Prelude

Chapter 3: Entitled — When Yuna comes back to Orb to take his rightful place beside Cagalli, he tries to get rid of the little blue insect that just won't leave.

May, CE 73

When Yuna finally steps foot on Orb soil after several years, he must admit he was disappointed to be welcomed by such a measly party. It was only his mother and a few servants — no sign of the Orb public; or his father, the Prime Minister; or his darling betrothed. He expresses his dissatisfaction to his mother, who tells him privately his father and his betrothed have been locked in parliament meetings ever since the start of the week. There isn't much solace in that; Yuna would have thought that his return would've been much more significant than whatever it was the parliament was discussing — Orb refugees in other nations, is it? Please, the most important refugee has returned! Yes, Yuna spent many dreadful years holed up in Scandinavia, where their so-called elite can barely measure up to his wit and wealth.

But no matter. Orb's much fortunate to have a noble heir as gracious and merciful as himself. He can imagine it now — his betrothed, in tears and sorrow, asking for his understanding. He would nod his head and wave a hand in dismissal, as if it's only a small thing (even though it's not). She would sing praises at his immense patience and kindness, and promise that it will never happen again.

And of course it shall never happen again. After all, he is about to be inducted as a member of parliament in a few weeks. It is the sole reason he's been asked by his father to come back to the homeland. So you must now understand why Yuna was so dismayed at the entourage that greeted him — or the lack thereof.

His mother, ever the keen lady, consoles him with her plans of a grand gala to celebrate both his homecoming and his oath taking that will happen that morning. They shall spare no expense! His betrothed will be in attendance, of course, as will the rest of the Orb nobility — or whoever's left of it, anyway. The parliament members have all been invited, along with all of the nation's brightest stars and icons in the last century. It is only befitting for a king, his mother proclaims.

But Yuna, the humble man he is, suggests hosting a small get-together as well sometime that week. "Just a regular five-course meal," Yuna says. "And perhaps only ten or so friends of mine. I worry Cagalli would be anxious to see me already." Thoughtfulness is a trait Yuna prides himself for having.

His mother agrees wholeheartedly, "Darling, you are absolutely right! It is only appropriate not to keep your fiancee waiting."

x

Yuna finally sees Cagalli for the first time in years when he accompanies his father to the parliament. It's about time he familiarizes himself with what will eventually become his territory, after all.

Once he has been reacquainted with the other representatives, he makes his way towards the little lady, who seems to be reviewing documents on some economic reform. She looks quite adorable — her small frame tucked into her big girl representative uniform, and her bright unruly hair sticking out the same way he remembers. She's like a child playing dress-up.

"Cagalli, my dear!" He calls out. He doesn't let it bother him that she's only noticed his arrival then. And how cute — she's so surprised and awed by his return, she can't even muster a few greetings. Touched, he brings a hand to his chest and tells her so.

"You — you're back," Cagalli finally says. Yuna understands his presence must be overwhelming. Of course it is, especially to his fiancee.

"I'm sure Mother's sent you the invitation for the small gathering at the Seiran Estate this week. I will see you there, yes?" Yuna leans towards her, who remains seated.

"Right," Cagalli says slowly. "I saw the invite."

Yuna is about to say something, but then one of the secretaries had the nerve to cut him off and tap Cagalli on the shoulder. The ambassador of some third world country is waiting for her apparently. Yuna clucks his tongue in disapproval. Doesn't the secretary know who their chief representative was talking to? Honestly! Good staff is so hard to come by these days.

Cagalli lifts herself from her seat, the documents in her arms. She turns to the secretary. "Do you know where is…?"

"Sir Dino is waiting outside. Shall I call him in to escort you?"

"Nonsense!" Yuna interjects. He doesn't know who this Dino person is, but if he had to guess, it's probably one of Cagalli's attendants. "I am here and perfectly capable of accompanying my sweet Cagalli to her next appointment."

"That's not necessary!" Cagalli's eyes are wide. Oh, she must be so nervous. "I'm sure you have…other things to do."

