Heya guys, hehehe, has it really been a year since I updated? O.o I apologise greatly for the delay. This past year has been pretty hectic for me. I had a year long internship at a law firm (since last September) and now I'm in law school, just completing my first semester. I left my home country to go to school and its the first time I've been away from home so it was kinda difficult, added to the new workload and I only just finished finals yesterday.

Luckily, I'm going home for Christmas so I should have more time to update (until next semester ofc x_x)

Anywho, I really hope you guys enjoy this chapter. Much love :3

That night Lucy refused to go to bed, preferring to stay perched on the long-chair while clutching her night gown protectively around her body. It did not matter anyway; Laxus did not return to their quarters in the time that she was awake. At some point the fair-haired girl drifted to sleep, huddled against the chair despite the slight chill in the room. Luckily, her sleep was dreamless and she got a brief respite from reality.

A gentle shake roused Lucy from her sleep. She blinked blearily while stretching, popping the kinks in her body then turned to the person who woke her up. It was Mirajane, glowing beautifully in the warm sunlight seeping through the opened windows, however her azure eyes shifted uncomfortably and she retracted her hands quickly upon noting Lucy's consciousness. Lucy immediately picked up on the maid's discomfort, having developed a knack for reading body language in order to deal with her moody father for years, but disregarded it in favour of yawning.

"Lady Lucy," Mirajane started softly, her hands fisting the folds of her simple crème dress, "My Lord has requested your presence for breakfast. I'm here to help you get dressed."

Lucy nodded her head before trudging to the dressing room, trying to rid herself of the remnants of sleep clinging to her. She noted that Mirajane had already fixed a bath for her as the tub was half-filled with scented water. The maid dutifully helped Lucy out of her nightgown and into the bath silently and Lucy complied wordlessly. She was never a morning person, something Minerva had always taken advantage of as her charge would be extremely compliant in the minutes leading up to her usual spirited wakefulness.

Mirajane's taciturn behaviour, as she was disturbingly quiet throughout the morning interactions so far, was different from the familiarity she exuded the previous night, and after having regained her wits somewhat from the soaking in tepid bath-water, Lucy decided to pay some heed to what could cause the maid to behave differently. Mirajane's eyes met Lucy's as she leaned down to wash her hair. Lucy smiled at the maid, intending to ask what the problem was but Mirajane only averted her eyes.

The rest of the bath passed in silence with Lucy occasionally glancing at the other woman in contemplation.

Soon enough, Lucy figured out why the maid was acting as she was. When Lucy was seated at the vanity table with Mirajane styling her hair, the maid's platinum hair shifted to the side exposing a hidden part of her neck and collarbone. Lucy had been studying her in the mirror, and unless she had been observing so intensely, she would not have seen the two reddish marks marring her milky skin. Lucy frowned immediately upon having seen them, her quick mind immediately putting the pieces together.

Laxus did not return to their room last night. Laxus and Mirajane had sexual tension so thick that it could be cut with a knife. Mirajane was acting differently today, an emotion Lucy inferred to be guilt, and had red marks – love bites- on her neck and seemed rather upset, or hurt, at having to relay Laxus' desire to see Lucy for breakfast.

Laxus, my fiancé, spent the night with my chambermaid, Lucy processed. That revelation caused a dull throb to spread through her chest, not because of any attachment or affection towards Laxus, but because of the betrayal she felt from the position he held in her life. He was her fiancé. He ruthlessly stole her lips that night then, in the same breath, slept with her maid.

Lucy's mocha eyes, alit with fire, bore down on Mirajane through the mirror. She actually liked Mirajane and believed that they could be friends but Lucy could not find it within her to look at the maid the same way. It was not a drastic shift that could be noted on the surface, but Lucy decided that she would be more reserved and not foster the same familial feelings as she did for the servants back at home.

Right, Lucy thought bitterly, this place isn't home. I'm a fool to think that it could be similar.

