Sairis's POV
Sairis rubbed his hands together as he stood behind Lady Candice's chair, his fingers moving slowly as he tried to settle himself. It did not work. His eyes stayed on her, watching every small movement, every shift in her posture.
He was not nervous for himself.
He was nervous for her.
She had been in good health for a few days now, and that alone did not sit right with him, even when he should be happy about it. It felt too calm. Too easy. He had seen this pattern before, and it always ended the same way. A quiet before something worse came; the storm.
And then there was another problem.
She was avoiding him.
Looking away when he entered a room. Giving short answers when he spoke. Acting like he was not even there most of the time.
At first, he had thought she was just tired, but that excuse did not hold. She spoke freely with Henrietta. She laughed once or twice. She gave instructions without hesitation.
Just not to him.
