AN: Thanks everyone for the reviews! I'm glad you liked the last chapter :) Blaine sure can be romantic when he wants to be, huh?

Disclaimer: I don't own Ella Enchanted or Glee.

I stared at the parchment. I couldn't read Blaine's words over again; my hands were shaking the letter too violently, and tears had clouded my vision.

Blaine loved me. Loved me. He had loved me since the day we met.

I blinked away the tears and forced myself to take two long, deep breaths. I read the letter over again, noticing I had smudged part of it with the grease on my hands.

Love, love, a thousand times love

Love a million times over, Blaine, I thought, my heart thudding in my chest as I made no effort to prevent the tears now, or to stop the full-teeth smile spreading across my face.

I loved him with every last bit of me. I loved his dark, glossy curls, his beautiful eyes, his rich voice, his kindness and playfulness, his appreciation of my humor, his sincere desire that I know his faults. And, as selfish as it was, I loved his love for me. I could scarcely believe it. A man loved me. And I loved a man. Blaine loved me, and I loved him.

I gasped, bringing my hand to my mouth, and then set Blaine's letter down carefully. I leapt up and shook my shoulders in a little dance of joy.

Blaine and I could marry and we would be together always.

I would never have to see Dave or Sir Sandy again.

And as the prince's consort, nobody would be giving me any orders.

I had to sit down again and calm my too-fast breathing. My eyes darted around the room in pure speculation as to how wonderful things could be. This was a solution to my problem that I had not foreseen. I thought with relish of how Terri would feel if she knew I had found a true loophole in her spell. Carol would be so happy and proud that I had found a way around the curse.

Blaine shouldn't be made to be patient even a moment longer than is necessary, I thought to myself with glee. I jumped up from my bed and pulled out a piece of parchment from under my mattress.

However, just as I penned the words Dearest Blaine, My Darling, My Love, the wick on my stub of a candle flickered out, and I was drenched in darkness. Nothing could dampen my spirits, and I fell asleep composing my reply in my head.

I woke with a start in the middle of the night and sat staring into the darkness for a moment. Then I began to weep.

Marrying Blaine would not break the curse. Blaine would be marrying a cursed man, and he would be cursed as a result. My step-family already knew I would do anything they ordered, and they would surely use the knowledge to leech off of Blaine and improve their social status and fortune. And there was no way to keep Blaine safe. If my obedience were discovered, an enemy kingdom could order me to reveal military secrets. I could be ordered to assassinate Blaine!

And my curse would certainly be revealed to the noble class eventually. With all those eyes and ears and gossiping lips, some as clever as Santana and others as cruel as Dave, I wouldn't be able to fool them for the rest of my life.

I wiped furiously at my eyes. Father had ordered me never to tell anyone about the spell, but…I could ask Carol to counter that command, so I could tell Blaine, and he could take precautions to make sure no one could ever take advantage of my curse. That was it. I smiled and made to get out of bed. I'd wake Carol right now and tell Blaine everything.

No sooner than my feet had hit the floor that I was drawing them back up again, and hugging my knees in misery.

For what precautions could Blaine possibly take to guard against the dangers of my spell? He could shut me away, barring anyone from speaking to me or writing me a letter. He would be the only one I could come in contact with, and what sort of life would that be for either of us? He would have to bring me my meals, tend to my clothes, look after my every need. The subjects of Kyrria would hate such a reclusive consort for their prince and future king, and many would surely hate me already for being a man.

I could request that he forfeit the crown to his sister, Princess Abigail, but how could I ask such a thing? Blaine was meant to lead, not only by virtue of his blood, but by the very nature of his character. And would he even entertain such an idea? Would we simply be putting Abigail in danger, instead?

I gripped my hair in frustration and dismay, searching the corners of my mind for a solution that simply did not exist.

I was well and truly cursed, and doomed to curse anyone close to me. I was a dangerous burden, and Blaine did not deserve such hardship in his life, which was all I could possibly bring him. I could not marry him, not if I truly loved him. I swore to myself, then and there, tears cascading down my face, that if I ever managed to break the spell, be it tomorrow or weeks from now, or twenty years hence, I would find him and win his heart once again, no matter what it took.

I bit down on my lip to stifle a sob as the finality of my decision truly dawned on me. For now, I had to convince him to give up on me.

As the sun's first rays of light filtered through my window, I willed my shaking hands to take up my quill. I ruined the first two drafts of my letter because I could not stop my tears from making blotches of the ink, and I needed to write a fourth, because I forgot to misspell words on the third.

Dear Prince Blaine,

My father, Sir Sandy, received your latest letter to my step-brother, but I am the only one who has red it. Kurt and our cook Carol was not here to except it from the messanger.

Kurt is gone because he has eloped with a rich widow. He took the cook with him. He left a note, which I have inclosed for you to read.

Kurt as been lying to you all along. He thought it very entertaning to read your letters out loud to us all during tea time. He used to laugh and laugh. He told us it was a grate acomplishment that he had a royal such as yourself writing to him.

For a while, it seamed as though he had ambitions towards your royal fortune, or the power you could give him if he were to be your close companion, but he grew tired of waiting and took the old widow up on her offer of luxury and riches. Kurt had a violent temper, and I am certain he would have flew into one of his fits if he new now of the contents of your letter. I do not think he was happy living under our roof and relying on my father's generos nature; he longed to gloat about his own, more impressive splendur and wealth.

Your letter came to us three days after he departed. I remember because Father's frend Sir Goolsby threw a ball that night, and Kurt's many friends and admirers missed him soarly. I shall give you the same advise I gave to them: think no more of the skeeming braggart, for he most surely has already forgotten you.

I am sorry to write this bad news to you, and you can be sure I will keep your letter and your strange desires a secret (nor will I ever mention them; I promise).

Your loyal subjekt,

Finnegan Ryerson of Frell

I ripped off a spare bit of parchment and wrote in my own meticulous penmanship:

Congratulate me; I am a married man. You all know of my wife, but I shall not write her name. Just know that she is very old and very rich. I doubt I shall have to endure her for very long, and when she dies, I shall be free to enjoy the foolish woman's wealth at my leisure.

I cannot be bothered to write to any of you again, but do look for me on the streets of Frell, if you wish. Perhaps one day, you will see a magnificent carriage pass by, and catch a glimpse of me in the window, wearing the finest silks and brocades in the latest styles, sampling the richest delicacies from foreign lands, and laughing at this ridiculous world!

- Kurt

Blaine was one to bear a grudge. His behavior and attitude towards his tutor had revealed him to be. I almost laughed, considering how earnestly Blaine had endeavored to make me understand this undesirable trait of his, but there was no humor in it. His anger towards the man who had hurt his sister's feelings would pale in comparison to what he would feel for me. He would hate me for the rest of all time.

AN: Oh, Kurt. Poor thing.

Next chapter: Carole confronts Terri, Blaine's reaction is revealed, and Kurt learns even more of Blaine from an unexpected source.