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nemo-of-house-hamartia · 4 months

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IT'S A DANGEROUS GAME

Prologue - The Accord

“At the touch of your hand, At the sound of your voice, At the moment your eyes meet mine,

I am losing my mind, I am losing control, Full of feelings I can't define.

It's a sin with no name, Like a tiger to tame,

And though no one's to blame

It's a crime and a shame

And the angels proclaim It's a dangerous game… It's a dangerous game.. Such a dangerous game…”

'It's a Dangerous Game"- Jekyll & Hyde

Luscinia cracked her eye open, hissing when a golden ray of sunlight coming from outside met her face.

She propped herself up on her elbows with a slow movement to look around the room, a cascade of her dark cobalt blue hair falling over one her face in a disorderly veil, her head throbbing with each pulse of her heart that, for some reason, was throbbing in her ears rather than her chest.

She shouldn’t have had all those Lestallum cocktails the night before. And she most definitely should have not accepted Libertus’ dare, damn him and his ability to get under her skin.

She knew that by accepting to play along, she was in for one hell of an hangover, the morning after, but she just couldn’t let him get away with all his idiotic insinuations about her and Nyx.

Didn’t matter that he was actually spot on in his thinking, for once in his life.

It was none of his business and that bet was still very much a matter of principle to her.

She never withdraw from a gamble. Never. Even if that meant waking up to a pounding headache, dryness in her throat and a grogginess that made her just want to put her phone on plane mode and hide in her bed for a whole week.

But, she thought, she didn’t have a whole week, not even if she wanted to.

And her last night of debauchery deserved to be celebrated in grand style.

Yeah. Her last night.

She turned her head -slowly, careful not to shake the bells that were already ringing incessantly in her skull- and the mouth of her stomach cramped almost painfully as she looked at the nightstand on her side of her bed.

Months and months of planning stood behind her, weighting on her like the sky on Atlas’ shoulders.

And after today, if all were to go according to her plan - and it had to go as she envisioned - she would have to forgo so much.

That was the way of the accord.

That was part of the price to pay, a price she herself had set up.

Rolling on her back with careful attention, she rubbed her eyes with all the intent of willing the grogginess away, when she suddenly felt a warm, callous hand caressing her cheek with tender care.

She turned just to see the young man lying in her bed, awake and looking at her with a warm twinkle in his blue eyes, accompanied by a mischievous smile on his lips.

“You are up, Sleeping Beauty,” Nyx murmured, his voice as soft as ever.

“Barely, and with every intention to go back to sleep, if this headache won’t kill me first.” she croaked back. ”Gods, I need a painkiller. How long have you been awake?”

“Long enough to discover that you snore whenever you are drunk,”

Luscinia snorted, giving a feeble slap to his bare shoulder.

“If it didn’t hurt so much, I would roll my eyes at you, Soldier Boy,”

Nyx laughed, dipping to catch her lips in a soft kiss.

“Want some coffee?” he murmured in between the kisses.

“Only if you make it. I won’t get out of this bed non even if Cor himself were to bust my door open and bring all the Crownsguard to drag me out of here, and sure as hell I won’t take the chance to just fall and make even more of a fool of myself more than I probably already did yesterday.” She murmured, expecting him to deny that something like that happened. When not a single word came from him, she turned to look at him, eyes wide. “Oh Gods, I did make a fool of myself yesterday, didn’t I?”

Nyx bit his lower lip, barely stifling a laughter.

“Does challenging every Kingsglaive at the the Chocobo’s Lounge to a duet at the Karaoke and fucking up all the lyrics count?”

“Fuck!” she hissed, wanting to hide her face in the pillow.

“You and Libertus did an “amazing” cover of “Love Shack”,”

“Bloody hell, I'm screwed”

“And when “YMCA” started, you managed to drag Tredd and Axis with you on the table,”

Luscinia muttered another curse, feeling her cheeks turning purple, as her brain started to work properly again and she was recalling all that had happened the previous night.

“I can’t help but feel that you are enjoying yourself thoroughly with this, Mr. Ulric,” she grumbled, poking his cheek as she tried to regain some composure.

Nyx chuckled at that, before speaking again.

“That's not even the best of it. In the end, I don’t know who cried more between you and Luche, with “My Heart Will Go On,””

Luscinia’s face blanched.

