Annaliese's heart is light. More than it has been in ages. She made a decision last night and she is on her way to tell Zorander now. Daniel is already aware. He hadn't reacted quite like she hoped.

"You can't do that, Annaliese."

"Sure I can. I finally feel like myself. I know the best thing is to be honest."

"Annaliese, you know I want you to be happy but, I'm not sure this will turn out the way you want. I really like..." he looks around carefully and lowers his voice. "I really like Zorander but father already said no once. You need to convince him privately first, please." He had nearly begged her.

She runs into the tower and locks the door behind her. It's quite early and Zorander is not in this workshop. With a mischievous grin, she tiptoes down the stairs.

She finds him exhausted, sleeping off a night of keeping her satisfied. She crawls onto the bed and places a kiss on the side of his mouth. Then his cheek. Then his neck. Then his earlobe. Working her way slowly to all the sensitive, delicate places on his face.

A slow smile starts to spread and he opens one eye sleepily. He breathes out a quiet, "Good morning, Princess", before taking her in his arms and pulling her down to him.

She giggles and cuddles down beside him, resting her head on his bare chest, playing a finger across his skin by her face.

"Guess what today is."

"It's your birthday. Don't try to trick me. I've never forgotten it."

She smiles because she knows it's true. "I didn't think you had. Just reminding." She lifts her face and looks at him. "I'm going to tell them tonight."

"You're going to tell who what?" He yawns and stretches a little.

"I'm going to tell everyone I'm going to marry you."

Zorander starts and bolts upright in bed, nearly sending the petite princess to the floor. "What do you mean you're going to tell everyone?"

Annaliese sits up and laughs a little. "Oh, Zorander, my Dad might not have liked the idea at first but he really likes you." She smiles her brightest smile. "And besides, I'm not giving him a choice. If he wants me to be the queen, which he really needs me to be, he will just have to accept it." She says it so matter of fact, Zorander can only stare at her.

He shakes his head. "I don't think that's a good idea, Annaliese"

She frowns. "I'm going to be with you. And if they don't accept it I'm giving up my crown. They can figure out who will rule after Dad. I told you I would do anything and I meant it. Did you?"

He smirks a little in spite of everything. "You want me to burn down the kingdom?"

She laughs and hugs him. "My way is a little nicer don't you think?"

Zorander pushes her away just a little and looks at her as seriously as he ever has. "What if he forbids it? I mean really forbids it? Do you know what he could do to me? I always knew I could end up with my head on a spike because of you, and I'm nearly willing to pay that price, but that will throw a wrench in your wedding plans, what with me having no head." He swallows hard, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down.

"He won't dare. Anyway I've already thought about that." She waves it away, "I'm going to pack a bag and so are you. Anything happens, you can just apparate us out of there and we're leaving." She hadn't told Daniel that part, thinking it better he not know.

"You're serious."

"Yep. Totally serious." She leans up and kisses his cheek. "I'm going to get breakfast. I thought I wasn't hungry, but you used up all my energy." She winks and turns to go when he pulls her back and tosses her lightly on the bed.

"Oh no, no, no. You woke me up and gave me a death sentence. You're staying."

Annaliese melts into the bed as he kisses down her neck, Zorander moves her hair to the side. He sees her hand moving her dress off her shoulder, and starts with the corset.

He looks at her in question and she shrugs. "I'm breaking a lot of rules today."

He gives a dangerous smile then attacks her cleavage with no restrictions, the dress already half off.

Leaving the tower, Annaliese decides to take lunch with her family. She is disappointed that Daniel isn't there, thinking briefly she should just turn around and leave.

However, Annaliese enters the room and slides into her usual place.

"Where's Daniel?"

"He went to retrieve Princess Evangeline for your birthday party tonight. Though why he left so early I'm not sure."

Annaliese looks at her plate and picks at a bit of salad sitting there. Her party. She had nearly forgotten. The greatest irony being her Father had personally invited Zorander to attend as a guest. 'It can be like a "welcome home" to the best sorcerer in the world!' he had said.

King Randolph offers softly, "I did not invite Prince Nicolas, Annaliese."

She is surprised, and a little upset. "Thank you," she says sincerely.

He brightens. "But you know, Prince David of Westchase still has his offer on the table. He's a very nice young man. Perhaps if you pursue him before he finds out..."

Annaliese groans. "I just wanted to have a quiet lunch with my family, ok?" Her dark mood returns to her and she studies her plate intently.

Queen Aramina places a hand on her husband's arm and shakes her head sadly. The silent exchange between reading something like, 'You're pushing and she's not ready yet.' His frustrated response would probably have been, 'She needs to get ready.'

Annaliese tries to choke down a few more bites before standing. "If you'll excuse me I had a late brunch. I'm not as hungry as I thought."

They nod as she leaves, King Randolph's face softens. Sad that his little girl is in a feud with him.

"Randolph, we have to do something. I've never seen her like this."

"She'll be fine, Mina. It's just a young crush. Her responsibilities are too big to coddle this infatuation." He tries to sound confident.

Queen Aramina doesn't agree but also knows her husband is trying to do what's best. She is torn between heart and duty, between husband and child. Their own meal is finished in silence.

Annaliese is sitting in the main parlor. Trying to find her courage to speak to her parents, when she hears a familiar squeal. "Annaliese!"

Ashlyn has not seen her sister since the wedding. Annaliese rises and approaches her for a hug. "How was your honeymoon, Ash?"

She sighs and raises one delicate hand dramatically over her heart. "Oh, Annaliese, it was just wonderful! Dominick had everything planned perfectly. We were honored guests at the Royal Palace of Gorlandia, had complete access to the bullfights in the city, the kingdom's best chefs prepared our meals..." She sighs, "It was divine."

"I'm glad you had a good time. It's great to see you." She means it, though their last private conversation was not to her liking. Ashlyn does not seem to have forgotten either.

"Annaliese, you must tell me." She lowers her voice to barely a whisper, "What has become of your secret affair?" Her eyes twinkle at the love of gossip, apparently, the bombshell of her lover not being a prince no longer angers her.

Annaliese's excitement at seeing her sister fades a little, the heaviness of her burden dragging her back. "It's the same, Ashlyn. But... I'm going to do something about it. Tonight."

She quirks an eyebrow. "Do tell."

Annaliese shakes her head. "You'll see tonight. No more secrets. It's too hard for me... and him."

"Hmmm..." She considers a moment and then continues. "Well if you're going to tell everyone anyway you could at least tell your only sister who it is."

She shakes her head. "I don't think so. It's going to be hard enough to say once and I'd rather wait until I can tell Mom and Dad together. I'm sorry but you will know tonight."

Ashlyn folds her arms and muses. "He can't be that bad."

"Oh no, he's perfect." Ashlyn gawks at her as Annaliese glides away dreamily. "I'll see you at the party, Ash. I need to get dressed."

Ashlyn huffs and stamps her foot in disbelief. "It's like you don't even trust me," she whines after her.

Annaliese smiles to herself as she walks away.