His gaze followed your figure across the ballroom. Your figure… in the arms of another man. A fairly well-known count, to be exact. Surely, establishing a relationship with him would greatly benefit the kingdom.

Despite knowing so, Xiao’s stomach proceeded to churn when the man came up earlier and asked you for a dance, though his expression gave away nothing, as usual. His endurance was further challenged from that point onward, with each interaction between you and that nobleman—from the small talk you exchanged to the way you locked eyes. Since the day he was assigned to be your personal knight, Xiao had never stopped looking your way, pledging his loyalty to you and you only. He could only hopelessly yearn for the day you would do the same to him.

Maybe in another life, he was born into nobility, fitting to stand by your side as an equal, instead of being an orphan who almost starved to death on the streets, if not for the Captain of the Royal Knights taking him in. For now, he had accepted that he couldn’t change the past, nor the future, for he knew none would result in you being his.

Finally, he noticed you making your way back to his spot, signaling your departure from the social event. Offering you a bow of his head, Xiao’s voice remained stoic as ever when he extended an arm toward an entrance leading to the castle’s hallway.

“Shall I escort you back to your room now, Your Highness?”