Marissa's farewells were accompanied by hearty embraces to the Queen and the Princesses. The three little girls were heartbroken to see her go, but Marissa lightened up their mood, promising to return shortly for their brother's wedding. Queen Danielle wished her all the good in the world and expressed - for the thousandth of time in the last few days - her delight in Marissa's new-found motherhood. "Once this wedding and all the arrangements are done with, you won't have to be separated from her for another day," she assured the blonde Queen.

It had been decided. Since Paladia and Apollonia were both kingdoms quite large already there wouldn't be any use in uniting the realms; it would also bring misfortune to the trading companies of both lands, not to mention unsettle the people. And since Princess Rosella was the only heir to the Paladian throne, and Prince Antonio had three sisters to govern his country in the future, after the wedding the young couple would be in line for the Paladian throne. They'd move to live at the Paladian palace with Queen Marissa - that's what Marissa liked most about this arrangement.

Prince Antonio was hesitant to say goodbye, since his mother and siblings had hugged the Queen. Marissa reassured him by embracing him, too. They would get on just fine. The King didn't usually do hugs like that. But this was an exception. His wife had already said every kind word he could think of to the Queen, so King Peter simply wished her well. Princess Luciana was sweet and nice in her farewells, assuring Marissa once again how delighted she was that everything had fallen into place.

Rosella had decided to come to see Marissa off. She had made it quite clear that she wouldn't have it any other way. As the two of them slowly made their way through the light hallway of the castle, Marissa noticed Frederick standing close to the doors. He was watching her and the Princess patiently, but Marissa was certain he'd be getting annoyed with her by now.

"I won't be long anymore, Frederick," Marissa assured the guard easily when she and her daughter walked past the tall man. The guard gave a nod of agreement in return.

Outside waited Rosella's animal friends. They all needed their proper goodbyes. Rosella had told her mother that Sagi had insisted on coming to the port with them. Marissa had wished Tallulah well when they had passed her in the castle.

Azul sat on Tika's back, high and mighty, and Marissa turned to him first, aware that royalty should be addressed first. "Well, my Prince," Marissa said with a genuine smile on her pretty face. "You shall be highly missed by me. I imagine you won't be too sad to see me go, but I must say you have my deep respect. I've seen very few people who can live up to their royal status like you do."

"Now that's what I call respect," Azul was content, holding his head high. "Ro, you might tell the Queen that like everyone else I'll also be saddened by her departure." He watched with a proud smile as Rosella repeated his words to her mother.

"Thank you, Azul," said Marissa when Rosella was finished.

Then she turned toward Tika. "Dear Tika," she said, standing in front of the small elephant. "I will miss you very much." She smiled softly, gazing warmly into those large blue eyes. "Stay safe while I'm gone, alright?" she said kindly. Tika made the familiar movement of caressing her cheek with her trunk. Marissa chuckled happily.

Marissa kept looking at the sweet elephant fondly, until Rosella touched her arm delicately. The Queen turned to see Frederick stepping towards them. Marissa's smile faltered just a bit. She didn't want to leave yet, although she had been delaying for enough now.

"My Queen," said Frederick when he was close enough. His tone was by no means unkind, because he understood how difficult it must be for Marissa to leave, but it was still a bit demanding. "I really think we ought to go now."

Marissa could see she was being difficult to manage, but as much as she wanted to do as Frederick says, she didn't want to leave just yet. "Please, Frederick," she said in her best pleading tone. "Just a few more minutes, and then I'll come."

Frederick suppressed a sigh. "Very well, Your Majesty," he said, obedient but not yet resigned. "But I must inform you that they are not going to wait for us." His tone was so firm now, so determined and unwavering, that Marissa was quite taken aback at first. A Queen or not, this tone was one that she couldn't disobey.

Rosella watched her mother's change of expression in surprise. By what she had learned since she had been brought to civilization, no servant should be able to boss around their employers, most certainly not a Queen. And no employer would listen to their servant. And yet here Marissa looked like she was the servant, ready to do as her guard asked.

"I'm afraid I do have to go now," Marissa said, turning back towards Tika and Azul. Rosella and Sagi followed Frederick to the carriage that was to take them to the port. Marissa sent a last hearty smile towards the two animals, and took her place in the carriage.

"I'll miss all of you very much," said Marissa, watching the castle from the carriage window and stroking Sagi's head absent-mindedly. She had been welcomed warmly here. And the royal family would soon be her family as well. She had a good feeling that this was all meant to be.

"But you do have someone in Paladia, don't you? Someone who loves you? And takes care of you?" asked Rosella, surprising herself that she hadn't thought to ask this sooner.

Marissa was equally surprised, only because she hadn't expected her daughter to ask this. "Well," she replied, giving it a thought. "I could say I do. There's Melanie, I've told you about her." She thought about the man sitting at the front of the carriage. "And there definitely is someone else to look after me. Although he's not in Paladia now."