“Please, Nyx, tell me no one took a video,”

If her brother were to get his hand on any video of her drunk and singing all sort of songs - and badly at that, she was sure-, she would have to go directly to her father and ask to become an hermit.

Nyx bit his lip again, not even trying to hide his mirth, and Luscinia could not suppress a small shriek of frustration.

“Ok, that’s it! I won’t get out of this room ever again! Seal all the entrances of this apartment and LOCK ME IN!” she grumbled, covering her eyes with her bare arms.

But shame was not the only thing she wanted to hide. With each passing minute, sadness was starting to creep up, running its icy fingers to her throat with all the intention to grip to it mercilessly and choke her in her tears.

The morning was not even done yet, and she was already missing those moments with all her being.

“Drown everything, Cinna,” she thoughts, pursing her lips. “Drown everything.”

She heard Nyx chuckle again, his voice low in her ear and that felt like a jab to her heart.

Soft, fluttering kisses tickled her collarbone, following the line of her neck, his lips lingering on her pulse for a moment longer than normal before brushing her jaw with sensual sweetness.

“But, if it can be of consolation, you won the bet with Libertus,”

She gave him a small smile.

“Meager consolation. But I appreciate you tell him. Now I will never stop tormenting him with this.”

“That’s my girl,“ Nyx whispered between one kiss and the other. ”You know… your bet with Libertus got me thinking, yesterday night.”

“Oh?”

“Yeah. I know that when we started this whole arrangement together, you and I, we discussed with each other that we didn’t want any commitment, that what we are now would not go past this bedroom…but I wouldn’t mind cross the threshold with you and going “official”,”

“Official?” Luscinia asked, raising her arms to look at him, eyes wide. She didn’t like where the conversation was going. “What do you mean?”

“You and I, Luscinia…you know, making things official. Becoming more than just bedmates...becoming a couple. I think-“ he took a small deep breath, as if to find the right words. “I think I’m falling for you.”

Luscinia tensed at those words, her whole body turning rigid before she could stop herself. She was grateful for the darkness inside her room, the dusk dimming the fear that was written all over her face, because she realized that she was not able to put a mask of neutrality as she always did.

“You’d better not, Soldier Boy. Nothing good will come from that,” She just answered with a small nervous laughter. “I’m a difficult woman, and you know that with my work, I might disappear for months,” “ And nothing good would come from a broken woman that has sworn off love from her life. I am a broken empty cup,” she thought, lips quivering as she fended off memories that were coming uncalled for.

Nyx laughed, not catching the tension in her voice.

“What if I were not afraid by the challenge? What if we can make this work?”

Even in the sweet penumbra, she could see his gaze softening as he looked at her.

She could hear the hope in his voice.

“Oh No. No no no no,” she thought, pursing her lips, her jaw tensing to the point of pain. “He is serious.”

She felt her heart thundering in her chest at those words, blood flushing to her cheeks.

She had to call to all her strength of will to keep her breathing normal, to stop herself from allowing her thoughts to run wild.

He should have never said that.

It should have never happened.

It was supposed to be something simple, between them.

They had agreed to that simplicity when they had found themselves wrapped in each other’s carnal embrace in a secluded corner of the Kingsglaive’s Headquarters, drunk on the concupiscent desire that had been brewing in the deepest part of their bodies for months after their first meeting together; the same desire that was to be the only thread they should have allowed to connect one to the other, a passion of the senses not murked by any emotion, if not lust.

She realized that she was holding her breath, as she looked at him, her thoughts frenzying like sharks that had just smelled blood in water.

Please, don’t give me that look.

I want you.

I want-

But I can’t give more.

I don’t have anything more to give.

I am No One. Broken. Empty.

I belong to Insomnia.

You belong to someone that can give you all the love that you need, Nyx.

Not a broken woman.

She swallowed hard, letting out another nervous laughter.

“We are both too hangover to discuss about this. Let’s drink some coffee, and once we are both sober again - completely sober - we will see.” She murmured, giving him a small kiss on the nose before plopping back on the pillow.

Nyx gave her a long look, but this time, his expression was absolutely undecipherable. Without adding a word, Luscinia felt the man putting back his boxer and standing up, closing the door behind him as he found his way to the kitchen.

