The Dragneel Affair | NaLu

Chapter 1 - Pink Haired Russian

"Do not worry, Miss Heartfilia. Everything will be fine." A servant said, soothingly. Lucy nodded. The cause of her worrying was her father, Jude Heartfilia, who had just fallen unconcious. The old man never took care of himself, Lucy knew that very well. He was overweight and has been having health problems since her childhood.

It was Christmas Eve. Her father was holding a gala in celebration of the holiday. Midway through his speech at the begining, he had fallen to the ground. Now, he was laying in bed. Dressed in his night shirt and his night cap atop his head. A doctor was dressed in white and leaning over of him. Everyone in the room was silent, the only noise they could hear was the sound of the gala.

"Sweetheart," the servant started, "you should go."

"What?"

"It may be a while until we know how he'll be. Go out for a walk, calm your nerves," She said. She rested a hand on Lucy's solider. She agreed. No, Lucy didn't think it would calm her nerves. In fact, it would only make her worry more. But she hated social gatherings. She wanted a break from dancing, wine, and men talking to her every minute. Before another word was said to her, she left her father's chamber.

• • •

She should've changed before leaving. She was dressed in a cream white dress that was now getting soaked by the white snow and ice on the side of a gravel road. Her hair was is curls, pinned close to her head and pearls delicately placed into it. She wore her light purple coat that went to her ankles and a fur hat. She at least changed her white flats into her leather boots, so her feet weren't freezing. The towns people would wave and give her a friendly smile as she passed. She would return the gesture until she stopped at a small shop on a street corner.

"Good evening, Lucy!" A petite, blue haired girl greeted her. Her name was, Levy McGarden, a life long friend of Lucy's they would play with each other with her estate's tall fence in between them (her father didn't enjoy having his daughter play with the common folk). Levy was dressed in a white collared shirt with a light brown dress over it. Her hair was tied back with a white handkerchief. "Can I get you something?" She asked.

"Yes, do you have any of your honey buns left?" Lucy asked. Levy's mother started a bakery when Levy was a small child. She has since passed away but Levy continued to run the shop, and sell a few books in it as well.

"I believe so, there may be some left in my extra stash." She replied as she removed her white apron off of herself and hung it on a hook. She stepped behind a back door to retrieve the buns. The bakery was warm and smelled like fresh baked ginger snaps. The wooded building was decorated with garland, a wreath, tinsel, and a Christmas tree in the back corner, decorated with ornaments made by the local children's school. Levy returned with a small wicker basked filled with various buns and cookies. Levy handed Lucy a honey bun; a sweet bun made with honey rather than sugar.

"Thank you," Lucy thanked her.

"You're welcome," The two raised their buns as if they were to raise glasses. They took a bite out of the buns and smiled at the sweet taste. "Shouldn't you be at that gala? The whole town's been talking about it."

"Yes, but father fainted again."

Levy looked at her in shock, "Again? That's the second time this month!"

"I know, but I decided to come out for a while. Take my mind off things."

"Ah, I understand." The two were silent for a moment afterwards.