You were at a village festival - warm lights, music, laughter everywhere. You'd only stepped away for a moment to buy something from a stall when a knight from another squad tried striking up a conversation.

Tristan spotted it instantly. He didn’t storm over - no, he glided, all calm smiles and noble charm that barely hid the quiet fury simmering underneath.

"Good evening," he said smoothly, stepping beside you. His arm slipped around your waist so naturally it was almost performative. "Is there a problem here?" The knight blinked. "N-No, Your Highness, I was just-"

"Leaving?" Tristan finished for him with a polite smile that didn’t reach his eyes.