Adagio

Adagio – musical marking, slow and stately (literally, "at ease")

A/N: They really put the slow in a slow-burn romance. I want to scream too, if you ask me.

Prologue: Countenance

Global Leader Favorability Ratings - Interview with citizens of ESUN

Approve 51% | Disapprove 39% | Neutral 10%

Q: Do you know Relena Darlian?

A: "Well duh." "Queen Relena!" "Princess Relena." "The foreign minister I think, oh wait vice minister."

Q: Do you approve, disapprove, or neither approve nor disapprove of the way Vice Foreign Minister Darlian is handling her job?

A: "I watched her speech live from ground zero, no other soul is more trustworthy." "Absolutely." "100%" "She is awfully young for politics, don't you think?" "Didn't she get kidnapped last Christmas? The girl needs a break."

Q: Do you approve, disapprove, or neither approve nor disapprove of Vice Foreign Minister Darlian's personal affair/relationship?

A: "Gosh are you from the poll company or gossip magazine?" "Affair?! Are you still talking about the same person?" "Never heard anything about that actually. Is she even allowed to date?" "Again, she is awfully young for that. My own daughter is about her age!" "Wasn't there some news about her and a colony magnate heir?" "Good luck with that. Her record in that area is frustratingly pristine." "Honestly we are curious about it too. She must have had a school sweetheart at least, no?"

Interview with supporting characters

Q: Do you know about their so-called relationship? What do you think about it?

xxx

Zech Merquise (feat. Lucrezia Noin)

The first in line for the now-empty Sanc Kingdom's throne, turned soldier, turned preventer, turned Mars terra-forming pioneer. Relena's brother. Heero's former enemy and rival.

"There is no relationship," he deadpanned.

"Face it dear," came the amused chuckle, "You should have expected it."

xxx

Dorothy Catalonia

Sole heiress of Catalonia dukedom. Ex-Romefeller, former second-in-command of White Fang army. Relena's unofficial political advisor and friend.

"They will need to figure out what to call 'it' first," she merrily replied, "The princess and her knight do make for an entertaining play, albeit frustratingly slow."

xxx

Quatre Raberba Winner

CEO of Winner corporation. Heero's brother-in-arms. Relena's political sponsor and friend.

"It might came as a surprise for many," he thoughtfully ventured. "But I believe they will find their way," he added, shooting a smile and a mildly berating look towards one direction, "Even without anyone's intervention."

xxx

Duo Maxwell (feat. Hilde Schbeiker)

Mechanic and co-owner of Peacemillion auto workshop. Heero's brother-in-arms. Relena's acquaintance and one-time savior, turned friend.

"I'd say we should lock the two in a room sometime and see what happens," he replied, lifting both eyebrows. A loud smack followed by, "Ow babe, what's that for?"

"And they say romance is dead," she sighed. "She has her work cut out for her. It is not easy to deal with men in general, more so with their types."

xxx

Trowa Barton (feat. Catherine Bloom)

Cirque du Soleil's star performer. Heero's brother-in-arms.

"Hm," he responded, actually breaking into a smirk, "As expected."

"Scary self-destruct guy?" visibly shocked, the red-haired woman shot Trowa an incredulous look, "I thought she had more sense than that."

The former pilot raised his hands in self-defense and shook his head at his expressive sister.

xxx

Wufei Chang

Preventer special agent, code name 'Storm'. Heero's brother-in-arms.

"Not much I can say on it," arms crossed, he shrugged towards his partner, "She knows more. Ask her."

xxx

Sally Po

Former Alliance major. Preventer special agent, code name 'Water'. One of the first people to meet both Heero and Relena at the beginning of Operation Meteor while working at one of the Alliance's medical facilities.

"I've had my suspicions for the longest time," she hinted, a well-meaning smile in place, "They both need to stop falling into dangerous situations first. I hate to see either of them getting hurt."

xxx

Pagan

Darlian household butler, formerly Sanc kingdom's retainer. Relena's childhood caretaker and chauffeur.

"Definitely not someone I envisioned young miss to be with," the butler said with a courteous bow, "Then again it is hard to fault a man for his past, least of all me."

xxx

Mareen Darlian

Relena's adoptive mother.

"My daughter always does have a good eye for people," came the careful reply, followed by a small smile. "I trust her judgment."