Yes!

Your heart tells you that you must believe her... and in that moment, you see the fear in Liesel's eyes melt away, as she realizes even before you speak that you are with her, beside her, to the end. And with that, she steps forward, radiating the confidence that you have seen in her before.

"King Xavier is a gallant man who seeks to protect me, as a good King does for his people," she says, and the murmurings of all those present suddenly go utterly quiet. "But Sir Reginald is not entirely wrong. I am a thief, as he suggests. For the past ten years, I have had to steal to live, for this world is not kind to a small girl on her own. Since I came to Elyssia some five years ago, I have haunted the woods and ambushed travelers with my arrows, taking what I need from them. The people of Elyssia know me as the Vixen."

That elicits a genuine gasp from more than one person present!

"I have stolen coin aplenty - copper, silver, and gold alike. I have stolen jewels as well, precious valuables, daggers and other small weapons, and but a few days ago I took from Sir Reginald a platinum ring - which will be returned to you, my Lord. But there is one thing I have not stolen, one thing in this entire world which I have come by honestly, and that is my true name.

"I am Princess Liesel von Ingolstadt. My father was King Luther the Second, my mother was Queen Seraphina, and I - not my cousin Stefan - am the rightful heir to the crown and Kingdom of Bavaria. I came to King Xavier seeking his pardon for my crimes as the Vixen, and protection from the Warlord Velimir Reznik; a terrible and brutal man who murdered my family and burned my home, and who now forces my cousin to bend to his will. King Xavier has not only taken me into his home as a guest rather than a prisoner, he has done so with the highest chivalry and valor - although we met for the first time only yesterday, he has literally taken his sword in his own hand to fight for my honor and my life. It was King Xavier who told me that it was time for me to emerge from the shadows, and reclaim my name and birthright. And so, I stand before all of you Lords and Ladies today, and I say here and now that each of you must decide for yourselves whether my words are true. But I already have the judgement of the one man whose word matters the most to me: The King of Elyssia."

For a long moment, no one speaks a word - hardly anyone dares to move. Then you see Subhi and Bwana M'Kubwa exchange glances, nod at each other, and step forward, each of them bowing low before Liesel. "I am Subhi El-Zamani, the Sultan of Al-Mansoura," Subhi says, "and I am at your service, My Princess."

"Bwana M'Kubwa, of the M'Kubwa tribe," Bwana says in turn. "Among my people, we have a greeting which we offer to outsiders who are always welcome at our fires: Wewe ni familia. It means, You are as my family."

If there was anyone among those present who you knew you could count on to have your back, it would be these two - and you know that publicly, none will oppose them. But, you had hoped that someone like Sir Reginald would have acknowledged Liesel as the Princess, someone who had no personal reason to take you at your word. You would rather know that people were not entertaining hidden doubts.

Your eyes sweep the crowd, until they come upon Lord Bertrand de Pomeroy, one of Elyssia's nobility and one who, to put it mildly, has never been among your supporters. The look on his face is like none you have ever seen him wear before, like a man who is trying to comprehend something far beyond his ability to do.

"What say you, Lord Bertrand?" you call out.

He barely seems to notice your words, but steps forward, his eyes drilling into Liesel. For a moment, she almost makes as if to back away from him, but holds her ground as he approaches to within an arm's length of her.

"Seraphina," he whispers.

"T-that was my mother," Liesel says, not quite able to keep the tremble from her voice.

"Yes... I knew her well, child," Bertrand says, seeming to snap out of his reverie. "Her, and her husband the King... they offered shelter to me and my house as we fled the wars in the south, many years ago. Queen Seraphina was a magnificent woman, strong and bold, and yet so fair to look upon... I never thought to see her again, after that terrible day. But now, through some miracle, I see her standing before me."

Then, to your astonishment, Lord Bertrand does something you have never seen him do before, not even to you, his King - he slowly drops to one knee, bowing his head low before Liesel with sincere reverence. "Your Highness," he says, "Princess Liesel... may God be praised that you still live!"

You look to Sir Reginald, and see the fear now in his eyes - he knows you and Lord Bertrand well enough to know that this could not possibly be a deception, that Bertrand would never kneel to a false princess at your behest. A slight shove in the back from Lady Rosaline, his cousin, makes him stumble forward a step; he glares at her, but then looks at Liesel with all humility. "Your Royal Highness," he says, bowing at the waist, "I humbly beg your forgiveness."

Liesel seems overwhelmed, and looks back at you rather helplessly; you motion to Lord Bertrand, who still kneels before her, and make a lifting motion with your hand.

"Oh!" Liesel mouths silently. "Er... Lord Bertrand, please rise," she says, and he does so, holding out his hand. With the hesitancy of someone remembering something long past, Liesel places her hand in his so that he may raise it to his lips.

"My house owes yours a debt of gratitude," Bertrand says sincerely. "Whatever you may need of me, Your Highness, I shall gladly provide."

"Thank you, my Lord," Liesel says, with her usual tiny smile. "And, Sir Reginald, of course you have my forgiveness. I understand that it is a difficult story to believe. Three nights ago, I slept in a tree overlooking the high meadow, having eaten a rather wretched meal of a squirrel I killed with my own bow; if someone had told me then that I would be standing here now, my true name revealed after all these years, I should not have believed it myself!"

The Sultan laughs out loud at this, and all-but shoves Bertrand out of the way to kiss Liesel on both cheeks. The tension is broken, and there is laughter all around; when she is finally able to back away from all those who are practically lining up to bow before her, Liesel returns to your arm, looking up into your eyes.

"For the third time in as many hours, Xavier, you have given me my life," she says. "Once by your sword, once by your kiss, and now by your confidence and trust in me. I could spend the rest of my days expressing my gratitude and never come close to thanking you enough for what you have done for me this day."