Left alone with her own thoughts, Luscinia realized that she was gripping to the dark satin sheets as if her all life depended on that graps. Releasing them, She took deep breaths, hoping that it would help clear her mind completely and would give chase to that pestiferous sadness that was so unwelcome.

She knew he was disappointed in her response, probably confused - or worse - resentful about her trying to evade his question with her lukewarm excuse -because she knew he knew damn well that her hangover was just an excuse to postpone that discourse.

They were friends. They had been friends for years, and bed companions for a period almost as long….why wasn’t it enough for him?

And more importantly, how did she not catch a hint that his feelings for her were growing stronger in his heart?

And what about her feelings?

Oh Gods, she thought. No. No. Stop now, Luscinia.

She turned rigid again, shutting her eyes and her mind door, before she were to start threading in waters she had no intention of even taking a peak.

Even if she had feelings for him - and she stop herself from thinking about, even before she could entertain the possibility - she would never act on them.

There was too much at stake, for too many.

The Accord.

The Accord was all that mattered now.

She wished she could explain to him, because she knew that he would understand then, bound by honour and loyalty just like she was.

But she couldn’t.

And she wouldn’t.

Secrecy was second nature to her, and the one rule she never -ever- failed to follow, no matter the personal costs.

Her father himself had ingrained it into her since a young age; It was all she had known since she began working for Lucis’ Intelligence.

And yet, she hated that she had hurt him.

She hated it with all her being.

The lump in her throat threatened to choke her again, as a tear rolled down her cheek, wetting the pillow.

Yes, she definitely still had too much alcohol in her body.

She never cried.

Never.

She bit her lip until she tasted her own blood, knowing that her physical pain would subjugate the ache in her tired heart.

Ding.

A muffled ringing sound came from her nightstand, catching her attention.

A text.

Taking one last deep breath, Luscinia dried her eyes, before turning her entire focus to the message that had just arrived. She stretched over the bed and opened a secret drawer on the side of the nightstand, where a burner phone was hidden from sight just beneath an old file.

No number.

She didn't needed it, though.

The context made perfectly clear who the sender was.

“I accept. I expect the signed document to be delivered to me by you - in person - in Altissia. You know where. Don’t take too long, Mrs Chancellor.”

Luscinia’s eyes widened at those words, her sentimental woes momentarily set aside as her head started to spin so fast she was grateful to be already lying on her bed.

Cold blood rushed to her temples, as fear and gratification melted into one bubble of emotions that left her both elated and absolutely terrified.

It was done.

Dear Gods, it was done.

It was over. …

Oh Gods, it was truly over now.

“Calm yourself, Cinna,” she murmured, patting her cheeks to get back to her senses. “There is still work to do,”

Her mind was a cauldron of thoughts, bubbling away, threatening to boil over if she didn’t compose herself. But she needed to calm down. She couldn’t allow herself to dwell on every single thought that was threatening to break her even more than she already felt broken, lingering dreams and wishes that, now she knew, she would do well to lock under key and never open ever again.

She took a deep breath, forcing herself to focus on what she always did whenever she felt like spiraling: she put herself in motion and redirected her attention to the work ahead.

Quick as a whip, she jumped off her bed, and started to recover her stockings and clean underwear, before rushing to her her wardrobe and produce a freshly ironed pinstriped dress out of it.

She needed to hurry.

Once she was completely dressed, she took the same burner phone, she dialed the first number that came up in her recently called.

“Come on, pick up, pick up, pick up,” she murmured, starting to pace the room while brushing the knots out of her hair.

“Pavus?”

Luscinia smiled hearing her codename.

“Yes, it’s me. Thalassa, listen well: the Hatter has answered. I need you to bring the documents up to the Penthouse for the Master to see them. It needs to happen no later than tonight.”

A short silence followed. For a moment Luscinia thought that Thalassa had hung up on her.

“Dear Gods, you truly did it.” she heard her whisper under her breath. “Are you...are you alright?"

“It doesn't matter how I am feeling, Thalassa. I need you to focus: clear his schedule and bring him the documents. The entire file. Send me a thrill once he is alone at the Penthouse and I will take care of the rest.”

“Copy that.”

The phone went silent once more.

Luscinia reread the text again and again, and each time she felt a cold shiver run up her back. She could almost hear his voice, pronouncing those words.

