They were still young, beautiful, desirable. Old enough to be weary of games with others but never with each other.
Truthfully, it was the only way to get through these white tie galas and State dinners. Neither had the patience for Earth's nobility or the billionaires from the colonies, but the Prince of Sanc was expected to attend more often than not. Duo had been able to get away with avoiding his responsibilities up until the press discovered that they were engaged. The nobles had never liked that the prince had taken a male lover of any background let alone a Gundam pilot, liked Duo in particular even less, but they'd be damned before they let the royal consort—and God, didn't that title rankle—skip out on major public events. There was etiquette to be observed. Protocol.
And how they delighted in making sure Duo adhered to all of their old fashioned rules, even going so far as to insist that he be given traditional titles and lands upon marriage. It was all honorary nonsense, giving a Gundam pilot from L2 a Dukedom and pretending that he was going to be a respectable member of the royal family. So Duo and Zechs, in turn, delighted in being as difficult as Relena would let them get away with. Which turned out to be quite difficult, actually.