Part 4

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A year and a half later, Prince Pierre returned to Genovia for Christmas, this time for good. His trainee Patrice had proved to be a quick learner and was now in control of the parish. Queen Clarisse had been ecstatic that her only son was coming home to stay with her, though in the back of her mind she still wondered why he was so willing to give up life in France.

The now-seventeen-year-old Princess Mia, back in the country for the holidays, hardly questioned her uncle's motives, instead rejoicing that he would be staying in Genovia with her grandmother, whom she feared was lonely.

"Isn't it just great, Charlotte?" she exclaimed to the older woman one day. "Now Uncle Pierre can always be around to keep you and Grandma company!"

"Yes, Your Highness, it is rather nice that he can finally return to Genovia." Charlotte tried to keep the happiness out of her voice, and thankfully Mia didn't notice a thing, since Shades entered right then.

He and Charlotte discussed the plans for the Boxing Day Ball and the logistics of the two preceding days. Shades informed her as to which security guards would be accompanying them and when, and Mia was highly disappointed when she learned that Shades would not be attending the Christmas Eve church service with them.

"Aww, Shades, come on!" she said, "Why don't you come with us? I'll sit next to you and keep you company!"

"Sorry, Your Highness," he replied, "But I think you should be fine with Joseph only."

Mia pouted. "Are you coming, Charlotte?"

"Of course, Your Highness."

"Well, at least I'll have some company. Anyways, see ya, Charlotte, Shades!" And with that, she was gone.

"Someone's got a crush on you, Shades!" Charlotte exclaimed, winking at him.

"Like you did when I first started?" He grinned and she shoved his arm.

"Get going. Don't you have work to do?"

Shades laughed at her, but he left.

--

Back at the Winter Palace after the Christmas Eve church service, Princess Mia could hardly contain her excitement.

"It's Christmas Eve! Just a few more hours until we open presents! It's snowing! My very first white Christmas—those flurries last year don't count. Oh my gosh, I'm so excited! Aren't you excited, Grandma?"

"Yes, dear." Queen Clarisse couldn't keep from smiling at her granddaughter.

"What time do we open presents at, Charlotte? You control the schedule around here," Mia asked, bounding over to the older woman and grabbing the ever-present clipboard in her hand. Joseph, about to go into the security room, hesitated.

"Whenever you wake up, Your Highness," the aide replied, gently retrieving her clipboard.

"That'll be early 'cause I'm so excited! What time is it usually, Charlotte?"

Charlotte turned to Queen Clarisse to answer that. "Your Majesty?"

"Wait," Mia interrupted, "don't you open them with us? You were gone last year, I asked Joe—wait, Joe, you didn't open with us either!"

Both Charlotte and Joseph attempted to explain that they were servants and therefore did not celebrate Christmas with the royals, but Mia would have none of it.

"But you both stay here over Christmas, don't you?" she asked. At their nods, she exclaimed, "Then you're practically family and should open presents with us! No protesting," she added as Charlotte began to. "Now I expect to see you both at eight o'clock to unwrap presents—that's a civilized hour. Good night, everybody. 'Night, Grandma!" And with a hug, Mia was gone.

"Well, it appears that I'll see you tomorrow morning after all," Pierre said, grinning, as he patted Charlotte's shoulder. "Good night, everybody, Mother." And with a kiss on his mother's check, he was gone, exactly as his niece before him.

--

The next morning found three royals, two servants, and one American sitting in the ballroom around the gloriously decorated Christmas tree. Joseph and Charlotte felt decidedly awkward, but Queen Clarisse gladly welcomed her two favorite employees.

"It's a nice change to have so many people here," she remarked as they all settled into their seats, "almost like old times, when the boys were young."

"Can we open presents now?" Mia asked, squirming in her chair. "I'm dying to see your faces when you see what I got you!" At her grandmother's assent, she set about distributing the gifts to their recipients, occasionally remarking "ooh, this one's from me!" or "I'm guessing this is a …" and the like. Finally everyone had their own pile of gifts in front of them, and they set about the half-circle opening them. Clarisse, closest to the tree, went first, with her couch mate Joseph going next. Mia, perched on the arm of her mother's chair, was next, and Helen after her. Then it was Charlotte's turn, followed by Pierre on the other end of the loveseat.

Princess Mia had to comment on every gift. Most of them were irrelevant; one was not.

"Ooh, Charlotte, who's that one from? It looks like earrings or something!"

Charlotte inspected the small, square box in her hand. "It's from Prince Pierre," she answered, turning to look at him curiously. "Is it earrings like last year?"

The Prince's face had suddenly turned pale and then an odd shade of green. "Perhaps you should open that later, actually…"

"Why? Is it something bad like two years ago?" Charlotte raised an eyebrow, but then realization hit her and her eyes widened. "I definitely should open it later if it's like two years ago," she said quickly in an attempt to cover her shock.

"No, I wanna see what it is!" Mia exclaimed while Clarisse and Joseph exchanged significant looks. Helen just wondered what was going on.

Charlotte looked helplessly at the Prince, who jerked his head. She sighed and took off the ribbon.

"What color earrings are they, Uncle Pierre?" Mia asked, craning her neck to see the box.

"White," the Prince replied, gulping. Charlotte removed a piece of tape.

"White-white, or white like diamonds?" was the Princess's next question.

"White like diamonds." Pierre's voice was strained. A side of wrapping paper came off.

"Dangly or studs?"

"Um," was the only thing he could choke out as the wrapping paper was removed entirely, revealing a little black velvet box.

Mia gasped. "Ooh, fancy earrings!" She moved over to the other arm of the chair to see, and now Helen was the one leaning. Clarisse raised an eyebrow at her son.

"Yes, very fancy, aren't they lovely?" Pierre said in a rush, snapping the box shut a second after Charlotte cracked the lid.

"Come on, Uncle Pierre, I wanna see!" Mia pouted, standing up to take the box herself. Charlotte offered no resistance but left her spot on the loveseat, moving to the far end of the room. But it wasn't far enough away, as she clearly heard Mia's gasp and subsequent exclamation of delight, as well as the excited murmurs of the others. She put her face in her hands as the Princess's well-known cry filled the room. "A ring!"

--

TBC