A/N- So it has come to my attention in the last chapter that I wrote Spain instead of Italy. I am very sorry about this huge mistake! I have changed it and I hope that the change went live as well as in my documents. =)

Last Time: After Stefan slid the brilliant diamond ring onto Caroline's finger Elena took her hands into hers. She gazed at Caroline for a long moment. She then kissed her on the forehead. "My childe may all your dreams come true. You are no longer my ladies maid and will now further be known as the Princess presumptive of Italy." Caroline curtseyed to Elena and Elena released her hands. Damon then approached Caroline. "My sister, know now that you are to be wholly accepted into my family." He then kissed her on the palm. Elena then mounted her horse and they rode back to the castle. Elena knew that this day's joyous events would only make it easier to finish the day out. She would end the day with a gift to the Duchess Caroline.

A Time for Changes

The ride back to Mystic Falls castle was full of expectation and excitement. Caroline was excited and everyone around was going to know how excited she is. "Prince Stefan shall we get married after the King and Queen do or shall we wait a while?"

"Whatever is your wish my Lady." He replied in a long suffering tone.

"You may get married the week after we marry if it is your wish Lady Caroline." Elena responded. She would use her past titles until she formally granted her the title of Duchess.

Elena gave Caroline a private smirk at her happy face. As she arrived at the horse stables she dismounted the horse with purpose and handed the reins to the stable boy. She then placed her hand in the crook of Damon arm and walked to the castle with a purpose. As soon as she stepped into the castle she motioned for one of the footman. "Tell Duke Jeremy to meet Lady Caroline and I in my sitting room." The footman gave a deep bow and scurried away.

"Come Lady Caroline we must tell the Duke the joyous news." Lady Caroline visibly paled at the idea that she would have to tell her father that she would be getting married.

"Do not worry he will be over joyed. The match is a good one and he will approve. I have approved and he will not argue my judgment." She told Lady Caroline with a wink."

"Prince Stefan you will join us." She commanded and began a brisk pace to her sitting room. It was not long before the Duke entered and sat in the chair that Elena motioned for him to sit in.

"Prince Stefan you may share your news with the Duke." She gave him a wicked glint. Stefan cleared his throat and leaned forward in his chair. Duke Jeremy the Lady Caroline and I will marry." He revealed. To say that Duke Jeremy's face was not shocked would be an understatement. "With all due respect Prince Stefan, I knew this would happen." The look of shock on the Prince's face made Elena giggle. The whole room turned to her with a look of bemusement.

"My Duke has many different channels of gathering knowledge. It is why he is so valuable to me. I knew he would not be surprised. It is only proper to let the father of the future bride know that you will be marrying his daughter though."

"Thank you your majesty for thinking of me." Jeremy said with a smirk. Elena gave him a friendly wink and got serious.

"Duke Jeremy have you gotten to the bottom of our little dilemma?"

"Yes Madam, Duke Tyler and Nicolas are abusing their power and demanding more taxes to help supplement a gambling problem. They have no money to their name so; they demand taxes from the people who are supposed to be under their protection in order to pay off debts."

Elena had to control the anger she felt. Elena stood and with steel in her spine and a voice that barely concealed her anger stood and demanded the court be called. Everyone in the room bowed and Elena went entered her bed camber and snapped for her ladies maids to ready her for court. They dressed her in a splendid golden gown and pulled her hair into an elaborate up do. The final touch was her crown. She then nodded at Caroline and nodded her for her to accompany her. "Come my people wait."

Elena briskly walked to the throne room and the footman called "The queen has arrived bow to your queen."

Elena walked to her throne and turned to her courtiers. "You may rise." She then sat in the cushioned seat and sighed.

"I have come before you for many reasons this day some joyous and some grievant. For the first order of business, Duke Tyler and Duke Nicolas approach."

The two Dukes approached the crown with an air of pomp. They knew that their ledgers had been seized and that Jeremy went over the ledger but, they did not know that Jeremy has extraordinary powers of gaining the information he needs. They bowed and Elena felt glee in the fact that she would make them hold the bow for longer than strictly necessary. She paused and finally allowed them to come out of the bow.

"Duke Nicolas and Duke Tyler when we last met did I not warn about asking for taxes to be raised unnecessarily?"

Duke Nicolas was the first to respond as duke Tyler looked as if he was about to throw up.

