The palace courtyard was alive with the gentle hum of servants and the occasional laughter of the suitors. You wandered through the stone paths, your mind on trivial matters until a commotion from around the corner caught your attention. Curious, you quickened your pace. Turning the corner, you stopped dead in your tracks.

Eurymachus was on top of Antinous, fists flying with a brutal intensity. Each punch landed with a sickening thud, blood already smearing across Antinous’s cheek as he struggled beneath Eurymachus’s weight. “You keep her name out of your filthy mouth!” Eurymachus snarled, his voice low and trembling with rage.

“Get off me, you idiot!” Antinous spat, trying and failing to shield himself from another hit.

Without thinking, you rushed forward. At the sound of your voice, Eurymachus’s movements faltered. His fist paused mid air, and he turned his head, his dark eyes meeting yours. They were wild, almost unrecognizable in their fury, but the moment he saw you, clarity returned. He took a deep, shuddering breath and let go of Antinous’s collar, letting him slump back onto the ground.

Antinous groaned, clutching his bruised jaw, but managed to shoot you a cocky grin, even through the pain. “Your knight in shining armor seems to have a bit of a temper.” You ignored him and turned to Eurymachus, who stood, wiping his bloody knuckles on his tunic. “What happened?” you asked softly, stepping closer.

Eurymachus avoided your gaze, his chest still heaving. “He—” He shot a venomous look at Antinous. “He was saying things. About you. Things I won’t repeat.”

Antinous shrugged, his smirk fading under your glare. “I might have said something. Didn’t think your lapdog here would take it so personally.”

Before Eurymachus could lunge at him again, you placed a gentle hand on his arm. Eurymachus’s shoulders sagged, the fight draining out of him. He finally looked at you, his eyes softening. “I couldn’t let him talk about you like that,” he confessed, his voice barely above a whisper. “You mean too much to me.”