I wasn't stupid; I was aware of what was within my reach. I knew very well, even if I wanted to deny it, that as well as being beautiful, I was also quite intelligent for someone of the standards I came from. But even with all that, it still wasn't enough for me to be accepted into a family as prestigious as the Gray's. And it all got worse when his family came to visit. And it got worse when his family was still one of the traditional ones; then our relationship was basically impossible.

If it had been for Mrs. Ur and Levy, I would have had their approval to stay with Gray or maybe even get married. After all, one of them liked me a lot and the other basically played me like a doll. But things were much more complicated than me simply going to visit them once a week, using the excuse that Levy was going to do my make-up. In reality, I was only going to meet Gray at the end of the day.

But what could I do? I was hopelessly in love with him. And it had been quite a long time, and I knew he loved me too. As he was there, stroking my hair and showing affection, I couldn't think of participating in that selection. After all, I had already given myself completely to him.

While he was there, stroking my hair, I could see in his expression that he was probably thinking about something, but I decided not to interfere.

"And you, what do you think of all this? I mean, about this news of the selection?"

Lucy asked, swinging her feet like a child.

"I don't think it's a big deal. Think about it; probably the poor guy couldn't get a girlfriend, and frustrated, he decided to create this selection nonsense. And from what I heard from my brother, the only contact he has with a girl is his sister, Princess Wendy."

After Gray finished speaking, I could feel a certain bitterness mixed with mockery and a bit of sarcasm in his words, for some reason I don't know.

"Gray, don't say those things."

I tried to reprimand him for that.

"But it's all true, they keep saying she's unbearable. So, I thought to myself: if they got Prince Romeo for boring Princess Wendy, then why couldn't they get a princess for the prince? And look what they're trying to do."

Gray said, releasing a long sigh.

"But, on the other hand, I actually think it's a good idea; I would be lying if I said all this isn't exciting. It's almost certain that he will fall in love with one of these chosen ones. Any of them could end up being the chosen one to be the next queen."

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"So, are you encouraging Levy to participate too?"

Lucy asked, still swinging her feet.

"Seriously? As if you didn't know your best friend. She has only eyes for my brother since we were, I don't know, eleven years old. And it got worse when Gajeel said he would marry her. Levy ended up becoming obsessed with it, and to this day, she's still waiting for him to return from the kingdom of Fiore to fulfill that promise."

"I find that romantic."

Commented Lucy, stopping swinging her feet.

Grey, with his sincerity punctuated by resentment, continued to express his skeptical view of the situation.

"Personally, I think it's all stupid!"

"And apparently, I'm not the only one who thinks so. After all, my father is already looking for a worthy suitor so he can arrange Levy's marriage. And my brother, I'm almost sure he's already, must be committed to one of the princesses that Prince Natsu must have rejected. Levy is just wasting her time, waiting for my brother who, I don't know, probably already has a child by now."

Gray said, expressing all his displeasure with the situation.

"Probably, he must be looking for someone who can elevate the morale of the Fullbuster even more, am I right?"

Said Lucy, getting up from Gray's lap and starting to walk away from him slowly.

"Since you think it's all nonsense, then Levy and Gajeel, Mira and Laxus, me and you. None of it makes sense to you? Is it all a waste of time?"

Lucy asked, turning around with a sad expression on her face.

"You know it's not like that; I like you, no, I love you, but unfortunately, this isn't about us, Lucy. There's nothing we can do except accept."

Gray said, with a tired voice as he lowered his head.

After Gray said those words, both he and I decided to remain silent for a few minutes. But for me, those minutes felt like centuries that wouldn't pass. After all, it was foolish for me, a simple lower-class girl, to be in love with someone of his status, and that was not allowed for various reasons, both financial and political.

After long minutes of silence, Gray decided to break the silence by calling my name.

"Lucy?"

"Yes."

I ended up whispering to him without even realizing it.

"Sorry for the question, but are you going to enter the selection?"

Gray asked, still not changing his expression.

"Of course not, for me, that's unfeasible! I don't want people to think I chose to marry a stranger because of money or something like that. And besides, how could I do that if the only person I love is you and no one else?"

Lucy said, almost shouting at the question James had asked her.

"But it wouldn't be a bad idea, Lucy. Think about it; if by chance you were selected and managed, at least, to stay there for a day, you would automatically become a 'Three.' And neither my father nor anyone else could object if I tried to marry you."

"Are you out of your mind?"

Said Lucy, not believing what she had just heard from Gray's mouth.

After almost shouting at him, he gets up from the swing and, in a calm and gentle gesture, takes my hands and speaks.

"Promise me you'll try, no, that you'll do it for me."

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