Notes:

[1] Usually I put notes at the end of the chapter but for this specific one, I'm placing it here to give the readers a visual of the dress that Cagalli is wearing: /clothesaesthe/status/1839365744624308413?s=46 =eECkFChZMcdV6spTPlhIdA

[2] Here's what Touya is wearing. https/pin/cool-643803709265214398/

[3] Here's what Prince Fredrik is wearing. https/pin/14214555068462254/

Phase 11: New Rival

A man looked at himself in the mirror, giving a nod of approval with how he appeared in his ensemble. There was a lot of thought put into it, from his inner wear, to the trousers to his coat, all the way to the accessories.

It was an attire fit for the Scandinavian ball.

Most importantly, since the Princess of Orb was making her appearance there, then he had to be at his very best when meeting her.

He couldn't wait! All those months of arduous preparations culminated into this very night.

"It's done, Cagalli ojou-sama!" Mana exclaimed after finishing her hair. She braided a portion of Cagalli's blonde hair into a half ponytail so that her face could be clearly seen. "My! You're really so beautiful!"

Usually, Mana did not come along on Cagalli's business trips. But on social events where she needed to be in an attire other than her Orb representative suit, she brought Mana along. Since childhood, it had been Mana who had been helping her put together a decent outfit. She would also fix her hair, have her wear accessories and do her make-up. Naturally this time, it would also be her that would help her dress-up for the occasion.

The Prince offered his staff for the task, but Cagalli politely declined. She wasn't at ease with someone else doing it for her. When that happens, she is usually disappointed with how it turns out. She thinks her make-up doesn't suit her, her accessories are too over the top, her dresses feel restricting and her hair uncomfortable. She doesn't like dressing up in the first place so when people who style her do as they please, it just makes the experience worse. Mana already knows what's acceptable for her and what she doesn't want so it was easier that way.

"Thank you Mana." Cagalli smiled at her. Observing her reflection in the mirror, she was satisfied with how everything came out with her make-up being relatively simple. Mana says she merely applied a "natural look" on her by applying some color on her cheeks, lips and a bit on her eyelids. She was thankful for her efforts and that she was well-versed on these kinds of things.

"You're welcome, ojou-sama." Mana was also pleased with the outcome of her handiwork.

She got up from the vanity mirror, trying not to step on the material of her dress. Her shoes for tonight had heels, and while they weren't that high, she still had to be careful.

There was another mirror in her room that was full-length. As Cagalli stood in front of it, she was overwhelmed with how much fabric this gown has. The top part was fine as it was a tight-fitting bodice with a princess neckline and a bit of ruching on her chest area and with yellow lines that accentuate her abdomen area.

But the bottom? There were layers upon layers of fabric of different lengths and patterns that came together. Shades of green, light pink and white gradually blended together. While each piece was fairly light, the amount of cloth strewn together along with her footwear tonight constricted her movement.

All over the dress, there were bits of rhinestones attached that made it sparkle when she moved. It was very soft and gave her such a feminine feel. Somehow, as she examined it as a whole, it looked very fairy-esque and the only thing missing on her were wings on her back. Even so, she doesn't think it's too bad, after all Miriallia helped her pick this one among all of those that she turned down.

It was a pity that it had a neckline so low that she couldn't wear the ring on her. It was something that she was used to and found comfort in. Cagalli took it off not because she cared for matching jewelries or statement pieces with the gown, but because she was treading her every movement carefully. Now that she was in the Kingdom of Scandinavia, if she was pictured with a ring on her neck or on her finger, it might fuel gossip again. The kind that would upset Athrun.

They parted and he was still upset. While he didn't seem too troubled when they were messaging, she didn't want to meet up with him after everything and the mood was sour with the news from this event. If anything, she wanted to see him safe, injured and happy.

To make him smile, shouldn't she send him a photo?

But now that she was thinking about Athrun, she remembered his request for a photograph. All of a sudden, she felt self-conscious.

