Luna Amante

We'll Meet Again

Just as the two of them were pulling away from the heavenly kiss, Daniella jumped when she heard the nearby clock tower chiming twice, causing Claudio to ask if she was alright. When she explained that she had to be home by three, he asked if he could take her home, complete with her old clothes and shoe. Even though his actions were sweet, she admitted that she didn't want him to be caught in the sun on the way back to the castle, since sunrise was going to be soon. Understanding her reasons while being touched by the fact that she cared about his kind, Claudio led her back to the ballroom before calling for the tailors, who brought her dress out in a box just for her.

"Um, Claudio? I want you to keep my necklace, so you can remember me when I'm not here. You don't need to give me anything in return, other than... perhaps... another kiss."

"It would be an honor, Daniella. If it's alright with you, I'd also like to escort you to your carriage."

The King and Queen couldn't believe what was going on, since none of the other suitors were so giving and caring, and they smiled as he talked with his special guest. While watching the royal tailor carefully remove the necklace from Daniella's neck, Claudio held the dress box before handing it to her when the necklace was off. He had thought of sneaking her a kiss as he gave her the box, but he declined such an idea before linking arms with her and escorting her to the entrance. After helping her down the stairs leading to her carriage, which was the only one still in front of the castle, Claudio handed her dress box to the footman before holding Daniella's hands and squeezing them.

"Daniella... can you remind me where your father's tavern is, so I can come and visit sometime?"

"It's in the small village of Falwell, and the name of the tavern is Moreno's, like our last name. If you visit, please come at night, so you don't hurt yourself in the sunlight."

Once again touched by her care for him and his kind, Claudio smiled before raising her hands to his lips, and he kissed them separately before helping her into the carriage. As soon as she was comfortable inside, Daniella sat by the window and leaned out to look at him, giggling a little at his sweetness.

"Thank you for the wonderful ball, Claudio. I'll never forget you: the brave prince who saved me and gave me a second chance for fun."

"I'll never forget you either, Daniella. I'll be your hero and you'll be my damsel."

With that, Claudio took a step back and watched the carriage pull away, waving to Daniella as she left. Before it was lost to sight, Daniella leaned out of the carriage and waved to Claudio, only to giggle and return the favor when he blew a kiss to her. She then got back in her seat before sighing as she remembered the ball, wanting to tell her father everything that happened while also wishing that she could see Claudio again.

Soon enough, the carriage had pulled in front of her family's tavern, and Daniella picked up her box before thanking the footman and coachman for their help that night. She then stepped out of the carriage before walking to the door, during which she heard the nearest clock tower ringing three times, letting her know that she had made it home almost on time. Right as she was about to open the door, she gasped as it opened for her to show her father and the same old woman as before, who smiled kindly at her.

"I'm sorry I didn't come home sooner, Dad. I..."

"Oh, that's alright, Daniella. I don't remember that being the dress you wore when you left, though!"

After the three of them went inside, the old woman took the box from her and gasped when she saw how terrible the old dress looked, and Daniella gulped before explaining everything that happened. When she talked about the other suitors destroying her clothes, the old woman was shocked at how nobody was stepping in to save her, but that's when Daniella talked about the Prince. From that point on, Raoul and the old woman could tell that she was absolutely in love, but it was something that she herself didn't notice. She was too busy talking about how Claudio had sent almost everyone else away to notice anything unusual, but they could see from the gleam in her eyes and her growing smile that she was falling for the prince, especially when she talked about their dance together.

"Well, after an exciting night like that, I'll definitely let you sleep in today. Just make sure you get straight to work an hour after you wake up!"

Raoul chuckled before Daniella promised she'd start working as soon as she was awake, and the old woman smiled at her excitement before announcing her own departure. Even though they had never met before that night, Daniella hugged the woman and thanked her for everything, and the old woman giggled a little before waving as she left on the carriage, which soon vanished into thin air. After being confused by the disappearing carriage, Daniella and Raoul noticed how her dress and shoe were still in the box before she carried it downstairs to her room, where she set the shoe on her dresser and hung up the dress.

Once she changed from her current dress to her pajamas, Daniella took off her tiara and flopped onto the bed, feeling more excited than sleepy. She couldn't stop thinking about Claudio, from how his mood changed after he sent the other guests away to when he kissed her hands outside of the castle, and she felt her heart pounding a little as she thought about him. When she wondered if she was really falling in love with him, she was a little unsure since she had never fallen in love before, but she kept those thoughts to herself.