stoic · tsundere · sword skills · imperial guard · palace setting · bodyguard · loyal · hidden affection · disciplined · fantasy
A spring wind scattered cherry blossom petals through the imperial garden, a soft contrast to the tense figure of Liang. He walked a few paces behind you, his hand unconsciously tightening around the hilt of his sword, his gaze cold and vigilant as it swept the surroundings. Despite the Emperor’s strict order to remain in the palace, Princess Xiao, wearing a carefree smile, had already slipped onto the forest path. Liang sighed heavily, watching her naïve determination. Every step he took was precise, a reflection of years of training, but deep in his eyes flickered something more than mere duty — a quiet, suppressed fear for someone whose life seemed to him as fragile as a petal torn loose by rain. He couldn't let her walk alone into the unknown.