Hashih

The Betrothed

“I want to.”

He wanted to prove himself. He wanted to show the foolish farmer that the crown prince was not just another pampered lazy royal who sat all day being photographed, interviewed, and revered by his subject. He wanted the father and son to realize that they were wrong.

Maybe it was he who was wrong. Despite not having the humility to accept a flaw in his rash decision that morning, Rhiane had a point that he had more important matters to attend to than harvesting crops and proving himself to be worthy to be called a son-in-law of Hubert Black – a farmer. The queen would send an entire fleet to extract her son from an embarrassing situation he found himself in. She would stop a potential scandal before anybody could spark a rumor about the heir to the throne toiling in the mud for the sake of an untitled woman who happened to win a silly contest. Lowering himself to the level of farmers was unbecoming of a future king, and a shame to all of the noble lords and ladies loyal to the ruling House.

The only justification for his decision was Sebastian. Luke did not care for the approval of the patriarch or his eldest son, he only cared for Sebastian’s opinion of him. Gerard’s partner was the ally he needed in order to infiltrate the rebellion effectively. The information he provided was more accurate, timelier, and more useful than the results from his network. Either the team was ineffective buffoons blowing off the Royal Treasury, or somebody up in the ranks was stopping the information from getting to the right persons. Sebastian might help the intelligence network, therefore his confidence in Luke was crucial.

“No need,” he gestured for the blonde to remain in his seat. “I am comfortable in these clothes.” And he had not worked a day in his life doing manual labor. He trained, and was continuously training with the military, which was the most physical labor he did in his life. Fine clothes were comfortable to wear in the office, a conference, on a date, or just lounging at home, but Luke really had no idea about working in the fields. Truth was, he was too proud to be borrowing something owned by a commoner. The other men may or may not find it snobbish or even insulting, but the prince would not be caught wearing mass produced clothes. Good thing he went for a stretchy sweater and sneakers instead of his other more formal clothing.

Luke was about to shrug his jacked off when Rhiane caught his hand and he turned to the side to hear her better. “I know,” he admitted in a similarly hushed tone when she told him that he didn’t need Hubert’s blessing. The other sentences that followed made him frown slightly. “It’s highly unlikely that I will get hurt. Farm machineries ought to have safety features, and I am not clumsy. Don’t worry, I’ll be fine.” He would show her father and brother how not to look down on a royal just because the media portrayed them as privileged spoiled kids. “Somebody will update me on the agreements of the meetings and I can do my homework tonight.” His eyes briefly darted back to the other men in the room, who seemed to be straining their hearing capacities to catch a glimpse at the exchange between the couple, before overcoming his hesitation and turning back to Rhiane. “Tonight, while you are sleeping and after you’re done with me.”

A sly smile curved his lips, giving hints to the other occupants of the room about what the subject of conversation of the two was. “I’ll be careful,” he added aloud, then proceeded on taking off his coat. The dark clothing was passed on to Rhiane for safekeeping.

Luke turned his attention to Gerard. “There are some people I need to talk to, but I’ll wait for you outside so that we may start the chores early.”

With that, he retraced the steps back to the front door. The first person he called up was his mother, else she may think he was doing something suspicious, then his staff, then his representatives for the various meetings. He kept his line open for any sort of queries or reports or emergencies that may happen while he was working the fields.

The Betrothed

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?”

The Betrothed

Rhiane’s modest upbringing was not new to Luke. There was no shortage of reminder coming from the brunette that her life had been difficult, that she had to fight for the survival of her family’s business and at the same time provide for her family. Sometimes he wondered if she told those stories to boast about her past which she secretly believed was more interesting than anybody else in the palace. Poverty was the wall that kept their worlds apart. It was a line that separated the those who did manual labor and those who capitalized on the laborers. Rhiane was the former while Luke the latter.