"Well, yes of course, I am a busy person," Yuna says. Aw, she doesn't want to bother him. How considerate of her. Fine, he'll indulge her this once. After all, it's been years since they've seen each other. So the secretary whisks Cagalli off, leaving Yuna quite satisfied with how much his betrothed hasn't changed.

x

"Doesn't even have the decency to notify us herself! That girl needs to be taught some manners!"

His mother is understandably upset, when Cagalli sends a note through one of her secretaries that she's unable to make it. Something urgent had popped up, she justified. Yuna admits, even his patience is wearing thin. He's very much aware how petulant the girl can be, but even this crosses the line.

But Yuna is conscious of the guests in the main hall, chattering and gliding through this predicament of theirs — they are like-minded friends, yes, but it would still be such an embarrassment, should this issue not be managed properly. So he pats his mother's hand and tells her not to give it a second thought. "We'll end up losing if we show that she's bothered us this way."

His father harumphs before downing his champagne. He turns to Yuna. "She's a little girl, even whinier and more impetuous than the country who sought for her. You can charm your way into her heart, can't you? Should be an easy task, given how impressionable that child is."

x

A few days before his induction ceremony, Yuna once again tours the parliament and sits in one of the sessions. Good thing too, because he had matter of factly pointed out a flaw in Cagalli's logic when discussing the pending trade agreements with Eurasia. Can you imagine how humiliating it would have been for her if it was someone else who pointed it out? Or worse still, how humiliating it would have been for him to have someone else upstage his superior intellect?

In any case, all other representatives had nodded their agreements, and his father had looked sufficiently pleased, so Yuna feels quite confident of himself, even more than usual. However, he observes a dark look on his fiancee's face and sees to it that he cheers her up after the session is adjourned. After all, that is only to be expected from the man she will marry one day.

He catches Cagalli outside the parliament room, talking to her secretary, the same annoying one that had interrupted their conversation before. "Dear Cagalli, I hope there's no hard feelings. It's just such an important job that we do, so we have to do it properly."

The secretary steps back, her face partly hidden by the binder she's carrying. She now at least has some sense to try to give them a little privacy, so she ends up much closer to the man standing behind them. The man, stiff as a board, has hair that's unnaturally blue, a questionable fashion sense given his choice for an outfit, and maroon-tinted glasses that cover his eyes. Strange man. But Yuna is intelligent enough to gather from context that this must be one of Cagalli's bodyguards. He should refer her one of the Seiran's own security detail, so that her entourage does not look so…odd.

The bodyguard shifts his movements. Cagalli notices. It had been so subtle that Yuna almost didn't catch it, but again, his keen sense of intuition is much too sharp to overlook such clues. Cagalli clears her throat ungracefully; Yuna bites back a cluck of his tongue. "I expect as much from my representatives. Now if you'll excuse me, I have another urgent meeting to attend to."

"Of course, my dear," Yuna responds graciously, knowing full well he's gotten under her skin. That should do for now, he thinks to himself, as he turns the other way with a smirk, completely missing the irate frown Cagalli's bodyguard sends his way.

x

Yuna has been in the most festive mood — his ceremony was the grand affair it deserved to be, and all of Orb's brightest (him being the brightest of them all, of course) are currently in attendance to his celebratory gala. Even his darling graced the venue with a flowing gown, mint and cool, her hair pulled back with bejeweled pins. She had been in the most unflattering uniform during the actual ceremony, but good thing she had some sense to change into something much more palatable to his senses.

He approaches her once he goes through his long line of well-wishers. It's sometimes a misfortune to be as popular as he is — he has barely any time to spare for his own fiancee, who is once again flanked by her secretary and that oddly-dressed bodyguard. "Well, who knew you would clean up so well, Cagalli? You should come to parliament like this more often."

Cagalli's smile is stiff. "I wouldn't want to distract you."

"Nonsense!" Yuna waves a hand in dismissal and wraps an arm around her bare shoulders. Her aides seem surprised — were they not used to such displays of affection? "I will be much more invigorated in my public service to see you dressed in beautiful garments like these! I'm certain the other representatives feel the same!"

