Hey, hey, this chappie is for you sleepynightowl !! Thanks for replying to the tag <3

***

A little after the prince had resolved to find out more about Cinda, he excused himself from the two other maidens, who he had decided were twins, and headed over to where the blonde beauty was dancing.

With another man.

***

Cinda was quite contentedly twirling with a rather strapping young bloke, when another hand grasped hers and twirled her to their chest.

The strapping young man, by the name of Vincent, or so Cinda believed, as she couldn't quite remember that part of their conversation, since it was when Ana had blatantly flirted with her- the prince, smiled politely and turned tail.

Cinda looked up at her capturer with surprise, and was even more surprised to see the grey eyes of the prince boring deep into her own green ones.

"Chance! I thought you were dancing with the other maidens." The better maidens, Cinda mentally sighed once her thoughts were back on track.

"Yes, well, I discovered I wasn't all that comfortable with you dancing with so many other princes."

Cinda blushed, and internally cowered.

No. No, no, no, no, no. You're not supposed to fall for him. And did he just admit to being jealous? Violets and roses and bluebells, oh my- no. You can't fall for him. You simply can't.

Prince Chance, quite oblivious to Cinda's inner turmoil leaned forward to whisper in her ear.

"So, now that I've admitted my jealousy to you, will you reward me with the honour of gracing me with a slight amount more of background information on yourself?"

Cinda sighed. If she didn't want to fall in love with him, pushing him away might be her only hope, and what better way to make him run for the hills - not the hills where he prances of into the sunset with a pretty maiden on the back of his steed, another hill - than to tell him the truth?

"I am not a princess."

"Well, you sure fit the part."

Cinda frowned slightly. "I am not rich."

"Ah, but you are. You're beauty and kindness is of far more worth than anything I have seen before."

Her brow creased. "I live on a farm."

"Already told me that. With thirty chickens and ducks and four horses and three cows, to be exact. If I remembered correctly."

Cinda's frown deepened. "My chores consist of housework."

"Whose don't?"

This time Cinda raised an eyebrow.

"Okay, okay, so maybe mine don't, but-"

"Do you even have chores?"

"Well..."

Cinda sniffed victoriously.

"Fine, you win with the who-has-the-most-chores part, but I'm still winning three to one."

"The only family I have are my step mother and step sisters."

"What does that have to do with anything."

Cinda opened her mouth to retort, then paused. "You know what? I actually have no idea whatsoever."

Chance laughed, his amusement seeping into Cinda, who was unable to stop her lips curling into a small grin.

"So, does any of that provide more 'background information'?"

"I suppose it'll do. For now." He pondered that closing sentence for several moments. "Actually, your full name, and then I will be satisfied for the time being."

Cinda smiled. "Okay then. Cinda Lou Evergreen. Happy?"

"Extremely. Your name is almost as beautiful as the one it represents."

Cinda blew out a breath of air. "Well, aren't you the charmer?"

"Why, I do believe so."

"I am sure you could convince a woman to murder for you." Cinda shook her head disbelievingly.

"Is that so?" The prince smiled slyly. "In that case, Cinda Lou Evergreen, would you do me the honour of staying behind after the festival tonight?"

"What?"

"Well, as much as you may protest, it seems I have fallen in lo-"

Dong. Dong. Dong.

Cinda gasped, and as per routine, spun out of the prince's arms and vanished into the night for the last time.