C.E. 75, somewhere in the Middle East
It was beyond midnight, and the only sound echoing through the Cavalier was the rhythmic tapping of keys on a keyboard.
"Athrun-san?" Meyrin's voice came through the door. Both of them were part of Terminal, an intelligence force of the Orb Union, and currently, they are stationed somewhere in the desert to monitor the escalating tensions between the Earth Alliance and desert forces.
"I... I already sent you the necessary files for your report…" Meyrin's voice trailed off.
After gathering intelligence during their monitoring tasks, Athrun and Meyrin would send reports back to Orb.
Glancing at his wristwatch, Athrun finally turned to Meyrin. "Ah, sorry, yes, thank you. You may retire now."
"What about you?" Meyrin inquired.
Athrun returned his gaze to the screen. "Don't worry about me. I have to send these reports to Cagalli. I'm sure she's still awake at this hour."
Meyrin's face lit up at the mention of Cagalli. "Yes! I just got off a call with her!"
Athrun furrowed his brows. "Huh?"
"Yes, she asked me to research Prince Magnus. Head Representative Athha is on an official visit to Scandinavia for his coronation." Meyrin chirped.
Athrun's scowl deepened upon hearing this. He had been trying to reach Cagalli for the past hour, but her phone remained unanswered. And now, he learns she's been in contact with Meyrin. He sighed. Perhaps Cagalli was too busy right now, and it might not be the right time to burden her with his mundane findings. There wasn't anything particularly noteworthy to report anyway.
"So... what did you find out about this Prince Magnus of Scandinavia?"
Meyrin tapped her finger against her lips, recalling the information. "He's about your age, with blond hair and yellow eyes. He's been groomed to succeed the King of Scandinavia since he was ten years old. He's also part of the Scandinavian Navy, trained in naval tactics which proved valuable during the last war. He's somewhat of an idol in his country due to his good looks, but..." Meyrin's voice trailed off, leaving Athrun waiting for her to continue.
Meyrin smiled knowingly. "He's a big fan of the Head Representative and has been sending her many gifts and flowers on special occasions."
This time, Athrun's expression turned menacing. He remembered Cagalli's birthday when she received an extravagant bouquet of roses and a necklace adorned with emeralds.
Flashback
"Wow, this must've cost a fortune!" Cagalli gasped as she opened the large velvet box.
Beside her, Athrun stole a glance into the box, noting the expensive jewelry it contained.
"He even sent the largest bouquet of roses!" Cagalli exclaimed.
Athrun merely smirked, knowing well that roses weren't Cagalli's favorite flower.
"I love it!" Cagalli smiled, leaving Athrun stunned.
"Athrun-san?" Meyrin's voice interrupted his thoughts.
Athrun shook his head, snapping out of his reverie. "Ah, never mind. You may retire now," he waved dismissively to Meyrin.
As soon as Meyrin left, Athrun immediately dialed Cagalli's number, but the familiar ring persisted for several minutes until it became evident that her phone was unattended.
An uneasy feeling crept over him, but Athrun quickly brushed it aside. Cagalli's popularity soared after the second war, making her a powerful and influential leader. They were both striving toward the same goal, and he knew they would meet halfway. Cagalli was working tirelessly to ensure there would be no more war, and he was there to support her in that endeavor.
Athrun decided to take a cold shower, hoping to wash away his unease and his dark thoughts.
