They crossed a bridge where they paused to gaze at the crystal blue river that floated under their feet. The reflection of their faces and the moon in the rippling water made her sigh contentedly. Or perhaps it was the warmth of his arms as he held her close.

After a few moments Prince Niles led her to a hidden part of the castle where they sat on a marble bench. And when he took her hands in his, she couldn't help noticing how soft his skin was; not rough like her father's.

The unexpected thought caused her chest to ache. She missed her father so much. Why did her mother have to send him away only to replace him with a dull, funny looking man named Donny Douglas leaving her with two stepsisters who were determined to make her life miserable? And why was she thinking about this now, when she was having the most wonderful night she could ever imagine, in the company of the incredibly handsome Prince Niles?

Suddenly she felt his soft fingertips on her cheek, brushing away tears that she didn't even know where there. "What's wrong, my love?" he asked quietly, making her heart beat faster at the sweet name.

"I miss my father." She said surprised at how easy it was to say the words to a man of his stature; a man who was practically a stranger. "I loved him so much."

Prince Niles' smile disappeared and he looked at her with a concern that reminded her once again of her father. For he was the only other man who had ever-

"I'm sorry." Niles whispered, stroking her hair. "What happened to him?"

She forced a smile and swallowed hard, refusing to allow herself to cry. "I shouldn't be… thinking about him right now. I'm here with you, at this lovely ball, wearing the most beautiful dress I've ever seen…"

He took her hand and brought it to his lips for a lingering kiss. His lips were so soft and she found herself wondering what they would feel like against hers, if only for a second.

"It certainly is… a beautiful dress." He said. "And you are the most beautiful woman I've ever seen."

She blushed deeply as the heat rose in her cheeks. "Thank you, Prince Niles, but…"

"I want to know everything about you." He whispered, brushing a fallen lock of hair from her forehead. "Tell me about your life."

"There's not much too tell, I'm afraid. My life isn't exciting at all. I mean-."

A tolling bell startled her and she jumped at the sound. "Oh!"

"What's wrong?"

"It's midnight!"

He smiled, making his features even more handsome in the moonlight as he leaned to kiss her. "So it is…" His lips had barely brushed against hers when she rose to her feet and let go of his hand.

"I-I have to go!" Daphne exclaimed. "Goodnight!"

He was on his feet at once. "Goodnight? But you can't go now! We've only just met!"

She looked around, desperately trying to think of an excuse. The bells continued to toll and she had mere seconds before everything would be as it was. And what would he think of her then? Her father always told her to tell the truth, no matter what, but Prince Niles would think that she was completely daft if she told him that she'd only gone to the ball because of Roz, her fairy godmother. She still wasn't certain that she believed it to be real.

"I'm sorry; I've had a lovely evening but… I haven't met the Prince!"

His eyes widened in confusion and she regretted the lie instantly.

"The Prince? But didn't you know that I'm-."

"Goodbye!" She called to him as she let go of his hand once more and ran through the garden toward the castle, painfully aware of his voice calling after her, pleading for her to stay.