A sudden powerful light blinded Trowa, and the world seemed to spin out of control around him.

"Trust me, Arora."

Trowa struggled against the images and sounds that crashed against the floodgate holding back his memories as the sensations coming from her hands made him shudder. Her strong feelings were conveyed to him with her touch, and he was unable to fight the pain that stabbed through his mind.

He closed his eyes and he saw her.

She was smiling as she sat cross-legged on a woven mat. Her hair was tied up with a red ribbon, but some of the dark strands were clinging to her face and she hummed as she polished her sword. He hated that sword. He was afraid she loved that sword more than she did him.

"Where is Apolo?"

"We walked through the garden, and he became interested in a particular flower."

"Did she have golden hair?"

"And blue eyes." They both laughed. Apolo was incorrigible. He came to sit across from her, but when he reached out to her, Arora ignored him as she continued to polish her sword. But her movements on the sword were slowing. She would never know how much she meant to him, no matter what words he used to tell her. Her duties to him and to the honor of father's house were so important to her she would not even consider returning his touch. He needed more from her.

"Arora, I am going to speak to my father."

She looked up; her hands paused in their work.

Their eyes met. Her warm brown gaze made him shiver with pleasant feelings. "Your father will not be pleased. You are making a mistake." Then she added, her voice a frightened whisper, "My lord Dax will think…"

"Trust me, Arora."

"Arora! What are you doing?"

Apolo's startled, horrified exclamation made her break contact. Trowa felt as if he were drunk. His knees wobbled until he fell to them in the wet sand. Light-headed, disoriented, he found it difficult to focus as he looked up at Arora. She stood staring at him with a sad half-smile.

Apolo came to them, obviously angry with his sister, and he jerked her arm to pull her away from him. "How dare you do such a thing! And in public!" He looked around as if fearing scandalized stares, and Trowa followed his gaze, half-expecting the same. But no one was paying any attention to him or her. He wasn't sure if he understood Apolo's outrage, but deep inside, he felt a deep sense that Apolo was right. Arora should not have touched him.

"I am sorry I have offended you, brother," she snapped as she jerked her arm away, "but I wanted to test him. I didn't feel or see anything from his touch."

Trowa managed to stand. "Is that what you were doing? Do you have some ability to read my mind?"

She looked at him, but beyond one searching glance, she did not respond before walking away.

Apolo looked at Trowa. "On behalf of my lord father's house, I beg your forgiveness. I fear she has assimilated bad habits from the females with whom she must associate while on this planet. I will punish her suitably until we can return to Calabria where my father will do so properly."

"That won't be necessary." Trowa put his hand on Apolo's arm. "I…I had a memory."

Apolo raised his brows, then looked beyond towards his sister who was berating princess Ryana.

"I did not dishonor your sister," he told Apolo. He felt it important to tell him.

Apolo did not seem mollified. "If we had been on Calabria, she would just have dishonored herself, Prince Trey, and doomed herself to punishment. One is not allowed to touch the crowned prince. Not ever."

A strange practice thought Trowa, and yet he understood that if she had such power in her touch, she could be dangerous. Trowa had never felt anything so intense in his life. At least not that he could remember. "You must tell me more of your customs on Calabria."

"I have had a chance to observe the customs of these Earth people, and I can tell you that while on the surface they are different, deep down they are much the same. Our society is highly structured." He pointed toward the group of young men and women mingling now as they took down the net and packed up to go up to the lab for the evening meal. "Duo and Trynity are of the same warrior class and would be permitted to become mates, although she would not be allowed the liberties and freedom that she has. Heero dares not reach above his station to the princess, although he may wish to. Such is the same on Calabria. Perhaps we are more rigid, but our society has evolved from necessity. The king here has married the commander of his army, but on Calabria, Arora would not even have dared to touch you. Very few females have even the slightest appearance of power, and then only over other females."

"Stupid customs," muttered Trowa. His head was beginning to ache. Perhaps he should not have asked Apolo any questions.

"Yet those customs have existed for thousands of years. Each Calabrian is born to a duty. When duties are performed, life on Calabria runs smoothly. We all know what is expected of us."

"No one has ever challenged such a system?"

"I do not ever remember such a thing. But I once heard my lord father remark that your mother did not know her place."

"My mother?" Trowa had never given any thought to parents left behind on Calabria. "Is she alive?"