As a politician, posing for photos is already part of the job. She had to look decent as she was representing Orb. After all, there were a lot of events and business trips that required her attendance. When they get to the palace, there would be waves of cameras waiting to take shots of all attendees. The thought of that didn't faze her in the slightest.

But somehow, posing with Athrun in mind was so embarrassing! She didn't understand why she would have difficulty with this while having no problem with the other. Maybe because it was personal and more intimate? It was also different because she was wearing this princess dress and she didn't feel too much like herself. She now thought of what expression she should make, the pose that she should do and even what his face would be when he sees it.

Just thinking about the expression he would make made her blood rise to her face. Of course he was busy now, but maybe after the mission? She really had to take this seriously and take a nice one to help soothe him. He's been working so hard these past few days and was also troubled because of a misunderstanding so she wanted to make him smile. Or would this be a distraction for him and she should hold off instead?

"Ojou-sama?" Mana called out to her not knowing she was having an inner turmoil to give her a reminder. "It's almost time, you should head out to the parlor area and wait for the palace's vehicle to pick you up."

"Yes, I'll head down in a while." She exhaled to get a bit more courage to ask Mana. "By the way Mana, can I ask you for a favor?"

Mana did not even need to be asked. "Of course! Anything. What is it?"

"Uhm…" She was getting frustrated with herself as she was having a hard time saying it out loud, but she had to do it now or else the chance would be lost. "Could you please take a photo of me?"

"A photo?" Mana raised her brow at the request. "That's very unusual for you to ask that…" It was true, she hated being seen dolled up when she was younger and almost refused to be in photos. Having been with her as she grew up, this would have reasonably taken her by surprise. "But also, wouldn't there be photographers at the venue anyway?"

"Ah, if it's a bother then don't worry about it! I'll be downstairs in a bit, you can go ahead." Cagalli realized that she could have just taken a snap in front of the full-length mirror but her mind was in a jumble from thinking about this.

Mana shook her head. "It's no problem, ojou-sama! Please leave it to me. I'll make sure we'll have good ones taken." She walked to the vanity to grab Cagalli's phone and she put her finger to her chin while she was observing the room. "Ojou-sama, can you stand there?" Mana pointed to the area of the room where her personal belongings weren't in the view and it was just the original luxurious interior.

Cagalli nodded and followed Mana to that corner. Once she fluffed out the dress, she stood there obediently, waiting for the photo to be taken.

"Cagalli-sama…" Mana didn't hide her displeasure. "You're so stiff right now, could you try to pose a little more elegantly please? Hopefully you won't be as nervous later on when you have photos of you taken by the press…"

"What- I… I…" She couldn't believe that she was called out on it, but what should she do? She felt so awkward and embarrassed now that she couldn't think of the postures she learned during her princess lessons.

"For starters, please straighten your back, raise your chin up a bit and clasp your hands in front of you together like this." Mana illustrated it by doing the same posture herself. Cagalli's phone camera shutter was clicking multiple times while she circled around her, taking it from different angles. "Can you soften your expression because you're so tense right now, Cagalli-sama." Mana called her out while she was still snapping photos.

That made Cagalli more self-conscious about the face that she was making but now she couldn't relax even further, but she tried her best. How many shots does Mana even need to take?

Mana then browsed the photos she'd taken but still didn't seem content. "Let's try a few more natural poses. This is too formal! Can you try to hold your skirt like this and tilt your head in that direction?" Mana then directed her, now very into what they were doing.

"Mana, I think the ones that you got were enough." Cagalli laughed nervously because Mana was having too much fun with this while she just wanted this to be over.

"Nonsense! It's better if we have more options because after all, there's a reason that you wanted these photos taken. That's why you asked for my help, right? You want to show this to someone, am I right?" Mana insisted, her instinct was spot on and it caught Cagalli off guard.

"Aah… Yeah! I'll be sending these to Ren." It was half the truth, she would be sending these to Ren as she promised but she was too sheepish to admit to her long-time caretaker that it was for Athrun too.

