a/n: it's been awhile since my last update. please accept my humble apology! i think you guys know the reason why... (*cough*school*cough*) anyways, here's ch18! enjoy!
"Oblivious Fate"
By: rorudesu-chan
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Chapter 18: Natalia of Vahalis
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The man clicked his lighter once, twice and then thrice before an orange flame finally surfaced. He held the tip of his tobacco over the dancing heat, allowing its end to light up. A few puffs here and there and the man with gray-streaked hair felt relaxed with each cloud of smoke that emerged through his nostrils and mouth. He shoved the lighter back into the inner pocket of his military-like uniform and leaned back into the couch for comfort.
Across him was a rectangular table decorated with a vase of yellow tulips as its center attraction and a plate of warm, crispy chicken fingers on the side. Right before the table was another long couch where a young woman with fair skin also sat with her right leg over her left.
Indeed, she had an eye-catching face beneath her straight-cut bangs that reached until eyebrows. Her irises reflected a natural shade of emerald. Above her scarlet red lips was a fine, slender nose. Her cheeks were tainted with a rosy glow. And to top it all off, her straight, silky, ebony black hair that reached until the middle of her back became her crowning glory.
The young lady's taste in fashion was also another thing that was quite noticeable from her. She wore upon her feet, black leather heeled boots that reached below her knees. A white vest was patterned over her red fitting dress shirt which also complemented her skinny jeans well. And on her neck, she had a silver necklace with the pendant of the first letter of her name.
"I am certain that the Prince is on his way home." The man confirmed, sucking on his tobacco again.
"It's alright, Sir Arkenis. I can still wait for him a bit longer." The lady grinned. "I suppose he's still playing another ridiculous game of air soft, huh?"
Arkenis blew the dusty smoke into the air. "It would no longer be a surprise if he was."
They waited patiently for the Caelum heir to arrive. But after a few more minutes, the door of the palace's private living room flew open.
The military officer spun in his seat with a huge grin on his unshaved mouth upon seeing that the enigmatic monarch has finally come home. He briskly stood up, removing the cigar that was wedged between his teeth.
"Good evening, Prince Noctis!"
"Good evening, Arkenis." The Caelum son replied, without pausing to greet. His feet trudged quickly, heading towards the grand staircase that was far behind the couch where the officer once sat upon.
Arkenis trailed Noctis with his eyes and asked, "Where is His Majesty off to?" He darted his gaze towards the grandfather clock that was right beside the foot of the staircase. "Going to bed at this hour already? Isn't it a bit too early my dear Prince?"
Noctis glanced upon the clock as well. 8:30 P.M.
"My body is feeling a bit sore from the tournament this afternoon." The Prince grinned, recalling his team's victory. "If there's anybody who wishes to address a concern about the company, let them file it into a letter and I'll get back to them first thing in the morning..."
"…Princess Natalia Lenore is here, Prince Noctis. She just arrived this afternoon from Vahalis. And she is here for the upcoming conference."
Noctis was about to climb the second tread of the stairs as he rested a hand upon the railing. He briefly paused, carefully processing Arkenis' words.
The mentioned lady stood up from the couch, smiling. "Long time no see, Noctis."
He was reluctant about turning around to face her. But he soon felt compelled to do so, realizing that it was a part of his duty—to 'befriend' the King's daughter of their allied country.
"I'm quite sure it wasn't that long since we've last seen each other, Natalia." Noctis replied as he spun on a heel, descending down the first two steps of the staircase.
"Oh yes it has, Noctis. A year, perhaps?" She said, approaching the Prince. "Now, let me get a good look at you."
As Natalia reached him, the girl realized that she was taller than the Prince, thanks to her three inched boots. Natalia was a tall-figured lady in her fifteen years of age, with a flirtatious but witty sense of humor.
"I love what you did with your hair, Noctis." She slyly complimented, her fingers slowly reaching out to touch Noctis' dark spikes.
But the Prince coolly averted his head away and said, "This has been my hairstyle for as long as I can remember."
Natalia swiftly withdrew her hand. Her green eyes trailed him as he ambled towards the table. Natalia followed him, proving that she was also known to be quite a persistent princess.
Noctis bent down and grabbed a stick of chicken fingers. He sat down upon the couch and munched on the juicy snack, partially satisfying his growling stomach.
"So you haven't had your dinner yet?" The Princess asked as he stood before him.
"It looks like he hasn't, Princess Natalia." Arkenis said, blowing another puff of smoke. "Your Majesty! It would be a good idea to have dinner with her. You two have a lot of catching up to do, I presume?"
Noctis finished his tasty finger food. Using a table napkin that he found beside the snack platter, he wiped any residue of chicken crumbs left.
"That is a quite good idea, Arkenis." Noctis pushed his palms onto the edge of the couch, his hands sinking upon the soft mattress as he stood up. "But," he glanced at the Princess. "Dinner would be better saved for another night, isn't that right, Natalia?"
