A/N: I am proud to be a very generous author. Nah, just kidding. Thing is, I don't care if it's just one review, I'm still giddy enough when I read it and update immediately... So thank you to my guest reviewer. :)

Chapter 4: Getting Acquainted

Before Kadaj could reach Natalie though, Zack had returned, carrying two glasses of punch. Kadaj stopped in his tracks, waiting patiently for the man to go before he would feel the need to remove the dark-haired man himself. Natalie turned slightly, and this time, he finally had a partial look at her face. He was right. She was gorgeous.

"Here is your drink, your highness, I'm sorry I took so long-" Zack was apologizing when the blonde interrupted him.

"No need... Have you found her?" She whispered hurriedly, eyes roaming over the guests as she took her drink from him.

Zack didn't need to ask. He already knew she meant Aerith. "No sign of her yet, princess..."

Natalie sighed dejectedly. "That's what I was afraid of. Where could she and Tifa be?"

Something else had caught Zack's attention however. It was Cloud, entering the hall with his mother, the duchess. Turning to Natalie, he dropped the formal talk and addressed her as his close friend.

"Hey Nat, Cloud's here..." He whispered.

"Where?" She replied, eyes darting back and forth again.

"I see him at the entrance with his mom. Will you be okay?" Zack asked, almost pleaded.

"Yeah, I'll be fine. Go ahead. Though I think you'd better hurry. The dance portion will begin soon when my father and Lord Sephiroth arrive."

Zack nodded once and swiftly although reluctantly left the princess alone once more. As before, Natalie stayed rooted to her spot, an eye on the grand doors that marked the threshold, as she sipped on her punch.

At seeing the dark-haired man leave, Kadaj took his chance and made his silent approach. Never one to hesitate, he lightly tapped her shoulder and hid his amusement well when she flinched. She turned to him, a little shocked and startled. At this, he finally had a clear perfect view of her angelic face. Kadaj smiled, feeling his heart skip a beat like never before once he finally confronted her face to face. It was a feeling he just experienced and never felt upon meeting those other girls. Maybe it was the knowledge that they were of equal stature. She was a princess, and he was a prince.

"I beg your pardon, princess. I had no intention to frighten you," he spoke softly, his voice a languid murmur amidst the noisy crowd, that she might be the only one to hear him.

"No worries, sir. I was merely startled; nothing to worry about," she smiled reluctantly; unsure if this man belonged to her age group or was he an adult.

The silver-haired stranger flashed a charming smile that sent her inner self practically swooning. "I am honored to make your acquaintance, princess. I strongly feel responsible to introduce myself to my gracious host."

'Could he be Sephiroth? My father told me he had silver hair,' Natalie thought curiously, admiring the young man's soft features. "You need not all the hassle, my lord. It is a pleasure to meet you as well."

"Princess Natalie, is it not?" Kadaj inquired, noting how the girl was trying to conceal how charmed she was at his appearance.

"Yes, my lord," she curtsied before him, and tried to meet his otherworldly eyes, and found it impossible to look away after she even dared to get lost in his gaze. "May I know thy name, your grace?"

'PleasesaySephirothpleasesaySephiroth. Please say Seph-'

"But of course. Prince Kadaj of the Kingdom of Nyx." He smiled a winning smile that sent her swooning inwardly yet again.

"Why, you are one of Lord Sephiroth's brothers, aren't you?"

Kadaj smiled, pleased at her instant recognition, ashamed that he failed to even recognize her at first sight. "Quite correct, princess."

They were interrupted however, by the sound of twenty trumpets resonating outside the palace walls. Their guest of honor had finally arrived. Kadaj visibly tensed, and he glanced at the princess standing next to him, and caught her fidgeting with her gown with one hand, and her other hand tightened on the glass she was holding. She was nervous if he wasn't mistaken. Well, who wouldn't be? Sephiroth was a cruel tyrant, even to his brothers, but his eldest brother's charisma was so strong that no female would be able to resist.

"It seems my brother has finally decided to grace us with his presence," Kadaj remarked quite bitterly, but Natalie didn't notice. She could only nod, dumbfounded.

The room was bathed in silence as all awaited the coming of the King and their most gracious guest, every one's attention were drawn to the high balcony of which the two monarchs were soon to appear. Natalie was amongst the crowd too, but the queen had hurriedly made her way to her daughter in regal fashion and excusing her from Kadaj, discreetly told her to disappear out of the side doors and make her way over to her waiting father and future husband.

vVvVv

"His Royal Highness, King Frederick of Ceres, and his Excellency, Lord Sephiroth of Nyx."

