In a small town in France, Nice, there lived the Vienne family. They were not ordinary people but had magical powers. Among ordinary people, they were called witches. Our protagonist Gabriella Vienne was the only daughter. Both mother and father loved her and cared for their only child.

As a kid, the little witch could already communicate with wild nature.

Gabrielle’s little hands were filled with the petals of flowers. Most of all, Gabrielle liked daisies.

The girl grew up and every year she pleased her parents, being loved by everyone. She often helped everyone who lived in their small village. Having magical powers, she helped and cured people of various illnesses.

One day, the kingdom was hosting a lavish ball where all the beauties of the world were gathered, as the prince was looking for a bride. The news of the ball being held in the castle spread not only to Nice, but to all the cities of France. Carriages with different maidens were arriving from different parts of the world to their small town.

Gabrielle’s parents also wanted to send their daughter to a ball, since she had become one of the enviable beauties. The tailors sewed dresses from different silks and expensive fabrics to make Miss Vienne the most marvellous and magnificent. But the graceful girl did not need any riches to show her beauty.

When the day of the ball arrived, Gabrielle looked at her lush gold-coloured dress and realised that there would be many like her. Taking advantage of nature’s gift, she decided to alter her dress. The tight corset, which prevented her from breathing, was unfastened. And her hands started creating a new model. Her hair, filled with various hairpins, got unravelled, and there the lady’s long curly hair appeared. The dress lost its opulence, becoming purple light and fabulous, perfect for the first dance with the prince.

Three horses and the coachman who drove the carriage took the girl to her first ball. All the way, she thought what this prince was like, how handsome he was and how many girls’ hearts he had already broken.

The ballroom was decorated with gold…one by one different families, whom Gabrielle knew, came to bow to the royal family. Everyone seemed to be the same, wearing the same golden lavish gowns that the Witch had recently been wearing too.

Vienne approached to bow, meeting her eyes with the Prince. He was indeed very handsome. When the music began to play for the dance, the Prince never dared to ask anyone to dance. Gabrielle had no hope of being his maid of honour, for there were many gorgeous girls around. One of the girls was the influential princess from Italy – Arabella.

And now the prince’s first dance. The music began to play, and the tall, brown-eyed young man began to circle the hall. While the young Witch was in her thoughts, she did not notice the hand of the prince, who decided to invite her. The girl’s green eyes lit up in an instant…

They stepped into the centre of the hall and began to dance, soon other couples joined in.

“What is your name, Miss?” asked Prince Kasian, not taking his eyes off his partner’s eye.

“Gabrielle,” she answered quietly not to disturb the magical atmosphere.

“You seem to have bewitched me, Gabrielle,” he said with a chuckle, “How do you like this ball?”

The girl was silent, just at the turn of the dance, she so wanted to enjoy only him though the conversation with the prince was also magical, who else would be able to talk to him like that.

“It’s boring enough here, everyone is here for you; just look at how the ladies are staring at you.”

The prince only smiled enigmatically, leading the wonderful witch away from the hall. She didn’t resist, following him silently, looking around the palace. As the last doors opened, she felt a rush of cold air. There were roses all around, in different colours.

“This is our garden,” Kasian replied, more quickly than she could ask a question.

He took Gabrielle’s delicate palm, guiding it along the bushes.

“I did not wish to seek a wife; my choice will unlikely influence the king’s decision,” the prince was sad, his thoughts tormenting him, and he was clearly trying to escape from something.

“Then what is this ball for?”

There was a silence, only the rustle of leaves to break it.

“For the kingdom, people need a party too,” he paused, took the girl’s palm, looking into her eyes, “I would do anything to make this evening just ours, Gabrielle,” his hands dropped to the young witch’s waist, drawing her in for a kiss. It was Miss Vienne’s first kiss, her cheeks flushed, and her arms involuntarily embraced Kasian.

They walked around the garden for a long time, talking about everything like normal people, the ball came to an end, and everyone started to go away.

“Will I see you again?” The prince asked, not letting her go away from his hot hand.

“I will give you a very precious thing as a symbol of my love for you — my heart, I hope it will never be broken in your hands,” after these words she disappeared into the darkness of the night.

When Gabrielle found herself at home, her smile never wore off her face, she wanted to dance with happiness and her heart was pounding with love at that moment. It seemed as if the first magic in her life had happened, not at her hands.

Days passed, the prince never appeared, and the kingdom froze in anticipation of a decision. Gabrielle was still waiting for him, peering at the doors, waiting for Kasian to open them.

One Monday morning was cloudy and windy, Gabrielle stepped out into the courtyard, while the breeze gently passed over her arms as if to comfort her, among the flying leaves she heard some name: “A-A-A-Arabella…”

Literally at the same moment the herald made an announcement.

“HEAR, HEAR! DO NOT SAY THAT YOU HAVE NOT HEARD, PRINCE CASIAN OF FRANCE AND PRINCESS ARABELLA OF ITALY WILL MARRY THIS WEDNESDAY! PRINCE CASSIAN OF FRANCE AND PRINCESS ARABELLA OF ITALY ARE GETTING MARRIED THIS WEDNESDAY!”

At that moment Gabrielle’s magical illusory world vanished, the pain of her heart was so strong that the girl clutched at it, falling to the ground as if it were torn into many little particles until it completely shattered…

The wind could not stand it, looking at the suffering of his beloved girl, lifting her with all its might upwards, towards the clouds, where the witch’s body became as white as a dove, with green eyes.

On Wednesday the bird flew to the castle and in those eyes Kasian recognised her, his mysterious little witch…