It was late when Hans entered the study, reporting that Mr Anderson had left with an old book containing an even older legend within.

"He flittered everywhere, he couldn't stay still." Hans complained, sitting beside Anna. "No, don't accept that one, the Emperor is trying to wed his sons, you might be in over your head," He said, pulling the invitation out of Ana's fingers absent-mindedly. He dipped his pen and started an apology letter to the Emperor's third wedding celebration. "It was like he had never seen a library before in his life." He continued.

Ana held up another piece of paper. "Perhaps we should build one, then?" She showed the note to Hans. "This is a request for a public library, or an improvement upon the bookshop. By the sounds of it, there's a girl involved."

"Doesn't every request start with a girl?" Hans grinned as he wrote, not looking up. Ana put the request in the 'Check with James' pile, along with all the other expensive projects.

"He wants to hold auditions right after school goes out for the children tomorrow, can you believe?" Hans finished off his letter of refusal and slipped it into an envelope.

"Think of it this way: You can get out of the castle for the afternoon and see the town, even meet people there. It would be a great way to show the town how much of a sweetheart you are." She fluttered her eyes at him from across the desk.

Hans grinned. "Well, when you say it like that, it almost sounds like fun." He dropped his smile when he plucked another letter off the slowly sinking pile between them, reading it.

Ana could see, plain as day, how much her love was not looking forward to his excursion the next day. "Tell you what," she started impulsively, "I'll go with you into town tomorrow. We can declare to the people that we are engaged, and I can also show you to the school."

Surprised, Hans looked up. Then he frowned. "What will you do after? You can't stay or you might risk spoiling the surprise."

Ana grinned at his concern. "I have friends, remember?"

When Hans still looked doubtful, Ana blew a stray hair off her face and continued. "I loved down there for a few months, I'll be fine."

Hans gave a week, unconvinced smile and turned back to his work. He knew better than to talk his princess out of something now after being forced to apologise to a servant of her castle. He vowed to never let that happen again.

An hour of so later, Ana gave a large yawn, followed quickly by another one.

"Alright, My Lady, time to finish up." Hans smiled, amused, not looking up from his work.

Ana looked over at Hans, a puzzled expression on her face. "Why are you not tired?" She asked.

It was true. While Ana's shoulders and eyelids were drooping, Hans looked bright and awake.

Hans folded up the page he was writing on before answering. "I grew up with working late into the night, and parties that went until dawn. We slept late to make up for it."

"We don't do that here." Ana yawned again. "We like to- Start early."

Hans was finding it hard not to laugh at Ana's half asleep form starting to slump over the desk. He was half tempted to help her up and walk to her room with her, but his better judgement new it would be inappropriate on a whole new level. Instead he rose and walked to the door, where a rope, attached to a bell somewhere in the castle, hung. He pulled it and heard the bell ring from further in the castle. With luck, Tora and Jessamine would realise it was for them.

Only a few minutes had passed before Tora and a kitchen maid arrived at the door, but Ana had already fallen asleep soundly in her chair, her head gracefully embraced by her arms against the desk.

Tora's sudden appearance startled him, and he flinched slightly, aware he had been caught starting at the young woman across from him.

"Is she alright?" Tora asked, stepping delicately over to her side.

"Yes, just fell asleep." Hans leant back in his chair and watched Tora take Ana's elbow gently, calm words waking her slowly.

As Ana lifted her head off the table, sleep still clinging to her whole body, the maid, who arrived with the lady in waiting, looked around, a curious look on her face. "Isn't Lord James with you tonight?"

"He left a little while ago to get something for the Princess, but I do quite believe he has forgotten to return." Hans lied smoothly. The truth was, Hans had miraculously convinced Ana that they should get some extra work done, without James. It was all kinds of improper for a Lady to be alone in a room with a man, but he had faith that Ana would defend him if any of her servants started speaking ill of him: A small victory of dominance over a too-relaxed staff.

"Ah," Was all she said, turning away.

The two woman gently woke the princess and walked her back to her room, bidding Hans a quick "Goodnight, My Lord," as they left.

Hans ignored the coolness in their farewell, and started clearing the desk. Hardly a minute later, James appeared at the doorway.

"My Lord," He interrupted Hans's thoughts. "Her Majesty has instructed me to escort you to your chambers for the evening. She would like you to get a god nights rest for tomorrow." This was also not true, but every small victory over the other was, indeed, a victory.

Hans paused and looked at him, trying to tell if he was lying or not, but James had a perfect 'poker face', and gave nothing away. Since Hans couldn't see the lie, he allowed James to escort him to his room.

James opened the double doors wide and bowed low. "Will my Lord require assistance tonight?"

"No, thank you." he replied, walking past and into his room.

"Then I bid you goodnight, My Lord," James closed the doors behind him and walked away, a small victorious smile on his lips.

The next day dawned bright and cheerful. Birds were singing in the yellowing trees, and white, fluffy clouds made their gentle journey across the sky. From her bedroom window, Ana could see a few of her servants, donned in warm hoods and gloves to repel the chill, raking up the millions of fallen leaves, packing them into a barrow and carting them off to dry and be burnt away that night. Leaves were good kindling for starting fires inside and outside the castle, to keep everyone warm

In anticipation for her outing with Hans that day, Ana dressed in a simple light olive and black dress. It didn't have a lot of fluff and flair, instead it hung off her hips and swished when she walked. The cuffs of the wrist length sleeves were heavily embroidered, like a flowering vine up the black sleeves in several different shades of greens and reds. Bother sleeves were hand embroidered by Jessamine in the time Ana was living in the town, as if she knew it was only a matter of time before she returned.

The two ladies in waiting never told Ana that the day she returned was the day Jessamine finished the sleeves. Coincidence? Or an extra sense? Neither knew, but they joked in private about how, if she really could predict the return of loved ones, have a successful business come the next war.

Ana and Hans left at 10 o'clock, climbing into a beautiful carriage, painted in golds and reds, and a few delicate snowflakes climbing up the side, as if attached to an invisible string.

Hans found it rather ironic, given the theme he and Mr Anderson were preparing for the coronation celebration, but said nothing to her, for fear of spoiling it.

They reached the school hall and they parted ways. Ana left to meet with some of her friends and check out business was in the town, and Has walked inside to start preparations for the auditions.

Sorry it's short, but you get a chapter from a completely new POV next to make up for it!

Please leave a review, lemme know what you think. I can't make it better if I don't know what's wrong with it.