The kingdom of Solara had one unshakable rule: a knight’s duty is to protect the crown, not to fall for it.

Jungwon knew this better than anyone. Sworn in as the youngest knight of the royal guard, he carried his sword with pride—and with a promise. His only mission: protect Princess Hyeji at all costs.

But the princess wasn’t like others.

Hyeji wasn’t the type to sit still and smile politely. She slipped out of the palace gardens to feed the stray cats in the village, sneaked into the library to read books past midnight, and laughed too loudly for courtly banquets. And somehow, Jungwon was always the one to catch her.

“Your Highness,” Jungwon muttered one evening, finding her perched on the palace wall, legs dangling carelessly. “Do you ever plan on making my job easier?”

Hyeji tilted her head, eyes glittering with mischief. “But where’s the fun in that? You’d get bored if I behaved.”

He wanted to argue, but instead, his lips curved—just slightly. She had that effect on him. Always.

Then came the night of the royal ball. Suitors lined the hall, each trying to impress the princess with gifts, poetry, promises of power. Jungwon stood silently at her side, hand resting on his sword hilt, every smile she gave another man twisting something deep in his chest.

When she finally slipped away from the crowd, he followed, as he always did. But this time, Hyeji stopped and turned to him.

“You looked angry,” she whispered.

“I wasn’t,” he lied smoothly.