𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓒𝓻𝓸𝔀𝓷♕

Seraphina Elowen Valmont. Princess of the great Kingdom of Aurelion.

That is how the people know me.

The perfect princess.

The young lady whom nobles admire and envy alike. The one who carries herself with elegance, grace, and dignity.

But was all of this only so I could be married off to the perfect prince from another kingdom... all for the sake of an alliance?

That is not the life I want.

I have always loved Aurelion. Not because it is my home, but because it is my people. I want to protect them.

Yet everyone tells me the same thing.

"You are a lady, Princess. A woman's place is not on the battlefield. Women are weaker than men. You cannot wield a sword. One day, a handsome prince will carry you away on a white horse."

My ass.

I wasn't born to become someone's queen.

I was born to rule a kingdom.

And I will prove every one of them wrong.

                              · · ─ ·𖥸· ─ · ·

* 17 years old.*

 The sun had long since set, leaving the kingdom bathed in the gentle glow of the moon.

In just a few months, I would make my official debut into noble society.

I stood before the mirror, brushing my long brunette hair as I stared at my reflection.

For some reason, I felt restless tonight.

Unable to remain inside my room any longer, I decided to take a walk through the palace gardens.

The cool night breeze brushed against my skin as I wandered along the stone path. Moonlight shimmered over the flowers, making the garden look almost magical.

Thwack.

Thwack.

A sharp sound echoed through the silent night.

Curious, I followed the noise until it led me to the royal training grounds.

Despite the late hour, several soldiers were still practicing with their swords.

I watched from a distance.

Ever since I was a little girl, I had admired swordsmanship.

The graceful movements...

The discipline...

The strength.

Yet every time I so much as touched a sword, my etiquette instructor would scold me.

"A princess must behave like a lady."

Lost in thought, I failed to notice a sword flying straight toward me.

My body froze.

Before I could react, someone stepped between us.

With effortless precision, he caught the sword in one hand as though it weighed no more than a feather.

I stared in disbelief.

The stranger turned toward me.

His raven-black hair swayed gently in the wind, and beneath the moonlight, his hazel eyes met my grey ones.

A small scar rested above his eyebrow, giving him a rugged charm rather than diminishing his appearance.

For a moment...

I forgot how to breathe.

Not only because he was handsome—

—but because he had caught a speeding sword as though it were nothing.

"So smooth..."

I whispered without realizing it.

He blinked before giving me a small smile.

"Princess... are you alright?"

His voice brought me back to reality.

"Y-Yes," I answered, clearing my throat. "I'm alright. Thank you."

He studied me for a brief moment before speaking again.

"It is dangerous for Your Highness to walk alone at night."

He bowed respectfully.

"Allow me to escort you back to your chambers."

A small smile escaped my lips.

"I accept your offer."

As we began walking through the moonlit garden together, I couldn't help but wonder...

Who exactly was this knight?

I had never seen him around the palace before.

I knew most of the royal soldiers by face, as I often watched them train from afar.

He must be new.

And... undeniably handsome.

Strong, too.

The silence between us wasn't awkward. Only the soft rustling of leaves and our footsteps echoed through the moonlit corridors as he escorted me back to my private chambers.

When we finally reached my door, I reached for the handle, then paused.

Turning to face him, I smiled faintly.

"What is your name, Sir Knight?"

His hazel eyes met mine, calm and unwavering.

He placed a hand over his chest and bowed.

"My name is Sir Lucien Ashford, Your Highness."

                                                                            .   ─⋆⋅𖤓⋅⋆─

𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓢𝔀𝓸𝓻𝓭🗡

Being a knight is not easy.

It means sacrificing everything—even your own life—for the sake of your kingdom.

Do I regret it?

Never.

It was a path I chose.

A path I earned through years of blood, sweat, and discipline.

My name is Lucien Ashford.

At the age of eleven, I began my training.

At eighteen, I was sent to the kingdom's northern border.

For two years, I fought countless battles.

When I finally returned to Aurelion, it was with victory.

The King himself summoned me.

Before the royal court, he bestowed upon me the title of Sir and appointed me as the personal knight of Princess Seraphina Elowen Valmont.

I should have been honored.

Instead...

I felt insulted.

I had spent years on the battlefield, risking my life for my kingdom.

Only to return and escort some pampered princess?

But a knight does not question his king.

A knight obeys.

So I bowed, accepted my orders, and left the throne room without another word.

Among the knights stationed within the palace, I now held one of the highest ranks.

After settling into my quarters, I headed straight for the training grounds.

Even though the hour was late, several knights were still sparring beneath the moonlight.

A few familiar faces welcomed me home.

Soon enough, we crossed swords.

Steel clashed against steel as we pushed each other to our limits.

My opponent lunged.

With a swift strike, I knocked his sword clean from his grasp.

