Ella and Casper twirled around the floor for at least ten minutes before she left. It was sadder then she expected but Ella knew she would see Casper again in barely eighteen more hours, she could wait.

Jacquelyn's spell wore off shortly after Ella departed from the ball and when she returned she once again went straight to bed.

She dreamt about a beautiful wedding, or at least it would be beautiful if the person she was marrying ever bothered to show up.

The wedding march began to play and Ella directed her attention to the big doors. A figure walked through wearing a white dress and holding a bouquet of flowers. As the figure got closer Ella identified long dark hair and stunning green eyes.

She was marrying the witch. Ella didn't mind though, it fact her heart rate increased and her cheeks got a bit flushed. As Jacquelyn approached her, Ella was giddy with excitement.

Soon the two were standing side by side while the priest spoke of marriage and bonds. It all went by in a blur and suddenly Ella heard herself saying "I do." And Jacquelyn saying the same words after her.

"You may now kiss the bride."

Ella leaned towards the one she loved and closed her eyes for a marvelous kiss. She felt something touch her lips, but it wasn't what she expected. Ella opened her eyes and saw that there was a hand covering her mouth.

Her eyes traced away from the hand and up the arm until her gaze rested on the face of the person in front of her.

It was not Jacquelyn.

Ella widened her eyes in surprise and stepped back. Casper lowered his hand, and with a red face, whispered "I'm not really into the whole kissing thing..." 

"Ah, I'm sorry." She said. For some reason Ella didn't feel annoyed that she hadn't gotten to kiss Jacquelyn's perfect lips, instead she felt a little excited with this new turn. "Will this do?" Ella took his head in her hands and rested her forehead against his.

"Perfect." Casper said softly while placing his hands in the same manner as hers.

"Ella."

"Hm?" She said.

"Wake up."

"Not yet.." she pleaded. "Just a little longer. This is so nice."

"Wake up."

Ella shut her eyes tightly and shook her head.

"Wake up, you stupid girl!"

Wait a minute...

With a jolt, Ella sat up. Her head whipped around her room and her eyes beheld her stepmother towering over her bed. 

"Took you long enough. It's already past noon, you ungrateful child." She said.

Ella immediately got out of bed, fell on her face, and straightened up. "I'm sorry."

"You should be. The girls and I missed breakfast and lunch because of your laziness."

With a bowed head, Ella said "It won't happen again."

The stepmother raised her nose and sniffed. "I know." And she left.

Ella fell towards the floor and let out a sigh. 

"You good?" A smooth voice said.

"I will be, thanks Jacquelyn." Ella felt a hand on her back and she leaned into it. Jacquelyn's face appeared by her shoulder with a soft expression, Ella stared at it and imagined, not for the first time, kissing those beautiful lips. And yet this time it didn't feel quite the same.

Jacquelyn wrapped her arms around her friend and Ella sank into the embrace while the witch hummed a lullaby.

"I've designed the dress for tonight." Jacquelyn said quietly. "It's green."

"I like green.." Ella said.

Jacquelyn laughed softly. "It's one of the best colors."

"Yeah." It reminded Ella of some beautiful eyes. "It is."

.

Rather far away in a country manor sat two men, one of which was Casper, the other was a man whom had previously not been introduced in this story, Peter. The two sat at a small table drinking tea over a game of chess.

"Have you been enjoying the festival?" Peter asked his friend.

"Indeed I have." Casper responded.

"I saw you dancing with a particular damsel..." Peter wiggled his eyebrows. "Perhaps she is the reason?"

Casper laughed. "Can I not enjoy a ball without the company of a woman?"

"You've never enjoyed any before!"

"First time for everything." Casper sipped his tea and pushed a pawn forward. "Besides, I don't even know her name."

Peter froze mid play and stared at his friend. "...what?" His face then grew into a look of great confusion. "How do you not know her name? Did you two just not introduce yourselves?"

"No, no. She knows my name." Casper clarified.

"Alright, let me get this straight; she knows your name but you don't know hers." Peter slumped in his chair and put is palm on his forehead. "Do you at least know her position? Is she a Lady? Baroness? Marquess?"

"No."

Of course, Ella was by birth a Lady but she had never debuted because of her stepmother's jealousy, as the woman was born a commoner. Because Ella had never debuted she was not recognizable by any other nobles, and thus Casper is not aware of her liniage.

"But she knows your title?"

"No."

Peter struck a full on 'woe is me' pose and let out a dramatic sigh. "You're helpless."

Casper looked down in embarrassment and said "sorry."

"Don't apologize! Just- ugh!" 

Then there was a knock at the door. A servant announced "Queen Jess to see her son."

"Seems as if our chat is over for now." Peter said. "But this is not the end of the discussion."