Bent But Not Broken

Seven

"So, I heard you met Asael yesterday." Kalix said casually. It was one of the few times they could done together, and Nyxia was pleased.

"Yeah, he's quite kind. He mentioned he was a friend of yours."

Kalix nodded thoughtfully, chewing on a piece of bread. "Yeah, he's a good guy. Do you like him?"

There was something in his voice that Nyxia couldn't place, a slight tinge of emotion, perhaps. But she couldn't say what the emotion was. She glanced over and saw that his face was carefully neutral.

Too neutral.

"Of course I do, he seems to be like a good male. He's not like what I'd imagine a lord would be like."

At that, Kalix chuckled. "A lot of the Lords are exactly what you'd think, so don't be disillusioned by how Asael acts."

Kalix fixed his beautiful eyes on Nyxia intently, leaning forward in his seat. Nyxia startled at the thought of finding his eyes beautiful. She always noticed them. In fact, she noticed everything about him.

The way he takes his hands through his hair when he was frustrated, the way his eyes would dart around when he wanted to escape, the way his eye would twitch when he was annoyed. Nyxia was quite fascinated by these expressions of his.

The way his eyes darkened when he was angry, or the way he held himself stiffly whenever introduced to a lady, as if he wasn't pleased or impressed by her at all.

"I didn't mean like, as in a friendly sort of like. I meant it in a romantic sense."

Nyxia looked at Kalix blankly. "A... romantic sense?" She knew very little about romance, and wasn't exactly keen to learn more than what she already did. She had no desire to feel anything other than she was feeling right now. Warm, safe, content.

"I'll send you some books to show what I mean."

Nyxia nodded and went back to her meal and silence. She did like reading, perhaps she'd find it instructional. 

"Nyxia." Kalix said suddenly, putting a piece of steak in his mouth and chewing. Nyxia looked up. "There's a ball that my father is throwing in a month. Would you like to attend?"

Her eyebrows rose. She had heard of balls. They were basically big parties where people danced with one another, gossiped, and searched for a marriage partner.

It didn't really sound like her thing. The thought of being around so many people made her uneasy, she didn't know how to dance, and she wasn't looking to get married.

"I don't know how to dance." Nyxia replied, figuring that was as good as an excuse as anything.

Unfortunately, Kalix was stubborn.

"I can arrange for someone to teach you. It should be quite simple, you look like you'd be a good dancer." Kalix eyed her, and Nyxia shifted uncomfortably.

"The thought of being around a lot of people is a bit nerve-wracking." Nyxia admitted. Kalix's face softened at that.

"You don't have to go if you don't want to. It's just that, it would be nice to have you there. And while I wouldn't be able to spend the whole time by your side, I would dance with you a few times."

Nyxia studied him closely, seeing past his thinly veiled words. She got the sense long ago that Kalix did not have many true friends he could count on, simply because he was the prince. People always wanted something out of him.

She also got the feeling Kalix considered her a friend. It was an odd but pleasant feeling. He wanted her there for moral support.

Nyxia nodded. "Very well, I'll attend the ball."

Perhaps it would be fun, she thought. Maybe Asael would be there. She perked up at the thought, going back to eating her dinner as she thought back to Kalix's words.

"Do you like him in a romantic way?"

Nyxia had no idea, she wasn't sure how one would feel around someone they had feelings for. But perhaps she did, he was kind to her, and he truly listened to her, and he made her laugh.

But then, so did Kalix.

Maybe she would figure it out one of these days.