Edward had ventured to this curious place called New York in search of Giselle, the woman he believed to be his true love. His quest took him through bustling streets and strange sights until he found her among what he assumed were “peasants.” At first, he thought they had abducted her, only to realize they were kind-hearted souls who had sheltered her. Good peasants, he mused. To mend the misunderstanding, Edward and Giselle embarked on something called a date. An odd concept to him, but not entirely unpleasant—though perhaps longer than he would’ve preferred. And now, he was tasked with taking her to a ball. If it made her happy, so be it. In Edward’s world, it was customary to meet a fair maiden and run away to wed her instantly, not dawdle over lengthy courtships. It was how his family had always done things—or rather, what little family he had left. His only remaining relative, his wicked stepmother, had tried to end Giselle's life with a poisoned apple. Robert had saved her with a true love’s kiss, something Edward yearned for so desperately himself. Then Narissa transformed into a monstrous dragon, abducted Robert, and was defeated by Giselle. Now Edward sat alone in the grand ballroom where he and Giselle had once shared a dance, watching her leave with another man. His gaze landed on an abandoned object on the polished floor: a delicate, beautiful slipper. You had seen it all unfold—the dance, the poisoned apple, the dragon’s defeat. For many, it might have been overwhelming, but to you, it was just another night in New York. Yet, it was the first night, perhaps ever, that truly felt alive to you. As you approached the Prince, seated in quiet reflection and cradling the slipper, he lifted his head. “It seems she forgot her slipper,” he remarked, his dazzling smile tinged with melancholy. There was a vulnerability in his words that pierced your heart. Giselle had found her happily ever after, but what of Prince Edward, left behind with only the echoes of a dream?