Needless to say, Luke had the notion that he had stilled himself with what to expect coming into the house of a self-professed lowly peasant. What he did not foresee was that his expectations of the home she grew up in was nothing compared to the once dark-tinted wood flooring, scratched walls, and curtains that should have retired a few years ago. The rag under his shoes threatened to split in half as he followed her into the house. Furniture appeared to be selected not for aesthetic purposes, but for use. There was no coordination or theme or any semblance of a well-thought interior design. If Rhiane was awe struck by the view in Luke’s apartment, the prince was silenced by what he found inside the house.

“It seems that I have a lot of work to do.” It was told more to himself than her, when he finally found his voice. There was the monetary reward for the chosen princess elect’s family. The compensation should have been awarded after she was announced the winner. If he was the head of the household, he would have used the money to improve the farm and the house itself. Besides, there would be more where that funds came from.

He continued after her deeper into the house until they were at a sitting area. The men of the Black household were less hospitable than Sebastian. There were no pretenses of civility at all. Hubert Black lashed his fury at his only daughter, his son backing him up with an unapproving glare. Luke would have stepped in and placed himself between the father and daughter before either of the two resulted to physical attacks, if not for Rhiane’s equally authoritative retort.

A lioness was how Sebastian described her. Any sane bachelor should run the other way, else he may be stuck with a lifetime of involuntary servitude. Luke, however, stepped closer. “Murder is a serious allegation, Hubert. Did you have any proof that directly associates the crown to the death of your wife and son? Otherwise your statement can be interpreted as one inciting rebellion.” His voice was even and his gaze leveled. Some time after they entered the house, he had taken off his sun glasses. He stared at one man then the other, waiting for the three gentlemen to take their respective seats.

“Please take your seats.” He cast a sideways glance at his fiancee. “I instructed the guards not to come in no matter what they hear.” She was the one who gave him the advice not to pull ranks or intimidate. Although it was his favorite negotiation strategy, he believed Rhiane knew her family more than anybody in the palace, so he heeded her recommendation.

“We did not travel this far just so we can see you behind bars for propagating false information, nor did I say that to coerce you to civility.” He reached for Rhiane then delicately placed his hand at the small of her back, showing intimacy while not appearing to be overly possessive. “I dare to stand inside your home to formally ask you, Hubert Black, for your daughter’s hand. I would like to ask her to marry me and I’m here to ask for your blessing.”

The Betrothed

In movies, slow motion sequences were frequently used to evoke a certain feeling from the audience. It stretched an otherwise negligible period of time into what could have felt like infinity to one or both characters’ point of view. Speeding bullets, a terrified mob running away from a horde of zombies, the epic entrance of a band of superheroes strutting down the street like it was a runway, or a leading man finally realizing that the love he was chasing after was right before his eyes all along – slow motions were invented to stretch the boundaries of time in order to make it known that to some, a few seconds would matter for a lifetime.

“Your highness? Luke. Are you listening?”

His blue eyes snapped into focus and he would have shaken his head to clear the memory of her smile off his nervous system if not for the little self-preservation left in him. He was neither a teenager pining after the most beautiful woman in his mother’s court, nor was he a star in a romantic comedy film. In the real world where both Luke and Rhiane existed, there was no slow-motion sequences and time was firm about deadlines and commitments. Nevertheless, even Nolan noticed the subtle changes in his prince’s facial expression – the widening of his eyes and the bewildered look on his face. The royal’s device was humming on his wrist and he did not even seem to notice.

“Somebody is persistently calling and if you do not answer, I’m certain that whoever it is will contact me next,” Nolan added exasperatedly.

Luke gingerly turned his attention from the happily reunited family to find that it was his mother. He picked a pre-typed message to reject the call with a promise that he would return the call as soon as he could. When Luke lifted his head again, Rhiane was on her way to the front door and Sebastian was almost at his side.

