Inside The Palace

"Ah, I see. That is a good idea." Cesar held out his hand to help Quinn climb onto the carriage. She lifted up the skirts of her dress and used his hand to climb in.

"I will leave you here, your highness. The carriage will take you into the palace where you will meet the king waiting for you." She nodded as he closed the door of the carriage, and the carriage started moving going around the palace wall to reach the front gate.

She saw Cesar press his hand on a farther and disappear through it. As she turned her attention to where they were going, she saw that they have rounded the palace wall and were approaching the gate. The gates were open and two guards stood on the left while two stood on the right.

When they reached the gate, one of the guards walked to the carriage asking, "Who are you, and why do you want to enter the palace?"

As she opened her mouth to reply, she heard Cesar say, "She is Princess Quinn, the King's bride and your Queen from tonight."

The guard bowed his head at Cesar then at her, "I apologize, your Highness. Please forgive me. I was informed you were coming, but did not know it was you."

"It is fine." She replied and Cesar added, "Let her through."

"Yes." He walked back to his position beside the gate and waited for her carriage to pass.

"Thank you, Cesar." She said and he nodded before he stood aside to watch her carriage pass through the gates.

They drove into the palace and kept going forward passing many buildings as they went. The palace was spacious and beautiful as she saw trees and flowers here and there. They suddenly stopped and thought that meant they have reached Vincent.

Pushing the door open, she saw Vincent in front of her. He smiled at her and held out his hand to her, she smiled back and took it climbing down from the carriage. She saw many officials and guards behind him as soon as she got off the carriage.

As the carriage drove off, she saw that it was blocking her view of two women and their many maids. Both women were wearing royal clothes, decorated with many flower designs. One of the women was wearing a light pink drrss and a bigger crown. The other was in a dark brown dress and her smaller crown.

She assumed the first and more beautiful one was Vincent's mother. Queen Mother was looked young was looked to be around forty years while in fact she was thousands of years old. Queen Ellen looked older at almost fifty and she had lesser maids behind her than the Queen Mother.

Vincent led her to stand in front of them and the officials. "This is Princess Quinn and tonight, she will be your Queen."

"Long live the Queen, long live the King!" The officials and guards chorused.

Queen Lena looked at her smiling then stepped forward and hugged her making her eyes widen in surprise. She pulled back still smiling, and Quinn could see slightly pointed teeth peeking between her lips like Vincent's did. "Welcome, Princess. How was your journey."

"Your Highness, thank you. The journey went well." She bowed her head at her.

"Do you not have manners? You cannot greet me when I am also the King's mother?" Queen Ellen said in a haughty voice stepping forward.

"I apologize, your Highness. I was about to greet you after I was done greeting Queen Mother." Quinn said bowing to Queen Ellen, but Queen Ellen's face remained cold as she looked over her clothes.

"Your Highness, Princess Quinn has the best of manners. You only needed to wait for her to finish with Queen Mother." He emphasized the last part to let her and everyone know that she was not his mother, but his step mother and did not deserve the title of 'Queen Mother.'

Queen Ellen forced a smile glancing at Quinn then at him. "Very well, apology accepted, I will be more patient next time."

Queen Lena glanced at Queen Ellen before moving her attention to Qunin. "Join us for breakfast at the Queen Dowager's court. She is expecting you and we prepared breakfast specially for you."

"I will be honored to join you, your Highness." She answered looking down in respect.

"I cannot join you, I was going to when you told me yesterday, but today, I seem to be having a headache." Queen Ellen gave an excuse that Quinn knew was a lie, she just did not like her or Vincent and his mother.

"Alright, we will make do without you. Have a rest to feel better." Queen Lena said to Queen Ellen, and Vincent added,

"Rest well and call for the physician if need be."

"Ah, yes." Queen Ellen answered as prepared to walk away.

"I wish for you good health, your Highness." Quinn added making Queen Ellen glance at her with a glare which she quickly straightened. She did not answer, but only nodded and walked away with her maids following behind her.

"Do not mind how she acts, Quinn. She does not like us and she never will. Just try to stay away from her." Queen Lena advised her and she felt herself smile at how she got lucky in getting a good and nice mother in law.

"Thank you for your advice, your Highness."

"Let us go greet the dowager and have the breakfast." Vincent said as he smiled at their interaction.

"Alright." She replied as Queen Lena nodded.

Vincent dismissed the officials and they returned to their work. The guards remained and they followed them as they made their around many house buildings and courtyards to reach the dowager. The Queen Dowager's court was smaller than Vincent's since he was King.

As they stopped in front of the door to her chambers, she felt him squeeze her hand in reassurance. She did not realize that they were still holding hands until then. She pulled her hand to take it out of his, but he gripped it and glanced at her with a smile.

Cesar moved forward and knocked on the door. She heard an old woman's voice say, "Come in."