A/N: Once again, I'm procrastinating at my other fanfics...

"Hector, have you ever given it a thought of keeping those ladies away from you?" Eliwood asked his best friend, the newly crowned Marquis Ostia. Hector spared the giggling ladies who'd been eyeing him rather closely. He finds them rather annoying, but he did his best to ignore them. It's so obvious they want his attention so that he can pick from them who'd be his bride.

"You know very well that if a woman wants to be close to something, not even a whole army can stop her." Hector said as he led his friend to his study. At least, those ladies will not try to barge in there. He has guards there anyway.

As the two of them settled down on comfortable chairs, Eliwood said cautiously, "Hector, about those ladies again..."

"What? Have they set their own spies in my study too?" Hector snapped. Clearly, Hector isn't comfortable, nor fond, of waspish ladies. Comparing to the ladies in their camp during the campaign, these ladies of the court doesn't have any brains in them at all.

"I can never say, since Ostia itself is the home of spies." Eliwood shrugged. "Anyways, I have a suggestion to keep them away, if you don't mind."

"Suggest away."

"Why not let one of our lady companions back then pose as your future wife?"

"Are you insane? I haven't even warmed my behind on the throne, and now you want me to plunge head on into marriage?"

"It's not like I'm telling you to marry the lady in question." Eliwood said patiently. "Let's just say the two of you are going to 'act' as lovers for a few months."

"And what kind of lady will agree to such ridiculous plan?"

"We can make a list if you want, and see who's the most eligible."

Hector rubbed his temple. "Maybe we can think of another plan to get rid of those ladies. I'll talk to Saei later about that."

"Can't you make a decision without consulting the Master Tactician, Hector?" Eliwood chided gently. "Your credibility as a leader will be questioned later on if you continue on like that."

"Subtlety isn't one of my strong traits, Eliwood. I just want them removed from my sight without resorting to violence or rudeness."

Though Eliwood knew that's almost a lie since Hector grew up in Ostia, and subtlety is one of their best trait when it comes to spying. His excuse that he'll consult to the Master Tactician gave Eliwood a trace of hint of what Hector really feels for the young lady.

"I don't really see any problem with Lord Eliwood's plan, Lord Hector." Saei said as the three of them sat in her apartment Hector had set aside for her. She was sitting on a chair near the window, with a book in her hands.

"But how are we suppose to tell a lady whom I'm not really close with 'act' like my lover?" Hector said exasperatedly. He can't believe that the one he's trusting to turn down Eliwood's proposal to his problems actually agrees with his friend.

"A few ladies might be interested." Saei said. "Fiora or Florina. Or even Serra for that matter. I would have suggested Lyndis, if not for Rath having me for dinner if I ever told him that his fiancee is going to pretend to be another person's lover."

Hector stared at her with horror. "You're not serious!" Eliwood wondered which part of Saei's words he's horror-struck of.

"I've seen the way they looked at you, Lord Hector." Saei replied, though Eliwood noticed that there was a hint of contempt in her tone and a well hidden steel look in her eyes. Well, well, well, who would have thought that she also feels the same way towards Hector? Eliwood tried not to grin openly but Saei caught his look.

"What's so funny, Lord Eliwood?"

"Nothing." Eliwood lied. "Anyways, Saei, what do you say if YOU yourself pretend to be Hector's lover?"

"Me? Why me?"

"Yeah, why her?" Hector said, puzzled. Eliwood resisted the urge to roll his eyes. He can't believe he's dealing with the Marquis of Ostia and the Master Tactician. They sound so childish.

"Since Hector doesn't feel comfortable with the ladies you've mentioned, why not you? You're also a lady for that matter, and you've spent a long time with Hector to know most of his bad traits."

"I am not even of high station, Lord Eliwood." she protested. "They would call me 'opportunist' or 'social climber'...or whatever bad adjectives they can think of."

"You're the Master Tactician, Saei." Eliwood pointed out. "You outrank the Generals themselves. If I may say so, you're almost a rank lower than us Marquises."

"I am not even familiar with the rules of the court or anything."

"Stop complaining, Saei. You're only going to act for a few months. Don't worry, I already have the ending in my head." An ending Hector and Saei wouldn't be really happy about for a few months, that is.

Saei bit down on her lip. "Very well, if you insist Lord Eliwood."

Eliwood rounded on Hector, who seems to be hovering between having an objection and approval.

"I don't want to hear any complaints from you, of all people." Eliwood said pointedly. Hector held both of his hands up, in mock innocence.

"I haven't even said anything."

"You're on the verge of spouting them." Eliwood said indifferently. He's quite getting tired of the two of them tiptoeing around each other. It's about time that he take steps of binding them together. Forever. He sighed. It'll be a long time before he can get back to his own wife, Ninian, in Pherae since the two people he least expected the most to act childish are acting so childish to the point of it's getting on his nerves.

"Hector, why don't you go and send for a dressmaker? We want Saei to look better than them."

"Eliwood, you're ordering the Marquis of Ostia around." Hector pointed out.

"But you're being too childish to act the part of a Marquis." Eliwood said. "Now scoot."

Hector mumbled a lot of uncomprehensible words under his breath as he sent a sentry to go look for a dressmaker. Saei tugged at Eliwood's sleeve.

"Yes?"

"Lord Eliwood, I'm not fond of court dresses..."

"Oh don't worry, I'm not going to force you into wearing such puffed up dresses." Eliwood assured her. "It'll just be a simple gown for you, but regal enough to turn heads."

Saei considered of running away at that point, since it's rare for Eliwood to bully them around like this.