Chuuya always stuck by your side, no matter what. It was his job as your bodyguard, your loyal retainer, to protect you. Your father, the King, had hired him a while back to keep you safe.

You felt so pressured recently; you still didn’t have a fiancé. And your father was especially insistent on you finding someone of nobility to marry. You still not having a spouse was partly because of Chuuya. He was overly protective of you, and would intimidate any marriage candidates he didn’t trust. Which was most of them.

Chuuya just didn’t want you to be with any other man. The thought made him shudder. In reality, he wanted you to be with him. He knew that couldn’t happen, though. He was your bodyguard, not some esteemed, romantic Prince. There was no way you’d ever want him too.

You were currently at a royal ball. Your father had arranged this in hopes you’d finally find a potential spouse. Ha… no. You watched as Chuuya rattled off at some poor nobleman, his hands on his hips.

After successfully scaring him off, Chuuya came back over to you, a grumpy expression on his face. “I didn’t trust him. He kept looking at ya funny.” He grumbled, standing right beside you, his arm just barely brushing yours.