"Mou, Cagalli-sama." Mana was insulted with that remark and eyed her suspiciously. "I know that this is not only for Ren but mainly for Athrun-sama… I also know you slipped out of your room to go to him whenever he's around… How old do you think I am? I've been with you since you were practically an infant!" She put her hands on her waist and shook her head, having that proud moment that her ojou-sama could never fool her.

Cagalli felt like a criminal that was caught red-handed and she couldn't even deny it for Mana would easily see through her lies. "Ahh.. Ehh… Uhm… That was…" She was scrambling for words right now and somehow she's impressed with herself that she's not this tongue-tied when it comes to work. But Mana was really scary when gets angry.

Mana saw her in distress and instead of scolding her, the next words she said surprised Cagalli. "It's okay, ojou-sama. You don't need to be sneaky anymore. It's true that I was a bit more strict with you two when Athrun-sama first lived with us, but now…" She paused and had a very proud smile. "...both of you have grown into fine adults. After all the hard work that you two have been doing all day for Orb's sake, I don't think it's right for me to tell you what you can and can't do in your private time."

"Mana…" Cagalli was overcome with relief, mostly because Mana wasn't chewing her out and because she had accepted that they were at this stage as a couple. The first time they got caught, they got reprimanded for almost an hour, reminding her extensively how it was not an appropriate behavior for a noble lady such as herself to be doing these kinds of things. She heard that Athrun had a separate harsh scolding too.

That's why they took the opportunity to sleep in the same bed when they were visiting Kira, Lacus and Ren. At least in their house, they were away from her watchful eyes. The first few times, Athrun would feel very guilty about it but he too wanted to spend time with her so he didn't complain as long as it was in Kira's house.

In the Athha manor, he stuck to the rules. But there were some times where she couldn't help herself and wanted to spend more time with him while he was in the Athha manor so she would sneak into his bedroom, which would worry Athrun. He respected Mana as her long-time caretaker and didn't want to cause any problems. It was Cagalli who always told him to leave it to her if she ever found out.

"You're already 24 and I should let you have more time with each other if you can. You two have such busy schedules as it is and Athrun-sama works in Onogoro most of the time. You don't get to see each other as much, and when you do, you have to keep it a secret from the public. I'd be the evil villain if I restrict your time together even further…" Mana kept on talking while she held Cagalli's phone.

"Thank you…" Was the only thing that Cagalli could say as she didn't expect this from her at all. It seems that Mana has changed without Cagalli realizing it. She had a more modern mindset now and she wondered when this all happened. She wanted to ask her, but she'll save that for another day because it might be a long story and they could be here for hours. She couldn't wait to tell Athrun about this too when they see each other in a few days!

"But it goes without saying, always be careful and don't get pregnant until you get married, Cagalli-sama." Mana pointedly remarked. "I wouldn't want you and Athrun-sama to be caught in a big scandal!"

The comment stunned Cagalli but somehow she found that funny and she let out a light chuckle. Somehow these days, she was noticing that people have become more and more accepting of her personal affairs, which was a big relief. It seems she had been stressing about it a lot but there wasn't any reason to be.

Then she heard her phone camera click.

"That's it oujo-sama! That's perfect!" Mana exclaimed excitedly that she was able to get a more natural shot of her. "Please, let's take more photos with this look on your face! I want you to try some of the poses I've been seeing in some recent magazines."

"Ehh?" Cagalli wanted to escape this predicament!

It took a while before Mana let her go and Cagalli was very grateful that it was over. Mana had fun with the rare occasion that she could get Cagalli to do what wanted and didn't waste the opportunity. Since there were plenty of photos to choose from, she hurriedly chose a few of them and sent them over to Athrun and Lacus. If you'd ask her, the candid shot that Mana chose was the most acceptable one as she actually looked relaxed and having fun, everything else she was so stiff and awkward. But since they took the effort to take many, they might as well send some of the acceptable ones.

Even when Mana held her for a longer period than expected, they were still on schedule. Before she left the room, she turned around to the vanity mirror and opened the drawer where she stored her ring. She held it and contemplated if she should leave it or wear it. She always had the ring on her neck so she felt uneasy leaving it behind. She searched for it whenever she was thinking or when she needed to calm down. She wanted it with her.

