(Scene cuts to the next morning. Prince Gallus and King Chalcodon walk up to the door where the two guards are still waiting. The King nods at the guards before they step aside. The first guard turns and unlocks the door before he and the second guard step aside. Gallus and the King look inside to see Ida sitting on the floor near large piles of gold. Their eyes widen as Gallus smiles at Ida)
Ida: Hi. (smiles awkwardly)
(Scene cuts to the throne room. The spun gold is divided into several wheelbarrows and Soranus gawks at it. The King is seen standing beside him and Gallus and Ida are seen standing near Cameo and Khloe)
King Chalcodon: This enough gold, Soranus? (smirks proudly)
Soranus: I-I-I-I… I'm blinded, Your Majesty. Truly I am… But there's something you should know. (takes a scroll out from behind his back)
Prince Gallus: Ugh! What now, Soranus? (walks up to his father and Soranus)
Soranus: Just this, Your Highness. (unfurls the scroll and shows a section of it to the King) The official Scroll of Law says, and I quote, "When a test is given to a subject, he or she must be subjected thrice to said test to prove his or her devotion to the kingdom."
Ida, Cameo, and Khloe: WHAT?!
Prince Gallus: Thrice?! Oh, you've gotta be kidding me!
Soranus: I'm afraid not, Your Highness.
King Chalcodon: Really? I don't remember reading that passage. Where does it say that?
Soranus: Uh, right there at the bottom of this paragraph in teeny-tiny print. (takes the scroll away before the King could see) Don't strain the royal eyes.
Prince Gallus: Alright, Soranus! This has gone on long enough! You can't keep making Ida spin! She should be rewarded, not given another test.
Cameo: Yeah, the Prince is right! (steps forward to stand by Gallus) My daughter spent TWO nights spinning for you! She can't possibly do it a THIRD time!
Soranus: Quiet! It's the law. (to Cameo) We ought to have you executed right now for your insolence.
(The crowd starts murmuring and whispering to each other)
Cameo: Oh yeah? You want a piece of me? Bring it!
King Chalcodon: Gentlemen, please! (gently pushes Soranus and Cameo away from each other) I won't allow violence in my court!
Prince Gallus: QUIET!
(The entire court falls silent)
Prince Gallus: (pauses, then takes a deep breath) Thank you. (to the King) Dad, listen to me. If Ida really does have to spin one more night, then… so be it, I guess. But if she succeeds, then she should receive the ultimate reward.
King Chalcodon: And what's that, son?
Prince Gallus: (waves his hand at Ida, ushering her forward. She walks up to him and takes her hand) If she passes a third time… then Ida and I should be married.
Ida: (gasps)
Soranus, Khloe, and Cameo: (gasp)
(The crowd gasps)
Ida: …M-m-m-m-married? (looks at Gallus with a bewildered expression. She blushes)
King Chalcodon: Hmmm, interesting idea, Gallus. (notices Gallus holding Ida's hand and smiles) Very well.
Soranus: WHAT?! Sire! Have you lost your mind?! Letting the Prince marry a peasant?! You cannot seriously allow this!
King Chalcodon: Quiet, Soranus. (to Ida) Okay, Miss Ida. If you spin straw into gold one more night, then you shall marry my son, the Prince. It is only fair.
Soranus: But if she fails… she dies. (smiles evilly)
Ida: Your Majesty, I-I-I… I don't know what to say.
King Chalcodon: I understand it's a lot to process, dear, but a girl with talents such as yours is surely fit to be royalty. (pauses) Aren't you… happy?
Ida: I-I-I-I, uh… I'm sorry, Your Majesty. It's just… (lets go of Gallus' hand) I need to think.
King Chalcodon: Oh. Oh! Yes, of course.
(Ida leaves the room with wide eyes while Gallus watches with a saddened expression)
Soranus: (ushers a guard over to him) (hushed) Fetch more straw, enough to fill the ENTIRE ROOM. And make it snappy.
(The guard nods and rushes off with a few more guards in tow )
(Scene cuts to that afternoon. Ida is seen in the royal garden sitting on a stone bench near a pond, skipping stones across the water. Gallus anxiously approaches her)
Prince Gallus: This seat taken?
(Ida remains silent, but shakes her head 'no'. Gallus awkwardly takes a seat next to her. She skips another rock)
Prince Gallus: Hey, Ida… I want to apologize for what happened back there. I didn't mean to put you on the spot like that. It's just… I really like you, you know? You're not like any other girl I've ever met, and I admire that about you. Like, a lot. But it's still your choice. You don't have to accept the offer if you don't want to.
Ida: (pauses, then sighs) No, I'm sorry. I'm sorry for leaving the way I did. It's just that these past few days have been so crazy, and now this? I just… needed time to think things over.
Prince Gallus: I understand.
Ida: (reluctantly scoots closer to Gallus) …Did you really mean what you said? You… like me?
Prince Gallus: Actually, now that I think about it… I believe it's more than that. (turns to face Ida) I think I'm in love with you, Ida.
Ida: (gasps silently and turns to face Gallus) Really? (Gallus smiles and nods. She blushes) Wow. (pauses) You know, if we're being frank, I thought about this whole thing and… I've kind of been feeling the same way about you.
Prince Gallus: You have?
Ida: Yeah. When we first met, I never would've thought of you as the Prince. But now… I don't really care anymore. Everything is so crazy right now and I have no idea what the future holds, but it would be so cool if you were in it.
Prince Gallus: I… I feel the same. (blushes) And don't worry, when this whole test thing is done and over with, I'll take you out on a proper date. I promise. No trials, no quests, no pressure, no anything. I'll make sure it'll be the most mundane, slice-of-life, do-nothing day ever… (takes Ida's hand) and it'll be perfect.
(Ida giggles and blushes)
Ida (singing): Once a lass met a lad
"You're a gentle one," said she
"In my heart I'd be glad
If you loved me for me
You say your love is true
And I hope that it will be"
Prince Gallus (singing): I'd be sure, if I knew
That you loved me for me
(Gallus and Ida wander the garden together as they sing. Gallus offers Ida a flower while she teaches him how to skip rocks)
Ida (singing): Could I be the one you're seeking?
Will I be the one you choose?
Can you tell my heart is speaking?
My eyes will give you clues
Prince Gallus (singing): What you see may be deceiving
Truth lies underneath the skin
Ida (singing): Hope will blossom by believing
Both (singing): The heart that lies within!
Prince Gallus (singing): I'll be yours!
Together we shall always be as one
If you love me for me
(Scene fades to Ida and Gallus walking up a hill and stopping at the top. They sit down side by side to watch the sunset)
Ida (singing): Who can say where we'll go
Who can promise that we'll be
But I'll stay by your side
Prince Gallus (singing): (simultaneously) I'll be yours!
Together we shall always
Be as one
Both (singing): If you loved me for me
If you loved me for me
(Ida gently lays her head on his shoulder before Gallus wraps an arm around her shoulder. Soranus is seen from a castle window watching them with a distasteful sneer)