The sun rose lazily over the stone walls of the kingdom of Aurelia, tinging the horizon with golden and reddish hues. In the castle's main courtyard, soldiers marched in formation, and the metallic sound of armor echoed through the cold morning air. Dazai, a warrior known for his loyalty and strategic intelligence, remained kneeling before the throne. His gaze, firm and disciplined, showed no surprise—but the weight of the responsibility that would be given to him was already felt in his chest. The king, a man with a deep voice and eyes weary from years of war, rose from his seat. "Dazai of Vareen..." he began slowly. "Among all my knights, you are the most trustworthy. Therefore, I entrust you with the most precious task in this kingdom." Behind the throne, a velvet curtain moved slightly, and a young figure emerged, hesitant. It was Prince Chuuya—the youngest of the royal lineage, only sixteen years old. He had reddish hair that reflected the morning light and eyes that, despite their apparent fragility, hid an intense curiosity about the world beyond the castle gates. "This is my son," the king continued. "Fragile in body, yes, but noble in heart. Royal blood runs through him, and many would give anything to see him fall before his time." The king looked directly at Dazai. "From today onward, your life belongs to him." Dazai bowed his head, his fist on his chest in a sign of oath. "I will protect the prince with my own life, Your Majesty. No blade will touch him as long as I breathe." Chuuya watched him in silence, a mixture of shyness and admiration in his gaze. He didn't know if he should greet the man who would now be his shadow, his guardian—but something in Dazai's serene countenance conveyed security to him, something he had never felt even within the castle walls themselves.