His apology had given her the slightest hint of hope, but it was quickly washed away the moment he opened his mouth and began to sing. She did not even need to hear the lyrics to confirm the lingering affections Luke held for the actress who had just flown overseas to another country. Rhiane was fairly certain there was no press coverage including the crown prince performing vocally, unless it was to deliver a speech to visiting dignitaries, and that just made it that much more apparent how special the other woman was. This ballad was not crooned for her benefit, but because another had uniquely inspired him, made his heart ache, made him express himself in such a beautiful and private way. If there had ever been a war she had surely lost it before she ever arrived at the castle. The farmer had briefly considered that the starlet was a fling, a relationship of convenience and mutual satisfaction, but now she realized it must have been much more to cause Luke sing.

Inwardly she tried to steady herself. This had been a poor topic of conversation. Now that he had spoken she could clearly recognize that Luke was still under the influence of medication that mitigated his inhibitions. There was no conscious softening of the blow as words flowed from his lips. He was being brutally honest with her and no matter how badly she believed she needed this rejection, that she deserved it, and it would be better for all if they kept an emotional distance, it hurt more than she had expected. Perhaps it was because he had that goofy, charming, captivating smile while his low voice perfectly accentuated the notes. In another life he could have been a musician.

And then came the outright assertion that the kiss they had shared in the SUV had been a method to overcome her stubborn defiance. At this claim she inhaled deeply and closed her eyes to prevent an overt reaction. Though she wished he had stopped there he did not and continued on to allude to the clinic's as one he had only politely humored. Sober Luke might have seen this as an act of kindness. He had been showing her consideration and respect by not pushing her away. Now they knew exactly where they stood with one another so there would be no delusions about the nature of their relationship.

Rhiane yearned for the simple village men of her home. True they were crass, more rugged than handsome, and their etiquette left something to be desired, but they found her attractive. Not once had a unattached man in which she had expressed interest ever criticized her family, her upbringing, how she compared to socialites of New Rome. It was silly to think about how sorely she missed the crude flirting and vulgar praise. There was something to be said for the validation of compliments; it was certainly better than confronting the impossible standards set by the women with which Luke had entanglements previously.

Quietly she listened as he proclaimed love to not be real, to be a distraction, that he missed Sophia and therefore might love her, and what mannerisms she had that he apparently adored. It was torture but she endured the confession silently without interruption. Just as she was planning how to extricate herself from the bedroom, or make Luke suddenly forget she was present, she saw that he had turned to look at her. The question he asked her made her expression turn from that of oppressive melancholy to surprise. Visually she searched his features for any sign this was a joke- but he was serious. Luke sincerely wanted her to tell him what love was.

She sighed. "I've never been in love, I only know what my mother and father were like, what Gerald and Sebastian are like," Rhiane explained so that he would not hold it against her later. "It's about knowing someone's flaws, recognizing them, and caring about them anyway, about wanting to tell them amazing thing that happens to you before anyone else, going out of your way to try to make them smile, and thinking about them whenever you're away. It makes you want to be a better person than you already are, sacrifice things just to share with them, and confide your darkest secrets because you trust them completely."

"If you woke up tomorrow and you were old, and you were no longer a prince and she was no longer an actress, and you were poor, and you were both ill, would you still want her with you? If tomorrow you quashed the rebellion, and secured new financing for all your pet projects, and had a new fighter plane to fly, who would you want to tell first? If you were stranded alone on an island and had to pick one person, who would you pick? I can tell you my mother and father would always chose each other, and Gerard and Sebastian always pick each other. It just... feels like you've found someone who understands you, and who compliments you, and who you can't imagine life without," she said with a wistful tone.

Rhiane cleared her throat and sat up, suddenly aware of how the discussion had derailed into dangerous territory, and how badly she didn't want to confirm with Luke whatever he had with Sofia. Life was hard enough for the princess elect without finding new ways in which to be depressed. "I'm sure you'd sleep better without me here," she abruptly stated. "I wouldn't want to force you to be [i]polite[/i] when you're trying to rest. This villa must have another bedroom- I'll tell Tobias you need your space for recovery since we're not used to sharing quarters yet."