Get ready for a bashful Ravus!

Lucis's Reborn

Chapter 3: Childhood Friend

"What are you doing?"

It was as if each word was soaked in poisonous venom. The Princess instantly recognised the voice and sighed deeply; it was too late to escape her rage. She felt Maria grab her arm with the tightest grip she had felt, her nails digging into her skin as she was pulled to stand up. The lady in waiting was a 50-year-old woman with white hair, fair skin, brown stern eyes and a small frame. Her eyes flashed with anger as she glowered down at the girl, grinding her teeth together.

"A Princess should NOT show her emotions in public. How many times must I remind you, insolent child?!" Renae trembled at the tone of her voice. "Look how you have ruined your makeup. A Princess should not shed tears." The girl's eyebrows furrowed together. Her brother had just left and she had no idea if or when she would ever see him again, and this woman expected her to not even shed one tear for him.

"I don't know when I'll ever see him again, and you expect me to just say goodbye without being able to express my sadness?" Renae rarely ever spoke back but today was a special case. She turned her head towards the lady-in-waiting, glaring into her eyes. "Do you think I give a fuck about my makeup when my brother has just left Insomnia? I don't! I don't care about what a Princess should or shouldn't do!" Her heart was beating faster and faster, her small body filling with adrenaline. Today was the day she would stand up to her.

The old woman instantly slapped her with all of her force, so hard that the Princess fell to the ground. It was so painful that she felt like she had slapped her whole face off, not being able to feel her right cheek. "You insolent little brat!" Maria growled through her teeth. "How dare you speak in that manner to me? Will you speak to your betrothed like that?" She grabbed her hair tightly, pulling her up so that she could look down on the younger woman. "You are a Princess and you will not dishonour your family or Kingdom!" The Princess tried to pull free from Marie's grasp but her grip was too strong. The tears just kept on falling, ruining her makeup even more. Her knees were also scraped from the concrete and bleeding which angered the lady in waiting even more.

"You think it's fun to torment others? You think you'll get away with it? You're wrong." Renae opened her teary eyes and the side of her mouth perked up. "All these years you've tried to cut my wings and imprison me under your control. You can't imprison a bird bigger and stronger than you."

"You think you are strong but you are not? You are weak!" Maria hissed and kicked the Princess so she stayed down.

"Let her go, NOW!" Instantly Maria let go of her hair and stepped away from the Princess, as if she hadn't done anything. The Princess placed her hand on her stomach and winced with pain. The voice sounded extremely stern and could only come from one person;

Cor Leonis descended the steps of the Citadel's entrance, accompanied by two guards at his side.

"Cor"

"How DARE YOU!" He bellowed from the top of his lungs, his voice echoing the open area of the Citadel's entrance. Maria began trembling, tears falling down her cheeks as her teeth jittered with fear. "Who do you think you are, laying your hand on the Princess?"

"But Cor"

"But nothing! Take her away."

The guards took hold of the woman's arms with a deathly grip and dragged her away. She couldn't stop screaming, repeating that she was only disciplining her and doing her job. Her yelling and protests began to fade as she was taken into the Citadel, to receive her punishment.

Renae wrapped her arms around herself as she began shaking and sobbing. Cor looked down at the young woman and felt his stone heart crack and drop. He placed his hand on her shoulder and took out something in his pocket. It was a potion and he handed it to her. She took it and broke it with her hand whilst standing to her feet. Her injuries instantly healed and the Marshall pulled her to her feet.

"Are you alright?" He asked worriedly.

"Yes…I'm fine." She muttered softly but he didn't believe her.

"I'll call the Prince and cancel." The dark-haired woman placed her hands on his arm and he looked down to see her shaking her head.

"I'm still going." She stated. "I won't let this inconvenience ruin my day." The Marshall couldn't detect any uncertainty from her voice and felt proud of her; she was stronger than she knew.

A black car stopped in front of the Princess and the Marshall and the driver exited the car, leaving the keys with the middle-aged man. The car was used especially for escorting the Princess, it was bulletproof and the windows were tinted to avoid the attack of the paparazzi. The Princess got into the passenger seat and closed the door and Cor joined. The young woman opened the car sun visor, then took out the facial wipes she kept in the car's compartment box.

"Let me do it." Cor mumbled and she looked at him.

The 45-year-old man began wiping her face so gently and lovingly. He usually did this whenever she fell asleep in the car after her lectures or any late-night study sessions in the library. When he was done, she looked back at the mirror and sighed.

"It took me an hour to put it on."

"And a minute to take it off." Cor replied. "It's a little too late to go up and put it on again."

The teenage Princess took out her mascara and lipstick and applied it on her lashes and lips. She also took out a brush from the compartment box and fixed her hair. When she was done, she turned to the Marshall with a gentle gaze. "How do I look?"