She then remembered that Mana mentioned that there were pockets on this dress. She inspected the skirt area and found out that there was one on each side. Cagalli then grabbed the ring and put it in her right-side pocket and her phone on the left. The skirt was so poofy that no one would notice. Suddenly, this dress wasn't too bad after all!

She headed downstairs to meet up with everyone in the sitting room. There were maidservants that walked with her to assist her if she needed. It took a bit longer to get there with her full skirt so she looked around the halls of Fredrik's private residence while she took her steps. Unlike the palace, this was a bit more modern, but it was still luxurious and gave out the notion that it was owned by nobility.

She finally arrived at the entrance of the sitting room. The Scandinavian guards opened the door for her and she found all of her security in complete attendance, all in neatly ironed Orb and COMPASS uniforms. Touya was there and was in conversation with them while they all waited.

All of them stopped what they were doing at the moment and she heard them all gasp, Touya and all her escorts alike.

"Cagalli nee-sama, that dress… You look amazing!" Touya said in awe.

"Cagalli-san, wow that's some dress…" Shinn was stumped and didn't have any other words to say. This was probably the first time in a while she made an appearance wearing formal wear. Cagalli did feel nostalgic because she remembered Kira saying almost the same thing years back.

"Cagalli-sama, you look very beautiful! So stunning! Just like a real life princess!" Agnes squealed in so much excitement as she whipped out her phone and snapped photos of her. It made Cagalli nervously laugh and wondered if she was as stiff as she did in the photos that Mana captured.

"Hey Agnes! Don't just take pictures of Representative Athha without her permission!" Lunamaria scolded her for her callous behavior.

"Oh, right, that's rude of me." Agnes put down her phone in realization and then approached her. "Cagalli-sama, is it okay if we take a photo together? The dress is really great on you!" She looked at her with such child-like eyes that Cagalli couldn't find it in her heart to say no.

"Of course!" She smiled, much to Agnes' delight. "Let's take a photo here with everyone too!" She did notice that since Agnes asked, the Orb soldiers seemed like they also wanted to request the same but were not as fearless as she was.

"Yay! I'm so happy!" That seemed to satisfy Agnes and she quickly pushed her phone into Lunamaria's hands and then ran back to take a hold of Cagalli's arms in hers. "Make sure to get cute shots of us, okay? I'll have you retake it if we're not cute."

Lunamaria rolled her eyes at Agnes' remark but she didn't complain any further. "Alright, 3…2…1… cheese!" Cagalli tried to relax and give a smile, hopefully it would turn out fine. She felt a bit less tense now that the shots weren't for Athrun.

Agnes examined at the photos and shook her head in satisfaction. "Okay, we're both cute. Not bad Luna…"

"Geez, just say 'thank you'." Lunamaria huffed, not appreciating the manner that Agnes showed her thanks.

"Cagalli nee-sama, you really look splendid." Touya took the time to compliment her attire once the Orb soldiers had their chance to take photos with Cagalli and they had their group photo.

"Touya, you're very dashing yourself." Touya looked really nice in his black three-piece suit with gold linings. He was akin to a European gentleman in his outfit. [2] Now that he was dressed to the nines, Cagalli did see that he had his own charm and that he grew up to be a very fine man. As his unofficial big sister, she was suddenly interested to know if he was at that stage of his life where there was romance budding and if he had his sights set on someone.

"Thank you nee-sama." Touya offered his arm for her to hold on to as they walked to their transport. "Shall we go then?"

Cagalli nodded and grabbed his arm and they made their way to the door. She turned back to her guards and motioned for everyone else to follow.

"Let's go, everyone!" To which she received a cacophony of affirmative responses.

"Right this way, Representative Athha, Touya-sama." They were led by the Scandinavian guards to the chauffeur.

