“You may of course call me by my given name – Luke, Alessandro, Lucius.” He shrugged, then raked his hand through his hair to keep it off his eyes while the sea breeze reminded the two visitors of the island that winter was approaching. The sun hung low on the horizon as shades of orange and red started to break the peaceful blue hue reflected by the sea. The crown prince stood on his side of the hovercraft, a half smirk on his lips, while the farmer girl took her position on the passenger side. Her hair and her cheeks were not spared from the relentless caress of the breeze, but the determination in those green eyes was unmistakable. “Godzilla,” he added, as if an afterthought, to the list of names he was giving her consent to regard him with. “The latter to be used only in private. Strictly in private. There are enough people addressing me using ‘your highness’ or ‘sire’ or ‘my prince’ to drive me crazy. I was being sarcastic earlier. You were demeaning yourself. I don't enjoy listening to people who does that.” It was his job to belittle people, he wanted to tell her, but it would surely spark another argument that may shatter the fragile sense of civility that they were nursing between them.

Luke slipped into the pilot’s seat after his fiancée, where he took a deep breath before turning to her. Was she really the thrill seeker she was projecting herself to be, or did she just over commit with her words and ended up with more than what she could chew. Rhiane admitted that she could not swim, that it was the first time she had seen the sea, and yet she stood up to his challenge. He wondered if it was bravery or stupidity, or maybe both. Nevertheless, he was going to take her up on her word and make her experience the kick that only an adrenaline rush could give. “Remember that I gave you the option to back out,” he said before pushing the button and taking off vertically. He maneuvered the craft so that it balanced itself on a clearing atop the formation. It was a twenty-meter drop, he recalled. They had to do it together or the pain would most likely hinder his brain’s ability to recall how to swim. Too bad, he was planning on jumping before her so that she could have the moment to herself while he watched whether she would really make the leap of faith or not. 

“There’s only one problem.” He frowned, chewing the inside of his cheek while the craft gained elevation. Remembering that he could not be more than ten meters away from his fiancée, he realized that she had to climb back up the rock formation with him. It was not a difficult trek, and it would not take them an hour to reach the hovercraft. He would just need to assist her as best as he could. He could only imagine how angry his mother would be if he brought back an injured princess elect to the castle before her interview. 

The hovercraft landed smoothly. Their position atop the formation gave way to a different point of view. They could see the island in its entirety – from the trees and shrubs that seemed to have been sprinkled at the inner part of the island to the stretch of the white sand beach and the turquoise water beyond. Luke eagerly stepped out of their transport fully expecting the roughness of the rock beneath his bare feet. He stretched his arms over his head and breathed in the cold fresh air before shrugging off his coat and pulling his shirt over his head. Both were tossed carelessly inside the hovercraft.

The cold greeted his bare skin, made him want to crawl back into the hovercraft and turn the thermostat to high. It was the logical thing to do, but against common sense, his royal highness welcomed the cold with open arms. It made him feel alive and awake and free. “Let’s go, Ms. Black,” he called behind him, deliberately using her last name. “Take off your jacket, but keep your shirt on.” Because it would be weird for her, and him, if she would be trekking topless.  

However, without waiting for Rhiane, Luke walked to the edge of the formation that was facing the inner part of the island. He peeked at the edge where a dark blue pool was waiting for them. Since it was surrounded by land, the water was calm, safer to swim, but at the same time deeper. He did not doubt his own skills, but he was surprised that she did not too. For a self-professed non-swimmer, she was putting much faith in him. Her life was in his hands. And she too knew that the royal family had a reputation of being ruthless. Luke, if he so chose, could let her drown and claim that it was an accident and that he tried to save her, but couldn’t. 

“It was easier to admit that I am the most awesome person alive,” he remarked without looking at her when she finally found her place by his side. “Whenever you’re ready, princess.”