Two movies later, one of which they had both legitimately enjoyed, and one of which Tobias had been much less enchanted than the princess elect (as the special effects were far more impressive than any of the acting and Rhiane had far less exposure to major films), and they were both ready to eat. Being assigned as her personal bodyguard meant the slightly older man was at the mercy of the schedule of his charge. Rumors persisted that the queen wanted her future daughter-in-law as thin as possible in order to appeal to the nobility so he would not have been surprised if a meal was skipped. Fortunately, the former farmer had no intentions of being faithful to any diet. She knew her current image was what appealed to the masses, the people whom she was meant to invoke loyalty to the crown, and so she had no fealty to any goal to make her into a half-starved waif. As far as she was concerned it was Luke's task to keep the wealthy, spoiled, and entitled aristocrats supportive. He understood them far better than she ever would or could. Peasants were best left to the peasant and scions to the heir.

After deciding she was ready to eat Rhiane declared an idea that left Tobias so stunned that his mask of stoicism slipped: lunch with him and a couple of her maids. Technically there were no rules from Queen Camilla expressly forbidding sharing a table with servants. It was for this reason that her plan was allowed to come to fruition. There was no one immediately available to come to the prince's bedchambers and share a meal with the princess elect who was of appropriately high stature, she expressed she did not want to dine alone, and there was not enough time to summon the monarch and have her decide whether or not such a request could be permitted. It would later undoubtedly become the talk of the palace. Rhiane, future wife to their prosperous kingdom's ruler, chose the company of her subordinates. It was both a salacious story for the courts and an endearing tale for the public.

The two ladies brought to the prince's quarters were dedicated attendants to Rhiane specifically. Viola was a relatively new appointee to the staff, three months younger than Rhiane, from a noble family on the lower end of the social strata, and all too eager to seize the opportunity that had been offered. She had long dark hair that fell to her waist, eyes that almost looked black except in the brightest light, and a pronounced hourglass figure that was only overshadowed in the presence of her mistress, Rhiane. By most standards she was quite beautiful but her lineage lacked influence or renown thus she was still an unwed maiden. Madeline was, by contrast, in her thirties, married to a butler, of sufficient social standing she exercised authority over senior members of the castle staff, and more homely in appearance. If she had been walking around the capitol by herself no one would have known she was anyone respected or exceptional. Madeline was short, heavier than the conventional aesthetic dictated, had a prominent nose, and had her brown hair cut to a somewhat unflattering length for practical reasons (allegedly her daughter pulled on it when it was longer).

They had been seated around one of Luke's table. There was no head of the table, though Rhiane would have been well within her rights to assume such a position, and the plates of food that had been delivered were large portions meant to be shared. Had the two maids and guard been by themselves they would have been given mass-produced dinnerware. It was the presence of the individual that would soon join the royal family through ceremony that demanded their lunch been served on fine china decorated with a delicate filigree design.

"Thank you for inviting us again, Miss Black," Viola gushed before glancing to Tobias and smiling brightly. Even a blind, deaf, and dumb man would have been able to spot the girlish crush she had on the handsome bachelor. Luke and his brothers were firmly off-limits to someone like herself so it was understandable why she might have such a fixation on Tobias; he was single, reserved, tall, chiseled, and lacked any of the arrogance that his peers had. She would have been hard-pressed to find someone more eligible and attractive among palace employees. Tobias's father, the late king's cousin, came from the same ancestry that had made Queen Camilla's former consort striking enough to be selected as her spouse. It only made sense that what made Luke such a renowned heartthrob would do the same for his relatives.

"You're doing me a favor," Rhiane promised as she portioned out some of the fall harvest salad onto her plate. "I realize this is a bit unconventional but it seemed silly to eat lunch by myself when there are so many people around. Besides, I am in your debt for all that you have been doing to help me adjust to my new life," she continued as she used a pair of polished silver tongs to place a slice of foccacia next to the leafy greens.

"You owe us no gratitude," Madeline with polite formality. As much as the princess elect was trying to cultivate a casual atmosphere it was nearly, if not totally, impossible for the professional woman to forego proper etiquette. "It is our duty and privilege to serve you."

