I opened my eyes to the dark bedroom, the curtains covering all semblance of sunshine. I sighed and shifted my position towards the right side towards the door. There was light coming from the hall, no doubt from the window in the living room. I sat up and stretched my arms above head, yawning. Today was the day.
I got off of Noct's bed and folded the comforter neatly, opening the door and stepping into the hall, walking towards the living room. Ignis was already awake, making breakfast in the kitchen; fully dressed in his suit. "Good morning," he gave me a gentle smile.
"Morning," I said and walked towards the counter, noticing Prompto and Noct were still sleeping. The sound of rushing water was coming from the bathroom.
"Gladio's bathing at the moment," Ignis replied. "You can take the washroom after him."
"Thanks," I sat on the leather stool, smelling cinnamon, maple syrup, fruit, and eggs. "It looks delicious so far."
"Thank you," Ignis chuckled and poured the scrambled eggs onto a plate. "I only hope that it will wake the two of them up." He glanced at the Prince and his best friend, both sleeping on futons filled with white sheets and many pillows. Gladio must have taken them out so they could get comfortable. Noct's hair was even messier than usual, his mouth slightly agape with a bit of drool on the corner of his lips, soft snores coming from him. Prompto's chest rose and fell gently, the sunlight illuminating the attractive dust of freckles on his face, his sunny eyelashes casting shadows over his high cheekbones.
Prompto yawned and ran a hand through his hair, his blue eyes shifting towards the breakfast bar where Ignis and I were seated. "Morning," he waved cheerfully yet tiredly. He sniffed the air for a moment, "Mm, did Iggy cook again?"
"Of course," the advisor nodded in affirmation and took out a plate, filling it with food. "I wouldn't want you leaving the city on an empty stomach, now would I?"
"Guess not," Prompto shrugged and looked down at Noct, who still slept like an overgrown house cat. "so, who is going to wake him up?"
I jumped off of the stool and extended my hand out, "May I have your phone, Prom?"
"O-Oh, sure," he replied, giving me the new phone issued to him by the Crownsguard. I went into his music library and went into the Florence and The Machine playlist, putting on Third Eye. I placed the phone by Noct's sleeping form as Florence began to sing, watching him shift again and groan in annoyance.
"Noct, you gotta wake up," I huffed, a scowl on my face. "Your dad wants to see you off before you head for Altissia. We can't keep him waiting."
"Hey, look up! Don't make a shadow of yourself, always shutting out the light!" Prompto sang along loudly in Noct's ear.
The prince's eyes opened and he pushed his best friend away, a glower in his baby blue eyes, "Prompto, what did I say about singing in my ear?!"
He only snickered and kept singing, all the while bouncing and dancing, "Caught in your own creation. Look up, look up! It tore you open, and oh, how much? Cause there's a hole where your heart lies, and I see can it with my third eye!"
"And though my touch, it magnifies. You pull away, you don't know why" I sing along with a grin that hurt my cheeks and laughter that caused my ribs to ache.
Noct couldn't keep his angry expression for long and broke into a smile, "You are so lucky I love Florence or I would have killed you both."
"What's all the commotion?" Gladio's sonorous voice asked from behind us, dressed in his Crownsguard fatigues. He jerked a thumb towards the bathroom. "The bathroom's ready if you guys want to shower."
"Great," I stand up from my place on the floor beside Noct and pass by the giant swordsman, avoiding eye contact with him. I grabbed a spare towel from the closet beside the bathroom, my Crownsguard fatigues, and toothbrush, closing the door behind me and locking it with a sigh.
After breakfast and getting ready, the five of us headed for the Citadel, where His Majesty was waiting for us in the throne room. The Crownsguard was on high alert due to the signing ceremony today, and the Kingsglaive were assigned positions throughout the city to keep the Citadel safe. I could feel the anxiety of some of the soldiers, surely afraid of some ambush the Nifs may go through with. I couldn't help but feel paranoid either but my sole duty at the moment was to protect Noct.
We stepped inside the Citadel, where Dad stood by the elevator. He smiled gently, "You're all here. And just in time too."
"Good morning, Dad," I say to him and he pulls me into a hug.
"Good morning, Cor." Noct said behind me.
"Good day, Marshal," Ignis nodded.
"Mornin'," Prompto said with a small wave.
