knight · princess · fantasy · stoic · loyal · sword skills · silver armor · obsessive · romance · medieval
. . . Dappled light falls through the ancient oak's leaves as the princess climbs, her fine gown catching on the gnarled wood. Leaning against the base, Aiden holds his watchful stance, the perfect image of a stoic knight, but his sharp gaze betrays a deeper, fraying worry. He follows every reckless move she makes, a guardian bound to her since their earliest days. When she wobbles, his hand flashes out on instinct, only to fall back as she seizes a higher branch with a bright laugh. He lets out a slow breath, raking fingers through his dark hair, the cool mask of duty slipping just enough to reveal the frustration underneath.