“Why is that?” Lucy asked as she raised her hands to clean his clothes up that had dust on them. She had been working at the palace for so long that when she noticed dirt, she would immediately clean it up and Natsu had definitely made his clothes look like a mess after walking through a secret passageway to this room. Lucy knew that she would find his clothes later in the laundry room waiting to be washed properly.
Natsu pressed his unbelievably warm hands on top of Lucy’s who’s hands were on his chest. She was surprised at how warm his touch was and looked up into his eyes. They didn’t need words to know that they definitely had something that shouldn’t be between them due to differences on their social statuses. She smiled to him anyways and he smiled back, his eyes filled with warmth.
“We shouldn’t have these feelings for each other, Natsu”, Lucy whispered. “You’re the prince and I’m nothing but a servant.”
“It’s even more difficult to try to resist this though, isn’t it?” Natsu said quietly. “It is very hard for me at least.”
“It’s way too hard”, Lucy agreed. “Maybe in another time and another place we can be together. If this is meant to be.”
“Agreed. Our souls will certainly find each other again”, Natsu whispered and then he put his forehead against Lucy’s who felt sparks fly between them immediately. Lucy couldn’t help but smile even though she knew she could never be with the prince in this life. She hoped that they’d have a chance in the next one because what she shared with Natsu was something she had never felt before in her life.
Natsu looked into her eyes and caressed her cheek for few moments before he let go of her and walked away from her. Lucy watched him go in silence, feeling a little bit sad that he had to leave. He looked at her over his shoulder at the doorway on the other side of the dusty secret room and smiled to her, to which Lucy immediately smiled back to. Then he walked out, leaving the blonde alone in the room. Lucy walked out of the room soon afterwards without a word regarding the events that had taken place and made her way to the servants’ quarters.