Thoul, I think you're exactly right. To have their plans for determining his marriage thrown out, and losing out on the annexation of Satera would likely not have made Rhys's parents too happy. They probably did see her kidnap as a blessing.
Here's a completely crazy fanfic idea: Saiki, or the Queen saw Maia using a Tech in the castle, so they contacted the Layans, Lyle, to stage her kidnap to re-institute their plan. They were hoping Rhys would give up if she were kidnapped, and when he vowed to rescue her, they threw him in the dungeon.

Conspiracy theory, PSIII style...
