What just happened? 

The crown prince’s stare traveled from his outstretched hand to the farmer girl to the plastic cards screaming his name until it finally rested on an unassuming take-out box, which his bride to be seemed to find more interesting than anything he had offered thus far. Discretely, to save some dignity, he pocketed the hand he offered her while she drowned herself in glee at the thought of taking home the sweets. [i]A minute on the lips, a lifetime on the hips,[/i] he thought, watching her face light up even more. Sooner than later, when her stomach was bloated and would not fit in the dresses that her stylists picked for her, she would regret ever having met those tasty little devils. 

The she got up then eagerly took the waitress’ hand in hers. In any other situation, it shouldn’t have mattered. He wouldn’t even mind if she was grasping the hands of another man, because they did agree to live separate lives despite being a couple. But the issue was that he offered his hand – the hand that would one day lead the kingdom of New Rome – and the farmer girl had the nerve to not only turn away, but also walk away. As if a woman of low birth such as her would ever have any offer more attractive than his. Such was what he was talking about when he told her that the poor did not know how to hold on to what they have. He had offered her the gift of financial freedom by authorizing her to access his personal finances and instead of the simple thank you that he would most certainly welcome with a smile, Rhiane, who he found out was as ungrateful as her brethren, chose to threaten him and walk away with a box of cannolis from another commoner.

Luke watched her chase after the kind-hearted stranger who presented her with such mediocre gift from a not so notable establishment. His irritation with the turns of events failed to show on most of his face, except his eyes. He was not a good liar after all. The glare that he was shooting at the perpetrator who stepped up to admit his crime was enough of a warning to not push it, but he and his friends apparently did. Luke could not fault the group entirely, though. They were encouraged by her fiancée, who claimed that she was indebted to these people. With a sigh, he picked up the plastic cards from the table and tucked both in the inner pocket of his jacket. One of those days, he would have to lecture her about corruption and how seemingly innocent ‘gifts’ come into play. Like what was happening, she was already granting the stranger and that place a favor.

“Ms. -- Rhiane, don’t,” Luke warned quietly behind her, but he guessed that she would do what she pleased anyway. He wanted so bad to drag her out of the establishment and into the safety of the hovercaft then fly away home. The only thing stopping him was the crowd present at the restaurant who would most certainly judge him and liken him to a barbarian who had no respect for women. Therefore, all he did was issue a warning and wait for her next move.

Her answer, or acknowledgement that she heard her, was cut by the entrance of the store manager. It was the same woman who Luke rejected when she told him that the newly engaged couple’s lunch was on the house. Unlike her politely blank face upon hearing his rather straight-forward rejection, the store manager was beaming. “Ah, this is great. Guard, please allow one of the photographers in,” she declared, very happy to be on the receiving end of the free publicity. She was smiling and was talking to Rhiane when she continued, “I’m sure Ms. Black and her new friends would love their photo to be taken by a professional.”

As the guard sought out to fetch one of the photographers, the store manager turned to Luke. As she met his then freezing glare, her face lost a degree of her enthusiasm and her voice fell into a more formal tone. “Would you care to join the photo, your highness?” 

“No thanks,” he answered without hesitation. “I have better things to do.” In truth, he did not care to have his face or name linked to an establishment such as The Briks. He did not want to be misinterpreted as endorsing the restaurant, because if he did, then his peers would talk about the questionable taste of the crown prince. 

The restaurant fell silent after the prince’s refusal. The energy that his fiancée brought to the room with her contagious smile and energy was dampened by a simple ‘no’. It was as if the people didn’t know that he was not one who would indulge in such petty acts. Or perhaps they had thought that Rhiane coming into his life had changed their crown prince. They were wrong. “I will be waiting outside when you’re done paying your debt and after granting every other person’s request,” he whispered as he passed her by. 

Outside the restaurant was not an improvement in the scenery. Apparently, the news that the newly engaged royal couple was having lunch at The Briks spread like wildfire. Cameras snapped as he stepped out of the restaurant. Luke pulled his hood over his head as he found himself a vacant spot on the bench beside visibly ecstatic young professionals who were torn between approaching and ignoring him. If they had known him well, they would have decided to do the latter, but perhaps encouraged by the one photograph he allowed to be taken with, one started a conversation with a polite “Excuse me, your highness.” 

He was rescued from another plain no by a phone call, which he was only too happy to answer. “Cally,” he said, placing the straightened band to his ear. 

“Luuukeee! It’s all over the internet.” The princess sounded amused it made him feel a little better, less irritated. “My dear brother. Did you not know how to date a woman?”

“What? What do you mean I --”

Calista laughed at the other end of the line. “It’s all over the internet! I’ll send you the links. But let me tell you this now. If you’re going to date any woman, you don’t ignore her, or she will certainly get the wrong message. It’s obvious how you find your phone more interesting than your date. Ok. Got to go, I have an appointment for my nails. See you later. Love you. Remember what I told you, Luke.” 

"Wait, Cally."

"Yes?"

"I was wondering. Where in the capital do you find the best tasting cannolis?"

There was a thoughtful pause from the other end. He hoped his sister did not know yet about the little gift presented by one of the patrons of the restaurant. "I would suggest the royal kitchen?" Cally answered. "It makes the best of everything, you know it."

"No," he sighed. Of course the royal kitchen would be the best bet, but he didn't want anything homemade. "I need it to be from a fancy place, with fancy packaging and all those things that women likes. Send me a message when you find it?"

"I don't know what you're up to, but okay."