The new employees were extremely efficient; as soon as Rhodes gave the order, it didn't take long for the banquet hall to be completely redecorated.
Food and drinks were abundant, and the table settings were exquisite.
Only, no one entered.
Those who had recovered from their motion sickness didn't go straight to the banquet hall. Instead, they scattered throughout the Duke's Mansion like curious children let loose in a palace.
Calling it "wandering" would've been too polite. "Rampaging" fit better.
People ran through the corridors; some lingered in the courtyard admiring the architecture; others critiqued the perfectly trimmed flowerbeds and even offered "suggestions for improvement."
Every now and then, someone's head would suddenly pop out of a window, from behind a statue, or, on one unforgettable occasion, from inside a well.
And as expected, the pink-haired head appeared most often.
The servants, who had just spent the morning hosting a group of elegant and well-mannered nobles, were now completely bewildered.
But the Duke had said not to worry about his friends, so they tried not to.
At most, they gently reminded the two little girls not to climb high places or get too close to the well.
After a brief tour, Lisanna looked around and asked, slightly anxious,"Mira-nee, are you and Brother-in-law going to move here?"
Mira smiled. "Of course not. We'll still live at home. We'll just come over sometimes to relax."
She added jokingly, "For example, when the younger siblings at home get too noisy and annoying, we'll escape here for a few days."
Lisanna puffed out her cheeks and fired back, "Oh? Are you saying we're too noisy, or that we're in your way?"
"Are you saying my cooking is bad?"
"…"
Lisanna fell silent, feeling personally attacked. She was only second to last in the family rankings! (And if you counted Warm, she was third to last!)
Her cooking wasn't that bad, right? It was at least on par with an ordinary family's!
'Hmph. Married couples really are the same.'
'No wonder they're called the Demon Couple.'
Mira reached out and patted her sister's head. "Not just us, you and Elfman can come over too. Your Brother-in-law said you both should pick a room you like."
Lisanna immediately looped her arm through Mira's, grinning mischievously.
"The Duchess's treatment is so good~ Looks like there's no danger of falling out of favor anytime soon~"
Mira laughed, brushing a hand through her hair.
"Oh my, so you found out? Isn't your sister's charm simply irresistible?"
"Mira-nee, you've become so vain."
After exhausting their initial burst of energy exploring the mansion, Fairy Tail's members finally remembered that there was food and drink waiting for them.
One by one, they streamed into the banquet hall.
By custom, the Demon Couple should've given a proper speech, something polite about thanking everyone for attending the housewarming celebration.
Instead, both simply raised their glasses and shouted together,
"Fairy Tail, cheers!"
"Cheers!!!"
The hall erupted into laughter, clinking glasses, and joyous noise.
But it didn't take long before "joyous noise" turned into "brawling chaos."
Plates were snatched, food fights broke out, people chased each other across tables, it was a miracle the walls stayed standing.
The servants delivering food and drink went through the full emotional cycle:
shock → disbelief → numb acceptance → calm professionalism.
They soon learned to simply keep the drinks coming and dodge the occasional flying plate.
It was, in its own way, magical.
The ever-mature Wendy quickly pulled Asuka away from the center of the brawl and over to a safer corner. On the way, she somehow managed to grab a few desserts.
Asuka clapped her hands, hopping excitedly.
"A fight! Another fight! Go, Romeo! Go, Dad!"
"Don't cheer for fights," Wendy sighed, feeling a headache coming on. "It's not something to be excited about."
"Miss Asuka, please step back a bit more."
"Miss Wendy, would you like another glass of juice?"
"Miss Wendy, Miss Asuka, please be careful of falling debris."
Wendy blinked in confusion. Why were all the maids so attentive to her and Asuka?
Was this Rhodes's special instruction?
The banquet's end was exactly as one might expect from Fairy Tail.
After a spectacular, multi-round melee, the entire guild collectively passed out in the hall.
Some were sprawled across tables.
Some lay snoring beneath them.
A few were half-embedded in walls.
And one or two, astonishingly, were hanging from chandeliers.
The servants were impressed.
It was magical… and a nightmare to clean up.
Rhodes sighed, rubbing his temples, then called out to the only reliable person still standing.
"Laxus, I'll trouble you to help carry them to empty rooms."
After everything was settled, Rhodes finally took his wife back to their room and rigorously tested the quality of the large bed.
The spring night passed swiftly, and soon the morning sun rose high. Even as a Duke, Rhodes had to keep up with his daily exercises.
After showering and dressing properly, the couple went out to check on the others.
Laxus and Erza were, as always, the most diligent, sparring lightly in the courtyard, their movements sharp and disciplined. They stopped after a few brief exchanges, careful not to cause any damage.
Rhodes sighed inwardly at his own laxness, but then reasoned that last night's "exercise" had been an important matter too, just... of a different nature.
He'd make up for training later.
The rest of the guild gradually woke up. Most behaved calmly, waiting for breakfast, while a few groggy ones stumbled out, forgetting entirely where they were.
Breakfast, thankfully, required no extra instructions. The kitchen had long been prepared.
Everyone sat in twos and threes, chatting over hot food. A few troublemakers, whose sense of shame was inversely proportional to their appetite, started asking Rhodes whether a Duke was allowed to practice polygamy.
That question earned them a look from Mira so cold it could freeze lava.
After breakfast, the day's "mission" was decided: shopping.
It was rare for them to come all the way to the Joya Kingdom, so they weren't going to stay cooped up inside the Duke's Mansion.
They split off in pairs, eager to explore the town and buy souvenirs for their friends and family back home.
Juvia and Gray, naturally, were the first to leave.
Even the usually quiet Levy and Gajeel, and the newly "totally not a couple" Elfman and Evergreen, went off together without protest.
The mood was infectious.
"Hey, Lucy, let's go too!" Natsu said with his usual grin.
Lucy blinked, surprised by the sudden invitation. "Eh? Me?"
"Yeah. You're my partner, right?" Natsu replied like it was the most obvious thing in the world.
Lucy exhaled in relief, though she couldn't help pouting a little. "So that's the only reason?"
"Well… not exactly." Natsu looked away, scratching his cheek, uncharacteristically hesitant.
Lucy's heart skipped. That expression, that tone, wait, could it be…?
She clutched her chest, trying to calm her heartbeat. "Then… then why?"
Natsu looked left and right, then leaned toward her, gesturing for her to come closer.
Lucy's cheeks turned pink. He's leaning in?
Could he actually be thinking about… that?!
Her mind filled with sparkly, embarrassing scenes straight out of one of her romance novels. Still, she leaned in, trembling slightly.
"Actually…" Natsu's breath brushed her ear, sending a shiver down her spine.
"Actually," he whispered, "Happy and I forgot to bring our wallets. But since we're abroad, there's a ton of cool stuff to buy, so..."
"Eh?!"
Lucy's imagination shattered like glass. She jumped back, waving her hands in panic. "No! No, Natsu! I..I haven't even thought about that kind of thing yet! Even if you suddenly..."
"???"
Natsu tilted his head, baffled. "So… borrowing money's not okay?"
"Aye!" Happy chimed in sadly.
Lucy froze for three full seconds. Then she covered her face and groaned, "I'm such an idiot…"
...
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