After the hour long press conference, we were finally leaving. The King and Queen walked nobly ahead of us. I watched them enviously. My knees were shaking a little so Hayes had to help. All while making it look effortless, of course. Prince Hayes had to speak for about 10 to 15 minutes of the conference. During that time the Queen held my hand, she would squeeze my hand tighter whenever I loosened my grip. I wasn't sure that was dignified for a royal to do, but I didn't push it, because I needed it. I think she knew that too.

We got back in the car and made our way back to the castle. I felt slightly drained from all the high anxiety.
"What will you do today?" Queen Rachel asked.
"See all of Baltaver." The King and Queen smiled. I was joking, mostly. I wish I could see every square inch of this country.
"Well I don't know about all that." Prince Hayes said with a laugh. I looked at him. "We will certainly try." He smiled a litte. I got the overwhelming urge to kiss him so I looked away. I'm sure my cheeks were pink. The urge to kiss him had always been there but the closer we got the more it became irresistible. It was like an itch that I couldn't scratch.
"First press conference, how was it?" King William pulled me out of my thoughts.
"I was way out of my element but it was really interesting and riveting."
"You listened?" Hayes seemed supersized.
"Of course." I smiled at him. "I like politics, they are such a foreign concept since we all very so much." The King and Queen look at me. I think the King was floored but my thoughts. Queen Rachels eyes sparkled. I really liked her. Shouting came from outside the car. I looked up to see people waving and shouting about the Royal Family. "I don't know how you do it. You just live such honorable lives and in a little snow globe no less." The King and Queen laughed.
"We are not noble, but we do live in a snow globe." The King assured me. "You learn how to live with it." He patted my knee softly. I only wanted to live in a snow globe with no one to watch or to stir up the snow.

Once back in the castle I started for my room to change.
"Autumn." Queen Rachel called to me. I turned my head to her. "Come." She nodded for me to follow her. I quickly turned on my heals to follow her. "I have a perfect outfit." We wondered through the castle to another room. It seems like a 'junk drawer' room. There were boxes and old furniture crammed in here. It looked like a secret. The Queen opened a standing dresser and pulled out some clothes. She handed me long, black , button up pants with a cream color sweater. I looked up at her.
"I thought Queens don't wear pants." She almost giggled.
"We don't. I used to wear those before I met the King." I smiled softly and hugged the clothing tight to me.

The outfit fit pretty good and was surprisingly comfortable. Queen Rachel and I  seemed to be more alike than I thought. I walked out. She smiled softly.
"Perfect." Her voice sounded like a hug I didn't know I needed. I bite my low lip trying not to grin from ear to ear. "To answer your question from earlier, it's a lot to get used to." I tilted my head. "Living in a snow globe." I nodded slowly. "It can be frustrating and challenging but remember, snow globes have castles to hide in."
"Is that why Prince William is at home a lot?" She laughed.
"A little. He's always been more introverted but the infestation of young ladies is what makes him hide." I laughed remembering the day we met.
"I can't imagine."
"William goes out a lot more than people think, he just does it undercover." I played with the knit on the sweater sleeve.
"We haven't had a problem going out now." She smiled softly.
"Bens very good about that." I slowly stepped forward and hugged the Queen again. This time she didn't protest or inform me that it's improper. Queen Rachel just hugged me back.

Ben took us the the park at the edge of Baltaver. There were big trees and small snow banks all over. In the middle there was a pond that froze over. It was too small to skate on.
"I can see why your mom loves it here." I said looking around.
"My mum." Hayes said softly. I looked at him. "My apologies, I'm used to everyone calling her Queen Rachel or your majesty. I can't remember the last time I talked about her like she was just that, my mother." We stared at each other. It always surprised me how much he didn't lead a normal life. His life was one giant formality. That made me wonder where his youth was lived.
"When was the last time you were at this park?" Intense though washed over his face.
"Oh I don't know, I was probably a young child." On an impulse I bent down and grabbed a handful of snow and threw it at him. He looked at me appalled. I laughed.
"Have a snow ball fight with me." He bent down and picked up a handful of snow and started to pack it into a nice ball. I picked up another handful and threw it at him. It didn't need to be packed, I just wanted to have fun. "Just throw it!" I started to trot away from him in the snow. He lightly threw it at me. It landed at my feet with a thump. I looked at him. "This is pathetic William. I mean really." I picked up the still packed ball and threw it back. It hit him and burst around him. It was like it hit a button because on impact Hayes started to laugh. He repeated his packing steps faster and actually threw it at me. That made me laugh.

