The pain of her loss flashed across her eyes when he mentioned his sympathy. Her chest contracted in as she drew in a sharp breath and her hand tightened as if tightening around the reigns of a wild horse that needed to be controlled. Losing her parents had not just been a sadness in her life, but a deep scar that she carried inside her heart. She had never had the time to grieve their loss and thus her heart had never healed properly. Merida fought hard to hide that pain though, she protected what she had left in this world. That was why his gift of money for her siblings was much appreciated. She would not let it make her swoon but it did sway her more than she let on. That money could give them a life that she would never be able to just by working on their farm. They could get an education; she could afford medicine if they ever got sick. She had to be careful though. It was not common for people in her neighborhood to acquire large sums of money, and if she spent it carelessly her and her siblings could be killed for it.

Merida felt this was not the last time she would see the king if he truly had taken an interest in her, then he would call on her again. He would call on her again. "Well, you will know where I live if you get bored of the castle life," but she would not have the time to come out to the main square like this. As he went to kiss her hand she allowed him but she did not linger, slowly pulling her hand away from him. Just from that touch, he would be able to feel the callouses of a woman who worked hard for a living. Many peasant girls had taken the time off from their work to become softer for their time with the king but Merida still had the sweet scent of earth under her nails.

"Good Night your Highness." She said giving him a small bow before following after the guard. How had she, despite all of her efforts, attracted the attention of the king? She was nothing like his other wives, though maybe that was the point. Once beyond the castle walls, she took her hair out of its bun in order to put it back into the traditional braid that she wore. This fantasy had been interesting, but now she had real life to go back to. "Would you mind if I changed before we continued?" She asked the knight.