Love and Pride
Disclaimer : I don't own gundam seed destiny
Special Thanx to my beta reader asucaga4ever
Chapter 2
It was almost noon when Cagalli woke up next morning. Her maid, Sarah helped to dress her and when she was doing her hair, Kira came into the room, holding the envelope in his hand. She looked at him wonderingly.
"Cagalli, you have an admirer." He handed the envelope to his sister, his eyes watching her curiously.
"A messenger came around 20 minutes ago, from the palace."
"The palace? But I don't know anyone there."
Puzzled, she opened it to see a white card, she read the writing on the card.
"And this is from whom?" Kira demanded an answer
Cagalli turned pale, her eyes looked at the signature, she was wordless to see it was signed by the person she was encountered yesterday. How did he find my address?
"Athrun Zala." She handed the card to him and he read it: "I enjoyed your company yesterday, and I invite you to dine with me this evening."
"Athrun Zala – where did you meet him?"
"You know him?"
"Yes, I met him occasionally, he is Dearka's friend." Kira laughed and teased, "Cagalli what a guy you have now, and he is an important man in the palace, the Queen liked him a lot."
"I don't really like him." Cagalli snatched the card from his hand and put it onto the table.
"You're joking Cagalli, he is the most eligible man in this town, well despite his reputation with women." He looked at his sister's face and continued, "Where did you meet him Cagalli?"
"Yeah I heard he likes playing around with women. I met him at one of the inns. It was full and one of his inferiors offered their table for us and we dined together."
"I see, so how about his invitation? Do you want to go this evening?" Kira asked her.
Cagalli shook her head and answered him, "No, I'm afraid I must reject his offer, but I don't want to go with someone I barely know. I will send Sarah to return the offer." She looked at her which nodding her head understandingly.
The next morning, she discovered the invitation to a ball that was held at the palace by the Queen.
"I see you have an invitation also, so what should we wear at the ball Cagalli?" Milly asked her, she was excited.
"I will leave that to Sarah, or do you want to help me?" Cagalli smirked at her.
Milly clasped her hands, "Sure, I would love to choose a dress for you."
"Oh I almost forgot, Kira asked me to hand this letter to you."
She handed Cagalli the letter and grinned, "From whom Cagalli?"
"I think you know who, Kira told you right?" Cagalli opened the letter and again there was an invitation for her from the same person. Supper at 9:PM.
"That insolence man," Cagalli almost tore the card, "My last latter made it quite clear that I don't wish to meet him again."
"I think he doesn't like to give up easily. Why are you not trying to dine with him?"
"I will not, and I won't answer for this command, he could think what he likes about me, I don't care." She said coolly.
During the next days, Cagalli busied herself preparing for the ball, in attempt to push Athrun out from her mind.
The palace has magnificent designs and a banquet hall that was enormous. Tonight, the night of the ball, she watched hundreds of guests. High-ranking officers and generals attended the ball. Cagalli went to the ball together with Kira, Milly and Dearka. Cagalli wore a green dress and wearing no other jewelry except the emerald necklace.
"I think you can charm any men tonight, "Kira said proudly to her sister.
"Cagalli, you look stunning and of course Milly also, " Dearka smirked at his girlfriend.
The Queen watched her guests with interest, "I hope they will enjoy themselves," she said to a man beside her.
Athrun smiled and answered in his usual quiet tones, "They will Your Highness."
Talia's eyes sparkled with amusement, "I hope your mysterious Lady will come."
Athrun flushed, he didn't discuss his private life with anyone.
"May I ask how you found out about that?"
"I have a reliable source, I was told that she is beautiful, but rather cold. I didn't expect to live till now to see a woman reject you.
Talia laughed and it was obviously Athrun changed the subject, "Your highness, you must be careful with your husband, I believe His Highness have some spies especially Major Conrad (AN: decided to put him again )."
Talia sighed, "You are right about that. I will be careful now." She looked at him and smiled, "I wonder why I trust you with my life Athrun Zala."
He smiled, amused by her words, "You have to trust someone, and it is my honor you chose me."
"When you have a wife I wonder, will you have a conflict in your duties?"
"I am the same with another man, I like women's company, but marriage? No, I shall never marry."
"Really?" she amused by his answer. Sometimes she felt annoyed, but his arrogance and his cool remarks made him so many enemies, most of them from her husband's supporters. There was a rumor that he loved a woman, but she hurt his feelings and turned him into an arrogant person. She looked at his face, "Do you realize every woman in this room set their eyes on you?"
'All, but not one,' he thought. While he wanted to reply her he caught a sight of Cagalli dancing with a man with brown hair and laughed with him. For some reason he felt annoyed at her opened laugh.
"May I excuse myself, I saw someone I know."
"Your lady isn't it? Go ahead and bring her here, I want to see her." Talia ordered him.
"As you wish Your Highness."
Athrun went to the crowd and stopped beside Cagalli. Cagalli looked at him nervously.
"Good evening Lady Cagalli, I see your have a good time here, " he glanced at Kira and before she could replied he said, "Please excuse us, Her Highness is waiting to meet the lady."
"Go ahead, and please take care of my sister." He smiled and turned away.
His sister? So he is her brother. He turned his head to hers and his mocking gaze exasperated her and she felt the color coming to her cheeks.
"I want an explanation why you send another invitation when I said clearly I don't wish to dine with you."
"Women are unpredictable, " he said without answering her question as he escorted her to the Queen. Cagalli allowed him to escort her to where Her Highness sat. She gave a curtsy, "Cagalli Yula, Your Highness."
"How are you, do you like the ball?" she stared at the beautiful figure in front of her. 'No wonder Athrun wants her,' she thought.
"Yes I am, it is the most enjoyable evening that I've had." She replied politely.
"Do you ride?"
"Yes I am Your Highness."
"Good, someday I will ride together with you. And I want to talk with you again tomorrow, perhaps at 5 o'clock?"
Cagalli amazed about her invitation, "I am so honored."
"I could see you want the Lady with you this evening, so I could dismiss both of you," she told Athrun.
"Thank you." Athrun bowed and offered Cagalli a hand. She had no choice but to accept it. When they were away from the Queen, "It wasn't wise to reject me," he said while Cagalli tried to remove her hands from him.
"You are not a gentleman Sir." Cagalli replied coolly.
"You shouldn't expect that manner from a man like me." He mocked.
She glared at him and said angrily, "And you haven't answered my question!"
"About the invitation?" he knew she would reject it, but he sent it to remind her about his presence. "Well I sent it to annoy you what else? I didn't expect you to dine with an ordinary person like me."
"I will ignore the insult," she replied angrily.
He looked at her, she looked pretty, but he knew beyond that mask he would find betrayal and treachery, he experienced that once before.
But his merciless gaze went when he saw her incapacitated face, "Would you want something to drink or food, you look pale."
"Yes, please." She said tiredly.
With a smile he slipped an arm around her and escorted her. Cagalli searched for her brother and a moment later he appeared, "Oh I am sorry, I didn't interrupt anything right?"
"You are not." She said, "Kira we better go home now," and she turned her head to Athrun, "I am sorry I can't accompany you I am exhausted."
"Without you, the evening will be dull," he said and continued, "I will look forward for our next meeting, and please allow me to escort you to a carriage."
"Thank you," she forced a smile, she wasn't lying about being tired.
He escorted her to the carriage and watched it drive away. He didn't have the desire to return to the banquet hall, there was no reason to stay now. He turned away and went to his home.
AN : Thank you for the entire reviewers from the last chapter.