Chapter Text
After the truth was revealed to him, Ardyn spent countless nights trying to imagine how things could have turned out if he hadn’t been betrayed. He could picture himself a benevolent king to his people, with Aera as his queen and their son as their heir. They would have other children, of course, two more maybe? Somnus would still be in charge of the military, he was good at that. He would ensure the safety of the Kingdom of Lucis. He would have a family of his own; their children would play together...
But night after night, the thoughts of a different life faded away, because there was no turning back. Somnus had betrayed him and robbed him of everything he held dear. All what remained was hatred and rancour.
His dreams were all in the past.