"Miss Elizabeth." Several moment had passed before Roy was able to gather his thoughts. "You're here by choice." The surprise was evident in his voice.

A gentle nod of her head and she stood to her feet. "Yes, your highness. If I may have a moment of your time. I came to speak to you about the recent goings-on in my town. If I could, I'd prefer to speak to you in private."

The knights simply stared at their lord, ready to escort the woman out given the order. Instead, Roy lifted his hand, waving his company from the room. The chair where his father once sat, was empty, as he'd grown used to. "A private audience with the prince," he teased, "To what do I owe the pleasure of this meeting?"

Her brown eyes narrowed, the same way as when he first saw her. "Cut the crap." She growled. "I want to know how much higher you plan on raising our taxes. It's a miracle I've not had to sell my horse to keep my home. As empty as it may be, I quite enjoy having four walls and a roof to come to after work."

"Taxes..." His smile faded. "I don't remember the last time I raised taxes... over a year ago, perhaps? Before my father got sick."

"Then why have they been raised again less than six months ago?" She questioned. "Why are your men knocking on our doors asking for more and more?"

"I don't know..." He admitted. "Six months ago my father was already ill. He's been bedridden ever since. I'm sure you've heard."

"I have. It's why I knew I could come to you." She crossed her arms, focusing firmly on the prince before her. "It's been three years and you still have no handle on your army, do you?"

With a sigh, he dropped his head. "I will send the gold back." He said, "And any belongings taken will be properly compensated for."

"And the knights who steal in your name?"

"Will be brought back to be replaced by better men."

"Brought back?" she asked. "Not punished?"

"It's not my place to—"

"You are in charge in your father's stead, are you not? Then the whole country is your responsibility. It is your place to do as you damn well please, and to do what needs to be done."

It was hard to keep from chuckling at her words. No one spoke to him in that manner, after all. It was a fresh experiences to be scolded in such a way. "You're right. So what would you have me do? Behead them? Surely that can be avoided."

"I was thinking a fine and stripping their ranks." She shook her head with a laugh. "Avoiding such harsh punishment is probably best for your image at the moment." She joked.

"My image." He huffed. "I see nothing wrong with my image."

"Of course you don't. Your father is a harsh king. A king who conquers unwilling lands and sticks to intimidation to hold his power. You are a soft prince who cannot control his country. People are worried about the start of your reign."

"They are?" A frown painted itself across his lips. "So what do I do, Miss Riza?"

"You meet in the middle. You need a firm hand and a gentle heart. Right now, you only have one." She bowed gently before him. "Thank you for your time, sir."

"I owe you much more than a meeting, don't I?" He offered, smiling warmly. "It's late. Surely you don't plan on heading back tonight."

"I can't stay." There was a familiar sadness on her face.

"Your father..."

"Passed away last fall." She avoided his eyes. "But I can't afford an inn."

He dropped his head, expression falling behind dark hair. "I'm sorry for your loss." Despite the disdain he held for the man whom he'd never met, the sadness in the woman's eyes was enough to make him regret his passing. "I wouldn't ask you to stay at an inn, Miss Riza. You always have a room here." Before she could argue, he continued, "And Lieutenant is surely tired." The furrowing of her brows pulled a smile to his face once more. She had no more complaint.

"Thank you, my lord." She said, a slight bitterness to her voice. "I'll take her to the stables. My room..."

"The same one." He answered. "Do you remember the way?"

She nodded. "I told you I wouldn't forget."

His smile widened. "Can I join you for dinner?"

"If you like." With that, she turned to leave, passing by the guards and nobles as they filed back into the room.

The prince's voice immediately hardened as he spoke to those before him, instructing them to find out who the culprits are that are stealing from his people, ordering back those designated to areas of distress. He wasted no time cleaning up the mess brought to his attention.

In the month she'd stayed before, Roy learned she preferred eating away from the others, in the privacy of her own room. He knocked gently on the door, waiting patiently for her to greet him. Her appearance upon this meeting was much cleaner than the first. When she stepped into the great hall, in men's pants and shirt, her face was clear of dirt, hair shining behind her shoulders. He wasn't surprised, however, that she'd chosen to take advantage of the facilities by way of a hot bath before dinner.

