The seven days that led to the arrival of Queen Henrietta Rainier felt slow for Adam and Sagittarius. Adam was very nervous because of the long time it's been since he has seen his aunt. Sagittarius was only a little nervous, not only of the people she's bringing, but also of the attitude she might give him because he didn't tell her that he was visiting Adam without her.

Through the seven days that everyone was preparing themselves, Adam was very worried about Belle. The day after he found out about his aunt, Belle never spoke to him and her bedroom door was always locked. It seemed to him that either he was the only one who knew or the servants didn't say anything. He had tried to unlock the door with a set of keys that he borrowed from Mrs. Potts, but when he put the key in, he would try to twist it with all his might, but the lock would not budge! Adam also didn't want to put too much strength in turning the key because of a chance he might break it. When Adam realized that he wasn't going to be able to unlock the door, he gave the keys back to Mrs. Potts, but he didn't give up on trying to talk to her, despite that she didn't respond back nor unlock the door.

When the seventh day came, Adam tried to swallow any nervousness he had, he was wearing a forest green suit. If there's anything that he remembered about his aunt, dark green was her favorite color. Even though Sagittarius and Sapphire were going to be there for him, he really wished that Belle was by his side.

There was the sound of galloping horses slowing down to a stop, Adam knew that his aunt was here.

"Relax, Adam." Sagittarius whispered.

"I'm trying to." Adam whispered back as two servants opened the front doors. When they did, Adam couldn't believe his eyes when he saw his Aunt Henrietta. When she was into view, Adam saw that she was wearing a lime green dress and very high heeled shoes. He forgot that his aunt also loved high shoes. Her hair was dark chocolate color with three stripes of gray, the one thing that didn't change...was her light green eyes.

As she was walking towards him, Adam noticed the other people she brought with her. On Henrietta's left, there was a woman with orange hair and brown eyes and was wearing a loose red dress, she was also very heavy in the stomach region, if you know what I mean. On Henrietta's right, there was a man and woman. Both of them were wearing ruby-colored clothes and black shoes. In Adam's opinion, the woman didn't seem to be too happy to be here. Another thing was that there was a young woman between them, she was wearing a silver and gold dress, had light blond hair and hazel eyes.

The four people stopped walking about five feet away from Adam as Henrietta continued walking up to him until they were no more than one foot apart. Adam looked up at his aunt, who was about a foot taller because of her shoes. He swallowed his fear as he took a step back and bowed to his aunt. He really didn't know what to expect as he stood back up. When he did, his aunt curtsied to him.

"It's been so long, my dear nephew." She said.

"Yes...it...has." Adam managed to say.

"You've grown up very nicely. If Sagittarius sent me the letter sooner, I would've been here more sooner than I said." Adam quickly looked over at his cousin, Sagittarius rolled his eyes. "I saw that, Sagittarius!" Sagittarius felt like a kid who got caught doing something bad.

"My mistake, mother." he said.

"Well, before I get ahead of myself," Henrietta said as she turned to the people she brought, "may I introduce my dear friend, Archiduchesse Adelaide Jaune, Comte Danton Rubia and his wife, Comtesse Nanette." Adam quickly bowed to show them respect.

"You have a handsome nephew, Henrietta." Adelaide said.

"Yes, very handsome." Nanette added.

"So...you're the nephew of Queen Henrietta, cousin of Prince Sagittarius?" Danton asked.

"Yes, sir." Adam answered.

"Adam is the son of Queen Lydia Porc-épic...and my stupid twin brother." Henrietta added.

"Henry Colère?" Adelaide asked.

"Believe me, madam," Adam said, "despite that he's my father, I am nothing like him!" He kind of cringed when the topic of his father came up, Sagittarius told him that his father was going to be brought up, but it still didn't make him feel any better.

"I can see the relationship between you and Sagittarius." Danton said, "I remember your mother, that's for sure."

"We all do." Adelaide said, "You defiantly had a powerful and tough mother."

"I am going to get off topic here," Nanette said, "but because she wasn't introduced, I would like to present my youngest daughter, Mystique." The Comtesse's daughter curtsied when her mother introduced her.

"May I suggest that we take this into the parlor?" Sagittarius said.

"Mrs. Potts can take care of your servants." Adam said as he pointed over to the parlor. His aunt smiled at him as she led the others into the parlor.

"You're doing good." Sagittarius whispered to him as he passed.

'Yeah, so far.' Adam thought to himself as he followed.

After Henrietta and the other ranks were led, Adam and Sagittarius put their plan into action. The two of them decided to play into what Sagittarius told his mother long ago. When Sagittarius got cursed, he told his mother to tell the other ranks that he was traveling for his studies. What Adam and Sagittarius decided to say was that when Sagittarius left to do his studies, he sent Adam back to his home castle that way he would be safe and protected.

"Sagittarius didn't want me to send any letters out to the main castle until he came back home to his castle." Adam said.

"You never told anyone that you were here?" Nanette asked.

"No," he answered, "Sagittarius didn't want me to bother his parents when they were taking care of two kingdoms."

"Adam was my responsibility," Sagittarius added, "I made a promise to his mother that I would take care of him. That's why I didn't want Adam to bother my parents."

"If we had known that you still nearby," Adelaide said, "I think King Randolph wouldn't have killed himself."

"I may have lost my husband," Henrietta said sadly, then she smiled at her son and nephew, "but I still have my son and my nephew."

