Will she see him tonight?

He wanted to. In fact, in the last minute, not just once did he stop himself from turning on his heels to walk away from the white-coated professionals and the smell of antiseptic. It was the end goal, wasn’t it – to make Sophia Keller realize that she made a mistake, make her understand that she could not beat the crown prince at his own game? That was the very reason why he asked his betrothed to make a surprise appearance despite the doctor’s advise that she should rest for the day. Judging by the way the actress had reacted, she felt threatened and was poised to protect her territory. It was probably how she thought Luke would respond to her pronouncement that while she loved him, she could not bear to be a royal’s mistress. Maybe she wanted him to say that he would do everything to expedite the expiration of the farmer. Instead, pig-headed as the prince was, he paraded the said farmer to a formal event as if to tell the actress that she had no business changing the rules of the game and that he did not negotiate with terrorists.

Nevertheless, it was entirely false to assume that Luke had given up all hopes that his relationship with Sophia would lead to a happily ever after. It was in fact this hope, despite the responsibility to follow tradition, that made him want to turn around and leave that very building even when his selfish, though quite brilliant, idea endangered the life of an innocent human being.

He remembered being in that same place when he was a boy. Callista was just a baby then. It was the same set of automatic smoked glass doors that separated him from the man who, up to that moment, he thought was invincible. He remembered sitting alone on one of the benches lining the walls, praying to whoever would hear his desperate pleas, bargaining even with his life, for one more day with his father.

The doctor who came out of those doors years ago wore a rehearsed expression of sympathy as he shook his head and broke the news to the young prince who could barely see through his tears. Luke was afraid that history would repeat itself that night.

“You always tell me to not worry about things that are out of my hands,” Callista consoled after noticing how far away her brother’s stare was. She leaned her cheek against Luke’s slightly slumped shoulder then patted his knee. “Everything will turn out okay. The doctors will say that she is alright.”

She may not be alright. Cally was spared from the grief of losing a father, only because she was too young to remember the funny faces, strong arms, and warm kisses of the man. Had it been anybody else who tried to reassure him with those kind words, he would have retorted with a bitter remark. Then again, it was his sister, therefore Luke bit his tongue and patted her cheek playfully in response. “Why are you here, Cally?”

The princess shrugged. “Mum panicked. Even Nico was escorted back to the castle against his will. Philip, on the other hand, was already with mother when the news reached her. I assume that she sent for you as well.” It wasn’t a surprise that the queen acted that way. There was a lot of negative things that could be said about Queen Camilla, but it was universally accepted that she loved her children fiercely. “How about you? Wouldn’t you rather be partying with those boring old businessmen?”

Luke opened his mouth to comment about the ‘boring old businessmen’ statement when a female doctor emerged from the door. The prince instantly recognized her as Elena Villani. She was not in one of those protective hazmat suits, which he thought to mean that Rhiane’s condition was not contagious. Still, it was not an indication that everything was alright. He came prepared for the worst. Much as he wouldn’t want to admit it, the farmer’s well-being had an effect on his and his mother’s popularity as leaders. If Rhiane died, or would sustain a permanent physical impairment, then others might come to interpret it as weakness of the ruling house.

The siblings got to their feet and met the doctor, but it was only after her second sentence did Luke released the breath he didn’t notice that he was holding in his chest. Callista sighed audibly. Both listened attentively as the older woman filled them in on the findings about the substance that nearly killed the princess elect in addition to her health status.

“I do have questions, but it can wait. There is a team looking into this incident and I am sure that they will be in touch with you on the identity and composition of the poison soon.”

“Uhh… What he means to say is thank you for taking care of Rhiane, Dr. Villani,” Cally chimed in sweetly. Her brother glanced at her sideways, but failed to make a comment. “He is truly worried. We both are, but now that my future sister’s condition is stable, we would like to see her.”

Elena smiled. The princess’ cheerful energy was contagious, but she had to tell the bad news. “You may see her, but be mindful that the patient needs as much rest as she can get. Therefore, I strongly advise to a one-visitor policy. Besides, Mr. Lavanchy is already in the room with her.”

“Tobias?” There was a time when Luke was glad that there was a Tobias Lavanchy who would fill in his shoes and escort Rhiane when he was busy doing something more productive than babysitting an adult farmer. Then again, it was becoming more and more apparent to him as the hours ticked by, that this man was going the extra mile for his commoner. Nobody did that anymore, not without ulterior motive anyway.

“Yes, your highness. Mr. Lavanchy has been very helpful. The princess elect seems to trust him and listens to him more than she listens to us.”

But Luke was already on his way to the door even as Elena stepped aside while she finished her sentence. Much as she would like to personally see that Rhiane was well, the princess was left with no choice but to hang back and let her brother have his time with his future wife. “You didn’t even bring her flowers with a note that says, ‘get well soon’,” she called after her brother, who ignored it.

Behind the frosted door, he was met by a nurse that led him to where the princess elect was recovering. Tobias was indeed with her. It was is job, but Tobias was a man while Rhiane was an undeniably beautiful woman even for a person who came face to face with death. He nodded once to his second cousin.

“How are you feeling?” An IV stabbed the vein at the back of her left hand. It was connected to a solution above her head that was meant to give her energy as she recovers. He dragged a chair to the side of her bed. “It looks to me that being princess had only since brought you bad luck. First the ankle, then this.” His attempt to engage her in a light conversation still sounded morbid. It reflected the thoughts that had been running in his head since he saw her on the bathroom floor. “Your doctor implied that had it been anybody else, she could have already died at the amount of poison you ingested. From now on, we will be taking extra measures to ensure that there will be no repeat of this event.”

Luke stationed himself at her bedside, propping his arm on the mattress, but careful not to touch her. He felt as though she would break, or maybe his touch would hurt her. “She also said that you are not happy to be here, but I’m happy to be able to speak to you again regardless of where we are at.” There was that smile that was a product of relief, joy, and a bit of sadness. He paused, considering the emotions which he convinced himself to be just chemical reactions in his brain. “I will stay with you tonight, but we both stay here where the doctors can monitor you.”

Truthfully Tobias was only attempting to form a platonic relationship with Rhiane Black, future wife of their future king, although given their respective genders it might appear to some onlookers he had romantic inclinations. By his own admission he was stoic with everyone else in the castle. Multiple female staff members had confessed crushes for him or more subtly flirted with him. Each and every time he had declined their advances with distant stoicism. He had become infamous for not only showing absolutely no interest in dating and marriage, but being too professionally detached for even friendships, and having grown apart from Luke when most would have sacrificed everything for the opportunities he had to try to reconnect with the heir to the throne. A pervasive rumor was that the mysterious and handsome man was an automaton rather than a flesh and blood human being. Despite the precedence he had set for being a solitary being, it was undeniable he was more attentive to the princess elect.

No one was suspicious of his intentions quite yet. Though his conduct was a bit odd, he did not initiate physical contact with Rhiane, his body language remained neutral, he was not flirting, he was not sending her gifts, they only spent time together as a result of his assignment, and his conduct was impeccably considerate while not being overly so. The former farmer herself did not show any concern. If anything, she was completely oblivious to the possibility that anyone might find her attractive now that she was the fiancee of the crown prince. Nobility barely tolerated her presence, loyalists were reverent of her position, and palace servants viewed her as firmly 'off limits' no matter how much they might like her. Everyone expect the royal to have an affair outside of the breeding spouse, though acceptance of this arrangement varied along political and economic lines, but whether the commoner would be permitted to have their own affair companion was more dubious. Ultimately Queen Camilla and Prince Luke would make this determination. At the very least it would be a few years before it might be secretly endorsed.

As Luke entered the room Tobias's face slipped for the briefest moment. His mask of indifference was marred by his lips spreading into an expression of displeasure. To achieve his goal of making Rhiane deflect he had to wedge himself into the opening provided by his cousin's contempt. Only if she truly believed she had no allies and was surrounded by people who did not value her, did not appreciate her, and who would disparage her constantly would she be inclined to consider betraying the monarchy. She needed to see everyone within these walls as her enemy and the coup as a ray of shining hope for the people she loved so dearly. Having Luke waltz into the room like a veritable Prince Charming undermined his efforts. His relative was no as dependably callous as anticipated.

Rhiane was surprised but elated. She knew the truth of his feelings about the engagement, and that Sophia was his real love, and so she had expected him to stay at the business event until its conclusion. Once it was over she thought he'd enjoy the peace and quiet of his room alone without worrying about someone like herself. He had to know she was being attended by the best doctor and specialist money could buy. Her affliction gave him a temporary freedom she'd thought he would jump to take advantage of given the implants were so limiting. That he could have been on a date, or entertaining a lady in his private quarters, or flying off to his island alone seemed to her to be a guarantee he'd not make an appearance to see the woman that frequently aggravated him. And yet here he was.

"It's not all bad," the princess elect said with an amiable smile. Tobias had composed himself and she ignorant of his response to the other man's presence as she beamed at Luke. "I got to go on my first trip, had a morning of lounging around watching movies for the first time in my life, gorged myself on two different deserts, and even got to see his royal highness in a uniform," she countered. Behind her the bodyguard sighed softly at how lightly she took her own health.

"Really, I'm fine now. I don't even really remember much after I left the table," she said honestly. The poison had made her so acutely ill was now a blur of sensations. It was not unusual for trauma to make memories murky; this was one of the body's many methods of self-preservation. Elena Villani had told her it was for the best that she had been sheltered from vividly feeling the burning of her throat and mouth.

"Rhiane has a bruise on her shoulder from falling on the floor," Tobias interjected as it became apparent that his charge was going to glaze over her ailments and feign they didn't exist. Her bravado was equal amounts endearing and frustrating. "They have also put her on a restricted diet of soft foods for the rest of the evening."

"Yes, but even Dr. Gulsvig approved me having pudding or bread pudding for dinner just to get me to eat," she pointed out with no small amount of glee. There was saying that food was the way to a man's heart, but in this particular scenario it was also the way to a woman's, one in particular. Still, the levity which she discussed her mortality suggested she was more terrified than she was willing to admit or she genuinely was ambivalent.

