Chapter 3

"A Royal Romance"

Ever since her engagement to Prince Reginald, Ivanka had moved into the royal palace in an effort to at least settle down and take her hand at royal life. She was young, she was beautiful, she was Dacovian. But one of her favorite hobbies was growing flowers and she had created a small garden in the royal gardens devoted to her favorite brand of flowers.

As she tended to her garden, a large shadow towered over her and the shadow caused her to stumble back.

"Ohh! Reginald, it's only you…" she gasped, looking up at her fiance…Queen Seraphina's eldest child. "When are you ever going to learn to not sneak up on mice like that?"

"Well, sweet pea, I didn't want to disturb you while you were tending flowers," he chuckled, holding hands with his bride-to-be before turning to the garden. "They look amazing."

"Viola Incisa," remarked Ivana. "Flowers that will be in my bouquet, of course. They are papa's favorite."

As she said those words, Reginald couldn't help but detect a feeling of sadness in his love's voice.

"Reginald, I don't understand why we haven't seen him since we announced our engagement," sighed Ivana. "Sure he has his anxieties, but I think…he's afraid."

"All fathers are like that about their children, Ivana," Reginald reassured.

"But yours aren't. I just don't understand."

"It could be something that my mother told me after we announced the engagement," wondered Reginald. "That a son is a son until he gets himself a wife and that a daughter is a daughter all throughout life."

"If only he had a son, Reginald."

Ivana bent back down to her garden and carefully tended one of the youngest violets, which had just started to blossom later than the other flowers.

"I think that our wedding is just a nightmare to him that he will lose me forever, just like he lost mama and Ivan."

Now there is no denying that Ivana wanted to help her father in more ways than one. If I was getting married, I certainly would have found a way to honor those who have gone before me.

"Well, we will make sure they are honored," Reginald said, bending down next to Ivana. "In fact, I've been thinking about something we could do."

"What's that?"

Getting to their feet, Reginald led Ivana through the gardens and towards a large willow tree down by the stream. Now, this wasn't just any tree, for this was a tree that had special meaning to the royal family.

"This was the tree that my parents planted on their wedding day," Reginald explained. "Honoring my grandparents. For a while, I've been thinking of planting a tree right next to it, in honor of your mother and brother."

Looking up at the tree, Ivana had a feeling that a willow tree would be a sheer delight to honor those who had gone before her. The location of the tree was perfect, located along a quiet river where the ducks would frequent it.

I'd tell you about it, but I don't want to get ahead of the story.

…

Slowly, Ivana carefully walked several paces to the left of the willow tree and suddenly, she stopped and for a moment, closed her eyes in deep thought almost as if someone was speaking to her.

"This is it," she said, finally opening her eyes and turning back to her future husband. "This is the spot where my mama and brother will be honored at the wedding."

Ivana then grabbed a pair of sticks and handing one to Reginald, placed them in a cross formation at the very spot she had selected.

"A very good spot indeed," whispered Reginald, kissing Ivana on the cheek, who let out a small giggle in turn. "Now let's get back before my mother throws a fit."

With their spot selected, they returned to the royal palace where Queen Seraphina and Reginald's three younger sisters were in one of the many drawing rooms seeming rehearsing a very important curtsy that bridesmaids were supposed to make at royal weddings.

"Wonderful, my darlings!" chuckled Queen Seraphina. "Although, you could still do a little practice, Phoebe."

"Yes, mother," answered the youngest daughter. "Even if I am the flower girl?"

"Even if you are the flower girl," the Queen of Mouseland acknowledged before kissing her on the forehead. "Still, you have all made me so proud as young ladies. This is another major step for you all in one day becoming rulers."

Both Princesses Valentine and Sophie knew this well, for their performance in my production of Sleeping Beauty would often be viewed as a milestone.

"Well, we are only princesses," said Valentine. "But at least you let Angelina and Alice be bridesmaids alongside us."

"Yes," added Sophie. "And don't forget Henry as the ring bearer."

"Angelina, Alice and Henry are like family to us so it seemed the right thing to do. Still, I want nothing but the best for your brother and Ivana. This wedding is unlike anything Mouseland has seen since your father and I married. Now, let's try one more time."

Stepping forward, they curtsied and Queen Seraphina was once again impressed.

"Wonderful, girls! You all remind me of that one ballet I performed in with Miss Lilly when we were Mouselings."

"What was that, mother?" asked Sophie.

Queen Seraphina thought for a moment, but she couldn't think of the ballet.

"Something about a Snow Queen," she chuckled. "Oh, it's been so long."

…

Just then, Reginald and Ivana came into the drawing room catching Queen Seraphina's attention.

"Ah, Reginald, Ivana, my dears," she remarked, kissing both of them on the cheeks. "How were the gardens?"

"Lovely, mother," said Reginald. "Ivana and I have further decided how we are going to honor her mother and brother."

Immediately, a sense of excitement came onto Queen Seraphina.

"Oh, Reginald," Queen Seraphina gasped. "You are going to plant a tree like your father and I did at our wedding?"

"Of course, we want to honor their memories," said Ivana. "Besides, I think it will give my father a sense of pride that they are being honored."

But the decision to honor Mr. Operatski's deceased family would not be easy to fulfil.

"I hope he will like it," said Princess Valentine.

"Like it? He'll love it!" remarked Princess Sophie. "Won't he, mother?"

Although she was delighted at the idea of having another tree planted in memory of deceased loved ones, Queen Seraphina had some hidden reservations at how Mr. Operatski would react to such an honor.

"I'm sure he will, my dears," she promised. "Come, let's get ready for supper."

As they made their way to supper, Queen Seraphina had started to develop a similar feeling to Miss Lilly…that she wondered if Mr. Operatski would be well enough to even attend the wedding, let alone walk his own surviving child down the altar.

…

…