Just then, there was a knock at the door. Everyone looked at the door, Cogsworth and Brimley came in.

"Forgive us with the interruptions." Cogsworth said.

"We came to say that lunch is served." Brimley added.

"Ah lovely!" Nanette said, "Make sure there's plenty to eat for Adelaide."

"Don't point out the fact that she's pregnant!" Danton urged.

"It's okay," Adelaide said with Henrietta helping her get up, "I've had five kids and I'm now having my sixth. I'm used to all the points, stares and whispers. Besides, more food for me might mean I'll be able to have a full stomach for once." Adam watched his aunt help the Archiduchesse get up, the Comte help his wife and his cousin help Sapphire. Adam badly wished Belle was with him, he didn't know if he can handle this without her.

Just then, Adam felt someone grab his left arm. He looked to his left to find Mystique holding onto his arm and batting her eyes at him.

"So what have you've been doing throughout the time you've been here?" Mystique asked with a smile.

"That's...something for me to know." Adam said, hoping she would let go, but she didn't. Adam had to deal with leading Mystique to the dining hall.

After lunch, Cogsworth, Lumiere and Brimley led Adelaide, Danton, Nanette and Mystique to their rooms. When Henrietta saw that they were gone, she looked over at her nephew.

"Adam," she said, "come here." Now Adam was worried because he thinks he may have done something wrong. He slowly approached his aunt, wondering what she might do.

"Be careful, Adam." Sagittarius warned, then out of nowhere, Henrietta grabbed her nephew and bear hugged him. Adam felt like he was in a steel trap, he couldn't move from his aunt's arms.

"Sagittarius!" Adam said, "Do something!"

"Me between you and my mother? Uh, I don't think so."

"Ack! Aunt Henrietta!" Adam said a little louder, "You're starting to choke me!" When Henrietta heard that, she released Adam.

"Sorry," she said, "but I haven't seen you in who knows how long and when I finally get to see you, I have to wait until the other ranks are gone in order to get a hug out of you!"

"Next time," Adam said, "please warn me!"

"You know I don't do that," Henrietta said, "but since you're my nephew, I'll think about it. Before I forget, something's telling me that you lied to me." Adam's, Sagittarius' and Sapphire's faces dropped, they were a little worried that Henrietta would found out the lie.

"There's a reason on why we did." Adam said.

"If want to angry at someone, mother, be angry at me." Sagittarius said, but before anyone said anything else, Henrietta made a high pitch whistle. It made the three of them cover their ears and shut their mouths.

"I forgot about that whistle of yours." Adam said rubbing his ears.

"It helps get your attention." Henrietta said, "Anyway, I know what happened to my son, but something happened to you as well, didn't it, Adam?" Adam knew that there wasn't anyway out of it, he put his hands behind his back and nodded his head 'yes'. "Well, I know this is probably something that you'll tell me when the time comes where we're alone. Until that time comes, I'll play along with your lie. It's the least I can do after not seeing you for so long." Adam breathed a sigh of relief.

"Thank you, Aunt Henrietta! Thank you!"

"Of course," she answered, "but remember when this is over, I want an explanation."

"When we're alone," Adam said, "I'll tell you, okay?"

"Very well."

"Adam," Sagittarius said, "there is at least one thing I think you should tell her."

"Um...what might that be?" he asked, Sagittarius rolled his eyes and then said;

"Belle."

"Who's Belle?" Henrietta asked as she looked at her nephew. When she noticed Adam's face turning pink, that's when she got the idea. "So...Belle's a girl. I was wondering what you've been doing during the time you've been out here."

"Belle's my...fiancee." Adam managed to say.

"Then...how come we haven't met her?" she asked, Adam, Sagittarius and Sapphire were now feeling awful.

"Nine days ago, when we sent our letter to you," Adam explained, "Belle and her cousin were attacked. The two of them have been confined to their rooms because of their broken limbs."

"Oh Dear! I hope that they will get better."

"It might be rude of me to say," Sagittarius said, "but I hope it will be soon. I don't think Adam was too pleased about having Mystique hanging on his arm. Speaking of which, why did you bring her along? Remember what happened with Sapphire and Fantina?"

"I didn't want to bring her!" Henrietta said, "It wasn't my idea. Nanette brought her along under my nose, just like last time. It wasn't until the middle of the trip did I notice that Mystique was coming along."

"I got to ask," Sapphire spoke up, "how old is Mystique?"

"She's seventeen." Henrietta said, "She likes to look young."

"Yeah," Sagittarius added, "she's just like her sisters."

"If Belle saw Mystique holding onto me like that, I don't know what would've happened." Adam said, remembering that Belle was acting a little sensitive lately about the topic of them being able to be together.

"Well, when she's feeling better, you'll tell us." Henrietta said, "It's none of our business on who you want to marry. I'll admit that you'll get a lot of women to try and change your mind, but don't let them get in the way. It's your decision, not theirs!"

"I thank you once again, Aunt Henrietta." Adam said.

"I'll always be by your side," she said, "even if Sagittarius doesn't want me to." Sagittarius groaned as he slapped his forehead, Sapphire did a light giggle to herself when she saw him do that.

"I'm going to my room." Sagittarius said as he was leaving the room, Sapphire decided to follow him.

"He's who knows how old and he still can't deal with me." Henrietta said with a smile, "That's my boy."