"Balls and dances are not my preferred places, as you may well know, but they have their uses, and the most recent ones have been very interesting."

Alexander Andreas Gustavos Di Britannia.

…

"The Pegasus system is aboard as well, I don't have time to get it attached and wont for a while but I want it ready just in case." I ordered as Harris nodded happily, he was coming to Japan too after all and would want to work on the machines he helped create. "As to the other things?"

"The Olympus will be stocked and ready my lord, its weapons are still being worked on but it will work as intended, it should arrive before the ball as well."

"Good, I need a new command centre here asap, all this marble gets tiring, I need some gold around."

"As you say your highness." Harris looked back at his tablet for a moment before speaking again. "As to the suggestion you made, I think we can began designing parts and the base systems, but it won't work without some rather complex code."

"Which is what I am for Harris, we both know I can write code better than anyone at Pride-Corp, I will begin work on a basic OS after the ball."

"Excellent my lord, though I doubt even you could make something this complex work, what should I file the project under?"

"Name it..." Pausing for a moment, both for dramatic effect and to think, was I really going to... yes, yes I was, I was supposed to make it interesting after all, might as well go full out. "Name it Project Gundam."

….

"The Lion stirs, there is movement around Taiwan, rivalling that of the invasion of China, a carrier bearing experimental weapons is moving at rapid speed towards the Area and yet still he hosts a Ball." The illusive bastard twirled a fresh cigar between his fingers as he speaks, his words bring a frown to Lelouch's face, the Ball was proving to be problematic, and he was half tempted to attack some random outpost to get the Lion to abandon it.

"Something two of my subordinates have been invited to, neither with a way of refusing..."

"There is not much I can do to help in that regard, it would give away too much if I were to interfere." As expected, the Bastard would never risk something when the benefit was not exponentially bigger.

"I expected as much, but there is something you can do for me, I am to meet with Kyoto in a few days, any information you have on them would be much appreciated."

"Fair enough, you will get it, I heard you were having a Knightmare designed as well?"

"Yes, one to counter the number advantage of the Lion, based on the four dragons as the Brits are calling my ace machines."

"I assume manufacturing will be a problem?"

"You assume correctly."

"I would like to offer your 100 of the machines as long as you provide me with the blue prints, untraceably manufactured and fully functional."

"Deal."

"Good, what are you calling them?"

"The project name Rakshata has been working under is Drake, but I prefer Ronin."

….

Kallen tugged on the sleeves of her grey ball gown, the overpriced piece of cloth accentuating her figure more than she was comfortable with, but at least it came down to her ankles unlike the bloody Ashford uniform. She had finished preparing an hour ago but Milly insisted on redoing her hair another time, causing Kallen to have to wait, unsure and underprepared, god she felt more nervous about going to a ball then going into battle.

"Done!" Milly's shout made Kallen look over, the blonds dress was more provocative then hers, showing both cleavage and having a slit at the side of her leg, Kallen could comfortably say that she would never wear anything like that willingly or otherwise. The two of them departed swiftly, the Limo ride was filled with comfortable silence, letting Kallen focus her thoughts as best she could.

"Kallen, it's going to be fine." Milly's hand upon her shoulder was one of support, this time at least, was her despair at her father's orders that clear to see? "All you need to do is go to the ball right? We can think further from there."

"Alright." She could do this, she was a big girl, she could stick through this, it was just a party after all. "Let's do this."

…

She almost did a double take when her brother entered the room, not because he was unexpected or uninvited, but because of the figure he struck, it was as if she was staring at their Father reborn. His suit was of pure white cloth, accented in gold, a half-shoulder cloak of a blood red colour, a golden lion Diadem on his head as suited his status as third prince, battle scars across his face all of it brought together by the golden walking stick in his hand. Euphie gave her brother a short hug as her guard, Kururugi again, he was becoming too common for her tastes, bowed by her side, then Andre turned to her.

"Dear Sister, good to see you all dressed up."

"Same to you Andre, thanks again for inviting me." The sarcasm dripped from her lips like venom yet the man took it in stride, simply smiling widely, a visage both annoying and terrifying in equal measure.

