a/n: please join my c2! subscribers are needed! :D thanks! here you go! ch 14!
Noctis' father: the name is changed from 'Navide' to 'Neleus'. It is a Latin name in which its origin is unknown.
Disclaimer: FFVXIII is owned by: SquareEnix!
"Oblivious Fate"
By: rorudesu-chan
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Chapter 14: Past and Present
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Flash!
A father is sitting in his chair with a warm, loving smile crafted on his face.
Flash!
Snuggled upon his sturdy lap was a little girl with golden tresses, her eyes were a striking resemblance with her father's.
Flash!
The man sets his daughter down from his lap and tells her to fetch him her favorite book. It was time for another bedtime story.
Flash!
She toddles off and skips merrily, obeying his tender request. The little girl climbs up on a staircase and finds herself being towered by a huge bookshelf. Her face gives a cute twitch, annoyed because her favorite princess tale couldn't be found. Her father sees this dilemma and suggests that she look on the bottom part of the shelf.
Flash!
His daughter finds the book and she gives out an adorable hurray. She hurriedly goes down the stairs despite her father's reminder to watch her step. The little girl doesn't mind the light scolding. She's excited because her all-time favorite bedtime tale was about to be read again for the nth time.
Flash!
But all of a sudden, her father shouts out her name. His furious tone scares the little girl, making her stop on her toes. He tells her to hide somewhere safe but his daughter insists on staying; not knowing what was going on. Her father shouts again, this time running towards her. Fearing for the girl's safety, he scoops her up like a little doll and carries her behind the shelf that was underneath the staircase. His daughter is frightened and the man felt the same, except it was worse.
Flash!
The room of the door breaks down violently. The little girl screams in shock but a hand cups her mouth, preventing the cry from coming out of her throat. Her father holds a finger before his lips, telling her that everything would be alright as long as she doesn't come out of hiding unless she is told to do so. He plants a loving kiss on her forehead then he leaves, despite the girl's silent weeping.
Flash!
Tears cascade down her rosy cheeks. Her whole body shivers in fear. She wants to run but her father has told her to stay put. She doesn't know what to do. She doesn't have any idea what's happening. And then finally, something puts all her doubts into silence…
—A gunshot.
Stella's blue eyes blinked furiously. She breathed hard and realized that the images in her head had abruptly come to an end. The Ambassador looked around the room. She found herself leaning upon the empty desk with both arms.
"What… were those…?" She whispered as she grasped heavily for air.
Stella never thought that such images could flash across her mind. Nor did she think that such scenes ever existed. It was nightmare for the vivacious diplomat. But before she thought that it was over, something across her strangely caught her attention.
It seemed to be a huge portrait that hung in one side of the wall. But its façade was completely covered with a red velvet cloth.
Whatever attracted Stella to come close to the portrait was a mystery. She felt as if that was the one thing that made her come into this room in the first place. She badly wanted to know what it was as she raised her left arm before her. Stella clutched the cloth and felt its satin-like texture upon her fingertips. She wondered to herself if she should continue to pull down the cover. She hesitated, thinking if it would be something significant with whatever was to be revealed.
But then, something quickly made her release her hold on the cloth.
"Is everything alright, child?" It was a voice—a motherly one.
"Yes, everything's fine." Stella immediately spun around. "Queen Seraphine." She added as she darted her eyes towards the figure of the Tenebrae monarch who wore her semi-formal sleeves patterned with a grey cotton skirt.
"I see." The Queen approached Stella with her eyes fixed upon the covered portrait. "Did you wish to know what was hidden behind this?" Her hand gestured.
"No need, Your Highness." Stella shrugged. "Please excuse my presence in your room. It wasn't really my intention to…"
The Queen raised a hand. "It is alright. And no, this isn't my room."
Stella agreed, as the place was a bit less feminine in taste.
"This once belonged to the late King Eneas." Queen Seraphine informed. "Have you heard of him, child?"
"The name is familiar. But I have never met him before or even during his reign."
"Is that so?" The old monarch's lips pressed together. "That is a shame then."
"I am rather saddened by the forfeited chance." The Ambassador replied.
Stella politely turned her heels to the opposite direction and made her way towards the staircase. She spotted the storybook that she had dropped earlier and bent down to get it. The Ambassador then returned to where the wise ruler stood.
"I found this." Stella held out the book, making sure that the title cover was facing up. "I know it isn't in my place to find this book. But, since Your Majesty is the only one that knew the previous occupants of this room, I'd like to return this to the owner."
