The day of the ball arrived and the palace was filled with bustling people trying to get the preparations finished on time: the castle was given a thorough cleaning from top to bottom and the decorations were hung everywhere. The servants were chatting animatedly as they worked, their excitement contagious. There was one person, however, who could not partake in the festivities no matter how hard she tried.

Elena was sitting at her vanity table that evening, dressed in her red ball gown as she added the finishing touches to her appearance. She had just put on her tiara and was gazing at herself miserably in the mirror when there was a knock on the door and Isabel and Naomi came in, each dressed in ball gowns as well. Elena turned towards them and gave them a weak smile.

"Hi," she said quietly.

"Hey, Elena," Naomi said. "How are you feeling?"

"Lousy. I'm dreading this ball; I just want this nightmare to be over."

"It's going to be okay, Elena. An engagement isn't binding: maybe you'll be able to get out of it?" Isabel said hopefully.

"That could ruin our relationship with Cordoba and we really can't afford to let that happen," Elena replied. "I want to break off this engagement more than anything but for the sake of our kingdom, I can't."

Isabel gave her older sister a hug. "I'm really sorry, Elena. I wish there was something I could do."

"Thank you, Isa. That means a lot to me. I'm going to be okay, though."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah…"

"You don't sound so sure."

Elena sighed and looked away. "I know," she replied. "But I have no other choice than to try to be okay."

"You don't always have to be brave, Elena. It's all right to not be okay, even when you're the crown princess."

"But the kingdom needs me to be. Besides, as long as I have you by my side, I'll always be all right."

Isabel smiled faintly and gave Elena another hug. Elena tightly hugged her back, sighing softly.

"I hate to interrupt, but we unfortunately should head downstairs. The guests have arrived and the ball is about to start," Naomi said.

"You girls go ahead. I'll catch up with you in a minute," Elena said.

"Okay." Naomi took Isabel's hand and headed for the door. Elena quickly turned around.

"Naomi? Do you know if Mateo is coming tonight?" she asked.

Her friend looked at her. "He's not," Naomi replied sadly. "He said he can't watch you be engaged to someone else. I can't say I blame him."

"No… Neither can I," Elena whispered, crestfallen. She had not expected Mateo to be there but it still hurt to know that she was not going to see him. "Thanks."

Naomi nodded and led Isabel out of the room. Elena picked up the necklace Mateo had given her and fastened it around her neck – this was the closest thing to actually having the young wizard by her side that she could have – before taking several deep breaths and leaving the room. The princess made her way through the hallways and down the stairs, where she found the entrance hall to be empty. Everyone must be in the throne room, Elena thought. She stood in front of the doors to the throne room, trying to will herself to walk inside and face everyone. But she could not: Elena found herself thinking of Mateo and of life as Prince Alonso's wife and her chest tightened. Her heart started pounding to the point it was difficult to breathe and a light sheen of sweat appeared on her forehead. She felt faint and tried in vain to calm the panic that had seized her.

"Princess?"

Elena turned around and saw Gabe approaching her with a concerned expression.

"Are you all right, Princess Elena?" he asked. "You look a little pale."

"I'm fine, Gabe," Elena said, trying to keep her voice steady.

"Are you sure?"

"Just some… pre-engagement jitters, that's all. I think I'll just go outside for a minute for some fresh air."

"I'll come with you."

"I really need to be alone for this, Gabe. I'll be fine, honestly."

Gabe did not look convinced but he nodded. "All right. Well, the perimeters have been secured and all of the guests have been accounted for, crown princess," Gabe said.

"Thank you. Go inside the throne room, I'll join you in a minute," Elena replied.

Her friend nodded once more and the princess made her way to the main entrance. It took all of her self-restraint not to run there, for she knew that Gabe was watching her. Once outside, Elena leaned against the stairs' railing and tried to take several deep breaths. A hand went up to her necklace and closed around the crystal heart pendant that hung on the delicate chain. She could not do this: she could not marry Prince Alonso no matter how hard she tried to convince herself that she could. The princess recalled the conversation she had with Zuzo that morning and she could very clearly hear the words he had said to her after learning she had been crying herself to sleep every night:

Yes, you should do what's best for your kingdom. But what's best for the kingdom should not come at the expense of your happiness.

Zuzo was right: she could not be forced into doing something that was going to make her miserable for the rest of her life. Elena reached up and took off her tiara with trembling hands. She gazed at it, knowing that her mother and father would be disappointed if they had known of what she was about to do.

"I'm so sorry, Mami and Papi," Elena whispered. "I would if I could, but I just can't. Please forgive me."

She let the tiara fall from her hands. It landed on the ground with a small clatter and Elena picked up her skirt before running down the steps and towards the gate. There was somewhere she needed to be tonight, and someone to be with.