Apolo shook his head. "Your mother died when we were young children. I do not know the circumstances, but I remember that when Emperor Zeno came back from quelling a rebellion in the Wastelands, he was enraged with grief. No one had even informed him, and he had discovered it only weeks later. I feared for my lord father's life." Apolo sighed and looked up at the sky and Trowa sensed that he was saddened by his mother's loss as well. "I think I now know where she came from."

"My mother was not from Calabria?"

"No. My lord father remembers that crowned Prince Zeno found her on an alien craft that had crashed on one of Calabria's moons. He tried to discover her origins and was never able. I am convinced now that she was from this planet."

"But how could that be?"

"I think I can answer that." The statement came from behind them.

They turned and found Dr. Stryfe standing with his arms crossed.

"Sorry for eavesdropping, but I heard a few words and couldn't resist."

"What did you mean?" asked Trowa.

"You will remember," began Dr. Stryfe, "that a scientific craft was lost near L10 almost twenty years ago. There were two pilots, and three scientists. One of those scientists was a brilliant young physicist and astronomer named Virineia Sakarov. She had been a good friend of my wife, Trynity's mother. Despite the risks, she could not resist studying the phenomena. We were both saddened when she never returned."

"Do you believe that woman was my mother?" asked Trowa. He turned to look at Apolo.

"It is possible. She was unlike any woman of Calabria in her outspoken behavior."

Dr. Stryfe chuckled. "Virineia was rather shy, so I would be surprised if our theory were true. I am sorry that I cannot say that you look like her, Trowa."

"He looks like his father," stated Apolo.

"Well, come in to get ready for supper. Colonel Benton and King Miliardo have arrived and the girls are up to whatever girls can be." He touched Trowa's arm before they headed in. "Later, we can look through some old photographs I have of Virineia. Perhaps you, Apolo or Arora will recognize her."

"I remember her will," volunteered Apolo. "She was like a mother to me and Arora."

During the meal for which they were all forced to dress formally because the stiff-backed King Miliardo was in attendance, Relena picked at her food and tried not to look at Heero who was sitting beside that chattering ninny from Bayman. The princess was blatantly trying to make Colonel Benton jealous, but Benton was too busy watching Noin and her handling of the eating utensils to care what Ryana was doing. There was so much stress at that end of the table that Relena felt sorry for the colonel. Noin scarcely touched her food, and when Miliardo expressed his concern, she told him she was not feeling well. Relena knew for a fact that Noin was feeling just fine, but she didn't want to prove to her brother that she still hadn't mastered the use of the flatware.

At another end of the table, Dr. Stryfe was talking to Trowa about some physicist who was lost in space beyond colony L10. Relena couldn't hear the conversation and soon grew bored trying, so she glanced at Duo and Trynity. Trynity was laughing at something Lars had said, and Duo was attempting to make her jealous by flirting with Hilde. How pathetic! After a week of trying to convince Miss Stryfe that Duo was a hair-brained loser, Relena was certain Trynity would run out the door to "walk" on the beach with him before he would finish asking. Lars had some strange relationship with Hilde. Why Hilde put up with that hound dog, Relena didn't know. On the other hand, Lars Nelson was good looking, so Relena could understand wanting to hang onto him. He was just a flirt anyway. He never really cheated on Hilde. He just seemed to want the attention of all women.

Dorothy was trying to entertain Wufei and Quatre. Wufei glared at her as she recounted war stories, while Quatre listened with rapt attention. Then again he wasn't really listening to her. Dorothy's evening gown was a bit revealing, so Quatre kept looking where a gentleman shouldn't. Relena looked down at her own gown and wondered if she even owned a dress that was in the slightest revealing. Perhaps she should dress like Dorothy Catalonia, and then someone might notice her. She glanced at Heero. He was studying his plate of food with a frown while Ryana chattered away in the cloying voice that she presumed was attractive. Looked as if the duke of depression wanted to stab himself with one of the many forks set out before him. She rather wished he would use one on the princess. He might be doing Calabria a favor, and Miliardo might even overlook the diplomatic faux pas.

Sighing, Relena realized that she would never have the same liberties as Dorothy to dress as she pleased. Miliardo would never allow her because he had to worry about public opinion, especially after the Roxy Rivera scandal. His romp in the desert with Noin aside, Miliardo was the worst prude and stick in the mud that Relena had ever met. She wondered if their father had been such a prig. Naturally he would have been, which was why Miliardo was so uptight, worrying about appearances, bemoaning the past that had stained his hands with blood. Oh, how tragic! Old King Peacecraft probably had some skeletons dangling in the closets that his heir never knew about. Too bad Relena had other things on her mind or she might just dig into that closet. That might take the prince of perfect down a peg and earn her some points with Noin.

