After the dance lesson, Noctis made an excuse to visit his father. He stood in front of the door and took a deep breathe. He felt like a child again seeing if his father could be lured away from work to play. Noctis knocked.
"Who is it?" Asked Regis. He was looking at some more albums.
"Just Prince Noctis." Answered his son. Umbra barked. "And Umbra, too."
"Come in." Said Regis. He tried to hide the album he was looking at on a nearby shelf. While it was filled with plenty of adorable pictures of the prince in his infant and toddler years, there were some that Regis really wanted to forget about.
"More albums?" Asked Noct. He quickly spied the one crammed into the shelf and opened it. He smiled as he found a section from the annual Halloween ball. "Dad, I know you love me, but why did carry me around a party?"
Dred filled Regis as he realized the pictures Noct found. He looked and there he was in a black Chocobo costume to match his 'chick'. "Well, our head steamstress when you were little thought it was so cute when you pretended to be a chocobo she made you a tiny costume for the Halloween ball and made me one to match."
"Prompto would be so jealous. So, why didn't you leave me with a servant?"
"No offense to Kenny, but there's just something creepy about a grown man in a bird costume. I thought it looked more . . . Normal with my little chick drawing attention away from my costume. You were adorable. " Regis countered. Actually some guests even slipped him their phone numbers with comments like 'such a cute chick to be without a mommy', 'call if you think about expanding your nest' and 'the world needs more black chocobos.' Clarus had given him such a hard time over that. "Especially when you did your little chocobo impression."
Noctis flipped to another page and laughed. " Alright, but could you explain this get up?"
"Let me see . . . Umm . . ." Started Regis. It was a picture a servant took while Noctis was getting over a cold. The balance between benevolent king and good father had been taxing and due to lack of sleep the king walked out in a biazzarre outfit he was sure Lexa's boss would deem disaster. The bright pink paisly shirt with the blue snow flake tie were bad enough, but the lime green lined pinstriped blazer and dark purple pants just made it that much worse. Needless to say he had his closet reorganized the next day and set up a schedule so that the fashion don't wouldn't happen again. " I was a bit stressed and . . . Well, if you can go into your closet on 2 hours of sleep in three days and not come out clown feel free to tell me how."
"Oh, this is the outfit you wore when I was sick that everyone told me about. I think Clarus mentioned that you came out in your underwear one day and another time walked from the shower to the throne room in a towel." Laughed Noctis.
"Less than that if he was honest. Between losing your mother and the war, it was a stressful time. Your first cold didn't help. I might've been a bit of a worrier." Admitted Regis.
Noctis laughed. "Well, at least you didn't use the excuse it was the look back then. So, if the Chocobo costume got you some numbers, why didn't you date?"
"I could've, but I already had so little time with you I didn't want you to start to think Cor or Clarus was your father. Besides, I already loved the best. Your mother would've been a tough act for anyone to follow." Sighed Regis. "Feels like just yesterday we were kids throwing mud pies at each other."
" What? Okay, you have got to tell me that story." Said Noct. Umbra barked and nudged the door opened.
"Maybe later. I think Umbra is ready for dinner. Anyway, Noct, it is rude to keep a lady waiting and we have four. One might even be your future wife." Said Regis. Noct stopped himself from rolling his eyes. He grabed his cane and followed Umbra and Noctis to the dining room.
Titus sat in his apartment debating on his next move. Many would be rebels in the Glaive had re-pledged their loyalty to the Lucian Royal family, some even thought that the king knew the treaty was a trap and set counter measures. Titus had been certain that the Empire had won and yet here he was, eating noodles in Insomnia and serving King Regis with the Crowns guard on high alert for a spy and one of the more proficient magic wielders in the Glaive (who he would've had killed on her way to escourt Lady Lunafreya to Altissa) was training the Prince. Only way the situation could be worse is if someone connected the dots back to him.
He checked his cell phone from the Empire. No new messages in over a week. None of his informants inside the city had received new orders either. Titus was more worried about them giving him up than the air heads in the Crowns guard figuring it out on their own. If Regis was so smart, why had he been allowed to climb so far in the ranks?
