"Oblivious Fate"

By: rorudesu-chan

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Chapter 9: Bittersweet Punishment

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Homeroom class wasn't exactly the ideal subject that the unruffled Prince would give his full attention to. Since the start of this particular subject way back in grade school, Noctis was always found to be impassively staring upon the field outside that his window seat offered. But that was until this morning when the ginger haired Mrs. Mulier walked into the classroom with a wide grin crafted upon her thin cherry red lips.

"Alright, can anybody tell me what our agenda is for this morning?"

The students exchanged odd looks towards each other as they all groaned in wonder. The strict, five foot teacher never came in the classroom with a smile on her mouth and never did she ask a pupil what the topic for the daily rundown of things would be. Patiently waiting for an answer with the smile on her lips slowly turning down into her usual frown, Mrs. Mulier asked again in a firm voice.

"Anybody? Any guess? Ah! Yes, you over there in the back," The stout professor gestured her hand towards the boy who sat behind the scar faced student.

"You're, uh… getting married and we're all invited to your wedding?" Majority of the class roared in laughter as the comic sovereign-in training slumped back into his seat and received a big high-five from the chortling Lacertus.

"I'm already married, Mr. Yonne, thus my last name being 'Mrs. Mulier'." Taunts were given to the bald pupil by his fellow monarchs who couldn't help but chuckle in his idiotic mistake. Despite this, the auburn haired teacher continued in order not to waste the time allotted for her subject.

"It might take us the whole day or more if I let you guess what the agenda for today is about. So to save time and gum," Mrs. Mulier's malevolent eyes averted towards the nearest student to her table who was spotted chewing a mouthful of confectionary. "I'm going to state and discuss the obvious."

The classroom fell to a silence as its students settled while their ginger haired teacher continued. "Weeks from today, all of you will partake in the Regius Senior's Dance."

Cheers immediately bounced off the four corners of Mrs. Mulier's classroom as the students heard the joyful announcement delivered by their homeroom teacher's tedious voice. While the boys barked for the chance to woo the gal of their dreams, the girls wailed for the opportunity to wear the most extravagant and lavish dress they could ever find.

"This is an annual event everyone," The almond eyed teacher looked towards her students before proceeding. "Therefore it is compulsory for all of you to attend. Any questions?"

"I have one, Mrs. Mulier!"

"Yes, Miss Sabina." The red headed professor pointed at the chocolate skinned student who sat behind the impassive Noctis.

"Do you have to have a partner in the dance?"

"As a matter of fact, you should. A boy must be with a girl and a girl must be with a boy. No same sexes everybody, school rules."

As Mrs. Mulier stated her answer to the Sabina girl, the unruffled Prince continued to stare beyond the classroom window with only half of his attention to the class agenda. Whilst doing so, somehow, he felt the gazes of some of his female monarchs upon him. Noctis regarded this as nothing but what he didn't know was that these were the stares that screamed the devilishly handsome Caelum as an eligible date to the school dance.

"Furthermore, aside from having this traditional affair take place for the sixtieth time, the university faculty has decided to add an event which will give a chance for the seniors to truly remember it as a remarkable gala."

Mrs. Mulier picked up a small scrap of paper from her table and read loudly what was written upon it. The ginger haired professor went on with her message while each girl in class secretly couldn't wait for the school bell to ring to see which one of them would be lucky enough to be asked by the enigmatic and beautiful Prince.

"Each class must have one pair, a boy and a girl, to represent them in the senior's dance cotillion. They will compete against the other classes' representatives for the best dancing couple award. The winning pair and their classmates will receive an all expense paid trip to the Costa del Sol Beach for one weekend."

Costa del Sol, the only beach resort which was perfectly close to paradise. No, scratch that, it is paradise itself with its sandy white shores; clear, blue sea; ideal surfing tides; and just the right sunlight for a summer-look tan.

Awes were heard as Mrs. Mulier's pupils heeded and felt the weight of the prize awaiting the winning representatives and their class. The students turned their heads around in a rather frantic search for the possible pair that could win them the ultimate weekend getaway of a lifetime.

The scrap of paper which Mrs. Mulier read out to the class was immediately stuck on the upper left corner of the wide blackboard. The tedious pitched teacher continued on the agenda as she spun around to call everyone to attention. "Alright, let us all have voting as the medium wherein we can fairly decide who our class dance representatives would be. A show of hands please."

