Chapter Text
Loqi Tummelt Brigadier General of the Nifleheim Magitek infantry army was playing security guard, staring intently at the security feed placed in garrison brig. Granted he was focused on one particular prisoner. With his golden blonde hair, blue eyes, and pale skin Prompto Argentum of the Lucian Crownsguard could be mistaken for Loqi’s own brother. And if Loqi’s suspicions were correct he might as well be.
For several more minutes Loqi watched the young man fidget in his bonds and pace the short length in his cell. The sound of metallic footsteps warned him of company long before a knock came to the door. Loqi finally turned away from the screens to face the newcomers. Two Magitek troopers and a slightly nervous looking man holding a plain manila envelope entered the room.
“Are those results of the dna analysis I requested?” Loqi asked his eyes focused squarely at on envelope.”
“Ahh yes sir” The nervous man said, pulling out a few sheets of paper, as he tried to avoid looking at the screens. “Would you like me to go over the results?
“Yes of course.” Loqi tried not to show how anxious he was.
Stepping close to hand Loqi the report, “You stated you suspected a relationship through the maternal side, so we concentrated on the X chromosome, and we did find a significant match of 5648 alleles, so a match of about 24.68 percent.”
“And what does that mean?” Loqi demanded, a desperate hope fluttering in his chest.
“We can confidently conclude that you and Prompto Argentum are half-siblings.” The representative stated.
Loqi took the paper from the representative with shaking hands, looking over the lines of numbers and matched genetic information, “He’s my cousin” he corrected, “Our mothers were identical twins”
“Oh I see,” The man shifted, unsure of Loqi’s reaction, “This result would also confirm that sort of relationship. Is everything alright?”
“Everyone thought he was dead. We gave up hope years ago.” Loqi explained, reining in both runaway thoughts and emotions. “I trust this test and the results will be kept confidential.”
Nodding his assurances, “Of course General Tummelt. The Hollander Institute prides itself in its discretion and protecting our clients’ privacy.”
“Thank you. That will be all. I believe the matter of payment has already been settled. The MT’s will escort you to the gates. And I hope it pleases you to know that you have done a great service to the Empire” Loqi said, dismissing the representative, ignoring his muttered congratulations on finding his lost cousin as Loqi lost himself in a memory.
Loqi skipped happily next to his mother as they hurried through the halls of the imperial palace. He was dressed in, not quite his finest suit, but one of his nicer ones, the lacy cuffs itched but he didn’t care . He hadn’t had lessons in days since the emperor declared a celebration in honor of his son’s birth. His mother was smiling because they were getting to visit her sister, the empress, and the new prince. An honor few were being given, as his mother had explained to him. Not that many would deny the empress a visit from her sister is she so wished it.
They finally reached the guarded rooms of the Empress’ suite and attached nursery and were quickly granted entry. Inside, lounging comfortably on a chaise lounge, with a small bassinet close at hand was the Empress Dolcie, the other woman with his mother’s face. At the site of her sister his mother let go of his hand and cross to room to embrace her.
“Dottie!” His mother exclaimed as he hugged her sister, kissing her cheeks. “You look wonderful! Motherhood suits you.”
“Almost as well as it suits you Allayna.” Dolcie answered laughing, before turning to Loqi, “And how’s my little nephew, are you excited to meet the new prince?”
“Yes Auntie Dottie.” Loqi answered, more because he knew that was the expected answer. Why would he be interested in a baby. Even a baby prince. Babies were boring.
But his answer delighted his mother and the empress and soon he was perched on the chaise lounge so he could more easily see into the bassinet and at the prince inside. To Loqi he wasn’t much to look at, a tiny lump bundled into soft blue cloth, with a few blonde curls on his head. “He’s tiny.”
His mother giggled, wrapping an arm around his shoulders, “You weren’t that much bigger when you were that age.”
“You should hold him Loqi.” Dolcie suggested, “He likes being cuddled.”
“That’s a good idea, Dottie. We do want our boys to be close.” His mother said grinning, and she guided him to sit beside her.
Meanwhile Dolcie lifted the little prince out of his bassinet to offer him to Loqi. “Now he’s very little so you have to be sure to support his head, and remember he is the light, hope, and future of the empire”
Together the sisters got Loqi arranged so he could hold the baby properly, while nestled between them. Holding him was a bit more interesting than just watching him in the crib. Loqi got lost in the bright blues eyes trying to focus in on him, spotted the faint beginnings of freckles and found out babies had remarkably strong grips. He couldn’t help but smile and laugh when the prince tried to smile back.
Above him he heard his mother speaking again as she combed her fingers through his hair. “Just think Loqi, someday this little baby is going to rule all the Niflheim empire.”
“He’s going to need a strong knight to stand beside him.” Aunt Dolcie mused, “To guard him from all who would do him harm. Would you be willing to be that knight Loqi?”
“Yes.” Loqi answered again, and this time not because he knew it was the expected answer. He wanted to protect the little life he was holding. “I’ll protect him. I’ll always protect him.”
He couldn’t see it, but above his head his mother and the empress smiled at each other. Reaching over his head to hold hands.
“It’s going to be just like we dreamed Dottie. Our children standing together to lead the empire. It’s going to be wonderful.” His mother said, her voice full of joy, hope, and promise.
It had been a wonderful dream, but it hadn’t lasted a year. A mere eight months later the empress had been found murdered in her rooms, one of her maids slain in the hall, and the prince was gone. Years of searching and investigations hadn’t turned up a single clue to either the murderers or the fate of the prince. His mother’s smile was never quite the same after that.
Loqi focused his gaze on Prompto Argentum again, “No that’s not your name. You are Aurelius Spes Aldercapt, and it’s time you returned home Prince of Nifleheim.”