A/N: Please review. Pretty please, with the puppy dog eyes. Tell me what you think, whether positive or negative, I'll be happy to accept it. Constructive criticism would be nice too. It helps me improve. If the story's getting boring, I promise it'll work back up sooner. They're kind of in a calm right now. Plots are emerging in my later chapters. Anyways, I decided to post this, so happy reading. I really appreciate a review. Thank you. :)

Chapter 8: The Infuriating Truth

To say that the meeting was interesting would probably be the understatement of the year. It was horrible! It was tiring! It was excruciating—having to lag through hours of listening to men babble about insignificant nonsense! Having to slug through a meeting with incomprehensible old geezers was not Kadaj's cup of tea.

To say the least, our young prince daydreamed through the whole gathering. They asked for his opinion out of courtesy, and not that they'd actually cared what he thought. What could they expect from a spoiled prince? Wise counsel? Mighty advice? No! They'd expect a head full of ego and girls. Sadly, they were right.

Kadaj was walking along the main lobby of the palace, loosening his tie as he went, and unbuttoning his smartly done semi-formal jacket. From the exploring he'd done earlier this morning, he managed to come across the library that was no different in size from theirs back at Nyx. The furniture and books were different of course. And he wasn't surprised to see the humongous room empty. People rarely read these days.

Kadaj was on his way there now, not really looking forward to reading through a leather bound book with web infested dusty pages, but for some peace and quiet. He had his laptop with him after all, and he just wanted to retire and play a nice game of 'Left 4 Dead' where no one could bother him. He would've opted for his room in the palace, but...he just felt uneasy there.

vVvVv

"Your highness, there's someone on the phone for you," Josie remarked, appearing at the threshold of Natalie's study.

"Did he make himself known?" The princess inquired, eyes never leaving the pages of her textbook while her other hand was busy highlighting a few important words.

"No milady," her personal attendant replied with a shake of her head.

Natalie outstretched a hand for the phone and Josie gave it to her and briskly left the princess' study. Holding the phone up to her ear, she waited. It could be one of those reformists asking for petitions. It wasn't really surprising. She was used to it at a young age.

"Good evening, Princess Natalie Auguste speaking." She mused with that same regal tone she always used in unknown speakers in the phone.

"It's me... No need to get all formal talk." Tifa. She could almost picture the brunette smiling as she said those words.

"Oh! Hey Teef! What's up?" She asked, frowning at the stray smudge of yellow that hit the corner of the right page because of the highlighter.

"Nothing really. Just wanted to know how my best friend's doing?"

"Well... I'm fine...to say the least."

"What have you been up to?"

"Nothing! That's the problem. I could die of boredom. Can't you guys come over and let's do some karaoke in the entertainment hall."

Tifa sighed heavily. "I would really love too, but... Dad's got plans for this week. Said he's wanted to take the family out to go camping."

Now it was Natalie's turn to sigh. Tifa and her family were going camping in the woods—the real woods, a real forest with diverse animals and their special habitats. When would she ever get to be like that? The only time she'd ever got close to camping in the 'woods' was when she was ten, and that had been in the small forest at the palace grounds. There was nothing exciting in there, but there were a few exotic birds, but that was it. Not much after that.

"You're so lucky," Natalie sighed dreamily. "When would I ever get to do that for real?"

"I wish I could take you with me, Nat. But I don't think your parents would approve."

"Yeah... They would never." Natalie murmured dejectedly.

"Hey... Don't feel bad, Nat. Tell you what. I'm gonna teach you a trick. Enjoy your remaining three years inside that protective shell you call your home. Once you're eighteen and out in the world, trust me... you'll miss it. Three years isn't a long wait you know?" Tifa explained on the other line, trying to be cheerful for her friend.

"I've been waiting all my life," the princess sighed again and stared out the glass paned windows that reflected a beautiful night.

"Then I hope you'll have the patience to wait a little more. I don't really agree with your family tradition of keeping you hauled up in there, but there's nothing you and I can do. If there were, you know we got your back and we'll push through," Tifa offered.

Tifa's statement uplifted Natalie a little. At least, she wasn't the only one who thought this idea was ridiculous.

"Thanks so much, Teef. You just made me smile," Natalie chuckled.

"Always happy to help Nat. BTW, I almost forgot my real purpose for calling you," Tifa sounded almost excited.

"And that purpose would be...?" Natalie was grinning, excited with whatever news her best friend was going to share.

"Cloud... asked me out this weekend!"

"Get out!" Natalie squealed, bolting from her chair. "Seriously? Oh... You have to give me details when we see each other again! Gosh Teef! I'm so proud of you," she squealed some more, really excited now.

"Thanks... And I will tell you guys every detail when we meet. It's kind of a long story, and I still gotta tell Aerith and Yuffie."

"Priceless!" Natalie exclaimed, leaning her back against the edge of her desk. "I'll see you then."

"Bye, Princess..."

And just like that, the line went dead.

vVvVv

Kadaj growled, slamming his fist on the table.

"How could I have been so careless?!" He screamed in rage, his voice echoing across the empty room of books. "I can't believe I didn't see that! I was so close! Just because of that stupid zombie... Errgh!"

He glowered at the screen, at the jeering background that mocked him with each gruesome smile. If his brothers didn't tell him to lay off the laptop breaking, he was sure this would be the sixth laptop he would destroy because of a Gaia damned game. Grumbling, he buried his face in his hands, muttering all sorts of obscenities at the innocent computer system.

