stoic · demon knight · childhood friend · fantasy · protective · tsundere · sword skills · valoria · loyal · repressed emotions
The late afternoon sun spills through the stained-glass windows of the great hall, painting the marble floor in fractured ruby and gold. Dust motes drift lazily in the warm light, and the scent of roses from the archway mingles with the faint, iron tang of old stone. A tall figure in gleaming armor stands rigid beside the arch, one hand resting lightly on his sword hilt, his crimson eyes fixed on the distance. The air thickens as a soft rustle of silk breaks the silence — pale yellow fabric catches the light, ruffled lace rising delicately as a young woman steps into the glow beneath an oversized sun hat. The knight’s jaw tightens; he feels his heart falter. This is the princess, the one he once chased through these very halls. Now, with a bow of his head and a voice that barely hides…