I hope everyone has been enjoying the story so far! In this next chapter we see Mia mature and realize more of what been a queen means and, more importantly, supporting her Grandmother and Joe when they need her.

Special thanks to Regina-sp for planting the idea about Mabrey in my head for this story 😊

Chapter 3

Clarisse couldn't take one more second of sitting still. "If you'll please excuse me…" She chanced a glance at Amelia and then to Charlotte. What a mess she had made. This is why she'd never done anything impulsive in her life. All major decisions required research and careful deliberation. And, apparently, checking to see if any ancient laws and traditions would enter into the equation.

She should've known emotion was not her friend. "I'm sorry. I need some time and then we'll figure out what to do."

Charlotte watched as her best friend closed the door to the bedroom of her suite. Before Charlotte could decide what to do next, Mia launched into what she knew was going to be the first of a thousand questions.

"Charlotte, what in the world is going on? This is supposed to be a day of celebrating. Why is Joe so mad?"

Charlotte walked to the cabinet where the liquor was stored and poured herself a strong measure of scotch, downing it in one fiery gulp. "Please sit down, Princess, and I'll tell you what I know."

After another generous swallow for courage, Charlotte sat across from the Princess and brought her up to speed. She watched as yet another female in the royal circle lost all of her coloring. What she found interesting though is what the Princess said in return.

"How much time do we have to fix this?" Mia leaned forward, the look on her face earnest and sincere.

"There's no fixing it. The Archbishop will not be moved on his position. Even if you could swing another historic vote from Parliament, the marriage would still not be recognized by the church. You and I both know that even with a vote of support from Parliament, Mabrey or some other faction would use this to create a challenge to the Renaldi reign."

"That's not what I mean, Charlotte."

"Then what?"

"We have to get Joe to go along with this."

The bubble of humor that escaped Charlotte's throat was laced with disbelief and a bit of hysteria. "Did you not see him storm out of here? I've never seen him this angry, Princess. Never!"

"You leave Joe to me. Can you try to negotiate with the Archbishop to at least make this as non-spectacle-like as possible?"

There was something in her future Queen's voice that gave Charlotte hope…and something to do. "Yes, I can do that."

"Let me talk to Gramma while you start making all the arrangements to get her ready for the ball and the ceremony after. Then you put all those negotiating skills you picked up from watching her all these years to work on the Priest."

"Yes, ma'am. I'll see to it."

Mia would normally fuss at being called ma'am, but something in the way Charlotte said it made her understand that, in times like these, Mia had to be the leader her people – and in this case – her family needed. Charlotte recognized it too.

"Good luck, Princess." She reached out and touched her arm. "You're going to need it."

A moment later Charlotte was grateful to be through the door and carrying out the Princess' orders. She didn't hold much hope that Mia could convince Joseph to do this, but just in case, she wanted to hold up her end of the bargain.

Mia knocked softly on the door before entering her Grandmother's room. "Gramma, may I come in for just a moment?"

"Of course."

Her grandmother stood at the window, staring out at the Genovian landscape just beyond the grounds of the palace. "What can I do for you Amelia?"

Since her back was turned to her, Mia felt safe in allowing a warm smile to display on her face. Even in her greatest distress, her grandmother still wanted to be available to help. "You've already done so much. I just wanted to say thank you for believing in me today."

The words dragged Clarisse out of her spiraling depression and forced her to turn and look at her granddaughter. "I've always believed in you, Amelia."

The young woman grinned and cocked her head to the side. "Always?"

Despite the situation, Clarisse relinquished a small smile. "Alright, there may have been a moment or two when I had concerns."

"Now THAT I believe." She took a few steps closer. "I need you to believe me now that I can make this right. That I can help you and Joe have your fairytale ending." She shrugged and suppressed a slight shudder. "Even if it's the kind that a lot of people get to watch."

Clarisse shook her head. "He'll never agree to it. You didn't see his reaction." She met her granddaughter's gaze. "You do understand you have to be there too, right?"

