Anelle paused at his words. She held her breath and would have staggered a step back if she had not known the prince to have the tendency to be dismissive. As if everyone around him was a slave whose soul his mother bought for him to order around. The enthusiasm which made her eyes shine dimmed and she was left wondering if Luke had always been that indifferent. He had been nodding and mindlessly agreeing to the day’s plan while he checked his mail while she narrated the plans for the day. The computer was still in Rhiane’s room, though it was not a problem since he already asked Nolan to instruct Tobias to take it with him when he left the house. 

It was only after a few seconds of silence did Luke glance up from his device. In his blue eyes was a profound question what on earth was the woman still doing inside his tent. He told her to leave, but the Anelle was frozen where she stood, regarding him with narrowed eyes and pursed lips. Was she going to yell at him like Rhiane did because he was not the person she wanted him to be? Well, he was not about to become her ideal fiance just because his betrothed shoved him out of her room. 

So, Luke stared at Anelle and she did the same. Both were Thankfully, a couple of female staff bearing the food were let into the room. “Over to the table,” Anelle instructed, breaking the silence. She moved away to allow the ladies to set the table in front of the prince. “You’ll feel better, Luke, once you had your breakfast.” He knew she meant the pain killer he asked her to prepare for him, but didn’t say a word. Instead, he went back to reading correspondences. Anelle herded the staff out of the tent, leaving the crown prince on his own. She knew better than to be around Luke when he was in that mood. 

His peace and quiet did not last long though. While he was finishing his cup of coffee, Nolan announced Sebastian’s presence. Honestly, not the person Luke wanted to talk to – actually he was not in the right state of mind to talk to anybody. Sebastian found the crown prince already dressed in designer gray button-up long-sleeved shirt with mandarin collar. It was not completely buttoned, giving a glimpse of the skin at the base of his neck. His coat still hung from a rack, but his hair was fixed, parted to the side and pushed away from his face like he was about to attend a formal function. There was no more trace of the man who plowed the fields or drank with the peasants a day ago. This was the future king of the nation sipping on his coffee and inviting Sebastian to join him.

“Have a seat. I hope that there is enough food prepared for the entire family.” Luke wasn’t trying to be friendly, just civil. It was evident in his voice and the formality of his gestures. If Sebastian came to convince Luke to apologize to Rhiane, it was not going to happen. How could a man apologize for a sin he did not commit? If anything, Rhiane owed him an apology for shoving him out of her room without giving him a chance to explain himself or even talk to her about what was wrong. But then, Sebastian continued what he was saying and the prince was left staring back into the foreigner’s eyes, puzzled instead of enlightened about what was happening.

“No, she’s never told me anything.” It was true. Rhiane never told him any of her fears, the pain she carried with her even when it was obvious. On one of their conversations, he said that she did not need to fight his battles for him. He meant that she should care for herself above his wishes, his whims, and his life. It included this. If it was too much pain to visit her late mother’s and brother’s graves, then he was not in the position to forcer her into it. No amount of popularity could compensate for pushing Rhiane in that blackhole of grief. He knew, because he had been there a few times when he was a kid. It was a distant memory. He barely remembered how it was because of medical interventions, but he had a vague recollection of desperation, of wanting to give up on his life. Maybe it was what Rhiane was still going through, why she always seemed to have a death wish.

“I don’t understand.” Luke finally admitted after a pause. “I lost my father when I was ten. It’s difficult losing him, but it’s even more difficult not being able to visit his grave on special occasions. Why doesn’t she--?” But it was a question Sebastian might not be able to answer. Rhiane was difficult, Sebastian was right about that, but she did care for Luke. Knowing that it was the first time that she would brave the emotions attached to the grave made him want to march back to the door to demand audience. “Tell her that her request is as good as done.” Anelle would not be happy. Between the image manager and his fiancee, though, Luke would choose Rhiane. It was personal for the latter, while the former was doing it for her career.