1. The ball

At the Royal Palace the ball was going on full blast. The whole ball room was decorated with hundreds of flowers in all different colors and about a dozen chandeliers had been lighted up to the ceiling. The music was quietly playing in the background while the announcer introduced all the guests.

Aidan was standing next to the King and Queen's thrones at the balcony over the dance floor, looking at all the maidens that were introduced, but Aidan hadn't seen yet the one he mostly wanted to see. When he had left his kingdom he hadn't anticipated attending to a ball so he hadn't packed a lot of fancy clothes he so despises to wear and so his current attire was a very simple one. So for this ball Aidan had chosen to wear a royal blue coat with golden buttons and white trousers and black boots.

The King next to him wore a rich red coat with golden buttons and the white sash over his chest and white pants and black boots. To be said he looked a very dignified and wise king. Queen Ella, next to the king, wore a beautiful emerald green gown. The gown had short off shoulder sleeves that were beaded with silver and crystals. The bottom of the dress was full and the fabric had a beautiful vine pattern on it. The queen's hair, even though she was also in her forties, still remained the beautiful silky golden blonde it had been ever since she was born and was now in a beautiful braid bun at the nape of her neck and a small emerald and silver comb had been put at the base of the bun. To be honest, for a woman of her age, she looked very beautiful.

Aidan turned his eyes back to the stairs where the infamous Lady Du Bond was being introduced, and Aidan had to admit that the Lady was just as dignified looking as Kat had described her to be. But then came her daughter's turn and Aidan had to suppress a snort, as did the king next to him, that was about to come from his throat when he saw the dress the young woman was wearing. Apparently Kat hadn't been over exaggerating when she told him about Beatrice's poor taste in clothes. Now Aidan was not an expert when it came to women's fashion, but even he knew that the oversized pink and yellow dress was hideous.

Aidan just looked as maiden after maiden was introduced and he had to wonder if it was the latest style to put every color of the rainbow on the dress at the same time, and the more crystals the gown held the better. But to Aidan they all looked the same; gold diggers, who were after him and his money that came with the royal position he held. And the flashier the gown was, the surer the maidens were that he would notice them, and sure Aidan did notice them, but not in a flattering way.

And then the last maiden in a hot pink dress was introduced and Aidan's mood dropped as Kat apparently had not been able to come. He had held hope that somehow the Lady would give in and allow Kat to come. But then again, as Kat had said, what would she wear? Aidan himself would not care even if she would have appeared in her ragged green dress, but everyone else would.

And just as he was about to sigh in despair the doors opened and the most beautiful girl walked shyly to the top of the stairs. The music stopped and everyone turned to look at the gorgeous girl.

She had deep brown hair that was curled and some of it had been braided at the top of her head and some small crystals had been placed into the curls. She had very simple, yet the most beautiful gown at the entire ball. It was rich red with calmly ruffled off shoulder sleeves and it had wide bottom. And Aidan knew immediately who she was.

''Excuse me Your Majesties,'' Aidan bowed to the royal couple and then left to meet the woman of his dreams.

At the same time Kit and Ella didn't notice the young prince's departure as they were staring at the girl and the dress she wore.

''Dear, isn't that…'' Kit started as he looked at the very familiar gown the mysterious woman was wearing.

''It is. But in different color,'' Ella confirmed her husband's suspicions.

''Well looks like our young guest has taken a liking to her,'' Kit smirked as they finally looked the young prince walking towards the mystery maiden.

Kat walked inside the ball room and suddenly everybody turned to look at her. She felt so nervous that she didn't know what to do. But then she gathered her courage, held her chin high and started to walk down the stairs. At the midway down she stopped and did a deep curtsy to the royals and then continued down the steps while smiling widely, not believing that she was actually there.

And just as she got at the end of the stairs she noticed a figure in blue coat at the end of the room and somehow she knew who it was. She started walking towards him while he walked towards her and the entire crowd retreated themselves at the sides of the room to give more space to the young couple.

And as Kat saw his face she couldn't help but to smile as he smiled back to her.

''You came,'' Aidan managed to say as they finally met at the center of the room.

''I did promise to try,'' Kat said sneakily.

''You look beautiful,'' Aidan declared as he took a good look at the woman he loved.

''It's just the dress,'' Kat said modestly while brushing the red fabric with her hand.

''You could be dressed in shaggiest rags for all I care, but you'd still be the most beautiful person in my eyes,'' Aidan said while looking Kat straight into the eyes.

''Thank you,'' Kat said quietly while her cheeks got flaming red.

''May I have this dance?'' Aidan said as he bowed and held his hand to her.

''Aidan I still don't know how to dance,'' Kat whispered as she looked at the large crowd around them.

''Don't worry it'll be just like in the forest. Just trust me to lead,'' Aidan reassured her as he straightened his back. And so Kat little unsurely placed her hand onto Aidan's and just then the musicians recovered from their shock and started to play a calm dance to the young couple.

Aidan placed his other hand on to Kat's waist while Kat took a hold of her gown's hem as it was too wide to dance without being lifted a little. And just like in the forest they started to dance slowly and as they got more used to it, they completely forgot the crowd that was looking at them and started to dance like they were the only ones in the entire ball. Nothing mattered to them except the person in front of them. They glided across floor and it was so much more, so much more than a dream. Their touches were real, every look, every breath they took meant that this was real. This was their true happiness at its purest form.

And before they even knew it the musicians stopped the music as the dance came to an end. Kat did a curtsy to Aidan while he bowed to her and the crowd politely applauded to them.

Then the musicians started to play more upbeat music and other guests at the ball now joined Kat and Aidan at the dance floor. One could see how many women tried to get Aidan's attention by waving their fans and fluttering their eyelashes as they passed him, but Aidan was completely absorbed into Kat's eyes that he didn't even notice, and neither did Kat.

