The morning sun bathed Silverhaven in soft golden hues, its rays glittering off windows and tiled rooftops. Birds chirped merrily, merchants were setting up their stalls, and somewhere near the residential district, a certain rogue was sharpening her daggers with more passion than necessary.
Lio: Morning, Selena,
Lio greeted awkwardly, stepping around her to hang some laundry out to dry.
Lio: You, uh... sharpen that one enough yet?"
Selena didn't even look up. Her eyes were narrowed, her strokes sharp.
Selena: No such thing as 'enough' when it comes to blade maintenance, Lio," she said sweetly.
The air grew cold.
Lio wisely backed away.
Lio: Right. I'll just go... feed the girls,
he mumbled, scuttling toward the house like a terrified crab.
It had been two days since Red vanished, leaving behind a trail of whispers and rumors. Selena had woken up that morning to an empty living room, an empty kitchen, and an empty spot beside the sword rack where Red usually leaned.
And now
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Selena's ear twitched.
Boots.
Two sets of them.
One, steady and heavy, unmistakably Red.
The other, lighter... almost dainty.
No.
Please no.
Selena turned slowly, like a hunter sensing doom.
There he was, walking calmly down the road in his usual black, beside...
"Hi, Selena!" Hina waved with a radiant smile, wearing traveling clothes and a fresh braid in her hair.
Selena's eye twitched. Her dagger made a very, very sharp sound as she jammed it back into its sheath.
"Oh. You're back," she said in the calmest voice ever delivered by someone seething with confusion and impending drama.
Red gave her a nod. "We leave tomorrow."
Selena: For what?" she asked through a fixed smile.
Red: A new quest North road. Goblin cleanup.
Selena: Cool. Love goblins. And what's this?" she motioned to Hina, eyes narrowing.
Selena: She's coming too?"
Hina: Of course!" She said cheerfully.
Hina: I'm joining the party now!
Selena blinked.
Once.
Twice.
The words didn't compute.
Then—"Wait. Wait. WAIT."
She took three steps forward, finger pointing dramatically.
Selena: Did you say joining the party? As in... traveling? With us?!
Red looked mildly confused.
Red: Yes. She's the healer. We needed one.
Selena: And you didn't tell me before that?!"
Lio peeked out from the doorway, holding a tray of tea.
Lio: Uhh, did something happen?
"LIO." Selena spun to him.
Selena: Why didn't you tell me?!
Lio: I-I didn't know!" he said, panicked.
Lio: They just got here!
Hina: Exactly!
Hina chirped, placing her hands behind her back.
Hina: We just got here!
Selena: And why are you so happy?
Selena asked, eyes narrowing like a hawk zeroing in on prey.
Hina paused.
Then, beaming with a kind of holy light that could only be described as obliviously dangerous, she said,
Hina: Oh, right! I'm also engaged to Red!"
…
Silence.
Even the birds stopped chirping.
Selena's mouth dropped open.
The dagger she just sheathed dropped out of her belt and clattered on the stone path.
Lio froze, teacups rattling in his hands.
"YOU'RE WHAT?!" Selena screamed so loud the neighbor's cat did a backflip.
"Engaged," Hina repeated innocently, tilting her head with a smile.
Hina: It was announced at a noble banquet. There were nobles. And dancing. And shrimp puffs. It was lovely.
Red, for the record, was standing to the side looking more like a haunted man than usual.
Red: It was… not my idea.
Selena: Oh my god
Selena gasped, taking a step back like she'd just been shot.
Selena: Is that why you disappeared for two days? You were off getting ENGAGED?!
Red opened his mouth. Closed it. Opened it again.
Red: It was for a mission.
Selena: A mission to get a fiancée?!
Hina helpfully raised a finger.
Hina: Technically, it was a fake engagement. It was to help me escape an arranged marriage. Totally political."
Selena blinked.
Selena: …Oh.
Then she processed the next part.
Selena: Wait. FAKE?
Hina: Yep!
Selena frowned.
Her rage slowly…transformed. From fury, to confusion, to something far more dangerous: suspicion.
Selena: Wait, wait, wait. Hold up." She crossed her arms.
Selena: So let me get this straight. You pretended to be engaged to Red. For two whole days. You danced with him. Wore matching clothes. And now you're traveling with us."
Hina smiled. "Yep!"
Selena: And you expect me to believe you didn't fall for him even a little?
Hina's expression didn't change, but her cheeks turned the faintest shade of pink.
Selena saw it.
Selena: Oh my GOD, you did!!
Hina: I-I didn't say that!
Hina protested, flailing.
Hina: I mean...he was really cool, and calm, and charming, and saved me from a noble creep, and looked amazing in a suit, but that's totally beside the point!!
Selena: You think he looked amazing in a suit?!
Hina: Have you seen him in silk? The embroidery hugged his shoulders like the gods themselves stitched it..."
Selena: WHOA WHOA WHOA...stop painting images in my head!!
Meanwhile, Lio was still frozen in the doorway, completely ignored.
Lio: Uh… should I serve tea?
"No one wants your tea, Lio!!" Selena and Hina shouted in unison.
He quietly backed away and disappeared into the house like a defeated turtle.
Selena turned back to Red, who looked like he regretted all of his life decisions.
Selena: Red, Please tell me you're not actually engaged.
Red: We're not
"Okay," Selena sighed.
Selena: Also," she added, marching up to Hina,
Selena: we need to lay down some party rules.
Hina: Um...Like what?
Selena: Like you stay at least five feet away from Red at all times unless you're healing him, and even then, you have to announce it. Loudly.
Hina blinked. "...What if he's bleeding out?"
Selena: Shout across the battlefield first! THEN heal him!
Hina: Okay, but what if...
Selena: No exceptions! I have daggers and I sleep with them!
Red sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose.
Red: This is going to be a long trip.
That night, as the group shared a surprisingly peaceful dinner inside Lio's modest home, Selena keeping one eye on Hina at all times, and Lio just happy someone finally drank his tea, Red sat outside beneath the stars, watching the fireflies.
Hina quietly joined him, plopping down beside him.
Hina: So, Still mad at me?
He glanced at her sideways.
Red: No. Just… tired.
She grinned.
Hina: Well. Get used to it, 'fiancé.'
Red: Please never say that again.
She only laughed, bright and unbothered.
And in the window behind them, Selena stared through narrowed eyes, holding a teacup with both hands.
Selena: …I'm watching you, Healer Girl."
From the other room, Lio poked his head out again.
Lio: …Anyone want more cookies?
"No, Lio" three voices shouted in perfect unison.
Poor guy just wanted to be included.
—