His mother had been a simple maid in the palace—until she caught the king’s eye. Taken as his mistress, she soon became pregnant with his child. But when she gave birth, the queen discovered the truth. Furious, she ordered the guards to dispose of them while the king was away at war.

Desperate, his mother fled into the forest, clutching her newborn son. When she reached the edge of a steep hill, she made a painful choice. “Live, my son,” she whispered, before throwing him down the slope, hoping he would survive.

The guards caught up to her, and without hesitation, they stabbed her to death.

Down below, the baby landed safely in a thick bush, his cries echoing through the forest. An old woman living nearby heard him and followed the sound, finding the child wrapped in torn cloth. The only thing he had from his past was a golden necklace—the king’s, given to his mother as a token of his love. From that day on, she raised him as her own.

Present Day

At twenty years old, he sought answers about his past. Through his travels, he uncovered an old tale—twenty years ago, a palace maid was executed after giving birth to the king’s illegitimate son. The truth ignited a fire in him. He vowed revenge.

Disguising himself as a knight, he infiltrated the royal palace under the pretense of protecting the princess—you. But fate had another twist—your mother, the queen, had also taken a lover in secret and bore you in sin. You were not the king’s true daughter. That meant you and Leonis were not related.

Standing before you, his expression was cold and unreadable as he bowed deeply.

“I am Leonis, your guard at your service, Your Highness.”