I'm taking a different approach from my other story so in this viewpoint, Robert's new bride realises that life amongst her in-laws are not as rosy as it should be- and that her new husband might have a dark side.

Disclaimer: I don't own the Royals- E! does.

Such Stuff as Dreams are Made On

The mood was ecstatic and overjoyed, in terms of the British public.

Union flags and the royal family's faces hung everywhere; in the forms of paper flags, balloons, mugs, teacups, postcards, postage stamps, souvenir paraphernalia and more. People were cheering and dancing on the streets and cafés, restaurants, bars and so forth were working overtime.

"It's a true miracle!" The TV presenter gushed. "Prince- sorry, King Robert, died in a terrible accident which turned out to be a hijacking, and now he's alive and well- he's taken his rightful place and he's fallen in love. King Robert is one of the most eligible bachelors in the world, and he's fallen in love with and is marrying someone who is universally called one of the most beautiful- if not the most beautiful- woman in the world. She comes from the land of myth and legend- she's been called a modern-day Helen of Troy. Her beauty, warmth, charm and more are all extraordinary and Britain has fallen in love with her, almost as much as the new king has!" She gushed on.

"They did WHAT?!" Helena snapped. Her stormy grey-blue eyes glared at Rachel.

Rachel replied. "They sent back the invitations." Helena glared again and stood up from behind her desk.

"So am I to understand," she said dangerously. "That the heads of the various royal houses throughout the world, will not be attending my son, the king's wedding celebrations?"

"Well, actually," Rachel said meekly. "They are coming. The King and Queen of Greece sent invitations inviting them to their daughter's nuptials. They have responded: they're all coming."

Helena looked murderous.

Both Rachel and Spencer were deathly silent.

They dared snub me?! Helena raged. Me? The Queen of England? Well, Queen Mother. She hated the fact that somebody was taking her place.

And that soon she would be relegated to royal mother, and mother-in-law. Or maybe even grandma. She shuddered.

None of the visiting royals seemed happy to be there, none were more unhappy than the Greek royal family.

"Greetings, your majesties, your royal highnesses," Helena pasted a very fake, very toothy shark smile onto her face. If only she could bite the bitch's head off.

Queen Anastasia of Greece gave a smile that did not meet the chips of Antarctic ice that were her grey eyes. "Your majesties, your English welcomes never fail to astound me. Is it any wonder that so many people worldwide are drawn to you and your court?"

Translation: 'You're a frigid bitch and it's a miracle you can be slutty enough to get men to want you.'

Helena gave a strained smile. How dare she?! She was the queen of England! Well, Queen Mother. Helena's pride rankled when she remembered that she would be Queen Mother, whereas this woman- the queen of Greece, would be remaining queen, and her daughter would be taking Helena's title!

"How very gracious of you, your majesty," Helena fake-simpered. "Though I know we can never compare to your warm welcomes, and the warmth of your court. The masses are enthralled."

Translation: 'You're a common w**e. And very low one at that too.'

Anastasia knew it and her eyes hardened further.

"I am glad you should say so? How has the highly esteemed royal family of Britain been? And how are Prince Liam and Princess Eleanor?"

This was an all-too brilliant reminder to Helena that the British royals- the Henstridges were suffering a series of crazy scandals that threatened to tear them apart. Namely not only Simon's murder and Robert's 'accident' but the paternity scandals that ensued over the twins' and Helena's own affairs and her subsequent war with her own brother-in-law, her children's uncle Cyrus.

You bitch, Helena's eyes said to Anastasia's very smug ones.

Anastasia smiled.

Just then Robert strode into the hall. "Your majesties," he said by way of greeting, bowing his head politely.

"Your majesty," Anastasia said politely. "Your majesty," King Konstantinos, her husband stated. "Welcome to London." Robert said with a warm smile. They thanked him. Just then, a tall, brutally handsome, but menacing-looking young man appeared. He stood tall in his dark clothes and he cut a terrifying figure.

"Your royal highness," Robert said, as pleasantly as he could. He hadn't forgotten this man's last meeting with him. He had tried to tear Robert apart with his bare hands, his eyes alight with nothing short of rage and madness. He was literally shouting an ancient Spartan war cry.

What the heck, Robert thought. And this man was about to be his brother-in-law.

Robert watched as Alexios, Crown Prince of Greece, titled Prince of Sparta, greeted Queen Helena. Helena's brave smile chilled for a single moment, and she suppressed a shudder.

She would not be trying to hook up with this fellow.

"Good evening, your majesty, thank you for inviting us." That was Dimitri, Prince of Thebes, second son of King Konstantinos and someone Robert was no less wary of.

His smile was much too bright and cheery for the tense atmosphere.

