Light music played in the massive ballroom and people danced in pairs. The room smelled like a mix of new clothes and caviar and a certain roast animal that Frances could not quite identify.

Dress brushed against dress as young ladies glided gracefully across the floor in the arms of their partners. The men were in tail coats and the ladies had on ball gowns in different splashes of lovely colors ranging from strawberry red to baby pink causing the ballroom to appear even brighter and more beautiful.

The music first changed to a cha-cha then to a waltz and the once vibrant room suddenly dulled as partners became glued to one another, swaying ever so slowly to the sickeningly sweet harmony of the instruments.

Frances stood in a safe corner careful to avoid being spotted - mostly by girls. He donned a dress coat and a brilliant white bowtie. His father had changed into the same dress code. His hair was neatly brushed and tied back with a band like it always. His injures had been tended to by Belle herself, barely visible scratch marks being the only thing that indicated he had indeed been hurt. He glanced about the room, wondering how people could dance to such slow music. He would double over and faint from boredom.

He had been named Crown Prince earlier and had even succeeded in wearing his new crown longer than two minutes before taking it off and handing it over to his mother. His birthday cake had also been cut, a trifle task that somehow required a lot more effort than normal. The royal baker, Bouche, went all out with his baking and had ended up baking a semi tower that poeple could eat.

"Will you not dance, my dear?" A gentle voice asked from behind.

Frances turned and found his grandmother Belle standing behind him. She appeared even more beautiful than any maiden in the room. Her brown hair was rolled back into a bun where a crown of silver had been pushed to fit into it. She was overjoyed when she heard he was back from his hunting trip but had almost had a heart attack after seeing the bruises on his face.

She was also the one to save him from the King's intense scolding. Adam had not been happy at all and he did not try to hide it.

"No descendant of mine will intentionally bring harm to himself all in the name of adventure." He had said.

His tone frightened Frances and even though the two were close to an extent, he often cowered at the presence of his grandfather.

He was aware of the fact that King truly meant well and was only scared of losing a member of his family. Times were dark and the ruling monarch tried as within his power to keep his Kingdom safe - beginning with his own household.

"I cannot dance, mom." Frances said with a slight chuckle.

He addressed Belle as mom all the time mainly because a side glance at her would make one think they were looking at his mother but when talking to others, he referred her as grandmother to prevent any sort of confusion.

"You have taken classes." Belle added thoughtfully.

"I was not paying attention." He confessed.

"And i am not surprised to hear that." Belle laughed. "You should go and make friends, even if it is just one."

"I really do not want to." He protested sluggishly.

"You will be ruler one day and it will come in handy, you know, having good friends. Look at your grandfather." She confronted in her gentle tone and placed a hand on his shoulder.

Frances looked over at the buffet area and indeed found his King talking to a couple of men; some of which included Lumiere and Cogsworth, Adam's oldest friends. Frances could remember them being around since he was very young and knew that they were true, loyal friends. In fact, his grandfather seemed to have a close knit of people he confided in, people that Belle herself seemed to have known all her life; there was the head chef, Mrs Potts and her son, Chip. Frances always thought it was a very odd name for a man.

Chip had moved out of the castle when Frances was ten but made frequent visits since to see his mother. He was present at the ball speaking to a lady in a fluttery type of skirt resembling the wings of a flamingo. He was much older than Frances and had a family anyone hardly saw.

There was also Plumette - the nice lady who worked in the kitchen. She was elderly too and Michéle's aunt. She was the one Chip was speaking to. Belle had mentioned that she used to be Lumiere's girlfriend back in the days but they never ended up together. Instead Lumiere had married Angelique, a lovely petite woman and the castle's head decorator.

There was Cogsworth - a very chubby man with a weird mustache hanging above his thin lips. He talked funny and would always chuckled at his own jokes. He was the King's Head Servant and seemed to disagree with Lumiere a lot. Still, they often put their differences aside to work together mostly for the sake of the kingdom and for Adam.

There were other servants whom the King seemed to have decent history with. There was Chapeau; his valet, Madam de Garderobe; the beautiful, plump opera singer. She came to the castle only on special occasions and sang like she had a thousand voices blended into one. She was a friend of both the Queen and Ms Potts.

Frances glanced back at his grandmother who wore a warm smile across her face.

