After a bout of chasing and roughhousing, Rowan ended up with two large holes burned into his clothes, one over his backside and one on his back.
Luckily, I protected my face in time and preserved my handsome looks.
Jaina knew perfectly well when to stop. She was no spoiled, willful girl, after all.
He was her fiancé, so it hardly counted as taking liberties. What angered Jaina was that he had taken those liberties without properly cherishing what he had.
A little lesson would do. She could count it as her morning exercise.
Rowan looked rather bedraggled after being singed, but the accompanying soldiers pretended not to notice. Nobody spoke up or asked any questions.
Their leader had embarrassed himself, after all. If he overheard them whispering about it, they would only be asking for trouble.
Besides, it was a matter between a couple. Couples quarreled and made up again; it was no big deal.
Talanji clearly did not understand that principle, however. She saw the disheveled Rowan preparing to change his clothes.
At once, she clutched her belly and burst out laughing.
"What's so funny?" Rowan asked expressionlessly, looking as though he wanted to take his anger out on Talanji.
Talanji was fearless. She had already suffered more than enough humiliation over the past few days.
She had been feeling miserable, and moments of relief were rare. She was going to laugh while she could.
Look at what a fool you made of yourself. Weren't you so full of yourself?
"What, am I not even allowed to laugh?" Talanji snorted.
I can't be bothered with you. Rowan looked Talanji up and down, his gaze lingering meaningfully on the neatly arranged hemp ropes.
"You're quite well-behaved after all," Rowan said cryptically.
Talanji immediately stopped laughing and asked uneasily, "You...