Five years had passed since that faithful day. During this time, Elena's engagement to Prince Alonso had been called off and no rift had been created between Avalor and Cordoba – as Luisa had predicted, King Juan Ramón had understood and even sent his warmest wishes to Elena and Mateo. His son, on the other hand, had been less understanding but his father had forced him to be cordial and send his own wishes to the couple. Elena had been crowned queen of Avalor shortly after her eighteenth birthday; the public welcomed Mateo as a suitor for their new queen; Elena continued to rule with the aid of the Grand Council, believing that decisions were best made when more than one point of view was provided and when things could be examined from several different angles; she abolished the rule that stated royals had to marry at the age of eighteen; and Isabel, who was now sixteen years old, found herself a prince whom she liked very much. Everything was right in their world.

Elena was standing in the portrait gallery weeks after her twenty-second birthday, gazing at the artwork. A new portrait had been added next to the one of her parents: a painting of her and Mateo. The queen smiled as she examined it, running a hand over the frame. The portrait had been installed that morning during the wedding ceremony, as Mateo officially became part of the royal family. It had taken all of the self-control Elena had to not start crying in front all of the other nobility from the neighbouring kingdoms: to have Mateo finally become her husband was a dream come true.

She looked at the painting that hung on the other side of her parents': Queen Lucinda and Prince Salvador were gazing down upon her, smiling gently. Mateo had told Elena the story about how Alacazar had been in love with her paternal grandmother. Elena had asked Luisa and Francisco if this were true and Luisa confirmed Mateo's story, stating that it had been Queen Lucinda who had revealed everything to her one day over lunch. Queen Lucinda had admitted to once having feelings for Alacazar but they had gradually faded with time and then were completely erased not long after meeting Prince Salvador. She had considered Alacazar to be a good friend until the end of her days. Elena felt sorry for the late wizard but she was also glad that things had turned out all right for him in the end: according to Rafa, Alacazar had found an even greater love in Mateo's grandmother.

Elena then turned her gaze towards her parents' portrait. King Raul and Queen Lucia were smiling down at her, and tears filled their daughter's eyes as she returned their smile. She placed a gentle hand on the frame.

"I hope you are proud of me, Mami and Papi," Elena whispered. "And I hope you like Mateo. He will be a wonderful husband and advisor – he's already an amazing royal wizard. He will do anything and everything to protect me and the kingdom, I promise."

"Elena?"

The queen of Avalor turned around and smiled at the sight of Mateo, who was dressed in royal wedding attire: a white wizard's robe with gold designs along the edges – made specially for him to honour his heritage – worn over a white royal uniform. The royal wizard smiled at her and took her hands.

"There you are; I had wondered where you had gone," Mateo said. He gave his wife the once-over. "You look breathtaking. I've been wanting to tell you that since the ceremony but I haven't had a chance."

Elena smiled. She was wearing a white ball gown that was in a similar style to her red one and it was decorated with a pattern of colourful flowers. Her hair was tied in an elegant knot on the back of her head and a sparkling tiara sat on the top. A long white veil flowed down from behind her head and she was wearing a set of diamond jewellery that had once belonged to her mother. The necklace Mateo had given Elena for Christmas six years before was fastened around her neck, a symbol of their love for all to see.

"Thank you. You look amazing in the robe abuelo and abuela had made for you," Elena replied.

"I love it, and so does Mama; she couldn't stop looking at it when it was delivered to our home," Mateo said. "It was very kind of them to do that and to let my mother live at the palace with us."

"You're their grandson-in-law now. You're part of the family and so is your mother."

"I'm happy that your grandparents and Isabel are glad to have me in the family. Esteban seems to be struggling to accept that I now bear the name Castillo Flores, though. It's a matrilineal marriage; what did he expect? There was no way you would have been able to take my name."

"He wouldn't have liked that either. I think it's more to do with the fact that you're still not his first choice of a husband for me. At least he has kept his mouth shut on the matter."

"That is true. Now if he could only master his poker face, it would be perfect."

Elena let slip a giggle. Mateo smiled and kissed her. The queen loosely slipped her arms around his neck, slowly twirling a strand of his hair around her finger. When they broke apart, the royal wizard looked at the portrait of King Raul and Queen Lucia.

"Do you think your mom and dad would have approved of me?" Mateo asked quietly.

"They would have loved you," Elena replied, nuzzling him. "You make me happy, and that's all they would have ever wanted."

