So last time we saw how the prince and Cinderella closed the deal. They agreed to dance together and in return, Cinderella would get the crown and the Prince's name. She only had to prove to him she could dance. 

So, let's dance!

The prince pulled her in close and then they danced. They danced like no one was watching. The prince led and Cinderella followed and the music took Cinderella's worry off her mind for a little while. His arm was warm around her and for just a second she could forget all the stares around her.

"I closed my eyes. I simply didn't see all the stares. Stop exaggerating everything I do."

Why... Why can't you let me do my job? As I already said: I'm The Author. I describe things. You are the main character therefore you do things. I never tell you how to do your job. Stop telling me how to do mine.

"... Alright. Geez, I'm sorry..."

We continue.

She put a smile on her face and tried not to notice the stares. She nodded. The prince looked somehow relieved and spun Cinderella around. While he was doing that, Cinderella saw some familiar faces. First, The Boss. She looked... well surprised and not pleased, with how things were going. Given the fact they should be gone by now, and she was spiraling in the arms of the prince. Cinderella got pulled in again and then saw the faces of the people she has started to fear. Her stepmother and her stepsisters. For a split second, she thought she got found out. But whatever they thought, they just looked jealous and didn't seem to recognize her. 'How long are we gonna dance for?'

'Just for a few more minutes. It seems my father is pleased, but we need to wait for the other people to join in.' He was silent for a minute. Then: 'There is a chance that I have to go to my father after the dance is over. If that happens, I won't be able to get away for a long time.'

Cinderella shot her gaze up to his face, more irritated than worried. 'But what about-'

'I know. I promised you. I want you to listen to me. The crown of my father is not in some vault. He likes to flaunt with it.' His eyes went away from Cinderella's face towards the place where the king sat on his throne. Right next to him was a low pillar. On top of it, the crown she was looking for.

'But how...'

'It wasn't there in the beginning. They brought it out just before midnight.'

Cinderella looked at the big clock hanging on the wall. 10 minutes before 12. 'How will I ever get it? There are at least four guards behind him. Four more in front of him. I have no room to move around.'

'No, you have no room for errors. It will work because you got me.'

Cinderella raised one eyebrow. 'What are you gonna do?'

'Don't look at me like that. I may be just a mere prince to you, but for everyone else, I'm highly skilled in all sorts of things.'

'Right, like what? Sitting still en looking pretty?'

He grimaced. 'That too, but not the thing what's important right now. No, I'm very good at pretending.'

Cinderella was surprised by his honest answer and slightly smiled. 'Alright, what are you planning?'

The prince looked around and Cinderella saw the other people joining on the dance floor. 'How good can you run in that dress and heels?'