Satisfaction filled his chest not because Luke enjoyed the stolen moment of intimacy with the princess elect, but because he felt her stiffen under his touch. Yes, muscles were prone to a momentary freeze due to a pleasant surprise, and she did seem surprised. Luke, however, had reasons to believe that it was not the pleasure of his romantic advances that had rendered the commoner both speechless and motionless. Rhiane, of all people, understood that that the crown prince was tolerating her presence only because staying with her was the least of all evils that the queen could unleash upon her heir. If she was being her charismatic self, she would have at least said or done something that would add to the story that they were making the public believe, but that she froze for the second time after he kissed her made the crown prince a little suspicious.

The double doors were opened and closed by the attendants and the couple stepped back out into the present. Gone were the meticulous golden details and judgmental stares of the men and women painted behind gilded frames. The well lit clean smooth lines of the modern world greeted them. Luke exhaled as if he was holding the air far too long in his chest. He never did like rooms in the castle that were decorated as such.

However, as soon as they were outside, Rhiane almost forcefully disentangled herself from him while at the same time questioning his actions. The force in her voice that sounded like anger stopped the crown prince. It was not the restrained or even thinly veiled anger, but it as the emotion in its purest form. If she were a different woman or that they were arguing under different circumstances, Luke would have felt offended by her reaction, but given that his objective was to torment her, he thought that everything was working to his favor. He was doing the right thing, pushing the correct buttons. 

Despite the flash of anger on her pretty face, or maybe because of it, Luke harbored a baffled expression that was uncharacteristically him. He had always been confident even when he knew he was wrong. “What wasn’t necessary?” The crown prince asked, provoking her. Then, without giving her a chance to clarify herself, planted another stolen kiss on her temple. “This? Was this not necessary?” There was a playful grin on his face as he whispered the words, as he wrapped an arm around her mid section. He tried to walk her to the direction of the transport to their residence.

She was eager to show the kingdom that they were falling in love, wasn’t she?  Well, Luke thought nobody would believe that the player Prince Alessandro would be satisfied in a relationship that was not at least physical.