"Do they?" Cagalli's tone is flat, but Yuna brushes that off as shyness. She slithers off his hand. "Anyway, I was just about to get some fresh air."

"Yes, it must be overwhelming to be in such crowds," Yuna says, sighing. "I remember you weren't very fond of large parties as a child. That hasn't changed, I see."

Cagalli swallows. "Yes, it hasn't. If you'll excuse me."

"Come look for me after! I shall give you the private tour," Yuna calls after her retreating figure. "The estate has changed quite a bit since you were last here."

She nods in acknowledgement, and Yuna does not see her until much later, when he is up on the balcony with some of his school friends tasting the finest wines his mother curated for that evening. He notices her sitting on one of the garden benches, her legs outstretched in a very unladylike manner. The secretary isn't there, but the bodyguard stands in front of her, talking to her.

She responds gleefully, much unlike the curt responses she'd give Yuna, as if she's more comfortable with a lowly servant than the nobility. Yuna wants to say he's shocked, but given the princess' reputation, Yuna can only sneer in expectation. He cannot make out their conversation, but he can assume the bodyguard must have said something funny, as the muffled sounds of Cagalli's laughter reverberates. And Yuna's thankful the rest of his group does not notice this embarrassing exchange.

From the corner of his eye, Yuna sees Cagalli lean forward and take off her right shoe. She moves her foot as if stretching it out, and Yuna rolls his eyes — honestly! Can't she persevere for the few hours that is this evening? If someone had seen her, then he would be the joke of the town, to have a bride so uncultured!

But before he could think of anything else, the bodyguard kneels down in front of her and takes her foot in one hand, massaging it — Yuna cringes at the sight — and reaches up to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. Oh.

Cagalli's smile is the warmest he's seen — and Yuna's standing from afar. He can only imagine how sickening the view would have been had he been just a few feet away. She brings a hand to hold his, which is now cupping her cheek. Oh.

They stay a few dreadful seconds like that before the man slips her foot back into her shoe and helps her stand up (Such an unhygienic gesture! These commoners are so barbaric!). The secretary appears with a glass of water in hand, and leads the pair back inside the estate.

Well, well, well. It would seem the little princess has gotten herself a boyfriend.

x

It doesn't bother Yuna to know Cagalli has a plaything. Haumea knows how many playthings Yuna's had over the years. His father even encourages it — helps him blow off steam and sow his oats, he said. But the bodyguard is a distraction, much more so for someone with Cagalli's lack of emotional maturity. He wouldn't be surprised to know if Cagalli has somehow fallen for the man. But what a cliche for it to be her bodyguard. Such unoriginality!

Nevertheless, this poses a problem. He needs his betrothed wrapped around his finger, and it won't do to have her heads over heels in love with someone who is not him. Given his position, it is only too easy to find out everything there is to know about Cagalli's paramour. Athrun Zala, the son of the genocidal maniac Patrick Zala, is posing as Alex Dino, Cagalli's unassuming bodyguard and has even taken residence in the Athha Estate. Good heavens, Cagalli! Yuna knows she's stupid but didn't think it would be to this extent! What was the girl thinking?

Yuna's also found out a nifty bit of trivia. Apparently, the little girl has a coordinator twin living in the Marshall Islands, and it is none other than the traitor pilot of the Earth Alliance. Honestly, the company this girl surrounds herself with! It's a good thing Yuna's here now then, so he can put a stop to whatever hullabaloo this is. And such an amusement it is to pick on Cagalli's affections and strip her confidence down bit by bit.

Athrun Zala, Yuna begrudgingly admits, is not an ugly bloke, and every now and then, he would notice the female staff turn their heads when the man would walk past, whispering and giggling. Yuna would usually turn his nose up at such nonsense, but the pleasure comes when Cagalli would notice the same. Her mood would turn sour, Yuna observes. Her forehead is more creased; her frown deepens; there's a bit more bite in her responses. And Yuna, feigning ignorance, would look down at her fuming inside her head and would casually drop a harmless comment, "Your aide — what's his name? Ah yes, Alex. Quite a popular fellow isn't he? Look at those women flocking beside him. You really should get security personnel that doesn't attract much attention, you know."