"Tobias, I'd like to speak with Luke alone if you don't mind," she requested with a dazzling smile. The royal guard nodded in obedience but was not enthused. He stood and nodded to them both politely before departing the room. Rhiane had every right to make the request but it left a bitter taste in his mouth. Silently he hoped the eldest son of the queen would put his foot in his mouth in his absence.

"Is Queen Camilla turning the implants back on?" Rhiane asked once she was certain that Tobias was gone. Reflexively she felt for the patch of skin under which the nanotechnology was buried. "I'm glad you're here but... I'm sure you..." she faltered with uncertainty. The concept of anyone wanting to stay by her side when she had nothing to offer, when she was in a place she herself didn't care for, with none of the comfort they might otherwise enjoy was foreign. It had always been her tending to her brother and father. It had always been her falling on her proverbial sword, sacrificing time, energy, and desires. Never had she expected reciprocation and now when it came in the form of an arrogant prince the silver-tongued brunette couldn't articulate her thoughts.

"Well, you can't blame me for not liking being in the medical tower," she finally stated once she found her voice again. "Or are you planning to redecorate your bedroom to look like this? My bed back home was much worse, and it's cleaner here than at home, but it smells like a hospital and there's a curious nurse or assistant everywhere I turn. Some people have nightmares about this thing," she concluded before taking a small menu in hand and sighing heavily with purposeful exaggeration. "But if you absolutely refuse to bust me out of this joint I'll order enough things that our image consultant will have a heart attack about my caloric intake and then we're have more company."

She didn’t remember much, but he did. Tobias probably did too. Evolab’s COO, Alec Wescott, would most likely have restless nights after the incident until the culprit was pinpointed. The young executive might have thought that the attendance of the princess elect was equivalent to opportunity knocking at his doorstep. He was attentive enough to usher it in, was confident enough to offer how his organization could turn the vision into reality, but what he failed to foresee was the risk that such an unfortunate episode could happen when there were important people involved. The blame could be passed on to the event and its organizers and one or more of his people could be charged with frustrated murder, treason, among other criminal offenses, which would be less ideal for the brand.

Luke avoided any updates on the matter, though, as it was making him more anxious. Last he heard was that, as instructed, the person who fetched the leftover food and wine was identified placed under surveillance. Samples of the leftovers were also retrieved as evidence and samples for lab analysts to use. In good faith, Evolab volunteered the use of their laboratories, but Luke had long been an unbeliever of good faith. Every act of kindness, no matter how genuine it may seem, was tainted with self-serving purpose that was either driven by greed or self-preservation. To protect the confidentiality of the matter, everything was done by palace staff under the supervision of Elena Villani.

Although there had already been rumors circulating about the sudden disappearance of the former farmer, which was a nightmare for the PR staff and Luce Viscomi, they had prepared a statement to dispel the worries of the general public. The queen clearly had no intentions of allowing the incident to be broadcast for the same reason that Luke explained to the COO earlier – it was a sign of weakness. Besides, it could be interpreted that the crown was unwilling to spend for the immunization of the future mother of her heir, that the princess elect was not treated as an equal of the royals.

When Rhiane asked Tobias to leave the room, he thought that she might truly be feeling well enough to be able to smile like she did. But then again, it might be just the pain killer doing its job. In the short period that he had known her, she had always placed the least priority on her health. Pushing through with the interview after the mild hypothermia the night before and picking stilettos when she had a sore ankle were two of the evidences he could think of that proved his observation. The happy face and devil-may-care disposition might be her way to cover for what she really felt inside. Was she afraid? Was she in pain? Did she pin the blame on him?

Regardless, he undid the buttons of his uniform jacket then shrugged it off completely revealing a button-up white long-sleeved shirt underneath. He also undid the top two buttons of the shirt and proceeded to roll-up the sleeves to his elbows. It was a gesture that said that he was staying, as was promised. It perhaps it answered Sophia’s question.

“I did not want to risk it, in case she did.” The truth was that he had forgotten about the implants. What brought him to the Medical Tower was the pressing sense of responsibility for what happened to the farmer. It was his last-minute request that led her from the safety of his quarters and into the claws of death. There was no need for her to be in that event. It was his selfish plan to make Sophia jealous that had unknowingly endangered Rhiane. If she died because of it, Luke would not be able to live with himself not because the farmer had grown an attachment to the prince, but because he would then be no different from the queen. “I will be staying with you tonight implant or no implant, because you would not be in this situation if not for me. I should have been more careful.” The man paused as he detached his communication device from his wrist so that he could use it as a flat mobile device. “Unless you do not want my presence, then I shall ask for Tobias, your family, or whoever you wish.” His head was bent on the device, typing as he spoke gently to Rhiane.

'Not tonight, love,' he typed as a response. 'There is something I need to address.'

“My bedroom is fine as it is,” Luke responded when asked about its decorations, turning his attention back to her. “I honestly do not like the smell of the hospital as well – bad memories. Everybody must have at least one bad memory that happened in a hospital. The first vaccination, the first blood sample, the first major surgery, the first time a loved one passed, the second, the third. Makes me wonder if doctors are secretly masochists. I hear that they practice vaccination and taking blood samples from each other.” He paused as he watched her browse the menu of the food that she was allowed to eat for dinner. It was doubtful that the staff would allow her to consume more than what was prescribed by her doctors. She was very likely on a strict diet not because of her figure, but to prevent aggravating her internal systems.

Amused of what she would like to have for dinner, he chose not to be the voice of reason and waited for her to make a list. “Your appetite will be the death of you,” Luke remarked joking, but he took a mental note of all her demands, even the level of customization she wanted for her food, then walked to the sliding glass door and poked his head to the hallway. A nurse was immediately there to do his bidding. He recited the patient’s requests as the nurse, who was clearly fighting to maintain a straight face and not insult the future queen, jotted it down on her tablet without any question. Apparently, she too did not have the heart to tell Rhiane that her orders would not all be fulfilled. The prince and the nurse both left it to the medical nutritionist to break the news to the princess elect.

Having been done with the chore, Luke turned on his heels. The door automatically slid close after sensing him walk away from it. “Say, if I happen to realize that I want to be a doctor, will you be willing to be my practice patient?” The cheeky grin on his face would have told her that he was talking about the needle-stabbing and all that.

In his amusement of her mind’s ability to still want food after nearly dying because of said substance, the prince had left the device on her bed, where it buzzed as it received a message. 'Is her condition bad? Is she dead?' was what Sophia’s message said. Cleaning up the mess that was expected to blow up following the hypothetical passing of his fiancée could be a valid reason for him not to be able to leave the castle.

The princess elect watched her fiance remove his coat, unbutton the neck of his shirt, and roll up his sleeves with keen interest. She was beginning to suspect when he set himself to a course of action he was just as stubborn as she was if not more so. He did not even breathe a word of the possibility he'd advocate on her behalf to leave the medical tower. Yesterday she would have assumed that his motivations would be firmly planted in wanting time to himself, without her invasion of his personal quarters, yet his actions spoke to a sincere desire to stay at her bedside. Rhiane prided herself on being silver-tongued and yet she could not so much as conceive as an avenue of appeal that might persuade him. He was resolute she should stay and that she should have company in addition which was even more baffling. Luke was being caring, considerate, and mindful of her feelings rather than trampling on them and proclaiming the superiority of his own.

She found it incredibly dubious that there was any 'risk' of the implants being turned on. The queen would at least give her own son a warning, if for no other reason to make certain he realized his boundaries, and she wouldn't jeopardize either of their health lightly- his because he was an heir to her throne, hers because she had allegedly just narrowly escaped death. Following her own logic that meant his second reason was the one with more credulity. Certainly she had been frustrated when she was sitting alone at the function with no one except Tobias willing to entertain her, when Alec presumed when she was naive, when Sophia tried to mark her territory, when she was a briefly forgotten accessory to his ensemble. Rhiane knew hardly anyone considered her a person. Mentally she was struggling to accept a world where she would never be accepted or loved more than symbolically. It was her choice that had led her down this path, however, and she took responsibility for all its consequences.

"Just so you know I don't blame you for any of this," she said with a gesture of the hand still pinched by a needle. She pursed her lips and sighed at the tube of intravenous supplements that she still personally believed were unnecessary. "There's no need to feel guilty just because you underestimated how hungry I was. And besides, even if we could have been more careful, it didn't really benefit Evolab to have this sort of scandal did it? If it made it to broadcast I was in the company of the rich and famous that doesn't do them any favors either, does it? They wouldn't want suspicion falling on them from the public or the crown. It's just... something that happened that was unanticipated." Rhiane didn't think Luke necessarily wanted comforting but she felt worse knowing he felt any burden at all. It was better that she suffer alone than she spread the anguish all around her. Considering she had no choice about dealing with the aftereffects of the poison, she was relegated to being the one to have pain, and one was enough. Two people in discomfort was too many.

"Dad and Gerald wouldn't come," shrugged as if it didn't bother her though it was plain it did. No one would sacrifice as much as she had and not be tortured by the people they were doing it for refusing to speak with them. "Maybe if I was actually dying they would, but since I'm 'recovering nicely'... you'll be lucky if they attend the funeral with all expenses paid," she remarked wryly as if it was a joke. It was not. Unless Queen Camilla was going to force a visit there would be no contact reestablished for years to come given the hardheads in the Black family.

"I don't really have anyone to call," she admitted pretending to be absorbed in her menu. Her fingers curled slightly on the laminated parchment and she willed herself not to cry. Dr. Villani had told her that all the drugs she had been administered in the last several hours would probably have an effect on her self-control and inhibitions. Rhiane bit the inside of her cheek but she could still feel tears filling the edges of her eyes. In a last ditch effort to regain her composure she cleared her throat. "So unless you want to ask for Tobias or your sister to switch with you I suppose you're stuck with me. Although I think there might be rumors if Tobias spends the night in here," she mused although it was clear from her tone that nothing would actually transpire. The poor bodyguard had not even made it to the friend zone successfully yet.

"All right, let's order dinner," she declared and then proceeded to rattle off every dessert option. The former farmer figured she'd never have another opportunity to be coddled and indulged as she was now. Luke wasn't actually enamored with her and so he wouldn't be sneaking her sweets on the regular, the nutritionist was being paid by people she was fairly certain wanted her ribs showing, and none of the staff would put their career on the line for her anytime soon if ever. It was literally impossible for her to eat every dessert but she paid logistics no mind whatsoever... nor did she honor the intentions of the menu to provide options for a singular sugary option. Rhiane enjoyed spicy and salty entrees as well but they had been removed from consideration by the medical staff; the former would cause indigestion and both would cause irritation to her internal wounds.

