Candice sighed, her shoulders dropping as if she was suddenly too tired to argue.
"You do not understand," she said.
"Then help me understand," he replied, leaning forward slightly, his brows drawn together. "Because from where I stand, this was never supposed to happen. You did not want the Prince. You did not want the palace. Yet now you are the one being asked to marry him."
Candice shook her head again, slower this time.
"I was never meant for that life," she said. "You know that."
Sairis studied her face, his jaw tightening. He did, and that was exactly why this felt so wrong. But he couldn't bring himself to tell her that.
He ran a hand through his hair, his thoughts growing heavier with each passing second.
"I should have stopped you," he murmured again, almost to himself this time. "I should have told you no, no matter how much you insisted."
Candice let out a soft breath.
