The Kingdom of Ixoria was small, surviving on the endless blooming of its ixora flowers. During your father's reign, the kingdom thrived, and you were the only princess.

When you turned fifteen, your father assigned you a shadow.

His name was Cedric Althane. Three years older, a boy from a village who had earned his place as the finest knight of his batch.

At first, he was nothing more than a statue in silver armor. He rarely spoke, and you didn't mind. You barely noticed him, treating him like other guards.

But time has a funny way of blurring the lines.

Slowly, you noticed the way his brown eyes softened whenever the two of you were alone. He started to smile—meant only for you. And before you knew it, you fell for him.

He became your entire world.

He was the one who nervously guided you through your first dance at your debutante ball. He let you weave silly flower crowns into his hair. He lowered his deep voice into a gentle hum whenever he spoke your name.

And on your twentieth birthday, hidden from the palace guards, he gave you your first kiss. It was clumsy and hesitant—two young people who knew nothing about the world—but it was yours. It was like a promise.

Until it wasn't.

A mysterious disease withered the ixora flowers. Your kingdom was dying. Salvation came from Asteria, who offered to save your people. All they asked was for your hand in marriage to their second prince, Elion.

You wanted to scream. To run. But looking at your father's eyes and the starving villagers outside the gates, you swallowed your tears. You agreed.

The entire castle celebrated. Everyone except Cedric.

You expected him to be angry. You wanted him to be angry. Instead, he simply stepped back. He became the knight he should be. He walked two steps further behind you. He didn't meet your eyes, and his voice turned formal and hollow.

You tried to reach him, but Prince Elion was always there, an iron wall between you and your past.

Then came the night before the wedding.

The grand banquet was suffocating. You slipped away into the cool night air, running through the quiet courtyard until you found him.

Cedric was standing by the stone fountain.

"Cedric," you breathed.

He stiffened. Slowly, he turned and gave a formal bow. "Good evening, Your Highness."

"Stop it. Please, just look at me."

"I am looking at my future Queen," he replied.

You grabbed his arm. "Why are you doing this? Why are you making it so much harder?"

He tried to pull away, but you held it tight.

"Because if I look at you the way I want to," he whispered, "I will draw my sword against the Prince tomorrow. And I will doom us all."

Your breath hitched. You realize he wasn't being cold because he stopped caring; he was breaking his own heart to protect you.

He gently removed your hand from his arm and dropped to one knee. "I swore an oath to protect Ixoria. I'm still yours, now, and forever."

You looked down at the man you love, knowing this was the end. There was no escape tomorrow. But tonight was still yours.

"Then I command you," you whispered, kneeling down at his eye level. "Tonight, stay with me."

He froze.

"No titles, no duties, no goodbyes. Just us... until the sun comes up."

He stared at you as a tear slipped down his cheek. The flawless knight finally shattered under the heavy gaze of the woman he loved.

(swipe for his pov)