As everyone is getting ready for what's to come later this afternoon, I have woken up to have some peaceful breakfast.

"Good morning, my love!" Marco smiled as he snuggled up to me.

"Good morning to you as well" I smiled and kissed his lips.

"You seem to be in a good mood?" He said, "Are you?" He added as I nodded.

"Come, let's have breakfast." He said while helping me to get up.

We went downstairs to the banquet hall seeing my mother and grandmother chitchatting.

"Oh, I forgot that Catherine's here" I whispered and chuckled behind Marco.

"Lovebirds!" Grandmother called us and said, "Join us.". We went to sit near the two royals.

"Are you ready for later, my dear?" Mother asked me.

"We have all decided to have it today instead of yesterday as it was already late" Catherine said. "You must be ready for later" she added.

"I am, you don't have to worry." I sipped my morning tea.

"Let us make his death a threat for all that is against the throne." Mary said as we all agreed.

Marco held my hand and whispered to me, "I hope afterward, it will make you feel at peace.".

I squeezed it and smiled. "I hope it will, my love." I said.

We continued our short briefing for later over our breakfast. Everyone has been preparing and securing the area where it be held. The beheading will be held in the courtyard wherein our people, Scots, and even the ones that are against it are invited to see it live. As the Queen of Scots said, let this be a threat to those protestants and Knox's allies.

I honestly could not wait for this to end, not just because our mortal enemy since my parents' reign will die in our hands but because this is significant to the trauma I have. This may allow me to breathe in my own country properly, without threats and remnants of the past that cause flashbacks of the trauma. I would want to attain peace for myself and my baby.

I was led to my chambers to get ready with the help of my ladies-in-waiting.

"Are you feeling alright, Alex?" Anne asked as the rest of them were waiting for my answer.

"Yes, Anne" I said, "Why did you ask?" I added.

"We are just worried about you and what will happen later" Bekah said.

"Ahh, I see" I smiled. "My ladies... my sisters, I know how much you care for me but you don't have to worry about me." I assured them.

They smiled.

"I appreciate it," I said. "You deserve a group hug!" Ana said.

Everyone began laughing while prepping for later. While everybody was busy helping one another, Isabel was fixing my hair and whispered, "I am proud of you."

I smiled without looking at her and suddenly, I felt tears streaming down my face.

"Why are you crying? I thought you were okay?" Isabel laughed at me.

I laughed and said, "I am, silly."

She looked at me and wiped my tears. "You wouldn't want to ruin that makeup right?" Isabel laughed as I nodded.

The guard opened the door for the Queen of Scots.

"Mother!" I stood up to greet her.

"We shall leave you be, your majesties." the ladies-in-waiting said.

"I will see you, girls, later. Thank you!" I said before they leave my mother and I alone in my chambers.

"I see you are now well-dressed." My mother said while she was caressing my face.

"Yes, mother." I answered, "I was helped by my ladies and as well as by grandmother for my clothing." I added.

She led me to my bed so we can both sit down and chat.

"You grew up so well, my daughter." She said while I just listen. "You are brave, and I admire you so much for that." She smiled proudly.

"I got it from you and father." I hugged her.

She smiled and looked down, "When I experienced the same trauma you went through, it was so hard for me to face it." She said, "It was really a difficult time for me and your father."

"I know you're having or had difficulties in this too but look at what you did, you had the strength to face your fears and trauma." She said. "I hope you will feel at ease now." She added.

I held her hand and said, "I will feel at peace at least for now". I laughed as she also chuckled.

She hugged me, "I am so proud of you, Alexandra." She said and added, "I will always be".

The guard opened the door and said, "Your Majesties, everything is now prepared for the ceremony."

My mother, Queen Mary, stood up and told me, "I will go ahead, Alex, I will see you at the courtyard." and hugged me one last time before leaving.

Marco came to my chambers as well and said, "I shall escort you going to the venue, my love" and I nodded.

We went downstairs and walked to the courtyard seeing the Queen of Scots sitting at the designated area for the Scottish throne while beside her is the court guest, my very own grandmother, Queen Mother Catherine of France.

I was escorted to see my uncle, Lord James, to see how everything is and about John Knox.

"We have readied him for later." He said, "I hope he at least accepted his fate" He laughed.

"Was he beaten up by the guards?" I asked.

He nodded, "Heavily but not dead like what you said."

"I want him to suffer before dying, that's what he deserves." I said firmly and my uncle agreed by nodding.

"A lot of people are here..." I said. "Yes, even his allies are here. Look there." Uncle James pointed to the area. "Those are protestants." He added.

"Keep an eye on them, Lord James." I said. "I shall start." I added.

Minutes later, everyone has settled in and is waiting for what I will say.

"My fellow Scots, I am facing you today as your princess and a victim of a horrendous crime." I stated.

"As some of you might have heard what happened to me years ago, I was attacked from the moment I first stepped on our country. My country where I have a blood claim and where I was born." I paused. "For those who are not aware of it, I was not just attacked but raped by unknown men." I said as I heard gasps from the people around me.

"For years, I was haunted and in fear of those men who have caused me trauma as they were not caught and known. I was worried the whole time and thought "What if they'll harm other people?". I have always questioned what their point was and what they want from me. Until I knew, with the help of Lord James and his men, these suspects were against the throne. They are the people who are against my mother, the queen and me who are both women leading Scotland." I said.

"You are all here today to witness the punishment of the mastermind of the horrifying acts not just to me but as well as to the throne." I signaled to Lord James to bring John Knox out.

Whispers and gasps were starting to be heard when John Knox was brought out by the queen's guards.

"John Knox, you are hereby punished to death through decapitation for treason and colluding with protestant groups to sexually assault innocent Scots." I ordered our men to proceed with the punishment.

After the decapitation of John Knox, I continued "This is to threaten everyone who is against and is planning to ambush the throne. The queen and I are here to protect Scotland and its people. We will haunt you down and I will make you beg for mercy." I said to conclude the ceremony.

I left the courtyard and rushed to my chambers to rest as I want to feel at ease for my baby. I will let the queen handle the rest from there.

"Finally" I whispered to myself.

--------------