Other women would have been delighted to present the crown prince to her family, but Rhiane was not like most other women. She was his lioness. Nothing he could tell her would convince her that meeting her family wasn’t that bad an idea. She believed that it would be worse for Luke than herself, but she had not been in the shoes of a future king whose every action was criticized both by his critics and his supporters. Perhaps it was why she planned to face her father and brother alone, not even with Sebastian to soften any kind of blow.

“She’s the one who needs to be protected from herself,” Luke sighed. “Stay here Nolan, Tobias. Don’t follow us inside.” Not that he was overly confident that Rhiane’s father and brother would soon realize that he was likable – many found him obnoxious and irritating – but going through with the exercise was one way to show Sebastian that he meant every word he said and did not say at the garden. He would protect Sebastian’s sister in every battle she chose in life, and from enemies that chose to hurt her. Therefore, without saying another word to either Nolan or Sebasitan, Luke made long strides to stand beside Rhiane in front of her house.

He snaked an arm around her waist then raced for the knob before she could even reach it. The prince pushed the door open for her, but before he ushered the princess elect inside the home she grew up in, Luke whispered. “Nothing you can say will convince me to walk away. This was my idea, remember?”

The Betrothed

Tobias might be his cousin, but Luke would not be bothered to answer the guard’s question. Some time ago, he overheard the lady guards gossiping about Tobias and the unusual way he watched the princess elect. It did not take a long time to realize how true the observations of the ladies were. Tobias behaved differently around Rhiane. He talked a little more, smiled more, and acted like a gentleman more than a commissioned guard. It was unusual. It was disturbing.

It was disturbing, because the engagement of Luke and Rhiane was nothing but a political move orchestrated by the queen. Rhiane did not love Luke and the same could be said for the latter. He was pushed into an arena of lies where the only way to win was to deceive as much of the public as they could. As far as they were concerned, they were winning. The public loved Rhiane and the love story the PR Team sold. The disturbing part was that he got angry. He got angry because his betrothed rested her head and slept peacefully against Tobias’ shoulder as if nightmares did not plague her. The crown prince wouldn’t have been bothered by such display; he would even encourage it. Luke, on the other hand, wanted to drag his cousin out of the vehicle and then order his immediate transfer of assignment.

If not for their relation by blood and the presumption that kinship inspired loyalty, Tobias would have already been kicked out of the royal service just for being at the wrong seat. Men were dismissed for less and Tobias seemed to be testing the boundaries of his cousin’s patience.

“Prince Alessandro is asking if we can move Ms. Black into her room?” Nolan asked Sebastian in the background. Luke could hear the other man hesitated before he added, “If she does have her own room.”

The size of the house gave Luke the impression that there were enough rooms to cater to the whole family. It was not at all the shabby hut that the prince envisioned her father’s house was like when she talked about how poor they were or how difficult it was to make ends meet at the farm, but appearances of size could be deceiving. For all they knew the livable rooms of the house were limited.

While they waited for Sebastian’s answer, Rhiane stirred. Luke’s face softened a little. “Never mind, Nolan.”

He stepped aside to allow Rhiane’s favorite in-law, the only one she got, to come closer and greet her if Sebastian wanted. The way she told stories about her brother’s partner made it seem like the pair was closer than Rhiane was to her only living brother. If that was true then both the man Luke came for and his princess would be delighted to be reunited after months of being apart. Maybe the reunion would erase any trace of memory of Tobias that she might have had.

Nolan stepped up beside the prince. His face was to the estate’s gate, but his words were directed at the prince. “That was surely something not easy to miss.”

“What is?” Luke’s voice was low in order to keep the conversation between the two of them. He asked what Nolan meant, but both of the men knew that the prince was too smart not to get what Nolan was pointing out.

And perhaps the royal guard was confident of his highness’ exceptional IQ, he smirked. Luke may think that he was fooling himself into believing that everything he did up to that point was purely business, but people around him was beginning to notice. Lia and Octavia were talking. The staff, the medical team, Anelle’s people – they had picked up clues and subtle cues that Luke himself was either too dense or too slow to notice.