Whenever the Marshall looked at her he would have this warm feeling in his ice-cold heart. He didn't have a child but this young woman beside him was like his own. Since she was a babe, she had been close to him. Her first word was "Gor" which broke her father's heart because he knew she meant to say Cor. He was extremely supportive and listened to her problems. He was the only one other than her father and brother to reassure her that it was okay to drop the proposal.

"The most beautiful girl on Eos." The man smiled; which was so rare and she couldn't help but smile back at him. "See, you didn't even need to spend an hour on your makeup." His kind words always found a way to warm her heart, no matter how sad or hurt she felt.

Cor started the car and exited the plaza. As he drove through the streets of Lucis, the young woman just stared out the window blankly. She could feel her heart racing in her chest as she twirled her hair around her index finger. Renae tried to mentally prepare herself for the past week, telling herself she would be alright, but no kind of preparation was enough to calm her down. All kinds of questions popped up in her mind. What if he wasn't what she expected? What if SHE wasn't what he expected? What if after the date, he decided to break off the engagement, which would mean that Noctis HAD to marry Luna?

"Calm down." The man's calm words snapped her out of her anxious state as she turned to him. "Breathe in, count to 5 then breathe out." She followed his instruction, repeating it until her heart rate slowed down. "It's normal to be nervous. But just know, whatever happens will happen. Your father and I will be by your side no matter what, little Princess."

"Thank you, Cor." She mumbled whilst sighing with relief as she relaxed in her seat.

After 15 minutes, they both arrived at the destination. He parked in front of a very tall building called the Regalia building.

"Are you sure you don't want me to be there?" He asked worriedly.

"Cor, if you think about it, this is a date." She smiled. "I'll be fine don't worry."

The Princess took off her seatbelt and wrapped her arms around Cor whilst hugging him. She knew he was overprotective of her and the fact that she was meeting the High Commander of the Empire made him feel worried. He hugged her and patted her back.

"I know you're protective. But I'll be okay. If there's any trouble I'll call you." She pulled away and had her usual wide grin where her dimples appeared. Whenever he saw that grin it felt like his day was brightened from it, like it was the radiant sun.

"Alright. Take care okay. If anything happens call me." She nodded.

"I will." The young woman waved and got out of the car.

She entered the tall building and walked to the receptionist who was texting on her phone. The woman looked 23 with wavy brown mid-back length hair in a messy ponytail, olive skin tone and blue eyes. She wore a white shirt with a black pencil skirt. When she felt a presence she looked up and gasped.

"Oh, Your Highness." The young woman smiled. "Welcome to the Regalia building. You're going to the Regalia Restaurant right?" She nodded. "Perfect, just take the elevator at the end of the hall, the restaurant is on the top floor."

"Yes, thank you." The Princess nodded. "Um, has the Prince of Tenebrae arrived?" She asked with pink cheeks and the young woman smiled with a sigh of delight.

"Aw that's so cute. But no, he hasn't arrived yet. You're actually early." The receptionist stated.

"I see, very well. Thank you." She stated and walked down the hall.

The young woman took the golden elevator which was guarded with 2 bodyguards wearing black suits. They placed their hands on their chests and bowed. She nodded and entered the elevator.

It was golden in colour with a mirror on the doors from inside and a window on the right-hand side. The Crown Princess pressed the button which indicated the 100th floor. It moved extremely quickly at 10 metres per second. She did feel a little queasy in the spacious elevator but just looked outside to get her mind off it. It took approximately a minute to get to the top. She heard a bell ring and the doors opened to a restaurant.

She exited the elevator and was met with the owner of the restaurant; Mr Angelus. He was a 45-year-old man who stood at 5ft 10in with dark brown short hair, fair skin, forest green eyes and a slim body. He wore a dark blue suit accompanied with a black tie and white shirt with black shoes.

"Princess Renae Lucis Caelum, it is an honour to welcome you to Regalia Restaurant." He grinned and she smiled back.

"Thank you Mr Angelus. This is a beautiful restaurant and it is an honour to meet you." She said.

"I will escort you to your table." Angelus stated.

Renae followed the owner further into the restaurant which was humungous and extravagant. The carpets were black and the curtains on the window were gold. It looked like it could fit 150 people in the room alone but for a spacious restaurant there was only one individual table in the middle. There was ironed white linen on the table on top of black linen which trailed on the floor. The centrepieces were small vanilla candles with red roses. Mr Angelus pulled out a chair and she sat down.

"I will go and check on the preparations in the kitchen. Here is a menu of the dishes available. Is there anything you would like to drink?" He asked curiously.

"Yes, may I have a glass of water please?"

"Why of course, now please excuse me." The middle-aged man walked away and she sighed.

