"According to your instructions, we have already suspended the genetic matching work for Talia. What are your plans?"
As she spoke, Lacus's gaze took on a teasing glint, and she continued.
"Could it be that Brother Fred has taken a fancy to her?"
Fred's actions—wanting to monitor Durandal and stopping Talia's genetic matching—did seem a bit like a powerful, spoiled young master bullying a good woman.
Of course, Lacus was mostly saying this to test the waters.
After all, she was confident Fred wasn't that kind of eccentric person.
"Ahem, ahem, ahem!"
Fred, who had been discussing serious matters, choked on his own saliva at Lacus's interruption.
But upon careful thought, his actions—pausing Talia's marriage process and wanting to get to know her himself—were indeed a bit strange.
"What nonsense are you talking about?"
Fred snapped back to his senses and retorted irritably, then immediately followed up.
"Do you think she would want an adopted child?"
"An adopted child? Brother Fred, you're a bit too old for that."
"..."
Meeting Fred's resentful gaze after he had removed his mask, Lacus smiled and quickly composed her expression.
"Joking aside, I think she probably would want one."
"Finding a Coordinator orphan might be difficult, but it shouldn't be a problem."
Lacus pondered for a moment before speaking.
To put it in the most heartless terms, the value of a Coordinator orphan was far higher than that of a Natural.
It was like how you rarely see expensive pedigree cats wandering the streets as strays.
Such orphans were in high demand at adoption centers.
In fact, after learning they couldn't have children, it wasn't that no one had considered adoption.
The problem was that there simply weren't many orphans available.
Most were concentrated in the hands of the powerful and influential.
Of course, the Clyne Faction could still find orphans if they tried.
Especially since the Mentor was already involved in adopting war orphans.
"But why is Brother Fred so concerned about her personal life?"
Lacus asked again, though this time with more seriousness than her earlier teasing.
Hearing this, Fred, already prepared, replied.
"Things like love and affection can either destroy the world or save it."
Fred said with deliberate profundity.
He didn't know about other worlds, but judging from Durandal and Lacus's actions, it indeed seemed capable of saving the world.
Of course, if Talia was truly determined to have her own child, then he would consider his words unsaid.
Hearing Fred's words, Lacus was somewhat surprised. She hadn't expected Fred to be so poetic.
She had thought he would say something like only training and study could save the world.
"I understand. I'll help arrange it for you, Brother."
Lacus nodded happily at the thought, then immediately followed up.
"But what reason should we use?"
"We can't just deliver a child directly to them."
"That Durandal seems very wary."
Lacus's tone carried curiosity.
"We'll have to see about that."
"I want to make contact with Talia first."
"Alright."
Lacus nodded in agreement.
With the serious matters settled, a smile returned to Lacus's face.
"But if you ever like someone, remember to tell me. We can help arrange things for you."
As she spoke, perhaps feeling her words sounded a bit villainous, Lacus quickly added.
"Of course, only if the other person agrees."
"We won't do things like kidnapping or anything~"
Though she said this, Lacus was entirely joking. In her view, probably not many would refuse.
Fred—gentle, strong, and a good cook.
Just like that Imanla, who often asks them about Fred.
She claims it's to complete some mission, but what missions are there now?
Clearly, it's just a case of being attracted by his looks.
She's only seen what Fred looks like under the mask in the files.
If Imanla saw Fred as he is now, she'd probably be even more eager...
Of course, thinking of her father's suggestion, Lacus's words weren't entirely teasing.
If Fred stayed here because of love or romance, that wouldn't be bad either.
"Not thinking about that for now."
Faced with Lacus's teasing, Fred gave an awkward laugh. Although he had reached the age when Kira and the others' main story began, it still felt too early for him.
Even though the plot here seemed more like a space idol drama, beneath the love and hate were all sorts of brutal wars.
Best to avoid it if possible.
Those were living, breathing lives.
"Alright."
Lacus wasn't annoyed by Fred's awkward, seemingly clueless expression. Instead, she seemed a bit happier, the corners of her lips lifting slightly.
Fred noticed these subtle changes but didn't think much of it.
In Fred's view, she was just smiling, and she was so petite. He definitely couldn't have any thoughts about her. He figured Lacus probably saw him as an older brother too.
That was just fine.
Meanwhile, on the other side, outside, Heather and George were looking up at Fred's room and whispering to each other.
"Do you think Lacus really has feelings for our boy?"
Heather said quietly.
Over the past year, whenever Lacus visited, aside from spending time with Flay, she talked with Fred the most.
While it was true that the only two siblings close to her age were in this household, the fact that Lacus insisted on staying with them every time she visited was rather intriguing.
It couldn't just be that their home was so attractive to a princess, could it?
"I don't know. Does she? That can't be, right?"
"They're still so young. What do they know about love and all that?"
Seeing George's clueless expression, Heather twitched her lips, rolled her eyes, and said.
"You old fool! Have you forgotten how you confessed to me?"
"I... uh... around Fred's age..."
Under Heather's intimidating gaze, George quickly remembered and chuckled awkwardly.
"Something that important, I could never forget."
"I just didn't realize Fred had already grown so big."
Fred was already fourteen or fifteen years old.
By the standards here, it's normal for both Naturals and Coordinators to find a fiancée and prepare to settle down and start a family in a few years.
"Hmph, fine then."
Heather finally withdrew her gaze from George with a huff.
"But Lacus isn't that old either. I don't think Fred has any interest in that sort of thing, and besides, she's the princess of the Clyne Faction."
George quickly added.