The titanic room was filled with reverent applause as the king appeared over at the balcony overlooking the grand hall, Sephiroth at his right and Natalie at his left. The two weren't given much time to talk yet, and the king nodded in appreciation at the crowd's admiration and submission. Natalie glanced at her father, her heart pounding in her chest when Sephiroth caught her eye. He was dead serious and not even a humored chuckle passed his lips as the king cleared his throat and held up a hand for silence. The entire room was quiet as every guest waited. Natalie got a good look at Kadaj who appeared bored out of his mind. The prince had slyly caught her staring and he winked at her. The princess, baffled by this lewd action, flushed horribly and still tried to appear composed before her subjects.

"Tonight, I am proud to announce that renewed peace will once more reign between Ceres and Nyx. We have found our new king to succeed me in my passing. He is a respectable man of royal upbringing and his lordship is celebrated widely at his own domain. I give you, the heir to my throne and your future king, Lord Sephiroth Renaldi."

The room exploded in wild applause yet again, and the king held up his gloved hand for silence.

"I am also very proud to present your future queen, my most humble and submissive daughter, Princess Natalie Rose Auguste."

The king made a step backward so as to give proper credit to the two future monarchs of Ceres and Nyx. Natalie watched as everyone clapped and cheered below. And to her astonishment, she actually caught sight of Tifa and Aerith together—with their respective families of course. Tifa smiled up at her and winked. Natalie smiled slightly and caught a glimpse of Sephiroth in her peripherals. He was stoic as ever and betrayed not the slightest emotion. Swallowing hard, she searched the crowd once more for Kadaj, clearly longing to see the reaction towards his brothers' proclamation. Kadaj was glaring at Sephiroth, and Natalie glanced at her future husband. The reigning monarch of Nyx had a cruel smirk pasted on his face.

"A toast to our future rulers," a man in the crowd called out, raising a glass of champagne.

Almost every guest in the room raised their glasses of champagne and drank heartily. Sephiroth smiled slightly as he offered his arm to his future bride and Natalie obligingly wrapped a hand around it. The king was beaming as the two made their way downstairs to rejoin the party and to begin the main event of the evening: a future couple's dance.

Natalie felt light as they slowly made their way downstairs. Sephiroth was silent and the people were still clapping, and she felt like she was underwater. Somehow, she felt uneasy with all of this. Sure, Sephiroth was a... fine gentleman, but he was way older than her, and he was really serious. Absurdly, she began wondering what it would be like everyday if they were to live under the same roof. Maybe their relationship would be too formal, and not one worth enjoying at all. She looked at him openly, trying to discern his thinking but his face was like a closed door. They paused at the foot of the stairs as he returned her gaze. A very cocky smirk had graced his lips and only succeeded in sending chills up her spine. Raising a hand, he coyly tucked her blonde hair behind her ear and led her to the center of the room.

Natalie gulped. Those eyes were entrancing as they held hers. He softly took her hand and wrapped an arm around her waist as slow romantic music began issuing forth from built-in speakers attached to the walls. The grand hall was filled with it and Sephiroth glided her across the dance floor. She really felt claustrophobic at the stares and gawks of people as they watched. Tifa was certain to pick on her for this. Instinctively, her rouged cheeks became even redder as she flushed at the thought. The only reaction she got was the evident strong pull and she found her cheek resting against his chest.

Sephiroth stared at his future bride, pressed up against him like that. He really couldn't stop the perverse thoughts running through his head and he smirked in his mind. Too bad he had a lot to do in the summer. He would barely have to time to get to know her, and on the wedding day, he would just take her anyway—as his bride and as his queen. As much as he wanted to, he couldn't take her now. It would appall the guests, but then again, why would they care? She was his now after all. Her father gave up her whole being to him. But such rush of things would be a spoil to his future plans. He had to keep himself under control if he wanted to be dictator of the whole world. His mother, though dead, had been with him ever since and he was intent on being a loyal son to her, and that's why he had to be patient. He had to wait for his pleasures to come, and he was willing to—just so long as his pesky brothers wouldn't get in the way.

He had an exceptional eye out for Kadaj. Though he knew the youngest was nothing compared to his power, Kadaj was the cunning one to, sly and completely adverse to family ideals and royal traditions. That boy was always up to something, but then again, what harm could a teenager do? All that that seventeen-year old imbecile was good at was luring women to his trap. According to Yazoo, he was already dating a total of five women. Sephiroth knew why. That boy was hungry for love. He silently scoffed at the thought of it. Love. It's such a simple word with diverse and complicated meanings for every individual. He knew why Kadaj was dating so many women. It was because that youngster was trying to search for it in all the wrong places. Sephiroth smirked once more. Love was on the mattress, for him that is.

The song was coming to an end and so was their fateful first dance. Sephiroth pulled away from Natalie amidst the group of still dancing couples around them. He didn't mind that their little privy time was to be cut short. He had plenty of that in the future, and it wasn't to be anywhere but their room. At the present though, he had to discuss some measures with regards to kingdom rule with the king. Furthermore, he was sure to be away the whole summer for a number of meetings and he was to take it as his last months of fun as a bachelor before the whole weight of being a 'dutiful' husband would be laid on his shoulders.