"I guess he does have a small army of friends but grandfather and i are different. He is almost impossible to not like." He stated.

"And you? Are you unlikeable?" Belle asked.

Frances opened his mouth to say something then kept shut. He knew how much people liked him in and beyond the castle but he did not like a lot of people solely because he was an animal person.

He owned a horse - Phillipe - which had also been a gift but from Belle. She had named it after her father's own horse. There was Sultan, the castle dog; he was big and lazy and had over thirteen puppies, all of which were taken to a puppy sanctuary in town. There was also his bird friend, Jane. She was a finch, a bluebill with patches of red on her feathers that he thought were blood stains at first. He had gotten her from a trip years back when she had accidentally flown into his carriage window and went unconscious, eventually sliding into his knapsack. Apparently, she had been flying for weeks and was exhausted so he brought her home and took care of her. She had a habit of leaving during the summer but would return again in the winter and perch on his windowsill.

"You should try to make friends, Frances. It is fun having these hobbies but would you not love to talk about it with someone who shares the same interests as you?" Belle stroked his hair and smiled again. "I am sure that someone - just one person in this room - has the same love that you do for the outdoors."

"You think so?" He asked tilting his body without actually looking at her.

"I know so. All you have to do is find them."

He sighed, realizing he had been paying too much attention to his animal friends and hobbies and had failed to get himself a social life.

"Go on then." Belle urged and gave him a small push. He chuckled and kissed her on the cheek.

"Thank you, mom." He whispered.

Her face lit up with pleasure and she smiled and watched him timidly yet progressively approach the crowd.

"What in the world did you say to get him to move?" François asked coming up to Belle.

She laughed heartily. "I doubt it was nothing he has never heard before."

"I will never understand your way with your grandson." François chuckled. "But let us hope this turns out for the best."

"Of course." Belle nodded.

Frances' eyes moved faster than his legs. He did a quick mental select on which girl he would approach. All the males his age looked to be quite busy laughing about something he found unfunny. As soon as the other guests noticed him approaching, they began to clear a path which made him a little uncomfortable. Girls giggled and blushed and said hello while the boys bowed or just stared at him. The elderly guests simply acknowleged him and he did likewise.

There were so many girls of his age and some older ladies. He spotted the triplets - Claudette, Laurette and Paulette - speaking with Clothilde - Cogsworth's wife, over glasses of grape wine. The triplets were recognized as the best seamstresses in Villeneuve and his mother sometimes got her dresses from them.

His gaze finally landed on a girl at the far end of the room. She was in a light blue ball gown with low hanging shoulder straps. Her hair was a curtain of thick black curls and a chaplet made out of small white roses graced it. She seemed to be interested in the conversation two other girls were having in front of her. Frances thought the former was eavesdropping but discarded the thought when her companions suddenly giggled and touched her arm.

He drew close enough and the girl noticed him. Her lovely face nearly turned paper white and her brown eyes widened in surprise. The pair next to her seemed to have suddenly fallen into a trance.

"Hello." He said.

"Your Highness." The other girls curtsied, snapping out of their dumbfoundedness.

"Hello." He greeted them as well then frowned when they suddenly gave brief screams. At first, he thought they were frightened of him but their expressions proved otherwise.

They seemed overexcited.

The sudden show of excitement drew attention from other girls in the room.

"What is your name?" Frances asked the girl in blue.

"Chania." She replied, a bit stunned.

"My name is Frances." He introduced.

"I already know that, Your Highness." She stated.

"Oh right, yes." He chuckled nervously.

The sound music suddenly filled the room again and the excited teenagers moved around dragging their previous dance partners with them to the dance floor.

"Uh, do you. . ." Frances stuttered, nervously scratching the back of his hair even though there was really nothing there that itched.

"Do you want to dance?"

"Yes but i must warn, Your Highness, that i am a lousy dancer." Chania replied with a chuckle. "I have been standing here ever since i arrived."

Frances chuckled as well, feeling that his new acquaintance might actually be easy to talk to.

"I am a lousy dancer myself." He revealed.

Chania raised an eyebrow. "How is that possible?"

"Long story." He muttered.

"Well, i guess that if we stepped on each other's feet, the other would understand perfectly?"

"Deal." He said with a grin and offered his hand.