"Yo, Mrs. Mulier!"

"Yes, Mr. Flavius."

"Celer and Sabina!"

"Interesting…" The Flavius student sat down as he felt Celer giving him a dagger-like stare to which he gladly took in as a ridiculous compliment.

The ginger haired professor pursed her lips as she picked up half a chalk from the dusty ledge. She turned around as her hand scribbled the air soft addict's and the chocolate skinned girl's name on the center of the blackboard. Lacertus, who sat quite far from Celer, couldn't help but burst in laughter as the scar faced student witnessed the hysterical reaction that shot upon his buddy's face. Sabina and Celer had a bit of a history together way back in grade school which the ruffled haired pupil tried hard to vanquish.

"I object, Mrs. Mulier!!" Celer abruptly stood up on his feet as he highly refused the suggested pairing.

"Same here, Mrs. Mulier!!" The female student who sat behind Noctis also declined the option as she felt the urge to stand up as well, catching the attention of the whole class except of course for the seemingly uncaring Prince.

"Sit down, Mr. Caius and you as well, Miss Sabina. Let the class vote according to their perspectives."

"Perspectives?! But Mrs. Mulier! I don't want to be paired with that, that thing!!"

"With all due respect, Ma'am, I don't want to be stuck with a birdbrain pervert!" Sabina raised her voice as Celer retorted in disgust.

"Who're you calling a birdbrain pervert?!"

"That's enough, both of you!" The old woman's face was tinted like the color of her tresses as she slammed a fist on her table. "One more word from the two of you and it's a two day detention!"

Both infuriated students took to their seats and they were forcefully hushed as to avoid anymore untoward punishments. After mentally and emotionally composing herself back to her senses, Mrs. Mulier spotted a student's hand hoisted up in the air and she gladly called the scar faced pupil.

"Mr. Audenarde! Who would you like to represent this class?"

With a teasing grin crafted upon his mouth, Lacertus proudly stated his choice. "I'd like to pair off Noct and Stella!"

"Very well then. Mr. Caelum!"

Just like the last time, the ginger haired teacher surprisingly caught the Caelum Prince whose cobalt irises were once again locked miles away outside the classroom window. Noctis swiftly swerved his head towards Mrs. Mulier who had an annoyed expression etched upon her face.

"Were you aware that you were voted as one of this class' representatives?"

"Yeah," Liar. True, Noctis did hear something about the Regius' Senior Dance and about the pair from each class which would compete against the others in the cotillion. But, never did he hear his name being nominated as the boys' representative and Stella's name as the girls'.

"I'm beginning to doubt your attention span, Mr. Caelum." The teacher raised an eyebrow at Noctis. "But I'll settle the score with you later on."

"Um, excuse me Mrs. Mulier. How can Stella be nominated as Noct's partner if she isn't even around to comply with Audenarde's request?"

One of the professor's female pupils raised her contradiction immediately as the rest of the girls in the classroom agreed as well. It was a typical game of competition. With the prize as the gorgeous Prince, the female population of the class battled against each other with their wit and beauty in order to be the last girl left for Noctis to ask as his date to the dance. It looked as if the girls have completely considered the beautiful Stella to be disqualified from the 'game', or so they thought that she was.

The ginger haired teacher darted her eyes on the only empty seat of the entire classroom. Her eyebrows slowly connected in the middle as she responded with a rigid tone. "It would seem as though Miss Fleuret is also beginning to give me doubts as well, regarding her absences."

Noctis slowly turned his head towards Lacertus who sat near Stella, but his stare gazed past him as his indigo irises looked upon the empty chair next to his friend. He too knew of the Tenebraean's nonappearance this morning when he walked in the classroom a tad late after the first bell rang. It was already her fifth random absence of the semester, but instead of perking up the Prince's curiosity, he was already well knowledge about her reason. Whenever the blonde diplomat was not present in the morning, because of their same Calculus hour, Noctis was able to be informed of her absence's explanation. Of course, the vivacious Tenebraean would be the one to discuss it openly with him through whispers while the math lessons were going on.

"Nonetheless, Miss Camille's opinion is righteous. We simply can't have this pairing as an option unless Miss Fleuret is around to concur with it."

