Rhiane watched in silent disapproval as Nolan and Luke prepared for the meeting that could only have been delayed or cancelled, according to the guard, if the crown prince was a 'cold corpse.' She knew he was still in pain. No matter how hard he tried to hide it from her she had heard him ask for medication, had watched his stiff posture, witnessed him struggle to find a way to seat himself without exacerbating the injury. The ruthless monarchy continued to make demands upon the heir to the throne but they could not suppress her internal feelings on the matter. She knew the queen cared for her son but it appeared she had conditional consideration. It was not her place to say so, but the farmer believed the philosophies held by the royalty did more harm than good. Not only was it turning the people against them in greater numbers, because they perceived the aristocracy as inhuman, distant, and charlatans as a result of trying to be so perfect, it was unreasonable to not allow Luke a safe space to be vulnerable. Palace staff were masters of scheduling. Surely they could find pockets of time for respite and mental recovery.

"You look handsome," she said honestly when he inquired how he looked. This should have been enough of an answer but Rhiane was not quite herself, thus adhering to the strict rules of etiquette was beyond her capabilities. "You also look like you ought to have on your brace," she added meaningfully. He wouldn't heed her advice of course. Luke wanted to maintain his image and his clothing made it difficult to hide his impairment. Rhiane frowned to herself before turning on her side as he began his meeting. She had supported him returning to his work but now that he did so she felt as if she were an intruder on what ought to have been a confidential exchange. It was not possible for her to leave the room in her state but she could do her best to shut out the lights and sounds.

Her feeble attempts to seclude herself in the bed were stymied by the arrival of lunch. A maid occupied the chair in which Luke had recently sat as it would be inappropriate for her to be any closer. The kitchen had prepared an an appetizing entree with several sides to please the guests. Nothing could entice the princess elect. Out of obligation and an understanding eating was an absolute necessity she humored the maid and ate a few bites of her sandwich before she dismissed the servant. On her own she used a spoon to scoop up a portion of a fruit medley as well as a bread pudding that had been made specifically because of her fondness for the treat. Rhiane set aside the plate having eaten less than half.

The movie was her saving grace in the hours they waited for the palace medical team. All the characters of the lighthearted comedy were equally absurd. She did not laugh aloud but a grin alighted on her features for most of the film. It was impossible to be melancholy and depressed while watching them traipse around so foolishly. It was a trope that was overused but for someone who didn't often have a chance to watch any movies she could enjoy it more thoroughly than another who might have seen all its incantations: two members of law enforcement, one taking everything far too seriously and the other a hopeless mixture of enthusiasm and confusion. By the end of the feature she felt better than when it had started. For a couple hours she wasn't the target of a revolution but just an audience immersed in cinema.

Another had been queued, this time about a group of women who had exaggerated misunderstandings as they tried to work with another, but it didn't hold her attention quite as well. Rhiane began to drift a couple times before being jerked awake by her fears of what sleep might bring. Doctor Gulsvig's knocking interrupted an argument between the female leads about who was to blame for a recent setback on their project.

Just as she was opening her mouth to object to going first, or any treatment whatsoever, she remembered how she had agreed on it being her punishment for causing the collision. Her gaze flitted over to Luke and the place on his torso where she knew he was concealing broken ribs. "The doctor from the clinic," she said as she looked back to the physician. "I want him with me," she stated without any further explanation or demands. Though she had earlier alluded to wanting her fiance with her as well she wouldn't tear him away from his reports. He appeared to prefer them to her company- they did not cry, did not argue, did not frustrate him within an inch of his sanity she wagered.

"I greeted him on my way in- Dr. Ambrose Romanelli," Dr. Gulsvig nodded. It was an unusual request. Ordinarily he might be offended but, given the circumstances and Luke's passive approval by keeping the other doctor in the villa, he would not try dissuade the princess elect. She did not have the same rapport with him as he enjoyed with the rest of the royals. It was clear she did not trust anyone in his field; however, if one of his peers had made some headway in securing her cooperation he would take full advantage. "Very well. I'll have Tobias bring him in while I prepare for Ms. Black." He gave a small bow before excusing himself.

The clinic doctor, now identified as Dr. Romanelli, had showered and changed since they last saw him. "How are you feeling, Miss Black?" he asked congenially after nodding to Luke respectfully. He had been given a button up shirt, the sleeves rolled halfway up his forearms, a pair of grey slacks slightly large in the waist, and a belt. These gifts were not typical but neither was his attendance. There was a pragmatic need for new attire as his own clothing had been stained with blood. When Rhiane didn't give an immediate response Ambrose moved over to the bed and stood next to it as if they were only going to have a pleasant conversation.

"We have a couple options," he intoned softly with endless patience, "If you want to stay awake we can use something to help numb your arm while we inject a serum to help it heal and set it in a brace. If you don't think that's something you want to do we can put you under just long enough to finish the procedure. It's your choice," he emphasized.

There was an apparent lack of enthusiasm from Rhiane. Instead of answering with her preference she did something Luke would possibly find infuriating, the the doctor found shocking, but was predictable for those intimately familiar with her aberrant personality. "I'm sorry they hurt you," she murmured.

Ambrose Romanelli was quiet a moment before he knelt down and patted her hand reassuringly. "It is not your fault, Miss Black. I was just as surprised as you were that they broke into my practice with such ill intent. Most of the villagers adore you and two days ago I had a little girl announce she was going to be just like you when she got bigger. It is I who should be apologizing to you for failing to keep them from getting inside." His words were honest and seemed to placate the distraught woman. The doctor knew what she wanted to hear- perhaps needed to her- and was attending to not just her physical needs but the emotional ones as well. His bedside manner had been curated over years of attending to people going through the worst experiences of their lives. "What can I do to help you get better?"

"If... if you use the anesthesia, will you stay there the entire time?" she asked anxiously.

He nodded. "Yes, if you want me to. Do you want the prince there too?" he suggested carefully, "Maybe to hold your hand until you're under? Or when you wake up?"

"He's busy," Rhiane countered quickly, though Ambrose surmised by her choice of words was not that she didn't want Luke to be there, but rather she was afraid to ask. The brunette felt terrible that she was taking her turn first, that events under her control had left him with a backlog of responsibilities, that he had a limp caused by her actions, and she had convinced herself for these reasons she was unworthy of imposing her wishes. Besides, it was her that had drawn death to his doorstep, and now she was irrationally paranoid she might somehow infect him with the darkness that had targeted her earlier in the day.