“Luscinia? Is everything alright?” she heard Nyx calling her. “I heard you talking at the phone,” She turned to look at the man, and her heart dropped, sitting on her stomach like a sack of bricks. There was something so endearing in having him standing at the door, mussed unbraided hair, a cup of freshly brewed coffee in each hand, as he looked at her with worried eyes.

If they were a couple, would he do that everyday?

Each day waking her up with a kiss, like a princess of the fairytale of old? Spending the mornings in bed together and share what happened to each other at work? Planning a life together?

Her stomach gripped with the same ferocity as before.

Focus, Luscinia.

Let it all go.

Leave it all behind.

It’s all over now.

“Yeah,” she whispered with a small smile, grateful that she was finally able to put her mask again. “Something came up at work and I’m needed at the Citadel.”

He nodded, his blue eyes turning sad.

“ 'Was kinda hoping we could spend the day together, today. But work is work,” he murmured, and with a melancholic smile, he offered her the warm mug. “You better drink this first, then. You’ll need the all the caffeine you can get,”

Luscinia barely managed to muster a feeble “thanks” as she took the coffee and drank it all in one go, uncaring that it burnt her tongue.

It was dark and bitter and strong as a slap across the face.

Altissia’s finest espresso, with just a dash of cinnamon and cloves that brought out the toasty flavour.

She looked at him, heart fluttering in her chest.

He always remembered how she liked her coffee.

He always remembered to put it in her favourite Moguri mug, the one with the broken pom pom.

Ever since she had told him the first time they had slept together.

Please, don’t do this to me, Nyx. She thought, trying to keep her lips from quivering.

Please.

I beg you.

“Will I see you again soon?” he asked, and Luscinia couldn’t ignore the hopeful tone in his voice.

She shook her head, offering another sad smile in return as an apology for breaking that hope.

“I don't know," she murmured in all earnest. "It might take me a few hours or all day, and if they decide to give me the assignment, it will take longer than that. You know how it is by now.”

He nodded, his face turning in a mask of solemnity.

He indeed knew.

“Go then. I wouldn’t want your superiors to give you some flak for being late. We will talk more about us-“ but he stopped himself, as if to ponder his next words. “We will talk again once you are back,”

Luscinia called upon herself all her considerable strength of will to maintain a neutral expression.

But it was too much even for her.

She brought one hand behind his neck, caressing his dark hair and tiptoeing, she planted a long sweet kiss on his cheek, uncaring about the bristles of his 5 O’clock. She kept her eyes shut, terrified that if she was to meet his gaze again, she would not be able to block the tears that were pounding behind her eyelids.

It was her silent apology for not having an answer for him.

Her silent “thank you” for all that he had done for her in all those years.

Her silent goodbye to all that could have been.

“Take care, Soldier Boy, ” she whispered against his skin, inhaling his cologne once last time before dashing outside the door, without looking back.

Be safe.

*****

“Come on, come on, come on,” Luscinia grumbled, tapping her foot with impatience as the elevator sped up toward the last floors of the Citadel.

She had waited all day for Thalassa’s call to arrive, all day spent pacing around town like a ghost, trying to find a distraction among all the memories that were weaved in all the places where she had hang out through out all her life, ever since she had joined the Royal family.

She had wandered aimlessly, letting her feet bring her around without stopping anywhere for more than a few minutes, terrified that the call of home might overwhelm her and make regret her decisions.

Terrified that, if she were to catch even a glimpse of something that might remind her of Nyx, she might be tempted to turn on her heels and go back to her apartment, running from her duties.

No.

Never.

“The Accord is all that matters. Insomnia is all that matters. It’s all that will matter.” she war repeating to herself even now, muttering under her breath, in her solitary ride in the elevator.

The small chime of the elevator’s bell brought her focus back on the task in front of her. She was at the last floor.

The Penthouse.

“It’s showtime.” she murmured.

She squared her shoulders and straightened her back, tilting her chin with certitude. Her face smoothed, almost transforming under her iron will as she canceled all traces of any sentiment she might have hold earlier, molding instead a mask of absolute inscrutability.

Taking a deep breath - the deepest one she could muster - she pressed the button that would bring her to the King.

The doors opened in front of her with a silent swish, welcoming her to the antechamber where armchair of soft leather were disposed elegantly for the visitors that were to wait before being received by His Majesty.

It was completely empty now, but she had expected that much, considering the time of the evening.

“Sire?” Luscinia called, her voice echoing against the tall wall of the King’s studio.

