First Annaliese hears her father yell. Then her brother roars back at him. By the time she rounds the corner in the hall, Daniel has stormed from the throne room and is stalking down the hall away from her.

Ashlyn's wedding is now three months behind the family and things have been, in Annaliese's opinion, pretty splendid. Her time with Zorander has been teasing and dangerous. Only another three months until his return and she has a vast catalog of fantasy involving their reunion.

But now a flutter in her stomach tells her whatever she has just stumbled on is not a typical Father/Son argument.

From the throne room, Annaliese hears her parents speaking in hushed tones.

"Randolph, I don't understand. Isn't Princess Evangeline a good match for Daniel?"

"That's not the point, Aramina. I'm sure Evangeline is a lovely girl, but I will not have Daniel join the Corinthian royal family!"

"I don't understand. I thought we had a good relationship with that kingdom."

"We do it's just..." Annaliese hears him pause and sits heavily on his throne. "Mina," Annaliese heard the nickname his father gives to her mother when they are certain they are alone, "the Corinthiansfollow a strict matriarchy. Princess Evangeline is the eldest child and heir. If Daniel marries her he will become King, but not of Dulcinea. He will have to give up his claim to the throne completely."

"I don't see how that is different from Ashlyn marrying Dominick and leaving for Bulovia."

"It's not except she has already done it and that can't be changed. Dulcinea will not have an heir."

There is a pause in the room. Annaliese's mind is racing. The weight of this is not lost on her. She hears her mother begin to speak.

"What about Annaliese is she not an acceptable choice to you?"

"No Mina that's not what I meant." He takes in a breath so deep even Annaliese hears from her hiding spot. "You know I love Annaliese, but she is a woman- a princess. You know that they marry to strengthen our ties. You have to understand how it will look politically."

Queen Aramina doesn't speak and Annaliese hears King Randolph's voice shift to a more passive tone. Apologetic even.

"Also, do you think she would even WANT the crown? And... and think of what this will do for her marriage prospects? What prince will touch her if she can't be his queen in HIS kingdom. The youngest, weakest of the lot I'm sure."

"Well obviously no prince if he feels the way you do. You might do well to discuss this with your children. Daniel would not give away his heart lightly. And I don't know what Annaliese would think of inheriting the crown, but I know she will do what is right for the kingdom. If you expect any of your children to rule you might want to start giving them the responsibility of their own choices."

A short pause then, "You're right, Mina."

She laughs a little. "As often as you tell me that you should just save us the time and listen to me first."

In the hall, Annaliese backs away from the room. The CROWN? Years spent knowing that she had the freedom to choose whomever she wanted.. and now the crown- being the reigning queen of Dulcinea. She would ultimately rule, her husband would only be a prince.

Her heart sinks lower. Chances are more likely now she really will be forced to marry a prince, to strengthen her ridiculously weak position. She goes numb and shuts herself in her room, not opening her door for the rest of the day.

When Fabian knocks she is not surprised.

"Princess Annaliese, your parents would like to speak with you."

Standing straight, with one last look outside her window she breathes out, "Tell them I'll be right down." She doesn't think the shake of her voice is too evident.

Annaliese finds her parents in a sitting room off the main hall. They are seated in high-backed chairs to the right of a fireplace. Across from them are 2 more chairs. Daniel is there but he is not sitting, choosing instead to stand. His arms are folded and a scowl twists his face.

On her entry, Randolph stands quickly. "Ah, good, Annaliese. Thank you for coming quickly. Please have a seat." He gestures to the chairs. Annaliese glances at her brother but does as she is asked and sits in the chair closest to the fire.

King Randolph sits and addresses his son. "Daniel, please sit down so we can talk."

"I don't have anything else to say."

Queen Aramina puts a hand on her husband's arm, silencing him as he opens his mouth. "Please, Daniel. We would really like to discuss this as a family."

Daniel relents. However, he can not deny his mother's wishes. As he sits she smiles and looks to Randolph, urging him to continue.

He clears his throat. "Yes well... your Mother and I have been talking and..."

He trails off but Aramina finishes his sentence. They have done this for years, seeming to rule together as one mind. Or at least, to parent that way.

"...and we are very happy that you have found a lovely young lady who returns your love. However, there are considerations that should be discussed, especially when they affect other members of this family."

Daniel glances at Annaliese and then looks away and stares into the fire. "You're right."

He snaps his attention back to his parents quickly. "But it won't change how I feel."

"We understand that, Daniel. But perhaps we should explain to Annaliese what this means for her future if this is indeed the path you take."

Annaliese looks from her brother to her parents. She already knows what it means but waits to see how they frame it now.

Daniel sighs and looks at her. "Annaliese I've proposed to Princess Evangeline and will marry her next year."

Annaliese smiles and out of habit begins to congratulate her brother, even though she already knew. But he silences her with his hand and continues.

"Evangeline will be the Corinthian Queen and marrying her means I will be her King. I will not be King of Dulcinea." He pauses and looks her in the face. "It will fall on you, Annaliese."

Annaliese looks to her parents. Her Mother looks anxious. Her father is... unreadable.

Annaliese has had all day to prepare for this but has no idea what she will say until the words spill from her mouth. "If... if that is what needs to happen then I will do my best to make you proud and do my best for the kingdom but..." She stops and considers. Is this the time? Should she say something now?

No it doesn't feel right. It feels selfish. She glances at her Mother then looks back to her father quickly, unable to meet her Mother's eye.

"...but that is far away. You're the King, Dad. I'm sure you can teach me everything I need to know." She rises and nods to the room. "Congratulations, Daniel. Evangeline is a lucky Princess. If you'll excuse me."

She flees the room and, in a swish of satin skirts, nearly runs back toward her chambers in near panic.

Daniel catches Annaliese in the hallway, well out of earshot of the sitting room, and grabs her arm to stop her.

"Annaliese, are you ok?"

She turns to look at him and shakes her head. "No, I'm really not."

"What's wrong? Would being queen be so bad? I mean, if you marry an elder Prince, you would end up HIS queen. For that matter, if you married a younger prince, things happen. It's just part of being royalty."

"You don't understand." She shakes her head sadly, the tears threatening to fall. "It's not really the crown, it's..." Can she trust Daniel? She adores him and he has been exceptionally good to her. He has always understood her and kept her secrets when they were younger.

Finally deciding that yes, Daniel would understand better than anyone.

She lowers her eyes and says sadly, "I'm in love with a man that a queen shouldn't marry." She looks back up. "Maybe if I was just a Princess it would be ok. Maybe not, I don't know...but at least there was a chance. Now-"

Daniel's eyes are wide. He whispers, "Who is it, Annaliese?"

"Well, he's NOT a prince. So that's pretty much all you need to know, right?" She's not shouting at Daniel but there is certainly an edge to her voice.

"Annaliese, I'm sorry. I didn't know."

"Would it have changed anything if you did? I would never have asked you to give up Evangeline."

"Yes but now here I am asking you to give up the man you love, and I don't want to do that either."

The siblings look at each other a moment then Annaliese steps forward, falls forward almost, to embrace Daniel, a single sob escaping her lips. He holds her and lets her weep quietly.