"If you decide to be a doctor you're on your own!" She exclaimed emphatically though she did realize he was teasing her. "Didn't you say the profession was full of masochists? I have a few here you can practice on to avenge me," she whispered conspiratorially before breaking into a grin and falling back onto her pillows.

"Did you eat dinner after I left? I promise not to swipe anything off your plate if you want a menu that hasn't been cut down to five percent of the options available. If you don't want to work we can also watch one of those movies you mentioned about your fellow lizard people," she jested lightly although the offer was genuine. She was the patient but she was doing everything possible to cater to his comfort so that he didn't regret keeping her company or found himself miserable. Rhiane and Luke were allies more than friends but she cared about him in her own bizarre way.

Luke laughed out loud at her rather quick denial of his hypothetical proposal. “What happened to ‘I will always try to do what I truly believe is in your best interest’?” He was referring to something she said when they were having an argument the day before, though it was not something he really expected from her. It was just that he was not as insensitive and apathetic as the media sometimes painted him. When she announced that her family would not come see her, that there was nobody that she would request to be at her bedside, Luke heard the pain in her voice and saw the tears threatening to spill from those green eyes. He kept his mouth shut and avoided prodding emotional territory, especially because he was not equipped to deal with a crying princess.

Therefore, he tried to lighten the mood by teasing her and apparently it worked. Rhiane denied him, yet again, but it worked. Her face lit up as she grinned while imagining the names and faces of the people whose veins she would volunteer as her betrothed’s target practice. The sadness in her eyes retreated, behind the wall of defense she built around herself. Unknown to the princess elect, the person standing in front of her was no stranger to hiding loneliness behind a confident smile. The prince was firm on his belief that a royal and a peasant had nothing in common, but the truth was he and she were more alike than they would both admit. It was not the time to explore those similarities though.

Feeling that he had successfully evaded the task of calming down a potential breakdown, his royal highness made his way back to his seat. The Airforce uniform jacket hang at the back of the chair. “No. Of course not. I would not have eaten anything from Evolab after what I saw happened to you.” He may have undergone procedures as precaution to such assassination attempts, but the thought of something bad in his food was enough to suppress his appetite. Besides, he was too angry to think of anything else other than who was behind the attempt and how best to penalize the responsible party.

Noticing the soft light gazing the edges of his communication band, Luke picked it up and read the message. It was that moment when the door silently slid open again.

“Rhiane, my dear, I trust that you are feeling better.” The queen’s voice was as sweet as the scent she wore when she glided into the room followed by her daughter, who was smiling sheepishly.

The heir stiffened halfway through the message he was typing back at the sound of his mother’s voice. He turned the display off and put the device in his back pocket. Although it was not enough to hide the entirety of the device, at least there was no chance that the queen would catch a glimpse of the messages. “What are you doing here?” He asked, honestly baffled by the sudden appearance of the mother-daughter tandem.

“Visiting the sick, what else?” Unlike her older brother who rushed into the sick room empty-handed, Callista carried a basket of fresh fruits. It was not something she personally picked for the princess elect, but was most likely a result of a request to the royal kitchen. She set her gift down on Rhiane’s bedside table. The princess paused beside her future sister-in-law, who was resting against the pillow, then gently threw herself at the older woman with a well-meant hug. “I hope you get well soon, Rhiane.” The hug was not intended to last longer than necessary. Cally pulled herself away before it got awkward, then smiled at the patient. “I hope you like fruits, because I brought a lot for you.” She turned to her brother then continued, “Luke may steal some of it, because he eats a lot, but don’t let him, okay?”
“I am just making sure that our princess elect is recovering well,” the queen reassured. “I hear from Isaac that her system is responding well to the anti-toxins and that there is no longer any threat to her life. I wanted to see for myself that the reports are true.” When she smiled, it was as if an older version of the princess’ face was smiling at Rhiane. “Otherwise, it will be unfortunate to ask you, Ms. Black, to travel even if you are feeling unwell. Looking at you now, however, I am more at peace with the schedule of your tour that will depart tomorrow.”

Rhiane perhaps anticipated the monarch's visit more than her fiance. Much like the owner of a thoroughbred might see their prized equine in the stables before sending it out onto the track for its race, she had expected to have a royal evaluation this evening, if only because the queen had an investment in the princess elect. Currently New Rome was facing a rebellion and one of the most effective weapons in the fight was none other than the former farmer and her Cinderella story. How well this performance between the newly engaged couple played out directly impacted national security. It would be grossly negligent not to see one of her actors before sending her off to play such a pivotal role. Queen Camilla undoubtedly needed to confirm and assess with her own eyes the state of her female main lead.

She wasn't surprised that Princess Callista tagged along, as her future sister-in-law was more empathetic than the rest of the family combined, but the fruit basket was a surprise. Rhiane hadn't spent time in a hospital before. The times she got sick before her mother and brother's deaths she might visit the nearest doctor, purchase whatever medication they determined was necessary, and would retreat to her bedroom to rest and quarantine herself. Before now she also hadn't been ill enough to merit this level of emergency intervention and observation. Gifts were still new to her and one to get well soon doubly so. A sincere smile alighted on her features as the fragrant and edible arrangement was placed on the nearest table.

"Thank you," she stated sincerely seconds before she was swooped into a hug. She hadn't predicted such a warm embrace- no one at the castle seemed to want to touch her more than necessary- but after a brief hesitation there was a genuine grin as she returned the gesture. Unfortunately her strength had not yet fully returned, so it was evident that her arms weren't as capable as before at applying the light squeeze that went with a hug. Elena Villani had warned her it would probably be a few days before she would be fully herself. Anti-toxins could combat the poison but they couldn't purge them in their entirety instantly and the recovery process required energy. Her body still needed time.

"I do like fruit, and I promise not to let Luke eat all of it, but since he hasn't had any dinner yet I think I ought to share," she remarked affably. For a moment she worried if this was not also them trying to retrieve the crown prince from her bedside. Rhiane had thought she was fine alone, but now that Luke was here and offering to stay, she found herself reluctant to return to solitude. Confessing he hadn't eaten could either prompt them to persuade him to have the meal deliver or give them an excuse to extricate him.

"Thank you, your highness," she said as she turned her attention to the perfectly composed queen. While Queen Camilla's words were polite and composed, Rhiane didn't mistake her for a woman who even considered delaying the tour a single day. The royalty could not been seen as weak and this attempted assassination must be swept under the rug as quickly and quietly as possible. To even acknowledge anything adverse transpired could be construed as a weakness, one elites and peasants alike might try to capitalize on, so it was imperative that everyone's romantic duo follow the schedule already established. The princess elect firmly believed she was viewed not even as a daughter-in-law but a valuable pawn to navigate on a complex political chessboard.

"I am feeling much better," she began truthfully, "and I look forward to traveling. I assure you I want nothing more than to be discharged." Both Dr. Gulsvig and Dr. Villani had recommended she spend this precious night resting before her journey, which they both knew would be taxing, so as to make the most out of the situation. Rhiane hated the confinement of the medical ward, however, and had tried to argue for her 'freedom' to no avail. Evidently neither physician was willing to risk a setback simply because their patient had poor previous experiences and a distaste for all the machines that had successfully kept her alive when she was in critical condition.

Luke was eyeing the basket since his sister waltz inside the room with her hands behind her back in a failed attempt to hide her get-well-soon present for the farmer. When he found her sitting on the bench earlier, he was sure that there was no basket. When the Elena exited to inform them of the princess elect’s condition, there was still no basket. Therefore, he had the mildest suspicion that his sister procured the gift to emphasize her point that a prince like him should learn how to properly woo a lady. She was the hopeless romantic of the siblings, and Callista was in the phase of her life when love and the idea of falling in love was still magical.

The princess shot her brother a sly glance as she stepped out of Rhiane’s hug and stepped beside him allowing their mother room to assert herself. “Where did that come from?” Luke whispered. To which, his sibling just shrugged with a smug smile which suggested that he wouldn’t hear the end of it if he pushed her to start talking right at that moment.

“I am pleased to hear you say that, Rhiane Black.” Queen Camilla tilted her head ever so slightly. A pleasant countenance, which she had mastered over the years, beamed at the commoner. There was no doubt that she meant it more than she meant well for the well-being of the woman. “I knew I was right to have voted for you. The strength of your will and the resilience of your body was admirable during the contest. I do believe that you will make a good mother to my grandchildren.”

But Luke was not in agreement, as usual. “Mother, with all due respect, we did agree to delay the schdeuled departure just one more day to give her time to recover.” It was a lengthy conversation that happened while the prince was on his way back to the castle. The argument that won the queen over was that it would make a bigger scandal if the princess elect showed any sign of weakness during the first few days of the tour while the PR team was doing damage control, because it would mean that the crown lied and at the same time forced the poor peasant to cover up for its shortcomings.

“I understand that we had an agreement, Lucius,” she started. “But the agreement was under the presumption that Ms. Black’s condition is much worse. Then again, as you both heard her say, she is feeling much better and is eager to travel.”

“She does not mean what she is saying.” There was a finality in how he said it. Judging from how time and again she belittled her medical situation, and instead placed her own health at peril, it was not surprising that Rhiane made such response while thinking of pleasing the queen. To be fair, it was her job to please the queen, to be her pawn in the charade that the crown staged to distract its people. “She’s a peasant and you her queen. There is no way that she will say no or show any indication that she is incapable of what you are asking of her.”

Queen Camilla turned her back on Rhiane to face her heir. Cally dodged the spotlight by slipping away from where she stood beside her brother and instead took his place on the chair beside the bed. “You will get used to this after a while,” she whispered to Rhiane. “Luke usually opposes our mother. I am not sure if he is doing it for his own amusement.”

“I sense that you have other reasons why you would want to stay one more day in this city, and we shall discuss it after dinner.” The queen’s voice resounded with authority.

“I have lain down my cards. There is nothing more to discuss.”

