On the night she nearly died of poison, Luke discovered that his fiancee had a truly tender spot for sweets. Even if he wanted to, he could not get himself to forget about the look on her face when her trolley of sweets was carted inside her hospital room. That same look of wonder lit up her face while she surveyed the display behind the glass. He imagined it was the same expression he had whenever he was invited to test a new model of military fighter jet. It made him want to smile and ask her what was so exciting about those homemade pastries, because she’d never looked at him as tenderly as she was caressing those sweets with her gaze. Made him wondered how much of her time and her family’s farm’s earnings were spent on that bakery, or even if it was even her favorite bakery. But maybe every bakery was her favorite.

“Hmm. Are you worried?” She was correct in her assumption that he traded breakfast for work, though he did catch a few bites. Just enough to calm his rebelling stomach for the time being. Then again, stopping by the bakery was not about him. If he’d have it his way, they’d be walking the street of the town, with Rhiane on the lead, relating her stories to the camera, but she was upset and probably had less time than him for breakfast. “I’ll have coffee to go, please. I want it iced,” he added after a few moments of thought.  

The store owner lifted her head. Her hand paused in the middle of jotting down the ingredients. She bit her lower lip as if contemplating if she could say whatever it was that was running through her head. She glanced at her daughter who had packed the princess elect’s orders in small brown bags. “We only have instant coffee, Prince Alessandro.”

“Instant?”

The soil and the climate of the area did not grow with coffee. Importing beans, grinding it, and purchasing those home brewing machines were not productive in a farming village that grew vegetables and other crops. Besides, who would purchase an expensive blend? If it tasted like coffee, had caffeine, and was capable of banishing sleepiness, then it would do. “Yes, your highness.” She sounded embarrassed to admit it. What she could not bring herself to admit was the fact that it was beneath his highness’ royal taste and it would be blasphemous to offer it to the future king. But to deny him his whim could cost her the shop, if rumors were to be believed about this man. So, she averted her gaze and turned to Rhiane instead.

“I have not been offered an instant coffee in my entire life.” The daughter finished her task, but held on to the bags, anticipating the royal’s next move. Her mother was prepared to bow and apologize as if it was a crime to do so, as if she offered it to him. But before the shop owner could make another sound, the prince declared, “I want my coffee iced. Do you want a glass as well, Rhiane?”

The tension dispersed like a cool gust of wind sweeping from the sea. The owner’s shoulders relaxed. She took the little brown bags from her daughter, who disappeared to a door behind the counter possibly to mix some instant coffee. Eve returned not too long after with the drinks. When Luke asked how much it cost him, the owner hesitated, stating that it was a gift for the newly engaged couple. The prince firmly objected, quoting one of the kingdom’s law concerning graft, bribery, and how a public servant must turn away kind offers, no matter the intent, from the citizens it served. But he did not carry around cash and the shop did not accept electronic payments, so in the end Nolan paid. 

“Are you ready to leave?” He handed Rhiane’s sweets to her while Nolan pocketed the shopping list of ingredients. Eating in public, especially while walking, was considered unsophisticated by the nobility. Perhaps because most of them had time to eat slowly, carefully chewing the food, while taking care to follow every table etiquette in existence. Commoners could not afford that and neither could Luke. So, to hell with social protocols. It was a choice between what the nobility with their endless gossip and an upset Rhiane. If they knew Rhiane the way he did, then they would understand that there was never really a choice to make.