Bright stars hung in the night sky as Princess Hisui E. Fiore, the only princess of the Fiore Kingdom and the future queen, lay in her luxurious bedroom within the grand Mercurius Palace.
With her soft green hair and a beautiful, delicate face, even though her intelligent eyes were closed, her innate regal aura could still be felt. Despite her serene appearance, her eyebrows were slightly furrowed as if troubled by something, even while she was asleep. It was a sight that would invoke a protective instinct in most men, who would want to comfort her.
However, the man standing beside her bed had no such thoughts.
He wouldn't dare.
Standing quietly in Princess Hisui's room, Calvin was feeling slightly panicked.
He had wasted an entire day observing the short, unassuming king. Only close to midnight did a flash of insight lead him to deduce that Princess Hisui might be the true mastermind behind the Eclipse Project. Acting impulsively, he had slipped into her room in the Mercurius Palace. But once inside, the elegant decor made him realize something important—this was a lady's room!
Unlike a particular flame-eating fellow, Calvin had always prided himself on being a considerate and gentlemanly man who would never enter a woman's room without permission. Yet today, without thinking, he had walked straight in.
It was embarrassing—this was the first time in his life he'd done such a thing, and it was in Princess Hisui's room. He couldn't even imagine telling Mira about this later.
"So, what should I do now… quietly leave, then knock and come back in?"
"Or pretend to be a villain, threaten the princess to hand over the keys and Lucy…"
"No, I should appeal to her with reason and explain the dangers of the Eclipse Project. Since Hisui is rumored to be incredibly intelligent, I doubt she's a fool."
"Before that, I should set up a barrier so no one outside can hear the noise…"
…
Princess Hisui felt a sudden jolt in her sleep and woke up quickly.
Opening her eyes, she saw nothing but darkness, confirming it was still nighttime. Her body still felt tired, indicating that she had only fallen asleep.
As she fully awoke, she quickly realized that something had shaken her. Looking more closely, she saw a shadow standing by her bed, darker than the night itself. Hisui's heart raced as she was startled.
"Who's there!?"
"Don't be alarmed, Princess Hisui. I only wish to speak with you and mean no harm," a calm voice said from the shadow.
Though anyone would naturally be frightened by an intruder in their bedroom at night, Princess Hisui was different. While startled, she quickly regained her composure and coldly asked, "Who are you, daring to break into my chambers?"
"I am Calvin Macaro of Fairy Tail. I've come here at this hour to discuss the Eclipse Project with you. I apologize for disturbing you, but I didn't think I'd have the chance to see you at any other time," Calvin replied, his tone calm and measured, giving off an air of mystery.
"Calvin? A mage? Do all of you mages like sneaking into people's rooms at night? Very well, since you've gone to such lengths, I'll hear what you have to say," Hisui replied, her tone suddenly haughty, exuding the air of royalty.
But even in the dim moonlight, Calvin could see her lips trembling slightly.
Feeling a bit guilty, Calvin realized that unlike him, who was used to rough situations, Hisui had always lived a sheltered life and wasn't accustomed to such surprises.
"I must again express my apologies, but Princess Hisui, the Eclipse Project is deeply flawed. I beg you to stop it," Calvin said earnestly, bowing slightly in respect.
"Stop the Eclipse Project? Impossible. Do you know how much time and resources we've invested in it? It's not something that can be halted by a simple request," Princess Hisui replied coldly.
"I understand. But wouldn't it be better to waste those resources to prevent a disaster rather than cause one?"
"Disaster? You think the Eclipse Project will lead to a disaster? How absurd," Hisui scoffed, looking at Calvin with disdain as if even talking to him was a waste of time.
"You're the ones being absurd! Do you not realize that Zeref's era was when dragons ruled the land? A disaster has already occurred! Over ten thousand dragons will attack Fiore—my comrade from the future told me this!"
"Wise Princess Hisui, where do you think these dragons will come from? They'll come through the Eclipse Gate! It's your opening of that gate that will destroy this era!" Calvin shouted, his anger rising. Seeing the princess's earlier dismissive attitude reminded him of Future Lucy's tragic state, fueling his fury. The person responsible for all this stood before him, even if she intended to defeat evil.
"That's just your speculation. And how do I know this so-called 'comrade from the future' even exists? Unless you provide evidence, I will not believe a word you say," Hisui retorted, masking her fear but refusing to back down.
Calvin was on the verge of exploding with anger. This princess had captured Future Lucy, and now she was demanding proof?!
"Stop joking, Princess. Hand over my friend and the stolen Zodiac keys, or I'll take you hostage and trade you for them!" Calvin shouted again. His voice would have alerted the guards if not for the barrier he had set up earlier.
Despite her rising fear, Princess Hisui maintained her composure. "I've told you already, unless you can provide convincing evidence, I won't believe you! You might as well take me hostage!"
Seeing the princess's defiance, Calvin couldn't help but feel frustrated. He didn't intend actually to abduct her; that was just a bluff. Still, Hisui was more challenging than he had anticipated.
"At the very least, return Lucy's ten keys. They're irreplaceable to her," Calvin said, his tone softening. Hisui, seemingly responding better to this approach, thought momentarily before retrieving the ten keys from under her pillow.
"Take the keys. I've already used the twelve Zodiac keys to unlock the Eclipse Seal. The only step left is to open the gate."
Calvin's heart raced at this revelation—everything was ready for the Eclipse Gate to be activated!
"And if you want me to believe your story, then show me your strength in tomorrow's final battle. Now, please leave my room."
…
After Calvin flew out the window, Princess Hisui remained staring at the spot where he had left, mumbling to herself.
"Calvin Macaro… Tomorrow, I'll see for myself who you really are…"