Luche came in. "Sir, I just heard that Crowe is having dinner with the king and prince as part of an interview process for candidates to marry the prince."
"What?" This was not good. Crowe could probably take out anyone who wanted to harm the prince and the prince was no push over. Both had strong friends (though Titus had to admit the blond guy who was always around the prince was as good with a gun as he was annoying). If those two got together . . . "I need a stift drink."
"Sir, it has been over a week. Some of our spies here have deflected back to the Lucians. We haven't heard what happened. It is only a matter of time before the king weeds out the traitors in his court." Luche pleded. "What your orders, sir?"
Titus shook his head. He downed part of a bottle of whisky. "My orders are to keep your damn mouth shut and play the loyal glaive until the Empire tells you otherwise, you idiot!"
"But, sir . . ."
"Need I remind you the so called king was willing to hand over the lands of his loyal army! This plan was in the works for years. Every Imperial stragests is probably wondering and analysizing what happened this very . . . Moment." Titus interupted and hit another realization. "They think one of us is a double agent. That must be it! Why they aren't contacting us. The Empire is trying to find our traitor before they move forward!"
"Why would they . . .?" Started Luche.
"Think about it. Do you really think the king expected an attack after the Chancellor himself came with the treaty proposal? Something caused afew ships to come to the party too early. Until we know for sure, everyone is to act causal. " interupted Titus. He downed another shot. He knew of one other possibility and he didn't think the king followed it, but employing it might be a good idea until he knew for sure what his next move would be. Now the question was who did he keep close?
"Well, I'm going to see if that blond guy the prince hangs out with is doing anything." Sighed Luche.
"What?" Titus started to go back to his dinner.
"I'm going to monitor the prince, but I need a way into his inner circle. His body guard would be suspicious and the guy with the glasses would know something was off, but the other guy . . . There's something about him that makes me wonder why he is here. He's just a jester playing soldier. I can only guess entertainment."
"Be on guard. Sometimes jesters only act like fools." Warned Titus.
"That guy? He might be good with a gun, but what harm can he do? How did he even graduate high school? He is such a total slacker!" Laughe Luche.
"Well, he is a friend of Prince Noctis. The boy has to have some redeming features. The prince doesn't let any nitwit befriend him."
The ladies rose as the King and prince entered the room. Umbra guarded the door as they entered the dinning room. Noctis pulled a chair out for each lady and each smiled back at him. The king sat down and everyone else followed suit.
"I must thank all of you for joining me and my son. I know he can be a hand full." Said Regis. The first course was bought out. It was a potato soup with kale and sausage topped with freshly grated cheese.
"The pleasure is ours, your Majesty." Replied Rebecca. Her outfit was a long gray silk skirt with a black and white rose design with a plain peasent top and silver pendent. Monica was oddly relieved that she wasn't the only one who didn't go all out for this dinner. Beck was nice enough, but had always been hard for Monica to read. Rebecca had always been prim and proper (something common among the Scientia family).
"Glad to be at your service, your Highness." Said Monica.
Iris shifted her gaze to Crowe. The older woman was dressed to impress, but there was no way Noct would be interested in her. Then, Iris remembered what Gladio had told her days ago about her age compared to Noct's. Five years. Her birthday was coming up, but . . . Noctis wouldn't go from single to boyfriend to lover to husband in a month. He didn't need an heir of his own . . . Yet. Yes Crowe, Monica and Rebecca were older and more mature but Noctis enjoyed her company. Though that story from earlier. . . Maybe the only reason he remembered it was because it was her. She had to shake it off quick. "You and Noct are practically family already." She wanted to kick herself for saying that. Eventually she wanted to be the king's daughter in law and Noct's wife.
