"It's a what?" Humphrey and Maria said together as Sarah brought a hand to her head and said, "Of course, a clause!"

"A curse, or rather any spell," Master Digson began, "is essentially a contract."

Maria blinked. "A what now?"

"The sorcerer, by using magic, writes an internally binding contract with the subject—in this case, you. Like any contract you might have with a blacksmith or a builder, there are often clauses written in to avoid someone taking advantage of you."

Maria glanced at Humphrey to see if he understood what was being said, and found comfort in the confused arch of his brow. Master Digson noticed, too, and returned to plain speech.

"A curse like yours has rules. All spells have rules, much like a genie's lamp does. Otherwise magic would be abused by those in possession of it. For example, neither a genie nor a sorceress can bring someone back from the dead—the power required is too vast. A sorceress can create a love potion, but a genie can't force love. And, to keep a sorcerer from running amok, there are rules that restrict a love potion's usage.

"Curses are the same. You were cursed at a young age, which limits the severity allowed on the curse. An adult can be cursed with something far more dangerous than a child. Curses have clauses in regards to how they're broken. They can't disappear just because ten years have gone by, like a spell can. Curses must be broken, or they can be removed by the one who cast them."

"Right. Right, okay, that makes sense." Humphrey started pacing and Maria sat down on her chaise, trying to focus on the impromptu lesson. "So she can't say yes to marrying me because of her curse? I thought marrying a prince would break it, and therefore she should marry me?"

"It depends on the rules in place. A Marriage Clause would work, like you said, but then she should be able to say yes. I'm guessing there's a Kissing Clause. The only question is what kind."

"There's more than one kind of Kissing Clause?" Maria's shoulders slumped, feeling things had gone too far. Perhaps if she were honest about her curse, they could stop the whole charade.

But then, if she told Humphrey the truth, it still wouldn't explain why she somehow couldn't agree to his proposal.

"There's a standard Kissing Clause and a True Love's Kiss. Standard's the easiest to work with. A kiss will end the curse. True Love's Kiss," Master Digson grimaced and shook his head, "is far more difficult to find. In fact, most stories from The History of Fairy Tales are actually inaccurate. Almost all of them had Standard Kissing Clauses—hence why princes could wake up the princesses without ever knowing them."

"Right, because you can't fall in love just by looking at someone." Humphrey nodded in agreement, soaking up everything Master Digson said. Maria shot him a glare, but the prince didn't see it.

"So if you have a Kissing Clause, all it would take is—"

He stopped talking, a dazed, faraway look contorting his expression. Humphrey turned a concerned eye on Maria, who looked to Sarah for understanding.

"Brother?" she said, as they all watched several unidentifiable emotions pass over Master Digson's face.

"All it would take is a kiss to break the curse." Though he finished his sentence, Maria couldn't help but notice the worrisome way his brows knit together.

"So maybe I just have to kiss her!" Humphrey gave a jovial clap of his hands and threw his head back with regal sophistication. "Come, Maria." When she blanched, he grinned. "It was bound to happen sooner or later. After all, we're to be married."

"But what if it's True Love's Kiss?" Sarah interjected, frowning at her brother.

"I have a plan for that already." Humphrey pulled Maria up off the chaise and encircled her waist with one arm. "Maria, I don't believe in love at first sight."

Well, we're getting off to a great start, she thought, but he continued.

"However, I've known since the age of twelve that I was betrothed to marry you on your eighteenth birthday next month. Because of this, I have dreamed of you over one thousand times." Humphrey's glittering smile crinkled the corners of his eyes and, for the first time, Maria felt he was being genuine.

"Without ever meeting you, I've spent many hours by your side. When I was gifted your portrait three years ago on my eighteenth birthday, I kept it with me always. I used to pretend to have long conversations with you about our likes and dislikes and how we'd raise our children."

Blushing, Maria dropped her gaze, but Humphrey used his free hand to tilt her chin up.

"Without a doubt, I can say I've loved you for ages. Now I ask for your permission to place a kiss upon your lips."

Overwhelmed by joy and her own growing feelings of affection for him, Maria nodded and opened her mouth to declare her love for him as he leaned in.

"I love you, too, Derric."  

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