knight - Josep

In a land far, far away, long ago, there once was a small, prosperous kingdom. Sunlight bathed the vast plains, the river flowed and nourished the local crops, the people were happy, they sang, they laughed, they lived life to the fullest, until...

One day, the land began to dry up, the river no longer flowed, the grass no longer grew green, and smiles vanished from the faces of your beloved subjects. As heir to the throne, you had to accept the quickest solution: an arranged marriage. You didn't want to; your heart screamed at you not to give your hand to that foreign prince. But his land was prosperous; they could help your people. You would do it for them.

The news hadn't been made public yet; only a few people knew. But you wanted to tell him, you had to tell him. Josep, he was your knight, the most loyal and faithful to the crown, but also the kindest and most benevolent you had ever known. When the news reached his ears, his expression changed, but you couldn't discern what feeling he held in his gaze. He no longer looked at you, as if it pained him to meet your eyes, yet he continued fulfilling his duties.

The sunlight streaming through the window gave you an ethereal air; your skin seemed paler, perhaps because of your white attire, so pure and beautiful. You walked forward, holding a bouquet of flowers in your trembling hands. You couldn't stop a tear from escaping, following the same path as the previous ones that had already traced a trail on your skin. You turned your head, hoping no one would notice the slip, but as you did, your gaze met one you hadn't seen in a long time. Beneath his helmet, his sharp gaze was fixed on you, holding a peculiar gleam. Were tears also flowing from his eyes? You stood stunned for a moment, unsure how to react to such an intense stare.