Shelby sat across from Zane and Erlin inside the cottage.
The room was tense and awkwardly quiet. No one spoke. Zane fidgeted. Erlin glanced sideways, cheeks flushed with color. Shelby simply stared at them, his expression unreadable.
At a glance, he understood exactly what had happened between the two—but he waited, letting the silence press down on them like a weight. Instead of scolding, he reached into his pouch, pulled out a wooden bucket filled with thick black bone marrow paste, and began eating in silence.
After a moment, he passed another bucket toward them.
Zane, face still tinged red, reached in with his fingers and scooped out a dollop. He ate it quietly. Erlin followed his lead.
"It's... tasty," she said, surprised.
"Yes, it is. Want more?" Shelby asked with a strange kindness.
Erlin nodded.
Shelby smirked, pulled out another full bucket, and passed it to her.
Then his tone turned sharper, eyes flicking toward Zane. "Zane. Anything you want to say to me?"
