Waiting and Awaited

Chapter 4 - Sounds like a Plan

"No. No, no, no. That's not possible."

Of all the things Rone thought Calista would say, that was the last thing he expected.

After the embarrassing scene three years ago, he had not met anyone he thought capable of breaking his vial. When his parents got over the shock and he, the embarrassment, he realized he was finally free from the somewhat suffocating deadline for marriage, and was less inclined to look for anyone.

Elion was another story though. She decided she could not stay after that and, after an awkward farewell, left for a position at another manor. He blamed himself for the disastrous outcome. He should not have tried to stretch out the inevitable and attempted to ask her before the Saturnalia, but he did not expect his father to call him to dukedom that night. That event was not normally done during the Saturnalia, of all nights. How hypocritical can it get? But it was his birthday and his parents had thought to surprise him by not giving him any warning at all.

"Oh skies, what do we do?" Calista looked at him with pleading eyes.

His own darkened in confusion. What did this girl mean? She did not look particularly happy that she was a duke's match after all. Yes it was a shocker but vials had broken on first meetings before. Should he be offended?

"What do you mean 'What do we do?' You give me your vial, we confirm the match, tell our parents, and announce it at the Saturnalia tomorrow."

"No!"

"Pardon?" He looked honestly disbelieving. He finds his true match and the only words she keeps repeating to his face is no. Maybe it's a factory defect in the vial or something.

"I mean, I can't. I..." she looked desperately everywhere but at him.

Cai could not believe her luck. This was the very reason she was here in the first place, the very reason she was willing to make a fool of herself over a fish, and in the end she still gets caught. Oh hot skies and high water. Might as well get it over with.

Rone was still holding her upper arms but instead of steadying her, now he was holding her as if to check if she had not lost her marbles after all when Maron knocked her down. Her tied up hair was now askew, and if he looked closer he swore he could still see a bit of dog spit near her ear. But it was her eyes that held him captive as he saw storm clouds in them and he wondered at the sudden urge to clear them away. Hmm, maybe this vial thing does have something to it after all.

"I can't give you my vial."

He let go of her so suddenly she needed to take a few steps back to catch herself. What was wrong with him? She washed for skies' sake.

But the possibilities were already running through Rone's head. Had somebody else broken it? But that was not possible, that's never happened before. Was she with somebody who couldn't break it but she couldn't bear to part with? For the third time that day he wondered at his health as he felt a flush of heat rise to his face. Was she one of those romantics who believed in getting to know each other before even attempting with the vials? It's not as if he forced her to break his.

He was already scowling so darkly that Calista could not help her reaction to it. Instead of cowering or backpedaling to please him though, her instincts took her to a completely different route.

"Stop looking like a child who wasn't given what he wanted."

"Then stop behaving like a child who got found out doing something naughty."

"I did not!" But he saw the telltale blush and another possibility hit him. Was she one of those starry-eyed women who fell over themselves trying to get his attention? Perhaps the tuna was just an elaborate plot to come this close to him and his vial. He shook his head. He didn't think this girl was like that. Even if she was, it would not change the fact that she did break it.