Unlike her shorter haircut before, the longer blonde locks did not dry as quickly. Wet strands soaked the shoulders of her shirt, revealing a vague view of her skin through the material. With a forced blink, Roy was able to pull his eyes to hers, holding up a tray in one hand. "Dinner."

Riza pulled thin robe over her back before turning, motioning to the cafe table by the window. "Thank you."

He set the tray down, clearing his throat before speaking. "I want to thank you for your advice earlier."

"It was a request for my village. Not advice."

"I meant about my public image and the way I rule." He explained. "My father's adviser is quick to punish harshly for crimes by the peasants and weakly to the nobles. It's unfair, and knowing I'm not the only one who sees it as the cruelty it is was reassuring...My father wasn't always so easily swayed. When my mother was alive, she was more of an adviser than any appointed official could ever hope to be."

"I've heard stories of the queen. I hate to say that I don't remember her life well. We were still part of the neighboring kingdom, and I was very young when she passed." She explained. "But I've been told she was beautiful. Even the blind could see her beauty, they said."

A warm smile crept across the male's lips. "Thank you. I'm still sorry for your father. Your mother, is she gone as well?"

She nodded. "When I was nine. My father lost himself in his work after that."

"As an apothecary." He commented. "That's what he did, right? He made medicine?"

"Yes. He was working on quicker ways to heal open wounds. If someone were cut deep enough that it would be considered a mortal wound, he wanted to find a way to stop the bleeding and to save them."

"Did he do it?"

She nodded once more, slowly. "He did. He found that by burning a wound, the bleeding would stop. It scarred terribly... but it could save a life. The best way to control the process was with cast iron. Like for branding cattle... for lack of better explanation."

"The pain..." he started, the wonder in his eyes dying at the thought. "It would be..."

"The cost of living," she interrupted, hardened brown eyes looking on him, "isn't cheap. But you do what you have to do to keep breathing."

With a sigh he nodded his head in agreement. She was right. Her levelheadedness was astounding, if not intimidating. "His research? Did he have an assistant to pass on his findings?"

"I suppose I'd be the closest thing to such a title. Though I've got no interest in medicine, I'll pass his work along to those who do."

"Why not start here? Some of the best physicians around are just a call away in case my family needs them. They teach and they heal. It might be the best place to spread the word."

"I didn't come here to take advantage of your connections."

"I'm asking you to."

She sighed heavily, submitting to the idea. "It makes the most sense." She admitted. "Thank you..."

There was a soft smile on his lips as a silence grew between them. "I've missed you."

Her eyes were avoiding his once more. "You barely know me."

"That changes nothing. I've missed you. And I enjoy having you back."

"For one night." She reminded him.

"It doesn't have to be one night. You can stay." His dark eyes focused on her, willing her to look at him, but to no avail. "Excuse my callousness, Miss Riza, but you don't have to go back... he's gone." He saw her brows furrow beneath her bangs. "You can stay here... as-"

"As your maid." She finished.

"As my adviser" At last, quiet and stunned, she looked at him, eyes wide. "No one would ever be so honest with me as you. You will put your foot down and argue with me when the rest of the world is too afraid to step out of line. You can help me become the leader the people need. You are the one I need by my side to change the world."

"You're serious." She almost whispered. "I could be using you... it's an advantageous position, you know."

"But you wouldn't be. You will keep me on the right path for this country." He leaned his chin into his hand. "Become my adviser Lead me in leading the country, Miss Riza."

"You're sure." She didn't need an answer. His expression gave it away. "Your adviser" She repeated, "I can do that." Her words came out slowly. "But my father's research comes first."

"Okay." It was a struggle to keep the prince's emotions in check. His smile, however, remained firm. "Lady Hawkeye. It will be an honor to work with you."

She chuckled lightly. "You never intended on letting me go, did you?"

"I fully intended to." He corrected. "I just never wanted to... you're the best gift I've ever been given, after all."