Emma Roland tugged wearily at the trailing ruffles of her purple gown as she made her way down the steps from the dais to the ballroom floor. This dress was the most beautiful thing she’d ever worn, but after hours of swishing her way through the crowd at Bella’s Ball, she was getting tired of tripping over it. She kept smiling, though, since she knew practically everyone was looking at her. She was guest of honor, after all, and the ballrooms of Rolandsgaard Castle were filled with brightly dressed horses, humans, and other guests who had travelled from all over North of North just to get a glimpse of her. Her friend Deru smiled as Emma came down to meet her. Deru was a dryad and could magically grow her own clothes. Once the ball was over, she’d be able to change her formal gown of white poinsettia petals into something more comfortable in an instant. Emma had to admit she was a little jealous. She would need far longer just to pull out all the orchids woven into her long brown hair. Emma yawned with relief when the trumpets signaled that it was almost midnight—time for the fireworks show that would end the ball. Heralds began ushering the guests out to the courtyard and lawns, where they could get a full view of the fireworks over Rolandsgaard Castle. Deru turned to follow them, but Emma gently Took hold of her elbow.