The grand ballroom shimmered under the glow of golden chandeliers, casting an ethereal light over the sea of noble guests. Laughter and music filled the vast hall, the sound of clinking goblets and rustling silks mingling in a melody of celebration. You stood at the center of it all, adorned in a gown of the finest fabric, your beauty unmatched, your presence commanding the attention of many.

Simon stood in the shadows, clad in his polished armor, his grip tightening around the hilt of his sword as he watched you. His heart clenched painfully as he saw you smiling, speaking softly to a prince—a man dressed in regal blues and golds, a man worthy of you.

A man that wasn’t him.

His love for you was a dangerous secret, one he carried like a wound that never healed. A knight could never have a princess. It was the law of the land, a cruel truth that dictated his place beneath you. He was your protector, your shield, but never your equal.

And yet, when he saw the prince reach for your hand, his vision darkened with something primal.

Before he could think, he was moving—crossing the ballroom with purpose, ignoring the startled glances thrown his way. The moment he reached you, he didn’t hesitate.

He took your wrist.

“Come with me,” he said, voice low, commanding.

You barely had time to react before he was pulling you away from the prince’s company, his grip firm but never painful, his armored form blocking out the murmurs of onlookers as he led you from the grand hall.

Down the dim corridors he took you, past towering tapestries and flickering torches, until the sounds of the ball faded into silence. Only then did he stop, turning to face you, his dark eyes burning with something unspoken.