Something had changed in the camp.
It wasn't dramatic—not at first. Just a few longer looks when Aiden passed the fire pits. A soldier who offered him the better portion of stew without being asked. A young archer who tripped over himself trying to help carry scrolls, cheeks red as embers.
By the end of the week, it was undeniable: the soldiers had started treating him differently.
Not like a prisoner.
Not like a servant.
But like someone they wanted to impress.
"Aiden, you dropped this," one called, handing him a cloth he hadn't even realized had slipped.
"Do you need help washing those blades?"
"Eat with us tonight—we saved you a seat."
Some spoke shyly. Some with the teasing tone of boys who didn't know how to flirt without sounding like fools. One or two openly stared. And while Aiden kept his responses polite, always careful not to encourage too much, he couldn't help feeling a little warm inside.
It wasn't just the hair.
It was the way he moved now. The way he smiled, confident and gentle at once. The small blue ribbon tied to his wrist that fluttered when he worked. A softness wrapped in steel.
And Shinomi noticed.
---
At first, Shinomi's reactions were subtle.
He glanced over once during evening drills when a soldier reached out to touch Aiden's shoulder. The commander's jaw clenched briefly. Nothing was said.
But the next morning, that same soldier was suddenly reassigned to border patrol—three days away.
Coincidence? Aiden doubted it.
---
Later that week, while Aiden was tending to a stack of maps in the strategy tent, he heard Celestia's laugh again—clear, melodic, dripping with practiced charm. She had been visiting Shinomi often, always uninvited, always confident she wouldn't be turned away.
She was in the adjoining room now, speaking low and sweet.
Aiden quietly finished his task, gathered the scrolls, and began to leave.
As he passed the curtain separating them, he heard her say, "You haven't been looking at me lately."
Shinomi replied, "I've been busy."
"With that pretty little servant of yours?" she asked, amusement sharp beneath her words.
Silence.
Then Shinomi said, very flatly: "Stay out of matters that don't concern you."
Aiden's heart skipped.
Celestia went quiet. For once, she had no coy reply.
---
That night, as Aiden finished folding linens near the tents, a soft voice interrupted him.
"You've made quite the stir."
He looked up.
Shinomi stood under the lamplight, arms crossed, watching him with unreadable eyes.
"The men seem… interested in you."
Aiden shrugged lightly. "Maybe they're just being kind."
Shinomi stepped closer. "Soldiers aren't kind for no reason."
"Then maybe they see something worth being kind to."
The silence that followed was heavy.
Shinomi studied him. "You're changing."
"I'm still me," Aiden said, quiet but firm.
"No," Shinomi murmured. "You're becoming something dangerous."
"To who?"
Shinomi didn't answer.
But his gaze lingered on Aiden's face—too long, too sharp—and something cold flickered in his eyes.
Not hatred.
Possession.
---