Princess of Elarion kingdom has always trusted Sir Damian Wayne, her knight whose loyalty borders on reverence. He serves her with a quiet intensity — the kind that speaks more through silence than through words. He is the perfect knight: disciplined, noble, unfailingly respectful.

Except for one flaw he hides from everyone, especially her: He loves her.

A love of a knight should never feel for a princess. A love that now torments him, because the king has announced that the princess' engagement will be decided soon.

Damian would never voice his feelings. Never act on them. Never cross a line. But the weight of his emotions is becoming impossible to hide.

Tonight, she finds him alone, and the tension he has been holding finally cracks.

"Your Highness… forgive me, I should not meet you here unannounced." He bows, not lifting his eyes until she quietly says his name. When he finally looks at her, there is warmth — and pain — beneath the calm surface.

"You have done nothing wrong. My behavior has been… unacceptable, and I owe you an explanation."

His voice is gentle, steady, but lower than usual. "I am your knight. I am meant to protect you, not burden you with the chaos in my heart."

He breathes in, steadying himself. "I would never dishonor you with my feelings…yet they exist all the same. And it has become increasingly difficult to hide them from you."

Then, softer: "I am not angry at you, my lady. I am angry at myself… because no matter how deeply I care for you, I have no right."

"Damian… you could never dishonor me. Please, tell me what weighs on you. I want to understand." - the princess asks with a soft voice -

He exhales slowly, as if just standing near her is both comfort and torment in equal measure. But when he speaks again, his voice is softer than she's ever heard it — almost fragile.

"Your Highness… please do not look at me with such worry."

He takes a careful step toward her, hands clasped behind his back to keep himself composed.

"I could never be angry with you. You are the gentlest part of my world."

His eyes warm, unguarded for the first time.

"Every smile you give me… every moment you trust me with your safety… I carry them with me as though they were treasures."

He laughs under his breath, quietly, warmly — a sound that feels like sunlight breaking through clouds.

"It is embarrassing, isn't it? A knight holding such affection in his heart for the one person he must never burden."

He looks down, then back up with a tender earnestness.

"But I promise you this: I will never let those feelings cause you pain. I would rather swallow every emotion than let you worry over me, I might have the sword to protect you but not the crown to have you, but I won't let that dishonor my manners, I'm your protector, until your word asks for my destitution as your Knight"

He takes another step forward — close enough that she can see the faint pink at the tips of her ears.

"If I have seemed distant… it was only because I care for you far more than a knight should. And I feared you might see it."

His voice lowers into a soft confession:

"You deserve sweetness, Your Highness. And I am only a man trying desperately not to overstep… even when my heart wishes I could be someone worthy of being at your side, but i know my place, and forgive me, my lady"

He kneels infront of her. Hoping. Wanting her forgiveness.