"Oh," she said softly.
Jin's mouth quirked slightly, the closest she'd seen him come to a real smile."Good?"
"Really good."
They ate in comfortable silence for a while, watching people pass by the window.Wren sipped her jasmine tea and let herself just...exist.No danger.No monsters.Just a moment of peace in a pretty town with good food.
"The silk tree," Jin said eventually."Does it only grow once, or does it produce more over time?"
"I'm not sure yet.Some of my trees keep producing, and the breadfruit has grown back.But others, like the blanket flower, were one harvest and done."She frowned, thinking."I think the trees might be seasonal?Or maybe they produce one type of thing per season and then switch?"
"You'll want to track that.Know what you can rely on for regular trade."
"I know."She took another bite of honey cake."There's so much to figure out."
"You're doing well so far."It wasn't effusive praise.Just a simple statement.But coming from Jin, it felt earned.
A shadow fell across their table.Wren looked up.
A man stood there—tall, well-dressed, with dark hair silvered at the temples and an easy, confident smile.His clothes were fine quality, his boots polished, his bearing that of someone used to being important."Marshall," he said pleasantly."And you must be Wren.I've been hoping to meet you."
Jin's expression didn't change, but Wren felt him tense slightly."Viktor," Jin said."We're in the middle of a meal."
"Of course, of course.I don't mean to intrude."Viktor's smile didn't waver."I just wanted to introduce myself.Welcome you to the neighborhood, as it were."He extended his hand.
Wren hesitated, then shook it.His grip was firm, warm, and practiced.
"Viktor Andersen.I own the properties surrounding yours.I've been watching your progress with great interest."
"Watching?"The word came out sharper than she intended.
"Just concerned neighbor interest," Viktor said smoothly."The cursed farm has been empty for so long.I'm delighted to see someone finally making it work."
There was something warm in his tone, admiring.Something that made her skin prickle.
"Thank you," she said carefully.
"If you ever need anything—advice, resources, assistance—please don't hesitate to ask.I'm always happy to help."His smile widened slightly."Perhaps we could discuss your farming methods sometime.I'm quite curious about your...unique approach."
"Perhaps," Wren said noncommittally.She didn’t know what to make of this guy.
Viktor inclined his head."I'll let you finish your meal.Welcome to the community, Wren.I'm sure we'll be seeing much more of each other."He left, the bell chiming as the door closed behind him.
Wren looked at Jin."That was him."
"That was him."
"He seemed...nice?"
"He's very good at seeming nice."Jin finished his tea."Don't trust him."
"I see," she said, non-comital.She’d decide for herself what to think.
After Viktor left, Wren finished her honey cake but her mind was elsewhere.
"I should get a few more things before I go," she said."While I'm here."
Jin nodded and accompanied her back through the market.
