The doctor, after keying in his findings and prescription to her medical records, turned the computer to sleep mode and tucked it under his arm. His work for the royals was done for the night and he had other matters to attend to, more specifically the experiment results that was waiting in his laboratory. Therefore, the older noble found no reason to extend his stay, especially as he sensed impending trouble for the crown prince given the uncharacteristically silent and straight-faced Rhiane Black. Commoner or not, genetics made it so that women were all wired the same. Being married to one for over a decade made the doctor more sensitive to their body language. Unfortunately for Luke, though, he lacked that experience.

“I will be on my way then. Wait for my staff to bring in the medication, your highness. It will help Ms. Black fight back fatigue.” Dr. Isaac was talking to Luke, because he thought it pointless to converse with somebody who was not willing to join the conversation. It might be just the circumstances, because rumor had it that the woman was nice and even friendly to the maidservants and other palace staff. Not that he would befriend the crown prince’s future bride, he just wanted to test if the hypothesis was true. “And best of luck to you both. Marriage is not easy even for those who were in love before they got married,” he added, clapping the crown prince’s shoulder in a familiar gesture as he passed by.

Luke nodded absently as he was again typing on his gadget. He lifted his eyes from the screen only when he felt the pressure of the older gentleman’s hand on his shoulder. “Thank you, Doc Isaac.”

“Learn to pay attention, Lucius,” the doctor advised in a low voice. “It will make your life easier, especially with the nanotech implant in place.” 

The prince frowned, watching the man in white coat proudly exit the room. Luke might be doing something else, but he was paying attention to the diagnosis and instructions given by the physician. If there was anything he missed, he was sure that Rhiane would fill-in the details. She had been quietly sitting on the bed anyway. He had to assume that she was attentively listening to the doctor.

“Alright then, let us get back to business.” Luke snapped the gadget back to his wrist with renewed energy, as if his admission earlier that night that he was very tired did not happen. The prospect of freedom for a day seemed to have ignited the flame in his soul once more. The freedom to do whatever he wished to do, whenever he wished to do it, without considering the feelings or thoughts or well-being of another individual – he missed it even though he had been tied to Rhiane for just a day. Not that he despised her company, he was just not used to not being his own boss. 

He moved from the foot of the bed to where she was seated and offered his hand. “We have the go signal from Dr. Isaac to proceed, which means we must proceed. I’m sorry for delaying your shower for fifteen minutes, but you were right, the consultation might not have been necessary.”

When she did not move or talk at once, it finally came to him that she was again giving him the silent treatment, like she did in the island when he said or did something – he still had no idea what – that made her mad. He wondered what it was that time around. Did she get mad at him for forcing her to see the doctor? She had to understand that it was for her own good, that he would not send her out to talk in public if there was any risk on her health. But there was no time to explain. If the queen would agree to the doctor’s recommendation, Rhiane had to perform well that night otherwise, Luke would be stuck in his bedroom while his fiancee got all the rest she needed. 

“Fine,” he sighed, turning his back on her. “If you don’t want to talk to me, then don’t. Let’s just get this night over with and talk later. The queen is waiting.” He walked to the door, testing the limits of their link with every step, bracing himself for the pain if she would choose that moment to rebel.