The Betrothed

Luke was not comfortable with how close the movement was to the Black family. Hearing Sebastian talk about how Rhiane, then afterwards her living relatives, being seduced by the rebellion with promises outweighing the benefits they are enjoying under the good graces of the crown was not good news. They both know that the reason Rhiane joined the contest was to give her brother and father a chance at a comfortable life even if it meant giving up her own. If by chance the rebellion succeeded in persuading the household, then it was as if he already lost the battle. Without the queen’s leverage, it would be foolish for Rhiane to choose to stand by her betrothed.

“It does paint a bad image of me, don’t you think? A man who will murder his own wife and child for whatever petty reason the rebels may propagate.” But the foreigner was correct. The palace can take up measures to ensure the princess elect’s security, but it was no assurance that the attacks would stop. He and his mother had made a number of enemies from across all walks of life inside and outside the kingdom. The ruling House may be supported by the majority of the ruling class, but history chronicled the rise and fall of dynasties triggered by a subtle shift in power that created ripples destabilizing alliances and dissolving ties. “If they can create a story to frame the queen while Rhiane is not yet with child, I don’t doubt they will be creative enough to orchestrate a ruse to make it appear that the queen and I are murderous despicable monsters who are unfit to rule.” He shook his head. “Carrying a child in her womb will not save her. You are correct, there will always be people who would wish for her to be out of the picture.”

What he decided not to express, nor did it occur to him until that moment, was how a pregnancy would shorten the time he was to spend with her. By encouraging intimacy between them, he unknowingly pulled the deadline closer.

The silver lining was the news Sebastian disclosed next. “You don’t have to try stop them on your own. I am here. I want the same thing that you do – to keep her safe and happy. Help me, Sebastian. Your contacts may be outliers, but my people are trained to track and trace.” The device around his wrist pinged once, but Luke ignored it. “I promise not to put you or your family or the Black family at risk, allow me to carry all the hazards. The queen will not even know about this.”

The second time the device pinged caught Luke’s attention. He glanced on the message on his wrist from Tobias. A slight frown appeared on his face then he was on the shared line of the royal guards. “You don’t have to ask permission,” he talked fast and in an even tone. Luke kept an earpiece in place for emergency calls so he may be able to move freely while talking.

Distracted and without excusing himself, the prince turned on his heels and was half jogging, half sprinting, towards the SUV. Nolan’s face remained blank, though immediately he checked on the other members of the team for any abnormal sightings or activities. Only when the team confirmed that nothing was amiss did the guard’s hand leave the gun alone in its holster. Following Luke’s lead, he jogged to the SUV.

The rear passenger door was unlocked. Luke easily pulled it open, but what he found inside did not make summoning composure easy. Between the time from receiving the message to reaching the vehicle, Tobias had found time to relocate himself to the backseat relatively close to the sleeping princess elect. It could be interpreted as goodwill to try to reassure her while she was asleep, but Luke only saw an opportunity to get close to Rhiane being exploited by his cousin. Her head was against his shoulder, a serene expression on her face as Tobias’ arm wrapped protectively around her shoulder. He was whispering reassurances to her, gently rocking the sleeping princess.

Luke stood frozen by an unwelcomed emotion that could only be illogically placed anger at his cousin. The man was just doing his job, but it felt as if Tobias had crossed the line. “Nolan, ask Sebastian if we can bring Rhiane to her room so she can rest better.” The cousins’ eyes never left each other the whole time as if either party was testing each other’s patience to see who would snap first. “I need you to step out of the vehicle, Tobias.”