"That's good to hear."

"I could always ask them the next time I see them on Día de los Muertos if you want."

Mateo pressed a kiss to her forehead. "That won't be necessary, but thank you for offering," he said. He then smiled. "My wife can see ghosts. Who would have thought?"

"Only on the one day of the year thanks to being trapped in that amulet for so long. Speaking of which, it was a little strange to see it again."

"It was nice of you to invite Princess Sofia and her family to the wedding."

"She freed me from the amulet and they all helped defeat Shuriki. Of course I invited them."

The royal wizard nodded and looked over his shoulder as the door to the portrait gallery opened. Isabel and Naomi came in, each wearing an identical soft pink gown. The girls approached the newlyweds and gave them a hug.

"I can't believe you're finally married!" Isabel exclaimed cheerfully.

"Remember when there was a time we thought we would never get this far?" Naomi said, smiling. She looked at Elena and Mateo. "The ceremony was beautiful, by the way."

"Thank you, and you and Isa were wonderful bridesmaids," Elena replied warmly.

"We're glad to hear it," Isabel said, grinning. "We came here because our grandparents are looking for you. They said the entire kingdom is outside the palace and they're waiting to see you."

Elena looked at Mateo. "Ready to say hello to our people?" she asked.

"More than ready," Mateo replied. "Let's go."

Isabel and Naomi grinned and left the portrait gallery. Elena took Mateo's hand and they followed their friends to the entrance hall, where they found Francisco, Luisa, Rafa, Esteban, and Armando waiting for them.

"Your Majesty," Armando said cheerfully, bowing to Elena. He then bowed to Mateo. "Your Highness."

Mateo bowed his head a little uncertainly to Armando. "It feels a bit weird to be called that," he whispered to Elena.

"You'll get used to it," she replied, kissing his cheek.

The queen's grandparents and the royal wizard's mother approached them. Luisa gave Elena a hug while Francisco shook Mateo's hand.

"We are so proud of you, mija," Luisa whispered.

"Thank you, abuela," Elena replied, hugging her grandmother tightly.

"Be good to our granddaughter, Mateo. She's in your care now," Francisco said, his voice thick with emotion.

"I will, sir. I promised," Mateo said.

"Please call us Luisa and Francisco. You're family now."

The royal wizard smiled. "Okay, Francisco."

It was then Rafa's turn to hug the newlyweds. "I am so happy for the both of you," she said. She then looked at Elena. "Thank you for loving my son the way you do. You have made him so happy."

The queen of Avalor gave a hug to her mother-in-law. "He makes me just as happy," Elena said. "And I promise to take care of him forever, señora de Alva."

Rafa's eyes filled with tears and she pressed a kiss to her daughter-in-law's cheek. "Please call me Rafa from now on, dear," she said. Elena smiled and said that she certainly would.

Elena's grandparents smiled as they watched the interaction and slipped an arm around each other. "Are you ready to head out?" Luisa asked.

"Completely ready," Elena said, grasping her husband's hand.

"All right. Armando, will you please open the doors?"

Armando bowed again and opened the doors. Luisa and Francisco stepped outside together and Naomi, Isabel, and Rafa followed them. Esteban gave the newlyweds a polite nod before leading Armando out the doors. Elena looked at Mateo, who gave her a soft smile before walking out together.

The whole kingdom was indeed right outside the palace and the crowd erupted into cheers at the sight of Elena and Mateo. The queen grinned and waved at the crowd, seeing her husband awkwardly do the same out of the corner of her eye. She gave his hand an encouraging squeeze to tell him he was doing well and the royal wizard's smile widened as he visibly became a bit more confident.

"Give her a kiss!" Armando whispered eagerly.

Mateo looked at Elena, who nodded. "Go ahead," she said.

The royal wizard nodded and wrapped his arms around his bride. He dipped her with a smile and pressed a kiss to her lips. Elena smiled and slipped her arms around his neck, returning the kiss as the crowd went wild. They soon straightened up and pulled away and Elena hugged Mateo's waist, gazing at her kingdom with pride. The royal wizard wrapped an arm around her shoulders and kissed the top of her head. To be standing next to the one she loved and to be surrounded by her friends and family was more than Elena could have ever asked for. And to see the people of her kingdom so happy filled her with a joy greater than she could describe. Elena could not wait to see what the future had in store for them – she was certain it was going to be wonderful for everyone involved.

The end