{Third Person POV}
Tessa and Rowan entered her house through the side door, the one that led directly to the family quarters rather than the main receiving area where her grandfather might be entertaining or working.
Before Tessa could take more than three steps toward her room, Rowan’s hand shot out and grabbed her wrist.
Not hard enough to hurt, but firm enough to stop her.
"What. Was. That?"
His voice was low, hissed through clenched teeth.
Tessa turned to face him, her expression shifting from the casual amusent she’d worn outside to sothing more guarded.
"What was what?"
"Don’t." Rowan’s jaw was tight enough that the muscle jumped visibly.
"Don’t play dumb with , Tess. You were practically sitting in his lap out there."
"I was sitting on the ground next to him," she corrected, her tone going defensive. "There’s a difference."
"You’re deliberately doing this." It wasn’t a question.
"So what if I was?" Tessa pulled her wrist free with a sharp tug. "He’s my fiancé now, isn’t he? I’m allowed to—"
"But you don’t even like him!" Rowan’s voice rose, then dropped again when he caught himself, acutely aware that her grandfather could be anywhere in the house.
"Two weeks ago you didn’t know he existed. Yesterday you were mortified about the engagent. Now you’re... what? Leaning into it? Playing along?"
Tessa crossed her arms, her expression hardening.
"And what exactly am I supposed to do, Rowan? The elders are already planning. The whole village is talking. The ring is in his finger, there’s no taking it back even if we wanted to." Her voice took on an edge.
"So tell , what would you have do instead? Cry about it? Refuse and bring sha on my family? Make Grandfather look like a manipulative old fool in front of everyone?"
"You could at least pretend you’re not enjoying it!"
Tessa’s eyes flashed.
"Maybe I’m not pretending."
Rowan recoiled like she’d slapped him.
"He’s a noble, Tessa." His voice dropped to sothing almost desperate.
"You know what nobles are like. What they do. You saw what happened to Mira’s cousin in Greyford, how that rchant lord’s son treated her like property, used her and discarded her when he got bored. You’ve heard the stories from the other villages."
He took a step closer, his hands clenching into fists at his sides.
"Grandfather only sees alliance. A connection to a noble house that might help if trouble cos again." His voice grew more urgent.
"But what about after? When the novelty wears off? When he gets tired of village life and goes back to his estate? Do you think he’ll take you with him? Or will you be the embarrassing border-territory wife he leaves behind?"
Tessa stared at him, her expression unreadable.
"Why does it matter to you so much?" Her voice was quieter now. "We grew up together, yes. We’re close. But you’re not my brother, Rowan. You don’t get to tell who I should or shouldn’t marry."
"I’m your cousin brother." He said, his voice rough. "Family. That gives the right to—"
"Cousin," she corrected sharply. "Which ans you keep your opinions to yourself."
She paused, and her expression shifted, the guarded defensiveness lting into sothing more mischievous, more dangerous.
And she grinned.
"Otherwise, I’ll tell Grandfather about that ti you and Jay snuck into the elder’s storehouse and drank half a barrel of the ceremonial wine." She tilted her head, her grin widening. "You know exactly which ti I’m talking about."
Rowan’s face went through several colors rapidly.
"You wouldn’t."
"Wouldn’t I?" Her tone was light, playful, but with an undercurrent that said she absolutely would.
"I seem to rember you begging not to tell anyone. Promising you’d owe a favor. A big favor."
"Tessa—"
"Or maybe I should ntion how you spent an entire week convinced you’d been cursed because you woke up with your hair turned green?" She was enjoying this now, clearly. "When really Ren had just put dye in your bathing water as revenge?"
"That’s not—"
"Oh! Or there was that ti with the—"
"Alright!" Rowan’s face was burning red now, his earlier anger completely derailed by mortification.
"Fine. I’ll... I’ll keep my opinions to myself."
"Good boy." Tessa patted his shoulder.
Rowan glared at her, but the heat had gone out of it, replaced by sothing that looked more like resigned frustration.
"I just don’t want you to get hurt," he said quietly, all the fight draining out of him. "That’s all. You’re... you’re important to . To all of us. And I don’t trust him not to break your heart."
Tessa’s expression softened slightly.
"I know," she said. "But I can take care of myself, Rowan. I’m not so fragile flower that needs protecting."
"I know you’re not. That’s not what I ant—"
"And besides," she continued, her tone lightening again, "maybe he’ll surprise you. Maybe he’s not like other nobles."
"Or maybe he’s exactly like them and you’re going to find out the hard way."
"Then I’ll deal with it when it happens." She shrugged. "But I’m not going to live in fear of what might be. Grandfather made his move. The village is celebrating. So I’m going to see where this goes."
She turned toward her room.
"And if it turns out badly," she added over her shoulder, "at least I’ll have tried."
Rowan stood there in the hallway, watching her go, his expression conflicted.
"Just... be careful," he called after her.
"Always am," she replied, and disappeared into her room, closing the door behind her with a soft click.
Rowan stood there for a mont longer, then exhaled harshly and headed toward the exit.
Behind him, unnoticed in the shadows near the main receiving room, Chief Zen leaned against the doorfra with his arms crossed, having heard every word of the exchange.
His expression was contemplative, thoughtful in a way that suggested he was reassessing calculations and adjusting plans.
Then he smiled slightly and turned away, heading deeper into the house.
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