"Any Glaive worth their metal always answers the king's call." Added Crowe. This was what fairy tales were made of, though there wasn't a point in getting used to this. Fancy tables weren't exactly common in Galad, but the other women seemed to be more accustomed to this. She looked over at them. Iris had yet to show her worth as a shield and Monica getting locked in that shed didn't instill confidence in Crowe. The other girl, the librarian . . . Crowe could tell Beck had a hidden talent for magic, though it didn't seem she had developed it much if any. This worried her. Could any of them protect Noct from Highwind or the traitor? She looked at Noct. When it had been her turn to dance with him, she felt like they were dancing on air almost like a princess . . . Libertius would laugh if he heard her say that.
"Let us enjoy then." Noctis nodded. They began eating. It was strange having so many guests outside of a banquet; Noctis wondered if this was how it would've been if his father had tried to find a second wife. Well, maybe if there was only one other guest. "So, Clarus mentioned new security measures for the Citadel. What is going on?"
"Just Clarus and Cor wanting to make sure the Citadel is more secure then the Keep. Cor said the prodocols were over due an overhaul." Answered Regis. Cor was convinced there were traitors, but neither of them were ever really alone inside the Citadel. Even if the traitor was a Crowns guard or Glaive between their most trusted retainers, he was certain they wouldn't get far. "But you know him. You mention a day off or vacation, he finds an excuse to work by research or a walk around. I don't think he has had a real vacation in 30 years."
"The Marshal is very vigilant." Agreed Monica. Why did the king want to keep the suspicions from his son? Prince Noctis was not stupid and tried to stay informed, though Ignis was usually afew steps ahead. Maybe it was the fear that the prince would search for the traitor and confront them himself. "I don't think I remember him saying he has any hobbies either."
"He used to be a firecracker back in the day." Started Regis. He had told Noctis about Cor's rebellious past as a teen crowns guard, but what had changed him he never actually told anyone. The king had only heard the story from Clarus after the trial, but Cor never spoke of what happened; that was Cor's story to tell when he was ready, though dispite how close he was to both of them Regis didn't think he or Noctis would heard the story from the Immortal.
"I'm surprised he didn't help you when you fought that octopus." Said Noctis. The girls looked at the king.
"Well, I think he was still recovering from an injury. We made it thru without him thou." Regis smiled.
"Octopus? " asked Iris.
"An adventure I went on when I was about my son's age. I used to tell the prince stories before bed. Your father never told you that story?" Asked the king. Iris shook her head. " Well, . . ."
Lexa was working on the shirt she had promised Noctis. Madam LeBlanc had loved her designs, but the fabrics she needed wouldn't be delivered until the next day, so Lexa had gone home. She wasted no time sewing the seams together and was now adding the silver buttons on the black fabric. Anything would've looked good on the Prince. He would probably even looked good naked . . .
Lexa stopped a minute. After the fashion show, he would be modeling for her. There was blush on her cheeks at the thought. She was used to it during a show as she dressed and undressed models, but Noctis was royalty and . . . She was still crushing on him. The dream from the previous night came to mind. She went to her closet and put on the fanciest dress she had. It was her senior prom dress. At first glance it was a clasic A line with a halter top in black satin. A layer a silk floated on top with tiny silver colored seed beads in flower patterns in the skirt and bodice. It had taken her two months to make. The prince had even complimented it. . .
She turned from her mirror. In her mind, she remembered dancing on air as Noctis asked for a dance. Lexa had always wanted to approach him and confess her feelings. She lay on her back as sleep claimed her.
She was in the garden of the Citadel in her dress dancing with Noctis. The moon light lit the beads as she twirled. She smiled as he embraced her and lead her to bed. Lexa found herself in one of Noct's t-shirts as lay next to him. He ran his fingers down the length of her body. Every part of her ached for him and she leaned into him. Lexa wrapped her arms around his neck and in his ear whispered, "I love you."
He kissed her gently and answered, " Let me return your feeling ten fold."
It was a dream and yet, as the prince made love to her within the dream she didn't care. She loved him and he loved her in her dreamworld. Lexa dreaded the dawn, knowing she would be alone. Dream Noctis kept her mind away from the dawn.