Touya tried his best not to steal glances at Cagalli while they were in the car. While he found her beautiful on a daily basis, being dolled up and wearing delicate apparel makes her even more attractive. He now understands why those characters in movies can be tongue-tied during scenes where the heroine makes her grand entrance. With how stunning she was, she may steal the spotlight away from Prince Fredrik in his own celebration.

His thoughts went to the Prince, he looked forward to witnessing what his reaction might be. Will he too be in awe of her beauty like all of them were just a while ago?

Earlier during tea, when he was observing them, it seemed as though he was taken by her the same way that he was. While Prince Fredrik didn't ignore him, his manner of speaking was different when it came to her and even how he was looking at her. His hand lingered on hers longer than it should have been when it was time to bid their goodbyes. His eyes had that hint of sadness that they had to part. So much so that he wouldn't be surprised if he pulled her into a tight hug because that was what the mood felt like.

His gestures reminded him of Athrun Zala. It's the same gentle gaze, the same kind of longing that he picked up from him. As a man who also harbored feelings for Cagalli, he already had a sense that it's the same.

Prince Fredrik was in love with her. No doubt.

While he was not the type to make assumptions, his intuition was telling him that something was up. It might be because he was observant when it came to his nee-sama.

Maybe other people would tell him that he was looking into things a bit too much. He doesn't really know what the Prince is personally like. All he knows is that he is charismatic and friendly. Since they were friends since they were little kids and Cagalli spent a bit of time here in the Kingdom, then could it be just closeness?

But still, in his opinion, it was still a bit too intimate, at least on Prince Fredrik's end. Cagalli treated him like how she would treat any other friend.

It wouldn't surprise him if Prince Fredrik admitted that he was very fond of Cagalli. After all, his nee-sama was an amazing person, even he said so himself. The manner in which he praised her a while ago, it was genuine poetry and something that came from his heart. It was full of honesty and passion.

Right now, there was someone occupying her heart, someone that he could only wish to replace. If only the fateful encounter on that deserted island didn't happen, then perhaps Prince Fredrik would be the front-runner in her heart. They seem to get along very well and unlike with Yuna or any other man that tried to have a pass at her, she was very comfortable with him.

To him, Prince Fredrik was more suited to be with Cagalli rather than Athrun Zala. They had the same upbringing, they got along well, he had a more charming personality and he was someone who could stand beside Cagalli as an equal. Touya thinks he would do everything in his power to ensure that she was always happy in the same way he was working hard for his country. Prince Fredrik would be the type of man that stays with her during the times that she would need someone the most.

Most importantly, he would not make her cry.

He remembered the scene that he walked into the other day, where Cagalli was in tears when Athrun came to see her, and was still furious about that.

He's accepted that Cagalli would perpetually perceive him as her little brother and that her heart was set on Athrun. But if someone else were to whisk her away, he'd rather it be Prince Fredrik, a man worthy of her affection.

Touya wanted to confirm it himself. "Nee-sama."

"What is it, Touya?" She turned to him and he almost lost his train of thought just by marveling at how beautiful she was tonight.

"What do you think about Prince Fredrik?" He asked innocently.

"He's an incredible person and I have so much respect for him." Cagalli smiled and was happy that she got the opportunity to say good things about her childhood friend. "Their Kingdom will continue to prosper under his rule. I'm excited to witness it and support him as much as I can."

While these were all good things, it wasn't the answer that Touya was searching for. "He is impressive indeed…" It was no use asking her in a roundabout way, so he decided to ask her directly instead. "We're both aware that there have been a lot of people voicing their opinion about you two as a couple, so what do you think about him as a man?"

Cagalli paused, possibly pondering why this question would come from him of all people, when this topic was something she had complained to him many times. Additionally, he was the one of the few that knew about Cagalli's true relationship with Athrun. "What spurred this question?"

"Just curiosity on my part." He admitted. "Since it keeps being brought up, I just wondered if you also ever thought about him in that light."

"I see…" Cagalli didn't think much of it and responded. "I don't see him in a romantic sense, even back then. To me, he's a very precious friend to me. I think he'll be a kind and loving partner to whoever he chooses. He's very caring, thoughtful and undoubtedly he would make his future spouse happy."

