A sandwich? Luke had turned his face to her long enough for his stare to be interpreted as judgmental. And maybe he was being judgmental. To think that she had barely eaten anything the whole day and had still requested something as simple as a sandwich for perhaps her only real meal that day. Was it a mandate by a dietician so as to preserve the princess elect’s desirable figure? Nonetheless, he would make sure the food would be enough to sustain her. It had been admittedly a long day for both of them, but it was far from over. Therefore, he placed an advance request for steak sandwich for her and something seafood for him. Luke trusted the kitchen staff knew what they were doing and that he didn’t need to specify what exactly it was that he wanted to eat. Because, honestly although he was in the mood for seafood, he could not be bothered to think how said seafood would be cooked. It was the kitchen’s job. It was a different story for Rhiane, because she was a new customer, so to speak.

After an uneventful flight and some curious stares from the palace staff and officials who they passed by on various corridors, the couple made it back to Rhiane’s suite’s door. Pacing in front of it, with a mobile phone pressed to her ear, was Luce Viscomi. If she had appeared pleasantly confident during their first meeting that morning, it seemed as if stress was gnawing at her poise that night. Why wouldn’t it? The queen ensured that the interview would push through even when, at the time of her majesty’s personal call, the princess elect and her husband to be was nowhere to be found. On one hand, the interviewer was professional enough to show up thirty minutes before the agreed call time, her manager demanding Ms. Viscomi for definite answer as to when the princess elect would be ready. On the other hand, however, the princess was – 

“There you are, Ms. Black, your highess.” Her face lit up visibly when she lifted her head and found the two walking towards her direction. Not at all presentable, both of them, but present nonetheless. The relief that washed over her features was quick to transform into a whole new form of stress. Needless to say, she kept a polite and enthusiastic smile on her face, opening the door of the suite for them, and dared not to raise any questions.

“I requested for dinner, has it been served?” Luke asked without any hint of apology or explanation as to why they were late and looking un-royalty like.

The inside of suite was the same as when they left that morning with the addition of the maid servants waiting to fix Rhiane up. All where quite stunned as the two entered looking like they did, but none was brave enough to voice out their comment. 

Ms. Viscomi followed them in. “Y-yes, your highness, but I’m afraid we are pressed for time. The filming will be but an hour.” She glanced at her watch. It was almost eight in the evening, meaning the broadcast was almost an hour late. Assuming Rhiane still had to at least shower before they can prep her, it would take at least another hour before she would be ready. Dinner was off the table, for the time being. “Ms. Black can have dinner after the filming. You don’t have to be present, your highness. I’m sure that you have more important things to look after.” Knowing that the crown prince would not listen to her reasoning despite her weak attempt to complement his ego, the manager’s eyes implored the princess elect to consider the proposition. “By the way, Ms. Black, here is the list of questions that may be asked during the interview. Please review the questions and we’ll go through them ” She handed a piece of paper to Rhiane before Luke could even protest.

“Dinner. Dress-up. Interview.” Luke walked straight into the mini dining area where he assumed his dinner was waiting for him. “In that order, Ms. Viscomi. Rhiane, join me.” 

On the table were two trays covered with a glass dome. Inside was what looked like a tomato soup with cheese tortellini, their preferred main course – which was sandwich for Rhiane and linguini with lobster and chunky tomato in a garlicky sauce for Luke – and finally pannacotta with fresh berries and chocolate toppings.