"Even if that is true I can still be thankful," Rhiane countered with a charming smile. "It might be the chef's responsibility to cook but you can still feel appreciative for what he's prepared, can't you?" she said with a gesture to the decadent platters strategically placed where all of them could reach. "I think that's something we all too often forget, don't you? We take people and things for granted far too often and don't realize how blessed we are, how wonderful the world us is, and how everyone deserves recognition and praise for their accomplishments, no matter how mundane."

"You make a compelling argument," Tobias said to break the slightly uncomfortable silence that followed Rhiane's brazen statement. Viola was trying to keep herself from laughing imagining either Luke or Queen Camilla sharing the sentiment and Madeline had pursed her lips together as she tried to evaluate whether Rhiane was sincere or was perhaps using a convincing courtier mockery of their social class.

"Thank you Tobias. Does anyone call you Toby? Or do you always go by Tobias?" she asked curiously.

"I am always addressed as either Dark Horse 3, Tobias, or Mr. Lavanchy," he answered simply as he served himself marinated chicken breast that had been tastefully sprinkled with chopped herbs. The scent of the entree wafted through the room and was enticing enough that as soon as he had finished choosing his slices both Viola and Madeline were reaching for the plate to partake as well.

"Hmmmm," Rhiane said as she looked at her new bodyguard thoughtfully. She was admittedly in a bit of a rush for familiarity, in the hopes that she could create a level of trust that would challenge their blind indoctrination, but she didn't think that Tobias would be emotionally receptive to any such overtures. The princess elect knew she had to be steady and slow to earn his confidence; this was not a time to be impatient. Little did she know that she stately man was trying to do the exact thing to her but with entirely different motivations and ambition.

"May I ask you a question, Miss Black?" Viola ventured. Madeline's lips thinned in disapproval but she did not outwardly protest. To do so would challenge the former farmer's wishes and she knew that she was out-ranked. No one, not even the queen who endorsed the division of social class, would support such blatant insubordination.

"Of course! Yes, please, ask me anything you like- except perhaps to kiss and tell," she answered quickly with a mischievous wink. To her companions this was an absolutely reasonable boundary. No one seriously expected, not even the media, to be allowed a window into Prince Luke's most private and intimate moments. For her this instruction was given because she was genuinely uncomfortable with her brothed's incredibly bizarre romantic gestures. Voicing them aloud would make her anxiety regarding the future of hers and Luke's relationship exponentially inflated.

"In your interview you didn't talk much about your family," Viola said as she spooned freshly steamed vegetables onto her plate and then began to cut them into tiny bites as was proper manners. "What are they like?"

Rhiane had to suppress the urge to bristle at the question. She had avoided the topic because the estrangement she had from her father and brother was so painful, so difficult to bear, and so demoralizing that she had been unable to even place a picture of them on her wall. It was easier to try to forget they existed than remember the parting words that had carved large wounds onto her heart. But it was unconscionable to pretend they didn't exist. It was for their benefit she had even considered entering their contest and it was for them alone that she continued to play her part in the spectacle that was being compared to Cinderella on the evening news. As angry as she was with both of them she wanted to honor them even if it was in the privacy of the quarters of a man they hated above all others.

"My father is a tall, like Tobias, but he's a bit wider," she joked as she tried to recall happier days. The fond tone she took one immediately made even Madeline drop her silverware and pay rapt attention; there was such love, such adoration, such reverence in her voice it was bewitching. "Everyone thinks because he's large, and facial hair, that he looks like a bear and must act like one, but he's actually too much of a people pleaser. He is too kind to say 'no' even when someone is talking him into a bad deal. Mom always said he was a bit of a doormat when someone came to him with a sad story. Gerald is a giant too, but almost all muscle, and has the opposite problem with people. He has a heart of gold but he gets frustrated very easily, and loses his temper, and we spend more time trying to calm him down for being upset over the smallest things... but he's bright. Sebastian and I always told him he should have pursued a higher education. He has such amazing focus, and dedication, that I think he'd be brilliant in university."

"What about your mother and other brother?" Viola asked gently in a voice barely above a whisper.