It's been a long day for me, especially for my mother. After comforting her, we went back inside the court for the King of Italy's arrival. As we got back inside, my ladies-in-waiting were already searching for me.

"Goodness you're here, Alex." They said.

"Oh! Your Majesty. "

"Hello, ladies. "

"Good afternoon, your grace!" The queen smiled.

"Is King Marco there already?" She asked.

"Not yet, my Queen, but the guards from the outside already told the queen's guards that he had arrived awhile ago on our borders."

"Oh! Okay, so go get ready, Alex. "

"Okay, mother. Are you sure you're fine already? "

Then suddenly, someone shouted, looking in a hurry. It's Lady Greer!

"Mary!"

"Yes, I'm fine and there's Greer. She'll take care of me."

We smiled and left after talking. My ladies and I went to my chambers to help me dress up. They have definitely been my best friends since I was a child. We actually all grew up together. They were chosen by my mother, too, from the families of her own ladies-in-waiting.

Lady Anastacia is Lady Lola's niece, while Lady Antoinette is Lady Aylee's cousin, Lady Rebekah is Lady Kenna's sister, and Lady Isabel is Lady Greer's sister. Since Lady Lola's family was captured and still staying in England by Queen Elizabeth, my mother had to choose Lady Lola's niece, who was staying with them since she was still a babe.

We have different bonds between us individually and have unique personalities. I might still say that Lady Isabel is the parent of the group, while Lady Anastacia is the fearless adventurer, Lady Rebekah is a carefree joker, and Lady Antoinette is the most innocent one. I love them all. I have been grateful that they were there for me ever since. Well, I know that's their purpose, but for me, more than that, they're my friends— my family.

As we went to the room, a servant delivered a box with a dress, shoes, and jewelry to pick from.

"Your grace, it's from your mother. She said that you should wear the dress and feel free to choose which shoes and jewelry go with it. Thank you. " The servant left and closed the door.

"Oh my god! That's so many jewels and shoes. " Anne said

"Come on, Alex. Go change! I'll take care of the pair of earrings for Alex." Ana said

"And I'm with the necklace!" Bekah said

"Oh girls! You do your thing, and I'll be changing already. " I said

"Let me help you, Alex." Belle said

While I am dressing, Belle is helping me with my corset.

"What do you think Marco is here for?" I asked.

"For you! Why do you think so? Well, you do know he loves you and you love him back. So... " Belle answered.

"Yeah, I get it, but what will he do here? mother said, it's about a mission, but what mission?" I asked again.

"Actually, Alex, I don't know. " She said

"I really don't know, but I do love him. Will this be the time when he tells me that he'll be coming here to p-propose to me?!" I said

"Oh Alex, so many questions. You'll find out later." She said

After getting dressed, I sat down in front of my dresser. While Belle is doing my hair with a beautiful head piece and, of course, my crown, Ana is putting on the beautiful but heavy earrings, as Bekah puts my necklace on me, and Anne's still picking which shoes I'll wear.

After getting ready, we all went down. After all, my ladies got ready even before helping me get dressed, which is a good thing. We went to the meeting room, where I saw my beautiful mother and Lady Greer, with Uncle James. I guess Lord Darnley's missing in action again.

"Mother"

"Oh Alex! You're so beautiful. "

"Same to you as well, mother." I smiled.

After awhile, the arrival of the King was announced, and so we went to the courtyard to welcome him here in the Scottish Court.

"Oh, King Marco." "Hello Marco!" we greeted.

"Queen Mary, Princess Alexandra. It's a pleasure to be here with you, and thank you for this warm welcome! "

"No problem. Shall we go inside then?"

"Of course."

As we entered, we noticed Lord Darnley patiently waiting for my mother.

"Lord Darnley, it's good to see you here." He smiled.

"King Marco, meet my fiancé, Lord Darnley."

"Nice meeting you, Lord Darnley."

"Same to you, King Marco."

"May I excuse us, Marco?"

"Ah yes, of course, Queen Mary"

My mother left me talking to Marco as she was talking to Lord Darnley. After we talked, I listened quietly to their conversation.

"Darnley, it's been awhile since I last saw you here in my court. Where have you been? "

"Uhm." He looked startled at how my mother was angrily talking to him.

"Tell me. Have you been spending your absence here in court with Lady Keira? "

I got shocked, so I pulled Marco immediately to the hallway to give them privacy and so that King Marco wouldn't know what was happening between them.

"What was that?"

"Oh, I'm sorry."

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing. I just want to tour you around the castle. "

"Oh, really? Or maybe you just missed me. " He pulled me closer to him and grabbed me for a kiss. I whispered, "Of course, I did."

"I knew it."

"So come on! Let's get you a tour. "

We toured the castle until we got back to where we started. Lord Darnley and my mother are still there, looking like nothing happened. My mother actually looked calm as she told Darnley about what she knew, and Darnley looked like a scared, guilty man.

"Queen Mary, Lord Darnley." Marco greeted.

"Oh Marco, It looks like she already gave you a tour. " Queen Mary said

"Is anybody starving? Shall we eat now? " I said.

"Of course." They nodded.

After we ate, Marco excused us and brought me to the garden, where there are many wonderful decorations and flowers. Which I wasn't expecting because it really looked like it was planned. I got curious, so I asked.

"Marco? What's this? "

"Actually, I don't know. I just saw this now. Your mother told me that she'd handle this, which is really amazing. I'll thank her for that later. "

"What? My mother? "

"Yes," he said, smiling. "Nevertheless, remember when I told you that I'd be going here? Personally? "

"But to propose"

"Yes, and this is the time. I'm sorry if you're too surprised that I got you suspicious, but I just want to tell you that I love you so much ever since we were kids, even though we got separated. When we met once in Rome, I was thankful to see you there. After that, I already knew someday I'd be marrying you and that day is finally happening now. "

"Oh my."

"Alexandra Katherina Stuart De Valois, with all my heart, will you marry me?"

"Oh god, Marco"

Then suddenly, someone shouted, "Say yes, Alex!!"

Then I looked around and I saw my friends—Ana, Anne, Bekah, and Belle were watching us in the upper part of the garden, and on the other hand, Queen Mary, Lady Greer, and Uncle James were there without Lord Darnley, but suddenly, at the exact moment, Lord Darnley came and stood beside my mother.

"Now you know they are here. So..?"

"Of course, yes!"

"Oh my god!" He hugged me and said, "Thank you!"

"She said, "Yes"!"

Everyone here is congratulating and applauding our engagement. All of us went inside, as there was a small feast together with my loved ones. They were all happy for me. I'm so glad they're there for me.

"Thank you to everyone who cooperated with me and to you, my beautiful fiancé, my best friend."

"Of course, no problem. " they said.

"The announcement of your engagement will be made tomorrow while King Marco is still here." Queen Mary said

"Thank you, Queen Mary."

We smiled at each other and shared a kiss and a hug. After that, all of us started eating and enjoying the rest of the night.