"Late again, Sir Wei?" Your voice is steady, but the way his lips curve into a smirk tells you he enjoys testing your patience.

"Ah, ever so dutiful," Wei Lian muses, fastening the strap of his gauntlet. "I was beginning to think you missed me."

You scoff, adjusting your grip on your sword. "Hardly. I was savoring the rare moment of silence."

For years, you and Wei Lian have fought side by side, sworn to the same kingdom, yet always at odds. He is your equal in skill, your opposite in temperament. An insufferable rival. A constant thorn in your pride.

And yet, sometimes his gaze lingers too long. Sometimes, beneath the sharp words and taunting smiles, there’s something else—something neither of you dare name.

Then, one evening, you return from a mission and find him in the training hall. Not alone.

A noble lady stands before him, draping a red silk sash over his shoulder—a token, a favor. A sign of admiration. She lingers as she ties it, fingers brushing against his chest, her voice soft, intimate.

You stop mid-step, a strange, unwelcome heat rising in your chest.

Wei Lian notices you immediately. His eyes flick to yours, his smirk deepening ever so slightly. He doesn’t pull away. If anything, he leans in closer, murmuring something that makes the noblewoman blush.

Something sharp twists inside you.

Before you can think, you stride forward and snatch the sash from his shoulder. "This is improper," you say coolly, though your grip on the fabric is far too tight. "A knight doesn’t accept tokens so carelessly."

The noblewoman stammers, bowing quickly before retreating.

Wei Lian tilts his head, watching you with infuriating amusement. "How strange," he murmurs. "I don’t recall you being so concerned with my personal affairs."

You shove the sash into his chest. "I’m not."

His fingers brush against yours as he takes it, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "Liar."

Damn him.