Lamont didn't push further on the subject of her bodyguard, knowing it would be poison to his mind. Already he wondered in what circumstance she would like to see him and why he wouldn't feel the same -- like two characters in a soap opera -- and had to remind himself that perhaps she just wanted to make sure he was safe. He wasn't close to any of his guards, but his brothers had been.

Instead, he showed her around the castle. It was massive -- half of it was buried in the mountain while the exposed wings sported windows everywhere. Though the entire structure was made of stone, the tapestries, rugs, pictures, furniture, and well-placed lighting made the castle feel more like a home. Lamont spoke briefly about many of the rooms, revealing their official history as well as some of his own personal history. It was evident from the softness in his eyes that he was quite fond of where he lived, even if he didn't like who he lived with.

The servants would try to sneer at Kiara at first, until the noticed the prince with her. Those sneers would turn into polite smiles, obligatory bows, or appropriate nods. Lamont noticed the shift in reaction to Kiara and how isolated it felt, even when they pretended to be nice to her. As the tour progressed, he found himself standing closer to her, gently touching her elbow, or offering her his arm whenever someone drew near, and he would pin these servants with an expectant stare. It was his passive-aggressive way to let these servants know that Kiara was welcome here, that this was her home, and that she should be treated with respect.

At one point, he had bashfully shown her the location to his living quarters but did not offer to let her inside. Already, his cleaning servants had been gossiping on how they would rearrange his space for the wedding night and it was something he'd rather not think about while in the company of others.

Eventually, he led Kiara outside to the stables and the private gardens -- a delicate mixture of hearty mountain foliage and delicate tropical plants. Lamont's gaze, however, kept turning to the gates that would guide them out to the public streets. He longed to show Kiara the markets, the houses, and the common citizenry immediately surrounding the castle, to allow Kiara a small glimpse of what Berinike was really like, but was not sure if it would be safe. If the servants -- those vowed to serve and protect the princess -- treated her with such disdain, how would the people react to seeing her?

"I had hoped to show you the city streets," he murmured softly, "but I don't think we're quite prepared for such a venture."