A/N: Another shorted chapter. I've got more, all handwritten. It will be typed soon but I figured that you might want some more now. Enjoy.

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Mia took Charlotte's advice and after asking a few maids, was escorted to a cozy little sitting room belonging to the woman named Tessa. She was a small woman with a poof of white hair atop her head.

"Your Highness." Tessa said as she rose slowly out of her chair by the fire and laying down her knitting. "I was waiting to see how long it would take for you to come around." Mia, shocked at the woman's words, stayed silent. "Oh come now, child, have a seat. Don't look so amazed. Now what were you wondering?"

"Just...history..."

"History is a very broad subject."

"Oh you know, what my father was like, my grandmother, my grandfather. All the people I wish I could have met."

"Ah that history. Well in actuality, your history started the day you grandmother was born. My mother was her mother's, your great grandmother, lady in waiting. Well I was ten at the time so its as clear as day. Less then an hour after the birth, her mother passed on. Meanwhile, her grandfather was recognizing what a bargaining chip she was so he was arranging her marriage to your grandfather and her father was sitting near the bedside with her half brother, which is a whole other story I'm not going to get into.

Two days later, her mother was buried and less then a week after that, your grandmother was christened Her Grace Clarisse Mignonette Elizabeth Gerard, Duchess of Corenault. Nearly every soul in the country turned out to see the babe that would their next Queen.

Well from day one she was called a diamond. Nothing could ruffle her feathers, always cool and calm, a paragon of a queen. The old king died three days after her seventeenth birthday. Well she and you grandfather were married a month later as the betrothal agreement read. She was 17. He was 30. Twas an interesting day. I don't think I've ever seen a more beautiful bride. They made a startling couple they did, such opposites. He was tall and dark, not a female in the land didn't lust after him, but your grandmother was the lucky recipient of his affections. It always seemed to me though that were more of friends then husband and wife but that's neither here nor there. Anyways, they suited each other in knowledge and ideals and even in temperament. She was and is as sharp as a tack. I doubt that she could have survived as well as she has if not for that. Your grandmother may seem angelic, but lord she can rase hell when she wants too.

I remember one time a few months after the wedding. You see, when they were married, she was given the crown matrimonial which meant as long as their was a Renaldi heir, she could rule in the event of the reining monarchs illness or death. That also let her sit in on parliament. The members of parliament, however, were not keen on having a woman in Parliament, even if she was the Queen. They said that a woman had never sat in Parliament and they weren't about to let one in then. Well she refused to be removed saying it was her right as Queen to be involved in Parliamentarian decisions. Well they still vetoed the idea. So the next day, she returned. Well they were all ready to throw fits and summoned an armed guard to escort her out. Your grandmother stood up to all of Parliament and the armed guards saying that if they would not let her in as Queen, she would take her hereditary seat as Duchess. Needless to say, no one ever questioned her authority again.

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A/N: Well there it is. Now I hope you don't mind that this Christmas story will extend long past Christmas. If you do, let me know. I don't want to keep writing it if no one is going to read it. Tootles! AW