Chania accepted and they both walked to the middle of the room which, as everyone knew, was the VIP dancing area for royalties.

Frances was as nervous as he had been when he first mounted Phillipe and he had gotten thrown off more times than he could count but the dance did not seem all that bad as it progressed - the only problem was the silence that hung between the pair.

"So. . ." They both began and chuckled nervously.

"You go first." He suggested.

"What do you like to do for fun?" She asked and he spun her around.

"Well, I-I love horseback riding and hunting and reading but have barely had the time to lately. I fish and, not to brag, but i am really good at climbing. I can build traps for very small animals and i also know how to knit."

"That is very strange." Chania commented with a slight grimace then smiled.

"What is?" Frances asked feeling uncomfortable.

He was very senstitive and almost wanted to stop dancing and march back to where he had been standing so that he did not have to hear whatever Chania had to say but then again, she seemed nice and the last thing he wanted was to make a bad impression.

"I am also devoted at horseback riding but i thought you would be more grounded in your royal duties like feeding the pet cat and learning to properly lift a pinky when you drink tea." She stated.

Frances could not help the sudden laughter that broke out of him. "What would make you think that?"

"I do not know. I guess i think that is what stereotypical Princes do." She shrugged.

"Okay first, i am a dog person and second, i do not drink tea." He said politely.

"You drink beer then?" She asked as they switched positions then came back again.

"Heavens, no!" He chuckled again. "I would rather go for water or a nice orange juice but still, water is much better."

"You are a very unusual prince, your Highness." She laughed and he joined her.

She revealed she was fifteen years old and had attended the ball with her mother and also that they were not locals of the Kingdom. A distant uncle of hers had received the invitation and asked them to go in his place as he would be unavailable.

Frances became more relaxed with Chania as the evening dragged on. They spoke about random things, likes and dislikes, thoughts about the world, beliefs and their personal views on politics. He realized that even with less mutual interests - he still liked her. He even proceeded to tell her about the baby dragon he had spotted in the forest.

"No way. Are there really dragons in these parts?" She asked with a gasp then covered her mouth with her hand.

"That is exactly what i wish to confirm. I know what i saw that night." He said and suddenly had a quick flashback of his experience with the strange phenomenon in the heart of the Black Forest. He did not even realize that he had already forgotten about it until that moment.

He thought about telling Chania but decided against it. He did not think that spilling so much information in one night was a great idea and to someone he would probably never seen again.

Antoinette watched from afar as her son laughed and engaged in his birthday activities even though all he did was stand and watch his mates, and follow a black haired teenage girl across the room.

"I am very grateful that he is not peeking from behind the curtains this year." She said to her father.

"The boy is growing up. He certainly knows that he cannot hide within the draperies forever." King Adam contributed.

"Papa?" Antoinette called noticing how her father's face had suddenly turned grim.

Adam gave her a look and it seemed to affect her countenance as well.

"I love my grandson but i do not wish to ruin his life." He muttered.

Antoinette took his hands in hers. "Papa, you are not ruining his life. What other choices do we have? I am sure if he knew about it, he would be willing to do whatever is necessary."

Adam hummed from the base of his throat and looked over to Frances who was now trying to master a small trick his new friend was teaching him.

The sound of a trumpet suddenly filled the room and everyone's attention turn to the royal herald.

"Announcing the arrival of the ruler of The Château de Pirole - King Joseph Roy and his amiable daughter, the lovely Princess Anita."

The instruments blared out the most exquisite music and every eye averted to the doorway. A stream of intimidating guards immediately marched into the ballroom in a single file then broke into two lines, turned to face one another and halted, creating a path in the middle.

Two figures regally strolled in; the first was a man, obviously King Joseph. He was tall and burly and his green robes did very little in concealing his statuesque figure. His crown was gold - pure gold - and so was the scepter in his left hand.

Next to him was his daughter, Anita. Her short brown hair was beautifully decorated with multiple hairpins and a silver crown in the shape of a Pegasus was pressed into the left corner of her hair. The slim train of her short, black dress swept across the floor behind her. Her slippers were golden and so were the earrings and necklace that adorned her.

She had a certain look in her eyes - devious and sly but brilliant. She wore a subtly polite smile that looked like it was plastered onto her face without her permission and walked in unnaturally hasty strides placing herself three steps in front of her father.

