Thank you

Miss Mary was kind and did not point out how rather obvious it was that Milo was no simple lord. Multiple times he misspoke, almost revealing his secret identity. He doubted that Miss Mary realised exactly who he was however. Most people tended to tense when they realised he would one day rule the kingdom. They became nervous and quiet. But Miss Mary was calm and relaxed as she spoke of the history of the ruins they lived in. It hurt Milo to see that wherever he turned, there were more collapsed walls, leaking roof or pests running across their path. If his father had seen, he would have never let Milo even enter the building. It was no place for a king, he would have said. But where his father would have seen misery, Milo saw hope and opportunities.

By the end of the tour when they had returned to where Evie was still telling the children some story, Milo turned to the older woman with a grave expression on his face.
“Miss Mary, I will not stand for this. You and the children should not be living in such… conditions.” He sighed as he looked around again. He could tell that Miss Mary was going to protest, clearly offended by his words, but he interrupted her quickly.

“I shall be your patron.” He then announced, a surprised look coming across the woman’s face. It had not been what she had expected him to say. “I shall be giving the establishment some money each month, and I will personally visit to ensure improvements are being made.” He continued and Miss Mary put a hand to her mouth, shock clear in her eyes.

“I am sure the prince will lend me some of the castle builders to refurbish this place and make it liveable again.” He continued and Miss Mary sank to her knees in front of the prince, Milo’s hands grasping hers as she went down in n attempt to catch her.

“Thank you, my lord! Oh, thank you” She gasped and Milo smiled a little bit. This was simply a step in the right direction. A tiny gesture in comparison to what he wanted to do for his people once he became king.

Thoughts raced through her head as Andy nearly ran outside. The rain hitting her face when she turned it up towards the sky. She had always had an affinity for storms. She could not explain why, but the thunder and rain made her calm. They cooled her as though she was on fire.

She continued towards the stables in the same fast pace she had previously been walking, determined to make it home before the worst of the storm would hit.

“No. I must get home and I will not wait for a stupid carriage. It’s just rain for crying out loud!” She said loudly to make her voice heard over the rain which was starting to come in bigger drops of water and in faster procession.

“Now make haste! Or do you want me to be caught in the middle fo a bloody storm?!” She could see how uncertain the servant was, although he seemed to refuse to meet her eyes. She must convince him so that she could make it home. To tell her father of what had happened, before all was doomed and it was too late.