The Duchess Matilda and her boyfriend Sir Bartleby were walking across the edge of the Enchancian woods together, taking a break from adventuring and knightly duties to share a romantic encounter.
"Ah, what a whiz-bang day." Tilly sighed.
"Every day's a whiz-bang day when I'm with you." Sir Bartleby declared.
"Aren't you sweet." Tilly cooed.
Tilly produced a card.
"Here's your Valentine's card." She smiled. "I made it myself."
"Thank you, Tilly." Sir Bartleby nodded.
Tilly noticed an odd look on Sir Bartleby's face.
"What's the matter, Barty?" She asked.
"Tilly, we've known each other a while now." Sir Bartleby stated. "And I want this Valentine's Day to be the best you've ever had. There's been a question I've been wanting to ask you for so very long, and I can't think of a better time than right now. So, Duchess Matilda, will you marry me?"
"Oh, Sir Bartleby." Tilly gasped. "Yes, I will marry you!"
"That is the most whiz-bang thing I've ever heard!" Sir Bartleby hugged her.
"Now, we must tell our families about this!" Tilly grinned.
"Our families?" Sir Bartleby frowned.
"Something wrong?" Tilly asked.
"My family's kind of a trial..." Sir Bartleby admitted.
"That suits me just fine." Tilly declared. "It'll be like a new adventure we can take together!"
"If you say so." Sir Bartleby smiled.
"And I do." Tilly chuckled.
"Okay Tilly, we'll tell your family first, then mine." Sir Bartleby nodded.
"Let me tell you something." Tilly declared. "I was a little worried about meeting Miranda for the first time. I so wanted to make a good first impression, That, and I was worried she'd be like Roland's first wife, Elizabeth."
"What was queen Elizabeth like, may I ask?" Sir Bartleby inquired.
"Not the nicest sister-in-law around, that's for sure." Tilly grimaced. "Thankfully, Miranda was nothing like her. I didn't find it until after the wedding. I was out on one of my adventures when it happened, so I couldn't attend."
"I see." Sir Bartleby nodded. "Well, I'm sure princess Sofia will be overjoyed by the news, since she was the one who brought us together in the first place."
"Of course she will." Tilly smiled. "She's such a sweet girl. I'm so proud to call her my niece. And pretty soon, you'll be calling her that too!"
"Can't wait." Sir Bartleby grinned.
"Okay, so we need to get going." Tilly declared. "So much to do, so many people to see! Speaking of which, what's your family like, Sir Bartleby?"
"Well, my mom is quite a talker." Sir Bartleby smiled. "And my dad is a scholar. He spends most of his time studying. My older sister Julia is already married, with a family of her own. You'll love the kids. There's a little boy named Buster, and a girl named Jazzy. They're both so cute, and pretty smart for eight year olds."
"I can't wait to meet them." Tilly smiled.
"And you will." Sir Bartleby nodded. "But right now, let's break the news to your family."
Together, they made their way to castle Enchancia, where they told everyone the fantastic news.
"What wonderful news!" Miranda smiled.
"Congratulations!" Amber added.
"I can't believe Sir Bartleby is going to be our uncle!" Sofia cheered.
"Me neither!" James agreed.
"I'm so happy for you, Tilly." Roland agreed. "Why not have the wedding right here, in the ballroom?"
"Roland, that sounds like a whiz-bang idea!" Tilly grinned. "Oh, Sir Bartleby, let's invite your family over, so we can all get to know each other. I'm sure Buster and Jazzy will get along famously with my nieces and nephew!"
"That sounds like fun." Sofia nodded.
"Brilliant!" James cheered.
"Couldn't hurt." Amber shrugged.
"We have so much to do." Roland declared. "Baileywick, I trust we can count on you to organise everything."
"Of course, your majesty." Baileywick nodded.
"Great." Roland smiled.
"Sofia, would you like to be the flower girl?" Sir Bartleby asked.
"Me?" Sofia gasped.
"Of course." Sir Bartleby smiled. "It's the least we can do, since you're the one who helped us get together in the first place."
"Okay, I'll do it." Sofia nodded. "It's gonna be great!"
"Can I be the ring bearer, aunt Tilly?" James asked.
"Of course you can, dear." Tilly smiled. "Amber can be a flower girl too. That way, you'll all be in on it!"
"Yes!" Amber squealed.
"Hey, here's an idea." Tilly mused. "Let's do a practice wedding, so the kids can get to grips with their roles."
"That's why I love her." Sir Bartleby told Sofia.
"I love you too, dear." Tilly smiled.
"Tilly, you must let me take you to see the royal dressmaker." Miranda declared. "She'll make you the most incredible wedding dress you've ever seen!"
"Sounds like a plan." Tilly nodded. "While we're doing that, Sir Bartleby, why don't you write to your family and ask them to come over?"
"I will." Sir Bartleby nodded. "That is, if it's okay with you, king Roland?"
"Of course it is." Roland smiled. "Why, they'll be our family too, soon enough."
"Thank you, your highness." Sir Bartleby bowed. "I'll get right on that."
Sir Bartleby wasted no time in getting a letter sent to his family, informing them of the upcoming wedding.
The next day, the letter reached the home of Sir Bartleby's family. His mother, Anna, was the first to read it.
"Look, Eddie!" She called to her husband. "Our little Barty's getting married!"
"Really?" Eddie smiled.
"Yes." Anna nodded. "To that wonderfully quirky duchess Matilda!"
Just then, Jazzy and Buster ran into the room. Eddie and Anna were looking after them while their mother, Julie, was at the market.
"Grampa, tell Jazzy to give me my book back!" Buster yelled.
"I don't have it!" Jazzy retorted.
"Kids, guess what?" Eddie asked. "Your uncle Barty is getting married!"
"Whoa, really?" Buster smiled.
"Ooh, can I be the flower girl?" Jazzy asked. "Pretty please, grandpa?"
"Sorry, Jazzy." Eddie frowned. "It says here they've already gotten princess Sofia and princess Amber to be the flower girls."
"But that's not fair!" Jazzy pouted. "He's my uncle! And besides, those princesses always get what they want anyway!"
"Sorry, sweet pea." Eddie sighed. "That's just the way it is."
"Not fair." Jazzy repeated. "I deserve to be the flower girl. I'm the oldest."
"No, that's me." Buster countered.
"Whatever." Jazzy snorted. "I still deserve it."
"Now kids, that's enough." Anna frowned. "Once your mother comes back, we'll tell her the news, and we can all go together. Won't that be fun?"
"Yes, grandma." Jazzy sighed.
"And be on your best behaviour, okay?" Eddie urged.
"Sure, grandpa." Buster nodded.
As they left the room, Jazzy was still fuming.
"I'm going to be the flower girl." She huffed. "The only question is, who should I deal with? Princess Sofia, or princess Amber?"
Shortly after, Julie returned, and was just as overjoyed as her parents.
"Good for Bartleby." She smiled. "It's about time he and that lady friend of his settled down together."
"Just think, we're all going to be related to royalty." Anna smiled. "How amazing is that?"