Disclaimer: I do not own G Gundam or any of its characters

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A.N.: Thanks to my beloved reviewers, I'm sorry that this is a little choppy, but I had work all day and my computer's been acting up. The earliest I could upload this chap was today, thanks to my grandma. It's very lacking in dialogue, but I hope it will do. I'm sorry it's short again, but my little cousins accidentally deleted part of it, so I hope to re-write that and tack it onto the beginning of the next chapter. I'm really really sorry. I only hope it turns out all right.

Next chapter will be up by August 19. School's starting up soon, so we'll see how it goes from there. I've been working on refining the next couple of chapters, so I hope to have it done soon.

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These Foolish Games: Chapter 19

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Goodbye
I never want to see you again
Goodbye
I don't want to be your friend

So long
Now we've reached the end
Time for me to turn that bend
When time has run away
And there's no need for me to stay
And lose myself to you
And be abused by you
I don't need the pain
From your mind games
When you try them again
I won't be there for them to work
Anymore
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The sunshine beaming down from the sky on that hot summer afternoon glinted off Lord General Ulube's silver mask, creating a slightly irritating glare, something his vision had grown accustomed to over time. Lacking a true route, he simply meandered about the emerald grounds of the Sauvillian castle, the soft grass below absorbing his footfalls.

So far, his plans had been working out fairly well. His two fellow co-conspirators were both still willing to go through with his procedure. Lady Allenby, actually, was more than willing. She was the most zealous of the pair, her desire to gain power through her position as the Sauvillian Queen the sole driving force for her actions.

Despite her continued attempts to appeal to the interests of the prince, however, Domon's affections remained fixated on the sole heir to the Mersenian throne, Lady Princess Marie-Louise. Ulube couldn't understand how the prince who hated all the princesses that his father threw at him didn't hate this one. It seemed strange, and almost conveniently ironic that he fall for the most influential princess there was.

Initially, when he discovered how his and Duchess Allenby's endeavors to seduce Marie-Louise and Domon, respectively, were simply in vain, he grew increasingly annoyed and frustrated. He tried to make his pseudo romantic intentions more obvious, yet he knew that Marie-Louise was not interested in anyone except for that certain hot-headed and foolish Sauvillian prince.

He had been afraid that Marie-Louise's affections would interfere with his plans for revenge against the Sauvillian King. After all, he originally needed the princess's affections for himself so that he would be able to marry her. Yet with this unexpectedly wonderful change, he saw an even greater manner of achieving revenge. Sure, he was betraying Lady Allenby and the other schemer in the process, but they were both simply means to an end. Puppets that he manipulated to achieve success.

Duchess Allenby was extremely cold-hearted at times and verbalized threats, but they were empty. He had read her aura, he knew that she was incapable of murdering either Domon or Marie-Louise. In fact, he doubted that she would murder anyone unless thoroughly provoked under rather unusual and extreme circumstances. From this, he deduced that she would not approve of his altered plans, and therefore did not inform her of them.

Then there was the second conspirator. While Lady Allenby's decision was made out of jealousy and a desire for power, the 'silent' partner's motives lay instead in the area of revenge, similar to Ulube's own. Once again, however, he knew by reading the man's aura that he would protest his plans.

It had been rather reckless of him to even suggest the idea to the second partner on the eve of the banquet, especially with this knowledge. Oh well, no real harm had been done. The man's role was more supportive than anything major, and his fear of being publicly exposed was enough to keep him quiet. After all, he had a kingdom to look after.

He had long since began walking back towards the main castle grounds, and was now passing through the famous Sauvillian gardens. The sun had started its descent, causing the shadows to elongate and stretch out before him. It was nearing time for supper, yet he had time to spare.

As he paused to admire the elegant rose bush displays, a slightly frantic aura began to approach. He recognized it as one of the handmaidens that attended to the Princess Marie-Louise. It was one of her own, Rain, he believed was her name.

As she hurriedly turned around the corner, she nearly ran into him, releasing a surprised "Oh!"

He helped steady her as she stumbled, holding onto her arm in support.

"Careful, m'lady. No need to rush. You must be confused: the dining hall is in the opposite direction."

"Actually, I'm not heading towards the dining hall. Rather I am on my way to the stables."

"The stables? For what?"

She freed her arm from his grasp and straightened her gown. "I'm going to deliever a message to the hired hands there to prepare a carriage for the day after tomorrow."

Ulube cocked an eyebrow at this. "Oh? Is your Princess planning on going for a ride?"

"I suppose you could say that. You see, a few days ago we received permission from the King and Queen," she looked up at him through wisps of golden bangs. "Tomorrow we are departing for Mersenia."

