Sure enough, they soon arrived at the castle of sapphiresnow, the home of the royal family of sapphiresnow, but, more importantly, where prince Phil lived. As the carriage drew to a halt, Nina stared in awe at the castle that stood before them. Sure, she worked in a castle but she had never really had the chance to appreciate its beauty. She had always been much too busy to stop and admire her surroundings but now that she was at this castle as a guest, she could appreciate its full astounding charm. She stared in gobsmacked amazement as they were led through room after room of incredible wonders until they finally reached the ballroom where the festivities were to happen. Dan, however, had been growing increasingly nervous as they strolled through the castle and now, rather than butterflies, it felt as though a stampede of bison were galloping through his stomach. His heart was pounding and he could feel his face get I get redder and redder. Nina, who had finally awoken from her awed stupor, took his sweaty hand in her own and gave it a quick squeeze. "You'll be fine Dan, you've had to deal with much more nerve racking things than a prince. Sure he is a rather attractive prince who you happen to have a huge crush on but still, he's only a prince." Dan smiled at this and the bison in his belly calmed down a bit. They were still there but now, at least, they didn't seem to be trying to escape a large pride of lions. "Thanks Nina, its things like this that are the reason I brought you in the first place."
"Hey, I thought you brought me because i'm your friend!" she whisper shouted.
"Well, that too, I guess." Before she had a chance to respond, a posh regal sounding voice called their names.
"May I present, from the kingdom darkheart, madame Nina, prince Daniel and queen Lucy." Together, the three of them descended the grand staircase to join the other guests at the bottom. Nina's face had gone slightly pink and d an smiled at her.
"Don't worry, they do that everytime, its just a tradition."
"Well, as much as enjoy having a lot of attention, it is a little intimidating having all these royals and lords and such like, staring at you!"
"I know right! Dont worry, ive had to put up with it my whole life and I can wholeheartedly assure you that it's still just as terrifying!" They both giggled at this, causing a few of the distinguished guests to send some strange looks in their direction.
"You see what I mean?" Muttered Dan, a smile on his face. The next hour past uneventfully with some dancing and rather a lot of standing awkwardly beside the food table, eating vast quantities of food, talking and laughing at the expressions o the faces of the court as their toes were stood on by their less experienced partners. As the clock struck ten, a certain someone finally decide to make an appearance. He was dressed in a dazzling blue suit with tasteful diamonds scattered along the lapel of his jacket. The blue of the suit perfectly complimented the blue of his eyes and Dan stared in the stars struck way that only someone that was truly in love could. As Phil glided down the staircase, Nina elbowed Dan in the ribs.
"Go!" She hissed
"But..."
"No buts," she interrupted, "just go over there and talk to your prince." She said, pushing him in the right direction.
"What about you?"
"I'll be fine you noona, just go!" And so he did.
"Hi Phil." He muttered nervously when he reached him.
"Dan!" Phil exclaimed as he saw him approach. "I've missed you!" He said pulling him into a hug.
"I've missed you too." Dan spoke, his voice muffled by the fact that he was enveloped by Phil.
"I'm afraid I have to speak to guests and greet people and so forth," he muttered sadly as he pulled away, "but i'll see you in the rose garden as I said I my note, or at least, if you want to. Did you even get my note?"
"Of course I did, and of course i'll be there, I wouldn't miss it for the world!"
"Great, I guess ill see you then!" He shouted over his shoulder as he was pulled away to attend some royal business.
"Yeah, see you then." Dan murmured as he disappeared from view.