"Wow…marriage huh?" Prompto sighed, falling back on Noct's bed. "Goodbye arcade trips!"

"Tell me about it!" Noct agreed, putting some clothes hazardly in a box.

It had been a little over a week since King Regis broke the news to his son. By now, he had broken the news to the elders and royal council. Everything was set in motion now and he would be wed in a few weeks' time.

"Your life isn't over, Noctis," Ignis piped in. He was neatly folding the clothes from Noct's closet and expertly arranging them in a box of his own. "You simply have more responsibilities. Something you have had none of up to this point."

"I've gone to meetings and crap!" Noct argued.

"Yeah, but now you have to like…go to them all the time!" Prompto piped in. "And you're losing your apartment! It sucks you have to move back to the Citadel."

"It's the worst! The whole reason I moved out was so that I could have my own life and not be under a damn microscope there!"

"Maybe that microscope will keep you better in line," Ignis' muffled voice sounded from inside the closet.

"At least you get a hot chick out of the deal," Gladio said, entering the room after hauling another box downstairs.

"Don't call her that!" Noct spat.

"What? She is," he snickered.

"I think Noct prefers you used a word like…pretty!" Prompto said.

"I prefer no one talk about MY future wife, thank you! Find your own, Gladio!"

"Oh I don't have any trouble doing that!" Gladio laughed.

"It is always nice to have someone compliment your significant other, Noctis. However, Gladio, using such lewd language is not appropriate and actually demeaning to some ladies," Ignis said, taping his box closed and handing it to the muscular man and walking out of the room to get a drink.

"Whatever. At least I can find my own women and don't need daddy picking them out for me."

"Hey!" Noct yelled. "At least I have a girl! And I've known Luna since we were kids, it's not like she's a stranger! Some of us have only kissed girls in a dare!"

"Hey!" Prompto pouted. "That still counts! I'm just too shy to ask a girl out. Iggy hasn't even kissed a girl!"

"I don't think Igs has even talked to a girl," Gladio laughed.

"I can't even picture him with one! You think he's gay?" Noctis added.

"Who knows. Maybe he's asexual and never will have a girl or a guy," Gladio shrugged.

"They still have girlfriends and stuff I think. They just don't have sex with them or something," Prompto corrected.

"I don't know the specifics. Hell I don't even know what he is," Gladio shrugged.

"Uhh…" Prompto whispered.

Noct and Gladio looked over at him and saw the big eyed look on his face. They followed his line of sight to the doorway where Ignis was now standing, playing with the condensation on his water bottle.

"We were just…joking Specs," Noct said, looking down ashamed at hurting his friend's feelings.

"We didn't mean anything bad by it," Prompto added in a quiet voice.

"You know us, Iggy. Just picking on each other. We don't think any less of you," Gladio piped in.

"No worries," Ignis assured his friends, setting his water bottle down on the top of the dresser and grabbing another box off of the floor to start filling. "Finding a girlfriend isn't high on my priority list. My schedule is quite full the way it is. And for future reference, I am into women."

The three other boys just looked at each other, all feeling bad for picking on their friend while he was out of the room. Especially since he seemed to have overheard their conversation about him.

"You have got to be joking! Mother! Do something about this!" a young girl screamed in the large elaborately decorated dining hall.

"Now, now, Y/N. Please stop shouting. This decision was made between the both of us-"

"The both of you? How could you, mother? As a woman yourself, you are telling me this is right? This decision can be justified?"

"It is for the good of the kingdom! For the good of the world, Y/N!" her father insisted.

"Generations of Queens have ruled Accordo! How can you, mother, see anything good coming of this? For years we have been ridiculed for our positions, and you are giving into the hate and prejudice? You agree with them? That a man should be made to rule now?"

"You said it yourself, dear. We have been ridiculed for years, by our own people even. Maybe now is the time to put a man on the throne. He is still of our family name and blood line-"

"But MY birthright! You are robbing me of something that was mine upon birth! The gods chose me to be born first, therefore, making me heir to the throne! How could you go against the wishes of the gods?" Y/N continued to scream.

"Please, you are being a bit dramatic now, don't you think?" her mother scolded lightly.

"I think not! We have always been a nation of strong, independent women. Making our own choices, for both ourselves and our country. We pride ourselves on our wisdom and strength. And you dare to lower me to the same level of those other princesses. Bound to men, made to serve under them. Their husbands chosen for them as if they aren't even capable of making a single decision on their own, even one of love. To be breeding cows for their nation. Silenced by their husband's hands around their throat. I will not be made to be a lesser form of what I have worked so hard over the years to build myself up to!"

"Well…it's too bad the decision is not yours to make," he father snapped. He normally was quiet and soft spoken, but was getting a little tired of his daughter's attitude.

"Mother!"

"He is right, Y/N. I am sorry, but times have changed. The world is changing. Tough decisions need to be made. You are not aware of what is currently going on secretly between nations. This is the best decision. For everyone. Your husband is of Altissian blood. You will be happy to know that."

