Meet the character: Catrina

Coming from a military family herself, Catrina married up in the world. Despite her not being of noble lineage, she married Leon Rosenthal due to the friendship between their fathers. Though an arranged marriage, it proved a fortunate one, as the bond and respect between Catrina and Leon is a cause for envy in their circle. They raised a beautiful family together and have the respect of their peers.

Over the years, Catrina gained a reputation of sternness - fair, but implacable. To those unfamiliar with her family's origins, she was the epitome of a noble lady. Unbeknownst to everyone but her husband, her demeanor was motivated rather by insecurity and the fear of being seen as a social climber.

Her family and its reputation are everything to Catrina. Some would badmouth her for caring more of the latter than the former. But Catrina knows that reputation is everything in this cutthroat world and that, in losing it, her family's well-being would be at risk as well. Besides, she is obsessively proud of her husband and his accomplishments and would do anything to keep his reputation intact.

Being married to Leon was Catrina's biggest stroke of luck and her most important accomplishment is being sincerely and deeply loved by him. She returns his feelings and respect twice over and would do anything for her husband, putting him first even before herself or their two sons. After Leon became ill, Catrina's sole purpose became caring for him and protecting his legacy - which often put her at odds with a struggling-to-cope Remus and made her resent Marius, the admittedly more capable son, for abandoning the family.