Frances watched the pair as they strode past and subconsciously joined everyone in bowing. Father and daughter both carried a strange air of high authority with them; authority that he felt could not be matched not even by King Adam himself.

"Chania, will you please excuse me?" Frances pleaded and she nodded.

The party reverted to a normal, cheerful atmosphere after the serenity of beholding the ruling monarch of the Kingdom of Evergreen in the flesh. Noise erupted in the ballroom once again but the new guests seemed to care less.

They walked straight up to King Adam who was now flanked by his family; Belle to his right, Antoinette and François to his left and Frances next to Belle.

Joseph's arms opened wide as if he intended to give Adam a big hug.

"Finally." He grinned.

The Adams bowed in curtsey with an exception of the King himself.

"Glad you could make it, Joseph. How was your travel?" Adam said.

"Glad to be here, Adam. Thank you for your concern. It was all well." Joseph replied.

Both Kings exchanged a firm handshake and a nod of mutual respect.

"You have a lovely family." Joseph complimented and threw his glance in Belle's direction. "I presume that this is Her Highness, the lady Belle."

Belle stretched out her arm and Joseph took it and planted a kiss on it. "Lovely to meet you, King Joseph."

"Ah, the pleasure is all mine, My lady. I have heard so much about you and i am honored to have finally met you in person. You are even more ravishing than the rumors say."

"Why, thank you." Belle smiled, although a little bit uncomfortably and Frances noticed.

In fact, he noticed how stiff his entire family had become. He could not help feeling uncomfortable. There was something disturbing about King Joseph and his daughter but he was yet to put a finger on it.

"And you must be Anita." Belle said to the young princess who stood next to Joseph.

"Meet my grandson, Frances."

It was Frances' turn to stiffen. He really did not appreciate being shoved into the limelight especially when girls were involved.

"Hello." He managed to say.

Anita smiled sweetly at him.

He suddenly felt sick. She appeared nice yet seemed so sinister. His eyes inadvertently darted over to Chania. She was staring at him with concern. He gave her a subtle reassuring smile and nodded.

Much to his dismay, Anita followed his gaze and stared blankly at Chania who subsequently turned her face away. The princess returned her attention to him and smiled politely as if she had not seen Chania at all.

King Adam introduced his daughter and her husband and was already engaged in a conversation with Joseph - something related to matters of state.

"You are very handsome." Anita spoke for the first time. She was staring at Frances but in an adoring manner.

"Uh. Uh, thank you. You are uh, equally lovely. That is quite a beautiful dress." He said trying to divert the attention back to her. He had used the same compliment severally to slip away from Plumette.

Anita quickly took the bait, running her perfectly manicured nails across the material that seemed to sparkle under the lights.

"Oh yes. Thank you. It was made by the most skillful seamstresses in all of Pirole." She boasted.

"They must be really good with their handiwork. Bet they could whip up a dress with their eyes closed." He said.

She chuckled lightly. "Mmhmm. You have a sweet sense of humor. Will you walk with me?"

Frances looked hopelessly at his mother but she was engaged in a conversation with Plumette. Belle stood next to her husband and they both spoke to Joseph. His father was surreptitiously pointing at something to Lumiere. His eyes searched for Chania and he found her dipping her whole arm in a long candy sack.

Heaven knows where she got one from. He thought to himself.

"Well?" Anita inquired casually as though she knew he had searched around the room for an excuse to refuse her and could not find one.

"Of course. Let us take a walk." He said and let Anita's arm slide under his. Together, they exited the ballroom.

Chania spotted them leaving but did not say a word about it.

The wind was cold outside but it had stopped raining a long time ago. Frances had even forgotten it was almost midnight since the evening had dragged on slowly. They strolled in circles in the castle grounds and Anita kept asking odd, personal questions about him which made the Prince even more uncomfortable.

"Do you believe that there is a world outside of our own but frightfully near?" She asked. Her bare arm pressed against his such that they looked like Siamese twins.

"Um. . ." He was about to reply when a servant walked up to them.

Frances internally heaved a sigh of relief at the sight of the man.

"Apologies for the interruption, Your Majesties but your parents request your presence inside." The man announced.

The pair nodded and Anita reluctantly unclutched her arm from Frances' as they both headed back into the ballroom.