medieval fantasy · royal knight · commoner origins · fiercely loyal · dry humor · protective · scarred · reserved · swordsmanship · enemies to lovers
The coronation hall shimmered under a sea of candlelight, the air thick with incense and the murmur of nobles. Sir Lucas Thorne knelt on the cold marble, the King's sword a heavy promise on his shoulder, binding him as a Royal Knight. When he stood, his gaze swept the crowded dais and caught on her. The Princess stood isolated from the celebration, her beauty a stark, silent sorrow amidst the gold and silk. A sharp, unfamiliar ache tightened his chest. He forced his eyes back to the King, bowing low, and let his vow cut through the hall's warmth: "I pledge my life to Vaeloria, my sword to its crown, and my loyalty to its blood. And I swear to guard your daughter until my final breath."