Relena glanced at Arora and saw that she was trying unsuccessfully not to look at Trowa with that lovesick gaze. Whatever was between her and Prince Trey certainly wasn't dead in her eyes. Relena couldn't imagine Trowa Barton as a prince. From what little she had managed to pry out of Arora, Prince Trey had been loved by his people, that he was out-going, dynamic and charismatic. Not much like Trowa Barton, the sultan of silence.

Sighing, she glanced to her right and caught Apolo looking at her. The handsome visitor's amber gaze took her breath away for a moment, and then she smiled at him. "Are you enjoying your visit to Earth?" she asked him for lack of anything else to say. She knew she sounded like a dimwit, but she saw no need to exert any effort on the Calabrian's part. He was so much like Lars Nelson that the resemblance was uncanny.

"I might enjoy Earth more if I knew I would be able to return to my own world," he replied. He lifted the glass of wine. "There are some amenities I am beginning to enjoy." He drank down the contents. "This liquid gives me a warm feeling."

"If you drink too much, it will make you puke," remarked Relena.

Apolo laughed. "I am not sure what you mean, but I am willing to try new experiences." Relena nearly flew out of her seat when he reached over to put his hand on hers. "There are other interesting diversions on this planet I would be willing to try."

Relena felt her cheeks heat up as some unnamed feeling inched through her. She had a sudden deep insight into herself, and she didn't like what she saw. She almost jerked her hand away from Apolo, but Heero whose eyes were aimed directly at their contact suddenly distracted her. He looked ready to pull a gun! Did he have one? Surely he did! Heero always carried his gun, just as Trynity carried her pistol, Duo a lockpick in his hair, and Apolo and Arora hid their swords in their robes. Perhaps Heero and Apolo would fight over her! Relena glanced at her brother to see if he was showing his disapproval, but Miliardo was too distracted by Noin to whom he was now feeding bits from his own plate. Of course he was using the correct service. Clever Noin! She didn't have to worry about which fork to use as long as Miliardo was her personal slave, and he would be until the baby came.

She turned her attention back to Apolo and managed to smile at him although she was nervous. Relena had never truly flirted with a boy before much less a man like Apolo of Calabria. Who knew what customs they had on his planet regarding women? He might throw her over his shoulder and brandish his sword to claim her like some primitive ape-man. Thinking of which, she glanced at Heero. His eyes looked dark and dangerous, one of his hands had gone beneath the table toward his back where he hid his gun. Relena felt her heart racing with anticipation.

"Princess, you seem distracted," remarked Apolo as he removed his hand. There was a faint smile on his lips. "I hope I did not offend you."

"Of course not!" He really was a good-looking man. Perhaps she should just forget about Heero and concentrate on forging an alliance with Calabria. But her toes curled as she realized the only alliance acceptable to her brother would be with the clown prince. That thought was enough to make her lose her appetite.

"On our planet he would have offended you," remarked Arora from across the table.

"We are not on our planet," Apolo reminded her. "As you took advantage of earlier."

"I thought it best that the princess realize that you have shown her disrespect." Arora sipped her wine, then set it aside, her eyes still watching her brother.

"Be careful where you tread, sister. I have every confidence that Dr. Stryfe will repair our ship and we will return to Calabria. I intend to give Prince Dilan a thorough report of your inappropriate conduct."

That shut her up. Relena smiled at Apolo. "Regardless of your customs on Calabria, I was not offended." Heero was ready to detonate sitting between Arora and Ryana. All Relena had to do was press the button. "Are you aware, Apolo, that before you leave for space next week, we will be having a celebration in honor of Dr. Stryfe and our gundam pilots?"

"I have heard the pilots discussing it."

No doubt in unfavorable terms, but Relena forged ahead. "I am hoping you would agree to escort me."

There was a clattering of china, and they both turned to see that Heero had jumped to his feet, bumping the table, spilling his wine across the tablecloth. He stared at the both of them like a wild-eyed lunatic.

Relena loved it!

Miliardo did not.

"Heero Yuy!" His authoritative voice cut through the tension. "Do you wish to be excused?"

Relena wished Miliardo were within kicking range. He probably wouldn't appreciate that since he was in his "king mode."