Silence followed the crown prince’s statement. Cally could only guess the look on their mother’s face as she stared at her eldest. The princess broke a bunch of grapes and passed some to Rhiane.

“Very well, let us be on our way. Your father and brothers are waiting for us.” The princess got to her feet, while Luke crossed his arms over his chest, but before he can voice his objection the queen added, “Lavanchy is outside waiting for my instruction to accompany you, Ms. Black. He will see to it that all your needs and your requests, of course within reasonable bounds, are met. I hope you do not mind that I require my son’s presence at our family dinner.”

Cally apologized for the intrusion and wished Rhiane a speedy recovery before following her mother out the room. Luke, on the other hand, promised that he will be with them shortly and waited until they had left the room before retrieving his jacket wordlessly. "I wish that you will consider your own well-being for once, Rhiane.”

Rhiane quietly watched the queen and her son face off about the events planned for the next day. Truthfully she wasn't certain who she supported; her future mother-in-law was polite to her face, concerned only about the peasant as a pawn to manipulate, but was never outwardly callous, while her fiance was openly hostile at times, showed worry about her occasionally, but tried to be honest. Neither one of them had won over her loyalty completely. Queen Camilla represented the promise of financial security for the Black Family and a diligence to etiquette that meant at least the princess elect wouldn't be disparaged to her face. Luke was her chance for a true ally within the castle walls and someone in which she could confide... if he could get past his disgust at both the situation and her commoner birth. Anyone would have had a difficult time choosing.

She managed a smile to Callista as the royal explained that this opposition was to be expected with her future husband. It reassured her though perhaps not the way in which the princess intended; it made Rhiane realize that this streak in his personality might mean their disagreements of the last couple days would have happened with any contest winner. The former farmer knew she wasn't the easiest individual to deal with, but she had truly considered herself to be one of the candidates that was the least demanding. Many ladies had entered the trials with impossible dreams of a man who couldn't have existed but except in the wildest fantasies. Rhiane had been realistic by contrast- she only wanted a business partner that could remain professional. Cocking her head to the side she wondered if the heir to the throne had always been this way or if his disposition was the result of his father's thinly veiled murder. She did not envy anyone who had to look their mother in the eyes daily and know that they were responsible for the cold-blooded execution of their beloved father.

To say that she thought Luke must be conflicted was an understatement. It was a wonder that anyone in the entire lineage had not snapped worse than a few heated exchanges or non-lethal blows to one another. Not every 'breeding spouse' had been able to be killed when their children were young. A couple had watched the eldest grow to the teenage years before a younger sibling was conceived and it was safe for the commoner spouse to be discreetly erased. The older the offspring, the greater the attachment, and the more deep the wound when the cut was made.

As Rhiane chewed on the grapes she had been handed she pondered on Luke's motivations. His dedication to staying with her had seemed sincere, and his voice gentle, and the edges of her memory recalled some distant promise about making her feel better. She wanted to believe he had argued for a delay for the sake of her health alone- but she also knew that he must love Sophia. The crown prince had abandoned Rhiane shortly after meeting her for the actress, had risked both their images, incited a revitalization in the revolution with his recklessness, and brought the princess elect to a business meeting presumably to make the model jealous. His actions thus far had not been what would be considered honorable. Regardless of her feelings on the matter, she wasn't convinced that her dearly betrothed wasn't jockeying for a chance for more indiscretions before leaving the capital.

It stung when it was announced that the rest of the royalty, the real royalty, was going to have a family dinner while she was confined to bed rest after having just escaped a harrowing encounter with near death. Rhiane kept her face neutral through sheer willpower but she was internally devastated. Tobias had been called to attend to her needs which should have softened the blow but it did not. She knew she was an outsider but the contrast of their stations was painfully clear. Her future in-laws would be enjoying a pleasant meal over fine china and with crystalline glasses, celebrating their victory and good fortune, while she was miserable and left to what staff could be spared. On paper it hadn't seemed quite so horrible an arrangement given the compensation and lifestyle changes offered. In practice, however, she doubted any sum of currency in the world would have not made a heart break at being so easily dismissed and forgotten.

Just as Luke was exiting the room and Tobias turned to enter the room, however, one of the machines that was taped to the torso of the brunette let out a series of sounds that indicated something was amiss. There was a change in the princess elect's breathing pattern and the muscles of her upper torso were convulsing. She twisted to her side almost reflexively and, over the edge of the bed farthest from the door, she sputtered up the pieces of fruit that had just made it to her stomach only minutes before. Most of what her body had ejected was just bile but it burned her throat nonetheless and made her wince as the caustic stomach acid seeped into the abrasions. Both of her doctors had warned her to stay away from anything overly spicy to avoid aggravating the damage to her esophagus in particular but had not forbidden anything as simple as grapes.

"Excuse me your highnesses," a nurse said as she rushed by and then elbowed her way past a surprised Luke and stunned Tobias.

Elena Villani was sprinting down the hall from the small room she had ducked into to enjoy a coffee. "Queen Camilla, I hate to impose, but I need one of you to stay. As I am sure you are aware, doctors do not need authorization for any acts of life-saving intervention. We tried to contact Ms. Black's next of kin earlier today in preparation for procedures that would not, strictly speaking, meet the threshold of 'life-saving,' and therefore require medical consent. We were unable to make contact with either her brother or father. Given that Ms. Black is heavily medicated, and her decision-making abilities are legally compromised, we need either a family member or an authority figure that can make decisions on her behalf."

Another nurse sprinted down the hallway, pushed Tobias to the side, and edged her way into the room. The first nurse had pulled out a cart that had been formerly positioned in the corner of the room. Arranged upon it were various instruments and chemical concoctions that were meant to combat a variety of adverse effects such as the one they were currently facing. The second nurse put her arm around Rhiane and tried to adjust the bed into a more upright position so that their patient could rest without choking if she felt forced to vomit a second time.

"Mrs. Black has an exceptionally high pain tolerance, your majesty, and so we have had to administer less pain medication than we expected. Her judgment is still impaired, however, and I don't know if she can appreciate my recommendations in her state. If you'll excuse me," she said with a bow before half-jogging into Rhiane's room. Technically everything Elena said was correct. Rhiane wasn't considered fit to make medical decisions and no one, not even the most forgiving and generous ethical overseer, would not at least raise a brow if every choice was left in the hands of someone dosed with narcotics. Reading between the lines Luke might surmise that the specialist had also found her patient difficult to wrangle and that she needed someone to help override the crippling paranoia of the princess elect.

"It looks like her body still thinks it's under attack by anything she eats," Dr. Villani remarked to the first nurse as she placed her cup down on the counter and side-stepped around to the other side of the bed. In some circumstances this would be an excellent instinct for the purposes of self-preservation, but in this case it was working against them. Intravenous fluids had helped stabilize and hydrate the princess elect but were not meant to be a substitute for food entirely. She knew even before asking that Rhiane wouldn't want anti-nausea medication; the woman had objected to nearly everything offered that was not absolutely necessary, and it was possible for her to spend at least a couple days on the IV waiting for the overly protective impulses to pass.

A part of him wanted to stay at the patient’s bedside if only to spite the queen. Then again, the crown prince had an argument to win and a situation to discuss with his mother and stepfather. The relationship he had with his parents might not be the at its best, but the reigning queen and her prince consort were a figure of authority that he could not ignore.

The tall gentleman slung the uniform over his shoulder and turned away without any promise that he will be returning. It could be that his mind was preoccupied with how to re-open the argument about the itinerary of their tour, or that he had no intentions of honoring his words to a commoner. She was “feeling much better” anyway. Besides, they could all rely on Tobias to update them should anything go wrong.

The glass sliding door glided to one side upon sensing the presence of the royal. He was almost at the threshold when one of the apparatus beeped and then the patient was on her side, emptying the contents of her stomach. The princess gasped. Luke turned in time to witness his future wife’s beautiful face contorted in pain. He took a step towards her, but a nurse, in her hurry, brushed against his arm and almost bumped into him. Thinking that he would be more of a burden and less of a help to the situation, he stepped aside to give more room to the medical staff.

“This is not what ‘well enough’ looks like, Elena,” said Queen Camilla. The beeping and the running of the nurses delayed their departure. She stood with a stoic face behind the sliding glass door that was held open only by the presence of his son at the other side. Gone was the pretense of sweet concern that had brought her to the infirmary. She had assumed her position of power, questioning a subject who had promised one thing only to be proven wrong by the consequent events. Disappointment and accusation laced her voice as she regarded the physician, whom she trusted would immediately cure the pawn.

Cally moved to step into the room, but her mother effectively prevented her by grabbing her wrist. “It’s my fault, mum. I gave her the grapes to eat.”

The older woman just shook her head. Her eyes were still on the medical staff tending to the peasant. A few minutes ago, everything seemed to be in order and things were falling according to plan. The logistics were set, the lords were already informed, the itinerary broadcasted. Different media organizations would already have deployed their staff and crew, as coordinated with the palace, to cover the first province that the couple would visit. If either of the two failed to make an appearance, it would surely raise questions and fuel the speculations that the early retreat of the princess elect had nothing to do with wardrobe malfunction, but rather something more urgent. “There is no need for either my son or I to stay,” she started in an even tone. “I am appointing you the authority to do whatever it takes to restore Ms. Black’s good health. The status of her health is not acceptable, Elena. I am following a strict timetable and I need Ms. Black to perform her function well.”

“I agree with the queen that it is unnecessary for either of us to stay behind,” the prince seconded to the physician’s dismay. His eyes were fixed on the woman, who minutes ago was smiling as if she had not stared death in the eye. It was his fault that this was happening. If he had not asked her to leave his room, none of it would have had occurred. “But I am staying, mother. Tobias, you may take the rest of the night off.”

“You will only be a nuisance, my dear,” his mother offered. Her voice was controlled and so was the forced smile on her face. But guilt was more compelling than the queen’s masked disagreement to her son’s insistence to stay.

“Excuse us, Elena.” An argument with the monarch would be both improper and distracting inside the room where a patient was being treated. Therefore, the prince walked up to his mother, letting the glass door close behind him. “Mother, if you want her to be in working condition tomorrow, then do not interfere and let me stay to make sure the doctors are doing their job.”

