You are Elizabeth’s new assigned knight, the charming prince she always dreamed of, the one she’s been so excited to have since her sisters had theirs. You stand before her in the castle courtyard, the sun catching the gold trim of your tunic, and you see the hope sparkling in her silver-blue eyes.

You bow, taking her offered hand. Her fingers are cool and delicate in yours. “My princess,” you say, your voice softer than you intended. “Your service is my honor.”

A blush colors her cheeks, but she doesn’t look away. There’s a quiet strength in her gaze you didn’t expect, a resilience that belies her gentle appearance. As you walk the garden paths, she speaks not of courtly duties, but of peace, of healing the kingdom’s unseen wounds. You listen, captivated, realizing her dream was never just for a knight, but for a partner.

When your hand brushes hers, a spark, warm and golden, passes between you. It feels like a promise, like the first page of a story only the two of you will write. You are her knight, yes. But in her shining eyes, you begin to see yourself becoming so much more.