"I do, Your Excellency." Not waiting for permission, he strode from the room without a backward glance.

Noin laughed to ease the continuing strain in the room. "He still has far to go in his learning of manners."

Miliardo raised his blond brows and glanced down at her untouched dining service. "My dear, so do you. A few more lessons on the use of tableware appear to be in order. You have eaten most of my meal without lifting so much as a spoon."

"I wouldn't know which spoon to lift!"

Before the argument could escalate to embarrassing heights, and Relena knew that it would, Benton cleared his throat. "I believe, Your Excellency, that Princess Relena has an announcement to make about the upcoming event to take place at Dover Base."

"Does she?" He looked at Relena. "So you have managed to plan your little party at last?"

"We are attending, Miliardo," Noin reminded him.

"I have no objection," he said with a smile at his wife.

Relena almost laughed at the look on Noin's face. Noin was savoring her upcoming moment of triumph. So she gestured to a servant who brought forth folders containing information and costume designs which she and her friend had all put together with quick, extensive research using the Cinq Kingdom's fastest information servers. Probably the best use that had ever been put to them.

"What is this?" demanded Wufei furiously as he stared at the pictures of the costumes contained in his folder.

Relena took a deep breath as Miliardo opened his. Noin was resting her chin on her hand as she gazed at him, waiting for his reaction. The color first drained from his face, and then two bright spots of pink blotched his otherwise perfect complexion. Relena didn't wait for his explosion before launching into her explanation. "As you can see, we have decided on an appropriate theme, Knights of the Round Table. We have already sent a publicity notice to the press announcing the event as a charity benefit for those who have suffered in the war, so we hope to have a large turnout."

"Miss Relena has done a wonderful job of organizing the event!" cried Dorothy fervently, clasping her hands before her. "Hasn't she, Mr. Miliardo."

"That is King Miliardo to you," remarked Noin with a glare, before turning her dark gaze back to her husband. "Well, Miliardo, have you nothing to say?"

Miliardo opened his mouth to speak, but no sound came forth.

Benton filled the void. "I am not sure this is a good idea, Relena."

"Nonsense!" Noin was grinning widely. "The citizens will enjoy the festival and the tournaments, and the event will raise millions for charity relief. There are still many people suffering from losses sustained during the wars. I think wearing tights for an afternoon and evening is little enough to sacrifice for them. Don't you, Miliardo?"

"Noin!" he whispered harshly to her. Relena didn't know why he bothered to whisper because everyone could hear him. "How dare you be a party to this!"

She patted his cheek. "Dear Miliardo, it was my idea!"

He was clenching his fists on the table all too close to the array of knives and forks he insisted upon at meals.

Noin continued to smile at him. "Perhaps I will wear my harem costume and you can pretend I am some slave captured from the Far East on one of your crusades."

He glared at her for a moment, then threw back his platinum blonde hair and laughed.

Relena cringed. Her elegant brother really had an irritating laugh! Noin joined him laughing, and Relena heard Benton chuckle discreetly before resuming his usual somber expression.

"I ain't doing it!" announced Duo, tossing his folder into the middle of the table.

"I think you will," stated Trynity. She glanced at Lars. "I'm sure you will."

"Of course, and if you need an escort…"

"All right!" Duo crossed his arms as he sat back on his chair and glared at the two of them. Trynity smiled at him and immediately his expression softened. Nauseating, thought Relena.

"Do you expect me to do it?" demanded Wufei.

"You will," stated Miliardo with a chuckle. "If I am doing it, I expect the knights of my round table to do so also."

Dr. Stryfe rubbed his hands together. "I already have a costume in mind! I will be Merlin!"

"Excellent choice, father!" Trynity grinned at him. "You would make an terrific sorcerer."

"You each have an appointment scheduled with the costume designers tomorrow, and I suggest you keep them," stated Relena. "Any of you guys tries to get out of it, you will be dressed as the jester complete with bells on your pointy-toed slippers."

"Sounds interesting," remarked Apolo.

Relena glanced at him. "I already have plans for you, Apolo."

"That sounds even more interesting," he said as he caught her hand and pressed his warm lips to her fingers.

"Brother!" snapped Arora.

She really was a wet rag, thought Relena as Apolo released her hand. Too bad Heero hadn't been there to witness that little display, she thought as she dragged her hand away.

"It has been a long day," announced Noin as she stood. "I am exhausted. You girls get your things. I think it is time that we went home."

"Already!" whined Duo pathetically. "Can't Trynity stay here?"

