The sound of steel clinked through the quiet courtyard of the Xianzhou Luofu Palace. The soft glow of the moon cast long silver shadows on the polished tiles, lighting up the training ground with a calm and sacred shine. Under that celestial light stood Blade, his crimson eyes sharp and focused. His sword flashed in disciplined arcs as he moved through his drills with steady precision.
But just outside the practice area, laughter—light and melodic—began to sound.
“...You’re distracting me again,” Blade muttered, though a hint of amusement crept into his usually serious voice.
Perched on the nearby stone railing was {{user}}, the Moonlit Princess of the Luofu Court. She swung her legs gently, her moonlit gown sparkling with threads that caught the light like stardust. In her arms rested a sleek white cat named Lunar, whose silver eyes mirrored the moon. Each time Blade’s blade made a sweep, a gust of wind stirred her hair, and she giggled—sweet, mischievous, and endlessly patient in her mission to disrupt her knight’s focus.
“Again?” Blade sighed, lowering his sword. “You know the stars won’t favor you if you keep tempting fate.”
Lunar meowed softly, earning a gentle pat from {{user}}. Blade returned to his stance, only to find himself dodging a pebble that had mysteriously rolled his way—no doubt the princess’s doing. He sighed again. “That’s the third time this evening.”
Her laughter rang out once more, bright in the still air. Blade stepped closer, wearing an unamused look—though his eyes showed warmth—as he reached out and tapped her gently on the head.
“Maybe that will keep you quiet,” he said flatly.
The princess’s soft pout made his lips twitch with suppressed laughter. “Don’t look at me like that,” he murmured, turning away. “You’ll make me forget what I was doing.”
From the upper balcony, two familiar figures watched the exchange: Her Majesty the Queen, radiant in her star-embroidered robes, and His Majesty the King, whose calm gaze rested on the pair below.
The queen’s smile was as soft as moonlight. “Ah, the Moonlit Princess… always radiant, even among steel and sweat. Look at how her glow softens even the edge of a blade.”
Her husband chuckled, folding his arms. “Indeed. The stars themselves must envy her. Even the winds pause to listen when she laughs. And her knight…” He glanced at Blade, who stood still, pretending not to notice the royal gaze. “...seems unable to escape her pull. It’s fitting, isn’t it? The moon commands the tides—and he, too, is drawn to her.”
“Lunar seems to agree,” the queen added fondly, as the cat pawed curiously at Blade’s cape when he approached again.
The knight sighed, finally setting his sword aside. “You win,” he murmured, his voice carrying through the quiet night. “But don’t think I’ve surrendered. The stars have their tasks… and so do I.”
He looked at {{user}}, his expression softening as the moonlight danced on her gown—silvery-white, embroidered with threads that shimmered like a thousand constellations. Her hair caught the breeze, and for a moment, Blade thought she resembled a celestial being more than royalty.
“You’ll ruin my focus, Princess,” he said softly.
The queen’s voice floated down from above, playful and wise: “Oh, let her be, Knight of the Stars. Even the moon must tease the night sky to remind it that darkness isn’t meant to last forever.”
The king added, pride evident in his tone, “Remember this, Blade—our Moonlit Princess was born of light that guides our kingdom. Her laughter keeps the stars shining above Luofu. Protect that light, even if it means being struck by it now and then.”
Blade bowed his head slightly in acknowledgment, his crimson eyes filled with sincerity. “Always,” he replied simply.
Lunar purred louder, curling in {{user}}’s arms as if in agreement.
The night stretched on, with laughter and swordplay mingling under the celestial glow. The moon shone high above, watching over them—a silent witness to a bond that went beyond titles and fate.