“Send me a word once you verified the transaction,” Luke was telling one of his staff when Rhiane called his name. The prince looked over his shoulder at the brunette who still had her hand on the door then mouthed, “one minute,” before getting back to the conversation. 

The sun was at an angle such that the main house cast a shadow over the couple standing under the awning and close to the front door. It was such a fine day. Luke had thought that by then the introductions to the family would be over and they would already be on their way back to their lodging. He planned to spend his time finishing the recommendation he promised the queen, then start to work on the review of policies leaders from all over the globe proposed to New Rome. Those pages were to be scrutinized, consulted to his advisors, annotated, until the kingdom had a solid position. It was going to be a long day, but not in the way he thought. 

The prince raked his hair with a hand then finally addressed Rhiane as the line died away. “What is it?” It was still early in the morning, but he sounded exasperated with how the day was unfolding. Must be because of the lack of sleep since the tour began or that the effects of the coffee had expired leaving him a little tired and cranky. Although, there was no objection that came to mind when she told him what she wanted to do. “No problem. Take at least three guards with you if you’re going to leave the property. Never mind, I’m going to make sure there are at least three.” He glanced at her wrist, where he expected she was would wear the same communication device that he was wearing. It was not there. Somehow, he was not surprised that she defied him until the very end.

Unwilling to start an argument while he was at a disadvantage, Luke turned away to contact the security team leader to convey her message then his stern warning not to let her out of their sight. At the end of the property line, where chest-high fence marked the perimeter, were curious gazes. Some pretended to be just passing by, while some others were on their toes with their eyes narrowed at the house. Royal guards politely – at least Luke imagined they were polite in doing their jobs – asked the on-lookers to be on their way. Rumors about the VIPs turned the Black farm into an instant local tourist spot. 

“Did your family not receive their part of the prize money? My staff is verifying the fund transfer made in favor of your family’s newly made bank account.” He continued to watch the security team busying themselves with the unwelcomed guests. Their faces were obscured by the distance and the crops. “If proven invalid, I plan on paying for the stipend myself. This is embarrassing. We do not work this way.”

He started rolling the sleeve of his shirt up to his elbow the way he saw laborers did in movies he watched. “Your house needs to be renovated. I know of reputable real estate developers who can help. There is also the option of buying a new property. This house is just…” Plump purple bunches of grapes hanging in the midst of bright green leaves caught his attention as if it called to him to be harvested. The novelty of the farm was the property’s saving grace. But to somebody like Rhiane who grew up to such sights, he imagined how tiresome the scenery was. He could not imagine how it was possible to comfortably live in different states of repaired furniture, sewn curtains, and tattered rags. 

Luke failed to find a less deprecatory word to describe the state of the house. If he owned such property and a handsome amount of reward was given to him, he would have no second thoughts about calling for a contractor to restore the house, then fill it with furniture so that it was livable. He was not fond of Hubert and Gerard, but he wished that either or both would step out the door and save him from completing the sentence, because it appeared as if Rhiane was waiting for him to do so.