"Are you feeling tired as well, Princess?" The military officer asked, flicking the rough, gray particles of his tobacco onto the ashtray that rested on a small table beside the couch.
"Well, I'm not really—"
"The three-hour flight from Vahalis to my country is a bit draining, don't you think?"
The Princess, feeling disappointed with the forfeited chance, pressed her lips into a forced smile.
"If you insist that I rest, Noctis, then I will."
Noctis couldn't help but feel slightly uneasy towards the Vahalis monarch. The feeling became more intense as she tried to approach him with open arms. She was so ready to sense the warmth and weight of his body pressing against hers.
But then he said, "Good night, Natalia," as he held out his right hand between them.
The Vahalis sovereign recognized the gesture. Her lips gradually crafted into a frown.
"Oh…" She said, quickly bringing down her arms and feeling a flush of embarrassment coming on its way. "Good night, Noctis."
Her left hand met with his in a shake.
"Shall I tell your bodyguard to pick you up, Princess Natalia?"
Natalia gave their gesture a strong grip. But Noctis slid his hand off hers, following a swift look of perplexity in his face.
"Princess?"
"Y-yes, Sir Arkenis. That would be very kind of you." She smiled, fervently rubbing the hand that was once held by the Prince's.
"Please take care on your way back to the Dea Luxuria hotel, Princess Natalia." Arkenis added, finishing his cigar before tossing it into the ashtray.
"I will." Natalia threw the Prince a glance. "I'll be leaving soon, Noctis. Is there anything that you wish to tell me before I do so?"
"Take the northern route. It'll take you much faster to that hotel."
An unsatisfied and blank look of expression crossed the female monarch's face. She wasn't so sure why her 'tactics' never worked around the Caelum Prince. But nonetheless, she knew that she couldn't give up on him that easily.
"Alright, I will. Thanks for the tip, Noctis!" She replied, giving Noctis a flirtatious wink from her right eye.
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Salsus pushed the bridge of his glasses onto the middle of his nose. He gazed enthrallingly above the fireplace where the huge oil painting of the young Caelum Prince and his parents.
He recalled how Noctis' mother used to give Noctis, Lacertus, Celer and him freshly baked chocolate chip cookies every time they swam in the late afternoons back when they were still five year old kids. Celer thought it was corny for a 'big boy' like him to be offered with such sweet delights. But eventually, the rambunctious little blonde found it mouthwatering as he would sneak into the Queen Calista's kitchen to help himself to a cookie or two.
Those memories were tainted with friendships drenched by blissful innocence. A frown formed on Salsus' lips as he realized how time has changed so much of what was before.
"Sir Arkenis will be with you momentarily. Would you like to have something to drink while waiting for him?"
Salsus turned his look towards the door where a butler with a white cloth draped over his right arm, stood.
He grinned. "It'll be fine. Where is he anyways?"
"Sir Arkenis is in the private living room with Prince Noctis and Princess Natalia." The butler politely answered.
"So Natalia has arrived then."
"Yes, sir, she has. Just this afternoon, I was told." He went on. "If Sir Arkenis' guest needs anything more, please do not hesitate to call for me. I will be just outside the office."
The boy with hazelnut colored hair nodded as the bald butler gently closed the door behind him.
Salsus sighed, wondering if all of this information-relaying was of great value to the military official's 'plans'. His eyes slowly trailed upon the carpeted floor of the room. He wanted to trace his stare back upon the painting, hoping that the reminisced memories would at least wash his concealed doubts away.
But something within the flameless hearth had caught his attention. He was not sure what it was though, as the ashes covered half of its identity.
Salsus bent down; curious of what was it that was left unburned by the hot, crisp blaze of the fire. He reached his right arm into the fireplace and he grab hold of the item which was partially buried within the powdery heap of gray and black.
He stood up and brushed the particles of ash away, similar to what an archaeologist would do upon holding an ancient artifact that was buried for thousands of years under a pile of dirt.
Beneath the lens of his glasses, Salsus clearly identified what it was—a letter, folded twice. He examined its features more carefully: cream in color with a glossy-like texture and a faded mark of what seemed to be a certain kingdom's crest stamped on the upper left corner. There was nothing much peculiar about how it looked like, except for one thing.
The letter was only burnt on its sides. Salsus speculated that the person responsible for throwing it into the hearth must've tossed it when the fire was about to die out, thus avoiding its total damage.
Finally, he unfolded it and read the manuscript which was written legibly by hand:
Sir Arkenis,
I regret to inform you that the whole council of Tenebrae, along with its constituents, denies your request for land domination. This is for the reason that….
Salsu briefly paused and checked to see if anyone had entered the office's premises. Realizing that he was only one in the room, he looked down and continued reading.
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a/n: for those who have been awaiting Natalia's apperance, i hope her character design was enough to intrigue you guys and make you want the next chapter! :) please Review, Comment, Criticize! Thank you!!!! :D