Rhiane wasn't certain what caused the change in his disposition when she kissed his cheek but she supposed it ultimately did not matter. She had not missed that the somewhat self-satisfied grin had immediately disappeared with her admittedly affectionate gesture. For someone who had just professed a desire to engage in intimacy beyond their formal political arrangement it was baffling. Luke had initiated far more than a innocent peck and yet he had been stunned, if not displeased, when she had shown her gratitude beyond words. Shrugging mentally she let relief wash over her burdened psyche. If the heir to the throne could be thwarted by something so simple it proved his alleged desire for love was a complete fabrication. No longer did she need to try to find a solution to his proposal; there was no true problem to contend with. Luke had been teasing her, nothing more, and was not prepared for any of the emotional investment he had suggested. Rhiane had been so paranoid she had believed his lies but he had proved himself woefully inadequate with deception, even it is was probably meant to be playful, which was reassuring. The crown prince was either overly confident about his abilities, hadn't expected her reactions, or had just leaped before he looked.

"Wait that's the..." she started as he randomly selected a cannoli. Before she could finish her objection- she was going to generously gift him the one she had slightly less interest in- he had already stuffed it in his mouth. Luke's body language, as well as his chilled countenance, was indicative of a shift in his thoughts but the princess elect could not help but smile. Even half of the candidates in the contest would be appalled at his lack of etiquette. During the contest she had been subjected to watching them take tiny, delicate bites of their food, argue about silverware, and pretend they were nobility already. In the eyes of the peasants the aristocrats were always flawless. They rolled out of bed looking amazing, they were never caught in unflattering outfits, they never got flustered or swore under their breath, and they certainly did not forget their manners no matter where they dined. One specific woman named Maria, who hailed from the western side of the kingdom, had declared repeatedly that Luke was a paragon of perfection all men should try to emulate. Maria would have fainted at the sight of Luke now.

Still amused she leaned over the box and began to pick up a sweet that had a dusting of ground nuts and lemon peel curls when she felt him smear something on her upper lip with his finger. Rhiane was surprised due to the fact he had been so put off by her touch a minute ago. Luke's grin had returned as she turned towards him and he proudly declared she had been painted with a mustache. It was the sort of ridiculous joke she'd have expected of Edwin, or a drunk Gerald, but not of an irritable royal fiance. Incredulous, her mouth hung open as he stepped out of her reach, laughed, and crawled into bed. If she didn't have five more fragile cannolis to wolf down in her arms she would have chased him down and smeared chocolate all over his face in retaliation. Fortunately she was too enchanted, too greedy, and too determined to have every last drop of decadent sugar to waste it on revenge. If he wanted to open the figurative door to practical jokes he had best be prepared. In public she would sustain her image but in private she would show him how much experience she had after dealing with two older brothers all of her childhood.

"I'll have you know sugar monsters are exceptionally loud," she replied before picking up one treat and biting into it as loudly as possible. The flaky crust crunched under her teeth but sent crumbs fluttering back into the container. "Shit!" he heard her mumble as she chewed. Rhiane tried to utilize the ricotta cream on the open side of the half still left to clean up her crumbs with limited success. Much as she enjoyed being contrary and defiant, just for the sake of proving to Luke not everyone lived their lives with only his happiness in mind, it wasn't important enough for a minuscule cannoli loss.

The rest of the present was consumed without any decorum but also without any purposeful extraneous noise. She would have left a couple for the morning, simply to help her favor the luxurious taste, but she strongly suspected that he would steal them from her the next day if she did so. Rhiane might have more power than she did before she entered the castle but accusing the crown prince of petty theft would not help her reputation. After she licked her last finger clean, satiated and with a lingering sweet cream on her tongue, she let out a contented sigh. The day had been fraught will challenges and difficulties but there had been rewarding moments as well. Truthfully she had not expected it so be so dramatically eventful. From what little she understood of Luke, which was limited to broadcasts and articles, she thought he'd be apathetic and wholly removed from absolutely every second they spent together. She had underestimated his ego, his need to feel victorious even in social settings, and his investment in their dynamic.

With her soon-to-be husband buried under the covers Rhiane stood, stripped the rest of the way, and pulled on one of the nightgowns provided by her maids. No one had anticipated the couple sharing a room this early into their 'relationship' and so it was a practical garment rather than seductive. The cotton was exquisite but an unremarkable shade of pink, with straps instead of sleeves, and a hem just above her knees.

"Good night, Luke," she said softly so as not to wake him if he had already fallen asleep. Yawning the lifted the covers on the side of the bed closest to the wall of windows and slid between the sheets. The bed was massive enough that even with his royal highness in the dead center she still was not in danger of brushing against him from where she lay. Curling up onto her side she closed her eyes and tried to calm herself enough for sleep. Her body did not need any coaxing. Exhausted from many nights without sufficient slumber, a full day of activity, and exposure to the elements that had taxed her further, it was all too easy to pass into the realm of dreams. With any luck she wouldn't find herself rising with the dawn for once in her life.