A small pang of melancholy came knocking on her heart’s doors as she found her way to the main room where the King held his private correspondence.

It had been years since she last entered that studio, years since she had to rely a news of that magnitude. She always left the reports in Thalassa’s safe hands, the only one she trusted to deliver any document that needed discretion and confidentiality, knowing that she would do the job quick and well.

Not this time.

The Accord was her brainchild.

This time, it fell on her to speak with the King.

She saw him, seated at his desk as per usual whenever his duty required him to partake in bureaucratic affairs. His hands were clasped together against his lips, his green eyes focused on the thick report sitting in front him as he combed through the sentences with meticulous attention.

Luscinia narrowed her eyes, and immediately recognized the file that the King was studying.

She felt her heart flutter, as a cold realization -a final awareness that her plan had come to its final stage- seeped through her vein like ice.

She had moved all the pieces, prepared the chessboard with painstaking finesse.

It was now or never.

He had to agree to the Accord.

He had to.

“All that staring and concentrating will give you more wrinkles than a crumpled piece of paper, Sire,” she said, raising her voice just enough to catch his attention.

King Regis looked up from the papers, the tense mask around his eyes not leaving him despite Luscinia’s attempt to bring some levity to the almost saturnine atmosphere.

He didn’t move, didn’t do anything to make her understand his mood of thoughts. He just kept staring at her with such keen attention, she felt as if he could see right to her bones.

Finally, he waved his hand, silently signaling her to approach.

Luscinia did as she was told, still not daring to utter a word until the King spoke first.

For a moment, she saw a shift in the man’s posture: his shoulders slumped just a little, his back not as straight as it had been a few seconds earlier, almost as if another weight had been placed on his already fatigued shoulders.

He was tired, she could see it in every little movement he made.

The King sighed, as if to confirm Luscinia’s intuition. He still held his silence, but now his weary eyes were looking at the young woman with resignation.

Luscinia returned the look with a neutral one of her own, almost feigning ignorance as to why she had been summoned.

But she knew why he had called upon her and she would not be the one to start that conversation.

Another minute ticked by, in the perfect still air of the studio.

Then, the King finally spoke, breaking the silence.

“What have you done, child?”

His voice, despite the tiredness of its tone, had a hidden sharpness in its words.

Was it anger, for having acted in the darkness? Resentment, for having chosen without consulting him first?

Or perhaps…was it worriment for his own blood?

Luscinia stood perfectly still, hand clasped behind her back, not allowing any emotion to trespass the barrier she had risen as she cleared her voice to respond with solemnity.

“What was needed for Insomnia and Lucis. I only had the welfare of this kingdom and the security of its citizens in mind, Sire. You yourself have imparted me with this lesson since you welcomed me to the Citadel. I am a Daughter of Insomnia and our Kingdom’s main Ambassador. My life’s only purpose is to serve the good people of this Kingdom by any mean necessary.”

Regis sighed, leaning against the back of his leather chair, bringing a hand over his eyes.

“What reason did you have to act in secret, going as far as to act behind your King’s back, without his knowledge?”

Luscinia maintained her air of neutrality, ignoring the sudden uneasiness that had started to crept into her chest.

“Despite having been advised the contrary -and believe me about this, Sire, I have been advised to not act as I did- I deemed secrecy necessary and acted accordingly. It was my own work, and the responsibility for it - for good or worse- is mine alone. I knew that you would have not…considered my point, if I were to come to you with this proposal. I needed time to gather enough evidences so that you could see the benefits we are to harvest, once you are to lend me your support.”

King Regis moved his hand from his eyes and raised his eyebrows, and gave the woman a long look.

“And whose support were you looking for, Cinna? The King…or your father?”

Luscinia pursed her lips, jaw tensing at the sound of her childhood nickname.

So, now he was wearing the Father’s mask.

She always found it was easier to deal with him as her King rather than her dad.

Much less complicated, with far less emotions involved and to deal with - something Luscinia always dreaded.

She let the question hang between them for moments that seemed to tick by as slow as hours.

In the end, she decided to play his game.

She unclasped her hands and slumped her shoulders ever so slightly, allowing her posture to relax. She even allowed her voice to turn softer - a daughter’s voice.

“Both. I need you to warrant me your support, Papa, both as my King and as my father. Did you read my report?”