"Duo!" Trynity was embarrassed. His intentions couldn't have been more obvious. Too bad for him that security had been tightened at the palace so he couldn't sneak in commando style to pay her a visit.

Noin laughed. "I think you've seen enough of Trynity today. We all have."

"I don't know about that," remarked Lars with a chuckle, which earned him a jab in the ribs from Hilde.

"Well, can I at least take her out for a picnic tomorrow?" Duo noticed Dr. Stryfe's glare, then added, "Trowa's coming with." Did he really think the clown prince was going to act as their chaperone? Relena was disgusted and embarrassed for Trynity's sake.

Trowa started - he hadn't really been paying any attention as he watched Arora - then glanced at Duo who had the wide begging puppy look, then looked at Dr. Stryfe. "I thought I would take Arora on the picnic, that is if she would consent."

"Of course she does," said Trynity, answering for the imperial guard.

Duo and Trynity couldn't be more obvious, thought Trowa. He should have made up some excuse so that he wouldn't have to pretend be their chaperone. They were going to do what they wanted to do anyway, and now he was caught up in it and so was Arora.

"I think that would be very appropriate," stated Arora seriously.

Duo's grin faded as did Trynity's little smile. They weren't as clever as they thought.

"Perhaps you should take the princess with you," suggested Wufei with a smirk. "She might enjoy this quaint Earth experience."

"Are you volunteering to escort me? I would be delighted!" Ryana giggled.

Wufei looked as if he had swallowed poison, but he couldn't back out. Served him right for trying to be a smart-ass.

"I didn't want a damn party," snarled Duo under his breath.

Noin looked at Benton. "Are you sure you wouldn't like to get out in the sunshine, colonel. You are starting to look a little pale. The outside air would do wonders for you. It has me!"

Benton smoothly replied, "I have far too much work to do to help Relena get her event off the ground."

"I suppose." Noin looked at the girls. "Let us be on our way." She leaned down to kiss Miliardo. "I'll see you later, loverboy. Don't be too long. I might not wait up for you."

After the women had gone, Duo remarked, "I could destroy Dover Base to stop this debacle."

"Nataku could help," stated Wufei.

Miliardo chuckled. "Forget it. They have us with our backs to the walls. I'm sure the charity angle is all over the news."

"Noin is a crafty woman," remarked Trowa.

Heero walked into the room and took the seat vacated by the king's wife.

Miliardo grinned. "So she is, but I wouldn't give her up." His expression became serious. "I remained behind because we need to discuss events in space."

"There is no doubt in our mind that Lady Une is behind the aggressions in space," stated Benton. "At first she gathered together the soldiers left from the Coalition who have refused to suspend fighting. Now she appears to have made another alliance."

"There was heavy damage to the L3 colony in an attack yesterday. Our surveillance satellites managed to capture these images to send back to Earth." Miliardo glanced at Benton who distributed the photographs transmitted to Earth from the satellite.

As Trowa stared at the oddly shaped crafts in the photographs, a sweat broke out over his brow.

There was something familiar about them. He reached up to loosen his tie.

"Where did those things come from?" asked Duo.

"How dangerous are they?" wondered Wufei aloud.

"Dangerous enough to cause the evacuation of L3. Fortunately there were minimal casualties. Apparently they were after something specific because they left after they found it." Miliardo sighed. "But you can see that we are faced with a dilemma."

"There is no dilemma." Heero stood with his arms folded. "Total pacifism is a myth. You and I both know that, Zechs Merquise. Wherever these people have come from, we must fight them. We will always have to fight."

"I had hopes for a future free of incessant war." Miliardo pounded his fist on the table. "When will this fighting end? I do not want my son or daughter to be born into a world ablaze in war!"

"These crafts do not have any design I am familiar with," commented Dr. Stryfe as he studied the pictures, his bent glasses on the end of his nose. He leaned forward. "On the other hand, I do recognize some elements. They seem to have been outfitted recently refitted with weaponry that does not match the original design."

"They are imperial Calabrian cruisers," stated Trowa. "They are not designed for war."

Apolo, who had been listening silently, left his chair and went to Trowa to look at the pictures over his shoulder. Then he said, "He is right. This is a portion of the fleet that had been sent out to rid Bayman space of the pirates although Dr. Stryfe is correct. Those weapons are not Calabrian. Our fleet has rudimentary laser weapons used only for protection, not for agression. Unlike our Bayman neighbors, our technology is not as advanced as your own, which is a reason for our alliance with Bayman."

