The sound of the door on the far end of the room shutting made Y/N jump in her seat. Darting her eyes around the room, she was reminded where she was. And that she should be paying attention. She couldn't stop her head from moving around, looking in all corners of the room for the man to appear again. Her mind kept wandering to a thousand scenarios of him appearing and everyone around them disappearing into thin air like they always seemed to do when he was around. A hand grabbed hers under the table and linked their fingers. She glanced beside her to her right to Ignis who was still talking with the lady seated across from them. He continued taking notes in a notebook in front of him on the table. His silent support calmed her heart that was beginning to race again. She glanced back down to their joined hands.

Ignis had been true to his word. He hadn't let her leave her room alone the last two days. The staff frequently checked in on her. She had meals delivered to her door; breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The few times she left her room to attend council meetings, she was escorted by at least one staff member. Part of her wondered why he hadn't offered to escort her himself. The thought was nice. She appreciated him finding someone to escort her around…but why not himself?

Things were a bit…different between them the last couple days. Her running into his arms at the hospital. Him hugging her back and holding her as she sobbed. Him texting to check in a few times a day. Their hand holding right now. It wasn't smothering her, as she predicted he would certainly do. Every other time Ignis had involved himself with her, she wanted to run for the hills. He practically choked her with his doting. But every time she seemed to seek it out…it wasn't there as she wanted it.

Her mind was going in eight different directions. She was trying. Actually trying lately to get a bit closer to him. The loneliness was weighing heavily on her. She figured if she was to get along with and be with anyone from here, it might as well be her husband to be. So why did it feel like he pulled away every time she took a step forward? She appreciated him being beside her now.

They were speaking with a staff member about the engagement party this weekend. Food to be served, guests to be arriving, flowers, colors…it was sounding like a second wedding. She just assumed the people here picked all that and she showed up. It was a party thrown FOR them not BY them, wasn't it? At least he was here for this meeting, unlike the past who knows how many he missed.

"Y/N?"

Y/N snapped her head up to look at Ignis' face.

"Sorry…what?" she whispered.

"Anything you wish to add? Or change?" he asked.

"Oh…no. It's all fine, thank you," she smiled at the lady seated on the other side of the table.

"My pleasure, Miss!" the lady responded, closing the large binder in front of her. The other staff members in the room began gathering their things as well. "I'm more than confident the staff will make this a wonderful evening for the both of you. And again, congratulations."

"Thank you," Ignis stood, shaking her hand. "We appreciate all your hard work."

Y/N stood as well, and nodded her head with a small smile. She trusted Ignis' impeccable taste and decisions. And if the party was anything like Noct and Luna's, it was definitely going to be good.

"Are you ready to head back, Princess?" Ignis asked her.

She nodded her head and began heading out the door of the room they were in. It was nice to be in such a large room with high ceilings and large windows. She was about to go stir crazy being in her room so much. She was moving past depressed and quickly heading towards psychosis at this point.

Ignis always kept right at her side, no matter how quickly or slowly she was walking. She was thankful for his presence being so near. She feared even just a few steps between them would allow the strange man to sneak in again. She was briefed by Cor and Clarus about the measures being taken. They mentioned they thought the stranger was using some sort of time altering magic as well as a cloaking spell. Cameras were no use in this case, so the only sure security was another person with her.

As the couple walked through the main hallway of the Citadel on the ground floor, they were approaching the small Café. Y/N's steps started to slow a bit as she looked out the large windows at the garden beyond them. She didn't notice she stopped walking until she heard Ignis calling her name and turned to look at him.

"Is something wrong? Did you see someone?" Ignis grew concerned she may have spotted the man somewhere. She had a sad look on her face and slowed her walking to practically a standing still.

"No…no, um…can we maybe grab a tea or something while we are here?" she asked.

"Certainly!" Ignis smiled at her and guided her to the small line.

