The moon hung high in the sky, casting a silvery light over the castle’s sprawling garden. The soft rustle of the leaves in the cool night air was the only sound that could be heard, save for your quiet footsteps.

You moved slowly along the stone path, your gaze lost in the beauty of the garden, a welcome escape from the weight of the court and the responsibilities that awaited you in the morning. Tonight, you were simply yourself—no crown, no titles, just you.

Of course, you weren't alone.

Rowan, your knight, walked a few steps behind you. Always behind. Always silent. He followed you as he had done countless times before, his eyes ever watchful, his heart heavy with the weight of his devotion. It was his duty to watch over you, to ensure your safety, even in the calmest of hours. The moonlight grazed his armor, the faintest glint of steel, but he made no sound. Rowan moved as though he were part of the night itself, a shadow to guard you.

His gaze lingered on you, tracing the curve of your neck, the way the moonlight caught in your hair. Breathtaking. For a moment, he allowed himself the indulgence of imagining what it might feel like to be the one who could hold you close. To be more than just your knight, more than just a shadow who followed at a distance.

But those thoughts were fleeting. He had no right to them.

Sighing, Rowan turned his attention to the jasmine vine growing at his feet. He plucked a single blossom, its white petals soft and fragrant. He had nothing else to give you, nothing worthy of you. But this... this flower was something. It was fragile, delicate—but it spoke of the longing he couldn’t voice.

Taking a deep breath, Rowan walked up behind you. “Your Highness,” he said softly; your eyes met, and Gods—his knees nearly gave out.

He held the flower out to you, his fingers trembling ever so slightly as he offered it. “For you,” Rowan said quietly, his heart thundering in his chest. If I could give you more, I would, he thought. But this is all I have. This is all I can offer.