As Noctis felt quite relieved with the indecision, his attention was unexpectedly caught by the Camille student who gave the striking Prince a flirtatious wink in the eye. The Caelum son sensed a sudden surge of repugnance as he exchanged that movement with a very blank and cold stare. The Camille girl was exasperated with Noctis' rejection but bravely acknowledged it as one of the Prince's 'hard-to-get' mechanism.

---Rrrriinnggg!!!---

"Well class, there goes the bell!" Mrs. Mulier hastily dropped the chalk back into its ledge as she wore a rather disappointing look upon her face. "Since it seems everyone here is unsure about the class' dance representatives, I'd like you all to discuss this during free period so we can have the final pairing by tomorrow morning. Is that clear to everybody?"

A chorus reply was simultaneously thrown back by the students as the auburn haired teacher gathered her things from the table and single handedly carried everything in one arm. While Mrs. Mulier and the class slowly moved out of the room for their next respective periods, the scar faced boy approached Noctis and draped an arm around the Prince's shoulder.

"Forgive me, Noct. I tried my best."

"In what?" The Caelum monarch darted his stare towards his friend in curio.

Lacertus released a playful sigh before continuing. "I tried to put you and Stella in the position for the cotillion representatives but some green eyed girls just wouldn't let that happen. Apparently, they all want you for themselves."

"I don't really care much about that dance, Lacertus." Noctis replied as he smirked coolly.

"Well, you should. It's a golden opportunity for you to come out of your hiding and profess those unsaid passions, if you know what I mean."

"I honestly don't understand you right now."

Before Lacertus could respond to the Prince's innocent perplexity, Celer surprisingly gave out an irritated groan which caught his buddies' attention.

"What's up with you?"

"I can't believe how unfair Mrs. Mulier is! Does she hate me that much?" The blonde boy answered Lacertus' naïve inquiry.

"It appears that she does." Salsus ambled before Celer as he remarked with a scorn.

"Gah!! You obviously don't know how it feels to be paired with that witch!"

"Tsk. You guys used to be good friends way back in fourth grade. I told you that you never should've done that, Celer."

"Done what, Lacertus?" With an attempt to purposely annoy Celer even more, the glasses wearing genius questioned as the irritated blonde gravely pleaded Lacertus to zip his big, fat mouth.

"Well," Disregarding Celer's desperate request, the scar faced student trailed off with a short remnant from the past. "It's mainly about a screwed plot to sneak up on the wrong bathing girl during a scouting camp…"

As Lacertus continued to tell Salsus of an idiotic story from Celer's fourth grade life, the foursome exited the homeroom classroom. With a defined nod in the head, Noctis strode on the opposite direction as he headed on to his next subject. Since today was Tuesday, free period was scheduled to be another class away unlike on the other days. While the timid Prince was walking along the corridors, an out-of-the-blue question suddenly flashed across his mind to which Noctis was quite staggered why. If he didn't see the bubbly Tenebraean this morning, the Caelum heir plainly wondered if he would see her this afternoon like the days before when she was absent. Talk about randomness for the slightly impassive monarch.

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Noctis couldn't believe that he was actually sitting in one of the chairs of Mrs. Mulier's private office right now. This was the first time a teacher called him in for a one-on, rather, one-on-two consultation regarding something that was about to be revealed soon. A few spaces beside him, someone was also seated in a chair. It was Stella. During their same Calculus period, a note of appointment was given to Mr. Fulgio, their teacher, informing the two of them of a joint consultation requested by the ginger haired professor right after their math class.

Fifteen minutes have passed since the pair's arrival in the office and Mrs. Mulier's presence was still nowhere to be found within her office premises. Upon entering the room, a fellow teacher had informed them of their homeroom advisor's urgent meeting with the principal which would shortly be through in just a few more moments. While awaiting Mrs. Mulier's arrival, Noctis, who had always been unmindful of his environment, actually noticed something quite off. Stella was unusually silent. Except for the small talk which they were currently having, her sentences were cut to phrases, as if audibly answering back was optional. Strangely, Noctis couldn't help but to literally blurt out his curiosity through a question in disguise.

"I assume you just came back from Tenebrae this lunch."

"What gave you that idea, Noct?" The blue eyed Ambassador who was pretty surprised with the Prince's inquiry, kindly asked.

"You seem to always give that as the reason behind your morning absences." Noctis responded with his gaze as usual, across him.

"I have, haven't I?" Stella laughed charmingly. "But I assure you, my reason for this morning is completely different."

