Hannah made it very clear that the prince and princess were to stay the night right where they were, and Horace promised to find a way to send a message to the palace the next day. Niles and Daphne did not protest and tried to thank their hosts profusely, although it appeared that the family was enjoying having them in their home.

Daphne found it very strange to wear such light and soft material, and to stay in such a small place. She enjoyed it, especially when Lynda went and showed the princess her garden. Even though it didn't measure up in the slightest bit to the palace gardens she was used to, Daphne liked it much better. In fact, the whole rest of that day was one of the best she had ever had. She watched as Hannah prepared a meal out of things in her cupboard and things she had grown herself, and she observed as Horace brought in firewood from the stable. She had always known that these sort of families lived in perfect happiness as they lived and worked for themselves, but it was so strange to see it in true life.

That night, Niles walked Daphne to her room as everyone said goodnight. He kissed her cheek; then turned to his room, but Daphne caught his shoulder. "What is it?" He asked.

"Niles, I really like it here."

"I don't mind it here either, but it will be nice to be away from spiders...bugs..."

Daphne chuckled at him. "You like it a good amount, don't you?" She asked.

"Yes, I suppose. Why?"

She took a deep breath, nervous about what she was going to say. "Niles, I'm not sure I want to go back to the palace. The reason we're even here is that my parents don't want us to be together, for the sake of countries, Niles, this isn't about us! We're the two youngest children of our families, and we don't mean much to their well-being." Daphne paused. "If we go back, I might never see you again. My mother is a very hard woman to convince. Niles...what if we ran away? What if we had a life like this, in a small quiet house with a fireplace, a stable, a garden. Wouldn't that be lovely?" She ran her hand past his ear. "We could raise children in a house like this. We could go to a far off country where no one would ever recognize us. So, what do you say?"

"Oh, Daphne..." he started, "...as lovely as that sounds, and as much as I want to be with you forever..."

"I know. It's silly."

"It's not silly. It's wonderful." He took her hands in his. "But there are things here we're not thinking about. We would have to run away tonight, and what would happen to this family? They could be tried for having done something to us if we were never found again. And our families would grieve us, even if we aren't the eldest or the most important. We're young, Daphne, and we don't know how to work like this."

"You're right." A tear slipped down her cheek and Niles wiped it away. "I just...I don't want to lose you," she said hopelessly.

"I don't want to lose you either, but I don't think we have any choice."

Daphne nodded, hugging him tightly. Niles hugged back, whispering, "I'll do anything I can, my love." She loosened her arms and caught his lips in hers. It was a tiny kiss at first, but it grew quickly enough. Daphne tightened her arms again and so did Niles. Daphne pushed herself against him hard and they both heard a bump as they hit the wall. She wished they had kissed like this in the woods, or any other time really. Niles broke the kiss and looked at her in a way Daphne was unable to comprehend at that moment. "I love you," were his only words, and she couldn't keep herself from starting the kiss again. Niles reached his hands up to her face and felt her warm cheeks, streaking this thumbs underneath her eyes. Daphne's heartbeat hit a level beyond measure and she wondered if Niles could feel it.

They were completely at lost as to where they were and were gone to everything but each other when they heard the sound of footsteps. Immediately they separated and found Lynda coming down the hall. "Gee," she said. "So that was what all that racket was out here. It's a shame the king called off the alliance, isn't it?" She said, staring at them as she passed them. "I was right, you are in love. Mom said no, but I knew better. Tsk tsk tsk. Goodnight." Lynda turned around and went back into her room, closing the door behind her.

The two giggled awkwardly at what had just happened. Daphne's arms and legs felt week, and her heartbeat still had not slowed down. If this was what it was like to kiss him, she knew that being expected to have Niles' children wouldn't have been so bad. "Goodnight, Daphne," said Niles, squeezing her hands as he went away.