I guess it's time. We dressed up very well. I helped Marco fix his clothes. My ladies and I made sure that the decor for the wedding was already arranged; Lady Greer checked if the food for the reception and food before the wedding was already done, and Lord James checked properly the safety of the royals here in court by letting many guards scatter among the court grounds.

Rizzio told me that Lord Darnley was already fine and well dressed for the wedding. I went to see my mother to check her out. So, I went to her chambers to look for her.

"Oh my mother" A tear dropped from my face as I saw her wearing a beautiful wedding gown.

"Alex, my child, don't cry... " She smiled. "Oh, you! Come here. " I obeyed her order.

"I'm sorry. I just can't stop. I just can't believe that you'll be marrying him. After what he has done,"

She told her servants that I'll take care of her. The servants left so she continued.

"Alex, you know, I need to marry Darnley. Now that I'm carrying his child, your sibling... "

"I know, but..."

"No more buts! Let's just be happy. "

I hugged her knowing that she really wants to get away from this loveless marriage with Lord Darnley.

"I know you're not happy, nor do I, but"

"But we can't do anything," she said. "We tried, but we needed this," she added.

I sighed and felt her sadness

"You look very gorgeous mother"

"You are too, and soon you'll be next."

I giggled, "Let's not mind that. It's your wedding day. Are you ready? " She sighed in response.

"Well"

Then suddenly Catherine bursts out the door

"Oh, Mary! You're so beautiful, "she said.

"Grandmother"

"Catherine"

"It's time, Mary." She went near her. "I know you don't want this. I know you're not ready to marry a man like him. I most certainly know he's nothing like Francis, but you need to be ready for what is to come and you know why you need to " The Queen nodded.

"Okay? Let's go? " She nodded again.

"Okay, so Alexandra, Marco's waiting for you outside. He'll be escorting you downstairs." I nodded.

We went down first to see if everybody was already at the venue for the wedding. We secured everything. Marco and I sat down in front along with Aunt Claude, Luc Narcisse, Uncle James, Lady Greer, and my friends. I saw Lord Darnley in front, patiently waiting for the queen to walk down the aisle. The Queen Mother has already sat down, so that means the wedding is about to start.

My tears won't stop as I see my mother walking down the aisle to meet Lord Darnley. I can feel her sadness and emptiness of feelings. I know that it's against her will to marry him, but we all know that she needs to do it. I don't know how or what to feel. Should I be happy because she will finally get married for her own good and that of Scotland? Should I be sad because I know that their marriage can only end in bitterness and horrible things?

When she kneeled down together with Darnley, she looked at me looking so dull and horrified, but instead of making her feel bad, I smiled at her and nodded to make her feel my support and positivity.

The ceremony is finally done. The news of the wedding of the Queen is already announced to all towns. People of Scotland are already enjoying and showing the support to their Queen and new King. The coronation of Lord Darnley will be two or three days away after the wedding ceremony.

The ceremony ended with the newly wed standing infront of the thrones showing off their marriage as a powerful couple. Many people already congratulating the both of them. My mother thanked them with a smile. Of course, Darnley being Darnley. The more attention and respect given to him the more his amibition expands.

I had enough of his eagerness to have power. I need a drink. I grabbed King Marco with me and sat down to drink wine with him.

"What's wrong, love?" He asked.

"Nothing," I responded.

He held my hands

"I know that's not just nothing, Alex..."

"It's Darnley. I don't like him for my mother. My mother doesn't even like him."

"What? I thought..."

"Well, actually, they're really incompatible with each other. Lord Darnley is ambitious. He wants to have power and to be loved by the people. He just wants my mother for the crown. That's why."

"I felt that in him"

"But my mother also needs him for the English throne. He is part of a branch connected to Stuart that makes him have a blood claim to the English throne. So with their union, my mother will have more power to use against Queen Elizabeth because she is the rightful Queen of England. She believes that only the rightful ones have the right to rule a country, and since Queen Elizabeth is the illegitimate child of King Henry VIII, she's not considered a successor to the throne. Aunty Lizzy and my mother are as feisty as ever. They are bound to meet at some point. " I said

"I heard that before. There was news about that. I had to know that because I am a King of my own, but no worries, Italy will stand by with Scotland. " He looked at me in the eyes.

"I know and thank you, love."

"Would you like to dance?"

"Of course", I smiled as he asked for my hand to dance.

We danced in the middle as the other guests danced, and the entertainers we hired for the event were also dancing. Everybody had fun after the wedding, but I still sensed the sadness in my mother, so after dancing with my fiancé, I asked my mother for a dance.

"Mother! Let's dance. "

"What are you doing?" She laughed.

I pulled her up from her throne to dance

"Who says that the Queen can't have a dance with her princess? We should have a mother-daughter dance. "

We had fun dancing. I am glad to see a smile on her face and it was my pleasure to be the reason why she smiled. At least I made her smile even just once for this tragic day for her heart and feelings. After the ceremony and the reception, everybody went back to their assigned chambers to rest and get ready for tomorrow's event. As I mentioned before, the wedding will be a two-day ceremony.

I didn't get back to my chambers first, I took my mother back to her chambers to change while grandmother was following us. Catherine told the servants to leave us be for she will help the Queen undress.

"At least I wouldn't be sleeping with that coward."

"Yes", I agreed.

"No consummation will happen. Mary, make up an excuse already. Tell them you're sick or what. " Catherine said

"Yes, I will. I won't let him lay his hands on me again. "

I grabbed a drink while they were talking. "Congrats to the Queen of Scotland,", I said.

"Cheers!"

"Cheers to you, my dear"

"Well, you're the next one, Alex." My mother teased me again.

"Oh yes, I heard you were engaged again, but first, why didn't you tell me about what that bastard did to you?"

"It wasn't such a big deal," I said.

"Yes, it is, young lady. I would've killed him for you, but instead you sent him back to his country?!"

"Catherine, it's done. Plus, we gained advantage from what happened. "

"Well, that's good. I think that Prince Carlos is a crazy man. "

"I bet he is. Just like Tomas of Portugal. "

"Yes, Mary, very much alike."

We laughed and continued the rest of the drinking and talking until we went to sleep.