"My lord, are you feeling well?"

Kadaj's head snapped up at the sound of the all too familiar voice. "What are you doing here?" He quickly shook his head. "I mean... Yeah, I'm fine..."

She smiled sympathetically. "Maybe I can help... What is it?"

He smiled slightly at the sound of the princess's concern and for her sense to ignore his blatant greeting that had been nothing but abrupt.

Kadaj raised an eyebrow, slightly amused. "I believe, you can sympathize with my carelessness in playing 'Left 4 Dead'..."

Natalie was confused. What was that? She was sure it would be another online game, but she rarely had time to play those, and the title didn't sound appealing either.

"I'm afraid, I don't. Care to enlighten me what it's about?"

She really wished she hadn't asked him to when Kadaj swiftly turned the computer screen towards her direction and she all but jumped back and yelped in fright at the gruesome picture on the screen. She gagged, feeling her stomach turn, since she'd never before in her life ever watched horror movies or extremely violent shows. Yes, she'd heard of the sort, but never actually paid attention. She wasn't that much interested... until now. Kadaj had shown her a morbid morph of the two.

He chuckled, and his eyes softened upon seeing the fear in her innocent eyes. "It's just a zombie... You scared?"

"Please turn that away," she mumbled, eyes squeezed shut.

"It's off..."

Natalie opened her eyes and gazed at the eyes of one very curious prince. "So, do I want to know?" He inquired.

She took a deep breath, regaining her bent composure that had been caused by that terrible creature on screen. She knew they weren't real, but...really, the graphics were enough to make her hurl.

"How can you stand that?" She asked, and upon his questioning gaze, she clarified her question. "I take that it was a game, but how can you stand such violence and extreme horror?"

He sighed deeply, pushing his laptop aside. "You think I'm... cold-blooded?" She didn't answer. "Are you afraid?"

"N-Not really. I just want to know why that game appeals to you," she mumbled, twirling a lock of her blonde hair on one finger.

"It's actually thrilling, and you'll get used to that stuff along the way... Ever watched a movie?" He asked, raising one silver brow at her.

"Only the classic ones." She mumbled, already feeling out of place in his presence since he knew so much of what she didn't. It made her jealous for some reason and she knew why.

Kadaj was once again taken aback at her answer. Blinking rapidly, he couldn't believe his ears. "Are you kidding me?" She shook her head, and he gave a sound of disappointment. "You're missing so much in one lifetime."

Natalie frowned at his statement. How insensitive of him. "How come?"

"Because most of the movies are epic ones, and you're really missing it. They're one of the joys of teenage life," he folded his arms across his chest, smirking at her.

"I can't exactly blame my parents. They're only protecting me..."

Kadaj looked at her pityingly, still mindful of how cute her hair looked in a fancy braid. "I hope you won't take this as something against your parents, but... I think they're making you live in a fantasy—where the world holds no violence, and only a haven of protection. It's not like that. You have to face reality. You can't live for seventeen years of your life thinking that the world will be nice to you just because you're a princess."

As open-minded as she was, there was still something about Kadaj's statement that made her patience snap. Was he actually telling her that she was her parents' prized marionette? For his information, she wasn't the one here with the obscene reputation. She wasn't the one here running around and taking advantage of the members of the opposite sex on sight. How dare he describe her that way!

"Are you trying to tell me that I'm a naïve and stupid PUPPET?! That I'm my parents' prized anchor?" She burst out, eyes glowering at his relaxed form, her voice rising in a menacing volume.

"I don't mean it like that, and you know it..." He replied sharply, staring her down.

"I don't think I'm dumb enough to see that it's not as plain as day when you said it," she growled, really trying to be intimidating but only achieved its purpose for his amusement. "Everything my parents told me to do, I do it willingly; without hesitance and rebellion. Even my future marriage to your brother is accordance out of my own will." Was it really her will to marry Sephiroth or her father's? Natalie blinked.

He laughed cruelly, cat's eyes sparkling with smug satisfaction. Impressive choice of words. "Do you even hear yourself? What kind of girl would marry someone she barely knows? What kind of girl would marry a man that her parents proposed for her? You barely know him! When was the last time you even saw—or spoke to him for that matter?! At the party? He had one dance with you and disappeared from sight. Even I didn't know where he went," Kadaj pointed out, delighting in the slight realization of defeat that forced its way into her brain.

"You're just saying that because you don't know anything..." She spoke in a hushed tone, staring at him with fiery determination to win out in an unconscious debate. "You don't know the first thing about a monarch's duty to her country..."

"Yeah right... I don't know anything when I've practically been all over the world," he rolled his eyes, noting how Natalie had clenched her fists. He must have hit a sore spot. "I think you're forgetting that you're conversing with a person of your stature. I do believe you are speaking with a prince, your highness."

"Yes indeed," she replied smartly. "An ignorant prince who is practically the author of every imaginable scandal I know of."

"Well, at least I experienced shame first hand and learned from the experience unlike some people I know of who are spoon fed for every single lesson in life." Kadaj rolled his eyes at the princess's distressed expression.

She stood up abruptly, slamming her delicate palms on the table and pushing back her chair with her behind. It was considered rude, so she was hoping Kadaj would get the idea and be pissed off, but of course he only smirked at her and her cute displays of fury. She was red and her nightgown began to look all too flimsy on her, like it could be yanked off with one swift tug. Seething with embarrassment and disbelief, she stomped out of the library in a dignified manner like a professional snob and left a very amused prince behind.