Ivan's POV

It had been a few months since the auction.

I haven't got to spend any time with Tanya hardly at all.

Since the auction things in the villages were going great, however all the money we did manage to raise has made the village here in Sanct Sybil greedy. They have been demanding more money from us.

*Knock Knock*

"Yes?" I said continuing to read the paperwork.

"Hey Ivan, I was just wondering if you were getting hungry?"

I looked up and Tanya was coming in with a tray of food.

"I am getting hungry now that you mention it." I said putting the paperwork down.

"I just made a simple pasta with pesto sauce."

"You made it?" I said looking at her.

"Yes, I know I usually don't make anything but pastries, so…" she said sitting the tray down on my desk. "I have been learning how to cook other things too from the head chef in the kitchen." She said smiling at me.

I just looked at her.

Her smile was enchanting.

"What?" she asked.

"Nothing, I just love to see you smiling." I said taking a bite.

"Is is ok?"

"It is really good. Here, try it." I said holding the fork out to her.

"No, I made it for you."

"Please, I want you to know that I am not just saying it because you are my wife." I said still holding the fork out. "Say Ah."

She blushed.

"Fine. Ah" she said opening her mouth.

She took the bite and she opened her eyes in surprise.

"That is really good!"

"I told you." I said taking another bite.

"How is everything going with the villages?" she asked sitting down.

"The villages in the other kingdoms are doing ok."

"But?"

"Here in Sanct Sybil…they have gotten greedy. They are demanding more money from us. Saying that what they got wasn't enough and they need more to keep their village thriving."

"What?"

"Yes. So I have been going through these proposals trying to figure out what we can do to keep the village happy and not have them start rioting again." I said looking at the proposals.

"What did the high-ups say?"

"They said that the village doesn't need any more money. That they need to be happy with what they have gotten already."

"That is just as bad as them asking for more. Has everyone forgotten that the village was needing help and we did."

"No, they just know how greedy people can be."

"Well, have the village representatives came and talk to you and the high-ups?"

"No, we are trying to set up a time for them to come back but they are not answering."

"Ok." She said getting up.

"Where are you going?" I asked looking at her.

"I'll be back." She said giving me a kiss before walking out the door.

A few hours later I got off the phone as Mikhail walked in.

"Are you done Prince Ivan?" he asked gesturing toward the plate.

"Yes, thank you. Have you seen Tanya?" I asked looking at him.

"I thought she had let you know. That is what she implied."

"Let me know what?" I asked looking up from my desk.

"She went out to the village to talk with them."

"What?!"

"I take it you did not know."

"No I did not know. I will be taking my horse." I said running out of the room and out to the stable.

I made it out to the village and I could see everyone gathered around a building.

"What is going on?" I asked.

"The Princess is talking with Mr. Egorov and Mrs. Petrova." A villager said without turning around.

"Excuse me." I said moving him out of the way.

"Prince Ivan!" he said in shock.

Everyone turned around and started whispering.

"Prince Ivan."

"What is he doing here?"

"Excuse me." I said and they all moved out of the way.

I opened the door to see the representatives and Tanya talking.

"Ivan!" Tanya said looking surprised to see me.

"What is going on?" I asked.

"Well, I knew they would not like you coming out here by yourself, and I knew you would say no if I asked you so I came on my own."

"Excuse me, may I have a minute alone with my wife." I said to the representatives as I glared at Tanya.

"Of course." They said and shut the door on their way out.

"Ivan…"

"What in the hell were you thinking coming here on your own?" I said getting angry.

"I was thinking I needed to do something to help. You have been stuck in your office for the past week trying to figure this out. You don't come to bed until late at night and leave early in the morning. We don't even eat together anymore. I was missing my husband."

"So you decided to do this because you missed me? This is what I do Tanya. I stay in my office and work because I need to take care of my kingdom no matter what."

"And it is my job to help you!"

"You have no idea what you are doing Tanya. You weren't…" I stopped.

"I wasn't what?" she asked.

"Nothing… Lets go."

"No, please finish that sentence."

"Tanya."

"I wasn't what…born royalty…that I don't know what to do because I was born a commoner?"

"That's not…"

"That may be true. But being raised a commoner does not mean I do not have the same heart and passion to help this kingdom in anyway I can Ivan!" she said walking over the door and opening and leaving.

"Shit." I said as I ran my hand through my hair and followed her.

She rode in the car on the way back and I rode my horse.

When we arrived to the castle she went to our room and closed the door.

I had no idea what to say to her.

I went to my office to give her time to cool down while I tried to figure out what to say to her.