To the spectators inside the room, if any, it would look like the two royals talking calmly to each other, and they were. At least to an observer, they seemed to be. The even tones and neutral expressions suggested that it was a casual discussion between a mother and his son. To Callista, who had known the two all her life, knew that both were on edge. They had been testing each other’s patience since they saw each other that night. Had they not been in a relatively public place, one of the two would have already raised his/her voice. The back-and-forth rebuttal went on for a few moments more until the princess couldn’t help but interfere. She placed her hand on the queen’s forearm to catch her attention. “Mum, just let Luke stay. He says he will write a report for you, and I know he will make sure that Rhiane will be well enough to leave the capital tomorrow. Did he ever fail you?”

Queen Camilla paused, then a few moments later left with her daughter, while Luke re-entered the room. “Your highness, I appreciate that you have decided to remain with the patient. Now, we will need to administer a medication to help ease Ms. Black’s stomach’s agitation whenever food is introduced, it will also help with her nausea. The patient feels strongly against such treatment, and we can actually safely wait until her immune system calms down, but it may take days.”

“I understand. Let me speak to her.” The nurse and the doctor, after helping the woman lean back on the bed. A couple of cleaning crew had arrived to fix the mess on the floor. Thankfully the sheets were not stained. “Rhiane, do you remember the desserts you ordered?” There was a hint of mischief in his voice even though his face was as solemn as an angel’s. He reached for her hand that was without an IV and closed his fingers around it as if for support. “I will end up eating all of it if you refuse the medication. And you shall be forced to watch while I devour one after the other.”

Elena Villani understood that Queen Camilla was more concerned about the use of her future daughter-in-law than she cared about her as a person, but she believed that the monarch vastly underestimated just how closely she come to the precipice of disaster. Not just anyone could have survived the dose of poison that the princess elect had ingested unwittingly. Who would have perished from the toxins was not just limited to commoners either; she was quite certain that a not insignificant number of the upper echelons of nobility would have succumbed to it as well. Perhaps the ruler believed there was nothing to gain from dwelling on what might have been. The specialist believed, however, that might be too emboldened by her success and not properly aware of possible repercussions if they pushed the patient too quickly and too hard. What they had was an amazing resilient woman. If she she was pressed to her brink on the tour, simply for the sake of appearances, they might end up in the very scenario they had just escaped.

While she was relieved that the heir to the throne chose to stay with fiancee, if only because then she wouldn't be solely responsible for her progress, Rhiane had more mixed emotions. The young beauty did not want to be alone but she could only imagine how horrid she looked. There was no universe in which her first meeting with Luke would have been so spectacular they would have immediately become the best of friends. She was acutely aware she was a roadblock to his future with Sofia in which they were publicly together, that they had disparate personalities, and that she was a confining chain to his ankle. Still, she was vulnerable in this moment, terrified of looking weak and pathetic, and anxious that he would think even less than her he already did.

"You wouldn't," she breathed a touch hoarsely as Luke threatened to eat her sweet-filled dinner. Even as she stared at him with abject horror on her features she knew he absolutely would. Rhiane suspected he didn't have as much of an appetite for sugar as she did but she had seen his defiance with his mother. He would wolf down every morsel just to prove a point. She bit the inside of her cheek lightly as she very briefly contemplated if seeing her once-in-a-lifetime chance at a wholly non-nutritious meal was worth sticking to her principals.

"Fine," she sighed grumpily. The pinpoint precision with which the crown prince attacked her weakness would be admirable if she wasn't annoyed at 'losing.' Her own brother and father had found it nigh impossible to reason with her when it came to anything related to medicine or physicians. That Luke had triumphed so quickly would have made them both shocked. Much as he might detest his future wife he was already beginning to see that she was not immune to certain manipulations- from him at least. She was much less trusting of other aristocrats, and therefore less prone to their machinations, as was evidenced with their reduced effectiveness in eliciting any genuine reactions from her during brief interactions.

"There's an oral medication," Elena offered gently so as to not put off her temporarily compliant patient, "but I don't want to risk that you won't be able to hold it down. We'll put one in your IV but it will take ten or fifteen minutes to take effect," she warned. One of the nurses picked up a small syringe, filled it with fluid from a light blue vial, and injected it into the tubing before the princess elect could change her mind. They could all see the faintly golden liquid swirl briefly in the clear before it flowed into the future royal's hand. Rhiane was clearly still unhappy but she didn't argue. There was a certain weariness lining her face that hadn't been there before the grapes. The day had taken a toll that no amount of chemical intervention could override completely.

"If you'll excuse me a moment," she said with a nod to them both before departing the room.

Once outside, and out of their earshot, Dr. Villani placed a call to the kitchens to prepare everything on the princess elect's order. Previously they had been instructed to only make a third of the choices and in small portions. Now that Queen Camilla was figuratively breathing down her neck, Rhiane was frustrated and discouraged, and everything felt like it was riding on how much dinner the brunette could fortify herself with, she'd rather have some gluttony than the alternative. It was possible that after the grape incident that her charge would be less enthusiastic about any of the treats. She had enough experience to know morale and disposition played a large role in the healing process. They had to make Rhiane excited to eat, eating as much as she could handle, and content enough that her rest was as rejuvenating as possible.

"Dr. Villani," one of the medical assistants said as he approached his senior. "We received a return call from Ms. Black's family. He gave his number and said he needed to speak to his highness directly, however."

"Interesting," she remarked as she took the small paper note. This wasn't what she expected but she had a duty to report it. "Did he identify himself? Was it Hubert Black or Gerald Black?"

"Neither, Dr. Villani. It was Gerald Black's partner," the man admitted. "He said he had information but would not reveal anything more."

"Thank you," she nodded and turned, striding back into the princess elect's room. Given the circumstances she doubted that anyone from a poisoning victim's family would know about the composition of the toxin administered, but there were aspects of this case that they might have insight on, and she could understand why they might use discretion with who they revealed such information to. Asking for the prince himself was bold but not irrational. The man who called could safely assume that it was not beneficial for the heir if his wife scandalously perished only two days into their engagement.

"Prince Luke," she said as she offered the small folded slip of paper. "We received a call but he only wanted to speak with you directly. I believe it's worth your while to return it," she suggested. "If you would like some privacy, I am happy to sit with Ms. Black while you do so."

During this time Rhiane hadn't let go of Luke's hand. The times before he had held she had flushed, or looked uneasy, or been a mixture of flustered and uncomfortable. What he didn't know was that when her mother and brother had been sick and dying she had held their hands, trying to soothe them one of the only ways she knew how, and thus didn't find it as off-putting now that she was ill. His hand felt warm and strong, It provided her reassurance, even if he didn't mean it to, that she could endure through this new trial. In that moment she had forgotten their disagreements and felt genuinely like they might be friends.

There was a veil that hid the world of the upper class from the general public. To a commoner, it would seem that those who were born to the rich noble houses were free from all the cares in the world, the perhaps their day-to-day worries were comprised of what to wear, which car or hovercraft to drive, or how to outdo the last best party of the season. Unfortunately to the children of the lords and ladies, it was not so. While they did not have to worry about food to eat or whether or not there would be roof above their heads to sleep in, they did live in a ruthless world where reputation was all that mattered. A misstep could tarnish the family’s good name and turn their good fortune into ashes. It was not a world where weaknesses were not deemed okay. No, Luke’s world did not tolerate anything less than perfect.

It was a lesson he was trying to teach his future bride since the day they had met. Maybe the night would teach her to be subtle with what she likes and dislikes, because her future husband was adept at manipulation.

A smile sly smile slowly lit up his face at her pronouncement of defeat. “I am flattered that you doubted, even for just a second, that I will not perform such a mean act of eating all of your precious desserts.” On the contrary, he would enjoy every bit of second until she regretted her decision and asked for the medicine. Sweets were not his favorite food, but he would be a hypocrite if he told her that he did not indulge in sugar once in a while.

Luke remained standing at one side of the bed with her hand still in his as a nurse, following the instructions of the lead doctor, injected the medication to the tubing. He remembered a time when he was lying on a similar bed and being tended by white-uniformed professionals, but in a much less sophisticated facility. He broke his arm during one of the training sessions in military camp. It was not a big deal, and he was not the first recruit who had the misfortune of having a bad fall, but he was the queen’s son. The queen turned everything into a big deal. His mother cancelled her appointments and stayed by his side, so did his sister. The twins cried the first time they saw their big brother hurt. But it was his mother who held his hand when he was in pain.

Doctor Villani’s voice cut through his thoughts and erased the smile from his face. Curious about the message, although it could be about anything at that point, he took the piece of paper. “Excuse me, Rhiane.” He had to disentangle his hand from her warmth as he unfolded the message.

The prince’s expression did not change, but he withdrew the communication device from his back pocket. The caller identified himself as Sebastian, the partner of Rhiane’s brother. The man claimed to have information that he would wish to share to the crown prince. No other explanation was offered. It could be true, or the man called Sebastian could just be making things up in an effort to turn himself into a valuable asset to Luke. He glanced at the patient lying on the bed, before nodding to Elena’s offer. “I appreciate your offer, doctor.”

The other end of the line rang just as the sliding door closed behind him. The corridor was empty, but he knew better than to speak deliberately inside the medical facility where cameras abound and ears, though not visible, were listening. Should the information this Sebastian was claiming to know was as valuable as the commoner implied, then it was better off not spilled to the grapevine. The room adjacent to Rhiane’s was empty and perfect for his privacy.

“Hello,” a voice at the other end greeted.

“This is Alessandro Castiglione. Talk to me.”

Rhiane was reluctant to let Luke go but she reminded herself not to be greedy. She was thankful for his compassion and companionship, even if it felt the meeting of their hearts and minds was brief and fleeting at best, because it was bolstering. The princess elect found him surprisingly safe and dependable. Though they might not have chosen each other, and neither of them wanted a romantic relationship, to know that he could occasionally be a refuge was reassuring. One of her father's parting shots was that she would be in a pit of snakes in the palace and that the crown prince was the most venomous viper. It was a belief that was shared by Gerald. Rhiane had hoped that their shared circumstances would make the engaged couple allies rather than adversaries. A day or two ago she had to face the possibility that her surviving family members had been correct. Now she couldn't help but wonder if they had misjudged.

