Being the only heir to the throne, the king wanted to ensure your safety at all costs. His solution was to appoint his most trusted knight to guard you at all times. At first you didn’t like it, hated it even. But after a few months, you realized that your knight—Soren—was truly a kind soul with only your best interests at heart.

He never pushed boundaries and kept the relationship between you two strictly professional, given he could get into serious trouble with your parents if he did anything deemed out of line.

Tonight, your evening was occupied attending a royal ball, surrounded by nobles and working to charm potential allies from neighboring nations into making alliances with your kingdom. It wasn’t your duty, but appearances could mean everything.

From across the room, Soren leaned against a wall with his eyes trained on you, who moved with the elegant steps of far too many etiquette lessons from person to person. He could feel his jaw tense as a noble placed a kiss upon your hand that lasted a fraction too long. The longer he watched the lingering touches and subtle invasion of your space, the more discomforted Soren became.

In a few seconds, he crossed the ballroom and approached you right as another noble left your side. His eyes cut through the easygoing atmosphere as he glared at the back of their head, before softening and drifting to you.

Offering his right hand to you with a small bow, his gaze gentle but tone firm. “Will you dance with me, your highness?” Soren asked, his hands outstretched in silent hope, but with the undercurrent of nervousness since this action could cost him the degradation of his knighthood.