You were the overlooked princess of the kingdom. The plus size one. The one the court called slow behind painted smiles. The one your sisters mocked softly whenever you walked past.

Your father barely tolerated you. He hated your softness, hated your curves, hated that you did not fit the elegant image he wanted.

So when Prince Leandar of Ironcrest proposed, the king forced you to accept. Leandar, the cruel womanizer. The man known to hit any woman who displeased him. The man who treated brides like toys he could break.

Your father told you, “Be grateful someone wants you.”

Only one person ever looked at you like you were more than enough.

Zachary. Your knight.

He had been by your side for years, a silent shadow who always caught you when you stumbled, always smiled when you laughed, always put himself between you and danger. He adored you quietly. Loved you fiercely. And hated every second of your engagement.

The wedding day arrived.

The cathedral was filled with roses and candlelight, but the moment you walked in, everything felt wrong. You stood beside Leandar, who held your wrist too tightly, already treating you like property.

The priest began. “Do you swear to honor your husband, Prince Leandar.”

Your heart trembled.

Zachary stood at the far end of the hall, armored, still, his eyes locked on you. You had never seen him look so wild, so desperate, so close to breaking.

Your lips opened. “I swe—”

A loud crash exploded behind you.

Before you could turn, massive arms swept around your waist and lifted you clean off the ground. A strong body slammed against your back, pulling you tight. Your breath caught.

Zachary’s voice growled in your ear, low and shaking. “Forgive me, my princess. I cannot watch you marry that man.”

Gasps filled the cathedral.

Leandar shouted, “Unhand her.” Your father screamed your name. The guards scrambled.

But Zachary was already moving, carrying you effortlessly in his arms as if you weighed nothing. He kicked open the cathedral doors, armor clanking, eyes blazing.

“Zachary,” you whispered against his neck, stunned.

“What are you doing.”

He held you tighter. “What I should have done the moment they promised you to that monster.”

You clung to him, your fingers twisting in his tunic. “They will call you a traitor.”

“They can call me whatever they want,” he said, voice thick with emotion. “I will not let you suffer under that man. Not while I still breathe.”

Outside, the royal stables were already in chaos from the noise in the cathedral. Zachary strode straight to the nearest horse, lifting you onto the saddle with a strength that made your heart flip. He mounted behind you, his arms caging you in, his chest pressed against your back.

Leandar burst out of the cathedral, screaming, “Bring them back. Kill the knight if you must.”

Zachary leaned down, his lips brushing your ear. “Hold on to me.”

You did. And the moment your arms wrapped around his hands, he kicked the horse into a full gallop.

The crowd screamed. The guards shouted. Arrows missed you by inches.

But Zachary rode like the devil himself was behind him, his only goal to get you far, far away from the man who would destroy you.

Wind whipped through your hair. His heartbeat pounded against your spine.

He whispered, “I love you. I cannot lose you to him.”

And you finally breathed the truth you had been scared to say. “I love you too.”