"Ms. Black," Elena said delicately as she sat down. There was a slight tug downwards at the corners of the future royal's mouth though she did not frown. Dr. Villani knew how much her profession was distrusted by the former farmer and was not insulted; if anything she it progress that Rhiane was not detaching or ignoring her. She reached forward and gently took the other woman's hand in her own.

"I was not lying when I said that another person wouldn't have survived what you did- not just tonight, but eight years ago. I'm not in the pharmaceutical field, obviously, but if you ever wanted to I could connect you with someone in research and development. Specialists could study your immune system to see if there is anything we could glean from your physiology to help others," she suggested. She expected that Rhiane would immediately object but instead the buxom brunette was suspiciously quiet as she seriously considered the offer. With a playful smile the doctor leaned closer to her patient and whispered, "I can also promise a recommendation that's not at Evolab," she joked.

At this Rhiane laughed and shrugged her shoulders. As much as she had grown to loathe the medical profession she had to admit that Elena Villani had saved her life and perhaps redeemed doctors everywhere a touch in her mind. Had there not been a paycheck from doing so she might have thought the woman was a saint, but she knew there was a lucrative reward for the intervention, and so her perception remained skewed. The princess elect wondered if she might have earned the same attention were she still a peasant, or a secretary firmly entrenched in the middle class, or the maid of a lesser noble household. In her ideal world a woman like Elena would work a case regardless of the financial background of the victim.

"I'm sure you don't have much time," Sebastian began, "but I've heard that someone tried to kill Rhi and that they might not be alive by the time you find them." Though Luke and Rhiane were on a first name basis she had failed to disclose that the people closest to her actually called her by an even shorter nickname. It was uttered so quickly and chased with so much more pressing information that it might be missed by the heir to the throne but was still rather important. This singular syllable made it clear that Rhiane was still guarded, still aware that the people who loved and cherished her were not nearby, and not even Tobias had pierced through her self-defenses with his consideration and stoicism.

"I'm telling you this because I want her to be safe," he further explained perhaps unnecessarily, "and I don't know that if I told her directly she'd... react well." Sebastian, called 'Seb' by his friends, paused because he was not prepared to broach the topic of the various ways in which his partner's sibling could inappropriately process the information. Unlike Gerald he was not blind to Rhiane's unhealthy views on her own morbidity, nor oblivious how to sometimes she dismissed other's concerns about her, or how powerless she might be to advocate on her own behalf effectively. Hopefully Luke would read between the lines and surmise that the farmer wasn't speaking to him because he relished an opportunity to speak with their future king.

"The rebellion is divided on Rhi," he continued, "and some of them think that Rhi would best serve the revolution as a martyr. They know if she dies that no matter what the truth is everyone will blame the crown, especially you and Queen Camilla. If she's alive she's more of a wild card- she could encourage people to be loyal to you or she could tarnish her own image. If she was dead, though, her perfect reputation would remain intact, including being a the champion of the poor, and an innocent life lost that would enrage some of the citizens who are right now apathetic. I think the person today worked alone but... this isn't the end of it," Seb added more softly. The rebellion saw Rhiane as a precious pawn, perhaps even more than the royalty, and knew that she could turn the tide one way or another. "There aren't many who want Rhiane dead, and most of the rebellion is adamantly opposed and actively trying to stop them, but she's still in danger."

The note written on the piece of paper identified the commoner as Sebastian Legrand, Gerald Black’s partner. Gerald had to be Rhiane’s brother. It was unusual that her living relatives would ignore the palace’s summons, and yet a person who was not related by blood was willing to risk his freedom and ultimately his life for her. It was noble, but Luke knew better than trusting that the earth was still capable of producing a noble human being. This Sebastian definitely had his own reasons for sticking his neck out for the farmer girl. It could be that out of the remaining Black family, he was the only person smart enough to figure out that if Rhiane died before she and the crown prince got married, none of them would enjoy the benefits of being upgraded to noble status. Therefore, what he was saying could be genuine information from somebody who was a member of the resistance.

Luke was silent even after Sebastian had finished stating his purpose. Assassination attempts were nothing new to the royal family, and their ancestors before them. It was precisely because of these events that very strict security measures were employed in the palace and whenever any of the royalties were out in the world. Luke was no stranger to attempts to his life, though fortunately none had succeeded yet. Rhiane’s case was a near miss that could have been prevented if he had been paying more attention to her needs. But the circumstances had changed, the original schedule composed of the immunization to poisons, lessons on etiquette, dancing, poise, and public speaking were all pushed back in favor for the grand tour aiming to make the crown’s name more pleasant to its people.

“Do you understand that you are confessing your ties to the resistance to a person with the authority to order an arrest?” Rhiane was a smart girl. If she and Sebastian did get along well, then Luke thought the former ought to be smart as well. He probably knew what he was getting into, but perhaps the benefits outweighed the cost.

“Sebastian Legrand,” the crown prince read the name scribbled on the piece of paper for emphasis. “Rhiane did mention that the rebellion has its presence in her home town, and she did claim to know people who are involved. I can offer you amnesty in exchange for further information. Do you have access to the faction of the rebellion which you claim wanted Rhiane dead or are all of these just rumors you hear from your neighbors?”

The involvement of the rebellion was not unlikely and the reasoning was even sound. If anything happened to Rhiane while she was princess elect, it would reflect badly on both himself and his mother. According to Luce, the common people loved the Rhiane Black, because they could relate to her. She was somebody who was born to inherit her parent’s hard life, but then she overcame the curse of poverty and ascended in rank to princess. He could only imagine how much the rebellion would exploit the opportunity should the royal family fail to protect the commoner.

“But you don’t have to worry about her.” His voice softened a little. “She will be safe as long as she is with me. Today was a mistake, but we will be more careful. Would you like to speak to her?”

Sebastian knew he had taken a risk in returning the phone call that the palace medical staff had made to the family home. Both Hubert, Rhiane's father, and Gerald, Rhiane's brother, had warned him that there was little reason to trust the crown. While Rhiane herself was under the protection of the royal family, she was ultimately powerless to do anything more than provide a stipend for her destitute relatives. Neither man had any illusions that were they to confide their connections and associations with the rebellion that they would be squashed underfoot without a single thought. Furthermore, they possessed not a shred of faith in the crown prince that had constantly made headlines about his dalliances with other women. In their minds Rhiane was entering into a marriage with an apathetic playboy, entering the elite world that had shrugged its shoulders at their personal tragedy, and would ruthlessly destroy everything they cared for given a good enough reason. Just yesterday they had been arguing over whether or not there was a legal way to refuse the 'blood money' they were expecting to receive after the wedding.

"I love Rhi," he said quietly. Stereotypes were that males of his orientation had effeminate voices but his was full and deep. It was not difficult to imagine him singing the bass line in a chorus given the opportunity. "Gerald and I might not be married but to me she is still my beloved sister," he continued, "and if I had to go to prison to help keep her safe I would do it every time. I don't think I could live with myself otherwise."

Sebastian paused for a moment. He had been careful to avoid either talking too casually or too formally. Technically they might someday be related by marriage which made this all the more awkward to navigate socially. Being overtly casual might impart a lack of respect or even disdain for the government and arrangement that he represented. Conversely being too formal would create a cool distance that suggested a lack of honesty on his part.

"No source of information is perfect but I can tell you this is credible enough that I was willing to face the consequences calling you. If I must be honest I'm neither a loyalist nor a revolutionary; I just want to help on the farm, live a peaceful life with Gerald, and keep the people I love happy. Rhi isn't wrong there are quite a number of rebellion sympathizers in town and nearby. Some actively participate, some just agree with their ideology but aren't motivated to do anything but nod, but none of them want harm to come to Rhi. They grew up with her and she truly doesn't have enemies here." He was being completely forthright with Luke. Rhiane's hometown was perhaps the only place where there was no member of the coup that considered New Rome's future commoner queen to be a prime candidate for becoming a martyr. Fierce loyalty to her as a person overrode the political gains they might have with her death.

Sebastian had to keep how he knew what he did a secret for the time being. This was both because he didn't want to involve himself in the cultural war that was being waged and because he wanted to preserve his source. The less that Luke knew, the less that he jeopardized future insights, and the less chance he would be blamed if anyone was arrested on his account. For now he wished only to be an informant that intervened when it was necessary. If no one else would think of Rhiane he would.

At the offer to speak to Rhiane he paused and there was a drawn out silence. Sebastian doubted that she was truly as safe with Luke as he professed, or that he didn't have to worry, but that was because he knew there were more dangers to his spiritual sister than the external. "Is she... has she recovered?" he asked tentatively. "I didn't think I could," he stumbled over his words haltingly, "I thought she'd be too ill to talk even if she was allowed."

If Sebastian did love the princess elect as his own sister, then he should have done everything he could to talk her out of her intent to join the contest. It was what Luke would have done if he was in the same situation as the informant and Cally would express her intention to join such a contest for whatever reason there may be. Poverty was not a disease, it was a temporary status that any person with the right state of mind could get out of. Being crowned princess elect, on the other hand, was worse than cancer, because the latter could be treated while the former was a voluntary submission to death. Therefore, if Sebastian loved Rhiane, then Luke doubted he would have the pleasure of talking to him on the phone.

He wanted to tell the commoner all the reasons why he believed that Sebastian was not being thoroughly truthful, but then again it would neither be helpful nor a productive use of time. Therefore, Luke settled with a straightforward, “These are all rumors to me.” The short statement told the person at the other end of the line of his mistrust for unvalidated information, especially one that came from a stranger’s mouth. Granted that every information was baseless at the beginning, but the source did matter. Sebastian had no credibility to bank on, and Luke was not about to put his trust in his fiancee’s relatives when he did not trust the woman in the first place.

“I have a team who is thoroughly looking into this incident. There are parties, other than the rebellion, who have reasons to want Rhiane dead. I will not place bias on the investigation by assuming that this is the work of the rebels, as you are claiming. Nevertheless, whoever is responsible will not go unpunished.” A conclusion that early in the process would skew the result, which might be proven fatal in the long run when the real perpetrators ran free while the sentenced innocent suffered the consequences. “Unless,” the prince enunciated. “Unless you submit yourself as a witness against the rebellion, or the faction of it that you have access to, and help us resolve this once and for all.”