"What do you suppose they are doing here?" asked Quatre.

"And helping Lady Une?" Duo chuckled. "You Calabrians could not be so foolish as to trust that kind of woman."

"They must be searching for us," answered Apolo. "The marriage of Ryana and Dilan is very important to our empire. I have little doubt that when we did not arrive, they sent out the fleet."

"It is very possible that they somehow found the portal to our system," commented Dr. Stryfe.

"I must find a way to contact them, to tell them we are safe."

"No!" blurted Trowa. He was uneasy about the appearance of the Calabrian forces.

"But, my lord prince, the sooner I contact them…"

"They will not listen to you," stated Trowa. "I forbid you to contact them, Apolo." Trowa was unwilling to leave this life behind to resume a role for which he no longer felt suited. And he had a deep nagging suspicion that Dilan himself was behind the attacks. Could he have guessed that he still lived? Why had they attacked L3 in particular? What had they found? Trowa felt cold and sick with fear.

"As long as we know who they are, I think it is still in the best interests of the colonies if we contact them," stated Miliardo. He was looking at Trowa. "We will not reveal your presence."

"You must not let them know about Apolo, Arora or Princess Ryana." Trowa sensed strongly that there was danger for them all.

"I will find it difficult to make no mention of them. Perhaps we have the edge in knowing exactly who our enemy is." Miliardo rose. "Well, I had better return to the palace." He chuckled. "Don't forget your appointments at the costume shop."

"What is this about a costume shop?" asked Heero as Miliardo left accompanied by Benton.

"You don't want to know," grumbled Wufei.

"Let's not tell him," suggested Lars.

Quatre giggled. "I can see Heero with bells on his toes!"

Suddenly there was a gun pointing between his eyes. "You had better talk, Winner."

"Put that gun away!" ordered Dr. Stryfe sternly.

Surprisingly, Heero obeyed.

"You will find all the information in the folder with your name."

"That would be the one with the hearts and flowers," chuckled Duo.

Trowa left the dining room with Heero's curses and Dr. Stryfe's scolding ringing in his ears. He went to his room, followed, as usual by Apolo. His Imperial guard did not speak, even when Trowa went to his window, pulled it open and leaned out to look up at the starry sky. For a long time he stared at the blackness dotted with tiny blinking lights before he said, "Do you believe in destiny, Apolo?"

"Destiny?" Apolo seemed confused by his question.

Trowa turned around to look at him, leaning against the window ledge. "Do you believe I could have ended up here for a purpose?"

"You came to be here because your ship was caught in some space warp," stated Apolo.

"And you do not find it odd that your ship was also caught in the same space warp, that despite all the solar systems there must be in the universe, you came to this one, that I was the first being you saw from this planet?"

"Perhaps we were drawn here." Apolo sighed. "One does not question the will of the gods."

"Who navigated your ship?" asked Trowa curiously. "You or Arora?"

"Arora," he admitted unhappily.

Trowa already knew that she possessed some type of psychic power. He looked back out to the stars. "I could have stayed on Earth to protect the Cinq Kingdom the day your craft was detected. Quatre and I did a silly game, rock, paper, scissors, and I won the right to take my gundam into space to meet a potential enemy." He looked back to Apolo. "I cannot go back to Calabria. I do not know who my enemy is."

"That is not a mystery to me, my lord prince. Your brother, Dilan, is behind these attacks just as I believe he instigated the pirate attack on your ship, and you are right to continue as you are." Apolo knelt before him. "I would give my life to protect you, Trey."

"So would Arora," murmured Trowa.

He didn't want Arora hurt because of him, especially when he had only scattered remembrances of their relationship. Despite his loss of memory, one thing was certain to him, and that was that his feelings for her had been deep. But he was beginning to realize how inappropriate a relationship with his imperial guard would have been on Calabria. What had happened when he spoke to his father? Did he have the courage to approach him? He had no memory of Emperor Zeno, but an anxious dread made Trowa shudder as he thought his name. He didn't know the answers to those questions. He did know that the pirates had attacked him on his way to Bayman, and Trowa had no choice but to accept that he was very likely making a bid for power in snatching Ryana from under his brother's nose. He may have gone to his father who had offered him a princess to replace his imperial guard. Trowa didn't really know Trey of Calabria and who he really was or how he thought.

He didn't want to know a man who could do such a thing to a woman like Arora.