"No thanks needed Nelly, I am glad to have you."

"Fuck you, Andre." Her brothers knight hid a laugh in a cough at her words, the handsome man had a good sense of humour, she might not appreciate being the subject of laughter but even Cornelia had to admit the dryness of her words was humorous. For now she linked arms with her sister as the two of them moved towards the entrance of the ballroom, ready to be announced, all the while plotting her escape.

…

Kallen found that the party, while still terrible, was not as bad as she had feared, in fact if she and Milly remained in their corner only a few annoying pushy Britannian's came by to talk to them, Milly dealing with them in amusing ways. She had always been anxious in crowds, ever since she was a child, normally she could put herself past it, sometimes more easily than other, but after her father's threat Kallen felt like she was a ten year old in front of class for show and tell again.

"Presenting second Princess Cornelia Li Britannia, Viceroy of Area eleven, known as The Iron Maiden, and third Princess Euphemia Li Britannia, Sub-Viceroy of Area eleven, known as The Pink rose." Her ears perked as the announcers words were followed by the opening of the great doors to let the two princesses into the great ball room, Kallen focused further at the next words the crier spoke. "Presenting Third Prince Alexander Andreas Gustavus Di Britannia, Arch-Duke of Asia, Field-Marshal of the Pacific, Known as the Gilded Lion, the God of War, The Titan of the East!"

This time Kallen took in the man without a concussion or the fact that he was shirtless inhibiting her judgement, tall, muscles clear even under his clothes, roguishly handsome face, wavy golden blond hair. Yep, still good looking, so it was not the concussion making her think that, she did not quite know how to feel about that.

"Millicent Ashford! It's been a long time, good to see you." She snapped from her thoughts to realize that the man on them had been steadily moving towards them, ignoring her despite the fact he had likely recognized her to instead move straight to Milly, who seemed both surprised and happy at being addressed.

"Prince Alexander, good to see you too!" The two shared that awkward looking hug nobles of different genders did, where they both tried to hug and touch as little as possible. Kallen noted the slight nod he sent her way as well, returning the gesture, so he did remember everything, she clutched her knife-purse a fair bit tighter at that moment.

"Now, now Millicent, its Andre to you and you know it." The Lion said teasingly, a smile that was likely genuine but also intimidating and charming at the same time decorating his face, Milly blushed at his words before teasing back in a manner Kallen had become familiar with.

"Only if you remember to call me Milly, don't forget what happened last time." The last words were said in a sing song tone that was usually only used on Shirley and Rai, Kallen wondered how long these two had known each other. It was obvious Lelouch and Milly had been pretty close to the royal family at one point, with how Lelouch seemingly knew Euphemia personally, but how close had they been?

"As if I ever could, I still have the scars..." The Lion muttered, "It's good to see you, truly. I feared you might not have accepted the invitation."

"I was tempted to be honest, but supporting my friend was more important."

"As caring as ever, may I introduce you to my Knight, Marius Ernst." The man had been standing behind the prince, there but still somehow unnoticed until mentioned, stepping forward to shake Milly's hand.

"A pleasure."

While the two talked Kallen noticed Andre looking at her, a smile still on his face, he extended a hand and Kallen found herself shaking it. Their eyes locked for a moment and Kallen knew she would be having a conversation with the man again, their previous encounter simply demanded that they discuss it.

"Lady Stadfeldt, would you join me for a drink in private?"

"It would be my pleasure Prince Alexander."

"Please, its Andre."

"Alright then, lead the way Andre."

….

"So he shoved you off on me to talk to Kallen did he? Andre has become a lot better at that whole manipulation thing."

"Do I displease you Lady Ashford?" The blond was a beautiful woman, buxom and tall and entirely his type, yet Marius found himself rather uninterested, she seemed far more occupied with the Lady Stadtfeld for his liking.

"Oh not at all, sorry if I seem a bit distracted, Kallen is simply not used to parties like this and having Andre steal her away worries me."

"As you say, my Lady Ashford."