It was not ideal to work with somebody from the outside, someone who saw the world differently from himself, but in this case maybe he was willing to make an exception. It was not every day that an opportunity to work with a possibly trusted insider would present itself to him. “If you agree to work for me, and the information you give be validated through successful operations from my end, then the crown shall grant you a handsome reward. Plus,” he paused as if thinking his next words through before he let go of the offer. “You can have both your sister and the noble status promised to her and her family. Think about my offer, Sebastian Legrand.”

Luke kept the phone pressed to the side of his face while he exited the empty room and found his way back to the one being occupied by his fiancee. “She is recovering well and may be able to speak with you if she so desires,” he added as the sliding door opened for him.

“Doctor Villani, thank you for sitting with her. I’ll call you should we need further assistance,” the prince dismissed the woman. The medicine might have already taken effect. Though the way that the poison weakened her body was still evident in the princess elect’s eyes, at least her body had stopped throwing up whatever was left in her stomach. The doctor

“Rhiane.” Luke’s voice, whether or not Sebastian noticed, was much softer than when he was talking to the other man. “Your brother’s partner, Sebastian, is on the other line. Would you like to speak to him?”

Sebastian had offered his knowledge and now it was up to Prince Luke to decide what he wanted to do with the information provided. The heir to the throne was free to believe, to disbelieve, to act upon it immediately, to disregard it, to keep it to himself, to share freely with others, or a multitude of other options. Perhaps he ought to have worked harder to persuade the other man but he was silent as distrust laced the other man's words. He suspected, however, that arguing and pushing would not net him a positive result. There was little that he could say or do to make a royal suddenly have faith in his confidence. Sebastian's conscience was clean and his lingering guilt erased just by summoning the courage to give voice to the coveted intelligence he held.

Unlike Hubert and Gerald Black he was not opposed to helping the prince. He was not, however, moved any more by the promise of monetary award and title as he had been amnesty. What Luke failed to grasp was that these things meant very little to the farmer. His fidelity could only be won by principal and ties to those whom he loved dearly; it was this way in which he was most similar to the princess elect that he viewed as a sister. If Rhiane herself had made an emotionally-charged plea for his cooperation he might have conceded because of their relationship alone. The elite made trades and transactions but Sebastian, and many others of his station, were moved by less tangible compensation.

To Sebastian the greatest tragedy was that while Rhiane might achieve some personal goals, he didn't believe that either the queen nor her son would meet theirs. Luke's words believed a confidence that he might be able too wage war on his adversary (the rebellion), eradicate them from New Rome, and triumph in a more stable future. Sebastian saw the revolution and growing calls for a violent coup as a symptom rather than the problem itself. Even if they imprisoned and murdered every treasonous rebel more would rise in their wake. There needed to be a fundamental change in society, starting with the monarchy itself, before commoners would stop calling for war against their real or perceived oppressors. Routing them out, assassinating them, or hosting public trials was unlikely to have the outcome desired. He was no politician but he knew how adeptly Rhiane could be a voice to the 'infidels' and that she had not yet, nor made attempts, made him suspect she was withholding for reasons known only to her.

"Of course," Elena nodded before rising from her chair. She patted Rhiane's leg where it was covered with one of the medical tower's thick blankets. They had utilized a slightly weighted blanket to help soothe their princess elect and improve circulation since she was confined to the bed at least for the evening. "Think about it. You can do it now, later, or never- the choice is up to you," she said with a reassuring smile towards her patient.

"Ah, and I've received a message your dinner should be ready in about fifteen minutes," she added with a wink as she walked out the door. Rhiane wouldn't admit it aloud but the toxin specialist was growing on her rapidly- if only because she was assisting in this indulgence to sample every decadent dessert that didn't have one of the ingredients she was temporarily forbidden from having.

"Seb?" she asked with obvious excitement. "I thought Gerald, that ass, wouldn't have let him call me! Can you put him on speaker?" Rhiane asked excitedly as she sat up with obvious joy in her features. A minute ago she was despondent that no one would call, visit, or inquire after her condition; no one except those obligated by their profession. She was delighted to know now that she was wrong.

"Seb! I thought you would be busy planning an extravagant wedding," she teased once Luke had acquiesced by placing the call on speaker phone. "And before you tell me any secrets, I asked Luke to put you on speaker. They are insisting I keep this IV on me until I eat," she admitted with an exasperated sigh that expressed her sentiments on the matter.

"How are you feeling?" Sebastian inquired gently as he dodged the question entirely. "Are you listening to your doctors?"

"I thought you'd be forbidden from calling," Rhiane said as she picked at the edge of her comforter and tried to pretend she hadn't heard his questions. She knew better, however, than to expect him to drop the issue. Even if he hadn't built a rapport in his brief discussion with Luke she also knew that her fiance was more likely to be an accomplice to her facing the situation than evading it. "I'm feeling better but not great," she confessed with reluctance. "Sebs, you know how I feel about doctors..."

"Rhi," Sebastian started to reply. His voice was firm but also warm; it genuinely sounded like he was her eldest sibling. Gerald was six years older than his sister and Sebastian was a year and a half older than Gerald, which made him Rhiane's senior by almost eight years. This made her listen to him better than most especially since she knew his heart was in the right place. "I love you, Rhi, unconditionally. You make decisions I disagree with, and I make decisions you disagree with, but we are family even if Gerald and I aren't married. Nothing you can do will ever make me stop supporting and loving you, though we might get angry with one another, or disappointed, or worried. Hubert and Gerald are... well, they are idiots when it comes to things like this, so they know to stay out of my way," he jested lightly.

"I want you to listen to your doctors and Prince Alessondro in matters concerning your health," he continued sternly.

"But..." she started to protest.

"Rhiane Violet Black, I won't listen to any excuses," he said sternly but gently. "I understand how you feel but the best way to honor the dead is to remember what they wanted for us and what they stood for. Your mother and Edwin wanted better for you and that includes your health. I'm sure if you needed someone to speak to about your fears and flashbacks that Prince Alessondro would rather arrange for you to privately see a counselor than continue to put yourself at risk."

The princess elect was properly chastised. She lightly bit her lower lip and sighed in defeat. No one was more effective at making her change course than the docile farmhand that had come into her life when they were struggling the worst. Had she believed in reincarnation and were Sebastian many years younger she might have thought he had had the same spirit as the two individuals he had just referenced. Before their deaths on her mother and Edwin had been able to pierce her stubborn streak with maximum efficiency. "I understand."

"Promise me you'll actually rest instead of conspire to escape," Sebastian said more lightly. "Maybe you could practice your art like you used to do. Have you told Prince Alessondro..."

"I promise," Rhiane said quickly. "I'm much too busy for hobbies, Sebs," she added hastily in an extremely obvious attempt to divert the topic.

“Sure,” was all he said. How could he say no to a patient who, minutes ago, had scared him and half his family into thinking that maybe the perpetrators did succeed? The royal placed the device beside her on the bed, then excused himself not to give her privacy, but to do something else entirely.

The door slid close behind him just as he heard her telling Sebastian about the IV as if her brother’s partner would take her side on the matter. Luke smirked, because he already won that battle. Rhiane had given her consent for the medication, which she would otherwise fight to death against – quite literally. But to be honest, it was a major relief that she was responding positively to his attempts at manipulation. At least he did not need to put a lot of effort to persuade her that it was for the best that she listened to the doctors. For that, he had the deliciously sweet creations of the kitchen to thank.

His purpose for briefly leaving the room was, well, work. He promised to stay with Rhiane, but he did not promise that his full attention. There were reports waiting to be read and some other reports to be written, but he came to the tower as soon as he could with the intention of just making sure she was well before he left for the night. The crown prince underestimated the empathy and guilt that his conscience was still capable of carrying. It was not his intention to stay, but he ended up cancelling prior commitments and leaving his computer in the car.

Because he was either not willing to leave his fiancee alone for too long or he was feeling lazy to walk up his suite to pick up his computer, Luke found himself leaning against the white marble counter of the nurses’ station.

“Your highness.” Just like everything else in his life, he neither waited nor voiced his intention to ask for help. It arrived in the form of a young medical intern he knew. The woman smiled up at her crown prince, but the expression quickly changed to slight worry. “Is there anything wrong with the patient?”

“No, she’s fine, Lena” he answered. “I didn’t know that you are assigned here. Anyway, I just need to ask somebody to pick-up my computer for me. Call Nolan and tell him I need my computer to be brought here in the Medical Tower.”

“Of course.” She winked then smiled. Luke failed to notice the way she flipped her hair and sway her hips as she walked away. He even failed to thank her for doing him a favor. The prince traced the path he followed on the way to the nurses’ station, and there it was halfway to the room. The multitude of desserts he was sure she would not be able to finish that night not because she was sick, but because it was just impossible to consume that much sweets.

“Is that for the princess?” He asked the attendant who was pushing the silver cart.

“Yes, your highness. Plus, your dinner.”

“Excellent. Let me handle this.” The servant bowed from the waist, gladly letting go of the burden and eager to be back to the kitchen to tell the story of their crown prince’s apparent good mood. Luke, on the other hand, was still amazed at his fiancee’s love for sweets. More than that, he was amazed at her metabolism, because when he saw her in her undergarments, there was no misplaced fat on her shapely figure.

Her full name said in such a tone made him wonder what it was that she had said to Sebastian. Then again, the following sentences explained everything. It was rude to interrupt a conversation that he was not part of, so he kept his thoughts to himself, but it was not to say that he did not have his opinion on the matter of her mental health. He had questions even though he was certain that whatever it was, there was no lasting effect on her mental faculties. Perhaps her flashbacks were because of trauma, something that the doctors can fix.

“If you need your own studio, just ask your maids to convert your old room into one. Nobody uses that space anyway.” He wheeled the desserts in, filling the antiseptic-smelling room with the smell of chocolate, cream, and sugar. “Then draw me like one of your French gir – guys. Wearing this and only this.” A lopsided grin played on his lips as he recited a line from an old movie, while he set the desserts a few paces from Rhiane.

“I honestly did not expect them to make everything you ordered."

