Cordia (Final Fantasy XV fanfiction)

Chapter XIV

Woah, what is this? An update? *gasp*

Lol, it's been a long time since I updated this properly. I haven't since before the game released, and boy, was I wrong about a lot of things in the plot. Still, like I said in the author's note at the very beginning, I'm not changing it to suit the game; the story is already set in stone, and I'm not sacrificing the characters and plots I've created to just adjust it to the canon one.

Besides, that's boring, right?

Anyhoo, enjoy. It's a little shorter than most chapters that I remember from this fanfic, but most of those flashback chapters are, I think. I'm rambling-- enjoy!

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In all her years of homeschooling and self-education, Cordia would never have imagined to be in the place she was now.

It was like a heaven; there were so many lessons, so many different things to learn and explore. The classrooms were wonderful, the gardens outside the magnificent building were colourful and luscious, the students welcomed her with open arms.

Though, the lack of hesitance was probably down to their lie; according to Noctis, she was Lady Cordia, daughter of a councilmen of his father and heiress to a successful and powerful heritage built from the wealthy company that her family had forged. She was grateful he'd spun such a tale. She would never have been able to think of that on her own.

Thanks to her honorary status as a noble, that meant she was finally, for the first time in her life, able to stand beside Noctis and fit. She knew in her heart that she truly didn't, but she let even herself believe the lie, at least for a little while, and found herself enjoying looking at the faces of the female population of students watch as they pass, next to each other, together.

Prompto was there too, of course, and she found herself becoming fast friends with the blonde boy. He was energetic, bouncy, and carried a positive vibe in his step wherever he went, even if it was to a detention-- which he found himself in quite a lot. He seemed to conveniently forget his homework on a regular basis.

The water was cool between her fingers, and refreshing in the warm summer air. She took a moment and used the mirror before her to right her disheveled hair. She sent the girls beside her a smile through the reflection.

"You have such pretty hair, Lady Cordia!" one of the girls chirped, coming up to her side to play with a few of her short curls. That girl's name... What was it?

"Thank you," she said, smiling, and felt momentarily panicked as she struggled to remember. "Forgive me, I seem to have forgotten your name..."

The girl giggled, as did her friend behind her. She felt her cheeks redden in embarrassment.

"I'm Sapphire," the girl introduced. "My friend's Honey."

Odd names, Cordia couldn't help but think. She didn't voice it.

"Nice to meet you," she said, smiling, "Again."

Sapphire giggled. "You too."

The girl she had introduced, Honey -- with caramel-like locks to support her namesake -- skipped up to her other side and settled beside her, grinning at her through the mirror.

"So, is it one of convenience?" she asked, reaching up to right her wonky glasses for her.

"Or an arranged one?" Sapphire added, and they both waited with baited breath for her response.

"I don't understand," Cordia awkwardly laughed, "What do you mean?"

"You're to marry Prince Noctis, right?"