"- you, there's something different," one of Rhiane's female bodyguards was saying.

Two women had been appointed to the security detail for the princess elect when the decision was made to bolster their numbers to match Luke's. While the queen could not and would not admit aloud why she had chosen them, it was undoubtedly because there were places Tobias could not easily follow Rhiane, and since the poisoning incident they were reluctant to let her even use the bathroom by herself while in public. Both women had their accolades as guards at the palace but did not hold a candle to Tobias; they remained his subordinates even in their elevated positions.

"I haven't noticed anything amiss," the other female bodyguard responded skeptically. They were towards the center of the plane and seated in adjacent chairs conversing in hushed tones. The first to speak was Lia and the latter Octavia. Both were of aristocratic backgrounds, Lia's slightly more prestigious, and relatively good friends with one another. Neither had noticed Luke striding out of the room and possibly near their vicinity as they bent their heads together.

"He just looks at her differently. It's subtle but he... I don't know, he watches her intently, and not just because it's his job. Don't you think it's tragic? Half of the castle would be happy to be with him and the one woman he might have the mildest hint of feelings for and she's taken," Lia lamented. She was among his admirers even though she was wed. Like the royals her marriage had been a political arrangement, not a union born out of love.

"I think you're imagining things," Octavia sighed. "The person I feel most sorry for is Prince Luke," she whispered to Lia.

"Marrying a peasant," Lia remarked with a sad shake of her head. "They tested everyone thoroughly in the contest, and as nice as she is, I find it hard to believe an exceptional farmer is better than any lady he could find in the capital." What she was suggesting was unkind but the popular opinion in the palace and the upper echelons of high society. While they stopped short of accusing her outright, they thought Rhiane was less intelligent, less beautiful, less clever, less artistic, less everything of matter. To consider her their equal or better was so uncomfortable it edged on blasphemy. It did not matter objectively if Rhiane could beat them in a hundred tests- their bias had to persevere and they had to be better.


"I'll speak with the farmers of course, but you didn't come here to ask me to speak with them," Rhiane said to Ms. Viscomi once Luke had disappeared beyond the threshold of the door. She knew the answer before it left her lips. All the world knew that the princess elect was a farmer before she had been catapulted to national fame as fiancee to the heir to the throne. This stop would be less spectacular than its predecessors; there was a passive expectation in having a former former speak with farmers from another province. Newscasters could even potentially find the scenario boring. At the same time, the media would latch onto the absence of Prince Luke. They would see it as a sign of rejection of Rhiane's past, of her prior peers, of her upbringing, and some of the citizens most likely to join the rebellion.

"I take responsibility for being uncomfortable with public displays of affection, Ms. Viscomi, and I have seen some of the same criticism you have. Can you prepare a list for me of the names of the farmers I'll be meeting with as well as, if possible, a physical description? I think that it will go much smoother, and leave a positive impression, if I can try to commit their names to memory beforehand," Rhiane suggested with a smile.

"Yes, of course, but..." Ms. Viscomi began to protest. Her goal of trying to persuade Luke into addressing the farmers of Adrossa personally had not been met; furthermore, she had failed to elicit a promise from Rhiane she would help advocate on her behalf to the stubborn royal.

"You'll have to excuse me, Ms. Viscomi," Rhiane said as she stretched out her long limber legs and rose from her seat. Tobias turned from staring out the window. "I promise to review all the information you compile for me, but first I was invited into the cockpit by the prince, and I don't intend to refuse the offer. It is the queen's wish we become more familiar with one another is it not?" she said as she flashed a charming smile. As she moved forward to step out of the room Tobias did not follow. Rhiane was safe on the plane and it was quite evident that this was a private affair in which he would be imposing regardless of how silent and stoic he remained.

"Of course, Miss Rhiane," Luce agreed with slightly more forced enthusiasm. There was no easy way to object. She had pointed out a lack of intimacy not even a minute ago. To keep Rhiane locked in conversation would impede the rendezvous at the front of the plane and make her a hypocrite, something she was not eager to do. If she contradicted herself even once both Luke and Rhiane would latch on and twist it to their advantage when a future critique was called into question.