"In what way then?"

Stella bit her lower lip and felt hesitant in giving the curious Prince a straight, flat answer so she carefully thought of a parallel and indirect reply.

"It's a… girl's thing." In case Noctis was too blunt to comprehend what the blonde Ambassador tried to say obliquely, Stella hovered a hand over her abdomen.

Boys are boys. The cheerful girl was correct with her notion. Noctis didn't know what Stella truly meant by a 'girl's thing' until he was forced to turn his head sideways for an answer. Upon realizing what it really was, the shy Prince hurriedly jerked to his side and felt embarrassed for asking further for a reason.

"I'm sorry."

"It's okay, Noct." Stella couldn't help but chuckle hilariously at Noctis' silly reaction.

"I-I… hope you feel much better now."

"Yes, I do. Thank you for the thought."

The jovial Ambassador was astonished with the Prince's kind statement. She felt quite flattered but at the same time a bit awkward as well since his caring thought revolved around her period for this month. As Noctis nodded in response towards Stella's small gratitude, he felt all the more discomfit with what he just said. But frankly, the Prince himself didn't know what else to say right after he found out Stella's real answer, so he reflexively gave a reply in which he didn't even take time to think through.

Before the room's ambience could slump into an uneasy feel, the door suddenly swerved opened, making the two students slightly shudder up from their seats.

"Sorry I'm late, but I'm glad that the both of you willingly complied with my request." The ginger haired professor marched her way into the chair behind her desk. After sitting down and tossing a folder into one of her drawers, her hands clasped together above the table as her strict irises stared upon the youthful faces of the students who've gotten her nerves in a knot.

"As much as I'd like to have a confidential discussion with each of you separately, I simply can't because my schedule is not allowing anything to interfere with it, therefore, I have called for the two of you at the same time. So let's get straight to the point, shall we?" Mrs. Mulier's almond eyes darted first to the Prince who seemed to have a laid back posture on the chair.

"Mr. Caelum, your frequent inattentiveness in my class is quite disturbing for my part. I hope you realize that." Without taking a moment to pause, the rather furious teacher swiftly averted her gaze towards the vivacious Ambassador. "Miss Fleuret, your absences without a letter of excuse is intolerable. You've been in Regius for almost a month so I think you've already familiarized yourself with the school rules by now."

Guilty and Speechless. These were the words to describe Noctis and Stella who sat quietly before Mrs. Mulier as she nattered on with their respective faults. The Prince's cobalt irises stared restlessly around the room while the young Ambassador simply hung her head low as she tucked her lips gently.

"Is there anything that the two of you want to explain?" The ginger haired teacher snapped her widened eyes as she listened eagerly for a reason.

"Mr. Caelum?"

Your class is boring. Noctis wasn't so sure how to explain his answer towards Mrs. Mulier. As much as he wanted to say what his honest mind screamed out, the charcoal haired Prince feared the further irritation of the red faced teacher as she might suddenly flunk him for no rational reason at all. So instead of opening his mouth for a response, Noctis simply shook his head sideways to which the professor immediately understood.

"Miss Fleuret?"

I'm a little bit too busy to make an excuse letter. Stella opened her mouth to reply but nothing came out except for an inaudible response from her throat. She did want to say a truthful answer yet for the blonde diplomat, it would rather be inappropriate to tell Mrs. Mulier that she's a Tenebraean Ambassador who is not really here to faithfully abide by the university rules as a student, but for the crafting of the false liaison with the Caelum Prince. And just like Noctis, Stella also shook her head sideways which the professor comprehended as well.

Mrs. Mulier released a heavy sigh before commenting on her students' disappointing non-explanation. "Alright then, it looks like the two of you don't really wish to be forthright with me. So for your punishment, I will not give the both of you a one week detention. Rather, you guys will be the representatives for the senior's dance cotillion, seeing that the class this morning was quite indecisive who their chosen pair would be."

There were no words to exactly describe what Noctis felt upon hearing what Mrs. Mulier firmly stated. Flabbergasted? Rattled? No, it was simply much more to that. The bashful Prince was confused. He could easily become the top notch student of his whole batch; he could bravely defend his country from a horde of enemies; he could rightfully rule his kingdom single-handedly; but, he could never, ever dance with a girl and hold her so close in his arms. Noctis wanted to say 'no'.

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