Chapter 17: Putting on the Trimmings

As promised, Dorothy Catalonia showed up bright and early the next day. The morning sun rising on the Sanc Kingdom glowed and shone on her platinum blonde hair.

But it wasn't only she that was glowing. She had arrived from her private golden jet to her golden private limousine. Indeed, everything in the Sanc Kingdom today was glowing--from the perfectly groomed, well-kept outdoors to the well-swept cascades of endless stone concrete steps leading up to the palace's carved statuesque doorway.

Old Pagan always did a fine job of keeping the groundskeepers and servants who tended to the caring of the castle and its roomy scenery in check. He didn't want the Princess to worry her pretty little head about the small, little nuances such as these. No, she had far more important things going on inside.

"So, which set of jewels do you prefer for tonight, Relena? The multi-faceted diamonds with the sterling silver settings? Or the perfectly flawless opals with the beautiful gold settings? Hmm? Now, give me your honest opinion. A lady's feminine instincts on which jewelry to wear with which dress always shows her character to other people. Don't you agree? Hmm, Miss Relena? Of course, it is your decision in the ultimate end..." Dorothy says with a critical eye falling on each set of earrings and necklaces in her hands.

Her fickle mouth twitches distastefully first at the tiny diamonds set on the unartistic silver backings. Miss Dorothy had a taste for the largest, most expensive jewels. She didn't care for the old-fashioned heirloom type of things. Then she examines, clucking her tongue, I suppose there's no other word for them, gaudy black opals whose only saving grace was their gold settings.

Did I mention I love the sparkle of gold?

"Hmm?" Relena herself was lost more in the golden rays of sunshine and big, empty sky it tiptoed through than the golden sparkling baubles Dorothy was sifting through.

"My decision...? Yes..." Relena lets the distant words trail off. The serene look on her searching face towards the morning sky changes into one of steely determination, and assuredness of the ominous task she was about to embark upon....

Alone...

And that quality was what Miss Dorothy found most attractive and invigorating in this Peacecraft child.

Even if she has no taste in jewelry whatsoever...

The vain Senator rolls her eyes as Relena, without much consideration, chooses the more gaudy opal stones from Dorothy's hand.

Oh, well. At least they have a hint of gold about them.

"Now, for the right scent..."

~~~~~~~~~~

Primped, plucked and prodded at was the Princess, hours later.

"It is such a shame that Mr. Milliardo couldn't stay on Earth long enough to attend this important event for you--and the Peacecraft name as well. After all, it's not every royal monarch that has the chance to control the ENTIRE Earth Sphere Unified Nation and rule the world, is it?" Dorothy fritters with the final touches on her own gown and stiletto heeled shoes. She wore a black floor length dress with lace black stockings, and a choker of polished white pearls.

"Especially not twice." Dorothy's mouth was smirking as she "innocently" clasps her string of pearls around her pretty neck. She gazes at Relena seated at the vanity before her.

"Dorothy, you know perfectly well my intention is not to, by any means, 'control' the Earth Sphere, nor to rule the world. I simply find it my civil duty to help guide the body of delegates on our continuing path towards a peaceful future for the greater good of the people of the Earth--and the Colonies--as equal partners now as well. It's all in the name of peace." Relena, the representative Foreign Minister, was not known as a polished speaker for nothing. She, without even having to swivel her dark golden head around to confront Dorothy, more than easily settles, once and for all, that she, Relena Peacecraft Darlian, was a force to be reckoned with on the political arena.

And Dorothy Catalonia was planning to be present to watch the entire drama play out till it's victorious end--right by Miss Relena's determined side.

CLAP CLAP CLAP CLAP

"You've certainly convinced me. You have my vote, Ms. President--or should that be 'Mr. President', considering the proper etiquette." Miss Dorothy wonders aloud in her over-sugary way. She for one, believed that though the retiring current President was always a pleasant man, he was not a member of royalty that Dorothy believed a true world leader had to be. And Princess Relena Peacecraft certainly fit the bill.

Relena smiles with a small unnoticeable sigh at her doting friend. But Dorothy catches that slight bit of dreamy sadness nonetheless.

She for one, did not intend to allow her feminine fluttering heart to miss it's male owner, and ruin this perfectly planned and promising evening.

I made sure to cross off one timid, little Quatre Raberba Winner's name off the guest list personally. Hmph.

Neither did she want the other young woman to have a longing ache in her heart. After all, if all went right during the announcement to seek election for political office tonight, she was to be the next President of the Earth Sphere Unified Nation's future...

That is...if nothing unforeseen goes wrong....

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
After Colony 197, April 8th.

As night falls, the hundred or so distinguished guests begin to converge upon the illuminated Sanc Kingdom's palace.

The dimmed lights, the soft music from the orchestra, the whispered conversations of passing pleasantries between Earth delegates and Colony representatives all await the arrival of the respected hostess.

And they all were anxiously awaiting her political announcement with baited breath.

"Quite a galley you have set for the Foreign Minister's annoucement tonight. I do believe that you have acquired even some of the most, let's say, hesitant, types of stodgy old representatives to attend this event. Here. Try one of these, Mariemaia, they're rather good." Lady Anne Une was no longer the woman she once was. Dorothy pauses in thought as she sips her cocktail, cocking her head with a small, wispy smile.

If only you could see her now...

Dorothy watches the once angry and jealous creature she never liked kindly dote over one man's child. Little Mariemaia Khushrenada smiled back up at the motherly gaze Lady Anne was showering upon this child that was not her own.

I must tip my glass to you, Lady.

Dorothy nods as she approaches the pair, marvelling at how Lady Anne, once one of those "stodgy" people herself, was now embracing the idea that Relena Peacecraft--the girl who once made an attempt on her life--would become the President of the E.U.N.

Ah well, another time, another place. Another set of people...

"Thank you, Lady. We do need all the support we can get." Dorothy whispers in Anne's ear as she takes up her black lacy skirts and begins mingling with the crowd. This Senator had taken on the unofficial role of being Miss Relena's "press agent."

Dorothy and the others look up to the front hall of the palace as the Princess herself is about to take center stage.

"Good evening, everyone. Thank you so much for coming here today." There she stands. A small, slight figure--just a young girl--appears from behind the lavish hallway curtained entrance. She moves the large front room to where the party was being held.

Despite all her adornments and gold trimmings, and ominous high-ceiling palace she was standing amidst, Relena Peacecraft Darlian had more than beauty, more than charm and innocence in her style. From her puffed sleeved dress, to the glimmering opal earrings and choker, Relena had presence.

In the moment she appeared, from the first word that slips from her golden tongue, Relena Peacecraft had the command of the entire room. So much so that one could hear a pin drop. Everyone wanted to hear every word she said.

A pin drop---

Or a spray of bullets hitting the ceiling's plaster as a dozen or so masked men armed with large machine guns kick in the double doors. They rush in to ambush the party with weapons trained on the screaming crowd as the chips of white chalky plaster descend from the marred ceiling above....