The Queen held out her hands and received the book. A sudden look of melancholy mixed with surprise ran through her face.
"The little girl who loved that fairy tale must've missed it dearly." She smiled. "I hope it gets returned to her."
Stella excused herself before the monarch and made her way towards the door. But Queen Seraphine's affectionate voice suddenly called out before the Ambassador could leave.
"How did you know that it was a little girl who loved this book?"
Her Majesty's question was quite hard to answer. Stella simply couldn't tell her that she saw the girl with yellow tresses in a bizarre and shocking vision. That would just be too awkward and she certainly wouldn't have any reason for a backup.
"I was never really fond of fairy tales when I was a little girl. But I do know that Sleeping Beauty is a story of such." She replied with a cheerful grin. "I really hope the book finds its way back to her."
"It already has."
The Queen's answer could no longer be heard by the Ambassador as she had left the room right after answering Her Majesty's question. She was left standing there, embracing the book so tight as if having no more intentions of letting it go.
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A man in a casual suit reflexively tilted his head sideways. He had always done that whenever the Caelum King decided to pay the company a visit. But now that the monarch had passed away, his attention immediately transferred to the beloved King's son.
"Prince Noctis!" he exclaimed with vigor. "It is such an honor to be in your presence once more." The man bowed down as courtesy to the young heir.
"There's really no need to bow so ridiculously, Julio." The Prince replied, with a gesture from his hand. "A simple greeting is enough."
Julio, the man with a beardy façade, contradicted. "Oh! But I must, Your Highness! It is part of my conduct to bow dow—"
"Yes, yes. I understand." Noctis shrugged.
"Ah! But you sometimes don't, Prince Noctis…" He teasingly argued.
Julio followed the Caelum heir as he stepped inside the elevator. The company secretary noticed that Noctis was still wearing his long-sleeved blouse and black slacks. It automatically gave him the impression that the Prince directly went here in the company office right after school. He's just doing what he's supposed to, as the one who is next in line for the throne, Julio thought.
"Basement, Julio." Noctis instructed, pulling his secretary away from his pensiveness.
Julio pressed the button—the wrong one.
Noctis raised his eyebrows in wonder as the secretary spun around to face the Prince.
"Tsk. Tsk." Julio wagged a finger. "Why has His Majesty forgotten the first protocol?"
"Protocol?"
"Yes, I mentioned it to you during the last meeting that we had with Sir Arkenis." Julio pushed the round, silver button that had the number nine on it then added, "That was just about a week ago, if you recalled."
Noctis kept his mouth shut in an attempt to remember what this protocol that his secretary blabbered about. Meanwhile, a minute passed and the sound of a ding echoed. The elevator doors slid open and Julio stepped out with the Prince behind him.
They were on the ninth floor of the Caelum Company office. The staff lounge was located just turn to the right of the hallway from the elevator.
"Julio," Noctis called out as he trailed his secretary. "Why are we here? The monthly staff meeting isn't until two weeks from now."
Julio sighed. "So you did forget, Prince Noctis."
The bearded secretary opened the lounge's door and gestured for the Prince to enter. Noctis stepped inside and he was greeted by the smiling faces of the company's executive staff. All of them sat behind a long table and they looked as if they were definitely expecting for the Prince's arrival.
"What is this? An emergency meeting?" Noctis felt quite nervous at the sight of his company's officials despite the fact that hewas indeed their big boss.
"The First Protocol," the secretary began. "Whenever the Prince decides to pay the company a visit, he is obliged to give an inspiring message to all of his executive staff."
Noctis quickly turned to Julio who had a huge grin on his face. "You brought me here, for this?" the Prince stated in an accusing tone.
"Of course! Now, now, get on with your message my dear Prince!" Julio replied, giving the Caelum son a push.
Noctis stood before the long table with his face looking so obviously unprepared. He felt the eyes of everyone in his executive staff upon him. They were waiting for the Prince to give a short speech that could inspire them despite the fact that their company was currently facing a crisis.
The sovereign opened his mouth, but no words came out. He quickly turned to Julio who sat in the first seat to the right. Noctis gave the 'look' to which Julio immediately understood.
"Begin by complimenting them on their efforts for this company…" he whispered. "Then state the company's ongoing success from its military arms to its medicinal sector. After that, say what needs to be done so that we can earn more by using strategic investments. And then finally, give your personal and inspiring opinions."
Julio grasped for air after finishing his last sentence. The secretary pulled a clipboard from under the table and placed it on the surface. Noctis, whose hands leaned upon the table, felt the company data upon the tip of his fingers as it was pushed towards him by Julio. "In case you forget anything." He mumbled.