The Betrothed

“I had no idea that it was the first time that somebody gave her flowers,” he mused aloud, suddenly a bit guilty that the gesture was not even sincere. The lights had just dimmed that night. The staff and crew of the production were busy dismantling the setup, packing up the equipment, and talking about how the camera angles worked for the Princess elect. Luke was not at all happy about how his night turned out. He was stuck with a farmer while his lover walked away in his brother’s arm. Later on, the younger prince confessed that the actress promised to arrange a meeting with a foreign model in exchange for escorting her into the palace to personally talk to Luke. But the crown prince didn’t know that. He was infuriated by the fact that he was the brain behind major decisions that steered an entire nation’s fate, but he was deprived of the choice to pick whom he would give the bouquet to.

“Then afterwards, she repeatedly rejected me. I may be able to sympathize with those fools who thought they knew what they signed up for when they proposed to Rhiane.” She used to blush a furious shade of red then run away from him whenever he got a little touchy. Luke found it cute. Little did he know that the gesture was her last stand against the unwarranted emotions sneaking its way into her fragile heart. As if she was too sure that he would one day break it. Or perhaps she was as afraid to feel for her betrothed as he was. “Peonies,” he nodded, watching the flowers dance at the prompting of the gentle breeze.

However, when he said something about the “boundary they are willing to cross morally,” Luke scoffed. “Yet they are eager to sacrifice her, to paint her as a martyr, in order to disrupt the government. I was not yet ten when an attempt was made to my life. The rebellion claimed the deed, saying that my mother should take it as a serious warning, that she should listen and stop supporting a policy that lowered the tariff for some imported crops.” His eyes met Sebastian’s. If Luke was correct and the rebellion was more than just an army of unsatisfied peasants, the same ruthless rule that executed the maidservant who was convicted for the attempted murder of the young crown prince would be the very rule that the rebellion would place on the throne. A different House and a different name. A start of a new dynasty, perhaps, but nothing would change. The investors, the noblemen, the foreign forces funding the operations would take the vacated seat of power and then everything would be as they were.

“They twist morality to fit their intent. I doubt that an unborn child will stop them or their benefactors from destroying my family or from hurting Rhiane.” And just like that, he was hiding with Rhiane inside the cramped cubicle of the comfort room again. “The men who attacked us in the clinic made the same claim – they came to rescue her – but in the end, one of them pointed his rifle at her. If it wasn’t for Tobias,” Luke shook his head, refusing to imagine what could have happened if Tobias and Nolan came a few minutes late.

If their bodyguards came in a few minutes late, Luke would have taken the bullets for her. That was the thought running in his head when the door slammed against the wall. Self-preservation fled as the barrel of the rifle stared at the two of them as if picking its next victim, protecting the woman was all that went on in his head. It was odd for the spoiled and self-centered Luke too. His voice was sober when he next spoke. “I will stop at nothing to keep her and my family away from the rebels. I believe you will do the same in order to protect the persons you love.”

Call it greed, call it whatever it may be, but so long as he was in power, Luke was not going to let them take her away from him. He did not plan on being in that situation where she was being tempted to join their cause and become his enemy. That was among the many reasons why he sought Sebastian out. “To get the names of traitors in the palace is not what I came to talk to you about. My people will have to do the leg work, but I will need you to get them into position. This is not about arresting your neighbors and friends, neither is this about suppressing the rebellion. I am asking for your help as a son, a brother, as…”

As what? What was he to Rhiane? He just realized that he would give up his life to protect her, but the rational side of his brain screamed how wrong he was. How wrong it was to endanger his royal self for the sake of a commoner.

“Don’t you wonder where the funds come from?” Luke steered the topic away. “How the rebellion, who are allegedly farmers, miners, laborers, commoners, fund a widescale offensive against the crown and at the same time offer the same benefits that the crown gives to the Black family.”

The Betrothed

What Luke told Nolan was partly true, that he had no idea why he was doing what he was doing. It was not in his character to stoop so low as to knock at a peasant’s door and hope that somebody would be kind enough to open the door for him. No, it was usually the other way around. He could have secretly ordered the arrest of Sebastian and have a team interrogate the man until every secret was unearthed, but there he was standing at the doorstep of a patriarch who, if given a chance, would love to bruise Luke’s royal face using his dirty fist just because Luke was a prince.

