From Rags to Royalty [Jellal x Erza]

Her Answer

"How do you feel about me?"

Jellal stares intently at the redhead, awaiting her answer. The answer that he is hoping to hear.

Erza, on the other hand, is speechless. Her face is frozen in shock and her cheeks has turned red. He's not asking me if I have romantic feelings for him, is he? She panics in her head. No, no. He must be asking in general. T-That's . . . this is . . . the Prince . . . me . . .

"Erza?" Jellal speaks as he notices the female swaying from side to side. Then he sees her eyes roll to the back of her head and she faints.

"Woah!" Natsu gasps, catching the falling redhead. "Dude, you made her faint."

"Well, I didn't mean to." Jellal defends. He sighs to calm himself then speaks again. "Just take her to her room."

"Gotcha." Natsu nods, picking Erza up and carrying her bridal style. He makes his way up the stairs as Jellal stands frozen in thought.

Now that that's out of the way, where did Lucy run off to?

Without wasting a second, the Prince swiftly walks down the hallway towards his office.

He would find Lucy and make her confess to everything even if it was the last thing he did.

Nearly Two Hours Later . . .

"Mmm . ." Erza groans as she slowly opens her eyes. After her eyes adjusted to the new lighting, she sits up in bed.

"Finally awake, I see. Man, you were out for a while!" Natsu grins from the chair that was in the far right corner of the room.

Erza jumps and flinches with a small squeal. She whips her head toward the direction of the pink haired boy.

"Wha-What are you doing in my room!?" The redhead shouts.

"Waiting for you to wake up." Natsu replies, leaning forward and placing his elbows on his thighs.

"S-So, you were watching me sleep?"

"When you say it like that, it sounds perverted."

"How do I know that you weren't having such thoughts?"

"Relax, Red. I'm just looking after you for Jellal."

At the sound of the prince's name, Erza visibly straightens her back and perks up. "B-By chance," She stutters, her cheeks turning pink. "w-where is P-Prince Jellal?"

Natsu grew quiet, pressing his lips together and glancing at the white walls. "Jellal, he, uh . . . . He left."

Erza's eyes went wide. "He left? Left to go where?"

"Out of the country. Immediate flight."

"Why did he leave the country!?"

"Why do you think?" Natsu's face grew serious as he turns his attention back to Erza. "You heard him earlier. You know how he feels about you - that he likes you as more than a mere worker or friend. Then he asked you for your answer. And what did you do? You fainted and made him wait. Well, now's your allotted time to figure out your feelings before he gets back."

Standing to his feet, Natsu sighs in relief. "And please never make me use so many words again. That was a mouthful." He pouts as he walks to the door, opens it, and leaves the room.

Erza is left in silence, her mind pondering on the last meaningful sentence that Natsu said.

'Now's your allotted time to figure out your feelings before he gets back.'

The blue haired Prince flashes into Erza's mind. My feelings . . . . for Jellal? She asks herself in her head. How do I feel about him?

Erza's P.O.V./Her Thoughts

He's different from what I expected a person of royal status to behave. He's not self-centered or conceded. On the contrary, he's quite polite.

And his parents seem to be nice people. Although, I haven't spent much time with them.

If everything I've witnessed is just an act, then it's flawless. I haven't heard a single rude statement or seen a shrewd of outrageous behavior from the royal family.

They've actually taken care of me and my parents. Especially since this entire scandal appeared in the news. It feels good knowing that there are still some decent people in the world.

Even if my parents and I are mere peasant workers to them.

That reminds me, even if I felt the same way about Jellal, that still doesn't mean that we would be able to be together. I obviously don't fit into the royal lifestyle.

I would only hold him back, right?

No one would accept us as a couple. I would be hated and Jellal would be criticized.

Why set myself up for that?

Third Person P.O.V.

Despite her thoughts bring doubtful, she finds herself reaching for her phone. She opens up the dialpad and stares at it for a couple of seconds.

"I don't even know his phone number." She murmurs aloud.

"(area code)-576-6253." Natsu says from the opposite side of the door.

"Natsu!" Erza scoldes, "have you been standing there the whole time?"

"Maybe . ."

Erza rolls her eyes, but types in the number nonetheless. And before she knows it, she's already pressed 'call'.

The phone rings twice before the other end of the line answers the call.

"Hello?" Jellal speaks.

He answered!?

"Hello? Is anybody there?" He says after a minute of silence.

Erza opens her mouth to reply, but another voice interrupts her.

"Jellal, what's taking you so long? Come back to bed, pleaseeee!~"

The redhead's breath got caught in her throat as her eyes almost pop out of her head.

Th-That was Lucy's voice. She states in her head, feeling one hundred percent positive. What is Jellal doing with Lucy?

Her heart sank as she recalls hearing Jellal say 'hello' one last time before hanging up the phone.

Erza's mind is made up. She knows her answer - her true feelings toward the Prince.

She bites her lip as tears run down her cheeks and she cluthes a fist over her heart - the organ writhing in agonizing pain.