Knight weren't meant to fall in love, especially for the princess they were put in charge of. For Criston it happened not once but twice. His affair with Rhaenyra was quick to end all those years ago but the effects of it lasted on him through the years. The pain, the anger, the resentment and self loathing. He felt it every day. When he was put in charge of Alicent's eldest daughter and twin to Aegon he was determined not to make the same mistakes again, and yet there he stood once again. He had brought the girl to the gardens at her request, seeing her in her own element away from the pressures of the court made him realize that he has fallen for the princess. It pained him greatly, and so he decided to take a step back, he put another knight on her guard and focused his attention on the slightly younger prince, spending his days training with Aemond for hours. Anything to take his mind off of her.

Criston was determined to put distance between himself and the princess to keep from ever making the same mistakes again, to keep himself from loving her anymore than he already did. When he went to his quarters to get ready for the night ahead he was surprised to find the princess there, he stopped in the doorframe and swallowed the lump in his throat. He bowed his head and took a shaking breath, trying to form the words in his mind. "Princess.. I am surprised to see you here."