"Morning, your highness," called the deep voice of Clarke, one of Niles' manservants. "I doubt I need remind you of what is to be done today. You'll meet your new bride."

Niles flashed back to the night before and found himself chuckling with a pathetic smile on his face.

So beautiful. His new wife-to-be was breathtaking, to say the least. Upon seeing her his heart had stretched and conformed, warping the shape of his chest most likely. And now, he'd see her in full light, in full dress, and he couldn't be more thrilled.

"Are you excited?" Asked Clarke.

Niles choked out another bought of awkward laughter. "Yes."

"I'll say you are. Pardon my saying so, but I do not think I have ever seen so much color in those cheeks."

The prince shifted uncomfortably. "Yes, well…"

"Never mind that for now. The day's here and we have quite a bit of work to do."

It took two hours for Niles to be deemed "physically suited" to meet Princess Daphne. He found the situation laced with dramatic irony, knowing that she had already seen him in his nightclothes.

After he was ready, Lacey, one of the head servants, told him, "Now your highness, this event will take place down in the throne room in just a few minutes. What you are to do is to sit in your rightful place beside your father and they will announce…your new wife. You will see her, walk up to her, kiss her hand, and the celebratory ball will begin."

"Ball…ball?" Niles remembered that such a thing had happened when Frasier met Lilith, yet he had completely forgotten about it.

"Yes, and I'm sure I don't need to tell you that you will need to dance with the Princess." Lacey smiled.

"Dance?"

"Yes your highness, by you needn't worry. All of the experience you've earned in your dance classes will suffice."

Niles sighed. Yes, he was supposed to have had years of dance classes by now, but as a child he had managed to make a deal with his instructor and he had had exactly three lessons. Now he knew it was a painfully childish thing to do, but he was also relieved that he had never had to take them. The awkward shuffling to feet, the smashed toes…

He began to worry. Lacey smiled again. "Oh, don't pick now to get nervous. Come now, give us all a hearty smile! Today you'll meet your wife, the woman you'll be spending the rest of your life with!"

Niles managed a smile and she clapped her hands. "Ah, there it is! Come along your highness, it's time!" Slipping her hand into his, she lead him down the hallway and opened the door quietly. "Go on in," she whispered. "Sit down and wait for her. Good luck! I haven't seen her myself, but I'm sure she's lovely!"

"She is…I mean, I'm quite sure she is as well."

He sat down at his throne, the ornate chair made of silver and green velvet. He ran careful fingers over the top of his head. His blonde hair was slicked back smooth and shiny, and he smelled like…roses, perhaps? He wasn't quite sure.

King Martin came and sat next to Niles on his own throne, looking at his son and giving him a reassuring nod. No matter how much Niles appreciated his father's gesture, his insides were tight and his heart pulsed in his ears louder than anything he had ever felt. Frasier arrived a few moments later, off in his own world. Leaning his head against the back of the chair, he bit his lips tightly. He wasn't nervous about Daphne, but he was nervous because of the attention he'd be getting…the stares from everyone around him. Delegates, guards, and servants filled the room, clearing a path through the middle for the princess. An orchestra sat near the back, and Niles could hear them tuning their instruments softly. Closing his eyes, he waited and waited for the fanfare…

Until it came. Two men parted the doors and out came Princess Daphne, all on her own.

Niles felt as if he was rising out of his chair. She was dressed in a wine-colored dress, with embroidered flowers and small flecks of gems sewn into them. Her hair was parted on the side and was straight and shining, her lips were crimson and ripe. In his eyes she shown like a star and he barely heard the announcement, "Presenting to the royalty of Ardny Princess Daphne of Ordonea." Everyone in the room was at their feet.

Daphne's eyes were fixed on the Prince and she smiled not only for her audience, but for him. When she was directly in the center of the floor, she paused, and Niles remembered what to do just before he did it. He walked down the marble steps and came to her, touching her for the first time by taking her hand. Bringing his lips down, Niles let them sink into the skin of the back of her hand and let slip, louder than he had meant to, the words, "You're beautiful."