"Really? Were is he then?" asked Rosella curiously. She was slightly saddened that her mother could only think of two people back home who loved her. Two wasn't enough to keep someone happy, surely. But it must not be easy to have friends when one is constantly working, as the Queen was.

"He's... in Apollonia," answered Marissa with a little delay.

Rosella racked her brains to come up with some Paladian who could be visiting this kingdom except for her mother. There had to be businessmen from Paladia in town, but Rosella was positive her mother hadn't met anyone in town throughout her stay. That left only her guardian. "You don't mean Frederick, mother," asked Rosella, realizing that this was the perfect idea, since he was always looking after the Queen.

"We have become good friends," confided Marissa with a small smile. Sagi looked up at the Queen and then at Rosella, giving the latter a smile and an approving look.

"But I heard him boss you around just now, when we were leaving the castle," said Rosella incredulously. Sagi shook his head at her in disappointment.

"He was right, we had to get going," justified Marissa. She had been wondering briefly what had made her listen to Frederick so obediently. She had come up with the simple reason that he had been right, whilst she should have thought of the space he had occupied in her heart. "He is never disrespectful," Marissa assured her daughter. "I guess I was taking too long to say goodbye."

Rosella was about to say more when she caught Sagi's eye. He was willing her not to ponder the topic farther. "Don't spoil it," Sagi told her. Rosella listened to him.

And suddenly it struck her - she did as Sagi asked her to because they were friends and Sagi was being right. It must have been the same with her mother, Rosella realized. And she didn't really have a bad thing to say about Frederick. He had been keeping watch over her mother, not once abandoning his duties. He had been respectful and discreet, and Rosella hadn't feared for a second that he might tell anyone about her climbing the trees or trying to get her mother to take a ride on Tika when they were out. And if he made Marissa feel good and safe, then there really was nothing wrong in this friendship.

The ship was all ready to take leave when the carriage stopped at the port. Frederick had been right, they were not too keen on waiting for the Queen. It's bad luck to have a woman onboard, the sailors had said. Frederick had made sure they wouldn't repeat this in front of the Queen.

Frederick helped the two women out of the carriage, and Rosella gave him a longer look than she had before. Now she decided he was a handsome man and the look in his eyes was kind, his smile genuine.

Marissa couldn't face saying goodbye to her daughter just yet, and so she looked at Sagi first. "I know you'll look after my girl," she told the red panda in her arms fondly. "I'll miss you very much indeed."

"I'll miss you, too, my Queen," replied Sagi, and somehow Marissa didn't need Rosella to translate this to her. She knew what he had said.

"I'm guessing you won't mind a hug," said Marissa with a smile, and Sagi turned in her arms. She brought him higher, and Sagi set his arms around her neck. Marissa held him close to herself, embracing him for a long moment. When she bent to set him down on the ground, she gave his head one last stroke and said, "Take care."

Standing up again, now facing her daughter, Marissa was at a loss for words. She couldn't say goodbye to her girl. Not when she had just found her again. Not when she was so afraid of never seeing her again. What if something happened to her while she was away? What if this was the last time she saw her?

Rosella took her mother's hands in hers and held them tight. "I'll be alright," she assured her in a convincing tone. "We'll both be alright. You'll be back before you think, and then we won't have to leave each other ever again." As much as she tried, she couldn't keep the tremble out of her voice as she spoke. She was by no means keen on saying goodbye either. But it had to be done.

"Ma chère,* I wish I didn't have to go," Marissa answered, her tone wavering and sad. "I couldn't bare to lose you again." She blinked her eyes rapidly to contain the tears that threatened to come.

"You won't," promised Rosella with certainty. She looked her mother in the eyes with affection and saw the same feelings reflecting in Marissa's eyes. They wouldn't be apart for long, Rosella told herself.

Determined not to cry, Marissa pulled her daughter into her embrace. The two of them held on to each other tighter than they had the first time. This time the hug was a promise of meeting again soon. Marissa didn't want to let go of her precious girl for the world, and she had a feeling her daughter felt the same way about her. It was bad enough that the girl had had to grow up without a mother, but now she had to be separated from her again, even if only for a short while.

"This isn't a goodbye for long," whispered Rosella, not for a second loosening her hold on her mother.

"Not "À dieu"** but "Au revoir"***," agreed Marissa, pulling away from her child enough to plant a light kiss on her cheek. "I'll see you soon, mon ange,****" she said, looking deep into those bright blue eyes. And then, with immense reluctance and heartache, she stepped away from her girl.

Rosella offered her a kind smile, and Marissa returned the gesture. But she could see the sorrow in her daughter's eyes as she turned around to leave. She didn't dare look back, just in case she would break and weep. It was mere cold determination that kept her head up and her back straight as she, for the first time in ten years, boarded the ship.

* "My dear,"

** "Farewell"

*** "Goodbye, until we meet again"

**** "My angel,"