She woke up in the four poster bed where she had slept for sixteen years. Maids entered her room with water and hot towels. They brushed her hair out and prepared a bath. Carefully, Relena hid the scar on her chest under her robe. Heero came to her mind again.

Where is he now?

Does he know that she's here?

Maybe Treize had caught him.

If so, what is Treize going to do to him?

She changed into a white dress before she went downstairs for breakfast. Treize wasn't there; but lemon cake and tea were served as he had promised.

She found Treize in her mother's office, reading reports.

"Morning, Relena," he greeted. He gestured her to come closer and pulled out a chair. Relena sat next to him. "I hope you don't mind me stealing your father's office."

"It's my mother's actually," Relena said.

Her mother's portrait was still on the wall. Relena couldn't help but noticing her striking resemblance to her deceased mother.

"By the law of Sanc Kingdom, once married, any property under a woman's name would belong to her husband," Treize said to her. "So it is your father's."

It was a law Relena wasn't aware of. It sounded quite backward to her.

"Oh I have something for you," he suddenly remembered. He took out a fancy box and handed it to her. She opened it and found a diamond tiara. "I believe it is yours. The Alliance confiscated most of the jewels and treasures of your family. I saved this one for you."

"Am I to be queen?" Relena asked. It had been her father's wish as well.

"No," Treize said. "Monarchy is abolished in Sanc Kingdom. What I want is to create a world nation so there won't be any more war on Earth. All countries need to be united against the space colonies. I will make this place the capital of the new world nation. You will be by my side when it happens."

"What would you want me to do after you created this world nation?"

"You are a symbol of peace," Treize said. "I will end all wars after I defeat the space colonies. People may fear me, but they will love you."

"Then I will be a figurehead?"

"You can be more than that," Treize assured her. "If you are ready. You have more to learn." He handed her a report and instructed, "Read it."

"Another base was attacked by an unknown force at 1500 hours," Relena read. "564 soldiers were killed."

His hand went to hers. Relena saw his face in grief.

"Treize?"

"Five hundred and sixty-four soldiers," Treize muttered. "They are sons, brothers, nephews...Some could even have the potential to become leaders. Another loss. You think it's an attack by Gundam?"

"I...I don't know," Relena replied.

"Have you seen that boy's Gundam?"

"No," Relena shook her head.

That was a lie. She did catch a glimpse of it - before she went unconscious after she was shot. She remembered that it is large and even majestic with wing-like features; it was hard to forget.

"Let's go for a walk, Relena."

His hand was still holding hers.

"It's beautiful here," Treize remarked. "The palace and the gardens. Your mother had planted white roses."

"Yes, my mother loved roses," Relena replied. "She said roses are symbols of peace."

"Peace is unfortunately an illusion, and war is reality," Treize said. "But I believe in myself that I will bring true peace. Do you believe in me too?"

"True peace as peace on earth or peace on earth and in outer space?" Relena asked.

He closed his eyes and changed the subject. "When you were with that boy, did it hurt?"

Relena found it awkward to answer. On one hand, Heero had hurt her emotionally and physically. He did hurt her feelings when he destroyed her bracelet right before her eyes. He had put her through lots of pain, like pulling her hair and pinching her back. The worst was when he cleaned her wound. She couldn't help but shudder when she thinks how he took out the bullet from her.

Yet, on the other hand, she wasn't comfortable in sharing these details with Treize.

"He was never gentle with me," Relena said.

He raised an eyebrow.

"It is inevitable," Treize said. "Your mother never told you?"

"Tell me what?"

Treize chuckled. Obviously, she was not thinking the same thing he's thinking.

"That boy really loves you," he said.

"Have you loved anyone before?"

Now it was his turn to be asked an awkward question.

"Why do you want to know?"

"You told me that Heero loves me," Relena pointed out. "You wouldn't know if you haven't loved before."

A bird flew around them. Treize had it landed on his finger. Playing with the bird, he began, "It was three years ago. I was wounded in the field and I spent weeks recovering in a hospital. That's how I met Leia. She was a nurse who took care of me."

"Where is she now?"

"She passed away," Treize said. "From illness."

"I'm sorry."

"She loved me more than I loved her," Treize said. "What every soldier fears the most is to fall in love. In the battlefield, you fight for your cause. At any given moment, you are ready to give your life. You should never stop fighting - even if it means to sacrifice yourself. A perfect soldier is not without emotion; but he knows better than allowing himself to fall in love. It makes you vulnerable."

He released the bird.

"Five Gundams are spotted," he said, changing the subject again. "Heero is only one of them."

"What do you plan to do with them?" Relena asked.

"I will not harm them, no," Treize replied. "I will take them under my command."

"I don't think that's possible," Relena said. Based on what Howard that told her, she was convinced that these Gundam pilots - no matter how many are out there - bore no love for earth or towards Alliance.

"They wouldn't fight for me, but they will fight for you," Treize chuckled. "You have such a power in your, Relena. You can melt the coldest heart."

Relena blushed; looking away, she asked, "Can I have my pistol back?"

She was referring to the pistol that Heero had given her, which Treize took away.

"What do you need that for?" Treize questioned. "That gun is too small for you."

"It is mine."

"For your next birthday, I will give you a new one - bigger and better."

"What's the difference? Any pistol is good as long as it can shoot."

She glimpsed at him and studied his complex facial expression.

Treize said nothing. He was amazed and impressed by how she had grown. She used her words well.

Any pistol is good as long as it can shoot.

It sounded so innocent coming out of her mouth. Did she knew what he really meant?

As the new leader of the Alliance, there wasn't anyone who'd speak to him like that.

The two stood there until a soldier came to them. He saluted to Treize.

"Your Excellency!"

"Oh, I forgot," Treize said. "I have to leave for now, but I'll be back this evening. You can do whatever you like. The palace is still yours."

Never had he lost track of time in his life until now.

When he returned, it was almost midnight.

He went to Relena's room to check on her. She was sleeping soundly. With his almost inaudible light footsteps, he went to her bed. He could feel his heart beating soundly against his chest. Gently, he brushed her hair aside and kissed her on the forehead. She stirred slightly but remained asleep. He left her room and closed the door before locking it.

He walked down the hall until he came before a bust. He pressed a button behind it and a secret door opened.

He went through the secret passage and couldn't stop thinking about what had happened. The kiss he gave Relena was a gentle and kind one. It was so natural. Unlike the intimate moment he had with Leia, he couldn't shake it off his mind.

A perfect soldier knows better than allowing himself to fall in love.

Treize laughed at himself before he came to a small room. On the table was a blueprint of a mobile suit. The name of the mobile suit: ZERO.

No one is a true pacifist - not by human nature.

Or else, why would the blueprint of Wing Zero came to Peacecraft's possession?

"Zechs, no Milliardo, you bastard," Treize said bitterly, holding the blueprint. "You stole my Epyon. But I have the perfect weapon to destroy you."