Lucy withdrew her gaze and, after donning a comfortable peach dress, she fixed a placid smile on her face, opting to feign ignorance toward the situation even though a vengeful part of her wanted to tell Mirajane that she knew, just to watch her pretty face wilt in discomfort and embarrassment. The bitter feelings were a bit startling to Lucy as she was not accustomed to feeling such negative emotions. Of course, she had her fair share of encounters with her father resulting in her sulking and an aching longing for fatherly affection, but this was different. This was a betrayal that she was wholly new to.

The trek to where Laxus was waiting for them to have breakfast passed quickly. Lucy's eyes trailed on the opulent but still tasteful décor of the mansion and begrudgingly admitted to herself that Laxus' tastes were probably the only good thing about him. Mirajane opened a gleaming dark brown door and ushered Lucy into what appeared to be a private dining room. Her father had one of those back at home when he did not wish to use the hall where banquets were held.

Lucy immediately focused on the handsome blond man who was imposing even though he was seated and sipping tea from delicate china. He gave her a cursory glance before returning his attention to the newspaper held in his hand. She made no move to be seated at the table.

"Well," he started gruffly, "Are you going to sit?"

Lucy smothered the desire to go up to him and screech profanities while moving to sit in the one of the four chairs tucked under the table. The scent of breakfast tickled her nose and Lucy only just realised how hungry she was as she took in the array of foods laid out.

From the corner of her eyes, she noticed Mirajane slip out of the door with a downcast expression. Lucy felt a wicked sense of victory that Laxus had not even paid her any mind, but soon after banished the thought. It was a very vindictive emotion and Lucy did not like it.

"Serve yourself," Laxus ordered, orange eyes finally peering up at her, "There are no servants in the room to do it for you". Lucy looked at him then obliged, transferring scones to the plate in front of her and smearing butter and strawberry jam over it. She also poured herself a cup of fragrant tea, sweetening it with two spoons of sugar.

"You requested my presence, My Lord?" Lucy ventured to ask after taking a bite from the warm, delicious pastry.

"Did you sleep well last night?" Laxus queried, folding the newspaper and discarding it.

Lucy smiled politely, "I did. What about you, My Lord?"

She fixed him with her stare, telling him that she knew what had transpired between him and the maid. Rising to the bait being the ruthless man that he is, Laxus smirked at her implication before responding smugly.

"For some reason, my rest was disturbed but I feel strangely rejuvenated."

Lucy did not humour him with her anger even though she ached to smack the snarky tone from him. She took another bite of her breakfast, only humming thoughtfully. Laxus seemed a little disappointed at her controlled response.

"I only wished to inform you that I would be travelling for a few days. You must bear without my presence for a little bit, when I return I can focus on making you my woman," he said.

Lucy felt a relief upon hearing that Laxus would be gone. She could focus on her plan to run away from here. Of course Lucy was not foolish so she immediately decided to use the time away from him to acclimate herself to the new environment and learn where would be the best place to escape from. She bristled, however, at his insinuation that she would become his.

"I see. Have a safe trip then, Laxus," she said sweetly.

"You're not going to give me a goodbye kiss?" he asked, propping an elbow at the table, hoping to elicit a fiery response from her.

After you fucked the maid? She thought angrily, but held her tongue.

"For what reason?" Lucy asked coldly.

Laxus seemed amused at her response then reached over quickly, snagging her free hand and bringing her soft palm to his lips. He pressed his lips to the middle of her hand, not breaking any eye contact with her. Lucy was frozen as his warm tongue flicked out of his mouth to trail between the grooves of her fingers.

He was so devilishly alluring with his penetrating gaze and wicked tongue that, for a moment, Lucy's cheeks erupted in a flush and she clenched her thighs together feeling an unfamiliar desire coursing through her. Just as quickly though, she reminded herself that he was repulsive and those were the same lips that left love marks on Mirajane's neck.

Lucy wrenched her hand from his grip and he allowed her to, revelling in the angry flush across her cheeks.

She got up from the chair and stomped her way to the door, not daring to look back at him but said, "Do not touch me so easily Laxus, I am not yours."