Sebastian had offered his knowledge and now it was up to Prince Luke to decide what he wanted to do with the information provided. The heir to the throne was free to believe, to disbelieve, to act upon it immediately, to disregard it, to keep it to himself, to share freely with others, or a multitude of other options. Perhaps he ought to have worked harder to persuade the other man but he was silent as distrust laced the other man's words. He suspected, however, that arguing and pushing would not net him a positive result. There was little that he could say or do to make a royal suddenly have faith in his confidence. Sebastian's conscience was clean and his lingering guilt erased just by summoning the courage to give voice to the coveted intelligence he held.

Unlike Hubert and Gerald Black he was not opposed to helping the prince. He was not, however, moved any more by the promise of monetary award and title as he had been amnesty. What Luke failed to grasp was that these things meant very little to the farmer. His fidelity could only be won by principal and ties to those whom he loved dearly; it was this way in which he was most similar to the princess elect that he viewed as a sister. If Rhiane herself had made an emotionally-charged plea for his cooperation he might have conceded because of their relationship alone. The elite made trades and transactions but Sebastian, and many others of his station, were moved by less tangible compensation.

To Sebastian the greatest tragedy was that while Rhiane might achieve some personal goals, he didn't believe that either the queen nor her son would meet theirs. Luke's words believed a confidence that he might be able too wage war on his adversary (the rebellion), eradicate them from New Rome, and triumph in a more stable future. Sebastian saw the revolution and growing calls for a violent coup as a symptom rather than the problem itself. Even if they imprisoned and murdered every treasonous rebel more would rise in their wake. There needed to be a fundamental change in society, starting with the monarchy itself, before commoners would stop calling for war against their real or perceived oppressors. Routing them out, assassinating them, or hosting public trials was unlikely to have the outcome desired. He was no politician but he knew how adeptly Rhiane could be a voice to the 'infidels' and that she had not yet, nor made attempts, made him suspect she was withholding for reasons known only to her.

"Of course," Elena nodded before rising from her chair. She patted Rhiane's leg where it was covered with one of the medical tower's thick blankets. They had utilized a slightly weighted blanket to help soothe their princess elect and improve circulation since she was confined to the bed at least for the evening. "Think about it. You can do it now, later, or never- the choice is up to you," she said with a reassuring smile towards her patient.

"Ah, and I've received a message your dinner should be ready in about fifteen minutes," she added with a wink as she walked out the door. Rhiane wouldn't admit it aloud but the toxin specialist was growing on her rapidly- if only because she was assisting in this indulgence to sample every decadent dessert that didn't have one of the ingredients she was temporarily forbidden from having.

"Seb?" she asked with obvious excitement. "I thought Gerald, that ass, wouldn't have let him call me! Can you put him on speaker?" Rhiane asked excitedly as she sat up with obvious joy in her features. A minute ago she was despondent that no one would call, visit, or inquire after her condition; no one except those obligated by their profession. She was delighted to know now that she was wrong.

"Seb! I thought you would be busy planning an extravagant wedding," she teased once Luke had acquiesced by placing the call on speaker phone. "And before you tell me any secrets, I asked Luke to put you on speaker. They are insisting I keep this IV on me until I eat," she admitted with an exasperated sigh that expressed her sentiments on the matter.

"How are you feeling?" Sebastian inquired gently as he dodged the question entirely. "Are you listening to your doctors?"

"I thought you'd be forbidden from calling," Rhiane said as she picked at the edge of her comforter and tried to pretend she hadn't heard his questions. She knew better, however, than to expect him to drop the issue. Even if he hadn't built a rapport in his brief discussion with Luke she also knew that her fiance was more likely to be an accomplice to her facing the situation than evading it. "I'm feeling better but not great," she confessed with reluctance. "Sebs, you know how I feel about doctors..."

"Rhi," Sebastian started to reply. His voice was firm but also warm; it genuinely sounded like he was her eldest sibling. Gerald was six years older than his sister and Sebastian was a year and a half older than Gerald, which made him Rhiane's senior by almost eight years. This made her listen to him better than most especially since she knew his heart was in the right place. "I love you, Rhi, unconditionally. You make decisions I disagree with, and I make decisions you disagree with, but we are family even if Gerald and I aren't married. Nothing you can do will ever make me stop supporting and loving you, though we might get angry with one another, or disappointed, or worried. Hubert and Gerald are... well, they are idiots when it comes to things like this, so they know to stay out of my way," he jested lightly.

"I want you to listen to your doctors and Prince Alessondro in matters concerning your health," he continued sternly.

"But..." she started to protest.

"Rhiane Violet Black, I won't listen to any excuses," he said sternly but gently. "I understand how you feel but the best way to honor the dead is to remember what they wanted for us and what they stood for. Your mother and Edwin wanted better for you and that includes your health. I'm sure if you needed someone to speak to about your fears and flashbacks that Prince Alessondro would rather arrange for you to privately see a counselor than continue to put yourself at risk."

The princess elect was properly chastised. She lightly bit her lower lip and sighed in defeat. No one was more effective at making her change course than the docile farmhand that had come into her life when they were struggling the worst. Had she believed in reincarnation and were Sebastian many years younger she might have thought he had had the same spirit as the two individuals he had just referenced. Before their deaths on her mother and Edwin had been able to pierce her stubborn streak with maximum efficiency. "I understand."

"Promise me you'll actually rest instead of conspire to escape," Sebastian said more lightly. "Maybe you could practice your art like you used to do. Have you told Prince Alessondro..."

"I promise," Rhiane said quickly. "I'm much too busy for hobbies, Sebs," she added hastily in an extremely obvious attempt to divert the topic.