He pulled away and held my shoulders, "His Majesty is waiting for you five in the throne room. And Autem will join you after the treaty signing."
"We'll head up there right away," Noct replied and looked to the two Glaives who were posted in front of the elevator. They nodded and allowed us to go inside.
"I'll get the Regalia running," Dad said as the elevator closed and I gave him a single nod.
The elevator rose and came to a stop with a ding, allowing us to step into one of the many intricate hallways. We walked down the corridor where two Crownsguard dressed in expensive black suits stood. They opened the doors and one of them announced to His Majesty.
"Presenting, His Highness Prince Noctis, Lord Scientia, Lord Amicitia, Lady Leonis, and Mr. Argentum!"
His Majesty King Regis, a regal man who wore the black and gold garb of Lucian kings, black hair that was beginning to grey, tired green eyes with crow's feet at the corners, sat on the throne. He looked down at his son and the four of us, his eyes unwavering.
We all stood tall, awaiting our instructions from him.
"The decreed hour has come," he spoke, his voice gentle yet firm as it resonated throughout the large room. "Set forth with my blessing, Prince Noctis."
Noct bowed before him, his hands clenched into fists, "Thank you," he raised his head a bit and stuttered softly. "Y-Your Majesty..."
"Take your leave and go in the grace of the gods," he spoke.
Noct stop straight, a soft exhale released from his lips, "Right," he didn't look up at his father. Instead, he turned around and walked through the doors.
Our instinct was to follow him but before we did, we bowed before His Majesty and then walked quickly to Noct's side.
I was expecting him to say much more but instead, Noct made his leave very quickly. Was he still sad that he wasn't able to see his father yesterday? I hope he didn't resent the poor man. A king had so many duties to fulfill and I'm sure he had tried to see him off properly. I prayed to the Six that Noct would tell us why he left so abruptly once we're outside the Citadel.
"Well, princes will be princes," Prompto said as we exited the Citadel.
"So much for royal protocol," Ignis sighed in defeat.
"Noct, maybe you should have said more," I said to the prince and he only frowned.
Gladio rolled his shoulder back, "Not like you had to deliver a formal address."
The Regalia was parked right before the steps, the sunlight causing the sleek black paint to shine.
"Your Highness!" We heard someone call for Noct, prompting us to turn around and see His Majesty walking down the steps with his walking cane, Captain Drautos assisting him.
"What now?" Noct asked and ran up the steps to meet his father, concern in his baby blue eyes.
King Regis smiled affectionately towards his son, raising a hand as if to tell him he was alright and could walk, "I fear have left too much unsaid. You place a great burden on those who would bear with you."
Noct chuckled a bit, "You're one to talk."
Our king spoke to the four of us, looking down to meet our gazes, "I ask not that you guide my wayward son, merely that you remain at his side."
Ignis bowed, his jade eyes trained on his shiny oxford shoes, "Indeed, Your Grace."
I nodded and also bowed, "We will make sure to stand by him."
"We'll see the prince to Altissia if it's the last thing we see," Gladio followed suit.
Prompto stammered behind us, "Y-Yeah! What he said."
Noct held his hip and smirked, rolling his eyes playfully, "Hate to break this up but Cor's got the motor running," he waved to the Glaive's commanding officer. "Drautos, he's in your hands!"
"And another thing," His Majesty added. "Do mind your manners around your charming bride to be."
The prince bowed with another smirk and looked up at his father with mischief, "Your Majesty as well. Try to mind yours around our esteemed guests from Niflheim."
"You have no cause for concern," he said.
"Nor do you," Noct quipped.
"Take heed, once you set forth, you cannot turn back."
"You think I would?"
The king looked straight into his son's eyes, "I need only know that you are ready to leave home behind."
"Don't know about you but, I'm ready as I'll ever be," Noct took a step down, ready to walk towards the Regalia but King Regis stopped him once more.
"Take care on the long road. Wheresoever you should go, the line of Lucis goes with you," he placed a hand on Noct's shoulder, a supportive smile on his face. "Walk tall, my son."
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r enable JavaScript if it is disabled in your browserPrompto's phone began to vibrate across the floor, his alarm going off and the sound of Florence and The Machine's Third Eye filled the blonde opened his eyes and sat up groggily, reaching for his phone to turn it off with a groan, and Noct shifted, laying on his back and throwing his arm over his eyes.