Renae opened up the lunch menu; she was starving having only a light breakfast back at the Palace. If she was at home she would order a shit ton of takeaway or go and pig on street food with Iris. She remembered Maria telling her that she should order something light to not seem rude in front of the Prince.

'Fuck it, I'll order whatever I want, I'm starving.' The woman thought and smirked at a dish. She knew exactly what she wanted now. The young woman was also looking at the dessert menu too.

The elevator doors opened and there stood the Prince of Tenebrae who had no bodyguards with him. The man wore a wine-coloured slim fit suit, a white shirt, black tie and black shoes. Everything about his appearance screamed gentleman, Luna made sure of it. The 28-year-old carried a bouquet of Sylleblossoms, knowing that his childhood friend would deeply appreciate it.

He exhaled deeply through his nose as he felt his heart escalated so fast to the point he believed he would pass out. He felt anxious about meeting the Princess of Lucis, although she was his friend. For some reason he felt like he wasn't good enough for her and that she would immediately reject him. He didn't show it, acting confidently in front of the public, but behind closed doors, he was a nervous wreck, only his sister was aware of it and people of Tenebrae knew. The silver haired Prince just sighed deeply, counting from 10 to 1 in his head and calmed himself down. 'It's now or never Ravus!' He told himself and exited the elevator.

Ravus entered the restaurant, mustering up all his courage, until his icy blue eyes fell on the Princess. He stopped dead in his tracks as he felt his heart swell with a feeling so unknown to him. He could feel his cheeks warm up and the hair at the back of his head raised up. The Prince heard rumours from Imperial Officials how the Princess's looks were nothing special, that she was just a replica of her father. But he didn't expect her to be so beautiful. There sat a woman, who's beauty was like seeing white Aurora Borealis in the utmost northern parts of Tenebrae; something so rare and captivating. For a moment, he couldn't believe that this was the same girl he befriended 12 years ago.

Renae felt a presence and turned to see Ravus Nox Fleuret, standing there. She blinked slowly, then her dark green eyes widened. Blood rushed to her cheeks and it was like pins and needles as they turned bright red. It was him…it was Ravus. She couldn't believe that this was the boy she befriended a decade ago. Prompto was right, he was extremely handsome, he had to be the most beautiful man she had ever seen in her life. She felt her heart racing as an unfamiliar feeling grew within her chest. This emotion, it was so different to anything she had ever experienced, the feeling she felt with Gladio couldn't compare; it was stronger and felt more genuine. The Princess didn't know what this feeling was, but she wanted to be basked in it forever.

The Prince walked towards her and she managed to stand up, using the chair as support so that her legs didn't give out on her, straightening out her dress. The girl did a curtsey and he bowed down respectfully. They both stood up, staring at each other for a few more moments, as if admiring each other's' appearances.

"Oh, here…" He held out the bouquet of Sylleblossoms, averting his gaze, and her eyes shifted from his beautiful face to the flowers. Her orbs sparkled with delight as she gently took the bouquet from him.

"I love them, thank you!" She exclaimed.

He looked up at her and a soft gasp escaped his lips. Renae grinned brightly, her dimples appearing as she held the flowers. That smile, was still as vibrant and warm as 12 years ago. But the way he felt, was completely different. That smile, he wanted to protect it with everything he had.

"Renae…I mean Your Highness."

"Renae is fine, Ravus." She replied.

"I uh, um you, you, I mean, your uh, oh uh, ah!" He ran his fingers through his silver locks and huffed; he was a mess.

"It's okay, Ravus. Speak slowly if you need to." Her gaze was so sweet and gentle that it made his heart sing. "You don't have to be so nervous. It's just me, Renae, the girl who visited you in Tenebrae."

"Renae, it's really nice seeing you again. Your beauty is incomparable." The young woman felt like she wanted to scream with excitement from that comment, but all she did was smile so goofily. She never in a million years expected to feel this way for her childhood friend.

"You're, you're making me blush." She averted her gaze.

"It's true." She batted her eyelashes, tilting her head to the side brushing the side of her cheek with her shoulder. The man was internally yelling; how can she look so adorable like that?!

"I've never seen a man so beautiful in my life, until today."

"Oh fuck." His cheeks turned beet red as he muttered under his breath. Ravus instantly cleared his throat, pulling her chair for her. She couldn't help but smile at this; still a gentleman as always. She sat down and he tucked her in, then sat down opposite her.

Ravus was still a little stiff and nervous, which was expected of today, seeing as they were about to be married to each other in a few weeks in Tenebrae. Renae was glad that Gladiolus was wrong, he was not the enemy, she believed it deep in her heart and seeing him just reassured her. She was afraid that he had changed these past few years, that it would be awkward and he'd act indifferent towards her. But she was thankful that he was still the childhood friend she met all those years ago and some things didn't change between them.