Once, the topic of marriage came up in a parliament session. Someone had brought up that the princess is almost of age, and that perhaps time must be set to discuss nuptials. Cagalli had pushed back. It's still too early to talk about such things. There's still a lot of issues to settle in the country, she had said. After a very passionate speech of patriotism from her, Yuna follows Cagalli into her office, in an attempt to confuse her with his own brand of appeasement. "Well you are indeed very young to talk about these things. But it doesn't matter if you haven't much experience. Our marriage is all but officialized in Haumea's presence anyway."

It's quite entertaining to see Cagalli try to act unaffected when it's plain as day that she is anything but that. The girl wears too much of her heart on her sleeve. She usually doesn't have much to say to counter his random quips, and would instead look the other way a bit haughtily. Sometimes though, she'd fight back, even if the rally doesn't last very long.

It's one of those days when Yuna had to intervene because Cagalli was once again scolded by the other ministers. While it pains his good gentile heart to see his betrothed in such a state, he can't blame the ministers either — her thinking is too simplistic, too ideal. Completely not grounded in reality. But of course, it is his duty as her fiancee to help Cagalli see the error of her ways. They are once again alone in her office when he tells her, "It's much better when we're together, isn't it?"

She deposits her folders onto her desk rather loudly. "Excuse me?"

Yuna offers her one of his charming smiles. "Well dear, I cannot quite bear to see you get shot down at every opportunity. They almost did it again, had I not stepped in."

Cagalli rebuffs him. "They didn't shoot anything down because what I said was right."

"Of course, but they sometimes don't know that, do they?" Yuna easily responds. He smooths out his blazer. "They don't quite have as much faith in you as they do in me, I'm afraid. You must have noticed that surely."

Cagalli only glares at him and says nothing further. Yuna promptly excuses himself then, smug in his exit.

x

One day, just because he can, Yuna calls Athrun Zala to his office on a day he knows Cagalli is preoccupied elsewhere. He invites him to sit on a plump chair and even pours tea for him. Yuna is quite hospitable even to the undeserved, if he can say so himself. He can see Athrun look at him suspiciously all the while — the man doesn't even try to hide it! Or does he just always look like that, given his background? He doesn't have his tinted glasses with him either. Just as well — Yuna believes this conversation is best had with as much eye contact as possible.

"I admire you, do you know?" Yuna takes the plumper chair across Athrun. "If it was me, I don't think I can do what you do — hiding behind another identity. Not being given the space to be unabashedly myself. I would be absolutely miserable." He brings his cup to his lips for a sip. "But you seem to be happy and content where you are, aren't you?"

Athrun stiffens in his seat, if that was even possible. Yuna thinks he's already as stiff as he can be. "I don't understand what you mean."

Yuna tilts his head, patronizing. "I know who you are, and who your father is — or was. Pity to have such a figure for a father. Do you feel any shame being Patrick Zala's son, Alex?" The name rolls off Yuna's tongue.

There's a pause. Yuna smirks.

"My father isn't Patrick Zala, Representative. You must be mistaken."

Yuna leans back into his chair, crossing his legs. "You and I both know I'm not. But if you want to keep playing this game with me, I don't mind as long as you know your place."

Athrun doesn't answer. Yuna takes a leisure sip of his tea, enjoying the uneasiness of the man before him. The cup of tea Yuna has generously poured for him sits quietly on the table, completely untouched. "You're a soldier, aren't you? So you should do as you're told."

Athrun's jaw clenches. "I don't answer to you."

Yuna smiles, placing his cup back on the saucer. "You're right. You answer to Cagalli, and to the man who'll eventually be her husband — that is, her present fiance who, as it turns out, happens to be me."

And oh, how he savors the way Athrun Zala's face turns sour after the initial surprise and comprehension sets in. He hadn't considered it, had never realized why Yuna had always walked so close to Cagalli, and why Cagalli let him, not when she had turned away most people who had annoyed her even at the slightest. But no matter, he understands now, Yuna knows, smiling into another refreshing sip of tea.

Athrun Zala has no alternative but to fall in line. Yuna will make him fall in line.