After the ceremony, we had a little family gathering. It is being hosted by the King of France, it's actually a celebration for my new role to the French throne.

As the host, King Charles was present at the gathering. Queen Mother of France, Catherine, was also present with my half brother, Jean-Phillippe and his step father, Lord Narcisse. Luc Narcisse, Princess Claude's husband was there with his pregnant wife too.

My ladies were also with me at the party

"Sister!"

Philippe called me

"Yes?"

I said

"Remember what I said earlier?"

"About my surprise?"

He said

"Yes! What is it by the way?"

I asked

"Come with me"

He pulled me to the patio

"Why are we here?"

I asked again

"Someone wants to see you"

He winked

"Just wait there"

He added

So I sat down and waited

"Alexandra"

A man called my name

I looked back and saw someone very familiar to me

"UNCLE BASH!"

I ran and hugged him

"S-Since when were you here?"

I asked

"I arrived as soon as I heard that your brother is the new deputy in the castle"

"Really?"

"Yeah"

"I came to help him and I also thought that it's time for me to show up here again... see my old friends- relatives"

"Actually, I wasn't expecting to see you here the first time I arrived"

"Until I heard weeks ago what Charles was about to do"

"I've waited this moment to see you!"

He smiled

"I missed you Uncle Bash"

I said

"I missed you too, Princess"

"I mean- Queen"

He winked at me

"I may have went to Paris and stayed there for long time but of course, I will always be updated to what is happening"

He grinned

"Oh so that's where you went!"

I said

He nodded

"Why didn't you visit us in Scotland?"

I frowned

"Sorry, Alex"

"But I was too busy. I have work in Paris too because I had to"

"Ever since I went there, I remained a low-key profile"

"I also want to live a normal life"

"I really want to visit you, I also wanted to attend Mary's wedding and yours too"

"But my boss wouldn't let me if I had no right and real reason"

"You know what I mean..."

I nodded and let him continue

"If I blow up my low profile standing there, they'll know who I really am"

" "The bastard son of the late King Henry of France, the half brother of the King" "

"You know how gossips spread, it's very fast"

"Yes, I know"

"And it's hard for us to have a normal life, to maintain a life off court"

I said

He agreed

"But now that you're here"

"How's Scotland?"

He asked

"It's great, the war between Scotland and England is settled... as of now"

"Mother's handling it well"

"Well, that's Mary"

He grinned

"I heard she gave birth to a prince?"

He added

"Yes!"

"James"

"Her son to Darnley"

"That scumbag Darnley"

He grumbled

"Good thing he died purposely"

"Or else I could've gone into prison for killing him"

He added

I laughed

"How about you? How's the life of being a queen of another country?"

"How's your marriage to King Marco?"

He asked

"We are great"

"I am thankful that we still have full of love for each other"

"I'm actually not used to it yet- being called as the Queen of Italy"

"Well you should be now"

He said

"I am happy for the both of you and I look forward on meeting him someday"

He added

"You might meet him tomorrow..."

I said

"TOMORROW???"

He startled

I nodded

"He'll visit here"

"We'll be leaving together back to Italy"

I said

"Well then, I can't wait to meet him tomorrow"

"He better be good..."

He said

"Of course"

I smiled

Before he left, I stopped him to ask for one last question

"Uncle Bash!"

I said

He looked back

"Will you visit Scotland soon?"

I asked

He shrugged his shoulders

"We'll see, Alex"

"If I will, I'll let you know first"

He smiled before leaving

I stayed at the patio for awhile. Surrounded by trees- different kinds of trees, trying to breathe fresh air while looking at the lake.

A servant came to me and asked me if I needed anything

"Actually I do..."

I decided to write a letter for my mother

------

To the most special woman in my life,

I have a very great news for you! I just talked to Uncle Bash! Yes! He's here about two weeks already, I guess? How are you there? I haven't seen you for a month already after I moved in Italy. I hope to see you soon, mother. I also hope you and James are doing well in Scotland. All is good here in France. Philippe's the new King's Deputy and Claude's pregnant to Luc! Can you believe it! We surely missed a lot of things here in France. The ceremony earlier went well and I'm actually glad it turned out great. I'm planning to visit father's grave later before sunset.

I love you, mother

Alexandra I

------

I gave my letter to my men to send it to the Queen of Scots

I walked inside and saw my grandmother, Catherine, alone so I went to her

"Grandmother"

"Why are you alone?"

"What did you do again?"

I sighed

"What?"

"I didn't do anything"

"They're lucky I didn't"

"After serving dishes with scallops"

She grumbled

"What's wrong with scallops?"

"You don't like scallops?"

I asked

"I don't eat scallops"

"I am allergic to them"

She said

"Oh"

"I didn't know"

I said

"So I guess you saw Sebastian"

She mentioned

"Yes, I got to talk to him earlier at the patio"

I answered

"It's been a long time since I last saw that good ol' bastard son of Henry"

"Catherine..."

"What?"

"He is"

"So don't Catherine me, young lady"

She grinned

"By the way, I'm planning to visit father's"

"Do you want to join me?"

I asked her

"Of course"

Grandmother and I went to my father's tomb and stayed there for awhile

"Are you sure you want to stay for awhile, grandmother?"

I asked

"Yes, we'll be safe"

"We have our men outside- looking out"

She said

She removed the dirt that is covering the carved name on the gravestone

"I miss him"

"I miss your father"

She said

"I miss him too"

I said

"He could've been still ruling right now with your mother by his side"

"I could've bonded with him more now that I'm getting old already"

I sighed

"I bet he's proud of what you've become"

She looked at me

I listened

"Now that you're a Queen of your own"

"And a newly proclaimed successor of the French crown"

"He must really proud of you"

She added

"And that I wish is true"

I answered

"But I think that he is proud of me and he supports me to whatever I am doing"

"He's guiding me to the right path"

"Showing me the right way to live"

I smiled