Ignis couldn't deny the small feeling of excitement that she was grabbing a drink with him. He figured she would want to go straight back to her room and not be bothered the rest of the day. She rarely left since arriving weeks back and now more than ever she stayed inside. He felt a sort of closeness to her recently and wanted to continue to grow closer to her. He wanted to take her to dinner and out shopping and even out with his friends. But he was afraid to ask, knowing what happened the last couple times she left her room. She probably hated being outside the safety of those four walls. He didn't risk asking her to leave them for his benefit. He also was trying to move as slow as possible. He knew completely backing off was the wrong move. So he was trying smaller things. He almost couldn't believe he had held her hand earlier and she didn't pull it away.

"I normally grab an ebony when I'm here," Ignis said, trying to make light conversation. "I can't say I'm familiar with all the other beverages they serve. They should have teas of some kind. I only hope they are to your liking."

"They do. I've been here a couple times."

Ignis glanced over at her a bit surprised. When had she come to the café? He supposed she was free to walk the halls as she wished prior to recent events. She was sure to see the café at some point.

"Apologies. If I had known you were fond of this place, I would have invited you to come with me sooner."

"Prompto told me about it. He brought me here the first time. I've only been maybe twice since then."

Prompto brought her? When was she conversing with Prompto? He wasn't often at the Citadel, even. Sure he trained here almost daily, but that was in the far training wing. And he wasn't even often at Noct's place anymore. The two of them usually met out in the city when they hung out. Noctis hated being here and usually wanted to get out. Ignis tried not to let it weigh too heavily on his mind. But he couldn't help feeling…something at the thought of his friend going for tea with his fiancé while he struggled to talk with her.

As it was their turn in line, Ignis allowed her to order first before requesting his ebony as always.

"Would you like something to eat as well?" he asked, motioning to the other side of the menu board hanging overhead.

"No, it's fine. I'm not hungry, thank you," Y/N responded quietly.

"Will you be dining here or would you like a to-go cup?" the cashier asked.

"To go, thank you," Ignis answered.

Ignis pulled his card out of his wallet to pay for their drinks. He doubted she wasn't actually hungry. He knew from the trays he had sent to her room that they were usually sent back almost full. She hardly ate anything since coming here. He wondered if it was a cultural thing. Maybe people in Altissia ate small meals. He doubted it could be true, however. Their cuisine was exquisite. Not to mention carb heavy.

As their order number was called, Ignis grabbed their drinks from the counter and brought Y/N her tea. It was before the lunch hour rush, so their drinks came pretty quickly. Not to mention, Ignis' drink was a simple can pulled from the fridge. As Ignis started to walk toward the elevators again, he noticed Y/N hesitate and stand in place, looking off in the distance behind her.

"Are you sure you're alright?" he asked her.

"Sorry I just…the last time I was here, it was when…I was…ya know….attacked."

Ignis' eyes widened a bit as his brows pulled together.

"I thought you were attacked in the residential hall?"

"I was. But, it was because I had left to get a drink. I needed some air and…I came here to get a tea."

"I…I apologize. I didn't mean to bring up any terrible memories."

"No! No, you didn't. I asked for us to stop here."

"Do you want-"

"Can we maybe…walk outside? In the garden?" Y/N interrupted. She had been admiring the sun and plants outside the windows the whole time they had been waiting in line. She needed out of these walls. And this was the perfect opportunity to do so. She had someone with her. Someone to protect her. Nothing would happen…right?

"O-of course!" Ignis stuttered a bit. He didn't expect her to ask such a thing. Especially after mentioning such bad memories just now. He thought for certain she would want to get back to her room as soon as possible. But he wasn't about to turn down a moment to stroll with her in the garden.

Ignis walked over to the large glass double doors with her and pushed the door open for her to walk through. Y/N took a couple steps outside and stopped a moment, taking a deep breath and looking up at the sky. She often wondered if she would ever be able to do this again. Between her fear and her depression and her anger…she hasn't fully been able to just enjoy the sky. It wasn't the same here, though. The abnormal, transparent polygon patterns overhead made her feel like she was living in some kind of simulation. It still made her feel trapped in a type of cage. But for the moment…she would let herself enjoy it. It was better than the dark ceilings of the Citadel.

Ignis stood patiently beside her. He watched her face carefully. She was probably afraid to go too far. But the look on her face right now was one of…peace. Her eyes had a bit more light in them than usual. Her mouth wasn't turned down. Her face was relaxed and she looked…lighter for a moment. She truly was beautiful to him. But moments like this took his breath away a bit. He has only ever seen her like this on two other occasions. When he took her out to lunch at the Altissian restaurant and the night of Noctis and Luna's engagement party.