“There’s still time. Just say the word and we’ll raid this property to get you whatever it is you came here for.”

Luke sighed. “It’s too late. She’s definitely going to make my life miserable if I did that.”

Just then, the door cracked open revealing a foreign face that was neither Hubert nor Gerard Black. Nolan tensed, finding comfort from the cold metal of the gun. The surviving family members were easily searchable from the database, so was Sebastian. The latter looked a bit rougher than his photo, but it was unmistakably him.

“I did not wake her up. Don’t worry she’s well-guarded,” was his response when he asked about Rhiane’s whereabouts. “We have been traveling and interacting with people a lot since the tour began. I’m afraid that Rhiane hasn’t been getting enough rest so I let her sleep whenever she finds time to do so.” It was both the truth and a slightly modified version of it molded for his purpose. The princess elect advised that Sebastian was full of principles and empathy, that he was a man who listened to his heart perhaps more than he did the logical voice of his brain. Disclosing Luke’s decision to allow his betrothed to rest and not force her to work for his plan hoped to convey the message of how both he and Sebastian cared for the woman. Rhiane was the only bargaining chip he had, and the sole connection he knew that both males could bond about. If all went well, it too could help sway Sebastian to Luke’s favor once they met with the rest of the Black family.

Consequently, he followed Sebastian to the garden without protest. The grim looking Nolan was a few feet behind, but he entered the garden when Luke did.

It was a small piece of land that was spared to grow the flowers she must have liked. The colors complemented each other and the way she arranged the plots was like an abstract painting. If Sebastian was paying attention, it was difficult to miss the amusement on the royal’s face as his blue eyes scanned the garden as if memorizing the names of the flowers for future reference. “Which is her favorite?” He asked before answering his questions or confirming the speculation.

“Rhiane did not know until this morning that I had plans to visit her family.” Luke remained standing near the gate, not trusting the bench to be clean enough to spare his pants from unwanted stain. “She was not entirely happy when I told her about it. Your guess is correct. I do not care about making a good impression or meddle in her family affairs.” His eyes narrowed and his voice a little less friendly. “Tell me more about that rumor you heard.” Because although they shared the same room since the day after the engagement ball, it was just recently that he and Rhiane shared a bed in a meaningful way. Whoever was the source of the rumor he was talking about must be closer than he thought. “It is actually you who I wanted to meet. You have connections in the rebellion and that is exactly what I need to protect Rhiane, my sister, my brothers, and the queen.”

Quest: Wild Hunt — Perished Among the Gods [ Denny x Hashih ]

Hider

Name: Eloise Hale
Age: 25

Eloise was born to a family who has never known the word hunger. She could have lived her life comfortably spending her father's fortune and still be buried in a golden casket encrusted with precious stones. At a time when gold was monopolized by the noble lords and ladies, the patriarch of the family made a name for himself in manufacturing and distribution of the spirits -- ale, wine, rum -- that addicting and intoxicating liquid that burned the throat, clouded the mind, and made the unsuspecting victim spend every precious gold in his person for one last kick. Little did the general public know that the liquor business was but a facade to cover for the real source of the family's wealth.

Even though she was the youngest and the only daughter of her family, Eloise was well-informed about the business conducted by his father in the shadows, where no unauthorized ear was listening and no suspecting eyes were watching. The trade consist of substances, artifacts, relics, weapons and even creatures either banned by the king or generally unaccepted by the public. It opened her eyes to a world that existed just beneath the surface of normalcy. Her brothers might have to do with it, but the spoiled and willful girl craved for adventures that the four corners of her father's manor could never ever grant her.