Regis pursed his lips, brows furrowing as his attention was brought once more to the thick pile of documents sitting in front of him.

If Luscinia didn’t knew him any better, she could think that he looked almost forlorn.

“I did. In its entirety.” A sour smile graced his lips. “I must admit, Luscinia, I was impressed with how meticulous it was. It must have taken you weeks to gather all the data and verify their credibility.”

“Months,” she confessed in a whisper, rolling her eyes. “The Chancellor has the tendency to be erratic and hard to locate, when he puts his mind at it. He made my job much harder than it needed to be.”

Regis raised from his chair, helping himself with the cane that was always at his disposal, and slowly made his way toward Luscinia, his eyes never leaving hers.

Despite his stern expression, she could see something else hiding there as well: fear.

It was enough to take her aback: he had never showed fear to her. Not once.

“You are playing a dangerous game, Luscinia. The man seems to act like a fool, a buffoon strolling around without a purpose, but there is a reason he has been Chancellor for so long.” He murmured, allowing his worry to seep through his words. “Aldercapt relies on him in ways that extend way past his office’s duties.”

They exchanged a knowingly look.

“Then you know why I acted in secrecy and came to you when all that was needed was your signature to formalize this accord. The Empire is almost at our gate. It has devoured almost all of our territories. It’s planning to take over Insomnia as well, and they won’t stop until they do. I know you can keep the peace a while longer with the Wall-“ she stopped, her jaw tensing at the thought and its implications, trying to push the sadness down, locked away with all that was already under key in her heart. It was no time for sentimentalism. “-But regardless of this, Father, we need to act quickly. This could be the best compromise to at least stall the attack the Empire is planning and give us the time to actually work from the inside.”

Regis’ lips stretched in a wide smile, that hid none of his feelings for the stubborn woman in front of him. Sometimes it felt like looking in a mirror.

“Is that…a smile of pride, Sire?” Luscinia asked, amused.

“I have always been proud of you, daughter.” He murmured with kind voice. “ You have given me reasons aplenty. You know, perhaps…perhaps I should have been more forward and express my pride more openly. Maybe you would have had no reason to actually go behind my back to strike this agreement. However, I must admit that now my pride for you is overshadowed by a far greater concern for your own safety.”

The dark-haired woman tensed at his praise. She never knew how to respond to those affection, especially when that validation came from her father. While she never doubted his love, she was not always sure about his esteem toward her.

Hearing those words made her feel more more like an awkward adolescent rather than the self-assured woman she was.

So, she just cleared her voice, offering the King a somewhat embarrassed smile, redirecting the conversation on the matter at hand.

“Uh…No-no need to fret nor concern yourself over me, Father. I know what I am doing. Besides, I have been fending off for myself for as long as I can remember. You told me that it was the reason why you assigned me to Intelligence. I will get through this as well. We all be far safer and richer for it,”

The Kings frowned, his lips tightly pursed at her words.

“The Chancellor will never trust you, but will expect...the fulfilment of duties from you, may the Gods curse him a thousand times," he spat out the word as if they were poison in his mouth, and before he could stop himself, her wrapped his daughter in a hug. "You will be alone, constantly surveyed, all your correspondence monitored and possibly censored; Whenever you decide to travel, you will be followed around under the excuse of being escorted, and they will not allow you to be back to Insomnia alone - if they even will allow you to come back to us.” The King’s eyes filled with profound pain at the thought. “Cinna… you will be a prisoner in all but name. You will be a nightingale in a cage.”

Luscinia’s smile softened at his worry.

“You shouldn’t have read me that story so often as a child,” she joked, allowing herself to bring one hand to her father’s arm to comfort him. “You needn’t worry, Father. I haven’t earned being called “The Escapist” for nothing. Besides… I am not afraid of what they will do to me. I will fulfill my duties, whatever they might be. Considering what we know about their intention - their real intention - I just hope that this will help buy some time to you…and to Noctis,”

It was Regis’ turn to return the soft smile.

“You had been a good sister to your brother.”

She shrugged, shaking her head with sadness.

“Not good enough. If I could do more for him, I would. I truly would. But this is all I can do for him, to try and keep him safe. My gift to him. I will be the most loyal subject to him when he will become King, although I hope this won’t happen for a long time still. I will be his eyes and ears in the Empire. But until then, this is all I can do to protect my home and my family. Grant me the support needed to go through with this, Father.” She took his hands in hers, her gaze as resolute as it always was. “Trust in me.”