And soon Aidan took a firm hold of Kat's hand and led her to the side doors that would get them to the corridor, which would take them to the garden for little privacy, while leaving the other guests to enjoy the ball.

While in the garden they silently walked along the flower bushes that had been planted there. But then finally after getting far enough from the palace Aidan got in front of Kat and gently pushed her down to the stone bench while he knelt next to her.

''Kat I know I said it already, but have to say it again, I am truly so sorry for lying to you about being the prince. I just so desperately wanted someone to treat me like a normal person and…'' Aidan started, but was interrupted by Kat, who placed her finger over his lips to silence him.

''Aidan I understand and I forgive you. I'm sorry for not telling you this earlier, but I was just so stunned to hear that you were the prince. I can't even begin to imagine what your life has been, but from what I gathered it is not nice when people always expect the best from you and be surrounded by those who try to win your favor in order to gain something for themselves. I can understand the need to be normal for a while. God knows how many times I have wished it,'' Kat said while staring at her birthmark on her wrist. Aidan immediately noticed where her eyes had landed and placed his hand over her birthmark.

''Kat your birthmark is beautiful as are you and I can't understand why the villager can't see it like I can. You're not the Devil's daughter, far from it. You're an angel, who came from the heavens when I needed you the most. And I don't mean just saving me from my wild horse,'' Aidan laughed the last part while Kat chuckled at the memory.

Aidan then helped Kat to stand up as they continued the walk along the garden while the music from the ballroom silently echoed around it.

''Are you returning to your kingdom after the ball?'' Kat suddenly asked surprising Aidan completely.

''I…think so,'' Aidan said not knowing whether he'd actually do it or not.

''Oh,'' was all Kat could say. And just then while Kat's attention was on something else she stumbled on a loose tile on the path. Aidan did manage to hold Kat so that she didn't fall to the ground, but they did hear a small 'cling' echo from the ground. And as Aidan helped Kat to stand he noticed the shiny slipper on the pathway. He knelt to the ground and picked it up to notice that it was actually a real glass slipper.

''Glass slipper?'' He questioned.

''Why not? And just so you know, they're very comfortable,'' Kat said while Aidan smilingly slipped the slipper back to Kat's bare foot, not questioning her statement.

They walked a little further into the garden, but finally Aidan couldn't conceal his feelings and knew that this was the chance he had been waiting for and that he wouldn't get another one like this ever again. So he once again stopped Kat and stood in front of her holding both of her hands in his.

''Kat I actually had a reason why I asked you to come to the ball. I tried to tell you this during the week when we saw each other, but I didn't have the courage, but now I do. Kat I…I love you. I love you with all my heart. You were the first person to understand me and treat me normally and even now, after knowing who I really am you still treat me like you used to. I love you and I don't ever want to separate from you,'' Aidan finally managed to confess his long held feelings.

Kat couldn't believe what she was hearing. Aidan, the prince from the neighboring kingdom, was in love with her. Her of all people. Kat looked at Aidan's blue eyes and saw nothing but pure truth, no hidden meanings, no jokes, just the truth. Aidan truly loved her.

''Aidan, I…I love you too. I was too afraid that you wouldn't feel the same and that you'd one day start to see me as the freak as the rest of the village sees me and I just couldn't…'' Kat started to explain, but was cut off when Aidan pulled her closer to him and placed his lips on to hers.

At first Kat was surprised by the kiss, but then she melted into it and placed her hands to Aidan's neck to deepen the kiss. The kiss started as soft and gentle, but then grew into more passionate one. Both of them felt the fireworks go on inside of them. This truly was the happiest day of their life.

But just then, during the happiest moment of her life, Kat could hear the clock tower bell hit its first stroke of midnight. And then she suddenly remembered her Godmother's words,

''The magic will only last so long. With the last echo of the last bell, at the last stroke of midnight, the spell will be broken and all will return to what it was before.''

Kat then quickly pulled away from Aidan, surprising him by the action.

''I'm really sorry, but I have to go. But thank you for everything and I will never forget about you,'' Kat yelled as she gathered the hem of her dress and started running back to the palace, leaving dumbstruck Aidan back into the garden.

But after couple seconds Aidan realized what was happening and he knew that he couldn't let her leave. Not just yet. They had just declared their love for each other, she couldn't just run off. And so he started to run after her, even if she had somewhat a head start.

Kat ran into the corridor and she could hear Aidan yelling after her, but she couldn't stay otherwise her gown, shoes, coach, coachman and footmen would turn back to what they were before and everybody would see that she was just a ragged servant girl pretending to be something else in the ball.

Kat weaved herself through the crowd in the ballroom, surprising everybody by her behavior. Aidan was of course right behind her, but as he entered the ballroom all the women immediately noticed him and slowed his run by blocking his way as they were trying to get his attention, which was currently entirely held by Kat. And by doing so, the women unknowingly let Kat run away further.

Kat ran down the grand steps of the palace while the clock stroked more alarmingly as it reached midnight. And just before she could enter the carriage she lost her footing once again and one of her slippers came off again. She was just about to pick it up when Aidan came at the top of the steps, yelling her to stop. And so Kat decided to leave the slipper to lie on the step and just ran into the carriage, while Pierre started to drive away.

Aidan got at the end of the steps and noticed the same slipper Kat had worn in the garden and carefully picked it up as if it was priced jewel. He looked ahead and saw how far Kat's carriage had gotten and knew that he wouldn't be able to reach her even if he were to run to the stable to get his horse. He would go meet Kat later and demand an explanation for her behavior.

And then he would properly ask her to marry him.