The rest of that particular night still played over in his head more often than he would ever admit out loud. Her actions still puzzled him. It was so out of character and…quite frankly a bit out of line. Who was he to say how these things worked, though. It did make him feel a small pang of jealously. Has she done that for anyone else? She seemed so…experienced in it. So confident in her actions.

Y/N taking a few steps more forward snapped him out of his thoughts that were quickly turning dark. This was no time to dwell on such things. This was an unexpected delightful turn of events and he was going to soak it all in. He rarely ever had a moment with just Y/N to himself. Between being so busy with his duties and her being antisocial, they didn't get much time together. Perhaps he should begin trying to change that. He feared pushing her too far that he pushed her away. But maybe it was the perfect time to ask her to lunch again. His only fear was the mysterious man that was after her. She was far safer in the Citadel. Maybe the two of them could dine together in a separate dining hall or in his office or her room.

"Is the gardens gated?" she asked, snapping him out of his musings once again.

"Yes. There is a large stone privacy wall built around them, along with a security fence on the outer side. You are perfectly safe out here."

"That's what I was told about inside the Citadel too…" she mumbled.

Ignis face fell a bit. That was true. She should have been safest inside the Citadel. And it scared him more than he cared to admit that she wasn't.

"These white trees are lovely," she spoke, trying to rid the air of the tension. She started walking forward again and Ignis stayed right by her side. "They remind me of home."

"I believe they are actually native to Altissia. You don't find them growing anywhere else around here."

"Everything here is so…dark. Back home, things are bright and light colored. It's such a contrast to see these trees growing out here."

"The King has traveled the world more than a few times. He brought a lot back with him from his travels. I'm sure we can find some other items from you home that could make you feel less homesick. I'll inquire about them and let you know what I find."

Y/N looked up at him and smiled lightly before looking away again. She continued walking on a bit further.

"It smells so nice out here. Clean. The air here smells of filth and oil and soot."

"Nothing compares to the crisp, sea air I'm sure," Ignis responded. He wasn't offended by her words. While he, himself, hasn't traveled beyond the city walls, he knew a bit about the outside world. It all looked so vastly different from this place. He could only imagine how much cleaner the air much be where there aren't cars bumper to bumper on a grid of roads.

"Have you ever been to Altissia?" Y/N asked. She knew his family was from Altissia, but wondered if he himself had ever been.

"I have not, unfortunately."

"Doesn't your family live there?"

"No, what makes you say that?" he asked, his brows turned in a bit.

"Oh, I…I was told that is where your family is from…"

"It is true my family comes from Altissia. But it has been generations since they last lived there."

"How have you managed to keep your accent then?"

"I get asked about it often, "Ignis lightly chuckled. "I think it's the manner in which I was raised. My family has held high standing with the royal family and pride ourselves on our manners and way of holding ourselves. We never succumbed to the ways of the locals, including their speech patterns. I was raised by my parents until about the age of six and then raised beside Noctis in the Citadel after that. I attended many classes on etiquette and pride myself how I look and sound and act."

"You weren't raised by your parents?" Y/N asked, stopping their walk to turn and look at him.

"I was until the age of six," Ignis simply answered.

"Weren't you…didn't you miss them? That's awfully young to be torn from your parents!"

"I was still permitted to see them," he assured her. "I still visit them for dinner on most weekends."

"That…I just still think that would be a bit…lonely."

"I was always at Noct's side. I was hardly lonely. In fact, I often wished for a break from the young man. He wasn't one for following rules which often led to us getting in trouble."

"If I was told I could only see my parents on the weekends…" Y/N started wondering if any of the workers she had seen around the Castle back home were treated the same way. Were they taken from their families when they were children to be brought up next to royalty? Were they missing their moms and dads for a chance to be next to the Queen or Princess?