Regis sighed, his chest feeling constricted in a grip of guilt and worry, as he lowered his head.

Without another word, he walked back to his desk, each step feeling as heavy as if lead had been attached to his limbs, dragging him against the floor.

He sat back and took his pen, stopping his hand from the slight tremor that ran through his fingers.

He looked at his daughter one last time, and all he could see was the young child that would always come in his office and shyly asked to be read her bedtime stories, the child whose curious eyes would try and read whatever document he had on his desk because, all she wanted, was to help her papa with his homework.

How those years had flew by so fast, he still didn’t know.

How that bashfulness had transformed in steel resilience, he didn’t know either.

Yet it was all there, in the confident woman that stood tall and proud in front of him: a woman that loved her family to the point of sneak behind her father’s and king’s back, to strike an accord that would put chains to her hands.

He sighed one last time.

Then, with steady hand, he apposed his signature on the document in front of him, just beneath where his own daughter’s signature stood.

The official finalization of the Accord: Insomnia’s proposal of the arranged marriage between Chancelor Ardyn Izunia and Ambassador Luscinia Lucis Caelum, Daughter of Insomnia.

Bloody hell, I am done.

Don't ask me what happened or how I managed to finish the Prologue of this, because I myself am still wondering about it.

I just found myself thinking about my handsome bastard, and before I knew it, here I was pouring down word after word, while also making a moodboard banner for it .

But omg I am invested in this now.

INVESTED I SAY.

Well, I hope you will like this. <3

Sorry about the angst though.

It will happen again lololol.

--Nemo

#Final Fantasy XV #Final Fantasy #Ardyn Izunia #Ardyn Lucis Caelum #Luscinia Lucis Caelum #nyx ulric #ArdynxOc #It's a dangerous game #Nemo Writes #ocfairygodmother

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tisjstmizian · 6 years

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FFXV: The Sick Tactician (ArdynxOC)

