They Called Me Trash? Now I'll Hack Their World-Chapter 158: Accidently Engaged

"A base in a border territory. Local connections and loyalty." I paused. "And potentially a lot of complications if my father finds out I got engaged without permission to a village chief’s granddaughter."

"Will he be angry?"

"Probably..." I trailed off, thinking. "Maybe. Possibly. It depends on his mood and whether he thinks it reflects well or poorly on the family."

"So you’re not refusing outright," Zen said.

"I’m not accepting either." I met his eyes. "I’m saying I need time. To think, to plan, to figure out if this is something I can actually do."

Tessa was watching me with an unreadable expression.

"And if you decide you can’t?" she asked quietly.

I looked at her.

She’d been bold and sarcastic when we first met. Had called me out for looking terrible, had teased and joked.

Had worked alongside me for hours.

She was smart. Competent. Kind to her community.

But I barely knew her.

"I don’t know yet," I admitted. "This is... it’s a lot. And I need to process it."

She nodded slowly, something like understanding in her expression.

"That’s fair."

Zen leaned back in his chair, his grin returning.

"Take your time, Young Master." He paused meaningfully. "Just remember, the ring stays on. And the village will be... preparing. Just in case."

"Preparing," I repeated flatly.

"Guest lists. Venue options. That sort of thing."

"You’re going to plan it anyway."

"Preliminary planning," he corrected. "Very different."

I stood up, my chair scraping back.

"Thank you for dinner, the food was excellent. I need... I need some air."

"Of course," Zen said magnanimously. "Take all the air you need. Future grandson-in-law."

"Don’t call me that yet."

"Yet!" He grinned. "I like your optimism!"

I headed for the door before he could make it worse.

Tessa caught up with me in the entryway, moving quickly.

"Young Master, wait."

I stopped, turned.

She stood there, her nice dress and pinned hair somehow making her look more serious than the practical work clothes I was used to seeing her in.

"I meant what I said in there," she said quietly. "I didn’t know he was going to do this. If I had, I would’ve... I don’t know what I would’ve done, but not just gone along with it."

"I believe you."

She twisted her hands together briefly, then seemed to force herself to stop.

"For what it’s worth," she said, her voice taking on some of its usual edge.

"You could do worse. I’m an excellent cook, I know every plant within ten miles, and I can apparently learn alchemy fast enough to impress you."

Despite everything, I felt my mouth twitch.

"That’s your sales pitch?"

"Would you prefer I list my flaws? Because I can do that too. I once punched Rowan in the face for saying something stupid about my mother."

"What did he say?"

"That’s between me and him." She paused. "But he apologized. Eventually."

We stood there in the entryway, the sounds of the elders’ continued conversation drifting through from the dining room.

"I’m not opposed to this," Tessa said finally, meeting my eyes. "Just so you know. If you decide to go through with it, I wouldn’t object."

My heart did something complicated in my chest.

"But if you can’t," she continued, "if this is too much or wrong or you just genuinely don’t want it, then tell my grandfather to back off and I’ll support you. I won’t let him guilt you into something you don’t want."

She meant it. I could hear it in her voice.

"Thank you," I said.

She nodded once, then turned and walked back toward the dining room, leaving me standing there.

I stepped out into the night air.

The village was quiet, peaceful under moonlight.

I looked down at the ring on my finger, at the dark metal and the faintly glowing blue stone.

What am I going to do?

I started walking back toward my room, my thoughts were a tangled mess of politics and practicality and the embarrassing awareness that part of me wasn’t actually opposed to the idea of being engaged to someone like Tessa.

I need to figure out if this could actually work.

And maybe try to avoid Zen until I have answers.

I reached my room and pushed open the door.

Scarlet was still there, now sitting cross-legged on the bed, clearly waiting.

She took one look at my face and started grinning.

"So," she said. "How was dinner?"

I closed the door, leaned against it, and slid down to sit on the floor.

"I accidentally got engaged."

Silence.

Then she burst out laughing, falling sideways on the bed, her tail lashing with amusement.

"You—" she gasped between laughs, "You got ENGAGED? At a DINNER?"

"The village chief gave me a ring. His granddaughter put it on my finger. Apparently it’s a family tradition that I wasn’t informed about. They’re planning the wedding. There were witnesses."

I paused.

"So that’s my evening. How was yours?"

Scarlet was still laughing, wiping tears from her eyes.

"That’s... that’s the funniest thing I’ve heard all month!"

"Glad my suffering amuses you."

"It really, really does." She sat up, grinning wickedly. "The noble hero, trapped by his own heroism. This is perfect."

"I’m so happy for you."

She flopped back down, still chuckling.

"So what are you going to do?" 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

"I have absolutely no idea."

"Are you going to go through with it?"

"I don’t know."

"Do you like her?"

I didn’t answer immediately.

Scarlet made an interested sound.

"Oh, you DO like her."

"I barely know her."

"That’s not a no."

"It’s not a yes either."

"But it’s not a no," she repeated, clearly enjoying this way too much.

I groaned and let my head fall back against the door.

"This is a disaster."

"This is entertainment." She was grinning at the ceiling. "I’m going to enjoy watching you."

"Thanks for your support."

"Anytime."

Then forcing myself to stand and moving to the bed.

I collapsed face-first onto it without bothering to change clothes.

Scarlet was still chuckling quietly beside me.

"Congratulations on your engagement."

I groaned into the pillow.

Then turned to side.

Well... living here isn’t that bad. I just need to deal with Father and others.