Sairis' POV
"Thank goodness you're here, Sair!"
Henrietta's voice rang loudly the moment Sairis stepped onto the top stair. She stood near the entrance to the sunroom with both hands planted firmly on her waist, her face twisted into a deep scowl.
Sairis paused halfway down the hallway and sighed quietly. "What is it this time?" he asked.
Henrietta pointed toward the closed sunroom door. "Candice has refused to have lunch. It's been hours! She skipped breakfast too!"
Sairis frowned slightly and walked toward her. "Why?" he asked calmly, already sensing that Henrietta was going to say that this was his fault.
Henrietta threw her hands in the air. "Why do you think? She's stuck on that book you gave her and hasn't looked away from it since last night!" she said.
Sairis arched a brow. "I did not give her any book." He muttered.
Henrietta stared at him. "Well she says you did." She retorted.
Sairis shook his head slowly. Candice had never been one to pick up any of the books he had suggested for her. Not once in all the years he had tutored her.
He had noticed the book she had been reading lately. He had seen it more than once tucked under her pillow or hidden beneath her desk.
He had not asked where she had gotten it. Mostly because he was fairly certain he already knew the answer.
The cover alone had been enough to make him uncomfortable. The pages had contained drawings that were far too detailed and far too improper for a young lady.
But Candice was almost twenty now. A full grown beta woman and it was normal for her to desire a man's touch. Yet the entire household still treated her as if she were fragile glass.
That was mostly because of her health. She had always been sickly. Even climbing the stairs left her breathless some days.
Sairis stepped closer to the sunroom door and knocked once before opening it.
The warm afternoon light flooded the room.
Candice sat on the balcony outside, curled comfortably in a chair. A thick hooded book rested in her hands. Her eyes moved quickly across the page, completely focused.
She had not noticed him enter. So Sairis walked over and cleared his throat loudly.
Candice jumped and looked up quickly. In one swift movement she pushed the book behind her back. "Oh Sair!"
Her cheeks turned red. "I did not hear you come in!"
Sairis raised an eyebrow slowly. "That much is obvious." He mumbled, and folded his arms. "You seemed very busy with that book."
Candice glanced nervously at Henrietta, then back at him. Her cheeks grew even redder.
Sairis narrowed his eyes slightly.
Ah. So he was right. It was that kind of book.
He sighed inwardly. Candice was no longer the little girl he had come to this estate to tutor years ago. Soon he would have to end their lessons entirely.
She was almost of marriageable age and would have already been engaged to a man; an alpha or beta, if not for her poor health.
He gestured toward the hidden book. "What is it about?" he asked.
Candice hesitated at first, then she spoke quickly. "It is about a war between two kingdoms in the Middle East."
Sairis tilted his head. "Oh?" he muttered.
Candice nodded, forcing a fake smile. "Yes. Between the Kingdom of Arven and the desert nation of Khalirah." She said.
Sairis leaned against the balcony railing. "I see."
He smiled faintly. "So tell me then. Which army had the advantage in the first battle?" he asked. She definitely was not fooling him.
Candice froze. Her eyes blinked several times. Then she coughed softly. "I have not reached that part yet." She said.
Henrietta snorted loudly behind them. "At this rate you will never reach that part. Though I highly doubt that a story about war would have you so focused like this."
Sairis couldn't help it as a snort left his throat. He chuckled lightly, earning a glare from Candice.
He sighed and crossed his arms after a while. "You need to eat, Candice. Hen said you skipped breakfast, and you know it's not good for your health."
Hen nodded and pointed toward the table inside the sunroom. "You also need to prepare for the ball. We must leave early to beat the rush of carriages heading to the palace. We wouldn't want to spend half of the night on the road."
Candice groaned softly.
Sairis watched her quietly with pity. The bride selection ball had been the main topic of conversation in town for days. Every noble family was sending their daughters.
The taverns were already full of wagers about which lady the crown prince would choose.
Sairis personally had no interest in such things, but Candice was another matter. She already looked pale, her hands thin and her movements slow, and he knew the journey alone would be exhausting for her.
He turned to Henrietta. "The lady still insists that Candice must attend?"
Henrietta nodded. "Lady Collette left very clear instructions before leaving this afternoon." She said with a sigh. "If Candice fails to appear, the king himself may consider it an insult for not honoring his invitation."
Candice frowned. "I will not be attending. Forget what mother said."
Both of them looked at her.
"You know I cannot make such a long journey," Candice continued quietly. "It is too tiring. My body cannot handle that kind of stress. I might even collapse before I get to the palace."
Henrietta pointed at the food again. "That is exactly why you need to eat." She muttered, turning to look at Sairis. "Sair, tell her."
Sairis sighed. As much as he hated this situation, Henrietta was right. It was the king's invitation and it would be considered an insult if Candice failed to show up.
Lady Collette clearly wanted Candice present. More importantly, Lady Collette did not want anyone discovering Candice's illness, so she couldn't excuse her daughter's absence.
Sairis looked at Candice gently. "You could attend for only a short time."
Candice frowned at him.
"Just appear at the ball," Sairis continued. "Stay for a few minutes and then leave once your body starts to warn you."
"No one would question it."
Candice crossed her arms. "I thought you would support me, Sair. You know what my body can take!"
He sighed and walked closer to her. Then he gently rubbed her hair.
Over the years Candice had become something like a younger sister to him. The sister he had lost long ago. "You know I only want to keep you safe," he said softly.
Candice looked down.
"Besides," Sairis added with a small smile, "look on the bright side."
She raised an eyebrow.
He smiled. "You finally get to see the royal palace. And you will attend a real ball. You always wanted that when you were younger."
Candice's lips twitched slightly, and she sighed. "That was a childish dream." She muttered, as she looked at him tiredly. "I know my body now."
Sairis shrugged. "Well that dream might come true today."
He paused and grinned.
"Who knows. The handsome crown prince might even choose you."
Candice scoffed loudly, shaking her head. Then she narrowed her eyes at him. "How do you know he is handsome?"
Sairis rolled his eyes. "There are stories about him every day in the market." He said with a casual shrug. "They say he is very handsome."
Candice stared at him for a long moment. Then she slowly reached for her fork. She picked it up and began eating quietly.
Henrietta clapped her hands once.
"Finally."
Sairis smiled faintly.