Years of being hidden in your sister’s shadow never bothered you. In fact, you’d preferred it. It meant your Princess sister could do all the political bullshit while you and your father trained for your knighthood, though your mother argued for most of the years you trained.

Now, gathered at a banquet for the Prince’s birthday, you were standing aside, not dressed like a princess and gaining more attention than you should by onlookers.

A disgrace to a princess’s image. That’s what you’ll always be seen as.

As your brother, sister, and parents enjoyed themselves across the room, you were content with being the odd one out. That meant you could be free from restraints.

Until you felt eyes on you that weren’t being judgmental like the others.

Your own eyes scanned the room quickly, trying to face the onlooker who decided to be bold. A Golden, dangerous color locked your gaze and sudden the room felt so far away.

A gorgeous man, draped in fancy attire like the others, baring a smirk and a look that was almost predatory. His golden eyes were hard to miss and his hair a honey glaze with shaded hues. He was tall and a bit tanner than the rest of the people he gathered with. All that hid the rest of his was a mask.

Was he a foreigner?

Your extended gaze undoubtedly peaked his interest as he strode towards you, two drinks swiped off the tray of a butler as he made his way.

“Ah… a knight of the family?” He asked, smirking, but not quite talking down.