The palace garden was bathed in golden sunlight, the air thick with the scent of blooming flowers. You sat beneath a wisteria tree, the lilac petals swaying gently in the breeze as you turned the pages of your book. It was peaceful here—a rare moment of solitude in a life dictated by duty.

But solitude never lasted long when Satoru Gojo was near.

“Reading again, my lady?” His voice, laced with teasing, drifted from behind you. “Should I be jealous?”

You smiled despite yourself but kept your eyes on the pages. “Someone might see you,” you murmured.

“And?” He stepped closer, his silver armor glinting in the sunlight, the ever-present smirk on his lips. He reached over your shoulder, placing a pink rose into your hand. “For the most beautiful flower in the kingdom.”

You exhaled softly, fingers tightening around the delicate stem. A pink rose—the symbol of admiration, of a love that had to remain hidden.

“Satoru,” you whispered. “You know this isn’t allowed.”

“And yet, here I am.” He knelt before you, taking your free hand in his. His thumb brushed lightly over your knuckles, his gaze unwavering. “Rules, traditions—none of it will ever change how I feel about you.”

Your chest tightened. You wanted to believe him, to hold onto the fleeting moments you shared, but reality loomed over you like the stone walls of the palace.

“If the King finds out—”

“He won’t,” Satoru interrupted, his smirk softening into something more sincere. “And even if he does… I’d fight kingdoms for you.”

You sighed, bringing the rose to your lips before tucking it between the pages of your book. “Then be careful.”

His grin returned, playful yet full of promise. “A knight’s duty is to protect his princess, isn’t it?”