Standing before the fireplace, Treize threw the unopened letter into the fire. The flame consumed the envelope and its red seal until they were reduced to ashes. He didn't bother to read the letter because he already knew what was in it. He gently laughed. Just as he predicted - Duke Demail was far from capable of leading an army on his own. What's worse, the Duke wasn't just facing any enemy. He was facing Zechs Marquise, known as the Lightning Count; and his real name is Milliardo Peacecraft, the long lost brother whom Relena was searching after fall of Sanc Kingdom.

This Duke Demail, who had demanded Treize's resignation before all members of the Alliance, was now at Treize's mercy.

Without a son of his own, Duke Demail had seen Treize as an heir and a mentee. Initially, he had counted on Treize to expand his power. As time went by, however, it was obvious that Treize had his own ideas and ambition. Soon, Duke Demail realized that he couldn't control him as much as he thought he could. When Treize demonstrated how he could easily defeat an army of mobile dolls by ordering the soldiers to press a button to disarm them, he proved the Duke's ideals a joke with a simple act. Needless to say, Duke Demail was humiliated. As an act of vengeance and to prevent a potential threat, he ordered Treize to resign. With a smile, Treize complied.

Just as Duke Demail had feared, Treize was not anyone to be underestimated.

Under Duke Demail's orders, he was supposed to be taken to an old castle in a secluded area. Yet, soldiers and guards remained loyal to him. So, instead of following of Duke Demail's orders, they did everything Treize asked them to do. They stopped before Howard's factory, where Treize picked up Relena, and took them to the palace of Sanc Kingdom.

True, the Duke had powers; but power itself is pointless without support from the soldiers. Duke Demail had insisted that mobile dolls are the future; sooner or later there will be wars without the need of men to fight. However, in doing so, he lost the faith from soldiers. Despite the fact that no one wants to die, soldiers were trained to fight. Not only that, their everyday life depended on money and pension paid by the military. Once the mobile dolls took over, what would it be for them?

Though in exile, Treize remained active. He got his eyes and ears. Reports on the threat from colonies, Gundam attacks, and activities within the Alliance had been sent to him secretly. A good handful of them Treize had Relena read to him; but there were ones that he kept to himself. He knew that Duke Demail is struggling with the Alliance. From his spies, he learned that the Duke went to see him but found the secluded castle empty; all this time the Duke had thought Treize lived quietly in exile as he had ordered.

But it wasn't long before Duke Demail found out that Treize had settled in Sanc Kingdom and has Princess Relena Peacecraft with him.

The letters from Duke Demail - either he is asking Treize to hand over Relena Peacecraft or possibly asking him to return to his side - Treize never cared for them. Patiently, he waited for the Duke to come to him in person.

Because he is the only one who can defeat Zechs Marquise - a man who once was his best friend until the day he betrayed him.

A glorious war was happening, with Zechs Marquise, or Milliardo Peacecraft, leading a group called the White Fangs and declaring war against Earth.

Treize thought about Relena. Her beautiful eyes saw his vulnerability - something he had masterfully hidden from everyone. Though he had never told her that he's in exile, she sensed his loneliness. She's a treasure indeed, he thought.

The stage is set and all players are in place. He had the perfect weapon built to fight Zechs and he also got the perfect soldier. Now, all he needed was Duke Demail to show up.

Yet, to his disappointment, it was Dorothy who came instead of the Duke.

"Treize, can I meet Princess Relena?" Dorothy asked. She had stayed for more than a week. Treize knew that she's here as her grandfather's spy.

"No," he replied. "Why do you want to see her?"

"You can't keep her to yourself," Dorothy said. "The Princess is getting lonely here. She sees you all the time, but she deserves to have friends other than you."

"What are you planning to tell her?"

"That I'm only a friend and nothing else," Dorothy replied. "Dear cousin Treize, if you continue to keep Relena under lock and key like this, sooner or later she will run from you."

"That's not true," Treize's face hardened. "She has all the freedom she needs. She chooses to stay with me for her safety."

"Oh really?" Dorothy raised an eyebrow. "Ah, I have found several doors in this palace always locked. I remembered their locations and if you were to look from the sky, these doors form a circle around the rooms and suites in this palace. If they remain locked, then they'd serve as a fortress. The only question is, in which room is Princess Relena staying?"

"You are not going anywhere near her," Treize said in a low voice.

"Why? You think I will kidnap her and take her to my dear grandfather?" Dorothy questioned teasingly. "Dear cousin Treize, you can't hide it from her forever. It is her brother Milliardo Peacecraft who's leading the White Fang and declaring war on Earth. Grandfather is losing his patience."

"If you know Milliardo" Treize asked. "Or Zechs Marquise, then you know he's not going to stop simply because his sister is in the hands of your grandfather."

"So, she's better off in your hands?" Dorothy asked. "My grandfather is also your uncle. We are a family, Treize. I know you and grandfather have differences, but we can't be divided under this circumstance. What's your real plan with her?"

Dorothy went to the window and leaned against it.

"Once upon a time, there was a prince," she began. "He abandoned his family and his name of Peacecraft. He joined the military academy. There, he met a son from a prestigious noble family. Together, they were inseparable. The two had to be together, whether they were in agreement or quarreling. Years later, that boy from the prestigious noble family rose to the rank of colonel. He had this dream. He wanted to conquer the world and he wanted to achieve this dream with the Peacecraft prince. The colonel was an honorable and chivrolous man. He would not stomach any betrayal from a friend. Sadly, that's exactly what that Peacecraft prince did. One day, he stole the mobile suit that the colonel speat years to build. With it, he is launching war against earth. The colonel, however, has the Peacecraft prince's sister in his hands. The question is, what exactly is in his mind?"

"Stay away from the window, Dorothy," Treize said. "This palace is old. If you fall out of that window, the flower beds on the ground is not going to save you."

"You are too much," Dorothy said as matter-of-factly. "What is your worst fear? That you are alone in pursuing your wonderful dream of a world nation?"

With a giggle, she walked away.

No, she would not leave this palace until she caught a glimpse of Princess Relena.