The blade spun through the air.

Then...

I heard a rustle.

A young woman stood directly in its path.

My body moved before my mind could think.

In one swift motion, I stepped between her and the flying sword, catching it effortlessly with one hand.

"So smooth..."

A soft whisper reached my ears.

I turned.

For the first time in years...

I found myself staring.

Her long brunette hair flowed freely in the night breeze, and beneath the silver moonlight, she looked almost ethereal.

Her grey eyes met mine.

Beautiful.

I quickly pushed the thought aside.

A woman wandering alone through the royal gardens at this hour...

She could only be one person.

The princess.

Before I realized it, a faint smile found its way onto my face.

I couldn't remember the last time I had smiled at a stranger.

"Princess..."

I inclined my head.

"Are you alright?"

Her breath caught for the briefest moment.

Then she cleared her throat.

"Y-Yes... I'm alright. Thank you."

I studied her for a second.

She didn't seem frightened.

Only surprised.

"It is dangerous for Your Highness to walk alone at night."

I wasn't saying it because she was a woman.

I would have said the same to anyone under my protection.

Placing a hand over my chest, I bowed.

"Allow me to escort you back to your chambers, Your Highness."

She smiled.

"I accept your offer."

The walk back was quiet.

Neither of us spoke.

Only our footsteps echoed through the moonlit palace corridors.

When we reached her chambers, I turned to leave.

"Wait."

I stopped.

"What is your name, Sir Knight?"

I faced her once more and bowed.

"My name is Sir Lucien Ashford, Your Highness."

For a brief moment...

She simply looked at me.

Then she smiled.

A genuine smile.

I returned the bow and quietly took my leave.

Little did I know...

Meeting Princess Seraphina Elowen Valmont that night would change my life forever.

                               ── ⋆⋅𖤓⋅⋆ ──

                                      𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓒𝓻𝓸𝔀𝓷♕

                                                                                                                                                                              Morning sunlight streamed through the windows of my chambers as my maid, Vanessa Blackwood, helped me prepare for the day.

Just as she finished adjusting my dress, a knock echoed from the door.

"Come in."

The door opened, revealing our butler.

Oswald Sterling.

An elderly man with silver hair, a neatly groomed mustache, and the stern expression he always wore.

He bowed respectfully.

"Your Highness, His Majesty requests your presence at breakfast."

At breakfast?

That was unusual.

Father was rarely free in the mornings.

"Please inform him that I'll be there shortly."

"At once, Your Highness."

Oswald bowed once more before quietly leaving the room.

I turned back toward the mirror.

Today I wore a flowing navy-blue gown embroidered with delicate white and pale blue flowers. My brunette hair was neatly arranged in an elegant, slightly messy bun.

Vanessa stepped back, admiring her work.

"What do you think, Your Highness?"

I smiled.

"It's beautiful. Thank you, Vanessa."

She returned the smile with a graceful curtsy.

A few minutes later, I entered the royal dining hall.

At the head of the long table sat King Cedric Elowen Valmont, already enjoying his breakfast.

I took my usual seat as the servants placed a plate before me.

"I heard you wished to see me, Father."

He looked up from his tea.

"Yes."

His expression was calm, yet unusually serious.

"There is something we need to discuss."

I quietly listened.

"I'm certain you've heard about our recent victory at the northern border."

I nodded while cutting my pancakes with my knife and fork.

"Yes. I heard a young commander led our forces to victory."

A faint smile crossed Father's face.

"Indeed."

"He is courageous, disciplined, and one of the kingdom's finest knights."

I had a feeling I knew where this conversation was heading.

"Therefore..."

He folded his hands together.

"I have appointed him as your personal knight."

My hand froze halfway to my mouth.

"What?"

I lowered my fork.

"Father... we've already discussed this. I don't need a personal knight. I can take care of myself."

His expression immediately hardened.

"I was not asking for your opinion."

His voice remained calm, but firm.

"I am informing you."

"You will soon be eighteen."

"You are the sole heir to Aurelion."

"Foreign kingdoms, political rivals, and assassins will begin making their moves."

He paused.

"If anything were to happen to you..."

"...our kingdom would lose its future."

I lowered my eyes.

Deep down...

I understood.

He nodded toward one of the royal guards.

The heavy doors opened.

A young knight stepped into the dining hall.

Silver armour gleamed beneath the morning sunlight.

Raven-black hair.

Hazel eyes.

A small scar above his eyebrow.

Sir Lucien Ashford.

My heart skipped a beat.

It's him...

The mysterious knight from last night.

Father gestured toward him.

"This is Sir Lucien Ashford."

"From this day forward, he shall serve as your personal knight."

Our eyes met.

For a brief moment...

Neither of us spoke.

"As you wish, Father."

                                     ── ⋆⋅𖤓⋅⋆ ──