Banter

"I'm not dirty-minded.. Stop saying that," her voice cracked at the end. He watched her with an amused expression on his face. "You're just jumping to a conclusion when I did nothing"

"I don't think you did nothing," he replied while she cleared her throat still not looking at him. "Let's conclude, princess. It's Little mistress or Dirty minded"

Amelia frowned now looking at him, though her cheeks still held a light shade of pink.

"How can you call me that in my father's presence? Huh?"

"Don't know. Maybe then, we'll explain to him how the name came about"

Right now, Amelia felt frustrated. How could she cope with this man all her life? How could she have a personal guard who had no single manners? Shameless.. So shameless.. So so shameless.

Grunting, she spoke,

"I'm afraid you're disqualified"

"Why?" he asked, his facial expression turning to one of sadness which made Amelia gulp her spit. Did she just hurt his human feeling? It wasn't something she loved doing except unknowingly when her predicament would show up.

Did he really need the job so badly? Her train of thought was quickly interrupted when Zachary let out a low chuckle. His earlier sad expression had changed to one of amusement. Did he just make up a face?

"How easy to get emotions out of you. Did you just pity me?" he asked and he stared at her unbelievably. He couldn't believe she could feel pity for him. The marvel could be seen on his face.

"Rethink your decision, princess"

Amelia heard his deep voice and right now, her anger had surfaced. She could feel it. How could he toy with her emotions?

"In case your ears were deaf earlier, you're not hired," she made it clear. Her anger doubled seeing that he wasn't fazed at all. Instead, to her, it only felt like his smile had widened.

"Such a princess. Has anyone ever told you about your mesmerizing eyes? How beautiful"

Amelia was at a loss for words. This man was so unbelievable. Here she was, speaking to him rudely yet he admired her eyes.

"I have been told by so many people, Zach," she rolled her eyes. "I'm sorry you-"

The door to the inner chamber creaked and Emily got out with it. She frowned and angrily walked past Amelia and Zachary.

"What do you think is wrong?" Amelia asked Zachary who seemed less bothered.

"I care less about her, yet, more about you"

"Stop being cheeky"

"You call this cheeky? I'm only stating the fact to my mistress that I care about her so much"

Now, Amelia had confirmed that something was truly wrong with this man.

Frustratingly, Amelia walked away from him to the inner chamber and like a bot, he followed her.

"Dearest Ame.. Have you finalized?" King Collins asked his daughter who just got back into the room with Zachary following closely behind. Amelia felt that this was the perfect opportunity to reject him.

"I think you like him just like us. Before you came in, we have all finalized to take him up as your personal guard. Right?" King Collins asked, raising a brow to Lord Richardson who quickly nodded in response.

Amelia couldn't believe it. Didn't she have a say in matters that concerned her anymore? Why was she even being treated like this?

"But father, I-"

"No buts here, Amelia. We have chosen for you"

Amelia's anger kicked in and she stormed out of the room, not caring about the impression she was making there.

"Zachary? Am I right?" King Collins asked Zachary immediately after his daughter stormed out of the room.

"It is," Zachary curtly replied to the king. "Some issues?"

"None for now," King Collins began. "My daughter is quite temperamental and she suffers cyclothymia. Promise to be patient and treat her like a kid?"

"To be patient? Yes. Like a kid? I'm afraid not"

King Collins frowned, not understanding what Zachary meant.

"See? That's what I mean.. He can't even speak about the good things he'll do for my baby. How do we trust you will care for her?" Shirley asked as she glared at Zachary.

"I'm not her husband to 'care' for her. My job is to protect her," Zachary replied with a smile as he emphasized the word -care.

"Don't dream high, you filthy commoner. You can never marry my niece. Not in your miserable life"

"I have no plans for that, Lady Shirley. She deserves someone better. I'm never going to be a choice for her," Zachary replied, now smirking. "To advise you, you have no right whatsoever to decide the man your niece marries.. By the time you attract a suitor, would you allow any pest to decide for you?"

Shirley's veins almost popped. To the others in the room, including Lord Richardson, his son, Ernest, and King Collins, the statement was a normal one.. To Shirley, she was no fool to not decipher the meaning of his words.

"What do you mean? That I haven't attracted anyone yet? It's my decision to stay single for now," Shirley commented, now getting pissed.

"I thought otherwise. Thank you for clearing my messy doubts. But then, have you attracted anyone?" Zachary asked as he tilted his head. Without waiting for her reply, he continued, "That's what you say every single time- you decide to stay single? How about the last soiree you attended? Sir Williams and you? How did it go?"

Shirley blinked continuously. How did he know about the last tea gathering she attended? On that day, she had tried gaining the attention of Sir Williams, brother to the Lord of Tuniop- a town in the south. Sir Williams was unmarried and was in search of a life partner. Being friends with him as he worked in the parliament, she had tried gaining his attention in foolish ways. How then did this miserable thing know about it? Was he in the soiree? Then, she must have seen him.. But she didn't.

Was he informed by someone else? What more did he know about her?

"In case you're wondering, I was informed by no one. It was something I witnessed," Zachary commented to the lady who was lost in thought. Again, he had taken her aback.

Could this man possibly hear her thought or was it that what she was thinking was evidently showing on her face? That was so ridiculous!

"I know not what you are talking about, Zachary"

"Should I probably remind you more?"