A brief spark.

Daniel is twelve years old when he meets princess Regina for the first time. It was not an enjoyable encounter, as she just fell from her horse, on which she just climbed up for the first time. Daniel, in his role of stable boy hands her his hand to help her to go up; the other child, who is just nine years old addresses him a look full of challenge, and whispers with a sharp tone :

"I don't need help."

Daniel understands that she is upset to have fallen facing her father but especially with her mother at the forefront who looks at her with a disapproving look before she leaves. Daniel remarks then that she retains herself from crying with difficulty; maybe even more because of her mother than because of the fall (and of the pain she felt then, because Daniel knows that she suffers physically).

Then Henry rushes up in her direction and helps her daughter to pick up as he asked her if she wasn't hurt somewhere. Now that Cora is gone, she can stop to retain herself and a tear rolls along her cheek. But despite everything and despite her young age, she tries to stay dignified (a rest of what her mother learned her about how to be a princess). By seeing her go away, Daniel can't help but smiling and rolling his eyes.

He doesn't know why, but he decides that he likes this girl.

§§§§

They have to wait three years before they talk to each other again. Regina is now twelve years old and Daniel fifteen and it is almost a chance if they have to see each other a new time; Daniel becomes the one who teaches riding to her. The thing that is ironic is that this choice emanates from Cora...

But for now, the two adolescents are still children and it's a very cold Regina who welcomes him for her riding lesson. But Daniel learned by his father to see through the masks of the others and rapidly understands that Regina just wears a façade in order to please her mother; at least when this last one is present. Except that she finally stops to look at them after some lessons.

This is when Daniel decides to go to talk to the princess that he knows is friendly (young servants from the castle talked to him about the princess as being an adorable child).

« Hello, he says as Regina comes for her lesson, I never introduced myself, my name is Daniel. And I already know you, you're princess Regina; I am overjoyed to teach you riding, and you seem to be able to become a promising horse-rider."

It wasn't flattery and Daniel saw Regina frown before she smiled and shook the hand the young boy handed her. From this moment, a friendship appeared between these two lonely children.

§§§§

They have to wait the sixteen years of Regina before something stronger than friendship appears between them; a ball will be organized and Regina has the duty to assist to it. She complains, of course because she hates society events and she is persuaded that her mother will try to marry off her with some prince (Daniel knows perfectly that this is not what she wants.)

The evening of the ball happens and Regina shows herself in front of him (in fact Daniel shouldn't be here but the princess succeeded to make him enter), uncertain and embarrassed because she isn't used to it. And in front of her, Daniel freezes; it happens just for some seconds, because she flees just after by offering him a smile.

At that moment, Daniel really understands what he feels for her; he already questions himself since some days, and everything he wants to tell her now, this is how much she is beautiful, strong, clever, and free, and also how much he loves her.

Some days after Daniel kisses her; it's almost a coincidence, because it never should have happen. Never. Because nobles and commoners don't mix together, but Daniel loves Regina with all his heart so why would he stop himself to tell her ? He kisses her and she rejects him; it doesn't surprise him because it happened by surprise and she flees just after.