"Looks like you have your work cut out for you." Gladio grins as they make their way back to the Citadel. Ignis waiting for them with Astrum in his arms.
"Don't reminds me." Noct frowns, both close enough for the advisor to hear them.
"Don't remind you of?" Ignis wonders, moving to join them in their walk back to the office.
"Princess here has tons of work to do so he doesn't fall behind when we take our trip to Tenebrae." Gladio explains pointing his thumb at the prince.
"That shouldn't be too hard. We'll push some of your prince work back and focus on school work." Ignis says thinking out loud. The advisor and shield pause when Noct stops walking. "Noct?" the advisor calls for him. "Noct?" Ignis calls again as Gladio waves his hand in front of Noct face but the prince doesn't react, focused on whatever he's looking at. Ignis turns to where Noct is looking at, Gladio does the same a second later, coming to face Prom walking with Regis, Clarus, and Cor, and by the looks of it the prince isn't use to the blonde's new outfit yet. Wonder how long it would take?
"Sunshine." Gladio says happily, a smile on his face from the prince's reaction to her. She doesn't smile though, she looks at them worried.
"Everything okay?" Noctis asks, worried about what was said. It couldn't have been good if his father, father's shield and Cor standing near her.
"She should be more careful when she's out. The King Thieves are targeting her, she should be careful." Cor says to them.
"She has put two of the main men in jail, the others are looking for her, targeting her. We don't know the real reason but we can guess they are mad at her." Clarus continues.
"What about Astrum?" Gladio wonders about.
"That's what we are waiting for you all, it would be best to keep Astrum out of people's eyes. We should try to keep Astrum a secret." Clarus answers.
"Astrum and I are going to stay here." Prompto says looking at Ignis then Noct.
"Wait, you are moving out?" Noct asks, that was happening fast.
"We talked about it. So Astrum isn't seen around me or any one else. It's safer this way." the blonde says.
"We should move your things here, am I right?" Ignis suggest moving forward to hand the baby back. Prompto takes him, careful to make sure not wrinkle her shirt.
"Yeah." she nods. The faster the better.
"What about the council. You can't keep pushing them away. They are going to get agitated about the lack of talking about the Crystal. You know what they want to talk about." Clarus says talking to the group.
"They are already suspicious." Cor adds.
"Are they getting impatient?" Prompto wonders. She knows they all have been keeping her a secret, especially Astrum.
"They have been curious, of course, but his majesty diverted the talk to other serious topics. They always look upset about it." Ignis answers.
"They're just mad because every time they try to bring it up his highness changes the subject." Gladio explains more, a smug grin plastered on his face. He continues, "Of course they can't do anything or say anything but they still get mad. Their faces when they try to hold in their anger." Gladio snickers, remembering that.
"What would happen if they know?" Prompto asks moving Astrum's hand out of her face, he likes touching her freckles. Seems to want to grab them. He scratched her once. The blonde looks at them to see them look at each other, almost in guilt, it must not have been good. "What did they say?" she asks more firmly. She wants to know what she's gotten herself into. Maybe she can plan something so she and Astrum are safe. Oh, she's thinking like she's alone again. She's not, Gladio, Noct, and Ignis, specially Ignis, wouldn't let something bad happen to them both.
"One suggested we kill you." Noct shrugs, nonchalauntly. All men look at Noctis in horror. Why would he say that out loud?
"Noctis!" They all shouted.
"They did?" Prompto asks, horrified, holding Astrum close.
"Prompto relax, you are safe here." Ignis gets closer to reassure the blonde.
"It doesn't seem like it." the blonde answers, causing Ignis to give a glare at Noct.
"We wouldn't let them." Gladio tells her with a smile. The blonde stares at them as if she's reevaluating if she's safe there.
"They are just scared. Besides the family Lucis, no one out side has been connected to the Crystal." Regis explains, trying to ease her worries.
"Technically, Astrum is Lucis blood." Prompto points out to which they all nod.
"But you are not." Ignis points out.
"Oh, right." the blonde looks down. She hasn't had so much as a spark since then. So far the days have been calm. She hasn't felt sadness, anger, or any other negative emotion. Ignis always makes sure she's not alone. Always driving her to where she needs to be. Gladio watches her during training or any time he's free. Noct is almost always nearby, laughing with her or Astrum. Peaceful days. "They are not going to stop asking until they get an answer though?" she wonders.
"They are old, and impatient." Clarus points out.
"And they only think one person is connected to the Crystal?" Prompto asks twirling a strand of Astrums midnight hair.
"Yeah~" Noct looks at the blonde not able to see where she's going with this, or what she's planning, "why?" he asks.
"If they are so curious, why not show them me? Who knows how they'll react to Astrum, so safer bet would be me. I work here so they might not be as worried."
"Good idea my dear, but Astrum can not be hidden away forever. If they do meet you they might have people following you everyday. We also still don't know the reason to you being connected to the Crystal in the first place. If they ask questions we wouldn't be able to answer." Regis says. Prompto nods her head, yes that makes sense but...
"Either way they won't be happy. They are upset now. What about after Lunas engagement? How are they going to react after that? I'm sure they'll have plenty of questions then to." the blonde points out. They all look at each other, she has a very fair point. After Lunas engagement announcement, all of Eos will be in chaos, specially after everyone learns who she's going to marry. Noct knows having heard the story. But even after knowing the truth Noct is sure the press will be in an uproar. Hopefully people accept Lunas decision because she's the oracle, in truth how many wanted her and him to marry any ways. People only wanted prince and princess together because of the comfort and safety it promised. Did the people of Tenebrae want their princess to marry someone not from Tenebrae? Who would argue with their princess, their princess who is the oracle? While the people of Lucis may have all been to happy to hear the oracle become their queen. They are not going to be happy to hear that not being the case.
"There are many questions, like why now are you connected to the Crystal. For Astrum it's easy but for you? We need to do more research." Ignis tells her. That is a good question, why is she just now connected to the crystal? She use to come by almost all the time to train. What changed? Besides Astrum nothing. Was it him? But if that's the case why haven't anyone heard of queens married into the Lucis bloodline gaining powers after being pregnant with the next heir? There had to have been rumors at least. So it couldn't have been that.
"But won't they calm down if they know you are working on it? I'm sure they are worried and mad because they think no one cares and aren't working on it." Prompto points out.
"That's a fair point. For now I'll let them know I'm looking into it. It is still a mystery as to why now of all times you are connected to the Crystal." Regis says. All eyes going to the blonde who looks just as curious and confused. Prompt shrugs her shoulders, she's just as clueless.
She's just an orphan.
