In the past they had argued and then gone their separate ways without resolution for a variety of reasons, the most prominent of which was their incompatible world views. Because they could not agree on the facts of reality- such as whether or not Tobias held affections for the princess elect or if the working class was plagued by ignorance and laziness- that it made coming to an understanding impossible. Culminating frustrations, stubbornness, and pride kept them apart. Rhiane felt that she made too many concessions already to consider more compromises. Luke, who was a crown prince and future king, likely felt he ought not to have to bicker incessantly with a woman who held no real power. It was surprising to the former farmer, then, that he chose this moment to force more discussion than simmer in discontentment.

Had the door not been locked, Tobias might have stepped through and pull his charge to the safety of her seat. Instead she was pulled by her wrist back into the suite. Once her arm was released from Luke's grasp she stepped backwards and rubbed the spot absently as she glared resolutely at the heir to the throne. Each utterance earned him only more contempt. The chastisement did nothing to convince her that she ought to heed her advice; the insults only fanned the flames of her anger. Rhiane still had doubts about his feelings. Her fear that her growing attachment was one-sided made her hyper-defensive on the subject of Anelle. Anything short of a complete and direct condemnation of her actions made the brunette paranoid he was protecting the redhead, that he was not as finished with her has he claimed, that the Image Manger held his favor instead of her. Never had she been more insecure and jealous. For someone new to romantic relationships and unconcerned about material wealth, this was entirely new.

"I refuse to accept sole responsibility for what happened with Luce," she countered. "Your mother probably replaced her for multiple missteps, not just one. You weren't especially cooperative with her either," Rhiane recalled, alluding to the many times Luke had been dismissive of her guidance, or balked at a suggestion. Regardless of her words, it still weighed on her conscience to know that she might have ruined someone with her actions. The princess elect did not regret. No one instance stood out to her as unjustified behavior, but she disliked that it had come to this, that there was no one that could be appointed to oversee them that would treat her with the respect she deserved. An advisor that didn't look upon her like a ill-bred child was as high as her hopes dared to be.

"And I don't know what you mean by picking Tobias over you. He's just a friend, Luke, the only one I have besides your sister, whom I rarely get to see. The reason I spent so much time talking to him is... he doesn't look down upon me, like I'm stupid or dirty because I wasn't born to rich parents. He listens to me, asks my opinion, makes an occasional joke when everyone else would rather ignore me or stick to their own social stratosphere. The public might love me but I know that not a tear would be shed by any of the staff if I was dropped out of the plane right now," she remarked in a somber, thoughtful tone. It was purely platonic. Her voice didn't betray any hidden affections, but sounded as if she were talking fondly of a close confident, a brother, or someone like Sebastian in whom she could speak freely without risk of rejection.

The true tragedy was that in another situation the passive presence of Tobias would have gone wholly unnoticed. He did not seek Rhiane out openly. It was the quiet shunning within the castle and aristocracy, the insincere flattery, the polite conversation only when required, and the guarding without caring that created a void. A prince elect or princess elect was left standing on the figurative dance floor while clusters of people networked around them, never interacting of their own volition, never accepting. This is what made Luke's cousin so significant. He alone dared to be in close proximity to the lonely figure. Had she garnered honest admirers during the engagement ball then Tobias would have been lost in the crowd. The queen and her faithful, entitled loyalists unknowingly had pressed their precious pawn closer and closer to the open arms of a rebel with ulterior motives.

"Do you promise?" she asked as she let his hands grace her shoulders. Apprehension danced in her eyes. "If it's important to [i]you[/i] then I'll make the list, but I want you to review the locations before it's handed over to the witch. If you promise me there isn't anything between you, I'll believe you, but I'm not going to hold myself back if she interrupts us at the wrong moment," she sulked somewhat petulantly. He'd have a harder time persuading her otherwise given the previous morning he had let Tobias see them in a compromising position on purpose.

"A tour of my hometown wasn't part of the plan. This is hard for me," she elaborated, "because some places were my secret sanctuaries, like your island, and some are sites of painful memories. Going on tours and luncheons was what I anticipated when I took the job, not something this personal, and if the same were asked of you while Tobias stroked my arm and invited me on a date, I think you'd have reacted negatively as well. I meant what I said... feelings matter. If you want me to do something, I'll look at it differently than if it comes from your mother, or Anelle, or a request from our security detail."