Rhiane flushed slightly at the mention of turning her 'old room' into an art studio. While she had not been bothered by the move into Luke's quarters she had perhaps foolishly anticipated that at his first opportunity he would find a way to eject her. It had seemed pretty clear to her that he would continue to entertain other women in secret and valued his privacy even when he was alone. Admittedly in retrospect it seemed unlikely that having separate bedrooms would be tolerated by Queen Camilla. The engagement was only as valuable as the illusion of a perfect love story it conjured. Sleeping together and then apart would raise eyebrows no matter how discreet they were and would give rise to rumors among all that there was a weakness in their relationship that could be exploited. The princess elect was still adjusting to the permanence of their arrangement.

"Oh that... that won't be necessary. I have too many responsibilities," she said hurriedly. "Besides, you can't possibly mean you'd allow me to try to draw you..."

"I should let you go," Sebastian said, more than a touch uncomfortable at the innuendo the pair were making so casually with him still connected to them through the phone. He'd be lying if he said he thought Rhiane ought to have entered the contest in the first place but meant what he had told her earlier: he supported her with unconditional love. Though he endeavored not to judge them for their choices he was still entitled to feel like an awkward third wheel when they acted a bit too familiar.

"Thank you Sebs. I love you," Rhiane said buoyantly as she pulled a plate of tiramisu closer to her. The kitchens had prepared it with decaffeinated coffee, something that they opposed on principle, but they knew better to question the judgment of the medical staff that had saved the newest royal's life. It had been determined that they didn't want to introduce strong stimulant, such as caffeine, into the princess elect's diet that evening given the heavy doses of multiple medications she had already been prescribed.

"I love you too. I'll try to talk some sense into your impossibly stubborn brother before we talk again, okay?" he promised before severing the connection and leaving the regal couple alone to enjoy their dinner.

"Who knew there was an upside to getting poisoned and throwing up everything in sight?" Rhiane asked gleefully as she sank her spoon into the thick layer of cream. As the former farmer pushed into the layer of ladyfingers the cookies, softened from soaking in coffee and then being sandwiched between thick ribbons of mascapone, her silverware cut through it easily. She sighed in contentment. For a moment she could forget the machines she was still connected to by wires and stickers, the IV puncturing her hand, and the sterile surroundings.

"Do you want any?" she inquired as she took her first bite. The cocoa and custard was absolutely divine. Rhiane would have enjoyed this special treat even if she had been full from a prior meal, but on an empty stomach it one of the best things she could remember having eaten if not the absolute best. She had been conscientious about complaining but her hunger was excruciating. Until now there had been more pressing concerns than her daily caloric intake. Now she wanted to graduate from medically stable to physically comfortable. The princess elect closed her eyes as she savored the luxurious taste before reluctantly swallowing. It was smooth enough even the illustrious Elena Villani would have been pleased it wasn't damaging to her throat.

"I thought I'd put on one of the movies you like while we eat," she continued as she started to dig in for another bite. "Tobias and I watched a few earlier today but I don't think he's any more of a film aficionado than I am." Which was to say not at all. The bodyguard hadn't given any insight about his preferences or his hobbies but she had a hard time imagining the prince's cousin spending a lot of time at the theatre. In the hours they had spent together Rhiane had gotten the distinct impression Tobias was consumed with his work.

"Any recommendations?"

“It’s your room, you can do anything you want to it.” Luke shrugged. “Except maybe raising livestock in it. ”Encouraging her to pursue her passion, especially something as harmless as arts, was something he thought would work out to his advantage in the long run. Just like every magic spell in every fairy tale that was read to him when he was a child, the enchantment of the engagement between a prince and a farmer would eventually wear off. When that time came, there would be less and less public appearances. He would go about doing his own business and she would most likely do the same. The promises they made to each other during their first dance as a couple would probably be in effect, and it would help Rhiane do well on her part of the bargain if she had something to pour her energy into. “But you’re right. I do not plan to pose for a drawing or a painting. Sitting still and doing nothing for too long is annoying.”

Rhiane seemed like a different person. Well, it could be that this was the real Rhiane and the woman that she was whenever she was with him was the guarded, careful version of herself. He took the empty seat beside her bed and took away the glass cover guarding their dinner. As soon as it was lifted, what was left of the hospital scent was engulfed by the mouthwatering smell of sweets. It almost enticed him to steal a piece or two.

“Nobody will believe me if even if I swore on my father’s name that you just escaped death tonight.” Looking at her, he hardly believed it himself. And what was he doing wasting his time sitting beside her when his guilt brought about by him being responsible for her was all that brought him to that room? Without touching the filet mignon on his plate, he watched in wonder how someone who nearly died of food poisoning could look so content while eating. She ought to have some sort of trauma after everything that happened, but as the doctor said, Rhiane could not remember most of what happened. The good thing was that he wouldn’t need to coax her into eating solid food, but the bad side of it was that she was probably as careless with what she put in her mouth as she was that afternoon. “You should at least slowdown eating. And I suggest that you sample every plate rather than attacking one dessert after the other, so that by the time you are full, you have already tasted everything.”

His dinner looked pathetic compared to the amount of hers, but at least it was healthier. Before he started eating, though, Luke touched a panel on the wall behind him. It functioned as both the control for the monitors used to track the patient’s vital signs, as a communication device to call the doctors or nurses in case of emergency, and more importantly as a remote control to the forty-inch monitor that hang on the wall Rhiane was facing. He was not frequently in these rooms, but he knew how technology worked inside his home. “There is a similar panel at the side of the bed,” he explained to Rhiane. At the side railings, which was placed to protect the occupant from falling over, was a three-by-five-inch monitor that would light up once activated by the patient’s touch. It was placed there strategically to address the issue of lost remote controls and to give the patient quick access to the television.

The monitor turned on to a screen showing program options. Luke navigated it for her until he found a movie he thought she would enjoy. “Titanic,” he announced just as the introduction of the studios that made the movie started to show. “It was the highest grossing film in the world for over a decade. It tells the story of a rich woman and a poor but lucky man meeting on the --” He cut himself. Luke had the tendency to talk and continue talking as if every word he said was interesting to the audience. The audience often indulged their future king, though, which encouraged him to talk further. Talking about movie was different. “I should just let you watch it. Women likes love stories, so I thought you might like this one.” His smile seemed to have a secret meaning when his blue eyes sought her face and he added, “By the end of the three-hour movie, you will know what I meant by ‘paint me like one of your French guys’”

He sat back and stretched his legs before him, remembering to check his messages. The tray of food was between them and the movie was playing as he scrolled through the names until he found several unread messages from Sophia. He needed not to explain himself, he thought. She wanted nothing to do with him and then wanted him back within the same day.

Rhiane shrugged as he suggested no one would believe she was at death's door not too long ago. Once again she proved herself to be disturbingly unconcerned about her own mortality. A casual observer might erroneously conclude she didn't recognize the danger she had been in, that she was willfully ignorant to the price she'd ultimately pay for being a commoner spouse in the royal family, that a healthy young lady at herself couldn't possibly be ready to die. Luke's experiences with the former farmer had likely made him view her casual attitude toward it differently. He may now rightly presume that somewhere along the way his fiancee's mind had been warped and that she was truly unconcerned with how long she would ultimately live. She was by no means suicidal, nor was she unwilling to fight for her survival, but her jokes and gestures belied an acceptance that was unhealthy at best.

"Just doing my job," she remarked nonchalantly. "To be resilient and recover as quickly as possible is one of my requirements, isn't it? Maybe I can convince everyone that I am at my peak performance when certain food items are involved," Rhiane suggested cheekily before taking a second bite of the tiramisu and sinking into her medical mattress with bliss. It was incredibly unlikely that sweets would become an accepted tonic for any ailment of the princess elect. No matter how well supported it was that morale had a direct influence on one's recuperation the crown would not always be this indulgent. The cunning businesswoman suspected she'd not be able to exploit this tactic much unless her life was in peril again or she was pregnant. At those times the stakes were higher and thus the rules less stringent.

"I'm not exclusive to sugar," she remarked as she surveyed another item to sample. Luke's advice had not gone unheeded. Rhiane was a stubborn woman but she knew she had her limits and it was literally impossible to consume everything that had been ordered and delivered in such generous portion sizes. "I like spicy food too although all I've really had of it are peppers and a few simple recipes using them. Our farm never grew peppers really well," she lamented though she was so ecstatic about her dinner it was distinguishable only by the slightest dip in her voice. "One of our trade partners used to give mom samples of his peppers and I would eat them raw before anyone told me you're supposed to take out the seeds," she recalled with a little laugh at her childhood naivete.

With that she dipped her spoon into a delicate mousse as she watched her betrothed access a control panel for the television on the opposite wall. She was envious of the familiarity with which he navigated technology. Rhiane had proven to herself and the kingdom she was an intelligent woman but that did not mean she memorized and/or understood everything instantly. Social situations and accounting figures had always come more easily to her than other endeavors in her education. Hopefully she wouldn't need Tobias or Luke guiding her how to select a channel or play a movie after a few more times watching them queue up their selection.

"You do know not every woman likes the same thing I hope," she said with a roll of the eyes but her tone was still as bouyant as ever. He might credit her continued good mood on the rich silky taste of the chocolate mousse she was taking the tiniest little bites of between her sentences. "I really like the action and adventure genre," she thought aloud, "and suspense. Earlier today we watched a good drama. I guess I really like every genre," Rhiane concluded, "so I will take any and all recommendations you have since you're the expert. I especially want to watch the ones that help me understand all your references."

With that she settled herself into the covers and turned her attention back towards the screen as she dabbled into a bread pudding that was more often baked in other kingdoms. Its soft texture had helped make it survive to be on her medically approved menu; it also had a relatively mild taste and was a favorite of one of the sous chefs that hailed from another country north of New Rome. Unfortunately she was not allowed to have it at the hot temperature it was usually served at for fear that might aggravate internal abrasions. Even lukewarm she enjoyed the cinnamon and raisins that were dispersed throughout to give it a flavor that reminded her of home during the winter season. "You really seem to love film. What do you like best about it? I'm sorry, didn't mean to sound like a newscaster doing an interview," she laughed, "I was just curious about its appeal to you personally."