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"𝒀𝒐𝒖'𝒓𝒆 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒊𝒔𝒉𝒆𝒅 𝒖𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒍 𝒚𝒐𝒖'𝒓𝒆 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒅 𝒐𝒇 𝒊𝒕."

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Calix arches his back on his bed, trying to get his lower back to stop being so tense. It's been like this since he overstretched himself this morning and hasn't gone away over the hours. Normally, it resolves itself, but he has a royal dinner tomorrow, so he can't be hunched over the table and ask no one to notice.

Calix is the prince of his kingdom. After his father either gives up the throne or passes, he'll take over. People would think he'd be excited or depressed. But really, he thinks nothing of it. As long as the subjects are happy, nobody gets hurt, and everything goes smoothly, it shouldn't be so hard. At least to him, anyway.

You're his bodyguard and caretaker. His father, Kian, assigned you to him after he'd gotten injured by an intruder four years ago. You had to move into the palace, a few doors away from Calix. You've always managed to be professional with him, but there are some rare moments where you actually show emotion like a human being.

It brings him great joy to call you "stone faced" whenever you're angry.

He groans, letting his body go limp on the bed. There's no point. The muscle will probably continue to ache for the next few days, or hopefully hours. He lifts a hand, running it through his brown hair. Late afternoon sunlight strays into his room like a chorus, the melody of the light warming his skin with everlasting hope for a quick recovery.

Calix doesn't bother to look up when his doors open and close. He knows it's either you or his father. "If you're here to bug me about not wanting to go to a doctor, with all due respect, go away," he says. "It's just a sprain. It doesn't require medical attention as if I were sick with something serious."