"I find myself invested in your success. In your wellbeing. In your happiness." He pauses, choosing words carefully. "This investment extends beyond strategic alliance."
My breath catches. "What kind of investment?"
"The kind that makes me want to learn every technique you use to create perfect bread texture. The kind that makes me notice when you laugh at your own jokes. The kind that makes me consider what it would mean to have someone trust me with their dreams as well as their safety."
The kitchen feels smaller suddenly. More intimate.
"Korgan..."
"I realize this complicates the artificial timeline this show imposes. But I believe honesty serves us better than performance."
"So this is honesty?"
"Yes." He reaches across the counter, his fingers brushing mine. "This is me telling you that watching someone attack your character made me want to demonstrate exactly how an orc deals with threats to someone under his protection."
"And how does an orc deal with such threats?"
His smile carries dangerous promise. "Thoroughly. Creatively. Memorably."
I laugh despite myself, the first genuine laughter since the scandal broke. "Remind me never to get on your bad side."
"Impossible. You make cinnamon rolls. You are permanently on my good side."
The tea warms me from the inside, but it's Korgan's steady presence that makes the panic finally recede. For the first time in months, I feel like maybe everything might actually work out.
"Can I ask you something?"
"Always."
"When you defended me today... did you mean what you said about honor and battle-worth?"
"Every word."
"Even knowing that I might not be able to return whatever feelings you're developing?"
His expression doesn't change. "Even then. Your worth is not dependent on reciprocating my interest."
How is this man real?
"But I think..." I take a shaky breath. "I think I might be developing feelings too. Despite the circumstances. Despite the cameras. Despite everything."
"Despite or because of?"
"What do you mean?"
"Sometimes adversity reveals character more clearly than comfort does. Perhaps we are discovering each other precisely because of the circumstances, not despite them."
I study his face, noting the way his usual stoic mask has softened completely. The way his eyes track my every expression like he's memorizing them.
"Are you saying the show is working? That we're actually falling for each other?"
"I am saying," he replies carefully, "that what began as strategy has become something else entirely. Something worth protecting."
"Even if it's messy? Even if it's complicated?"
"Especially then."
I reach for his hand properly this time, intertwining our fingers and marveling at how perfectly they fit together despite the size difference.