He heard gasps and murmurs from the audience and looked to see smiles and hands over hearts. That was when the orchestra began to play, and Niles felt the floor drop out from under him.

"Morning, Prince Niles."

"Good morning, Princess Daphne."

"Please, you can just call me Daphne."

"Then I must insist that you address me as Niles."

"All right. I guess we should dance, huh?"

All around them, people were grabbing partners and beginning to dance. "Ah, yes…well…" Niles began, suffering under a large weight.

"What is it?"

"Daphne," he whispered. "I-I can't."

"Sure you can. Come on, don't be nervous. I'm sure you've danced with lots of girls before. I'm no different."

Niles thought about how dreadfully wrong she was and shook his head. "No, I mean…I can't dance, I don't know how."

"You've never had dancing lessons? How can anyone expect us to dance?"

"Well, you see, I had them…but…" He trailed off, trying to pull the stubborn words out of his mouth.

"No matter. We had better start dancing now or else everyone will suspect something's wrong. I guess I'll have to show you. You put your hand here," she said, placing Niles' hand around her waist, "and take my other hand. That's perfect, Niles, but you're so far away, don't be nervous, come closer. We have to touch a little bit." She smiled at him and rested her body against his softly.

He twisted his lips at the feeling of her and looked into her eyes, which weren't so far away. "Now stand up tall, I know you can do that," she went on. As Niles got more instruction he barely paid attention, but rather focused on her face and…just…her. He was uncomfortable, but it was a good uncomfortable, one he didn't want to go away. She was becoming everything that he had ever wanted out of his life and he had only just met her, and what was better is that he knew that they would always be together, as husband and wife. He wouldn't need to worry about losing her. They'd fall for each other deeply and be happy, he knew it. They danced for a while, sometimes quickly and sometimes slowly, and in one song Daphne had them dance slowly with their chins resting on each other's shoulders. He didn't mind one bit and loved the feeling her cheek against his.

"Niles," she whispered to him, "I'm dreadfully sorry."

"What about?" He murmured with his eyes closed.

"I'm sorry that we have to be married. I know it's not what either of us wants."

Niles' eyes sprang open and he swallowed hard.

"I just…as a little girl my nursemaids used to tell me about princesses falling in love with handsome commoners from the country and finding true love on their own account. I suppose that's always been my ideal, to find my true love, the one person I'm supposed to be with. It was a silly dream, but I did love it. I guess I won't find him now, and he won't find me."

Niles' heart raced and it felt as if he had been kicked in the stomach. What was he doing anyway? He had only just met Daphne, and now he was upset because she didn't want to marry him…in an arranged marriage. Only yesterday afternoon he had felt the same way, yet somehow…

"I'm…I'm sorry too, Daphne."

"Neither of us should be apologizing, it's not our fault."

"No, it's not."

"Niles, for a first-time dancer, you certainly are good."

His face glowed. "Oh…thank you, Daphne. You are very talented yourself."

"Thank you very much. Are you ready for a break? I'd love to meet your father and brother."

That evening, as Niles lie in bed, he listened to rain outside and tossed and turned as he thought about what Daphne had told him earlier. What if…she would never be happy? All he wanted was for her to be with someone she loved, but he wanted her as his wife. Maybe he could help her escape…find her true love…

He squeezed his eyes shut, knowing that was madness. Daphne was sensible enough to know not to do such a thing. She'd grow to be content with him, surely.

Turning over, Niles thought again about something he wished had happened that day. He wished she would have felt the same away about him as he had felt about her, and then after darkness came they would meet in the statue room. He would kiss her in the light coming from the windows, letting every fear he had had about marriage slip away as he fastened his arms around her.

But that was lunacy. He had only known her for a day, and certainly, certainly it was too early to be having such thoughts. It was much to early to say that she was the one that he wanted over everyone else.

Yet, did it matter? After all, they were to be married anyways, whether they loved each other or not. It couldn't hurt to know that she was the one...or maybe…

Conflicted, Niles shifted again and prayed for sleep.