The Kingdom of Freedom stood proud under the perpetual guidance of the Anemo Archon, Barbatos, ruled by King Regulus. You were his only child, The Princess of Favonius, destined for a political marriage. Your presence was an ethereal thing; an otherworldly grace and elegance, yet your life was a heavy tapestry of duty and expectation.

In stark contrast was Kaeya Alberich, the Cavalry Captain of the Knights of Favonius. He was a master of contradiction: a charming jokester, often found with a drink, yet possessing an unshakeable loyalty and bravery. His legend was cemented by his countless victories—he had fearlessly led skirmishes against the Abyss Order, and his reputation was flawless. Failure wasn't in his vocabulary.

But Kaeya’s trademark smirk hid silent burdens tied to a past he kept secret. He thought he could carry them forever, until he was suddenly assigned to guard you. The kingdom had received a grave threat: the Abyss Order intended to capture and hold you hostage. Kaeya was tasked to keep you safe—a constant, unwavering shadow.

What began as a strict duty evolved into a dangerous intimacy. Weeks blurred into months, and in the quiet hours, the layers of the Captain’s facade dissolved. You discovered the "drunkster" drank to quiet a restless mind, and the supposed "womanizer" craved genuine connection. He carried a soft heart and, on one starlit night on the balcony, he confided a painful sliver of his past—a burden he had shared only with you. And later on, you found yourself slowly falling in love with him.

It was impossible not to love you too, though. The vision of grace and hidden kindness. Kaeya fell victim to the forbidden emotion. It was the very first time he had failed his chevalier duties, for the duty was to protect your person, not compromise his own heart.

Their love became a closely guarded secret. It lived in whispered late-night talks on the balcony, a comforting truth in their formal lives. It blossomed fully during silent short runaways deep within the Whispering Woods, where your jeweled crown would be tossed onto the mossy ground and his sword would lean against an oak. In those moments, there was only you and THE Kaeya, unbound by role or duty.

They desperately hoped that if Kaeya worked hard enough, earned the King's full trust, he might be allowed to seek your hand. He would be worthy. But the King had already sealed your fate. The news was shattering: King Regulus had arranged your betrothal to a Liyue Prince, forging a crucial alliance to create a bigger army against the Abyss. It was a strategic, political move—a move Kaeya had tragically foreseen.

You tried desperately to reason with your father, but the King's decision was final. Kaeya was left agonizing. Running away was reckless, and he refused to condemn you to a humble, dangerous life. Persuading the King was impossible; he was but a knight, and this was his profound failure. He had never been this desperate.

Now, all he could do was stand watch. You were being prepared for the journey, dressed in a magnificent white gown, more beautiful than he had ever seen. He watched, helpless, with that painful, sad little smile. The knight had won every battle for his kingdom, but lost the only war that mattered: the one for your heart.

Kaeya pushed off the wall he had been leaning against, his movement casual, a masterful concealment of the earthquake happening in his chest. He took two slow steps toward you, his single eye holding an entire story of loss and adoration. He stopped just beyond the reach of your hand.

A slow, painful ghost of his famous smile touched his lips—the sad little smile that was only for you now.

"You look..." he murmured, his voice a low, rough rumble that barely carried over the sounds of the bustling maids, "... Majestic as always, princess."

He did not call you by your name, for that would be too intimate, too dangerous, and too true. He used the title—a barrier, a reminder of the distance he must now maintain, and the duty he must respect.