Although Luke had cautioned Rhiane against ignoring Anelle, that was precisely what she did when the so-called Image Manager made her rather patronizing remarks dressed as concerned warnings. The princess elect was far too focused on the task at hand to let an ex-lover's petty jabs be a distraction. "Trust me," she whispered into her betrothed's ear as they approached the line of reporters and gawkers. Tobias stood resolute from his position in front of and slightly to the side of his charge. Had it been appropriate to do so she might have laughed at how even the most eager correspondent gave the tall, stoic man a wide berth. The crown prince's cousin has a handsome face, but the display of affection on the plane had left him in a poor mood, and the foreboding aura around him dissuaded anyone from getting too close to him, much less either of the royals that had approached. Quietly she wondered if his protective streak was purely platonic.

"It is nice to some familiar faces," she said as her gaze drifted over the crowd. Her congeniality was a stark departure from how most of the aristocracy treated broadcasters like vultures. Rhiane's warm disposition towards them was not without it's benefits; many of them were reluctant to paint her in a negative light, not only because she was a charismatic beauty they personally liked, but because harsh critics might have less cooperation and access. They all understood she was being more generous with the press than was required or necessary. "Ah, Mr. Ricci," she said remarked at one gentleman in particular. "Didn't I just read you celebrated a twentieth wedding anniversary? My congratulations to you both." People smiled, the crowd of commoners excitedly whispered to one another, and her excellent memory started the impromptu meeting with a positive impression.

"I have to admit that I was looking over the commentary from yesterday," she began, "and I realized I owed you all an explanation. In the morning and afternoon I wore a dress... well, I'm sure you all recall, it was quite memorable, wasn't it?" This elicited nods and a few grins. The way she wove a story was not so casual that it was improper, but also was not so detached that it felt like a prepared transcript. "After lunch I was quite cold, even after Prince Luke generously lent me his jacket," she explained elegantly, "I was so excited to wear something new I did not consider the weather, and he rightly was frustrated that I didn't select clothing that would keep me warm throughout the day, especially with my recent health. We had no time to discuss the matter and we knew the tour was an important commitment, so we carried on, though it did not escape your collective notice we were not ourselves. I did not intend to tell all of you this, but I could not bear the thought of rumors making rash assumptions, especially when it was all over a very beautiful garment that has poor insulation," she said with a flashed smile.

It was nothing short of amazing how Rhiane could tell the truth and yet expertly mislead her audience. It was true that Luke lent his jacket and that he was annoyed she was half-frozen in the ride to the farms, but she left out how he'd prefer she endure over changing into peasant attire. By steering around this fact and instead navigating towards other genuine statements she fell onto her proverbial sword, presenting herself as innocently enthusiastic about her new life and thus unintentionally careless, with the heir to the throne a gleaming example of an ideal partner. With one fell swoop she had erased the blemish on their record and reinstated their fairy tale fantasy. The nobility would not have an avenue with which to mar their reputation with gossip; after all, in their eyes she was only a tool and property, and they could not fault him for wanting to keep her in 'good condition.'

"And you've talked things over now, Ms. Black?" one bold correspondent called out from the back.

"Well, I'm not wearing a sleeveless dress with a skirt above the knees today, am I?" she joked. "I have learned my lesson. I underestimated the chill of the higher elevation in the mountains," she added sincerely, "and I could be barely coaxed out of my hot bath last night. Today I am introducing Prince Luke to my family, so it was important to dress more conservatively, or else my father would disapprove on principal," Rhiane told them with such an effervescent charm that they now appeared more like jubilant fans than cunning journalists looking for an angle. It was hard not to like the princess elect; she was relatable on both sides of the poverty line and knew how to present herself without loosing this appeal.

"We have to be off to meet my family," she continued "both the living and the deceased, so I hope you will honor our request for privacy today."