"Please do not feel sad for me," Ignis told her, seeing the look on her face. "I wouldn't change my life for anything." He took a breath preparing himself to say the next thing on his mind. "Especially because it led me to you…"

Y/N snapped her gaze back up to his. Was he honestly that happy to be with her? She couldn't see how. He was being forced to marry someone he never met. He wasn't even technically marrying a princess anymore. She wouldn't be much of anything once their nuptials were said. And now he had to practically babysit her because someone was after her. He was being kind. She wasn't his soulmate. Someone else out there was better for him. Someone who read the books he did. Who could cook for him and dote on him. Ignis wasn't a bad guy…but he wasn't supposed to be her guy.

"We should probably head back…" she said quietly, before turning around and heading back the way they came.

Ignis strolled into his office, tossing his empty ebony can in the garbage bin by the door.

"There you are!" Gladio exclaimed as Ignis walked to his desk.

"Apologies. Did you need something?" Ignis asked his friend as he pulled out his office chair.

"Uhhhhh to go get some lunch together? Remember?"

The two friends made amends after their fight over Y/N's wellbeing. Ignis knew it was unfair of him to be so angry at Gladio for doing as he was asked by his superior. If it were anyone else, details of the incident would have been kept secret and he wouldn't have been told either. He was only upset because it was his fiancé the details were hidden about. And his best friend who kept those said details from him. However, if the roles were reversed, he knew it would be his duty to keep his word and not tell Gladio. Y/N was okay and that is what mattered now. He only wished he knew why she didn't want him to know.

"Heavens, I forgot! My apologies. We can leave now if you wish," Ignis said, pushing his chair back in.

"You forgot? The hell were you off doing that you forgot?" Gladio knew Ignis rarely just forgot anything. His calendar was color coded, for Six's sake!

"I was with Y/N. We had a meeting with the event planner for the party this weekend. As I was walking her back to her room-"

"She pulled you in for some fun?" Gladio asked, raising his eyebrows up and down.

"No, Gladio. She did not," Ignis responded, a clear disappointed tone in his voice. "She did, however, ask to stop for a tea at the café. And then we enjoyed a small stroll in the gardens."

"Ooooh! A light stroll eh? In the gardens, you say?"

"Why are you speaking so oddly?"

"No reason. Just…come on Ig! You've been wanting this, right?"

"I can't say I'm not happy about it," Ignis smiled, looking away a bit embarrassed knowing his cheeks were heating up a bit.

"So be happy! Hell, I'm happy for you! Not sure what the change was or why it happened so suddenly. But I'm happy. Good for you, Iggy!"

"I think I'm most happy that she was the one to suggest the walk together."

"See! I told you shit would work itself out eventually!"

Ignis was glad Gladio was happy for him. He seemed to fight the thought of him marrying Y/N since she got here. It was a constant back and forth between those two. He couldn't help the small part of his brain wondering why the sudden change in Y/N, though.

Y/N set her empty cup on the night stand beside her bed. After getting back to her room, she drew a bit in her sketchbook. She wished she had a way of getting more supplies. Since getting here, it's been almost all she had done while alone in her room. It was great practice and she loved drawing, but when it was all she had to do, it dwindled her supplies quickly. Her pencils and charcoal sticks were practically nubs. She wasn't sure how to get new supplies, though. Could she order them offline? Would they ship her favorite brands here from Altissia? Or maybe they sold those brands in an art store here. She honestly wasn't sure. She had the extra card Ignis gave her that people used around here as money. She felt guilty using it, however. She's used it to buy a drink or two from the café the few times she went. But other than that, she hadn't bought anything else. There was a point she would have used it every chance she had just to be spiteful. But she couldn't bring herself to be deliberately mean to him sometimes. Especially recently. Maybe she could ask LeAnn to order them for her.

LeAnn. She hadn't talked to her in…how long has it been now? She had missed calls and texts from her but hadn't responded yet. She only was just starting to function again. She knew she wouldn't be able to hold it together if she had phoned her friend before now. She supposed she could have text her. But LeAnn would have demanded a phone call. Maybe that's what she should do now. She was feeling better after her light stroll outside and getting out of her room. It was as good a time as ever. Putting it off longer would only make it worse. She grabbed her phone and tapped on her name in her contact list.

"OKAY! We need to figure out a way for someone to tell me when you're on house arrest again or something because I KNOW there's no damn way you just didn't call me back for almost two weeks!" her friend shouted in the phone after only one ring.

