Sanc Kingdom

Relena was leaving her father's study after another Arabic lesson with Minister Darlian when she caught a flash of red hair and an orchid-colored gown swishing around the corner.

"Lady Catherine!" Relena called after the disappearing figure. She watched as the girl swiveled her head and halted her steps. And even from several feet away, the redhead's aghast expression was plain as day.

"Your Highness." Catherine dropped into a curtsy as Relena approached. "I was just asking after you. Your maidservants mentioned that you were in lessons for the afternoon."

"Yes, I've just finished." Relena smiled thinly as Catherine straightened herself. She was a few inches taller than the princess, and striking as she was with her bright hair and alabaster skin, the girl appeared to be nervous as she stood before her sovereign. Then again, it was a look Relena had grown accustomed to seeing on everyone from her servants to her ladies, with the exception of Dorothy Catalonia.

"How was your trip to your family's estate?" Relena asked as politely as she could, knowing the reason for Catherine's visit. The other girl blushed.

"It was… rather eventful," Catherine said, her eyes downcast. Relena's heartbeat quickened.

"Oh? How so?" Relena did her best to feign ignorance, and mask her contempt. "Did you do anything amusing? Or… meet with anyone of particular interest?"

Catherine slowly raised her eyes to meet Relena's. "I'm sure you have heard by now," she whispered. Relena bit her lip and nodded.

"Yes," she ground out. "I have."

Catherine's features crumpled. "Relena, I'm so sorry. I know how this must make you feel, but please know that I wanted nothing to do with the engagement. And yet I must go through with it. I have no choice but to try to raise my family's station," she added, her voice rising along with the color in her cheeks. "It is my duty as a daughter..."

"I understand," Relena said softly, laying a hand on Catherine's arm. "There is no need to apologize. We both find ourselves in the same position… neither one of us has the luxury of entering into a marriage of our own choosing."

Catherine's flush deepened, nearly matching her burgundy hair. "Aye, my lady," she sighed. "Although, you must know, there is no need for you to despair just yet. Even if my family is…"

Relena gaped at her lady. "Why, whatever do you mean?"

Catherine's brows rose. "Then you haven't heard?"

"Heard what, exactly?" Relena frowned. "I'd heard that the Barton family was paying a visit to your homestead, to arrange the match between you and Trowa, but that's all."

"Yes, the Bartons did call on us," Catherine said, glancing about the hallway before continuing. "But they were called away, almost immediately." Her green eyes grew wider. "They received a most unsettling message..."

"What?" Relena asked, growing impatient.

"They were robbed," Catherine whispered, her eyes round as saucers "Their coffers were ransacked."

"Ransacked?" Relena echoed. "By who?"

Catherine shook her head, her red curls bobbing. "No one knows. The thieves got past their guards, somehow. But it sounds like they took everything with them."

Relena swallowed. For the Bartons' sake, she certainly hoped it was not everything. Surely the Duke had a good portion of his sums stowed away in banks. She had to assume that one of Sanc's most powerful nobles would know better than to keep his entire fortune on hand.

"I should hope not," Relena said to Catherine, who was still shaking her head. "What does this mean for your engagement?"

"I don't know." Catherine frowned. "My parents were worried that my dowry would not be enough to lure a Barton, but the Duke and Duchess did not seem to be concerned. But that was before they'd learned they were robbed."

Relena patted the other girl's hand in hers. "How awful…"

"But," Catherine went on, "if the Bartons have truly lost their fortune, the engagement may not even appease my parents anymore." She rolled her eyes. "You see, my father is hoping my future husband will pay off his gambling debts…"

"Oh, dear…" Relena had heard rumors of the Bloom family's troubles, and Catherine's words confirmed them all. "That is a quandary."

Catherine heaved a deep sigh. "What am I going to do?"

"Well…" Relena's mind was churning. "You could stay at court, with me."

"But you are going off to Arabia!" the redhead gasped.

"I know," Relena said, smiling. "You could come with me, and still be one of my ladies. Dorothy and Hilde plan to join me, and I should like to have at least three, if not four, ladies in my company."

"And in Arabia…" Catherine brightened. "Why, some of the richest men in the world live there..."

"Exactly," Relena said. "You should have no trouble finding a husband who can erase your father's debts. That is, if the Barton arrangement should fall through…"

Catherine looked skeptical. "Is this your way of keeping Trowa all to yourself?" She elbowed Relena's side playfully. "As your consort or lover, or what?"

"I wouldn't dream of it," Relena gasped, hushing her friend. "In Arabia? I'd lose my head!"

"Then why grant me this favor?" Catherine asked, green eyes narrowing in suspicion. Relena just smiled.

"Because I need a lady, and you need a husband."

Catherine scoffed. "That may be true, but I know you are far cleverer than that, Your Highness." Her eyes gleamed. "You've got some scheme up your royal sleeve; I'm sure of it."

Relena laughed off her lady's accusations as they continued their walk about the castle. But later, in her chamber, she sat at her small pine desk and dashed off a letter, creasing it into crisp folds and fastening it with her personal seal.

"Deliver this letter to the Barton estate at once," she told the young page she'd summoned to her door. "And do not, under any circumstances, make any stops."

The messenger nodded, bowed, and hurried off with Relena's letter in hand.

- RGS