"I apologize for cutting this short, Princess, but I have certain matters to attend to for the present. I shall be meeting with your father shortly." He bowed and briskly disappeared in the crowd, his long silver hair waving like a cape in his wake.

There was another tap on her shoulder that made her flinch yet again. Kadaj really had to stop scaring her like that. She whirled around, correct in her assumptions as to who it might be.

"May I have this dance?" He inquired, semi-bowed in front of her as he held out his gloved hand for her to take.

She stared at him for a few seconds more before she found herself extending her hand out for him to take. He smiled slightly and led her to the center of the room once more, the bright chandeliers making his silver hair glow. Slowly, they wordlessly swayed to the music until he broke the silence they were in.

"So how do you find my brother?" He asked, adjusting his hold around her waist.

"He's a fine gentleman, if I say so myself." She replied, and Kadaj grit his teeth. Did he even stand a chance?

There was awkward silence once more as Kadaj continued his little uneventful dance.

"Why did you ask?" Natalie inquire sheepishly, no longer able to stand the chasm that had opened up between them.

"I was honestly curious," he smirked, those lips forming a dreadfully sexy crooked line.

He felt her whole body tense against him, and he pulled her closer, placing his lips next to her ear.

"You're tense. Just relax," he advised, the hand on her waist made soothing touches and as if those actions had magic over them, she found herself letting out a breath she didn't know she'd been holding.

Putting all manners aside for at least a moment, she let her forehead rest against his chest and closed her eyes. Kadaj brought her outstretched hand up so it rested on his shoulders as he 'two-stepped' their way into the less-inhabited area of the floor where less attention could be drawn. He wrapped both of his arms around her waist as she wrapped her arms sub consciously around his neck. Strangely though, they barely knew each other, yet the dance had suddenly felt so intimate. Their slow dance continued as she laid her cheek against his shoulder, and they unknowingly stopped moving, and just stayed in each other's arms in a quiet embrace.

In all truth, Natalie didn't even know why she was doing this with somebody she barely knew, and this somebody had an intense reputation of being a player. She knew she shouldn't associate with these kind of people—royal or not, and that's why she was terribly confused as to her actions. He held her carefully almost as if she was fragile. As confusing and as beautiful as the intimacy was, it had to stop. It was dreadfully wrong.

Clearing her throat silently—yet loud enough for him to hear—she gently pulled away, and watched as his arms fell at his sides. He gave her a slight smile that was just as confused as her thoughts were, and she curtsied before him politely.

"I should be going, my lord. My mother should want me to acquaint myself to the guests," she spoke, her throat seemingly dry as the formality began to return. "Thank you for the dance."

"It was my pleasure, princess. I am certain you'll be seeing me again soon." He took her hand, looked into her eyes, and placed his lips briefly on the back of her outstretched hand before letting her go.

vVvVv

Natalie found her friends amidst the crowd and her night of fun had really begun. They chatted and ate finger foods as much as they pleased and though the princess found herself trying to put up with Tifa's incessant teasing towards her new connection to Sephiroth, Natalie found her lips were unable to convey the events that had been shared with Kadaj.

The moment somehow seemed too private to share. It seemed like she wanted the happening kept to herself, stored away inside her. It wasn't supposed to be, but that intimate dance had taken place and she felt a strong connection towards him all of a sudden—which was absurd because she barely knew him. She wanted to talk to him again, but strangely, he disappeared from the crowd as well as his brothers. Sephiroth and her father hadn't been seen all throughout the evening since the introduction earlier.

And just before they parted. Kadaj had made her a little promise. Maybe they were just empty words, but somehow, it felt real. He was really sure of himself that she'd be seeing him again soon. Maybe he meant during her wedding. He would surely be there since it was his eldest brother's after all. Maybe she shouldn't think about it that much. Tonight was too beautiful to be spent on such a thought. She could think about them later, or in the morning while wandering the gardens. It could be better thought of with a clear head, after all.

"Hey Nat, you okay?" Zack, her escort for the evening, lightly touched her arm. Tifa and Aerith were staring at her worriedly as well.

"Sorry. I was just spacing," she chuckled nervously.

"Seeing Sephiroth too much for ya?" Zack spoke in a low voice, such as they did when they used the language of the masses.

"Possibly," Natalie humored, looking around for her mother.

"Don't be too hard on yourself. You should be happy," Aerith remarked, smiling.

"Nobody likes to see an about-to-be-married young lady sad." Tifa nodded once, smiling too.

Zack patted her back encouragingly. "We'll be here for ya."

"Thanks."