chapter 5

the ceremony happened in the blink of an eye, Noctis didn't even have the time to neither did he want to think of what would happen now. Kiara's doubtful gazes and Regis' announcing his assurance of this marriage working out was starting to stress him out. He need time to think of what to do with life anymore which he couldn't do at the manor, his father's owned place where apparently he just stayed.

Kaya's family was quite sad at her departure but they knew the best for her was be with her husband and since Noctis didn't want to stay, she couldn't either. She wasn't likely to ask him for it either.

"Look after her, Noct. She means well, she is leaving everything behind to stand next to you. Be her strength and support, not a burden." Regis had asked of him, to look after her. Burden? wasn't she already so? But he shouldn't blame her... after all, she is just doing what his father had asked of her... It's as simple as that.

"Never have I ever?" Noctis asked, yawning a bit his gaze fixated onto the sceneries passing by, the car at a slow pace since the roads were damp, it's been raining in the city for the past few days.

"It's a game but it's really fun. I think we should play it." Prompto replied stretching a bit, before looking at Noctis in the mirror. He seemed clearly uninterested.

"I don't like those sorts of dumb games." Noctis replied without bothering to mask his boredom with a change in his expression.

Prompto was really worried about this marriage. It was just a suicide attempt, almost. Since neither Noctis nor Kaya had any sorts of interest in each other, they were two

different individuals whose point of views were far from similar. their way of thinking, their way of reacting to things was different. Even their purpose of accepting this relationship was different. How could Regis possibly find the sync to connect the two with?

Noctis didn't think this marriage would change anything in his life, but it was his mere thought. Prompto, as dense as he maybe, was able to see every change that was going to take place and he wasn't sure if Noctis wouldn't blame Kaya for it. Since it depended on her, and because of her this marriage happened.

It's been almost two hours since have been in the car, the sky was cloudy and the atmosphere was freezing so they had to wind up the window glasses up but that was not helping much. It's when Prompto had stopped talking that Noctis realized Kaya had been silent since she seated inside the car. She hadn't even looked at him, for whatever reasons did Noctis want her to.

He wondered if leaving her family behind, right after getting married which was a life changing event, was drowning her deep inside. He did wrong, for sure. Her family wasn't the least bit content about sending her away, at least not yet, but just because HE asked did they gladly agree.

With that sympathetic thought, Noctis shifted slightly in his seat cleared his throat, to draw Kaya's attention towards himself. She did notice and looked at him, calm as ever. He wondered if this girl even felt things, she was just so silent all the time.

"How are you?" Noctis asked, now that he couldn't think of anything else to start the conversation with. She gave a slight nod and presented a properly faked smile before looking out of the window again.

What Regis had said rung in Noctis' ears, about Kaya leaving her everything behind for his sake. Indeed, Noctis didn't have to change himself from any aspect for the sake of this marriage but Kaya did. She had to change, leave things behind...

"Will you miss it?" He asked and Kaya turned to give him a questioning look. She didn't know what was he hoping to achieve. Noctis shifted in his seat, his gaze softening as his shoulder tensed slightly.

"I mean, your family? I'm sure you would have wanted to spend some proper time with them before having to leave them." He added.

Kaya was surprised, she didn't think he would have noticed it, or the least bit cared about it.

She looked down at her lap, staring quietly at her empty hands.

"Who wouldn't?" She replied, her posture relaxed and her tone calm. She wasn't afraid to admit. Change scared her. Having to leave the ones she had grown up having around scared her. It was terrifying how swiftly her life had changed.

"In a day, my life changed entirely." She replied before looking up at her husband and nodded.

"Its just sad that I didn't get to bide farewell to them properly." She added letting out a soft sigh.

Noctis thought about it now, she would gave wanted to spend some time with her family, say bye to them properly... He did realize how selfish he had been, seemed to have been surrounded by his own worries and insecurities that he couldn't notice Kaya must have been struggling with the same...

Kaya stared at Noctis quietly for a moment before stealing her gaze away. She wasn't upset about having to leave her family so soon, neither was she upset that she wasn't a wilful preference for the man she had wedded. But she would be upset if she wasn't able to accomplish his trust and support, to make this work.

Prompto knew right away what was going on. Judging by Kaya and Noctis' expressions, they weren't he least bit excited about their life ahead. Noctis at least wasn't.

He then felt even sorry for Kaya, not that it was Noctis' fault the situation she was in, but he could at least be cooperative enough with her to make things easier. He could at least assure her that whatever is to happen, she won't be blamed. Prompto didn't know what was Regis' purpose behind this entire situation, but he had a feeling he soon will.

Later...

"Here we go." Prompto said with a proud groan following as he pulled out the last suitcase out of the car, there wasn't much that Kaya had brought along. It seemed she wasn't sure if she wouldn'tnbe going shopping soon that she hadn't brought almost everything to her husband's place like any newly wedded woman would.

"Damn... so cold." Noctis whispered, his breath fogging up as the temperature had dropped significantly since morning. It was probably around 4 in the evening but the clouded sky and the freezing wind made it impossible to not think the night would be approaching sooner, accompanied by storm and rain. Prompto clicked his tongue giving a mocking smile to the raven head, too strong to be shaken down by the slight drop in temperature. He finished unloading the luggage from the car and looked around.

"Where is Kaya?" He asked, not finding her anywhere around. Noctis blinked before looking around, not finding her around he went to look into the car and there she sat, eyes closed and breathing calmly.

