— — — — — —
Before long, the three mages arrived at the Heartfilia mansion.
"Wow… what a gorgeous house. Guess rich people really live differently," Erza said in awe as they stepped inside.
"Please, Erza, don't tease me right now. I'm really nervous."
Lucy's smile faded. Her expression hardened as she walked in, looking almost somber. She no longer had her usual cheerful warmth.
Not long after, a servant spotted her.
"Miss has returned!"
"Miss, welcome home!"
"That boy is your runaway-romance partner? He's handsome enough."
"Miss, have you been eating well?"
"Miss, are you still practicing your Celestial Spirit Magic? Remember, that magic relies on love and trust. Don't forget that."
Gardener, maids, tutors—everyone rushed over at once, talking over each other.
"Everyone, I've been doing fine outside."
"And Teacher, I've been practicing my Celestial Spirit Magic every day. I remember everything you taught me."
"And he is not my elopement partner. I ran away from home, not eloped! He's just a friend from my guild."
Lucy tried to smile, but her expression didn't shine like it used to. It was a forced smile, her eyes still full of sadness.
She only wanted to reassure the people who had cared for her since she was little.
"Miss, you don't have to hide it from us. Eloping is lovely!" the gardener yelled.
"Miss, there's nothing wrong with eloping. I support you!" another chimed in.
"Miss, have you been practicing your Celestial Spirit Magic? Celestial Spirit Magic is… is…" The magic tutor trailed off, then restarted the same lecture again. He was getting old.
Just then, a servant approached. "Miss, the master asks that you go to the study."
"I understand." Lucy sighed. "He's still the same. His daughter runs away for this long and all he says is 'come to the study.'"
She glanced back at Kazuma, her eyes silently pleading for some kind of encouragement.
"Lucy, if you can't win the argument, then beat him up. You're weak, but you can still handle a normal human. Talking is pointless. Fist makes the rules."
Kazuma gave her a thumbs up. Diplomacy had never been his strong point. Knocking the enemy unconscious so they couldn't talk back was more his style.
"I swear, he's my dad. Stop telling me to tear him apart," Lucy muttered. Oddly enough, his ridiculous advice washed away some of her gloom. This guy was always like that.
"Asking for trouble… but sometimes that simple mindset really does fix problems," she whispered.
"Anyway… will you come with me?" she asked.
"Nope. I'm only here to bring you back. The rest is up to you. If he starts swinging and you can't win, then call me." Kazuma placed his hand on her head and ruffled her golden hair with a gentle smile.
"It's not going to turn into a fight," Lucy laughed weakly.
"Miss, so you ran away for love. I see," someone whispered behind them.
"So he is the elopement partner after all."
"Stop saying things like that! I just ran away, that's all!" Lucy snapped.
"Alright, alright, Miss, whether it was eloping or running away, you can't meet the master dressed in such cheap, rough clothes," the maid said firmly. "Come, let me change you."
Lucy blinked. "Why do I feel like she's insulting me?"
Kazuma looked down at his own clothes, then at Lucy's. For a moment, he also felt a strange sting. "Was… that aimed at me?"
"Probably not," Erza said, though she tugged at her armor with a frown. "Is my outfit crude too? If I'd known I would've worn a dress."
"Kazuma, Erza, I'll be back soon. Wait for me," Lucy said as she was led away.
"Miss' elopement partner, would you like something to eat? I can cook anything. I'm a star-ranked chef," the cook said proudly.
"Anything? Bring me a feast."
"A feast?"
"Yes, it's a huge table full of different dishes, every one of them top quality. Can you do that?"
"…Yes, sir. I'll make sure you're satisfied."
"Great. Lucy, take your time. Come back after I'm full. Byeee~"
Kazuma instantly forgot about everything else. It wasn't that he didn't care about Lucy. But a feast was right in front of him. Erza followed him.
Lucy stared at the two in disbelief. "…If I'd known this would happen, I would've come alone."
She was regretting her life choices a little.
...
After changing into an elegant dress, Lucy finally entered the study.
"Lucy. You're back."
Her father stood by the window. When he heard the door open, he glanced her way and spoke in his usual stern tone.
"I'm sorry for leaving home without telling you first. I will reflect on my actions," Lucy said, bowing with proper etiquette.
"Lucy, you've grown. You've finally started making sensible decisions," Jude said.
"If you insist on staying with that guild, I will use every means I have to destroy it.... At last you've matured."
"Your irresponsible behavior has caused great trouble for others. You must treat this as a lesson. And you are the Heartfilia family's daughter. You are not meant for their world."
"When you first ran away, I didn't interfere because I thought it might be good for you to explore while you were still young. But after seeing what you did…"
"I realized I can't leave you without guidance. From today on, you will stay here. I will hire new tutors for you. And I will find you a husband worthy of you. After marriage, you should have a son early. When that happens, I'll finally feel at ease handing the family business to you."
"That's all. Your friends will be well taken care of. I'll also pay them generously. Now return to your room."
He laid out her entire future like it was already set in stone, never once asking what she thought.
"Father, you're still the same. You never ask how I feel. You just arrange everything on your own."
"When I said 'I'm sorry' earlier, don't misunderstand what I meant."
Lucy's fists tightened. She lifted her head sharply. "I came back this time to tell you my decision in person."
"I'm sorry for running away. That was my fault. It was cowardly. A very important friend told me that running away solves nothing. Even if you escape now, the problem will return someday."
"He was right."
"I am Lucy Heartfilia. Whether I like it or not, this name will follow me for life. And you will always be my father. So running away won't fix anything. Only facing the problem will."
"So I came back to tell you… I am leaving."
Her eyes grew steadily firmer. These were words she had wanted to say for years but never had the courage.
Now she finally said them.
Her father looked genuinely shocked. Maybe because she dared oppose him… or maybe because he finally realized she saw him as the biggest obstacle, the biggest enemy.
"I'm going to live my life my own way. The road may be rough."
"I might make a fool of myself. I might face danger. People might laugh at me. But I won't regret it."
"My guild accepts me, helps me, believes in me. I love that guild, and I love everyone in it."
"So please stop deciding my future for me. And stop going after Fairy Tail. If you do, I'll never forgive you. I'll fight you together with everyone from the guild."
Lucy raised her left hand, showing the Fairy Tail mark on the back. She ripped off the fancy dress, revealing her usual cheap clothing underneath. In that moment, she tore off not just her dress… but the title of Young Lady that had always chained her.
"L-Lucy…"
Her father's lips trembled. When he heard her say she would fight him alongside Fairy Tail, his legs gave out and he fell onto a chair.
For a moment, he saw a woman standing behind Lucy, smiling helplessly.
Layla Heartfilia. His late wife.
Idiot.
He could almost hear her voice.
"If Mom were still here, she would support me," Lucy said softly.
"So goodbye.… goodbye, Dad." She turned to leave.
"L-Lucy, wait. Let me meet your friends. The ones you care about so much."
"There's no need. They're—"
"Not as the head of the Heartfilia family. As your father. I want to see the kind of people my daughter chooses as friends."
"…Fine."
.
.
.