We threw snow balls back and forth for about a half an hour until we were out of breath and slightly freezing. We got back into the limo with Ben. I took my jacket off and laid it out on the floor in hopes it would dry a little from the park to when we got to the chocolate factory. Hayes just watched me perplexed but didn't ask.

The fudge shop looked like real life Charlie and the chocolate factory. Even the room smelled of chocolate. I looked over my shoulder. Prince Hayes was getting swarmed with girls. My hand covered my lips trying to hide my smile. His eyes met mine, a little panicked but he smiled anyways. Ben looked exhausted at the edge of the crowd of girls. There was no way he was going to be able to peel them off of Hayes. I looked around for something, anything to help! A large gold bell hung on the wall. I grabbed the string and rang as hard as I could. The loud rings filled the store. Everyone stopped to look at me. My palms instantly started to sweat.
"We all want to be with Prince William, am I right?" I was looking at the group that had engulfed Hayes. They all nodded in agreement. "So let's play for it." Hayes eyes grew wide. "Who ever knows Prince William the best, wins a dinner with him." Ben and Hayes both looked at me like I had just auctioned off my soul.
"But who's going to ask the questions?" A girl asked. I pointed to Ben.
"His assistant." We all looked at Ben. His eyes were locked on me. I cringed at call him Hayes assistant. Finally I think he put the piece together.
"Well alright." I joined the group of girls that had unwound themselves from Prince Hayes. "What's my name?" The girls all shouted out random names.
"Ben." I was the last one to guess. He smiled at me. This was going to be easy. "Next question."

After a dozen questions the game was over. I got 11 out of 12. I thought Hayes was named after his father, but I was wrong. He's not a junior, he's just also a William Winterhaven. He was actually named after his mother's father. The girls all took their pictures and got autographs from Prince Hayes before they left.
"Good thinking Miss Leon." Ben nodded to me. Hayes brushed my arm with his. I felt sparks.
"Someone had to save you." He laughed.
"I thought the knights were supposed to save the Princesses."
"Well this time the Prince was saved and by a mir dancer." Ben and Hayes laughed. My attention turned back to the chocolate that filled the store.
"Sir, what are we getting?" I eavesdropped on their conversation.
"Whatever she wants, she can have." I felt my face roar pink. Maybe I wasn't the only one feeling the sparks. 

Montanelli's was a big Italian restaurant. The walls were a wine red with black accents. Black carpet, black curtains, black wall decore. The table cloths were cream with silver centerpieces. This restaurant was gorgeous. I think even the silverware was more expensive than I was. The hostess quickly lead us to a dark room in the back of the restaurant.

We sat down in the large table. I'm sure it was supposed to hold more of a party but it was just Prince William and I.
"Your waiter will be with you shortly." The hostess ducked out of the room. I stared at the door for a moment. Hayes cleared his throat. My attention turned back to him.
"Why aren't we seated out there with everyone else? This room seems so dim." I tired not to frown. Prince Hayes smiled.
"The paparazzi will cover the Newspaper with you and I." His eyes were soft as he looked at me. "Especially at dinner."
"Well then maybe I'll leave a lasting impression on Baltaver as it's left one on me." Hayes husked a laugh. "And maybe you should have thought about that before you took me to that press conference this morning." His eyes danced around my face as he smiled softly. I licked my lips slowly. Is this where I get to kiss the Prince?
"Hello!" The man entering the room grabbed our attention. "Prince William!" The waiter bowed. "So nice to meet you, your royal highness. As well as you," he studied me. I'm sure I looked as out of place as I felt. My cheeks were burning with humiliation.
"Miss Leon." Hayes informed him.
"Miss Leon." The waiter smiled. I gave a soft smile back. "What can I start you off with?"
"Raspberry tea, please." Hayes flipped the menu over in his hands.
"I'll just have a water." The waiter looked up at me.
"You're American." He recoiled a little. I nodded slowly. "Are you related to the president?"
"No?" Prince Hayes smiled trying not to laugh. The waiters cheeks turned red.
"Okay, well I will get that order in for you." He rushed out of the room. Prince Hayes and I look at each other.
"I'm royalty and presidencial. Wow." Hayes laughed.
"You are neither of those things, yet." I smiled at him before my eyes dropped down to the menu. Yet.

We sat and ate for awhile. We mostly joked and told stories. Prince Hayes was so easy to talk to I could see the King he would become.
"You're going to make a very fine King someday." I said softly. A relieved smile waved over him.
"I always hoped that but that's not what I'm  promised to be." I studied his face. "What?"
"You doubt yourself too much Prince William. I don't even live here and I can't wait for you to be King." He light heartedly laughed.
"I have a lot to learn."
"We all have a lot to learn, that's one of the joys of life. There are three L's; learn, love, and live."
"I'm going to use that in my next press conference." I shrugged my shoulders.
"As long as I get credit."
"Deal."