"She fell asleep." Noctis let Prompto know. the journey was quite long and for someone like Kaya who is not much of an outdoor person, it really was exhausting, Noctis figured. He had taken in account at least that much about the girl that was legally his wife. He couldn't want to wake her up when seemed to be in such a peaceful slumber but inside the car wasn't as comfortable and as warm. He took a deep breath

tapped on the window its since Kaya was a light sleeper, she opened her eyes immediately and looked at Noctis. It took her a moment to break out of disorientation, to realize that the car had stopped and as soon as she did, she stepped out of the car shivering slightly. She looked around, noticing the luggage was out of the car. So they were there...

"Come on in, you'll catch a cold if stayed out too long."

Noctis said to her and gestured her to follow as he headed inside. She wrapped her arms around herself and followed the husband, almost walking alongside. Noctis looked towards her for a split and noticed her lips quivering. Her hands were shaking and steps were desperate. It seemed she didn't stand against the cold weather, even if she was covered into layers of her dress then a coat.

Prompto just followed, watching the two quietly. It seemed the efforts were going to be peaceful and quiet, from both sides. He was glad Noctis was being understanding and supportive from the very start. It wouldn't be hard for Kaya to find her place in his life then.

as soon as they reached the apartment, Prompto hastily grabbed Noctis' arm pausing him in tracks earning a surprised groan from him. Noctis' sound caused Kaya to turn towards them and she looked at them with a questioning look. Prompto gave Noctis a knowing look before looking at Kaya, with a well managed smile. Noctis caught the hint and rose a brow before turning Kaya.

"Why don't you head in first?" He said unlocking the door and gestured her to head inside which Kaya without reservance did. Prompto closed the door behind the girl before pulling Noctis to the farthest corner.

"What?" Noctis asked letting out an exasperated sigh. He didn't need anymore questions because he didn't have any answer. Prompto stared at him quietly, observing his features. He was tired, by the expression of his but not the least bit hateful or stressed which meant well for Kaya.

"Noct." Prompto spoke, and the look he had told Noctis of a lecture of the morality coming up for him and the raven head sighed.

"Not again, please no. I've had enough of this from Dad. Not you now, please." Noctis complained shaking his head and crossed his arms.

"Noct. Listen to me." Prompto insisted grabbing Noctis' arm and holding him down. He felt bad for Kaya and Noctis, they both didn't know what are they to do from here.

"Kaya, didn't just marry you because Regis asked her. Even if she did, her family wouldn't have outright agreed for an arrange marriage. Its 21st century Noct. Don't you think they had thought of it like a thousand times before approving of this?"

Indeed. What kind of a father would give his daughter away just because his dear Sir asked him to do so? Not to mention Kiara, Kaya's elder sister who had been an independent woman and married even would have approved of this just because Regis asked them for it. Wouldn't they have seen something valuable and worth counting on in Noctis?

Noctis' expression faltered for a moment as realization washed over his mind. Prompto smiled, faintly. It seemed Noctis had gotten hang of it without needing much explanation.

"She is a girl, Noct. She didn't have a life of her own until now. She is dependent on you, whatever you do or decide to do would affect her just as much so please..." Noctis looked up at the blonde hearing the plea.

"Please don't think EVER that Kaya wasn't likely to suffer... because she will. So please don't end up making a selfish decision and causing her and her family regret." Prompto added, his brows furrowed and his lips frowning. He was worried and didn't want Noctis to take any drastic step in the flow of emotions and make a decision that makes him sour in everyone's eyes... Kaya's even...

few minutes later...

Kaya sat in the living room, her gaze roaming around the apartment. She hadn't seen anyone living in such a space alone... wondering how Noctis managed on his own cleaning and dusting. She didn't know where was the bedroom and if Noctis would want her to be in it so she decided to wait. She stood up hearing the door click, watching as Noctis came inside.

"Oh... Hi. Sorry, Prompto needed to talk to me about something." He explained with a mere smile which deflated instantly as he noticed the suitcases. He grabbed the cases and gestured Kaya to follow heading inside a room.

"This is the bedroom. Mi- I mean, our... bedroom." Noctis said stepping aside to let Kaya inside and she looked around, quite astonished. Everything was perfect, only unmanaged. But that's about to change now that she had come.

"Why don't you uh... change? I'll order something to eat, are you hungry?" Noctis asked, letting the suitcases inside and stepped back waiting for Kaya to finish mooning over his sleeping area.

"Kaya?" He called, once again and the attention was rewarded. Kaya nodded, flashing a carefree smile towards the husband. For a brief moment Noctis just stayed there, watching as Kaya welcomed her belongings inside and pulled out her clothes. She realized the husband was still there and turned to him with a questioning look.

"Do you need anything?" She asked, not knowing what was so interesting about her suddenly that the husband was staring at her curiously. Noctis was just watching, how skillful of an actor this girl was. She wasn't the least bit uncomfortable in a new space and an almost stranger around.

"Just... wanted to ask something."

He asked, his extension softening as she managed a smile nodding. He didn't know what was it that urged him to ask such question but considering Kaya's difficulties, he wanted to be anything towards her, but selfish.

"Do you trust me?" Her smile deflated slightly. She didn't know what was Noctis' motive behind asking this. She couldn't even think of a proper, undisputed answer. Noctis' troubled expression still roamed her memories. How uninterested he was talking about the marriage, and how hateful his words sounded when he'd tried to remind her of the difficulties to come. How much of a compromise this relationship would prove to both of them... It saddened her to think, terrified her to think if Noctis didn't put up any effort to make this relationship work... what would happen to her? what would she have left to struggle for... one sided compromise, fruitless and hollow? a mere relationship that was arranged...

but wasn't it what she had come to change? Noctis' heart. Struggle enough to let him know how valuable his effort could prove. Struggle enough to make him realize that this could actually work? a faint smile crept upto her lips. She will give it her all.

"I do. I trust you."