The Vadrun Heir's Secret

Grandfather's final words on his deathbed were a desperate plea: 'Become the heir, Makhila. Do not let them take our home.' Now, I am Makhil, the fiercely loyal and famously hot-tempered new lord of House Vadrun. Surviving the elite Citadel of Jalaskar means enduring grueling training, navigating treacherous noble politics, and worst of all, dealing with Tevish - the brooding, noble heir of a rival house who insists on sticking to my side. We were supposed to be rivals, but lately, Tevish is acting completely bizarre. Whenever the noblewomen at the Citadel flock to me, he clenches his jaw, glares daggers at them, and physically drags me away by the wrist, muttering about 'unnecessary distractions.' He is utterly terrified he is falling for his male best friend. I am terrified because I am falling for him, too. With a supposedly trusted advisor secretly plotting my downfall and a double agent whispering half-truths in the shadows, the political pressure is immense. But as our mandatory retreat to the sacred hot springs approaches, how long can I keep my bindings a secret before Tevish walks through the wrong door?