Chapter 700: The Princess's Intent
At a time like this, Rhodes naturally wouldn't say anything unpleasant. He smiled and said, "Of course not. It's our honor to have the Princess grace us with her presence."
Mira followed with a polite nod. "Thank you so much for making the special trip."
Princess Hisui returned their smiles and presented an ornate gift box. "I wish you both a blessed marriage and lifelong happiness."
"Thank you." Mira accepted the box with both hands, bowing slightly. "Please, come inside, if you don't mind the humble setting."
"Then I shall impose." The Princess inclined her head, then turned to her captain. "Arcadios, have everyone rest for now. Come collect me later."
"Yes, Princess." Arcadios didn't hesitate. With three of the Ten Wizard Saints present, there was no reason to worry about the Princess's safety. Besides, a squad in full battle armor would be out of place in a guildhall crammed with mages.
Of course, that showed he didn't quite understand Fairy Tail. To them, clanking armor and a crowd of soldiers would hardly matter, they'd just be folded right into the party. But Rhodes assumed this was part of royal etiquette and didn't press the issue.
He clapped his hands and called out, "Don't just stand there gawking! It's cold outside, let's get back in and keep celebrating! Music, dancing, the works!"
"So the ball has already started?" Princess Hisui asked with a smile as she walked in beside Mira. She unfastened her cloak to reveal a flowing pale-green gown beneath.
The older guild men's eyes lit up. This Princess wasn't just refined, her beauty and presence rivaled Lucy's in every way.
Mira explained, "It was originally planned for tonight, but everyone was having so much fun, we moved it up."
"What a shame. I should have left earlier," the Princess said regretfully. "The palace had New Year's celebrations this morning, and I missed your ceremony. I was even hoping to try catching the bouquet."
From the back, Lucy quickly muttered under her breath, "No, no, no. If you'd seen it with your own eyes, you definitely wouldn't want to join in."
Natsu tilted his head. "Lucy, you know her?"
Lucy blinked. "This is the first time I've seen her today. Why?"
"Because she kept sneaking looks at you just now," Natsu replied seriously.
"Eh? She did?" Lucy blinked again, then puffed out her cheeks a little. "Maybe she thinks my beauty and figure are a threat to her?"
Happy immediately swooped in with his usual sting. "Nope. Lucy looks fatter than her."
Lucy smacked her hand over his face. "Stupid cat, say that again and see what happens!"
Happy mumbled against her palm, "Aye~ Lucy looks fatter than her."
Lucy's eyes twitched. "I didn't mean literally say it again!"
The Princess seemed to catch the commotion and glanced back. When her eyes met Lucy's, she smiled softly.
Caught off guard, Lucy returned a nervous smile, then quickly tossed Happy aside and smoothed her dress, trying to recover her composure.
Happy sailed through the air and landed on top of Warm who was happily munching food. Without missing a beat, Warm licked Happy's face all over and then generously offered him some of his meal.
Meanwhile, Princess Hisui had already turned back to Mira, chatting like an ordinary guest. She asked about articles in the magazines, especially those covering the Tenrou Team.
Mira answered each question with poise, while Rhodes stood by quietly, only chiming in when Mira nudged him or when the Princess spoke to him directly.
The ball soon regained its rhythm. Some guild members, thick-skinned as ever, quickly ignored the presence of royalty altogether, though curious glances still darted her way from time to time.
Makarov listened patiently for a while, stroking his beard. But eventually, he couldn't hold back his curiosity. "So then, Princess," he asked, "what made you decide to make such a special trip here today?"
"This matter is a little embarrassing," Princess Hisui said with an apologetic smile. "Truthfully, I should have visited Fairy Tail long ago to recognize its service to the Kingdom of Fiore.
But because of many circumstances, I was unable to come until today, and I could only take advantage of Mr. Rhodes and Miss Mirajane's wedding to do so. I must also apologize on behalf of my father, for we failed to provide Fairy Tail with the support it truly deserved over the past six years."
Makarov shook his head gently. "That's all in the past now. The children told me the royal medals helped us a great deal already. If anything, I should be thanking you."
The group had already settled around a table, refreshments laid out before them.
Princess Hisui raised a cup with refined grace, took a polite sip of tea, and continued, "In fact, aside from offering my congratulations on your wedding and conveying my apologies, there's also a matter I wish to consult with you about."
The three at the table, Rhodes, Mira, and Makarov, exchanged glances, while Mavis, invisible to the Princess, leaned closer with interest. "Please, speak freely," they said.
"It concerns Acnologia, the Black Dragon… and Zeref, the Black Wizard." Princess Hisui paused, knowing how heavy the names were for Fairy Tail.
Makarov's expression grew solemn. "What does the Princess wish to know?"
"First… are Acnologia and Zeref still alive?" Hisui asked carefully.
Makarov gave a grave nod. "Yes. We do not yet possess the strength to defeat them. Although both suffered minor injuries six years ago, neither was gravely harmed. Without doubt, they still live."
"I see…" Hisui murmured, her eyes flickering.
'Then the Eclipse Plan must go forward.'
She steadied herself and pressed further. "Tell me… to what extent do their powers reach? Are they truly as terrifying as the Apocalypse describes?"
"The Black Dragon's power," Makarov answered, his tone heavy, "is exactly as the Apocalypse warns. Perhaps even worse."
To illustrate, he gave his own bitter example. "All the magic I possess cannot so much as wound a single scale of his. Against him, I am nothing. For him to defeat me, it would take no more than idle play."
"...!"
Princess Hisui was visibly shaken. If what he said was true, then Acnologia was not merely stronger than the Ten Wizard Saints, he was a being before whom even the Ten were nothing at all.
She forced herself to accept this dreadful truth and then asked, "And Zeref?"
At this, Makarov turned his gaze toward Rhodes.
Rhodes frowned. "He's… strange. He can drain away life instantly, everything around him, but it seems he cannot fully control it."
He stopped speaking abruptly, because Mavis's voice cut in: "That is the curse of Ankhseram."
Mira blinked in confusion. "A curse? From a god?"
Makarov's eyes widened. "So it truly exists?"
He had only ever heard it whispered as a legend, a moral tale told to make people cherish life. In fact, when Rhodes had once sought a way to resurrect Lisanna, Makarov himself had used that very story to dissuade him.
Never had he expected the curse to be real, and its victim to be none other than Zeref himself.
Princess Hisui, who could neither see nor hear Mavis, tilted her head in puzzlement. "What curse do you mean?"