Alright, so this is going to vary quite a bit from the original story here and there. I'm not sure how long it'll be, but it'll explore a relationship between Katarina and Sora (sorry Katarina and Geordo shippers!). I'll likely also write Katarina a bit differently, but keep the core of her character true. As of now it'll be mostly cute fluff with a little dose of angst.

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Katarina hummed happily to herself as she worked in her garden. The bright sun warmed her, and the cheerful buzz of cicadas filled her ears.

"Lady Katarina!" Anne called as she walked towards her. "A letter just arrived for you which you might want to read".

Katarina looked up from her tomatoes, wiping her arm across her brow and leaving a rather bold streak of dirt.

Anne smiled wordlessly and handed her a crisp white handkerchief, gesturing to the earth smeared on her forehead. She had taken to keeping a stash of them in her apron pocket - goodness knows that her lady rarely considered her appearance.

"Thank you, Anne." Katarina replied, grinning sheepishly.

Taking off her mud-caked gloves, and - after glancing around quickly to make sure her mother wasn't nearby watching - she wiped her hands roughly on her pants. Finally Katarina took the letter Anne held out. It was stamped with the Magic Ministry's seal and Katarina felt her heart speed up.

Tearing it open, she read the contents out loud:

"We are pleased to offer you a position in the Magic Tools department of the Magic Ministry. Your position will begin on the first day of September. Please report to your superior, Larna Smith at your earliest convenience to receive further details"

"I can't believe it, I'm going to work at the Magic Ministry!" Katarina cheered happily. "I need to tell mother and father - and Keith!"

She took off running before Anne could respond. After a short silence she heard the Dutchess exclaim "KA TA RI NAH!" Cringing with some sympathy - although at this point she was unsure who it was for - Anne recalled the thick layer of mud caked to her lady's boots. Mud which surely now adorned the mansion's floors.

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The remaining weeks of summer passed by in a blur of packing, gardening, last minute lectures on etiquette, and fending off her friends who all seemed to have some opinion or well wishes about her new job. Geordo especially had become rather more persistent - sending her constant gifts and letters. Her bedroom was beginning to resemble a flower shop.

"Remember Katarina, you're far too defenseless". Lectured Geordo for what felt like the hundredth time. "Don't walk alone, and be careful who you talk to. Remember - you're my fiance".

"Yes, yes" sighed Katarina. "As I've said - you need not be tied to me. I'm sure there are more suitable fiances for you. I'm not exactly cut out to be a queen."

She looked down, chewing her lip with a worried expression.

"If I'm being honest, I've been worried about that for a while. I don't know if I want to be queen. I don't know If I'll want to stop working at the Magic Ministry once I start."

Geordo was silent for a time - looking at her face carefully.

"But I want to be King… I need to be King." Brightening he continued "my dear Katarina, I'm sure you just haven't thought this through, you would be a wonderful queen - after all, there are many who would dream of thi-"

"But I don't!" She cut in. "I've long since outgrown those dreams. But this… working at the Magic Ministry. This fits my dreams. This fits who I want to be. I don't want to stop climbing trees."

Geordo was silent again. The muscles of his shoulders and neck visibly tense. "Do you understand what you're saying, Katarina?" He took a deep breath and relaxed visibly. "Let's not make any rash decisions now. I implore you to think more on this. I… I care for you."

"Would you give up the crown?" came her uncharacteristically quiet reply. "Would you let me live my life as I dream? I want to see the world - would you lay down your responsibilities for that? Should you?"

"... No" came his soft answer. "I cannot turn my back on the crown".

"You should return home, Geordo. It's getting late."

"We'll talk later" he replied, and turned towards the waiting carriage.

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That evening in the Magic Tools Department of the Magic Ministry, Sora Smith was sifting through the seemingly endless mountain of paperwork covering his desk.

Thwack

Another was placed in front of him, and he looked up to see an unfamiliar woman - that is, until she pulled off her wig and glasses and the face of his superior Larna was revealed.

There must be some magic used in her disguise… There's no way a normal person is that good at changing their face, he thought.

"You're back - have you finally approved all the documents I'm sure you were mobbed with?" he said with a chuckle.

"No actually, I snuck in incognito" she responded with a grin over her shoulder as she walked off. "I thought you might want to see the list of our new recruits"

Curious, he thumbed through the columns of names until his eyes caught one in particular. Katarina Claes - Magic Tools Department.

He felt a strange, rather unfamiliar flutter in his chest as he read her name. He felt his hopes rising yet again, and fought to push them down to reasonable levels.

Get a hold of yourself, Sora. She's a person - just like any other". Despite his rather convincing pep-talk, he found himself once again staring at the jewel that she had given him all those months ago - the one that held the colour of both their eyes.