Mia didn't understand why her grandmother had hired Paolo again after his betrayal five years ago, but here he was, arranging her hair for her wedding. It took several attempts before he came up with something acceptable, and Mia vowed that she would find a new hairdresser, no matter what her grandmother or anyone else had to say about it. Clarisse came to her room briefly to wish her luck and tell her how beautiful she looked, but was in and out in a matter of minutes. Before Mia knew it she was being whisked from the palace to the church. The crowd outside cheered as she arrived and she made her way into the narthex, where Charlotte greeted her.

"It's almost time, Princess. I'll let you know when we're ready for you." She gave Mia a quick smile and slipped into the church.

Curious to see what kind of spectacle in which she was about to play a starring role, she peeked through a crack between two closed double doors. Joe. He stood just on the other side, his back to the door. Mia knocked softly and cracked the door.

"Hey, Joe."

"Hmm?"

She took a deep breath. "I just wanted to say that before I do this, I'm sorry you're retiring."

Mia couldn't see his face, but she could tell he was surprised. "Who told you that?"

"The maids know everything," she whispered.

"The heart does things for reasons that reason cannot understand," he replied.

"You're preaching to the choir." She sighed and closed the door. Almost immediately there was a knock on the door and she opened it again.

"Princess."

"Yes?"

"Then you should know that Nicholas did not set you up at the lake."

"You're sure?"

Joseph shrugged. "The maids know everything."

Mia closed the door. It was almost time, but this new information made her current predicament even more difficult. When she believed herself betrayed by Nicholas, it was easier to imagine that going through with this arranged marriage was the right thing to do. But knowing what she knew now, what she might lose by marrying Andrew had suddenly become larger and more significant. She spared a thought for Joseph as she worried over her own plight. Love does things for reasons… Poor Joe. Love is making him miserable, too.

Charlotte signaled and Mia took a deep breath, then let it out. Here goes nothing.

#####

The crowd outside cheered when the queen exited the church in search of her granddaughter. She ignored them, finding poor Mia huddled on the ground, her arms wrapped around herself. Clarisse couldn't allow this to continue.

"Oh, my dear," she reached out to the young woman. "Mia."

Mia rose to her feet. "No, Grandma, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I-I-I just need a minute."

"No, no."

"I can do this," Mia insisted.

Clarisse spoke more firmly this time. "No."

The young woman's agitation grew. "I can do this!"

"I know," Clarisse replied calmly. "Darling, listen to me. I made my choice - duty to my country over love. It's what I've always done, it seems. It was drummed into me my whole life. Now I've lost the only man I ever really loved."

Mia looked up, astonished that her grandmother had so openly mentioned Joseph. She had not said his name, but surely there could be no doubt to whom she was referring. He was hovering nearby, as always. It seemed to Mia that duty must be what had gotten between the two of them. It certainly made more sense than something like a lovers' quarrel. Clarisse and Joseph sometimes quarreled, but they never stayed angry at each other.

"Mia, I want you to make your choices as a woman," the older woman continued. "Don't make the same mistakes I did. Make your own mistakes. There'll be plenty of them, believe me. Now you can go back into that church and get married or you can walk away. Whatever choice you make, let it come from your heart."

Mia hugged her grandmother and they returned to the church together.

#####

Clarisse was still as she listened to her granddaughter's voice coming from the wire over Charlotte's ear. "Grandma? Just because I didn't get my fairytale ending, doesn't mean you shouldn't."

She returned the wire to Charlotte and her hands began to tremble. "Did you hear that?" she asked.

The younger woman smiled briefly. "Not if you didn't want me to."

Clarisse had to laugh at that.

Just because I didn't get my fairytale ending, doesn't mean you shouldn't.

She wondered if Charlotte had been the only other person to hear what Mia had said. She had no idea how her staff and security communication systems worked. Had Joseph heard it? Well, no matter. It wouldn't be a secret for long.

Just because I didn't get my fairytale ending, doesn't mean you shouldn't.

Clarisse stepped in Joseph's direction. She fiddled with her jacket and cleared her throat before speaking his name.

#####

Mia watched from beside the pulpit, but she couldn't hear what was being said in the back of the church. Her grandmother had gotten Joseph's attention and the two were facing each other. Clarisse spoke and Joseph listened. He made a slight answer. Mia was desperate to know what they were saying, but when they started down the aisle together, she knew all was well and would ask Charlotte about the rest later. She moved back to stand near the altar to be present when her grandmother arrived with her intended husband.

"My Lord Archbishop, I should like to take this man as my husband, if you please," Clarisse requested primly.

The Archbishop's expression of relief was amusing, but even more comical was the Queen's amazement at his remark. She was surprised at how many people were entirely unsurprised by the present development. A smile from Joseph calmed her, however, and the ceremony continued. Before very much time had passed, they were husband and wife. They kissed, the congregation applauded, and Mia cheered. In spite of everything, it had turned out to be a joyful day.

To be continued…

Thank you for reading. Please leave a review if you can spare a few moments.