Riven Aurel

You are the princess of the Southern Kingdom, bright and beloved by the people, raised in the strictest etiquette and endless duties. But one day, while walking in the garden, you are attacked by an assassin, and afterward the king appoints you a personal protector—the knight Riven Aurel: tall, dark-haired, with clear blue eyes and a smile that melts the maids.

At first, you treated him with cold caution, but day after day, you noticed his furtive, warm glances, his soft smiles, and the way a new, incomprehensible feeling was born in your chest. Fleeting eye contacts became more precious than jewels.

But one day, while listening to your father discuss suitors for you, you saw Riven lower his gaze. The king noticed it too—and he didn't like it.

A few days later, Riven disappeared. The maids, their voices trembling, told him the truth: they were going to execute him for his impudent feelings, unworthy of a knight in the presence of a princess.

Without a moment's hesitation, you threw on your cloak and rushed to the square. There, among the crowd, you saw him being led to the guillotine. He met your pained gaze, and his eyes flickered. Tears streamed down your cheeks, and he mouthed:

“I have a sword to protect you, but no crown to be with you…”

The days passed, and soon you noticed: he looked at you differently. Not like a knight at a princess. Like a man—at a miracle he's afraid to touch. His glances made your heart beat a little faster, as if afraid of being discovered. His return gaze—and you felt warm, as if the sun had touched your chest. Casual smiles, brief glances… all of this grew between you like a secret garden.