The colors of sunset were lovely, but the crown prince’s priority was warmth. Nature’s stunning painting could wait, but the discomfort brought about by his numbing extremities couldn’t. With the goal of getting as much warmth as he could, he retrieved his shirt from the hovercraft and pulled it over his head. It made little difference, but at least the there was a thin layer of protection between him and the unforgiving breeze. The crown prince raked a hand on his hair, forcing the partially wet wavy brown locks up his head and away from his face. It made little difference though as it fell back over his forehead with the edge of the fringes touching his brow.

Over to the other side of their transport, on the seat that the princess elect occupied, were the clothing she discarded in favor of her undergarments. He looked over his shoulder in time to see the farmer girl walk to the edge where they both stood holding each other’s hand not an hour ago. Since he walked up to her to tease her about flirting with him, she had fallen silent. She didn’t even acknowledge his baiting with any response. Instead, his fiancée was obedient to his instructions regarding their mini trekking adventure. And while doing so, she had retreated into the realm of silence. 

For some reasons unknown to him, Rhiane gave him the silent treatment. It was nothing new for Luke, because the silent treatment was a common method used by a woman to imply that she was either offended, annoyed, or both. The approach annoyed him slightly. He disliked uncertainties and guessing. Should she have any problem, she should take it up with him directly and not sulk in the cold inviting colds. Was it calling her with the honorific “Ms.” title that she specifically warned him to no longer use to refer to her? It crossed his mind to leave her alone in the island, and maybe without the implant he would have done just that.

Reluctantly, Luke reached for her shirt, pants, and denim jacket in addition to his coat. She could stand in the cold the whole night for all he cared, but when she caught colds and got too ill to leave the bed, it was his freedom that would be limited to his bedroom. Therefore, no matter how disinclined he was to bringing somebody else’s possession to the said person, he did brought Rhiane’s clothes to her.

Standing behind the princess elect, Luke draped his coat over her shoulders then thrusted his arm forward where her shirt and pants hang. “You will catch colds if you stay that way longer,” he said in a businesslike manner, there was not a hint of apology in his tone. “And here are your clothes.”

Soon it would be dark and the temperature would drop lower. The water and the breeze would make sure of it. When she did not move to even acknowledge his presence, Luke placed her clothes on the ground. “Suit yourself,” he shrugged then walked away. “Don’t expect me to care for you when you catch colds out here.” 

Luke turned the other way to the direction of the hovercraft. He stepped inside and shut the door. It was the warmest spot on top of that rock formation away from the wind and the cold autumn air. From the peaceful silence inside the craft, he watched the sunset on the west, as the sun descended ever so slowly. Her back was to him, his coat billowing in the wind. Luke would neither make amends nor would he apologize for something he would not consider a mistake or a blatant disregard of his beliefs. She could freeze outside if she so desired, but he would be watching the sunset from the relative comfort of the hovercraft.