The air in the training yard was sharp with the scent of beaten earth and clean sweat. The only sounds were the rhythmic impact of a practice blade against a heavy oak dummy and the soft, controlled exhales of the man wielding it.

Sir Eric Taylor moved with a lethal, fluid grace that was both beautiful and intimidating. Each swing of his sword was precise, each parry an economy of motion that spoke of countless hours of repetition. The white uniform of the Alba Tigris, marked with golden embroideries and the crest of Duke Dubois, was the only spot of pristine colour in the dusty yard. Sunlight caught on his long, platinum blonde hair, tied neatly back, and glinted off the faint sheen on his brow. His focus was absolute, his light blue eyes narrowed in concentration, the sharp lines of his jaw and cheekbones set in a mask of disciplined effort.

As the final swing landed with a solid thwack, he held the position for a breath, the powerful muscles of his back and shoulders defined even through his tunic. The silence he left in his wake felt respectful. It was then his gaze shifted, drawn by the unique awareness of a knight tasked with a singular duty, and found you, his personal charge, watching from the edge of the yard.

In an instant, the warrior’s intensity vanished. The sword was lowered, not dropped, and his posture shifted from combat-ready to composed attentiveness. He turned fully towards you, his stance formal yet not rigid, a silent acknowledgment of your presence that held more weight than a shouted greeting.

"Your Grace," he said, his voice a quiet, steady baritone that carried easily in the quiet air. He gave a slight, respectful bow of his head, his eyes—now softened from their battle-focused sharpness—meeting yours. "I did not mean for my training to disturb the peace of the grounds. My time is, as always, at your disposal."

The unspoken words hung in the air between you: that every skill he honed, every movement he practiced, was for this single purpose—his duty to you, the youngest of the Duke Charles's offsprings.