"Yes, your majesty and you see the people in my province need more food and I need food to pay for my servants clothing and…."

"ENOUGH" Elena roared.

Everyone in the room stood absolutely still. They only rarely see Elena angry.

"You will not lie to me! Is that understood! You have been gambling away my peoples hard earned money! And you Duke Tyler are following in his footsteps. I warned you both and now I will punish you!"

Duke Nicolas and Duke Tyler both feel to your knees begging for forgiveness. "There will be not forgiveness this day. You have abused the power I invested in you. You both are hereby stripped of your titles and lands. You are dismissed from my counsel. Leave my presence and may God have mercy on your soul." Elena demanded. "Sir Frederick please see that they make it out of the castle grounds." She demanded in a soft tone.

"Now that order of business has been completed I would like to announce the impending nuptials of the Stefan the Prince of Italy and my Lady Caroline. Please step forward Prince Stefan and Caroline." They stepped forward with an air of shyness. "Lady Caroline is now the Princess presumptive of Italy and to show my happiness at their impending marriage I would like to reward Lady Caroline with the Master Nicolas past province. Now and until her marriage will Lady Caroline be known as the Princess presumptive of Italy and be addressed as the Duchess Caroline she is now to be treated with all the privileges of a princess dignitary." Elena then stood and addressed Caroline."

"Duchess Caroline you will take the rooms normally appointed to the Princess of Mystic Falls and may stay there as an honored guest until it pleases you. You and the Prince may retire to your Duchy when you are married-unless the Prince wishes to return to Italy. Duke Jeremy is hereby appointed as your advisor to help guide you in running your Duchy." She then kissed Caroline's tear stained cheek and dismissed her from her service. Master Alaric escorted her to new rooms.

"Duke Jeremy you will take over Master Tyler's province and may select a new advisor to replace Master Tyler."

"That will be all. Everyone is dismissed."

Elena stood and exited the room. She entered the hallway to her chambers with an audible sigh. Damon was right on her heels and followed her into her receiving chambers. Her ladies maids gathered around her. She looked upon Lady Anna and Lady Lillian the two remaining of the head of her ladies maids. She then sunk into her couch and Damon sat across from her. "Lady Anna you are now the head of my ladies maids. Lady Lillian will be the second in charge. Lady Anna please choose a ladies maid to replace Lady Lillian." You two are dismissed until supper. Report back with my new ladies maid.

Elena then turned to a very bemused Damon. "So Damon, how do you think I handled all that has been pushed upon me this day?"

"I still think you should have hanged them both. You reign with compassion and love. This leaves a fiery passion that I wish to unlock in you." Damon replied with mischievous gleam to his eye.

This made Elena laugh loudly. "This is the reason I agree to wed you my sweet Damon. Your antics will always help me to forget about the day's events."

"What possessed you to make Caroline a Duchess?"

"I love Caroline like my own childe. I wish to see her well cared for. She will always have her province to make her a very rich person. The army that is stationed in her province will always be at her disposal if she ever need it. This will be true for her family. Duke Jeremy and Duchess Caroline now hold a third of my lands. This makes them the most powerful only second to me. They are my most trusted allies in this country. I now know that my country is safe and cared for. This is always the biggest concern for me."

"Are you not worried that they would turn traitor?" Damon inquired with the concerns only a monarchy could conceive. Even those that you trust with all your being can turn on you.

"It would break my heart but, I am sure that they will both be most loyal to me until the day I die. They would give their bodies to protect mine."

With that she heard shouting and a mighty clambering in the halls of her rooms.

She heard swords clanging and the shouts of her guards shouting for someone to halt in the name of the queen. Elena stood and pulled her father's sword out of the hilt above her fireplace. Damon grasped her around her waist and kissed her as Sir Frederick and Sir Leon her personal guards burst into her room. "Majesty we apologize, Master Nicolas and Tyler are making their way to your room threatening your person we must bar the room"

"I will strike them both down in their tracks. How dare they threaten you! Guards follow me!"

Elena's heart grew cold as she watched her new love leave the room and her guards bar her into her room to protect her. She fell into the deep cushion of her couch and dropped her head into her head and began to pray for the safety of all those in her care.

A/N I know that you all hate me right now! I hope there aren't any major typos! Thank you to those that caught the mistakes! I always want you to tell me if I make a major typo. It is very difficult to keep everything straight but, do not intend to make any mistake like the last one!