Calder's hand shook as he drank his tea. He glanced at Syria as he drank then choked. "Oh my gosh are you okay?!" Syria shouted as she shot up and went to inspect Calder. "Cough, cough, I'm, cough, okay." He replied as he put up a hand in protest. "No you're not!" Syria said firmly as she by-passed his hand and grabbed his face. She forced Calder's gaze to her's and inspected him carefully before she brought up her handkerchief.
"Honestly, who ever heard of someone choking on their tea that badly?! Do you have any idea what your brother would do if you actually died from drinking tea?!" Syria shouted furiously as she started to dab liquid from Calder's face. "What?" Calder asked in awe as he stared at her face. He couldn't believe how beautiful she looked at that moment. He vowed to try and uncover all her different faces and pick his favourites.
"Lies! Don't you dare say that you wouldn't know?! Your brother would lose his mind! You are his world! Practically his everything! If you died he would descend into a hellish misery then he would go on a monstrous rampage making sure that every living person in this whole world live in his nightmare!" Syria ranted as she finished cleaning up Calder's face. She then inspected his face one more time and with a firm head nod finished her job. With a sigh of relief Syria tried to step back but Calder caught her hand.
"How do you know?" Calder asked. "Excuse me?" Syria asked as she tried to pull her hand free but Calder tightened his grip. "How do you know that my brother would go on a rampage?" Calder asked desperately. Syria sighed again then looked at Calder pitifully. "Don't you remember? I had to face your brother's temper alone when you were bleeding out." Syria answered. Calder's eyes widened. "Oh..." He said as he dropped his gaze to the hand that he was holding.
"Is that why you're so nice to me? Are you afraid that my brother might destroy your family if you displease me or push me away?" Calder asked in a feeble voice. "No." Syria answered without hesitation. "Then why are you so nice to me!" Calder shouted as he closed his eyes tightly. He was afraid that he would crush Syria's hand if he did put strength into something.
Suddenly Calder felt an odd sensation. Something soft and warm was brushing the back of his hair. Calder looked up, forgetting all about Syria's hand. Syria was smiling gently as she petting Calder's head. "I'm being nice to you because I want too." Syria replied.
"That can't be the only reason! I know how I look, there are times I even scare myself! And everything I have ever done to you! I shouldn't be so shameless but, but," Calder started but Syria stopped petting Calder and placed the tips of her fingers over his mouth, silencing him. "You're right. There is a few more reasons and one of them is because I asked your brother for a huge favour." Syria admitted.
Calder's eyes wavered. He didn't know what to say, he was shocked but deep down he new something must have happened. Syria's attitude towards him had changed so much that it couldn't have happened naturally. "It wasn't something horrible, so please don't look so scared." Syria said in a comforting tone as she removed her hand. "I," Calder started but he couldn't bring himself to ask what the favour was.
"I wanted to get rid of my lady in waiting and any future ladies my father or family try to send." Syria explained as she looked into Calder's gaze. "Why?" Calder asked as tears of relief started to form in the corners of his eyes. Syria bit her bottom lip then averted her gaze. "I wanted my freedom." She whispered. "Oh." Calder replied weakly.
"From my father, I wanted my freedom from my father. Nothing else." Syria quickly added but Calder's pitiful expression didn't change. "I also wanted to know more about you so I asked his Majesty to tell me stories about you to pass the time." Syria admitted as she covered her face with both her hands. "What?" Calder asked in surprise. Syria peeked through the gaps of her fingers and caught sight of Calder.
"Ahh! Don't give me that kind of look!" Syria shouted as she quickly turned away. "Why did you want to hear stories about me?" Calder asked as he slowly got up from his chair and tried to catch a glimpse of her face. "I almost gave myself to you I have a right to know what kind of person you are!" Syria shouted from behind her hands as she turned away from his gaze.
"You could just spend time with me you know." Calder pouted as he looked at Syria's back. "And when am I supposed to do that?! You're busy, that, that spy Lady Bane was always watching me and reporting back to my father and there's also your brother AND LADY BRITILLE!" Syria shouted in frustration dropping her hands as she finally turned and faced Calder.
"How about now?" Calder asked hopefully. "Now?" Syria asked in confusion. "Yes right now. Syria Trent, will you go on a date with me? Right now?"
"No that's okay. I think I'll pass." Syria said in a small voice. "What?! Why?!" Calder shouted in surprise. Syria took a few steps back as she raised her arms and hugged herself. "... I just don't want to right now." Syria said as she averted her gaze. "You're confusing me." Calder said in a frustrated tone.
He then gave Syria a dark glare as he walked up to her. He raised his hand, Syria flinch but he controlled his temper and gently caught her shoulders. "You said you wanted to get to know me. You gave me reasons to why you couldn't. I just gave you a chance and now you don't want too?!" Calder shouted but his eyes were full of hurt. Syria couldn't look Calder in the eyes, she just kept her gaze averted and started to shake violently. "I-I can't." She whispered.
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