4 Years Later...

The nobles were sitting in the dining hall, some standing, but all drinking wine. They were chatting it up about the day's events. Mostly about the princess, now queen. 

"Queen Stephanie has achived so much in this kingdom. Not to discredit her mother, but she's done more for this kingdom than she ever could." One noblelady said. 

"Then again, the previous queen was a very weak woman. Everyone did everything for her. First the king, then her advisor, now her daughter." Another added. 

"And that failed wedding a few years back? She nearly married the man who tried to kill her daughter." The third added. 

"Ladies, with all due respect, the previous queen has been though a lot." The ladies looked up. 

"King Nathan!" All three ladies dipped into low curtsies. 

"I would appreciate it if you didn't dishonor the queen's mother." Nate said. "As for Queen Stephanie, she and her husband HAVE done much for this kingdom. You ladies should appreciate that." 

"Of course, your highness." One of the ladies said. Nate nodded and left. 

"He's a bit more brash than what I've heard." One lady whispered. 

A man came out beside a trumpeter. The trumpeter blew the trumpet in a royal fanfare. Everyone turned to the front. 

"Presenting, Queen Stephanie and Prince Consort Matthew Patrick!" The couple came out front, Stephanie in a beautiful red gown and Matthew in his (almost) full royal dress. Stephanie must have changed out of her wedding dress. The nobles bowed to them, even Nate. Stephanie caught sight of him and smiled. He subtly smiled back. 

"Thank you for coming." Stephanie said. "It is my pleasure, that with our marriage today, I may officialy announce my husband; Prince Consort, Matthew Patrick." 

The crowd politley clapped. "My promise to my mother, may she rest in peace, has been fufilled. This kingdom has returned to it's former glory, and more. And with that promise fufilled, I may marry the man who I love. And I firmly belive that man as kind and intelligent as Matthew will be an incredible asset to this kingdom's development." The crowd clapped again. "And now, dinner. If everyone would take their places, we may begin eating. We have also brought in some entertainment while we eat." 

The crowd took their places, with Matthew and Stephanie sitting together at the end of the table, side-by-side. 

The nobles ate together, all chatting quietly while the entertainment set up. Nate escpecially was feeling down, staring at the salad. Matthew and Stephanie noticed, so they turned their attention to him. 

"Cristina?" Stephanie asked. 

"Of course. It's been four years." Nate said. 

Matt took his hand and patted it in a friendly manner. "I'm sure that she'll come back soon." 

Nate nodded and went back to staring at the salad. 

Then the whole group heard a familiar intro on the piano. "Oh, I know this song." One lady said. 

Nate did too. He would never forget that song. 

"Once a lass, met a lad. 'You're a gentle one,' said she. In my heart, I'd be glad, if you loved me for me." Nate looked up. It was her. Cristina, in a long, blue dress. She was staring directly at him, smiling. 

Nat turned to Stephanie and Matthew. Stephanie raised an eyebrow at Matt, smiling. "I may have tracked down a certain world-renowned singer who's spent four years performing around the world." 

"You say your, love is true, and I hope that it will be,"

Nate stood up and started walking towards her. The band stopped as he approached her. They stared at each other for a second, before Nate chimed in. "I'd be yours, If I knew, that you loved me for me."  He sang, despite the lack of music. 

Before the band could consider what to do next, Nate pulled Cristina in by the neck, standing with their faces very close. "My turn." He said, smiling. He pulled her in, kissing her in front of everyone. A few ladies gasped. 

Stephanie turned to Matthew. "And this is why I married you." 

Nate and Cristina pulled apart. He looked at her hands. She was still wearing the ring. "You still have it?" 

"Of course I do." She said. 

"Well then." He said. He took Cristina's hand, the one with the ring on it, and got down on one knee. "Will you have me as your husband?" 

"Without a shadow of a doubt." She said. "And Nate?" 

He looked up. "Yes?" 

Cristina laughed and pulled him up by his collar again. "Don't get used to being the one to kiss me." And she kissed him again. 

"Happily ever after." Matthew said, smiling at Stephanie. 

"Happily ever after." 

The End.