Loud whispers and clicking came from outside the door.
"What's that sound?" We both leaned closer to the door.
"You're bloody joking." Hayes hissed. I looked back at him. "It's the paparazzi."
"So what do we do?" He looked around the room. He started running his fingers along the wall at about hip height. I watched him from the door. "Seriously Hayes, what are we going to do?" I heard a metallic click and he abruptly stopped. He fiddled around under a curtain. A door opened where he stood.
"Care to escape?" I smiled brightly and nodded. Hayes through a wad of cash on the table and away we ran.

He grabbed my hand and pulled my through the narrow hallways with him. We came out in the middle of a tucked away road.
"Now where?" He didn't say anything just kept leading me. I had a feeling this wasn't his first escape from somewhere. We walked to the right until we saw the limo a few yards back. Paparazzi was pouring out the front door and onto the sidewalk. I could see Ben anxiously tapping his fingers on the steering wheel. I dropped Hayes hand. "I got this." I whispered before I entered on to the sidewalk. Bens eyes locked on me then flicked to where I just came from. I moved over out of the way. Ben slowly inches the limo towards us. Once Ben was close enough Hayes jumped in the car next to me. I busted out laughing as we pulled away. Paparazzi tried to follow but Ben was too fast.

I watched Baltaver pass by my window. The sun had completely set so it was just lights at this point. We'd been driving for about 10 minutes before Ben spoke.
"Prince William, where would you like to go now?" I didn't take my eyes off of what was passing by outside. Hayes sighed.
"Nowhere really." I leaned on Hayes. He just smiled softly at me before he looked out the window too.
"Hey Ben?" His eyes flickered to me in the rear view mirror. "What's your favorite place of Baltaver?" He thought for a moment.
"I'll show you." I nodded. I wasn't big on surprises but that's all Baltaver seemed to be.

We drove down some back roads to a little camp site. Most of the trees were young but this giant tree a few feet in. I felt drawn to it. It was beautiful and very old. I'd get a few decades or so. I studied the giant tree. A heart was carved into the side with two sets of intals. BT and EL. I ran my finger over it.
"Ben, whats your last name?" I asked without turning my attention away from the tree.
"Timmons." Ben walked next to me and stared at the heart. "Her name was Eliza Linkon." He started. Hayes joined us on my other side. "We met in high school. We instantly clicked. It was like magic. She was beautiful, smart, funny and the craziest thing about her, was how crazy she was about me." I sucked in breath. My gut was telling me this was not a happy story. "We did everything together. All our firsts were with each other. I loved her so much. On graduation day I proposed, she said yes. I couldn't wait to be apart of her life and family forever." Ben paused. The air hung heavy around us. "When we were 19 she was murdered. Gone forever; taken from us." Hatred and sadness roared in his words. "Her parents got divorced and both moved out of Baltaver. I had no family at all. They were supposed to be my family." My heart shattered in my chest from Ben.
"I am so sorry Ben." Was all I could manage and just barely a whisper. His shoulders sank.
"Thank you." All of us were silent for a long time just staring at the carved heart. History, forever stuck.
"Would you tell us about her?" I finally asked.
"She was perfect." I could hear the smile in his voice. That made the pieces of my heart feel warm. "She had long, strawberry blond hair, some freckles on her nose. Warm brown with such long eyelashes." He laughed a little. "She used to tickle my cheek with her lashes because it made me squirm." I looked at Ben. As he talked about Eliza, he glowed. The bliss from him was almost palpable. "I've never loved anyone else." Ben looked at me. I drew in a deep breath and tried to smile. We both looked back to the tree. "We would come here all the time. She'd talk about having our wedding here. After she passed, I could never leave Baltaver. That's the only place she was." He started choking on tears. I swallowed hard trying not to become a puddle. Hayes arm brushed mine. I loosely linked my arm with his.
"She sounds wonderful."
"Oh she was." We were silent. There was so many condolences I wanted to give but I was decades too late. "You would have loved her." He laughed a little. "She would have adored you." Then he looked at me, almost in a way Hayes sometimes does. "You remind me of her."
"Well I take that as the highest of compliment." He smiled as tears brimmed his eyes.
"Thank you." Ben whispered. I leaned into his arm and rested my head on his shoulder. We looked at a small piece of Bens past that was the most important thing for him.