Alone, the queen turned and started walking towards the place where she and Marius would make their entrance into the Throne Room. He was already waiting for her, dressed in the lavender tuxedo, white shirt and dark blue cape he wore at all royal functions. Even though for the most part he no longer needed it, he still carried his cane as a precaution, as it doubled as a weapon. Marisol admired the way his tousled black hair, just barely touched with the beginning of grey, fell over his eyes as she approached. Cassia was a lucky woman, she thought with a private smile.

"Are you ready?" he asked, extending an elbow to her. The orchestra swelled and Marisol took a deep breath. This was it.

"As I'll ever be," she replied, sliding her fingers around his arm. The doors swung open and they took a step forward at the same time.