"I think so too." It was as Touya expected. Even if Cagalli didn't explicitly say that there were no romantic feelings on her part, the manner in which she distanced herself while answering the question told him all that he needed to know.

"That's why I wish people would drop the topic because it's such a pain!" Cagalli sighed again, clearly fed up with it.

Poor Prince Fredrik. Oh Cagalli nee-sama, if only you knew.

He wanted to ask the same question about what she thought of him as a man. But the answer would probably be not to his liking so he didn't bother. There were things that didn't need to be said out loud.

"What about Athrun-san?" He became more daring and asked about him instead, wanting to see how she'll react. "If he pinned you to the wall, gazed deep into your eyes and asked you "Cagalli, what do you think of me as a man?", what would you say to him?" Sometimes he didn't know if he was a masochist or not because he knew he was purposely hurting himself by wanting her answer to this.

Like clockwork, Cagalli's expression instantly softened. In the split second before her face was flushed in a red hue, she lightened up, her eyes sparkling at the mention of his name. Her whole face was smiling. Even in the dim interior of the car, Touya caught all of that.

So she could make a face like that…

He never knew…

And this was all because of him…

What other faces did she make that he only had the privilege of seeing?

Touya would probably never get to know in this lifetime and he felt a tinge of sourness about how unfair it was.

She held her hands to cover her reddened state. She was completely a demure maiden in love. Her proud demeanor was completely taken over by something so soft and feminine that even he didn't recognize.

To Touya, Cagalli was both beautiful and cute. He almost couldn't take his eyes off her tonight with how she was all dressed up. But somehow, at this moment when she thought about the person that she loves dearly, she was at her most beautiful and cutest.

This was the difference between Athrun and everyone else in her heart.

Cagalli has love and compassion for a lot of people. She was what you would call someone who had a love so warm and big. She treated everyone equally, no matter your social standing, your past or even if you had your genes altered or you did not.

But somehow, it was Athrun that managed to get past that wall of love and make his way to the special place in her heart, cementing himself there.

"Touya… Please stop teasing your nee-sama…" She said it in almost a pleading tone. Her imagination might have taken off, playing a scenario in her mind that she would never share with him.

"Sorry, nee-sama. I'll drop the topic." He promised her while letting out an unusual chuckle. It was to mask his bitterness of his unrequited love that never stood a chance.

You win, Athrun Zala.

But I still don't like you.

When Cagalli and Touya neared the palace, there was a bit of a slowdown as there were other cars on routeto the same destination. As such, she noticed the crowds that were gathering outside. Aside from the media, Scandinavian citizens were in the vicinity. Though they were not attendees of the event, they still situated themselves near the gates, hoping to get a glimpse of the high profile guests that were attending the ball for their beloved Prince. The Scandinavian security were well-prepared and put barricades for distance and for everyone's safety.

She noticed some banners that specially had her name written. They were excitedly waving the banners, hoping that she'd notice. To show her gratitude with the lovely surprise, she gave a little wave of acknowledgement, which made the crowd even more excited and cheered louder.

"Nee-sama, it seems that you are pretty popular here." Touya noted, as he saw another group with banners that had her picture on it. "Amazing, it's like you're a celebrity."

"I wonder about that." She laughed nervously, seeing that some of the supporters were rooting for her as Prince Fredrik's wife. She saw some banners where there were edited photos of him and the Prince with hearts on them. It appears that the topic wasn't just being talked about in Orb, but here as well.

Finally, they made it into the palace grounds and to the entrance. What awaited them were cameras left and right, the profuse flashes were almost blinding them.

"The Princess of Orb is here!"

"Representative Athha, please turn this direction!"

"Cagalli-sama!"

The amount of noise coming her way might seem overwhelming to anyone, but to Cagalli, this was merely child's play. The instant that she got out of the car, her switch was on and she was on business mode. The same person who was being criticized by Mana due to her stiffness a while ago had no problem exuding grace and calmness in front of everyone else.

