A Royal Montana Christmas

Lovely ride today, darling.

There you go.

Oh, my.

You are hungry today, Noelle!

Oh, there you are, Victoria.

Gabriel.

We're late.

- What? - Change of plans.

The lighting ceremony has been moved up, rescheduled.

Uh, to when?

Uh, now.

Now!?

Well, actually, 15 minutes ago. So yes, now.

Wh- wh- why?

Something about the yuletide exhibit.

A partridge getting stuck in the pear tree--

I... I... don't ask.

The partridge in the pear tree

pushed the winter lights festival,

which then delayed your arrival

at the Holiday Symphony,

which subsequently changed the advent wreath celebration

to, again, 17 minutes ago.

Gabriel, the schedule is bananas.

It's crackers. Christmas crackers to be exact.

Gabriel.

Sorry, just trying to lighten the mood.

I hate to tell you this,

but when January comes and you officially take over

the figurehead duties of the Duchess,

this chaos will increase 100-fold.

What if we do things differently next year?

We don't do different here, Victoria, you know that.

It's just that I have all these--

Oh, that is very tight.

The goal is to breathe, right?

Unfortunately, I don't think it is.

Heels.

What if next year, we do something with less

pomp and circumstance?

Something that the community can relate to,

feel a part of?

I want them to feel comfortable, connected,

relaxed.

Oh, you want relaxation?

No problem.

I can totally schedule that in for you...

two years from now.

Gabriel.

I hear you...

Your Highness.

But, now is not the time to reinvent the wheel.

Now, is the time to deck yourself

in the Christmas spirit.

Bah, humbug!

Wrong spirit.

I present to you, Her Royal Highness,

Princess Victoria of Zelarnia.

Thank you, all.

Thank you for coming.

Please stick to the script this time.

Ah, I'm so sorry I'm late, so sorry.

Thank you for waiting.

Thank you.

Sorry.

Welcome to Zelarnia Palace.

It- it- uh- it is my honor to be your host tonight

alongside, um, my mother and my younger sister.

Thank you for joining our advent lighting.

Uh, as you may know,

the four candles, uh,... on the advent wreath

represent hope, joy, peace and love.

They're all out of order.

Tonight, uh--

- So today... - Uh, today.

we will be lighting the first candle

to celebrate the beginning of the Christmas season.

Oh.

Uh, hmm.

Thank you.

May we all experience the hope that the holiday brings

to all of our hearts in Zelarnia.

Left.

Oh.

I'll just light you another one.

Hm.

Thank you.

That was terrible.

Don't worry.

Uh, that was absolutely the worst thing I've ever done.

Such a lovely annual event,

and, um... uh, you did very well, Victoria.

Did I, mother?

Well, we can't always be perfect, my love,

but we must try.

It is our duty to uphold the royal standard.

The Valentino is hanging in your room for the next event.

Please tell me you're referring to Valentino pajamas.

I'm afraid not.

But, feel free to sign

the official royal Christmas cards in your PJs later tonight.

Thank you.

Thank you, darling.

Did she do her own hair?

Mother.

Oh!

Hm.

To my wild and bright daughter.

Your light illuminates all of my dark skies.

Merry Christmas. Love, Papa.

What's her name?

I hear it's Christmas.

Born on the actual day.

Well Christmas,

I'm sure you're the perfect Christmas present.

That was a lovely evening.

Did you see the way that Prince Reginald

was looking at you?

Prince who?

Prince Reginald.

Tall, dark, handsome.

You've literally described

every prince in every fairy tale.

Anyway, he couldn't keep his eyes off you.

Honestly, I didn't even notice.

Besides, I barely have time to breathe, let alone date.

Mother, I'm not done.

This one looked ready.

Speaking of time to breathe.

Oh, I already requested

additional time for future gown fittings.

Thank you, Gabriel.

That is very helpful and definitely necessary,

but that is not what I had in mind.

I have an idea.

You do love a good idea, but before that,

do we all have five minutes for the Ghost of Christmas Future?

Is that the ghost who tells me about all the delicious things

I get to eat tomorrow?

- Unfortunately not. - Excuse me.

These are your...

ho-ho-holiday events for this week.

That was ho-ho-ho-horrible, Gabriel.

Have you no shame?

None.

Gabriel, this list is never-ending.

Mother,

I have been working very hard so that

I'm ready to take over your duties come January, but...

something doesn't feel right.

Your duties are expansive because you need

to get a taste of what it will be like

when I ease up on my responsibilities.

I have joyfully fulfilled these duties for decades.

But, it's time for me to slow down.

And you are next in line.

But, what if I don't want to do things

the way they've always been done?

I want to try something different and incorporate

my ideas and really connect with people.

When I first married your father,

I was thrust into a royal existence with many expectations.

But, maybe that's the difference between you and I.

You married into this, I was born into it.

I've never had the freedom to choose anything.

What if I want to have a choice now?

Are you saying you don't want to be Grand Duchess?

I've always known that that is the role

I'm going to step into and I'm very keen to.

It's just that, as that is becoming more of a reality,

and January is very fast approaching,

I have so many questions, questions that I...

I need to find answers for.

And Gabriel says my next window to think

is in two years.

Six hundred ninety-eight days, but, who's counting?

I am.

What is your proposition?

Well, I haven't thought it all the way through yet,

but I have an idea.

Yes?

I'd like to return to the Dude Ranch

that father and I attended when I was a girl.

I can't think of a better place to get clarity.

I can see how important this is to you.

So, if you can be back by December 19th

for the lighting of the third advent wreath candle...

you may go.

Of course! Of course I will be!

I will, I promise I will be back by the 19th.

I can fill in while you're away.

Thank you.

Then we should talk.

And, Gabriel, you are to accompany her.

Me?

Yes, you.

As an American, you can help Victoria

navigate the country culture.

I'm from New York.

They have ranches in New York.