James narrowed his eyes slightly, about to respond, but luckily, he didn't. "I won't say that, then." He said, with a slight shrug. "Just, let me know if and when you want to go back, alright?" He said, with a small sigh, before almost reluctantly letting go of her shoulder, and stepping back slightly.

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Radia felt cold instantly replace where his hands had been. She resisted the urge to pace again, knowing it would only irk him, and she really didn't want to be dragged back into the dining room. This was one time she wouldn't test his limits. "Go back? I-I can't do that. I won't ever be able to and you know that." She said. "You can't just do this to people just to add to the bloodline." She walked closer to the wall, and then leaned her back onto it, her headache pounding on.

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James sighed, looking back at the doors, thinking. He didn't want to go back in there, either, but he didn't have much of a choice, because eventually, he'd have to, which was quite annoying. "I know you don't want to, and I know it needs to stop." He said, walking over to her, more or less standing in front of her. "I can say you fell ill, and you headed back to your cell, but I can't solve the whole problem, of doing this to people, that easy." He told her.

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Radia's eyes widened slightly at his offer. She knew he was probably risking himself, letting her go so easily. She didn't even want to know or think about what his parents would do if they even suspected, or found it wrong of him to let her go, even if she was feeling ill. A guilty stone dropped into the pit of her stomach. And then she remembered it was his fault she was here, she didn't have a problem with him suffering a week ago. But the guilt stayed. "I don't... know." She uncertainly answered his first question. "I know you can't, I just... It's just so frustrating." She responded to the second half.

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James watched her carefully, wondering, what she thought of his offer. Sure, he'd be severely punished, if she did happen to get away on his watch, whether he helped her or not, but it would be far worse, if anyone found out he helped her. "Hey, if I couldn't help any of the others, and I can't help the commoners, I may as well help you, right?" He said rather quietly, his gaze and expression seeming to soften just a bit, as he looked at her.

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It hit Radia harder than she would have thought. She looked away, and tried giving a small smile. "I guess." She closed her eyes, and then looked back up at him. "Thank you." She straightened her back, and picked herself off the wall, not walking away or anything, just not leaning against the wall for support anymore. Her headache had started to subside, but it was still there. She looked up into his blue eyes, eyes of ice. But Radia guessed that the ice had started melting. Why? She'd need to figure it out.

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James nodded slightly in response. "There's no need to thank me, really." He said, not moving away, himself. "It's, me doing the right thing, yeah? That's what a king's supposed to do, right?" He grinned just a bit, seeming to relax immensely, as well. Probably because she wasn't trying to get on his nerves right now, and he didn't think she was being particularly annoying at the moment anyways.

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Radia smiled. "Yeah, I suppose it is." She responded to his first and last question. She could sense his whole posture relax, and it seemingly transfered to her, though more internally than externally. She felt like she shouldn't have to be on edge, but it would probably disappear as soon as she got back to her cell. "If there's no need, I'll do it anyways. Thank you." Maybe she didn't need to thank him, but she felt that it was needed.

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James smiled softly, dropping his gaze to the floor, thinking carefully, about more things to say, mostly, and nodded at her words. "Well, you're welcome, I suppose." He said, still smiling a bit. "Do you want to head back, to your cell or whatever, or..?" He asked rather softly, slowly returning his gaze back up to her face.

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"I'd rather head back." to my cell. She looked down the hallway to one side, and then the other. No one in sight. She wondered what they would make of them, still not returning to the dining room. And then her cheeks heated slightly, noticing the closeness between them. She would have reacted by taking a step back, but the wall was there. "If that's alright."

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James nodded, but he didn't step away quite yet. "Of course. Do you want me to get someone, to help you clean up and all that? I know a couple servants that'll do it, no questions asked, and will not report it to my parents or anything." He offered, a small, soft smile still on his face, his expression a bit relaxed, and slightly warmer than normal, perhaps hoping to help Radia relax, herself.

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"No." She responded, maybe a bit too quickly. She didn't want to risk it. And she really didn't want to deal with the servants, either. "I'll be fine without them." She hoped that they had left her another set of clothes to wear, so that she could change, but she didn't need their help. The sense of unease hit her again, all of the sudden, and she remembered her headache, though it had eased off a bit. She looked down, holding her unease in, and hiding it from him. He seemed to be melting, letting his cold walls down, and she didn't want to ruin that. When did I start caring about that? she started asking herself, without giving an answer.

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James watched her carefully, and nodded slowly at her response. "Alright." He responded simply, with another slow nod. "Let me know if they didn't leave you any clothes to change into, I might be able to get you some clean ones." He offered, briefly wondering if he was perhaps being a bit too friendly, here. He glanced down the hall, somewhat towards her room, before looking back at her, wondering if she wanted to walk herself back.

(maybe like, she tries and gives him a quick hug as a thank you, but then they don't really pull away, and they eventually kiss? if we're still going with the kiss)

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Radia nodded her head. "Okay." She responded. She looked down the hallway. She knew which way to go, but she couldn't give it away. She lightly scolded herself. How could she be thinking about that now? "Uhm... W-which way back to my room?" She asked, hoping he'd take her there. Maybe part of her wanted to stay out here with him for just a little bit longer. She'd prefer to say that she was lost than that. Though she was pretty lost mentally, with all the recent twists and turns being thrown in her direction.

((Yeah, sure. I was thinking once they got to her room. Either that, or she half trips over her dress, and he catches her. Maybe she tries hiding her fumble with a hug?))

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James narrowed his eyes at her slightly, a bit suspicious, of that answer, knowing that she probably at least had a pretty good idea, on how to get back to her room. He then figured that he had nothing better to do, so he decided to just take her. He eventually looked away from her, and simply nodded at her words, before beginning to walk, leading the way back, expecting her to follow.

(sure, that sounds good. and they just kinda have this cute little "slowed time" kinda scene, like in movies and stuff, after they hug ;0)

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