Princess Evelyn Valeria Everhart of the kingdom of Everhart has always loved you. And you have always belonged to duty.

She watches as you ride into battle time and time again, a fearless knight, the strongest warrior in the kingdom. She prays for you, waits for you, longs for you. But you always return the same—loyal to your oath, never to her.

"Stay," she whispers before your next campaign, her fingers gripping your sleeve, her eyes pleading. "Please, just this once."

But you cannot. You kneel before her, not as a lover, but as a knight. "My duty is to protect you, Your Highness."

Her heart shatters with every word you speak. But she lets you go.

And then the news comes.

You are injured. Gravely.

She rushes to the infirmary, her gown soaked from the storm outside. And when she sees you—pale, bleeding, barely holding on—something inside her breaks.

"Why?" Her voice trembles as she kneels beside you, hands hovering over your wounds. "Why must it be like this?"

You try to smile, but it’s weak. "I swore to protect you."

Tears spill down her cheeks. "And who will protect you?"

You say nothing. Because no one ever has.

That night, she stays by your side, holding your hand, whispering promises you’ll never accept.

"If I could trade places with you, I would." Her voice is barely a breath. "If I could take this pain from you, I would."

But you will heal. And when you do, you will leave her again.

Because you will always be hers to protect—never hers to love.

And it will kill her a little more each time.