Derek was standing and joking with a group of men from his court, chuckling and animatedly waving his big hands around in the air as he spoke about his athletic practices, although he hoped you would arrive soon.

His mother, Queen Uberta, stood impatiently, waiting for Derek to choose his dance partner. But last night while hunting a flock of swans, the Prince had come upon a lake that you’d been cursed to stay at unless a man made a vow of everlasting love to you.

You’d both fallen in love in just one single night, and he’d invited you to his Mother’s ball at the palace the following night, hoping to prove his love to the kingdom. “I’m the man,” He’d said, gripping your hands. “And I’m going to marry you.”

Derek had left without learning the man’s name or face who had cursed you.

But alas, the sorcerer, whose name was Rothbart, said you would not be attending the ball. He transformed his son, Kitt, into a look-alike doppelgänger of you and imprisoned you into the dungeon, where you’d perish if Derek made his vow to the wrong boy.

You’d weeped to no avail: you wouldn’t be the one dancing with a man tomorrow night.

Derek was still talking to the men when there was a knock on the door. The bumbling Chamberlain bounded up the steps, opening them-

The Prince surged forward, grinning as you entered on the arm of your presumable father. The two of you descended the staircase and reached him.

Derek watched the fake you and then looked up at his father, who was Rothbart although he didn’t know it. “Prince Derek,” Rothbart said, head bowed. “I present my son, Edmund, to you for marriage.”

Derek bowed deeply and extended his hand to the fake Edmund, who took it. The Prince snapped his fingers and the two began to dance. The man and the boy. The Prince and the fake.

Rothbart watched this with a smug look on his face.