The dinner was a success. The cook had outdone herself, and the meal was as elegant an affair as suitable for a royal dinner. As tradition foresaw, neither Anneliese nor Erika was present at the dinner, because it was bad luck if a groom - or in this case, two grooms - saw the bride on the evening before the wedding. The two girls were probably having their dinner together in the Princess's sitting room; the two enjoyed each other's company immensely.

Genevieve introduced Count Roslynthal as "an old friend". Sir Cedric's manners really were impeccable when he met the now quite large royal family. Preminger as an "old friend" himself knew the Count well, and started up quite a lively conversation during dinner.

"I'm somewhat glad that Genevieve - and she was not a Majesty yet at the time - quite plainly turned me down these years ago," had said the Count somewhere during the conversation. "I should hate to see a King as my rival."

"We've had quite enough of jealous suitors already," had agreed Preminger, but by no means unkindly. "I should think after the past you two share it quite unlikely you would fall for the Queen."

"I must disagree, my King," had said Sir Cedric benignly. "It would be unlikely for someone not to fall for your Queen."

At that, Adella had open-mindedly declared that she had never met anyone who could gain so many compliments as Genevieve.

When the dinner party was over Genevieve accompanied her guest to the entrance hall.

"The carriage has been arranged to take you to wherever you're staying. Are you certain you don't want to stay? There's always room at the castle," said Genevieve.

"Thank you, but I'd rather not," replied the Count politely.

"But you will come to the wedding tomorrow, won't you?" asked Genevieve hopefully.

"Only if the bride wishes me to," said Sir Cedric in answer, but his eyes were fixed on something behind the Queen.

Genevieve turned to follow his gaze, and saw her daughter standing at the door. "Anneliese," she said in slight surprise. "You should not be here. It's bad luck if Julian sees you tonight."

"I wanted to see our guest off," explained Anneliese, coming forward. "And it would be lovely if you could come, Count," she replied Sir Cedric's last words.

"Then I shall," said the Count, and bowed. "Your Highness."

The Princess nodded in acknowledgement, and stood back.

"My dear," said Sir Cedric, turning towards the Queen. "Mankind has yet to devise a word that would describe my joy of meeting you again. Until tomorrow, my Queen." He bowed.

"Good night," said Genevieve in return, not able to conjure up a reply to the Count's big words. She watched as Sir Cedric departed, and heaved a happy sigh. When she turned around, she was met by a suspicious-looking Anneliese.

"Who was he?" asked the Princess plainly.

"How do you mean?"

"You've never told me about Count Roslynthal," said Anneliese. "But you seem such good friends. How could you have missed mentioning him to me?"

"Our story is a bit complicated," explained Genevieve, leading her daughter out of the entrance hall. "But since you've come to know so much about my past in the light of this summer's events, I might as well tell you." Anneliese regarded her curiously, which allowed Genevieve to continue. "To put it bluntly, I was Countess Roslynthal for a while."

Anneliese halted in her steps. "What?" was all she could muster up.

"Well how else do you think a peasant girl could have married a Prince?" asked Genevieve. "I needed the Count's title to be able to marry your father. It was his idea. Sir Cedric owed him a favour, and this was as good a chance as any to pay it."

"So you're telling me now that my father was not your first husband?" asked Anneliese incredulously.

"It was marriage of reason," Genevieve tried to calm her. "I was only his wife in the documents. The whole thing lasted only four months, and then we divorced, so I could lawfully marry your father."

"And you never thought of telling me about it?" questioned Anneliese, still unable to believe the story.

"Of course I did," replied Genevieve. "But there never seemed to be the right moment for that."

"I suppose I never really asked you either," said Anneliese, somewhat calmer now. After all, this was not the worst thing she had discovered about her mother lately. "But you were in love with him?"

"No-no!" laughed Genevieve. "I wasn't even supposed to see him. Your father feared I might fall in love with him, so he forbid me from meeting him. But I did eventually, after a month of marriage. And we developed a very fond friendship. But I never loved him as my husband."

"I see," said Anneliese. "I can understand why father was afraid. The Count is charming."

"We agree on that," replied Genevieve with a smile. The two women had reached the Princess's room.

"I'm beginning to realize how little I really know about you," said Anneliese, turning to face her mother. "And I don't really mind."

"No matter how much you ask, or how much I tell you," said Genevieve, "there will always be things you don't know about me."

And with a gentle kiss on the cheek from her, Anneliese watched her mother leave down the hall, a royal Queen and a mystery forever.

The End