At this moment, she was well-aware of her status as the Chief Representative of Orb, so she had to be at her very best and meet everyone's expectations. Her posture, her demeanour, the expressions that she had, everything was as perfect as it could be. This wasn't her at all, but if need be, she could act as the ideal princess that everyone wanted her to be so that she wouldn't give Orb a bad name.

A lot of people used to underestimate her years back for being young and naive, but not anymore. She's accustomed herself to her role, holding her head high and with pride without fail. It was fitting for a leader of a country.

They were ushered to the function hall, where most of the guests that arrived were already socializing. The doors were opened by Scandinavian Knights, fully in their armors and tunics for them to enter. Everything in the banquet hall radiated grandiosity and opulence, from the massive doors with elaborate designs, the high ceilings with ornate crystal chandeliers, to the grand staircase leading to the ballroom… all of it made of marble, gold, precious metals and stones. Truly a luxurious sight to behold.

"Wow…" Cagalli could hear Shinn and the others being thoroughly amazed by what they were seeing. The palace itself was art and a historical place at the same time.

She turned to Touya and gave him a nod, a signal that she would go ahead first. He bowed his head in understanding and took a step back to allow her to take center stage on her own. He would soon follow and her escorts from Orb, COMPASS and personal security are now taking their respective positions in finding the optimal spot to watch her.

"Orb's Chief Representative and Head of the Athha Ruling Family, Lady Cagalli Yula Athha, has arrived!" The Master of Ceremonies announced her arrival.

As she proceeded to descend down the staircase, she felt that a lot of eyes were on her. Cagalli could tell there was a mix of reactions from everyone. Admiration, excitement, curiosity, indifference and animosity, she could sense them all, and she maintained her composure throughout. These kinds of things don't faze her, she was used to this.

She finally reached the bottom of the flight of steps without any issues. The crowd steered clear as confident strides headed in her direction. It was Prince Fredrik donned in an attire befitting for the next King of Scandinavia. [3]

He was truly the star of the evening with his tailored suit, which was a combination of the shades of green with white and gold. His white vest with gold accents contrasted with his green inner wear, cape and trousers. A cape was draped over his shoulders and flowed to his ankles. His elegant ensemble complimented his blue eyes and blonde hair. Anyone that would lay their eyes on him would think he was magnificence personified. It was as if the prince charming that they read in fairy tale books manifested in real life.

"Your Royal Highness, Prince Fredrik. Good evening to you." Since this was a formal occasion meant for him, this was one of the rare times that Cagalli addressed him with formality and showed such etiquette around him. She curtsied, both of her hands grabbed each side of her skirt and she lowered her head and bent her knees.

Prince Fredrik acknowledged her curtsy and reached out his hand to her, his signet ring with the large sapphire gem sparkled when he did. She returned the gesture by holding out her palm to meet his.

"Cagalli." Her name came out of his lips in the gentlest voice as he marveled at the sight in front of him. "You are breathtaking. Words aren't enough to express how absolutely divine you look." He gave her a warm smile and leaned down to give her hand a kiss, which resulted in murmurs from the crowd, which Fredrik didn't seem to mind in the slightest. Cagalli noted that Fredrik has become suave with flattering women. He wasn't like this when they were younger and like her, he's grown and acquired a lot of skills.

"Thank you Fredrik." Cagalli dropped the formalities since Fredrik did so himself. "You look quite handsome yourself." The compliment made him blink before he relaxed and let out a hearty chuckle. He seemed to have appreciated that comment a lot, Cagalli thought to herself seeing his reaction. It must have been unusual for him that the rambunctious and mischievous friend that he always knew spoke so differently today.

His gaze relaxed and he cleared his throat. "Will you do me the honor of being my partner this evening, Representative Athha?" He was offering his right arm for her to wrap her hand onto. It was an invitation to be his companion for the night.