Ulube's eyes widened in obvious surprise.

The maiden clamped a hand over her mouth. "Oh please! No one is supposed to know. Promise that you will not tell anyone else. The Princess wished to keep it quiet to avoid sad farewells."

"I see. Do not let me further detain you then. Goodbye." He turned quickly, his heel crushing a fallen lavender rose petal beneath his boot. With newfound determination, he walked towards the castle.

This was going to make things decidedly more complicated. How on Earth would he accomplish his revenge now? He hadn't anticipated this turn in events, and it left him with only one possibility.

He would have to make his move. And fast.

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There. That was the last of gowns that needed to be packed. With this, Rain plopped down on top of the large trunk she had just locked shut.

She released a sigh, and glanced around the room one last time to check for anything that may have been left. All that remained was the gown she intended to wear tomorrow's journey, a brush to unknot her hair in the morning, and her slippers.

Half-heartedly she contemplated going to dinner, before deciding against it. She really didn't want to confront anyone if she could help it.

When she had approached the King and Queen with their plans to depart in a few days, she had requested that there be no formal farewell ceremony. Furthermore, she asked that they keep their departure unknown to as many as possible to avoid painful goodbyes.

Maybe this had been cowardly of her to ask for this. If Domon knew about their desire to leave, he would begin asking questions: ones she knew that she could not answer. Or maybe she couldn't stand to think about what she would do if Domon were to ask her to stay.

Whatever her reasons for this, she had made her decision and it was for the best. She realized this when Marie-Louise had told her about Lord Prince Chibodee's suspicions. He had nothing concrete, nor any intention of exposing them unless it posed as a potential threat to his friends' wellbeing. In other words: George's and Domon's increasing affection for the pair.

Another thing of surprise that night had been the fact that Marie-Louise accepted Sir George's proposal. While Marie-Louise herself couldn't explain why she acted so irrationally, Rain knew that it was most likely a combination of emotions and surprise that drove her to the impetuous decision.

That night had been extremely rough on everyone. Rain hated having the duty of advising Marie-Louise in this situation, but she knew that she had to go back on her original decision and decline Sir George's offer.

Though Marie-Louise did not share any of the particulars after she completed the taxing mission, Rain understood that it had been heartbreakingly difficult. She returned after a considerable amount of time had passed, tears once again staining her gown and streaming down her face.

Neither of them slept at all that night, and from the looks of it in the morning, neither had Sir George. Princes Domon and Chibodee looked rather grave in the morning, indicating that they had received the news about the broken off engagement. Things had been rather awkward since that, and the result had been everyone avoiding everyone else. Luckily, both parties desired to keep the situation unknown to all others to prevent even further embarrassment.

Rain shook her head, and rose from the trunk. It didn't help her any to review the goings on of the past couple of days like this. All she was doing was torturing herself with more and more painful memories.

She crossed the room to the solitary velvet settee positioned to one side of her bed. Lying back in it, she closed her eyes and relaxed. It was awfully early for sleeping, and she hadn't intended to do so, for she wished to wait for Marie-Louise's return at the very least. But her exhausted body won out in the end, and she drifted off into a long, black, dreamless sleep. It was only interrupted by the knock on her door in the morning to announce dawn had just broken, and the carriage waited to take them back home.

Marie-Louise joined her in the hallway as the servants came to carry their trunks outside. She managed a small smile, and followed after the trunks. The only people there to see them off were the Queen's handmaidens, who delivered a message from the King and Queen about how they had been very blessed to spend so much time with them, and how they wished they would visit again soon.

Even after the message had been given, both Rain and Marie-Louise waited, as if expecting more. It was foolish, for Domon and George most likely did not even know about their going away. Yet it couldn't be helped. There was one small part inside that still clung to the hope that things would work out perfectly in the end. When nothing else was spoken, Rain climbed into the carriage with Marie-Louise behind.

Before shutting the carriage door, Marie-Louise paused one last time, and looked up at the castle, perhaps anticipating to see Sir George running after her, to stop her from leaving him forever. He would grab her around the waist and draw her down from the carriage steps, pull her into his arms, and hold onto her so tightly she could scarcely breathe. He'd kiss her, beg her to stay, tell her that he could not imagine living without her, and that he knew that she felt the same.

But no such thing occurred. All that was heard was the quiet chirping of birds as they began to rouse from their own slumber to greet the rising sun.

And so, with that, she shut the door behind her. There would be no more glances back.

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TBC

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Oh, P.S.- I'm going to start up with the personal responses to reviews next chapter. Sorry, i got behind!