The Betrothed

The road was made for one vehicle each way, but even then, the drivers had to exercise caution when the SUV met a smaller car along the way. The colors of autumn bled from the abandoned branches of cypress and pine trees standing like sentries at either side of the path and into the ground. Beyond the trees were open fields as red as the color of the remaining leaves on trees. Luke smiled as his eyes watched the scenery unfolded on the windshield of the SUV as if he was watching one of his favorite movies. The capital was a comfortable place to live, but he had to admit that the countryside had a charm of its own. Especially with the clear morning sky hanging above the bold display of colors. It made him want to slow down, kick off his shoes, sit under a tree with a hard-bound book, and watch the day waste away.

“I find your sense of truth disturbing.” Maybe it was the welcome change of sights, something he did not have time to enjoy at the mountains because of the heart-racing, hair-raising, driving skills of his betrothed. It quashed his otherwise over-eagerness to raise an argument, making his tone was light.

Without reviewing her background, her family, and her history, Luke had no way of understanding where that heavy sigh came from. His own family was not ideal. The relationship that he and his mother had could have been much better. The queen and his eldest constantly tested each other’s patience, but at least they had not yet resorted to screaming at each other’s face and consequently walking away for good. “If there is one thing you are better than me at, this is it – making your own family disown you.” She was not technically disowned by her father, or at least she had not told her that her relationship with her kin was irreparable.

Nolan smirked, and when he did, he made sure Luke heard him. Their eyes met briefly on the rear-view mirror. It was not easy to raise a spoiled prince, and it was especially challenging to raise an unwilling heir with a knack for getting himself into different kinds of sticky situations. The royal guard had been Luke’s loyal companion and accomplice for years that he could testify how much of a troublemaker the young heir was when he put his mind into it. If not for Luke's undeniable talent and dedication, which his allies in and out of the kingdom praised and trusted, the queen might have been forced, through the pressure of politics, to exile her son a long time ago.

“Not that my mother doesn’t threaten to disown me because it is easier than cleaning up after my mess, she just couldn’t bear the thought of not seeing me make a fool of myself.” He turned to Rhiane, feeling her grip weaken. It was not a surprise to find her head leaning against the backrest, eyes closed, breathing evenly. The overnight at the spa meant that they had to wake up extra early to be able to keep up with their schedule. She must have been more tired than she let on, but it was amazing how easily she could doze off. “I thought I told you not to fall asleep while I’m talking to you,” Luke added softly. He lifted her hand to his lips and kissed her knuckles softly.

---

The rest of the way was quiet. Luke turned his comms device on selective mode, where only urgent messages and calls would be entertained. He watched the view unfolding, a view that he did get to see every day. Until the vehicle slowed down and finally stopped in front of a property larger than most they passed by. He leaned against the window, lowering the glass to let in the fresh morning breeze. “Is this it?”

“This is where the navi brought us. Should I knock and ask if this is the correct residence?” Nolan unbuckled his seat belt and prepared to step out.

“Then this must be her father's house. It is better than I imagined,” Luke mussed. But when Tobias asked if he was going to wake Rhiane up, Luke shook his head. “Let her sleep a little longer. Nolan, let’s have a look around.”

Because of the lack of advertisements and the sudden change in plans, not many knew about the arrival of the royal. Though perhaps rumors had spread that a VIP was visiting the town, the residents had no idea where and when the said VIP would come. But still, the perimeter of the Black farm was secured by Royal guards. Anelle and the rest of the staff, however, stayed behind to plan and coordinate with the media.

The prince stepped out of the SUV. He was dressed sharply, as usual, in his tailored gray jacket and white oxford shirt. Sunglasses protected his blue eyes from the bright morning sun. With a single glance, one could tell that he did not belong to the dirty, dusty, farm. With the confidence of being raised knowing that one day he would be king, Luke followed the dirt path that led to the door. Nolan, who was ever Luke’s shadow, stepped before the prince to knock at the door. “Are you sure about this?” he asked. Luke shook his head.

“It is the first time that I will talk to the father of the woman I am in a relationship with. I don’t really know why I am doing this to myself.”

Nolan grinned, then knocked again.