Are you jealous

The dining hall of the minister's estate was as opulent as everything else about the place, high ceilings adorned with crystal chandeliers, long tables dressed in silk cloth, and polished silverware that gleamed under the warm light.

A feast was laid out, overwhelming in its variety and splendor. Roast pheasant with golden-brown skin rested on one platter, surrounded by caramelized root vegetables.

Another dish held a rich venison stew, the aroma of red wine and herbs filling the air.

There were towers of pastries, bowls of vibrant fruits, and a seemingly endless supply of fine wine being poured into goblets by attentive servants.

I took my seat at the head of the table beside my father, the minister sitting across from us.

To my utter dismay, Ren was positioned a few chairs down, right beside the minister's daughter. I narrowed my eyes. The girl had been hovering around Ren like a moth to a flame since the moment we arrived.

I picked at my plate, my appetite fading as I noticed her inching closer to Ren, her bright eyes locked onto her like she was some kind of prize.

"Captain Khasar," the daughter said sweetly, cutting a dainty piece of her stuffed quail. She lifted her fork, holding it toward Ren. "You must try this. It's simply divine."

I froze, my grip on my knife tightening as I watched her attempt to feed Ren.

Ren glanced at the fork, then at her, her face unreadable. "That's quite kind of you," she said, her voice even, "but I can manage feeding myself."

"Are you sure?" the girl pressed, leaning in. "I don't mind at all."

That was it.

I cleared my throat loudly, making sure everyone at the table could hear. Heads turned, the minister's daughter included, her cheeks coloring slightly as she withdrew her hand.

"Excuse me," I said with a tight smile, pushing my chair back. "I need to use the restroom."

Without waiting for a response, I stood and walked briskly out of the room, my heels clicking against the marble floor.

The moment I reached the bathroom, I shut the door behind me and leaned against it, taking a deep breath. My heart was pounding, though whether from anger or something else, I couldn't tell.

"Ridiculous," I muttered, walking over to the sink. "Absolutely ridiculous."

I turned on the faucet, letting the cold water run over my hands before splashing it onto my face. The chill helped ground me, but my irritation lingered.

"What's so special about her, anyway?" I muttered to my reflection, my tone biting. "She's just a bodyguard. She's supposed to be protecting me, not charming every lovesick fool in the room."

The thought of the minister's daughter giggling at Ren's every word made my blood boil. I was the princess, after all. I was the one who deserved admiration, attention, and reverence.

"Fuck off," I muttered, glaring at my reflection.

But as I stared at myself, something felt… wrong. The air in the room grew heavy, and a shiver ran down my spine. I squinted at the mirror, and that's when I saw it.

A figure stood behind me, their eyes dull and lifeless, like those of a puppet. A knife glinted in their hand, raised and ready to strike.

My breath caught in my throat, but before I could react, a sudden blaze of red flame erupted, consuming the figure in an instant. They didn't even have time to scream. The fire burned unnaturally bright, reducing them to ash in seconds.

I spun around, my heart racing, only to see Ren standing in the doorway, her hand outstretched, the flames still dancing faintly along her fingertips.

"Are you alright?" she asked, her voice low and steady.

Her expression was calm, but her eyes betrayed a flicker of concern. I hated how it made my chest tighten, how her presence always seemed to unbalance me in ways I couldn't control.

I straightened, lifting my chin defiantly. "You should focus on protecting me more efficiently instead of flirting with every woman in the room," I snapped.

Ren blinked, her head tilting slightly as if she were amused by my outburst. "Is that so?"

"Yes, that's so," I retorted, stepping closer. "You're supposed to be my bodyguard, not some… some—"

Before I could finish, Ren moved.

In one swift motion, she closed the distance between us and pinned me against the wall, her hands braced on either side of my head.

The heat from her body was palpable, and I could see every detail of the tattoos that wound up her neck and arms, glowing faintly from the residual magic.

My breath hitched, my mind going blank for a moment as her piercing gaze locked onto mine. Those amber eyes glowed faintly, sharp and unwavering, like they could see straight through me. 

She leaned in closer, the warmth of her body radiating like a slow burn. "Tell me, Princess," she murmured, her voice low and teasing, "are you jealous?" 

The question hit me like a slap, my cheeks instantly flushing with heat. "Jealous?" I scoffed, trying to summon some semblance of dignity despite the way my heart was pounding. "Don't be ridiculous." 

Her smirk deepened, infuriatingly smug. "Oh, I think I hit a nerve." 

"You didn't hit anything," I snapped, but my voice lacked the venom I intended. The proximity of her, the intensity of her gaze, was making it impossible to think straight. 

Ren brought one hand down from the wall, her fingers brushing a strand of my hair away from my face with infuriatingly deliberate slowness.

Her touch was warm, her skin roughened from years of battle, and the casual intimacy of it sent an unwelcome shiver down my spine. 

"You sure about that?" she said, her voice softer now, almost a whisper. 

I swallowed hard, trying to muster the strength to push her away, to tell her off, to do anything but stand there frozen like an idiot. "You're insufferable," I muttered instead, the words weak even to my own ears. 

"And yet," she countered, her lips curling into a wicked smile, "you're not exactly running away, are you?" 

The air between us felt electric, charged with an unspoken tension that neither of us seemed willing to break.

My hands balled into fists at my sides, nails digging into my palms as I willed myself not to falter under her intense gaze. 

"I don't have to run away," I managed, my voice steadier now, sharper. "Because there's nothing here to run from." 

Ren chuckled, the sound low and rich, and entirely too self-assured. "Keep telling yourself that, Princess." 

Before I could retort, a voice called from down the hall, sharp and urgent. 

"Captain Khasar!" 

Ren straightened immediately, the tension breaking like a snapped string. She turned her head toward the door, her expression shifting back to her usual cool composure. 

"Duty calls," she said, glancing back at me with a hint of that infuriating smirk still lingering on her lips. 

I stepped away from the wall, brushing imaginary dust off my dress, refusing to let her see how shaken I was. "Good," I said with as much venom as I could muster. "Go do your actual job for once." 

Ren's grin widened. "As you command, Your Highness." 

With that, she turned and strode out of the room, her steps purposeful and confident. I stood there for a moment longer, staring after her, my heart still racing. 

Damn her.