Mia sighed. "Charlotte told me. I have her working on the Priest to negotiate what I hope will at least be an illusion of privacy for both of you."

Clarisse turned around and looked out the window. "I appreciate that, but without Joseph's consent, it doesn't matter."

"Clarisse Mignonette Renaldi-Romero!"

The tone in Mia's voice caused her turn around again. It had been a long time since anyone had called her by her full name. "I suggest you tread carefully, my dear."

Mia closed the distance and pulled her grandmother in a hug. She whispered in her ear. "You wouldn't let me give up and quit, and I won't let you do that either. You leave your husband to me. I've been on the receiving end of a lot of lessons about doing one's duty. It's about time I use what I've learned. Now Paulo will be here soon along with an entourage of people to prepare you for tonight's festivities. Pick out the perfect gown for both the ball and the ceremony. I want Joe thinking about no one else but you."

When Clarisse didn't say anything in response, Mia waited for a moment as she squeezed her grandmother tighter. "Say you believe."

Clarisse returned her hug and finally shared. "I shall try to believe."

With a kiss on the cheek, Mia left to find Joe. She picked up one of the house phones from an alcove in the hallway and dialed the security hub.

"Security."

"Shades, it's Mia. Where's Joe?"

"Library."

"Thank you."

She started to hang up when she heard, "Princess?"

"Yes?"

"Good luck."

She smiled. "Thanks, Shades. I'm going to need it."

Her steps slowed as she approached the library. She needed to get this right. Once inside, she closed the door and locked it. She didn't need or want any interruptions. Joseph was standing at the opposite side of the room, staring out the large picture window. She grinned. He and Gramma were so much alike. Letting the smile fade from her face so her voice would convey the proper tone, she started. "It's not like you to run and hide."

His shoulders tensed, but otherwise he didn't respond. She took a deep breath in and released it slowly. "I thought you loved her."

This time his hands clenched. "You know I do."

"Just not enough, I guess." She was treading on very thin ice, but she had to get him talking.

"You do know you will have to do the very same thing when you wed."

Yeah, she knew. "If that is what is necessary to ensure the Renaldi reign continues, then that is what I will do."

He laughed. "You wouldn't even marry a man you didn't love to ensure the Renaldi rule."

"I found a way around it this time. If it had come down to it, I would have gone back to the alter and married Andrew. But as you pointed out, he is not a man I love. You just admitted you loved my grandmother. Isn't love supposed to overcome all obstacles?"

"Only in fairytales."

Mia leaned back against the door and crossed her arms. "Hmm, and here that's what I thought we were in. One of the greatest love stories of all time, guaranteed for a happily ever after."

"Well this fairy tale has a host of villains conspiring against the hero and heroine."

"I get it, Joe. This is like the final straw. Between me, the VonTrokkens, Mabrey, and even Nicholas, the fates have been conspiring against you and Gramma being together. But you ARE together now, Joe. You just have to take that last step and show them, one final time, that your love is stronger than their greed, duty, or tradition."

Joseph turned and looked at her. She forced herself to remain calm. She also hoped he wasn't armed. After a tense few moments, he shrugged. "I can't do it."

This got Mia's attention. He didn't say he wouldn't do it, but that he couldn't. "Why not?"

He moved to the sofa and sat down hard on the cushions. Mia moved so she could be in front of him. She'd learned in negotiations it was important to be able to look directly at the other side to pick up on the non-verbal communication. She knelt down and put her hands on his knees. "Tell me, Joe."

His eyes closed. "You're too young to understand how much this day…this night was going to mean to me."

"I may be young, but I've watched you and Gramma for the past five years. I know how intense your love for each other is. I don't understand why that's a problem."

"I can't talk to you about this. She's your grandmother. It isn't right."

"Joe, we're family. Gramma is hurting. She's waited her whole life to feel this way. She's even willing to endure making love in front of people a second time because she wants to be with you."