"Your royal highness, Prince Dimitri, welcome to London," Robert said formally. Then he saw the one sight he wanted to see more than anything in his whole life: Aglaia.

Robert felt his very breath leave him as the whole atmosphere suddenly felt airless. She was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen, and he was not biased when he said this. People in Greece said she was their Crown Jewel and boasted that she was Helen of Troy reborn and not without reason. That mane of black hair fell in gentle waves and loose curls to the middle of her back, and her skin was strikingly flawless with a sheen like mother-of-pearl or perfect pearls. Her emerald almond eyes shone and glowed with a special radiance. She was lovelier than anyone else there so beautiful it made his heart ache.

King Konstantinos saw Robert's reaction to his daughter's arrival and his eyes darkened.

The two kings caught each others' eyes and an unspoken reminder passed between them.

Konstantinos' eyes were grim but in agreement. Robert's promised peace and compromise.

For now.

The cameras flashed, while journalists shouted and cried out their questions, desperately hoping to gain the attention of the royal couple-to-be.

Princess Aglaia was so beautiful and her smile so dazzling and warm that there was absolutely no doubt that people would never be able to take their eyes off of her. Today she was wearing a mint-green satin short dress with a peplum waist, boat neck and three-quarter sleeves. The engagement ring glittered on her ring finger and nobody could take their eyes off her.

If there was anything they could agree on she was one of the most beautiful women in the world, or likely even the most beautiful.

"So your majesty, we were wondering when and how did you first meet?" That question was directed to Robert. Aglaia cast her eyes down modestly though a very lovely blush stained her cheeks. She cast her eyes up again when another reporter asked her a question.

"Your royal highness, we've heard that you were a baby during the Third Greek Civil War, but we heard a story that you were a symbol of hope, talking to the Greek people?"

Aglaia's smile faded briefly. She began to explain.

Needless to say the way she did it, and the story itself captivated touched many people. Everyone could swear that people had tears in their eyes.

And then another reporter asked: "Your royal highness, I've heard that you can speak Irish Gaelic. Can you, perhaps, say something for us?"

Aglaia smiled inquisitively. "Cosúil le cad? Cad ba mhaith leat dom a rá?" She asked earning the astonishment of everyone present.

"I'm sorry?" The journalist asked, blinking.

Aglaia smiled enquiringly. "I asked you what you would like me to say," she said calmly.

And so the questions went on, including the ones about her upbringing and everyone fell deeper in love.

None more than the new king sitting next to her.

Helena watched the interview from the television with narrowed eyes. "It seems everyone has fallen in love with the queen-to-be." Spencer remarked from behind her.

"Really?" Helena found herself saying. "So we know, she's as close to being a war hero as far as the anyone is concerned- several holocaust survivors have come forwards they embraced, apparently her story resonated with so many of them and theirs with hers. People are more than just profoundly sympathetic, however, they are openly and enormously admiring the new queen-to-be- even the republicans."

Helena nearly dropped her teacup. "They what?"

"There is... um, a drop in anti-monarchist sentiment lately," Spencer said, regretting he had ever opened his mouth. Why did he open his big mouth again? "Particularly in Wales, Scotland and even Northern Ireland."

Helena sat frozen, staring at him. "Why?"

"Well, the future queen has made herself dear to all the masses, it seems. She's fluent and proudly so, in Irish and Scottish Gaelic, she's also learning Welsh, Cornish and Manx. She's reaching out to people, and everyone sees her as, well..." Spencer tried to shrink away from Helena's impending fury.

"Just how many languages," Helena said, fury mounting. "Does one girl speak?"

"More than enough, your majesty," Spencer said meekly, seemingly trying to turn into a puddle.

"And how much... Love and support, can one princess get from speaking so many languages and surviving a civil war and genocide?" Helena spat.

Spencer went oatmeal-white.

Helena shoved her empty teacup away, fuming venomously as she paced up and down the room, wishing to grab and axe from one of the suits of armour, so she could behead her son's would-be-bride! Decapitate her into tiny pieces! How dare she?! It was that bitch of a mother's fault, no doubt, pushing her daughter into every available space on the spotlight, whilst reminding everybody that Aglaia would soon take Helena's place as the new queen. Helena sank down into a chaise lounge in despair.

Soon Aglaia would be the new queen. And Helena would be regulated to Queen Mother. Even Cyrus let her keep her title (until he almost married Prudence), but there was no room for two queens in Britain, as the Privy Council made quite clear.

"Your majesty," Spencer interrupted her despair. He gave her a winning grin. "May I help your majesty in any way? I am at, Her Majesty's Pleasure." He emphasised her title and the phrase.

Helena stood and began unzipping the back of her dress. A good, lovely shag was what she needed to calm her thoughts and make her feel better. She allowed herself to be pacified at Spencer kissing up her leg and onto her snatch.

