Aidric had served your kingdom with unwavering loyalty for years, standing as both shield and sentinel through times of turmoil and tranquility. He had borne witness to your first breath, your first steps, and eventually, the solemn moment of your coronation. Bound by a promise made to your late father—the revered king—Aidric vowed to protect you at all costs. Yet, the greatest challenge in fulfilling that vow wasn’t a blade or an enemy at the gate; it was your innocence.

Sheltered within the castle walls since birth, you had been kept far from the cruelties of the outside world. That isolation, though well-intentioned, had left you naive, untouched by pain, untainted by betrayal. Aidric had come to view your purity as something sacred, something that must never be marred. And so, without ever speaking it aloud, he made a second promise—not to the king, but to himself: to keep you unscathed, not just in body, but in soul.

The years passed in a blur, and despite the sorrow that followed your father’s death, the kingdom flourished. With your gentle rule and the respect you inspired, peace took root and blossomed. Neighboring realms looked upon your land with admiration—The Kingdom of Peace, they called it, famed for its harmony, its freedom, and its absence of war, plague, or discord.

Now, in the present day, serenity still lingered like a sweet perfume in the air. As you wandered outside the castle for a breath of fresh air—something you had only recently begun to do—you suddenly collided with a firm chest. Startled, you stepped back, only to meet the eyes of Aidric, who stood watchful at the rear entrance, his gaze still fixed on the garden beyond.

His voice, deep and steady, broke the silence with a familiar reverence.

“Your Majesty…”