The problem was not that the mobile device of the doctor was already phased out, it was just the royal guards used a different communication frequency which was not accessible for the general public, nor the military. It allowed for a secured and reliable communication among themselves and the palace. It explained how Luke contacted the palace when he asked Nolan to connect him to his mother.

Queen Camilla answered the call on the first ring. She had cancelled every appointment that day and was actively monitoring the situation with her husband. Just like Luke would not get used to attempts on his life, the queen could not say that she would ever be at peace with the fact that her children’s lives were at a risk because of the enemies she made. It triggered her maternal instincts to be pushed to the surface and then she would gather her children back to the nest, which was supposed to be the safest place for them. Her daughter, for instance, was escorted back to the palace from an event that she attended as the guest of honor. If the twins were not out of the country, they would have had the same fate as their sister. 

“I will write a detailed report for you before the day ends,” Luke was saying while he crouched over the dead body outside the bathroom to inspect the rebel’s rifle. “It’s just not safe to speak at length right now.” Nolan and Tobias might have eliminated two of the threats, but there were three more rebels that they knew of while an unknown number could be hiding in the village. It was not safe to linger, also not safe to speak freely with the doctor – somebody he did not trust – around.  

Tobias stepped out of the bathroom with the princess elect in his arms. The guard’s long strides and purposeful steps cried for the prince’s attention and meaningful glare. Had he not been injured, he would have been the one to carry the princess elect to their vehicle as a prince charming would do for her princess. But Luke was not so big a fool as to try to lift a tall woman considering the status of his health. Besides, what did he hope to gain by continuously being considerate for the farmer? The kiss was just a kiss, he reasoned with himself. It was a natural reaction of a man who was trapped in a cramped space with a beautiful woman who presented herself willingly to him. If he could turn back time, he would take a bit of rationality with him and choose against what feels was right, because she was a peasant. He may have gotten used to her, even enjoyed her company, but between him and her was a thousand reasons why they should not be together.

Yet, as Tobias passed by, Luke could not take his eyes off the woman that was carefully cradled in his arms. It should have satisfied the royal to see the farmer and the almost-nobleman sharing the same space, with the cousin he loved as a child, who was a cold and emotionless loyal servant, seemingly finding his match in the farmer. But for some reasons, it provoked an unwanted emotion within the royal. Maybe because of what he heard at the airplane and what he saw in Rhiane when she was with Tobias, Luke did not want Tobias to touch his fiancee.

“Luke, are you still there?”

The worry in the queen’s voice saved the prince from exploring the conflicting emotions within him. As if Queen Camilla’s presence reminded Luke that he was the next ruler of the kingdom, that he should not be distracted by menial things such as his emotions, wants and desires. It would not benefit New Rome, therefore it was not his concern. “I’m sorry, mother. I was curious about the rifles. Allow me to discretely open an investigation with the Defense Ministry.” The discussion between mother and son continued, wavering between passing information to personal thoughts about the well-being of the other. Luke gestured for Nolan to take the dead man’s rifle then followed Tobias out the door. The queen may have told her son that the link between him and his fiancee shut off automatically on such emergency situations, but he was used to keeping her in sight. He stood a few meters from the vehicle, watching from the corner of his eyes as the doctor and his cousin assumed seats at the back of the vehicle with his fiancee. The conversation with the monarch was cut short after the rifles were loaded inside the compartment. He promised to call back when they reached the villa.

The rear driver’s door was not locked when he pulled it open. As soon as he did, he met the doctor’s slightly round brown eyes then followed by his cousin’s. The latter’s instincts kicked in such that his hand reached for the standard issued pistol, but stopped upon recognizing who was the intruder. The guard’s eyes softened a little, but his stare did not waver. As if he was asking what Luke was doing standing by the door and making himself an easy target to any sniper nearby. Though Nolan was standing guard behind Luke, the prince should know better since it was not the first time he was caught in an ambush. The guard opened his mouth to say something, perhaps appeal to his royal cousin’s rationality, but the latter beat him to it.

“We need to get moving.”

The doctor raised his hand tentatively. “Uh… There are medical supplies that I need to get from the clinic. May I…”

Luke nodded, though he did not spare the doctor a glance. He was silently questioning Tobias, and what annoyed Luke was the truth that his cousin didn’t seem to have a clue what those blue eyes meant to say. “Tobias,” he started as the doctor alighted from the vehicle and hurriedly went back inside the building. 

“Your highness.” Tobias’ head bowed just a little. 

“Who was driving this vehicle?”

Realization dawned on the guard. It was visible in the slight widening of his eyes and the wavering of his confident posture. One corner of his lips twitched a little in a smirk or a scowl, Luke wasn’t sure. “I was,” he admitted. His royal cousin was trained to deliver messages clearly through his lengthy speeches, but sometimes the simplest of instructions were difficult to verbalize. Tobias reluctantly left the princess elect’s side to assume his position at the driver’s seat.

They were on the road in no time. Luke was back on the phone. Nolan had tossed the device to the prince after getting annoyed at his endless command to call this person or that person. He had instructed one of his staff to request a meeting with the Minister of Defense, and another to the Minister of Health. Responses from both were expected within the hour so he could verbalize his request. Another staff was called to personally give instructions to send a medical team, detailing the needs of the couple. He was not done yet, because right after that, was a call from the palace. The palace intelligence was supposed to confirm the location and the couple’s status with Nolan and was surprised to hear a different person at the other end of the line. A conversation about the barricades and checkpoints to be setup was inevitable. Luke unconsciously rested his hand on his fiancee’s knee as if to reassure her or himself.

It was then that the doctor reminded leaned forward and quietly repeated his advice that the princess elect should not be left alone even at night. “I will personally see to it, doctor. I can watch over her tonight,” was Tobias’ casual reply. 

Hearing the short exchange prompted Luke to pull the earpiece from an ear, disregarding the previous conversation. “There is no need. We share the same room. I will call for help if needed.” He regarded Tobias who was quietly looking back at him from the rearview mirror. “You and Nolan had a long day today. Rest for the night. I need you both alert tomorrow.”

Nolan smirked. They had worked together long enough to understand what the prince was trying to do. Tobias nodded grimly and proceeded to drive in silence. Luke went back to his conversation and by the time they arrived in town, he had returned both the mobile device and earpiece to his personal bodyguard. 

As expected, cameras and media personnel were camped on the village, waiting for the arrival of the couple, hungry for a juicy scoop. Their arrival had been delayed for over half a day and the itinerary for the day was still in question. Thankfully, the windows were tinted so no photo with their faces on in were taken. The ground security made way for the vehicle so that Tobias could drive them to the villa constructed for the couple’s comfort. 

“Where here,” he whispered to Rhiane. She was conscious but unreactive. Witnessing a man shot dead right in front of her must be traumatizing. What the princess elect needed was proper counseling and perhaps something to calm her nerves. He knew because he was only ten years old when he was caught in a crossfire and had been forced to watch a man shot dead right in front of his innocent blue eyes. The person who shot the would-be assassin was the late prince consort, Luke’s father. 

Luke freed her from the seatbelt, then reached for the latch to open the door. The painkiller’s effect had diminished by then and the act of bending his torso to reach for something shot a sharp pain from his side. He bit back the sound trying to escape his lips, but the sudden pain showed briefly on his face. He would have to let his cousin take her from him again.