The Prince gave a very blank stare to his secretary. His sturdy arms carried the weight of his shoulders as he leaned forward to glance at the first page of the data attached to the clipboard—numbers, charts, and huge business words. They were quite troublesome but Noctis knew that he just had to get through with this. It was his duty.
The executive staff waited patiently for their Prince to finish reviewing the data which he didn't even touch. Noctis tapped his fingers upon the table as he wished for some miracle—any miracle that could save him from making such ridiculous and unnecessary messages.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
His plea was heeded.
At first, neither Julio nor the other staff members bothered to stand up and walk all the way from their seats to open the table. But the knocking repeated, and seeing that none of them had any plans of answering the door, Noctis did instead. The secretary felt ashamed for letting the monarch do the job that clearly wasn't meant for him. But the Prince didn't complain at all. In fact, he was thankful the moment he opened the door.
It was Salsus, and he was just 'in time' to rescue Noctis from something he himself wasn't even in the mood of doing.
"Julio!" the Prince called, with a grin on his striking face. "Would it be alright if you do the protocol for me this afternoon?"
The bearded secretary swiftly stood from his seat. "B-but, Prince Noctis…!"
"Thank you. You were much more reliable than I expected."
The Prince hurriedly exited and left Julio standing before the executive staff. They all waited for an 'inspiring' message which the members hoped would at least be as good as what His Majesty would've stated.
"You are reliable as well, Sal." Noctis said, glancing at his friend.
"I am, Noct." He responded, pushing the tip of his glasses with his knuckles. "It's all in the intuition."
"So what brought you here?" Noctis asked as they sauntered within the hallway.
"Your Right Hand."
"He's my father's Right Hand. Not mine."
"It is the same thing, Noct. Arkenis previously served King Neleus, and now he serves his son."
"I wish you'd get straight to the point."
"Very well then," Salsus cleared his throat. "He wants you to know that the International Kingdom Council has already sent their invitation to your country. It was stated that this year's diplomatic conference will be held a week from now."
"Ah, that conference again. Tell Arkenis that I received his message and that I will be there."
"That's good to hear." Salsus grinned. "And he also wants you to know that Natalia will be there as well."
Natalia.
"So she'll be there too, huh? I thought she said that she abhorred such international conferences."
"She is still the Princess from the Kingdom Vahalis. Of course she has to be there." He suggested. "You're not planning to hide from her again are you, Noct?"
"I wasn't hiding from her, Sal." The Prince stopped on his feet. "There were much more important things to be done."
"Sure there were." Salsus scoffed. "Battling against Lacertus and Celer on an intense PS3 game is more important than getting to know more of your wife-to-be."
The two arrived in front of an elevator. The door slid open and Noctis wedged his hand on its side to prevent the door from closing in front of him.
"For the last time, Natalia isn't my fiancé or whatsoever. You really are fond of twisting Arkenis' words, aren't you Sal?" The Prince said, calmly. "Stop that."
Salsus laughed at Noctis' words. "Alright, alright. I will." Hearing his answer, the Prince smirked and stepped inside the empty elevator.
"Where are you going now, Noct?"
"Where do you think I'm going, Sal?" He sarcastically asked as he pushed the button designated for the basement.
"The Crystal is lucky to have such a diligent Prince taking good care of it, most especially at its current situation." Salsus noted. "Would you like me to accompany you?"
"No, thanks. You have to go back and report to Arkenis, remember?"
The Prince's question felt like it had a double meaning to it. For a second, Salsus was tensed. But realizing that Noctis was completely unaware of his two-faced disposition, he was able to shake his anxiety away.
The glasses wearing lad nodded his head in response to Noctis' question that was once again misunderstood by his over thinking nature. The elevator's door slowly slid itself shut and as the Prince descended to the Company's underground premises; Salsus took off and headed towards the stairs.
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a/n: i never really thought that Sleeping Beauty would have such an effect to OF's readers. nevertheless, your awesome reactions crafted a huge grin on my face! :D about the whole symbolism thing, i'll be honest. there really is a symbolic meaning behind it but i wasn't planning on expanding it. but if you guys wish to know what its meaning is, i think i'll try to find a spot for it and squeeze it right in. but if not, i might just explain the symbolism in one of my future author notes.
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TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK OF THIS CHAPTER! Review! Criticize! Comment! Is Queen Seraphine related to Stella in some way? What kind of character do you think "Natalia" is? :D Thanks, in advance, to those who'll review!