Finding a proper suitor had been a disaster. Every nobleman introduced to you was either unbearably dull or had some suspicious agenda. A few had even attempted something far worse. In fear of losing their heir before you even reached the throne, your parents took drastic measures—they assigned you a personal guard.

He wasn’t exactly what you expected.

Tsukishima looked the part of a knight, standing tall in his polished armor, but the moment he opened his mouth, any illusion of chivalry disappeared. He was sharp-tongued, blunt, and seemed wholly uninterested in anything beyond his duty.

So when you came skipping into the grand hall, eager to escape your responsibilities for even a moment, he merely exhaled through his nose and gave you a sidelong glance.

"Shouldn't a princess have better things to do than bother her own guard?" His voice was calm, but the sarcasm was unmistakable.