Another day, another battle to calculate, another move to suggest, another stack of paperwork. Another battle strategy, another meeting, another long lecture about my being late. Such is my life though. What, being the Niff's battle Tactician. When I joined the military, I thought I would be swinging swords and shooting guns, not giving reports of the history in regions. I'm Sereth by the way. I work up high in our military, managing to join with the last of the actual humans in our army, I somehow clambered my way up to the top, where I now provide in depth book reports of geography and history to fully grown men. I'm not complaining or anything, but a few years into this and it gets old. The Empire has seemingly set its mind to world domination, and as the tactician, it's my job to oversee it. Or at least keep it moving. I work with all sorts of people, from hostages taken from villages, to enemy generals, to The emperor himself, and the high commander. The Commander and I, we have a special relationship. But, being one of two women of any significant influence in this military branch, I have special relationships with everyone. I miss when my life was simpler, I miss when I could come home from work and... no. Not right now. "Are you even listening to what I am proposing?" "Truthfully, no. I am not." High Commander Ravus's face seemed to crinkle, as his signature scowl graced his features. I know he's practically my equal, being only a little over me in rank, but I enjoy picking on him every so often. "If we move our forces here, we would have a better advantage than marching straight through this swamp here, like you suggested. Our resources are made of metal, and they do not swim very well, Commander." "I was not suggesting an attack on the village, I was suggesting an attack on the food source." He growled, rather impatient already. I nodded in understanding. "We could starve them out, and weaken them before demanding surrender." I voiced. "That is what I said." I moved over to my desk to write it out and sketch the official strategy out. But as I did, one of my legs gave out and I somehow crashed to the ground at his feet. Damn Sickness. Damn Scourge. Damn these stupid boots! The commander stared down at me as I awkwardly lifted my upper half up with my arms. "Are you alright." He asked, still scowling. "Or do you wish to waste even more of my time getting to your feet?" I opened my mouth to reply somehow, but what I was going to say completely slipped my mind as a somewhat familiar voice suddenly erupted throughout the room, amplified it seemed by the metal, tall ceiling, and lack of furniture. "My! You have been falling quite often it seems, Tactician." Of all the times for the stupid Chancellor to show up! I attempted to keep my irritation out of my facial expression as I lifted myself up, feeling sore and frail, and made my way to my table. "I do hope you aren't getting sick, miss Brenoix." As if The Commander's remarks weren't enough to irritate me, I preferred them over the Chancellor's honeyed words any day. "How can I be of assistance to my Chancellor?" "I thought I would come see what our tactician thought up today." He sang. I rolled my eyes internally as I wrote out the strategy, and scribbled down a map with vantage points and scouting areas. Ravus, I felt, welcomed the man just as much as I did. Though unlike me, he had no obligation to speak with him, and remained silent. A few moments into my work, and I felt the man step behind me and lean over to peek at my work. "Mmm~ A fine plan indeed. You truly are a talented women Lady Sereth." He hummed. "I'm aware." I mumbled, finishing the sketch and turning to look at him, "And I would prefer you not speak my first name." I folded it neatly, wrapped it in a waterproof package and sealed it with the emblem of the empire. Then awkwardly tried to stand, painfully aware of how odd balance I felt after falling, and more importantly, the Chancellor barely inches behind me. Still, nothing new from the men around here. Though I never had any attention from the Chancellor. I took the documents to Ravus and planted them firmly into his hands. I looked up at the white haired man, only a little older than myself, and smirked ever so slightly. As if he knew, he stepped away and tried to hurry to he door. But not before I announced clearly, "Should you like to look over the plans more thoroughly, Sir Fleuret will have them in his possession for now." Earning a quiet growl from the man, as the Chancellor hummed, "Don't mind if I do." He followed the commander, and before closing the door to my office, turned to me and grinned, tipping his hat as he did. "I will speak with you later tonight, miss Brenoix." Of course he would. He always had something to say. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ After going over paperwork and the like, a mostly uneventful day other than my encounter with High Commander Ravus and Chancellor Izunia, (which always made any day a little less dull) I made my way home. I was glad that I didn't have to do much moving, my hip hurt more since I fell, and my heels didn't help. While I could find a doctor to look into it, my blood was bad. I somehow contracted The Scourge on one of my business trips to another region, and since haven't seen a doctor in Gralea. I can't. All doctors in our capital are ordered to give the military a report of citizens infected with the Scourge, and those people are given their time to die before our officials take them in to be added to our arsenal of soldiers. It's cruel, to use our own, unwilling and sick citizens, as fuel for our demonic army. I hate it from the bottom of my heart. But I didn't join Research and Development, I joined the Tactical branch. In any case, I will not allow the government to find out about my sickness. I will not let my body be recycled into a machine, and I will not die because of a stupid asteroid flu. I managed to trip again. This time landing roughly on my shoulder. Though I didn't cry out in pain, I did lay still for a few moments as a piercing feeling seemed to flow through my upper body. One of the mechanical guards looked down at me, glowing red eyes cold and seemingly unfeeling. "No need to freak out." I muttered under my breath, slowly pulling my paperwork I would take home together. After a few moments, I glanced back up at it and thought again, what if it Does still have a soul? They are demons. Nothing more than twisted remnants of what were once humans. Souls yes, but not what I would take comfort in. And to think they were stationed all around our capital... It was raining, thundering even. Certainly not the brightest of days, but none were particularly bright here in the city of never ending night. Eventually I got home and threw my paperwork onto a counter, not stopping in my trek to my couch. Upon reaching it, I kicked off my boots and passed out like a baby. It was dreamless sleep at best, oy not the normal heavy sleep that a dreamless nap would lead to. Instead, it was more like laying in a black room, not thinking, but listening to quiet whispering of a voice without a body. Ominous, mysterious, impossible to pick apart words yet still knowing they were being said. It was interrupted eventually with five, strong knocks echoing through my apartment type home. I bolted awake and wondered if I had ordered food... my memory always failing me when I was off work... Still groggy, I shuffled to the door and opened it to see my favorite Chancellor, standing in the rain and folding his umbrella up. "Ah, miss Brenoix, good evening." I rubbed the sleep from my eyes, likely smearing my eyeliner as well. "Good evening Mister Izunia. A call before you came would have been nice." I mumbled, stepping aside for him to enter. "I thought it better to let you rest before I brought my... proposal to light." He smiled a little.

#Ardyn Izunia #FFXV #Final Fantasy 15 #Final Fantasy XV #Fanfiction #OC #AngstyAF #She'll probably die #I'm a monster #what are tags

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