"I thought you said he was from Lucis," she asked, confused.

"He is a Lucian citizen, but comes from an Altissian bloodline. His family holds high court positions at the Citadel-"

"Wait! He's not even royal blood? He's some commoner who works in an office at the Citadel?"

"No, not just some commoner. He is of the Scientia bloodline, which can be found in the record books of our own royal retainers. He is the right hand man of Prince Noctis, raised directly by his side to lead and direct him. He is very smart and educated. Far more than the prince himself," her mother rolled her eyes.

"I still can't believe this! What about Ravus? Even he holds higher standing than this, this…Scientia you speak of."

"Yes, well…he is a tough one to nail down. Plus, I do not believe it wise to marry you to a man of Niflheim blood. Their nation is not at rest right now."

"But the Prince of Lucis is marrying his sister?" Y/N asked sarcastically.

"She is an oracle, not a princess. Ravus, himself, is not as high standing as he sees himself to be."

"Why don't I get Prince Noctis?"

"Trust me," her mother sneered. "you don't want that sorry excuse for a boy."

"I would at least still hold a title! What do I get now? Nothing!"

"King Regis made it clear that Prince Noctis is to be wed to Lunafreya. He left no room for argument and the rest of the council agreed and went along with it. I am sorry dear. We got you the best we could-"

"No you didn't! Hell, letting me chose a man off the streets would have been better than stripping me of my title all together and giving me a room at the Citadel! I had a damn throne in my hands! I have nothing now! I will never forgive you for this! Either one of you! Nor this damn country! Fuck Accrodo! You can all burn and rot for all I care!" Y/N screamed before storming out of the room.

"Well…that actually went better than I thought," her father commented. The queen glanced over at her husband, an eyebrow raised. "Nothing is broken! She usually throws stuff." A sudden smash was heard from upstairs. "I spoke too soon I see," he signed.

"Your majesty, you wished to see me?" Ignis bowed, entering a room occupied by the King. He noticed Clarus wasn't by his side, which was quite unusual. This was also a rather random room. Nothing special happened here. He wasn't even sure what its purpose was. It was quite empty. Regis was looking out one of the tall floor to ceiling windows.

Ignis was a little nervous on his way here. He figured the King had wished to discuss Noct's schedule and see how things were coming along. He was asked to not assist him as closely as he had in the past. He was to have Noctis start making more decisions on his own, a sort of test to see how he handled himself. It was proving challenging thus far. Both for Noct and Ignis. He was so used to helping his Prince and his friend. It was hard holding himself back.

King Regis asked that he come alone, however. Maybe he just wanted to get his personal opinion without Noct there to get upset over his opinions and observations.

"Ignis, my boy! How are you?" King Regis greeted him.

"I am well, thank you for asking. How are you doing?" Ignis couldn't help but look down at the brace on his King's leg and the cane in his hand.

"I am doing just fine, Ignis. No need to worry yourself over me," he smiled.

"That is good to hear. To what do I owe the pleasure of your company?"

"Ignis…I'm going to ask you to drop the formalities a moment. I need you to be very open and very honest with me. And do not be afraid of hurting my feelings. And don't feel you are going against my wishes. I simply wish for your honest opinion."

Ignis wasn't sure how to respond right away. Perhaps this really was about Noct. He wanted to make sure he was handling everything okay. Both his new duties, and his upcoming wedding.

"I assure you, I can answer any question about your son with the purest of honesty," Ignis assured him.

"It is not my son I wish to talk about. It is you," Regis told him, looking directly in his eyes.

"Oh…" Ignis stuttered a moment. "As you wish, your Majesty."

Ignis' stomach dropped a moment. Was he not performing as he should? Was he holding back to much lately? Or perhaps he wasn't holding back enough in letting Noct make his own decisions. He wasn't perfuming to the king's standards.

"Don't get nervous my boy," Regis comforted him, his eyes softening. "Nothing I wish to discuss is bad. You aren't in any sort of trouble."

"Okay," Ignis quietly responded.

"Tell me Ignis…has any one ever caught your fancy? Any woman ever caught your eye?"

Ignis' eyes widened before he schooled his face again. This was…an unexpected question.

"Um…well…" Ignis struggled to answer.

"Or man. I'm not here to judge, Ignis. You can speak freely here. It is a safe space."

It was almost insulting that everyone just assumed his sexuality because he hadn't yet had a girlfriend. Everyone always assumed that about someone when they hadn't been seen with someone of the opposite sex.

"No. No woman in particular has caught my eye. Or man. While I have seen plenty of pretty and even some beautiful women, I never let my mind dwell on it long enough to form some sort of…crush. I thought it would only distract me."

"I figured as much," King Regis chuckled lightly. "Are you opposed to ever finding a woman to settle down with?"

"No, I am not against the idea. I just…don't know when it would be quite possible."

"The reason I ask…is because Noct is to be married soon. While he will still need you at his side, you will not be playing as large of a role as you do now. Luna will be there to cook for and clean for him. Not to sound sexist of course, but she will have her duties to her husband."