Again, there was a flurry of whispers that enveloped the room once he asked her those words. Being the Prince's partner was a big deal and she knew that a lot of other women would love to be in her shoes and accept the offer with so much joy as it would imply that they have caught the Prince's eye. Since he had no known public love interest and was deemed an eligible bachelor, choosing her to be his company for the rest of the night sparked a lot of fuss. Cagalli was in the same boat, a young unmarried woman that did not appear to be dating anyone. This was practically the most-awaited spectacle for those that were hypothesizing a union between them.

But for Cagalli, she didn't view this as anything romantic or the sort. This was simply to accompany Prince Fredrik for the evening, a testament to the great alliance between Orb and the Kingdom of Scandinavia, nothing more. It was commonplace during balls for the nobility, especially those from the royal families, to have partners. It would generally be their spouse or someone that they had an affection for, but it could also be their relatives, friends or acquaintances.

This was not the first formal event that she had accompanied the Prince. She has been Fredrik's partner in a function years back during her stay in the Kingdom. It was pretty much not a big deal back then, but rather such a welcome gesture that the Scandinavian nobility had such good relations with Orb for them to be getting along that much.

This was the same thing as back then.

"It would be my pleasure." She nodded and held onto his arm. She couldn't have declined anyways, unless she wanted to cause a violent uproar and a scandal. It wasn't a request that she could refuse as it would also cause embarrassment to Prince Fredrik. It would mean that she was rejecting him during the ball that was held especially for him. It was unheard of.

"Let's have a pleasant time together, Cagalli." Prince Fredrik beamed at her, satisfied that they would be with each other throughout the event. She wondered why it was her that Fredrik was inviting this time. Did he really miss spending time with her that much? Did he really not have someone special that captured his heart? Or was he the same position as hers where it had to be kept a secret for now?

What other people had to say didn't bother Cagalli that much. She couldn't care less about their opinions if they were reading too much into this. She did wish however that this wouldn't be blown out of proportion when she sees the news and articles the next day. It would be such a pain to deal with the requests for interviews, statements or press conferences following this festivity.

She had more important things to do, like de-briefing on the joint operation results and spending time with Athrun for his birthday. It was one of her priorities to clear the misunderstanding before they got interrupted and he had to leave.

She wanted to cherish Athrun and his feelings. Before their talk yesterday, she was fairly confident that he wouldn't be troubled that she was here spending time with Fredrik. Years back it would be something that he felt insecure about, but he's become more considerate and patient with their situation. He understood that this was part of her role as Chief Representative and that there was nothing to worry about.

But now, she wasn't so sure given all that must have been weighing on his mind recently. Now especially that she was in the company of the very person he felt he should live up to, the one that he thinks people would approve of instead of him.

She hoped that she reassured him enough despite all the noise that he had to endure and keep to himself for the past couple of days. Her affection and the love that she's shown only to him would be enough until they see each other and she finally gets to tell him the words that would erase all his doubts away.

"Cagalli? Is something the matter?" Prince Fredrik noticed that she hasn't responded to him yet. Immediately, she switched gears, putting her thoughts in the backseat of her mind for now. She needed to be mindful of the present moment as there were a lot of eyes observing her every move.

"My apologies, I spaced out a bit." She confessed in a low tone. "But yes, let's enjoy the rest of the evening."

Prince Fredrik looked at her understandingly. "No, don't apologize. You still must be exhausted from the long trip. Would you like something to eat or drink?" He suggested, thinking that it might help her regain some energy.

"I'm fine. My mind just wandered off before I realized it." She shook her head as it wasn't the case. She wasn't tired nor was she feeling hungry or parched at the moment. She appreciated his concern though. He was really looking out for her.

"Alright, shall we go around the room then? I want to introduce you to some people that would like to meet you. But first, let's go and talk to Father and Mother." He didn't inquire more about what was on her mind, which she was thankful for. But now, she really needed to focus. Prince Fredrik invited guests that she looked forward to building networks with. It should be an interesting time to strengthen ties with the attendees, especially those coming from the Eurasian Federation.

"With pleasure." She enthusiastically nodded and they navigated through the large ballroom.