Liam drank from his flask whilst listening to depressing music.

This was not normally what he would do.

"Hey," a feminine voice interrupted his depression.

Liam nearly jumped up, and as a result he floundered ungracefully off his swivel chair, and nearly fell onto the ground, smashing his knee.

"Ouch!" he cried.

Aglaia winced and came up to help him. "You hurt your funny bone," she remarked to him, giving him a serious look in her green eyes.

Liam couldn't help but snort with laughter at the mention of that.

"Yeah," he admitted. She smiled at him.

"I'm sorry to bump into you like this," she admitted. "But... I didn't know who else to talk to. Forget it, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have bothered you," she stated.

"No-no, no, it's alright." Liam hurriedly assured her. "I'm always glad to have you here."

"Really?"

"It's like a breath of fresh air." He confessed. "You brought a new life into this place. Nothing's been right, not since Robert disappeared and Dad died." He looked down.

"You and Robert... Based on what I've heard and seen, he loves you, but you haven't spoken to each other lately," Aglaia said quietly. "I don't think he'll admit it, but he misses you." She confessed.

Liam chuckled bitterly. "I've been missing my brother for a long time." He looked at her. "I heard that you didn't grow up inside the royal palace in Athens." He said, changing the subject.

"Um, no, I didn't." She admitted. "I lived in an estate just outside of Athens," she said. "The Royal Palace, it's mostly symbolic. A ceremonial thing. We sometimes use it for balls and mostly we rent it out."

"You rent it?" Liam could hardly believe what he was hearing. Well, he heard it in the TV interview before, but now...

"Yeah. I mean," she shook her head laughing. "It's such a huge space. The government uses it, the Prime Minister lives there, and members of the Ministerial Council- our Cabinet. But ordinary citizens also live there. They can rent apartments, it's affordable. Besides, how can one family live in such a big, empty space? It's so... Sorry," she hastily apologised to Liam.

Liam smiled slowly at her. "You surprise me," he said softly. "It sounds wonderful," he admitted. "Your upbringing. How did your parents do it?"

She smiled, shrugging. "They just did," she stated. "My father and mother were king and queen but they were also full-time parents and husband and wife. That was the most important thing. And besides, the people not only loved it when the monarch holds the same values towards family-first as they do, but it also ensures that the next heir will have a healthy, happy upbringing and a successful future. The spares too."

Liam was silent for a while. "I wish mine could have been the same." He stated. Aglaia's smile disappeared. "You'll find things are so different here in England." He informed her.

"You mean, in Britain." She reminded quietly. "There's Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland too, not to mention the Commonwealth countries. Maybe they need to feel like there really is a family. Maybe everyone needs reminding every once in a while. The king, queen, and all the princes and princesses."

Liam's smile slowly appeared. "I'd love that." He stated, looking her in the eye.

Aglaia returned the smile, just then they heard the sound of footsteps. "Aglaia?" That was Robert.

"Robbie," Aglaia smiled. Liam was all-too aware that her hand was on top of his and he hastily pulled it away.

A movement which was not unseen by Robert.

"I was wondering where you went," he said slowly.

"I was here, talking to Liam." She said. "Would you like to join us?" She asked, her smile melting any ice that may have lingered.

Robert smiled slowly. "Of course," he said.

"Γαμώτο," The heir to the Greek throne muttered. Damn it.

"The wedding guests have all replied, they're coming," his brother Dimitri spoke to him in their native Greek.

"Good thing Mother sent out all the invitations before Queen Helena did."

"Queen Mother." Dimitri reminded him.

Alexios and Dimitri did not like the idea that their baby sister would be the queen of England anymore than Helena did. They would much rather her stay in Greece where she was certain to be safe. Not with those damned Henstridges.

"Do you think Cyrus will retaliate?" Dimitri asked.

"I think not just Cyrus, but Helena and possibly the twins are the danger," Alexios stated calmly.

"They'll try to harm her," Dimitri said, blankly. Inwardly, he felt colder than arctic ice. "They're going to kill her. She's doomed, brother. They're going to murder her before she gets anywhere near old age. If not the Henstridges, then their enemies."

"They won't try at the wedding." Alexios determined. "Not then. We've also begun security preparations for the coronation." Once she got back from her honeymoon, Aglaia would be crowned queen of Great Britain: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland- and the Commonwealth Countries.

"They tried to kill Robert, I don't think- for all he loves her- he's enough to keep her safe." Dimitri said in an undertone, in case any eavesdroppers were fluent in Greek. "They already killed King Simon. Does it matter that Ted Pryce is dead? There are many others. Everyone knows it can be done."

Alexios did not answer as he was too busy contemplating how they would try to kill the mother of the next heir to the throne and Robert's wife.