The most difficult thing for Luke was not the evidently cold reception of the family, Rhiane sufficiently warned him about that. The baseless accusations of the men, he understood, were a result of ignorance and grief they might have not fully recovered from. He was not in a position to argue with people who had closed their minds off to wisdom, people who would rather pin the blame on someone else because it was easier than admitting to themselves that they themselves had shortcomings. It did not bother Luke. The most difficult part was hiding his nature, holding on to the words before they left his lips, and appearing to accept the judgment of the unschooled farmers. If Rhiane paid attention to his posture, she would notice how stiff his back was, that his jaw was set, though his face remained passive.

Perhaps the only consolation was despite not heeding her warning about her family, Rhiane was taking the matter of his defense into her hands. That she talked back to her father about calling Luke a murderer surprised him. Although she did tell him once that she did not blame him for what happened to her mother and brother, a part of her – the part that remained to that day a farmer – must have the same sentiments as Hubert and Gerard. Maybe Sebastian was right. Maybe she cared for him. After just a short period of time, the unlikely couple was testing the limits they drew the first night they met.

The second time that the alleged murder of Luke’s father was brought up was too much. It was not that he wanted to defend the honor of her mother. He would not deny what he personally knew was true – the queen commissioned the murder of her husband and remarried a nobleman. Implying that Luke was just a younger male version of the queen, a person he strived to distinguish himself from, did it. “For the sake of your daughter, I will forget I heard a word you said. Even the strongest nations are vulnerable to plagues. The crown had to take measures to contain the epidemic, else it may have infected more people.” It was short of saying that the capital ordered the isolation of the affected southern provinces to contain the threat. Nobody was allowed to leave and nobody was permitted entrance. Doctors remained scarce and, because the food-producing provinces were hit, supplies were barely enough to sustain the population. “If you have not been informed, let me tell you that the death toll inside the kingdom is less than our neighbors.” It was said to inform and not to boast. 

He steered the topic away from the woman Hubert was referring to. While he had no real participation with what happened during the plague, Sophia Keller was admittedly a web of mess he spun himself. “I maybe my mother’s son, but I am not like her. I would not be standing inside your house wasting my time listening to nonsense if my intentions are as you said.” He let his arm drop to his side. Little by little, he felt the rein on his temper loosening. “I am going to find a way to keep your daughter safe, even if it means breaking tradition. She does--”

Seemingly uninterested in ludicrous promises, Gerard cut Luke off. The royal paused, turning his attention to the eldest son. Not many people had the nerve to cut him off while he was speaking. Gerard not only interrupted the crown prince, he also dismissed Luke. 

“Nolan,” Luke said without breaking eye contact. With a touch on the earpiece, he reached out to his personal bodyguard. “Cancel all my appointments and meetings today.”

“Sir, with all due respect, I am not your --”

Luke dropped the line. Nolan might love to complain, but he was smart enough to obey, especially when the prince sounded serious. “It’s just a farm. I am running a whole nation. How hard could it be to tend to a small farm for a day?”