Jerza: To Love A Prisoner

Chapter 13:

"Princess? It's time to wake up!" I heard from outside my door in the morning. I shot up from my bed, remembering Kagura was still here. I quickly woke her up and she got under my bed to hide.

"Coming!" I responded to the maid outside my door. I opened it and saw her with some clothes. She handed them to me. I'm so glad I have this habit of not wanting any help with changing. It's coming in handy today. I just don't get why princesses have help changing?

"Thank you so much! You may be excused." I said. She bowed and left. I closed my door, sighing. I went over to my window and closed it.

"Wow Erza. I knew you were a princess and all, but I never expected you to say such fancy words!" Said Kagura as she came out from under my bed.

"Those are only the words I use with maids and workers of the castle. You should see my vocabulary when interacting with royals an their advisors," I laughed.

"Haha I guess so," she replied.

"And now for this stupid dress," I groaned.

"What, you don't like dresses?" She asked.

"I'd rather have a skirt, blouse, boots, and my good old armor," I told her.

"Fair enough, but don't forget the sword," she added.

"Pft, how could I?" I said as I changed into the dress. I went into my closet and got Kagura some clothes for herself. My closet is only filled with normal clothes and my armor. The dresses get delivered to me, like the one I'm wearing now.

I gave her a white skirt, some leggings and boots, and a shirt with a red jacket overtop. The king doesn't know the clothes in my closet so he won't recognize them and be suspicious if he sees her.

"So, let's review the plan." I said.

She nodded.

"I will volunteer to do the next guard duty, and do it alone. You will sneak down here and I will let you into his cell so you can get him out. I know the best spot to sneak out of the castle. I'll lock the cell again and stand in guard position, acting like I didn't know anything and thought he was in there the whole time. When the next guard comes in to switch with me, I will hand it off to him and I will meet you two at the edge of the forest to make sure everything is okay. They shouldn't notice him gonna until the execution. We don't check on our prisoners a whole lot, so no one will know when exactly he escaped. Which means no one will know I had anything to do with it. Got it?" I explained.

"Yep. We already know the plan that includes Fairy Tail, so we will go over it with them if we need it." Kagura responds.

"Okay, so I'll go get permission from the king, and then go on through my day like I don't suspect a thing. I'll tell you if he doesn't accept me taking guard duty, and we can go on with the Fairy Tail plan," I said, "Stay here and hide if anyone comes in."

I left and knocked on the throne room doors. I heard the king say come in, so I did and bowed before him.

"What is it you'd like, Erza?" King Precht asked.

"I would like to take the next guard duty alone, sir. I want to see the wolf that attacked me suffer. I know it may sound cruel, but he threatened my life and I want him to know the consequence." I explained.

"Mhm, very well. I know you must hold a grudge for him so I will allow it. You will take the next guard duty alone, and then the next couple guards will take your place with their guard duty," He said, giving me permission.

"Thank you, my king." I said as I left the room.

I went back to my room and told Kagura, who was happy that our plan was working. I left the room again to complete my royal duties as a princess. I had to check up on Rosemary Village to see that everything was running smoothly.

"Princess!" The children of the village greeted as I entered the village.

"Hi!" I greeted with a smile.

The head of the village came to greet me.

"Hi, Grandpa Rob! It's so nice to see you again!" I said.

"Erza, I trust the castle has treated you well?" He asked as we hugged.

"Yes! I've become a general and I received the honor of getting the food for the feast yesterday. I'm also exceeding in my studies, or so my tutor said," I responded.

"That's excellent, child." He said with a smile.

"Yes, but it's great that I get to visit you all again! I need a break from the castle every once in awhile, you know." I told him and I picked up one of the children, who's name was Adam.

"And we love your company as well. It makes us proud that a girl from our village has grown into such a fine young lady." He said

"Well if the village hadn't fed me or tried keeping me alive when I was a child, I wouldn't have lived very long. You gave me what you could and for that I'm grateful. I would never have been accepting into the castle without everyone here." I told him.

"Well we are glad you think that and remember us. Now, the village is waiting to see you again. Come on children! Let us lead the princess to our village square!" He told them.

I laughed and followed them, still holding Adam.

"I'm so glad you're back, big sister," I heard Adam say to me.

"I know, I came back to see your face again, and all of my other friends within this village," I said back.

"Has Grandpa Rob been taking proper care of you?" I asked, already knowing the answer.

"Papa Rob has been great towards me, but the castle is demanding more money from the villages and supplied are going down," The 6 year old said.

"Really? I didn't know. I will talk to the king about it." I told him.

"Thank you. The village lost so much money from it that none of us have eaten since breakfast yesterday, because we are trying to conserve our food," He said.

"I-I see."

We were suddenly surrounded by the villagers, all of them happy to see me.

We talked and had fun, and I played with Adam and the children. It was great but I had to leave again shortly after. I hugged the villagers and Grandpa Rob, and picked up Adam and gave him a kiss on the cheek.

"I'll find a way to fix the problem with the castle." I whispered to Grandpa Rob, who gave me a shocked yet grateful smile as I left the village.