From Rags to Royalty [Jellal x Erza]

Beautiful Singing

"Then please, I would like for you and your family to move into the Fernandes Estate and I shall hire you to work as my royal swordmaker."

It surprised me when the King said that, I won't lie, but I was even more surprised when my dad immediately accepted the offer.

What would happen to our shop?

Would I have to switch schools?

Could I even go to school?

And how am I suppose to interact with royalty? I would prefer being as far away from them as possible.

Its something about wealth and power that corrupt people. I've heard the saying "money is the root of all evil" and that couldn't be any more true, in my opinion.

The staff of the royal family took care of moving all of our belongings and clearing out our family's shop/home.

I can't believe my dad gave it up so easily. He's worked so hard to keep the shop running.

I can't believe this.

I had just finished getting settled into my new bedroom, putting things where I wanted them to go.

To try and calm my nerves a bit, I scroll through the music player on my phone. I can't help, but smile when I see my favorite song amongst the list.

As the song plays, I start singing, not even aware that I had even opened my mouth.

🎵Say my name, say my name
When no one is around you, say 'baby, I love you' if you ain't running games.
Say my name, say my name
You acting kind of shady, ain't calling me 'baby,' why the sudden change?
Say my name, say my name
When no one is around you, say 'baby, I love you' if you ain't running games.
Say my name, say my name
You acting kind of shady, ain't calling me 'baby,' better say my name.🎵

I don't know why I like this song so much, but I do.

How ironic. I've never been in a relationship before, yet my favorite song is about relationship problems.

🎵I know you say that I'm assuming things
Something's going down, that's the way it seems
Shouldn't be no reason why you acting strange
Nobody's holding you back from me
'Cause I know how you usually do
When you say everything to me times two
Why can't you just tell the truth?
If someone's there, then tell me who.🎵

"You have a beautiful voice."

I instantly stop singing and turn around.

Prince Jellal is standing in my bedroom's doorway.

"U-Uh . . ." I hurry to pause the song I was playing.

Doesn't anyone knock anymore?

"Apologies, I didn't mean to startle you." He says. "I was just walking down the hall and I heard music playing, so naturally I followed the sound."

"Oh, I see." I mumble. Next time I'll have to remember to turn the volume down. "I'm sorry if I disturbed you, Prince. I'll keep my music down."

"It's not a problem." He smiles as he looks at me. "I enjoyed your singing. Like I said, you have a beautiful voice."

I can't tell if he's being honest or if he's just flattering me.

"Thank you."

"Can I hear more?"

"Huh?" My eyes go wide and I feel my body tense up.

"I want to hear you sing that song again." He says seriously. "What is it called?"

"Uh, Say My Name." Why did I do that? I made it sound as if I was unsure of what I was talking about!

"Say My Name." He repeats to himself. "I'll make note of it. Will you sing it for me?"

"U-Um, well . ." What is he thinking, putting me on the spot like this!?! But I can't make him mad, can I? It might cost my father his new job. ". . Okay."

Appearing to be pleased with my response, Prince Jellal enters my room, closes the door, and walks over and sits down on the edge of my bed.

Make yourself at home, why don't you?

Once he settles in, he looks at me with a smile and I take this as a sign to start.

"Do you mind of I play the music?" I ask. "I feel more comfortable with the music in the background."

"That's fine." He nods.

I take a deep breath to calm myself of any nervousness that might come over me. Then I press 'play.'

🎵Say my name, say my name
When no one is around you, say 'baby, I love you' if you ain't running games.
Say my name, say my name
You acting kind of shady, ain't calling me 'baby,' why the sudden change?
Say my name, say my name
When no one is around you, say 'baby, I love you' if you ain't running games.
Say my name, say my name
You acting kind of shady, ain't calling me 'baby,' better say my name.🎵

🎵 What is up with this? Tell the truth, who you with?
Or would you like it if, I came over with my clique
Don't try to change it now, saying you gotta bounce
When two seconds ago, you just got in the house
It's hard to believe that you are at home by yourself
When I just heard the voice, heard the voice of someone else
So answer this question, 'why do you feel you have to lie?'
You're caught up in your game and you cannot say my name🎵

Every time I sing or hear this song, I get this stir of emotions. As if I've had this situation happen before, when in reality, I haven't.

Maybe this is foreshadowing something.

Because the last words of the recording have stayed in my mind ever since I first heard them.

And I've felt this sense of foreshadowing ever since.

"Thou shalt know she can't love you."