"Of course," Ignis agreed. Women weren't bound to their men or certain roles within the house, however, women of royalty did have certain roles they had to play.

"While I do not wish to take away any of your choices in life, especially those involving the heart, I wanted to offer you the Princess of Accrodo's hand in marriage."

Ignis' eyes, widened again. A princess' hand? Offered to him? Whatever made the king think he was worthy of such a thing?

"Important decisions are being made in the world, as you are aware. Kingdoms are merging, bonds and permanent pacts are being made between families. I have assured Luna's hand for Noct. Not just for our relationship with Tenebrae and Niflheim, but because I know of how close Luna and Noctis are. The closer their relationship, the better they will work together. We really need a bond with Accordo, however. It would be wisest to marry Noct to Princess Y/N, but as I mentioned…I couldn't do that to him. It would break his heart to see Luna with another man. I wanted to offer her hand to you, however. You are the next best in line."

"I…I, uh…" Ignis wasn't sure what to say. He was at a complete loss of words. "I don't think I'm-"

"If you don't think you are worthy, I ask you erase that thought from your mind. You are more than worthy, Ignis. You are educated, wise, properly trained in both combat and tactics. You are the makings of a perfect husband and great partner, as well as a prestigious member of the Royal Council of Lucis."

"How would…what would she…"

"I know you probably have a lot of questions. I can answer a few of them briefly for you now. She will no longer be a princess, technically. She will have dual citizenship between both nations, with Lucis being her reigning citizenship. She will still be held to high royal standards and required to follow Royal Law. Her brother will become heir to the throne and future king of Accordo. She will still use the prefix Princess, however it won't hold the pull it once did and not as much here. That's not to say she doesn't have any significance or is some lesser form of royalty I'm tossing down to you."

"Of course not!" Ignis agreed.

"This is going to pave a new path for Altissia and Accordo. It's been generations since a male has taken the throne. History is being made with this decision. And I must warn you, it is a new path she will not be pleased with. No woman wants to be told she will not be queen. It may be a tumultuous relationship at first. You will have to put some work into it to sway her our way. She will be against every decision we make, I'm sure of it. But it will be up to you to help her grow to love Lucis and its people."

Ignis stood silently, picking at his fingers. He wasn't sure what to make of the situation. It was all a huge shock to him. Was he really as worthy as Regis said he was? Or did they not think him capable of ever finding someone himself? Did they think he was too dedicated to Noctis to dedicate himself to a wife? Was he too inexperienced at his age to find someone to court?

"Please, share what is on your mind Ignis. I told you, do not fear angering or displeasing me with whatever it is you are feeling." Regis assured him.

"Are you…is this being decided because you pity me?" Ignis whispered out.

"Absolutely not!" Regis was shocked. "Ignis, I see you as my own son. I care very deeply for you. And as I mentioned earlier, you hold very high rankings within these walls. Our list of suitors was made of merely four people, two of which are too old and past their prime to properly marry and care for a woman of her age. That leaves you and one other. And if you do not wish to accept, I will honor your wishes and marry her to the other-"

"Gladio…" Ignis interrupted. He would never dream of interrupting his King while he was speaking, but the name just spilled out of his mouth.

"Yes. Gladio is the other we have considered. But upon careful deliberation and looking at it from many angles…we feel you are best fit for the honor."

"Do you simply wish for me to marry her as a technicality? To teach her of our nation and advise her, as I do Noctis?"

"No. While that is an added bonus, of course, and we feel you would be best fit for that role…it is a role you would play regardless if you married her or not. Even if she were wed to Gladio, you would still advise her and teach her what she would be required to know. So no, your role is not to simply guide her, but to love and cherish her as your own. The same goes for Gladio. Whether he is wed to her or not, he will be tasked with helping her train and learn the basics of combat to properly defend herself."

Ignis stood there silently another minute. He always wondered what it would be like to be with someone. To find that person to cherish and love and dedicate your soul to. He always imagined it a completely different way than this, of course. But when he really thought about it…when would he truly be able to have the freedom to go out and find himself someone? Who would ever accept him for all he was and all he had to do? And when would he ever be able to wed someone as prestigious as a princess? Under any other circumstances, that would be treason! And she was from his own family's land. His ancestor's bloodline. It was almost too good to true if he really thought about everything he could want in a woman.

"I will do as you wish, my King. It is in my bones and blood to serve you however you see fit." Ignis bowed.

"But, is it as you see fit, Ignis? That is what I am asking here. Not everyone gets this choice. I am offering it to you, though."

"I would be honored," Ignis replied. "To marry a princess of any nation is a very high honor. One I will not take lightly."

"I am glad you accept, my boy," Regis smiled. "Thank you for being so open with me. If at any time you have more questions or even want some advice, you need only seek me out," he winked.

"I appreciate the offer," Ignis smiled back.

Wow…how was he going to tell Noctis this?