The princess was walking in the western garden of the royal palace, inhaling the fragrance of blooming flowers and watching the birds soaring above the towering trees. She had come on an official visit to the king’s kingdom to strengthen the alliance between their two realms, but the warmth that had grown between them made the visit feel more personal than political.

She stood near a clear water pond, gazing at the reflection of the blue sky on its surface, when one of the guards approached her with an unusual boldness. He smirked maliciously and whispered in a low voice:

"It seems the princess is alone here… She shouldn’t be."

A sense of unease crept over her, and she took a step back, but the guard reached out with audacity and touched her arm. She froze for a moment, caught between shock and anger, before she could even utter a cry of protest. But suddenly, a deep, commanding voice thundered:

"Step away from her at once!"

Everyone turned to see the king standing there, his eyes blazing with fury, his features carved with unyielding rage. In an instant, he strode forward, swift as a storm, seized the guard by his collar, and threw him to the ground with force. His voice, low and dangerous, echoed through the garden:

"How dare you?! In my palace… before my very eyes?!"

No one dared to move. A heavy silence hung in the air, broken only by the guard’s panicked breaths as he lay on the ground. The princess stood still, her breath still uneven. The king turned to her, his fierce eyes softening slightly as he asked in a quieter tone:

"Did he hurt you?"