"I'm sorry. Things have been…bad here," Y/N sighed.

"Wait, did you honestly just not get ahold of me?"

"Well…there were moments my phone wasn't even on. That was about a week. Then I ended up in the medical wing-"

"WHY?!" LeAnn shouted again.

"Just…a small accident."

"What the hell does that even mean?"

"I'm fine it's no big deal. I wasn't there long but I was…ill and-"

"I thought you said it was an accident?"

"Yes, well an accident that led to me being unwell for a little while. I've only just left my room a few times. It's…been a bad few days, okay?"

"So tell me about them!"

"Please, I can't, okay?"

"Why? Y/N…what happened?" LeAnn asked, getting a bit more serious.

"Nothing just…some crap is going on here right now too with security and stuff-"

"Security? Y/N, this sounds worse than you're making it."

"Can we just please have a fun conversation? You forget I'm also on the High Council and have to deal with these stupid issues." Y/N wasn't entirely lying, although they really weren't concerned with her ideas about how to catch the guy. Which honestly was a good thing because she didn't have any ideas to begin with.

"Yeah, sure…you don't talk to me for a couple weeks and we can totally just act like it didn't happen," she responded sarcastically.

"I can always hang up you know."

"Your bitch ass wouldn't dare," LeAnn snapped. Y/N knew she didn't mean anything nasty by the harsh comment. It was just LeAnn being…well, LeAnn. And that was exactly what she wanted right now. "So, how's the boy toy?"

"Other than that being the last thing I would refer to him as…fine, I guess."

"No surprise blow jobs to tell me about? Finger banging sessions in closets? Damn you two got boring quick after that last little tryst."

"That was…a moment of drunken emotions getting the best of me! Must you always bring it up?"

"Does he ever?"

"…no. But I think I prefer it that way."

"So you get a guy off…probably for the first time ever by a girl, if not ever in his life because he doesn't look the masturbating type…and he says nothing? Have you ever brought it up?"

"I asked him once about it."

"And?"

"I just asked if he was avoiding me because of it. He just said of course not. And that was it."

"My god you both are so lame!" Y/N could practically hear her friend roll her eyes over the phone line. "Maybe you should do it again. She what he says this time."

"LeAnn! I could not!" Y/N was appalled her friend suggested such a thing.

"What? He seemed to like it before! He didn't stop you! He came, didn't he? He liked it! Men are all about that kind of stuff!"

"I don't think it's top on his priority list."

"You don't want him seeking it out elsewhere do you?"

"Ignis would never cheat on me!"

"What makes you so sure?"

Y/N honestly didn't have an answer. She wasn't sure. He could at any time be getting what he needed in a relationship from someone else and she would never know. She kept telling herself she actually wouldn't care, though. She wasn't here to please him anyways. She didn't want to be some sex slave to a man she didn't even want. But…things had been changing a bit lately. She didn't hate him as harshly. She wasn't repulsed by the thought of him…as much. He honestly was a good guy. If anyone would be worried, it should be him.

"He's the typical dorky guy who dotes on his girl. We've discussed this before. You even said it yourself before I came here."

"So he dotes on you, eh? Tell me more!"

"Well, he got me the security detail I've wanted since I moved here. He's had meals sent to my room three times a day-"

"Why aren't you eating in the Great Hall?"

"I have almost never eaten there," Y/N replied matter of factly.

"Why not?"

"Just…reasons. Seriously, you knew about this."

"Why don't you leave and get something to eat somewhere else then?"

"I…I told you. I was…ill."

"Oh, right. So…what else?"

"I don't know! He just…I can tell he cares. Way more than me that's for sure."

"You know what I think?"

"No, but you're going to tell me anyways."

"I think you need to quit being so damn stubborn and just go for it again. I don't think you hate him deep down and I think you could benefit from some ass in your life."

Y/N snorted into the phone. Leave it to LeAnn to be blunt and straight forward. But that was one think she loved about her best friend. And even if it wasn't the advice she was after tonight and even if she didn't plan to listen to it…the laugh it gave her was what she needed.

"Thank you, LeAnn. I needed those wise words tonight."

"Anything for you, babe."