For a second he thought that she was starting to grasp her standing in the situation they were in, that she was finally acceding to what he wanted, only to have the crack of hope shut down on his face. 

Luke stared at the closed door a moment longer. He wanted so badly to open it again just for the satisfaction of slamming it shut. If he could retrieve the score cards of the candidates who joined the competition, he would identify the foolish judges who gave this woman high scores then charge them with treason. It was treason to require the future king to marry such a woman. Slowly, he tore his attention from the smooth and polished surface and faced the bride chosen for him, who he found was sitting comfortably on his chair with one long leg crossed over the other like a queen. And like one, she stepped her foot down to make her intention to not leave the room clear.

To say that he was frustrated was an understatement. Luke had never before encountered a creature as obstinate as this woman who, after judging his character, had the nerve to insult his capacities. If all peasants were like her, then he would not be surprised why they persisted in the dirt where they were born. They knew no authority and would act as they so pleased, even with their limited knowledge. Then when all was said and done, they would blame the noblemen for their poverty. It was the logic of the lazy and the failure, because it was more convenient to pass the blame than to own it. 

It took him around five long strides to get from the door to his chair which Rhiane was occupying. He cornered her where she sat with his body crouched over her and his hands on the backrest at either side of her head. His eyes studied her stubborn, yet undeniably beautiful features, letting the silence stretch as they quietly challenged one another. 

“You’re a bold one, aren’t you, Ms. Black?” He was talking slow and in a very low tone as if telling her a secret. “I can have the suspected rebels, or those you say with association to the rebellion, in your hometown arrested without solid evidence, outside of due process, and against their rights as citizens of New Rome. All I need to say is that I got the information from the princess elect, who volunteered information to show her support to the crown and identified who in her hometown associates themselves with the rebels.” He smiled a cruel smile. “It won’t be hard to give that order. Imagine what will happen to the family you left behind when the sympathizers learned about your betrayal. Your poor, helpless family, who are probably the reason why you are here now.”

Rhiane was unlike most of the candidates for the title princess elect who openly professed their love for Prince Alessandro. It was obvious by the way she looked at him and how she defied him that her motivation was not the prince’s love and affection, which slightly offended Luke though he would not admit. Therefore, her intent may be to win the rewards that came with being Luke’s wife, for her family and not for herself.

Luke sat on his heels before Rhiane, thinking that he had somehow discovered something about his future bride. He would probably do the same if he were in her situation, for Cally’s sake. “But I will stop myself from executing that tempting idea.” He shrugged. Traces of anger and stiffness left his features and he sighed possibly accepting temporary defeat. “If you will come have brunch with me this morning and tomorrow morning, and also the morning after that, for as long as she wants us to. Because this.” He reached for the back of her neck and gently touched the spot where he thought the tech was implanted. “This has the capacity to make both our lives miserable. You may doubt me in everything else but trust me when it comes to my mother.” His goal was to convince her to preserve the limited freedom that they had. “Regardless of how correct my assessment of the situation, the queen will enforce her will so it is better for us to obey for now. If you so wish, then I will pretend to enjoy talking to you on topics not concerning this engagement, or the uprisings, or the queen.”