34 34.

Pitou was the first one who woke up from the trio as she went down and asked me for some taiyaki to eat. I made her a box of it and made some treats for Kagura and Erza as well. I made Erza's favorite, strawberry shortcake while I baked Kagura some chocolate chip cookies.

Soon, the two woke up and had their fill. I also had them take a bath since they sweated and might be uncomfortable and feel sticky.

Time passed by and soon, it was time for the evening shift, I opened the door and as always Gildarts and Jura were in the front.

There were not many who came this time in the evening shift because traversing the WoD without strength or skill at night is really dangerous, even if you travel as a group.

I quickly served them food and drinks and many are already had a tinge of intoxication in their faces. Meanwhile, I started wiping the mugs as I waited for them to finish and close up.

"Master! I heard from a friend of mine that you played a song in the afternoon, let us hear it as well!" A customer said as the crowd chanted for me to play because they were interested at the song as well.

Seeing the festive mood, I decided to play Bink's no sake, one more time.

Irene is on her way home when she heard a pleasing melody in her ears, she traced the sound and found out that it came from their home. She thought a bard had come to the tavern but turned out to be wrong. When she pushed the door open, she saw her husband beside the kitchen station, playing a violin as the crowd cheered and were very rowdy.

Gildarts and Jura were enjoying the festive atmosphere as Gildarts taps his foot to follow the beat.

When the song finished, I finally realized that Irene was already home as I greeted her with a smile. It was her first time that she used the front door when she got home, usually, she uses the back door whenever she got home early to avoid the customers from seeing her.

She was kind of surprised that there are still a lot of people in the tavern. To the unassuming crowd that saw her for the first time, they were enchanted by her beauty, but to those who know her, they paled and immediately quieted as they looked away as if nothing is happening.

Seeing many people eyeing my Irene out, I crushed their dreams as I kissed her lightly on the cheeks in front of the crowd which caught Irene off guard.

"Noct! What are you doing?!" Irene said in a panic.

"Greeting my wife who just got home? What about mine?" I said as Irene reluctantly inched closer to my cheeks but I turned my face so she hit and kissed my lips.

In a fit of anger and embarrassment, she ran up to our room while shouting and stomping her feet.

"I hate you!!!"

"Well, aren't you two a lovely pair." Gildarts said

The other customers felt envious about it but when they thought about my daughter Erza, it all makes sense.

Soon, it was time to close up as the customers slowly left one by one.

I started cleaning up the tavern and the mess left by the customers. It took me almost an hour to completely clean everything up.

Taking my time, I took the memory crystal and crushed it as I felt another lock in my mind is opened.

A series of memories entered my mind and it confused me for a second because all I could see is the surrounding water bodies. When I saw the memory of the port, I had a hunch of where it is and when I saw the sign that indicates the name of the place, I confirmed that it is indeed the Caelum Island, an Island west of Minstrel in the Earthland Map.

Following that, showed me that in the center of the Kingdom, lies a sky port with a ship that can fly that leads directly to the Kingdom above the clouds and it made me kind of excited because I think I know where this is going.

My hunch was right. It is indeed the location of Lucis Kingdom with its trademark walls, and when I saw the place, I am kind of surprised to see renaissance type of buildings and houses.

While I am burning the appearance of Lucis in my mind, another set of memories appeared in my mind. Turns out, that I have a little brother, and guess what. He looks like John Wick. I got Keanu Reeves as my little brother. (Older Noctis and John Wick kind of looks the same with Wick having a much more grown moustache soooo...)

He was named after the founder king, Somnus, who founded the Nation of Lucis.

If I were to describe my little brother, Somnus, according to the memory fragment, he himself is one of a kind talent but was overshadowed by my predecessor's achievements and talent.

He works harder than anyone, studies harder than anyone, but was not recognized by the people because of his brother. Although he was not recognized by the people, he didn't blame nor hate anyone because he is recognized and praised by my parents and my predecessor for working hard.

When my predecessor left to explore and have an adventure of his own, Somnus wanted to join but was stopped by his parents saying he was too young.

Somnus reluctantly agreed as he waved his brother goodbye as he stepped in the skyship.

The memory fragment then shattered after that as I regained my consciousness from a dazed position.

When I got up, I checked on the chipmunks and saw that they were already sleeping. So I decided to enter our room and saw a sulking Irene.

"What's the matter my love?" I asked with a teasing voice and Irene turned her back on me followed with a 'hmph'

'Why is my wife this adorable? Its beyond cheating.' I thought as I lie down besides her.

"Why're you mad?" I asked her.

"I hate you. Don't talk to me." She said as it made me chuckle.

"Why are you hating me?" I asked.

She didn't answer and gave me a silent treatment.

"Oh, I see. My wife is a mute, huh. Hmmm let's see if she really is a mute." I said as I poked her sides and she didn't flinch but I could tell she is holding herself.

I kept on tickling her sides by poking on it as she can't hold it in anymore finally laughed.

"Looks like my wife isn't a mute." I said as Irene finally turned towards me with tears in her eyes from excessive tickling.

"I hate you! You're always bullying me!" She said to me while glaring at me cutely.

"I can't help it. You're just too adorable." I said to her with a straight face. Irene's face slowly turned red as I stared at her intensely.

"W-what are you saying?! Its just your excuse to tease me..." She said while pouting.

"No it's not and you know it." I replied as I closed in to her and gave her a kiss on the forehead and Irene finally forgave me.

While we are cuddling, I asked Irene.

"My love... remember the time when I asked you to return and introduce you to my parents?" I asked and Irene remembered that night and she nodded.

"How about we go back this weekend?" I said as an electrical shock traveled inside Irene's body and she felt nervous.

"I... I think I'm not ready to meet them yet..." I could sense her insecurity in her voice as I asked her.

"Why?"

"What if your parents don't like me? What if they learned that they have granddaughters already? What if they disown you? What if..." I stopped her with my finger as I pressed it on her mouth.

"Its gonna be alright, my love. Trust me. They will wholeheartedly accept you. If they don't then we still have our home here, right?" I comforted Irene of her worries.

"Besides, my wife is the Scarlet Despair. Who would dare stop you?" I said her nickname as Irene became embarrassed about it.

"Stop with the nickname my love... you're teasing me again..." she said as I chuckled and gave her a light kiss on her lips.

"Its gonna be alright my love. It'll work out in the end." I said as I comforted Irene before turning in for the night.

---------------

I'm stuck between making mc have a small harem or just stick to Irene, because as a prince of Lucis Kingdom, arranged marriage will always be there, its inevitable. If there's arrange marriage, I don't know who to pair him up with, and if I want to stick with Irene, MC will have to personally break the marriage promise by visiting the promised Kingdom.

Personally, I think sticking with Irene is the best choice. IF AND ONLY IF there was a harem, Ur Milkovich and Lunafreya were good candidates. I will also pass the responsibilities and the position of the King to Somnus while being the protector of Lucis in the dark.

For those who don't know FFXV, The Crystal jewel channels it sacred power to the Ring of Lucii and grants the monarch the ability to use and conjure the magical weapons. The physical burden that sustains the magical barrier in their walls would drain the monarch out and I planned for Noctis to hold the Legacy of the Lucis Kings and have the system modify it and subdue the Past Kings with force.

It is said that if the walls fall for even a moment, it would be to invite destruction.

Anyway 2nd chapter will come out later, back to work.