Dawn of Adventure {Book One of The Paths We've Traveled}

Chapter Thirty-One: Confidant

"Mistress Shelia." Wendy turned to the sound of her fake name, the action easier after all these months. Verlane approached her, everyone moving out of his way as he walked through the crowd. Wendy smiled, no longer finding it difficult to fake her emotions around him after two months. Natsu stood beside her, growing tenser the closer Verlane came.

"Be safe kid," he muttered. She winked, rolling her shoulders and adjusting her gray skirts.

"When am I not?" Natsu snorted, bumping her gently with his elbow. Wendy beamed at him. "I think we're almost there. I've been giving him hints about that stairwell and just wanting to know more in general. And he really likes me. It won't take much longer, I know it."

A few feet away, Erza smiled at the pair. Gray snorted, crossing his arms and leaning back against the wall far away from anyone else in the hall. "Wendy's turning into just as big a flirt as the rest of our guild." He grinned, remembering how awkward Wendy had been when Erza and Lucy tried to teach her how to flirt or use her beauty to her advantage when talking to men.

"That's not true," Erza argued. "Using her charms to get what we want is not flirting. Nor is it bad. Think of how many situations we'd still be stuck in if not for Lucy or I or any of the other women in our guild."

Gray raised his hands in defense. "I didn't say it was bad. Just pointing out a fact. All of you have definitely rubbed off on her. And I guess it just makes me realize how much she's grown up in just this last year." He paused, frowning as his last statement actually hit him. "Damn. We left the guild a year ago."

"And Fiore two months later." Erza sighed, crossing her own arms and wrapping her hand around her forearm, the presence of a concealed dagger comforting her slightly. "I truly don't know how much more of this I can handle." Gray nodded in agreement, and they fell silent as Verlane finally stopped in front of Wendy.

He nodded at Natsu, the Dragon Slayer returning the gesture even as his knuckles turned white. He couldn't stand the smell that lingered around Verlane or his dad, and he definitely couldn't stand the healthy cast to their skin. He really didn't know how Wendy had done it these past two months.

Verlane raised an eyebrow and held out his arm to Wendy. "Will you walk with me?"

She nodded, not bothering to curtsy but instead just placing her hand on his elbow. She shot Natsu one last look before they walked away together, ignoring the poisonous stares boring into her sides. Even all these weeks later, the other young women of the court were jealous of the girl who'd caught the eye of the heir of the manor. She wished she could tell them they had nothing to worry about. Then again, if she could, she'd want to tell them to run away as fast as they could before it all went to shit.

As they grew closer and closer to the door, Wendy's gaze locked on the blonde standing a mere ten feet away, her head down as she listened to a nobleman talk and talk and talk. Wendy bit her lip before launching into action.

She glanced up at Verlane. "Do you mind if I speak to Ashley real quick? I have something I need to ask her." Remembering the quick lesson her friends had given her three weeks ago, she fluttered her eyelashes, feeling ridiculous even as she did.

But it must have worked, because his lip quirked up in a smile and he nodded. She stepped away quickly, approaching Lucy with her chin held high. "Excuse me sir." The nobleman looked at her in brief shock and disdain before he managed to hide it. Wendy smiled, still batting her eyelashes. "I need to talk to my maid. If you'll excuse us." She grabbed Lucy's arm, pulling her away before the man could react. She led them both to the wall, aware of Verlane's gaze still on her.

Lucy sighed in relief, smiling briefly at the Sky Maiden. "Thanks. I really wasn't enjoying that." Then her smile turned into a smirk. "And look at you. You really put what Erza and I said to use."