Her choice of words amused him so much that he chuckled, looking away and shaking his head. Was that how Rhiane had always seen him – a handsome devil? His face turned into the sky as his amusement faded into the night. The stars were plentiful and bright. It shouldn’t hurt the balance of the universe if one would fall and grant him one wish that night. “Handsome devil.” Luke seemed to test the words as it quietly rolled on his tongue. A grin brightened his face even as his mind wandered to places from his past, to memories of faces he used to know. Did they see him the way his betrothed did? His birthright, his title, his fame, and his fortune were bits and bits of precious stones encrusted a mask he wore everyday as Lucius Castiglione – him and every other child born to the royal family. The shiny stones drew people towards him, women especially, because what shiny thing was not interesting? Yet, when all of it was shed, when the mask was broken, when the human face behind the glamour was revealed with all his flaws, how much of these so-called ‘friends’ would still stand by him and tell him that it was alright to be human?

“I had been called worse,” he added seemingly proud after a pause though none of his thoughts betrayed the carefree expression on his face. “I can’t say that I am sorry for sneaking in and apparently getting in the way of your soul searching. If I had walked the other way, then I would have missed this beautiful naked lady, who doesn’t seem to mind talking to strangers with alleged ill intentions. Although must it always be an ill intention that prods a gentleman to seek the company of a lady?” His face turned right at the very moment she inched hers closer, lips slightly parted as if to add more commentary about her subtle attack on men and their urges. But the next words died in his throat, together with his resolve to keep either his reputation or freedom. If he thought he could thread the flames ang not get burned, he was horribly mistaken. Rhiane was an undeniable beauty and he had a soft spot for beautiful faces. The night, the shadows playing on her features to soften it, and the light of the moon caught in her eyes, made him pause. Her lips were slightly parted too. And he waited patiently for those lips to be his again, but she whispered something making them both hesitate. 

She was right. He had a nation to run and there he was, needlessly flirting with a woman who wasn’t even his type. “Even as a kid, I was expected to study how to run the family business. My childhood was not ideal. You could say that I had been working, seeking approval from my superiors, striving to be the best ever, since as long as I could remember.” He found her hand and entwined his fingers with hers, then held on. “Just a few more minutes.” Just a few more minutes of being someone else other than the next king of the land. “Or are you feeling too tired?”

A slight blush colored her cheeks. With a frown, Luke touched her chin, gently tilting her face to the light for an inspection. A warning at the pool’s entrance talked about the risks of staying too long in the pool. Was it ‘too long’ already for her? “Maybe we should get you back to the room. You can watch movies or the news. I’ll order wine.” 

Luke unclasped their hands before he waded into the shallower part of the pool so he could fetch her robe for her. The night was not getting younger anyway. As much as he wanted to stay in the pool pretending to be somebody else, Rhiane must be tired from all the talking and touring and interacting with the people. Besides, she was still recovering from physical and emotional trauma. It was selfish to keep her if she would rather lay down and rest.