"Please ser Ernst, call me Milly. My sincere apologies for talking as if you were not here, how can I make it up to you?" Her voice is teasing, and he finds himself more than willing to go along with it, maybe he would be having some amusement tonight after all, she seemed to be a rather devious individual. "Maybe a dance?"

"Alright Milly, please call me Marius, thank you for the chance to dance with one as radiant as you."

"Oh I like that word," Her smile was bright and full of mischief and he knew then that it might have been a mistake to engage in conversation, that look reminded him entirely too much of Andre and Dora when they tried something stupid. "Radiant, come on then, let's dance."

…

When the door closed behind her Kallen had her knife already at the Princes neck, ready to act on her instinct and end his life if he made so much as a move.

"Now, now dear Dragoness, that is completely unnecessary, we are not here for your death, I kept your secret did I not?" He had, which made it a fair bit harder to stab him, especially considering the consequences, if the Lion was to be killed in the same Area as his brother not two months earlier they might dispatch the Vampire or the Purging Prince. Never mind what would happen to her and her family, that she did not even want to think about. "If you lower the knife we can have a talk about everything that happened, now with a clear mind."

"Alright then, I suppose you make a good point, and you kept your word."

She took her knife away from his neck, suddenly noting the small red dot tracing across her chest, tracing it to the roof tops opposed the palace, she would have been shot had any blood been drawn. Of course the Lion would have security, even alone and in private, he had an entire special forces division of his own after all. Still she allowed him to escort her to one of the comfortable looking chairs in front of the rooms large fireplace, sitting down she sank into the ridiculously comfortable piece of furniture.

"It's an experience isn't it? Good seating is a must in my opinion, and no expenses are spared for it." Andre said as he pulled a liquor desk on wheels towards himself, she could spot several expensive liquors atop it, wines, whiskeys, ciders and Rum. The lion poured himself a glass of the rum, a sweet scent filling the room from the bottle. "A drink?"

"The same as you if you would not mind." The man nodded and poured her a glass too, exactly as full as hers, she took it and took a small sip of the rich liquid, a spicy yet fruity flavour flowing across her tongue. "So, are you okay?"

That question was a lot less awkward when it was in her mind, fucking hell she sounded like she was a teenager trying to talk to her crush!

"Quite well, a minor concussion that has already been resolved, how about you?"

"Pretty much the same..." She shook her head at the surreal situation, before having to hold in a giggle, here she was, a Black-Knight talking with a Britannian Prince, like they were both schoolchildren. "Holy shit, we are both fucking awkward aren't we?"

"Hah! Yeah, I suppose so." The Lion answered, the man took a deep drink from his glass. "Let me just get to the point, I am not exactly a social man, as you might have been able to tell, my social act is just that, an act I am forced to keep up, carefully planned like all things I do, so I am going to just go ahead and say it. You have perked my interest Kallen, not something that happens often."

"A great honour." Ah, sarcasm was returning to her, that was good, Kallen liked sarcasm, it seemed to throw people off. "To arouse the interest of the Lion."

"I assure you, sexual attraction is but a small portion of it, what I said in the cave still applies, you have potential to become one of the greatest challenges I will ever have, and that is greater than anything else." At least he was admitting that he was attracted to her, most boys fell straight into denying everything. "I heard your father was proving troublesome for you?"

"Your spying on me." That was a statement more than a question, it was obvious he had been, since he seemed to know about her father's threat.

"Yes, as I said I have taken an interest in you. His threat is a vile one however, Bradley is the worst monster to ever call himself a man, I would not see someone with such great potential fall to him."

"Fall to him? I would kill him if he ever got close, no matter my fathers will." The Lion smiled at that, likely having anticipated her answer, fuck, that smile of his was almost endearing in its intimidating and pleasant nature.

"And then you would die. Not something that I would want for my future Knight of two."

"What The Actual fuck!"

…

"So, yes, I am bad at the whole romance and flirting thing! Can you blame me? I was a fucking antisocial, emotionless nerd and then I joined the military!"

Alexander Andreas Gustavos Di Britannia.