In the hands of Earth Sphere Alliance, Relena was not badly treated. Earth Sphere Alliance would not have any intention to harm a sixteen year-old teenager; but as clever as they are, they wouldn't just release her. She was, after all, a daughter of a royal couple well-known for their preaching of pacifism.
And she was a sister to a lost prince.
It was known that Prince Milliardo had a rift from his parents and that he did not agree to their belief in pacifism. It was heard that he had left Sanc Kingdom and enrolled a military school under a fake name. However, which military school was it and what name he used, and more importantly, where is he current location, were all unknown.
General Septum's worst fear was that this Prince Milliardo would emerge from somewhere and launch his vengeance. His hands were stained with blood of Prince Milliardo's parents.
He had seen Relena. The girl was in poor shape. Although no harm was done to her, she had seen her parents' dead bodies. Had Treize not held on to her, she would've collapsed right then and there. When she walked out of the palace, her face became very pale and she vomited. As usual, Treize maintained his patience and calm. He waited until she could pulled herself together and even offered his handkerchief. Under his escort, Relena was taken to a fancy, but heavily guarded suite.
She refused to speak to anyone.
"Princess Relena," General Septum began, using her former title. "We know you have a brother, Prince Milliardo. Do you know where he is?"
Lying in bed, she did not face him. Her eyes were still. In her mind, the image of her parent's dead bodies and bloodshed of Sanc Kingdom flashed in her mind over and over again.
"You can help us," General Septum continued. "From what we heard, Prince Milliardo is very smart and talented. We are happy to offer him a post, if we only know where he is."
Relena only gave him silence.
Unlike Treize, General Septum did not have much patience, if at all; nor did he cared for his image. He glanced around and found her meals remained on the table, untouched.
"When is the last time you've eaten?" He asked.
Seeing that Relena not responding, he turned and said, "Looks like you are ill, Princess Relena. You are unable to eat or speak. I will fetch the physician to help you."
He walked out of the door.
Within minutes, a group of soldiers burst into Relena's room. They pulled away her cover and held down her arms and legs. A physician entered with a bowl of oatmeal. A soldier forced her mouth open and the physician poured the oatmeal down into her throat.
Outside of her room, General Septum listened to the sounds of Relena's struggle and smiled.
He would keep her alive.
And days went on like thus. Under General Septum's orders, his appointed physicians and guards made sure Relena eats everyday. They could've cared less of her comfort.
"How dare you treat Princess Relena like this?"
The physician and guards looked up and found Treize Khrushrenada standing by the doorway.
"Colonel, we-"
"Get out, now!" Treize showed his anger, which was very rare.
When the physician and guards did not move, he pulled out his pistol.
Immediately, they ran out in fear for their lives.
"Forgive me, Princess Relena, I should've came sooner," Treize said. He sat on her bed, seeing her turning away from him. "You have to take good care of yourself." He paused and added, "You don't like the food here?"
He got up and cut a piece of lemon cake.
"My friend Zechs Marquise loves the lemon cake," he continued as brought a morceau of cake to her lips. "He says that his sister loves it too."
Hearing that, finally, Relena burst into tears. She cried against the pillow, and after a long while, she calmed down. She sat up and wiped away her tears. She found Treize still sat on her bed, with the lemon cake.
She took the cake from him and ate.
"You shouldn't harm yourself, Princess Relena," Treize went on with a lowered voice. "General Septum meant well, though I don't agree with his ways. Be content that you are alive. Eat - three meals a day, no matter how rough the food is."
Then secretly, from under his cloak, he took out a book.
"You need something to read," he said. "My present to you."
He got up and looked back at her. "Remember, Princess Relena, three meals a day."
Relena looked at the book. It was titled "The Prince."
"When are you coming back?" She asked.
Under the bright sun and in midst of breeze, Relena rode a white horse. It was the first time she was outdoors since her days in captivity. She had been inside so long that the sunlight is blinding her eyes. She had take horse riding class before. However, she felt uneasy like a beginner. Luckily for her, Treize was by her side, holding the rein.
"You're scared?" He asked, almost teasingly.
"No," Relena lied.
"Horses always know," Treize said. "If you are scared, that is. You shouldn't be. You are the master."
He assisted her dismounting and walked her to a picnic table.
Tea and lemon cake were prepared.
"Have you start reading yet?" He asked.
"'The Prince'?" Relena asked, nodding.
"You'd find it useful."
"To be feared?"
Treize laughed. "You think that's what it teaches you?"
Relena opened the book and read out loud, "And here comes in the question whether it is better to be loved rather than feared, or feared rather than loved. It might perhaps be answered that we should wish to be both; but since love and fear can hardly exist together, it is far safer to be feared than loved."
"And what does it say after that?"
"Nevertheless a prince ought to inspire fear in such a way that, if he does not win love, he avoids hatred; because he can endure very well being feared whilst he is not hated."
"To be loved and feared are two sides of a coin," Treize pointed. "Just like war and peace. You cannot have one without the other."
"But can't you just be loved without being feared?" Relena questioned. "We can live in peace, if we choose to."
"That is idealism," Treize remarked. "Humans are competitive animals. Wars are inevitable. Fear and love are parts of human nature." He then looked at her and asked, "Do you fear me, Princess Relena?"
"No," Relena replied honestly. "You have showed me nothing but kindness. Tell me about your friend, Zechs Marquis."
She had a strong feeling this Zechs Marquis is her brother Milliardo.
"He's MIA."
"What?" Relena did not understand what it stands for.
"I don't know where he is," Treize replied. "But I am very sure that he is alive somewhere. Wherever he is, remember, I am your friend."
"Colonel Treize Khushrenada!"
General Septum stood not far from them. He barked so loud that Relena nearly spilled her tea.
"How dare you-"
"Princess Relena needs some fresh air," Treize replied evenly. "Her health is delicate." He then smiled at Relena. "Come Princess, let's get you inside. A storm is coming."
"How did you get in here?" General Septum demanded. He had ordered no one to communicate with Relena without his permission.
"What is your plan with her?" Treize questioned. "She is not a soldier. She is far from being a politician. The massacre of Sanc Kingdom is not well received, General. Your physician has given me very precise details on how you treated her. I wonder how will it make you look before the assembly of Alliance-"
"Enough!"
"She doesn't know where her brother is," Treize continued. "If you were to keep her here, it will make you look like a tyrannical jailer. What if Prince Milliardo use this incident to taint your image and rally an army against you?"
"You know where Prince Milliardo is?"
"If I knew, I'd found him already," Treize responded. "But everyone knows that Princess Relena is in your hand and you have not been kind to her."
"What are you saying? That I should release her?" General Septum was offended by Treize's words and gesture.
"What can you use her for? Sanc Kingdom is no more. As for Prince Milliardo, I assume if he is still alive, he'd be planning to rescue his sister already. Keeping her here can only bring you trouble."
After a long thought, General Septum nodded. "Fine. I will release her."
"Release her to where?" Treize asked. "She is a former Princess of Sanc Kingdom. The Peacecrafts had been advocating pacifism for decades. I've also heard rumors that the Peacecrafts had planned a marital alliance with the Winners."
The Winners family was a powerful one in the Space Colony. Like the Peacecrafts, they too clamored for total pacifism.
"So what should I do with her?"
Chuckling, Treize replied, "Tell me, General. Do you believe in fairy tales?"