His head shook and she sensed she was losing him again. "Oh, she made it clear, she wasn't going to make love to me."

This caught Mia by surprise. "What do you mean?"

"I mean, your grandmother told me that the only requirement of me…of us…was to consummate our vows!"

Now Mia understood at least part of the reason Joe was so upset. "I'm sure she didn't mean it like it sounded. She was just trying to let you know that the making love part could be reserved for just the two of you."

He exhaled and laid his head back on the cushions. "I'm not a man who loves easily. I've only loved a few women in my entire life. When I take them to my bed, it's because my love runs so deep that the next logical step is to demonstrate that love in a physical way. There is no simple consummation for me. It's not who I am."

Mia pushed herself to her feet. "You can't stop being who you are. Neither I nor Gramma would ever ask you to do that."

"So, you understand then."

She shook her head, "What I understand is that you're letting the archaic traditions of Genovia determine your fate yet again. They kept you away from Gramma for years. Since when do you let people push you around?"

Joseph looked up into the steely dark eyes of his future queen. "I'm afraid I don't follow, Princess. You recall that this has to be done in order to ensure the Renaldi reign continues."

"Just because something has to happen, doesn't mean they can dictate how it happens, right? This is your special night."

He rubbed his head. "I don't know, Princess."

"Do you love my grandmother?"

"Yes."

"Do you want to be her husband until death parts you?"

He frowned. "I want to be her husband forever, but yes, only death would I allow to separate us. And, even then, only for a brief time."

"Final question. Do you want my grandmother to lose the throne after all she's sacrificed?"

He sighed. "You know that I don't." He offered a rueful smile. "You remind me a lot of your grandmother right now. She can be relentless." He stood and pulled her into a hug. "Okay, Princess. I'll do my best to make the best of this ridiculous ritual and make this a night that she won't forget."

Mia pulled away just a bit and smiled. "A night none of them will ever forget."

She kissed him on the cheek. "Go find Gramma and work it all out with her. I'll find Charlotte and sort out the details, including the guests. I want to make sure that snake Mabrey isn't on the list for either event tonight."

Joseph remembered Charlotte sharing about opponents to the Renaldi rule could take advantage of her marriage to a commoner to steal the throne away in the final week of Clarisse's reign if there was even a hint of anything not staying true to Genovian tradition. That was not going to happen on his watch! "No, make sure Mabrey has an invitation and is sitting in the front row."

Mia cocked her head and arched an eyebrow. "Say what?"

Joseph chuckled to himself. She'd come a long way from "Shut up!"

"Is he or is he not an imminent threat to your throne?" He'd seen the power hungry look in Mabrey's eyes, not that the Viscount even tried to hide it. What Mabrey had tried to hide, though, was the lust in his eyes whenever he looked at Clarisse, especially when he thought no one was watching. Clarisse had always disregarded his warnings about Mabrey and the secret desires he harbored, but Joseph had known. Known without a doubt, that Mabrey would like nothing more than to possess the throne and the woman who sat upon it.

Mia shuddered at the man's name. "Yes, he certainly is at the top of the list."

"Then he needs to know without a doubt that this marriage is real and, once consummated, he needs to pack up his marbles and go home."

A small smile emerged from the frown Mia had been sporting. "I'm not sure I've ever played marbles, but I get where you're going. I still don't like the idea of him being close, but I'm all for ending his threats for Gramma."

Joseph kissed her forehead. "And for you, Princess. Thank you for reminding me of what's most important."

"You did the same for me when it really counted. I know you'll find just the right balance to make tonight perfect for her and for you." Mia kissed him on the cheek and then went to find Charlotte. Hopefully, she'd been just as successful with the Archbishop.

He took a few calming breaths before making his way back to her suite. He'd never stormed out on her before, and she'd been as fragile as he'd ever seen her. He had some serious setting things right to do.

He prayed he wasn't too late.