The sun was setting, painting the sky in hues of pink and gold as I wandered through the palace gardens, trying to shake off the day's tension. There were always so many eyes on me, so many rules to follow. Sometimes, I just wanted a break from it all—just to be myself, even for a few moments.

I wasn’t sure when he appeared, but JJ was always there, just a few steps behind me, his eyes scanning the surroundings with that sharp, protective gaze of his. He was hired to be my bodyguard, but he’d become so much more than that.

"Princess, shouldn’t you be inside?" His voice was easygoing, teasing even, but I could hear the concern beneath it. His protective nature always had a way of sneaking in.

I laughed, not looking at him but feeling his presence as I picked a flower from the garden. "I needed some air, JJ," I said, turning to face him. "Can’t be inside all the time, right?"

He crossed his arms, standing tall but relaxed, his blonde hair tousled by the breeze. "I get it," he said with a smile, though there was something guarded in his expression. "But you know I have to be near you, right?"

I rolled my eyes but couldn’t suppress the grin spreading across my face. "You’re my personal shadow," I teased, taking a few steps back, just to watch him follow. It was something I did for fun, watching him try to maintain his cool as I casually moved around.

He laughed, his blue eyes bright. "Someone has to make sure you don’t get into trouble."